Baby Ruth

I check out the antique mall off Burnet now and then always with high expectations but it can be pretty hit or miss. Each time I land on these:

I'm not a huge truck fanatic but I have a good 7-year-old friend who is so my truck radar is up! I love the sturdiness and detail of these antique metal ones. Not for the casual collector, they run in the high double and triple digits. One day maybe I'll splurge on a few (they've got several cases to choose from) but for now I like seeing them here.

Busy

Town Lake

Fighting Words

"In 'n Out is dead to me." I never said this out loud - too many people I know in LA would come and beat me up - but a friend did recently and I realized it's true for me too.

I love everything about Mighty Fine. The logo, the look of the place, the experience: "How are you today?" they ask before taking your order. I say, "Fine, how are you?" and they say "MIGHTY FINE!" Everything is super clean - the restaurants are immaculate and the table is wiped down within seconds of someone leaving. Below you can even see a customer taking advantage of the special double whirlpool hand-washing machine before they will take their "I have clean hands!"sticker.

The burgers are my all time favorite - maybe ever but definitely in the fast food category. Made with natural hormone-free beef, hand cut crinkle fries. And I always get the lemonade shake which is just so good. But take my opinion with a grain of salt - I was always a Fatburger girl anyway.

Mirror Mirror

I always think groups of like items look great all mismatched together.

I especially love this grouping, which may work itself into the little girl's room I'm working on next.

Uncommon Objects
1512 South Congress Avenue, Austin, TX
512-442-4000
www.uncommonobjects.com

Bejeweled

In this raw and dirty state - stuffed and buried - I saw potential but wasn't sure where to use it. When my friend mentioned she wanted something for her two boys to store and showcase interesting outdoor finds, we pulled the trigger.

After minimal TLC - I embrace wabi sabi - and some bright faceted glass knobs, we were in business. I'll have to post a follow-up photo with rocks, sticks and feathers in situ.

Until then, here is a picture of a reflection of my foot.

Starlite Star Bright

When I first moved to Austin the restaurant Starlite had just shuttered. I never like to see any business go down, but I hadn't had time to grow attached so I was mostly worried about the amazing star on top of the building itself - and selfishly, the view of it from my apartment.

When Frank opened, I was quickly reminded why I fell in love with Austin in the first place - the excitement of so much newness with a reverence for history and what came before.

And the contrasts. New and old, high and low, sleek and quirky. And the Texas sky which really is bigger than anywhere else. Not to mention the amazing hotdogs now.

Frank
407 Colorado Street, Austin, TX
512-494-6916
www.hotdogscoldbeer.com

Sorry Fellas

This one's for the ladies. The colors seduce me into buying one every time. I wish Essie made paint! I recently matched up my favorite Chinchilly polish to find the perfect interior grey. We landed on Restoration Hardware's Graphite which isn't quite the same but still a pretty perfect grey - not a hint of blue, green or purple, just pure smokey luxurious grey (and low VOC too!). It would be much easier if I could one stop shop.

Hooky

I was sorting through photographs and came across these: A few years ago in LA, iPhone and I took a long lunch in Chinatown inbetween visits with downtown clients (during my stint with textiles). The colors, shapes, patterns, textures took my breath away and they still do.

Homey

The devil is in the details.

The hype is all true. Sublime.

Home Slice Pizza

1415 South Congress Avenue, Austin, TX

512-444-7437

www.homeslicepizza.com

Cozies

I tend towards a form-follows-function aesthetic, but I also love it when someone decides to do something purely frivolous and decorative. Like these crocheted socks or "cozies" for the concrete pillar traffic barricade (whatever they are) things, that appeared during Art Week. 

Thank you, whoever you are!

Bunnies

At first glance they seem perfect for a kid's room. Bunnies! with an edge, not too saccharin sweet. On closer inspection, maybe too much edge for the kiddies - there's something intriguingly disturbingly off about these bunnies. I met Jeffrey Swanson, the artist, the other day and he says he does non-bunny paintings too but that the bunnies just sort of took on a life of their own. I can see why. I love the bunnies!

IF+D
208 Colorado Street, Austin, TX
512-469-0870
www.ifdaustin.com

Eye Candy

Jean-Marc Fray Antiques is a favorite resource - and just place to be! - in Austin. These photos will make iPhone's shortcomings painfully clear, but I wanted to share a few examples of the incredible range and quality of antiques showcased at Fray.

Periods and styles range from 1800s to very fine examples from the 1970s, even 1980s; French, Italian, Spanish. Murano glass to die for. I especially love all of the chandeliers. And the value and friendly, expert service is unrivaled.

The Fray brothers (Jean-Marc and Jean-Noel) make frequent trips to their native France so there are always new things to see and always the promise of "another crate arrives next week!" I can hardly wait!!

Jean-Marc Fray Antiques
1009 W 6th St, Austin, TX
512-457-0077
www.jeanmarcfray.com

Cowhide

I finally did it and here it is (half of it). I've had mixed feelings for a while: cowhide or no cowhide. I am an avid cheeseburger eater and have my fair share of leather goods so I let my aesthetic and tactile senses win. Now I look for excuses to walk around on it. Actually, no excuses, I just walk around on it nonstop for no reason. It's bliss and it warms up the whole space. No haters, please.

And now I'm just showing off. I love a room with a view.

Angels

This is a favorite spot, and I especially love the random nod to my family name. (And those red rockers, the cow sign, the string lights...all of it.) The burgers are pretty good, the icebox lemon pie is to DIE for, but my favorite part is the shrine inside to Willie Nelson (who lives nearby). You'll have to come to Angels to see that for yourself.  Thursday nights is open mic night and I always wonder if Willie might just pop in to say hi and sing a little ditty. He hasn't so far.

This is the scene on a more quiet night, just after a big rain. You can see the Hill Country behind the stage. Glorious. A very special place.

Hidden Bliss

Hamilton Pool. You have to see it to believe this natural spring tucked into Hill Country, complete with dramatic waterfall. The water has worn away that cave-like overhang which you can walk along, behind the waterfall. Bliss on a hot day. Or any day.

Hey Cupcake!

The cupcake is an important icon for me and I'm sure it will find its way into many posts. While this is by no means the most original photo ever taken in Austin, Hey Cupcake! seemed a friendly beacon and a good omen when I first arrived here almost a year ago in July.

 

Hey Cupcake! again in the distance. Nothing like a hot summer night in Soco: sublime food, live music, festive decor. This particular night temps hovered at 103 after sunset. Not for the timid, which is why there were just a few of us out there!