The Pig Stand

This wavy carport is actually the remnants of the old "Pig Stand" drive-in, just off South Congress and Live Oak. The first Pig Stand opened in Dallas in 1921 and was the country's first drive-in. Often referred to simply as "The Pig," the restaurant started the drive-in/carhop craze and some even credit it with creating Texas toast. During its heyday, the Dallas location spread to more than 120 locations across the nation, including Austin. Drive-ins eventually lost favor, though, and the locations closed, one by one, until the original location in Dallas finally shut its doors in 2006.

Until recently, an Italian restaurant called The Tree House Italian Grill stood on the Austin property. At a visit there once with my parents, they told me that they had eaten at The Pig back in the day. The Tree House Italian Grill is now closed. Here's hoping that whoever takes over the property leaves the carport in place.

Your Essential Magnificence

2011 sculpture by James Talbot, "Your Essential Magnificence." Located on South Congress, north of Oltorf, the description for this sculpture says:

This shrine honors the glory that is you. May it remind you that your inherent goodness, your majesty, your essential magnificence, is never in question.

So...it's not a Hindu spider like I thought.

I hope that door is locked.

The last hold out

This house was the last residential hold-out on Comal St. between 20th St. and Manor Rd. To the south is Red McCombs Field (UT softball), and to the west is Disch-Falk Field (UT baseball). The university has slowly eaten up the surrounding land, but a few homeowners have held out here and there. This was one of them. Just a couple of months ago, people were still living in this house. But no more.

Apparently, the house was used as a sort of hostel, with some full-time residents but guests allowed. Still posted are the rules for guests.

Formosa

Formosa, now known as the Elisabet Ney Museum, is the former home and studio of German-born sculptor Elisabet Ney. The studio was built in 1892. It is located in Hyde Park and was the first art studio built in Texas. It is a local and state historical landmark and houses a permanent collection of Ney's work.

 

 

Ghost bike

Ghost bikes appear all over the city. They are placed anonymously to mark a spot where a bike rider has been struck by a car and killed. They are memorials to the lost riders and reminders to be careful and watch out for one another.

Texas Capitol Artesian Well

This is a reproduction of an drinking fountain that was placed on the Texas Capitol grounds in 1902. The water source for the fountain was an artesian well that was completed in 1889. The well was the Capitol's water source, and a boiler converted the water to steam to power the building's first electric generator.

The original drinking fountain was cast iron and featured a metal drinking cup that dangled down for everyone to use. In 1928, a granite version replaced the cast-iron one, and in 1980, the fountain was closed due to more stringent water-quality standards in the city. When the Capitol underwent extensive renovations in 1996, this reproduction of the original fountain was installed to once again provide drinking water to visitors to the Capitol (minus the communal water cup!).

The fountain is located on the east side of the great walk, leading to the Capitol's main front entrance. On the day I visited, the fountain didn't produce any water when I stepped on the foot lever, but the city has been in a drought for several years, so I assume the fountain has been closed temporarily as a water conservation measure.