Up to Austin - April 24th-27th 2009

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April 26th 2009: UT Austin, Zilker Garden, and more


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University of Texas at Austin
The Arno Nowotny building, one of the oldest buildings on UT Austin's campus.
The Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library and Museum has a wall devoted to paintings of first ladies.
On the opposite wall are paintings of their husbands.
Next to a special exhibit on the space program in the 1950s and 1960s was another special exhibit of paintings done by Alan Bean, an artist-astronaut.
The Arno Nowotny building, one of the oldest buildings on UT Austin's campus.
The Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library and Museum has a wall devoted to paintings of first ladies.
On the opposite wall are paintings of their husbands.
Next to a special exhibit on the space program in the 1950s and 1960s was another special exhibit of paintings done by Alan Bean, an artist-astronaut.
The football stadium has such an astounding number of parking levels, I had to take a picture.
A pump in honor of UT's history. The university got much of its funding from oil found on its lands.
The university's clock tower, along with a statue and fountain. The tower and its approach are aligned with the state capitol (i.e., if I turned 180 degrees, I'd see the capitol ten blocks away).
An oak-lined mall near the tower.
The football stadium has such an astounding number of parking levels, I had to take a picture.
A pump in honor of UT's history. The university got much of its funding from oil found on its lands.
The university's clock tower, along with a statue and fountain. The tower and its approach are aligned with the state capitol (i.e., if I turned 180 degrees, I'd see the capitol ten blocks away).
An oak-lined mall near the tower.
Garrison Hall. The symbols on the wall under the eaves are cattle brands. I call them Game-clue fodder. There's a lot more of the same not in this picture.
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The Spanish renaissance Battle Hall. Observe the detail on the lamps, the railing, and art surrounding the archways and under the roof.
The Battle Oaks. Some of these pre-date the Civil War. They were involved in a preservation fight just like the old trees in Berkeley, except this time the oaks won.
Garrison Hall. The symbols on the wall under the eaves are cattle brands. I call them Game-clue fodder. There's a lot more of the same not in this picture.
I found interesting the selection of signs by the student center. The political ones were for college republicans, young conservatives, and students for the ethical treatment of animals. That's it.
The Spanish renaissance Battle Hall. Observe the detail on the lamps, the railing, and art surrounding the archways and under the roof.
The Battle Oaks. Some of these pre-date the Civil War. They were involved in a preservation fight just like the old trees in Berkeley, except this time the oaks won.
The victorian Littlefield House.
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The victorian Littlefield House.
The architecture school (Goldsmith building) has a nice interior courtyard.
Brunch at Fonda San Miguel
Fonda San Miguel's weathered building. It feels like it could be somewhere in Mexico. I'd like to call out two features of the building hard to see in the picture: the statue at bottom right, and the old, carved, wooden door. I asked my waiter about the age of the building and he implied that Fonda San Miguel had the building constructed/renovated/designed this way when they started in Austin three decades ago.
The courtyard between the foyer and the dining room. The atmosphere and decor felt just great. The details are perfect.
A panoramic movie showing Fonda San Miguel's dining room. Notice the singers, the chandelier, and the design in general. Although not visible in this picture, the main course items were kept in large, deep, attractive barro (Mexican clay pots).
Plate one, salads, appetizers, and the like, clockwise from upper-left: spinach with cilantro-basil dressing guacamole - oh so fresh, I could eat it all day! ceviche - respectable, with a level of acidity I liked. pickled vegetables (zucchini, green beans, potato, and carrots) - tangy. fruit salad composed of orange, jicama, honeydew, cantaloupe, and something else (tangerine?) in lime juice - good. tomatoes and nopales (cactus) fried fish with spicy dip - as in really good quality fish `n chips; I just wish I went to the buffet when they were hotter. chips - thick. too salty.
Fonda San Miguel's weathered building. It feels like it could be somewhere in Mexico. I'd like to call out two features of the building hard to see in the picture: the statue at bottom right, and the old, carved, wooden door.
I asked my waiter about the age of the building and he implied that Fonda San Miguel had the building constructed/renovated/designed this way when they started in Austin three decades ago.
The courtyard between the foyer and the dining room. The atmosphere and decor felt just great. The details are perfect.
A panoramic movie showing Fonda San Miguel's dining room. Notice the singers, the chandelier, and the design in general. Although not visible in this picture, the main course items were kept in large, deep, attractive barro (Mexican clay pots).
Plate one, salads, appetizers, and the like, clockwise from upper-left:
  • spinach with cilantro-basil dressing
  • guacamole - oh so fresh, I could eat it all day!
  • ceviche - respectable, with a level of acidity I liked.
  • pickled vegetables (zucchini, green beans, potato, and carrots) - tangy.
  • fruit salad composed of orange, jicama, honeydew, cantaloupe, and something else (tangerine?) in lime juice - good.
  • tomatoes and nopales (cactus)
  • fried fish with spicy dip - as in really good quality fish `n chips; I just wish I went to the buffet when they were hotter.
  • chips - thick. too salty.
Clockwise from upper-left: lentils with apples refried black beans - unusually smooth and deep black-bean flavor. corn pudding, topped with a bit of pickled vegetables and sour cream - when I asked what this was, the waitress explained and rightly called it delicious. I thought the toppings were unnecessary. Also, I liked how there's some whole kernels in the pudding. The dish reminded me in flavor of a dish I've made before and loved, though mine is a soup and served cold. cochinita pibil (shredded pork cooked a particular way) - reminded me of brisket (which I know is made of beef, but nevertheless it did). A bit sweet. carne verde - good quality meat and sauce. The sauce included roasted poblano peppers.
Yet another very good plate. Clockwise from upper-left: egg casserole - despite simple ingredients, manages to be more interesting than most. mole - rich without being heavy. complex with a mix of chilies. yet, somehow not my fav. mushrooms - good quality, usual sauteed mushrooms. pork, potatoes, and salsa ranchero - the pork was tough. This was the only bad dish of the meal. chipotle cream chicken - great! I could eat this alone until I explode. tortilla pie - just tortillas and tomatoes, yet somehow quite good. really soft, fluffy rice
The highlights plate of my favorites: guacamole (which necessitated some chips), carne verde, fruit salad, and corn pudding. I would've put some chipotle cream chicken on this plate as well, but I'd just eaten it recently.
The three desserts I tried, of the many options: vanilla bean custard mixed with cubes of pound cake and strawberries - good. The attendant at the dessert table called this "very Mexican." I didn't catch its real name. Mexican rice pudding - decent. I'm picky about rice puddings, and this rating means I like it more than most, but I still didn't think it matched the quality of the rest of the meal. poached pear - cool. not my thing. capirotada (Mexican bread pudding) topped with sugar sauce - too sweet.
Clockwise from upper-left:
  • lentils with apples
  • refried black beans - unusually smooth and deep black-bean flavor.
  • corn pudding, topped with a bit of pickled vegetables and sour cream - when I asked what this was, the waitress explained and rightly called it delicious. I thought the toppings were unnecessary. Also, I liked how there's some whole kernels in the pudding. The dish reminded me in flavor of a dish I've made before and loved, though mine is a soup and served cold.
  • cochinita pibil (shredded pork cooked a particular way) - reminded me of brisket (which I know is made of beef, but nevertheless it did). A bit sweet.
  • carne verde - good quality meat and sauce. The sauce included roasted poblano peppers.
Yet another very good plate. Clockwise from upper-left:
  • egg casserole - despite simple ingredients, manages to be more interesting than most.
  • mole - rich without being heavy. complex with a mix of chilies. yet, somehow not my fav.
  • mushrooms - good quality, usual sauteed mushrooms.
  • pork, potatoes, and salsa ranchero - the pork was tough. This was the only bad dish of the meal.
  • chipotle cream chicken - great! I could eat this alone until I explode.
  • tortilla pie - just tortillas and tomatoes, yet somehow quite good.
  • really soft, fluffy rice
The highlights plate of my favorites: guacamole (which necessitated some chips), carne verde, fruit salad, and corn pudding. I would've put some chipotle cream chicken on this plate as well, but I'd just eaten it recently.
The three desserts I tried, of the many options:
  • vanilla bean custard mixed with cubes of pound cake and strawberries - good. The attendant at the dessert table called this "very Mexican." I didn't catch its real name.
  • Mexican rice pudding - decent. I'm picky about rice puddings, and this rating means I like it more than most, but I still didn't think it matched the quality of the rest of the meal.
  • poached pear - cool. not my thing.
  • capirotada (Mexican bread pudding) topped with sugar sauce - too sweet.
Texas State History Museum
The enormous star in front of the similarly large Texas State History Museum.
Another perspective on the Texas-sized building. (The last picture didn't include the whole front of the museum.) Notice the relative size of the people by the entrance.
The enormous star in front of the similarly large Texas State History Museum.
Another perspective on the Texas-sized building. (The last picture didn't include the whole front of the museum.) Notice the relative size of the people by the entrance.
Bremond Block
The John Bremond, Jr. House feels stretched vertically. Also, observe its detailed ironwork.
The Pierre Bremond House.
The Eugene Bremond house has a sweeping oak in front of it.
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The John Bremond, Jr. House feels stretched vertically. Also, observe its detailed ironwork.
The Pierre Bremond House.
The Eugene Bremond house has a sweeping oak in front of it.
There are dozens more houses like these in a one-block radius.
Zilker Botanical Garden
Part of the Japanese section of the Zilker Botanical Garden.
Ditto.
Ditto. A coi pond. The bird is a statue.
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Part of the Japanese section of the Zilker Botanical Garden.
Ditto.
Ditto. A coi pond. The bird is a statue.
The stones in the stream/pond supposedly spelled out Austin. I couldn't see it.
One of a few model old cabins on display. I like the atmosphere it gave the surrounding space.
Uncrowded paths to wander. Look at all the green.
In the "butterfly garden" (which I don't think was supposed to have butterflies but instead large statues of them), was this sculpture around a bench. It scared me at first: I thought those things that are meant to be birds were bats. Once I had this thought, I couldn't manage to get rid of this initial impression.
A panorama of the Rose Garden within Zilker Botanical Garden.
One of a few model old cabins on display. I like the atmosphere it gave the surrounding space.
Uncrowded paths to wander. Look at all the green.
In the "butterfly garden" (which I don't think was supposed to have butterflies but instead large statues of them), was this sculpture around a bench. It scared me at first: I thought those things that are meant to be birds were bats. Once I had this thought, I couldn't manage to get rid of this initial impression.
A panorama of the Rose Garden within Zilker Botanical Garden.