Austin Does Density (Crestview Style)

Friend of mine showed me the future of Austin. It's called urban density. You get more people living closer to the urban center. We visited Crestview City Homes and Crestview Townhomes, a chic housing development that comes with a price. The two story homes are adjacent to the Capitol Metro Rail stop-- near North Lamar and Airport Boulevard. You get fancy, deluxe interior decoration with architectural flair, designed to conceal the minimum of space afforded to each unit. Welcome to the 21st century!

It's cool, I get it. We are running out of urban space and single family homes with sprawling yards don't work in a popular place like Austin. People are tired of sitting in traffic. So this is an alternative. And if you have a job downtown, you can ride the train and get to work without the internal combustion engine fouling the air. These places go for more than $400,000, so they are not very relevant to the discussion of  "affordable housing." But let's face it, affordable housing has become an oxymoron. 'Cause none of it is affordable in-close to the city. Affordable housing... that's one train that already left the station.

The positive side is the lively social center extending from the north to the south, the east to the west. Austin is humming but, as Michael Barnes noted in a recent column for the Statesman, people socialize in their own part of town. Who can blame them?!

Monkey's Nest... always a full nest (Review #1)

First stop on my Coffee Crawl was Monkey's Nest (5353 Burnet Rd). I'm checking out the coffee houses within walking distance of my house.

Monkey's Nest hit a good stride almost immediately and tonight was no exception. I got there about 5:00 PM, on a Wed. night, and the line of parking spots alongside the building was completely occupied. The place has a warm, cozy feel especially on a rainy evening. Yes, rain in Austin, Texas! I got to the counter and decided no a cappuccino. Cashier asked "for here?" and I said "yes." Liked the results. Got my sturdy cappy in a sturdy, but graceful ceramic cup. A bit small, around 6 ounces maybe. Took a seat.

Eyed the place over. Very well designed, good feng shui. Counter to the side allows for an easy flow of customers. Lighting well-done. Got attractive globes hanging in the windows and above the counter give off a golden glow. Place is extremely clean and has a neatness and orderliness that coffeehouses do not always strive for. Must be working, they have a loyal clientele. Looks like a large table filled with maybe Iranian students, or some other Middle Eastern group, mainly woman. I glance to my left, a couple. I can hear them speaking.

They start on the subject of minimum wage jobs, and she quickly says "I'm 20 years old." College students. She attractive, slender, auburn hair and describes being tolerant of some wack  job she met at a Starbucks. "I thought I'd be nice, talk to this guy. Then, reptiles. He said George Bush is scaly underneath." Can see why she moved over to Monkey's Nest.

Guy says "aloofness." Then he asks her, "Is that really a word?"

She says, "It's okay. I'll accept anything with a ness or an ish. It's a word. That's our generation I guess."

This clues me that we may be on a beginning date.

He says something to the confirm that assumption. "You're above average. Some people below you, most people below you."

"Thanks," she answers politely.

Kinda dumb for him to says she's just above average. I think he meant in the intelligence department. But, hey, she wants to be superior in every department, just like all of us. She's superior to him in the looks department. Columnar neck, white skin, nice features. Delicate physiognomy. He has a soft appearance, flabby, with dark, heavy plastic glasses. But's he's smart, intellectual, just like she is. He pops the question, "Do you want to stop at my house?"

"For how long?" she deflects. Then demurs says "I don't know."

He read an entirely too long Stephen King series, ending up throwing out the window. She asks about "Even Cowgirls Get The Blues." He says "that's always sounded like a gay bar to me." Pretty good line. He suggests "We should do this again." She agrees but in a fairly non-commital way. She mentions "Epoch," another coffee bar in my neighborhood. "It's 24 hours, people go there and hangout. Study. But during the week, it's chill."

He has a joke... "What's the difference between a genie and a genius. One grants wishes and the other wishes for grants."

Not a bad joke, and I think this guy may turn out to be the therapist he plans to be. These two have graduate school written all over them. But she's not buying. They give a perfunctory hug and go their separate ways.

Thumbs up on Monkey's Nest! Maybe Epoch will be my next stop. Can go there anytime of day or night.

Austin Now and Then: Burnin' Down the House

Austin seeks to explain its incredible popularity-- the city to go to in the United States of America. How did this happen? Here is the conundrum... look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls. I will. Make that Merriman-Webster. Okay, a conundrum is "a confusing or difficult problem." So how did the funky city depicted in Slacker, the 1991 film by Richard Linklater, prove to be a magnet for creative types from around the country who now want to work and prove themselves as achievers?

The new arrivals wanted to catch that mojo... be part of the scene, etc... As the Austin-American Statesman pointed out "Austin used to be a place to check out. Now it's a place to check-in." So can a city built on peace, love and not working too hard transform itself into a place to achieve-- or is that a formula that leads to catastrophe and collapse?

Part of the transition is the decentralization of American life via the Internet. You don't have to be in NY, LA or San Francisco to put yourself on the map. Texas has a reputation for gun-toting extreme right-winger behavior so how does Austin continue to defy that stereotype? The roads have gotten crowded with shiny new automobiles driven hard by people with somewhere to go. A bit of an LA aggressiveness taking over the highways and bi-ways of Austin. The City Council struggles desperately to add mass transit to the mix. And people still love the city of Austin...

I feel the incredible devotion of the original hippie group that arrived in the 1970s continues to carry-over. The Oat Willie's "onward through the fog" character and Jim Franklin's armadillos may be forgotten or totally unknown to the newcomers... but they built this city. Like a mysterious, soulful life force they continue to guide this city unknown to most. But that's the foundation of Austin-- and it's had a magical success.

At some point does a city get overwhelmed by success? The Impressionists or Surrealists may have built Paris.... the rock 'n rollers made London... and Willie Nelson, the peace-loving cowboy made Austin. Who knows when it all gives in and folds in on itself and starts anew. But this is the Austin heyday for some and for others the heyday has passed.

Gusto Italian Kitchen-- restaurant review (Austin)

Gusto is an Austin neighborhood restaurant for me, but so much more. I lived in Rome in 1973 and Gusto takes me back to the glory days of Marcello Mastrioanni and Sophia Loren. 

The Sixties Italy tone is set by the stencil artwork done by Austin street artist Federico Archuleta.The pictures, literal icons, of these Italian stars are depicted on the restaurant walls along with Gary Cooper, Audrey Hepburn from the Roman Holiday film. How appropriate is it that Mexican-American artist Archuleta has the first name Federico? Federico... the same as the cinematic maestro Federico Fellini. Fellini's films always have a human dimension and an element of magic. Gusto Italian Kitchen has both of these qualities. 

My wife and I are always warmly welcomed by the staff. Cameron, the manager, takes time to chat and make us feel like family. The bar has Roman charm. I love the food. The Caesar and Mista salads are highly recommended. The pizzas are exceptional. I'm a seafood guy and so Linguini Frutti di Mari is my favorite pasta dish and the Cioppino is another savory seafood entree. The Rotini alla Crema is an excellent chicken entree. The chef clearly has taken time to design a varied, high quality menu. Recommend Gusto with the greatest affection! And the patio is the best in Austin.

Letterman vs. Fallon (Jan. 23, 2014)

Got engrossed in David Letterman's show last night, with guests Rachel Maddow and Spike Jonze. Knew that Spike Jonze directed "Her" and had a good track record as a director and wanted to get a first glimpse of him. Rachel Maddow was a fixture on my radar screen. She seems truculent at times but also has a Nancy Drew quality, the innocent on a mission to right the wrongs of the world. I never read Nancy Drew books but that is how I imagine the girl detective. So I got started with Letterman and liked the way he approached his two guests in very distinct ways-- Rachel worked as a technical expert, a politics aficionado with whom David could explore the Chris Christie situation and the scary aspects of the Sochi Olympics.

Letterman's interview with Spike Jonze went well also, but Spike has less TV experience than Rachel Maddow, of course. David used deft interviewing to bring out the best in Spike. Spike conveyed his appreciation for David Letterman's talent, mentioned his longtime viewing of Letterman and excitement on being across the desk from the late night maestro. David corralled the impressive achievement of Jonze's film "Her"... making the love affair between a male human being and a disembodied female computer voice something "accessible" to the audience. He joked with Spike Jonze how his film had been chosen for Best Picture but he got snubbed for the Best Director award. Jonze just seemed happy to be there-- there at the Oscar's and on the Letterman show.

Stayed in the late night viewing mode when I realized Jimmy Fallon had Jonah Hill and Dick Cavett as his guests. Jonah had fun stories for Fallon about his excitement around "Wolf of Wall Street," where he stars opposite Leonardo DiCaprio. One of Jonah's best stories involved a brief meeting with Joe Pesci after the film had been completed. Jonah went towards Martin Scorsese to pay his respects and to thank the director for a great experience. He noticed the guy standing next to Scorsese was none other than Joe Pesci, star of "Goodfellas," Jonah's all-time favorite film. He joked how Scorsese and Pesci conversed like two characters from the film...."did you tell da guy about da ting..." Pesci gave Jonah some memorable advice-- "get a helmet now and put it on your head every night and see if it still fits." Pesci warned Jonah many people are going to go up his ass, "making your head big." Pesci goosed Jonah at the end. Jonah got quite a life lesson and told a great story. He and Fallon did well.

But here's da ting. When Dick Cavett came out I felt a lack of experience in Jimmy Fallon. Certainly he was respectful of Cavett's memorable talk show career. The Late Night crew had even built a replica of the set where Cavett once plied his TV trade. But I sensed Jimmy's lack of comfort with Cavett.  Cavett has gotten quite old and does not have the snap, or the responsibility, to control an entire exchange.  Jimmy Fallon did not highlight the magic of Cavett's career, the in-depth conversations Dick Cavett hosted in his glory days.  Letterman honed in on Spike Jonze's uncommon achievement but Fallon did not do the same for Cavett. Perhaps Fallon was nervous, awe-struck? He does not have the interview chops at this early stage to help the audience locate a guest like Cavett, a man from another era but a man of substance nevertheless.

 Jimmy Fallon has proven himself to be a great showman-- already funnier than Johnny Carson as a sketch artist. Fallon sings and dances with Justin Timberlake and holds his own. Fallon has a bright future but a long way to go as an interviewer and all-around host. Your job is to take control and make all the guests look good even it it's at your own expense.  Letterman has mastered this art.

super bowl meditation

football worship as season culminates in super bowl orgasm of anticipation but not sure exactly why the adrenaline flows so much and the testosterone and the money flows and the chips, salsa and beer flows and is this what they call ritual? romance? obsession? or just pastime and passing time with something we can all talk about either Peyton Manning of Denver bronco-tude and the mile high and the Seattle super seabirds from the green and blue northwest.

obama prefers his son not play football and who can blame him and who's afraid of virginia woolf's kid getting a concussion or knee injury but you can out-source the physical contact and just watch on television where the grass is so green when it's not turf made by man and the lines are so white did Pepsi really invent half-time of course not but who are we to question their prerogative because they have enough money to buy history, reality, legend and legerdemain

but the allstate net catches the points after touchdown and they might even ban the point after kick 'cause it's so automatic and so what can allstate do maybe claim the football itself... the golden egg carried by 11 brave heroes while ersatz virgins cheer on the sideline that from philosopher jean houston not me but got a kick out of it as she sees joseph campbell paradigm in the football nexus

but how come the QB has become so important the source of all football power all Heisman trophy winners now quarterbacks does this reflect the power of brain power in today's world where muscle and industrial power and day labor means nothing, nada, nought compared to the computational algorithm of the mighty mind of the programmer football a big chess game and bobby fischer in pads has to be tall and strong-armed as well as brainy.... who knows?

Mitty's daydream.... Ben Stiller's triumph

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty by James Thurber ran only 2100 words. Ben Stiller works for me as Walter Mitty. My wife said he has the ability to look two different ways on screen-- 1) quite handsome and 2) quite ordinary. She said, "it's in his eyes, he's got nice eyes."

I found a review of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty movie in the Hindu Times. All hail the internet! But what I liked about the Hindu Times review is their suggestion that the Ben Stiller character never experienced the fantastic adventures we see him endure on his trek around the globe-- Greenland, Iceland, Afghanistan and the Himalayas-- in search of the Life magazine photographer stud played by Sean Penn.

As an aside... Sean Penn has earned some serious age lines in his face.... Sean Penn... the new Charles Bronson?

Walter Mitty fantasized it all. I hope that Ben Stiller was making that point-- so that we can say he stuck with James Thurber's original concept.

Woody Allen or Chuck Norris?

Listened to Terry Gross on public radio, an interview of author Scott Stossel on his new book My Age of Anxiety: fear, hope, dread and the search for peace of mind. Scott's book reviews the many anxieties in his life and the therapies and drugs he has used to battle against them. Scott mentioned a funny phobia-- turophobia, a fear of cheese. It's funny because I don't suffer from turophobia. But I do suffer from emetophobia, a fear of vomiting. Sorry about that... but it's true. I have not vomited, tossed beets, upchucked in about thirty years-- similar to the no-barfing track record of Scott Stossel.

Scott explained there is an anxiety spectrum-- going from the worriers, the most self-protective people, to the warriors, those most likely to encounter danger. So you got Woody Allen on the worrier end of the spectrum and Chuck Norris, the Army Rangers and Navy Seals on the warrior side of the spectrum. Must admit I am closer to Woody Allen.

Fear is a natural process, part of life, and talking about it helps unless you suffer from glossophobia-- a fear of public speaking. If that's your problem, I strongly recommend Toastmasters International, an organization I've been involved with since 1994.