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Loving Austin, Savoring Graduation, Admiring Wildflowers

If I told you this view was Africa you might believe me, given the terrain, but it is Austin, Texas, which claims some of the prettiest terrain in the state. The exact location is the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - a must visit if you go to Austin. 

Today on New York Social Diary I write about the Center and Austin and being in Austin for my son's graduation from the University of Texas. It's simple: I love Austin. Maybe its my Colorado DNA, that yearning for the field and prairie, for adobe and limstone and oak trees, and wildflowers. Big, open spaces. Hot sun. I love it all.

 

In Search of Cherry Blossoms

I walked the whole Tidal Basin Saturday and found only buds, except for this lone branch of blossoms. It looks like the others will follow next week. 

Mushroom Madness

It's been an eruption of mushroom madness in my garden in the last several days. The shady side has more than the sunny side -- way more -- and they are thick like a carpet. There's one variety that's about a foot wide, but it doesn't photograph well.  Not sure what it means, but here's what some of the others look like:

Photos From The Morning After #Sandy In Georgetown

THE GEORGETOWN WATERFRONT AT 9:15 AM, WITH THE POTOMAC INCHES AWAY FROM OVER WASHING THE DOCK

I went out this morning around 8:45 and walked for an hour. There were not many signs of significant tree damage in Georgetown. Most of what I found was general debris, some small to medium limbs, but no whole trees down, such as we had with the Durecho. Admittedly I covered only a mile or so. It seems to me the story in the village today is the waterfront, where at 9:15 am the Potomac looked close to bridging the Washington Harbor dock. High tide came at 9:33 am. Every single floodgate, large and small, was up, including at The House of Sweden. The Colonial Parking garage at K and 30th Streets had the sandbags and barriers out. The next high tide is this evening at 9:44.

THE COLONIAL PARKING GARAGE ON K STREET AT THE CORNER OF 30TH

The Washingtonian is collecting citizen storm photos for our website. Please send them to Tanya Pai at this link: SandyStormPhotos. We're also interested in learning what businesses are open or closed. 

THIS IS REPRESENTATIVE OF SANDY TREE DAMAGE I FOUND DURING A WALKABOUT

THE INTERSECTION OF M AND 29TH STREETS AT 8:50 TUESDAY MORNING

A MINI FLOODGATE AT THE HOUSE OF SWEDEN, WHICH FRONTS THE POTOMAC RIVER

TREE DEBRIS ON M STREET NEAR THE FOUR SEASONS HOTEL

LIMBS DOWN ON P STREET NEAR WISCONSIN

REASSURANCE, AT CVS ON WISCONSIN AVENUE

MOST LIKELY NO "TENNIS, ANYONE?" TODAY

Hey, DC, Do This: Visit The Yards Park

THE YARDS PARK: ALONG THE ANACOSTIA

To visit The Yards Park has been on my "to do" list for quite some time. Yes, I go to Nats games, but when I do it's strictly to the stadium and then back home. The other day my colleague and friend, Denise Wills, talked up The Yards Park and the fun she and her husband had there with their daughter. It jumped to the top of my list and I'm glad. My friend Christopher DePaola and I visited on Sunday. Here are some of the photos. It's important to note that we went on a Sunday morning, with no baseball game happening at that hour, and thus finding a parking space was possible. I'd made an attempt once before, two full hours before a game, and it was pointless -- unless I wanted to pay $20 for a surface lot.

THIS IS A WADING POOL. AT ONE END IS A WATERFALL, THE OTHER END THE ANACOSTIA

Apart from having to find a parking space, it was an interesting exploration of another well developed part of the city. We were so enthused we then went and explored the H Street corridor, the DC "neighborhood of the future." What that means is most of the people who live and work there now will move to PG or Montgomery Counties and H Street will become "the new 14th Street." I have no political opinion about that, because I'm a big fan of what's been done to 14th Street, especially in the vicinity of Logan Circle.

CHILDREN LOVE THE WADING POOL

It's easy in Georgetown to feel park-satisfied, because The Georgetown Waterfront Park is exceptional. The Yards Park is, too. Hooray for DC and the National Park Service (and the others who were involved) for getting this done, though it took almost 30 years to see the Georgetown park to fuition. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the Nationals Park stadium development was an impetus to get the Anacostia project done faster. The Yards Park runs to and from the stadium.

THE BOARDWALK THAT LEADS TO AND FROM NATS STADIUM, IN THE DISTANCE

Given that the park adjoins the actual Navy Yards there is a lot of nautical atmosphere. Old docks, now home to Ospreys, Seagulls and Herons; lots of handsome chain and rope. There is the Navy ship, the Barry (not named after the former Mayor), no longer in service except for tours and events, but which once plied the waters off Korea and Vietnam. There is a Swift boat (dedicated, no kidding, by John Kerry), and there's the Navy barracks (home to the Navy band).

THE BARRY, COMMISSIONED IN 1956, DECOMMISSIONED IN 1982. BUILT AT THE BATH IRON WORKS, MAINE.

SWIFT BOAT PCF-1, DEDICATED IN 1998 BY JOHN KERRY AND ELMO R. ZUMWALT, A RETIRED NAVY ADMIRAL.

NICE NAUTICAL TOUCHES ARE EVERYWHERE AT THE YARDS PARK

What I like best about The Yards Park are the walkable spaces, the greenery, the exposure to waterfront, and the history. There are some beautiful old buildings there that I hope get preserved and transformed into something useful. Near the Department of Transportation, along the so-called "transporation walk," a vast retail development is underway.

THE YARDS PARK IS WELL LANDSCAPED WITH LOTS OF GREEN AND CONVENIENT TEAK CHAISES AND BENCHES

A FEATURE ALONG THE "TRANSPORTATION WALK" OUTSIDE THE DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION

With The Yards Park, and the eventual renovation of the Southwest waterfront, we're nearly at a time when it will be possible to walk, bike or run from Key Bridge to the Douglass Bridge. Bravo.

Hey, DC, Do This: Visit The Yards Park

THE YARDS PARK: ALONG THE ANACOSTIA

To visit The Yards Park has been on my "to do" list for quite some time. Yes, I go to Nats games, but when I do it's strictly to the stadium and then back home. The other day my colleague and friend, Denise Wills, talked up The Yards Park and the fun she and her husband had there with their daughter. It jumped to the top of my list and I'm glad. My friend Christopher DePaola and I visited on Sunday. Here are some of the photos. It's important to note that we went on a Sunday morning, with no baseball game happening at that hour, and thus finding a parking space was possible. I'd made an attempt once before, two full hours before a game, and it was pointless -- unless I wanted to pay $20 for a surface lot.

THIS IS A WADING POOL. AT ONE END IS A WATERFALL, THE OTHER END THE ANACOSTIA

Apart from having to find a parking space, it was an interesting exploration of another well developed part of the city. We were so enthused we then went and explored the H Street corridor, the DC "neighborhood of the future." What that means is most of the people who live and work there now will move to PG or Montgomery Counties and H Street will become "the new 14th Street." I have no political opinion about that, because I'm a big fan of what's been done to 14th Street, especially in the vicinity of Logan Circle.

CHILDREN LOVE THE WADING POOL

It's easy in Georgetown to feel park-satisfied, because The Georgetown Waterfront Park is exceptional. The Yards Park is, too. Hooray for DC and the National Park Service (and the others who were involved) for getting this done, though it took almost 30 years to see the Georgetown park to fuition. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the Nationals Park stadium development was an impetus to get the Anacostia project done faster. The Yards Park runs to and from the stadium.

THE BOARDWALK THAT LEADS TO AND FROM NATS STADIUM, IN THE DISTANCE

Given that the park adjoins the actual Navy Yards there is a lot of nautical atmosphere. Old docks, now home to Ospreys, Seagulls and Herons; lots of handsome chain and rope. There is the Navy ship, the Barry (not named after the former Mayor), no longer in service except for tours and events, but which once plied the waters off Korea and Vietnam. There is a Swift boat (dedicated, no kidding, by John Kerry), and there's the Navy barracks (home to the Navy band).

THE BARRY, COMMISSIONED IN 1956, DECOMMISSIONED IN 1982. BUILT AT THE BATH IRON WORKS, MAINE.

SWIFT BOAT PCF-1, DEDICATED IN 1998 BY JOHN KERRY AND ELMO R. ZUMWALT, A RETIRED NAVY ADMIRAL.

NICE NAUTICAL TOUCHES ARE EVERYWHERE AT THE YARDS PARK

What I like best about The Yards Park are the walkable spaces, the greenery, the exposure to waterfront, and the history. There are some beautiful old buildings there that I hope get preserved and transformed into something useful. Near the Department of Transportation, along the so-called "transporation walk," a vast retail development is underway.

THE YARDS PARK IS WELL LANDSCAPED WITH LOTS GREEN AND PLACES TO SIT

A FEATURE ALONG THE "TRANSPORTATION WALK" OUTSIDE THE DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION

With The Yards Park, and the eventual renovation of the Southwest waterfront, we're nearly at a time when it will be possible to talk, bike or run from Key Bridge to the Douglass Bridge. Bravo.

Spotted In Georgetown, But Who Is This Gorgeous Creature?

NOT A ROUTINE BIRD SIGHTING IN GEORGETOWN, BUT WHAT IS THE SPECIES?

I may be bird nerd, but my expertise does not go much beyond Conure parrots, Pigeons, Doves and the little fellers who perch on my fence. So, I'm asking any bird afficianadoes out there to please help identify this gorgeous creature spotted this morning on the edge of the Georgetown University campus, overlooking the Potomac River. Very still. Not much bothered by me and my camera. 

LATER: More than a few readers report it is a Peregrine Falcon and may have lived in Georgetown for 4 years. Could there be more than one? Also, I've heard from readers who say it is a hawk. If you recognize this bird, please let us know: caroljoynt. 

Here's the bird's view. Can't really blame him/her for just sitting and staring. So nice to have the sun up early. This was 7:30 a.m. and the camera used was the iP4s w/ the Dynamic Light app.

Down IN The C&O Canal

THE C&O CANAL FROM "SEA LEVEL"

If it seems like I spend a lot of time wandering Georgetown and taking photos its because I do spend a fair amount of time doing just that. Its what I do between bouts of writing and job hunting. Sometimes I go out with a real camera, but most times it is only my Blackberry, as with the photos here of the C&O Canal. At the moment it is nearly drained and the canal bed is frozen, making it easy to jump down into it and take a walk, as I did today. Fascinating what you see. Lots of shells (I assume deposited by birds), and lots of human detritus (a shoe, a pair of eye glasses, a plastic bracelet, and so on).

I recommend this walk. I found an easy place to crawl down into the canal near the Key Bridge crossing. There are a couple of other places, too, and near Wisconsin there is a ladder. While the bed is firm it is not rock hard. You don't need mud boots but you do need sturdy hiking shoes. 

 LOOKING TOWARD WISCONSIN AVENUE BY THE WATER STREET APARTMENTS

In some patches you may have to scramble over ice or stay close to the wall, but for the most part there are wide swatches of canal to walk upon. Its fun. Do it. A unique Georgetown experience.