Austin, Texas - February 14th, 2006

Nice old homes right next to our hotel. Mostly lawyer's offices now.

It's great they were still there in any form, though.

If they were in Vancouver, they would have probably been torn down to put up more box-like structures.

Another sign from 6th Street.

Of course you are.

We had lunch at Las Manitas Avenue Cafe the day after the convention.

In the cafe with Jill and Sara from MARIA. [The Manitoba Audio Recording Industry Association] Or was it Maria from SARA? Oh, just kidding. I was subtly trying to get a photo of the woman at the next booth who was wearing the fuzzy hearts on her head [it was Valentine's Day after all].

At the wonderful Tesoros Trading Company next door to the cafe, which seemed to specialize mostly in kitschy religious artifacts and Hawaiian souvenirs. Here we are in the Demonic Section.

Check out their web site at www.tesoros.com

The Featured Product on the web site this month is the Jesus Hates It When You Smoke Ashtray.

We met Rosalee Sorells, Raven from DiggingRoots and others while we there.

We both agreed that we could have easily bought 3/4 of the stuff there if we had the money and warehouse space.

Great Beatles music box.

We hooked up with Val Cormier [CiTR's 'Folk Oasis'] and walked across the bridge over the Colorado River to the South Congress area. It was warm that day.

Very cool Taco Trailer.

Equally cool Ice Cream Stand.

There were many great neon signs.

The infamous Continental Club, where we would return that evening.

The Southside Tattoo Parlor next to the Continental, where Jill had attended an after-hours jam session a few days ago with the crazy Manitobans. She can't remember the secret knock, though.

More signs.

Laughing Snowmen in a store.

Secondhand stores.

Lunch stop - Jill after only ONE marguerita.

Jill and Val - once again, after just ONE marguerita. Each.

We carried on to Allen's Boots ... They had the most beautiful selection in the world.

Prices started at about $350.00 USD, unfortunately.

Val's favorites.

Jill's favorites.

An armed armadillo.

Jill's favourite shirt.

Back of Jill's favourite shirt. She bought it for her aunt. I bought a similar one for myself. But not that day. Another long story. Ask me next time you see me.

The decidedly phallic sign for the Austin Motel, where Val was staying. The "old cock and balls" as Val put it.

The Continental Club.

Here we are at Toni Price's Happy Hippie Hour at the Continental Club.

Toni can get right into a song ...

It was Valentine's Day. Hence the red satin evening gown.

Toni has been performing every Tuesday at 7:30 pm at the Continental Club for 12 years, and still packs 'em in.

Jill called her "the Patti Smith of alt.country". Pretty apt description. Read a good article about Toni from the Austin Chronicle HERE.

Toni Price. Photo by Paul Northcott.

Paul and Jill having a meaningful discussion about something, I'm sure.
Photo by Paul Northcott.

Jill dancing with a cowboy. Or maybe he worked at Art's Ribs. Or maybe he was in the movie industry. Never really figured it out.

Hanging over the urinals in the men's room.

We met Lynn Miles at the Continental Club and she said all the cool Canadians were going to La Roza Rosa. We figured we'd better go.

That naughty Lynn wasn't there when we arrived, though. But BR549 was, and they were piles of fun.

After they finished, we roared over to the University to see Hamell on Trial one more time. [Did I mention I was a fan?] We got there too late - he'd just finished.

We had a nice talk with him, though, and forced him to pose for pictures. The guy on the right is Paul Northcott of The Twisted Pines Music Society in Ontario.

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