End of Silence

I noticed these a couple of weeks ago, but only now got the chance to snap a few photos. It looks like they’ve replaced the streets signs on Congress with new “Historic District” black signs with white writing. The east-west streets also now show their old tree names in addition to the numbered streets.

Most people are probably aware that 6th Street was once Pecan Street since there’s a festival of the same name and there’s also the Old Pecan Street Cafe. Apparenlty, 3rd Street was Cypress. Another little tidbit that many don’t notice is that the majority of the north-south streets between Lamar and I-35 are not only named after Texas rivers, but they’re named in geographic order as well with Sabine being the farthest east and Rio Grande the farthest west. This Austin360 feature has more on the history and crazy pronunciation of Austin street names.

There’s a story in today’s Statesman about the work being done on the new Country Club Creek Trail. I’ve been on the mailing list for this for quite some time and watching its development. There’s a core group of people that have been working with the city for the past couple of years to make this new trail a reality. There’s been a great alliance between the city, involved citizens and local businesses that have allowed this project to move at a rapid pace.

If you’d like to get involved, check out the Country Club Creek Trail Yahoo Group. They organize volunteer workdays (just had one yesterday as a matter of fact) to clear the trail which will eventually stretch from Roy G. Guerrero Colorado River Park at 8600 Grove Dr. to Mabel Davis Park at 3427 Parker Ln and ultimately McKinney Falls, assuming it survives the recently reported budget shortfalls and lack of funding. Once the trail is completed, it’ll be a great addition to the city park system and the developing east/southeast neighborhoods. Congratulations to all those involved. You’ve done an amazing job!

You can find a larger version of the trail map image included in this article in the Files section of the Yahoo Group

Update (2006.07.17): News8Austin also carried the story.

Kevin Smith has posted his schedule for his Austin Press Day promoting Clerks II tomorrow. So if you’d like to stalk him, here’s your chance:

Austin Press Day

10:40AM – PRINT INTERVIEW with MARC SAVLOV
Austin Chronicle

11:35 AM – PRINT INTERVIEW with JOHN DEFORE
Austin American Statesman

1:30 PM- PRINT ROUNDTABLE INTERVIEWS
Daily Texan
Austin Daze with Wendy Hartmen and Ross Weaver (Austin)

2:05PM- TAPED TELEVISION INTERVIEW with VICTOR DIAZ
News 8 (Indpt)

2:45 PM- TAPED RADIO INTERVIEW with GABE
KOOP FM (Public)

3:05 PM- LIVE RADIO INTERVIEW with BRIDGET & CARRIE
KAMX FM (HOT AC)

7:00 PM Austin Film Society Screening of “Clerks II”

He didn’t list it, but he’ll be on the MorningX with Mike and Jason tomorrow morning on 101X as well.

I loved Clerks and the latest installment looks pretty good from the previews. The original was released just about a year after I left my job as an itinerant Sound Warehouse employee. From the summer of 1990 to late 1992, I worked at three locations: Coit Rd in Richardson, the 10th and Lamar here in Austin, which is now a Whole Earth Provision Company and I spent the most time at the 49th and Burnet Road location. My favorite scene from Clerks was the montage of video customers, especially the one who says “Do you have that one with that guy who was in the movie that was out last year?” Classic. I can’t tell you how many times I heard nearly the same question.

It looks like there are still some balcony seats available for the premiere with a Q&A session with Smith in attendance at $37/person for non-AFS members after service charges. I didn’t want to see it that badly.

You’ve no doubt heard about the blasts in Mumbai, India by now. Being a member of a world-wide network of bloggers always makes things seem a little closer to home, but during major events or tragedies like this, it’s even more so.

The bloggers at the Mumbai Metblog have been posting their reactions to the horror,giving some background for those of us who may not be as familiar with India’s largest city and pointing out where you can go for help. Our thoughts go out to all those affected by the blasts.