LBJ Library, Austin, TX, December 2015

Lyndon Johnson was a complex individual who caused so many positive developments -- but the spectre of Vietnam will always hang over his legacy. I loved reading the Caro history of LBJ and, like many others, am waiting for the final volume. So, visiting the LBJ Presidential Library was high on my agenda for Austin, TX. The library was not quite as hagiographical as I had expected and well worthwhile to visit for a few hours.

The holdings can be seen from the second floor. Impressive and no doubt designed to be impressive.

A replica of the Oval Office .. and three TVs for LBJ who watched all the news shows, often simultaneously.

The Lincoln Continental

Cycling Austin, TX, December 2015

The Colorado River runs through Austin, TX. It has been damned and a lake created. One of Lady Bird Johnson's efforts was to create a bike path, at a time when this was unusual in US cities. We rode up and down the bike path on the northern side of the lake. This is an excellent resource. 

Bike path

Temporary public art

The lake

Culture in Austin, December 2015

Austin is known as a hive for youth culture. We were able to take in three cultural activities in Austin.  

A real fun event was the launch of the Naked Feminists, which is a comedy on the web. The writers and performers organized at the The Institution Theatre. An excellent evening of stand up comedy, music and the first episode of the show. 

The cast of the Naked Feminist

We attended a great performance of Dracula from  Different Stages held at Vortex, which is an excellent small theater,  bar and restaurant (OK, a food truck). It was done quite traditionally in terms of the script -- but not the staging. 

And then for something completely different, we attended the Christmas concert of the Texas Early Music Project (TEMP). Which was of the highest standard.