Summer in Austin

Summers in Austin are always the best. Bats, kayaking, townlake, walk around downtown, festivals - you can do all sorts of things. I miss it. But anyway, I've been pulling out some old photos so I can practice editing.

 

Um. So this would be considered... #laterpost Heh. :)

Calling all sweets

You know those days when your body incessantly throws a tantrum for sweets and other sugar-infested foods, probably to satiate some kind of emptiness or hole you feel like you have in your life, and your stomach knows just what you need to cheer up your brain? I guarantee you I wasn't feeling like that the day we made a trip to Gourdough's during my last Austin weekend, but I sure hell did all day today. So I thought it would be appropriate to relive the great memories of pleasuring myself with the strawberry nutella powder sugar + whatever else donut at Gourdough's new Public House - apparently they've made a transition from being a food truck to a nice pub/restaurant. Only if I could've had that today. Heh.

Nutella = my ultimate kryptonite.

Sunday Brunch at épicerie

épicerie is a beautiful cafe with some awesome window lighting, low ceiling, beautiful outdoors patio, good wine & cheese selection, the infamous Blue Bottle Coffee, and a decent brunch menu. It's tucked right under 2222 & Mopac inside a neighborhood that seems to be quickly growing into a new, hip extension of Hyde Park area. I knew I was going to love this place when I was researching it after a friend told me to go, and of course - I fell in love the moment I walked in. From its simple, elegant interior to the perfect pairing of americano and a salted chocolate chip cookie - I'd say it was worth making the trip. Everyone I took with me loved the place, too (even though William claims he hates "hipster" places...whatever, I know he secretly digs it).

 

 

 

If you ever go to Austin, or live in Austin, you should definitely check it out! Take your dates on V-day, take your girlfriends, boyfriends, dogs, grandparents, whoever.

The Foundation & Alice at Houndstooth

Here's some background story about Austin's now-infamous "Castle Hill": interestingly, there was barely any graffiti there back in 08 or 09ish when some native Austinites would take us out-of-towners there only at night - because we couldn't trespass the private property during the day. It was kind of a secret place where you could bike to at night, then sit on top of the hill in front of the abandoned castle and watch Austin submerge itself into a deep, dark night. The Austin kids called it "The Foundation," which I sort of get where they got the name from, or some called it The Crow's Nest. Either way, it was such a big deal to have gone there back then because it felt so sacred and secretive.

Few years later, The Foundation became filled with all kinds of graffiti, and it's now a well-known photo op for many out-of-towners. I think that's sort of amazing. And the best part about visiting this place is that no wall is going to stay the same after - heck, even a day - because they keep changing! I have no idea who does all this but let's admit it - I love that this place became artists' playground.

I also had a chance to revisit my beloved Houndstooth of course, with some of the most wonderful girls in Austin. Finally had the chance to reunite with Alice, who just got back from Europe not too long ago! I hadn't seen her since our weekend in Denver. Ugh, I'm just super bummed that it's out of focus.

Sister's Birthday Celebration in Austin

My parents and I got to celebrate my sister's birthday in Austin this year. So I led them to Foreign & Domestic for dinner - a teeny-tiny trendy gourmet restaurant sitting deep in Hyde Park with a pleasantly open kitchen and hip staff. Food was pretty expensive - but everything was very savory and unique. Was definitely worth a try. We ordered the glazed shortrib, roasted acorn squash curry, and stew of scallops, mussels and clams. Yum.

Then Sprinkles Cupcakes for the birthday girl!

The first three photos from the F4 with Fuji 200...colors are always super funky with that one. Last one with the FM10 & Portra...probably my favorite combo so far.

Ericka & Hector - 1/19/13

Ericka and Hector's wedding was simple, elegant, and so comfortable. She was so down to earth, and I'm glad I got to have spent time with her family for hours before the wedding. Everyone was so cooperative and fun to be around! God bless y'all.

 

 

 

So, yay for shooting my second wedding. It was so much fun. I still have so much to improve on though. Color correcting some of these photos took me days upon days of re-editing from the scratch. So bear with me, please, I'm really trying my best! 

Story by RBG Images

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