The Driskill Hotel in Austin

Designed by Jasper N. Preston & Son in 1886, Col. James Driskill's hotel is perhaps the finest in Texas.

The Romanesque style building, which is located on the infamous 6th Street in downtown Austin, is considered a political landmark where politicians congregate for events.

It's also said to be haunted by Col. James Driskill, who lost the hotel in a poker game to his brother-in-law, Jim Day.  George Littlefield purchased the hotel soon after.

Sources: 

http://www.driskillhotel.com/

Wikipedia

Camille Hilaire

Art Appreciation

Considered a highly influencial French painter of the mid-twentieth century, Camille Hilaire was known to sketch his subject with tenderness and grace. 

Nu de Dos via blogerslorrainsengages

Sources: http://www.galerie-es.com/art.camille-hilaire.html; http://www.cambridgeprints.com/artists/h/HILAIRE.HTML;
wikipedia

Claude Debussy - Clair de lune

Claude Debussy composed "Clair de lune" based on a poem written by French poet Paul Verlaine by the same name. 

As we drove our newborn son home for the first time, I remember listening to Clair de lune as we drove into the neighborhood. 

Check out Stephen Malinowski's Youtube page at http://www.youtube.com/user/smalin.

The Littlefield House

ARCHITECTURE APPRECIATION

The Victorian architecture was built in 1893 by Confederate Officer, banker and philanthropist George W. Littlefield.  The Littlefield house, which is designated a national landmark, is located on the northern part of the University of Texas - Austin campus.

Sources: Wikipedia; http://www.utexas.edu/features/archive/2002/littlefield.html

University Baptist Church in Austin, TX

ARCHITECTURE APPRECIATION 




Designed in a Spanish Colonial style, the University Baptist Church, which is located on Guadalupe Street (pronounced Gwad-a-loop) in Austin, Texas, was built in 1921.  Architect Albert Kelsey designed the church to match the nearby University of Texas buildings.

Sources: 

Wikipedia

DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince - Parents Just Don’t Understand

Music Appreciation

I was thirteen when I first saw the Parents Just Don't Understand music video.  To the me the song couldn't have come at a better time.  I had just become a teenager and to me my parents were becoming an intrusion towards my quest for independence and identity.

Of course, fast forward 12 years later and you have a man whose son probably feels the same way about his parents.

"Well parents are the same no matter time nor place, So to you all the kids all across the land, Take it from me; Parents just don't understand."

Source: Wikipedia

Morgan Weistling - Reflections

ART APPRECIATION

Considered one of the greatest living American painters, Morgan Weistling began his career as an illustrator for movie studios, such as Disney, MGM, 20th Century Fox, and many more.

You probably remember the movie poster for the Last Action Hero starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.  That was done by him. 

Recently, Weistling has received numerous recognition and awards for his paintings that depict American life of yesteryear, such as this painting of a young girl looking at her reflection.

You can see more of Weistling's paintings and read about his history on his website (http://www.morganweistling.com/).  

Sources: http://www.morganweistling.com; http://www.greenwichworkshop.com/weistling/; http://www.motionpictureart.com