Hit the road saturday after the farmers market. Goodbye to marfa! Spent last night in Austin. Now headed to the airport....

The view from the Whitley's turret where we had cocktails last night at sunset.

Sam and Luca, the volunteers, and Jen the intern


Also, the latest update on the radio station situation . . .and it's good news!

Wednesday Barbara and I had a big plan to hit the Chinati Hot Springs. Storms abrewed but we continued along Pinto Canyon Road. . .missed the turn off and ended up in Ruidosa. . .met Rusty there who put the fear of God into us when it came to flooding arroyas while crossing the dirt roads. . .we were so close, but chickened out, turned around and headed back to Marfa and the comfort of dinner with Chip at Maiya's. . . .Images from Pinto Canyon Road. . .neither of us felt ripped off as the (4 hour) drive was so incredible. . .

Last night (Tuesday July 24) was a fantastic screening of The Pool. Held at the Marfa Public Library the event was "sold out". . .people were sitting on the floor, and it was a record crowd for the Marfa library screenings. . . .and the response was great! I was really happy with the crowd that came and their reactions afterwards. . .image is of one of the flyers I put up at the Coffee Shop. . .I also put one at the Pizza Foundation and in the Radio Station window. . .the rest was word of mouth. . . Next to my flyer is one for Wallace Shawn's very contentious play that's running this weekend at the Crowley Theater

OK - so for some reason Dale Watson was cancelled tonite. . .luckily we got this information before we set out for Alpine so instead Rebecca suggested a cocktail at a spot she had been to for a friend's wedding, a spot we like to call the Chinati ruins

another big weekend in Marfa. . .24 Hour plays started 10pm Friday night, about the same time as a torrential downpour that lasted. . . well, about 24 hours. . . I shot the whole thing and the plays were pretty cool 24 Hour Plays photos from the Sentinel. . .Marfa National Bank (I just don't get how that works, to be just in Marfa, but also national. . .not sure) but they had a huge centennial party this weekend. . . Chip and Barbara (Doug's sister and her husband the bank president put on a hell of night). The line for BBQ was around the tent at 5:50pm (party started at 6pm). . . I am now the proud owner of 2 MNB coozies, a MNB CD and a MNB flash light - Thanks Chip!
Tonight Dale Watson in Alpine. . . his biggest hit is "Whiskey or God" . . .Tomorrow night is a special screening of The Pool. . . 9pm at the Marfa Public Library . . .Hope y'all can make it. . . .

Jenn and Drew, from the radio station, playing at the coffee shop next door last night. . .

dinner at the "boss's" house. Tom the General Manager of the radio station had a few of us out to his place for dinner last night. He lives in Calamity Creek, south of Alpine, a 45 minute drive from Marfa, but a pretty drive. . . .He's left town now because his wife is having their 2nd baby in Idaho (or Ohio. . .or is it Iowa. . . really not sure).. . .
They have chickens . . .and a great view of the sunset from the porch.

Trains go through town every hour so you spend a lot of time waiting to cross the tracks. . .
Cows at Lake Balmorhea . . .
Cows in Marfa
Balmorhea pool on a busy day - actually today . .
Clifford,Tom and Vilis's dog that I walk everyday

To any loyal readers. . .sorry about the gap in posting, but Marfa is a very busy town . . .lots going on. . .anyway here are some photos. . .
First, a holdover from last weekend. . Terry Allen during rehearsal. . .
Next, The Teatro Liberto. . . the venue for the gig, but I just liked the clouds
Next, a jack rabbit at my window.
Sunset in the neighborhod. . .the reddish house in the distance is for sale for $600 000.
Then, Jen (from the radio station and I went to Alpine on Saturday afternoon. . . this is their movie theater. . .

The big Terry Allen gig last night! - I shot the band rehearsing all day yesterday, went home for a nap and almost missed the actual show - oops! Anyway, made it back the Ballroom just in time for Bucca's opening act. Terry was great and I shot for 2 hours. . .some pics from rehearsal to follow later . . .

Also, a story about Marfa from the Austin Chronicle. . . .saves me having to write a lot of the same stuff

Friday was the start of a big weekend in Marfa! Among many other social events, a production of Romeo & Juliet by teenagers from the 52nd Street Project Teen Ensemble in NYC held at the Goode-Crowley Theater here in town. . .then a primer for Saturday night's big event from Bucca Allen (Terry's son) at Ray's bar - no still pics but plenty of video to come!

Today I met Terry Allen who is the big country music act playing here at Ballroom Marfa this weekend, actually at Liberty Hall owned by the Ballroom. Met (accosted)him on the street and he agreed to let me shoot his performance and interview him . . .seems like a cool guy, he's an artist also, I just found out, but should have assumed (this is Marfa) so should be inneresting. . . .More on Terry here

Happy 4th of July for yesterday! I spent the day at Balmorhea, about an hour north of Marfa. Shot some video and interviewed a few people but weather wasn't so great. . . . Pic here is actually from the last time I was there. . .this time the place was packed with local families. . . More info to come on the natural spring pool. . . when I go back this weekend. . .

Started as a volunteer yesterday at Marfa Public Radio -
check it out on-line!

You can take the girl out Milan . . . . Half an hour west of Marfa is Valentine (their post office gets very busy in February apparently). Another mile west of Valentine is Prada Marfa. . . if you click on the link below, a story from a Houston newspaper when the project was first installed, there is quote from a guy called Tom Jacobs. . .this is who I am doing the house swap with. . . Busy day. . .now I am headed out to my garden with a lovely wine spritzer, some corn chips and The Memory Keeper's Daughter (thanks Mum!). . .


Today's Roadtrip: Prada, Marfa (well, Valentine actually.)