Austin City Limits: The Philosopher's Rock

photograph of The Philosopher's Rock by Hallie Cohen

You might want to visit the Philosopher's Rock next time you're in Austin. It’s located in Zilker Park and commemorates the regular meetings of the naturalist Ray Bedichek, the chronicler and folklorist ,J. Frank Dobie and the historian Walter Prescott Webb who gathered regularly in a kind of Socratic discussion to hash out the problems of the world. It’s the perfect complement to Austin’s famed capital dome which portentously captures your eye as you  gaze down Congress Avenue, one of the city major thoroughfares. One of the side pleasures of visiting the Philosopher’s Rock is the proximity to Barton Springs Pool, a natural wonder resulting from underground streams that afford a respite from the city’s burning summer heat. When you first see Barton Springs you think you’re looking at a very large swimming pool, until you realize, the pool is natural and surpasses Olympic proportions. Like a lot of things in Texas, it’s larger than life. The Zilker Botanical Garden is another nearby attraction which amongst its many delights also includes a taste of Japanese horticulture in a Texas setting. Austin may be landlocked, but it’s not lacking in water sports. On a warm night you can join the crowds lined up against the fence of the Ann Richards Congress Avenue Bridge (famous for harboring the largest urban bat colony in the North America) to watch the sculls racing up and down Lady Bird Lake, whose paths are always filled with joggers running with or against the tides. Wonder what the philosophers would have said? Is the world in a constant state of flux, as Heraclitus argued, or is it stoic and unchanging, the view of Eleatics, like Zeno, whose famous paradox, about the tortoise and Achilles might find a fertile testing ground in this famed legislative seat.

Austin City Limits: Wagon Train

photograph of Austin Food Trailer by Hallie Cohen

Every city has its indigenous style of food. In Philadelphia you have the cheesesteak. Chicago is famous for deep dish pizza. In Austin it’s not the what is served (although Austin boasts establishments like Torchy's Tacos where President Obama recently made a pit stop), so much as how it’s served which is in trailer courts—that will probably remind you of the way covered wagons used to huddle together around the campfire on  westerns like Wagon Train. Picnic benches are set up in dirt and gravel lots that lie in the shadow of rentals, like The Coldwater, obviously named for another Austin institution, the spring fed Barton Springs Pool. The independent spirit of Texans and particularly Austin dwellers is often reflected on the advertising. Here are some sample inscriptions from one trailer: “It’s been our pleasure to insult you,” “Gluten allergies? Really? Cowboy up, you wussy.” “We got the goods, we don’t need to be nice.” And  here are some specialties from that self same traveling kitchen. The Shiner, the Lone Star BLT, the Spicy Southwest Reuben, the Texas Mesquite Turkey. The atmosphere is definitely put up or shut up, but you won’t be disappointed. Even Cowgirls Get the Blues might or might not be the mantra for these hard working chefs.