Austin has a history of making simple, everyday things seem unique and beautiful, whether its a personal yard or a public space, the city is loaded with crazy customized creations and the city's Sparky Park in particular is a must see for those who appreciate follies and grottoes.
Sparky Park got its name from its previous life as an electrical substation in 1930. For most of its life it was simply a utilitarian lot with a brick Art Deco municipal building to house the machinery (which is now an exhibition space) tucked into a quiet neighborhood of modest and colorful old homes. When the substation was overhauled to accommodate the current grid, the new machines were installed outside and quickly became an eyesore. In 2008, the City of Austin organization Art in Public Spaces, commissioned local artist Berthold Haas to construct a whimsical wall to obscure the new substation and make the park a serene, inviting, and almost fairytale place.
With help from neighbors (who have left their names if you look closely), an assemblage of karst stones, aggregates, mirror balls, slag glass, broken antique glass dishes, ammonites and other shells, painted stucco, petrified wood, molded cement frieze, marbles, repurposed ceramic disk insulators, and more old substation hardware was built. It shows clear influence from Antonio Gaudi's Parq Guell, 60's psychedelia, the Wonder Cabinets of 1700's Germany, the early 20th century Midwestern Grotto Culture, and the more conventional grottos seen in stately English gardens. Many of the materials used are local and impart a sense of place to the serpentine creation, shaded under large old Cedar Elms. Also on the site is a circular promenade with Crape Myrtles, Mexican Plum trees, Yaupon Holly, and a trellis tunnel with Trumpet Vine and Wisteria. Though tired looking in the 105-plus degree heat of mid-summer (mid-June to mid-September), it is lush and a perfect place for a sack lunch during the spring and fall monsoons.
This is a perfect place for children to explore and touch, and for the elderly or those with physical limitations to enjoy something stimulatingly offbeat without having to trundle up some dusty, thorny hillside. Sparky Park is a must see if you are visiting Austin or nearby towns and want to take in the flair of the weird that the city of bats has to offer.
Air Canada's Aeroplan program is offering 50% bonus miles for upcoming travel.
The basic terms are as follows:
-- Valid for travel between October 1, 2014, and April 30, 2015
-- Valid for flights booked between September 2 and October 31, 2014 (previously booked travel doesn't qualify)
-- Valid exclusively for travel on Air Canada, Air Canada Express, and Air Canada rouge
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I almost called this post ‘Sarcastic Shock #2′ — Star Alliance member Avianca is offering a 100% bonus on purchased miles in its LifeMiles program through September 30. You can purchase up to 75,000 miles and receive 150,000 miles — at a cost of $2250 or 1.5 cents per mile. I don’t like investing in […]
The post Last Chance to Buy LifeMiles at 1.5 Cents Apiece! appeared first on View from the Wing.
Several months back Etihad Airways revealed their brand new Residence product, which will be available exclusively on their A380s. There will be a single Residence on each A380 plane, which will feature a private living room, bedroom, and bathroom. It's unlike anything otherwise available in commercial aviation at the moment.
At the time they announced that their first A380 route would be between Abu Dhabi and London. The Residence came at a staggering price tag of ~$21,000 one-way.
The post How Much Is Etihad’s The Residence To Sydney? appeared first on One Mile at a Time.