On Location #14 - The Cele Store

Behold the Cele Store!

It's located in the middle of nowhere in Manor, TX and has been featured in several films like a few of the Texas Chainsaw Massacres although since there have been several sequels and remakes, I'm not particularly sure which ones.

Its rustic exteriors and interiors make it perfect for period pieces like the Clint Eastwood/Kevin Costner film "A Perfect World":



And for the film "Secondhand Lions":



Both films also shot interiors at the store but when I visited it was closed so I couldn't take any inside shots. You'll just have to wait until I make my way out there again. Both films also happen to be very good and have the rarity of getting thumbs up on the EMI blog!

So whenever you have some free time on your hands rent them both and have a Cele Store Double Feature!

Marking Time #19 - Dodd's Creek Bridge

Salado, TX puts a lot of effort into giving off a "quaint" vibe. So much so that even their historic marker is quite quaint. Check out one of the few lenticular truss bridges west of the Mississippi:


The unique bridge was moved to this part of Salado to keep pedestrians safe as they walk through the impressive Salado Arts District.

The marker reads:

One of many patented truss designs developed by American inventors and engineers in the mid- to late-19th century, this 87-foot lenticular truss bridge represents an unusual truss type in the United States. The lenticular design features a curved top and bottom chord which forms a lens shape. The patent, issued to William O. Douglas of Connecticut in 1878, was the only one given for a lenticular truss bridge in the United States. Most were constructed in the New England area and in New York state. Through the efforts of William Payson, a salesman for Douglas' Berlin Iron Bridge Company, Texas acquired at least a dozen truss bridges in the late 19th century.
The Coryell County Commissioners Court contracted with the Berlin Iron Bridge Company to build four lenticular truss bridges for $16,500 in 1889. This bridge originally was located across Cowhouse Creek and later was moved to Dodd's Creek.
In 1990 the Texas Historical Commission and the Texas Department of Transportation identified eight lenticular truss bridges surviving in Texas. Four of the spans were located in San Antonio; the other four were positioned on out-of-service roadways. The only examples of this rare bridge type west of the Mississippi, they are recognized as historically significant engineering structures. The Society for Industrial Archeology and Historic American Engineering Record, a branch of the National Park Service, also have recognized the importance of the Texas lenticular bridges as products of a short-lived but important period of bridge technology in 19th century engineering history. The Dodd's Creek bridge was moved to this site in 1997 to improve the flow of traffic, protect pedestrians and enhance the Salado Historic District. (2000)


Like any good bridge, this one has a troll protecting it as depicted here in the sculpture "Billy Goat Gruff" by Troy Kelley.


The other side of the bridge has a sculpture titled "Lovers" by Aaron Gist.


And after you cross the bridge you are greeted by what can only described as a "Bicycle Fence."

The Geology Room at the Heard in McKinney, TX

Devin takes a quick look at some of the specimens in the Geology Room at the Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary in McKinney, TX

On Location #13 - "Whip It" on 6th Street

While we're in Austin we had to visit 6th Street. Our first stop was The Museum of the Weird but now we're going a little farther down the street for some more shooting locations from "Whip It."

At one point in the film there's the standard "love montage" featuring Whip It Girl & Whip It Boy having fun at various places in Austin. Here is looks like they just stopped by Roppolo's Pizza to have a slice and a quick piggy back ride:



Later they went down the street a few feet and took in a movie at The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema (which is one of the greatest movie theaters in the world despite the fact that they've never screened any of our films):


So that's another quick 6th Street visit. We've got at least one more before we leave Austin.

Fossil Hunt at the Museum of the Weird

Mummies and monsters haunt the halls of the chilling, thrilling and confounding manic menagerie known to many as the Museum of the Weird in Austin, TX. From Big Foot to mermaids, the shelves of the museum are filled with the uncommon and the unnatural.


But what do they have for the geo-enthusiast? The rock hound? The fossil junkie? Well, that depends on how strict you are about that "reality vs. fantasy" thing. For example, how about some fossilized faeries?


If you are interested in something a little more grounded in reality (then why would you come here?) then check out the fossilized skull of a Chilotherium, a.k.a. the "Dino Rhino":


The bulk of the rest of the museum pieces seem to be creepy creatures and mangled monsters but another fossilized find can be found in the gift shop. Check out these sweet ammonite earrings:


So there's a quick geo-run down of this unique place. It can easily be qualified as one of the most awesome places in existence so the next time you are partying on 6th Street in Austin, take 10 minutes to go check out the weirdness!

Marking Time #18 - Iron Works BBQ

A barbecue themed blog entry is long overdue so I hope you brought your appetites for today's installment of "Marking Time."

Iron Works BBQ is in downtown Austin and serves up heaping plates of smoked goodness with a side of history. The restaurant's site was the location for an actual family run iron works.

Their historical marker reads:

"Ironsmith Fortunat Weigl (1884-1973) migrated to Austin in 1913 from Germany with his wife Anna and sons F. Lee and Herbert. Work was scarce until 1917, when Weigl was commissioned by the noted local woodcarver Peter Mansbendel, who supplied a forge and tools. In 1922 Weigl established his own ornamental iron works, which he moved to this site in 1935. With the help of his sons, he produced original works, entirely hand wrought, for many significant Austin homes, the State Capitol, and buildings of the Universities of Texas and Texas A & M. His firm remained in operation until 1977."

So grab some lunch on your next history hunt. And if you need more convincing I'll leave you with this shot:

PepperGate

In case you haven't heard the sad news about the results of the Dublin Dr Pepper lawsuit you can read about it HERE or HERE. The bottom line is that there will be no more Pure Cane Sugar Dublin Dr Pepper.

To give you some background on the whole Dublin Dr Pepper phenomenon here is some video we shot awhile back:



Cool, huh? Well, forget about it. While they'll still be bottling soda the old fashioned way, none of that soda will be the sweet, sweet Dr Pepper that we've all grown to love.

Need comforting? Me too. Let's head to the Twitterverse for reaction:

Food Network's Science-Food God Alton Brown had this to say:

The Artisan Baking Company is circulating an online petition:

Mega-soda mecca "Pops" on Route 66 in Arcadia, OK offered their condolences (and some short term solace):

Laura Seay found some good ol' American capitalism in the face of tragedy (see also eBay):

And finally, e.lugo recognizes that this and other recent events must be harbingers of the end times: