12th Annual Out of Bounds Comedy Festival

About:
The Out of Bounds Comedy Festival is a seven-day live performance festival that showcases some of the best in improv, sketch, and stand-up comedy from all over the country and arround the world (for that matter). Now in its twelfth year, the festival will host over 500 performers in 120 shows over the 7 days leading up to Labor Day.

Picture from the Out of Bounds Comedy Festival Website

When:
Going on now, Tuesday, Aug 27 - Monday, Sep 2 (Labor day), 2013

Handicapped Accessibility:
Most venues have been updated to meet ADA requirements.

Website:
Out of Bounds Comedy

Admission:
$89-$120

Location:
Various locations

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Austin High School Rio Grande Campus

photo by Kevin Surbaugh

Inscription:
In Edwin Waller’s 1839 plan for the City of Austin, two blocks were set aside for schools at Rio Grande and 12th Street, then called College Avenue. The Austin School Board in 1881 authorized the use of existing school facilities on the south block to house the primary grades 1-4, grammar school classes 5-7, and high school grades 8-11. Due to increased enrollment, the school board in 1916 built the John T. Allan Junior High School on the north block.

In 1925 the Austin High School was moved to this location from a campus on the corner of Trinity and 9th, where the junior high was relocated. Additions to the complex here were completed later to accommodate the larger student body.

The late 1920s was a time of increased student involvement for Austin High. During those years the Red Jackets girls organization and the Red Dragon Drama Club were formed and the student newspaper, the Austin Maroon, began publication. In the 1930s, the nearby House Park Athletic Fields were developed. The school name was changed to Stephen F. Austin in 1953.

Used for high school classes until 1975. This site was later part of the Austin Community College system.

photo by Kevin Surbaugh

Erected:
1981
Handicapped Accessibility:
somewhat, although the marker is placed pretty high up on the pole. People i wheelchairs could find it is also a tight squeeze between the pole (that holds the marker) and the periodical platform (as seen in the picture above).
Location:
Rio Grande St and W 12th St.
1212 Rio Grande Street
Austin, Texas

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Happy Anniversary

Three years ago today I married the most beautiful woman in the world, and immediately started our four day trek to move to Austin.  The video of that day is below.

Austin High School John T. Allan Campus

Inscription:
An ornate, red brick building at this site served as the first structure in town built for the public high school, founded in 1881. Construction of the facility was hastened when classrooms in the former temporary State Capitol at 11th and Congress were destroyed by fire. Completed in 1900 from the plans of Burt McDonald and James Reily, "Old Red" featured a domed rotunda, as the school grew additions were made to the original structure.

Under the supervision of principal James E. Pearce. 1895-1918 and superintendent A.N. McCallum, 1903-42, Austin High School developed a quality academic program. Renovations included the John T. Allan manual training center and one of the earliest domestic arts (home economics) departments in the nation.

The buildings here could no longer accommodate the growing Austin High School by 1925 and plans were made to utilize the larger junior high campus at the corner of 12th and Rio Grande. The switch was made during the Thanksgivings Holidays of that year and "old red" became the John T. Allan Junior High School. Classes were held at this site until 1956, when the complex was destroyed by fire.

Erected:
1981

Handicapped Accessibility:
somewhat, there is no handicapped parking along the street and no curb cuts. The closest access to the sidewalk would be between 9th street and the church building. The marker is near the sidewalk.

Location:
 First Baptist Church
901 Trinity St
Austin TX 78701

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Moontowers

Hiding in plain sight around the downtown Austin area, these 165-foot industrial artifacts could be considered a marvel. Even an outdoor museum. They are collectively listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, in all of the United States, only Austin has surviving examples of this type of lighting system that was once popular in many American cities during the late 1800s. Only seventeen of the original towers are scattered around "old" Austin - with the greatest concentration being around the Capitol. Surprisingly, only two have been lost to automobile mishaps.
The pictures below were taken at 12th and Rio Grande. 

photo by Kevin Surbaugh

Inscription:
This is one of 17 that remain out of 31 towers erected 1894-95 and in continuous use since. Their carbon arc lights then illuminated the entire city. Now mercury vapor lamps provide beacons for many miles on roads and airway, from dusk to dawn. Austin is said to be unique in this dramatic method of lighting.



Erected:
??   by Austin Landmarks

Handicapped Accessibility:

photo by Kevin Surbaugh

Location(s):

	In 1976	as of 2010	Location
1	Active	Active	Zilker Park
2	Active	Active	Monroe and S. 1st
3	Active	Active	Leland St. and Eastside Dr.
4	Active	Active	Canterbury and Lynn
6	Active	Active	W. 9th and Guadalupe
7	Active	Active	E. 11th and Lydia
8	Active	Active	Pennsylvania Ave. and Leona St.
9	Active	Active	E. 13th and Coleto
10	Active	Active	MLK and Chicon
11	Active	Active	W. 12th and Blanco
12	Active	Active	W. 12th and Rio Grande
13	Active	Active	W. 15th and San Antonio
14	Active	Active	W. 22nd and Nueces
15	Active	Active	W. 41st and Speedway
16	Active	Active	West 4th and Nueces
17	Active	Active	E. 11th and Trinity
18	Active	Gone	East 6th and Medina
19	Active	Gone	E. 23rd and Red River
20	Active	Gone	E. 2nd and Neches
21	Active	Gone	W. 6th and Westlynn
22	Active	Gone	City Park (Emma Long Metropolitan Park)
23	Gone	Gone	E. 16th and Brazos
24	Gone	Gone	E. 20th (or E. 21st) and Longfellow
25	Gone	Gone	MLK (was 19th) and Lavaca
26	Gone	Gone	E. 14th and Sabine
27	Gone	Gone	Dean Keeton St. and Whitis Ave.
28	Gone	Gone	E. 5th and Brazos
29	Gone	Gone	29th St. and Lamar Blvd.
30	Gone	Gone	W. 6th St. and Lamar Blvd
31	Gone	Gone	North end of Granite Dam
32	Gone	Gone	East 1st and Waller
33	Gone	Gone	E. Cesar Chavez and Trinity

According to Wikipedia there has been two (2) towers that have been destroyed in traffic accidents, two (2) that have been blown down by tornadoes, and six that have been victims of rust and old age.


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Texas and the Civil War State Military Board

Inscription:
The only new agency created by the legislature to deal with wartime emergencies. Original members were the Governor, Comptroller and Treasurer. The last two in 1864 were replaced by appointees of the Governor. Purpose was to establish industry and purchase essential military and civilian supplies. Texas was largely dependent on imports for factory goods, so the board had to sustain foreign trade. Despite a federal coastal blockade, this was done through neutral Mexico and by use of swift blockade runners. The board sold and exchanged state bonds, U.S. indemnity bonds and cotton – which had a ready cash and exchange value abroad – for guns, power, copper, lead, hats, hoots, shoes, clothing, cloth, rope, blankets, cotton cards and machinery to start local industry. Agents of the board operated in Mexico and Europe. A percussion cap factory and a state foundry for cannon were built, by contracts, land grants and cash. Private enterprise was aided and encouraged to manufacture rifles, pistols and gunpowder. Lack of funds, poor transportation, competition for cotton and other wartime difficulties hampered effectiveness, but the board did much to make Texas “The storehouse of the Confederacy”


Erected:
1965


Location:
 2210 West 35th Street .
Austin, TX 78703
GPS:
30° 18.577′ N, 97° 45.634′ W.

Lilia and Josephine Casis

Inscription:
Josephine (1873-1947) and Lilia (1869-1947) Casis were reared in Jamaica, where their European parents educated them in the classics, languages, and music, before they moved to Texas in 1890. Josephine earned a teaching degree and taught at Austin’s Palm School for 33 years. Lilia pursued graduate studies in Europe and at the University of Texas, where in 1916 she became the first woman full professor. The Casis sisters left their estates to the University of Texas; in 1951 the Austin School District named Casis Elementary school in their honor.

photo by Kevin Surbaugh

Erected:
1994
Handicapped Accessibility:
Yes, in fact the handicapped parking and wheelchair access point(s) is right in front of this marker.

photo by Kevin Surbaugh

Location:
2710 Exposition Boulevard
Austin TX 78703
In the school parking lot by the handicapped parking area.

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Judge Calvin Maples Cureton

Inscription:

Judge Calvin Maples Cureton
September 1, 1874 – April 8, 1940


Born in Bosque County of a noted pioneer family. A legislator (1909-13); first Assistant Attorney General (1913-18); Attorney General (1918-21). As Chief Justice (1921-40) Texas Supreme Court, recorded longest service in court’s first century.

With wife Nora (Morris), built this house in 1928.

photo by Kevin Surbaugh

Erected:
1971

Handicapped Accessibility:
No, even though this marker can be see from the public sidewalk, the sidewalk is not accessible, and in some cases non-existent.

photo by Kevin Surbaugh

Location:
1300 Windsor Road
Austin TX 78703

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