A Weekend with The League - Godzilla at the Mall, The League Takes in Culture

End of October is always a nostalgic time for us at League HQ.  Jamie and I started dating in late October, just before Halloween, and as the season goes into full swing, we recall shopping malls in Fall.

Not really, but on Friday I saw on my Godzilla socials (and, yes, they exist!) that the Haas Racing team was in town for the F1 races at Circuit of the Americas (COTA, for the locals).  This year, Haas is partially sponsored by whomever is promoting Godzilla Minus Zero, the movie dropping on November 6th.  

Anyway, as some sort of cross-promo, they had set up a former Haas car outside of JC Penney's at Barton Creek Square, which, incidentally, is where we'll be seeing Godzilla Minus Zero.   They also had a 6 foot replica of our best pal.  And, most importantly, it was free to come gawk like a yokel.

So, Jamie and I headed over, arriving at the mall early - about 10:15.  And there everything was.

two performance machines, side-by-side

I know *nothing* about F1 but since it's in Austin I try to enjoy it and put it on TV - and all I know is that cars go real fast and it's a miracle no one dies.

I attempted to engage with the poor guy at their cash register, but he admitted he would not get to go to the track.  

Jamie, G, two dummies in racing flame-suits

I should have done a Minilla pose

Anyway, you get the rough idea.

As we passed through Penney's, I also spotted a name-brand I'd been relating to Jamie *just that morning*.  Back in the day, if I didn't get Husky pants, I felt I was getting robbed.  

To this day, I don't know if it's just a type of clothes for big kids or if it's a brand or what.  But I was delighted to see this sign as we passed through.

My folks popped by in the afternoon and we chatted for a bit before they had to roll home.  They're doing very well, thank you.

For dinner, we hit El Alma South - I am a nut for the Pollo a la Parrilla.  And that was our big night out to celebrate *31 years*  Sweet Christmas, time flies.

Then, we watched The Curse of Frankenstein to get in the Halloween spirit.

But we had museum tickets for Sunday, and so we got up and went to the Blanton Museum of Art on the campus of the University of Texas.

I was more or less interested in a small exhibit they have going on:  The European Avant-Garde: From Impressionism to Cubism.

But the big event was:  Haas Brothers: Uncanny Valley.

I had never heard of the Haas Brothers, who have nothing to do with Haas Racing (natch).  But they are... really something.

the pic does it zero justice.  This was as big as a real tree.

the blue guy was my personal favorite

The pink fellow?  Made with beads, all hand-done.  

There was plenty more, but I am not here to show you something that you should go see yourself.

We also did hit the other exhibit.  I assume you're familiar with the work of Picasso, Gaugain and Monet.

It was them and their contemporaries.

We also looked at the regular collections.

A Remington that was probably 10 feet wide

lady and child wondering why this old guy came in and said something racist

trying to remember how "Stairway to Heaven" starts

included for obvious reasons

a Warhol portrait of UT Austin alum Farrah Fawcett

We also visited what we used to call "The Chapel" when I worked on the UT Austin campus.  It's actually "Austin" by Ellsworth Kelly.  

Despite the fact I worked next to it for years, I never got to go in.  The chapel had odd hours, and I think they used to charge a premium to get in.  But now it was part of admission.  

You can see my old building behind the chapel.

Anyway, a lovely weekend with Jamie.  Happy 31 years!