The TOWER coffee hour

09/01/2026

Tiny Road Crew at Work 🐜🪨
Slow travel means slowing down enough to notice the workers beneath our feet. Along this little sidewalk trail, ants hurried back and forth while one determined crew member cleared rocks from the route—lifting obstacles far larger than we would expect from such a tiny traveler.
No machinery. No traffic cones. Just teamwork, persistence, and a path that needed clearing.
Nature is always busy doing remarkable things. Sometimes we only need to stop and look down.
What small wonder have you noticed lately?

07/17/2026

I had a chance to talk with John Mills of Gradient Coffee Rostery in the neighborhood. Besides having lived on three continents and having a software job John roasts coffee in his garage. It's good coffee and a great story. Please listen and like.

06/14/2026

The PIACommission held its monthly meeting on June 9th at Austin Energy. Ronald McDonald House gave a presentation, Brian Dolezal gave a rundown on the new businesses in Mueller and the city staff announced an open house about 51st Street that was held at Austin Energy on Saturday 13th from 11 to 1 pm.

The PIACommission met on June 9th at Austin Energy. The agenda was ...

06/13/2026

Ani C**t visited the open house today for the City of Austin's plan to re-build 51st street from Berkman to IH-35. This project has been in the works for almost 10 years and the City is still missing opportunities to give us a serious changes that could significantly change the safety, efficiency and cost for the roadway.

The plans include bikeway/shared use paths on both sides with a median with trees for part of the distance. The inteersections have been re done to make it easier for pedestrians and cyclists. But....

The plan still includes 4 lanes of traffic, traffic lights at three of the four intersections and limited street trees. They will be "transplanting" some of the street trees which is an iffy proposition in Austin. The Windsor Park side is still missing out on a lot of the treatment that is planned for the Mueller side.

We did get a change to talk with all three of the candidates for the City Council District 9.

06/09/2026

The Mueller Commission is meeting tonight at 6 pm at Austin Energy. Here is the Agenda. It would be great to have a crowd.

06/08/2026

The Mueller Neighborhood Association just presented the second annual Juneteenth Celebration. Here are some of the artists that performed. I'll be posting interviews with some of the vendors in a few days.

The MNA schedules our Juneteenth Celebration early so as not to int...

06/08/2026

The POA Master Board May meeting has been posted. There was an interesting complaint by a community member but the meeting was pretty straightforward afterwards.

The Master Board of the POA held the May general meeting on Thursda...

05/22/2026

Great day for a bike ride

05/22/2026

Not sure what group this is but they were enjoying the morning.

05/10/2026

Had a great latté and a breakfast taco at Empowered Café this morning. They had the opening on Mother's Day? Try them out.

Opening on Mother's Day is a brilliant move. Come visit Empowered Café in the Parkside building facing on the park. The brainchild of Nicolas Carlin, Empower...