Finally Fall

Now that it's November, it's finally starting to feel like autumn just a smidge. This weekend we had a nice low key Halloween. Sam and I peaked a couple of years ago with our swapping places couples costume, and last year did comparatively little. This year our somewhat lame, last-minute costume was to be Woody Harrelson and Mathew McConaughey in True Detective (specifically the present day scenes). Those who haven't seen the show will perhaps not appreciate our homage, but I was validated that at least one person recognized us.

For reference, this is what we were going for. 

This costume was completed for only $.27 (for the felt to make the mustache) and the cost of a can of Lone Star. 

This was Sam making his Woody Harrelson face (not that I've ever seen Woody Harrelson make that face). In the end we never found a police badge, so the whole of his costume was just wearing a suit and being bald. Luckily, he looks good in a suit, so it works out. 

Once costumed, we met some friends on Rainey Street, a block on Austin that is pedestrian friendly and on which are a number of cute bars and restaurants adapted from old bungalows. It's a really cute area. There's even a bar that's owned by the same people who own one of my favorite cocktail places back in Queens. They have the exact same flooring and everything. Since it was still pretty warm, we set out on the front patio of a bar and enjoyed watching the costumes go by. Best one I saw was a girl who attached a bunch of streamer type things to a clear umbrella and went as a jellyfish.

Cool shot Sam got at one of the restaurants on Rainey Street. 

On Saturday, we continued the fall fun and went out to a fall festival in Bastrop. We were meeting some friends with kids, but I didn't realize just how kid-required going to this was until we got there and they arrived a bit late. There were tons of activities from pony rides to deconstructed bouncy castles, but very little to do without young folk in tow. Still it was a lovely day, so we got some kettle corn and hung out on a swing until they arrived.

Sam driving the old jalopy. This would probably be a better shot if I hadn't left my water bottle right next to him. 

Naturally, there was a corn maze. 

 On Saturday night a friend had gotten tickets to see Beautiful Girls at the Alamo Drafthouse with a Q&A afterward with Timothy Hutton. She'd gotten the tickets for her and her boyfriend, but I was a last minute stand in when he couldn't make it. I'd never seen the movie before, but enjoyed it. It was a little odd to go to the Q&A though because everyone else there asking questions was clearly part of this movie's apparent cult following. Nevertheless, Timothy Hutton seemed very nice. There's a scene in the movie where he leads everyone in a bar in singing "Sweet Caroline." The moderator of the Q&A suggested we all go next door to the karaoke/cocktail bar affiliated with the Alamo Drafthouse so that Timothy Hutton could lead the crowd in song. It was clearly a spur of the moment decision, as evident by the people in the bar scrambling to accommodate it, but it was a really cute little addition to the night. I do feel bad for the people sitting in the bar who hadn't just been to the screening and were just trying to enjoy their cocktails on a Saturday night and not have to watch a crowd of 50 people belting out Neil Diamond.

I did not go on stage, but I did get a few pictures of a blurry Timothy Hutton. 

Even though we had an extra hour this weekend, it seems like it was over all too quickly. Already looking forward to the next one! Until then I have an exciting week ahead of me, including voting for the first time in the state of Texas. Sure the people I'm voting for don't have a chance of getting elected, but it's always fun to be a part of the democratic process.