Down in the Triangle, it's easy to believe

It's a beautiful morning, the first in at least a week sunny and dry enough to sit outside, but don't let that fool you.  The rain isn't done, not according to Channel 8: another inch at least forecast for this afternoon and evening.  So those of us lucky enough to have taken the day off are enjoying the outside time while we can.

Austinist thoughtfully reminds us that it's now 45 days since the rains began.  Shit.  We knew it was long, but that's crazy even by Texas standards.  They also post a list of other storm-related stats, enough to show we've had it easy compared to other parts of the region/state in terms of damage and yes, deaths.  Teach you to bitch about the weather.

The molds in the air are also totally out of control but that's another something you can't really yatter about in good conscience if you've still got an intact house.

So while we've got the morning I'm hogging it on the patio of the new Flipnotics at the Triangle.  Lyle Lovett's "Church" on the PA competes with the sounds of jackhammers and nail guns and worker's chatter from where the next phase of housing and commercial space are being built.  The constructions sounds are winning.  They always do.

(Speaking of Channel 8, I'm currently sharing the patio with someone who if he's not Andy Langer must be his twin.  He's looking pretty bleary at the moment, as an Austin music correspondent rightly should at 10AM on a Friday.)

I'm not much one for 78704-style cool so I've never hung out at the original Flipnotics (though I confess I did sneak in for a bathroom emergency once).  The new one seems determined to import some of that cool to perceivedly-bereft Central Austin, including live music performances.  I don't know where they're going to put much of an audience in that tiny space, but all right.  I expect the place will catch on eventually when people get used to the Triangle as a destination for anything besides Mandola's; for right now it's been pleasingly sparsely populated the few times I've been here.

I'm so pleased to have another coffeehouse in the neighborhood you'd almost think I drink coffee.  This makes four, with Quacks, Flightpath and Epoch.  Flipnotics has the nicest outdoor seating, I think, or maybe it's just this particular morning.  Someday the construction will end and Lyle can sing his heart out unhindered.