Lucille, Rainey Street – Austin, Texas

For the last Rainey Street bar portrait in this series, I’m featuring Lucille, one of my favorites. The architecture is certainly modest, with an artsy or perhaps trendy distressed finish. What I like, however, is how the house sits alone — among the trees — with no high-rises cluttering the background. At one time, all the Rainey Street bars where this way — before the giants took over.

The subtle curve in the roof over the door was recently butchered. Earlier photos revealed a support bracket which emphasized the curve — a much-needed flourish that accented the uncomplicated house. The straight gutter destroyed this delightful detail.

I have other Rainey Street bar portraits that I will reserve for now. Some structures are really dull; others have their own charm. You can tell, however, that Rainey Street is eclectic and worth preserving. With all the planned high-rise developments, I fear how it will change. Hopefully, it will not destroy the character that spawned this popular neighborhood.

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