It was a busy time. Sandwiched between finals and SHSU move-out day, we took a quick trip to Austin to attend a conference and visit the capitol building, where some of us would like to intern in the spring of 2027. We made the most of it.
While Jacob and Zackery had visited the capitol building, it was Kayla’s first time. But for all of us, we had a chance to learn more, armed with information from Professor Yawn’s oft-given tours.
We learned that all the hinges on doors in the TX capitol have the State Seal on them, and that they are eight-by-eight, weighing around seven pounds…
…and that even the door knobs are photogenic.
We stopped by the Treasurer’s Office, which has been restored to its early 1900s look, and has many artifacts in the space.
We also went to the Rotunda, where one individual was enthusiastically exercising his free speech rights (which endured our entire tour of almost two hours)…
The Rotunda also displays 47 of Texas’s 48 Governors, with only Abbott missing. (Governor Abbott will not have his portrait done until he leaves office.) We picked out some of the more notable ones, including Governor Bush, who of course, went on to be President…
…and, of course, we found Sam Houston’s portrait.
With each new governor, every portrait has to be moved over one spot, all the way up the rotunda…
We also learned more about Elizabet Ney and her sculptures, while also exploring the House and Senate, giving us a chance to see some of the more picturesque scenes from the statehouse and giving us a chance to practice some photography.
We also explored the ground floor, where we saw the Medal of Honor display which seemed sort of lonely…
…the extension…
…where we saw the capitol dome through a skylight, and a bust of SHSU alum Gib Lewis, former Speaker of the TX House.
It was an educational morning, with lessons on the legislature and the capitol’s many connections to SHSU and Sam Houston the man.
Skipjack Oyster
Nestled in downtown Austin is Skipjack Oyster, about which our advisor spoke highly. Striking a balance between high-end and casual and relaxed coastal-inspired decor with lively energy, it was an escape from the busy pace of the capitol.
For appetizers, we tried some Oysters, including samples from six different locations across the United States and Canada, ranging from salty and briny to sweet to acidic, giving us a sense of how much variation can occur from the same food item!
We also tried the Salmon dip, which is smoked and adorned with chives and boursin, a creamy French cheese flavored with herbs. This made the perfect dip for chips that were delicious–indeed, we ran out of chips before we ran out of dip!
For the main entrees, Jacob and Zackery–who share a brain, apparently–ordered the Redfish, which offered a nice mixture of mild seafood flavor, supplemented by a tangy green tomato relish.
Kayla enjoyed the Seafood Tagliatelle, which featured clams, shrimp, mussels, herbs, white wine, and tomatoes. The sauce was perfect, well-seasoned, and complemented the different types of seafood.
This was, in turn, complemented by the Lobster Mac and Cheese, which was both large and scrumptious, offering a grated cheese and healthy portions of lobster.
Of course, we capped off the dinner with dessert, consisting of a banana cream pie and bread pudding, with the former winning votes as favorite.
In just a few hours, we were able to enjoy key elements of Austin: the capitol, its politics, policy, and tourism scenes, and the food, which is always a delight and sometimes the highlight!
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 