Although H-E-B is closed now until 6 am tomorrow morning, we observed that the Stephen F. Austin, the Driskill, and Doc’s Motor Works were full of happy people. (By the way, if you want to bring some of the Doc’s atmosphere home to your yard, Callahan’s General Store is having a sale of those metal Gandy chairs, just like the ones at Doc’s, tomorrow and Saturday, at a bit under $30 per chair, a bargain for these vintage-style items made to last a lifetime.) McCormick & Schmick’s is offering delectations not just of turkey and other traditions of the day but also its customary oyster arrays and crabcakes (here, I say, “yum!,” but where are the oyster crackers? Saltines just don’t cut it.). McCormick & Schmick’s, surprisingly, offers a wonderful cup of expresso, good and strong. This may be the third year for some of us to hit McC and S. There are always very large parties of West Austin people, as well as very large parties of friends of the House or families of the staff. There were very long lines of unhappy-looking people to be seen waiting and waiting outside Threadgill’s. Hoover’s was jumping. Luby’s is open until 8 pm this evening, and the parking lot is full. That’s where we’ll be heading in a little while for some of that good, good pie, so we can sleep well, dream of sugar-plums, and awaken fresh and frisky for the Aggie parade up Congress tomorrow morning starting at 8:00 am.

Update: We weren’t the only ones with the Luby’s idea. Pies! Brussels sprouts (they were excellent and fresh and sweet)! Cornbread! As we were leaving, tables were being pushed together for a large number of APD people. We counted 8 marked cars and some that appeared to be unmarked ones in the lot. I hope there was enough of everbody’s favorite items left for them.