Austin takes one more step to becoming more like Gotham City. I don’t know why I always thought Austin had this Gotham City like feel to it. We have the power plant, the Frost Bank, Leslie the “joker”, and now we have Batman showing up to our  official animal induction ceremony. Now that would be funny if we could get Rick Perry to dress up and go as Robin. Actually, I just uploaded the Batman photo and I am pretty sure Rick Perry could be under that suit. Who knows, maybe we can get them to film the next Batman in Austin…just saying.

Frost Bank photo, Flickr user “Me and the Sysop” and Leslie Photo, Flickr user “Patrick J”

Mayor Wants Bat to be Austin’s Official Animal
Austin Business Journal

Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell wants the Mexican free-tailed bat to be Austin’s official animal and he will propose a resolution April 5 that would make it so.

Austin is home to the world’s largest urban bat colony and each evening the flying mammals swarm from beneath the Congress Avenue bridge downtown. Leffingwell said he plans to propose a resolution celebrating the animal during the city council’s next meeting. The city-sponsored “Night of the Bat” would take place at the bridge June 6.

Star of the 1960s Batman television series, Adam West, would attend the free event, that would also include a matinee screening of “Batman the Movie” at the Paramount Theatre. The official animal inauguration could also include a “Bat Run / Walk,” sponsored by Run-Tex and the a “Batini” cocktail contest sponsored by the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The resolution will be co-sponsored by Mayor Pro Tem Mike Martinez and council member Chris Riley.

Other event sponsors would include the Downtown Austin Alliance and Bat Conservation International, which will present a live bat show during the evening event and at the Paramount Theatre movie screening.