AUSTIN: where IZ the fun?

[decodelighted]

Just found out I''m heading to Austin for a few days next month. What to do? Where to go? What to see? Hook me up TX-an PSCOPERS ... purty pleazzzzzze!

I''ve been there once before but I was working the whole time so I can only really remember Stubbs, Bats & The Alamo Drafthouse. Also checked out some old threads but they dated back to 2006 & such -- so I figure times have changed, new places etc.

MUCHOS GRACIAS!!!

 

[iheartscience]

Stubbs and Chuy''s are the two recommendations from my husband. He''s half asleep but if I can remember I''ll ask him for more info tomorrow. He LOVES Austin (I''ve never been) and we''re going to take a trip there in February or March so I''ll be watching this thread!

 

[bebe]

http://www.austin360.com/

you can start here.
as you know, there is soooo much to do there. I''m going in a week or so myself.

music on 6th street
shopping on funky lower Congress
shopping at The Domain
leaving Austin and climbing Enchanted Rock
walking/running the trail along side Lake Austin
getting a cupcake from the "Hey Cupcake" trailer

my daughter lives there and loves it, will never leave!
what do you think you want to do, I''ll ask her for ideas.

 

[Squirrly]

i was just there for new years! unfortunately i had to take a benadryl on NYE so i was knocked out that day/night, but we did get to walk around once i woke up the next day.
FI loves The Ginger Man, which has 81 beers on tap, we both really liked Pete''s Dueling Piano Bar and Max''s Wine Dive (we had champagne with our alligator bites and wild boar pasta).

 

[Gypsy]

I enjoy going to the salt lick. They have some amazing brisket, potatoes and cobblers.

 

[elrohwen]

Ooo, I''m going to Austin in a few months to visit SIL. I''m really excited to read everyone''s responses to this thread!

 

[elrohwen]

Date: 1/11/2010 1:51:29 AM
Author: Squirrly
i was just there for new years! unfortunately i had to take a benadryl on NYE so i was knocked out that day/night, but we did get to walk around once i woke up the next day.
FI loves The Ginger Man, which has 81 beers on tap, we both really liked Pete''s Dueling Piano Bar and Max''s Wine Dive (we had champagne with our alligator bites and wild boar pasta).

Funny, there''s a bar in CT that I love with the same name that also specializes in tons of beer on tap. DH and I will definitely check this place out while we''re down there!

 

[ChinaCat]

Definitely The Salt Lick if you are into BBQ at all. It''s a bit outside of town, but well worth it. Everyone brings their own beer/wine in a cooler. It''s rustic but authentic. We had our rehearsal dinner there and our foodie friends from NYC are STILL raving about the food.

What time of year are you going?

Some of my fave restaurants:
Guero''s on South Congress
Moonshine
Vespaio
Ranch 616
Taco Express for breakfast tacos- If you go on Sunday morning they have "gospel brunch" which is true hippy heaven

My all time fave bar is The Mean-Eyed Cat. It''s a small dive bar that is "inspired" by June and Johnny Cash. Awesome.

Also, Donn''s Depot is a unique bar. The ladies room is in a converted train car. They often have hilarious cover bands. The clientele is everything from young college kids to dressed up old couples that come to dance.

Broken Spoke is a true country bar, but really fun. If you go there, be warned that some older man WILL ask you to dance and you best just go with it. It''s fun!

Waterloo Records is one of my fave places to just wander and find great CD''s.

Wander up and down South Congress, tons of funky stores. It''s been a bit "gentrified" the past few years, but still some great browsing.

There is tons of live music there- try Antone''s on 6th or grab a paper while you''re there and pick a spot. Can''t go wrong.

What do you like to do? Will think of some more ideas.

If you can''t tell, I love Austin. Great place to visit.

 

[TravelingGal]

Salt Lick is good, but it feel quite a way out of the way.

6th street is fine, but there''s another area right near there called the Market/Warehouse area. There are some cool places to hang out there that isn''t typical touristed 6th street.

For a great little show, Esther''s Follies is worth a look. Been 3 times and it''s fun. Changes with whatever''s going on with the current political season. http://www.esthersfollies.com/

I went to Austin every Feb for 11 years...miss it. I should be heading there this Feb too, but we are not doing a tradeshow there.

 

[decodelighted]

Thanks guys!! Its cool so many folks are headed that way soon also!

Date: 1/11/2010 5:13:20 PM
Author: TravelingGal
there's another area right near there called the Market/Warehouse area.

I think that's where my brother's new apartment is. He almost rented a place in the live music area - across from Stubbs but chose the other area for all its day-to-day attractions/conveniences vs. the access to/ noise from clubs etc.

Am so excited he's moving there! (Maybe I hadn't mentioned that part ... oops!) I'm going to help him settle in & decorate etc. He did the same for me -and more- when I moved into my house way back when. But because he's only visited a few times & I've only been once we could use some ideas for our downtime & Cliff Notes for him on his new town.

 

[ChinaCat]

Salt Lick is definitely out of the way, but worth it if you are into BBQ. There are plenty of other good BBQ joints in town though.

Personally I would stay away from most of 6th street- at least 6th street to the east of Congress Ave. It''s mostly wasted college students and bars that have jello shots. There are a few decent places on 6th, but I steer clear. 6th St on the other side, however, is great and has many restaurants and bars (where Mean Eyed Cat is).

4th Street/Warehouse area is definitely more of the post-college and older crowd. So fun Deco! You''re going to love it.

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 1/11/2010 5:46:13 PM
Author: ChinaCat
Salt Lick is definitely out of the way, but worth it if you are into BBQ. There are plenty of other good BBQ joints in town though.

Personally I would stay away from most of 6th street- at least 6th street to the east of Congress Ave. It''s mostly wasted college students and bars that have jello shots. There are a few decent places on 6th, but I steer clear. 6th St on the other side, however, is great and has many restaurants and bars (where Mean Eyed Cat is).

4th Street/Warehouse area is definitely more of the post-college and older crowd. So fun Deco! You''re going to love it.

Yup, I don''t bother with most of 6th street anymore.

 

[Bleed Burnt Orange]

For Sunday brunch, check out South Congress. There are a few places. Magnolia's, South Congress cafe...etc. You can park in the neighbourhood behind those places and sorta pick a place. It's busy on the weekend, but...good food. There is also a new favourite of mine on 2nd and Lavaca called Austin Java. It's casual, and usually not crowded. GOOD food!

You could take a walk around town lake.

If you want bbq with a little scenic drive (not nearly as far as Salt Lick, even though Salt Lick is VERY popular)...County Line near Mt. Bonnelle. There is also Hula Hut for tex mex on Lake Austin Blvd, or Mozart's for coffee and dessert, also on Lake Austin Blvd, right next to Hula Hut. (all for scenery) Finally, The OASIS, gives you a view of Lake Travis, for tex mex. Oh...how could I forget...TRUDY's!! There are a few locations. The one near campus is always a cool one to visit....REALLY good tomatillo salsa, and KNOWN for the MEXICAN MARTINI!! (if you're a drinker)

6th isn't so much a tourist attraction as much as it is for a younger crowd. The warehouse area, 4th/5th and Lavaca area, has cooler places to just hang out. 6th is more for the bar hopping kiddies.

There is an art museum, Blanton museum of art, on the UT campus that is only a few years old (on MLK). There is also the texas state history museum across the street from the campus, right down the street from the capitol building.

Those are a few things that come to mind. Have fun! Austin is my favourite city!

 

[Bleed Burnt Orange]

Date: 1/11/2010 5:46:13 PM
Author: ChinaCat
Salt Lick is definitely out of the way, but worth it if you are into BBQ. There are plenty of other good BBQ joints in town though.

Personally I would stay away from most of 6th street- at least 6th street to the east of Congress Ave. It''s mostly wasted college students and bars that have jello shots. There are a few decent places on 6th, but I steer clear. 6th St on the other side, however, is great and has many restaurants and bars (where Mean Eyed Cat is).

4th Street/Warehouse area is definitely more of the post-college and older crowd. So fun Deco! You''re going to love it.

yes...West of Congress on 6th has a lot to choose from, before you reach Loop 1/Mopac. There are restaurants and bars that are very good!

 

[oobiecoo]

DH and I did a "tour de trailer" day where we went around and sampled the food at a couple of different trailers/stands that are quite popular. It was really fun! These are the places we went:

Flip Happy Crepes
Lulu B''s
Chris''s Little Chicago
El Chilito

Also Chuy''s and Trudy''s have amazing tex-mex food. Salt-lick is great... I think these were all mentioned above so just another vote for them! FYI- Salt Lick is BYOB and the wait can sometimes be a couple of hours so bundle up if you go because you have to wait outside and the weather has been pretty cold lately. Its worth it though!

The Domain is good for laid back but higher-end outdoor shopping with places like Tiffany''s, Neimans, LV, but also regulars like Borders and Macys. It has some nicer restaurants too.

Zilker Park is pretty popular if the weather is nice. If you are interested, the Capitol and its grounds are nice to visit.

 

[LAJennifer]

A very close friend of mine owns a restaurant on 4th Street. He is always there and quite chatty (Joe). He purchased the restaurant last January. The food is sort of a Latin/Caribbean Fusion.

Saba Cafe

 

[decodelighted]

Just wanted to THANK Y''ALL for all the great tips I used in Austin! Lucked out & had great weather ... got out just before the

snow

!

We called it the Gut-Busting Tour of Austin. Notable stops:

Alamo Drafthouse
Round Rock Donuts
Torchy''s Tacos
(some East Indian place I can''t remember its name - but I tried Dosas for the first time)
Flip Happy Crepes
Hey Cupcake
Chuy''s
Kolache Factory
Salt Lick

Food is B*I*G in TX!

 

[decodelighted]

Dosa the size of a cricket bat? That''s a D''OHsa!

 

[decodelighted]

Hehhhhehhhhehhhhh ... FIRE! Hehhh heeh heh*

*Beavis & Butthead

 

[HollyS]

Welcome to Texas, deco!

This is a good place to start: www.austintexas.org/ It's got a lot of info.

Try www.10best.com for Austin. (Or Frommer's, for that matter.) It will give you restaurants, clubs, attractions, events, tours, etc. And it has reviews by the public.

I love Book People, a super cool independent bookstore. Check them out on www.bookpeople.com.

If you've ever been to Katz's deli in NYC, you know it's great, and we've got the only other one. Close to Book People. Whole Foods is also in the same general area.

Are you coming during South by Southwest? If you are, you'll have plenty to do! Check out www.SXSW.com.

Tons, and tons of stuff to do, whether you are a club hopper or a museum goer. You didn't mention that you had been to Sixth Street. . . it's where the action is on any given night. Warehouse district has great places, as does South Congress.

Don't forget to 'people watch', especially if you're here for SXSW. It'll be like going to Sundance.

Have fun.