Non-caching visit to Austin, TX

[+ErSamin]

My other half will be in the Austin area (Round Rock, actually) for a weeks conference (9/29 - 10/3). He would like to have some recommendations for things to do in the evening hours. We are acquainted with the live music they have at the Cactus Cafe, and that is especially the type of stuff he would be interested in. Folk music, Celtic music, that kind of stuff. Other than that, what is interesting and easily do-able in the north Austin area (he will have a car)?

 

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

"Could be worse...could be raining"

[+9Key]

Most of the scene is downtown near 6th St and Congress.

Threadgill's, the original Chuy's, and Cadillac Bar are all near downtown and are my two favs when I'm in town.

Here's a good site for the music scene.

 

This IZ Chief Inspector Clouseau speaking on the pheaun.

 

[+ErSamin]

quote:

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Here's a http://www.austinlinks.com/Music/ for the music scene.

 

http://www.texasgeocaching.com

 

Thanks for this great site. This is just the type of stuff I was looking for.

 

"Could be worse...could be raining"

[+Mudfrog]

This is a quick little thing to do but may not be up his alley. Watching the bats emerge at dusk from underneath the Congress Street bridge is pretty darn neat!

[+TresOkies]

quote:

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Originally posted by Mudfrog:

This is a quick little thing to do but may not be up his alley. Watching the bats emerge at dusk from underneath the Congress Street bridge is pretty darn neat!

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October may be a little late to watch the bats.

 

Here is something that I once wrote up for visitors coming to our Austin office. It's a bit dated, but mostly accurate. For some reason, the LIST tag on the forum software doesn't like nesting. You'll have to figure it out.

 

Austin-Bergstrom Airport This is probably where you came from. It's a dadgum sight better than the old airport and it's pretty easy to get in and out (compared to San Jose, DFW, etc.). You get your rental car on the top level, just across from the main terminal exit. Taxis and baggage claim are on the lower level.

Downtown Austin There's so much to do downtown, that it warrant's its' own page, but I'll summarize....

 

• 
  
• Four Seasons Hotel 98 San Jacinto Blvd # 1, Austin, TX, 512-478-4500 Pricey, but nice.
  
• Radisson Hotel 111 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 512-478-9611
  
• Marriott Hotels 701 E 11th St, Austin, TX 512-478-1111 I'd avoid the Marriott. Personal choice, based on past experience.
  
• Driskill Hotel 604 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701 512-474-5911 The Driskill is the historic hotel on 6th Street. If you like staying in beautiful old hotels with tiny rooms, this is the place.
  
• Stephen F. Austin Intercontinental Hotel 7th and Congress. Across from the Driskill. A little less hectic pace, but a nice hotel in the downtown area.
  
• 6th Street About a mile of bars, tattoo parlors, street people, college kids, guys in bikinis, and a few restaurants. 6th Street from I-35 west to about Congress Avenue.
  
• 4th Street/Warehouse District Two blocks south and about 1/2 mile west, this area is more sedate, upscale, and mature than 6th Street.
  
• Congress Avenue Bridge Congress Avenue at Cesar Chavez (1st Street) Large population of Mexican redtail bats habitate under the bridge and depart nightly in the summer at sundown. Best views are from the bridge, not the banks.
  
• Town lake trail Congress and Cesar Chavez (1st Street) Jog, walk, bike and people-watch along the 6 mile trail going from Congress to MoPac along north and south banks of the Colorado River. It's a river, but we like to call it a lake.
  
• Alamo Draft House 409 Colorado St., Austin, TX Movie theatre showing second-run and historic movies. Sit down, order a beer and a plate of nachos and watch a movie.
  
• Capitol Area 12th and Congress.
  
• Bitter End Bistro and Brewery 311 Colorado St., Austin, TX 512-478-2337 Brewpub with with above-average menu.
  
• Katz' Deli 618 W 6th St, Austin, TX 512-472-2037 Austin's version of a New York Deli. They don't keep kosher, but you can get matzah ball soup and a knish.
  
• Hut's Hamburgers 807 W 6th St, Austin, TX 512-472-0693 Craving a burger, onion rings, and a chocolate malt? This is the place to go.
  
• Coppertank Brewing 504 Trinity St, Austin, TX 512-478-8444 Cross drunk sorority girls with guys in suits and you pretty much sum up the Copper Tank. Aside from that, the beer's ok.
  
• Ginger Man 304 W 4th St, Austin, TX 512-473-8801 About 75 beers on tap. Cigar bar, pool table, biergarten.
  
• Oil Can Harry's 211 West 4th Street, Austin, Texas 78701 512-320-8823 Yes, Austin has a gay bar. Get over it and act like an adult.
  

 

The University of Texas

 

See the clock tower where that guy killed 14 people.

Marvel at the football stadium that costs more than most all the academic buildings combined.

Hang out on the strip at 26th and Gaudalupe.

 

Robert Mueller Airport The old airport is closed. Don't go there if you are late for a flight and if you land there, your pilot has some explaining to do.

Arboretum Area The Arboretum has a bunch of trendy shops, a decent hotel, and a bunch of restaurants. The area around the Arboretum is full of strip malls with all kinds of retail.

 

Renaissance Hotel 9721 Arboretum Boulevard, Austin, TX 78759 512-343-2626 Nice hotel in the Arboretum.

Courtyard By Marriott 9409 Stonelake Blvd, Austin, TX, 512-502-8100 Across the highway from Arboretum.

La Quinta Inn 11901 N Mo Pac Expy, Austin, TX, 512-832-2121 Amazingly enough, not a bad hotel, for a La Quinta. Avoid the other La Quinta's in Austin, though.

Embassy Suites Hotel 9505 Stonelake Blvd, Austin, TX 512-372-8771 Easy access to MoPac and 183. Couple miles north of Palm offices.

Dan Mc Klusky's 10000 Research Blvd, Austin, TX 78759 512-346-0780 Better than average steak house. Usually has a jazz band on the weekends.

Pokey Jo's Barbeque 9828 Great Hills Trl, Austin, TX 78759 512-338-1990 Decent barbeque, popular lunch place.

Texadelphia Sub Shop 9828 Great Hills Trl # 140, Austin, TX 78759 512-338-1338 Good sub shop.

Brick Oven Restaurant 10710 Research Blvd, Austin, TX 78759 512-345-6181 Good pizza, calazones, etc.

P.F. Changs 10114 Jollyville Rd, Austin, TX 78759 512-231-0208 Upscale, trendy restaurant serving Americanized Chinese food.

North by Northwest 10010 N Capital Of Texas Hwy, Austin, TX 512-231-8157 Brewpub with neo-Southwest cuisine. Definitely worth a try.

The usual crap in the area...

 

• 
  
• Macaroni Grill
  
• TGI Friday's
  
• On the Border
  
• Outback
  

 

Dave & Buster's 9333 Research Blvd #A600, Austin, TX 512-346-8015 High-tech playground.

Rudy's Barbeque (North) Required visit. Mix a Conoco gas station with a faux-dive BBQ restaurant. Stand in line, choose your sides, and buy meat by the pound. Eat with your fingers from butcher paper on a picnic table with 200 of your new-found friends. Very crowded at lunch, so don't show up at noon expecting a quick meal.

 

Salt Lick Barbeque 18300 Fm Rd 1826, Driftwood, TX 512-858-4959 The best barbeque anywhere, bar none. There is a Salt Lick in the airport--skip it and wait for the original--it's worth it. A 1880's ranch house in the Hill Country converted into a BBQ restaurant. About 40 minutes from downtown. Buy your beer and wine in town and pack it in an ice chest because the Salt Lick is in one of those oddities of Texas--a dry county (no booze can be sold). On the weekends, the wait is about an hour, but that's OK--hang out, drink a beer and listen to the band.

 

Take MoPac Expressway south ALL THE WAY. Don't get sidetracked at 360 or 290.

Look out for the deer.

MoPac makes a hard right turn, turning west, and becomes highway 45.

Follow 45 about 5 miles to the intersection at highway 1826.

Turn left, going southwest, on 1826.

Follow 1826 about 8 miles. Drive carefully because it's two lanes and there are a lot of crazy drivers and deer out there.

The Salt Lick is on the right side of the road. Pay attention to the sheriff's deputy who is directing traffic.

Depending on circumstances, they will take names in the ranch house or the newly-built barn.

Served family style. Trust me, save room for desert.

 

Rudy's Barbeque (South) Trading on the success of the Rudy's on 183, they've opened another. I haven't been there, so I can't comment on it.

County Line Barbeque Considered "Yankee barbeque" because they put sauce on their brisket. Some folks like it that way, I guess.

 

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N35°32.981 W98°34.631

 

[This message was edited by TresOkies on September 17, 2003 at 08:13 AM.]