Austin Texas RFI

What do you like to eat, do, etc.?

Stuff to do: we like beers, I understand there are some microbreweries in Austin; we like comedy, obviously Austin is well known for this; we like museums, art galleries; we like music, r'n'b to minimal house; we like shopping, clothes - and considering the time of year, probably Christmas presents that we can't get in the UK for less.

We also like to stay in areas which have places to eat, do stuff, and are also value for money.

I'm always happy to meet iLX0rs and show them around!

There are indeed a good number of brewpubs around, including the esteemed Lovejoy's, which is pretty funky. A tonier choice would be The Bitter End. Austin is kinda tough for art lovers. There are galleries and musea, most especially the AMOA (Austin Museum of Art) and the Jones Center. Sadly, UT's most notable space, The Blanton Museum of Art will be closed down while you are here due to a move. There will probably be something worth seeing at the Harry Ransom Center, though. Also, Women and Their Work, the d berman gallery, etc. http://www.inthegalleriesaustin.com/

Musically, Austin tends toward good ol' fashioned honky tonkin and college hipster stuff. In the former category, definitely check out Haybale Sunday night at the Continental Club, and whatever's happening at the Broken Spoke and Ginny's Little Longhorn. In the latter category, I'm kinda outta touch.

The Austin Motel is a great suggestion, but will probably be hard to book. If you feel like spending a lot of money, the Driskill, on 6th street is a pretty gorgeous and historic place. There are also numerous BnB's if that's more your thing.

anyway, were you thinking of renting a car?

I would like to second and perhaps third all of these claims. Does Ararat still have the lamb with hibiscus flowers? And Curra's is especially good for breakfast. Have a breakfast taco with spinach and black beans. And the chopped beef sandwich at Ruby's is... well, you could live off of them. I have.

(I have been out of a job for a month and a half, so no, I ain't doing anything that costs money these days)

$350 a NIGHT for rent during ACL fest 2007!

http://austin.craigslist.org/apa/408386789.html

If G. wasn't so paranoid about people being in our house, I would seriously considering renting my place out.

No shit, just talked about this with my fellow as well.

OK, March 2, 10pm, 72F, and humidity out the wazoo. This is what defines "froggy".

yeah wtf was up with the weather today.

fucking rain already.

Maybe I will stay at the vaunted Double-Tree next time I am in Austin because honestly the Sheraton is a little ghetto. Not even a fridge in the room, let alone a bar. Weirdos inviting me to drive down alleys and then crazy punks spilling out of Built to Spill down the street WTF with that dude???

Ha well dude that's downtown for you. Can't say we're much better in the weirdo dept, but we do have a bar and fridges and a restaurant and shit. Just remodeled too.

I can't afford to stay here at the regular rate, but ay you (or anybody else!) hit me up if you're coming into town, I can hook a dude up like $79/night.

"Friends & Family Rates" are a wonderful thing.

This is all business trip shit and I don't really give a fuck what my company's paying, but the "negotiated rate" is $210/night and this is definitely not a $210/night hotel. For 1/2 that in LA I get a minibar and snacks which are v. important traveling amenities.

Damn skippy.

btw

fucking rain already.

-- BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Monday, March 3, 2008 5:33 AM

I TAKE IT ALL BACK OH GOD

I'm an hour NW of Austin now, and can't work because the wind is blowing 50mph. This shithole little town has nothing to do, and I can't even buy episodes of the Wire on iTunes.

Trying to decide whether I want to learn to love Lost or One Tree Hill.

out in the burbs?

ps only go lost if you are willing to invest a bunch of time

only go one tree hill if you want to watch something terrible

one tree hill goes better with drinking alone.

rural - building a lodge on the Llano River (near... Llano)

Georgetown/Round Rock might be South Dallas... but I would gleefully take either of them over this area

STAY AT HOOS'S HOTEL

This winter has been so awful in Chicago. I am thinking of taking a schoolbus to Austin and spending a few days writing in my journal at a table outside the Taco Cabana on south Lamar, surrounded by grackles.

doooo it

TACO CABANA? you're better off at Hoos's hotel's hot breakfast buffet.

So, the gf and I find ourselves in Austin until Sunday. In addition to the fine suggestions found upthread, anything particularly unmissable going on this week Austin ilxors would suggest?

i hear good things about the doubletree hotel

^ lyar

nothin real big happening that i'm up on, just regular stuff. good jazz @ the elephant room. whereabouts you at?

I don't know of anything super-special happening this week either. I can't even say offhand if the bats are back from Mexico or if Barton Springs is open.

If you have the time on Sunday afternoon you should def. visit Ginny's Little Longhorn for honky-tonk music and Chicken Shit Bingo.

We're at the Crowne Plaza on I-35, thanks to hotwire and very last minute planning.

We ate at Polvo's last night. I dug it, the better half not so much.

Oh, and wtf is with your buses being so cheap? Paying fifty cents feels like I'm in a magical time warp. Or Pleasantville.

Yeah it's a beautiful thing dude. A buck and you ride all day!

drove into SW Austin looking for a guitar store (and/or because I was bored)

The 71/290/1/360 highway cluster is a fucking disaster.

yessir

i once spent an hour trying to get from one corner to another

How do you feel about the 183/360/1 interchange in North Austin?

so both NPR stations (89.x, 90.5) are mostly music? Do you get Fresh Air or the Diane Rehm Show at all?

http://kut.org

http://koop.org

schedules on sites

koop does Fresh Air - I forget when

I mean, kut has Fresh Air. Sorry.

afternoons booooo

Yeah Fresh Air 3-4pm. I don't hear Diane Rehm at all?

They ran Radio Lab during Terry's vacay last week and I think I have a new favorite show.

Dude the worst thing about leaving DFW is leaving KERA. (Well KTCK too). But you can listen on the www

No www in my truck/on the job, unfortunately. And even if I get Sirius for NPR, they have Rehm and Fresh Air on at weird times.

KERA has ruined me for all other NPR stations.

Is there a good bar in Austin where you can actually talk, no loud music?

The Grand!

Oily got me going there now.

Yeah, I like that joint. Crawling distance from home, too.

Wound up at Spider House which did the trick volume-wise (and there was an adorable cat monitoring the order pick-up window). But good to know about The Grand - I'm constantly searching for relatively quiet places to talk.

Check out the bar at the Driskill Hotel. Sometimes there's a piano player, it's always quiet... eternally anti-scene. De rigeur attire: starched white oxford shirt, new jeans, cowboy boots.

Anybody been to The Nomad bar yet?

Nope. But I'm a homebody.

it's too fucking hot to do anything. at all.

Me too, Hoos, and ryan otm.

There's a birthday/karaoke thing there soon for a friend I hardly get to see, and it's within reasonable staggering distance home. I should probably go.

I like Nomad! They've got a nice patio. Plus they're open until 2am now. Pints are a bit pricier than average, but being able to walk or bike there makes up for that easily.

I just went to Nomad for happy hour! I am drunk.

awez

being able to walk or bike there makes up for that easily.

This is an important trait, absolutely. But the last time I walked home from Carousel there was a car accident that looked like it was going to escalate into a murder as I was crossing 35 on 51st.

Continuing this weekend's drunkfest, tonight I went to the Poodle Dog Lounge! They were so friendly! It was so empty! Yet smoky. I drank a lot, but that's OK... I wasn't driving.

I did go to Nomad last night. Wow, hipster! Gang of Four and Pixies on karaoke, big tupperware boxes of cupcakes on the tables. Still, a pretty good time, except I'm still hungover.

i'm moving to austin next week. thanks for the recommendations. any other bars i should look into?

Gang of Four and Pixies on karaoke

loll

what part of town you moving to art hums?

austin is well known for comedy?

Gang of Four and Pixies on karaoke, big tupperware boxes of cupcakes on the tables.

Case closed.

i'm going to be sharing a house with two friends in hyde park. well, i'm not sure if that part of town is still hyde park or north austin. the house is around 51st and airport. i wasn't there for the house search, so i still haven't seen it (only in pictures), but my friends have told me it's a nice location. where in austin are you?

I wouldn't call that Hyde Park, but it's pretty close to me. And The Nomad. And The Grand. And The Carousel. And not too far from La-La's and Poodle Dog. There's a lot of places to drink in this burg.

WE'RE NUMBER ONE!!!!!!!!!!!

I am going next week for an astronomy conference! And I'm going to see UT Austin vs Stetson basketball on the Friday. Who are Stetson?

They are the reason Stagger Lee went flipping guano loco.

How exciting.

I almost never visit bars in my current incarnation of Austin-resident. There are some nice ones though if that's your thing.

i need to find a good one to watch rockets games because the local cable here only shows the damn spurs...

As a Mavs fan, I feel you.

I got League Pass last season but I don't know if I want to spend the money this time.

Oh good, the bus drivers and mechanics are finally striking.

hooray

Readers speak out: Fuck the union, we want scabs!

What a depressing blotch on an otherwise hopeful day.

The 37 will still be running but on a limited schedule.

I'm on the 10 now, actually, but same deal.

I don't want to ride a scab bus, though. I'm close enough to take the Red River and add a few blocks to my walk. I'll do that.

Thinking on it, I guess I could take the 37 if I wanted, but the 10 is easier.

guys, what bus do I get from the Days Inn University/Downtown on I-35 to party street?

party street? Like, the Capitol for election stuff or 6th street for teeny bopper drunks?

party street = wherever good times can be had on a friday or saturday night, which I understand is 6th street

In that case, it's only 5 blocks. How drunk do you expect to be?

5 blocks? http://tinyurl.com/699lj3

OK, that link just takes me to "Europe" on google maps. When I looked it up on before, though, it said it was on 11th street. Clarity is needed.

yes, bus from Europe

http://www.daysinnaustintexas.com/contactus.htm

thanks for the help, btw!

No prob.

http://capmetro.org

I think maybe the 37 is your best bet.

I would highly encourage you to hit Red River rather than sixth. Maybe jackalope or casino el camino if you must go down sixth.

I suspect I will end up going where I'm told, and the people doing the telling will be astrophysicists, but thanks for the tips. Where on Red River St?

Red River intersects Sixth Street near 35 and for three blocks or so east there are some cool bars/clubs there. Less drunk college students at least.

gold dust, thank you.

> I suspect I will end up going where I'm told, and the people doing the telling will be astrophysicists

I see the Crown and Anchor in your future.

Haha, Crown's not bad.

haha, I know exactly the kind of pub you mean.

It's walking distance from the physical science area of campus, too.

Relatedly: anyone heard what's going in where Showdown used to be?

I was just in a Daily Texan meeting where I heard it's becoming a Little Woodrows. I miss the Showdown. ;(

Got to work on time without crossing a picket line.

Walking? UT shuttle?

a little of each

god no more showdown suuuuucks

had my first legal beer there!

Wrote my name on the ceiling when I graduated. :(

Go Windsor Park.

Was woken at four by the police chopper circling our block. police chased after five guys ho had shot someone off St. John's. They shoot at police with an AK-47, cops kill one in front of the Short Stop on Berkman. Others get away. Every exit and entry to our neighborhood is blocked off but they let me out. Statesman is showing Chief Acevado in the parking lot of my Randall's. Hey! Watch those home values!

Yeah, when I turned on 8 this morning I was hoping the strike was over, not that there were running gun battles in a neighborhood where a few of my friends live.

fuck.

heh, my roommate was complaining about the helicopters last night... so many ILXors in the neighborhood! our house was outside the perimeter though.

i'm going to call news 8 austin and ask them if it's safe to leave my house yet.

I assume so. My boyfriend finally left and went to work. (I was brave and just left.)

this sounds fun! can't wait to arrive!

this town! good times!

(although it is unnecessarily difficult to purchase a cellphone)

What you in town for boss?

astronomy conference/sucking up in preparation for postdoc application/hanging out with film festival ppls

i have sunburn from falling asleep on a bench on 24th st yesterday

just had a dish called "protein 2000" at veggie heaven

ahahaha

Have you been to Ruby's yet?

Sorry I was just there last night, have BBQ on the brain.

No Ruby's. Went to Trudy's earlier in the week.

Veggie Heaven was full of these guys today: http://www.socialismconferencetx.org/

And El Chilito in East Austin last night was excellent

Ha I know those dudes! I went a couple years ago. They love drinkin.

re: the socialist conf i mean

You are hitting the best caek.

I did not go to the Crown and Anchor, but I did have most excellent times and now really want the paying astronomy gig at UT. I will revive this thread in three months if I get it. Wish me luck!

Good luck dude!

I am takin notes (post-SXSW).

How do you feel about chicken-fried steak?

Only had it once! Wonder if it wd induce cardiac arrest now.

I think Threadgill's on N. Lamar is the best place for CFS that's near the heart hospital.

thx

also is LBJ buried at the ranch or the library?

I...

I don't THINK they keep him on campus, preserved in a glass chamber like V.I. Lenin or some shit...

maybe just the gallbladder.

"Johnson was buried in his family cemetery (which can be viewed today by visitors to the Lyndon B. Johnson National Park in Stonewall, Texas), a few yards from the house in which he was born."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lbj

So, if you want to piss on his grave that badly, it'll be a day trip.

not particularly, he was our last good president. (well, Vietnam aside)

I thought you once started a defend the indefensible thread on him?

Anyway, a friend of mine works at the Johnson Center, so if you really want details about that joint, I can put you in touch. And/or I can show you the spot on the South Mall where my uncle took cover from Charles Whitman.

I really doubt i'll go out to the ranch, or do the Whitman tour. I'm all about the present, man.

Wise policy. If I start mooning about the good times I spent at Liberty Lunch or whatever, just make sure you get a good clean headshot.

Go to the LBJ Library to see the animatronic LBJ, nevermind his stupid grave.

i admit that's on my list

should I bribe someone to drive me to Lockhart for barbecue?

A definitive overview of Central Texas barbecue would take weeks if not months. You don't need to go that far for outstanding smoked meat. You might want to anyway, though, for the Hill Country while the bluebonnets are in bloom (I think you'll be here when they're in season.)

my transplanted friend recommends Salt Lick bbq, or in the city, Stubb's and Ironworks.

This Emo's show on the 27th at least seems worth getting drunk at:

Tribute Band Marathon with The Orgasm Addicts, Big Mess, Barracuda, A Joy Division Cover Band, The Black Squeeze, The Costellophones, The Lowelies

The Salt Lick is absolutely the best if you can find a way out there. Family style. All the meat you can eat.

Plus it's byob (meaning cooler of beer, in most cases)

Or it used to be. Egad it's been years.

Yeah Morbs Salt Lick over County Line any day of the week in my opinion.

Def. Salt Lick. The original in Driftwood is BYOB. Other locations are not.

One small drawback with Salt Lick: the price for Family Style has gone up dramatically in the last couple years. Only get this if you truly think you can put down massive quantities of Q, otherwise it makes more sense to just order a regular plate of whatever you want - much less expensive and you will probably still be stuffed.

Salt Lick is worth the drive. Best bbq in town at Ruby's on Guadalupe by UT campus.

Make sure to hit a taco truck while you're here. And don't forget what I said abt. Chicken Fried Steak! Texas cuisine is wonderfully diverse, except in terms of deadly cholesterol.

i've had chicken-fried steak in the east village, lol

Ruby's is a personal fave but I always feel impartial when I recommend it

Ok, is chicken bingo @Ginny's what I think it is?

http://www.austin360.com/food_drink/content/food_drink/stories/xl/2008/10/1009xlbars.html

Yes, it is called chickenshit bingo for a reason. Ginny's is great, but tiny.

fun? Yes.

I guess the dive bar I'll be closest to is Ego's.

Do any joints stay open past 2 a.m.? Damn, uncivilized.

That's when they've got to stop serving, so no, not really.

As for uncivilized? Yeah. We know.

I never really thought of Ego's as a dive, and it used to be one of my favorite places. One of my "moves" was to take a girl there when Bobby Doyle was playing piano, request something romantic, and canoodle in a dark booth. Now I hear there's karaoke and shit? Sounds awful.

Got Criterion Slacker out of the library to bone up on locations.

Scholz Garten, c/d?

Got Criterion Slacker out of the library to bone up on locations.

Sadly most of them are gone now.

Scholz - great if you're a lege/politician-type or an old German guy who will be allowed to bowl in the back.

My fave divey place is G & S Lounge. (Kenan, you're in Austin??)

love G&S. When I used to go there regularly all bottles were $2 and there was popcorn. Horseshow anyone?

Kenan left us a few years ago for the wintery climes of chi-town.

Horseshoe rather. Although I'm curious about any dive named "Horseshow".

What's the place on 5th where the old timers play Ronnie Milsap and stuff like that?

Tiniest Bar in Texas?

No something like Don's.

Ah! Donn's Depot. Lots of fun but soooooooooo NOT the place to be the evening Obama won. Atmosphere was gloomy and "Hotel California" was played twice.....

hahah

well, I figured Slacker-era places had been mostly... 'developed'?

yes but some spots are still recognizable

It's been a while since I've seen it, but the only location I can think of that's still pretty much like the movie is the old Daniel Johnston graffiti where Sound Exchange used to be.

it=the movie, not the location.

Yeah iirc it's a Vietnamese restaurant or a burrito place now or something?

First burritos then later (and still, I think) pho.

I miss the Kozik mural at that corner, too. Don't think it made the movie, though.

Crave, an over-priced sushi place is where Sound Exchange was. Apparently that is a historical monument now so can't be covered.

Old Austin I miss: Quack's on the drag, Mad Dog and Beans, Electric Lounge and *sigh* Les Amis. Too many food places there. . .hmm.

austin was officially dead to me when i heard les amis closed

losing les amis really accelerated the transformation of that part of campus into a total personality-free zone. it's like a street you see walking around town with a COLLEGE t-shirt on these days.

where on SoCongress shd I get my breakfast tacos?

If I eat breakfast tacos, it's near downtown. Sorry.

Hmm, SoCo. Your options are Guero's and Sol de Luna (are they still there? I thought someone said they moved.)

I'm not sure about Guero's breakfast although the rest of the menu is decent and I think they have the best margaritas in town. Is there a taco truck nearby? SoCo's gotten so chi-chi. . .

Is Borrego de Oro down at 71 good? I've always loved the name.

congress and 71, I mean

Old Austin I miss: Quack's on the drag, Mad Dog and Beans, Electric Lounge and *sigh* Les Amis. Too many food places there. . .hmm.

I've been in full-on nostalgia mode lately, after getting in touch again with a couple of old friends from, like, more than a dozen years ago. We all worked at Quack's (on the drag) together. We hung out at Les Amis and ate those big, cheap bowls of black beans and rice while smoking fancy foreign cigarettes from Pipes Plus next door. We bummed car rides off anyone who would take us to Barton Creek and Sculpture Falls. We smoked pot every single day, many times a day, without exception, for years. At some point every person in that social circle had either been roommates with another person, or at the very least slept with them. Those were some alright times, man, for true.

It sounds crazy, but I used to have a tan.

i'll be near Gueros, yeah

We hung out at Les Amis and ate those big, cheap bowls of black beans and rice while smoking fancy foreign cigarettes from Pipes Plus next door.

Are you sure we weren't friends in college? I liked Dunhills.

And you must've made me a peanut butter espresso shake at some point.

everyone seems to be down on the Guadalupe drag compared to 10-20 years ago.

Anyone seen this @Arthouse yet?

http://www.arthousetexas.org/index.php?_page=load_page&_id=Stokes

Maybe I will head there Friday before I go to Emo's.

also I guess I will make a special trip for Bookpeople & Waterloo Recs

jeez, in honor of my visit the Johnson Library is showing Forbidden Planet Saturday morning!

http://www.lbjlib.utexas.edu/johnson/press.hom/press_releases_details.cfm?ID=144

http://www.yelp.com/biz/izzoz-tacos-austin-2

A coworker swears by this spot on South 1st for tacos. Lunch, not breakfast, though.

note. don't know if I'll be in the area for lunch, and I do wanna get to Guero's.

Might do weekend pilgrimage to Cathedral of Junk:

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/7816

just had barbecue in Lockhart!

on way to Beerland, maybe i can catch bats flying from the bridge...

Hey, looks like there is an article about The Austin Chronic in the New York Times today.

Thanx you Dr. Morbius for giving me the opportunity to become a tourist in the town I've lived in off and on for the last 5 years. And hereby apologize one last time for hating parks and live music.

The highlight of the weekend for me was definitely The Cathedral of Junk. It was alternately depressing and exhilarating. I will definitely revisit. Do NOT miss it!

P.s If you drive in Austin, pretty please with sugar on top USE YOUR !@#$%^&*(@#$%^&*()@#$%^&*)*&^%$#$% TURN SIGNAL!!! Thank you.

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/7816

http://tacojournalism.blogspot.com/

omg New Oriental Market (NOM) in-store diner!

my friend thank you for this

lamar and airport! $5 spicy octopus and vegetable noodle bowl!

GO!

NOW!

hi i'm going to austin this week. what do i do?

my man

Weird, I was just skimming this thread while trying to ascertain which ILXors live in TX.

i will be at the society of american archivists conference wed-sun. all my nights are free afaik. anything i should check out? x-post hi HOOS!

eat tacos. see some bands. eat bbq. see more bands. drink some local beer. have one with me!

yeah totally!! i'll send u a web mail

Go to UCHI! mmmm good sushi! 801 S Lamar Blvd www.uchiaustin.com

going to add "eat tacos" and "eat bbq" to my "conference priorities" list, thx.

SAA! i know one or two ppl going, wish i was too

I lived in Austin for most of my 20's and still visit as often as I can. Like Sunny River said, Go to Uchi, and try the Pork Belly!!!! Go to Curra's And have Mole Enchiladas. Go to Ruby's and have brisket. Go drink wine at Mulberry.

yeah talking about humidity control and the price of acid-free folders is a total party lol xpost

I can not stress how much you should try to Pork belly at Uchi's. It will change the way you think of pork.

mmmmm okay

Ruby's otm x 100000

can't spend a lot of $ tbh xpost

I know it sounds strange, but it taste like sin. So Good

And actually don't webmail me it's broken email me at ju5t1n5m1th1986 at gangstamail.

except with s's and I's instead of 5s and 1s where the name is

in my experience archivists like to drink alcohol w/ other archivists and some are total bros so that can be fun xpost

Big Hoo's, how long have you lived in Austin?

okay xxpost

archivists are teh best

hi fivez!

ooo are you one too? what's the secret password

going to use the "career center" there and "network" in order to "find a job"

and "realize my potential"!

"provenance"

u: sirhilaryjenkinson
p: provenance

Big Hoo's, how long have you lived in Austin?

― Jacob Sanders, Monday, August 10, 2009 11:12 PM (9 minutes ago) Bookmark

On and off for about 10 years.

media archivists have their own password to the VIP lounge but i am NOT TELLING

Matty P. I'm here so we should hang. Plus I can tell you who to schmooze at the conference.

It's total cliche, but jump in a barton spring.

kjb does your webmail work, i sent u one.

btw matt i have not received u mails

I got it Matt. Wed. and most likely Sat. are out. But all other evenings are in. I'll text you.

Matt P rocks! And how did I not know about Lulu's before this year? The sense of relief (and slight mischief) one gets from all that illegal smoking reminds me of Fahrenheit 451.

Do you mean La-las?

Um, OOPS! Yes, I mean Lala's. Thanx.

If you were there Friday, we FAPPED without knowing it.

gross

I'm really sorry I wasn't able to give you a ring this weekend Matt, issues with my roommate kinda got in the way unexpectedly + an old bro suddenly needed breakup consolation on the day I'd set aside for fappage. Will you be swinging back this way anytime soon?

Oilyrags, ha! We were there Friday 10 to 1:30ish.

And what's gross, hoos?

Near(ish) miss, then. My party arrived after work and rolled out ~9.

I was jokingly suggesting that "we FAPPED without knowing it" was a kind of sexual euphemism.

I'd love to meet up with some Austin folks if y'all go out for beerz again.

I'd always wondered if there were enough Austin ilxors to make an actual fap an occassional thing. There's me & Oily & KJB & "ilxor" & Ms Misery iirc. Are you a permanent local kijiji? I'll pretty much take any excuse to down a few beers with new friends.

Yep, moved here in feb., tho I live semi-far n off wells branch. Have been going to shows but not too many bars. Also have a 3 mo. old son so free time is @ a premium. But weekends usually work!

my band is playing there in february, @ shangri-la. salt lick here i come!

weekend after this one, feb 13 - 14. any tips on on stuff to do or hot shows (we have an early show on saturday, so we'll be able to hang out that night) would be welcome.

Sir Lord Baltimore is on the jukebox at The Parlor on Guadalupe.

Just sayin'.

hi guys, i will be in austin later this week. i will mainly be working and i have to keep an eye on my sleep schedule because i'm observing during the night the following week. so i probably won't be doing anything fun at all EXCEPT...

where is the best place to watch the england - usa match on saturday? i'm getting confused about time zones, but i think kickoff will be at 1.30 texas time. i think am staying a couple of blocks east of guadalupe at ~22nd, so somewhere walking distance from there would be good. but if the place where everyone will be is, e.g. down on 6th or something then i don't mind getting a cab. i want to go somewhere i can drink too much and where other people will be watching the game. i'm guessing getting a seat won't be difficult for a football match at this time of day in texas, but lemme know if that might be an issue.

hi caeky i can't be of much help but these people seem to have some ideas

thanks! this is great. cuatro's is near me, so that will probably be fine. all i had found was this. fado's looked like every other american irish pub, so i was hoping to avoid that.

yeah fado's is a chain too, BLECH to them

caek--you also may want to check out Dog & Duck Pub (Guadalupe & 17th) or Crown & Anchor Pub (San Jacinto & 30th. Both are fairly close to your location.

i am now at my location! it is hot! my taxi driver was 1/8 cherokee!

and he did not like the english (1/8 dutch so he sides with the boer on the whole south africa thing -- no joke, that is his reason)

Dudes, going to Austin for work May 15th-17th. Not sure how much downtime I'm going to have, its a pretty quick trip for work stuff, but what should I make a priority to hit? Record shops? Food?

Go to Antoines Records, Friends of Sound off south congress, backspin off Airport, and End Of and Ear of south first, all great record stores.

Nice, thanks!

What kind of food do you like? Are you going to be mobile or mostly in one part of town?

If you don't mind spending a little money on food and want a really nice cocktail, Haddingtons off 6th st has the best burger I have had. Seriously it's worth the money.

I'm pretty open as far as food suggestions, but I'm feeling the craving for some good barbecue while I'm there. I'll be pretty stationary, the hotel I'm staying in downtown is where I'll be for work too.

If you take the number one bus which you can catch on congress, till 29th and guadalupe, Ruby's BBQ is right there on the corner. I think they have the best brisket in town. And best part is you can walk across the street and shop for records at Antone's afterwards.

i approve of ruby's.

^^^^^^^

you gotta try torchy's tacos

which, conveniently enough, has a location at 28th and Guadalupe.

that it do!!

o lord i miss me some torchys

fun fact about that neighbourhood: the first time i ever heard shine on you crazy diamond pt 1 was in spider house. felt like a very austin moment.

Torchys and Ruby's both good.

Lamberts for fancy time BBQ

Frank for awesome dogs and sausages.

When was this austin moment at Spider House? Many years ago I worked there before they had a full bar and table service. It was fun then. At night when we would close, there were always parties and late night drinking.

I remember when they called it Cafe Ro. It's still really nice, but has lost an undefinable weirdness it used to have.

If you're staying downtown you can hit a ton of various food trailers by either go south on Congress or east on Sixth Street. I'm currently addicted to the fish and chips from Bits and Druthers at the trailer food court just east of I-35 on Sixth Street. 24 Diner at Sixth and Lamar has delicious milk shakes and a locavore menu. I can provide french fry recs if you need them.

Seconded on 24 Dinner! The breakfast hash with chili is worth your money and helps a hangover.

Also Parkside on 6th has very nice oysters and cocktails. Casino El Camino has a very good buffalo/blue cheese burger.

Oh yeah, 24 Diner is open 24 hours a day as the name suggests. Also, since you're going to be Downtown, you can visit the Alamo Draft House Ritz location without having to worry about parking. Check their web site and if anything cool is being shown the weekend you'll be in town. It's really the best movie theater/bar/restaurant combo in the nation, especially if you go to one of their special events.

Awesome, thanks for all the good suggestions! Now I'm wishing I was going to be down there longer.

f. hazel, you really enjoy the downtown Alamo Draft House, esp the special events? I've always been disappointed in their presentation and approach to being a revival theatre. Everything is either ironic or humorous. I always wanted to see older movies that I can't easily watch without the gimmicks and ham-fisted humor. The Paramount comes comes to actually showing good movies I want to watch, but recently I fear they too are falling prey to the Alamo's gimmicky irony.

JacobSanders, i was in austin during the world cup last summer. good times.

The World Cup anywhere is good times, but Austin especially!

otm

f. hazel, you really enjoy the downtown Alamo Draft House, esp the special events?

I do! But I wouldn't really call them a revival theater... that's not really what they do. 80s revival maybe. Their strong points are cult movies and fun stuff... for example, they screened that version of the first Indiana Jones movie filmed by a couple of kids, and had them come and talk and do a Q&A after the screening. For straight screening of cinema classics, Paramount has a better program and presentation (but terribly uncomfortable seats). But they don't do sing-alongs/quote-alongs or cool events for first-run movies like the Alamo does. Like we saw the Scott Pilgrim premiere there, and they had the director thank us for coming and give everyone in the audience a high five. They love to surprise their audience, and I really dig that.

I guess it's more wishful thinking on my part that the Alamo would be a really awesome revival theatre that would show movies you can't easily rent or have been dying to see on the big screen. Probably because I watched Salo there many years ago. I kept checking their listings, and realized they only screened it because it's gross.

The thing I miss most about the Alamo is Weird Wednesday--I love what the Paramount does with the summer movie series, but they're apples/oranges in so many ways. Last summer during FantasticFest I saw Roger Corman's Sharktopus at the Paramount and the cognitive dissonance was jarring: "this movie belongs at the Alamo! Where's my pizza?"

I've been really loving the Dionysium lately... but I really get excited about having buttered popcorn and mozzarella sticks for dinner.

Dionysium! Do the guys really wear suits?

The guys on stage do, yes. And some small percentage of the audience.

you gotta try torchy's tacos

Did this, at the trailer on First during my walk down to End of an Ear (where i proceeded to spend tons of money). Best part was the Mexican Coke! Unfortunately I was super busy with work stuff so I only ended up getting to eat at Stubb's and Threadgill's, both of which I thought were really good. Heard a bit of Mogwai at Stubb's too, wished I would have been able to work out seeing the whole show. Also spent some time on 6th before I left. Overall, great city. Would visit again. A++++++

PS - you guys sure do love your tattoos down there, don't you? I couldn't believe how many tattoo joints there were!

so jeal u went to end of an ear

miss it so much

like, on record store day i called them and ordered some shit to send me via mail

I highly highly recommend End of an Ear, really a great store with super friendly employees. I could have easily spent three-four times as much as I did there, I was super impressed with the selection.

I heard they cleaned up Star Seeds Cafe which is a bummer. When I lived in Austin in the late 90s Star Seeds was a scene in the best possible way.

Also had to chuckle at the people I talked to's definition of "walkable". I was told by several people at our hotel that going from our hotel at Congress and the river to Stubb's and 6th wasn't walkable, nor was getting down to End of an Ear. I didn't think either were bad walks at all.

Texas!!!

Did you stay at the Radisson right there at the river? I'd totally do Stubbs from there, but EoE seems like a long ass way!

Did you make it to Antones? For reasonably price used records, it's my favorite store. EOE is nice too, but they also know what they have and charge it. But that's the case with most austin record stores. The guy who runs EOE is a nice guy though, I've know him since he first opened 33 degrees as a tiny shop.

Also had to chuckle at the people I talked to's definition of "walkable".

hahaha, come back in August or September and try walking from Town Lake to End of an Ear.... that's what, about a mile and a half? You'll walk into End of an Ear and keel over from heat exhaustion.

Haha, I'll admit that I was sweating my ass off when I was done, but it wasn't horrible. I totally would feel differently if it was 105 vs 80, yes. I stayed at the Embassy suites.

Did not have time to make it to Antone's, unfortunately.

Another great reason to love the Alamo Drafthouse:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVz-fO7kxcQ&feature=player_embedded

MAGNITED STATES OF AMERICA

(^^^ have seriously typed that in like 30 places across the internet over the last couple of days)

Heading back down later today, but unfortunately its a quick trip for work. Hoping to get some time over at Waterloo, but not looking likely.

Austin, you have such a great city. Spent too much money at Waterloo the other night and also had a great dinner at Frank and met some great dudes that work there.

hahaha, I've been here for like 15 years and I still love an evening of dinner + waterloo. end of an ear also essential, but lacking in high school associations.

I went to End of an Ear last trip, but I wanted to wander around downtown and Waterloo was more conducive to that.

Who on here is living in the Austin area these days? Do we have enough folks for some type of meet up?

who else is living down here? we're just about to tip over the edge and ride down screaming into cruel summer. already hitting the low 90s.

I'll probably me making what will sadly be my last trip down there for this work project in early to mid June.

I'm here, always down to meet new folks.

Not in almost 20 years

I need a place to go to dinner with parents in saturday night... Request us for something "farm to table." Any suggestions?

Monument Cafe in Georgetown comes to mind, bit of a drive though

The East Side Showroom on e. 6th is a really good "farm to table" place.

Kind of disappointed that my trip down there in two weeks will mark the end of my work trips to Austin. I've always enjoyed being there.

possible opportunity to get folks together?

If anybody would be up for a Monday or Tuesday night thing, sure. I'll be there the 18th and 19th.

I could probably do that, anyone else?

I'll be in back in Austin thursday!

I'm in you, Austin.

That sounded dirtier than I intended.

Anyone up for an Austin fap tomorrow night? Moodles?

I wish I was feeling better. I'd come down from Dallas but you all don't need my respiratory death virus.

No, but, shit, I'd love to meet an EZ. Feel better.

One day Jon. I've never been to Chicago so maybe a vacation will take me North. If you come to Dallas give me a holler.

Definitely.

FYI: I'm going to be in Austin from Friday the 27th thru Thursday the 2nd of April. Hit me up on ilxmail if you're up for a beer.

yeah, i saw your Facebook post the other day, KF.

http://i.imgur.com/brjpF2z.png

Great article about the guy behind Europa Books http://www.austinchronicle.com/books/2000-03-10/76131/

And an interview with him: http://www.briancombs.net/3288/

I guess the Austin Europa Books was a satellite of the one in Chicago

Is any thread talking about what is going on down there right now? Was anyone there for SXSW? This is kind of the scariest thing of its kind since the DC area sniper.

and an explosion at a FedEx center near San Antonio last night; one injury

Can Austin Stay Weird Despite The Bombs That Keep Exploding? - https://t.co/LFFn9KYoIp pic.twitter.com/Hi7dtBVlE0

— CBSDFW (@CBSDFW) March 20, 2018

Stay Classy, DFW.

another one

What the hell

Apparently not connected to the rest, but really who knows?

I've been to that FedEx in Sunset Valley they're saying the latest two bombs were mailed from. It's got a Mighty Fine right next to it; they have amazing french fries.

Bombing suspect dead after police track him to Round Rock, sources say

http://www.kxan.com/news/crime/source-bombing-suspect-involved-in-shooting-on-i-35/1065119748

wow, did not expect to wake up to that news.

Mark Anthony Conditt

Just went to Loro for the first time, and it was A++++.

Boil your tap water or use bottled water

http://www.kut.org/post/austin-issues-city-wide-boil-water-notice

heading there march 3-7 for a conference. ill be staying in zilker. what's good near there? looking especially for good nature spots, food, art

That's pretty much right downtown. Zilker park and Barton Springs are close nature spots. Tons of food around there, my favorites include Ramen Tatsu-Ya, Loro, Uchi, 24 Diner, Easy Tiger. There's a cool graffiti park just north of there and the Blanton art museum up near UT. I think there's some smaller museums and galleries in the downtown area too.

Lots of good food truck parks right around there too.

Maybe this just a sign of how awful everything is these days, but last night's Nightline was an abridged version of a new Hulu doc about the Austin Bomber, and I had totally forgotten that happened.

Remember when a guy crashed his plane into an IRS office building on Research Blvd?

Yeah...now.

Took me a minute to remember the bomber and that was only a year ago. I guess the fact that he killed himself kind of brought that story to an abrupt end.

Yeah, and there isn't a whole bunch of public info about him. In the doc, they mentioned a taped manifesto that's been classified.

It's not a narrative that holds much appeal for the police, conservative leadership in Texas, or the press... a white Christian kid from the suburbs targeting black people. The Austin police chief and Governor Abbott's public waffling about whether or not his actions constituted terrorism are indicative.

and an explosion at a FedEx center near San Antonio last night; one injury

I'd nearly forgotten this happened, though to be completely honest after the nearby Sutherland Springs church massacre in November 2017 (and the 1979 Battle of Flowers shooting spree that took at least two lives before the gunman shot himself) "one injury" seems hardly worth mentioning.

We have a few nights in Austin in a week or two: anything any of you'd recommend doing / seeing that might not be in guidebooks?

Ok so 24 hours is obviously enough to make a definitive judgement and here is mine on Austin: nice town, nice people, shit weather.

Too hot?

It’s been like living inside a Bain Marie today. And then a stupidly violent storm. Then back to the steaming.

tomorrow's gonna be beautiful though

you came at a weird time, it had been completely dry and extremely hot for about 3 months straight prior to the past weekend

Any kind of extremely hot not desirable IMO.

Looking forward to tomorrow though!

Yeah, I'm glad we're getting rain and cooler weather

New Oral History of MTV's "Austin Stories"

https://www.austinmonthly.com/an-oral-history-of-mtvs-austin-stories/

I'm going to be spinning some vibey techno over at Gnar Bar on 6th tomorrow (Monday) night from 10-11. Drop by, say hi, grab a beer, dance!

https://www.kut.org/transportation/2023-10-17/austin-chronicles-historic-headquarters-to-be-paved-over-for-i-35

...and then

https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2023-10-05/austin-chronicle-co-founder-louis-black-sued-for-alleged-harassment-abuse-and-sexual-servitude/

I see now those stories are from October (KUT re-upped the first one to FB today, and I thought it was new).

Austin peeps, we got a real show coming up next week!

https://www.instagram.com/p/C5Eh28bJItF/?igsh=MW04M29hYWEwdzBkYw==

Gonna be in Austin briefly with my wife from late Tuesday night April 30 through Thursday May 2. Some time will involve hanging with my wife’s niece and her fiancé , but looking for other ideas just in case . What to see , where to eat , where to find music club listings.

Can definitely give food recommendations based on what part of town you're in or what you are looking for.

Tex-Mex , Mexican, barbeque. Cheap to moderate price. Don't have relatives address handy right now

You can probably talk some Zydeco and/or Southern Soul at Antone's Record Shop (if the right clerks are on duty).

You might also want to squeeze in a breakfast at Victory Grill: http://www.thevictorygrillatx.com/

Sorry, this link: https://atxhistoricvictorygrill.org/

My favorite place for burgers is the downtown bar Casino el Camino on 6th Street.

Good summary of live shows:

https://austin.showlists.net/

If you find yourself on the north side of town Interstellar for lunchtime BBQ and El Dorado for tex-mex.

Oh yeah, El Dorado is legit. I was just in town for the Lone Star Roundup, and it's becoming tradition that me and my best friend and her husband meet up to have dinner & drinks there.

We’re staying on south side . Had Veracruz Montopolis food truck tacos last night at Radio East. Went to the Capital building, then the Music exhibit and more at LBj Museum and we’re at Terry Blacks Barbecue now

Which Terry Blacks? If Guadalupe, get a drink next door at Hopfield's, they have delicious frites. Veracruz is good stuff, well played.

No, the other one. Went to the Continental after & saw some of free Hot Club of Cowtown texas country jazzy swing music & then West Texas Exiles (were supposed to be an homage to Flatlanders but maybe more like a country take on Rolling Stones circa Exile w/ a tad of modern sounds)

Victory Grill East (old-school r& b & soul food restaurant) was sadly closed when we there. It's interesting to look at with faded murals on the side, near street w/ Black Lives Matter painted on it and a park next door with a Jamaican food truck, faded "Black Artists Matter" paintings, not for from newly gentrified buildings , and old ones . Park also has a banner on a fence that says: "What Do you Miss About East Austin" and underneath someone spraypainted "Brown people, Mi Gente"

Saw a bit of the U T campus the other day in late afternoon with just a handful of protesters sitting on lawn down below the clock tower. We also went out to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower park . Butterflies, some baby owls and lots of flowers. Headed down to San Antonio today and then on to my wife’s other niece down in Harlingen, Texas . Didn’t do it all in Austin in the little time we had, but enjoyed what we did do.

My partner's in Austin from NZ for SXSW. Food-wise, a friend has recommended Torchys/Magnolia Cafe/Homegrown Pizza/El Alma/Joe's Bakery/Paco's Tacos; going a bit cross-eyed looking at bands playing during this week but hopefully they can catch Water Damage.

Casino El Camino has a very good buffalo/blue cheese burger.

― JacobSanders, Monday, May 9, 2011

Torchy's and Magnolia aren't really any good anymore, assume Homegrown means Home Slice which is very tasty pizza (I prefer Via 313 Detroit style, also ), Joe's is great but for Tex Mex breakfast also try Fruta Feliz or Mi Madre's (my fav for chips and salsa), Vera Cruz All Natural too, also hit up Hopfield's for delicious frites and good beer or Golden Horn is a cozy bar with snacks

Ooh, thanks!

I heard a big explosion about 50 minutes ago, reports that it was heard and felt for many miles around, looks like a house about a mile from me exploded, NW Austin near 183 and Spicewood Springs

yep, I heard it too!

https://www.chron.com/culture/celebrities/article/joe-rogan-friends-austin-texas-20790258.php

Another Rogan associate was more direct with his criticism of Texas.

"Texas f--king blows," comedian Shane Gillis said in a June episode of the Andrew Schulz podcast, recalling a storm that left his Austin home without power for three days. "It's hot as f--k. The second we ran out of power, the house was 90 degrees and bugs came in immediately."

...

But besides learning all about Texas' bizarre love affair with electrical independence, Gillis has complained about Austin's homeless population (whom he's called "screaming runners") and the number of emergency alerts the state of Texas sends out.

"Texas goes wild with Amber Alerts," he said on a 2024 episode of The Joe Rogan Experience. "It's a really depressing way to start your day."

https://a.pinatafarm.com/320x196/bbcd9d3933/skinner-pathetic.jpg