Welcome to Austin, Texas – ACL 2009 – Looking for Something to Do Thursday Night?

First things first, pick-up a copy of the new Austin Chronicle (new edition comes out every Thursday) so you can figure out what bands are playing at what bars Thursday night.  Second, start drinking water until you pee clear, so you don’t dehydrate when you walk to the park/festival on Friday.

The Austin Chronicle (music listings) will provide you with the best, most up to-date list of all the bands playing Thursday night, but here is a quick list of some bars and bands we like for Oct 1:

Remember it’s First Thursday on South Congress…

Antone’s – Gary Clark Jr, Seth Walker, and the Allen Daniel Band – great night

Broken Spoke – Jesse Dayton – just damn good

Continental Club – Mother Truckers (happy hour), later an evening with The Minus 5

Guero’s – Bobby Fuentes & The All-Stars – fun band

Jovita’s – Cornell Hurd Band – as Cornell says “country music’s worst nightmare,” just damn good fun

Lucky Lounge – Happy Hour with “THE LEGENDARY” Ian McLagan & The Bump Band – 6pm, Later: Grant Ewing Band – 10pm, More Cowbell – 12am

Ranch 616 – call before you go – great food and bar

Saxon Pub – Pauline Reese, Blues Mafia, George Devore, Dale Watson

Threadgill’s – Bob Schneider’s Texas Bluegrass Massacre and Uncle Lucius

Please review the Austin Chronicle because there are many great clubs and bands playing all weekend long…

NOW – I’m not telling you again, keep drinking your damn water…

ACL 2009 is Five Days Away!

ACL 2009 starts this Friday, October 2, 2009 and ends Sunday night, October 4, 2009. This year, visitors to ACL 2009 can also take advantage of First Thursdays on South Congress Ave. First Thursdays are a fun (Austin) way to enjoy all the businesses located on South Congress Ave. If you are coming to Austin for ACL 2009, please be safe and have fun.

On another, but related subject – It has been a while since I last posted to this space, and I don’t think I’ll have time to post anything meaningful before ACL 2009. However, please feel free to search the site for places to eat, drink, and things to do while in Austin. I created many lists in February and March for folks attending SXSW 2009, that might prove helpful to you…

Mighty Fine NOW HAS BEER!

We went to Mighty Fine (burgers, fries, and shakes) today, and to my surprise, they now have beer (iced down bottled beer)…  I believe the Mighty Fine burger is one of the best in town, but there are times when I like to drink a beer or two or three with my burger and fries, so I’ve been known to go other places that serve beer with their burgers.  This wonderful news is a game changer in the Austin, TX burger wars…  Also, Mighty Fine has perfected their Crinkle fries, which early on was their only weak link… Now the best burger has good fries and iced down bottled beer to go with their great Blue Bell Ice Cream shakes… Thank you Mighty Fine… Life is good…

Welcome to Austin, TX HOW Design Conference Attendees – June 24-27, 2009

Quick post – The HOW Design Conference is in town this week from June 24-27…  If you are attending the conference, please remember to pick-up a copy of the Austin Chronicle… A new edition will be available tomorrow and will provide the best listings of live music and all the clubs…  Also feel free to search this site for bar/live music/food recommendations, as well as a few other suggestions on enjoying your time in Austin, TX…  Again, welcome to Austin, TX… Be safe and have fun!

Update – Various Topics #2

This will be a quick post to provide an update on various topics… I think I’ve tweeted about these topics, but this post will provide a little bit more detail and I’ll update earlier posts related to each topic…

A bartender told us about Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka, so we immediately bought a bottle or two or three of this delicious adult beverage.  We found it at Twin Liquors #9 on Burnet Rd, and I have also seen it at SPEC’s (along with other brands of sweet tea vodkas) … Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka is a tasty drink simply mixed with water, ice ,and a lemon or lime slice, but we also look forward to mixing it with many different beverages/flavors…

When the restaurant Mars closed on South Congress, we heard that a causal seafood restaurant would open in its place – we were very excited at the possibility… Perla’s Seafood and Oyster Bar has opened in the Mars space, and we finally went for brunch, and then last night for just oysters and cold beer… Bottom line – we love this place – My reason for saying we love this place this early in the post is because we have heard there have been mixed reviews and I didn’t want you to wonder what we thought… At brunch we had a dozen oysters, a fried soft shell crab BLT sandwich, and a shrimp po’boy – everything was very tasty… Last night we had one dozen of one type of oyster, and then a second dozen of another type of oyster – both were delicious and the beer was cold and tasty… Did I say we love this place…

A couple of Saturdays ago we finally went to the Screaming Goat Tacos y Cerveza for lunch… We like this place a lot… Very cool Austin vib… We had guac and chips and tacos stuff with different meats – everything was great… go to the link and checkout the menu – they also have burgers and other tasty treats… and daily cold beer specials too…

That’s it for now… as always comments are welcome… and enjoy Austin, TX…

The Place to be this Weekend in Austin, TX – The Republic of Texas (ROT) Biker Rally 2009 – June 11-14, 2009

Another special weekend in Austin, TX… The Republic of Texas (ROT) Biker Rally 2009 comes to town June 11-14, 2009.  If you love the big bikes and live music head over the Travis County Expo Center for a great time…  To all the bikers in town, please have a great time in Austin, TX and ride safe… and to all my fellow local drivers, please drive extra safe around town these next few days, and be extra aware at all times of our cool biker visitors… We want everyone to have a great weekend…

The Place To Be This Weekend In Austin, TX – The Lonestar Rod & Kustom Round-Up – April 17-19, 2009

If you love custom cars and trucks, and live music, then the place to be this weekend (April 17-19, 2009) is the Lonestar Rod & Kustom Round-Up at the Continental Club(SOCO), Trophy’s Bar, Jo’s Coffee, and the Travis County Expo Center…   Check out the ad in the last week’s Austin Chronicle…  Tons of fun all weekend long….

2 Days (more like 1 Day) Till SXSW09 – Still More Cool Places to Go While in Austin

More links to cool places… Same as the other list, you’ll need a cab or car (designated driver)….

Near City Hall

Lamberts – Downtown BBQ and Live Music…

West 6th St and (on) Nueces St

Ranch 616 – Cool Austin vibe, great food and bar… live music too…

West Lynn, North of West 6th St

Galaxy Cafe – Cool place to eat…

Near UT on the Drag  (Guadalupe) 

Texadelphia – Austin’s own Cheese Steak (no, it’s not Pat’s or Geno’s, but they are damn good)… 

Kerbey Lane – 24/7 Breakfast

Dirty Martin’s (Dirty’s) – Classic Austin burger and beer joint…

Mangia Pizza – Austin’s own Chicago Stuffed Pies…

Boomerang’s Pies – Meat and veggie pies and beer from down under – I live on these pies during ACLMF…

Triangle (45th and Lamar)

Galaxy Cafe - Cool place to eat…

Mandola’s Italian Market – Great Italian, enough said…

Flying Saucer – Beer, beer, beer, food, beer, beer….

North of Downtown (central city – west of Lamar, on Burnet and/or west of Burnet)

Kerbey Lane - 24/7 Breakfast…

Draught House – Beer drinkers’ wet dream…

Blue Star Cafeteria – Very cool place – great food…

Billy’s on Burnet - Great burgers and beer…

Fonda San Miguel – Special place – great interior food and drink…

Ginny’s Little Longhorn Saloon – I love this place (cash only, no liquor) - cold beer and live music six days a week – 42 on Mondays  - Sundays are very special…

 

Please be safe, and have a great time…

As always, comments welcome…

4 Days Till SXSW09 – More Cool Places To Go In Austin

Here are additional cool places to buy things, eat, drink, and/or listen to great live music while in Austin over the next two weeks.  Depending upon where you are staying, you may need a cab or car (designated driver) to visit many of these places….

SOCO (South Congress)

Ego’s – Funky bar (with live music) in the basement of office building

Doc’s MotorWorks - Sit outside… great bar, with good food

Amy’s Ice Creams – Austin’s best ice cream…

Jo’s Coffee – Great place to sit outside to watch Austin go by…

Continental Club – My favorite live music venue – Great bands, cool vibe, quality/cool staff, and cold Lone Star beer

The Gallery (above the tattoo parlor next door to the Continental Club) – Has just reopened and I can’t wait to start spending time upstairs…

Botticelli’s – Chicago Italian food and music on their patio in the back… I’m now thinking about the Italian beef sandwich…

Perla’s Seafood and Oyster Bar – Great seafood and oyster bar with cold draft beer… life is good…

Guero’s Taco Bar – If you have ever read this space, my Tumblr space, or any of my tweets (Twitter), you know how much I love this place.  Great Austin vibe, the best people watching, quality/cool staff, unbelievable margaritas and cool beer, and delicious  food… They also have live music in the Oak Garden… Be prepared to wait…

Home Slice – My favorite pizza in Austin (pies or slice and cold beer) – I love sitting at the bar, eating a couple of slices and watching the talented staff make pizza… Be prepared to wait….

Allen Boots – Everyone needs a good pair of cowboy boots… you really do….

Vespaio/Enoteca – Two Restaurants -  Great Italian Food – call ahead…

Magnolia Cafe – 24/7 – Good Breakfast

Trophy’s – Another funky bar with live music

South First

RunTex – Best running store….

Threadgill’s (Between South 1st and Congress on Riverside) – Comfort food and live music

WHATABURGER – Closest WHATABURGER to the Convention Center (this link is for Merlin Mann)

Jovita’s – Fun Live Music Venue – If you are in town on a Thursday night, please do yourself a favor by going see/hear Cornell Hurd, you will have a great time…

Polvo’s – Great Mexican food

G&S Lounge – Cool (dive) drinking bar

West 5th Street (west of Congress)

Lucky Lounge – Live music, cool cat walk behind bar

Red Fez - Hookahs, cold beer, live music and/or DJ (and sometimes belly dancers)

Antone’s – Home of the blues – great live music venue

West 6th Street (East of Lamar)

Katz’s Deli - 24/7 – Good Breakfast

Wahoo’s Fish Tacos (6th St. and (on) Rio Grande) – Another one of my favorite places in Austin… Fun bar (full bar) and the best food…

Dirty Billy’s (6th St and (on) Rio Grande) – Fun new bar, cool juke box connected to the web can play just about anything…

La Zona Rosa (5th St and (on) Rio Grande, south of 5th) - Cool Live Music Venue

Opal Divine’s Free House on 6th – Good drinking bar, decks, and restaurant….

Mother Egan’s Irish Pub – Fun place

Hut’s – One of the best hamburger joints in Austin… Beer, wine, and shakes… Great rings…

West 6th and Lamar Blvd

Whole Foods World Headquarters – The mother of all Whole Foods store…

Book People – Cool, independent book store…

Waterloo Records and Video – Simply the best place to buy music…

Waterloo Ice House – Good food and cold beer…

Amy’s Ice Creams – Best ice cream in Austin…

Cheapo CDs (a little north of the intersection) - Best place to buy used CDs…

Screaming Goat Tacos y Cerveza – Great tacos and more… daily cold beer specials…

Austin Java (a little north of the intersection) – Good coffee and food…

Austin Land and Cattle Company (a little north of the intersection) - STEAK!!!

West 5th Street (at West 6th and Mopac)

Mean-Eyed Cat - Cool drinking bar – cold draft beer and live music

El Arroyo – Good food, cold beer, and margaritas

Barton Springs (west of Lamar)

Barton Springs Saloon - Funky bar… sit inside or out…

Green Mesquite BBQ – Fun place

Shady Grove – Sit outside, drink cold beer, and eat great food… they have the best queso/cheese fries….

Uncle Billy’s - Cold beer and good food – can you say pulled pork….

Chuy’s Tex-Mex – Pure Austin Fun!!!! Great food and drinks…

East Side

Hoover’s (Manor Rd) – Comfort/Home Cooking….

El Chili Cafe – Great food and drinks…

Vivo – Great food and drinks…

Odds and Ends

Cuatros – Great bar, with good food… sit inside or out… fun bar near UT…

Hole in the Wall – Great bar, with live music… on the Drag – across the street from UT…

Okay, that’s enough for now… I’ll update this post over the next few days (I think I left some fun places off the list)…

Please be safe, and have an insanely great time in Austin…

As always, comments are welcome….

11 Days Till SXSW09 – Quick Post on More Cool Places to Go While in Austin

On Friday, February 27, we went to Opal Divine’s at Penn Field for food and beer before The Gourds show at Ruta Maya.  We were all impressed by both places.  Food was good and the beer was cold at Opal Divine’s.  Don’t know about the other locations, but the Penn Field location is dog friendly.  We arrived late, but were still able to sit outside – Friday night was a beautiful night for sitting outside and drink beer.  Let’s just say, we will go again… Good times!

Ruta Maya is a cool Austin coffee house.  It was our first time to see a show there, and turned out to be a very nice music venue.  Once again, we would all go again!

The Gourds were great.  If you are coming to SXSW09 or if The Gourds are coming to your city/town, they are a must see/hear.  Fun was had by all.  Brought three newbies and left with three new Gourds freaks/fans.

Opal Divine’s and Ruta Maya at Penn Field will require a cab from the Austin Convention Center and downtown hotels.

 

Here are three more cool places within easy walking distance from the Austin Convention Center that we recommend:

Ace’s Lounge (6th St) – I will admit, I have not been yet, but I have Ace’s on my short list.  Then why am I recommending Ace’s?  It’s simple, I like the way Ace’s has become the go to club/bar/venue for fun Austin community meet-ups and charity events.  Ace’s hosted Twestival (Charity: Water) and Pleasure Fest (KLBJ FM), just to name two events.  I can’t think of two more different events, and I’ve only heard great things about Ace’s.  I think the owners get Austin and 6th St.  This club/bar/live music venue has the potential to become a very special place (many say, it already has)…  Looks like Ace’s Lounge owners get Twitter too (http://twitter.com/AcesJason and http://twitter.com/brendankp)   

Iron Cactus (6th St) – Cool restaurant and great drinking bar.  Love the rooftop deck…

Elephant Room (Congress Ave) – Home of live Jazz music in Austin.  Located in the basement of an office building on Congress Ave (downtown).

Please be safe, and have fun.  More to follow over the next 11 days… as always, comments are welcome…