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…

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!

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….

Another Quick Post for Those in Town Jan. 29-31, 2009 – Live Music#2

Step 1 – Pick-up a copy of the January 30, 2009, issue of the Austin Chronicle

Step 2 – Turn to page 78 for names of clubs/venues, locations, and phone numbers (please call all venues before going to determine start time for the band, food, and cover) – there are many great clubs/venues and bands all over the city. You are not limited to the list below. The clubs/venues below represent quick recommendations for your convenience… 

Thursday night, January 29, 2009 - Antone’s, Broken Spoke, Continental Club, Elephant Room, Jovita’s, Lambert’s, Lucky Lounge, Mean-Eyed Cat, Momo’s, Ruta Maya, Saxon Pub, and Trophy’s. (FAVS – Clubs/Venues and Bands)

Friday night, January 30, 2009 - Antone’s, Broken Spoke, Cedar Street, Continental Club, Donn’s Depot, Elephant Room, Evangeline Cafe, Jovita’s, La Zona Rosa, Lucky Lounge, Momo’s, Saxon Pub, and Speakeasy. (FAVS – Clubs/Venues and Bands)

Saturday night, January 31, 2009 - Antone’s, Broken Spoke, Cactus Cafe, Cedar Street, Continental Club, Donn’s Depot, Elephant Room, Lambert’s, Lucky Lounge, Momo’s, Saxon Pub, and Speakeasy. (FAVS – Clubs/Venues and Bands)

Step 3 – Be safe and have fun….

Quick Post for Those in Town for the Next few Days – Live Music

Step 1 – Pick-up a copy of the January 23, 2009, issue of the Austin Chronicle

Step 2 – Turn to page 82 for names of clubs/venues, locations, and phone numbers (please call all venues before going to determine start time for the band, food, and cover) – there are many great clubs/venues and bands all over the city. You are not limited to the list below. The clubs/venues below represent quick recommendations for your convenience… 

Sunday night, January 25, 2009 2008 (I’m an idiot) - Antone’s, Artz Rib House, Cedar Street, Continental Club, Elephant Room, Hole in the Wall, Jovita’s, Lambert’s, Lucky Lounge, Mean-Eyed Cat, Momo’s, and Saxon Pub. (FAVS)

Monday night, January 26, 2009 2008 (I’m an idiot) - Antone’s, Artz Rib House, Cedar Street, Continental Club, Donn’s Depot, Elephant Room, Evangeline Cafe, Hole in the Wall, Lucky Lounge, Momo’s, and Saxon Pub. (FAVS)

Tuesday night, January 27, 2009 2008 (I’m an idiot) - Antone’s, Artz Rib House, Cactus Cafe, Cedar Street, Continental Club, Donn’s Depot, Elephant Room, Evangeline Cafe, Hole in the Wall, Lambert’s, Lucky Lounge, Mean-Eyed Cat, Momo’s, and Saxon Pub. (FAVS)

Step 3 – Be safe and have fun….

My Favorite Live Music Venues/Bars

When I think about how lucky/blessed I am to live in Austin, Texas, I’m generally on the hike and bike trail or in some bar listening to live music. I really don’t have the words to describe the incredible feeling live music gives me. Austin is more than fortunate to have the Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL) at the end on this month (Sept 26-28, 2008) and the South by Southwest (SXSW) - Music, Film, and Interactive – Festival/Conference every March (13-22, 2009), but the foundation of live music in this city are the live music venues/bars. These local live music venues/bars bring in the national touring bands and the popular local acts, provide residency nights for local bands to polish their skill and sound, and finally, offer the struggling singer-song writers an opportunity to be heard and build a following.  The following list of bars/venues (and links) are just a few of my favorite places to listen to live music:

 

Congress and South Congress

Continental Club – Simply the best – great owner and staff – great bar - great happy hour music – great late night music – get there early if you want/need to sit.  If I had to pick only one bar for the rest of my life, this is the one.

Botticelli’s - Great Italian food and a wonderful garden in the back.  

Jo’s Coffee (on Congress) - Music in the parking lot is always fun.

Trophy’s - I’ve only been once, but I like this place a lot.  I loved sitting at the bar.

Guero’s (Oak Garden) - Everyone knows I love the bar and restaurant, but the big oak trees make the garden a special place to listen to live music.

Ego’s -  Fun funky place – Basement of multi floor building.

Elephant Room - Home of live Jazz in Austin. Interesting location.

Threadgill’s South - Great outdoor venue. Great food.

 

5th Street and Warehouse District and West 6th Street

Antone’s – I love this place. Always a killer line-up of music.  Depending upon the band, there is sometimes limited seating, so get there early or be prepared to stand.

Lucky Lounge - Fun place.  Cool cat-walk on the backside of the bar to drink and listen to music.

La Zona Rosa - If you don’t mind standing this is where you will hear many of the national/hot Austin/Texas bands.

Momo’s - Above Katz’s – Great inside and outside venue.

Ranch 616 - They only have music one night a week, but this is a great Austin restaurant/bar.

Mean-Eye Cat - Fun place.  Outdoor stage.

 

East 6th Street and Red River

Stubbs - The outdoor amphitheater is great, indoor stage is fun, and the food is wonderful – BBQ.

Emo’s - Unbelievably great.  Multiple stages. International, national, Texas, and Austin bands.

 

South Lamar and South First Streets

Broken Spoke – The definition of a Texas Honky Tonk.  Fun place to listen to good country music, drink cold beer, and dance with the ladies.

Saxon Pub - The bar/music venue that sets the standard for all others.

Freddie’s Place - Fun South Austin outdoor venue.  Good drinks and food.

Jovita’s – Pure South Austin.  Great place to dance. Thursday is my favorite night.

 

UT and Central City

Hole in the Wall – Classic Austin.  Located on the Drag (across from UT). Love sitting at the bar.

Central Market – North – Yes, even some of our grocery stores have live music.

Ginny’s Little Longhorn Saloon – 42 Night on Monday.  Music Tuesday-Sunday.

Threadgill’s North - New Indoor venue.  Great food.

Nuno’s – On MOPAC – New kid on the block. Lover of the blues.  Good food too.

 

OTHERS

Carousel Lounge - Funky fun place – Located northeast from the downtown.  Cold cheap beer.

Patsy’s Cowgirl Cafe – Great food and a great music venue. Located southeast from the downtown.

Gruene Hall (sorry the web site was not available at the time of this post) – Located south of Austin in Gruene, Texas – Bring a designated driver.  The best dance hall in Texas – the wood floor bounce/sway while you dance. 

As I visit more venues/bars, I’ll update this page.  Please feel free to let us know your favorite Austin live music venues/bars in the comments.