'''Austin''' [http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/] is a city of over 700,000 in the Hill Country region of the American state of Texas. It's the capital of Texas and a college town, and also a center of '''alternative culture''' away from the major cities on the American coasts, although the city is rapidly gentrifying with its rising popularity. Austin's attitude is commonly emblazoned about town on T-Shirts and bumper stickers that read: "Keep Austin Weird." Austin is also marketed as the "Live Music Capital of the World" due to the large number of venues.
Understand
'''Austin Convention & Visitor's Bureau''', 301 Congress Avenue, Ste. 200, ''+1-866'' GO-AUSTIN, [http://www.austintexas.org/]. Daily 9AM-6PM.
Read
Pick up an '''Austin Chronicle''' newspaper first thing. These are freely available all over town, including the information desk across from baggage claim at the airport. It will be your guide to everything that's going on in Austin from festivals (Spam Festival, Chili Festival, et al.) to music, theater and food; it's all in there. New issues are out every Thursday.
'''Austin American-Statesman''' [http://www.statesman.com/] - The major paper; news that everyone else prints.
'''Austin Chronicle''' [http://www.austinchronicle.com/] - The alternative weekly; all the news that's fit to print, reflects the true vibe of Austin.
'''Daily Texan''' [http://www.dailytexanonline.com/] - The student newspaper of the University of Texas at Austin.
'''The Onion''' [http://www.theonion.com/] - recently opened print edition office in Austin, already quite popular as a local paper. (Note: This is a satire paper)
Districts
Downtown
East Austin
Northwest Austin
South Austin
UT & the Drag
Hyde Park
North Loop
Get in
By plane
'''Austin Bergstrom International Airport''' ({{ICAO|AUS}}), [http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/austinairport]. 6 miles (10km) southeast of the city center, it is served by most major carriers, with non-stop service to 49 destinations. There are a selection of [http://www.capmetro.org/riding/airport.asp buses], taxis, shuttles and car rentals to get you into town and back. Chauffeured sedans or limos are also available to pick you up or drop you off at the airport but normally require advance reservations. Taxi fare to downtown Austin is approximately $30.
By train
'''Austin Amtrak station''', 250 North Lamar Blvd., [http://www.amtrak.com]. Served by the Texas Eagle Line with service from Chicago to San Antonio.
By car
Austin is located on several major freeways. From San Antonio, head north on IH-35, about one and a half hours. From Dallas, head south on IH-35, about three hours. From Houston, head west on US-290 (or I-10 W to Hwy 71 W if want to reach South Austin), about three hours.
By bus
'''Greyhound Bus Line''', (''station is on IH-35 near Highland Mall)'', +1 800-231-2222, [http://www.greyhound.com]. Serves Austin daily. Schedules may change. Passengers can catch the number 7 bus to downtown from there.
Get around
On foot
By bike
Austin is hilly to the west but generally mildly sloping toward the river in the center of town. There are bike lanes on some major streets. Biking is a great way to get around year round and the weather is usually agreeable.
'''Yellow Bike Project''', Phone: 512-457-9880 [http://www.austinyellowbike.org/]. Operates two community bike shops where individuals can go and repair their own bikes free of charge. Coordinators are present to answer any questions and guide you, but not to fix your bike for you. At the Main Shop on 51st street there are 10+ work stands and tools sets available for use. The Satellite Shop is better for minor repairs and only has as a few work stands. If you are looking for a cheap bike while in town and are willing to do a little maintenance work, visit The Yellow Bike Project and pick out a bike that needs a little love in exchange for a small donation. If you are interested getting away from touristy attractions on your visit the Yellow Bike shop is a great place to drop in and volunteer a few hours. Their hours change monthly but are up-to-date on their website. If you are lucky you might see one of the name-sake Yellow Bikes around town. If you see a Yellow Bike, feel free to ride it to your destination and leave it for the next person. Yellow Bikes are not to be locked up and you ride at your own risk. The Austin Yellow Bike Project has been operating for ten years and has released over 600 yellow bikes.
'''Bicycle Sports Shop - Bike Rentals''', Phone: 512-477-3472 [http://bicyclesportshop.com/page.cfm?PageID=174]. The Bicycle Sports Shop is located Downtown and offers the largest selection of bike rentals in the city.
By bus
'''Capital Metro''', [http://www.capmetro.org]. The city's public bus network with a solid system of inexpensive neighborhood express and downtown routes. Busses cost 75c per trip, or you can get a 24 hour pass for $1.50. CapMetro also runs several trolley-style buses around downtown, known as 'Dillos (short for '''Armadillo Express'''). "E-Bus" and "Night Owl" services serve the city's entertainment districts after hours. The Capital Metro website has a trip planner which can be used to find public transport options between two points in Austin.
By car
Driving is not too difficult, if you're used to living in a large city. Traffic is bad from 7-9 am and 3:30-7 pm Monday through Fridays, though IH-35 through town can be jammed at other times as well
There are two major north-south expressways: IH-35 and Loop 1 (also called the MoPac Expressway for former owner of the railroad which runs along it, Missouri-Pacific - or "Slo-Pac" for anyone who has experienced it at rush hour). There is only one true major east-west freeway in Austin located south of the city center, known as Ben White or US 290 West/Texas highway 71. The freeway section of 290 West/Ben White currently runs from IH-35 to just east of Oak Hill. Freeway extensions are currently being constructed east on 71 to the airport, and the beginning stages of construction are taking place west towards and past Oak Hill.
Oak Hill is the point at which 71 and 290 split apart and go in separate directions, and in case this isn't confusing enough, some people make the distinction between 290 West and 290 East because at IH-35 290 East actually heads up the interstate, and then continues on to the east in North Austin. There is a second freeway that runs from the Northwest side of the city down to the Southeast side of the city past the airport. This freeway is called US 183, and in North Austin it may also be referred to as Research Blvd. Most of it is freeway now, however there are still several major intersections which are currently being constructed and turned into freeway.
IH-35 has no loop that circumnavigates the city, so watch out for aggressive, confused drivers. Also, keep your eyes open for the upper deck/lower deck split between Airport Blvd and Martin Luther King Jr Blvd; it's confusing, and accidents occur there frequently. Drivers going through Austin without stopping, or those who wish to avoid the chaos of the lower deck, should use the ''right'' two lanes as the deck split approaches, in contrast to other cities where through traffic uses the left lane. On the northbound side, traffic entering IH-35 at Martin Luther King Jr Blvd goes directly to the upper deck.
Out-of-towners be warned: on-ramps on IH-35, especially the lower deck, are very short.
Austin has a mostly completed network of toll roads, see Central Texas Turnpike System [http://www.centraltexasturnpike.org/] and Central Texas Regional Mobile Authority [http://www.ctrma.org/]. These include SH 130, an Austin bypass east of town; SH 45, an east-west artery in North Austin; the North MoPac extension; the US 183A bypass of Cedar Park and Leander; and SH 45SE in far south Austin. TxTag [http://www.txtag.org/] accounts are available for commuters. There has been significant opposition and accommodations have been made in some areas, see Austin Toll Party [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Toll_Party/]. Both 183A and MoPac are rather deceptive - if you keep going north on either 183 or MoPac, the freeway seamlessly transitions into a toll road and the signing is rather poor. To avoid the toll, you must keep a sharp eye out and get off the main lanes. Even worse, the first toll on 183A is "TxTag Only" meaning that you cannot pay cash.
Parts of the city are subject to flooding at times during the year, however it is not too common as Austin does not usually get an excessive amount of rain. 2007 has seen several flood episodes with the worst effects in Marble Falls, northwest of the city. See City of Austin Flood History [http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/watershed/floodhistory.htm/] for historic flooding.
'''Note:''' For those of you unfamiliar with proper treatment of flooded areas, '''NEVER''' drive through flooded low water crossings. You will lose your car and possibly your life. As little as a few inches of running water can and does wash a car away and each year there are some deaths due to this. "Turn Around, Don't Drown."
Parking
While driving is not too bad, parking in the city center can be difficult; look for municipal parking garages as officers will ticket you in the blink of an eye. (Check meters, though, because many are free in the evenings, on weekends, and on major holidays.) Worse yet, vehicles illegally parked in private parking areas are '''very''' quickly towed, so make sure that you don't park in spots marked no parking.
Parking is free in the Texas State History Museum garage near UT after hours and on weekends. As of 2005 under SB 1533, state employees may park in state garages during non-business hours for free.
By taxi
There are several cab companies on call if you'd prefer to avoid the driving hassle.
'''Yellow Cab''', Phone: 512-452-9999. website includes fare estimator and online booking: [http://www.YellowCabAustin.com]
'''Marriton Limousine''', Phone: 512-329-7007, Toll free: 1-800-940-7007, [http://www.marritonlimo.com] For airport transfers or those who just demand a bit more luxury you can rent a chauffeured sedan, limousine or minibus.
See
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'''University of Texas at Austin''', [http://www.utexas.edu/] is a beautiful stroll. While there you might want to visit the Blanton Art Museum [http://www.blantonmuseum.org/], The Harry Ransom Center [http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/], or Texas Memorial Museum of Science and History [http://www.tmm.utexas.edu/]. The famous tower has reopened and is worth a look for the breathtaking views and history lesson. It is a tour though so you need to make reservations [http://www.utexas.edu/tower/schedule.html/]. The theater and music departments are both well regarded and have performances throughout the school year. If you visit during football season, you can see the 2005 National Champion Texas Longhorn football team play at Darrell K. Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium.
'''LBJ Presidential Library''', [http://www.lbjlib.utexas.edu/] always seems to have something interesting on display. They change their exhibits fairly frequently.
The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. -Sa 9AM-6PM, Su Noon-6PM. ccess to the museum and both theaters: $13.50/10.50/8.50/6.50 (General/Seniors 65+/Children 5-18/Children 3-4). ttp://www.thestoryoftexas.com. A very good survey of Texas History and Culture. As with most newer museums it suffers quite a bit in that it seems to have traded depth for lots of multimedia displays and an IMAX theater. What is there, however, is quite well done.
'''The Texas State Capitol''', [http://www.batcon.org/discover/congress.html] is a must-see for new visitors to Austin. A large source of pride for the city and the state, the State Capitol is a beautiful building wrapped in Texas pink granite. Independent-minded Texans take pride in the fact that the State Capitol is actually 14 feet taller than the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Unlike many other state capitols in America, Texas' is as welcoming as the state's people, and is completely open to the public seven days a week. It's interesting to stroll through the halls, look at the paintings and sculptures, and peek into the legislative chambers. And it's free!
'''Austin Bats'''. Yes, that's right, bats. Austin's Congress Avenue bridge is home to the largest Mexican free-tailed bat colony in North America (1.5 million). The bats are generally active at dusk every evening between March and November.
Do
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Festivals
'''Chinatown Center Austin Chinese New Year Festival'''. JANUARY/FEBRUARY. [http://www.chinatownaustin.com]. Austin_fs Chinatown Center has set a Texas-sized standard for how Chinese New Year_fs Celebration should be done! All adults and children are invited to attend this FREE two-day event with family-fun entertainment including the kids_f area, dragon and lion dances, traditional Chinese Dances, martial arts performances and more! Don_ft miss out on a celebration that embraces and educates on the wide range of Asian culture. All retail stores and restaurants in the center are open - Chinatown Center is located at 10901 N. Lamar Blvd. at the intersection of Kramer and N. Lamar.
'''Lunar New Year Festival'''. FEBRUARY. [http://www.asianamericancc.com/].
'''Zilker Park Kite Festival'''. MARCH. [http://www.zilkerkitefestival.com]. The oldest continuous kite festival in the USA. Hundreds of kites will dance in the sky the first Sunday in March (10 am to 5 pm) Admission is FREE. Everyone is welcome whether they fly a kite or just enjoy the spectacle that must be seen to be believed. Kite flying demonstrations will be held all day and delicious food of all kinds will be prepared fresh at the event. See kite ballet, kite battles, kite buggies and giant kites over 50 feet long. Come compete in both youth and adult kite contests with your homemade kite. Trophies are awarded to the winners. Proceeds from vendor sales go to break the cycle of child abuse. Free parking and shuttles. Come on down to Zilker Park and enjoy _gKite Day_h. Zilker Park is located in Austin at 2200 Barton Springs Road. Rain date is the following Sunday.
'''Austin Chocolate Festival'''. MARCH. [http://austinchocolatefestival.com] The festival will include up to 20 vendors including chocolatiers, bakeries, patisseries, restaurants, hotels, caterers, authors, and resorts. The participating vendors will offer samples to festival guests. Guests will also enjoy and participate in chocolate competitions and demonstrations. It was founded in 2006 and benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Tickets for the Austin Chocolate Festival are available for purchase online in advance at the festival website. For more information, volunteer, vendor or sponsorship opportunities please visit the website.
'''South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival'''. MARCH. [http://2008.sxsw.com/film/]. Beginning before and overlapping the SXSW Music Festival. SXSW Film is a significant industry conference, but also hosts many film showings.
'''South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival'''. MARCH. [http://www.sxsw.com/music/]. One of the biggest music festival in the United States, with more than 1,400 performers playing dozens of venues around Austin for four days. The wrist bands are loved by college students here, but be warned that you'll be turned away at the door at many of the venues even with one. You can still get into some of the larger venues without a wristband if you'd simply like to sample a band or two and check out the atmosphere; you can usually pick one "official" venue where you think you'll like all the bands, and then go early and pay the cover. Hardcore music fans usually make a week long calendar and plan to arrive at different venues for different acts.
'''Wildflower Center Art and Artisans Festival'''. MARCH. [http://www.wildflower.org/artisans/]. The annual Wildflower Days celebration begins with the Art and Artisans Festival devoted to arts, crafts and nature. This early spring event features the work of local artists and artisans, all working with a nature theme. You will find watercolors, metalwork, pottery, jewelry, photography, woodwork and more, all lovingly made by hand. Highlights include children's activities in the Little House as well as book signings and special discounts at the store. Then, add some leisure to your arts - dine on tasty cuisine at the Wildflower Cafe and enjoy entertainment provided by local musicians.
'''SPAMARAMA?''' is a fun and irreverent homage to Spam?. APRIL. [http://www.spamarama.org/]. It includes a Cookoff, the SPAMALYMPICS? (Contests, some athletic, some not), SPAMJAMR (Music), Arts/Crafts/Food booths and a Kid's Area. SPAMARAMA? benefits the Disability Assistance of Central Texas, Inc. It was founded in 1976.
'''Texas Round-Up & Street Festival''' APRIL. [http://www.texasroundup.org/]. The Texas Round-Up 10K, 5K and Family Mile is held annually in Austin, Texas on the last Saturday in April. Race weekend begins with a health and fitness expo showcasing vendors and sponsors. The race is followed by a fitness festival where families can enjoy live music, food, fitness demonstrations and family friendly activities. Many participants spend months training for Texas Round-Up, and for several participants, the Texas Round-Up is their first race, making the events a very special accomplishment and a true celebration of healthy living.
'''Dragon Boat Festival'''. APRIL. [http://www.asianamericancc.com/]. Running since 1999 with growing participation and attendance; held centrally on Town Lake. In addition to the friendly, competitive races, the festival will include many other cultural exhibitions, vendors, and kids activities. FREE admission to the public.
'''Eeyore's Birthday Party'''. APRIL. [http://eeyores.sexton.com]. Held on the last Saturday of every April to ring in spring, there are few things that seem so "Austin" as Eeyore's Birthday Party. It is a unique event: a free-form hang-out of several thousand people... sitting, walking, playing music, beating drums, eating, drinking beer, playing games. Be yourself... there are families, dogs, tattoos, costumes, hotties, hippies, gay, straight, black, white, brown, red, tan.... and a statue of Eeyore dressed like the Statue of Liberty. The drum circle is massive and the beat vibrates throughout the central city. It ends when the sun goes down and everyone leaves peacefully. More information can be found at: [http://www.klru.org/austinnow/archives/eeyores/eeyores.asp]
'''Old Pecan Street Festival'''. MAY & SEPTEMBER. [http://www.oldpecanstreetfestival.com/]. East Sixth Street (formerly Pecan Street) from Congress to IH-35 and adjacent streets are closed to traffic to host over 240 Arts, Crafts and other vendors. Several music stages offer live music.
'''Austin Wine Festival'''. MAY. [http://www.austinwinefestival.com]. A uniquely Austin 3-day Texas wine celebration - RAIN OR SHINE! Wineries from Lampasas to New Braunfels and Fredericksburg to Dripping Springs have bloomed from a pioneering few, into an internationally awarded and recognized wine region... The number 2 wine destination in the nation, second only to Napa! Together they have created the annual Austin Wine Festival, the first of its kind in Texas.
'''Austin Pride'''. June. [http://www.austinpride.org]. Austin's single largest LGBT event includes a festival at Republic Square Park and a parade that goes through the Warehouse District.
'''Austin Bamboo Festival'''. AUGUST. Phone: 512-477-8672, [http://www.bamboocentral.net]. Zilker Botanical Garden. This annual event features tours of theTaniguchi Japanese Garden, traditional dances, bamboo crafts and flute music.
'''Austin City Limits Festival'''. SEPTEMBER. [http://www.aclfestival.com/]. An annual three day outdoor music festival. It brings together more than 130 bands on eight stages, including rock, country, folk, indie, Americana, hip-hop, reggae, and bluegrass, and attracts a crowd of about 65,000 music-lovers each day. A great mix of big names as well as local acts, but be prepared to deal with the heat.
'''Texas Book Festival''' has reached national prominence, in part due to support from Honorary Chairperson Laura Bush. OCTOBER. [http://www.texasbookfestival.org/]
'''Austin Film Festival'''. OCTOBER. [http://www.austinfilmfestival.com]. Conference and film showings.
'''Lone Star Vegetarian Chili Cook-Off'''. NOVEMBER. [http://lsvn.org]. The annual vegetarian cook-off began in 1989. Our mission is to show a healthy lifestyle can be as familiar as traditional, homemade chili ? and a lot more fun! All of the chili is purely vegan (no animal products). The cook-off is open to all entrants. It is open to the public for tasting and mingling; admission enables you to taste ALL the different chili (and includes Zoo Entrance fee)! There will be lots of chili to taste, lots of interesting people to meet, guest speakers, great door prizes, live music, and many educational booths & exhibits. Half of the proceeds benefit the Austin Zoo, a rescue zoo providing sanctuary to displaced animals.
'''Austin Asian Film Festival'''. NOVEMBER. [http://www.cinemaasiaaustin.org/Site_2/AAFF_Home.html]. An innovative Asian/Asian-American film festival committed to celebrating the best in independent Asian cinema from across the globe. For five years, our festival has highlighted the complexity and vitality of Asian/Asian-American communities through cutting-edge narrative, documentary and experimental films.
Tours
Austin Tours. 55 E. 5th Street, #2811. 12-215-4603. nfo@reserve123.com. perating daily. riced from $16.95. ttp://www.austintours.us. Offers scenic carriage and van tours as well as ground transportation to several area landmarks including Arboretum, Round Rock, and UT.
TexasWineTours.com. 12-329-7007. nfo@texaswinetours.com. ttp://www.TexasWineTours.com. 50-$1500. Offers half and full day tours of the nearby Texas Wine country. Rent a chauffeured sedan, limo or minibus, generally departing between 10AM and noon daily.
Austin Ghost Tours. 12-853-9826. $15. ttp://www.austinghosttours.com/. Offers several guided walking tours of downtown haunts
Independence Brewery Tour. 913 Todd Lane #607. 12-707-0099. nfo@independencebrewing.com. -3 PM, first Saturday of the month. ttp://www.independencebrewing.com/. Austin's local microbrewery, if you're in town on a tour day they are worth the time to see (and sample).
Theater
Austin is a great city for theater, especially if you like new works.
Theater Companies
'''Rude Mechanicals''' or '''Rude Mechs''', [http://www.rudemechs.com]. Original pieces are always engaging. Their production values are over the top (10 foot tesla coils on stage), and always make you interested to be watching theater. They did Lipstick Traces, which I loved. Also loved Get Your War On. They tour, so look for them.
'''Pro Arts Collective''', [http://www.proarts.info]. They do everything: theatre, dance, hip-hop, musicals, festivals and more.
'''Teatro Vivo''', [http://teatrovivo.org]. Dedicated to producing quality bilingual theatre. Reflects the heart and soul of the Latino reality.
'''Salvage Vanguard''', [http://www.salvagevanguard.org]. Original musical pieces in conjunction with the Golden Arm Trio's Graham Reynolds are not to be missed.
'''Different Stages''', [http://www.main.org/diffstages]. One of Austin's oldest rep. companies.
'''Refraction Arts''', [http://refractionarts.org]. They dabble in multiple mediums. Always interesting.
'''the dirigo group''', [http://www.thedirigogroup.com]. These critical darlings do original and established work.
'''Bedlam Faction''', [http://www.bedlamfaction.com]. The typical Bedlam fare is nervy, physical productions of lesser known early-modern playwrights. They occasionally do new, local works.
'''Naughty Austin''', [http://www.naughtyaustin.com]. Started out dedicated to gay-themed scripts, but they've been branching out lately.
'''Loaded Gun Theory''', [http://www.loadedguntheory.com]. Original pieces.
'''Yellow Tape Construction Co''', [http://www.yellowtape.org]. New work in theatre, dance, music, and many different combinations of the three.
Theaters
'''The State and Paramount Theaters''' feature a wide variety of plays and acts, from Broadway touring shows to Chinese acrobats to plays and unique dance companies. Note that the State Theater is closed for most of the 2006-2007 season due to flooding. Performances not canceled will take place in the Paramount Theater. [http://www.austintheatre.org]
Go to '''Esther's Follies''' for an entertaining Saturday Live-like comedy skits on Thursday-Saturday. Located in the 6th street entertainment district it's a great way to start an evening. Reservations recommended. [http://www.esthersfollies.com]
'''The Off Center''', [http://www.rudemechs.com/off_center/index.htm]. Managed by Rude Mechs and home to some of Austin's best theatre, music and dance: Deborah Hay Dance Company, Physical Plant Theatre, Salvage Vanguard Theatre, The Golden Hornet Project.
'''The Hideout''', [http://www.hideouttheatre.com]. Managed by The Austin Improv Collective. You can always find improv comedy there.
'''The ColdTowne Theater''', [http://www.coldtownetheatre.com]. Plenty of comedy, ranging from stand-up to sketch and improv.
'''Zach Scott''', [http://www.zachscott.com]. Dave Steakley is artistic director. If you are looking for solid musical theatre, this is your venue. They also have a lock on Christmas plays.
'''The Blue Theater''', [http://refractionarts.org/index.shtml]. Managed by Refraction Arts and featuring theatre, music, film and dance.
'''The Vortex''', [http://www.vortexrep.org]. Bonnie Cullum is artistic director. Original musicals and operas and plays. Some of the most delightfully weird stuff you'll see.
'''Sam Bass Community Theater''', [http://www.sambasstheatre.com].
'''Arts on Real''', [http://www.artsonreal.com].
'''The Gas Light Theater''', [http://www.gaslighttheater.com].
Music
Austin is the '''"Live Music Capital of the World"'''[http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/music/]. If you're into the bar and club scene, head to '''Sixth Street''' during the later hours for a wide selection of venues, many of which also feature live music. A note of interest regarding Austin clubs and bars: a new smoking ban prohibits smoking in any public building, including these establishments.
<listing name="The Cactus Cafe" address="2247 Guadalupe (at 24th St.)" phone="+1 512-475-6515" email="cactus@mail.utexas.edu" fax="" hours="M-Th 11AM-Midnight, F 11AM-2AM, Sa 8PM-2AM (hours may vary during school breaks)" price="" url="http://www.utexas.edu/student/txunion/ae/cactus/">A great place to hear many local artists. Much of the music that is played there seems to be singer-songwriter. It's musically akin to Austin City Limits and unlike Austin City Limits you can probably actually get in to the Cactus Cafe.</listing>
<listing name="Austin City Limits" address="" phone="" email="acl@klru.org" fax="" hours="" price="" url="http://www.pbs.org/klru/austin/">The venerable PBS show is filmed in the University of Texas' Radio Television and Film building.</listing>
<listing name="Stubb's BBQ" address="801 Red River" phone="+1 512-482-8422" email="" fax="" hours="" price="" url="http://www.stubbsaustin.com/music.php">This BBQ restaurant has some of the best selection of live music in Austin, thanks to Charles Attal, one of the owners, who is recognized nationally for his music booking business. Crowded on Sundays!</listing>
<listing name="Antone's" address="213 West 5th" phone="+1 512-320-8424" email="" fax="" hours="" price="" url="http://www.antones.net">An Austin original that has survived despite many hardships. Considered by USA Today to be one of the best Blues clubs in the nation, Antone's continues to be a launching pad for dozens of new artists each year.</listing>
<listing name="The Saxon Pub" address="1320 South Lamar" phone="+1 512-448-2552" email="" fax="" hours="M-Sa 11AM-2AM, Su Noon-2AM" price="" url="http://www.thesaxonpub.com">An awesome live music venue. The Saxon hosts live music throughout the week and even has a "no cover" happy hour until 7pm. Look for the giant knight and neon guitar.</listing>
<listing name="Emo's" address="603 Red River St (just off 6th St.)" phone="+1 512-477-3667" email="" fax="" hours="" price="" url="http://www.emosaustin.com">A great venue for live music. Two stages, inside and outside, showcase indie rock and other interesting performances.</listing>
<listing name="Hole in the Wall" alt="" address="3600 Guadalupe (UT Campus ARea.)" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long=""> Unique UT campus area club. Great Live Music. Usually no cover. Unique mix of students and z's, craftsman and construction workers, gays, and professionals.</listing>
<listing name="Elysium" alt="" address="705 RED RIVER AUSTIN TEXAS 78705" directions="Take I-35 to exit number 234B, 8TH " phone="512-478-2979" url="http://www.elysiumonline.net" hours="" price="" lat="" long=""> Voted Best Dance Club 2003-2008 in the Austin Chronicle Readers' Poll</listing>
Film
'''Austin Film Festival'''. See information under Festival heading.
'''SXSW Film Festival'''. See information under Festival heading.
'''The Alamo Drafthouse''', Four locations [http://www.drafthouse.com/]. A movie theater with full restaurant service. Downtown always has an eclectic array of cult and foreign films and a good beer and food menu. They also have a dizzying number of specialty shows and film festivals. Their other locations show first run movies with the same excellent food menu.
'''Arbor 7 Cinema''', 9828 Great Hills Trail in the Arboretum area, [http://www.fandango.com/TheaterPage.aspx?location=78759&tid=AAEUJ]. Even though it is owned and operated by mainstream Regal Cinemas, the Arbor 7 shows art and foreign films.
'''IMAXR Theatre''', at Bob Bullock Texas State Historical Museum, [http://www.thestoryoftexas.com/showtimes/imax_theatre.html]. Huge screen, 400 seats, with 2-D and 3-D capability.
'''Dobie Theater'''. Adjacent to the University of Texas, [http://www.landmarktheatres.com/market/Austin/DobieTheatre.htm]. The Dobie plays both mainstream and not-so-mainstream films.
'''Austin Film Society'''. Various theaters. [http://http://austinfilm.org/]. A membership organization bringing the best of cinema to Austinites. Many screenings open to the public. Check the website for current programs and community film annoucements.
'''Austin Jewish Film Festival''', takes place annually in January, presenting a cinematic examination of Jewish life and culture. [http://www.austinjff.org].
'''Cine Las Americas International Film Festival''', takes place in April, presenting the best in Latino and Indigenous cinema. The Festival presents approximately 100 films with screenings in theaters throughout Austin. [http://www.cinelasamericas.org].
'''Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival''', takes place annually in September. aGLIFF is the oldest and largest gay & lesbian film festival in the Southwest and one of the Top 5 Film Festivals of its kind in the nation. [http://www.agliff.org].
'''Austin Bicycle Film Festival''', takes place annually in September. The Bicycle Film Festival is a celebration of bicycles through film, art and music. [http://bicyclefilmfestival.com/2008_site/austin/].
'''Austin Asian American Film Festival''', takes place annually in October, celebrating the best in independent Asian cinema from across the globe. [http://www.aaaff.org].
Enjoying the Outdoors
'''Zilker Park''' [http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/zilker/]. Undoubtedly Austin's favorite park. Amazing location on the banks of Town Lake with several miles of hiking and biking trails.
'''Barton Springs Pool''' [http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/bartonsprings.htm] is one of Austin's most unique (and a refreshing 68 degrees year-round!) attractions: a beautiful spring-fed pool over 3 times longer than a football field, nestled in the heart of the city at Zilker Park. $3 entrance fee for the whole day. If you are short of cash or have a dog, head downstream just on the other side of the fence and find more clear beautiful water.
'''Town Lake Boat Rental''' Rent a canoe or kayak and enjoy the natural world in the heart of the city.
*Austin Rowing Dock [http://rowingdock.com/], 2418 Stratford Drive (512) 459-0999. From $10 to $25/hr.
*Zilker Park boat rentals [http://www.zilkerboats.com/], (512) 478-3852. In the park. $10/hr, $40 per day.
'''Tubing the San Marcos River''' 170 Bobcat Dr. San Marcos, (512) 396-5466, 25 miles south of town on I-35. There is no more quintessentially Central Texan thing than enjoying a summer afternoon lazily floating down the river. The Lion's club of San Marcos rents tubes at around $4/person or canoes at $10/each. They take you to the river and pick you up.
'''McKinney Falls State Park''' [http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/mckinney/]. A 744 acre state park located in southeast Austin is rich in local history.
'''Town Lake Hike & Bike trail'''. A big loop around Town Lake, beautiful scenery while getting a good workout. Recent beautification has cleaned up parts, and is making it nicer for all. Runs alongside Zilker park. A good place for biking, running, walking, or taking the dog out for a nice run. Relatively easy hike.
'''Other parks in and around Austin'''. There are numerous parks all over the city and in the surrounding suburbs that are very popular with the residents of Austin. A significant number of these parks are pet friendly. AustinExplorer is a popular website to learn more about local parks and trails [http://www.austinexplorer.com] and [http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/traildirectory.htm].
'''Mt. Bonnell''', 3800 Mt. Bonnell Dr. (west of Mopac on 2222, left on Mt. Bonnell Rd.) The third-highest point in Austin city limits at 780 feet. Several trails make for pleasant short hikes and points to experience incredible views of Town Lake and the city. The area has a history of romance and is sometimes called Antoinette's Leap, after a woman who supposedly leapt to her death to escape Indians who killed her lover.
Spectator Sports
'''University of Texas Longhorns''', [http://www.texassports.com]. Austin is a university town and Texas sports are taken very seriously. Home of the 2005-06 National Football Champions. UT also has strong basketball and baseball teams, in particular.
'''Professional Sports'''. Among the professional sports teams in Austin are the '''Austin Aztex''' of the United Soccer League, and the '''Austin Toros''' of the National Basketball Development League. The '''Round Rock Express''', affiliated with the Houston Astros, are located in nearby Round Rock, Texas and play Triple-A baseball in the Pacific Coast League.
Other
The '''Austin Steam Train Association''', [http://www.austinsteamtrain.org], runs several tours aboard the '''Hill Country Flyer''' steam train into and around Texas Hill Country. The train makes short half hour jaunts as well as a 30 mile (50km) circuit on weekends March through December. The Steam Train Association does actually own a live steam train, but it has been out of commission since about 2000. The train still runs though, just using a borrowed diesel engine. Still nice, but not as cool as it used to be.
Learn
Austin is one of the premier educational areas in the nation. The University of Texas at Austin is one of the best universities in the world, public or private. The flagship institution of the University of Texas System, it is also one of the largest universities in the world, both in terms of endowment, and in terms of student population. UT has been the largest university in the United States, but has intentionally limited enrollment and now ranks in the top five nationally. The red-tiled roofs of the "Forty Acres," as it is known, shelter many cultural and entertainment institutions. The campus is beautiful and vibrant, and visitors are welcome.
Austin is a college town as well as a government and high-tech center. It draws its population from all over, and many students decide to stay. This gives Austin a high level of general education and a diverse cultural scene.
''' Austin Community College''' [http://www.austincc.edu/]
''' Concordia University at Austin''' [http://www.concordia.edu]
''' Huston-Tillotson College''' [http://www.htc.edu/]
''' St. Edwards University''' [http://www.stedwards.edu/]
''' University of Texas''' [http://www.utexas.edu/]
Buy
<!-- Please place individual entries under the appropriate districts, not here. This is for general description and pointers only. -->
Austin is very proud of its local stores[http://www.escapesomewhere.com/austinlife.html]. Great places to shop are '''South Congress (SoCo)''', '''The Drag''', (Guadalupe, from 17th to 38th, along the West side of the UT campus) and '''South First'''. '''North Loop'''[http://www.ibuyaustin.com/ibiz-northloop.html] also has a few fun and funky shops, but you'll probably have to ask a local (or several) how to get there.
Malls
'''Barton Creek Mall''' southwest of town [http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=223].
'''Lakeline Mall''' northwest of town [http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=227].
'''Highland Mall''' north of downtown. [http://www.highlandmall.com].
'''Round Rock Premium Outlets''' opened in August, 2006 and features upscale outlet shopping in an outdoor courtyard style center. Just north of RM 1431 at I-35 in North Round Rock. 125 stores. IKEA Home furnishings is nearby. [http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=73].
'''Prime Outlets San Marcos'''[http://www.primeoutlets.com/cntrdefault.asp?cntrid=1042] and adjacent '''Tanger Factory Outlets'''[http://www.tangeroutlet.com/centers/index.html?center=SAN] combine for over 200 stores and is worth the trip south from Austin.
'''The Domain''' and '''The Shops at Arbor Walk''' at Braker and MoPac. The Domain hosts Neiman Marcus, Tiffany's and Macy's.
There is a plethora of large retail box stores to the north and south of town (Target, Best Buy, etc.), but of particular note are the Apple Store located in Barton Creek Mall and the Crate and Barrel at Gateway Center.
Groceries
Austin is home of the original and the world headquarters of Whole Foods. Their flagship store is located downtown at W. 6th St. and Lamar, in the same building as their brand-new corporate headquarters. They have several other stores around town as well. The flagship store is a destination in and of itself.
Austin is also home to the original Central Market, near Lamar and 38th St., and a second location at Lamar and Westgate, down south.
Both Whole Foods and Central Market have a large selection of fresh fruits and vegetables, wines, beer, cheese, free-range meats, and seafood. The Whole Foods flagship store downtown also has a varied selection of gelato. Biggest Whole Foods in its chain. Spirits live music at night, a ice rink on top, and much much more.
Wheatsville Food Co-op [http://wheatsville.coop/index.html] 3101 Guadalupe, Austin TX 78705, Open Daily 9am-11pm. Wheatsville is now a thriving cooperative grocery and has been around for over 30 years. Their focus on food issues guaranteed an excellent selection of ethical produced products including organics, vegetarian, vegan, free range meats and eggs, fair trade, household items, bulk foods and a full service deli. The store is a much smaller than the large supermarkets and provides a much more personal grocery experience.
Austin also features a large variety of ethnic grocery stores, including Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, and, of course, Mexican.
'''MT Supermarket''', North Lamar Blvd. and Braker Lane. 68,000 square foot Vietnamese and Chinese grocery supermarket, part of the 180,000 square foot Chinatown Center.
'''Hong Kong''', 8557 Research Blvd. Chinese groceries.
'''Asahi Imports''', 6105 Burnet Road. Japanese grocery store.
'''Fiesta Mart''', 3909 N. Interstate 35. Mexican groceries, strong selection of other international fare.
'''HEB''', one of the largest private (not publicly traded) corporations in America, has many supermarkets around town. They have great selection. Most markets have specialty, organic, and ethnic foods. Many are open 24 hours. Their newest large-scale supermarkets include everything from furniture to electronics to books to eggs.
Music
'''Waterloo Records''', Sixth & Lamar, [http://www.waterloorecords.com/]. Known around town for having local artists play in-store. Wide selection of music, everything from Blues to Electronica to Country. Has a wall dedicated to local musicians, great if you need a real country fix, not that sugary syrup they play on the radio. Waterloo Video is just around the corner.
'''Cheapo Discs''', [http://www.cheapotexas.com/]. Like the name says, Austin's home for cheap used CDs.
'''End of an Ear''', [http://www.endofanear.com/]. Experimental music, jazz, other "left of the dial" music. Regular in-store performances, usually on weekends.
Books
'''Bookpeople''', Sixth & Lamar, [http://www.bookpeople.com/]. Across the street from Waterloo Records, this locally owned bookstore has two stories of books with lots of quiet corners to sit down for a read. Largest independent bookstore in Texas. Great selection of books on Texas history and architecture.
'''BookWoman''', 5501 N. Lamar, [http://www.ebookwoman.com/]. Independent feminist bookstore also specializing in LGBTQ texts.
'''Half-Price Books''', [http://www.halfpricebooks.com/]. Five locations around town. This Texas-based chain's stores offer exceptional value for your dollar, and have an extremely diverse selection. A peek in these stores will show you what Austinites are really reading.
Toys
'''Terratoys''', 2438 W. Anderson Lane (newly re-located), [http://www.terratoys.com]. Wide variety of toys and excellent selection of children's books.
'''Hogwild''', 100-A East North Loop. Vintage toys.
'''Toy Joy''', 2900 Guadalupe (29th & Guadalupe), [http://www.toyjoy.com]. Awesome selection of novelty, themed, and era-reminiscent toys, candy, and stationary.
Antiques
There are several antique stores on South Congress.
'''Aqua''' 1415 S. Congress.
Clothing
'''Blue Velvet''', 217 W. North Loop.
'''Buffalo Exchange''', 2904 Guadalupe.
'''Flashback''', 2047 South Lamar.
'''Storeyville Boutique''', 5015 Duval St.
'''Blackmail'''. 1202 S. Congress. All black clothing and various accessories.
'''Parts & Labor'''. 1604 S. Congress. Lots of unique items (clothes, earrings, purses, etc.) made by local artists.
'''Lucy in Disguise'''. 1506 South Congress. Eclectic clothing and costumery for children and adults.
'''Secret Oktober'''. 1905 South 1st St., Suite B. Goth, punk and alternative clothing resale shop. Doubles as a local venue ticket sales outlet.
Eat
When you visit Austin, or if you decide to live here, you'll have no shortage of interesting and satisfying places to eat. Austin's restaurants are a feast for the mind and the palate. The listings below are only a sampling of the diverse and plentiful Austin restaurant scene.
Austin has many high-end, destination restaurants, but it also has many high-quality, unique, and inexpensive restaurants where the locals eat, drink, and socialize every day (all day). It's a town built for living in, and the affordable, excellent restaurants show it. Just so you know you're in Texas, Austin has a large number of places serving Texas Barbeque and Tex-Mex; many of them are venerable, famous, and exceptionally good eating.
Mexican
El Rey. 109 S Capital of Texas Hwy. 1 512-443-1911. If you don't think Tex-Mex should resemble the Taco Bell menu, check out El Rey. Sonoran specialities. Good Mexican food right next to Texican Cafe (formerly the Trudy's SouthStar location,) and they hardly ever have a wait.
Chuy's Restaurant. locations. ey@chuys.com. ttp://www.chuys.com. Austin institution with great Tex-Mex food. The North Lamar location is somewhat out of the way, but also tends to have the shortest wait times. Call ahead because the wait can sometimes be extremely long, though there are free chips and salsa to help make up for it.
Guero's Taco Bar. 412 S. Congress. 512-447-7688. Great atmosphere! (You saw it in Quentin Tarantino's Grindhouse flick "Deathproof")! And some pretty tasty tacos too!
<!-- Please place individual entries under the appropriate districts, not here. This is for general description and pointers only. -->
Trudy's. locations. ttp://www.trudys.com. Generally regarded as the favorite for Tex-Mex food in town, but this also means they are generally incredibly crowded and loud. Excellent margaritas with specials each night of the week.
Baby Acapulco's. ttp://www.babyacapulco.com. This is a well known Tex-Mex restaurant serving out of 5 locations throughout the Austin area. A fun place for happy hour with a more upbeat and younger crowd. The famous purple margarita will do you just fine. But they serve a limit of two so drink responsibly!
Enchiladas Y Mas. 911 W Anderson Ln (just east of Burnet Road). 1 512-467-7100. hmart1300@sbcglobal.net. u-Sa 7AM-9PM, Su 7AM-2PM. inners $6-10. ttp://www.enchiladasymas.com. As the name implies this restaurant has enchiladas, and they are some of the best north of San Antonio. "y Mas", as it is called by locals, has a broad selection of Tex-Mex fare including flautas, soft and crispy tacos, migas, burritos, and fajitas. This is a must try on the Tex-Mex trail in Austin. They are closed on Mondays and the lunch crowd starts early, so be prepared for a short wait between 11AM and 1:00PM. y Mas has the best motto in town, "Never trust a skinny cook!".
Curra's Grill. ttp://currasgrill.com. An Austin original, this restaurant brings outstanding traditional interior Mexican food to four locations. Some of the best pork recipes around and you will not find better Mexican style seafood dishes anywhere in the city. The south eatery is at 614 East Oltorf and the north location is at 6801 Burnet Road.
Serranos. ttp://www.serranos.com. A homegrown Tex-Mex restaurant with five area locations aroud town offering a great selection of tasty Tex-Mex dishes. The food and service are consistently good for a reasonable price. For something different try the enchiladas con huevos.
Jesus Maria Mexican Restaurant. 304 W. Koenig Lane. 1 512-407-8480. o-Sa 6:30AM-10:00PM, Su 6:30AM-5:00PM. Jalisco-style Mexican food.
Jardin Corona. 3233 Pond Springs Rd.. 1 512-250-1061. A favorite of those living in Northwest Austin Jollyville.
Burgers
Dan's Hamburgers. 602 N Lamar Blvd (at Koenig in North Austin), 4308 Manchaca Rd (at Ben White, in South Austin). Big, greasy burgers and tasty milkshakes. Choose your burger size: Small, Medium, Large. Choose single or double meat. There is also Fran's Hamburgers, and the story is that Dan & Fran divorced and each took part of the franchise.
Dirty Martin's Place. 808 Guadalupe St (at 27th - on the Drag). aily 11AM-11PM. inner specials $7+. ttp://www.dirtymartins.com. A staple for hungry football fans after UT home games, Dirty's has been in the same building since the 1920's. Still has a simple old-time feel, and you can watch the burgers grilled right in front of you at the bar.
Sandy's Hamburgers. 03 Barton Springs Rd, at First and Barton Springs. Great burgers, milkshakes. Better than the Whataburger next door. Great people watching. Their soft-serve ice cream is worth the lines.
Wally's Burger Express. 107 Mesa Dr (in Northwest Hills). 1 512-345-7441. Good fastfood burgers and shakes.
Waterloo Ice House. everal locations. ttp://www.waterlooicehouse.com. Austin classic. Delish burgers, some of the best onion rings in town. Don't miss the Cinnamon Chocolate Shake!
Casino El Camino. th street between Red River and Neches. ttp://www.casinoelcamino.net. Bar (over-21 only) that serves juicy 3/4 pound patties of certified Angus Beef. Also available: Chicken sandwiches, hotdogs, veggie sandwiches, etc. Everything is SLOOOOOW-cooked so expect 45 min to and hour waits for food at peak times, but it's worth it. Dark decor, eccentric jukebox, and nice back garden.
Top Notch Hamburgers. 525 Burnet Road. As seen in the movie 'Dazed and Confused'. An Austin burger institution. Dine in, carry out, or order and eat from your car. Charcoal-grilled burgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, etc.
Chinese
Din Ho Chinese Bar-B-Q. 557 Research Blvd. 1 512-832-8788. pen till 1am most nights.. Lunch and dinner. Some of the most authentic Chinese fare in town, specializing in Cantonese and seafood dishes. Chinese BBQ pork and whole roast duck are available for take-out as well. Don't bring Caucasian friends who are squeamish about real Chinese food - take them to Chinatown instead.
Chinatown. 407 Greystone Drive. 1 512-343-9307. Authentic Chinese flavor with a modern twist. Not really fusion, not really traditional either, but very delicious. The restaurant is located upstairs in a two-story building; the bottom floor houses the Japanese restaurant Musashino
Wanfu. 400 E Oltorf St. 1 512-462-3535. ften open until 4AM. Smoked duck dishes to die for. Amazing lettuce wraps (tofu or chicken).
T & S Chinese Restaurant. 0014 N Lamar Blvd (a few blocks south of Braker Lane). 1 512-339-8434. Traditional Cantonese fare - open late. Dim Sum on weekends.
Japanese
There are numerous Japanese restaurants in town. Note - if you are looking for the real thing - most Japanese restaurants in town also are Korean (An-nyong Ha-se-yo) restaurants or Chinese run (Ni Hao Ma) - if you see Bulgogi or other Korean fare its likely a Korean restaurant for you food Nazi's out there - still these places are pretty good - and if you're not really into sushi - it's great to also have the option to eat Korean food.
For Japanese fast food try Wiki Wiki Teriyaki on Congress a 1/2 a block up Congress from 6th street; they also have a location in the Arboretum shopping center in Northwest Austin.
Korean
'''Korea House''' 2700 W. Anderson Ln. #501, 512-458-2477. Located in the Village Shopping Center and can be a little hard to find; the entrance faces towards the inner courtyard area of the shopping center. They have a decent sushi offering but the Korean dishes are delicious and authentic. Sometimes they have OB beer - but not recently.
'''Koreana''' 12196 North MoPac Expwy., 512-835-8888.
'''Korea Garden''' 6519 N Lamar Blvd ., 512-302-3149.
'''Shilla''' 6406 N IH 35 ,(512) 453-4111. Located in Lincoln plaza off I-35 access road near US 290 and Highland Mall. Standard korean dishes and bbq. This place also has Hite beer and Jinro Soju. I'd say this place is more authentic than Korea house based on the number of Koreans that actually go here.
Vietnamese
'''Hai Ky'''. Consistent fresh, high quality Vietnamese food with great bowls of pho, delicious stir fries and noodle dishes, bubble tea and friendly service. At 1931 E. Oltorf about 3/4 mile east of I-35 in a strip shopping center on your right just past the Whataburger. Locals in the know and Asian students yearning for a genuine taste of home frequent this small restaurant. Great electronic music adds to the casual ambience. Best Vietnamese food in Austin. Very affordable and now serves imported beers. Great staff w/ mellow ambiance. Two thumbs up.
'''Lamar Blvd.'''. Several Vietnamese places are scattered in strip malls both north and south of US-183 on Lamar Blvd. Notably Le Soliel, Saigon Pho, and Kim Phung.
'''Sunflower''' Although it's in a strip mall in North Austin, this restaurant is notable for its amazing vegetarian options. Service is kinda spotty, and the staff tends to use extremely aromatic cleaning products (read: "potpourri"-fragranced cleaning spray spritzed on tables between customers), but it's well worth the trip North. Absolutely delicious, especially for the price.
'''Pho Tai Son''' Three or four locations (Burnet Rd & Parmer in the HEB strip mall, Wm. Cannon and Brodie by ChoobieDoos, the Drag, and maybe Oltorf, but that's probably Hai Ky now?). Good fresh Vietnamese standbys, pho, bun, stirfry and bubble drinks. No beer but maybe you can bring your own?
'''T&N Cafe''' Located in the same plaza as the Oak Hill Burger Tex (6705 Hwy. 290 W.) near the Y. Excellent Vietnamese pho and bun dishes and few unusual items like curry. Popular for lunch with the nearby Freescale folks. Friendly family service. You can bring in your own beer. Highly recommended.
Italian
'''Frank and Angies'''. Pizza and Italian food. Supposedly Quentin Tarantino's favorite restaurant in Austin. Right next to Hut's Hamburgers.
'''Reale's''' Pizza and Italian Food. Northeasterners love Reale's, as it reminds them of family Italian restaurants from home. Good food. 13450 North US 183.
'''Hoeks Death Metal Pizza'''. Rock out and eat some of Austin's most delicious "metal" pizza. 511 E 6th St. Austin, TX 78701 (512) 474-6357
Vegetarian
Austin is vegetarian-friendly, and many restaurants have a good selection to choose from.
'''Aster_fs Ethopian Restaurant'''. 2804 N. I-35. Aster has been delighting Austin with her Ethopian food for over a decade. The menu includes many vegan choices, both hot and mild: eggplant, two varieties of lentils, potatoes, greens, cabbage, and wonderful injera.
'''Bouldin Creek Coffeehouse'''. 1501 S. 1st Street. Great Coffeehouse with all Vegetarian Menu. [http://www.bouldincreek.com/]
'''Casa de Luz '''. 1701 Toomey Rd. Completely vegan restaurant. A meal which includes drink and it's all you can eat. They have several different types of specialty meals each week such as Guatemalan or Caribbean night. The atmosphere is fantastic as it's located right by Barton Creek surrounded by lush vegetation.
'''DaVine Foods '''. 1412 W. Oltorf St. This all-vegetarian restaurant offers mostly vegan options including a hummus wrap, tempeh chili, organic juices, smoothies and breakfast tacos that are served all day. Meals are priced from $2.95 to $10.95. [http://davinefoods.com/]
'''Fire Bowl Cafe '''. 9828 Great Hills Trail, #100. Asian restaurant with a _fStir Fry Your Way_f section, allowing for many vegan choices. The menu also denotes, by using a green leaf, which meals are vegetarian if ordered with tofu. Priced under $10. [http://www.firebowlcafe.com/]
'''Hula Hut '''. 3825 Lake Austin Blvd. On their unique Polynesian- and Mexican-inspired menu (aka "Mexonesian"), you_fll find several vegetarian/vegan options. [http://www.hulahut.com/]
'''Kerbey Lane Cafe '''. 3704 Kerbey Ln. This popular eatery offers an extensive vegan menu that includes breakfast tacos, chai pancakes, tofu cheesecake, and more. [http://www.kerbeylanecafe.com/]
'''Koriente '''. 621 E. 7th St. Asian fusion restaurant with many vegetarian and vegan options, including summer rolls, vegetarian curries, and sweet potato noodles. Tofu is available on most entrees.[http://www.koriente.com/]
'''Leaf '''. 419 W. Second St. This eatery is focused on serving fresh, tasty salads. Choose from the menu or make your own! A few of their soups are vegetarian and/or vegan.[http://www.leafsalad.com/]
'''Madras Pavilion '''. 9025 Research Blvd. #100. An all-vegetarian Indian restaurant offering a fabulous lunch buffet as well as a dinner menu. [http://www.madraspavilion.us/]
'''Mr. Natural '''. 1901 E. Cesar Chavez St. All-vegetarian Mexican restaurant, bakery, and health food store that offers breakfast, lunch & dinner as well as a popular buffet. Most dishes are or can be made vegan. A local favorite. [http://www.mrnatural-austin.com/]
'''Mothers Cafe & Garden'''. 4215 Duval St. Winner of several recent Austin Chronicle food awards, including Best Veggie Burger. Excellent vegetarian and vegan fare in a relaxing, pleasant atmosphere. Mothers burned down in 2007 but has been completely rebuilt and is as good as ever. [http://www.motherscafeaustin.com/d/4693336_38253.htm]
'''Noodle-ism '''. 107 W. 5th St. This restaurant offers a variety of Asian- to Italian-inspired dishes in a fun, casual atmosphere. Vegan items are clearly marked. [http://www.noodle-ism.com/]
'''Satay '''. 3202 W. Anderson Ln. This restaurant serves fine South-Asian cuisine and has an extensive vegetarian and vegan menu available. Be sure to try the vegan silken tofu chocolate pie! Live music is featured on Wednesday nights on the patio.[http://www.satayusa.com/]
'''Shady Grove '''. 1624 Barton Springs Rd. Indoor & outdoor dining with a fun and eclectic atmosphere. Home-style foods such as frito pie & chili can be made vegan (even the Worcestershire is vegan). [http://www.theshadygrove.com/]
'''Spider House Cafe '''. 2908 Fruth St. IPopular local cafe with large outdoor seating area, occasional live music and film showings. Vegan cake and peanut buttercups are available as well as chili and burritos which can be made vegan.[http://www.spiderhousecafe.com/]
'''The Steeping Room '''. 11410 Century Oaks Terrace, Suite 112. A cafe with a large selection of teas, chai lattes, and wines. Soy milk may be substituted for dairy. The menu changes each season and includes a variety of tea sandwiches, soups, and salads with vegetarian and vegan options. [http://www.thesteepingroom.com/]
'''Tino_fs Greek Cafe '''. 10515 North Mopac. "Cafeteria-style" Greek food. Vegetarian options include tabouli, dolmathes, and vegetarian mousaka. [http://tinosgreekcafe.com/default.aspx]
'''Veggie Heaven'''. 1914 Guadalupe St. Asian-inspired, all-vegetarian restaurant near campus offers popular dishes such as "Protein 2000." A local favorite. Taiwanese Vegetarian.
'''Wheatsville Co-op Deli '''. 3101 Guadalupe St. A well-known Austin health food store with deli that offers vegan and vegetarian items such as sandwiches, soups and desserts. [http://www.wheatsville.coop/]
'''Whole Foods Market Cafe '''. 525 N. Lamar Blvd. & 9607 Research Blvd. #300 Vegetarian-friendly grocery store with numerous food bars offering vegan and vegetarian options. This is Whole Foods flagship store [http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/]
Etc.
'''Texas Chili Parlor'''. Get your red on. Serves the national dish of Texas, chili, in all heat ranges, as well as other great Texan-American fare. This downtown neighborhood chili parlor is reportedly the local Republican hangout, when "The Lege" is in session. Near the Capitol, and South of UT at 1409 Lavaca Street. Featured in Quentin Tarantino's movie "Death Proof." [http://www.cactushill.com/TCP/home.htm]
'''Threadgill's''' has two locations, one just south of downtown and one on North Lamar. The menu focuses on southern comfort food. The chicken fried steaks, salads, and peach cobbler are all especially good. Both locations are famous concert venues, starting the likes of Janis Joplin. Weekly gospel brunch at the south location on Sunday, for which you might want to call for reservations. [http://www.threadgills.com/]
'''Amy's Ice Cream''' has several locations around town. The atmosphere is lively and the employees are friendly. Add a fruit or candy "crush'n" to your ice cream for even more flavor. The recently-added location on Burnet Road, aside from being right beside the Amy's production facility, also features a burger joint - Phil's Ice House. Try the sweet potato fries and the burger sampler. [http://www.amysicecream.com/]
'''Pacific Star Oyster Bar''', 183 North, just past Anderson Mill. Best oysters and catfish in town. Parking is scarce, but well worth while.
'''Catfish Parlour''', 4705 E. Ben White, ''+1-512-''443-1698. 11AM-10PM every day. All-you-can-eat catfish with hushpuppies on the side is a true Southern experience. $15-20 (''$12 all-you-can-eat special''). [http://catfishparlour.com/]
'''Thundercloud Subs''' A local Sandwich deli with over 27 locations around town. Known for its 'Keep Austin Weird' atmosphere and 'Thunder sauce.'
Most supermarkets such as HEB, Fiesta and Randall's offer inexpensive prepared food. Don't forget about the downtown Whole Foods HQ and its extensive food court.
Drink
<!-- Please place individual entries under the appropriate districts, not here. This is for general description and pointers only. -->
Coffee
Austin is coffee mad. The coffeehouse culture is strong and growing here in Austin, and you can hear poetry and live music at quite a few of these places, as well as getting light eats. Coffeehouses are where the liberal heart of Austin beats for all to see. Free wireless Internet connections are very common (and available at many other businesses as well).
Spider House. 908 Fruth St (just north of the UT Campus). 1 512-480-9562. aily 7AM-2AM. ttp://www.spiderhousecafe.com. A lovely place to spend a night out on the patio by yourself or with friends. Table service available. The Chai Milkshake is a dream; the Sangria pitcher is pricey but a fun way to unwind. Decent food as well.
Epoch Coffee. 21 W North Loop Blvd. 1 512-454-3762. pochcoffee@gmail.com. lways open. ttp://www.epochcoffee.com.
Cafe Mundi. 704 E 5th St. 1 512-236-8634. afemundi@yahoo.com. ttp://www.cafemundi.com.
Genuine Joe. 001 W Anderson Ln. 1 512-220-1576. -F 7AM-11PM, Sa-Su 8AM-11PM. ttp://www.genuinejoe.com.
Green Muse Cafe. 19 W Oltorf St. 1 512-912-7789. Try the Middle East plate, even if you're not a vegetarian, you'll enjoy the hummus with the warm, toasted pita bread squares. There is free wi-fi too if you'd rather surf the net somewhere else other than your couch. Perfect for writing on a Saturday morning. M-F 7am - 12am & S-SU 9am - 12am.
Texspresso Cafe. 700 W Anderson Ln. 1 512-467-9898.
Little City. 16 Congress Avenue. 1 512-476-2489. -F 8AM-Midnight, Sa 9AM-Midnight, Su 9AM-10PM. ttp://www.littlecity.com.
Ruta Maya. 601 S Congress Ave (turn off So. Congress at the strip joint and go uphill). 1 512-707-9637. aulinapacotti@yahoo.com. 1 512-472-9639. 7AM-11PM, Tu-Th 7AM-1PM, F 7AM-2AM, Sa 8AM-2AM, Su 8AM-11PM. ttp://www.rutamaya.net. An Austin tradition. Located at the Peen Field complex in a cavernous space with classes, entertainment, and events. Be aware that the service can be haphazard, but always friendly.
Teo. 206 W 38th St. 1 512-451-9555. -Th 7AM-10PM, F 7AM-Midnight, Sa 8AM-Midnight, Su 9AM-10PM. ttp://www.caffeteo.com.
Mozart's Coffee Roasters. 826 Lake Austin Blvd. 1 512-477-2900. ozarts@austin.rr.com. 1 512-477-1971. -Th 7AM-Midnight, F 7AM-1AM, Sa 8AM-1AM, Su 8AM-Midnight. ttp://www.mozartscoffee.com.
Cafe Caffeine. 09 W Mary St. 1 512-447-9473. ttp://www.cafecaffeine.com.
Bouldin Creek Coffeehouse. 501 S 1st St. 1 512-416-1601. nfo@bouldincreek.com. -F 7AM-Midnight, Sa-Su 9AM-Midnight. ttp://www.bouldincreek.com.
Jo's. 300 S Congress Ave. 1 512-444-3800. ttp://www.joscoffee.com.
Flipnotics Coffeespace. 601 Barton Springs Rd. 1 512-480-8646. -F 7AM-Midnight, Sa 7AM-1AM, Su 8AM-11PM. ttp://www.flipnotics.com.
Lava Java. 901 Medical Arts St. 1 512-495-9228. -Th 7:30AM-Midnight, F 7:30AM-10PM, Sa-Su 9AM-10PM.
Anderson's Coffee Company. 601 W 38th St. 1 512-453-1533. ttp://www.andersonscoffee.com.
Trianon the Coffee Place. 201 Bee Cave Rd. 1 512-328-4033.
Halcyon Coffee Bar & Lounge Cafe. 18 W 4th St. 1 512-472-9637. isa@zebolounge.com. -W 7AM-1AM, Th 7AM-2AM, F 7AM-3AM, Sa 8AM-3AM, Su 8AM-1AM. ttp://www.halcyonaustin.com. They serve a plate of S'mores that makes for a great, different sweet treat.
Progress Coffee. 00 San Marcos St. 1 512-493-0963. nfo@progresscoffee.com. 1 512-493-0964. -W 7AM-8PM, Th-F 7AM-9PM, Sa 8AM-9PM, Su 8AM-8PM. ttp://www.progresscoffee.com. Best Iced Toddy in town!
Pacha. 618 Burnet Rd. 1 512-420-8758. -F 7AM-7PM, Sa-Su 8AM-7PM.
Alcohol
Austin's main strip is on '''6th Street''' downtown. But like most entertainment districts that get raves in the media, it's a little overhyped. Check out the nearby '''Warehouse District''' and '''Fourth Street''' if you don't want quarter wells and million-dollar sorority girls.
Opal Divines Freehouse. 00 West 6th Street. 12-477-3308. 1AM-2AM every day. ttp://www.opaldivines.com. This place serves great pub food and has an excellent beer menu. They have an enormous wrap around patio that affords an excellent view of drunk Austin staggering past.
Maudie's. 608 West 7th Street. 12-474-7271. ttp://www.maudies.com. Austin as Austin can get. A staple Tex-Mex favorite with five locations around town. Great salsa and better margarita's. If you crave cheese enchiladas get the Hernandez Enchiladas.
Trudy's. 09 W 30th Street. 12-477-5720. Known for its 'Mexican Martini'. Great place for decent Tex-Mex and great frozen margaritas. Close to campus, so watch out for the frat crowd on weekends. Relaxing patio overlooks a city park.
Draught House. 112 Medical Parkway. 12-452-MALT. ttp://www.draughthouse.com/about/about.home.html. A neighborhood pub that features 78 taps with an ever-changing selection of unique self-brews in a classic English pub environment that doesn't come off feeling cheesy. Locals bring folding chairs and dogs and tailgate in the parking lot. Check the website for great specials. Often crowded. Homebrews are $2.25 on Thursdays before 11 pm.
The Ginger Man. 04 West 4th Street. 12-473-8801. ttp://www.gingermanpub.com/austin/a-frame.html. Dark and warm warehouse with 79 drafts at last count. Pool table and darts and a nice patio out back. Noted for its wide array of craft and local brews.
Barfly's. 420 Airport Blvd (above Burger Tex). 512) 452-6455. Dark and dive-alicious. Great juke-box, super-cheap and STRONG drinks. Guaranteed interesting crowd of locals. Excellent bartenders.
Local Beer
Most grocery stores (especially HEB and their Central Market) carry a variety of Texas beer. There are five microbreweries operating in Texas, and you can expect to find their beer at outlets with moderate to wide selections:
'''Independence Brewing Co.''' [http://www.independencebrewing.com/] relatively new, and in Austin.
'''Spoetzl''' [http://www.shiner.com/] has several brews, including the Texas staple, Shiner Bock.
'''Rahr & Sons''' [http://www.rahrbrewing.com/] out of Fort Worth
'''Real Ale Brewing Company''' [http://www.realalebrewing.com/] is based in Blanco, about an hour west of Austin.
'''Saint Arnold Brewing Company''' [http://www.starnold.com/] from Houston is fairly established and has a near-cult following.
'''Live Oak Brewing''' [http://www.liveoakbrewing.com/] is another Austin microbrewery. You can find their beers on tap all over town.
There are also a number of small brewpubs serving their own house-brewed beers to the local cognoscienti. These include:
'''NXNW''', 10010 Capital of Texas: Standard menu options here include an Amber, Pale Ale, Hefeweizen, a light Pilsner and a hearty Black Ale. They also rotate out a number of magnificent seasonals, including some amazing house-brewed lambics. Once a month, head brewer Ty Phelps rolls out a special cask-conditioned brew that typically disappears within an hour.
'''Draught House''', 4112 Medical Parkway: amazingly quick turnover of their fast-rotating seasonals. Drink it today because it won't be on tomorrow.
'''Uncle Billy's''', 1530 Barton Springs Rd. Tendency towards lighter beers, but their Haystack Hefeweizen is predictably good and some of their hoppy seasonals have been excellent.
Gay and Lesbian
Most gay and lesbian bars and night clubs are located downtown with the highest concentration in the the Warehouse district.
Oilcan Harry's. 11 W 4th Street. 12-320-8823. ttp://www.oilcanharrys.com.
Rain. 17b W 4th Street. 12-494-1150. nfo@rainon4th.com. ttp://www.rainon4th.com.
Rainbow Cattle Company. 05 W 5th Street. 12-472-5288. Touch@rainbowcattleco.com. u-Fr 3PM-2AM, Sa-Su 8PM-2AM. ttp://www.rainbowcattleco.com.
Charlie's. 301 Lavaca St. 1 512-474-6481. aily 2PM-3AM. ttp://www.charliesaustin.com.
Chain Drive. 04 Willow St. 1 512-480-9017.
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Sleep
Note that many hotels sell out for Austin festivals, particularly South By Southwest. Book well ahead for anything downtown
Budget
Country Inn & Suites By Carlson Austin-North. 400 IH35 North, Austin North. 512) 380-0008 . 512) 380-0046. ttp://www.countryinns.com/austintx_north. Charming country style decor, convenient to Austin Airport, University of Texas for Business or Leisure Travel
Motel 6 Austin Central-South/University of TX. 330 North Interregional Highway. 512)467-9111. ttp://www.motel6.com.
Studio 6 Austin Midtown. 603 North I-35. 512)458-5453. ttp://www.motel6.com.
Motel 6 Austin Central-North. 010 I-35 North. 512)837-9890. ttp://www.motel6.com.
McKinney Falls State Park. 808 McKinney Falls Parkway. 12/243-1643. ttp://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/mckinney_falls/. The McKinney Falls State Park offers camping just outside the city. Reservations can be made online.
Mid-range
Days Inn Austin Crossroads. 20 E.Anderson Lane, Austin, TX 78752. 512) 835-4311. ttp://www.northaustinhotel.com.
Clarion Inn & Suites Central Austin Hotel. 200 IH-35 South. 512) 444-0561. ttp://cl-austin.chidirect.com.
Summerfield Suites by Wyndham Northwest Austin Hotel. 685 Northcross Drive. 512) 452-9391. ttp://hiaustin-townlake.felcor.com.
Holiday Inn Austin Town Lake Hotel. 0 North IH-35. 512) 472-8211. ttp://austin.wyndham-hotels.com.
Hyatt Summerfield Suites Austin. 0001 N. Capital of Texas Highway . 512) 342 8080 . ttp://www.hyatt.com/hyatt/summerfield.
AmeriSuites Arboretum. 612 Tudor Boulevard. 512) 231-8491. ttp://www.amerisuites.com/reservations/locationdetail.asp?facid=3951. Spacious guestrooms with in-room microwave, refrigerator, separate workspace and free high speed Wi-Fi Internet access. Plus, free hot breakfast, fitness center and pool.
AmeriSuites North Central. 522 North IH-35. 512) 323-2121. ttp://www.amerisuites.com/reservations/locationdetail.asp?facid=3973. AmeriSuites Austin North Central is centrally located north of downtown Austin and 14 miles from the airport. Three adjacent restaurants will deliver to your suite.
Hawthorn Suites Austin Airport. 800 East Riverside Drive. 512) 247-6166. ttp://hawthorn.com/reservations/locationdetail.asp?facid=1771. Situated in good location, with Downtown Austin, 6th Street, the Austin Convention Center, the State Capitol, the University of Texas and the Frank Erwin Center all within minutes. Also offers a courtesy airport shuttle and car rental.
Splurge
Hilton Austin North. 000 Middle Fiskville Rd. 512) 451-5757. This hotel is near the north shopping district, anchored by Highland Mall
Hyatt Lost Pines Resort and Spa. 75 Hyatt Lost Pines Road. 512) 308-1234. 512) 308-4800. ttp://www.lostpines.hyatt.com. A new resort near McKinney Falls and McKinney Roughs, between Austin Bergstrom International Airport and Bastrop, Texas, just southeast of Austin. The 405 acre resort features horseback riding, Django Spa, a small waterpark and river tubing.
Hyatt Regency Austin. 08 Barton Springs. ttp://www.austin.hyatt.com. Downtown hotel.
Lake Austin Spa Resort. 705 South Quinlan Park Road. 512) 372-7300. ttp://www.lakeaustin.com. The resort is one of Austin's finest, featuring extensive spa facilities & luxury accommodations. It combines the amenities of a destination spa & lake resort for the ideal Texas vacation destination.
Omni Austin Hotel Southpark. 140 Governors Row. 512) 448-2222. ttp://www.omnihotels.com/Home/FindAHotel/AustinSouthpark.aspx. At I-35 and Ben White is South Austin.
Renaissance Austin Hotel. 721 Arboretum Boulevard. 512) 343-2626. 512)346-7953. ttp://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/aussh-renaissance-austin-hotel/. Marriott's Luxury Hotel at the Arboretum near US 183 and Texas 360. It features Hill Country views and a nine story atrium.
Contact
Free Austin area WiFi Hotspots: [http://www.austinwirelesscity.org/].
Stay safe
Austin is a generally safe city. As with most American cities, credit cards are accepted nearly universally, especially for nightlife. Therefore, for convenience and safety, it's inadvisable to carry large amounts of cash.
The number for police, fire, and medical services is 911.
There is generally a large, visible police presence (mounted, foot, and cruiser) at night in the 6th St. area. They are quite willing to let belligerent drunks dry out overnight in the city jail. They do, however, provide a safe and secure area to enjoy yourself and Austin's famous live music.
Because surrounding hills concentrate the water, some streets in Austin and the surrounding area are prone to flooding during periods of heavy rain. These areas are typically marked as 'low water crossings' but in any event '''do not drive or walk across moving water'''. Each year several people are killed as they are swept away by flooding. You will also see many flood control structures built into the landscape. Small, dry low places with bounding berms during the dry season, these are dangerous places to be in, but keep Austin safer when the rains come.
Weather
Austin weather is generally nice year-round; activities are generally not limited by season. However, as Austin lies within Central Texas, be prepared to deal with the '''long, hot, and humid summers''' if you are visiting between May and September. It is not uncommon for daily high temperatures to be between the low 90s to the mid 100s during this time - in fact, a day in the 80s is rare. If you are here when the weather is like this, dress accordingly, drink plenty of water, and do not plan on staying outside for long (nearly all indoor places are air-conditioned). How hot the summer gets usually depends on the amount of precipitation the previous spring, and Central Texas is currently in an extreme-level drought, the most severe category, so expect warmer than average temperatures for the most part for now.
Central Texas winters are short to non-existent. There are many pleasant (or even warm) days during the winter months, and snow and hard freezes are rare. However, light freezes may occur frequently (especially in the more rural areas), and when this mixes with precipitation, '''ice storms''' and other wintry weather happen. If the storm is severe enough, the city may shut down for a day or so, traffic may be snarled, and the local auto body shops may receive a spike in business. The Austin area usually experiences such events 0-2 times each year or so, from late December to mid-February.
Spring and fall are the best times to visit. Springs tend to be stormy (see "Stay Safe" for related warning), and falls may bring light freezes during the night. For the most part, though, springs and falls are very pleasant times to experience Austin.
Cope
'''Chittamani Buddhist Center ''', 1918 Bissel Lane, Austin, TX 78745 ''+1'' 512-916-4444, [http://www.meditationinaustin.org]. Offers relaxation meditations and meditation classes to increase inner peace.
Get out
The Salt Lick. 801 N Capital of Texas Hwy. 1 512-328-4957. ttp://www.saltlickbbq.com. aily 11AM-10PM. ll-you-can-eat $16/5 (Adults/Children under 12). altlick@saltlickbbq.com. About 30-40 minutes outside of town in Driftwood, you'll get to drive through some beautiful hill country before arriving at this sprawling and magnificent BBQ restaurant. It's BYOB, cash only, and the all-you-can-eat menu option that will have you staggering back to your hotel. A satellite restaurant is located in the airport, and is a great place to eat. If you've got withdrawal symptoms, and need your maintenance dose, Salt Lick barbeque is available shipped worldwide!
'''Hill Country Flyer''', 512 477 8468, [http://www.austinsteamtrain.org/]. A scenic 2-hour train ride through the Hill Country to Burnet, where the train stops for shopping and dining. The ride especially scenic during mid-spring when the hills are covered in bluebonnets. The train is normally pulled by an old steam engine which is currently under restoration. In the meantime, the route still runs, pulled by a 60s diesel engine.
San Marcos (Texas)
New Braunfels
San Marcos River