I have been on Kos for a few years and I had to miss Las Vegas and Chicago. I was very much looking forward to the gathering in Austin. I think the convention made a very wise choice.
Unfortunately, my vacation is here this week and my family and I are going to drive to Yellowstone and Spokane to visit family.
So here is a welcome to y'all to Austin, and my humble suggestions for places to spend money and places to have fun.
So have a good time, and I'll come to Net Roots next year.
Love all of you.
Austin IS a city of music.
Every place in Austin has live music, even the airport. Get an Austin Chronicle. This week they feature an article about Net Roots Nation!
My most recommended places are:
Antone's - Blues Vallejo on the 18th, James Hunter on the 16th.
Continental Club - R&B, rock, (in my opinon for the 30+ crowd, the hippest place in town), great Texas acts all the time.
Emos - Punk, thrash, hardcore, ect. See if they have a bondage night while you are here. This place is tatoo city.
Zona Rosa - Latino
Maggie Mae's - on 6th Beer Beer Beer Beer Beer, oh and did I mention Beer? Music, too.
Red Fez - Very Cool.
Comedy - Ester's Follies (like Second City) sketch, stand up, political humor. An Ausitn tradition for many years.
Gay - Any Club on the south side of 4th street between Colorado and Lavaca., or one block north on fifth (Rainbow Cattle) and Lavaca and Uncle Charlie's on Lavaca near 14th. Also Club Deville on Red River.
Great outdoor venue - Waller Creek Ampitheatrer
Tradtional Texas music and dancing - The Broken Spoke Dale Watson on the 16th.
Cactus Cafe - Great bar and music venue at UT Austin Student Center
Lucky Lounge - Cool place to hang
Scholz's Garden - Eest of the Capitol, an old time bar and political hang out.
Momo's - West 6th above Katz's. On the 18th "The Belleville Outfit" Swing band.
Jovita's - South 1st. great Tex Mex food and Music.
Ruta Maya - Great coffee house and music, too.
Saxon Pub - S.Lamar - ok bar, Great Music
Elephant room - Have a Guinness and listen to jazz in a basement dive.
Cedar Street - Single malts and good bands.
Stubbs, good food and great local bands and touring ones too.
Hole in the wall - UT Area bar, Old hippie Austin - A tradition
Food -
Texas BBQ - I have lived in Austin for 25 years and I'll tell you, there are only two places with kick ass BBQ of the highest quality and tradition.
#1 A must visit - The Salt Lick about 20 Miles SW of Down town in Hays county, on FM 1826 (also called Camp Ben McCullough Road) (my neoghborhood) The Best BBQ in the World. Well at least in Texas, but that's the same thing. It is on a ranch, you eat in the former ranch house. Be sure to have the blackbery cobbler. While you are there, cross the road to Camp Ben, and go all the way to the back and to the right and you will find Onion Creek and a Rope Swing. No skinny dipping. Have fun, (I don't know how good the water is right now we are in a drought).
#2 Sam's BBQ on east 12th street. this is in a traditional African American neighborhood that is starting to gentrify. My Personal favorite in Austin Say hi to Renee, tell her Mike the Firefighter sent you. I think this is just about perfect BBQ. The building is funky, and that is good.
Pizza - Mangia's, Conan's, and Brick Oven. For East Coast pizza, Hoboken Pie, my new fave.
Shusi - Best in Town - Uchi. Make a reservation NOW! Opps, you're too late. After that, Mushashino - North Mopac. Downtown, Kyoto, above the Elephant room My old time favorite is Korea House, up north on Anderson Lane.
Late night eating - Magnolia and Kerby Lane
Fine Dining - Shoreline grill - with a River view. Driskill Grill
Steaks - Sullivan's Cocktails and music.
Cocktails - The Belmont
Guero's - on Soco (That's South Congress, Austin's pathetic attemt to make us sound New Yorkish hip, but its still cool.) This is the place to eat texmex and see and be seen. The Austin Hollywood set hangs out here.
Best TexMex - Chuy's Best MEXICAN Food - La Fonda San Miguel, then Curra's, then ony one of 1257 new Mexican taqueria's in town.
Tapas - Malaga
Burgers - Hut's
Another great swimming hole - it's a county park. Call first (512) 264-2740 Hamilton Pool A beautiful place.
In town to swim, go to Zilker Park and hit Barton Creek pool The greatest, coolest swimmin' pool in the world. For Skinny Dippiing, go to Hippy Hollow (down Comanche Trail by the Oasis) on Lake Travis.
Gentlemen's Entertainment - North - The Yellow Rose and Sugar's, South - Extasy.
Running and Bikeing - Hike and Bike trail around the Lake downtown.