Hey, y’all. Netroots Nation is upon us, and I wanted to offer an early welcome to Austin, the Democratic capital of Texas. We’re so excited to have you all coming down to convene in this crucial election year. I hope some of this information helps you settle in and enjoy your trip!
Here’s what I’ll cover in this diary:
Fun Parties and Events at Netroots Nation
Food, Nightlife, and Tourism
Airport Transportation and Getting Around Austin
Other Austin Resources
Before you join us here in Austin, join me down below!
I’m so excited! This year’s Netroots Nation is going to be fantastic, with so many grassroots groups and activists coming together to lay the foundations for victory in November. Have you checked out the online agenda yet? There are some amazing panelists, from well-known DailyKos users to prominent academics, stellar candidates to fantastic volunteer coordinators. But when you’re not busy with the convention, Austin’s a great place to have some serious fun.
Fun Parties and Events at Netroots Nation
You’ve heard about the big DailyKos party starting with a mariachi band in the Hilton lobby and partying all night at Maggie Mae’s on famous Sixth Street. Let me clue you in to a few other events worth your while.
Wednesday: Voter Reg, and Welcome from The Field and BOR
If you’re here Wednesday afternoon, join casperr and I at Netroots Nation Vote for Change. Our weekly voter registration efforts will operate out of the Hilton lobby coffee shop so that participants from across the country can help turn Texas Blue and meet great local activists. We’ll start at 2 p.m. and be all finished by 6 p.m. If you can’t make the start, we’ll leave a liaison in the coffee shop to help you find us out on the street. It’s all within walking distance. We’ll train you, deputize you, and unleash you on downtown Austin. Complimentary "Texans for Obama" bumper stickers for the first ten people to arrive! (Fine print: This event not officially part of Netroots Nation.)
Looking for a party Wednesday night? Head over to The Cedar Door at 201 Brazos Street from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. for a welcoming reception sponsored by The Field and my friends at Burnt Orange Report, the best of the Texas blogosphere. More information here!
Thursday: Party Like a Texas Democrat!
After Howard Dean’s keynote, walk a few blocks up to Club DeVille for the Turn Texas Blue party featuring the best of Texas Democrats. Co-hosted by the Rick Noriega for Senate campaign, the Texas Democratic Party, and the Travis County Coordinated Campaign, we’ll show you that everything really is bigger in Texas, even our Democratic spirit! Rick Noriega will be there, and if you haven’t had a chance to meet him, you must! He’s just great, a really friendly guy -- with great taste in neckties too, I might add.
Best of all, the Travis County Democratic Party has bestowed 50 free drink tickets to the dynamic duo of kath25 and Melody Townsel to give to a few lucky revelers, so the first 50 bloggers to find us at the party get a drink on the house. You’ll also get a chance to meet other great bloggers with strong Texas ties. I hear front-pager DarkSyde might be in attendance! We’ll also be selling Texans for Obama t-shirts, which I know you all want.
Club DeVille is located at 900 Red River street, at the corner of 9th Street, four blocks north of the hotel. It’s a great venue with two bars, indoor and outdoor seating, a dance floor, and great ambiance. The welcome party for the state Democratic Convention was rockin’, and this will be too.
Food, Nightlife, and Tourism
There’s lots to eat, drink, and see here in Austin, and in between panels and parties I hope y’all have a chance to try even a little.
Austin Food
There have been many great diaries on the fantastic food here in my fair city. Take a peek, and come hungry!
Austin Nightlife
Austin is the live music capital of the world! There are tons of bars and clubs all over the city to cater to every music taste. Here are a few great diaries that give an overview of the action.
Austin Tourism
If you’re staying a few extra days, need a break from the convention, or have friends/relatives in tow who might want some distraction, here’s a few great choices:
- LBJ Museum and the University of Texas – Political buffs will love the anamatronic, life-size LBJ, and the great displays about the peaks and valleys of his career. It’s a great attraction. Located on the 360-plus-acre University of Texas campus, it also gives you a chance to look around there too.
- Barton Springs Pool – Cool off in the great big pool in beautiful Zilker Park. Those looking for a little skinny-dipping might want to also look into Hippie Hollow (uhh, link NSFW).
- Lady Bird Lake and the Bats – At dusk, millions of Mexican Free-Tailed bats stream out from the Ann Richards Bridge on Congress Avenue over Lady Bird Lake (aka Town Lake). An easy walk from the convention. We love our bats – they eat all the bugs! Runners and walkers might like a jaunt along the path around the Lake as well. (Yes, it’s a river, but we call it the lake.)
Airport Transportation and Getting Around Austin
The Airport
Most of you are probably flying. Austin-Bergstrom Airport is very manageable. You’ll land in Barbara Jordan Terminal (yaaay!). After picking up baggage, I recommend grabbing the bus to downtown. Here’s the bus schedule. The bus takes about 20 minutes to downtown, about the same as a cab. It doesn’t make many stops. Just ask to be let off at the Hilton (or wherever you’re staying) – it’s right on the route. The bus costs 50 cents, and a dollar will give you a 24-hour pass. To find the bus stop, exit the airport and turn right – walk to the end of the pick-up area to find the bus stop. A cab will run you about $15, so you might want to look for other bloggy-types if you aren’t game for the bus.
Alas, since you all unfortunately have to leave, here’s the Sunday bus schedule to the airport. There’s a stop across the street from the Hilton – ask at the front desk for directions. When you’re on your way home at the airport, I recommend the breakfast tacos at the Salt Lick taco stand. Mmm.
If you’re arriving via Greyhound, you can take the #7 or #15 bus all the way downtown, available across the street from the bus depot.
Getting Around Austin
The Hilton is located downtown, and it’s pretty easily walkable. If not, there are buses and free shuttles to take you around. In particular, look for the Silver Dillo if you want a quick, free ride over to the flagship Whole Foods, where their headquarters is. It’s really a worthwhile stop while you’re here!
Here are links with more information:
Capital Metro – Austin’s bus system
Dillo Service – the free trolleys that carry you around downtown Austin
The buses don’t run as frequently as one might like, and you can’t trust the posted schedules since they probably haven’t been changed in a year. Thus, if you’re going less than 12 blocks (roughly a mile) you might want to walk; or, you can grab a cab. In Austin we need to call cabs. Here are a few I use. Put them in your cell phones!
Yellow Cab: 512-452-9999
Austin Cab Co: 512-478-2222
Other Austin Resources
There’s much more information out there about this fair city, so read up! Don’t miss out on a chance to have a rockin’ good time here in Austin. Here are some other resources for you:
Can’t wait to see you all here in Austin! It’s going to be our best convention yet, and y’all will help us get one step closer to turning Texas blue!