WEEKENDERS GUIDE: THREE PERFECT DAYS IN AUSTIN

I'd hardly turned the July page on my beloved 610 Stompers calendar when I realized August was upon us (and now, amazingly, almost September!).  One of the many reasons July went so quickly was the whirlwind fun we had hosting some wonderful friends from afar.  Not only was it a blast to re-connect and spend quality time with old friends, but it was such fun to share Austin with visitors and remember why we love this place.  The people definitely make the city, and I'm so grateful to live in a town with so many genuinely friendly, easy-going folks who know what it means to be hospitable.

just another austinite keepin it weird 

Not that it's utopic here, as one of our guests half-jokingly suggested.  Austin is growing very rapidly, so navigating all the city has to offer requires a little bit of planning and expertise to avoid a two-hour wait for dinner, or worse, a dreaded gridlock on I-35.  So I'm happy to share a compilation of our undertakings, complete with crowd-avoiding timelines, to anyone who may find themself in our fair city some time soon.   Thank you, friends, for the visit, fun and photos (all the photos in this post were snapped by friends during their time here).  We're so glad you braved the sweltering July heat for some QT in Austin and fun with our family.  We love you guys!

THURSDAY AFTERNOON

salty sow

-If you can get into Austin by 4 pm, head straight to The Salty Sow for happy hour which runs daily from 4:30 to 6:30 pm.  The Happy Hour menu is amazing, as are the house cocktails.  I rocked a mean non-alcoholic version of the Hogwash as well as Rosemary's Piglet, which were so delicious I almost didn't miss the alcohol.  Almost. 

-Once they ring the huge bell signaling the end of Happy Hour, it's time to find respite on someone's back porch or seek the solace of AC inside for a little summer picnic.  My suggestion is to hit up The Wheatsville Coop which is a small but amazing cooperatively owned grocery store here in Austin.  They carry lots of local products and label them clearly. 

-If you're looking for something with even less prep work than baguette slicing, or you have no accessible yard to speak of, then head on over to East End Wines which is not too far from happy hour to pick up a bottle of wine to enjoy on their back porch.  These guys are experts, and they have wine at every price point.  Grab a bottle and enjoy a view of the Texas State Cemetery which is just across the way.  If you're still hungry, pick up some food at the food truck that sits in their side yard, the way delicious Raymond's 3 Little Pigs.  The idea of pork belly used to kind of gross me out until I tried his Pork Belly Slider and developed a whole new appreciation for the hog. After dinner, if you're not wobbling yet, walk on over to The Longbranch Inn which was one of the first bars to anchor the revitalization of this district and has long been a hang out for the young and hip of Austin's East Side.  

-It's time for a nightcap, and depending on where you need to stagger home, my suggestion is either the backyard beach bar at Takoba for those staying east or central, and for those closer to the university or a bit further north, the beer garden at Contigo is not to be missed. Both places also offer some excellent food, which might help mitigate all the fun and libations of a giddy first night in A-town. 


HAPPY AUGUST

Welcome to our version of hydrotherapy.  This matching cap and bathing suit were helluva awesome hand-me-downs and have provided us lots of fun over the summer.  Here's wishing you a great month and a refreshing weekend, remembering always that the best things in life are free.