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. 

FRIDAY

-Friday morning is a great time to take advantage of the Breakfast Menu at the lovely Hillside Farmacy.  This place can get crazy overrun for breakfast and lunch on the weekends, and the bright and fresh decor make it a perfect stop first thing in the morning.  They also carry Stumptown Coffee (people swear by this Portland coffee) and make a mean bitter remedy (which our server recommended for nursing a hangover), both of which only add to the beauty after a night on the town.

take heart

-After breakfast, I would get your shop on.  Just down the block is the beautiful and simple Take Heart which is great for finding handmade, vintage, or just plain unique items for your home.  Owner Nina Gordon has a great eye for the simple yet charming, and this is a wonderful place to pick up something from local Austin artisans or a random Japanese import.  Definitely worth the stop.  I'm also a new fan of Mana Culture, who just set up shop on E. 11th.  It's their second outpost in Austin, but both the clothes and jewelry are fantastic and the price points really reasonable.  Both well worth the 5 minute walk after breakfast!

-Go ahead and cram your culture in by taking the 5 minute drive (or 20 minute walk) down 11th street to the Texas State Capitol.  It's a gorgeous building, and if you're feeling particularly into the Texas History thing,  here is some information about a self-guided tour.

-Next stop, South Congress.  It's great to take in this district before the official weekend starts as it is a very popular destination.  I'm sure there's tons of information online about which places to hit up, but my suggestions of the things not to miss (depending on your interests) are:
     -Stag for picking up a great gift for your dude, or any dude for that matter
     -Guero's for excellent interior Mexican food
     -Uncommon Objects for well, uncommon objects
     -Leighelena for funky jewelry and vintage finds
     -Jo's for anything iced, refreshing or caffeinated
     -Amy's Ice Cream for a taste of old-school, home made Austin deliciousness
     -The patio of the San Jose for a drink when the weather is right and seating is available.  
There's much more to an afternoon (or day or night) in this district, but these happen to be my personal favorites.

-If you time it right, and head out of South Congress mid-afternoon, you'll beat rush hour traffic across town just in time to also pass the lunch rush at Paul Qui's East Side King.  You can go ahead and get your Friday night drink on, as this latest ESK location is in back of The Hole in the Wall, an old school Austin dive that lives up to it's name.

austin sunset

-Get back to you're abode and let that beer lull you to sleep.  A siesta will help you keep pace for the rest of the weekend and enjoy all the night life left to live.




-If you're driving or have access to a car, we suggest dinner at Kome.  This is where the typical Austin local goes to eat sushi. Delicious and well-designed, it's in a price category that keeps it our local favorite for a date night. While Uchi and Uchiko are supposed to be incredible experiences for the sushi savvy, Kome won't break the bank, allowing more room for cocktails. Lots of cocktails! Get there early (before 7 pm) if you want to be seated quickly.  Otherwise, book a table for parties of 6 or more. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee!

mrs. johnson's

-Random, I know, but at Kome you are only two doors down from the best hot donuts in town.  If it doesn't ruin your palette, head over to Mrs. Johnson's Donuts for an amazing treat after dinner, or get a box to go and you've got your over-sugared yet delectable breakfast in the bag.

-Austin can't be visited without taking in 6th Street at least one night, and this may be the time to head that way.  If you get there early, you can settle in and check out the scenery before the street gets blocked off and things get crazy.  I skipped this part of the trip, but my friends seemed to have a great night, ending up at the classy and timeless Driskill Hotel for a night cap.  A great place anytime, but especially to kick things off or wind down after the craziness.
 

6th street at night

SATURDAY
-Once you are up and at 'em, I would suggest either grabbing your donuts from the night before (if they survived that long) or picking up some breakfast tacos from any one of the amazing taquerias peppered through out town.  Our favorite is Taqueria La Playa (recently renamed Jalapeno's but same location and management) which is close to our house and has these delicious cactus tacos that I love.

barton springs

-Grab your breakfast to go and head to Barton Springs before things get too crazy.  You can't take food inside the springs, but there are plenty of places to picnic in Zilker Park before hitting the water. 



-Swim, a lot!  Especially in the summer.  The water is freezing, but the temperature will bring your body temperature down and allow you to enjoy your outdoor afternoon drinks that much more.

original trudy's

-Head to the original Trudy's at 409 West 30th St close to UT Austin for your afternoon refreshment.  Heading there between 2 and 4:30 might make it possible to snag one of the much coveted tables on their memorable outdoor patio, which they've recently extended into the parking lot to help share the love.  They are famous (and rightfully so) for their Mexican Martinis, and this is a great Austin institution to throw down a margarita of any sort and some delicious Tex-Mex.

-Enjoy your last evening in Austin by starting out with a small taste of local, well-loved barbecue.  We hit up the unique and delicious Micklethwait Craft Meats which had delicious barbecue and FANTASTIC sides.  I'm not exactly a meat connosieur, but the homemade moon pie made history in my book and I'll definitely be back.  I've heard they run out of meat most nights, so go early.

-Make the East Side loop and hit up Justine's for a cocktail and the great atmosphere.  There is always a wait here for dinner, though they do take reservations for parties of 6 or more.  It's fun to grab a drink or bottle of wine and just chill by the petanque court, though, taking it all in.  Another great place to stop for a relaxed atmosphere and excellent cocktail is Weather Up on East Cesar Chavez.  It's the latest outpost of Kathryn Weatherup, who apparently helped get Brooklyn psyched up about craft cocktails before opening a second bar up in Manhattan and now (logically :)) Austin.  I like this lady. 

-If you still have energy to go and do, one of the last unturned stones is the newly expanded Rainey Street area just west of I-35.  I couldn't believe how much this area has grown over the past 18 months, and I haven't tried most of the bars, but it's a great place to stop in if you want to be around loads of people with lots of opportunities to drink.  We had a great time at Lustre Pearl, which was one of the first establishments in this area, and if you're still hungry and they're still serving, G'Raj Mahal has killer Indian food in a fun location that evolved out of a food truck. 


and the party continues:  not to be forgotten, the classic chevron night cap

SUNDAY

-Alas, this is when most people's weekend sadly comes to an end, or at least for the purposes of this post.  If time allows, my last suggestion would be to take in brunch at Rio's Brazilian Cafe which is on the way to the aiport by most standards.  They have an amazing brunch menu, $2 mimosas, and strong coffee.  One of the friendliest staffs in Austin, they will leave you with a full stomach and warm glow as you head back to Austin Bergstrom, hopefully to come again soon!