Anybody know Austin, Texas?

[markw]

We'll be down there for a few days and I'd like to find a good music store that features some of the local talent. The last time we were there the Barnes & Noble in The Aboretum had a great selection but, if it went like the B & N's out here, they probably don't have much of a selection anymore.

I like wetern swing, alt country and rockabilly and have to get it on the net. Flipping through CD's would make a welcome diversion while in the area. That, and a visit to Salt Lick in Driftwood.

So, guys, any ideas?

 

[lsiberian]

28 years ago a genius was born(only in his own mind) their in Seaton Hospital.

As far as good eating goes.
Breakfast
Juan in a Million(A burrito that is insanely good.)
Lone Star Bakery(Best donut I've ever eaten)
Barbecue
Salt Lick
Rudy's(cream corn is amazing)
Lockhart has amazing barbecue places both better than Saltlick IMO(Kreuz, Blacks) If you need sauce it's not great barbecue.

Steak
Texas Land and Cattle, Signature smoked sirloin(medium rare)
Other places too.

Tacos(hard to find a bad one really)
Torchy's is good stuff

Stubbs is a good place for a show. There are many great places to catch shows. Downtown normally has good stuff. Just really depends on what you like.

If you want great cajun food
Lousiana Longhorn Cafe is amazing they also have a great burger.

lol I accidentally did a thumbs down.

 

[Rickster71]

The Ten Best Record Stores in Austin, Texas -
The Best 10 Record Stores in Austin, Texas - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com
I vote for Salt Lick, but use the BBQ sauce this time.

 

[Rickster71]

Here is a great Austin Music site. Austin Music
Its a nice, Who, When, Where, What, site for Austin music.
With sections for: Local Signed/Unsigned Musicians & Groups and
Music Servers and Austin based labels.
I recommend going into music shops too, and asking where to find local CD's.

 

[jcl]

Waterloo records is the only music store I've been to. Have to admit I do much of my shopping online now.

I can check the B & N for you. I take my daughter to Amy's nearby and we sit by the cows and eat our ice cream.

For BBQ
The Salt Lick can be hit or miss. I went once and got brisket that was just thinly cut steak.
There's also the Iron Works off Red River downtown.
The County Line on the Lake or the hill.
I have to say that I think if you have the time Lockhart is worth the trip for bbq. Smitty's is an experience.

+1 for Torchy's! The Crossroads is my favorite. Watch out for the Brushfire, the habenero sauce can be hot! Lot's go to Chuy's for tex mex.

 

[Rickster71]

I recommend going into music shops too, and asking where to find local CD's.

oops, meant to say musical instrument shops.

 

[lsiberian]

Waterloo records is the only music store I've been to. Have to admit I do much of my shopping online now.

I can check the B & N for you. I take my daughter to Amy's nearby and we sit by the cows and eat our ice cream.

For BBQ
The Salt Lick can be hit or miss. I went once and got brisket that was just thinly cut steak.
There's also the Iron Works off Red River downtown.
The County Line on the Lake or the hill.
I have to say that I think if you have the time Lockhart is worth the trip for bbq. Smitty's is an experience.

+1 for Torchy's! The Crossroads is my favorite. Watch out for the Brushfire, the habenero sauce can be hot! Lot's go to Chuy's for tex mex.

Half Price books is more interesting than B&N IMO.

 

[jcl]

Half Price books is more interesting than B&N IMO.

Yes, I agree, and Book People as well, but the OP mentioned browsing B & N previously so I was offering. I don't live far from the Arboretum so it's no big deal for me to stop in.

 

[allargon]

I'm a couple of days late to this thread.

BBQ--skip anything in Austin (including Salt Lick) other than Franklin's
Go to Llano or New Braunfels and hit up Cooper's
When you have a better appreciation for brisket hit up Smitty's in Lockhart but not until you have that appreciation for perfectly smoked meat Texas style

Steak
Go to Dallas...seriously...the best steak place in Austin is III Forks and that's a chain

Mexican
Go to San Antonio for Tex Mex--for interior check out Zandunga. Locals might try and send you to Fonda San Miguel--resist them.

Cajun
Go to Houston

Seafood
See the above note about Houston

Sushi or Japanese
Uchi or Uchiko

Gastropub
Barley Swine

Hill Country cuisine (This is unique to the area)
South Congress Cafe or (if you have the $$$) Hudson's on the Bend

The Austin trailer scene per capita can go up against LA any day. People who know the town know that some of the best food is at our food trucks. Check out...East Side Kings, Gourdoughs (real Texas donuts), Odd Duck, Love Balls and Torchy's.

We have good cupcake places, but so does every town. Our best three are Cupprimo's, Sugar Mama's and Be My Cupcake. Unless you like sucking on sawdust skip those Hey Cupcake trailers that are on every corner.

Music stores...Cheapo's and Piranha are both nice places to browse for CD's and vinyl. For SACD and DVD-A, go online.

Hangover breakfasts include Kerbey Lane, Magnolia Cafe and Trudy's (weekend brunch only).

 

[markw]

Thanks guys.

All these suggestions will be taken into cosideration but time is of the essence.

This isn't really a vacation but a trip to see two sons and fou rgrandkids in Gainesville and College Station so we are only able to squeeze in two days for ourselves.

Wifey akready said wants to do one of those evenngs in San Antonio to see the lights on Riverwalk so those places in SA are a good possibility.

Lockheart is on our to do list but we'll need a bit more time to really do this right. That other BBQ in Ausitn is a strong possibility, though. I'll have her read this thread.

As for Half Price Boks, we hit up the one in College Station with the grandkids. Gotta promote reading, ya know.

Again, thanks.

 

[lsiberian]

All these suggestions will be taken into cosideration but time is of the essence.

This isn't really a vacation but a trip to see two sons and fou rgrandkids in Gainesville and College Station so we are only able to squeeze in two days for ourselves.

Wifey akready said wants to do one of those evenngs in San Antonio to see the lights on Riverwalk so those places in SA are a good possibility.

Lockheart is on our to do list but we'll need a bit more time to really do this right. That other BBQ in Ausitn is a strong possibility, though. I'll have her read this thread.

As for Half Price Boks, we hit up the one in College Station with the grandkids. Gotta promote reading, ya know.

Again, thanks.

Honestly most of it is splitting hairs. I'll say that Rudy's is still a very good barbecue place and good enough for any visitor. The smoked turkey is my favorite meat there.

You may as well try out Freebirds in college station.

 

[markw]

Update on Austin.

We took everything into consideration and considering the scant time we had there, Mrs W and I did the following:

Zilcher Park- The Japanese Gardens is a must-see for both ofus. It imparts such a feeling of tranquility it's almost spooky. Alas, the lack of water has caused the ponds (which is most of it) to be closed and the end result is that it's dull and lifeless. The bamboo forest is still healthy though.

We saw, on two TV shows, Maria's Taco Express and is looked so outrageous that we just had to try it. I mean, would Rachel and Guy lie to us? In a word, yesAll sizzle and no steak. It was so bland that I can get better Mexican from almost any Greek restaurant here in Jersey.

We did, however, find "Casa Garcia" on S. Lamar last time and that provided us with first rate huevos Rancheros two out of the three days. Wife, who spent 30 years in Corpus Christie gives it high marks for Tex/Mex, and so do I.

We did do Lockhart for BBQ on Sunday and went to Smitty's. Good, but the briskit was a bit fatty for my taste. The sause addes somewhat but I'm basically a "straight up" kinda guy. The chicken abd potato salad were great, thouth.

We went to San antonio to see the Christmas lights on the Riverwalk but ere disappointed to find they weren't up yet.

Music-wise was a score. I did find Waterloo and I love it! It's Austin's answer to our Vintage Vinyl (in Fords, NJ) and has just the music i need. Vintage Vinyl specializes in grunge, thrash and metal. ... not my taste. Also, I was turned on to "cheapos", a block and a half up the road from Waterloo, a great resource for used CD's, and they ahve a whole wall for local music.
Oh, Book People is right across the street from Waterloos and was a good, yuppie store.


Now, we're in College Station, one big strip mall surrounding Rt. 6, but at least we have the kids and grandkids to keep us occupied here.

Again, thanks for all your input. It helped greatly and was appreciated.

 

[Adam]

Hey, Mark - glad that you found some good tunes and also did pretty good on the food. For food on vacation, it's tough, isn't it? I'm sure that Austin has some amazing places to eat, but unlike back home, you're not familiar with them so you try out what other people thought was good.

 

[markw]

And I almost forgot!

Stopped off at my Daughter-in-laws Pop's in Snook where we had the biggest, and possibly the best, chicken fried steak at a place called Sodolak's.