The following is a GREAT article about Austin and what to do if you're in town.  OFCOURSE, The Saxon Pub was mentioned.  There's also a photo layout if you buy the magazine.  Thanks for checkin in on us and see you all soon!! 

BY ALLEN HOLDER
Knight Ridder Newspapers
Tuesday, June 20, 2006


AUSTIN, Texas Heres the question: Is Austin still weird? Or maybe: Is it still weird enough ?

The answer depends on the definition of weird, to be sure. But consider this: Austin has always been celebrated for its one-of-a-kind flavor that comes from being a university town, state capital, high-tech center and, of course, smack in the middle of Texas.

Yet in the last couple of decades, one other factor perhaps outweighed all the others: Growth. Austins population exploded from 472,000 in 1990 to 682,000 in 2004.

Hard to keep that funky college atmosphere amid all those moving vans.

Still, its not hard to find pockets of the old Austin, the place that made it such a joy to visit. The restaurants and bars along Sixth Street downtown are still crowded after dark. Threadgills still serves a mean chicken-fried steak. And thousands of bats still darken the sky as they come out from under the Congress Avenue Bridge each evening.

So we wont talk about traffic gridlock, highway construction and endless sprawl.

Instead well head south along Congress Avenue. When we reach the Austin Motel and see the sign that says So close yet so far out, we know the Austin spirit remains intact.

South Congress Avenue, or SoCo, is a burgeoning district of shops, clubs and sometimes the bizarre. The 30-plus antique dealers at Uncommon Objects operate under the thread Raw materials for creative living. The Continental Club has been helping Austin maintain its reputation as a music mecca since 1957. Then theres Lucy in Disguise With Diamonds and Electric Ladyland: Outrageous and Vintage Attire for Ladies and Gentlemen part vintage clothing emporium, part costume and party shop.

For a lot of years this was not the best part of town, assistant manager Leanne Primes said. So if you were interested in buying property and starting a business, it was a wise real estate investment.

These days almost all the storefronts are occupied, and foot traffic is brisk.

Austin was just the sort of town Amy Simmons wanted when she launched her ice cream business in 1984. Chains were few, and individual businesses thrived.

John Kunz has owned the independent Waterloo Records store for 24 years. It was a very energetic place because of the music and the politics, the arts, the nature, he said.

These days its more an effort to keep that atmosphere alive, but Kunz and others are trying.

A few years ago a fellow was making a donation to a community radio station, Kunz said. He said he was making a donation to keep Austin weird. A lot of people responded.

The slogan Keep Austin Weird was born, and suddenly there was a campaign not necessarily to embrace weirdness but to support local businesses.

All in the name of letting Austin be Austin.

A lot of it is so we dont have the United States of Generic America, Kunz said. If everyplace is alike, whats the use of traveling?

n To learn more

Contact the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau at (866) 462-8784 or see www.austintexas.org.

n Hip hotels and luxurious digs

The grande dame of Austin lodgings, the historic Driskill Hotel, 604 Brazos St., lends an air of elegance to the party atmosphere along Sixth Street. Built in 1886 by Texas cattle baron Col. Jesse Lincoln Driskill, the hotel offers 188 rooms and suites divided between two wings. Rooms in the historic wing have high ceilings, elaborate woodwork and balconies. The traditional wing, which dates to 1929, has art-deco styling and colors inspired by the Texas Hill Country. Rates: from $179 to $2,500 for the two-bedroom Cattle Barons Suite. (800) 252-9367 or www.driskillhotel.com

Near the University of Texas campus, the Mansion at Judges Hill, 1900 Rio Grande St., is a boutique hotel, part of which is in the historic Goodall Wooten House, built in 1900 by Austin physician Thomas Dudley Wooten for his son Goodall and his bride. 48 rooms and suites from $139 to $299. www.mansionatjudgeshill.com or (800) 311-1619

On the banks of Town Lake and near the convention center, the Four Seasons, 98 San Jacinto Blvd., is among Austins most luxurious hotels and one of its largest. 291 rooms and suites, from $345 to $1,750 for the two-bedroom presidential suite. (800) 819-5053 orwww.fourseasons/austin

Also near the convention center, the Hampton Inn, 200 San Jacinto Blvd., offers 209 rooms and suites from $129 to $199. (512) 472-1500 or www.hamptoninn.com.

The Hotel San Jose , 1316 S. Congress Ave., is a boutique hotel in Austins hip SoCo neighborhood. It was built in 1939 as an ultra-modern motor court, according to the hotel Web site. 40 rooms and suites from $90 to $95 for a room with shared bath to $285-$315 for the courtyard suite. www.sanjosehotel.com or (800) 574-8897

n Tex-Mex, barbecue and health food?

In Austin, its possible to live on a diet of Tex-Mex, barbecue and chicken-fried steak, but plenty of other (and healthier) options are available. Some choices:

In the SoCo neighborhood, Gueros Taco Bar, 1412 S. Congress Ave., serves great Tex-Mex in the century-old Central Feed and Seed building. Its a sprawling place with sidewalk dining, an enclosed patio and live music some evenings. (512) 447-7688 or www.guerostacobar.com

Another Tex-Mex favorite, Chuys, 1728 Barton Springs Road, is a loud, rambling restaurant with 1950s-style Formica-top tables and booths with vinyl seats. Fish, Elvis artwork and car parts on the walls complete the eclectic atmosphere. Other locations on North Lamar and North Research Boulevard. (512) 474-4452 or www.chuys.com

Whole Foods World Market, 525 N. Lamar Blvd., is more than just an 80,000-square-foot natural and organic foods supermarket and headquarters for the Whole Foods chain. Its a traffic jam as drivers compete for space in the multilevel garage. Its also a terrific place to grab lunch, with spots throughout for everything from salads and sandwiches to seafood and barbecue. (512) 476-1206 or www.wholefoodsmarket.com

For good Texas barbecue, just look around. Or head about 20 miles southwest from Austin to Salt Lick Barbecue, at 18001 FM 1826 in Driftwood. (888) SALTLICK, (888) 725-8542 or www.saltlickbbq.com

You dont go to get ice cream, says Amy Simmons, founder and owner of Amys Ice Creams. You go to celebrate with your family, because you did well on a test, you go to feel better. With 10 locations in Austin, Amys is worth the trip. We dont use any artificial flavoring or food coloring, Simmons says. Everything is what it is. For locations: www.amysicecreams.com

n Live music: upholding Austins tradition

Austins reputation as the Live Music Capital of the World should mean you dont have to go far to hear something really good. The university crowd heads downtown to Sixth Street, the citys best-known entertainment district. Young professionals might go to the Warehouse district, on Fourth and Fifth streets between Colorado and Guadalupe streets. The Red River area, on the east side of downtown between Congress Avenue and Interstate 35, is known for alternative music, punk rock and hip-hop. And SoCo, the South Congress Avenue neighborhood, has good restaurants, blues and country music and the storied Continental Club.

A few places to get you started:

The Continental Club, 1315 S. Congress Ave., has been open since 1957, when it was a private supper club. Today theres live music seven days and nights a week, with an emphasis on country, roots rock and blues. (512) 441-2444 or www.continentalclub.com

Antoness, 213 W. Fifth St., has given Austin the blues since 1975. Now its repertoire has expanded to other kinds of music, including hip-hop and country rock. Live music five to seven nights a week. (512) 320-8424 or www.antones.net

The Broken Spoke, 3201 S. Lamar Blvd., describes itself as the last of the true Texas dance halls. It has been open since 1964. Over the years, Bob Wills, Ernest Tubb, Tex Ritter, Kitty Wells, Willie Nelson and George Strait have played there, among others. Live country music and dancing Tuesday-Saturday; restaurant open 10:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, til 11:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday. (512) 442-6189 or www.brokenspokeaustintx.com

Saxon Pub, 1320 S. Lamar Blvd., has a variety of live music seven nights a week, from blues to rock and country. Its known as a place where artists might drop in and play, including such stars as Bonnie Raitt. It has been open since 1990. (512) 448-2552 or www.thesaxonpub.com

n Get busy: From campus to capitol

Get educated. With almost 50,000 students, the University of Texas is a power player in the personality of Austin. The 350-acre campus offers plenty for visitors to see. Campus tours leave at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. weekdays and 2 p.m. Saturdays from the Information Desk in the UT Tower. Call (512) 475-7399.

n Some must-sees:

The UT Tower, near 24th and Guadalupe streets, completed in 1937, offers a panoramic view of the campus and Austin from its observation deck. In 1966 a sniper there killed 14 persons. Tours, $5, by reservation only. (877) 475-6633 or www.utexas.edu/tower

The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library, 2313 Red River St., tells the personal story of the 36th president. Especially interesting: exhibits on Johnsons Great Society program, the civil rights movement, Vietnam and the nightmare year of 1968. The Oval Office replica on the 10th floor is a trip back to the 60s, especially the console of three televisions LBJ kept, so he could keep an eye on all three network news shows. Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Free. (512) 721-0200 or www.lbjlib.utexas.edu

The brand-new Blanton Museum of Art, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Congress Avenue, boasts a permanent collection of more than 17,000 art works. Its strengths include contemporary American and Latin American art, Old Masters, prints and drawings. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission: $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for ages 13 to 17 and college students, free for 12 and younger. Free on Thursdays. (512) 471-7324 or www.blantonmuseum.org

The Harry Ransom Center, 21st and Guadalupe streets, is a cultural archive whose extensive collection includes the worlds first photograph and one of five complete Gutenberg Bibles in the United States. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday, noon-5 p.m. weekends. Free. (512) 471-8944 or www.hrc.utexas.edu

Get in touch with history. The majestic Texas Capitol, at the north end of Congress Avenue, is the icon of Austin, rising just over 300 feet above downtown. It was completed in 1888 and is built of Sunset Red Texas Granite.

Stop by the Capitol Visitors Center at 112 E.11th St. for information about tours and brochures. Self-guided tour pamphlets will direct you throughout the building, to the rotunda and chambers of the Texas Senate and House of Representatives, past statues of Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston. A guide to the grounds leads to monuments including those to Texas Rangers, volunteer firemen and the Texas cowboy. Visitor center: (512) 305-8400 . Tour guide office: (512) 463-0063

Get in the swim. At a constant 68 degrees, the Barton Springs swimming pool is the perfect antidote to the hot, humid weather that plagues Austin all summer. Its huge 944 feet long and 145 feet wide at one point. Its also natural, fed by an underground aquifer that pushes 200 million gallons of water through the springs and pool each day.

The pool is part of Zilker Park, on Barton Springs Road just west of downtown. Open 5 a.m.-10 p.m. daily except Thursday, when the pool is closed 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free before 9 a.m., then $3 for adults, $2 for ages 12 to 17; $1 for children and seniors. (512) 867-3080

Get green. A quiet oasis in the middle of an ever-growing metropolis, Zilker Botanical Gardens, 2220 Barton Springs Road, also is part of Zilker Park. The 31-acre garden center actually is a collection of gardens, including a green garden, cactus and succulent garden, prehistoric garden, herb and fragrance garden, Oriental garden, rose garden, butterfly garden and a pioneer village. Summer hours are 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Free, but weekend parking costs $3 per car. (512) 477-8672 or www.zilkergarden.org

Get funky. The South Congress Avenue neighborhood known as SoCo becomes a street party the first Thursday evening of every month shops and galleries stay open late, live entertainment fills the air and vendors line the street. But this neighborhood is worth a visit any time for its collection of eclectic shops and interesting restaurants. The names alone Blackmail (a lifestyle boutique specializing in all things black), Yard Dog Folk Art, Lucy in Disguise With Diamonds (costumes and vintage clothing) are a clue to what the area is all about.

Get batty. Between April and October, thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats swarm out from under the Congress Avenue Bridge each evening about dusk. Theyre part of the worlds largest urban bat colony. Bat Conservation International estimates the number of bridge bats at 1.5 million and says they eat 10,000 to 30,000 pounds of insects a night. For more bat details: Bat Conservation International, (512) 327-9721 or www.batcon.org

n Bands, festivals and more

Austin celebrates the huge colony of bats that live under the Congress Avenue Bridge throughout much of the year, so it makes perfect sense that there should be a Batfest. This years event at the bridge, Sept. 2-3, promises two stages of local and national bands, a carnival, arts and crafts vendors, food and, of course, bat watching and education. Click on events at www.roadwayevents.com

Anyone who has seen the long-running PBS show Austin City Limits will appreciate the Austin City Limits Music Festival. Eight stages at Zilker Park will showcase 130 bands Sept. 15-17. www.aclfestival.com or (877) FEST-ACL

The Texas Book Festival, Oct. 28-29, brings together acclaimed authors for readings and signings, plus live music and childrens activities at the state Capitol. www.texasbookfestival.org or (512) 477-4055

If you havent done Halloween in Austin, you havent done Halloween. Its about more than candy when Halloween on Sixth Street draws 60,000 costumed revelers to the citys best-known entertainment district.

Filmmakers, musicians and multimedia artists gather downtown each March to showcase their talents at the huge South by Southwest festival. Next years dates are March 9-18. www.sxsw.com or (512) 467-7979

The Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival features about 100 of Texas most acclaimed chefs, plus wineries and tastings at various spots throughout Austin and central Texas. Its set for March 29-April 1. (512) 249-6300 or www.texaswineandfood.org.

The Austin Fine Arts Festival brings more than 200 national artists, food from local restaurants, live music performances, kids activities, artist demonstrations and hands-on activities to downtowns Republic Square Park. Next years dates, April 14-15. www.austinfineartsfestival.org or (512) 458-6073

The Old Pecan Street Festival brings artists, craftspeople, childrens activities and live music to East Sixth Street each spring and fall. The fall festival will be Sept. 30-Oct. 1. Next years spring festival will be May 5-6. www.oldpecanstreetfestival.com.


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