Austin, TX - need WATMM help

WATMMERS,

 

I am going to be in Austin next week for like 5 days and I am looking for some suggestions on stuff to check out and do! Any good places to recommend, restaurants, bars, odd sightseeing stuff, swimming holes, movie sets, etc

 

JR, I know you're down in Texas, any ideas?

 

Thank you!

Record stores:

 

End of an Ear

2209 South First St

Austin, TX

512-462-6008

 

Waterloo Records

600 N Lamar Blvd

Austin, TX

512-474-2500

 

Emo's has most of the good club gigs, the history museum is cool & has several IMAX films about Texas/ the old West

 

Top 10 BBQ Joints:

 

http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/m/Issue?oid=1503315

Frank's Hot Dogs - http://hotdogscoldbeer.com/(gourmet hot dogs. good drinks. used to have a really good sunday brunch)

 

Salt and Thyme - http://www.saltandtime.com/(good place to grab a sampler or something quick. I like their cold coffee as well)

 

Contigo Austin: http://www.contigotexas.com/austin(best pork I've ever had. It's not on the menu. Food is ridiculous)

 

G'raj Mahal Cafe: http://www.grajmahalaustin.com/(I haven't eaten here, but I was trying to last time I was there. Seems tasty.)

 

Zero Gravity Institute - http://www.zerogravityinstitute.com/gallery.html(Sensory Deprivation Flotation Tanks)

 

Swimming Holes - http://austin.culturemap.com/news/city-life/06-30-14-austin-swimming-holes-where-to-swiim-barton-springs-hamilton-pools/

 

I wouldn't recommend Hamilton Pool unless it's a weekday and you think it won't be busy. There is also this one place that's like a creek with high rock walls that I went to last time I was there, but I can't remember what it's called. It's just like a park or something. I don't vouch for Barton either. Never been there. Supposedly it is really busy and people take their dogs in the water.

 

You can rent bikes at little stands around town if you're into that.

 

There's a lot of clubs and venues and shit if you want to google around. See if you can find something decent for the evenings.

Hamilton pool is just a big urinal. Avoid.

What pool isn't a big urinal though? Like, I went there and it was ok, but it was too crowded for the allocated space.

Oh yeah, forgot about this super delicious ramen place. http://ramen-tatsuya.com/

 

Make sure you get there early before it opesn. I got there around 15 minutes and was several people back in line. The line gets pretty long supposedly.

Edited October 29, 2014 by AdieuErsatzEnnui

If you create electronic music you must go to Switched On (http://www.switchedonaustin.com/). It's a music shop that consists of nothing but synthesizers and other electronic goodies.

 

Hit up one of the many Juiceland locations while you're there. Dope juices. There's one down the street from Switched On, now that I think of it.

 

If you want to see some good live music hit up the venues surrounding 7th and Red River (Empire Control Room, Mohawk, Red 7, Holy Mountain). If you're looking for a good honky-tonk experience swing by the White Horse. Sunday night is my favorite night to visit.

 

If you're in the mood for a movie during your stay go to the Alamo Drafthouse. It's an excellent chain of theaters where you will be served food and beer while you watch the film. They have great programming; a mixture of the latest Hollywood releases, indie films, throwback nights, and crazy shit you never knew existed. Best theater experience I've encountered in the country. There's a few locations around Austin.

 

For coffee I'd hit up Café Medici in downtown Austin at 2nd and Congress. Their baristas cannot fail. If you need a great cafe with excellent food and wonderful scenery to chlll at I'd hit up Cenoté on Cesar Chavez and Medina. Great coffee. Get their pour-over. I also second the afore-mentioned Ramen Tatsuya.

 

If you want some good mixed drinks I'd swing by the East Side Showroom on E. 6th. It's a nice quiet place to get a god drink. They're light on the beer selection, though. If you want to go bar hopping skip 6th Street (aka Dirty 6th) entirely and head to Rainey Street instead. It's a residential street that got zoned for commercial businesses, so all of the houses have been converted into bars, restaurants and venues. It's still pretty busy on a weekend, but the occurrence of belligerent drunks is reduced and not as... well, dirty as 6th St is.

 

Austin has a few 24 hour dining spots. The best food by far is at 24 Diner on 6th and Lamar. Magnolia is okay, Kerbey Lane is only for emergencies and Star Seeds should be avoided at all costs.

Awesome, thanks so much everyone!

 

Any other cool naturey spots to check out?

http://mayfieldpark.org/page18.php

 

Check out the peacocks next to the main house, and up the street from that

 

http://www.austinparks.org/our-parks.html?parkid=287

 

Seeing Austin from this viewing platform is quite beautiful.

They have a nice insane asylum, I've heard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY13OlUD9-M

  On 11/2/2014 at 12:11 AM, YELLOW said:

Awesome, thanks so much everyone!

 

Any other cool naturey spots to check out?

I'm in Austin & have Wednesday off - if you like we can go hiking through the Barton Creek Wilderness Park forest. The creek is dry but there are caves & natural springs to check out.

  On 11/2/2014 at 12:11 AM, YELLOW said:

Awesome, thanks so much everyone!

 

Any other cool naturey spots to check out?

 

Go sit at Mt. Bonell for a sunset. Incredible. When you arrive at the top, continue past the viewing platform and sit along the cliffside as the sun sets.

 

Also, go for a walk through the Greenbelt.