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NFT: Austin, Texas Advice

DaddyM89 : 7/15/2017 8:55 pm
Going labor day weekend with a few buddies for my birthday weekend. Only thing we have on tap so far is the Texas - Maryland game on Saturday. Looking for any suggestions. We're all big brewery fans and plan on going out each night so anything to do with nightlife would be great also. Thanks in advance for your help.
Carry a sword  
robbieballs2003 : 7/15/2017 8:58 pm : link
.
Sixth Street  
McNally's_Nuts : 7/15/2017 9:06 pm : link
and Rainey Street.

All you need to know.
Rainey St & 6th St  
JayBinQueens : 7/15/2017 9:08 pm : link
are the two major streets to go out on.

Rainey is more chill with food trucks. A lot of the bars are old houses that have been converted and have backyards etc. There's also one made out of shipping containers.

6th St is more college bar-y, get hammered, blackout type of night. Both have some great live music.

If you're looking for something outdoors to do, check out Barton Springs pool

Have fun! One of my favorite cities to visit
for breweries  
The Turk : 7/15/2017 9:34 pm : link
there are a half dozen in walking (staggering) distance in the north part of town, including some pretty good ones (Adelbert's, Celis and the local outpost of Oskar Blues). Nearer to downtown on the east side there are Zilker, Friends & Allies, Hops & Grain and The ABGB. The best of all for a visit is Jester King but that is about 15 miles from downtown, but Treaty Oak and Thirsty Planet are nearby so you can hit 3 in one shot.
I lived in Austin between 04-06 (UT MBA)  
hassan : 7/15/2017 9:45 pm : link
so I know the classics well, town has changed a lot but I can share the following:

Barbecue is a must: Terry Blacks, Iron Works, Micklewaits. Dont wait on that ridiculous line at Franklin. Do try to do Lamberts more fancy sit down but well worth it.

6th street sucks on weekends but worth seeing. I hate all the bars there though I enjoy it on off nights during the week just because its the right amount of bustle. How old are you? If you are young you may be into it; I was 29-31 in Austin so it did not appeal to me but its meant for the 25 and under crowd.

Do do the Trudy's Mexican Martini. Crazy good.

Do the oasis for awesome views.

Town Lake is fun in an of itself, Barton Springs as mentioned.

Golfing is cheap and fun compared to the northeast if you are into.

I loved 4th street when I was there, but scene has changed. 4th street had awesome clubs-great for partying and meeting women. Scene has shifted a bit so you may want to do research here.

Rainey street was a nonexistent concept then. Ive been; I like craft fare otherwise Im not very impressed.


If you like gentleman's clubs, Palazio's hands down.

Thanks for all the advice so far guys  
DaddyM89 : 7/15/2017 10:02 pm : link
I'm 27, turning 28 that week. So a bit older. But still up fro the college scene. Also just became recently single so definitely up for the places with a good ladies scene
I've lived here my whole life...  
KerrysFlask : 7/15/2017 10:10 pm : link
...So if you have any specifics just let me know.

Skip 6th st. Seriously. You missed that boat by about 15 years.

Rainey is hanging on. Check out the reviews on Unbarlievable. ;)

4th st is a big gay district. But definitely a bit nicer than 6th.

The east side has the newer hip bars.

But really it totally depends how old you guys are and where you're staying.

Tons of great food. Everywhere.

Lakes are fun.
I'd agree with everything Kerry's flask said  
hassan : 7/15/2017 10:59 pm : link
I'd add check out south congress and continental club or hit Stubbs downtown for live music and classic austin
RE: Sixth Street  
MookGiants : 7/15/2017 11:19 pm : link
In comment 13529108 McNally's_Nuts said:
Quote:
and Rainey Street.

All you need to know.


Yep. It's a terrific city. You will have a great time
The next morning, purify yourself by taking a dip  
Moondawg : 7/16/2017 10:19 am : link
in Barton Springs
One evening do The Oasis for drinks and sunset on Lake Travis  
PatersonPlank : 7/16/2017 11:55 am : link
Then hit Hudson's on the Bend for great "wild game", its near the Oasis.

Z-Tejas downtown (7th I think) is another good casual restaurant.

I like 6th street, its worth doing one night. For BBQ I like Stubbs, County Line, and Salt Lick, depending on where you are staying.

Great food and food trucks everywhere.
And if you like music, pay attention to what's happening in town  
Moondawg : 7/16/2017 2:48 pm : link
great acts are often coming through; hell, when I lived in Austin, Willie Nelson would sometimes play shows in town.
RE: One evening do The Oasis for drinks and sunset on Lake Travis  
KerrysFlask : 7/16/2017 6:04 pm : link
In comment 13529321 PatersonPlank said:
Quote:
Then hit Hudson's on the Bend for great "wild game", its near the Oasis.

Z-Tejas downtown (7th I think) is another good casual restaurant.

I like 6th street, its worth doing one night. For BBQ I like Stubbs, County Line, and Salt Lick, depending on where you are staying.

Great food and food trucks everywhere.


I used to live right around the corner from Hudson's. It's been closed for a bit now. Gone.

And those are kind of the big names in bbq, but there are a million smaller ones that most people tend to agree are way better. Still need to get around to trying some... it's a long list though... Check yelp.

Again, kind of depends on your "scene", as far as where to booze it up at night, but I'll say it again... Skip 6th. It's a fucking disaster. Super ghetto...Especially since they built the giant homeless shelter around the corner...

Also used to live off S Congress - that and S 1st is a pretty cool area, but more of a daytime visit. Not really a nightlife place.





And...  
KerrysFlask : 7/16/2017 6:05 pm : link
...Stubbs is being forced to change their name for some reason... not sure when though.
Did my bachelor party there last year  
jgambrosio : 7/16/2017 6:27 pm : link
And many said it was the best one they had been to. Stayed at a house through air bnb, did the Franklin wait (I personally thought it was overrated although did walk and get some of the best breakfast tacos at a nearby taco truck), did 6th the first night and don't remember much, the next day we did a bar hop on one of those things you pedal around - sounds gimmicky but was a lot of fun. Can't recall the gentlemens club we went to...

Went to a lot of random bars - some recommendations:
Kung Fu saloon - free old school video games and awesome pickle shots
Roosevelt room - quiet place but awesome drinks presented by time period
dogwood - outdoor bar with a good crowd and dog friendly
firehouse - bar in a hostel with great drinks and it's actually hidden
container bar - off of Rainey, made of shipping containers
My one and only suggestion is  
Post Time : 7/17/2017 9:51 am : link
to try and get to an Austin City Limit's taping, if there is one while you are here. If you don't win with the lottery draw you can still wait in line and get in with the space available that they give out 15 minutes before 8, when the taping begins. The line forms around the corner from the Willie Nelson statue.
Thanks for posting  
lawguy9801 : 7/17/2017 12:30 pm : link
This is of some interest to me, as I will be in Austin over Thanksgiving weekend for a wedding. Staying at the JW Marriott downtown.

Of course, I am 40 years old, married with two kids so I am not looking for a pickup scene, but please keep the BBQ recommendations coming :) Thanks

Lawguy  
hassan : 7/17/2017 12:42 pm : link
Seriously you will love Lamberts and Rudy's are really solid as well. A few to choose from. Micklewait's is really fantastic as well.



RE: Lawguy  
lawguy9801 : 7/17/2017 12:47 pm : link
In comment 13530089 hassan said:
Quote:
Seriously you will love Lamberts and Rudy's are really solid as well. A few to choose from. Micklewait's is really fantastic as well.




Thanks! I am going to print out and save this thread.

Anyone have any recommendations for kid-specific activities? My sons will be in fifth and third grade, but really like history and science among other topics.
I'll add  
hassan : 7/17/2017 12:47 pm : link
Do the Mexican as well. Very good and a treat for a northeastern person.
RE: I'll add  
lawguy9801 : 7/17/2017 12:49 pm : link
In comment 13530096 hassan said:
Quote:
Do the Mexican as well. Very good and a treat for a northeastern person.


LOL...will try! I will be there for a wedding, so I have Thanksgiving dinner...wedding dinner...BBQ...Mexican...I'd better not eat for like two weeks beforehand :)
Some Great Restaurants  
Andrew in Austin : 7/17/2017 12:58 pm : link
The food scene in Austin is really incredible these days. Some other recommendations:

- Odd Duck (more casual food from Barley Swine chef)
- Sway (great Thai food)
- Fixe (Southern Comfort Food)
- Uchi (Incredible Sushi)
- La BBQ & Valentina's are 2 more great BBQ places.
RE: RE: Lawguy  
Post Time : 7/17/2017 12:59 pm : link
In comment 13530095 lawguy9801 said:
Quote:
In comment 13530089 hassan said:


Quote:


Seriously you will love Lamberts and Rudy's are really solid as well. A few to choose from. Micklewait's is really fantastic as well.






Thanks! I am going to print out and save this thread.

Anyone have any recommendations for kid-specific activities? My sons will be in fifth and third grade, but really like history and science among other topics.

There's the capitol and the adjacent museum, and there's a science museum and arboretum in Zilker Park, with a mini-zoo behind it.
Oh, and the Texas Memorial Museum on the UT campus  
Post Time : 7/17/2017 1:03 pm : link
is pretty cool, especially their fossil collection in the basement and the dinosaur tracks in a small building beside the museum.
Keep thinking of more kid-friendly things  
Post Time : 7/17/2017 1:08 pm : link
There's also the Bob Bullock Museum just north of the capitol, Texas history, plus an IMAX theater.
Didn't see Steak Restaurants mentioned, so my favorites are  
PatersonPlank : 7/17/2017 1:09 pm : link
Flemings
Eddie V's
Sullivans


all downtown
The LBJ  
SFGFNCGiantsFan : 7/17/2017 1:38 pm : link
museum was pretty cool if they are into history.
Awesome  
lawguy9801 : 7/17/2017 1:51 pm : link
Thanks all
All good steak recommendations by Paterson  
hassan : 7/17/2017 2:16 pm : link
And steak is better in Texas at average place. Trullucks also amazing.
RE: Thanks for posting  
Moondawg : 7/17/2017 3:18 pm : link
In comment 13530066 lawguy9801 said:
Quote:
This is of some interest to me, as I will be in Austin over Thanksgiving weekend for a wedding. Staying at the JW Marriott downtown.

Of course, I am 40 years old, married with two kids so I am not looking for a pickup scene, but please keep the BBQ recommendations coming :) Thanks


Lawguy, if your kids are say, between 3 and 8, check out Kiddie Acres. It's like Six Flags, but for young kids. A fun place.
You can also bring them to the Texas History museum  
Moondawg : 7/17/2017 3:19 pm : link
and the Capitol building. I've done all of these with my kids there and they were all fun. Again, swimming at Barton Springs is a very "Austin" thing to do and fun, as is swimming over in the hill country.
I don't know when the bats come out, but  
Moondawg : 7/17/2017 3:20 pm : link
if you go on the river walk when the bats are out it's really cool.
RE: You can also bring them to the Texas History museum  
lawguy9801 : 7/17/2017 3:50 pm : link
In comment 13530269 Moondawg said:
Quote:
and the Capitol building. I've done all of these with my kids there and they were all fun. Again, swimming at Barton Springs is a very "Austin" thing to do and fun, as is swimming over in the hill country.


Thanks. What is the weather usually like around Thanksgiving - usually warm enough to swim outside?
RE: RE: You can also bring them to the Texas History museum  
Moondawg : 7/17/2017 4:27 pm : link
In comment 13530304 lawguy9801 said:
Quote:
In comment 13530269 Moondawg said:


Quote:


and the Capitol building. I've done all of these with my kids there and they were all fun. Again, swimming at Barton Springs is a very "Austin" thing to do and fun, as is swimming over in the hill country.



Thanks. What is the weather usually like around Thanksgiving - usually warm enough to swim outside?


You know, I forget when it turns. I moved out in 2010, but people swim in Barton Springs almost year round, IIRC. Definitely look up Kiddie Acres. It has an old-timey fun appeal.
RE: I don't know when the bats come out, but  
PatersonPlank : 7/17/2017 5:37 pm : link
In comment 13530270 Moondawg said:
Quote:
if you go on the river walk when the bats are out it's really cool.


At dusk. You can either just walk down to the Congress St bridge, or I believe they have "boat tours" that take you on the lake for it.
been to the major BBQ joints there.  
BigBlue2112 : 7/18/2017 3:01 pm : link
Highly recommend Micklewaits. Tucked back never know it's there. really cool truck with outstanding food.

Also, love the torches tacos foodtruck.

Get a breakfast burrito from  
montanagiant : 7/18/2017 3:18 pm : link
Juan in a Million

Huge and delicious plus they deliver
Link - ( New Window )
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