Guidebook for Austin
Essentials
6 minutes by car; 25 minutes to walk: Full service, natural foods cooperative grocery store since 1976. Voted ‘Best Neighborhood Grocery’ by the Austin Chronicle’s Readers Poll for eight years, most recently in 2015. I love the curry soup here! The deli is fantastic. The food is fresh, the staff is mostly friendly, in their millennial way.
I also love their mission: 'to serve a broad range of people by providing them goods and services, using efficient methods that avoid manipulation of the consumers, and minimize exploitation of the producers or damage to the environment. The primary focus for this mission is supplying high-quality food and non-doctrinaire information about food to people in Austin, Texas.'
Grocer / deli across the highway from Central Market. Sustainable, organic and very good.
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Wheatsville Food Co-Op
3101 Guadalupe St6 minutes by car; 25 minutes to walk: Full service, natural foods cooperative grocery store since 1976. Voted ‘Best Neighborhood Grocery’ by the Austin Chronicle’s Readers Poll for eight years, most recently in 2015. I love the curry soup here! The deli is fantastic. The food is fresh, the staff is mostly friendly, in their millennial way.
I also love their mission: 'to serve a broad range of people by providing them goods and services, using efficient methods that avoid manipulation of the consumers, and minimize exploitation of the producers or damage to the environment. The primary focus for this mission is supplying high-quality food and non-doctrinaire information about food to people in Austin, Texas.'
Grocer / deli across the highway from Central Market. Sustainable, organic and very good.
Free, or drop-in, donation-based yoga classes; community-driven yoga offering a unique experience with luminous lighting, groovy music, and inspiring teachers to make yoga fun. blackswanyoga.com
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Black Swan Yoga
403 Orchard StFree, or drop-in, donation-based yoga classes; community-driven yoga offering a unique experience with luminous lighting, groovy music, and inspiring teachers to make yoga fun. blackswanyoga.com
Great public library a 20 minute walk from the house! http://library.austintexas.gov/manchaca-road-branch
Manchaca Road Branch, Austin Public Library
5500 Menchaca RoadGreat public library a 20 minute walk from the house! http://library.austintexas.gov/manchaca-road-branch
You can walk or drive to Gold's, work out and be back in an hour, refreshed and de-stressed. Great gym with all the usual workout suspects. Check it out: http://www.goldsgym.com/austinsouthcentraltx/
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Gold's Gym
1701 West Ben White BoulevardYou can walk or drive to Gold's, work out and be back in an hour, refreshed and de-stressed. Great gym with all the usual workout suspects. Check it out: http://www.goldsgym.com/austinsouthcentraltx/
Affordable, reliable yoga in a relaxing environment offers a variety of styles, times to suit your schedule. www.yogayoga.com/Westgate
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Yoga Yoga Westgate
4477 S Lamar BlvdAffordable, reliable yoga in a relaxing environment offers a variety of styles, times to suit your schedule. www.yogayoga.com/Westgate
Drinks & Nightlife
25 minute walk through quiet neighborhoods; 5 minute drive. Excellent food from chef-created entrees. Great place to grab a drink and a good meal at the bar or in the dining room. Outdoor patio and great live music on the weekends. I come here to meet with friends for a beer and an appetizer and watch the games and relax. I love the fish tacos!
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Hyde Park Bar & Grill Westgate
4521 West Gate Blvd25 minute walk through quiet neighborhoods; 5 minute drive. Excellent food from chef-created entrees. Great place to grab a drink and a good meal at the bar or in the dining room. Outdoor patio and great live music on the weekends. I come here to meet with friends for a beer and an appetizer and watch the games and relax. I love the fish tacos!
15 minutes by car (add time to park): Iconic downtown historic bar, restaurant and hotel in the heart of the 6th street district. Pricey, with live music, but gorgeous, and a local treasure. Also haunted, so they say. I've played here and they attract high-quality acts. Nice stage and grand piano for combos and solo acts faces a small seating area off the main room that houses the circular bar.
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The Driskill In The Unbound Collection By Hyatt
604 Brazos St15 minutes by car (add time to park): Iconic downtown historic bar, restaurant and hotel in the heart of the 6th street district. Pricey, with live music, but gorgeous, and a local treasure. Also haunted, so they say. I've played here and they attract high-quality acts. Nice stage and grand piano for combos and solo acts faces a small seating area off the main room that houses the circular bar.
(Radio Coffee and Beer) 20 minute walk or 3 minute drive. Locally owned Coffee and Craft Brew Bar. Named Austin Chronicle "Best New Bar 2014" and Zagat's "12 Hottest New Beer Bars in the US." This very hip place features Sumptown Fair Trade coffees, craft brews, live music, outdoor cinema, high speed internet, a large dog-friendly outdoor patio and several great food trucks. I've been here and it's a very nice place -- excellent everything. Very enjoyable and very close.
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Radio Coffee & Beer
4204 Menchaca Rd(Radio Coffee and Beer) 20 minute walk or 3 minute drive. Locally owned Coffee and Craft Brew Bar. Named Austin Chronicle "Best New Bar 2014" and Zagat's "12 Hottest New Beer Bars in the US." This very hip place features Sumptown Fair Trade coffees, craft brews, live music, outdoor cinema, high speed internet, a large dog-friendly outdoor patio and several great food trucks. I've been here and it's a very nice place -- excellent everything. Very enjoyable and very close.
Iconic bar just west of downtown on 5th Street. Live music nightly. Features Chris Gage every Monday night at the piano, singing classic hits from across the spectrum of popular music, and featuring guest artists. Nice-sized dance floor too. Get there early for a seat. Show starts at 9.
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Donn's Depot
1600 W 5th StIconic bar just west of downtown on 5th Street. Live music nightly. Features Chris Gage every Monday night at the piano, singing classic hits from across the spectrum of popular music, and featuring guest artists. Nice-sized dance floor too. Get there early for a seat. Show starts at 9.
The best jazz in Austin. Improvisational jazz jam every Monday night. Excellent musicians. A must-go for any lover of jazz.
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Elephant Room
315 Congress AveThe best jazz in Austin. Improvisational jazz jam every Monday night. Excellent musicians. A must-go for any lover of jazz.
Family-run Tex-Mex restaurant. Local favorite with a songwriter series every Monday night featuring Christine Gage with special guests. A local-musicians favorite with top notch players and artists sitting in every week. Get there early to get a seat. Show starts at 7 pm.
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El Mercado Restaurant
1702 Lavaca StFamily-run Tex-Mex restaurant. Local favorite with a songwriter series every Monday night featuring Christine Gage with special guests. A local-musicians favorite with top notch players and artists sitting in every week. Get there early to get a seat. Show starts at 7 pm.
Full bar and world class music venue featuring blues, rhythm and blues, soul and rock. A must-go for live music lovers.
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Antone's
305 E 5th StFull bar and world class music venue featuring blues, rhythm and blues, soul and rock. A must-go for live music lovers.
Six blocks of Restaurants, Bars, Live music venues and Food Trucks. A toned-down, more mature version of Sixth Street. Thirty-something and up. Street parking and walk to it. Great place to graze if you only have one night in Austin. If you get bored, the White Horse (honky tonk and dancing) is across the highway on Comal.
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Rainey Street Historic District
Six blocks of Restaurants, Bars, Live music venues and Food Trucks. A toned-down, more mature version of Sixth Street. Thirty-something and up. Street parking and walk to it. Great place to graze if you only have one night in Austin. If you get bored, the White Horse (honky tonk and dancing) is across the highway on Comal.
Dancing and Full Bar. East side honky tonk with a small but impressive dance floor, excellent Country and Bluegrass bands, plus hippies, hipsters, cowboys and pretty women. A local and tourist favorite.
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The White Horse
500 Comal StDancing and Full Bar. East side honky tonk with a small but impressive dance floor, excellent Country and Bluegrass bands, plus hippies, hipsters, cowboys and pretty women. A local and tourist favorite.
World class music venue featuring local and touring Country, Tejano, Americana and Texas Swing bands. Iconic music venue in Austin. A must-go for live music lovers.
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The Continental Gallery
1313 S Congress AveWorld class music venue featuring local and touring Country, Tejano, Americana and Texas Swing bands. Iconic music venue in Austin. A must-go for live music lovers.
All the greats have played here. Probably the most iconic Dance Hall in all of Texas and beyond. Always has great bands. If you don't two-step or know how to country-swing, it's an education and a hoot just to watch. Has it's own Texas music history museum.
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Broken Spoke
3201 S Lamar BlvdAll the greats have played here. Probably the most iconic Dance Hall in all of Texas and beyond. Always has great bands. If you don't two-step or know how to country-swing, it's an education and a hoot just to watch. Has it's own Texas music history museum.
One of the best Live Music venues in Austin. Features bands and singer/songwriters of all genres. Iconic music venue in Austin. A must-go for live music lovers.
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Saxon Pub
1320 S Lamar BlvdOne of the best Live Music venues in Austin. Features bands and singer/songwriters of all genres. Iconic music venue in Austin. A must-go for live music lovers.
Sightseeing
25 minute drive through winding, hilly neighborhoods: Close in, and an easy drive. Offers stunning views of Ladybird Lake as part of the chain of lakes that run through Austin and the Hill Country. Very much a tourist destination but worth the trip. Requires hiking up a long set of stone stairs --- not good for those with walking/climbing challenges.
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Mount Bonnell
25 minute drive through winding, hilly neighborhoods: Close in, and an easy drive. Offers stunning views of Ladybird Lake as part of the chain of lakes that run through Austin and the Hill Country. Very much a tourist destination but worth the trip. Requires hiking up a long set of stone stairs --- not good for those with walking/climbing challenges.
Near downtown and 6th street, 15 minutes by car: "This is one of those Austin gems that really showcases what the city is all about. It’s one of the largest graffiti walls in Austin, full of life, character and charm. The girl I used to babysit and I would always go to the “castle & art wall” for an adventure because it was such a unique thing to do." - excerpted from "365 Things to Do in Austin." -- All true. A great place to explore if you like street art and want a sense of connection to the Austin spirit.
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Graffiti Park at Castle Hill
1008 Baylor StNear downtown and 6th street, 15 minutes by car: "This is one of those Austin gems that really showcases what the city is all about. It’s one of the largest graffiti walls in Austin, full of life, character and charm. The girl I used to babysit and I would always go to the “castle & art wall” for an adventure because it was such a unique thing to do." - excerpted from "365 Things to Do in Austin." -- All true. A great place to explore if you like street art and want a sense of connection to the Austin spirit.
Two mile stretch of Congress Avenue about a half-mile south of the river features iconic restaurants and clubs, shops, thrift stores, cafes and live music venues. If you'e only got a day and a night in Austin, it's a great place to check out during the day, or catch an early dinner and then cross the river to downtown or Rainey Street for dancing or clubbing.
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South Congress Avenue
South Congress AvenueTwo mile stretch of Congress Avenue about a half-mile south of the river features iconic restaurants and clubs, shops, thrift stores, cafes and live music venues. If you'e only got a day and a night in Austin, it's a great place to check out during the day, or catch an early dinner and then cross the river to downtown or Rainey Street for dancing or clubbing.
Parks & Nature
Travel to the hill country out 71 west, 45 minutes by car: One of the many LCRA-run Recreation Parks on the Colorado River in the hill country, this one near Spicewood. The lakes are all full as of this writing (2016) -- for the first time in 50 years. The parks in the Western district region are great places to camp, boat and spend time with family. Local to some award-winning barbeque like Opie's, and It's All Good BBQ. I used to work at this particular park, and it's lovely.
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Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area
2820 Co Rd 414Travel to the hill country out 71 west, 45 minutes by car: One of the many LCRA-run Recreation Parks on the Colorado River in the hill country, this one near Spicewood. The lakes are all full as of this writing (2016) -- for the first time in 50 years. The parks in the Western district region are great places to camp, boat and spend time with family. Local to some award-winning barbeque like Opie's, and It's All Good BBQ. I used to work at this particular park, and it's lovely.
Quick trip, 7 minutes by car: In town, easy access hiking along Ladybird Lake. Quiet, peaceful and a nice break! Great place to walk your dogs or take your kids! Free!
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Barton Creek Greenbelt
3755 South Capital of Texas HighwayQuick trip, 7 minutes by car: In town, easy access hiking along Ladybird Lake. Quiet, peaceful and a nice break! Great place to walk your dogs or take your kids! Free!
Large, outdoor natural spring provides instant relief from the Summer heat. Not far from the heart of downtown, and fed by the mighty Colorado River. Within walking distance to many points of interest!
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Barton Springs Municipal Pool
2201 William Barton DrLarge, outdoor natural spring provides instant relief from the Summer heat. Not far from the heart of downtown, and fed by the mighty Colorado River. Within walking distance to many points of interest!
Hiking trail which wraps the city on both sides of Ladybird Lake, one of the seven "chain-of-lakes" bodies of water that runs through the city as part of the Colorado river. Great for the whole family, lovely views, lots of dog walkers, cyclists and joggers. Check the House Manual for more details and maps.
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Lady Bird Lake
Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike TrailHiking trail which wraps the city on both sides of Ladybird Lake, one of the seven "chain-of-lakes" bodies of water that runs through the city as part of the Colorado river. Great for the whole family, lovely views, lots of dog walkers, cyclists and joggers. Check the House Manual for more details and maps.
Local, spring-fed pool off Lake Austin Blvd, a stone's throw from downtown and Mozart's Coffee. Local favorite for swimmers. Great place to cool off in Summer.
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Deep Eddy Municipal Pool
401 Deep Eddy AveLocal, spring-fed pool off Lake Austin Blvd, a stone's throw from downtown and Mozart's Coffee. Local favorite for swimmers. Great place to cool off in Summer.
Entertainment & Activities
Art-house and indie films, special viewings and speak-alongs. Order from a vast menu of craft cocktails and dinner items. Fun times. Iconic.
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Alamo Drafthouse Cinema South Lamar
1120 S Lamar BlvdArt-house and indie films, special viewings and speak-alongs. Order from a vast menu of craft cocktails and dinner items. Fun times. Iconic.
Arts & Culture
Austin’s original performing arts venue turned 100 years old in 2015. This live theatre/music venue offers world-class comedy, music and film. The classical revival style structure was built in 1915 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Paramount is a uniquely Austin community and the cultural destination.
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The Paramount Theatre
713 Congress AveAustin’s original performing arts venue turned 100 years old in 2015. This live theatre/music venue offers world-class comedy, music and film. The classical revival style structure was built in 1915 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Paramount is a uniquely Austin community and the cultural destination.
Renaissance to 20th-century American paintings, Latin American art, plus Greek & Roman sculpture. Great museum!
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The Blanton Museum of Art
200 East Martin Luther King Junior BoulevardRenaissance to 20th-century American paintings, Latin American art, plus Greek & Roman sculpture. Great museum!
Bullock Texas State History Museum
1800 Congress AveGreat museum. Guests love it!
Harry Ransom Center
300 W 21st StTexas History Museum, excellent displays.
Getting Around
During SXSW bus schedules change. Please check the websites. Check also the websites of festivals you're attending, for the best transportation options to, from, and around downtown.
Here are the Bus stops in my neighborhood:
#3-Burnet/Manchaca-NB (0.1 mile from house)
#5-Woodrow/South 5th-NB (0.3 miles from house)
#30-Barton Creek Sq-SB (0.5 miles from house)
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Capital Metropolitan Transportation
2910 E 5th StDuring SXSW bus schedules change. Please check the websites. Check also the websites of festivals you're attending, for the best transportation options to, from, and around downtown.
Here are the Bus stops in my neighborhood:
#3-Burnet/Manchaca-NB (0.1 mile from house)
#5-Woodrow/South 5th-NB (0.3 miles from house)
#30-Barton Creek Sq-SB (0.5 miles from house)
Austin's bikeshare system: Check out a bike from any of several stations around town, and return it to any other station. Have not used them but is recommended as a bike-share option.
Austin B-cycle Office
1000 Brazos StAustin's bikeshare system: Check out a bike from any of several stations around town, and return it to any other station. Have not used them but is recommended as a bike-share option.