Bagpipes beckon to residents of the live music capital of the world each fall as the annual Austin Celtic Festival gets underway by Ladybird Lake.
Events
Highland Games
Kilt-clad participants carry on a tradition reaching back to 12th century Scotland as they balance a large wooden pole in the caber toss just one of the tests of adults agility during the games. Kids can also participate in their own mini-version of the games.
History Performers
Enjoy a blast from the distant past as you watch vikings battle for victory, look on in awe at reenactors who conjure up the spirit of inhabitants from the Iron Age, and see promising Robin Hoods take aim at their target during an archery demonstration and King's Tournament.
Storytelling
The rippling water of Lake Lady Bird Lake will sound like applause as storytellers weave fanciful tales on the stage at Seelie Court.
Dancing
Tartan will twirl on stage as dancing troupes move their feet to the beat of bagpipes and bodhrans. If the beat inspires you to move your feet, there will be free dance workshops for all ages.
Animals
Furry friends will be on hand to enjoy the festivities, including Scottish Terriers, Irish Wolfhounds and Scottish Deerhounds, whose paws will promenade to the tune of a piper in the Celtic Dog Parade, while the intelligence of our tail-wagging chums will be on display during the sheep herding demonstration. (Pets will not be allowed on festival grounds due to health and safety regulations.)
Workshops
Although advanced classes require prepayment, beginners to the arts (including the Celtic guitar, Irish drums, Irish whistle, Scottish country dances, Breton dancing, Celtic poetry and more) can learn the basics at free workshops conducted both days.
Vendors
Looking for a Celtic Christmas gift? Browse among booths brimming with claddagh rings, green man garden sculptures and Celtic crosses.
When: November 7 and 8, 2009
Where: Fiesta Gardens on the shores of Lake Ladybird Lake in Austin.
3-Day Passes for Austin City Limits Festival Available Through Austin CVB Site
The Live Music Capital of the World will welcome an array of recording artists for the 8th annual Austin City Limits Festival this fall, and in celebration the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau is currently offering music lovers specially-priced passes ($165 each) to the October event.
This Austin CVB Festival Travel Package not only offers three-day entry to one of the city's most-anticipated musical extravaganzas, but also a minimum of two-nights accommodation at one of more than 15 Austin hotels. A hotel room must be booked in order to receive the discount tickets-- you must enter your ACVB hotel reservation confirmation number when purchasing tickets. A four ticket maximum per person/address/credit card is enforced. (As three-day general admission passes purchased through the festival web site have already sold out, no doubt the CVB Festival Travel Package passes will soon be snatched up.)
While on the Austin CVB website, music buffs can also buy the new compilation CD Austin Music, Volume 8. A 15-song soundtrack to the city, featuring tunes by Okkervil River and Jerry Jeff Walker, among others, also contains a mini-map of Austin music venues.
From October 2 - 4, 2009, Zilker Park will pulsate with the sounds of 130 acts, including Pearl Jam, The Dave Matthews Band, Kings of Leon, Lily Allen, John Legend, The Beastie Boys, The B-52s and Asleep at the Wheel. Purchase your ticket today!
Raise your glass to Austin's first annual ode to ale, which will offer lager lovers not only samples of suds from regional breweries, but also a bevy of beer-themed activities.
Contests
• Sign up for the Beer Games Competition, where contestants find out who is Boss of the Toss as they throw washers, quarters, darts, horseshoes, empty cans, empty kegs and more. Do you think you know all about your favorite drink? Battle to be the best in a beer trivia competition. Proud of the pints that produced your beer gut? Show off your stomach in the beer belly competition.
• Combining food with beer's frothy foam, cooks fire up the grill in the BBQ Challenge. Austin area restaurants will vie for top prize in several beer-soaked categories, as will weekend grillers in separate competitions.
• Cheer on mans' best friend as their four fleet feet run for the finish line in the chihuahua races.
Other Attractions
• Get revved up for the lumberjack show as professionals perform in a chainsaw race,and compete in standing block chopping and underhand chopping competitions.
* Learn tricks of the trade from top chefs during a BBQ seminar.
• Sing along to songs performed on two stages.
• Search for a souvenir of the sudsy shindig among booth brimming with merchandise in the arts and crafts market.
Louisiana Swamp Thing and Crawfish Festival Comes to Austin in April
When: April 4, 2009
Where: Events take place at 18th and Congress in Austin.
Celebrating the splendor of our neighboring state, the Louisiana Swamp Thing and Crawfish Festival brings a bit of bayou to the capital city each year.
Music: A musical gumbo of live acts take the stage throughout the day. Laissez le bontemps roulez as the sounds of Cajun and Zydeco accordions and rubboards echo in the atmosphere, sit back and enjoy the smooth sound of a jazz trumpet and the mellow melody of a blues tune, then foot your feet to the beat of a funk band. Belly dancers will add to touch of the exotic East, and a burlesque show is sure to spice up the soiree.
Food: The festival is an opportunity to sample staples of Cajun and creole cuisine. Aside form the 6,000 pounds of crawfish that will be served, be sure to make room for jambalaya, red beans and rice, cajun taters and shrimp creole. For those with brave tastebuds there's fried rattlesnake and frog legs, while corndogs and hamburgers will be on hand for those with a decidedly American appetite.
Where: The starting line is located at Barton Springs Road and Congress Avenue in downtown Austin.
A Texas tradition since 1978, the stomp of sneakers on asphalt herald the arrival of spring as a steady stream of runners wind their way through the streets of Austin during the Statesman Capitol 10,000.
The largest 10k in the state and the 5th largest in the US features a virtual potpourri of participants ranging from avid athletes to cut-ups in quirky costumes, who gather at the juncture of Barton Springs Road and Congress Avenue for the start of the 6.2-mile trek. Wheelchair contestants are the first to leave the starting line, followed by those in the timed category, then walkers and joggers in the Fun Run. Crossing Lady Bird Lake, participants pound the pavement from Congress Avenue to the finish line at Riverside.
Children's Activities: An annual event since 1998, one day prior to the big race little sprinters can lace up their sneakers for the Junior 'Dillo Kids Run. Designed for youngsters age 15 and under, boys and girls compete with their own age group as they run on a one-mile loop on Auditorium Shores and Riverside Drive. Tiny trotters can also get in on the action by signing up with a parent for the Junior 'Dillo Kids 1/2 Mile Family Fun Run and Walk.
If you love dogs, check out the Annual Howling Hounds Benefit Auction Saturday, February 28. The evening helps raise money for Helping Hands Basset Rescue to save the homeless basset hounds of Central Texas.
The Event: The event includes a silent auction, a live auction, and a seated dinner with margaritas until the well runs dry. Auction items range from Gulf Coast fishing to day spa visits.
Tickets: Tickets are $60 per person or $420 for a table of eight.
When: 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009
Where: Red Oak Ballroom, Norris Conference Center, Northcross Mall, 2525 West Anderson Lane, Austin
Although the sun would not rise over the city of Austin for several hours, the sky over Sixth Street was streaked with red at 5 a.m. on the morning of February 6, 2009 as nearly 100 firefighters battled a blaze which jeopardized two of the Live Music Capital of the World's landmark watering holes.
Ignited by a cigarette which had been tossed into a back stairway of The Blind Pig Pub, the three alarm fire-- which has since been determined to have been accidental-- caused over $1 million in damage, mainly to the second floor of the 19th century building. The flames also threatened neighboring 6th Street staple Maggie Mae's, which-- although sustaining both water damage and fire damage to its rooftop-- opened its doors to the public later that same evening.
The owners of The Blind Pig hope to welcome patrons once again by the time SXSW begins on March 13th.
The following report from Austin channel KVUE gives insight into the fire:
A sign of hope, the wildflowers that dot the Hill Country landscape each spring will be colorful spectators as riders pedal past during the Hill Country Ride for AIDS on April 25, 2009. Now in its 10th year, the event has raised $3 million as well as support for those living with HIV and AIDS in the central Texas area.
A fun day for participants of all ages, riders can choose the route which best suits their athletic ability-- 10 miles, 50 miles, 70 miles and 100 miles. Prepare for the trek with free training rides, and after signing up you can set up your own web page to mark donations.
Riders will gather one day prior to the ride at the First United Methodist Church Family Life Center at 1300 Lavaca and 13th Street to check in, fuel up with a pasta dinner and enjoy the event's opening ceremony.
When morning breaks on April 25th, the wheels of participants' bicycles help to turn the wheels of change as riders depart Krause Springs. Refreshment for riders will be available at pit stops every 15 - 20 miles.
Celebrate your foray to the finish line later that evening at a dinner held for participants, who can bring one friend or family member for free.
Still making plans for Thanksgiving? If you want to skip the holiday hassles and you'll be in Austin, check out the Thanksgiving Day Brunch as well as a five-course dinner menu at the Driskill Grill, located in the historic Driskill Hotel.
Thanksgiving Brunch
The Thanksgiving Day feast is served on the hotel’s elegant Mezzanine; offerings range from herb-crusted turkey and brown sugar pineapple ham with such staple side dishes as stuffing, cranberry sauce and Maytag blue whipped potatoes to freshly made crepes filled with an assortment of fruits, cheeses and even lobster. Breakfast classics such as Belgian waffles and made-to- order omelets are also available as well as children's favorites. Desserts from Executive Pastry Chef Tony Sansalone include classics like pecan and pumpkin pies, carrot cake, and the Driskill’s famous 1886 Chocolate Cake—plus a new Pumpkin Mascarpone Cheesecake.
Time: Brunch is served from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Price: Prices are $58 for adults, $29 for children ages 5-12 and complimentary for children under age 5 (taxes and 21% service charge are additional).
Reservations: call 512-391-7121
Thanksgiving Dinner
Thanksgiving dinner in the Driskill Grill is a grand affair with a five-course chef’s tasting menu. Beginning courses include a truffled pumpkin soup with Dungeness crab, star anise braised beef short rib and diver scallops. For the fourth course, diners select from three entrees: Dijon-crusted lamb chops, maple-roasted turkey, tenderloin of Beef Wellington or roasted monkfish, along with traditional sides served family style.
Time: The Grill opens for dinner on Thanksgiving at 5 p.m.
Are you a foodie? If you're planning a trip to Austin, you can experience the best of the Capital City's culinary scene with the Austin Restaurant Week package, available through Oct. 22.
More than 50 restaurants, from Italian to Mexican, sushi to steakhouse, are serving three-course menus for $25 or $35, excluding alcohol, tax and gratuity.
A full list of participating restaurants, menus and reservations can be found at www.RestaurantWeekAustin.com. Accommodations are available at the Embassy Suites Downtown, Holiday Inn Austin Town Lake, The Driskill Hotel, The Mansion at Judges' Hill and Radisson Hotel & Suites Austin.
Recently we told you about the First Annual Driskill Pie Bake-off held at Austin's Driskill Hotel...and now we have the winning recipe! Jaynie Buckingham of Austin won with the original “Betty Lou’s Buttermilk Pie,” a recipe lovingly baked and served by her mother, the late Betty Lou Maxon. The pie is now featured at the Driskill's 1886 Café & Bakery or you can use the recipe below to create your own at home.
Betty Lou’s Buttermilk Pie 2008 Driskill Pie Bake-off Winning Recipe by Jaynie Buckingham, Austin, TX
Pie Filling
1 stick of butter 1 C. sugar 1 T. cornstarch 4 egg yolks 1 C. warm milk 1 unbaked 9” pie crust 1 tsp. nutmeg
With electric mixer, cream butter, sugar and cornstarch. Add egg yolks, one at a time, and beat well after each addition. Beat in warm milk. Pour into unbaked pie shell and bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.
Reduce heat to 325 degrees and bake for 45 minutes or until the pie is golden brown and firm to the touch. Recipe makes one pie.
The pie is served with a dollop of fresh whipped cream and lemon anglaise.
Pie Crust
2-1/2 C. all-purpose flour ¼ tsp. salt 3 tsp. sugar ¼ C. cold shortening 1 stick butter, cold and cubed ¼ C. chilled water
In food processor, mix together flour, salt and sugar. Add the shortening and butter, bit by bit, until it forms small pea-size balls. Slowly add chilled water until it begins to form a dough. Remove from the processor and work with hands to form a ball. Do not overwork the dough. Shape dough into a disk, cover and chill for 30 minutes. Roll pie crust out onto a floured surface and line 9” pie plate.
Prepare crust in advance and refrigerate until ready to bake.
Batfest, the popular Austin festival that celebrates the city's famous bat colony, has moved this year. The festival, scheduled this upcoming weekend for Saturday from 2pm until midnight and Sunday from 2pm until 10pm, will be held on the 1st Street Bridge between Cesar Chavez and Riverside Drive.
In the past, the festival was held on Congress Avenue Bridge--now renamed the Ann Richards Bridge--which is the home of the country's largest urban bat colony. However, the traffic backup caused by the popular festival has resulted in its being moved to the next bridge over which will still provide good viewing of the 1.5 million bats when they head out at sunset.
Admission to the festival is $5 at the gate; kids 10 and under are free with an adult.
The event includes two days of live music with stages on the north and south ends of the bridge. This year's performers include Edgar Winter, Flobots, the BoDeans, and many others.
Austin's 122-year-old Driskill Hotel is is celebrating the completion of a $4 million renovation of its 189 guest rooms with A Taste of The Driskill from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 30. The event will include:
live music
samplings from the Driskill Grill and 1886 Café & Bakery menus
wine tasting
children’s activities
ghost tours of the hotel
exhibits of “Driskill Love Stories” and of original artwork of the iconic hotel
a Texas Tailgate party at the Driskill Bar to celebrate opening game day for the UT Longhorns
the Driskill Pie Bake-off as local food journalists and chefs select a winning recipe to feature on the 1886 Café & Bakery’s menu as the restaurant’s signature pie for the next year
proclamation of “Driskill Day in Austin” at 10am
a birthday cake honoring the 100th birthday of President Lyndon Johnson, one of many celebrity guests that graced the hotel's roster through the years. LBJ and Lady Bird had their first date at The Driskill. Over the years, he awaited the returns from all his campaigns, including historic wins on the ticket with John Kennedy and then as the presidential nominee himself, at the hotel.
Austin's The Driskill Announces Pie Bake-off Contest
Bakers, start your ovens! The historic Driskill Hotel in Austin is looking for a winning pie recipe to feature on the 1886 Café & Bakery’s menu as the restaurant’s signature pie for the next year. Finalists will be presented to a panel of judges during “A Taste of The Driskill” festivities on August 30.
The Driskill’s Executive Chef Jonathan Gelman says this contest is an ideal way to showcase the award-winning desserts and food traditions long associated with the hotel. “Our Executive Pastry Chef Tony Sansalone is well-known for his incredible talent, so we thought it would be fun to involve the community in creating a signature dessert for the Café,” adds Chef Gelman.
Community involvement in The Driskill’s food outlets dates back to the days when volunteers with the Heritage Society of Austin operated a tea room at the hotel. One of the most frequently ordered desserts then was the 1886 Chocolate Cake, which still appears on the menu. The Prize: In addition to being featured on the dessert menu, the winner also receives a $500 gift certificate from The Driskill Hotel, monogrammed 1886 Café & Bakery chef’s apron, and other personalized mementoes.
Deadline: The deadline for entries is August 15, 2008.
The Rules & Application: The contest is open to any non-food professional (chef, food writer or anyone who creates recipes for pay), who is 18 years or older. Culinary students are encouraged to enter the contest. The application form and guidelines are available on the hotel’s website, www.driskillhotel.com.
With this summer's soaring gas prices, we've all heard of the staycation--vacationing in or near your own hometown--but how about a daycation? Four Seasons Hotel Austin, located on the north shore of Lady Bird Lake (formerly Town Lake), is now offering a day package for those who can just squeeze in a day of luxury...but, oh, what luxury it is. For $150, you can pamper yourself with:
breakfast or lunch in the hotel's TRIO restaurant
your choice of a 50-minute massage, facial or body treatment
the Spa's relaxation lounge, eucalyptus steam rooms, locker and fitness facilities and heated outdoor pool
The daycation package is offered on weekdays only.
We just received word that through August 24, the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau will be inviting Texas residents to take a “one tank trip” to Austin and visit AustinTexas.org to enter to win one of eight “uniquely Austin” vacation packages.
Each week, travelers vote on which of three featured packages they’d most like to experience. At the end of each week, one winner will be selected to enjoy the most popular package. Each week's winner will receive complimentary accommodations, as well as discounts for meals and attractions. If you don't win you can still book participating hotels at a discounted rate.
Here's a sampling of the contest packages:
Foodies will sample local gourmet cuisine from Central Market and sip wines at Cork & Co.
Eco-conscious travelers can stay at Austin’s premier eco-resort, The Crossings, and experience a Texas adventure with Cypress Valley Canopy Tours.
Families can tour via land and lake with Austin Duck Adventures before staging their own musical set at the “Austin Kiddie Limits” exhibit at the Austin Children’s Museum.
Just in time for the Lyndon Baines Johnson Centennial celebration, history buffs will enjoy accommodations at the historic Driskill Hotel and free admission to the LBJ Library and Museum.
The Austin City Limits Music Festival (also called the ACL Music Festival) is one of the city's most popular annual events...and a time when hotel rooms are at a premium. The lineup for the 2008 event, scheduled for September 26-28 in Zilker Park, has been announced. This year's event (which will include about 130 bands) will include Beck, Robert Plant, Allison Krauss, The Foo Fighters, Erykah Bad, and Manu Chao.
Hotel & Pass Package: The Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau is also offering exclusive access to discounted three-day passes and a minimum of two nights hotel accommodations through an ACL travel package.
Update, Photos of Fire at Texas Governor's Mansion
There's still no word yet on if the Texas Governor's Mansion will be able to be repaired following this weekend's fire (which is now believed to have been arson). The damage is extensive, though, which you'll see in this video of still shots:
If you've watched Texas news today (or even many of the national broadcasts), you've probably seen the devastating fire suffered by the Texas Governor's Mansion in the early hours of this morning. Already suspected as arson, the fire caused substantial damage to the historic structure which dates back over 150 years. The mansion was undergoing a renovation so the historic furnishings were in storage off site.
Every year the Austin Chronicle conducts a poll to determine reader favorites (one year our book, Texas Getaways for Two, was selected Best Romantic Guidebook!) This year's poll named Kerbey Lane (with four locations in town) as home of the best American breakfast. In this TV clip, you'll see a Kerbey Lane chef preparing one of the restaurant's top breakfast dishes, migas, and learn how to make this simple dish. (OK, it's not an American breakfast dish but tacos and migas are tops in Austin!)
Gossip sites are all abuzz about the possibly new pairing of Kate Hudson and Lance Armstrong. On May 16th and 17th, People magazine online reports that the celebrated cyclist took the silver screen beauty on a gastronomic journey through the city he calls home, beginning with a visit to Eddie V's Edgewater Grille (which has recently become the place for Austin stargazing, as evidenced by the item below). The couple and a coterie of family and friends also walked past the surf board which greets patrons at the entrance of Hula Hut, which offers a view of Lake Austin along with a self-proclaimed "Mexonesian" (Mexican and Polynisian) menu.
Seafood lovers at Eddie V's Edgewater Grille were surprised to find themselves serenaded by two happily married music legends recently as Elvis Costello and Diana Krall sang four duets after dining at the award-winning establishment, the Austin American-Statesman reports. Foodies can eat to the beat of live music from a variety of local artists in the venue's V-Lounge seven nights a week.
Actress Heather Graham, who did the Frug with funnyman Mike Meyers in "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me," got the chance to check out the groovy goings-on in Austin, Texas this month. Filming on her latest flick, The Ex-Terminators, began on April 28, 2008, and on May 1st cameras were set up for a scene at Northwest Hills Pharmacy and Hardware Store on Far West Boulevard, KXAN news reports. Movie buffs may also have been lucky enough to spot Grahams' co-stars Chasing Amy star Joey Lauren Adams and country crooner Robert Earl Keen around town during the 25-day shoot.
Austin revelers were among the first to see the black diamond engagement ring that now graces Carmen Electra's left hand. The former "Baywatch" babe shimmied down Sixth Street during a parade to promote a search for an assistant to The Most Interesting Man in the World, aka the pitchman for Dos Equis beer. According to the Austin American Statesman, the femme fatale called the Four Seasons her home away from home during her stay, a hotel in which actor Sean Penn temporarily planted roots as cameras rolled on the much talked-about drama "Tree of Life".
This fountain provides a quiet backdrop just across the street from Austin's new Long Performing Arts Center. Near the fountain, you'll see a plaque for the Bicentennial Time Capsule, housing the story of how Austin celebrated the 1976 Bicentennial. The marker calls for the reopening of the capsule on July 4, 2075.
The Long Center for the Performing Arts is Austin's newest venue, located on the south shores of Lady Bird Lake across from Auditorium Shores. The center is home to a studio theater as well as the 2400-seat Michael & Susan Dell Hall, a grand concert hall.
This scenic bridge is located on Loop 360 or Capital of Texas Highway on the west side of Austin. This bridge spans Lake Austin and is made of weathered steel.
For a close look at the terrain, flora, and fauna of the Hill Country, step out of the city at Wild Basin, a wilderness preserve located just minutes from downtown Austin. The 227-acre sanctuary includes three miles of trails that wind through the brush; an easy-access trail is also available.
On Earth Day, our attention turns to eco-friendly travel so this news caught our eye. Austin's Driskill Hotel has announced its launch of “Destination Earth…Destination Driskill,” a three-stage plan that ensures operations and services positively impact the environment. Destination Hotels & Resorts (DH&R), the Denver-based hotel management company that oversees operations at The Driskill, along with some 30 other luxury hotel, resort and condominium properties, recently rolled out the “Destination Earth" program which targets all areas of the hotels’ operations.
In commemoration of Earth Day, the Driskill also introduces several special activities:
Free valet parking is being given to guests arriving in hybrid vehicles.
The 1886 Café & Bakery offers a special organic menu that includes organic breads and desserts, ice tea and lemonade, chemical- and hormone-free poultry, eggs from locally-raised free-range chickens, locally-raised venison and local farm produce.
The Driskill Bar is conducting a tasting of organic wines.
The hotel will not launder any towels or bed linens from guest rooms on Tuesday, April 22, unless specifically requested by guests. This is expected to save 7,385 gallons of water, equivalent to one month of water consumption by an average Austin household.
Packets of wildflower seeds are being placed in all guestrooms with notes encouraging guests to consider native landscaping at their homes to reduce water consumption.
Recently named the most “Pet-Friendly Hotel in the Country,” the hotel is stepping up its pet program by providing waste bags and scoopers for guests who arrive with dogs.
What the Program Includes: The complete “Destination Earth…Destination Driskill” program includes a checklist of 90 changes and improvements, which range from establishing more energy-efficient protocol for guest rooms—having only one light and the radio turned on at check in—to replacing all Styrofoam products with recycled paper and plastic products. Bottled water is provided only by request for meetings; outdated bath linens are recycled for cleaning purposes in house and bed linens are donated to charitable organizations; incandescent lighting is being replaced with energy efficient florescent bulbs. Sensors are being installed in all mechanical rooms, housekeeping closets, hallways and meeting rooms to reduce electricity usage.
The program is already garnering good marks from Austin officials. General Electric and the City of Austin performed recent electric and water audits on the hotel’s current operations. Both gave praiseworthy remarks.
Located northwest of Austin on the shores of Lake Travis, Hippie Hollow (officially McGregor/Hippie Hollow Park) is best known for one thing...or lack of one thing: clothes. This clothing-optional park is for adults only and is Texas's only public clothing-optional park. A day use fee is charged per car.
411082: Spring Plant Sale, Gardening Festival at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
This weekend marks the annual Spring Plant Sale and Gardening Festival at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin. If you've got the gardening bug, here's your chance to take a tour with an expert to learn more about habitat gardening, caring for native trees, choosing native plants, and more. Tours will take place on the hour from 11am to 2pm.
The center's Wildflower Center store will also be hosting special guests both afternoons:
Saturday:
Jackie Poole will sign her new book, "Rare Plants of Texas
visitors can sample jelly and other treats from Texas Traditions
Sunday:
L. Raywill sign the 2008 Wildflower DaysTM art print and T-shirt
Jen Ohlson will sign her book about Austin's Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail called "Every Town Needs a Trail"
George Miller will sign "Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas"
Admission: $7 adults, $6 seniors and students, $3.50 for University of Texas at Austin faculty and staff with university identification, $3 for children and free for members and children under 5.
For more information: • call 512.232.0100 • visit http://wildflower.org/plantsale
411082: Spring Plant Sale, Gardening Festival at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
This weekend marks the annual Spring Plant Sale and Gardening Festival at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin. If you've got the gardening bug, here's your chance to take a tour with an expert to learn more about habitat gardening, caring for native trees, choosing native plants, and more. Tours will take place on the hour from 11am to 2pm.
The center's Wildflower Center store will also be hosting special guests both afternoons:
Saturday:
Jackie Poole will sign her new book, "Rare Plants of Texas
visitors can sample jelly and other treats from Texas Traditions
Sunday:
L. Raywill sign the 2008 Wildflower DaysTM art print and T-shirt
Jen Ohlson will sign her book about Austin's Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail called "Every Town Needs a Trail"
George Miller will sign "Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas"
Admission: $7 adults, $6 seniors and students, $3.50 for University of Texas at Austin faculty and staff with university identification, $3 for children and free for members and children under 5.
40408: Austin Fills with Urban Music Festival, Texas Relays
This weekend will be a huge one for Austin visitors for two reasons: the Texas Relays and the Urban Music Festival. The Texas Relays, which started on April 2 and continue through April 5, is considered one of the country's top track and field events.
The Urban Music Festival, held at Auditorium Shores, will be featuring Jeffrey Osborne this year along with After 7, Trey Songz, Hope Flood, Bavu Blakes, and Phillip Martin, with a special guest appearance by former UT football player Vince Young.
Jeffrey Osborne photo courtesy Urban Music Festival
On Saturday, April 12 from 4 PM to 11 PM, the Boost Mobile Nightshift will fill the Travis County Expo Center in Austin. The event will feature hundreds of tricked out cars and bikes, high-speed drift demos, high flying Freestyle MotoX (over a semi truck!), and a live performance by hip hop artist Lloyd.
The nation’s largest touring event series of its type, Nightshift Austin will mark the first Nightshift and third stop on HIN Events’ 21-city 2008 tour. More than 10,000 auto and entertainment enthusiasts are expected for the event in Austin.
At 6pm, the festival will be recognizing Austin soldiers returning from operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as Sgt. Nick Ashby, creator of the "Citizen Soldier" Tribute Car which he designed for the Army National Guard.
The day's festivities will include more than 300 tricked out vehicles totaling over $15 million in value, ranging from Japanese to Euro and from high-end luxury to wild and exotic. Notable cars include:
o Johnny Nguyen’s Honda S2000, one of the hottest S2000s in Houston o Lindz Doringo’s Nissan 350Z, as seen on the cover of Modified magazine o Randy Rigg’s award winning Nissan G35 from Los Angeles o Street Lightz right hand drive Honda Civic Type R Tour Car, a rare treat for American fans o Topher Shively’s 1000HP Nissan 350Z, one of the most powerful 350Zs in Texas o Boost Mobile Nissan RX8 designed by famed automotive stylist RJ de Vera
Location: The event will take place at the Travis County Expo Center, located east of town at 7311 Decker Lane.
This statue, called "Philosopher's Rock," stands in Austin's Zilker Park at the entrance to Barton Springs and was sculpted by Glenna Goodacre. The three philosphers portrayed here are J. Frank Dobie, Roy Bedichek and Walter Prescott Webb, all Texas authors.
In the 1970's he touched our hearts in "The Way We Were," and in late March the Austin American-Statesman reports that 2008 cinema icon Robert Redford gave Austinites a glimpse of the way things might be as he stood at the podium at Alamo South to discuss "Unforeseen," a documentary that sheds light on the ongoing struggle to preserve Barton Springs. Acting as executive producer for the project, this thought-provoking feature, which includes appearances by such Texas treasures as Willie Nelson and Ann Richards, is currently showing at the Alamo South Lamar.
Taking a trip down memory lane, Zac, Isaac and Taylor Hanson, who were discovered in the late 1990's at Austin's annual SXSW festival, Mmmbopped into Las Manitas restaurant for a bite to eat during their recent return to the Live Music Capital of the World, People magazine reports. Another Austin landmark feeling the effects of the city's growth, only months remain to order huevos rancheros, migas con queso, chalupas and flautas prepared by the Perez sisters at their familiar 211 Congress Avenue address. Following an extended development battle, the beloved eatery will relocate one block from its current location this summer to make way for a Marriott hotel.
A familiar face around Austin during SXSW, music aficionado Elijah Wood was spotted filming Heloise & The Savoir Faire, an act signed to the "Lord of The Rings" star's budding Simian Records label, in mid-March during their set the Habana Calle 6 Annex, a Cuban-nuanced nightclub on East 6th Street.
No visit to Austin would be complete without a stroll down Sixth Street. According to People magazine, revelers dropping by the strip's bevy of bars during SXSW may have been lucky enough to spot former N'Sync stars Chris Kirkpatrick and Joey Fatone enjoying some brew before they said "Bye, Bye, Bye" to Touche', a popular watering hole located at 417 E 6th.
On March 8, 2008, A-lister Vanessa Hudgens made her way to Light Bar, one of Congress Avenue's top boites, for an after-screening soiree in celebration of the SXSW premiere of "Explicit Ills", People magazine online revealed. While sightings of the Disney darling were scarce during her stay in the capital city, a few lucky fans spotted the "High School Musical" star as she filmed scenes from her upcoming flick "Will" on the University of Texas campus.
While filming continued on beau Brad Pitt's latest cinematic venture, "Tree of Life" in Smithville, Angelina Jolie passed the time by stocking up on reading material at a Barnes & Noble. Austinites can find the latest bestsellers at five Barnes & Noble locations-- Westlake, Sunset Valley Village, The Arboretum, Hill Country Galleria and The Homestead Shopping Center at Lakeline Crossing.
At the Hartman Prehistoric Garden in Austin's Zilker Park, don't be surprised this Ornithomimus dinosaur. This bronze statue was designed by local sculptor John Maisano and cast in Bastrop.
This historic log cabin stands in Austin's Zilker Park in the Botanical Gardens. Built in 1838, this cabin was built by a Swedish settler who encouraged immigration to the region.
What's the best place to stay with your pet? According to Animal Fair, the nation’s first lifestyle magazine and website for animal lovers, it's Austin's Driskill Hotel. The historic hotel won top hotel honors in the Fourth Annual Cesar® Five Dog Bone Awards. Here's what the magazine had to say about this downtown property:
Pet-Friendly Hotel: The Driskill Hotel (Austin, Texas) There’s going to be a huge stampede of vacationing pets and their owners visiting The Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas after the word gets out that Animal Fair’s readers have honored this historic hotel with the coveted 2008 Cesar® Five Dog Bone Award for Pet-Friendliest Hotel. While staying in their Victorian decorated suites, guests will feel like royalty, and so will their pets. Celebrities such as President Clinton, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, Paul Simon and The Dixie Chicks have rested their cowboy/girl hats at this fine animal-inviting establishment. The Driskill’s Pampered Pet Program offers a comfy custom-designed, pet bed with the Driskill logo, delicious-looking food and water bowls, bottled water, gourmet pet treats and a chew toy. They also celebrate an “I Love My Dog Better” singles pet package that also includes a robe, champagne and chocolate-covered fruit for the pet’s master. Texas is known for doing everything big – and Animal Fair’s readers agree that the Driskill Hotel is large on being graciously pet-friendly.
31708: Austin Offering GPS and Sign Language Tours
We've just received word that the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau and locally-based BarZ Adventures have teamed up to offer a new GPS tour of the city as well as an American Sign Language tour.
GPS Tour: The GPS Ranger™introduces visitors to Austin’s historical and cultural attractions with a walking tour piloted by Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. The audio and video tour, which is narrated by KXAN News Anchor Michelle Valles, guides visitors to more than two dozen points of interest.
How does it work? As you approach each point of interest, the GPS Ranger™ triggers location-based content, telling the story of the site or attraction using both audio and video. Attractions highlighted on the tour include the Texas Capitol, Sixth Street, Zilker Park, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Moonlight Towers and the Ann Richards Congress Avenue Bridge, along with the city’s famed bats. Events and local flair are also featured with narration on the “Keep Austin Weird” campaign, O. Henry Pun-Off, Spamarama and more.
Price: Tour cost $11.95 each. They are available at the Austin Visitor Center at 209 E. Sixth Street. One lightweight handheld device with a 4-inch screen can be shared by several people.
Sign Language Tour: The Austin tour is also the first GPS tour to also be made available in American Sign Language. Working with Communication Service for the Deaf, Inc. (CSD), a national private nonprofit agency providing services to the deaf, hard of hearing and individuals with speech disabilities, Austin CVB and BarZ Adventures adapted the tour to make it accessible to the deaf.
For more information on the Austin GPS Ranger™ video tour: • call the Austin Visitor Center at 512-478-0098 • visit www.austintexas.org For more information on BarZ Adventures: • call 512/732-0135 • visit www.barzadventures.com
This is the view from atop Mount Bonnell, which is perched about 780 feet above sea level. (It's not nosebleed territory...although you might feel like it is after a hike up the steps from the parking lot.) The park overlooks Lake Austin and it has been a popular site with visitors since the 1800s.
Easter is just around the corner, and Austin's most historic hotel, The Driskill, is hopping with holiday plans. The hotel will host its elaborate buffet brunch on Easter Sunday, March 23, a longtime tradition. The event will also include a visit from the Easter Bunny and an Easter egg hunt in the grand Victorian Room for kids. The Brunch: Easter Brunch, complete with complimentary champagne and accompanied by live music, is served on the hotel's Mezzanine, with seatings from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
The event will include carving station with rosemary prime rib, leg of lamb and baked ham; an omelet and waffle station featuring omelets to order and Belgian waffles with whipped cream and fresh berries; a creperie station; and traditional breakfast and lunch entrees, along with a cold seafood display and raw bar. For the first time, this year's brunch will include a commal grilling station with coriander-crusted ahi tuna prepared on a flat griddle. It's all followed up by a big selection of desserts, including the hotel’s signature 1886 Chocolate Cake.
Price: Prices are $58 for adults, $24 for children ages 6-12 and complimentary for children under age 6. A special children’s buffet is available.
SXSW is just around the corner and we've received word that Bike Hugger and bikehugger.com will be hosting the first annual Bike Hugger BBQ and urban ride in Austin on Saturday.
The ride gets into gear at 1 pm at the Susanna Dickinson House in Brush Square Park and will make stops at the downtown REI, the Jack S. Blanton Museum of Art and will work its way back to the park for the barbecue.
The Bike Hugger BBQ will take place in Brush Square Park just after the first full day of panels at SXSW’s Interactive conference. The BBQ is open to SXSW badgeholders and Bike Hugger’s urban ride participants.
“Austin is a bike town and we're coming there to ride,” said DL Byron, Publisher of Bike Hugger. “The idea for Bike Hugger came from a ride in Texas Hill Country so it’s natural to be working with SXSW".
The Bike Hugger BBQ will also feature products and giveaways from Bike Hugger’s partners including IBEX, REI, Crumpler, Reynolds and SKINS. Team Bike Hugger will also be on hand sporting Bike Hugger Hincapie jerseys.
When: Saturday, March 8, 2008
Where: Susanna Dickinson House, Brush Square Park, downtown Austin
Time: 1:00 P.M. following by the Bike Hugger BBQ at 4:30pm
The kickoff for the Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo in Austin is Friday and to mark the event the city will enjoy a free Cowboy Breakfast. Held at Auditorium Shores at Lake Lady Bird (formerly Town Lake), the Texas-sized breakfast will run from 6am to 9am. You'll also find live music and rodeo mascots at the family-friendly event. Free parking is available at the Palmer Special Events parking garage.
And to celebrate the rodeo coming to town, Friday will also be Dress Western Day in Austin. Austin mayor Will Wynn has made the declaration so get out those boots and jeans whether you live in Austin or are visiting for the day!
This month we enjoyed a tasty chicken fried steak lunch at The Broken Spoke in Austin, a truly traditional Texas honky tonk. Along with the dance hall, the popular South Austin spot (which has been here since 1964) includes a restaurant and small museum called "The Tourist Trap Room." We shot photos during our visit and compiled them into this video we hope you enjoy:
Well, the Valentine’s candy may be all gone but it’s not to late to enjoy some fine chocolates thanks to the upcoming 3rd Annual Austin Chocolate Festival. Scheduled for March 8 and 9, this event will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
This sweet festival will include up to 20 vendors including chocolatiers, bakeries, patisseries, restaurants, hotels, caterers, authors, and resorts… offering samples, of course! You’ll be able to participate in chocolate competitions and demonstrations.
This year’s event is featuring Andrea Levinson, the producer of "Death, Taxes... and Chocolate!" This movie will be released in April.
Location: Arthur Murray Dance Studio, 2700 West Anderson Lane #504 in Austin.
Tickets: Tickets for the Austin Chocolate Festival are $20. You can purchase tickets online or by phone at 512-637-0479. For more information: • email info@austinchocolatefestival.com • visit the ACF website
Austin's Broken Spoke is a legendary Texas honky tonk, a place that has sent toes tapping since 1964. To celebrate its 25th anniversary in 1989, the restaurant/bar/dance hall opened "The Tourist Trap Room" filled with memorabilia ranging from LBJ's hat to photos and sheet music. Through the years, this hall has hosted some of country music's biggest names including Ernest Tubbs, Roy Acuff, Hank Thompson, Tex Ritter, Ray Price, Willie Nelson, George Strait, and many others.
All aboard! The Zilker Zephyr is a pint-sized train that makes a 25-minute, three-mile loop through Austin's Zilker Park. A favorite with kids, the ride is fun for adults, too, and costs under $3 for adults. The train station is located adjacent to Barton Springs; departures are on the hour on weekdays and every half hour on weekends.
If you'll be in downtown Austin this weekend, expect plenty of company. Sunday marks the annual AT&T Marathon, an event with 10,000 runners. The event includes a full marathon as well as a half marathon. Although Saturday's weather is supposed to be rainy, the forecasters are calling for clear skies by the time the race begins on Sunday.
If this week's Westminster Dog Show (and the Best of Show winner, Uno, from Austin) has you ready to show off your own dog, here's your chance. On Saturday, March 8, the Western regional portion of the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge will be held at the Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo.
The Event: Dogs from the Midwest will have the opportunity at this event to compete in a variety of “Olympic style” events. The winners ultimately earn the right to compete against top dogs from around the country at the National Championships this fall in St. Louis.
The Purina Incredible Dog Challenge includes agility, flying disc, Jack Russell hurdle races, head-to-head 60-weave pole and dog diving events. The challenge will stage an open qualifier on Friday, March 7 in the afternoon, (registration begins at 10:30 a.m.) where local dogs are invited to compete for a spot in Saturday’s regional competition in dog diving and flying disc, which are two of the main events in the competition.
Schedule:
Friday, March 7th Schedule 10:30 AM Competitor Registration & Head Shots 11:45 AM Lunch & Competitor Meeting 12:30 PM Incredible Agility Practice 1:30 PM Incredible Jack Russell Hurdle Racing Practice 2:15 PM Demonstration Event Practice 3:00 PM Qualifying Sign-Up and Registration 3:00 PM Incredible 60-Weave Poll Practice 3:30 PM Incredible Diving Dog Practice and Qualifying 4:15 PM Incredible Freestyle Flying Disc Practice and Qualifying
Saturday, March 8th Schedule 10:30 AM Agility Course Inspection 10:55 AM National Anthem 11:00 AM Incredible Agility (Small & Large) 12:00 PM Incredible Diving Dog Competition 12:45 PM Incredible Jack Russell Hurdle Racing 1:30 PM Demonstration Event 2:15 PM Incredible Head-to-Head 60-Weave Pole Racing 3:00 PM Incredible Freestyle Flying Disc
This unique sculpture called "Night Wing", located on South Congress Avenue at the intersection of Barton Springs Road, is interesting not only for its bat shape but because it freely swivels with even a light breeze. The creation of artist Dale Whistler, the sculpture commemorates the largest urban bat colony in the country, found nearby beneath the Ann Richards Bridge (formerly called the Congress Avenue Bridge). The bats will be returning to Austin in March and will remain until late fall.
This often photographed mural resembling a historic postcard is located in South Austin at Roadhouse Relics at 1720 South 1st Street. Stop in the shop while you're there; they've created signage for many movies.
One of Austin's biggest festivals is South by Southwest (SXSW) which takes place this year from March 7-16. They're calling for all volunteers now for both the conference and music production. If you're traveling in for the event, you'll need firm travel plans when you complete the volunteer application found at http://sxsw.com/volunteer/.
Just a little over a week ago, the newest resort in Texas opened its doors in Grapevine. Great Wolf Lodge® sounds like it will be a real family favorite (much like the Great Wolf Lodges already are in Niagara Falls, Williamsburg, the Poconos, Kansas City, and other locations.) We haven't had the chance to visit this new property yet but look forward it. (If you have stayed at this resort, please drop us a line and let us know how you liked it or, better yet, share your experience with everyone by submitting your travel report to our Roaming Readers section.)
The 402-suite lodge (look for another 203 suites by the end of this year) has lots of the usual resort amenities--spa, themed restaurants, a fitness room--but the real attraction here is its indoor waterpark. Bear Track Landing™ is the name of the 80,000-square-foot indoor waterpark, kept at a constant 84-degrees year-round. The waterpark is exclusively for guests at the resort so there are no long lines for the seven pools and 11 waterslides, including the enclosed six-story, Howlin’ Tornado™, extreme funnel ride and a 12-level interactive treehouse waterfort. And for summer guests, there's also the 84,000-square-foot Raccoon Lagoon™, featuring two tube slides, a recreation pool, family whirlpool, and patio area with private cabanas. Grand Opening Rates: Through May 22, the resort will be offering a special grand opening rate; a Family Suite begins at $199 per night, including waterpark passes.
Location: Great Wolf Lodge is located on 52 acres along US Highway 26, seven miles from the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
For more information: • call 1.800.693.WOLF (9653) • visit www.greatwolf.com
Located on the south banks of LadyBird Lake (formerly Town Lake) in Austin, the Stevie Ray Vaughn statue is a popular stop on the lake's jogging trail. Sculpted by Ralph Helmick, the statue was erected in 1993 to honor the musician. We took this shot just over a week ago on a pretty January day when the walking/jogging trail was filled with Austinites and visitors enjoying the winter sunshine.
The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is home to an Austin City Limits store featuring items related to the popular television show filmed at the University of Texas at Austin.
On Sunday, January 20 in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and the LBJ Centennial, Austin's LBJ Library will host an afternoon gospel choir performance featuring the U.T. Innervisions Choir. Following the concert, the library will host a reception.
When: The concert will begin at 2:00 p.m.
Where: LBJ Library and Museum, 2313 Red River, Austin
At the start of the new year, TexasTripper takes a look back at some of the stars who celebrated part of the holiday season in the Lone Star state, and looks forward to the celebrities that Texas travelers may be lucky enough to see in the near future.
Austin
Fans of the NBC hit "Friday Night Lights" will have the chance to see their favorite stars go from the football field to the fairway when Kyle Chandler and his Lubbock-born co-star Brad Leland perform hosting duties at the first annual Beyond the Lights Celebrity Golf Classic on March 7, 2007. Held in support of the Spinal Cord Injury Foundation Gridiron Heroes and The Buonicondi Fund, friendly competition will be par for the course as cast members Zach Gilford, Taylor Kitsch, Connie Britton, Gaius Charles, Jesse Plemons and Dana Wheeler-Nicholson tee off at the Wolfdancer Golf Club at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa, located on the outskirts of Austin near Bastrop.
"Miss Congeniality" in real life as well as on screen, the Austin American-Statesman reported that actress Sandra Bullock provided Christmas cheer for the crew of Bess, her Austin eatery, at another capital city dining staple, the Belmont. The West Sixth Street establishment offers a number of areas for holiday parties, ranging from the intimate confines of The Carlyle room, where up to 30 guests can sample the restaurant's American cuisine beneath the glitter of crystal chandeliers, to the impressive outdoor patio, where oversized umbrellas and swaying palm trees shelter hundreds of patrons from the Lone Star sun as they enjoy their meal.
Dallas
The entertainment world's latest dynamic duo, Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson, dined on delectable delicacies from several of The Big D's leading restaurants in December. According to The Dallas Morning News, the Cowboys quarterback and America's sweetheart sampled fajitas during a recent repast at Cantina Laredo, a dining establishment deemed one of the 12 best restaurants in the city. The famished football star and the blonde beauty also satisfied their cravings with French-influenced fare at La Madeleine, where they mulled over a menu featuring such provencal pastries as chocolate-almond croissants and strawberry Napoleon, which offer a sweet treat for patrons after dining on such main course items as chicken crepe riviera and Mediterranean pasta.
Before belting out his biggest hits at the American Airlines Center, Grammy winner Billy Joel checked himself into the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, a five-star sanctuary ranked the top hotel in the country by Zagat. As is the case in each of the hotel's 143 guest rooms, fresh flowers decorated the Terrace Suite, where The Piano Man unpacked his luggage during his stay, the Dallas Morning News reports.
Star sightings are frequent at The Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek. Just days after Billy Joel checked out of the regal retreat, the members of Duran Duran dropped by. According to The Dallas Morning News, the perennial pop group gathered at the Mansion Bar, where patrons sip on spirits as they lounge on leather chairs by a stone hearth and soak up the smooth sounds performed by jazz musicians each Wednesday through Saturday night.
A few weeks before celebrating her first Christmas as Mrs. Mike Modano, singer and former "Dancing with the Stars" contestant Willa Ford helped to ring in the holiday season at a fashion forward charity event held at Forty Five Ten's T Room, the Dallas Morning News reports. The latest collections by Stella McCartney, Givenchy, Alexander McQueen and other doyens of the designing world hang on racks at the McKinney Avenue boutique, which also offers an eclectic array of home decor and apothecary items for the discerning denizens of Dallas.
El Paso
When the upcoming drama The Burning Plain his theaters in 2009, Southwestern General Hospital will share screen time with actress Charlize Theron. According to El Paso Inc., the Academy Award winner shot scenes at The Sun City's health care facility from December 10 - 13, 2007.
During its three decades in business, actor Tommy Lee Jones, The Eagles' frontman Don Henley and President George W. Bush have been among the famous faces who have traveled far and wide for a taste of The Little Diner's tortillas. In December, the down home dining establishment in Canutillo became a celebrity in its own right, as The Little Diner's south of the border fare was featured as a category in the daytime game show, Jeopardy!, the El Paso Times reported.
TexasTripper's Paris Permenter meets a friendly llama at the Austin Zoo, a unique facility located southwest of the capital city. The Austin Zoo, a non-profit organization, is home for many rescued and abandoned animals and a great place for families to visit. It's far more low key than the big city zoos, a nice place to spend a few hours at a relaxed pace.
If you'll be visiting Austin over the holidays, don't miss the chance to ice skate...outdoors! The only outdoor, public rink in Austin is found on the rooftop of Whole Foods Market at 525 North Lamar Boulevard (at the southeast corner of Lamar and Sixth Street).
This is the third year Whole Foods has offered the skating experience that's pretty unique in Texas.
The cost is $10 per person, per session (that includes your skate rental).
For more information, call guest services at 512.476.1206.
The countdown is now underway as the clock ticks down to Christmas...and the traffic gets heavier on the roads to the mall. We just returned from a last minute shopping excursion at the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar, held this year at the Austin Convention Center.
The event, which started in the Armadillo World Headquarters, features unique arts and crafts, jewelry, ironwork (the neatest piece we saw featured an iron bat, a reminder of the Mexican free-tailed bats that will return to Austin this March), yarnwork, and more.
But one of the most distinctive features of the show is the live music stage. Jimmy LaFave, Marcia Ball, W.C. Clark, Sara Hickman, and others are all on this year's lineup. And, although Christmas is just around the corner, there's still a full weekend of music on the way: The Eggmen (a great Beatles tribute band) and The Derailers will be playing tomorrow. The music continues up until 11pm Monday, Christmas Eve.
Although we've been in the Austin area forever, this week we went to see the 37th Street lights for the first time ever. If you're not familiar with the 37th Street Christmas lights, it's a residential neighborhood just off Guadalupe Street, north of the University of Texas campus. The residents of the street fill their yards with unique Christmas lights that range from the dinosaur like the one above (perched behind a tree decked out with beer cans and lights) to a tower of used bicycles, all lit for the season. You can see more lights on the YouTube video we made from our photos and footage.
The Driskill, the historic downtown Austin hotel, is reviving a longstanding tradition after a long absence: the formal New Year's Eve Gala. Formally dressed revelers can ring in 2008 in high style.
The Event: “An Evening of Elegance” features a five-course seated dinner, complete with wine pairings, on the Mezzanine. Mr. Fabulous entertains throughout the night with his distinctive Big Band music. As the clock strikes midnight, the party goes into high gear with champagne toasts and a balloon drop. With the gala in full swing on the Mezzanine, a bar serving signature martinis, single malt scotches and small batch bourbons is set up in the magnificent Maximilian Room. Hand-rolled cigars are also available on the Mezzanine Balcony. Jazz vocalist Suzi Stern performs in the Driskill Bar for another party in progress.
Price: The $225 per person cost includes party favors and souvenir photos.
Reservations: For reservations, call 512-391-7041. Another Option: If you'd like to ring in the New Year in a quieter fashion, you can opt to dine at the Driskill Grill, which serves a special five-course prix fixe dinner, with seating at 5:30 p.m., and a seven-course dinner with late seating at 8:30 p.m. Reservations are required; call 512-391-7162.
The Driskill, built as the showplace of cattle baron Jesse Driskill in 1886, is almost a symbol of Austin and a fitting place for a holiday dinner if you'll be in the Capital City on Christmas. The hotel is filled with Christmas spirit with a majestic Noble fir illuminated by 10,000 lights in the Grande Lobby.
The Driskill is offering two Christmas dining options:
Christmas Brunch: Christmas dinner at The Driskill has become an Austin tradition. Brunch is served on the columned and marble-floored Mezzanine level on Christmas Day from 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Along with a spread of assorted salads, pastas and cheeses, the brunch also includes a cold seafood display, hot buffet of breakfast and lunch entrees, carving station with prime rib and honey-bourbon glazed ham, an omelet and waffle station and decadent desserts.
The brunch, $58 per person, includes complimentary champagne. Children ages 6-12 can enjoy their own kid-friendly buffet, with a cost of $24 per person. Reservations for Christmas Day Brunch are available at 512-391-7041.
Prix Fix Dinner: In addition, the five-star Driskill Grill serves a gourmet four-course prix fix Christmas dinner on the nights of December 24 and 25. The menu includes apple salad with mascarpone cheese, a white root vegetable soup, anise-crusted bluefin tuna, squab with foie gras and Snake River Farms ribeye. Reservations are available at 512-391-7162.
The Trail of Lights kicks off in Austin this year on December 9. Winding along the south shore of Lady Bird Lake (formerly Town Lake) in Austin, the pedestrian trail is a favorite family activity for Austinites and visitors. The trail is located in Zilker Park and is just a short walk from the Zilker Tree, another holiday symbol of Austin.
Austin Music Office Releases “Happy Holidays from Austin, TX”
The Austin Music Office is releasing a new CD: “Happy Holidays from Austin, TX.” The event is kicking off with a public release party on Tuesday, Nov. 27, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at the Austin Visitor Center, 209 E. Sixth Street.
The 11-song album serves to promote the city’s live music scene and features Austin artists; it includes:
"Happy Holidays from Austin, TX" CD Song Titles 1. All I Want for Christmas Is To See Another Year – No Show Ponies 2. Kwanzaatime – Chandra Washington/Circle of Light 3. Santa Baby – Kelly Willis 4. Christmas Fais Do Do – Marcia Ball 5. Hanukia – Tish Hinojosa 6. What Child Is This – Will Taylor and Strings Attached featuring Eliza Gilkyson 7. Feliz Navidad – Vallejo 8. Give You My Gift – Asleep at the Wheel 9. I Had A Little Dreidel (Austin Style) – The Hay Seeds 10. You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch – Asylum Street Spankers 11. Silent Night – Willie Nelson
You'll find a limited number of the CDs are available for sale for $9.99 at the Visitor Center, or at Waterloo Records.
Thanksgiving at Austin's Driskill Hotel a Texas Tradition
Once again, the longtime holiday tradition of dining at the Driskill Hotel in Austin on Thanksgiving Day will take place this year. The historic hotel will offer both a lavish buffet brunch during mid day and a three-course prix fixe fine dining experience in The Driskill Grill for the evening meal.
Thanksgiving Brunch: Thanksgiving Brunch, complete with complimentary champagne, is served on the elegant Mezzanine level, with seatings from 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Prices for brunch are $58 for adults, $24 for children ages 6-12 and complimentary for children under age 6. A special children’s buffet is available. For reservations, call 512-391-7041.
Thanksgiving Dinner: The Driskill Grill offers a special four-course prix fixe Thanksgiving dinner that features Buttermilk Sous Vide Turkey Breast with sourdough sage stuffing, dried cranberries and Madeira reduction. The $75 prix fixe menu also includes Heirloom Potato Salad, Butternut Squash Ravioli and a trio of fall desserts. (See attached menu) Guests may also select from The Grill’s regular menu. Reservations for the 6:30 or 8:30 p.m. seatings can be made by calling 512-391-7162.
Here's some news we didn't know: the country's largest men's-only spa is located in Austin. El Rey™, a men's spa and executive club, is now open to visitors and non-members thanks to the newly-added day-member packages.
The spa offers 12 treatment rooms in a country club setting. The spa is one of the few in the country offering the men’s Italian skin care line ComfortZone™. Other El Rey spa and personal care services being introduced as part of the club's expansion, include body wraps, scrubs, and microderm and chemical peel services. Two customized leg treatments are also being added to help athletes, travelers, and those with leg discomfort.
Visitors to the Capital City can purchase a day pass called "El Ambassador" with a choice of premier packages starting at $300.
El Rey was founded in 2004 by entrepreneur and travel connoisseur Clint Campbell who patterned the spa after the finest facilities in major metropolitan markets such as London, New York, Chicago, and elsewhere, The 4,300-square-foot club offers members everything from manicures and pedicures to massage therapy and concierge services. Members also gain access to a full service bar on-site, 18 flat screen TVs throughout, a king-size poker table, and a locker room with a jacuzzi and steam room.
Location: El Rey is located at 311 West Fifth Street in downtown Austin. For More Information: • visit http://www.elreyclub.com
Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio Named Among Top 25 US Cities
Travel + Leisure magazine and CNN Headline News have released the 2007 survey of “America’s Favorite Cities.” Travelers voted for their favorites online, where they were also able to submit their own pictures and video through CNN.com’s I-Report.
Survey results are announced in the November issue of Travel + Leisure, which hits newsstands this week. You can read results online at Travel + Leisure or www.cnn.com.
The surveys rate the cities in the categories of After Dark, Characteristics, Cityscape, Culture, Food/Dining, People, Shopping and Type of Trip. Each category is further broken down to include "micro-categories" like clubbing, environmental awareness, vintage shopping and more.
Austin comes in first for Singles Scene (After Dark) and Barbecue (Food/Dining); second for People (overall), Characteristics (overall), Live Music (After Dark), Safety (Characteristics), Cheap Eats (Food/Dining), Fun (People); and third for Food/Dining (overall) and Underground Arts Scene (Culture).
San Antonio came in #1 for affordability and #2 for barbecue while Dallas came in #4 for barbecue and #7 for sports fan vacation.
At the Lake Austin Spa Resort, this year named the number two destination spa in North America by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler and number nine in the world by the readers of Travel + Leisure, the Pool Barn houses a Junior Olympic-sized pool, perfect for laps year around.
The original Threadgill's, a place where Janis Joplin got her start decades ago, remains a popular Austin restaurant. Look for home cooking here from chicken fried steaks to fried okra.
Austin's own Benjamin McKenzie recently grooved at Gruv nightclub to tunes spun by DJ Boombai, the Austin American-Statesman reports. Back in the Live music Capital of the World in mid-October, the star of the cancelled FOX favorite "The O.C." will soon step in front of the cameras for his role in "The Stanford Prison Experiment."
Actor Scott Porter said so long to September at an event held at the capital city's Shoreline Grill, according to the Austin American-Statesman. Like other patrons at the elegant Austin eatery, perhaps the "Friday Night Lights" star was fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of the city's local celebrities, the Mexican Free-Tail bats, as they left their roost under the Congress Avenue bridge and embarked on their evening escapades-- a sight that can be savored nightly from the restaurant's terrace, which overlooks the recently redubbed Lady Bird Lake.
Lone Star siblings Luke and Owen Wilson were spotted in the capital city in mid-October. According to the Austin American-Statesman, the Dallas-born duo booked suites at the Four Seasons Hotel.
"Spider-man" villain Willem Defoe, who was recently in the Bastrop area filming "Fireflies in the Garden," was spotted by the Austin Chronicle in mid-October at Whole Foods Market, checking out the store's organic gastronomical treats.
In town to promote his latest silver screen venture, "The Darjeeling Limited," The Austin American-Statesman conducted an interview with actor Jason Schwartzman at Austin's hippest hideaway, the Hotel San Jose on South Congress Avenue. The reformed 40's era motor court, which offers its patrons the use of an extended CD library filled with blues and jazz standards and a weekly showing of a cinematic cult classic along with entertainment by a local band, is a magnet for A-listers, with visits by Drew Barrymore and Luke Wilson in September.
Dallas
Several stars dined out in The Big D this October. The Dallas Morning News reports that actor John Cusack, who will soon be seen on the big screen in "Martian Child," and lady friend Jodi Lyn O'Keefe (Prison Break) were among the first to sample the culinary creations offered at The Club, a swank supper sanctuary in The Centrum Building which opened its doors in September 2007.....From lobster pasta to a 16 oz. New York sirloin, "One Tree Hill" star Sophia Bush had a wide variety of culinary delights from which to choose when she mulled over the menu at N9NE Steakhouse recently with Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo.....Globe-trotting songstress Annie Lennox recently enjoyed the Japanese cuisine served at Nobu, one of six epicurean establishments located at Hotel Crecsent Court.
San Antonio
Congratulations to Ricardo Chavira, better known to TV viewers as Carlos Solis on the ABC hit "Desperate Housewives," who said "I do" to longtime love Marcea Dietzl in the Alamo City on September 22, 2007. The television star, while born in Austin, was raised in San Antonio.
Located at 112 East 11th Street on the southeast corner of the Capitol complex, the Visitors Center is housed in the former General Land Office. Today you'll find numerous exhibits about the role of the former building (including an office once used by writer O. Henry), the Capitol, and early Texas.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held this past weekend for a new 35-story, $260-million mixed-use development that will include a new theater for the popular Austin City Limits television show. The Theater: A 2,200-seat, state-of-the-art theater and music venue to be managed by Live Nation will serve as the new home of KLRU-TV’s venerable Austin City Limits (austincitylimits.org), the longest running televised concert series. The new theater, which will have more than five times the capacity of the current soundstage, is being developed in partnership with Willie Nelson and his nephew, Freddy Fletcher, of Pedernales Records. Live Nation has been selected to oversee a range of ongoing entertainment programming for the more than 300 nights a year when it will not be in use by ACL. ACL is a production of KLRU-TV, Austin PBS and C3 Presents.
Hotel & Spa: Occupying a former vacant lot in downtown Austin’s 2nd Street District, Block 21 is being considered for Platinum LEED Certification for its implementation of green building techniques, materials and operational standards. Upon completion in 2010, the project will include 196 luxury condominium residences, 250 hotel guestrooms, world-class spa, signature restaurant, approximately 47,000 square feet of premium, ground- and second-floor retail plus engaging public spaces.
The W Austin Hotel & Residences will include its signature Living Room experience and Whatever/Whenever®, the hotel’s 24-hour concierge service that can provide whatever guests want (from a pair of running shoes at 2 a.m. to private jet service) whenever they want it. The hotel will also include several innovative restaurants and clubs, a street-level plaza, an outdoor elevated garden incorporating a swimming pool, a full-service Sweat fitness facility, a 5,000-square-foot spa, 13,000 square feet of meeting space and 4,300 square feet of banquet rooms.
The Groundbreaking: Local dignitaries, VIPs and development partners who participated in the afternoon groundbreaking ceremony included Mayor Will Wynn; basketball-legend-turned-business-tycoon, Earvin “Magic” Johnson of the Canyon-Johnson Urban Fund; legendary University of Texas football coach and UT Austin stadium namesake, Darrell Royal; Canyon-Johnson Urban Fund Managing Partner, Bobby Turner; Ross Klein, President of Starwood’s Luxury Brands Group (W Hotels, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts and The Luxury Collection hotel brands); lead design architect, Arthur W. Andersson, AIA of Andersson-Wise Architects; Bob Roux, President of Live Nation’s South division; KLRU-TV CEO and General Manager, Bill Stotesbery; Austin City Limits Producer, Terry Lickona; and Freddy Fletcher, Pedernales Records partner. The groundbreaking was timed to coincide with the KLRU-TV “Block Party” fundraising gala, which benefits the station that produces ACL.
“We are big believers in Austin, and in the commitment that Mayor Wynn has made to continuing the revitalization already underway here,” said Canyon-Johnson partner Earvin “Magic” Johnson. “Austin is a growing, dynamic and entertaining city, and through Block 21, we will work to enhance that by creating opportunities for the people of Austin, and making sure that it reaches its absolute fullest potential.”
New Exhibit at Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum
Through January 6, you can visit a new exhibit at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin. The museum is showcasing an exhibit called "In Citizen’s Garb: Southern Plains Native Americans 1889-1891" with photographs and artifacts of Native Americans as they were forced to adapt to a new life on the reservations.
It might seem like a while until the holidays but Austin's getting ready for over a month of special activities. In true Austin style, the city has plenty of live music and unique events that "keep Austin weird."
Nov. 14-18 The Junior League of Austin's A Christmas Affair presents "The Gift of the Magi" at the Palmer Events Center. You'll find over 200 national merchants selling original art, jewelry and crafts during the four-day holiday market. Receptions, tea parties and private shopping events also highlight the schedule. Ticket prices vary.
Nov. 18 As part of a year-long celebration of Israel's 60th anniversary as an independent state, the Jewish Community Association holds its Annual Chanukah Bazaar on Nov. 18 at the Dell JCC Community Hall. Other events continue through May 2008 in commemoration of Israeli independence.
Nov. 25-Dec. 11 Five Latino theater groups combine their creative talents to present a Latin Christmas story with La Pastorela: A Shepherd’s Story, Nov. 25-Dec. 11, at Tillery Street Theatre.
Dec. 1-2 Art aficionados celebrate the season early with Austin Museum of Art's Holiday Arts Festival, December 1-2. Guests stroll the elaborately decorated gardens of Laguna Gloria to view sculpture and art while enjoying holiday cuisine.
Nov. 30-Dec. 30 Zachary Scott Theatre presents three special shows. Plaid Tidings brings the cast of hit the musical "Forever Plaid" back to the stage, November 30-December 30, for heavenly holiday harmonies that include tributes to the Chipmunks, Ed Sullivan and the Rockettes. Hilarity ensues with David Sedaris' The Santaland Diaries, November 23- January 6. Rockin' Christmas Party puts a big hair, rock 'n roll edge on the traditional "Christmas Carol" story in this hit musical at Zach's intimate Kleberg stage at 1510 Toomey Rd., November 23-January 3.
Nov. 30-Dec. 22 Kids and parents build a candy-covered holiday tradition at the Austin Children's Museum's Gingerbread House workshops, November 30-December 22. Real gingerbread, icing, gumdrops and candy canes provide the building blocks for this fun family event. Dates and times vary; more information is available at www.austinkids.org.
December The 37th Street Lights (pictured) twinkle throughout Central Austin during the month of December. Neighbors work together for months stringing up lights to create a funky holiday display along 37th Street from Guadalupe Street to Home Lane. The street is open to vehicular traffic. But for the full, environmentally friendly effect, it's best to park and walk.
Dec. 1 Experience a traditional German-Texan Christmas market and visit with St. Niklaus at the annual German Christmas Market in the historic German Free School at 507 E. 10th Street on Saturday, December 1. The German-Texan Heritage Society offers handmade and imported wooden and blown-glass German ornaments and other gifts. Enjoy refreshments, live music and German carols.
December Even in Texas, it wouldn't be the holiday season without ice skating on the Whole Foods Market Ice Rink. Skaters show off their skills—or hang on to the railing—throughout the month of December. Whole Foods also offers holiday cooking classes and chef demonstrations in the Culinary Center, located at the world headquarters store at Sixth Street and Lamar Boulevard. Check the website for schedule and details.
Dec. 1 The annual State Capitol Tree Lighting and KUT Holiday Stroll takes place on December 1 from 6-7 p.m. John Aielli, host of NPR affiliate KUT's "Eklektikos," leads the audience gathered around the tree at 11th Street and Congress Avenue in traditional carols. Festivities continue along Congress Avenue with entertainment, and merchants remain open late. More information is available at www.downtownaustin.com.
December In yet another Austin tradition, the month-long Zilker Trail of Lights begins with lighting of the soaring Zilker Christmas Tree on December 2. The pedestrian Trail of Lights, featuring live music and Santa visits, transforms a mile-long stretch of Zilker Park into a twinkling wonderland from December 9-31.
Dec. 4 Noche de Fiesta Navidena celebrates Mexican Christmas traditions with folk art, flavorful foods and seasonal music at the Mexic-Arte Museum, 419 Congress Avenue.
Dec. 8-9 The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center commemorates its 25th anniversary with Luminations: A Winter Celebration. Soft light glows from thousands of luminarias, torches and lanterns while music fills the night air. Children’s activities include storytellers and holiday crafts in the Little House. The gift shop is open for holiday shopping. Shoppers can check items off their list at the Wild Ideas gift shop.
Dec. 14-24 The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar keeps Austin weird with distinctive jewelry, fabrics, handmade goods, blown glass, paintings and prints from local and national artists. Relocated this year to the Austin Convention Center, the bazaar also features live music from some of Austin's best local musicians and food vendors.
Dec. 1-23 Choreographed by Ballet Austin Artistic Director Stephen Mills, The Nutcracker pairs classic dance with a classic performance by the Austin Symphony Orchestra of Tchaikovsky’s timeless score. Clara and friends captivate audiences with an evening of magic in the Land of Sweets. The show runs December 1-23 at the Paramount Theatre.
Dec. 4 Austin Symphony teams up with Chorus Austin to ring in the season with the masterpiece Handel's Messiah. Riverbend Center provides a traditional Hill Country setting for the concert.
Dec. 11 At Riverbend Centre, Austin Symphony invites families and friends to sing holiday favorites with a full orchestra during its annual Christmas Sing-a-long. The event is free, but tickets are still required to join in the fun.
Dec. 22, 29 Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum presents Musical Favorites in the Dog Trot Cabin, December 22 and 29. Local musicians perform toe-tapping Texas fiddle music on the porch of a dog trot cabin in the first floor exhibit gallery.
Dec. 31 The humor of the holidays is perhaps best captured by Esther's Follies Christmas and New Year's shows. The over-the-top Christmas Show features Esther's classics as well as holiday specials and magic tricks by Ray Anderson, dubbed the best magician in the Southwest. The New Year's Eve performance also includes a full buffet with a champagne toast at midnight. Esther's Follies is located at 525 E. Sixth St. Check the website for dates and details.
Dec. 31 New Year's Eve invites families to come downtown and welcome 2008 with First Night Austin. This alcohol-free festival encourages "out with the old, and in with the new," with art, ritual and festivity. The city's plazas, storefronts and parks serve as a background for dance, music, film/video, poetry and visual art.
Jan. 8-13 The merriment keeps on going with Joe Sears, Jaston Williams and their zany cast of much-loved characters from Tuna, Texas when they present A Tuna Christmas at the Paramount Theatre.
For More Information: • call the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau at (866) GO-AUSTIN • visit www.austintexas.org
Photos courtesy Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau 37th Street Lights, photo: Barton Wilder Ballet Austin’s The Nutcracker, photo: Amitava Sarkar
Planning a trip to Austin this weekend? Be prepared for plenty of company during your visit to the capital city: this is the weekend of the sixth annual Austin City Limits Music Festival, September 14-16.
Sold-out crowds are expected to descend upon Zilker Park and generate more than $27 million economic impact for the city. Event organizer C3 Presents reports that music fans from outside of Austin purchased more than 50% of the three-day passes and as much as 65% of one-day tickets to this year’s event.
The festival is recognized as one of the top outdoor music concerts in the country, bringing in nearly 60,000 visitors to the city.
Austin Names Official Drink in Honor of Urban Bat Colony
As the home of the country's largest urban bat colony, it's no surprise that the capital city also has an official drink to honor the over one million Mexican free-tailed bats here.
The city combines the bats and Austin’s own Tito’s Handmade Vodka (founded, fittingly, by a man named Tito Beveridge) – to inspire local bartenders to create recipes and compete for exclusive rights to serve the “Batini: The Official Drink of Austin.”
The “Batini” contest, sponsored by Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau and Tito’s Handmade Vodka, commemorates the bats and captures the flavors of Austin. The winner of this fourth annual contest, Lamberts Downtown Barbecue, combines spicy south-of-the-border flavors with Tito’s Handmade Vodka to create a unique “Batini” recipe. The Batini: 2007 Official Drink of Austin
1.5 oz Tito’s Handmade Vodka 1 Dash Olive Juice 1 Dash Jalapeño Juice 3 Caperberries Juice of 1 Fresh Lime
Add ingredients to shaker; shake. Pour over cracked ice. Garnish with pimento-stuffed olives and a pickled jalapeño.
Lamberts’ homage to Austin’s nocturnal friends offers a perfect opportunity for visitors to combine the official drink of Austin with the unofficial food of Austin – barbecue (and, fittingly enough for Austin, live music as well). Located in downtown’s 2nd Street District, Lamberts puts a modern spin on barbecue with dishes such as Pesto-rubbed Lamb Chops, Brown Sugar- and Coffee-rubbed Brisket and Beef Porterhouse with Lemon Chimichurri.
Viewing the Bats: Austin’s bats make up the largest urban bat colony in North America and are one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. A great spot to view the nightly flight is from the Austin American-Statesman’s observation area at 305 S. Congress Avenue, along the southeast corner of the bridge. Educational kiosks, manned by interpreters from Bat Conservation International (BCI), are positioned throughout the viewing area, Thursday through Sunday through the end of bat season.
Bat-watching cruises on Town Lake are also available. Capital Cruises and Lone Star Riverboat both depart approximately 30 minutes before sunset from the boat dock located behind the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Other prime vantage points are from the Lady Bird Lake hike-and-bike trail, Shoreline Grill, TGI Fridays at the Radisson Austin Hotel & Suites and the lakeside patio of Four Seasons Hotel.
To find out flight times, call the Austin American-Statesman’s Bat Hotline at 512-416-5700, ext. 3636.
More information about the Congress Avenue colony is available from BCI: • P.O. Box 162603, Austin, TX 78716 • toll-free 800-538-BATS • www.batcon.org
Austin Celebrating Labor Day With List of Activities
It's hard to believe Labor Day is just around the corner; in the capital city, you'll find a whole list of activities this weekend:
Sept. 1-2: Austin Bat Fest This event on Ann Richards Congress Avenue Bridge honors Austin's famous Congress Avenue bats, the country's largest urban bat colony, with music, food, and fun.
Sept. 1: UT Longhorn Football. The season kicks off with this game between UT and Arkansas State at Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.
Sept. 1: Bruce Robison. The Broken Spoke dancehall shakes to the sound of singer/songwriter Bruce Robison.
Sept. 1: The new "Bills, Bills, Bills: Lyndon Johnson as Senate Majority Leader" will open at the LBJ Library and Museum.
Outdoor lovers can't miss the Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo, the country's largest free, family-oriented festival of the outdoors. This year's event is scheduled for October 6-7 at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department headquarters in Austin. Now in its 16th year, this event draws over 35,000 visitors.
“Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo is like the world’s fair for the great outdoors,” said Ernie Gammage with TPWD’s Urban Outdoors Program. “If you’ve never tried these activities, it’s a great chance to see and do it all in a safe setting with expert guidance. In everything, you’ll find a message of stewardship, the idea that we all have role to play in the conservation of the natural world.”
Activities: One new offering this year is the Personal Watercraft Simulator, an interactive and educational device which employs technology similar to arcade video games. Visitors will strap on a life jacket, climb on, rev 'er up and head out on the water, threading obstacles as they zip along the coastline. It’s fun and challenging, and participants will learn a thing or two about boating rules and water safety.
Country rock music star Kevin Fowler comes to Expo for the first time this year, signing autographed posters in the popular Wet Zone kayaking area on Sunday. Kevin is the new celebrity spokesperson for the Nobody’s Waterproof™ boating safety initiative.
Experienced boaters and anglers can take part in the Anglers’ Legacy program at the Expo for the first time this year. Launched in 2006 by the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF), this program encourages avid anglers to share their passion by visiting AnglersLegacy.org. There participants are asked to "Take the Pledge" and promise to take one new person fishing each year. In its first year, the program garnered nearly 10,000 pledges.
Another new activity at the Expo is geocaching. After a brief orientation, participants will be loaned Global Positioning Systems (GPS) units and will head out on the grounds to find cached items. This increasingly popular activity comes to Expo courtesy of Central Texas Geocachers.
For Spanish-speaking visitors, a new series of Outdoors 101 brochures translated into Spanish will be available at the International Pavilion, ones covering topics such as how to get started in freshwater fishing, saltwater fishing, camping and hunting.
Longtime favorite activities such as the Birds of Prey Show will draw crowds noon and 3 p.m. daily in the Birds of Prey Arena. SeaWorld’s Chris Bellows will also bring the popular “Amazing Animals” show to the Main Tent twice a day, with shows at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Kids' Activities: For kids, the Casting Kids activity in the Fishing and Aquatic area invites young people ages 7-to-14 to test their flipping, pitching and casting skills, learn about fishing, conservation and protection of the great outdoors and win prizes. Participants will also have a chance at competing for a quarter of a million dollars in scholarships and prizes to be given away nationwide.
Price: All events on Saturday and Sunday are free, as are water and air-conditioned shuttle bus service and parking. Although food may be brought in, coolers are discouraged because of the long walk to the grounds. Special shuttles on site will serve people with disabilities. Sorry, no pets allowed.
Parking and Shuttle: There is limited free parking near the grounds, but the best way to get to the Expo is to catch a free shuttle bus at Highland Mall (Macy’s side) near I-35 and Highway 290. If rain shuts down on-site parking, all visitors must catch shuttle buses, which run from 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. For more information: • visit www.tpwd.state.tx.us/expo/ • call (800) 792-1112
If you've visited Austin recently, it's no surprise that the capital city is more popular than ever. The Austin CVB has released the results of a tourism analysis that shows the number of travelers who visit Austin for business or pleasure was up to 19 million in 2006, a 12% increase since 2003 when the last tourism study was conducted.
And although the city draws a lot of business (and government) travelers, the study found that leisure travelers account for 55% of the market.
As "The Live Music Capital of the World," it's no surprise that NAMM, the trade association of the international music products industry, will be returning to the Austin Convention Center for Summer NAMM, July 27-29. The annual conference and trade show brings some 12,000 attendees to Austin and could generate an estimated $14 million in economic impact and is one of the city's biggest conferences.
Individual three-day passes are sold out, but it’s not too late to rock with Bob Dylan, Robert Earl Keen, The White Stripes, Joss Stone and more at the sixth annual Austin City Limits (ACL) Music Festival, September 14-16. Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) offers exclusive access to three-day passes through an ACL travel package available only at www.austintexas.org.
With some 130 bands performing on eight stages and genres ranging from indie rock to gospel, the music festival showcases local and up-and-coming artists alongside some of the nation’s biggest acts. Austin CVB’s package includes discounted three-day passes ($135) and a minimum of two nights hotel accommodations. Not only does the package save concert-goers money on their tickets, but it also secures a hotel room in Austin before the entire city sells out.
As the capital city, it's no surprise that Austin parties with the best of them on Independence Day. The party starts early on July 3, when the Biscuit Brothers Live! Red White and Blue Benefit Concert takes the stage at the Paramount Theatre. Raise your voice at this patriotic sing-a-long, which will be recorded for a live DVD. More information is available at www.austintheatre.org.
On July 4
Fourth festivities begin with a “bang” at 8 a.m., when runners and walkers take off through downtown Austin in the RunTex Freedom 5K. This first annual event starts at MoPac Expressway and Veterans Drive and weaves a leisurely path along Town Lake and back to the starting line. Families are welcome to participate together. For more information, visit www.runtex.com.
Austin’s largest Independence Day celebration returns to Zilker Park’s Lou Neff Point, where some 100,000 people enjoy the Austin Symphony July Fourth Concert and Fireworks. Highlights of the evening include a rousing rendition of the "1812 Overture," punctuated by booming cannons and an elaborate fireworks display over Town Lake. This free event continues from 8:30 until 10 p.m., with fireworks beginning at 9:30 p.m. Capital Metro’s free shuttle service runs from 4-11 p.m. from Waterloo Park to the Mopac footbridge over Town Lake at Stephen F. Austin Blvd. For more information, visit www.austinsymphony.org.
Austin firefighters and Whole Foods Market join forces for “Fire in the Sky” from 7-10 p.m. This party on the store’s rooftop plaza, which benefits the Austin Firefighters Community Education Fund, features live music, good food and a great view of the fireworks at Zilker Park. Tickets are $7. More information is available at www.wholefoodsmarket.com.
Surrounding Towns
Georgetown’s Independence Day Celebration calls for all-day festivities at San Gabriel Park. Events begin at 11 a.m. with a “Hometown Parade,” as well as local Texas artists performing in the Gazebo. More than 80 arts and crafts booths, food vendors and a children's area with games, a petting zoo, train rides and face painting are available. The “Fabulous Fireworks Finale” at dark concludes the party. Visit www.georgetownsertoma.org for more information.
The city of Buda hosts its Red, White and Buda celebration, which includes children’s activities, crafts, games and live entertainment. A fireworks display and music in the park conclude the evening. For more information, visit www.budachamber.com.
The Round Rock Fourth of July Fireworks and Frontier Days Celebration starts with a parade through downtown Round Rock at 10 a.m. Afterwards, head to Old Settler's Park for “Wild West” fun with reenactments of the Sam Bass shootout, a pepper-eating contest, moon bounces, pony rides, food and more. After a skydiving show, fireworks explode in the night sky to the accompaniment of the Austin Symphonic Band. For details, visit www.roundrockfrontierdays.com.
San Marcos SummerFest returns for its 27th year of riverside festivities on July 4 from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Events at Sewell Park, on the campus of Texas State University, include food and activity booths, parade and costume contest for kids. Live music continues throughout the day. Lifeguards are on duty, so dive in and enjoy a swim in the river. At 9 p.m., an illuminated float parade travels down the river and is followed by a fireworks exhibition. Details are available at www.summerfestsanmarcos.com.
Austin Hot Spots Included in 1000 Places to See Guide
The New York Times bestselling author Patricia Schulz, author of 1000 Places to See Before You Die, has just released 1000 Places To See in the U.S. and Canada Before You Die--and it includes several Austin events and attractions as “must-sees.”
The book provides visitors with everything they need to experience the best of the destination by detailing what is unique and appealing about the attraction, when and where to find it and how to get more information.
What's her pick of the must see sites in the Capitol City? Austin's appearances include:
• Central Texas Barbecue – “Where’s the Beef?” “The very best Texas barbecue is found in the middle of the state. …The Austin venue of choice is Iron Works, an old tin building near the state capitol, the University of Texas campus, and the party corridor known as Sixth Street.”
• Lake Austin Spa Resort – “Taking Care of Body and Soul” “Lake Austin Spa Resort…has emerged as one of the country’s premier destination spas. The resort makes the most of its waterfront location: All 40 of its charming country-style rooms are laid out in single file along and arbor-lined walkway facing the lake.”
• Austin’s Live Music Scene – “Letting the Good Times Roll” “Although it’s the seat of state government and home to one of the largest universities in the nation, Austin’s soul really comes from its music. Laid-back and fun-loving, the city bills itself as the Live Music Capital of the World, and boasts nearly 200 venues offering everything from rockabilly to Tejano year-round.”
• Spamarama & the Austin Festival Subculture – “Madcap Merriment in the Capital City” “Growing ever more hilarious, the daylong [Spamarama] draws thousands of revelers to Spamophilic events,… Springtime fun in Austin continues with Eeyore’s Birthday Party…Pun-off World Championships,… [and] the stunning sight of 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats…taking flight to make supper of up to 30,000 pounds of insects each night.”
Austin Boasts State's Highest Hotel Occupancy Rates
Planning an overnight visit to Austin? Plan early. Thanks to large conventions, the city's occupancy rates are the state's highest; this year so far, Austin hotels are 72.3% full. On top of that, average room rate has risen by nearly 14%. According to Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau President & CEO Bob Lander, the numbers reflect Austin’s increasingly favorable reputation among convention, business and leisure travel markets.
Easter is just around the corner and Austin's The Driskill Hotel has announced several special promotions.
Easter Day Brunch, Sunday, April 08, 2007
The Driskill's Easter Brunch will celebrate the holiday with an elaborate buffet as well as entertainment by a flute and harp duet. Face painting will also be available for children! The early seating will be held at 11:00am, 11:30am, and noon; the late seating will be held at 1:30pm, 2:00pm, and 2:30pm.
The price is $48.00 per adult plus tax and gratuity, $24.00 per child (ages 6-12) plus tax and gratuity, Complimentary for Children ages 0-5. Pricing is inclusive of holiday buffet, a selection of teas, coffees, and sodas.
Reservations required; credit card must be provided at time of reservation. For reservations or additional information, call 512.391.7139. For more information, visit www.driskillgrill.com.
Springtime Luxury at The Driskill
Make your Austin visit extra special with a stay at the historic Driskill. Rates start at $225.00 for one night stay based on double occupancy. You'll receive a commemorative Driskill cookie tin filled with fresh baked cookies from the 1886 Café and Bakery, a Texas yellow rose upon turn-down, breakfast for two in the 1886 Cafe and Bakery. The package is available April 1st-12th. When booking online enter promotional code "Spring".
Austin's historic Driskill hotel, a destination in itself for many capital visitors, now has a new reason to visit for foodies: a new Executive Chef. Josh K. Watkins is the new Executive Chef. A graduate of the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, Josh worked under Chef Reed Heron at the Black Cat restaurant. Watkins began with an externship in Dallas, Texas at the acclaimed French Room in the Adolphus Hotel under the celebrated Executive Chef, William Koval.
Austin's getting ready for over 30,000 film, music and interactive executives, artists and fans during South by Southwest (SXSW), one of the world’s top multimedia industry conferences. Held from March 9-18, the event includes live music throughout the city for ticket holders.
Don't have a ticket? Don't despair: you'll find free live music performances in Austin during the week as well. The Austin Visitor Center, City Hall’s outdoor plaza and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport will be showcasing live music through the week.
Local artists highlight the lineup at the Austin Visitor Center from 4:30-5:30 p.m. during the music conference. Brennen Leigh sings American roots music on March 15. Kacy Crowley plays her raspy rock ‘n’ roll tunes on March 16, and Haydn Vitera brings his “Rock En Español” to the center on March 17. Local eateries provide refreshments daily. Attendees can also pick up a copy of Austin Music, Vol. 6, the newest compilation in a series produced by the Austin Music Office.
Live from the Plaza at Austin City Hall kicks off March 15-16 with performances throughout the afternoon. On March 15, the schedule includes Blues Crawlers from noon-1:15 p.m.; The Kat’s Meow from 1:45-3 p.m.; The Foundation from 3:30-5 p.m. and Soul Electric Band from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Music continues on March 16 with Band of Heathens from noon-1:15 p.m.; Wendy Colonna from 1:45-3 p.m. and Malford Milligan from 3:30-5 p.m.
Austin's one of the top film locations in the country so it's no surprise that the latest issue of MovieMaker magazine names Austin as number three in its annual ranking of the “Top Ten U.S. Cities to Live and Make Movies.”
“So much of Austin’s reputation as a world-renowned moviemaking capital has to do with the unique education and support that the community fosters through film festivals, special screenings, retrospectives and even contests,” says MovieMaker.
Other cities ranking among the top ten include, in order: (1) New York, (2) Philadelphia, (4) Albuquerque, (5) Las Vegas, (6) Shreveport-Bossier City, (7) Memphis, (8) Miami, (9) Portland and (10) Salt Lake City. Austin ranked second to New York in the past two years.
Just what's been filming in Austin lately? Production wrapped on more than 22 feature films in 2006, including Fast Food Nation, The Hitcher, Teeth, GrindHouse and Gary the Tennis Coach, as well as NBC’s television series Friday Night Lights.
American Idol fans take note: it has been announced that Taylor Hicks will be performing at Austin's Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo. The performance will be held on Thursday, March 15 and marks the second time an American Idol winner has performed at the popular event (Kelly Clarkson wowed audiences at the 2005 rodeo). We've just added an article on the rodeo for dates and ticket information.
Did your New Year's resolutions include taking better care of yourself...or maybe pampering yourself a little? If so, check out these monthly spa specials at Barton Creek Resort and Spa as you make your Austin travel plans for the year:
JANUARY Texas Ruby Red Grapefruit Body Scrub - This exfoliation treatment is designed to slough away dull surface skin, while cleansing and hydrating your skin--followed by a light application of the Texas Ruby Red Grapefruit body lotion. Discount: 10% off
FEBRUARY
Marine Fango Massage—This full body massage includes an application of self-heating Marine Fango mud to the back. Discount: upgrading to an 80 minute massage at the price of a 50 minute massage.
MARCH
European Facial or Gentleman's Facial – Discount: includes eye print masque enhancement at no additional charge, normally a $75 value.
APRIL
Rainforest Body Rinse - This treatment includes an exfoliating scrub with grainy jaboncillo shower gel along with a Vichy shower with an aromatic steam wrap. Discount: 10% off
MAY
Swedish Massage and European Facial - A classic 50 minute Swedish massage followed by a 50 minute traditional European facial. Discount: a special spa gift from Barton Creek and 10%off the special
JUNE
Dedicated-to-Dad Massage—Book a 50 minute or 80 minute Swedish massage and Dad gets his choice of massage enhancement at no additional charge (excluding Marine Fango).
JULY
Fabulous Feet—Includes exfoliation, shaping, buffing, and stress relief massage, cuticle maintenance and your choice of polish. Discount: the new peppermint oil pedicure enhancement or callus eliminator enhancement—their treat!
AUGUST
Mother & Daughter Two-Step Massage and Quick Cleanse Facial—A spa suite allows a parent and their teen to relax side by side awhile enjoying a full-body massage and quick cleanse facial. Discount: save 20% on these services
SEPTEMBER
Revitalizing Lymphobiology Treatment—Reduce the appearance of cellulite, swelling, bruising and water retention. Discount: 10% off this month’s spa special
OCTOBER
Glycolic Peel Facial—Refine your skin tone, smooth texture, and help minimize fine lines. Discount: 10% off this month’s spa special
NOVEMBER
Two-In-One Massage—You and yours enjoy full body massages side by side with this classic Swedish massage. Discount: 10% off this month’s spa special
DECEMBER
Cocoon Body Treatment—The treatment begins with a complete exfoliation utilizing a French gommage cream rich in seaweed and other decongestant properties. You are then wrapped in a cocoon of warmth. Discount: 20% off
For more information: • call 1-800-336-6158 or 512-329-4000 • visit bartoncreek.com
Tuesday marks the start of the 80th Texas Legislature, a time when you can visit the Capitol not only to tour the massive building but also to watch the legislative action. We've just posted a new article about visiting the Texas Legislature as part of your visit to the State Capitol.
Last night we visited Austin's Trail of Lights in Zilker Park. One thing we really like about the holiday lighting displays (as opposed to the holiday festivals) is that they generally take place every night until New Year's. However, the Trail of Lights will be ending on December 23rd so we decided we'd better go. You do have more time to visit the Zilker Tree, which will be lit until midnight on New Year's Eve.
You'll find photos (and even a video) of the Trail on TexasTripper.com now. It was a warm night (following an 80 degree day); with the shorts and t-shirts on many visitors, it looks a little more like Aruba than Austin!
Want to enjoy the holidays--and travel at the same time? Four Seasons Austin is offering a fun package: you can have your room or suite decorated for the holidays.
It's not cheap to go all out--there's a $900 price tag for decorating a specialty suite including a fresh and fully decorated nine-foot tree, plush embroidered stockings, lighted garlands and miscellaneous Christmas décor. You can, however, opt to just spruce up a standard guest room (no tree) for $200.
Like the holidays themselves, this request requires a little preplanning. You'll need to make requests for room decorating before December 1, 2006 by calling the Reservations department at 1 (512) 685-8100.
It may seem a little bit early to start thinking about the holidays but plans are already in high gear in the Capital City. From historic sights to lighting displays, Austin has a full list of activities planned for the coming months:
November 4-12, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Christmas at the Caswell House 1404 West Avenue In addition to daily tours of the beautifully decorated historic landmark, the Caswell House offers three-course luncheons in the classic tea room. A gift and gourmet bake shop featuring holiday décor, clothing and jewelry encompasses the first floor and basement of the house. The Daniel H. Caswell House is located at 1404 West Avenue. Admission is $5 per person for the house tour; tea luncheons are priced separately.
November 15-19 31st Annual Junior League of Austin’s A Christmas Affair Palmer Events Center More than 200 national merchants sell original art, jewelry and crafts during the four-day holiday market.
November 25-26 Austin Museum of Art’s Holiday Arts Festival Guests mingle among the elaborately decorated gardens of Laguna Gloria to view sculpture and art while enjoying holiday cuisine.
November 25-December 1 Austin Children’s Museum’s Gingerbread House workshops Real gingerbread, icing, gumdrops and candy canes provide the building blocks for this fun family event.
December The 37th Street Lights One of Austin's most unique lighting displays, residents rally together and string up lights to create a funky holiday display along 37th Street from Guadalupe Street to Home Lane. The street is open to through traffic, but for the full effect, it's best to park and walk.
December 2 German Christmas Market German Free School, 507 E. 10th Street The German-Texan Heritage Society offers handmade and imported wooden and blown glass German ornaments and other gifts.
December Whole Foods Market Ice Rink Friends and families ice skate throughout the month of December from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Whole Foods also offers holiday cooking classes and chef demonstrations in the newly opened Culinary Center.
December 2 State Capitol Tree Lighting and KUT Holiday Stroll John Aielli, host of NPR affiliate KUT’s “Eklektikos,” leads the audience gathered around the tree at 11th Street and Congress Avenue in traditional carols. The festivities continue along Congress Avenue with entertainment, and merchants remain open late.
December Zilker Park Trail of Lights festival This Austin tradition begins with lighting of the Zilker Christmas Tree on December 3. The pedestrian Trail of Lights, featuring live music and Santa visits, transforms a mile-long stretch of Zilker Park into a twinkling wonderland from Dec. 11-31. www.cityofaustin.org/parks December 3 O. Henry Home's Victorian Christmas 409 East 5th St. The home of short story writer O. Henry is decorated for a Victorian Christmas reception and an open house on December 3 from 1-3 p.m. that features refreshments and live music.
December 5 The 7th Annual Noche de Fiesta Navideña Held at the Mexic-Arte Museum, 419 Congress Avenue Celebrate the Christmas traditions of Mexico.
December 8-10 Luminations: A Winter Celebration The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Music lightly resounds as children enjoy storytellers, holiday crafts in the Little House and photos with Frosty the Snowman.
December 9-24 Armadillo Christmas Bazaar Austin Music Hall This holiday event keeps Austin weird with distinctive jewelry, fabrics, handmade goods, blown glass, paintings and prints from local and national artists. Austin
Austin's busy getting ready for weekend visitors--40,000 of them! The city is preparing for the fifth annual Austin City Limits Music Festival, September 15-17. The festival features 130 artists performing on eight stages. They're expecting sold-out crowds in Zilker Park and an estimated $26.3 million economic impact for the city.
Who attends this event? Event organizer Capital Sports and Entertainment (CSE) reports music fans from outside of Austin purchased 60 percent of tickets this year. The festival brings approximately 40,000 visitors to the city, contributing to a sold-out weekend for Austin-area hotels.
Parking: There is no on-site parking for the ACL Music Festival. This year, Capital Metro moves the free shuttle pickup and drop-off from Waterloo Park to Republic Square at Fourth and Guadalupe Streets. Rides start at 10 a.m., and the last shuttle departs the festival grounds at 11 p.m. Capital Metro has also extended the free Starlight ‘Dillo hours and detoured the usual routes to Congress Avenue in order to make catching shuttles convenient and allow visitors to get to hotels and the entertainment districts easily.
If you'll be in Austin this Saturday, here's an interesting activity that just came across our desks. The Austin Visitor Center will host a special tailgate party throughout the day on Saturday, September 9 to spur on the Longhorns against the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Marcia Williams, creator of the Bevo Brownie, is the featured guest at the tailgate. Baking aficionados and devout Longhorn fans can discuss sugar rushes and football highs with Williams as she promotes the “Officially Licensed Brownie of the University of Texas” at the center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
In addition, visitors can enjoy refreshments while browsing among Austin souvenirs and learning about the city’s offerings other than football. The Austin Visitor Center also hosts an end-of-summer sale through September 30. Guests can stop by for special pricing on tee shirts, souvenirs and more. The center is located at 209 E. Sixth Street and is open from 9-5 p.m., Monday-Friday and until 6 p.m. on weekends.
Have you witnessed the nightly exodus of Austin's 1.5 million bat colony? These Mexican free-tailed bats make their home beneath the Congress Avenue bridge from April through November, departing at sunset in a spectacular flight.
If you haven't seen the bats (or even if you have!), here's a great opportunity this weekend: Austin BatFest. Organized by local producer Roadway Events, the event celebrates the Austin bats along Congress Avenue Bridge from Barton Springs Road to Cesar Chavez Street.
The bat mania include more than 150 art crafts and food booths, musical performances (2009 artists include The Wailers, Bob Schneider and Vallejo), bat education displays and bat watching.
Where to View the Bats: One of the best spots to view the nightly bat flight is from the Austin American-Statesman’s bat observation area at 305 S. Congress Ave., along the southeast corner of the bridge. Educational kiosks, manned by interpreters from BCI, are positioned throughout the viewing area, Thursday through Sunday during the summer.
For More Information: • Visit Roadway Events for Batfest info • To find out flight times during the summer months, call the Austin American-Statesman’s Bat Hotline at 512-416-5700, ext. 3636. • More information about the Congress Avenue colony is available from BCI at P.O. Box 162603, Austin, TX 78716; toll-free 800-538-BATS; or www.batcon.org.
This weekend we headed out to Austin's Oasis, known as the Sunset Capital thanks to its great views of Lake Travis. As many of you know, last June the restaurant was struck by lightning, sparking a terrible fire that demolished many of the restaurant's famed decks.
Even as reconstruction continues, the Oasis is open as as pleasant as ever. Dining is now primarily in the Starlight section of the property where the live music stage is located. The former buffet setup in Starlight is gone with a temporary kitchen now located near that entrance. We found that the restaurant still has the great views and decks, albeit fewer right now, and they still ring the bell every night to celebrate sunset. This Saturday night featured The Eggmen, a great Beatles tribute band (if you're ever in Austin when they play, be sure to save time to see them.)
This weekend will be a huge one for Austin visitors for two reasons: the Texas Relays and the Urban Music Festival. The Texas Relays, which started on April 2 and continue through April 5, is considered one of the country's top track and field events. 
