Austin TX, June 2017
This was a combo conference and fun trip. It was a business trip for T and I tagged along to explore this "weird" city.This is a vibrant exploding city with a major power house university right in the middle. It is cowboys, businessmen and hippies all co-mingling. A vibrant restaurant and most especially food truck scene that rivals any city USA.
We got in late so we started out by just a drive around town. We explored the layout and various neighborhoods on a sparkling blue day. Off to dinner.
Some places we pick just because of the name and in a world of &'s we zeroed in on Odd Duck. A truly Austin joint we were seated at the bar, a favorite now that we are two. This spot did not disappoint. The vibe was fun and casual and the food elevated. The menu alone was worth a second read. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner with some local brews and headed back to the beautiful and convenient Marriott downtown.
The conference started on Sunday so we went our separate ways and I joined a tour group to hop in a van and learn what I could in 3 hours. Always interesting facts about cities on these small tours. The capitol tour was amazing and learned all about the pink granite and the deal they made to build all city buildings with it. About the bats and how they are all females. (spoiler alert) About the amazing 250-ish food trunks in the city. You learn things like which street to find music bars to avoid the tourist main drag. A unique Austin only vibe. Sure its a little like Portland but Portland stole their slogan. "Keep Austin Weird" was first and I think well deserved.
Tonight we would get right over to the Congress Avenue bridge to watch the bats launch on the overnight feeding frenzy. The story is too long for here but follow the link and see a truly amazing spectacle. Tens of thousands of bats-all females- come out at dusk for an all night feeding frenzy consuming three times their body weight in insects. Another tour bus factoid.It's Texas so BBQ is in order. There are many well known places and places you need to get in line early and be in it for hours. We chose the reservation route at an old school place called Lamberts. It was solid maybe not the most mouth watering ever but good.
Monday 6/5 was another conference day. I took the chance to drive the city and the outskirts to get a view of the neighborhoods surrounding the city. I stopped for a famous jackalope sausage at Franks , known for their sausage. The website is hotdogscoldbeer.com, that pretty much explains it.The afternoon brought a torrential downpour and lighting storm. Watching from the 23rd floor was amazing as the sky grew dark and stormy then the clouds parted all in a couple hours. We don't get storms like that in So Cal so its always fun to see one-especially from inside a hotel.
Dinner at the Salty Sow. Swine, Wine Beer. Another well named establishment that was fun and delicious. We shared a flight of cocktails and some truffle deviled eggs. Some great pub food and cocktails is always a good choice on the road.
At night we ventured into a few of the live music bars. We watched musicians roam in and out the door hopping on stage to join the jam then heading out again. We could have sat for hours. And we nearly did trying to squeeze every last moment out of our short adventure.
This was a quick trip but it gave us a chance to see a new place. A great place to visit!
