Austin Dispatches
Insider’s Guide to Austin

No. 90
May 29, 2006, Final Edition

Dear Mom and Dad,


The week you picked will be fine. I look forward to your visit.


I'll still be working my contract at Neutron Technologies. Also, I have one obligation on Saturday the 25th: an LP district nominating convention, where we'll nominate candidates for offices whose boundaries extend beyond the Travis County line (e.g., Michael Badnarik for U.S. House District 10). You're welcome to attend, as long as you don't try to vote (prohibited under party rules and state election law). It should be a short meeting and you'll have the chance to meet some of my friends
.

Meanwhile, to help you prepare, here’s a compilation of my advice on local matters:


I. Reference


Check the guidebooks on Austin at the local library. Concentrate on those published since 2001; the last boom and the last bust wiped out a lot of places.


For online reference, I've bookmarked these sites:


Austin City Links (http://www.austinlinks.com/)

Austin History Center Association (http://www.ahca.net/)

Austin Unique (http://www.austinunique.com/)

AustinGoGo.com (http://www.austingogo.com/)

Experience Austin (http://www.experienceaustin.com/)

Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce (http://www.austinchamber.org/)

Heritage Society of Austin (http://www.heritagesocietyaustin.org/)

RateAustin.com (http://www.rateaustin.com/)

Texas Almanac (http://www.texasalmanac.com/)

Texas State Historical Association (http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/)


II. Traffic


A. Rule #1


Don't drive around here in a lead-footed snit. You're going to wind up in an accident.


B. Rule #2


It's worth your while to get a spiral-bound book of local streets.


C. Rule #3


Austin
streets are a mess. At some point during the Taft administration, city officials realized the streets had veered from the original grid plan. By then it was too late. See Rule #1.


D. From the Airport to Your Motel

The quickest way to get there is Highway 183. You'll either leave the airport from Highway 183 directly or Highway 71, but either way, you'll end up on Highway 183 (Bastrop Highway). Follow the MapQuest directions.


1. You'll cross the Colorado River (Town Lake) on the northbound a steel-girder bridge. Highway 183's alternate designation becomes Ed Bluestein Boulevard. The names changes happen a lot with Highway 183, and with a lot of local roads.

2. Highway 183 veers east, then west.

3. Drive straight through on 183, past the interchange with Highway 290. Highway 183 becomes Highway 183 (Anderson Lane East).

4. Highway 183 intersects with Cameron Road. Prepare to enter the left lane of Highway 183 to leave the 183 frontage road onto the 183 ramp that crosses Interstate 35.

5. Take the 183 ramp over I-35. Highway 183 is now Highway 183 (West Anderson Lane).

6. Highway 183 crosses North Lamar Boulevard, curves north, and becomes Highway 183 (Research Boulevard).


F. Other Snarls


If you can, avoid driving between 7-9:30 a.m. and 3:30-7 p.m. weekdays at the following areas:


1. I-35


Also, if you’re northbound on I-35, slow down once you pass the William Cannon Drive intersection.


2. Elsewhere


III. Touristy Stuff


The references I provided should cover all the touristy stuff. Also, you may even want to just walk around the neighborhoods of:


IV. Nightspots

Name

Address

Phone (512 Area Code)

Antone's

213 W. Fifth St.

320-8424

Apple Bar

120 W. Fifth St.

322-9291

Cactus Cafe and Bar

2247 Guadalupe St. (Texas Union)

475-6599

Cafe Mundi

1704 E. Fifth St. #100

236-8634

The Canary Roost

11900 Metric Blvd.

836-6360

Cedar Door

201 Brazos St.

473-3712

Club DeVille

900 Red River St.

457-0900

Common Interest

8440 Burnet Road

453-6796

The Continental Club

1315 S. Congress Ave.

441-2444

Copa Bar and Grill

217 N. Congress Ave.

479-5002

The Dakota
305 W. Sixth St.
415-6015

Dallas Night Club

7113 Burnet Road

452-2801

Driskill Bar

604 Brazos St.

391-7121

The Elephant Room

315 N. Congress Ave.

473-2279

La Zona Rosa

612 W. Fourth St.

263-4240

Light Bar Austin

408 N. Congress Ave.

473-8544

Lucky Lounge

209-A W. Fifth St.

479-7700

Momo's

618 W. Sixth St.

479-8848

One 2 One Bar

121 E. Fifth St.

473-0121

Red Eyed Fly

715 Red River St.

474-1084

Red Fez

209-B W. Fifth St.

478-5120

Ringside at Sullivan's

300 Colorado St.

474-1870

Ruta Maya International Headquarters

3601-D S. Congress Ave. #200

707-9637

Speakeasy

412 N. Congress Ave.

476-8017

The Spider House

2908 Fruth Street

480-9562

Star Bar

600 W. Sixth St.

477-8550

Tambaleo

302 Bowie St.

472-3213

219 West

219 W. Fourth St.

474-2194

Vicci

404 Colorado Street

476-7088

The Whisky Bar

303 W. Fifth St.

481-8599


V. Eats

I may have omitted some restaurants because of faulty recollection.


A. Comfort Food

1. Breakfast

Name

Address

Phone (512 Area Code)

Austin Diner

5408 Burnet Road

467-9552

Austin Java Cafe & Bar

1206 Parkway

476-1829

Ross' Old Austin Cafe

11800 N. Lamar Blvd.

835-2414

Rufina’s Cocina

11800 N. Lamar Blvd.

339-8895

Star Seeds

3101 N. I-35

478-7107

Taco Shack

Six locations

Waterloo Ice House

Six locations


2. Beef

Name

Address

Phone (512 Area Code)

Dan's Hamburgers

Four locations

Dirty Martin's Kum-Bak Place

2808 Guadalupe St.

477-3173

Fran's Hamburgers

Two locations

Green Mesquite

Two locations

Hill-Bert's Burgers

Two locations

Lucky’s Chicago Style Grill

2000 S. I-35, Round Rock

828-4300

P. Terry's Burger Stand
404 S. Lamar Blvd.
473-2217

Players

300 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

478-9299

Posse East
2900 Duval St.
477-2111

Top Notch

7525 Burnet Road

452-2181

Wally's Burger Express

Two locations

Whataburger

Twenty-two locations


3. Barbecue

Name

Address

Phone (512 Area Code)

Artz Rib House

2330 S. Lamar Blvd.

442-8283

Cele General Store
Cameron Road, near FM 973
251-3562

Country Line Bar-B-Q

Two local locations

Poke-E-Jo's Smokehouse

Four locations

Round Rock B-B-Q
1318 FM 620
255-7447

Ruby's

512 W. 29th St.

477-1651

Rudy's

Four local locations

The Salt Lick

18001 FM 1826, Driftwood

858-4959

Stubb's

801 Red River St.

480-8341

Texas Rib Kings

9012 Research Blvd.

451-7427


5. Southern

Name

Address

Phone (512 Area Code)

Green Pastures

811 W. Live Oak

444-4747

Hoover's Cooking

Two locations

Threadgill's

Two locations


a. Louisianan

Name

Address

Phone (512 Area Code)

Crescent City Beignets

1211 W. Sixth Street

472-9622

Gumbo's

Two locations

Louisiana Longhorn Cafe

200-B E. Main St., Round Rock

248-2900

Ms. B's

8105 Mesa Dr.

372-9529


6. Delicatessen

Name

Address

Phone (512 Area Code)

Alvin's Sandwich Shop

12200 Research Blvd. #400

331-1200

Delaware Sub Shop

Eleven locations

Hog Island Deli

1612 Lavaca St.

482-9090

Hoody's Sub Shop
1205 Round Rock Ave., Round Rock
244-7166

Katz's

618 W. Sixth St.

472-2037

Little Deli

7101-A Woodrow Ave.

467-7402

Manny Hatten's

9503 Research Blvd. #650 (in Gateway Square Shopping Center)

794-0088

Tuscany Cafe & Wine Bar

12221 Riata Trace Parkway

249-1500


7. Other

Galaxy Cafe
Two locations


B. Gourmet

Name

Address

Phone (512 Area Code)

Castle Hill Cafe

1101 W. Fifth St.

476-0728

Chez Zee

5406 Balcones Dr.

454-2666

Cool River Cafe

4001 Parmer Lane

835-0010

Iron Cactus

Two locations

Louie's 106

106 E. Sixth St.

476-1997

Main Street Grill

118 E. Main St., Round Rock

244-7525

Mesa Ranch Steakhouse
8108-C Mesa Dr. #100
853-9480

Mirabelle

8127 Mesa Dr.

346-7900

Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill

303 Red River St.

236-9599

Ranch 616

616 Nueces St.

479-7616

Reed's Jazz & Supper Club

9901 Capital of Texas Highway #150

343-7977

Texas Culinary Academy

11400 Burnet Road #2100

Thistle Cafe and Bar

300 W. Sixth St.

275-9777

Truluck's

Two locations

Vin Bistro

1601 W. 38th St.

377-5252

Y Bar & Grill

7720 Highway 71 W.

394-0220

Z'Tejas

Two local locations


1. Groceries

Name

Address

Phone (512 Area Code)

Central Market

Two locations

Whole Foods

Two locations


C. Latin American

1. Mexican

Name

Address

Phone (512 Area Code)

A La Carrera

11150 Research Blvd.

345-1763

Abuelo's Mexican Food Embassy

2901 Capital of Texas Highway S. (Barton Creek Square Mall)

306-0857

Chuy's

Four locations

Curra's Grill

Three locations

El Chile Cafe y Cantina

1809 Manor Road

457-9900

El Coral Lozano

221 W. Fourth St., Taylor

352-3728

El Faro Taco & Cafe
1779 Wells Branch Parkway #108
252-3430

El Gallo

2910 S. Congress Ave.

444-6696

El Soy y La Luna

1224 S. Congress Ave.

444-7770

Flores Mexican Restaurant

Two locations

Fonda San Miguel

2330 W. North Loop

459-4121

Jaime's Spanish Village

802 Red River St.

La Morada

12407 N. MoPac Expressway

836-6611

La Parilla

9515 N. Lamar Blvd.

491-9414

Manuel's

Two locations

Margarita’s

Two locations

Maudie's Tex-Mex

Five locations

Matt's El Rancho

2613 S. Lamar Blvd.

462-9333

Oaxacan Tamaleo
1634 Highway 34 E., Bastrop
289-9262

Pappasito's

6513 N. I-35

459-9214

Rita’s

1934 Rutland Dr.

834-0999

Santa Rita Tex-Mex Cantina

1206 W. 38th St.

419-7482

T.G. Jorge's

2203 Hancock Dr.

454-1980

Trudy's

Three locations


2. Carribbean

Name

Address

Phone (512 Area Code)

Cafe Mangù

15200 FM 1825, Pflugerville

990-3121

Cuba Libre

409 Colorado St.

472-2822

Habana

Two locations


3. Other

Name

Address

Phone (512 Area Code)

Doña Emilia's

101 San Jacinto Blvd.

478-2520

Elsi's

6601 Burnet Road

454-0747

Sao Paulo's

2809 San Jacinto Blvd.

473-9988


D. European

1. Italian

Name

Address

Phone (512 Area Code)

Al Capone's

Two locations

Andiamo Ristorante

2521 Rutland Dr.

719-3377

Asti Trattoria

408-C E. 43rd St.

451-1218

Baris Pasta & Pizza

1501 W. Pecan, Pflugerville

989-1323

Brick Oven

Four locations

Carmelo's

504 E. Fifth St.

477-7497

Cipollina

1213 W. Lynn

477-5211

Frank & Angie's Pizzeria

508 West Ave.

472-3534

Gino's

1701-B S. Mays St., Round Rock

218-9922

Hill Country Pasta House
3519 RR. 620 N.
266-9445

It’s Italian

14735 Bratton Lane

252-1444

Johnny Carino's

Seven local locations

La Traviata

314 N. Congress Ave.

479-8131

Milto's Pizza Pub
2909 Guadalupe St.
476-1021
Rocco's Grill
900 R.R. 620 S.
263-8604

Romano's Macaroni Grill

Four locations

Romeo's

1500 Barton Springs

476-1090

Taverna

258 W. Second St.

477-1001

Tony's Vineyard
2828 Rio Grande St.
476-5600

Venice Cafe & Italian Grill

907 FM 685, Pflugerville

989-8833


a. Pizza

Name

Address

Phone (512 Area Code)

Austin's Pizza

Seven locations

Conans Pizza

Three locations

DoubleDave's Pizzaworks

Five local locations

Mangia

Four locations

Niki’s Pizza & Pasta

2025 Guadalupe St. (2nd floor, Dobie Mall)

474-1876

Saccone's

Three locations


2. Greek

Name

Address

Phone (512 Area Code)

Gyro King

2025 Guadalupe St. #224

480-8418

Gyro Plus Restaurant

7329-A Burnet Road

451-0677

Pars Mediterranean Supermarket & Deli

8820 Burnet Road

452-4888

Zorba Greek Restaurant

2701 S. I-35, Round Rock

716-0100


3. French

Name

Address

Phone (512 Area Code)

Aquarelle Restaurant Francaise

606 Rio Grande St.

479-8117

Chez Nous

510 Neches

473-2413


4. Other

Name

Address

Phone (512 Area Code)

Drakula
8120 Research Blvd.
374-9291

European Bistro

111 E. Main St., Pflugerville

835-1919

Walburg Restaurant

3777 FM 972, Walburg

863-8440


E. Asian

1. Vietamese

Two locations

Name

Address

Phone (512 Area Code)

Hoa-Hoa

Le Soleil

9616 N. Lamar Blvd. #156

821-0396

Mekong River

215 E. Sixth St.

236-8878

Sunflower Restaurant

8557 Research Blvd. #146

339-7860

Triumph Cafe

3808 Spicewood Springs

345-1875


2. Japanese

Name

Address

Phone (512 Area Code)   

Beluga Japanese Restaurant
661 Louis Henna Blvd. #300
255-6454
Mikado Ryotei
9033 Research Blvd.
833-8108
Odaku
2501 W. Parmer Lane #500
834-9304


3. Korean

Name
Address
Phone (512 Area Code)
Koreana Grill & Sushi Bar
12196 N. MoPac Expressway
835-8888
Korea House
2700 W. Anderson Lane #501
458-2477


4. Other

Name

Address

Phone (512 Area Code)

Alborz Persian Cuisine

3300 W. Anderson Lane #303

420-2222

Hula Hut

3826 Lake Austin Blvd.

476-4852

Star of India
2900-D W. Anderson Lane #12
452-8199


F. Sweets

Name

Address

Phone (512 Area Code, unless otherwise indicated)

Amy's Ice Creams

Eleven local locations

The Blue Cupcake

12001-J Burnet Road

490-0081

Bluebonnet Cafe

211 Highway 281, Marble Falls

(830) 693-2344

Dolce Vita International Bar

4222 Duval St.

323-2686

Freddie's Place
1703 S. First St.
445-9197

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

Three local locations

Ringside at Sullivan's

300 Colorado St.

474-1870

Round Rock Doughnuts

Two locations


VI. My Schedule


These are just ideas. I have no idea what you're going to want to do out here. For that matter, even I couldn't get to all these events in a given night.


A. Thursday, March 23
1.
"Noche Caliente," Miami-style music, The Firehouse Lounge, 605 Brazos St., 8 p.m. Tel. 478-3473
2.
Milonga (tango social), Cipollina, 8-10 p.m.
3. Austin Swing Syndicate, Texas Federation of Women's Clubs Ballroom, 2312 San Gabriel, 8 p.m.-midnight ($4)

4. Grupo O'Posotivo, Light Bar, 8 ish (no cover)
5. "Noche de Tango," tango + dance lesson, The Copa, upstairs, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. ($5)
6. Salsa dancing, Bonggo's, 505 Neches St., 9:30 p.m. ($5)

B. Friday, March 24
1. Sid's Salsa Social, Footworks Dance Studio, 501 W. Third St., 9-11 p.m. ($5)
2. Salsa dancing, The Copa, 10 p.m. ($6)
2.
Stereolab, La Zona Rosa, 11 p.m.

C. Saturday, March 25
1.
TCLP District Convention, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., County Commissioners Court.

2. Austin Ballroom Dancers, Austin Recreation Center, 1301 Shoal Creek, 8 p.m. ($6)

3. Salsa dance lesson, The Copa, 8:30 p.m. ($5)
4. Richie Valdez y Su Orquesta, The Woodward Hotel, 3401 S. I-35, 9 p.m. ($10)

5. Milonga, American Legion Hall, 2201 Veterans Dr., 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
6. Salsa dancing, Go Dance, 2525 W. Anderson Lane #530 (in Northcross Mall),  9 p.m. ($5)