The run of 1,000 smells

One of my favorite things about my office location is that it overlooks Town Lake and I am able to not only enjoy the views of it every day, but I also get to enjoy walks and runs on it most days of the week.

Now officially called Lady Bird Lake, situated in the center of downtown Austin, the lake hosts thousands of runners weekly, as well as numerous dogs and their owners, bicyclists, walkers, stroller-pushing moms and dads, visitors to Austin, squirrels, ducks and many more. There are beautiful views from the several bridges that cross it, and many landscaped areas and benches for site seeing, relaxing, or catching your breath. It is a great spot to take a quick walk, sit and think, go for a longer run, or head out in a kayak or canoe.

Every day that I’m out there I tend to notice something new, but there a couple of spots that stand out to me along the standard 4 mile Mopac loop that I typically run.

• Congress Street Bridge – Home to the largest urban bat colony in North America, tourists and interested viewers line up along the bridge nightly to see the bats depart from their home. I really couldn’t believe how amazing the site actually is until I checked it out myself, and I highly recommend that it makes everyone’s Austin must see list. But I also must admit that the sounds and smells coming from under the bridge definitely make me speed up when I’m running by.
• Auditorium Shores – One of the Lake’s off-leash areas has a large swimming area for the dogs as well as a welcoming grassy area, a refreshing fountain that lets off mist on very hot days, and a cozy gazebo for relaxing. I always find it entertaining to watch all of the four-legged friends playing and enjoying the water.
• Zilker Park – Aside from ACL Fest, I have yet to spend much time at Zilker Park, but I do pass by it on my run and always enjoy the view. The 351 acre park hosts playgrounds, Zilker Botanical Gardens, Barton Springs Pool, The Zilker Zephyr miniature train, dog parks, picnic areas and the Hillside Theater. Many festivals are also held at the park including Austin City Limits Music Festival and the annual Zilker Park Kite Festival.
• Be sure to check out the statue of the legendary Stevie Ray Vaughan. The late, Texas-born blues guitarist played got his start in Austin, and will forever be celebrated at this “must-see” spot.
• The courtesy water coolers at Auditorium Shores and the Mopac Bridge provided by RunTex are a refreshing bonus that should be taken advantage of, especially on a steamy day.

About the title: My boyfriend dubbed Town Lake that back when he was on the Texas track team and I can’t say that I disagree. The views and peacefulness definitely make up for it, but depending on your location along the lake there are some interesting aromas that pop up – especially during bat season!

Celebrating The Big 3-0 in Austin

This was not my first time celebrating my birthday in Austin, but it was by far one of the better birthdays I’ve ever had. Dirty 6th didn’t seem very appropriate for my 30th so we upped the sophistication a bit and over the course of 3 days I had a great celebration! This was also no doubt the warmest birthday I’ve had. It was so nice to be able to eat outside and not freeze! Here’s a brief recap of some of the places we went to celebrate:

La Traviata (314 Congress Avenue)
On the actual night of the big birthday my beau treated me to a fabulous dinner and bottle of wine at La Traviata on Congress Street. Located in a small storefront on Congress, the atmosphere immediately reminded me of the small restaurants in Boston’s North End, and the food lived up to the expectations. Upon immediately opening the menu and struggling to narrow it down, I was hopeful of a good meal. We settled on a baby spinach and apple salad and a caprese salad (special of the day) to start, and followed up with the lasagna of the day, which was layered with perfectly cooked short ribs, and the spaghetti Bolognese, that nicely blended veal, beef and lamb to create an aromatic and tasty sauce. We were very satisfied and stuffed after devouring our meals, but had to end with dessert so we settled on the waiter’s recommendation of tiramisu. Tiramisu is one of my favorite desserts and this was one of the best I’ve had. It was topped with toasted hazelnuts that it made it slightly unique and that much more delicious! The service was great and the prices are very forgiving, with most dishes priced under $20. In the end I would definitely agree with the City Search reviews and recommend La Traviata to anyone else looking for a nice and affordable Italian meal.

Z’Tejas (1110 West 6th Street)
My marketing team was kind enough to take me to a fabulous birthday lunch and with the lovely warm sunny weather we were able to enjoy our meal form a patio table. Dubbed a Southwestern Grill I love Z’Tejas for its mix if traditional tex mex and more unique menu offerings. The atmosphere is also very bright and welcoming and I have never had a bad meal or drink there. This time around I tried the artichoke, mushroom and chicken stacks, and they were just as great as the other meals I have tried there. With such a great atmosphere, menu and drink selection Z’Tejas is definitely a spot that should not be missed by anyone visiting Austin.

Trudy’s North Star Restaurant (8820 Burnet Road)
Trudy’s is where the real fun began when a bunch of our friends got together to continue the celebration. Known for its lethal Mexican Martinis, Trudy’s is another Austin hot spot that should not be missed. Is it a martini with tequila, or a margarita minus the ice and plus olives? Made from tequila, cointreau, orange and lime juice, and served in a salt rimmed matrini glass with olives, regardless of what you call it, this Austin staple is delicious and cannot be missed. Don’t be fooled by the 2 per person limit either. These massive drinks will fill your glass about 6 times and pack a very good punch! A couple of rounds of these plus some other tasty cocktails and our group was definitely having a good time. Oh there was a yummy snickers cake too!

The food at Trudy’s is also great, and the prices are just as good. The offer a wide range of standard tex mex fair, as well as a few twists, which they dub Southern Specialties. Regardless of what you’re in the mood for, the flavors are always great and the portions are huge! My favorites are the queso especial, chile relleno, enchiladas and stuffed avocado. The enchiladas are served custom style so you pick your fillings and sauces. They come two to a plate, but it only costs $1.00 to add more. Trudy’s is one of my favorite spots in Austin and I can’t wait to go back again!

Thank you to everyone that participated in my birthday celebrations. I really appreciate it and it was definitely a memorable birthday!

I Never Thought I’d be Boating in November!

Unless I was on a tropical vacation somewhere I honestly never thought I’d need my bathing suit in November, until this past weekend when we went out on the boat with our friends Kim & Terrence. It was a beautiful, blue-skied, 75-degree day and Lake Travis was calm, quiet and very inviting. The sun was shining and comforting, but not scorching and though the water was a little chilly at first, it was not unbearable. So with plenty of beers, towels, a tube and a wakeboard, we piled on board and headed out in to the welcoming waters.

I was too chicken to wake board but had a great time sitting back with Kim & Terrence’s son’s Brennan and Shea while Terrence, Kim and Jeff all had a go at it. Kim’s face plant was by far the most impressive (sorry Kim, I couldn’t resist), but I also think she beat out both the guys with the longest run. Everyone looked great out there and was a lot of fun to watch though. After they each had their time to show off we threw in the anchor and just chilled out in the nice warm sun. There’s just no way that you can complain about relaxing on the open water with friends and a cold beer in your hand. There was the one catastrophe with the dirty wine and sunscreen all over everything, but other then that, it really was a perfect day.

Located in northwest Austin, Lake Travis is one of the prettiest spots I’ve seen in Austin so far. The winding roads that approach it and the massive, beautiful homes add a lot of character to the area and make it feel like you’ve entered a resort town. There are many marinas and restaurants in the area and in the warmer months the area is jam packed with boaters, swimmers, fishers and partiers. And with the Blu Parrot bar and Volente Beach water Park side by side, there is entertainment for all ages. If you’re not up for a boat ride and just want to check out the scene, The Oasis and Carlos’n Charlie’s have great views and a nice atmosphere. I prefer Carlos’n Charlie’s for the food, but the Oasis is great for sipping a margarita while overlooking the lake. And with multiple levels of tiered outdoor patios you’re guaranteed a great view from pretty much anywhere that you sit. There are a few other restaurants in the area, but I have not visited them yet. The area is also developing very quickly and will have even more hot spots in the future.

I know I will be up there many more times and hope to spend time at Pace Bend Park as well (we attempted to go once and was detoured by not just a bike race, but a major collision), so please stay tuned for more stories. The one spot I know I can say I won’t mind avoiding is Hippie Hollow where clothing is optional – need I say more…

Please enjoy some pictures from the day:

Beautiful Lake Travis

Kim and Shea chilling on the boat

Terrence riding the wake

Jeff showing us his skills

I'm Proud to Have Survived ACL Fest

Much like when I attended Woodstock 99, I am very glad that I went to ACL Fest 2008, but I'm also not so sure if I can handle the entire 3 days again. Yes, the music was amazing, yes I got to see a lot of my favorite bands all in one place, and yes it was a lot of fun. However, I definitely cannot party like I used, and I definitely exhaust a lot quicker than I used to. With temperatures well over 85 degrees and a blazing sun shining down on us the afternoons were very long and exhausting. But once the sun went down and things cooled off we were able to bop around and really enjoy the music and scene around us. There are by far more pros than cons to the big event and I am happy that I was a part of it. C3 Presents certainly knows how to put on a show. From an incredible line up, to excellent food options, to great people watching, there was something to do for everyone and endless amounts of entertainment. There was even plenty of places to grab some shade, water and a blast of mist, and televisions to watch the debates and football on. Even the walk from the lake to Zilker Park was exciting when we saw a man riding his bicycle wearing only a G String! It was nice to see such a variety in the crowd too, and the various attractions catered to every age group and interest.

My personal pros and cons from the fest:

PROS

The Music: John Fogarty, Okkervil River, Foo Fighters, Raconteurs, Jenny Lewis, Tristan Prettyman, Alejandro Escovado, Neko Case, Robert Plant & Alison Kraus, Vampire Weekend, Tegan & Sara

Hanging out with our friends
Good acoustics

Fun setting

Great food selection

Plenty of port-a-potties that were kept suprisingly clean

Lots of art and product vendors

Friendly staff

Zilker Park was kept very clean thanks to the green/recycling promotions

Plenty of shade to hide from the hot sun

TVs to watch the debates or football

Lots of beer stands with short lines and fast service

CONS

The dust

Way too long of a line for Hudson's on the Bend's famous cones

Blazing hot sun

Conflicting schedules of bands

In the end I know I will at least go back next year with a one day pass and highly recommend that any music fans out there check out the scene as well.

Jeff, Kristen, Maggie, Joe @ ACL Fest

Nicole Atkins and The Sea

John Fogarty

An American Icon Live at the Backyard

First of all, I am sad to see the Backyard close, but I am very happy that I got to be there to see Willie Nelson close it down. For the past 16 years The Backyard has been one of the more laid back, comfortable concert venues that Austin is known for; and how could you not enjoy it with the beautiful Hill Country as a backdrop while you sway to great music. Just as it deserved, the popular venue was certainly given a proper send off. With the music starting at 3:00pm and Willie not stopping until after midnight, patrons were sure to get their money’s worth.

We got there around 5 and settled on some rocks with a group of friends and plenty of beers. From there we could easily hear the amazing sounds of The Gourds, Kelly Willis, Grupo Fantasma and Ruthie Foster, among others. And because of the group we were with I must say that I think we saw a little more action and comedy from the sidelines. Thanks for the laughs all :) When Willie finally took the stage at 10:30pm we headed in to the crowds that were surprisingly very calm and polite. Maybe it’s the Bostonian in me that is used to chaos, but it was so nice to not be pushed or stepped on while enjoying the show.

As for Willie himself, he has certainly earned being called an American Icon. This was my first time seeing him live, and I was not even alive during his younger days, but I’d say he sounds just as good and definitely knows how to keep a crowd entertained. I was surprised at how many songs I knew and could sing along to, and enjoyed every minute of the show, including when he donned a Longhorns ball cap.

Since I moved down here my boyfriend has insisted that I see Willie Nelson live, and I’ll admit that I was skeptical at first, but by the end of the show he had me won over. I don’t plan on going crazy downloading all of his songs to my ipod, but I have added a few, and will no doubt jump at the chance to see him again if I have the opportunity.

Oh one last important note: if you are at the Backyard again please watch out for the ramps and drunk suburban husbands stumbling by :)

The Gourds

Willie Nelson

Clockwise from top: Jeff, Ashley, Terrence, Kristen, Kim, Brittany

When in Austin, explore!

Born and raised just north of Boston, MA, I recently followed my heart to Austin, TX and promised myself that I would experience as much of my new home as I possibly could. After searching Google and asking friends, colleagues and passersby, I quickly discovered that there are hundreds of websites, lists, places and events to tackle. With so many possibilities - what is a girl to do!

And so I bring you this blog highlighting my many experiences around Austin and other nearby Texas towns. Little by little I am going to tackle as much of this fabulous city as I can and provide you with my personal opinions of each experience. A city girl at heart, many of these experiences are brand new to me, and I hope that in the end I will become a resource of all things Austin, have a few new interests, and hopefully provide some insight and entertainment to anyone else that is new to the area, thinking of visiting, or interested in discovering a new spot or two to try out.

Happy Exploring!
Kristen


I also want to thank some of the many resources that helped me compile my list:
MSN City Guides http://cityguides.msn.com/
Austin City Search http://austin.citysearch.com/
Austin 360 http://www.austin360.com/
Austin Chronicle http://www.austinchronicle.com/
about.com http://austin.about.com/
Austinist http://austinist.com/
Bonnie Glendinning
Becky Eckerman
Stacey Zacker
Jeff Novak
Jen Silver
Amongst others!