Where in the Heart of Texas is Kristen

Jenny Lewis at Stubbs

2009-06-24T22:45:00.004-05:00

Sorry I have been such a bad blogger lately. I have lots of fun activities to report on and just need to find the time to do it. In the mean time here's a little synopsis of our most recent adventure - seeing Jenny Lewis at Stubbs!

It was probably close to 96 degrees as the sun came down that night and hundreds of sweaty beer drinkers stood around the Stubb's outdoor area anxiously waiting for the music to start again and thankfully, right at 9 on the nose Jenny Lewis and her band appeared on stage. Despite the heat Jenny played straight through to close to 10:30 and was amazing throughout. She covered most of Acid Tongue with a couple of Rabbit Fur Coat hits and new songs in there, as well as an awesome solo of "Silver Lining." My favorites were Handle with Care, The Next Messiah, and her opener See Fernando, but she really did song great throughout. We can't forget the band either with amazing multi instrument players and kick butt drum solos that ended the show. It may have been hot and sweaty, and a Monday of all nights, but the beer was cold and the music was loud and well worth it. I'm already looking forward to her next trip back to Austin!

That was also my first music show at Stubbs and was so happy to finally see a show there. Its basically a big dirt yard with a stage at one end and plenty of beer stands on the sides, and a suprisingly clean row of port-a-potties in the back. The beers are relatively cheap and there was never a line, which was nice too. The acoustics were good and the crowd was very chill and polite - that could be a Texas thing or based on who the band was I suppose. Jenny Lewis doesn't seem to attract the aggressive, loud, rude type and that fact made for a pleasant experience in the sea of people. I never got pushed or stepped on once! I also need to give kudos to the insanely tall guy that actually stood with his legs split so that he wasn't taller than everyone else around - amazing!

I must get ready for my trip to Boston now but promise to write more about my past few months of activities when I can. I'll have plenty of time on the flight to catch up!

Very Long Overdue Blogs

2009-03-28T17:27:00.008-05:00

Once again I have been a huge slacker keeping up with my many adventures (and non adventures) in Austin. Spring has finally arrived and there are many events on the horizon that I promise to divulge on. In the mean time here is a recap of some of the things I’ve been up to. Happy Reading!

Marias Taco Xpress
Located on South Lamar, hidden off to the side, Maria’s Taco Xpress is very intriguing on the outside, with its multi colored Christmas lights, mermaidish looking statue above the entrance, and eclectic paint, but adorable paint job. In fact, we ended up there for that exact reason: we were driving up the road trying to find any decent place that didn’t require reservations or a two hour wait, saw pretty lights and a sign that said Taco Xpress and figured we couldn’t really go wrong. Upon parking we quickly realized we had accidentally found “the” Taco Xpress that had recently been on the Food Network (Diners, Drive-ins and Dives) and couldn’t wait to try the much bragged about Mexican fare. The inside was just as cute and welcoming as the outside with a mix of tables and chairs and many posters and signs throughout. The order at the counter and seat yourself process keeps things simple and all about the food, which is super affordable, prepared very quickly, and presented in massive portions that require a doggie bag. We tried the infamous al pastor pork plate and the just as tasty enchiladas and were instantly in love. Everything from the homemade warm tortillas down to the rice and beans and salsa was very tasty and no doubt prepared from traditional, down home recipes. No doubt we had stumbled upon one of the best hidden treasures that Austin has to offer.

Hayes Carll at The Saxon Pub
Part two of our untraditional and super fun Valentine’s night out was the ever awesome Hayes Carll at The Saxon Pub. Apparently seeing Hayes on v-day was very popular and we’re lucky that we even got in to the show, but thanks to Hayes’ kind manager we got in and were able to enjoy the show from a nice spot next to the bar. I don’t know what else to say about Hayes, but I do recommend that everyone see him at least once live once. Most of his songs are about drinking, drugs or sex, and can pretty easily be related to by most adults. The tunes are also fairly easy to sway and sing along to. As usual he ended the show (pre-encore) with crowd favorite “Down the Road Tonight,” a fun fast tune that always makes me happy.

The Saxon Pub (on South Lamar) is a long standing Austin favorite for live music. Its one of the older spots and definitely has a lot of character, and is definitely a great spot for live shows. If, like me, you’re partial to dive bars and low key comfortable bars you will no doubt like Saxon Pub. With a capacity of only 135, it fills up quickly, but if you can get there early enough to grab a table you’re golden. Its dimly lit, old looking, and occasionally smells of stale beer, but the atmosphere is very comfortable, the bartenders and regulars are friendly, and the acoustics and bands that come through are great. On non music nights you can also play pool in the back.

Turkey day Tour of Texas

2009-01-05T23:08:00.003-06:00

Sorry its been a while since I’ve written. The hecticness of the holidays took over, but I have been out and about exploring when I can. To start, I have to travel back about a month or so to Thanksgiving, when Jeff and I decided to take a quiet road trip to the Gulf Coast and the Hill Country. It was the most nontraditional turkey day I’ve ever celebrated, but it was very relaxing and a lot of fun. Not to mention the fact that it was very odd to not need a coat or gloves, or be in the kitchen cooking all day. We did hosts friends for a fabulous turkey dinnerthe week before though, so I was able to bust out my apron and enjoy my time in the kitchen.

For starters not needing a coat or gloves on Thanksgiving was a big change for me. Being away from my family for the first time ever was another big change, but Jeff made sure that I had a very fun and memorable Thanksgiving.

Some of the cool spots we checked out

Gruene Hall - Built in 1878, Gruene Hall is the oldest continually running dance hall in Texas. With its creaky wood floors and no frills atmosphere, it is a Texas must see, and great spot to catch live music. We were lucky to see Hayes Carll play that night, and what a show he put on. Though eh had played there for years, this was his first evening headliner at Gruene Hall!

Port Aransas and Corpus Christi - Typical tourist spots of the Gulf Coast, both towns were relatively quiet for the holiday, but still very welcoming. It was actually warm enough to walk the beach and stick our toes in the water. This was my first time on the gulf coast and it was nice to be at the beach and test new waters. The water was a little too chilly to swim in but relatively calm and left many pretty seashells and icky jelly fish to navigate around.

Floore Country Store - Not your typical country store, John T. Floore Country Store ofHelotes, Texas is an historic music where many music greats have played including Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Elvis, Johnny Cash, Ray Price, BB King, Lyle Lovett, Robert Earl Keen, and Willie Nelson. Known for its live music and comfort food, the store has been doing business for 60 years now, and has just expanded with the attached Honky TonkCafe.

Banderas, Texas - This small town is apparently known as the "Cowboy Capital of the World". They have some unique and fun shops and many places to look at fun trinkets and western themed items. We also saw a number of cowboys riding through town on horses, which was a first for me and very entertaining.

San Antonio - This was not my first time down there, so we skipped the Alamo, but we did check out the historic Market Square Area and spent some time on the infamous River Walk. The night we were there also happened to be the Christmas Tree Lighting and River Parade. It was a little chaotic, and not very easy to get down to the river walk, but we were able to catch a glimpse of some of the decked out floats and found a nice piano bar to have a few drinks in while we waited for the crowds to quiet down.

Fredericksburg - Set in the heart of scenic Texas Hill Country and home to some of Texas' best vineyards, this country town also has an adorable downtown area filled with antique and other fun shops to browse. We had a nice dinner at Pasta Bella, where they only serve two types of pasta with pretty much any sauce and toppings you would like, and then headed to Torre Di Pietra for some delicious vino.

Whataburger - Our lunch on Thanksgiving Day. It was the only thing open in the small towns we were driving through, so we didn't have much of a choice. But it was also my first Whataburger, and I actually liked it!

Beautiful January Day at Zilker Park

2009-01-05T11:10:00.005-06:00

The weather has definitely been up and down here lately, but after spending a week in cold, snowy New England, I embraced Saturday's 80 degrees with open arms and flip flops. To make the most of the day we headed down to Zilker Park, along with half of Austin, to enjoy the fresh air and soak up sun. Though I've run along Town Lake dozens of times now. I've never spent much time at Zilker Park so it was a refreshing change. Many parts are currently under construction for the new irrigation system being installed to calm the dust at ACL Fest and keep the grass greener, but we were still able to get in a nice walk on the Barton Creek Greenbelt and enjoy a picnic under a tree.

The run of 1,000 smells

2008-11-16T21:13:00.003-06:00

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

2008-11-09T17:38:00.003-06:00

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!

2008-11-05T21:08:00.002-06:00

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

2008-11-01T11:39:00.010-05:00

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

2008-11-01T10:49:00.007-05:00

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!

2008-10-27T22:00:00.006-05:00

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!