The Texan Weirdo

THE ANTIQUE SCENE: TREASURE HUNT LIKE A LOCAL

FROM UNCOMMON OBJECTS (1609 FORTVIEW RD) — A CURATED CURIOSITY SHOP — TO ROOM SERVICE VINTAGE (117 NORTH LOOP), YOU’LL FIND EVERYTHING FROM BIZARRE KNICK KNACKS AND 1970S FURNITURE TO COLLECTIBLE CLOTHING. THE SOUTH CONGRESS AREA IS A RICH VINTAGE PLAYGROUND — GRAB A COFFEE, WANDER IN AND FIND SOMETHING WONDERFULLY WEIRD TO TAKE BACK HOME.

AUSTIN: WHERE COWBOY BOOTS MEET CURATED CURIOSITIES

AUSTIN ISN’T YOUR TYPICAL STATE CAPITAL — IT’S A RICH BLEND OF TRADITIONS, SUBCULTURES, AND PURE, UNFETTERED CREATIVITY. HERE, THE MOTTO “KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD” ISN’T JUST A CLEVER BUMPER STICKER; IT’S A WAY OF LIFE. THE CITY EFFORTLESSLY MERGES ITS RICH TEXAS HERITAGE WITH A FORWARD-THINKING ARTS SCENE FILLED WITH TECH INNOVATORS, INDEPENDENT DESIGNERS, AND A VIBRANT COMMUNITY OF MAKERS, MUSICIANS, AND MISFITS.

MORE THAN LIVE MUSIC

AUSTIN’S REPUTATION AS THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD IS WELL EARNED — NEARLY 250 LIVE MUSIC VENUES FILL ITS STREETS, FROM TINY CLUBS AND INTIMATE BACKYARDS TO LARGE, ICONIC SPACES LIKE THE MOODY THEATER, HOME OF AUSTIN CITY LIMITS. BUT THIS CITY MARCHES TO ITS OWN RHYTHM IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. IT’S A PLACE WHERE A PSYCHEDELIC CUMBIA BAND CAN HEADLINE A SMALL BAR ON A TUESDAY, A BLUEGRASS QUARTET PLAYS A ROOFTOP PATIO AT SUNDOWN, AND A VETERAN COUNTRY SONGWRITER DROPS IN FOR A MIDNIGHT SET — ALL WITHIN A FEW BLOCKS OF EACH OTHER.

A CREATIVE HAVEN FOR MAKERS

ARTISTS, INNOVATORS, AND DREAMERS GRAVITATE TOWARD THIS CITY FOR A SIMPLE REASON: IT LETS THEM BE THEIR FULLEST, WEIRDEST SELVES. THE EAST SIDE ARTS DISTRICT, RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT, AND SOUTH CONGRESS AVENUE ARE FILLED WITH GRAFFITI-COVERED WALLS, VINTAGE STORES, INDEPENDENT BOOKSHOPS, AND MAKERS’ SPACES — REFLECTING A RICH CULTURE OF COLLABORATION AND CREATIVITY.

NATURE IS PART OF THE CITY’S SOUL

IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS BUSTLING SCENE LIES A RICH NETWORK OF PARKS, LAKES, AND TRAILS. THE BARTON CREEK GREENBELT, ZILKER PARK, MOUNT BONNELL, AND LADY BIRD LAKE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL ARE NOT JUST GREEN SPACES — THEY’RE COMMUNAL BACKYARDS WHERE LOCALS COME TO CONNECT, REFLECT, AND APPRECIATE THE RAW, WILD SIDE OF THEIR CITY.

FOOD TRUCKS & MORE

AUSTIN’S FOOD SCENE IS A WILD FUSION OF CUISINES — BARBECUE, TACOS, THAI, JAPANESE, AND EVERYTHING IN-BETWEEN. TRY:

➥ VERACRUZ ALL NATURAL (FOR THE BEST BREAKFAST TACOS — A LOCAL INSTITUTION)

➥ FRANKLIN BARBECUE (OPEN FROM 11 AM UNTIL IT SELLS OUT — TYPICALLY BY 1 OR 2 PM)

➥ THE PICNIC (FOOD TRUCK PARK FEATURING ALL THE CLASSICS — FROM CHILI DOGS TO ACAI BOWLS)

DRINKS & NIGHTLIFE

FOR A QUINTESSENTIAL “KEEP IT WEIRD” EVENING:

➥ THE WHITE HORSE — A CLASSIC HONKY-TONK FOR LIVE COUNTRY AND TWO-STEP LESSONS.

➥ THE ELEPHANT ROOM — A DIMLY LIT BASEMENT JAZZ BAR WITH A RICH, INTIMATE SCENE.

➥ RAINEY STREET — A ROW OF CHARMING BUNGALOWS TURNED INTO THEMED BARS. TRY BANGER’S (WITH ITS EXTENSIVE BEER GARDEN) OR LUCILLE’S FOR A CHILL PATIO SCENE.

WHERE TO STAY

➥ HOTEL SAN JOSÉ — A STYLISH BOUTIQUE HOTEL IN THE SOUTH CONGRESS NEIGHBORHOOD.

➥ THE CARPENTER HOTEL — INDUSTRIAL-CHIC WITH A LOVELY POOL, GREAT COFFEE, AND A RICH LOCAL VIBE.

➥ COMMODORE PERRY ESTATE — FOR SOMETHING A BIT MORE SOPHISTICATED AND GLAMOROUS.

YOUR 3-DAY AUSTIN ITINERARY (WITH REAL PLACES, NOT AI :))

DAY 1 — THE SOUL OF AUSTIN

• BREAKFAST AT JO’S COFFEE ON SOUTH CONGRESS
• EXPLORE UNCOMMON OBJECTS AND ROOM SERVICE VINTAGE
• LUNCH FROM VERACRUZ ALL NATURAL TACOS
• TAKE A DIP IN BARTON SPRINGS POOL
• HAPPY HOUR DRINKS AT LUCILLE’S
• DINNER AT FRANKLIN BARBECUE

DAY 2 — LIVE MUSIC & FOODIE DAY

• BRUNCH AT BOULDIN CREEK CAFÉ (VEGETARIAN & BOHEMIAN)
• HIKE UP MOUNT BONNELL FOR A STUNNING VIEW
• WANDER RAINEY STREET IN THE AFTERNOON
• SNACK FROM A FOOD TRUCK AT THE PICNIC
• EXPERIENCE A TRUE HONKY-TONK AT THE WHITE HORSE IN THE EVENING — LIVE COUNTRY, TWO-STEP, AND PURE TEXAS MAGIC

DAY 3 — CURATED CURIOSITIES & CHILL

• BREAKFAST AT SWEDISH HILL BAKERY
• VISIT THE BLANTON MUSEUM OF ART
• BROWSE BOOKPEOPLE — A HUGE INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE — FOR WEIRD FINDS
• HAPPY HOUR AT THE ELEPHANT ROOM FOR LIVE JAZZ
• DINNER AT UCHI, A SLEEK JAPANESE RESTAURANT THAT MERGES TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES WITH A DRAMATIC, INTIMATE AMBIANCE

PREPARE BEFORE YOUR TRIP:

➥ BOOK ACCOMMODATIONS IN ADVANCE, ESPECIALLY DURING POPULAR EVENTS (LIKE SXSW OR ACL)

➥ MAKE DINNER RESERVATIONS AT FRANKLIN AND UCHI

➥ PACK COMFORTABLE SHOES, A HAT, AND SUNSCREEN — YOU’LL BE WALKING A LOT!

➥ BRING CASH AND A REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE — MANY FOOD TRUCKS AND SMALL BUSINESSES APPRECIATE IT.

For the full travel guide experience, get your copy of ISSUE 3, Suburbia X Summer Double Feature here.