Hi. I'm finally going to visit Austin -- one of the five or so U.S cities that's been high on my list for years -- this weekend, for the Austin City Limits music festival (an incredible lineup!) and am looking for some advice.

Already have a place to stay (not the most convenient, intersection of I-35 and 183, but it's free) but I'd love recommendations for good, but not expensive, Tex-Mex or other restaurants. I imagine I'll be eating lunch and dinner on the festival grounds on Fri-Sun but have Thursday night free and also, likely, the mornings for breakfast.

Also, if any of you are music lovers, your recommendation for a club on 6th Street (for Thursday night.) The Continental Club? Something else?

Also for music lovers, any recommendations for record/CD stores downtown or near the festival grounds (Zilker Park)?

Finally, I've heard so much about the bats. Will they be flying this time of year? I've heard the two bridges for them are Congress & Lamar; is either one better?

Thanks!

Topping for Capo....I have not been to Austin enough times to advise you on restaurants, etc. but I have seen the bats at Congress Avenue Bridge--the best "viewing" months are said to be July and August but the last time we were there was mid-September and saw quite a "show". Here's a link w/more info http://www.batcon.org/discover/congress.html Hope you enjoy a great trip!

Gracias for that link, dcespedes. Even if I'll be a bit past the best viewing time, nice to know you still saw quite a show in mid-September.

I understand Buckingham Palace has also become a good location.

Capo,
What is the lineup for the show you'll be attending at Austin City Limits? Was it difficult to get tickets? I've often wanted to go to Austin to do exactly the things you are outlining in your agenda.

Hi dovima. I've wanted to visit Austin for years, in large part due to the great music scene there. A former gilfriend of mine went twice for the SXSW music conference/festival years ago and told me how much I'd love the city. A few weeks ago a friend told me and a couple I know about the great lineup for Austin City Limits this year (I hadn't known it was a festival.) We all found available spots using frequent flyer miles so the three of us decided to go. The husband of the couple I'm going with said he'd heard that the festival can sell out so he got tickets ahead of time, online, for us about two weeks ago.

Here's the main website: http://www.aclfestival.com/

And the site with the music lineup: http://www.aclfestival.com/schedule.html

We have a Labor Day music/arts festival here in Seattle, Bumbershoot, but the music acts weren't that great this year. The lineup for ACL is far superior: Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Ben Harper, Wilco, Jack Johnson, Solomon Burke, Los Lonely Boys, The Neville Brothers, Patty Griffin, Shelby Lynne, Bob Schneider, Kelly Willis, and on and on...

Welcome to Austin - - I Visited Austin about 20 yrs ago and never left -

For TexMex food try Chueys for lunch (183 @ Duval for close to hotel or @ Barton Springs near festival) or the Oasis @ Lake Travis (off of 620) it's a bit further out - but their balcones overlook the lake and everybody cheers at sunset.
Good pepper sirloin at Texas Land & Cattle near 183/35.
BBQ great at Salt Lick or County Line - both a bit of a drive - but nice location. Can't beat the Mariott for weekend brunch.

For 6th street scene, you'll need to find parking a few blocks away - Consider Esther's Follies http://www.esthersfollies.com off of Red River Thursday nite entertainment (Thurs 8pm Weekends 8 & 10pm)
Clubs: Antones has been around forever if you like Blues -
Maggie May's is another good club - but on 6th, you can pretty much just walk in and out of your choice -
consider warehouse district if your taste in music is more along the jazz flavor.

BTW - bats are best viewed from below the SE side of congress ave bridge (Austin American Statesman property) look for them around dusk

You gotta head to Threadgill's for some good eatin'

Hey Capo, I'll be volunteering all weekend at the ACL fest... Stop by the disability access booth and if you see a woman with curly blonde hair, come say hi!

Okay, food - many great local food vendors will be on the grounds. I suggest Hudson's on the Bend (hot and crunchy chicken cone or venison sausage wrap) Salt Lick, Maudies, and Amy's Ice Cream! May I also reccommend Los Lonely Boys on Friday nite?

Chuys is on Barton Springs road right near the Festitval. Cheap, good and large portions. For music, I reccommend the Continental Club on S. Congress and Antones on West 5th in the Warehouse District. (I like better than 6th...) http://www.antones.net/ And you got it right with the Continental Club http://www.continentalclub.com/Austin.html
Waterloo Records is the BEST place for music. It's on 6th and Lamar. However, last year I think they had a tent at the ACL fest and you could buy stuff there. There is also a little shopping area and a general store.

I suggest bringing a chair that's easy to carry around.

For breakfast - I suggest Magnolia Cafe on S. Congress or Curras on Oltorf.

Any other questions, let me know! You will reallly enjoy ACL. It's just wonderful.

I live in Austin too (very near the Oasis at lake Travis) and can say all these suggestions have been great. Another GREAT Tex-Mex is Guerro's on Congress, VERY near the Continential club.
As for the Oasis, it's a great place for sunset, the best in fact, with great margaritas, but the food has never been very good, IMO.
I wish someone had more suggestions for you that are closer to the I-35/183 area! I know that there are places to eat closer to that area, but not too many people live over there, it's mostly business and hotels! In any case the suggestions you have received are great.

Good one, Capo!

1-35 and 183... All I can think of is Pappadeuxs... But heck, if you gotta get in the car anyway, might as well keep coming South and enjoy the BEST part of Austin!

We loved Taco Express when we were there. Cheap awesome food! I think there are a few locations.

Lago, if it wasn't for the fact that I've got so many friends in Seattle, and that Austin isn't near mountains or the ocean (as is Seattle) I can imagine I might not want to leave after visiting too, like what happened with you.

Thanks for the restaurant and music recommendations, and for the bat-viewing location suggestion. Antone's is the other famous music club I'm familiar with, along with the Continental Club. We'll probably just stick to the 6th Street area on Thursday night and none of us are that into jazz but, out of curiousity, where is the Warehouse District?

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enjoylife, thanks for the mention of Threadgill's.

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Austin, I'm sure I'll love ACL and I'll definitely stop by to say Hi. You must be a music fan too, eh? It would be great to meet someone else from Fodors while there, especially someone else who's going to be at the festival. I presume there's just one disability access booth?

Thanks for the recommendations of those particular food vendors on the festival grounds. Since we'll be spending most of our time there, that's what I should have thought to ask about. I haven't looked at the schedule yet, but as long as they don't conflict with someone else I want to see more, I'm definitely going to catch Los Lonely Boys on Friday night. Love their CD; great vocals and melodic songs.

Oh, now I see where the Warehouse District is...thanks. Didn't realize that's where Antone's is. Is that within walking distance from 6th?

Waterloo Records is the BEST place for music. It's on 6th and Lamar.

Thanks. Just what I was looking for!

For breakfast - I suggest Magnolia Cafe on S. Congress or Curras on Oltorf.

Thanks for those as well. Years ago, while on my only visit to New Orleans (interestingly, I was there in August of '92, when Hurricane Andrew passed close by) I had breakfast at their Magnolia Cafe, in the Uptown District, so I think I'll try to hit the one in Austin.

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Thanks, Ally. We'd prefer to stay closer to the festival/downtown/south Austin than the I-35/183 area, but my friends had free rooms from hotel "points" so we couldn't pass that up. But that does remind me, for any future trips, any recommendations for any kind of funky (in a good "intereresting character" way) relatively inexpensive accomodations downtown or in south Austin? If I have time, I'd like to check out a couple places while I'm there.

Capo - The Warehouse district is in walking distance from 6th St. - esp. if you can park your car on Congress Ave, between 4th and 7th or so. Its a few blocks, but I've done it.

The disability booth is near the entrance. Walk in, turn/look to the right, and there it is!

Waterloo has music booths where you can listen before you buy. Very cool.

They have scheduled Los Lonely Boys at the same time as Sheryl Crow, at opposite ends of the park. Oh well.

Funky hotels with lots of character would be the Hotel San Jose http://www.sanjosehotel.com/ and the Austin Motel, http://www.austinmotel.com/ within blocks of each other on S. COngress. They can be pricey, but they are wonderful! (Actually, can get a room for about $100) You can see them both, almost directly across from the Continental Club. Both used to be run down and "used by the hour" by prostitutes on S. Congress. Neither are high on amenities, FYI.

Well, So Co, as it's now called, has been renovated and is full of funky stores, great restaurants, and two hotels that were also renovated. One great restaurant is also Vespaio. However, it's pricey and there is always a wait - unless you get there before 6 or so.

Enjoy Austin. It's supposed to be mid-90's and sunny. However, Ivan is actually supposed to cause some drier air this weekend. Let's hope. And don't forget the sunscreen!

Hope to see you.