Things to Do in Austin, TX after 5 pm
 

Looking for recommendations for things to do in Austin, TX after 5 or so. We'll be there for work, but want to do fun and interesting things in the late afternoon/evening. Also looking for good recommendations for food (not expensive) and the music scene.

Simply walk along 6th street and follow your ears. There are dozens of places to eat and enjoy music.

Two more special blues clubs are Antone's (on 5th Street) and the Continental Club (on South Congress, a $5-taxi ride from downtown). There the show usually begins after 9 p.m.

Lots of great restaurants in Austin ranging from cheap to expensive. Getting out of downtown/6th St will expand your options.

Some longtime inexpensive favorites of mine include

Chuy's TexMex & Shady Grove burgers, both on Barton Springs Rd, south side of Town Lake aka Lady Bird Lake, about a mile or so west of Congress. I like the food at Chuy's much better than Shady Grove, but the latter a good place for a big group to grab a beer and a burger outside under the oak trees.

Z-Tejas, W 6th St, a few blocks past the Whole Foods flagship.

Iron Works BBQ (a real dive) at Caesar Chavez & Red River.

Another area with great music is the Warehouse District, which is on 4th Street and west of Congress Ave.

If you want to see a funny, live performance check out Esther's Follies. It's a 2 hour live show with a lot of satire. By the end of the show your face will hurt from laughing.

http://esthersfollies.com/

The Blanton Museum of Art at the University of Texas is open until 9:00 PM on the third Thursday of every month (Feb 18, March 18, April 15, etc.) and is free on Thursdays as well. http://blantonmuseum.org

The galleries at UT's Harry Ransom Center are open until 7:00 PM every Thursday and are always free. The Ransom has a Gutenberg Bible and the "First Photograph", among other treasures. http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/

Austin Museum of Art's downtown location is open until 8:00 PM on Thursdays. Admission is $5 for adults. http://www.amoa.org/site/PageServer

The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum is open until 6:00 every day. The IMAX theater is open later. Admission cost depends whether you do museum only or add theater presentations. http://www.thestoryoftexas.com/

When wil you be in Austin? The Round Rock Express (AAA affiliate of the Houston Astros) start playing ball in April. You'll need a car to get to the ballpark, though (in the nearby town of Round Rock).

For more helpful links, check out http://www.utexas.edu/arts/ (for links to all kinds of Austin activities, not just UT) and http://www.texassports.com (for UT Longhorns athletics).

If you can make it over to Salt Lick, they have great BBQ. We also love to go out by the lake to The Oasis - fun live music, drinks, great views of the sunset over the water.

If you go to the Salt Lick, remember that they are CASH ONLY. I have never been much for their food (although I guess I am in the minority - i just think there are better BBQ places in the area), but the setting is fun.

Same for the Oasis, in my opinion - the food is average, but the sunsets over Lake Travis can be great.

Another fun place to eat is Hula Hut, owned by people who own Chuy's. It is on Lake Austin, by the dam. My favorite there is the Hawaiian fajitas.

Thanks for all the great suggestions so far. We will be there the first week of March. Will the weather be warm enough for swimming in Lake Travis? We have Sunday free and were thinking of hanging out by the lake if weather permits.

I sure hope the weather will be warm enough for swimming but honestly, it's highly unlikely. This has been a really wet and cold winter and it's by no means over. If it's sunny and calm, I would still go hang out by the lake...I just wouldn't go in the lake!

If you would like to go for an outdoor swim check out Barton Springs Pool, which maintains the same 68° temp year round. That's on the chilly side for me but some people love it.

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/bartonsprings.htm

Check out Esther's Follies for a fun show in the evening. It is located at the corner of Red River and 6th Steet I think.

There's lots of good information here. I also love Eastside Cafe for a wonderful seasonal menu that includes great soups and vegetarian options. I'd also add the Saxon Pub for a good music venue. Will you have a car? Do you have specific tastes in music, food or entertainment that you can share? There is a lot to see and do in Austin and it helps to know what you're looking for.
Have a great trip!

We will have a car. We just want to experience really good Mexican and BBQ and some good, live music - preferably rock, blues, jazz. Thanks again for all the great suggestions so far.

I'm not a BBQ fan myself but I've heard a lot of great things about Stubbs. They also have live music.

http://www.stubbsaustin.com/

Good Mexican food is easy to find in Austin but a fave of mine is Hula Hut (as mentioned by Cranachin) on the lake. If it's a nice day you can sit over the water. In addition to great food they have excellent Margaritas. Mango is my fave.

http://www.hulahut.com/