We're spending a weekend in Austin in early May. My husband is competing at a national "masters" swim meet - an awesome outcome of last year's bike vs. car contest (the car won) that left him unable to run. I'm looking forward to spending some time in the legendary home of the late great Stevie Ray Vaughan!

Does anyone have recommendations of what to do? We'd love to listen to some blues, preferably at a place where 2B could go. It's not his musical preference, but we did take him to see Buddy Guy last year and he "got it." Also, are there any restaurants that you would recommend?

Thanks!

2Bmom,
I can give you some places to look.
www.kut.org has a community calendar you can follow and most likely you will enjoy listening to their programing on line.
www.lazonarosa.com is a music venue with a calendar.
www.antones.net is a great blues venue with a calendar.
www.backyard.net is one more place you can follow their calendar.

places to eat-
The Salt Lick is great bbq. and a great experience.
The Hula Hut on Lake Austin is great fun and good food.
Gueros on S. Congress is good tex-mex food.

Have fun.

Thanks!

Is the Oasis still a great place for tourists to enjoy? Someone told me it has changed since the fire, not exactly sure what that meant?

I'll second Antones and La Zona Rosa for the music. Walk down East 6th street and you'll hear a few tunes, too.

May 3-4, 2008: 29th Annual Pecan Street Spring Arts Festival. Pecan Street is 6th street.

My Favorites: Rudy's BBQ; County Line on the Lake (BBQ); Hut's Hambergers; Threadgills (comfort food); Fonda San Miquel (interior Mexican); Gumbo's; Chuy's (TexMex); Reale's Pizza & Cafe (Italian); Antonio's (TexMex); Hula Hut; Maudie's (TexMex); Mangia's Pizza.

If you want to travel a bit: Saltlick (BBQ in Driftwood); Louie Mueller's (BBQ in Taylor); Cooper's (BBQ in Llano); Hudson's on the Bend (wild game/exotic ingredients near Lakeway)

Things to do:
-Rent kayaks on Town Lake (now LadyBird Lake) and see downtown from a different perspective
-Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum & Texas Capital
-LBJ Presidential Library on the UT campus
-6th Street at night

One final thing about the food: Austin has more home-grown, one-of-a-kind restaurants than almost any place on earth. Tell me what you like, and I'll give you a few ideas.

Threadgill's is absolutely outstanding. Great country cooking.

County Line isn't too bad, but not up to the bbq over in Taylor (Mueller's) or over in Dripping Springs. Personally, I can't recommend Rudy's bbq to anyone but yankees. Taylor is perhaps only a half hour or so from downtown (depending on traffic).

Definitely visit the Capitol building & Bullock Museum.

Sixth street?? Do you really want to send someone there CTD?

You can always make the 1:15 trip down to San Antonio. See the Alamo, the Riverwalk, etc.

Good restaurants there include El Chaparral (in Helotes, fajitas are incredible), La Fonda (solid TexMex standard fare), Clear Springs Cafe, Tom's Ribs (bbq), Barn Door (steaks).