It’s safe to come out…I swear
Riverside is typically seen as the crime-ridden slums of Austin, but if you look closer, you can see a world quite similar to the suburban life. There are families in east Austin just like in west Austin, except probably in a different income bracket.
If you want to get a real slice of life from the east side of town, go down to Lady Bird Lake. It is Town Lake, but whatever.
I usually jog down at the lake every day. There is always something going on down there. There is always a picnic or a party of some kind going on over by the old Holly power plant. The area looks would fit the definition of ghetto, yet the park area is a community center. Bar-B-Q’s, piñata’s, a game of soccer, or a couple on a bench are commonplace. On the south and east sides of the lake, however, you will find couples taking a walk or a lone man reclining with a fishing pole and the sunset. There is a piece of land that juts into the center of the lake with a gazebo and a broken dock at its end. Here, in the middle of a city, you can find people trying to get some peace out on the lake.
Arlington Bar called Milo’s has it’s Highs and Lows
"Can’t wait until her parents go out of town, I fell in love with the girl at the rock show” was playing in the background. Yep, Blink 182. I was maybe a freshman in high school when that song came out, which means the people that filled the black and red themed “Milo’s Bar” MUST at EARLIEST be reliving their college years through the pop punk trio. And that’s fine. I don’t really care how old the crowd is, just as long as they can have fun. But this wasn’t my scene. The girls felt the need to expose half their breasts and scream at the top of their lungs. They reminded me of desperate thirty-year-olds who secretly watched Style Network bridal specials wondering, no, crying over how they weren’t married yet. Oh yeah, and they didn’t even card us at the door! Hah. That’s when you know they don’t have problems with minors. As for the guys, one-to-many smoked cigarettes for my liking. It was definitely smoky. I could feel the smoke sinking into my pores. And that’s about the time I started missing Austin because Arlington doesn’t have smoke bans. Darn.
One good feature was that it was a Saturday and they were having $2 Mexican beer night. I drank about 2 Dos XX and my boyfriend had some rum and cokes that were also $2. The bartenders were really friendly, quick and paid attention to every customer. So when some girl rudely pushed me aside to get to the bar, he still served me first. Aha, sucker. Milo’s gets kudos for that AND for the most comfortable bar seats I’ve ever seen. They had an entire La-Z-Boy section and the actual bar stools were reclining leather wide-seated stools with hand-rests. I guess when people go to Milo’s they stay awhile. We didn’t. I left in less than an hour and a half. Just long enough to have my hair smell like smoke for the rest of the weekend.
KickButt Coffee: Tipping is not a City in China, We Know We’ve Been There.
To me, studying and working involves two things: a good stretch of time and the perfect coffee shop. After wedging my way into the packed coffee houses in Austin, I found myself lost, coffee-haven-less, if you will. I needed a change of venues and pronto (thank you multiple paper deadlines).
I landed in KickButt Coffee. As shallow as it sounds, the name and logo with the karate man with red hair pulled me in. (I’m not sorry.)
I walked in and immediately noticed the giant plasma screen on the back wall. (A kid and a barista were playing wii. Hilarious. The kid won.)
The entire place was karate themed with red walls, bamboo and fans. Just enough. Not so much that you feel like you’re in a Jackie Chan movie.
Anyways, it turned out to be a pleasant studying experience. The music (and the four other people) weren’t too loud. My medium chai-soy-latte was the average price of around $4. And when I needed a distraction I stared at the karate sticks on the wall or the next person stepping up to the wii.
Its on Airport. Right next to Highland Mall. Near 2222.
kickbuttcoffee.com
Baby Greens
It has never been hard living in Austin as a very health conscious eater. With all the great parks I have found that all the outdoorsy activities that seem so popular here in Austin go hand-in-hand with healthy eating. Downtown is home to the original Whole Foods and Central Market isn’t too far from campus so getting a good serving of fruits and veggies is never too far away.
But along with the big names these places boast, also come big prices and big crowds when you need your food fast. That is why Baby Greens on South First Street has become my new go-to place.
Its menu is all salads (all around $5) that you can order as a good ole’, traditional salad, or you can have wrapped up into a convenient wrap. The real selling point though (besides passing my rather arduous freshness test) is that it is a drive-through. It couldn’t be easier!
Quaint Clarksville Digs
So there is this restaurant in Clarksville called Jeffrey’s. It is expensive but knowing when to go could save you a lot of money. They have a happy hour in the bar special on Sunday through Friday from 5 to 7 and on Saturday from 9 to 10:30. During this time drinks and eats are a lot cheaper. Some of the main attractions are Crispy Coconut Shrimp with Green Curry Aioli and Pineapple Salsa for $9, Kobe Hanger Steak with Pommes Frites (french fries) with Chimichurri for $13.50, Mini Lamb Burger with Maytag Blue on Brichoe for $2.50 and Risotto Venison Sausage & Chevre Croquettes with Piquillo Aiol for $6.
The cool thing about this place is that the chef was recruited by George Bush to be the White House chef when Bush first took office. Bush went here a lot when he was governor and really liked the food so he packed up the chef and took him to D.C. The chef taught someone else how to prepare his masterpieces before he left, so the food today is every bit as good.
Drink prices vary depending on the drink and day, but are much cheaper during happy hour. Check it out!
Lovely day in South Austin
As a life-long Austin resident, I have really got to rep for my preferred side of town, which is South Austin (capital S capital A). For my purposes, I am including activities between Highway 71 and the river. A typical, lovely Austin day for a local is, weather permitting:
a) Indulging in a $2.95 La Tapatia huevos rancheros plate. The service is always super fast and pleasant and the greasy deliciousness that is Tex-mex huevos is legendary.
b) After digesting, ride your bike a bit north on Lamar to Barton Springs, where entry is $3 for adults. Utterly freezing spring-fed pool, is kind of see and be seen, but still classic. Swim, lie in the sun and chat with friends or read.
c) If you’re up for it, grab some friends and rent a canoe at Town-I-refuse-to-call-it-Ladybird-Lake for $8. ***Little known secret: If you pick up 10 pieces of trash out in the lake and bring them back to throw out, they will take a few dollars off of the rental price. Eco-friendly and cheap!
d) Bike down the street to P.Terry’s, where an all-natural, grass-fed burger and all-natural local chicken burger will only set you back between $3 and $4. The fries still have the skin from the potatoes and they are hand cut daily. Plus, the homemade lemonade is killer. Enjoy!!
Cool People and dogs at Shoal Creek
I’ve always thought that people spend way too much times behind closed doors. This world would be a better place if people would branch out a little bit. Right? So for those looking to get out and experience nature every once in while, check out the Shoal Creek dog park off Lamar and 28th Street. Though a slightly secluded place, there are tons of people at this park. You’ll find an array of personality types, including dog-enthusiasts (peculiar), stoners (far out) and exercisers (tense).
The dogs are quite a trip. Today, I saw two miniature dachshunds, both voluntarily walking on only 3 legs. Mini-dogs and giants alike encompass the area. Labrador retrievers can be found anywhere, running and chasing each other. Dogs rule this park. IF YOU ARE A HUMAN, BEWARE. These dogs do what they want. They will lick, jump and occasionally bite.
There is more to this park than just dogs, though. A Frisbee golf course lies adjacent to the designated no-leash zone. Frisbee golf is like golf but with Frisbees instead. It’s pretty hard but fun. Lots of good-looking, cool people at this park, so if you are looking for love, here’s a place.
$5 in my pocket and ready for the perfect Saturday afternoon
Barton Springs is no secret in Austin. The regular $3 entrance fee is totally worth it, especially if you’re planning on spending the whole day laying in the grass and dipping into the clean, cool pool.
But let’s not forget it’s still February… that means we’re enjoying our 75/80 degree winter days while the springs consider this the off season, and more importantly, they’re FREE! Of course, if you don’t want to pay - and you’re stuck in the summer heat - BSprings is always free from 5 to 9 a.m. and 9 to 10 p.m. The hardcore water enthusiast may choose to get there right
The past Saturday, I took my dog to Auditorium Shores while the crazy pups thoroughly entertained me for a good hour, walked down to The Daily Juice for a fabulous 7-berry smoothie, then continued on my way to swim for free at the springs. Perfection! All I spent was $5 for the smoothie, which could have easily been avoided by some better planning on my part (ie pack a picnic!!!). Days like this help me forget that Monday is just a day away, and that I’m ridiculously broke.
Happy Hour at 5 Star Restaurants
So I’m always up for doing different things instead of always going downtown...most recently the Broken Spoke and saki bombing...pretty good but I still couldn’t believe the deal I got at McCormick & Schmick’s. It was a couple of months ago and I had gone with a group of people to the Paramount downtown for a play or something and it was like 11 o’clock when we got done and I had already decided I was probably not going to school the next day anyway so I went to eat.
First when we pulled up to McCormick & Schmick’s at the Frost Tower I was thinking okay all I can afford is drinks or someone (who’s ever idea this was) was paying for my meal. Little to my knowledge, however, it was happy hour at like 11 that night. I don’t know if this is a regular weeknight thing or just a late night “have to get rid of food thing” but we ordered crab cakes, hamburger with fries (it wasn’t huge or anything) and some kind of “fancy” dip I don’t know the name of...all for like $10 dollars. I was absolutely shocked!!! We sat at the bar, had drinks, ate good food at a very nice restaurant and I didn’t lose a whole lot out of my wallet.
I understand now why it was crowded that late...I wonder if this always happens or I just walked in on a good night?
GPS Program Found Dead on Arrival
You get what you pay for
On my way to a party, I tried the voice-activated program “Live Finder” from Sprint PCS which uses my the GPS location program on my phone to locate destinations. My patience was wearing thin for the shoes I was wearing were heels.
We couldn’t find the 2000 block of Pearl Street. It intersects with 24th street and disappears for a block. What is the deal with Texas’s road systems? Successful eminent domain deflection? Hmm…
After an encounter with a girl who fell down drunk with her legs spread open and her dress around her waist onto the grass while her two friends watched with their mouths agape, the street reappears. A fratty guy yelled at her to not get them arrested. Ahh, freshmen. I digress.
I have the PCS Vision plan so Live Finder was a free download. What the hell. It’s free. Boy was I wrong.
It couldn’t find the place I wanted to go and it didn’t offer me an option to say a specific address. It just asked for names of businesses. What if I’m trying to find a party? It couldn’t find the name of apartment complexes… How was that not one of the basic features? I do not know. I just know, don’t bother downloading that program. It’s a complete waste of your time.
Amburgers and Wootbeer
Thanks to some severely underdeveloped direction following capabilities, I discovered a little gem on West Lynn St.. Nestled between some of the area’s Hot Spots sits the inauspicious Nau’s Enfeild Drug Store. (Yawn? Not exactly.) After wandering through isles of the typical convenience store items, I notice a little restaurant-like set-up at the back of the store. All I have to say is, that day I had one of the best hamburgers I have ever had in Austin. Good size. Nicely cooked. Perfect price. It’s all the deliciousness you want without all the bells and whistles (and wait) that come with the more hip of Austin joints. It’s open til 4, and breakfast is served before 11.
Best Restroom in Austin
Vivo, a tex-mex restaurant on Manor Road in Austin, doesn’t win best tortilla soup or puffy tacos. If you want tasty food, go next door to El Chile. But if you are just lusting for a little romance and sensuality, Vivo is the place to be. More specifically, Vivo’s restroom is the place to be. When I first stepped in there I completely forgot I had to tinkle. I got swepped up in the soothing lilac walls and portraits of nude men and women posing in oh-so-aesthetically pleasing views. And that isn’t the jist of it. The sinks are filled with a bottom layer of ice topped with rose petals. Yes, real rose petals. Apparently, the owners of Vivo think moi [me] worthy of washing my dirty hands atop a medley of pink and red roses. I found myself spending a little too much time in the dim-lit restroom, smelling the large blooming bouquet of fresh roses by the sink and feeling like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, minus the whole prostitution thing of course. Then I remembered it was time to go back to my over-priced chalupa dish and dull date. Oh well. A woman can’t have it all.
Austin: Is there such a thing as “Bang for your Buck” in West Campus?
I awoke one morning to the brave decision that I wanted to live alone, in an apartment, my senior year of college. When deciding on which apartment complex best suited me, I was faced with two problems- over protective parents and the incredible expense of a tiny, itty bitty, often crazy 80’s styled apartment.
Perhaps I’m jaded, but I could not fathom living anywhere else but west campus. It’s close to the university and relatively quiet. I ruled out Riverside due to the distance and the fact that it might not be the safest spot for a 20-year-old kid who jumps at every noise. Equally, North Campus did not grab my attention. Again, jaded.
I set out last Saturday with a realtor who had made a list of reasonably priced one-bedroom apartments with a washer and dryer. They also had to be gated. (Thanks dad.) We saw a whole three places…talk about choices. I will spare the names, due to the fact I chose one, however, Apt. #1, off 24th street, felt like I had entered a time-warp, the apartment was entirely 80’s themed. All I needed was a high ponytail and leggings and I could have rocked out to Duran Duran all night! I did not look at the rest of it, it was a NO. Apt. #2 was bigger, and beautiful, just off 25th, with a large bedroom and really spacious closet, around 700 sq. feet in all. (Suite style for college kids.) I loved it until I walked into the kitchen and there it was…wallpaper! Ah! Flowered wallpaper. Enough said. I was feeling disheartened, until we arrived at Apt. #3, again off 24th, gated, still not spacious, but updated with wood floors and no foul odors. Sold.
The realtor disclosed to me that all of the new apartments going up, such as the ones on 24th and Rio Grande, by Cain and Abel’s will be in the thousands for rent, for a one-bedroom. Plus, the parking will be $100 per month for a spot. Ouch. Construction is going on all over west campus, I see a new apartment complex rising every month, it seems. Many people are getting rich off students and parents *need* for one of them.
So, in August, I will move in to my tiny, itty bitty one-bedroom apartment that is gated, much to my chagrin and parent’s total happiness. I am not allowed to have pets, nor will I be able to fit much into my 510 sq. foot apartment, but I guess that is the small, errr, large price to pay for living in the most sought after area of campus.
AUSTIN: Subway made cheaper
A sandwich connoisseur knows that the cheapest of the cheap is Subway — even if it doesn’t come with all the extras you can get at other places.
But there’s a way to make your dollar stretch even further than usual at the House of Jared.
There’s a Subway on Oltorf and Parker Lane that stays open until 3 a.m., which tends to come in handy for those in the area who are jonesin’ for some real food during studying, or other various nocturnal activities. And if you go there within 15 minutes of closing time, you’ll get your sandwich a couple bucks cheaper because their “freshly baked bread” can’t stay there overnight.
Combine that little fact with the place’s sandwich of the day and you’ve got a six-inch sub for less than three bucks.
Of course, there’s never any guarantee they’ll still have the kind of bread you’re looking for. That’s probably the only drawback to this deal. And it always seems to be the white bread.
But when you’re asking for the stuff nobody else wanted, getting picky isn’t exactly an option.
AUSTIN: 2008 Free-Show List For SXSW: Free drinks begin 11am March 14th
Debating on buying a SXSW wristband? Halt! Stop! Einde! Arrêt! Arresto! That’s absolutely too much music for your poor darling little ears. Rest assured, all the music you’ll need will be provided *free* during the day with a large dose of free night shows to send you off to bed. Plus, there’s always more of a chance of seeing undiscovered bands in a very intimate cramped setting (like up against a drumset at Jaime’s on Red River) before they become famous if you pass on the official showcases. And what’s more is that free shows usually have a matching set of free food to go with it, what a lovely outfit! You will be embarassed by your riches and wish you could share your free music with less fortunate people in Wyoming.
Millions of readers turn to UC for this coveted information offered in fragments on other websites (millions in UC numbers=hundreds). UC will give you all of it, too much information even, at once, all together, with updates. If you have any insider information do comment. And thanks to sites such as donewaiting.com and showlistaustin.com for being the year round musical information givers.
Enough. Here is .... THE LIST of FREE SHOWS at SXSW:
