How to
Celebrate Austin and the Texas Hill Country Celebrating 32 Years
The Pocket Guide for Visitors, Locals & Newcomers
Maps of Downtown, South, North and Central Austin Your Guide to Shopping, Restaurants, Can’t-Miss-Souvenirs and Attractions
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Welcome to Austin! Greetings: As Governor of Texas, I am pleased to welcome you to Austin. With world-class entertainment, historic landmarks, beautiful scenery, fantastic food and a vibrant cultural scene, Texas’ capital city has something for everyone. Celebrate Austin is your guide to all the fun. More than 20 million travelers visit Austin and other destinations in the Texas Hill Country each year. Top attractions in Austin include the State Capitol, the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library and Museum, Lake Travis, the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony, The University of Texas-Austin and the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. Austin is also home to world-class events such as the Austin City Limits Music Festival and South by Southwest. Residents of the great State of Texas pride themselves on greeting friends and strangers alike with a warm welcome. Our famous hospitality, along with our state’s great natural beauty, abundance of attractions and exciting travel experiences, make Texas one of the most visited states in the United States. First Lady Anita Perry joins me in wishing you a wonderful time. Sincerely, Rick Perry Governor
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Inside Celebrate Austin, a Pocket Guide Fun Austin..........................................................1-11 Downtown .......................................................12-17 North ................................................................ 18-23 Central ............................................................ 24-25 South............................................................... 26-27
To Austinites, Visitors and Newcomers: Please enjoy our collection of recommended attractions, restaurants and retail. Be sure to tell our advertisers that Celebrate Austin sent you! Look for our hardbound book in Austin area hotel rooms and gift shops or visit us at www.CelebrateAustin.com.
Copyright and Trademark, 2012, by Celebrate Texas Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of the book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher. Corporate offices are located at 10713 RR 620 N. Austin, TX 78726. For more information, please call 512-346-6235 or visit our Website. www.celebrateaustin.com. Art Director & Production Manager: Publisher: Judy Barrick Shannon Barrientes Executive Vice Presidents: Linda Olson and Marilyn Crawford Cover Photo by John R Rogers www.johnrrogers.com
Austin Zoo and Animal Sanctuary 10808 Rawhide Trail, Austin ,TX 78736 www.austinzoo.org, (512) 288-1490 With more than 350 animals from more than 100 different species, Austin Zoo and Animal Sanctuary is a private, non-profit zoo rescuing animals and serving the Austin community.
Laundry Delivery Service (512) 906-2760 Open daily WashDayLaundry.com
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DEPARTS 3X DAILY Austin Visitor Center 209 E. Sixth Street
512.659.9478
www.celebrateaustin.com | austinovertures.com
Fun Austin
Handy Austin Tips & Info
EMERGENCY SERVICES Fire/Police/Sheriff/Ambulance, 911 Austin Police Department, (512) 974-5000 Travis County Sheriff Office, (512)854-9770
GENERAL INFORMATION Local time and temperature, (512) 973-3555 Weather, (512) 451-2424; www.kvue.com/weather
Hospital Emergency Rooms St. David’s Medical Center, (512) 476-7111; www.stdavids.com Heart Hospital of Austin, (512) 407-7000; www.hearthospitalofaustin.com Seton Medical Center, (512) 324-1000; www.seton.net Brackenridge, (512) 324-7000; www.seton.net St. David’s South Austin Hospital, (512) 447-2211; www.stdavids.com Seton Northwest Hospital, (512) 324-6000; www.seton.net St. David’s North Medical Center, (512) 901-1000; www.stdavids.com
TRANSPORTATION Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, (512) 530-5300 Capital Metro Bus, (512) 474-1200; www.capmetro.org Amtrak, (512) 476-5684; www.amtrak.com SuperShuttle, 800-BLUE-VAN; www.SuperShuttle.com ExecuCar, 800-410-4444; www.ExecuCar.com V.I.P. Limousine Service, (512) 784-6745; http://viplimoaustin.com Austin Ultimate Sedan, 512-689-9420; www.ausultimate.com Austin Cab Company, (512) 478-2222; www.austincab.com Tipsy Taxi Austin, (512) 848-4553; http://tipsytaxiaustin.wordpress.com Double names Many of the roads in Austin have two names! * MoPac Expressway/ Loop 1/ Burnet Road (Most locals just call it “MoPac”) * Capital of Texas Hwy/ Loop 360 * Highway 71/ Ben White Blvd * Research Boulevard/ 183 * RR 2244/ Bee Cave Road * RR 2222/ Koenig Lane
* Enfield Road/ 15th Street * Martin Luther King Blvd or MLK/ 19th Street * Windsor/ 24th Street * Cesar Chavez/ 1st Street * Dean Keaton Street/ 26th Street. * Sixth Street/ Old Pecan Street * Guadalupe St./ “The Drag” * Duval Street is central and north * Lady Bird Lake is often referred to as Town Lake by locals
Locals Pronounce It: Burnet Road as “Burn-it” Manchaca Road as “Man-shack” Koenig Lane is “Kay-nig”
Guadalupe Street is “Gwad-a-loop” Lavaca Street is “Le-VAK-ka” San Jacinto pronounce the “J” like Jimmy
Visit today!
www.celebrateaustin.com
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Shop BRILLIANTLY. ANN TAYLoR FAcToRY SToRe, BcBGMAXAZRIA, coLe hAAN, eLIe TAhARI. TWo AReA LocATIoNS. GUeSS, J.cReW, LoFT oUTLeT, MIchAeL KoRS, NIKe, SAKS FIFTh AVeNUe oFF 5Th, ToMMY hILFIGeR AND MoRe.* SAVINGS oF 25% To 65% eVeRY DAY. *STORES VARY PER CENTER.
LeGeNDARY BRANDS. ABUNDANT SeLecTIoN. ReAL SAVINGS. SAN MARCOS PREMIUM OUTLETS 140 STORES • IH-35, EXIT 200 • (512) 396-2200 ROUND ROCK PREMIUM OUTLETS 125 STORES • I-35 N: EXIT 257, I-35 S: EXIT 256 • (512) 863-6688
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Austin Event Calendar
March South by Southwest - Originating in 1987, this large week-long festival has been pivotal in promoting Austin’s reputation as the Live Music Capital of the World®. www.sxsw.com Zilker Garden Festival - Celebrated for over 50 years. Flower Show, live music, Gardening Talks, Kids’ Corner and a Food Court. (512) 477-8672 ext. 12, or email info@zilkergarden.org.
Austin writers during Texas Writers Month, including book signings, refreshments and daily door prizes. www.austin.eventguide.com Taste of Mexico - Austin’s MexicArte Museum’s event highlights include savory cuisine provided by local restaurants, a silent auction, live music and dancing. www.mexic-artemuseuminfo.org
Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo March 9th-24th; Texas Expo Center; One of Austin’s premier events, featuring ProRodeo events, daily concerts and a livestock show. www.rodeoaustin.com
June Republic of Texas Biker Rally Every second Thursday of June and continues through Sunday. 50,000 participants and 200,000 spectators join. Ride-in bike show, custom bike builders, live music, a tattoo expo and stunt riders. www.rotrally.com
April Eeyore’s Birthday Party - Held the last Saturday of April every year, this event is a fundraiser. Costume contests, Maypoles and live music. Pease Park. www.eeyores.org
Texas Hill Country Railfair and Festival - Celebrating Texas’ locomotive-centric heritage, begins in Cedar Park with a trip on the Hill Country Flyer to the festival in Burnet. (512) 477-8468.
Old Settler’s Music Festival - This four-day festival is more than just the typical music festival; camp for four days and three nights at Camp Ben McCulloch. Four stages, kids’ activities, and arts and crafts. www.oldsettlersmusicfest.org
July 4th of July - The “official” and largest event in Austin is held at Auditorium Shores. More than 100,000 Austinites will gather. Fireworks from 9:30-10 p.m. Free! Volente Beach Waterpark, on Lake Travis, offers live music and fireworks. www.shoreclubtx.com
Austin Reggae Festival - Also known as Bob Marley Fest, it occurs annually in April on Auditorium Shores. Bands, vendors and food. www.austinreggaefest.com Old Pecan Street Spring Festival The free, bi-annual arts and crafts festival features paintings, sculpture, woodwork, candles, jewelry, cowboy hats, home décor and games. Live music. Don’t miss it! www.oldpecanstreetfestival.com May Austin Writers Downtown - The Writers’ League of Texas hosts a week-long literary showcase of
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August Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival - Live music and culinary exhibitions. www.austinfoodbank. org/hot-sauce-festival Bat Fest - Held every August at the Congress Avenue Bridge. Arts, crafts, music, food, children’s activities, educational displays and, of course, bat watching. www.roadwayevents.com September UT Football - Follow the schedule at www.mackbrown-texasfootball.
Fun Austin Robert Redford, at the age of five, learned to swim at Barton Springs. The average water temperature there is between 67 and 70 degrees, even in winter. Open year round, $3/ adults. Find it in Zilker Park at 2201 Barton Springs Rd.; 512-476-9044. The Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center is home to one of the last Gutenberg Bibles as well as the first photograph ever taken. Entry is free! Find it on the University of Texas campus at 300 West 21st St.; 512-471-8944. The diameter of each clock face on the UT Tower is 14ft. 8 in. The clock was first set in motion in 1936. Call 512-475-6633 if you’re interested in taking in the spectacular view! The tower can be found on campus at 23rd and Guadalupe St. The French Legation at 802 San Marcos is Austin’s oldest documented structure. It was built in 1840 for France’s representative to the Republic of Texas, Jean Pierre Dubois de Saligny. It is now open to the public as a museum. 512-472-8180. The Texas State Capitol was built of distinctive Texas pink granite from nearby Marble Falls. Tours of the Capitol building are free! The visitors center is open 9am to 5pm, Mon-Sat, and ‘till noon on Sundays. 1100 Congress Ave.; 512-463-5495. Austin is the only U.S. city that still retains and uses a portion of the tower lighting system that was once used during the late 1800s. Seventeen of the original thirty-one 165 ft. moonlight towers are scattered around Austin. (Can you find them?) Mount Bonnell is a prominent point alongside Lake Austin. A popular tourist destination since the 1850s, the mount provides a vista for viewing the city of Austin, Lake Austin, and the hills. Four picnic tables. 3800 Mt. Bonnell Dr.; 512-974-6700. The Texas Governor’s Mansion is the oldest inhabited house in Texas. It is said to be occupied by the ghost of a former governor’s nephew who died in the northwest bedroom in 1865. Tours starting soon. www.texasgovernorsmansion.org Former first lady Lady Bird Johnson established the LBJ Wildflower Center in Austin to study and promote the use of native plants. The botanical garden covers 279 acres and displays more than 500 native species. $8/ adults. www.wildflower.org
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Downtown frank & angie’s Pizzeria 508 West Avenue (Just behind Hut’s Hamburgers) (512) 472-3534 www.HutsFrankandAngies.com Scrumptious piping hot pizzas, pastas and calzones, on the patio or inside. Select from their great wine list at inexpensive prices. Frank & Angie’s has been a local Austin delight for many years.
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Hut’s Hamburgers 807 W 6th Steet (Just in front of Frank & Angie’s) (512) 472-0693 www.HutsFrankandAngies.com An Austin tradition since 1939. Affordable and delicious, try their grassfed longhorn, buffalo or organic veggie burgers. Top it off with a homemade shake. Located on convenient 6th St.
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Maggie Mae’s is a local legend and no visit to Austin is the same without a view from the largest rooftop on Sixth Street. No matter what your taste, you will find exciting entertainment at Maggie Mae’s including; a Sports Bar, complete with big screens for the game, a Harley-Davidson bar downstairs, an authentic English Pub, a New Orleans-style courtyard beneath the stars and three live music stages with different genres of music on each. Maggie Mae’s consists of four historical buildings, beautifully restored, which together make for one of the largest entertainment venues downtown. Don’t miss a view of the Gibson Room and the Les Paul Lounge upstairs, which feature dynamic art by Robert Hurst (adamnfineartist.com) and iconic photgraphy by Edwin Kramer, as well as custom Gibson Guitars for your viewing pleasure.
Est. 1978 Locally Owned 323 E Sixth St. 512-478-8541
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You’ve had Tex-Mex...why not try
FRESH-MEX It’s the perfect time to try new things, so why not start with Iron Cactus, where you can find distinctly flavored dishes unmatched in their authenticity? Join us for a dining experience you won’t soon forget.
SAVOR THE DIFFERENCE
IronCactus.com
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10001 Stonelake Boulevard
HILL COUNTRY GALLERIA 13420 Galleria Circle
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“Meet Me at The OASIS!”
The OASIS on Lake Travis features the best Tex-Mex in Austin, and perfect margaritas with Cazadores tequila! Outdoor decks soar 450’ above the lake with spectacular sunsets. Venues available for private parties, events, or any celebration. Delicious lunches and sunset dinners all week. 6550 Comanche Trail Austin 78732 512/266-2442 oasis-austin.com
Golf and Recreation in the Texas Hill Country Onion Creek Country Club; Southeast Austin; Includes a 27-hole golf course, six tennis courts, a pool, fitness center and dining facilities and is Austin’s most historic golf club. The Club was founded in 1974 by threetime Masters Champion, Jimmy Demaret, and golf legend, Jimmie Connolly. www.onioncreekclub.com; 512-282-2150 The Dominion Country Club; San Antonio; Located in the peaceful wooded Texas Hill Country just 20 minutes from the heart of San Antonio, The Club offers the very finest facilities, service and amenities and is a great asset to our family of sister clubs. www.the-dominion.com; 210-698-3364
Twin Creeks Country Club; Northwest Austin; An exclusive private club that includes an 18-hole Schmidt-Curley River Place Country Club Golf Design with PGA Touring ProfesRiver Place Country Cl Lantana Golf Clu sional and Masters Champion Fred Couples course. The designers created an exceptional golf experience, with a delicate balance of challenge and fun. www.twincreekscountryclub.com; 512-331-5900
Lantana Golf Club; Southern Denton County; Nestled in the gently rolling hills, characterized by its unique architecture and breathtaking natural setting and designed by the world renowned team of Jay The and Carter Dominion Country Clu Onion Creek Club Morrish, Lantana’s course maximizes the wooded terrain and natural beauty of the land, creating an unparalleled setting. www.lantanagolf.com; 940-728-4653
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River Place Country Club; Northwest; Nestled in theand Hill Country with abenefits championship 18-hole, one of our Clubs enjoy the of what allTom fiveKitehave to signature golf course, it is surrounded Call designed today to schedule your private tour! by the awe-inspiring beauty of nature combined with a multitude of exceptional recreational activities. www.riverplaceclub.com; 512-346-1114
More Local Courses!
ce Blvd. 8730 114 club.com
3201 Twin Creeks Club Dr. One Dominion Drive & SPA BARTON CREEK RESORT GOLF; Whether it’s 800 Gol Lantana Cedar Park, TX 78613 San Antonio, TX 7825 the signature Fazio Foothills, the impressive Fazio Can- (940) 7 (512) 331-5900 (210) 698-3364 www.twincreeksclub.com www.the-dominion.com yons, the stunning Crenshaw Cliffside or the secluded www.lan Palmer Lakeside, each 18-hole course combines the genius of some of the game’s greatest legends. www.bartoncreek.com; 512-329-4000
2510 Onion Creek Pkwy Austin, TX 78747 (512) 282-2150 www.onioncreekclub.com
LAKEWAY Resort & Spa Golf; Four 18-hole championship golf courses: Flintrock Falls, Falconhead, Yaupon and Live Oak. All offer fully stocked pro shops, snack bars, driving ranges, putting greens, rental clubs, gift certificates and lessons. www.lakewayresortandspa.com; 800-525-3929 HYATT LOST PINES GOLF/ WOLFDANCER; Award winning (recently named as one of Golfweek Magazine’s “Top 100 Resort Courses for 2009”). The 7,205-yard, 18-hole, par-72 layout combines strategy and swagger to challenge the most avid golfer. Public. www.wolfdancergolfclub.com; 512-303-1368
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Daily Specials - Daily Wine/ Sake Flights Happy Hour 7 days a week Tuesday ladies night at Steiner Ranch location Wednesday ladies night at Lakeway location Sunday all-day happy hour both locations
Happy Hour: $4.00 Appetizer: seaweed salad, squid salad, cucumber salad, gyoza, calamari rings, asian wings, spicy yakitori, spicy tuna tacos, and fried tofu $3.00 Sushi (2pcs): tuna, salmon, yellowtail, red snapper, escolar, mackerel, shrimp, crab, octopus, albacore, egg omelette, and eel
$4.00 Roll (6pcs): cucumber roll, tuna roll, spicy tuna roll, cali roll, shrimp tempura roll, boston roll, veggie roll, philly roll, and eel roll 1/2 Price Sake & Wine: small or large hot sake, and sake bombs, canyon road wines (by the glass)
$1.00 off any beer- domestic and import beer **Dine-In Only, No To-Go Boxes, No Substitutions, Limited Time Offer
Reservations and Event Catering Available Lakeway x Steiner Ranch
2422 Ranch Road 620 South, Ste A-100 Austin, Texas 78738 Phone: 512-263-0400
4300 North Quinlan Park Ste 105 Austin, TX 78732 512-266-8700
chosushi.com
Central
Shore Club Restaurant & Bar on the hill offers an upscale, yet casual atmosphere with the best sunset views in the state. Specializes in hand-cut steaks and fresh seafood and serves the best burgers on the lake. All produce is local and goes from farm to table. Come out and try a signature Pina Colada, Mojito or Margarita.
512-258-5110 16107 fm 2769 Volente, TX 78641 www.shoreclubtx.com
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SUNSET CANYON POTTERY ... handmade ... functional ... affordable
90 different items in 12 unique patterns!
4002 E. Hwy 290, Dripping Springs, TX 78620 sunsetcanyonpottery.com • 512.894.0938 www.celebrateaustin.com | 27