Austin, TX USA

Words and photography by anselm lowe jr

AUSTIN, TX

18JAN2019 - 20JAN2019 JFK < – > AUS

$370 R/T on American Airlines*

*This trip was booked last minute as a result of a hastily planned bachelor party. If you’re not scrambling to book 8 days before you want to leave then flights can be had for cheaper.

An oasis in the heart of Texas, named after the Father of Texas John F. Austin. The city was formed in the 1830’s as Waterloo and was soon promoted to the capital after that. By the 1880s there was a capital building which at the time of its completion was the 7th largest building in the world (weird flex but ok). I could keep going, but I’m no historian. All you need to know is that the Republic’s capital has a homely, small-town vibe with (some) big city amenities.

THE FOOD

Fucking. Fire. Oh my goodness. Okay where do we start? Gordough’s Public House. So what’re two things in this world that we can almost all agree are great? *pause for dramatic effect* That’s right. Doughnuts and Booze. This place combines the best of both worlds, and it does it well. If you’re after a bite to eat, this place also comes in clutch. It has a full menu of doughnuts and doughnut-inspired entrees. I won’t lie: after ¾ of a doughnut, I was stuffed. Its laid back atmosphere and adjacent biergarten make it a perfect place to kick back and waste away a few hours. It also boasts a fire cocktail menu (I HIGHLY recommend the Cuban 77 or the House Stark cocktails) complete with drinks made with all your major spirits (vodka, gin, whiskey, rum, tequila, etc.) to beer cocktails and an array of bottled and canned brews. $40 Once you’ve come back down from your sugar high, hop on a Bird Scooter and head on over to Rainey Street (they’re about 3 and a half miles apart) for you guessed it… MORE FOOD. Here you’ll find two alcoves of food trucks with cuisine ranging from pizza and seafood to Indian and grilled cheese. $6 If you’s a true baller, then give Perry’s Steakhouse a look. The menu is a bit pricey for a budget-minded traveler, but it IS good. It’s basically farm-to-table when you think about it considering the cattle are so close. The wait-staff is fantastic, but they will give you admonishing looks when you accidentally say “well” instead of “rare” -and rightfully so. If you’re really feelin’ adventurous, order the escargot. I know I know, “snail. Nope.” but live a little. And it’s actually delicious! Just keep telling yourself that you’re eating squid or chicken and it goes right down. $110 If you still want a good cut of meat, but ALSO want to keep some money in your pocket, then Terry Black’s is the place for you but you NEED to get there as soon as it opens. I cannot stress this enough. Why? Because it’s served buffet/ deli style. You grab your own sides -which are priced according to size. (I recommend splitting bigger pints of sides and splitting them with friends or even strangers because it’s more economical that way) Next… THE MEAT. So they have sausages, pork chops, brisket, and chopped beef. This is the fun part: you speak with someone at the counter -the meat master if you will, and they ask if you’d like a sandwich or just straight meat. The meat master then grabs a cut of already cooked meat and hacks it down to your desired size, and plops it on your tray. Did I mention there’s no plates? But no matter, the food is GOOD. SHIT. The creamed corn? Bomb. And don’t even get me started on the mac and cheese. But the grand poobah, the brisket. Melts in your mouth. I know: sounds like total hyperbole. But it’s not. Try it and then tell me I’m wrong. So… WHY GET THERE EARLY? Well. This process may SEEM quick, but it actually moves quite slow and if you’re an impatient New Yorker like myself, then the line that goes out the door and around the building like a best buy on black friday can get reallll annoying real quick. So to circumvent waiting, get there early. Thank me later when you see all the people standing outside. $22

THE DRINKS

We’ve already touched on Gordough’s. While you’re on Rainey, be sure to head north up to Container Bar. It’s a spot composed solely of old shipping containers. Be advised that most of this bar is outdoors so keep that in mind if it’s a little chilly or there’s rain in the forecast. Sixth Street has bars as far as the eye can see. I was only in town for two nights so there’s no shot I was going to make it to all of them, but I was pretty happy with the ones that I DID make it to. The one thing that I noticed about 6th Street’s bars is that it tends to be a younger crowd. Between 21 [or younger] and 23 seemed to be the average age range so if you’re after a more laid-back less party vibe, then be sure to pick and choose your destination wisely. Buckshot is a pretty cool spot, offering shots as low as three dollars. How that’s fucking legal is still beyond me, but if you’re looking to pre-game economically, then definitely give these guys a look.

THE TRANSPORT

There aren’t any subways so I hope you like walking. If you DON’T however, then you’re in luck because the sidewalks are littered -and I quite literally mean littered with bird, jump and lime scooters. All you have to do is pull out your phone, download the app, and you’re off and running. They’re about $1 to unlock and then you’re charged for distance and duration after that. It’s a pretty neat way to get around if you don’t want to wait for an uber, or just want the flexibility to just hop on and off wherever you go. Once you’re done, just pull out your phone again, end the ride, park the scooter right where you stand, and you’re on your way.

*Pro Tip: Learn from my mistakes. If you’re looking to take a cab or an uber when you leave the airport, then listen close. When you walk out of the airport, walk ACROSS the street to the PARKING GARAGE, go up to the SECOND FLOOR and there you will see the queue of rideshare and cabs. The airport only has a designated pickup and drop off zone so you’ll have to go here to grab a ride. Also, take the Uber. The cab ride was suuuuper expensive!

THE T.L.D.R.

City with a small-town vibe. Food is good, bars are good, and scootering is the way to go!

Travel smart, Travel safe, Travel. Simplified