Austin's Evening Pleasures

I arrived in Austin late this afternoon and (in order to move the biological clock from Pacific to Central Time) immediately settled in for a power nap. Once I awoke and got the bedhead in order, I ventured out into the sultry Austin evening. If you happen to be staying in the Hilton (or are venturing out from the Convention Center), once out the main doors hang a right and walk about two blocks and you're on 6th street, Austin's Music strip. A few steps down this street and you'll realize that Austin is very much alive with music, shirt-shops, holy-rollers, faith and tatoo healers, fine and "come at closing time" restaurants, PLENTY OF BICYCLE-MOUNTED POLICE, and free-flowing and inexpensive beer. This venue is NOT akin to the Stalingradian venues of a few earlier (and best-left-unmentioned) APS meetings: The district appears safe for tourists and conventioneers. The music district stretches for a few blocks and air of the strip is filled with a multitude of live latin (mostly Cuban), blues, folk, bluegrass, reggae, and southern rock rhythms. There are actually places on the street where the strains from two or more clubs compete for your ears! Every band that I heard was exceptionally GOOD and every venue (probably because it was a week night) had no cover charge. I heard several particularly good blues bands, one of them original and the other a Stevie Ray Vaughn Double-Trouble Band clone (the band with original numbers was playing at a place called "Rhythm and Blues"). It is readily apparent that the 6th Street strip is the venue of choice for musicians from this region. The Music District seemed safe: with my camera, Maui shirt, and middle-aged belly I had "Joe Tourist" written all over me and I didn't get rolled once during my foray. The city appears to be very APS-friendly as long as common sense is exercised.

There are plenty of good restaurants on or near the strip and the prices are exceedingly affordable. A small French restaurant near the Hilton (Chez Nous) delivers a superb Provencal meal and bottle of wine for about $50 US. Most of the other high-end restaurants in the Music District appeared comparably priced and (by the looks of the people waddling out of them) of equal culinary quality. Austin appears to be a splendid value for APS members. Download austin.jpg