A Tour of Austin

 View of the Austin skyline from Lady Bird Lake

Last weekend Trey and I went to Austin and had the best time. Here's what we did:

Friday night: We drove in and picked up my old BFF Elizabeth and went to eat at Black Star Co-Op, which had the most amazing food. I ate the Fried Egg Sandwich with fries. Do get the fries -- ah-ma-zing. We also tried bacon toffee, and Trey enjoyed a beer sampler tray with four 5-oz. beers.

Later we met my cousin James and his girlfriend at the upscale bowling alley/entertainment venue The Highball. It has a groovy atmosphere with a dark, sleek 1960s men's lounge feel. Think dark, tufted upholstery, dark wood and retro-mod lighting. It's the kind of place where guys wearing fedoras and skinny ties should be sipping martinis. I can dig it.

A "gunsie" hand block printed by an Austin artist and shown at the Austin Flea.

Saturday: We attended the Austin Flea, which happened to be in front of The Highball. There were a few vendors -- some interesting stuff. Check out One Kolor Designs T-shirts.

The Trailer Park & Eatery

For lunch we went to the South Austin Trailer Park & Eatery. The food was amazing. We ate from all three food carts there: cake balls from Holy Cacao, the Democrat taco from Torchy's Taco's and the Greek dog from Man Bite's Dog.

After lunch we worked out for about an hour at the hotel gym and then met my dad, sister and nephews for another out door dinner at Mandola's Italian Market. If you go, try the gelato: almond, pistachio, strawberry and tiramisu.

Inside at Mandola's

Saturday night: Dad, Trey and I went to Town Lake Metropolitan Park. Saxophone music from a gazebo in the park drifted with the wind as we walked along the shore of Lady Bird Lake. The buildings that punctuate the skyline were lit, as we walked past dusk. Our next stop was SOCO (South Congress) where we browsed shop windows and stopped in Big Top Candy Shop. This place has just about every candy (even nostalgic treats) you can image and ... chocolate covered bacon. Yes! It's so good, too -- sweet and salty. There's also an old fashioned soda fountain inside.

Inside Big Top Candy Shop -- photo found online

Later Saturday night we had drinks at the Snack Bar on South Congress. The service was lousy, but it's a great spot for kicking back and people watching. We didn't eat there, but the menu looks promising, so it's worth a try later.

Sunday: Trey Dad and I made a morning pilgrimage back to Lady Bird Lake and the park as well as to the Trailer Park and Eatery. Later we visited my sister and family in New Braunfels -- home of Schlitterbahn and the Guadalupe River (go tubing for a day).

 Me and Dad

After driving back into Austin, Trey and I went downtown to take in a movie with Elizabeth and her boyfriend, Juan. The Alamo Drafthouse was showing "Your Highness," and if you're not one for dumb humor you probably won't like it. I was let down by the food at the theater (you can order dinner, coffee and drinks off the menu), but the overall experience was good. Our seats were the best in the house -- plush leather couches at the top of the small stadium.

A view from the Swan Dive

Afterward we went to the Swan Dive, a downtown bar that feels like stepping into the 1920s. The Moscow Mule was a tasty libation, and I'm interested in trying the Strawberry Jam. Everyone was dressed in period appropriate clothes. This is a bar I'm definitely going to patron again. Check out their website for better pics.