Author Archives: jacobskro

Topo Chico Mineral Water

Locals love sparkling water from Mexico. Yes, you read that correctly. We drink water from Mexico as a mixer or a hangover cure. Here is the story:

In 1440 Moctezuma’s beautiful daughter suffered a terrible untreatable disease. After no conventional 1400s medical treatments healed her ailment, she travelled across Mexico to bathe and drink from the rumored healing waters of the Cerro del Topo Chico in Nuevo Leon – after some time in the spring she miraculously recovered and the legend of the Topo Chico began. They began bottling the water in 1895 and it’s now sold in Mexico, Texas and a few other states.

Topo Chico

Bike Share Explained

B-Cycle is a relatively simple bike sharing system similar to the ones you will find in other mid-to-large cities. It’s $8/day but can get expensive if you don’t use the following tips to avoid additional charges:

  • Check-in the bike within 30 min of checking it out
  • Once checked-in, you can check it right back out for free using the same credit card
  • Map out your destination and a back-up destination in case the bike racks are full
  • Get the app so you know where the stations are located

The ideal ride is a 15-20 min ride from the Capitol, down Congress to the river and then along the trail to the station at Zilker Park with a couple alternate options (an early check-in/out at the Lamar pedestrian bridge or a back-up check-in at Barton Springs Pool). Link to Directions

B-Cycle Stations

The Perfect Weekend in Austin

A night out on Rainey Street

  • Pizza and Wine at Bufalina
  • Wine on-tap at L’Estelle House
  • Drinks at Clive, Half-Step, Lucille
  • Live music at Blackheart
  • Explore the house parties and check-out Container Bar
  • Grub Banger’s late-night menu

Daytime fun in South Austin

  • Tacos at Torchy’s Trailer Park
  • Swimming at Barton Springs Pool or stand up paddle boarding on Lady Bird Lake
  • Shopping on South Congress: Allens Boots, Uncommon Objects, Stag, Service Menswear, Kendra Scott
  • Burgers at Hopdoddy or snacks at June’s All Day
For night 2, options are grouped by proximity.

Option A – A night out on the East Side

  • Outdoor dining at Thai-Kun or La Barbecue
  • Craft cocktails at Whisler’s
  • Two-stepping at White Horse
  • Live music at Hotel Vegas
  • Craft cocktails at Ah Sing Den (formerly East Side Show Room)
  • Late-night detroit style pizza at Via 313 (next to Violet Crown)

Option B – A night out in South Austin

  • Pre-dinner drinks at Gibson or Eberly
  • Dinner reservation at Uchi or Odd Duck
  • Live music at Continental Club or C-Boy’s Heart & Soul
  • Late-night new york style pizza at Home Slice

Option C – A night out in West Austin

  • Pre-dinner drinks at The Cloak Room
  • Dinner reservation at Ranch 616
  • Two-stepping at Rattle Inn
  • Giant Jenga at Kung Fu
  • Ring Toss at The Dogwood
  • Late-night chicken and waffles at 24 diner

Option D – A night out on East Sixth (Avoiding the dirty parts)

  • Dinner and a movie at the Alamo Ritz
  • Craft cocktails at Midnight Cowboy
  • Drinks at the Driskill Bar
  • Late-night kimchi fries at Chi-Lantro

Daytime fun in West Austin

  • Breakfast at Counter Cafe
  • Shopping at Waterloo Records
  • Amy’s Ice Creams
  • People watching at Whole Foods Lamar
  • B-Cycle bike share on the Trail
  • Shop high end active-wear at Outdoor Voices
  • Seafood at Clark’s Oyster Bar or feast on the holy trinity at Freedmen’s Barbecue

Sound & Cinema

On Wednesday during the summer, Alamo Drafthouse and Do512 host an outdoor film screening accompanied by live music and food trucks on the lawn a the Long Center’s City Terrace, with the perfect view of the sun setting on the downtown skyline behind the stage.

Bands will perform a tribute to the movie, followed by the film screening on The Alamo’s giant inflatable outdoor screen.

The Food Trailers will be open by 6:30 pm, and the sunset concerts will begin at 7:30 pm each evening. The movie will immediately follow (around 8:30 pm or right after sunset).

Check out Do512 for more info.

Ranch Water

Expensive but awesome local drink started at Ranch 616 and served at Rattle Inn and a few other establishments

Hornitos Reposado, Citronge and lime juice on the rocks served with a Topo Chico mineral water

Ranch Water

 

Day drinking + nature

The Greenbelt is a great place to day drink but alcohol is prohibited. Bring a bag of wine or a punch and be discrete.

green belt

Here’s a rundown of the Greenbelt’s access points:

Zilker Park

Scottish Woods Trail (1710 Camp Craft Rd.)

Twin Falls Access (3900 Frontage of Mopac)

Gus Fruh (2642 Barton Hills Dr)

Spyglass (1500 Spyglass Dr.)

Loop 360 (3755-B Capitol of Texas)

Whiskey & BBQ Slider Happy Hour

Freedmen’s Bar has a great happy hour special Tues-Fri 4-7pm.

  • $5 Brisket Sliders (They also offer pulled pork but I recommend brisket)
  • $3 Whiskey of the Month

Pictured below is the Glenfiddich 12 yr and the Holy Trinity (Brisket, Sausage, Pork Ribs). I was a little hungry.

Freedmen's $3 Whiskey + Holy Trinity

Check Freedmen’s calendar for the Whiskey of the Month

Freedmen’s is a laid-back lounge, beer garden, and smokehouse serving barbecue and retro-inspired cocktails in an historic Austin building located west of the University of Texas.

Torchy’s Sacred Menu

Seven secret menu items from the popular taco joint.

  • Missionary-Style Green Chili Pork: carnitas, pickled onions, guacamole, jack cheese and cilantro, topped with chipotle sauce and wrapped in a flour and corn two-tortilla tandem.
  • Jack of Clubs: fried egg and grilled potatoes with black beans, tortilla strips and cheese; all topped with cilantro, sour cream and Torchy’s Diablo sauce.
  • The Hipster: panko-breaded fried tuna, with bacon, green chilies, and black beans; topped with cilantro and cotija cheese, and served on a flour tortilla with avocado sauce.
  • The Mad Cow: skirt steak with black beans and corn; topped with jack cheese, cilantro and ranch.
  • Trailer Park Hillbilly Style: Torchy’s gauche standby is made even trashier with chorizo and chopped bacon atop the usual fried chicken tender with green chilies, queso and ranch, served on a flour tortilla.
  • Ace of Spades: Jalapeno sausage link and grilled brisket topped with a fried egg, green chile queso, cotija cheese, sour cream, more cheese and Diablo sauce, served on a flour tortilla
  • The Matador: Chopped brisket and grilled jalapeno topped with pickled onions, jack chees, avocado, sour cream and cilantro with tomatillo sauce on a corn tortilla.

The Contemporary Austin Rooftop Members Lounge

On Wednesdays from 5:30 to 11pm, The Contemporary invites you to visit, experience the exhibitions, and relax on the rooftop. The Rooftop Members Lounge occasionally features special programming, including the Rooftop Architecture Film Series. Get 10% off at Royal Blue Grocery with your wristband.

Free for members, $10 for non-members.

The Contemporary Austin commissions and presents a year-round schedule of contemporary art exhibitions featuring acclaimed artists from across the globe.