Austin
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A bus, a battle and a beat
A day tour is always a good chance to explore the wider area. But as I’ve found over the years, the cheapest way is to organise the whole thing yourself. Websites offer trip out of Austin to San Antonio for upwards of $100. However, without a car, the DIY option is not as straightforward as…
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Dancing and Chicken Poop
“Keep Austin Weird” says the city’s slogan, and there are a million ways to do that in this city. But to prepare yourself for a weird weekend of entertainment, you need to line your stomach. And in around here it doesn’t get much better than some good old fashioned fried chicken. In many other parts…
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A University and a Willie
One key addition to many cities in recent years has been the E-scooter. They sometimes get a bad reputation, and on a late evening in Austin it’s easy to see why. There are literally hundreds of these things darting about, often ridden by people who’ve had a few drinks. And there’s no shortage of choice…
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Post pandemic blues
I’m belatedly writing this in September 2022, some six months after my first trip to the States post Covid. The whole world knows that everything ground to a halt for the best part of two years, and even though borders had been reopened, in March this year there were still a whole load of forms…
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A chicken, but no eggs
Sunday afternoons are best spent in a laid back manner, maybe combining a few drinks with a chat over dinner. Or, if you’re in Texas, you could bet on exactly where a chicken is going to defecate. For this is Chicken Shit Bingo, where a couple of hundred people gather each weekend to experience a…
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Don’t Mess With Texas!
Among the clash of musical styles blaring out of Sixth Street, it’s easy to forget that Austin has much more to offer for an evening’s entertainment. Just a couple of miles south of downtown, at the Broken Spoke, they do both types of music – country and western. And nobody goes home disappointed. The Spoke…
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We Built This City (on food and soul)
“I’m going to show you where I grew up – and a place you should visit.” It’s an offer I can’t refuse, mainly because it’s come from the driver of the Aiport Shuttle bus and he’s taking a detour to avoid the Friday afternoon traffic. Nestling beneath the shiny corporate skyscrapers of downtown Austin is…
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Bat City
Just before sunset,hundreds of people line the Congress Bridge over the Colorado River. On the water, several tour boats jostle for position, along with modern-day pedalos, powered by people sitting upright on what looks like an exercise bike. And they’ve all come to see one of Austin’s most unusual sights. Because when it gets dark,…
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A Whole Lotta History
The mighty Colorado River – known as the Red River – snakes its way through the middle of Austin. And thanks to some neat design, there’s a good view from the elevator mounted on the outside of the hotel. The sun is beating down on the city today, a welcome relief from the chilly winds…
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Austin Powers
On 98.1 KFAT, the emphasis is on country music. And adverts for tractors. And cosmetic dentistry. These guys know how to play to the Texas demographic. Welcome to Austin, which is blessed with clear skies as we approach On the ground, an enormous man takes me to the shuttle van, and turns out to be…
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