Museums in Austin

There are so many things to do while in Austin but visit to a museum should be high on your list.  Austin has a variety of museums to choose from: political documentation, sculpture gardens, archives, Texas history, and more.  All museums are centrally located but if you would like to stay close to the Adams House or Hyde Park the best options are The Elisabet Ney, The LBJ Library, and the Harry Ransom Center.  If you only want to see museums for the day, try Austin's Cultural Campus and walk to 6 museums.  Here are some recommendations for museums:

The Blanton Museum of Art- (200 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, 512-471-7324) The Blanton is located on The University of Texas campus at Congress Avenue.  This museum has the largest and most comprehensive collection of art in Central Texas with its collection of more than 17,000 works of European paintings, an encyclopedic collection of prints and drawings, and modern and contemporary American and Latin American art.  They also have revolving exhibitions so check before you go to see what the current exhibit will be.  (Hours: Tue-Fri 10-5, Sat 11-5, Sun 1-5), (Admission: $9 Adults, Thursday are Free)

The Harry Ransom Center- (21st and Guadalupe, 512-471-8944) The Ransom Center is located on The University of Texas campus.  The Ransom Center advances the study of the arts by acquiring, preserving, and making accessible original cultural materials.  They house extensive collections of rare books, manuscripts, photography, film, art, and performing arts.  Some of the collection includes Pforzheimer's English literature, page proofs of Joyce's Ulysses, the First Photograph, and the plays of Tom Stoppard and Arthur Miller.  They also have revolving exhibitions so check before you go to see what the current exhibit will be. (Hours: Tue, Wed & Fri 10-5, Thurs 10-7, Sat & Sun 12-5), (Admission: Free)

The LBJ Library & Museum- (2313 Red River St., 512-721-0200)  The Lydon Baines Johnson Library and Museum is one of thirteen presidential libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration.  It houses forty-five million pages of historical documents which include papers from the entire public career of Lyndon Baines Johnson and also from those of close associates. Many scholars use these papers and the vast administrative files from the presidency for research.  (Hours: Open Daily 9-5), (Admission: Free)

Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum- (1800 N Congress Avenue at MLK, 512-936-8746) If you are looking to learn a bit about Texas history this is a good option.  The museum keeps a revolving exhibit downstairs.  Other areas include short films and some interactive displays.  The only IMAX in Austin is located here as well. (Hours: M-Sat 9-6, Sun 12-6), (Admission: Adult $9 for the Exhibits; $8 for the IMAX Theater)

Laguna Gloria/ AMOA- (3809 West 35th Street, 512-458-8191) This museum presents a year-round schedule of contemporary art exhibitions featuring emerging and mid-career artists from around the world.  The Laguna Gloria location is a beautiful building on amazing grounds where many people host events or weddings.  (Hours: M-Sat 9-5, Sun 10-5), (Admission: Suggested Donation $5)

Elisabet Ney Museum- (304 East 44th, 512-458-2255) located at the corner of Avenue G and 44th.  This museum is only one short block away from the Adams House.  The building itself is worth seeing but while you are there you can learn some history of the remarkable female sculptor Elizabet Ney.  The museum is the former studio of Ney where she sculpted and created her artwork.  It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a member of Historic Artists Homes and Studios.  Her sculptures can be seen at the State Capitol building as well as the National Capitol in Washingtom DC. (Hours: Wed-Sun 12-5), (Admission: Free).

Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum- (605 Robert E Lee Road, 512-445-5582) On a pretty day this is a nice option to stroll around on the outside grounds and look at the sculptures.  The garden setting hosts the work of 20th century American sculptor Charles Umlauf as well as other contemporary sculptors.  Set up as a xeriscape garden, you can walk by a sculpture, walk around it, and even touch it.  Many people also host parties or weddings here.  (Hours: Wed-Fri 10-4:30, Sat &Sun 1-4:30) (Admission: Adults $3.50)

The State Capitol- (201 E. 14th, 512-463-5495) While not technically a museum, The Capitol building is a great place to tour.  It is widely recognized as one of the nation's most distinguished state capitols.  The style is Renaissance Revival, based on the architecture of 15th-century Italy and characterized by classical orders, round arches and symmetrical composition.  The building was completed in 1888 and is the largest in gross square footage of all state capitols and is second in total size only to the National Capitol in Washington, D.C. (Hours: Weekdays 7am-10 pm, Sat & Sun 9am- 8pm), (Admission: Free guided tours available)

Austin Children's Museum- (201 Colorado Street, 512-472-2499)  The Museum's exhibits are designed to educate and entertain the minds of children and their grown-ups.  With over 12,500 square feet of gallery and program space, there is plenty of room to explore, play, and learn.  (Hours: Tue-Sat 10-5, Wed nights 5-8, Sun 12-5), (Admission: $6.50 for Children 2+ and Adults)

*Don't forget about Austin Museum Day.  This year's date is September 23, 2012 and features free exhibitions and activities at participating area museums.

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Sushi in Austin

When you travel to Austin sushi is probaly not the first thing you think of to eat.  Many people think BBQ, Mexican food, or even the famous food trailers but there is a huge variety of cuisines worth talking about.  Sushi is helping to put Austin on the culinary map as a result of chef Tyson Cole and his restraunt Uchi.  In 2011, Cole was awarded the Best Chef Southwest at the James Beard Foundation.  As a result of his success, he opened a second location in Central Austin called Uchiko which you may have heard of because chef Paul Qui recently won Top Chef Texas.  We are lucky enough to have Uckiko just around the block and from first hand experience it is worth every bit.

There are several options when you want to grab some sushi in Austin from inexpensive to gourmet.  Here are the Adams House top picks.:

Uchi- (801 South Lamar) known as a "contemporary Japanese dining and sushi restaruant".  It is on the high end of the price range and make sure you have a reservation if you decide to dine here.

Uchiko- (4200 North Lamar) This is the offspring of Uchi.  It is a Japanese farmhouse dining experience and sushi restaruant.  As Uchi, it can be on the high end of the price range and you will need a reservation unless you decide to dine at the sushi bar.

Kome- (4917 Airport Blvd) Originally opened as Sushi A-Go-Go as a food trailer, this location opened in 2011 and has been a popular restaruant every since.  It is not your traditional Japanese cuisine but autentic home-style food like you would eat every day.  It is influenced by other countries and cuisines which you will see in items like the Camanbert Temport/ Camanbert Cheese Tempora with honey.  On weekends, be prepared to wait for a table.

Sushi A-Go-Go- (801 Barton Springs Road) This food trailer opened in 2009 they have had great success including an expansion to a second trailer as well as a stand-alone restraunt all within two years.  This is a great option for lunch.

Kenichi- (419 Colorado)  Opened in 2001 Kenichi is known for their wine and sake list, sushi bar, as well as their use of local farms and ranches.  This is a great option for sushi when you are downtown.

DK Sushi & Seoul Asian Food Market- (5610 North Lamar) What more can you ask of a place with a restaruant, asian market, over 50 types of saki, karaoke, and sushi making classes?  If you think Japanese they pretty much have it covered.

どうぞめしあがれ (douzo meshiagare)- Enjoy your meal

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The Austin Bats

Did you know that Austin has the largest urban bat colony in North America?  After a renovation in 1980 to the South Congress bridge, the bats found the improvements to be an ideal location to call home.  As a result, the bats have become one of Austin's largest tourist attractions and Austin even named their hockey team The Austin Ice Bats in their honor. Although the hockey team is defunct the bats are still around: it is estimated that up to 1.5 million bats fly from the bridge every night and both Austinites and tourists both line up to see them emerge at sunset to hunt for food.

Not many people are aware that the bats do migrate south for the winter. If you would like to see the bats the best viewing time is from March to October. In the ideal viewing months of August and September it can take up to 45 minutes for all of the bats to depart. For best viewing information call the Bat Hotline at 512-416-5700 ext. 3636. The bat monthly viewing schedule is below.

Bats Flight Schedule
January - bats in Latin America
February - migration may begin
March - many bats in Austin
April - most have migrated
May - mothers prepare for birth
June - mothers give birth this month
July - mothers feed at night
August - pups can now fly
September - excellent bat watching
October - bats migrate south
November - bats continue migration
December - bats arive at winter roost

In addition to lining up on the Congress bridge there are other alternative ways to view the bats.

-Austin American-Statesman public viewing area on the Southeast end of Congress Avenue.
-Cruises on Lady Bird Lake by Lone Star Riverboat or Capital Cruises.
-Watch the bats from the Shoreline Bar & Grill patio, T.G.I. Fridays (in the Radisson Hotel), or the Four Seasons Hotel.

Additional tips:

-Arrive early to get the best view (and to insure you don't miss the bats if they emerge ahead of schedule).
-If viewing from the shore around Lady Bird Lake, bring a blanket.
-If planning to watch from a nearby restaurant, make a reservation if necessary or arrive early to insure good seating.

Have fun and be safe!

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Austin Food & Wine Festival 2012

Get ready for the upcoming Austin Food & Wine Festival presented by FOOD & WINE Magazine April 27-29, 2012. This will be the first festival of it's kind presented in Texas so don't miss out. Join top chefs, sommeliers, and winemakers from across the nation and also see some great live music; some tops shows around Austin during those days are The Black Keys with Arctic Monkeys, Bon Iver, Al Green, Eddie Vedder, Blue October as well as event music from Lucinda Williams and Mayor Hawthorne & The Country.

During the festival you will have access to over 35 cooking demos and various wine and cocktail seminars. Complimentary beer, wine and cocktails will also be provided by the VIP or Weekender Lounge. The H-E-B Grand Tasting Pavilion will showcase over 80 wine, spirits, and artisanal food exhibitors as well as local and regional restaurants.

Pick-up copies of cookbooks and get them signed by guest chefs in the BookPeople autograph tent. See some amazing talent including Masaharu Morimoto, Gail Simmons, Andrew Zimmern, and Austin's own Tyson Cole.

Tickets are currently on sale online with Weekender passes starting at $250 which include more than 35 demos and wine seminars, Saturday and Sunday Grand Tastings, lounge access, and a one year Food & Wine magazine subscription. VIP passes also available for $850. For more information look online at austinfoodandwinefestival.com.

While in town, don't forget to give yourself some extra time to see all that Austin has to offer including restaurants, food trailers, museums, shopping, and of course live music.

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Wildflowers and bluebonnets in Texas

We have heard that the bluebonnets are starting to appear outside of Austin so we thought this would be a great time to talk about the wonderful wildflowers of Texas! According to Dr. Damon Waitt, senior botanist at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at The University of Texas at Austin, widespread fall and winter rains should make for an excellent wildflower season. There are many assorted varieties of wildflowers to look for including pink evening primrose, Indian paintbrush, and prairie verbena. One of the most famous are the bluebonnet, also known in Spanish as el conejo (the rabbit), known for their white tips that resemble a cottontail rabbit. Wildflowers in bloom have many colors such as lavender, white, blue, pink, yellow, and orange. There are many ways to view them around Austin and here are a few of our top picks.

One great option is The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center located in Southwest Austin (4801 La Crosse Avenue). The Center displays native plants of the Central Texas Hillcountry, South and West Texas, as well as rare and endangered plants. Wildflower days at the center run from March 12th to May 31st. The grounds are beautiful and worth the trip. Entry fee ranges from $3.00-$9.00 depending on your age.

Another option is to take a drive through the Hillcountry. Just driving around Austin you will see wildflowers, especially bluebonnets, on the side of Mopac/Loop 1 and down Hwy 360. But make a day trip out of it and take a drive to really view the Texas landscape with miles and miles of wildflowers. Some great routes are Highway 290 near Brenham, roadways between Marble Falls and Llano, and the drive through Johnson City to Fredericksburg.

It is wonderful to take photos in the wildflowers but please be careful. It can be difficult to see the ground so beware of ants, snakes, or uneven ground. Also, if you are pulling over on a drive make sure that you do not cause an accident. Have fun, be safe, and enjoy the beautiful wildflowers that Texas has to offer!

Here is a picture 3 years ago in the bluebonnets on I-45 North of Houston when we had just picked up Little Hottie Dottie from our breeder.

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SXSW- South By Southwest 2012

SXSW is just two weeks away so hopefully you all have locked down where you are staying while in Austin.  This year's festival runs from March 9th-18th and it begins with Film (March 9-17) and Interactive (March 9-13) and then followed with the Music festival (March 13-18).  For the fashion conscious there is also a free Fashion X show that runs March 16-17 at the Convention Center.

First thing to know- you can purchase a badge for SXSW($595-$1395) but you don't have to.  If you are here to catch a new film, see the latest in app technology or see live music there are plenty of free shows and events around town that you can get into without a badge or a wristband.

Plan ahead and make a schedule.  There will be THOUSANDS of additional people in Austin for the festival so traffic will be busy and restaurants and clubs will be hard to get in to.  Make sure you give yourself extra time to get around town and if you are planning to drive in the Austin area during SXSW you may want to consider alternative forms of transportation.  Parking downtown will be limited and street closures may make it difficult to get around.  Try to take public transportation like a shuttle or metro if possible.  Also taxicabs will be nearly impossible to get!

If you are going to the Austin Convention Center make sure you get a map and study it.  Do the same for the City of Austin but most of the venues should be in South Austin and around the city center.

You're going to be doing a lot walking so dress comfortably and be prepared for the weather - it can run the gamut of perfect to sweltering to very cold!

Have fun while you are in town.  Here is a link to the "official" events going on during the week.  These may require a badge or a wristband:
http://schedule.sxsw.com/2012/

And here is a link to the "Unofficial" events going on this week that will not require a badge or a wristband:
http://austin2012.sched.org/ 

BTW:  The headliner at the free shows at Auditorium Shores this year on March 17th is The Cult!


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Live Music Venues in Austin

Everyone knows that Austin is "The Live Music Capital of the World" but not everyone knows where to see live music when they are in Austin.  The city is known for music festivals like SXSW or ACL and for famous musicians like Willie Nelson or Stevie Ray Vaughan but there is live music going on every night around town.  It is important to look at the current copy of the Austin Chronicle to see what bands are playing but here is a guide of top music venues that are likely to have something cool going on.  Remember that this is Austin, Texas so you are going to find lots of regional music like Country and Rock.

Antone's (213 W. Fifth)- The venue is open to all ages and is known for hosting many blues “greats”.

Austin City Limits Live (310 Willie Nelson Blvd)- This is the new location downtown at The Moody Theater.  ACL-Live is a 2,700 person+ venue for large touring bands coming through town.  You will need to purchase tickets in advance. 

Broken Spoke (3201 S. Lamar)- Folks this is a true Texas Honky Tonk.  Come to listen to traditional country music and if you don't know how to 2-step they will even teach you at the dance lessons from 8-9 pm. 

Continental Club (1315 S. Congress)- In business since 1957 and is know as one of the iconic places to visit in Austin.  The club features some of the best retro roots, rockabilly, country and swing around town.  Also try the Gallery upstairs for a more intimate music setting.

Ginny's Little Longhorn (5434 Burnet Rd.)- This is a hole in the wall kind of place away from all the hustle and bustle of the downtown or SoCo area.  It is tiny but has great charm.  Don't ask for a fancy drink and don't cuss and you will be fine.  If you are around on Sunday's don't miss Ginny's World Famous Chicken Sh*t Bingo (yes, you heard it right).

Mean-Eyed Cat (1621 W. Fifth)- This is a Johnny Cash themed bar with live country music every night.  You kind of have to see it to believe it.

Rattle Inn (610 Nueces St.)- This is a new venue to watch.  The owner is Ray Benson from Asleep at the Wheel who has many music connections.  There is a rooftop bar which has a view of the city and sits on the west side of downtown which is in walking distance of many fun bars and restaurants. 

Saxon Pub (1320 S. Lamar)- This is a venue that is known for actually going to and listening to a band.  You can sit down in front of the stage and hear just about any type of music but mostly local singer/songwriters and the occasional touring act.

Stubb's (801 Red River)- This is a restaurant that serves BBQ and is known for their sauce that is sold in grocery stores but they are also a live music venue.  Stubb's has a smaller indoor stage where most local bands play and a larger stage outside where national touring acts perform; make sure you get tickets in advance. 

*Don't forget that Eric is a musician so if you are in town and staying with us please check with him on what is happening around town.  This is only a partial listing of live music venues in Austin.

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