1. Where can I hear live music?
The largest concentration of live music venues is found along the Sixth Street (East Sixth Street from IH-35 to Congress Ave.) and Warehouse (Fourth, Fifth & Sixth streets, west from Congress Ave. to Guadalupe St.) entertainment districts. Other popular music venues include The Broken Spoke at 3201 South Lamar, Continental Club located at 1315 S. Congress Ave., Hill's Café at 4700 S. Congress Ave. and T.C.'s Lounge at 1413 Webberville Rd. On Thursdays, consult the Austin American-Statesman's XL-ent and The Austin Chronicle for live music listings.
2. When and where can I see the bats?
The bats depart around dusk from the Congress Avenue Bridge, from April through October. The ideal time of year for bat viewing is August. For a closer view of the action, take a bat-watching boat cruise on Town Lake. Capital Cruises and Lone Star Riverboat both offer cruises that depart approximately 30 minutes before sunset from the boat dock located behind the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 208 Barton Springs Road. One of the most popular vantage points is the bat observation area in the Austin American-Statesman parking lot, 305 South Congress Ave. Other prime vantage points are from Shoreline Grill (98 San Jacinto Blvd.), TGI Fridays atthe Radisson Hotel (111 E. Cesar Chavez St.) and the lakeside patio of the Four Seasons Hotel (98 San Jacinto Blvd.). http://www.batcon.org
3. How do I see a taping of Austin City Limits?
Austin City Limits tapes generally on an irregular schedule throughout the year, based on the musicians' availability. The taping takes place on the sixth floor of the University of Texas College of Communication, which is located at 26th & Guadalupe.
4. How do I get tickets? Well, they are free! But there is a catch...
Call the KLRU hotline (512-475-9077), for a recorded message detailing the artist, date, time and which radio station to listen to for the ticket distribution announcement. Listen to that station to find out when to go stand in line immediately for the first-come, first-served vouchers. When you go back for the performance, expect to wait in line again and hope that your voucher is among those allowed in for the performance.
Free tours of the studio are offered every Friday at 10:30 a.m.
5. Where is the University of Texas?
The southern edge of campus begins at Martin Luther King Boulevard, the east boundary is I-35, the west boundary is Guadalupe, and Dean Keeton (26th Street) forms the northern border.
6. Where is the Austin Visitor Information Center located?
209 E. Sixth Street. Hours are Mondays-Fridays, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Saturdays-Sundays, 9:30 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. Closed on Christmas, New Year's, Thanksgiving and Easter.
7. When are the tours of the Capitol?
Tours are available seven days a week (Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Sat 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Sun 12 p.m.-3:30 p.m.) and are offered approximately every 15 minutes on weekdays and 30 minutes on weekends. The building is actually open to the public until 10 p.m. weekdays and 8 p.m. weekends. There is no charge for admission.
8. When are the tours of the Governor's Mansion?
Free tours of the Governor's Mansion are offered every 20 minutes from 10 a.m. until 11:40, Mon.-Thu. You must call at least one day in advance to book a tour. Call 512-463-5518.
9. When are the guided historic walking tours?
Free, guided tours are conducted by the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau year-round. The Congress Avenue & East Sixth Street tour is offered Thurs., Fri. and Sat. at 9 a.m. and Sun. at 2 p.m. The Bremond Block tour is Sat. and Sun. at 11 a.m. Each tour is 90 minutes long. All tours leave from the south steps of the Texas State Capitol building and require a reservation.
10. What are other downtown historic attractions?
Other sites include the General Land Office Building (Capitol Visitors Center) at 11th & Brazos, the Old Bakery & Emporium at 1006 Congress, O'Henry Museum at 409 E. Fifth St., and the French Legation Museum (admission charged) at 802 San Marcos.
11. Where is the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum?
Relive the pages of Texas history at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. Located at 1800 N. Congress Ave., the museum includes interactive exhibits, artifacts never publicly displayed before, an IMAX Theatre and the multi-sensory Texas Spirit Theatre. Open Mon.- Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sun. 12-6p.m., except for major holidays.
12. Where is the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum?
The LBJ Library is the most frequently visited of the presidential libraries. It is located at 2313 Red River on the University of Texas campus. The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and there is no charge for admission.
13. Where and when can I see wildflowers?
Wildflowers in Central Texas are most abundant in March, April and May. April is the peak month for viewing bluebonnets. For the best highway routes to see the wildflowers, visit www.dot.state.tx.us/wflwr/ or call 800-452-9292. Visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center to see wildflowers year-round.
14. Where should I take my children?
The Austin Children's Museum, a hands-on interactive museum is at 201 Colorado. Other suggestions for kids are the Austin Nature & Science Center in Zilker Park, the Zilker Zephyr (a miniature train ride that runs through Zilker Park) and the interactive exhibits at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum.
15. What is Esther's Follies?
Esther's is a lively and topical comedy troupe that performs at Esther's Pool (corner of Sixth Street & Red River). Shows are Thursday at 8 p.m. and Friday-Saturday at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. There is a charge for admission, but sometimes there are half price tickets available the day of show through AUSTIX (454-HALF).
16. Does Austin have a vibrant performing arts scene?
Zachary Scott Theater, the Paramount Theater and the State Theater are the main downtown venues for performing arts. Many of the larger shows also take place at the Performing Arts Center on the University of Texas campus. Along with professional theater companies, Austin is also home to the Austin Lyric Opera, Austin Symphony and Ballet Austin. Half price theater tickets are often available day of show, Thursday-Saturday. Call 454-HALF for more information.
17. Where can I go shopping?
Austin offers many shopping districts, malls and nearby outlet malls. See the Shopping section in Stay & Do on this website.
18. Where can I buy souvenirs?
The Austin Visitor Center (209 E. Sixth Street) offers a variety of Austin, Texas and University of Texas merchandise. Other outlets for local souvenir products are Wild About Music, the Capitol Gift Shop, the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, Wild Ideas at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
19. Where are the Austin Convention Center, Palmer Events Center and Travis County Expo Center located?
Austin Convention Center: 500 E. Cesar Chavez between Trinity & Red River Streets
Palmer Events Center: South of Town Lake at the intersection of South First & Riverside Drive
Travis County Expo Center: 7311 Decker Lane (northeast Austin)
20. What are the 'Dillos?
A free 'Dillo ride is an easy way to get around downtown and central Austin. Trolleys-on-wheels and small buses take you around the central city, so you just park once and enjoy the ride. The weekend Tour of the Town route transports riders to popular Austin attractions. The Moonlight and Starlight Dillos run late nights on Thurs.-Sun. to move night owls around Austin's entertainment districts. Visit www.capmetro.org for more information.
21. Where are Zilker Park and Barton Springs Pool?
Zilker Park begins just west of Lamar Blvd. on Barton Springs Road. Just before the entrance to the park is the Umlauf Sculpture Garden (605 Robert E. Lee). Also within the park are Zilker Botanical Gardens (2220 Barton Springs Rd.), the Austin Nature & Science Center (301 Nature Center Dr.) and Barton Springs Pool (2201 Barton Springs Rd.).
|
