Austin, TX

**Sean** · 08-10-2009, 11:10 PM

This is the church my mom works at. I interned there about 4 years ago and work at a church plant of it.
Hill Country Bible Church Pflugerville

This is a little closer to 183 and actually south of Pflugerville.
Crossroads Community Church - Home

**beanbag** · 08-11-2009, 11:28 PM

thanks! =)

***Pauler*** · 08-14-2009, 08:54 PM

a good friend of mine goes to high pointe...he really likes it.

JerRocks2day · 08-15-2009, 08:01 AM

I remember going to Austin Texas 5 years ago for my brother when he was performing at the Fine Arts Fest 2004. He won 2nd for the nation for his guitar solo.

**Chrysostom** · 08-15-2009, 06:08 PM

Hello beanbag,

Welcome to Austin! I have lived here for six or seven years and would love to help you with anything you need (I'm leaving my cell number in a comment to you). My wife and I live basically at the intersection of 183 and 620.

If you like to swim, you should definitely check out Barton Springs, which is on the southwest side of downtown. Austin-y people love to hang out there, and there are a million Austin-y things to do around there.

Austin, by its nature, is a very locally-oriented town. There are a few prominent chains here, but that's because they started here (Gatti's, Schlotzsky's)! If you want to get to know the local restaurants, the absolute best resource is a book called The Fearless Critic. It should set you back around ten bucks and you will find many good places in it. (Keep in mind that the ratings aren't price-relative, so an amazing $7 lunch spot may still have a lower rating than an acceptable $125-a-plate destination, even though for the money you would much prefer the lunch place.) If you'd rather save the cash, you can always try Yelp.

I will give a couple of personalized food recommendations, though, and if you ask for more I'll definitely throw them at you. Based on where you live, you need to drive up 35 to Round Rock Donuts, which are the best donuts I've ever had (seriously). Also, in Pflugerville there is a somewhat pricey (but very good) German-Hungarian place called the European Bistro -- run by European immigrants, it carries Hungarian soft drinks and makes absolutely killer food. If you like Mexican food, here are some of my favorites:

Best Mexican: Curra's Grill - An unassuming-yet-fun South Austin gem. Don't miss their Cochinita Pibil, Tacos Al Pastor, or signature Avocado Margarita. I've never had anything here I didn't like.

Best Sunday Brunch: Manuel's - An upscale Mexican restaurant with fantastic food. I prefer Sunday brunch at the Arboretum location because you can eat outside with live music and substantially more reasonable prices than the dinner menu.

Best Tex-Mex: Trudy's - An all-around solid Tex-Mex joint with the (in)famous Mexican Martini. Also try the brunch buffet.

Best Salsa: El Chile - El Chile's Salsa is brownish-blackish, and the best thing I can find in Austin. It's also a tad nicer than your average Mexican restaurant, and the cooking is all-around great. (Well, it was, but the last couple of times I went it had slipped a bit. Maybe it's just me??) I always get their Mole Enchiladas and Prickly Pear Margarita.

Best Lunch: El Chilito - El Chile birthed this taco shack, just a couple of blocks east of its parent. There are probably fifteen creative options, available as tacos or burritos, and each one is cheap and tasty. Grab a huge styrofoam cup of watermelon agua fresca and eat out of a brown bag on a deck that looks to be straight out of Mexico.

Lunch Honorable Mention: Chango's - Manuel's lunch place. Awesome, but in my opinion not as good as El Chilito.

Best Breakfast: Maudie's - Despite its ubiquity (FIVE locations!) I'm generally unimpressed with this place, but Tatiana's Tantalizing Tacos are killer. Four bucks for two breakfast tacos stuffed with pork tamales. Mmm.

Dirtiest Mexican: Enchiladas Y Mas - I recommend avoiding the enchiladas, but the "mas" is cheap and dirty (fajitas for two is like $15). The salsa will also clear your sinuses, for sure.

Place To Go If Your Wallet Is Bottomless: Fonda San Miguel - Combine one of the finest private collections of Mexican art in America with a fantastic menu, and make sure you get a reservation!

Finally, I've attached a basic map of Austin, because I know it can get confusing.

Glossary for Austin streets:

Deen Keaton = 26th (north side of campus)
Windsor = 24th
MLK Jr = 19th (south side of campus)
Enfield = 15th
Lake Austin = 5th
The Drag = Guadalupe (near campus)
Capital of TX = 360
Research Blvd = 183
Koenig = 2222
MoPac = Loop 1

Enjoy!

John

***Pauler*** · 08-15-2009, 11:26 PM

along w/ the swimming thing Chrysostom was talking about...if you want to get just outside of austin...hamilton pool is great too.

**Chrysostom** · 08-16-2009, 08:11 AM

Some other ideas on stuff to do:

- Take a ride down 360. It starts at the north side of MoPac (near the 183 intersection) and loops down south to the south side of MoPac (near the 71 intersection). It's a really gorgeous drive.

- The Oasis is famous for its lake view, but it's expensive and the food is not good. (The margaritas are very good, though.) Try the Iguana Grill, on 620 south of 2222, instead: Comparably beautiful view of the lake, and the food is much better and much cheaper. Plus you get to be outside!

- There are "green belts" all over Austin, areas of native vegetation through which you can hike, etc. Enjoy them! City of Austin - Parks and Recreation Department: Greenbelts Especially check out Town Lake (now called "Lady Bird Lake," and popularly known as "The River")

- Gotta run, but: Mount Bonell

***Pauler*** · 08-16-2009, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beanbag

I am very big on ben harper, and I also have a soft spot in my heart for dave, so I will mark the festival on my calendar. there was another music one my new insurance agent told me I just had to go to, in october sometime I think. I wrote that one down as well.

austin city limits (acl) is in october

there is another one called south by southwest (sxsw)...they are in march.

**MtlMom** · 08-16-2009, 11:47 AM

Seems to me that with so many of you wonderful people in the Austin area that it's time for you guys to plan a gathering. Even just meeting for pizza or a potluck in a park would be a great way to welcome Sabrina and meet each other.

**Sean** · 08-16-2009, 02:02 PM

It's probably not a bad idea.

Jeffrey · 08-16-2009, 03:39 PM

Wow, you're moving to Austin! That's very cool. There are many CGR folks there, we just don't socialize.

What specifically are you coming here for? Work, further study, etc.?

AudioAUnderdog · 08-18-2009, 01:00 AM

I was in Austin for a week last month. They had to drag me kicking, screaming and crying back to Houston.

You've got to check out Waterloo Records downtown, they have CDs, DVDs, posters and even vinyl! I don't think I've ever seen so many CDs at once in my life. I forgot what street it was on, but it was across the street from the big Whole Foods store.

**beanbag** · 08-21-2009, 05:27 PM

I wanted to give a quick acknowledgment that I read your posts but they're kicking me out of the business center because it's closing.

so...thanks and I will try to read your stuff soon!

Austinites--Mrs M and Art both have my number. and John, I got yours. I'll text you mine. thanks a bunch! =)

**Chrysostom** · 08-21-2009, 10:23 PM

If you've sent me a text message I won't have read it, because my dogs ate my cell phone and the new one isn't receiving texts for some reason. Oops!

**beanbag** · 08-23-2009, 03:41 PM

John: haha. I did send you a text message. I just UCed you my cell phone number though. basically my text said thanks for the offer for help and your graciousness, and could we possibly borrow a hammer? and after I sent it I realized we need to borrow a screwdriver as well. =D

Paul: thanks for the info. =)

Mrs M: maybe you and the rest of my favorite M family should grace us with your presence.

Jeffrey: a little bit of everything. I accepted a job through Americorps and I may stick with that for a couple of years. I'm also going to be teaching guitar lessons, and then I plan to apply to UT for grad school. I already love it here!

AudioA: my friends saw it yesterday when we were wandering around downtown looking for this music equipment garage sale that was supposed to be massive and ended up being lame. we also decided we are not going to patronize them in the future because they were quite patronizing to us as girls. =)