I want to ask this question too. I'll be in Austin this summer as well as again in September during the Austin Game Conference. I haven't done much except stomp around the few city blocks near the downtown convention center last AGC, but these next two times, I will have 4 wheeled transportation.

oh, drool! Pick up an Austin Chronicle and sit down at a cafe or someplace and just page through it. You'll be looking at one of the coolest places to hang out on earth.

Music and film are probably the 2 biggest attractions here. The Chronicle can clue you in on all the live shows going on at any one time. There are 3 major streets downtown that have all the action - 6th Street is the party street and where you'll find your typical frat mentality (although that shouldn't deter you, it's a lot of fun, just gets old after about 6 trips). 4th street is the uppity street where the more expensive bars are located, but again, you'll find nice places all over. Red River is the up-and-coming party street where you'll find a lot of punk and hard rock, more interesting than the other places.

South Congress has a lot of cool ecclectic shops and can give you a great view of the city. On the first Thursday of each month, they hold "First Thursdays" which is an older, lower-key party time for the non-college types. It's still rockin, though.

The Alamo Drafthouse is THE coolest cinema in the world, and I would definitely look at their schedule and try to catch a show if you are interested.

Good restaurants: Mother's Cafe on Duval for vegitarian, which is in the heart of a great neighborhood for grad students to live. Freebirds & Changos for burritos, Thundercloud Subs, Thai Kitchen, Jazz has good food, Mangia's Pizza, Kerby Lane, Amy's Ice Cream. Most of those are located on Guadalupe Street, which runs along the north edge of UT campus and is also home to a lot of cool shops. Check out the Whole Foods world headquarters for a grocery store that will literally blow your mind.

Another great street for restaurants is Barton Springs Dr, which is close to Zilker Park and Barton Springs. Pretty much any of the restaurants you find there are good, ones that stick out in my mind are Baby Acapulcos and Romeo's Italian.

I know where SOE hides the Star Wars Galaxies building if you want to egg it.

Send me a PM if you want to know anything else, always glad to help a tourist

You're dead to me if you are hired by SOE.

Ummm... you obviously email Bill Harris and make an attempt to meet The Man in person.

Aside from that, it sounds like SoulDaddy has you covered. Unless of course SoulDaddy *is* Bill Harris. Hmmmm....

Nevermind... "Good restaurants: Mother's Cafe on Duval for vegitarian" was a clear indicator that SoulDaddy and Bill are not one in the same.

No, I am Governor Rick Perry.

To souldaddy you listen.

Also, be sure to try the Magnolia Cafe on South Congress (great vegetarian food) and Trudy's in the UT area (great margaritas). I usually hit both when I'm in town.

As for entertainment, if you like music, you really don't have to do any pre-planning. Just pick a bar and sit down. For theatre, I recommend seeing whatever's at the Vortex. Them's good people.

I agree with all the above and profer up my love for Chuy's. Vegaterian friendly, and for us carnivores you get gems like the Elvis Green Chile Fried Chicken. Ohhh mamma, is that good. Chicken breast breaded in potato chips, fried and topped with green chili sauce of love. For vegatarians, I recommend the bean burrito with Deluxe Tomatillo sauce or spinach mushrooms quesadillas. Also, ask for the jalepeno ranch sauce to go with your chips--free and tasty. Take a gander at the bar too--last time I was at the one in Austin, the Bush twins were having a few.

Damn this, is making me hungry. Stupid 12 hour drive to Texas.

Also, Amy's ice cream == frozen creamy heaven in your mouth.

If you go to Austin, you should visit the Bob Bullock Museum of Texan History, where free-range cowboys with out of tune guitars roam the lobby, demanding that visitors clap and sing and shout, because, dammit, they're deep in the heart of Texas. I don't remember clearly anything else about the museum (there might have been a floor dedicated to Exxon, but memory's a fickle thing). But I do remember those imperious cowboys.

Screw Chuy's, hit up El Arroyo. Ditto the Chronicle.

Walk around Town Lake, try not to get whiplash or caught ogling...
Hike the trails at Zilker/Barton Creek. My blasted boss lives right above Campbell's Hole.
See a show at The Continental Club.
Get some Rudy's BBQ.
Get a movie and beer at Alamo Drafthouse.
Get a beer and fish and chips at Dog and Duck.
Get a beer at the Gingerman
Get a beer at the Drafthouse/Drafthorse whatever the current name is Brewpub (avoid their brew though..)
...ok, that's starting a revealing theme...

Cherrywood is a cool area at a reasonable price for grad students. It's around the corner from the Fiesta supermarket at I-35 and 38th ST. I still miss living there. Cheap two story duplexes.
Hyde Park, the neighborhood near Mother's that souldaddy mentioned is a great neighborhood, but pricier. More family-based, the Cherrywood duplex area is almost exclusively 20-30 year-olds.

[Edit] Oh, vegetarian requirement! Definitely hit Mother's then, maybe not Rudy's... Also, Veggie Heavan on the drag (Guadalupe @ campus) is good grub.

I have never heard of this "El Arroyo". I must ask my Austin friends about it. Meanwhile, watch what you say about my precious Chuy's! It's my favorite place to eat (and thankfully one of the Houston locations is very close to my apartment).

If you should find yourself arrested, tell them badge #2021 says "Hi" over at central booking. Hopefully none of my former co-workers are still there

I lived in Austin most of my life. Apparently the biggest attraction we have is going to the bars and getting drunk. You couldn't ask for a finer state capitol.

It occurs to me we used to be neighbors.

This El Arroyo intrigues me. Explain yourself! But dare not risk a hangin' by bad mouthin' Chuy's.

Scott asked me about the cool record shops in town. I mentioned Waterloo, but I just had to throw this question out to the people. I'm out of town and that means I can't remember a damn thing about the place I live in.

Magnolia Cafe is definitely the cat's meow. AND it's open 24 hours.
Sambet's is hands down the best cajun food I've had outside of Louisiana. Mouth... watering...
Fujiyama can get you amazing sushi for $20 for what would cost $50 elsewhere. The chief has been handling fish for 20 years.
Cafe Java is amazing for a cafe.
If you want BBQ, Rudy's is trumped by the County Line and... THE SALT LICK! But Texas bbq means brisket, which is 1 cut away from the ass.
There is a cheap taco joint on Airport road that I can't remember at the moment. They close at 3pm, always packed...
I'm not too into Texmex in Austin because I feel its generally better in San Antonio. Those of you coming to Austin with your SOs, definitely take a day trip down to the SanAn Riverwalk, the coolest place I've ever seen.

As for bars, the one right next to Dog and Duck is much better. I'll have to get back to ya on the good ones, though. I'll post again on monday once I'm back in town and then you'll REALLY get the inside scoop.

And I am totally down for an Austin Slap and Tickle, or whatever you call em.

You are my new Martyr.

@#$^#!!! I had a long post and when I went to switch tabs to get an address I hit the Google "up level" button and lost it.

So, I'll just say Cheapo Records and save the rest of my input until scott says what he's looking for. My stuff is mostly bar related for some reason.