Where did your 1950s motorcycle go?”
“I traded it for a sailboat.”
“Oh, that one by the grass?”
I had just arrived in Austin
after three hours of sleep and a Bullit-style
taxi ride. I put my suitcases inside and grabbed a polka-dot bikini. I needed a
drink and a burrito. My friend Tim swung by a taco truck and a liquor store.
Water, food, wine, let’s go.
He drove the back of the
little car right into the river, with me in the boat so my feet wouldn’t get
wet. I never saw such a thing. Boat detached, he drove out and parked. We set
sail. With the tornado warnings and a lively breeze the boat cruised down the
river. The vessel veered towards the dam…”what happens if we’re about to go
over? Should I jump out and swim?” I asked. “We won’t go over,” Tim assured me
as the boat drifted into some trees on the bank. He jumped out and pushed off
against the side before hopping back in, splashing water on my suntanned knees.
The next day I woke up to sunlight dancing in through a tall window, with a long gauzy white curtain that fluttered by a fan. Next to the window there were plants and a round wooden bookshelf mounted on the wall, stuffed with paperbacks. A round bookshelf! I walked out to the porch in my pyjamas and greeted Sally. She had just flown in from Los Angeles.
Sally and I ate delicious tacos at Torchy’s. Next
we went to an airstream trailer and ordered a massive donut covered in peach
jam and cream cheese icing. “That donut almost ate me!” We explored the vintage
shops, picking up an electric blue disco dress for Sally and a suede jacket for
me, along with a book about Latin American culture from the ‘Uncommon Objects’
shop.
Later on, I met up with more friends at the Black Angels show. Some of us swooped over to a mysterious gathering at a big house. We discovered giant gazebo, a hot tub and an old VW minibus, where we drank beer and befriended Spaniards with mutton chops. When the revelry slowed we went for a long drive to a ranch. Tumbling out of the taxi, we came upon a rambunctious party with bands playing on the dirt. Everyone clapped and leaned and smiled. Sally, Tim, and I danced and drank cherry beer by a fire-pit. The night was all sky and music.
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MARGO’S QUICK GUIDE TO
AUSTIN
TO DO:
-Go swimming in Barton Creek
-Check out cowboy boots,
suede jackets, and Gunne Sax frocks at the vintage shops, including ‘New
Bohemia’ and ‘Flashback.’ There are several around the South Congress area,
near ‘Uncommon Objects, a great store for unusual gifts or antique postcards. 1512
S Congress Ave, 78704.
-Austin is full of fun live
music. See what’s on at Scoot Inn or Cheer Up Charlie’s or Mohawk…or just ask a
local. Everyone is pretty friendly.
-Dance country-western style
and watch bands play at The White Horse. 500 Comal St.
-Buy hot sauce. Texas is
famous for it.
-Try Deep Eddy grapefruit
vodka or Espolon tequila. (Espolon isn’t from Austin but it’s popular here and
goes with everything.)
TO EAT:
-If you get a chance try
tater tot nachos and if you eat meat, BBQ.
-There are numerous
excellent taco trucks all over Austin but I like Torchy’s on 1st
street because they have great vegetarian options. For vegans, there’s a great
vegan truck a few feet away (try the bbq seitan salad.) 1311 S 1st St, 78704. Also Torchy’s is walking distance to the South Congress
thrift stores and…
-Gourdough’s Donuts: a
trailer that serves delicious and bizarre sugary concoctions. Inside out cherry
pie, minus the crust. Bacon and maple syrup atop a nest of dough. Try the Son of a Peach. Open late. 1503
S 1st St, 78704.
-Arlo’s veggie burgers at
Drinks Lounge on Cesar Chavez. Get the vegan bac’n cheeseburger. Mind-blowingly
delicious. I’ve seen carnivores
devour these too. 2001 E. Cesar Chavez, 78702.Opens at 4 pm.
-24 Diner: a 24-hour deluxe
diner with fantastic milkshakes and big brunches. People get excited about
their chicken & waffles too. 600 N Lamar Blvd, 78703.
That’s just skimming the
surface. Tell me more in the comments…
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On my last night, at a party filled with enchanting characters, I was talking to a new friend from Chile. He declared, "I love Texas!" A man sauntered by and drawled, "Texas loves you, man."
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On my last night, at a party filled with enchanting characters, I was talking to a new friend from Chile. He declared, "I love Texas!" A man sauntered by and drawled, "Texas loves you, man."
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