Austin

Everyone talks about what a cool city Austin is, but, despite growing up less than four hours away, I'd never really spent any time there. I kinda figured no city in Texas could be that great, especially not the center of Texas government. I was so wrong.

Donnice was in a meeting all day Friday, so I just drove around the city. I had no idea where I was going, but I managed to see quite a bit. I saw the fancy houses on the hill above the river. I saw Zilker Park. I spent some time walking around the botanical gardens, which seems like a strange thing to do in Decemeber but was actually quite peaceful (and not too terribly cold). I drove down South Congress and got fair trade organic coffee at Ruta Maya. I visited the enormous Whole Foods between 5th and 6th. It was a good day.

That night, Donnice and I had dinner at Taj Palace. It's the first Indian place we tried in Austin, and it was better than any of the Indian places we've been to in Dallas. (Austin also gave Dallas it's best Indian restaurant, Clay Pit.)

Friday night Donnice stayed in while I met with Joel and Jonathan, two friends from middle school. It's probably been ten years since I'd seen them, so hanging out again could've been pretty awkward, but I had a great time. They took me to The Beauty Bar, a very cool bar on 7th, where (according to Joel and Jonathan) all the frat boy types are afraid to go because they think it's all queers. Just so I could see the most famous part of Austin nightlife, we went over to 6th Street for a while. As Joel and Jonathan had warned me, it had a lot more frat-boy types. But it also had some pretty great live music. Then, we made a short appearance at a birthday party for one of their friends. It was a very strange group of UT choir members; they sang the entire time. I got back to the hotel around 2:45, quite a bit later that I'd been out at any time in the past 3 years. It was a great night, and it's good to know that two of my best friends from ten years ago could still be good friends to me now.

On Saturday, we had a wonderful brunch at Mother's Cafe and Garden. We sat in "the garden," an enclosed porch area with lots of plants and a small fountain. There was a guy playing the harp. It was very peaceful. Mother's is a one of several vegetarian restaurants in Austin. The menu was full of food that sounded completely delicious, and Donnice and I both really enjoyed our meal.

Despite the wonderful lunch, the highlight of the day on Saturday was when we met Brian, Kellie, Robert, Kenna, Allison, Joel, and Jonanthan at Trudy's for dinner and margaritas. It was really great to catch up with all of them. However, it was a little sad to be at a table too long for one conversation. It sucks to have to go back and forth between conversations when you're trying to catch up with people you haven't seen in a while. I had fun to talking to Kenna about her new job at Sherry Matthews Advocacy Marketing. It's an ad agency, but it's very small and it focuses on social marketing issues. It sounds like a cool place to work.

After dinner, Donnice and I went to the Alamo Drafthouse with Brian and Kellie. It was a very cool theater, kinda like the Austin version of the Studio Movie Grill. But that's like saying Whole Foods is the Austin version of Walmart Neighborhood Market; it's so much better comparisons don't really make sense. Brian also gave us a mix cd (and cute little Christmas mugs with candy and hot chocolate). I think the last mix cd I listened to was the one Michael gave me when I moved to Cincinnati, so I really enjoyed listening to it on the way home on Sunday. There's nothing like the first time through a mixtape when every song is a pleasant surprise.

It was an amazing weekend, and I could write more, but I'm sure even this much babbling is trying the patience of some of you, so I'll end it here. Austin is an amazing place, and I have great friends there. I can't wait to get back.