Austin, Texas ~ Eat, Drink, Music, Sleep, Repeat

From Houston, we turned off “Highways and Tolls” on maps and drove a pleasant backroad, late morning tour through small towns and widespread, flat farmland.  First stop was, Brenham, a small town where some locals had suggested a visit, with a historic downtown and charm to match its historic residence.  Driving in felt like being transported back in time.  I could imagine a sleepy town, its once dusty road, and riding in on our white steed.  As we rode in on our present steed, a white Ram camper, the modest streets were lined with typical shops of antiques and knick-knacks, as well as quaint cafes, where some resembled old saloons.  Further along was more historic architecture, restored, brick buildings that maintained that “old-town feel.”  The juxtaposition of modernity was apparent throughout, many an artist had breathed new life onto the sides of dilapidated old buildings with their elaborate mural paintings and/ or words of positivity.  Their inspirations were palpable, art was in the air, and in what felt to us an unlikely place.

Also in the air, was the sought-after trail of tacos.  It was an unspoken pact that we were going to taco our way through Texas, and local advice had brought us to the perfect little “Taco Shop.“  The place sat near a railroad intersection, had a makeshift drive thru window and its parking lot was filled with construction workers’ trucks.  Jono delighted in his “lengua” (tongue) tacos and I, in my enchiladas.  

Apparently, it had already been raining daily for the past three weeks all around central Texas.  What should have been typical, hot and steamy June was instead, days of cool and clouds amidst constant rain showers.  It seemed the showers didn’t intend to stop once we arrived to Austin either and our much-anticipated Black Pumas concert downtown that evening, at Stubb’s BBQ, ended up being rescheduled last minute.  Luckily, we were staying with my bestie and her musician man, and instead did what any respectable friend would do, when they had your favorite tequila waiting for you at their house would do . . .

Eat, drink, music, sleep, repeat.  Pretty much sums up the fun of Austin life, and because the weather prevented us from Lady Bird Lake strolls, or day-tripping around to the local springs or tubing down the San Marcos River, we had our fill of indulgences.  From Tex-Mex, to Ethiopian cuisine, modern American and sumptuous Mediterranean, we were getting our hedonistic fill.  Being with locals has its own perks, and we found ourselves at C-Boys, an old Austin classic, watching a Blues trio of saxophone, organ and none other than, Jimmy Vaughn, killing it on electric guitar.     

The rest of the trip was filled with even more gems:  Memorial Day brisket barbecue, impromptu house jam sessions, synchronistic meetings of new friends, impromptu San Antonio day to see my vacationing extended family, rainy “sloth days,” epic farmers markets and a performance by Black Pumas that didn’t disappoint.  On our last night in the memorable, bulging city, last-minute tickets from an old friend, to a comedy show downtown, at Creek and Cave, fell into our laps.  Another dream was fulfilled as we laughed our asses off to headliner Joe Rogan and “friends,” with surprise guest, Ron White.

As the lyrics to Black Moon Rising by the Black Pumas goes, “… all she wants to do is cruise…” and cruise we did, onto our next destination in west Texas.  

“Y’all come back and visit us now…”