Food Trucks. Live Music. Outdoor Patios...and 3 Minute Darrell

"There is a freedom you begin to feel the closer you get to Austin, Texas."
-Willie Nelson

This past weekend I visited the great city of Austin to visit friends. I've been a handful of times over the years – most recently was last October when I attended the Austin City Limits music festival (an amazing time and one I highly recommend doing). However, it’s been a long time since I explored the city.

Upon my flight landing I immediately drove (I rented a car) to Wanderlust yoga. Anyone familiar with yoga has heard of the Wanderlust yoga festival – a multi day event at locations around the country that brings together yoga, music, food, performers to transform the mind and body. A friend of mine had been to the Wanderlust studio in Austin – and done yoga next to Brooklyn Decker – so I was excited to check out the studio. It did not disappoint. I paid the slightly expensive drop in rate of $19 and changed in their locker room (complete with showers) and made my way to the back studio. Dimly lit with hardwood floors and a stage where they often have live music it was the perfect setting for the 60 minute Vinyasa Flow class. The teacher’s voice was melodic and her assists were effective – the sound of the rain outside made getting lost in the flow easy. Attached to the studio is “Blenders and Bowls” – a healthy juice bar with smoothies and acai bowls perfect for an after yoga snack.

A friend of mine has an apt on the east side of the city. I unpacked, and walked to the bar across the street – the Buzz Mill. No tourists to be found here, just local musicians and lots of dogs. Their happy hour special is $3 drafts and $1 PBR’s plus local handmade tamale’s for $3. I got two beers (when in doubt) and a spinach and onion tamale and went outside to find a table. My table mates were an uber driver/gym aficionado/musician and a man who I was pretty sure hadn't bathed in a year. #keepaustinweird

That night two friends from Dallas drove in and met me at La Condesa – an amazing Mexican food restaurant in the heart of Downtown. I got some street corn and a margarita - MUST GET their street corn. Although picking corn out of my teeth the rest of the night was definitely not sexy. From there we went to Rainey Street – an extremely popular, un-hip but cool (depending on your definition) street in Austin. There are a lot of people and a lot of douchebags but I find the people watching fantastic and there are some really cool bars. We went into a couple before finally ending our night with some Detroit pizza from a food truck. HOLY SHIT, I’m not a big pizza person (at all) but if I had to choose which food I would get obese off of it would be this pizza. Who knew Detroit was known for their pizza? The one I ordered had a balsamic drizzle over the 4 pounds of melted cheese layered onto the buttery fluffy bread – heavenly.

Day two was spent going from vintage store to vintage store around the city before stopping at the famous Hope Outdoor Gallery, a housing development that never came to fruition, it is now a place where graffiti artists (and non -artists) can showcase their work.

That night the plan was to bar hop and basically try as many places as possible - the one MUST being to hear live music. The night started at Lambert’s – a famous bbq place that everyone had told me to try. It’s expensive, however they have an amazing happy hour special where all of their bar food is half off. We settled on the frito pie, deviled eggs, and fried peppers and fritters. If you think frito pie can’t be classy and amazing – go here, because it was. I also got their adult lemonade (vodka, lemon juice, and agave) – 4 in and I felt amazing and wished kids sold this for 25 cents on the side of the road. From there it was the living room bar at the W – cool looking but douchy scene, like every W bar. Then it was Garage bar – hidden inside a parking garage, it was formerly the valet office and is now home to a small intimate bar that serves well-crafted cocktails (small and slightly expensive but worth the trip).

It was then time for that "must have" live music so we went to a place a friend of mine had suggested - Broken Spoke – a place that states it is “the best honky tonk music in Texas”. You walk past the bar to the “bouncer” where you pay a cover - $12, guy/girl/giraffe, everyone pays $12. The dance floor was full of people – my favorite being an elderly man in a hot pink silk shirt with a black cowboy hat that had a bright pink purple flower on it. In fact there were a lot of older gentlemen and younger girls. “Do you want a drink?” Yes. 5 please. After observing everyone for a while a friend and I got out there and two stepped – or at least attempted our best shot at it. Here’s the thing about two stepping – just let the guy lead and move your feet and basically you know how to do it. My feet were starting to hurt so I sat down at an unoccupied table with a sign that said “reserved for Darrell”. Who is Darrell? Darrell is a man in his mid 50’s with (dyed) jet black hair. He carries his massive Samsung galaxy in a cell phone case on his belt. He’s from Alabama but has lived in Florida, Arizona, and Minnesota (way too cold). Darrell assumed I was from California and asked me if I had taken the two step lesson that night. Once I told him I had not he said “oh I could teach you in about 3 minutes.” The best part about Darrell? When he said “actually I can teach you anything in 3 minutes.” Totally worth the $12.

There's really no topping 3 minute Darrell but I wanted to try a speakeasy where you move the bookshelf to the right to enter - Firehouse Lounge & Hostel. It's small and windowless but they have good drinks (once you get through the line) and worth visiting. We ended our night at the famous East Side King’s food truck (there are several around town) - Paul Qui's hip Asian food establishment. If I didn't become obese off the Detroit pizza it would definitely be from the toasted baguette and peanut sauce from this place – beyond amazing. I wanted a cup of it to drink.

Food Trucks. Vintage Shopping. Live Music. Drinks on a patio. Everything quintessential Austin. Everything amazing. I highly advise everyone take a weekend trip to the liberal oasis in the conservative state….and if you want to learn anything in 3 minutes, look up Darrell.

To Eat:

Blenders and Bowls

Buzz Mill

La Condesa – get the street corn

Via 313: Detroit Pizza Truck - get the Cadillac Pizza

Radio Coffee – get the cold brew on draft

Vera Cruz Food Truck - get the CORN tortillas and the Migas taco

Lambert’s - go to the bar upstairs if it's open; also have live music

East Side Kings Food Truck

To Drink:

Buzz Mill

The Living Room Bar in the W