Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dreamscapes.ca/i/725964
FALL 2016 DREAMSCAPES 29 Then, it was time to explore that legendary Texas music scene. Self-proclaimed Live Music Capital of the World, Austin boasts 900 local bands and more than 250 music venues (not counting the airport). The sizeable Thursday-night crowd at the Continental Club demonstrated local enthusiasm for live per- formances. A gritty dive bar and premier music venue in SoCo, the Continental has been presenting music from country blues to rock and indie pop since 1957. The vibe is quin- tessential "old" Austin: small venue, hot music and cold beer. That night we lucked out with a perform- ance by the Whiskey Sisters (I like Rob Bleetstein's description of the duo: "a double shot of Austin-based roots rock drenched in gutsy blues"). As the Sisters rocked it we paused beside the stage, knocking back a Lone Star and marvelling at the diversity of the audience, which ranged from college kids and hipsters to aging hippies and cowboys adorned with shiny belt buckles. A timeworn pool table dominated the back room, where old licence plates nailed to the walls vied for space with vintage concert posters and tin ads for motor oil. A WHEELING FOOD TOUR Food trucks are "in" throughout the United States, and Austin is ground zero for the food-truck craze. More than 2,000 trucks offer up a dizzying variety of food, serving lowbrow to highbrow and everything in between, with catchy names such as Psy- choDelhi (Indian food) or Hey! You Gonna Eat or What? (Monte Cristo sandwiches). It was time to sample an array of Southern- influenced fare. I located the meeting point for the Austin Foodie Tour at a shop called Rocket Electrics, and soon found my (usually sedentary) self pedalling off in a cluster of shiny Pedego elec- tric bikes. Maintaining a feeble last place, I appreciated the battery boost that allowed me to keep up with the others. ABOVE: Six permanent stages in the terminal at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport feature local bands every afternoon. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport RIGHT: A barbeque joint is only as good as its Pit Master, the person responsible for that "low and slow" roasting that gives the meat its tender, smoky qualities. L. Daghigh BELOW: Kayaking is a popular sport in Austin. Live Love Paddle