Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dreamscapes.ca/i/725964
DREAMSCAPES FALL 2016 30 Our moveable feast commenced at the Blue Ox with smoky barbecued tri tip and pork accompanied by a choice of barbecue sauces: sweet-sharp vinegar and tangy mus- tard. This carnivorous indulgence was followed by Asian fusion at the East Side King truck. The toothsome home-fried beets came in small cubes, a contrast to the crunchy and spicy-sweet Brussels sprout salad. We wob- bled on to sample Detroit-style pizzas from Via 313, a food truck cleverly parked behind a beer emporium. This arrangement invited food-and-ale pairings from the 54 regional offerings Craft Pride has on tap. The evening concluded with fancy coffees and shared desserts at the casually elegant Bonneville, featuring the elaborately named "coconut cardamom panna cotta with house- made peach pickles." After such a gastronomic marathon, the road back to Rocket Electrics seemed longer than it should have . . . and I appreciated that battery the whole way. KEEPING IT WEIRD On the last day, we browsed the shops along South Congress Avenue. A wander through Uncommon Objects ("like your eccentric uncle's attic on steroids") uncovered a treasure trove of trophy-mounted heads, handmade and vintage jewellery, archaic medical instruments and other nostalgic oddities. Other finds included Allens Boots, long-time purveyors of western gear, and Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds, a costume shop of mind-boggling proportion. The city's motto is "Keep Austin Weird" and SoCo does its best to uphold that mandate. Austin celebrates its uniqueness. Though proudly Southern, it is a Liberal-minded enigma, a blue island in a conservative Republican sea. I visited in (usually) mild November, but if you like music, food or fes- tivals, the city's year-round schedule of celebrated events makes any time a great time to go to Austin. DS T R A V E L P L A N N E R Air Canada (aircanada.com) offers direct flights to Austin from Toronto. The Austin Visitor Center (austintexas.org) offers information on the music scene. For more information, visit: Austin Foodie Tours/Rocket Electrics: rocketelectrics.com Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds: lucyindisguise.com The Continental Club: continentalclub.com/Austin.html Threadgill's: threadgills.com Uncommon Objects: uncommonobjects.com TOP LEFT: Friends gather at Austin Food Trucks. Dave Mead courtesy of Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau TOP RIGHT: Self-proclaimed Live Music Capital of the World, Austin boasts more than 250 music venues. Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau BELOW: Numerous companies offer lessons in stand-up paddleboarding in Austin. Andy Mahr courtesy of Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau