Austin: Shopping, Dining, Music & Nightlife

From upscale shopping at the Domain to vintage store heaven along Burnet Road, Austin appeases shoppers of all tastes and budgets. Whether you’re looking for discounts or something truly unique, you’ll find shopping in Austin convenient and fun.

Austinites passionately support local businesses and love to “Keep Austin Weird.” Eclectic boutiques line Guadalupe Street, Lamar Boulevard, south First Street and Burnet Road, and art lovers can find exceptional gifts for all ages at the museum shops on Congress Avenue. Austin also is home to many guitar and music shops, so if you’re searching for the perfect vintage guitar or a gift for a musician in your family, head to south Lamar where you’ll find legendary music shops like Heart of Texas Music and Music Makers. Musical Exchange on North Loops offers exceptional repairs and a variety of vintage items.

For a real taste of Austin life, be sure to head down to South Congress just south of the Capitol for First Thursdays, where shoppers enjoy food, local music and fabulous store discounts.

Austin’s zest for healthy living is evident by three large health food and organic products stores. Central Market features everything from beautiful fresh flowers to imported cheeses, a top-notch bakery, exotic wines and an extensive meat market. Whole Foods Market started in Austin and continues to thrive in two locations, including the central location at Fifth Street and Lamar Boulevard. Sun Harvest is a smaller organic foods market with two locations. You’ll find many other stores that cater to the health-conscious consumer.

Dining

Whether you're grabbing a fresh breakfast taco on the run or sitting down to an elegant fivecourse meal, you'll be surprised by all the exciting options Austin's restaurant scene offers.

Colorful Tex-Mex eateries are abundant in Austin, and there are several interior Mexican and South American restaurants, as well. Texans also love barbeque, so be prepared to dig in to Texas-sized beef ribs, local sausage and tender brisket. If you're not sure where to find a BBQ restaurant, just follow your nose. Health-conscious diners can also enjoy organic and vegetarian dining in town.

Music and Nightlifte

On any night of the week, you can find music of all types here in Austin, the “Live Music Capital of the World.” From bluegrass to jazz to rock ‘n’ roll, music constantly fills the air in Austin and lends the city a distinctively soulful atmosphere not found anywhere else in the world.

Many world-renowned musicians got their start in Austin, including Stevie Ray Vaughan, Willie Nelson, Janis Joplin and Roky Erickson. To this day, Austin still maintains that spirit of musical expression and creative freedom.

Blues-rock, one of Austin’s major cultural exports, can be heard along downtown’s historic Sixth Street every night. The Continental Club on South Congress has become a gathering place for fans of Americana, country and singer-songwriter acts, with living local legends like Toni Price and Dale Watson playing regularly. Austin also is known as an breeding ground for many indie bands. To hear some of the new sounds coming out of Austin, pop into Emo’s or Stubb’s BBQ in the Red River District just north of historic Sixth Street.

The South By South West (SXSW) music festival in March, as well as September’s Austin City Limits Festival, has put Austin even more on the map when it comes to live music. People have come from all over the world for these yearly events to hear such acts as Elvis Costello, the B-52s, Coldplay, REM and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. For local music listings, read the Austin Chronicle (www.austinchronicle.com) and XLent (www.austin360.com).