GUIDE TO AUSTIN, TX – PART 1

Every summer Byron and I get a bit of wanderlust that takes us on a journey least expected. This past August, we could be found in the hot and steamy depths of Austin, Texas. Yep, those 42*C days were a lot to handle for our fresh Canadian blood but we survived and came out the other side with all sorts of eating, shopping and music adventures to share with you.

Austin is a bustling city full of creativity and a sweet sort of laid back style. Known for their music scene made famous by SXSW and Austin City Limits, many musicians have been handpicked from the stages in this town. With so much to see, we’ve divided up our journey in Austin into two parts of must-sees, must-eats and must-dos. Enjoy!

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 Tiger Blood Snowballs: A must on a hot day, we couldn’t resist tracking down some Tiger’s Blood after hearing about it on The Cuisinerd’s post about Austin. The perfect combo of Red Dye No. 9 and cherry coconut goodness, we left feeling a bit cooler and with decidedly neon red tongues.

: One of the sweetest little joints we happened upon while adventuring in South Congress, Elizabeth St. Cafe is the home of some fabulous French Vietnamese cuisine. Bursting with charm, the tiny but spacious cafe hosts some of the most stylish locals we had seen thus far. We highly recommend the Rose Monsoon Cocktail and the Broiled Niman Ranch Pork Belly noodle bowl – their Nuoc Cham packs a real punch into the meal leaving your salivating for more.

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Lumiere Tintype Photobooth: If you are a fan of photography and portraiture, you’ll want to check out this gem of a place on South Congress. A mobile studio, gallery and darkroom, Lumiere offers the amazing service of capturing you on a tintype photograph. Once your photo has been taken, it will take them just under an hour to develop it – creating a brand-new family heirloom of yours truly. If you are going to get any kind of souvenir in Austin, make it a tintype.

UnCommon Objects: For collectors, UnCommons Objects is exhilarating, overwhelming and incredibly intimidating all at once. Chock full to the brim with vintage, kitsch and antiques – this never-ending shop of treasures has more than meets the eye. Much like their slogan, ‘raw materials for creative living’ each and every corner you encounter has even more goodies (coloured blocked at that)! Highlights of our visit? The vintage neon and metal signs, old horseshoes for good luck and antique sports game paraphernalia. Go team go!

 If you are looking for the most authentically ‘Austin’ shop, look no further than Parts + Labour. Jam-packed with completely locally made goods, this sweet boutique is the best way to get a sense of Austin’s indie scene. We walked away with a tank top appropriately labeled ‘Local’.

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This post was originally featured on Standard Issue.

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