Many thanks to all that offered their assistance and advice towards securing a hotel room for the upcoming SXSW festival. I would especially like to thank Brad M. and Brian A. for their generous help. As of right now, my travel companion / business partner Ali and I are confirmed for four nights at the Hotel San Jose. We are totally stoked to be heading to Texas. To all the people that plan a year in advance, stand still while we poke you in the eye. Thanks again dear readers. —ACL
Chris Brown
on Jan 7th, 2009
@ 4:46 PM:
You’ll totally dig the San Jose.
austinite
on Jan 7th, 2009
@ 4:47 PM:
You stumbled upon the best hotel in Austin. Right across the street is the Continental club, which is the ideal place for a tito’s and tonic.
Michael Williams
on Jan 7th, 2009
@ 4:48 PM:
Who says we stumbled upon it?!?
ACL
JP
on Jan 7th, 2009
@ 4:57 PM:
excellent place and scene.
JP
Courtney
on Jan 7th, 2009
@ 5:06 PM:
You’re gonna love that place! Great hotel. Welcome to Texas.
andrew k
on Jan 7th, 2009
@ 5:14 PM:
nice hotel, great vintage shopping around there, and not near (but walkable) to the blah convention center/hotel downtown area.
Sean
on Jan 7th, 2009
@ 5:16 PM:
Rudy’s Bbq (which also happens to be a gas staion) is a sxsw MUST. Fette Sau?? Pshaww
http://rudys.com/
Adam
on Jan 7th, 2009
@ 5:52 PM:
Some place else to think about, if you want BBQ (Snow’s in Lexington, about 50 miles outside the city)
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/11/24/081124fa_fact_trillin
Or:
http://www.dinosaursandrobots.com/2008/05/salt-lick-bbq-pit.html
Not that I bookmark BBQ joints or anything …
I’d make the journey if I was heading SXSW … :)
Jay
on Jan 7th, 2009
@ 6:03 PM:
Hotel San Jose is amazing. That neighborhood has great vintage, some boutiques, and good food. SXSW is sooo much fun.
Abe
on Jan 7th, 2009
@ 6:04 PM:
Personally on the BBQ side I’d go to the east side for Sam’s. The place right next the convention center is ok too, Ironworks or something, wouldn’t got out of my way for it, but a million times better than what you find next to most convention centers.
Casino El Camino has an amazing burger and at least on my last visit was the only bar worth visiting on 6th st.
Focus on all the daytime showcase shows, all the best bands get cherry picked for them. Try and sort out all the list crap before you leave, the media people sure have imported some of the worst side of NY with these guest list lines… The nighttime pass driven stuff tends to be a much bigger mess though.
don weir
on Jan 7th, 2009
@ 8:18 PM:
avoid the big big shows b/c you won’t see shit and watch this site (http://www.donewaiting.com/category/sxsw/) for up to the minute updates. and come check out the shop i sell antiques / junk / oddities at up the street from the san jose at uncommon objects. you’ll dig it. also, design sponge has a decent austin guide: http://www.designspongeonline.com/2007/11/austin-design-guide.html. and check out new shop bows + arrows (http://www.shopbowsplusarrows.com/) that i do some window / store display work for. they’re carrying men’s apc, rag and bone, nice collective, steven alan, etc.) as well as good women’s stuff. enough self promotion. later.
VM
on Jan 7th, 2009
@ 10:13 PM:
San Jose is the best, and someone pulled some strings because it is always booked solid. Only place to stay in Austin, but make sure to walk to St. Cecilia for a look, the newest and soon to be coolest.
diana
on Jan 7th, 2009
@ 11:41 PM:
michael, i’m so envious. im coming down from canada and i’ll be staying in a grody super8 that’s way too far from downtown.
chasingmoss
on Jan 7th, 2009
@ 11:59 PM:
Man… I’ve only been once (before kids) and had a great time. Is Wilhite’s Chili still around? Great place. Have an excellent time.
Oh… and where did the flickr pics go?
sulu-design
on Jan 8th, 2009
@ 3:14 AM:
I seethe with jealousy. Hotel San Jose is one of my favorite places on earth. And to add my two cents about the best bbq around Austin – head an hour out of town to Kreuz Market in Lockhart. Totally worth it.
wayne pate
on Jan 8th, 2009
@ 10:32 AM:
As a native Texan I can rightfully say Austin is the
best City Texas has to offer. You’ll have a blast and
shit loads of good food.
sam
on Jan 8th, 2009
@ 12:22 PM:
your eye poking remark sounds like you’re starting on the perfect SXSW attitude early. see, you DO plan ahead!
wade word
on Jan 8th, 2009
@ 6:41 PM:
San Jose is a sweet spot.
Do not drive an hour for Snow’s Bar-B-Q. It got blown up because it was Texas Monthly’s best pick.
It is good food, but not worth an hour drive, especially since there is good bbq all over the place. Cosign on Rudy’s.
I really enjoy this blog. It definitely influenced my Xmas list.
Sartorial Architect
on Jan 12th, 2009
@ 6:44 PM:
Nice. San Jose is right on South Congress and it’s conveniently lined up with restaurants, bars, and shops.
As Sulu-Design has mentioned, Kreuz Market in Lockhart has probably the best BBQ in Texas, but if it’s too far Lambert’s and Stubb’s is located downtown.
Maybe I’ll see you guys at SXSW; luck for me I live in Austin :)
Kate
on Jan 26th, 2009
@ 4:23 PM:
How on earth did you score that? Good job. I’m staying at my friend Jorge’s house so I’ll be within walking distance…