Home > Like a Local > Archives > 2011 > June > 01 > Entry
Richard Williams, owner, Luna Park Events
Richard L. Williams and friend Melanie Rene Griffith.
Richard L. Williams II has lived in the Austin area for about 14 years and graduated from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) with a degree in Communications. After some soul searching, he went on to Austin Community College for his second degree and certificates in Meeting and Event Planning. He is the owner of Luna Park Events, a meeting and event planning company in Austin. He also teaches at Austin Community College in the school of Hospitality, Travel & Tourism, Meeting and Event Planning. Richard is happy and blessed to live in Austin with his amazing partner, Patrice, and his wonderful dog, Porthos.
How will you start your Friday night?
I will kick things off at Vino Vino on Guadalupe with my friends by getting a bottle of the Cantine Barbera Rosato la Bambina to share. We would all get a bottle of wine so that we can all taste each other’s wines. We will try to get there between 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. for happy hour and to order food. My favorite dish there right now is the pork chop, bacon, new potatoes, arugula, and cider vinegar! Just know the menu changes every so often. They also serve cocktails and beer for those who are not wine people. This is a great start to my Friday night for sure!
If you go to a happy hour, which bar will you go to? What will you order?
This is a hard question since I have so many favorites, but I will decide between Vino Vino, Hotel San Jose (starting at 5 p.m. if you are not a guest staying at the hotel), Frank Restaurant, Haddingtons, Second: Bar and Kitchen, The Clay Pit, South Congress Café, Dog and Duck Pub, Annie’s Café and Bar, and Botticelli’s South Congress. It all depends on my mood and how big of a crowd I have with me. All of these places except Hotel San Jose have a fully stocked bar where you can get beer, wine and cocktails. Hotel San Jose just has beer and wine. I do have to say the Shandy at Hotel San Jose is one of my favorite drinks on a hot summer’s day!
Where will you go for late night eats after your night out?
I switch it up between Kerby Lane on Kerby Lane, Frank Restaurant, and Justine’s Brasserie. Justine’s is just amazing French food after a late night of going to a concert or going out with your friends.
If you go to the lake, what will you do and which lake will you go to? (Travis, Austin, Town Lake, LBJ)
When I go to the lake on my friend’s boat I like both Lake Travis and Lake Austin. I do have to say the most fun I have had is when we tied up to the dock on Lake Austin and had some great food and drinks at Hula Hut! Good times indeed!
What’s your favorite Austin band aside from who you will see this weekend?
I cannot pick just one, so if it is live music I would see the lovely Wendy Colonna, the always fun and talented John Pointer, or the great Guy Forsyth! If it is a DJ here in town I always like DJ John Gomi, DJ Jeff Strange, or DJ Mel. It all depends on my mood but all of these picks are crowd pleasers.
Where can we find you when you are craving BBQ?
I have to name three: The Salt Lick, County Line, or Uncle Billy’s on Barton Springs. Uncle Billy’s is great to go to after a long day of relaxing and swimming at Barton Springs Pool.
Where can we find you when you are craving Tex-Mex?
I personally like Vivo’s if you want to get a little dressy and show off to your friends from out of town right before you go out. Now if you want laid-back shorts and tees I suggest Azul Tequila, Guero’s Taco Bar on South Congress, or Takoba (which is less Tex-Mex but just really good Mexican food).
Where can we find you grabbing a margarita?
I have to say Vivo’s or Azul Tequila. The Prickly Pear Margarita at Vivo’s is pretty good, but ask for a sample because not everyone has a taste for it. I am not sure why but every time I go to Azul Tequila for a margarita they can be a bit powerful. Watch out they will sneak up on you.
What is your favorite place to get brunch?
Now this is really hard for me because I love my brunch in Austin! I have to say the most fun brunch is at Frank Restaurant because it is great Southern food and great ’70s rock and disco music in the background. I have to always have my birthday brunch there. For a little upscale brunch, Paggi House has an amazing view. They’re brunch is a buffet, and in general I am not a huge fan of buffets, but I have to say theirs is a good mixture of on the menu options and a classy buffet! Remember to get the biscuits and gravy at Frank Restaurant it is amazing on Sundays.
What is your favorite outdoor spot to enjoy a sunny Saturday?
Barton Springs Pool hands down! Get your bag of Fla-Vor-Ice (Flavor Ice treats) frozen of course and head to Barton Springs with your sunglasses, sun block and towel in tow. This is one way on how to enjoy a sunny day in Austin, TX!
Where is your favorite place to take your dog?
The Norwood Estate Dog Park on Riverside Drive is one of my favorite dog parks in Austin because everyone there is responsible for their pets. It is enclosed so they can run around without a leash and have a good time while you sit there and watch your dog enjoy himself.
What trails will you hit this weekend?
The Barton Springs Green Belt off of Barton Skyway is the best!
What’s your one “must-do” for visitors to Austin (this weekend or in general)?
I feel like the one place I always end up taking my friends and family to Ranch 616 because it really encompasses what Austin is all about to me without having that cheesy Texas feel. It is fun and the surroundings feel like your grandmother’s attic in Texas exploded and happen to land in that restaurant. It is just fun to me and says, “Welcome to Austin!”
If you’re in need of a little pampering, where will you go? What do you recommend having done?
I say go to Viva Day Spa! Those ladies will make you feel so pretty, handsome, or both!
Where will you be seen shopping?
You cannot ask me to pick one place on this one! I love Service Menswear, the owners are great and will always tell you the truth about whether what you are wearing is looking good on you. Love Service Menswear! However, I also like Downstairs Clothing for some fun and original clothing and Stag totally needs a shout out because the clothing they have there is so fun and just great! Last but not least Nordstrom Rack, I know this is not an Austin original like the other clothing stores, but it has some amazing fashion items at really affordable prices. You have to love that!
If you’re having a date night, what romantic spot will you go to and what will you order?
Well all depends on what we want but I have to say my top pick is Wink Restaurant because no matter who you are they make you feel like a ROCK STAR. It is intimate so that you and your date can connect for the first time or reconnect. I love it there, but also make sure you go to the Wink Wine Bar before dinner to get you in the mood before your romantic dinner.
What’s Austin’s best-kept secret?
I feel The Barton Creek Green Belt’s Campbell’s Hole area and Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum are two places not too many people outside Austin know of and are just amazingly beautiful places.
How will you end your Austin weekend? Where will you go and what will you do?
I would go to Mount Bonnell and have one last look at how beautiful Austin is! I know for people who live here this may be nothing new but for somebody’s first time in Austin this is a sight to be seen. I have to say the first time I say it took my breath away .
Comments
When commenting, we ask that you keep things civil and abide by our Visitor Agreement. To report comment abuse, click here.
By DW
June 2, 2011 4:01 PM | Link to this
Love the blog! This is a great run down of the top spots to hit whether you’re a local or just in town for a visit. Now, I need to decide where to go tonight - BBQ, TexMex, get on my tequila or just take a dip in Barton Springs. Who doesn’t love Austin??!!
By CJ
June 2, 2011 6:15 PM | Link to this
Great suggestions! We’ve been to Frank Resturant and it’s one of our favorites too, you can’t go wrong with their food and drinks, there’s something for everyone!
By Mace
June 2, 2011 6:58 PM | Link to this
These are some great recommendations—he obviously knows Austin. I absolutely agree about Vivo’s having the best margaritas. The cucumber margarita is my favorite.