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Your A-List
September 3, 2008
Your A-List: Best Park
Home to weekend picnickers, soccer fanatics, kite-fliers, festival-goers, and at one point or another anyone else in Austin not found under said umbrella, Zilker Park is winner of the Your A-List poll for Best Park.
The 351-acre natural retreat set along the Colorado River offers some of the best views of the downtown skyline, but feels miles and miles away from the crowded and noisy streets of the city’s center. Ask any local or visitor to the city what their favorite things are about Austin, and you Zilker Park is all but guaranteed to be near the top of that list.
From the City of Austin’s Web site:
In 1918, A.J. Zilker deeded the 35 acres surrounding Barton Springs to the City of Austin. In 1932, Zilker agreed to give the military school established during the First World War an additional 330 acres, joining the 35 acres on the north side of the original tract if the city would buy the acreage from the school for $200,000. This action was approved in a bond election and despite the economic depression of the 1930’s, the land was developed into Zilker Park.
Others receiving votes
- Barton Creek Greenbelt, 14 percent
- Auditorium Shores, 6 percent
- Bastrop State Park, 5 percent
- Hippie Hollow, 5 percent
- Pace Bend Park, 5 percent
- Bull Creek Park, 3 percent
- Umlauf Sculpture Garden, 3 percent
- Waterloo Park, 2 percent
- Republic Square, < 1 percent
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Your A-List: Best Country Singer/Group
Roger Wallace went up against some of the biggest names in the country scene in Austin, from Asleep At the Wheel to Dale Watson and Kevin Fowler, but as the polls closed, he rode off into the sunset with 37 percent of the vote and the title of winner of the Your A-List poll for Best Country Singer/Group.
While this native of Tennessee may not be as well known as some of his competition, Wallace definitely has the work ethic to stay competitive on the local scene, constantly playing gigs at holes-in-the-wall all over town, from Ginny’s Little Longhorn to, well, the Hole in the Wall. Not only is the honky tonker just a picker and a singer, he also pens most of his own tunes, with co-writing credits on 12 of the 13 songs on his last album, “It’s About Time.” It looks like it may be just about time that the energetic performer with a voice that bangs off the back of the room starts getting a little more notoriety for his roots country style, and maybe one day find his name treated with the reverence of that given to some of his more famous competitors/vanquished Internet foes.
Others receiving votes
- Jon Emery, 20 percent
- Asleep at the Wheel, 12 percent
- Dale Watson, 11 percent
- Kevin Fowler, 8 percent
- Derailers, 4 percent
- Kelly Willis, 3 percent
- Mother Truckers, 2 percent
- Jesse Dayton, 1 percent
- Sunny Sweeney, < 1 percent
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August 27, 2008
Your A-List: Best Celebrity with Local Ties
The man from Abbott, Texas, fortunately returned to the Lone Star State after a stint in Nashville as a songwriter and helped establish the Outlaw Cowboy scene here in the 1970s, acting as the unofficial reverend in the marriage of cowboys and hippies. Known almost as much at this point for his activism and philanthropy, Nelson will forever be known as one of the greatest songwriters in American history. With more albums, hits, awards, accolades and fans than any artist could ever dream of, Nelson is without a doubt truly deserving of the label of “legend.” There has never been one like him, and there will never be another. And, even as he celebrated his 75th birthday this year, Willie was to be found much of the year where he always is … on the road.
Check out our comprehensive package on Willie Nelson from earlier this year.
More links to Willie on Austin360:
- Willie, A to Z
- 75 days of Willie
- Photos: Willie’s 4th of July Picnic through the years
- On the road with Willie
Others receiving votes
- Matthew McConaughey, 15 percent
- Lance Armstrong, 12 percent
- Sandra Bullock, 12 percent
- Robert Rodriguez, 5 percent
- Luke Wilson, 4 percent
- Richard Linklater, 4 percent
- Dennis Quaid, 3 percent
- Dixie Chicks, 3 percent
- Andy Roddick, 2 percent
Write-ins: Ray Benson, Michael Dell, Mike Judge
Image of Matthew Odam and Willie Nelson courtesy of Odam family.
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Your A-List: Best Margarita
Hard to believe it’s already been a year since we started the Your A-List polls. Oh, the passage of time. We being this year’s polls with a familiar face/taste, as Trudy’s, winner with 23 percent of the votes in the Your A-List poll for Best Margatia, is our first repeat winner.
With three locations, and a fourth establishment in the form of the South Congress Cafe, Trudy’s has all of Austin covered with its Tex-Mex fare that is complimented perfectly by one of any number of margarta concoctions. While older patrons may prefer their ‘ritas on the rocks, it seems the frozen is still the drink of choice at Trudy’s. With its delicious use of Montezuma tequila, Trudy’s frozen margaritas are the perfect way to wind down a warm summer evening, whether after work or after class. For those who like to venture beyond the standard lime flavor, Trudy’s also offers strawberry, and for those who are indecisive, you can always swirl it up.
But, drinker beware, although these tasty treats look innocent, after a couple you may come to the realization that, unlike many of the patrons at the Texas Star location near campus, you are no longer a college student, and your tolerance ain’t what it used to be.
Others receiving votes
- Baby Acapulco, 16 percent
- Z’ Tejas, 13 percent
- Manuel’s, 13 percent
- Chuy’s, 10 percent
- Vivo, 10 percent
- Cedar Door, 4 percent
- Iron Cactus, 4 percent
- El Arroyo, 4 percent
- Four Seasons, 2 percent
Write-ins: Abuelo’s, Azul Tequila, Curra’s, El Chile, Flores, Jardin Corona, Jorge’s, La Feria, Matt’s El Rancho, Maudies, Nuevo Leon, Polvo’s, Rain, Rio Grande, Serrano’s, Shady Grove, Tres Amigos
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August 20, 2008
Your A-List: Best Pool Hall
Good pool halls are dark, cavernous, smoky, offer a huge array of tables and hopefully have some music playing and a dartboard are two. No wonder, then, that The Grand (formerly Eric’s) on Airport Boulevard is the winner of this week’s Your A-List poll for Best Pool Hall.
The Grand, which took home 40 percent of the vote, is located in a non-descript strip center a few blocks west of I-35 and always seems to have available tables, a fact that seems to be greatly appreciated by the eclectic and friendly crowds who frequent the joint. The Grand also earns points for having a friendly bar staff and its massive bar.
Others receiving votes
- Buffalo Billiards, 22 percent
- The Warehouse Saloon & Billards, 12 percent
- Clicks Billiard’s Inc., 8 percent
- Stardust Club, 6 percent
- Dave & Busters, 5 percent
- The Side Pocket Billiards, 4 percent
- Main Event Entertainment Center, 2 percent
Write-in: Slick Willie’s
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August 13, 2008
Your A-List: Best Dive Bar
Someone stumbled home to his computer from a long night of swillin’ beer and tellin’ lies just in time to put Lala’s over the edge in the Your A-List poll for Best Dive Bar. The North Austin bar with charm beat out the classic Deep Eddy Cabaret and Ginny’s Little Longhorn by four and five votes respectively. The close race proves that despite tapas bars, condos and nouvaue cuisine, many Austinites still hold the dive bar near and dear to their hearts, as well they should.
Just like any good dive bar, Lala’s, which is located on Justin Lane just off of Burnet Road, features a pool table, killer jukebox, seputagenarian bartender, confined space for drinking that instigates conversation between strangers, a host of colorful regulars and a full bar, naturally. And the pièce de résistance, year-round Christmas lights. You ain’t gonna find that at no yuppie bar on West Sixth Street.
Others receiving votes
- Hole in the Wall, 10 percent
- Horseshoe Lounge, 8 percent
- Poodle Dog Lounge, 7 percent
- The Jackalope, 6 percent
- G&S Lounge, 6 percent
- Carousel Lounge, 5 percent
- Baryfly’s, 4 percent
- Scoot Inn, 4 percent
- Trophy’s, 2 percent
Write-ins: C. Hunt’s Ice House, Donn’s Depot, Ego’s, The Ginger Man
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Your A-List: Best Queso
Everybody in Austin seems to have an opinion about everything. And nowhere is that statement more evident than when it comes to queso. The Your A-List poll for Best Queso was as hotly (no pun intended) contested as any we’ve had, with four different establishments taking home double-digit percentages of the vote. In the end, Austin landmark Kerbey Lane narrowly edged out the even older landmark Matt’s El Rancho 17 percent to 16 percent for the crown, while Torchy’s and Magnolia Cafe rounded out the top four with 14 and 12 percent respectively.
With everyone and their madre serving queso in Austin, you can’t just melt some Velveeta and call it a day. You have to somehow set yourself apart. Kerbey has done so by adding guacamole to their queso, and offering the upgraded Cowboy Queso, which features black beans and guacamole covered with queso and topped with pico de gallo. According to their site, the stuff is so popular that the folks at Kerbey make 150 gallons of the award-winning queso every week. I think my heart just exploded.
Others receiving votes
- Maudie’s, 9 percent
- El Arroyo, 7 percent
- Z Tejas, 5 percent
- Polvo’s, 5 percent
- Sazon, 4 percent
- El Mercado, 4 percent
- Nuevo Leon, 3 percent
- Zocalo, 2 percent
- Azul Tequila, 1 percent
- Santa Rita, 1 percent
Write-ins: 10th Street Tacos, Alamo Drafthouse, Chango’s, Chuy’s, Curra’s, El Chile, Fonda San Miguel, Jaime’s Spanish Village, La Perla, Lamberts, Manuel’s, Posse East, Rio Grande, Texadelphia, Texican Cafe, Tres Amigos, Uncle Billy’s, Vivo
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August 6, 2008
Your A-List: Best Basketball Courts
Located in the lovely park located off of MoPac that marks the northern terminus of the Johnson Creek trail, the courts offer solid footing, good nets and even better competition. Granted, it’s no Rucker Park, but when you tire of playing at your gym’s court (or on your Xbox) and want to really test your skills, slap on a headband and head over to the crowded Enfield courts on a weekend or after rush hour on a weekday and see what you’ve got.
Others receiving votes
- Downtown YMCA, 25 percent
- Barton Hills Playground, 7 percent
- Shipe Park, 6 percent
- Walnut Creek, 5 percent
- Brentwood Park, 4 percent
- Adams-Hemphill Park, 3 percent
- Clarksville Park, 3 percent
- Tanglewood Park, 3 percent
- Alamo Park, 2 percent
- Gillis Park, 2 percent
- Ramsey Park, 2 percent
- Wooten Park, 2 percent
- Givens District Park, < 1 percent
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Your A-List: Best Place to Buy Used Records
To be the king, you gotta beat the king, and as it stands now, Waterloo Records doesn’t look to ready to leave its throne as Austin’s preferred music source any time soon. With 68 percent of the vote, one of the anchor’s of the Austin music scene is the winner of the Your A-List poll for Best Place to Buy Used Records.
Although it may have moved locations since its birth in 1982, and quadrupled in size, the mission of Waterloo to promote good music from around the world and Texas in particular, has never changed. And while there may be t-shirts, bumper stickers, DVDs and more for sale at the venerable store on Lamar Boulevard, they still carry that which rests in the heart of all good music lovers — vinyl. With over 5,000 used records, and a selection of new vinyl that grows daily, Waterloo continues to be a beacon for audiophiles and music lovers from Austin and around the world.
Others receiving votes
- Cheapo Discs, 11 percent
- End of an Ear, 6 percent
- Half Price Books, 5 percent
- Antone’s Records, 4 percent
- Austin Record Convention, 2 percent
- Backspin Records, 2 percent
- DJ Dojo, 1 percent
- Sound on Sound, < 1 percent
- Friends of Sound, < 1 percent
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July 30, 2008
Your A-List: Best Place to Rent a Canoe/Kayak
When you’re driving over one of the bridges crossing Lady Bird Lake on a sunny day, you’ve probably noticed that the lake is often spotted with canoes and kayaks. Ever wonder where all of those watercraft come from? A safe bet would be that many of them originated at Zilker Park Boat Rentals, with 50 percent of the vote, the winner of the Your A-List poll for Best Place to Rent a Canoe/Kayak.
From 10 a.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. on weekends until the summer sun sets over West Austin, you can rent a watercraft from the folks located inside Zilker Park for either $10 an hour or drop $40 and paddle all day to your heart’s content.Whether you and the family or a date want to head out for a leisurely paddle or you’re just looking for some alone time on the water, with a fleet of 17-foot Alumacraft and Grumman canoes and both Frenzy and Malibu Two Ocean Kayaks, Zilker Park Boat Rental has you covered.
Others receiving votes
- Texas Rowing Center, 17 percent
- Austin Canoe & Kayak, 20 percent
- Rowing Dock, 11 percent
- REI (north location), 3 percent
- Lone Star Kayaks, 3 percent
- Kozmik Kayaks, 1 percent
- Capital Cruises, < 1 percent
- Mud Outdoor Center< 1 percent
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Your A-List: Best Arcade
Live music, art exhibits, comedy? Sure, those things are nice, but who doesn’t like a good old-fashioned night of video game playing? Add to the mix food and cocktails, and Dave and Buster’s has come up with the recipe for alternative adult entertainment. With 56 percent of the vote, the arcade that doubles as a bar and restaurant serving a variety of standard pub grub and a host of cocktails and assorted beers, is the winner of the Your A-List poll for Best Arcade.
Others receiving votes
- Main Event, 21 percent
- Austin’s Park and Pizza, 15 percent
- Blazer Tag Adventure Center, 5 percent
- Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex, 3 percent
Write-in: Einstein’s
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July 23, 2008
Your A-List: Best Morning News Anchor/Team
When you wake up in the morning, you want to be greeted by a television personality with whom you can connect, someone who feels like a friend or part of the extended family. In a competitive market with several familiar faces, it is with distinction then that Univision 62’s recent addition Leslie Montoya, host of “Despierta Austin” (“Wake Up Austin”) has earned the top spot in the Your A-List poll for Best Morning News Team/Anchor.
One of Ms. Montoya’s already loyal viewers shared her opinion of the broadcaster with us via email: “I love Leslie. I think she’s very articulate and her enthusiasm is contagious, and we really like when she’s on the air.”
Others receiving votes
- KXAN: Sally Hernandez and Chris Willis, 32 percent
- KEYE: Fred Cantu and Elizabeth Dannheim, 17 percent
- KVUE: Melissa Gale and Jason Hill, 5 percent
- Fox 7: Joe Bickett and Katherine Kisiel, 3 percent
- News 8 Austin: Todd Boatwright, < 1 percent
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Your A-List: Best Sno-Cones
The Your A-List poll for Best Sno-Cone was a classic north vs. south battle. Representing South Austin was the popular SnoBeach Hawaiian Shaved Ice. But hailing from North (north-central) Austin, it was Casey’s New Orleans Snowballs, with 33 percent of the vote, that took home the honors.
Built out of an old white house, Casey’s sits at the corner of 51st Street and Airport Boulevard. Bringing the snowball tradition of Southern Louisiana to the hot climates of Austin turned out to be a no-brainer for original owners Suzy Casey Gallagher and Kit Thompson. The stand has been serving up soft flavored ice with vibrant flavor and color now for over a dozen years in the eclectic neighborhood it calls home. With over 60 flavors of shaved ice, ranging from Bostom cream pie to bubble gum, there is something for every sweaty body with a sweet tooth.
Others receiving votes
- SnoBeach Hawaiian Shaved Ice, 32 percent
- Raspas, 20 percent
- Jim-Jim’s Waterice, 8 percent
- Sno-Cones, 3 percent
- Snocones, 2 percent
- Shelby’s SnoCones, < 1 percent
- Baety’s Snocones, < 1 percent
- Snowcones, Etc., < 1 percent
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Your A-List: Best Tapas
Sure Texans love steaks and barbecue and other hearty foods. But we’re not some kind of barbaric class who can’t enjoy small plates with a more international flare. Even someone in cowboy boots on can admit to enjoying the convenient delicacies of tapas. With 39 percent of the vote, the winner of the Your A-List poll for Best Tapas in Malaga.
The beauty of a tapas restaurant is that if you don’t like what you’re eating, try a bite of something else. The menu is vast, from red peppers stuffed with goat cheese to warm artichokes with manchego to smoked chicken raviolli, and with an extensive wine menu, you can spend all evening mixing and matching flavor components until you feel as if you couldn’t eat another bite (read: plate).
Others receiving votes
- Saba, 19 percent
- Fino, 12 percent
- Louie’s 106, 11 percent
- Tierra del Fuego, 5 percent
- Segovia, 4 percent
- Hyatt Regency Austin’s Marker 10 (write-in), 4 percent
- Taste Select Wines, 3 percent
- Wine Cellar at Barton Creek Wine Bar, 2 percent
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July 17, 2008
Your A-List: Best Art Gallery
The Live Music Capital of the World has been making inroads in all of the arts over the past decade or so. A burgeoning film scene, the new Long Center, a soon-to-be-built new home for the Austin Museum of Art, and a host of art galleries of all stripes popping up around town speak to Austin’s emergence as an art force in the Southwest.
The winner of the Your A-List poll for Best Art Gallery, Art on Fifth speaks to the fact that one not need a degree in art history or have spent hundred of hours touring the Louvre to appreciate the beauty and vitality of visual art.
With 39 percent of the vote, the gallery on (naturally) Fifth Street promotes itself as Austin’s largest contemporary art gallery, boasting a rotating schedule of exhibits and the works of Theodor Geisel, i.e. Dr. Seuss, attracting locals and out-of-town guests. The gallery also offers framing services, making the place your one-stop shop for getting a new piece for your house or office.
In addition, Art on 5th has also made a name for itself by bringing in some big names in the entertainment industry to exhibit their art. To wit, Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane had a popular exhibition at the gallery last year. A rock star visiting an art gallery in the Live Music Capital of the World … a natural fit.
Others receiving votes
- Blanton Museum of Art, 23 percent
- Austin Museum of Art-Downtown, 9 percent
- Austin Museum of Art-Laguna Gloria 6 percent
- Harry Ransom Center, 6 percent
- Women & Their Work, 7 percent
- Artworks, 6 percent
- Austin Galleries, 6 percent
- Gallery Soco, 5 percent
- Art Palace, 4 percent
- Flatbed Press, 4 percent
- Arthouse at Jones Center, 3 percent
- Davis Gallery, 2 percent
- Russell Collection Fine Art, 2 percent
- D Berman Gallery, < 1 percent
- f8 Fine Art Gallery, < 1 percent
- Gallery Shoal Creek, < 1 percent
- Haven Gallery, < 1 percent
- Lora Reynolds Gallery, < 1 percent
- Slugfest Printmaking, < 1 percent
- Stephen L. Clark Gallery, < 1 percent
- Studio 107, < 1 percent
Write-in: 4 Walls Fine Art
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July 16, 2008
Your A-List: Best Place to Picnic
Austin’s signature park hosts a slew of events and activities that run the gamut, from friendly soccer games to gigantic concerts, but when its not overrun with folks, it’s great for a picnic, from the grilling out and eating at a picnic table variety to the bare-bones basket on a blanket in the grass endeavor.
From the City of Austin’s Web site:
In 1918, A.J. Zilker deeded the 35 acres surrounding Barton Springs to the City of Austin. In 1932, Zilker agreed to give the military school established during the First World War an additional 330 acres, joining the 35 acres on the north side of the original tract if the city would buy the acreage from the school for $200,000. This action was approved in a bond election and despite the economic depression of the 1930’s, the land was developed into Zilker Park.
Others receiving votes
- Mount Bonnell, 17 percent
- Capitol grounds, 8 percent
- Barton Creek Greenbelt, 7 percent
- Lake Austin, 6 percent
- Auditorium Shores, 5 percent
- Pease Park, 5 percent
- Shores of Lady Bird Lake, 5 percent
- Little Stacy Park, 2 percent
- West Enfield Park, 2 percent
- Waterloo Park, 2 percent
- Brushy Creek Lake Park, 1 percent
- French Legation, 1 percent
- Republic Square, < 1 percent
- Gillis Park, < 1 percent
Write-ins: Lake Travis, Mayfield Park, Westlake Beach
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July 9, 2008
Your A-List: Best Golf Course
Central Texas has been exploding with golf courses over the past two decades. Most of them, in this writer’s opinion, are overpriced and have a warped view of themselves. Ninety-six dollars to play a slightly-above-average course on the weekend? Give me a break.
Fortunately, there are still some courses in town where you can play and not be surrounded by pretense — or lose your shirt in the process. The standard bearer for reasonably priced golf in Austin is the winner of this week’s Your A-List poll for Best Local Golf Course, Lions Municipal.
I have played the course a dozen times or so, and while the fairways may not be up to the level of some of the area’s ritzier courses, and the rounds may take five hours or more, there is something wonderful and beautiful about the course located just west of Downtown Austin. While I definitely appreciate ‘old muni,’ I thought I’d turn this space over to my friend Casey Haverstick, who can do the course much better justice than I.
A 1992 graduate of Austin High School, and a 4 handicap (at least at Lions), Haverstick’s love of the 75-year-old course is unparalleled (at least among anyone his age) and the tournament he and his friends put on each spring is absolutely legendary. What follows are Casey’s thoughts and feelings about his “home” course:
I first played Lions in 1987, as a seventh-grader attending O. Henry Junior High. The pro shop was a converted trailer home with vending machines that popped out ice cream sandwiches and fountain Cokes. We’d play 36 holes for under $4. Over the years, I never strayed too far. Often, it felt like my classes at Austin High and then UT got in the way of my time at Lions. I guess it felt that way because they did. As I officially became an adult, my feelings for the course grew stronger. There were other courses in town, sure. Lions is family. And it made my being an adult feel less official, I suppose. Teeing off on No. 2, I’ve seen Lance Armstrong ride by on Lake Austin. I’ve seen Ben Crenshaw hit a draw down the first fairway. I’ve seen grown men get choked up after winning the Firecracker. I’ve seen a fox. I’ve waited an hour to tee off on No. 12 and enjoyed every minute of it. I’ve seen over 39 bets booked on the 18th tee. I’ve seen many holes-in-one, including my own on No. 7 and my dad’s on No. 13. I’ve heard at least 19 different old guys explain why the 16th is called Hogan’s Hole, no two stories the same. I’m not the only one who feels this way. There’s a reason more rounds are played at Lions than any other course in Central Texas. It’s walkable and affordable. The layout is short, but challenging — you won’t find harder greens to read. The staff is courteous and friendly. The list of champions is impressive, including a two-time Masters winner. And you’re basically playing in Downtown Austin. Which, sadly, could be the course’s undoing.
Others receiving votes
- Avery Ranch Golf Club, 16 percent
- Falconhead Golf Club, 7 percent
- ShadowGlen Golf Club, 5 percent
- Riverside Golf Course, 5 percent
- The Golf Club at Star Ranch, 4 percent
- Teravista Golf Club, 4 percent
- Wolfdancer Golf Club, 4 percent
- Forest Creek Golf Club, 3 percent
- Jimmy Clay Golf Course,3 percent
- Roy Kizer Golf Course, 3 percent
- Grey Rock Golf Club, 3 percent
- Morris Williams Golf Course, 3 percent
- ColoVista Country Club, 2 percent
- Lago Vista Golf Club, 2 percent
- Blackhawk Golf Club, 2 percent
- Bluebonnet Hill Golf Club, 1 percent
- Plum Creek Golf Course, 1 percent
- Delaware Springs Golf Course, < 1 percent
- Pine Forest Golf Course, < 1 percent
- Quail Creek Country Club, < 1 percent
- White Wing Golf Club, < 1 percent
- Yaupon Golf Course, < 1 percent
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Your A-List: Best Place for Dessert
Following dinner at one restaurant, many folks like to head to another locale for dessert. Some folks may choose to go out only for dessert, whether it be for a guilty pleasure after dining at home or for a simple getting-to-know-you slice of cake on a first date. Whatever the case may be, Mozart’s Coffee Roasters on Lake Austin has become a favorite of many Austinites looking to satisfy their sugar urges, and, with 25 percent of the vote, is the winner of the Your A-List poll for Best Place for Dessert.
The lovely little brick-walled building with warm wooden floors spills out onto a patio that sits on the lake and regularly boasts crowds late into the evenings, especially on nights with good weather. From the Mozart’s Raspberry Delight (an almond tort layered with raspberry preserves and covered in dark chocolate) to a host of cheescakes (nine in all) and the famous Chocolate Decadence Cake, the cafe on the lake has something for all tastes.
Mozart’s Coffee Roasters [site]
3826 Lake Austin Blvd. [map]
512.477.2900
Others receiving votes
- La Dolce Vita, 16 percent
- Driskill Grill, 10 percent
- Teo, 8 percent
- Hudson’s on the Bend, 7 percent
- Jeffrey’s, 7 percent
- Austin Java, 7 percent
- Wink, 6 percent
- Starlite, 5 percent
- Pachugo, 4 percent
- Quack’s, 3 percent
- Aquarelle, 3 percent
- Zoot, < 1 percent
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July 2, 2008
Your A-List: Best Place to Smooch
Located in West Austin, Bonnell offers an exquisite view of Lake Austin and homes with prices that put them out of my (and probably your) price range. And, when the beauty of the lake and its homes overwhelms (or bores) you, and you want to rest before enjoying the surrounding trails, turn to that special someone and get to kissin, ya exhibitionists.
Bonnell also seems like a pretty cool place to shoot a music video, as evidenced by this one of local talent Bill Callahan playing “Nothing Rises to Meet Me.”
No. 6 Bill Callahan - “Nothing Rises To Meet Me” from Retread Sessions on Vimeo.
Others receiving votes:
- Eeyore’s Birthday, 12 percent
- Town Lake, 11 percent
- Barton Springs, 9 percent
- Zilker Park, 7 percent
- Botanical Gardens, 6 percent
- UT football game, 6 percent
- 360 Bridge, 5 percent
- Umlauf Sculpture Garden, 5 percent
- Capitol grounds, 4 percent
Image from Larry Kolvoord/AMERICAN-STATESMAN
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June 25, 2008
Your A-List: Best Place to Dine Alone
Some people fear eating alone. Whether it bores them, they fear social stigma or what, I don’t know. But it’s obvious that when people do head out to dine alone, they prefer the crowded, easy-to-look-not-so-lonely confines of the generally busy Whole Foods, with 33 percent of the vote, winner of the Your A-List poll for Best Place to Dine Alone.
The homegrown heavyweight offers a plethora of relatively quick (and generally tasty) dining options for those eating alone. You can take a book over to the seafood or trattoria sections and eat at the bar, maybe chatting up the chefs and waitstaff (if conversation’s what you’re after). Or you can sit at a small two-top, the dimensions making your isolation seem less glaring. Or, maybe you want to do some people watching or catch the eye of a friend passing by, so you decide to grab something from the prepared foods case or salad bar and sit in the dining area up front or out on the open-air patio. The options, much like Whole Foods sausage selection, are almost limitless.
And, with the ability to grab food quickly and eat on the run at the centrally located store, you can always just tell that ex of yours who you run in to that you’re just grabbing a quick bite before heading to a bar, or a book reading or art exhibit, or whatever lie it is you tell to that person to make you seem busy and wanted.
Me? I’ll eat alone anywhere. But the sushi bar at Maru has been a favorite of late. I like Whole Foods, but there are just too many distractions that keep me from reading.
Others receiving votes
- Austin Java, 11 percent
- Magnolia Cafe, 9 percent
- Kerbey Lane, 8 percent
- Zen, 8 percent
- Maudie’s, 6 percent
- The Tavern, 6 percent
- Home Slice, 6 percent
- Jo’s, 4 percent
- La Traviata, 2 percent
- Enoteca, 2 percent
- Blue Dahlia, 2 percent
- Halcyon, 2 percent
Write-ins: Alvin’s Sandwiches, Sandy’s in Lakeway, Tamale House, Tino’s
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Your A-List: Best Swimming Hole
You’d be hard pressed to find a more popular and beloved attraction in Austin than Barton Springs Pool, with 42 percent of the vote, the winner of the Your A-List poll winner of the Best Swimming Hole.
I was talking to the wife of a touring musician a few weeks back, and the first thing she mentioned in her list of Austin loves? Not the live music scene, not the weather, not the friendly people or the access to the Hill Country or how “weird” the city is .. she went on and on about the greatness of Barton Springs. And who could argue?
In a town where 94 degree days linger into the fall like an unwanted couch crasher, “the springs” is a most welcome relief, its constant 68 degrees an icy salvation. Beyond being a place for sun worshipers, the springs also has a vibrant night scene, with free swimming after 8 p.m. And on nights when there is a full moon, the Austin of old makes its way down to the water’s edge, as people take part in ritual drum circles, dancing and general merrymaking. Sure, it may be a bit over the top for some, but it is part of what makes Austin great, just as the springs itself is.
And should there be any question of the love for and stewardship of this beloved natural landmark by the citizens of Austin (with a special nod here to the Save Our Springs Alliance), one needs look no further than the beautiful documentary “The Unforseen,” by local filmmaker Laura Dunn. How many other towns have swimming holes that have prompted award-winning documentaries? My guess, not many.
Others receiving votes
- Hamilton Pool, 21 percent
- Krause Springs, 9 percent
- Deep Eddy Pool, 6 percent
- Hippie Hollow, 6 percent
- Blue Hole, Wimberley, 5 percent
- Sculpture Falls, 4 percent
- Enchanted Rock, 2 percent
- Blue Hole, Georgetown, 2 percent
- Campbell’s Hole, 2 percent
- Stacy Pool, < 1 percent
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June 18, 2008
Your A-List: Best Pop Group/Singer
Their lead singer may have moved to the Great Northwest, but Austin still proudly claims Spoon as hometown heroes. With 51 percent of the vote, the homegrown products who have reached national fame received more votes than all of the other bands put together. That’s what we call a landslide, folks.
After selling close to 200,000 copies of the 2005 hit ‘Gimme Fiction,’ the pressure was on for Spoon to deliver with its latest album in 2007, and the boys delivered, with ‘GaGaGaGaGa,’ an album that’s odd title was confusing as it was intriguing, a Dadaist-sounding term, in lead singer Britt Daniel’s words. As with most of Spoon’s catalog, the tunes are crisp, stripped-down and rollicking, but unlike previous efforts, there are new sounds to be appreciated here, such as horns playing a predominant role, a touch that may at first have seemed out of place but soon after listening came to seem as if they fit in the band all along. In the words of Daniel, the album features three kinds of songs: “the emotional ones, the vaguely political ones and the colorful ones.”
‘GaGaGaGaGa’ saw Spoon, a band that seems to win awards every year in Austin for almost a decade, make a slight deviation from the norm without losing any of the band’s hallmark sound, and as evidenced by album sales, a jam-packed secret show at The Mohawk last year and appearances on national television shows, the band not only satiated old fans but found a way to expand its base with rock tunes that are catchy but not derivative.
For more lowdown on the making of ‘GaGaGaGaGa,’ check out Joe Gross’s profile of the album last year, with Daniel breaking down each of the songs. (Feature includes audio samples)
Photos of Spoon in action in Austin
Others receiving votes
- Trish Murphy, 10 percent
- Alpha Rev, 9 percent
- Okkervil River, 8 percent
- Kacy Crowley, 6 percent
- Nelo, 5 percent
- Dan Dyer, 3 percent
- Moonlight Towers, 3 percent
- Shearwater,3 percent
- Black & White Years, 2 percent
- Darin Murphy,1 percent
- Rite High Flyers,1 percent
Write-ins: Mike Jackson of Hotcakes, Noah Kelly, Scott Leger of Wideawake, Bob Schneider, Scorpio Rising, The Bad Rackets, Voxtrot
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Your A-List: Best Fried Chicken
Although Texas isn’t officially “the South,” we do like our home cookin’. And nothing says down home comfort food like a nice plate of fried chicken.
The winner of the Your A-List poll for Best Friend Chicken goes to Top Notch, with 25 percent of the vote. The Burnett Road eatery with the recognizable vintage sign prides itself on its charcoal grilling, but as Statesman food critic Dale Rice can attest, the chicken is “crisp and non-oily as the onion rings, with juicy, tender, flavorful meat beneath that golden crust.”
What else could a Southerner (or Texan) ask for?
Top Notch
7525 Burnet Road [map]
452-2181
Others receiving votes
- Hoover’s, 17 percent
- Dot’s, 12 percent
- Threadgill’s, 11 percent
- Gene’s Poboys, 6 percent
- Tony’s Southern Comfort, 5 percent
- Hill’s, 4 percent
- Arkie’s, 4 percent
- Terry’s Seafood and Chicken, 3 percent
- Nubian Queen Lola’s, 3 percent
- Shoal Creek Saloon,3 percent
- Broken Spoke, 3 percent
- Evangeline Cafe, 2 percent
- Ms. B’s, 2 percent
- Iron Gate Lounge, <1 percent
Write-ins: Bush’s Chicken, Randalls, St. David’s Hospital cafeteria
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June 11, 2008
Your A-List: Best Local Film Series
To be a good film town, you need more than a strong university presence, some popular and successful local filmmakers and a great film festival (or six). You need a continual commitment to screening a wide variety of films outside of the major cineplexes. Austin’s got that in spades. The winner of the Your A-List poll for Best Local Film Series is the Paramount Summer Film Classics series, which, with 27 percent of the vote, just outpaced Movies in the Park.
Classic films such as ‘Casablanca,’ ‘Dr. Strangelove,’ All About Eve,’ deserved to be screened in a classic theater. The Paramount fits that bill, and on warm summer weeknight or weekend afternoon, as you head down the avenue and approach the venerable theater, you may get that sense of feeling transported back in time, to when movies cost 10 cents to get in and soda pops were a nickel. Sure, the seats may be uncomfortable and the legroom negligible, but there is no better venue to see the classics than at our city’s most classic theater.
Not only does the Paramount screen great movies during the summer, the programing also has a nice consistency to it, with most screenings pairing movies from the same genre (noir, westerns, slapstick comedies, etc.), making a double feature a tantalizing way to beat the summer heat. Tickets are $7 ($8 for the 70mm screenings), and big movie buffs can opt for a package of 10 tickets for $45, giving you a good summertime entertainment value. As an added bonus, $5 of that $45 goes to the Paramount’s Preservation Fund, so you can feel good knowing you’re helping preserve an Austin landmark. (Buy tickets here.)
Check out this summer’s roster of fabulous films here.
Others receiving votes:
- Movies in the Park, 21 percent
- Weird Wednesdays at Alamo, 13 percent
- Belmont’s Movies and Margaritas, 10 percent
- Music Mondays at Alamo, 7 percent
- Terror Thursdays at Alamo, 6 percent
- Austin Film Society’s Essential Cinema, 4 percent
- Rounders Pizza Movie Night, 4 percent
- AFS at the Dobie, 3 percent
- Texas Doc Tour, 2 percent
- Beat Film Series at Harry Ransom Center, 2 percent
- Summer Movie Clubhouse, 1 percent
- Austin Cinematheque, < 1 percent
Write-in: Austin Jewish Film Festival
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June 4, 2008
Your A-List: Best Local Author
(Statesman writer and noted beer enthusiast Patrick Beach, who happens to be moderating an event with author Chuck Palahniuk Thursday at UT, contributed to this post.)
While Austin is known as a music town, a burgeoning (where are those tax credits?) film town, and an outdoor lovers town, it is also obviously a city that loves books. It is almost de rigeur for a university town to be one that harbors a love of books, and Austin is no exception. With humor writers, famous historians and novelists dotting out intellectual landscape, there is no shortage of homegrown literary talent.
The winner of the Your A-List poll for best local author is novelist Ben Rehder, who, with 30 percent of the vote, beat out novelist and comedian Owen Egerton (29 percent) by a bookmark.
From Mr. Beach: “Edgar Award finalist Ben Rehder writes comic mysteries set in Blanco County and featuring a game warden, law enforcement types and wildly colorful miscreants. If Carl Hiaasen grew up in the Texas Hill Country, this is what he’d write like. His latest is “Holy Moly,” (St. Martin’s Press, $24.95), which begins with a televangelist’s attempts to build a megachurch along the Pedernales River and, predictably, devolves into mayhem and merriment.”
Others receiving votes
- Owen Egerton, 29 percent
- Jeff Abbott, 9 percent
- Kinky Friedman, 9 percent
- David Lindsey, 4 percent
- David Oshinsky, 3 percent
- Sarah Bird, 2 percent
- Joe Nick Patoski, 2 percent
- Tim O’Brien, 2 percent
- Spike Gillespie, 2 percent
- Turk Pipkin, 2 percent
- Edwin “Bud” Shrake, 2 percent
- Stephen Harrigan, 1 percent
- Lawrence Wright, < 1 percent
- Diane Fanning, < 1 percent
- H.W. Brands, < 1 percent
- Craig McCullough, < 1 percent
- Steven Saylor, < 1 percent
- Douglas Brinkley, < 1 percent
- James D. Hornfischer, < 1 percent
Write-ins: Jim W. Apfelbaum, Owen Egerton, Allen Erwin, Gabrielle Faust, Elizabeth Moon, Tim O’Brien, Joe O’Connell, Benjamin Reed, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Papa Joe Summy
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Your A-List: Best Place to Go Tubing
As soon as the temperature in these parts creeps above 75 degrees, the sound of tubers flocking to the river can be heard throughout the town. What better way to beat the heat than my loading up a cooler full of beer and floating down a river surrounded by drunken strangers? Ah, summertime.
The winner of the Your A-List poll for Best Place to go Tubing is the Guadalupe River. With almost half of the vote (49 percent), the king of Texas tubing rivers lapped the field. Sorry, rivers Comal, San Marcos, Frio, etc., guess you will just have to deal with the fact that you will never have as much urine or beer cans in you as the good ol’ Guadalupe.
Others receiving votes
- Comal River, 23 percent
- San Marcos River, 13 percent
- Frio River, 13 percent
- Brazos River, 1 percent
- Neches River, < 1 percent
- Texas Paddling Trails, < 1 percent
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May 28, 2008
Your A-List: Best Doughnuts
While religion may be the opiate of the masses, it seems in the greater Austin area that Round Rock Donuts are the sugary narcotic of the masses. With 48 percent of the vote, the sweet baked bread products from the Lone Star Bakery won the Your A-List poll for Best Doughnuts.
IKEA may be the most recent attraction in Austin’s northern suburb of Round Rock, but the Round Rock doughnuts from the Lone Star Bakery are arguably the most notable of the city’s claims to fame. The yellow — or are they orange? — treats have 85 years of history and are revered in these parts with the type of fervor usually reserved for the breakfast taco.
What makes these doughnuts stand out from their pastry brethren? Maybe it’s the old oven in which they are cooked or their denser consistency. Maybe it is tradition or ritual. Whatever the case may be, people are boffo for them. And fortunately for those living outside of Round Rock, the doughnuts can be found at gas stations closer into town. Now they may not be as fresh as the ones that come straight from the oven at the original store. But sometimes we must make sacrifices for our vices.
Others receiving votes
- Mrs. Johnson’s Bakery, 20 percent
- Ken’s Doughnuts, 9 percent
- Donut Palace, 6 percent
- Kenny’s Coffee Co., 4 percent
- KC Donut Store, 3 percent
- Howdy Donuts, 3 percent
- The Kolache Shoppe, 2 percent
- River City Donut & Coffee House, 2 percent
- River City Donuts, 2 percent
- Lone Star Kolaches, 1 percent
Write-ins: The Donut Hole, Dunkin Donuts, Krispy Kreme, Shipley and the “friendly neighborhood corner coffee and Round Rock doughnut shop at Westminster and Briarcliff”
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Your A-List: Best Summer Camp
I remember as a kid seeing friends (and strangers) wearing their crisp white T-shirts with a cartoonish orange longhorn logo and the words ‘Camp Longhorn’ printed across the front and thinking, ‘Man, that place looks cool.’ Something about the retro-looking logo or color scheme just made it seem like a sweet place to spend your summer. Apparently it is, as, with 20 percent of the vote, it is the winner of the Your A-List poll for Best Summer Camp.
The co-ed camp (maybe that also was part of what made it seem cool, in contrast to my all-boys summer camp, Stewart) was founded by Tex and Pat Robertson. It sits about an hour northwest of Austin on Inks Lake, with summer activities ranging from archery to a host of water sports for kids 8-16.
Of course, considering the amenities and the camp’s clientele, you would probably assume that sending your kiddo to Camp Longhorn doesn’t come cheap. And you’d be right. Camp runs around $3,000 for three weeks. That’s a spicy meatball.
Honorable mention goes out to write-in candidate Vista Camps, which staged a nice campaign, coming up just a few percentage points shy of the venerable Longhorn.
Others receiving votes
- Vista Camps (write-in), 16 percent <