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Sunday Drive – Fredericksburg/Enchanted Rock

January 11, 2015 / Mike Fitch

My last trip to Enchanted Rock was a cold and rainy January day. The Summit Trail was closed due to the wet ground, but we decided to stay and walk around. It was only a couple degrees over freezing and we almost quit before we started. It ended up being a nice hike and we saw a side of the park that I had not experienced before. In a way, it was more interesting. Walking around the perimeter gave me a chance to appreciate the rock formations and natural habitat. Without having a “destination” – we were free to explore at our own pace.

Since Fredricksburg is right around the proverbial corner from Enchanted Rock, we decided to wrap up our day there. The Christmas lights were still on display and it made Main Street an even more charming site that usual. Fredricksburg has a couple too many trinket shops for my taste, but here are a a few things that I’ve found to be interesting over the span of several visits.

Stay – I’ve yet to find a really memorable place, but the Hampton Inn is at least clean and in the middle of the action.

Eat/Drink – Lincoln Street Wine Market is easily my favorite place to hang out. Nice atmosphere and the staff does a great job of making you feel at home. If you’d rather hang out on Main Street and watch the world go by, Silver Creek is a solid choice.

Do – The National Museum of the Pacific War is a surprisingly well done center for being in a small town. And I can’t vouch for much of the shopping, but It’s a Glow is a neat little shop worth dropping in to check out their honeycomb calcite pieces. I’m just hoping my Happy Stone lives up to its name. Here’s to a year of travel and new adventures.

Happy 2015

A Perfectly Ordinary Texas Sunset

December 27, 2014 / Mike Fitch

I missed a beautiful sunset last week. I didn’t miss it exactly, but it was over my shoulder and behind me while I was driving home. Short of pulling off the road or crashing my car – I settled for stealing a few glances where I could get them. The next evening provided similar weather conditions and I was hoping for an equally spectacular vista. This time I’d take to a hill by my house, camera in hand, and wait for just the right moment. I took a few pictures and kept one that I thought provided the universe at least an adequate representation. After all, the job of a photographer at sunset is mostly just not to F*** it up.

I went home and reviewed my handy work – overall satisfied with the output. Good, but not great. It wasn’t until I went out to Instagram to compare my efforts that I realized I took exactly the same picture as dozens of others. I’d tried to be clever and frame the picture with trees in the foreground to give it depth. Well that and I couldn’t get the trees out of the shot without standing in the middle of a busy street. The thought of dying for one’s craft most certainly doesn’t apply here. The result is a bit of a cliche picture, but it’s a start. I guess I’ll just have to watch a few hundred more sunsets and keep trying…

Sunday Drive – Houston

December 7, 2014 / Mike Fitch

Yeah – I know what you are thinking. Houston?? Blah. Unless you grew up there – or maybe even if you did – it might not be the first place you think about for getting away. Indulge me for a minute. Houston isn’t actually one place – it’s lots of little places. Give it a fair shot and I promise you’ll find a few you like. Among the urban sprawl and endless miles of highway – you’ll also find a world of museums, restaurants, & entertainment.

Houston is almost literally a blank canvas that you can paint the way you like. More often than not, you’ll find me calling The Magnolia Hotel my home away from home. There are lots of interesting places to wet your whistle, but a new discovery for me was the Nouveau Antique Art Bar in downtown, where the ceiling full of reproduction Tiffany lamps provides a unique backdrop. And given enough time, I’ll almost always try to sneak in at least one lunch at Goode Company Taqueria.

So, while it might not be Paris or Rome – or even your favorite place in Texas – Houston can be a great place to go exploring. Stay off the freeway and go find a neighborhood that appeals to your sensibilities (or lack thereof). And if you find yourself in the mood for some Vietnamese Crawfish...yeah they have that too.

And the Band Played On

November 23, 2014 / Mike Fitch

When I drove by this afternoon, there was a line out the door at Players. At some point later tonight, they will serve their last burger, blend the last shake, and turn out the lights on 30 years as a fixture of the UT community. For me, I had one last bacon cheeseburger combo a few days ago. Change and Austin are synonymous these days, but sometimes a place goes and you feel it more personally. Players is was one of those places for me; as was the recent demolished original Ginger Man building on 4th St.

The very first meal I ate after arriving at UT was at Conan’s (on the site of the current Kerby Lane) and I’ll remember that forever. My first visit to Players is not similarly etched in memory, but it was a touchstone for me through out my time as a UT student. The burgers are fine, but it was never really about the food. It was….comfortable. A feeling not to be underrated when you are trying to find your place among 50,000 fellow students.

By and large, I’ve enjoyed watching Austin grow into what it is today. Old makes way for new. Throngs of people who were never patrons of a place suddenly become long lost friends when word comes of the next closure. The common refrain goes something like: “Well, I never really ATE at _________ (Las Manitas, Paggi House, etc), but it was a tradition!” While I appreciate nostalgia, the rich mixture of culture and diversity continuing to flourish in Austin requires a certain amount of perpetual motion.

As Austin continues to evolve, we’ll find new things to love. The restaurant scene today is unrecognizable (in the best of ways) compared to a few years ago. Paul Qui could have hung a shingle anywhere and he decided to stay in Austin. We are better for having him. But as we turn into a full fledged Big City – here’s hoping we can hang on to a few of those comfortable places.

Sunday Drive – San Antonio

October 5, 2014 / Mike Fitch

When I was a kid – we would occasional pile into the car on a Sunday afternoon and go for a drive. While the experience may not have been unique to my family, it was one of my first exposures to the concept of exploration and travel. Recently, I’ve resumed the practice of taking a Sunday drive as time permits. San Antonio is great spot for a mini-break from Austin without having to travel far.

Let’s get the obvious out of the way right off the bat. The River Walk is a tourist trap. It’s full of mediocre Tex-Mex restaurants willing to be the backdrop in the play. On the bright side, you can walk without destination in mind and be content just being in the moment. And because it’s a essentially a tourist/convention district – weekends provides ample supply of hotels for any taste at a reasonable price tag.

There are very few places I can earnestly recommend, but I’ve found a few spots that are comfortable and find their way on my regular rotation. The service at Ostra is always prompt and friendly. The bar is quiet enough that it’s easy to strike up a conversation with whatever (typically eccentric) character ends up on the bar stool next to yours. For reasons I can’t fully explain – Mi Tierra has become my touchstone in San Antonio and no trip is complete without a visit.

Hotels are obviously a matter of personal taste. Everyone should get a river view room at La Mansion Del Rio at least once. It might not be the nicest, but it’s quintessential River Walk lodging. My personal favorite is the Hotel Valencia. It’s a quirky boutique hotel and perhaps not for every taste, but it’s a nice place that’s right on the river while being off the beaten path enough to avoid the bulk of the crowds (and noise).

Oh….and Remember The Alamo. It is why you came after all – right?

Marfa Lite

August 9, 2014 / Mike Fitch

Dear Marfa,

On behalf of the entire city of Austin, I apologize. It appears we have overrun your quaint and quirky little town. We figured if “weird” works well in Austin, then you’d love us in Marfa. Who doesn’t love a good food trailer and a cold can of PBR – right?

Yes, it’s true. It appears Austin has made Marfa our own little satellite outpost in the middle of West Texas. We wanted to get out of town for the weekend and you looked just “far out” enough to suite our tastes and travel budget. And when we heard Liz Lambert was opening a trailer park hotel, well – you had us at hello.

I had a feeling our cover was blown when the first 3 guys I met at the hotel bar were in a band from Austin and in town for a gig. A car in the parking lot with the Waterloo Records bumper sticker didn’t help. Nonetheless, your hospitality was most appreciated.

We’ll see you again soon. Now, if there was just a way for us to get there on a Vespa.

P.S. Thanks for sharing the story of your town mascot. We’ve got lots of folks in Austin looking for #tictacmarfa. I hope he makes his way home soon!

XGames Comes To Austin

June 15, 2014 / Mike Fitch

Austin took our first crack at hosting the XGames a weekend ago and by all accounts seemed to be a successful event. Things mostly went off without a hitch, but my guess is both the crowd and event coordinators learned a few things that will help make next year even better. For myself, it was entertaining and I’m glad I experienced it. A few observations:

The human powered events – at least for me – were more entertaining that the machine powered ones. Getting a bird’s eye view of someone launching themselves off an impossibly tall ramp on a bicycle or skateboard is impressive. It’s one of those events that you can’t tell whether the athletes are brilliant or crazy – most likely a bit of both.

Austin can be hot in June….and windy. The heat took a toll on both fans and participants. Race cars hovering under shady bridges waiting for their start and fans finding creative ways to stay cool. The wind was a welcome reprieve, but played spoiler to a couple of aerial events that had to be modified, and in one case cancelled entirely.

There’s a lot to do beyond the events. A true family affair with something for everyone. From kids riding mini skate parks to fans getting to meet their heroes – there were lots of ways to feel engaged with the events and feel like you are peeking behind the scenes. XGames also did a great job of sprinkling in Austin feel with local musicians and food trucks.

I believe the initial contract is for 3 years. There were a few small missteps along the way, but given the crowd and athlete response – this may be the first year of another long-standing Austin tradition. Welcome to town!

The Phoenix Goes to Bastrop

May 19, 2014 / Mike Fitch

I visited Bastrop State Park this weekend for the first time since the fires in 2011. I’ve driven past on the highway, but there is something different about walking on the trails through fallen trees and the others that are charred, but still standing. Too stubborn to heed the call of gravity.

If the view toward the sky is a window to the past, then the floor underfoot is a peak into tomorrow. Life literally springing from the ashes. A new crop of flowers casting a hopeful reach through the open canopy.

There is certainly no such thing as good news stemming from an event like the one that ripped through the heart of Bastrop taking life and property along in its rampage. The rebirth is simply a sign of the enduring spirit of both man and nature.

May the circle be unbroken.

Get Your Grove On

April 13, 2014 / Mike Fitch

Unplugged at the Grove. It’s quintessential Austin and kicks off each spring and runs through the fall on Thursday evenings. A legendary combination of social scene and live music.

The crowd represents eclectic Austin at its best. Families inhabit the grass, the professional crowd settle into the chairs by the stage, and the Unplugged regulars hold court at the bar. The bands are a Who’s Who of Austin music and would normally garner a line and a cover charge. The 2014 season kicked off with What Made Milwaukee Famous.

Austin is an outdoor city and a music city – so it’s no surprise that we try to combine the two as often as possible. KGSR and Shady Grove pull it all together in a way that reflects so many things that make Austin a special place. So if it’s Thursday and you are looking for your friends, chances are you’ll meet them at the Grove.

A Tourist at Home

April 6, 2014 / Mike Fitch

When I first moved to Austin I was young and it was a different town. As the city and I have grown – we don’t always see each other as often as I’d like. Sure, I make it pretty regularly to Town….I mean “Lady Bird”…..Lake. And I still make the live music rounds when time permits, but Austin is the poster child for the FOMO syndrome. So many places, so little time.

When I’m feeling a little out of touch – there are a couple stand-by itineraries that I pull out of the bag to reconnect myself. One of those touchstone places would most certainly be an afternoon on South Congress. It’s sums up so much of Austin – both old and new – within a couple miles of road.

Old standby restaurants like Guero’s hold court next to the hotspots like Hopdoddy and both compete with the new trailer sensations. Austin music venues have come and gone, but Continental Club connects Austin past and present. So, whether you’ve lived in Austin since Willie had red hair, just moved here, or are merely passing through – give “SoCo” a bit of your time and you’re bound to walk away smiling.

Post Script – I realized as I was publishing this that I just wrote about a couple places in SoCo earlier this year. I really do go to other parts of town, I promise. Next time, I’ll talk about Rainey, East Sixth, North Loop, or one of the many other great places around town.