Tips for visiting Austin

GETTING THERE AND AROUND

From Chicago, plane tickets to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport run about $275 for weekend trips in early March, and significantly less in April. Downtown is walkable, and cabs are common. However, a car comes in handy.

DINING

Tex-Mex is the word here, but that’s not all. Guero’s Taco Bar (512-447-7688; www

.guerostacobar.com) has great margaritas and traditional dishes. Around-the-clock Austin chain Kerbey Lane (www.kerbeylane

cafe.com) serves killer queso, plus modern diner fare. The Salt Lick (512-858-4959; www.saltlickbbq.com) has been serving BBQ since 1969; there’s even an outpost of it at the airport. For standard American food, South Congress Cafe (512-447-3905; www.southcongresscafe

.com) does wonders with both brunch and dinner options, while its upscale comfort-food neighbor, Woodland (512-441-6800; www.woodlandaustin

.com), is worth visiting for the decor alone. For burgers, Hut’s (512-472-0693, ) is a must. It opened as a drive-through in 1939 and serves 20 different kinds of burgers, and the best onion rings on earth.

LODGING

Downtown Austin is home to the requisite chains, but the kitschy Austin Motel (512-441-1157; www.austinmotel

.com; rooms from $86/night) in the hip South Congress ‘hood is a 70-year-old establishment. Next door is the tastefully minimalist boutique-style Hotel San Jose (512-444-7322; www.sanjosehotel

.com; doubles from $95 / night). (For more on Hotel San Jose, see Page 12.)

WHERE TO HEAR MUSIC

Everywhere, really. Some suggestions: In the Red River District: Stubb’s Bar-B-Que (512-480-8341; www.stubbs

austin.com), Emo’s (512-477-3667; www.emosaustin.com).

South Congress: Continental Club (512-441-2444; www.continentalclub.com), Ego’s (512-474-7091), Guero’s Taco Bar (info above), Jo’s (512-444-3800; www.joscof

fee.com).

South Austin: The Broken Spoke (512-442-6189; www

.brokenspokeaustintx.com).

East Austin: Scoot Inn (512-478-6200; www.eastinns

.com).

North Burnet: Ginny’s` Little Longhorn Saloon (512-458-1813; www.musicroom.org/ginnys).

INFORMATION

Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau, 800-926-ACVB; www.austintexas.org. For an extensive list of which bands are playing when and where, check out www.do512.com.

—Lauren Viera