Awwwwwwwwyeah, you’re comin’ to Austin!

If you’ve never been here before, prepare to be charmed (and fed ’til you pop). If you’re a returning guest, we’re psyched to have you back. We’ve got loads of tips on accommodations, transportation, and — of course — delicious food.

Whether you’re experiencing Austin for the very first time or it’s been a while and you just can’t remember the name of that taco truck you loved on South First, we’re here to help you out. It’s on the tip of your tongue, dammit!! (It’s okay, dude. It’s Torchy’s.)

So, without further ado: our quick & dirty guide to your stay in the best city ever.

Where to stay:

Our celebration is being held smack in the heart of Austin — specifically, at Palazzo Lavaca (see map) downtown, just north of the Capitol Building and south of the UT campus. Right across the street, there’s a Hampton Inn, but since there’s also a Longhorns game in town the night of the party, rooms might be scarce. Still, we’re including it on our list of recommended hotels, along with a host of others to save you some research.

If you’re a hip kid/experienced world traveller:

Airbnb is always a great option and has plenty of listings close to the center of town. Similarly, HomeAway may have some additional places — it’s one of Airbnb’s competitors and happens to be headquartered in Austin. Almost everything in the 78701 ZIP code is either walkable or bike-able from the festivities, and lots of condos downtown have great amenities and gorgeous views. Still, don’t hesitate to email us if you want a second opinion on your accommodations before you book.

If you want to walk to the shindig on your own two feet:

Hotels closest to the party include the Hampton Inn @ University/Capitol mentioned above, the AT&T Executive Education & Conference Center, DoubleTree Suites on 15th Street, and La Quinta Inn & Suites Austin Capitol (from which you can cut across the very pretty Capitol lawn to shave a 15-minute walk down to 10 or less). All are within a stone’s throw of Saturday night’s happenings, with La Quinta being the farthest out.

If you want to be our neighbors for the weekend:

If you’d rather stay a few blocks south of the party in the heart of downtown, close to lots of restaurants and fun stuff to do, here’s a sampling of top options, ranging from most to least expensive the last time we checked: The Driskill (beautiful and historic, built in 1886), The InterContinental Stephen F. Austin (in the middle of [north] Congress Avenue, just shy of the Capitol), the Omni, the Radisson, the Hilton, the Hilton Garden Inn, and Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown (a different property than the one that’s just across from the party). And if you want to roll like a bona fide baller, try the W, the new JW Marriott, or the Four Seasons, you fancypants bon vivant you.

If you want a genuinely Austin-tatious experience:

South Austin is the next-closest section of town to where we’ll be, and it’s awesome. For a truly unique Austin experience — think “chilled-out B&B where actual rock stars might stay” — consider local gems Hotel San Jose, Hotel Saint Cecilia or Park Lane Guest House, all of which spill out into the very popular South Congress Avenue area, whose shops and cafes often pop up in movies set in Austin (like Chef and Whip It). South Congress Hotel is another great option (and a little less of a splurge) in the same area. Also, Elijah Wood lives in the 78704, so you can do a bit of Frodo-spotting in your free time.

If you want to save some coin:

Maybe you’d rather stay away from the hustle and bustle, save your money and drive/take a cab/Uber downtown for Saturday night’s festivities. If so, there are boundless options. We recommend the rockabilly cuteness of Lone Star Court at The Domain (a multi-use shopping center north of town with tons of restaurants and stores), the comfort of Hyatt House at the Arboretum (in a quiet area a fairly quick skip up the highway from downtown), or the convenience of the Best Western Plus (which is on the interstate, but is clean, modern and crazy close to city center for the price).

How to get around:

In the center of the city — south of the UT campus, north of Oltorf Street, west of Interstate 35 and east of MoPac Expressway — almost everything is accessible by bike, and the city offers B Cycle beach cruisers for rent. You can pick them up and drop them off at kiosks all over downtown (see map) for $8 a day, and they even have baskets to hold your stuff. Many parts of downtown and South Austin are very walkable, too, and Austin’s also known for its large network of independent pedicabs, which are easily catchable in busy areas on the weekends and always a welcome treat for tired feet. (Keep an eye out for the Darth Vader pedicab driver; he’s a cool dude.)

Of course, rental cars, cabs, Ubers and Lyfts are always available as well, so it’s completely up to you. Once you’re in town, the RideScout app for iOS and Android users can take the guesswork away and tell you the easiest ways to get from point A to point B in real time. Before your trip, though, feel free to email us with any questions. We’re happy to give advice.

Fun things to do around town:

Well, there’s the largest independent bookstore in Texas, a presidential library, a gorgeous Capitol building you can tour for free, the best-ever locally-owned movie theater chain with an endless roster of offbeat events both day and night, an amazing and super-interactive children’s museum, an excellent hike & bike trail, lots o’ live music, and more sunny cafe, bar and restaurant patios than you can shake a stick at. And that’s just when you’re not hanging out with us!

Our celebration will run from 6:30 Saturday evening until probably 11 pm or so (get all the details here), and we’ll be hosting a simple BBQ or brunch at our place on Sunday for any of you who are a) still in town and b) somehow, inexplicably, not sick of our stupid faces by then. (We’ll send an email about brunch closer to the date.)

And now the best part… what to eat:

Oh man, where to start? We’d love to personalize our recommendations based on what you’re into, where you’re staying, and how much time you have to romp around town and experience things. So, hit us up! Also, of course, feel free to Yelp ’til your hungry hearts are content. In the meantime, along with wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings, these are a few of our favorite things:

Downtown eats: This is our neighborhood, so it’s tough to narrow it down, but here’s our top five list for breakfast, lunch and midday snacking: Walton’s (adorable lunch spot owned by Sandra Bullock), Jo’s on 2nd (damn fine veggie burgers, salads and iced turbos), Easy Tiger (bake shop/sausage house/beer garden that makes Andrew Zimmern’s favorite pretzels), 24 Diner (nothing is bad here, ever) and Counter Cafe (ditto our 24 Diner comment). For dinner, you can’t beat Second Bar & Kitchen (hello truffle fries), Numero 28 (pizza get in my mouth), and The Clay Pit (best Indian food, no contest).

Downtown coffee & relaxation: At Halcyon, you can have a beer, enjoy a Vietnamese coffee or make your own S’mores. At Austin Java at City Hall, you can eat anything at any time of day and enjoy the cozy atmosphere inside or the perfect-for-people-watching patio out on 2nd Street, across from the famed Willie Nelson statue outside the Moody Theater. Wine flights at Cru on 2nd and cocktails at Whisler’s on Rainey Street are never a bad idea, either, and speaking of Rainey Street (in the southeastern corner of downtown, lined with bars in converted 19th century houses with big backyards), behold the sausage/beer/poutine/boiled peanut glory that is Banger’s — you can check your cardiovascular health at the door.

Eastside eats: Launderette. This place is the bee’s knees. It’s utterly beautiful, the vibe is chilled out, and the food is brilliant, whether you stop in for dinner or Saturday/Sunday brunch. (Kitten-shaped maple syrup carafes and lumbar pillows to keep you comfy on the patio? Yes MA’AM.) Also, the delicious Hillside Farmacy has long been a pioneer of the farm-to-table movement, while Blue Dahlia‘s back patio is the loveliest thing you ever did see. For dinner, if you’re with someone you like a whole lot, you’ll want make a reservation at Justine’s, where you can enjoy a sexy French supper and even have a set of old-fashioned tintype portraits taken in the Lumiere shack out back.

Eastside coffee & relaxation: Friends & Neighbors. It’s an old bungalow-style house that’s been converted into a coffee shop and hippie boutique with a teepee in the backyard, because Austin. Over on East 6th, Rio Rita puts the “dive” in “dive bar” and is open damn near 24/7, with a dog-friendly patio and the most eclectic music playlists in all the land. It’s also where Amy drank her first Texas beer, although they serve coffee ’round the clock, too. The only thing they don’t have is MTV’s Dan Cortese.

South Austin eats: You’re not experiencing South Austin if you’re not standing outside a taco truck. This is arguably where the nationwide food truck craze was born, and our favorites are Torchy’s Tacos on South First and Melizzoz, just a few blocks south of that. Next to Melizzoz sits Gordough’s, where they do obscene things to donuts like drown them in hot fudge, strawberries, cake batter and other borderline-pornographic delights. The line can be mighty at all three, but trust us; they’re worth the wait. And for a quick, easy local diner experience at any hour, Kerbey Lane is always a sure bet — literally — because it’s open 24/7.

South Austin coffee & relaxation: This part of town is also dripping (harrr) with great coffeehouses. Two personal selections: Patika on South Lamar (next door to Mockingbird Domestics, a beautiful home goods/gift shop supporting Texas artisans) and Jo’s on South Congress (home of the famous “I love you so much” wall. Get a large iced turbo here. You’re welcome.)

Deep cuts & pro tips:

In no particular order…

*** Don’t go to Dirty Sixth (Street) at night. It’s the part of town where 19-year-olds go with fake IDs to drink flaming Dr. Peppers at shot bars and punch each other in the face. Trust us — the smells alone are enough to haunt you for life.

*** If you want to eat a burger and some onion rings that are WAY more than just “alright alright alright” in the exact place where Matthew McConaughey said his infamous first lines on film in Dazed and Confused, look no further than Top Notch Hamburgers on Burnet Road. It’s one of the few places that can veer Amy clear off her mostly-vegetarian path on an embarrassingly regular basis.

*** If you want some bomb-ass BBQ while you’re in town but don’t want to wait in line for four hours at Franklin’s or Micklethwait’s (or arrange a pre-order if you’re hardcore), you’ve still got solid options in Freedmen’s, La Barbecue, Lamberts, Stiles Switch and even Rudy’s, which is a controversial choice around here since it’s kind of a chain, but we both love it. If anyone tries to tell you Iron Works is good, turn and walk away. You’re dealing with a crazy person, or Jay Leno.

*** If you want to enjoy the great outdoors and a beautiful hilltop view of the city skyline (but don’t mind getting your heart rate up a little in exchange for it), consider stopping by Mt. Bonnell in northwest Austin. It requires a steep climb up a set of limestone steps (they’re a little slippery, so wear sneakers or boots), but it’s just 15 minutes from downtown, and it’s a nice way to spend half an hour or so on a crisp day. The drive up is pretty, too — kind of like snaking through the canyons of California.

*** We can customize an itinerary for you if you REALLY want to dig into the weird side of Austin, including experiences like the Cathedral of Junk, a game of chicken shit bingo, a tour of an old-school neon sign studio, or whatever other local oddities you feel like checking out. Let us know if there’s anything you’re particularly interested in doing or seeing, and we’ll help you make it happen.

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We’re so psyched to have you here. (Can you tell?) If there’s anything we can do to make your stay the best it can be, just let us know.

Can’t wait to see you guys.

love,

a & b

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“Take your pleasure seriously.” -Eames