Blog a la Cart

Last night, James and I did something wildly out of character. We went on a date. Just me and him, him and me, some food (burritos), a movie (American Hustle), some holding of hands and rubbing of thumbs. No dependents in sight.

I don’t know when aliens took over our bodies and prompted this spontaneous act of marital bonding, but we needed it. I forget every year how hard reading season is. On our sleep. On our schedule. On parenting our children. But mostly on our marriage. We become like ships in the night, passing one another briefly throughout the day, our interactions restricted to household duties and parental responsibilities. There’s no time for anything more than necessity.

After five days away, followed by our Volvo breaking down for the second time in three weeks (and the tow trucks and repair shops and carpool coordination madness that ensued), and a visit to an orthopedic vet for Hanna (the outcome of which suggested a $3,500 surgery to repair her completely messed up knees. (We really really love our pets. Our bank accounts are clear evidence of this fact)), James and I needed a time out from the stresses of adulthood and parenting and the resulting financial shit storm to be reminded of why we put up with all this chaos in the first place. It was by no means a thrilling or revolutionary evening. But it was exactly the reboot we both needed to wake up this morning and confront the many looming decisions we must face. (New car with ensuing monthly payments or paid-off old car with constant yet unpredictable breakdowns? Crazy expensive knee surgery or a lame and injured pet? Expensive yet beautiful, nurturing private day school or poor, but affordable and small public school for Sunny’s kindergarten?). Decision #1 was hire a personal financial planner so that an unbiased middle (wo)man can help us more smoothly navigate our ever complicated finances and priorities.

Whew. Being a grown up is hard.

Which is why I’m so thrilled that James and I will get a 48 hour vacation in April to head back to Austin and celebrate our friends’ marriage in a city that is such a special and fascinating place. I look forward to sharing it with James, and mostly to being guaranteed two uninterrupted nights of sleep next to the person that makes managing adulthood so very worthwhile.

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I fell hard for Austin. Such a wonderful, weird, wacky city. So much character. So much charm. So much delicious food and live music and culture and spirit. I insist that you visit. I really do. I love love LOVED it.

I glimpsed the “I love you so much” wall graffiti and the “Greetings from Austin” wall (both pictured above). I am looking forward to staging a silly photo shoot with James at the “You’re My Butter Half” mural in April. (Here’s more info about must-see Austin street art). Also, we’re staying in a vintage airstream, on the property of fellow chicken slash potbelly pig owners in April. Hooray for Airbnb and kindred spirits!

Admittedly, the weather when I arrived was atrocious. Forty degrees and raining which is my own personal Seventh Circle. My luggage was lost, so I spent my first day bundled up in my Vermont winter gear, in day old spandex, determined to explore the city despite the lack of clean clothing and clear skies.

I managed a 9 mile loop, opting to walk south down 1st street, failing at a visit to The Cathedral of Junk, and then back up South Congress (where I purchased the hot pink high tops and captured the view of the Congress building above). Somewhere along this journey, I fell in love. It’s hard not to soak in the charm and quirk and Southwestern spirit of this city. The street art. The food trucks. The rows upon rows of cowboy boots and vintage shops. All to the soundtrack of live music played along the streets and in the bars and restaurants.

Here are my recommendations from my far too brief visit. I am very much looking forward to April and the blue bells everyone mentioned when I’d comment on my future trip. Oh and some two-stepping with James at The Broken Spoke. Mostly that.

Definitely visit the Blanton (UT Austin’s art museum). We held an event at the museum Friday evening, and had the good fortune of a private tour of the collection thanks to the head curator (who doubles as an Eph). This piece in particular by Brazilian artist Cildo Meireles blew me away. James and I are hoping to check out the LBJ library this spring.

I ate my face off while in town. I think it’d be next to impossible to get a bad meal in this city. (Yes that is a bacon and maple syrup covered donut that you are witnessing above).

*Austin Java was a great place to grab breakfast and coffee. I recommend the breakfast quesadillas.
*Lambert’s for Barbecue
*Malverde for Tex Mex – Don’t miss their margaritas!
*Snack Bar for a lazy and delicious brunch – the migas were insanely good. And it’s all locally sourced food. Win win win! I got to make an IRL connection with a blogger I’d befriended last year – which is always a treat to meet someone in person and find that they are just as kind and fun and delightful as you’d gathered from your virtual connection. If you don’t know Melissa over at Shoestring Mag, you should remedy that. Immediately.

And oh man, the food trucks of Austin! DROOL DROOL DROOL! SWOON SWOON SWOON! As you wander the streets, you’ll stumble upon trailer parks of food-amazingness. It. Is. Awesome.

One of my favorite meals was at a random taco truck outside The White Horse (a hipster honkey tonk, I HIGHLY suggest you experience, if not for the live music and two-stepping than for the people watching). So don’t underestimate the power of totally spontaneous food truck stop. My personal favorites were on 1st street – Gourdough’s (get the Flying Pig donut and thank me later) and Torchy’s (the fried avocado taco accompanied by a Tapo Chico seltzer. You’re welcome!)

I enjoyed walking the downtown and South Congress neighborhoods to really get a feel for the city. The local public buses were also easy to navigate. Don’t miss stopping into Uncommon Objects and Allen’s Boots on Congress for some great “window” shopping.

I stayed at the W in downtown, and my first night, I enjoyed a mellow evening out at the Elephant Room down the street from the hotel which had a cool vibe and great live jazz.

Since the weather was so cold and questionable, I missed out on seeing the South Congress Bridge Bats and taking a stroll along the Colorado river to Lady Bird Lake. These are both on our list for April.

Thank you to everyone who sent suggestions and ideas. I’ll be seeing your fine city again soon!