Jesse Griffiths at the pit.
Photo: Daidueaustin.com

by Julia Bainbridge

Yes, yes, we all know I love Austin, and although I fear that drooling over the Texan town in yet another blog post will make me look like a lovesick schoolgirl entranced by the college quarterback, the truth is Austin is cool. Cool enough for multiple shout-outs and horn toots. (Cool enough, even, for two plane tickets this summer.) This time, though, I'll spare you the flowery prose and quickly list off some highlights from last week's trip:

* Jesse Griffiths and Tamara Mayfield of Dai Due Supper Club throw a mean, locally-sourced party. And their friend, David Alan of the Tipsy Texan, shakes a mean cocktail. He even came up with a recipe off the cuff once he found some new ingredients lurking under his picnic cloth-covered bar--I think the tequila et al. went from Alan's brain to my lips in under two minutes.
* Whole Foods got its start in Austin--and I got lost in its cases of Shiner Black in "Beer Alley."
* The Airstream trend continues to take off. Crepes, cupcakes, tacos--you name it--can be found sizzling away in mobile homes.
* Little City stills roasts the best. coffee. ever.
* Uchi might serve some of the best sushi ever.
* And even diner coffee is good in Austin--no watery, cardboard-flavored concoctions at places like Magnolia Cafe. (I can't say the same for my little West Village joint.)
* The blues are still rollin' at places like Antone's.
* Singer-songwriter Bruce Robison strums his guitar for two-stepping fans every Wednesday (only until September 3, though) at Scholz Garten.
* Hamilton Pool and the Pedernales River gave me some of the most gorgeous swims of my life.
* And finally, sunset never looked so good as it did from the UT Tower's observation deck.

That's just the tip of the longhorn, but I'll spare you the rest of the BBQ-filled details for now. Next stop: some pampering in Dallas, perhaps?