PubCon South & Austin Insider Tips

I have had tons of people ask about different things for their trip to Austin and my good friend Joanna Lord mentioned that I should do a guide. What to see, what to bring, what not to miss. Guess I can throw some info together.

If you have specific questions, comment and I’ll answer!! If I need to I’ll add it to the post.

Needed at PubCon South

• Business Cards (a must, kinda late to order, but you can always do one day turnaround and expedited shipping)
• Healthy Liver (6th street, need I say more? Okay, later)
• Thirst for Knowledge
• Passion for Music
• Love of Great Food (TEX-MEX!!!)
• Great attitude
• Flip Flops (it’s an Austin requirement)

Updated Weather: Average 72 for mid March. We are sitting in the 80s currently. Needless to say it’ll be warm most likely, but do please check the weather before you get here. We have a rule: If you don’t like Texas weather, wait. It’ll change in 20 mins. It can downpour at any moment and freeze the next. You think I’m kidding …

Update: Yeah, 60% chance of rain during PubCon South. Please pack an umbrella!

Clothing: Comfy. You want to look professional for the conference, but a suit is just going to make you look like a lawyer here. Not that this isn’t the norm in Web Marketing anyway.

Experiences

Restaurants – I’ll focus up North, there are tons more though if you are willing to travel a bit.

• Z Tejas – Right near the Renaissance, this is classic Austin Tex-Mex. Sit on the patio if you can.
• Manuel’s – Same as above, great Mexican, not as close, but still RIGHT THERE.
• Amy’s Ice Cream – It’s in the shopping area. Best ice cream in Austin.
• Texadelphia – Cheap. Greasy. Delicious. Texas Philly Cheesesteaks
• North by Northwest – Wonderful brewry with some of the best food I’ve had. Great sit down dinner, especially with clients, hint hint.
• Baby Acapulco – The best margaritas up that way. You are limited to 2 purple ones. Yes, that good.
• Iron Cactus – More Tex-Mex, right by NXNW, Austin staple. Another good sit down place.
• Kenobi – Great Sushi right by the hotel.
• Trudy’s – A little further away, but one of the best restaurants in Austin
• Eddie V’s – Never been here because I dislike seafood, but I hear it’s fantastic. Right by Z Tejas.
• Opal Divines

Bars – Sorry, most of the great ones are downtown – cab ride!

• West 6th
  • Union Park
  • J Blacks
  • Mother Egan’s
  • Little Woodrow’s
  • Molotov
  • Belmont
• Traditional 6th
  • Brown Bar
  • Dizzy Rooster
  • Gingerman
  • Pete’s Piano Bar
  • Whiskey Bar
  • Blind Pig
  • Maggie Mae’s
  • Logan’s
  • Barcelona
  • Spill
  • Shakespeare’s
• Warehouse District
  • Cedar Street
  • Fado’s
  • Speakeasy
  • Cuba Libre
  • Six
  • Saba
  • Malaga
  • Vicci

Tips

• Cab rides from up north to downtown can be pricey, so if you plan on seeing Austin, rent a car. But downtown parking is like any other city, sucks. Garage parking is average $7. But after 5:30pm meter parking is free if you can find one.
• For the tip above, you can just bribe SEOs who live in Austin to take you with them to cool places. Let’s see — myself and Taylor Pratt will be at PubCon. Other Austinite SEOs, who is going to have their car?
• The airport is no where near the city or the hotel. Sorry. We aren’t like other cities, but our airport does kick booty. If you missed awesome Austin restaurants like Salt Lick, they are in the airport and just as good.
• We double name our highways. Mopac = Loop 1 | Ben White = Hwy 290/71 | Research = Hwy 183 | Capital of Texas = Loop 360
• I’ll add more as I think of them.