Hook 'Em! BYU @ Texas Longhorns

[Babs]

That game never happened.

The crystal ball tells Mack otherwise.

[Viking]

I've always wanted to go swimming in that lake (is it a hot springs?) next to Zilker Park.

I cut my foot and got 12 stitches in Lake Travis after waterskiing and thinking it was a good idea to coast into shore and walk up to the dock barefoot. DocCoug might have been too young, but it was the first time I uttered the f-bomb in the presence of my parents.

[Uncle Ted]

I didn't know anybody called it Cali.

Now that I think about it I think I picked up using "Cali" from CUF...

http://www.cougaruteforum.com/showpo...highlight=Cali

http://www.cougaruteforum.com/showpo...highlight=Cali

Good news! I found something! UT has its own version of heritage hall, one that it cleverly named "the trophy room." You college football junkies may want to stop by. Unless you're a USC fan, in which case you might want to steer clear of the epic wall-sized mural of Mack lifting the crystal football.

Yes, this is definitely on Uncle Ted's and the family's todo list. I need to take some pictures that I can post to the CUF.

[Babs]

Yes, this is definitely on Uncle Ted's and the family's todo list. I need to take some pictures that I can post to the CUF.

okay. But just make sure that if you take any pictures of the cheerleaders, you take them as a photojournalist, and not just another geeky gawker.

[Green Monstah]

That game never happened.

If it's any consolation, that was the greatest football game I've ever watched. It doesn't really matter that the Trojans lost though. Either way you'd still have no championship today.

[Green Monstah]

On that note, nobody from California calls it Cali.

People from AZ call it Cali, at least they did in the aftermath of the lat 90s rap song "were going, going back, back to Cali, Cali".

[Commando]

People from AZ call it Cali, at least they did in the aftermath of the lat 90s rap song "were going, going back, back to Cali, Cali".

What about the aftermath of the late 80's song by LLCoolJ "Going back to Cali?"

[Green Monstah]

What about the aftermath of the late 80's song by LLCoolJ "Going back to Cali?"

PWNED.

Sorry, rap was never my schtick.

[TripletDaddy]

If it's any consolation, that was the greatest football game I've ever watched. It doesn't really matter that the Trojans lost though. Either way you'd still have no championship today.

That is definitely no consolation.

[Babs]

Yeah, I just booked it. 4700 point and $90 a night or $480 a night.

McGuirk, I didn't want to be alarmist, so I didn't mention this the first time it happened, but now for the third time in a month, patrons have been injured because the W building is literally falling apart. At this point they've closed off the whole block.

You may want to call and insist that they include a complimentary hardhat with your reservation. Either that or find somewhere else to stay.

[Uncle Ted]

Here is something else to do in redneck-hippy town: visit Circuit of the Americas, the site of the United States Grand Prix (Formula 1 racing) starting June 17, 2012(?).

[YOUTUBE]HpC1wKiMTNc[/YOUTUBE]

Of course, it looks like pretty much like a dirt hole currently.

[Babs]

Okay, okay. Even though I am NOT a Longhorn and have absolutely no business putting together an insider’s guide to Austin, I decided to offer my two several cents for those of you visiting. (And apologies for being so hard on Ted, but I'm very bitter about having to carry the Longhorn banner here.)

First, I should warn you that I’m about to break the record for consecutive posts from the same poster.

Second, a word of caution: You know how some cities are described as a “nice place to visit, but you wouldn’t want to live there”? Well, Austin is sort of the opposite. It’s a great place to live because there’s a different festival every weekend, restaurants galore, a world-class university, etc etc. But there’ s not really enough in the way of landmarks or history to make it a tourist destination, per se. That said, it definitely has its own kooky charm worthy of exploring.

Third: There are no links and no pictures. GIYF.

I’ll post a few itineraries:
- the traditional lineup of age-old “must see” touristy stuff
- the slightly less predictable lineup of authentically Austin stuff that’s not quite so “google said so.”
- the way (way) off the beaten path lineup, for those of you that eschew anything prosaic and have a bit of money to drop.
- the list of free stuff to keep kids happy.

Also, I’ll append a couple of random other notes.

[Babs]

Part the first: The Traditional Austin Tourist Itinerary:

Friday:

a.m. workout:
jogging at lady bird lake (also affectionately known as town lake)

morning:
1. Visit capitol building and grounds.
2. Head to campus.
-Tour the ACL stage (tours ONLY at 10:30 ONLY on Fridays)
-Tour the main building and infamous clock tour (must RSVP two weeks in advance)
-Wander around campus

lunch:
Brick Oven or Ice House (both near campus. Both overrated, imho; but locals love them).

afternoon:
Shopping at the Domain.

evening:
1. Hit sixth street for dinner, music, and thousands of twentysomethings hoping (and likely) to get drunk and laid.
2. Go to Congress Street bridge before dusk to see the millions of bats. If you drive, you can park on the south side of the river for free. Parking on north side of river >$5.

Gameday:

a.m. workout:
Swimming at Barton Springs. Opens at 5 a.m.

morning:
Explore Zilker park.

by noon: Head to campus.
1. Hit “the drag” and grab a light lunch there. Visit the Co-op and anything else that interests you on the drag.
2. Head over to the stadium parking lots to hang out with the Longhorn tailgaters.

around 4:
lunch at Sholz. This is sort of *the* gameday hangout.

after game:
back to Sholz Garden or back to 6th Street.

[Babs]

Part the Second: The Better Austin Tourist Itinerary:

Friday:

a.m. workout:
Head to the Barton Creek Greenbelt and hike up to twin falls and sculpture falls.

morning: (I cannot recommend these highly enough.)
1. Drive west on 35th to Mayfield Park to say hi to the Peacocks.
2. From there, walk down to Laguna Gloria. Stroll the grounds and then enjoy the artwork inside.
3. Drive about 1/2 mile up to “mount” Bonnell, and climb to the top. (The climb will take you all of five minutes, but the view is awesome.)

lunch:
Sao Paulo’s, just north of campus. Just take 35th East (it will turn into 38th) and drop south on Duval. You must must MUST order the chips and salsa.

afternoon:
1. LBJ museum - it’s free and you get to see an animatronic LBJ tell one-liners.
2. Harry Ransom Center – this is a goldmine. May end up being your favorite stop in Austin.

evening:
1. Skip sixth street in favor of the warehouse district. It’s more upscale and a little more grownup.
2. Instead of standing on the bridge to see the bats, buy tickets for an evening “cruise.” They’re hokey but charming. The driver will time the ride so that you’re under the bridge just as the bats emerge. If you can cobble together a group of 12 or 20 BYU fans, you can get your own private boat and bring whatever food and drinks you want along for the ride.

Gameday:

a.m. workout:
Jog the lower half of the Pease Park greenbelt trail.

morning:
1. For a glimpse of the real Austin, head to the Farmer’s Market downtown. Take in the hippie crowd in all its glory. Shop at the retailers and check out the art.
2. Head over to the original Whole Foods Market on Lamar (it is a 100,000 s.f. site to behold), and pick up a light lunch while you’re there.

afternoon:
Head to campus to explore and meet-and-greet with the Longhorn tailgaters. (As best as I can tell, tailgating is the only Longhorn game-day tradition.)

by 4:00:
Have an early dinner at Trudy’s or Stubbs. If you want the authentic game-day experience, you’ll want to be at Trudy’s for pregame BBQ.

postgame:
Skip the 6th street boozefest and head to Amy’s Ice Cream – locals swear by this stuff – and then head back to the drag for the live music.

[Babs]

Part the third: The Way (Way) Off The Beaten Path Austin Tourist Itinerary. Attempt at your own risk.

Friday:

a.m. workout:
Jog around Pemberton Heights – some of the most beautiful historic houses in town. (Turn south on Windsor from 24th street, and you’re there.)

morning:
1. Take Bee Caves Road out to Westcave Preserve – absolutely gorgeous drive and an even gorgeouser destination.
2. While you’re out that way, stop at the Bell Springs Winery (if you’re into that kind of thing)

lunch:
1. On your way back into town, stop at County Line on the Hill.
2. Then stop by the Umlaut Sculpture Gardens/gallery.

evening: Either:
1. Dinner and quirky movie at the Alamo Drafthouse – an Austin legend, or
2. Dinner downtown and then boat ride to Blue Lapis aerial light acrobatics show, or
3. Dinner and music at Emo’s – another Austin legend.
**If you do Blue Lapis, it’s probably worth it to spring for the boat seats. I have not seen this yet, but it's supposed to be spectacular and unlike anything else anywhere.

- Then finish the evening in style at Boulevard Dessert.

Saturday:

a.m. workout:
Park on Shoal Creek just north of 38th. You can jog/bike all the way north to Anderson, or you can detour onto the side roads. You’ll meet more kindred spirits than you could possibly hope for. It’s Austin's cyclist/jogger central.

morning:
1. Breakfast tacos at Cherrywood Diner.
2. Visit Nature’s Treasures – an entire (really really big) store dedicated to rocks. That’s right – rocks.
3. Explore the Elizabeth Ney Museum (warning: this is a love-or-hate kind of thing).


lunch:
Hyde Park Grill or Asti. Both are North Campus favorites.

afternoon:
1. Take the wife for a walk around the Mueller Lake Park – possibly the prettiest and most underappreciated park in Austin.
2. Stop by the East Austin Art Gallery for a glimpse into the hipster art scene.
3. Consider a visit to the French Legation, if you’re into that kind of thing.

by 4 o'clock:
dinner at Eastside Café.
Then park somewhere nearby and walk under the interstate to the game.