Making a trip real soon, 75% sure it's Phoenix, 25% Austin.
 

Obligatory thread about a trip I'll be making soon. I am not the determiner of where I'm going, I am just a vessel. :)

The trip's in August. I'll be in town for three weeks. I'm probably going to Phoenix, with a halfway decent chance I'm going to Austin instead.

My questions:

1. Who lives in either of these towns, and wants to grab a beer?

2. What's something light and easy that I could do in either of these towns? Just simple suggestions. And no, I'm not in the market for picking up women (or men).

Gay.

You know what's gay?

Seriously, I would prefer you tell me if you do.

AustinChief wants to buy dinner for you to discuss the economy, Obama, and foreign policy.

I don't know if he could handle a conversation with a liberal he wasn't capable of silencing with a ban.

Why would you go to either of those places in the summer? You should go somewhere in the mountains instead.

I live in Phoenix. August is not an enjoyable time here bro. Still hot as ****.

austin is 100 times better than phx man

Outside of my control.

How cold is the beer?

In fairness, both Austin and Phoenix will be hotter than hell in August.

driving?

Flying.

Yeah. Phoenix will be sweltering.

I'm fairly certain modern refrigeration has made its way to Phoenix.

You haven't been there recently. You don't know.

Penis flicking. That's gay.

They've had a few setbacks. I hear they'll be installing their first telly here soon, though.

well damn D, I'd say you are going about this the right way then :toast:

I moved back to KC from Phoenix last year. The thing to keep in mind is that you won't want to leave the house/hotel room during the day. It's just too miserable to do much until the sun goes down. Add to that that most of Phoenix's best attractions are outdoors, you may want to skip it in August. If you are a night person though, Phoenix is great in the summer.

Thanks, brother.

Trying to find something to do on the odd workday evening and weekend day. And, of course, the best bars I can take up a barstool at.

I'm all ears. Keep going.

Not if it is your own.

Not if you're a woman.

Austin. Holla holla holla

If the year is 1992, I live in Austin and would be delighted to have a beer with you. Please overlook my youthful arrogance and advise me not to sell the Dell stock that I own.

OH NO RAIN MAN.


/Weeping for your lost currency.

The $4,000 in Dell that I owned in 1992 would have been worth more than $250,000 in 2000, but I sold it. That hurt.

Here's the real question, would past Rain Man, in all of his youthful arrogance, have been willing to listen to any sound stock advice?

Aw, snap!

Probably not. I still had a lot of hair back then, and nothing is more arrogant than a man with hair.

I disagree. I have hair and I rank myself as one of the most humble people I've ever met, despite the fact that I am a better person than most of them.

Austin is fun but August is not the best month. Not really due to the heat or any such nonsense, but because there isn't as much going on. What kind of bars do you like and I can steer you in the right direckshun.

One piece of advice, STAY DOWNTOWN. 99% of the things worth seeing and doing are right there.

You can do better than that. Your friends with virtually every stripper in Austin aren't you?

Again, it's outside of my control. The trip's happening in August.

I like pubs. I love local breweries, locally owned bars with strong, unique cultures.

I also like karaoke. But, well, I'll let SNR's criticism stand.

Ha, no but I know a few key ones and for some odd reason a ton of ex "dancers." Very strange actually because I never go to strip clubs themselves.

I can definitely give him advice on bars but he has already said he isn't looking for ladies... So I'll need more info.

Can't help ya with karaoke though there are some decent piano bars downtown but a little touristy.

You missed our brewpub craze by about 15 years...but there are still a few decent ones. Uncle Billy's and Draught House come to mind.

PUBS! Now you're really in my wheelhouse. One sec and I'll elaborate...

Ok pubs and unique must see bars...

As for genuine pubs the best and most genuine is Bull McCabes on Red River. Not really for the faint of heart though so you may be more comfortable at Fado. Fado is a chain but it really isn't very "chainlike." It's a lot of fun and a bonus for you is that it's across the street from the big gay bars! :D

To be honest you'd probably like BD Rileys quite a bit. It's on 6th street where the douchy kids hang out but it is not at all like the college bars. Genuine pub with nice people and a kick ass owner.

A little north of the main downtown area is the Dog and Duck which is also decent.

Ok now let's talk about "must see" bars...

Starting out with one way south of downtown... The Broken Spoke. The quintessential Texas honky tonk. Or you can go way north and check out Ginny's Little Longhorn to get your "true Texas" fix. If you want to stay downtown, try out Rebel's, it's touristy and not as genuine but the girls are ridiculously hot and they have a mechanical bull.

If you want to go to a legendary Austin Music venue... check out The Continental Club on South Congress. While you are at it, you may want to grab dinner one night at Threadgill's, also a historical Austin music spot.

If you want to go back in time go to Ego's. It's a little hard to find. It's under a parking garage off South Congress just south of Riverside past the Chevron. It always make me think I'm stepping into the Regal Beagle from Three's Company.

For a fantastic late night burger, try either Casino El Camino or Jackalope. Both are on 6th. Oh and speaking of food, the best breakfast tacos in town are from a place called Torchy's.

I can go on if you give me any more specifics you are looking for. I have barely scratched the surface of great bars here.

**** arizona. Go to Austin

OH OH OH and no matter what anyone tells you, don;t bother going way the heck out of town to go to the Salt Lick. It is crap BBQ. If you MUST go to one of the out of town BBQs, go to Lockhart. Decent BBQ for Texas. In all honesty your best bets are right downtown. Franklin's and Iron Works. Of course don't expect anything close to KC bbq.

And do not miss going to the capitol. It is well worth going inside and looking up at the rotunda. I may not be a huge fan of Texas politics but they sure as hell built a nice building. You don't have to do the tour or anything... just walk right up to the front doors and go inside. Well worth taking 10 minutes out of your day.

Holy cow just noticed you said you'd be in town for 3 weeks. If you have any input on accommodations then try to lobby for the Extended Stay place that is right in the middle of downtown off 6th and Guadalupe. It's crazy convenient for everything you will want to do.

It's only gay if you like it.

I enjoy flicking my pepe with my index finger. It's part pain, part relaxation.

LMAO

Outstanding information, AC. Thanks a metric ton.

Thanks again for the great information -- but this is also out of my control.

If you come to Phoenix get a drink at Ain't Nobody's Bizness. You'd dig it the most.

I too am in PHX, not a good time to be in the valley

I live there,we know how to keep beer cold

The summer heat is pretty absurd, especially considering where I was raised. But the other 8 months of kick ass weather more than make up for it, IMO.

Austin is one of my favorite places on the planet. Go to Phoenix.

test am i invisible to everybody or just me?

JFK, Elvis, Jimmy Hoffa?

no, seriously...

when i go to check my rep and click on my post, i can't see my post that was repped, it's not in the thread when i go to look at it...

i thought i'd been disappeared or something...

Nope you're still here captain.

Absolutely. I strongly recommend this as well. ;)

It's Phoenix.

sucks to be you man

Sorry to hear that!