You’re dying to visit Austin to see those derby girls in action.
Here are some other hot attractions to get your wheels spinning.
Cover Up
Teddies for Bettys just opened in a darling cottage on South First offering beautiful lingerie (both sexy and sassy britches), comfy loungewear, and upscale toys (or what they call sexual well-being items). The indie boutique is also the first store to pick up local, intricate intimates line Megan Summerville, which won this year’s Dallas-based Texas’ Next Top Designer competition. Her heavily detailed small-run and bespoke styles (bras range from 28A to 52N) are little pieces of art.
East Side Story
Forget SoCo. These days, it’s about East Fifth and Sixth Streets. The up-and-coming rues just east of I-35 house a handful of painfully hip hangouts like The Good Knight (1300 East Sixth Street) — think bearded bartenders, mix-and-match wood chairs, cheese served on vintage china — and East Side Show Room, a resto-bar-gallery space that dishes the most unique cocktails (hello, Zanahorita with carrot, cilantro agave, and Turkish salt) and crowd in town. Everyone is abuzz about new French bistro Justine’s.
Simple Pleasures
On the other side of the tracks, Frank’s artisan hot dogs and French fries (and might we add a super-cute waitstaff) is worth the downtown parking scramble. For old-school fun, hit The Highball, a budding venue that houses bowling, skee ball, and seven karaoke rooms. There’s also a ballroom event space that offers dance classes (“Thriller” lessons, anyone?) and private party rentals.
Pick Your Treat
Contemporary design nuts must stay at Kimber Modern, a six-room B&B that’s super private thanks to personalized keypad entry codes. Little luxuries like upscale bath products and free wine, java, and bites (the freshly baked breads are bananas) make you never want to leave. For some serious relaxation, visit Lake Austin Spa Resort’s brand new Yamaguchi Salon, which combines feng shui with its upscale services and treatments.
Calendar Girls
If an ATX trip is in the cards soon, check out the Texas Book Festival (October 31-November 1), which lures more than 200 of the nation’s top writers (Rosemary Wells, Sandra Brown) for panel discussions and book signings. The following week, the Fourth Annual Fun Fun Fun Fest (November 7-8) pimps out up-and-coming punk, rock, hip-hop, and comedic talents on four stages in Waterloo Park.
Let freedom sing.
Keep on truckin’. For more road trip ideas, go to dailycandy.com/guides.
Photos: Courtesy of Teddies for Bettys; Courtesy of East Side Show Room; Courtesy of Frank; Courtesy of Kimber Modern; Getty Images