I'll be in town the 4th of July weekend and a friend will be visiting from out of town so I'm thinking of things to do and have two in mind. 1. Would like to go see the bat's at the Waugh Dr. bridge wanted some opinions of where to park. I did some research and foundout that alot of people park at Spotts Park. 2. I have not been to the Waterwall aka Transco Fountain in ages and I do know things have changed so I'm crious about the parking situation there also. Thanks, Gregg
Not sure about parking for the bats, but for Transco I have always parked in the garage @ the Galleria and walked.
I thought about doing that myself yet since there is the so called park I was thinking there may be parking there. I'll do alittle more research and hopefully someone else can offer alittle more insight but I do appreciate your reply. Thanks, Gregg
You can park on the north side of Spott's Park and walk, but you can usually park much closer. If you're heading west on Allen Parkway then there are parking lanes as you approach Waugh and if you take the right lane/ramp and go across Waugh then you can sometimes park on the down ramp that feeds back onto Allen Parkway. It might be worth a fly-by of those two places and if there aren't any spaces there then you can always circle around to Spott's Park via Shepherd, Memorial and Waugh North. Just remember that the exit from Memorial onto Waugh North is a right exit with a 270 degree loop (uphill with positve banking so the entry speed is a lot higher than it looks!).
Thank you!! I have not traveled that path since '09 but my intention's are to leave enough time for a pass-by and see what's up. I can alway's pullover and ask other's for the help if necessary. Oh and one other question regarding a dinner spot? I passed by the Aquarium each morning heading too school so what are you thoughts about that? I'm uncertain at the moment what my friend want's to eat but the info would be helpfull. Thanks again, Gregg
Not just yet and that will be 'their' decision if we share pic's. A very casual and much needed relaxing weekend for us both and nothing more.
I hope you have a wonderful time on Waugh Dr. The 4th of July is my birthday. (born 7-4-64) I couldn't resist jumping into the thread considering both that my b-day is July the 4th and my last name is Waugh Frank
The Aquarium is OK, but you can do better. And too many familys for my taste. If you're thinking of something Downtown then consider Artiste at the Hobby Center (it's part of the Charrasco's group) or The Grove at Discovery Green. But if you're going to be on Waugh and like something more high energy then you're only going to be a few blocks from everything on Washington Avenue. I recommend TQLA for Mexican or Soma for sushi.
Good info thanks. Thinking about it a more relaxed and casual place will be better and yes Washington Ave has some great places for good food and just chilling out. I have always had a small but close group of friends but we always stuck to the westside of town so I was just thinking that weekend would be a great chance to checkout someplace I have only heard about. For some strange reason I'm thinking that Guy Fieri hit one or two spots on Wash Ave on his 'Diners,Drive-ins & Dives' show but I could not find the episode on the Food Network now that they have changed their format.. Thanks for the input everyone it is much appreciated and when I get settled in back in H-town hopefully we can have a get together. Thanks again, Gregg
Artiste at Hobby is VERY nice! Wonderful views of the building and people, pretty swank. Valeria didn't 'get" BRC but really loved the food. Cavatori by my house is really good that's one of our 'go to' spots...as is Tony Mandola's Italian Seafood on West Gray.. Take her to Under the Volcano......on Bissonette. Mike Stinson plays every first Wednesday of the month. Like July 6th. Blanco's for "River Oaks Honky Tonkin'.. I have not checked out much of "New Washington Ave"...too many cops.... But Hickory Hollow and the Porch Swing Pub are hang out spots of mine after seeing the Art Car Museum. Don't forget the coolest thing to do at Transco Fountain is to stand in the center of the front with your back to the wall, and lean your head back and look straight up at the sky. It's a bizarre view...you might want to hold her outstretched hands as she leans back to do it.....(sneaky romantic play thing )
+1 to the Grove at Discovery Green also, it's rather noisy in the Main Dining Room, but check out the Louis Poulson chandeliers in the Private Dining Room, and the bar has an outside patio to watch the sunset over drinks....
GET OUT OF MY HEAD MAN!!!!!! I have been there on numerous occasion's year's ago and man it is so refreshing with the mist from the fountain and the atmosphere. It is a great place to see regardless and I alway's enjoy the experience. ps, Whats up with the old SkyBar?
Laundry's on the Seabrook Pier is a much better ambiance than the aquarium downtown, IMO, although it's been a long time since I have been there, a tank is the focal point of it's architecture also. Down that way Gilhooley's Oyster Bar on the Bay is a 'real spot".....
Just come to Valeria's back yard and drink shots by the patio fire pit until she's drunk and horny and wants to swim naked in the pool....
Once again "GET OUT OF MY HEAD MAN"!!!! The Aquarium for me hold's some painful memory's as back in the academy we ran by it almost daily, it became the focal point of "Why in the hell am I doing this?"!! lol
Skybar is gone, I don;t think any use of the old space....Google Scott Gertner to find his new place over on Fountainview somewhere, article on it in the Houston Press so try there.
Man that place was so nice but all thing's change, I had alot of good times there watching the downtown skyline as the sun set.
New Sawyer Park on Washington might be the best bet now, or the restaurant at the top of the downtown Hyatt I think they have changed the name I noticed driving downtown last night.
Didn't know that. But wouldn't surprise me either. There are millions in Austin. Well, 1.5 under Congress bridge and thousands here and there under other bridges. You can hear and smell em at any time.
There are tons of bats... Go to the bridge at Allen Parkway and Waugh and there is an observation area...
I had no idea, and I've driven past that bridge hundreds of times! Do they fly out at dusk? I bet my little boy would get a kick out of seeing that (I've watched bats fly out of Carlsbad caverns once but not Austin..)
