Food Feature: Lone Star lowdown

Maintaining its reputation as the live music capital of the world, each spring Austin extends a down-home Texas welcome as more than 800 bands from hip-hop to punk rock, blues to country, flock to the annual South by Southwest Festival.
Downtown neighborhoods, reminiscent of New Orleans' French Quarter with historic buildings and brick sidewalks, come alive with the stampedes of wide-eyed fans eager to catch the latest in indie entertainment. Neighborhoods such as Sixth Street, the favored haunt of late-night crowds and rowdy college students, and the more upscale Warehouse District, are pedestrian-friendly and peppered with hotels, restaurants, clubs and the occasional tattoo parlor. Austin's friendly, laid-back attitude combined with an international cosmopolitan arts community draws visitors and locals alike to take it all in for a hootin' and hollerin' good time.
With its roots as an independent music conference, SXSW has grown in its 15-year history to accommodate independent film and interactive media artists. This year's Film Festival held March 9-17 is packed with industry trade show events, daily panels and independent films.
Playing a part in Austin's role promoting independent and art films, unique movie houses open their doors to festival crowds. With its glamorous art deco style, the 85-year-old Paramount Theater located on Congress Street is Austin's original movie house, which showed silent films and the first "talkies" in its prime. Slightly outside of downtown but worth the short trip is the Dobie Theater, which features more than 500 seats in four different theme theaters including Egyptian, Gothic, Art Deco and the Library. The Alamo Drafthouse, where you will find Quentin Tarantino when he's in town, is decidedly the best place in Austin to kick back, grab a beer and watch the flicks. With menu items like the Some Like It Hot Wings and the Raging Bull pizza, visitors can literally feast on their favorite films.
Austin's unique downtown accommodations range from upgraded motor courts to five-star hotels. Combining kitsch with class, theme rooms such as the Great Wall of China or Mt. Fuji and a retro, kidney-shaped pool make the Austin Motel a favorite inexpensive ($60 per night) motel for the band who just rolled in from an all-night road trip. The Courtyard Bar of the recently reopened San Jose Motel on South Congress, with its minimalist Asian garden, is a popular outdoor hangout for visitors and locals to loiter. More upscale downtown hotels include the historic Driskell Hotel with its imposing Cattle Baron Suite, where you are most likely to find former Texas governors; and The Four Seasons, Austin, where you'll find visiting celebrities at the Lobby Lounge indulging in the longhorn tradition of sipping bourbon in the shadow of elk heads.
The SXSW Music Festival March 14-18 showcases up to 150 acts each night at more than 40 local venues located within stumbling distance from each other. The Red River Street strip, between 6th and 10th streets, is the must-visit spot for the teenage malcontent in all of us, with clubs including the newly opened Red Eyed Fly; Emo's, Austin's well-known punk rock club; and the Atomic Cafe, open until 4 a.m. for the all-night crowd. Stubb's, one of the few outdoor venues at SXSW, is an old favorite on Red River Street infamous for its barbecue buffets and Sunday gospel brunch. Antone's, Austin's landmark location for funk, soul and blues lovers, is where a fledgling Stevie Ray Vaughn got his start, and is currently the regular haunt of Bob Schnieder, Sandra Bullock's beau.
While SXSW festival wristbands are reasonably priced ($85 for five full days of entertainment, $105 if purchased after March 9) and ensure free access to all participating venues, there are many free and low-cost parties with live music sponsored by local record stores, restaurants and clubs during the festival. The Continental Club on South Congress Street, home to muscle cars and neon since 1957, will host several SXSW events, including the unofficial opening night party on March 16 featuring the Iguanas ($12) and a free all-day pancake breakfast and continental car show March 17 with Mojo Nixon. Down the street, the Yard Dog Folk Art Gallery, which specializes in collections of Southern Folk Art, hosts its own informal backyard festival with free barbecue, beer and live acts such as the Mekons on Thursday. Austin's Waterloo Records on South Lamar will host afternoon acts from John Cale to the Reverend Horton Heat throughout the weekend.
Late-night revelers will welcome the all-night eateries such as Magnolia Cafe or Katz's Deli and Bar, both located on 6th Street. Katz's matzo ball soup is sure to settle alcohol-soaked stomachs, while vegetarians will appreciate Magnolia's veggie menu selections and 24-hour breakfast. For those craving a true taste of Texas, there are literally hundreds of barbecue and Tex-Mex joints in Austin. Check out Las Manitas on Congress Street, open for breakfast and lunch only, or Chuy's, a popular inexpensive Tex-Mex spot outside of downtown where you can dine on house specialty salsas in the shadow of its Elvis shrine. Located in the former all-metal Weigl Iron Works shack, the Iron Works restaurant serves up fabulous barbecue on Red River Street including mouthwatering plates of beef ribs. Diners looking for cloth napkin establishments will enjoy Sullivan's, an upscale steakhouse located in the Warehouse district.
By combining world-class clubs and restaurants with a light-hearted atmosphere, Austin succeeds in hosting a rip roarin' festival for filmmakers, musicians and hardcore fans. From flophouses to five-stars, there is something for everyone, so kick back and enjoy the show.
Go to www.sxsw.com for more information.
Duffelbag@creativeloafing.com