Insiders' Guide to Austin, 6th (Insiders' Guide Series)

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Reviews

Rating: 2 / 5
Date: 2010-02-12
Summary: "Shocking Omissions in the "Catch 'em if you can" section"

I have the 4th edition of this insider's guide from '04, but I checked the latest 6th edition
at Barnes and Nobles, and they still have basically the same suggested Austin shows to catch,
as they did in this edition from 6 years ago. (nothing's changed since then?)

As an avid fan of Americana music and specifically singer-songwriter music of the
Texas variety, I find it unfathomable and unforgivable to omit (in THE MUSIC SCENE section) not only Bruce and Charlie Robison
(while recommending Kelly Willis), but Robert Earl Keen (no mention of Lyle Lovett either)-- who is a superstar in Texas and was
a hero and mentor to a lot of the artists mentioned by Cam Rossie and Hilary Hylton.

Following in the footsteps of icons like Jerry Jeff Walker, Guy Clark, Steve Earle and Townes Van Zandt, and adored by fans wherever he tours, Robert got his start in Austin, in places like the Cactus Cafe for 50 bucks a night. With Austin being known as the "Live Music Capitol of the World", this omission is an stunning and embarrassing blunder.

No mention of Nanci Griffith either, although I realize the chance of catching her live in the Austin area is slim to none, mainly because she rarely tours at all these days. She was a huge influence on folks like Toni Price, Kelly Willis, and Patty Griffin Nanci grew up in Austin and got her start at the same types of venues like Robert Earl Keen, Lyle Lovett, and Joe Ely, so once again -- the author's omission is puzzling!

There many flash-in-the-pan, "unheard of outside of Austin" artists recommended in this section, such as Alvin Crow, The Howlers, the Geezinslaws, Fastball, Lou Ann Barton, Pushmonkey, etc. which adds insult to injury to the sins committed here.

There ARE some good things within the pages of this guide, so I'll give it two stars (was tempted to just go with one).

This negligence of the authors here is just plain wrong!! Buy Frommer's "Guide to San Antonio and Austin"
instead...
and live happily ever after!

Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2009-05-26
Summary: "A different perspective."

A lot is true in the above review - as far as the city of Austin is concerned. However, in my opinion not as far as the guidebook itself is concerned. Each major city has a guidebook, no matter how friendly it is. Austin has more then one (Moon's Austin also) and the Insider's Guide to Austin is a really good piece of work. Of course, the restaurant section can only be a small selection, as Austin has a lot of places to eat and a book doesn't have many pages. Also the area overvies may not be something to everybody's taste, as they tent to be a bit stereotypical - districts have different parts within themselves. However most sections: Accomodation, Relocation, Day Trips, Worship etc. are quite useful for first time visitors and the book is very well written. So yes, you probably don't need a guidebook for Austin, but if you do prefer to have one, then this is a very good book!

Rating: 1 / 5
Date: 2009-05-02
Summary: "Dear Prospective Austinites, Please Do Not Use This Book"

The true irony of such a book is that Austin is one of the most inclusive, welcoming cities in America. You don't need this book to become an insider! You are much better served by leaving your presumptions wherever you came from and starting fresh. There is a nearly limitless trove of local newspapers and magazines devoted to the different Austin "scenes" and the best kept secrets are open secrets, provided you stick around for a while.

So the question becomes what kind of person would need to buy such a book? The only plausible answer is someone who has never been to Texas, let alone Austin, and is some kind of Candide, naively searching for the mythical best of all possible worlds using only the advice of what others tell him or her.

Parts of the book boarder on flat out insulting. The "Texas Pronunciation Guide" makes is seem as if communicating to a native Texan without getting shot is more difficult than defending yourself in Chinese traffic court. The section on "Spectator Sports" gives top billing to pro teams in Dallas and Houston, claiming that sports fans "suffer" in Austin. That clicking sound you hear is the real "insiders" reaching for their six shooters.

The restaurant guide, while much more robust than other printed guides to Austin, can hardly been seen as something an "insider" would endorse. East Austin is completely slighted with only 12 restaurants listed in the most ethnically diverse side of town (oh and most of those 12 are just on the other side of I-35). Corporate establishments seem to get more billing than local favorites - two sentences for Magnolia Café but a quarter page for Schlotzskys? Come on. I'm sure the reader didn't move half way across the country to eat the same sandwich they could get across the street.

Likewise, the "Nightlife" guide is an abomination. There are just as many coffee houses listed as there are bars. Also the designation of "pub" gets you listed in a separate category. Woe be to the simple young lad who in search of hearth, vittles and ale wanders into a "pub" on 6th Street! Ironically, the authors lament the decline of "Old Austin" in this chapter. Surely counting coffee houses and pubs as nightlife isn't helping with its demise!

To be fair, the "Attractions" "Annual Events and Festivals" and "Day Trips and Weekend Getaways" sections are very inclusive and well balanced. Many great destinations with just the right balance of history, info and how to are the highlight of this guide. However, its more of a repository of events than things you couldn't find in the local papers or be aware of after a few weeks of visiting.

Perhaps most chilling is the chapter on "Relocating" where the authors glorify New Urbanism. They fail to mention the heated debate that has raged over the impacts of large condominiums springing up in some of the city's most sought after neighborhoods. This is one of the largest issues in the current City Council election and inspires heated debate if mentioned in public. The author's caviler attitude is surely a disservice to the reader since the fastest way to be labeled an outsider is to have an uninformed opinion on the topic, or even worse, presume that everyone is for it.

If you have already made the move to Austin and already have a nose for what smells Texan, this guide may help speed your progress towards nationalization.

If you have loaded up the U-Haul and are barreling down I-35 with this book on the dashboard, do yourself a favor and toss it out the window before you reach the city limits.