How to do Austin Texas the Nick Kraus way:

The Personal Connection

I'm a big Austin fan. The music's great. People are great. It's just a lot of fun once you realize that you shouldn't be going out on Broadway and that you should just be bouncing around all the other little off-the-beaten-track places.

The Music Venues

Antone's has some great music there. Gary Clark Jr. is a partner there, and Antone's has been a famous place forever. It's like a bigger version of the Talkhouse. But there are places I've been before where I couldn't even tell you the name of the place, and all of a sudden Gary Clark walks in. It could be half the size of the Talkhouse and he just gets up and jams. There are just so many places like that where you can listen to music - you just have to look and see who's playing that week.

The Neighborhood Spots

Rainey Street is a fun place to go bouncing around different bars and stuff. Rainey Street is really very popular now. When it first got going, it was a little more unique, but I still like the whole general idea of how it all started in people's homes.

The Food Scene

There's Franklin Barbecue - that one food truck that people wait on for hours and pay people to wait in line for them. You can also go find these creeks like Krause Springs, and some of the breweries are fun. I've got a handful of friends that still live there, and it's nice to catch up with them.

Inside Tip 📌

The best Austin experiences happen when you explore beyond the main tourist areas. Look for smaller venues where even famous musicians might drop in for impromptu performances, and don't miss the transformed residential areas like Rainey Street that offer a unique glimpse into Austin's evolution.

Contacts 

🌐 Antone's Nightclub

🌐 Franklin Barbecue

🌐 Krause Springs

🌐 Visit Austin



About

This card was written by Nick Kraus — Partner at Stephen Talkhouse, Co-Founder of Soldier Ride and USA Warrior Stories. Born and raised in NYC and Amagansett, Nick is the proud winner of the Mr. Amagansett pageant.

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Photo by Mega Bucknall on Unsplash