Great Reasons to live in Austin. Number eight. The Iron Works.

Yes, another barbecue spot! This gem is in the heart of the city and is The Iron Works. It is called that because it used to be an actual Iron Works, however it now serves up some of the very best food you could ever wish to eat. It is HIGHLY recommended! You can find out more about it at www.ironworksbbq.com The decor is fabulous and the service first class. You also just have to love a joint that features signed pictures of George W. Bush and Rick Perry on the restroom door! I guess this really IS the third coast!

The exterior of the building is very authentic and running right behind it is the river. A perfect setting for a perfect lunch!

How cool is the interior of this building. There is a huge container of classic soft drinks in real glass bottles –stored in ice! Of course you can always go traditional and enjoy a Shiner….

I think that pork ribs get an unfair rap in Texas. The beef is great but they know all about getting the best out of pork ribs too. A visit to the Iron Works is not complete without sampling their rack of pork ribs!

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Great reasons to live in Austin. Number seven. The Salt Lick.

As hinted at in great reasons number five….. The Salt Lick! My favorite barbecue spot in the world. The scenery and food are glorious and Out Of This World Class. When George W. wanted a real treat in the White House he would talk Laura into allowing him to have barbecue flown in from the Salt Lick. It is a ways out of town in Driftwood, and worth every minute of your drive. Check out details at www.saltlickbbq.com

Now there are open pit barbecues and open pit barbecues, but have you ever seen a better one than this? I haven’t!

Probably the finest beef rib in the world. They are cut in a very complex manner to incorporate three separate cuts of meat into the rib. Not only is the barbecue sauce great but the pre-coolking rub gives a flavor that is out of this world. You can buy it in stores too….

See if you can blow up this picture to read the menu. It will make your mouth water. Not only is the meat good but the blackberry pie and Blue Bell ice cream desert is the best!

Great reasons to live in Austin. Number six. Bobalou Cigars.

My favorite way to start the day in Austin is with a hot, thick tasty cup of Cuban coffee at the Bobalu cigar shop on 6th Street. Not only is the coffee and conversation great but they have a world class humidor filled with fabulous cigars! One of the joys is seeing the cigars hand made on the antique Cuban cigar press at the front of the tiny little store. Check out their online store at www.bobalu.com You will love this little gem of a store situated at 509 East 6th Street.

You have to love the Kinky Friedman for governor poster…..

As tiny as the front of Bobalou appears you will be amazed at the size and the sophistication of the cigar humidor inside. Their Internet business ships cigars around the world.

You don’t see many cigar presses like this much closer than Cuba! The gentleman hand making the cigars also hails from Havana I believe.

Great reasons to live in Austin. Number four. Batfest.

BATFEST. Yes, Holy Batfest Batman, once a year their is a very cool street festival on the bridge across the river in Austin leading to the capital building. It costs about 7 bucks and includes free music, great vibes, lots of beer (this is Texas!) and of course the Bats. Every evening 1.5 million bats fly out from under the bridge and blacken the sky briefly. It is quite a sight. During Batfest we celebrate the little suckers………check out some details at this website www.101x.com/batfest/‎

Great reasons to live in Austin. Number Two. Torchy’s Tacos.

One of the finest reasons to sell everything you own and move to Austin is that you get to eat at Torchy’s Tacos whenever you want to! They have some regular little fast food joints (one is only a mile from our house!) but my favorite is in the Trailer Park Eatery.  Here are some photos to wet your appetite. There is even a secret menu– and you can find out about it at http://365thingsaustin.com/2013/08/20/torchys-tacos-secret-menu/ 

An unbelievably cool gold sprayed montage is situated on the front of the little veranda area where you get to sit and demolish your tacos…..

This is the chicken fajita taco and it is so good that salsa is scarcely required.

The deep fried avocado is a superb addition to almost any of their delicacies….

 

If you like seriously great Tacos then you have to visit Torchy’s. Worth a flight to town just for lunch. Oh, the breakfast Tacos are pretty dang fine too…..