What's New About Handcraft And Hart

For a late-late snack, head over to Katz's Deli and Bar (618 W 6th St), which is open 24 hours. Other Cook-designed projects in Austin include the Pease Mansion (6 Niles Rd), built in 1853 and features a front portico and two-story icon columns over the front door, and the Neill-Cochran House (2310 San Gabriel St), which was made of Austin limestone and Bastrop pine in 1855 and designed in a Greek-Revival style with two-story Doric columns across the wide front veranda. South Congress Avenue, at one time known for its street walkers, is now home to such famed live music venues as The Continental Club and the ultra-hip Hotel San Jose. Despite the unfortunate demise of popular live music venues like Steamboat and Liberty Lunch, Austin is still the place for live music, with something going on seven nights a week. You can still give her a thrilling and romantic engagement story by proposing at her favorite restaurant or any special spot in your town. Other top picks include the upscale Uchi sushi bar (801 South Lamar), where Coldplay star Chris Martin and wife Gwyneth Paltrow dined several times when the band was in town for the 2005 ACL Festival.

For dessert, don't leave town without a stop at Amy's Ice Cream (1012 West 6th), another homegrown Austin favorite whose Mexican vanilla ice cream is the best thing you've ever tasted. 2006 ACVB/The Oasis Restaurant The Oasis, a lakefront restaurant,is a favorite spot for watchingthe sun go down. The Mobil Three-Star InterContinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel (701 Congress Ave) is another favorite with its upscale Texas decor, primo bar overlooking the Congress Avenue streetscape, and a great view of the State Capitol building at night. Besides the showpiece of the State Capitol building -- definitely the most impressive, architecture-wise, in Austin -- Congress Avenue also boasts its share of beautiful old buildings. It's 27 stories high -- just a little bit taller than the State Capitol, and it lights up in burnt orange every time there's a UT victory. Some of the more obvious differences were a 7.3-inch body stretch, rear-seat cushions intended to allow for armrests, and 1971-style back-up lights per a mid-year change. The main visual differences were a more level stance (Altman's customers disliked the Studebaker's marked front-end rake), Avanti logos with suffix Roman-numeral IIs, and reduced-radius wheel openings. The Avanti II managed to find success where the original never did.Each one was custom-built by hand for its owner.

If you think you'll find only organic fruits and vegetables at Austin's two biggest farmers markets, think again. Since Austin's known for live music, there are plenty of free and family-oriented events that don't require a sitter and a cab to Sixth Street. Simple plans are more likely to go smoothly. For bargain hunters and super shoppers alike, don't miss the brand-new Round Rock Premium Outlets (150 Park Dr, Round Rock), a 430,000-square-foot open-air upscale village-style outlet shopping center that opened in August 2006. Just north of Austin, shoppers will find a single-level outdoor village with stores like Calvin Klein, Coach, Kenneth Cole, Michael Nors, J Crew, The Gap, and more. Move on to By George (524 North Lamar; 2346 Guadalupe), an Austin institution for hip chicks and dudes of all ages. Imagine fresh bread, unique handcrafted jewelry, homemade candles, hip skirts and blouses, sculpture, pottery, and much more. Drinks are good, but stop at appetizers, though the menu is getting much better lately.

Bring a picnic lunch (coolers allowed; much cheaper way to go), and buy refreshments there (including adult drinks at Zebo's Beach Bar). It was there that he met Robert Peterson. There are also gold-plated clocks on each face of the tower that stretch more than 12 feet across. The building's east, south, and west facades are topped with a bust of Colonel Jesse Driskill, the hotel builder, and his two sons. But it would be a crime to ignore other hot shopping areas and stores like Anthony Nak (800 Brazos), a duo whose exquisite jewelry designs are favorites of local hipsters and international celebrities; and Eliza Page (229 West Second St), where you'll want to pick up accessories by local designer Kendra Scott, who designed the jewelry for Oscar de la Renta's spring 2006 line. 2 days: Start the day off with breakfast tacos at Taco Shack (402 Brazos in the Frost Bank Tower building), an Austin institution best known for the "Shack Taco," the house taco that's a flour tortilla rolled around eggs, chorizo, potatoes, cheese, and salsa. The Mobil Three-Star Driskill Hotel (604 Brazos) was built in 1886, making it Austin's oldest hotel and a landmark. Keep reading to learn more about Austin's shopping scene.