Bars/Clubs in Austin, from Canada

[atxcio]

I'd say most restaurants here at least have their beer/wine license, and many have full bars. The BYOB places I've been to are usually that way because they are in-between licenses, or are too close to a school or church. Honestly, I can't remember the last time I heard a screaming kid in a restaurant here, but I'm not typically going to the family places. Wine bars are pretty popular... some areas of downtown (warehouse district, west 6th, 2nd street) don't really have much in the way of family-friendly places. It's mostly adults, even though families live pretty much anywhere in Austin...

Part of it may just be economics. I mean why would you take kids to a more expensive or "atmosphere" restaurant, especially these days, when they really won't appreciate either? I think most families are taking advantage of the more family friendly places, chains with kids discounts, etc.

[iceshots]

My daughter is 15, so we are in the family type establishments more often than the atmosphere type places. But I agree, very few if no, screaming kids.

[runningbachk]

Back to the thread question, haha. Is there any places in Austin that aren't as strict about ID? I'd like to experience a night out at a club/bar in Austin. With that said, is there alot of crime around UT?

[runningbachk]

Also, I might as well ask here, how much are decent tix to Longhorn games. Seats that are pretty good (10-20 yard lines)

[mark311]

Originally Posted by runningbachk

Back to the thread question, haha. Is there any places in Austin that aren't as strict about ID? I'd like to experience a night out at a club/bar in Austin. With that said, is there alot of crime around UT?

No, there is not a lot of crime around UT. As far as being strict about ID's, anywhere near the college is strict from what I've found. I'm in my early 30's and I get carded all the time just about everywhere near the college. The only times that I don't are when I'm eating at a restaurant and order alcohol with a meal. Otherwise, actual bars near campus or downtown always card at the door at night.

[mark311]

Originally Posted by runningbachk

Also, I might as well ask here, how much are decent tix to Longhorn games. Seats that are pretty good (10-20 yard lines)

Take the following information as just my opinion from what I've seen in the past 3 years. I've been to 12 UT home games in the past 3 years. This greatly depends on the game. It's easy to find good student tickets for "cheap" to most games, but you have to show a UT student ID to use the tickets. These tickets either have a student name or "LASP" on the ticket itself. It's best that you don't buy those tickets as there is a good chance you won't get into the stadium. You can't just buy "good" UT tickets from the box office as they have already been sold as season tickets to alumni or donors every year.

It will be much easier and cheaper to get good seats to games against Louisiana-Monroe, Central Florida, or UTEP early in the season. You could probably get nice seats for about $100 - $125 each to those games if you look around early or wait until the last minute. Colorado, Texas Tech, or Kansas, will be the games that would be more difficult to get good seats for. Those would probably go between $200 - $400 each depending on UT's record at that time for "good" seats. You can always get end zone tickets to just about any of the games for at or just a bit above face value (normally between $60 - $90) from my experience. North End Zone seats are nice because you have full view of the scoreboard/big screen.

[runningbachk]

Originally Posted by mark311

Take the following information as just my opinion from what I've seen in the past 3 years. I've been to 12 UT home games in the past 3 years. This greatly depends on the game. It's easy to find good student tickets for "cheap" to most games, but you have to show a UT student ID to use the tickets. These tickets either have a student name or "LASP" on the ticket itself. It's best that you don't buy those tickets as there is a good chance you won't get into the stadium. You can't just buy "good" UT tickets from the box office as they have already been sold as season tickets to alumni or donors every year.

It will be much easier and cheaper to get good seats to games against Louisiana-Monroe, Central Florida, or UTEP early in the season. You could probably get nice seats for about $100 - $125 each to those games if you look around early or wait until the last minute. Colorado, Texas Tech, or Kansas, will be the games that would be more difficult to get good seats for. Those would probably go between $200 - $400 each depending on UT's record at that time for "good" seats. You can always get end zone tickets to just about any of the games for at or just a bit above face value (normally between $60 - $90) from my experience. North End Zone seats are nice because you have full view of the scoreboard/big screen.

Hey thanks, for your response, but where can you get these tix? I've seen StubHub, but not sure how reliable the site is. Craigslist is obvious, but we'll be going down to Austin probably the night before the game, so it won't be that easy, since we don't know the area. I don't trust scalpers either.

Does the North Endzone give a good view of the field? Thanks

[mark311]

Originally Posted by runningbachk

Hey thanks, for your response, but where can you get these tix? I've seen StubHub, but not sure how reliable the site is. Craigslist is obvious, but we'll be going down to Austin probably the night before the game, so it won't be that easy, since we don't know the area. I don't trust scalpers either.

Does the North Endzone give a good view of the field? Thanks

I think the North Endzone is fine. Like any endzone seat, you have the best view when the teams are on your side of the field. When they're on the other side, you'll find yourself looking at the huge scoreboard screen where all the plays are shown live as that will give you a better view.

StubHub isn't a bad option and like you said Craigslist or ebay can be sources as well. If you are going to one of the early season "lesser team" games, then you can probably order endzone or upper deck tickets directly from the "Texas Box Office" site at face value once single game tickets go on sale to the general public. The games against better teams will probably be sold out and you'll have to use one of the other methods above to get tickets. Of course, if UT loses any of those early season games, then you could get tickets to the good games for cheap.

TEXAS LONGHORNS Official Athletic Site

Texas Box Office :: There's A Lot Going On Here

[runningbachk]

Originally Posted by mark311

I think the North Endzone is fine. Like any endzone seat, you have the best view when the teams are on your side of the field. When they're on the other side, you'll find yourself looking at the huge scoreboard screen where all the plays are shown live as that will give you a better view.

StubHub isn't a bad option and like you said Craigslist or ebay can be sources as well. If you are going to one of the early season "lesser team" games, then you can probably order endzone or upper deck tickets directly from the "Texas Box Office" site at face value once single game tickets go on sale to the general public. The games against better teams will probably be sold out and you'll have to use one of the other methods above to get tickets. Of course, if UT loses any of those early season games, then you could get tickets to the good games for cheap.

TEXAS LONGHORNS Official Athletic Site

Texas Box Office :: There's A Lot Going On Here

The North Endzone appears to be a good idea, but I think I'll be at the 10-20 yd line seats. You can see the big screen either way, and this is probably gonna happen only once in my lifetime (being from Vancouver), so I'd rather have really good seats.

I think I'll go with StubHub. Ebay isn't something I'll risk on, since we're flying out there. And if we get screwed, well we're screwed. And Craigslist will be tough because we won't be able to meet anyone because we'll arrive the night before. And we don't know the area so people would have to come meet us.

It really depends, we're gonna look into it later on. But of the "lesser" teams, I think Central Florida would be the best bet.

Also, might as well ask now as well, which HS football team around UT is worth watching the night before on Friday? Of course we'll have to see if they have a home game the day we go, but I'd like to see what Texas HS football is all about. I hope it's as good as the movie

[iceshots]

Originally Posted by runningbachk

T

Also, might as well ask now as well, which HS football team around UT is worth watching the night before on Friday? Of course we'll have to see if they have a home game the day we go, but I'd like to see what Texas HS football is all about. I hope it's as good as the movie

As a recent Canuck moved to Texas, you HAVE to see a high school football game. I went to my first the week after we moved down here and now I'm hooked. To get the best experience you do not necessarily want to attend a game with the best football team. You want the best combination of football team, band, cheerleaders, drill team and color guard. It is the whole combination that makes the experience amazing and half time is just as important as the game.

The better/richer schools tend to have better teams, bands etc. I am not familiar with high schools right around UT, the teams my daughter's team play in are mostly around the outside of Austin. I am sure you will get lots of suggestions of which high school games to check out. Get there early because the stands fill up fast.