Long Post, Maybe Too Long.

When restaurants change location or close down these days, what moves in seems to be a less fancy, more affordable option. Starlite is my best example. When they moved from 34th street, Salvation Pizza (quite good) moved into the old house. Now Starlite has closed their downtown location, and a hot dog joint has moved in. It may be gourmet hot dogs, but that is a pig you can't put lipstick on. Maybe Starlite should have stayed put.

What used to be Basil's at 10th and Lamar has changed a few times, and is now the unfortunately named "The Screaming Goat." It is a classy taco place, but a big step down for the cute house that used be one of Austin's "special occasion" restaurants. The tostada I had at The Screaming Goat was impressive, not only for the fresh, quality ingredients, but because it held together while I ate it, rather than crumbling onto my lap at the first bite. Worth a return visit.

Over the weekend, Carrie and I ate out several times, and each time were impressed with the quality of service. Local restaurants as diverse as Hoovers Home Cookin', Mirabelle, and Kerby Lane Cafe have staffs that make you want to return. We're pretty forgiving on the rare occasions when we get bad service, but Austin seems to have an abundance of waitstaff who take pride in their work. Always appreciated.

I'm not a jazz fan, but I had a pleasant surprise last week at Kat Edmonson's in-store. Two drummers and a bass player provided enough rhythm to keep the music from wandering off into indulgent jazzland, and Kat knew how to get out of the way when her awesome trumpet player had a solo. Her vocals had a nasal quality that took some getting used to, but fit really well with he music. Someone in the crowd said she reminded them of Madeleine Peyroux, if that helps. (That comparison did not provide me with a useful frame of reference.) Carrie did not care for the sample of Kat Edmonson's music that I played for her when I got home, but she may still agree to see a performance at The Elephant Room downtown, where we have never been, in all our years in Austin.

Trailer food, way beyond taco stands,has become big business in Austin, especially on trendy South Congress. High class Hudson's on the Bend has brought their food to the masses with The Mighty Cone, a quality wrap with a choice of chicken, shrimp, or avocado. They are wildly popular at the Austin City Limits Festival, and I must admit it was very good, but at $6.00, it was pretty indulgent for street food. I did like the custom cone holders on their picnic tables, though.

Speaking of indulging, since the cone was not a full meal, I decided to supplement my lunch with a chocolate cupcake from Hey Cupcake, on the same gravel parking lot as The Mighty Cone. Nothing phenomenal, and I'll get my empty calories elsewhere in the future, but I do love the giant rotating cupcake on the top of the trailer.

I also like that this collection of trailers is right across the street from Vespaio, one of Austin's finest restaurants. As South Congress goes more and more upscale, it is nice to know that doesn't mean exclusive. It's still Austin, after all.

Hey, I just thought of a new slogan for

Austin:

No Velvet Ropes,

Just Velvet Ruts.

Okay, this post is long enough, 'cause it just got lame.

Peace,

JS4