Carolina Peredo, an Argentinean exploring the city. Featuring Latin music at Blastro2, an online music channel based in Austin, the “solo en Español” section of Blastro Networks brand. Check out her SXSW picks here.
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South By Southwest (SXSW), the mega film-music-interactive conference and festival, is right around the corner. From March 9th up to March 18th the city of Austin is really going to honor its title as the Live Music Capital of The World. If you are planning to attend, and want to check out the city as well as the acts, here are some of my favorite Latin spots to hit up during March. Don’t forget your Summer clothes!
HANGOUTS
For a fancy experience, if you are with your señorita or need to kill some time between events check out the Driskill Bar, at The Driskill Hotel. (Walking distance to everywhere in Downtown). Happy Hour’s on Friday, 4:00 to 7:00PM
$4 Margaritas
$3 Mexican Bottled Beer, Dos Equis & Corona
604 Brazos St
Austin, TX 78701
Austin Farmer’s Market
Every Saturday, it features fresh organic products straight from surrounding Texas farms, plus live music 9:00-1:00PM. Free.
Republic Square Park 422 Guadalupe ST.
BBQ
It’s hard to decide which one is the best, so you’ll probably need to go andcheck out both. Open from 10:30AM till they run out of food.
The Muellers’ dad started this Texan BBQ a hundred of years ago in Taylor. Today the son is running a trailer in Austin. Even if you are not a sausage person you are going to love it here. Great outside ambience.
Wednesday-Sunday
1502 South First Austin, Tx 78704
Franklin
Bon Appétit magazine just named this the best BBQ in the country. Closed on Mondays
900 E. 11th St.
Austin, TX 78702
EAST SIDE
The East Side of Austin use to be the Hispanic neighborhood but gentrification has made some changes. Still, the part just east of downtown is pretty authentic.
Nice counter for a desayuno tradicional that will fill you up for the rest of the day.
2305 east 7th ST
Austin, TX 78702
Really good Argentinean food (especially for empanadas on a low budget), plus live music on Thursdays: tango, flamenco and Bossa Nova.
1201 East 6th Street
Austin, TX
Great outdoor ambience and the best mole como en el DF ever, not to mention all kind of incredible mezcales. Memorable brunch.
1306 East 6th Street
Austin, TX 78702
It’s the best Pisco Sour I had outside of Perú and Chile. Pricy-Fancy but it is worth it.
1100 East 6th Street
Austin, TX 78702
The real deal. They said that it is Jalisco style. Sólo para entendidos.
2101 East Cesar Chavez Street
Austin, TX 78721
PARTIES
An Argentine experience primarily, but an all around Latin American experience all told. Classes and parties.
209 Pedernales Street
Austin TX 78702
March 9th – Noche de Salsa
Open to all levels of dancing and skills with “Cuchillo e Palo”, a recently formed band from Austin that mixes Latin and tropical music. 9:00PM – 1:00AM $8
March 10th – Noche de Tango
Live Music + Class + Milonga (Tango Dancing) 9:00PM – 1:00AM $15
March 11th – María Volonté Tango Fusión Show (If you can’t make it into the SXSW showcase)
Maria Volonte is a Grammy-nominated Argentine singer, guitarist and composer who is returning to Austin with the Blue Tango Tour and the intense sounds of Buenos Aires. $10. Bring your own bebida.
Laid back ambience, great music and bar.
March 11th and 18th
Salsa Dancing + Free Class
Cienfuegos Band 9:00 PM
March 13th
Ruta Maya party with ESL Music at SXSW – this event will feature performances by: Ocote Soul Sounds – Latin American music with Martín Perna (Antibalas) and Adrian Quesada (Grupo Fantasma, Brownout) and their extended musical family spanning from Austin TX to New York to DC to Sao Paulo Brazil.
Also:
Ursula 1000 ft. MS.G
Afrolicious
Cilantro Boombox
Hard Proof Afrobeat
For some Country Music flavor. I know is not a “Latin spot” but it is worth to check it out. Cool little intimate venue with a real two-steps dancing experience with all kind of age’s crowd.
1315 South Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
Sunday March 11th
Heybale! 10:00PM $8
A great Tex-Mex restaurant, cantina, and live musica venue.
1619 South First
Austin, TX 78704
February 16th
Jovitas will play host to an unofficial SXSW Latin Music show promoted by Austin Vida and Peligrosa (an incredible party-party-party group [and The Spot alums] from Austin). Bay Area’s Latin Alternative sensation Bang Data will be performing and celebrating the release of their official debut album. Los Rakas, Zuzuka Poderosa & more will be there.
TRANSPORTATION
Austin traffic is bad, but during SXSW is going to be a real disaster. (Not to mention that 6th Street (main Downtown st.) is going to be mainly closed.) For that reason a fleet of around 350 pedicabbers are going to be working all day long to take you to one place to another. The trip rate is going to be around $10, open to negotiation depending of how far are you going. Many of them even accept credit cards. You can always flag one down but take note of Rachel’s number: (512) 632-0289, an strong and nice pedicabber that is willing to practice her Spanish.