Pilot Report

Posts Tagged ‘Austin sound’

It’s not surprising to discover that Austin has a very lively cafe culture.  This seems like the very perfect city where the coffee shops would be filled with alternative types from all walks of life, enjoying spending part of a day, or sometimes all of it, whiling away the time over cups of freshly brewed coffees, and discussing art, politics, and culture.  There’s a lot to talk about in Austin, and I’m always excited when I have any excuse to go.  There are great places to stay, and plenty of exciting, or relaxing, things to do all over the city.  Some visitors like to take in the museums and galleries, spend some time outdoors by the lake, or enjoying any number of local attractions.

I like to try to fit in with the locals, and I always feel like I’ve succeeded in my mission when someone asks me for directions.  Some cities make me nervous about directions, but here it’s a chance to get to talk to someone new, and there’s a sense that even if the directions are wrong, it won’t matter all that much.  The locals seem to be very particularly devoted to a pace of life that is just a little bit easier, and makes a conscious effort to make room for multiple levels of randomness.  Wandering the streets is always fun, and it’s even better when the wandering ends at a place like the Spiderhouse Cafe.

This coffee shop has all the usual things that a great independent coffee house can offer, but with some very distinct Austin touches.  For one thing, it’s very reasonable.  They occasionally have unbelievable deals, like drip coffee for a dollar in the morning.  It’s also open early and they stay open late, until 2am.  This gives me the opportunity to see the culture in action.  The morning shift might have some of the same people from the night before, but chances are, they won’t be in again until later.  Later, however, it turns from coffee house to indie pub, with live art and free movies.  You can get tips about local bands playing the eclectic and indefinable Austin sound, or you can just hole up hear and hear what might be playing in the house.