Originally Posted by Pa Kettle (Post 16455942)

:cool:
Oklahoma Joe's is probably my KC favorite...but I thought it was in a Diamond Shamrock/Valero gas station. :confused: Maybe they changed their affiliation since I was last there?

Originally Posted by missydarlin (Post 16526189)

I've marked the weekend on my calendar...

Originally Posted by Mackieman (Post 16532394)

He Who Lurks and I (along with paranoiatx) had Franklin's BBQ today for BBQ Thursday, and it was amazing. Very excited about doing that during AUS Do. :D

Originally Posted by Pa Kettle (Post 16381685)

Since we are less than a year away, I thought it would be time to start building some interest in next year's Austin Mega Do and give everyone as much advance notice as possible.

The committee is working on the following itinerary*:

Thursday, April 19, 2012
8:00 AM – Meet with whoever is in town for breakfast at The Magnolia Café on South Congress.
10:00 AM – Tour Amy’s Ice Cream factory.
11:30 AM – Lunch at Franklin BBQ on East 11th Street.
1:00 PM – Tour the Whole Foods location at 6th & Lamar.
3:30 – Visit the food trucks at SOHO for an afternoon snack.
5:00 - 7:00 PM - On your own.
7:00 PM – 9:00 Fine dining dinner at Perry’s in downtown Austin. This is likely to be a pre-pay event.
9:30 PM - Beer at The Gingerman; on your own after that.

Friday, April 20, 2012
Breakfast on your own.
10:00 AM – Visit the Blue Bell Creamery in Brenham, TX. (We will leave the hotel at 8:00 AM) Bring $5 to pay for your ticket
12:30 PM – Have lunch at the Oakridge Smokehouse Restaurant in Schulenburg, TX.
2:00 PM – Visit the Spoetzel Brewery in Shiner, TX.
5:00 PM – Eat at The City Market BBQ in Luling, TX on the way back to Austin.
7:00 PM – Return to the hotel. On your own after that. Poker anyone?

Saturday, April 21, 2012
9:30 AM – BBQ breakfast at Snow’s BBQ – voted the best BBQ in Texas by Texas Monthly magazine. (We will depart the hotel at 7:30 AM)
12:00 PM – Visit Lake Travis. Swimming, fishing, etc. off a rented party barge with drinks, snacks & sandwiches available.
5:00 PM – View the sunset, eat BBQ, and drink microbrews at Uncle Billy’s on Lake Travis. This is likely to be a pre-pay event.
9:00 PM – Return to the hotel. On your own after that.

Sunday, April 22, 2012
11:00 AM – Lunch at the Salt Lick in Driftwood, TX. (We will leave the hotel at 9:30 AM) This is likely to be a pre-pay event.
2:00 PM – Take the bus back to the hotel. Event is officially over.

*Note: Times and/or itinerary subject to change.

While I appreciate that there are probably a lot of folks out there familiar with Austin who have alternative ideas for inclusion into next year's Do, feel free to send me a PM and I will track them as a possibility for another year.

The web site that will be the source for most of everyone's information, updates, and registration, has been launched.

Originally Posted by FlightNurse (Post 16545211)

Has the host hotel been picked. .

Originally Posted by MrHalliday (Post 16545239)

I just took my first look at
http://www.ausmegado.com/index.cfm
and see the hotel is the Westin Domain,
just 2-3 miles from my condo. ^

Originally Posted by FlightNurse (Post 16545255)

Interesting that the host hotel is so far north of Downtown Austin, since 6th St is famous for all the live music and such, I would have assumed a downtown hotel would have been picked. The price for the Westin is the same as the Omni the Omni downtown is one walking block from 6th St. The price for the Westin is more then I paid for a club level room.

Originally Posted by Mackieman (Post 16547029)

You're free to stay where you like, but the bus will be leaving from the official event hotel. The Westin is where we're looking right now but that may change as well which is why the rate is listed as TBD. I can't envision a scenario that would have us not using an SPG property, though. ;)

Also, this event is about far more than 6th street. This covers a really nice chunk of the Central Texas region and features some of the best BBQ, ice creams, and beers around. There will certainly be time in the evenings for folks to hit the bars and clubs in downtown should they so desire.

Originally Posted by mreed911 (Post 16549726)

And the Domain has decent shopping, dining and entertainment - it's Austin's own "pretty people bubble." Nice place.

Originally Posted by SkiAdcock (Post 16434788)

I'm assuming not that far walking distance

Originally Posted by Mackieman (Post 16547029)

You're free to stay where you like, but the bus will be leaving from the official event hotel. The Westin is where we're looking right now but that may change as well which is why the rate is listed as TBD. I can't envision a scenario that would have us not using an SPG property, though. ;)

Also, this event is about far more than 6th street. This covers a really nice chunk of the Central Texas region and features some of the best BBQ, ice creams, and beers around. There will certainly be time in the evenings for folks to hit the bars and clubs in downtown should they so desire.

Originally Posted by FlightNurse (Post 16551012)

I wasn't trying to step on anyone toes, but Austin is known as the Live Music Capital of the world. Since you have listed "on your own" wouldn't be nice for out of towners to be able to walk to a place where they see Austin for what its about? IF price is a factor, not all SPG hotels will give you the best price. I'm not here to tell you what to do, but as someone who was in Austin for the first time, I couldn't imagine not visiting 6th St while in Austin.