<p>Son is visiting these 2 schools (U of TX at Austin & U of AL) in a few weeks. Since we are over 1,000 miles away, this will be son's only opportunity to get a 'real feel' for these campuses. TX is his best academic option at this point, and AL is a near-full-scholarship, so both are v. high on the list (plus he likes warm weather). </p>
<p>We're doing the info sessions, campus tours, meeting w/someone from honors (at AL) & hopefully meeting w/a prof from the comp sci depts in both schools. </p>
<p>If anyone had any other suggestions of places to go, things to see while there, that would be very much appreciated! Son likes music (plays an instruments & listens) so would love an area of Austin that caters to that interest. Local hang-outs, restaurants, any places that are student gathering places are things that would be great to know about. </p>
<p>Thanks, missypie. We are there March 1 (Sunday) through about 5 p.m. Tuesday (Mar 2). Since we are arriving about noon on Sunday it looks like that day will be the most free to see 'unstructured' stuff. I asked son re: the music. He says, "punk, rock, alternative, ska, reggae." </p>
<p>Thanks, HighlandMom & ag54! Glad to have both food & entertainment starting points! Btw, glad your son likes it ag54. I'm almost nervous that son will like it (he'll have to move 1200 miles away & I'll have to work full time to support it!) -- but, I want him to be happy.</p>
<p>The Pretenders are going to be at Stubbs BBQ on March 1st. Is that a winner?</p>
<p>As I recall, there are even live music venues on campus. I seem to recall hearing Butch Hanncock and Jimmy Dale Gilmore in some student center basement.</p>
<p>Thanks,, ag54 & missypie! Actually, hub & I would probably like that show too--so it would def we a winner, if not too expensive! Thanks for the research & suggestion! </p>
<p>A student center show could be even cooler -- would give son a real feel for the campus/folks there (plus, cheaper....!). </p>
<p>MOWC--hee. Wonder what language that's in? Maybe he's giving me sincere advice, and I just can't tell...</p>
<p>Sixth Street is where drunken college students go. Fourth Street is where adults go and sometimes end up drunk. Personally, I avoid both of those places.</p>
<p>Just to correct missypie: The Bush girls were caught drinking underage at one of my favorite places, Chuy's on Barton Springs Road: Chuy's</a> dot com It's not on Sixth Street but on a street known as Restaurant Row. In fact, one of the restaurants there, Shady Grove, has live music on Thursdays starting April 10: Unplugged</a> at the Grove</p>
<p>I must admit I'm not a huge fan of the club scene, but the one place I loved in my pre-children days is Antone's. Its current location isn't where I went, but I'm sure it's still great: Antone's</a> Nightclub » Home I saw some great blues at the previous location.</p>
<p>It's an outdoor show (but don't worry, it's a covered area), $32-35 per ticket - not bad at all!! Plus, the weather will be cool, not hot yet, Austin is beautiful that time of year!!</p>
<p>Tuscaloosa is going to feel comparatively boring if Austin is what it is hyped up to be.</p>
<p>The Strip is the area of town where college students tend to hang out. It's mostly bars, grocery stores, restaurants, and coffee shops. Unless you're son is 21 he won't have any luck getting in most of those places.</p>
<p>Downtown has a more family/adult vibe to it (that is there are more places to go if you are under 18 and more places to go if you don't want to hang out with college-aged kids). It, too, is mostly restaurants, bars, and cafes (but it's a bit more spread out than the Strip).</p>
<p>Other than nightlife, the Bryant Museum on-campus is a must for any visitor. Are you guys into outdoorsy stuff? There are plenty of parks and lakes in the area.</p>
<p>South by Southwest happens in Austin every year. There are usually approx 1,800 bands [yes--one thousand eight hundred bands] from around the world that perform in Austin during the Event.</p>
<p>If your son is really into music, Austin is THE place for that.</p>
<p>This year is March 18th-21st for music and there is also a film festival. </p>
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Last year, SXSW Music Conference and Festival drew 12,651 music industry professionals for compelling panels, industry discussions, demo listening sessions, trade show exhibits, and - as always - five nights of music by more than 1,800 acts hailing from 42 different countries, performing in over 80 venues in downtown Austin, Texas. 2009, the 23rd consecutive year of the Festival and Conference, will showcase more music from the best new talent and established artists alike, provide more opportunities to network, have more unique panels and artist interviews in short, will offer even compelling reasons to make Austin a must-be-there destination in March