Shay Hargus

The Warehouse District - Hop, Skip and Jump - we have left famous Sixth Street and crossed over to the more trendy and upscale Warehouse District bounded by W. 6^th Street and 3^rd Street (North-South respectively) and Guadalupe and Congress Avenue (West-East respectively).

Less than a decade ago the Warehouse District consisted of a handful restaurants and bars but today it is a active community where the buildings have been transformed into modern stylish stores, distinctive bars and pubs, swanky restaurants with superb cuisine and first-class concert halls, patronized by a slightly more sophisticated crowd that its Sixth Street cousin.

And everywhere in the District there is music. What makes the Warehouse District fun is its variety; you can hear music of any genre from rock to jazz, visit an Irish pub or cheer on the Longhorns at a sports bar and experience any cuisine on the planet. You can stay at two of the most glamorous hotels in Austin, the opulent 16-story Stephen F. Austin or the elegant Driskill Hotel built in 1886 as a showplace of a cattle baron.

If that is not quite enough variety for you then you can always watch out for that ghost and yes, there is more than one lurking around in the district!

Once you visit the Warehouse District you may not be able to leave. If that is the case then just contact me and I will help you locate the right home for you. You can find a basic condo with all the modern amenities to the posh with great views of the city. In real estate it is always location, location, location but since the Warehouse District already satisfies that requirement you can concentrate on amenities, amenities, amenities.

I'll be back next week with more on our Hot Spots, Cool Streets and Quirky Shops (installment #3)

Ghosts Of The Warehouse District Tour: http://www.austinghosttours.com/ghost/ghost-tours/ghosts-of-the-warehouse-district-tour.php

Warehouse District Map: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/downtown/ware_map.htm

Warehouse Interactive Map: http://www.6street.com/6s_warehouse_directory.htm

By the way folks, this is the big weekend for the Austin Marathon, don't forget to come out and cheer me on!

I have asked you to come "Fly With Me" on the Hill Country Flyer, now I am extending an invitation to you to come run with me.

I am currently training for the Austin Marathon on February 17th. This will be my 5th marathon. I run on Town Lake, which is one of our main training spots once or twice a week. Town Lake has a 3, 3, 5, 7, & 10 mile loop that can be run.

Hurry and sign up as the Half Marathon is Sold Out and the Marathon is 98% full. For registration information: click here.

If running is not your game but you do like the excitement of the race then maybe you would like to consider being a volunteer. For information: click here.

This is a great way to take an Austin vacation, the weather is great and the skies usually clear and sunny. There will be lots to do before during and after the event because its Austin, Texas.

For all my fellow Austinites be sure to come out to see the race if you decide to decline my invitation to run. When you see me whiz on by please let out a big Texas yell so I'll know you're there!

Well, gotta go and put on my dancing shoes, oops, my running shoes. See you at Town Lake or at the Marathon.

Austin Marathon Website

Come fly with me on the Hill Country Flyer, Austin's only working steam train.

Take a trip back in time as you travel the rails from Cedar Park to Burnet and over Summit Pass and through the idyllic Hill Country.

You may meander the aisles, visit the parlour cars or caboose, or stay contently in your seat watching the scenic views of the San Gabriel River Valley's ranches, longhorn cattle, and rivers. The passing scenery is best photographed from the vestibules of the cars. At the front of one car is a bar which serves soft drinks and snacks with a small gift counter.

As in the hey-day of rail travel you may choose to ride coach or first-class. First-class passengers ride in climate controlled parlour cars. The train is pulled by the Southern Pacific 786 which dates to 1916 and ran between Texas and Louisiana for over 40 years. The rail cars are privately owned and represent various years of the 1920 era.

When you arrive in Burnet you will be greeted by "desperados" on horseback, music of the era and vintage automobiles. Burnet offers another opportunity to time-travel with their quaint gift shops and restaurants. Some sights to see are the century-old jail and the Croghan Museum. You want to be sure not to miss the wild gunfight between the "good" guys and the "bad" guys. This production is presented about 1:45pm by the Burnet Gunfighter's Association. When you hear the whistle blowing - Get on Board!; its time to begin the journey back to the modern world.

Historical Note: The tracks for this journey were laid in 1871 and extended to Llano Texas. When the original Capitol building burned to the ground and the existing building designed, the designed called for limestone. The builders soon discovered that the soft limestone could not support the weight of the building so granite was the next logical choice. This spur of the track was laid down to bring the beautiful "sunset-red" granite to Austin. If you watch closely on your way back to Austin you may see large blocks of granite lying near the tracks, these are pieces of granite that fell off the train during transport.

Times, Ticket and Fares:

Call 512-477-8468 (M-F, 9am - 4pm) for reservations

Trains normally depart each Saturday at 10:00am from Cedar Park and return about 4:30pm.
The train ride is about 2 hours each way with a 2 ½ to 3 hour layover in Barnet

Children and Seniors Discounts and Group Rates are available.

You may also book the entire train for special events. Call for information.

Please remember all staff are volunteers who love the "rails" so be sure to give them a big Texas "THANK YOU"

Well, the holiday hustle and bustle has ended for another season but there is always bustling of one kind or another here in Austin.

Distinctive in color, "Sunset Red" and topped by an impressive dome is one of the busiest places in Austin, our great State Capitol, not only as a place of conducting business (our state Senate and House of Representatives meet here) but as a place to be seen and admired by visitors and locals alike.

In the early days of Austin, Congress Avenue led from the Colorado River dock up the boulevard to the Capitol. This was, of course, done for the express purpose of impressing all those who came to the capitol of Texas. It still makes my heart swell when I am near the river and look up Congress Avenue and see our Capitol Building standing as proud and magnificent as the day it was built in 1883.

As everyone knows and as I have said before Texans do everything in a big way and our Capitol is a prime example of the Texas Spirit of doing things in a grand style.

Our Capitol Building has more gross square footage than any other state capitol building in the United States! It stands 311 feet tall, 15 feet taller than the US Capitol. At the time it was built it was reported that the Texas State Capitol Building was the seventh largest building in the world. It only makes sense that such a majestic and impressive building would be built on one of the highest elevations in Austin so when one strolls the streets of Austin the dome of the Capitol Building can almost always be seen. These views are so important to us that we have state laws protecting them.

The Texas State Capitol Building was built in the Renaissance Revival style. It is built of "sunset red" granite (marble and limestone) quarried from Texas soil. Its impressive dome is topped by a 16 foot Goddess of Liberty which holds a five pointed star in her hand. Throughout the interior are detailed carvings, etched glass door panels and beautiful marble floors.

The Texas State Capitol Building has the reputation of being one of the nation's most distinguished capitol buildings. In 1970 it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and in 1986 became a National Historic Landmark.

You can stroll the park-like grounds which surround the Capitol. The Capitol grounds cover approximately 22 acres which includes 17 monuments. In 1995 the grounds were restored to the park setting and appearance of the 1800s. The Capitol grounds are impressive in their own right and are alone worth a visit. In 1997 these grounds were renovated and restored at the cost of $8 million dollars.

The Texas State Capitol Visitors Center is located in the former historic Texas General Land Office Building, the oldest state office structure in Austin. Here you can chose a guided tour or receive maps and brochures for a self-guided tour. Personally for a first visit I recommend the guided tour. Here you will also find a Travel Information Center, exhibits, a theater and a gift shop. There is no admission charge for visiting the Capitol Building.

I can tell you about the building and the grounds, hopefully I have made you curious but I can tell you honestly, the Texas Capitol Building is one of those things that can only be experienced and whether you are Texan or not it will make your heart swell just to know it is part of your history and part of your nation.

Current Photos: http://www.tspb.state.tx.us/SPB/gallery/CurrPhoto/CurrPhoto.htm

Hours:Capitol: Mon-Fri 7am-10pm - Sat/Sun 9am-8pm
Visitors Center: Mon-Sat, 9am-5pm, Sun Noon-5pm
Tour Guide Office: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm - Sat 9:30am-3:30pm - Sun Noon-3:30pm

Phone Numbers: 512-305-8400 (Visitors Center) 512-463-0063 (Tour Guide Office)

WebCam: http://www.kvue.com/images/liveimages/capitol1.jpg

Design and Construction: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/library/ahc/capitol/design.htm http://www.texasbob.com/travel/tbt_capitol.html