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Local artwork such as this sculpture can be found throughout downtown. Austin is known for being rich in the arts, particularly music, with numerous venues featuring live bands on a regular basis.

The Sentinel hits Austin

Lone Star State hosts college journalism convention

By: Mike McCall

Posted: 11/16/09

Spending four days in Austin exposed me to an immense amount of culture, more than one could ever experience in small-town North Idaho. From an unbelievable amount of live music to sampling an incredible variety of tasty, local grub and witnessing more than 60,000 people in costume Halloween night, Austin had more to offer than I could possibly experience in the short amount of time I was there for.

There was never a dull moment on this trip.

The national journalism convention brought in more than 2,000 college students from across the nation. With numerous sessions occurring every hour from morning through afternoon, a constant fountain of information was at my fingertips that continually battled with my craving to explore this amazing city.

The Sentinel brought home some serious bragging rights from the conference too, most notably taking the prestigious Best of Show award against all two-year non-daily college newspapers nationwide, along with the Pacemaker award for general excellence. Arts and Entertainment Editor Loren Kelly took second for Reporter of the Year, and former Managing Editor Jake Donahue received six awards, including second place nationally for Page 1 design.

Stepping out of the Austin Airport submersed me with a feeling I hadn't felt in some time -- warmth. Immediately I felt the need to dust off the summer clothes and soak in as much sun as possible.

And I did just that.

The second morning I put on shorts and a T-shirt and went for a walk across town and through some residential areas. Needless to say, I couldn't keep from constantly snapping pictures of all the sights along the way. I eventually found my way to a Whole Foods Market; I moseyed on in, grabbed some fruit, yogurt and orange juice and enjoyed breakfast outside under the sun. The day couldn't have begun any better.

Saying that Austin (dubbed the Live Music Capitol of the World) lived up to its nickname would be a tremendous understatement. With literally hundreds of establishments featuring live performers (many on a daily basis), music constantly serenaded my ears from all directions, making me feel like a little kid in a candy store.

Going into the trip I expected to hear some great acts perform, I mean, six-string legend Stevie Ray Vaughan brought Texas Blues to the masses by starting off playing at Antone's, a renowned downtown establishment I was naturally eager to visit. The fact that I could listen in on some soulful, wailing blues and walk across the street to hear a phenomenal Latin band playing tasty salsa jams that made me feel as if I was dropped in the heart of Cuba 40 years ago, never ceased to amaze me.

Dining options seemed endless. Besides regular full-service restaurants offering a variety of cuisine from Tex-mex to barbeque to Italian and south-of-the-border delicacies, small stands were set up throughout town sending out lingering aromas that constantly teased my taste buds. Ironically (perhaps) the best food I experienced was at an authentic Asian joint, outstanding enough to bring me back for a second time and away from the other tasty offerings. (So if you're ever in Austin, go to Koriente on 7th street and order the Mixmix Bibimbap.)

One other aspect that makes Austin so unique is bats. Yes, I said bats -- more than a million of them in fact. They hide from daylight under the Congress Street Bridge that crosses the Colorado River. Around dusk, these creatures fly out and off into the horizon, drawing crowds that line the entire bridge. Video footage of this event lasts a good 10 minutes.

Austin is appropriately the Halloween headquarters of the United States. Sixth Street (think Bourbon Street in New Orleans) gets blocked off and patrolled by policemen, the majority on horseback. Close to 100,000 people roam the street, nearly all in costume. Natives don't take this lightly as I saw some of the most amazing costumes imaginable. There was even a $10,000 costume contest at stake.

To cap the trip off, the last day was spent exploring the capitol, the University of Texas and surrounding area. It was bright sunshine and the warmest day yet. We stumbled into the football stadium, timing it just right to bump into a public relations person who was nice enough to sneak us into the press box for photos. It was a great way to spend the remaining afternoon hours leading up to our departure.

Leaving the lively Texas city left me feeling somewhat distressed, although I was anxious to get back home (and of course to get a good night's rest on my nice, comfy bed). Although I call the Northwest home, this once-in-a-lifetime trip to Austin will gladly be forever burned in my memory.