by Sarah J.F. Braley |
October 01, 2017
As the weather turns cold up north, the temperatures stay hot in the "Live Music Capital of the World," where Sixth Street's intimate venues reign supreme. The city's tuneful vibe is apparent on arrival, as local musicians serenade passengers at Austin Bergstrom International Airport.
IN THE MUSIC DISTRICT
Opened on Sixth Street in 1975, Antone's has since moved around the corner but still is the place to go for blues. The club accommodates up to 650 people for special events.
Two-steppin' and toe-tappin' are required moves at the Broken Spoke, the epitome of a colorful Texas honkey-tonk. Dance lessons are available, and private events for up to 500 people are welcomed.
TUNE IN
Looking for the right music to play at your Austin event? Hook up your phone to the sound system, fire up your Spotify app and navigate to the Music Austin channel, featuring live performances recorded around town.
REFRESHER COURSE
When not using any of the 1,012-room JW Marriott Austin's more than 100,000 square feet of meeting space, try a blissful Sleep Deeply massage at the property's new Spa by JW.
read more
AUSTIN
Local Update
• The 1,048-room
Fairmont Austin Hotel, the largest Fairmont yet, is on schedule to open by the end of the year. The property will connect to the Austin Convention Center via the $6 million Red River Canopy Walk. Plans call for more than 138,000 square feet of in-house meeting space, and a Fairmont Spa with nine treatment rooms. The six restaurants and bars will include a pool bar and a rooftop terrace.
• The Sydell Group is turning the 413-room Radisson Austin into the 428-room
Line ATX Hotel. Along with 22,000 square feet of meeting space, the property will have three restaurants and four bars. The hotel, opening in 2018, also will have access to Austin's hiking and biking trails, and will be within walking distance of the Red River music-district, also debuting in 2018.
• Beginning on March 28, 2018,
Norwegian Airlines will commence daily service between Austin Bergstrom International Airport and London Gatwick Airport.
• The combined, 422-room
Aloft and Element Austin Downtown opened this past July; the Aloft has 278 guest rooms, and the Element, 144. The properties share the Caroline restaurant, an outdoor lounge with open-air gaming space called Upstairs at Caroline and approximately 3,000 square feet of meeting space.
• At the 366-room
Westin Austin Downtown, the rooftop pool and bar have been renovated, adding more seating capacity and cabanas. A new drink menu features hand-crafted cocktails available by the glass or pitcher; daytime offerings include "edible cocktails." Food choices are separated into Bites, Bowls and Bentos. The new open-concept design affords better views of the sky, as well as Lady Bird Lake and the city itself.
• The 220-acre, 70-room
Travaasa Austin Resort closed on Sept. 1 as work began on an expansion and redevelopment of the property, which was purchased by the Miraval Group, now under the Hyatt Hotels umbrella. To be completed by January 2019, the project will add 50 guest rooms, and total indoor and outdoor meeting space will grow to 15,864 square feet. The expanded spa will offer 30 treatment rooms, and the existing pool will be converted into a spa pool. New dining options will include a pool café, a cocktail bar, a mobile demonstration kitchen, and a grab-and-go marketplace.