One of the challenges we faced as new parents was what to do on those nights when you just need to go out and grab a quick bite no time to plan for a sitter or make reservations. Nothing in the fridge, too tired to slice and dice, or an all too common scenario in our household: Wait, I thought YOU were doing dinner tonight! When our child was a baby, this was fairly easy pop him in the car seat, pop him into a high chair, and keep the zwieback coming. As he got older, it got harder. We of course insist on good manners, but what three and half year old (or four, five or six, for that matter) can sit perfectly still and quiet, even with crayons and a funny menu?
Lots of them you say? Good on ya! Not ours! To preserve the family dining night out tradition, we learned quickly that a place with a playscape could accommodate our need for dinner out with a three year old's need to get his ya-ya's out. Austinites are particularly lucky in this regard, because so much of the year is outdoor weather for us, and so many great places for family dining are out there. Here are our current favorite places to eat that have playscapes.
Southpark Meadows: I had, shall we say, "issues" with finding good food and play in a shopping center, but this place rocks. The playscapes are HUGE and inventive woven through enormous shade trees, with slides galores. There is a fantastic little area where water shoots up from the ground so perfect for letting the little guys cool off. They even have live music outside, periodically. The best part, though, is that the playground is in the center of a bunch of GREAT restaurants, most of which have patio dining so you can watch them play while you linger over your food. Mama Fu's does great pan-asian good, Austin Java is perfect for lunch or brunch, Waterloo Ice House will fill your burger needs, and at Jason's deli you can even get a box lunch and sit on a bench under the trees. I35 and Slaughter, across from Supertarget
Freddie's Place: Freddie's makes one of the greatest burgers in town, and its outdoor area is right next to a babbling brook, under big oak trees. Their playscape isn't huge, but they have around 5 picnic tables right next to it, all with great sightlines to the stage, so you can integrate your meal, play and music. The atmosphere is South Austin cool, and the food is terrific, and although parking can be an issue, it is worth it to get their early and let the kids play while you and your friends (or spouse, unless , as in my case, he's on the stage) catch up on adult talk. 1703 S 1st St Austin, TX 78704 (512) 445-9197
Patsy's Cowgirl Cafe: Patsy's playscape is outside of the dining area, but it is still a great help in burning off steam. Sometimes we get a drink and hang out while he plays and slides and runs around with the other kids that are bound to be there. The decor inside is really fun, and since we are usually there to see a band, we can usually work it to where he starts winding down and wanting dinner as the music starts. 5001 E. Ben White Boulevard, Austin TX 78741.
Austin is a great place for families. All year round the city is full of events that cater to its citizens young and old. One of the most popular destinations is First Thursdays on South Congress Avenue where once a month the shops stay open late and the entire street becomes a pedestrian friendly party that the whole family can enjoy. The South Congress Area (or SoCo as it is now called) has long had a reputation for its eclectic shops, art galleries, and restaurants. On First Thursday, everything stays open until 10pm on South Congress between Riverside Drive and Ben White Boulevard.
For those with kids in tow, you may want to make your first stop the Big Top Candy Shop. They carry a wide selection of vintage candy that you’ll remember from when you were a kid as well as all the new verities that you may have not have tried. They also have an old fashioned soda fountain serving up hot chocolate, peppermint shakes, and desserts.
You may want to then head over to Lucy in Disguise, Austin’s largest costume shop for a quick game of dress up. Lucy’s opened its doors on April fool’s Day in 1984 and has grown into an 8,000 sq. ft. costume mega store. Whether it’s a funny hat or a Mardi gras mask, Lucy’s has something for everyone. It’s a great place to get lost among the rows and rows of wacky costumes.
A new addition to South Congress is the Farm to Market Grocery. Inside you’ll find a wide selection of specialty items and fresh fruits and vegetables. On First Thursdays it’s a great place to stop in for a quick snack or to pick up a piece of fruit to carry with you down the street.
If you’re looking for a gift, you should take a moment to step into Monkey See, Monkey! Doing their part of Keep Austin Weird, they specialize in bizarre gifts that you may not ever see again. Where else are you going to find a Sock Monkey Wine Coozy? They also claim to carry 7 out of the 10 stupidest gifts listed on yahoo.com. The best part is that they’re proud of it.
When you get hungry from all the walking and shopping, there are a number of great food options. Guerro’s serves up world famous Mexican Cuisine and some of the best Margaritas in town. It is also a favorite haunt of local celebrities and a great place to people watch. Homeslice Pizza serves up some of the best New York style pies in town. They’re so serious about their pizza that they closed the whole shop for a week to take the staff to New York on a pizza tasting tour. If you have a sweet tooth, you should head over to Amy’s Ice Cream, an Austin original that serves up their own unique ice cream flavors.
Fans of live music will have to check out the Continental Club, one of Austin’s most well known music venues. Every night of the week, they showcase both local and national touring acts. You may also want to check out their new gallery space upstairs, a comfortable lounge with live jazz and blues every night of the week.
There really is something for everyone of South Congress and First Thursdays offer an amazing opportunity to explore every hot spot in the street. You never know who you’ll see and are guaranteed to discover something new.
Both Ki Gray & Dane Smith are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Ki Gray has sinced written about articles on various topics from Debts Loans, Real Estate and Food And Drink. Ki runs a site focused on which has a search of the. Ki Gray's top article generates over 110000 views. to your Favourites.
Dane Smith has sinced written about articles on various topics from Food And Drink, Consumer and Real Estate. Ki is an agent working in the market. Visit his site to search the. Dane Smith's top article generates over 18100 views. to your Favourites.