Anyone in Austin, TX?

Does anyone live in Austin? I'm coming down there for a conference for work Feb. 9-12. Let me know if we can get together for a few minutes one of those evenings. I'd love to see yards or gardens. I know it'll still be winter, but are there some 'must sees' in the Austin area in February? Any good thrift shops?

Aimee and Wingnut are in the Austin Area, Lois.


"eyes"

Wow, Granny Lois here! My suggestion would be for you to prolong your visit a day and go to San Antonio to their botanical gardens and then to the River Walk. I am a member of SABOT and would happily take you as my guest. The climate there is so much better than here, so gardens have almost a 12 month season, and SABOT has several huge solariums, many stories high, with wonderful exhibits. But if you come to Austin, certainly we should all meet. Amari is in South Austin, desertrose is in Dripping Springs, Wingnut is in Spicewood, I am in Georgetown, and that is all in a small area. If you come, I will plan my day according to what everybody else needs to make a mini-roundup. Meiyu is in SA, but I don't know how well she is. This is exciting! Oh, and Austin has Zilker Gardens, which usually has something to see. I can check on that.

Aimee, that sounds GREAT. Thanks so much! As soon as I get the agenda and find out when I'm free to explore, I'll let you know. Thanks!

How exciting...Lois having a chance to meet so many in Texas!! Ya'll have a ball now, hear?? Jo

I'm sooooooo happy for you all!!

"eyes"

An unexpected roundup, what a great development!

Don't know the agenda yet. But what's the high and low temperature supposed to be that time of year? Hopefully, warmer than here. What should I pack?

I found it on the internet. In Feb.: high of 63 and low of 42. (average, of course) Is this an average winter? NO!!!

Some years, it is so balmy in February, it's difficult not to plant flowers. But it can change in a couple of hours. With a really late Easter, I would bet we will have a late spring, which means you might need warm clothes until then. It's safest to layer, so bring separates and include things you won't mind taking off or carrying with you in case of sudden shifts. Some of our coldest days will likely be in February, and might be followed by 80° the next day. If you have cotton knit separates, shells, sweaters and jackets, with skirts, pants or column dresses, you will be able to stay comfortable. People here are very casual, so knit pants, jeans, sweats and denim skirts or dresses are always acceptable, or basic suits if you want to be dressier. I like long dresses and skirts, with a variety of vests, knit tops and jackets. They go everywhere with plenty of style for Central Texas. A few years ago, someone with the newspaper tried to describe a typical Austin look, and concluded it wasn't possible because there are still remnants of every "look" that ever happened, so you can wear anything and fit right in. The key is comfort. If I was coming here to visit, I think I might pack my heavy knit pants, a pair of black ones and one of off white, a long knit vest to go with both of them, a medium weight jacket, a long skirt to match the vest and jacket, shells or short sleeve knit tops, even nice tee shirts, and some scarves to go with everything. You can then be sure you always have something cool and something warm, and the skirt with shell, jacket and scarves is versatile.

GL: A couple days before your trip, go to this page:

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/data/forecasts/TXZ192.php?warncounty=TXC453&city=Austin

That's the NWS Austin office where they have a nice forecast. I've found the NWS to be a very reliable source of weather forecasting.

Dave

Thanks, Dave, that's very helpful.

Aimee, will you be my personal shopper? :-)

What a nice compliment for a person who detests shopping! I specialize in Faded Glory, Weekenders and garage sales/thrift shops. Love a bargain, and comfort. You bet, let's dress you up for fun! (You might want to read some of our adventure threads to see how bizarre I can get. Wintermoor grabbed his respectable kilt and ran for cover when I put virtual fringe and sequins on his new one. But the girls all looked pretty in Goldsville, I think.)

HI Y'all, I am new to this group, but I live in San Antonio and if you are meeting on the weekend, I would love to try to meet with you. I have my little slice of heaven here, 1/2 acre with little cottage I had built. I call it "Dirtland". I am Queen of Dirtland, and riegn over the deer, rabbits, squirrls, roadrunners, skunks, coons, etc. Well, you get the picture. Have a 14 year old grandson that is my royal helper, and between the 2 of us, we are landscaping this a bit at a time. I am an avid seed starter, and love trying all kinds of things from cuttings. I will be happy to get to know some of you here. This is the place I have been looking for. I will love learning, and hope I can on occasion be of help. Austin is not a far trip for me, and it would be a pleasure to meet new friends. SEEYA

It would be nice to meet you, loudigger (and the other south Texas DGers.)

I still don't know anything definite except that we ARE going.

When I asked about what to pack, I wasn't thinking about style, but I was thinking about weather. It's so cold here, that it's hard to imagine packing for warmer weather. It's hard to not think about taking a winter coat along, ear muffs, gloves, etc.

Hopefully this weekend, I can shop a little.

This message was edited Tuesday, Jan 28th 5:54 AM

I got the agenda today, and can you believe the training goes on from right after breakfast until AFTER dinner. There will be sessions after dinner each night. They are going to wear us out.

We'll be at the Crown Plaza Hotel. It looks like the only time to get together would be Sunday night - there at the hotel, if any of you are free then.

Let me know. I would love to see the south TX DGer's on my trip.

GL, I don't think you necessarily need to shop, as you could probably do quite well in what you would wear in Tennessee in the fall. Of course, if shopping is your thing, by all means, go! I would do almost anything to avoid it, but some like it.

I suppose there might be more than one Crowne Plaza, as Austin is growing too fast to keep up with it, but I think there is one about 5th Street on Interstate Highway 35. If that's the right one, you will be pretty centrally located, not too far one way or the other. And if Sunday evening is the only time available, then so be it, we will have a micro-mini roundup. I will keep the calendar open, how about the rest of you?

I would love to meet y'all, but the drive is a fer piece. Especially at night. my night vision is the pits. Hope you can come again grannylois, when you can stay longer. Hope you have a wonderful trip!! SEEYA Margie Lou

Aimee, I think it is the one on 5th street, because the information said it was one block from 6th street. So that makes sense.

Margie Lou, you never know ... I may be coming again in the future ... maybe when there are gardens to see (warmer weather).

GL, that would probably be on IH35 at 5th, and it appears to be the only one here. My Austin directory doesn't show any others. Great, because it is convenient and on the way to almost everywhere.

Any idea what your Sunday schedule will be? I can work around anything, and really look forward to meeting you. With a little luck, I might even have Granddarling with me if it's not too late. Is anyone else going to be able to make it? Ya'll can call me if you want to, I'm listed in Georgetown, under my name as you see it here. I do hope several of you can come. I will try to call Wingnut tomorrow. Getting excited! My first opportunity to meet a DGer and it's the Grande Dame herself!

Lois....dang...I have wanted to meet Aimee for so long!! Jo

Jo, just hop on a big silver bird and fly down for a Central Texas roundup! Bring a change of clothes and stay awhile. You know I would cancel anything to meet you!

I arrive in Austin at 4:25.
By the time we get to the hotel and check in, it'll probably be 5:30 or so.

Dinner is provided so we'll eat about 6, I'm thinking.
Do you want to meet at 7?

Maybe there's a patio or a nice sitting area at the hotel ... or do you all want to join me for dinner at the hotel?

Let me know. I can't believe it's this next Sunday!

Sounds good to me either way, so I leave it up to anyone else who can make it. I did finally realize where your hotel is, and it couldn't be any closer to IH35 without being a traffic hazard. From there, you can get to anything in Austin with the greatest of ease. Yes, even the famous Sixth Street. I will send you my phone number in an email, so you can let me know if there are any changes. Getting more excited!

According to that website above (the weather one), Austin might have snow Friday night. But by Sunday, the temps should be in the 60's so I'll miss the snow (yahoo!!) Very changeable weather !

Looks like the most we are likely to have is a few flakes, and they will probably melt when they hit the ground. Yes, changeable is the way we usually have weather. By next Wednesday, it could be short sleeve temps again. Or not. This is typical of our mid-winter, but it will tease us like it did last week, with temps in the 70s and weather so beautiful, you have to sit on your hands to keep from planting. Iris and the redbud trees are blooming in Austin, but the mesquite trees still haven't leafed out so we know it's not spring yet. I was serious when I said be prepared to layer, as you might need Cuddleduds under your slacks in the morning and have to shed them by noon. I am not in favor of being too cold or too hot for too long.

Aimee,
I will call you when I get settled in the room. Lois.

Oh, I am just ecstatic! I haven't heard back from Wingnut, so guess it's just you and me, GL. The smallest roundup ever?

Our round-up will be even smaller than Barry's in Germany. He at least had ~ me, myself, and I. Ha!

Hmmmm, you have a point. Well, nothing like setting records. I guess it won't be difficult remembering who came. But Jo will be there in spirit, as will others, so we won't actually be just us.

Aimee and Lois...you are so right...I WILL be there in spirit....Heck...I'll even bring Me, Myself, and I!!! Now we have SIX! Gosh...what a ball we will have. Jo

Aimee and I never got a chance to meet. They keep us busy from morning until night. Hopefully next time I go to visit Austin, I will have some free time. I enjoyed talking to her on the phone .....

This was the view from my hotel window (I will admit I did use the zoom lens).

Night time view.

Nice shot, GL. I hope you get to come back soon. Whoever planned those meetings had no soul!