My girlfriend and I are going to be visiting Austin for Halloween and I'm working on a list of 'can't miss' destinations.
Anyone have any recommendations?
Food, vinyl toys, dive bars, etc.

We're really excited about getting a Jackalope at FRANK, seeing Friday the 13th Part 5 at the Alamo and visiting a few tattoo shops, but otherwise we have no plans. Help fill our itineraries?

There is a place called your moms burgers. Last time I went it was b.y.o.b.. You can check out their menu on-line.

Checking now!
Thanks for the goodies, they arrived safely today fella!

I am glad they got there safe! There are a TON of food trucks in Austin. Locals would have to tell you which ones to look for. Toy Joy is a cool toy shop with a ice cream place inside. They have a killer arcade called Pinballz 13,000 sq.ft. It stays open pretty late. I had a blast there last time I was in Austin. Have fun on your trip!

Toy Joy and Atomic City are great places to stop. If you are a music hound Waterloo records is the place to be.

There is lots to do in the city. I lived there for 10 years. Check with Crab Ragoon he still lives there.

Unfortunately Atomic City closed some years ago after the owner got sick. Toy Joy has moved downtown and has probably a quarter of the stock they once did. Austin Books on Lamar has the best selection of comics if you're into that. End of an Ear on South First is my favorite record store (I also work there sometimes so I am slightly biased). There is also a taco cart a block north of End of an Ear called Primo... holy shit they have some good tacos (red sauce is deadly hot though).

There are food trucks all over the place, Austin is a good place to eat. East Sixth has all the more hip bars than regular old Sixth. Liberty is a good one. If you like pizza, there is a trailer called Via::313, they serve Detroit style pizza. It's the best pizza in Austin hands down.

For an unusual dive bar experience, try Lala's. Smoky and strange. Also check and see if Ginny's Little Longhorn has opened back up. It might be the only chance you have to go to an authentic Texas honky-tonk. They have Chicken Shit Bingo on Sundays (exactly what it sounds like).

If you like beer, you have a lot of options, Black Star Co-Op is a good one. The Draught House is the best beer bar in town (I work there most of the time, so I am a little biased, but in this case also completely correct;)). There are funky shops, bikes and canoes to rent. Shows to see (www.showlistaustin.com). Food to eat. And hey, the weather finally broke so it's not 105 here everyday.

If you want more let me know what you're interested in and pm me, I'll see what I can come up with.

I've spent a couple SXSW's in Austin, and I have to say that Waterloo is one of my favorite record stores in the country.

Thanks for all the info, ya'all!
I'm making lists and checkin' em twice, so every suggestion helps.
I know we've got tickets to Terror Tuesday at the Alamo, but Im still looking into weird wednesday. Might get tattooed too. It's a much needed vacation, despite the six other vacations I've taken this year.

Ah, I forgot about BBQ. It's a thing in this part of Texas. If you're a meat-eater, you could go to Franklin (get there to stand in line at 8am to eat at 11). It's famous and really good, but you have to wait for it. They sell out every day. It's also the best Texas-style beef brisket you will ever eat. You get a choice of fat or lean, get the fat...it's ridiculous.

Micklethwait Craft Meats is a trailer run by some friends of mine and it is also really good. You can call ahead and have them set some aside for you, which is a wise move on the weekends. There is lunch service(11-3) and dinner service(4-sellout). They make everything in house... the handmade sausage is amazing and it's always something different. The pork shoulder is exceptional. Jalapeno cheese grits are fantastic as well. Plus homemade Moon Pies!

Live Oak BBQ is a good bet. Their que is tasty, and they smoke many kinds of meat. Nice people, too.

Sam's is there if you need a meat-fix after 2am. It's a little scary/seedy, and not super-awesome but they are open until 4.

There are a lot of lesser lights around town. I wouldn't bother with any of them on a short trip here.

If you don't eat meat, please disregard!

I eat meat for sure. Allergic to tomatoes, so my bbq experience can be difficult- dry rubs only, no sauce.
We're there Tues-Thurs, leaving Friday, so a lot of the weekend stuff will be missed.

You're in luck! There is no sauce on Texas BBQ! Only dry-rub, which usually consists of salt + pepper.

I'm from Texas as well and I can say that Franklin's is the best brisket you will ever have. Well worth the wait.

oh and its texas style, so only salt an pepper, no worries on the allergies there.

You should visit Perfection Tattoo 4205 Guadalupe and Great Wave 6th street. Both are like tattoo museums. Perfection is the longest running shop in Texas, probably.(Dave Lum Rollo Banks Chris Trevino) Mom's on S. Lamar is the oldest. Torchy's tacos are good. Cabo Bob's are great. Go by Guzu Gallery art toy store (next to Austin Books and Comics) and buy a WRAITH action figure and a GPK custom colored resin frame. I heard a fellow sb'r made em.

There is a Botanica called "green and white grocery" that is rad.
Also "Earths Treasures" is cool if you like rocks, crystals, and fossils.

Onward

I got tattooed by Trevino back in 1995. It's on my list for sure.
Lum is the man; sadly he's retiring in December and I cant' get to Portland in time to get tattooed, but I've been kind enough to make sure his documentary- in parts- is free on the internet.

Guzu is on my list, but I only collect Pus toys so it's more browsing than buying for me, but I do like to browse.

Just added Green and White and Earth Treasures to my google queue!

Thanks everyone!

Go get tattooed at Rock of Ages.

Thats on my list too. Funny story about that....