"One of my true favorite places to hang out is Luckenbach, a tiny
town 80 miles west of Austin. That is just wild. There's a bar and
a post office there. You get all types of people in Luckenbach,
from bikers to families to ex-hippies to the working class. You
never know who's going to be playing. On Wednesdays there's Jimmy
Lee Jones, a bass player who's a bartender and he plays amazing
stuff. Or they'll have
Willie Nelson's Fourth of July Picnic and
thousands of people will show up. There's a bartender there named
Marge and they call her Sheriff Marge of Luckenbach. She's tough
and fun and kind and keeps a lot of the people in line if they get
a little rowdy. You can go out and dance and two-step, and there
will be dogs running around the dance floor. People will get rowdy.
It's just divine. You just have to know that anything goes. I
always check out what's going on in Luckenbach, because I never
cease to have a fun time there. You see everything. And I love to
watch."
MADELEINE STOWE'S AUSTIN ESSENTIALS
LODGING
Four Seasons Hotel Austin, $270-$1,400; (512) 478-4500
DINING
Cooper's Old Time Pit BBQ , in Llano; barbecue; $4-$8; (915)
247-5713
Fonda San Miguel, Mexican; $15-$20; (512) 459-4121
Las Manitas, Mexican; $5-$6;
(512) 472-9357
Matt's Famous El Rancho, Mexican; $8-$19; (512) 462-9333
Mimi's Cafe, in Comfort; home cooking; $5-$6; (830)
995-3470
The Nest, in Fredericksburg; American; $7-$21; (830)
990-8383
The Salt Lick, barbecue; $7-$14; (512) 858-4959
Texas Chili Parlor, American; $4-$6; (512) 472-2828
Z' Tejas Southwestern Grill, American; $5-$11; (512)
478-5355
SHOPPING
The Comfort Common, in Comfort;
bed and breakfast and shops;
(830) 995-3030
Homestead, in Fredericksburg;