Google Bucket

if you go to the Tavern they have old pics of old bars around Austin and the employees that worked there. Names that come to mind were, Pelicans Warf, Mike & Charlies, Juan Goldsteins, Bean's, The Greenhouse, The Still, The Keg, The Filling Station, The Pier on Lake Austin, Lake Austin Lodges, Lake Austin Inn, Jakes, The Raw Deal, The Flamingo, The OLD Lakeview Inn, The Jade Room, Louies Lounge, The Jade Room, The Library, The Blue Parrott, Valentines, so on and so on .......

Does anyone remember the origins of the Tug of War? Or, what happened to it? I think the Bubba vs. Yuppies mindset still exists.

I had to leave Austin in 87 to find work. Most of these names are familiar, although I can't say that I recall the Split Rail as a Biker Bar. It started as a small building with a large covered black top area filled with tables and was open to the breezes. We used to go there of a Sunday afternoon to hang out and drink beer. Eventually the covered area was enclosed to create a fairly large, air conditioned area.Must have seated 200 or more. There was usually some kind of entertainment and a lot of it was free. Blind George (McClain?) was a regular. Butch Handcock played there, as did one of Austin's all-time great bands, Freida and the Firedogs. (Bobby Earl is still living and making music in Austin or so I hear.) I seem to remember a set by Uncle Walt's Band as well, but that memory may be influenced by too many pitchers of Lone Star. But the Firedogs were awesome. Here are a couple of other places that may be lost:
- Lake Austin Inn (LAI)- Across Lake Austin by the dam - boat or drive in.
- The Orange Bull - Ray and BJ Vines' place on like 26th and the drag and upstairs from Otto Mitag's cleaners. The Bull was frequented by jocks among others, but Ray threw them all out at 8:00 pm or so, before they got wild.
- For hamburgers you have to include Dirty Martin's on the drag.
- For Mexican there's La Tapatia (east 7th) and the original Tamale Hut on 1st and Congress (not to be confused with later establishments of the same name), and Cisco's Bakery.
- And What about Threadgill's back when Keneth still ran it and Janice Joplin sang there.
- Speaking of Janice, there was the 11th Door on 11th and Red River which is the first place I ever heard her sing.
- Can Austin's music story be complete without mention of The Moods (of Counrty Music) and Sammy Alred and Son, the Geezenslaws?

I remember alot of those places especially the stallion and 2-J's.
I went to the Poodle Dog last time I went home to Austin to visit but it's just not the same. Don't forget Taco Flats :)

$1 Chicken Fried Steaks kept me from starving.