Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/607197
photography by tk; illustration by tk photography by Jason Feather / eyeem / getty images (musician); mossphoto (hickey). opposite page: allan Zepeda (raFanelli); eric levin (yvonne's) music lover's paradise TURNTABLE FOR TWO Come to the tucked-away bistro Justine's Brasserie (512-385-2900; justines 1937.com) for chef Casey Wilcox's seductive take on French classics; stay for cocktails and a scene that revolves around an impres- sive vinyl collection. Special events attract musicians like Richard Hell, Sonny Rhodes, and Jello Biafra, and its New Year's Eve extravaganza is debauchery at its finest. ROCK HEAVEN Named after the patron saint of music, the luxury boutique Hotel Saint Cecilia (512-852-2400; hotel saintcecilia.com) features Rega turntables and Geneva sound systems in every room, with albums and rock bios available for checkout. Concierge programs include a private vintage vinyl shopping service courtesy of Breakaway Records and a guitar loan from Gibson. LYRICAL COCKTAILS Geraldine's (877-202-2191; hotelvanzandt.com), the restaurant at the new Hotel Van Zandt (which is named after beloved singer- songwriter Townes Van Zandt), pays its respects to musicians with a top-notch bar program created by Jennifer Keyser. To get into the spirit, order Willie's Cup, a playful spin on the mint julep, made with hemp- seed milk. The hotel also features live music nightly. MUSIC HISTORY The 1960s and the legacy of Lyndon B. Johnson live on after 2012's multimillion- dollar upgrade to the LBJ Presidential Library (512- 721-0200; lbjlibrary.org) in the heart of the University of Texas campus. Through January 10, 2016, explore The Beatles' impact on America at the impressive "Ladies and Gentlemen… The Beatles!" exhibit. CITY LIMITS AND BEYOND Experience live music as it should be at ACL Live at the Moody Theater (512- 225-7999; acl-live.com), the home to tapings of Austin City Limits as well as more than 100 concerts a year. The highlight is always Willie Nelson's New Year's shows, which the country legend recently expanded to three nights. For the ultimate experience, book a package through the adjoining W Austin hotel. SPIN SOME TUNES Owner Kim Dowling moved to Austin from New York in part because of the music scene, so it's no wonder her downtown spin studio, Ride Indoor Cycling (512-322-5252; ride- indoorcycling.com), is centered around the slogan "Ride. Rock. Repeat." Classes, featuring top-of- the-line Schwinn AC Sport bikes, often fill up early, so book your bike online. the beat goes on This independent city honors its rich musical legacy by moving to its own unforgettable rhythm, night and day. Top-notch venues, South by Southwest, Austin City Limits, and Waterloo Records are why Austin is called the "Live-Music Capital of the World." But the beat goes far beyond the music: It is simply everywhere, from the Whole Foods flagship to the city's thriving food, cocktail, and hotel scene. A weekend here is good for the soul. my favorite way to kick off the weekend: 3 pm happy hour at Clark's Oyster Bar (clarksoysterbar.com) for oysters and rosé. i could spend hours in: The dress- ing rooms at Found (found austin.com), which feature a doorbell to order Champagne. I love the boutique's selec- tion of designers. When i want to recharge: I spend the day at Lake Austin Spa (lake austin.com) reading a book in a hammock by the river after my treatments. at the stroke of midnight, you might find me: At C-Boy's Heart & Soul (cboysheartnsoul.com), the rhythm-and-blues joint with a great vibe and cool people. my music venue of choice: If you're invited to an event at historic Arlyn Studios (arlyn studios.com), don't turn it down. A night here is always one for the books. The most beautiful spot in austin is: Mount Bonnell at sunset, where you see it all: the vast Texas sky, rolling green hills, and the water. don't leave austin without: Eating a breakfast taco. My favorite is from Tacodeli (tacodeli.com)— tacos for breakfast are genius. inside austin lisa Hickey—who furnishes the ViP areas at music festiVals through her comPany, the Panacea collection—reVeals her ideal weekend. ON THE ROAD AGAIN Summon your inner Red Headed Stranger and rent an original Willie Nelson & the Family Band tour bus from Vintage Innovations (512-524-1390; vintage innovations.net). For about $2,500 a day, you can rent the 1983 Silver Eagle, named after Nelson's 1985 album Me & Paul. The bus, whose interior has been preserved, holds up to 20 people. GUITAR TOWN Founded by Bill Collings, Austin-based Collings Guitars (512-288-7776; collingsguitars.com) is one of the most respected manufacturers of guitars, mandolins, and ukuleles in the world; the instruments are still mostly handcrafted. See where the magic happens during tours of the 2,700-square-foot facility, offered only on Fridays; reservations are required. Music mecca Austin has live shows galore, plus museums, memorabilia, and tributes all over town. Austin 4 8 hours in