NOLA/TX roadtrip

[fenderx55]

Ok this is admittedly not much of a road trip, but bear with me.

2 friends and I want to do a post grad road trip in the end of may: the plan is to fly down to New Orleans for a couple days, then rent a car and drive to Houston spend a couple days there, then end in Austin, and fly home from there. We figure it'll be about a week.

This is primarily going to be a music/barbecue trip. Therein, can I get some suggestions of places to get kick ass barbecue in those cities and along the way? And, anyone have shows coming up/stuff I should see?

We're hopefully planning this weekend and getting stuff together. Any other suggestions?
Thanks,
Chris

[SoComSurfing]

http://www.10best.com/Austin/Restaurants/Barbecue/
http://www.10best.com/Houston/Restau...cue/index.html
http://www.10best.com/New_Orleans,LA/Restaurants/

The BBQ is going to be MUCH more prevalent in TX than in New Orleans. I'd stick with some of the good southern/creole/cajun cooking you won't find too plentiful up there in NY. Maybe you'll have better luck further west towards Lake Charles, but I'd wait on the BBQ until TX.

[fenderx55]

Originally Posted by SoComSurfing

The BBQ is going to be MUCH more prevalent in TX than in New Orleans. I'd stick with some of the good southern/creole/cajun cooking you won't find too plentiful up there in NY.

Thanks, Yeah I get the cajun thing, figured that went without saying so I didn't think to delineate

[jrthebassguy]

You won't regret the decision - Texas BBQ is where it's at.

There's also great Mexican food to be had in Houston (and likely Austin), if you want a break from all the brisket and bbq ribs.

[Spoiled Grape]

Corpus Cristi, TX - Roadrunner Grill!

[fenderphil]

what are the dates?

[fenderx55]

Nothing specific, but most likely the last week in may or the first week of june, maybe extending further into texas, nothing's concrete till this weekend... But i'm at work and bored NOW.


Edit: new thought: Any fun drunk eating late night chains particular to the south that I should hit? I've done Waffle House during a gig in Va last month. Smoking indoors+Waffles was a fantastic revelation for me.

[mike_v_s]

Along the way, make sure you stop in Beaumont at Sartin's Seafood. BBQ crabs. Not served everywhere. Served there.

Mike

[MJ5150]

I have not been to Houston, but I have been to NOLA. I would suggest right from the start that you allow MORE time for this trip. You could easily spend a week in NOLA eating and listening to music.

-Mike

[Chriss62]

TEXAS!!!

WOOT!!

Good shows and food at Stubbs.

[fenderx55]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

I have not been to Houston, but I have been to NOLA. I would suggest right from the start that you allow MORE time for this trip. You could easily spend a week in NOLA eating and listening to music.

-Mike

Thanks mike, I think more time is the name of the game. I know that after the middle of may I'm good to go, I'm waiting on everyone else to give me realistic dates, because our map has turned into this and I'm not sure how realistic it is. But I know that if I don't take some sort of long trip before I find a job and become an adult for real, I'm gonna regret it. Does anyone have an pearls of wisdom? Routes, etc?

[mike_v_s]

Originally Posted by fenderx55

Does anyone have an pearls of wisdom? Routes, etc?

DO NOT stop in Vidor, Texas. I'm being serious.

Mike

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by fenderx55

Does anyone have an pearls of wisdom? Routes, etc?

Not that I think you have any......but you should put all your prejudices, stereotypes, and preconceived notions about NOLA to the side and go down there with your mind and heart wide open. NOLA is truly a remarkable place.

Smile at people you normally would not, shake hands with people you may normally walk past, eat in restaurants you never thought to try, stop and talk to people you don't normally feel comfortable with.

If you are anything like me, you are going to leave NOLA with a whole new perspective on life. I'm jealous. I would love to go back down there.

-Mike

[fenderphil]

man, driving from austin to el paso? yikes! thats at least 8 or more hours of hills and rocks and cactussesses.

my band is playing in Tomball (extreme nw houston) on the 30th and then in austin on the 31st of may.

[Spoiled Grape]

Make sure to stop in at Chico's Tacos in El Paso. Get the two rolled tacos. When you are in Phoenix, make sure to stop by Tempe (it's just across the river). They call it the "Tempe Eleven." It's a true thing, beautiful girls.

You might want to extend all the way to California if you can make it. It's really just another days drive if you go out to San Diego. Great beaches there, and it will make for a great end to your trip.

Likewise, make sure to hit up some beachfront in texas.

[jrthebassguy]

Originally Posted by mike_v_s

DO NOT stop in Vidor, Texas. I'm being serious.

Mike

Every story I've ever heard that involves Vidor usually contains phrases such as, but not limited to: "Barely got out alive" "scared ****less" "KKK" or any number of other unpleasantries. I hear Jim Crow is alive and well in Vidor, Texas.


I've never stopped in Vidor for those reasons, but I'll echo the sentiment. If you're running low on gas, either get it in Orange, or hold out until Beaumont.

[mike_v_s]

Originally Posted by jrthebassguy

Every story I've ever heard that involves Vidor usually contains phrases such as, but not limited to: "Barely got out alive" "scared ****less" "KKK" or any number of other unpleasantries. I hear Jim Crow is alive and well in Vidor, Texas.


I've never stopped in Vidor for those reasons, but I'll echo the sentiment. If you're running low on gas, either get it in Orange, or hold out until Beaumont.

It's not as overt as it was even back in the mid/late 1980's (the "barely got out alive" might have been an exaggeration), but I saw and heard enough to make me not stop there for squat. I can spend my money elsewhere and I encourage others to do the same.

Mike

[Johnny Crab]

Originally Posted by jrthebassguy

If you're running low on gas, either get it in Orange, or hold out until Beaumont.

+1

Been driving I-10 between Houston and NOLA/Mandeville for 19 years.
NEVER stopped in Vidor. Saw various versions of this for YEARS:

http://www.orangeleader.com/local/lo...184192003.html
http://realart.blogspot.com/2007/07/...r-finally.html

We stopped in Beaumont once but never again due to prices, choice of foods, cleanliness of restrooms, convenience factor, etc. The useful pitstops for us are Orange(esp with a Whataburger), Winnie(Texas), Rayne(La.), Jennings(La.), and sometimes Crowley(La.). Orange seems to have taken a serious beating(gone downhill somewhat) since Hurricane Rita.

NOLA(lived there from the 1960's~1989): The Swamp Room
http://www.wwltv.com/morningnews/unk.../swamproom.htm

[fenderx55]

Hey guys thanks a ton, I'm gonna take all of this stuff to heart, TB never ever lets me down for diverse life lessons.

MJ5150-- def no preconceived thoughts, I travel with my stomach and my ears and I'm just psyched for new stuff. I also tend to not have an agenda and I'll eat anything you put in front of me. Travelled europe this way and I think it's the only way to travel. Just float and meet people.

Re vidor: one in our party is a half black, jewish woman, we ain't stoppin there. Thanks for the heads up. We probably would have stopped just because the name of the town sounds vaguely like vader, and it probably isn't even pronounced that way.

Anyway, thanks for the knowledge... any bars we shouldn't miss?

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by jrthebassguy

....hold out until Beaumont.

Isn't that where they made the movie Footloose? No rock music or dancing in that town. So if you're into dancing, keep driving.

What was the dudes name in Footloose? Ren McDonald, or something like that?

-Mike