My niece, Julie, arrived tonight for a visit. We went down to 6th Street and caught the Esther’s Follies show – a must see if you ever make a visit to Austin. After the show we walked up and down 6th St for a while. The cross streets are cordoned off at night so that the crowds can walk in the street — no cars. We buzzed through the beautiful Driskill Hotel lobby and bar, walked over to Congress for a view of the lit Capitol dome. Unfortunately it’s surrounded by scaffolding for renovations for the forseeable future.
It’s hard for me to pass up any flashing plasticky fluorescent light bauble — I bought these from a street vendor along the way.
Sheila365 
The Driskill is my favorite hotel in Austin and one of my top two or three in the country. I love getting a room in the old section but no matter what portion you are in, it is a lovely stay. Sometimes the rates can get down pretty low…not during football season, though.
oh, and the restaurant is well worth the dollars.
I love the driskill, too. The architecture inside and out is beautiful. I’ve frequented the bar often, but I have never stayed there overnight. I’ll have to put that on my todo list for next year.