Due to the beneficence of good friends (thanks, Tom & Brigid), I got to see my first Longhorns football game of the season on Saturday in the newly expanded (94,000 capacity) Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Wow! The recently restyled, reconfigured venue is now more colossal than ever, with new, multiple levels of north end zone seating, and a south end zone electronics marvel that’s the largest high definition stadium video display/replay monitor in the nation. Though a night game would’ve been nice (for cooler temps), it was nevertheless a pleasantly warm early fall afternoon. Fans actually did cheer a brief cool breeze during the second half. When ABC/ESPN call for a 2:30 start, it’s hard to turn down that kind of national exposure. The game featured the renewal of the former Southwest Conference rivalry between Arkansas and Texas. The Longhorns proceeded to dismantle the Razorbacks 52-10. Surprisingly, there wasn’t quite a full house, due to the game’s rescheduling because of Hurricane Ike. The new date conflicted with the weekend’s Austin City Limits Music Festival, and for some in the Capital City, it’s a tough call between great live music and Longhorns football. In fact, that’s how I was able to luck into my ticket. My friends, who are Longhorn season ticket holders, had a son who opted to go to the music festival in Zilker Park. So, I was blessed with a front row seat for a thrilling afternoon of big time college football. And, everyone who knows me is aware of what a massive fan I am of the sport. Name a college town and stadium, and chances are, I’ve been to a game there. Additionally, quite a parade of celebrities walked right by on the sidelines during the action on Saturday: Hollywood star Bill Murray; Texas coaching legend Darrell Royal; Arkansas coaching legend Frank Broyles; Texas football legend, College Football Hall of Famer, and NFL great Tommy Nobis (who had his jersey retired in a touching halftime ceremony); the family of the late Texas sports legend, College and Pro Football Hall of Famer Bobby Layne (Layne’s number was retired, as well); former Longhorn pitching great and ex-Major Leaguer Greg Swindell; ESPN college basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla; Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson (who performed with his band at halftime); former Longhorn head football coaches Fred Akers and David McWilliams; ESPN pro football analyst Chris Mortensen; former Longhorn basketball stars Gabe Muoneke and Maurice Evans; et al. I had a blast, and wanted to share it with y’all.

Travel + Leisure magazine’s latest October issue features America’s 25 favorite urban destinations. Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin made the cut. Dallas stood out for affordability and luxury boutique shopping. San Antonio got high marks for food, family vacations, and affordability. In a separate piece, the magazine spotlighted San Antonio’s McNay Art Museum and their stunning new Stieren Center, designed by noted French architect Jean-Paul Viguier. Austin gained favor for its friendliness, outdoor athletic activities, environmental awareness, and live music. The survey, conducted by T+L and Headline News, asked travelers to rank 25 top U.S. cities in 45 different categories, ranging from food and shopping to people, culture, nightlife, and more. Over 155,000 votes were cast. Everyone has their own specific reasons for passionately picking a particular place. Personally, I’m kinda partial to Houston, Fort Worth, and El Paso, but I wasn’t polled. Regardless, whether it’s the great wide open, a state park, national park, river, forest, resort, beach, golf course, lake, theme park, museum, restaurant, b&b, small town, or big metropolis, there’s a lotta Texas out there to discover. Go for it, and find your own favorites!

This is my third year to attend the Austin City Limits Music Festival, now in its seventh year, and I am looking forward to the predicted slightly cooler temps, as well as a stellar lineup. The always-eclectic collection of musical talent (from Vampire Weekend to Gnarls Barkley to Robert Plant & Alison Krauss to Manu Chao) suits my far-and-wide-ranging tastes. If you’re going for one day or all three, here’s some of my favorite tips to enhance your enjoyment and comfort. The ACL Fest site covers the basics and Austin360.com has helpful advice as well.

Ice is nice: I’ll credit my daughter, Lucy for this one: We’ve bought ice for $1 a cup at beverage stands (either soft drink or beer stands; last year I was only able to get it at beer stands). In the heat of the fest, a cup of ice can be a lifesaver and so versatile: for dissolving cubes in your mouth, drinking the melted ice water (cheaper and cooler than buying bottled!), dousing down your neck or back, or even sticking your face in the cup and breathing into it. I once survived a sweltering Brazilian Girls dance-music set in the WaMu tent this way!

Another cooling-off trick, from my friend Peach: ice wrapped in a scarf or bandana and tied around your neck provides wearable chilling relief.

AT&T Digital Oasis tent: Great for a cool stroll in the air-conditioned, mini-tech mecca. The last two years I’ve been to the fest, AT&T has given away hand-held, battery-powered plastic mini-fans. Not sure if they’ll have them this year with the emphasis on greener giveways, but who knows?

Eat early and often: I’ve noticed that the long dinnertime lines form from 5:30 ’til just before the 8 p.m. headliners take the stage, so grab an early dinner around 4-5 and go back for ice cream later. This year, Aquarelle, Vespaio/Enoteca, P. Terry’s burgers and El Chilito join the already sumptuous menu, with fest-friendly wraps and other portable meals from Hudson’s on the Bend, Saba, Stubb’s, Wahoo’s Fish Tacos and many other local Austin dining faves. I usually get a fish taco from Saba or Wahoo’s (whichever line is shorter) but I look forward to trying these new options.

Chair or no chair: I don’t bring one ’cause I like to move around, but if you prefer to have a seat, note that some stages have designated chair zones farther from the stage. And there’s a chair check-in area if you don’t want to lug it around when you want to get closer to the music.

Getting there: Besides the free ACL fest parking shuttle from Republic Square (in most cases parking downtown is not free), and biking there, here are some other options: take a bus route that goes to or near the Lamar/Barton Springs Rd. intersection. From there, it’s a 10-15 minute walk to the fest. Please note that Sunday night bus schedules for most routes end around 9 p.m. Also, a couple of pay parking options: the Palmer/Long Center parking garage on Barton Springs Rd. Last year they were charging $10; today I noticed the electronic sign in front announcing the fest parking but didn’t see the cost. And on Friday after 5 p..m. ($10) and all day Saturday ($20) Austin High School will allow festgoers to park in their lot to raise funds for their marching band. (A great deal for a worthy organization!) 

I hope these tips help enchance your ACL Fest experience.

In February 2007, I wrote a story about Central Market’s cooking classes, a piece that was a blast to research, as I learned to make several varieties of sushi and the best-ever chocolate cookie. (The secret cookie ingredient is salt, which makes the sweet taste of the chocolate even stronger). What I did not learn, however, was how to properly use a knife.

Now, I’ve been using knives to slice and dice things since I was in pre-K, when one particular long-haired, jute-sandal-wearing teacher taught the class to cut carrots, perhaps envisioning us busy preparing meals at his vegetarian commune. (It was the Sixties, after all.)

But after having my knives sharpened recently, and discovering after some fervent chopping that the tips of my index fingers bore unsightly nicks, I decided to sign up for Central Market’s Knife Skills 101 class, a three-hour, Sunday-evening course ($75) that emphasized safety. During the two months it took me to get in (this class is pretty popular), I wisely abstained from hosting any dinner parties.

The night of the class, twenty or so students filed in to see instructor Cindy Haenel expertly sharpening her tools on a large whetstone. She inspected our knives and sharpened any dull blades before demonstrating time-saving (and safe!) methods of chopping onions, tomatoes, and carrots, using our knuckles (not our fingertips) of our left hand as a guide for the blade. (Turns out I’ve been holding the knife improperly for the past four decades; it’s a wonder I have any digits left at all.) It has taken awhile to break old (bad) habits, but I can once again safely invite guests to dinner.

Find out the schedule for Central Market’s cooking school classes (in Austin, San Antonio,  Dallas, Houston, and Plano) at www.centralmarket.com.

I’m always looking for roadside surprises on our frequent trips from Austin to visit family and friends in Hico and Llano. When Hico bound, we often stop to fill up at the H-E-B in Lampasas, renowned for its cheap (if that’s what you can call it these days) gas. We then guzzle milkshakes and cheeseburgers alfresco a few blocks ahead at Storm’s Drive-In (Elvis ate here). Down the road, on US 281 north of Hamilton, we’ve been known to pick up a weekend’s worth of comestibles at Dutchman’s Hidden Valley Country Store: smoked meats and cheeses from the deli, cinnamon rolls and other treats from the bakery, and sweets at the old-fashioned candy counter. Don’t forget Dutchman’s own dressings and other Texas food products—and the antiques and knickknacks for sale.

I’ve already blogged (on July 9) about my favorite stop on the way to Llano, the plant/pottery paradise known as Sam’s Dam Ranch, at FM 1431 and Texas 29 in Buchanan Dam. A diagonal jaunt across the corner will take you to the aptly named Tamale King restaurant (we usually pick up a dozen or two to go).

Reading Senior Editor Nola McKey’s blog on her kolache quest in West, along with Senior Editor Lori Moffatt’s Italian food find in Sanger and Editor Charles Lohrmann’s ode to Carl’s Corner (all just off of I-35), makes me think we ought to start a list of prime pit stops. What are your favorites?

In the latest October issue of Outside magazine, their cover story: 50 Great Escapes—American Getaways, features the Lone Star State’s Padre Island National Seashore. Check ‘em all out—Outside’s piece, Padre itself, and Texas Highways’ own September 2008 feature on this special Gulf Coast preserve. By the way, for further detail and coverage, Texas Highways also highlighted Padre Island National Seashore in the June 2007 issue (10 Great Places to Really Get Away From It All); in a June 2006 Texas Coast photo feature; and with a very nice Padre Island National Seashore cover story in May 2005. The island’s certainly a splendid, essential consideration for anyone’s Texas travel agenda. For more information, call 361/949-8068; www.nps.gov/pais.

Texas Highways has previously touted this welcoming Southwest escape and USA Today’s weekend edition travel section just gave it a spotlight in a recent feature titled 10 Great Places for Studied Relaxation (old schools creatively transformed into lodging). Sandy Soule of bedandbreakfast.com shared her list of national favorites with writer Tim Smight. “About 60 miles north of Big Bend National Park, this former small town schoolhouse was built in 1904. Now a comfortable inn situated in a pecan grove, the building sports 22-inch-thick adobe walls and ceiling-high windows. The inn’s three cozy guest rooms are aptly name Reading, ‘Riting, and ‘Rithmetic. Guests can digest their ample breakfasts while relaxing on a large, shady deck.” The Old Schoolhouse B&B is in the scenic West Texas town of Fort Davis. Turn west on 6th. Go 3 blocks. And the street dead ends into the Old Schoolhouse property on Front Street. Call 432/426-2050; www.schoolhousebnb.com.

In my neverending quest for the perfect Texas ice cream soda, I finally made my way to Miller’s Old Tyme Soda Fountain, in the old Miller’s Pharmacy building, 100 E. Dallas, in downtown Cooper, on the town square. Mabel Wheat has been creating soda fountain perfection for decades. My chocolate ice cream soda was superb. Mabel’s secret: Add a little vanilla flavoring to the mix. And of course, her masterful, experienced touch. I recommend that you go have one right now! And tell Mabel that Marty sent you. Between her gracious hospitality, words of wisdom, colorful Cooper anecdotes, and the old pharmacy/soda fountain’s atmospheric vibe, you’ll feel transported.

Enjoyed spending a recent Friday in the very nice northeast Texas town of Paris. Downtown plaza’s 1927 Culbertson Fountain. Dozens of beautiful historic homes, including the 1867 Sam Bell Maxey House (a state historic site). Santa Fe/Frisco Union Station Railroad Depot. Eiffel Tower replica at Love Civic Center. Walking the pleasant tree-lined Trail de Paris parkway. First United Methodist Church. And a traditional Friday night lights high school football game between Paris and Greenville at classic Noyes Stadium. If you’re in the neighborhood this weekend (Saturday, September 27), check out the Paris, Texas Air Show & Fly-In. And, the Red River Valley Fair runs from September 30-October 4. The Paris Visitors & Convention Council and Lamar County Chamber are at 1125 Bonham St.. Call 903/784-2501 or 800/727-4789; www.paristexas.com.

If you haven’t seen the Texas pageant in Palo Duro Canyon State Park, it offers an unexpected opportunity to relax. Not to take anything away from the pageant itself, because the performances are entertaining and memorable, but I  have to admit, the action on stage took a back seat to my enjoyment of the dramatic setting (pun definitely intended). I had the chance to make a presentation to the Midwest Travel Writers Association, and host Eric Miller ferried the group on the 30-minute drive to enjoy the performance. We enjoyed a clear evening enhanced by a cool breeze coursing through the open-air amphitheater, so the heat of the summer day was forgotten. In fact, it was cool enough that a cup of coffee was a perfect warm-up. And even a jolt of caffeine couldn’t nudge me out of my serene mood. As the warm colors of the canyon walls cooled with the fading daylight faded, the sky transformed itself into a starry black blanket. I don’t know if anyone else saw the shooting star (I half expected a gasp from the audience) but it seemed like it completed its bright arc right on cue.