Happy Birthday Eeyore!

Since living in Austin, (approximately 1 1/2 years), there has been one local event that sums up my experiences here - Eeyore's Birthday Party.

Eeyore's Birthday Party is a day-long festival that began in 1963. Proceeds from food and drink vendors benefit local non-profit organizations. The event is named in honor of Eeyore, a character in A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh stories. A live donkey and a may pole are always present to keep in tradition with the original event.

I attended the 47th birthday bash with a group of friends on April 24, 2010 on a beautiful sunny day.  The event is free for all and is held at Pease Park, conveniently near West Campus across Lamar Boulevard.  We simply walked from The Block on Leon to the park, crossing rivers, fields and streams.

At first, I was confused when we arrived at the designated area for the event.  No real entrance.  Children running around everywhere.  People dressed in costume. People not dressed in costume.
After walking around it became clear.  Food and drinks were served in one area of the festival, where ATM's were conveniently located.  I would designate the other side of the park as the music and dance area.  In between was the children area, with face painting and crafts.

Live music last April included Graham Wilkinson and the Underground Township, The Harringtons, Mystic Moot, and Tavana. However, unlike most Austin festivals that center around live music, this festival centers around community gathering.  The majority of music that I listened to was not played by the artists listed above, but played by all the different people who attended the birthday bash.  Students and parents alike, armed with bongos, banjos, fiddles and guitars joined together in a celebration of community and music. Drum circles sprouted all over the park. Crowds of people huddled in the hills and banged on their bongos.

No other city that I can think of would be able to pull this event off.  

Eeyore's 48th annual celebration will be held on April 30, 2011 and I hope to see you there! 

Maia, Emily, and Jessica making their way to the festival

Buzzin'

The Backyard at Bee Cave is a a one-of-a-kind venue in the Texas Hill Country, located a short distance outside of Austin. The Backyard first opened in 1993 and the new location opened in Spring 2010.  The new location was built to accommodate more attendees and provide a better music experience.

ZZ Top played the opening show for the new location in Spring 2010.  An amazing friend of mine bought me three tickets for a birthday present since it is one of my favorite bands. I also saw Bob Dylan perform at the venue in August 2010. Although I have never been to the old venue, the new venue impressed me.

At both concerts, upon arrival traffic was insane.  The drive from central Austin was a breeze, but closer to the venue traffic was bumper to bumper.  A sneaky trick that was observed by pedestrians walking along the interstate was to park in the near by shopping mall parking lot and walk a half mile to the venue.  This walk is much more advisable than waiting in the long line of cars to park in the venue lot.  And if you care about the cleanliness of the exterior of your car, stay clear of the venue parking lot.  The lot is basically a dirt field.  When you pair the dirt field with a lot of cars and feet, it creates dust clouds that consume cars.

Another reason to park a short distance from the venue is the cars waiting in line to leave the parking lot.  Hundreds of cars in line trying to exit.  Personally, the (usually) beautiful Austin weather is more enjoyable than waiting, frustrated in traffic.

The venue itself was enjoyable.  It was fast and easy to pick up tickets at the box office.  The venue does Austin justice.  It is completely out doors, with port-a-potties available.  It is built in a hilly area and the constructors did a good job of creating different levels so that everyone has a view of the stage.

Get ready to munch and drink!  Local vendors have stations set up in the venue, with multiple bar stations set up in between. Unlike some venues, the Backyard had hard liquor for sale, as well as the usual beer and wine.  An array of food is available for your liking.  One vendor that I loved was a taco stand, possibly Torchy's Tacos. It was delectable. There is pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs, burritos and vegetarian options available. 

The crowds at the two concerts were completely different.  At ZZ Top, it was populated by bikers and drinkers. The lines at the bars were filled with dozens of people, patiently waiting their turn. The fans were not very environmentally friendly, which I noticed after the concert when people cleared out and the ground was littered in beer cans and cups. At Bob Dylan, the crowd was varied.  Everyone from old-school hippies to younger fraternity boys were present. I went to this concert with my parents, who mingled with other concert goers.  One major difference was the lines at the bars - they were noticeably shorter. This may have been the difference in crowd preference or the venue may have done something different to speed up the lines.

I was lucky enough to snag a couple back stage passes for my friends and I at the ZZ Top concert. The only complaint that I had is that there were no back stage bath rooms! None! Except in the band's dressing rooms, which are not easily accessed by the public. The area carried the same Austin vibe that is present through out the venue. It is outdoors, and the different offices and dressing rooms look like log cabins.

The Backyard at Bee Cave has a little something for everyone. Music, food, drinks and a beautiful environment create an amazing concert experience. Just make sure to plan ahead for traffic congestion and parking availability, and you should be set!