This weekend is ROT Rally. Republic of Texas Biker Rally for Austin rookies. Best entertainment you’ll ever find down Congress Avenue for all. Friday night (starts at 7:30), the Bikers all line up their bikes and ride up and down Congress Avenue in a loop. The bikes are sweet, but the people riding them and what they’re wearing is even sweeter. [I once stumbled upon this majestic parade by accident, when my car was parked on the OTHER side of Congress from where I was. I had no choice but to abandon ship and come back later. So I went to Brown Bar to see Jack–who is now the GM at Lanai. In workout clothes. I digress.]
Little did I know until I went into some investigatory research (Ben Stiller voice) that there is an OFFICIAL ROT Congress Party Friday Night. It says:
Over 200,000 people pack the downtown streets of Austin during Friday Night of the ROT Rally to party biker style. This is the largest biker party you will ever see in a downtown district of any city and it simply cannot be missed! We’ll party in style in plain view of the capitol and 6th Street. Congress Avenue will literally be shut down for biker parking only. The Rally Committee is excited to present a FREE concert featuring headliner bands that will surely be a highlight of the 2009 ROT Rally.
There is of course also the much-talked-about Robbie Kinevel jump in front of the Capitol at 11:30pm. The daredevil will jump four Budweiser trucks in front of the Capitol on his motorcycle.
OR If bikers tend to wig you out, you can hit the other side of the spectrum and head out to Lakeway Spa & Resort, where country (alt-country? Texas-country-even-though-he’s-not-from-Texas?) star Jack Ingram is recording his latest music video. Already in the Top 20 before even shooting the video,”Barefoot & Crazy,” is also the title track from his latest album. Show up before 7pm in a swimsuit and you can be in the video, plus stay for a free concert afterward. Not a bad gig.
UPDATE: For updates on free booze tonight (yes), check this site out.