I Love This Itinerary

Fall in love with Downright Austin's February events + specials

Party all night with your gals.

Photo by @thelettergrace

There's lots to love at Downright Austin this February, from great getaway deals to pop-up bars, pizza, and plenty of chocolate.

Let's start with the room packages:

The Ultimate Girls Getaway
This luxe package includes a Presidential suite with a connecting room (sleeping up to six), plus loads of sweet perks.

Feel like royalty at check-in with a sweet and savory welcome amenity and a bottle of champagne. Channel high-school sleepovers with the in-room spa kits and Swim Club robes and fuzzy slippers for everyone to take home.

Dine out with a $100 credit at Morningbird and $200 credit plus reserved VIP table at Swim Club. Toast your successful getaway with an in-room mimosa kit before check-out.

You must book between now and February 24 for stay dates of January 31 through March 2 (blackout dates apply). Rates are from $1500, which is only $250 per person when six people stay!

Downright Austin girls getaway Channel those high-school sleepover vibes.Photo by @thelettergrace

Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Stay in a Premier room with two queen beds (perfect for up to four guests) and kick things off with a sweet and savory welcome amenity and a bottle of Rosé.

Enjoy poolside vibes with a $100 credit to Swim Club for drinks and bites to keep the fun going.

You must book between now and February 24 for stay dates of January 31 through March 2 (blackout dates apply). Rates begin at $299, which is only $75 per person for a group of four.

Another amorous event
Whether you're staying at the hotel or dropping in for a night out, be sure to visit My Neon Valentine, a vibrant celebration full of love, fun, and unforgettable experiences.

Happening February 7-16, this pop-up bar will be decked out in glowing, neon-themed decor (perfect for photo opps), and live music on Fridays and Saturdays from 7-9 pm.

Downright Austin My Neon Valentine Photo courtesy of Downright Austin

Sip on passionate libations like the Heart of Gold, Flames of Passion, Valentini, and Soured By Love, all $16 each.

Hungry? Treat yourself and someone special to the $86 Dinner for Two menu, featuring:

Cured salmon crudo
Kale salad with almond, mint, pecorino, and honey cider vinaigrette
Steak frites with grilled flatiron steak, chimichurri, and crispy fries
Three-layer chocolate cake with raspberry coulis

Gather your loved ones, grab a drink, and don’t miss out on this glowing Valentine’s celebration.

A decadent chocolate menu
This February, Morningbird Café invites you to indulge in a month-long celebration of love and chocolate. From sweet sips to decadent bites, you'll find the perfect pairing of romance and rich flavors with this special chocolate menu.

Downright Austin Morningbird Photo courtesy of Downright Austin

Featured beverages include:

Sweetheart Mocha: A dreamy mix of rich dark chocolate and raspberry, perfect for cozy mornings or romantic afternoons.
Coco Cupid Latté: White chocolate meets coconut in this luscious latte, topped with whipped cream and toasted coconut.

Bite into tasty treats like:

Nutella bread pudding: Homemade with Nutella, berries, lemon mascarpone, and a blackberry-blueberry compote. It's pure love in every bite.
Chocolate zucchini bread: A surprisingly delightful treat that combines chocolate and zucchini for a moist and flavorful experience.
Chocolate croissant: Flaky, buttery layers filled with chocolate for the perfect morning indulgence.
Chocolate chip muffins and cookies: Classics that never fail to spark joy.

Whether you’re planning a coffee date or simply treating yourself, Morningbird Café is your February destination for all things chocolate.

Touchdown
Downright Austin invites you to the ultimate Big Game Sunday party: Ads, Beats & 'Za.

Here’s the game plan: Indulge in delicious pizza while celebrating National Pizza Day. Catch every big play and commercial break on multiple large-screen TVs with sound ON. Vibe to the legendary hip-hop beats and bars of Kendrick Lamar's highly anticipated halftime performance. Best of all, it's free to attend!

Downright Austin pizza Photo courtesy of Downright Austin

It all starts Sunday, February 9, in the Rodeo Room (next to Swim Club). First-come, first-served seating starts at 4:30 pm for the 5:30 pm kick-off, and the party will go 'til Travis comes running over to Taylor.

Whether you’re here for the touchdowns, the tunes, or the tasty ‘za, Ads, Beats & 'Za has something for everyone.

See all that Downright Austin and Swim Club have to offer.

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From the Ashes

Red River event series debuts with films uncovering Austin's punk past

Photo from Lower Class Brats Facebook page

The back room of the Blue Flamingo in 1995.

The accessibility of Austin's music scene can be the most beautiful part, but some movements are deep underground or have been lost to time. As always, The Red River Cultural District is taking up the mantle of an ambassador, launching quarterly event series called District Dialogues that sheds light on these lesser-known pockets of the scene.

An inaugural event will be held at Swan Dive on March 1 from 4-6:30 pm, and Austinites are in for a treat. Attendees will get to see rare screenings of two documentaries within the A Curious Mix of People project that tell the history of some of Austin's most infamous music venues. Tickets are now on sale.

Blue Flamingo tells the story of an iconic LGTBQ+ Old Austin music venue by the same name. This venue — which the Chronicle once deemed "the stankiest, most low-down joint to ever qualify for a TABC liquor license" — helped define Austin's 90s-era music scene.

The Cavity is a documentary about one of Austin's first punk rock clubs. Cavity's original home was actually where Swan Dive is today, so it's a fitting venue for the film's screening.

Filmmaker, author, and photographer Richard Whymark, author and musician Greg Beets, and author, artist, and musician Chepo Peña will be holding a discussion after each screening, offering behind-the-scenes insights as old-school Austin creatives.

"This project is a wonderful reminder of the pre-internet world where you learned about gigs from zines at the record store or flyers at the coffeeshop," said Whymark in a press release. "Underground radio played none of the hits in real time and Access TV had half-naked people playing music while being beaten with roses at midnight. It was a swirling mass of creativity."

These things still exist in niche parts of the city, but the population boom has created new points of friction.

“The 1990s was when Austin graduated from a medium-size town to a proper big city," Beets added. "The concurrent explosion of the local underground music scene centered around Red River became a microcosm for the tension between commercial success and preserving culture that we still argue about today. It was also a whole lot of fun."

Because it's the Red River Cultural District and they do things big, this inaugural event will feature more than these screenings. Attendees will also be treated to a Pelons Tex-Mex taco pop-up, a special "Red River edition" zine included with ticket purchase, and a mini-book sale from UT press (which published Whymark and Beets' book, A Curious Mix of People).

Proceeds from the event will go to supporting the Red River Cultural District and its preservation of the area's music scene, history, and culture.

As the series evolves past these debuts, it will feature artists, historians, and local businesses and organizations to keep folks educated on Austin's music scene.

“The Red River Cultural District has long been a cornerstone of Austin’s creative spirit," said Red River Cultural District interim executive director Nicole Klepadlo, "and with District Dialogues, we’re excited to bring its rich history and culture to life in new and meaningful ways."

music film underground