ML - Austin Way

Austin Way - 2014 - Issue 2 - November/December - Jenson Button

Austin Way Magazine - GreenGale Publishing - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.

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07 photography by dillon magnuson (campaigne); courtesy of pete's dueling piano bar (bar). opposite page: Jean-francois monier/afp/getty images (car); mark thompson/getty images (hamilton, ricciardo, rossi); dan istitene/getty images (perez); roslan rahman/afp/getty images (rosberg); Vladimir rys/getty images (Vettel) the concierge to call CALEB CAMPAIGNE WHERE THE DRIVERS ARE The drivers generally start arriving the Tuesday and Wednesday before race day. The top-tier teams stay at the W and Four Seasons, while second-tier teams can be found at the Hyatt or Hilton and other downtown hotels. Drivers are coming from all over the world, and when they come to Texas, well, they like to find Texas things to do. Here are a few of their favorite things: Shopping: Prices for designer goods are much cheaper in the US than any of the other Grand Prix locations around the world, so international visitors, F1 drivers, and their well-heeled significant others head to stores like Tiffany & Co. and Polo Ralph Lauren at The Domain (11410 Century Oaks Terrace, 512-873-8099; thedomainaustin.com) and Nordstrom at Barton Creek Square (2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., 512-327-7040; bartoncreeksquare.com) for the season's latest. They also get a kick out of Texas fashions, snatching up luxe cowboy footwear at Allen's Boots (1522 S. Congress Ave., 512-447-1413; allensboots.com) or heritage Boot (1200 S. Congress Ave., 512-326-8577; heritageboot.com). Being TouriSTS: The mechanical bull is in constant rotation at downtown watering hole rowdy's Saloon (305 W. 5th St., 512-472-5288; rowdyssaloon.com), and pete's Dueling piano Bar ( shown above, 421 E. 6th St., 512-472-7383; petesdueling pianobar.com) hosts a competition of a different sort. Racers get double use out of their protective ear wear when they migrate to eagle peak Shooting range (20026 Lindeman Lane, Leander, 512-267-1400; eaglepeakshooting range.com) and fire off a few rounds. And this list wouldn't be complete without mentioning The Yellow rose (6528 N. Lamar Blvd., 512-458- 2106; yellowroseaustin.com); the infamous gentlemen's club draws in pleasure-seekers with its promise of anonymity and Texas beauties. SAmpling TexAS FlAvorS: Drivers—like the rest of our city's tourists—often seek out barbecue to get them through the weekend. Many will follow their nose on a 30-minute-plus drive from the Circuit of the Americas track to The Salt lick in the Hill Country (18300 FM Road 1826, Driftwood, 512-858-4959; saltlickbbq.com), while reservations at fancy barbecue joint lamberts (401 W. 2nd St., 512-494-1500; lamberts austin.com) downtown have been known to fill up quickly during F1. In previous years, racers have been spotted grabbing a hearty brunch at red's porch (3508 S. Lamar Blvd., 512-440- 7337; redsporch.com), Searsucker (415 Colorado St., 512-394-8000; searsucker.com), and Trace (W Austin, 200 Lavaca St., 512-542-3660; traceaustin.com). With the official title at the W Austin of "W Insider," Caleb Campaigne is part of the team of W concierges whose motto is "Whatever, Whenever," and his job is to arrange exclusive experiences for guests. Besides informing them where to be seen in Austin during F1 weekend, he may be called on to pick up F1 drivers, which he finds ironic. "I'm the worst driver ever, and then I have to pick up someone who makes a living driving well," he jokes. He's also been known to arrange private dance parties in the W Secret Bar for "huge rock legends." What is he looking forward to this year? "Fan Fest has a better lineup than ever: Joan Jett, Texas Tornados, De La Soul, and Conjunto Los Pinkys," he says, adding, "I am a huge Nile Rodgers fan and love Duran Duran, so I'm excited about Duran Duran's ACL Live at the Moody Theater show." W Austin, 200 Lavaca St., 512-542-3600; whotelaustin.com T H E U L T I M A T E G U I D E T O F 1 06

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