Readers Poll: Architecture & Lodging [ Arts & Entertainment | Architecture & Lodging | Food & Drink | High-Tech | Kids | Media | Outdoors & Recreation | Politics | Services | Shopping ] Critics' Picks | Readers Poll Winners sorted alphabetically

Downtown Building Historic Structure Local Restoration

Texas State Capitol

photograph by Ada Calhoun

The Nineties have been kind to our glowing symbol of Texas liberty. The early part of the decade saw the renovation of her brilliant pink dome. In mid-decade, services and sightseeing points were enhanced with the addition of the north wing's Capitol Extension. Last year, the grounds themselves, including all monuments and fountains, were scrubbed, re-planted, re-created, moved, or retrofitted to create a magical parkland for all citizens who heed the call to "Go to Texas" to enjoy and call our own. May the Goddess of Liberty shine brightly from her post high atop our fair city forevermore.

1100 N. Congress, 305-8400

Bed & Breakfast

Governor's Inn

This century-old, Neo-Classical Victorian B&B in the heart of Austin's West Campus area has taken the prize as your favorite for the last two years. Maybe next year we'll just ask you to vote on which one of the 10 rooms named after a Texas governor is your fave. If there's a Hogg room, count us in!

611 W. 22nd, 477-0711

Hotel/Motel

Driskill

The venerable grand dame of Austin hotels got a much needed facelift this year, and we have to say, she's never looked lovelier. From the meticulously restored ballrooms to the enlarged guest rooms, this favorite hotel for politicos from Governor Connally to LBJ appears to be good to go for another hundred years, at least. We just wish the walls could talk.

604 Brazos, 474-5911

Landscaping

Botanical Garden at Zilker Park

As if Austin's favorite city park weren't wonderful enough, this jewel in the top of the Zilker tiara shines often in this category. Topiary letters: Z-I-L-K-E-R G-A-R-D-E-N welcome visitors at the gate's entrance. From there, it becomes more surreal and serene. Ponder Texas native vegetation on a bench in the Xeriscape gardens. Sit in the tea room of the Isamu Taniguchi Oriental Gardens; be careful, some paths are gentle, some are challenging. Enjoy historic area architectural features like the Bickler Cupola and the Butler Window, overlooking sweet-smelling American Roses. It's Austin's theme park of serenity!

2220 Barton Springs Rd., 477-8672

Mural/Graffiti

TIE: Varsity Theatre Mural by Carlos Lowry at Tower Records; Le Bonheur de Vivre by Doug Jaques at The Gap

photograph by John Carrico

This year's winners voted by our readers as the two best pieces of wall art in Austin, Texas, are not only in the same part of town (the University), but they also face each other right where 24th hits the Drag - a street corner homage to an entire generation of Austin mural art. The colorful tribute to motion pictures, Varsity Theatre Mural, by Carlos Lowry at what is now Tower Records, has been a West Campus fixture since 1980, while Le Bonheur de Vivre by Doug Jaques and his students in an Austin Commmunity College art class, directly across the street at The Gap, is brand spanking new - a psychedelic swirling dose of life in 1998.

Both murals are at the corner of 24th & Guadalupe

Public Artwork

Stevie Ray Vaughan Statue

photograph by Ada Calhoun

People really do make pilgrimages from all over the world to see this tribute to Austin's native blues-rock son. Even more telling, the locals still do, too. It can't give us the outstanding guitarist's Texas lightning fingers in action, but this statue by Ralph Helmick does give us some of his dignity and his soul. R.I.P., Stevie.

Town Lake, south side across from the Seaholm Power Plant

Public Restroom

Barton Creek

Sick, you people are sick. We tallied the ballots and shook our heads. You didn't say, "The public restroom facilities at Barton Springs." No, you said, "Barton Creek." Time to retire this category.

2201 Barton Springs Rd., 476-9044

Romantic Spot

Mount Bonnell

A brisk jaunt up 99 wide steps cut into the eastern ledge leads to Austin's highest point; there's also a sloping path on the north side to the observation platform at the top. From there, the city spreads out around you like a toy town: skyscrapers, neighborhoods, Lake Austin, MoPac - perhaps the secret of the place is literally its perspective. Which is as close to heaven as we get here. Lovers come from all over to take it in. Every year, a few more office buildings and homes crop up in the views to the south and west, but if you look east in the nighttime, it's still the pretty little lights of town.

3800 Mt. Bonnell Dr., 499-6700

Signage

El Arroyo

Not even a fire could stop the smart-ass laureates from their self-appointed task of publicly flogging just about everybody with borderline tasteless humor. And you love it.

1624 W. Fifth, 474-1222