ISO Texas-themed gift bags

[Canice]

I need to put together fun gift bags (20 total) to leave in hotel rooms during ACL. Being 1700 miles away, I can't really run out and pick things up, so I'm hoping the BB can come up with some good suggestions. I don't have a solid budget, but let's say $40/bag. I'm thinking a soft cover book about the Austin music scene, maybe some rub for grilling, some kind of local salty snack, maybe a bottle of Shiner Bock and a bottle opener. Something like that.
I can take care of the openers and have someone pick up the beer, but what about the rest? Any suggestions on a few fun snacks or a book, etc?
TIA!

[sneezles]

One of the nicest gifts I take when visiting friends is a Texas wine wrapped in a tea towel with bluebonnets. I am having trouble locating the site I buy the towels from but if I remember correctly they run about $7 a piece. A local salsa, TexasTexas comes to mind (I think it's from Fredricksburg). Stubbs has a rub but it runs about $7 a "bottle"...you could create a rub for a he!! of a lot less!

[lantana]

The town of Elgin, east of Austin, is known for sausages. Perhaps there is a smoked, stable product that you could add.

[Gumbeaux]

There's probably nothing that screams Texas cuisine louder than chili. Maybe you could put a quality Texas chili mix in the bags.

[Robyncz]

Here are some ideas off the top of my head.

A laminated map of central Austin and downtown: http://www.amazon.com/Streetwise-Aus...3304407&sr=8-7

A packet of bluebonnet seeds

There's a soft-cover book of gorgeous photos from Austin locations that I give as a gift when I travel overseas. I know right where it is in my Barnes and Noble, but I can't think of the name of it. It runs about $10, and I can get the title if you're interested.

Tito's is a Vodka that is made here locally. I wonder if they make tiny airline-size bottles? http://titosvodka.com/titos.html

You could get a selection of CDs of local bands and put one in each bag. Someone at Waterloo Records (our big local record store that carries lots of indie-labels) would be happy to hook you up. Or heck, I could go do that for you. It'd be an awesome way to support the REAL Austin music scene (as opposed to the few big names from Austin who have national distribution and PR machines). http://www.waterloorecords.com/home.html

And if you really want to go the Austin music route, you could donate $5 bucks per person to HAAM (Health Alliance for Austin Musicians), the local organization that provides low-cost health care services to our uninsured professional musicians. www.myhaam.org.

And then, in terms of what someone needs at the festival:
A little bottle of sunscreen.

Reusable water bottle (if you're allowed to bring a water bottle in. I can't remember).

Cheap, lightweight sports chair (A local sporting outfit called Academy carries these for $4.99).

A bandana would be kitschy-texas-y AND useful, in case it's really dry and dusty like it usually is. Although it rained last year and was a mud bowl instead of a dust bowl.

I'll be back if I have any other ideas.

[dearamy]

Cornucopia is delicious popcorn sold from a trailer (all the rage here!) on South Congress.
http://www.austincornucopia.com/c.php?p=1

Also pecans from Austin Nuts:
http://store.austinuts.com/shopsite_...tml/index.html

Not salty, but cookies from Tiffs Treats are very "local." They have apparently expanded to Dallas, but were started here by a UT student.
http://www.cookiedelivery.com/

I'll keep thinking!

[dearamy]

A HAAM donation is an excellent idea Robyn!

And, yes, you are allowed two factory sealed water bottles.

[Canice]

Thanks SO much! This is exactly the type of thing I was looking for. Robyn, if you think of the name of the book I'd love to have it. The bandana makes sense; are you thinking traditional or something specific? (Seriously, a chair for $4.99?!)

[Robyncz]

Hrm. The Academy website says $5.99, but I know I saw them for $4.99 in the store: http://www.academy.com/index.php?pag...238-40994-9865
They fold up into a little carrying bag you can sling over your shoulder.

I'll try to get to Barnes and Noble today to get the book title for you.

Oh, and bandanas? I was thinking the 99-cent kind you can get at WalMart.

Good luck!!

[hollysmom]

Only band that I would be interested in seeing (Eagles) is playing Sunday night at 8 PM.

Sometimes I hate being a responsible parent...

SSM

[Beth]

You can also get bandanas for about that price at Hobby Lobby and they usually have some fun prints -- at least a couple that are Texas themed -- chili peppers, at least.

Chips and salsa are good, but a snack mix like what I think of as "Texas Trash" or the popcorn above might be more fun since chips and salsa -- even the 100s of different salsas are no longer unique to Texas or even the SW. That popcorn sounds like something really fun to try.

Pecans are a Texas thing to me. I buy mine through a fundraiser each year, but this is the source for them in case you want to consider them -- plain or glazed or spiced up.

And you really can get those folding chairs pretty inexpensively. I think the ones that have a Texas flag like pattern to them are a couple of dollars more -- maybe $7.99, $9.99 at most. Academy would have bandanas too.

Have you considered a neck wrap with that water absorbing gel for helping you stay cool in the heat? They sell them in a million prints at craft fairs and I think I've seen plain ones at Academy.

[sneezles]

This is the towel I was talking about but the site I bought them from doesn't seem to carry them anymore.



I only found the link to the picture from when I had posted it here a couple of years ago.

[Canice]

You guys are awesome!! This is so darned fun
And I totally want to do the neck wrap. Couldn't find it on the Academy site but will dig around for one with an appropriate pattern. I can't even imagine how bloody hot it must be at that event, and that's just so cool (literally). Sneezles, that tea towel is pretty too. You Texans are lucky to have such a pretty and sweet state flower (I have a cute little bluebonnet toothpick holder I picked up years ago in Gruene, at the general store) - we have that ghastly orange poppy. As an Italian boyfriend once marveled, "Orange? Your poppies are orange? Only in America."

[Meganator]

I can't even imagine how bloody hot it must be at that event, and that's just so cool (literally).

In the past, true, but they moved it a couple of weeks later this year, into October. It would be rare for it to be really hot at that time, although it means an increased chance of rain...but some years it rained in September, too.

[aggie94]

In the past, true, but they moved it a couple of weeks later this year, into October. It would be rare for it to be really hot at that time, although it means an increased chance of rain...but some years it rained in September, too.

The last year I went (2003, I think?), it rained AND it was bloody hot. The worst combo ever.

[Meganator]

The last year I went (2003, I think?), it rained AND it was bloody hot. The worst combo ever.

Agreed. Given the choice, I vote for heat over rain - it is just such a mess with foot-deep mud. Fingers crossed for neither this year!

[Canice]

Hey, is this the book, Robyn?
http://www.amazon.com/Austin-Impress...3538324&sr=8-4

[Robyncz]

THAT'S IT!

I looked on Amazon but I couldn't find it. You rock!!

The photos are so beautiful and interesting. I love that book! Especially for $10!

[Canice]

Not me, the helpful guy at your B&N
He started off saying that they have a lot of such books, but when I said "For $10?" he found it right away. And after all that, the person I'm doing this for has requested this book instead:
http://www.amazon.com/Stubbs-Bar-B-Q...3550258&sr=1-1

[sneezles]

And after all that, the person I'm doing this for has requested this book instead:
http://www.amazon.com/Stubbs-Bar-B-Q...3550258&sr=1-1

Then you best include a container of his rub because the recipe is secret and probably has cr@p in it to sit on the store shelf...his bbq sauce is good but has HFCS so I don't buy it anymore.

[Robyncz]

Stubbs is a great place, and it links BBQ and music in a very Austin way, BUT you should know that many of the recipes in that book call for Stubbs products that may not be available where you are.

Or maybe they are. I have no idea. I just thought you should know!

How in the world did you find my Barnes and Noble? That's kinda creepy!!!

[Canice]

Thanks for the feedback on the book. I know I've seen Stubbs products around but obviously don't know which ones are called for in the book. Attendees will be mostly from LA, SF, Chicago and NYC areas. Including the rub would be fine, though, could do it instead of the Austinuts' chili mix. Oh, you haven't seen the current list! I'm going to have to ship everything here first and then, yes, back to Texas, so not doing any glass.


Map of Austin
Stubbs book
Bluebonnet seeds
Logo'd bandana
Popcorn from Cornucopia (combination of cheddar-jalapeño, green corn, and madras curry flavors - not together!)
Praline Pecans (austinuts)
Chili Mix (austinuts)

Robyn, have you used that map? Pretty bad reviews on Amazon so I'm wondering if I should look at alternatives. I know I have my one map I give everyone who comes to SF.

Oh, and no need to fear: I just picked one of the two stores listed for Austin.

[aggie94]

How in the world did you find my Barnes and Noble? That's kinda creepy!!!

Canice is a stalker. In fact, she's watching you right now. She might even be that rat snake in your tree.

[Robyncz]

Re: the laminated map of the city center

I think the bad reviews are from people who expected it to be a comprehensive map of Austin and outlying areas. However, it is clearly marketed as a map of the city center. I can't remember where you decided to reserve rooms, but I'm pretty sure it was somewhere downtown. I think this map gives a decent and comprehensible big picture of the center of Austin. It is by no means a mapsco-type map with every street and every suburb.

It's a good map for visitors and not so good for people who need to find their way to strip malls in the suburbs.

[Canice]

That totally makes sense, Robyn, and I can't imagine these people are going to need much more than just getting their bearings. The one comment that jumped out at me most was about there being nothing south (south?) of Zilker Park, since that's where ACL is. But I'm guessing they're not going to have any reason to go there anyhow? Ended up at the Westin Austin at The Domain.
If that map will give them a good basic lay of the land I'll go ahead and order them.

Thanks again for all your help -- "all ya'll's help" as my colleague from South Carolina would say.

And I like those flip-flops you're wearing, Robyn.

[Robyncz]

WAIT!

The Domain is WAY outside the city center. In that case, the city center maps would, in fact, be useless. Also, really NOTHING south of Zilker Park? I assumed the South Congress area would be on it, since that's definitely part of the city center (and the coolest part of Austin).

Boo. If that's true, they won't be helpful. I liked the idea that they were laminated, but there must be a better option. Call the Chamber of Congress and see what they suggest.

I'll try to get out today and look at some options for you.

[Canice]

That's really nice of you, Robyn. Wish we still had our huge Rand McNally store downtown - they had zillions of city maps. Please don't knock yourself out; I'm sure I can find something online (I liked the laminated too, though).
As for the hotel, it wasn't one of the ones I talked to - someone in our NY office found it. Hope it won't leave everyone totally stranded!

[patt]

"I'm going to have to ship everything here first and then, yes, back to Texas, so not doing any glass."

Canice, if it would be easier, you could have it shipped to me (or I could pick things up for you) and then I can drop it off for you when you get to town. It wouldn't be a problem.

Patt

[Canice]

OMG, Patt, that is so extraordinarily generous of you! If I were going to be on the trip I probably would actually take you up on it! I'm organizing this for four people in my company, from four different cities - just helping with the gifties but not attending. The hotel has asked that I not have anything delivered more than two days before the guests arrive. Well, I have no control over that if I'm ordering from vendors. Plus, it's a lot of boxes (19 guests) to potentially get lost. The only thing I thought was to have everything sent to my office, build the gift bags there, and repack and ship 2-day express. I know it sounds convoluted, and I'm totally up for suggestions as to how to better handle it if anyone has big ideas.

[Beth]

Canice, for less than the cost of shipping back and forth, especially with the 2 day air, I suspect that you could spend less or no more than to find a service that does gift baskets and such and have them put together what you want and deliver them at the right time.

I wonder if Central Market would put something together for you since they carry at least some of those products and could get the others locally. I'm sure you'd pay for the service, but with a number of them, they can spread the cost and you wouldn't have to pay double shipping.