Tour Austin, TX With Musician J. Chris Ray

Austin is known for live music. What are some must-see clubs or venues to check out the local music scene?

There are many iconic music venues in Austin spread out across the city. Antone's downtown has everything from Blues to Latin Rock. The Broken Spoke on South Congress for all your Line Dancing and Country Music, and you have to check out Continental Club on South Congress as a deep-rooted connection with the Austin Music scene.

Besides live music, what other art scenes are there in Austin?

One of the surprising outcomes of the eastward expansion from California to Austin has been the influx of comics to Austin. From big headliners to up-and-coming comics, Austin is beginning to really develop into a destination for comedy.

Austin also has a great food scene. What are some must-haves in Austin?

While BBQ still reigns supreme in Austin, i.e., Franklin BBQ, Valentina's BBQ, and LA BBQ. Austin is a thriving food culture with a wide range of foods. Make sure you get a table at Red Ash for Italian or Lin's Asian house for killer soup dumplings. For the best of both worlds, you could check out LORO, an Asian/Tx BBQ fusion concept.

Valentines' day is coming up, and with a great food scene, what is a great date night spot to eat?

For Valentine's, it's nice to make an evening of it and cruise the shops on South Congress before going for a romantic Italian meal at Vespaio. They have a killer wine list and a luxurious menu of Italian classics that will make your Valentine super special

Austin will soon have its first pro sports team. What will that bring to the city?

Austin has always been a place for passionate sports fans, but for the longest time, the Texas Longhorns Football team has been the only "game" in town. Having FC Austin come to town has reinvigorated the city and really opened up a lot of people to a sport that they might not have been that familiar with. The game day experience is amazing; make sure you go to the Domain and its many bars and restaurants before and after the game.

What is your ideal day off things to do to spend a day on the town?

Austenites love their heath and fitness almost as much as they love the nightlife, so you will always find the many greenbelts and Lady Bird Lake full of people exercising and relaxing in the great weather we have most of the year.

What would you recommend for those visiting Austin and wanting to get outdoors and see some sights?

Zilker Park and Barton Springs Pool are nestled right downtown and offer an escape from the downtown hustle. But I would encourage anyone visiting Austin to find time to rent a car and explore the little towns of Central Texas; Fredricksburg, Gruene, and Wimberly are a few places where you can still feel small-town Texas living.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author.

J. Chris Ray is a full-time musician born and raised in Austin, TX. He is a graduate of Belmont University in Nashville, TN, where he received a degree in Commercial Music Performance. After school, he worked on Carnival Cruise Lines as a Soloist for seven years. After ships, he came back to Austin, where he has been a resident artist at several clubs, most recently San Jac Saloon for the last five years, where he plays both solo and with his band, the Nine Pound Hammers. He lives in Austin with his wife Amy, who he met while working on ships, and his three kids Bowen and my newborn twins, Joyce and Walker.