To me the Spider House is the ultimate coffee shop. Its one big negative is the best part is the outside, and in Austin there are only two weeks in the spring and fall where it is actually nice to go there. That is unless you are a night owl. So while I love the place I don’t actually go there that much. However, all other coffee shops will always be judged against it. Instead of dryly going on about its virtues I think I will tell the story of how we found the Spider House.
It was just weeks after I moved to Austin in March of 2001. I was living with Monte in a house in north Austin off 183 and Anderson Mill. The reasons I moved to Austin were many, but certainly at the top was Austin’s funky eclectic atmosphere. I was always just drawn to it. So, when Marc wanted to go to a place called The Spider House I was a little taken aback by the name but went anyway.
We didn’t find it easily. The entrance is actually kind of hidden unless you know what you’re looking for. I remember driving around in Monte’s car with Marc pointing from the back seat to turn this way and that.
We climbed up the steep stairs into the dimly lit interior and ordered our lattes. Mine most likely with a shot of vanilla. I’ve since given them up as they are very high in (weight watchers) points. If I tried one now the combination of sugar and espresso would probably keep me up for a day and a half. The inside of the Spider House has never been that appealing to me so we headed out the door we came in and around the house along a covered deck. We walked down three steps into an open piazza of eclectic weirdness. Old rusted metal tables and chairs rested uneasily on uneven pavers. Knowing the Spider House the tables were probably littered with a cornucopia of odd people. Bald headed women with multiple piercings, and men with mohawks that added feet to their height. Christmas lights hanging from the gigantic twisting live oak in no discernable pattern lit the night sky. I was in heaven.
I don’t remember what we talked about or how long we stayed, but because Marc found that place my move to Austin started off in exactly the direction I wanted it to. I have been back countless times with all kinds of people and made many great memories. I think I’ll do a part two of the Spider House and tell ya’ll about some of the times I went there with Kay.
2 comments:
I have not been there in ages! I need a banana shake or an orange soda.
Ah yes...the Spider House. That is a great Fall and early Spring chill zone. We all have to remember that later this Fall and go have some reflection time there. I know that the kids will not allow complete reflection, but still should be fun.
I actually remember that night pretty well. Was intrigued as at point I was more of an Austin Java kinda man. So this eclectic place opened my eyes. Plus hey they serve coffee and tea...so that much better.
Post a Comment