Correction Appended
THE city's unofficial motto, ''Keep Austin Weird,'' blares from bumper stickers on BMWs and jalopies alike, on T-shirts worn by joggers along Lady Bird Lake and in the windows of independently owned shops and restaurants. It's an exhortation for a city that clings to eccentricity, even in the face of rapid development -- downtown Austin, for one, is being transformed with a fleet of high-rise condos and a W Hotel, scheduled to open late next year. But this funky college town, known for its liberal leanings and rich music scene, has little to worry about -- at least as long as its openhearted citizens, with their colorful bungalows and tattoos, do their part to keep the city endearingly odd. As one local put it: ''As long as Austinites keep decorating their bodies and cars, we're going to be fine.''
Friday
4 p.m.
1) DRESS THE PART
If you forgot to pack your Western wear, make a beeline for Heritage Boot (117 West Eighth Street; 512-326-8577; www.heritageboot.com), where Jerome Ryan and his team of ''boot elves'' fashion fanciful boots out of exotic leathers like shark and caiman alligator, using vintage 1930s to '60s patterns. With colorful stitching, hand-tooling and puffy, butterfly-shaped inlays, they're instant collectors' items -- and priced accordingly, from $295 to $1,800. Next, stop by the new location of Cream Vintage (1714-A South Congress Avenue; 512-462-3000; www.creamvintage.com) for vintage Western shirts and weathered concert tees, customized to your dimensions by an on-site tailor.
6:30 p.m.
2) MEAT MECCA
Barbecue is a local sport and there are a lot of competing choices. For a classic pit experience -- meaning you can smell the smoke and sauce as soon as you pull into the state-fair-size parking lot -- drive 25 miles southwest to the Salt Lick (18300 Farm to Market Road 1826, Driftwood; 512-858-4959; www.saltlickbbq.com), settle into a communal picnic table and order the $18.95 all-you-can-eat platter, piled high with brisket, ribs and sausage. If you prefer to stay in downtown Austin, check out the newcomer Lambert's Downtown Barbecue (401 West Second Street; 512-494-1500; www.lambertsaustin.com). Carved out of a brick-walled general store that dates from 1873, it is raising the bar (and provoking outrage among purists) with its newfangled ''fancy barbecue'' -- think brown-sugar-and-coffee-rubbed brisket ($14) and maple-and-coriander-encrusted pork ribs ($16).
8 p.m.
3) CULTURAL ANCHOR
Just off the south shore of Lady Bird Lake is the world-class Long Center for the Performing Arts (701 West Riverside Drive; 512-457-5100; www.thelongcenter.org), opened in early 2008 after an epic $80 million fund-raising effort. It has one of the largest, most acoustically perfect stages in Texas, home to the Austin Symphony, Austin Lyric Opera and Ballet Austin. There's also a smaller black box theater spotlighting local musicians, improv troupes and theater companies. Even if you don't attend a performance, it's worth stopping by for a glimpse of the glittering skyline views from the building's front terrace.
Saturday
10 a.m.
4) BIKE STRONG
Explore the city at a leisurely pace by renting a bicycle from Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop (400 Nueces Street; 512-473-0222; www.mellowjohnnys.com), opened by Lance Armstrong, a native son, in May 2008. In addition to selling and renting bikes (from $20 for four hours), the shop stocks accessories like wicker baskets, Chrome messenger bags and colorful racing jerseys. An adjacent cafe serves protein smoothies and organic coffee. If you ask, staff members will chart an appealing route along Austin's 20 miles of urban hike-and-bike trails.
1 p.m.
5) LUNCH ON THE GO
Some of Austin's best grub can be found in parking lots and vacant lots, dished out of Airstreams and food trucks by both amateur and professional chefs. You'll find them all on www.austinfoodcarts.com, but here's your shortlist: tarragon mushroom crepes with goat cheese ($6.75) at Flip Happy Crepes (400 Jessie Street; 512-552-9034; www.fliphappycrepes.com); slow-roasted green chili pork tacos ($3.25 each) at Torchy's Tacos (1311 South First Street; 512-366-0537; www.torchystacos.com); and the hot, crunchy chicken-and-avocado ''cone'' with coleslaw and mango aioli ($5.95) at Mighty Cone (1600 South Congress Avenue; 512-383-9609; www.mightycone.com).
3 p.m.
6) VINYL TO DUCKS