Hyde Parked: Saturday, Nov 25

25 November 2006 | Jill Morris

Wouldn’t it be nice to leave your car parked in the same place for an entire date? And, no, we don’t mean making out in a parked car all night — although that’s fun, too. What we mean is for you and your date to drive to Hyde Park this Saturday, park you car, and walk yourselves to dinner, the theater (Dick Price singing songs in his living room), and dessert. So tell your date to wear her Vans, not her heels.

5:30pm: Hyde Park Bar & Grill

Dinner at an Austin classic

Another Hyde Park Bar & Grill just opened in West Gate, but don’t go there tonight. If you dine and walk from that location, you won’t make it to Dick Price’s house by 8. And we want you to make it to Dick Price’s house by 8.

Ensure that your car is parked in a place from which it won’t be towed — you’ll be leaving it here for the evening, and we do not want your date to end at a wrecker yard.

512-Go!» Hyde Park Bar and Grill
4206 Duval St • 458-3168

7pm: Walk through Hyde Park

On to the theater: Dick Price’s apartment

“Wow, Austin sure is beautiful.” Those are the kind of intensely deep thoughts you and you date will be having as you follow these directions to Dick Price’s place:

Right on Duval
Right on 33rd Street
Right on Grooms
Arrive at 3309 Grooms Street

It’s about a three-quarter mile walk, which, according to our calculations, will take even the slowest walkers only about 30 minutes.

7:30pm Dick Price’s apartment

Performance @ 8pm: “At Home With Dick 2”

photo / Rubber Repertory

This Saturday is the absolute last performance of the Rubber Repertory’s double-extended “At Home With Dick 2.” (You’ve been summoned to Dick Price’s apartment 30 minutes early to watch home videos and get a good seat on the couch.) At 8pm, the fine folks in Mr. Price’s living room will perform 30 original, catchy songs dealing with everything from his father’s struggle with Alzheimer’s to Jane Austin novels. Want one stuck in your head now? Sure you do! Click here: dickprice.com. Be sure to make reservations, because the last night of this award-winning performance is sure to sell out.

Dick’s Apartment
Pick your price: $10, $15, $20, or $25
Call for reservations
3309 Grooms St • 470-1735

9:30pm Stroll back through Hyde Park

Walk and talk about how much you miss Dick Price

A grown man playing little ditties about his crazy daddy for 90 minutes opens up a lot questions. According to our calculations, you’ll have another 30 minutes to answer them. On your way to Quack’s Bakery, if you don’t want to talk about the emotional experience you just had, feel free to spend half an hour on this age old debate: Cake or pie?

Directions to Quack’s:

Right on 38th
Left on Ave. H
Right on 43rd Street
Arrive at 411 E. 43rd Street

10pm: Quack’s Bakery

Dessert is good

Keep in mind that you and your date were walking for the romance, not the exercise. But now that you’ve been tricked into exercising, it’s time to give yourself a sugar-coated reward. There’s a glass case inside Quack’s that contains a large variety of delectable desserts. They’ve even got some vegan treats, too. Good news, I guess.

512-Go!» Quack’s Bakery
411 E 43rd Street • 453-3399

10:30pm: Quick walk back to where you parked

Return to your previous life as a licensed driver

This is your final walk of the evening — about three minutes long. When it’s all over and done, you’ll have to reacquaint yourself with the annoyances of driving. Try not to wreck your car on the way home while you’re thinking deeply about what a lovely time you just had.

Directions to Hyde Park Bar & Grill