We're in the convention center unloading and inventorying pallets. And by "we" I mean Ian and Javier. I'm "managing" the process, which means I'm holed up in the corner on my laptop trying to finalize a few last minute details while they throw around boxes. To be fair, the chair is a little uncomfortable and my bottle of water has gotten warmer than I like, so it's not like I'm not suffering too.

Austin is still full of awesome. The weather forecast has a 20% chance of rain over the next couple of days, but it's not enough to dampen our spirits.

We still have a long 24 hours ahead of us. The room setup starts at 2:00 am, but our production company are pros and we'll have the satellite open by noon on Thursday for registration, Honor Grinds, and our Thursday tournament schedule. The main exhibit hall early Friday morning, and it's going to be awesome.

Artist Jonboy Meyers will be onsite all weekend signing cards and doing sketches. He'll also have a number of prints and original art for sale.

I’ve lived in Austin since 1993. I actually showed up on July 4th, 1993 and was treated to my first party at Zilker Park, followed by an awesome fireworks show. I was pretty much hooked from day one. Austin is an amazing city, as it’s part hill country charm, party big city, and all fun, all the time. Literally, there is never a time when there’s nothing going on, and there is always something for everyone. Aside from the specific events that come and go like the Pecan Street Festival and the ACL, there are tons of regular attractions and places to see. So how do I describe what to do and where to go in Austin? Best way I can think about it, is if this was my last day in Austin, what would I do here?

First, I’d wake up and have breakfast. Obvious. But where? There’s so many good places! Probably the best would be to start at Kerbey Lane Café. They’ve been the best breakfast in Austin for several years and have some of the best cooks and wait staff in all of Austin. Always friendly, it’s place you could hang with your friends, or, if lucky enough, catch Matthew McConaughey or Sandra Bullock if they are in town. True story, actually ran into both of them there. He is super cool, her, not so much.

It's Kerbey, not Kirby. :P We ran into Benecio Del Toro there when he was filming Sin City. --Ben

So breakfast is down and we’re fed. What’s next? Well, if you go to the Central or South locations of Kirby, you can then take a swing to Zilker Park. You have the option of tossing a few discs and trying their Disc Golf Course, you can hike around and catch some amazing sights, or you can chill out at the Barton Springs Pool. The pool is a great place to catch some rays in the heart of Texas and also some of the hotter folks around Austin, which is never an issue on the eyes.

>Topless sunbathing is allowed at Barton Springs Pool. The fifth largest university in the US is in Austin. You do the math. --Ben

Next, it’s time to hit Mount Bonnell, and walk off all that food! It’s a hike and a half, but it is SO worth it when you get to the top! It’s one of the most beautiful views, and a great place if you are coming to Austin with that special someone, to share some quiet time with.

So now we’ve descended Mt Bonnell, and need some lunch. We’re in North Austin at this point, so let’s hit Trudy’s Mexican restaurant for lunch, and maybe take in a Mexican Martini. Heck, if we have not qualified for World’s day two, let’s have the house limit of two! Trudy’s is a tough choice to make when you have it and Chuy’s around, but for the one last hurrah, I’d have to go with the most fun patio serving crew around. PS – yes, two of those martinis will make you forget any card or mini mistakes you made!

I have several really good stories that begin at Trudy's. None of which I'll admit to here. --Ben

So after lunch, it’s time to take in some shopping and buy some souvenirs. There are tons of malls, but for my money, I’d hit the downtown Austin itself. There are tons of great shops, all cluttered from 6th and Lamar back to 6th and 35. Yes, there are tons of bars there too, but there are also some great local shops to grab that truly authentic Austin gear!

To keep our heart rate up, we could then take a quick walk, jog, or run at Town Lake. By this time in the afternoon, it’s sights are amazing and the scenery is pretty good too! Tons of people run on this hike and bike trail and it’s a great mingling/exercise place to run around at. Not to mention, you can see the famous Stevie Ray Vaughan statue, one of the best guitarists ever!

No one is going running after Trudy's. But the SRV status is really cool. One of the best guitarists of all time. --Ben

So now it’s time for dinner… well, we’re downtown again, why not hit the famous Hut’s Hamburgers!? It’s not for the faint of heart, but they have one of the best burgers in Texas, and the bar has been there forever so everyone has that local flare and “keep Austin weird” attitude. If Burgers aren’t your swing, then you can always hit their Italian restaurant, under the same ownership, Frank and Angies, right next door, for some of the best Pizza in town!

Hut's is top notch. Really cool building that's been there forever. --Ben

After that, you are now within walking distance of Amy’s Ice Cream! You can chill out and get an Austin Original, some Shiner Bock Ice Cream, hand tossed, and presented in only the Amy’s way.

Take a bunch of stoners and put them to work in an ice cream store. Sounds like a recipe for disaster, but it works. A little slow on the service maybe, but it still works. --Ben

If the sun is still up, then you HAVE to go to the Oasis! It’s a one of a kind experience and a great bar and restaurant. IF you have eaten already, then drinks are awesome, if not, their food is great as well! They have TONs of deckage, and everyone applauds every night as the sun sets over the lakes of Austin. Seriously, APPLAUSE!

My recommendation is to have drinks and appetizers there, and go somewhere else for dinner. The food at the Oasis tends towards mediocre, but the view is amazing. --Ben

Now that it’s night, there’s only one place to go. 6th street. Whether you are 19 or 91, 6th street has a bar for you. And if you can’t find it there, there is the warehouse district two blocks south, with more entertainment than you can pack into one night! Bars from the Chugging Monkey to the Iron Cactus to Qua (Dancing on a floor suspended over sharks is intense!) will keep you busy all night lo

Holy crap. Sharks! I've never been to Qua, but will try to find the time now --Ben

If you end up in bed, The Driskill is the best place to sleep, but then again, why do that when there is so much to do!

I bought the D&D "Red Box" Basic Set back in 1985. I demo'd Magic: The Gathering with Richard Garfield and Peter Adkison at Origins '93 in Ft. Worth, and at one point in 1994 I owned nine Black Lotuses and 27 various Moxes.

I've even knew the rules well enough to play Star Fleet Battles at a competitive level.

All of these are important parts of my journey to becoming the Manager of Organized Play at Upper Deck. But if I had to select the most important ones they would probably be:

1. Taking the DCI Level 1 judge exam at Grand Prix San Diego in 1999, administered by Mr. Ray Powers.
2. Being randomly assigned to room with Scott Elliott at Pro Tour Boston 2002.
3. Picking up a box of Vs. System at Dragon's Lair in Austin in the summer of 2004.

Many people consider The Salt Lick to be the best BBQ Austin has to offer. It's pretty good if you can spend an evening and drive out to the Driftwood location, which is about 30 minutes from downtown. We would always take friends there when they're visiting for the experience. The Salt Lick is BYOB, so fill a cooler with your favorite beers, print out some directions, and hit the ATM because it's cash only.

The drive through the Hill Country is very pretty, and before you know it you'll be pulling off into the huge unpaved parking lot. Be prepared for a wait though - the place will be packed on a nice fall night. And the combination of BYOB and unlimited stacks of brisket, sausage, and ribs served family-style with potato salad, slaw, and beans means that tables turn very slowly.

Next door to the Convention Center is Iron Works Barbecue. My visits there have been hit or miss, but they have some good reviews on Yelp. It is literally a two-minute walk from the Exhibit Hall, so if you're in a rush you can give them a try.

If you had to make me pick a joint inside the Austin City Limits, I'm always going to pick Rudy's Country Store. It's not a fancy place at all. When you first walk in you might think you're in a convenience store. But don't be afraid. As you make your way back to the BBQ counter, grab an ice-cold drink from the massive trough and maybe a side of potato salad. You order your meat by weight - I recommend starting with "quarter moist, quarter turkey, and half a regular sausage". If you can go with friends I recommend sampling almost everything, because as they say "It's alllllll good."

As an added bonus, Rudy's has ridiculously good breakfast tacos. It sounds crazy, but try the chopped beef and egg. If you do and you don't like it, I'll give you a booster pack.

So let's start off with the basics. Barbecue, or BBQ, should only refer to meat that is cooked slowly over low heat from charcoal and natural woods. If your using high heat and propane, you're "grilling", not barbecuing. I don't want to hear any arguments - you're wrong. Get over it.

Now people have gotten into fistfights over BBQ. Some like sweet, wet sauces like Memphis ribs. Other people claim that the Carolina-style pulled pork with their spicy, vinegar sauce is the best. My in-laws are fans of Kansas City BBQ, which uses a variety of meats and a sweet, spicy sauce served on the side.

To be honest, all of them can be good. It all depends on teh pit master, the meat, and wood.

And friends, the best pit in Texas is Snow's BBQ.

Located about 50 miles east of Austin, Snow's BBQ is more of a pilgrimage than a meal. They are only open on Saturdays, and are usually sold out by noon. But the journey is worth it. Snow's was crowned the best BBQ in Texas by Texas Monthly magazine.

If your schedule doesn't allow you to make it to Snow's, then make sure you try to get to one of Top 5 Pits in Texas while you are in town. I'll also cover the best places in Austin in a future post.