Rating: All-Star

Stubbs is just a short walk from the hotel, and it definitely feels more upscale than Cooper’s. Instead of laying everything out on butcher paper, it’s menu ordering here — but still with that Texas BBQ soul.

Rating: Role Player

The Residence Inn Downtown Austin proved to be a solid home base for the trip. The rooms were clean and well-kept, with a king bed and sofa bed setup that made it easy to crash with the boys — felt a little like the college days all over again.

Rating: Role Player

After landing in Austin, I was craving BBQ — and Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que in downtown fit the bill without having to trek outside the city.