Long Center Austin

Long Center Austin is a relatively new performing arts venue that can be found on the shores of Lady Bird Lake to the immediate south of the Downtown District. Formerly known as the Long Center for the Performing Arts, this attractive entertainment complex opened in 2008 and has quickly become a major cultural attraction. In the main hall, ballet, opera, and symphony orchestra, performances figure among the main events, while a smaller theater hosts theater performances. Various visiting performances are also held between the two venues, and other facilities are available for any number of things, including concerts and galas.

There is bound to be something that piques your interest when it comes to the Long Center Austin schedule of events. For those who are interested in ballet, orchestra, or opera performances, there will be numerous events to choose from, with the impressive Michael & Susan Dell Hall serving as the main venue. This grand concert hall is the main overall venue at the Long Center for the Performing Arts, and it offers seating for up 2,400 people. Excellent acoustics help to make the Michael & Susan Dell Hall an excellent place to watch a performance, and thanks to the applied use of vertical space, audience members are positioned relatively close to the state. If you can't manage to get tickets for an event at this exceptional hall, it is possible to get an up close look on one of the Long Center Austin tours.

In addition to covering the main hall, the tours at the Long Center for the Performing Arts include a visit to the 229-seat Debra and Kevin Rollins Studio Theatre. This venue is used for regional theater productions, corporate events, and film screenings, with some of the film screenings relating to the Austin Film Festival and SXSW. The seats at the Debra and Kevin Rollins Studio Theatre can be configured in any number of ways to fit the event on hand. Seeing a performance at the theater is the best way to get an appreciation of the venue, but if you can't manage to get some tickets while in town, a tour should suffice. The Long Center Austin tours are offered at noon on Wednesdays and don't cost anything to enjoy.

As for the other facilities that can be found at the Long Center for the Performing Arts, they include an outdoor terrace and concert park area where festivals and concerts are held, a pair of lounges that can be used for events such as wedding receptions and cocktail parties, and two "education rooms" that are used for smaller receptions, classes, and meetings. A number of hotels near the Long Center Austin provide lodging options for those who are attending an event at one of these venues, and among them is the luxurious Four Seasons Austin. Not far from the Four Seasons is the Radisson Hotel and Suites Austin. The rates at the Radisson are more affordable than those at the Four Seasons, and guests can expect to enjoy a considerable amount of luxury there too.

Travelers that are interested in hotels near the Long Center Austin will have a handful of good ones to choose from. While the Four Seasons and the Radisson are close enough, the Homestead Studio Suites Austin Downtown, the Embassy Suites Hotel Austin Downtown, and the Hyatt Regency Austin are even closer. The Homestead Studio Suites is an extended stay hotel that offers well-equipped suites at a good price, while the Embassy Suites Hotel boasts both rooms and suites that are affordable, comfortable, and relatively well equipped as well. The full kitchens help to seal the deal for some at the Homestead Studio Suites Hotel. Over at the Hyatt Regency, a fair amount of luxury can be expected, with standard in-room amenities including flat-screen TVs, iHome stereos, and upscale bathrooms with marble accents.

The hotels near the Long Center Austin can make for ideal bases for a number of reasons. In addition to being close to the Long Center, they also offer proximity to the city's famed Bat Bridge, the South Congress shopping area, the Downtown District, and everything that Zilker Park has to offer.