It just so happens that the wedding will take place on Labor Day weekend when the University of Texas has a home football game. This being Texas, football looms large and attracts loud, exuberant enthusiasts from far and wide. So we recommend that you make lodging reservations as soon as possible because rooms will become very scarce.

There are three places we suggest you try. They are all convenient to the wedding site, all a few blocks from each other, and all on Congress Avenue, Austin's main street. If you have any questions feel free to call Jacob's mom, Frances Barton (512-478-1913) or Theresa's mom, Larriann Curtis (512-255-6954).

This hotel is situated just north of the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge, the home of the largest urban bat colony in North America. In a spectacular flying parade, the bats leave their bridge roost at about sunset every day. Austinites and tourists alike line up on the bridge and down by the river to watch the show. One of the great viewing sites is on the grounds of the Radisson Hotel.

The Radisson has agreed to block, until August 1, a set of 10 rooms for our guests. Because of the competition for rooms, they can't give us a bigger block than that. The special price is $155 per room or $195 per suite; parking is complimentary. The block is good from Friday, August 31 through Sunday, September 2. The following are instructions for making reservations via the internet:

1. Go to the website, above.
2. Click on "Make a reservation," and enter in your arrival and departure dates (entering a day before 8-31-07 or a day after 9-3-07 may not allow you to find your rate).
3. Once proper dates are inserted, scroll down to the "Promotion code" and enter "CURLEV".
4. Click "Continue" and your group rate will appear.
5. When the rate appears on the screen, you may continue with the billing process.

Southern Living recently described the Austin Motel in an article entitled "Living It Up In Austin." This is what they said: "Set yourself on Austin's pace by booking a room at the Austin Motel (rates $75-$158) down on South Congress Avenue, aka SoCo. There's not a more unique property in the whole city. Decorated with colorful wallpaper and 1960s and 1970s furniture, it reminds us more of a mom-and-pop lodge we'd find off Route 66."

We have to second that opinion. It's not as slick as the Radisson but it's certainly incredibly hip. The attached restaurant---el Sol y La Luna---serves great Tex-Mex food out on the patio which is also a good perch for viewing the lovely, eccentric life that is on display up and down South Congress.

If you have the bucks, it's hard to find a more artful place to stay in Austin than the San Jose Hotel. Prices range from $90 to $370. The former is a small room with a shared bath, the latter is for a courtyard suite. For anyone interested in architecture or gardening, this place is a treat.

Next door to the San Jose is Jo's Coffee Shop, another Austin treasure and great people-watching site.