Here to plug her new book and sign copies of it, Alex Kuczynski, NYT Critical Shopper columnist, has a good time at Allens Boots on South Congress, which she describes as “a surprisingly plain-looking four-lane strip of concrete that reminds [her] more of Brooklyn on a sunny day than a hopping, hipster Southwestern shopping district.” She finds happiness, and boots, at Allens, with its “pure Austin theater,” not neglecting to mention bats and the bridge. Despite the “boots” part of the name, I always think of Allens more for hats and other non-footgear items. Members of the salestaff are always kind and attentive to Austin visitors. The column may be on TimesSelect, which is free for the moment: “Books and Boots: A Texas Odyssey.”