3 ms·

I think the "weird" in the "Keep Austin Weird" is immediately south of the river (but not so far south that you get to the cheap, big houses). I think the food

by prewett 11y ago

I think the "weird" in the "Keep Austin Weird" is immediately south of the river (but not so far south that you get to the cheap, big houses). I think the food trucks started there, for instance, and it seems to have a lot more older places with a little more "feel". Most of the software development happens in north Austin, which is definitely not "weird." I almost never went south of the river, but it always felt a little different when I did. Between the University, the anecdotes about life on KUT, the food trucks, the transvestite running for mayor every year, places like the Alamo Drafthouse, Rudy's, and Chuy's (all places with a very distinct atmosphere), the city has a very different feel from what you see in many cities.

Ocerge 11y ago
But all three of those restaurants are chains all throughout Texas now. They all may have started there, but Austin is just flat out not weird anymore IMO.
6stringmerc 11y ago
Yeah I know SoCo pretty well, and I did spent quite a bit of time bopping around into small shops or meeting up for food and stuff. It's definitely a different vibe than North of the river, I agree. I think a lot has to do with the dated architecture, as in, there's not much new around there and people are happy to keep it that way. One thing that I didn't mention but thought important (at the time) was Austin was one of the first places in Texas to institute a smoking ban. In restaurants, I thought that made sense - both as a former waiter and cig smoker - but when the ban started applying to bars and live music venues, I thought it was stupid. Oh, so I can kill myself with this poison water, but off to hell with the stinky, heavily sin taxed tobacco? Pffffft. That right there clued me in that Austin couldn't be the live music capitol anymore, because musicians like to drink and smoke, and the ones that don't can play coffee shops or church camps, of which there are plenty of in Texas. And while I do have fondness for Alamo Drafthouse, it was kind of a one-off thing. Rudy's isn't remotely close to the best BBQ in the area (Franklin's) and Chuy's is, well, tongue-in-cheek referred to as 'white-people TexMex with extra grease' because it's just kind of middle-of-the road. This is kind of the overall issue with Austin, in that it's got this image and reputation of being unique and clever, but really, the things it's known for aren't actually top flight. Austinites pretend they are, but long time Texas residents know better.

by prewett 11y ago

Ocerge 11y ago

But all three of those restaurants are chains all throughout Texas now. They all may have started there, but Austin is just flat out not weird anymore IMO.

6stringmerc 11y ago

Yeah I know SoCo pretty well, and I did spent quite a bit of time bopping around into small shops or meeting up for food and stuff. It's definitely a different vibe than North of the river, I agree. I think a lot has to do with the dated architecture, as in, there's not much new around there and people are happy to keep it that way. One thing that I didn't mention but thought important (at the time) was Austin was one of the first places in Texas to institute a smoking ban. In restaurants, I thought that made sense - both as a former waiter and cig smoker - but when the ban started applying to bars and live music venues, I thought it was stupid. Oh, so I can kill myself with this poison water, but off to hell with the stinky, heavily sin taxed tobacco? Pffffft. That right there clued me in that Austin couldn't be the live music capitol anymore, because musicians like to drink and smoke, and the ones that don't can play coffee shops or church camps, of which there are plenty of in Texas. And while I do have fondness for Alamo Drafthouse, it was kind of a one-off thing. Rudy's isn't remotely close to the best BBQ in the area (Franklin's) and Chuy's is, well, tongue-in-cheek referred to as 'white-people TexMex with extra grease' because it's just kind of middle-of-the road. This is kind of the overall issue with Austin, in that it's got this image and reputation of being unique and clever, but really, the things it's known for aren't actually top flight. Austinites pretend they are, but long time Texas residents know better.