Austin, Texas
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
51 reviews for Austin, Texas
51 reviews in English
-
Review from Patrick S.
Denver, CO
Our first visit and so far loving this little big city...
Faves so far:
The lake front
Running patches
6th street
Congress Avenue
Clean air and clean attitude
The Hilton
Soon to be enjoyed food carts!
Tons of great venues...
The eclectic mix of architecture!
More to come I think... -
Review from Michael B.
Austin, TX
Updated - 5/11/2012
14. Affordability and Spending -- Just to elaborate further, Austin property taxes have increased year after year- to the top level allowed by law. City fees have gone up. Water rates have soared. Electric rates are rising. Increases are often disproportionately higher for average homeowners and small businesses than for big businesses.
With better people in the city council and mayor's office, we might have avoided this sudden rush for an enormous electric rate increase. Same with raising water rates year after year. It's true that some increases might be necessary, but Austin could have avoided many with better management, better oversight, and better vision. Austin has been been incredibly irresponsible in spending our tax dollars. There have been too many give-a-ways, bad deals, and too much bad management. Austin operates with an old school model that gives away city assets because they think we need to pay people to come here.
Examples:
- Four million dollar subsidy to a high rise hotel that the owners were going to build anyway, while shutting more community swimming pools.
- Formula One race track - $250 million dollar state tax subsidy, when our school district was considering closing some neighborhood schools.
15. Austin Quality of life - despite the rapid growth here, Austin's poverty rate is increasing. Year after year we're the most congested city of our size in the nation.
16. Austin Residential Property Appraisals -- Increased 110% in last 10 Years, While All Other Categories Increased Much Less. Residents are shouldering a disproportionate share of the tax burden compared to all other property, making it more difficult for middle class families to live in Austin.
According to the most recent City of Austin Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, Single Family Property appraisals increased 110% in the last 10 years, while in the same period Commercial Property appraisals increased just 43% and undeveloped land appraisals have actually DECREASED by 7%.
Living is Austin is completely overrated, if you can't quite get the message here. It is not leading in affordability. It's completely unfair to locals when lobbyists and insiders can get special deals while city hall forces citizens to pay for it.Listed in: Austin downside
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
-
3/20/2012
10. Cityscape. The Austin City Council spent $1 million dollars on "bicycle kiosks". No demand for… Read more »
-
-
Review from Rosemary T.
Tustin, CA
3/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
To live there, nahhhh, CA is so much better. But, to have some short vacation, partying up there, yeah, maybe. I was there for a business trip, so my opinions might be a little bite off. The only thing I heart about the place is "6th" STREET!!! If you're there, you gotta visit 6th street. However, BE CAREFUL which part of 6th street you ended up on.
My group and I went to the wrong 6th street, which was BORING!!!! There's are clubs there, but the vibe just ain't right. We had to take the pity cab to get to the right 6th where all the parties were happening.
You know what's awesome about that part of the 6th street? There's NO COVERAGE CHARGE @ all. We were able to go into 3 clubs, and have a drink at each. Since Cosmo is my favorite drink, I decided to order one at each club I stopped at. First one, perfect, 2nd one, can't tastes any alcohol, 3rd, tastes like cough medicine. I guess it's just a hit and miss, well... I guess it's more like 1 hit and 2 misses.
So which 6th street is right and which is wrong? Well, the one with the street closed off to car for about 3 blocks long, and filled with people and craziness ^^
As for the food in Austin, not my taste. I had one great great BBQ at Ruby's Barbeque & Catering and that's pretty much it. Maybe I'm walking in all the wrong restaurant, any yelpers wanna introduce me to some right places to eat?
Bottom line, not my kinda place to wanna take a vacation. -
Review from Kelly P.
3/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
well, Austin. you did me right.
you hosted sxsw 2012: my first festival. you provided me with excellent weather, great people-watching, antique stores, tex-mex galore, food trucks, and an absurdly diverse amount of free live music.
there's so much to say, but i won't give you a teary-eyed goodbye. because i know i'll be back. soon. -
Review from Paul H.
Austin, TX
5/24/2012
Austin, TX: a squalid, steaming little concrete launchpad for about 10,000 overvalued startups populated by a few hundred thuggish cops, 10,000 smug tech entrepreneurs, their lawyers, engineers, and accountants, 700,000 people earning $9 an hour to pour their coffee and answer their phones, and a dozen assholes on recumbent bicycles.
*Jim Cramer voice* SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL SELL
Seriously, don't believe the hype. You can get a taco anywhere. Don't bother coming to Austin unless you're an engineer, an IT aspie, an RoR developer/programmer/banjo player, a tranny who wants to run for mayor, a black kid who wants to get shot by a police officer, or a hot-blooded silicon based lifeform from a distant galaxy who thrives in desert biomes and has terrible taste in music.
People in Austin are...nice, I guess, in that "barely tolerating you but mom raised me right" kind of way. I'd imagine everyone here would be genuinely nice if they weren't all worried how they were going to pay the rent on their cramped, unhygenic studio apartments. That's because everyone a) under 30 with b) either any sort of BA, or an MA not based in the sciences is competing with 100,000 UT students who can and will do any entry-level job for minimum wage or bragging rights. Most people I know (whatever this says about me) are cobbling together a sub-par existence with 2-3 low-wage, part-time service industry jobs. That's the vaunted Austin economy, folks! Best figure it out now, n00bs, before you move here. Yeah, there's tons of jobs, as long as you consider folding clothes at the Gap a "job". Typical job posting on Craigslist:
"Looking for a rockstar web developer with a background in long-haul trucking and competitive swimming. Must have 2+ years of legal/administrative experience or at least a Masters degree in Kenpo. Please, don't email resumes: if Mother senses that you want this job badly enough, she will dispatch a pigeon to your home forthwith. Read your resume to the pigeon. Make it quick, he's impatient. $9.00 p/h. EOE compliant."
The "arts scene" here is 90% hype. The Alamo Drafthouse is cool, and I like the no-talking, no-texting rule, except that in this particular case you instead get to hear the sound of a hundred fatasses eating, because apparently they couldn't be bothered to eat at home. Instead, they opt for the novelty of a $15 meatball sub from a snack stand in a theater next to a Half-Price Books and a Zumba. Seriously, I'm trying to watch the Avengers. Not listen to the dulcet tones of your digestive tract from beginning to bitter end. The clubs here are cramped, damp, and have terrible sound. No good bands come here except to do a free show for "south-by" (boy, does that phrase make me want to blow my head off) but good luck getting within a mile of it because traffic, which is normally intolerable, becomes a Michael-Douglas-wielding-a-rocket-launcher, turning-any--reasonably-liberal-human-being-into-a -raving-libertarian-over-the-failures-of-city-gove rnment-to-alleviate-basic-infrastructure-problems, beating-on-your-steering-wheel-until-the-airbag-in flates-level crisis.
I'd be less surprised about how often I get stuck behind buses if I was ever able to catch one when I needed one. Same goes for cabs. Catching a cab in this town is next to impossible. Woe be unto the pretty 20-something unfortunate enough to be caught on 6th street after the bars close.
There's a train that goes from...some place downtown to some other place slightly north of that. That's all I know about it. It's loud and stupid and probably cost a fortune and no one knows where it goes. CapMetro sucks balls.
The political scene is FUCKED. It's this like, constant, inescapable, endlessly annoying generational tug of war between a bunch of greedy developers who want to cover every inch of Austin in glass and concrete, and a bunch of off-putting, sanctimonious "activists" who waste their friends money fighting it. The Mayor reminds me of Judge Smails in Caddyshack, complete with the gladhandling businessman shit, and the city council members are elected from "places" (wards, to the rest of us--keep it weird, Austin!) but serve at large, so prepare to be sold out no matter who you vote for, in record time. Why they don't just have council members represent the "places" from which they're elected, I'll never know. But be prepared to hear a lot about it this year, because some very annoying people are taking up the banner! That's assuming you read the news, which, if you live here, you probably don't, because you're a lazy doofus no sense of civic pride except for thinking that your city has the best asses and dopest food trucks in the country. Like, 10% of people vote here. That's friggin' pathetic. And the worst part is that it's really easy and justifiable to become that way after living here for a certain amount of time, because there's nothing about this city worth caring about. -
Review from Linz Q.
1/2/2012
Serious? I can write a review on my own city? THIS is why I love Yelp. Austin, Austin, Austin...I feel like I should compose a song and sing it at the top pf my lungs on top of the 360 bridge and then jump into the lake, get on a boat that will take me to town lake, after running the Congress loop I would stop off at W 6th and have a drink with all my pals. Phew! Then I'd do it all over again the next day. This is the best city in Texas....OK in AMERICA! I would never leave and I plan to stay. The property is cheap, there is tons to do, and it's always interesting! Austin is a great place for single people, families, and retirees. (Will the latter two just stay outta my way though?) In Austin you can start up a new business, find super cool jobs, or just be homeless- either way the people support ya!
Cheers to Austin the BEST BEST BEST place to be! -
Review from K D.
Brooklyn, NY
3/19/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Austin, you never disappoint. This was my 3rd year at SXSW and I am always reminded of how much I like this city. Austinites are super cool and friendly. The city is easy to get around. You are eco-conscious and have great food trucks. So good!
-
Review from Theodore J.
Austin, TX
3/2/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Best city ever. Lots to do, lots of bars, and lots of different people!
-
Review from Orion G.
Austin, TX
10/3/2011 62 Check-ins Here
I love this town. I love to love it. I love to hate it. But mostly... I love it.
I have lived many places all over the world, and Austin is one place I truly feel like I belong. Of course, I live in South Austin. I'd probably feel ever so differently if I lived north.
I love the eclectic nature of it's inhabitants. All these people who moved here from somewhere else and made it their homes. Those who've moved here and then complain that it's not like where they're from... they can leave. Those who've adapted and taken their place in the ecosystem... y'all can stay.
I don't know if I'll live here forever... but I know it'll always be home. -
Review from John H.
Austin, TX
3/2/2012
Keepin it "weird"
-
Review from David N.
7/21/2011
1500 Reviews.
Wow. I know Derek Jeter just made his 3000th hit, but DAVID H. NGUYEN, has made 1500. Half way there to Mr. 3000.
What better way to recognize this moment than dedicating it to one of my favorite cities.
I was born and raised and now currently reside in Houston, but my heart will always remain in Austin.
This is where I went to college, had my first alcoholic drink (not necessarily in that order), discovered collegiate sports, gaining freshmen 15 and losing sophomore 30, and gaining it all back plus some after departing this fair land.
A place where bikers rule, and I don't mean Harley's.
Even though my beloved west campus is being yuppied up, I'll take change for what it is instead of fighting it, and love everything this town has to offer.
The weather here is not like anywhere in Texas. It just feels like a little bit of heaven, smack dab in the middle of the proud state of TEXAS.Listed in: Austin: Day Activities
-
Review from Lee M.
11/29/2011
For my 200th review - As a kid that grew up in the 'burbs of North Dallas, Austin has everything I was looking for in a place to put down roots:
- The ammenties of a large town without the drawbacks of being a big city,
- Young and energetic population,
- Great night life with cool bars and LOTS of live music,
- Burnt orange sunsets and the smell of the fresh hill country air,
- Laid back vibe with most people practicing classic 'Southern hospitality',
- A more relaxed pace without the overstimulation of the big city,
- Folks are not as hung up on how much money you make or what kind of car you drive,
- The beauty of the tree-covered Hill Country criss-crossed with clear running rivers and lakes,
- Abundant creative energy in areas of the arts and music,
- You can pretty much get anywhere in town in ~20 minutes,
- Business environment that encourages small and medium-sized businesses and is big on Shop Local,
- Nice variety of affordable restaurants and food trailers,
- Great neighborhoods and schools for raising kids,
- A place that just feels like home. -
Review from Mickey A.
Austin, TX
6/13/2011 39 Check-ins Here
Austin, you've been good to me. You've been detrimental to my liver enzymes and brain cell count.
I've always been a believer that a city is what you make it. Before my move here, i made my last home shitty and then I came here and decided to wake up every morning and choose a good day. Believe me, if you wake up and choose to have a bad day...you will have one.
I hate your grackles, I hate the 9 months out of the year when it is over 100 degrees.....but , damn, the UT coeds and the music more than make up for it.
I see myself staying here a little while longer. At least until the heat makes me homicidal.
See ya round, old friend. Work on this heat index for your old pal Mickey.
Yours,
Mickey A -
Review from Tony N.
Houston, TX
10/4/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I am a die hard Houstonian but I love Austin night life.(six street)
The people in Austin are so friendly, a lot of people have tattoo and dress very casually. There is so many colleges in the area and so much to do.
The restaurant schene there is amazing! I love all the random restaurant in neighborhoods.
I would not mind living there for a few years! -
Review from ed S.
Austin, TX
9/1/2011
Though there isn't many on this topic - if you give our City less than 4 stars, please take time to Goggle the nearest U-Haul or Ryder truck rental company and make the big move. Though there's no perfect place to live, Austin comes pretty close (though the 75+days of 100 degrees made my tits itch).
For all you 1-2 stars, there's no fence around the City. Hop on 35 and though you'll hit some traffic - find yourself a place to live that will make you happy. -
Review from Bernadette D.
Austin, TX
6/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
This review would take me a long time to write but I figure I should start right away. Also this is my 200th review on http://yelp.com and this would be a great review to write.
The "A" in Austin means Awesome. I cannot think of anything wrong about this place. I've been here for three years and it's the best decision I have made moving here. Life here is more laid back than where I came from.
First off, there's a river in the middle of the city. Now I know that reason is trivial but it's a great place to be when you want to get away from the heat. Also a lot of the universities from the north such Princeton, Wisconsin, etc. do their training here during the winter. So just an FYI - you should be honored that Colorado River/Lady Bird Lake hosts such amazing crews.
Then you have music festivals such as SXSW, Chaos In Tejas, Fun Fun Fun Festival, Austin City Limits that take part in Austin.
You have one of the best college football teams, Longhorns, and a great university, University of Texas in Austin. By the way, UT has other great programs such as the rowing, swimming/diving, baseball and basketball.
Of course, the Alamo Drafthouse made headline recently kicking that person who texted during a film. The Alamo Drafthose is the place to go and it's the only venue I rather see a film at.
I know there are others but I can't imagine living anywhere else. -
Review from Kamni G.
3/21/2011
1. It is the new technological hub
2. Job market is great
3. Its weird
4. There is always something to do
5. Life is slower and more relaxed
6. The great outdoors is your backyard
7. Music capital of the world
8. Real estate gives you the bang for your bucks
9. University of Texas and other great universities
10. Best place for foodies
...... I am going to retire here....enough said. -
Review from Kelly S.
12/6/2010 1 photo
After college, so many of my friends moved to Chicago or New York or LA. I didn't feel an affinity for those cities. Any longing. Any sense of excitement. There was always something missing... and I don't mean 90 degree summer temperatures or a bunch of tie dye. Over the past six years I've figured it out. Austin is The Total Package.
Smart, sassy, sexy. Technologically forward but community driven. A haven to peoples of all religions, races, interests. An amalgamation of ideas and attitudes. It's nooks and crannies and wide open spaces. A conservative town. A liberal town. A city that lights up a 40 foot Christmas tree and sings Oh Tannenbaum in front of the capital like any good Charlie Brown Special but who's going on 40 years of Eeyore's birthday replete with drum circles and painted breasts. A place where you're just as likely to see dreadlocks and vintage clothing as you are a preppy sweater with three popped collars. It's mesquite trees and crawfish boils and big back yards with fat white string lights and live music anytime you get a hankerin'.
Where in the summer you've got so many festivals and athletic adventures and natural parks to choose from that it's a wonder we're not all suffering from event paralysis. Where in the winter the sky is clear and sunny and it's everything you can do to not leave what you're doing to enjoy the beauty of the hill country. It's city mouse meets country mouse; plays and art and opera and ballet with an option for barn dances and sock hops and bonfires and a guy with a guitar on a porch. It's Thai and Indian and Mexican and BBQ. It's gourmet with flop flops. It's glam in glad rags.
And the people. They reflect the shining multifaceted ruby red beating heart of this city. Ever shifting and changing and full of life and love and laughter. And purpose. And intention. And invention. And brains. Everyday I meet someone who inspires me, awes me, makes me question, think, reformulate. Is it the city that molds the people or vice versa?
I guess what I'm saying, Austin, is that I didn't know that you were home until I got here. And sometimes when I can take a step back and get a little distance from my life, I sense that all the stars aligned to put me in this time and place of magic and wonder and possibilities... deep in the heart of Texas.Listed in: Cities I've Yelped
-
Review from Michael M.
Austin, TX
5/5/2011 44 Check-ins Here
I'm only giving Austin 4 stars because it doesn't have H&M, which is my favorite clothing store... When we get one, I will change it to 5 stars.
This is a great city! Lots to do, people are friendly and I had no problem finding a job. It's not like San Francisco where its TOO liberal, but its a perfect balance. If you're into computers and looking for work, I guess this would be the new Silicone Valley since Dell Headquarters is just north of town.
6th Street.... What else can I say about it??? I walked 6th street and after ten minutes I was over it. Not all that great but I would go back again to check out some of the shops there. -
Review from Jocy C.
10/26/2010 1 Check-in Here
Did you know that Austin has its own Yelp review page?!?
It's a pretty darn cool city to visit. Great college town. There are tons to do. BBQ, Food Trucks, Dog Friendly Botanical Gardens, Dog Friendly Parks, and Gay Friendly...
The music scene is also pretty cool.
Would totally consider moving to Austin if I was younger.Listed in: Austin, Texas
-
Review from Trina H.
1/20/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Best city, evaaaar!
It's been a month and five days since we've moved here. Just a few moments ago, while driving home from work, I actually had a little burst of excitement at the fact that I LIVE here, my FAMILY lives here. This is where my son will call home from this point on.
From shopping to food, attractions to do solo, as a couple or with family... Austin has so much to offer. Education is at it's best. People are very friendly (even though they are crazy drivers).
I will only miss Dallas because my parents and brother still reside over there. Maybe one day they'll move over here. Until then, that'll be the only reason part of my heart remains in my birth town.
Goodbye Dallas. Hello Austin. -
Review from Lance S.
Austin, TX
Updated - 9/1/2011
They now call South 1st Street SoFi and South Lamar SoLa. So lame. It's a shame that austin has turned into such a douchey city.
-
Review from Cody R.
Austin, TX
7/9/2008
Austin Sucks.... if you're planning on moving here from California.... don't.
There is nothing special to see here..... I mean, people are all in cowboy hats, belt buckles, everyone a huge Bush supporter, they all carry guns, there are confederate flags on every corner..... and it's 100 degrees all year long.
This place really sucks. -
Review from henry w.
12/2/2009
Of course I wait until I'm moving out of Austin to write about the city I fell in love with, but here it goes..
Its hard to really explain how awesome Austin is in words really. Many of the things about Austin that make it so great are all of the 'in-the-know' places and experiences. Its a little sad to see that for example most UT students never really venture out of the UT campus to see what makes Austin so special. My hope is that some of the curious, adventurous types sees this list and tries something new out!
MUSIC:
So there are many cities out there that have a good vibrant indie music scene, but Austin, for such a small town, has such a large number of music events passing through at any given time. Add to the fact that most of the concerts are played within walking distance of each other in downtown Austin and you have the magical combination of choice and convenience. In addition, most Austinites are extremely well versed in indie music and tend to sell out venues for lesser known bands as compared to shitty cities like say.. Houston. Lastly, we have SXSW.. four days of musical indie bliss where over 1800 bands grace our city and the ACL music festival lasting three days. I used http://showlistaustin.com religiously to keep up with the music here.
PEOPLE:
The people are really what make the city and we've got all sorts of em. Weirdness is appreciated here and totally sought after actually. We tend to hate things like chain businesses because we love individuality.. so we've got a lot of zany shops and restaurants that are locally owned. The UT student population keeps the city young with a large influx every semester of new students, graduating students, returning graduates, and international students. The average Austinite is well educated, friendly, and appreciative of things out of the ordinary. I'd also argue that we have some of the best looking people in Texas!
FOOD:
Always pushing the envelope on things, I think Austin has some of the most cutting edge food in Texas. We've got Uchi, the top Japanese fusion restaurant in the Southwest area and the Airstream trailer food concept that wouldn't fly in any other city. I challenge you to find better tacos than Tacodeli or more inventive pizza than East Side Pies. Gourdough's doughnuts (served out of an Airstream) is some of the best you'll ever have. Plus most places are dog friendly so you can bring your dog in!
ENTERTAINMENT:
Besides the aforementioned Music section, Austin has many other things such as 6th St (and 5th and 4th st). Nowhere else will you find a street closed off to traffic full of bars and dance clubs jam packed with young (and old) people every Thurs, Fri, and Sat. Add to it that on Thursdays most everything is $1-$3 for a drink and you have a recipe for crazy cheap fun. Halloween on 6th St is also amazing.. half a million people show up in the craziest costumes.. you get the idea.
We've also got UT Football, Basketball, and Baseball in the Fall and Spring. If you're not a UT fan, there's Alamo Drafthouse, Esther's Follies, the Bats, South Congress, Cathedral of Junk and much more.
OUTDOORS:
I love summertime in Austin because that means one thing.. water activities! Jetskiing, boating, cliffjumping at Lake Travis.. Kayaking on Town Lake.. Floating the Comal/Guadalupe.. Barton Springs Pool..
Plus we have Zilker Park for those who like large expanses of greenery and numerous dog parks. The Greenbelt is a haven for hikers and mountain bikers.
I'm sad to leave but Austin has been good to me.. I hope she treats you well too!!!! -
Review from Errol M.
2/11/2010
This is an interesting category, it made me think for a moment. Here's a moment's worth of thought:
No matter where I've lived or visited, I've pretty much found what I wanted or needed to find.
What makes Austin different is I can get to anything within a half-hour or less, and that includes the airport. I'm not sure there's a bunch of cities where you can do that, and I'm too comfy now to find out.Listed in: "Tasty Local Flavor", "Hey, Where da' Stunning Women…
-
Review from Katherine P.
Houston, TX
2/11/2010
Austin, I love you. I came here to start my new life in college and you've welcomed me as one of your own. Compared to the rest of Texas, you are unique, friendly, and always entertaining. I've never seen such great views or trees in my life (I'm from Houston, our "grass" is just concrete spray-painted green) or people who love basking in your outdoor fun. Although some of your genres of food aren't the best, your local places are off the chain! get it? (0: But best of all about Austin, HOOK 'EM.
What's with the negative reviews? Austin may not be the best city in the world but it's definitely not the worse. NO, not everyone wears their cowboy boots, huge belt buckles, and I haven't seen confederate flags on every corner. Where the hell has that person been living? I'm pretty certain not everyone is a Bush lover either, I think even middle-of-nowhere towns in Texas would agree.
Anyways, I'm leaving you in a little less than a year and I shall miss you dearly Austin. Do not worry, I will be back when it's time to settle down. -
Review from Stacy H.
Austin, TX
2/27/2010
It's hilarious to me that Austin has it's own rating.
I'm one of those original Austinites that was born here and have lived here all my life . . . so I'm sure that in itself will get all kinds of hateful thoughts from others. I would, however, like to think that I'm not completely blinded by my roots here. I love Austin . . . but you don't have to. It's all good. To each their own.
Austin has great outdoors events, great restaurants, and great people. It's close to the hill country, which I love, because I'm a country bumpkin with a family that owns cows, a catfish tank, and miniature donkeys. Some of the best years of my life were spent at UT.
I'm sorry this review won't be very helpful, because the real reasons I love Austin just can't be described exactly. Oh - and another thing I love about Austin are the REALLY hot summers, which is all about geographic location and weather that nobody can control.
So I won't try to defend why I love the town . . . I just do. -
Review from Humaira H.
Houston, TX
1/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
this entire city rocks. the end.
-
Review from David S.
Austin, TX
3/26/2010
I felt like I simply wanted to post a review to respond to "Michael B." below me.
If you're the kind of person who would use the phrase "hallmarks of liberal thinking" and "Nanny state" without a trace of irony, you're the kind of person who's going to give Austin two stars. -
Review from rob m.
Austin, TX
3/5/2008
There are so many firsts I have here that make is special to me...first love, first failed love, first D letter grade (still hate you Logic), but you are great for so many other reasons.
UT and the campus area sold me first on your greatness...homeless people, mohawks, record stores (Sound Exchange), Les Amis, Mad Dog and Beans, head shops, foreign movies at The Dobie, fanciful smart girls in glasses who rode bicycles and studied french, disorderly homes that smelled like incense, Co-Ops, Captain Quackenbush's, Hyde Park Bar & Grill, Mother's, and the list could go on and on.
While a lot of these places and people have disappeared, an insurgent spirit still remains that I can only hope bleeds over to our neighbors in pflugerville, buda, round rock, etc.... If it doesn't I say we change the bumper sticker from, Secede Texas to Secede Austin! -
Review from Jennifer K.
Chicago, IL
7/8/2008
Dear Austin,
You make my heart go pitter-pat. I am traditionally a cool weather person, but I am willing to "glisten" year-round if it means that I can hang out with you every day. I'm not sure if it is the beautiful landscape, your love of processed and bbq'd meat, the live music that seems to resonate from every bar, or the friendly people that abound. Perhaps (most likely) it is all of these things (and then some).
Whatever the reason is, I have a big, warm spot in my heart for you. When I had to leave yesterday, I was sad to say goodbye to you (of course, it may have also had something to do with my beautiful, talented, funny, 4 year old niece who told me to pack her in my suitcase so that she could come home with me, and saying adios to my wonderful nephew, fantastic brother, and awesome sister - the "in law" isn't really necessary...), and I did not want to leave.
I will see you again soon, Austin. Maybe, someday, if Chicago and I break up, then you and I will be able to live together. In the meantime, I will think of you fondly and often.
Love,
JenniferListed in: Austin, TX - Redux.
-
Review from M P.
Los Angeles, CA
8/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read and all the friends I want to see. ~John Burroughs
-
Review from Vincent N.
Austin, TX
12/3/2009
I was born in Austin and I've lived all over the state. I've spent some time in the Rio Grande Valley, went for my undergraduate in College Station, and finally came back for graduate school here at UT.
It is a very special city in Texas, and is what is it is. If you're thinking about moving here, it definitely has a lot to offer, you just have to be willing to find it or go with it.
I could see how people from other places may not get it, but its definitely not California or the East coast, and its still Texas, but just with a cool jacket and some nice sneakers.
Everything you could want is here, and everything that you need is here. Just need to take some time to throw yourself into it and let it hug you. Just don't let it choke you.
Get out there! =) -
Review from Sandra A.
Austin, TX
12/7/2010
I moved here about 13 years ago - when I first got here I would have rated it a 5++
From the moment my feet touched the ground at the Robert Mueller Airport I KNEW this was my home (and I'm originally a Massachusetts Yankee!)
I"ve lived at Wind RIdge Apartments (which I have found MOST people who have spent any amount of years here have lived there - so weird!)
I love ZIlker Park - the trail around Town Lake, the weather (hot and cold), the greenery, the flowers, the conservative mixed with the "progressive", the friends I've met here, the healthy food available, the creative and interesting businesses that come and go,
Most of all now, I love the community of grace teachers in this area - a gem many people wouldn't understand.
When I think of Austin, I think of the area from downtown going south from there (inc east to west). Unfortunately, circumstances have me living north and I'm getting rather bitter about it. I now feel like I'm in "Any-City USA" It's gross, corporate and purposeless.
I hope to get out of this area and back to "home" when our lease is up. Thing is...it's growing so much everywhere around this city - I wonder if the Austin I love is just going to disappear anyway. :( -
Review from Holly S.
4/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
As someone I know calls it....Awesometown!
-
Review from J j E.
Austin, TX
6/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Austin is the first city I have lived other then where I was born. Much like Phoenix, Austin is filled with people from other places which is good. Also the food here is solid. I would suggest the food trucks as a good place to start. 6th street much like any other street like it around the country is overhyped but does have a few good places to go. Austin is the only city I would live in Texas as it seems not to fit the rest of the state. It is a little thick on the UT love but outside of music that is all this city has.
-
Review from Cris G.
2/8/2011 346 Check-ins Here
Austin is a hot hell hole for the 10 months of summer that freezes all winter long. Where ever you're from, stay there. We have nothing worth eating, nothing worth seeing, and for heaven's sake, we have no where worth swimming. It's a barren moonscape with 100% unemployment. Stay where you are. Move to LA, it's cheaper.
Listed in: Metaphysical Perfection
-
Review from Jay J.
Austin, TX
4/3/2011
I'm originally from Sri Lanka. But I have been living in Austin for the past 12 years and love every bit of it. Most of the year it is nice and sunny. Only part that sucks about Austin are the Allergies. Oh well I guess you can't have it all! People here are really nice and friendly and sometimes weird!. They have a saying "keep austin weird". I absolutely love this place and this is my second home. I don't plan on moving anywhere else and there is no place like Austin!
-
Review from Chad S.
Fayetteville, AR
2/14/2008
Eight years ago, I knew very little about Austin. I had seen Austin City Limits on PBS, and had maybe heard the "Live Music Capital of the World" title, knew that UT and the Longhorns were here, but beyond that, I guess I just assumed it was like the rest of Texas...which I also knew very little about.
Then, I met a friend who lived here and began flying out to visit. Fortunately, this friend was deeply entrenched in all that is Austin, including helping to keep it weird. Visits to Zilker Park, the Backyard, late-night grub at Magnolia and Kerbey Lane, Eeyore's Birthday Party, Waterloo Records, Mars (the old location), Club DeVille, Plush, a number of dive bars, Lake Travis, the first ever ACL Festival, Doc's, Polvos, a number of thrift shops, a crawfish boil, and many other places I can't remember (for various reasons) ensued. What I did remember was the uniqueness of most of the places, the good food I ate (quite a bit of which was home-cooked...big props to said friend), hills and trees, and good times. And what do you know...I loved Austin more with every visit. Even in the middle of summer, when it was Africa hot with ridiculous levels of humidity.
But even though I discovered migas, Mexican martinis, Bob Schneider, and Spoon here...the number one reason I enjoyed Austin so much was the people. I always met cool, interesting, and friendly people everywhere I went. That may be because most of the places I went were cool, interesting and friendly places, but I suppose that the two - people and places - go hand in hand.
Fast forward five years, and I found myself married with two small, beautiful children, and an opportunity to relocate to Austin. Well, why the hell not? So here we are...and yes, Austin has changed, but that's inevitable. Most places have changed over the past 10 years. I know I've changed quite a bit. But I still find the same spirit here that I found on my first visit to Austin...basically, a fun, friendly, open minded enjoyment of life. Most of the great places I had visited before are still alive and thriving, and if any place can weather an invasion of condos and douchebags, it's Austin. Experiencing the city with children is quite a bit different than my previous experiences, but I've found that it's pretty much just as well-suited to family life as it is to the hard partying single life. And now, thanks partly to Yelp, I'm meeting useful, funny and cool people, who also happen to be interesting and friendly.
I've lived in Austin for 18 months now, and have no regrets about having trekked cross-country with my little family and settled down here. I still occasionally find it strange that I live in the middle of Texas, but whenever the thought strikes me, I just remind myself that it's Austin, and although it's not perfect, it IS pretty damn cool. And beginning to feel more and more like home. Happy Valentine's Day, Austin...4.5 stars.Listed in: Places that don't break my Big…
-
Review from TruthSpeaker I.
Boston, MA
11/21/2010
Not much of interest to do as a tourist compared to San Antonio. It seems like a nicer, cleaner, more progressive and upscale city than San Antonio, which is nice if you're living there, but from the standpoint of sightseeing, it's a pretty dull place. When Whole Foods is the city's best sightseeing attraction, you know you should vacation elsewhere.
If all you want to do is shop, this is probably a good place for you. I have never seen so many malls in one area. It's rather absurd. I get the sense that all people in the Austin area do is go around a buy stuff. I've never seen such a retail/consumption-oriented city in my life. Seriously. There is more to life than clothes. Really, it's true. For real.
