What a grand city that I get to call home! The Live Music Capital of the World & so much more. Austin is alive and jumping. It's like being in NYC, there's always something new to do or see. Foodies unite! We've got so many amazing places to choose from. Music lovers unite! Literally so many live performances on a daily basis, it's hard to make a choice on what to do/who to see. Art, art, art! An abundance of street art, murals, vintage neon signage and more. Bats! We got 'em! Boating, kayaking, floating. It's here! A fashionable & fun place to call home. There's a reason tourists love to visit! Well, actually, there are multiple reasons (some of which I've listed). read more

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This Just in....I still love Austin Texas! My earliest memories of Austin revolve around a road trip stop for Tex Mex on family vacation. Headed for the Texas Gulf Coast hwy 35 south took us through Austin where we stopped for Mexican food downtown at Matt's El Rancho. The Capital city back then was a dry,hot dusty college town. The 1960s counterculture was taking hold and the " old Austin" we all know and love took shape. I'll admit,over the last 15 years it's been difficult to swallow all the changes I've seen in my capital city. I even started avoiding making my usual twice yearly trip down. However, recently I've made an effort to accept the inevitable and even look for the positives. To my surprise during this trip the overcrowding, congestion and traffic grew on me. The entire Austin area is one big construction site. Literally. I've seen a lot of boom times construction in my day but,this is the most in one area . I began to decern that this is just a new layer. I felt like an anthropologist looking for evidence of past civilization. You know,how the old Rome stands beside the new and you have to study it to tell the difference. As the days went by,the energy of Austin Became infectious. This new paradigm was disguising what had grown over the decades. It's becoming one beautiful whole to be tolerated and embraced. I just saw an article entitled, No One's Working. It's about the impression of just being in this city that everyone is on flex time, working from home,freestyling. It's one of the first things I noticed and I ask myself," is nobody working down here"? So,if you find yourself in this great city,frustrated at a traffic jam, detour or just wtf in general,I recommend taking a deep breath,open your mind and Welcome the Future . read more

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Enjoying my stay this week in Austin. I haven't been here in almost 20 years, and boy has it changed! Lot of homeless folks wandering around in traffic, more driverless Waymo cars than trucks, and a downtown that is so built up you have to look hard for the charm. Nevertheless, I enjoyed a lovely (but humid) walk down to the river, up Congress Street to the State Capitol, then back to my hotel. Looking forward to exploring further on my next visit. read more

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My favorite Sorority Sisters, our honorary Sorority Sister and I really enjoyed our visit to Austin, Texas! Sweet Mel lives in Georgetown, Texas and we all stayed at her home, and her husband kindly drove us into Austin for the Austin City Limits (ACL) Music Festival at Zilker Park where we enjoyed Greta Van Fleet, Metallica, Paul McCartney, and more! Because of how massive attendance is at ACL, we had little time to sightsee around Austin (which is also a great reason to return!). We ate at Torchy's Tacos on South Congress, shopped at a nearby wine store, and visited the extremely cool Stevie Ray Vaughn Memorial statue at Auditorium Shores. Because ACL let out after 10:00 PM, and with a one hour-ish drive ahead of us to get back to Georgetown, we didn't enjoy any Austin nightlife, or live music outside of ACL (since Austin is the live music capital of the world!). Thanks Austin, for "keeping it weird," and leaving us girls with a yearning to return and explore more of all that is Austin! read more

Austin has been turned into an embarrassment for our State. Downtown looks like a garbage dump and it is very unsafe. I was going to an event at UT and I was very uncomfortable walking to and from the event. read more

Keep Austin Weird! The Live Music Capitol of the World! This is such a fun town. There's so much to see and do. Sixth Street has always been a favorite. University of Texas is a great place to get a degree, or just spend an afternoon. Be sure to check out the Texas Capitol building. Ours is taller than that one in Washington, DC. Rainey Street seems to change by the day, and rents and real estate prices just go up and up and up and up. It's historically been an overeducated town, but now that all these tech companies like Meta, Alphabet, and Tesla have moved in, they're snapping up those smart Austinites. One of my favorite thing in this town is the Cathedral of Junk. It's super-Austin. Weird just for being weird. Be sure to protest any bar that's playing recorded music. This is the live music capitol of the world, and they need a house band. Tip the musicians! read more

The Wonder Woman Right to Vote mural on the Side of the Line Hotel at the corner of Cesar Chavez and Congress is spectacular! It is certainly a focal point for the downtown area. It was commissioned to commemorate the empowerment of women. It reminds of the ink dot pictures where you can see more than one item in a picture. She see the body of Wonder Woman and at the same time the face of Wonder Woman. This mural spans the entire height of the Line Hotel, which makes it awe-inspiring and eye-catching. This mural is a reminder of the significance of women empowerment and the special gift of the vote! read more

Austin, Texas - Mural - Local Flavor Near Me

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We have been here twice, can't even recall what we did outside of eating out, walking all over downtown and seeing the capital on our first visit. There are some decent spots within a walking distance to where we have stayed when we were here and in downtown. The stay is off a street that's not as hectic and loud and crazy as others. We have mostly come here to eat. Although it would be nice to know if there are other must see or do things outside of eating out, some parks and the tours of the city we have already traversed and boat tours. Have not been able to find anything else to do in Austin other than to eat and maybe shop some. read more

Female, 85 years old, blind in one eye, and partially disabled. My Spectrum bill keeps rising, the latest bill of 275.01, states that I am going to lose "promotional" discounts of 50.00, early October.  325.00 a month, 2 much,4 this retired teacher, w/ tiny income. Was receiving a bundle discount 4 internet, TV, land line phone, has disappeared. Went 2 Brodie office, Sep.25, to speak w/ associate,4 help, w/my monthly bill, increase.Am loyal customer, was w/Time Warner, for many years be4 Spectrum, bought them,& have been w/ Spectrum, 30+ years. The gal who helped me, Acsa, told me, helpful 2 go on Spectrum mobile phone. Explained to her that I was w/ Consumer Cellular, already bought smart phone w/ them, was pleased w/ service. Explained that my cell phone was hooked into my vehicle,& State Farm, monitoring my driving. I didn't want 2 have that changed,& DID NOT want 2 buy new phone.Did a few numbers,& told me that I could get 1 year of free cell service, & a "free" flip phone,& it would reduce bill's monthly cost.W/ all that "free" stuff, & a reduction, in my bill, I said ok. Had a flip phone @ her desk, opened, inserted battery, plus cell phone number,& gave it to me. I explained that it would NOT be used, since I had other cell, She told me, just put it in a drawer somewhere & come back, in a year to renegotiate my bill.   Returning home, there was invoice 4 payment 4 the "free" cell phone, for 79.00 + taxes,& would be billed monthly, on my credit card, until paid off.   You see, the flip phone was not "free", but its name is FREEE. I was totally misled, & not advised otherwise. I am stuck w/ payments for a phone I did not want nor ever use,to "lower" monthly Spectrum bill. Spectrum should train their employees to be honest w/ folks, who request assistance w/ their needs, instead of scam them, in2 something, for the associate commission.The associates told me that they get commissions, for extra products added. Associate GREED, not helpful to customers. read more

I went to the Apple store for an issue with an old phone and a new phone , I was assigned a Service Tech named Yuli, lots of knowledge and customer service, she helped me figure out how to fix the issue ( facebook and other apps I use) and how to get them on my new phone ! I was very appricative of her help...... You will know Yuli, Big Smile Thank you Albert read more

Ziki is my favorite spicy, tangy and delicious gyro, basil chicken, love it read more

Austin, Texas - ZIKI MEXICAN GREEK DELICIOUSNESS - Local Flavor Near Me

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The annual lightning of the Christmas Tree @ Zilker Park is good family fun. They have music, food, drinks and people are generally in a good mood. I highly recommend the Zilker Christmas Tree lighting. read more

Love this town and can't wait to go back for a longer visit! We were only there one day but there is so much to do and see that we only got to scratch the service. Love all the food trucks all over town! We got to dine at 2 excellent restaurants and visit the Sculpture Museum which was beautiful read more

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I love Austin. I lived here for ten years, and since I left, it has grown up to be quite a large city. I know there's been jokes about how the Crane is the new state bird, or at least the bird of Austin, and it actually seems kind of appropriate, because there are more tall buildings now than I ever would have imagined there could be in such a short amount of time. When I first moved here, it was already going through its transformation, and I have a feeling it will continue to transform for many years into the future. That seems to be the way of all really cool cities. Somehow, they grow until they move past the point where they're actually really cool. But my hope for austin is that this never happens. I know it'll continue to grow, but I have a feeling that it will still be a really cool city. There are a few things to do like Barton Springs and the hike n bike trail. And also, if you have a chance to check out the green belt, the hike and bike trail connects to that but it extends much further and there are cool things like kayaking, canoing, and rock climbing to do. The number of coffee shops is incredible, and there are a few that stand out in my mind, but you are going to have to find your own. Personally, I was always more a fan of 4th street than 6th street, but you're gonna have to choose your spot. I'm definitely more of an elephant room kind of girl than any place on sixth street, but I'm pretty sure you can find the best jazz in a few places in town since some of the best jazz musicians live in austin. Cooper's BBQ on Congress Ave is fantastic if you are looking for BBQ, but there are many places. Get some tex-mex at mi madres, or polvos. Actually, Austin is a really cool town, whether you are living there permanently, a student, or a tourist who is just passing through. Go and check it out! read more

Ah, yes, Austin, the left-wing Mecca in the heart of big ol' red Texas. Home of Richard Linklater, Austin City Limits, SXSW, the LBJ Presidential Library, the University of Texas, the Mexican free-tailed bats of Congress Avenue Bridge, and a wedge of Western Hill Country. Their motto is "Keep Austin Weird" ... and frankly, they're not weird enough. They definitely bring the weird with their art scene, their almost endless line of music festivals, the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar (https://www.yelp.com/biz/armadillo-christmas-bazaar-austin), the Cathedral of Junk (https://www.yelp.com/biz/cathedral-of-junk-austin), and Spamarama (https://www.yelp.com/biz/spamarama-2019-austin), they definitely make a helluva argument for being weird. IMHO, the weirdest is the pilgrimage to view those Mexican Bats under the Congress Avenue Bridge (https://www.yelp.com/biz/bats-under-the-congress-avenue-bridge-austin). Yes, Austinites (and courageous tourists) stand on the bridge right before sundown (March through October), as ~1.5 million bats emerge nightly from narrow crevices and flutter into the night sky. Yes, bats, yes, the kind of $#!+ that would give those who hate bats a lifetime of nightmares. But to me, there's very un-weird side. It's the conservative, gun-toting influence of red Texas ... most of which emanates from the government that resides there. Maybe is the confederate statue (https://bit.ly/2IOk3hN) in front of the sunset-red Capitol Building or the portrait of George W. Bush on the inside (he was Governor of Texas before stealing the White House), but it definitely gives you a clear reminder that you, indeed, are deep in the heart of Texas. Don't get me wrong: I enjoyed visiting the Capitol (my review: https://bit.ly/39UFo4T), LOVE the food at Capitol Grill (my review: https://bit.ly/2IOkmcr), was dazzled by the nearby Bullock Texas State History Museum (my review: https://bit.ly/39V0Pmm), and was awestruck by the LBJ Presidential Library (my review: https://bit.ly/38PuQCL). It's just not as weird as it used to be. Maybe it's the conservative influence, maybe it's the corporate movement that's turned the town into a big-business, corporate juggernaut. Still, it's still Texas's finest, pretty weird, gem. read more

Austin, Texas - Local Flavor Near Me

nina was very passionate about her job and very fast and efficient , highly recommend stopping by to enjoy Lun ch or dinner

Lamar Home Solutions with J Cruz Castillo did an absolutely awful job. The roof they put on is already coming up in places and the trim is falling off and rotting. the roof is absolutely leaking now and it's been only 2 years. They never put any trim on the back of the house. They took the drip edge and did not replace, That's against code. As a result the water is pouring off the roof and is destroying bushes in the front of our house. the porch and front door gets soaked when it rains now. I cannot stress how awful the job was. When we tried to contact him, we were ghosted. The fact that he did this to an older couple is really shameful. this guy is a beat artist, stay away! read more

Austin, Texas - Local Flavor Near Me

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I spent a few days exploring around Austin. I had fun. There was enough stuff for me to see and do here that I'd suggest this city, sort of located in the center of Texas, as a worthwhile destination. When arriving here, I thought it would only be appropriate or sort of a right of passage to visit the "Welcome to Austin" Mural where everyone goes to grab a photo with. This mural is located in the downtown arts district. I found parking on the street at a metered spot for a small fee and then walked 5 minutes to arrive here. Although I had to wait a few moments for others to get their pictures in, it was fun to get a photo of this iconic plaque...sort of that introduction to your visit. The Texas State Capitol Building. Although for an early September day of 2020, unfortunately the building and tours were closed because of the pandemic. That was a letdown. But I was able to take a few pictures of the Capitol Building from around the fencing area which was scenic. This building very much reminded me of the Capitol Building in Washington DC. For me being a football junkie, I stopped by the University of Texas Football Stadium to grab a picture of where the famed Longhorns play. It was difficult finding suitable angles for photos, but for me being a fan of college football, I was sort of just satisfied walking around Darrell K. Royal Stadium. For sunset I went to Congress Avenue Bridge to witness hundreds of thousands of bats take off and fly out into the open air for the night searching for food. This spectacle is also a staple unique to Austin. I found parking below the bridge, again at a payment meter...then walked on top of Congress Bridge and found a suitable spot to discover this ceremony where bats perform their natural act of venturing outside for the . Congress Bridge gets crowded with visitors. You can also see the bat show from below the bridge as well and even have a picnic blanket set up to lounge and make a fun evening of. I actually stopped by here 2 consecutive evenings to see the bats from both above and below the bridge. Also at Congress Avenue Bridge, Austin's city skyline was beautiful! Especially when it was dark out after the bat show...the lights from Austin's buildings reflect extremely well off the Colorado River that runs throughout the city. I recommend grabbing a few pictures with these symmetrical reflections appearing like a clear painting looking down from the bridge area. For dinner I grabbed a few slices of pizza at Home Slice. This place was extremely busy...I waited in line for a good 25 minutes just to order 2 slices and a soda. There was limited seating outside due to the pandemic. Prices were expensive. For 2 slices of margarita pizza and a soda it was $13 and then I tipped $2 for $15. Although the pizza was tasty and delicious...I might as well have just bought an entire pie for a little more. But the pizza was worth it. The next morning I ventured a little outside downtown Austin and hung out at Mount Bonnell. Here I parked just off the street and climbed the stairs to the overlook area. Then as I walked along the observation section I was afforded terrific views of Austin's suburban area...sort of a getaway from the hustle and bustle. Although Mount Bonnell was very crowded with visitors...it was still pleasant to just grab a viewing spot and enjoy the fresh air. Plenty of folks were taking family pictures here as well. The Colorado River flows right along the banks of Mount Bonnell and you could see in the distance boats and ferries floating along the waters with houses situated on both sides of the Colorado. I then drove back into Austin, parked my car on the street and walked along Lady Bird Lake traversing the hiking path parallel to the city's river. This was a very popular area to get exercise and simply stroll among Austin's grounds. I walked about 2 miles each way sort of people browsing/watching. I did pass a section called the Texas Rowing Center where you can rent a paddleboard or kayak and get out on the water...a fun summer weekend activity. I actually ventured on top of a couple of passenger bridges simply walking them for picturesque views of Austin's city skyline. Also beside Lady Bird Lake were benches to sit down on and relax. Next I drove to Rainey Street, parked at another metered spot and walked among many bars, restaurants and lounges...this famous street is popular for students of the University of Texas. Also at Rainey Street were 2 different Food Truck Sections good for grabbing a quick bite to eat. Both areas offered picnic tables to eat at though during this 2020 pandemic, half of the food trucks weren't even open for the weekend. That was disappointing. I ate a brisket sandwich from Mr. Sandwich. It was just okay...sort of forgettable. But I really enjoyed Rainey Street's surroundings and setting. It's a charming street. Austin is a great place for a weekend getaway and only 80 miles from San Antonio...my favorite city in Texas. read more

We visited Austin and stayed downtown for 4 nights. We feel ripped off. We found out when we got there you can camp anywhere. We could have just brought a tent and camped along the river free! jk In all seriousness, you can camp anywhere and that is what is going on in all of downtown Austin. We had to walk around people sleeping on the sidewalk and saw people camping in parks, along the river, under viaducts, in the doorways of buildings etc. Being from Chicago I am accustomed to homelessness, but I found that the Austin homeless are very aggressive. They constantly approach me and shamed me if I don't give them money. They also reach out to shake my hand, like they were being friendly, and want to strike up a conversation with me. If I didn't shake their hand, they shame me and called me names. Of course, Austin is not just about the homeless, but how Austin inhumanly treats it's homeless and infringes on everyone else living or visiting downtown Austin, left an indelible mark on this city. Austin city government including Mayor Steve Adler, you need to take care of your Austin people, visitors as well as your homeless. You have an epidemic. read more

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We are deeply disappointed that they do not offer non-profit pricing and that Indeed's corporate greed is appalling! Our organization, www.ycusa.org, is forced to place ads with them at premium rates to support our after-school outreach programs for coaches, costing us over $25k annually! Despite our repeated requests for discounts, and especially after the challenges of Covid-19 left us struggling, our pleas have been ignored. We kindly request that CEO Chris Hyams, and Chairman Rony Kahan look into this serious matter and offer non profit organization pricing! read more

Come on. It's Austin. What's not to love about Austin?! I walked three mikes around the Capital area. One of the best things about being a photographer is seeing places again. You know you've captured all the touristy photos. So, you can focus on details of the city. I did just that. I enjoyed the wildlife all around the Capital building & grounds with my DSLR. But, here are some random touristy shots. If you're in central Texas, Austin is a must stop. read more

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For two-step dancing lessons, I went to Broken Spoke in Austin, TX Wednesday, and Sam's Town Point Thursday. Sam's wins! "Double or Nothing" teacher Vanessa V. was amazing. She challenged dancers by sharing great moves. It's free, unlike "BS," so give it a try! Technically called "Intermediate Two-Step Lessons," the moment I walked in Sam's, I was "spoken for" by a dark-eyed gent who asked me to be his partner. Sadly, about 8 men waited by the bar for more females to enter and have fun... and they didn't. I liked my partner's earnestness in wanting to learn to be the lead dancer, and Vanessa was super in explaining and demonstrating each intricate (to me) move. Indeed, my partner made me better because of his strength "steering!" Anyway, the dance floor was packed because Vanessa is so stellar, I think. I shall return to Sam's Town Point. Broken Spoke's band of the night was AMAZING... sang Johnny Cash, and several of their own tunes, but 1-hour of dance lessons included a lot of banter and 25 minutes maximum of real instruction. So, my preference is clear. read more

Austin, Texas - I twirled so much, I wanted to make sure I remembered the name of Sam's Town Point, so I photographed this poster on its wall! - Local Flavor Near Me

I am so happy with the service I received today from We- Haul, the guys were quick professional and friendly. They came over and helped out, I definitely recommend them. Good job guys. ​ ​https://www.facebook.com/wehaulteam2.0?mibextid=ZbWKwL read more

I visited Austin for the first time when it was SXSW season with my cousin and her friend We visited the downtown area, it was so beautiful. Though walking on the streets it smelled like walking down the streets of NOLA. If you know how that is, its smelled nasty!!! The people were nice and sometimes indifferent. It was a lot of different kinds of people here. A lot of good food places Also, its a lot of weird people here, both for the college and regular. A LOT OF DIFFERENT ODD PEOPLE. We even drove on the campus of UT Austin, it was really big and beautiful at night. Its the capital of Texas, you can't get any better than that. It was very beautiful both urban and rural city. read more

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... read more

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I really appreciated Nicanor P. Rena Jr. coming and taking care of getting the stuff out of my garage and backyard. He was very quick and reassuring to get it taken care of. Considering my situation he was pleasant and helpful. Appreciate you Nick ... read more

This ladies and gentlemen is my 1,000 review. I did want to make it something special and Austin,Texas means a lot to me for so many reasons. I have came a long way from my very first review of some crappy Chinese restaurant in Northern Virginia. Which FYI has long been closed. Maybe my Yelp reviews did the world some good? LOL I will note my spelling errors and grammatical errors will more than likely continue as I climb into the 1,000 review plus category because 9 times out of 10 I am too lazy to reread it or I am drunk while writing them. So let me review the capital of Texas. Austin has it all for a smaller bigger city as I would call it. Currently less than 1 million population. It has grown so much throughout the years that I barely recognized it when I moved here earlier this year. I use to come to visit about once a month in the early 2000s (damn I am old!) for a weekend of debauchery as a solider stationed in Fort Hood. So what makes Austin fun and great? 1. The foodie scene. I have just barely tapped into the places that I need and want to try. My bookmark list is ridiculous and will continue to grow. 2. It is unique or AKA Austin weird. I miss the days where Chester (I think that was his name) would run around 6th in his tutu. I believe he even ran for mayor and won?!?! Update::::: his name was Leslie! A friend and local Austinite (spelling?) informed me. Also for a taste of some Austin Weird you will need to check out Eeyore's birthday party. It has titties, costumes, a man with a rat, drum circle, weed and booze. 3. It is legal to be topless (men and women) in Austin. Boobies for all y'all! 4. Greenbelt for hiking and exploring. There is something wonderful about nature and finding little waterhole area along the way to swim at to beat this Texas heat 5. Home of Tito's handmade vodka. I don't need to say more on this as Tito's has led to some interesting times. 6. Home of Alamo Drafthouse. I can say that I had been to my first Alamo Drafthouse while living in the DC Metro. It was meh compared to the ones in Austin. 7. Trudy's Mexican martinis. WTF?!?! I was introduced to these and then I didn't remember my whole entire night. Still delicious and a must for one to try. 8. Lady Bird Lake. This has beautiful scenery and right in the middle of downtown. 9. Downtown area to include Dirty 6th. I am still a fan of Dirty 6th street to include Pete's Piano bar and Coyote Ugly (with a good crowd). I do know I am older now so I have to venture to 4th street but 6th street is fun during festivals like the ROT rally. 10. All the festivals and music scene. We have Austin City Limits, South By SW, Pecan Street, etc So now that you have the good. What is the bad? Well everyone knows that traffic sucks but honestly the traffic is not that bad compared to other cities like Washington DC and LA. I can't honestly complain about the traffic, housing prices, the people, etc because my experience living in DC for about 5 plus years left me jaded and feeling cynical of others. read more

I cannot recommend Radiant Plumbing. First off, their systems specialist told me that the workers would arrive between 8:30-10. They called at 7:15 telling me the workers had just left the shop and would be right there. Since the shop is about 10 minutes from my home I assumed they would be here no later than 8. They finally arrived around 10:30 and took longer than the estimate partly due to them installing a base that I told them I didn't want which in turn made their vent pipe too long and didn't have the right fittings for a straight shot. Finally settled on a flex pipe that leaves a curve in the line. Next, no paperwork was provided in order for me to register my HVAC for the warrantee and none for the tax credit although the receipt may be enough for that. Office staff were no help since after multiple tries they sent me a warrantee for a water heater instead of the A/C. I believe you can find a better company elsewhere. read more

I've been visiting for a week. Thus far, Austin has been a charming little city though I wouldn't call it the "San Francisco of Texas" as I've heard some folks refer to it. I'm not sure what makes Austin "weird," maybe it's because I'm from California ? It's pretty tamed, I mean maybe it's because it's in Texas where the slightest "liberal" thing is considered weird ? I love the green setting along the downtown area with rivers streaming around, it's lovely. Loved Barton Springs, so calming and amazing. That whole area: the trails, the gardens, the creek - all amazing and hands down my favorite part of this city. The food is delicious ! Particular favorites have been Torchy's tacos, Cooper Bar-B-Q pit, & Chuy's in the Barton Springs area. I preferred Rainey street over 6th street for sure. I feel that 6th street is trying to capture the same energy as Bourbon street in New Orleans but fails. It was even pitched to me that way when I arrived (that it was just like Bourbon street) - that may get people who have never visited Bourbon street, but I have, so not true. The drinks were all terrible on 6th street, except for at the Iron Cactus where it's expensive but they know how to properly make cocktails. Rainey street on the other hand is a smaller strip but the bars are far more interesting and less sticky, the drinks are better, crowd is better - it's just better ! I think the fact that it's not trying to imitate another city's strip and is so authentically Austin is what makes it 10x better than 6th street. Now as for the "live music capital of the world," I don't know about that. Before coming I had read that there'd be live music in every corner, even at the airport, etc. Well there seemed to be a homeless at every corner (though not as severe as Los Angeles) and the airport is nice but didn't see anyone performing. I've seen different local acts performing at the bars on 6th street, but not enough for me to say "how uniquely Austin." I'm assuming this title came because of Austin City Limits and/or the big music festivals held here. However I love the focus on the music scene here, don't get me wrong. I loved their music shops, so many unique trinkets for music lovers (well there's a lack of hip hop and rap representation). As someone who loves music, I liked this about Austin very much. Still, I wouldn't call it the "live music capital of the world", maybe I need to come to a festival here to understand or catch a ACL show ? I don't know. I like the murals for sure, their most simplest mural (the "hi, how are you?" frog) has the most touching story. There's definitely a lot of talented artists living here and I'm glad they're coloring this city. More murals of other famous Texans would be nice, like Janis Joplin, Roy Orbison, Selena, Buddy Holly etc. Willie Nelson is on every corner, I understand you guys are proud of him because he was the first on ACL or whatever, but there's also other famous Texans to be proud about that the rest of us really love. The artist I mentioned are represented in stores, among others, but I'd like to see them getting some love around the city too. The one Janis Joplin mural I found was at a Baskins Robbins near the university, and it was very small - a Buddy Holly one is there too and it's very small ! I'll wrap this up now. I like Austin but felt it was overhyped to me. It's a charming little city with some good food and beautiful scenery. Everyone here is polite, that southern hospitality is present here - save for the frat boys that go to 6th street. I think Austin is a city you "wet your feet in," in order to know if you'd be down to visit San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, or Chicago. Nice - that's the word to best describe Austin. - before I forget, highly suggest seeing the bats fly out of Congress bridge after sunset. You can do that for free and get a stunning view of them on either side of the bridge or from above - you don't have to spend on a boat or kayak, unless that's your sort of thing and you want to. Bourbon Street is 100x better than 6th Street forever, lmao. read more

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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. read more

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. read more

terrible city. could be cool and cute for weekends but living here is a nightmare! The people from Austin say they are nice but they are not! very racist of you are Latin. is extremely complicated and crowded. making appointments, reservations, etc is almost impossible! is totally overated! food is not so wao! employees in general have an actitud! good for students and Tex people. that is it! read more

I mean seriously, what is there not to love? Beautiful weather (yeah, I sometimes like the 100+ degree weather, gross right?) Amazing music scene Delicious restaurants Cool, relaxed bars (I mean, besides dirty 6th) Friendly, smiling faces Gorgeous parks, lakes, swimming spots & trails IT'S THE PERFECT COMBINATION OF THE ABOVE! But if you're from Dallas, it sucks, go away. read more

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First off this review is made through my experience living here and factual observationsI have made. Austin is not a great place to live. The only people who like it are people that were born here and have parents that live here. You cant even have a conversation with someone from here without them mentioning their parents(because they have no accomplishments of their own so they have to reference their mommy and poppa) Also they do not like people that are NOT from here. I think another reason people live here their whole life is because with their atitudes they cant make it and are not accepted anywhere else but Texas. So they come back to where they were born so they can re-establish their high school friendships and cliques. Any outsiders are NOT tolerated. I have lived here for 4 years and a good majority of people here mooch off their parents well into their 30's. Also I see a lot of + reviews stating that "its just cool", "it is what it is" and other catch phrases that they like to use, but when you ask for specific places they cant explain. Most of the negative reviews that are TRUTHFUL get flagged off by (who else Austin lovers)...people here tend to think they are trendy and really arent. Its true, people here still wear cowboy boots and belt buckles and say "y'all". The fact is that Austin does not have anything good. They claim "lady bird lake" is cool, but its not a lake by any other states standards, its a ditch with water. Just recently high rise apartments have sprung up(sorry to inform you Austin , but stop trying to mimmick Miami, Miami actually has the sea so the prices there are justified. What do you have? a dirty water ditch) Downtown Austin is infested with homeless people and its common to see needles on the sidewalk(especially around 6th street). You CANT go downtown qithout a bum asking you for money. The music scene is over rated. What they do is the band invites their friends and family to some see them and that is what the audience consists of. They go ONLY to show emotional support, as far as music quality, no one likes it. I have talked to several people from Colorado, New York, Maine etc. and anyone and everyone that is from out of state says that it sucks here. They say there is nothing to do, people are obnoxious and think they are correct all the time, and they notice how 30+ year olds still live at home. Also it seems like Austin people have a vendetta against California people(jealousy perhaps). Also people dont know how to merge into the highway, so 183/IH35 /Loop 1 is always clogged up. NOTE TO AUSTIN DRIVERS: YOU are supposed to yield to highway traffic, they DONT need to slow down to let you in, yopu speed up to MERGE in...get it? Bottom line people here are petty and seem to have authority issues, which seem like they stem from the fact that their parents pay their rent and buy them everything, so they have a need to try to exert their authority on someone due to the low self esteem. Since this review is truthful and doesnt go along with all the hyped up lies people from here tell I wouldnt be surprised if its not on here long. People NOT from texas know I am telling it like it is. Thanks guys, have a good day. read more

I've lived in downtown Austin for about 10 years and am ready to leave. The homeless population has destroyed what Austin was. City leaders have done nothing to help the situation and it has become so bad it is hard to walk a single block without being harassed for money or even worse. I have heard many visitors say they will not come back because they have not felt save. In addition to the homeless problem the festivals have become to dangerous to attend. Just this past weekend there were 4 shootings during SXSW downtown. Then this morning....I went to wash my car at the self serve wash off of east seventh and could not even finish due to the 3 homeless people that feel comfortable asking for money and when told no started to yell and harass. What Austin has become is pitiful. read more

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. read more

Austin, TX 1. plenty of parks 2. weird 3. great food trucks 4. outstanding BBQ 5. lack of seafood and Cajun restaurants 6. great schools 7. traffic is the worst 8. excellent medical care 9. nightlife 10. international airport read more

Austin, Texas - Local Flavor Near Me

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. read more

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. read more

I couldn't wait to visit Austin. We went downtown for the music and food, the homeless population is absolutely appalling. They are passed out on the streets everywhere, and the ones that aren't passed out harass you for money. One man in particular actually followed us, cursing and yelling at us......this was in the middle of the day. My mother was scared to death that we would be attacked. Downtown is dirty and felt extremely unsafe. The traffic is terrible. No matter where you go or what time of the day you travel, be prepared to hurry up and wait. We actually cut our well deserved vacation short to get away from Austin. It's unfortunate as we were SO excited to visit. Austin, you need to clean up your city! read more