1. Live Music Every Night Of The Week
This is not an exaggeration. Austin may be the “self-proclaimed” live music capitol of the world, but that’s only because it is. Feel like listening to the blues on Christmas Eve? Done. How about some hip-hop on a Tuesday? Absolutely. If you don’t know where to start, just let the Chronicle be your guide.
2. The Shock Of Jumping Into Barton Springs After Baking In The Sun On The Hill
If you live in Austin, you know how hot it gets come July—or April for that matter. Aside from Sno Beach’s sugary goodness, there is really only one cure, and that is jumping into the 60-something degree waters of Barton Springs. But even after you’ve finally cooled off, you know you still love to…
3. Complain About How Hot It Is In the Summer
“It was seriously like a hundred and thirty degrees last August. I swear!”
Really? Was it really just four degrees shy of the hottest temperature on record in the United States, ever? As much as Austinites love to complain about the summers, though; we’ll miss them come winter.
4. Complaining About How Unusually COLD It Was This Winter
Austin is generally pretty mild in the winters—and by mild, I mean 80 degrees one day and 30 degrees the next. This past winter, though, has been unusually, well, wintry, causing icey roads and dangerous driving conditions. And no, it’s not that we FLIP OUT over a little freeze here and there; it’s just that the city itself isn’t designed to deal with it. So, we complain. Because it’s fun.
5. Having Outdoor Events Year-Round, No Matter the Weather
Sure, we’ll complain about the weather sometimes, but that won’t stop us from going out and sweating through our T-shirts at festivals. There’s Blues on the Green, Eeyore’s Birthday, the Zilker Theater plays, First Thursday, Farmers’ Markets, Pecan Street Festival, an odd open air market here and there… And those are just the free events.
6. Sixth Street
Austinites love Sixth Street. What? You don’t? What about West Sixth, East Sixth, or Lake Austin Boulevard? Ha! See you love Sixth Street!
7. Hating Sixth Street
Of course we also love to hate Sixth Street. In fact, if you’re over 25 years old, you’ve probably posted something like this to Facebook: “Went to Dirty 6th last night, now I remember why I don’t go there anymore. Never again. FML.” Basically, it’s the drunken hookup everyone regrets.
8. Finding The Weirdest Ways To Pronounce Street Names And Sticking With Those
Manchaca? Rio Grande? Guadalupe? San Jacinto? You guys know these are Spanish words, right?
9. Just Being Weird In General
Austin is weird, and it loves it. The weird is celebrated with things like gorilla runs, parties for the birth of fictional donkeys, bike-riding in a g-string, walking down the street in a g-string—pretty much anything in a g-string. If you don’t fit in where you live, you’ll probably feel right at home in Austin.
10. The Mother Of All Whole Foods
Whole Foods may be a national chain these days, and sure, the Whole Foods on 5th and Lamar isn’t actually the original store; but it is certainly the most expansive. A chocolate fountain? Yes please. A salad bar that is larger than my entire house? I’ll take it. You can even buy shoes here, you know, in case you forgot yours at home.
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11. Immediately Telling Out-Of-Staters That You Didn’t Vote For George W. Bush…
If you ever meet someone from out of state, or more likely, abroad, and they give you that skeptical, raised eyebrow look upon hearing you’re from Texas, simply inform them that no, you did not vote for George W., and that no, you do not think Africa is a nation, and they will no longer misunderestimate you.
12. Or Governor Rick Perry
“For those of you that will be 21 by November the 12th, I ask for your support and your vote.” – Rick Perry. Seriously– can’t we get this guy out of office yet?
13. In Fact, You Probably Would Have Just Voted For Leslie If You’d Had the Chance
R.I.P.
14. Everything At Alamo Drafthouse
Alamo Drafthouse: the home of Master Pancake Theater, Quote-Alongs, Girlie Nights, Terror Tuesdays, Action Pack, Air Sex (don’t ask), and some of the best fried pickles in Texas.
15. Refusing To Call It Anything Other Than Town Lake
For those of you who aren’t from around here, or are about eight years old, what is now called Lady Bird Lake was once, in the not so distant past, called Town Lake (like, 2007). It was Town Lake for half a century, and for locals who grew up with the name, it will be Town Lake forevermore. So deal with it.
16. BREAKFAST TACOS!!!
What do Austinites love more than tacos? Tacos that you can eat for breakfast. There are the classics (and by classics, I mean best), like Torchy’s and Tacodeli. But there are also a ton more to choose from: Tamale House, Maria’s, the Pueblo Viejo food truck, Taco Joint, and on and on.
17. Being Fitter Than Your City
Austin is pretty much designed to make you fit, tan, and beautiful. There are running and bike trails out the wazoo, swimming holes galore, and the hot Texas sun will golden your skin and make you sweat away about five pounds every time you leave the house.
18. Being Able to Eat Donuts That Would Send a Lesser Man Into Shock
Sure, Austinites are super fit, and that means that they get to indulge, and indulge you must at Gourdough’s. Apple pie filling, cream cheese icing, caramel, and dry roasted peanuts heavenly held in a gooey donut? Why not?
19. And Tex Mex And Margaritas
What do Austinites love more than deliciously greasy Tex Mex? Starting the meal with a margarita larger than a fish bowl.
20. And Waiting In Line For Barbecue
If you haven’t waited in line for Franklin Barbecue, you are… well, probably over the age of 45 and/or not a hipster, and/or a vegetarian. O
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21. In Fact, Austinites Just LOVE Food
Austin’s music scene may only be rivaled by its restaurant scene. There are literally too many local favorites to list: Thunder Cloud Subs, Amy’s Ice Cream, Sandy’s for burgers, Moonshine for brunch, and Austin has diners like it’s 1953: Kerbey, Magnolia, 24 Diner, and on, and on, and on…
22. Especially If It Comes From A Food Truck
Does food actually taste better from what often looks like an old trailer a few notches below passing inspection? Have you ever been to East Side King? Yes, yes it does.
23. Everything About South Congress
Speaking of food trucks, Austin loves South Congress (home to many of our favorite mobile eateries.) We love the shops, we love the food, we love the festivals, and for some irritating reason, we just love to call it SoCo.
24. Austin City Limits Festival
One of the biggest live music events, not only in Texas, but in the U.S. People from all over the world fly in to see the biggest names to the smallest local bands, in this now two weekend-long event in Zilker Park. What could be better?
25. Hating Austin City Limits Festival
The only thing Austinites like better than ACL Festival is hating ACL Festival. Two weekends? Please.
26. South By Southwest Festival
Again: One of the biggest events, not only in Texas, but in the U.S. for music, film, and interactive (which, I assume means you are interacting with larger than life robots dressed in drag. Okay, I’ve never done the interactive portion.)
27. And, of Course, Hating South By Southwest
You hipsters clogging up the streets and messing up my commute home! Get off my lawn!
28. In Fact, Austinites Just Love To Complain
There’s all this traffic now, and these buildings ruining the sky line, and these L.A. snobs all over the place, and I was at Amy’s the other day and someone coughed on me…
29. Feeling Nostalgic For The Good Old Days 10 Years Ago
No, 30 Years Ago
Actually, 50 Years Ago Was Really The Best Time
30. But Despite the Changing Skyline,
The Rising Home Prices,
And Even All the Real Weirdos From L.A.,
The Thing Austinites Love Most About Austin Is The Fact that They Get to Live Here
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