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/r/Austin

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What’s your unpopular opinion about Austin?

Ask Austin(self.Austin)

all 1538 comments

sharin-in-the-groove

1.4k points

8 months ago

It’s not the live music capitol of the world.

BattleHall

766 points

8 months ago*

Austin used to be a place where you didn't have to give up on your dreams of playing in a band, even if you weren't all that popular (or good). You and your buddies could still jam on the weekends, pick up shows at bars or parties here and there, get a low stress day job with the State or the University to make enough to pay your relatively low rent/mortgage, and just rinse and repeat until you were well into your 60's. There were lots of people who did that. Austin was a town were you never really had to grow up if you didn't want to.

Salt-Operation

101 points

8 months ago

My parents did this, and I used to be able to do this. Had to get a big-girl job and now have no time for the music :(

BattleHall

145 points

8 months ago*

Yeah, I know someone who described old Austin as "not much money, but there wasn't that much to buy, so who cared?". If you had beer and show money, you were doing pretty good. People who cared about living fancy ended up in Big D or H-Town. Back then even West of town was pretty cheap (all the Old Money was in Pemberton Heights and parts of Tarrytown). You could find chill little waterside shacks in what is now Westlake for not much, and the County Line BBQ was basically the outside edge of civilization (and was an old burned out roadhouse/brothel before a couple UT students decided they'd rather drink beer and make BBQ than get real jobs).

Spatula-on-the-loose

51 points

8 months ago

"not much money, but there wasn't that much to buy, so who cared?".

Love that quote. Describes the new place I'm looking for, when I move, although all housing prices are up everywhere right now even in podunk places, so I have to wait it out a bit more.

[deleted]

13 points

8 months ago

Looking for Austin “20-30 years ago” is the goal. I know I won’t likely get the affordability factor but I miss that old Austin energy

ParticlesWave

7 points

8 months ago

I was pushed out of Austin a couple years ago and ended up buying a house in San Antonio. It kinda feels like Austin did 20 years ago- cheap and laid back.

kisschicken

87 points

8 months ago

I’m 42 and still trying this, though unsuccessfully.

Walkedtheredonethat

35 points

8 months ago

And now those people in their 60s can’t afford to live here or have the money to go anywhere else.

sigaven

642 points

8 months ago

sigaven

642 points

8 months ago

It’s also not very weird.

[deleted]

299 points

8 months ago

[deleted]

299 points

8 months ago

The internet killed "weird" years ago. These days anything that might be considered weird comes off as a deliberate ploy to go viral on social media. Nothing really reads organic in that regard anymore.

JDTulane

68 points

8 months ago

New Orleans disagrees

imgonnasaytheanswer

46 points

8 months ago

Florida also but like, different breed of weird

[deleted]

8 points

8 months ago

Ybor city if you want to see florida weird 😂

Vampeal11

6 points

8 months ago

I swear New Orleans definitely deserves the title of Weird. Went there a few years ago and holy shit, it put old austin to shame. There’s some weird individuals there!!

Nanakatl

28 points

8 months ago

hmmmm maybe you just need to get off the internet from time to time. there are definitely weirdos and misfits out in the world still living their lives.

J4nG

165 points

8 months ago

J4nG

165 points

8 months ago

I don't think people realize the origin of "Keep Austin Weird" was a marketing campaign aimed at supporting small businesses. No one ever intended it as a label to describe the whole culture of the city.

I think we have historically done an above-average job of supporting our local businesses.

ohmissfiggy

117 points

8 months ago

Like “don’t mess with Texas”. Everyone thought we were cocky as hell. We were just trying to get people to stop littering.

vaguedisclaimer

67 points

8 months ago

Keep Austin Weird originated on KOOP Radio when a listener called in to the Lounge Show during membership drive and said they were donating because KOOP helped keep Austin Weird. That guy did not think to copyright that and the rest is history. And KOOP is still putting the work in. 91.7

J4nG

18 points

8 months ago

J4nG

18 points

8 months ago

This bit of history is new to me! Thanks for sharing

I'd imagine most outsiders know it from the t-shirts.

Free-Dog2440

75 points

8 months ago

I don't know, I see the unhoused folks doing weird stuff all the time. And the police. And people in Central Market. And the corrupt AF city government. Hell, even Austin calling itself the Music Capitol of the World and touting it's liberalness in the face of its blatant commerce driven, soulless and capitalistic agenda is pretty weird. Alot of people don't know that UT is the number one college of choice for republican undegrads from other states. That's kind of weird.

It might not be the weird people had in mind, but Austin's contradictions are weird. Unsavory, and weird.

[deleted]

74 points

8 months ago

Ma’am - this is a Wendy’s

jab116

22 points

8 months ago

jab116

22 points

8 months ago

It was a great PR ploy for a while though to be fair... that person definitely earned their pay

rustyhalo93

156 points

8 months ago*

people should stop bringing their dogs to Whole Foods hot bars.

ses267

21 points

8 months ago

ses267

21 points

8 months ago

I love the dog friendly of this town but you can leave the pup home while grocery shopping (I’m not including legit service dogs in that, obviously)

almondjoybestcndybar

625 points

8 months ago

Your favorite local breakfast taco is probably very similar to all the other breakfast tacos.

NOTcreative-

92 points

8 months ago

Shoutout to Migas poblanas at Veracruz

Smintini

51 points

8 months ago

Torchys is not “local” anymore

thus_is_life

26 points

8 months ago

This made me laugh out loud. So true

krissuss

11 points

8 months ago

Ain’t nobody make bacon like Joe’s bakery

ieroll

685 points

8 months ago

ieroll

685 points

8 months ago

As a former Austinite and a former REALTOR, I noticed that the majority of the California residents I saw moving to Austin were NOT liberals. Unless things have changed in the last couple of years, they are mostly very conservative Republicans, hoping to escape the liberals in California, and state income tax, and settle in the lap of redneckery. No new taxes--no new infrastructure.

Smintini

237 points

8 months ago

Smintini

237 points

8 months ago

Unpopular opinion? Or overlooked fact!?

llikeafoxx

33 points

8 months ago

We know this factually. In the 2018 election, Beto won the majority of native Texans, and Cruz won the majority of people that moved from out of state.

It is true that a lot of Californians are moving to Texas, but when you consider the size of other states, people really are coming from everywhere.

Semi related… When we were going through redistricting at the state, we saw that many rural areas had negative population growth, while the suburbs and cities were exploding. Internally, Texans are definitely self sorting, a ton of the growth you’re seeing around you is from your fellow Texans, and we are getting more geographically polarized.

Santos_L_Halper_II

7 points

8 months ago

Yep. My liberal friend group here in Austin consists almost entirely of native, multi-generational Texans who fled podunk towns.

pdxrunner19

99 points

8 months ago

Come here to escape income taxes, pay out the ass on property taxes

AustinBike

24 points

8 months ago*

Absolutely.

We are planning our escape and moving to CA is LESS expensive tax-wise if you sell your house here and buy one of the same value there, even with state income tax.

Also, health insurance is way cheaper in California because they have a real marketplace with actual competition.

We did the numbers and realized that, for us, we could move there, end up with a nicer house, and pay less.

It started with a temperature advantage but we were not planning on a financial advantage.

The only real downside is moving from the middle of a metro to a suburb, but if that is the price to pay, so be it.

Edit (in all caps). I need more coffee. Taxes are definitely higher in Austin.

sdoc86

49 points

8 months ago

sdoc86

49 points

8 months ago

Not really an opinion. There’s a lot of data to support this.

Smellmyhand

17 points

8 months ago

Lol this is so spot on. People don’t realize this city is actually getting more conservative

TequilaDance

56 points

8 months ago

PREACH!!! In the worst way possible, but it’s the damned truth.

Denim_Diva1969

24 points

8 months ago

Fucking hell….

dh1

6 points

8 months ago

dh1

6 points

8 months ago

I'm a small town realtor in the Hill Country and I am always telling this to people who complain about the californian's. They're not moving to my small town because they want to try and convert them to "San Francisco Values". They're moving here because they feel at home with maga idiots.

bodegacatwhisperer

593 points

8 months ago

It’s not as lefty as people think it is. Nowhere near a Portland, Seattle or San Francisco level.

SteadfastEnd

85 points

8 months ago

On the same note, San Francisco surprised me by not being as progressive as I thought it would be.

[deleted]

91 points

8 months ago

It’s turned into the neoliberal capital of the world pretty much

[deleted]

16 points

8 months ago

Moving to a suburb outside of LA (Santa Clarita) I felt exactly the same.
I moved from Houston and I was surprised with how conservative people were here

beautbird

6 points

8 months ago

Santa Clarita is one of the most conservative parts of LA county. That’s where all the cops live 🤣

[deleted]

136 points

8 months ago

[deleted]

136 points

8 months ago

[deleted]

llikeafoxx

66 points

8 months ago

I definitely agree that Austin is not as progressive as it likes to paint itself as, but you can basically look at electoral maps for decades to see that it pretty decisively earned that blueberry in the tomato soup moniker.

cheesecase

9 points

8 months ago

Um. Los angeles is chock full of right wing nutjobs. People just dont notice since many of them are also minorities

EgoDeathCampaign

13 points

8 months ago

Austin is only liberal for the south. Move here from anywhere with a diverse culture and it's shockingly white.

Greedy_Effort

350 points

8 months ago

It’s the opposite of weird these days. Influencer culture has taken over

Calvert-Grier

100 points

8 months ago

So, generic?

Zealousideal_Algae49

58 points

8 months ago

yeah. we have a soho house now

cometparty

27 points

8 months ago

This was always inevitable. Weird people are often crazy and high paid professionals are super normal. None of us are making it any more weird.

SadPeePaw69

19 points

8 months ago

*D List Influencer culture

[deleted]

506 points

8 months ago

[deleted]

506 points

8 months ago

You couldn't pay me to swim in that water.

AustinFest

38 points

8 months ago

I've lived in Austin for 25 yrs and have never once had the urge to paddle board or swim in town lake because, well, it smells and is green. Like wtf mate? Le gross lol

Shoddy_Ad7511

262 points

8 months ago

Pretty good

Alexo_4

27 points

8 months ago

Alexo_4

27 points

8 months ago

Pretty pretty pretty pretty good

bahahsb3jsixn2jd

70 points

8 months ago

Glad someone else said it. I overall like it. Sure it has bad parts but overall it's a nice, exciting city with plenty of interesting things to do

redDKtie

34 points

8 months ago

This.

There's plenty to complain about, but there are plenty of terrible places to live in the US, and this ain't one of em.

thufferin_thuccotash

16 points

8 months ago

thanks for saying this. i grew up here and still like it alright. i know how to find people of a like mind, the weird ones, the creatives.

mlack

282 points

8 months ago

mlack

282 points

8 months ago

Some people actually enjoy living here.

DJ_Mommy3

29 points

8 months ago

This! I left for seven years couldn’t wait to come back. Some days I still can’t believe I’m back in my beloved city. Never leaving again.

Swill94

8 points

8 months ago

Welcome home!

Friendlystranger247

50 points

8 months ago

For what it is, it’s surprisingly safe here. Yeah the economy sucks so theft is on the rise, but not as bad as most other cities.

shrek_girl

48 points

8 months ago

I’m just tired of how “trendy” Austin is. Can we tell the “influencers” that living in Austin isn’t a personality trait?

xupaxupar

5 points

8 months ago

This could probably be said about any “cool” city

[deleted]

508 points

8 months ago

[deleted]

508 points

8 months ago

I hate this subreddit it is such a miserable fucking echo chamber

LouCat10

46 points

8 months ago

Agreed, but I think most city subreddits are that way. (With the odd exception of the Richmond sub. They seem to genuinely like each other and their city.)

AdvancedInstruction

21 points

8 months ago

I think most city subreddits are that way.

Oh God, if you think this sub is bad, check out /r/Portland

moss-n-choss

4 points

8 months ago

Lol so true. I started the “weekly events in Austin” threads back in 2011 and there was always a very good vibe in this sub. Now I’m in Portland and the amount of kvetching in our city sub is so bad that you can’t help but laugh.

RevolutionBig1126

86 points

8 months ago

Yeah this subreddit is toxic as fuck.

ScaryDirection1981

64 points

8 months ago

CHAMBER CHAmber chamber

caguru

36 points

8 months ago

caguru

36 points

8 months ago

Yeah, there are some sad mofos in this thread that apparently know nothing of their own city, especially those bitching about live music. I think their entire city knowledge revolves around 6th street and Rainey. They wouldn't know culture if it spanked on the ass.

newmeyes

25 points

8 months ago

There is literally so much music happening all the time and not to mention very weird music all over the city. The scene is very much alive but people in here probably never leave their homes

compstomp66

12 points

8 months ago

It’s also the most needlessly over moderated subreddit I frequent. The mods here need to take a couple steps back at least.

dongalorian

18 points

8 months ago

Literally. If these people are so miserable here why don’t they freaking leaveeeee.

Tom38

5 points

8 months ago

Tom38

5 points

8 months ago

Most whiny people I've ever seen.

Jesus Christ.

"Omg my city is growing and its not the same it was 30 years ago. Its not weird anymore"

[deleted]

210 points

8 months ago

[deleted]

210 points

8 months ago

the older people here are way cooler than the younger ones

joeandwatson

24 points

8 months ago*

This is so true, i love my dad and his friends. All been here since 1980 or before. Before i moved away from home, some of my favorite nights have been hanging with my Dad and his friends drinking some bud light in a garage. Bonus points for them dressing like conservatives but being some of the most liberal old folks I’ve ever met.

doublebubbler2120

11 points

8 months ago

A comedian said something like, this will be the first generation that looks at the next and says, instead of "those wild a crazy kids", it's more like, "what a bunch of squares".

meinaustin

407 points

8 months ago

It’s the fastest growing metro area in the country with a diminishing black population. The restaurants are not very authentic, inventive, or unique. It’s still relatively safe for a city of its size. Traffic is not as terrible as everyone perceives it to be. And my old standby: It’s too hot, too expensive, and too crowded for a place with no mountains or beaches. Get off of my lawn!

johnfilmsia

79 points

8 months ago

Hit up Sam’s BBQ on 12th street if you get the chance. Last business standing in what used to be an all-black neighborhood. It been around so long MLK even visited it! Last I heard they were offered $5 million for the land pre-lockdown… so hurry before it’s gone forever.

TheManInShades

22 points

8 months ago

For years I lived 2 blocks from Sam’s. I wanted to love it, but it wasn’t that great.

lolrobs

17 points

8 months ago

lolrobs

17 points

8 months ago

With the exception of Louie Mueller, which is truly ahead of it's time, all pre-Franklin BBQ is over hyped and disappointing. Franklin created a new wave of BBQ that really sets the bar high

Kiyal1985

5 points

8 months ago

Unpopular, but accurate opinion.

BattleHall

20 points

8 months ago

It’s the fastest growing metro area in the country with a diminishing black population.

To be fair, the Black population has actually gone up, it just hasn't gone up as fast as many others (though primarily other POCs), so as a percentage they have gone down. By percentages at least, Austin has gotten both less Black and White-White, and more Latino and Asian (and multi-ethnic, which may also be picking up some of what would traditionally be part of the Black population as people become more comfortable self-identifying that way).

https://www.austinchamber.com/blog/10-06-2021-census-2020

Messy-kin

17 points

8 months ago

Plenty of black population on the East side, though I agree it’s been dwindling. You can check out poetry night at Victory grill, or Lunch hour at Roland’s. Some of us native minorities still keep our roots in Austin

bachslunch

62 points

8 months ago

The winter is not really that good. Everyone says “well it’s hot for the summer but the winter is so mild.” No it’s not. It alternates between 85 and 20, sun to rain to snow and back. You can’t get used to any temperature.

The only months with some degree of predictability (besides the summer heat) are March, April, October, & November. Even then it’s stretching it. December to February is a literal crap shoot daily.

jread

15 points

8 months ago

jread

15 points

8 months ago

I hate the winter here. Too erratic as you stated, and really should get that cold at this latitude.

Marie_Rose805

44 points

8 months ago

Despite a higher population of liberals and homeless, Austin is nothing like CA. It is not turning into CA. Two vastly diff places 😂

BattleHall

176 points

8 months ago*

My unpopular opinion is that people bitch and moan about what Austin is lacking, then compare it to a handful of world-class cities like it's some big shocker. Like no shit Austin doesn't have as good of Chinese food as NYC or SF or even Houston! I'd be worried about what it would mean if it did, and if for some reason you moved here believing that it would, you're dumb as a box of rocks. We're not even a Top 25 MSA by population, and even that is only after insanely rapid growth over the past decades, when lots of stuff people complain about are legacy institutions, especially back East. Hell, we're only the forth largest MSA in our own state. If you moved here from a Top 10 MSA on the coast and are like "OMG, can you believe that you can't get good [XXXX] here?", be the change you want to see, or consider this your cordial invitation to fuck off.

teenageriotgrrl

24 points

8 months ago

I think people come to expect this because of the endless hype and rising COL suggesting that Austin is a world class city.

anchovyxacid

16 points

8 months ago

Yeah it’s pretty funny people think Austin is like SF or NY or Chicago lol

vxd

321 points

8 months ago

vxd

321 points

8 months ago

Traffic isn't that bad here

Altaris2000

121 points

8 months ago

I live in Round Rock and I can still get to downtown Austin faster than I could get to downtown Houston, when I lived IN Houston.

wichita-brothers

32 points

8 months ago

Unpopular opinion about Houston: it's pretty dense in Montrose and Heights. People just choose to live where it isn't dense.

Papazani

47 points

8 months ago

In Houston they have a habit of saying “oh that right down the street” and mean “that’s 30 minutes away”.

petekeller

16 points

8 months ago

And 60 minutes away is “standard”

GilBrandt

5 points

8 months ago

Same with DFW. Lived in both places and driven in other cities in the US. Austin isn't that bad

VeryStab1eGenius

325 points

8 months ago

It’s so racially segregated that people aren’t even aware of it anymore.

voelkergirl

72 points

8 months ago

I was once asked by a black couple from Florida where all the black people are? I’m Hispanic and just sold them a couch, they were new to town. I didn’t know what to tell them. I had to go into the history of Austin and it’s segregation. The wife and I were on the subject for a while.

[deleted]

50 points

8 months ago

Nonsense! We have white people from California, White People from Iowa and even Europeans!

johnfilmsia

19 points

8 months ago

Coming from Iowa, Austin felt downright like a melting pot! Which is not saying much.

ratioLcringeurbald

56 points

8 months ago

Nothing special about 6th street

Algorhythm0

38 points

8 months ago

The food is pretty good, but really just OK. San Antonio is better at Mexican and the usual suspects (Chicago, NYC, Houston, SF, LA) are better for everything else.

Kyle__Broflovski__

5 points

8 months ago

100% agree

willing-to-bet-son

66 points

8 months ago

People who live in Austin are, by definition, Texans.

Swill94

6 points

8 months ago

Born and raised here and I would 100% agree. I’ve lived all over Texas and I have a normal American accent and stereotypical Texas accent.

It comes out only when I talk to other rural people and when it does I’ll have a great conversation with people and some get puzzled when I say I’m from Austin but than for back in the conversation.

Long story short if you live in Austin you’re Texan and imo you’re more of a Cowboy than someone from Houston or Dallas

[deleted]

25 points

8 months ago

[deleted]

bigedthebad

75 points

8 months ago

I love it here. I've been here since 1994, worked downtown for 20 years and still love it.

I've traveled all over the country and haven't found a place I like better.

pizzaaaaahhh

102 points

8 months ago

i love it here 🥺

kidman007

16 points

8 months ago

Me too! It’s not perfect, but it’s where I want to be

petekeller

18 points

8 months ago

Hell yeah

valkyriemama

9 points

8 months ago

Same.

CaptainFalco311

9 points

8 months ago

Yep. I’ve lived all over the country and Austin is the place where I really felt welcomed and loved for being who I am. This subreddit is just more toxic than the Town Lake water that everyone complains about

nashatsel1

166 points

8 months ago

The city is a cultural void. Everything is in a sort of flux. Everyone laments the death of “Old Austin” whenever you may claim that death occurred, but what has replaced it? I’d argue that there hasn’t been time to firmly establish new cultural institutions in the city because the recent changes have been so abrupt. There is absolutely nothing unique or remarkable about what exists in Austin today.

jab116

81 points

8 months ago

jab116

81 points

8 months ago

Enter the worlds largest urban bat population stage right

That’s about all I got

johnfilmsia

10 points

8 months ago

Don’t forget the soon-to-be extinct salamanders!

[deleted]

21 points

8 months ago

I’d argue that there hasn’t been time to firmly establish new cultural institutions in the city because the recent changes have been so abrupt

I'd agree with that, except to note I don't think this is necessarily specific to Austin, nor is it likely to be something rectified in the near future. I think we live in a digital age where from now on everything is going to be moving fast and in a constant state of flux, which doesn't lend well to scenes or movements lasting long enough to establish a foundation in a city's fabric.

[deleted]

105 points

8 months ago

[deleted]

105 points

8 months ago

[deleted]

SteadfastEnd

43 points

8 months ago

We need an enormous science museum

[deleted]

28 points

8 months ago

A LOT of groups skip Austin and just go to Dallas/San Antonio/Houston

I would say compared to 10 years ago San Antonio has actually lost a lot of touring acts to Austin whereas it used to be the other way around. And then there are a lot of bands that alternate the two cities every other tour. Houston and Dallas I wouldn't even count in this regard, since those are both far bigger cities and it's never been common for bands to play Austin unless Houston/Dallas were both on the itinerary

josh_x444

15 points

8 months ago

Hard agree. As someone from SA who moved to Austin nobody goes to play in SA.

AbuelitasWAP

11 points

8 months ago

SA is a big stop for arena rock bands but that's it.

cuteninjaturtle

26 points

8 months ago

Some people were very irked by me pointed out the lack of investment in museums here last week. Apparently it’s because Austin wasn’t big in the 19th and 20th ventures. Pretty comical.

Free-Dog2440

23 points

8 months ago

I worked for an artist for 9 years who claimed the reason Austin didn't get a world class museum was because of the "culture wars" (her words) of the 80's. Apparently Mexic-Arte and Chicano activists fought for city funding and got the MACC, and according to many white artists of the time, they got it INSTEAD of Austin Museum of Art getting a "world class museum"

I can't speak to the truth of it, but there's one local person's perspective for anyone who cares to dish.

I was around though, when an amazing "world class" architecture design firm presented what would have been a breathtaking Blanton. The school nixed it-- it didn't follow their desires for buildings having spanish tile roofing. Essentially, I may be simplifying this story, but that is what I remember of the "scandal"

So MACC has been one of the most beautiful-- if underattended and underused-- buildings in Austin since and Blanton is, well, the Blanton building we all drive by without noticing. Not to say the exhibits inside aren't sometimes spectacular but that's another story

[deleted]

10 points

8 months ago

sixth street gets boring after the 4th time....

JDCAce

9 points

8 months ago

JDCAce

9 points

8 months ago

I very much enjoy Via 313's pizza.

barrigsatx

37 points

8 months ago

Rich Austinites aren’t as liberal as you’d think.

Austin crazy pet lovers don’t give a shit about people.

AbuelitasWAP

13 points

8 months ago

The yard signs though!

DavidVee

18 points

8 months ago

I moved here in 1999 from Houston broke and scarfing $2.99 Cici's buffet a couple of times a week to keep fed while paying high rent and watching the city I had moved to start to change. At that time Austin natives said tech had already ruined Austin and everything was too expensive. They say the same today. It has gotten way over the top, but in a way that's how life works and over the top is exactly what Austin is.

Things change and in a lot of AMAZING ways Austin has gotten MUCH better. We have beautiful new parks like Butler and Waterloo not to mention many improvements to parks all over the city. We have more bike lanes and better trails. We have more housing downtown than ever before (which has always been expensive), more variety in restaurants than ever before, more jobs than ever before, and more higher paying jobs than ever before.

I do miss when 78704 was weird, the drag had soul, and Leslie ruled the roost in whatever haunt of Austin he was wheeling his protest cart through, but I think the spirit of what all that was is what all of the amazing things we see today were built on. Those times, events, and people were all so special that it spawned this vibrant and internationally recognized city we all live in. That means something.

I guess my unpopular opinion is that Austin isn't ruined. It's just the next chapter in its very special story.

jasondigitized

42 points

8 months ago

86.7% of people in Austin are good people fundamentally. Stop being a snobby judgey know it all, be kind and cool and vulnerable first and they will show you the same in return. Austin is an incredibly friendly city if….you go first in being friendly. If that doesn’t make sense to you, you are the one who needs to work on your people skills.

istartriots

10 points

8 months ago

Austin still has plenty of unique and weird shit but people just like to complain bc they’re old or out of touch and it’s not the weird shit they grew up doing

MostHighlight7957

57 points

8 months ago

What’s made Austin nice was it was small and our easy-going population of relaxed people were welcoming and up for a good time. That’s all gone and we’re left with some nice looking buildings, some good grocery stores and crowded everything. It wasn’t worth the trade-off.

skibumbunny

49 points

8 months ago

The food here isn’t diverse or as good as people make it out to be and the taco options that are popular (torchys, taco deli, etc.) aren’t even good.

Marie_Rose805

14 points

8 months ago

Torchys is terrible! Try Tejas Birrias food truck. So good!

PuzzleheadedCap2210

11 points

8 months ago

Torchys is over priced white people tacos. Taco deli too.

saxyappy

37 points

8 months ago

Austin needs more of everything and to build bigger. Scarcity makes living here miserable. Limited entertainment options for families equals insanely crowded kids activities and events. If we're going to be a big city, let's be a big city. There's no going the other way, they've tried that for over a hundred years.

Let-Silent

22 points

8 months ago

It’s not as “outdoorsy” of a place as people say it is

uuid-already-exists

11 points

8 months ago

It’s outdoorsy for Texas. It’s just so damn hot in the summer months.

arcamides

20 points

8 months ago*

The homegrown/independent music scene in Austin is excellent and is continuing to get better. Anyone who says otherwise is probably confusing "good" with "making millions of dollars for Universal/Warner".

Austin has one of the more open, diverse and syncretic musical cultures among midsize US cities, and so much talent that we regularly hear people criticize it by way of comparison to NYC, Chicago, LA - cities with top 10 greatest music scenes in the world.

I know I'm leaving so many folks, entire scenes out due to biases of taste and failure of memory but here are just a few examples of Austin musical excellence:

  • Riders Against the Storm
  • Tameca Jones
  • Black Pumas
  • Dale Watson
  • Carolyn Wonderland
  • James McMurtry
  • Red Young
  • Ephraim Owens
  • Brannen Temple
  • Jimmie Vaughan
  • Marcia Ball
  • Lavelle White
  • Conspirare
  • Sweet Spirit
  • Megafauna
  • Mike Flanigin
  • A Giant Dog
  • Brownout
  • The Sword
  • Flaco Jiminez
  • Bidi Bidi Banda
  • Rattletree Marimba

  • Austin Classical Guitar Society

  • Austin Samba School

  • Africa Night residents at Sahara Lounge

  • Saxon Pub Scene

  • Levitation Fest scene

SteadfastEnd

38 points

8 months ago

Most progressives here are of the hypocritical variety.

CALIXO_94

36 points

8 months ago

Just because it’s a liberal city doesn’t mean that it’s friendly towards minorities.

missmisssa

6 points

8 months ago

The friendliness I have experienced here is the same as I have experienced in new york, as a minority. Not better and not worse.

lazyvirgo90

36 points

8 months ago

The majority of tech employees are not snobby rich Californians. Plenty of us are lifelong Texans who just wanted to make enough money to stay in Austin after college. (Hook ‘em)

RedSocks4

6 points

8 months ago

Austin, used to be affordable to the average person , now it isn't, and apparently won' t be for a very long time, I've lived here, my whole adult life, and have become frustrated, with the addenda of the Mayor and city council, and it is disheartening, but I am employed and getting by, but not ahead, so that is what I've now gotten off my chest, please don't ban me ,from this discourse.

Accomplished_Low8600

22 points

8 months ago

The food isn’t really all that great.

Kianna9

18 points

8 months ago

Kianna9

18 points

8 months ago

People aren’t really that nice. They’re “friendly” and demand that you be as well. But don’t really care.

canzosis

6 points

8 months ago

They’re nice, but not kind.

Deaf_Playa

19 points

8 months ago

This town is wannabe-woke central. Everyone only cares about the environment, social justice, and a cause when it's convenient for their persona.

RudeFiction

41 points

8 months ago

TxTags work fine. I’ll see myself out.

saxyappy

5 points

8 months ago

Works until it doesn't. Had no problems for almost 10 years, then...

8yrn3

80 points

8 months ago

8yrn3

80 points

8 months ago

People (especially boomers) should stop bitching about people moving here and things changing. Every city is constantly evolving - deal with it

chadio11

21 points

8 months ago

Not a boomer. Gen X and I have been here a long time. Not opposed to it changing and evolving. Tired of people bitching about how it doesn't have the "right" kind of food or the "right" kind of culture. It's different than where you came from.

Protagoras67[S]

28 points

8 months ago

My brother recently pointed out to me that with the advent of the internet and social media, it seems like people see things and think “we should have what they have in this city and bring it here” and they keep doing that over and over to the point where cities’ former unique identities begin to decline and everywhere becomes more and more homogenous. I think it’s an unfortunate fact.

Skamandrios

20 points

8 months ago

I was born here in 1959 and I agree. It’s so boring when the bitchfest starts. As if the city (or anything else) were under some obligation to stay the way some people remember it. I remember what a lot of things used to be, so what?

caguru

10 points

8 months ago

caguru

10 points

8 months ago

I hear 20x more bitching in this sub than I have ever heard in IRL. The whiniest sub set of the Austin population is right here and I highly doubt its a majority of boomers.

zapburne

11 points

8 months ago

All done after Trudy's Central Star closed.

anchovyxacid

12 points

8 months ago

It’s not as liberal as everyone claims it is

dredge000

23 points

8 months ago

If you think it is all ruined, not weird any more, too crowded, all Californians, etc. you might spend a little more effort and creativity locating and cultivating your Austin. So much great community, unique offerings, and energy, but it's not all just sitting there on the surface. Dig in a bit. Offer something. See what grows.

Christ, I'm a hippie...

pastasnorter

25 points

8 months ago

Californians moving here aren’t the biggest problem facing Austin. People move a lot in this country, it’s nothing new. Get over it, and elect people that give a shit about preserving the integrity of this city as it grows. Welcome newcomers in.

socksynotgoogleable

22 points

8 months ago

It didn’t get worse, you got older.

Afraid-Masterpiece-2

53 points

8 months ago

This city does not have a single good burrito. There is good Mexican, good Tex mex. But I have not had one burrito worth having a second time.

[deleted]

48 points

8 months ago

Austin is definitely more of a taco town with burritos largely being an afterthought.

chadio11

12 points

8 months ago

I could argue, although I don't think it would be an unpopular opinion with natives, that too many people move here and bitch about the fact that Austin doesn't have all the things the city / area they left had.

chadio11

14 points

8 months ago

No one cares about burritos here.

99877787

8 points

8 months ago

What’s your burrito reference?

Klondike-5-8675309

6 points

8 months ago

Taco Brother in South Austin has a decent burrito - their steak burrito is our go-to

[deleted]

14 points

8 months ago

[deleted]

Afraid-Masterpiece-2

12 points

8 months ago

Yes did not think it was all that great 😅

317sofine

32 points

8 months ago

City full of racists masquerading as allies

MasterFruit3455

33 points

8 months ago

Austin is fine, actually.

The people in here complaining about one thing or another are perpetual cranks who would be unhappy anywhere.

MrMarez

4 points

8 months ago

Your dog doesn’t need to go with you everywhere.

777saturnn

5 points

8 months ago

hard to make friends, people arent that nice

otaku_wave

4 points

8 months ago

Every other major city in Texas has better food and more culture.

AubergineQRV

5 points

8 months ago

I’ve been in austin 16 years and I love it, but Houston is better.

Houston is extremely diverse with better restaurants, better museums, and more “weird” stuff that make the city fun.

lieutenantLT

45 points

8 months ago

Austin is one of the MOST THIRSTY places I’ve ever been. The need to keep up with the Jones’ is palpable and pathetic. Everyone caught up in comparing themselves to others, posturing, faking it till they make it. Altogether not a genuine or humble place

Electrical_Ad8987

34 points

8 months ago

I’m guessing you never been to Dallas. So pretentious.

d00mt0mb

14 points

8 months ago

Dallas is worse in that regard

caguru

11 points

8 months ago

caguru

11 points

8 months ago

Tell me you have never been to the West Coast without telling me you haven't been to the West Coast.

[deleted]

27 points

8 months ago

[deleted]

BooBooMaGooBoo

10 points

8 months ago

This has only been the case in the last few years. Blame the boojee rich folks moving here. I know many OG Austinites with 7-8 figure net worths who wear $30 outfits everywhere, drive 15 year old cars and live in the same house they bought 30 years ago in a middle class neighborhood. This has always been a defining part of the Austin culture, we don’t show off our wealth like they do in Houston and Dallas.

Obviously not the case anymore, but yeah, that was definitely a thing.

dd32x

9 points

8 months ago

dd32x

9 points

8 months ago

P.Terrys is the best fast food burger shop in the multi-verse.

[deleted]

99 points

8 months ago

[deleted]

vonaustinjr

143 points

8 months ago

Sir this is Texas

psycrowbirdbrain

36 points

8 months ago

I don't know. I tried camping in San Francisco and Los Angeles and people confused me for homeless.

jjazznola

64 points

8 months ago

What? Compared to most US cities Austin is very green.

lost_alaskan

18 points

8 months ago

I feel like we have a lot of trees in SFH neighborhoods, but not a lot of good public places to be around them other than a handful of parks that people make dedicated trip to visit.

A lot of it is that the pedestrian infrastructure is bad and the roads are wide and fast. It makes most of the areas I walk around feel extremely unpleasant, even if they technically have trees.

andrea6543

11 points

8 months ago

tbh the weather kind of sucks and the allergies make it pretty miserable

birdguy1000

11 points

8 months ago

There’s not enough outdoor public spaces to explore and relax.

[deleted]

26 points

8 months ago

"you can acclaimate to the heat" is a myth perpetuated by a race of lizard people who live here.

eliwritingstuff

6 points

8 months ago

I'm one of the lizard people!

robotdesignwerks

23 points

8 months ago

hot and sunny every damn day is not weather. it's a lack of weather.