I lived in Austin for 19 years, and I love it dearly, but I can also find thirteen reasons to not love it.
Ladybird Lake in Austin, TX
1. Traffic – Austin is severely congested. As many native Austinites tell me, the city council deliberately choose not to make bigger and better roads, because they wanted to keep Austin small. True or fact? I don’t know. The proof is in the pudding though, traffic is bad and there’s tons of construction!
Traffic in Austin, TX
2. No Smoking – Smoking is pretty much not allowed in most restaurants and bars. I don’t smoke, so this isn’t a problem for me. But smokers, beware, not only is it hard to find places to smoke, but people will throw things at you and give you dirty looks. Austin is a “healthy” city.
3. Liberal Mecca – Texas is a conservative state overall, but right smack in the middle, Austin, is a huge liberal center. Whole Foods is headquartered there. A huge local celebrity is Leslie, a homeless, mini-skirt wearing drag queen/transvestite, who tried to run for mayor. Austin could shock the pants of small-town Texans.
Leslie the homeless transvestite in Austin, TX
4. Longhorn Fans – The University of Texas is based in Austin, and the city is a sea of burnt orange. Longhorn fans are everywhere…and very serious. If you’re a Texas Tech, Aggie or, God forbid, an Oklahoma fan, watch your back. Austin is NOT for you.
5. Bikers – I don’t know the actual numbers, but off the top of my head…50% of people bike in Austin. I swear. Ok, maybe not really, but it’s a lot. And they are all over the roads. They cause motorists all kinds of problems…but yet they have the right away. Don’t get me wrong, biking is so good for your health and I applaud those who do, but they drive me nuts sometimes.
6. Allergies – This might need to be numbers 6 AND 7. Allergies are BAD in Austin. If you don’t have allergy problems when you move to Austin…you eventually will. Everyone says this. And so far, I haven’t seen any proof to contradict it. If you’re an allergy doctor, don’t walk, run to Austin, where you’ll have a booming practice.
7. Allergies – I wasn’t kidding. It gets two sections.
Austin Allergy Report
8. Cost of Living – It’s skyrocketed lately. Downtown has become very pricey especially. Restaurants, bars, etc. Housing is crazy expensive. Don’t even get me started on property taxes.
9. Politicians – They’re freaking everywhere. The Capitol and Legislature draws them like flies. You can’t walk down the street without tripping over one.
Austin Capitol Building
10. Green Lifestyle – You need to conserve if you live in Austin. Recycle, reuse, resell. I think it’s great, but it can be a little over the top at times.
11. Oops, I lied, here’s one more reason. Live Music – If you hate live music, don’t step foot in Austin. The airport has it, downtown has it, it’s everywhere. Austin is the Live Music Capitol. Stevie Ray Vaughn is one of the big claims to music fame, and this statue of him resides along the hike and bike trail on Ladybird Lake downtown.
Statue of Stevie Ray Vaughn in Austin, TX
12. Bats – If bats creep you out, don’t visit Austin. The world’s largest urban bat colony resides on Austin’s Congress Avenue Bridge in the summer. By largest, we’re talkin’ 1.5 million bats. They migrate from Mexico every spring and are Mexican Free-tailed bats. People gather to watch the hole colony fly out at sunset.
Bats in Austin, Texas
13. Did I mention allergies?
- If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
- Share
- Prev/Next
65 Responses
Fun post–I learned a lot about Austin!
Ooooh! I’ve never been to Austin, so I can’t really respond. But I look forward to reading some Austin-ites’ rebuttals. Way to be candid, Rhea!
Karas last blog post..Hawaii Vacation with Parents and Children – the Waikoloa Petroglyph Field
Thanks, Linda! I actually love Austin…but it’s not perfect!
Rheas last blog post..Hobo Code
You had me at traffic, but I still think I’d like to visit.
Alice Audreys last blog post..Thirteen More Thursday Thirteeners
Wow. Topping the list of reasons why I love austin are 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 13. It’s what makes it so unique, and fortunately I’ve lived for 10 years, and don’t suffer from allergies! Surely some of your reasons why not to visit were sarcastic
krista
Dear Rhea,
My wife and I are considering moving to the Austin area when we retire. Thank you for letting us know your views, but a couple of questions please.
When you say the traffic is bad is this downtown or Austin or the surrounding area?
Allergies, as you might tell by the email address I live in England and the pollens over here are very bad, and I suffer from hayfever but when I travel to Kentucky, I never suffer. Are the grasses near Austin pollenated badly?
I look forward to your reply,
Best wishes
John
[...] Longhorn Fans – The University of Texas is based in Austin, and the city is a sea of burnt orange. Longhorn fans are everywhere…and very serious. If you’re a Texas Tech , Aggie or, God forbid, an Oklahoma fan, watch your back. …[Continue Reading] [...]
I have heard Austin is a great place to live – great music, good university-town feel, lots of interesting industry and business (I live in Silicon Valley and have heard Austin has a lot of great technology stuff)…I love the idea that the politics are more liberal than the rest of Texas, like a little oasis. It is definitely on my list of places to visit….
You could have stopped at #4 – Fighting class of ’93 – whoop!
Honestly, Austin is a nice place to visit, some incredible Tex Mex, but I hit I-35 North after a few days.
A little too much of too much…
Ems last blog post..W.W. – Professor Quigley: Why ya hatin?
Your forgot the Humidity! Sometimes its like living in a warm wet shoe. UGH 100 degrees and 90% humidity. Not fun.
I lived here since 1983 and the allergies are just nasty. As for the music,,,, naaa its gone.
The tech job scene has died out. Rent and housing prices are insane too.
Austin is great, the music is not dead. Big-name bands come through Austin pretty often, also “well known” people like Leo Kotke, Johnny Winter, and many others come to play at smaller local venues. Then there’s the bar-bands that keep 6th street filled with music, you never know what you’ll find there
Love Austin, central Texas is not for people with bad allergies though
Humidity? You have to be kidding me. Houston is humid. The South is humid. Austin maybe has 7 humid days the entire year. Traffic is bad at rush hours- and where in America isn’t that true.
I actually live north of Austin. Every single one of those points is DEAD ON if you actually live inside of Austin. That’s why we live in the Round Rock/Georgetown area. We are close enough to visit, but not close enough to have to deal with all of that stuff too often. Oh and as far as traffic…IT IS AWFUL pretty much no matter where you are here in Central Texas unless you’re on some random farm road.
utbeck your a liar, what are you a real estate salesman? Austin is just a little less humid than Houston, the humidity is miserable in Austin a lot more than 7 days a year.
This has got to be tongue in cheek. Oh no, the city recycles and I can’t drive my SUV through traffic because all of those damn people bicycling. You have given me more reasons to love Austin. Maybe Detroit is right for you.
I have to agree with Petey. I’ve lived in Houston and now live in Austin. I work outside and unless there’s a high pressure system pushing out the gulf air, I normally end up pretty sop and wet. Houston and Austin are only 162 miles apart and everything in between is just about flat. I love both cities but it can feel like you are trying to breathe with your head in a fish bowl.
Well well well i would like to say i am 25 and grew up in good ole A town… i love it here so much… i would say it depends on the reasons you are seeking in the move. If you love being in a friendly, diverse town, with unlimited recreational activities, mid city population and small town feeling austin is the place to be. I have NO problems with allergies however im sure sum people suffer from them….. man its soo awesome here, if you like to party and night life 6th street is the place to be. its like marti gras every thurs thru sat…. And i have traveled to many other states and towns and i firmly believe austin is home to the most beautiful women!!!! if you like the idea of owning a being able to afford a home outside the city many houses run from 100- 150 for a 3/3/3 app 1300 sq ft… most states your lookin at spendin at least 200 to 250 for a comparable house… I could go on and on however i dont think i wanna talk every one in moving here but if you are a friendly person and like having any activity imaginable within 35 min of you Austin is the place to be… unless its mon thru friday from 4 to 630.. then your lookin at least an hour.. ha ha traffic is pretty bad i dont think austin is structured to hold this many people…. a drive from north to south could turn even the nicest person into a road raging crazy person!!!!!!!!! austin will always be the place where i ll be living peace out
I live in Austin now and recently moved from Houston. Austin is 10 times better than Houston! Right now humidity is 34% in Austin and over 50% in Houston. What a relief! Rolling hills versus flat terrible miles of concrete and highways. A fun, quirky health-conscious city versus a city that was dubbed the fattest in America. Yes the traffic is bad, yes the football fans are annoying. But ppl can find something negative about anywhere they live. I found a cheap and very nice 2/2 apartment to rent in NW Austin. Buying real estate here is expensive, but anywhere worth living is going to be pricey.
This article is not very true to Austin. Traffic is bad… between 5 and 6:30 like every other major mid-sized city on the planet. The humidity is nowhere near as bad as other coastal regions in Texas (say, the greater Houston are). This post has to be tongue in cheek. “If you hate live music…” are you kidding? I’ve never heard of “too much recycling”. And you don’t run into politicians everywhere. That’s a terribly gross exaggeration. Bottom line: Austin is a superb place to live. Why? Lots of natural pieces of land, great live music venues, beautiful weather the majority of the year, Texas football at DKR in front of 100,000, SXSW, ACL music festival, Barton Springs, a blossoming east side art movement (take the studio tours), a minimal crime rate (one of the lowest in the country), and a overwhelming sense of acceptance for whatever you believe. Come join us!
This is ridiculus. I agree the traffic is bad and allergies are an issue for a lot of people in Austin. However, how is lots of live music a bad thing? Cyclists “all over the roads” help to alleviate traffic, and yes they have the right of way as they should. YOU ARE IN A ONE TON CAR, cyclists are on a 30 lb bike. I know some cyclists are crazy but most obey the traffic laws and we are on a legal vehicle. Im pretty sure you cant have too much recycling.
Please don’t use Whole Foods of all places as an example of Austin’s liberalism. Their CEO, John Mackey is a monumental ass, denying global warming, and using his own freaky company policies to deny the need for decent healthcare for his employees (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/waylon-lewis/john-mackey-whole-foods-c_b_409842.html).
My family moved to Austin in 1971, and I stayed until 1994. I used to know every nook and cranny of that city. Now, it only depresses me to go home and see what’s happened to it.
Austin has plenty of liberal cred. But please don’t use Whole Foods to prove your point. Most true liberals shop at Wheatsville Co-op, or blow off Whole Paycheck to gain really “foodie” cred at Central Market.
Hey, I think it’s not right to enumerate the reasons not to visit Austin. Actually, I really like Austin. In fact, we’re going for an Austin dating escapade next week. This post is quite bias really.
Thanks to the originator and all who responded to this post; all is very insightful of me! All of this has helped me completely decide that I will relocate from Northwest Indiana to Austin before the end of the year! Thanks, everyone!
By the way, how’s the single life for those over 40?
I just moved to Austin from Pittsburgh, PA in january.. my input?
The traffic SUCKS. Comparable to Pgh if not worse! Two lanes on all major highways… are you kidding me?
Allergies- really SUCK. i’ve never had allergies, and i’ve been hit since we moved here. pollen counts have hit record highs this year, according to some news blurb i saw.
The humidity is crazy high down here!!! 90% or more most days since summer started to come on. but it’s bearable, i’m not complaining! i’ve adapted well coming from PA, but i hear this is only the beginning and it’s June!
The music is awesome, haven’t experienced it as much as i’d like yet. but working on it!
Bats… only on Congress Bridge, so don’t freak out if you don’t like em. i haven’t seen any actually. But bugs are another story!
As for bikers, recycling, and the liberal attitude? Really? Those are negatives?? The bikers haven’t interfered with my life at all honestly. You just see bikes everywhere, whether people are on them or they’re chained to a bike rack. people like to bike in austin for sure.
FYI’s for anyone planning to move here…
stay out of the east side of IH 35 if you can, it’s a little rougher. we’re living there now, the yards are full of JUNK. and i mean JUNK. like 4 cars that don’t run, 27 broken chairs and kids toys, all kinds of junk. There were a couple shootings this year already, all on the east side.
Be prepared for the hot and humid weather, hope you’re outdoorsy and like water activities! There’s lots to explore here!
Stay off IH 35 during most daylight hours, the traffic with explode your brain. Use Mopac/Loop 1 whenever possible. but even that gets way backed up in peak hours.
Take your allergy meds! if you don’t have allergies, see an allergist and make damn sure you’re ready in case you get allergies!
and have fun!!! austin is amazing!
Best most beautiful city is DENVER, COLORADO!
This guy must be some type of hard drugs or way to over-privileged. The Austin-Metro Area is so layed-back, affordable, clean and hospitable. I’ve had allergies for a good part of my life and when I moved to Austin from North-East, they completely stopped. I applied for work and within four days, I had an interview and offer. You can buy your dream house here, not to mention have your children in the best school system in the US and not worry about a high-crime rate. When you compare the traffic to other major cities, it’s nothing; an ancient grandmother could bob-and-weave through here any day…
I love Austin…Nothing is perfect!!!! Born and raised TEXAN!!!
This made me miss Austin so much. Folks the traffic really is’nt that bad there’s traffic but, nothing like Houston, San Antonio, or LA California now thats some bad traffic. It is so beautiful in Austin there is not another city like it. So if you want beauty and a healthy life style move to Austin, Texas you will not regret it.
I had to add some more, I lived there for 181/2 yrs. they were the best years of my life. I got to meet some of the most awesome people you could ever meet in Austin. There are people in Austin like no where else in the Country. Actually alot of people move to Austin from all over the world to go to UT and never leave they love it so much.
This is the stupidest post ever… allergies, yes… traffic, yes…. everything else, no… fucking idiot
Is it worth moving from Connecticut to Austin? Here everything is crazy expensive and the state/city gives you NOTHING in return, and don’t get me started with CT weather! I have been doing my research and whoever I have asked say that living near Austin is the place to be. I dont plan to spend $400k on house however I have researched houses in round rock and other areas close to austin and I can get a dream house for about $250k (are you kidding me) i am not sure about the area where the houses are though. Economically looks like it makes sence to move, however I am worried about how life there is general even though I think wherever you go it can’t really get much worse the CT. I am taking my parents with me and I want to make sure I don’t regret it, I am planning a trip to it and see it for my self however I’d Like to ask a non-biased opinion for once!?
Thanks,
Traffic is slow during the core commute hours, and is prone to backing up, but it drops off very rapidly. There are big blocks of land preserves that force traffic around very large chunks of land. It’s totally worth it in my opinion. The other thing is to avoid IH35 at all times. The traffic in Dallas where I’m from was actually less prone to backups, but that city had the infrastructure in place. It was also a concrete jungle.
If you enjoy an active lifestyle and unbelievable night life, you will do fine here. Living in Austin has made me very critical when vacationing in exotic places. It is often that good here. I said often because during the core months of Summer, it can get brutally hot! You have to be in the water during this time – no kidding!! Those from elsewhere in the sunbelt will have no problem. The humidity here is only an issue when there has been a lot of rain. Normally it is more desert like. Nights here are splendid except when daytime highs are ridiculous >103. ACL and SXSW are great, but the 6th Street highlights for me have been during normal times when the breeze, the sounds , and the scenery are intoxicating. I have been on Lake Austin (a river) in January on a Sunny day in the mid to high 70′s and watched people wakeboarding and pulling their kids on tubes. Wow!! That doesn’t always happen but the frontal weather here in the Winter keeps you guessing. I use my boat all year.
Hope that helps anyone trying to make a decision.
I am considering moving to Ausitn as well, I’m coming from outside of DC. Traffic is something we are used too. How do East coasters adapt to Austin? Most of the opinions I’ve read are positive.
You’ll either love it or hate it. Many of the reasons listed are reasons TO visit Austin.
you missed at least one, keep austin wierd – if you don’t wear cargo pants, shave your head, have a goatee, many piercings and tattoos you’re bound to stand out – you must be uniquely the same
#1 and #6/7 are the only legitimate reasons. Actually, a lot of these can be good things, depending on what kind of person you are. (Love bats, live music, green lifestyle, etc.)
Austin reminds me of Minneapolis only with the humidity. Sounds like an awesome place to me.
This post is dead on accurate and I love Austin! The issues are the issues and I appreciate someone willing to share them with us. Review this and the top 10 reasons to visit Austin and you’ll have a great picture of this town.
INteresting article – just got back from a week in AUstin – love it! Planning on moving down from Philly area soon. I chose it because of what was in the article…… great outdoor weather, great water/river/lake activities, quirky-liberal attitudes meaning open-minded folks, southern hospitality, and what one local told me a Texas Light mentality- wish me luck.
Dear, Austin
I was read about Austin, TX . I am thinking of it . I want to move out to Austin, TX someday but I don’t know that It has allergies in Austin TX. I have high allergies but I can use to take medicines. because I use to grow up in Missouri. But I love Austin, TX because there have deaf service in community
I guess everyone is different, and it depends what you are using as a comparison when you form an opinion. I feel a lot of what you are saying about Austin is definately NOT true, for example. Austin’s traffic is nothing compared to other cities, even in Texas, parts of Houston, Dallas, down town San Antonio all have worse traffic. You obviously never lived in or around Washington DC, or New York…you don’t know what traffic IS!
Next point, you want to talk about Liberal Meccas,and weird locals, try out San Francisco for size…Lesile the homeless transvestite wouldn’t even standout as different in that sea of loser loonies that abound in San Fran!
You mentioned high property taxes, home prices, and the high cost of living in Austin? This statement above all of your others shows an incredible lack of knowledge about housing and the cost of living in the rest of the country! Even with the housing crash in the last seven years, home cost is still easily 30-40 percent higher every where else outside of Texas! Now add HEATING cost associated with living in the northern states and all along the north east coast (ie: New England) and you aren’t even close to knowing what expensive IS!
Perhaps you have lived in the paradise of Austin too long and this has made you lose sight of how lucky you are…or you do KNOW how lucky you are, and you are just trying to convince others not to come there so you can have it all to yourself?
I just moved to Austin a few months ago from Kansas. There are some weird people in this city, but almost everyone I’ve encountered has been pretty nice for the most part. The traffic is horrible downtown where I work and on I35 to and from, and I’ve driven in numerous major cities. I’ll have to be careful to not get fat down here, because there is an endless supply of places to eat!
There is every thing to do here you could want, but the allergies are bad! Next comment and if you can help…sweet! Where can I do some hunting down here??? I have no desire to shoot the little deer around Texas, but does anyone know where I can shoot some hogs and turkeys close to town? And I’m not referring to any of that lease or pay to hunt stuff either!! I want to know how to get ahold of \Billy’s Grandpa’s Farm\ where I can introduce myself as a responsible, corn fed Kansas boy (okay, not a boy, but not 40 yet!) can shake the farmers hand and get pointed to the roosting tree and where the hogs are tearning stuff up. That lease thing TX created has shut out the regular guy from enjoying the outdoors.
So if you know what I’m talking about, I’d be greatful for any assistance. Maybe you’d find out some regular guy from small town USA can bring gobblers into broadhead range for you. And he might even have a proven track record all across the USA and Canada. And perhaps \he’d\ call one in for your 10 year old’s first longbeard with that new camo auto!?
Thanks Austin, TX! You’ve been good in all area’s, except the outdoors!!
Put your shorts on, leave your t shirt off. It’s legal for females to go topless in Austin. Don’t wear any clothes except what you legally have to have and hang out in a swimming pool most of the time. Don’t use air conditiong so you get acclimated. It’s healthy to sweat. Allergies? Go live in North Dakota! Quit being a bunch of wimps. Name another place that’s as cool. You can’t do it.
this post makes me more excited about moving there. after living in los angeles, nyc and minneapolis. its like a bunch of cities rolled into one. i simply cannot wait to experience it. this post reaffirmed it.
[...] photo source [...]
This person has obviously never been to Seattle. I’m moving to Austin in one week, from Seattle. Austin sounds exactly like Seattle, except that Seattle is MORE expensive, MORE congested, and has about 4 MORE allergens. Love the bats, looking forward to that one. Compared to Seattle, Austin is inexpensive. Have visited Austin about 25 times…excited about the move.
Okay-
DO NOT take this Rhea bimbo seriously. She is apparently some cowpoke from East Texas who thought George Bush was the second coming of the Messiah. Austin is without a doubt the greatest city to live in of all the cities in the Lone Star State. Also – go check all the “Top Places to Live” lists – Austin tops them all.
But look, don’t take my word for it. If you, like Rhea love to 1. smoke, 2. be unhealthy, 3. litter/destroy the earth, 4. bitch about politics you probably don’t understand, 5. root for the terrible, terrible, cult-ish Aggies, 6. hate good music and a good time, and 7. are just in general a terrible person to be around, then hey, you should hate Austin too.
But know this. Austin loves you. Very much. In a feel good, live music, healthy people, educated, high quality of life, smoke-free, politically engaged, Longhorn loving kinda way. That’s how we are.
Clear eyes. Full hearts. Can’t beat Austin, Texas.
Texas forever.
Wow, after reading your post actually I want to visit Austin even more..
I live in Chicago so things like traffic, humidity, allergies don’t scare me at all. And recycling..I wish people recycled more here, these are good things you mentioned – biking, live music, interesting but sometimes weird people..hey it works for me. Tell me what’s your ideal place to live..but if Austin is not it I guarantee you won’t find a much better place anywhere else. Best regards.
Please read and STAY away from Austin…so the natives can enjoy it without the invasion of outsiders…
Omg! I was just thinking of relocating to Austin, TX !! By reading the comments im very excited to move now. Living in DC I experience everything that was listed in the article. I just wonder how would an young african american female would do there?? LOL
WOW. You really shouldn’t ever come to Austin, please. You are exactly the kind of person we DO NOT want here. If you don’t agree with recycling, living a healthy lifestyle and enjoying the beauty of the city, STAY AWAY!
Please don’t move to Austin. We moved here about three years ago from Houston where it often took us two hours just to drive from one side of the city to a restaurant in Midtown. Where even in middle income suburbia several neighbors had homes broken into and gangs roamed the highways. Where the land was peacefully flat and full of strip malls, Starbucks and McDonalds on almost every block. Where outdoor activites consisted of walkingin Herman park with a can of mace. Where downtown rolled up their carpets at night. Where humidity and mosquitos always reminded you that you lived in alluvial plain. Where huricannes occassionally came through and destroyed homes.
Yes, Austin is so much worse. Rolling hills and lakes that remind me of Europe. The fact that I can get across town in ten minutes, maybe 30 if its rush hour. One of the country’s best music scene. Too many mom and pop owned non-coporate businesses to count. Dry days and cool nights, even in the summer.
Seriously, it’s really aweful. So if you are considering a move to Austin, please think again, it’s terrible here.
hey used to live in autsin texas and i sware its an amazing city the people are sooo nice you will be amazed how great this city! do not listen to what he says he is lying. sure the price is a little high but its all worth it just take a trip down there you will not be disaponted!
Recently moved to Colorado Springs and looks like I’m headed back to my Native Texan land… Austin in my humble opinion is very Urban, Upper Class City. Offers a verity of colorful styles. Humidity is an issue although living here in Colorado can be quite cold. Traffic is not an issue unless it’s road rage. Loved all the many in puts and look forward to coming home.
We live in Sweden, Europe and would love to visit Austin Texas. Now how hot does it get in July is it crazy to go at that time, with two five year olds? The other option would be May. Thanx!
It can get from 32 to 38 celcius, normally dry (only if it rains let’s say a day before you can have decent humidity, but I don’t think you would have that luck), the temperature is not that bad when it’s dry, I’m from Texas and the worst part would not to be under a roof when making the line.
You people are delusional- Austin is full of rude, stuck up prudes who stare at you if you’re not wearing the right clothes or driving the right car. It’s definitely not so much as “weird” as it is a mecca for privileged hipsters and sheltered yuppies. You’re almost always at risk of getting hit by a vehicle because the drivers are clinically insane. Walking around Austin you see plenty of cash loan pawn shops, car dealerships, fast food joints, and mechanic shops. Oh wow so weird. There are a lot of nice people here but you run into few and far between because Austin must compete with LA and status is all that counts. Everything seems so chic and many natives have told me that people used to be a lot nicer and down to earth but along the way something horrible took over. Oh yeah-plan on having a car because public transportation is pretty useless. Enjoy the strip mall capitol of Texas.
Are you stupid?
let me get this straight, you actually took the time to write about your aimless opinions regarding the WONDERFUL place that Austin is? I’m impressed with your ego. Austin is an incredible city; it is the jewel of Texas. We study, drink, bike and repeat. UT is the #1 party school in the nation. the prettiest girls are from Texas, and everyone is nice.
this page should be about the 100 reasons for visiting Austin, not the contrary.
this is the biggest load of crap.
1. traffic is bad on the highways during rush hour, just like any other city….
2. you can’t smoke inside. duh. its like that pretty much everywhere. most bars/restaurants have patios where you CAN smoke. and no one will throw anything at you. they might if you littler your cigarette butts though. probably not
3. ya maybe lol. leslies not a big deal though. i think she died?
4. alot of other sport team fans live in austin. you might get shit at a football game or maybe someone might playfully banter you for wearing a tech shirt or something.. but its not the center or the universe here!
5. bikers aren’t much of a problem. they know what they’re doing and dont really get in the way of traffic. theres a lot of bike trails/bike lanes in austin so it’s kind of less of a problem here than i found in houston because it’s just more accomidating to them.
6. allergies are bad at certain times during the year.. like any other place. nothing crazy like you described.. i have BAD allergies and i can suck it up and take a pill and not have a problem
8. nah. austin might be a little more epensive than other texas cities, but in regards to the us as a whole, no its not expensive.
9. i go to school/work downtown.. i never run into politicians.. and if i do they just look like any other business person and i cant tell the difference?
10. ?? theres dumpsters here like everywhere else.. you dont HAVE to recycle..
11. who the f doesnt like live music?
12. uhh you’re only going to see bats if you specifically look for them….
13. you’re an idiot and i think you’re just trying to keep tourists out of austin…. because austin is the fucking bomb. best nightlife, coolest people, absolutely beautiful!
A more appropriate title should be “Top 13 Reasons why Austin isn’t for Everybody.” Austin is an awesome place to visit on the other hand. Great article!
Awesome article and, I agree, it’s probably meant to be a joke, so lighten up, people! I currently live in CT, have never been to Austin but I’m seriously considering moving there in the spring. The number one reason is for the climate (I am done with snow!) and the number 2 reason is for the arts! The Northeast is surprisingly conservative and unfriendly. Austin, here I hopefully come!
I’m thinking of moving to Austin from Santa Fe, NM because this town is so darn dead for a recently single person who’s only child just moved outta the house. All the businesses close down by 9pm, it’s very expensive to live, there’s absolutely NO humidity so i’m craving some, and no water anywhere to enjoy in the summer time. Santa Fe is a great place to visit once or twice I guess fo say you’ve done that been there but I’m originally from Santa Cruz, Calif and need more recreational n nightlife fun without the outlandish house prices. Oh and talk about unhappy, unfriendly people..just don’t take a walk and say hi to strangers..unacceptable. Other than that, yes xmas time and the adobe architecture is worth seeing here.
A modest, personal rebuttle:
Traffic – Yes, Austin is congested. Which city worth living in isn’t?
No Smoking – There’s a big warning on those labels for a reason. Quit and stop raising my fellow non-smokers’ health insurance rates.
“Liberal Mecca” – Sweet, delicious conservative tears. Cry more, sheltered, religious n00b.
Longhorn Fans – “College Loyalty Hurp Derp”. You can’t say Aggies in College Station or any other Texas college town are not anti-UT to some degree.
Bikes – 50%, really? Wah, cry some more. Admit it, Denmark is doing it right. Austin is just playing catchup.
Allergies – Yeah, it sucks for some people. Move to where your allergies aren’t going wild. Alternately, stock up on anti-allergy meds.
Cost of living – Still lower than the national average. The market will suffer drink prices that people are willing to pay for. There are plenty of non-downtown pub places worth going to.
Politicians – Really? This is a point worth being concerned over?
Green Lifestyle – Get with the times. Trashing is out; recycling is here to stay. Why aren’t you recycling more?!
Live Music – … How is this a downside?
Bats – “Hurrr they eat insects, which is bad amirite?”