Thinking about moving to Austin ( art , congested, humidity)

[love roses]

Yes, there are smaller towns surrounding Austin with artists. Wimberly, Salado, Kerrville and Georgetown are some of the ones I know of.

The Lakes in the Austin area are called the Highland chain of Lakes. Lake Austin, Travis, Buchanan, LBJ, Inks, and Canyon. They are all very big and they don't all look alike. Canyon, however, is closer to San Antonio. There are also smaller lakes such as Granger, Bastrop, and Georgetown. Also rivers, streams, and swimming holes.

Lots of tourists come through, especially with SXSW and ACL. Tons during holidays as well, especially around the Lakes during Memorial Day and Labor Day and 4th of July. Lots of people from Dallas, Houston and other Texas cities make up lots of the tourists during the summer. There are Lakes in these other cities, but not like the ones in the Hill Country, so that's part of the draw.

I'm in Austin because I'm a native Texan and am originally from the gulf coast area and also Houston, and got tired of the flatness, concrete and that it takes over an hour to get from the Southernmost part of Houston to the Northernmost part. Not to mention it's not as hectic.

There are tons of outdoor activities. I don't think you will get bored trying to find things to do outdoors.

Downtown is growing and has plenty of different housing options.

If I could live anywhere in Austin, I'd actually still stay in the outskirts and a little far out. Although, it would be West around Lake Buchanan/Liberty Hill. It's not as developed and seems to be way less pretentious (especially regarding waterfront real estate).

[twange]

Oh yea, here's some links:

East Austin Studio Tour 2007
(every year)

Art Austin

Austin Museum of Digital Art

[TexasHorseLady]

There is a great deal of art in Austin besides music, it's true, and has been ever since I came here.

As for temps, just a couple/three weeks ago it was in the high 20's (I know, I had to go out and feed critters in it and break the ice on their water tanks). Then, it was in the 90's a couple of days after that, of course, but it definitely gets below 40 here.


As for Texas not having mountains, well, there's always Big Bend.

[twange]

Originally Posted by phxpainter

Is there a downtown area where people live in lofts or town homes - or is everybody out in the burbs? Does any one know if there are buildings in the downtown area that have living spaces over commercial work spaces?

Austin's downtown is exploding with with high rise condos and lofts but they are pretty pricey. You brought up a figure of $500k previously...if you have that kind of money to spend, you'll find whatever you want I think. Besides the downtown condo scene, there are some killer Central neighborhoods with awesome houses, landscaped yards, cute shops, restaurants etc...

Damn, I'm jealous of you.

[phxpainter]

Thanks for all the good info and a welcome - I plan on a visit this summer. I expect if I am going to move it will take some time to make it happen. I will need to make some contacts before I become permanent.

As far as weather - no place is perfect. I think Austin gets more rain than Phx and even with humidity I think it is more tolerable in the summers. I can visit mountains if I miss them it is more important to be able to enjoy nature and the lakes, streams and parks regularly without traveling hours to get to them.

I am not a crafter, in general, however, all can change when I move. I expect to be in the art fair circuit part of the year. I am a fine artist, muralist, art teacher, master artisan in all types of specialty wall plasters, make oak look like cherry or mahogany, etc, and have a small painting business here. How much of that I would do in Austin is debatable at this point in time. I do expect to continue teaching - (I do mixed media, monoprints and oil landscapes) and fine art and murals.

I love all types of music so that part of Austin I will love. Is there a particular area downtown where there are primarily galleries?

Is there a particular town in the hill country that is known as an art community?

So can anyone recommend a part of town I should stay in so I am central to the roads to do some real looking around.

thanks again

[phxpainter]

Hey Texashorselady - I see you are in real estate maybe we can talk some time soon?

I never heard of Big Bend before, very interesting - special little road trip to get there though.

Twange -- thanks for the info (no don't have $500K - I said if you did you can find something pretty spectacular any where ) Think I might need a little yard for a garden.

LoveRoses - lots of info -- thanks for those towns, I will now go and do some research on them.

thanks again

[TexasHorseLady]

Hey Texashorselady - I see you are in real estate maybe we can talk some time soon?

I never heard of Big Bend before, very interesting - special little road trip to get there though.

I'd love to! And, yes, it is a road trip, but closer than Arizona, if you got a real hankering to see some mountains!

[twange]

Don't forget about Guadalupe Mountains National Park, just south of the New Mexico Border. These places are two of the least visited National Parks because of their perceived isolation. Which IMHO, makes them even more attractive

[texastea]

Originally Posted by love roses

...Yes, there are smaller towns surrounding Austin with artists. Wimberly, Salado, Kerrville and Georgetown are some of the ones I know of.

I'm in Austin because I'm a native Texan and am originally from the gulf coast area and also Houston, and got tired of the flatness, concrete and that it takes over an hour to get from the Southernmost part of Houston to the Northernmost part....

Me too, roses...and that hour is on the freeway going 70 and staying within Houston City limits!

phxpainter, I have an art degree/teach kids art classes (but not a practicing artist right now) so I love to go to galleries, etc. We were in Salado yesterday and I was a little surprised at the diversity of art in the galleries. A couple had the artist on location for the day. The street of shops and galleries there remind me of Ruidoso, NM, with a definate Texas flavor. Admitedly though, a lot of the art in Hill Country towns is more of the G. Harvey, Windberg variety. You could really rake in the money with high quality bluebonnet landscapes (I'm being serious )

[TexasHorseLady]

Salado! (Slaps forehead.) I was thinking and could NOT make that surface, and I live 5 minutes from there! (Spring fever, methinks has muddled my brain.)

It reminds me more of Taos, again with a Texas flavor. But it does have more artists than you can shake a stick at.