New Austin Resident with some questions (Alamo, Taylor: apartment, rent, buy)

[joejitsu]

Hello, I recently found a job in Austin and am moving there tomorrow. Last week with the help of a locater I found an apartment on Metric Blvd between W. Palmer and W. Howard, and very close to ACC. I know very little about Austin, but found downtown great, unfortunately it was out of my price range. I was wondering if anyone can tell me about the area of Austin I am living in, and what it has to offer a 23 year old single male.

[TKyle]

Originally Posted by joejitsu

Hello, I recently found a job in Austin and am moving there tomorrow. Last week with the help of a locater I found an apartment on Metric Blvd between W. Palmer and W. Howard, and very close to ACC. I know very little about Austin, but found downtown great, unfortunately it was out of my price range. I was wondering if anyone can tell me about the area of Austin I am living in, and what it has to offer a 23 year old single male.

Lived between Braker and Parmer between Lamar and Metric. In other words I was just south and east of your new location.

It is a pretty easy drive to downtown OUTSIDE of rush hour. Avoid MoPac during rush hours if at all possible.

You will probably spend a lot of time downtown as there is not a lot going on on the north side of Austin. You might consider parking your car and taking the #1 down Lamar (it runs pretty late) and that saves you parking fees and the hassles of finding parking.

The Regal and Alamo Drafthouse are great places for movies. Alamo is something to be experienced and come hungry, they serve REAL food.

So what are you in to? Live music?

Take care,

[austin-steve]

I was wondering if anyone can tell me about the area of Austin I am living in, and what it has to offer a 23 year old single male.

It mainly offers reasonable rent and reasonable distance to downtown. Nothing to get excited about or brag about, but at 23 you want to focus on saving money so you can buy something someday. You don't need fancy or eclectic, in my opinion.

There are also probably a lot of young people, like you, living there and working. Lots of ACC students. Probably a lot of service industry people and young couples with or without kids. Nothing wrong with where you ended up.

Steve

[joejitsu]

Well, I moved in yesterday. The area where I live is residential operations. I stopped by a hole in the wall Mexican place that had cheap, but good food, than topped the night with a drink at a bar with a pretty good crowd. I also saw some teenagers get arrested at gunpoint.

Only problem is I need to drive to get to these places. I could walk, bit it would be a long walk. I am probably going to get a bike, since there is a bike lane on metric. I am supposedly near a big park need to find that and figure out the bus system.

Yeah, live music is right up my alley. I am not much of a club person, but I like going to bars and venues to see musicians play.

Well thanks for the replies. I hope I enjoy it here.

[atxcio]

You are right near Walnut Creek Park, which is a great mountain biking location. If you get a bike, you should get a mountain bike or hybrid so you can enjoy the trails!

You are also near Fry's, great techie hangout, and not far from the Domain (upscale restaurants/shopping, but you'll need to drive). Overall you are in an incredibly convenient location when it comes to shopping and restaurants within easy driving distance... however, the "funkiness" of Austin is downtown and south, so you should definitely make the trip south occasionally. But another plus to your location is you'll be near the commuter rail which starts up later this year! Hop the train to downtown! There is a station at Howard & Mopac.

All Systems Go Long-Range Transit Plan - CapMetro

[EasyTyler]

Originally Posted by joejitsu

Only problem is I need to drive to get to these places. I could walk, bit it would be a long walk. I am probably going to get a bike, since there is a bike lane on metric. I am supposedly near a big park need to find that and figure out the bus system.

Joe, you will enjoy it here

I moved here this week also. It's quite a culture shock for me as I'm from London and to be honest you can pretty much get anywhere under your own steam or at least without a car.

I'm in SoCo, so if you're in my part of town (on the Dillo route!) then message me

In the mean time, just get out there!

[joejitsu]

Wow, I wasnt aware of a commuter rail. When does it start operating and what is Fry's great techie hangout? I was also wondering about South Austin. I've been downtown and understand why its considered funkie. It has a hip vibe and seems like a huge city, but is only a small area. Is south Austin similar to downtown? I assumed it was kinda sprawling like North Austin.

[TKyle]

Check out Will Taylor and Strings Attached (Will Taylor and Strings Attached) for some interesting music. I photographed Will and the group for the 2004/2005 season prior to leaving Austin. Leaving Austin was a BIG mistake. We wish we were there now.

Look in to CapMetro and riding your bike to the transit stations and then taking a bus. Most of the buses have bike rikes on their front.

Good luck,

Originally Posted by joejitsu

Well, I moved in yesterday. The area where I live is residential operations. I stopped by a hole in the wall Mexican place that had cheap, but good food, than topped the night with a drink at a bar with a pretty good crowd. I also saw some teenagers get arrested at gunpoint.

Only problem is I need to drive to get to these places. I could walk, bit it would be a long walk. I am probably going to get a bike, since there is a bike lane on metric. I am supposedly near a big park need to find that and figure out the bus system.

Yeah, live music is right up my alley. I am not much of a club person, but I like going to bars and venues to see musicians play.

Well thanks for the replies. I hope I enjoy it here.

[Alatex]

what is Fry's great techie hangout?

Fry's is basically like Best Buy on steroids.
They have every sort of electronic gadget you can imagine.
The engineers I know in the greater Austin area love it.

[TexasHorseLady]

I've heard it referred to as "mecca" by the computer folk I know.