The BIG 4 - Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Austin (Center, West: insuring, universities)

[DANNYY]

Originally Posted by atxcio

SoCo / South Austin, East Austin, West Campus, Hyde Park, and a number of other iconic neighborhoods. Plus the lakes, parks, greenbelts and the Hill Country all in about a 12 mile radius.

Yeah, Austin doesn't have much to offer other than downtown.

BTW - other than 6th street, there wasn't much going on downtown 10-15 years ago. It's basically a completely new place. Everyone (except tourists) hung out in the other areas for fun.

I would still pick ATX over Houston though, I can't really explain it in words, but ATX has got something that makes it seem more vibrant than Houston.

[Trae713]

Originally Posted by OmShahi

I would still pick ATX over Houston though, I can't really explain it in words, but ATX has got something that makes it seem more vibrant than Houston.

To me, Houston feels like the much more dynamic/international city than Austin, but I'm guessing with you, it's probably because of the University of Texas. It's a reason why College Station feels so much more vibrant than a place like, Beaumont.

[raymondm]

Originally Posted by raymondm

HOUSTON, TX without a doubt, the city council, the mayor, and the political make-up of the city truly represent the city, instead of a bunch of old white guys. Houston has a melting pot, Starting with the mayor, so go Houston

Ok nice! they city council mirror each other, but we cant say the same about the people of these cities Houston is more diverse though

[DANNYY]

Originally Posted by Scarface713

To me, Houston feels like the much more dynamic/international city than Austin, but I'm guessing with you, it's probably because of the University of Texas. It's a reason why College Station feels so much more vibrant than a place like, Beaumont.

Yeah, that really factors in a lot of my reason.
I just can't imagine having the same experience at UH or Rice though.

[Trae713]

But I think Houston is large enough to where it "out vibrants" Austin even with UT. College Station-Bryan and Beaumont are closer in size. Houston's metro is well over three times the size of Austin's.

[DANNYY]

Originally Posted by Scarface713

But I think Houston is large enough to where it "out vibrants" Austin even with UT. College Station-Bryan and Beaumont are closer in size. Houston's metro is well over three times the size of Austin's.

That's actually one of the truest points anyone can make Scarface, Houston as a city is more established in vibrancy over the locals.

I mean how can it not;

- Uptown
- Shopping scene
- Bars & Clubs
- Proximity to Galveston
- Larger parks, I think the largest in Texas is here in Houston
- Rice Village night scene
- More options for restaurants, hotels, malls

Downtown lacks a good vibrant scene right now despite them trying to counter that and build more shopping places, housing places, grocery stores, bars and clubs, restaurants... etc, but Uptown more than just redeems downtown's lack of.

But the one thing I have to give to Austin that plays a HUGE role is because of the influence by the University, we get a large amount of people to come and visit the city, and because of the location of the campus and downtown, it makes it seem far more vibrant than Houston.
Halloween weekend is an example of that, god, the traffic that weekend was horrendous, I kid you not, on 5th street to drive 1.3 miles it took me an hour and forty-three minutes, can you believe that!? For just a little over a mile.

Austin gets a lot of visitors on select weekends, and that plays a massive role, college sports fans from other states come too, and so many people from around the state come in during events from the university.

I guess that's why I think Austin has a bit of an edge. It's a seasonal edge, it can't hold up to Houston everyday, but certain days, it can out do Houston.

[artsyguy]

What exactly has The University of Texas done for you that is so amazing?
I don't remember it being all that fun. lol. Long dreary class lectures in dreary old buildings. Tons of group work. Cliques everywhere. I'm sure you are imagining things. I'm guessing you are a huge sports fan. Love football etc.?

Originally Posted by OmShahi

Yeah, that really factors in a lot of my reason.
I just can't imagine having the same experience at UH or Rice though.

[artsyguy]

lol You are actually rating Austin as superior because UT brings in thousands of sports lovers to their sports events and drunks to downtown during Halloween. Now I know your assessment method is completely superlative and pretentious.

I personally dislike being in huge crowds, traffic, and sports events. There is a lot of that in downtown Austin and near the campus. Major turn-off. <gag>

Originally Posted by OmShahi

But the one thing I have to give to Austin that plays a HUGE role is because of the influence by the University, we get a large amount of people to come and visit the city, and because of the location of the campus and downtown, it makes it seem far more vibrant than Houston.
Halloween weekend is an example of that, god, the traffic that weekend was horrendous, I kid you not, on 5th street to drive 1.3 miles it took me an hour and forty-three minutes, can you believe that!? For just a little over a mile.

Austin gets a lot of visitors on select weekends, and that plays a massive role, college sports fans from other states come too, and so many people from around the state come in during events from the university.

I guess that's why I think Austin has a bit of an edge. It's a seasonal edge, it can't hold up to Houston everyday, but certain days, it can out do Houston.

[artsyguy]

Are you kidding me? Houston is a major world class city an hour away from the beach. It makes Austin look like a village in comparison. And UT is nothing but bricks, concrete, traffic, and overrated faculty. Let's be real.

Originally Posted by Scarface713

But I think Houston is large enough to where it "out vibrants" Austin even with UT. College Station-Bryan and Beaumont are closer in size. Houston's metro is well over three times the size of Austin's.

[DANNYY]

Originally Posted by artsyguy

What exactly has The university of Texas done for you that is so amazing?
I don't remember it being all that fun. lol. Long dreary class lectures in dreary old buildings. Tons of group work. Cliques everywhere. I'm sure you are imagining things.

It's not my favorite choice for a University lifestyle either. And I normally dislike the clique nature by certain cultures here, it's like "hey I'm Asian, you're Asian, let stick together and forget the rest of the people here because we have each other!" that same kind of mentality gets old.

The things that I do like is the amount of young people I see at parks, or the amount of people I see Kayaking in the lakes nearby, the amount of young people doing fundraisers. That's my definition of vibrancy- being more actively involved in the community, I highly dislike the typical nature people portray, "young kids in the mall, with their normal clique, young kids at the theater with their normal clique's, etc" don't get me wrong, Austin has a lot of that too, but I see more college kids taking an active part in it's community more than I do in Houston. It's the proactive life style I see in Austin that trumps Houston's. Not physically the amenities offered in each city, other wise of course Houston would PWN Austin there.

Another thing is, I highly dislike protests, and Austin is the ONLY place in Texas that I've seen college kids band together and protest in front of government buildings for whatever reason, that's one thing that sets it back and places it behind Houston, IMHO because whether they like it or not, the outcome isn't in their hands, and protesting won't do anything to change that.