Austin, TX -- Is it really where its at?!!! (Houston: appointed, hotel)

[TheHarvester]

Originally Posted by artsyguy

I have not really seen anything "beautiful" About AUstin yet.

That's sad, especially coming from someone who uses the name "artsyguy" --- I see more artistic beauty in the huge gnarled oaks, the sky, the rock formations in the creeks, than I see in any art gallery.

Originally Posted by artsyguy

...the gayborhoods are watched carefully by police to protect us from hate crimes in dallas.

And that's a good thing because... We don't NEED such police protection for gays in Austin.

Originally Posted by artsyguy

Dallas has way better shopping...

That says it all. I agree. I hope Dallas always has "way better shopping." The worst thing happening to Austin is the explosion of new high-priced trendy stores in places that used to be rural or funky.

[nextgirl]

I didn't realize "Austin is where it's at" until I moved away.

[nativeDallasite]

Originally Posted by nextgirl

I didn't realize "Austin is where it's at" until I moved away.

I realized it wasn't where it's at (for me anyway) after I left. I always had more fun in Dallas than Austin, and once I got past Austin's trendiness and admit that to myself...I decided to return to Dallas when I came back to the USA from abroad. Dallas rocks. Austin's OK, but I find it dull and the people there are just trying too hard. In Dallas, nobody bothers. We just have FUN!

[PeacePlease]

Thank God Austin is dull. With the droves of people moving here, we wouldn't know what to do if it wasn't dull..

[nativeDallasite]

Originally Posted by PeacePlease

Thank God Austin is dull. With the droves of people moving here, we wouldn't know what to do if it wasn't dull..

We've got droves of people moving here too. Austin isn't the only city in Texas experiencing explosive growth. Some people find Austin to be a very fun place. I personally do not. I wasn't completely bored every weekend, but "fun" in Austin tends to consist of going to see live music (I don't like that), going to some outdoor festival (I don't like that either), hiking (not a fan), water sports (not a fan), or sitting around and being cool and Austin-residenty (don't find that fun either). You can do all that and more in DFW. I just find there's far more to do here that *I* find entertaining than in Austin. YMMV.

Plus...if you like art museums, traveling exhibits, symphonies, operas, ballets, etc....basically "high culture"...you'll be bored stiff in Austin. Austin's museums and symphonic offerings are sub-par at best.

[hello13685]

Thanks for the post NativeDallasite. That's very informative. I'd never heard a comparison stated that way, and you make perfect sense. I'm sizing up various cities, and your post just helped me a lot. Thank you.

[tashina]

I'll second NativeDallasite. I moved from California to Austin and found just what he is saying. I am moving to Dallas for the larger cultural activities. State Fair, zoo(s), aquarium, museums. Austin is a nice "small city" like San Diego was in the early 70's. It's just not big enough for me. Pretty place, though.

[atxcio]

It's comparing apples to oranges. Austin will never be a Dallas or Houston, where you find all the trappings of a big city -- hub airport, big musuems, medical centers, retail of any and every kind, etc.

You have to kind of be into the things Austin has (what nativeDallasite mentioned - music, outdoors, laid-back attitude), but also be a little sick of what cities such Dallas, Houston, LA, Atlanta, etc. are like. If you meet both criteria, then maybe... maybe... Austin will be OK for you. Otherwise you will be bored.

[PeacePlease]

Don't confuse where you want to live vs where you want to vacation.

I do agree with nativeDallasite that Dallas does offer more things to do. It all depends on what you want from a town you call home.

[twange]

Originally Posted by nativeDallasite

Plus...if you like art museums, traveling exhibits, symphonies, operas, ballets, etc....basically "high culture"...you'll be bored stiff in Austin. Austin's museums and symphonic offerings are sub-par at best.

Warning: Pure opinion

"High Culture"? That's an arrogant description(I'm not calling you arrogant, you didn't invent that description). I've spent half my life trying to get people to stop looking at art and music that way. The people who created those "high cultural" works were mostly the kind of people who wouldn't be able to afford to go to hear symphonies, watch ballets, operas etc...kind of like the strange people hanging around the artsy towns and cities of today.

I'm not trying to attack your position, your posts are informative, but that's a peeve of mine I suppose. And I certainly wouldn't judge a cities arts/music vibrancy on symphonies and museums. They have nothing to do with the ground-level creative scene. I'm from a town that has a world-class orchestra, museum and one of the best theater districts in the nation but local musicians and artists don't get nearly the attention that they do in Austin. But your right, if you want those amenities close by, Houston and Dallas have more options. But I would like to know how often most people go to hear an orchestra, ballet, opera or go to a museum? Most people go once or twice every couple of years. I can go to Dallas or Houston if I need that.

Having said that, its not like Austin doesn't have an orchestra, ballet, or opera company. While they may not be "world class", I guarantee you that most people wouldn't know the difference. I think Austin tends to attract creative folks of all sorts, not just trendy indie-rockers, so I think there's some good stuff happening here on a very high level.

I spent 10 years of my life listening to professors spew the "high art/culture" thing on me and most of them wouldn't know high art if it hit them in the forehead.