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Old 04-06-2009, 03:57 PM
 
Location: Hutto, Tx
9,249 posts, read 26,591,787 times
Reputation: 2851

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Quote:
Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady View Post
centralaustinite, I tried to give you reps for your most excellent post, but it wouldn't let me.

Exactly. If "something to do" is have something prepackaged handed to you on a plate, no, we don't have as much of that as some other cities (usually larger ones), simply because the Austin populace for the most part is about entertaining themselves, rather than being entertained by others. When we are of a mind to go to an amusement park or a museum or a zoo, we have no problem driving to one of the relatively nearby (for Texas - remember, we ARE in Texas) cities. I've been known to drive to Houston for lunch and shopping, and then back home, and I'm not all that unusual. It comes from growing up in a really BIG state where we're used to driving.

I was going to say the same thing. We've made quite a few day trips to San Antonio and Houston. It IS possible!
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Old 04-06-2009, 03:58 PM
 
675 posts, read 1,897,734 times
Reputation: 372
So would you prefer Austin had casinos, football stadiums, and amusement parks? Seriously... I think your post had some truth, but it doesn't capture the character of the town. There's a lot more to do in Austin other than visit bars. Specifically there's a lot of history here (Capitol, museums) and a lot of outdoorsy things to do- the city is covered with green space and trails. And a river runs through the middle, and I see hundreds out on kayaks and canoes every day. I think it's a huge plus that the city doesn't have a bunch of theme parks, a major league baseball team or an NFL football stadium. If you want that stuff you can drive 1 hour to San Antonio, or 3 hours to Houston or Dallas. It's still more of a 'town' than a city.
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Old 04-06-2009, 04:00 PM
 
Location: Austin
2,522 posts, read 6,014,819 times
Reputation: 707
Quote:
Originally Posted by ATX Homeboy View Post
Austin outgrew its infrastructure - Yes, but people keep moving here and demanding more infrastructure which in turn leads to more people moving here and demanding more infrastructure which then leads to - Austin is a huge sprawl. Go Figure.
Anyone hear of the expression "jumping the shark"?.....cities can too......Austin DOES have wonderful, unique things, AND is very creative in the ways mentioned.....unfortunately, at a certain point, size MATTERS! Said another way, there is a natural carrying capacity of metros that thrive on such a unique, creative environment...most are FAR smaller, and not anywhere near the same per growth vectors......ANY place with extreme growth(Austin's has been fastest in the USA for some time) will have a hard time maintaining the integrity of the metro in all ways.....

At a certain point, growth could push an area over a "tipping point", after which the unique and special qualities of a metro like Austin's could be compromised.......hard to say when that could happen for Austin, but that may have already happened.....Too many cooks spoil the broth, and too many people fighting for space in a small metro can indeed cause it to "jump the shark"........

Would love to hear what some of you folks think of this...
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Old 04-06-2009, 04:05 PM
 
Location: Austin
2,522 posts, read 6,014,819 times
Reputation: 707
Quote:
Originally Posted by McDavis View Post
We may have outgrown our infrastructure, and I35 can scare the tar out of you sometimes (hello 38th St. lower deck entrance ramp), but folks from other metropolitan areas will shake their heads at you and give you a tsk-tsk if you complain about your Round Rock to downtown commute. I'll take Austin traffic any day over Dallas or Houston -- or almost any other big-ish city.

And I'd venture to say we're at least a tad more laid back than other places. At the very least, we'll give you a friendly little honk before we tell you that you're #1.
It isn't the commutes on the interstate.....its the main arteries and frontage roads...everything BUT the interstate.......Many times it can take three lights to turn left in a busy intersection...cars are humming non-stop on just about every major and minor road 24/7.......Too many cars on too few roads...
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Old 04-06-2009, 04:15 PM
 
Location: Austin
2,522 posts, read 6,014,819 times
Reputation: 707
Quote:
Originally Posted by Raskolnikov View Post
So would you prefer Austin had casinos, football stadiums, and amusement parks? Seriously... I think your post had some truth, but it doesn't capture the character of the town. There's a lot more to do in Austin other than visit bars. Specifically there's a lot of history here (Capitol, museums) and a lot of outdoorsy things to do- the city is covered with green space and trails. And a river runs through the middle, and I see hundreds out on kayaks and canoes every day. I think it's a huge plus that the city doesn't have a bunch of theme parks, a major league baseball team or an NFL football stadium. If you want that stuff you can drive 1 hour to San Antonio, or 3 hours to Houston or Dallas. It's still more of a 'town' than a city.
Very true.....and those places you mentioned rip off local taxpayers as well.....I think Austin's PR has to get AWAY from pushing 6th street, which is very much a caracature of what people think Austin "is".........the real Austin is actually very mellow and creative, and actually antithetical to 6th street......people come here to check out the area, hang out at 6th, and complain there is nothing to do here but drink, eat, and excrete...to a point, our own PR must be blamed for this....I can't see why they can't foucs more on all the great outlying area and things to do and see..
Austin should do like Ft. Lauderdale, and progressively redefine itself away from the Shriner/Conventioneer/wasted college kid zeitgeist of 6th st and environs, and refocus development and interest in outlying areas....going more upscale/arty/kid-friendly at the same time....

It would be far more sustainable in the future as well....
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Old 04-06-2009, 04:25 PM
 
Location: SoCal
2,261 posts, read 7,207,448 times
Reputation: 960
I LOVE that Austin doesn't have a major sports team. Not everyone is into sports

In Boston, I had to keep a schedule of all the Red Sox games to make sure I NEVER went out on those days unless I had too. Not only was the traffic horrible on those days but many Sox fans are COMPLETELY INSANE! I was once riding my bike at night near Fenway after a Sox game let out and it was like being stuck in a room with a bunch of sex maniacs and violent offenders. I honestly didn't think I'd get out of it alive and/or with my "virtue" intact. More than one guy tried to pull me off my bike. After that, I made sure always to know the Sox schedule since I lived right near Fenway.

I've since heard about terrible things happening to people after games. Yep, I'm very very happy about the lack of pro teams in Austin.
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Old 04-06-2009, 05:20 PM
 
Location: NW Austin
1,133 posts, read 4,172,170 times
Reputation: 174
I'm happy about the lack of pro sports as well -- coming from Atlanta, those Braves fans know how to tie up some traffic!

I think a lot of the Austin "hype" is due to the fact that it's a great place to raise a family. We moved here because we thought it was a great place to raise our daughter -- safe, good schools, affordable, lots of festivals and outdoor activities. Safe to say bar hopping was not a factor in our decision.

Also I think some people are disappointed if they come from a nice city in the first place... like the recent poster from San Francisco. Austin is not San Fran! LOL.
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Old 04-06-2009, 06:46 PM
 
Location: Round Rock, TX
22 posts, read 81,294 times
Reputation: 27
I believe most people just want the town they live in to have what they want (sports, shopping, museums, nightlife, organic markets, etc.). I don't think the OP knocked Austin - he just noted what he couldn't find in Austin that he wanted. So he keeps looking; he's not ranting about why he feels Austin is bad he just posted his findings. What I have noticed is that there are some people, no matter where they move, who want to bring what they like with them. If their new home city doesn't have it, they want to 'fix' it so they can have the conveniences they once enjoyed elsewhere.

The charm of what used to Atlanta was lost a ways back, at least to me. The same came be said about Ft. Lauderdale. Talk about sprawl and traffic. I'm sure those who lived in Austin 20 years, and more, feel the same way. I am happy to be moving back to Texas and I look forward to living in Austin. I don't mind the drive to another city to see a pro team play, I'm happy there are so many outdoor rec venues, and the list goes on. What I think is rare is to find anyone anymore that is happy moving to any city and accepts it for what it is and what is has to offer. As for me, my only dislike about moving back to Texas is the heat in the summer and the fireants. <grin> But then again, I didn't mind living in Texas the three times we've lived there before!
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Old 04-06-2009, 06:50 PM
 
25,157 posts, read 53,809,751 times
Reputation: 7058
I guess you have never heard of UT Long Horns?

Quote:
Originally Posted by readymade View Post
I LOVE that Austin doesn't have a major sports team. Not everyone is into sports
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Old 04-06-2009, 07:06 PM
 
Location: Central Texas
20,958 posts, read 45,189,088 times
Reputation: 24737
Quote:
Originally Posted by inthecut View Post
It isn't the commutes on the interstate.....its the main arteries and frontage roads...everything BUT the interstate.......Many times it can take three lights to turn left in a busy intersection...cars are humming non-stop on just about every major and minor road 24/7.......Too many cars on too few roads...
The trick is not to use the roads that everyone else uses, but to use the roads that were here before the influx and the demand for major arteries. I've made it from far North Austin (north of 183) to downtown in half an hour in the very middle of rush hour, very recently, simply because I know how to avoid the popular roads. I can make it from our house 15 miles north of Georgetown to Barton Hills in an hour if I'm traveling the middle of the day (timed it recently just to make sure my info was current).

Thing is, you either have to have lived here forever so that you know what's under the new "infrastructure" that everyone complains about in one way or another, or you have to be a bit adventurous.
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