Is San Antonio forgotten in Texas? (Houston, Dallas: school, price, food)

[radiolibre99]

Originally Posted by the topper

Austin has the most vibrant downtown and the most construction going in the downtown core. It's very popular for hipsters. It's also the state capital. Houston is better off than San Antonio and Dallas. It has better population and more diversity. Dallas is fancier but Houston is a working class down to earth city with some class in Bellaire/ Galleria.

The new development I saw in Houston around the Galleria and downtown was not working class, but I get what you mean. It has a long way to go to catch up with Dallas but is Dallas just that fancy? I mean is what I saw as far the new development in Upper Kirby, Galleria, and downtown just the norm in Dallas? If so, that's swank and I should visit!

I know Austin would have the most vibrant downtown core but has it grown into anything more than it's former college town self? I mean is it bordering on Houston territory as far as urbanity? I mean what is the big appeal? Is the lifestyle there just that rock star?

San Antonio to me doesn't have to be either like Dallas, Houston or Austin. It's the State historical tourist destination. It's our San Francisco, New Orleans and Savannah, Georgia. It doesn't need to change into something bigger because it's already grand.

[C24L]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

Well isn't just as pretty as Austin nature wise?

I think the nature around S/A is really pretty on the north side.I dont know if it would be as pretty as Austin but its close.

[Kthnry]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

I loved the Mexican influence in Los Angeles and it seemed to really add to the character of that city. I just feel as though a lot of the Mexican culture is a bit suppressed in places such as Austin and in Houston but I picture the culture to be very lively and wholly celebrated in SA as much as it is in Los Angeles, and as much as French/Creole-Cajun culture is in New Orleans. I think I saw something in SA that was akin to Olvera St in Los Angeles where they sell all these artisanal Mexican stuff. And there must be Day of the Dead parades and such, no?

I don't know Houston well, but your impressions about Mexican culture in Austin and San Antonio are correct. It's not so much suppressed in Austin, it just hasn't entered the mainstream, while it IS the mainstream in San Antonio. That's a huge part of its charm.

[radiolibre99]

Originally Posted by Kthnry

I don't know Houston well, but your impressions about Mexican culture in Austin and San Antonio are correct. It's not so much suppressed in Austin, it just hasn't entered the mainstream, while it IS the mainstream in San Antonio. That's a huge part of its charm.

That's a notch on Austins belt then cus I didn't know Austin has a vibrant Mexican culture. The reason why I say it's a bit suppressed or under stated in Houston is because it's a part of the main culture of Houston. In LA I didn't even know half of what I learned about Mexican culture while there and I lived around Mexican people my whole life in Houston. There are people in Houston who claim to love "Mexican" food but have never heard of horchata. In LA you could get an horchata latte at a coffee shop. Day of the dead is celebrated. You could get real Mexican food everywhere without it being a taqueria or too exotic for the local populace.
I picture San Antonio to be like that.

[TXsurburbanmom]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

I loved the Mexican influence in Los Angeles and it seemed to really add to the character of that city. I just feel as though a lot of the Mexican culture is a bit suppressed in places such as Austin and in Houston but I picture the culture to be very lively and wholly celebrated in SA as much as it is in Los Angeles, and as much as French/Creole-Cajun culture is in New Orleans. I think I saw something in SA that was akin to Olvera St in Los Angeles where they sell all these artisanal Mexican stuff. And there must be Day of the Dead parades and such, no?

Sorry, just got home after setting up our Book Fair. I think you could find the shopping you're looking for in SA at El Mercado in La Villita downtown. My friends and I do a Fiesta shopping trip each year down there. Fiesta of course is celebrated throughout the city with multiple and diverse events. The schools even get a day off for the Battle of Flowers parade.

Not sure of a Day of the Dead parade but there was a Day of the Dead display at my son's school this year and there's usually stories on the local news focusing on it.

[George Brock]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

That's a notch on Austins belt then cus I didn't know Austin has a vibrant Mexican culture. The reason why I say it's a bit suppressed or under stated in Houston is because it's a part of the main culture of Houston. In LA I didn't even know half of what I learned about Mexican culture while there and I lived around Mexican people my whole life in Houston. There are people in Houston who claim to love "Mexican" food but have never heard of horchata. In LA you could get an horchata latte at a coffee shop. Day of the dead is celebrated. You could get real Mexican food everywhere without it being a taqueria or too exotic for the local populace.
I picture San Antonio to be like that.

Not really Mexican mostly or almost entirely just tex-mex.

[Gunion Powder]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

That's a notch on Austins belt then cus I didn't know Austin has a vibrant Mexican culture. The reason why I say it's a bit suppressed or under stated in Houston is because it's a part of the main culture of Houston. In LA I didn't even know half of what I learned about Mexican culture while there and I lived around Mexican people my whole life in Houston. There are people in Houston who claim to love "Mexican" food but have never heard of horchata. In LA you could get an horchata latte at a coffee shop. Day of the dead is celebrated. You could get real Mexican food everywhere without it being a taqueria or too exotic for the local populace.
I picture San Antonio to be like that.

Not so much, in my experience. San Antonio is dominated by Tejano culture and most of the food is Tex-Mex. To my knowledge, Los Angeles has a greater share of Mexican immigrants.

[radiolibre99]

Oh wow, with SA being almost a majority Mexican or Mexican American, I am surprised there isn't more varied real Mexican cuisine. Even Houston has a wide variety of real Mexican food.

[Kthnry]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

That's a notch on Austins belt then cus I didn't know Austin has a vibrant Mexican culture. The reason why I say it's a bit suppressed or under stated in Houston is because it's a part of the main culture of Houston. In LA I didn't even know half of what I learned about Mexican culture while there and I lived around Mexican people my whole life in Houston. There are people in Houston who claim to love "Mexican" food but have never heard of horchata. In LA you could get an horchata latte at a coffee shop. Day of the dead is celebrated. You could get real Mexican food everywhere without it being a taqueria or too exotic for the local populace.
I picture San Antonio to be like that.

Sorry, I probably wasn't clear, but Austin doesn't have much of a Mexican or Tex-Mex culture -- nothing like San Antonio.

[radiolibre99]

Originally Posted by Kthnry

Sorry, I probably wasn't clear, but Austin doesn't have much of a Mexican or Tex-Mex culture -- nothing like San Antonio.

Not even Tex Mex? Now that surprises me. You're saying it's just BBQ as far as local cultural cuisine?