Austin, TX Summary

photo by gusto

It’s one of the most liberal cities in Texas and offers some of the best live music in any number of genres – we’re talking about Austin. Known as the Live Music Capital of the World (the city’s official slogan), the city is home to an unbeatable combination of blues, jazz, country, rock and roll, and Latin rhythms. If you fly in, you’ll even get a taste of that live music at the airport, where bands perform on a regular basis. Giving life to the music scene are the many nightclubs and the annual South by Southwest festival, a showcase of new and established artists. The company responsible for this festival does not limit itself to music – film and Internet professionals are included in the event (Austin is one of the nation’s high-tech hubs).

The party never stops on one Austin street, however. Sixth Street is the heart of nightlife in the city. Many of the buildings here were constructed in the Victorian and Edwardian periods, but are home to the ever-changing and distinctive sounds of Austin. If you have a craving for live music, you won’t be disappointed on Sixth Street. Austin is famous for more than music, however. The food is also a star attraction. Tex-Mex is the most popular fare here and is characterized by seasoned beef, beans, and fragrant spices. Tex-Mex dishes are generally created with ingredients that are native to Mexico. Try the tortilla soup or borracha beans for a little south-of-the-border spice.

There’s a particular segment of the population that helps keep the Tex-Mex restaurants in business – Austin’s 48,000 University of Texas students. Overlooking the state capitol building, the University of Texas draws students from around the world. The diversity that the university creates and the Keep Austin Weird spirit of individualism are two of the reasons the city is so vibrant and engaging.