Austin, San Antonio, Houston

[BeBop]

I've got an unusual assignment coming up where I have a client operating in these three Texas cities. I've got work to do in each, but some work that can be done in any location. So, I get to divide up my time, with a bias toward / away from one or more.

I've been to each city at least three times, but, in the past, it's been nearly 100% work. My recollection is that Austin suited my tastes best - local book shops, local unusual food joints (vegan), live music. My latest gig in Houston (July '08) didn't leave me impressed with the city culture.

Apologies to any offended Houston fans. I'm a 60s/70s Berkeley-ite by upbringing. Definitely not a straight-line thinker. My time at NTSU was challenging, though I can't say it was unhappy.

Anyone care to weigh in?

[BFrank]

Only been to Austin for SXSW, but it definitely seems like a cool city. Would like to check it out some other time of year.

[jazzbo]

I know my life has "oooled" in general but over the last decade I really have lost a "spark" for Austin. I'm here because my friends and the person I love are here, but to be honest I'd relocate if that weren't the case. This is not the same city I used to be excited about. It's not as affordable, nor as easy to get around in, nor as entertaining a city as it was in the eighties. Still, I'm sure to a visitor it can be a gas.

I have enjoyed Dallas when I've been there, which may have been due more to the great company I enjoyed there than the city itself, though I do enjoy the museums immensely. That goes for Houston too, the museums are great. Houston was colored by my situation: I spent a lot of time there with my late wife for her treatment, it was not fun, at all, in that aspect, living in an "extened stay" place for over 15 months, trying to keep my job in Austin by "telecommuting," being a caregiver and a husband at once. And in Houston I kept feeling that there was little more than asphalt and concrete. . . Austin and Dallas seemed to have planned more green in the mix.

Not sure what you would make of this bebop, but hope you have fun in Texas. Hopefully it will be coller for you from here on in.

[JSngry]

Houston probably has the most vibrant jazz scene in Texas, or at least appears to.

Austin is what it is and has signed a lifetime contract to never be anything else.

San Antonio...I'm sure there's more "there" there than I've found to this point, but damned if I can tell you where.

Dallas/DFW (which you don't mention, but...) is like reading a really crazy pop-up book while you're on a bad acid trip - you think things are bad until POPUP! WHAOH! Guess it could always be worse! But every so often, you'll get tickled, so you keep turning the pages...

[Aggie87]

Of the three, I like Austin the best. In fact, it's still my favorite city in Texas. I think living in a few other, less interesting places in Texas gives me an appreciation for what Austin offers that isn't available elsewhere. Plenty of live music whenever you want it. Beautiful hill country access. Nice lake and riverfront areas in which to play/explore. The Austin Record Convention. Nightlife along 6th Street and adjacent areas, South Congress, Guadalupe, etc. Waterloo Records (I really appreciate this store!!).

Houston has very little personality to me, overall. I've got relatives that live there, and friends, and enjoy visiting them, but never really find enough things of interest to do while there. I guess there's the Johnson Space Center, which is nice, but probably not worth repeat visits. And the Natural Science Museum (and attached Butterfly Center) is well done, if you've got time and you're looking for something to do. But I can't imagine either of those things drawing in out of city/state visitors by themselves. Galveston is a 45 min/1 hr drive south, if you want beach.

San Antonio is a nice, colorful city, with a fun downtown area. Good Mexican food to be found all over, plenty of small mom & pop places. The Riverwalk is interesting, despite being touristy. And the Alamo is worth a visit, obviously. Up the road in New Braunfels are the Guadalupe and Comal Rivers, both of which you can tube down, for a nice lazy day.

I guess it depends on what you want to do in your spare time. If it's a variety of live music choices, Austin would be my pick.

Edited September 22, 2009 by Aggie87

[Chalupa]

BeBop, if you don't mind me asking, what do you do for a living?? It seems like you're always on the go.

[JSngry]

Up the road in New Braunfels are the Guadalupe and Comal Rivers, both of which you can tube down, for a nice lazy day.

Went tubing for the first (and last) time down the Comal about a month ago...a river full of drunk obnoxious college kids and no way to avoid bumping into them as you went down the river, yes. Nice and lazy....not exactly.

Maybe now that school's back in session, it might be more of what it probably really was at some point.

[Aggie87]

Up the road in New Braunfels are the Guadalupe and Comal Rivers, both of which you can tube down, for a nice lazy day.

Went tubing for the first (and last) time down the Comal about a month ago...a river full of drunk obnoxious college kids and no way to avoid bumping into them as you went down the river, yes. Nice and lazy....not exactly.

Maybe now that school's back in session, it might be more of what it probably really was at some point.

That's a good point. I lived in San Marcos for a year back in the early 80's, and back then there weren't the numbers that there are now probably.

Last time I went was when school was in session too, so it was probably a bit less crowded than in the middle of summer.

(Aside - I did go tubing on the Delaware River between NJ and Pennsylvania last month, there was hardly anybody on that river, and it was beautiful - went past the area where Washington crossed the river).

[7/4]

Washington Crossing, NJ.

[Aggie87]

Washington Crossing, NJ.

That's it - we put in up near Lambertville. (edit - actually a bit further north than that, maybe up near Frenchtown? I don't know exactly).

That whole area of NJ is much more beautiful than what many people think of when they think NJ.

Edited September 22, 2009 by Aggie87

[JSngry]

Up the road in New Braunfels are the Guadalupe and Comal Rivers, both of which you can tube down, for a nice lazy day.

Went tubing for the first (and last) time down the Comal about a month ago...a river full of drunk obnoxious college kids and no way to avoid bumping into them as you went down the river, yes. Nice and lazy....not exactly.

Maybe now that school's back in session, it might be more of what it probably really was at some point.

That's a good point. I lived in San Marcos for a year back in the early 80's, and back then there weren't the numbers that there are now probably.

Last time I went was when school was in session too, so it was probably a bit less crowded than in the middle of summer.

(Aside - I did go tubing on the Delaware River between NJ and Pennsylvania last month, there was hardly anybody on that river, and it was beautiful - went past the area where Washington crossed the river).

The last time I had been actually in New Braunfels was around 1970 or so. Back then, it was a quaint town known entirely for its German flavor. Now, almost 40 years later, it's all about tubing & Schlitterbaun...traffic's horrible, the locals are stressed and often rude, and it's just not fun. If our visit was any indication, "tourism" has ruined that town in every way except revenue-wise.

However, on the way there, we went through Lockhart. Kristina's been aon a barbecue kick lately and wanted to try Kreuz.

Now THAT is worth the trip, especially the sauerkraut. But hell, the brisket and sausages too...if anything has ever been divinely inspired, this stuff has been.

[Brad]

Washington Crossing, NJ.

That's it - we put in up near Lambertville.

That whole area of NJ is much more beautiful than what many people think of when they think NJ.

Once you get somewhat west (as opposed to the eastern part, which is where the stereotypes come in), there are some very nice rural or semi rural parts.

[7/4]

Washington Crossing, NJ.

That's it - we put in up near Lambertville.

That whole area of NJ is much more beautiful than what many people think of when they think NJ.

It's the sticks!

Lamberville, NJ is across the river from New Hope, Pa, where Organissimo played a home studio concert in June.