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November 29, 2007
5 months in Weird City, USA
Five months ago, a spaceship deposited the Church in Austin, Texas. What a funky time it's been.
There's much to love about the weirdest city in the U.S.:
- It hosts a live music performance at every city council meeting.
- It's home to SXSW, which has grown into a star-making stage for music, tech and movies.
- Local college grads have a propensity for staying, not leaving.
- It's home to Alamo Drafthouse, the best movie theater operator in the country.
- It's very entrepreneur-friendly.
- Its unemployment rate is an astounding 3.3%, more than a full point below the national average of 4.4%.
- Some of the best crepes in the world are served out of an Airstream trailer in South Austin.
- Coincidentally, Airstream trailers often house restaurants all over the city.
- Only locally owned businesses are allowed storefronts at the airport.
- Celebrities aren't stalked by papparazzi.
- The city's unofficial motto: "Keep Austin Weird."
To commemorate the five months, we're opening up our prize closet to area businesses. Be one of the first 15 people to comment and we'll slip ya a copy of Citizen Marketers, Creating Customer Evangelists (paperback or audio version) or the Creating Customer Evangelists Discussion Guide. Pick one.
Two rules to get yer paws on Church swag:
1) You have to work for an Austin-area business and link to it in your post. (Sorry Dallasites, Houstonians and College Stationaries.)
2) One goodie per business (15 total). We'll email you offline for your work address to send your swag.
Thanks, Austin. Keep it weird.
Other blogs that reference 5 months in Weird City, USA:
It's funny; coming from NY, I've always had a severe superiority complex when it comes to food, music and culture. Texas was always, well, the polar opposite of NY.
I think I'll have to check it out sometime in the near future!
Nice roundup of some of the great things about Austin.
I've been here for around 3 years and love it. Its the closest I've found to home (Ireland) here in the States.
Great blog too-enjoy the read. Always insightedful.
Cheers.
Colin
I seriously want to live in Austin. This sounds wonderful.
So glad that y'all found the Alamo Drafthouse. There's no better way to watch a movie!!!
I've never been to Austin, but I just might fit in!
Excellent post on my hometown. I'm living and working in Austin. I work for http://www.hoovers.com, based here in Austin.
Close to Hey Cupcake is Homeslice Pizza, the best pizza I've ever had. when in Austin check it out.
I'd be interested in a copy of Citizen Marketers!
OK, gotta rib you a little from down here in Houston - remember, it's all good-natured Texan pride. Austin is a cute town, and it's a whole lot prettier than Houston, but if you've gotta tell everyone to keep it weird, the barn door's open and the horse is gone.
Always enjoy visiting but always like getting back to the big city energy of Houston - not to mention the actual weirdness (in our folk art scene, the local theater, etc.) that nobody comments on because, well, it's just part of this big crazy sprawl city.
I do have to note that Austin is the only place in Texas I've been where people were downright rude about telling me what they hated about my home. (Someone there once said, "Do you live here?" and when I answered "No, Houston," he said, "I'm sorry!" Dude, I'm not.)
Sure do envy your hills and the great riverfront, though.
Austin is also the #2 best walking city in the US, according to Prevention Magazine and the #2 best cycling city (with a population between 500k and 1 million) according to Bicycling Magazine. At least we try to work off all the calories we consume out of the Airstream trailers!
We've been in Austin just under a year and we never regret the decision to start a company here.
I follow you guys pretty religiously.. get it?
and every time you write about Austin I get a little pinch in my chest. I miss that place so much. In the summer time, some of the best snowcones are served outta tiny trailers right on South Lamar. Look forward to those.
I'm a long time Texan, but recent Austinite. I'm not sure the city is as small as everyone claims it to be, but it certainly does offer the variety of food, culture, and activities that people talk about. I love trying new places to so this posting was perfect.
(And I work at the Austin-based Golfsmith headquarters on north I-35.)
Daniel -- You have plenty of reason to have pride about NYC. Except for its airports, there's a million things to love about it.
Colin -- A neighbor from Ireland says the same thing. I'm putting Dublin on my must-visit list.
Zack -- Great. Book on the way to you.
Both Homeslice and Hey Cupcake are regular (well, not too regular) stops for food. (For those unfamiliar with Hey Cupcake, it's a cupcake place housed in, yes, an Airstream trailer.)
Best part about both places: dog-friendly.
John -- Maybe Austinites are still pissed about Sam Houston trying to steal the state capital.
One thing about Houston: It has some of the best dining in the country.
Korry -- I love walking but I wish, though, sidewalks here wider here. We'll get a book out to ya.
Bud -- Bless you, my son. Heh! Those snowcones in the P. Terry parking lot are totally rockin.
Pam -- The city does a pretty good job of trying to maintain that small-city feel. That helps stave off the big-city smell.
Didn't know Golfsmith was based here. We'll get ya a book.
The best part about Austin for me (7 years) is I'm always finding something new and interesting to experience. When family comes to visit, the question isn't "what to do?" but "how much can we do?".
I spent a week in Ausin last month for Maker Faire, and I have to say, it may be the coolest, friendliest city I've ever visited. There were 45 venues offering FREE music ON A TUESDAY NIGHT! Great people, great food (try the mole at Manuel's), great music, clean city, beautiful women. And my new favorite beverage, Hideous. It definitely earns it's "weird" status - There's a little shop on Congress where you can purchase your very own luchador mask, and I listened to a reggae band whose every song was about Ron Paul.
Trust me, the list of things you love about Austin will only grow the longer you live here. I have been here 3 years and learn new and interesting things about the city all the time.
Austin is definitely a great place to be.
link
http://www.dell.com/
Glad to see y'all are enjoying your time here in Austin.
I've been here for 11 years - after escaping from Boston - and I still love it.
I work for Dovetail Software (www.dovetailsoftware.com), we're a CRM software company in NW Austin.
Am I within the first 15 Austin commenters? I'd love a copy of your book!
Rock on.
I live in SW Austin, work for the American Cancer Society, and blog about customer service. Come join the Social Meda Club of Austin http://austin.socialmediaclub.com/
volunteer to fight cancer, or feel free to write a guest post for my blog.
Regards,
Glenn
I moved to Austin in 1978. It was very near PERFECT then. Though it has changed, it's still the best place in Texas to live. IMO, the only place in Texas to live :-) (this from a native Texan).
I also own and run three online businesses from Austin. I'd love to have a copy of your book!
Chris -- So true. Just waiting on an email confirmation back from you.
Gary -- Good to hear from you. We'll get a book out to you.
Glenn -- I'll check out the Social Media Club.
Roy -- Good to see ya. We'll get a book out to you, too. (Kinda feel like Oprah giving away those cars... "You get a book! And you get a book! And you get a book!")
Austin's pretty great, but then I'm from here. Glad you're settling in and liking it. Hey, you made it through summer, and that's the absolute worst. Maybe I'll see you if you do anything with AdFed or Austin Interactive Marketing Association.
I work for RefreshWeb (http://www.refreshweb.com) over by 2222 and Mopac. We do SEM, primarily through SEO. But we're not sketchy. Am I in the first 15 Austin businesses? :-)
Ben and Jackie,
Welcome to Austin. I hope you get the opportunity to bring your own beer (monk-brewed or otherwise) to the great all-you -can eat plates of bbq at the Salt Lick. I also hope you've gotten a chance to develop a hankering for the breakfast taco (Taco Maria's on South Lamar).
I work for a small Austin law firm that only does one type of case (We also think we do that type of case better than anyone else). http://www.aaplaw.com/
I appreciate your blog giving me the opportunity to be reminded of all of the chances I've got each day to help our customers have a great experience and to remind me (and others) in the firm of the chance to set ourselves apart from those other providers.
I hope I've got all 5 points of a good thank-you note covered. Your blog rocks and I'll offer right now to buy the coffee (hell, I'll even spring for a muffin or breakfast taco) if you'll let me listen quietly in the corner the next time you and John Moore talk.
Chris
Gary -
I love seeing the y'all -- even in blog post comments!
I love living in Austin and am glad you're here. It is probably a little warmer than Chicago! By day I work for National Instruments: http://www.ni.com I also run a family website service called Family Says: http://www.familysays.com
Sara -- Glad to see you here. And yes, your're among the first 15.
Chris -- Talk about word of mouth... you're among many people who've raved to us about the Salt Lick. I am officially putting it on the list. We'll get a book out to you, too.
Daniel -- Y'all is eminently better (and gender-neutral) compared to the Midwest standard of "you guys."
Joe -- Holy silicon. I didn't know National Instruments was based here. You definitely get a book.
