From our favorite South Austin contributor–Patti P. 

A gaggle of teenagers strutted into a convenience store in South Austin yesterday sporting various t-shirts…the tag line on the back of one boy left me silently applauding…”Old Austin hasn’t died.  It just moved South.”  Kudo’s to the unknown author–s/he is definitely a keen supporter of the philosophy that makes Austin so appealing: Keep Austin Weird.When relocating from Vermont to Austin in 2000, the idea of living in a city that prided itself on being weird wasn’t on my list of criteria for a good match.  However, having lived here for the past eight years I’ve come to understand, totally support and am completely hooked on the notion of Austin’s “weirdness” and can’t imagine living anywhere else.

Weirdness in Austin means freedom to wear flipflops on Christmas Eve and not feel underdressed or disrespectful–you belong and are more important then your footgear.  Seriously.

Weirdness in Austin allows you to celebrate Spam AND Eeyore’s Birthday with pure endorphin-releasing abandon.

Weirdness in Austin means looking forward to sitting with friends & neighbors on the banks of Lady Bird Lake watching for millions of bats to leave their bridge home for evening snacking (right over your head).

While this delightful weirdness occurs throughout Austin, it is especially celebrated South of the Lady Bird Lake, thus South Austin. 

In real estate terms, South Austin includes many neighborhoods including Barton Hills, Bouldin Creek, Cherry Creek, Dawson, Galindo, Horseshoe Bend, South Lamar, SOCO, South Creek, Travis Green & Zilker. 

The further south you go, the more lenient the Home Owner’s Assocations seem to be.  One of my favorite Austin columnists has lived in South Austin for 30 years and frequently amuses with accounts of his creative South Austin neighbors… one neighbor reportedly has a large peace sign on his front lawn–very large–we’re talking trampoline turned on its side with a painted peace sign large.

If freedom of expression is very important to you, you may want to explore some of Austin’s South Austin neighborhoods.  Go online, search on “South Austin” which offers links to many neighborhood associations; read their newsletters and check out the neighborhood school(s).   Check in with your favorite Austin realtor who will be a great source of  information about South Austin neighborhoods.

South Austin may be your new home.  You may even find yourself with your own flock of chickens.

Despite record breaking high temps last week, SOCO–the funky neighborhood & quirky/artsy shopping district south of the Congress Street bridge in Austin, TX stayed oh so cool.   Even the campy cupcake vendor operating out of a vintage silver airstream “Hey Cupcake” managed to keep the icing on her cakes and into the hands of hoards of sugar seekers.

Saturday was the last day of the SXSW music festival here in Austin and as is tradition, free music shows packed cool visitors (you could tell by their shades) & cool Austinites (you could tell by their pink hightops) into every alley up & down SOCO…all you had to do was follow the beat with your hatted head.  

Which my husband & I did from Guero’s live oak courtyard to Homeslice Pizza’s back lot and finally found ourselves nose to fiddle bow in a tented alley with the entertaining Sadie’s (popular Toronto Canadian band (Rock/Psychedelic/Country band fresh back from Europe and on their way to Scandanavia).  Totally satisfied with their revved up version of a favorite Bob Wills tune “stay all night, stay a little longer”– ever rebellious, we opted instead to weave our way through the alley crowd to continue our SOCO hop.

If you missed SXSW, first, there’s always next year and second, you can always get a mini taste (a morsel but enough to leave you sated) the First Thursday of each month as SOCO businesses leave their doors open late into the evening and live music beckons around every corner.  

And don’t sweat it if you miss a Thursday visit.  SOCO is cool every day/night of the week.   

OK-what NOT to miss when visiting (or coming to live) in the SOCO area:

Jo’s coffee–tres popular open-air coffee shop which keeps java hounds happy year-round sipping, surfing and cool people watching.

San Jose Hotel–sister business to Jo’s (literally). Private ivy covered courtyards right off the busy SOCO path.  Reportedly Julia Roberts and Gwenyth Paltrow’s favorite digs while in town so I give these diva mamas two cool thumbs up for their taste.

The Continental Club–opened in 1957 with Glenn Miller & Tommy Dorsey…rocked out with Stevie Ray Vaughn and Joe Ely in the 70’s and is now packed with awesome authentic swinging atmosphere with the best rockabilly, swing & country anywhere.  I think it’s pleasantly haunted with some really great souls.

Hill Country Weavers–should be dubbed Hill Country Knitters as the shop has doubled in size and great fiber selections since knitting fever hit around 2001.  They taught me to knit–I’m forever grateful.

Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds–oh the photo opportunities!  Fantastic costume shop–if you’ve never had a chance to wear layers of crinoline, you have to go into this SOCO shop just to feel the puffy dresses and fuzzy gorillas reaching out to tickle as you make your way through the packed maze of costumes.

Allen’s Boots–this anchoring corner shop will remind you that you’re in Texas.  Booted & hatted cowboys/girls guide you through the impressive isles of boots (I have my eyes on a pair of turquoise beauties)…

And that’s just a taste of SOCO.  You have to come visit.  Stay if you promise to be cool.