My Top 5:
1. Austin City Limits Festival - My favorite time of the year is always when ACL rolls around. I have been going for the past 8 years and it's always the thing I look forward to the most during the year, and it's always the thing I miss the most once it's over. It's got music for all tastes, and having Austin as the Music Capital of the World attracts the biggest and best bands around. Next year they are expanding the festival to 2 weekends to accommodate more people, following in the footsteps of the Coachella music festival in California. Biggest downside to ACL is the continual increase in ticket prices... but we can only hope the overall quality of the festival will increase as well!
2. SXSW - South By Southwest is one of the biggest festivals in the country. Whether your a big movie buff, or music fan, SXSW has plenty for everyone. From the biggest upcoming films, to the top bands around, they are all here for the week of craziness. Something to watch out for is the Surprise bands that perform all throughout the festival. No one will know when or where these bands are going to play up until they actually come out on stage. Some in past that did this were The Black Keys, Metallica, and The Foo Fighters. For students in Austin, SXSW always occurs during their spring break, so a perfect thing to do for those who are staying in town that week. Biggest problem - badges are not cheap... Solution- Volunteer. It's fun and you get to meet a lot of people, and once you've put in your hours you get a badge for free.
3. Food - This is obviously very vague but there is too much to be said about the amazing food scene in Austin. Some of my favorites:
-HopDoddys Burger Bar- Try the Primetime burger, in my opinion the best burger in Austin.
-La Condesa - I'd say the best mexican restaurant in Austin. It is authentic Mexican cuisine and it is located in the rising 2nd St. downtown area. A little on the pricy side, but well worth it. If you're gonna go, plan on getting reservations, because they are always very busy and you could be waiting for hours if you go there during primetime.
-Food Trucks - They are taking over the city, but it's not a bad thing. It feels like more of them pop up everyday always with some new delicious culinary twist. Try some of the ones in the food truck village down on South 1st Street, very very good.
4. -Nightlife - From all the music venues, to 6th St., to South Congress, to Barton Springs, to Rainey St., to Campus, Austin really comes alive at night. If you're looking to party in any fashion, Austin will have it.
5. -Outdoor activities - There are so many things to enjoy in Austin out on a sunny day. One of my favorites is going out on Lake Austin, or hanging out at one of the many creeks in the area. UT football games are always an exciting time of the year, and it feels like the entire city is alive on game day.
There are so many more things that could be on this list and it is very hard to pick favorites. Overall I think the best part of Austin is the people and the lifestyle. I have lived here all my life, and I love the Austin culture which is ever changing but is always weird.
By: Matthew Gary
