downtown Austin's real estate and neighborhood blog
The ABJ is reporting that the planned expansion of Stubbs in downtown Austin is inching forward.
“Austin City Council approved Stubb’s request to waive on-site parking requirements, with the exception of handicap parking, and to become classified as an outdoor entertainment venue.”…”The expansion will add 4,295 square feet to the restaurant, 6,445 square feet to an outdoor concert amphitheater, and a new 35,753 square feet indoor auditorium.”
I’m a little behind on my reading, I’ll admit. But I find Sundays are a great day to catch up on many of the things that pass you by…..all while enjoying a mimosa or glass of wine. Anyway, last night, wine in hand, I was reading through Austin Monthly‘s March 2009 Issue (the Music Issue) and an interview with Andy Langer piqued my interest. Andy Langer is not only an Austin music journalism institution, as he’s covered the scene for years and years and lived in Austin for quite sometime, but he’s a national contributor to magazines like Esquire, and has traveled seemingly everywhere to see shows and meet bands.
Anyway, the interview was essentially just a bunch of quotes from Mr. Langer, and one sort of popped out as not only a strong sentiment, but also as being particularly relevant to this blog:
“Find me a place that doesn’t have cranes in the sky building expensive condos and you’ll find me a place that’s seriously depressed and probably a place where I can’t have The New York Times delivered on my doorstep. And I think that’s probably not a place that I wanna live.”
Andy’s credentials don’t necessarily qualify him as a real estate expert, but he’s arguably got a pretty good background in social culture and the issues surrounding Austin’s social scene. And it kind of sounds like he’s saying that the cities that aren’t building and that aren’t building projects in a way that embraces urban density and development are the cities that probably don’t have or won’t have the cultural reach/appeal that most of us generally recognize being an enhancement to our quality of life.
Source: Austin Monthly, March 2009 Issue, “Things I’ve Learned” with Andy Langer, by Paul Carruba.
Did anyone else see this last night? Don’t know who Austin Bike Zoo put it together, but it’s pretty cool!
We don’t spend much time in front of the television, but we never pass up Reno 911. Nick Swardson plays Terry (nsfw). Nick was in town last night at the Paramount to film his next DVD/Comedy Central special, “Seriously, who farted?” In recent years several stand up comics including Jim Gaffigan, Demetri Martin, Ralphie May have chosen Austin’s Paramount Theater as the venue for filming their DVD or television specials.
Swardson would likely tell you he chose Austin because “he likes to party.” For comics, Austin has the right blend of being a cool city, with an easy-going college town atmosphere, and a great theater – Comedy Central seems to have fallen in love with the Paramount’s proscenium-arch, the mezzanine seating, the balconies and ornate design making it the perfect setting for televised specials.
You’ve heard of Lil’ Wayne? How about Lil’ Leffy? On April 21st, the Austin Chronicle is sponsoring “The Hustle For Mayor” candidate forum at Mohawk in downtown Austin. Will we get to witness Lee ‘lil leffy’ Leffingwell and Brewster ‘Micky Crack’ McCracken grab the mic and spit the illest, most hunker-downest, sustainabilitized, verbal gymnastics ever heard in a mayoral election?
DJ Mel will be breakin’ necks from the tables.
This is happening.
