What You Should Know About Austin, TX 78757
The state capital of Texas, Austin is off-center in the best way possible. Geographically, aesthetically, and politically, the city is a distillation of all that’s distinctive about the state, a place where its disparate characteristics meet and mix in ways you won’t find anywhere else. The most obvious manifestation of this is the city’s music scene. Once a bastion of country and blues, the music community here is now spread out across multiple genres and dozens of venues. It’s also the location of the South by Southwest Conference, which brings together thousands of music, film, and technology entrepreneurs every March. Another is the city’s love of food. The restaurant scene here is diverse, with everything from vegan eateries to Mexican restaurants. Locals also love to eat the city’s most iconic dish, brisket, which is served at nearly every restaurant. A lot of this is due to the city’s long history with immigration. From the first settlers to the boom years after World War II, the city has been shaped by waves of newcomers who brought with them fresh ideas and modern businesses that would become the backbone of the economy. There’s no question that the current generation of residents has shaped the character of the city, too. From protecting trees to banning single-use plastic bags, decriminalizing homelessness to funding abortion access and offering sanctuary to telling behemoth ride-hailing companies they can’t write their own rules here, the city frequently comes down on the progressive side of hot-button issues.
