Keep Austin Weird
You can buy bumper stickers, shirts, and hats beseeching us to "Keep Austin Weird" but what exactly does it mean? In part, it's a reference to "old Austin" of the free-spirited, somewhat hippy, bohemian 60s, 70s, and 80s. It's Austin pre-high-tech, pre-Starbucks. It's that laid-back, "do what feels good" kind of tolerance and weirdness.
In recent years there have been attempts to commercialize "Keep Austin Weird" under the guise of "buy local." A noble thought but a bit ironic because, as noted by the folks at Keep Austin Weird, the original premise was "to counter Austin's descent into rampant commercialism and over-development."
On these pages, sample the weird, unique, or oddball things that we love about Austin as well as read some alternate points of view on the whole "Keep Austin Weird" movement.
In recent years there have been attempts to commercialize "Keep Austin Weird" under the guise of "buy local." A noble thought but a bit ironic because, as noted by the folks at Keep Austin Weird, the original premise was "to counter Austin's descent into rampant commercialism and over-development."
On these pages, sample the weird, unique, or oddball things that we love about Austin as well as read some alternate points of view on the whole "Keep Austin Weird" movement.
Eeyore's Birthday Party
This annual Spring event keeps the spirit of the 70s alive. How weird is it to celebrate the birthday of a fictional donkey friend of a fictional bear?
This annual Spring event keeps the spirit of the 70s alive. How weird is it to celebrate the birthday of a fictional donkey friend of a fictional bear?
Painted Tree Limbs
Does any one know the significance of brightly painted tree limbs hung from trees in people's yards?
Does any one know the significance of brightly painted tree limbs hung from trees in people's yards?
The Street of Lights Photo Tour #1
These aren't your usual scenes of Santa, snowmen, and traditional Christmas trees. See how the neighbors of 37th Street light up for the holidays.
These aren't your usual scenes of Santa, snowmen, and traditional Christmas trees. See how the neighbors of 37th Street light up for the holidays.
The Street of Lights Tour #2
More photos of 37th Street dressed for the holidays. These are the kind of displays you'll see at the more mainstream Trail of Lights.
More photos of 37th Street dressed for the holidays. These are the kind of displays you'll see at the more mainstream Trail of Lights.
Austin Air Coolers
VW owners meet up at Deep Eddy Pool and hang out, go for pizza, whatever.
VW owners meet up at Deep Eddy Pool and hang out, go for pizza, whatever.
Austin Art Cars
See photos from the Art Car Parade and find out when the next art car events are.
See photos from the Art Car Parade and find out when the next art car events are.
Austin Chronicle, The
This alternative to the Austin-American Statesmen often features a bit of the weird and wacky and focuses on local political, environmental, arts, and entertainment news.
This alternative to the Austin-American Statesmen often features a bit of the weird and wacky and focuses on local political, environmental, arts, and entertainment news.
Both Worlds: Keeping Austin "Weird"
Taking the dictionary definition of weird quite literally, this Austin blogger opines "Keep Austin Weird? You need weirdos for that and we have enough of them."
Taking the dictionary definition of weird quite literally, this Austin blogger opines "Keep Austin Weird? You need weirdos for that and we have enough of them."
Cathedral of Junk
RoadsideAmerica.com profiles this backyard creation in South Austin.
RoadsideAmerica.com profiles this backyard creation in South Austin.
Coffee and Film
Love coffee? Love film? They come together here in the form of commentary on films and Austin coffee shop reviews.
Love coffee? Love film? They come together here in the form of commentary on films and Austin coffee shop reviews.
Flash Mobs
It's not unique to Austin but it's weird. See what a bunch of strangers are doing (your guide included) around down to help spread a little sunshine and silliness. You can join in too.
It's not unique to Austin but it's weird. See what a bunch of strangers are doing (your guide included) around down to help spread a little sunshine and silliness. You can join in too.
Flickr: South Congress Tagged Photos
At Flickr, these are photos uploaded by users with "southcongress" as the tag. View some of the eclectic shops and sights unique to Austin's South Congress Avenue.
At Flickr, these are photos uploaded by users with "southcongress" as the tag. View some of the eclectic shops and sights unique to Austin's South Congress Avenue.
Food for the Soul?
Here's the scoop on those posters of watermelons, steaks, celery, ice cream cones, and other food items seen plastered around town.
Here's the scoop on those posters of watermelons, steaks, celery, ice cream cones, and other food items seen plastered around town.
HEB in the Middle of the Night - Silly Things to Do in Austin After Midnight
If bar-hopping isn't your style but you're up in the middle of the night, hit your local 24-hour HEB store where you can squeeze the Charmin and read every silly card in the greeting card aisle and not have to worry about looking silly.
If bar-hopping isn't your style but you're up in the middle of the night, hit your local 24-hour HEB store where you can squeeze the Charmin and read every silly card in the greeting card aisle and not have to worry about looking silly.
Hippie Hollow Park
Now some people would say there is nothing weird about nude sunbathing but this clothing optional beach is one of those old Austin almost anything goes kind of places (or so I'm told).
Now some people would say there is nothing weird about nude sunbathing but this clothing optional beach is one of those old Austin almost anything goes kind of places (or so I'm told).
Hippo Hutto
OK, it's not Austin, exactly, but close enough. Weird or just fun?
OK, it's not Austin, exactly, but close enough. Weird or just fun?
Keep Austin Weird - Current Weidness
What's weird right now? Explore these people, places, and things that embody the spirit of Keep Austin Weird.
What's weird right now? Explore these people, places, and things that embody the spirit of Keep Austin Weird.
Keep Austin Weird Merchandise
Buy flying discs, all styles of shirts, hats, mugs, aprons, and even "Overpriced Boxer Shirts" and "Overpriced Mouse Pads" all bearing a crooked star and the Keep Austin Weird slogan. At CafeSHOPS.
Buy flying discs, all styles of shirts, hats, mugs, aprons, and even "Overpriced Boxer Shirts" and "Overpriced Mouse Pads" all bearing a crooked star and the Keep Austin Weird slogan. At CafeSHOPS.
Keep Austin Weird Merchandise
These t-shirts, koozies, caps, and more feature a handwritten-style Keep Austin Weird slogan - Jackson Did This.com.
These t-shirts, koozies, caps, and more feature a handwritten-style Keep Austin Weird slogan - Jackson Did This.com.
Keep Austin Weird
You can't get much weirder - their URL is www.keepaustinweird.com - Take the "Am I Weird?" test, find sources for the original Keep Austin Weird bumper stickers, read weirdness news, view pictures of Austin weirdness, and examples of unweird.
You can't get much weirder - their URL is www.keepaustinweird.com - Take the "Am I Weird?" test, find sources for the original Keep Austin Weird bumper stickers, read weirdness news, view pictures of Austin weirdness, and examples of unweird.
Keeping Austin Weird: 78704
South-Central Austin neighborhoods and their oddball residents do their part to keep the weird in Austin. Public Realm
South-Central Austin neighborhoods and their oddball residents do their part to keep the weird in Austin. Public Realm
Texas Ghetto
If you can't remember the 60s (either because you are too young or, well, you know why) then take this tour of the music, the people, the politics, and more of the 60s in Austin, Texas through photos, links, and notes.
If you can't remember the 60s (either because you are too young or, well, you know why) then take this tour of the music, the people, the politics, and more of the 60s in Austin, Texas through photos, links, and notes.
Leslie Cochran
This archive of the Web home of Austinite Kevin McDonald talks a bit about Leslie - a Weird Austin institution down on 6th Street and one-time mayoral candidate - really.
This archive of the Web home of Austinite Kevin McDonald talks a bit about Leslie - a Weird Austin institution down on 6th Street and one-time mayoral candidate - really.
Leslie Cochran
AustinTexas420.com has pics of our most famous street person and frequent mayoral candidate.
AustinTexas420.com has pics of our most famous street person and frequent mayoral candidate.
Make Austin Normal
The Make Austin Normal Movement has it's own merchandise and blogs regularly on Austin politics, development, and weirdness.
The Make Austin Normal Movement has it's own merchandise and blogs regularly on Austin politics, development, and weirdness.
Metropolis Apartments
Browse a gallery of photos at AustinTexas420.com of this colorful place to live.
Browse a gallery of photos at AustinTexas420.com of this colorful place to live.
Out of Time
Attending a "killer" event? Arrive in style with a ride from Austin's only hearse limosine service.
Attending a "killer" event? Arrive in style with a ride from Austin's only hearse limosine service.
Play Arcade Games While You're Laundry Spins - Things to Do After Midnight in Austin Texas
There are several 24 hour laundry mats around Austin. The 24 hour SpinCycle washeterias, while a little pricier, are very clean, have attendants on duty, and you can drop a small bundle on the arcade games while your laundry is getting clean.
There are several 24 hour laundry mats around Austin. The 24 hour SpinCycle washeterias, while a little pricier, are very clean, have attendants on duty, and you can drop a small bundle on the arcade games while your laundry is getting clean.
Politics - September 7, 2001
This Austin Chronicle political culture feature explores why the hue and cry to "Keep Austin Weird." Contains references to some specific weird incidents of the past.
This Austin Chronicle political culture feature explores why the hue and cry to "Keep Austin Weird." Contains references to some specific weird incidents of the past.
Randy "Biscuit" Turner
His South Austin home kept Austin weird. This Austin Chronicle feature was published the same week the punk icon was found dead in his home. It vividly describes him, his home, and "The Good Old Daze."
His South Austin home kept Austin weird. This Austin Chronicle feature was published the same week the punk icon was found dead in his home. It vividly describes him, his home, and "The Good Old Daze."
Rules for Living in Austin
There's some funny stuff here and oh so true. Don't miss the rules on traffic, dress code, where people live, and our obsession with bats and salamanders. From the Stanford Texas Club.
There's some funny stuff here and oh so true. Don't miss the rules on traffic, dress code, where people live, and our obsession with bats and salamanders. From the Stanford Texas Club.
SPAMARAMA
What could be weirder than a major annual attraction devoted to canned luncheon meat? There's a cook-off (can you guess what's on the menu?), silly games, arts and crafts, rides, and musical entertainment.
What could be weirder than a major annual attraction devoted to canned luncheon meat? There's a cook-off (can you guess what's on the menu?), silly games, arts and crafts, rides, and musical entertainment.
Unweird
So what's not weird? Snooty restaurants, stretch hummers, chain stores... some unweird (i.e. things we don't want) according to KeepAustinWeird.com
So what's not weird? Snooty restaurants, stretch hummers, chain stores... some unweird (i.e. things we don't want) according to KeepAustinWeird.com
Where to Find Old Austin
Revisit "laid-back, free-spirited Austin of old" through its food and restaurants. Texas Monthly
Revisit "laid-back, free-spirited Austin of old" through its food and restaurants. Texas Monthly