The Denver music scene lost a big voice when Colorado School of Mines’ graduate and Someone Like Sound founder, Tim Weilert, decided to pack his bags and head south for the bright lights of Austin. “Do SXSW Like an Austinite Part 1: Getting There” is the first part in a three part series that will continue over at The Ruckus and Swagger.
Do SXSW Like an Austinite Part 1: Getting There
When I road tripped to Austin last year for South By Southwest I had no clue what I was getting in to. When I moved to Austin a few months later I realized that behind all the blogs, bands, and buzz there was a city; the capitol of a unique land called Texas. Coming from my native Colorado the transition to Austin was, perhaps, a bit more dramatic than I initially anticipated it would be. However, after a few months of enduring record-breaking heat, dining at local establishments, shopping at homegrown stores, exploring the nightlife, and getting an overall feeling for Austin, life has begun to feel normal again. It is from this comfortable normalcy that I offer you, the reader, my insights into the 512 as people from around the world prepare to overrun the city for SXSW.
It’s 1000 Miles to Austin
There are two ways to get to Austin: driving through endless miles of nothingness or flying over endless miles of nothingness. As a broke college student I spent 19 hours in a car getting to South-By last year. While the drive was decent, it was not quite the “Great American College Party Road Trip ™” that the movies would lead you to expect. The following is a shortlist of important travel considerations learned from experience:
Avoid the need to spend the night anywhere along the way, also avoid driving sleepy. Suggestion: Don’t drive alone and have your friends help drive the mind-numbing miles of flatness and nothing.
From Denver go south through New Mexico; the Raton Pass is quite beautiful in early springtime. Also, it beats driving out to Kansas and heading south.BYOW (bring your own water). The taste of the water in Lubbock will make you want to give up drinking water forever.
If you fart, admit it then roll down the window.
There’s a place in Amarillo called “The Big Texan.” They have a 72 oz. steak. I’m pretty sure the episode of the Simpsons where Homer becomes a trucker is based on that place.
Okay, We’re Here. Now What?
Getting there is only half the battle. Even if you fly in to Austin you’re going to need to drive around. Consider this your warning.
The opening gridlock scene from Office Space was filmed here and traffic really is that bad. Austin consistently ranks in the top 10 cities nationwide for traffic congestion (Proof). Even worse: when an additional 10,000 out-of-towners descend upon Travis County the situation doesn’t get much better. However, it is possible to avoid spending your entire SXSW trapped on I-35.
Go downtown at non-peak hours. Just because SXSW is happening doesn’t mean that everyone in Austin gets the week off (it would rad if we did though). Rush hour still happens.
There are toll roads in and near Austin (see them here). Most of them are on the north end of town.
Don’t drive on I-35. Just don’t do it. If your GPS tells you to drive on I-35, throw it out the window.
Beware of Texas State Troopers. They are exactly what the movies would lead you to expect.
Be ready to U-turn. The way highway traffic flows in many cities in Texas is quite different than anything I’ve seen anywhere else. All major highways are flanked by frontage roads that attempt to insert as many U-turns as possible.
Highways have 2 names each. The 1 Loop is MoPac, 183 is Research, and I-35 is the “Inescapable Traffic Monster of Doom.”
Historically, the two worst places for finding a decent/free parking space are college campuses and metropolitan centers. Austin has both right next to each other downtown. Here are my parking tips for winners!
Expect to pay or walk, not necessarily both. I’m not divulging the location of my secret “free and decently close to downtown” parking area, but I can say that finding a spot west of I-35 is nearly impossible. Other bad spots include “The Drag” (Guadalupe north of MLK), Campus, and anything within 5 blocks of Congress. Don’t drive downtown. For SXSW (and a few other festivals) they barricade off large portions of the downtown grid making driving a stupid idea. Take the bus! Ride a bike! Park and ride! The city’s Red Line rail service is probably going to have extended hours of operation during the SXSW weekend, so take full advantage of it.
Above everything else, use common sense. Free booze is easier to find than free water during SXSW but that is no excuse to drive drunk. Get a designated driver, take a cab, or ride the bus.
This article is the first in a three-part series written by Tim Weilert, a former resident of Golden, CO and blogger at Something Like Sound. Tim moved to Austin in August last year and attended SXSW in 2011 without a badge or wristband. The next article will appear tomorrow on The Ruckus and the final part will post the next day on Swaager.