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South Congress Avenue – New name SoCo!

Only a few years ago Austin’s South Congress was a not a popular area. In fact it was deemed a bit seedy! The businesses that only existed there had been in a slump and some of the hotels actually rented rooms by the hour. Some headlines even came out about some state officials getting caught in police stings, but those days appear to be long gone. Those hotels that once rented rooms by the hour are now renting to high level corporate types and even celebrities. The South Congress Avenue area has a new glossy image and is now known as SoCo. One of the huge attractions is the view of downtown Austin – with the center piece the State Capitol providing a very large presence on the nearby horizon. Austin being a fit and health conscious city also has the Town Lake Hike and Bike trail at the footsteps of SoCo. The Avenue is lined with restaurants, bars, coffee shops, apartments, eclectic shops with everything Austin and everything else you can think of and now a growing number of cool new Condos and Flats that will surely pull more people into this hip area to live and flourish. Not to be forgotten is the infamous landmark music club the Continental Club, a small hang out that many great musicians have and still do perform at. Not only is there a lot to do and see in SoCo but once a month they even have their own funky celebration known as First Thursday . It has become one of Austin’s favorite monthly reasons to get out of the house for no other reason than to check out all the latest people viewing and getting to enjoy the array of events and activities, with many shops and restaurant staying open extended hours just for this event. This cool ‘new’ areas boundary is from the north - just South of Town Lake and run south to Oltorf and then West over to South First Street. There are to highly desirable neighborhoods surrounding SoCo that help to feed its existence and these are, Travis Heights on the East and then Bouldin Creek on the other side. Along with all the long time standing traditions of great Austin favorites – some new places and familiar names are popping up that give the area a more urban, big city feel. Name likes Starbucks are filtering in. And some of like Jo's Coffee, have become local favorites by making you feel part of the lifestyle. Some high rents have forced a few owners out but some still hang in there and others continue to grow, a few that will be of interest are Fran's drive-in hamburger joint, Vespaio, noted for its antipasto bar and great wine selection, Enoteca. If those don’t suite you then there you can always find pizza by the slice, great Mexican food Guerro's , sushi, or what ever else you may have a taste for. If you are shopping for clothing never forget about Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds and Electric Ladyland where Bob Dylan may have shopped for some of his cool threads. There is another retro store New Bohemia , along with other stores that can truly provide you with something unique. But remember that SoCo is not a place for the paparazzi to try and find celebrities but instead an area that brings in the Austinite who knows that it will make them truly feel that vibe that is Austin.

By: Curtis Reddehase

The author manages a company that specializes in Crystal Falls, and a team that has a focus on Lady Bird Lake

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