Nostalgic in Austin

Nostalgia is a vibe right now.

Y2K is somehow a fashion trend, with cargo pants, low-rise jeans and crop tops making a comeback. And did anyone else notice Hilary Duff wearing a Jordan jersey in the intro to How I Met Your Father?

Emo is on the radio and taking the stage in Vegas. This year’s Super Bowl halftime show featured number one hits from my youth by none other than Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem and Mary J. Bilge.

For Valentine’s Day weekend, Netflix and Amazon Prime invested in rom-coms with pleasantly predictable, happy endings. And one of them starred J.Lo, reminding me of the Wedding Planner.

I have to say, I’m all about it. I feel like it’s the first time trends from my childhood are coming back around. It’s a surreal feeling, but fun!

All of the throwbacks have me thinking about my childhood. And, with two young daughters at home now, this sustained flashback also has me thinking about the Austin I grew up in and the Austin they may grow to experience. I’m a fourth-generation Austinite raising fifth-generation Austinites. What will the trends be while they’re coming of age? Will they get to enjoy some of the same childhood experiences as I did? Will our iconic spaces still be standing and will the sound of unyielding guitar still fill the airwaves? Will they be able to find a downtown parking space in less than an hour?

Memories go beyond technologies, music, film, and fashion. Mine seem more centered on culture and community — the feeling I had growing up or in a an unforgettable moment. And without getting much into the pressing issues our city faces today, like affordability and housing (which I could certainly rant about), I let my mind wander and wonder. While it’s exciting to be in a growing and innovative city, I hope we can authentically preserve the culture of kindness and creativity that characterized the Austin that raised me.

So, here’s my trip down memory lane, my own version of a Buzzfeed “that’s so 90s” or “things millennials remember” list. But more of an “Austin unicorn who talks about how things used to be 15 years ago” list. I’m thinking it might be funny or even unbelievable to my daughters if they read it ten years from now. Who knows?

Growing Up in Austin in the 90s and 00s:

• No reservations. You could drive up to your restaurant of choice, find a parking spot, and find a seat at the table without planning ahead. Also, you could grab tickets at the Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar at its drabby strip center location and choose your seat on a first come, first served basis. (Remember when Alamo had buckets of beer instead of craft brews?!)
• No traffic. I could get from South Austin to downtown in no time. I even had a job at the Domain the year it first opened and would drive there from Oak Hill for a $5.5o per hour retail job. I never would have taken that job with the hour-plus commute I’d have today.
• No “scene.” People went to concerts and festivals like ACL for the music, to scream every lyric to every song at the top of your lungs and dance without a care in the world. No one was holding up their phones or posing for Instagram. No one wore skirts or heels to a show (in case you had the opportunity to crowd surf).
• No “designer brands.” Yes, there was a time (not so long ago) before Austin had a Nordstrom or Neiman Marcus. A time before the Domain and Mercedes dealerships. The Austin of my youth was super casual. We all ran around town in jean shorts, graphic tees (repping our favorite local brands like Juiceland or Frank and Angie’s pizza of course!), and flip flops. No one dressed up to go to concerts or restaurants, nor did we know a wider world existed.
• No skyrises. I remember when the Frost Bank tower was built — it was a big moment. Before then, no buildings could be taller than the state capitol (the UT Tower is positioned on a hill — so it doesn’t technically count). You could look downtown from South Congress avenue and enjoy a clear panaroma from the hill country in the west to the Capitol to I-35 in the east.
• No “whole paycheck” dates. Drinks were cheap ($1 beers and $3 wells kind of cheap), and craft cocktails were hard to come by. But this is also when “Dirty Sixth” was in its heyday, before Lustre Pearl opened on Rainey Street, Rainey Street became the hotspot for a hot minute, and then quickly outgrew its own cool, authentic vibe. You could also go out, find downtown parking for under $10 and grab food from a trendy food truck for under $10, and likely catch a free show somewhere.
• No noise restrictions/complaints. Red River District shows raged loud and late. You knew if you lived downtown, you’d need to embrace the noise that allows us to claim the title “Live Music Capital of the World.” It was considered a perk!
• No worries. Fifteen years ago, we didn’t realize a wave of closures was headed toward beloved local venues and restaurants. For instance, La Zona Rosa and Austin Music Hall (now the 2nd Street District), Threadgill’s, SpiderHouse Cafe patio, and Player’s, just to name a few of the iconic businesses we’ve said goodbye to.

Those were the good ol’ days! Spontaneity may not be as feasible. The town (can I still call it a “town?” Old habits die hard.) may not have the “easy breezy” vibe it once boasted. But we still foster creativity and innovation. We still support our locally owned businesses (but let’s do better!). We’re still a college town. We still love live music. And tacos for every meal.

Alas, the girls can still enjoy Barton Springs and the Zilker Zephyr. We can go to the park and grab a malt at Sandy’s. We can host birthday parties at Peter Pan mini golf. And we now have plentiful new options for inventive eats and craft cocktails while still embracing our three main food groups of tacos, queso, and barbecue. (I honestly very much appreciate our expanded food and drink options!) My daughters can still see servers perform impressive stunts at Amy’s Ice Creams and (hopefully) enjoy the threat of being kicked out of Alamo Drafthouse for talking during a movie. We can go to ACL and Blues on the Green and still find killer guitar bands. And I look forward to sharing all of it with them. Afterall, I’m a curious optimist.

Cheers to Austin in another 15 years, one that still feels like home.