What if you started a topic and nobody showed up? Well, that's just sad. However, I can entertain myself endlessly! I'll just have to wrack my brains for a better drag story than that depressing one terry brought up! And if I keep putting on responses, people will think this is a hip, happening topic!

Keep the faith, we may get some folks here yet.

The only thing I remember seeing on the drag was Bevo handing out coupons. Other than various folks living their lives in the nooks and crannies off 23rd street. Say! You know that mural on the side of the Varsity Theatre (I refuse to acknowledge that Tower "Records" that doesn't even sell records destroyed my best movie theatre), with all the movie characters? I actually know the guy who did it--his family did mission work the same time as mine so we all got to be friends; they stayed in the field (C ile, mostly) while we got hepatitis and caame home (Africa, India). He and some of his siblings live in Austin. At one point in the 80s, he and his younger brother rode across South America on bicycles. His brother earned the sobriquet "Bicycle Johnny" for his predilection for that mode of transportation )while working on a farm up in Iowa he visited my sister via bicycle at Snow Mtn Ranch in Colo. Back to the Drag....

It's getting harder and harder for the dragworms to find places to sleep with all the new ordinances. My favorite drag hangout, since Shakespeares Books is closed, is either the aforementioned coffeehouse and the movie theater that shows foreign flicks in the Student Union. Dobie Mall has good films too, and a food court (a slight cut above some of the other food courts in other malls around town). There's Amys Ice Cream, Martin Bros., Trudy's and a new surplus on the "north drag". And another cool place is the Whole Earth Provision Company for yer backpacks and topographic maps.

I forgot about Dobie! They have a cool theatre! Now, tell me more about the ordinances--when I lived in Austin, dragworms ruled the roost! Oh yeah, I remember my favorite dragster (NOT a worm) was the guy who sold incense. He's walk up and down with a few sticks burning...relaly added to the ambience. Is he still there (dreadlocks, great smell)? What new surplus north?

I forgot about Dobie! They have a cool theatre! Now, tell me more about the ordinances--when I lived in Austin, dragworms ruled the roost! Oh yeah, I remember my favorite dragster (NOT a worm) was the guy who sold incense. He's walk up and down with a few sticks burning...relaly added to the ambience. Is he still there (dreadlocks, great smell)? What new surplus north?

As you can see, my transmitter is acting out again...plus my response screen is screwed up and I can't see the whole message, hence my typos!

It's a cool little army surplus store just across the grassy median from Trudy's. They have military surplus from all over the world. I am lusting after the hammack with a mosquito net tent around it. The new ordinance is "no camping out" or sleeping outside in the city. One theory is that the year of free Capitol Metro turned Austin into a street persons paradise. No there's a reaction to the years of growth of homeless culture.

Wow! There have always been folks kipping on the drag! Here in Dallas they inexplicably evicted all these people shacking under a I-45 (it was the World Cup Soccer thing, we wanted to make a good impression, like we don't have homeless or something) BUT THEY NEVER PROVIDED AN ALTERNATIVE and now it's permanently a no-kip area. I want a hammock as well--that one sounds cool. I'll have to try our Army/Navy stores (thanx for the tip!). I share a balcony with my neighbor and we've been trying to work ou a way to hang one (parts of the balconey frame are sturdy and parts are not).

I'm going to put mine out in the woods behing my house. It's great back there. Guess what? Politically Correct just came on my satellite dish at 12:39 pm.

What eveer happened to the light rail proposal that would've torn up Guadalupe street? Pass/Fail? IMO the Austin bus system was lacking with the exception of transportation to/from/around the University but an "in your face" light rail was quite the large step.

Hasn't happened yet, the light rail, but Sammy and Bob get a lot of mileage out of ripping it and CapMetro to pieces.

My wife and I are going to be moving to Austin from Washington DC in a few weeks. I'm going down this Thursday (Nov 13, 97) to check everything out. She wants to live "where things are happening." Through research, that looks like 'The Drag.' What can you guys (and gals) tell me about Guadalupe St? What's it like? Is it pimarily UT students? Ah gots ta know! Fraize

Probably the neighborhood to the North of the Drag which is called Hyde Park would be the place to look. West campus is pretty good too.

Are you going to be affiliated with the University? If not, downtown is always an option too. There are some nice neighborhoods west of Lamar and north of Town Lake. Older homes, pretty.

I plan on becoming a student after I get residency (hook 'em horns!). The rest of the family is moving up to Round Rock. Some background: I've lived in the 'burbs of D.C. all my life. It's a pretty dull existence. I was hoping to enjoy a more 'urban' lifestyle, for once. My wife would like older homes.

West campus is mostly undergrad students. Hyde Park is older homes just north of The University but fairly expensive (rent or buy). The Drag scene is also an undergrad scene. Downtown is ususally pretty happening a combonation of yound University students and young professionals. Let us know what your impressions of the area are!

I'd look a bit further west too around Mopac and 6th street. This is a great neighborhood called Clarksville, it's sure close enough to downtown and to campus without a lot of the bustle and you can hop on Mopac to get to the upscale north or to bubbaland to the South. It's where the recently departed James Michener lived. Tarrytown is also another neighborhood just to the west of Mopac off of Lake Austin Blvd. These are both great neighborhoods.

Good suggestions!

Places I wished that I lived! Maybe someday!

How did the home search go?

Well, folks. I made it to Austin. Well, Round Rock, anyway. I'm kinda stuck here until my driver's license gets sent down to me. You see, I appear to have lost my wallet during the drive down. Somebody found it, and offered to mail it back to my house in DC. My wife is forwarding it to me down here. Until then, I'm kinda housebound at my father-in-law's apartment in Round Rock. Snore! As soon as I get that license, though, I'm coming down to the city, proper, and take a look around. BTW, Terry, I thought about taking your position doing HTML for the room. I would take it if I didn't need $$ so much!!

Yeah, I found someone, Chris. And he's doing a good job. We'll have to meet sometime if you're game!

I'm game! I need to increase my 'network' from NONE to SOME. I know very few people here, and those I do know work for Dell. Nothing wrong with that, I just need to branch out to a few more organizations than Dell. Let me know when you're available. You see, my schedule is WAY OPEN! I'll meet you at Quack's or something! Fraize

I started my home search this week, and found out just how difficult it is to find an apartment in the Austin area that accepts large dogs. I have a Amstaff-Bulldog mix named 'Taun-Taun' about 75 pounds. He's a cuddly wuss of a dog that's afraid of everything. Absolutely no threat to any living thing. He's afraid of squirrels! Anyway, I only found two apartment complexes that don't have a problem with large dogs - both of which are in WAY North Austin. Probably a recent annexation area. Both complexes are very nice, and are supposed to offer high-speed 'Net access. One good positive for me! Unfortunately, my wife still wants to live closer to central. She also mentioned that she might want to live near 6th street. I went to 6th street this Saturday... I don't think we want to live near 6th street. WAAAAyyy too loud. Not that I mind loud music! I just might want to sleep some Saturday nights!! ;^)

What kind of high speed access to these complexes offer? What is the name of this complex?

Near 6th street there is the Railyard. Nice, easy access to downtown but I'm not so sure about the dog thing. Did you look into renting a home. Rarely do landlords have problems with large dogs if there is a yard and a mature owner.

I think that's where Melissa Petrek used to live before she got married and dissappeared off the face of the earth. Those pink apartments. They arent' bad. But you could almost throw a rock at 6th street and hit it.

I stayed there for a week with a friend and it was pretty quiet! But yes, close to 6th St.

What time of year wha this?

summer of '94

OK... so no one comes here anymore. I just read the thread and was saddened to see that Shakespears Books had gone. God...I hate to think what else has 'gone to progress' since my departure. My favorite 'dragworm' was the guy who sold roses. His body was pretty bent up, they say from taking El Dopa. The story I got was he had a choice btn his appearance and his sanity, he chose sanity and took the Dopa. I never knew if it waw true. But I always bought his roses.

Howdy All Popped into Austin over New Years - Since moving from my 'quaint' apartment in the student ghetto near Hyde Park, Ive noticed quite a few changes in the city every time I visit (live in Chicago now). One thing that really freaked me out was the demise of Mad Dogs. Now, where did that place go?! This trip around the block revealed a 'Johnny Rockets' soda shop where a really cool old house used to be. (I still remember the old white GTO parked near by which I think appeared in 'Slacker'). Oy Veh! I miss 'Dogs and Inner Sanctum! Anyway, my more fond drag stories were back in the late 80's when bands played for free in Mad Dogs back lot during the early SXSW and some of the interesting folks I used to see when cruising up and down Guadolupe with no particular place to go. Although not on the drag, I also remember the SS Homer (an impromptu barge) parked in the river right across from the Hyatt on Town Lake. What a Hoot! Hope the place can maintain its charm despite all the 'gentrification' going on. I still have my 'Alternative Map of Austin Tx' to remember where all the old spots used to be. Keep the faith Mike aka Cosmo Save Our Springs! :)

nice hearing from you, Cosmo!

Keep that map, it'll be valuable someday. Say, could I get a copy of it?