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Those who know Austin know it to be a magical place. Live music surges through the air and cleansing creek water flows through the hills. The motto, "Keep Austin Weird," illustrates residents' appreciation for small businesses and cooky, eccentric local characters. It's never felt quite like the rest of Texas here. Still, there's the same sense of intense pride for one's place. The underbelly of Austin is just as full of strange delights as its surface is. Scandals and corruption reveal themselves in this political town. The legacies of one of the earliest serial killers and mass shootings linger ominously. Yet despite its dark secrets, little-known stories of progress and creativity abound too. Music venues and local pools have fought and continue to fight racism. There is a universal love for queso, a Tex-Mex delicacy, and Leslie, an iconic cross-dressing homeless activist who was said to personify the city's motto-these stories bring people together, and now they're yours to discover.
About the author
Nic Yeager grew up in North Austin, closest to the Xiang Yun Temple. They have written for
The Texas Observer, Texas Monthly, The Austin Chronicle, and other publications. Nic has a bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Wesleyan University. What they really want to do every day is swim and sit in the Austin sun, so they highly recommend that. www.nicyeager.com.
Kelsey Roslin is a writer who has contributed articles for publications including
The Huffington Post, Bustle, Go World Travel, and more. She has a bachelor's degree in creative writing and convergent journalism from Metropolitan State University of Denver. A Colorado native, she moved to Texas to live with her best friend and still isn't quite used to the heat. She loves crime podcasts and ghost stories. https://www.kelseyroslin.com/.
Jesse Pitzler started his journey as a photographer and cinematographer in Seattle after separating from the Marine Corps. He moved to Austin in 2017 to finish his education, and he completed his first book 111 Places in Austin That You Must Not Miss. He has traveled across the United States, creating beautiful visuals for various mediums. Now living near Buffalo, Jesse is continuing to share his perspective in Western New York, one photo at a time, and he has completed his second book 111 Places in Buffalo That You Must Not Miss.
Summary
Those who know Austin know it to be a magical place. Live music surges through the air and cleansing creek water flows through the hills. The motto, “Keep Austin Weird,” illustrates residents’ appreciation for small businesses and cooky, eccentric local characters. It’s never felt quite like the rest of Texas here. Still, there’s the same sense of intense pride for one’s place.
The underbelly of Austin is just as full of strange delights as its surface is. Scandals and corruption reveal themselves in this political town. The legacies of one of the earliest serial killers and mass shootings linger ominously. Yet despite its dark secrets, little-known stories of progress and creativity abound too. Music venues and local pools have fought and continue to fight racism. There is a universal love for queso, a Tex-Mex delicacy, and Leslie, an iconic cross-dressing homeless activist who was said to personify the city’s motto—these stories bring people together, and now they’re yours to discover.
