}~Keep AUSTIN Weird~{

From the halls of Montezuma, to the shores of trippy CITY -
Eeyore's favorite hood,..........heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeers AUSTIN !
( wherever it is ) in the HEART O' TEXAS .

Several LINKS of interest -
your basic Wikipedia primer . . . ( excerpts )

The "Keep Austin Weird" slogan
reaches far beyond a marketing campaign.[citation needed] Austin is the self-proclaimed "live music capital of the world" and the people of Austin reflect a friendly, accepting culture of artistic and individual expression that maintains the city as a vibrant and eclectic creative center and haven for an LGBT community, intellectual community, community of naturalists and environmentalists, and for subcultures and people(s) who are not mainstream. In a mostly conservative Texas, Austin is "Weird" because of that and because it continues to be liberal and progressive politically, socially, in culture, in the arts and in music, among other things. "Keep Austin Weird" moves beyond a mere slogan, to reflect the dynamics that encompass Austin.
In January 2009 alone, over 1700 live music venues were supported.[9] In addition, multiple festivals such as SXSW, Austin City Limits, Armadillo Bazaar[10] and the Batfest, among many others are highly attended with enthusiastic and often large audiences.

"Keep Austin Weird" seemingly promotes an independent, anti-corporate Austin, yet Outhouse Designs trademarked the slogan in 2003 and has used it ever since. Andrew Allemann, host of a satirical "Make Austin Normal" website, asks: "How can you have a commercial slogan that screams anti-corporation?"
Despite this criticism, the Keep Austin Weird campaign has proven successful. In April 2003, Borders bookstore withdrew plans to build a store near local bookstore BookPeople and local music shop Waterloo Records. In an article published by the Daily Texan, Abhinav Kumar writes:
A case study by Civic Economics, a strategic planning consulting firm, found that "local merchants generate substantially greater economic impact than chain retailers." The study revealed that if someone was to spend $100 at a chain like Borders, only $13 would be funneled back into the Austin economy. However, if you spent $100 at a local business such as Waterloo Records, about $45 would go back to fuel the Austin economy.

LINK- - -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keep_Austin_Weird

Eeyore's Birthday Bash - ( a revered crazed tradition ! )

Weirdness, weirdoes, everywhere – and not a dudley in sight! YES! Feast your eyes on color and movement, on sights strange that stimulate, on sounds and smells and feelings that move and penetrate – look around, walk around, and immerse yourself in the wondrous creativity of your fellow hipster – YES! This is what I’m talking about! This is Austin, exposed in broad daylight, its inner flower child arms up to the sun, spinning, laughing, and stopping to pierce you in the eyes and flash you the wickedest, sexiest smile imaginable – YES!

Who wouldn’t be seduced into returning time and again to celebrate another year of life?

LINK - - -
http://austinmash.com/blog/index.php?&p=33

Weird Austin: Hippie Hollow ( git nekked,....whooo - -hooooo! )

If the idea of going swimming with a bunch of naked hippies conjures images of floating long gray ponytails attached to wrinkly bodies, and the subsequent eww reaction, it's important to remember that Lake Travis' skinnydipping central, Hippie Hollow, earned its name in the "Wonder Years" era of the late '60s, when hippies were young and cool.
Austin's tradition of officially embracing its weirdness and incorporating it into the city's identity may not have started with Hippie Hollow, but it's a long-time example. The nickname became official in 1985, when Travis County leased the location and renamed it from the way-less-colorful McGregor Park. That's also the date the park officially became a clothing-optional swimming hole, though it spent decades before that as a place for nudists and naturalists to take a dip in an unofficial capacity.

continued at
LINK- - -http://www.citysbest.com/austin/news/2011/03/29/weird-austin-hippie-hollow/

MORE LINKS FOLLOW - in posts below