Breadwinner SHOPS! 15 Non-SXSW Things to Do or Eat in Austin (cont’d)
Posted by breadwinner on March 5th, 2010
Welcome to the second in the three-part series entitled “15 Non-SXSW Things to Do or Eat in Austin.” Today, I’d like to offer up advice on another topic quite close to my heart — shopping. With Austin firmly planted on the up and up economically, it’s a great place to drop some cash should you have the occasion to have a surplus.
So like I said in my previous post, I’m in no way attempting to compete with drocolate‘s near-fanatical, yet truly fantastical pre-appraisal of SXSW events, I’m rather attempting to create a complementary set of to-dos for you to do with what you will. And if you happen not to come up for air during this particular jaunt to the A-town, save it for next time.
Without further ado…
SHOPS!
Okay so I must caveat this shopping list of sorts with the fact that when I was in college I couldn’t afford to do much shopping at all. In fact, most of my shopping was limited to the sale rack at The Gap on The Drag (may it rest in peace). So I’m getting into my little time machine, as we all wish we could, with the knowledge of quality fabrics and fashion sense I have now, and going back to the Austin of back then. Except with the stores they have now. Or something. Let’s go to the mall!
SHOPS! #5
Shop indie-style in the shops on South Congress
South Congress is the new Southern Comfort
I’ll begin with a mystical place where there’s truly something for everyone. I dare you to come with a group of people with all different depths of pockets, likes, dislikes and hankerins (that’s Texan for Jonesings, which in turn is Hipster for cravings). Anyway, it’s guaranteed, they’ll all be able to find something that intrigues them — from window shopping the flamboyant costumes at Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds/Electric Ladyland to the resale boutiques to the higher-end shops like Love. There are hotels, restaurants (do not miss the Amy’s ice creams available via walk-up), salons and more to take in on this packed street. Don’t forget to look up every once-in-a-while and notice the picturesque view of the Texas State Capital down at the end. Yee-haw indeed.
SHOPS! #4
Shop BIG in the ginourmous Whole Foods on 5th
Yeah. It's that ginormous.
This 80,000 square foot monster-sized Bohemian mecca is just something you’ve gotta see in person. A gelato bar that seems to go on for miles, an ice skating rink on the roof, giant escalators with a little escalator just for your shopping cart!? All these things will make you feel RICH. But you can still get an apple or something, since you probably can’t afford their special, green, vegan, gluten-free, vegetarian, tofu-laden hippie “food”.
SHOPS! #3
Shop the windows of The Domain
breadwinner's imminent domain
I must admit that since this baby was erected after my stint at the UT was over, I have not been here. But, I feel I can assume — due to the roster of fancy pants shops like Neimans and Ralph Lauren — that I would highly enjoy [window] shopping here. Maybe even some advanced price tag flipping! Or some pretend-to-be-high-society fitting room frolicking! Ooh yeah, that sounds very nice indeed. If you do head that way, and while you’re there you just happen to see me draped in Vera or ensconced in Kors, please don’t judge. Thanks in advance.
SHOPS! #2
Shop in burnt orange at the Co-Op on The Drag
Student Body
There’s more than a a smidge of bittersweet nostalgia pulling me toward this one. I had good times and bad in the space that’s been a lot of things textbook- or book-related in this huge space now called University Co-Op. I’ve spent too much on books, then spent too much on colorful pens! I’ve bought tee shirts upon tee shirts in order to sufficiently tout my burnt orange pride. I’ve been there a hundred times, and yet each time I return I feel like that same timid college student trying to act tough whenever I walk through the door. But enough about me. If you should venture inside, be sure to check out the awesomely large and loaded art area — if you’re into that. It’s unbranded (in case you’re not pro-Longhorn) and full of fun art supplies. At least I think it still is. I’d better go back and make sure it’s still there…I need some more pens.
Next!
SHOPS! #1
Shop hippie-style in the Renaissance Market
Renaissance market shown sans market
Set smack in the middle of UT Austin’s “The Drag” (aka Guadalupe street) is a mystical museum of hippie culture otherwise known as the Renaissance Market. Like a gypsy garage sale, this market magically appears seemingly out of thin air, and only during certain times of day and in certain seasons, beckoning the original boho types to wander from table to table, picking over the various wares of various hippies. You might find a beaded ankle bracelet one day, and a hand-blown piece of drug paraphernalia the next. The point is, every day represents a different opportunity for you to give some money to a hippie in exchange for some hand crafted, honest-to-goodness hippie-created stuff. It’s fantastic.
That wraps up my second edition of the non-SXSW things going on in Austin. Please to enjoy.
Shopping can be expensive. But following breadwinner on Twitter is free. Just sayin’.
Tags: austin, co-op, domain, economy, recession, renaissance, SXSW, the drag
[...] like I said in my previous posts, I’m in no way attempting to compete with drocolate’s near-fanatical, yet truly fantastical [...]