Posted on 04/07/2011 4:25:55 AM PDT by cweese
Austin City Council Member Sheryl Cole wants visitors flocking downtown today and through the weekend for the Texas Relays and Urban Music Festival to know that the city welcomes them and their dollars. We do, too.
More than 40,000 people are expected to be in town, generating more than $8 million for the city's economy. Special events have boosted Austin's tourism business, which generates $3 billion annually for the city's economy, according to the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau.
snip
Cole also wants to get the word out that there are plenty of things to do in addition to the Sixth Street club scene and Relay parties. Today, Harry Edwards, author of "Revolt of the Black Athlete," speaks at a University of Texas symposium at 4 p.m. at the Student Activity Center. Events Friday include the Greater Austin Youth Culture and Health Show at LBJ High School, Success at the Next Level (strategies for developing goals to ensure academic and personal success) at the Carver Museum & Cultural Center, B.L. Joyce Parade at Huston-Tillotson University and the Texas Relays Reception at the Carver center.
Highland Mall no doubt will continue to be a social networking destination for African American teenagers and young adults attending the Relays. Last year, the Police Department, the Austin NAACP and mall managers worked together to keep the mall open and safe for about 20,000 people who showed up. They did a great job and are working together again this year.
(Excerpt) Read more at statesman.com ...
The following year, the mall closed early (3pm) on the Saturday of the Texas Relays, and then all hell broke loose with the local NAACP and the city council/Mayor. They demanded that the mall pay for their own additional security and not close as to not offend the thousands of gang-bangers who turn that mall into more of a ghetto than it already is. "Social networking" is what the Statesman refers to this mess as. The mall loses business during this event as the locals don't feel very safe shopping in such an environment.
There is also an "Urban Music Festival" downtown to coincide with these relays. That event draws the gang-bangers like a fly to #*$@.
On the other hand, perhaps those not interested in gang- banging might wish to attend one of the hundreds of Marxist-inspired lectures occurring at the U. of Texas.
Thanks for posting this. I remember when the NAALCP started a big stink about Highland Mall not allowing the yutes to rampage through the building.
Note to self and fellow Austin FReepers:
Avoid Austin at all costs this weekend.
I try to avoid Austin at all costs 24/7-—but it’s not always possible. By now, we pretty much have everything thing we need here in Lakeway.
Well, our daughter may be coming in this weekend, so I will warn her about going to Austin. She and her friends like to head to 6th ST on Friday nights.
Of course the Austin city council welcomes your dollars.
Of course, you’ll be shot for smoking a cigarette, unless it’s weed.
Austin can drop dead. I go where the smoking nazis have been held in check. Lot’s of nicer places like that here in Texas.
Better safe than sorry............
This weekend should be as memorable
I can’t wait for the Republic of Texas biker rally. We get a lot of biker traffic on 1431 when they are here.
I'm keeping my kids as far from that beast as I can. It may be A&M for my kids. At A&M, guys still like girls, and girls still like guys.
Yep. We’re not far off 183A. Gets kinda loud at times.
fact of the matter, Austin and surrounding areas have gotten too big for their britches.
Couple of years ago, I followed a line of bikers from Elgin to the 21 / 290 intersection when heading to the farm. They sure had some nice (and loud) bikes. I wonder how much some of those cost.
Yup. My daughter was dating guys when she went there. She graduated in 2008, and they lost contact for the most part. It is a great school.
As much money as you want to dump into one. I saw a custom Harly up in north Texas that was either completely aluminum or stainless steel. very shiny.
He's been in California for a while now, so eating at Coopers will make his head explode from delight.
Speaking of BBQ, I ate at Opies in Spicewood several months ago and was very pleased. The guy from Opies used to work at Cooper's. My sister lives in Fort Worth, and they opened up a Coopers in the Stockyards...it was almost like the Llano location. The FT location was damned good enough to go back for sure.
Good idea and great BBQ. We haven't been there in quite a while, but loved it when we were there the last time. I may be heading toward Giddings this weekend to meet my sis at the farm. If I do, it will be Southside BBQ for us for lunch.
He lives in Santa Rosa, CA, and Santa Rosa is home to Russian River brewery, #1 ranked microbrew in America
...thinking about selling two bottles on austin.craigslist to pay the expense
LOL. No telling what you could get for a good microbrew from an old hippy in Austin.
My neighbor wants to start brewing his own Scotch. His son gave him a book on how to brew it last Christmas.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.