THE AUSTIN POETRY SLAM Mike Henry and a rotating group of slam ninjas captain the crew that has all the best of stand-up, pomo theatre, rock & roll, and phone sex rolled into one cosmic-heat blast. You thought it rocked before, check out its new all-ages power in the Independent. Wednesdays, 8pm. The Independent at 501 Studios, 501 N. I-35, 485-3001. $5 (21 and older). http://www.austinslam.com (Litera)
THE FLAMING IDIOTS The three brainy acrobats (Pyro, Gyro, and Walter, by stage name) who conjure shows of pure entertainment are reunited and returned to Zach Theatre with their manic antics. Juggling, balancing, wacky shenanigans and impressive skills: Recommended for the whole family! Held over through March 28. Wed.-Sat., 8pm; Sun., 2pm. Zach Theatre, 1421 W. Riverside, 476-0594; 1510 Toomey; 1510 Toomey, 476-0541. $20-45. (Theatre)
Texas' Capital City rose significantly from 47th on last year's list. Austin was behind cities such as No. 1 Raleigh, N.C. and No. 4 Fayetteville, Ark. The list was ranked according to factors such as cost of doing business and projected employment growth.
Forbes.com cited Austin's projected annual job growth rate of 2.3 percent--the fifth fastest in the country, and its relatively low subprime mortgage exposure.
For its reporting on Austin, Forbes.com spoke with the Charles Schwab Corp., which expanded its Austin presence in 2007 when it purchased the 401(k) Co. "The city of Austin is extremely business-friendly. They have bent over backwards to accommodate us," Glenn Cooper, head of real estate at Schwab, told the news site.
The top 10 cities on the list were as follows:
Raleigh, N.C.
Fort Collins, Colo.
Durham, N.C.
Fayetteville, Ark.
Lincoln, Neb.
Asheville, N.C.
Des Moines, Iowa
Austin, Texas
Boise, Idaho
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Four of the 10 cities selected by Forbes.com are Bestboomertowns
Source: Austin Business Journal
Austin is hopping this time of year! While much of the country is dealing with snow blizzards, record low temps and downright gnarly driving conditions Austinite’s are merely business as usual with its mild weather and hubbub of happenings. Austin rang in the New Year with lots of fireworks and outdoor festivities culminating with the burning of 34 foot, intricately carved wooden clock at Auditorium Shores on Town Lake. This “burning” of something tangible signified the passing of time - as in 365 days of time! Time does seem to burn up fast, but there is not a minute to waste in this city because Austin never slows down when it comes to fitness.
With the holidays come a lot of parties, but no worries about Austinite’s packing on the extra pounds - young, old and in-between take to the trails,
the water via kayaks and canoes, and the bike paths with a vigorous determination. Not a hint of the bad economy out on the fitness trails - the exercise and the mild weather make the grim financial news a little less insufferable in Austin.
The economy in Austin is still experiencing less of a downturn, or at least a slower paced one than other areas of the country. Housing prices have fallen,
as well as new home starts, but the rate is far below the national average which speaks to the continued growth of the Austin population as many still desire to relocate to this fascinating cultural and musical mecca, with its boundless sunshine. If the energy exuding from this city doesn’t lure you
in the abundance of restaurants and the entertainment will. Look for highlights from both in next month’s blog!
About Three and a half years ago our family of four moved from Brussels, Belgium to Austin, Texas. After five years of European living Texas was definitely a “culture shock,” however the atmosphere in Austin carries its own unique, laid back, music lovin’ personality making it an intriguing city. Some would say it rivals the go with-the-flow living found in certain parts of Europe but Austin is its own entity – there is no place like it anywhere. This eclectic city has a vibrant downtown that offers snippets of the hippie era and pieces of haute couture, rounding itself out to a smorgasbord offering for the all the ages. The young college students from UT enjoy the dynamic collection of bars with a diverse array of musical talents, the 30-somethings love the nouveau cuisine and all the originality that comes with keeping it local – you’ll find very few chain type restaurants in Austin – and finally the boomers, they find their pace speed up and slow down to the beat as they see fit – and stay fit they do, thanks to the miles of trails circling Lady Bird Lake which sits right in the heart of the action. Austin strives to appeal to all walks of life while managing to keep the atmosphere of the city low-key, but at the same time it exudes a bustling, innovative persona and is ready to catch the next wave – a perfect environment for Baby Boomers who want a retirement with some zing!
