South by Southwest band lineup announced

And once again I know maybe about .05% of the bands playing. Here's a link.

SXSW - or "South By" if you're an out-of-town hipster, happens March 18-22nd, 2009. Hope you have your hotel reservations by now. If not, check out craigslist for some temporary sublet options.

Friday Favorite

Yet another thing I love about Austin...

Farmers markets. My son and I went to the farmers market at the Triangle this past Wednesday night, and it made me wonder why I don't go to it more often. It's on my way home from work and his school, and it's a great place to pick up locally grown fresh veggies, grass-fed meats and the most amazing hummus you have ever tasted.

When the weather is warmer there's way more vendors to choose from, and a lot of restaurants and eateries have a stand as well. It's how I got introduced to the amazing food at Eastside Cafe and to the yummy creations at Taco Deli.

They have a stage where bands play and a huge grass field for kids to run around on. My son's favorite part is the water fountain, you know those kinds where the water shoots up sporadically from seemingly nowhere in the ground? It's a big hit when the weather heats up, though it has an activation button that excites him during the winter.

There's more farmers markets in town - perhaps I'll have to stretch it out between posts....

This crazy weather

Austin's weather continues to bewilder me. It is January and 80 degrees outside. All winter it seems like it will shoot up to 80 one day, then the next day drop down into the 30s. I'm not complaining, because I like the variance. There's no sooner way for me to get miserable than have 90 straight days of sub-50 degree weather like you crazy Northerners get. And by Northerner I mean anyone that lives north of Austin.

Now if we could just get some rain so the cedar pollen count can go down! Everyone is walking around in a Sudafed coma because of the cedar fever. (Not me, mind you. But I have sympathy for those that suffer).

Sound like a native

Want to blend in when you get here? You gotta know how to pronounce certain street names. Here's a primer:

Street Names

• Guadalupe - /Gwa' da loop/. Spanish speakers may shudder the first few times they try this one, but trust me, we'll know you're not from around here if you go all "silent g, pronounce the end e" on us. Go ahead and call the Guadalupe River like it should be, but when in Rome, pronounce this major street name like the rest of us Romans do. And don't bitch about it either.
  
• Manchaca - /Man'-shack/. There's also a town with the same name/pronunciation south of Austin.
• Manor - /May'-nor/. Ditto on the nearby town's pronunciation.
  
• Koenig - /Kay'-nig/
• Burnet - /Burn'-it/

Other Names

• Mueller - This one can be either /Mill-er/ or /Mule-er/, I've noticed. The family this development area is named after prefers the former way, but I think that way is going out of fashion.
• Kreutz - /Krites/ Awesome barbecue in nearby Lockhart, TX.
• Pedernales - /Perd-a-nal-es/. Great nearby park and river.
• Gruene - /Green/. Nearby quaint old town worth visiting. Great shopping, food and a killer dance hall.
• Boerne - /Burn'-ee/. Also a quaint old town worth visiting for shopping and food.
  

What's the job market like in Austin?

Hmm. Not looking so good at the moment. It was just announced today that Google is shutting down its office, just 6 months after it opened one.

The Austin American Statesman has an article today about the tough economy Austin is facing for the next year, but that it should get better in 2010. But, because I'm an optimistic kind of gal, here's my spin on it. It's saying that Austin is only going to add 2100 jobs in 2009, a 0.2 percent growth. Is it just me, or isn't that kind of good news? I mean, growth is growth, right?

Anyway, those of us in the government sector (wh00t!), plus in education and professional services (what does that mean anyway? Aha! Thanks wikipedia ) are probably going to see the growth, whereas you poor souls in manufacturing and construction better hold on tight.

Rents are expected to drop - which may be a good thing for those of you thinking of heading this way.

Overall picture is - yep, things are going to get tough, but we're still sittin' prettier that most of the rest of the country.