#KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD PRO#

KUT The iconic 'Hi How Are You' mural, painted on the Drag in Austin by Daniel Johnston, now decorates the outside of a Thai restaurant. Everyone knows about it, so it's far less weird.' 'Something that could have been seen as weird years ago: ‘Wow! Houses converted into bars, how unique.’ Meanwhile, now it's just home to huge apartment complexes being developed, gridlock with ride-sharing cabs. One example of the city's waning weirdness, he said, is Rainey Street. He used to live in L.A., but fell in love with Austin while visiting friends and decided to move here. The Lanier High School teacher and New York native has been here a couple of years.

He said the city's rapid growth has overwhelmed some of its essential weirdness. I found him after putting out a call for dissenters on Twitter. We just get weirder.'ĭaniel Calise disagrees. “I don't think Austin getting any larger makes it any different. But Austin's weird doesn't stop with her metaphysical mega-store, Richards said. 'Originally, supposedly, the crystal bowls were created during the Atlantean time.'Ĭrystal bowls, like the ones forged in Atlantis - the mythical island said to be submerged beneath the Atlantic Ocean. “The crystal bowls are actually silica, which is quartz, and they heat it and spin it,' Richards said. KUT Karen Richards owns Nature's Treasures, an expansive and 'weird' rock store in Austin. The debaters will focus on three types of issues: size, opportunity and meaning.

#KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD PRO#

So instead of trying to draw some kind of scientific conclusion, KUT decided to hold a debate on the topic and give people from the pro and con sides a chance to lay out their arguments. After all, weirdness is in the eye of the beholder. Obviously, the question really can't be answered with a simple yes or no. But Wassenich said don't be confused: It originated here, and only here, with his call to KOOP. Other cities, like Portland, Ore., now use it, too.

'So these other places have kind of adopted it with the idea of supporting local business,' Wassenich said. The owners of Waterloo and BookPeople began preaching the gospel of keeping it weird to other cities. T-shirts bearing the phrase 'Keep Austin Weird' began popping up in local spots around town, showcasing the slogan while marketing the businesses. (Amazon might have played a larger role in Borders' demise, but anyway. So, I think 'Keep Austin Weird' can take credit for putting Borders out of business.' 'The city backed off, and Borders didn't build, and of course it has totally gone out of business. 'They tacked on 'Support Local Business' to 'Keep Austin Weird' and started giving out bumper stickers - and they won,' he said.

But just as all hope seemed lost, Wassenich said, the local stores came up with a plan. The one-time national chain got city incentives to move into a giant development across the street from the two Austin retail institutions near Sixth Street and Lamar. The battle had Waterloo Records and BookPeople up against Borders Books and Music.

That's when the saying went from highlighting the town's cute and quirky side to warning big chain stores to back off. Then about two years later, a couple of local businesses wielded the message as a weapon. And I got the website, and it very slowly took off.' And I said that to my wife and she said, ‘Well, let's get bumper stickers made,’ which she did. And the person taking the call said, ‘Why are you donating to this?’ And I said, ‘Well, it helps keep Austin weird.’ And the phrase clicked in my head. 'I was making a donation to your rival radio station KOOP during my favorite show, the Lounge Show, which is still on. KUT Red Wassenich came up with the phrase 'Keep Austin Weird' in 2000.

Keep austin weird