Downtown Austin Blog » austin history

This is an amazing time capsule of a video. Twenty years ago this video was shot by Pete Reid and his buddy, Brian.  Pete was a visiting student from Scotland at UT. The video takes us from UT, ...

https://downtownaustinblog.org/2016/06/06/drive-austin-june-1996/

As far as Rainey bars go, I really like The Drafting Room at 88 1/2 Rainey.  Located on a plot of land right behind The Shore Condos in downtown Austin‘s Rainey Street District, and owned by i...

https://downtownaustinblog.org/2016/01/19/lestelle-and-raineys-evolution/

The Second Street Public Art Master Plan (part of Great Streets), in coordination with the City’s Art in Public Places program, has methodically been placing art in around the district since th...

https://downtownaustinblog.org/2015/04/22/newest-installation-of-public-art-project-at-2nd-and-guadalupe/

Block 8 sits in the southern shadow of the Four Seasons Residences, just west of the Austin Convention Center.  There are signals that the City of Austin is posturing for another Convention C...

https://downtownaustinblog.org/2014/11/19/eminent-domain-convention-center-expansion/

It looks like Rainey Street District will be getting a history center!  The big question is: where will it go? On June 12, 2014, Councilman Mike Martinez made a motion, which was amended by Cou...

https://downtownaustinblog.org/2014/10/15/rainey-street-house/

We know you’ve heard this a bajillion-million times, but this year’s election on November 4, 2014,  is VERY important. Particularly for Downtown Austin, as the new 10-1 district system has t...

https://downtownaustinblog.org/2014/10/13/downtown-austin-voting-guide/

I recently wrote a little blurb on The People’s Gallery, a project that’s part of the Art in Public Places program by the City of Austin’s Economic Growth and Redevelopment Services departm...

https://downtownaustinblog.org/2013/09/03/public-art-and-austin-floods/

We recently received notice that the Judges Hill Neighborhood Association, representing the area of downtown Austin between W 15th and W 18th and West Avenue and San Gabriel has applied for a rez...

https://downtownaustinblog.org/2013/08/28/judges-hill-neighborhood-in-downtown-austin-applies-to-become-local-historic-district/

Have you seen the mysterious Travis House monument door at 18th and Guadalupe downtown? From the look of it, the former Travis House site is in total stasis, but the sidewalk has been given the G...

https://downtownaustinblog.org/2013/07/16/the-travis-house-ghost-door/

The 9th Annual Downtown Living Tour is a couple of weeks away.  Produced by the Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association (DANA), the tour is a great way to tour downtown living, at your own pace...

https://downtownaustinblog.org/2013/05/05/9th-annual-downtown-living-tour-may-19th-2013-reserve-your-tickets/

In response to an application to relocate the structure that is Lustre Pearl, the City of Austin Historic Landmark Commission staff recommendation is to permit the move once a new site is located...

https://downtownaustinblog.org/2013/03/06/signals-that-lustre-pearl-is-moving/

Back in the early ’90s, an aspiring Austin musician was gaining lots of attention.  Kevin Gant was on a trajectory for becoming really famous, and suddenly he disappeared from the scene and ...

https://downtownaustinblog.org/2013/01/12/kevin-gant/

I already live, work, and play in downtown Austin, which means that I know a lot about this area.  However, one element that I’m not really that familiar with is the hotels in downtown Austin....

https://downtownaustinblog.org/2012/07/27/hotels-in-downtown-austin-girls-night-at-the-omni-downtown/

Yes. Yes, O. yes.  It’s that time again, folks.  Time for the 35th annual O. Henry Pun Off.  Taking place this Saturday (May 19th, 2012) at the O. Henry Museum (adjacent to Brush Square), th...

https://downtownaustinblog.org/2012/05/17/o-henry-pun-off-at-brush-square-park-in-downtown-austin-may-19th/

This piece of real estate ephemera fell into my hands only a day ago.  I didn’t set out to publish two consecutive posts about the Railyard, but this was too interesting not to share! Most of...

https://downtownaustinblog.org/2012/03/23/recent-history-an-original-railyard-condos-marketing-flyer/