The SoCo District on South Congress Ave. in Austin, Texas is cool even in July. Trendy shops, angled parking spaces you have to back into along the street, good food and an original musician that helped make walking a hot sidewalk bearable.
I found these quotes online from the Daily Texan News. “It would be awful silly to outlaw live music on the streets when you’re in the music capital of the world,” Johnson said. “In Nashville, everyone is concerned about the deal — ‘Can I land this deal?’ In Austin, it’s all about the song. I’m looking for the best song I can possibly find, as long as it’s a good song.”
The shops along the SoCo strip were unique enough to make it fun. The old store fronts held fascinating boutiques run by very nice people.
Women are all about shoes, but Texas women love their boots. Allen’s Boots was a treasure trove of cowboy footwear.
If you shop with Karen, passing a candy store is not going to happen. Big Top Candy Shop was a sweet lover’s dream come true.
We ate lunch at the South Congress Cafe, which was excellent, but out front you’ll find James Anthony Johnson. He is a street musician that strums guitar and sings here every day. He’s been playing on Austin’s streets since 1996 and is part of the ongoing debate about banning buskers and panhandlers in the city. We wish you well, Mr. Johnson!