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We're obviously not talking about the same SA. The SA I know (and lived in for quite a few years) is staunchly conservative, creatively stifling, uber-conformist, boring , bland and stale. The restaurant's are good, I'll give you that.
Austin seems 'too cool for texas' (or whatever somebody here posted) because Austin IS, in many ways, too cool for texas. For anyone who thinks, or differs from the norm too much in appearance, lifestyle or ideas, most of Texas is a wasteland.