"Bright Lights, Big City," Austin-style

Jay McInerney captured a generation when he wrote "Bright Lights, Big City" about the heady 1980's in NYC. At that time, Austin was a funky Texas town known for the seamless blend of a huge, liberal state university with organic food and a broad range of music in the state's capital. The now-esteemed "Texas Monthly" magazine was just getting off the ground while super successful Whole Foods was founded in a tiny market in the Clarksville neighborhood. The 21st century has ushered in tremendous changes in Austin that include a soaring population that has more than doubled; headache-inducing traffic on clogged highways; and an influx of California techies and music-industry types that prefer sushi and ramen to bar-be-que and tacos. However, Austin remains one of the top places in the U.S. to live due to the laid-back lifestyle that includes a huge greenbelt with a plethora of year-round activities, an abundance of craft beer options, awesome breakfasts - including the renowned Magnolia Cafe - and it's one of the most dog-friendly cities in America. ...Well, that in addition to the abundance of intelligent, interesting, fun people and the publications they produce and the events they host, including SXSW and the Formula 1. New York City may have had the brightest light in the 1980's, but in the early 21st century, Austin is one of the brightest lights and an exploding big city.