Art and Music in

“The Hip Zip 78704”

Austinites take pride in eccentricities and celebrate the differences between themselves and other U.S. cities. "Keep Austin Weird" has become a local motto in recent years, featured on innumerable bumper stickers and t-shirts. This motto has not only been used in promoting Austin's eccentricity and diversity, but is also meant to bolster support of local and independent businesses.

The Hip Zip 78704 is home to a lot of artists. They can be seen selling their art along South Congress (SoCo). Every first Thursday of the month, during what is known as First Thursday, the eclectic shops on South Congress stay open late, artists sell their works on the sidewalks, and musicians play in the streets. This is truly a spectacle of Austin, and exemplifies its cultural side.



Austin’s Music Scene

The Hip Zip 78704

With Austin's official slogan “The Live Music Capital of the World,” the city has a vibrant live music scene with more music venues per capita than any other U.S. city. Austin's music revolves around the many nightclubs on 6th Street, South Congress Ave in “The Hip Zip 78704” and an annual film/music/multimedia festival known as South by Southwest. The longest-running concert music program on American television, Austin City Limits, is videotaped at the new upscale W hotel in the warehouse district. Austin City Limits and Capital Sports & Entertainment run the Austin City Limits Music Festival, an annual music and art festival held at “The Hip Zip 78704’s” Zilker Park in Austin. Many free outdoor concerts are held along the banks of Lady Bird Johnson Lake at Auditorium Shores in “The Hip Zip 78704”. The Urban Music Festival is held during the Texas Relays weekend every April. Other annual events include Eeyore's Birthday Party and the Austin Reggae Festival (previously named Bob Marley Festival) in April and Carnaval in February. Halloween, St Patrick's Day, Mardi Gras, July 4th, and Juneteenth (Emancipation Day) are all celebrated.



Austin, Texas

The Hippest City on the Planet

Austin frequently appears on "best of" lists. RelocateAmerica's "Top 10 Overall" Money Magazines's "Best Big City", MSN's "Greenest City in America" just to name a few.


Austin is quite simply a melting pot of sights and sounds that can't be found anywhere else on the planet. From the quirky cast of characters that populate South Congress Avenue and “The Hip Zip 78704” to burnt orange-clad University of Texas students, bats to Longhorns, four-star restaurants to down-home barbecue joints, corporate CEOs to struggling musicians, Texas' capital city stands apart from the rest. Austin became a tech center, home to many large employers, in the 1990s. Today it maintains these identities and also fosters an increased prominence in the film industry.

It's hip and trendy, yet in a vintage sort of way. It's high-tech and laid-back. It's politically charged and culturally rich. It's eclectic by nature and creative by design. Most of all, it's a place where people like to have a good time.

The city is the cultural and economic center of the Austin-Round Rock metropolitan area with a population of more than 1.7 million residents. Its diverse neighborhoods include urban lofts and large country estates; starter homes and affordable apartments, making Austin truly a community for everyone.