South Congress, Austin, TX

The South Congress area is a young neighborhood. Lots of kids, lots of young professionals, politicians, up-and-coming entrepreneurs and successful start-up owners. That's not to say there's no one over the age of thirty here, for there are. But there's definitely a youthful energy that emanates from all the residents of this Austin neighborhood. You always see people walking energetically down the street, heading to a coffee shop or to their favorite South Congress restaurant. Businesses are always buzzing, and people are always out walking their dogs or jogging in the neighborhoods.

South Congress Avenue offers lots of options for those looking to check out a social scene. Probably the most famous spot in the area (and where you're like to see any number of famous people hanging out) is the Continental Club, known for its great musical shows. Trophy's Bar and Grill and Ego's both serve up a cozy bar atmosphere. Doc's Motorworks has a great outdoor patio and beer on tap selection, and is usually filled with a loud and jovial crowd. Residents looking for a swankier option can check out the famous San Jose Hotel bar, with stylish interior and exterior spaces. Those looking just looking to relax and listen to some music ought to check out Guero's gorgeous tree-filled outdoor space, with almost nightly bands playing.

Food places dominate South Congress Avenue, and there's a little bit of everything for everyone. Residents looking for affordable Asian food fast have a Zen to check out. El Sol y La Luna and Guero's both serve up delicious Mexican and Tex-Mex flavors. Mars Restaurant caters to the fancier crowd with Asian-inspired modern infused entrees, and those seeking comfort can check out the hip offerings at The Woodland (great for pies of the meat and sweet variety). You can't miss Vespaio if you're in the mood for great Italian Food. Home Slice pizza offers up delicious New York style pizza and lots of local flavor and atmosphere (closed Tuesdays) and slices at their walk up window. Fran's burgers, an Austin institution serves the best of American food in a charming diner-esque restaurant. Hill's Cafe is the perfect choice for those looking for a good old-fashioned Texas steak.

As mentioned prices are high here in this neighborhood, and only seem poised to get higher. Most apartment complexes have been renovated by now, and offer studios in the $700-$900 range, with 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom apartments varying dependant on size, starting at $800 and going all the way up to $1800, or more.

The prices may be high, but quality of life is pretty high too. As mentioned, most apartment complexes in this area have been recently renovated, so while the size might not always be huge, you can usually get a pretty nice apartment for the price you're paying. While certainly there are still a few places keeping the prices low, be aware they might be older buildings with possibly older structure issues.

In the residential parts of the neighborhood, traffic and parking are minimal to fairly busy. South Congress Avenue, however, is another story. Being another major thoroughfare of Austin, traffic is often quite backed up or packed during peak hours and recently (Summer/Fall 2008) they've been doing roadwork down the middle, so traffic has been slow going. Parking along South Congress Avenue is relegated to diagonal parking in front of businesses, which can be darn near impossible to back out of during busy traffic. Drivers should also be on the look out for cyclists. Though the street does offer bicycle lanes, drivers will need to keep their eyes peeled for bikers having to weave around backing up cars and pedestrians.

Luckily for residents of this neighborhood, plenty of Capital Metro bus stops service the area, as well as a number of the free bus, the Dillo, stops as well. As stated, there's usually plenty of parking in the neighborhood for people wanting to patronize local businesses, but future residents should be aware that occasionally drivers might park in places they're not supposed to, like private lots and in front of driveways.

This is another area where hiring an apartment locator is the way to go. Craigslist offers tons of listings on this area, but a locator will help you find those last deals that are holding out, of which there are some. They'll also be able to narrow down the search for you. Another tip is to simply walk, ride a bike or drive slowly around residential neighbors. Many nicer homes offer garage apartments or extra rooms for rent, and sometimes those aren't always listed on Craigslists or other websites.

South Austin is definitely for the dogs. Neighborhoods with sidewalks (most) are often filled with South Congress's residents walking their four-legged friends. Local businesses often have water bowls they keep filled for pups, and it's not unusual to see someone's pet enjoying a rest next to their owner at Jo's Coffee or other South Congress businesses. There are a few parks and green areas in the neighborhood that, while not leash-free themselves, can offer your pup a little grass time. Those dogs needing more freedom have two nearby dog parks to choose from: Auditorium shores by the Hike and Bike Trail and the Riverside Drive dog park. Any sick or injured pups have plenty of close vets to choose from, like Capital Veterinary Clinic‎ and South Congress Veterinary‎.

Being that South Congress Avenue is a place that locals recommend to tourists to visit, residents luck out by being so close to so many forms of entertainment. Among hanging out at all the wonderful bars and restaurants already mentioned, there's tons of great boutique shops to explore! Goodie Two Shoes, J&L and Hovercraft (with a public ping pong table inside!) offer shoe and clothing fashions from the Soco Center. Creatures, Pink, Blackmail and Vivid offer hip and specialized fashions too. While pricey, By George is an important staple of Austin fashion. If clothes aren't your thing, no worries, stores like The Turquoise Door, Tesoros Company and Monkey See Monkey Do offer great gifts and souvenirs. Don't forget about all the great vintage and antique stores available, like the huge Uncommon Objects. Great vintage furniture and fashion finds can be found at Prototype Vintage, on Milton Street off of South Congress Avenue and awesome gently used fashions can be found at New Bohemia. Art Galleries like Austin Art Glass and Gallery SoCo offer modern and traditional art to view. Parts and Labour offers only-made-in-Texas finds.

If you have more of a sweet tooth than a fabric tooth, you've got to get a cupcake from Hey Cupcake! You can't miss it: it's the airstream trailer with the giant cupcake on top. Or you can check out the giant selection of confections at Big Top Candy Shop, the greatest candy shop on earth. Shopping isn't just confined to the permanent store fronts here, in fact, many weekends small tents of vendors can be found in a few parking lots along the street.

One of the best times to be in SoCo is on the first Thursday of every month, when all stores, restaurants and boutiques stay open late and tons of stores host events, live music and food and wine tastings. Tons of vendors pack the parking lots, offering all sorts of handmade gifts and art for sale. You can even catch some tap dancers if you're lucky, and, if you're feeling particularly low, grab some free hugs from the people holding the "free hugs" signs.

Everyone will want to take in the nature show that takes place every evening in the summer and early fall, when the largest urban bat colony in the world exits en masse from under the Congress Street bridge. Watch from on top of the bridge or under it in a provided green space perfect for picnics.

If you haven't already noticed, most of the businesses and restaurants mentioned are along South Congress Avenue. Locals call it the "Congress Street Stroll". Walking up and down this street is great for window shopping and people watching. And, it's close enough to walk to the Congress Avenue Bridge and downtown from this location.

An HEB on the corner of Oltorf and Congress serves the SoCo area, and several smaller groceries offer up healthier food options and more gourmet fare, like Cissi's Market and Farm to Market Grocery.

Banks in the area include Compass Bank‎, Wells Fargo Bank‎, and Wachovia Bank‎.

A great local gym in the area is South Congress Athletic Club‎.

There's a CVS/pharmacy‎ on the corner of Oltorf and South Congress Avenue, as well as a pharmacy in the HEB.

The South Congress neighborhood offers quite a number of schools for parents to choose from, like St. Elmo Elementary School, Pleasant Hill Elementary School, Houston Elementary School, Bedicheck Middle School, Crockett High School and of course the Texas School for the Deaf. 

Offering a few parks and playgrounds, kids have lots of green space to run around in here. A popular one is the Stacy Park and Wading Pool‎ on Live Oak Street, featuring a pool that's always warm and free to get into.

Many churches also exist in the area, such as St Ignatius Martyr Church‎, Grace United Methodist Church‎, Congress Avenue Baptist Church‎, Christ Lutheran Church‎, Church In Austin‎ and many more.

Overall, this area is a great place to raise a family, with safe neighborhoods and lots of activities to entertain them with! There's even a great toy store right in the neighborhood, Kid Genius, offering educational as well as entertaining toys for tots.