Has the afterglow worn off?
The doting South by Southwest masses have slinked back to Williamsburg and Echo Park, doubtless telling tales about this 鈥渓ocals only鈥� barbecue joint called The Salt Lick. But as they stumble out of their Austin-induced atrophy, some might ask the harsh question: Is Austin really that great?
Sure, Google is the latest great , but along with all that adoration comes a downside: The Daily Beast recently labeled Austin as one of in the states. And with Austin popularity鈥檚 comes , not to mention exacerbation of Austin鈥檚 and 鈥� themes many writers have expounded upon recently.
Adding insult to injury, a travel writer recently lambasted Austin in the Huffington Post, labeling it the in the nation and saying sojourners would be better off visiting Houston.
If you ask , Austin鈥檚 lost a bit of luster 鈥� although that鈥檚 a claim Corcoran鈥檚 been sounding for years in his work for The Austin Chronicle, the Austin American-Statesman and elsewhere. You may have seen , 鈥淲elcome to Mediocre, Texas,鈥� which begins: 鈥淥nly the mediocre are always at their best, someone said, which could be why Austin is so damn proud of itself.鈥�
鈥淚 think that a lot of times it鈥檚 sort of like when a club is new and it鈥檚 really great,鈥� Corcoran says. 鈥淎nd then everybody starts talking about that club and then the next thing you know it鈥檚 so crowded that it鈥檚 not fun anymore.鈥�
Corcoran argues Austin maintains an amiable mediocrity: it will never be New York City or Los Angeles, but just Austin 鈥� a comfortable place filled with people that are content within the confines of the city limits.
But Houston seems to be gaining ground in the conquest of cool. It was recently named one of the , was in The New York Times鈥�&苍产蝉辫; in 2013 and one of .
Corcoran said none of that matters, for Austin or Houston.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e got all these websites that are trying to rate this and that,鈥� he said 鈥淎nd there鈥檚 really no credibility to what they鈥檙e doing.鈥�
He said that Austin will still be the 鈥渓ittle town with the big head鈥� and Houston will still be 鈥渋t鈥檚 own state鈥� because of its urban sprawl.
As for the Huffington Post鈥檚 endorsement of Houston over Austin, Corcoran sees the merit 鈥� citing Houston鈥檚 diverse blend of cultures 鈥� but finds it a less practical choice. Austin鈥檚 more fun, he said.
鈥淚t was probably just some blogger that just put it out there to get attention and it obviously worked.鈥�
