Street with all the Christmas lights? (Austin: transplants, real estate, houses)

[Paulmmm]

I've heard that there's a street in Austin where all the houses for a block or two are all amazingly lit up every year for Christmas. I think the street is in the 30's, maybe. Does anyone know what street it is and what blocks?

Thanks a lot!

[TexasHorseLady]

37th Street, just east of Guadalupe. Park somewhere close and walk it, is the best thing, because there are (or, at least, there used to be, I haven't been in a couple of years) light displays in some of the back yards, as well. If you DO drive it, remember to turn off your headlights.

[Paulmmm]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

37th Street, just east of Guadalupe. Park somewhere close and walk it, is the best thing, because there are (or, at least, there used to be, I haven't been in a couple of years) light displays in some of the back yards, as well. If you DO drive it, remember to turn off your headlights.

That's great, THL. Thanks for the info!

[TexasHighDef]

Originally Posted by Paulmmm

I've heard that there's a street in Austin where all the houses for a block or two are all amazingly lit up every year for Christmas. I think the street is in the 30's, maybe. Does anyone know what street it is and what blocks?

Thanks a lot!

Here is a video of 37th Street in 2008 I went back this year but there was not much to see. What a shame.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=858BfFaaTGQ

[tongpa-nyi]

Originally Posted by TexasHighDef

...I went back this year but there was not much to see. What a shame.

Indeed. I didn't even bother going this year because what's-his-name, the man who started the insanity, no longer lives there and the recent transplants into the neighborhood don't seem very interested in carrying on with the tradition. It will probably fade away like so many other unique aspects of Austin as this city becomes increasingly generic outside of the 78704 zip code and (to a lesser extent) parts of central Austin east of I35. And even those areas are gentrifying a bit as non-creative "normal people" move there seeking a unique neighborhood.

The irony of that trend in real estate never ceases to amaze me. If you want originality and lots of local flavor, you generally have to go to a place that is up-and-coming and enjoy it before it gets overrun by ordinary people who go there to experience the scene passively but contribute nothing to the vitality of the local subcultures and arts.

Anybody know where the Austin of the 1970s and 80s moved to?

[pbnj07]

We went there in '07. What an overrated waste of time.