A long while ago, I posted here about my frustration with trying to live and work in New York. At one time, it was the haven of artists and cheap rents fostered their ability to create without worrying about whether they would have bare necessities. Nothing could be farther from New York today. It is a finance center and the people who can afford to live there either work in money or for the huge corporations that run in the same races as the money people. Even Brooklyn and Queens are gentrifying terribly. This is one reason why I didn’t want to stay there. I didn’t want to have to work doing things I might not want to do just so I could live.

Austin is a welcome change, and I dare say, that there will be many more like me making the trek across the country to settle here. There is a creative community that is vibrant and exciting, and at least for now, it is still possible to afford living here. What calls forth this post is the amazing Austin Chronicle holiday party on Friday night. All I can say is that it seemed that all of the coolest folks in Austin somehow found their way to this party (actually, the Chronicle staff sent out invites, and obviously they know all the coolest folks). From filmmakers to musicians to the journalists who cover them to “important others” like myself, it was a fantastic evening. The Chronicle is one of only a few independently owned newspapers in the country, and it isn’t difficult to understand, especially when standing among the crowd they gathered, why that is important. Down with the Suits!

I’ll also shout out to KGSR, one of Austin’s local radio station. I’ve fallen in love with radio again. I had forgotten how great it can be since I come from Clear Channel land. Not to beat the same old drum, but corporate radio sucks ass.

You can listen to KGSR on the internet. Give it a few days, as you won’t recognize the bands. Most of the music is lesser known nationally, but once you start picking up on it, you’ll be hooked!