Glad He Relocated

I sat down to lunch with "Sam", who moved from New York City to Austin a few years ago, and is happy with his relocation. Sam is an easygoing guy who greets people with a smile and a tap on the shoulder. He keeps an electronic picture frame on his desk, with revolving pictures of his family.

Monte: What were some of the milestones that you passed in getting established in your new town of Austin?

Sam: I was flying back and forth a lot between Austin and New York, managing a sales territory for a New York company. I had one foot in both places -- two apartments and all. A turning point for me was during one stint in New York, when I found myself thinking, "I wish I were back in Austin." When I was in New York, I would hear coworkers say, "I can't believe you are moving there." They held a lot of stereotypes about Texas. I asked one guy what the basis of his opinions, and it was a trip he'd made 20 years ago -- to Houston! I found myself defending Austin, and then I knew I had developed an attachment to the town.

Breaking up with my girlfriend in New York was a big step toward settling here. Before that happened, I couldn't date here, and you see so many attractive women.

Monte: Yeah, you have to train yourself, like swatting a dog with a newspaper. "No!"

Sam: [Laughs.] I lucked out, in that I met another single guy my age. He was relatively new in town, and we just explored the social scene together. I did not buy a house here until later, when I got married.

Monte: So your turning points were more emotional than logistical?

Sam: Yes. I traveled here for my New York job, so I had work, health care, and lots of local contacts. I was not facing the same situations as you. Right away, I found a really great apartment downtown, and I just loved it there. The rent was a little over half what I paid in New York, and I loved the neighborhood. I met a young, vibrant and urbane crowd right away. You are going to feel a lot better when you change neighborhoods.

Barneys New York Comes to Austin, TX

Just click the photo if you want to, um, see it larger.

Barton Creek at Sunset

Keep Your Wong Long

[You can] Keep Your Wong Long

Nothing says "fashion" like Northeast Austin's Wong Long Fashion Design, LLC. That, and candy-cane beribboned pillars on a 1950s rambler in April. Go to St John's Ave and Rufus Street and see for yourself. But go at night — the sign lights up!

Best Austin Business Networks -- LinkedIn Members

Members of the professional networking group LinkedIn.com shared the names of their favorite Austin networking groups. Chris Garigues, President/CEO of Trinsic Solutions, asked the question, "What networking groups are worth attending in the Austin area?" The list of responses includes:

• Texchange
• Austin Technology Council
• International Hospitality Council of Austin
• Steve Harper's "Ripple Effect"
• NetworkInaustin.com
• www.thomsinger.com
• Austin Business Bloggers
• Greenlights for Nonprofit Success
• Young Womens's Business Alliance
• Young Men's Business League (YMBL)
• Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce

Scott Ingram chimed in, with a link to his blog. Other groups mentioned include Bootstrap Austin, NBX (National Business eXchange), Metropolitan Breakfast Club, SXSW volunteer festivities, Austin Film Society, Austin Rollergirls, and ACL volunteers.

Sons of Hercules - Easy Action

San Santonio garage punk band Sons of Hercules belt out a cover version of the tune "Easy Action". Veteran vocalist Frank Pugliese is in rare form at Austin's legendary Continental Club.

Watch it on YouTube.

The original video is about 105MB. Compressed, it's a 20MB avi. YouTube would not accept the 105MB version.