Likely Texas' best known street, the seven block's of 6th Street between Congress and IH 35 are certainly Austin's entertainment center. With a little help from it's many like-minded sister streets, 6th Street is the heart of Austin's live entertainment scene and the capital of third coast music. Sixth Street (formerly known as Pecan Street) is lined with many historical houses and commercial buildings dating from the late 1800's and early 1900's. The storied old buildings now house numerous bars, a host of live entertainment venues, tattoo parlors, art galleries, casual cafes, upscale restaurants, and the elegant Driskill Hotel. Live music of every genre abounds. From jazz, blues, and country to rock, hip-hop, beat, progressive, metal, punk and derivations of these, there's something to whet everyone's musical pallete. Great food is a staple on Sixth Street, featuring such regional staples as chili, ribs, and Tex-Mex plus steak, seafood, cajun-cooking, and deli.  Sixth Street draws an eclectic bunch including endless streams of mostly single UT students, the YUP's, the burb's, some interesting street folk,and lot's of out of town visitors. It's not uncommon to spy some celebrity type taking in the sights on 6th. From film folk to politicians, to music men and women, Sixth Street rubs elbows well. Dress code, yeah right. You'll see cowboys and punks, surfers and suits. On Halloween anything goes, and during Mardi Gras, everything goes !
Going West from the entertainment area, West Sixth Street offers another suprise with antique stores, art galleries, hair salons, restaurants, and lot's of eclectic shops. Sixth Street is Austin's entertainment showpiece, and deservedly so. Great events like the Austin Mardi Gras celebration, SXSW, The Republic of Texas Bikers Rally, the Pecan Street Festival and Sixth's Street infamous Haloween celebration all make for great times with great people.  Austin's most famous attraction has made the city "The Live Music Capital of the World." Since that time, Sixth Street has seen changes, both good and bad. News 8 Austin's Doug Shupe explores how Sixth Street came to be and where it's headed. This story aired between 2/17-21/2003 on News 8 Austin. The rise and fall of 6th Street: 6th Street today (Part 1) Hundreds of thousands visit Austin's main attraction: a few blocks of restaurants, bars and live music venues. full story & video >> The rise and fall of 6th street: The hey days (Part 2) A look at what Sixth Street was like over the last couple of decades and at the years some say were Sixth Street's hey days. full story & video >> The rise and fall of 6th Street: The years the music died (Part 3) Original live music venues begin to close. Begging the question, "Is Austin still The Live Music Capital of the World?" full story & video >> The rise and fall of 6th street: More problems, more choice, fewer people? (Part 4) Sixth Street businesses cope with declining sales, crime and competition. full story & video >> The rise and fall of 6th street: The future of 6th Street (Part 5) A look at where Sixth Street is headed and what some hope will be done to clean it up. full story & video >> |
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