How To Survive A Party On Austin's Old 'Dirty' Sixth Street

How To Survive A Party On Austin's Old 'Dirty' Sixth Street

A guide to a successful bar crawl in one of Texas's craziest, busiest party scenes.

manduhgrace
manduhgrace Jan 8, 2019
167
views

The city air smells of pizza and cheap perfume. Amateur artists display their work while musicians perform upbeat songs for tips. A group of policemen on horses are posted in the middle of the closed-down road. A man with a snake twisted around his arm walks by calmly. Sounds of popular R&B; songs act as the heartbeat of the scene as people dance and throw their heads back in drunken laughter.

These are just a few of the things you should expect to see on Austin, Texas's famous Old Sixth Street, which is located between Congress Avenue and I-35.

When it comes to keeping Austin weird, Dirty Sixth takes the cake every weekend as it is the hub for all things unusual and unexpected. The road is chock-full of people looking to have a good time, and the vibe in this location cannot be replicated.

In such a chaotic scene, it's vital to have a plan ready in order to stay safe and have a good time. As a local, I am here to help those of you who will be visiting one of Austin's greatest attractions. Here are some tips for those interested in partying in the Live Music Capital of the World.

What to bring:

It's important to bring as little items as possible, especially if you are planning on tossing back a few cocktails, so keep this in mind when stuffing your pockets. It's best to bring some cash as well as your debit card, your phone and, of course, your ID. Try to keep these items close to you in a place where they are unlikely to be lost.

DONIS STUDIOS Austin Adventures (6th Street Chronicles) youtu.be

Most will think to put their stuff in their back pocket, but it's ideal to keep it in your front pocket, or shirt pocket, where you can be more aware of your things. The goal is to be handsfree and careless, so purses, wallets or man bags are less than ideal things to take to Dirty Sixth.

What to expect:

Keep in mind that on Sixth Street anything can happen. There has been multiple incidents of shootings, lost valuables, assaults and more along this party street. However, you will still have a fun time as long as you are always aware of your surroundings and never by yourself.

Try not to go to sixth street alone, steer clear of suspicious behavior and always keep track of the items that you carry with you.

Places to eat:

Voodoo Doughnut is known for its creative array of fried dough desserts. From a vegan peanut butter and jelly doughnut to a maple bacon bar treat to the captain crunch doughnut located below, it's obvious that this shop is good at producing yummy tastes for anyone's needs.

It's located alongside Sixth Street's clubs, and it makes for the perfect sweet snack during your action-packed night in Austin, Texas. Keep in mind that it is a cash-only restaurant, and all doughnuts are made fresh daily, according to their website.

For more information on this establishment, go to https://www.voodoodoughnut.com/.

For those looking for a saltier alternative to doughnuts, Roppolo's Pizzeria is another popular restaurant that people can't seem to get enough of. The road is scattered with people indulging themselves on this delicious food, and your night on Dirty Sixth won't officially be over until you end it with a slice in hand.

You can buy pizza by the slice or as a whole pie as you enjoy all that Sixth Street has to offer.

Look to their website for info on their history and what to order: https://roppolos.com/.

Austin's Old Sixth Street can be a risky place to spend a drunken night, but it's also one of the most famous entertainment districts in the world, according to its website.

For a list of venues and restaurants on Sixth Street, visit https://6street.com/listing-region/dirty-6th-street/.

manduhgrace
manduhgrace Jan 8, 2019
At Arizona State University

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10 Abnormally Normal Things About College

Some stuff just doesn't fly in the real world.
Caitlin Carlson
Caitlin Carlson Mar 1, 2017
117618
views

College is a weird, weird place. For whatever reason, the young adults who are supposed to be cultivating their minds with all of the worldly knowledge available to them, seem to get away with quite a bit using the justification "it's college." Even the best students live abnormally while on the alien planet that is a university. So, while to us college students it may just seem like another day, here are ten things that are only normal in college.

1. Straight up theft.

In the future, if I walk into my forty-something-year-old neighbor's home and see a collection of stolen signs, stuff from the local restaurant, and property from the construction site down the road, I would definitely be concerned about the character of my neighbor. However, in college, people proudly display campus signs, traffic cones, or dining hall napkin dispensers that they have impressively commandeered - it's a cheap decoration and a great conversation starter.

2. All-nighters.

Maybe with the exception of parents of little babies, very few people willingly stay up for close to 24 hours on end. In the real world, if a friend came to you and said that they literally did not sleep the previous night, it's completely logical to be worried. On the other hand, when a friend in college says that he was up all night you laugh a little, give him an understanding pat on the back, and walk with him to the coffee line.

3. Atrocious eating habits.

Sometimes you don't have time to eat. Sometimes you order pizza at 2 in the morning. Sometimes you eat three dinners. Sometimes you diet. All I can say, is thank goodness that our metabolisms are decently high at this age.

4. Breaking and entering.

In high school, you hopefully knew everyone who entered your home. After college, hopefully, that's still the case. However, when you live in the middle of thousands of bored college students, people knock at your door, walk into parties, cut through your yard, and stop by without invitation or hesitation. It keeps life fun, but still not normal.

5. Calling mom when stuff goes down.

I really doubt a time will ever come that I don't need to call my mom for guidance on how to do something. But, hopefully the frequency of those calls with go down a little bit post-graduation. Maybe after four years of doing it on my own, I'll know how to fill out government forms, cook real dinners, and get stains out. But for now, I'm going to keep calling while I still can without seeming totally pathetic.

6. Being intoxicated at weird times.

Drunk at noon on a Friday is the quintessence of an alcoholic at any time - unless it's college. Not that this is necessarily a good thing, and it certainly doesn't apply to everyone, but there aren't many other places where people would instantly assume someone is intoxicated if they're acting even a little weird. I've even seen people drink in the library....

7. The messed up dating scene.



There are people who meet the love of their life at college and live happily ever after. They are people who meet the supposed love of their life at college and never talk to them again after Sunday. There are people who use Tinder. Hormones are high, freedom is bountiful, and football players are cute - what else needs to be said?

8. A warped sense of time.

The career I'm pursuing will require me to be at work by 7 am, five days a week. I am fully aware of this. Now, will I enroll in an 8 am next semester? Absolutely not - I'm not a demon. In college, nights often start at 10 p.m., dinners are eaten at 4, and mornings can begin anywhere from 8 to 2. We don't get that whole 9-5 idea.

9. Costumes... for no apparent reason.

High schoolers have a dress code. Adults have dignity. College students have fun. Here, people will wear a corn costume to get on ESPN, a fanny pack to get into a fraternity, or a tutu to match a theme party. Is it actually a weird thing, though? No one even blinks an eye.

10. Insanely close friends.

Name another point in your life when you live with your friends, study with your friends, drive with your friends, eat with your friends, go out with your friends, and even grocery shop with your friends. I'll wait. At college, it's easy for friends to seem like family because you're with them constantly. Love it or hate it, it's weird about college.

So, enjoy this weirdness while you can - it won't last forever!

ALSO SEE:

Uncensored Roommate Confessions!

Cover Image Credit: Matthew Kupfer
Caitlin Carlson
Caitlin Carlson Mar 1, 2017
At James Madison

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College Party 'Ratios' Are Sexist Discrimination Against Men, Change My Mind

For every guy who wants to go to a party, he needs four or five girls to accompany him.

Shvethaa Jayakumar
Shvethaa Jayakumar Apr 7, 2019
403
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I'm sure at least every college student has at least been to a party once — or they've tried to. I'm a first-year female, and I've been to a few parties. I don't necessarily like them, but free drinks and good music can rope anyone in. There's also the fact that females can get into these parties with NO hassle. You have a group of 10 girls? No problem. Three girls? Step right up. Even if you're all alone, you can get in anywhere as long as you're a female.

But if you're a male? Good luck, you're most likely not going to get in.

Before I came to college, I didn't understand what "ratios" were. I mean, of course, I know what an actual ratio is in mathematical terms, but a party ratio is a little different.

It's also very very sexist.

Most parties put out a ratio when the addresses come out. They'll usually be something like 1:4 or 1:5. This actually means, that for every guy who wants to go to a party, he needs four or five girls to accompany him. Simply preparing for that and gathering girls itself is hard. Especially because if you're a male and you want your male best friend to come with you, both of you need about eight or 10 girls COMBINED. Isn't that a little too much?

Last week, my roommate dragged me out of bed to go to a party because I'd been working all week. I agreed only because the weather was somewhat okay. We went with a couple from our residence hall, one other female, and two other guys. So a total of four girls, and three guys. Obviously not good for ratios at all. When we got to the party, we found out that not only was the ratio 1:5, but a dude had to pay $5 for EVERY MISSING GIRL. So we all split up to get in, and it was me and one of the guys as a "group." They let me in, but the guy with me had to pay $15 dollars out of pocket.

And the party was a**!

What really inspired me to write this article, was when he said, "I feel really bad about paying $15 for this. I work at a grocery store and I only make money doing that, so this is really painful."

To be honest, I was pretty mad. I would never put down that much money for a stupid party. But what do you do if you're a guy and don't have a ratio? You pay.

We're always talking about the feminist movement and how men have more than females, but is this really any better?

Parties just want females for clout. Males are overshadowed. Why should only guys have to pay to get in? When asked, the answer comes down to covering the costs assumed for throwing the party. The fraternities need to cover for their drinks and any decorations, so they use this money to do so. But not every male who pays to get in drinks. So why not just let people in and then make them pay for each drink they have? It's not sexist and it makes everyone responsible for THEIR actions.

A guy shouldn't have to pay $15 so a bunch of girls can drink free alcohol. Parties should make everyone pay to get in. Anywhere from $2-$5 per person is more than enough to cover costs. Ostracizing males from females in this matter isn't trying to achieve a more equal future for anyone. It's backward, sexist, extremely segregating, and it needs to stop.

Change my mind.

Shvethaa Jayakumar
Shvethaa Jayakumar Apr 7, 2019
At Rutgers University

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