Everyone's favorite slogan, "Keep Austin Weird," certainly applies to this unique and funky museum. Heavily slanted towards music, the South Austin Museum of Pop Culture aims to preserve and exhibit art and artifacts that reflect Austin's influence on the larger realm of popular culture. Located on South Lamar in the venerated 78704 zip code, the SAMPC has permanent collections dating back to the 1960s, and mount exhibitions featuring the works of some of Austin's most exciting new artists.

The bulk of their collection is dedicated to what they consider to be the quintessential Austin art form, the music concert poster. Featuring works by Guy Juke, Billy Perkins, Danny Garrett, Henry Gonzales, Sam Yeates, Jim Franklin, and many others, the SAMPC poster collection makes a serious case for including Austin's artists in the pantheon of poster art codified by the Fillmore in San Francisco. These works tell the history of Austin music in colorful, interpretive ways.

Other art forms are found at the SAMPC as well as poster art, including a permanent exhibit by University of Texas graduate, G.L. McElhaney. This multi-talented artist studied under sculptors Charles Umlauf and David Deming, and his work includes bronze, marble and hydrostone cast sculptures. Gonzales conceived and helped create the Dia de los Muertos wall, a permanent fixture in the parking lot beside the museum which is lined with dozens of hand-painted portraits of deceased musicians and artists from Texas, all adorned with flowers and offerings.

The museum features paintings, album covers, portraits and Ken Featherston's giant "Peyote Dream" mural, which was recently extracted from a private home. An entire wall of the museum was torn down and built up again to keep Featherston's work in one piece. One of the most iconic artists highlighted by the SAMPC is Texas-born Gilbert Shelton, whose famous comics, such as "The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers," are known world-wide. His work has appeared in Help!, Playboy, Zap and Rip Off comics, as well as on the walls of the Vulcan Gas Company club.

Initially a project of the Phogg Foundation, the SAMPC got its start as part of a citywide poster exhibition during South by Southwest in 2004. Shortly thereafter, they mounted the first of many one-man shows, featuring work by the late artist/historian Jack "Jaxon" Jackson. These focused exhibitions have become the trademark of the museum, and they continue to produce up to eight exhibits and five events per year. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, they work with a part-time, all-volunteer staff, including many of the artists who are still painting, drawing and beautifying the city - truly a labor of love for all.

Now a membership organization governed by a Board of Directors, their community outreach efforts are split between adding to and improving their holdings and programs, and the difficult but essential task of raising funds to support a grass-roots non-profit museum. Although there is no admission, donations are suggested, and memberships of all different levels are available.

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Austinites are known for enjoying the local flavor that thrives in Austin. With a plethora of cool local restaurants in Austin the food scene can at times seem to rival Austin's music scene. Hula Hut located in in central Austin is one of the restaurants that contributes to this. It has been an Austin favorite since it opened in 1993. With bamboo walls, tiki torches, grass-thatched bars, thousands of colored lights, and great music, Hula Hut already has a somewhat cheesy but extremely enjoyable atmosphere, but the best aspect is that it is located right over Lake Austin.

Not only does it have an awesome atmosphere that is great to just hang out with family or friends or even to impress those clients that came into town, but it also has spectacular food. It is a menu derived from both Tex-Mex and Hawaiian traditions, and, although the combination sounds somewhat bizarre, they have perfected to it pure, tastebud exciting enjoyment. In addition to the wonderful flavors, the portions are usually generous enough to have leftovers for lunch the next day. What's better than a great, relaxing dinner that doesn't cost an arm and a leg and getting to enjoy it again the next day?

Although on the best of nights there is usually somewhat of a long wait, it is definitely worth it. It's a huge place and has tons of tables, so they are usually pretty good about seating as quickly as possible. If there happens to be a wait, you can relax on the benches or hang out by the Palapa bar with a cold drink and some, free chips and salsa, and if you get there at the right time, the sun setting over the water of Lake Austin is a gorgeous view.

Not only does the lakeside location provide a spectacular view over Austin's Town Lake, but also some convenience for those who have been hanging out on the lake, or just don't feel like driving their car over. Hula Hut provides a boat dock that can hold approximately 10 boats. So if you're hanging out on the lake and want a bite to eat for lunch or dinner, just pull in, enjoy the atmosphere, have some great food, and head back out on the water.

While the food is wonderful and the drinks even better, Hula Hut is most definitely popular because of the wonderful atmosphere. If you're looking for a relaxing place to hang out with friends or family, somewhere comfortable for that first date, or something impressive to show off Austin to some clients that came into town, Hula Hut is the place to go.

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The Mexic-Arte Museum is the Official Mexican and Mexican-American Fine Art Museum of Texas, as designated by the state legislature. Although focused primarily on the arts from Mexico, their scope includes Latin America as well as Latino arts, both contemporary and ancient, as well as Chicano art. Its diverse and eclectic collections, exhibits and programs reflect the heritage of the area, which was once Mexico. The population of Texas remains heavily Hispanic, and the Mexic-Arte museum celebrates this culture.

Located in the heart of historic downtown, the Mexic-Arte Museum offers a modern, contemporary space through which over 75,000 visitors a year travel. The main gallery is normally used by traveling exhibitions of traditional and contemporary art from Mexico and other Latin American countries as well as for national, local and regional Chicano and Latino artists. One of the few museums to support fresh talent, their back gallery provides space for emerging artists to exhibit their works.

The museum's Permanent Collection has developed with the intent of showcasing the rich and diverse art and culture of our unique region. The collections include prints from the Taller de la Grafica Popular/Workshop of Popular Graphics, a collection of etchings, linocuts, lithographs and silkscreens created by prominent artists as part of a populist art movement in Mexico. The Ernest De Soto Collection was named for the first Mexican American Master Printer, and consists of contemporary Latin American and American lithographs, fine prints, and etchings by renowned artists. One of the most colorful and attractive exhibits is the Masks from the State of Guerrero, a collection of traditional ritual masks made by Nahua Indians. Over 200 silkscreen prints by regional artists comprise the Serie Print Project.

Traveling exhibitions have included Retablos: Miracles from the Border, Embracing Chaos by young Latino artists, and La Caja Museo Contemporáneo de Arte / The Box Contemporary Museum of Art. The diversity of the arts is clear when exhibitions include Aztec mummy movies as well as The Aztec and Maya Revival exhibition, which illustrates a fusion of Pre-Columbian visual patterns with modern Mexican material culture.

The museum's flagship event for over a quarter of a century, and one of Austin’s favorite celebrations, falls every year near Halloween. Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is traditionally the day when Mexicans remember their loved ones who have passed on. The Mexic-Arte Museum celebrates with music, entertainment, and food in downtown Austin on 5th Street, between Congress and Brazos. Altars adorned with traditional offerings including candles, flowers, and images of calaveras (skulls) are on display, as a lively procession of people dressed in skeleton and Frida Kahlo costumes join other revelers for dancing and fun.

Educational outreach is paramount at the Mexic-Arte, which offers after school classes, free guided tours, and an entire program in anticipation of the Dia de los Muertos celebration. A corner of the museum is designated an Interactive Family area, and they host highly regarded scholars in a gallery lecture series. The Mexic-Arte Museum is located at 419 Congress Avenue in Austin Texas.

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The term “Keep Austin Weird” has become overly used, and some would say Austin’s “weirdness” is growing increasingly hard to find, with the mass influx of those from other areas bringing their normality to town. Luckily with events like Spamarama, the shrine known as the Cathedral of Junk, and the annual Eeyore’s Birthday Party, the city’s weirdness shines.

In 1978, David Arnsberger, Dick Terry, and George Majewski shared some beer and an idea- they were bored of chili and BBQ cook-offs, and thought it would be more impressive if people could make something like Spam taste delicious, and Spamarama was born. Today, the Spam cook-off is divided into a professional division for restaurants and caterers, and the open division for the general public. Not only do celebrity judges give trophies to the best tasting entries, like Spam flautas and Spam Cordon Bleu, but a “Worst of Show” trophy is also handed out to items like Spam-Alama Ding Dongs.

Though every year there is a Spam Eating contest, in 2004, the International Federation of Competitive Eating sponsored the event, and brought competitive eaters from around the country to enter the challenge. Rich LeFevre won that year, finishing off six 12 ounce spamburgers in 12 minutes. Other events are fun for the whole family, such as the Spam toss, the Spam can relay, and the Spam call- akin to the hog call.

Down in deep south Austin, at 4422 Lareina Drive, lives a humble man by the name of Vince Hannemann. Hannemann lives in a modest home, and you’d never know his backyard houses the Cathedral of Junk. He began to build the cathedral in 1988, because it was fun, and it’s become his passion ever since. It’s made of improvised trusses that Hannemann has wrapped with wire and covered with over 60 tons of junk, ranging from discarded bicycles and lawnmowers to beer signs and unrecognizable flashing electronic parts. Wind turbines top two minarets, and once inside the cathedral, one can climb to different levels, or sit in the throne room and take in the vaulted ceilings. Many people bring along their own discarded items in hopes that it will become part of the cathedral, but Hannemann is a discerning builder, and only takes items he likes. The Cathedral of Junk has hosted events from weddings to bachelor parties, and CD release parties to school kids on field trips. Hannemann works during the week, but allows anyone interested to stop by on the weekends to walk around his backyard.

In 1963, UT English professor Lloyd Birdwell Jr. held a picnic on the UT campus for his students before final exams. The picnic’s theme revolved around the Winnie the Pooh character Eeyore. There was a trashcan full of lemonade, a slew of honey sandwiches, a donkey draped in flowers, and a maypole at the picnic. Eeyore’s Birthday Party was born. Since then, it’s been an annual tradition, and moved to its current location in Pease Park in 1974.

Today, the maypole and the donkey are still present at Eeyore’s Birthday Party, and the event is run by the Austin non-profit organization, Friends of the Forest, who set up local vendors for food and drink, and distribute the money brought in amongst local charities. Many costume clad Austinites show up on the last Saturday in April. There are games for kids to play, live music, and the ever present drums circles, sometimes numbering in the hundreds. Eeyore’s Birthday has become so popular that Friends of the Forest began bussing in attendees from downtown, due to the lack of parking near the event.

Spamarama, the Cathedral of Junk, and Eeyore’s Birthday Party all have one thing in common- they all began by people out to have fun. They are all unique, and have grown to become Austin institutions, and are truly keeping Austin weird.

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Some streets lead to wherever it is you want to go. Some lead to surprises both bad and good. Some streets are destinations in themselves, stretches of thoroughfare where the journey itself is all that matters.

South First Street between Riverside and St. Elmo’s is one of those streets, one of the last in Austin where , block after block, the old magic of the city that once attracted musicians, artists and other creative minds to move and settle down here, is still palpable, still crackling in the air.

Going south from Riverside, you pass shops and boutiques on the right, converted from 1930’s private homes, turned into artsy clothing and import stores. They sit across the street from the broad, green campus of the Texas State School for the Deaf. Further south, the Bouldin Creek Coffee house serves up its eclectic, health-hip food and drink to its neo-Bohemian clientele. Beyond that, Jovita’s, one of the city’s more venerable but less well-known music venues, beckons the eye with Joyce Dibona’s colorful, Aztec-theme artwork adorning the outside walls.

As you drive still further south, you pass more colorful buildings and businesses that crowd the four-lane street. Some are well-established and thriving, some look almost abandoned, decrepit even. All are obviously small operations, like the Resistencia Bookstore. At the corner of Oltorf and South First, one of the more eye-catching businesses houses what may be the perfect Austin enterprise for the times, Baby Green’s, a fast health food joint.

Continuing on, you pass one of the less visually appealing buildings, which however happens to be the home of the GHS Lounge, an old neighborhood drinking establishment with street cred to burn. Boot repair shops, used book stores, bicycle shops, art galleries and a nursery in a converted private home line the street as you head towards the intersection with Ben White. Before arriving there, you may notice the Summermoon Coffee house on the east side of the street, one of the coziest and most intimate of neighborhood coffee shops in the city. The surrounding neighborhoods of Barton Hills and Travis Heights are populated by people that have a steadfast devotion to their local businesses neighborhood businesses.

Next door is the SHAC, the Self Help and Advocacy Center which is run by the Austin Area Mental Health Consumers, an organization of people with a mental illness. This community center provides services and information to people suffering from mental illness and to the community at large. The mostly volunteer staff here has helped many people to find housing, jobs and renewed hope to re-integrate them selves into society.

Of course, along the way there has been a colorful liturgy of Mexican food restaurants: Aranda’s, Polvo’s, Little Mexico, Mexicana Panderia, Evita’s Botanitas. Even San Antonio would be hard pressed to present a street with so many colorful and deliciously promising establishments in a stretch of so few miles.

And all up and down this road which has somehow escaped the clear-cut style of development that brings condos and super-centers and grid-locked traffic, there is still the green of the Austin hills. From a long stretch of the street, if you’re heading north, you can see the towers downtown floating in the hazy distance. This is indeed Austin without the cookie-cutter architecture of anywhere USA. It’s local in character, content and color, a true reflection of the creativity and productivity of the people who live here.

It may only be a matter of time before this fine old street cedes to the pressure of development and big money, like so much of the rest of the town has. But for now, it’s still Austin the way it used to be, or nearly, ready for a road trip with no clear destination when the trip itself was all that mattered.

Ki lives in Austin as a realtor in the Austin real estate market. His site provides a free mortgage calculator along with a search of the Austin MLS