The Sun Is Out, And We Want Some! [Extra Extra]

Austin doesn't have cheap Lone Star during SXSW either. All the local venues bump the price up to $5 to "punish" the non locals. Poor babies, complain all the way to the bank.

True!! The local venues do "bump up" the price during the "conference" to punish the non locals. Sadly, it is to punish the locals as well. I know several bartenders who cut me no slack during the "conference" knowing full well that I am a local.

Also, Barton Springs will begin charging for the free hour which effectively renders the name free hour void. Go Austin!! Follow the Seattle model; charge as much as you can for all that you can!! A playground for the elite.

jr.

That may well be because Barton Springs is becoming unable to sustain the growth of the Austin population. Every summer, it seems more and more crowded than the one before. In the days of the 50 cent entry fee, Barton Springs served a lot less people so perhaps the price increases since then have been for protection's sake as well as for maintenance now that a larger population makes use of the Springs. I know that the Town Lake hike and bike trail was never meant to serve a population the size that it currently does. And at Eeyore's Birthday this past weekend, I don't think I'd ever seen Pease Park more crowded and I've been going to Eeyore's since I was a little kid. Change does suck, but sometimes it is necessary to protect our resources. At least we still have Campbell's Hole and Twin Falls all free of charge. Just my thoughts anyway.