Those who know Austin know it to be a magical place. Live music surges through the air and
cleansing creek water flows through the hills. The motto Keep Austin Weird illustrates
residents' appreciation for small businesses and cooky eccentric local characters. It's never
felt quite like the rest of Texas here. Still there's the same sense of intense pride for
one's place. The underbelly of Austin is just as full of strange delights as its surface is.
Scandals and corruption reveal themselves in this political town. The legacies of one of the
earliest serial killers and mass shootings linger ominously. Yet despite its dark secrets
little-known stories of progress and creativity abound too. Music venues and local pools have
fought and continue to fight racism. There is a universal love for queso a Tex-Mex delicacy
and Leslie an iconic cross-dressing homeless activist who was said to personify the city's
motto-these stories bring people together and now they're yours to discover.
