Austin's East Eleventh named third coolest street in the world, according to Time Out
Sixth Street is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, but a recent list from Time Out is shining the spotlight on a different Austin street.
The publication named East Eleventh as the third coolest street in the world, topped only by High Street in Melbourne and Hollywood Road in Hong Kong.
The list included 30 streets from around the globe. According to Time Out, the rankings came after the publication's "global team of local expert editors and contributors... made a case for the coolest street in their city." Time Out then narrowed down these streets to just 30 picks.
'This is the heart':Barton Springs Pool regulars keep Austin magic alive
East Eleventh Street encapsulates Austin's spirit
In its description of East Eleventh, Time Out said that "no other street in Austin encapsulates the city's spirit more than this quarter mile of pavement east of I-35." The publication also highlighted the "incredible food, excellent coffee, a historic venue, and a backyard stage that evokes the bespoke approach Austinites take to keep the city’s soul alive."
Specific shout-outs went to Paperboy, Franklin Barbecue, the Vintage Bookstore and Wine Bar, Kenny Dorham's Backyard, Busy Signal, HELM, and Frances Modern Inn.
The cultural history of East Austin
East Eleventh is at the center of an African American cultural heritage district, which includes spots such as Victory Grill and the African American Cultural Heritage Facility.
Efforts to "revitalize" East Eleventh began back in 2004, according to a story Jeremy Schwartz wrote for the Statesman that September. East Austin was also home to the "Negro District," an "area set aside as a segregated zone in the city’s 1928 urban plan," according to a 2016 Statesman article from Michael Barnes.
"For all the racism inherent in the establishment of a segregated Negro District, it meant, to many, greater security, increased amenities and richer cultural opportunities," Barnes wrote. "Safety in numbers was certainly needed in a time when no black person could look a white person in the eye without the fear of violence or even death."
Who was Menchaca? Del Valle? Guerrero?The stories behind Austin's Hispanic place names.
Top 10 coolest streets in the world
Here are the top 10 streets, according to Time Out:
- High Street in Melbourne
- Hollywood Road in Hong Kong
- East Eleventh in Austin
- Guatemala Street in Buenos Aires
- Commercial Drive in Vancouver
- Jalan Petaling in Kuala Lumpur
- Rua da Boavista in Lisbon
- Arnaldo Quintela in Rio de Janeiro
- Chazawa-dori in Tokyo
- Consell de Cent in Barcelona