East Dirty 6th Street – Photo by Denise Chambers

This guest blog post is by Ashly Howard.

I have only been in Austin for about three years, but my experience in this city wouldn’t be so great without my first love: East “Dirty” 6th Street.  I moved here from Oklahoma City, so this particular downtown lifestyle was a completely different atmosphere for me. East 6th quickly became part of my routine.

It’s hard to believe that after all the hassle it takes to get down there, so many people still go – including myself. Depending on where you live in Austin, it usually takes 20-30 minutes to get to 6th, followed by several minutes of bobbing and weaving through one-way streets, pedicabs and jaywalkers. The amount of time it takes to find a cheap parking spot, close to the club you want, is just ridiculous if you don’t know your way around.

At the end of every night on 6th Street in the Summer, the street itself is cram-packed with people heading to their cars, stragglers trying to find their friends, entertainers and cops lined up and down the streets to scout for future jailbirds. (Word to the wise: Make sure you have a designated driver.)

There is a bar on Dirty 6th for everyone. Over time, I’ve found shortcuts to the part of the street I like to frequent and the bars I can’t stay away from. Hopefully, my experiences can help you navigate and find your favorite spots. [Read more...]