Holly - Austin, TX

Although the neighborhood has existed in close proximity to the capitol and downtown since the 1900s, Holly remained less developed than surrounding areas for many years due to the pollution and noise from the Holly Street Power Plant. When the plant closed in 2007 due to years of neighborhood campaigning, Holly quickly became an in-demand location to live.

As Holly becomes more popular, the neighborhood continues to shift culturally. The arts scene mirrors this varied nature, hosting a number of music groups of all genres and experimental and alternative acts at the Rude Mechanicals Theater.

Thanks to its proximity to Lady Bird Lake, Holly hosts a number of annual events at Festival Beach. Notably, the Texas Craft Brewers Festival offers residents a chance to relax with new beer from around the state, and the Pachanga Latino Music Festival attracts visitors from across the United States to catch Latino rock groups.

With a large variety of specialty restaurants clumped along East 7th, East 6th and E. Cesar Chavez Street, Holly has something to appeal to everyone. Whether you crave traditional Mexican tacos or organic, locally sourced sandwiches, you can find many tiny dives situated next to fine-dinging establishments. One of the most popular restaurants here, Mr. Natural, demonstrates the unique nature of local restaurants well. Cooking up Tex-Mex specials re-imagined as vegetarian and vegan dishes, Mr. Natural resembles a panaderia and small grocery more than a restaurant. Don't judge Mr. Natural by its humble looks, though. Locals love the flavorful dishes, and even the most ardent carnivore won't miss the meat here. You can even catch a yoga class held on the porch several nights a week.

As is typically Austin, food trucks remain a popular dining option in Holly. While you can find a number of taco trucks here, make sure to stop by Saigon Le Vendeur for the best banh mi in East Austin (or the whole city, depending on who you ask). Even if it is a cold day, Saigon Le Vendeur makes a great lunch option, as the staff is happy to come to your car to get your order and bring your food. While you may have to wait some time for your order thanks to the ever-growing popularity of the truck, the experience proves worthy of your patience.

Nightlife in Holly consists mainly of casual music venues equipped with outdoor stages and picnic tables where you can relax with a beer and dive bars that serve up no-frills drinks to locals. Although you may not find a fancy nightspot here, you can catch plenty of local bands of all music genres playing any night of the week.

Located only a few block from Downtown, Holly remains one of the most walkable neighborhoods in this area of Austin. People often take advantage of the many sidewalks and convenient paths into the Entertainment District next door. For cyclists, Holly can provide plenty of safe biking paths and bike lanes for convenient access to other Austin neighborhoods.

If you need to go a bit farther, public transportation serves the neighborhood well. Jump on the MetroRail or any number of major Metro Capitol bus lines that stop along Chicon Street. If it is too late for a bus, you can always call a taxi or rideshare from Uber or Lyft to arrive quickly and easily.

Driving here can cause a bit of a hassle, as the heavy traffic along Cesar Chavez and 7th Street can cause huge delays. Furthermore, the lack of public parking in Holly can make it difficult to find a place to stop. Luckily, most residents have private spaces at their homes, and you can quickly jump on Highway 290 to head north or south of the city.

With Lady Bird Lake backed up to the neighborhood, Holly sits just next to Edward Rendon, Sr. Park at Festival Beach, easily one of the most popular parks in Austin. Hosting many huge events and festivals here every year, Festival Beach has gained a reputation as one of the best places to go on the weekend. Even when no special events happen, you can enjoy picnicking at the many picnic shelters and tables or even use one of the five barbecue pits.

If you want to stay away from the crowds, you can head to the Pan-American Park or the Metz Park & Recreation Center. Both house tennis and basketball courts, and the Pan Am Park even has a baseball field, playgrounds, wading pool and picnic grounds, making it ideal for kids. At Metz Park, you can choose to play on the kickball field or fish at the pond. Feel free to bring your dog to run along the many trails. Both rec centers host a number of after-school programs and neighborhood league sports, so you should stay in good shape in Holly.

Despite its highly coveted in-town address, the average cost of living in Holly proves to be equivalent to that in Austin. Average rent for a one-bedroom places runs about $1,015 per month, and beers can be found cheap for just $2 or $3.

Gas prices here also average about the same as they would in the city as a whole and about nine percent lower than the U.S. average.

Although high-end shops tend to stay closer to downtown, Holly houses a large number of thrift stores, vintage boutiques, and discount shops along East 7th Street and Cesar Chavez. Easily among the most popular of these, Charm School Vintage sells rare women's vintage clothing pieces. If you have a specific look in mind, you can curate it here, but with such an interesting selection, Charm School Vintage is bound to have something that appeals to you even if you come in with no idea what you want. While much of their clothes comes from high-end brands or customized fittings, Charm School Vintage remains accessibly priced and not the least bit stuffy.

With the HOPE farmer's market only a few blocks from Holly, you have an opportunity to purchase plenty of fresh, local produce. For more general grocery needs, you can head to the nearby H.E.B or La Michoacana, which also offers plenty of Mexican brands, as well.