St Johns - Austin, TX

While not known for playing a big role in the arts scene in Austin or having local museums, Coronado Hills hosts the Blue Genie Art Bazaar every year for several weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Hosting an eclectic mix of local artists, the Blue Genie Art Bazaar offers residents from all over Austin the opportunity to find one-of-a-kind homemade gifts. Make sure to check it out every year, because you never know what you may find while browsing the stalls, hot chocolate in hand.

The St Johns-Coronado Hills neighborhood serves some of the best authentic Mexican food in the city in its many small restaurants that line the highways and Cameron Road. If you want the food to bring you to Guadalajara for a meal, try Los Jaliscienses. Make sure to sample the green hot sauce on whatever you try, because you can't find a restaurant that makes this sauce it as fresh and spicy. It goes great on the steak milanesa, one of the top specialties of Los Jaliscienses. You can also find some other small, authentic ethic restaurants here when you feel like trying a different cuisine.

Winning the Best Indian and Best Buffet in the Austin Chronicle's "Best of Austin" awards year after year, the Taj Palace Indian Restaurant and Bar serves up a variety of spicy Indian dishes that residents rave over. Most people rave about the fresh, hot options on the buffet, and vegetarians can even come Tuesday nights to take advantage of the all-veggie buffet. With its great success as a locale, Taj Palace has added a food truck so that you can enjoy the dishes even outside Coronado Hills.

A quiet neighborhood, St Johns-Coronado Hills boasts little in the way of nightlife. Many residents simply relax at night with a beer at a local restaurant or head farther into Austin. However, Midtown Live Sports Cafe fills the void in the neighborhood by offering a variety of late night entertainment and acting as a local music venue, including dance parties with local DJs, football viewing parties, and even free poker tournaments. Happy hour here lasts until 8 p.m., so come in for cheap drinks and snacks after work or dinner. Since the nightly entertainment varies, check out Midtown Live's calendar to know what the evening's particular offerings may be.

Most families drive in St Johns-Coronado Hills, and most apartments and houses have designated parking; however, parking remains a challenge at many local businesses. For this reason, many residents walk on more residential blocks if they plan to remain in the neighborhood. Some residents cycle along residential streets, but this is not safe along the major freeways.

Buffeted by Highway 290, Highway 183 and I-35 and divided by Cameron Road, Coronado Hills has easy access to the most important roads in Austin. Unfortunately, this also makes traffic in the neighborhood a nightmare during rush hour.

For those who prefer public transportation, a string of Metro Capitol bus stops line Berkman Drive, which you can use to get closer to the city center. Taxis, Uber, and Lyft similarly arrive quickly when called.

When you want to escape the city, Buttermilk Neighborhood Park offers a large green space where children can play and adults can relax. Not only does Buttermilk Park offer a volleyball court, basketball courts, playgrounds, and many picnic tables, but the attached community center offers all sorts of classes ranging from yoga to karate to soccer. Many families enjoy simply bringing the dog and children here to run off steam.

If you are looking for a more solitary jog, the Buttermilk Branch Greenbelt trails that start here offer several dirt paths and a paved sidewalk aimed at walkers and runners. Enjoy the scenery as you run through landscaped spaces and across small streams on bridges. Although Buttermilk Park may be the only park in the neighborhood, it offers residents plenty to do.

The cost of living in Coronodo Hills is about 12 percent lower than the rest of Austin. Rent only costs about $750 per month for a one bedroom apartment, and you can get a domestic beer for just $2 or $3 dollars. Gas prices compare with Austin as a whole, around 9 percent lower than the average in the United States.

As a primarily residential area, St Johns-Coronado Hills hosts stores that mostly cater to residents' basic needs. You can buy groceries easily at the nearby Supermercado El Rancho, Arlan's Market and the Texan Market or clothes at big discount chains including Burlington Coat Factory and Walmart. While there are no high-end boutiques here, you will find plenty of great discounts and a number of tiny Mexican groceries in Coronado Hills, especially along Cameron Road. If you need a new look for a special event, head to buy your makeup at Makeup Squared. Not only are the salespeople happy to help you match your skin tone and preferred style, but also to let you try out several new look so that you have the best makeup for your event. Don't feel afraid to ask the knowledgeable staff lots of questions. Although the area may not have the artsy vibe that other parts of Austin exude, professional artists and novices alike frequent Jerry's Artarama for the best quality supplies at lower prices. The friendly staff can answer even the most bizarre questions about how their supplies can be used (all in the name of unique art), and the wide selection means that you always find something you can use. Plus, the array of classes at Jerry's give you the chance to learn traditional techniques or wilder methods, depending on what you want.