Musings

I happened across this rant by Austin music artist Roger Wallace in my search for Dandelion Café. I was looking for an email address so I could complain about DC’s policy of charging a 20 percent tip on my credit card receipt each time I’m there, whether I tip that amount or not.

Now, don’t get me wrong: I tip 20 percent as a standard practice when I’m at a sit-down restaurant. At Dandelion, you have to stand in line and place your order at the counter, get your drinks and condiments, and then someone brings your food to your table. Then, you bus your table on your way out. Not that I’m too much of a princess to bus my own table. But that’s also why I don’t leave a 20 percent tip. Is that wrong?

So that brings me back to the rant I found. Mr. Roger Wallace cites Dandelion Café as an example of what’s wrong with Austin these days. Surprisingly, it has nothing to do with their unfair tipping practice. He thinks that DC represents the new face of Austin; that it’s too clean and pretty and coffee shop-esque to fit into the Keep Austin Weird idea. Wallace actually says that it's hard for him to find a place to eat greasy, dirty food. Speaking as a vegetarian, I beg to differ. GWH isn’t usually the one who can't find something on the menu when we go out to eat.

Wallace has been here since 1993 and doesn't like dealing with the changes Austin is going through. While any Austinite would probably agree that things have changed, and Austin is growing up (don’t get me started on the high-rise lofts that it seems no one can afford to live in) I don’t think a little independent coffee shop like Dandelion can be put into the same class as Starbuck’s or McDonald’s. It’s ridiculous to claim that an independent sandwich shop represents all that is bad about Austin. So they offer some healthy selections. And some of them are vegetarian. So what? They also offer grilled cheese with bacon.

It’s annoying to me when people move here and then get all put out about Austin’s changes. You’re one of the reasons the city has to change, buddy. And change is not all bad. We had McDonald’s here in Austin way before 1993. Hell, I grew up here and we had one right down the street. We even had ‘burbs then. I know because I lived there. So relax, Wallace. And take your reverse snobbery down a peg.

Whatever. Maybe I have PMS because I was also shocked to learn that we are still doing the whole North vs. South dance. And I don’t mean about North vs. South Austin—even though that could fit right into the rant above; see ‘burbs and insert Get Over It—I mean about our own damn country. I was at Book Club discussing our latest literary selection The Devil Wears Prada, and I asked the group how they felt about the author’s reference to Southerners. For those of you that haven’t read it yet, the main character is from Connecticut and lives in New York City. Her sister is married to a Texan, who is described as a redneck with a drawl. Also, Houston is labeled a swamp. And a group of guests at a birthday party in the book are called rednecks simply because they hail from states like South Carolina and Georgia. Most of the women in this group are also “trophy wives.”

I was mildly offended—okay, not really, I actually got really loud and opinionated about it, but are you really shocked?—that Southerners were viewed this way in the book. And then I was surprised to learn my Book Club gals made the same type of judgments about Northerners: they’re mean and snobby. Having lived in New York City after college for a short time, I can say from first-hand experience that I met plenty of nice people in New York City. And I’ve met people in Texas who weren’t exactly nice. So, whatever…people are just people. Some of them are going to be nice. Some of them are not.

And on a last rant-related note, and speaking of NYC, I was in there not long ago. I decided to treat myself to an eyebrows wax at Bliss. The lady clucked disapprovingly over me: “You pluck every day.” She shook her head and sighed. What is it with my eyebrows and the judgment? My heritage is Mexican-Italian. Translation: I have a lot of dark hair. I try my best to maintain it. You, lady? Are supposed to be helping me, not judging me.

Shut up, Ted.

-Shakira 06.28.06