Crestview - Austin, TX

With humble beginnings as mostly prairie and farmland, Crestview has retained much of its mid-century charm. Spacious, cheap lots and close proximity to two major roadways, now known as Burnet Road and North Lamar Boulevard, enticed young military veterans to settle the area in the late 1940s and early 1950s and start families. Modest ranch homes sprung up, trees were planted and a community was born.

Once a blank wall along Woodrow Avenue, the Wall of Welcome sits as a colorful representation of Crestview, sharing a border with the adjacent Brentwood neighborhood. Using funds raised from the annual Violet Crown Festival and under the guidance of local artist Jean Graham, residents joined together to create the tile mosaic telling the story of their neighborhood.

The annual Violet Crown Festival takes place each spring as a celebration of Crestview and next-door Brentwood neighborhoods with local art vendors, live music and children’s activities.

Businesses and restaurants line busy Anderson Lane and Burnet Road, but locals favor Little Deli in historic Crestview Shopping Center for a bite to eat. Inside tables get crowded but patrons prefer the relaxed outdoor seating anyway. Adored for its perfect-crust pizzas, the deli also makes sandwiches that prove just as popular. Stop at the nearby grocery store to pick up a bottle of wine or a few beers before dinner. Little Deli welcomes you to BYOB, and even provides plastic glasses for wine or an ice bucket to keep your beer cold.

Take a drive down Burnet Road and pull in to Top Notch for a classic charcoal-grilled burger and fried chicken. Movie buffs recognize the drive-in for its appearance in the film "Dazed and Confused," but locals know the food beats the fame. With classic American fare and a vintage setting, Top Notch remains an Austin treasure.

Self-touted as the world’s first cooperatively-owned brewpub, Black Star Co-Op Pub and Brewery gives locals a relaxed place to wind down after work. The simple food can be greasy, but pairs well with the selection of craft beers on hand. Even better, no tipping is required.

Full of the “keep Austin weird” vibe, Lala’s near Justin Lane and Burnet Road keeps the Christmas magic alive 365 days a year. The Christmas decorations don’t come down – ever. Locals say Lala’s has the best jukebox in town, and no, it doesn’t play Christmas carols. Cheap drinks, great staff, and good tunes equal jolly good fun.

Locals prefer personal cars as their primary mode of transportation, but ample metro bus stops along Burnet Road and Anderson Lane make it easy to travel outside the neighborhood. Loop 1, Highway 183 and Interstate 35 allow for convenient access to various points around Austin. The commute to downtown Austin takes about 25 minutes.

Use the Crestview stop on the MetroRail to travel downtown for work or to class at The University of Texas. Single ride fare costs $1 flat rate. While you can't hail a cab in town, just call a cab company to schedule a ride, or request a ride via Uber. Throughout the neighborhood, local joggers or mothers pushing strollers fill the residential streets on a daily basis.

Centrally located, Wooten Park provides a small green space for locals to relax outdoors. The park contains a small playground for kids, but most residents trek a few minutes south to Brentwood Park in adjacent Brentwood. With a pool, lighted basketball court, jogging path, sand box and other free amenities, the park attracts residents and their young families. When the breeze is just right, locals enjoy flying kites in the open field. Exercise buffs frequently use the workout area or join in with the boot camp group pulling tires and running sprints. The dog-friendly park welcomes all pooches but they must stay on a leash in the area.

Businesses sit side by side up and down Burnet Road and Anderson Lane. From eclectic furniture stores to specialty music instrument shops, the area provides a wide range of shopping and services. However, residents still rely on the historic Crestview Shopping Center located in the middle of the neighborhood for everyday shopping needs.

Just a few miles north on Loop 1, residents have easy access to the Domain, Austin's premier outdoor shopping mall. Shopping options range from high-end to affordable, with Neiman Marcus, Dillard's, and Macy's as the anchoring department stores.