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June 17, 2025

Is Half Step the Only Cool Spot Left on Rainey Street?

City Cast Austin

Is Half Step the Only Cool Spot Left on Rainey Street?

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Rainey Street has had a multitude of lives — from working-class Chicano neighborhood frequently overlooked and underserved; to Craftsman-style homes transformed into bars and restaurants bustling with bodies, especially for Sunday brunch; to unforgettable SXSW experiences; and now the high rise-lined wind tunnel where the sun never shines with one extremely worthwhile and Austin-ey cocktail bar. So what even is Rainey Street today? Is it still cool? Could it ever be again? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw, and Nikki’s friend, local musician Doug Leveton, to discuss. 

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