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Browse Old Austin Grouch posts about badge culture, Austin nostalgia, and the city habits locals still argue about.
Use this topic hub to explore satire, memories, and cultural commentary about badge culture in Austin, Texas.
Watched a product manager in limited-edition kicks argue with the Continental bouncer that his $1,850 platinum badge granted priority entry; the festival that once ran on $35 wristbands, photocopied schedules, and rooms smelling of beer and broken dreams now runs on geofenced tiers, $22 margaritas, and more marketing VPs than working drummers.
6 min read
The doorman at the old Bourbon Rocks on 6th and Red River now requires you to scan a QR code before he'll even look at your ID; what follows is a 90-second "experience" video from a crypto exchange that went bankrupt in 2024, all so you can access a band playing to a room that smells like sponsored energy drinks and broken dreams.
6 min read