Downtown Austin on a Friday Night

6th Street of downtown Austin is quite a scene on Friday night (and probably Saturday night, too). Thousands and thousands of people, mostly college students, were cruising this bar-filled street. It reminded me of Beale Street on steriods, Bourbon Street on a good night, and even a weekend evening in the Cuban area of Tampa. Hundreds of police officers were patroling, and all of the intersections were closed. But it was a very peaceful and even friendly atmosphere (unless the college students were taking pity on a couple of 40-somethings). We didn't stay too long because we needed to rest of for Saturday's BBQ marathon.