Willamette Week is in the middle of our most important annual fundraiser. As a local independent news outlet, we need your help.

Give today. Hold power to account.

Support

Top Five Ways Portland is Different From Austin, Texas.

by Ben Kweller

By WW MUSIC STAFF
BEN KWELLER

Teahouses [WIN: PORTLAND]

Portland has the best teahouse in the world: the

Tao of Tea

. We don't have anything like that in Austin yet. We have great coffee shops, but to really be a tea connoisseur, Portland might be where you want to live.

Swimming holes [WIN: AUSTIN]

Austin's swimming holes are unparalleled.

Trees [WIN: PORTLAND]

We have a pecan tree in our backyard that's very close to our roof. I wondered if there was somebody in town who could come over and mill it into boards. Well, there's a dude in Portland (

urbanhardwoodrecovery.com

) who will come and mill your trees. Which is awesome.

Giant recording studios [WIN: PORTLAND]

Courtney Taylor-Taylor's recording studio is bigger and more awesome than anyone's studio back home in Austin. Willie Nelson's studio comes close to it, but at the end of the day, [Taylor-Taylor] wins.

The chill factor [WIN: AUSTIN]
For two towns that are known for being laid-back and friendly, I think Austin wins. I think people are just a little more chilled out. Just a little. And that’s saying a lot, because Portland is fucking laid-back, dude. We’re talking about two of the best towns in America, so it’s a pretty tough call.

SEE IT: Ben Kweller plays Wonder Ballroom on Friday, April 27. 9 pm. $18 advance, $20 day of show. All ages.

WWeek 2015