Laura Figi.jpg

Laura Figi

Senior City Editor, ATXtoday

Laura Figi has called Austin home for more than 12 years and has been known to say it’s her “favorite city in the world.” A proud graduate of Texas State University, she’s been working in local news since 2020. When she’s not working and learning about the community, you can find her at the local thrift shop, spending time with her two cats, or listening to live music.

UW Huskies players celebrate the 2023 Pac-12 Championship win by hoisting a trophy and being showered with confetti
Culture
UW in the Sugar Bowl: Talking trash with our Texas counterparts
What should we send the ATXtoday folks if we lose?
December 12, 2023
 · 
Gabe Guarente
AXTtoday - Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium via UT
Sports
Tale of the tape: why Austin is the sweetest city
Texas will face off against the Washington Huskies at the 2024 Allstate Sugar Bowl and we’re willing to bet — literally — that the Longhorns win.
December 12, 2023
 · 
Laura Figi
AmorEterno_PhotobyTXtroublemaker.jpg
Bars
6 speakeasies and hidden bars to visit in San Antonio
From an alternate timeline-themed hideout to walk-in freezer secrets, we’re here to help find your next hideaway.
December 11, 2023
 · 
Nicholas Caballero
The pond at Beverly S. Sheffield Northwest District Park in Allandale, with a bench set to the right side.
Real Estate
How much it could cost to rent in Austin based on the neighborhood
Trying to move neighborhoods? We looked at 13 different neighborhoods around Austin to compare cost of rent to the local average.
December 6, 2023
 · 
Laura Figi
View of the Austin, Texas skyline from the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail.
Travel and Outdoors
What you need to know about the 2023 State of the Trail
Let’s take a look back at what improvements the Ann & Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail saw in 2023, and have a sneak peek into what the future holds in 2024.
December 4, 2023
 · 
Laura Figi
More than two million lights make up the 70+ displays and tunnels on the Trail. | Photo via @danyetteheine
Culture
11 holiday light displays in and around Austin to catch this season
Allow us to take you on a sleigh ride trip through the Austin area’s huge collection of holiday lights, shows, and displays.
November 30, 2023
 · 
Laura Figi
StarChefs-SATX-Collage.png
Food
Meet the 2023 class of Austin-San Antonio Rising Stars
Industry magazine StarChefs named 4 local chefs, restaurateurs, and community members from San Antonio on its 2023 Austin-San Antonio Rising Stars list.
November 29, 2023
 · 
Nicholas Caballero
ATX_StarChefsWinners
Food
Meet the 2023 class of Austin-San Antonio Rising Stars
Industry magazine StarChefs named 16 local chefs, bartenders, sommeliers, and tastemakers from Austin on its 2023 Austin-San Antonio Rising Stars list.
November 28, 2023
 · 
Laura Figi
A rendering of the station intersecting Guadalupe Street at Republic Square.
City
Answering your questions about Project Connect
We attended the recently revived Issues & Eggs series with the Downtown Austin Alliance and Austin Transit Partnership to learn about what’s going on with Project Connect.
November 28, 2023
 · 
Laura Figi
ATX_PrimaDora
Culture
ATXtoday’s 31 days of local shopping
Follow along with us as we highlight some of the best local stores in Austin this December.
November 27, 2023
 · 
London Gibson
Two women looking at art hanging on the wall.
Culture
Give back to one of these 17 nonprofits on Giving Tuesday 2023
Celebrate Giving Tuesday with Austin’s chapter, I Live Here I Give Here, by giving back to one of these 17 nonprofits helping various causes around the city.
November 24, 2023
 · 
Laura Figi
Back in Black - APA.png
Culture
Home purr the holidays: six cats and dogs to adopt this month
We’ve rounded up six cats and dogs from Austin Pets Alive and the Austin Animal Center who are looking for a furever home with you.
November 20, 2023
 · 
Laura Figi
A turkey and all the thanksgiving fixings on a table, while two people clink their glasses.
Food
14 Austin restaurants to visit for Thanksgiving dinner
Dine in, take out, or just get a few extra pies for your from local restaurants for your Thanksgiving dinner this season.
November 16, 2023
 · 
Laura Figi
Plant based tacos El Furioso and El Diferente from Veracruz Tacos in Austin, Texas.
Food
ONETACO. Taquería crowned ATXtoday’s readers’ choice taco
Help us decide which taco is the best by nominating a local restaurant, bar, or food truck and you might see it qualify for the reader-suggested finals.
November 10, 2023
 · 
Laura Figi
ATX_CuriousMixofPeople
Entertainment
“A Curious Mix of People” authors Richard Whymark, Greg Beets talk music at the Texas Book Festival
Catch “A Curious Mix of People” authors Richard Whymark and Greg Beets talk about their roots in the 1990s Austin music scene as UT DJs at the Texas Book Festival this weekend.
November 8, 2023
 · 
Laura Figi
skyline of Austin, TX
Business
14 Austin-based businesses made Deloitte Technology’s Fast 500 Awards
Austin showed its colors as a national tech hub, with more businesses on the Fast 500 Awards list than any other city in the Lone Star State.
November 8, 2023
 · 
Laura Figi
ATX_TysonsTacos
Food
22 tacos to try in ATX
Decide where to eat, then you can help us decide which restaurants should be on our Austin taco bracket to determine the top tacos in the city.
November 6, 2023
 · 
Laura Figi
ATX_AFROTECH-Conference-1-1568x882.jpeg
Events
AfroTech conference will move to Houston next year
After two years of holding the Black-owned business conference in Austin, AfroTech will move to H-Town beginning in November 2024.
November 6, 2023
 · 
Laura Figi
ATX_ItsMyParkDay
Travel and Outdoors
It’s My Park Day is this Saturday at parks across Austin
Volunteer for a cause — and get rewarded with some free treats — at this annual initiative to beautify Austin’s many green spaces.
November 2, 2023
 · 
Laura Figi
HEB by Dusana Risovic for Austin Food and Wine 2022 _DSC04856.jpg
Events
A scrumptious local guide to Austin Food + Wine Fest 2023
Taking a trip to flavor town — ahem, Austin Food + Wine Festival — this weekend? Let us help you maximize your time at this annual celebration of eats.
November 2, 2023
 · 
Laura Figi
A copy of "The Which Way Tree" on a table in front of Hill Country foliage.
Culture
Journeying through Texas history with Elizabeth Crook
We sat down with the acclaimed Austin author to discuss her inspiration, her passion for Texas, and her upcoming novel.
November 1, 2023
 · 
London Gibson
ATX_DiadelosMuertosWaterlooGreenway
Events
How to celebrate Dia de los Muertos 2023 in Austin
Celebrate the Day of the Dead in Austin with parades, live music, ofrendas, tamales, crafts, movies, and more through the weekend.
October 31, 2023
 · 
Laura Figi
ATX_TresLeches
Food
Where to find delicious tres leches in Austin
Triple the milk equals triple the taste at these spots, which have been recommended by ATXtoday readers for their tres leches.
October 31, 2023
 · 
Laura Figi
A view of a red and white Cruise car from above.
City
Cruise suspends driverless operations nationwide, including in Austin
The autonomous vehicle company is stepping back to “rebuild public trust” after an accident involving a pedestrian in San Francisco.
October 27, 2023
 · 
Laura Figi
The spurs coyote waves to the crowd in a close-up.
Sports
Watch the San Antonio Spurs in Austin at these six official watch parties
The MLB team will bring the excitement to the Capital City with games, raffles, prizes, and giveaways at these six events all over town.
October 27, 2023
 · 
Laura Figi
An "I voted early" sticker on a finger in front of a green background.
City
Your guide to voting in the Nov. 7 general election
We’re breaking down what’s on the ballot for the general election in Travis County, so you can cast your ballot on or before Tuesday, Nov. 7.
October 25, 2023
 · 
Laura Figi
Camila and Matthew McConaughey stand in front of a mural that reads "Pantalones Tequila Organico."
Business
Matthew and Camila McConaughey debut tequila brand
The McConaughey’s new tequila brand Pantalones Organic Tequila — made in Amatitán, Jalisco — pokes fun at the celebrity tequila industry and is now available online.
October 25, 2023
 · 
Laura Figi
ATX_ACLLiveMoodyTheater
City
$40 million updates to Block 21 begin this week
The 2nd Street District building — home to the W Austin and ACL Live — will be under construction until fall 2024, but will remain open throughout the process.
October 23, 2023
 · 
Laura Figi
A view of the Austin skyline as seen at nighttime from Nido.
Play
Your horoscope in Austin neighborhoods
Your home, your favorite coffee shop, your daily commute aren’t just written in the skyline — they may be written in the stars.
October 23, 2023
 · 
Laura Figi
ATX_F1Car
Sports
Oracle Red Bull Racing Team debuts new design for Austin Grand Prix
The team, complete with No. 1 and No. 2 drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, brought in the new vehicle design for the Austin Grand Prix via helicopter.
October 19, 2023
 · 
Laura Figi
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