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Meet the editors behind ATXtoday

Laura Figi and London Gibson sitting at a table smiling

Laura Figi + London Gibson here. | Photo by ATXtoday

Hey Austinites, Figi + London here. Between the two of us, we get the privilege of sharing local news, events, and conversations with readers in Austin, daily — here, and on our socials.

After welcoming Austonia into the ATXtoday family, we thought we should formally reintroduce ourselves. Consider this our version of a warm ‘Howdy!’ and an invitation to keep in touch with your friendly neighborhood editors.

Meet Figi 🎸

Q: What’s something every new Austinite oughta know about?
When old buildings were sold to make room for construction on the Driskill hotel — which broke ground in 1884 — residents reported feeling worried the “old landmarks” were being left behind. A 1999 article from the Austin American-Statesman said “the perfect Austin has always been a fictional creation,” and “worship of the past” creates disappointment, which just goes to show that the best time to live in Austin is the present.

Q: Hit us with your favorite piece of local trivia.
Willie Nelson didn’t start dressing casually and growing out his hair and beard until he moved to Austin. Until then, he held a clean-cut aesthetic to try and succeed in the competitive Nashville music scene.

Meet London 🪴

Q: Describe your perfect day in Austin in the length of a tweet (240 characters).
I’d start the day with Veracruz and Flitch Coffee, then bring my dog along for a hike along the greenbelt. Then I’d stop by a weekend market (there’s always a weekend market happening in ATX) and wrap up the day with a concert at the Scoot Inn.

Q: What were the last three things you did downtown?
The Texas Book Festival (a must-do event for book lovers in the fall), a happy hour at Péché followed by a concert at Stubb’s, and the Waterloo Greenway Creek Show.

MORE Q+As ✏️

Click here to have your event featured.

Monday, Dec. 12

“All I Want for Christmas is You” Holiday Dance Workshop | Monday, Dec. 12 | 7-8:30 p.m. | Ballet Austin, 501 W. 3rd St., Austin | $30 | For those who start playing the modern classic before Thanksgiving, this Mariah Carey dance workshop is for you.

Tuesday, Dec. 13

No Lights No Lycra | Tuesday, Dec. 13 | 8-9:30 p.m. | West China Tea, 4706 N. Interstate Hwy. 35, Austin | $10 donation | Enjoy an evening dance party in the dark for the pure joy of dancing.

Wednesday, Dec. 14

Chef’s Tasting Holiday Menu That’s 2 Dine 4 | Wednesday, Dec. 14 | 7-10 p.m. | Swoop House, 3012 Gonzales St., Austin | $90-$100 | Celebrate the holidays with fine foods at this intimate dining experience in an East Austin bungalow.

Thursday, Dec. 15

A Sherlock Holmes Christmas | Thursday, Dec. 15-Sunday, Dec. 18 | 8-10 p.m. | Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farms, 10621 Pioneer Farms Dr., Austin | $10-$35 | Throw it back to the Victorian era this Christmas with this Sherlock Holmes story — and get tickets quick.
“Elf” in Concert | Thursday, Dec. 15 | 8-10 p.m. | The Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 W. Riverside Dr., Austin | $19-$100 | Catch the comedic Christmas film accompanied by a live score, courtesy of the Austin Symphony Orchestra.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

72º | Showers | 49% chance of rain ⛈

Closed

Downtown restaurant Le Politique, at 110 San Antonio St., has officially closed down after years of uncertainty to make way for a new restaurant: Stripsteak, a high-end steakhouse mini-chain from James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Mina. 🥩 (Eater Austin)

Cause

Holiday charities are calling for donations. Travis County Sheriff’s Brown Santa, which hosts an annual toy drive, said it has received its smallest amount of donations in its history despite increased demand. (KXAN)

Featured

The results are in. After analyzing 13 million reviews nationwide, OpenTable named two Austin spots in its Top 100 Restaurants of 2022: sushi sister restaurants Uchi Austin, 801 S. Lamar Blvd., and Uchiko, 4200 N. Lamar Blvd. 🍱

Development

A new tower on 1201 Red River St. is showing signs of recent permit activity more than seven years after its proposal. Called Waterloo Park Hotel in planning documents, the proposed tower would be 27 stories tall, feature a restaurant, bar, ballroom, and rooftop pool. 🏨 (Austin Towers)

Traffic

2023 is shaping up to be a safer year. Starting next summer, construction will begin to improve Slaughter Lane by adding a lane in each direction, a light at Norman Trail, and pedestrian beacons between MoPac and I-35, where there have been 400+ crashes in the last five years. 🚦 (KXAN)

Legacy

Austin equal rights activist Shudde Fath died at age 106 on Friday morning. Shudde graduated from UT’s McCombs School of Business in 1937, became the first woman to win a sex discrimination case in 1980, and was inducted into the Austin Women’s Hall of Fame in 2012. (KXAN)

Shop

What are you decking the halls with? According to Cinch Home Services, Texas green thumbs prefer coralberry as their favorite holiday plant. Liven up your decoration game by picking yours up from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center or The Great Outdoors.

Sports

Now’s the time to buy the sports lover in your life a holiday present, because Fanatics is offering sitewide sales. Easily find licensed sportswear and collectibles like jerseys, hoodies, and outerwear for the world’s most popular sports teams and win the holidays.*

Travel

Where do you plan on traveling in 2023? Prep for authentic exploration with Babbel, the No. 1 language app in the world. Choose from 14 languages and learn through bite-sized, 10-minute sessions that focus on everyday phrases + relevant topics. Snag 55% off your subscription today. 🌏 *

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We’ve got felines for you 🐱

Meet your furever friend at Purrfecto Cat Lounge

Three women sit with cats in their laps in front of a painted mural of a yellow ball of yarn on a lavender background, reading "I want to spend all my 9 lives with you."

Just sit down, and the cats will come to you. | Photo by ATXtoday

It’s time to book a visit to Purr-fecto Cat Lounge right meow.

Dozens of adoptable kitties await you in a cozy space at 2300 S. Lamar Blvd. Purr-fecto owner Lupita Foster opened the lounge in July to give cats and humans a “speed dating” experience.

Lupita adopted a kitty of her own, Romeo, after volunteering with cats for a local shelter. Spending such a long time with him gave Lupita the confidence she needed to bring him home.

A calico kitten with a pink collar sleeping. — Juliet the kitten was glued to City Editor Figi’s lap for hours.

The lounge accepts cats from Fuzzy Texan Animal Rescue and the Sunshine Fund Cat Rescue. So far, Purr-fecto has facilitated 100+ adoptions since it opened five months ago.

Visitors can book a CATX-perience — $15 for 30 minutes, $30 for 70 minutes, ~$100 extra if you choose to adopt. From there, order a drink from adjoining Irie Bean Coffee, sit back, relax, and wait for the cats to come to you for a purrrfect meet-cute.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Figi.

Editor’s pick: I can’t wait to go back to Purr-fecto Cat Lounge. As a staunch cat lover, I have a few tips for those who struggle with interacting with cats:

Watch their body language — for instance, if the cat holds its tail straight up, it’s likely in a friendly mood. If it is holding its ears back, it may be afraid.
Don’t make any sudden moves and get down level with them — this will make the cat feel safer.
When in doubt, let the cats come to you. It feels so special to have a cat choose your lap.
Click here for more tips. ❤️

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Get a peek at winter weather predictions, here.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Laura Figi, London Gibson, Dayten Rose, Josh Kranzberg, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Camille McLeod | Advertise with us.

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