Volunteering can bring a smile to your face and to others. | Photo provided by God’s Pantry Food Bank
Each year,Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is observed as a federal holiday on the third Monday of January — Jan. 16 this year.
The theme for this year is “Cultivating a Beloved Community Mindset to Transform Unjust Systems,” according to The King Center,a nonprofit founded by MLK’s wife, Coretta Scott King, to continue Dr. King’s legacy.
If you have time to dedicate to our community, here are three local volunteer opportunities:
Austin Justice Coalition | Help this Black-led organization serve people impacted by gentrification, segregation, and systematic discrimination.
Central Texas Food Bank | From assembling food packages, cooking meals, and distributing food at mobile pantries, there’s a wide range of ways you can contribute to providing meals for food-insecure Texans.
Caritas of Austin | Put together hygiene care kits and snack care kits for people experiencing homelessness in Austin. (You can also serve lunch in the community kitchen, help with deliveries + pick-ups, and help staff members with administrative duties.)
You can also participate in the MLK Celebration Community March from the MLK Statue on the University of Texas campus, to the steps of the Capitol, to Huston-Tillotson University, where a festival and food drive await. Businesses, nonprofits, and individuals alike are invited to celebrate Dr. King at the event starting 9 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 16.
North Austin residents can also participate in the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Walk and Celebration with Round Rock city groups — including the city’s Black History Organization — from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the Baca Center on Saturday, Jan. 14. For more MLK Day events, check out our events calendar.
Looking for other ways to get involved? Check out more local volunteer opportunities through the link below.
We Are Blood Raffle for Franklin BBQ | Today-Sunday, Jan. 15 | 8 a.m.-5 p.m. | Multiple locations, Austin | Free | Anyone who donates blood by the end of this weekend will be entered in a raffle to attend a private dinner party at the famous barbecue restaurant.
Joe DeRosa: Live In Austin | Today-Saturday, Jan. 14 | Times vary | Vulcan Gas Company, 418 E. 6th St., Austin | $19-$29 | Laugh along with this New York comedian who pals around with Sal Vulcano and Chris Distefano.
Saturday, Jan. 14
Field of Light Silent Disco | Saturday, Jan. 14-Sunday, Feb. 26 | 5-9 p.m. | Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave., Austin | $20-$140 | Experience the Field of Light in a new way with curated playlists made just for walking through this 16-acre exhibition.
Julia C. Butridge Gallery Exhibit: Cosmic Garden | Saturday, Jan. 14-Saturday, March 11 | Dougherty Arts Center, 1110 Barton Springs Rd., Austin | Free | Get inspired by Meagan Hofstetter’s bold, cosmic resin pieces in this new exhibition.
Stockton Kings vs. Austin Spurs | Monday, Jan. 16 | 5 p.m. | H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, 2100 Ave. of the Stars, Cedar Park | $10-$175 | Cheer on the Spurs as they face down the Stockton Kings.
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.
Christian Dior Couture is coming to The Domain, according to filings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The store, spanning 6,300 sqft at 11600 Century Oaks Terrace, is estimated to be completed by the end of this year. 👜 (KVUE)
DYK
Did you know more people attended last year’s Austin Rodeo than Formula 1? The 15-day, nonprofit rodeo was Austin’s most-attended event of 2022 and drew in more than 455,000 attendees. 🐮 (Austin Business Journal)
Community
Waitlists are now open to live in three rental assistance properties with the Housing Authority of the City of Austin. Applications for Pathways locations at Northloop, Santa Rita Courts, and Thurmond Heights will close at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 15. Apply here. (KXAN)
Today Is
Friday the 13th, and you know what that means: it’s time to get a good price on a tattoo. If you’re not sure how to start, check out one of these seven local tattoo parlors offering discounts. (KVUE)
Holiday
The Lunar New Year is Sunday, Jan. 22 and several Austin-area restaurants are celebrating with food. Korean-American restaurant Oseyo and Asian-Southern fusion restaurant The Peached Tortilla will have special menusstarting Friday, Jan. 20 through the holiday.
Event
Former Hootie and the Blowfish frontman Darius Rucker is bringing his chart-topping country music to Austin for the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix on March 26 at Circuit of the Americas. Grab tickets for the concert and NASCAR at COTA series. 🚘
Austinite
Happy birthday, ATXtoday memberKetan K. We hope your special day is filled with all of your favorite things in Austin! Did you know when you become an ATXtoday member, you’ll get a birthday shoutout, too?Join today. 🎉
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The Goddess of Liberty has exaggerated features for a reason. | Photo courtesy of the Bullock Texas State History Museum
She’s beauty, she’s grace, she’s got a weird-looking face.
Meet the Goddess of Liberty, the statue that adorns the top of the Texas Capitol building. Designed by architect Elijah E. Myers in 1881, the goddess has an interesting history. Let us fill you in on her aesthetics, plus a few fun facts.
The statue on the Capitol is a replica — the goddess was removed and replaced with a lighter, more durable material in the 1980s after standing for just under 100 years. You can watch footage of the statue being replaced — via “Skycrane” helicopter — in 1986.
Liberty’s features are a little... exaggerated. However, if they were more typically proportional, her features would look much smaller to onlookers on the ground. Think of it as stage makeup.
Editor’s pick: Need a new local name to add to your playlist? I recommend Foxtales, a local five-piece synth-pop project that recently headlined Free Week. Start with “empty streets, red lights blink” from their newest EP. We’re also adding it to our community playlist.
Stay tuned for an upcoming chat with singer Jonathan Fox. 👀
Editorial:Laura Figi, London Gibson, Britt Thorson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.
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