Culture

Your one-stop love shop 💘

Six & Main is our online store where we show love to local artisans from our sister markets across the nation. | Photo by 6AM City

We’re head over heels for our readers. As we enter the month of love, we want to show our love by helping you choose the sweetest gifts from our online shop, Six & Main, which showcases local artists and small businesses from around the country.

Whether you plan to spend Valentine’s Day with your significant other, friends, or family — or simply by treating yourself — these goods will have you falling in love at first sight.

Taste the love 🍫
Indulge in hand-painted chocolates in this Valentine’s Day 12 Piece Bonbon Gift Box by Marble & Steel Craft Chocolates. Don’t forget to toast to love with a colorful cocktail glass from AlanaKayART, which pairs perfectly with this strawberry lemonade mixer from Simple Times Mixers.

Read the love 💌
Write something sweet to someone special using the “You Make Me Happy” card by Joy Paper Co. If you’re feeling extra smitten, let them know they’re “Quite the Catch.”

Show the love 🎨
No brushes or paint needed for this gift of art. Gift (or keep) this peonies watercolor painting by Kelsey Nichols Art or the “Smiling Faces Beautiful Places” by Dream a little ART SC.

Smell the love 🕯️
Let the mood fill the room with this rosemary sage candle by Resolute Candles, or smell the aroma of Venice with this bellini candle by Wixology Candle Company.

Wear the love ❤️
For the jewelry lovers, check out these heart necklaces from Eleven + Jane. What’s even sweeter? There are matching heart earrings to go with it. If you’d rather don on a love-inspired shirt, this flamingo button-down from Block + Ink is the perfect fit.

There’s more love to go around. Click the button below to explore the entire Valentine’s Day Gift Guide.

START SHOPPING

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Monday, Jan. 30

Hyperreal Hotel: The Cat + Local Short Screening | Monday, Jan. 30 | 7-9:30 p.m. | Hotel Vegas, 1502 E. 6th St., Austin | $5 | Tune in for local short films after “The Cat.”
University of Texas Men’s Basketball vs. Baylor | Monday, Jan. 30 | 8-10 p.m. | Moody Center, 2001 Robert Dedman Dr., Austin | Cheer on the Longhorns in this showdown of Texas teams.

Tuesday, Jan. 31

Van Jackson, Curtis McMurtry Duo | Tuesday, Jan. 31 | 7 p.m. | Meanwhile Brewing Co., 3901 Promontory Point Dr., Austin | Free | Kick back and listen to the music at Meanwhile’s tented winter stage.
Bluegrass Jam | Tuesday, Jan. 31 | 7-10 p.m. | Central Machine Works, 4824 E. Cesar Chavez St., Austin | Free | Bring your instrument of choice to join in on the jam.

Wednesday, Feb. 1

In Conversation with Angela Davis | Wednesday, Feb. 1 | 7 p.m. | The Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave., Austin | Free | The iconic activist and author will discuss her work for racial and gender justice.

Thursday, Feb. 2

Sweeney Todd | Thursday, Feb. 2, Sunday, Feb. 5 | Times vary | The Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 W. Riverside Dr., Austin | $49-$264 | Catch the Demon Barber of Fleet Street up close at this performance by the Austin Opera.
Flogging Molly | Thursday, Feb. 2 | 8 p.m. | ACL Live, 310 W. Willie Nelson Blvd., Austin | $39.50-$49.50 | Lean into the punk vibes at this Thursday night show.

Friday, Feb. 3

The Deck Investigates with Ashley Flowers | Friday, Feb. 3 | 7 p.m. | Bass Concert Hall, 2350 Robert Dedman Dr., Austin | $49.75-$79.75 | The podcaster behind “The Deck” is going live with the low-down on America’s coldest cases.

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

39º | Evening showers | 41% chance of rain
Much of Central Texas will be under a winter storm watch starting at noon today. Travis County may see freezing rain this evening, with potential for icy roadways tomorrow and Wednesday. (KVUE)

Civic

Travis County is set to gain a second probate court, raising the number to match other large counties in Texas. Court, clerk, and constable service operations are expected to cost $1.2 million. (Austin Monitor)

Edu

UT Austin is launching a new artificial intelligence master’s program, marking the first of its kind from a top-ranked institution. The online course will last two years, and admit substantially more students than other similar, costlier programs. (Spectrum News 1)
A recent report from the Austin-based Hi, How Are You Project found that on average, students feel stressed 80% of the time. The organization surveyed 20,000 students, and hopes the findings will inform school mental health efforts. (KVUE)

Development

The Austin City Council approved rezoning for a mixed-use-development Southeast Austin. The development at 7900 S. Congress Ave. will include 1,200 multi-family homes plus office and shopping space. 🏗 (Austin Monitor)

Coming Soon

Nashville-based Standard Proof Whiskey Co. has plans to open a tasting room in the SkyHouse building at 51 Rainey Street. The space — which is set to open Wednesday, Feb. 1 — will serve cocktails, whiskey flights, and hot chicken. 🥃 (Eater Austin)

Ranked

Austin Community College was ranked the No. 10 best community college in Texas in a recent report from Intelligent.com. The district ranked highly for its location in Austin, its faculty, and state-of-the-art campuses.

Environment

Cue the “Twilight Zone” theme song. A UFO-shaped cloud formation was spotted over Luling last week. Meteorologists identified it as a “fallstreak hole,” created when water droplets that haven’t yet frozen cling to pollution particles or dust. 🛸 (KXAN)

Wellness

If one of your 2023 goals is to create more time for self care and relaxation, an acupressure mat is a must. The mats are designed to stimulate pressure points to relieve tension, decrease stress levels, and increase circulation. This ProsourceFit full body mat includes neck support.*

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

Community First! expanding 🏗

Community First! Village to expand by ~1,400 homes

The Community First! expansion is set to include ~700 micro homes designed by Mark Odom Studio. | Photo courtesy Mark Odom Studio

Community First! Village, an East Austin community designed to house people coming out of homelessness, is about to grow — a lot.

Crews are set to break ground on the next stage of a 1400-home, 127-acre expansion this spring, with residents expected to move in by 2025.

About 700 of those new residences will be micro-homes designed by Mark Odom Studio. These will:

Range between 144-200 sqft in size
Be chosen from six models, one of which has two floors
Include a porch

The homes will be grouped into 14 “Neighborhoods of Knowingness,” clustered around a communal area, shared kitchens, laundry rooms, and bathroom facilities.

This marks a substantial expansion for Community First! Village, which currently houses ~350 people. Learn more about the development from Mobile Loaves & Fishes.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by London.

Editor’s pick: City Editor Figi and I tried out some delicious mocktails at a Wonderlust Speakeasy Cocktail Club event last week, and now I’m on the hunt for a good at-home recipe. 🍹

Do you have any good ones? Bonus points if it involves a locally made ingredient.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? These former NFL players are spreading sweetness around ATX.

Connect with us.

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.

Sales: Camille McLeod | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

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