🌵 Get fantastical with botanicals

• The Great Outdoors, 2730 S. Congress Ave., Austin
• Natural Gardener, 8648 Old Bee Caves Rd., Austin
• East Austin Succulents, 801 Tillery St., Austin

🥂 Keep spirits up

• DrinkWell | Mon.-Sat., Open-5:30 p.m. | Expect $8 classic cocktails, half-off wines, $4 beers and $2 off of bar snacks and shareables at this North Loop gastropub.
• The Tavern Austin | Mon.-Fri., 4-7 p.m. | Draft beers are $4, cocktails are $7, and house margaritas are $5 during this all-weekday happy hour.
• Uncle Nicky’s | Daily, 2-5 p.m. | Keep it casual. Sip on $2 and $3 beers while munching on a range of discounted snacks.

🌟 Go stargazing

• South Llano River State Park | 1927 Park Rd. 73, Junction
• Enchanted Rock State Natural Area | 16710 Ranch Rd. 965 Fredericksburg
• Lost Maples State Natural Area | 37221 F.M. 187, Vanderpool

• That’s My Face Presents: Black Love Day Film Screening | Monday, Feb. 13 | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | George Washington Carver Museum, 1165 Angelina St., Austin | Free | Celebrate Black Love Day with a sing-along and screening of “Waiting to Exhale,” starring Whitney Houston and Angela Bassett.
• Bilingual Yoga at South Austin Recreation Center | Monday, Feb. 13 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | South Austin Recreation Center, 1100 Cumberland Rd., Austin | Free | Practice three different types of yoga at this free class.

• Aladdin | Tuesday, Feb. 14-Sunday, Feb. 19 | Times vary | Bass Concert Hall, 2350 Robert Dedman Dr., Austin | $45-$150 | Spend Valentine’s Day exploring a whole new world on a magic carpet ride.
• Wax Myrtle’s Valentine’s Day Party | Tuesday, Feb. 14 | 8-11 p.m. | Wax Myrtle’s, 506 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin | Free | Dance all night at this event with music and drink specials.

• Galentine’s Get Together at Vista Brewing | Wednesday, Feb. 15 | 4-9 p.m. | Vista Brewing, 13551 FM 150 W., Driftwood | Free | Celebrate friendship at this event with complimentary welcome beverages, discounted wine, and a raffle.

• Been Here: Queer, Black & Proud | Thursday, Feb. 16 | 6-9 p.m. | George Washington Carver Museum, 1165 Angelina St., Austin | $20-$30 | Learn from filmmakers at this screening of “All Boys Aren’t Blue.”

• Tom Stoppard’s The Real Thing | Friday, Feb. 17-Sunday, March 5 | Times vary | The Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 W. Riverside Dr., Austin | $37-$47 | Stoppard’s classic tale explores themes of infidelity, reality, and art.

• 70º | Partly cloudy | 6% chance of rain

• Austin will host the 4th World LGBTIQ+ Conference for Criminal Justice Professionals, marking the first time the event has been held in the US. The event has previously drawn hundreds of participants from 26 countries and six continents.

• Austin City Council approved an audit of Austin Energy’s vegetation management plan — that is, its tree-trimming practices. Additional evaluations of the utility’s response and preparedness for this month’s winter storm are scheduled for later this week. (Austin Monitor)
• Round Rock residents will vote on the largest bond in city history on Saturday, May 6. The $274 million bond, largely for parks and recreation projects, marks the city’s first bond election in a decade. 💰 (Austin American-Statesman)

• In case you missed it, Texas is leaving the Big 12 early. The university — and the University of Oklahoma — announced late last week that they would be moving to the SEC in 2024, rather than in 2025 as was previously planned. 🏈 (Austin Business Journal)

• The City of Austin will use $29 million to improve road safety in the coming months. The funding, most of which came from a federal grant, may go toward a citywide study on improving street lighting. 💡 (KXAN)

• Austin ISD began additional training for special education teachers in hopes of improving test scores. Currently, 26% of K-8 students meet or exceed grade level expectations — slightly higher than the state average — but the district is aiming for 60% by 2026. (Community Impact Austin)

• Bufalina Due was named one of the best pizza joints in the country by travel website Trips to Discover. Try out the restaurant’s Neapolitan-style pies yourself at 6555 Burnet Rd.

• Did you know Austin was once named the Top Beer Destination in the World? Check out these 14 fun facts about the Capital City — and see if you can spot ATXtoday on the list. (Redfin)

• Valentine’s Day may be tomorrow, but it’s not too late to order that special someone a bouquet of fresh flowers. Don’t have time to cross reference all of the florists in town? Enter: Floom, an online marketplace that partners with talented florists that deliver locally. Shop Valentine’s Day arrangements. 💐 *