07.25.2023

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Today’s Forecast

69º | Rainy | 87% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:28 a.m. | Sunset 5:42 p.m.

🚗 Day trip

Your guide to spending a day on Fitzhugh Road

A close-up of a beer, with blurry images of willie nelson on the wall behind it.

You might see some familiar faces on the walls at Beerburg Brewing. | Photo by ATXtopday

Locals know there are plenty of places to wet your whistle in the Austin area, but if you haven’t yet taken a trip down Fitzhugh Road in Dripping Springs, now’s the time to add it to your calendar.

The country road, which branches off of Hwy. 290 just past Oak Hill, has been described as the southwest Austin area’s “booziest road,” and is replete with quality watering holes in a Hill Country setting.

Here’s where we suggest you stop.

Abby Jane Bakeshop and Barton Springs Mill | 16604 Fitzhugh Rd.
Start your day with a coffee and a freshly made pastry at this bakery specializing in heirloom grains made right next door. If you have extra time on your hands, we recommend signing up for a cooking class to learn how to make Venezuelan arepas, sourdough, or pierogies.

Keep scrolling to learn more about Abby Jane Bakeshop in today’s newsletter.

City Editor Figi petting three miniature Nigerian dwarf goats at once. — City Editors Figi and London recently spent an afternoon with the goats at Jester King Brewery.
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Photo by ATXtoday

Jester King Brewery | 13187 Fitzhugh Rd.
The brewery, event space, farm, and kitchen resides on 165 acres and offers plentiful experiences for visitors. We recommend booking an experience with the farm’s ~80 Nigerian dwarf goats, walking the 1.75-mile nature trail, or simply sitting back and sipping on a cold one.

Texas Hill Country Olive Co. | 2530 W. Fitzhugh Rd.
Taste some local olives, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar while you tour the mill at this 17-acre gourmet facility.

Beerburg Brewing | 13476 Fitzhugh Rd.
Many of the “wildcraft brews” at this space are made with plants foraged from across the Lone Star State. The brewery also hosts an apiary and practices permaculture as part of its commitment to sustainability.

Still thirsty? Check out our interactive map for more must-visit stops on Fitzhugh Road.

Events

Tuesday, July 25

Intro to Contemporary Dance Choreography | Tuesday, July 25-Tuesday, Aug. 15 | 10-11 a.m. | Ballet Austin’s Butler Center for Dance & Fitness, 501 W. 3rd St., Austin | $99 | Take part in a four-week workshop revolving around choreography in a blend of multiple styles.
GROUNDED Fitness | Tuesday, July 25 | 6:30 p.m. | Fareground, 111 Congress Ave., Austin | Free | Join in on a free high-intensity workout with Swift Fit Events.

Wednesday, July 26

Sad Summer Festival | Wednesday, July 26 | 2 p.m. | Germania Insurance Amphitheater, 9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd., Del Valle | $25-$51.50 | Dance all afternoon to Taking Back Sunday, The Maine, and other artists.
Wine Wednesday | Wednesday, July 26 | 5-11 p.m. | Wanderlust Wine Co., 610 N. I-35, Austin | Free | Enjoy 50% off all wines on tap at Wanderlust Wine Co.

Thursday, July 27

The Drop-In | Thursday, July 27 | 7 p.m. | The Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 W. Riverside Dr., Austin | Free | Watch live music at the Long Center’s brand new, 3D-printed stage every Thursday this summer.
Michael Franti & Spearhead | Thursday, July 27 | 8 p.m. | ACL Live, 310 W. Willie Nelson Blvd., Austin | $35-$75 | The award-winning filmmaker and musician has three Billboard No. 1 hits.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Biz

Electric vehicle company Rivian Automotive plans to open a 10,000-sqft showroom next to the Yeti space on South Congress Avenue. Although the project is in early stages, the location may have a green rooftop and two floors. (Austin Business Journal)

Civic

Austin City Council approved raising the maximum building height on historic East 6th Street to 140 ft, almost a full 100 ft higher than the previous limit. The change affects the stretch between Neches and Sabine streets, making way for a boutique hotel and office building from Stream Realty. (Austin Monitor)

Number

49%. That’s the combined storage capacity of Lake Buchanan and Lake Travis, which supply water for thousands of residents in the lower Colorado River basin. To help maintain resources during the summer heat, the LCRA requests locals conserve water as much as possible for the time being. (KVUE)

List

Three Austin shops were listed on America’s Favorite Mom and Pop Shops, based in part on their Yelp reviews. Congrats to The Original Pinballz Arcade, Texas Electrical Connect, and Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden.

Now Open

A Japanese bakery chain known for wobbly, spongy cheesecakes opened its first Austin location at 6929 Airport Blvd. Choose from original, coffee, strawberry, and ube flavors or opt for a burnt Basque cheesecake or cheesecake biscotti cookies. (Eater Austin)

Coming Soon

The Little Gay Shop will move from its Airport Boulevard spot to a new, bigger location at 1903 E. 12th St. The grand reopening is slated for Saturday, Aug. 26. (CultureMap Austin)

Sports

Pflugervillian Carina Baltrip-Reyes competed in the FIFA Women’s World Cup yesterday in Adelaide, Australia. She competed for Panama in their match against Brazil, who won 4-0. (KVUE)

Eat

🌾 When it grains, it pours

Exploring heirloom grains at Abby Jane Bakeshop and Barton Springs Mill

Close-up of a pizza with ham, peaches, and cheese.

We highly recommend trying a pizza when you visit Abby Jane Bakeshop. | Photo by ATXtoday

When you walk into Abby Jane Bakeshop, you can see the baking process in its full life cycle.

To the right, a large glass window offers a view into Barton Springs Mill, where heirloom grains are ground into organic flours. Straight ahead, shelves are laden with bags of flour, cornmeal, and other ingredients. To the left, you see — and smell — fresh pastries, breads, and pizzas made from the mill’s selections.

The shop and mill are barely in their second year of operation, but have already become a go-to stop on Fitzhugh Road for delicious bites, instructional classes, and unique approach to flour production.

“Our mission is to show people that they can in fact participate in a responsible local agriculture economy,” said bakeshop owner Abby Love, “and it still tastes good.”

Click the button below to learn how Barton Springs Mill sources heirloom grains and uses ancient grinding methods to make their flours.

Fresh bakes this way

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
London

From the editor

I have quite a bit of travel coming up, so I’m stocking up on lots of great books to keep me occupied during plane time.

I’m currently working through Abraham Verghese’s “The Covenant of Water,” but if you have any recommendations for my next read, send them my way.

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