Plus, international buyers invested more than $600 million in the Central Texas housing market.
 
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69º | Rainy | 87% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:28 a.m. | Sunset 5:42 p.m.
 

Cruise on pause

Cruise suspends driverless operations nationwide, including in Austin
A view of a red and white Cruise car from above.
Austinites will be able to take an autonomous taxi as soon as the end of this year. | Photo courtesy of Cruise
Autonomous vehicle company Cruise is stepping away from the driver’s seat for a minute and “proactively” pausing all driverless operations, including those in Austin.

Cruise announced the decision via social media on Thursday, Oct. 26, saying it would “take steps to rebuild public trust” and have “a hard look inwards,” after one of its cars was involved in a high-profile accident that injured a pedestrian in San Francisco. The accident resulted in a federal investigation into the company.

Service in California was paused two days earlier when the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles suspended Cruise’s testing and deployment permits, saying the cars created an “unreasonable risk to public safety.”

Cruise, which is a subsidiary of General Motors, has been operating about 50 autonomous cars in Austin, recently launched a new fleet in Houston, and also operates out of Phoenix.

A driverless Cruise car takes a trip through Downtown Austin.

ATXtoday City Editors spotted a Cruise car driving entirely autonomously Downtown on Tuesday, Oct. 10.

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Photo by ATXtoday

Cruise is not the only company working on autonomous rides in Austin: Lyft, Waymo, and Volkswagen are all working on similar models.

In Austin, at least 43 complaints concerning the vehicles have been filed with the city. About half of those complaints come from residents, and the other half from city departments and first responders. Some clips shared on social media show the vehicles creeping into other lanes and congregating in the street in Austin.

According to the statement, the nationwide hiatus was not related to any new “on-road incidents,” but it’s important to note that Cruise can still operate vehicles with a human safety driver supervising.

“We think it’s the right thing to do during a period when we need to be extra vigilant when it comes to risk,” the company said in its statement.
Events
Monday, Oct. 30
  • Moxy Halloween Pop-Up Bar | Now-Tuesday, Oct. 31 | 7:30 p.m. | Moxy Austin, 2552 Guadalupe St., Austin | Cost of purchase | Unleash your inner witch with free tarot readings, revolving Halloween films, and chilling cocktails.
  • Beginning Ballet Pointe 1 for Adults | Now-Monday, Dec. 4 | Times vary | Ballet Austin Butler Center for Dance & Fitness, 501 W. 3rd St., Austin | $156 | Learn the art of pointe ballet at this six-week workshop.
Tuesday, Oct. 31
  • The Tuesday Social | Tuesday, Oct. 31, Tuesday, Nov. 7, Tuesday, Nov. 14 | Times vary | Devil May Care, 500 W. 6th St., Austin | Free | Enjoy an all-night happy hour with mini martinis, food specials, and Black Pumas keyboardist JaRon Marshall.
  • Gipsy Kings | Tuesday, Oct. 31 | 6:30 p.m. | ACL Live, 310 W. Willie Nelson Blvd., Austin | $42-$202 | Catch this Catalan band on its “Renaissance” tour alongside Tonino Baliardo.
  • Surrealist Ball | Tuesday, Oct. 31 | 7-10 p.m. | Devil May Care, 500 W. 6th St., Austin | $55-$66 | Take it back to 1972 at this black tie evening inspired by Salvador Dalí and the madness of surrealism.
Wednesday, Nov. 1
  • “The Thin Place” | Wednesday, Nov. 1-Sunday, Nov. 26 | Times vary | ZACH Theatre, 202 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin | $28-$84 | Watch the theater transform into a séance during this play.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Real Estate
  • International buyers invested approximately $609 million in the Central Texas housing market between April 2022 and March 2023, according to a report by the Austin Board of Realtors. The buyers’ top countries of origin include India, Mexico, China, Brazil, and Canada.
Drink
  • A secretive new bar called Trona, created by Dreamers & Doers Hospitality Group, opens to the public tonight. Patrons can check out the bar, sans reservation, from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. today, but will otherwise need to reserve through a secret phone number dropped periodically via Instagram.
Community
  • The Downtown Austin Alliance began testing a private security pilot program at Republic Square this month. Security guards will monitor the park between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. from now until Sunday, March 31. (KXAN)
Open
  • We’re spilling the beans — Figure 8 Coffee Purveyors’ second location is now open in North Loop at 4631 Airport Blvd. The earthy green shop is in the former space of Sweet Ritual, a vegan ice cream shop. Hours are currently limited to 7 a.m.-4 p.m. (Eater Austin)
Try This
  • The second annual Austin Bourbon Battle is around the corner, and 11 local bartenders are slated to face off with a cocktail made from Fierce Whiskers’ newest bourbon. Attendees can vote for their favorite on Saturday, Nov. 11— winners will receive up to $3,000 in cash prizes. Get your ticket for $40.
Finance
  • $300 is the new $200. This card is offering a rare $300 welcome bonus, and bonuses like that don’t come around that often. That’s why thousands are lining up for it. Learn more and apply.*
Beauty
  • Looking for an unbelievably close shave? Try Meridian Trimmers, engineered to empower individuals of all genders to achieve flawless grooming. Get 15% off a one-time purchase with code “6AM.”*
 
Sports

🏀 Get into the action

Watch the San Antonio Spurs in Austin at these six official watch parties
The spurs coyote waves to the crowd in a close-up.
It wouldn’t be a Spurs game without the Coyote. | Photo via the Moody Center
Get your head in the game because the San Antonio Spurs will host six official Austin watch parties this season.

Expect games, giveaways, and raffles at these events, so mark your calendars.
Prefer to be there for the action? Don’t miss the I-35 Series at the Moody Center this spring.
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The Wrap
 
Laura Figi.jpg

Today’s edition by:
Figi
From the editor
I really want to be a plant mom, but I don’t exactly have a green thumb. In fact, the only plant I’ve been able to keep alive in my house is a string of pearls.

For my gardeners, what are the easiest plants to grow indoors? Seriously, the simpler the better.
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