Plus, Quinn Ewers will return as Longhorns QB in 2024.
 
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🏆 Cheers to the Austinite of the Year

7 questions and answers with the 2024 Austinite of the Year, Dr. Richard Rhodes
Dr. Rhodes in headshot, sitting in his office
Meet Dr. Richard Rhodes, the longest-serving chancellor in ACC history. | Photo via the Austin Chamber of Commerce
Meet the 2024 Austinite of the Year: Dr. Richard Rhodes.

The former chancellor and CEO of Austin Community College from 2011-2023, Rhodes has a storied history both in receiving and working in education.

Prior to serving as the longest chancellor in ACC history, Rhodes studied at New Mexico State University and UT Austin (where he was named Distinguished Graduate in 2001), and worked at El Paso Community College and Salt Lake Community College in Utah.

In his 12 years at ACC, Rhodes...
  • Led ACC in expanding to 11 campuses
  • Helped pass two general obligation bonds totaling ~$1 billion
  • Expanded opportunities for high school students
  • Secured partnerships with major companies like Apple and Samsung
  • Saw ACC’s graduation rates become one of the fastest-growing in the state
Rhodes will receive his award from the Austin Chamber of Commerce at the annual Cheers to the Year event on Tuesday, Feb. 13. Members of the public can purchase tickets to attend.

What advice would you give to take full advantage of the education system here in Central Texas?

Education is lifelong. Learning is lifelong. Take advantage of it. We live in a dynamic time in history, a very dynamic time of the economy, and it requires us to continually update our skills and sometimes change our skill sets.

What was your reaction was to finding out you won the award?

I just want to express how appreciative I am to the Austin Chamber for this award. It took a while to sink in, but what I did immediately is think about all the people that contributed to the unique entity that ACC became. My first thoughts were about all the people that were involved in making that happen and so many came to mind. I just wish I could give credit to all of them.
Five more questions
Events
Friday, Jan. 12
  • Bee Cave On Ice | Now-Monday, Jan. 15 | Times vary | Hill Country Galleria, 12700 Hill Country Blvd., Bee Cave | $15 | Ring in the new year on ice with a skate session.
  • Go Machine | Friday, Jan. 12 | 8 p.m. | The ABGB, 1305 W. Oltorf St., Austin | Free | Catch this local power funk band’s debut show.
Saturday, Jan. 13
  • Jim Breuer | Saturday, Jan. 13 | 8 p.m. | ACL Live, 310 W. Willie Nelson Blvd., Austin | $30-$240 | The comedian is known for appearances on “Saturday Night Live” and “Half Baked.”
  • Peterson Brothers Band | Saturday, Jan. 13 | 8 p.m.-12 a.m. | The Continental Club, 1315 S. Congress Ave., Austin | $17-$20 | Dance to this brother duo, who peddle jazz and funk tunes.
Sunday, Jan. 14
  • Free Day at Zilker Botanical Garden | Sunday, Jan. 14 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Rd., Austin | Free | Explore all this central botanical garden has to offer.
Monday, Jan. 15
  • Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. March, Festival, and Food Drive | Monday, Jan. 15 | 9 a.m. | Multiple locations, Austin | Free | Start the day with a march from the UT campus, ending at a food drive and festival at Huston-Tillotson University.
  • keepsake | Monday, Jan. 15-Tuesday, Jan. 16 | 8 p.m. | The Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Dr., Austin | $80-$120 | The ISHIDA Dance Company performance includes two world premiere poetic narratives.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Travel
  • Get ready for takeoff, because more updates are en route to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Improvements, which are expected to begin in March and wrap up in 2030, include a new parking garage, concourse, and augmented arrival + departure gates. (KVUE)
Development
  • A new north Austin apartment complex delivered 275 affordable housing units earlier this week. Residents recently began moving into James on Grand Avenue, which is aimed at Austinites making less than 60% of the median income. (KXAN)
Entertainment
  • The Moody Center has two new premium spaces in the works: the Founder’s Room Speakeasy and Bunker Suite. The clubs, which will only be available to Moody Center members, are expected to make their debut sometime this spring.
Closed
  • Local coffee shop Ani’s Day and Night is closed... for now. The East Riverside hangout abruptly closed in late December, but Ani’s owners hope to reopen soon. Meanwhile, onsite vegan pizza truck Li’l Nonna’s has plans to relocate. (Eater Austin)
Announced
  • The Austin Spurs will play the Capital City Go-Go, the G League affiliate of the Washington Wizards, during a regular season game at the Moody Center on Saturday, March 16. The game will be sandwiched between the two I-35 Series games, during which the San Antonio Spurs will take over the arena.
Sports
  • Keep those horns up, because Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers will return for the 2024 football season. Ewers, who has been starting QB for the past two years, announced the news on social media.
Finance
  • 2024’s “it card” is here. Not only does it offer a $200 bonus, but also unlimited 1.5% cash back and 0% intro APR until 2025. (Oh, and did we mention the annual fee? No — because there isn’t one.) Learn more + apply.*
Health
  • Anxiety can make every day a challenge. Connect with a therapist on BetterHelp + take the first step towards a calmer mind. Save 25% with BetterHelp’s New Year offer.*
 
Cause

🐸 Hi, How Are You?

Hi, How Are You Day 2024 celebrates with a Robin Pecknold, Valerie June concert
Grouplove performs during the Hi How Are You? fundraising concert at ACL-Live at The Moody Theater on May 4, 2022 in Austin, Texas
Past Hi, How Are You Day performers include Grouplove, who played in 2022. | Photo by Scott Moore
Hi, How Are You Day is coming up and we know just how to celebrate.

The holiday was created in 2018 in celebration of the late Daniel Johnston — the local artist who famously created the “Jeremiah The Innocent” mural — on his birthday: January 22.

Hi, How Are You Day — and adjoining nonprofit the Hi, How Are You Project — were created to remove the stigma around mental health through live music (another one of Johnston’s talents) and intentional conversation.

The Hi, How Are You Project will pay tribute with its sixth annual concert at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 21 at the Paramount Theatre.

Ticket holders will be able to enjoy a performance from Robin Pecknold of folk band Fleet Foxes and multi-instrumentalist Valerie June. All proceeds will benefit the nonprofit.

Tickets run $39-$79 — grab yours here.
Asked

Which celebrity famously wore a T-shirt of “Jeremiah the Innocent” in 1992?
A. Robin Williams
B. Kurt Cobain
C. Danny DeVito
D. Steve Martin
Know your stuff?
The Buy

The Buy 1.12.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
Workout gear from Aesthetic Built’s collection, which features durable, cutting-edge fabric technologies without compromising aesthetic appeal. We love this scuba oversized hoodie.
Shoutout
Happy birthday, ATXtoday members Ketan Kansagra (January 13) and Bart Sasam (January 17). We hope your special day is filled with your favorite things in Austin! — ATXtoday team
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The Wrap
 
City Editor Figi poses with an adorable goat.

Today’s edition by:
Figi
From the editor
You don’t have to wait until Hi, How Are You Day to talk about the importance of mental health. In fact, we have a guide to taking a mental health day in Austin.

PS, an extra happy birthday to our member Bart Sasam. You can read about him here.
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