02.13.2024

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Today’s Forecast

65º | Sunny | 0% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:13 a.m. | Sunset 6:17 p.m.

❤️ A whole lot of love

Our readers’ local love stories

The Austin skyline looking north above Lady Bird Lake, with eight little heart pins scattered around different locations.

Austin is the city of love in our book. | Graphic via 6AM City

For Valentine’s Day, we made a map of local places where our readers have made memories. We asked for your help compiling everything from proposals to making friends. You did not disappoint.

Explore these local love stories by clicking on the hearts, but there are a few love stories that we just had to share:

“Ashley and Miles actually met over a decade before their first date! ... Over the years they stayed connected, liking each other’s profile pictures, saying a quick hello here and there, but never amounting to much else. ... Ashley was at a happy hour with a coworker and his family when she handed over her phone, each taking turns swiping left (or right) for her. ... It wasn’t until she was home later that night when she saw — omg, it’s Miles! ... Their connection was instant and they haven’t looked back since. It is so evident, this love was written under the stars.” — Ashley and Miles

A pink map of Austin with little pink hearts marking where people have found love in the city. — We love sharing your love.
|
Map by 6AM City

“My husband and I met in 2018 when we were both working at the Hilton Austin Downtown. Over several years, our relationship bloomed from friendly coworkers to best friends. In March of 2021, we decided to give a romance a try, only to get married 2 and a half years later. It may have taken us a few years to finally pair up, but we’re so happy we did.” — Anonymous
"(Mozart’s Coffee Roasters) is where I thought it would happen. The sun was setting, the weather was perfect, live music was playing. But it wasn’t until we got back home that you proposed. I love you!” — Anonymous

Now we’re really feeling the love.

Explore the love

Events

Tuesday, Feb. 13

Vinyl Night | Tuesday, Feb. 13 | 6 p.m. | The ABGB, 1305 W. Oltorf St. Austin | Free | It’s BYOV — bring a vinyl to share and get a free beer.
Galentine’s Day | Tuesday, Feb. 13 | 6-9 p.m. | Gibson Street Bar, 1109 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin | Free | Hang out with the gals at this event featuring tarot card readings, permanent jewelry, and a build-your-own flower bouquet station.

Wednesday, Feb. 14

Live at The Hive: Open Mic | Wednesday, Feb. 14 | 6-10 p.m. | The Hive, 10542 Menchaca Rd., Austin | Free | Bring your very best talent to showcase at this open mic event.
“Peter and the Starcatcher” | Wednesday, Feb. 14-Sunday, Feb. 18 | Times vary | Mary Moody Northen Theatre, 3001 S. Congress Ave., Austin | $15-$28 | This imaginative production has 16 actors portray 100+ characters on stage.

Thursday, Feb. 15

Black Girls Don’t Wear Red Lipstick | Thursday, Feb. 15-Sunday, April 21 | Times vary | Austin Central Library, 710 W. Cesar Chavez St., Austin | Free | See this exhibition showcasing Black beauty, featuring the work of local photographer Leta Harrison.

Plan Ahead

Luck Reunion | Thursday, March 14 | 11 a.m. | Luck Ranch, 1100 Bee Creek Rd., Spicewood | $25-$450 | Head to Willie’s patch of the Hill Country for a day of celebrating local musicians, chefs, and artisans.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Outdoors

Residents near Hwy. 45 and MoPac in south Austin may see smoke over the next two days as Austin Water’s Wildland Conservation performs a prescribed burn of ~280 acres. The burn on the Water Quality Protection Lands is meant to restore native grasslands. (KXAN)

Travel

Breaking the record for the second year in a row, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport saw its busiest year yet in 2023. More than 22 million people traveled through AUS last year, with 1,802,000+ passing through in December alone.

Festival

There’s a new, hyper-local festival coming to town. Announced by events venue and bar Inn Cahoots, Austin Local Live Fest will feature three days of free entertainment for residents (or $20 for visitors) about twice per year. Mark your calendar — the first one will take place Friday, March 1-Sunday, March 3.

Sports

Texas women’s basketball now ranks No. 5 in the Associated Press top 25 rankings, moving up two spots. The team — which has won the past four games in a row — will face Houston in an away game tomorrow and Iowa State at home on Saturday. (KXAN)

Event

The annual Ascension Seton Marathon begins at 7 a.m. this Sunday, Feb. 18, but beware, road closures begin before the weekend. East 9th Street between Congress Avenue and Brazos Street will close at 9 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 16 and Congress Avenue between 7th and 11th streets will close at 4 p.m. the same day. (KVUE)

Try This

Downtown cocktail lounge Devil May Care, 500 W. 6th St., would like to introduce a clear new winner to its drink lineup: clarified cocktails. “The Devil You Don’t” menu adds seven new clarified drinks (a process that removes solids and color while maximizing flavor) and one clarified mocktail.

Cause

We Are Blood has partnered with Girl Scouts of Central Texas to satisfy your sweet tooth. Throughout the month of February, anyone who donates blood or platelets will receive a free box of cookies. Type O negative and O positive donations are most needed, but all donations are welcome.

Announced

Is that a new haircut? The newly relocated Birds Barbershop at 1401 E. 6th St. will open on Friday, March 1. For the first six days of business, customers will receive $6 off their haircut and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Austin’s Black Cultural District, Six Square.

Holiday

A reminder that tomorrow, February 14, is Valentine’s Day. Sending flowers? Shop bouquets at Malina Flowers, or get one of 1-800-Flowers’ Valentine’s Day bouquets delivered to that special someone.*

Food

🍣 You had me at sashimi

California-based Sushi Roku opens in Austin this week

A spread of sashimi dishes from above on a dark wooden table, surrounded by cocktails, beer, a glass of wine, dishes of soy sauce and plates with chopsticks on top.

The menu centers around izakaya-style pubs, which roughly translates to “stay-drink-place,” which are places to settle in, get comfortable, and enjoy time with friends. | Photo by Richard Casteel via IDG

Rice to meet you, Sushi Roku.

The brand new sushi restaurant — located Downtown at 405 Colorado St. — officially opens to the public this Friday, Feb. 16 and will be hospitality collective Innovative Dining Group’s first foray into Texas.

Austin will have the sixth Sushi Roku location by California-based IDG, joining other locations in Los Angeles (which opened in 1997), Manhattan Beach, Orange County, Las Vegas, and Palo Alto.

Led by Executive Chef Sang Kim, former chef and owner of Leander’s Kai Sushi, Sushi Roku’s cuisine centers around izakaya-style bar food. Customers will be able to try signature bites — like the famous baked crab handroll and truffle brussels sprout chips — plus cocktails and sake for pairing.

The Waterloo Ichi roll was created with ATX in mind and features tuna, yellowtail, snow crab, mango, kiaware, chili oil, sriracha, and spring greens.

Wanna try it for yourself? Make a reservation.

Asked

Where is your favorite place to get sushi in Austin?

You're on a roll

The Buy

The Buy 2.13.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

This margarita mixers bundle, since National Margarita Day is coming up on Thursday, February 22 and we’re trying to be as prepared as possible, thank you very much. Get four margarita flavors to play with including “Simple Margarita” and “Blood Orange Margarita.”

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The Wrap

City Editor Figi poses with an adorable goat.

Today’s edition by:
Figi

From the editor

I’m a big sushi fan, so I was pretty excited to get to try Sushi Roku with City Editor London last night. Keep an eye on our Instagram for a sneak peak of the restaurant before it opens on Friday.

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