03.01.2024

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Today’s Forecast

🚧 Your infrastructure instructor

Austin Mayor announces plans for a “one-of-a-kind” Austin Infrastructure Academy

The front of Austin's downtown City Hall

City Council is expected to vote next week on a resolution enacting work on the Austin Infrastructure Academy. | Photo by ATXtoday

Mayor Kirk Watson just announced plans to build the Austin Infrastructure Academy, a “one-of-a-kind” training hub for infrastructure jobs based on real-time needs in Central Texas.

The project could help fill a pressing need for workers amid yet another period of rapid growth in Austin. Here’s what to know.

The need

Austin is in an era of infrastructure overhaul.

Between the ongoing Project Connect — which just opened a new station this month — and work on the I-35 expansion beginning this year, Austin has several long-term projects in the pipeline that amount to billions of dollars in investment.

There’s just one problem: we need people to build these projects.

Central Texas’ first mobility workforce study, released last fall, found the region is expected to need 10,000 jobs annually to complete all of the capital projects in the pipeline. That’s an 81% increase by 2040, and according to Watson, we’re about 4,000 workers short.

A rendering of Cesar Chavez St. over I-35, with green space to the background and walkways with gardens bordering the street. — The upcoming I-35 expansion will result in several changes to Downtown Austin, including “caps” over the highway.
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Rendering via TxDOT

The plan

Watson acknowledged that the city has several existing training programs — including Austin Area Urban League and Austin Community College — but said he aims for this new academy to bring the current work being done “to scale.”

The vision — in collaboration with Workforce Solutions Capital Area, CapMetro, and the Austin Transit Partnership — is in very early stages.

However, Watson envisions a comprehensive program that would combine recruiting, training, childcare support, and placement. The Academy would operate out of a physical building and be funded with existing money pulled from a range of sources.

Austin City Council is set to review a resolution next week that would officially begin the process of bringing the academy to fruition.

“We need to capitalize on this moment, grab the coming opportunities and prepare our community for these projects and the careers that are made possible from them,” Watson said in his newsletter, the Watson Wire.

Events

Friday, March 1

ATX Open | Now-Sunday, March 3 | 9:30 a.m.-10 p.m. | Westwood Country Club, 3808 W. 35th St., Austin | $69-$1,484 | Austin’s pro women’s tennis tournament is back for its second year, with a stacked lineup including Ajla Tomljanovic, Victoria Azarenka, and former Longhorn Peyton Stearns.
Blake Shelton | Friday, March 1 | 7 p.m. | The Moody Center, 2001 Robert Dedman Dr., Austin | $49-$130 | The country star will hit the Austin stage alongside Dustin Lynch and Emily Ann Roberts.

Saturday, March 2

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater | Saturday, March 2-Sunday, March 3 | Times vary | Bass Concert Hall, 2350 Robert Dedman Dr., Austin | $19-$206 | This company — the first to ever perform at Bass Concert Hall when it opened 43 years ago — will return to Austin for its “Revelations” tour.
Gregory Alan Isakov | Saturday, March 2 | 8 p.m. | ACL Live, 310 W. Willie Nelson Blvd., Austin | $78-$375 | Special guest Leif Vollebekk will also take the stage at this folk show.

Sunday, March 3

Kitten Yoga Benefitting Austin Pets Alive! | Sunday, March 3 | 10-11 a.m. | Inner Diva Studios, 10401 Anderson Mill Rd., #104, Austin | $25 | Feel relaxed and delighted after this little furball flow in support of Austin Pets Alive!

Monday, March 4

Uptown Run Club | Monday, March 4 | 6:30 p.m. | 1200 E. 6th St., Austin | Free | Gain some new motivation at this weekly social running club.

Tuesday, March 5

Horror Book Club | Tuesday, March 5 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | St. John Branch, 7500 Blessing Ave., Austin | Free | Dig into “Dreamland” by Caitlin Kiernan at this week’s horror-centered book club meeting.

Events calendar here

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News Notes

Civic

Austin’s Parks and Recreation Board proposed renaming the Barton Springs Bathhouse after Joan Means Khabele, whose activism helped lead to the desegregation of Barton Springs Pool. Austin City Council will vote to finalize the change. (CBS Austin)

Announced

Little Wu and JewBoy Sliders will leave Fareground by the end of March. The Downtown food hall has not yet announced businesses that will replace the two openings, but the other seven vendors — including Four Brothers and Austin Snack Co. — will remain. (Austin Business Journal)

Biz

Firefly Aerospace unveiled an expanded rocket production facility in Burnet County this week. The new space will allow for rocket construction and testing for a new model that is more than 200 ft high. (KXAN)

Watch

Austinite Kristell Jean will compete on this season of “Masterchef Junior,” a kids cooking competition series. Jean’s grandmother and aunt run Ensenada ATX, a seafood taco truck located on East 12th Street. (Eater Austin)

Concert

Follow your arrow straight to the Moody Center this November, where Kacey Musgraves will perform two nights of her “Deeper Well” world tour. Tickets to the shows will go on sale on Friday, March 8 at 10 a.m.

Eat

Two and a Half Irishmen, a traditional Irish bakery, will pop-up at the Cafe at The Loren this month as part of the hotel’s Cafe Collaboration series. Stop by for “Galway” apple cake, gluten-free Jaffa cake, and a range of other tasty treats.

Sports

Need a little Astros refresher? Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Houston Astros with Locked On’s daily podcasts.

Travel

Escape to Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa for a rejuvenating spring break (just a 30-minute drive from Austin). Immerse yourself in luxury at Mokara Spa, tee off on world-class golf courses, and savor diverse cuisines at their eight unique restaurants. Bonus: Book now through March 31 and save up to 15% on your stay.*

Shop

It’s not every day that you find free, award-winning legal cannabis products. Cult favorite cannabis brand Indacloud is here with 30% off and free gummies with code “6AM” on any purchase. Get edibles, joints, and vapes for as low as $20 (and free gummies, of course) delivered to your door.*†

*†Please note: Legalities in your state may vary. Indacloud advises consumers to read the company’s terms and conditions, consult a physician before trying products, start only with small amounts, and to not consume products before driving or before a drug test. The information about providers and services contained in this newsletter does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by ATXtoday.

Eat

🍽️ Hungry yet?

Whimsical New American restaurant The Guest House is now open in Downtown Austin

A gif cycling through photos of dishes at The Guest House.

We loved the brioche feuilletee, seared diver scallops, sticky toffee pudding, and Tugley Woods cocktail from The Guest House. | Photos by ATXtoday

Looking for a side of whimsy with your next meal? We know just the place.

We recently tried out The Guest House, a New American restaurant that opened Downtown this month, and it was a feast for the eyes.

In addition to an upscale interior featuring twinkling lights and a nightly live DJ, the restaurant offers several “Alice in Wonderland”-inspired cocktails. Our favorite orders of the night were:

Tulgey Woods | A margarita served inside four small glass bottles labeled “Drink me,” nestled under a cotton candy “tree” and bathed in orange blossom fog
Magic Mushroom | A mix of tequila, cucumber, sweet pepper, lime, and ashwagandha-infused agave, presented in a fog-filled glass case
Brioche feuilletee | Served with oil and sprinkled in salt
Hamachi Crudo | Served with jalapeño, coconut, and lime
Seared Diver Scallops | Served with caramelized corn, parsnip, and aji amarillo
Sticky Toffee Pudding | Served layered with ice cream

Make a reservation.

32 more new restaurants

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
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From the editor

Rumor is the Austin-San Antonio area might be a good contender for a new Major League Baseball team. We’re just daydreaming for now, but we’d love to hear from you — what should our local MLB team name be?

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