March 28, 2024

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Today’s Forecast

🏡 The return of the Paggi House

A red brick home with a black door, white fence encircling the porch, plants in front, and a historical designation marker near the front door.

The newly refurbished home has had many lifetimes as an inn, a residence, a restaurant, and now an art gallery. | Photo by Wen Fitzgerald

The Paggi House, a historic landmark on the grounds of The Loren at Lady Bird Lake at 200 Lee Barton Dr., will soon reopen to the public in a renewed way.

The house, which was originally built just prior to the Civil War, will open as an art gallery and event space early next month. Its first exhibition, titled “Explorers,” will run Sunday, April 7-Sunday, May 19.

“Explorers” — meant to coincide with the upcoming solar eclipse — is designed to evoke existential questions on humankind’s role in the universe. Featured artists include Matthew Ritchie, Rodney McMillian, Xylor Jane, Dustin Yellin, and Alteronce Gumby.

A red painted brick house witha. black door, black window shutters, and a white fence around the porch surrounded by greenery and trees. — Longtime Austin residents may remember visiting The Paggi House when it was a restaurant from 1980-2014.
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Photo by Wen Fitzgerald

Future exhibitions will rotate about three times per year, often featuring local artists and centering around science, nature, and the environment, according to a release.

The building itself has a storied history. Italy native and entrepreneur Michael Paggi bought the house, originally built near a low-water Colorado River crossing, in 1884. The home remained in the extended family for ~100 years, but fell into disrepair and was slated for demolition in the 1970s, until it was purchased by a development group.

From there, the house received historic designation in 1980, and opened as a restaurant called The Paggi House the same year. The restaurant remained open until 2014, when it closed down due to condo construction changing the nearby landscape.

A historical designation marker on a red painted brick wall. — The home received historical designation in 1980, which narrowly saved the building from demolition.
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Photo by Wen Fitzgerald

Through the rest of this year, The Loren will offer the building for meetings free of charge to local nonprofit and philanthropic organizations. Come 2025, The Paggi House will open to commercial events.

The Paggi House will welcome public visitors from 1 to 5 p.m. on opening day and after that, gallery visits will be accepted by appointment only. Email pennyaaron.theloren@gmail.com to book an appointment.

Events

Thursday, March 28

Indigo De Souza | Thursday, March 28 | 8:30 p.m. | Mohawk Austin, 912 Red River St., Austin | $25 | The indie artist is known for songs like “Boys” and “How I Get Myself Killed.”

Friday, March 29

Iowa Wild vs. Texas Stars | Friday, March 29-Saturday, March 30 | 6 p.m. | H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, 2100 Ave. of the Stars, Cedar Park | $29-$58 | Austin’s minor league hockey team will face down Iowa Wild on the ice.
“Ladies and Tangents” | Friday, March 29 | 7 p.m. | The State Theatre, 713 Congress Ave., Austin | $35 | Popular podcast hosts Jeri and Ciara will perform a set based on camping, the woods, and all the adventures that happen outdoors.

Saturday, March 30

Austin Open Martial Arts Championship | Saturday, March 30 | 7:30 a.m. | Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd., Austin | $20-$180 | Sign up to participate or attend to watch some of the top-tier competitors.

Sunday, March 31

Easter Egg Hunt with Thinkery | Sunday, March 31 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Meanwhile Brewing Co., 3901 Promontory Point Dr., Austin | Free | The “Epic Easter Egg Hunt” for kids 6 and under begins at 10 a.m., but stay afterward for several more themed activities hosted by Thinkery.

Plan Ahead

Moontower Just for Laughs | Wednesday, April 10-Sunday, April 21 | Times vary | Multiple locations, Austin | $150-$275 | See performances from Andrew Schulz, Amy Sedaris, Joe Pera, and dozens of others… need we say more?

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Development

The Markson, a new affordable housing complex in southwest Austin, is now open at 5313 Vega Ave. The development has 330 units, with half reserved for folks earning 80% of the median income in ATX, plus greenbelt access, a fitness center, and a pet spa. (KXAN)

Civic

The City of Austin will receive $4 million to create a reuse warehouse, courtesy of the Environmental Protection Agency. The warehouse will accept used furniture and extra building supplies, which will in turn be circulated back into the community to help reduce waste. (KXAN)

Community

Can Round Rock residents fix it? The city’s new Tool Depot allows residents to check out tools for free — including lawn mowers, ladders, hedge trimmers, power washers, and more — for 48 hours. The facility, 304 E Bagdad Ave., can be accessed electronically via an app. Reserve a tool.

Opening

A new American-Italian restaurant and cocktail bar called Casa Bianca will open at 1510 E. Cesar Chavez St. sometime in April. Serving a modern menu, Casa Bianca was founded by former Uchi chef de cuisine Joseph Zoccoli and former Bill’s Oyster beverage director Richard Thomas.

Coming Soon

A living room-inspired bar and restaurant called The Flower Shop is coming to Austin at 1300 E. 7th St. in June. Owners of the original restaurant in New York City said they’ve been looking to expand the New American restaurant into Austin for four years. (Eater Austin)

Listen

Beyoncé's new country album, “Act II: Cowboy Carter,” could possibly include a song featuring Austin’s own Willie Nelson. The Houston native posted an album announcement to Instagram with a song called “Smoke Hour” with Willie’s name underneath.

Award

Austin native and A-list actor Glen Powell will be inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame (during Richard Linklater’s “Hit Man” premiere). The award ceremony, hosted by the Austin Film Society, will take place at the Paramount Theatre on Wednesday, May 15. (Austin American-Statesman)

Announced

Kroger will shut down grocery delivery operations in Austin just over a year after expanding to the Capital City. The company — which is also shutting down services in San Antonio — said it will continue to accept orders through May 24.

Sports

Will Houston, UConn, Purdue, or UNC fall first? Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Big 12 with Locked On’s daily podcasts.

Wellness

Therapy isn’t a luxury — it’s an essential tool for navigating life’s complexities. Invest in your wellbeing with 25% off your first month of BetterHelp.*

Outdoors

🚙 Why your commute is so pretty

a field of bluebonnets with a road down going the upper left corner.

There’s really nothing like a springtime drive among the bluebonnets. | Photo by Jonathan Cutrer via OpenVerse

Did you know Texas was the first state to plant flowers along the highway?

The Wildflower Program was created in 1932 not only to beautify your commute, but also stabilize soil, provide reliable ground cover, and reduce maintenance and litter along roadways.

TxDOT sows about 30,000 pounds of wildflower seeds annually in observation of the program. The program also allows workers to mow along the highways less frequently, which provides habitats for 900+ animal species.

These efforts were lauded by Lady Bird Johnson, who provided grants to TxDOT for its work and spearheaded the Highway Beautification Act of 1965 to help make the effort more widespread across the nation.

Earlier this month, we asked our readers what their favorite native flower was. We can’t say we’re surprised that 67% of y’all chose bluebonnets, followed by 13% of you choosing the pink evening primrose.

Get familiar with flora

The Buy

Jenni Earle Bandanas. Try a new trend this spring with these bandanas – perfect to tie around your neck, hair, or handbag.

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The Wrap

City Editor Figi poses with an adorable goat.

Today’s edition by:
Figi

From the editor

Speaking of local wildflowers, Wednesday, April 24 is Texas State Wildflower Day. I think I’ll celebrate by visiting the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center’s spring native plant sale.

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