Plus, ICON is building a new slate of homes in Wimberley Springs.
 
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99º | 10% chance of rain | Sunrise 6:41 a.m. | Sunset 8:33 p.m. | Full Weather Report | Traffic Report
 

Lone Star 🤝 Michelin star
The Austin skyline, as seen from between trees on the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail.
The Michelin stars are finally coming to Texas — which restaurants do you think should be awarded?  |  Photo by ATXtoday
The Lone Star State will soon have a different kind of stars under its belt: Michelin stars.

The Michelin Guide is expanding to Texas and preparing to award restaurants with one, two, or three stars in Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston. The guide’s selections will be announced later this year.

In fact, Michelin Guide Inspectors are already perusing eateries all over the state. The anonymous inspectors make dinner reservations in secret, pay for all of their meals to ensure they pick the highest quality food, and rate the restaurants on five criteria:
  • Quality products
  • Harmony of flavors
  • Mastery of cooking techniques
  • Reflection of the chef’s voice and personality in the cuisine
  • Consistency between each visit and the menu, as inspectors visit multiple times
A Michelin Star plaque on a restaurant showing two stars.

Soon, plaques like this will appear, denoting whether a restaurant has one, two, or three Michelin stars.

|

Photo by Yanay Rosen via OpenVerse

Inspectors will also choose their Bib Gourmand selections, which highlight restaurants where you can get quality food at more affordable prices.

Texas already has a Michelin Guide to hotels, which includes local stays like The LINE Austin, Hotel Magdalena, the Commodore Perry Estate, and Hotel Ella.

The Michelin Guide was originally started to encourage culinary tourism — thus driving the need for more tires.

Once their picks are announced, Texas will join a host of other places with Michelin Guides in place: France (where the first Michelin Guide was published), New York, Chicago, Washington DC, California, Miami/Orlando/Tampa, Toronto, Vancouver, Atlanta, and Mexico.
 
Asked
 

Which Austin restaurants do you think deserve a Michelin star?
Let’s see if we can predict the Michelin Guide Inspectors’ picks.
 
Visit Conroe
 
Events
 
Wednesday, July 17
  • Christmas In July Tiki Weeki | Now-Saturday, July 20 | Times vary | Blue Owl Brewing, 2400 E. Cesar Chavez St., Ste. #300, Austin | Cost of purchase | The taproom will transform into a Christmas tiki bar with special cocktails, limited edition glassware, and more.
  • “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure” | Wednesday, July 17 | 8 p.m. | Meanwhile Brewing Co., 3901 Promontory Point Dr., Austin | Cost of purchase | Bring a blanket, then grab a beer and some dinner before tuning in for this free movie night.
Thursday, July 18
  • Missy Elliott | Thursday, July 18 | 7 p.m. | The Moody Center, 2001 Robert Dedman Dr., Austin | $45-$345 | You don’t want to miss the “OUT OF THIS WORLD Experience” featuring Ciara and Busta Rhymes with special guest Timbaland.
  • Hot Summer Nights 2024 | Thursday, July 18-Saturday, July 20 | Times vary | Locations vary, Austin | Free | See dozens of local artists back-to-back at venues around town at this annual event.
Friday, July 19
  • “Legally Blonde: The Musical” | Friday, July 19 | 8:15-10:35 p.m. | Beverly Sheffield Hillside Theatre in Zilker Park, 2206 William Barton Dr., Austin | Free | Follow Elle Woods as she charms her way into Harvard Law School to get him back after dumping her.
Plan Ahead
  • Bat Fest | Saturday, Sept. 7 | 12 p.m. | Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge, 305 S. Congress Ave., Austin | $30-$190 | Honor Austin’s favorite flying little creatures with a night of music, dancing, and costumes.
Click here to have your event featured.
 
 
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Wellness
 

Can’t get out of bed?

A woman in a white sweatshirt and green shorts holding a coffee cup and walking her white dog with a red leash in a local park
If the idea of a walk with your dog in the park (local coffee in-hand) no longer sparks joy, keep reading. | Photo via Pexels
If the thought of grabbing a treat from Mozart’s Coffee or taking a stroll in Zilker Park still can’t get you out of bed, you might need some support.

While Austin has many excellent, local mental health counselors, therapists, and resources, if you’re looking for a therapy option completely online — available in as little as 24 hours, and at a 25% off discount — BetterHelp can, well, help.

Get custom-matched with one of their 30,000+ licensed therapists.
 
News Notes
 
Biz
  • Social media site X, formerly Twitter, will move its headquarters from San Francisco to Austin. Elon Musk announced the move via X in tandem with news that SpaceX will move its headquarters from Hawthorne, California to Starbase, Texas. (Austin American-Statesman)
Try This
  • Food truck Sí Baby Q (from the Zoé Tong team) and Chef Deepa Shridhar want to take you on a culinary journey with a new collaboration. Biryani Baby will take over the truck from Thursday, July 18-Sunday, July 21, serving South Indian-Texan and Asian flavors. Make a reservation or order for pick-up.
Eat
  • Chicago-based Potbelly Sandwich Works is looking to open up franchise operations and triple its footprint in the Austin area. The Capital City is currently home to five Potbelly locations, but executives hope to add 10-12 new locations. (Austin Business Journal)
Ranked
  • We’re living in the best city in the US to start a business, according to USA Today. Austin — which was followed by Miami, Florida and Nashville, Tennessee — ranked highly for net business openings, net entry rates, and high startup employment.
Cause
  • Sip your way through Austin’s many coffee shops and bars for a good cause. Austin’s Pets Alive!'s Pours For Pets initiative allows Austinites who purchase a $45 passport to receive a free snack or drink from participating businesses until Sunday, Aug. 11. Get your passport by Wednesday, July 31.
Holiday
  • San Marcos’ annual Sights & Sounds of Christmas event, which has been a Central Texas tradition since 1987, has been canceled this year. The organization’s board of directors said the event has been put on pause due to issues with “financial viability.” (KVUE)
Sports
  • The Rangers nabbed Malcolm Moore in the MLB draft — so what does he bring to the table? Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Texas Rangers with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
    Drink Up
    • Drink Up Week — a celebration of our city’s vibrant beverage culture — is coming up quickly from Monday, July 22 to Friday, July 26. We asked local businesses to join the fun by sharing drink deals; check out this map of promos that are poppin’ just for the occasion.
    Trending
    Seasonal
    • Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? It’s Christmas in July, and we’re celebrating by gifting new and returning advertisers with special promotions to get your message in front of our readers. Get in touch to learn more (read: open your present).
     
     
    Real Estate
     

    🏡 ICON-ic homes coming to Wimberley
    A rendering of the interior with curvy textured walls, concrete floorings and an open kitchen + dining plan.
    The Ranch Mesa interior features vaulted ceilings and huge, open living space.  |  Rending courtesy of ICON
    Just 40 miles south of Austin, Wimberley is the newest recipient of one of ICON‘s 3D-printed neighborhoods.

    A collection of eight single-family homes will break ground in Wimberley Springs this summer. The houses, which range from 2,800 to 4,000 sqft across four different floor plans, start at ~$885,500 and are available for pre-sale now.

    The homes, from the AlphaBeta and TexNext collection, are ICON’s most spacious yet. Here’s some quick facts about the homes:
    • They range from four to five bedrooms
    • They’re made with CarbonX, ICON’s proprietary low-carbon material
    • The walls are energy efficient and durable enough to withstand wind speeds of up to 250 mph
    • Dwellings are equipped with smart doorbells and thermostats
    • The neighborhood is located three miles from the center of Wimberley
    ICON homes are currently available for sale in both Wimberley Springs and Georgetown’s Wolf Ranch neighborhood.
     
    The Buy
     
    ⚡ It’s the second (and final) Amazon Prime Day. Shop Day Two lightning deals that just went live.

    Get 56% off a wireless charging station that can charge your phone, earbuds, and smartwatch all at once.

    This $400 ionic hair dryer is on sale for under $100.

    Get a $50 Old Navy gift card for $40, or a $50 Regal gift card for $40.

    This five outlet surge protector includes four USB ports and charges your devices with notable speed.

    Get a Bentgo stackable lunch box 55% off.

    Keep your eye on this bestselling tennis dress for a lightning deal later today.
     
     
    The Wrap
     
    Laura Figi.jpg

    Today’s edition by:
    Figi
    From the editor
    I had a root canal yesterday, but even dental surgery won’t keep me from getting the news out to you. That said, I do want to treat myself over the next few days. How do you reward yourself after a tough day? Let me know.
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