08.01.2024

Today’s Forecast

🛴 2024 Olympics: Austin edition

Unsanctioned Olympic events that Austin would dominate

Kayaks and paddleboards dot Lady Bird Lake in Austin, with trees on either side of the water.

Let’s imagine that Lady Bird Lake is the River Seine. | Photo by ATXtoday

Throughout Olympics history, there have been dynasties: sustained runs of top-of-the-podium success for countries in a specific sport. Think United States and basketball, China and diving, or Jamaica and sprinting.

It got us thinking, what are the events where Austinites could take home gold year after year? And yes, we know these sports aren’t International Olympic Committee-certified… yet.

Psst — while you’re participating in Austin-inspired sports, stay tuned to KVUE’s coverage of the Olympics and cheer on local athletes.

Stand-up paddleboarding

Team Austin would race down the river with a dog, a boombox, and waterproof phone pouches around their necks.

Scootering through Downtown

Love it or hate it, electric scooters are on every corner in Downtown Austin, and those who live and work in the city know how to maneuver them. Obstacles include pedicabs, karaoke cars, party bikes, jaywalkers, and Cybertrucks.

Tolerating the heat

If you were born and raised in Austin, you wouldn’t sweat this competition. Your qualifying round was enduring brutal summers for years.

A boardwalk along the lake with Austin's skyline in the background. — It’s easy to spot an athletic Austinite on the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail.
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Photo by ATXtoday

Power-walking on the trail

We’d send our Ann and Roy Hike-and-Bike Trail regulars to the Olympics in a heartbeat, as long as they’re equipped with athleisure from local brands, fanny packs, trendy tennis shoes, and a friend to gossip with.

Eating breakfast tacos

There’s little that Austinites hold more dear than the breakfast taco — and we’d bet on someone from the 512 in a race to eat the most. Will it be flour or corn?

Complaining about the city changing

Austin residents have been doing this since 1884, so we’ve got over a century of experience in this realm.

Events

Thursday, Aug. 1

National Spritz Day | Thursday, Aug. 1 | 4-10:30 p.m. | Casa Bianca | Free | Celebrate the bubbly holiday with a $10 Texas-sized Aperol Spritz.
The Drop-In | Thursday, Aug. 1 | 7 p.m. | Long Center | Free | See Austin-based band Riders Against the Storm at the 3D-printed stage with a stellar view of Austin’s skyline.

Friday, Aug. 2

Uptown Sports Club x Meanwhile Brewing Co. Backyard BBQ Summer Series | Friday, Aug. 2 | 6:30-9 p.m. | Meanwhile Brewing Co. | $39-$165 | Choose between just one or a full summer of collaborative barbecues — your ticket grants you two drinks, two special food items, and dessert from Bésame and Tiny Pies.
World Music Night | Friday, Aug. 2 | 7 p.m.-2 a.m. | Sahara Lounge | $15 | Experience performances by Chika Di, Mario y Su Timbeko, and Roleros Cosmicos at the east Austin music club, which was recently named one of the best bars in the country by USAToday.

Saturday, Aug. 3

August Asanas: Saturday Salutations | Saturday, Aug. 3 | 8:30-9:30 a.m. | Zilker Botanical Garden | $8 | Start your morning with some sun salutations in the tranquility of the gardens.
Niall Horan | Saturday, Aug. 3 | 7:30 p.m. | The Moody Center | $50-$165 | The former One Direction band member brings “The Show” tour to ATX.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Environment

Good news for lake lovers: thanks to recent rainfall, Lake Travis has risen over seven feet. The Lower Colorado River Authority opened floodgates along the Highland Lakes in response, which hasn’t happened since October last year. (Austin Monthly)

Eat

This isn’t our first rodeo — Second Rodeo, a new bar, restaurant, and deli from the folks behind The Cavalier, will open at 915 W. Mary St. in February 2025. Until then, the team is hosting pop-ups around town to give foodies a sneak peek. (Eater Austin)

Ranked

Two Austin restaurants are among Yelp’s 25 Best New Restaurants in the South. Nômadé, a Tulum-inspired eatery offering Yucatan cuisine, landed at No. 4, and plant-based fine dining restaurant Fabrik ranked No. 10.

Open

Our lips aren’t sealed — Lip Lab confirmed it’s operating at 1221 S. Congress Ave., Ste. #100, via an Instagram post this week. Guests book experiences with color experts to find their perfect shade and create their own lipstick, lip gloss, or lip balm.

Coming Soon

Once renovations are complete at W Austin, the Downtown hotel will be home to three new restaurants + bars: all-day restaurant Serenade, cocktail bar Blue Room, and French cafe 2nd & Roast. The new concepts are expected to debut in October. (Eater Austin)

Closing

Club Eternal will host its last events on Friday, Aug. 2 before taking “an indefinite hiatus,” according to an announcement on Instagram. The BYOB dance venue has been providing after-hours entertainment at 207 W. 4th St. for the past two years.

Olympics

The 2024 Summer Olympics are happening now in Paris, France — keep up with Team USA via KVUE. Today’s events include the women’s gymnastics all-around final and the US women’s basketball game against Belgium.

Sports

The Cowboys held their first padded practice of the 2024 season — which players performed the best? Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Dallas Cowboys with Locked On’s daily podcasts.

Travel

Summer isn’t over just yet, which means there’s still time to take a road trip to Boerne. From perusing farmers markets to exploring several craft breweries in town and wineries in the area, there’s something for everyone to discover in this charming slice of Texas — plan your visit.*

Shop

Get more from your Costco membership — this week only, get a $40 digital Costco shop card and $60 off an order of $200+ on Costco.com when you buy an Executive Membership on our deals site.*

Try This

🎬 Step inside “Austin City Limits”

How to attend “Austin City Limits” tapings

The Austin City Limits stage has instruments and microphones on it, with large cameras reaching over filming the stage and the crowd in front of it.

Gracie Abrams’s Austin City Limits performance will air sometime in October 2024. | Photo by ATXtoday

City Editor Morgan here. After experiencing my first “Austin City Limits” taping this week, I wanted to share what I learned about entry to the shows.

Upon arrival, I joined lengthy line of fans stretched down Willie Nelson Boulevard. Many entered and won the giveaway, granting them two tickets to the pit. Some ticket-less hopefuls stood outside the venue for hours — and most of them saw the show.

“Austin City Limits” is celebrating its 50th season this year, and tickets to the tapings are always free. Here’s how to get them:

Enter the lottery. Bookmark this page and check it regularly to be among the first to know when giveaways launch.
Become part of Friends of Austin City Limits. Support the Austin PBS program with a donation in exchange for season tickets.
Simply show up. Before showtime, empty seats are filled by people without tickets.

Learn more about the process.

The Buy

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This Turkish cotton beach towel — it’s extremely absorbent, made with 100% natural cotton, and is the perfect soft aqua blue companion for your next trip to the ocean.

More worth The Buy

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Morgan

From the editor

My little sister is in town, and she loves to kick off her visits with a shopping spree at Pavement. Here’s our guide to secondhand shopping in ATX if you’re also itching for new threads.

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