Plus, "very demure, very mindful."
 
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Today’s Forecast

104º | 10% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:00 a.m. | Sunset 8:07 p.m. | Full Weather Report | Traffic Report
 

✈️ Clear for takeoff

Unpacking the Austin airport’s West Gate Expansion
A rendering of a spacious and modern airport terminal with large windows allowing natural light to fill the space. The terminal features a mezzanine level where a few travelers are seated or walking with luggage. Below, the ground level is bustling with people shopping and dining at various retail and food outlets. The high ceiling with exposed beams adds to the airy feel of the space. A colorful mural is visible on one wall, and a plane can be seen taking off outside the window, indicating the terminal's proximity to the runway.
The mezzanine level will provide a new space for travelers to lounge, eat, and take in skyline views. | Photo courtesy Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
The Journey With AUS expansion program is underway — and new details about one of the projects at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport are taking flight.

The West Gate Expansion will add 84,500 sqft of new space across three levels on the west side of the Barbara Jordan Terminal. The project reached new heights in July 2024: its first steel beam was erected.

Two images depicting the ongoing construction at an airport. On the left, a large construction crane is seen lifting a steel beam against a backdrop of partly cloudy skies. The construction area below includes the airport terminal with equipment and workers on-site. On the right, a group of construction workers, all wearing hard hats and high-visibility vests, are gathered around a large steel beam, signing it as part of a ceremonial event. The beam is placed on concrete supports, and the surrounding area shows signs of active construction.

With the first steel beam installed, project leaders said the airport will now begin to look different each day.

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Photo courtesy Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

Meeting the need

As ABIA continues to break records for passenger totals, expansion is key to keeping up with the airport’s demand. Other updates in the works include the West Infill Project and the addition of Concourse B, a 20-gate concourse that will connect to the Barbara Jordan Terminal through a new tunnel.

The vision for Concourse B requires removing three gates, and the West Gate Expansion will add three new gates to balance the loss.

What to expect

A standout feature of the West Gate Expansion is a new mezzanine, which will include an outdoor balcony + indoor viewing area for travelers to relax and enjoy views of Downtown and the West Runway.

An exterior view of an airport terminal expansion featuring large glass walls and modern architecture. Several jet bridges extend from the terminal to parked airplanes, including a prominent United Airlines plane in the foreground. The terminal has multiple gates, with numbers 33 and 37 visible. Ground support equipment and airport personnel are working around the planes, preparing for takeoff or arrival. The sky is clear with a few clouds, and the overall scene reflects a busy yet orderly airport environment.

The West Gate Expansion will transform the exterior view of the Austin airport.

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Photo courtesy Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

Here’s what else is in the plan:
  • Seating areas for five gates
  • New restaurants
  • A playscape with an art integration
  • A meditation/quiet room + family and nursing rooms
  • New restrooms and a pet relief area

The timeline

Now that the first steel beam is installed, the Journey with AUS team is looking ahead to the next milestones: the topping out of the steel and applying the building’s skin structures. They expect the project to be complete in spring 2026.

Learn more about the project.
Asked

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport’s busiest month on record was...
A. July 2023
B. October 2023
C. May 2024
D. July 2024
Buckle up
 
Events
Monday, Aug. 19
  • Cabana Island: Love Island Reunion Watch Party | Monday, Aug. 19 | 7-11 p.m. | Cabana Club | Cost of purchase | Snack on charcuterie boards and sip cocktails while the Love Island USA cast spills the tea about their season.
  • Barry Manilow | Monday, Aug. 19 | 7 p.m. | The Moody Center | $20-$500 | The singer-songwriter — whose career spans seven decades — is bringing the “The Last Austin Concert” to town.
  • Young Miko | Monday, Aug. 19 | 8 p.m. | Moody Amphitheater | $43-$163 | See the “princess peach” singer’s “XOXO” tour under the stars.
  • Aquarius Full Moon Yoga + Dreamy Sound Bath | Monday, Aug. 19 | 8-9:30 p.m. | Wild Heart Yoga | $40 | Practice yoga underneath the full moon with smoke cleansing + spiritual practices throughout the session.
Tuesday, Aug. 20
  • “Thelma & Louise” | Tuesday, Aug. 20 | 7:30 p.m. | The Paramount Theatre | $12 | Join these two friends on a weekend vacation that takes a dark twist.
  • Julie Nolen | Tuesday, Aug. 20 | 10-11:30 p.m. | The Saxon Pub | $10 | This West Texas native is a singer and songwriter who specializes in rock and country tunes.
Wednesday, Aug. 21
  • Drag Queen Bingo | Wednesday, Aug. 21 | 7-9 p.m. | St. Elmo Brewing Company | Cost of purchase | Hosted by Louisianna Purchase, this bingo night is complete with local food trucks + Little Gay Shop on-site.
Events calendar here
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Show

Add to cal: “Beautiful: The Carol King Musical” at ZACH Theatre
a gif featuring images from a performance of "Beautiful"
It’s time to celebrate an icon, Austin. | Photos by Melissa Taylor; GIF by ATXtoday
With summer heating up, there’s nothing better than relaxing inside of a dark, air-conditioned theater.

Lucky for you, Austin, there’s still time to catch “Beautiful: The Carol King Musical” at ZACH Theatre running through Sunday, Sept. 22.

Learn the stories behind classics like, “You’ve Got a Friend,” as the award-winning musical celebrates the life + career of Carol King.

Bonus: There will be an ASL-interpreted show on Saturday, Aug. 24 at 2:30 p.m.
Buy tickets
News Notes
Real Estate
  • Now that HOME Phase 2 is in effect, landowners in many Austin neighborhoods only need 1,800 sqft to build a home. The rule, which lowered the minimum lot size by two-thirds, will allow for more homes to be built on a singular plot of land. (KUT)
Announced
  • If you bought a Saturday ticket to ACL Festival to see Chappell Roan — good luck, babe. The “HOT TO GO!” singer, whose popularity has skyrocketed in recent months, will now perform on Sunday, Oct. 6 and Sunday, Oct. 13.
Number
  • 12,157. That’s how many new apartments developers in Austin are on track to deliver by the end of 2024. After taking home the No. 1 spot last year, Austin landed at No. 3 on RentCafe’s new list of the top US metros for new apartments.
Edu
  • It’s official — the Texas State University System will open its first international campus in Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico. Classes at the satellite campus will commence in fall 2025, and graduates’ degrees will be accredited in both countries. (Austin-American Statesman)
Outdoors
  • A rare blue moon will be visible in Austin today. It’s the first of four upcoming supermoons, which are the brightest moons of the year and appear full for multiple days. Take in the astronomical phenomenon at one of Austin’s most scenic spots. (Austin Monthly)
Event
  • Paddle for Puppies, Austin Subaru’s annual fundraiser benefiting Austin Pets Alive!, will return to Lady Bird Lake on Sunday, Aug. 25. Rent a kayak, canoe, or standup paddleboard from 8-9:45 a.m. at Rowing Dock to support the shelter’s Parvo Puppy Intensive Care Unit.
The Word
  • Demure — meaning “affectedly modest, reserved, or serious” (in the literal sense) — is TikTok’s latest trend. Being demure is “all about being mindful, not doing too much and of course, being very cutesy.” We identified a few things in Austin we find demure.
Answered
  • Last week, we quizzed you on what the overall home buyer difficulty index is in the US as of June 2024. On the scale, 100 would be the most difficult. The answer was 83.8 — only 18 respondents answered correctly — and 75.6 was the most common guess.
Sports
  • The Dallas Mavericks announced their 2024-2025 schedule, which will kick off with a game against the San Antonio Spurs. Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Dallas Mavericks with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
     
    Real Estate

    🏡 Sweet home Austin

    Home inventory up in Austin: buyers search outside of city limits
    A little blue house with a red door.
    In July 2024, there were 12,661 active listings in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos region. | Photo by Brian Cole Photography, provided by Compass
    This update is on the house — Austin area home sales are on the decline as buyers scout more affordable homes outside of Travis County.

    According to Unlock MLS’ July Central Texas Housing Report, the market saw a 3.5% year-over-year decrease in sales overall in July 2024, while inventory reached its highest point since 2011.

    Let’s take a closer look at the state of Austin’s housing market based on the July 2024 market snapshot.
    • The median sales price was $450,000 — a 2.8% decrease from July 2023.
    • There were 12,661 active listings — a 20.3% increase from July 2023. Of those listings, 3,812 were new listings.
      • 2,652 resulted in closed sales, and 2,567 sales were pending.
    • Available homes spent an average of 63 days on the market, up four days from July 2023.
    The Buy
    These reusable food storage bags. They’re made from food-grade silicone, making them dishwasher and microwave-safe, leak-free, and an eco-friendly solution to disposable plastic bags.
    More worth The Buy
     
    The Wrap
     
    ATXtoday-morgan-headshot.jpg

    Today’s edition by:
    Morgan
    From the editor
    It’s scorpion season in Austin and I (knock on wood) have never encountered one, but I’m bookmarking this Texas Monthly article about what to do if I’m ever stung.
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