Community + culture

• “I love how after all the growth, Austin has kept its big ‘town’ feel.” —@miniatureatx
• “So many activities! There always something happening in Austin 😍" —@sabrinak818

Local eats

• “Local coffee shops and food trucks 🙌" —@lifeisramon
• “The food 🔥" —@lukatar.lukatar
• “Fusion food” —@hawkewardcosplay

Natural beauty

• “The vast amount of trails. Some more special than others.” —@irenecasanova_
• “The lady bird lake view during the peak of the sunrise. It’s very magical. I love Austin” —@glo_xxx
• “The vibe. Barton springs(both sides) and the green belt!” —@herbet1991
• “Family friendly spaces and all the TREES” —@nfedorov26
• “The lake system 🫶" —@dorkyturtle

Live music + nightlife

• “I’ve always loved the live music scene. Since moving back there’s more venues. Plus my EDM family and @jaytayfel shuffle classes Monday night. Such a great growing community.” —@bklyngrl.73
• “The music, it’s what brought me here and has kept me here” —@_jpatx
• “The dive bars, and the people in them, that are still around. Cherish them while you can 😣" —@freakyneeko
• “It’s so easy to find live music, and the LGBTQ+ community here is so active and creative and ever-present. 💜" —@ashoftexas

Active Austinites

• “How active this city is! Feels like everyone I know either walks a lot, runs, bikes, swims, or a combo of them” —@ben_duong
• “It’s an active city. You’re going to find yourself trying out all new sports and getting more active. Oh and all the dogs that are here 🥰" —@autumncyntia

• Sip ‘n’ Slip Family Fun Weekend | Friday, Aug. 23-Sunday, Aug. 25 | Times vary | Jester King Brewing | Cost of purchase | Celebrate the last days of summer with a slip ‘n’ slide, live music, frozen treats, plant + mosaic making workshops, and more.
• “The Breakfast Club” + “10 Things I Hate About You” | Friday, Aug. 23 | 7 p.m. | The Paramount Theatre | $12 | Watch the Brat Pack serve time in detention before tuning into a modern Shakespeare adaptation.

• Leaf Lovers Club + Batch’s Birthday | Saturday, Aug. 24 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Batch Craft Beer + Kolaches | Cost of purchase | Eat kolaches, drink a cold one, and shop local plants on the east Austin patio.
• Not So Sweet 16th Anniversary Party | Saturday, Aug. 24 | 12 p.m.-2 a.m. | Dirty Bill’s | Cost of purchase | Celebrate the bar’s birthday with drinks, baked goods, free tattoos, and raffles.
• Shrimp and Crab Boil | Saturday, Aug. 24 | 2 p.m. | Kitty Cohen’s | $14-$150 | Eastside Boilers will pop up at the poolside bar to sell plates of snow crab, shrimp, mushrooms, corn, and sausage.

• Bend + Brew | Sunday, Aug. 25 | 8:30 a.m. | Cosmic Saltillo | $5 | At this first-come, first-served class, your ticket grants you a cold brew, iced comet, or tea + a Waterloo Yoga session overlooking the ATX skyline.
• Drag Brunch + Bubbles | Sunday, Aug. 25 | 12-3 p.m. | Jo’s Coffee | $25 | Drink bottomless mimosas, dig into brunch, and enjoy the show.

• Downtown Austin will soon have more EMS medics and vehicles at the ready when the Downtown Area Command launches during ACL Festival on Friday, Oct. 4. The program’s goal is to place more units Downtown on weekend nights + during special events rather than sending ambulances from other areas. (KVUE)

• Hyatt Hotel Corp. has its eyes on some of Austin’s jewels: Hotel Saint Cecilia, Hotel San José, Austin Motel, Jo’s Coffee, and more. The hospitality group is set to acquire Standard International, which operates Austin’s Bunkhouse Group, in a deal anticipated to close by the end of 2024. (Austin Business Journal)

• Central Health, which focuses on health care for low-income Austinites, proposed a $884 million budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year. If the budget passes its final vote among Travis County commissioners in September, the average homeowner would see an extra $66 on their tax bill. (KUT)

• This news is sweet — SusieCakes will open a second location at 1111 W. 6th St. and celebrate with a grand opening party from 3 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 6. The local bakery specializes in nostalgic, classic flavors for cakes, cupcakes, cookies, seasonal recipes, and custom orders.

• Ready to book your next vacation? Southwest Airlines is introducing a slew of new seasonal + year-round routes out of AUS, which will take flight for the first time in March 2025. Tickets are on sale now for nonstop flights to Reno, Milwaukee, Panama City, Montrose, and San Juan.

• Speaking of planes... have you seen these break-up messages flying over Austin this week? Phrases like “We’re over, LW. I’m moving on,” appear to be notes from a lovesick local. Truth be told, they’re advertisements for a Nashville-based tech care company called Asurion, and LW stands for “limited warranties.”

• Halcyon’s Downtown (and original) location is now the coffee shop + bar’s only remaining locale in the city — its Mueller location shuttered earlier this month. Its locations in San Antonio and Dallas also remain open. (Eater Austin)

• Is Texas A&M the most underrated team in the SEC? Apparently so, according to a new article by CBS Sports. Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Texas A&M Aggies with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
  

• 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. Explore showtimes + snag tickets.*

• Good news: Rates are expected to go down soon. Compare fixed-rate loans and HELOCs to find your best way to borrow — calculate your payment.*

• These THC gummies tap into the body’s endocannabinoid system and get you feeling right within five minutes. Get 20% off with code FIRST20.*^†

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