The Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial Statue pays homage to one of the most iconic artists from Austin’s music scene. | Photo by ATXtoday
We’ve all been there: someone’s trying to give you directions by describing 10 lefts, 20 rights, and a jumble of cardinal directions. Isn’t it easier to just point out a landmark?
That’s exactly what we’re doing. We have 12 of the most recognizable Austin landmarks — from Pennybacker Bridge to the plethora of moontowers. Not only are these local icons easy to remember, but they’ll also get you where you need to go in a jiffy.
Austin Central Library
Nearby: Seaholm Power Plant, Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge, and the flagship Whole Foods Market Austin’s enormous, six-story Central Library opened in 2017, featuring a rooftop deck, local art, event spaces, a gallery space, a gift shop, and more.
The Driskill
Nearby: The Contemporary Austin - Jones Center, Mexic-Arte Museum, and Frost Bank Tower Built in 1886, Austin’s oldest hotel once served as the White House Press Corps for the Lyndon B. Johnson administration and had a suite permanently reserved for him.
Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial Statue
Nearby: Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, Auditorium Shores, and Palmer Events Center Located at the site of many of the beloved guitarist’s concerts, the bronze statue was erected near the shores of Lady Bird Lake in 1993.
“I Love You So Much” Mural
Nearby: The Continental Club and the Austin Motel This ultra-famous landmark was painted on the wall of Jo’s Coffee by musician Amy Cook as a message to her then-girlfriend and building owner, Liz Lambert.
“Jeremiah the Innocent” Mural
Nearby: Harry Ransom Center, Littlefield Fountain, and Guadalupe Street The other-worldly frog asking “Hi, How Are You” was painted by artist Daniel Johnston in 1993. Today, it’s a historical landmark and has been preserved, even though the building around it was torn down.
Q2 Stadium
Nearby: The Domain and J. J. Pickle Research Campus The home of Austin’s first professional sports team, Q2 Stadium opened in June 2021. The stadium is also the first soccer-specific stadium to earn Total Resource Use and Efficiency Gold certification.
Jewel and Melissa Etheridge | Tuesday, Oct. 1 | 7 p.m. | Moody Amphitheater | $35+ | The two iconic performers will stop in ATX on their joint tour.
Wednesday, Oct. 2
High Noon Talk: “A Curious Mix of People” | Wednesday, Oct. 2 | 12-1 p.m. | Bullock Texas State History Museum | Free | Spend your lunch break learning about Austin’s underground music scene in the 1990s.
“The Golden Bachelorette” Watch Party | Wednesday, Oct. 2 | 7 p.m. | Dainty Dillo | Cost of purchase | Sip half-priced espresso martinis and enjoy snack board specials while you watch Joan Vassos on her journey to find love.
Thursday, Oct. 3
Sip & Shop | Thursday, Oct. 3 | 5-8 p.m. | Letterpress PLAY | Cost of purchase | Shop the small business to support local nonprofit Austin Bat Cave, plus enjoy live music + free tacos and libations.
Annual Starlight Soirée | Thursday, Oct. 3 | 6-9 p.m. | The Domain | $75 | Dine al fresco, taste a curated menu, and listen to party band Plush in support of the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden + Museum.
Friday, Oct. 4
19th Annual Bluegrass and Folk Festival | Friday, Oct. 4-Saturday, Oct. 5 | Times vary | Mason Homestead, Leander | Free | At this two-day festival, hear sets from Steel Betty, Midnight Grass, Lost Patterns, The Hillsiders, and Chris Melas.
Plan Ahead
Levitation | Thursday, Oct. 31-Sunday, Nov. 3 | Times vary | Multiple locations | $25+ | This music festival for electronic and dreamy tunes has been running for more than a decade in Austin.
Wyzant is pay-as-you-go (read: no expensive packages required), offering lessons starting as low as $10. | Photo via Pexels
With October upon us and the school year in full swing, it’s a good time to pause and reflect (ideally with a cozy drink in hand): How is the student in your life doing?
Whether you have a house full of kiddos or are going back to school yourself, Wyzant‘s vetted instructors can help with 300+ topics, from academic core subjects and foreign languages to test prep, musical instruments, and more.
Meet in person with a local tutor, or take lessons virtually. The best part? It’s pay-as-you-go and starts as low as $10/session.
Leon Bridges kicked off a three-night residency at The Continental Club last night for the release of his new album, “Leon.” Tickets are only available in-person for $40 cash at the door — and doors open at 8 p.m. You can catch him tonight and Wednesday, Oct. 2.
Travel
Delta Air Lines will launch five flights out of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport next year. Panama City, Florida will begin on March 9, Indianapolis and Memphis will start on May 7, then San Francisco and Tampa will launch on June 8. (Austin Business Journal)
Opening
The team behind Bill’s Oyster has a new restaurant concept in the works in Tarrytown. Teddy’s Restaurant & Bar will serve Southwestern-inspired fare and frozen cocktails, offer an enclosed + climate-controlled patio, and open sometime in November.
Edu
Texas State University will expand its curriculum offerings with 18 online programs (four bachelor’s and 14 master’s degrees) starting in the spring semester. The new programs include Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and Master of Education in educational technology.
Announced
The countdown is on. The Texas picks for the MICHELIN Guide will be announced during a ceremony on the evening of Monday, Nov. 11 in Houston. Which local restaurants do you think deserve a MICHELIN star? Let us know your predictions.
Closed
Northwest plant nursery Pink Flamingo Plant Co. permanently closed on Sunday, Sept. 22, the business announced on Instagram. The shop originally opened in October 2020.
Holiday
Blue Genie Art Bazaar will open its doors for the 24th year in a row Friday Nov. 15 through Tuesday, Dec. 24 with work from 200+ artists on display. New exhibitors include Kessho Craft Chocolate, Live Oak Glassworks, and artist Clint Wilson — shop ahead of time here.
Sports
The Longhorns beat Mississippi State 35-13 in their SEC debut, but the win might have been closer than fans expected. Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Texas Longhorns with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Which card now features 0% APR Into 2026? This card. (ICYMI, experts say balance transfer cards are one of the best-kept secrets for managing credit card debt.)*
Entertainment
ACL is almost here
Headlines you may have missed about ACL Festival
Each year, thousands of people gather together in Zilker Park for all-day live music across two weekends. | Photo by Roger Ho for ACL Fest
ACL Festival is just around the bend — can you hear the music, feel the breeze, and smell the food? Here are three updates about ACL that you may have missed.
1. Several areas of the park will be powered by a hybrid battery system to reduce carbon emissions, as opposed to using biodiesel generators. Those areas include the IHG Hotels & Resorts stage, the shade tents at ACL Eats, the West Entrance, and some backstage areas.
2. The bad news: neither Tyla nor Catfish and the Bottlemen will perform this year. The good news:they’ve been replaced by four bands. Mike. and Hudson Westbrook will play both weekends, while Daniel Seavey and St. Lucia will perform weekend two.
3. La Pachanga Eatery will be found at the far south end of the park. The area was previously a miniature ACL Eats court, but will now be a haven for all things tacos.
The Buy
The Buy 10.01.24 (Affiliate)
A MagSafe Kate Spade wallet that conveniently attaches to the back of your phone. It boasts Kate Spade’s signature elegant design + can hold up to three cards and cash.
Welcome to October, Austin. It’s my favorite month of the year, but also my busiest. I’m getting ready to celebrate half a dozen birthdays (including my own), ACL Festival, and some beautiful weather.
Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio. The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.