Plus, a highly anticipated bakery opening.
 
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🚶‍♀️‍➡️ Step onto a new Congress Avenue

A new plaza and more improvements proposed for Congress Avenue
A conceptual drawing of a lively outdoor plaza with the Texas State Capitol in the background. The scene depicts a vibrant public space with a mix of pedestrians, cyclists, and people sitting at outdoor tables, enjoying food and conversation. Large trees provide shade, while food trucks line one side of the plaza, offering various dining options. There's a water fountain feature in the center where people are gathered, adding a refreshing element to the setting. The atmosphere is casual and bustling, with a strong emphasis on community and recreation. A mural on a nearby building adds an artistic touch to the environment.
Here’s a peek into what a plaza on Congress Avenue could look like. | Rendering via City of Austin
Can you imagine a more pedestrian-friendly Congress Avenue?

That’s what the Congress Avenue Urban Design Initiative aims to create — and the group is ready to receive public feedback on the plan.

What’s happening?

CAUDI wants to solidify Congress Avenue as Austin’s “Main Street,” and plans to do so by constructing vibrant public spaces that enhance the Capital City’s distinctive charm.

In CAUDI’s vision plan, the blocks between 7th and 11th streets would be transformed into public plazas, and vehicular traffic on Congress Avenue would end north of 7th Street.

Project leaders envision this area as a future community hub, featuring interactive art installations, live music performances, free programming, and pop-up exhibits.

Other plans for the proposed public plaza include:
  • Painting the asphalt with colorful murals
  • Replacing angled parking zones with wooden decks
  • Improving tree health by expanding soil volume
A rendering of Congress Avenue shows the block in front of the Paramount Theatre. The asphalt is painted with a gray, blue, and green retro-inspired mural. Colorful umbrellas sit on the street next to food trucks, tents, and children playing. The Texas Capitol is in the foreground.

Murals painted onto Congress Avenue could change over time, according to CAUDI’s plan.

|

Rendering via the City of Austin

As designed, cross traffic would still flow east and west on 7th-11th streets. Additionally, CAUDI proposes that all parking along Congress Avenue (except ADA-accessible parking spaces) be converted into pedestrian space, and bicycle lane barriers turned into concrete curbs to improve safety.

Funding + feedback

A large chunk of the project will be paid for by the 2020 Austin Mobility Bond. Two of the four plaza blocks, which are located between 9th and 11th streets, are already fully funded. The blocks between 7th and 9th streets await full funding and will be reconstructed in interim treatments.

You can voice your opinion on the designs during upcoming open houses at the Downtown Austin Space Activation:
  • Tuesday, Oct. 22 from 4 to 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Learn more about the project.
Asked
 

How do you feel about the proposed Congress Avenue redesign?
A. I love it
B. I don’t like it
C. I’m unsure
D. I just want to see the results
 
Events
Thursday, Oct. 10
  • “Joker: Folie à Deux” | Now-Thursday, Oct. 24 | Times vary | Bullock Texas State History Museum | $15 | Follow the story of Arthur Fleck awaiting trial while sitting in Arkham, when he stumbles upon true love.
Friday, Oct. 11
  • Fall Native Plant Sale | Friday, Oct. 11-Sunday, Oct. 13 | 9 a.m. | Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center | Cost of purchase | Shop for native plants including flowering perennials, vines, shrubs, and trees.
  • Texas Pumpkin Fest | Friday, Oct. 11-Sunday, Oct. 27 | 10 a.m.-9 p.m. | VFW Pumpkin Patch, Leander | $15 | Roam through a Texas-sized pumpkin patch, walk the Hall of Monsters, and see a magic show at this fall festival.
Saturday, Oct. 12
  • Halloween Family Paint Night | 5-7 p.m. | The Art Garage | $10 | Wear your best costume to paint ghost light-ups, pumpkins, witchy pottery, and more.
  • Community Art Bash | 5-8 p.m. | Elisabet Ney Museum | Free | See art installations, a musical performance, and take a guided walk at the Hyde Park sculpture museum.
Thursday, Oct. 17
  • Third Thursday: Oktoberfest | 5-7 p.m. | Bullock Texas State History Museum | Free with admission | See a polka performance, listen to the Sängerrunde of Austin choirs, and learn about German history and culture.
There's plenty more to do
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Arts
  • Austin Opera plans to debut its new 195-seat theater by October 2025. Work on the new artistic wing — which also includes rehearsal space and studios, a costume shop, an outdoor event space, and a conference center — will begin at 5811 Trade Center Dr. in January. (CultureMap)
Opening
  • Caffeine, gluten, sugar, butter, booze. That’s the motto at Rockman Coffee + Bakeshop, which local pastry chef Amanda Rockman will open on Friday, Oct. 11. Located on East Cesar Chavez Street, the new bakery will feature rip-and-dip bagels, bourbon cake, filled croissants, and much more. (Eater Austin)
Announced
  • We won’t bury the lead. After a multi-year inspection, the city of Austin officially announced yesterday that the Capital City’s public water system is completely free of lead pipes. Austin Water has been working to remove lead from the city’s water supply for 50+ years.
Outdoors
  • Did you notice that Lady Bird Lake looked a little low on Monday? The lake level dropped by ~two feet, uncovering muddy shorelines. The culprit? An ant issue at Longhorn Dam on Sunday night. The tiny insects infiltrated an instrument panel, which partially opened a water gate. (KUT)
Active
  • It’s National Walk to a Park Day. Celebrate by taking an autumnal walk through one of these 22 gorgeous parks around Austin. Psst — don’t forget Zilker Park remains closed for ACL Festival until around Friday, Nov. 1.
Sports
  • The Texans will face the New England Patriots this weekend without their star wide receiver Nico Collins, who was just placed on injured reserve. Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Houston Texans with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
    Try This
    Eat
    • Get $25 to spend at El Raval + more great perks when you sign up for Offline, our city’s restaurant discovery club. Try your first month free with code OFFLINE6AM.*
     
    Drink

    👻 Enter if you dare

    5 local haunts with Halloween decor + cocktails
    The image shows the interior of a large tent, decorated in a circus or carnival theme. The red and white striped ceiling adds to the festive atmosphere, with string lights hanging across the tent. A chandelier in the center adds a touch of elegance. At the front, there is a black horse statue standing on its hind legs, roped off with red velvet ropes. To the side, a large target-like game wheel can be seen, and throughout the tent are long picnic tables for seating. The décor includes bunting flags and various whimsical carnival elements.
    Step right up — a Halloween wonderland awaits at Gibson Street Bar. | Photo by @madisonrichardsphoto_
    Calling all ghouls, goblins, and witches — Halloween season is here and local bars have risen to the occasion.

    Here are a few activations on our October bucket list, featuring eerie decor, sinister libations, and scary good times.

    Nightmare on Gibson Street | Now-Thursday, Oct. 31
    Gibson Street Bar is known for going above and beyond for the holidays, and this Halloween season is no exception. The neighborhood bar has transformed into a “Twisted Carnival,” complete with a Big Top circus tent and libations like “The Ringmaster” and “Candied Apple.”

    Lefty’s Shop of Horrors | Now-Thursday, Oct. 31
    Step into a spine-chilling atmosphere with clowns, ghostly baby dolls, and Barbies in a jar at Lefty’s Brick Bar. Try cocktails like the “Brat-O-Ween,” “Hocus Pocus,” and “Fright-Fashioned.”
    3 more local haunts
    The Buy
     
    Suede Chelsea boots — they’re the perfect fall/winter staple for your closet that offers you comfortable wear with ankle support and a slim silhouette.
     
     
    The Wrap
     
    ATXtoday-morgan-headshot.jpg

    Today’s edition by:
    Morgan
    From the editor
    Halloween is cool — and my favorite holiday. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out our guide to fall in Austin, which features more Halloween festivities you won’t want to miss.
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