Embrace the holiday giving season with this guide that’s got something for everyone, including local finds. | Graphic by 6AM City
Season’s greetings, Austin. Holiday shopping time is upon us — look no further than these 90+ gift ideas, including unique local treasures and the season’s hottest items.
Gifts for singles
Local pick:Spa Day Gift Box | $140 | Filled with goodies like a clay mask, body scrub, and eye masks, this locally curated gift box will encourage your bestie to take a self-care day.
Knitted weighted blanket | $135.99 | Perfect for a bed or couch, this 15-lb blanket offers comforting weight with an aesthetic knit finish.
Local pick:Luisa Axolotl Soft Plush | $26.99 | Give the pool-obsessed little one in your life a Barton Springs salamander lookalike of their own.
Spikeball set | $67.99 | A popular yard game they’ll want to play immediately after unwrapping.
Blank Slate game | $24.99 | Get the whole family laughing together during holiday gatherings with this highly-rated word association party game.
Gifts for homebodies
Local pick:“How to Be a Texan: The Manual” | $21.95 | From seasoned Austin journalist Andrea Valdez, this manual gives how-to instructions on Lone Star traditions.
Teabloom flowering tea set | $69.95 | A beautiful glass teapot and a set of flowering teas that bloom right in the pot.
Gifts for your significant other
Local pick:“I Love You So Much” Art | $10+ | Tell your partner you love them every day with this local art.
TheraGun Mini Massage Gun | $199.00 | A compact and travel-sized deep tissue massager that can relieve sore muscles and speed up recovery in between workouts.
Sherpa-lined flannel shirt jacket | $76.95+ | Choose your favorite plaid pattern + snag them a warm jacket great for hiking, trekking, and camping all season long.
King Gizzard Fan Meet-Up | 4 p.m. | Meanwhile Brewing Co. | Cost of purchase | Shop from local vendors, get a tattoo, buy art, and listen to live music with other King Gizzard fans.
Shangri-La’s 16th Anniversary Party | 7-11 p.m. | Shangri-La | Cost of purchase | Celebrate Shangri-La’s Sweet 16 under the stars — folks who dress to theme can get a free drink.
Esperanza Spalding | 8 p.m. | The Paramount Theatre | $35+ | The award-winning singer and bassist will perform unreleased music + songs from her eight previous albums.
Friday, Nov. 15
Grow Green Garden Volunteer Workday | 9:30-11:30 a.m. | Zilker Botanical Garden | Free | Help keep the Zilker Botanical Garden beautiful by planting, mulching, weeding, and updating signage.
Saturday, Nov. 16
Saturday Sweat | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Fareground | Free with RSVP | Unwind in a 45-minute yoga session, listen to live DJ beats, and grab free samples from local businesses.
Enjoy a Tiny Tina mocktail (and keep the souvenir cup) during the show. | Photo provided by ZACH Theatre
Austin’s beloved holiday tradition, ZACH Theatre’s “A Christmas Carol,” returns for its 10th anniversary with plenty of events to keep the bah humbugs at bay.
Sing and dance along with classic characters, including Scrooge, the Cratchits, and three spirited ghosts from Wednesday, Nov. 20 to Sunday, Dec. 29.
Special experiences to commemorate the occasion include:
Fezziwig’s Festive Feast | See the show from The Topfer’s Bartop section, and indulge in holiday treats throughout the show.
Scrooge’s Suite Soiree | Gather up to eight friends or family members and enjoy a private watch party from The Topfer’s Director’s Booth suite.
Irene’s, a bar and restaurant on West Avenue, will close when its lease ends on Sunday, Nov. 24. The closure was announced via an Instagram post, which highlights special events during the last week of service. Plus, staff said they’re actively seeking a new site for the business.
Number
$10.9 million. That’s the amount of money the City of Austin’s Housing Department and the Austin Housing Finance Corporation will spend to aid homeowners at risk of being displaced by Project Connect, a multi-billion dollar transit expansion project. (KVUE)
Sports
Kevin Durant is rumored to be part of a local ownership group vying to bring a WNBA team to Austin. The professional basketball league is looking to expand for the 2027 or 2028 season, and a decision could be announced as early as the first quarter of 2025. (Austin Business Journal)
Show
I am not throwin’ away my shot to see “Hamilton” next year — and you shouldn’t either. The award-winning musical is coming to Bass Concert Hall, running Tuesday, March 25 through Sunday, April 6. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
Open
A new location of Nando’s PERi-PERi, a South African restaurant specializing in flame-grilled chicken, opens today in the Mueller neighborhood. The restaurant features vibrant interior design, a patio, and artwork by artists from South Africa.
Try This
Halloween and Christmas collide at House of Torment’s annual holiday pop-up event: “Krampus: The Fright Before Christmas.” The winter horrorland will frighten and delight guests from Friday, Dec. 13 through Sunday, Dec. 15. Tickets go on sale next week.
Listen
The Longhorns will travel to Arkansas this weekend to battle the Razorbacks at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16. Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Texas Longhorns with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Seasonal
The elves are decking the halls with whimsical wonder at Omni Barton Creek this holiday season. Santa Suites are trimmed to the brim with Christmas magic + holiday decor to share with your loved ones. Score an exclusive discount when you book an unforgettable holiday staycation.*
Read
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Shop
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Category
Food
⭐️ The stars aligned
We hope you’re hungry. | Photos by Richard Casteel, Taylor Elliot, Jessica Attie, and Edgar Rico
It’s celebration time for dozens of chefs and restaurateurs across Texas. The 2024 MICHELIN Guide Texas selections are here, and the Lone Star State is shining brighter than ever.
Across Texas, 15 restaurants received one MICHELIN Star, including seven restaurants in the Capital City — more than any other city in the state. No Texas restaurant received two or three stars.
Without further ado, let’s dig into the local awards.
One MICHELIN Star
Barley Swine
MICHELIN Inspectors raved about chef and owner Bryce Gilmore’s use of local ingredients to create flavorful dishes inspired by Mexican and Southern traditions.
Craft Omakase
“Skillfully handled” fish from Japan is the star of the show at this Rosedale restaurant, where chefs Charlie Wang and Nguyen Nguyen delight diners’ taste buds with a curated lineup of nigiri and more Japanese bites.
