This box of goodies is as sweet as can be. | Photo provided by Comadre Panadería
Craving something sweet? Maybe something flaky?
Austin may be known for tacos and barbecue, but its bakeries are the unsung heroes of the local food scene. We think it’s time to give them the spotlight they deserve.
Whether you’re looking for pastries by day or celebratory cakes by night, these locally owned bakeries are proof that life is butter with carbs.
Quack’s Bakery, multiple locations | Keeping Austin sweet since 1983, these beloved bakeries make pies, cakes, pastries, and more from scratch with no additives.
Upper Crust Bakery, 4508 Burnet Rd. | This family-owned scratch bakery has it all, whether you want a cup of coffee and a pastry, a smoked turkey sandwich for lunch, or a layered cake to take home and enjoy.
It’s the season of expressing gratitude, and we want to know what makes you thankful to call Austin home. Let us know and you may be featured in an upcoming newsletter.
A Christmas Affair | Now-Sunday, Nov. 24 | Times vary | Palmer Events Center | $25+ | More than 200 businesses will showcase their goods at this annual, four-day holiday market.
TrailHeads Appreciation Party | 5-8 p.m. | The Perch ATX | Cost of purchase | If you’re an avid trail user, this party (with live music, drinks, and giveaways) is being thrown in your honor.
Soirée Beaujolais Nouveau | 5:30-8 p.m. | French Legation State Historic Site | $20+ | Join Accueil Austin to celebrate Beaujolais Nouveau Day with a wine, cheese, and charcuterie soirée.
Friday, Nov. 22
Parks, Plants and People in Kingsbury Commons | 9-11 a.m. | Pease District Park | Free with RSVP | Volunteer to clean up the park with fellow nature enthusiasts and learn about native plant care.
Saturday, Nov. 23
Anniversary Party | 12-10 p.m. | Blue Owl Brewing | Cost of purchase | Celebrate the brewery’s ninth birthday with games, a plant market, and a VIP tour of the facility.
Pups on the Patio: Chihuahuas | 3-6 p.m. | Jo’s South Austin | Free with RSVP | The coffee shop’s new breed-specific dog meetups give you the chance to show off your pup (or just give out lots of pets) with a beverage in-hand.
Presented By Peoples Rx Austin's Wellness Headquarters
If your nightly sleep feels more like a cat nap, read on. Create positive change with deep, restorative sleep. | Photo provided by Peoples Rx Austin’s Wellness Headquarters
If you’re feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and losing sleep because of the holiday hustle — you’re not alone.
It’s time to “Come Together.” Gary Clark Jr. will perform a free concert at Domain NORTHSIDE at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13. The GRAMMY award-winning local musician will celebrate the opening of BUMPSUIT, a new store at the shopping center from his wife Nicole Trunfio’s maternity brand.
Number
$1.4 billion. That’s the new price tag for plans to cover parts of I-35 with parks + public spaces, a cost that jumped by 61% since the original estimate. TxDOT will ask Austin City Council to determine the path forward via a vote on Thursday, Dec. 12. (KUT)
Eat
Le Cowboy, an Italian pop-up restaurant by chef Grae Nonas, will reside at wine bar Apt 115 now through the end of January. Guests can order à la carte or opt for the prix fixe menu, which includes dishes like squid ink tagliolini and chicken parms with fettuccine alfredo. (Eater Austin)
Community
There’s still time to voice your opinion on the Congress Avenue Urban Design Initiative, which aims to create a more pedestrian-friendly community hub in the heart of Downtown. The public survey closes on Sunday, Nov. 24.
Cause
Round of a-paws, please. A program called Vodka for Dog People by Austin-based Tito’s Handmade Vodka will donate $250,000 to animal rescue organizations across the US to fulfill holiday wishlists. The funds will go toward pet necessities like food, collars, toys, blankets, and beds.
Opening
Another Mean Eyed Cat location will open its doors in Driftwood today. The Johnny Cash-inspired bar’s second location will offer “a mix of Driftwood character and Austin energy” and feature an outdoor patio.
Sports
Is Quinn Ewers holding the Longhorns back from being a National Championship contender? Some fans think so. Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Texas Longhorns with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Biz
Amplify Credit Union wants to help businesses across the Lone Star State make smart money moves. Here’s how they’re simplifying banking for businesses and nonprofits of all sizes.*
Shop
A sports gift your kids won’t put down: Dribbleup’s top-selling Smart Basketball. Unlock thousands of interactive drills led by real coaches — it’s 60% off for the holidays.*
Category
Arts
🎟️ Put tickets on your wishlist
Ballet Austin puts on the longest-running production of “The Nutcracker” in Texas. | Stephen Mills’ “The Nutcracker.” Photo by Anne Marie Bloodgood, courtesy of Ballet Austin
It’s tiiiiiiime.
We hope you read that in Mariah Carey’s voice and you’re ready for holiday festivities, because we’re here to share some of the best shows to see in the Capital City this holiday season.
“Cirque Dreams Holidaze” | Friday, Nov. 22 This holiday spectacular — which fuses Broadway-style production with contemporary circus arts — will bring storybook characters, classic holiday songs, and fantastical sets to Bass Concert Hall.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra: “The Lost Christmas Eve” | Wednesday, Dec. 4 You’ll be rockin’ around the Christmas tree during this traveling tour’s stop at the Moody Center, where the hit band will perform their fourth studio album.
Ballet Austin’s “The Nutcracker” | Saturday, Dec. 6-Saturday, Dec. 23 After 180 hours of rehearsals, 150 dancers will take the stage to perform this magical classic — just as ballerinas before them have done so in Austin for the past six decades.
The Buy
The Buy
An oversized knit sweater that’s 52% off for Amazon’s early Black Friday sale. Get it in multiple colors, like almond, army green, and rust.