Macaron gift boxes from Bakery Lorraine feature hand-painted designs from local artist David Salaiz. | Photo by Benjamin Yanto
Dough you know it’s Christmas? ‘Tis the season to get tasty, and local bakeries are bringing the baked goods.
Leaving out cookies for Santa Claus can be traced back to Norse mythology, when children would leave food out for Odin (and his eight-legged horse) during Yule. However, a more similar tradition began in the US in the 1930s.
Cop some cookies from one of these Austin-based bakeries.
Bakery Lorraine | Bring home a “12 Days of Macarons” holiday box with seasonal flavors, including egg nog, champagne, cranberry ginger, and white chocolate peppermint. If you’re more into conventional flavors, you can also order gingerbread men and holiday pies.
Cookie Wookie Kitchen | Cookie dough from this home-based bakery is aged for up to three days, giving the finished products a rich flavor. Try the December flavors, which include peppermint hot cocoa, Cocquito (coconut, spices, and rum), yuzu drop cookies, and ube Linzer tarts.
“Harry Potter": A Forbidden Forest Experience | Monday, Dec. 16-Thursday, Dec. 19 | 5:45-11:45 p.m. | McKinney Roughs Nature Park, Cedar Creek | $45 | Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws, and Slytherins are invited to take a spell-binding adventure through an immersive, illuminated forest.
“Edward Scissorhands” | 7:30 p.m. | The Paramount Theatre | $12 | Chow down on popcorn while you watch this cult favorite by Tim Burton unfold.
Tuesday, Dec. 17
Rockman Chef Residency Series: Veracruz Taco Tuesdays | 4:30-7 p.m. | Rockman Coffee and Bakeshop | Cost of purchase | Enjoy collaborative dishes from Reyna Vazquez of Veracruz All Natural and take home some pastries to boot.
Wednesday, Dec. 18
Tinsel + Tarot | 7-9 p.m. | Lefty’s Brick Bar | Cost of purchase | Head to the festive pop-up bar to get an insightful reading while sipping a holiday-themed cocktail.
Thursday, Dec. 19
High-End South African Tasting Night | 5-8 p.m. | Cape Bottle Room | Cost of purchase | Sip your way through South Africa with glasses and flights of wine from the country’s leading wineries.
Housed in its original bottling plant, this lively venue offers laid-back vibes, refreshing sips, and unique experiences. Shake things up with bartending classes or stir up creativity at paint-and-sip events — perfect for a holiday gift that’s worth toasting to.
Whether you’re savoring classic flavors or trying something new, visiting the tasting room guarantees good times with great friends — and cheers all around.
In an effort to become carbon-free citywide by 2035, Austin City Council approved Austin Energy’s Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan late last week. Goals of the plan include phasing out coal power and increasing energy reliability during extreme weather.
Development
Pflugerville streets will soon receive an upgrade to the tune of $19 million for the Kelly Lane Roadway Project. Approved by voters in 2020, the project will add new lanes, a median, and sidewalks to Kelly Lane. (Austin American-Statesman)
Open
Cedar Park’s Bell District is growing. Bell Park, which features 4,000 ft of trail space, is now open along Bell and Buttercup Creek boulevards beside the new Cedar Park Public Library. (KVUE)
Ranked
Are you single? You’re in the right place. Austin is the No. 10 best place to be single, according to a WalletHub study. Strong points for folks who are dating include Austin’s recreation scene — check out these ways to make new connections.
State
Texas is ranked No. 3 out of 10 on B2B Reviews’ list of “The Best States to Start a Business in 2025.” The ranking analyzed info like taxes, workforce quality, economic health, and business survival rates.
Sports
Both of Texas’ NFL teams took home wins yesterday, with Dallas winning against the Carolina Panthers and Houston beating the Miami Dolphins. Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Seasonal
Visiting San Antonio for the holidays? Avoid cramped guest rooms and fighting for time in the shared bathroom by staying with Hampton/Home2 Suites Riverwalk instead. Enjoy being near the city’s top destinations for the holidays, tons of amenities + special holiday rates.*
Finance
(Almost) new year, new business goals. Take your company to the next level with Amplify Credit Union’s free commercial banking with essential services. Think: Free ACH positive pay, free positive pay, free checking and savings accounts, and more. Schedule a one-on-one consultation with an expert.*
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Shop
These best-selling men’s flannel pajama pants are comfortable, warm, and soft to the touch. Hello, new favorite pants of the season.*
Category
Tech
🏗️ We have the 3D technology
The building was made with a tinted version of its CarbonX formula so it matches the rest of the surrounding structures. | Photo courtesy ICON 3D Tech
ICON 3D Tech — the Austin-based company behind the city’s growing slate of 3D-printed structures — debuted its newest printed piece: the Texas Military Department Training and Innovation Center at Camp Mabry.
The new Innovation Center replaced aging temporary buildings on the military installation. Notably, the building is the first-ever 3D-printed structure to gain approval from a historical commission.
This isn’t the first time ICON has paired up with the US military — the 3D-printing construction company also created barracks at Camp Swift in Bastrop County in 2021.
The Buy
The Buy
A pair of high waisted joggers. They’re constructed with ultra-soft modal fabric, making them perfect for casual hangouts with friends + family over the holidays.
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