Warm wishes, Austin. We are taking a pause on newsletters to spend time with our loved ones. We’ll see you back in your inboxes at 6 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 28 + Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025.
We think living in Austin is the greatest gift of all, but our city has actually been on the receiving end of quite a few delightful donations. From parks to sculptures and more, check out these four gifts given to the city.
Zilker Park | The land for Austin’s signature park was gifted to the city by businessman Andrew Jackson Zilker in multiple donations from 1917 to 1934, the same year the park officially earned its name. Happy 90th, Zilker Park.
Pink granite for the Texas State Capitol | The iconic Texas State Capitol building — which is taller than the US Capitol, by the way — was built using pink granite from Granite Mountain, located just outside of Marble Falls. In 1885, Granite Mountain owners William H. Westfall and Nimrod L. Norton supplied the granite for free, as long as the railroad track used to transport it was extended to the quarry site.
Sports Will the Spurs’ shooting woes derail them this season? Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the San Antonio Spurs with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
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Last-minute gift hack: Go digital with a three, six, or 12-month Audible membership so they can listen to all their favorite genres + authors.*
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That Escalated Quickly, a party game for friends and family who love quirky, interactive games. Work together to sort answers to a prompt from least to most intense — get it right, and everyone wins.
Hey, Austin — remember me? I’m happy to be popping back in your inboxes to wish you a happy holiday season and remind you to do something nice for yourself. Could be a quick stretch, could be your favorite beverage. We’re our best selves when we treat ourselves best, after all.
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