Find a new home for your gently used books, art supplies, pet items, kitchen gear, and more. | Photo by ATXtoday
The new year is all about fresh starts, making now the perfect time to declutter your space and give new life to like-new or gently used items.
To help inspire your home or closet refresh, we’ve rounded up a few ATX organizations that accept donated items, help locals in need + support community causes.
Professional clothing given to Dress For Success Austin provides the wardrobe to help women gain economic independence.
Toybrary Austin allows families to play with and “check out” toys for free, so it’s a great place to donate toys with more life left in them.
Inside Books Project accepts gently used books, as they send 35,000+ free books to people who are incarcerated in Texas each year.
Saint Louise House, which provides fully-furnished apartments to single mothers experiencing homelessness, is currently accepting living room chairs, side + coffee tables, dressers, and more.
“Hamlet” | Thursday, Jan. 9-Tuesday, Jan. 21 | 7:30-10:30 p.m. | Sterling Stage Austin | $10+ | Enjoy pizza + gelato while you watch this Shakespearean tale unfold in an immersive atmosphere.
Friday, Jan. 10
The Free Fringe | 9:30 p.m. | Hideout Theatre | Free+ | Buckle in for a wild night of experimental improv at this pay-what-you-can performance.
Saturday, Jan. 11
Lakeside Maker’s Market | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | The Loren Hotel Austin | Cost of purchase | Spend your morning shopping for handcrafted treasures made by local artists.
Odds Bar + Bistro Grand Opening | 11 a.m.-2 a.m. | Odds Bar + Bistro, Round Rock | Cost of purchase | Snag a free appetizer with the purchase of an entrée at this new restaurant helmed by celebrity chef John Green.
Austin Metaphysical and Holistic Fair | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Nature’s Treasures Event Center | Cost of purchase | Shop for crystals, get a tarot card reading, and find wellness resources at this fair for spiritual enlightenment.
Sunday, Jan. 12
Yoga & Sound Bowls | 9:15-10:15 a.m. | Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center | $15 | This hour-long practice includes 40 minutes of yoga + 20 minutes of Tibetan and quartz singing bowls and chimes.
The Austin-Travis County Emergency Operations has been activated as a result of this week’s winter weather, and 24-hour cold weather shelters will be open through Friday morning. Stay vigilant with our guide to winter weather preparedness.
Closing
The world’s first community-owned-and-managed brewpub, Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery, will close its doors after 14 years in business. Austinites can stop in the Easy Wind Drive locale for one more visit until 10 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 12.
Festival
Don’t be blue.Tickets are available now for the third annual Austin Blues Festival, happening at the Moody Amphitheater Friday, April 26-Saturday, April 27. The newly released lineup features performers like Kingfish, Mavis Staples, Sue Foley, Jackie Venson, Sir Woman, and more.
Coming Soon
Salt Lick BBQ owner Scott Roberts will open a new concept called Roxie’s this spring in Buda. The comfort food restaurant, named in honor of his grandmother, will serve staples like fried chicken, chicken fried steak, and all-you-can-eat sides at Buda Mill and Grain.
Real Estate
Kyle, TX is one of the hottest ZIP codes in the country, according to a new Opendoor study highlighting the most popular areas for buying a home in 2024. The Austin suburb made the list for the first time, ranking No. 10, while Leander missed the cut, breaking its streak since 2021.
Try This
Mark your calendar for Saturday, Feb. 8 — ACL Live at the Moody Theater will host its first-ever ACL Live Community Day in partnership with Dell Technologies. Austinites are invited to experience the venue’s new daytime tour at no cost, in addition to ticket giveaways, activities, and live music performances.
Community
Want to experience SXSW from behind the scenes? The conference + festival has 20+ volunteer-driven crews supporting everything from exhibitions and sessions to registration and transportation. Attend the Volunteer Call at the Austin Convention Center’s Ballroom ABC on Sunday, Jan. 26 to learn more.
Sports
With some of their best players off the court, the Mavericks still managed to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 118-97 on Tuesday. Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Dallas Mavericks with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Health
Weight Loss by Hims & Hers offers a personalized, science-backed approach to weight management. Combining medication, expert support, and digital tools, the program helps individuals reach their weight loss goals. With personalized weight loss treatment plans, simple online access, and no hidden fees, it’s a flexible, affordable solution for lasting results. Learn more.*
Eat
Start 2025 with Thrive Market: organic groceries delivered right to your door. (They ban over 1,000 harmful ingredients.) Join here to get 30% off your order plus a free $60 gift.*
We’ve all been there. You’re sitting in bumper-to-bumper gridlock on I-35, 30 minutes away from your nearby destination, and thinking, “This is the worst traffic ever.”
The newly released INRIX 2024 Global Traffic Scorecard — which uses three years of transportation data to compare traffic patterns in 900+ cities across the globe — provides some perspective.
Austin ranked No. 22 in the study’s list of the most congested urban areas in the US. Here are more facts from 2024 to zoom through:
Austinites lost a total of 39 hours in traffic, compared to No. 1 New York City’s 102 hours.
Austin saw a 3% delay change, defined as the difference in travel time between overnight and peak hours.
On average, Austin drivers lost $698 each due to traffic.
The best two-piece sweatsuit for running errands, work-from-home days, or cozy weekends. We love the knit fabric and the roomy turtleneck design for extra comfort.
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