Love is in the air at Serenade. | Photo by Michael Kleinberg
Can you feel the love tonight? Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and reservations at local hot spots are filling up quickly.
Wooing your new fling or celebrating your forever love has never been easier — we’ve already curated some of the most romantic experiences the Capital City has to offer. Now, all you have to do is book.
Reserve a table
Fall in love with Barley Swine’s deep beer list and rotating menus.
Barley Swine, 6555 Burnet Rd., Ste. #400 This MICHELIN-starred restaurant will extend its seatings each night from Thursday, Feb. 13 through Sunday, Feb. 16, making it the perfect time for you and your date to try chef and owner Bryce Gilmore’s lauded tasting menu.
Serenade American Brasserie, 200 Lavaca St. Wine and dine your partner at this newly opened Downtown restaurant, which will offer a four-course prix-fixe menu of seasonal dishes. Psst — each booking comes with a reservation in the Blue Room for a nightcap.
Howdy Country Music Pop-Up | 4:20 p.m. | Allens Boots | Free | See Austin-based band The Point perform at this party hosted by the cannabis-infused seltzer brand Howdy.
Molecular Steve | 8 p.m. | ACL Live at 3TEN | $10+ | The night will kick off with a performance from Stella and the Very Messed, then the Austin-based indie band with nine members will take the stage.
Saturday, Jan. 18
Brewery Tour | Times vary | Jester King Brewery | $11 | Tour this Hill Country brewery known for its goats and good times.
“Renew: A Celebration Of New Beginnings” | 6-10 p.m. | Good Dad Studios | Free | Spend your Saturday night at the opening reception for a gallery that represents fresh starts and transformation.
Sunday, Jan. 19
Dolly’s Birthday Party | 9 p.m. | Kitty Cohen’s | Cost of purchase | Celebrate the queen of country, sing karaoke, and wear your best Dolly-inspired costume to compete in a contest.
Monday, Jan. 20
MLK Day Donation Drive | 12-5 p.m. | Kingsbury Commons in Pease Park | Cost of purchase | Bring items for a local food pantry and Austin Diaper Bank, or sign up for a volunteer shift at this community event.
After decades of closing to vehicular traffic Thursday-Sunday, East 6th Street will now remain open to westbound traffic all weekend. Instead of walking through the street, pedestrians will use widened sidewalks that are protected by fencing, which the city hopes will improve safety.
Opening
50% bar, 50% bodega, 100% Texas. That’s the motto at Handsome Dan’s, a new watering hole set to open on Monday, Jan. 20 on Springdale Road. The marina-inspired locale will offer sandwiches, Texas beers, nonalcoholic brews on tap, and more.
Closed
Con Todo, a MICHELIN-recommended taco truck run by James Beard semifinalist chef Joseph Gomez, has closed. Gomez took to Instagram to announce the closure, stating it was the best decision for his family, but noting “this isn’t the end.”
Announced
Mukbangs, monologues, and music videos, oh my. YouTuber and internet personality Trisha Paytas will bring “The Eras of Trish” tour to ACL Live at The Moody Theater on Sunday, May 18. Tickets to the show go on sale at 10 a.m. today.
Coming Soon
Oliver Peoples is on its way to ATX. The Los Angeles-based, luxury eyewear brand will open its first Austin boutique at Domain NORTHSIDE, joining other Texas locations in Dallas, Houston, and The Woodlands. Its opening date is yet-to-be announced.
Festival
Early bird tickets to the 38th annual Old Settler’s Music Festival, set for Thursday, April 24-Sunday, April 27, are on sale now. The fest takes place on a 145-acre ranch, and its 2025 lineup is still forthcoming.
Local officials are working to overhaul short-term rental regulations within city limits — but they want to hear from you first. Attend a joint public hearing in February to weigh in on the proposed changes before they’re taken to City Council in April.
Sports
Tune in at 8:30 p.m. tonight to watch the Spurs take on the Memphis Grizzlies — and get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the San Antonio Spurs with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Shop
Upgrade your home printing with the HP Smart Tank 7602, featuring wireless setup, fast printing speeds, and two years of ink included. Get $120 off for a limited time.*
Finance
When this card hit the market, it became the do-it-all card that took the top spot in thousands of peoples’ wallets. Perks include a significant first-year bonus, up to 5% cashback on everyday purchases, no annual fee, and 0% intro APR on purchases + balance transfers into 2026. Cha-ching.*
Category
Food
🥬 Lettuce talk about farmers markets
The Texas Farmers’ Market at Mueller got a new home with the opening of the Branch Park Pavilion. | Photo by ATXtoday
In the Capital City, there are countless ways to support local business vendors — especially at our farmers markets.
As Austin continues to grow, we’ve discovered even more markets you’ve got to check out during your next fresh produce run.
A reading journal. Use it to write notes about the books you’re reading — like quotes that catch your eye, pages you want to come back to, and your overall rating. Pro tip: Use multicolor pens to make filling out your journal even more fun.
If you’re a Spurs fan, you won’t want to miss the official watch party at Armadillo Den for the Saturday, Jan. 25 game against the Indiana Pacers in Paris. Expect music by DJ DMoney, free coffee + French pastries, and Paris-inspired photo ops.
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