We crunched the numbers and compiled your official ATXtoday’s Best nominees. Now comes the fun part: voting. Now through Friday, April 25, you can vote for your favorites in each category. Winners will be announced Monday, May 5.
🤸🏼♀️ Let’s go to the park
Visitors to Bull Creek Park often swim, fish, or hike alongside the stream that cuts through the center of the park. | Photo by @oozoo_
Daylight saving time has begun, giving us an extra hour for soaking up the sun in the evening.
Whether you’re looking for a place to play with the kiddos or decompress with some off-screen time, Austin features plenty of parks and recreational spots for you to enjoy.
Before we roll out the picnic blanket, let’s look at a few fast facts about Austin’s park system:
Austin is home to 512 parks — yes, really — making up 11% of the city’s land.
69% of Austin residents live within a half-mile or 10-minute walk to a park.
Austin’s median park size is 6.7 acres.
Nationally, Austin sits above average on park investments, spending a total of $198 per resident each year on improving its parks system.
Ready to plan your trip to the park? Grab your shades and trusty water bottle — here are some of the Capital City’s best.
Arts & Crafts Night: Sip & Paint a Pot | 6 p.m. | Meanwhile Brewing | Cost of purchase | Choose a planter, then use provided paints, stencils, and more art supplies to customize it before taking it home.
Music on the Trail | 6-7:30 p.m. | Rainey Street Trailhead | Free | Bring your lawn chairs and blankets to relax near the trail and listen to local musicians.
Thursday, March 13
Rodeo Season Kick Off | 5-8 p.m. | Tecovas | Free with RSVP | Sip complimentary Lalo Tequila cocktails and enter to win two tickets to the rodeo championship + a new pair of Tecovas boots.
Friday, March 14
Cleveland Monsters vs. Texas Stars | 7 p.m. | H-E-B Center, Cedar Park | $26+ | Cheer our AHL ice hockey team on to victory with an ice cold beer in hand.
Saturday, March 15
Malin’s First Birthday | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Pease Park | Free | Swing by the park to celebrate the troll’s birthday with cupcakes, live music, and photo ops.
Travis County’s burn ban was extended through Tuesday, April 8 due to a combination of strong winds, low humidity, and dry flora. Residents should avoid outdoor burning + using charcoal grills, keep cars off of dry grass, and remain vigilant about fire risks.
Coming Soon
I scream, you scream. Bésame, a local ice cream purveyor, will expand with new locations in Tarrytown, Cedar Park, and Buda. The company launched out of a shipping container at Meanwhile Brewing in 2021 and its limited edition pints drop at 7:30 p.m. every Thursday.
Biz
Austin-based Care.com will move its headquarters to Dallas later this spring. The company — which was founded in 2006 — connects folks to caregiver, tutoring, and housekeeping services and will continue to operate an office in Austin. (Austin Business Journal)
Regional
Construction will begin in May on a new Marriott hotel and convention center in Cedar Park’s 118-acre CedarView development. The hotel will feature 300 guest rooms, 30,000 sqft of event + meeting space, a restaurant, a breakfast cafe, and a pool. (Austin Business Journal)
Announced
The Fannie Davis Gazebo is now a historic landmark. Originally dubbed the Town Lake Gazebo, it was the first public structure built to enhance the beauty of Lady Bird Lake’s shores in 1969 and was renamed in 1984 to honor the advocate for women in construction.
Ranked
Austin is the No. 17 best city in the South, according to Southern Living. The Capital City was praised for its live music, swimming holes, small businesses, and breweries. The magazine also named Franklin Barbecue the best barbecue in the state of Texas.
Trending
Keith Lee — a food critic and TikTok star with 17 million followers — stopped in Austin for SXSW and ate at la Barbecue. Lee gave the MICHELIN-starred restaurant’s pork ribs a 9.5 out of 10 and said the meal was “some of the best barbecue” he’s had in his life.
Small Biz
Own a small business in town? Let us highlight you during Small Business Week from Sunday, May 4 to Saturday, May 10. Plus, you can offer a deal, a limited menu item, or host a special event for our readers to enjoy. Join us by filling out this form by Sunday, March 16.
Sports
The Cowboys made three outside free-agent signings on Monday night — how will the new players fit into the roster? Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Dallas Cowboys with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Job
Do you have a passion for all things Northern Virginia, a knack for storytelling, and a drive to engage readers? We’re hiring a creative and dynamic Newsletter Editor to join our team at NOVAtoday and craft daily, hyper-local content. We’ve got the perks just for you: competitive salary, 401K with company match of 4%, and so much more. Apply now.
Try This
Looking to build your dream team? Connect with incredible local talent right here in your community. Post your job listing with us today — first one is free — and find the perfect fit for your team in no time.
The Buy
The Buy
A pair of buttery soft joggers. They’re available in 16 different colors, including posh pastels like pink suede and mint green that are perfect for spring.
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