Our seasonal Parents’ Gift Guide is in the works, and we want to feature your business’s product or service. Secure your spot just in time for Mother’s and Father’s Day celebrations.
🏨 Checking in
Stepping into the Driskill Hotel is like stepping into Austin ~140 years ago. | Photo by Kenneth C. Zirkel
139 years. That’s how long the Driskill Hotel has stood on East 6th and Brazos streets.
The building opened in 1886, replacing a “ragged-looking block” of old houses in the city center. Austinites that year may have told you they would miss the “old land-marks” the hotel replaced, while Austinites today would tell you the Driskill is a staple of Downtown.
Name another area of town that has remained as steady as the Driskill Hotel.
Colonel Jesse Lincoln Driskill, a cattle baron, purchased the land the hotel was built on for $7,500 in 1884 — talk about a steal. Fun fact: The Texas Capitol was under construction during the same time. Upon opening, the Driskill Hotel held 60 rooms and cost $400,000 (or $92 million in today’s money) to build.
A hotel for the Austin elite
The Driskill became LBJ’s headquarters in Austin during his (successful) presidential campaign in 1964, and the Governor’s Suite remained reserved for him at all times.
President Lyndon B. Johnson watched the results of his successful reelection campaign in the Driskill’s Hogg Parlor.
Photo provided by The Driskill
In 1966, the Texas Historical Commission designated the hotel a historical landmark.
Art in the Park | 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | Fiesta Gardens Pavilion | Donation based | Flex your creativity at this inclusive festival with hands-on activities and live performances.
Aziz Ansari | 9:30 p.m. | The Paramount Theatre | $95+ | Laugh along with the “Parks and Recreation” and “Master of None” alum on his Moontower Comedy Festival stop.
Friday, April 11
Spurs Watch Party | 8 p.m. | Downright Austin | Cost of purchase | Watch the game on a 16-ft screen with a cocktail in hand, and don’t skip the custom cowboy hat bar.
Saturday, April 12
Blanton All Day: As I Grow | 10 a.m.-8 p.m. | Blanton Museum of Art | $20 | Enjoy a full day of activities, from storytimes and guided art walks to ikebana flower arranging and live music performances.
Adam Ray Presents: “Dr. Phil LIVE” | 7 p.m. | Bass Concert Hall | $39+ | Moontower Comedy Festival will present this impersonator known for his mock version of Dr. Phil.
Tuesday, April 22
Khruangbin | Tuesday, April 22-Wednesday, April 23 | 7 p.m. | Moody Amphitheater | $74+ | The alternative band from Houston will perform its “A La Sala” tour in the Capital City.
Willie Nelson’s likeness has returned to East 7th Street after a fire caused the demolition of a mural of him earlier this year. Its original artist, Wiley Ross, was commissioned to paint a nearly identical version on the other side of the building at bar Seven Grand. (KUT)
Outdoors
Athena the owl’s newest owlet has hatched, and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center caught a glimpse of the baby. There’s another on the way, because Athena laid another egg a few days after the first.
Austinite
Local billionaire and JP’s Peace, Love & Happiness Foundation philanthropist John Paul DeJoria — aka co-founder of John Paul Mitchell Systems and Patrón Spirits — will celebrate his first annual “John Paul DeJoria Day” today. The holiday will be proclaimed by City Council members today at City Hall.
Sports
Southeastern Conference freshman of the year Tre Johnson declared for the NBA draft after just one season with the Texas Longhorns. Johnson averaged 19.7 points throughout the season and is widely expected to be a top-five pick in June. (KXAN)
Traffic
A new 183A toll road is now open between Leander and Liberty Hill. The five-mile roadway will cost ~$2.38 to drive. When the 183 North Project is finished next year, the tolls will run the whole way from Liberty Hill to MoPac. (KXAN)
Answered
Thomas “Peg Leg” W. Ward and John “Rip” S. Ford were both the names of real Austin mayors, but 46% of ATXtoday readers guessed that Timothy “Thneed” R. Sneed was a made-up name in our recent quiz. Kirk Watson is also a real name — read our Q+A with the sitting mayor.
Listen
What’s in store for the Longhorns’ transfer portal? Steve Sarkisian had some things to say. Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Texas Longhorns with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Community
Get ready to start your engines, Austin. You’re invited to Cars, Coffee & Croissants at Mozart’s on Saturday, April 12, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Enjoy a morning of iconic cars, great coffee + delicious pastries, and lakeside vibes at this family-friendly event, featuring the Hill Country Region Porsche Club.*
Stat
$3,500. That’s how much dough you might have to drop if your dog eats their chew toy. Yes, pets are expensive, but they’re worth it — and this pet insurance could reimburse 90% of those expenses.*
Number
5. That’s how many minutes it takes to read 1440’s daily newsletter — an unbiased, fact-centric digest of global events, culture, business, and beyond. Subscribe for free.*
Announced
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.
Category
Watch
🎞️ A reel-ly good time
Get ready for more than 90 screenings at the Paramount Theatre this summer. | Photo by ATXtoday
Back for its 51st year, the beloved theater’s tradition will kick off Thursday, May 22 and run 90+ screenings through the summer. Let’s take a peek into opening week’s schedule:
Thursday, May 22
“Casablanca” presented in 35mm and “Breathless” double-feature
Saturday, May 24
“Jaws” 50th anniversary screening
“After Hours” and “Into The Night” presented by Austin-based director Robert Rodriguez
Sunday, May 25
“Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back” 45th anniversary screening
“There Will Be Blood” in 35mm
Wednesday, May 28
“Best In Show” and “Waiting For Guffman” in 35mm
Grab your popcorn. Tickets for opening week showings are available now, starting at $15 each.
The Buy
The Buy
There’s nothing like a seasonal wardrobe refresh. Join us in adding these five spring activewear essentials to your cart:
Did you know only one US president graduated from college in Texas? President LBJ went to my alma mater, Texas State University, so I happen to know a lot of trivia about him.
Here’s my favorite fun fact: LBJ was an enormous prankster. He used to drive people in his Amphicar(a car that turns into a boat) and pretend the brakes weren’t working just before they hit the water, miming a crash.
The Buy
The shoe of the summer: sneaker mules (aka smules). Effortlessly stylish and easy to slip on, these can be paired with your go-to shorts, sundresses, linen jumpsuits, and more. These are five of our favorites:
👟 Under $150: Dolce Vita’s sporty-chic sneaker mules in a fun + flirty pink floral pattern.
👟 Under $80: This pair by Anne Klein that will go with practically everything in your closet.
👟 Under $60: Blowfish Malibu’s platform style with adjustable lacing and a unique patterned insole.
👟 Under $50: These Naturalizer white leather smules made with comfort technology for all-day walking.
👟 Under $30: These canvas kicks available in 15+ colors and constructed with a memory foam insole for maximum comfort.
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