Next time you see Austin’s flag, take a closer look. | Image courtesy of the City of Austin
Have you ever taken a close look at Austin’s crest? We’re here to share what its imagery means.
The flag was designed by artist Ray F. Coyle from San Francisco, who received $50 in winnings, in a contest called by Mayor A. P. Wooldridge in 1915. The flag was adopted by the city council in 1919.
The coat of arms
The wings and cross were pulled from the family coat of arms of Stephen F. Austin — aka the namesake of the Capital City. The shield colors match those of the Texas and US flags.
The lamp
The gold oil lamp, or the “lamp of knowledge,” signifies the “educational advantages” of living in Austin. Shout out to the many institutions of higher learning in the city.
The Capitol Building
Look behind the wings to see an outline of the Texas Capitol, which was 31 years old when the flag was accepted, in red and outlined in blue.
Events
Events
Wednesday, June 18
Music on Main | 7-9 p.m. | Prete Main Street Plaza, Round Rock | Free | Bring your blankets and lawn chairs to watch Bob Schneider perform in the heart of Round Rock.
Thursday, June 19
Grassy Thursdays | 6-9 p.m. | St. Elmo Brewing Company - Springdale | Cost of purchase | It’s live bluegrass night at the brewery, so head over for a performance + food truck eats.
Friday, June 20
Music Under the Star: The Tiarras | 7-9 p.m. | Bullock Texas State History Museum | Free | This local sister trio (and ACL Festival alums) will share the stage with Llamativa.
Saturday, June 21
“The Color Purple” 40th Anniversary Screening | Saturday, June 21-Sunday, June 22 | 7:30-9 p.m. | Bullock Texas State History Museum | $15 | The 1985 film adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel tells the story of love and overcoming tragedy.
Sunday, June 22
H-E-B Free Fourth Sunday | 1-5 p.m. | Texas Science & Natural History Museum | Free | Explore the museum’s fossils, meteorites, and wildlife exhibits at no cost on the fourth Sunday of each month.
The Red Line’s Downtown Station is temporarily closed, making Plaza Saltillo its final stop for the time being, due to construction on the Austin Convention Center. In the meantime, bus service will take transit users the rest of the way to the Downtown area. (KVUE)
Concert
Put your “Headphones On,” because TikTok star-turned-pop star Addison Rae will bring her tour to town on Monday, Sept. 22. Tickets for “The Addison Tour” at ACL Live at the Moody Theater go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 20.
Austinite
Local recording artist Mama Duke appeared on “America’s Got Talent” for an audition during an episode that premiered last night. You’ll need to watch the episode to see how she fared, but here’s a peek at her performance.
Try This
Cap City Comedy Club is hunting for the funniest person in town. The comedy club launched its “Funniest Person in Austin” contest yesterday, and it needs your help choosing from 250 contestants. The winner will receive a prize purse of $3,000 — get tickets to the preliminary rounds.
Eat
Want to get a free breakfast to celebrate the NBA Draft next week? The San Antonio Spurs and Whataburger teamed up to give out honey butter chicken biscuits from 7 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 25 in Austin and San Antonio. See which locations are participating. (KVUE)
Legacy
The owner of the nearly 50-year-old Texas Chili Parlor, Scott Zublin, died at the age of 67 earlier this month. Known as “Zoob” to many, Zublin purchased the restaurant in 2002 to save it from closure by the state comptroller due to unpaid debt. (Austin Business Journal)
Sports
Athlon Sports says the Longhorns have the best defense in college football going into the 2025 season. Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Texas Longhorns with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Number
3. That’s how many steps it takes to see if you qualify for a medical cannabis prescription in the Lone Star State. Not sure if you qualify? Learn what conditions qualify under the Texas Compassionate Use Program, and see how Texas Original can help you throughout the process.†‡*
Plan Ahead
Does your business have an upcoming event? Promote it in ATXtoday. Head to our self-service ad portal to find an option that works for your budget — from eye-catching banner ads to engaging social posts.
Job
Wrangle big deals from home — 6AM City is hiring a remote Sales Executive in Texas. $70K+ OTE, uncapped commission, premium health benefits, and PTO that’s actually unlimited. Apply today to join our team.
Home
Still climbing ladders to clean your gutters? HomeBuddy installs premium gutter guards in just a few hours — and it’s 100% no-clog guaranteed. See your local offer.*
Category
Food
🐦 A little Birdie told us
Arjav Ezekiel’s beverage program at Birdie’s includes the Gems List, featuring “baller, special occasion wines.” | Photo by @evakolenko via @birdiesaustin + @arjavezekiel
Arjav Ezekiel — the beverage director + co-owner of “fine casual” French and Italian restaurant Birdie’s — is Austin’s newest James Beard Award winner.
Ezekiel accepted his award during the 2025 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards at the Lyric Opera Chicago on Monday, June 16.
His wife and fellow co-owner, Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel, was nominated for Best Chef Texas last year. Ezekiel was sure to mention her in his speech, saying “this award, this moment, none of it happens in a world where I didn’t meet you.”
You can visit the MICHELIN-recommended restaurant Tuesday-Saturday for a $68 prix-fixe menu. The restaurant does not accept reservations, except for large parties.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
I’ve been really into permanent jewelry recently, so I’m really excited to check out Loveweld’s new flagship store opening on 632 N. Lamar Blvd. It opens on Saturday, June 21 — keep an eye out for our sneak peek into its space.
‡Texas CUP License No. 0005. Please note: Legalities in your state may vary. Texas Original advises consumers to read the company’s terms and conditions. Patients must consult a physician and receive a prescription to purchase medical cannabis products. The information about providers and services contained in this newsletter does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by ATXtoday.
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