Granite from the train derailment still lies by the tracks. | Photo by ATXtoday
576. That’s how many Historical Markers and War Memorials exist in Travis County, according to The Historical Marker Database. How many of them do you know about?
Figi here. I get a kick out of finding and reading historical marker plaques around town, so I want to share a new one with you on Flashback Fridays.
Waters Park | Erected in 1996
Initially a “multi-ethnic community” north of Austin in the 19th century, Waters Park was built along the Austin + Northwestern Railroad. The rail was used to transport the pink granite used to construct the Texas Capitol, and if you look behind the tracks, you’ll see enormous chunks of granite that have been there likely since the late 1880s due to a train derailment. The tracks are now used as part of CapMetro’s Red Line.
Do you know of a historical marker you would like to share? Drop me a line.
“Mary Poppins” | Friday, Aug. 8-Sunday, Aug. 10 | Times vary | McCullough Theatre | $54 | Showings for this supercalifragilisticexpialidocious musical will be over before you know it, so grab tickets while you can.
Jurassic Quest | Friday, Aug. 8-Sunday, Aug. 10 | Times vary | Palmer Events Center | $31+ | Kids will have a dino-mite time excavating fossils, training a raptor, and stepping back in time at this traveling event.
Backyard BBQ: New School BBQ Night | 6-10 p.m. | Meanwhile Brewing Co. | $63 | Lauded chefs of Distant Relatives and MUM Foods will serve up a collaborative dinner, complete with desserts from Bésame, while you shop from a local vendor market and enjoy a vinyl DJ set.
AC-L Live Summer Sets | 7 p.m. | ACL Live at 3Ten | Free | Escape the heat while you dance to live DJ sets and sip cold drinks for sale.
Saturday, Aug. 9
Second Saturday | Times vary | Good Dad Studios | Cost of purchase | Shop from 100+ artists and makers in their natural habitat.
Full Moon Swim | 5-10 p.m. | Austin Motel | Free with RSVP | Gather your friends to take a dip under the full moon — Sunset Canyon and KC Powell will provide the tunes.
Kalimotxo Sunday Sessions | Times vary | Kalimotxo | Cost of purchase | Enjoy an all-day happy hour, rotating DJ sets, and discounted bites to send off the weekend.
Macy Gray | 8 p.m. | The Paramount Theatre | $25+ | The R&B-soul singer-songwriter will also be joined by local musician Mélat.
Saturday, Aug. 23
Austin Train Show | Saturday, Aug. 23-Sunday, Aug. 24 | Times vary | Palmer Events Center | $8+ | Explore 25,000+ sqft of vendors, model trains, rides, clinics, and prizes.
You can buy the art on the walls, but the hotel asks you leave it up through the end of the month for all to enjoy. | Photo courtesy Stephen F. Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel
Try This
The Stephen F. Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel unveiled The Rainbow Room in celebration of Austin Pride. The room package features for-sale art from locals Bode Robinson and Hailey Gearo, two complimentary Pride-themed cocktails + breakfast for two, and late check-out this month only.
Trending
Austinite and actor Glen Powell helped Longhorn football coach Steve Sarkisian award a scholarship to Marshall Landwehr, a fifth-year linebacker on the team. Landwehr has played in 15 games — watch the video. (KXAN)
Edu
Austin ISD will serve free breakfast and lunch to students at all of its 76 schools, thanks to funding from the Community Eligibility Provision program. No documentation is required for enrolled students to take part. (KVUE)
Number
5. That’s how many days Austin has had with temperatures of 100º or higher in all of 2025. Last year, there were 10 days above 100º in July alone, and 32 total. (Austin American-Statesman)
Real Estate
Austin ranked No. 1 on MSN’s list of “15 US Housing Markets That Have Survived Every Crash And Will Again.” Why? A remarkable ability to bounce back, an enduring spirit, and a robust economy.
Tech
The City of Austin launched a new app meant to make it easier for people experiencing homelessness to access helpful resources. Open Now shows information for healthcare, substance abuse support, cooling centers, water fountains, hygiene amenities, and more.
List
We’re not getting any younger. If you plan on staying in the Capital City until your golden years, you may want to look into renovation trends like widening doorways, upgrading bathrooms, and adjusting lighting — all of which are common among local homeowners who are “aging in place.” (CultureMap)
Sports
What does the Cowboys defense struggle with when you view it under a microscope? Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Dallas Cowboys with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Shop
Which medical cannabis products are available in Texas? We’ll let you in on a secret. Texas Original offers various medical cannabis products (everything from tinctures to chocolates) for patients in the Texas Compassionate Use Program. Pro tip: Don’t forget to peep the Lone Star state’s first RSO medical cannabis line.†‡*
Home
Need a roof you can rely on? Use HomeBuddy to compare prices, read reviews, and get matched with local roofing pros. Get started for free.*
Category
Business
💰 In case you missed it
Where were you when Firefly announced its IPO? | Photo by @kateheartscake
Austin businesses have had a busy week, and we’re making it our business to tell you all about their business.
Here are a few industry headlines you may have missed from the last week.
Firefly Aerospace went public
The Cedar Park-based aerospace company’s CEO Jason Kim rang the Opening Bell on Thursday, Aug. 7. The company made its Nasdaq debut at $70 per share under the ticker “FLY.” In other news, NASA awarded the company a $176.7 million contract to deliver two rovers and three scientific instruments to the moon’s south pole.
A $500 million investment in San Marcos
Austin-based American Ventures LLC is planning a 100-acre mixed-use district — with a proposed 1,196 multifamily units, hundreds of homes, a hotel, plus 144,200 sqft of office + retail space — in San Marcos.
Anaconda or unicorn?
Anaconda, an open-platform startup to develop AI products, secured $150 million in new venture capital, resulting in a $1.5 billion company valuation.
The Buy
Your new favorite pair of yoga pants:
🛍️ Under $150: For a show-stopping pair, Alo’s best-selling stirrup leggings feature a high-waist, sheer paneling, and a foot-hugging hem.
🛍️ Under $100: Snag lululemon’s classic Align yoga pants in trending colors like mystic pink and autumn rush.
🛍️Under $40: These butterluxe, high-waisted leggings on Amazon are rated 4.8 stars.
🛍️ Under $30: Move comfortably and securely in this Superflex high waist pair sold on Nordstrom Rack.
🛍️ Under $20: Want to try a wide-leg style? This best-selling pair is marked down for under $20.
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 gotten a shocking amount of local content ideas from VSauce, aka the “smartest man on YouTube.” His work taught me that neon brown doesn’t exist, but I also discovered the globe of most famous people born in every area around the world from this video.
‡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.
