That’s no fail — Fail Jewelry is built with angular shapes and colorful gemstones. | Photo courtesy Fail Jewelry
Local fine jewelry store Eliza Page celebrates 20 years in business this year, and to celebrate, it’s helping to keep Austin beautiful with the 15th annual Austin Shines jewelry design competition.
Now, there are 21 finalists from Central Texas in the running to win a prize of $1,000 for first place or $500 for second place, professional consultation from local companies like Kendra Scott + Giant Noise, and a six-month residency at Eliza Page. The winner will be announced on Friday, Sept. 5.
Let’s meet some of the finalists.
Anvil + Aura | Small wonders like shark teeth, molten pebbles, and stingray barbs take center stage in this brand.
Hine Fine Jewelry | These pieces are perfect for the modern cowgirl and are made by a tenth-generation Texan.
Jewelry from this designer is sure to turn heads. | Photo courtesy Jamie Turner
Jamie Turner | Wavy gold silhouettes, plus gemstones in shades of green and blue, are characteristic of this local jeweler.
Hestia Lonestar Dinner Series: Olamaie | 5:30-10 p.m. | Hestia | $200+ | Michelin-recognized Chef Amanda Turner will join Hestia to create a tasting menu that highlights the unique styles of both restaurants.
Funniest Person In Austin Competition | Tuesday, Aug. 19-Wednesday, Aug. 20 | 7:30 p.m. | Cap City Comedy Club | $20+ | Join in on the search to find the best comedian in Austin through a series of shows throughout the summer.
Wednesday, Aug. 20
Rosé All Day | 4:30-8 p.m. | Wine & Food Foundation | $60+ | Join Emmer & Rye Hospitality Wine Director Ali Schmidt, who will guide you through a rosé flight paired with bites from Ezov.
Austin Gambler’s Happy Hour | 5-6:30 p.m. | YETI Flagship | Free with RSVP | Meet some of the PBR champs, snap a picture, and grab a drink to celebrate.
Thursday, Aug. 21
Ear Hustle Live | 8 p.m. | The Paramount Theatre | $36 | The co-hosts and co-creators of the Pulitzer Prize finalist podcast will share stories about the prison experience.
Friday, Aug. 29
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” | 9 p.m. | The Paramount Theatre | $12 | See the iconic performance of Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in this cult classic musical.
Kendra’s back, tell a friend. Kendra Scott will return to the role of interim CEO at her eponymously named company after the departure of Tom Nolan and two other executives. Scott was previously CEO from 2002, when she founded the company, until 2021. (Austin Business Journal)
Sports
We hope you weren’t waiting until the last minute to buy Longhorn tix, because home game tickets for the season are sold out for the fourth year in a row. If you do have tickets, get your horns up for the home opener against San Jose State on Saturday, Sept. 6. (KXAN)
Number
$2.7 billion. That’s how much New York-based MCR Hotels is spending to acquire outstanding shares of Soho House & Co. Inc., which has a location of the members-only club on South Congress Avenue here in Austin, meaning the club will go private. (Austin Business Journal)
Travel
Southwest Airlines will launch three new seasonal routes out of Austin in March. Fort Myers, FL and Steamboat Springs, CO will run on Saturdays, while Palm Springs, CA will fly on Saturday and Sunday. (KXAN)
Eat
You’re welcome, Longhorns.Lil’ Ramen Tatsu-Ya is now open on the Drag in West Campus, just in time for back-to-school season.
Concert
Violinist Lindsey Stirling will bring the holiday cheer to town this year. “The Snow Waltz Tour” will stop at the H-E-B Center in Cedar Park on Thursday, Dec. 4 — presale starts today at 10 a.m. and public sale will be Friday, Aug. 22 at 10 a.m.
Ranked
Brainiac alert. UT Austin, Southwestern University in Georgetown, and Texas State University in San Marcos were all mentioned in The Princeton Review’s 2026 edition of “The Best 391 Colleges” list.
Asked
“Now you can shut that door on me, or we can walk through it together.” Pop quiz — is this quote from Matthew McConaughey or Taylor Swift? Take a guess.
Sports
Preseason games are here and while the Texans toppled the Panthers, the Cowboys were bested by the Ravens. Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Try This
Mozart’s is throwing it back on Wednesday, Aug. 20 at 7:30 p.m., with a live soundtrack of ‘70s and ‘80s hits plus rapid-fire trivia between sets. Bonus: You can groove from the deck or upgrade your view by floating lakeside on a paddleboard or tube. RSVP here.*
Wellness
Support your liver’s daily grind with Dose. This orange juice-flavored shot blends curcumin, milk thistle, ginger, and dandelion root into a vegan, sugar-free, and gluten-free formula. Try Dose for 30% off — your liver will thank you later.*
Learn
AI won’t take over the world — people who know how to use AI will. Learn AI skills in three minutes a day with Superhuman AI newsletter. Subscribe for free.*
Category
City
💸 Let’s get fiscal
The new Austin Convention Center will feature sweeping art installations, like this example of a colorful canopy walkway. | Rendering provided by the Austin Convention Center Department and LMN/Page
$6.3 billion. That’s how much Austin’s new fiscal year 2025-2026 budget was approved for. We’re taking a deeper dive into the budget this week — let’s talk notable investments.
A proposed ~$51.5 million will go to the Homeless Strategies and Operations department, including allocations for Rapid Rehousing, Permanent Supportive Housing, and the HEAL initiative.
Emergency services will see investments including an additional 62 sworn EMS positions, funding for the Expanded Mobile Crisis Outreach Team, wildfire prevention equipment, and expanded firefighter training.
This budget prioritizes park and green space improvements, including $8.2 million in additional funding for maintenance and restoration.
For the gym: Shop this strappy sports bra for a cute, ribbed look that’s non-padded and stretchy for extra comfort. For v-necks: This best-selling deep v bra features no underwire, seamless edges, and a material that’s soft on skin. For tees: Calvin Klein’s Invisibles comfort bralette is made from soft and smooth microfiber and is lightly lined for coverage.
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 like jewelry that stands out, and I like to wear a lot of it at once, so one of my favorite local creators is Mimi’s Origamis. I have a pair of these crane earrings to add a little bit of whimsy to every outfit.
