Located in the former Austin Eastciders Taproom, Stargazer is a great place to work or bring friends for a nightcap. | Photo by ATXtoday
Wakey wakey — Figi here. Few simple joys outweigh a trip to a new cafe for an expertly crafted cup of coffee.
I’ve visited 50+ coffee shops in ATX, so I wanted to share a few of my favorites. Psst — my go-to order is an iced vanilla latte, but if there’s a special, I usually order it.
For a super creamy drink
Café Crème | This French-Vietnamese cafe not only offers super creamy lattes, homemade breakfast tacos, and seasonal bites — it’s also a marketplace for local artists.
For an unbeatable London Fog
Plaza Colombian Coffee Bar | This south Austin coffee shop has it all: Colombian coffee, gourmet teas, guava pastries, cocktails, and an outdoor patio.
For a day-to-night spot
Stargazer | This day-to-night coffee shop and bar is a great place to work or play, as it is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Try the “Lunar Landing” cocktail and don’t miss the on-site food trucks.
“A Strange Loop” | Thursday, Sept. 4-Sunday, Sept. 14 | Times vary | The Long Center | $53 | This comedy from Deaf Austin Theatre about a Black, deaf, and queer writer is told through spoken English, ASL, and captions.
Friday, Sept. 5
Mosaics & Mocktails | 6-8 p.m. | The Mosaic Workshop | $25+ | Sip two handcrafted botanical beverages while you create a guided mosaic coaster.
Zilker Relays | 6-10 p.m. | Zilker Park | $370+ | Lace up your running shoes for a 10-mile team race with a festival and live music at the finish line. Psst — spectating is free.
Saturday, Sept. 6
Bat Fest | 3-11 p.m. | Ann W. Richards Congress Ave Bridge | $25+ | Celebrate Austin’s tiny winged residents at this 19th annual tradition with tons of art vendors, entertainment for kiddos, and bat sightings.
Sunday, Sept. 7
The Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival | 3-9 p.m. | The Far Out Lounge & Stage | $15+ | Strap in for a celebration of heat by tasting and voting on the best hot sauce, while enjoying live tunes + ice-cold drinks all in support of the Central Texas Food Bank.
Wednesday, Sept. 17
Andrew Bird with Orchestra | 7:30 p.m. | Bass Concert Hall | $54+ | With nearly 30 years of performing under his belt, the violinist will celebrate 20 years of his record, “The Mysterious Production of Eggs.”
Persian restaurant Roya will land a permanent brick-and-mortar in the North Shoal Creek area, following several years of pop-ups, this fall. Helmed by chef-owner Amir Hajimaleki — who co-owns Silk Road Hospitality Group — the high-end restaurant will have a seasonal menu, caviar service, and kebabs. (Austin Business Journal)
Coming Soon
The owners of Elephant Room and Parker Jazz Club plan to open a new venture later this month. Prohibition-era-inspired cocktail bar Nica will open on West 4th Street on Thursday, Sept. 18 and has a 100-person capacity. (CultureMap)
Drink
Speaking of coffee, a new shop called Lau Lau is now serving up brewed drinks with Asian-inspired flavors. Located near UT’s campus, the shop is currently in its soft opening phase and offers treats like a fish sauce caramel latte, Chinese five spice cortado, red miso + furikake biscuits, and pineapple buns. (Community Impact)
Weather
Is it still hot in here? August 30 is the last day of triple-digit weather on average in Austin, and at the very least, 100º weather typically declines substantially in September. That said, Austin’s final 100º day last year fell on October 13. (KXAN)
Fun Fact
Did you know the oldest town in Texas was founded in 1779? Nacogdoches, which sits 227 miles east of Austin, was established 60 years before the Capital City. Still, there’s plenty of history to uncover right here at home. (Business Insider)
Environment
The Texas A&M Forest Service is now offering a free online course teaching forest literacy. The two-hour class covers forest contribution, management, conservation, and how to gauge forest health. Get more info on the class. (KXAN)
Sports
The Cowboys will face off against the Eagles in their first game of the season — can they pull off a win after losing Micah Parsons? Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Dallas Cowboys with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Try This
Oh, snap — your amateur photo skills could score you big prizes. Join the Downtown Austin Alliance’s Soak Up Summer photo scavenger hunt, snap photos at participating businesses, and win gift cards — or even a staycation. Text ATX SUMMER to 512-890-3099 to get started.*
Featured Deal
Hair loss deserves more than guesswork. That’s why we’ve partnered with Happy Head. Use code 6AM to get 45% off a dermatologist-developed, customizable treatment plan for hair loss.*
Aside from megapacks and weekly coupons, did you know several retailers offer customers 55+ hefty discounts — sometimes up to 20% off? Learn about key Senior discounts and several more savings hacks older adults should know about to continue saving and building wealth at age 50+.*
Finance
When some of the big investors who backed companies like Uber and eBay before they IPO’d invest in a new company, people take note. That’s the case with Pacaso — 10,000+ everyday investors are already in. But the chance to join them ends Thursday, Sept. 18. Learn more about the opportunity.†‡*
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 experienced some Irish hospitality last night at the Grá Mór opening and had the most difficult time choosing which drink to try off the delicious cocktail menu. Stay tuned for my favorites.
‡‡Finance “investment method” disclaimer: This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the Nasdaq is subject to approvals. Comparisons to other companies are for informational purposes only and should not imply similar success. Under Regulation A+, a company has the ability to change its share price by up to 20%, without requalifying the offering with the SEC.
