Austin Parks Foundation’s Rock & Recycle program has been replicated at festivals all around the world. | Photo by Katrina Barber
$71 million. That’s how much money the partnership between ACL Festival and Austin Parks Foundation has raised to care for Austin’s green spaces in 20+ years — $8.4 million of which came from 2024’s festival alone.
The organizations joined forces in 2006 and have since contributed to the funding of hundreds of park restorations, renovations, and new construction. APF CEO Colin Wallis, who has been leading the nonprofit since 2012, said the partnership is a huge boon and accounts for ~60% of APF’s funding.
Impact on the Great Lawn
The “biggest misconception” about ACL each year — according to avid ACL attendee Wallis — is that it ruins the Great Lawn.
Grass in Austin would typically go dormant in November or December, but with hundreds of thousands of people walking over the lawn over six days, the grass turns brown and goes inactive early. Once the fest ends, workers comb the lawn to pick up trash, repair sprinklers, and occasionally replace grass.
“That grass is the healthiest grass of any place in Austin. I mean, it’s got roots a foot deep,” Wallis said. “The only reason (Zilker Park has) a lawn is because of ACL.”
35,000. That’s how many passengers are expected to depart out of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport during both weekends of ACL Festival, so if you’re planning to fly this weekend, make sure to arrive early. (KXAN)
Award
Austin-based Oca Foods and Tozi Super Foods took the top two awards in the H-E-B Quest for Texas Best, winning $50,000 and $25,000, respectively. You can expect to see Oca’s Peanut Butter Bites on a shelf near you soon.
Civic
Did you get an alert from the City of Austin Emergency Management on your phone yesterday? It was a test from the FEMA-approved Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Alerting Authority, which will help local government deliver alerts to folks in Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties. (KXAN)
Community
Austin’s new Native American Cultural Center opened in the former Brooke Elementary School campus over the weekend. The space is dedicated to preserving Native American heritage — check out its event calendar with Austin Powwow. (KXAN)
Opening
A new “brunch-forward” restaurant near the shores of Lady Bird Lake will open on Wednesday, Oct. 1. Fat Rabbit Social House will be located on the first floor of the San Jacinto Center, with access from the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, in the former Forthright Cafe space. (CultureMap)
Trending
You might want to get your steps in, because you never know who might join in on your next “hot girl walk.” Alana, Este, and Danielle of the band HAIM joined Austinites for a stroll along the Hike-and-Bike Trail ahead of their show at the Moody Center last week — some of the walkers said the superstar sisters even bought them coffee. (KVUE)
Concert
C’est la vie. Rapper Doja Cat may have canceled her ACL Festival performance, but she’s bringing the “Tour Ma Vie World Tour” to the Moody Center in November 2026. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 10.
Sports
Micah Parson’s return to Dallas — albeit wearing yellow and green — was the main focus of the Cowboys’ tied game against the Packers on Sunday night. Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Dallas Cowboys with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Travel
Alabama’s Beaches aren’t just about the waves: Visit the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, catch a show at The Wharf, or dive into family fun at Adventure Island. Plan a fall trip to explore attractions that make your beach trip special.*
Finance
Tackling debt is crucial for many Americans in 2025. This trending card — “worth its weight in gold,” according to experts — offers 0% intro APR on balance transfers into 2027. (Read: Nearly two years of interest-free payments.)Learn more + apply.*
Watch
Psst … you shouldn’t be paying for multiple streaming services. Save money and watch all your favorite blockbusters when you bundle Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max. Plans start at $16.99.*
Category
Drink
☕️ Hole in the wall
You can also order at the counter and have your coffee delivered through the hole if you want the best of both worlds experience at A Hole Coffee. | Photo by ATXtoday
This new coffee shop is causing a hole lot of buzz.
A Hole Coffee, located off East 7th Street across from Joe’s Bakery, has been popping up all over social media for its unique delivery methods.
You can choose your experience at this mystical coffee truck: either order on the extrovert side at the counter (where you can talk to a barista) or the introvert side (where you order through a QR code and your coffee is delivered through a hole in the wall).
By the way, you can venture behind the hole to find plenty of seating, plus the Guac And Go food truck and pickleball at The Racquet Club.
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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 have a lot of ear jewelry — 14 ear piercings to be exact. I’ve been collecting them for ~20 years, but most of them came from Platinum Ink. If you want to add to your stack, I would recommend visiting on a Sunday, when prices are $9 off for most ear piercings.
