Back in 1925, Austinites would go to the Majestic Theatre to watch magic shows, vaudeville, and silent films. | Photo via Paramount Theatre, 1925; University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History; crediting Texas Historical Commission.
Here’s a challenge: Take a walk Downtown and count all the historical markers you see. Without spoiling anything, it’s a lot. Here are a few to get your sightseeing journey started.
Old Bakery | Erected in 1966
Back in 1876, Austinites would line up with baskets to take home hot loaves of bread (which did not come sliced or wrapped) made at this bakery, which also served delicacies including ladyfingers and macarons. Nowadays, the building is home to the Austin Heritage Society’s tourist information center.
Paramount Theatre | Erected in 1976
The theater has steadily been a hub for entertainment for over a century, hosting vaudeville, Harry Houdini, and silent films from celebrities like Charlie Chaplin + Greta Garbo in its early days.
Stephen F. Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel | Erected in 2002
The second-oldest hotel in the city, behind the Driskill, this inn opened in 1924 and was originally going to be named “The Texas.” Instead, it was named after Stephen F. Austin in response to local input.
🚂 All aboard: “Murder on the Orient Express” opens this month
Presented by Zach Theater
Photo credit: AxelB Photography
Don your detective caps. Zach Theater’s strikingly cinematic “Murder on the Orient Express” steams onto the stage starting Wednesday, Jan. 21, through March 1.
Look forward to sharp dialogue, surprising twists, and plenty of 1930s grandeur as Agatha Christie’s iconic detective Hercule Poirot leads a brilliant chase through deception and suspense.
You’ll laugh. You’ll gasp. You’ll be blown away by the opulent sets and costumes.
You can start the New Year off strong with three new Austin Pilates studios. Internationally recognized Pilates instructor Olga Roberts will open her first-ever studio on West 3rd Street on Monday, Jan. 12. Additionally, JETSET Pilates has two new studios: one open now on Brodie Lane, and one coming soon to Downtown.
Trending
Next time you play pickleball, bring your A-game. Actor Zac Efron was spotted playing the mega-popular sport at Urban Pickleball Club in Downtown Austin. You never know when he’ll show up at these other pickleball hubs around town.
Opening
Franklin Barbecue’s new event venue is officially taking reservations. Located in the former Contigo space, the venue can host up to 250 guests for corporate lunches, bridal brunches, or any other reason to gather bunches. (CultureMap)
Concert
You’re invited. Local musician Lew Apollo invited fans to attend a live-to-vinyl taping at Volente’s Purple Bee TV on Friday, Jan. 23. He’ll play with a seven-piece band, and no changes will be made to the recording before production. Get tickets.
Sports
The first round of the NFL playoffs takes place this weekend, with six Wild Card Round games on the schedule. Whoever you’re rooting for, ATX’s sports bars are the best places to soak in the atmosphere and see who makes it one step closer to Super Bowl LX.
Listen
The Texans will face off against the Steelers this Monday, Jan. 12. What’s at stake? Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Houston Texans with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Finance
You’re smart — but your spending can still be dumb. Here are the 11 dumbest things smart people waste money on.*
AI won’t take over the world — people who know how to use AI will. That’s why 1M+ pros working at Google, Meta, and OpenAI read Superhuman AI. Join now and learn AI skills, tools, and news in just three minutes a day. Subscribe for free.*
Editor’s Pick
The presentation at Kappo Kappo is top-tier. | Photos by ATXtoday
French-Japanese omakase restaurant Kappo Kappo is now open at the Austin Proper Hotel, and its chefs are trailblazing a cuisine of their very own.
Helmed by French-Japanese twin brothers Haru and Gohei Kishi, the restaurant serves a meal and an interactive experience. Figi here — omakase is possibly my favorite way to eat, and dining with the chefs (who thoughtfully explained dishes to each customer) really showed their love for food.
My favorite bites from the 12-course meal included an A5 wagyu and toro tartare gougére, otoro tuna sushi, wagyu ribeye + striploin served with two housemade sauces, and rice ice cream.
Take the guesswork out of healthy eating with chef-cooked meals from Forkful. Instead of spending hours on Pinterest looking for recipes, opt for high-quality, nourishing meals delivered right to your door. Forkful’s meals boast only the finest ingredients, like grass-fed meats, wild-caught seafood, and organic produce. Think: protein-packed pastas and plant-based burrito bowls. Plus, Forkful meals are never frozen + only take 2-3 minutes to prepare.
Alright, this is a test for my friends and family. Many of my friends claim to read ATXtoday, but I want to put that to the test. So, if you’re reading this, send me a snail emoji. And to all of our dedicated readers, thanks for being here, and have a happy Friday.
}})
