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🏅 Cheers to the Beard
Put Kalimotxo’s happy hour deals on your must-try list. | Photo by ATXtoday
The James Beard Award semifinalists are here, and Austin has nine nominees in the pipeline.
Frequently called the “Oscars of food,” the James Beard Awards recognize some of the best and brightest in American culinary culture. Finalists will be announced on Tuesday, March 31, followed by the awards ceremony at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on Monday, June 15.
Austin is currently home to seven James Beard Award winners. Let’s dig in on the restaurants in this year’s running.
Outstanding Bakery: Mercado Sin Nombre
Also a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand, this teeny cafe specializes in Mexican coffee and dishes with maíz.
Outstanding Hospitality: Barley Swine
Lauded with one MICHELIN Star, Barley Swine‘s restaurateurs are also the minds behind Odd Duck and Sour Duck Market.
Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program: Kalimotxo
This east Austin restaurant is named for a Spanish drink that mixes red wine and Coca-Cola.
Psst — Austin has more nominees in one category than any other Texas city. Click the button below to learn which.
Pull out your sweaters and brrrace for ice, because Austin could see an arctic cold front starting on Friday, Jan. 23. The weather pattern could bring below-freezing low temperatures (possibly staying below freezing all day Sunday, Jan. 25) into next week. (Austin American-Statesman)
Festival
This ain’t our first rodeo. Flatland Cavalry, Eli Young Band, and Tanya Tucker are just a few of the performers announced for Rodeo Austin 2026. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 23.
Community
Texas French Bread is preparing to reopen its new bakery, located on the same plot where the old building was destroyed by a fire in 2022. The bakery, which has been working out of a food truck in the interim, is planning on a spring 2026 debut.
Ranked
Taqueria De Diez, Whip My Soul, and Bird Bird Biscuit all made Yelp’s 2026 “Top 100 US Restaurants” list, ranking No. 47, No. 62, and No. 66, respectively.
Number
40,781. That’s how many students are enrolled at Austin Community College for the spring semester. That figure is ~7% higher than last year, and only about ~4,000 fewer students than the undergraduate enrollment at both UT Austin and Texas State University. (KXAN)
Concerts
The Hill Country Galleria’s weekend concert series, Live on the Lawn, begins this Friday, Jan. 23 with a performance from Nathan Harlan. The free series currently has a lineup through March 27.
Sports
The Longhorns were named favorites for the 2026 National Championship. Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Texas Longhorns with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Beauty
A healthy glow starts at the root. Amara Luxe Head Spa is now open, bringing the Japanese head spa experience to Oak Hill Plaza. (Read: tension-relieving scalp massages that promote hair health.) Enjoy a 15% discount on all services and products when you book by Sunday, Feb. 8.*
Edu
As a parent, it’s hard to know what moves the needle in college admissions. Empowerly starts with a free 30-minute consultation to honestly assess your student’s college profile — from there, you’ll get matched with a counselor, receive data-backed insights, and construct a plan. Get your free consult.*
Number
$1,267. That’s how much Travis County residents saved on average when they used Ownwell to protest their 2025 property taxes. Ownwell takes care of the entire protest process, saving you money and headaches. See how much you could save.*
Event Spotlight
Who needs their own NBA team when Austin can just share the Spurs?
Photo via the Moody Center
It’s official — the I-35 Series will return to the Capital City next month for the fourth year in a row.
The San Antonio Spurs will play two games at the Moody Center, facing off against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday, Feb. 19 and the Sacramento Kings on Saturday, Feb. 21. Tickets are on sale now, starting at $67.
Keep your eyes peeled for more announcements from the team, as the Spurs typically pair the I-35 Series with a host of community events.
The Buy
A great dermaplaning razor for unwanted facial hair. This reusable, plastic-free one comes with 11 refill blades and can remove dead skin cells, peach fuzz, and hair on the upper lip, cheeks, and eyebrows.
ACL Live at the Moody Theater is one of my favorite venues to see a concert — I’ve seen Hozier, Vampire Weekend, and Aminé there. I’ve got my eyes on Mac DeMarco tickets and a few other shows in our concert guide.
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