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City Guide
📚 For your TBR
Book Woman is a female-owned store showcasing national reads, books by Austin women, and banned books. | Photo via @bookwomanaustin
What’s better than a good book? A good book written by your neighbor. Brew up a batch of your favorite cup of cup of tea from Café Crème or coffee from Greater Goods and get ready to meet your next read, because we’re talking about loally written books in Austin.
Fiction
"The Devil Takes You Home” by Gabino Iglesias | Release date: August 2, 2022
A lauded thriller and Shirley Jackson Award Winner, this book follows a hitman hijacking the cartel’s cash stash.
Part of a series
"The Games Gods Play” by Abigail Owen | Release date: September 3, 2024
This series is a new take on the dynamics — and romances — between Greek gods.
Personal stories
"First Comes Love: A Memoir” by Marion Winik | Release date: April 2, 1996
From a northeasterner-turned-Austinite, this memoir details the marriage between the author and Tony Heubach, a gay man.
On January 26, 1932, a New York doctor subverted prohibition laws to benefit visiting British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The physician wrote a letter claiming Churchill’s recovery from an accident “necessitates the use of alcoholic spirits, especially at mealtimes.” No doctor’s note needed here — ATX’s happy hours await. (History.com)
Eat
Which food best represents Texas? According to a new Talker Research survey of 5,000 Americans, it’s Tex-Mex and barbecue — no surprise there. Satisfy your cravings with our guide to Austin’s barbecue scene.
Listen
Remember when almost every artist would release live albums? Streaming has drastically changed our access to live music, but we can still reminisce on the best examples from history. An album is good, but the real thing is better — as you’ll discover at Austin’s music venues. (The Guardian)
Finance
The Internal Revenue Service will start processing 2025 tax returns today. Once you get around to it, the IRS has some tips to make the process as smooth as possible.If you get some money back, Austin’s best lunch deals are a way to celebrate.
Pets
Cows might be smarter than we thought. A Swiss Brown cow named Veronika has been seen using a stick to scratch her back — reportedly the first time cattle have shown they can use tools. See if you can teach the animal in your life some new tricks at one of Austin’s dog-friendly spots. (BBC)
Holiday
Valentine’s Day is around the corner. If you’re planning a swanky date night, lock in a table at one of Austin’s buzzy new restaurants while you still can. Flying solo or hanging out with friends? Check out our events calendar for happenings that’ll make the night unforgettable.
Sports
What is the Longhorns’ biggest issue for the team? Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Texas Longhorns with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Job
Manifesting a new job for 2026? Let us help. Our Job Board has 240,000+ active listings across industries like healthcare, education, manufacturing, and information technology. Search open jobs now.
Fact or Fiction
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Featured Deal
Looking for a pilates, yoga, or fitness studio that gets you moving in 2026? Get one month free of ClassPass and build your perfect workout routine — balance weight lifting with meditation, or HIIT with hot yoga, all under one membership. Hurry, offer available for a limited time only.*
Event Spotlight
Take a peek backstage at “Austin City Limits.”
Gif by ATXtoday
ACL Live at the Moody Theater will host a free community day to celebrate a new partnership with Ascension Seton, which joins sponsors like Dell Technologies.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 22, the venue will host free tours, live music, interactive activities, giveaways, and activations for the whole family.
Learn more about the event and mark your calendar.
The Buy
A lifetime subscription to Calmind, now 80% off for a limited time. We love that this mental relaxation app uses a scientifically backed method to help you reset + unwind quickly — offering a fresh take on meditation and mental well-being. Trusted by 10,000+ users, real benefits include enhanced mental clarity and focus, improved quality of sleep, and reduced stress. Normally $300, the lifetime subscription is on sale now for less than $50.
I visited Hokkai San for the first time last week and enjoyed a spicy tuna roll and a banana cream soda. The sushi was super fresh, making it a great option if you’re working from Downtown.
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