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🪶 iPhilosophy from Matthew McConaughey
With texts like these, it’s no surprise the actor is also a lauded author. | Photo by Moody College of Communication, graphic via ATXtoday
To Austinites, Matthew McConaughey isn’t just an actor, he’s a spokesman for the city and purveyor of local culture. According to his iMcConaughey posts, his inner circle also comes to him as a source of little pieces of wisdom.
If you haven’t already seen the short and sweet iMcConaughey posts, they typically consist of a snippet from his iPhone, ending in a nugget of truth that anyone can take with them.
We rounded them up in case you need a pick-me-up from Austin’s own Minister of Culture.
This crack was all over Austin’s feed over the weekend. | Photo via KVUE
Traffic
If you saw news about the gap in the flyover between I-35 and US 290 over the weekend, don’t fret. TxDOT said it’s not a crack, it’s a gap that can sometimes occur when the concrete expands and contracts due to changes in the weather. (KVUE)
Civic
A portion of northbound I-35 and the adjacent pedestrian boardwalk closed at the end of last week and is not expected to reopen until 2029. It’s part of the I-35 Capital Express Project, and crews erected a detour for foot traffic that will be up through 2033.
Today Is
The start of the Lunar New Year, marking the start of spring and a new year on the lunisolar calendar. Celebrate the Year of the Horse with a Chinese lion dance, food vendors, and games at IBPS Austin’s Lunar New Year Fair on Sunday, Feb. 22.
Open
A gift shop called Orange Pocket opened near UT Campus over the weekend. Inside, you’ll find Labubus, Jellycat keychains, Sonny Angel figurines, blind boxes, snacks, and stationery.
Coming Soon
A new bar called Solstice, which comes from folks who have worked closely with Whisler’s, is set to open in Jonestown, a small town ~25-30 miles west of Austin. The space will welcome remote workers, feature indoor and outdoor seating, and has plans for lots of live music. (CultureMap)
Weather
It’s not just you — it’s been a particularly warm February. This month is currently tied with 1990 for the eighth warmest February in Austin since the 1890s, keeping in mind that there are nearly two weeks left in the month. (KXAN)
Play
🎲 Are you looking for our Games page? You can find it here. Thanks to all of our readers who let us know you’re enjoying this page — our team is continuing to work on even more ways to play in future.
Health
Wellness is not one-size-fits-all. With a science-backed program that combines personalized coaching with habit-building tools, Noom is ditching restrictive diets for nourishing meals that lead to real results. Start a free trial.*
Editor’s Pick
There’s a reason why De Nada’s signaature margaritas come with a limit of two per person. | Photos by ATXtoday
There’s another place in town to get De Nada Cantina‘s famous margaritas.
The taco purveyor and restaurant behind those bright pink cups opens on Sunday, Feb. 22 (ahem, National Margarita Day) on South 1st Street in the former El Mercado space. If you haven’t yet visited, here’s what I recommend ordering.
The “Pescado a la Plancha” taco comes with seared gulf fish + pineapple slaw for a delicious tropical bite.
The poblano chicken and cheese quesadilla comes fried + puffy, Mexico City style.
The brand-new ponchos (which are served with your choice of pollo, barbacoa, or pork) make for handheld shareable bites.
Psst — this location also serves enchiladas.
The Buy
Sometimes the simplest solutions make the biggest difference. These four products tackle everyday headaches — each for under $30.
👜 Tired of your purse tipping over or disappearing on the car floor? These car purse hooks keep your bags within reach.
🚽 Late-night bathroom runs will no longer feel like an obstacle course thanks to this toilet bowl night light.
🧅 Swap baking soda for this fridge deodorizer that works for up to 10 years, so you can set it once and forget it.
🚗 Designed to reduce strain, this vehicle assist handle provides sturdy support to help you get in + out of your car with ease and stability.
It’s official: ATXtoday is going to SXSW 2026. That means I’ll bring y’all guides to the festival, free things to do, recaps, and much more. This will be my sixth year at the fest — what would you like to see me cover during SXSW? Drop me a line.
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