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🌳 Keep Austin Green
Help us make this Austin summer your best yet. | Photo by ATXtoday
It’s Earth Day, Austin — take a look at the trees.
Austin’s urban forest of more than 42 million trees covers ~41% of the city, cleaning the air, reducing flooding, providing shade, and increasing property values.
Most recent estimates state that Austin’s trees are valued at $12 billion to $16 billion and provide an estimated $38 million in benefits each year, in part through:
Reducing energy costs
Sequestering ~1.9 million tons of carbon per year
Alleviating pollution
However, like several cities across the country, Austin’s urban forest is under threat of extreme weather, land development, invasive plants, and disease.
To protect Austin’s trees, the city established an Urban Forest Plan about 10 years ago, outlining aims for bolstering the urban forest by 2034. The plan outlines a range of goals for the caretaking of trees on public land and right-of-ways, including using reclaimed water for irrigation, designing infrastructure with vegetation in mind, and planting in high-priority areas like east Austin.
Choose your own adventure in the heart of the Blue Ridge. | Photos courtesy of Explore Asheville/MMGY, Stephan Pruitt, Robert Stephens, and Chris Burkard
There’s something whimsical about Asheville, NC, in summertime; cool mountain air, concerts under the stars, and award-winning Appalachian flavors best served al fresco.
No matter how you fill a visit, you’ll leave reinvigorated. The proximity to nature means you can spend the morning exploring iconic trails and the afternoon at interactive art exhibits, then grab a rooftop drink + sleep in a luxury hotel.
The Blue Ridge has a magic we can’t quite describe — you’ll get it when you get there.
Austin billionaires Michael and Susan Dell donated $1 billion to UT Austin, becoming the first people to donate that figure to the school. The funding will be used to create the UT Dell Campus for Advanced Research, the UT Dell Medical Center, and increase scholarship access.
Ranked
Aba, Josephine House, Perla’s Seafood and Oyster Bar, and Suerte. Those are the four local restaurants that made it onto OpenTable’s “Top 100 Brunch Restaurants in America” list. Austin and Dallas tied for the most mentions of the Texas cities.
Number
1,054,007. That’s Austin’s population as of January 2025.That’s also how much trash we could clean up for Earth Day if all of us picked up one piece today — just some food for thought.
Opening
Counter Culture will open its vegan diner this summer. The owners of the restaurant, which began as a food trailer and later opened a brick-and-mortar location that closed in 2022, have been crowdfunding to bring it back. (Community Impact)
Travel
Southwest Airlines will begin serving cookies from Austin-based brand Siete Foods to certain patrons on its flights. To the “Extra Leg Room” customers, save a Mexican wedding cookie for us.
Weather
Depending on where you live, your area of town may have seen as much as 2.5 inches of rain. Check out your neighborhood’s rainfall total. (KXAN)
Learn
Motley Fool Money found a game-changing credit card for easing financial stress. Now offering 0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for up to 21 months, it’s a smart way to tackle debt without the added interest. Learn more and apply.*
Health
Meet Horizon IX, an innovative hearing aid that leading doctors say could “transform your hearing (and your brain).” With dual processors for sharper speech and less noise, it offers a nearly invisible design for all-day comfort. Try it at no-risk for 45 days and experience effortless clarity this spring.*
Shop
Mother’s Day is just a few weeks away — now’s the time to find a gift that feels truly special. Think beyond the usual with something they’ll reach for again and again, like a travel-friendly jewelry box personalized with their initial or a top-rated Barefoot Dreams cardigan they’ll never want to take off.*
Our very own Austin City Limits Festival is the “Music Festival of the Year,” according to Pollstar’s global rankings. We can’t say we’re surprised, but we can say we’re even more excited for the festival lineup to drop any minute now.
Our favorite tops for spring and summer — all under $30:
🛍️ This basic ribbed cap sleeve tee features a flattering ruched design + is available in multiple colors.
🛍️ Nothing says comfy and cute quite like this waffle knit henley tank that’s under $20.
🛍️ We love this breezy off the shoulder blouse for a casual look that can easily be dressed up.
🛍️ Perfect for business casual outfitting, this top-rated blouse is made with lightweight Swiss dot fabric.
🛍️ Style this 4.6-star rated elevated casual ruffle tank top with your favorite linen shorts, jeans, or trousers.
Friday is going to be Earth Day for me, as I’m volunteering with The Trail Conservancy on Lady Bird Lake. Don’t judge me, but I’m afraid of fish. I’m determined to pull through for a good cause.
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