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Axios Austin
How one Austin food critic balances his job and health
With the restaurant critic for The New York Times, Pete Wells, leaving his post for health-related reasons, we decided to check in on the well-being of the dean of Austin food reviewers.Why it matters: It's a glamorous job, but week after week of restaurant food takes a physical toll that is seldom discussed, Wells writes.Wells decided to leave his job in part after a doctor's visit, where he learned that "my cholesterol, blood sugar and hypertension were worse than I'd expected even in my doomiest moments."The intrigue: "It's the least healthy job in America, probably," Adam Platt, former restaurant critic for...
City Council aims to improve hospital security
The Austin City Council unanimously approved a measure Thursday to require extra security measures at new hospitals. Why it matters: The move comes in response to a crash earlier this year at St. David's North Austin Medical Center when a drunken driver plowed into the ER. She injuring at least five people and died.Zoom in: A lawsuit filed by crash victims accuses St. David's of "gross negligence" for failing to have crash-rated vertical safety barriers, called bollards, arguing they could have prevented the deadly crash.St. David's, one of the state's largest health systems, has declined to comment on the lawsuit.It...
Purple martins have returned to the Austin area
Grab your binoculars. Purple martins are back.Why it matters: The large swallows — identified by their indigo feathers and long tapered wings — spend each summer in the Austin area as they prepare to migrate to South America.And where there are purple martins, there's a parking lot packed with visitors ready for a show.Driving the news: The Travis Audubon's popular Purple Martin Party kicks off Friday in Round Rock and continues each Friday and Saturday through Aug. 3 to celebrate the swirling birds.The birds are still roosting at the La Frontera shopping center, but they're in a slightly different location...
Here's what's happening in Austin this weekend
On a hot weekend, here are picks of cool things to do.🌮 Grab a taco and a margarita and listen to the Eric Heideman Band, Thursday at Güero's, 6-8pm. Free.🎭 Make a picnic and watch "Legally Blonde, the Musical," at the Zilker Hillside Theater every Thursday through Sunday until Aug. 17. Shows start at 8:15pm. Free.⚽️ Cheer on Austin FC as they take on Charlotte at Q2 Stadium at 7:30pm Saturday. Tickets start at $90.🎶 Watch "The Sound of Music," an oldie-but-goodie, at the Paramount at 2:30pm Sunday. $12 for adults, and $6 for kids 12 and under.
A conversation about desert island meals turns to Mattress Mack and go-karting
In our continuing series, where we ask an Austin chef or restaurateur about the one meal they'd take to a desert island, we chatted by phone with Vince Young Steakhouse owner Phillip Brown.Behind the scenes: He spoke to us from northern Italy, where he's spending the summer as his 6-year-old, Brody, competes in go-karting."He wants to be a Formula 1 racer, and that could be a pipe dream, but the only way to do that is you have to be racing in Italy, you've got to be go-karting by the time you're 8 or 9 years old — all the...
In light of assassination attempt, Biden's Austin trip is off
President Biden's planned visit today to Austin has been postponed in light of the assassination attempt on former President Trump.Why it matters: The Austin visit was shaping up as a matter of intense national interest amid persistent questions around Biden's re-election campaign.That narrative has been pushed aside, for the moment, by the shocking act of violence on Saturday.Zoom out: Biden was scheduled to deliver an address at the LBJ Presidential Library to mark the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, signed into law by former President Lyndon Baines Johnson.Biden condemned political violence on Saturday evening, saying: "There's no place...
See which athletes from Austin are headed to the Paris Olymics
At least three athletes will represent Central Texas in Paris later this summer.Why it matters: The Olympics are all about discovering rooting interests in sports you watch only every four years, and beyond all the flag-waving, it's fun to root for a hometown hero.Driving the news: The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee announced the 592-member Olympic team this week.The Paralympic team will be announced later, after the Paralympic trials finish.Zoom in: The team includes 25-year-old Alison Gibson (diving), who grew up home-schooled in Austin and graduated from the University of Texas — and also competed in the 2020 Olympics.24-year-old Kate...
Austin mini-strip-mall delight: Argentinian empanadas
Always on the lookout for really good, unpretentious eating — and easy parking — we recently stopped by the new Little Patagonia, by 29th and Guadalupe. Why it matters: Argentina faces Colombia in the Copa América final on Sunday at 7pm, and if you want the immersive experience of rooting for Lionel Messi while dining on food he himself might enjoy, this is the place for you.
University of Texas football heads to the SEC
With its move to the Southeastern Conference, Texas football is about to get even bigger.Why it matters: The move catapults the already storied Texas program into one of the wealthiest, most visible athletic conferences in the country, with consequences for the university's profile and its ability to rake in television money and alumni donations.It also rekindles rivalries with historic foes Texas A&M (Nov. 30) and Arkansas (Nov. 16), which previously shared conferences with Texas.Texas nemesis Oklahoma is also making the move, maintaining the Red River showdown (Oct. 12).The big picture: The move, years in the making, aligns Texas with the...
Things to do in Austin this weekend, July 11-14
Here's what we're eyeing for some weekend fun.🎸 Check out Kingdom Collapse at Spiderhouse Ballroom, Friday at 6:30pm. Tickets start at $20.🦄 Take your kids to a magical wonderland at Unicorn World on Saturday and Sunday. $32 for kids and adults.🎶 Get nostalgic at the New Kids on the Block concert, featuring Paula Abdul and DJ Jazzy Jeff. 7pm Friday at the Germania Insurance Ampitheater. General admission starts at $25.🎻 Catch the final nights of the Austin Chamber Music Festival, with classical music performances Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets start at $25.👟 Cut loose at the Hill Country Galleria's opening weekend of "Footloose: The Musical" with performances every Wednesday through Saturday at 8pm through Aug. 10. Free.
Austin apartments remain on the small side
Data: RentCafe; Chart: Alice Feng/AxiosAustin's apartments remain the smallest in Texas, despite their average size increasing over the last decade.Why it matters: Developers nationwide are catering to people who want more space while they postpone house purchases or work from home, according to a recent report from rental listing website RentCafe.By the numbers: The average size of an Austin apartment built between 2014 and 2023 is 883 square feet, per RentCafe.That's 29 square feet more than those built prior to 2014 — or enough room to add a full-sized bed to your apartment.Yes, but: Apartments under construction in Austin will...
Vote for the top Texas attraction: Big Bend or the Alamo
Bracket: Axios VisualsPerhaps no two places exemplify the idea of Texas more than the Alamo and Big Bend.Why it matters: Axios Texas readers have voted those two destinations as the state's top two attractions. Now it's up to you to determine our No. 1 attraction.Vote by 2pm Thursday and we'll announce the winner Friday.The big picture: Big Bend National Park, 800,000 acres of rugged beauty, squares off against the Alamo, the site of a world-famous battle that saw 189 Texans perish and became a symbol of Texas independence.Tale of the tape: Big Bend — where the Rio Grande carves deep canyons and a mountain range rises above the desert — is home to sea fossils, dinosaur bones and a dizzying array of species. And it's about the only place in the state where you can't get a cellphone signal. The Alamo was built in 1718 as a Spanish mission, but its significance is imbued by the fateful battle in 1836. The area around the Alamo is undergoing a massive renovation to improve the visitor experience.
Austin heat waves are longer
Data: EPA; Note: New York City, Houston, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Denver are excluded for incomplete data in this period; Chart: Axios VisualsNew data shows the upward march of heat waves in the U.S.The big picture: The EPA info, part of a wider new report on climate metrics, shows heat trends in the 50 largest U.S. metro areas.Heat waves are becoming longer, more frequent and more intense.Zoom in: Often defined as "a persistent period of unusually hot days," our Austin heat waves last two more days, on average, than in the 1960s. How it works: EPA tracked events of two or more consecutive days when daily, humidity-adjusted temps topped the 85th percentile of historical July-August temps in 1981-2010.The bottom line: "Heat waves are more than just uncomfortable," the EPA authors write, "they can lead to illness and death," as well as damaging crops and increasing wildlife risk. "Unusually hot days and heat wave events are a natural part of day-to-day variation in weather. As the Earth's climate warms, however, hotter-than-usual days and nights are becoming more common," they observe.Full EPA analysis
Vote in our Final Four for the top attraction in Texas
Bracket: Axios VisualsThe largest national park in Texas dominated in our Elite Eight matchups of top Lone Star State attractions, easily gliding past another hiking haven closer to home: Enchanted Rock.But will the rugged isolation of Big Bend hold up against Fredericksburg’s allure of antique shops, German cuisine and Hill Country wine?What's next: That's where you come in. Help us determine Texas' top attraction by voting in our Final Four by 2pm Wednesday.Zoom in: Our second matchup pairs the emblem of Texas independence in the heart of San Antonio with the spring-fed pool known as the soul of Austin.Both tout rich histories: the Alamo was built more than 300 years ago as a Spanish mission; Barton Springs was considered sacred by the Tonkawa and Comanche and has been a public pool for more than a century.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson reports huge haul in re-election campaign
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson is cementing his front-runner status in his re-election bid with an impressive campaign cash haul and a vast set of endorsements.Why it matters: Money buys yard signs, campaign staff and television and radio ads, and in a citywide race, name ID is critical.Having served as mayor in the late 1990s and Austin's state senator for 13 years, Watson is already a known quantity among dedicated Travis County voters, but with Austin mayoral elections now coming in presidential years, candidates need to acquaint themselves with the wider electorate that will turn out to the polls.By the numbers:...
Joe Biden to visit LBJ Library to mark Civil Rights Act anniversary
Data: Brendan J. Doherty/U.S. Naval Academy. Note: Trips to Maryland, D.C. and Virginia were not counted as travel, nor were trips to a president's home city unless they attended an election event during the trip. Home cities are Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida; Crawford, Texas; Wilmington, Del.; and Honolulu. Chart: Tory Lysik/Axios VisualsAmid intense coverage of his campaign's fate, President Biden is scheduled to visit Austin next week.Why it matters: By the time Biden visits Austin, he may very well have pulled out of the race — or he may have doubled down in his re-election effort.Driving the news: Biden will deliver...
Vote in round 2 of our top Texas attractions bracket
Bracket: Axios VisualsRound 2 of our top Texas attraction bracket features the ultimate Alamo City showdown, and some other intriguing matchups.The shrine of Texas independence squares off against the nearby historic walking path through the heart of San Antonio.The big picture: Pick your favorite way to cool off: a dip in the cold waters of Austin’s favorite swimming hole or a day at the state’s No. 1 water park.Wine-fueled antiquing or wave-jumping at the tip of Texas?Texas’ largest granite dome or largest desert refuge?What’s next: Vote in our March Madness-esque bracket by 2pm today and you'll help determine the final four.
Even as Beryl pummeled Houston, Austin remained relatively dry
Even as Hurricane Beryl pummeled Houston and East Texas, greater Austin went unscathed.Why it matters: Beryl left more than 2 million Texans without power as it plowed a path of destroyed homes and drowned vehicles.Winds topped out at 92 mph as the Category 1 hurricane crashed ashore Monday morning and moved directly over Houston.Threat level: The prospects of thunderstorms in Austin top out at 20% every day this week, per federal forecasters.The storm is projected to move northeast as it heads inland in coming days.What they're saying: "Minimal impacts are expected across the Hill Country and the Austin/Interstate 35 corridor,"...
Vote for top Texas attractions
Bracket: Axios VisualsTexas' premier water park vs. Texas' premier amusement park. A trendy high desert escape vs. miles of sandy beaches. Texas' top attractions are about to face off bracket-style.And you get to pick the winners.The big picture: We want to crown the top Texas attraction. So we're doing a March Madness-esque bracket featuring 16 of our biggest draws, from an iconic Austin swimming hole to history-changing spots in San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston. Readers from all four of Axios' Texas newsletters will participate.By the end of the week, we'll have a champion.What's next: Vote for your favorites here by 2pm Monday.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Austin.
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Axios Austin, anchored by Nicole Cobler and Asher Price, is here to help readers get smarter, faster on the most consequential news and developments unfolding in their own backyard.
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