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Rosie's Wine Bar brings the charm to Clarksville
Always on the hunt for opportunities to try unique wine, we finally got the chance to stop by Rosie's Wine Bar, one of two McGuire Moorman Lambert Hospitality bars new to Clarksville.Why it matters: It's another sign of MML Hospitality's takeover in Austin, as they've steadily added properties since Texas chefs Larry McGuire and Tom Moorman first founded the group in 2009.Now, 21 MML restaurants are spread throughout the city, including staples like Pool Burger, Clark's Oyster Bar, Perla's Seafood & Oyster Bar and Ski Shores Cafe.Details: Nestled behind Howards β the more lively of the two MML Clarksville properties...
Things to do in Austin this weekend
There's plenty to do in Austin this weekend. We've rounded up the events we're eyeing:π¨ Find original works and prints from atxGALS, a local women and nonbinary artist collective, at the Cathedral's January open house from 7-10pm Friday.πΊ Spend the afternoon in San Marcos with music, games and a cold beer from New Belgium at the Fat Tire Alternatively Powered Block Party from 2-5pm Saturday.ποΈ Get inked at the Star of Texas Tattoo Art Revival Festival from Friday to Sunday at the Palmer Events Center. Book appointments in advance or just stop by to see the tattoo of the day contests, burlesque shows and special appearances from comic book artists and more.𧧠Celebrate the Year of the Rabbit on Saturday at East Austin dessert shop OMG Squee's three-year anniversary and Lunar New Year party with free drinks, music and an APPI-vendor market.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Austin.
Austin to conduct first homeless count in three years
Austin nonprofit Ending Community Homelessness Coalition, or ECHO, is preparing for the area's first count of the local homeless population in three years.Why it matters: The results of the annual count will show whether city strategies to create more shelter space and build housing units are making a dent in the Austin homeless population, which has climbed with the city's overall population growth.The count, which is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, helps determine how much federal funding the county receives for housing-related programs. It also informs local strategic planning to address homelessness.Yes, but: ECHO is...
Why 150 Austin tech workers are aiming for a union.
Workers at an Austin tech company dedicated to connecting those in need with social welfare services are trying to unionize. Why it matters: The union effort reflects worker unrest amid a wave of layoffs in the tech industry.In the last year, Austin has seen new union efforts by baristas, nurses and pizza workers.Driving the news: More than 150 employees at the company Findhelp β including engineers, business analysts and production support workers β have filed for a National Labor Relations Board union election, per a press release this week from the group.They're seeking representation with the Office and Professional Employees...
Six Austin chefs named James Beard semifinalists
Six Austin chefs and restaurants were named semifinalists for prestigious James Beard awards on Wednesday.Details: Tavel Bristol-Joseph of Caribbean restaurant Canje, Damien Brockway of barbecue joint Distant Relatives, and Kareem El-Ghayesh of KG BBQ are in the running for the "Best Chef, Texas" category.Plus, baker Mariela Camacho of Comadre PanaderΓa is a semifinalist in the "Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker" category.Downtown Mexican restaurant La Condesa is nominated in the "Outstanding Restaurant" category, and East Austin's Suerte made the "Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program" category.Why it matters: The James Beards are the Oscars of the food world, and our continued recognition by the culinary awards reminds the nation that Austin's food scene is flourishing.Flashback: Four Austin chefs were named as semifinalists last year, and Edgar Rico of Nixta Taqueria and Iliana de la Vega of El Naranjo took home the award.What's next: James Beard nominees will be announced on Mar. 29, and winners will be celebrated at a June 5 awards ceremony in Chicago.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Austin.
Tampons, pads are now available in all Austin library bathrooms
Menstrual products are now widely available for free at city of Austin libraries and other city-owned facilities.Driving the news: City workers this month distributed pads and tampons in bathrooms at branch libraries β and at the Central Library in December.Context: ββIn May, the Austin City Council passed a resolution calling for the city to provide free menstrual products in:City-owned showers and bathrooms accessible to people experiencing homelessness.City-owned recreation centers, public health facilities and summer camps.All Austin Public Library facilities.Fighting period povertyBy the numbers: The average woman has her period for 2,535 days of her life, which is about seven years,...
Austin police report a big jump in the number of 'jugging' incidents
Data: Austin Police Department; Chart: Axios Visuals Austin police figures obtained by Axios show how crimes classified as "jugging" are jumping.The big picture: Jugging involves thieves staking out unsuspecting victims at banks or retail stores before following and robbing them while they juggle smartphones and car keys in parking lots or at home.Flashback: We wrote last month about how the new crime trend is targeting the distracted and the elderly.How it works: Juggers wait in parking lots and watch for people to withdraw large sums of money from ATMs.Around noon on Dec. 29 at a Bank of America on South...
Bumble launches Netflix partnership for matches to find movies, shows in common
Binge-watching TV shows could soon help you find love on a dating app.Driving the news: Austin-based dating app Bumble this week announced a partnership with Netflix to create a game centered around the streaming service's most popular shows, including "Emily in Paris," "Squid Game," "Selling Sunset," "Stranger Things" and more.The game, which will launch Jan. 30, allows users to ask TV show-themed questions of their matches such as "Which Netflix character would be your BFF?"The game requires both people who have matched to answer the question before responses are revealed.Why it matters: Finding common interests are an important part of...
Texas officials look to bar Chinese property purchases
Amping up rhetoric against China, Gov. Greg Abbott and other Texas officials are threatening to bar Chinese nationals β as well as those from Iran, North Korea and Russia β from buying property in Texas.The big picture: Suspicions about connections between the Chinese government and Chinese companies and individuals are running red hot, from Washington to state capitols across the country.Abbott has already called for barring TikTok, owned by a Chinese company, from state-owned devices over cybersecurity concerns.Critics say the policies demonize Chinese Americans, pointing to racist attacks against people of Asian heritage.Driving the news: State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, a...
Where to find some of Austin's best soups
I recently headed to FoodHeads, a sandwich and soup joint on West 34th Street by Guadalupe.In operation for more than two decades, FoodHeads occupies a Craftsman bungalow with warm wood floors and a wide, sunny porch.The big picture: For all the allure of Austin's many trendy new restaurants, sometimes you want to hit an oldie-but-goodie, the kind of place where the food is reliably very good, the service is easy and the atmosphere is pleasant. Details: Joined by Axios Austin reader Tommy M., we ordered the tomato-and-coconut soup, sweet, bright and toasty, and a hearty Tuscan white bean soup β...
La NiΓ±a ebbs: Texas looks to a wetter 2023
Data: NOAA/Climate Prediction Center; Chart: Thomas Oide/AxiosRain today in Central Texas could be a foretaste of a wet 2023.As much as 2 inches could fall in the Austin area, per the National Weather Service.Why it matters: Much of Texas along and west of I-35 is experiencing drought conditions, with exceptional drought, the most critical level, in portions of the Hill Country, per the U.S. Drought Monitor. Between the lines: Rainfall is critical for agriculture and replenishing the Highland Lakes northwest of Austin that serve as Austin's water supply.Lakes Travis and Buchanan are now at 52% capacity. The communities on...
We asked, you answered: Austin's most dangerous roads
We all have that intersection on our way to work or the grocery store β the one that makes you shake your fist and mutter about its poor and dangerous design.Earlier this month, we asked readers to share the streets and intersections that get their heart rate up.Let's just say, there are a lot of roads that piss y'all off.Khang N. urged Austin officials to add a raised crosswalk at the Fourth Street bike and pedestrian path crossing the I-35 frontage roads: "Crossing these roads here feels like a gamble every single time.""There is basically zero signage here for either...
Democrats aim to abolish Texas Confederate Heroes Day
Thursday is Confederate Heroes Day in Texas.Why it matters: The past is very much present here.Catch up fast: Marking Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's birthday, the holiday β which is also meant to honor Confederate President Jefferson Davis β has its roots in the Jim Crow period.It's a partial holiday, so state offices remain open and a skeleton crew is required, but employees can either take the day off or use the paid time off at a later date.Between the lines: We know of state employees who work on Confederate Heroes Day because they can't stomach taking it off. Flashback:...
Golden Hour brings wine and bites to South Austin
New cafΓ© and wine bar Golden Hour offers up delicious bites and plenty of natural wine to South Austin residents.Why it matters: It's the latest sign of how innovative cooking is now pushing out to areas far from downtown.Spacious, elegant and full of natural light, the spot south of William Cannon β at 7731 Menchaca Road, Suite 100 β serves up a rich, small menu from a postage stamp-sized kitchen. Perfect for days when you want to work from a coffee shop or get together in the afternoon with friends.What they're saying: "What we offer is serving the community in...
University of Texas bans TikTok from its network
The University of Texas on Tuesday blocked access to TikTok on its Wi-Fi networks.The big picture: The decision by UT shows how efforts to ban the Chinese-owned app over cybersecurity fears by Republican and Democratic officials is filtering down to everyday use of the short-video colossus.The UT announcement comes in the wake of Gov. Greg Abbott's Dec. 7 directive barring the use of TikTok on state devices. "TikTok harvests vast amounts of data from its users' devices β including when, where and how they conduct internet activity β and offers this trove of potentially sensitive information to the Chinese government,"...
ABIA makes the top 10 U.S. airports for gun confiscation
Data: TSA; Chart: Alice Feng/AxiosWhen packing for that weekend trip to visit your grandparents, please remember to put your Glock in your checked baggage.Driving the news: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport was a top-10 city for firearm discoveries in 2022, per the U.S. Transportation Security Administration. By the numbers: 150 guns were found at the ABIA security checkpoints in 2022 β up from 110 guns 2021.Nationally, 88% of the 6,542 firearms discovered in carry-on bags last year were loaded.For the record: Guns must be unloaded and locked in a hard-sided container β and transported as checked baggage only.Replica firearms β including firearm replicas that are toys β and silencers may be transported in checked baggage only.Yes, but: Rifle scopes are permitted in carry-on baggage.Of note: A traveler with an improperly stored gun who has been approved for TSA PreCheck will lose PreCheck privileges. Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Austin.
Madonna to return to Austin on Celebration tour
Madonna will bring her Celebration tour to Austin this year β the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer's first tour stop here since 1985.Details: The 35-city North American tour will kick off July 15 in Vancouver, with a show at Moody Center on Sept. 21.She'll also make stops in Dallas and Houston.What they're saying: In a press release, Madonna said she is "excited to explore as many songs as possible" on the tour that's described as an "artistic journey through four decades."Why it matters: It's the latest sign that the Moody Center has transformed the city's live music scene as...
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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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