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Axios Austin
Desert Island Dish with Kerbey Lane's Mason and Christina Ayer
We recently caught up with husband-and-wife duo Mason and Christina Ayer, the CEO and CFO of Kerbey Lane Cafe, for the latest installment of our Desert Island Dish Series.The backstory: Mason Ayer was born just months after his parents, David Ayer and Patricia Atkinson, opened the first Kerbey Lane location in 1980 at 3704 Kerbey Lane, and spent his childhood scraping gum off the tables.Christina Ayer grew up working in local establishments like Kerbey Lane and Whole Foods.Between the lines: The restaurant has become a local staple and has 10 locations, including one in San Marcos and one in San...
Kyle site unveils electric vehicle charger
XCharge, an electric vehicle charging manufacturer, opened its Kyle facility today and unveiled a new battery-integrated electric vehicle charger.Why it matters: Central Texas is home to a growing number of electric vehicle manufacturers, and the region has become ground zero for new drivers of the technology.The facility also adds more high tech jobs to fast-growing Hays County.Driving the news: XCharge North America will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony this morning with local officials, and launch its Net Zero Series charger.The new charger from XCharge is a "Level 3" charger or "DC fast charger," which can replenish an EV battery in an...
Restaurant incubator launches in Austin
Playground ATX, a restaurant launchpad that will rotate culinary talent every six months, opened this week at 5001 Airport Blvd.Why it matters: In a city facing endless restaurant closures of longtime favorites, hospitality veterans Sue Kim-Drohomyrecky and Katie Kim say the new concept will help aspiring restaurateurs test and refine their ideas before attempting to open their own brick-and-mortar spaces.The big picture: The sisters launched Tykhe Group, the hospitality group behind Playground ATX, to provide operations management and branding while the tenant earns 20% of profits and a market-rate salary for the duration of the pop-up.Chefs can use Playground ATX...
Biking on the rise in Austin
Data: StreetLight Data; Map: Alice Feng/AxiosAustinites are biking more.What's happening: The number of average daily bike trips per 1,000 people rose by six in Austin between 2019-2022, going from 17 to 23.That's per a new report from mobility data firm StreetLight Data, which uses GPS and other location data to measure urban transportation patterns.Driving the news: Urban cycling took off during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic largely because people were looking for ways to get around or get exercise without potentially exposing themselves to infection.Urban bike-sharing programs, like Austin's MetroBike, have made two-wheelers easier to access.The City of Austin...
Llano library wars continue with book swap friction
The book wars that have pitted residents of a rural Central Texas county against one another have spilled out well beyond the courtroom.Driving the news: A church recently backed out of hosting a community book swap in Llano after the Llano Tea Party accused the event's organizers of "pushing … pornographic books in our community."Why it matters: The fight in Llano County distills how America's culture wars have divided communities nationally.Catch up quick: Alleging a "literary witch hunt," a handful of Llano County residents last year asked an Austin federal judge to stop officials from removing public library books, claiming...
Austin ISD expects another enrollment decline
Data: AISD Department of Student Enrollment and Attendance; Chart: Axios VisualsAustin ISD expects to see enrollment numbers dip again — even as the city's population booms.Why it matters: Fewer students means less money for the district, per state formulas, and AISD has yet to rebound since the pandemic supercharged the downward trend.By the numbers: A formal snapshot of enrollment numbers won't be submitted until January, but AISD's Department of Student Enrollment expects the figure to be around 73,000 for the 2023-2024 school year, according to figures provided to Axios.That would represent at least a 0.5% drop in enrollment from the...
Trying Cosmic's watermelon agua fresca
Austin is a city teeming with great aguas frescas — and we recently tried one at the new Cosmic on East Fourth Street.Zoom in: The sandía agua fresca ($6) is a mix of fresh watermelon and cucumber limeade, with a sprig of mint tucked in and a sprinkling of paprika on top for a kick.It was bright, refreshing and pretty to look at — and a nice way open the day.The vibe: Industrial chic.Original graffiti remains plastered across corrugated metal siding.Old cinder-block walls give a kind of abandoned-factory look to the place.A burbling water feature emanates from a rusted-out pipe.Flashback:...
When to rake in Austin
Fall is here, and leaf season is upon us.What's happening: If you aren't already dealing with leaves in your yard, you will be soon.Between the lines: This summer's extreme drought and high temperatures put stress on Central Texas trees, causing many to turn brown and drop their leaves early — a mechanism to cut off nutrients and conserve water.Why it matters: It's time to decide whether you'll break out the rake or leave 'em be.What they're saying: Fallen leaves are packed with nutrients and resources for nearly everything in your yard, according to Leslie Uppinghouse, horticulturist at the Lady Bird...
Things to do in Austin this week: "Die Hard," ugly sweater mixer
Here's what we're eyeing for some fun this week.🎺 Clap your hands to the Austin Brass Band, performing their holiday concert at the Austin Central Library, 6:30pm Monday. Free.🍿 Catch "The Exiles," a 1961 film about Native American 2o-somethings living in Los Angeles, at 7:30pm Tuesday at the AFS Cinema. $13.50.🦌 Mingle at the Ugly Sweater Mixer, hosted by the Queer Black Women Alliance, starting at 6:30pm Wednesday at the Kung Fu Saloon. Free.📖 Listen to 2024 Texas Poet Laureate Amanda Johnston read from her work, 7:30pm Thursday at BookWoman. Free. Open mic follows.🎅 Join the Holiday Extravaganza at Hotel Vegas on Thursday starting at 5pm, with music from the Texas String Assembly, a Santa photo booth, and ATX Thrift vendors. Free.🎬 Watch the greatest Christmas movie of all time — "Die Hard" — at the Paramount at 7:30pm Thursday, $11.At 6:30pm, University of Texas professor Karen Maness will give a pre-film presentation based on her book "The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop."Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Austin.
Austin police officer killed in line-of-duty shooting, officials say
A police officer was killed and another is in the hospital after a shooting early Saturday in South Austin, per a briefing by interim police chief Robin Henderson.The officer was identified as Jorge Pastore, who joined the department in 2019. He is survived by his wife, two stepsons, parents and two sisters.Two other victims and the suspected shooter also died at the scene.What they're saying: "My heart and the hearts of Austinites are broken this morning," Austin Mayor Kirk Watson wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. "This is a horrible moment for our city and those who protect us."Details:...
Travis County Dems to fund political action in suburbs
The Travis County Democratic Party is now trying to extend its organizing and fundraising muscle to Austin suburbs.What's happening: The county Democratic organization, rich with donors and equipped with full-time personnel, is helping pay for staffers in Hays and Williamson counties, politically purple areas on Austin's fringe.The Democratic operations in those counties historically have had no paid staff, even as local political offices are increasingly in play.Why it matters: Across the country, suburbs and exurbs are now political battlegrounds, and the Travis County experiment is a novel one in Texas.Catch up quick: Suburban counties that were once GOP strongholds are...
Matthew McConaughey and U.S. surgeon general chat about loneliness
The U.S. surgeon general met with Austin's Ambassador of Chill on the University of Texas campus Wednesday to talk about loneliness and mental health.What's happening: Vivek Murthy is on a nationwide college campus tour to encourage social connection — with friends, classmates, colleagues and loved ones — as a way to combat an epidemic of loneliness.What they're saying: "We are all the only ones we're stuck with no matter what company we keep," actor and UT professor Matthew McConaughey said during a conversation with Murthy in the Texas Union Theater. "It takes work to get along with ourselves. 'McConaughey, buddy,...
Austin STEM exercise aims to encourage girl gamers
A STEM-related gaming exercise brought girls from an Austin suburb to compete at the University of Texas.What's happening: The elementary and middle schoolers spent Wednesday morning getting mentorship and competing in a "Minecraft" build challenge.Their mission: to construct a gym or classroom for their school on a limited budget.The competitors were judged on their competency, collaboration and creativity.The big picture: The gaming event was part of a larger effort to encourage young women to pursue science, technology, engineering and math careers.In partnership with Alienware, professional gaming group Team Liquid, and UT's Longhorn Gaming and Women in Gaming teams, Dell Technologies hosted Round Rock students from the company's Girls Who Game program.What they're saying: The event "shows these kids they can do this as well as anyone else," Asta Bush, a member of Team Liquid and a judge at the event, tells Axios. "Gaming doesn't have a gender to it."Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Austin.
Where to get that Thanksgiving turkey to go
We get it. You just don't feel like making a turkey from scratch.We're here to tell you that doesn't make you a bad person.The big picture: There are plenty of options around town for delicious meals that will surely make your life easier on Thanksgiving.1. Fresa'sThe roasted chicken restaurant is taking orders through Nov. 20 for turkey meals, accompanied by chorizo stuffing, mac and cheese, pecan pie bundt cake and pumpkin tres leches. All food comes fully cooked and refrigerated and includes reheat instructions.The meals are available exclusively for pickup the day before Thanksgiving at the South First location...
Where to get that Thanksgiving turkey to go
We get it. You just don't feel like making a turkey from scratch.We're here to tell you that doesn't make you a bad person.The big picture: There are plenty of options around town for delicious meals that will surely make your life easier on Thanksgiving.1. Fresa'sThe roasted chicken restaurant is taking orders through Nov. 20 for turkey meals, accompanied by chorizo stuffing, mac and cheese, pecan pie bundt cake and pumpkin tres leches. All food comes fully cooked and refrigerated and includes reheat instructions.The meals are available exclusively for pickup the day before Thanksgiving at the South First location...
Why Austin City Council is being sued by a burger shop over light rail plan
Austin's embattled light-rail plan now faces a lawsuit from a famed local burger joint and several longtime Austin political figures.Driving the news: Dirty Martin's Place, at West 29th and Guadalupe streets, is suing Austin City Council and the board of Austin Transit Partnership, alleging, in effect, false advertising.Other plaintiffs, who are slated to appear at a press conference at the restaurant today, include former state Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos, Travis County Commissioner Margaret Gomez, former Austin City Council member Ora Houston, and longtime Austin civic activist Susana Almanza, all prominent Democrats.Why it matters: The lawsuit is the latest challenge to the...
How chef Deepa Shridhar celebrates a Texas-South Indian Thanksgiving
We caught up with Deepa Shridhar, the chef behind the Tamilian Texan Kitchen, a dinner series typically featuring a South India-meets-Texas menu, to ask about her Thanksgiving offerings.Shridhar, whose family is from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and who grew up in the Dallas suburb of Garland, moved to Austin in 2011 and started as a dishwasher at Jesse Griffiths' Dai Due before working her way up in the restaurant industry, including a stop at Lenoir.For this month's dinners she'll serve a Thanksgiving-crossed-with-Diwali menu on a South Austin micro-farm.Why it matters: With its distinct history and menu, Thanksgiving may...
How chef Deepa Shridhar celebrates a Texas-South Indian Thanksgiving
We caught up with Deepa Shridhar, the chef behind the Tamilian Texan Kitchen, a dinner series typically featuring a South India-meets-Texas menu, to ask about her Thanksgiving offerings.Shridhar, whose family is from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and who grew up in the Dallas suburb of Garland, moved to Austin in 2011 and started as a dishwasher at Jesse Griffiths' Dai Due before working her way up in the restaurant industry, including a stop at Lenoir.For this month's dinners she'll serve a Thanksgiving-crossed-with-Diwali menu on a South Austin micro-farm.Why it matters: With its distinct history and menu, Thanksgiving may...
Austin ISD serves globally inspired school lunches
Austin ISD students wandering through their school lunch lines aren't scooping up that unidentifiable slop from your high school days.They're often choosing from a wide variety of food — pupusas, lo mein, empanadas, chana masala and everything in between.The big picture: The flavorful menu is planned roughly a year in advance by the district's executive chef Diane Grodek and dietician Rachel Dunn, whose team serves over 65,000 meals a day across AISD's 116 campuses.Why it matters: Research shows that students who participate in school meal programs consume more whole grains, milk, fruits and vegetables than those who bring their lunch...
How long it takes to break even on your home in Austin
Data: Zillow; Note: Calculations assume typical increases in home values, 3% closing costs paid at purchase and 1% home maintenance fees, 6% closing costs, and 6% agent fees paid at sale; Chart: Erin Davis/Axios VisualsGet comfy, new Austin homeowners. It could take up to 16 years to break even on your purchase, per Zillow data exclusively shared with Axios.Why it matters: That's how long you'd have to stay in your house before you can sell and make a profit.Context: Historically, experts have said you need to stay in your home for at least five years to break even. But with mortgage rates inching toward 8%, new homeowners will need to stay put longer to avoid going underwater.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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