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Axios Austin
Veracruz Fonda serves the hits and more
Austinites can find their favorites and so much more at Veracruz Fonda and Bar, the local chain's new brick-and-mortar restaurant at Mueller.The big picture: Sisters Maritza and Reyna Vazquez opened Veracruz as a cart in East Austin in 2008 and have since grown it into a local empire with food trucks spread throughout the city.In April, they opened the full-service restaurant at 1905 Aldrich St. #125, offering breakfast, lunch and dinner.What to order: You'll still find their popular taco menu, along with a spread of juices, smoothies, aguas frescas and coffee for breakfast. We loved the iced latte with the...
Airbnb launches apartment platform in Austin
Renters in nine Austin-area apartment buildings can now list their units on Airbnb to earn extra cash while out of town.Driving the news: The company announced last week that its Airbnb-friendly apartments platform will expand to the Austin metro, making 2,901 units eligible for Airbnb hosting.The listing service for rental units, which launched last fall, is now available in 37 markets in the U.S.Why it matters: Most renters would violate their lease by listing their apartment unit as a short-term rental. Through the program, complexes enter an agreement with Airbnb.Details: Airbnb partnered with Austin apartments in South Austin, downtown, the...
Is Austin's remote workforce here to stay?
During the pandemic, Austin was a top destination for remote workers fleeing cities like New York and San Francisco. But will they stay?Driving the news: According to a recent New York Times data analysis, Austin saw the biggest net gain of remote workers of any major city in 2020-21.32% of those who moved to Austin were working remote in 2021 — a net migration gain of about 28,000, way up from its pre-pandemic level of 10,000 in 2018-19.Why it matters: The future of the city's robust remote workforce remains up in the air as some companies' push to bring employees...
Report: AI could displace 13% of Austin's workforce
Austin is among the top 25 metro areas where artificial intelligence threatens the workforce, per a new analysis from research website ChamberofCommerce.org.Driving the news: Roughly 13% of Austin's workforce is at risk of AI-related job loss, according to the group, which used U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data to analyze employment numbers within the 50 most-populated metro areas.Potential job loss estimates were based on the percentage of at-risk jobs within each metro area, according to ChamberofCommerce.org.Why it matters: AI software and large language models — including ChatGPT — may soon be able to do all manner of jobs, raising...
Austin is a hot spot for new businesses
Explore the interactive map. Data: U.S. Census; Map: Kavya Beheraj/AxiosAustin had the highest rate of new business applications among major Texas metros in 2022, per new Census Bureau and IRS data.Some 19 new business applications per 1,000 residents were filed in the Austin-Round Rock metro area — ranking the city 21st nationally. Why it matters: New business applications are an important measure of an area's perceived economic health. If lots of people are trying to start new companies in a given city, it's a sign that they're bullish on the area's prospects.Be smart: The Austin metro rate is higher than...
Austin pool construction on the rise
Data: City of Austin; Chart: Axios VisualsThe crush of COVID-19, climate change and new wealth appears to have driven a rash of pool construction around Austin, per an Axios review of city data.Why it matters: Pools have become a key amenity in an increasingly scorched city.By the numbers: Nearly 18,000 private swimming pool-related permits have been issued by the city of Austin since 1978, per a review of city data by Axios.About a quarter of those permits — 4,456 — have been issued in the last 3.5 years.In June, there were about 100 new swimming pool construction permits in Austin, with...
Desert Island Dish: Austin's Claudia Lee and Richard Hargreave
As part of our continuing Desert Island Dish series, in which we press Austinites on the one meal they could take with them to an unmapped island, we caught up with Claudia Lee and Richard Hargreave, co-founders of the newly opened, Korean-influenced wine bar and shop Underdog.After Axios' Nicole Cobler visited Underdog in May, she observed that the Korean fried chicken "stole the show" and said the grilled cauliflower, blackened and topped with nuts and pumpkin seeds, was delicious.You get to bring the dish of one Austin chef to your desert island. What's it going to be?Claudia: "Chef Fermín Núñez's...
Things to do in Austin this week, July 24-28
Beat the heat with these activities.🍿 Cool off in The Paramount during the summer classic film series, which continues this week with "Orlando," "Lost in Translation" and "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Showtimes vary.🎶 Catch Alicia Keys at the Moody Center during her "Keys to the Summer" tour at 8pm Monday. Tickets still available on Ticketmaster.🎨 Check out the Carver Museum's "Small Black Museum Resident Project Vol. II" exhibition, which is in its final week. The three-month residency allows three artists to develop new artworks and engage in professional development initiatives.🎷 Enjoy an evening filled with jazz at Cactus Cafe featuring the Pamela Hart Quartet with Michael Malone at 7:30pm Wednesday.🧀 Learn about American-made artisan cheese at Antonelli's cheese shop during their free cheese week celebration. The first 50 customers to visit their shop at 4220 Duval St. will receive a free wedge of cheese all week long. Doors open at 11am each day.Flashback: Searching for more ways to beat the heat? Readers sent us their favorite summer activities.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Austin.
What to watch as Austin FC heads to Leagues Cup
Austin FC will kick off its first Leagues Cup match tonight, facing off against Mazatlán FC at 7:30pm at Q2 Stadium.What's happening: MLS teams will take a break from their normal schedules July 21-Aug. 19 to compete in the 2023 Leagues Cup, a 47-team inter-league tournament involving every team in MLS and Mexico's Liga MX.Teams are broken out into 15 groups in four regions for the group stage, which starts today and continues until July 31.The top two teams from each group advance to single-elimination knockout rounds beginning Aug. 2.Zoom in: Q2 Stadium will host at least two Leagues contests...
Austin City Council eyes housing density
City Council members are expected to consider a resolution Thursday to rewrite the city's land development code, a move aimed at tamping down rising housing costs and creating more housing for the city's middle-income earners.What's happening: The resolution, sponsored by Council Member Leslie Pool, would shrink the minimum lot size of 5,750 square feet to 2,500 square feet or less and allow at least three units per lot in areas with single-family zoning.Mayor Kirk Watson and council members José Vela, Zohaib Qadri and Paige Ellis have also signed on as co-sponsors.Between the lines: Austin's housing code was written in the...
Austin City Council eyes legal options over new state law
The Austin City Council met privately with city lawyers yesterday to discuss the future of a slew of local ordinances undone by the Legislature, including rest break mandates for workers.A new state law dismantling many local regulations takes effect Sept. 1.Driving the news: In an interview with Axios, City Council Member José "Chito" Vela declined to comment on the city's legal strategy, citing the closed-door session, but said the group had "a good conversation" and that it is "probably the most important pending legal issue we have. "This has the full attention of both city staff and City Council." Why...
A closer look at Austin's Oak Hill highway project
We're launching an occasional look at planned and ongoing road projects around Austin.Why it matters: We all have somewhere to get to, and the seemingly inexorable expansion of highways speaks to our city sprawl.As well as to the clout of engineers and the national love of concrete.Plus: The construction can be noisy for neighbors — jackhammering, anyone? — and confusing for drivers to navigate, what with all those squiggly painted lane changes and narrow shoulders.Between the lines: Previously, we've written about the future of I-35, the lightning rod of Central Texas highway projects.In this edition, we look at the Oak...
"Golden handcuffs" lock up Austin housing supply
Data: Redfin; Chart: Alice Feng/Axios VisualsRoughly 57% of homeowners with mortgages in Texas had a rate below 4% as of late last year, locking homeowners in place and leaving buyers with fewer homes to choose from, per Redfin data shared with Axios.Why it matters: Mortgage holders are experiencing the "golden handcuffs" phenomenon, writes Axios' Brianna Crane.They might have a great rate now but likely can't move without spending a lot more cash, explains Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather.By the numbers: In the Austin metro area, buying the median-priced home in 2021 — $465,000 — at a 3% rate would have...
"Barbie" movie takes over Austin
Good luck finding tickets for the opening weekend of "Barbie."What's happening: Local theaters across Austin are selling tickets fast ahead of the movie's July 21 debut.We took a look at showtimes for next weekend — including Thursday screenings ahead of the official opening — and while there are still available seats for less popular times, many Alamo Drafthouse locations have nearly sold out.Plus, tickets for Alamo Drafthouse's special events, including a Barbie brunch, a pajama party and a "Barbiecore" dress-up screening have all been scooped up.Why it matters: "Barbie," directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling,...
Wildfire weather has increased in Austin since the '70s
Reproduced from Climate Central; Chart: Axios VisualsThe latest heat wave slamming the state isn't just dangerous for our health — it raises the risk of wildfires.Driving the news: Fire weather days in Austin increased by 2.4 days annually on average between 1973 and 2022, per an analysis from Climate Central, a nonprofit climate science research organization, Axios’ Andrew Freedman and Kavya Beheraj report.The big picture: The report found that wildfire seasons are getting longer and more intense, especially in the West and Southwest. Parts of the East have also seen increases in fire weather days that put more people at...
An East Austin arts space could soon become a boutique hotel
An old East Austin church that has recently served as a home to a variety of arts organizations could soon become a hotel.Driving the news: Owned by former Democratic politician Jim Hightower, the nearly half-acre property at 81 San Marcos St., a block east of I-35 and south of Cesar Chavez Street, is under contract after being listed for nearly $2.5 million.Sporting more than 5,700 square feet, in recent years it has hosted the administrative offices of Austin Shakespeare and the Austin Creative Alliance, as well as a host of artists and writers.What's happening: The property is under contract to...
Ezov serves up Mediterranean-inspired menu
We recently headed to newly opened Mediterranean restaurant Ezov with some friends to try out the latest concept from Emmer and Rye Hospitality Group.The big picture: The restaurant on East Cesar Chavez draws inspiration from the markets of Tel Aviv, with a menu designed to share.Tel Aviv-born executive chef Berty Richter, who previously worked at the now-closed TLV and opened his original food trailer in 2016, pulled from his time in Israel and Texas to curate Ezov's menu.🍽️ To eat: Try the smashed cucumbers with labneh and nigella seed ($13), hummus ($16) and frena bread ($12) to start.We went with...
Austin rent higher than in rest of Texas
Credit: Data: RentCafe analysis of Yardi Matrix data; Note: Analysis includes 200 largest U.S. cities; Chart: Axios VisualsThere's new evidence it costs more to live in Austin than any other spot in Texas.Driving the news: A monthly rent of $1,500 can get you a 714-square-foot apartment in Austin, smaller than the national average of 782 square feet, per a new report from listing service RentCafe.In Houston and San Antonio, by comparison, you can get a roughly 1,000-square-foot apartment for $1,500.What they're saying: "Prices are stabilizing and because of all the construction we're definitely seeing a lot more availability than we...
Austin rent higher than in rest of Texas
Credit: Data: RentCafe analysis of Yardi Matrix data; Note: Analysis includes 200 largest U.S. cities; Chart: Axios VisualsThere's new evidence it costs more to live in Austin than any other spot in Texas.Driving the news: A monthly rent of $1,500 can get you a 714-square-foot apartment in Austin, smaller than the national average of 782 square feet, per a new report from listing service RentCafe.In Houston and San Antonio, by comparison, you can get a roughly 1,000-square-foot apartment for $1,500.What they're saying: "Prices are stabilizing and because of all the construction we're definitely seeing a lot more availability than we...
USPS paused delivery in Travis Heights area due to hawk attacks
Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night can keep a mail courier from their route.But, as it turns out, hawks can.Driving the news: USPS has suspended mail service for weeks in a portion of the Travis Heights neighborhood because of a particularly territorial hawk and its fledglings, postal service officials told Axios on Friday.What's happening: Residents and mail carriers near Milam Place and Kenwood Avenue have spent weeks dodging the bird as it protects its young during nesting season.Residents at roughly 20 homes must pick up their mail at a nearby post office until it's safe for...
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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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