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Things to do in Austin this weekend
Here's what's in store this weekend.πΊ Check out the new Dainty Dillo bar at the latest Keep Austin Country showcase Friday at 6pm. Free country music, drink specials and food.πΈ Enjoy blues music at the annual Austin Blues Festival on Saturday and Sunday at Moody Amphitheater, with performances by Buddy Guy, Brittany Howard, Jimmie Vaughan and more. Tickets available online.βΎοΈ Get moving at Austin SportsFest on Saturday, featuring a 5K run, sports tournaments, fitness classes, music and food trucks at the Krieg Complex. Play pass starts at $20.π Be part of an Austin tradition at Eeyore's Birthday Party from 11am-8pm Saturday, featuring costume contests, games and music. Free.πΆ Chill out at Austin Psych Fest through Sunday, featuring psych rock, dream pop and indie rock at Far Out Lounge. Day passes available online.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Austin.
Things to do in Austin this weekend
Here's what's in store this weekend.πΊ Check out the new Dainty Dillo bar at the latest Keep Austin Country showcase Friday at 6pm. Free country music, drink specials and food.πΈ Enjoy blues music at the annual Austin Blues Festival on Saturday and Sunday at Moody Amphitheater, with performances by Buddy Guy, Brittany Howard, Jimmie Vaughan and more. Tickets available online.βΎοΈ Get moving at Austin SportsFest on Saturday, featuring a 5K run, sports tournaments, fitness classes, music and food trucks at the Krieg Complex. Play pass starts at $20.π Be part of an Austin tradition at Eeyore's Birthday Party from 11am-8pm Saturday, featuring costume contests, games and music. Free.πΆ Chill out at Austin Psych Fest through Sunday, featuring psych rock, dream pop and indie rock at Far Out Lounge. Day passes available online.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Austin.
At least 20 arrested at University of Texas Israel-Palestine protests
Dozens of people at the University of Texas were arrested by law enforcement Wednesday at a pro-Palestinian protest.Why it matters: The confrontations between police and protesters over the Israel-Hamas war that have shaken universities across the country have now materialized at UT.Driving the news: The Palestinian Solidarity Committee of Austin had urged students to walk out of class and rally at UT's South Lawn Wednesday.The arrests came amid a major show of force by police, including the deployment of dozens of state troopers on horses and in riot gear. A Fox 7 Austin photographer also was arrested, the outlet confirmed.An...
What Oracle's HQ move means for Austin
Oracle's headquarters decampment has left us wondering if we should feel bad about ourselves.Why it matters: Austin's reputation as a shiny rocket ship of prosperity has taken a beating lately.Layoffs at Tesla, tech companies pulling out of downtown, and a declining post-pandemic real estate market have dimmed the sheen of our gleaming city.Oracle has 4,200 employees in Austin, per data from Opportunity Austin, a regional economic development initiative.Driving the news: Oracle chairman Larry Ellison made the surprise announcement Tuesday at a health care industry summit, saying the company would move its headquarters to Nashville to be closer to a major...
COVID's prison death toll in Texas
Data: The Marshall Project via U.C. Irvine and Brigham and Women's Hospital; Note: Rates calculated using prison populations at the start of each year; Chart: Axios VisualsMore Texas prisoners died during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic than in any other state, but the true death toll in prisons across the country is still unknown, researchers say.Why it matters: Although it's long been clear that prisons struggled to contain COVID outbreaks, there's still no official pandemic prison death toll β leaving the work up to a "patchwork of research groups and reporters," per the Marshall Project, a nonprofit criminal...
How to make loquat syrup
Loquats are back in Austin, and we're here with a recipe for loquat syrup.Why it matters: Loquat trees are often planted as ornamental evergreens, but their fruit is actually tasty when ripe.We made ours over the weekend, and my 3-year-old helped pick the loquats.The big picture: This spring is the first time since 2020 that Austin has seen loquats.Hard freezes, ice or snow typically kill the blossoms.How it works: If you don't have a loquat tree, find one in your neighborhood and ask your neighbor if they would mind if you picked some of their fruit.Most people will be happy...
Foxtrot Market shutters Austin stores
Foxtrot Market abruptly closed all stores Tuesday, including four in Austin.Why it matters: The Chicago-based boutique grocer bet big on Austin, opening stores on The Drag, South First, Burnet Road and Second Street.The shops were filled with artisanal snacks and wine and quickly became a popular local spot after first arriving last year.Driving the news: All of Foxtrot's 33 national stores across Austin, Chicago, D.C. and Dallas closed as of Tuesday, per a company release.Delivery, the Foxtrot app and customer credits also ceased."We explored many avenues to continue the business but found no viable option despite good faith and exhaustive efforts," the release says.Between the lines: The closures come just a few months after Foxtrot Market merged with Chicago boutique grocery Dom's Kitchen & Market.The intrigue: Management notified corporate workers over a conference call Tuesday morning, and many store employees were left in the dark, Eater Chicago reports.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Austin.
Fewer home flips in Austin as profit plummets
Data: ATTOM; Note: A flip is defined as any transaction between an unrelated buyer and seller within 12 months of a previous transaction; Chart: Axios VisualsThe Austin metro area saw one of the biggest dips in house-flipping profit margins last year, according to a recent report from real estate data company ATTOM.Why it matters: Flipped houses made up roughly 7.4% of the home sales last year in the Austin metro which, like many Sun Belt areas, has been a hotbed for investors looking to profit off high housing demand.The renovated homes can help stabilize neighborhoods but can also help fuel...
What's on the May 4 ballot in Austin
Early voting begins today in the May 4 election.Why it matters: It's expected to be a low-turnout election, although the results could have an outsized impact on schools and property taxes.Driving the news: In Travis County, voters for the first time will elect three of eight board positions for the Travis Central Appraisal District, which determines annual property valuations based on market values, for tax purposes.The change comes after lawmakers passed Senate Bill 2 last year, approved by voters in the fall, creating three elected board seats in counties with populations over 75,000, to increase accountability.What they're saying: State Rep....
What happens when an Austin home goes viral
Trendy Austin homes with natural light, lakefront views and sleek interior designs are going viral on social media.Why it matters: "Screen appeal is the new curb appeal," Zillow senior economist Orphe Divounguy tells Axios.State of play: Most people scroll accounts like Zillow Gone Wild for fun, but social media buzz is one way for serious home shoppers to notice your listing, real estate agents tell Axios.What they're saying: Austin real estate agent Amir Lancaster, who regularly posts videos of local luxury homes for sale, said he's found success in building a brand and finding serious buyers."Being on social media and...
When Austin's Driskill Hotel had matzo balls
Behold, a 1940s-era matzo ball recipe from the Driskill Hotel, long the high temple of hospitality in Austin.Why it matters: With Passover set to begin on Monday, this classic, no-frills take on the holiday's centerpiece item shows how much Jewish foods had enmeshed themselves in the American diet β even in the heart of Texas β in the first half of the 20th century.Between the lines: This recipe is from the files of Helen Corbitt, the doyenne of Texas cooking from the 1940s through the 1970s, overseeing the kitchens at the Driskill and then the chic Nieman-Marcus Zodiac Room in...
Why Central Texas homeowners are seeing higher property tax bills
Data: CoreLogic analysis; Map: Axios VisualsMedian property taxes in Texas rose 26% between 2019 and 2023, data shows, even as local and state governments took steps to reduce the impact.Why it matters: Historic tax cuts last legislative session gave many property owners some relief this year, but tax bills are still much higher than they were before the pandemic.Driving the news: The protest process for properties in the Travis Central Appraisal District ends May 15.The big picture: With no state income tax, Texans pay some of the highest property taxes in the nation.How it works: Property taxes are based on...
Things to do in Austin this weekend
Here's what's in store this weekend.π¨ Support Axios reader Karn Knutson's first solo art show in Austin. "Inside the Moments" explores gestures and expressions and will run through May 12, with an opening reception Thursday from 5-8pm at Link & Pin Art Space, 2235 E. Sixth St.πΏ Celebrate independent South Asian and Iranian cinema at the annual Indie Meme Film Festival, featuring 25 films from over 13 countries through Sunday. Weekend badges available online, and screenings are held at AFS Cinema.ποΈ Discover emerging brands at Austin Fashion Week Thursday through Saturday at The Domain. Tickets available online.𫧠Help keep the...
Homicides, violent crime in Austin drops in first three months of 2024
Data: AH Datalytics; Chart: Axios VisualsViolent crime, including homicides, have dropped so far this year compared to 2023 in Austin.Why it matters: Most large U.S. cities are starting to see drops in violence after sharp increases during the pandemic.The number of homicides in 204 cities dropped 20% in the first three months this year compared to the same period last year, per an AH Datalytics report reviewed by Axios.Between the lines: The drop in crime comes after the Texas Department of Public Safety's Austin Violent Crimes Task Force withdrew from patrolling the city in late December.Catch up quick: A divisive...
Understaffed Austin historic preservation office faces daunting job
Austin lags behind other major Texas cities when it comes to city staff dedicated to historic preservation efforts.Why it matters: If old homes embody Austin's architectural and cultural history, they're also a battleground for how our city is changing.Zoom in: The city's Historic Preservation Office is operating with a skeleton crew, with three out of six positions in the office vacant.The big picture: The preservation office is charged with saving Austin's historic buildings and shaping "a more sustainable, equitable, and livable city in collaboration with other City departments and community partners," per the office's website.A 2022 city report found that...
What to know about the Austin contestant on "The Circle"
Season 6 of the Netflix hit "The Circle" has a local contestant to root for: Jordan Staff.What's happening: The new season premieres today.Catch up quick: Contestants on the reality show compete in a virtual popularity contest. Some contestants catfish as other people, but Staff heads to "The Circle" as himself.The most popular player wins $100,000.The intrigue: For the first time, an AI bot will play the game as the ultimate catfish.We reached out to Staff, a 25-year-old photographer who grew up in Victoria, to learn about his life in Austin. This interview has been condensed and edited lightly for clarity.What's...
SXSW and spring break are not aligned in 2025
Austin could feel a lot more crowded next March.South by Southwest and spring break for area schools have been scheduled for different weeks, the first time since 2019 that there's been a misalignment.Why it matters: Historically, the two have coincided, leaving the city less crowded as thousands of SXSW attendees pour into Austin. Plus, SXSW relies on student volunteers to support nine days of programming.The change is sure to cause finger-pointing, as it did the last time spring break and SXSW weren't aligned.State of play: SXSW officials announced at the close of this year's event that the 2025 conference and...
What Tesla's layoffs mean for Austin
Major Austin employer Tesla is cutting more than 10% of its workforce globally as it grapples with middling electric vehicle sales.Why it matters: The company is the world's largest maker of premium EVs, but recently reported its lowest quarterly sales since 2022.Tesla did not respond to Axios' interview request.The company had about 140,000 employees at the end of last year, according to a public filing.Zoom in: The car manufacturer employs 22,777 people in Austin, surpassing H-E-B, at about 19,000, as the city's largest private employer, per data from Opportunity Austin.Driving the news: CEO Elon Musk told employees in an email...
When to sell your house in Austin
Data: Zillow; Chart: Erin Davis/Axios VisualsAustin homes listed in late May could make $12,600 more than any other time of year, per a new Zillow report.Why it matters: Sellers need all the cash they can get to make their next move more palatable.The big picture: May has long been the best month to list your house in the U.S. But in 2023, sellers made the highest profits in the first two weeks of June, a Zillow study shows.This shift is largely due to mortgage rates, which cooled slightly in June and brought some buyers off the sidelines.The other side: Buyers, if you want to avoid peak pricing, consider shopping outside of the spring and summer months.What's next: Interest rate cuts aren't expected anytime soon, but if those rates do fall in 2024, we may have a second spring market.Sign up for Axios Austin for free.
Stephen Jaeger sports Austin's Criquet clothes at Masters
Austin-based clothing company Criquet, known for vintage-inspired golf and athleisure wear, will be represented in the Masters Tournament, which kicks off Thursday in Augusta, Georgia.Why it matters: Players in the prestigious golf tournament are usually decked out in brands like Nike and Callaway, but Criquet-sponsored Stephan Jaeger's recent qualifying win in Houston puts the Austin clothing brand on the national stage.Catch up quick: Co-founders Billy Nachman and Hobson Brown launched Criquet in 2010 and now employ roughly two dozen workers, according to Nachman."The company we've built is profitable, and it's growing," Nachman tells Axios.Criquet previously had a retail location at...
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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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