Always know What’s Goin’ On in Austin with this short and super sweet weekly Newsletter. It features puns, random pop cultural references, popular song lyrics current city happenings and showcases the best food, music, and cultural events in and around town.
Photo of the Week
Quote of the Week
The Zilker Tree stands 155 feet tall and is composed of 39 streamers, each holding 81 multicolored, 25-watt bulbs – totaling 3,309 lights. At the top of the tree, a double star measures 10 feet from point to point. The double star displays 150 frosted bulbs.
-Zilker Holiday Tree
Top 5 Things To Know
Electric Scooters & Bikes Are Coming to a Trail Near You
What’s the story: Brace yourselves. The scooters are coming. They’ve already infiltrated the streets and sidewalks of downtown, BUT soon electric scooters and bikes will be allowed on popular walking trails including the sacred Town Lake hike and bike trail.
Why is this important? It’s part of a pilot program that will launch in mid-December and run for nine months. The program will allow Parks and Recreation to decide if the electric devices should be allowed permanently on the trail or not. Parks and Rec will be launching a website soon so you can voice your opinion on the electric matter.
The City Demands Lime to Reduce Scooters Downtown
What’s the story: 1000 scooters must go! These are the demands of the city after it claims that Lime breached their agreement and has over 500 too many scooters in the downtown area.
Why is this important? If you are annoyed by the electric devices, there will soon be less of them on the mean streets of Austin. For those who rely on the scooters, don’t fret, there’s apparently still around 8,500 scooters out there.
Will Changing the Manchaca Signs Really Cost $150,000?
What’s the story: The Justice for Menchaca Organization is estimating that the cost to change the signs on Manchaca to Menchaca to be around $24,000 while Leave Manchaca Alone got an estimate from a Texas Department of Transportation Engineer totaling approximately $150,000 which the city would be responsible for paying.
Why is this important? There’s always three sides to any story. And the numbers above are technically true and not true. Currently, the city has no plans to change out the highway signs that would total $150,000 only the 160 signs in town that would equal the $24,000.
Austin’s City Manager Lifts Travel Ban to Arizona
What’s the story: City workers are now “free to roam about the cabin” on the way to Arizona as a nearly 10-year ban prohibiting workers from traveling to the Grand Canyon State has been lifted. You see, back in 2010, Arizona implemented a law that allowed police officers to ask anyone for their citizenship papers and it was perceived as a business risk by Austin City Leaders.
Why is this important? It’s just plain good news for any city employee lookin’ to head West as the City Manager no longer feels Arizona’s law is a “threat.” Also, who knew Arizona had such a law or that the City of Austin had such a ban?
Vote in the Austin City Council Runoffs
What’s the story: Austin residents have from Nov. 2 – Dec. 29th to vote in three City Council runoffs for districts 1, 3, & 8.
Why is this important? While not as exciting as the midterm elections, local elections will shape how our city grows and who helps it do so. Hit the link above to find information on polling locations and hours.
Top 5 Things to Do
The Bartonville Tree ?
Tell me more: Sooo, I’m gonna go out on a limb with this one, but I wanted to put it on your radar just in case your traveling to the Fort Worth/Denton area this holiday season. Up in Bartonville, Texas just off 35 West is a 150-year old pecan tree decorated from root to tip with holiday lights. According to a Facebook post, it takes 8 men 20 hours to decorate. According to another Facebook post “the lady who owns the house promised her dying father she would light the tree up every year so bright for heaven and her father to see. She does it every year. The large tree sits back in a dark field and is so beautiful and bright. Every branch has lights on it.”
Winter Wonderland at the Circuit ?
Tell me more: Round up the fam and head out to walk in a Winter Wonderland. This year’s theme is Chinese New Year and the light installations include a giant firey dragon. I went for the Austinot last Sunday and instantly got in a mood. A holiday mood, that is! Get a sneak peek over at The
2018 Fun Run
Tell me more: Ready, set, run… from the Zilker Holiday Tree to and through the trail of lights in Zilker Park on this annual untimed 2.1-mile fun run. There’s still time to register!
Downtown Holiday Stroll ?
Tell me more: On Saturday get ready to rock and stroll as The Downtown Austin Alliance is hosting their annual sing-along and capitol tree lighting ceremony with a little help from KUT & KUTX.
Umlauf After Dark Winter Fair
Tell me more: This event isn’t until Tuesday of next week, but it’s worth mentioning so you can plan accordingly. When the sun sets you can enjoy a night of shopping, law games, cocktails, live music, and ornament making admists the beautiful Umlauf gardens.
Affiliates
?Don’t drink and drive. Stay out of trouble this holiday season by taking an Uber (new users can apply my code samamnthas2296for $5 off).
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?Let the groceries come to you. Get $10 off your first Instacart order!
?♀️Get your “om’ on. Take $20 off your first $100 purchase at Outdoor Voices.
Thanks For Reading
Questions, comments or just wanna say, “Hey”? Drop me a line in the comments below.
Want to submit an event for consideration? Email me at [email protected]