Hottest Headlines

These are the 10 hottest Austin stories of 2016

Editor's note: From Matthew McConaughey's newest gig to booming city news, these are the 10 most popular CultureMap stories of 2016.

1. The complete list of ride-sharing companies available in Austin right now. Uber and Lyft are out of Austin, but these ride-sharing companies will get you around town.

2. Forbes boldly declares Austin America's next boomtown. Texas is the land of opportunity, and Austin is leading the charge.

3. Matthew McConaughey returns to UT to teach once-in-a-lifetime class. Alright, alright, alright. The University of Texas introduced a surprising instructor for fall 2016. Meet Professor McConaughey.

4. This hidden retreat is quite possibly the coolest house in Austin. Almost completely hidden from view sits a one-of-a-kind property that has received international attention for its unbelievable design.

5. Say goodbye to this iconic Austin restaurant space as it faces demolition. Months after it was heavily damaged in a fire, EZ’s Brick Oven & Grill on North Lamar Boulevard was prepped for demolition.

6. 10 best Austin dive restaurants for damn good food at a good price. We took a look at the beloved dives of Austin that have a strong following of loyal customers and an unassuming neighborhood charm.

7. A massive number of Austinites are ditching the city, shows new report. It seems like everyone wants to live in Austin, but does everyone want to stay? According to this report, Austin is losing residents at a staggering rate.

8. New Steampunk Saloon on West Sixth Street is causing quite a stir. The Victorian-esque bar, which took over the Opal Divine's on Sixth Street, had folks buzzing about its unique aesthetic.

9. Dallas' best pizza restaurant hits Austin and snaps up notable space. Cane Rosso, an authentic Neapolitan-style pizzeria chain from Dallas, opened its first Austin branch in the building that was previously home to St. Philip.

10. South Austin's newest restaurant and bar opens in stunning fashion. Eberly, the highly anticipated South Lamar restaurant and bar from the former co-owners of Stubb's, opened in October. At first glance, the industrial building looks stark, but walking in reveals a stunning space full of warmth and charm.

Cane Rosso and Cow Tipping Creamery took over the old St. Philip space.

The Bruno pizza at Cane Rosso in Fairview

Cane Rosso Fairview/Facebook

Cane Rosso and Cow Tipping Creamery took over the old St. Philip space.

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santa's favorite city

Austin shines bright as No. 1 most festive city in U.S. for 2024

Photo by Maggie Boyd

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Austin's love for the holiday season is shining bright once again: The Capital City has been crowned the No. 1 most festive city in the nation for the third year in a row.

Austin has hung onto the coveted No. 1 spot on the holiday list since 2022, according to the recently released annual report by home services provider Thumbtack.

The study compiled data from millions of holiday light installation requests across all 50 states, between October 2023 and 2024, to reveal their list of the most festive cities in the nation.

Austinites have plenty of citywide light displays to pull inspiration from for their own homes, including the long-cherished Trail of Lights, Mozart's Annual Holiday Light Show, and many more.

Texas cities are far merrier than many other places in the country, with Dallas and Houston ranking just behind Austin as the No. 2 and No. 4 most festive American cities, respectively. San Antonio ranked No. 10 this year, after previously ranking No. 5 in the 2023 report.

Texans have to get creative when it comes to their holiday decorating, as the weather doesn't always cooperate with the classic "White Christmas" theme.

"In the milder climates, you probably won’t find a winter wonderland, but you might see plenty of twinkling lights, tinsel, and bold colors outside the traditional red, green, and white palette," the report's author wrote. "Neon baubles, vintage plastic Santa molds, and playful LED lights keep properties festive and bright. Native eucalyptus, olive branches, and succulents are used as greenery in place of traditional pine and fir."

Outsourcing that outdoor holiday decorating will cost a pretty penny, according to Thumbtack's analysts. The study said the average cost to hire a holiday lighting specialist can range from $168-$300, depending on the scope of the project and home size. Thumbtack also recommends that Austinites avoid hiring a lighting specialist during Thanksgiving weekend, which is the time period that sees the highest demand.

Thumbtack's top 10 most festive U.S. cities in 2024 are:

No. 1 – Austin, Texas
No. 2 – Dallas, Texas
No. 3 – Seattle, Washington
No. 4 – Houston, Texas
No. 5 – San Francisco, California
No. 6 – Atlanta, Georgia
No. 7 – Sacramento, California
No. 8 – Charlotte, North Carolina
No. 9 – Raleigh, North Carolina
No. 10 – San Antonio, Texas

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