Y-M-C-A

YMCA of Austin flexes opening date for gyms, pools, and summer camps

YMCA of Austin's TownLake facility is reopening on June 1.

Fitness fans and parents, take note: YMCA of Austin is rolling out its reopen plan, including facilities, summer camps, swimming pools, and youth programs.

After a 10-week closure due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Y is opening seven Austin-area locations beginning June 1. The facilities will be following advice from health experts and local officials to safely ensure their reopening, says a release, and will "ensure all components of facilities, including fitness equipment and areas, locker rooms, child care, visitor areas and office spaces, are cleaned and sanitized to meet the highest standards for hygiene and safety."

The following locations are reopening strength and cardio training facilities, lap swimming, and limited exercise classes beginning on June 1:

East Communities — 5315 Ed Bluestein Blvd. (fitness facility and pool to reopen, remainder of facility dedicated to summer camp through July)
TownLake — 1100 W. Cesar Chavez St.
Northwest Family — 5807 McNeil Dr.
Southwest Family — 6219 Oakclaire Dr.
Springs Family — 27216 Ranch Rd. 12 in Dripping Springs
Bastrop — 1110 Main St. in Bastrop
Hays Communities — 465 Buda Sportsplex Dr. in Buda

In addition to the above locations, The Y at Camp Moody will also reopen for outdoor fitness classes and family activities. The Y's North Austin location at 1000 W. Rundberg Ln. will host summer camps and reopen to the general public on August 1.

YMCA Summer Day Camp will begin June 15 at 14 locations in Travis and Hays counties, with "possibly more locations added as facilities become available."

Once open, each facility will implement the following safety procedures: branch capacity limits per state guidelines (currently 25 percent capacity), conducting health screenings for members and staff, requiring masks at check-in, establishing social distancing markers, and implementing new cleaning protocols.

Prior to opening its East Communities and Southwest Family locations, the YMCA of Austin is partnering with locally based safety management agency Code 4 to deep clean the facilities. Both buildings had been providing child care for essential workers during the shutdown.

The Y says it will reopen pools for swimming and add recreational sports and youth programs in the coming weeks but did not specify an exact timeline. Programs for seniors and other vulnerable populations remain paused indefinitely.

“The Austin Y has served the community for more than 65 years, during which we have made it through many challenging times together, none perhaps as impactful for our community and our Y as this COVID crisis,” said James Finck, YMCA of Austin President and CEO, in a release.

“We are thrilled to begin reopening our facilities, welcoming back our members and the community, and getting back to what we do best — helping everyone reach their full potential.”

fitness openings

MESSAGE OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE

Austin theater auctions off chance to write message on iconic marquee

Paramount Theatre/Instagram

The Paramount Theatre is auctioning off the chance to share a holiday message on its marquee.

Austinites craving the limelight might get the chance to see their name in lights — or at least a personalized holiday message — illuminated on one of Austin’s most historic marquees.

As part of the Austin Theatre Alliance’s final 2020 auction to raise funds for the Paramount and Stateside theaters, the nonprofit is offering up an array of unusual and very “Austintatious” items for bid, including the chance to share a customized holiday message on the iconic Paramount Theatre marquee.

The auction item is one of several dozen currently up for bid through ATA’s online holiday auction, which runs through December 11.

With a starting bid of $1,500, the Paramount marquee message is one of the pricier items in the auction, but it may be well worth the glory, as the winning bidder can treat all of Austin to a two-line, 80-character custom holiday message that will be professionally photographed and live on the marquee for a minimum of four hours. (It should be noted that the chosen message is subject to review. After all, this is a nonprofit theater marquee, not the infamously sassy El Arroyo sign.)

Having to cancel or reschedule hundreds of planned shows because of COVID-19 concerns, the Paramount Theatre has had a particularly rough year but recently reopened at 25 percent capacity for limited engagements, like its Holiday Film Series, which is currently underway. Funds raised from the auction enable the ATA, which manages the Paramount and Stateside, to reach Central Texas students through virtual programs, employ venue staff, and help the historic theaters survive the pandemic.

In addition to the Paramount marquee message item, the auction also includes other perfectly weird items befitting a homegrown Austin event, like Matt Lankes photos of Willie Nelson playing chess and the late, great Billy Joe Shaver looking contemplative while perched on a bridge in Waco; and several autographed guitars, including one commemorative acoustic guitar signed by 10 of Austin’s most notable musicians, Ruthie Foster, Carrie Rodriguez, and Tameca Jones among them.

Of course, there is no lack of booze-forward packages, hotel stays, and artist-signed prints also up for grabs. But true lovers of the Paramount Theatre will find the item with the highest opening bid ($5,000) steals the show: a private catered dinner for four on the Paramount stage.

holidays theater downtown charity