Editor's note: "Tinder for elites" and jaw-dropping spaces lead this week's top stories. Read on for more of the week's most popular headlines.
1. Exclusive dating app called "Tinder for elites" launches in Austin. The League is set to debut in mid-June in the Capital City. Austin is one of 10 cities, including Dallas and Houston, where the app is being introduced this summer.
2. Austin philanthropist's jaw-dropping estate hits the market for millions. Commanders Point Estate is aptly named — this incredible luxury compound certainly commands attention. Situated directly on Lake Travis and spanning 30 acres of picturesque woods, the home of renowned philanthropists Philip and Donna Berber recently hit the market.
3. The 10 best Austin restaurants for super-fresh seafood. You don't have to head to the coast to enjoy mouthwatering fish, shrimp, crab, and oysters. Austin is blessed with an abundance of incredible seafood.
4. These amazing Texas treehouses take glamping to new heights. Yurts in the dirt are cool and all, but what about having breakfast with the birds? Pack your bags for a night in one of these Texas treehouses.
5. Magical Austin ice cream shop opens cool location in hot district. Spun Ice Cream's permanent second location is now open. The new spot, housed in a brightly colored shipping container, can be found outside the Whole Foods Market in the trendy Domain Northside.
merry xmas atx!
Austinites are right at home when it comes to experiencing the best Christmas in Texas this year. The very merry state capital has jumped into the No. 23 spot on WalletHub's annual list of the best cities for celebrating Christmas in 2024.
The yearly report ranks the 100 most populous U.S. cities across five key dimensions: Traditions and fun, observance, generosity, shopping opportunities, plus travel and meal costs.
Austin previously ranked as the No. 31 best U.S. city for celebrating Christmas in WalletHub's 2023 report.
Here's how Austin performed in the five main categories in the study:
Austin gets to cheer itself on as the highest-ranked Texas city in 2024 thanks to its heap of holiday happenings, including numerous delightful light displays throughout town. From local restaurants and bars putting their all into creating festive feasts to-go and delightful cocktail experiences, to locals supporting small businesses at holiday markets, there is plenty to get Austinites in the holiday spirit this year.
Smaller Central Texas towns like Smithville have also transformed into fun, festive escapes for city dwellers this time of year.
Austin households also have bigger holiday budgets in 2024 than they did the year before. According to a separate WalletHub study, the average Austin household is expected to spend about $1,905 on Christmas gifts this year, versus $1,877 in 2023.
"With inflation making Christmas celebrations, gifts, food and travel more expensive, certain cities are much better for your wallet than others during the holiday," said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. "In addition to being affordable, the best cities have a large number of people celebrating, plenty of places for Christians to worship, populations who give generously to charity, and plenty of fun activities to enjoy with family and friends."
In a separate report by home services provider Thumbtack, Austin was crowned the No. 1 most festive U.S. city for the third year in a row.
Elsewhere in Texas, other festive cities that earned spots in the top 50 include San Antonio (No. 30), Dallas (No. 31), and Houston (No. 41).
The top 10 best places to experience Christmas in 2024 are:
