New Year New Shopping

Where to shop in Austin right now: 6 local stores to keep those New Year's resolutions

As 2018 comes to a close, setting new resolutions is a top priority for many Austinites. Sure, neighborhood gyms will be packed and tech store shelves will be cleared of fitness trackers, but not everyone is adding a toned physique to their list of resolutions.

For locals seeking to increase their frequent flyer miles, their vocabulary, or their savings account, this roundup is a cheat sheet for living your best life all 2019. Check out our list of must-shop Austin locales to help you stick to your resolutions.

Resolution: Travel more
Solution: Tiko Travel
Fuel your wanderlust with a luggage upgrade courtesy of Tiko Travel, a local brand making waves in the travel industry. Tiko creates soft luggage with luxurious details at an affordable price. The signature Carry-On features cool specs like top-grain leather accents and 360-degree Hinomoto spinner wheels for effortless travel. Each bag includes five-year warranty protection for repairs and replacements as needed. Tiko helps you tackle business trips, vacations, and everyday commutes like a jet-setting pro.

Resolution: Eat healthier
Solution:Wheastville Co-Op
As the hometown of Whole Foods Market, it's no secret Austin loves natural, homegrown grocery stores. For more than four decades, Wheatsville Co-Op has established itself as a trusted source for fresh, local produce and has served the city through a community of invested ownership. Co-op membership includes insider deals, special pricing, and part ownership. If buying-in isn’t an option, Wheatsville still welcomes non-members to shop local farmers, ranchers, and vendors without paying a special fee. Weekly $5 meal deals and affordable prices on more than 300 items ensures you can eat good and feel good without exhausting your budget.

Resolution: Read more
Solution:Malvern Books
Since opening its doors in 2013, Malvern Books has become a community space for local bibliophiles. Customers can expect to be guided to their new favorite read by longtime Austinites who carefully vet every book in the shop’s inventory. Malvern Books specializes in sourcing poetry and works from independent publishers and lesser-known writers, ensuring you find something unique with every visit. In addition to offering a range of literature, the West 29th Street store serves as a community center and hosts several workshops, readings, and book clubs year-round.

Resolution: Get more sleep
Solution:Restart CBD
Austin sisters Shayda and Sydney Torabi have made it their mission to share the healing powers of CBD with their newly launched line of holistic, regenerative products. CBD oil has received considerable buzz in recent years, and the Torabi sisters are committed to providing clean, natural alternative to traditional pharmaceuticals. Each small batch of product is odorless, flavorless, free of THC, and made from organic hemp grown in the United States. Restart CBD offers products for overall wellness, post-workout recovery, and relaxation to fit any lifestyle.

Resolution: Shop smarter
Solution: Treasure City
Stay stylish without breaking the bank at one of the most iconic thrift shops in Austin. Treasure City is a frugal fashionista’s dream, offering monthly 25-cent sales, free markets, and special after hours shopping events. In addition to finding the perfect ensemble or accessory, Treasure City is a central hub for community efforts. The store also supports a number of charitable organizations in the Austin area.

Resolution: Get in shape
Solution:Outdoor Voices
As its pretty awesome tagline declares, Outdoor Voices is the essential apparel brand for doing things. The Austin-based activewear company has churned out bestselling pieces for running, yoga, studio sessions, lazy Sundays, and everything in between. A variety of both men's and women’s collections offer a range of sizes and styles to fit most bodies. Stock up on must-have basics by creating your own, personalized OV Kit and hit the trail, the gym, or the couch.

Do all the things comfortably and confidently in new Outdoor Voices gear this 2019.

Outdoor Voices/Facebook

Do all the things comfortably and confidently in new Outdoor Voices gear this 2019.

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Red Light

San Antonio leads Texas on ending horse-drawn carriage rides by 2030

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Horses will no longer pull carriages on the streets of downtown San Antonio.

San Antonio has pulled off something that the rest of Texas has yet to do, but it didn't come without some contentious conversations. City Council has unanimously voted (with one abstention) to phase out the use of horse-drawn carriages over the next five years. That means by January 1, 2030, there will be none on the streets at all; instead, there will be electric carriages.

These plans have been in the making since 2022 — if not always at the same level of intensity — when District 2 Councilmember Jalen McKee-Rodriguez and District 3 Councilmember Phyllis Viagran wrote up some concerns about the horses' wellbeing. A special session at the end of October 2024 hinted to San Antonians that the end for this practice was neigh — sorry, nigh — and the final vote was made on December 12. In addition to accepting the plan, it extended its timeframe by two years.

The initial proposal included worries about the horses' exposure to traffic and pollution, as well how their presence might exacerbate those issues for the environment at large by slowing traffic. It also raised concerns about the effects of standing or walking on hard surfaces for too long, or spending time in extreme weather.

At the December 12 meeting, San Antonians gave impassioned speeches about animal welfare — both to call attention to the need for better conditions and to defend the reputations and jobs of current horse drivers — but it wasn't the first time the council heard from the public about the issue.

In a prior city survey, 50,476 respondents weighed in. Of those respondents, 51.98 percent said they liked the idea to "Transition horse-drawn carriages to electric carriages and pedicabs and ban horse drawn carriages completely." There were alternative solutions listed, but respondents were less drawn to them.

A cultural divide emerged in the data and continued in the December meeting: some people avoided the carriages because they worried about the treatment of the horses, while others enjoyed them because of their historical echoes and living legacy. Many speakers in favor of the plan used this to form their argument, raising questions about history versus progress.

More tangible objections to the plan hinged on the businesses — specifically five companies — and jobs that would be lost, which was the main factor behind extending the adjustment period.

Discussions about the particulars of the electric vehicles are still to come, as confirmed in the discussion near the end of the meeting. Councilmember Jalen McKee-Rodriguez addressed concerns about what would happen to the horses, mentioning the Brady Hunter Foundation as a future partner in finding them rescue homes.

Some council members also brought up rhetorical questions about animal exploitation by groups like Sea World, the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, military and police forces, and even various groups in the Fiesta parade, although these did not come with a formal motion to pick the issues up.

This decision could have a ripple effect on other Texas cities. Dallas has recently considered a similar ban, but it appears to have stalled; Austin's attempts at a ban have been unsuccessful, but according to the Austin-American Statesman, only one operator is permitted to bring horses downtown. She declines to do so because the long hours are unfair to her and the horses. Houston does have horse-drawn carriages, and there seems to be little conversation about banning them.

Cities like Chicago and Salt Lake City have led the charge in the United States with some of the most prominent successful bans. Other cities around the world with bans include Brussels and Guadalajara, which both switched to electric models. Bans that have been around for years, like Guadalajara's and Prague's, still aren't out of the woods — people are still pushing back on the decision, so it sounds like San Antonio still has much work cut out for it.

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