Hot Headlines
Austin's secret light rail plan, ruined V-Day dinners, and more hot headlines
Editor's note: The time has come to once again round up Austin's most-read stories of the week. There was good news (bagel sandwiches, conversations about mass transit), and there was bad news (one couple had to eat Valentine's Day dinner at Chili's). As we head into another weekend, let's reminisce on the week's hottest headlines.
1. Sudden restaurant closure at troubled Lamar Union leaves V-Day customers brokenhearted. Imagine this: It's mere hours before your Valentine's Day dinner reservation when you suddenly get a text that the restaurant is closed indefinitely. What do you do? Well, to be honest, Austinites are fairly laid-back, so probably not that much. But some outraged patrons took to Yelp to air their grievances and tell their tales of woe, including one person who was forced to spend Valentine's Day at Chili's.
2. Sneak a peek at CapMetro's secret plan for a new Austin light rail. Not since Watergate has such a crazy story of intrigue been told. Okay, that's hyperbolic, but when a transit activist tweeted three pages of a secret CapMetro light rail plan, Austin audiences couldn't get enough of the news.
3. New shop brings authentic New York-style bagels to Central Austin. All East Coast transplants like to complain about Austin's lack of decent bagels (and pizza and mass transit and fall foliage), but a former Long Island couple is actually doing something about it. Using a family recipe and dough flown in weekly from New York, Austin's newest bagel shop may finally give breakfast tacos a run for their money. (Just kidding, that will never happen.)
4. Lower-price Whole Foods Market to open first store in East Austin. East Austin's Plaza Saltillo development is getting a Whole Foods 365, a lower-cost alternative to the homegrown chain.
5. Budget airline books 2 more nonstop flights from Austin airport. Getting to Little Rock and Oklahoma City just got a little easier. ViaAir announced two new direct flights from ABIA beginning this spring.
Always an ACL favorite flag. At this point we’d be concerned if we didn’t see the Tacos flag in the coming years. (Do they know that we always share this one? Someone find them, please.)Photo by Daniel Cavazos
Another classic flag that we have seen over the years. We’re one more sighting away from becoming buds with these guys.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
ACL Fest is not just a local or national draw. Many of our friends from across the border make the trek to Austin for three days of great music.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
This Spartan flag waver was brave. Luckily, The Longhorns were on a bye week so we let it slide.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
This guy couldn’t walk more than 10 feet without SOMEONE hootin’ in approval.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
Aliens and skulls. Can’t imagine this ferocious guy has many friends at the fest.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
Oh, wait...Photo by Daniel Cavazos
These guys brought the WHOLE crew.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
Y'all means all.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
The flag garden is always a great spot to meet up with friends or stop for a photo op.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
The Red Sox didn't make the playoffs this year, but this fan proudly waved the Boston team’s flag on Saturday.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
Hank Hill was seen quite a bit during weekend one. Here he is, ready to party.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
We saw plenty of pink cowboy hats, pink bandanas, and pink EVERYTHING on Sunday in anticipation of Chappell Roan’s set.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
Dog? Fox? Chupacabra? Photo by Daniel Cavazos
This Reneé Rapp fan made it very clear that they were at ACL on Saturday for one reason only.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
Lol, sure buddy.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
What even is this? How is it so unsettling?Photo by Daniel Cavazos
Us between weekends.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
Actual color notwithstanding, this is a red flag.Photo by Daniel Cavazos
Perhaps our favorite sky-flier was this super chill rubber duck in a sea of iPhone lights during Blink-182’s headlining set on Friday.Photo by Daniel Cavazos