When Bridget Dunlap opened Lustre Pearl on Rainey Street in 2009, no one could have predicted that it would single-handedly turn the sleepy neighborhood full of ramshackle bungalows into a downtown destination.
In just five years, the tiny street has exploded with the addition of a sausage and beer joint, a whiskey bar, a critically-acclaimed interior Mexican restaurant and an impressive craft cocktail lounge, just to name a few. But, in a poetic twist, one that mirrors a changing Austin in so many ways, Lustre Pearl is set to close this weekend to make way for a 250-unit condominium.
The Millennium Rainey, as the building will be called, is set to join at least two other major construction projects slated for 2014. Construction is already underway on a Kimpton hotel called Hotel Van Zandt at Red River and Davis Streets. The Van Zandt will have 300 rooms and a restaurant.
Also on the horizon is the Waller Center, as it is now called, a $500 million mixed-use complex which could boast the highest tower in Austin upon its completion, according to the Austin American-Statesman.
Lest you feel bad for Dunlap, don't worry. Her moniker as the Queen of Rainey remains in tact as she still owns three bars on the street: Clive, Bar 96 and newly opened Container Bar. And she's not letting Lustre Pearl shutter without a little celebration of her very own. According to Lustre Pearl's Facebook, Dunlap will top a weekend of musical celebrations with a special engagement where she'll perform dressed up as Stevie Nicks.
Lustre Pearl officially closes its doors on Sunday, March 30.
Christopher Carpenter is known for his minimal intervention approach.
Every year, the Austin Wine & Food Foundation (AWFF) chooses a featured winemaker for its Austin Wine Auction & Gala Weekend. For the 40th installation, that winemaker is Christopher Carpenter of Cardinale Winery, which is based in the Napa Valley, California. The Auction & Gala Weekend is scheduled for November 6 and 7, 2026.
AWFF is a nonprofit that fights food insecurity in Central Texas. It offers grants and scholarships, and it funds them through events and auctions throughout the year.
Carpenter is with more wineries than just Cardinale; he also works with Lokoya, La Jota Vineyard Co., Mt. Brave, and Caladan, according to a press release — all in Napa Valley. He also works with Hickinbotham in South Australia. His career has spanned two decades, and he is best-known for Cabernet Sauvignon and a philosophy of minimal intervention.
On NapaValleyWine.com, he put it succinctly: "Mother Nature does not conform to schedules or expectations."
"We are deeply honored to welcome Chris Carpenter as the featured winemaker for our 40th annual Austin Wine Auction & Gala Weekend," said AWFF executive director Sarah Weeks in the release. "He is one of the most respected figures in the industry today, and we look forward to giving our members and the Austin community the opportunity to experience his exceptional wines and hear more about his story and philosophy.”
Carpenter will show off some of his "most coveted offerings" at a luncheon at the JW Marriott Austin on November 6. The auction will follow the next day, November 7. It'll be hosted by wine auctioneer Charles Antin, who is the global head of wine auctions at Zachys. Then a gala wraps the event up with dinner and wine pairings from Austin pros.
Austinites who want a feel for the types of organizations AWFF supports should look to the following beneficiaries for 2026:
Green Corn Project helps Central Texans grow organic food gardens at home, as well as in schools and community centers. AWFF's support goes toward the spring dig-in program, which is for people who have limited access to healthy food.
Good Work Austin supports hospitality workers and locally owned businesses through community partnerships. AWFF supports the Community Kitchen program, which pays local restaurant workers to cook for people facing food insecurity. It delivers three meals a day to local shelters.
Sustainable Food Center, which Austinites may recognize from the farmers markets it hosts, also provides nutrition education and bolsters access to fresh produce. AWFF’s funding "helps double the benefits for those who use programs like SNAP and WIC to access nutritious foods," the release says.
Caritas of Austin provides housing to unhoused Austinites, and has been around for more than 60 years. AWFF funds help stock the Community Kitchen and its pantries.
Keep Austin Fed "rescues" unused food from restaurants, retailers, farms, and caterers. It then sends it to locals experiencing food insecurity. It helps the planet as well as the people who eat the food.
Sunday Lunchbox sends shelf-stable and easy-to-prepare meals to underserved Austinites. It has a program that utilizes crops that a farm has too many of, and gets them into people's hands before they spoil.
Registration for the 40th annual Austin Wine Auction & Gala Weekend starts April 15, 2026. Members will be able to purchase tickets early. Last year's Wine Auction tickets went for$375
