Hostel Hot Spot

Austinites go native at OkCupid's 'Onesie Night Stand' party

Hostel Hot Spot

Austinites go native at OkCupid's 'Onesie Night Stand' party

Tyril Damiso and Tony IozinaPhoto by David Brendan Hall
Ariel Herrera and Tiffany HunterPhoto by David Brendan Hall
Rachel Hendrix and Liz BartelsonPhoto by David Brendan Hall
David Miller, Korey Conley, Memphis Thompson, Marshall Uhlig, and Jacob Speedy.Photo by David Brendan Hall
Devin Hennen, Amelia Stevens, and Arlo Bush.Photo by David Brendan Hall
Industry Print Shop screened custom totes for the occasion.Photo by David Brendan Hall
Kaelee Weiser and Michelle GarzaPhoto by David Brendan Hall
Hector Villalobos, Taylor Parks, and David Madaan.Photo by David Brendan Hall

What: Onesie Night Stand with OkCupid

Where: Native Hostel

The lowdown: In celebration of those eye-catching billboards you've probably seen around town, dating site OkCupid hosted a one-of-a-kind event on February 8 at East Austin's Native Hostel. Wearing their very finest onesies, guests were treated to a performances by Noisechoir x Uche, as well as DJs KidSlyce and Bird Peterson. Guests enjoyed cocktails at this hot spot hostel, which they sipped while Industry Print Shop created custom totes especially for the occasion.

Onesie Night Stand was the latest in OkCupid's marketing campaign to reshape modern dating. In addition to redefining "DTF," the dating site has also released such things as a "Trump filter" which helps potential matches determine if they're on the same side of the political spectrum.

Who: Tyril Damiso, Tony Ionzina, Rachel Hendrix, Liz Bartelson, Hector Villalobos, Taylor Parks, David Madaan, Devin Hennen, Amelia Stevens, Arlo Bush, Amelia Stevens, David Miller, Korey Conley, Memphis Thompson, Marshall Uhlig , Jacob Speedy, Ariel Herrera, Tiffany Hunter, Kaelee Weiser, and Michelle Garza.

east-austin

The Long Run

Olympic sprinter Gabby Thomas gets engaged on Austin staycation

Gabby Thomas and Spencer McManes are now engaged. Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Five-time Olympic medalist and social media powerhouse Gabby Thomas is sporting some new metal — an engagement ring from luxury jeweler Tiffany & Co.

Vogue magazine reported March 25 that Gabby's longtime boyfriend, Spencer McManes, 29, recently popped the question on the rooftop of a staycation rental in Travis Heights. The 28-year-old Thomas accepted the proposal. Thomas and McManes live together in Austin with their dog, Rico Thee Pug.

See on Instagram

The couple started dating in 2022, one year after she stumbled upon his pizza reviews on Instragram. “I’m a huge fan of pizza myself,” she tells Vogue. “I was like, ‘This looks like really good quality content.’”

Impressed by his pizza prowess, Thomas followed McManes on Instagram.

“I got the notification that I had a new follower. I was like, ‘That’s crazy! Gabby Thomas?’” he tells Vogue. “I immediately DM’d her and asked, ‘What did I do to earn a follow?’”

It wasn’t long before that Instagram follow led to love.

Four years after that initial Instagram encounter, Thomas’s best friend and a photographer witnessed the surprise proposal in a setting that overflowed with fresh flowers. “Oh my gosh, this is happening,” Thomas recalls thinking.

“Normally he’s very bad with surprises — and this was the one surprise I think I’ve ever witnessed him keep,” she tells Vogue.

Thomas, a world-class sprinter, earned three gold medals at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, and one bronze medal and one silver medal at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Thomas has spun her golden success on the track into sponsorship deals with footwear and apparel brand New Balance, Mediterranean restaurant chain Cava, and smartwatch brand Amazfit.

Thomas earned a bachelor’s degree in neurobiology and global health from Harvard University and a master’s degree in epidemiology from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. Thomas and McManes get along despite the fact that he’s an alumnus of Yale University, an Ivy League archrival of Harvard.

McManes founded an Austin-based non-alcoholic seltzer brand called Kaviva. A former Yale football player, McManes competes for the Austin Huns Rugby Football Club, according to TMZ.

Right now, the newly engaged Thomas has little time to celebrate or plan her impending marriage. She kicks off her 2025 track-and-field season this weekend at the Texas Relays in Austin — where she may or may not be flashing her new bling.

celebrities olympics engagement