Formula One Update

As predicted: Austin's Formula One race date may move later in the year

The buzz got loud this week over proposed changes to the 2012 Formula One racing schedule. Formula One releases provisional schedules pretty regularly so changes are not unexpected. The race teams and host cities then have a chance to comment (and lobby) before the F1 governing body formally votes to ratify the schedule.

Reports say F1 titan Bernie Eccelstone wants to move the Austin race to late November, as the penultimate race of the season. Along with that change, the Bahrain race would be moved later to allow for more political stability there.

We hate to gloat, but CultureMap's Jake Dirr predicted this would happen, even getting the new date right. Dirr reported in July that Austin's Circuit of the America's track had a wildly optimistic construction schedule that would be near impossible to meet. Further, Dirr suggested the reason for the early date had everything to do with getting $25 million dollars in state money. That money cannot be paid more than one year before the event is held. Texas State Comptroller Susan Combs planned to make the first payment this week, no payments have been made yet.

There are about 110 reasons to like the change to a November race date — as in degrees fahrenheit. The weather is about 30 degrees cooler in November. The November 18th proposed date also looks to coincide with a Longhorn away date against Kansas State. Further, a race at the end of the season could have chanpionship drama attached to it.

U.S. Grand Prix officials had little comment about the proposals which are again pretty much business as usual for F1. According to the Austin American Statesman, the USGP is continuing to prepare for the original June race date. No doubt they would love a little extra time to get the track ready though.

unspecified

it's a lifestyle

Austin is one of the best places in America to be vegan, report says

The Beer Plant/thebeerplant.com

Vegans have made a large mark on Austin's local culinary scene.

Austin's vegan culinary scene has been steadily expanding over the last year, so much so that the Texas capital now ranks as the No. 6 best city in America for those living a plant-based lifestyle.

Austin moved up three spots in WalletHub's latest annual "Best Cities for Vegans & Vegetarians" study, after previously ranking No. 9 in 2023. The report analyzed 100 U.S. cities based on grocery affordability, vegetarian restaurant diversity, accessibility, and quality, and other vegetarian or vegan lifestyle considerations.

The city had a high affordability ranking with the sixth-lowest cost of groceries for vegetarians out of all 100 cities in the ranking. Laredo (No. 1); Greensboro, North Carolina (No. 2); Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (No. 3); San Antonio (No. 4); and Tulsa, Oklahoma (No. 5) were the top five cities with the lowest grocery cost for vegetarians.

Factors that have enhanced Austin's diverse vegan scene throughout the year include a new bakery opening specializing in vegan olive oil cakes, and the addition of non-dairy mozzarella on the menu at all four Home Slice Pizza locations in Texas. But even larger chains are starting to make room at the dining table for vegans and vegetarians, too.

Home Slice vegan pizza It only took 19 years for Home Slice to find the perfect non-dairy cheese. Photo courtesy of Home Slice

"Just look at businesses like McDonald’s and Burger King incorporating Beyond Meat and Impossible burgers into their menus, for example," said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. "With meat prices rising significantly faster than vegetable prices, too, we may see a lot more people taking a foray into a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle in the near future."

Of course, Austin has plenty of legacy restaurants that focus just on vegan and vegetarian food, although they're subject to the same woes that keep other Austin restaurants on a tightrope between continued success and sudden closings. Bouldin Creek Cafe (with vegan and vegetarian versions of the same menu), Zucchini Kill, and the Beer Plant all have at least seven years under their belts; relative newcomers like the entirely plant-based fine dining restaurant Fabrik and sushi spot Nori also keep things fresh.

Gati vegan ice cream Gati, an East Austin shop specializing in vegan ice cream and vegan and gluten-free baking, offers more than 40 rotating flavors, like these seasonal pumpkin spice scoops.Photo courtesy of Gati

Austin was the only Texas city to make it into the top 10. Elsewhere in Texas, the only other cities to make it in the top 30 were Houston (No. 18), San Antonio (No. 20), and Dallas (No. 30).

The top 10 most vegetarian- and vegan-friendly cities in the U.S. are:

No. 1 – Los Angeles, California
No. 2 – Orlando, Florida
No. 3 – Portland, Oregon
No. 4 – San Diego, California
No. 5 – Seattle, Washington
No. 6 – Austin, Texas
No. 7 – San Francisco, California
No. 8 – Miami, Florida
No. 9 – Phoenix, Arizona
No. 10 – Tampa, Florida

The full report and its methodology can be found on wallethub.com.

wallethub reports rankings vegan vegetarian austin