City Cast Austin

If you’ve lived here long enough, you’ve experienced the loss of your favorite bar/restaurant/coffee shop/corner store closing, only to be replaced with something substantially less cool. Why does it feel like things in this old city —  it was founded in 1837, then called “Waterloo” — are constantly in a state of change? Is it absolutely necessary for Austin to tear down the old to make way for th...

They call it “The Texfactor” — maybe it’s the tacos, or the stars at night, or the friendly people — it’s that bit of extra magic that makes people fall in love with shooting movies and TV shows in Texas. But that Texfactor comes at a price, and our incentives to film here aren’t high enough for Texas-set shows like “English Teacher” and “Ransom Canyon” to actually shoot in the Lone Star State. Ho...

There’s a second case of the measles in Austin — and this time, it’s in a vaccinated adult. On today’s Friday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to talk about how the city is responding to the statewide outbreak amid federal funding cuts, and what Austinites should be doing now to be protected. Plus, t...

It’s that magical, very short-lived time of the year just before it gets scorchingly hot: May! Now is the time to squeeze in that last outdoor activity during Austin’s final gasp of spring, and we’ve got a few ideas for you. Check out Waterloo Greenway! Find a watering hole before the kids are out of school! Explore one of the area’s trails! Local musician Alex Marrero joins host Nikki DaVaughn an...

At the beginning of April, Austin City Council learned that they’d be facing a $33.4 million budget deficit that’s only expected to get larger. Meanwhile, council members finally made a plan to accept $32 million in grant money to replace the bridge over Barton Springs, and add a cool $8 million of the city's own. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Amy Stansbury, editor-in-chief of The Austin Common...

Austin’s very short-lived patio season is upon us, and now is the time to eat, drink, and be merry under shade trees and umbrellas beneath the not-too-scorching sun. So, executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec is joined by Nicolai McCrary, senior staff writer at The Infatuation, to bring you a guide to Austin’s best patios. We’re getting into which patios have the best food, where to go if you love be...

A few weeks after Gov. Greg Abbott ordered all state agencies to have employees get back to the offices “as soon as practicable,” host Nikki DaVaughn checks in with KUT reporter Andrew Weber to find out how things are going. And, spoiler alert: It’s not great. Texas is the largest employer in Austin, and in early March, thousands of employees started swarming into their offices, straining parking...

We’re full of positive news this week on the Friday News Roundup — and there’s truly something for us all to celebrate. After years of rising overdose deaths, the Travis County Medical Examiner announced that accidental overdose deaths and fentanyl deaths both declined in Austin in 2024. Is the $6 million-plus we’ve spent on programs actually working? Plus, the Texas Legislature might actually fin...

The Domain tends to invoke a strong feeling in Austinites: We either love it or hate it. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to unpack our thoughts on the sprawling mixed-use mall north of town, which we grouped into a few buckets: The good, the bad, and the cringe. But hey, we want to hear your thoughts on The Domai...

Believe it or not, it’s someone’s full-time job to promote Austin as the “Live Music Capital of the World” that we proclaim to be. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Omar Lozano, the Director of Live Music Marketing for Visit Austin, to find out exactly what being the hype man for Austin’s music scene entails. Plus, he shares musicians’ favorite local venues, and the local musicians he’s got his eye...

Why did the City of Austin almost spend millions of dollars to bring out-of-state artists’ work to the airport? And what’s with the awkward wrangling over the public art Austin already paid for that was set to be demolished in the Austin Convention Center? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined today by Heidi Schmalbach, a member of the Austin Arts Commission, to tell us the story behind the headlines abou...

We don’t want to shame anyone this Earth Day, but Austinites, are you throwing things away correctly? The city has an ambitious goal to drastically reduce the amount of trash we send to landfills by 2040, and we’ve sadly plateaued. The good news? We now have recycling and composting options for the entire city — and drop-off and pick-up options for folks who aren’t Austin Resource Recovery custome...

If the double-murder of Keitha Morris and John White, two University of Texas sweethearts, had taken place today instead of in 1969, you’d probably know all about it. But for decades, it’s been hidden — only unearthed now by Texas Monthly contributor Stephen Harrigan, at the behest of White’s sister. Harrigan was at UT and even met White just before the murders occurred, but felt almost embarrasse...

It finally happened — after years of trying, the Texas House approved a bill to give tax money to Texas parents for private school tuition. The details still have to be worked out, but the $1 billion plan is a priority for Gov. Greg Abbott and is well on its way to Abbott’s desk. Lawmakers also approved $7.7 billion in funds for public schools, including for teacher raises, making the voucher bill...

Episode Description: John Waters is bringing “The Filthiest Birthday Ever” show to Austin on Saturday night, and loves filthing up Texas, even though it’s a conservative state. On today’s episode, host Nikki DaVaughn chats with the self-proclaimed “filth elder” as he ramps up to celebrate his 79th birthday. Tune in to hear about his favorite horror movie, how he feels about cowboy hats and cowboy...

There are thousands of people still moving to Austin every year, and if you’re like us, it’s easy to spot the newbies out and about. Newbies, we’re here to help you do Austin better. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec and former producer Elissa Rozentuller to share nine essential rules for surviving in Austin.  This episode originally aired on June 18, 2024.  Lear...

The Trump Administration recently slashed an entire agency that provides funding for Texas museums, institutions and libraries — the latter, to the sum of $12.5 million a year. Guest Gretchen Pruett, the newly-retired head librarian in New Braunfels and past president of the Texas Library Association, tells host Nikki DaVaughn what’s at stake with the funding cuts and how libraries are essential f...

Just as the City of Austin adopted a 5-year plan to attempt to address ongoing problems at the Austin Animal Center, the director, who’d been on administrative leave, resigned. Does that mean the shelter — which has struggled with overcrowding basically since the city declared it was a “no-kill” shelter back in 2011 — will finally turn a corner? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Luz Moreno-Lozano,...

The Texas Legislature is still in session under the pink dome down on Congress Avenue — but they won’t be for too much longer. Now is the time in the session when things get weird and hard to follow, so host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to break down where things stand on vouchers, the THC ban, and DOGE, on this week’s Friday...

The James Beard Restaurant and Chef Award Nominees were just named, and to the surprise of some, Austin’s only mention was for Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service, for Arjav Ezekiel, at Birdies. None of the nominees for Best Chef Texas are Austin chefs. So, what does that say about our local restaurateurs? What impact do these awards have on restaurants and their financial sustainability?...

American colleges and universities have been in the spotlight as the new Trump Administration trims the federal workforce and executes immigration policies. The 52,000 students at The University of Texas at Austin have been feeling it all, from research grant funding cuts to major changes in student loans and fear of deportation over protest participation. Isaiah Williams, a senior reporter at The...

Across many school districts, teachers are asked to do more with less, and that effort doesn’t typically include a pay bump. At Lockhart Independent School District, however, staff have rebuilt the leadership structure so experienced faculty are given time outside the classroom to mentor peers and run professional development, while principals can focus on long-term planning over short-term issues...

There are nearly 300,000 immigrants in Austin, and these days, many are understandably filled with fear. But things are fairly normal as far as deportations right now, according to our guest, Austin City Council Member José “Chito” Vela, an immigration and criminal defense attorney who won his seat in a special election in 2022 and is now serving a second term. He joins host Nikki DaVaughn to disp...

It’s the Friday News Roundup, and we’ve GOT to talk about this University of Texas Women’s Basketball team. They’re playing in the Final Four of the NCAA Championship tonight, and there are tons of places in town to sport your favorite burnt orange gear and watch the game. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to talk...

It’s now been 30 years since the death of the “Queen of Tejano Music,” Selena Quintanilla-Perez, but her influence on the genre is still enormous. A new documentary about Selena premiered at SXSW, and all episodes have now been released in Texas Monthly’s new podcast, Viva Tejano, which captures the nostalgia and experience of Tejano music. Its host, J.B. Sauceda, tells host Nikki DaVaughn in toda...