City Cast Austin

As the federal government shutdown stretches past four weeks, its impact is hitting home in Austin. Starting tomorrow, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will be paused, leaving many families uncertain about how they’ll put food on the table, and food banks racing to fill the gap. On today's Friday News Round Up host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by producer Elissa Castles and senior...

As October winds down and fall settles in, Austin’s taps are overflowing with rich, seasonal ales. Host Nikki DaVaughn admits beer isn't always her favorite, but the season's brews are sometimes too tempting to pass up. Award-winning beverage and food writer Ruvani de Silva joins Nikki to make the case for Austin's hearty stouts, bold porters, and other local seasonal favorites that even beer skep...

Austin's local businesses are the heart of what keeps this city unique and full of character. But with tariffs putting pressure on small shops around town, shopping local matters more now than ever before. On today's episode, host Nikki DaVaughn joins Austin influencer Ciara Cera, who's just discovering the city's independent gems, to share the best spots for gifts, plants, and other one-of-a-kind...

Austin's⁠ ⁠⁠busy season⁠⁠⁠ is in full swing. If you’ve been bouncing from festivals to shows, staying out past 10 p.m. and wondering where to grab a bite, we’ve got you covered. On today’s episode, host Nikki DaVaughn teams up with executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec and producer Elissa Castles to share Austin’s best spots for late-night snacking, quick to-go bites and cozy dine-in eats. Whether y...

Austinites can now take improv classes from the Upright Citizens Brigade, further solidifying our fair city’s spot as one of the country’s funniest cities (at least if you ask us). While we once had only a handful of choices for venues to make us laugh out loud, Austin is now home to dozens of comedy clubs, including Joe Rogan’s Comedy Mothership. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by local comedian Iz...

Gov. Greg Abbott's latest move to clear out Austin's homeless encampments this week has once again put the city and state at odds. Mayor Kirk Watson claims to have been blindsided by Abbott's directive and was disappointed by the state's approach. On this week's Friday News Round Up, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec and Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradsh...

The fight over Austinites’ vote in the city’s tax rate election is going full-force, with early voting already underway and thousands of dollars raised and spent by the two sides. In case you hadn’t heard, Austin City Council voted to ask you to pay more in property taxes in order to fund its $6.3 billion budget. The 5 cent increase per $100 valuation is set to bring in around $110 million. Yester...

The fight over Austinites’ vote in the city’s tax rate election is going full-force, with early voting already underway and thousands of dollars raised and spent by the two sides. In case you hadn’t heard, Austin City Council voted to ask you to pay more in property taxes in order to fund its $6.3 billion budget. The 5 cent increase per $100 valuation is set to bring in around $110 million. To dig...

Whether you bleed burnt orange or not, there’s something for every Austinite around The University of Texas at Austin’s campus. From long-standing restaurants to brand new ones, trusty dive bars to groundbreaking concepts, and sights and sounds you did not know existed — we’ve got your guide to the UT campus area. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Debra Hallum, co-owner of The 1972 Pub, the first w...

Earlier this month, the Austin Independent School District released a draft plan to close 13 schools to combat its $19.7 million budget deficit. With a final vote scheduled for Nov. 20, parents and community members are trying to make their voices heard before decisions are set in stone. On today's episode, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Austin American-Statesman education reporter Keri Heath an...

Early voting starts Monday, and Austin voters have some big decisions ahead, including 17 Texas Constitutional amendments and a tax rate election. If that sounds like a total snooze, we get it – but don't sleep on it! On this week's Friday News Round Up, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec and producer Elissa Castles to break down what’s on this year's ballot. Plus...

Austin’s hospitality scene has been in the news, from the eight local hotels that kept their esteemed Michelin Keys, to the seven on Condé Nast’s readers choice list of the top 15 hotels in Texas. In today’s episode, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Austin Monthly's Editor-in-Chief Madeline Hollern to talk about the best staycations for couples, families, groups, and more. While everyone’s tired o...

From the stick-straight pines of Bastrop to an iconic dinner table in a room full of animal carcasses, Central Texas is home to dozens of creepy scenes on the silver screen. To celebrate scary movie season, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by City Cast Austin contributor Eric Webb to dish on what’s filmed here, and our local horror film and TV stars. And heads up, several Austin venues are showing sc...

Texas’ new “Campus Protection Act” is in full force, and with it comes lots of changes to protests at public colleges and universities in the state, just a handful of years after those rights were enshrined in another law. Meanwhile, new state committees have been established to study free speech on campuses, teachers and staff at Texas public schools are under fire for comments on social media, a...

At the end of Friday last week, AISD announced a plan to close 13 school campuses at the end of the school year in an effort to address its $19.7 million deficit. The proposed closures come amid years of declining student enrollment and as the district faces a looming threat of a state takeover. On this week's Friday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by executive producer Eva Ruth Morave...

A recent report by home security company Vivint concluded that Austin had more ghost sightings last year than almost any other city. And honestly, we’re not surprised. From the moontowers to the Texas State Cemetery and so much more, Austin is full of haunting tales. Newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw hosts today’s conversation with Jeanine Plumer of Austin Ghost Tours for a virtual tour of Austin’...

A sandwich is a simple thing, really — two pieces of bread with something inside — and yet the options are seemingly endless. Especially in Austin. To help you, dear listener, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by City Cast Austin producer Elissa Castles and newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw to determine what is the best sandwich in the city. We’re talking about the most surprising sandwiches in town,...

Since its inception in 2002, an Austin-based band has kicked off the Austin City Limits Music Festival, and this year was no different. And even as the festival has grown, it still invites a number of local bands to the festival’s stages, like local band The Animeros this year, who just got exposed to thousands of new fans. How can local bands make it onto the ACL Fest schedule? And what’s in it a...

For years, Austin City Council has tried to regulate short-term rentals, and it looks like finally, there is a solution. Plus, a contract for homelessness services is up in the air, there’s a not-in-my-backyard fight over where to put a new navigation center, and the city is rushing to keep some 28,000 naturally-occurring affordable housing units from being sold by 2030. Austin City Council has be...

ACL weekend one kicks off today, but did you know only about a quarter of attendees are actually Austinites? In other words, this city is overflowing with tourists right now. If you're like host Nikki DaVaughn and want to dodge the crowds but still enjoy the weekend, we've got some great recommendations for you. On this week's Friday News Roundup, Nikki is joined by executive producer Eva Ruth Mor...

It’s that time of year — Austin City Limits Festival has already taken over Zilker Park, and the Imperial March will soon usher in some 450,000 festivalgoers over the next two weekends. And with one in four attendees hailing from Austin last year, we had to ask — is this festival truly for Austinites? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Andy Langer, The University of Texas at Austin’s senior director...

Do you feel that slight cool-down in the air? October is here, and it’s time to get out and revel in everything that takes over Austin this exhausting month. Host Nikki DaVaughn is here to shepherd you through her absolute favorite month in town — and she’s joined by Allyson Garro, owner of Coco Coquette, and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec. We’ve got all the best picks for tricks and treats f...

After nearly 34 years, the Austin Police Department has solved a quadruple homicide that forever changed the character of Austin — and the suspect wasn’t on anyone’s list. In a bombshell press conference yesterday, lead detective Daniel Jackson revealed how advances in forensic technology and cross-state collaboration finally cracked one of Austin's most haunting cold cases. Host Nikki DaVaughn is...

After a shooter targeted a North Texas ICE facility last week, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott vowed that the incident would “NOT slow our arrest, detention and deportation of illegal immigrants.” Already, Texas leads the country in the number of immigration detentions, according to reporting by Axios, though it’s unclear where exactly in the state those are taking place. Here in Austin, where immigrants r...

Were you also disappointed by that so-called "cold front" that moved in earlier this week? If you were dreaming of brisk autumn air, cozy sweaters and the start of soup season, you weren't alone. Sadly, Austin might be holding on to its drier, hotter weather for a little while longer. On this week's Friday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec and Hey A...