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NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2025

Best New Restaurants 2025 A stylish seafood hideaway, buzzworthy Mediterranean steakhouse, and Spanish tapas hot spot made our annual list of the top new eateries to discover in town.

Inside Austin’s Animal Crisis

BETHANY ELLEN OCHS

As shelters exceed capacity and the stray dog and cat population surges, the City of Austin and local rescue organizations have reached a reckoning point.

The ﬁlet o’ ﬁsh sandwich is a customer favorite at East Side restaurant Fish Shop.

AUSTIN MONTHLY

NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2025

Contents Editor’s Letter 27

Scout Release your frustrations at this new local scream club 27 Shop for the holidays with our Central Texas gift guide 28 5 amazing new albums to discover this fall 30 Party photos from Austin Monthly’s Best of ATX winners bash 32

Feast Sip lattes and do your laundry at this campus-area coffee shop 35

How the 45th & Lamar Chili’s became an Austin favorite 36 This award-winning 26-year-old chef is turning heads in South Austin 38

Beat

Our list of the best, worst, and wildest news of 2025 44 Test your mettle on COTALAND’s new Circuit Breaker tilt coaster 46

Weird History Remembering when Austin celebrated Y2K with a blowout bash downtown 82

ON THE C OV E R Siti chef Laila Bazahm holds her crispy smashed chicken wings, by Bethany Ellen Ochs. Food stylist: Tina Bell Stamos

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

‘ S C R E A M C LU B A N D B R B C O F F E E : E R I CA R I C H ; R O L L E R C OAST E R : C O U RT E SY C OTA L A N D

Transportation transformation: South Congress is about to look totally different with its new light rail 41

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP Austin Monthly Statement of Ownership, management and circulation (required by 39 U.S.C. 3685). 1. Austin Monthly 2. Publication No. USPS 001-163 3. Oct 1, 25. 4 Bi-Monthly, 5. No. of issues published annually. 6, 6. Annual subscription price $14.95; 7. PO Box 2171, San Antonio, TX 78297-

November/December 2025 | Vol. 33 | No. 6

General Manager Randi Stevenson Editor-in-Chief Madeline Hollern Creative Director Mara Esquivel

2171 9. Names and addresses of Publisher and Editors are: Publisher, Mark Medici, P.O. Box 2171, San Antonio, Texas

EDITORIAL

78297-2171. Editor, Madeline Hollern, P.O. Box 2171, San

Executive Editor Bryan C. Parker

Antonio, Texas 78297-2171. Managing Editor, Bryan C. Parker, P.O. Box 2171 San Antonio, TX 78297-2171. 10. Owner: Hearst Newspapers, LLC, mailing address: 300 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019. Members of Hearst Newspapers, LLC are: Hearst Communications, Inc. (Managing Member), and Newspaper Holding, Inc., mailing address: 300 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019 11. See Item 10 above. 15. A. Total no. copies printed (Net Press

Contributing Writers Darcie Duttweiler, Rose McMackin, Gabrielle Nicole Pharms, Ruvani de Silva ART Contributing Photographers Bethany Ellen Ochs, Erika Rich, Roj Rodriguez

Run). Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 16,374. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to ﬁling date 14,286. B. Legitimate Paid and/or

Contributing Illustrators Stephanie Elizabeth, Jon Wilcox

Requested Distribution. 1. Outside-County Subscriptions. Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 6,244. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 6,373. 3. Sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors and counter sales, and other outside USPS. Average no. of copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 1,237. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 1,125. C. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation. Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 7,481. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date 7,498. D. Nonrequested

DIGITAL Digital Manager Abigail Stewart ADVERTISING Senior Marketing Director Sara Bryant Director of Sales Julie Lee Account Executives Dana Horner, Teddy Ivanova, Jenn Tully, Kiely Whelan

Distribution. 1. Outside County, Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 2,132. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to ﬁling date, 1. 4. Outside the Mail, Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 3,740. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to ﬁling date, 3,788. E. Total Nonrequested Distribution. Average no. copies each issue during

EVENTS Events Director Lauren Sposetta CIRCULATION Circulation Manager Kerri Nolan

preceding 12 months, 5,872. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 3,789. F. Total Distribution. Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 13,353. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date 11,287. G. Copies not Distributed. Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 3,021. Actual no. copies each issue published nearest to filing date, 2,999. H. Total Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months, 16,374. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date, 14,286. I. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation. Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months 56%. Actual no. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date 66%. 17. I certify that the statements made by me above are correct and complete. Mark Medici, Publisher.

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

CONTACT US 8000 Metropolis Drive, Bldg. A, Ste. 100, Austin, TX 78744, 512-263-9133. Advertising inquiries: advertising@austinmonthly.com. Letters to the Editor: info@austinmonthly.com. Subscriptions, Renewals, and Address Changes: Austin Monthly, 8000 Metropolis Drive, Bldg. A, Ste. 100, Austin, TX 78744, 512-387-6234, subscriptions@austinmonthly.com or online at austinmonthly.com/subscribe.

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the GIVE GIFT of The Broadmoor this Holiday Season FOR THE ADVENTURER

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Does anyone in your family love the outdoors or want to experience Colorado’s beauty? From fly fishing to relaxing in rustic luxury, Broadmoorstyle, our Wilderness Experience makes a wonderful gift. Choose from one of our three luxury, all-inclusive properties: Orvis-endorsed Fly Fishing Camp, Forbes Edge List Cloud Camp, or The Ranch at Emerald Valley.

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Join us January 16–18, 2026, for The Broadmoor Sessions, an exclusive multi-day concert experience. Kick-off Friday night with an intimate performance by Hazel Miller and the Collective, as well as local favorite The Disruptors. On Saturday, Big Head Todd and The Monsters bring their soulful sound and timeless hits to the stage. Immerse yourself in live music, western charm, and the timeless luxury of The Broadmoor.

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FOR THE LIFE OF THE PARTY The Broadmoor New Year’s Eve Bash or Gala

Ring in 2026 at The Broadmoor. Choose from an elegant evening of dinner and dancing with the unforgettable New Year’s Gala, or, get your groove on at the more casual Bash, complete with DJ and cash bar. Join us in welcoming the new year with a champagne toast at midnight!

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Give the gift of choice this holiday season with a Broadmoor Gift Card that can be used toward lodging, spa services, and so much more! For additional information, visit Broadmoor.com/Give-the-Gift or call 844.875.9882

The Broadmoor Winter Spectacular Package

The Broadmoor Holiday Show

Wilderness Experience Cloud Camp

Editor’s Letter

Family Ties

FROM THE TIME I can remember, the holidays meant making sausage together. Even as a little kid, I recall sitting at the table with my sister peeling potatoes and chopping onions that would get blended into raw beef and pork. My mom would smash whole allspice into fine pieces and combine it with the meat as we listened to Christmas music. Then we’d each grab a piece of pipe and stuff the mixture into casings, gently squeezing it down by hand to create long links tied off with string. After boiling the sausage and frying it in butter on the stovetop, the whole house would smell like meat and allspice. Our Swedish sausage contains flavors unlike anything I’ve ever tried elsewhere, but it also has the unmistakable taste of home. As I researched local dining establishments for our “Best New Restaurants 2025” feature (page 52), I noticed that many of the eateries evoked a similar nostalgic feeling. In the last decade, the Austin dining scene has often felt like an over-thetop spectacle, with each new restaurant concept more Instagramworthy and expensive than the last. But this year, many of the dining spots had a refreshingly cozy, approachable vibe. When conceptualizing his new barbecue trailer, Parish Barbecue owner Holden Fulco drew inspiration from his Louisiana relatives’ crawfish boils and their time smoking hams together during Thanksgiving. The Greek Bar co-owner Dimitri Karabinis grew up working in a restaurant with his family, and photos of his relatives line the walls of his South Austin eatery inspired by a Greek taverna. At Loudmouth Pizza, the standout meatballs are based on a recipe that chef Patrick Jackson learned to make from his Italian grandpa. For our cover star, Laila Bazahm, a desire to recreate foods from her upbringing led her to open Siti, an exceptional Southeast Asian restaurant on the East Side. The Filipina chef’s new concept features entrees like laksa with coconut-galangal broth and succulent chili crab and lobster. Translating to “lady” in Malay, Bazahm named the restaurant in honor of the women who prepared these dishes at home—the moms, aunts, and grandmothersthatpasstime-honoredrecipestonewgenerations. When you dine at these stellar new restaurants, take a moment to notice the intimate, nostalgic details of each establishment, and think back to the home-cooked fare and family gatherings that have shaped you. As we cap off 2025, I wish you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday season filled with good times and truly memorable meals.

H AY D E N WA L K E R

Madeline Hollern Editor-in-Chief madeline@austinmonthly.com @madelinehollern @madelinehollern

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

We Call Austin Home It’s always hosting season in Austin. Discover pieces that help you make the most of the holidays and all the days in between.

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STAND UP TO YOUR SCIATIC PAIN Are you seeking relief from crippling BACK PAIN or SCIATICA? Sciatica is used to describe nerve pain that originates in the lower back, radiates deep into the buttock, and travels down the leg - Better known as, a literal "PAIN IN THE BUTT." All jokes aside, we understand how painful and debilitating sciatic pain can be. The burning sensation is unbearable. The shooting pain makes staying active almost impossible. Long car rides are out of the question. Standing for extended periods of time, forget it. You spend your entire day trying to get comfortable only to find that it's nearly impossible. You've tried the stretches. You've tried ice and heat. You've tried inversion tables and chiropractic.

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Yell Raisers I scream, you scream, we all scream… for wellness? Whether you’re looking to vent frustration or just take a break this holiday season, there’s an unorthodox new meetup in the capital city. Since this fall, Scream Club Austin has hosted a free weekly group yell at the downtown Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge on Sunday evenings. While rage rooms have been popular for years, this type of communal stress release emerged in June when Scream Club Chicago went viral for its simple objective: provide a safe space for strangers to shriek at the top of their lungs. The new Austin chapter of the Chicago original was an immediate hit, garnering dozens of attendees weekly. “Austin is such a mental health–conscious and active [town] that loves things that are out of the box,” says local founder Krystal Morris. “It’s clearly something needed.” At the free event, Morris leads attendees through rounds of yelling, showing them how to scream from their diaphragm and not ruin their voices. The club is open to all ages—just show up at 222 West Avenue at 6 p.m. ready to get loud. A chance to decrease stress and meet new friends? Now that deserves a shout out. instagram.com/screamclubatx

ERIKA RICH

AUSTIN MONTHLY

Scout Holiday Gift Guide

Surprise, Surprise! /

Crush your seasonal shopping with these curated gifts from Central Texas brands. BY MADELINE HOLLERN

1 3

1. For the Furry Friend Franklin Barbecue Sausage Dog Leash ($25) at shop.franklinbbq.com | 2. For the Outdoorsy Guy Lone Star x Poncho The Pearsall in South Zone Camo ($94.95) at ponchooutdoors.com | 3. For the Home Cook The Soul of Fonda San Miguel: Fifty Years of Food and Art Cookbook ($65) at utpress.utexas.edu | 4. For Little UT Fans The Longhorn Alphabet: Texas Football A-Z ($28.95) at longhornalphabet.com | 5. For the Travel Enthusiast Consuela Alex Jetsetter ($445) at consuelastyle.com | 6. For the Homebody Hey Moon x Carpenter Hotel “Night Swimming” Candle ($52) at the-carpenter-hotel.myshopify.com | 7. For the Entertainer Hotel Magdalena Summer Glass Fish Bottle ($59) at hotelmagdalenastore.com | 8. For the Gourmand Veracruz Salsa Macha ($18) at Veracruz All-Natural and Veracruz Fonda | 9. For the Honky-Tonk Woman Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott Sarah Boot in Blue Leather ($398) at kendrascott.com/yellow-rose.html | 10. For the Skincare Devotee ERLY Night Moisturizer ($42) and ERLY Start Moisturizer ($42) at itserly.com

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

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the R

r o ec

Fo r

Scout Music

These ﬁve new albums from Austin artists make for essential listening this fall. BY BRYAN C. PARKER

AARON McDONNELL & THE NEON EAGLES Live at White Horse

Great live albums are about more than the artists themselves. They capture the urgency of a place and a moment in time. Aaron McDonnell & The Neon Eagles’ latest album, Live at White Horse, follows that tradition by channeling the bustling energy of the capital city’s vibrant honky-tonks. Just like a dive bar bathed in the glow of neon, McDonnell’s sound evokes both the electric thrill of twirling around the dance ﬂoor as well as languid evenings spent lost in revelry. Ultimately, the album teems with the same rawness as the revered digs in which it was created.

DIE SPITZ

Something to Consume If there’s one good reason to believe that punk’s not dead, it’s these four women from Austin. Die Spitz has had a banner year with an appearance at Bonnaroo and gigs opening for Sleater-Kinney. Their second album arrives via Jack White’s Third Man Records imprint and showcases a penchant for punishing guitar riffs and primal vocals. But the band also knows how to infuse upbeat melodies and infectious hooks. These songs mark the most produced version of Die Spitz to date, but they haven’t lost sight of what makes them who they are. Simply put—this band rips.

JONATHAN TERRELL Dove

This duo’s folk pop music evokes images of sunrise drives along scenic backroads in the Texas Hill Country. Which makes sense, considering that core members Truett Heintzelman and Philip Lupton met at a summer camp west of Kerrville before forming the band while they were at school together at UT. Briscoe’s sophomore album relies on their usual strengths of close harmonies and bright melodies, but their sound feels even more pristinely crafted than before thanks to ﬂourishes of ﬁddle, touches of piano, and literary songwriting.

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

BIG BILL

Sick Myth On a first listen, it’s impossible to miss Big Bill’s bouncing punk riffs and singer Eric Braden’s quirky vocal delivery. What you’ll catch on a second take is the depth of the band’s wry social commentary and their ability to find ways to evolve into new sonic territory as songs unfold. The group’s fifth full-length album arrives on TODO Records (a recently launched imprint from photographer and tastemaker Pooneh Ghana) and presents 13 songs that are as urgent and inventive as ever.

I M AG E S BA N D CA M P.C O M

BRISCOE

Heat of July

Five albums into his career, Jonathan Terrell has released his most ambitious and unﬂinching work yet. Bursting with raw energy, these eight songs live at the intersection of blistering Southern rock and sultry country music. Big electric guitar riffs buzz and galloping drums propel the songs forward while Terrell delivers lyrical barbs in an aching, beer-soaked snarl. This is music made for sweltering Texas nights spent carousing in some roadhouse dive on the banks of a Gulf Coast swamp in the middle of nowhere.

Building dreams for 40 years. hi g hl a ndhomes. com

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Scout Scene

Mix & Mingle

BY MADELINE HOLLERN

BEST OF ATX 2025 WINNERS PARTY SIMPLY THE BEST! Austin Monthly celebrated its annual Best of ATX Awards with a spirited bash at East End Ballroom in September. The honorees of the magazine’s 2025 editors’ and readers’ choice awards mingled as they enjoyed bites from fellow winners Allday Pizza, who brought slices of their viral pickle pizza, as well as Cina Family Sauce, Rockman Coffee + Bakeshop, Tancho Sushi, and Cranky Granny’s. Guests rattled a “Ring for Champagne” bell to start the party with a glass of bubbly, and by the end of the night, two attendees had even more reason to celebrate: Tare owner and Best New Chef winner Michael Carranza proposed to his longtime girlfriend, pastry chef Danielle Martinez, while taking a picture together at the photo booth. Congrats to the happy couple on their engagement!

1. Bryan C. Parker and Adrian Quesada 2. Austin Monthly’s Best of ATX issue 3. Taylor Dixon tries Allday’s pickle pizza 4. Kaily Baskett, Claudia Hollern, Cynthia Bernard, Liza Binkley, Madeline Hollern, and Ruth Hollern 5. Caitlin Nemes 6. Erinn Knight 7. Triston Woodruﬀ and Christian Rice 8. Chelsea Hughes and Jenna Scherz 9. Sianni Dean 10. Guests enjoy the Ring for Champagne bell 11. Neeraj Salvankar 12. Kelly Wooldridge and Kari Levassar 13. Michael Carranza gets engaged to Danielle Martinez 14. Shannon Buth 15. Wendy Wells 16. Lauren Sposetta, Dustin Terry, and Danielle Terry 17. Tecovas x Chili’s Booth Boots

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

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Cool Beans Spin cycles and sweet treats collide at BRB Coffee, where pistachio-cardamom and rosewater-tahini lattes are served near neatly folded stacks of clothing. The Shabo family—brothers Youssef and Rony, their mother Tima, and sister Laila—have converted part of this campus-area SpinCycle Washateria into a plant-filled cafe powered by community. “When I was a student, I’d come here to do my laundry and sit on those metal benches,” says Youssef, a UT architecture grad. “I knew the space could be more inviting.” He and his brother rebuilt the washateria themselves, even retrofitting old dryers with neon lights into the coffee counter. The menu highlights beans from Medici Roasting alongside savory pies and pastries, including baklava made by Tima. Options range from Turkmen potato-mushroom and spinach-green onion pies to Afghan chicken and beef samosas. Customers can browse the propagation wall where neighbors swap cuttings, or convene for chess clubs, standup comedy, and live music. “Everything we offer has come from the community,” Youssef says. “We’re just giving the space back to them.” —Darcie Duttweiler

ERIKA RICH

AUSTIN MONTHLY

Feast Spice World

SO HOT RIGHT NOW

Gen Z’s post-cringe ethos has the whole world waking up to a reality Austinites have known for years—Chili’s just might be the country’s coolest restaurant. BY BRYAN C. PARKER

ON A CLEAR, COOL morning in early April 2024, a small group of employees from the Chili’s at 45th and Lamar huddled around the restaurant’s entrance with Mayor Kirk Watson. The city leader was on hand for a special occasion: to christen the eatery with its own special day. “Whereas, the grassroots popularity of Chili’ss at 45th & Lamar embodies the special kind d of weirdness that makes Austin, well, Austin,” Watson read. “I, Kirk Watson, a particular fan of the Santa Fe Salad with grilled chicken and mayor of the City of Austin, Texas, do hereby proclaim April 5, 2024 as Chili’s at 45th & Lamar Day.” Local love for this specific location began to emerge as a meme around a decade or so ago, but the exact origins are unclear. Though it seems like the fandom was initially a good-natured punchline, Austinites riffed on the idea so often that the tongue-in-cheek adoration has become reali36

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

ty—the culinary equivalent of an ironic T-shirt that you eventually just love unabashedly. Last year, internet personality Evil MoPac joked that the restaurant had won a coveted Michelin star, and someone brought a bar stool from the establishment out to ACL Fest this year instead of a folding chair. You’ve gotta admire the commitment to the bit. While denizens of the capital city have been partial to Chili’s for some time, the restaurant chain has also seen a recent surge in popularity across the nation. “We’ve doubled down on two big things: putting guests at the center of everything we do and taking creative swings,” says Chili’s vice president of marketing Jesse Johnson. “That means we’re constantly listening—to what people are saying in restaurants, on social, and in real time—and moving quickly when something resonates.”

JINGLE ALL THE WAY

C O U R T E SY C H I L I ' S

Chili’s’ famous baby back ribs song was cooked up by an Austin agency.

The exec has no shortage of examples to cite as evidence. When the company noticed their fried mozzarella and Triple Dipper appetizers trending on TikTok, they leaned into it by creating new flavors and mercharoundthepopularofferings.Playing into the country’s growing love of Western wear, the company partnered with Tecovas tomakebootsoutoftheeatery’srecognizable red leather booths. Chili’s has even done full immersive marketing campaigns like their Fast Food Financing pop-up in New York City. As a jab at overpriced fast food, patrons entered a kitschy loan office and filled out fake applications for a gift card to try the restaurant’s new Big QP burger. The activation reveals a couple of key things about the chain’s understanding of our present cultural moment. First, they understandtheeconomiccrunchthatmany Americans are feeling, and second, they know people could use a fun moment— something that might end up going viral on social media or at least be shared with friends as a joke. Perhaps most importantly, those insights show that Chili’s gets the youngest members of its clientele. “Gen Z has a sharp radar for authenticity,” Johnson says. “They gravitate toward brands that don’t take themselves too seriously and play in the same spaces they do.” For the restaurant’s marketing team, that means interacting on social media with a tone that feels relatable, playful, and confident. “We’re in on the joke,” he says. Eliana Smith, a Round Rock native who now attends Wellesley College outside of Boston, recently drove over an hour just to eat at the nearest Chili’s. Her favorite order is a side of mac ‘n’ cheese and a margarita, and she says the restaurant chain is a go-to spot for celebrating birthdays among her friends. While Smith says she genuinely likes the atmosphere, she adds, “There’s something kind of funny about Chili’s.” Taking a boomerang video of her visits for

Instagram is a tradition, which she says no one her age ever posts those seriously. That makes sense for a generation that employs cheesy photo filters and thrives on an endless supply of internet memes decipherable only to those already in the know. You can think of Chili’s as the Comic Sans of restaurants. Which is fitting considering thatGenZhasembracedtheonce-maligned font (along with Papyrus and others that most designers consider abhorrent). For young people these days, doing something for a laugh is far more important than looking cool. In many ways, Gen Z’s post-cringe mindset makes them an ideal targetdemographicfortherestaurantchain. The youngest members of our society have leaned so hard into irony, they’re looping back around to sincerity. That’s all understandable for a group of people who face mounting global crises and have experienced their entire lives through the firehose of information that is the internet. The world is exhausting, and it’s hard to imagine a less complicated place to have a meal than Chili’s. In light of that approachability, Smith points out an important side effect: “It's also interesting to be at Chili’s and be like, “Wow, all these people are here and they're such an interesting mix of people.” In short, the restaurant is for everyone, from teens trying to save a buck to millennials with kids and retirees who love routine. It’s the place you go for a family meal when you’re home for college. Or the spot for an endof-year office party where you discover that you have a lot more in common with a coworker than you ever realized. There’s a reason Pam Beesly declared, “I feel God in this Chili’s tonight,” on season two of The Office. That was 20 years ago, and Pam’s remark was way ahead of its time, but the sentiment feels even more true today. Hey, we’ll raise our glasses of Presidente Margaritas to that.

“I want my baby back, baby back, baby back…” If you start singing Chili’s’ famed jingle, there’s a near certainty that anyone within earshot will be familiar enough with it to join in—and neither of you will be able to get the song out of your head for the rest of the day. But did you realize that one of the most unforgettable morsels of marketing from the ’90s was created right here in the capital city? Advertising exec Guy Bommarito was working as creative director at Austin-based firm GSD&M when he found himself in a desperate situation. Bommarito revealed to Vice in an interview that back in 1996, his agency had bombed a campaign so badly that they were on the brink of being fired by Chili’s. So, the restaurant chain gave them one final chance by asking for a song to promote their ribs. At the time, jingles were seen by creative agencies as one of the most undesirable forms of work, but Bommarito needed to save the account. After whipping up the song in a matter of minutes, he eventually just sang it over the phone to the clients to get their approval. While he assumed that the jingle would be a simple promo around one menu offering, the catchy tune ended up generating a massive influx of business for the restaurant—and garnering Bommarito and Chili’s eternal advertising fame. Looking back, it’s easy to understand why: The infectious melody is just as delectable as a baby back rib smothered in barbecue sauce.

AUSTIN MONTHLY

Feast Tastemaker

Bringing the Heat

IN THE CALM before dinner service at Fig, the kitchen hums in steady rhythm as chef Cole Fitzgerald makes his rounds—every motion is deliberate, and every plate serves as a reflection of his exacting style. At just 26, the North Carolina–born chef already holds a Michelin recommendation and a résumé that includes working with iconic chef and restaurateur Gordon Ramsay. Yet what defines Fitzgerald is the quiet discipline that shows up in every dish, whether he’s coaxing bright, unexpected flavor from salt-fermented scraps, hand-rolling pasta with imported Italian flour, or finding purpose in the precision of whole-animal butchery. The city’s insatiable appetite for chef-driven concepts makes Fig Italian Kitchen and Bar aptly “Austin,” a place where culinary creativity and laid-back charm naturally go hand in hand. Yet, Fitzgerald’s approach to distinctive menu offerings stands out amid a sea of fusion. Think handmade pastas laced with Hill Country ingredients and international flair, with seasonal menus shaped by local purveyors. Despite receiving early acclaim for his executive chef chops at Atlanta-based New American restaurant The White Bull, Fitzgerald resists the temptation to define himself by accolades. “I never want to make that a prime center of my career… it just happened,” he says. As Fitzgerald sees it, staying focused on technique, mentorship, and the joy of constant learning is more relevant than chasing stars or awards. The rising culinary talent began cooking at age 13 at a family friend’s restaurant and earned executive chef status at only 20 years old while in his sophomore year at the University of Georgia.

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

Drawing inspiration from one of his favorite books, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, Fitzgerald says the key to mastering his craft isn’t believing he’s exceptional—it’s knowing he’s not. Instead, it’s hard work and a focus on self-improvement that makes the difference. It's that careful balance of manifesting a humble yet confident attitude that keeps the former Georgia resident hungering for what’s next, which led him to move from Atlanta to Austin in the summer of 2024. Here, Fitzgerald wanted to do something traditional while still defying expectations. He bristles at the idea that “Italian” equals red-sauce classics or Americanized favorites, such as heavy cream-based chicken alfredo or marinara-drenched chicken parmigiana. “Traditional Italian is not Italian American. They could not be more opposite,” he says. “Most of my dishes have five ingredients—manipulated in different ways—that’s true to how Italians cook.” Minimalism is his signature, but it comes with international swagger, such as the ricotta gnocchi brightened by saffron butter, shiitake, smoked hatch chilies, roasted corn, and Aleppo pepper. Even Fig’s half chicken follows suit, with crisp skin balanced by marsala jus, creamy polenta, roasted mushrooms, and cipollini onion. The dish reads as simple on paper but layers Italian comfort with global nuance. At Fig, Fitzgerald intends to build not just dishes but people. Most of his kitchen brigade is under 25, and the chef not only relishes pushing them, but also loves being challenged himself. “It brings the happiest and the saddest tears to my eyes when I’m next to a 19-year-old kicking my ass on the line,” he says. “They’ve still got that spark, and I love surrounding myself with it.”

D I S H : J AS O N Y U ; C H E F: SA R A A L A R C O N

A master of haute technique, chef Cole Fitzgerald’s obsession with flavor has made him one of the capital city’s most promising culinary talents. BY GABRIELLE NICOLE PHARMS

SAVE THE DATE

DEC. 3 AT LZR

P H OTO C R E D I T

austinmonthly.com/BNR2025

Off the Rails The capital city’s impending light rail construction will forever change South Congress Avenue as we know it. BY BRYAN C. PARKER

J O N W I LC OX

AUSTIN MONTHLY

Beat The City The view facing north on South Congress Avenue, where a new light rail will eventually run down the middle of the street.

TRAIN OF THOUGHT A look at the numbers surrounding the forthcoming light rail project.

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

all street parking in the area will be eliminated, and the road may be reduced to one lane in each direction to accommodate the tracks. It’s also possible that two lanes of traffic in each direction will remain, but that will mean less room for bike lanes and sidewalks. And those are just the highlevel considerations in a sea of endless details. In January, the local government corporation responsibleforimplementingthenewtrainsystem, Austin Transit Partnership (ATP), released their Draft Environmental Impact Statement, a study required by any project receiving federal funding that examines how it will affect the existing environment, from natural features to the economic infrastructure. The total document is more than 16,000 pages long, which underscores the scope and extent of the initiative. The final decisions on the exact specifications of the street have not yet been made and won’t be for some time. That’s not expected to occur until closer to 2027, when construction is slated to begin. And the light rail isn’t expected to actually launch service until 2033, meaning we have years of construction ahead of us. In the meantime, ATP has been holding community meetings and soliciting feedback from stakeholders like Twigger. One of the organization’s executives, Jennifer Pyne, says that the opinions they’ve heard vary widely and are often contradictory, which is to be expected when asking the thoughts of dozens of people. Regardless of what the final recommendations are, Pyne echoes Twigger’s assessment of the situation. “When the light rail comes in, you’re essentially rebuilding the street,” she says. And keeping the unique character of a place during a complete overhaul is no easy task.

9.8 miles

The length of track for the new light rail.

10,000

The estimated number of jobs created by the light rail’s implementation.

$7.1 billion Total budget slated for the light rail’s planning and construction.

Minutes of expected travel time from 38th Street to Oltorf Street via the light rail.

28,500

Estimated number of riders served daily by the light rail in 2040.

G E T T Y I M AG E S/ G R A P I CT ST U D I O

ON A SUNNY fall day in Austin, pedestrians stroll along South Congress Avenue clutching shopping bags and peering into the plate glass windows of stores. Clusters of friends stop at iconic landmarks for photos, while families enjoy meals under the shade of oak trees at sidewalk cafes. With classic local establishments like the Continental Club, Allens Boots, and Hotel San José, this little stretch of road is a bastion of Austin’s culture. However, the past decade has ushered in a sea change for the strip, with longstanding stores like Lucy in Disguise and Tesoros traded out for bougie international brands like Hermès and Soho House. Many locals have bemoaned the death of the district in light of those shifts. However, all that transformation pales in comparison to the radical reimagining of the area set to take place when the construction of the new light rail commences. Much has been made about Project Connect’s effects on North Austin: Beloved burger joint Dirty Martin’s clamored to have the rail’s path altered, and community grocery store Wheatsville Co-op announced it would depart next year when its lease is up. But no one is really talking about how drastically the new transportation line will alter South Congress forever. “They’re going to scrape the entire street from storefront to storefront,” says Alie Twigger, coowner of Heritage Boots, which sits in the 1700 block of South Congress. She serves on the board of the South Congress Merchant’s Association and says that many of the shop owners are alarmed about the impending redesign of the district. Eventually, the light rail will run directly up the street from downtown to a stop at Oltorf Street. To accommodate its installation, virtually

But the preciousness of the district isn’t lost on Pyne, who says, “It’s a special place, and this project is going to make it easier for people to get there—but you have to make sure you don’t lose the attraction, and that’s our intention.” ATP says that it will be able to maintain car access to the area throughout construction by working on one side of the road at a time and diverting traffic. Still, it’s almost certain that the district will see a decline in patron activity. For huge international brands like Hermès, it might be no big deal, but for locally owned shops, a lag in business could be catastrophic. ATP’s plan does call for supporting businesses with financial assistance. “I worked on building a light rail in Phoenix, Arizona, and we had business assistance programs in place,” Pyne says. “Something that was effective was to reimburse bills.” Such measures can’t replace earnings, but they can cut down on overhead costs. For Twigger and other business owners in the area, it’s not just the construction that’s a concern, but simply how much the project has changed. To really understand the context of this moment, you have to go all the way back to a bond measure in 2020. Fifty-eight percent of Austinites voted in favor of the Project Connect light rail, setting in motion a massive undertaking. However, at the time, the proposal consisted of around 20 miles of track, 31 stops, and access to the airport. Now, the plan has been reduced to under 10 miles of track and just 15 stops, with the last at Yellow Jacket Lane—which is, frustratingly, just one stop short of the airport. “Everyone’s been bait and switched,” Twigger says. Her assessment of the situation is valid in terms of the net effect, but the underlying reasons are far more complex. The most major factor is that the project’s $7.1 billion budget just doesn’t cover as much as it was expected to when the plan was drafted thanks to supply chain issues and inflation (especially with regard to construction materials like steel and concrete). There’s also the fact that a substantial portion of the funding was slated to come from federal grants, but those are all far from certain in a political climate that has consistently scaled back spending on public projects. Twigger recalls initially being excited for the idea back in 2020 and remembers the plan calling for more stops along South Congress. The shop owner generally welcomes growth and isn’t averse to progress. “Change is inevitable,” she says. “But this is just a bad idea.” The latest iteration has a stop near the beginning of the district and then a terminus at Oltorf Street, meaning the two stations closest to Heritage Boots are a half mile in either direction. Pyne says that ATP is considering one more station located near Lively Middle School, which would drastically increase access to the shopping district, but nothing is guaranteed. Zooming out, the friction surrounding the public transportation project is somewhat surprising given Austin’s general political leanings. You get the feeling that everyone’s hungry for an omelet, but no one is ready to break the eggs. Which is understandable considering how much is at stake for small business owners. When Kirk Watson was reelected after a two-decade gap in his mayoral tenures, Austin Monthly asked him what he wished he’d done differently the first time around. His first thought was of the failed rail proposal 25 years ago. At that time, Austin seemed big enough already to the local hippies who’d been calling it home since the ’70s. But there’s no denying that sweeping infrastructure change would have been much easier back then. Now, if only $7.1 billion could buy a time machine, we wouldn’t have such a mess.

VELÁZQUEZ INAUSTIN

Spirit & Splendor: El Greco,Velázquez, and the Hispanic Baroque traces a 150-year history of painting that culminates with the Baroque, characterized by dramatic realism, opulence, and religious devotion. On view through Feb 1, 2026. Spirit & Splendor: El Greco, Velázquez, and the Hispanic Baroque is organized by the Hispanic Society Museum & Library, with support from The Museum Box. Major support for this exhibition at the Blanton is provided by The Moody Foundation. Image: Diego Velázquez, Portrait of a Little Girl (detail), 1638–42, oil on canvas, 20 1/4 x 16 in. (photo: courtesy of The Hispanic Society of America, New York, NY)

blantonmuseum.org /@blantonmuseum / MEMBERS GET IN FREE

Beat Year in Review

Worst of Aus d n a t s ti n Be ST

2025

Homeward Bound

A distinguished-looking 8-year-old terrier mix named Noodles went missing in July when food blogger Taylor Hannan’s red Honda Civic was stolen with his faithful companion inside. Locals launched a citywide pup hunt, and the beloved pet was found a week later in Southeast Austin. Even Mayor Kirk Watson was moved by the story, and he formally designated Aug. 5 as Noodles Day with a city proclamation.

Must-See TV

Iconic animated sitcom King of the Hill may take place in the fictional town of Arlen, but the real-life Austinite who created it, Mike Judge, had a banner year. As the show returned to the air for a new season, massive crowds flocked to the Paramount Theatre for a sneak peek during ATX TV Festival, and a specialty beer based on the show was such a hit that H-E-B stores sold out immediately.

From disco parties and hijacked cranes to creepy experiments in a mortuary, here’s our annual rundown of the city’s good, bad, and just plain weird news items. BY BRYAN C. PARKER

Riding High

Cranes poking up above the Austin skyline have been a ubiquitous sight for years, but in April, capital city residents were shockedtoseethatsomeonehadhijacked one and was swinging from it like some sort of urban Tarzan. Although police cordoned off and evacuated the area, the daredevil somehow managed to get down unscathed and slip away without being apprehended.

Burger! At the Disco

To celebrate National Cheeseburger Day on Sept. 18, local faves P. Terry’s invited Secret Disco Society to throw a pop-up dance party in the parking lot of their original location at South Lamar and Barton Springs. No one had more fun than Patrick Terry himself, who ended up wearingaglimmeringmirrorballhelmet. Is this a whole new persona named Disco Pat? We’re not saying it’s not.

Bird is the Word

You may have seen one of the viral video clips of a dwarf-sized robot sporting a cowboy hat around Austin. Known as the Rizzbot, one of his trademark moves is to raise the middle finger on both hands and rotate them in a full circle. We’ve gotta admit that the double bird flip embraces a mood that feels apropos of the wild times in which we live.

Gentle Giant

During the construction of the Waterline building (which will be Texas’ tallest upon completion), the structure took on an uncanny resemblance to the Iron Giant of Disney film fame—especially amid the morning mist and evening haze. Complete with floodlights for glowing eyes and an antenna, the sentinel kept watch over our fair city like the superhero we really need. A household name in Austin hip-hop, MamaDuke(akaKoriRoy)tookherlyrical prowess to the national stage with an appearance on America’s Got Talent. After her spitfire performance wowed the judges—including the notoriously stoic Simon Cowell—former Spice Girl Mel B smashed the golden buzzer, giving Mama Duke a path straight to the finals. While the Austin rapper didn’t win it all, she still landed among the top 10 for the season. 44

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

ST E P H A N I E E L I Z A B E T H

Golden Opportunity

WORST Robo Flop

As if the Cybertruck rollout wasn’t enough of a headache for Tesla, the company’s Robotaxi service had a bumpy debut in Austin. A fter the service launched in June, a technology safety watchdog group called the Dawn Project released a video showing the cars passing by the stop sign on a bus and plowing right over a child-sized mannequin during a staged test. Yikes.

Weird Science

Paging Dr. Frankenstein! In a bizarre incident that truly feels like a plot from a horror movie, a mortuary owner was arrested in April amid accusations that she had performed experiments on the corpses at her business. The mortician allegedly severed body parts to observe decay and used power tools on the cadavers.

Out of Line

Thanks to years of gerrymandering, the shapes of Texas’ congressional districts already looked less like sensible geo-

graphic areas and more like splatters of bird droppings. But conservatives wanted more. When the president tapped Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to find five seats, lawmakers bent the knee and went back to the drawing board—literally—to create new maps that further consolidate power for state Republicans.

Shattered Expectations

Downtown Austin has morphed into a Squid Game–like obstacle course several times this year as large panes of glass from high-rises have plummeted to the street below. Though no one has been seriously harmed, several people were injured in the incidents. But unlike the hit Netflix show, there’s no pool of prize money waiting if you make it through this gauntlet.

Dye Hard

Imagine enjoying the serenity of a jog around Lady Bird Lake when you’re suddenly struck by some unknown projectile. In April, an online livestreamer who goes by the name Xena the Witch—

because Austin’s weirdness knows no bounds—was arrested after shooting a person with a paintball gun during an elaborate scavenger hunt.

Brand Jury

After the City of Austin revealed its first-ever unified logo, the new brand was tried in the court of public opinion and widely mocked across social media. Not only did many Austinites criticize the simplicity of the design, but the real point of contention was the budget city officials spent on the new iconography— purportedly over a million dollars.

Passing Notes

When a KUT reporter filed a request for email communications between Gov. Greg Abbott and billionaire Elon Musk, the lawmaker claimed the messages were too “intimate and embarrassing.” The shockingly unsavvy PR faux pas made the state leader sound a bit like a middle schooler caught slipping a love letter to a would-be sweetheart. Can I have your vote? Check yes or no. AUSTIN MONTHLY

Beat Park and Ride

License to Thrill

A new theme park located at Circuit of The Americas inches toward opening with the completion of a roller coaster and more rides in the works. BY BRYAN C. PARKER

Circuit Breaker

A tangle of spiraling track that takes riders through four inversions and two tunnels, this coaster will reach speeds of nearly 60 mph. And that’s not even the most exhilarating part.

After climbing its initial hill, the cart stalls while the track disconnects and tilts forward to rejoin with a separate set of rails. Riders are held at a 90-degree angle to the ground for a moment before they plummet down the vertical drop. Circuit Breaker is Texas’ first tilt coaster and just the second in the U.S., but anyone nervous about testing the innovative engineering can rest assured that the company who designed it, Vekona, also built one of the first tilt coasters ever in Taiwan back in 2002.

Palindrome

As the name implies, this coaster’s path takes riders through more than 1,200 feet of track and multiple inversions before doing it all over again in reverse. But the most unique part of the ride is that it features a zero-g stall as riders pass over Circuit of The Americas Boulevard, making it one of the only coasters in the country to pass over an active road. The ride might not quite match the 200+ mph of F1 cars, but it still promises to deliver plenty of thrills.

The Soggy Logger

Is a theme park really complete without some version of a log flume? This iteration culminates in a five-story drop and features a Hill Country theme to tie into its Texas locale. COTALAND officials say the ride will begin testing soon as it nears completion. 46

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

C O U R T E SY C I R C U I T O F T H E A M E R I CAS

AS OF NOW, thrill seekers in Austin must drive more than 80 miles to enjoy a proper theme park. But that’s set to change in 2026, as COTALAND plans to bring 30 attractions across 30 acres at Circuit of The Americas. While the park still hasn’t announced an official launch date, representatives hosted a ceremony in August to commemorate the final bolt being tightened on Circuit Breaker, the park’s first roller coaster. Below, we look at the details of that historic milestone and two more key attractions that have already broken ground.

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PH B ET OTO H A NCYREELDLI T EN OCHS

BY MADELINE HOLLERN, BRYAN C. PARKER, RUVANI DE SILVA, AND ROSE McMACKIN

November/December 2024

P H OTO C R E D I T

Central Texas barbecue with Cajun flair. A seafood shop with gourmet filet o’ fish. A homey Italian joint. And a steakhouse with the best damn bread plate in town. Austin’s latest culinary hot spots are delicious, dynamic, and—amazingly—still approachable. This season, discover these 10 stellar new eateries in town. November/December 2024

ARIS

From the second the complimentary bread plate hits your table at this upscale Mediterranean steakhouse, you know you’re in for a memorable dining experience. The fresh focaccia lights up your tastebuds with house-churned sumac butter and mouthwatering olive oil marmalade. Curated details make the difference at Aris, which translates to “best” in Greek mythology. You’ll likely fill up on stellar appetizers like the grilled octopus brushed with cilantro soy glaze and served with crème fraiche, or the savory cigars, chef Hai Avnaim’s Moroccan family recipe of filo dough, harissa, and 16 different spices. But if you do save room for dinner, the USDA prime steaks are dry-aged and butchered in-house, sous vide to order, and broiled in the kitchen. The eye-catching Clarksville space features a warm terracotta hue and inviting horseshoe-shaped bar in the middle, and the wine program recently received the 2025 Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator. While you can certainly splurge at Aris, the restaurant also serves an award-winning burger during happy hour from 4:30 to 6 p.m. for those looking for an early date night. 54

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

K I R ST E N G I L L I A M

STAR DISHES: Aris cigar, grilled octopus, bread plate, Moroccan tiger shrimp DESTINATION: 1111 W. Sixth St.

KAL I M O TXO While dining in Spain’s Basque Country in 2018, chef Ben Savage had an almost religious experience with an exquisite slab of steak. That was years before he had the opportunity to open Emmer & Rye’s newest restaurant, Kalimotxo, and his love for Spanish fare has only grown since then. After cutting his teeth at Uchiko and spending time at Jeffrey’s andHestia,SavagebringsexperiencefromsomeofAustin’stoprestaurants to his role as its chef de cuisine. The restaurant excels with classic tapas like patatas bravas and inventive pintxos like a mushroom and quail egg tosta. Traditional ingredients such as anchovies, guindilla peppers, and jamón are used to create delectable dishes. Like its namesake cocktail—a mixture of red wine and cola—Kalimotxo is refined but isn’t afraid to have a little fun. Thanks to a menu built around bite-sized offerings, you don’t have to torment yourself over what to order, and it’s easy to try a substantial portion of the menu on a single visit. In addition to a solid cocktail menu, Kalimotxo has a nice selection of sherry and vermouth. If you thought that the latter was simply used as an ingredient, then you’ve never sipped Spanish vermouth. Ultimately, the restaurant understands that STAR DISHES: Spanish fare doesn’t need to be complicated. Patatas bravas, Savage describes the culinary mindset this Gilda, seared way: “Once they have something great, they snapper tend not to mess with it.” DESTINATION:

K A L I M OT XO : M A R S T E L LO ; T I R A M I S U : B E T H A N Y E L L E N O C H S

1813 E. Sixth St.

AUSTIN MONTHLY

P H OTO C R E D I T

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

THE GREEK BAR While plenty of Greek restaurants lean into a classic blue-andwhite motif, the interior of The Greek Bar is decorated in soft, dusty pink. In a sense, that summarizes this new South Austin spot’s whole concept: rather than trafficking in Americanized clichés about Greece, this restaurant could believably be in Europe. The approach is unfussy, traditional food made with fresh ingredients. The husband-and-wife team behind the restaurant, Daphne Greer and Dimitri Karabinis, both have Greek heritage and wanted an Austin destination where one could order a little ouzo alongside spanakopita served on an inviting, low-key patio—what one might find at the casual, traditionall tavernas in Santorini. “We both have been in fine dining for a lon ng time,” Greer explains. “However, when we eat at home, we eat simp ple, good whole foods.” Whatever ingredients aren’t made from scratcch arre sourced with great care, and locally or directly from Greece whene ever possible. The emphasis is on traditional flavors and cooking stylles, liike the fried chicken, which is feta-brined for greater tenderness, or the peppery grilled octopus. But expect to encounter lots of playful inventiveness behind the bar, where the team is remixing classic Greek ingredients in all kinds of ways. The kalamata martini riffs on the traditional Spanish cocktail olive, while the frothy, herbaceous Greek God Bless You centers mastika, a unique liqueur from the Greek island of Chios. Opa!

STAR DISHES: Greek salad, lamb chops, ﬁg old fashioned DESTINATION: 534 E. Oltorf St.

T H E G R E E K BA R ; J O N S C OT T Y; L E CA L A M A R : C L AY G R I E R

L E CA L A M A R Pairing the concept of an understatedly chic Parisian bistro with hyperlocal ingredients may sound ambitious— even contradictory—but after a visit to Le Calamar, you’ll wonder why no one thought of it before. This new venture from Richard Hargreave and Claudia Lee (Underdog) brings in the talent of chef Casey Wall to a menu that blends the care and precision of French cuisine with the taste of Texas terroir. At the South Austin restaurant, checkered tablecloths are swapped out in favor of Spaghetti Western–esque decor, olive and ochre hues, and desertinspired centerpieces. Hargreave’s carefully curated wine list showcases low-intervention selections from Texas and Mexico as well as France. Meanwhile, Wall and his team dexterously pivot around a daily changing menu that ensures the freshest ingredients hand-delivered from family farms and fishing boats. While you never know what you’re going to get, the chef anchors his offerings with signature features, such as his luxuriant sweet-smoked almondine sauce STAR DISHES: with an earthy spice that melds with Golden tileﬁsh, meaty Gulf Coast white fish, and chicken wing à his Baked Texas dessert, which la koﬀman, combines local honey, pecan, and Baked Texas olive oil into an intricately layered DESTINATION: masterpiece. Expect the likes of 1600 S. First St., oysters, crudo, steak, and parfait, Ste. 100 all with a unique spin that may never again be repeated. AUSTIN MONTHLY

LOU DM O UTH

P H OTO JADE CR SEKD Y IET H A M M E R

Named in honor of his outspoken Grandpa Joe and the rest of his vocal relatives, Patrick Jackson’s latest culinary concept was built with family in mind. The executive chef for Daybreak Hospitality (Paperboy), Jackson grew up visiting his Italian immigrant grandfather outside of Pittsburgh, learning to cook homemade pasta, meatballs, and ravioli together. His new casual Italian joint was built to be innovative yet approachable, with a spacious dog-friendly outdoor patio and a children’s menu that accommodates the little ones. “Whenever you take your kids somewhere, you either take them out where it’s very kid friendly and the food is usually not very good, or you take them somewhere nice and it’s kind of gnarly the whole time,” says Jackson, who has a 5-year-old. While kids can nosh on chicken nuggets, cheese pizzas, and local Good Pop popsicles at Loudmouth, it’s the adults who get to have the real fun. Jackson employs fresh takes on classics from miso-and-kale Caesar salads and house-made steamed focaccia to a hamachi crudo featuring a Calabrian chile emulsion with lemon juice, Texas olive oil, and crispy capers. While you can’t go wrong with any of the woodfired pizzas—try the classic margherita or the Joe’s Pie with fennel sausage and oyster mushrooms—an order of the meatballs is a must. The pork-and-beef dish feaSTAR DISHES: tures breadcrumbs soaked Meatballs, Joe’s Pie, in egg and milk first, a focaccia, tiramisu moist and flavorful adapDESTINATION: tation of a recipe from 1209 Rosewood Ave. Grandpa Joe. Nostalgia never tasted so good.

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

R AW APPEAL

ONCE A COASTAL INDULGENCE, OYSTERS ARE NOW RIDING A WAVE OF POPULARITY IN AUSTIN’S DINING SCENE. Swallowing an oyster is probably the closest a person can come to licking the entire ocean. Served raw, these briny bivalves typically arrive on a pillow of ice alongside bright crescents of lemon. With coastal elegance and aﬀordable indulgence dominating the zeitgeist, the raw oyster is poised for a major moment. The fare isn’t new to Austin so much as enjoying an explosion in local popularity, served for happy hour specials or touted as the perfect complement to the equally trendy martini. Now, there’s even a Texas Indie OysterFest, which celebrated the farmers and chefs redeﬁning the delicacy this past spring and fall.

P H OTO C R E D I T

Like wine, sourced from hyper-regional terroirs, oysters are organized by merroir, microregions with unique currents, marine life, and salinity that create particular flavor proﬁles. Texas has long laid claim to Gulf-grown Virginica oysters, which are larger and more buttery than other varieties. But with the raw oyster culturally ascendant, Austin also has several standout spots where you can sample flavors from other regions, too. While the sweeter West Coast varietals cannot be sold in Texas due to an obscure law, capital city hot spots like Clark’s Oyster Bar, Austin Oyster Co., and Skipjack Oyster import their shellﬁsh from the coastlines of Maine, Massachusetts, and Canada. Oysters from the East Coast tend to be brinier than those grown in Texas. All varieties taste great when accented with lemon, horseradish, or a splash of vinaigrette, but purists embrace these complex-tasting morsels sans accompaniment. Bottoms up!

AUSTIN MONTHLY

R O C C O ’S Tucked away in a humble building off the Airport Boulevard thoroughfare, Rocco’s never set out for flash. But the new Italian joint nevertheless became an instant social media favorite for its cozy interiors and craveworthy rigatoni. Chef Nicholas Ford drew inspiration from the casual neighborhood trattorias that he frequented growing up on the East Coast. The former executive chef of Sammie’s comes from a big Italian family, where his nonnas would make fresh tortellini on the kitchen counter. Grab a seat along the eatery’s pillow-lined perimeter booth before exploring its small but mighty menu, filled with an extra-crunchy chopped Caesar salad with pecorino and garlic bread crumble and arancini filled with beef bolognese. Italian for “little ears,” the orecchiette dazzles with sweet and spicy Italian sausage, fried zucchini, and marinated peppers, while the four-ingredient rigatoni made with vodka sauce, ricotta, basil, and sesame garlic breadcrumbs has already become a menu staple. (Pro tip: Order the house-made pastas with a side of “scarpetta,” bread designed to sop up all the tasty sauces.) While one might assume the moniker came from a beloved uncle or family friend, it’s actually the name of Ford’s trusty canine, a rescue pup from Austin Pets Alive! STAR DISHES: “Rocco is a very Southern Italian name, and Orecchiette, rigatoni, I’ve always felt it packs such an energy to it,” Caesar salad, Ford says. “Which is very fitting for my dog, cannolis and the restaurant!” DESTINATION:

R O C C O’S : J U ST I N C O O K

5001 Airport Blvd.

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

A L L DAY P I Z Z A : B RYA N C . PA R K E R

A L L DAY P I Z Z A

STAR DISHES: Stracciatella, pep & pepp, vodka chicken parm DESTINATION: 4300 Speedway, Unit 103

In the mid-2010s, Allday Pizza owners Daniel Sorg and Townsend Smith lived in Brooklyn, within a mile or so of a few dozen pizza shops. The two men hadn’t met each other yet, but they were both enamored with the crispy, thin-crust slices served in shops like Lucali’s. “It just changed my whole idea around what pizza could be,” Smith says. While Allday’s inspirations come from that bustling East Coast metropolis, the restaurant itself began as a humble pop-up in a North Austin garage. Allday then opened their Tarrytown brick-and-mortar next to Flo’s Wine Bar in March 2023. But the team’s newest location in Hyde Park showcases their most fully realized version of the concept to date with sandwich offerings and a noteworthy bar program, along with the same stellar pie. Selfdescribed “pizza nerds,” Sorg and Smith love diving into a dizzying list of nuances: the ideal conditions for fermentation, how many hours dough should chill in the fridge before baking, and which regions of Italy produce the best cheese. While most of Allday’s slices appear simple, the menu thrives on subtle details like creamy house-made stracciatella, tomato sauce infused with Calabrian chiles, and the Tajín-dusted crust of its spicy margh slice. “We’re not trying to reinvent pizza,” Sorg says. “We’re trying to make the most idyllic version.” AUSTIN MONTHLY

P H OTO L E F T: C RBEEDTIH T A N Y E L L E N O C H S ; R I G H T: M AC K E N Z I E S M I T H

SITI

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

P H OTO C R E D I T

ChefLailaBazahmbrought her love of Barcelona’s diverse cuisine to AustiniSTAR DISHES: tes with buzzy, eclectic El Hiramasa, laksa, Raval in 2023. For her charred cabbage, second act, she’s turned Mom’s Kare-Kare her formidable talents DESTINATION: closer to home, drawing 1123 E. 11th St. on her Filipina heritage and time spent in the street food markets of Singapore. Craving spicy, authentic dishes that were unavailable in Austin, Bazahm decided to fill the laksa-shaped hole in the city’s restaurant scene, putting her locally focused spin on classic Southeast Asian fare. At her East Side restaurant, the chef offers a vibrant menu that pays homage to the women who prepare these foods at home—the moms, aunts, and grandmothers passing time-tested marinades and spice preparations between generations. (“Siti” translates to “lady” in Malay). It’s her expressive interpretations of these flavors that make dining in the airy, Asian-colonial-inspired space such a treat. Kick off your meal with the popping flavors of tom kha amberjack hiramasa before diving into juicy mirabasa-grilled butter masala lamb chops or tender, succulent hunks of chili crab and lobster. A new addition to the menu is chef’s signature Mom’s Kare-Kare, recently debuted on Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay, where she bested the host with the Filipino stew. Whatever you order, remember to add generous sides of meaty crab fried rice and house special nasi lemak, both tasty and substantial enough to be meals of their own. AUSTIN MONTHLY

P H OTO C R E D I T

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

PA R I S H BA R B E C U E Whether it was fish fries, crawfish boils, or smoking hams together at Thanksgiving, Holden Fulco grew up in a Southern family that loved to cook. Now, the Louisiana-bred chef is making waves with his own East Austin trailer parked behind Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches. “I call it Texas barbecue with Louisiana roots,” he says. “Take all the things you’re familiar with and twist them around a little bit.” At Parish, expect creative concoctions like pulled duck with crispy skin cracklings, jalapeño popper boudin, Creole tomato salad, and ribs and brisket featuring Louisiana hot sauce and Cajun seasoning. With bona fides from Franklin Barbecue and Interstellar BBQ, Fulco learned from some of the best pitmasters in the city, but he has added personal touches that make his concept distinct. For one, he uses hickory instead of de rigueur post oak to add a different flavor profile, and the chef incorporates acidic elements to cut through the richness of the barbecue. For a sweet element, sink your teeth into the pillowy fried pistolette rolls made with Batch kolache dough that are fried to order and come with Tabasco honey butter. Can’t decide what to get? Try a little bit of everything with the lagniappe (“lan-yap”) tray and share it with your loved ones.

E A R LY EDITION RISE AND DINE AT THESE 3 NEW BREAKFAST SPOTS WITH INTERNATIONAL FLAIR.

GRÁ MÓR CAFÉ

No need to travel to Dublin to sink your teeth into a hearty Irish breakfast. At this new cafe owned by the team behind adjacent Dead Rabbit Austin, guests can savor the protein-packed morning meal served with black and white puddings, grilled tomatoes, eggs, sausage, beans, and bacon. For less of a commitment, order a traditional Irish scone with seasonal jam or a Scotch egg with Colman’s mustard. “Grá mór” means “big love” in Irish, and you’ll feel that with every nourishing bite. 200 E. Sixth St., gramortx.com

GATI

Salad for breakfast? Yes, you read that right! This summer, East Side coﬀee and ice cream shop Gati expanded into a cafe that serves unique gluten-free options inspired by owner Jam Sanitchat’s international travels. Fans of savory morning meals will adore its flavorful mushroom congee, Australian meat pie, and dynamic breakfast salad with roasted summer squash, a soft-boiled egg, and miso dressing. Of course, if you’re craving something sweet, the maple pecan peach waﬄe will also do the trick. 1512 Holly St., gatiatx.com

PH C O OTO U R T ECSY R EPA DIT R I S H BA R B EC U E

MERCADO SIN NOMBRE

STAR DISHES: Smoked ham, crispy duck, pork ribs, pimento mac ‘n’ cheese, pistolette rolls DESTINATION: 3220 Manor Road

Humble moniker aside, this East Side cafe has certainly made a name for itself with ultra-fresh ingredients and creative pairings. Here, corn is the star of the show, from dishes like gluten-free masa pancakes with roasted peaches and piloncillo syrup to a blue masa biscuit sandwich with local chicken sausage, house hot sauce, and a sunny side up egg. Pro tip: Start your morning with an atole cortado for the perfect get-up-and-go jolt. 408 N. Pleasant Valley Road, mercadosinnombre.com

AUSTIN MONTHLY

P H OTO C R E D I T

FISH SHOP

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

P H OTO BETH CA RN ED Y IE T L L E N O C H S ; I N T E R I O R S : C O U RT E SY F I S H S H O P

STAR DISHES: Filet O’Fish Shop sandwich, Bay shrimp salad, New England clam chowder, oysters DESTINATION: 1401 E. Sixth St., Ste. 201

East Sixth Street’s newest hot spot, Fish Shop, is all about tracing things back to their sources. Take the restaurant’s bay shrimp cocktail served with Louie sauce, for example: The small, delectably tender shellfish used in the dish come from an inlet along the Oregon Coast and are purchased exclusively from Monterey Fish Market in San Francisco. For the restaurant owners, Justin Huffman and Nicole Rossi, it’s not just geographic origins that matter—it’s also the emotional inspirations behind them. “I grew up in a family restaurant, and it only feels natural to me to have things that feel familiar,” Rossi says. The husband-andwife duo were raised on the West Coast, and Fish Shop has allowed them to bring the essence of those places to Central Texas. The tuna, scallop, and steelhead trout crudo namechecks classic San Francisco eatery Swan Oyster Depot, and the whole-leaf Caesar salad mimics the recipe from Zuni Café, another Bay Area staple. Meanwhile, the raw bar channels West Coast seafood and adds a Texas flair by dressing mussels with flourishes like serrano peppers or habanero verjus and candied citrus peel. From the replica marlin that used to hang above Rossi’s grandfather’s fireplace to the cozy, neighborhood decor, Fish Shop revolves around one truism: The present moment is linked inextricably to that which came before it. AUSTIN MONTHLY

BY MADELINE HOLLERN | PHOTOS BY ROJ RODRIGUEZ

P H OTO C R E D I T

Inside Austin’s Animal Crisis

P H OTO C R E D I T

Shelters are full.

Stray dogs and cats are multiplying. Rescue groups are begging for help. The country’s largest no-kill city has reached an impasse. Is euthanasia the answer?

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

P H OTO C R E D I T

a blustery evening in late October 2021, Sasha Aghili’s son noticed that their front door had blown wide open. As the child began to frantically search the Pflugerville home for the family’s six dogs, he couldn’t locate their 17-year-old chihuahua and alerted his mother. Aghili sprinted out the door barefoot into the gusting wind, desperate to find Jack-Jack, who had been showing early signs of dementia. In the ensuing days, she posted the canine’s information on Austin Lost and Found Pets and stood outside schools to hand out flyers. The effort continued for months. Aghili scoured alleyways, crawled under bushes, and ventured into wooded areas, fueled

by the hope of reuniting with her beloved senior dog, whom she’d rescued from Williamson County Animal Shelter in 2013. She knocked on more than 3,000 doors. While Aghili followed every lead of reported chihuahuas in thegreaterAustinarea,sheneverfound Jack-Jack. But through that ordeal, the bereaved owner did discover an endless stream of distressed canines: Some had hookworm, others were injured, many were emaciated—but all were without homes. Recognizing the demand for help, Aghili learned how to trap animals and started her own nonprofit, Jack Jack’sPack,attheendofthatyear. Since then, the group has rescued over 2,600 street dogs and amassed a volunteer network of more than 200 fosters. But as her altruistic reputation began to precedeher,therequestsspiraled.Now, a daily barrage of pleas erupt not only for displaced animals, but for canines on death row: dogs mere hours away from euthanasia at overcrowded regional shelters. “I miss messages from my own father because I get 400 text messages a day, sometimes 25 at a time where I’ve got blue dots bumped all the way down and I'm trying to catch up,” Aghili notes. Over the years, Jack Jack’s Pack has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for its volunteer efforts through community donations (and, at times, on their own dime). This July alone, the rescue coughed up $55,000 in vet bills. “Right now, it feels like we're the only option for so many people. And when you have that kind of pressure, especially when you care and you want to help, it's awful,” Aghili says. Caitlin Chapman knows the feeling all too well. In 2019 Chapman co-founded TRAPRS as a lost pet recovery nonprofit in Central Texas that could also rescue street dogs. “If we weren't [finding] lost pets, we had a wonderful no-kill shelter here with open intake at the time,” she remembers. “But COVID happened two months after we started. So, all of a sudden, we went from this amazing idea of having an open-intake shelter and a place to take the dogs we rescued—to [now], we have nowhere.” Since 2011, Austin has boasted the title of the country’s largest no-kill city, a beacon of animal welfare to be admired and emulated. But peer a little closer, and the situation has taken a dire turn. Maxed out beyond capacity, the city’s municipal shelter, Austin Animal Services, has often scaled back to limited or even emergency-only intake in recent years. Animals sit in the shelter, sometimes doubled up in kennels or even confined to crates. With nowhere to take found or unwanted dogs and cats, locals are dumping them on the streets, where they face a daily fight for survival and continue to breed. Nonprofits and volunteers have begun to donate their time, homes, and even credit lines, but the demand is unrelenting. In its noble quest to save animals, Austin has quite literally gone to the dogs. So, how did we get here—and what the hell do we do now?

Rightnow,itfeelslike we’re the only option for so many people. And when you have thatkindofpressure, especially when you care and you want to help, it’s awful.

P H OTO C R E D I T

Since she started Jack Jack’s Pack in 2021, Sasha Aghili’s nonproﬁt has saved more than 2,600 street dogs.

AUSTIN MONTHLY

Pet Project

An animal lover her entire life, Dr. Ellen Jefferson graduated from vet school in 1997 and moved to Austin the following year to pursue her passion. In addition to working her job at an emergency hospital, she also began to volunteer at AAS, then called Town Lake Animal Center. At the time, the city was taking in 35,000 animals a year with only a 15% live-release rate (meaning nearly 30,000 did not make it out of the shelter alive). Dr. Jefferson helped where she could, performing spays and neuters or aiding injured animals with broken bones. But during a remodel at the center, they temporarily combined the surgery and euthanasia rooms into one shared space. “For every spay I did, there would be 10 euthanasia,” she says. “I remember very specifically a mom dog came in, and they euthanized her first, and then they euthanized all of her puppies so that she wouldn't see them [die] in front of her. It was just horrific.” She decided to start Emancipet, a preventative clinic in Austin that performs low-cost spays and neuters. After nearly a decade, the municipal shelter’s rate improved to 45% live release, but it wasn’t enough. Austin Pets Alive! had debuted as an advocacy group in 1997, and the concept of “no-kill” was becoming a global discussion. (By definition, a no-kill shelter saves at least 90% of animals in its care.) Dr. Jefferson chose to pivot once again and became APA's executive director in 2008, which was a volunteer position at the time. The city and shelter played ball with APA, giving them their planned euthanasia list nightly before it was too late. Volunteers would look at the list and say, Let's get that dog on Craigslist or Facebook. Let's see if anybody in the community will come forward to foster. Slowly, the nonprofit began to move the needle and got the local government on board. The city created the Austin No-Kill Priority List in 2010, and Mayor Lee Leffingwell and the council voted for the shelter to have a 90% live-release rate. Austin earned the title as the largest no-kill city in the country by 2011, and APA worked out an agreement to move into the Town Lake Animal

Center the following year. By 2018, the live-release rate was steadfastly 98%—and the shelter still had intake open to the public. It was a golden era in animal welfare. Until it wasn’t. In the past seven years, live-release percentages have regularly fallen to or even dipped below the city’s agreedupon rate of 95%, despite the number of animals in the shelter decreasing since 2019 and the budget steadily increasing. (The shelter’s 2025-2026 fiscal budget was recently approved at a whopping $25 million.) Precautions during the pandemic initially caused AAS to restrict intake starting in 2020, but it has consistently been limited or closed to emergency-only intakes since 2023. The shelter’s plight is understandable: With no kennels available and overflow dogs being crammed within small pop-up crates in a makeshift space, where exactly are the animals supposed to go? But with limited intake, owners or finders are now being asked to hang on to pets for at least several weeks if not months before they can be processed into the system. Which might work if it’s an owner’s surrender, but isn’t realistic for those who, say, find a litter of stray puppies on the side of the road. “Let's talk about the finders that can't keep an animal, because this is where it gets disturbing,” says Jean Hubrath, a volunteer at AAS since 2012 and the founder of its Classic Canines program. “They will be turned away at the door. The security guard will pretty much chase them off the property. Some people have abandoned those animals on the premises because they legitimately can't take ’em wherever they're going.”

Dog Fight

While the city, nonprofits, and rescue groups all agree that there’s a burgeoning problem to solve, the $25-million-dollar question is “What—or who—is to blame?” Some people highlight the spiraling cost of living and return-to-office ordinances in Central Texas as the culprit, since they’ve compromised the resources and time that owners had to take

Whilethe city, nonproﬁts,and rescue groups all agree that there’s a burgeoning problem tosolve,the$25-million-dollar question is “What—or who— is to blame?” 72

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

President and CEO Dr. Ellen Jefferson holds Tommy, a puppy rescued by Austin Pets Alive! that had been callously thrown from a truck window.

care of their animals. Others list hefty pet deposit fees and increased breed restrictions within Austin-area housing that discriminate against larger dogs like pitbulls. Because Austin is a no-kill city, unlike most Texas towns, some critics point the finger at big-hearted organizations like APA, who are saving at-risk animals from across the state by bringing them here—essentially making them Austin’s problem. “It always goes by urgency,” Hubrath says. “So, if you say you're going to kill an animal, people will act here in Austin. If everyone thinks they're safe, they become a lower priority.”

But many rescues put the onus on Don Bland, who took over as chief animal services officer in 2019. According to the Austin Monitor, Bland received a vote of no-confidence from the Austin Advisory Commission in 2022 due to “his failure to provide accurate data, mismanagement of the stray-hold ordinance, misleading reports, and strained relations with partner organizations.” Fed up with Bland and the shelter’s all-but-closed intake, members of TRAPRS and other local animal welfare advocates and volunteers banded together in May 2024 for a peaceful protest against the city official, who

AUSTIN MONTHLY

5,800,000 CATS AND DOGS ENTERED U.S. SHELTERS AND RESCUES IN 2024 —SHELTER ANIMALS COUNT

607,000

U.S. SHELTER ANIMALS EUTHANIZED IN 2024 —ASPCA they said was not committed to Austin’s no-kill mandate. While the protest did not lead to his removal, Bland was placed on paid administrative leave for an undisclosed reason in March 2025 and ultimately retired this May. Dr. Jefferson says that there are two fundamentally different schools of thought on animal welfare, leading to the schism in Austin. “People either believe wholeheartedly in prevention, or they believe wholeheartedly in no-kill,” she explains. The APA president and CEO puts the city in the first camp: believing there simply aren’t enough places for animals to go. “[They think] your job is to prevent them from being alive or decrease the population humanely, or insert mandatory elements like microchips or spay/ neuter,” she says. “The underlying belief is the public is irresponsible, and that this is a necessary evil to have to euthanize all these animals.” APA and other local no-kill advocates suggest that while there is an overcrowding problem, that does not mean there are too many animals here to find homes. “Based on data of how many homes there are, market research of people who have animals or are looking for animals, and how many dogs are actually in shelters, there is an overcrowding problem at shelters, but not necessarily an overpopulation,” says Julie Oliver, a former politician and current nonprofit leader who volunteers with AAS. But research is one thing, and public perception is another. When Dr. Jefferson said that “overpopulation was a myth” on an Instagram video in August, the public outcry was so strong that APA apologized and clarified their comments two days later. “The way I communicated was damaging and poorly executed…” she said in a written statement posted on their account. “I failed to lead with the data and context for our position, and I failed to center the lived experiences of those working every day in overcrowded shelters.” Other semantics are also up for debate, as the city and nonprofits argue whether a 95% live-release rate is the actual mandate or simply the goal. Previously called Austin Animal Center, AAS has recently changed its name and tune, now vocalizing that its mandate is to save 90% of animals in its care. They cite a signed resolution from 2019 in which the City of Austin avows “supporting an Austin

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

Austin Pets Alive!’s staff performs life-saving surgeries on dogs and cats, as well as routine spays and neuters.

Animal Center goal of a 95% or greater live-release rate.” But according to Austin Pets Alive!, the resolution was widely interpreted as a mandate for 95%. And they have a point: Up until this October, AAS wrote on its own website: “The City of Austin has mandated a 95% live release rate, and Austin Animal Center consistently exceeds that level.”

Pack Mentality

A daily scroll through the Nextdoor app has become anoccasionallyhopefulbut mostly heartbreaking ritual for many Austinites, who pore through pleas of helpascitizensfindstraysroamingthecity(orworse,stumble upon their lifeless bodies). Virtual bulletin posts regarding found animals dominate the feed on a regular basis.

“My friends and I found four very starving ridgeback/boxer puppies yesterday in Austin, Texas.” “Walking my two dogs south on the east side of shoal creek this morning around11 am and weresurrounded by 5medium sized loose dogs who rushed at us growling and barking.” “TWO DOGS FOUND - Springdale Rd. near Little Walnut Creek Trailhead… I can’t keep them long as I have a dog too.” “Rainbow alert: Deceased dog seen north bound Mopac.” Rolando Fernandez, Jr., knew the enormous shoes he had to fill when he took over as interim chief of animal services this April. After 19 years of public service with the City of Austin, the Air Force veteran has worked in multiple civic departments, from the City Manager’s Office and the Financial Services Department to the Austin Convention Center. But animal welfare was a first for him. While he has received scrutiny for his lack of subject matter expertise, he says that the decision was in part by design. “I think that why I was brought here is because I don't have the animal experience,” Fernandez says of his temporary appointment. “They were looking for somebody

that had everything else, but to kind of provide some structure, leadership, management of fiscal responsibilities, procedure, [and] process.” His task is unenviable, as a litany of complaints are frequently lodged at animal services. Hubrath says the shelter doesn’t update the Petfinder feature enough, making it hard for owners to find lost pets or adopters to match with new ones. Oliver notes that not all dogs get a daily walk, and volunteers have to go through a drawn-out orientation process just to attempt to help. And if you find a canine on the street, Chapman says, “311 still tells people to put the dog back where you found it.” While the interim chief is sympathetic to the hard decisions made daily at the shelter, he notes that ultimately, AAS has a responsibility to ensure public safety for humans. “What I'm seeing now is we have a lot of animals that are coming in that are just not adoptable,” he says. “They have a lot of concerns. Behavior issues. For example, they're going to be mouthy, they're going to be in your face, [they] want to chew on you. They have barrier reactions, meaning that they are overprotective of you. They don't get along with kids. We see some that just don't get along with men or women.” APA vehemently disagrees. In the past, the nonprofit has been granted a 10-day evaluation period with dogs that were deemed a behavior issue to see how the canine was around people, other pups, on leash, etc. “I think there were three times in the last year that we declined on keeping a dog and working with it,” says Suzie Chase, APA’s community affairs officer. “But we've taken the majority of dogs on the behavior list.” However, this fall, the city announced that it is creating a new Rescue Placement List of dogs where organizations like APA will have five days to take the animals once the list is posted on the fifth business day of every month. “If we don't take them, then they'll be on a euthanasia list for 48 hours, and they'll be killed,” Chase says. While the City of Austin and APA are regularly locked in stalemates, they do have moments of compromise. In August, the city council voted that AAS could now spay pregnant animals without contacting a rescue organization first. Dr. Jefferson called the measure “inhumane,” imploring the city to reconsider. During the Sept. 25 council meeting, an amended resolution proposed by Mayor Kirk Watson added a requirement that the city manager must notify APA when animals are lactating, giving the group three hours to pick them up before spaying occurs. “Where there's opportunities to work with others, we want to do that. We have to do that,” Fernandez says. “This problem is too big for one of us to solve on our own.” Pregnant animals aside, everyone seems to agree that spaying and neutering are crucial components to combat the overcrowding. Every animal adopted from AAS is fixed before going to its new home. The city also works with the Austin Humane Society to fund its Community Cats program, in which they trap stray felines, spay or neuter them, and return them to the wild. In addition to budgeting over $1 million per year for free spay and neuter days with Emancipet Mobile, AAS has begun partnering with Greater Goods Charities to host free high-volume spay and neuter clinics for owned dogs and cats in the community. Since 2024, these five clinics have led to the

spaying and neutering of more than 5,000 animals, and two more are planned for this November and early 2026. To combat economic insecurity, APA recently hosted its first joint food distribution in Travis County with the Central Texas Food Bank on Sept. 26, and they plan to start hosting them quarterly. “The event was scheduled to start at 9, and it was amazing because there were already a hundred cars lined up,” Chase says. “By the end of it, we had 265 families that came through in vehicles to get food either for people or people and their pets. So, we know that the need is high, as it is in many, many communities right now.” Fernandez’s interim role ends in December, and the city is beginning a formal competitive process to bring a permanent director on board. This March, the city council adopted a five-year strategic plan that focuses on

Austin’s new Rescue Placement List gives shelt ers f ive days to pull dogs, then a 48-hour euthanasia window begins. initiatives like more enrichment for the shelter animals (think daily walks and Kong balls), better public trust via data transparency, and enhanced support and mental health services for staff and volunteers to reduce burnout. They have their work cut out for them. In a post-pandemic world grappling with inflation, increased workloads, lack of affordable housing, and general uncertainty, the costs and commitment of owning an animal make the 95% live-release rate that much more elusive. And the pressure on shelters and nonprofits has burgeoned everywhere: Shelter Animals Count estimates that 5.8 million cats and dogs entered shelters and rescues across America in 2024, and the ASPCA reports that approximately 607,000 were euthanized. While Austin still has better numbers than any other city in the country, the success of its animal welfare is not guaranteed—it can only be maintained with the diligence of public officials, nonprofits, and, perhaps most importantly, local citizens. “Our city was the safest place for pets in America not too long ago,” Dr. Jefferson says. “And our city put money and resources behind that. That's a really, really powerful thing. I don't want to lose that.”

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Weird History Before Midnight

The End of the World as We Know It Austin responded to Y2K hysteria by hosting a giant outdoor music festival across downtown. BY BRYAN C. PARKER

IN TODAY’S ERA, we worry that machines might take over the planet. But back in 1999, we weren’t convinced they could understand two-digit dates. Y2K panic centered on the idea that when the new millennium dawned at midnight on New Year’s Day, computers would mistake double zeros as a date for 1900 instead of 2000, thereby unleashing global chaos within our electronic systems. Ahead of the big night, a local Fox 7 news broadcast reported that there were “60 crews with trucks and equipment strategically placed throughout the city.” The segment continued with a dire warning for local citizens: “Don’t dial out on your phone, and don’t even click on the internet for at least an hour after midnight unless you absolutely have to.” On the eve of a potential doomsday, Austin responded just how you’d expect—with live music, of course. A street festival event dubbed A2K blocked off a large stretch of Congress Avenue and reportedly drew around a quarter of a million people. Beer and Champagne were sold in the streets, and Austin favorites Shawn Colvin, Robert Earl Keen, Lyle Lovett,

and others performed on two outdoor stages. Hey, if the world was going to descend into chaos, at least it would happen to a pretty solid soundtrack. Local businesses in the vicinity worried about both Y2K and the city’s revelers. “We’re going to take everything out of the windows, and we’re going to put a lot more stuff into the vault than we normally do,” Kruger’s Jewelers owner David Kruger told Fox 7 ahead of the A2K event. While attendees scaled a few traffic light poles and got a little rowdy, neither Austin’s party animals nor the dreaded tech-pocalypse ended up causing havoc that night. The world passed into the new millennium without much fanfare, except for the fireworks bursting above downtown to close out A2K. There’s probably a moral to this story about not letting our collective panic run amok. What was it that President Roosevelt said about fear? But the real lesson here is that if there’s an excuse to book live music alongside something, Austinites will take the opportunity every single time.

Volume 33/Number 6, November/December 2025, Austin Monthly (ISSN 1936-0037) is published bi-monthly, six times a year by San Antoio Express-News $14.96 per year, 420 Broadway St. Suite 200, San Antonio Texas 78205. Periodicals postage is paid at San Antonio, TX and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: San Antonio Express-News, P.O. Box 2171, San Antonio, TX 78297-2171. Copyright 2025 by Hearst Newspapers, LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. DISCLAIMER: Advertisements in the publication do not constitute an offer for sale in states where prohibited or restricted by law.

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