🏛️ Why People Were Protesting at the Texas Capitol

🎨 Big Bummer From Big Medium

After 20 years, Big Medium — which champions Austin visual arts and artists and is behind the Austin Studio Tour — is shutting down, citing “an increasingly difficult financial landscape.” The tours will go on, as will the 2024 Texas Biennial. [Big Medium]

🎙️ Got Grid Anxiety? Join the Club.

The last winter freeze is likely behind us, with no major seasonal statewide outages, so let out that sigh of relief you’ve been holding in for the power grid. Or maybe don’t — as KUT’s Mose Buchele explains, it seems like the energy industry is trying to keep us all on our toes. [ 🎧 City Cast Austin]

⚽ What to Know About Austin FC

Reader, you know sports ain’t our strong suit here at Hey Austin. And that’s why we’re grateful for this season-opening explainer on Austin FC’s glow-up. [Austin Monthly]

🪧 Anti-Voucher, Pro-Funding Rallies at the Capitol

Thousands of Texans protested at the Texas Capitol over two days to oppose school vouchers and push for better resources and funding for Texas’ public schools. After adjusting for inflation, the amount of funding per student has declined by about $1,500 since 2019. [Austin American-Statesman]

It’s been a few months since Michelin, the tire company, gave out its first-ever stars to Texas eateries, of which Austin had the most. Now that a little time has passed, we’re hoping the lines and waits won’t be as long. It might be wishful thinking, but still, you’ve gotta hit some of these spots up before the SXSW hordes get to them.

Here’s a breakdown of who won what:

⭐ The Most Coveted Award Is a Michelin Star.

Seven Austin restaurants were awarded one Michelin star, meaning a restaurant has “high quality cooking” and is “worth a stop.” A total of 15 restaurants across the state received one star. Austin’s winners include:

• Barley Swine
• Craft Omakase
• Hestia
• InterStellar BBQ
• la Barbecue
• LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue
• Olamaie

✅ Sustainability Was Awarded.

Michelin Guide inspectors also look at restaurants’ sustainability practices. Austin restaurants Dai Due and Emmer & Rye were awarded the only green stars in Texas. Judges highlighted Emmer & Rye’s in-house fermentation program and use of small Texas farms, and Dai Due’s use of Texas sourcing for nearly everything on its menu.

🍽️ Stars Aren’t the Only Prize.

Bib Gourmands are awarded to dining spots with “good cuisine at reasonable prices,” AKA the best bang for your buck. Winners in and around Austin include:

• Briscuits
• Cuantos Tacos
• Dai Due
• Distant Relatives
• Emmer & Rye
• Franklin Barbecue
• Kemuri Tatsu-ya
• KG BBQ
• La Santa Barbacha
• Micklethwait Craft Meats
• Nixta Taqueria
• Odd Duck
• Ramen del Barrio
• Veracruz Fonda & Bar
• Barbs B Q (Lockhart)
• Burnt Bean Company (Seguin)

📍The Michelin Guide also announced that it was adding a number of restaurants in its first-ever Texas guide that are plenty good but not good enough for a star. Those include:

• Apt 115
• Birdie’s
• Comedor
• Con Todo
• Discada
• DipDipDip Tatsu-ya
• Este
• Ezov
• Garrison
• Jeffrey’s
• Joe’s Bakery & Coffee Shop
• La Condesa
• Launderette
• Lenoir
• Ling Kitchen
• Lutie’s
• Maie Day
• Mexta
• Mum Foods Smokehouse and Delicatessen
• Suerte
• Tare
• Terry Black’s BBQ Austin location
• Toshokan

🧑‍🍳 And, finally, Edgar Rico of Nixta Taqueria won the Young Chef Award.

So, how many of these star restaurants have you tried?