City Cast Austin
🚙 Waymo is expanding
July 18, 2025 · Kelsey Bradshaw
🎉 Happy, happy Friday! We made it — today’s the final day of our campaign launching City Cast Austin Neighbors!
It’s been amazing to see so many of you step up to support this work that I love so much, and it’s so fulfilling that y’all get what we’re trying to do: Make Austin feel more like a neighborhood.
Becoming a City Cast Austin Neighbor helps us keep this thing going — and helps make our city a better place to live.
So, here it is, my final plea. If we help you feel more connected, informed, and in on the local conversation, sign up to become a founding member and support our work. It’s $10 a month, you get to hang out with me, and you’ll get a snazzy new tote!
What's CITY Talking About?
☕ La La Land Kind Cafe Is Opening a Second Location
Dallas-based coffee chain La La Land Kind Cafe plans to open a second Austin at the intersection of 45th Street and Burnet Road at the start of next year. The chain’s first Austin location opened on South Congress Avenue earlier this month. [Austin Business Journal]
💰 Buget Season Is Here
City Manager T.C. Broadnax proposed a more than $6 billion city budget this week for the 2026 fiscal year that cuts enough to balance Austin’s projected $33 million deficit. [City Cast Austin 🎧]
🚙 Waymo Is Expanding
Waymo is expanding where its autonomous vehicles operate in Austin to now include 90 square miles. New neighborhoods where the vehicles will be available include Crestview, Windsor Park, Sunset Valley, and more. [CBS Austin]
- Tesla’s Robotaxi service announced its expanded service area in town earlier this week. [Mashable]
🛑 Dams Prevented Downtown Flooding
Dams and reservoirs on the Highland Lakes stopped Fourth of July weekend flooding from moving into Austin, Lower Colorado River Authority officials say. [KUT]
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What To Do
Friday, July 18
- 🎭 “Bring It On: The Musical” at Beverly S. Sheffield Zilker Hillside Theater | Zilker
- 🧑🎨 Summer Stock Austin’s Sneak Peek 2025 at McCoullough Theater | UT Campus
- 💜 Purple Martin Party at Round Rock Crossing Shopping Center | Round Rock
- 😆 George Lopez at ACL Live at The Moody Theater | Downtown Austin
- 🪩 I Heart Kpop at Elysium | Downtown Austin
- 🏋️ Fitness in the Park: Summer Series with Habitat at Zilker Park | Zilker
- 🎤 “Bye Bye Birdie” at Tex-Arts | Lakeway
Saturday, July 19
- 🤠 Neon Rainbows' STAMPEDE at 29th Street Ballroom | Central Austin
- 🪩 Puro Pinche 956 at Cheer Up Charlie’s | Downtown Austin
- 🎥 “The Goonies” at Paramount Theatre | Downtown Austin
- 🎭 “Bring It On: The Musical” at Beverly S. Sheffield Zilker Hillside Theater | Zilker
- 💜 Purple Martin Party at Round Rock Crossing Shopping Center | Round Rock
- 🧚 Woodland Faerie Trail Clean-up – Day 2 at Zilker Botanical Garden | Zilker
- 🎶 KUTX Presents: Superfónicos at The Continental Club | South Congress
- 🪭 Africa Night at Sahara Lounge | East MLK
- ⚽ MLS All-Star Soccer Celebration at Auditorium Shores | Bouldin Creek
- 💿 La Murga De Austin Vinyl Release Party at the ABGB | Galindo
- 🦸 Greater Austin Comic Con at H-E-B Center | Cedar Park
- 🎤 “Bye Bye Birdie” at Tex-Arts | Lakeway
Sunday, July 20
- 🎉 City Cast Austin's First Birthday Party at Cabana Club | East Austin
- 🎥 “Hook” with James V. Hart at Paramount Theatre | Downtown Austin
- 🎭 “Bring It On: The Musical” at Beverly S. Sheffield Zilker Hillside Theater | Zilker
- 🎨 Puppet-Making Workshop at Pease Park | Old Enfield
- 🖼️ Tour en Español at Laguna Gloria | Tarrytown
- ⚽ MLS All-Star Soccer Celebration at Auditorium Shores | Bouldin Creek
- 💃 Splash Dance! With Erica Nix at Austin Motel | South Congress
- 🦸 Greater Austin Comic Con at H-E-B Center | Cedar Park
- 🎤 “Bye Bye Birdie” at Tex-Arts | Lakeway
😍 Ok, y’all. This is it, my last chance to convince you to become a City Cast Austin Neighbor.
If you would also “hate to wake up without” this newsletter like new member Brittney M., join now! You can become part of our neighborhood, which now includes Susan R., Myrriah G., Greg B., and David T.!
Whether you sign up or not, I hope to see you at our first birthday party this Sunday! It’s free and anyone can attend.
See you there!
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