City Cast Austin
✔️ SCOTUS upholds Texas map
December 5, 2025 · Kelsey Bradshaw
🎉 TGIF, friends! Eater Austin just put out its 2025 awards, which include titles like Best New Restaurant and Best Piece of Old Austin.
What's CITY Talking About
🏛️ SCOTUS: Texas Can Use GOP Map For Now
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that Texas can use its new congressional map, which a lower court had blocked. The map was drawn at the behest of President Donald Trump, who asked for five more GOP seats in time for the midterm elections. [The Texas Tribune]
🍸 Austin Alcohol Sales Are Down
An investigation by the Austin American-Statesman into Austin alcohol sales has revealed that bars across the city have seen a drop in sales every year since 2022. Is Austin no longer a drinking city? [City Cast Austin 🎧]
🎥 SXSW Opening Night Movie Announced
“I Love Boosters,” a movie starring Keke Palmer, Don Cheadle, and Demi Moore, will open the film portion of South by Southwest in March. The movie follows a group of shoplifters and is directed by Boots Riley. [South by Southwest]
✈️ Airport Just Had Its Busiest Month Ever
The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport saw record-breaking travel in October 2025, with a total of 2,086,037 passengers — all while the federal government was shut down. [Austin-Bergstrom International Airport]
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What To Do
Friday, Dec. 5
- 🎶 THE NEXT STAGE: Ghostland Observatory - Benefitting the Colorado River Alliance at Central Machine Works | Govalle
- 🤼 WWE Friday Night SmackDown at the Moody Center | UT Campus
- 🚀 Spaceflight Records’ 6th Annual Holiday Party at Radio/East | McKinney
- 🎨 Holiday Wreath-Making Workshop at Zilker Botanical Garden | Zilker
- 🖍️ Holiday Craft Crawl at Austin Public Library Central Library | Downtown Austin
- 🎥 “Friday After Next” at Hyperreal Film Club | East Austin
- 🧸 DeadEye - Grateful Dead Tribute at The Far Out Lounge | Dittmar-Slaughter
- 🎤 Ugly Sweater Karaoke at Mama Merlot’s | Buda
- 🏳️🌈 A Not-So Silent Night at First Baptist | Downtown Austin
Saturday, Dec. 6
- 🌵 Cactus Market ATX at Central Machine Works | Govalle
- 🧑🎄 Photos with Santa at Meanwhile Brewing Co. | McKinney
- 🛍️ Zine & Print Market at The Moody Rooftop at the Jones Center | Downtown Austin
- 🏃 Austin Trail of Lights Fun Run at Zilker Park | Zilker
- 🎤 KUT/KUTX Holiday Sing-Along, Tree Lighting and Downtown Stroll at Texas Capitol | Downtown Austin
- 🎭 Puppet Show at Pease Park | Old Enfield
- 🎶 Voices for Gaza – A Fundraiser for Emergency Relief at Empire Control Room & Garage | Downtown Austin
- 🏺 Pottery Workshop at Blue Owl Brewing | Holly
- 🍺 15th Anniversary Party at Jester King Brewing | Southwest Austin
- 📿 Jewelry Making: Gift Edition at Lazarus | North Loop
- 🏳️🌈 A Not-So Silent Night at First Baptist | Downtown Austin
Sunday, Dec. 7
- 🍳 Boot Scootin' Brunch at Central Machine Works | Govalle
- 👑 The Best Little Drag Brunch in Texas! ~ a Holly Dolly Christmas ~ at Sagebrush | South Austin
- 🍿 A Very Scary Christmas Surprise Movie at Doc’s Drive-In | Buda
- 👺 Krampus Party and Toy Drive at Mohawk | Downtown Austin
- 🕯️ Austin Witches Market at Yarrow and Sage - South | Slaughter Creek
- 🏳️🌈 A Not-So Silent Night at First Baptist | Downtown Austin
- 🎶 Concert on the Creek at Shoal Creek Trail and Sixth Street | Downtown Austin
- 🎸 Red Jumpsuit Apparatus at Come and Take It Live | Riverside
👋 Before I send you to your weekend, a quick note! Yesterday’s newsletter included information about Richard Overton’s house becoming a landmark, but it was declared a historic landmark in 2019.
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