City Cast Austin
🍴 Our Austin foodie predictions for 2026
December 15, 2025 · — Natalia Aldana
First — a huge thank you to everyone who became a City Cast Austin Neighbor during our year-end membership campaign. Your support means the world to us. We can’t wait to see you at our next member event!
The campaign officially wrapped on Friday, but here’s the truth: We are SO close to our goal. If just a handful more of you join, we’ll get there.
In a world that often feels divided, what happens locally matters more than ever. From national issues that hit home, to the hyperlocal stories only locals understand, City Cast Austin is here to help us all be better neighbors.
If you’ve been meaning to join, now’s the time. It’s $10/month for you, and absolutely invaluable to us. Plus, we’ll send you a City Cast Austin beanie as a thank-you.
And if you join today, you’ll still have a chance to win a pair of tickets to two Paramount and State Theatre shows: A Most 'Memerable Holiday Evening with Rebecca Havemeyer & Stanley Roy on Dec. 21 and Bob Schneider's Great Big Spectacular New Years Eve Party!
What's CITY Talking About
🎙️ More Pickles, Georgian Food, and Masa in 2026
Amid all of the best-of lists, none may be more important than this one as we round up all things Austin food, from the best bites to the best new restaurants of 2025. Plus, we’ve got tips for folks who still might want to snag a NYE reservation, foodie predictions for 2026 (like more pickles — is that even possible?), and we remember restaurants we’ve lost. [City Cast Austin]
🥶 Will Austin Feel the Polar Vortex?
Though Austin will see warm weather through Saturday with highs near 70 degrees, a cold front is arriving Sunday with temperatures dropping into the 50s. But rest assured, this chill will be brief, and Austinities should see warmer-than-normal temperatures in time for Christmas. [Austin American-Statesman 🔐]
✈️ Southwest Airlines to Expand in Austin
Southwest Airlines will open a new crew base in Austin, creating 2,000 jobs by 2027. The Governor’s office helped facilitate the expansion with a $14 million Texas Enterprise Fund grant to underscore state support for economic growth and job creation. [Office of the Texas Governor]
- The move comes after Austin City Council approved its own incentives package that will pay Southwest $2,750 per Austin-based hire, up to $5.5 million. [City of Austin]
🚽 Court Allows DA to Investigate Restroom Photo Case
A federal appeals court ruled that Travis County DA José Garza may proceed with an investigation into Michelle Evans, now chair of the Williamson County GOP. In 2023, Evans posted a photo on X of a transgender lawmaker in a Capitol restroom, and claimed her First Amendment rights were violated. [KVUE]
Where Is This?
Congratulations to Regina B. for guessing last week’s “Where Is This?” correctly! These photos were taken at Trail of Lights at Zilker Park! The annual event had its grand opening last week and runs through Dec. 23.
Can you guess where this week’s photo was taken?
Do you know where this photo was taken? Reply to this email with your best guess to be featured in next Monday’s newsletter!
What To Do
Monday, Dec. 15
- 🍸 Pink Martini at ACL Live at The Moody Theater | Downtown Austin
- 🔆 Free Night at Austin Trail of Lights at Zilker Metropolitan Park | Barton Hills
- ✂️ The Crafty Adult: Victorian & Regency Holiday Ornaments at Austin Public Library Menchaca Road Branch | Westgate
- 🩰 Nutcracker Behind the Curtain at The Palace Theater | Georgetown
- 👗 Fashion Swap at the Library! at Austin Public Library Windsor Park Branch | Windsor Park
- 🎨 Winter Sleigh painting at Painting With a Twist | North Shoal Creek
- 💃 Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker at Paramount Theatre | Downtown Austin
Tuesday, Dec. 16
- 🖋️ Jane Austen’s 250th Birthday Celebration at Austin Public Library Twin Oaks Branch | Bouldin Creek
- 😱 “Home Alone” in Concert at the Long Center | Bouldin Creek
- 🎻 Mariachi Sol de México de Jose Hernandez at ACL Live at The Moody Theater | Downtown Austin
- 🎤 Wrongbird Live at Waterloo Records | Downtown Austin
- 🏥 Medicare and Voting Rights: From LBJ to Current Day at the LBJ Library | UT Campus
- 📽️ “Casablanca” at AFS Cinema | St. Johns
- 💬 A Live Conversation with Chevy Chase + screening of “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” at Bass Concert Hall | UT Campus
📣 It’s shout out time! Welcome new members Rachel M., Andrea W., Rachel W., Lolly S., Roman S., and Elyas S.!
These six fabulous new members now have access to exclusive perks like members-only events, ad-free podcast listening, weekly roundup of events, and so much more! See what all the hype is about and become a City Cast Austin Neighbor today 🤓
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