Austin, TX
Austin is one of the worst U.S. cities for women to work in if they want to make as much as a man
One of the leading lights of Austin’s contemporary culinary scene has taken a siesta, but his restaurant will be in good hands. After a decade of running Barlata at 1500 S. Lamar Blvd, Daniel Olivella has retired, turning over the reigns of contemporary Spanish cuisine to former Eberly executive chef Laila Bazahm.
On May 12, Bazahm will debut El Raval, a tribute to the namesake Barcelona neighborhood. She became enchanted with the area while helming celebrated Southeast Asian-Latin American restaurant Hawker 45 with her wife, Laura Freedman. The culturally diverse district’s Carrer de Joaquín Costa was dotted with international groceries, providing crucial ingredients and a homesickness cure for the Philippines-born chef.
“El Raval is a neighborhood that celebrates diversity and cultural exchange. The different languages spoken on the streets, the various festivals celebrated throughout the year, and the wide range of cuisines available all speak to its richness and complexity,” said Bazahm via release.
Though Spanish cuisine will be at the forefront of El Raval, the restaurant will reflect Bazahm’s globetrotting palate. The menu is organized into blocks devoted to the sea, barnyard, and garden. Offerings range from traditional tapas like gambas al ajillo (red shrimp, garlic oil, chile de árbol, and sherry to original creations like braised local lamb breast in the style of kongsha mangsho (a Bengali mutton curry).
The Para Compartir (“to share”) section showcases bountifully portioned dishes, including Bazahm’s riffs on paella. Highlights include squid ink rice topped with a cuttlefish ‘nduja relish and sea urchin, slow-cooked short rib served with a Catalan beef stew reduction, and grilled chicken accompanied with carrots, vadouvan (a French colonial derivative of Indian masala), cardamom-sofrito emulsion, and green chile raita.
El Raval will also feature a dynamic bar menu developed by Bazahm’s pals, Moe Aljaff and Juliette Laroui, founders of Two Schmucks. The elegant Joaquín Costa dive bar, named in 2022 to the World’s 50 Best Bars list, helped transform the once gritty area into one of Barcelona’s most exhilarating nightlife scenes.
Starting May 12, El Raval will welcome guests Sunday – Thursday, 4-10 pm, and Friday and Saturday, 4-10 pm. At press time, a handful of reservations were still available for opening weekend.
Austin, TX
Vote and vibe: Where to toast (or mope) at 2024 election night watch parties in Austin
When is Election Day 2024? When does early voting start in Texas?
Austin American-Statesman goes over Election Day questions and where to keep up with election coverage in Texas.
Whether you’re ready for a celebration, dreading the results or eager for the election cycle to be over, it’s best not to spend election night 2024 alone. Several Austin venues will host watch parties with food, friends and foes as you get ready for the results Tuesday.
Hold hands and cross fingers at Hotel Vegas and Volstead’s watch party
Need a strong pregame for the results? The adjacent East Austin bars are teaming up to host a joint watch party with themed cocktails served all night.
Guests can watch the results roll in on big screens on the patio. There will also be televised analysis inside Volstead Lounge. Enjoy live DJs, election night games and tacos from El Borracho Tacos starting at 5 p.m.
The party is free to attend. Guests can RSVP on Facebook.
Down some patriotic shots at Star Bar’s Texas-style watch party
The West Austin bar will host a free election night watch party, Texas-style. Customers can catch election updates from open to close and snag limited-edition Quinn-Arch buttons ($3) and hats ($20) touting University of Texas quarterbacks Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning. Election results will be shown on TVs across the bar.
Enjoy some blue and red jello shots as well as pizza from VIA 313.
The party will start at 4 p.m. and run until close at 2 a.m. No ticket or RSVP is needed for the event. More information is at starbartexas.com.
Ride the emotional roller coaster at Cheer Up Charlie’s election night carnival
Cheer Up’s is bringing the Election Day feel to the Red River Cultural District. The election night extravaganza will include drag and stand-up comedy shows, tarot and astrology readings, and a petting zoo for voters needing some animal comfort.
Want to dance it out? There will be live DJs. Voters can also eat their feelings. A bake sale will be happening, alongside a sock and blanket drive for the unhoused.
The party will run from 6 p.m. to midnight. Tickets start at $19 and can be purchased online.
Watch the results at Travis County Republicans’ election night party
Voters are invited to swing by and catch the election results with fellow Republicans in Travis County. National news as well as the county clerk’s website will be monitored for key races. Candidates and local leaders are also expected to deliver remarks. There will also be surprise guests throughout the evening.
The event will run from 7 to 10:30 p.m.
Guests must register online to get the address for the event. Security officers will check photo IDs for entrance.
Join the Travis County Democratic Party at the Driskill
Democrats from across the county will watch the election results unfold at the historic Driskill hotel. Attendees will get a chance to rub elbows with some elected officials and candidates. Who better to share the suspense with than the folks on the ballot?
The watch party will happen from 7 to 11 p.m.
Interested in attending? You can register for the event online.
Austin, TX
Texas high school football 2024: Central Texas week 10 rankings
AUSTIN, Texas – The tenth week of the 2024 Texas high school football season is in the books.
Check out our rankings for the tenth week of the season, which featured matchups like Bowie vs Austin High, Taylor vs LBJ, Cedar Park vs Leander, Lake Belton vs Georgetown, and the FOX 7 Game of the Week, Bastrop vs Pflugerville.
View the highlights and scores for Week 10 here.
POST-WEEK 10 RANKINGS
CLASS 6A
CLASS 5A
CLASS 4A
CLASS 3A
CLASS 2A/1A/OTHERS
Austin, TX
Nature’s Treasures Texas grows Austin’s magic with a bigger location opening next year
The new venue will increase the store’s size from 14,000 to 25,000 square feet, allowing for an expanded selection of products that cater to more clientele. Customers can look forward to a broader array of crystals, minerals and fossils, along with unique jewelry pieces and home decor items that celebrate the beauty of nature.
“We’re going to develop new partnerships with other local businesses for cross-promotion and featuring their products in our store. This will allow us to showcase beautiful, natural world items like plants and wood crafts, aligning perfectly with Nature’s Treasures,” retail manager Michael Kallstrom said.
Nature’s Treasures focuses on providing a welcoming environment where customers can explore and receive support during their discoveries. First-time visitors have no need to worry, as the staff is ready to assist and will even offer a grounding crystal to help ease any anxiety.
Understanding that not everyone has the same experience with spiritual and metaphysical items is fundamental to the Nature’s Treasures approach. Each person’s journey with these treasures is deeply personal and shaped by their unique needs and feelings.
As visitors step into the store, they can explore a diverse array of crystals and minerals, discovering what truly resonates with them. This exploration is essential, allowing individuals to connect with the energies of different items and understand how they make them feel on a deeper level.
This commitment to understanding customer needs and preferences has fostered a loyal following, playing a crucial role in the store’s growth since its inception.
“Nature’s treasures is the brainchild and passion of Karen Richards, who founded the company in 2000. It started as a hobby when she used crystals, minerals and natural decor to stage her furniture store,” Kallstrom said. “Customers began asking to buy these items, so she decided to turn her hobby into a business. She started with a shelf of crystals, which grew into dedicated rooms at each store, eventually leading to what Nature’s Treasures is today.”
Over the years, this focus on connection has transformed Nature’s Treasures into more than just a store; it has become a beloved community hub.
“We have a larger event center that is already up and running, so we will be able to host larger community and private events to help build our community and neighborhood back up when we move,” Kallstrom said.
Nature’s Treasures continues to welcome customers at its original location at 4103 N. I-35, Austin. The new event center at 11055 N. I-35, Austin is currently open and operational, featuring a pop-up shops, weekend practitioners and special events.
“This is a great place to shop for your holiday presents and try something new because we will have seasonal holiday events and sales like our Customer Appreciation Sale Nov. 23-Dec.1, 12 Days of Giving Back Dec. 1-12 at our new 11055 Event Center and 12 Days of Giving Sale Dec. 12-24,” Kallstrom said. “We want our former customers to get a chance to say goodbye to the store but we also want new customers to feel comfortable to come in, take a deep breath, walk around and see what draws their attention.”
For updates on Nature’s Treasures’ location change, subscribe to their newsletter or visit NTRocks.com. To learn more about their product offerings and shop online, visit their online store at naturestreasuresatx.com.
The above story was produced by Multi Platform Journalist Chloe Chapel with Community Impact’s Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their “sponsored content” purchase through our advertising team.
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