AUSTIN, Texas — The biggest literary tradition in Texas, which brings thousands to downtown Austin, returns this weekend. The Texas Book Festival is Nov. 16-17.

The event is free and open to the public. Book lovers can head downtown along 11th Street and Congress Avenue, where there will be several programs happening. The festival features more than 250 authors, including New York Times bestselling authors Malcolm Gladwell, Rumaan Alam and Xochitl Gonzalez.

Here’s a list of venues where programs will be held:

• Texas Capitol (1100 Congress Avenue)

• State Theatre (719 Congress Avenue)

• First Baptist Church (901 Trinity Street)

• First United Methodist Church (1201 Lavaca Street)

• Central Presbyterian Church (200 East 8th Street)

• The Contemporary Austin (700 Congress Avenue)

• Texas State Library and Archives Commission (1201 Brazos Street)

The festival include book signings, youth and bilingual programs, a Saturday night Lit Crawl, cooking demonstrations, food trucks and more. While the event is free, there are two ticketed events that have already sold out. They feature Malcolm Gladwell and Matthew McConaughey.

The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

The full schedule is available online.

Free parking is available in multiple State Lot parking garages on San Jacinto between 12th and 16th streets. 

AUSTIN, Texas – The city of Austin is giving a visual update on its Cap and Stitch program. The project is part of the Texas Department of Transportation’s expansion of I-35.

The city says the project is aimed at creating public spaces over the highway.

TxDOT held a groundbreaking ceremony on the I-35 Capital Express Central Project last month.

The project will lower the highway’s main lanes between Lady Bird Lake and Airport Boulevard.

The city of Austin plans to add caps and stitches to the project to create more public spaces and bridge the East and West sides of town.

“The key intent is really to document what we have been hearing from residents and community members over the past two-ish years of our outreach in regard to Austinites’ desired outcomes for the city’s cap and stitch effort,” says Transportation Public Works transportation officer Michelle Marx.

Residents were surveyed at several open houses from the months of May through August. A new draft of the vision plan was presented in front of the mobility committee on Thursday.

“The vision plan does start by articulating where Cap and Stitches are going to be possible in Austin and those are the locations you are seeing on your map here in blue. We do also identify where The University of Texas is evaluating opportunities outside the city’s efforts,” says Marx.

According to the city, the Caps and Stitches could create up to 25 acres of public space, stretching from Holly Street to Airport Boulevard, which should include large trees, shade, lighting, public art, walking and bicycle paths, landscaping and micromobility hubs.

“A wide array of open space, park-like features as well as buildings in some, if not many locations,” says Michelle Marx.

The city says the buildings will be limited to two stories. The spaces will be used for recreational activities.

But the Caps and Stitches must meet certain guidelines.

“The real driving factor for that is the requirement that TxDOT has provided us is that we provide a minimum of 16 and a half feet of vertical clearance from the roadway surface at any highway or on and off ramp locations to any kind of deck,” says Michelle Marx.

The concepts and plans were split into five phases, according to the draft provided.

“TxDOT will be constructing the structural elements on our behalf. They will be city funded but constructed in conjunction with the project, so TxDOT will be breaking ground in approximately mid-26. They are scheduled for substantial completion in approximately 2032, so any city funded cap features that we fold into their scope we are looking at about a 2032 completion date,” says Marx.

There will be another meeting next to discuss the next steps in the process and the funding.  

TEXAS — YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul is set to fight former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson on Friday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Missed out on tickets but still want to experience the fight with a crowd? Here are some watch party options around the state:

Austin

Manchaca Sports Bar in South Austin is hosting a watch party starting at 7 p.m. There is no cover charge and the bar will be open until 2 a.m. 10402 Menchaca Rd Bldg 1, Austin, Texas 78748.

The Warehouse Billiard Bar is hosting a watch party starting at 7 p.m. You can get tickets at this link. 509 E Ben White Blvd, Austin, TX 78704.

Dallas

Heroes Lounge is hosting a watch party starting at 4 p.m. which will go until 2:30 a.m. 3094 N Stemmons Fwy, Dallas, TX 75247.

High Fives Dallas is hosting a watch party with free face tattoos. They will also be hosting a Tyson punch-out contest. If you DM them on Instagram, you can reserve a table for the event. 1804 McMillan Ave, Dallas, TX 75206.

Reservoir at Toyota Music Factory will be hosting a watch party starting at 7 p.m. There will be no cover charge for this watch party. 330 West Las Colinas Boulevard, Irving, TX 75039.

San Antonio

Rock & Brews San Antonio is hosting a watch party from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. With free entry and numerous TV screens, you won’t miss any of the action. 5702 Landmark Pkwy, San Antonio, TX 78249.

Smoke Skybar will be hosting a watch party with free entry before 8 p.m. It is $10 for entry after 8 p.m. 1100 E Houston St, San Antonio, TX 78205.

Camp 1604 will be hosting a watch party with no cover charge. They will have early drink specials and a food truck for the event. 5535 N. Loop 1604 W, San Antonio, TX 78257.