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Community Corner

🌱 SXSW Starts TODAY + Battle For Waller Beach Park + Cidery Closing

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Austin.

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Jessica Collins, Neighbor
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(Patch Media)

Happy Friday, everyone! I'm back in your inbox with the latest copy of the Austin Patch newsletter. I've gathered the most imporant local news and community updates — so you don't have to lift a finger!

Settle in with your morning coffee while we dive into:

  • Today is SXSW 2023 Day 1 — we've got the scoop below!
  • TxDOT wants to occupy a popular park at Lady Bird Lake.
  • Jerry Seinfeld is in town this evening, performing two comedy sets.
  • A local cidery closed the doors on its central location.

But first, today's weather:

Cooler; a morning t-shower. High: 69 Low: 59.

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Here are the top stories today in Austin:

1) The City of Austin's overtime pay jumped 30% from 2021 to 2022. The city paid out roughly $86 million in overtime pay in the fiscal year 2021 and over $112 million in 2022. The city "attributes the overall increase in overtime to four main factors: 1) higher job vacancy rates, 2) a larger workload due to services springing back to pre-pandemic levels, 2) wage increases and emergency situations like ice storms and ongoing COVID vaccine distribution." The departments hit the hardest by staffing shortages (public safety, emergency services) consistently used the most overtime. KXAN has more on this story here.

2) The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) plans to seize parts of the popular Waller Beach Park at Lady Bird Lake for its I-35 expansion project. TxDOT plans to use the land as a construction staging area. TxDOT is currently looking for alternative properties but has "not settled on one yet." The Austin Parks and Recreation Department is holding meetings to discuss potential replacement locations with community members. Learn more at KVUE.

3) The University of Texas' "Food for Fines" program is back. Through March 24, students and staff members can bring soup cans to pay off UT parking tickets. The catch: Only one parking citation can be paid off in soup cans. Nearly 100 cans of soup — worth more than $600 in parking citations — have been donated since the program launched earlier this week!

4) South by Southwest 2023 officially kicks off TODAY. The 10-day event is composed of four main components: Interactive, Film & TV, Comedy and Music — and it runs through Sunday, March 19. A few things of note:

Everyone stay safe and enjoy!

Today in Austin:

Neighbors, as of today I am going to do my best to highlight a blend of South by Southwest events and non-South by Southwest events. As a result, I won't be able to cover everything, but I promise something for everyone!

  • Museum of Graffiti's "Art of Hip Hop" Exhibit at 809 E 6th St. (11 a.m.)
  • Prime Video's "Swarm" Mini-Mart SXSW Pop-Up at Austin Motel. (12 p.m.)
  • Deep Dives into Popular Films: Wonder Woman at Austin Public Library, Terrazas Branch. (1 p.m.)
  • The Lodge: A Paramount+ Experience at Clive Bar. (4 p.m.)
  • 91.7 FM KOOP's Vinyl Lounge at Tweedy's Bar. (7 p.m.)
  • Jerry Seinfeld at Bass Concert Hall (7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.)
  • (Free with RSVP) Burger Boogie Bonanza: Parish Re-Opening Party at Parish. (7:30 p.m.)

Community Chatter:

  • 💔 Bar closure: "Austin Eastciders announced on Instagram that the location on Barton Springs Road is now closed after three years in business." (CBS Austin via Facebook)
  • 🏍 Vroom, vroom! "If you're looking for some adrenaline-inducing racing at one of the best tracks in the United States, get ready for the MotoGP Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas at Circuit of The Americas, happening April 14-16." (CultureMap Austin)
  • 🚨 Deadline Extended: "Waterloo Greenway's 'Call for Ideas' deadline has been extended through Monday, March 13! Learn how you can be a part of this year's show creekshow.com." (Waterloo Greenway via Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today! See you all tomorrow for another update.

— Jessica Collins

About me: Jessica is happy to call Austin her home for the past 10+ years. She loves the outdoors, arts & cinema, dining, and all of the natural beauty that Central Texas has to offer.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Austin Patch newsletter? Contact me at DowntownAustin@patch.com

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

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