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Community Corner

🌱 Zilker Park Vision Plan + Buddhist Temple Break-In + South ATX Fire

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

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Jessica Collins, Neighbor
(Patch Media)

Good morning, everybody! It's a beautiful Sunday morning in Austin and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in town.

Settle in while we dive into:

  • Could a parking garage be in the cards for Zilker Park? We've got the scoop.
  • A two-alarm fire swallows a warehouse building in South Austin.
  • Plenty of holiday events and theater productions happening TODAY.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and nice. High: 71 Low: 43.

Here are the top stories today in Austin:

1) Police investigating a break-in at a local Buddhist temple on Thanksgiving Day. KXAN reports: "Surveillance video appears to show a group breaking into a Buddhist temple in Austin, prying open donation boxes, and stealing cash from the prayer hall." Members of the temple said they plan to bolster security to ensure people who come to pray are better protected. KXAN has more on this developing story here.

2) Fire engulfs a South Austin warehouse building home to ICON, a 3D printing and construction company. Fire Department officials reported that paramedics leaving an Austin hospital noticed the fire around 3:30 in the morning and alerted the department. Austin Fire Division Chief Stephen Truesdel said the fire was burning for "quite some time" before the crew spotted the fire. AFD said there are no reported injuries. About 66 firefighters and Austin-Travis County EMS medics responded to the fire. Head over to KXAN for the full scoop.

3) A new parking garage could be in the cards at Zilker Park. Included in the Zilker Park Vision Plan, is the idea to repurpose the former Butler Landfill site into a two- or three-level parking garage. The former landfill site is a 25-acre stretch of rock and dirt running along either side of, and under, the south end of the MoPac Boulevard bridge alongside Zilker Park. The Statesman has more on the Zilker Park vision plan here.

4) Get ready for a picture-perfect Sunday Funday – warm weather is on the way! Head over to FOX 7 Austin for a full report on today's weather.

Today in Austin:

  • 8th Annual Blood Over Texas: Horror For The Holidays at Palmer Events Center. (11 a.m.)
  • Holiday Art on the Lawn at Neill-Cochran House Museum. (11 a.m.)
  • Holiday Happening at The Carpenter Hotel. (1 p.m.)
  • Texas Women's Basketball vs. Princeton at Moody Center. (1 p.m.)
  • A Christmas Carol at The Topfer at ZACH Theatre. (2:30 p.m.)
  • Austin Shakespeare Presents: Sense and Sensibility at The Longer Center. (3 p.m.)
  • Conscious Breathwork & Sound Healing at Sanctuary Yoga. (3:30 p.m.)
  • Pure Fun Comedy at Vulcan Gas Company. (7 p.m.)

Community Chatter:

  • 🤘 The Longhorns keep their Big 12 dreams alive: "Texas Longhorns take home a big win against the Baylor Bears! 🏈!" (KVUE via Facebook)
  • 🛍️ Shop local this season: "There are plenty of pop-up markets around Austin and Central Texas this time of year, here are seven to check out!" (Austin American-Statesman)
  • 👕 HEB Swag! "H-E-B unveils merchandise for brand super fans, available exclusively at one store." (CultureMap Austin)

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That's it for today. I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with 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 Daily? 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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