And, Austin wants new AV rules ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌
Thursday, April 30 

Your Daily Guide

🤠 Country fans to the front, please! Kacey Musgraves and Shaboozey are bringing their tours to Austin this year. Shaboozey performs at Moody Amphitheater on Sept. 11 and Musgraves will be at the Moody Center on Oct. 7.

What Austin's Talking About

Where the Next Homeless Encampment Sweeps Will Be

Dozens of homeless encampments throughout Austin will be cleaned up at the start of May, a map obtained by the Austin American-Statesman shows. Areas include spots as far as Jollyville and near Manchaca. [Austin American-Statesman]

Lammes Candies Open to a Buyer

Want to help keep an iconic Austin business alive? Now’s your chance. Lammes Candies co-owner Lana Schmidt said she’s open to selling the business, which is expected to close after 141 years in Austin. [Austin Business Journal]

Austin Wants New AV Laws

City officials want state lawmakers to consider passing new autonomous vehicle rules after a Waymo blocked an ambulance last month after a shooting at Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden. The city is recommending higher fees for safety violations and creating a digital system for police to ticket the vehicles. [KXAN]

A Guide to Patio Season

It may be a bit gloomy this week, but we’re in prime patio season, y’all. This is a great guide to the best restaurants for eating and drinking outside. [Eater Austin]

Display ad for UMLAUF Sculpture Garden

35 Years of Art Under the Sky

Tucked beside Zilker Park, the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden + Museum is a beloved nonprofit that has spent 35 years putting world-class art on view. Enjoy free parking, affordable admission, and bronze sculpture you're allowed to touch. Come for free monthly family days, rotating contemporary art exhibitions, and special evening programs where guests can explore the UMLAUF after hours. Wander the garden paths and see why this spot is an Austin favorite! 

Hyde Park Now Home to a Huge Piece of Lasagna You Need To Try

A large piece of lasagna in red sauce with white cheese on top

Look at this huge piece of lasagna. (Courtesy of City Cast Austin Contributor Eric Webb)

Gather round, Garfields. I come bearing lasagna news.

Umarell, a New Jersey-style Italian restaurant, opened in Hyde Park earlier this year in the small building formerly occupied by Wok 'N Express.

I finally made my way to the counter-service spot last week and it was everything a girl who misses her hometown Italian spot could hope for. The portions are huge, the prices are not terrible, and the decor is so homey and fun. Oh, and they have the biggest piece of lasagna I’ve ever laid my eyes on.

The end piece lasagna is $24 and is what dreams are made of if you also prefer a crispy corner piece of any casserole or brownie pan. It’s crunchy in the right places, made with bolognese, and the layers are so soft they can barely stay in one place. And, the dish is served in a pool of arrabbiata tomato sauce that is a true highlight. It’ll give you something to write home about, that’s for sure. I highly recommend sharing this with a friend so you have room for other delights.

Take the calamari curly fries ($15). Thin pieces of fried calamari are mixed in with a mountain of curly fries that has horseradish mayo slathered on top. Eat a fry and a piece of calamari at the same time for best results.

Adding corn in unexpected places is one of the best things a restaurant can do. Ricotta dumplings ($18) are served in a bowl with just enough alfredo and corn sauce. The dumplings are small in size but dense enough for a real bite. Consider this a light dish before your lasagna arrives.

Umarell made me want to return as soon as possible by doing one thing: delivering food to tables. Every time a new dish passed by in the hands of a waiter, I turned into a cartoon character who just smelled a pie. My eyes got wide and I’d ask my fellow diners what they ordered. Based on this alone, I’ll be ordering the gigantic chicken parm sandwich, chicken francese pasta, and the tiramisu next time I visit.

What To Do

Thursday, April 30

Friday, May 1

Saturday, May 2

More Austin Events
Display ad or Visit Port Aransas; Revel in the island life

Anchor Your Summer Traditions in Port Aransas

Welcome to the island life.

It starts as a simple trip, then becomes the place they want to come back to year after year.

Familiar, effortless, and just a little salty. The island life is calling. See why generations of Texans have anchored their traditions to Port Aransas.

🎉 This story about San Antonio’s Fiesta event is making me nostalgic for my two years in the Alamo City. The outfits! The food! The cascarónes!

Kelsey Bradshaw

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