Your Daily Guide

Welcome to our newest member Colin C.! Be like Colin. Become a City Cast Austin member! It’s just $10 a month and you get all the perks: bonus podcast content, members-only events, and a free welcome gift.

Your Ultimate Guide to Austin’s Growing Bagel Scene

By Elissa Castles

The breakfast taco is arguably Austin's go-to morning meal. But there's a new kid in town trying to eclipse the breakfast taco's reign. Enter: the bagel.

After living in the Bagel Capital of the World for more than a decade, color me surprised when I moved back to Austin to find so many gourmet bagleries trying to take on the New York classic. The bagel boom in Austin is very real, with shops popping up all over town in recent years. Newer additions include: Shug's Bagels, which opened its doors just a few weeks ago, and the viral PopUp Bagels, which is set to open later this year.

If you're curious to know where to find a great bagel and what to order, I did some real shoe-leather reporting last week to help you narrow down your choices:

Nervous Charlie's Bagels

5501 N. Lamar Blvd. Open everyday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This spot is hard to miss, with its bright orange accent color and cute dog logo., I can only assume the dog is named Charlie and is a nervous little guy! Nerves aside, the bagels are great! Most people order The Longhorn or The Classic, but I got the bagel with lox. Another classic combo for the savory folks who aren't afraid of smoked fish and capers at 8 a.m.. The best part is I went on a Saturday morning assuming it would be chaotic but instead it was orderly and lines moved quickly. Nervous Charlie’s also has a Cedar Park location and another is planned for South Austin too.

Shug's Bagels

1206 Parkway. Open everyday from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

I first attempted to go here on a weekend, and to quote Julia Roberts in "Pretty Woman," that was a "big mistake. Big. Huge!" The line was out the door and continued down the street with no shaded spots to offer relief from the August sun. So, I decided to try my luck again on a Monday afternoon. There was still a line but it was much more manageable. Shug's has a lot of fun sandwich combos including a chopped cheese, pizza bagel, and more. I opted for the turkey club on an onion bagel. By the way, they were out of everything bagels which feels like a sin. The grand total for my sandwich was $17.32, which I wasn't expecting since prices aren't printed on their menu, and it nearly took my breath away. Was it worth it? In some ways, yes. The bagel was truly top-tier: a perfectly crispy exterior and soft, chewy interior. Perhaps next time I'll opt for the more economical bagel and schmear option. If you decide to venture here, be prepared to spend some money and may the line gods be ever in your favor!

Austinite Says Talarico Signs Are Being Stolen

A man living in Austin’s Zilker neighborhood says two of his James Talarico campaign signs have been taken from his yard and he has noticed other neighbors’ signs missing. After filing a police report, the man says he’s putting up a third sign. [KVUE]

Paige Ellis’s Third Term Petition Rejected

Austin City Council member Paige Ellis’s petition to run for a third term has been rejected because it was short 62 signatures, the city said. Her term will end in January. [KUT]

More Performers Added to ‘Austin City Limits’ Lineup

Lola Young, Bleachers, Arturo Sandoval, Jesse Welles, and Bella Kay have been added to Season 52 of “Austin City Limits.” The artists will tape their episodes this fall. [Tribeza]

ACC’s Free Tuition Program Sees Increase

More than 14,000 students will participate in Austin Community College’s free tuition pilot this year, which is a 40% increase compared to last year. The college is also seeing a 6.1% increase in overall enrollment with 44,000 expected this fall. [Austin Business Journal]