Laura Figi.jpg

Laura Figi

Senior Newsletter Editor

Laura Figi has called Austin home for more than 12 years and has been known to say it’s her “favorite city in the world.” A proud graduate of Texas State University, she’s been working in local news since 2020. When she’s not working and learning about the community, you can find her at the local thrift shop, spending time with her two cats, or listening to live music.

Support Good Local News
ATX_Fresa's Thanksgiving-02392 (1).jpg
Food
Thanksgiving recipes from ATXtoday readers
Join us in being thankful for Austin’s foodie community, which has shared some of their favorite Thanksgiving recipes to make your table a little more local.
November 20, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
A hand holding a glass of wine in front of a vineyard
Food
How to find the best Texas wine for your next dinner
A new wine styles selector tool can help you find your new favorite wine made from Texas Hill Country-grown grapes.
November 20, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
A close-up shot of the top of a Waymo car, which features several cameras and the Waymo logo.
Business
Q+A: What to know about Waymo’s robotaxis coming to Orlando
We took a fully autonomous Waymo ride with product communications manager Chris Bonelli to answer questions about AVs.
November 20, 2025
 · 
Morgan O’Neal
ATX_Paramount-Lounge-2_credit Clayton Korte.jpg
Real Estate
Shine On: Paramount and State Theatres will begin restoration and renovation in 2026
The new Shine On campaign will bring major changes to the tune of $65 million to both historic theaters starting this summer.
November 19, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
The inside of Recycled Reads, with books and DVDs for sale.
City
Recycled Reads Bookstore will close in early 2026
Austin Public Library will begin to sell its retired material out of its branches instead of the one central used bookstore.
November 18, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
View of the Austin, Texas skyline from the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail.
City
Austin’s GIS mapping decoded
Did you know the city and county provide interactive GIS maps of Austin to connect you to resources and help you get to know your communities?
November 18, 2025
 · 
Monica Garske
ATX_OnionCreekMosasaur
Culture
Ancient fossils found in the Austin area
Austin is home to some ancient history, including gigantic aquatic lizards, prehistoric humans, and dinosaur tracks uncovered by flooding.
November 13, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
ATX_MacNCheeseFest
Food
Check out the restaurants coming to Austin Mac + Cheese Festival
The 2025 celebration of gooey, golden goodness is this weekend in Bee Cave, and we’re ready to chow down to this year’s tropical-themed bites.
November 13, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
ATX_AbaThanksgiving
Food
13 local restaurants with Thanksgiving catering + dine-in specials
Take Turkey Day easy with dishes from these local restaurants.
November 11, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
ATX_TheTwelveThirtyClub
Business
Justin Timberlake’s The Twelve Thirty Club is coming to Austin
The entertainment hall, music venue, members club, restaurant, and bar is slated to begin construction Downtown in early 2026.
November 10, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
ATX_MoreHomeSlicePizza
Food
Home Slice Pizza celebrates 20 years of being the “Queen of Pies”
The iconic local pizza joint will celebrate two decades in business by reviving its annual community carnival after a nine-year hiatus.
November 10, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
Runners pass by a small green building with a large red circular sign that reads "Jo's" at the top. The building has a red stripe along the roofline and is located at the corner of South Congress Avenue. A small crowd of people stands on the sidewalk, watching and cheering the runners as they go by. In the background, there are trees with bare branches and a street sign indicating Congress Avenue.
Wellness
Run clubs for every day of the week in Austin
Make friends and move your body — we found a club in Austin for any day your schedule is open.
November 6, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
Three dishes on the table at KGBBQ
Food
Yelp’s list of the best 25 restaurants in Austin is here — try our favorites
Austinites know how to eat, and Yelp’s most dedicated members helped curate a list of the best and most reliable spots to get a meal.
November 6, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
ATX_AustinFoodandWine2025
Events
Best bites + bevs: Your guide to Austin Food & Wine Festival 2025
Austin Food & Wine Festival is this weekend and we’re ready to dig in by helping you maximize your time at this annual celebration of eats.
November 5, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
An overhead view of a Thanksgiving table spread.
Food
Help us create a reader-submitted Thanksgiving recipe book
You could help make a lot of Austinites thankful by sharing your best holiday recipes.
November 4, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
McConaughey in a black suit and white shirt stands amid a crowd at a formal event, gazing slightly off-camera. In the foreground, an Oscar statue is visible on the left, indicating the setting is likely an awards ceremony. People in the background appear dressed in formal attire, contributing to the celebratory atmosphere.
Culture
56 facts about Matthew McConaughey for his 56th birthday
Celebrate the local legend by learning dozens of facts about his life.
November 3, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
A graphic that says "Their perfect gift is on this list. Our holiday gift guide just dropped." surrounded by images of gift tags.
Small Businesses
ATXtoday’s 2025 holiday gift guide: 90+ finds for everyone you love
Including gifts for significant others, retirees, holiday parties, young people, and gifts that ship fast.
October 29, 2025
 · 
Emily Shea-Owen
A unique culinary creation with an artistic presentation. A small, round base, possibly a bread or pastry, is topped with a creamy, lightly toasted layer of sauce or cheese. Skewered on top are succulent, charred pieces of meat or mushroom, stacked and crowned with a tiny figurine of a skull in a top hat. The background is softly blurred, with hints of other elegantly plated dishes.
Food
A complete list of Austin’s MICHELIN Guide restaurants
Let’s dig into the delicious picks, including seven stars, 16 local Bib Gourmand Awards, and a handful of MICHELIN-recommended spots for the MICHELIN Guide Texas.
October 29, 2025
 · 
Morgan O’Neal
The back of a Spanish-style home and curvy pool.
Real Estate
Austin is the top buyer’s market for homes in the US
Austin’s housing market has been a roller coaster ride for the last five years, but this time, it’s swinging back in favor of buyers.
October 23, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
A person grilling food
Food
Which ATX food festival is right for you?
Austin’s plethora of delightful food festivals offer something for everyone, so only one question remains: Which should you attend first?
October 22, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
The front of Austin's downtown City Hall
City
Election season: What Prop Q means for Austin taxpayers
The City of Austin is asking residents to vote on a property tax increase that would generate ~$109.5 million to go toward the new fiscal year budget.
October 20, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
ATX_YMCATownlake
Real Estate
Townlake YMCA to undergo redevelopment and housing project
The Downtown community center has agreed to sell some of its land for new housing while expanding and building a new facility.
October 20, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
A view of the COTA tower and race track.
Events
Watch the Formula 1 US Grand Prix at these local watch parties
The big race is almost here, and even if you don’t have tickets to watch in person, you can catch the race in style at one of these admission-free parties.
October 16, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
ATX_GreatAmericanBeerFestival
Food
How to taste the best local beers of 2025
The 2025 Great American Beer Festival awards are here and Austin-area brews took home the gold, so get ready to taste them for yourself.
October 16, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
A small outdoor micro gallery painted light blue with a clear acrylic roof. Inside, miniature colorful artworks are displayed, including illustrations and paintings, with one piece propped on a tiny easel. The setting features greenery and a residential background.
Culture
How to find a Free Little Art Gallery near you
At these 10 miniature art galleries in the Austin area, you can take a piece of art or leave one for your neighbors to love.
October 15, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
ATX_SpiritHalloween
Culture
8 Spirit Halloween stores open in the Austin area
The store finds vacant retail spaces and signs temporary leases to set up shop leading up to Halloween — but locations can change each year.
October 14, 2025
 · 
Michael Beausoleil
ATX_Cheer up charlie
Culture
Cheer Up Charlies acquired by Florida hospitality group
The LGBTQ+ bar, which was in danger of closing earlier this year, is now poised to become a larger brand across the state.
October 14, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
A nighttime scene featuring a pathway lined with glowing jack-o'-lanterns hanging from trees. The lanterns illuminate the dark forest, casting an eerie yet enchanting atmosphere. A group of silhouetted people, including adults and children, walk toward the glowing lights, with mist rising in the background, enhancing the haunting, Halloween-like setting.
Events
16 Halloween happenings to check out in Austin
Themed cocktails, mad science experiments, haunted houses, and pumpkin carving await you throughout the whole month in Austin.
October 13, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
A large crowd browses tables stacked with books under a white event tent. People of various ages flip through pages, chat, and examine titles. The tables are neatly arranged with colorful book covers, and the atmosphere is lively and bustling.
Events
Matthew McConaughey, R.L. Stine, and Chelsea Handler will headline the 2025 Texas Book Festival
The annual free book festival shared the full lineup of 300+ authors, here are a few we’re most excited to hear from in November.
October 9, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
ATX_ACLAtmosphere
Events
ACL Festival tips from a veteran attendee
Don’t go into Weekend Two of ACL Festival blind, but do go in with these tried-and-true tips from someone who has been attending for years.
October 9, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
Load More