Local Foods is coming to Central Austin this spring at 3800 N. Lamar, giving Austin a second location for Local Foods’ menu of sandwiches, salads, soups, sharables, mains, and bowls – and ohmygoodness those desserts. At localfoodstexas.com
Mr. Pickles Candy has come to Bryker Woods, to 3703 Kerbey Lane, with its bagged gummies, dark chocolate espresso beans, chocolate covered cherries, Swedish candy, and doggie treats. And a portion of every purchase supports animal charities -- it’s candy for a cause at a store named for a sweet pug boy. Mr. Pickles Candy charity of the month for January is @austinpetsalive. At mrpicklescandy.com and @mrpicklescandy
Jim Jim’s Water Ice closed shop at 615 6th St. and stowed its pushcarts late in 2025 after 31 years of 40 flavors of Italian ice and homemade ice cream at schools, fundraisers, parties, Barton Springs, Deep Eddy, the shop, and everywhere that fun was happening. But owner Jim Moy kept the recipe, just in case.
Austin Crop Hunger Walk is March 1 at Camp Mabry, featuring McCallum High School’s Samba Knights Brazilian drum group beginning at 2 pm, and official step-off at 2:30 pm. Walk. Give. Change the World. Local agencies benefitting include Central Texas Food Bank, Casa Marianella, Micah 6 of Austin, iACT for Refugees, Hope Food Pantry, Urban Roots, and Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Central Texas. Crop Hunger Walks around the nation support the ministry of Church World Service, especially grassroots, hunger-fighting development efforts around the world – food, water, seeds, tools, wells, water systems, technical training, micro loans, people working together to identify their own needs and strengths. See austincrophungerwalk.org. This is Crop Hunger Walk’s 79th year.
Wild Birds Unlimited celebrates 45 years this year, and our local Wild Birds Unlimited at 3535 Bee Caves Road in West Lake Hills is celebrating along with the more than 360 locations across the U.S. The nature shop has everything birdy: bird books, bird earrings, bird windchimes, bird note cards, bird seed, seed pillars, bird feeders, and the systems that hold the feeders and the things that try to thwart those squirrels. And art. I’m a bluejay gal, so I lug home their big bags of peanuts in the shell, and, yes, I do feed a few squirrels with those peanuts. At austinsouthwbu.com and 512-328-9453 and @wildbirdsunlimitedatx
Old Quarry Branch Library at 7051 Village Center Dr in Northwest Hills had its opening date pushed back again. After a teaser around Thanksgiving that the renovations would be complete in mid-January, now the opening date is mid-March. I miss that branch, closed now since summer 2024, but I know the wait will be worth it: Besides new infrastructure for the aged building, we’ll see an outside reading area, new shelving, reconfigured spaces for children, a new teen area, and shared learning rooms. Mid-March, y’all.
Bird Dog Pit BBQ at 4707 Burnet Road closed this month. Surprised me when I drove by this week and saw the place boarded up. I loved it as The Pit when my kids were young, and then Big O’s more recently. That’s all I know, and we’ll see what happens next on that hopping part of Burnet Road.
Roya at 7858 Shoal Creek Blvd is Coming Soon, according to its Insta, which shows a Now Hiring entry. The upscale Persian cuisine restaurant is headed by chef Amir Hajimaleki, who has done exuberant Roya pop-ups all around town for years. See Royaaustin.com
City of Austin Summer Camp Registration begins in February. The City has a robust offering of summer camps – therapeutic, culture and arts, nature, community centers – for kids and teens at locations across Austin. Details and registration at austintexas.gov and click on Save the date City Summer Camp Registration.
Prototype Vintage opened a second location in December at 123 E. North Loop Blvd, joining its long-time, popular South Congress location. Info at prototype-vintage and 512-447-7686. Prototype Vintage celebrates 20 years in Austin with its addition to the shops along the North Loop curve, including Room Service Vintage.
