CapMetro New App

 The old CapMetro payment app has been retired, and riders who want to pay via app must now use the Umo app.  Tap-to-pay (which lets riders pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay, credit, or debit cards) is forthcoming at some point.  I haven't ridden the bus in a while, but I recall the old app being somewhat cumbersome.  I'm looking forward to the tap-to-pay system, which if anything like London's TFL payment system should be pleasant to use.  

CapMetro is now recommending using the Transit app for trip planning in Austin.  You can also try City Mapper, which I used on my last trip to London and found to be highly useful.  

Delta Status Match Offer for Southwest Fliers

Through September 30th, Delta is offering an enhanced status match to Southwest A-List and A-List Preferred members.  This will get you Gold and Platinum Medallion Level respectively in SkyMiles.  Check the site for the specific details on how to do this and for how long the status match will last.  Also, if you aren't a SWA frequent flier, Delta offers a status match with many other airlines.  

Last Fall, when I went to London, I did a status match in which my SWA A-List Preferred (I have since been demoted to A-List not special) got me United's Gold level.  This came in handy as with it I was able to get lounge access for 3 of the 4 total flights (for the flight out of London, I used an Amex affiliate's lounge).  I was able to eat and drink for free (other than tips) at airports going to and coming home from the UK, which was quite the bonus.  I mention this because you too might be able to unlock something nice if applying a status match from your frequent flier program to one of an airline you don't use often.  

Austin's New Non-Stop Flights

 Here's an update of new non-stops from Austin, including but not limited to:

• Spirit will resume non-stop service to Detroit. 
• Frontier will start flying non-stop to San Diego.

Both of these flights will begin in June.

I have never flown on Spirit.  I'm aware of their reputation; however, I have been told that their Big Front Seat can be pleasant.  

Delta Switching from Lyft to Uber

 In case you missed the news, here's a reminder that Lyft is ending its partnership with Delta on April 7th.   Dollars spent on Uber rides will henceforth be able to earn Delta SkyMiles.  Lyft will continue to partner with Hilton offering hotel points for dollars spent on rides.  They also have partnerships with Alaska Airlines and Bilt Rewards, which I assume they are keeping.

For a while I've had it set so that my Lyft account fed Delta and Uber fed into Marriott Bonvoy.   The latter has been a good deal as I almost always book Uber Comfort (or above) and that gets triple Bonvoy points for every dollar spent.  However, double SkyMiles per dollar on Uber Comfort is tempting if you frequently fly on Delta (the Points Guy is currently valuing Delta points at 1.2¢ and Marriott Bonvoy points at .7¢). 

On a personal note vis a vis Uber: what I am sure of is that despite their pushing of Waymo, I will be sticking with human driven cars.  

REI Sale Starts Tomorrow

 

REI is having its usual March sale.  Members get 20% off one regular and one outlet item between 3/14-3/24.  Also, as I've mentioned before, the cobranded Mastercard is great if you are a frequent flier at REI (no annual fee, 5% back on REI purchases and 1.5% on everything else, access to Capital One shopping discounts).  Also, it's the only no annual fee card I have which also has no foreign transaction fees.  

On a different note, I have a lot of thoughts about the changes going on at Southwest Airlines which I hope to address in a post sometime soon.

Happy Birthday Gus!

 Gus, our Pyrador (Great Pyrenees and Labrador Retriever mix) and blog mascot, celebrated birthday number 6 yesterday.  It was a day filled with park time, walking, and a tasty "pupcake" from Woofgang Bakery.   

Gus was adopted from Heart of Texas Labrador Rescue back in 2020.  He was about 18 months old when we brought him home; before the rescuers found him he had been a living on the streets.  Ergo, we don't know the actual day he was born but we reckon that an awesome dog deserves a birthday celebration so March 12th was picked as being close enough.  

Delta Launching International Flight From Austin

 

The Delta Sky Club in Austin

According to KXAN, Delta will launch a seasonal flight from Austin to Cancun running from December-April.  This will be Delta's first international flight from Austin in 14 years.  Delta continues to increase routes from Austin (8 new this year) and is on track to replace American as the #2 carrier operating out of Austin's airport.  Southwest remains firmly in first place in terms of flights from our airport.

Read the previous post for more information about Sky Club access and the American Express relationship with Delta.  

Austin Airport Chase Sapphire Terrace Closing

Delta Sky Club in Austin

Apparently its last day will be on March 19th.   I don't know why it's closing, but maybe having an outdoor terrace in often hot Austin wasn't working out.  There do not appear to be plans for it to re-open.  

Right now we still have American Admirals Club, United Club, and Delta Sky Club options.  I'd love to see an American Express Centurion Lounge end up in the airport at some point.   Mostly indoor and air conditioned, of course.   Furthermore, if you don't want to deal with getting lounge access we do have a good selection of restaurants for snacks and pre-flight beverages.  

Speaking of American Express: American Express Platinum (business or personal) up to 10 times per year regardless of status with Delta SkyMiles or having a Delta cobranded card (also from Amex).   I like the Delta Sky Club in Austin, but as a Platinum Card user with limited passes available I'd rather have my pre-flight hang out at Second Bar + Kitchen or Parkside in order to save the pass for later (say, Salt Lake City).   

 

What Meteor Colors Mean

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Hear the Sound of a Meteor Striking

The above video is pretty cool, and according to Dr. Chris Herd of The University of Alberta (a meteorite expert) this is only known recording of video and audio of a meteor striking the ground (thus becoming a meteorite before our eyes).   It struck a porch on Prince Edward Island, approximately ten minutes after the residents of the home had been standing there prior to walking their dogs.  Most meteors fall into the ocean or onto unoccupied swaths of land.   Only a lucky few become giant tourist attractions or video sensations, and an actual ground strike captured on video is extremely rare.  

In case you are worried about your chances of being struck by a falling space rock: there is only one recorded incident of this having occurred (though probably in the history of humanity, not the only occurrence).  It happened in Alabama in 1954 to Anne Hodges, who survived.   

City of Austin STR Information Sessions

 The city will be holding four informations from January 21-27 to discuss proposed changes to Austin's short term rental regulations.  Here are the dates:

• Tuesday, Jan. 21, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Zoom 
• Wednesday, Jan. 22, 6-8 p.m., Montopolis Recreation and Community Center 
• Thursday, Jan. 23, 6-8 p.m., Permitting and Development Center
• Monday, Jan. 27, 6-8 p.m., Austin Central Library 

The city would prefer that potential attendees register in advance.   There will also be public hearings at City Hall which you can attend on February 4th, 6th, and 27th (follow link for more details).

The impetus for these upcoming rule changes is a 2023 ruling from the Western District of Texas which said that it was unconstitutional for Austin to have stopped issuing STR Type 2 licenses.  The city has been issuing STR Type 2 licenses since then.  Proposed rule changes could include collection of hotel tax, where in the ordinances the regulations are placed, density rules, and so forth.  

TribCast: Look at the Speaker's Vote

Keep up with the Texas Legislature's session by following the Texas Tribune's Trib Casts:

Cold Weather Advice

The temperatures in Austin are projected to drop below freezing on Saturday night, so now seems like a good time to think about cold weather preparations for your house.  You can go back to watch this video about how to properly drip your faucets: How and When to Drip Your Faucet During Winter Weather

It rarely get extremely cold in Austin, but if you were here in 2021 for the "snowpocalyse" or in 2023 for the horrible ice storm you know winter weather can go off the rails here.  Tuesday (currently) has a projected high of 32º and a 40% chance of snow.  Fortunately it's supposed to get to a sunny 46º on Wednesday, but here's are a couple of infographics anyway (who knows, you might really need these in Austin in February or be tuning in from a place with more intense snow):  

You can learn more by visiting Ready.gov's or the CDC's winter advisory pages.  

[Update 1p: ERCOT has just issued a Weather Watch for the 20th-23rd] 

[Update 5:30p: Was listening to NPR a few minutes ago.  ERCOT expressed concerns that rolling blackouts could occur in certain areas around the state.  Have some potable water stored just in case, along with food and other supplies if the forecast looks foreboding in your area.  Also, in Austin bring in plants and pets as a hard freeze is expected.  And, of course, protect your water pipes.]

Note: Also, if you need winter gear REI is a good place to get it.  Purchases by members can be eligible for an up to 10% dividend, and all REI purchases on the REI credit card earn 5% back in store credit.  Neither REI nor Capital One pay me to tell you this; I'm sharing because I've saved a lot of money on quality gear and earned quite a bit of store credit over the years by shopping strategically there.  

Podcasts: Austin Eras

Check out Austin Eras, a new podcast series by my friend Adam Flagg.  Here's the official description:

Welcome to Austin Eras, the podcast that unravels Austin's transformation into a 21st-century boomtown and explores its potential future. Brought to you by Collective Advisors, Austin Eras takes you on a journey through the city's evolving landscape and rich history, offering insights into its dynamic past, present, and future.

Adam is an excellent interviewer.  If you are interested in the past, present, and future of Austin then I recommend you tune in.  

You can listen on YouTube, or through the Apple Podcast app.

Happy Birthday Elvis

Yes, I'm pretty sure Elvis died in 1977.  I don't think he lives on a UFO with Bigfoot or anything like America's most reputable tabloids might have one believe.  Who knows?  What I can say is (1) if you like classic Americana attractions, (2) you like even just a few Elvis songs, and (3) you find yourself in the Memphis area, then swing by Graceland.  

We visited the compound in 2010 while on a road trip back to Austin (we were driving back from Illinois, on the trip wherein I discovered just how cold winter gets up there).  I was not expecting much from Graceland, thus it was pleasantly surprising to find out how much fun the tour is.  Highlights for me included the Trophy Building and (of course) the airplanes.  If memory serves, there is a minor upcharge for the airplane tour.  Pay it, as this is the best part (I am an aircraft enthusiast, so take this rec with a grain of salt).   Back to the Trophy Building: it's pretty cool and definitely drives home the impression of Elvis' success as a musician.   

There are other things to do in Memphis.  There is, of course, Beale Street, along with the ducks at The Peabody Hotel and the scale model of the Mississippi River at Mud Island.  But, this is Elvis' birthday and I think he'd have been most amused by the Bass Pro Shops in the enormous Memphis Pyramid (a steel and glass edifice which rivals the majesty of the Luxor in Las Vegas).  The Memphis Pyramid was once the home of the Memphis Grizzlies as well as being a concert venue.  To my knowledge, this and the Luxor are the best pyramids the United States has to offer and I like to think that if Elvis had lived into the 1990's he would have suited up and rocked both venues in some kind of crazy retirement tour.   

Sports Bar Options and Hook 'Em

In DKR, Not a Sports Bar

 This is an exciting week for Texas Longhorn fans, as well as for a couple of other institutions of higher learning with successful football programs attached.  If you aren't able to make it up to the Cotton Bowl on Friday, then you can follow Eater Austin's latest guide to top Austin sports bars should you choose to leave your house for game viewing.  Of the bars on the list, I usually pick Star Bar or The Tavern.   Scholz's, Crown & Anchor, and Posse East are good choices if you want to watch the game in proximity to DKR (and fun bars in general).  

A couple of notes on the Eater post: 

• the information about the chicken sandwich adorned Bloody Mary at Star Bar is years out of date.  Tumble 22's trailer left and has been replaced by a brick and mortar Via 313 location.  
• Lavaca Street Bar downtown (the one actually on Lavaca) is a pretty good sports bar as well.  

Most importantly: Hook 'Em!  We're all hoping for a Horns victory on Friday night.

UK Begins ETA Requirement on January 8th

 

Starting this week, Americans traveling to (and through) the United Kingdom will need to fill out an application for the new electronic travel authorization (ETA).  The "through" part is important to note, as even fliers stopping in the UK for a layover will need an ETA.   Applications can be done online or through an app (it appears they would greatly prefer you apply through the phone app).  The cost is £10.   For more information and details on the application and what an ETA permits, you can visit the ETA specific webpage of the UK Home Office.  

F1: 2025 Schedule

A Bad Day for Verstappen Back in 2016

 

The 2025 Formula racing schedule is out.  US races are:

• Miami, May 2-4
• Austin, October 17-19
• Las Vegas, November 20-22

I've been to most of the F1 races at COTA since they started in 2012.  They are fun to attend, and there is a good chance we'll be back at COTA in 2025.   

While I was tempted to go to the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix, we found that watching it on TV was a blast and probably a much better experience than what I was willing to pay for in Vegas (spoiler alert: it's a little steeper than COTA plus I wouldn't have the free lodging of my own home).   If you at all like auto racing or Las Vegas, make plans to watch the race this November.  

This post was made by a human, not AI.

Air Travel: New Non-Stop Flights for Austin

 

KXAN recently posted an article about new non-stop flights coming to Austin.  Delta is enhancing service while American is backing off (I've read AA would now rather utilize the DFW hub than keep up with their former plan to enhance their AUS presence.).   This should be good news if you are a Delta SkyMiles or American Express points earner here in Austin.   Also, the Delta Lounge at AUS is a nice place to hang out before a flight.  

Southwest, as usual, continues to have an array of non-stops out of Austin and on to places which are fun to visit.  They have been the top carrier out of AUS for years, and they remain the carrier I most often fly for domestic travel (partially because of the routes, and partially because we usually have a companion pass plus a lot of SWA points).   

Speaking of cool non-stops: starting in March British Airways will begin offering two daily non-stops to London Heathrow six days per week.   BA is a travel partner with American Express, thus you can transfer your Amex points over to a BA Avios account.  Also, in the past I've found good deals on BA through the Amex travel portal (where you can use Amex points to offset the cost of the flight).  

Happy New Year!  I'm hoping we can all get out and travel to some fun places in 2025. 

As always: this content was written by a real human.

Food: Statesman Notes 17 New Restaurants Opening in 2025

You may have already seen the list of Austin restaurants closing in 2024.  There were many places on that list which will be missed.  However, you can feel better knowing that Austin has plenty of new restaurants on the way in 2025.  The Austin-American Statesman has profiled seventeen of them which they think are worth noting (I'd knock it down to 16, as one will be a private club).   

Personally, I'm most excited about the return of Katz's (to its original location, no less).  Its absence has been missed by me and several of my friends.  

Southwest Companion Pass Updates

 

The travel blog A View From the Wing has gone into detail about how the Southwest Companion Pass will work under the new assigned seating rules set to go into effect in 2026.  If you aren't familiar with the Companion Pass: it allows you to designate a "companion" who will fly with you for free (excluding minor airport fees and the possible upgrade charges) on any flight throughout the year you have it.  For our Austin located household's domestic (plus Mexico) air travel needs, this is the best deal we've run across.   

2024 was a slow year for us to travel together, and we were still able to use it on three trips.  It would have been five, but for some last-minute scheduling conflicts (we'll have 2025,  Nashville and Santa Fe).  I did end up in Santa Fe and Nashville this summer, but the former was a camping road trip with friends and the latter a cross country road trip helping family move.  Both stops were fun, with many enchiladas and BBQ items consumed in their respective locales.   

Floyd Real Estate Celebrates First Decade in Business

 I'm pleased to report that Floyd Real Estate, LLC, is 10 years old.   Since launching the business we have done residential and commercial transactions.  We have enjoyed working with our clients and look forward to another exciting decade here in the Austin metro area (and who knows.. maybe elsewhere).   Contact us if you're thinking of buying or selling property in the Central Texas area.  

Note:  The above photo is from Wheeler Peak, the highest point in New Mexico.  It's a fun hike, right next to Taos Ski Valley.  I recommend it if you are in the area during non-snow months.   

What Dogs Can Eat at Thanksgiving

Check out this handy chart I got from the Heart of Texas Lab Rescue.  Happy Thanksgiving!

History of DOG from Mad Max 2

Hurricane Season: It's Just Starting

 

As Beryl continues to rip through east and southeast Texas, a friendly reminder of where we are in hurricane season...

Long way to go #txwx pic.twitter.com/864N8BgrEC

— Avery Tomasco (@averytomascowx) July 8, 2024

Zilker Area Food: New Tacodeli to Open Soon

And by soon, I mean the new Tacodeli at 1817 South Lamar will have its grand opening on July 17th.  According to the article, this stand-alone location will feature a bar as well as a pet friendly patio.  

Annual Heat-Realted Illness Post

I posted the above chart back in summer of 2020 and then again last year.  Given that the heat/humidty is back in Austin - and yes, the humidity is not your imagination  -  it seems like a good time to remind people about the symptoms of and remediation for various heat-related illnesses.  

Said 2020 post also has a few tips for dealing with the heat.  

Pictured below: avoiding the Austin heat with friends while in New Mexico last month...

 

F1 Arcade Heading to Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas

 

A massive 'F1 Arcade' is coming to The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, featuring the most advanced full-motion racing simulators in the world.

It is unclear if the games will include the Las Vegas Grand Prix's signature "flying manhole" hazard. pic.twitter.com/mMb2wxTuze

— Las Vegas Locally 🌴 (@LasVegasLocally) May 20, 2024

Before Furiosa: How Mad Max redefined post-apocalyptic movies

Ghostbusters Ornament

 Fans of the original Ghostbusters: starting on July 13th, Hallmark will be selling a lighted "Roast Him" Christmas tree ornament featuring the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.  If you've seen the movie, you know what I'm talking about.