Three Austin Restaurants Voluntarily Closed Their Dining Rooms After Stage 5 Escalation

Austin Restaurants Temporarily Closing Dining Rooms
In light of Austin’s escalation into Stage 5 of its COVID-19 risk-based guidelines just before Christmas, several Austin restaurants have voluntarily closed down their dining rooms in favor of offering only takeout services. These are:

• North Loop New American gastropub Drink.Well
• Domain Northside New American restaurant Second Bar + Kitchen
• all locations of local burger drive-thru chain P. Terry’s and sibling spot Taco Ranch

Stage 5 recommendations include switching to takeout/delivery services only or, at least, shuttering indoor dine-in services and limiting outdoor dine-in capacities to 50 percent.

Austin’s New Year’s Eve Digital Concerts
In lieu of Austin’s usual New Year’s Eve fireworks, the city is opting for a virtual concert for the last day of the year because of the novel coronavirus pandemic. The event will feature pre-recorded performances by musicians and bands such as Shakey Graves, Gina Chavez, and Swimming With Bears, at local venues including the Saxon Pub, Cheer Up Charlie’s, Mohawk, and the Continental Club. It takes place on Thursday, December 31, with the time to be determined, via the city’s official site, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and cable television.

Coming Attractions
Austin coffee shop Jo’s is opening its fifth location in the Hancock neighborhood at 41st and Red River streets starting sometime in early 2021. This cafe will include a drive-thru. There are Jo’s in downtown Austin, on South Congress, and two on the St. Edwards’s campus.