All Access

All-Access Weekly Digest

Standard

Austin

blue

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Austin. Written by Nicole Cobler and Asher Price.

Axios Austin

Austin Alerts

Alert

Axios Austin Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Austin Members

Membership

When the literary Insider Prize winners are announced Thursday at Huston-Tillotson University, they won't be present to accept their awards.

That's because the prize, which recognizes excellence in fiction and memoir writing, is open only to people incarcerated in Texas penitentiaries.

The big picture: The prize "gives incarcerated people an opportunity to dream through their words, to dream beyond the walls," Tommy Mouton, an English professor at Huston-Tillotson, tells Axios.

"It's such a powerful way to push the notion of equity and empathy and giving grace."

How it works: The contest, organized by Austin-based literary magazine American Short Fiction, was judged by Nickolas Butler, author of "Shotgun Lovesongs" and "Godspeed."

Previous Insider Prize contests have been judged by Lauren Hough, Joyce Carol Oates and other writers.

Why it matters: The Insider Prize submissions were "written from within prison walls but also from within human hearts and minds. All stories dream of release, to find a reader; these are no different," Adam Soto, an American Short Fiction editor who oversees the contest, tells Axios.

"For the interested reader and writer, the Insider Prize provides a small but meaningful moment of shared experience—of our shaken, complex and difficult but permanent humanity," Soto says.

What they're saying: In his own experience teaching writing in jails in California, Mouton found his students to be "extremely knowledgeable, well-read and really gifted writers."

"We write to better understand our worth," Mouton says.

Zoom out: The Insider Prize is one of several around the country recognizing literary work by incarcerated people. 

PEN America, a New York-based nonprofit advocating for free expression, sponsors an annual prison writing contest.

If you go: The program will feature live readings of the award-winning work from students and community members.

The event starts at 6pm at the Davage-Durden Student Union at the Huston-Tillotson campus, at 900 Chicon St., and is free and open to the public.

Free parking is available at a lot on Chalmers Avenue, by the intersection with East Eighth Street.

Full disclosure: Reporter Asher Price's wife is an editor of American Short Fiction.

https://nickolasbutler.com/

Prison writing prize offered up in Austin

The prize recognizes excellence in fiction and memoir-writing.

Illustration of two fountain pens facing off against an abstract pop of color.

When the literary <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Insider Prize" data-vars-click-url="https://americanshortfiction.org/submityourwork/the-insider-prize/" data-vars-content-id="01b2ba3d-9bba-444f-8dd0-9b306a11aa8b" data-vars-headline="Prison writing prize offered up in Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://americanshortfiction.org/submityourwork/the-insider-prize/" target="_blank">Insider Prize</a> winners are announced Thursday at Huston-Tillotson University, they won&#x27;t be present to accept their awards.That&#x27;s because the prize, which recognizes excellence in fiction and memoir writing, is open only to people incarcerated in Texas penitentiaries.

News

Here's what we're eyeing for some weekend fun:

🎙️ English singer, songwriter and musician Corinne Bailey Rae takes the stage at the Paramount Theatre Friday.

🚴 Join Critical Mass Austin and take over the streets. The monthly group bike ride keeps a slower pace and will take at least one rest break.

Meet Friday at 5:30pm at the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge.

🍻 The Texas Craft Brewers Festival is happening in East Austin at Fiesta Gardens featuring more than 80 breweries.

Saturday 2-6:30pm. $50 tickets include 10 samples. Non-drinker tickets are $20.

🖌️ Celebrate Hispanic Latino Heritage Month by painting your own Alebrijes, the brightly colored folk-mythic sculptures, and learning about the Mexican artist known for naming them, Pedro Linares López. Teens and adults welcome.

Saturday 1-3pm at the Austin Public Library Recycled Reads Bookstore. Free.

☕ The Austin Coffee Festival returns for its second year at Fair Market on Saturday and Sunday. Coffee tastings from curated vendors, including Austin's top roasters, are included.

What to do this weekend in Austin

Corinne Bailey Rae, who will be performing in Austin on Friday. Photo: Mauro Pimentel/AFP via Getty Images

Here&#x27;s what we&#x27;re eyeing for some weekend fun:🎙️ English singer, songwriter and musician <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Corinne Bailey Rae takes the stage" data-vars-click-url="https://tickets.austintheatre.org/9931/9932" data-vars-content-id="362f0943-63c7-43c0-b58b-d92fcc259fe2" data-vars-headline="What to do this weekend in Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://tickets.austintheatre.org/9931/9932" target="_blank">Corinne Bailey Rae takes the stage</a> at the Paramount Theatre Friday.

Things to Do

Newcomers

It doesn't feel very fall-like outside, but Austin is about to close out September. Here are some things to do this week.

🥵 Consider the future of life in a changing climate at a meet-up with Jay Banner, a UT geology professor who heads up the university's Environmental Science Institute. Monday at 7:30pm at Trinity Church, 4001 Speedway. Free.

📽️ Catch the zany 1971 Western-cum-rock-musical "Zachariah" and performances by the bands Sheverb and Pelvis Wrestley and drag star Brigitte Bandit. At Hotel Vegas, 1502 E. 6th St., starting at 8pm Monday. Tickets start at $5.

🎶 Listen to the performer Noa make music on the sixth floor roof garden of the Central Library, 710 W. César Chávez St., part of the "Live from the Library" series, 6pm Tuesday. Free.

🇹🇼 Celebrate National Day of Taiwan with dancing and music performed on traditional Chinese instruments at St. Andrew's Episcopal School, 5901 Southwest Parkway. Wednesday at 7pm; tickets start at $15.

🛶 Float along Lady Bird Lake while taking in live music at the Latino Moonlight Serenades, hosted by the Texas Rowing Center, 1541 W. César Chávez. Thursday at 7pm; entry starts at $10.

Things to do in Austin this week, Sept. 25-29

Other week highlights include "Zachariah" musical at Hotel Vegas

Caption: The musician known as Noa — full name Noa Belillti — in performance. Photo by Stephanie Saldivar, Selise Design via Noa

It doesn&#x27;t feel very fall-like outside, but Austin is about to close out September. Here are some things to do this week.🥵 Consider the future of life in a changing climate at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a meet-up with Jay Banner" data-vars-click-url="https://www.meetup.com/physics-1/events/295885446/" data-vars-content-id="c498cd28-e168-405d-b870-5b6ca05fe8e9" data-vars-headline="Things to do in Austin this week, Sept. 25-29" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.meetup.com/physics-1/events/295885446/" target="_blank">a meet-up with Jay Banner</a>, a UT geology professor who heads up the university&#x27;s Environmental Science Institute. Monday at 7:30pm at Trinity Church, 4001 Speedway. Free.

Data: Redfin; Note: Metro divisions are subdivisions of metropolitan areas; Chart: Axios Visuals

Less than a fifth of Austin homes for sale are snapped up in two weeks or less, per new Redfin data shared with Axios.

Nationwide, roughly 41% of listings were marked pending, contingent or sold within that window, Redfin found.

The big picture: The stat is the latest reflection of how the hyper-competitive market during the pandemic's throes — with frantic bidding within hours of a house going on the market — is now in the rearview mirror.

Plus: Houses that stay on the market for more than a month are usually overpriced or in need of major work, according to Redfin deputy chief economist Taylor Marr.

Of note: The Redfin data is from the dog days of July, when no one in Austin in their right mind wanted to leave the comfort of their home if they could help it — including to look at houses.

By the numbers: Broader, more recent data show that homes in the greater Austin area spent an average of 60 days on the market in August, up 28 days from August 2022, per the Austin Board of Realtors.

What they're saying: It's good news for buyers, says Austin Board of Realtors president Ashley Jackson.

"Austin's current housing market allows for potential home buyers to be picky," Jackson says. "Buyers — especially first-time home buyers — can take their time searching for a home that checks all their boxes. When compared to the past two years of highly competitive market activity, this is both a welcome reprieve and perfect opportunity for buyers looking to enter the market."

Zoom out: The median price in the greater Austin region dropped 7.6% since last August to $460,000.

Zoom in: Much of that dollar slashing is happening in suburban areas.

The median price within the city of Austin fell to $541,000, or just 0.7% less than August 2022.

But in Hays County the drop-off year-over-year is 10.1% and in Bastrop County it's 15%.

What we're watching: In the greater Austin area, closed sales rose by 1.4% in August, the first increase in closed sales year over year since February 2022, per data from the Austin Board of Realtors, suggesting some resiliency in the housing market.

Austin homes linger on the market

Austin homes averaged 60 days on the market in August.

A chart of homes off the market within two weeks.

Less than a fifth of Austin homes for sale are snapped up in two weeks or less, per new Redfin data shared with Axios.<ul><li>Nationwide, roughly 41% of listings were marked pending, contingent or sold within that window, Redfin found.</li></ul>

Real Estate

Four Austin-area brewers medaled at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver this past weekend.

Why it matters: This is the premiere U.S. beer contest, and the competition for the best brews has gotten stiff.

Who won: Lazarus Brewing Company, with locations on East Sixth and Airport Boulevard, took top honors for its Crazy Horse and Prodigal Pils varieties, in the Bohemian-style Pilsener and German-style Pilsener categories.

Vacancy Brewing, on St. Elmo Road, won gold for its Jet Lag Lager.

Family Business Beer Company in Dripping Springs took home top marks in the chili beer category for its Chilis from the Grave beer.

Lone Man Mountain Brewing Company in Driftwood took a bronze for its LMM Belgian Amber for its Belgian-style ale.

The intrigue: Illustrating the continuing vibrancy of a crowded Austin brewery scene, Vacancy opened in 2021 and Lone Mountain launched just last year.

Family Business was started in 2018 by "Supernatural" star Jensen Ackles and his relatives.

Day trip alert: Real Ale Brewing Company in Blanco, now an old standby among regional breweries, won prizes in two categories.

Flashback: Five other Central Texas breweries took home awards in the World Beer Cup competition earlier this year — known as "Olympics of beer."

Austin breweries win at Great American Beer Fest

Several of the Austin breweries opened their taps within the last few years.

Illustration of beer foam overflowing from a trophy. 

Four Austin-area brewers medaled at the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Great American Beer Festival" data-vars-click-url="https://www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com/the-competition/2023-winners/" data-vars-content-id="e9a461a5-1dea-441a-928c-2de6c3bf7797" data-vars-headline="Austin breweries win at Great American Beer Fest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com/the-competition/2023-winners/" target="_blank">Great American Beer Festival</a> in Denver this past weekend.Why it matters: This is the premiere U.S. beer contest, and the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="competition for the best brews has gotten stiff" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2022/09/30/texas-craft-beer-production-increasing-after-2020" data-vars-content-id="e9a461a5-1dea-441a-928c-2de6c3bf7797" data-vars-headline="Austin breweries win at Great American Beer Fest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2022/09/30/texas-craft-beer-production-increasing-after-2020" target="_self">competition for the best brews has gotten stiff</a>.

Asher Price

Featured stories

What to do this weekend in Austin

Austin homes linger on the market

Things to do in Austin this week, Sept. 25-29

Austin breweries win at Great American Beer Fest

Prison writing prize offered up in Austin