Whether patrons are seeking a new fantasy read, funky stationery, or a furry friend, Reverie Books in Southwest Austin has it all.

The independent bookstore is dedicated to social justice, community building, and youth empowerment, and sells a mix of new and used titles across a variety of genres.

Meet the owner: Local Thais Perkins took over the space that would become Reverie Books in 2021 after her friend David closed his bookstore at the same location.

What they offer: Shoppers can purchase all things books and baubles at Reverie, from graphic novels to knick-knacks.

Merchandise includes:

• Literary-themed candles

• Board games and puzzles

• Stationery

What’s in a name: “Reverie” means the state of being lost in dream-like thoughts, or an abstracted state of absorption. That’s what Perkins wants to evoke in her store.

“The word reverie describes what I personally feel when I walk into a bookstore, which is an expansion of the mind,” Perkins said. “It broadens my internal landscape.”

• 5330 Menchaca Road, Ste. D, Austin

Options for audiology services are expanding as the team behind Dripping Springs Hearing and Tinnitus gears up for a grand opening later this month.

The overview: Dr. Paige Juarez said she is offering “comprehensive hearing healthcare and tinnitus management” at the clinic, which soft-opened in August.

Services include:

• Hearing tests

• Sound therapy for tinnitus relief

• Earwax removal

• Hearing aids and hearing aid repair

One more thing: Walk-ins are welcome for earwax removal and hearing aid repair, but other services require an appointment. 

• 1055 Kibo Ridge Drive, Ste. 201, Dripping Springs

Check out the latest transportation updates across the Austin metro from local and state sources.

Upcoming projects

Bee Cave Parkway and Bee Cave Road pedestrian improvements
Project: Bee Cave Parkway and Bee Cave Road in Bee Cave will undergo pedestrian improvements including the construction of signals, crosswalks, sidewalks and ADA curb ramps.
Update: The final package of design documents will be completed in August.

• Timeline: Construction is expected to begin in March 2027

• Cost: $1.06 million

• Funding source: Texas Department of Transportation and the Bee Cave Development Corporation

Ongoing projects

Austin Avenue vehicular bridges
Project: This project includes reconstruction of two vehicular bridges crossing the San Gabriel River in Georgetown.
Update: The southbound Austin Avenue bridge decks were demolished starting in early June, and reconstruction will take approximately two months. The contractor will then do the northbound bridge decks.

• Timeline: 2024-27

• Cost: $12.8 million

• Funding sources: city of Georgetown, developer fees

The Texas Education Agency released public school accountability ratings for the 2025-26 school year on Aug. 14.

"We use [A-F ratings] as a way to evaluate our own performance as adults, and then build action plans so that the way that we run our schools next year can be even better than last year," Education Commissioner Mike Morath said during an Aug. 14 news conference.

The overview: Across the state, 85% of campuses received a C rating or higher, which is considered “acceptable" academic performance.

Schools are rated based on three criteria: student achievement, school progress and closing the gaps.

Zooming in: At least one district, Austin ISD, is at risk of being taken over by the TEA after two of its middle school campuses received their fifth consecutive failing grades this year. State law requires the agency to shutter those campuses or take control of the district.

Any potential state-mandated closures or takeovers will not happen immediately, as districts with concerns about their ratings have through Sept. 11 to appeal scores to the TEA.