Asian dessert shop Somisomi opened at The Linc shopping center in Central Austin on April 10. 

The details: The shop is known for its Korean-style taiyaki, a fish-shaped waffle cake pastry. The pastry is filled with soft serve; flavored fillings including nutella, custard, red bean or black sesame; and toppings such as sprinkles, cereal or cookie crumbles, matcha powder, or strawberries. Soft serve flavors include milk and ube, salted caramel or pistachio. The shop also features a drink menu with cold brew, cold brew floats or strawberry milk. 

The location marks the first Austin-area Somisomi franchise. 

• 6406 N I-35 Frontage Road, Austin

Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired has partnered with Waymo since before the company launched its first autonomous vehicles in Austin in 2025, giving students and staff early access to the technology, which has since helped the company shape its accessibility features.

The gist: TSBVI Superintendent Emily Coleman said the partnership began back in 2022. Prior to the vehicles being available to the Austin community, staff and students were invited to try out the vehicles, which gave Waymo user-specific data about the blind or low-vision population. The partnership also builds on the school’s existing programming, which includes teaching students how to use public transportation and ride-hailing services. 

Diving in deeper: Some of the accessibility features that have been implemented into the platform that could help blind or low-vision riders include turn-by-turn directions and a “horn honking” function, which plays a melody outside the vehicle.

Why it matters: Despite some app challenges, the vehicles have allowed blind riders like Marcus Cardwell, a TSBVI alum and current employee, to more independently move around.

The 18-foot-tall troll at Pease Park—an art installation called Malin’s Fountain from Danish artist Thomas Dambo—has burned down, according to a news release from Pease Park Conservancy.

What happened: “The troll sculpture in Pease Park was lost to a fire early this morning, and we are heartbroken alongside the community that cherished it,” the news release states.

Austin Fire Department has responded, and it is an active investigation, according to the release. The fire’s cause is currently not known.

Looking back: In March 2024, dozens of community members celebrated Malin the Troll’s completion near the Pease Park Treehouse. Volunteers helped build the troll between March 1-15 that year.

Around 80% of Malin was built using found and repurposed material, including around 1,800 linear feet of eastern red cedar from a family-owned sawmill in Bastrop County for the internal structure. The exterior features repurposed wood from the J.J. Pickle Research Campus, according to previous Community Impact reporting.