Lovers of the outdoors and caffeinated beverages can now enjoy Southwest Austin’s newest cafe, Switchback Coffee and Beer.

The overview: Located next to Crux Climbing Center and Granny's Tacos, Switchback serves specialty coffee, craft beer, wine, cider, seltzer and non-alcoholic beverages.

Meet the owners: Grace Nicholas and Ethan Wagner own the coffee shop, which they describe as the “local watering hole.”

• Opened May 30
• 220 Ralph Ablanedo Drive, Ste. 110, Austin

With locations across the Austin area, Happy Health and Wellness provides personalized treatment plans focused on long-term solutions and preventive care for locals. 

“We basically combine evidence-based conventional medicine with advanced wellness therapies to help patients optimize their health, prevent disease [and] improve quality of life,” said Trevor Hopper, family nurse practitioner at Happy Health and Wellness in Dripping Springs.

The context : Happy Health and Wellness launched in 2023, born from CEO Katrina Midkiff’s personal success story with IV therapy after being faced with substantial health challenges. Midkiff then founded Happy Health and Wellness out of her desire to help others, according to the brand’s social media. 

What they offer: Happy Health and Wellness accepts patients ages six and older, with a specialization in preventative care and early intervention.

Learn more: The practice also offers additional services, including allergy treatments, elite physicals, and alternative therapies, including hormone replacement therapy, peptide therapy and PlaqueX therapy.

• 32000 RR 12, Dripping Springs

Austin Watershed Protection is advising caution on some city lakes due to reports of potentially hazardous algae.

What's happening: Mats of blue-green algae, which may be toxic, were recently observed by city staff on Lady Bird Lake and Lake Austin, according to the watershed protection department. Samples have been taken from the lakes for testing.

The watershed department noted the algae may be present throughout both lakes and in other Austin waterways. Algae could spread amid hotter weather this summer. Residents and their pets should avoid any contact with algae mats, the city advised.

What else: Austin Watershed Protection previously initiated a five-year, $1.5 million pilot program to reduce algae growth, which involved applying lanthanum-modified clay to manage phosphorus in waterways' sediment. No treatments were applied this spring, as 2026 is a control year that'll be used to evaluate the pilot's effectiveness and cost benefits.