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Urban Bird now serving hot chicken, loaded fries in Sunset Valley

Chicken enthusiasts now have a new eatery option with the opening of Urban Bird Hot Chicken in Southwest Austin.

What they offer: Urban Bird’s menu features chicken sandwiches, tenders, smash burgers, loaded fries, sampler trays and more.

Loaded fries on the menu include:

  • Urban Fries

  • Buffalo Mac

  • BBQ Mac

In addition to food, Urban Bird also offers a variety of milkshakes, such as their Fruity Pebbles milkshake, and flavored lemonades, including mango and strawberry.

  • 5207 Brodie Lane, Ste. 115, Sunset Valley
 
Latest City News
Virginia executive appointed as Austin's economic development chief

Austin has named its next head of economic development initiatives, as city leaders back a renewed push to attract and support more local economic investment.

The details: The city announced the appointment of Michael “Mac” Cummins as Austin Economic Development's next director June 16. Cummins will officially start in that role July 27 and said he's eager to advance Austin's domestic and international economic profile.

The hire comes months after city management outlined a new economic approach led by city management, and follows City Council's adoption of a separate economic development policy this spring.

Austin Economic Development and the city's human resources department declined to confirm Cummins' salary and benefit information, or the cost of the recruitment led by Mosaic Public Partners, as of press time.

 
Latest Education News
Austin ISD's projected shortfall grows to $95M ahead of budget vote

Austin ISD closed the 2025-26 school year with a projected $95 million shortfall—more than four times the $19.7 million shortfall the board adopted last June—as trustees questioned whether they could vote on a budget that may already be underpowered before it takes effect.

Some details: The district's fund balance is projected to fall to 10.1% of operating expenditures by the end of June, according to a June 11 Austin ISD board meeting presentation. That figure is half the 20% that the board's own policy requires and below even the temporary 15% floor trustees set in 2025. The fund balance acts as the district's savings account, covering payroll and expenses during the months before property tax revenue arrives each year, according to the presentation.

The district expects to need a short-term loan in September or October to cover payroll—a repeat of the $19 million it borrowed last year at a cost of approximately $250,000 in interest and fees, AISD's Chief Financial Officer Katrina Montgomery said.

 

Your Weekend To-Do List

Check out these weekend events across the metro area.

Juneteenth celebrations

Yoga on the Plaza

June 19
Austin, Leander and Pflugerville

June 20, 8-9 a.m.
Round Rock

More info

More info

 

Blue Flame Cruisers Car and Motorcycle Show

ScareWaves Movie Night

June 20, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Bastrop

June 21, 7:30 p.m..
Austin

More info

More info

 
To submit your own event, click here.

Around Town
Austin Public Library postpones reopening, closure of 2 branches

Readers in Central and Southwest Austin will soon see changes to local library access.

The Austin Public Library postponed the reopening of the Old Quarry Branch Library and the closure of the Menchaca Road Branch Library, which were previously scheduled for this month.

The big picture: The Old Quarry Branch will reopen later this summer, after additional electrical infrastructure and approval requirements were identified, according to a news release. Further work will be done so the branch can open safely.

“The renovated Old Quarry Branch is going to be an incredible community asset, and it is important that the remaining infrastructure work and approvals are completed before the building reopens,” Austin Public Library Director Hannah Terrell said in a news release. 

Diving in deeper: The Menchaca Road Branch closure, previously scheduled for June 14, will be rescheduled for later this summer. The Menchaca Road Branch will close closer to the Old Quarry Branch reopening date to “minimize the impact on library customers caused by simultaneous branch closures,” the release stated.

 

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Sierra Martin
Senior Editor

Heather Demere
General Manager

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