Tex-Mex restaurant Mama Betty’s will open a new location on Burnet Road in North Central Austin this month.

The concept joins a collection of dining and bar spots led by restaurateur Jason Carrier under the Carrier5 Hospitality group, which also operates Happy Slice Pizza on Parmer Lane and previously owned Dogwood in The Domain.

What we know: The new location features the same menu items as its Avery Ranch location, offering Tex-Mex favorites, such as quesadillas, enchiladas, fajitas and homemade tortillas.

For those looking to pair a cocktail with dinner, the drink menu offers an assortment of margaritas as well as other signature cocktails and beer options.

The new space features a full indoor and outdoor bar as well as outdoor patio and green space.

A three-week city initiative to clear public encampments and connect homeless residents with resources ended with hundreds of locations around Austin addressed and nearly 200 people moved into shelter.

What happened: The temporary surge of resources led by Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations ran Oct. 20-Nov. 8 to restore public spaces and relocate people in hard-to-reach or dangerous areas given severe weather risks and ahead of the winter season. The city-led encampment clearings took place under local and state laws that ban camping in public.

As the encampment initiative was drawing to a close this fall, City Council also approved measures to expand street outreach programs, launch a public encampment dashboard and improve resident reporting systems. Those updates will take place in the coming months.

Also of note: The recent city program was unrelated to state-led encampment cleanups around Austin announced by Gov. Greg Abbott on Oct. 21, an operation that was criticized by local officials due to a lack of coordination and shared objectives.

Local environmental nonprofit Keep Austin Beautiful is celebrating 40 years of service to the Austin community.

The backstory: Keep Austin Beautiful promotes the restoration and beautification of the environment in Austin through organizing volunteer opportunities for community members. The organization was started through the city of Austin’s public works department in 1985 and became a nonprofit in 2010.

Something to note: Keep Austin Beautiful will host a 40th anniversary celebration at the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 13. The event will feature remarks from Keep Austin Beautiful founder and former Austin Mayor Ron Mullen as well as live music by Tomar and The FCs. Attendees can view a new art print from Austin-based artist David Regone honoring Lady Bird Lake.

Ticket sales are now closed but those interested in attending can contact [email protected] to be placed on the waitlist, according to the organization's website. 

The Code, a luxury hotel-residence hybrid development, is slated to open in the Zilker area of South Austin in December. 

How it works: The five-story development will include 178 fully-furnished residences featuring chef-ready kitchens and in-unit laundry. Boutique services will be available to residents and guests, including housekeeping, concierge, food and beverage, and wellness amenities.

Buyers may stay at their residences or offer short-term or long-term rentals through enrolling in AvantStay’s professional management program. Sales contracts for units will open Nov. 3 at the following prices:

• Studios starting at $419,000
• One-bedrooms starting at $549,000
• One-bedrooms with a study starting at $679,000
• Two-bedrooms starting at $849,000

• Main lobby and lounge featuring a bar
• 24-hour check-in and concierge
• Resort-style pool with an outdoor kitchen
• Co-working space
• Rooftop terrace
• Bike storage and repair area
• Dog wash and pet park
• Secure parking

Every day for the past 25 years, at least one person has died in crashes on Texas roads. Texas officials and the families of some fatal crash victims commemorated the grim anniversary with a candlelight ceremony at the Texas Capitol on Nov. 7.

The impact: Jamie White said her 2-year-old daughter, Allie, was hit and killed by a distracted driver at Round Rock’s Old Settlers Park in September 2019.

“It only takes [a few] seconds… to kill somebody,” White said Nov. 7. “Can you imagine doing this, taking somebody's child from them, and living the rest of your life knowing that you caused that?”

Following Allie’s death, her parents launched Allie’s Way, a nonprofit aimed at ending distracted driving.

More details: TxDOT data shows that speed and impaired driving are involved in the majority of deadly crashes on Texas roads.

“These are not random events,” Texas Highway Patrol Chief Bryan Rippee said Nov. 7. “These are the results of making the wrong choices on our Texas highways."