Love locks once left by locals and visitors on Bastrop’s Old Iron Bridge will get a new home in a sculpture planned beside the historic bridge.

At a glance: Bastrop City Council on Oct. 13 approved the proposed location for the BTX Love Locks sculpture as part of its consent agenda, allowing staff to move forward with the required Texas Department of Transportation approval process.

Plans were submitted to council by Discover Bastrop Director Michaela Joyce, who told Community Impact that the sculpture will be located on the west side of the Colorado River, although its exact placement remains subject to TxDOT approval.

The plan: The sculpture will include large-scale “BTX” letters designed to hold locks removed from the bridge before rehabilitation work began last summer.

Visitors will be allowed to add new locks to the sculpture, rather than directly to the historic bridge, once complete.

Financed by the city’s 2025 Quality of Life bond funds, the sculpture will be unveiled as part of the Old Iron Bridge ribbon-cutting ceremony Dec. 4.

Franchise owner Stephen Thomas is inching closer to opening Bastrop County's first Kung Fu Tea in the Burleson Crossing East retail development.

In a nutshell: Thomas said he is excited about the upcoming opening and is hiring staff to help run the shop.

What they offer: As previously reported, the brand offers freshly brewed, customizable milk and fruit teas, topped with its signature Wow Bubbles—boba cooked in brown sugar rather than the honey typically used to sweeten it.

What else? Other menu options include freshly squeezed lemonades and slushes. Vegan, dairy-free and nut-free options are also available.

• Opening in November

• Burleson Crossing East, 663 SH 71 W., Ste. 107, Bastrop

An advanced manufacturing facility in Austin, an elementary school in Leander and a LongHorn Steakhouse in Hutto are among the five most expensive projects filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation in the Austin metro this week.

1. Project Toaster ($100 million): This project involves civil site development and construction of a core-and-shell building for Project Toaster, an advanced manufacturing facility.

2. Project Phantom ($60 million): This project involves the construction of a 285,000-square-foot warehouse with associated site improvements and parking.

3. Elementary School No. 31 ($56 million): Leander ISD plans to open its new elementary school in August 2028.

4. LongHorn Steakhouse ($3.8 million): A new LongHorn Steakhouse location is coming to Hutto, with construction set to wrap up in August.

5. CARTS Bastrop Park & Ride Expansion ($1.5 million): This project involves a parking lot expansion, EV charging stations, a bike-share pod, landscaping and miscellaneous site improvements for the existing bus station.

After a decade of collecting and selling antique jewelry online, Antiques by Anna owner Anna Mazaikina has brought her passion for vintage finds to a brick-and-mortar shop in North Austin.

Meet the owner: Originally from Moscow, Mazaikina began her jewelry journey in 2015 after moving to Austin. What started as a blog to research and share her interest in American costume jewelry from the 1920s to 1940s soon attracted fellow collectors. After 10 years of operating primarily online, Mazaikina opened the storefront on Oct. 1, 2025.

What they offer: The shop's collection spans from the 1860s to the 1990s, featuring Victorian-era and Art Deco jewels and late-20th century pieces from luxury brands like Dior and Chanel. Customers can find rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, brooches and other collectibles including vintage purses and perfume bottles.

Staying local: Mazaikina said the shop will hold an estate sale-style neighborhood collectors sale from Nov. 6-8, featuring a special selection of jewelry and other antique items.