A Charleston-inspired oyster bar is slated to open in Austin next spring. Partners Daniel Berg and Dylan Salisbury from Berg & Sons Hospitality, as well as Vin Flores, are launching The Charles Oyster House on Rainey Street.

The context: Berg is also behind several local dining concepts, including Bill’s Oyster and VanHorn’s. Berg and Salisbury previously owned and operated Teddy’s in Austin, which closed in June.

On the menu: The restaurant will be open daily for brunch, lunch and dinner. According to a news release, the menu will feature:

• Fresh seafood
• Raw and grilled oysters
• Cuisine inspired by the Carolina coast

The new seafood spot will be located at 78 Rainey St. and is coming soon in spring 2027.

Austin residents are invited to attend a series of open houses and provide feedback on updating Imagine Austin, the city's comprehensive plan.

The details: First adopted in 2012, the civic roadmap is being updated due to local growth and changing conditions, with completion expected by spring 2028.

Going forward: The upcoming open houses will cover a draft vision statement and initial information about a new future land use map. The scheduled sessions include:

• Oct. 20 at the Turner Roberts Recreation Center

• Oct. 21 at the George Morales Dove Springs Recreation Center

• Oct. 24 at the Conley-Guerrero Senior Activity Center

• Oct. 28 at Doss Elementary School

• Oct. 29 via Zoom

Early voting in Travis County runs Monday, Oct. 19, through Friday, Oct. 30, ahead of Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

What you need to know: Voters can use any of Travis County’s 45 early voting locations, County Clerk Dyana Limon-Mercado said.

Locations are open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. every day, including on weekends, according to the county’s schedule, except for one polling site that’s only open Oct. 30. Voters can find their closest polling site at communityimpact.com/voter-guide.

Voters should bring one of seven accepted forms of photo ID, such as a Texas driver license or U.S. passport, according to the Texas Association of County Election Officials.

On the ballot: The county has more than 700 ballot variations, Limon-Mercado said.

Austin voters will see two bond propositions and eight proposed city charter amendments, according to previous Community Impact reporting.

Council races are on the ballot in districts 1, 3, 5, 8 and 9, according to the city of Austin.

Check out the latest updates on upcoming or ongoing transportation projects across the Austin metro.

Upcoming projects

Freedom River Parkway East and West

Project: Construction of new east-west roadway connections from Hwy. 29 to RM 1869 and from Bagdad Road, or CR 279, to Hwy. 29, improving Liberty Hill bypass connectivity.

Update: Both projects remain in the design phase through 2026 as part of the Liberty Hill bypass connectivity network.

• Timeline: early 2027–early 2029

• Cost: $36.3 million (East); $61.5 million (West)

• Funding source: Williamson County 2023 road bond

Ongoing projects

MoKan Trail: Boggy Creek Bridge Segment

Project: The project is a 1.5-mile trail in Austin connecting the Pedernales Street bike path to the Southern Walnut Creek Trail.

Update: Phase 5, the bridge over Boggy Creek, is the trail's final piece and is expected to be complete by late 2026.

• Timeline: expected completion in late 2026

• Cost: $5.3 million–$5.8 million

• Funding source: 2020 mobility bond, Community Project Funding