We made it to 2026. They’re saying it’s the year of the horse, which represents abundance (“they” being the Chinese zodiac and everyone on my FYP), which ALSO coincidentally matches the name of the house in which me and Spencer reside, “The Stable.”

You’re probably thinking, okay, what does that even mean? Why does that matter? And why the heck do you call your house the Stable? (I’ll tell you at the end of the newsletter) Well, in case it wasn’t obvious, let me tell you.

This is going to be a BIG year for Austin Archives, for us individually, and even YOU. We can feel it, and because of that, me and Spencer came up with a lot of goals for Austin Archives. We’re going to keep most of them to ourselves, but we want to share one of them as an act of accountability: to see six projects through. Six mini docs each accompanied by collaborative merch and a charitable donation.

So now that you know, it’s time for us to deliver. Wish us luck, and as always, STAY TUNED.

After 27 wonderful years, Vespaio is closing at the end of January (cue sad violin music).

If you’ve spent time on South Congress over the last two decades, there’s a good chance Vespaio was part of it. Since opening in the late 1990s, Vespaio helped define an era of SoCo. Long before South Congress became what it is today, Vespaio was there, serving Italian food in a way that felt approachable but special. It became a go to for date nights, celebrations, and “we should take them somewhere nice” dinners. As South Congress evolved into a more polished, high-traffic destination, Vespaio remained familiar, grounding, and consistent.

With Vespaio now closing its doors, it marks the end of a chapter not just for the restaurant, but for a version of South Congress that many of us grew up with. Another reminder that Austin is always changing.

I’ll be going this week, and I highly recommend you do the same sometime this month before it’s gone. I’m not an expert on the menu, but my mom recommends the beef carpaccio and the steak frites.

After throwing my arm out two days in a row at Zilker this past weekend, I thought there’s no better “then and now” topic to write about (as my inner elbow aches) than the Zilker Eagle.

You’ve probably seen it, a small train winding through the trees. It’s carried generations of Austinites around the park. Today, it’s called the Zilker Eagle, but it didn’t start out that way.

The train first began operating in the early 1960s as a volunteer-built attraction meant to give families an easy way to enjoy the park. It later became known as the Zilker Zephyr, powered by a miniature locomotive and following a short loop near Barton Springs. For decades, it became a fixture of Austin childhoods: birthday parties, school trips, summer afternoons, and weekends with tired parents chasing excited kids.

For many years, the Zephyr stayed mostly the same, but as time went on, age and wear began to take their toll. Mechanical issues and safety concerns led to repeated shutdowns, and eventually the train stopped running altogether. Rather than remove it completely, the city chose to rebuild it. The Zephyr was retired in 2019, and a new train was developed in its place.

When it returned in 2024, it reopened as the Zilker Eagle. Modernized, safer, and more accessible, it still follows the same familiar track through Zilker Park. The look and equipment are new, but the ride’s purpose remains the same: to carry people, both old and new, through one of Austin’s most beloved public spaces.

Today, the Zilker Eagle is a reminder of how Austin evolves. It keeps tradition alive while making room for the next generation of memories.

Talk Soon.

- Andrew (and Spencer, he’s busy cleansing our office with Palo Santo)

P.S.

It’s called The Stable because me, Spencer, and our other roommate Grant all went to the same elementary school where the mascot was a stallion :p