Good morning, everyone. I can’t always say that guilt free because I tend to be a late riser; however, today I’m up bright and early. That’s right, I’m writing this as you roll out of bed, so this week’s update is fresh off the press, so fresh I was able to add a picture from breakfast this morning, but we’ll get there. 

(This was true, but I forgot to send this out after breakfast. Good afternoon*)

So, what updates do we have this week? Is it another generic and vague statement on our progress without any specific details? Close, but not quite.

Yesterday, we met with the business owner of a local spot. That’s about as much as we’re willing to share because we want to lock in this partnership before blabbing so the universe doesn’t punish our eagerness. But I will say that said business owner loved the idea, bought us a round of drinks, and turned down my handshake as we said goodbye because “we do hugs around here.” All that to say, we are very excited to be one step closer to making our vision of Austin Archives a reality.

Also, our graphic designer, Carson, is in town, so we met for a very serious meeting at Donn’s Depot on Saturday, where Carson lost his wallet in our friend’s back pocket for about 15 minutes. Between that and the pitchers, the meeting didn’t stay (nor start) too serious, so Spencer, Carson, and I grabbed breakfast this morning to keep things rolling so we can get y’all some more content, merch, and a website as soon as possible.

This week’s recommendation is a sandwich staple, the one and only FoodHeads.

Owners Chip and Candi Wendt have been running the café for over two decades, but their story goes back even further. They’re high school sweethearts who started FoodHeads out of a small catering kitchen off West 5th, making grab and go sandwiches for local grocery stores and coffee shops. Everything around that little kitchen has changed, but it’s still there, a quiet reminder of where it all began.

In 1999, they found an old house in the Heritage neighborhood and decided to turn it into a café. It wasn’t built for that kind of thing, which meant a lot of long nights, slow progress, and learning as they went, all while raising their daughter, Lily. Over time, the space took on a life of its own: mismatched chairs, a creaky porch, a mix of regulars, students, and neighbors that made it feel like part of the neighborhood fabric.

More than 20 years later, FoodHeads hasn’t lost what made it special. The menu’s still simple, but everything feels intentional. It’s a place that runs on consistency and care.

Before it became one of Austin’s most iconic landmarks, Lady Bird Lake was known simply as Town Lake, a man-made reservoir created in 1960 after the construction of Longhorn Dam on the Colorado River. Its purpose wasn’t originally for paddleboarding or skyline sunsets; it was built to help control flooding and provide a cooling source for the city’s power plant.

In the decades that followed, the lake wasn’t exactly the outdoor gem we know today. Locals remember murky water, overgrown banks, and almost no public access. That started to change in the 1970s, largely thanks to the vision and activism of Lady Bird Johnson, who saw the potential for beauty and recreation in the heart of the city. Through her work with the Town Lake Beautification Project, trails were cleared, trees were planted, and public spaces started to take shape.

By 2007, the lake was officially renamed Lady Bird Lake in her honor, a fitting tribute to someone who helped transform it from an industrial reservoir into a symbol of Austin’s connection to nature and community.

Today, the lake reflects Austin’s rhythm: morning joggers on the Ann and Roy Butler Trail, paddleboarders at sunset, and live music echoing from Zilker Park. It’s still the same body of water at its core, but the spirit around it has changed entirely. What was once built to contain nature has become one of the best reminders of how we coexist with it.

As always, thanks for catching up.

- Andrew (and Spencer, he’s busy taking our friends headshots for LinkedIn)