West Austin Studio Tour Kicks Off This Morning

Austin, TX · May 16, 2026

Saturday morning light is hitting the trail early today, just in time for the first crowds at the newly finished Rainey Street Trailhead.

📰 The Lead

The $4 million Rainey Street Trailhead project is finally fully open, providing a much-needed gateway between the high-density neighborhood and the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. The redesign replaced a cramped, eroded path with a sprawling plaza featuring granite seating, native plantings, and improved lighting for evening commuters. Most importantly for those who frequent the lake, the project includes a new public dock that eases the bottleneck for kayakers and paddleboarders. This marks a significant milestone in the city’s effort to manage the intense foot traffic in the southeastern corner of downtown. While the construction fences are down, the Parks and Recreation Department is asking visitors to stay off the newly seeded lawn areas for another few weeks to let the grass take hold.

🏙️ Local Pulse

  • CapMetro Boosts Weekend Rapid Frequency — The 801 and 803 lines are running every 15 minutes today to handle festival crowds.

  • Seed Library Expands to More Branches — Gardeners can now pick up free heirloom vegetable seeds at five additional library locations.

☁️ Today's Outlook

  • High 89°F · Low 70°F — Overcast
    • The clouds will keep the glare down for your morning run or patio brunch.

📅 What's On Around Town

  • West Austin Studio Tour — Various Locations, 11:00 AM–6:00 PM Self-guided tour through private workspaces and galleries across the west side.

  • Austin Record Convention — Palmer Events Center, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM The largest sale of its kind in the country returns this weekend.

  • Yoga in the Woods — Pease Park, 9:00 AM Free community flow at the Tudor Cottage — bring your own mat.

  • Round Rock: Express vs. Chihuahuas — Dell Diamond, 7:05 PM Short drive for Saturday night baseball and post-game fireworks at the park.

  • Wildflower Center Plant Sale — Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 9:00 AM–1:00 PM Final weekend to grab native Texas perennials for your spring garden beds.

📸 Spotlight & Story

  • Elisabet Ney Museum
    • The limestone castle in Hyde Park was once the working studio of a world-renowned sculptor who moved to Texas in 1872. The building houses her original plaster casts and personal effects, including the tools she used to carve European royalty.

Austin Daily Digest — compiled from local sources as of 6 AM. For breaking updates, follow your local newsrooms.

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