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Looking for Chinese food on Christmas? Old Thousand and others have you covered in Austin. (Old Thousand)
Finding food you can pick up or restaurants to dine in at on Christmas Day can be difficult. But whether you're looking for some classic Chinese food or just want some coffee, some Austin places are keeping their doors open.
Here are restaurants in Austin, both local and chains, that will be open on Christmas Day.
Bennu Coffee, multiple locations
In the mood for coffee but not sure where to go? Bennu Coffee has got you covered this holiday season! It will be open at all three locations during the holidays. The Highland location will continue to serve 24/7, and the MLK and Congress locations will be open all week from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Swing by to grab a cup of joe or maybe even a last-minute stocking stuffer gift card.
Old Thousand, multiple locations
This Christmas, the neighborhood Chinese restaurant on 11th Street will be open for dine-in for anyone with cravings for hotpot or any other Chinese dish. You can make reservations by phone at 737-222-6637. Their Burnet location will also be open on Christmas Day for Ho-Ho Hotpot takeout, which includes Mala Beef Tallow Broth or Smoke Veggie Umami Broth, a variety of meats, veggies, noodles, sides and dessert. This meal costs $110 with the option to purchase an additional hotpot kit for $40. You can preorder by the same phone number and pick up on Christmas Day 4-8 p.m.
24 Diner, 600 North Lamar Blvd.
This classic American diner, which was modeled after diners of the 50s, will be open for limited hours on Christmas Day—from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Customers can get their fill of classic diner food in a swanky environment.
Simi Estiatorio, 601 Congress Ave.
This Greek restaurant, which offers fine dining in the middle of downtown, will be open both on Christmas and New Years Day with its regular hours and menu. On Christmas, the restaurant will be open from 5-11 p.m. and will offer seafood, hearty steaks and tasty Mediterranean dishes.
Wu Chow, 500 West 5th St.
Celebrate this holiday season with Wu Chow! This farm-to-fresh Chinese restaurant will be open for dine-in from 5-11 p.m. on Christmas Day. If you’d like to order to-go, they are available only by walk-in on Christmas Day. Wu Chow offers modern Chinese dishes, which represent all eight styles of Chinese cuisine.
CHAINS
- Applebee’s: Limited hours
- Denny’s: 24/7
- Starbucks: Different hours at various locations
- IHOP: 24/7
- Waffle House: Different hours at various locations
- McDonald's: Normal hours
- Sonic: Normal hours
Happy holidays!
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(Shutterstock)
Emmy Amash has always been the friend that people would go to with questions about sex, birth control and women’s health issues. It’s what called her to work as a birth doula and go to nursing school.
But during rotations around Austin, she’s noticed a shift in the trust between patients and healthcare providers, and it’s been happening under Texas’ Senate Bill 8, which bans abortion after six weeks of pregnancy.
“What I've seen working in the emergency room with women who are coming in experiencing complications after or during a miscarriage is a lot of what feels to me like mistrust and hesitancy to be sharing complete histories of what's going on,” Amash said.
Over the last 10 months, SB 8 has had a chilling effect on healthcare workers and patients that’s endangering people’s lives, says a new study by the Texas Policy Evaluation Project in the New England Journal of Medicine. It also offers a glimpse at how the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade—which is expected to outlaw or restrict abortion in almost half of the states—will make the risks to patients more common.
The study shared findings based on interviews with Texas clinicians and 20 people who had medically complex pregnancies and sought care under SB 8. The law—which bans abortion before many even know that they are pregnant—is aimed at those providing abortion care. But researchers say that, to the detriment of patients, it has an effect on other health care workers.
For example, a woman who took part in the study reported receiving a fetal diagnosis of trisomy 18, a rare condition lacking a cure that causes most babies to die before they are born. But the woman’s physician didn’t inform her about termination options.
“When you already have received news like that and can barely function, the thought of then having to do your own investigating to determine where to get this medical care and to arrange going out of state feels additionally overwhelming,” the woman said.
On the health provider side, Amash understands the frustration and secrecy of patients, citing Lizelle Herrera’s case as an example of the kind of situation patients may worry about running into.
Herrera, a 26-year-old in the Rio Grande Valley, was arrested on a murder charge in April for a self-induced abortion. She was held in jail for three days on a $500,000 bond until a local district attorney dropped the case.
🚨Breaking News!!!🚨 Charges are being dismissed for Lizelle Herrera!!! #Justice4Lizellepic.twitter.com/yG15cw74Oi
— Frontera Fund (@LaFronteraFund) April 10, 2022
But there could be more instances like Herrera’s, and Amash talked about what it’s been like to continue working amid added restrictions on abortion rights. It’ll only continue given that Texas and a dozen other states have a trigger law making abortion illegal after the repeal of Roe v. Wade. In Texas; it’ll go into effect within 30 days.
“I feel like I've been holding my breath,” Amash said. She went on to describe “feeling powerless to this larger system that's making these choices that's so far removed from the actual lives of individuals.”
But local officials are taking action in light of the high court's decision. Austin City Council will hold a special meeting the week of July 18 on a resolution aimed at decriminalizing abortion. Submitted by council member Jose "Chito" Vela, it would direct the police department to make criminal enforcement, arrest and investigation of abortions its lowest priority. But for Central Texans, it may only allow for a patchwork system in which only abortions within the city escape criminalization.
“That's nice, and also, it's just not enough,” Amash said. “Not enough for how big Texas is for us to have one little area. There's a lot of people here that need care and aren't going to have access to it.”
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Austinites are beating the record heat at local watering holes like Barton Springs Pool this summer. (Isabel Lanaux)
This month has been Austin's hottest June on record after 21 days of triple-degree heat, according to the National Weather Service.
Despite a weather forecast that predicted otherwise, Austin beat the odds and logged its 12th straight day of 100+ degree high temperatures Monday. On the same day, the city also broke its 2008 record with the most triple-digit temperatures ever recorded during the month.
Austin has now hit 100 degrees 21 times this month and 12 days in a row, a new June record.
— NWS Austin/San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) June 27, 2022
The city has now broke heat records for two months in a row after recording its hottest May ever last month.
But at least some of Austin's hot and dry start to summer may be alleviated soon as a so-called cold front heads into town Monday night. Temperatures are expected to remain below the mid-90s for the rest of the week, and Tuesday could break the nearly two-week streak of 100-degree highs.
With the cold front comes much-needed rain, which is expected to scatter across Central Texas skies Monday night. Lightning and gusts of wind up to 60 mph could hit the area, especially along the I-35 corridor near San Marcos, where a Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued.
Storms will continue to develop along an east to west line through sunset. The Hill Country, I-35 Corridor, and Coastal Plains will be most affected. The main dangers are lightning and gusts winds to 60 mph. pic.twitter.com/ocKg9cYDSd
— NWS Austin/San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) June 27, 2022
Scattered storms are expected to remain Tuesday with possibly bouts of gusty winds and small hail, and some storms could continue in the area east of I-35 through Thursday. Austin has seen 2.8 fewer inches of rainfall than the average this month and is only expected to see about a quarter inch of rainfall this week.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to persist through about 9-10 pm this evening before weakening. Expect a similar setup on Tuesday, but chances look better for the Rio Grande Plains and Winter Garden region. Gusty winds and small hail are possibly. #txwxpic.twitter.com/X4tmSTLBQu
— NWS Austin/San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) June 27, 2022
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