Austonia daily newsletter—direct to your inbox 6 a.m.
Join the 250,000+ others who rely on Austonia for local news, info and fun
×
Featured
austonia newsletter
Get connected with our daily update
Most viewed
Countdown to Christmas: Austin does Christmas better
24 December 2020
(Isabella Lopes/Austonia)
We have finally made it, it's Christmas Eve!
After 12 days of reading about socially-distanced events, holiday-themed desserts, ways to give back and more, you are probably feeling the Christmas spirit by now.
Although the city entered a Stage 5 level of the COVID-19 risk yesterday and many Austin residents are facing a Christmas unlike any other, we can all agree that Christmas in Austin is special. So much so that Conde Nast Traveler named Austin one of the best cities to spend Christmas in the U.S.
Austinites come together during the holiday season and help give back to the community in so many ways, local artists get to shine in the spotlight as markets and bazaars open up, lights are placed all around town and although we don't experience a white Christmas, the festive mood is definitely felt.
This year, Austin businesses stepped up their game in the new socially-distanced culture to provide the holiday spirit when the city needed it the most. So, even without snow, Austin's love for the holidays is celebrated Texas-style: bigger and better.
Whether you want to cozy up in your favorite sweatpants and curl up on the couch or get dressed up and have a family gathering at home, Austinites know how to celebrate the holiday season.
Thank you for joining us during these last 12 days before Christmas, and Austonia wishes all its readers a Merry Christmas and happy holiday season (we hope you like our Christmas card posted on the site).
From Your Site Articles
- Old Christmas traditions in Austin and their history - austonia ›
- Don't miss these 7 Christmas movie showings in Austin - austonia ›
- Countdown to Christmas: Dogs of Austin are ready for the holidays ... ›
- Countdown to Christmas: New traditions for this holiday season ... ›
- Countdown to Christmas: Holiday light displays around Austin ... ›
- Countdown to Christmas: Christmas songs by Austin musicians ... ›
- Countdown to Christmas: DIY crafts for the whole family - austonia ›
Related Articles Around the Web
Popular
Austin FC is taking on Minnesota at home after a two-week hiatus. (Austin FC/Twitter)
After their first two-win week and a two-week hiatus, Austin FC is back at home against Minnesota United as they attempt to up their home win streak to three on Saturday.
The team kicks off at 8 p.m. against the Loons in their first matchup since a 2-0 loss in June, but they're 1-1 against the club after beating Minnesota in May for their first-ever shutout.
Austin maintains a last-place spot in the West but has seen a bit of a late comeback with two wins in their last three matches. Austin's Cecilia Dominguez, who scored a brace for the team in their last match against Real Salt Lake, will look to keep that momentum as the team works for another victory. Meanwhile, the seventh-place Loons will work to keep that last spot in playoff contention as the season nears its end.
Follow along here for updates on the biggest plays of the match.
At the half: Austin still can't finish
45' still left to play. pic.twitter.com/39J1XnvvOc
— Austin FC (@AustinFC) October 17, 2021
With minutes-long shooting sprees and more shots on goal than Minnesota, Austin could easily have the lead in the match. But each crowd-raising attempt has still been slightly skewed as the home team ends the half with nothing on the board.
In just 45 minutes, both Austin and Minnesota have reached the double-digits in scoring attempts, but Minnesota's ability to infiltrate Austin's penalty box has given them the leg up in the match. The Loons have sometimes found themselves nearly alone alarmingly close to goal, and they've capitalized on their chances with a 16thb minute goal by Franco Fragapane.
Austin FC, however, has not. The club has seen close calls from Dominguez and Driussi, headers from Djitte and near-misses from Tomas Pochettino, but missed opportunities and a few strokes of bad luck have left them scoreless. The team will need to shake their age-old scoring issues if they hope to get back into tonight's game.
16' Minnesota nabs 1-0 lead
Fragapane at the back post!@MNUFC go up 1-0 on @AustinFC. pic.twitter.com/u5LxVgMhAU
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 17, 2021
Austin may have struck first, but Minnesota won the first points on the board as Franco Fragapane got one past keeper Brad Stuver from a close range in the 16th minute to make it 1-0. The Loons tested Stuver just as Austin did Miller, making two anxiety-inducing shots before Fragapane struck gold.
This goalie-vs.-goalie match has already seen three shots on goal from each team and a relatively quiet midfield as each team dukes it out in the box.
11' Austin tests Minnesota first
.@SebadriussiOk 😅 pic.twitter.com/SUdpNklgMF
— Austin FC (@AustinFC) October 17, 2021
Austin FC has taken no time to threaten goal. In a three-minute span, the home team has racked up three shots, two of which are on goal, as the ball bounces between Austin attackers but can't quite find the net.
Dominguez strikes first as he looks to find his third goal in three matches in the eights minute, but Minnesota's Tyler Miller fights back with a clutch save. Djitte then tests Miller just seconds later, while Driussi takes a final shot from farther back that just misses the top left corner.
Austin's Fagundez and Pochettino were the playmakers of the three-minute shooting spree, but the club still came out scoreless. Minnesota soon rebounded with a shot of their own that was blocked by keeper Brad Stuver.
Starting lineup
Rested and ready to be back on the pitch for #ATXvMIN. 💪#AustinFC x @YETICoolers pic.twitter.com/oHzypiVtqK
— Austin FC (@AustinFC) October 17, 2021
This may be Austin FC's most popular lineup— even the crankiest fans are commending the strong starting XI on Twitter. Tonight's starters are the same as in their win against Salt Lake.
New standouts Moussa Djitte and Sebastian Driussi are in alongside double-scorer Cecilio Dominguez up front, while fan favorite Diego Fagundez, Captain Alex Ring and Designated Player Tomas Pochettino take the midfield.
With Matt Besler still out on concussion protocol, Zan Kolmanic, Jhohan Romana and Julio Cascante take the back along with Hector Jimenez, who is in for right back Nick Lima. As (almost) always, Brad Stuver holds it down in goal.
From Your Site Articles
- All brakes, no gas: Austin FC plummets to bottom of the West in 3-0 ... ›
- Austin FC takes home first win at Q2 with 4-1 victory - austonia ›
- Third time not quite the charm for Austin FC in 2-1 loss to LAFC ... ›
- Despite a comeback attempt, Austin FC falls to rivals FC Dallas in 5 ... ›
- Austin FC's Q2 Stadium is the biggest party in Austin - austonia ›
Related Articles Around the Web
Keep Reading
Show less
Jenneke Parrish said she hopes her termination brings "justice" to the company (Pexels)
An Austin-based program manager for Apple Maps and one of two leaders for the #AppleToo activist movement said she has been fired after a suspension.
According to the New York Times, Janneke Parrish said she was put on suspension for several days while the company investigated her activities before she was fired by a human resources employee via phone call on Thursday.
Parrish was under investigation for allegedly leaking a recording of an Apple staff meeting to the media, which she said she didn't do.
The report said the company told Parrish, who is 30, that she was being fired for having deleted files off her company-issued phone and computer before handing them in for examination. Parrish said the files she deleted contained her personal and financial information.
Among the files she deleted were the Robinhood app, which she said was to keep Apple from seeing "how much money I lost investing in GameStop," the Pokemon Go app and screenshots of programming bugs she was fixing.
Parrish said she believes Apple was retaliating against her efforts in organizing #AppleToo, a group of employees working to expose the company's "culture of secrecy" that has been "faced disproportionately by our Black, Indigenous, and other colleagues from minoritized racial, gender and historically marginalized groups of people."
Parrish had been publishing weekly accounts of workplace problems that had been shared anonymously with her from other employees, though she did not verify employment on all of them. The accounts she received were in the hundreds, so Parrish said she was hopeful her termination would lead to some justice within the company.
Employees at tech giants have been more outspoken than usual in recent months—with former Facebook data scientist Frances Haugen speaking out against her former employer—and Parrish said the company's desire to keep under wraps has eroded trust by discouraging employees to come forward with issues like harassment or wage disparity.
Apple spokesman Josh Rosenstock commented on the matter: "We are and have always been deeply committed to creating and maintaining a positive and inclusive workplace. We take all concerns seriously and we thoroughly investigate whenever a concern is raised and, out of respect for the privacy of any individuals involved, we do not discuss specific employee matters."
Additionally, the email detailing her termination, which was obtained by the New York Times, said Apple had determined that Parrish "engaged in conduct in violation of Apple policies including, but not limited to, interfering with an investigation by deleting files on your company provided equipment after being specifically instructed not to do so."
From Your Site Articles
- Thousands of Austin's tech workers will soon be back in the office ›
- The Oprah Conversation has Emmanuel Acho's 'uncomfortable ... ›
- Apple shipping iphones from Austin domain northside store - austonia ›
- See Austin's new Apple campus under construction - austonia ›
Related Articles Around the Web
Keep Reading
Show less
