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Bright light believed to be a UFO. (File photo)
Austin is already weird, but it may be attracting even weirder visitors.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield and his wife, Emily, said aliens made their presence known in the Austin metro. Mayfield, an Austin native, reported Wednesday that he was "almost 100%" certain the two spotted a UFO near Lake Travis that evening.
Mayfield said in a Tweet that he and Emily saw a "bright ball of light" come straight down from the sky on their way home from dinner.
Almost 100%, Em and I just saw a UFO drop straight out of the sky on our way home from dinner... we stopped and looked at each other and asked if either of us saw it... Very bright ball of light going straight down out of the sky towards Lake Travis. Anybody else witness this?
— Baker Mayfield (@bakermayfield) March 4, 2021
Emily also tweeted after the incident, saying she's normally a UFO skeptic but was "thrown off" from what she saw.
I won't lie... I'm typically not someone who buys into UFO talk. But all I know is... I saw something tonight that I have never seen. And I'm a little thrown off.
— Emily (Wilkinson) Mayfield (@emilywmayfield6) March 4, 2021
The two posts combined for over 30,000 likes. Most fans responded with NFL memes, but a few others said they had seen the strange "ball of light" too. One user, Ohio reporter Mike Polk Jr., said the UFO had a strange message to give him: Baker needs to extend his contract with the Cleveland Browns.
I believe you man..BECAUSE I SAW IT TOO!
In fact, they actually communicated an urgent message to me telepathically!🛸
They said that you should sign a fair (but team-friendly) 5 year extension that allows enough salary cap space to secure solid free agents while you're here.👽
— Mike Polk Jr. (@mikepolkjr) March 4, 2021
The two Mayfields' strange encounter is hardly the first UFO sighting in Austin. Just last week, texasufosightings.com reported on a Nov. 30 sighting in the city that was caught on video and posted to Youtube.
On Jan. 13, a Round Rock resident reported to the National UFO Reporting Center, a national database that records possible UFO sightings, that they saw two crafts, glowing orange and red, near their apartment complex "almost daily." Thirty-seven sightings were reported in the Austin metro in 2020, with a strange cluster of four occurrences reported over a three-day span from Oct. 1-3.
Mayfield may have had the most recent "Close encounter of the Third Kind," but he's definitely not the only one to have had otherworldly sightings in the city whose slogan is "Keep Austin Weird."
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Popular
(Gulfstream)
Elon Musk has placed an order for a new, top-of-the-line private jet: a Gulfstream G700, Austonia has learned. Delivery is expected in early 2023.
Billed as offering “the most spacious cabin in history,” the aircraft seats 19 and soars above the rest of us at up to 51,000 feet. Base price: $78 million.
The Gulfstream G700 was awarded the 2022 International Yacht & Aviation Award for excellence in cabin design this year. (Gulfstream)
According to the Gulfstream website, the G700 can fly up to 7,500 nautical miles without refueling, enough range to fly nonstop from Austin to Hong Kong. Powered by two Rolls-Royce engines, it has its own Wi-Fi system, 20 oval windows measuring 28” x 21”, and two lavatories.
The sweet new ride will replace his current top-of-line private jet: a 2015 Gulfstream G650, the aircraft that has been made somewhat famous by the automated @elonjet Twitter account, which tracks and reports his personal aircraft’s movements using public data.
Landed in Austin, Texas, US. Apx. flt. time 44 Mins. pic.twitter.com/jZ7HI0i4iV
— ElonJet (@ElonJet) June 24, 2022
Musk has repeatedly championed “free speech” as a guiding ethic in his planned purchase of Twitter. Last December, Musk offered the teenager who built the @elonjet tracker $50,000 to shut it down, citing security concerns. It’s still up.
According to the @elonjet account, Musk’s jet last traveled to Austin, where it’s been since June 23. The associated data says that his flight to Austin burned $2,573 worth of aviation fuel and discharged 4 tons of carbon dioxide.
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(Valencia Hotel Group)
Live music and beer? Say no more. With a location in Austin, and others throughout Texas, the court hotels by the Valencia Hotel Group have a new offering for weekend stays: Live Music & Longnecks.
Enjoy live music all weekend long and check out the hotels’ state-of-the-art amenities between sets. Make a splash in the pool, enjoy outdoor fire pits, or challenge your friends in a yard game while enjoying a weekend full of live music! Did we mention the package includes deluxe accommodations and a bucket of beer? Oh, and if you needed more convincing, this pet-friendly hotel means the whole family can join in on the fun.
The hotels
Explore any of the Court Hotels by Valencia Hotel Group for a memorable escape. Each property offers a unique experience remnant of yesteryear but with all of the modern amenities that make for a fun and comfortable stay. With acres of landscaped courtyards, relax and unwind in an outdoor environment perfect for doing everything or absolutely nothing at all. With locations in Austin, College Station, Irving, and Lubbock your urban retreat has never been so close.
The music
Locals and travelers alike are invited to enjoy the deep roots of Texas music all summer long with a robust lineup of live performances. From the banks of the San Antonio Riverwalk to Irving’s manicured streets, Valencia’s hotels are a place to gather and reconnect, offering uniquely Texan settings for the weekly performances.
“We’re proud of the community we’ve fostered among Texas musicians and the many rising stars who perform at our properties,” says Amy Trench, corporate director of brand marketing & PR for Valencia Hotel Group.
In Austin, you can catch good ol’ fashioned Texas country by Drew Moreland and Clayton Gardner, bluegrass by Reagan Quinn, and much, much more.
With unique programming at each of Valencia’s properties, there’s something for everyone to enjoy all summer long.
The perks
If you’re a Valencia Hotel Group Rewards member, the perks are plentiful. Enjoy up to 10% off the Best Available Rate, and for a limited time, members can save up to 15% off a stay of 2 nights or more, for select stays in 2022.
But that’s really just the beginning. At select locations, you can enjoy discounts on weeknight stays, a complimentary third night, or curated packages for a romantic getaway or a night of watching the Verde at Q2 Stadium. You’ll also find special rates for AAA and AARP Members, educators, and front-line heroes including military, law enforcement, fire, and rescue workers.