Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How an Austin tattoo shop is rebuilding after a drunk driving crash
And check out Arboretum Food and Artisan Market on the Austin Patch calendar

Greetings Austin! We’re your go-to source for what’s happening in town. Read on to get plugged in! ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How an Austin tattoo shop is rebuilding after a drunk driving crash
- How 16 upgraded Austin intersections slashed dangerous left-turn crashes
- Austin remembers former Mayor Frank Cooksey’s decades of public service
Also on today's calendar: Arboretum Food and Artisan Market and 8 more events.
Find out what's happening in Austinfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Austin? Post it to Austin photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️
Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Austinfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Tuesday: Low clouds, with a high of 60 and low of 53 degrees.
- Wednesday: An a.m. shower; mostly cloudy, temps: high: 66, low: 62.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny and warmer, with a high of 80 and low of 47 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Austin tattoo shops reopens after drunk driver slammed into building (kvue.com) — An Austin tattoo shop on East Seventh Street is reopening and asking for community support after a suspected drunk driver crashed a truck through its front wall, shutting it down for over a week. Insurance will cover repairs, but five tattoo artists lost income, so the owner has launched an online fundraiser to help them recover before the holidays.
![]()
2. Left turn crashes see dramatic drop at some Austin intersections after Vision Zero pilot program (kvue.com) — City transportation officials report that low-cost safety upgrades at 16 Austin intersections have cut left‑turn crashes involving pedestrians nearly in half and eliminated severe injuries so far. Hardened centerlines and other tweaks on streets downtown, in South Austin, and near U.S. 183 are slowing drivers and making people in crosswalks more visible, and the city plans to keep the changes in place while monitoring durability.
![]()
3. Former Austin mayor Frank Cooksey dies at 92 (cbsaustin.com) — Austin is mourning former Mayor Frank Cooksey, who led the city from 1985 to 1988 and has died at age 92. Current Mayor Kirk Watson and Rep. Lloyd Doggett praised his decades of work for social justice, environmental protection, and the Austin community.
![]()
4. Austin woman receives life-saving stem cell donation from brother after leukemia diagnosis (kxan.com) — An Austin woman’s life was saved after her brother proved a stem cell match and helped her battle a rare, aggressive leukemia at St. David’s South Austin Medical Center. She, her brother, and her doctors share what the transplant journey looked like, the complications she faced, and how easier cheek-swab testing could help more Central Texans become life-saving donors.
![]()
5. Lewis Lavan Bowland (brownwoodnews.com) — Family and friends are mourning Lewis Lavan Bowland, who passed away December 12 in Austin after decades running K-B Contract Cleaning here and enjoying time with his grandsons. A graveside service is set for Friday, December 19, in Coleman, and the family suggests donations to Hospice Austin in his memory.
![]()
📸 Around Austin
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Austin
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Arboretum Food and Artisan Market
10000 Research Blvd, Austin
11:00 am - Bee Cave Farmers Market
12700 Hill Country Blvd,
11:00 am
Saturday December 20
Sunday December 21
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- We Are Blood Gifts Movie Tickets to Holiday Donors
We Are Blood , 4300 N Lamar Blvd , Austin
8:00 am - Taco Tuesday with La DosisJoin La Dosis for a special evening with the Texas Sta and the Texas Stars
La Dosis Coffee + Cocktails , 300 W Whitestone Blvd , Cedar Park
5:00 pm - A Live Conversation with Chevy Chase
Texas Performing Arts , 2350 Robert Dedman Dr , Austin
7:30 pm - We Are Blood Hosts Bastrop Community Cares Blood Drive
Bastrop Convention & Exhibit , 1408 Chestnut St , Bastrop
7:00 am - Roberto Coin Austin Trunk Show
11501 Century Oaks Terrace , Austin
10:00 am - The Good Wolf Experience Presents: South Austin Song Circles with Jenny Reynolds, Susan Gibson, Eliz
The 04 Center 2701 S Lamar Blvd Austin, TX 78704
7:00 pm - Driftwood Lights Holiday Music Series at Vista Brewing
Vista Brewing , 13551 Ranch to Market Rd 150 , Driftwood
6:00 pm - Stout & Whiskey Pairing Dinner with Vista Brewing & Still Austin
Vista Brewing , 13551 Ranch to Market Rd 150 , Driftwood
6:30 pm - Bonsai Workshop at Hold Out Brewing
Hold Out Brewing 1208 W 4th St Austin, TX 78703
7:00 pm
Tuesday December 16
Wednesday December 17
Thursday December 18
📣 Austin Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Get FIT Mini Series
Wildflower Center , 4801 La Crosse Ave. , Austin
7:30 am - Baby and Toddler Free Play
Lake Travis Community Library , 1938 Lohmans Crossing Rd , Lakeway
10:30 am - The Del Valle Mobile Library at Hornsby Bend
Central Health Hornsby Bend Health & Wellness Center , 3700 Gilbert Rd , Austin
10:30 am - â˝Girls Soccer vs Killeen Chaparral (home)
Glenn High School , 1320 Collaborative Wy , Leander
4:30 pm
Tuesday December 16
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Austin PatchAM possible:
- The Steam Team — (512) 451-8326
Austin’s trusted experts in water, fire and mold restoration - K&M Steam Cleaning — (512) 836-8900
Carpet Cleaning in Austin, Texas
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
🪧 Patch Classifieds
- Seasoned firewood for sale.
Seasoned Oak FirewoodStandard Cord 4'x4'x8'$5751/2 Standard Cord 4'x4'x4'$300Face Cord 8'x4'x16"-18"$2251/2 Face Cord 4'x4'x16"-18"$125They are... (More info)
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Found female tabby kitten on our doorstep.
Very hungry, skinny, and friendly. Maybe 6 months old? Let us know if yours is missing. Battlebend neighborhood, 78745. (Nextdoor East Congress) - We found a toy Australian shepherd on this side of the road in Boulin Creek!
His name is Nixon Turner. We have tried contacting the owners through the microchip but haven’t heard back yet. Does anybody know the owner of this… (Nextdoor Bouldin Creek)
- Signia by Hilton Atlanta posted a job opening for Guest Service Agent - DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Austin Downtown Capitol in Austin. Apply here.
- Whataburger posted a job opening for Restaurant Porter - Unit 992 in Austin. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Austin here.
Ok Austin! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
👉 Help make Patch AM better
- Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
- Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
- List items for sale or services offered
We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.