1. The 10 Biggest SXSW Fails of 2016
One of our favorite local institutions is the annual SXSW festival, and boy was 2016 a memorable year for the fest. We had the Obamas in town, Operation Taco Drop, and some incredible moments captured on social media.
2. Kanye West Gets Shut Down Trying to Cut the Line at Franklin BBQ
Hey, remember when Kanye got shut down for trying to skip the line at Franklin Barbecue? We’re not saying that missing out on that sweet, sweet brisket was what started his downward spiral, but we’re not not saying it…
3. 15 Perfect Ways to Have a Very Merry Christmas in Austin
Christmas comes but once a year, but celebrating the holiday in style is very serious in Austin. This list of activities almost never goes out of style, so we continue to update it for your yuletide pleasure.
4. Are You Brave Enough to Order From Torchy’s Secret Menu?
Our love for tacos grows stronger and stronger every day here in Austin, so it’s no wonder that one of our most popular stories this year was about the wonderfully humble and delicious food item. This particular piece about Torchy’s secret menu has been on our top 5 list every week since it was published. Clearly people are brave enough to try these bad boys out.
5. People are Dying at Hamilton Pool and No One Can Say Why, So Now It’s Closed
Reporting bad news, especially about Austin, is never fun for us. But just like in real life, it’s not something we can hide from. When one of our most beloved natural resources experiences a very odd string of inexplicable deaths, it’s important for the public to know. Here’s hoping we see much less of this in 2017.
6. Buckle Up, Uber and Lyft: Ridesharing Just Went Non-Profit in Austin
Of course one of 2016’s biggest stories in Austin was the battle between the city and ridesharing companies Uber and Lyft. We were super excited about the announcement of Ride Austin, but it has yet to really fill the shoes of the transportation giants. Here’s hoping things get better in 2017.
7. 10 Great Restaurants Just Outside Austin
We love dishing up recommendations for the best ways to enjoy Austin and nearby areas, and these ten restaurants managed to grab our readers’ attention. Bon appetit and enjoy the short road trip!
8. Which Austin Celebrity are You? Find Out With Our Quiz!
We launched a celebrity section in 2016, full of fun stories about celebs like Bill Murray and Matthew McConaughey, as well as Austin-bred actors who are doing big things like Gabriel Luna and Danny Trevino. One of our most popular posts was this quiz that lets readers find out which local celeb they are. Who are you?
9. Austinite Accidentally Turns the Uber and Lyft Dilemma Into a ‘Ridesharing Revolution’
Again the Uber and Lyft mess proves to be a popular news item, this time a story about an Austinite who started a bootleg/underground ride sharing group on Facebook. As of this posting the Austin Underground Rideshare Community group is still going strong with more than 8,000 members.
10. Three Easy Ways to Enjoy SXSW Without a Badge
Partying during SXSW is a rite of passage for any local, but we don’t always want to pay the growing prices for a full badge. A few hints about how to have fun at the fest without paying full price proved to be a popular post amongst our readers.
11. And Finally, Our Top Contributor of the Year Was…
We’d like to take this time to give a special shoutout to our most viewed contributor this year, Rebecca Bennett. Not only does she have two entries on our top 10 list, but she’s had more than 350,000 eyeballs on her stories throughout 2016. What can we say, the lady really knows how to craft a list highlighting local businesses and places. Great job, Rebecca! We can’t wait to see what’s to come in 2017.
Check out more of Rebecca’s work at Brave Bird Photography.
