Curbed Austin - Austin New Year’s Eve 2019Love where you live2018-12-31T19:23:41-06:00http://austin.curbed.com/rss/stream/179276542018-12-31T19:23:41-06:002018-12-31T19:23:41-06:00Austin New Year’s Eve 2019: Free rides and other ways to get home safely
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/OLaSaqZUFztn00hGuB7D1ZDIYRw=/262x0:4009x2810/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62761484/shutterstock_536104939.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Shutterstock</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>No need to drink and drive, y’all</p> <p id="UrwumP">As we all know, drunken driving at any level is illegal, reprehensible, dangerous, and just plain bad form. That’s a fact the Austin Police Department will bring home for you at all times, but especially on New Year’s Eve, when it’s an unfortunately common occurrence.</p>
<p id="8MsqX8">The department’s “no refusal” period for the holiday started Saturday and runs from 9 p.m. every night through 5 a.m. every morning, ending New Year’s Day.</p>
<p id="ihaw2V">If you are suspected of driving while intoxicated during the period, officers will have more legal resources for obtaining a blood alcohol sample, even if you refuse to submit one. That’s not to mention the life- and injury-threatening position you put yourself, your passengers, and others in when you attempt to drive while drunk.</p>
<p id="klGF4U">Fortunately, there are many options—including free or reduced ride-hailing prices and other ways to get to your destination—for Austinites to ring in the new year without all that danger. Here are a few of them.</p>
<h3 id="HDn3uL">Free public transportation</h3>
<p id="xE2wOP">Capital Metro is <a href="https://capmetro.org/specialevents/">extending its MetroRail and MetroRapid service</a> until 2:30 a.m. New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day as well as offering <a href="https://capmetro.org/specialevents/">free rides</a> on New Year’s Eve from 5 p.m. until the end of service. MetroBus lines are included in the free fares and will be operating on their regular weekday-service schedule.</p>
<h3 id="Xh5gAI">Ride-hailing</h3>
<p id="TF6b3P"><a href="http://www.rideaustin.com/">RideAustin</a> (a locally owned, nonprofit business), <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lyft.com%2F" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Lyft</a>, and <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.uber.com%2F" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Uber</a> currently operate in Austin.</p>
<p id="yiFnpJ">From 8 a.m., Dec. 31, through 4 a.m., Jan. 1, Lyft riders can get $5 off all rides in Texas. Claim your discount before hailing a ride by <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lyft.com%2Finvite%2FNYEPLAN18&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Faustin.curbed.com%2F2018%2F12%2F31%2F18162324%2Fnew-year-eve-sober-rides-transportation-drunken-driving-free" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">clicking here</a> or by applying “NYEPLAN18” in the Lyft app.</p>
<p id="JmDLMS">The Lyft discount is part of the<strong> </strong>statewide “Plan Ahead, Ride Safe” initiative<strong> </strong>cosponsored by Lyft, AAA, TABC, Anheuser-Busch, and Silver Eagle Distributors</p>
<h3 id="XqxGoN">Taxis</h3>
<p id="HuaxPW">The four Austin cab companies are: <a href="http://www.atxcooptaxi.org/">ATX Co Op</a>, <a href="http://austincab.com/">Austin Cab</a>, <a href="http://lonestarcabaustin.com/">Lone Star Cab</a>, and <a href="http://www.yellowcabaustin.com/">Yellow Cab</a>. They’ll no doubt be out in force downtown and in nearby areas, including at <a href="https://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/parking_way_finding_map_072014.pdf">taxi stands</a>, via app in some cases, and (in theory) by telephone.</p>
<h3 id="FdjZe4">Pedicabs</h3>
<p id="mvKP2W">They are <a href="https://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Transportation/Pedicab_Companies.pdf">lots of them</a>. Find them, along with taxi stands and other handy corral spaces, on this <a href="https://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/parking_way_finding_map_072014.pdf">city-provided map</a>.</p>
<h3 id="hnL5G5">Free taxi or ride-hailing trips</h3>
<ul>
<li id="Q0uSRx">If you take a taxi or ride-hailing service home after you’ve been drinking on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day and pay for it, Houston car-accident law firm Sutliff & Stout will<a href="https://www.sutliffstout.com/about-us/community/no-dwi-free-holiday-rides/"> reimburse you</a> via PayPal. (Yes, this service is offered in Austin and San Antonio as well as in Houston.) There are some <a href="https://www.sutliffstout.com/about-us/community/no-dwi-free-holiday-rides/">rules regarding valid hours, dollar limit,</a> and so on—make sure your ride will qualify before embarking.</li>
<li id="p5rJif">Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers<strong> </strong>has a free designated-driver service program that is currently offering to pick up the tab for Yellow Cab rides costing up to $25 in Austin. Riders must give the account number 1006 <a href="http://yellowcabaustin.com/">when calling for a ride</a> in order to receive the discount, which is available between midnight and 6 a.m. on January 1.</li>
<li id="dEDsZ2">AAA Texas offers Tipsy Tow service—a one-time free tow of your car and two passengers for up to 10 miles, no membership required—statewide from 6 p.m. New Year’s Eve to 6 a.m. New Year’s Day. Call 800-AAA-HELP to book a tow truck. </li>
</ul>
<h3 id="jLGqTY">Drive there; don’t drive back</h3>
<p id="EC3Eue">If you really want to drive your own car to an event or area to celebrate and do not have a sober driver for the trip home, for whatever reason (your designated driver disappeared, you got tipsier than you thought you would, someone slipped you a mickey—no judgment, as long as you don’t drive home), you still have options for getting home safe that won’t result in a towed car to deal with in the cold light of day.</p>
<h4 id="Sy3cRv">Call a driver</h4>
<p id="GPLIDw">A service such as <a href="https://www.dryver.com/">Dryver</a> will dispatch one of their licensed drivers to get you and party home in your own car.</p>
<h4 id="868Lji">Park in a designated overnight parking space or lot</h4>
<p id="8YStnW">You have a few options with this one:</p>
<ul>
<li id="q0kZQK">The city has has more than 3,000 Downtown street-parking spacesthat are metered so that you can buy time for the next day.</li>
<li id="ZFgx1i">If you forget to buy time for the next day and leave your car overnight and get a ticket (the Austin Transportation Department does not tow vehicles), you can get it waived if you take in the ticket and taxi or bus receipt in with a completed <a href="https://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Transportation/Parking/Get_Home_Safe_Ticket_Waiver_Form.pdf">Ticket Waiver Form</a>.</li>
<li id="spfJZL">You can buy overnight parking in several downtown <a href="https://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/cbd_off_street_overnight_parking_3_072014.pdf">lots and parking garages</a>. </li>
<li id="xMx8Io">The parking lot under I-35 between Sixth and Eighth streets offers overnight meter parking for $7 a night Monday through Thursday and $8 a night Friday and Saturday. Parking is free on Sunday. <em>Note: </em>Metered parking in the lot is good from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. Monday-Friday. If you pay for “overnight” parking those nights, that really means you are paying for parking until 3 a.m. the next morning, and cars left in the lot from 3 to 5 a.m. Monday through Friday morning may be towed due to routine cleaning. </li>
</ul>
<p id="B1gxCp"></p>
<p id="jfuoZW"></p>
<p id="ynhkR9"></p>
https://austin.curbed.com/2018/12/31/18162324/new-year-eve-sober-rides-transportation-drunken-driving-freeCindy Widner2018-12-31T12:42:18-06:002018-12-31T12:42:18-06:00Where to watch New Year’s Eve 2019 fireworks in Austin
<figure>
<img alt="Multi-colored fireworks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zRgcxf6uqPyI-XXdYKg0hVwAysc=/288x0:4896x3456/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58120107/shutterstock_532280209.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Where to celebrate with the exploding light of a new year | Shutterstock</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>A handy guide map for viewing the city’s explosive celebration </p> <p id="V73I8v">The city’s official way of celebrating New Year’s Eve, <a href="http://austinsnewyear.com/">Austin’s New Year</a>, is a free (and alcohol-free), family-friendly extravaganza at Vic Mathias (aka Auditorium) Shores. The event, which opens at 3 p.m., includes numerous stages with music and other performances, art and art vendors, kids activities, a food court, and other fun stuff. It’s also the best place to watch the fireworks close-up, although crowds will no doubt be quite large all day. They’ll start and 10 p.m. and will cap off the festival.</p>
<p id="WLSizz">Barring a stray storm or tornado (not currently in the forecast, but things can change), there will be scads of people at the event, as well as quite a few road closures (and partial closures) for most of the day and evening; the event site has detailed information about those as well as advice on parking and how to get around the festival in general.</p>
<p id="d3d2em">If you want to avoid the traffic and parking nightmare around the big event and don't have friends in high places (a downtown condo, a mansion just down the road from Mount Bonnell) or tickets to a pricey party, you might find this map of other watching spaces helpful.</p>
<p id="4KaMJx">Finally, our sibling site Eater Austin has the scoop on the <a href="https://austin.eater.com/maps/best-new-years-eve-parties-austin-restaurants">best restaurants, bars, and parties</a> for ringing in the New Year, from dinner spots to midnight bashes to the next day’s brunch.</p>
<p id="6FN62Y">Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments below or hit us up on the <a href="http://austin@curbed.com">tipline</a>.</p>
https://austin.curbed.com/maps/new-year-fireworks-austin-where-to-watchCindy Widner2018-12-31T12:41:36-06:002018-12-31T12:41:36-06:00Austin’s New Year 2019: Everything you need to know
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3OL2e3dLild9POubcXBrKrPHF4M=/0x135:1080x945/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62757770/15732634_254911078261775_2343886711166480125_o.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Austin’s New Year celebration at Auditorium Shores | Via <a class="ql-link" href="https://www.facebook.com/austinsnewyear/photos/a.247969268955956/254911078261775/?type=3&theater" target="_blank">Austin’s New Year Celebration/Facebook</a></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The city’s free, family-friendly shindig is back</p> <p id="ChrTba">The city’s annual New Year’s Eve <a href="https://austintexas.gov/department/austins-new-year">bash</a> on Auditorium Shores usually brings out all the stops, and this year should be no exception. The free (and alcohol-free), family event features three stages, scads of local and regional bands, food trucks, kid’s activities, multiple art installations, something called a trackless train, and a light show at the Stevie Ray Vaughan statue.</p>
<p id="zr2K3w">The Monday event begins at 3 p.m. and will showcase such local favorites as Nakia and the Blues Grifters, Tiarra Girls, Mélat, and Lost Coast. The event will be capped off with the traditional fireworks finale, starting at 10 p.m. (Check our map of best spots for watching the fireworks if you don’t plan on being at Auditorium Shores in the evening.)</p>
<h3 id="dPWdAz">Transportation and parking</h3>
<p id="h4EbOR">Public parking will be available at Palmer Auditorium, One Texas Center, and City Hall. There is no free parking for this event, and there is no event parking in the neighborhood.</p>
<p id="dkRW9w">As always, attendees are encouraged to find alternative transportation to this popular event. Designated ride-hailing off/pick up will be located one block from the event, at One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Road. You can enter the parking lot through South First Street or Haywood Avenue.</p>
<p id="GC3MU9">There do not appear to be special shuttles scheduled, but <a href="https://www.capmetro.org/planner/">Capital Metro</a> will have its usual routes in service. There will also be be bike racks available at the event. <em>Note: Skateboards, scooters, and personal motorized vehicles are prohibited.</em></p>
<h3 id="l8rMXL">What to bring/what not to bring</h3>
<h4 id="yEfz7P">Prohibited</h4>
<ul>
<li id="KUQXEq">Drones</li>
<li id="vgWXqA">Drugs or alcohol</li>
<li id="Rmk6RF">Coolers (except for medical needs)</li>
<li id="MnwMU7">Glass containers</li>
<li id="EgGFou">Styrofoam containers</li>
<li id="sLaFRe">Smoking</li>
<li id="6nr4Km">Professional video cameras</li>
<li id="1yRn4r">Pop-up tents or anything that blocks others from seeing the show</li>
<li id="SPrFxg"><em>Skateboards, scooters, or personal motorized vehicles</em></li>
<li id="D6M0AH">Amplified music or noisemakers of any kind, other than traditional NYE party favors</li>
<li id="sjLkTn">Unauthorized/unlicensed vendors</li>
<li id="HP1Rts">Fireworks or explosives of any kind</li>
<li id="lGrXDG">Weapons of any kind</li>
</ul>
<h4 id="Fqjaym">Allowed</h4>
<ul>
<li id="HLnRUa">Blankets</li>
<li id="VgXAzY">Umbrellas (small, hand-held style)</li>
<li id="kTG6lh">Baby strollers</li>
<li id="qu930N">Small wagons</li>
<li id="M0PTzg">Binoculars</li>
<li id="HfENIc">Camping chairs (not in front of the main stage)</li>
<li id="yC5xn9">Personal handheld walkie-talkies</li>
<li id="fhTUAP">Personal cameras, including digital cameras; DSLRs with stock lenses; point-and-shoot cameras; and traditional film cameras.</li>
<li id="mAO3eX">Bike are allowed, but riders must walk them through the crowd</li>
</ul>
<p id="IDuLdd">Pets on leashes only are allowed, but:</p>
<ul>
<li id="RfvB9l">Organizers strongly suggest taking your pet home before the fireworks finale at 10 p.m.</li>
<li id="JFtnhX">People with aggressive pets will be asked to leave the event.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="XbNRXS">Street closures and alternate access</h3>
<p id="YtP7sZ">In addition roadways mapped below will be closed from 8 p.m. to midnight on Monday, Dec. 31. (You can find a complete list of closures on the city’s website.)</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tBDd61xaplhbWENbluSX7dr_tk0=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13658731/ANY_Closures_MAP_11152018.jpg">
</figure>
<h4 id="6AuVUm">Alternative routes for traffic</h4>
<ul>
<li id="7cvJXR">North/south: Mopac (Loop 1), Lamar Boulevard, IH-35.</li>
<li id="yt7dnv">East/west: Barton Springs Road, Fifth Street, Sixth Street, 11th Street, 15th Street, MLK Jr. Boulevard</li>
</ul>
<p id="wiTBzU"></p>
https://austin.curbed.com/2018/12/30/18162200/austin-new-year-eve-party-fireworks-guideCindy Widner