We know that our job is to tell you all of the awesome stuff you can do in Austin.
But we also know that our job is to tell you how to enjoy Austin in the most safe and healthy way possible. And right now, that's staying at home as much as you can. With the cancellation of SXSW and events around town, lots of people in Austin are feeling the repercussions already. Artists, musicians, service industry workers, bars, venues, restaurants - many people in our city make their living from the things that we are specifically avoiding at the moment.
So, how can you help?
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WAYS TO GIVE BACK DURING CORONAVIRUS
Photo: Why Bonnie via BandCamp
Buy merch from your favorite musician.
Some musicians make most of their revenue to support themselves while on tour - through both ticket sales and merch sales. With most concerts cancelled for the foreseeable future, one way you can continue to support the local musicians you love is by buying their merch online!
Although our parties got cancelled, you can buy merch from the talented local and touring musicians that were slated to play our parties: Lord Friday the 13th, Tommy Gold, Me Nd Adam, PNTHN, Crypt Trip, The Lagoons, Ben Kweller, CAPYAC, Holy Wave, Corridor, Smiile, Sailor Poon, Blood, Being Dead, Magic Rockers of Texas, Mean Jolene, Peach Almanac, UVH, Strange Lot, O'KEEFE, Dumbo Gets Mad, Sea Moya, The Matters, Shopping, Good Morning, Deeper, Charles Irwin, Branson Anderson, BANOFFEE, Duncan Fellows, Horse Jumper of Love, Why Bonnie, Stuyedeyed, Adam Melchor, Tallies, Sam Doores, Esme Patterson, Strange Ranger, and The Frights.
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Download, purchase, and stream their music.
Looking for a new playlist? See above. Purchasing the music of local musicians during this time is another way to support them until you can see them live again. This means primarily services like Bandcamp where you can actually exchange money for the download, but it also can mean streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and Youtube.
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Photo via Austin Art Garage
Buy art from local artists.
Artists of all kinds are out of work right now - visual artists, filmmakers, graphic designers, anybody who had work lined up for the week of SXSW. One way to do your part in giving back to these artists is to BUY THEIR ART! For those whose work lives online, you can easily buy and stream from home. For those selling physical artwork, you can still shop online and have it delivered at the soonest convenience.
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Photo: MezzeMe via Yelp
Get delivery from your favorite local restaurant (take out works, too!)
While many of our favorite digs around town are closing their shutters to practice social distancing, a good amount of them are still offering delivery service (some for free now!) as well as take out options. Even restaurants who did not offer this before are ramping up their capabilities to keep Austin fed during this time. Consider taking a night off of those ramen noodles that you stockpiled and order (sanitary) delivery from your favorite Austin restaurant. A few restaurants that have waived delivery fees are MezzeMe, Old Thousand, and Blenders & Bowls.
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Photo via Fine Southern Gentlemen
Order merch from venues.
Venues across town have had to cancel all of their upcoming events after the increasing restrictions and recommendations on social gatherings. While some are still open as bare-bones bars, they are nonetheless feeling the immense hit from both the cancellation of SXSW and the subsequent cancellation of smaller events. One way to support them from home is buying their merch (yes, bars and venues have merch, too.) Some personal faves of ours are Hotel Vegas, Mohawk, and screenprinting shops like Fine Southern Gentlemen and Raw Paw.
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Photo: Open Invite
Shop local businesses online.
During this time of limiting social interaction, businesses around town will begin to feel the fallout. From home decorations to thrift to records, local Austin staples are seeing less and less patrons come through the door. Luckily for all of us, we can support these businesses from the comfort of our pajamas. Most of these businesses have online stores where you can peruse their stock while never leaving the safety of your bedroom. Some even have Instagram pages, like Room Service Vintage and Open Invite, where you can check out their curated findings. Whether you opt for pick-up or delivery, both are wonderful options to keep these businesses that we love afloat during this unsure time.
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Buy gift cards for local services.
From beauty salons to personal training, many service-based businesses and providers are having to take temporary hiatuses at the moment. While you can't take advantage of their in-person services at this exact moment, something that you CAN do is buy gift cards for future dates. Whether keeping for yourself or giving to a friend in parallel isolation, gift cards are a timeless way to support the local services that are a little limited at the moment.
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Photo via Black Swan Yoga
Watch livestreams of yoga classes, personal trainers, musicians, and so much more.
While we all stay in our homes during social isolation, there are ways to stay active while supporting your local fitness teachers, bands, DJs, and other artists. Many are shifting their services at the moment to livestreams. Whether you're trying to get an at-home sweat by watching your favorite Black Swan Yoga teacher or trying to feel connected through an at-home living room dance party, there are livestream options in abundance. We'll be updating our site in real-time with livestream options that we find!
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Do grocery runs for the elderly or donate to a food bank.
The elderly and immunocompromised are most vulnerable to COVID-19. While we do our part by social distancing and helping stop the rapid spread of this infectious disease, consider ways to actively help those in need. Post on your local Nextdoor app and see if anybody in your neighborhood needs grocery delivery, medication pick-up, pet care, etc. If you feel uncomfortable with this, consider donating to a food bank or nonprofit who does these same services.
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Donate money and materials for homeless organizations.
The homeless community of Austin is going to be severely impacted by the spread of COVID-19. From wondering where to go during a quarantine to how their next meal will be provided, the homeless are facing a daily threat by both the virus itself and the impact it is already having on Austin operations. Companies around the city are dedicated to helping shelter and feed the homeless; they need your help now more than ever.
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Photo via Austin Pets Alive!
Adopt or foster a pet!
With the new city regulations, animal shelters are limiting how many staff can be on-location at any given time. If any start to get sick, too, they may see a shortage of hands. This means an increase of pressure on the staff and their resources when caring for the animals at the center. To help relieve some of this pressure, APA!, Austin Dog Rescue, and more places around town are trying to get as many pets in as many homes as possible during this time. Do you have room?
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Give blood.
In times of crises, blood donation is needed. This is even truer now, when mobile blood locations and more have been limited in their operations due to the spread of COVID-19. There are still many ways you can donate blood around Austin - safely and cleanly - one of those is We Are Blood.
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BENEFITS AROUND TOWN + ADDITIONAL WAYS TO HELP
Banding Together ATX
Stand with Austin Fund
Southern Smoke Emergency Relief Fund
RALLY Austin: Support the ATX small business community.
Residential Landlords Charge Rent at Cost during COVID-19 for Hospitality Workers
Austin Small Business Relief Fundraiser Store
RECORDING ACADEMY AND MUSICARES COVID-19 RELIEF FUND
AISD Crisis Support Fund
Support the staff of Barracuda
Cheer Up Charlies Emergency Staff Fund
Help Out Your Jack Allen’s Anderson Staff
Help Feed the Animals at Crowe's Nest Farm
Provision Employees Virtual Tip Jar - Venmo @safe-distance-gratuities
Foundation Communities Emergency Assistance Fund
Hundred For Hospitality Aims To Feed 100 Austin-Area Hospitality Workers Per Day
Support Brass Ovaries Through Gift Certificates or their Online Shop
Support ColdTowne Theater through gift cards, donations, merch, and streams!
Donate to ACT Together Program, an emergency assistance program for tenants in the Austin Housing Conservancy’s properties that make 80 percent and below of median income
Support the SIMS Foundation: ensure musicians have access to mental health services
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Got a way to help?
Please let us know!
