Straining at the bit for the new 1,000-room JW Marriott hotel to open its doors at Congress Avenue and East Second Street. But I — and everyone else — must wait. Although the groundbreaking was yesterday, the grand opening won’t come until 2015.
Eden Shapiro and Lia Pette
The downtown social scene needs it. The Four Seasons, Driskill, AT&T Center and W Austin split most of the high-end social events. The Hilton Austin, Palmer Events Center, Bob Bullock Texas History Museum and Austin Convention Center handle mass-production parties. And there are plenty of smaller venues along with clubs, eateries and galleries for organized socializing.
Linda Velazquez and Whitney Gafford
Yet all those places feel maxed these days. And the high social traffic means less attention to detail and diminished personal touch. A new, spacious and modern place to meet will be welcomed, I think, by everyone.
Mark Underwood and Kim Cadwell
The groundbreaking moved into the lower lobby at One Congress Plaza because of rain. That didn’t appear to dampen enthusiasm. Reps from business, arts, music, nightlife, food and other scenes rubbed shoulders and dreamed of 2015.