Amber Heckler

Austin, Texas

Network Writer at CultureMap Austin

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Articles

Austin's best restaurants and chefs crowned at 2025 Tastemaker Awards

1 week ago | austin.culturemap.com | Amber Heckler |Brianna Caleri

Is there a grocery store worth driving three hours for? Absolutely, and it’s worth staying a day or two to fully understandPullman Market. I’ve known the crew at Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group for a while now — chef Kevin Fink, his wife Ali Fink, and pastry chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph are the ones I talk to the most — and every time they open something new, I’m blown away. It’s not just the concepts; it’s how they treat their team and the energy they bring as human beings.
Visit a Hill Country winery + 9 more May Texas travel ideas - CultureMap Austin

1 week ago | austin.culturemap.com | Amber Heckler

We've got some brilliant ideas for May, from a Hill Country winery and brewery tour to a pirate-themed festival on the Gulf Coast. If hitting the road seems a bit much, there are ways to kick back in Austin including checking into two posh hotels.
Austin's 10 best chefs of 2025 add flavor to an evolving dining scene

1 week ago | austin.culturemap.com | Brianna Caleri |Amber Heckler

Personal taste accounts for a lot, but a city's top chefs need to be plugged into the greater community. The Chef of the Year nominees for CultureMap's 2025 Tastemaker Awards all have a strong point of view that both expands on traditional cuisine and points the Austin scene to a well-rounded future. Our judges — a panel of past winners and editorial staff — have chosen 10 busy nominees who have carved out special niches for their work and slow no signs of slowing down.
How much money San Antonians save by renting instead of owning a home

1 week ago | sanantonio.culturemap.com | Amber Heckler

Some people might be surprised to find out that their taxes are negotiable — at least when it comes to real estate. Specifically, 53 percent of Texas homeowners don't know they can protest their home's property tax evaluation, according to a study by Ownwell, a service that makes homeowners' cases for them. Put simply, since homeowners are taxed on the assessed market value of their home, an over-appraisal by the local tax office can lead to paying too much in taxes.
Austin brewery debuts first-ever cocktail program for 10th anniversary

1 week ago | austin.culturemap.com | Amber Heckler

Austin has tons of great restaurants, but 10 of them are really on an inspired streak. The Restaurant of the Year nominees for CultureMap's 2025 Tastemaker Awards do more than make great food; they keep evolving and chasing the unexpected. In 2024, the Michelin Guide's Texas debut changed Austin's dining scene by awarding stars to seven Austin restaurants. We have some overlap on our list, but it's not a one-to-one match.
Houston improves ranking among best U.S. cities to start a business

1 week ago | houston.innovationmap.com | Amber Heckler

Houston's reputation for being an entrepreneurial and business powerhouse was confirmed in WalletHub's new list of the "Best Large Cities to Start a Business" in 2025. The Energy Capital of the World moved up four spots this year and ranked No. 34 nationwide. The annual report ranked 100 U.S. cities based on 19 metrics across three main categories: business environment, access to resources, and costs.
9 DFW universities make U.S. News' 2025 list of top grad schools

1 week ago | fortworth.culturemap.com | Amber Heckler

Nine prestigious Dallas-Fort Worth universities have climbed through the ranks in U.S. News & World Report’s recently released report of the best graduate schools nationwide for 2025. Several graduate programs also appeared among the top 10 in a Texas-wide comparison. U.S. News published its annual national "Best Graduate Schools" rankings on April 8. They look at several programs including business, education, engineering, fine arts, health, and many others.
Austin's top 10 restaurants of 2025 keep the dining scene fresh

1 week ago | austin.culturemap.com | Brianna Caleri |Amber Heckler

Austin has tons of great restaurants, but 10 of them are really on an inspired streak. The Restaurant of the Year nominees for CultureMap's 2024 Tastemaker Awards do more than make great food; they keep evolving and chasing the unexpected. In 2024, the Michelin Guide's Texas debut changed Austin's dining scene by awarding stars to seven Austin restaurants. We have some overlap on our list, but it's not a one-to-one match.
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich steps down

1 week ago | sanantonio.culturemap.com | Amber Heckler

A group of San Antonio first responders have pulled out of the May 3 Fiesta Flambeau parade, citing a policy that only allows limited participation per group. The San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association says that marching in the annual night parade would force them to choose between the more than 300 members who signed up to represent the group.
San Antonio left out on new list of America's coolest cities

2 weeks ago | sanantonio.culturemap.com | Amber Heckler

A new soccer-like sport, the growing international pastime of futsal, has kicked into San Antonio. Alamo City's first futsal court is now open for pick-up games at Bonnie Connor Park at 13345 Woller Rd., thanks to a collaboration between the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department; San Antonio Parks Foundation; and Spurs Give, the charitable arm of Spurs Sports and Entertainment. Widely popular in Latin America, futsal has only recently found its footing in the United States.