"A new dog park–slash–bar will open in the Govalle neighborhood at 5022 East Cesar Chavez Street in spring 2024. Bark House Social will have an acre‑wide off‑leash turfed park, a dedicated area for shyer and smaller dogs, and a splash area to help pups cool off. For humans there will be a bar serving cocktails and beers as well as coffee and nonalcoholic beverages, a to‑be‑named food truck offering Latin‑ish dishes, and lots of outdoor spaces. Co‑owners Christian Vargas and Sandra Tanaka, who run a dog daycare and boarding company in Atlanta, are working with business consultant Jill Dretzka of Work & Woof; membership options will include daily, six‑month, and yearly rates, and the owners plan to expand into other parts of Austin and elsewhere in Texas." - Nadia Chaudhury