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The city had an embarrassing week after its payroll system botched a routine data update in mid-March, accidentally overpaying 675 employees a combined $1.4 million, with some workers receiving nearly double their normal paycheck. When the city moved to claw the money back, it gave some workers just days to sign, which did not go over well with people who had done nothing wrong. The episode landed in the middle of an already-active audit of the city's financial oversight practices 🧐
Meanwhile, Austin Animal Services hit a crisis point and had to urgently move more than 70 dogs out of the shelter to meet fire-safety and overcrowding rules. This turned into a community rescue effort, with Austin Pets Alive stepping in. By Friday, 38 dogs had already been adopted or moved into foster care, and the shelter’s weekend rescue push was still ongoing with the goal of getting at least 70 dogs out by Sunday night.
The Red River Cultural District recently released its first-ever economic impact report which showed impressive stats: from 2021 to 2025, its annual economic impact climbed to nearly $530 million, for a five-year total of more than $2.3 billion. The report also says the district supported more than 3,700 jobs and generated about $174 million in labor income in 2025. The favorable report is expected to result in increased city support and investment in the district.
On the retail front, Painted Tree Boutiques abruptly shut down all 60-plus locations on April 13 with zero warning to the hundreds of vendors who discovered the news via email and rushed to retrieve their inventory within a 10-day window. Many are now facing thousands of dollars in lost deposits and unpaid April sales since the company paid vendors at the start of the following month. Finally, Fusebox Festival ran through Austin this past week, with highlights including a 12-piece orchestra performing an original piece called Spacetime Rodeo in an East Austin parking garage and a quadraphonic sound installation featuring two pedal steel guitars composed by four different artists simultaneously.
The biggest Austin food-scene story this week was the destruction at 888 Pan Asian on East Oltorf, where police say a man flipped tables, threw objects, shattered glass, and caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage before finally being arrested. No one was injured, but the restaurant had to clean up a heavily damaged dining room. On the openings-and-closings side, Haji Moto in Georgetown had its grand opening, Canyon Grille at Rough Hollow was rebranded and reopened as The Grille on April 14, and Deep Eddy Vodka’s Dripping Springs tasting room was closing as a new Austin-area location is being planned.
Lots of super fun unofficial holidays to celebrate this week, and the events are poppin! 4/20, Prince’s Birthday, Earth Day, and Eeyore’s birthday. Make sure to click on through to the online version of the email to see the full event list!
Also, going forward we will be partnering with our friends at Austin Founders’ Feed to bring you a few creative entrepreneurial events every week. The Austin Front Yard Business Resolution was passed by the city council in late March, and it will allow residents to operate small-scale businesses (i.e., artisanal stands, bakery windows, or garden shops) directly from their front yards or porches. We would love to see Austinites take advantage, and create lots of weird and wonderful stuff! And if you want to check out and subscribe to their awesome newsletter, click here.
Monday, April 20th
Dazed and Confused Outdoor Screening at Top Notch
6:30PM @ Top Notch (Burnet), FREE!
A 4/20 pilgrimage opportunity that almost nobody else can offer: an outdoor screening of Dazed and Confused at the actual Top Notch on Burnet, where Linklater filmed the iconic drive-through scene. Pull up a chair, watch Austin eat itself in the best possible way, and say "alright, alright, alright" into the sunset. It doesn't get more weird than this.
Pups Against the Prison Industrial Complex
3–7PM @ BARk House Social (E. Cesar Chavez), Free for humans, $15 for dogs
The Joy Resistance Social Club brings their furry friends to Bark House Social for a 4/20 fundraiser benefiting The Last Prisoner Project, a nonprofit fighting for cannabis justice and bipartisan policy reform. Tequila 512 is sponsoring drink discounts, there are raffle prizes, vendor pop-ups, and dog games (chillest dawg, trickiest pup). Register your dog in advance; humans just show up.
Breadmaking Class at Lazarus Brewing
6 – 8PM @ Lazarus Brewing (E. 6th), $73
Grainbakers brings a 90-minute hands-on workshop to Lazarus Brewing: you make bread, you drink beer, and apparently there's dancing involved. It's a hard combination to argue with. Book your spot on Eventbrite before your squad talks you out of it.
e.WP's Girls, Gays, & They's Open Mic
8–10PM @ 2307 Manor Rd (The VORTEX), FREE!
every.Word x The VORTEX runs a monthly open mic for poetry, music, and stories — this iteration hosted by Tender René with a cozy, community-first vibe on Manor Road. Performer check-in starts at 7:30; the show runs 8–10. Perfect palate cleanser between the more chaotic 4/20 options.
More interesting events on Monday @ WhatsGoodATX!
Tuesday, Apr 21st
Joy In Repetition: An Austin Salute 2 Prince with Grupo Fantasma & Special Guests
8:00 PM (doors 7 PM) @ Antone's, $43.85+
Tonight marks exactly a decade since the world lost Prince, and Austin is gathering to grieve and groove the only way it knows how. Grupo Fantasma headlines as house band for this once-in-a-decade tribute, with a surprise lineup of guest vocalists to be announced. The electrocumbia legends have been building to this night for years, so if there's a better way to spend April 21st in Austin, we haven't found it.
Ego's "We're All Mad Here" Tea Party
7:00 PM @ Ego's, FREE!
Ego's is throwing an Alice in Wonderland-themed night billed as "garden party meets madness"; which at Ego's, Austin's beloved underground karaoke dive, means exactly as unhinged as it sounds. Check the Facebook event for dress code guidance; coming in costume is obviously the right call.
From AFF: Founder Coffee Tasting
9:30 – 11:00 AM · The Red Fridge Society, FREE!
Try the same bean prepared six different ways. They often have special guest founders in the coffee industry to come hang out, too!
Tarot Meet-Up: Five of Swords
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM @ Ace of Cups - Massage and Wellness, $5+
The Tarot Salon reconvenes on the third Tuesday of every month for a ritual that's part reading, part trance journey, part journaling circle. This month's focus is the Five of Swords — conflict, consequence, and what we choose to carry. Bring your deck or borrow one; all levels welcome from seasoned readers to the genuinely curious. RSVP via the registration form to get updates; donation-based pricing means the door is open to everyone.
Neon Sign Workshop at Fast Friends Beer Co.
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM @ Fast Friends Beer Co., $55
Design and build your own neon-style glow sign at this East Austin craft party hosted by Panache. You pick the stencil or design your own, choose from blue, white, green, orange, or pink glow — and by the end of the night you're walking out with something display-ready and entirely yours. No craft skills required, all supplies included; grab your spot on the Panache site and order a beer from the Fast Friends tap list while you work.
A Screening of The Stars at Night
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM @ UFCU Events Building, FREE!
UFCU and Texas State University are screening this 2023 documentary about astronomy, mythology, and light pollution in honor of International Dark Skies Week, which lands right on the eve of Earth Day. The Stars at Night makes the case that looking up at the sky is one of the oldest forms of human storytelling, and that we're in danger of losing it. No RSVP info listed; arrive early and bring the whole family.
More interesting events on Tuesday @ WhatsGoodATX!
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Wednesday, April 22nd
Magical Mind Mysteries w/ Magical Mystical Michael
7:30–8:30 PM @ The Vortex, $15
The Vortex is already Austin's most reliably strange venue, and tonight it hosts a mind magic show that fits the room perfectly. An hour of mentalism, illusion, and theatrical mystery in a space that smells faintly of incense and possibility. Get tickets — this is the kind of $15 gamble that pays off.
Fairy Lanterns Craft & Happy Hour @ Lefty's
5:00–7:00 PM @ Lefty's Day & Night (1813 C E 6th St), $34 🔥
Build a glowing fairy lantern during happy hour on East 6th — an Earth Day craft that ends with something you can actually take home and hang up. Snag a ticket and bring a friend; this is the kind of low-key, creative evening that disappears fast.
From AFF: Pickle & Pints
5:00–7:00 PM @ RSVP for location, FREE!
Meet innovators, researchers, and operators in Austin’s entrepreneurial scene and play some casual pickleball, no experience required.
The Amazing Acro-Cats Astound in Austin!
7 PM @ Rollins Theater at the Long Center, $33.81+ (through May 9)
Yes, these are actual trained house cats — all former rescues — doing acrobatic tricks, riding skateboards, and performing together in a full theatrical show, as featured in the Netflix series Cat People. It's absurd, it's wholesome, and it's the kind of thing Austin was basically made for. Tickets and details at the Long Center box office; runs through May 3.
Mezcal Vago Spirit Society w/ Bawi Agua Fresca
6:00 – 7:00 PM @ Seven Grand (405 E 7th St), $20
Seven Grand hosts an Earth Day mezcal education session featuring Mezcal Vago poured by brand reps Lulu and Michael, alongside Bawi agua fresca as a pairing. This is the kind of event that's educational but ends with you feeling very warm and very good about agave.
Garden to Glass at Carpenters Hall
6:00 – 7:00 PM @ 400 Josephine Street, $74
A hands-on cocktail class in Carpenters Hall's lush outdoor space, focused on spring herbs and florals from the garden. You're crafting fresh, seasonal cocktails in a genuinely beautiful setting on a Wednesday evening in April — reserve your seat while they're still available.
More interesting events on Wednesday @ WhatsGoodATX!
Thursday, April 23rd
THRESHOLD: A Celebration of Crossing
4:00PM – 7:00PM @ TXI Lab, University of Texas at Austin, FREE!
The Texas Immersive Institute transforms UT's 5th floor of CMA into a living landscape of mixed reality worlds, generative AI installations, spatial sound environments, and participatory storytelling — all created by students and researchers whose work will travel to LA and Athens, Greece this summer. Step through the threshold and meet the people making immersive media's future before they export it.
Wild Mushroom Foraging Workshop
7:00PM–9:00PM @ Buzz Mill, $39.19
Angel Schatz from the Central Texas Mycological Society leads this two-hour deep dive into identifying edible Texas mushrooms, their dangerous look-alikes, and the ethics of foraging — and yes, the "fungi kindom" spelling is intentional and charming. Snag your ticket on Eventbrite and you'll leave with a free drink token, a Lumber Society Mushroom badge, and enough knowledge to never eat the wrong thing in the woods again.
From AFF: Distiller Series: Baja Rum & Australian Gin
5:00 – 7:00 PM @ The Red Fridge Society, FREE!
Join Jez Spencer, Founder of The West Winds Gin, and Jen Bailey, Head of Americas and Europe for Four Pillars Gin, to talk about their experience in the Australian Spirits industry and hear about their new Austin-based Spirit venture, Baja Rum.
QUEER SHOW: A Queer Indie Showcase
9:00PM @ Hotel Vegas, $12
Hosted by the inimitable Dante Picante, this is a full-throttle queer variety night featuring live music from Kind Keith, EddieAngel, and Majesty of Divinity alongside drag from Sir Beau, Elliot Phoenix, and Dante themselves — plus a vintage market on the patio. It's loud, welcoming, and exactly the kind of night Hotel Vegas was built for. All are welcome at the door for $12.
Puppet Ruckus
6:00PM – 8:00PM @ The Vortex, $15–$39
Mr. Bonetangles, the Nocturnal Creatures Troupe, and The Vortex combine forces for a puppet show that's decidedly not for children — or maybe it is, in the best possible way. The Vortex's track record for weird, visceral live performance makes this worth showing up for blind/
HOST: Laura Lit Opening Reception
7:00PM–8:30PM @ The Contemporary Austin, Laguna Gloria, FREE!
Tonight marks the public opening of Austin-based artist Laura Lit's first solo museum exhibition, featuring her Impossible Beings — vivid, large-scale polymorphic sculptures sited around Laguna Gloria's Driscoll Villa and lakeside grounds. The evening includes remarks from the artist and curators, refreshments, and an ambient sound performance by EscPod at sunset.
Find more fun stuff on Thursday @ WhatsGoodATX!
Friday, April 24th
B Scene: Color Me Cute
7:00 PM – 11:00 PM @ Blanton Museum of Art, $15 (Free for members)
The Blanton throws open its doors after hours for a full-blown art party celebrating their newest American Modernism exhibition. Live performances from glitter-grunge rising star Dossey (7:30 PM) and synth-pop duo Jane Leo (9:30 PM) anchor the night, while hands-on art-making stations, Rainbow Tours, clay tile workshops, and jewelry design keep things kinetic — grab your tickets and use code ARTALLYEAR15 for 15% off any new membership.
Lewdy Toons Burlesque Revue
4 PM & 7 PM @ Revenge Bar, $20+
The lewdest cartoon-themed burlesque in Austin runs two full shows tonight (4:30 PM and 7 PM), and the casts differ — so coming to both is practically encouraged. Snag tickets here for a raffle, costume contest, and performances where Marge Simpson, Jessica Rabbit, and Betty Boop share a stage; cash is king for tipping.
The Sun-Tear Dark Moon Ritual
7:00 PM @ Dittmar Park (1009 W Dittmar Rd), FREE!
Take the new moon energy outside — this outdoor pagan ritual at Dittmar Park weaves together themes of fertility, renewal, and the seasonal turn as spring fully asserts itself. Check the Facebook event for what to bring and what to expect; these community-led ceremonies tend to be as welcoming to the curious as the devout.
14/48 Austin 2026 — 10th Annual Festival
8:00 PM @ Ground Floor Theatre, $15
Seven world-premiere plays written, rehearsed, and performed in 48 hours — the fastest, most chaotic theatre festival in Texas is back for its 10th (mostly) annual run. Grab your spot for a night of raw, unrepeatable theatre: some of it brilliant, some of it gloriously unhinged, all of it unmissable.
Spring Silent Disco at The Highball
8:00 PM – 3:00 AM @ The Highball - $6.11
Three DJs spinning simultaneously through wireless headphones, a bowling alley as your dancefloor, and the surreal spectacle of 200 people dancing to music only they can hear — the Highball's silent disco is one of Austin's most reliably fun recurring events. Eventbrite has tickets and at six bucks it's the best deal of the night.
More amazingness on Friday @ WhatsGoodATX !
Saturday, April 25th
Eeyore's 61st Birthday Party
11:00AM – 8:00PM @ Pease Park, FREE!
The granddaddy of all Austin weird traditions turns 61, and Pease Park will once again be overrun with drummers, costumed revelers, and people who have definitely been coming to this since before you were born. This all-volunteer, nonprofit-run celebration donates every cent raised to Central Texas organizations, so the drum circle and the face paint and the general mayhem are genuinely doing good in the world. Head to eeyores.org for more info, then just show up and let Austin do its thing.
Tracksuit IPA: Beats, Breaks & Brews
11:00AM – 5:00PM @ Celis Brewery, FREE!
Celis is dropping its Tracksuit IPA in 16oz cans and turning the launch into an all-day '80s hip-hop block party: live mural painting, breakdancers, potential dance battles, vintage clothing and record vendors, and a dog-friendly activation called "Paws, Treats & Beats" by Good Dogs Bakehouse. The full throwback energy is free to attend, tracksuits are heavily encouraged, and the limited-release cans will not last.
DOOM METAL GOAT YOGA
9:30AM @ Jester King Brewery, $25
The premise writes itself, but in practice this is legitimately one of Austin's most beloved recurring events: a yoga session in an outdoor goat pen at Jester King Brewery, scored by doom metal, where friendly goats wander freely around your mat as you try to hold warrior two. Running every Saturday through May 30, with an all-season pass available at $200 for 13 sessions. Yoga mats available to rent for $5 (limited), and obviously there's beer nearby when you're done.
Austin Blues Festival w/ George Clinton, BADBADNOTGOOD, Eric Johnson & More
5:00PM @ Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park (through Sunday)
Antone's 50th anniversary and the revival of Austin's beloved blues festival collide in one weekend-spanning event at Waterloo Park. George Clinton brings the Parliament-Funkadelic cosmos, BADBADNOTGOOD adds jazz-inflected edge, and Eric Johnson represents hometown guitar heroism — all on the same bill. Single-day Saturday passes available for those who want to catch the full outdoor spectacle without committing to the whole weekend.
Afterglow (STS9 Afterparty)
11:00PM @ Fallout Theater
This isn't a typical afterparty; Afterglow is a fully immersive multi-stage sound and art event built for "maximum chillness with Austin weirdness," combining live instrumental music, healing sound baths, modular synthesizers, live painting, visual installations, DJ sets, and in-house vibe technicians (read: interactive comedy). Three distinct atmospheric zones calibrated to different phases of the evening. Whether or not you caught STS9 at ACL Live, this is the rare after-midnight event that's genuinely its own destination.
Bullock Museum's 25th Anniversary Celebration
10:00AM – 8:00PM @ Bullock Texas State History Museum, FREE!
The Bullock turns 25 with a sprawling free day that includes extended gallery hours, a debut exhibition called "Texas Festivals: Creating Community through Celebration," live performances by the Native American Cultural Center and Mariachi Para Todos, a Trick Roper and Bubble Rodeo on the Lone Star Plaza, face painting, and Two Tons of Steel closing out the evening at 6pm. The full lineup makes this a legitimate all-day destination, especially with the free admission.
ROCK & READ: BookWoman's 50th + Girls in the Nose's 40th Birthday Bash!
4:00PM @ Cheer Up Charlies
BookWoman, Austin's legendary feminist bookstore celebrates its 50th anniversary alongside Girls in the Nose's 40th birthday at the always-perfect Cheer Up Charlies. This is the kind of hyperlocal milestone event that only exists because Austin has spent decades building institutions worth celebrating. Come for the community, stay for whatever chaos Cheer Up has planned for a double birthday party.
Flannelgeddon: 90s Drag Open Mic Night
8:00PM @ The Vortex, $15
An open stage where drag queens, drag kings, burlesque performers, comedians, poets, musicians, mimes, puppeteers, flow artists, and anyone else who wants to perform can sign up and let it rip — all with a '90s flannel theme. The kind of chaotic, anything-goes night that Austin's queer performance scene does better than anywhere else. 18+, and if you've got a bit, get up there.
Rocky Horror Picture Show ft. Live Shadowcast, Disney Theme Show!
10:30PM @ Southwest Theaters, $15
O'Brien's Orchestra returns with their beloved live Rocky Horror shadowcast, this time with an animated characters twist where the cast performs the film dressed as beloved cartoon characters. Prop bags available at the merch table, guided audience participation throughout, and the kind of late-night communal ritual that Austin does with genuine love. Check the Facebook event — dressing up is heavily encouraged.
Other cool stuff happening on Saturday @ WhatsGoodATX !
Sunday, April 26th
ROOTED: An Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony
9:00AM–1:00PM @ Junebug Coffee (2032 S. Lamar Blvd), $28.52
Junebug Coffee hosts a morning that traces coffee all the way back to its origins — a guided Ethiopian coffee ceremony paired with a cupping session and live Afro-jazz. It's a rare chance to experience the ritual context that gave the world its favorite drug, and the South Lamar setting keeps things grounded in the neighborhood. Reserve your seat for a Sunday morning worth waking up for.
Grains for Grounds Fest: ATX Climate Week Wrap Party
3:00PM – 6:00PM @ Fast Friends Beer Co, FREE!
Austin's Climate Week closes out with a community celebration at Fast Friends Beer Company — living soil, local beer, and the collective exhale of a week of environmental action. It's a mini eco-fest with volunteer appreciation energy, the kind of low-key Sunday afternoon gathering that actually builds the city.
Analysis of Magick in Theory and Practice: Chapter 12
3:00PM @ Genuine Joe Coffeehouse (2525 W. Anderson Ln.), FREE!
A reading group working through Aleister Crowley's Magick in Theory and Practice as preparation for performing rituals as a collective body. Chapter 12. This is not metaphorical. The coffee shop setting is deeply Austin. Event on Facebook.
Sip Texas: A Celebration of Texas Wines
12:30PM @ Wanderlust East, $55+
Austin Wine Week sends it out with a tasting event featuring 20+ Texas and Mexican wineries, curated bites from local chefs, and the winemakers themselves on hand to talk shop. Texas wine has been quietly getting excellent, and this is the room where that becomes undeniable. Full event info and tickets here.
Asian Season ATX 2026: AAPI Month Kickoff
12pm - 5pm @ Austin Beerworks Sprinkle Valley, FREE!
Kick off AAPI Heritage Month at Asian Season ATX's takeover of Austin Beerworks' Sprinkle Valley, featuring a one-day pop-up gallery, live performances, and a packed artisan market with 50+ AAPI vendors — from ceramics and handmade jewelry to specialty baked goods and street food. The sprawling venue includes a dog park, kids' playground, and disc golf course, making it a perfect afternoon for the whole crew.
Fool Hearty: The Sun
4:00PM @ Captain Quack's Bakery and Coffeehouse, FREE!
This live pop-up performance series builds each show around a single Tarot archetype, and today it's The Sun — a card of joy, vitality, and celebration that feels exactly right for late April. Various artists present original work inspired by the theme in the cozy, slightly surreal setting of a bakery-coffeehouse. Pay what you can, bring an open mind. Event details on Facebook.
Cigar Rolling Class at Bobalu Cigar Company
1:00PM – 5:00PM @ Bobalu Cigar Co. (8501 Burnet Rd), $50
Learn freehand cigar rolling from experienced rollers at one of Austin's few remaining premium cigar shops — you'll leave having rolled two cigars by hand using actual bunching and wrapping technique, not a gimmick. It's a four-hour, tactile Sunday afternoon for people who appreciate craft. Get your spot here.
ATX Queer Book Fair
5:00PM–9:00PM @ Cheer Up Charlies, FREE!
Local indie bookstores BookWoman, Birdhouse Books, and Book Burrow converge at Austin's beloved queer bar for a Scholastic Book Fair energy, but make it gay. Browse curated queer lit, hear readings from trans and queer writers including author Jules Wernersbach (whose novel about an Austin grocery store union drive is extremely the vibe), sip drinks from the Cheer Up's bartenders, and just hang. Full lineup and details here.
Stripper Church
6:00PM–8:00PM (doors 5:30PM) @ Austin Garden & Studio, $15+
Ginger Snaps Burlesque — voted Best Burlesque Performer in Austin by the Austin Chronicle Reader's Poll for a literal decade — brings her congregation back for a Sunday service unlike any other. Naughty Nuns, Saints, Schoolgirls, and Satanists populate the sermons, and this isn't a sit-and-watch situation: performers get out among the pews to ensure your full and rapt spiritual participation. Grab tickets and salvation here before the pews fill up.
More interesting events on Sunday @ WhatsGoodATX!
A huge shoutout to our amazing WhatsWeirdATX supporters: Dr. Smithersteen von Dubstep, Alesa, Gary, Lily, Olboi, Darien, Anonymouse, Alyssa, Christina J, Nick, Doug Neary, Walker, Lyndsay, Scott B, Jess Rose Clark, Kevin, Crescent Gray, JB, Anthony, Anthony Stokes, Rebekah, Laurie, agnikai, Nick W, Just Jason, Santos, Kat, Britt, Stephanie, LoganJ, Yvette, Connor, Leslie, Praveer, Christina, Emily, tags-09, and /u/runthistownatx!
