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The goats have returned! Down on the Butler Trail, The Trail Conservancy has brought its herd of goats back on the clock, munching through poison ivy and invasive brush for the next three to four weeks. If you don’t already know, the goats shrug off the urushiol oil that gives us humans miserable rashes, their guts destroy most of the seeds they swallow so nothing re-sprouts, and they even have to pass a little qualifying test to prove they'll eat the right plants before they make the herd (!) Go catch ‘em before they have to move on to the next work area 🐐
Meanwhile on Town Lake, an end has come to the.weeks of frustration from local businesses along the water. The waterways ban that shut things down since mid-July was finally lifted, and while businesses like Austin Duck Adventures took a real hit, all that floodgate water flushed the weeds out of the lake. The water is the clearest it's been in a long while, so get out there, go paddle and get a marg nearby afterwards.
On Thursday morning, DPS troopers made a traffic stop at César Chávez and Guadalupe and called in ICE, who reportedly detained four construction workers just steps from the building where the City Council was holding its final budget feedback meeting. The timing turned up the intensity on an already fiery budget fight. The proposed spending plan hands APD an extra twenty-five million while trimming social services, all against the backdrop of the fatal police shooting of seventeen-year-old Anthoneil Williams and the city's earlier decision to soften its ICE policy under funding pressure from Governor Abbott. The final vote happens this week.
The city is also debating whether to rename César Chávez Street itself, following abuse allegations that surfaced in March. Three feedback sessions start tomorrow, and nothing’s decided yet! So if you have an opinion, this is your window to be heard. There are three feedback sessions: The first is today, August 11th, from 5 - 7pm at the Central Library on West César Chávez. The second is Saturday, August fifteenth, from 2 - 4pm at Sanchez Elementary. There’s also a virtual Zoom session on August 18th.
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Guy Fieri is headed back to town for a Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Triple D Nation episode premiering August 14, featuring what sounds like a local taquería expanding to multiple locations with quesabirria, steak, and chorizo tacos (the smart money says it's Onetaco). Meanwhile, Deep End Subs owner Chef Andy Todd is on the hunt for a brick-and-mortar space, ideally something with a small dining room and a drive-thru, while keeping his Highland trailer in full operation. "We've never wanted to be the biggest sandwich shop in Austin, just one of the best," he posted. "We just need a little more room to do it." Over on the Drag, Dallas-based Neko Yubu is bringing Korean stuffed tofu to its first Austin location near UT.
Turf N' Surf, the seafood spot tucked inside Lavaca Street Bar downtown, closed after 16 years, with the owner pointing to the shuttered Convention Center and a downtown office vacancy rate that's jumped to roughly 20% since 2019. And in a moment of raw honesty, Rollin' Smoke pitmaster Kyle Stallings took to social media to ask customers to swing by, admitting that despite the "killing it" image on Instagram, summer has been brutal and the truck could genuinely use some new regulars. On a warmer note, JewBoy Burgers is running the Dog Days August special: an elote-inspired burger crowned with a corn fritter loaded with white cheddar, cotija, sour cream, lime, cilantro, and spices, with a dollar from each sale going to Keep Austin Fed, which rescues surplus restaurant food and redistributes it to fight food insecurity. Rounding things out, Small's Pizza paused its beloved bagel program on August 9, though they'll still pop up "every once in a while when … feeling cheeky", and Central Market's Hatch Chile Celebration is running through August 19 for anyone who needs their annual fix.
This week, we have haiku deathmatches, drunk Shakespeare, Soviet contraband electronics, a witches market inside a dive bar, and a LARP where you fight a revenge-seeking Rat King at a fantasy tavern. Not to mention a downright spooky and cinematic Saturday! Make sure to click on through for the full list.
Tuesday, Aug 11th
The Rabbit Hole by TSC
6:30 PM @ Celis Brewery, FREE!
Everyone shows up with a quirky obsession (cult documentaries, the architecture of airports, whatever's been rattling around your skull) and slaps it on a nametag as conversation bait. Hosted by The Second Course as an experiment in rethinking adult learning, it's speed-friendship for the incurably curious.
Soviet DIY Electronics
7 PM @ 2410 San Antonio St, FREE!
A cyberpunk salon devoted to Soviet-era gadgetry: illegal radios, black-market computers, and homebrew synthesizers, framed around the ethos of building your own tech under a regime that would rather you didn't. Pull up a chair and geek out over contraband circuitry with the kind of crowd that finds beauty in a smuggled transistor.
Author Talk with Jack Friday
7 PM @ The Little Gay Shop
Killer Vibes author Jack Friday sits down with The Little Gay Book Club for a conversation about books, queer belonging, and what it takes to be a perfect CI. Lite bites and drinks provided at this cozy, community-minded corner of East Austin — a warm, bookish counterpoint to the usual Tuesday noise.
Two-Step Tuesday: Honky-Tonk Dance Lessons + Live Music
6 PM @ Sagebrush - $10 cash cover, 21+
The Austin Chronicle's pick for Best Two-Stepping Lessons runs beginner at 6, intermediate at 7, and live music from Hayden Butler after — no partner needed, all people welcome. Ten bucks covers lessons and the band, and $7 gets you a Lone Star plus a whiskey shot to loosen the hips.
Free Pint of Ice Cream w/ Donation
12 PM @ We Are Blood Donor Centers
From August 1–14, everyone who rolls up their sleeve to donate blood or platelets scores a free pint of Blue Bell; the most Texan bribe imaginable during a notoriously lean stretch for the regional supply. Your pint helps stock over 50 Central Texas hospitals, so book a spot (walk-ins welcome) and save up to three lives for the price of a brain freeze.
More interesting events on Tuesday @ WhatsGoodATX!
Wednesday, Aug 12th
Groove Mosaic, Live Music & Wine Wednesday
7pm - 9:30pm @ The Butterfly Bar @ The Vortex, FREE ($10 suggested donation)
Celebrate with Austin-based jazz fusion collective Groove Mosaic as they tear through Stevie Wonder, Roy Hargrove, Chick Corea, and more: then stick around for an open jam session. It's Wine Wednesday, so all wine is 50% off. Donations are matched 1:1 (up to $2,500) through Music to Life, with all proceeds supporting outreach programs for communities experiencing homelessness.
Magnolia Musical Theatre: The Addams Family
8pm @ Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave, FREE!
A full outdoor musical production of The Addams Family — completely free, no tickets required. Magnolia Musical Theatre's 4th annual summer show runs Wednesday through Saturday on the Central Lawn, and it's professional-grade kooky, spooky, altogether ooky entertainment under the stars. Just bring your family, friends, and sense of humor.
The Open Mic and Haiku Deathmatch
7pm – 10pm @ Barrel O’ Fun, $13.54
Get ready to witness poets go full gladiator: but with syllable counts! This wild night of words pairs an open mic with head-to-head haiku battles, where contestants sling 17 syllables of pure fire. Whether you're dropping lines or just cheering from the sidelines, it's competitive literature at its most unhinged.
DRINK AND/OR DRAW at Tiny Minotaur Tavern
7pm – Midnight @ Tiny Minotaur Tavern, $5
Grab your sketchbook (or borrow supplies) and cozy up in an actual fantasy-themed tavern for a casual art night with zero pressure. Roll dice for random art prompts, sip something magical, and let your creative juices flow in "The Rift" — the extradimensional space this tavern supposedly occupies. Costumes purely optional. 21+.
Pee-Wee's Big Adventure at The Paramount
Doors 6:30pm / Show 7:30pm @ Paramount Theatre, $15
Tim Burton's 1985 comic masterpiece gets the big-screen treatment it deserves at one of Austin's most beautiful venues. Watch Pee-Wee Herman embark on his manic cross-country bicycle recovery mission in glorious DCP. Grab your tickets and relive the movie that launched Burton's career — Large Marge scene on a massive screen is worth the price of admission alone.
Belle Bottoms with Abracadabra and The Supernauts
6pm–9pm @ Carousel Lounge, FREE!
Three bands, three hours, zero dollars at Austin's beloved tiny circus-themed bar. Abracadabra opens at 6 with Lady Gaga covers, The Belle Bottoms bring '70s classic rock at 7, and The Supernauts close with '70s hard rock at 8. It's a free cover-band marathon in one of the weirdest little venues in town.
More interesting events on Wednesday @ WhatsGoodATX!
Thursday, Aug 13th
Rock Star Theme Party
7 PM @ The Canary Roost
Channel your inner Freddie Mercury, Stevie Nicks, Prince, or Dolly Parton at this costume-fueled karaoke party with great drinks and a crowd ready to cheer your worst impressions. Whether you go full glam or just throw on some shades and attitude, this is your chance to step into the spotlight.
FREEZERBYRNE by HeartByrne at Hotel Vegas
7 PM–11 PM @ Hotel Vegas Patio, $20 adv / FREE with 4 Freeze Week Punches
HeartByrne picks up where Stop Making Sense left off, breathing new life into Talking Heads classics with vocalist Darin Murphy and lead guitarist Josh Pearson leading some of Austin's most talented musicians through psychedelic funk, art rock, and African rhythms. What started as an informal hoot night has evolved into a must-see touring act.
KPOP Nite: KATSEYE Edition
9 PM @ Highland Lounge, $11.99+
Celebrating KATSEYE's new album WILD! with drag performances by Yvonne D'Amour, Angel Rawze, Leia Sakura, and Tatiana Cholula, followed by a full album listening party and a dance floor takeover with DJ Lavender Thug spinning K-pop fan requests all night. 18+.
Shakespeare But One Of Us Is Drunk: A Midsummer Night's Dream
8 PM @ 2307 Manor Rd - Presented by GOBSMACKED
Six of Austin's best actors tackle Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream with one crucial twist — one cast member gets progressively drunk throughout the performance. It's comedy, live music, magic, and inebriation colliding in a hilarious night of theatrical chaos that Bottom himself would approve of.
Thursday Night Fights: Pro Wrestling at Pinballz
7 PM @ Pinballz Lake Creek
The Waterloo Wrestling Coalition brings Austin's first weekly pro wrestling show to Pinballz Lake Creek, where the biggest and brightest from around the world face off in intense, high-energy matches surrounded by arcade games. It's exactly the kind of chaotic venue pairing this city was made for.
Find more fun stuff on Thursday @ WhatsGoodATX!
Friday, Aug 14th
Eat the Film: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
7PM – 10PM @ Hotel Viata, West Lake Hills, $100.19
Step into a world of pure imagination with Hotel Viata's immersive dining series, pairing a whimsical multi-course meal with the classic film. This is full-on Wonka experience — think themed bites timed to the story in a gorgeous West Lake Hills hotel setting.
Return to Wonderland: An Alice in Wonderland Drag Show
10PM – 12AM @ Valhalla, $12.51
Fall back down the rabbit hole for Phoenix Eterna Celestial's 3-year drag birthday bash — alternative, weird, uniquely queer performances celebrating all things Wonderland. Bring your best Alice character cosplay for the costume contest, win prizes and a free drink. Don't be late for tea.
Foodies & Fears: Dinner with Paranormies Austin
7PM–10PM @ Restaurant provided on RSVP, $17.85
A dinner-with-strangers series specifically for locals who love all things horror, supernatural, and paranormal. Grab a seat at the table, share your spookiest story, and bond over food and the unexplained with fellow weirdos. Tickets here; the dinner table awaits your tale.
The Dog Days of Summer Market
7PM–11PM @ Buzz Mill, FREE!
The Austin Mystical Market returns with local artists, practitioners, and all your favorite woo — plus a Best Dressed Dog Competition at 9PM. Grand prize is a $150 gift card to Paws on Chicon, runner-up gets free dog washes. Start planning your pup's outfit now and join the mystical mayhem at Buzz Mill.
Let's Fund Good: Harry Styles Album Party
6PM–9PM @ Hole in the Wall, $10
All four Harry Styles albums cranked to maximum volume start to finish. Sequins, boas, and cowboy hats highly encouraged. The best part: 100% of ticket sales go directly to participating Austin nonprofits, and you choose which one your ticket supports. Part of a summer series funding 24 local organizations through music.
OndaStereo + Easy Compadre! at Sahara Lounge
8PM–1:30AM @ Sahara Lounge - $12 cash / $14 card
Start the night with a full 30+ song tribute to 90s Latin rock legends Soda Stereo, then ride out the rest with Easy Compadre!'s smooth guitar-driven instrumentals and synth-laced dance grooves. Two acts, one incredible night of Latin music for barely the price of a cocktail at the always-vibey Sahara Lounge. Gózalo!
Farmin' Friday at Austin Pinball Collective
7PM @ Austin Pinball Collective
CLASSICS ONLY pinball tournament: that means solid state or earlier machines. Registration at 6:30, first flip at 7PM, with approximately 3 hours of qualifying followed by finals. If you know your way around a Bally or Gottlieb, this is your night. Doors to the collective open at 6.
More amazingness on Friday @ WhatsGoodATX !
Saturday, Aug 15th
SUMMER SLASH
11am – 12am @ Travis County Expo Center, $20, all ages
A killer day of indoor summer horror featuring a vendor market called "The Chopping Mall," screenings of Chopping Mall and Friday the 13th Part III in 3D (glasses provided), live bands including Skatenigs, an 80s horror dance party called Slashdance, a spooky car show with hearses, and a special guest appearance from the original Chainsaw Jerry of Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Ants 2 Year Anniversary Pickleball Tournament
11am - 11pm @ Ants Beer Cave, FREE!
Ants Beer Cave is celebrating two years with an all-day pickleball party featuring free court play from 3-11pm, a tournament with cash prizes ($20 for 3 guaranteed games, 11am-3pm), and $5 beers all day with free samples. Catch a live DJ from 5-10pm, try their new collab hazy IPA with Vacancy Brewing, and dig into pickle-themed beer, marg, and food specials.
Movies in the Park Pride Edition: Death Becomes Her
7pm @ Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park, FREE!
A free outdoor screening of the 1992 camp classic Death Becomes Her kicks off Austin Pride Week with a live DJ set, family-friendly activities, and the official Pride Week announcement. Food and drinks available from local vendors. Community-sponsored so it costs you nothing but a gorgeous evening under the stars.
Coffee Tasting + Pottery Making Workshop
10am–1pm @ Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea, $65.87
Start with a 20-minute curated coffee tasting, then get your hands dirty in a beginner-friendly pottery workshop. The kind of unexpected combo that only makes sense in Austin — caffeine buzz meets creative flow.
Hecate's Bazaar Presents: "Barbarella" Witches Market
Doors 8pm @ Hole in the Wall, FREE!
A full-on nocturnal witches market inside one of Austin's most storied dive bars. Browse oddities, bones, tooth gems, vintage clothing, and pagan-punk wears while a DJ spins from 10pm to midnight, a live band kicks off at 9pm, and burlesque performer Foxxy Lane LeFevre closes it out. Tarot readings available all night.
PowerPints
8pm – 10pm @ The HighBall South Lamar, $6.40
Eight presenters, five minutes each, one PowerPoint, zero rules on topic. PowerPints is the original comedy show where strangers deliver dead-serious slide decks on the most unserious subjects imaginable — drink cheap beer and learn things you never needed to know.
Cirque du So Gay
Doors 6pm, Bell 7pm @ Highland Lounge
Queer wrestling meets drag in this glitter-soaked spectacle where larger-than-life characters throw bodies, tell stories, and blur every line between camp and combat. Kicking off Austin Pride week with unapologetic chaos — no rules, no apologies.
Underground Heavyweights: Mix Master Mike, Rahzel, JS-1, and Henry Invisible
Doors 7pm @ Regal Rooms, $25
A murderers' row of hip-hop legends under one roof. Beastie Boys' turntablist Mix Master Mike, the human beatbox Rahzel, and DJ JS-1 bring turntablism and east coast hip-hop to Austin for one massive night. If you know, you know.
Noir: String Sessions at The Gallery
Three sessions (2pm, 5pm, 8pm) @ The Cathedral ATX, $53+
A string quartet and vocalist Naala perform Debussy, Nina Simone, Billie Eilish, and Chappell Roan in Austin's most striking gallery space. Each session includes a 45-minute cocktail hour with complimentary open bar while you explore work by Austin's top emerging women and nonbinary artists. Dark, lush, and unforgettable.
Everything's Bigger Cabaret
6pm–8pm @ Jackalope South Shore, $12.51 (through Sunday)
"Depressed and hopeless? Turn off the news." This variety show for good people during bad times delivers exactly the kind of cathartic, weird, heart-on-its-sleeve entertainment Austin does best. Multiple acts, unpredictable energy, and a reminder that joy is an act of resistance.
Other cool stuff happening on Saturday @ WhatsGoodATX !
Sunday, Aug 16th
In The Studio with Wander Wild
4pm - 6pm @ 7221 Whispering Winds Dr, $5
An intimate open-house gathering at the studio of Alexis Clukey, hatmaker and founder of Wander Wild, where every hat is handmade and one of a kind. Explore her home studio, watch how custom hats are built from scratch, and join a conversation with fellow makers and creative founders about craft, creative integrity, and building a business that's an extension of who you are. Small bites and drinks provided. RSVP on Luma; space is intentionally limited.
Probably Magic! Magic Variety Show
7pm – 9pm @ Fallout Theater, $19.32
Austin's best magicians gather for a night of impossible illusions, nonstop surprises, and variety acts that promise to leave you genuinely baffled. This isn't your uncle's card trick show — it's a full-blown variety experience where the magic is "probably" real. Under $20 for two hours of wonder is a steal.
The Cookie Crawl
1:30pm–3pm @ The ABGB, $25
Taste your way through a lineup of talented Austin bakers all under one roof at Austin Beer Garden Brewery. Your ticket gets you six cookies from local bakers, a cold craft beer, and a family-friendly atmosphere perfect for discovering your new favorite bakery. Crawl from table to table and pair sugar with suds.
Lego Speed Build Challenge with Krystle Starr
12pm @ Fairmont Austin (PCX Austin) - Varies
LEGO Masters fan-favorite Krystle Starr hosts a live speed build challenge at Austin's brand-new pop culture convention PCX Austin. Grab a set, race the clock, and build in front of a cheering audience. This is part of the larger two-day convention celebrating comics, gaming, cosplay, and collectibles at the Fairmont — so stick around and geek out.
LARP: The Rat King's Revenge
7pm–11pm @ Tiny Minotaur Tavern, $20 members
His royal pestilence THE RAT KING is back and he's furious about that beating you gave him last time. Don your finest fantasy costume (required!) and team up with fellow adventurers at Austin's geekiest tavern for this interactive theater experience where YOU drive the story in real time. Go rogue, form alliances, or just drink mead — your destiny is in your own hands. 21+.
Austin Cantorum: Twilight Choral Meditation
7pm–8pm @ Cherrywood Center, FREE!
Curl up and melt into the sound of centering choral music at this non-religious choral meditation. No mantras, no dogma — just gorgeous voices washing over you in a twilight setting. It's free, it's an hour, and it might be the most peaceful thing you do all month.
Lipstick & Lyrics: School Daze – A 2000s R&B Sing-Along
2pm–6pm @ 7408 Cameron Rd, $17.85
Grab your girls and get ready to belt out every word to the best of 90s & 2000s R&B and Hip-Hop. This throwback sing-along party is equal parts nostalgia trip and vocal workout — think TLC, Aaliyah, Destiny's Child, and Usher at full volume with a room full of people who know every lyric.
City-Wide Vintage Sale
11am–5pm (Sun) @ Palmer Events Center, $10
Austin's largest and longest-running vintage market takes over nearly 45,000 square feet — almost the size of a football field — with vendors from across Texas and beyond. Hunt for mid-century furniture, coveted collectibles, vintage clothing, and the gloriously unexpected. Your admission ticket is good all weekend, and five decades of treasure hunters can't be wrong. Parking $12.
pinponpanpon w/ Yowen, XANAXDREAM, Sewa Choki
7pm–11pm @ 29th Street Ballroom, $15
Tokyo hyperpop sensation pinponpanpon is coming ALL THE WAY FROM JAPAN to melt faces at the 29th Street Ballroom. Expect a chaotic, genre-defying night blending hyperpop, guaracha, R&B, and dance music with support from local acts Yowen, XANAXDREAM, and Sewa Choki. If you like your music loud, weird, and international — wake up, Austin.
Check out some more interesting events for Sunday @ WhatsGoodATX!
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