Let’s reminisce on our favorite moments from SXSW 2025 together. | Photo by ATXtoday
The crowds have cleared, the dust has settled, and at last, we’ve caught up on sleep.
Now that South by Southwest 2025 is in the rearview, it’s time to reflect. Here are 25 big and small moments from our experience at this year’s festival that made it one for the books.
No. 1
Suddenly, we want all of our clothing to be custom spray-painted.
Photo by ATXtoday
Visiting the São Paulo House, where we drank green juice, ordered lattes, and watched artists create spray-painted bucket hats.
No. 2
Director Margaret Brown said “The Yogurt Shop Murders” should debut on HBO sometime this summer.
Photo by ATXtoday
Gluing our eyes to the screen for the premiere of “The Yogurt Shop Murders"— which follows an Austin cold case — at ZACH Theatre. Afterward, “Dazed and Confused” director Richard Linklater moderated a Q+A with the HBO docuseries director Margaret Brown.
No. 3
Eating Barbie birthday cake mochi for breakfast. The pop-up was in the SXSW Registrant Lounge, where badge holders can get one free drink daily, check out brand activations, and chill between sessions.
Inhaler | 7 p.m. | Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater | $34+ | Catch a show from the Irish rock band on their “Open Wide” tour with special guest Benches.
Wednesday, March 19
Vinyasa Flow | 10-11 a.m. | Zilker Botanical Garden | $15 | Bring your yoga mat and water bottle to move your body, meditate, and practice breathwork.
“The Thorn” | Wednesday, March 19-Thursday, March 20 | 7 p.m. | Bass Concert Hall | $40+ | The immersive show, described as “cirque meets the Passion,” blends live music, aerial acts, modern dance, and special effects.
“Bob & Jean: A Love Story” | Wednesday, March 19-Saturday, April 19 | Times vary | ZACH Theatre | $25 | This true love story, set in 1941 New York City, is the work of an Austin native and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and based on his parents’ lives.
Nakia & The Never Not Now | 9:30 p.m. | C-Boy’s Heart & Soul | $12 | This local band has a new weekly residency at the SoCo club, so come ready to boogie.
Thursday, March 20
Gino Vannelli | 8 p.m. | The Paramount Theatre | $30+ | The contemporary singer-songwriter has 21 albums and 40 years of performances under his belt, and he’ll soon bring his talents to the ATX stage.
Friday, March 21
LSU Tigers vs. Texas Longhorns Baseball | 7 p.m. | UFCU Disch-Falk Field | $50+ | Snag a seat to see the two college teams battle on the diamond in the heart of the city.
“The Wild Robot” | 7-10 p.m. | Community First! Village | Free | Bring your lawn chairs and picnic blankets to a free screening of the 2024 film, where popcorn, candy, and drinks are available for purchase.
Fire crews are still battling the Crabapple Fire, a 9,500-acre wildfire near Fredericksburg that broke out on Saturday. If you’re looking for ways to help those affected, consider donating to the Crabapple Fire Relief Fund. (KVUE)
Opening
1972 Pub, the Capital City’s first women’s sports bar, will host a grand opening party from 4 to 11 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19. The family-friendly venue, located near UT Austin’s campus, will exclusively air women’s sports while offering a food menu + weekend brunch. (KUT)
Coming Soon
Houston-based Hearsay Gastro Lounge will open a new location on Colorado Street in Downtown Austin. The American cuisine restaurant chain, which currently has five locations in HTX, prides itself on its playlists and “chic antique” decor. (Austin Business Journal)
Biz
Framebridge is set to launch a second storefront in the Capital City. After debuting its first Texas location on 38th Street last year, the custom framing brand will bring a new, 1,126-sqft store to South Lamar Boulevard in May. (Community Impact)
Outdoors
Barton Springs Pool is open again following a two-week closure for its annual spring cleaning. The $5 resident fee is back for the summer season, but admission is only charged from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., so early morning and late night swims are free.
Closing
It’s your last chance to shop at Forever 21 in Barton Creek Square, which is the fashion chain’s last remaining Austin store. The company filed for bankruptcy and will close all locations nationwide by Thursday, May 1. (KXAN)
Sports
The Longhorns will open up the NCAA Tournament tomorrow with a game against the Xavier Musketeers. Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Texas Longhorns with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Correction
SXSW may be getting two days shorter, but its music festival is actually getting one day longer. Previous reports incorrectly stated that the music track would be trimmed, but actually, the Interactive, Film & TV, and Music Conferences will all run concurrently over the week instead of being staggered.
Travel
The opposite of sticker shock? Going’s free travel membership, which alerts you when flights leaving your airport are 40-90% off. You’re welcome.*
Community
Do you have a favorite restaurant? What about a pet-friendly spot? We want you to use your voice + passion for local biz and vote for ATXtoday’s Best. Voting ends Friday, Apr. 25.
Stat
0%. That’s how much interest this card offers into 2026 — no wonder experts call it “hands down” one of “the best balance transfer cards."*
Outdoors
With spring comes outdoor concerts + music festivals — luckily, these hearing aids are the world’s first with multi-stream processing, designed to help you engage in conversations effortlessly (even in noisy environments, like that must-see show).*
Category
Real Estate
📊 By the numbers
Active listings are up, giving buyers more options and negotiating power. | Photo by ATXtoday
Curious about the Austin housing market? Whether you’re buying, selling, or renting, February’s data reveals key trends to know.
A new Unlock MLS report shows home prices are cooling while rental costs are lowering slightly. The report compares data from February 2024 to February 2025, covering single-family homes, condos, and townhomes.
Take a look at the numbers shaping Austin’s real estate landscape.
Sales
The median sales price dropped to $430,000 — a 3.9% decrease.
Active listings jumped 16.7% to 10,235.
3,826 new listings hit the market — a 6.5% spike.
The total sales dollar volume fell 4.9% to $1.05 billion.
Leases
The median rent dipped 2.4% to $2,195.
Active leases rose 3.5% to 3,899, while new leases dropped 2% to 2,036.
The total lease dollar volume was $4.35 million — a 6.2% decrease.
The Buy
The Buy
A reusable, exfoliating soap bag. Slip any soap bar into this bag and use it like a body scrubber to get a rich, soapy lather fast.
You’ve read our fondest memories from SXSW 2025, now watch them come to life in a video compilation I made to recap our experience. Be sure to turn up the volume.
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