Jack-of-all-trades Matthew McConaughey isn’t shy about his love for his alma mater. | Photo via Matthew McConaughey on Instagram
Why are Austinites so proud of our local universities? Because we’ve got a Texas-sized list of notable names to show for it.
In honor of graduation season, let’s take a look at some of the most famous folks who earned their degrees at schools in the Austin area.
University of Texas
Rick Riordan | Class of 1986
Riordan went on to write the “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” books, which were eventually adapted to a two-film series and a TV show.
“Romeo & Juliet” | Friday, May 9-Sunday, May 11 | Times vary | The Long Center | $43+ | Watch as Ballet Austin performs this time-honored tale to the sounds of the Austin Symphony Orchestra.
Saturday, May 10
Cedar Park Kite Festival | 3-7 p.m. | Lakeline Park, Cedar Park | Free | Let your kite soar in the sky at this dog-friendly event with food truck eats and live music.
Sunday, May 11
Mother’s Day Concert | 7-8 p.m. | South Steps of the State Capitol | Free | Head to the heart of Downtown for a special performance by Austin Symphonic Band.
Monday, May 12
Scorpio Full Moon Yoga + Dreamy Sound Bath | 8-9:30 p.m. | Wild Heart Yoga | $40 | Flow underneath oak trees in the light of the full moon — arrive early for a one-on-one tarot reading.
Tuesday, May 13
Motogarden | 6-8 p.m. | Central Machine Works | Cost of purchase | Bring your motorcycle to this meetup or check out the rides while you sip a cold beer.
Wednesday, May 14
Empire of the Sun | 7 p.m. | Moody Amphitheater | $169+ | Get ready to dance at the electronic music duo’s “Ask That God” tour stop.
Westside Market, a new MML Hospitality concept from the folks behind ByGeorge, is set to open in June on West 6th Street. The multi-brand marketplace will feature apparel, florals, art, decor, coffee, and “everything in between.”
Number
$100 million. That’s how much the University of Texas System Board of Regents will invest in a permanent home for the School of Civic Leadership. It’ll be used to renovate UT’s Biological Laboratories building, which should be ready for move-in in 2028.
Concert
We feel like “Royals,” because Lorde chose Austin to kick off her “Ultrasound” tour this fall. Tickets for the show on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at the Moody Center will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 16.
Outdoors
The Trail Conservancy will celebrate the opening of a new fishing pier at Holly Shores during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. tomorrow, May 10. Expect free snacks and live music at the site, which also features new lighting, seating, and native plant restoration.
Biz
Extra, extra — The Texas Tribune acquired The Austin Monitor, a nonprofit, digital-only news organization covering Austin City Hall. The Monitor plans to change its name this fall, hire more full-time employees, and move its staff from a co-working space to The Texas Tribune’s office on Congress Avenue.
Festival
The 2025 ACL Festival lineup by day has arrived. Hozier and Luke Combs will perform on Friday, Sabrina Carpenter and The Strokes will take the stage on Saturday, and Doja Cat and John Summit are Sunday’s headliners. One-day tickets are on sale now.
Ranked
Austin is the No. 1 city in the US for barbecue, according to Yelp... but we already knew that. The new list highlighted restaurants like Terry Black’s Barbecue, Micklethwait Craft Meats, Interstellar BBQ, and Salt Lick BBQ. Find more local picks in our guide to Austin barbecue.
Open
Longtime local business Monkey See, Monkey Do! has officially reopened in its new home. The toy shop, which spent 20 years on South Congress Avenue, features free parking and more space to browse in its new store on Menchaca Road. (Community Impact)
Sports
Hey, batter, batter — The Astros will go into tonight’s game against the Cincinnati Reds with an 18-18 record. Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Houston Astros with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Announced
Spots in our 2025 Parents’ Gift Guide are full ahead of Mother’s Day. Luckily for you, we’ve added a few more for Father’s Day. Hurry — save 20% with code PGG2025 when you secure your spot now.
Job
We’re hiring. If you love digital media, hate boring jobs, and think Texas is the best place on Earth — we want you. 6AM City is growing fast, and we need a sales executive who can talk the talk and walk the walk. Let’s build something big, together. We offer competitive salary, benefits, and more. Apply now.
Tech
AI won’t take over the world — people who know how to use AI will. Subscribe to Superhuman AI for free and learn AI skills in just three minutes a day.*
Category
Biz
❤️ Small business, big impact
HarperSage staff said Austin’s small business scene is unique for its variety of local apparel designers. | Photo courtesy HarperSage
What makes Austin’s small business scene special? We asked the question, and small business owners and employees across Austin answered.
By the way, don’t forget to take advantage of Small Business Week deals across the city through Saturday, May 10.
Moya and Colin McIntyre, Stargazer + Springdale Station
“People in Austin love local businesses, they want to know that their favorite bar or restaurant is owned by a real human who lives and works in Austin and who cares about our community.”
Carsen Russell, Alcott Candles
“Small business owners in Austin are so supportive and always trying to help each other out. There is truly a mentality of a rising tide lifts all boats among Austin small business owners.”
Support small businesses and artisans across the country when you shop Amazon Handmade. The marketplace features thousands of unique products and gifts, like this etched rolling pin that can transform your homemade baked goods into genuine works of art.
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