How would you describe Austin’s personality? | Photo by @jorgeee_ochoa
Just like Jon Bon Jovi, we’re halfway there. Woah.
At 12 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2, we hit the exact midpoint between the start and end of 2025. That got us thinking: How can we make the second 182.5 days better than the first?
Make friends | Whether you’re a born and bred Austinite or a transplant to our beautiful city, there are plenty of ways to make friends here. Our guide will direct you to classes, one-of-a-kind experiences, and volunteering opportunities.
Get active | If you made a resolution to exercise in 2025, we want to help you achieve your goals with our guides to local gyms, run clubs, and pickleball courts.
Explore your city | Last but certainly not least, we all love finding a new spot around town to refresh our routine + add some variation to our weekends. Luckily for you, our restaurant roundup is updated monthly with the buzziest new eateries in ATX.
Asked
Asked
Let’s settle this once and for all. Is a hot dog a sandwich?
A. Sure, why not? B. No. What is wrong with you? C. No — it’s a taco. D. It’s something else.
July 4th Parade and Frontier Days | 8:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m. | Old Settlers Park, Round Rock | Cost of purchase | Get in on the annual tradition with a 1.5-mile parade along Mays Street, a pepper eating contest, pig races, fireworks, and free goodies.
Lobster & Friends | 12-8:30 p.m. | Launderette | $78+ | Celebrate summer with the seventh annual seafood boil menu dine-in or to-go from the James Beard nominated restaurant.
Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic and Fireworks | 4 p.m. | Germania Insurance Amphitheater, Del Valle | $57+ | This beloved annual tradition will treat Austinites to sets from Bob Dylan, The Avett Brothers, The Mavericks, Tami Nelson, Asleep at the Wheel, and the incomparable Willie Nelson.
Independence Day Festival | 4-10 p.m. | Hill Country Galleria, Bee Cave | Cost of purchase | Head to the Hill Country for live music, face painting, and fireworks to end the day.
Saturday, July 5
Bob Schneider | 6-11 p.m. | Haute Spot, Cedar Park | $25+ | Keep the long weekend lively with a performance from the Austin-based musician.
“2001: A Space Odyssey” | 7 p.m. | The Paramount Theatre | $12 | Stanley Kubrick’s groundbreaking film will hit the screen in 70mm.
Sunday, July 6
Art Pop-Up at Kendra Scott: Pottery Painting | 10-10:50 a.m. | Kendra Scott Flagship | $35 | Join the jewelry purveyor and Inspired Minds Art Center to paint a trinket dish or whiskey tumbler.
Airplant Zen Garden Workshop | 4-5 p.m. | Succulent Native | $50 | Design your own mini garden for a moment of pure peace.
Independence Day. America has been celebrating this day for 259 years since the Declaration of Independence was formally adopted on July 4, 1776. Round up the kids, friends, or just yourself and head to one of these events.
Weather
Don’t let the rain put a damper on your spirits, but tonight’s fireworks may end up competing with precipitation. Though there is a 40% chance of thunderstorms in the day, it’s currently expected to lighten up by the evening. (KVUE)
Traffic
If you’re hitting the roads today, you might want to look at some alternative routes. There will be more than 20 road closures in the Downtown area — check out where they are and how to avoid them.
Opening
The long-awaited, Dallas-based coffee shop La La Land Kind Cafe opens today on South Congress Avenue. The cafe, where kindness is central to its ethos, will offer 50% off drinks + toasts, plus goodies and giveaways to celebrate its ATX debut.
Outdoors
A limited portion of Hamilton Pool is open to swimmers once again. The natural pool has been closed due to rain and high bacteria levels since early June, so remember to make a reservation if you want to visit. (KXAN)
Trending
Itching to get your hands on a Labubu? You may have to wait in line.Local retailers like Parker + Scott, Blue Diamond Boutique, and Ellicor carry the viral little monster dolls and have seen hours-long lines to purchase them. Be careful not to accidentally purchase a fake — aka a “Lafufu” — if you are on the hunt. (KXAN)
Try This
Have a brew like it’s 1952. Meanwhile Brewing Co. is celebrating the 73rd birthday of Matt’s El Rancho with a new beer called “1952,” which will be available in both locations starting on Monday, July 7. The lager is inspired by Tex-Mex and brewed with maize, honey, and lime. (Austin American-Statesman)
Sports
The Rockets might be planning to trade Cam Whitmore — where does that leave the team? Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Houston Rockets with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Category
Food
🎂 Get the party started
What’s better than cake on your birthday? A free slice of cakefrom SusieCakes. | Photo by ATXtoday
Happy birthday, feliz cumpleaños, joyeux anniversaire. Today is America’s birthday, and we want to share the celebration.
Everything is better when it’s free — and best when it’s free on your birthday. Keep this (mostly) local list of freebies in mind when your own birthday comes around.
Eats • Torchy’s Tacos | Rewards members can get a surprise birthday reward and free half order of queso just for joining.
Treats • Amy’s Ice Creams | Sign up for the Scoop Group email newsletter for a free scoop of your choice during your birthday week.
Things • Kendra Scott | Get your bling on with 25%-50% off any one item in the store during your birthday month — simply show your ID and sign up for rewards.
Coco & Eve’s award-winning hair mask. It’s formulated with clean ingredients like coconut, fig, and shea butter to provide instant frizz reduction and maximum shine.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
I’m actually celebrating four birthdays this weekend: my mom, my aunt, my cousin, and his fiancée. According to FiveThirtyEight, July is the second most common birth month in the US, just slightly less than August.
}})
