You can support Austin’s theater scene completely for free, the same way Austinites have for more than half a century.
Photo courtesy Zilker Theatre Productions
Zilker Theatre Productions is hosting its annual free summer musical for the 66th year in a row.
“Bring It On: The Musical” is playing at 8:15 p.m. Thursday-Sunday, now through Aug. 16 at Beverly S. Sheffield Zilker Hillside Theater. Oh, and it’s completely free to attend.
An Evening with Gordon Korman | 6 p.m. | BookPeople | Free with RSVP | Learn more about the story of a boy who begins following crimes in town while stuck at home.
“Avatar: The Last Airbender” Trivia | 7-9 p.m. | Upstairs at Caroline | Cost of purchase | Water, earth, fire, air — show your knowledge of all four elements to win prizes.
Tuesday, July 15
David Grissom | 6-7:30 p.m. | The Saxon Pub | Free | The legendary local musician — who has performed with the likes of Chris Isaak and Ringo Starr — will provide the tunes.
Wednesday, July 16
Of Montreal | 8 p.m. | Radio/East | $34 | The band behind “Gronlandic Edit” will share the stage with Bijoux Cone.
Thursday, July 17
Esha Tewari | 8 p.m. | ACL Live at 3Ten | $32 | The up-and-coming folk singer-songwriter will be joined by Rin.
Sunday, July 27
Chris Isaak | 7 p.m. | The Paramount Theatre | $45+ | It’s not a “Wicked Game” — the Platinum-selling musician and Lifetime Achievement Award-winner will perform his tunes in ATX.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport travelers left their shoes on through the TSA checkpoint for the first time in nearly 20 years this week. The nationwide change aims to streamline TSA ahead of major events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Summer Olympics. You should still probably arrive two hours early, though. (USA Today)
Watch
It seems Texans love tuning in to “Fixer Upper.” That’s the state’s most popular HGTV show, according to a recent study. If you’re ready to turn off the TV and do some house hunting of your own, you might want to explore Bouldin Creek.
History
It might feel like Y2K was just yesterday, but we’re officially closer to 2050 than we are to 2000. While we have no idea what’s in store for the next 25 years, we are looking forward to these local events in the next couple of weeks. (Buzzfeed)
The Word
“Fridge cigarette.” A snack or drink — most often a Diet Coke — used as an excuse for a short break, akin to a smoke break. If you’re going to join the trend, might as well head to a local farmers market and stock the fridge with some healthy snacks. (Today)
Eat
McDonald’s is spicing up its menu and bringing the summer heat with new Spicy McMuffin breakfast sandwiches — made with all the classic ingredients + spicy pepper sauce. Can’t make it before the 10:30 a.m. cutoff? Try these brunch spots around Austin instead.
Mansion Monday
Don’t let this property fool you into thinking it’s a mountain estate — it’s right here in the Hill Country. With floor-to-ceiling windows, panoramic views of the lake, a turfed rooftop deck, and a multi-million dollar price cut, this home is perfect for an indoor-outdoor lifestyle.
Correction
We mistakenly included last year’s Zilker Theatre Production in Friday’s newsletter. This year’s production is “Bring It On: The Musical” — learn more about it above.
Sports
Canadian basketball player Kelly Olynyk is the Spurs’ newest addition. Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the San Antonio Spurs with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Holiday
Need Labor Day weekend plans? Omni Barton Creek Resort is bringing the vibes with two nights of live music + local flavor. Cory Morrow kicks things off Friday, and Sunday’s Barton Fest wraps it up with bites, sips + a set by Ruthie Craft — snag 20% off your stay when you book ahead.*
Asked
What’s hard, shiny, pretty, and projected to be valued at $4,000 per ounce in 2026? See the answer.†*
The airport is currently undergoing a lengthy expansion process. | Photo by Dan Herron
Traveling via plane is fun — jet-setting over beautiful blue waters or rolling hills, taking in cloud formations, and landing in a completely different location in a matter of hours is unlike anything else.
We’ve created a guide that covers everything from gates and parking to details on the airport’s 100+ nonstop flights.
Nonstop flights
Amsterdam, Netherlands | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays
Charleston | Southwest Airlines | Daily
Frankfurt, Germany | Lufthansa | Daily
Mexico City, Mexico | Aeromexico | Daily
Food + Drink
JuiceLand | Near gate 17 | This longtime Austin staple is the perfect place to get vitamin-packed smoothies, cold-pressed juices, and fruit bowls.
The Peached Tortilla | Near gate 17 | This Asian fusion restaurant offers Banh Mi tacos, tempura onion rings, and vegetarian bowls.
Second Bar + Kitchen | Near gate 16 | If you’ve got the time for a sit-down meal, grab some upscale American fare and creative cocktails.
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.
A word of warning if you plan on attending this “Avatar: The Last Airbender” trivia night — you’ll have to contend with me.
I’m a huge fan of the show and almost named my second cat Momo in honor of it. Instead, he’s named after Ralph Wiggum from “The Simpsons” and Ralph Cifaretto from “The Sopranos” (for when he’s being bad).
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