Mike Judge’s contribution to pop culture has come so far that you can even try his show’s famous beer in real life. | Photo by Vbrunophotog via OpenVerse
You might as well call Austin “little Hollywood,” because the Capital City is home to a ton of celebs.
Many of these people live a fast-paced lifestyle, so it’s unlikely you’re going to run into them at your neighborhood H-E-B, but it’s nice to know they’re here.
Mike Judge | The co-creator of “King of the Hill” and voice of Hank Hill spends his between the Austin area and Santa Monica, CA.
Richard Linklater | The filmmaker and founder of the Austin Film Society has been living in Austin for more than 40 years, so it’s not a surprise that his works like “Boyhood” and “Dazed and Confused” pay homage to his city.
Gabriel Luna | The actor known for his work as Tommy in “The Last of Us” was born and raised in Austin, studied at St Edward’s University, and loves showing off the city on his Instagram.
Christy Carlson Romano | What’s the sitch? The “Kim Possible” Disney star-turned-podcaster traded in Hollywood for ATX in 2020, bringing her two daughters and husband along with her.
Backyard BBQ: Asado BBQ Night | 6 p.m. | Meanwhile Brewing Co. | $63+ | Enjoy bites from Cuyo, Discada, and La Volta, cold beer, a vendor market, a DJ set, and tunes from Los Gatos 512.
Jourdain Fisher | Friday, Aug. 1-Saturday, Aug. 2 | Times vary | Capitol City Comedy Club | $26+ | You may recognize this comedian from his appearances on Comedy Central, “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,” and sets at SXSW.
Saturday, Aug. 2
Revive & Thrive | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Hotel Magdalena | Free+ with RSVP | Get in on some wellness exercises, try breathwork, enjoy some healthy snacks, and recharge.
SMOKE: Masters of the Flavor BBQ Showdown | 5-9 p.m. | Omni Barton Creek Resort and Spa | $225 | It’s a flavor smackdown between pitmasters in Texas and Oklahoma — may the best state win.
Billy Currington and Kip Moore | 5:30-10 p.m. | Moody Amphitheater | $55+ | The “Pretty Good at Drinkin’ Beer” singer will be joined by the “Somethin’ Bout a Truck” singer in this night of country music.
“Miss Congeniality” | 7 p.m. | The Paramount Theatre | $12 | Celebrate 25 years of this film, which follows an FBI agent who goes undercover as a beauty pageant contestant.
Brit Floyd | 8 p.m. | ACL Live at The Moody Theater | $34+ | Fans of Pink Floyd won’t want to miss this show, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of “Wish You Were Here” with a laser show.
Brunch Cocktail Class | 12-2 p.m. | Desert Door Distillery, Driftwood | $70 | Shake, stir, sip, and savor three cocktails made with sotol and make some new friends while you’re at it.
“A League Of Their Own” | 3 p.m. | The Paramount Theatre | $12 | Tom Hanks, Madonna, Geena Davis, Lori Petty, and Rosie O’Donnell star in this film about a women’s professional baseball league as soldiers are sent overseas for WWII.
“Robocop” + “Starship Troopers” | 7 p.m. | The Paramount Theatre | $12 | Step into sci-fi heaven with this action-packed double feature.
Catch this magical performance at Zach Theater. | Photo by Melissa Taylor
Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.
Buckle up for a re-imagined, fully immersive journey over the rainbow as “The Wizard of Oz” comes to life in Zach360 style, on stage Aug. 13–Sept. 21.
This uniquely Austin take on the classic tale features a Dust Bowl-era cowboy band, a glittering mirror ball, and a world that surrounds you at every turn. Whether you’re a kid or just young at heart, follow the yellow brick road to this magical, memory-making musical only at Zach Theater.
Austin home prices dropped more than any other major metro area in the last year, plummeting by 4.9%, according to Realtor.com. The median list price currently sits at $511,000, and experts say the drop can be attributed to decreased demand and a “need-to-sell” air among owners.
Announced
A teeny-tiny, 1,000-sqft IKEA will open up this fall inside south Austin’s Best Buy along Highway 290. The initiative is part of a pilot program to showcase appliances inside realistic living spaces, and will only appear in 10 Best Buy stores nationwide. (CultureMap)
Arts
The City of Austin is calling on aspiring local artists from kindergarten to 8th grade to submit artwork for its 2026 Emergency Preparedness Calendar. If you know any youngsters with a knack for creativity, they can submit pieces here by Friday, Aug. 15.
Try This
Vegemite espresso martini — we bet you’ve never had that combo before. Australian cafe Citizens All Day hired Vittorio Murcada as its first Chief Vegemite Officer, leading to Austin-exclusive menu additions like vegemite ramen, a vegemite grilled cheese, and a vegemite espresso martini that you can try.
The Word
Donk Toss. It’s a wacky backyard game — kinda like a cross between cornhole + water bottle flipping, but with inflatable toy donkeys — created by Austin-based Purple Bee Studios. After the game makes its TV debut on ESPN2’s “The Ocho” thisSaturday, Aug. 2 at 10 p.m., folks will be able to buy their own Donk Toss kits.
Drink
Shipwreck’d, the pirate-themed pop-up bar that has transformed The Eleanor, has been extended through Sunday, Aug. 31. Make a reservation and don’t forget to dress up as a pirate for 10% off your tab.
Sports
The SEC is well-represented in the Top 100 College Football Player Rankings, but how often do Texas players appear? Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the SEC with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Edu
For those seeking out loan options for upcoming semester expenses, check out College Ave. They offer private education loans starting at 3.19% APR — plus a simple application process, flexible options, and highly-rated customer service.*
Job
Are you the one we’re looking for? We’re on the hunt for a sales-driven leader to help us land significant brand partnerships at a national scale as a Sales Executive. From a competitive benefits package to 401k matching, we’re a pretty amazing company to work for. Join our team and apply today.
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City Guide
The nearby city of Round Rock is home to a bat maternity colony. | Photo via Texas Parks & Wildlife
We’ve all been there: Someone’s trying to give you directions by describing 10 lefts, 20 rights, and a jumble of cardinal directions. Isn’t it easier to just point out a landmark?
We rounded up 25 of the most recognizable Austin landmarks — from Pennybacker Bridge to the plethora of moontowers. Not only are these local icons easy to remember, but they’ll also get you where you need to go in a jiffy.
Willie Nelson Statue
The 8-ft-tall Willie Nelson statue was unveiled at 4:20 p.m. on April 20, 2013.
Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial Statue
Located at the site of many of the beloved guitarist’s concerts, the bronze statue was erected near the shores of Lady Bird Lake in 1993.
“Jeremiah the Innocent” Mural
The other-worldly frog asking “Hi, How Are You” was painted by artist Daniel Johnston in 1993. Today, it’s a historical landmark and has been preserved, even though the building around it was torn down.
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 loved seeing the chefs at work when I attended Meanwhile Brewing Co.'s Backyard BBQ last week. You have three more chances to attend the pop-up event and sample curated dishes from some of Austin’s top restaurants with a beer in hand — I highly recommend bringing a few friends and staying for awhile.
