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Stand aside, Anya Taylor-Joy and Gwyneth Paltrow. Heck, I’ll include Alicia Silverstone in there as well. Get back, ladies, because there’s a new Emma in town. Austin Playhouse presents their own updated Emma, giving that meddling matchmaker a new twist in the old setting. Emma might know what’s best for everybody else, but can she see what’s right in front of her? You probably know the answer, but this guarantees a laugh-a-minute journey along the way. Romance and absurdity – a recipe for greatness. – Cat McCarrey

If you’ve got your ear to the ground vis-à-vis the ongoing Austin Chamber Music Festival (whose many concerts run from June 7 to July 14) then you already know this here’s a show to celebrate. This being their 50th season means the American String Quartet has mastered their self-described “riveting” program of Beethoven and Shostakovich – but wait! There’s more: They’ll also be joined by legendary pianist Anton Nel for an, again self-described, “exuberant” piano quintet featuring ol’ Bobby Schumann’s music. Might as well check austinchambermusic.org to see the whole festival lineup since this level of “riveting” and “exuberant” music is sure to carry across all concerts. – James Scott

Hoo-wee! Does anything feel better than a dip in the pool during a hot Texas summer? While some among us may be privileged to own private watering holes, most of us get to enjoy the great Austin PARD’s work at the 44 public aquatic facilities to choose from this summer. You’ve got regional, neighborhood, and community pools; a wading pool; splash pads; and the crown jewel: Barton Springs. Check austintexas.gov/pools-splashpads for up-to-date info on which pools are open, what their entry fee is, and whether you have what it takes to be a public pool lifeguard. Now, outta the way if you don’t wanna get wet: I’m gonna do a cannonball! – James Scott

Summer seems a natural time for lightness, airiness. There’s a freedom the soul craves. Diana Greenberg’s latest exhibit, on display at Wally Workman, utterly fits those summer vibes. Inspired by nature, her art evokes the breeziness of a hammock in the sun, a picnic in a meadow, the possibilities of a bright sunny day. That’s perfectly complemented by the art’s pastel palette, pearly pinks and hazy yellows adding to the seasonal feeling. Welcome nostalgia and hope of longer days with Greenberg’s impressions of the world around us. – Cat McCarrey

The impeccably named MuthaGoose is the collective brainchild of artists Jill Garcia and Kim Phu. They are two of the baddest muthas around, debuting their collaborative creativity with the sly, wry, “Luster Woo” exhibit at the Butridge Gallery in the Dougherty Arts Center. Both are well-versed in playing around with mediums, crafting sculptures and paintings created from all manner of found or upcycled items. For “Luster Woo,” MuthaGoose present their nostalgic-but-modern takes on women’s issues. On Wednesday, Jill Garcia will be present for the artist reception, answering questions about the duo’s process. Check out these indelible visuals highlighting how the more things change, the more things stay the same. – Cat McCarrey

If you can time travel, go back to 1990 and tell audiences that the third installment of the Back to the Future trilogy deserves just as much love as the opening two chapters. Its steampunk Wild West exterior hid a script that was just as clever and funny as what had gone before, and the duo of Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd is every bit as wonderful in dusters and on horseback as they were in body warmers and flying on hoverboards. – Richard Whittaker

Art and … math? Not as improbable as it may seem, especially when seen through the veil of fantasy. And that’s exactly what artist/gallerist/therapist Deanna Miesch does. Compiling works inspired by 1800s mathematician Edwin A. Abbott’s imaginary world of Flatland (with touches of fellow mathematician Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland, of course), Miesch presents reality with a fanciful twist. Her visuals show our world, blurred or tilted a little askew. It’s easy to see portals to another world in every line and angle. What dimensions will you discover? – Cat McCarrey

Gore Metal, debut full-length from Bay Area grindcore fiends Exhumed, rolling into Decibel Magazine’s Hall of Fame last month – 26 years on: “Without that record,” concludes managing butcher Matt Harvey, “I wouldn’t have been able to go on this circuitous and sometimes deeply depressing path that led me to a place where I’m pretty much satisfied with where I’m at.” He speaks for legions. The murderous quartet thus stages its Decayed Decades trek with fellow gore hounds Skeletal Remains from L.A., whose fifth LP, Fragments of the Ageless topped year-end lists in March. Blackened Richmond, Virginia, thrashers Morbikon make it a trinity. – Raoul Hernandez

This annual celebration of Black culture hosts community events, business conferences, and industry panels, while six days of music promise sets by Sukihana, NOOK Turner, Kirko Bangz, and more.

Typically, the beauty of mimosas is that they are plentiful and they are cheap. This festive ode to the marriage of champagne and juice, on the other hand, is going to set you back an eye-popping $100 for bottomless boozies between noon and 1:30pm: You’ll have to spring for a VIP ticket to enjoy bottomless all day. But you’re paying for vibes, too, and what Mimosa Fest promises is light bites, photo-activation and make-your-own-mimosa stations, live music from DJ Cali From TX and saxophonist Charmin Greene, and the satisfaction of knowing at least some of the ticket proceeds are going to Austin Pets Alive! – Kimberley Jones

Gentle vigilantes for justice Parker Woodland ring in Queer Birthday Month with the release of their new single “Makeup.” A gentle coo leads into the chorus, a booming declaration of “You know you who are/ And you don’t owe them anything” as frontwoman and co-founder Erin Walters’ face glistens with proud tears and glitter. The band takes to Coco Coquette to unleash the single unto the masses, no doubt giving those who feel disrespected, disenfranchised, and unloved a rallying cry to carry with them as they make merry in the Austin streets. – Cy White

Tapestry Dance Company offers tap classes for hoofers of all levels. Catch your breath at one of the many film screenings, panel discussions, and music performances.

Hurrah! It’s the only good thing about summer – sorry to summer-enjoyers – come back once more. Austin Public Library’s summer reading program runs from June 1 until Aug. 10 and challenges readers of all ages to get 20 minutes of reading done a day. They’ve also got activity badges you can earn – fun biz like using APL’s seed library, making a DIY nature journal, attending any of APL’s free events. Finish 10 reading hours and three activity badges to earn prizes like a free book (kids 0-17) or a camping mug (adults). But isn’t the real reward the great books you read along the way? – James Scott

You can always count on this historic museum to bring out the cool craft stuff for a Sunday Funday. Before or after touring the museum, swing by with the kiddos to repurpose mint tins into personalized cases for their whosits and whatsits, with materials and instruction included free with admission. I know what I’d put in my one, but your kids will probably use it to store small frogs, buttons, jacks, pebbles, Barbie shoes, or other such accoutrements of youth. – Kat McNevins

Classical musicians worldwide flock to Austin to fill the city with sound for three weekends. Individual and bundled tickets are available.

Theatre by any other name would be as sweet, but … there’s just something about the name “Shakespeare” that screams all the world’s a stage and we’re just living in it. And nothing screams Shakespeare more than Romeo and Juliet. Submerge yourself in a true Shakespearean experience with his famous star-crossed lovers. Tickets are free, but make sure to snap up a reservation before you head out. Feel the romance, the tension, the sorrow, in person. Besides, the Curtain Theatre’s outdoor setting is the perfect place to bask in the bard. Shakespeare and starlight?: A winning combo. – Cat McCarrey

Thanks to Seventies funk band War, the word “lowrider” often calls to mind the unforgettable sax riff of the band’s 1975 No. 1 single. But lowrider can mean a snazzy customized car with hydraulics or a person who works on such a vehicle, and the culture around these cars has strengthened Mexican American communities in the Southwest since the Forties. Learn more about them at this exhibit featuring an interactive touchscreen mural, cars and bikes on display, and stories about the people who make lowriding a community. A member reception takes place May 18. – Kat McNevins

Vessel: a container that holds things. Vessel: a person infused with a quality. What quality? Any. Feel free to interpret it yourself when basking in Diane Chiyon Hong’s exhibit “Vessels – Handle with Care.” Her architectural sketches, part function, part form, part object, part person, part humor but all thought-provoking, currently grace the halls of the Asian American Resource Center. It’s Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Month, so why not pay the AARC a visit. I mean, if not now, when? – Cat McCarrey