Grand Hotel
Monday 29, Alamo Mueller
It’s hard to miss films that garner Oscar buzz these days, with endless memes and even cultural events (Barbenheimer, anyone?) in their honor thanks to the ubiquity of social media. Yet it’s easy to overlook winners from the early days of the Academy, such as this Best Picture winner from 1932. It follows the residents of an upscale Berlin hotel, including Greta Garbo, John Barrymore, and Joan Crawford, who star respectively as an aging ballerina, a washed-up baron-turned-jewel thief, and his stenographer, who cross paths in a mélange of class commentary, drama, and romance. Don’t miss a rare opportunity to see this pre-code gem on the big screen. – Lina Fisher
Manifest Minifest 6
Monday 29 – Saturday 4, Ground Floor Theatre
Taking cues from Gil Scott-Heron’s “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,” New Manifest Theatre’s sixth Manifest Minifest focuses on rising up against oppressive regimes. Yeah, maybe that theme is the tiniest bit topical. The fest features four short plays describing future worlds of high-stakes choices, a party celebrating all things Austin artist, a live taping of NMT’s podcast, plus two workshops featuring collaboration and storytelling. Each event encourages audiences to push beyond the norm and enact positive change in their communities. No, you definitely won’t be able to plug in and cop out after participating in this fervent call to creative activism. – Cat McCarrey
Van Helsing
Monday 29 – Wednesday 1, Alamo Village, Slaughter Lane, Lakeline and Mueller
Does a movie need to be good? Or can it just be a zillion-dollar goof-up with Hugh Jackman in a wig? This is the question asked by Stephen Sommers’ follow-up to his massively successful Mummy movies: a Universal Pictures-produced reimagining of their classic monster movies. Think of it as a proto-Dark Universe, only this time all the freaks have been packed into a single two-plus-hour runtime with Catholicism haunting the whole plot. Drafthouse screens the horror-action romp across four cinemas, so you’ve got plenty of options to see that big sexy werewolf that surely made at least one furry figure themselves out back in 2004. – James Scott
Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro: The Court of the Dead: A Nico di Angelo Adventure
Monday 29, AISD Performing Arts Center
Returning to the young-adult phenomenon Percy Jackson’s world, authors Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro present The Court of the Dead: A Nico di Angelo Adventure, where the titular Nico must team up with half-sister Hazel. But this time, they’ll be protecting monsters. Wowee wow! Brought to you by BookPeople and Texas Book Festival, the authors chat Greek gods and goddess – but hark! Due to time constraints, they won’t be signing books. – Felicity Guajardo
Coffee Talk With Desnudo Coffee
Tuesday 30, Little Walnut Creek Branch Library
If you’ve ever been to Desnudo Coffee, you know there’s nothing quite like the first sip of a brown-sugar miso latte. You also know it isn’t your typical grab-and-go kind of place. On a Saturday morning, the line wraps around the block with folks craving that special caffeine fix. Come out to the library and learn about the sustainable practices, family farming, and unique flavors that ensure Desnudo’s customers enjoy their brews guilt-free. – Gianna Ivy
Twilight 20th Anniversary Party
Tuesday 30, BookPeople
BookPeople isn’t a dangerous pale and sparkling predator, but it does invite you in for a Twilight anniversary party. Just in time to welcome spooky season, Stephenie Meyer’s first installment of her epic saga celebrates 20 years. The book series-turned-film sensation follows Bella Swan, a teenager who moves to … oh, you know the story. The store will be selling the Twilight: Deluxe Collector’s Edition and offering surprise swag, a photo booth, and trivia for those who care to be dazzled for the night. – Flora Belle Farr
Kimberly Akimbo
Tuesday 30 – Sunday 5, Bass Concert Hall
Broadway in Austin kicks off its 2025-26 season with a quirky, heartfelt Tony-winning musical with a relatable story about how fleeting time really is. Based on David Lindsay-Abaire’s 2001 play, the musical adds whimsy to a darkly comic tale about Kimberly Levaco, a teen afflicted with a condition that accelerates the aging process, giving her the appearance of an elderly woman as she’s navigates the problematic social minefields of adolescence. See what Kimberly discovers as she realizes that “no one gets a second time around.” Wednesday’s performance features a post-show cast talkback. – Kat McNevins
Súper Erótica
Tuesday 30, Ani’s Day and Night
Launched last year, Nocturna Cabaret spotlights the showgirls of the Global South. Inspired by the cultural traditions of Brazilian samba and Egyptian Raqs Sharqi, plus the legacy of Black women like Josephine Baker and Jean Idelle, the production duo pushes our notions of burlesque beyond white pinups and bad Nineties movies. Comedian, filmmaker, and host of Queer Trivia Aira Juliet hosts this Tuesday revue, an ode to Seventies samba, soul, and disco. Get schooled by founding dancers Carolina Bela and Zina, plus Aileen Stunning, Frankie Branca, and Dulce de Leche, at Riverside coffee/bar/events space Ani’s Day and Night. – Carys Anderson
Plant Swap
Wednesday 1, Terrazas Branch Library
Tired of taking care of the same plant and, perhaps, feeling like the relationship is growing stale? Go meet other green thumbs and swap your cuttings, pups, or whole plants. Hopefully, you’ll find one that reignites that flame of plant passion. If all that watering has soured you on those CO2 hogs, and you don’t want to take care of another one again, feel free to just give yours away to someone while you’re there. After all, these are plants, not children. – Laura Rivera
Word Perv
Wednesday 1, Smelt House
From the alt performance pros at Dirty Gold Theatre comes the return of storytelling show Word Perv. This here shindig centers on “the dynamic themes of gender and sexuality” via performers and non-performers sharing their experiences on stage. To kick off what they’re calling season two are storytellers Julius Alums, Molly Fonseca, Lane Ingram, N.R. Oglesby, and Maddie Scanlan. – James Scott
Music on the Trail Series: PAACK
Wednesday 1, Rainey Street Trailhead Lawn
Over the last decade, Austin has really upped its parks game and added almost 100 new parks and 1,500 acres of parkland, including lots of new trailways. But at the heart of Austin will always be the Butler Trail, the 10-mile path along Lady Bird Lake, lovingly preserved with the help of the Trail Foundation. Bringing together music fans and outdoor enthusiasts, their Music on the Trail series offers a new artist each Wednesday in October to turn this lovely spot into a concert, starting with supergroup PAACK, a sisterhood started at C-Boy’s featuring Paige DeChausse, Andrea Magee, Violet Lea, Cari Hutson, and Kelly Green. Future editions include Me Nd Adam, N.O.A., Peterson Brothers, and Julie Nolen. – Kat McNevins
Gothic
Wednesday 1, Alamo South Lamar
Not enough people know about legendary weirdo Ken Russell’s film dedicated to the debaucherous villa that spawned the creation of Frankenstein. In the summer of 1816, poet Lord Byron did indeed host fellow artists, with a night of ghost stories that resulted in Mary Shelley’s classic. In the film, Gabriel Byrne’s Lord Byron welcomes a gaggle of guests, including Percy and Mary Shelley, played by the late greats Julian Sands and Natasha Richardson. But that framework serves as a slight excuse for Russell’s signature trippy visuals to reign supreme, glorious nightmares full of spooky apparitions and sexual deviancy. Usher in October with chills, thrills, and Russell finding excuses to cram terrifying automatons into as many rooms as possible. – Cat McCarrey
Legacy Business Month
Through October 31
If you’ve lived in this city longer than a month, you know a Bat City business keeping the lights on for any period of time is a triumph. This October, Preservation Austin celebrates all those icons who’ve managed a cool 20 or more years slinging vintage trinkets, vegan food, and various other essentials to Austinites. Over the 31 days of the month, use PA’s passport (available at preservationaustin.org/programs/legacy-business-month) to pursue 10 longtime local spots: Antone’s, Mr. Natural, Sam’s Bar-B-Que, Mozart’s Coffee, Oilcan Harry’s, Shandeez Grill, Saxon Pub, Aussie’s Grill & Beach Bar, Terra Toys, and the recently renovated Room Service Vintage. Scoop up stamps from all locations and you just might win a fabulous prize – beyond just a sense of local pride. – James Scott
Keep Austin Fluttering
Thursday 2, Zilker Botanical Garden
For all their colorful flights, pollinators have earned a bit of pampering. Help maintain the Austin Botanical Garden’s Butterfly Trail and keep these winged beauties flying high by getting down and dirty weeding, watering, and planting. Wear comfortable clothing, closed-toe shoes, and bring a water bottle. Don’t worry, a green thumb is not required – only a desire to preserve. Can’t make it this time around? You can sign up to volunteer any first Thursday. – Riley Walsh
Possession
Thursday 2 & Saturday 4 – Sunday 5, AFS Cinema
Isabelle Adjani’s performance in Possession spawned a thousand Instagram reels in the past few years, those memorable frames a distillation of the recent cultural return to the abject feminine (a term famously used by YouTube film commentator Broey Deschanel). Follow Adjani’s slow descent into madness during a divorce in this creeping psychological horror, a fitting kickoff to spooky season on the big screen at AFS. – Lina Fisher
Want to see all of our listings broken down by day? Go to austinchronicle.com/calendar and see what’s happening now or in the coming week.
This article appears in September 26 • 2025.
