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The Second Best Night of Your Life could be closely followed by the third and fourth best nights of your life if you catch every one of Ted Lasso star Brett Goldstein’s three stand-up showcases at two Austin venues. His Roy Kent character may be famously terse, but if you’ve ever listened to Goldstein’s funny yet weirdly philosophical pod Films to Be Buried With, or sampled his work behind the camera as co-creator of Apple TV+ series Shrinking, you know there’s a lot of soulfulness there. A lot of four-letter words, too; show promoters caution this is for audiences aged 15 and up.– Kimberley Jones

Austin Opera presents this emotionally charged drama that weaves together the lives of a multigenerational Mexican American family separated by countries, cultures, and consequences in search of new possibilities. The company premiere is staged with a full opera orchestra and the mariachi musicians of Trio Chapultepec in a new orchestration by David Hanlon to bring José “Pepe” Martínez’s groundbreaking score and Leonard Foglia’s libretto to life. Daniel Noyola and Cassandra Zoé Velasco make their Austin Opera and role debuts as the separated spouses. Timothy Myers conducts, in collaboration with director David Radamés Toro. – Wayne Alan Brenner:

You’re a busy guy; you don’t have time to read all of War and Peace. But you’re also ashamed that you’ve not dug into the hottest Russian novel of 1869! Hark: A solution awaits at the Zach Theatre production of Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, Dave Malloy’s musical adaptation of a 70-page section of Tolstoy’s great tome. Described by the theatre as an “innovative electro-pop opera,” this two-hour-and-thirty-minute love triangle will be available as pay-what-you-will until Feb. 4. Heads-up to queers: Thursday, Feb. 1, is PRIDE night!– James Scott

Do you think gun violence is way out of control in these United States, citizen? Do you want a more effective response than “thoughts and prayers” from politicians? Different Stages knows how public art can help effect change, continuing their current season of theatre with Scott Z. Burns’ drama about the aftermath of a deadly shooting at a high school. Directed by Carl Gonzales and Lacey Cannon Gonzales, featuring performances by Lucky Cantu, Eva McQuade, Beau Paul, Gina Houston, Stan McDowell, Liz Waters, and Jason Park. – Wayne Alan Brenner

This sweet opportunity comes to us from the Downtown Austin Alliance, the Pease Park Conservancy, and Ride Bikes Austin – so we know it's a damned good thing indeed. Take the self-guided Art & Parks Tour to explore the best of what Downtown Austin art and parks have to offer through this selection of curated murals, artworks, and green spaces. You can sign up anytime, so click that URL and get ready to learn the most vibrantly visual parts of your city soon – live and in person.

That's right: Cap City Comedy Club, the longtime cornerstone of Austin's comedy scene for nearly four decades is at a new venue in the Domain. And here's Valerie Lopez with a closer look at what's in store for the scene via the venue. Click for details!

This vibrant show is a visual conversation between artists Margaret Meehan and Jade Walker, drawing on years of friendship, shared research, and visual interests.

Featuring collaborations between fine presses and artists, examples of typographic and concrete poetry, and experimentations in pop and surrealism, the exhibition puts prints by Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, and Ed Ruscha in conversation with works by Charles Henri Ford, Kristin Calhoun, David McGee, and others.

This two-part exhibition explores the history and contemporary urgency of climate-related issues. Curated by journalist Jeff Goodell, who has written extensively on the topic, it's the first exhibition at the Blanton to explore one topic across several of the museum’s temporary gallery spaces. See our review of the show right here.

This local treasure of a venue, run by those Contemporary Austin folks who also bring us the Jones Center shows Downtown, is all about the outdoors – which is perfect for these trickily navigated times of ours, n'est-ce pas? Recommended: Stop by and breathe in the air, enjoy the lawns and gardens and the many examples of world-class sculpture arrayed across the property, and (as Frankie used to say) r-e-l-a-x.

Use your smartphone to access self-guided tours of the outdoor public art sited by UT's award-winning Landmarks program any time you feel like it. BONUS: There's also a free, docent-led tour starting at Marc Quinn's "Spiral of the Galaxy" (1501 Red River) on Sun., Jan. 8, 11am.

Opening this Friday, Feb. 2, is Mexican, Latino, and Latin American art & cultural center Mexic-Arte Museum’s annual mega exhibition/art sale. Mix ’n’ Mash will feature over 200 artists utilizing a 12-by-12-inch Gessobord to explore “the large and small of what makes Austin weird, interesting, timeless, and robust,” according to Mexic-Arte’s website. Each board goes for around $150 each, but buyers are encouraged to buy at least three to create an ATX triptych to impress all your gallery-going friends. – James Scott

Enter the fascinating world of illusions in this new venue that boasts a stunning array of intriguing visual, sensory, and educational experiences among new, unexplored optical wonderments.

This is the new solo exhibition by Austin’s own Donya Stockton – yes, the multitalented woman behind legendary club venues Beerland, Rio Rita, King Bee, and more. So, the show’s about music? No, because this Stockton is also a world-class weaver, and her latest works of handmade basketry (and its stunning deconstructions) incorporate driftwood, Oaxacan seed pods, and copper into her signature serpentine loops of cane and reed, bringing topology itself to its knees in Philip Niemeyer’s excellent Downtown gallery.  – Wayne Alan Brenner

The diverse lineup of hilarious, always surprising improv shows continues, with Pgraph and Maestro and the Big Bash and more, for the most unexpected delights of in-person entertainment.

This is a solo exhibition – an extraordinary solo exhibition, we daresay – by Spanish artist Juan Luís Jardí, who uses a mix of magic realism with influences of Pop Art and surrealism to illustrate the contrast in our lives and the doubts we're faced with as humans.