Home Events
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Sponsored Listing
The Juilliard String Quartet with pianist Anna Petrova
With unparalleled artistry and enduring vigor, the Juilliard String Quartet (JSQ) continues to inspire audiences around the world. Founded in 1946 and hailed by The Boston Globe as “the most important American quartet in history,” the ensemble draws on a deep and vital engagement to the classics, while embracing the mission of championing new works, a vibrant combination of the familiar and the daring.Sat. May 17, 7:30pmRiverbend Centre -
Sponsored Listing
Affordable Art Fair Austin
After a hugely successful first edition, Affordable Art Fair Austin returns May 15-18, 2025 at the Palmer Events Center, showcasing thousands of original contemporary artworks ranging between $100 to $10,000. Welcoming 55 local, national and international exhibitors, the second edition will be unmissable.May 15-18, 2025Palmer Events Center
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Arts
Visual Arts
Sev Coursen: “Portable Objects”
For the 45th in their ongoing Window Dressing series, ICOSA pretties up their outward facing exhibition space with the work of Austin-based artist Sev Coursen. Viewable from this coming Monday until next Sunday are Coursen’s many foldable objects, created by him to be “self-contained sculptures” which may collapse, travel, and expand at the whims of their presenting environment. These expansion and collapsing points come from multiple features, including hand-milled wooden articulated hinges. Swing by to see these wonders through ICOSA’s front window, or pop in on May 16 to meet the artist at his reception, 7-9pm. – James ScottMay 12-18 -
Arts
Visual Arts
Affordable Art Fair
Couldn’t fuel your private jet for Art Basel this year? Can’t afford even a painting of a private jet? That’s where you may be wrong, as the Affordable Art Fair may be the way to get an original work on your walls. The traveling international celebration of visual media always highlights local artists at each stop, so you have your chance to purchase paintings, prints, and more curated by Austin galleries and institutions like Art From the Streets and Canopy Collective alongside London’s Quantum Contemporary Art, Lumas from Berlin, and Paris’ Galerie Duret. – Richard WhittakerMay 15-18 -
Music
alexalonealone, Book Reports, Theft
West Campus bookstore Alienated Majesty has quickly evolved into one of the most exciting show spaces in town, with delightfully weird music programming to match their left-of-center inventory. Friday’s show transforms the store into an ambient laboratory for two emerging local bands: Book Reports and Theft. Consisting of Kai Wilde (On Being an Angel) and Zachary Crow (Dorothy’s), the former’s recent release Thank You, Goodnight! delivers mind-bending improvisational crunch. Theft serves as the solo project of multi-instrumentalist Dante Zatto, who brings experience from Proun, Homewrecker, and more. Experimental staple Alexalone’s Alex Peterson joins the bill for a solo set. – Genevieve WoodFri., May 16, 7pm. $10 suggested donation. -
Arts
Theatre
Anklets in the Boardroom
Ever wished you could just redo that awkward situation? Take that snappy comeback you dreamed up in the shower hours later and test it out in real life? It’s possible with forum theatre. Forum theatre isn’t just a fancy term for non-bedroom role-playing. It’s more like applied academia, performances intentionally inviting the audience to participate in examining issues and testing out solutions. That’s exactly how Leela Theatre presents Anklets in the Boardroom, a series of scenarios based on real-life workplace bias experienced by Asian women. It’s an intensely individualized experience, expanding scope depending on you – yes you, the audience – to set the course of exploration. How could things be better? What should have happened? How can we fix the future? – Cat McCarreyMay 16-18 -
Arts
Theatre
Austin Shakespeare presents Julius Caesar
Friends, Texans, Austinites, lend your ears and eyes to Shakespeare’s classic coup, as tortured and brutal as tactical Brutus can offer. Or shall I say bodacious Brutus, since Austin Shakespeare’s production of Julius Caesar offers a tantalizing twist – Caesar’s inner circle is mostly women, adding what might be seen as righteous rage to raw revolution. This Caesar’s served with a cunning corporate aesthetic. No need to clutch your pearls though. There’s still the mired malaise of what best serves the collective good. Grab your friends and family, and “get-tu” Zilker for this free show. – Cat McCarreyThrough May 25 -
Community
Events
“Roots Unveiled: Exploring the Chinese Experience”
Among the many anti-civil rights bills creeping their way through the Texas Legislature is Senate Bill 17, which would bar Chinese and many other Asian citizens from buying land here. Denounced by detractors as racist and reminiscent of 19th-century laws targeting Asian immigrants, its 2023 origins, along with growing anti-Asian sentiment after the pandemic, inspired Houston artist Jane Xu to found the multi-city Asian American Art & Culture Initiative and initiate this multidisciplinary exhibit. Curated by renowned international independent curator Sylvia XuHua Zhan, it brings in-depth research and archives along with work from a wide range of artists to offer a look at the rich history of Chinese Americans in Texas. Opening reception is Sunday, May 18, noon. – Kat McNevinsThrough August 31; opening reception, May 18 -
Arts
Visual Arts
“The Everyman”
I’ve been having a lot of “girl who’s going to be okay” moments as I reconnect with my earnest, optimistic side, so I’m excited for “The Everyman,” a group show curated by visual artist and musician Lisa Alley that celebrates the beauty in the small things – from commonplace occurrences to the working-class heroes that give this exhibit its name. Alley – who plays in local acts the Well, Mugger, and TV’s Daniel – shows her paintings alongside a slew of familiar names, including Parquet Courts’ A. Savage, Never’s Emily No Good, and photographer Pooneh Ghana. Everyone has the ability to create something exceptional, this Bolm Arts project assures us. – Carys AndersonThrough June 7 -
Community
Events
Best in Show Backyard Dog Show
Of all the jobs, dog show judge has to be one of the best. You just look at, meet, and pet dogs all day? The only drawback is having to rank them and break hearts. For this dog show, an esteemed panel of lucky judges will rate and rank dogs of small, medium, and large varieties on personality and cuteness, with tricks earning extra points. (Yay!) Best of those three will go on to compete in Best in Show for a $100 prize. If you’ve got a contestant, register online; spectators just show up ready to be backseat judges and enjoy hot dogs from Zee’s Wiener System, jams from Dr. Loco Boy, and a pup-friendly market curated by Vibe City Markets. Benefits Happy Hearts Dog Rescue. – Kat McNevinsFri., May 16 -
Film
Special Screenings
Cine Las Americas
Newly in the news as one of many Austin arts organizations impacted by the National Endowment of the Arts’ slash-and-burn of arts funding, Cine Las Americas deserves our support now more than ever. But hey – we’re getting plenty in return: namely, a top-flight film festival celebrating Latine/x, Indigenous, and Latin American voices. But wait, there’s more!This year, Cine is launching its first ever concurrent conference, with fireside chats, workshops, and more taking place May 16-17. See some terrific movies, learn from industry vets like Elizabeth Avellán and David Blue Garcia, and feel good about supporting a community thrown under the bus by the Trump administration. Them’s wins all around. It all kicks off Wednesday with opening night film Take It Away, Adrian Alejandro Arredondo and Myrna Perez’s documentary about Johnny Canales, the Tejano singer and taste-making host of The Johnny Canales Show.Wednesday, May 14-Sunday, May 18AFS Cinema, Austin PBS, and City of Austin PDC Center -
Film
Special Screenings
Cine Las Americas International Film Festival
Newly in the news as one of many Austin arts organizations impacted by the National Endowment for the Arts’ slash-and-burn of arts funding, Cine Las Americas deserves our support now more than ever. But hey – we’re getting plenty in return: namely, a top-flight film festival celebrating Latine/x, Indigenous, and Latin American voices. But wait, there’s more! This year, Cine is launching its first-ever concurrent conference, with fireside chats, workshops, and more taking place May 16-17. See some terrific movies, learn from industry vets like Elizabeth Avellán and David Blue Garcia, and feel good about supporting a community thrown under the bus by the Trump administration. Them’s wins all around. – Kimberley JonesMay 15 - 18 -
Film
Special Screenings
Cooley High (1975)
Selected in 2021 to be in the National Film Registry, this 1975 classic inspired the likes of Spike Lee and was a major box-office hit upon its release. Contrary to the ubiquitous Blaxploitation of its era, it’s a coming-of-age story following two ambitious best friends in 1964 Chicago: aspiring poet Preach Jackson and basketball star Cochise Morris, who run into trouble during a day of cutting class. What starts as a series of parties, joyrides, and flirting is sadly twisted by the dangers of being Black in America. A heart-wrenching drama through and through, it’s nonetheless joyous and funny, soundtracked by well-loved Motown hits. John Singleton’s 1991 classic Boyz n the Hood is a direct homage to Cooley High, as is Boyz II Men’s 1991 debut album Cooleyhighharmony. – Lina FisherMay 16 - 20 -
Film
Special Screenings
Dan Savage’s Hump!: Part 1
Art is nothing without eroticism, despite what our conservative Lege members argue. Such is the basis of long-running film fest Hump!, which hits 20 years of platforming sexy short film this very spring. Part one of the dual-season screening series touches down on Chicon this Friday and Saturday promising a brand-new 23-film lineup. Subjects explored in these adult features include dirty Dungeons & Dragons; erotic eco-paradises; sultry summer camps; and much more – all limited to a five-minutes-or-less runtime. Two screenings per day means you’ve got double the chances to catch this year’s spring selections – and prepare yourself for further hot films come fall. – James ScottMay 16-17 -
Arts
Theatre
Dirty Gold Theatre Presents: Venus in Fur
A seductive reconsidering of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch’s original novella, David Ive’s play gets reimagined once more by local theatre company Dirty Gold, who describe their work as “dynamic, provocative, character-based theatre that comments on contemporary society and our shared humanity.” What comments can they generate via Venus’ discussion of sexual power plays? You’ll just have to step into the metaphorical boudoir to find out. Special bulletin for Austin’s theatre pros: Wednesday, May 14, is Industry Night with promised ticket discounts both for presale and door tix. – James ScottThrough May 17 -
Arts
Dance
DiverseSpace Youth Dance and Violet Crown Players Present Confluence
With Confluence, Violet Crown Players and DSYDT have crafted a piece exploring “human connection.” Led by local choreographer Toni Bravo, with guest choreography by Berlin’s Ortrun Stanzel and Amsterdam’s Michael Jahoda, Confluence shows the power of dance throughout every experience. DiverseSpace Dance seeks to provide dance opportunities for all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. Their multigenerational cast will show the power of that access, set to live music by Victoria Schwarz. Watch the threads of connection, woven through physical and social movements. – Cat McCarreyMay 15-18 -
Arts
Visual Arts
Friends Fair
Gallery supergroup FOG started in 2023 with Jill Schroeder from grayDUCK Gallery, Phillip Niemeyer of Northern-Southern, Kevin Ivester of Ivester Contemporary, Jill McLennon of McLennon Pen Co. Gallery, and the team of Ricky Morales and Meredith Williams at Martha’s Contemporary. Their shows, many highlighting local artists, open up a world of contemporary art to Austin. Enter: the Friends Fair, which runs from this Thursday, May 15, through Saturday, May 17. The fair covers two floors of the Loren Hotel by Lady Bird Lake, with 12 rooms dedicated to displays. FOG’s fair isn’t just about collecting. It’s about Austin coming together to spotlight how revolutionary this grassroots art scene is. - Cat McCarreyMay 15-17 -
Arts
Theatre
I Wanna Be a F*cking Princess
This show scores one point for an extremely cathartic title, one that seems ridiculously fun to scream across the room. It scores five more for tackling the emotional pressure cooker of bridal parties and – brace yourselves – bachelorettes. Let’s add 10 points for putting that within a fractured fairy-tale format. I’m picturing something as fiercely fanged as the recent gal pals in White Lotus, but maybe with literal wolves? And finally, heap on about a hundred points for integrating this into the peri/menopausal exploration of HOT: the Exhibit, adding a whimsical performance aspect to an already-informative examination of an overlooked ordeal. Let’s talk about the changes women go through! Whether literally transformative, or just emotionally so! – Cat McCarreyThrough May 24 -
Arts
Visual Arts
Margie Criner: “Sound & Vision”
Hailing from Chicago, artist Margie Criner works in sculpture and miniatures. How so? Her unique sculptural works – themselves impressive patchworks of materials from wool to actual hornets’ nests – feature peepholes through which viewers may glance tiny tableaux. These miniature worlds all center music, such as her pinky-finger-sized record store, Needle on the Records, with vintage posters plastered across its small interior walls. “The music theme isn’t always literal,” explains Criner, “but background sounds within the space, specific to what I’m processing. Kind of like how there’s music playing at the grocery store, that music is everywhere.” – James ScottThrough June 14 -
Arts
Comedy
Ricky Sim: Coming Out to Dead People
After performing his autobio comedy show to sold-out crowds in NYC, London, and “a secretive queer-safe space” in Kuala Lumpur, Ricky Sim swans down south to ATX. The show, written by Sim, digs into his experiences as an immigrant alongside his Chinese-Malaysian mother and what it meant to be gay, closeted, and Asian American in the Aughts. Hilarious and heartfelt, recipient of the PIT/Saturday Night Live Scholarship Sim performs his tale of grief, intersectional identity, and Sean Paul for two nights at ColdTowne, with direction by the Emmy-award winning Ryan Cunningham. – James ScottMay 16-17
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Music
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Community
Events
Austin International Folk Dancers
Join AIFD for an evening of dances from around the world with no experience or partner required.Fridays, 7-9:45pm. $5 (under 18, free). -
Arts
Visual Arts
“HOT: The Exhibit”
Over a million American women go through the change every year. Why do we still talk about it in such hushed tones? Andee Kinzy and Melissa Knight hope to eliminate the stigma around menopause with “HOT,” a multimedia exhibit that hosts an art show, a play, and several workshops and panels throughout the month of May. The gallery opens May 4, and Jennifer Connell Davis’ I Wanna Be a F*cking Princess premieres four days later. In between and beyond, catch medical experts dispel menopause misinformation and try your hand at consciousness raising at community storytelling events. Find the whole schedule at improvedarts.org/hot-the-exhibit. – Carys AndersonFridays-Sundays. Through May 25 -
Arts
Visual Arts
“Personal Records”
One part of a greater track-and-field trio of shows, GLHF presents art from Brian Dulaney, Drake Konow, Gerardo Cisneros, Justin Leal, Tim McCool, Kevin Muñoz, Marissa Dunagan, Phillip Niemeyer, and Preetal Shah. All these pieces speak to their experiences while analog traveling – you know, using their legs rather than a car or skateboard. This show organizes under the banner of Artist Run Club, coordinated by Northern-Southern and focused on the quick-paced art intelligentsia of Texas.: – James ScottMay 3 - June 1 -
Food
Food Events
Barks for Beers 2025
Arf, arf: This is my impression of your dog when you tell them about this furry fundraising effort from Divine Canines. Tell their placid doggy faces about how 30 CTX craft breweries are participating, like Celis Brewery and Independence Brewing. Pet their ears and inform your pooch how buying a $30 Pawsport as well as a 2025 pint glass entitles you to a pour at each brewery. At this point, the canine mind might think: Okay, but what do I get out of all this? “Don’t worry,” you say. “Every brewery has promised to be dog-friendly, so we can go together.” Your dog’s response, probably: Woof! – James ScottMay 1 - 31Multiple locations -
Music
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Community
Events
Blue Genie Art Bazaar's May Market
The Blue Genie Art Bazaar is an essential stop on your Christmas shopping list, but – lucky you – you don’t have to wait till Xmas to make your way back to the BG’s jam-packed aisles. Every weekend for the whole month of May, from 10am-8pm, you can peruse more than 100 regional artists and artisans. Entry is free, the vibe is family-friendly, and the thrill at finding the perfect Mother’s Day gift or primo piece of art to make your house a home – well, that’s priceless. More of a web browser? There are plenty of handmade goodies to tempt you at the Blue Genie online storefront: bluegenieartbazaar.shop.Friday, May 2 - Sunday, May 4; Friday, May 9 - Sunday, May 11; Friday, May 15 - Sunday, May 18; Friday, May 23 - Monday, May 26; Friday, May 30 - Sunday, June 1. free.