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Qmmunity
Arts & Culture
Alyssa Edwards: Crowned Tour
What the fuck is going on in here on this day? Well, it’s Alyssa Edwards telling the tale of how she went from small-town Texas to Drag Race royalty. Expect performances of all kinds peppered with her razor-sharp wit.Fri., May 23 -
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
Visual Arts
Art & Parks Tour
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. -
Qmmunity
Arts & Culture
Austin Gay Men’s Chorus Presents Shake the Rafters
An early choral congratulations for having the taste to pick the gayest tunesters in Austin for your hearing pleasure. Bringing what they’ve called “a full-spectrum extravaganza of emotion, community, and vocal cords working overtime in the best way possible” – emojis removed to protect our Chron designers’ font sensibilities – the Austin Gay Men’s Chorus features modern songs from the likes of Harry Styles, Sam Smith, and the Beatles. (Look, at least two of them are alive so that counts as modern.) Snag your tix for Saturday or Sunday and get ready to watch those rafters, you know. Shake. – James ScottMay 17-18 -
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 -
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 -
Community
Events
Bird Walk on Lady Bird Lake
There’s a lot of things I think I know about birds that probably aren’t true. For example, they’re the animal most closely related to dinosaurs. Thankfully there’s the Travis County Audubon Society to help with all those things I don’t know about feathered flyers. At this event the experts will offer an early morning tour of Downtown birds. Find out what avian friends are sharing our urban spaces unbeknownst to us (or knownst if it’s a grackle), and bring some binoculars to get a little closer and more personal. – James RenovitchTue., May 20 -
Arts
Comedy
ColdTowne Theater
ColdTowne's new brick-and-mortar place is totally open, and who knows what they'll shake this city with next? But one truth remains: ColdTowne is a designated den of gold, baby, sweet comedy gold. -
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
Visual Arts
Good Dad Studios’ Second Saturdays
Ho-hum, I hear you say. What on Earth am I to do on a second Saturday that both supports my local community and fulfills my desperate need for artistic consumption? Well, well, well: I might have a place south of Oltorf that’s got over 140 artists, small businesses, and nonprofits right in one building. This place is also open to the public every second Saturday – how convenient! – with rotating activities like live music or artmaking and a ding-dang food truck court. Oh, and this place, yes, this place called Good Dad Studios is also painted the most eye-blinding shade of magenta you can imagine so there’s literally no way you can miss it while cruising on the frontage road. Do you think, maybe, this place might solve your little second Saturday plans problem? Yeah. I thought so. – James ScottSecond Saturday of every monthGood Dad Studios, 2801 S. I-35 -
Community
Yoga
Kula Yoga Center
Calling itself "Austin's Family Yoga Center" isn't a misnomer, what with its infant/parent classes and other kid-friendly courses. Also check out the special classes for dancers, athletes, and even students (for PE credit, no less). -
Arts
Theatre
La Fenice Presents Adventure Party TPK
Roll a 20, double-tap the X button, then step away from the tabletop or controller. Entire a tangible world of action with immersive theatre company extraordinaire La Fenice, presenting a fantasy adventure the likes of which exist only in the annals of imagination. Billed as Ren Faire meets D&D, these actors will embody what Artistic Director Kate Meehan calls “live action Adult Swim cartoons.” I’m picturing irreverent orcs and sarcastic squires – maybe a saucy wench or two if we’re lucky. And that could change with every performance! If it’s anything like La Fenice’s other works, each night will have an individual experience, led by the viewer themselves. A choose-your-own-adventure book come to life: What could be better than that? – Cat McCarreyThrough May 17 -
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
Visual Arts
Martha's Contemporary: Hokey Pokey + What You See Is What You Get
Here's a two-person exhibition that features painting, installation, videography, and sculpture by Moll Brau and Wes Thompson. It's a deep dive into a pool of loneliness, triumph, and rebirth. It's a forest of mazes where fireflies provide the light. It's a show of creations from a pair of terrific, hardworking local artists and you don't want to miss it. -
Arts
Visual Arts
Mauricio Alejo: “The Unexpected Product of Labor (Two Hammers Without a Sickle)”
Though International Workers’ Day remains a week or so away, recent statements and retractions from our unfortunate president have brought labor front of mind. What is our labor worth, and how do we extract that while also saving ourselves? Mexico City/New York City-based artist Mauricio Alejo explores labor’s delicate balance through this exhibition and presents what Co-Lab calls a “metaphorical story about labor as an unstable equation between forces – wind and gravity – that produces movement within their own dialectic process of searching for equilibrium.” Opening reception is this Saturday, April 19, with an earlier preview available for Co-Lab members and VIPs. Don’t sweat it if you miss the big kickoff, as the exhibition will be on view Saturdays, noon-6pm, until the end of May. – James ScottSaturdays through May 31 -
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 -
Arts
Books
The Artivist, Nikkolas Smith
As Black Pearl points out, if you don’t yet know Nikkolas Smith, you should! A White House Innovators of Color fellow (2016), Smith holds a master’s of architecture and designed theme parks at Walt Disney Imagineering for 11 years. You may be more familiar with his illustration work for films (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, They Cloned Tyrone) and books (I Am Ruby Bridges, The 1619 Project: Born on the Water). Latest release The History of We, a NYT bestseller, magnificently illustrates humankind’s origins in Africa and imagines what man’s firsts might have looked like. Registration is required for this very special discussion with the Artivist, so sign up now! – Kat McNevinsTue., May 20 -
Qmmunity
Nightlife & Parties
The Drag Queen Game Show
Come on down, potential contestants, for the draggiest game show in all of Austin. Hosted by the terrific twosome of Celia Light and Mars, this interactive event pulls its audience into myriad mini-games based around a different theme every Tuesday. Enjoy games like trivia, speed dating, and Boobie Bingo. Whether you stumble in after a movie or go for the love of the game, this party will bring all the fabulous prizes your heart desires – like a drag queen ribbing you. Wait, is that not what everybody wants? – James ScottTuesdays, 8-10pm -
Arts
Comedy
The Floor Is Lava
Yowch! That’s what you’d be saying, you know, if you touched your tootsies to a lava-flooded floor. Thankfully, Austin is not located next to an active volcano … or is it? This scripted comedy sketch show is a fresh flow of bright burning comic talent sure to scorch expectations with “fun, loose, and experimental” material. Don’t believe me? Read this totally real quote from the comedy show’s Instagram bio: My ‘comedies’ are complete *poop emoji* compared to the greatest sketch group to ever sketch! –William Shakespeare. I can’t believe ol’ Willy really said that! But no one has ever lied on Instagram before, so best believe this show’s hot stuff. – James ScottTuesdays -
Community
Events
Trivia 512
We really have no shortage of trivia events in this town full of smarties, but what grabbed my attention with this one was the quality of the prizes. First place gets $125 to spend at happenin’ host venue Radio, plus $15 to whiskey distillery Still Austin, and second place wins $75 at Radio and $15 at Still. Third place is even a good prize: a bag of high-quality Radio coffee beans and a koozie. So dust off the ol’ brain, grab some buds, and head over to Radio on Wednesdays to give it a go. Fuel up beforehand with a 5-7 happy hour and discounted burgers, fries, and chicken sandwiches from Shortwave. – Kat McNevinsWednesdays -
Qmmunity
Nightlife & Parties
TuezGayz
It's good music; it's queer vibes; you know what it is, babe: It's Tuezgayz!Tuesdays, 10pm. $5 after 10:30. -
Music