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• Arts

  Books

  Amplify Book Club: Pet

  Located within our Bat City’s big ol’ independent BookPeople is a book club dedicated to elevating authors of color like the writer of this month’s selection, Akwaeke Emezi. Nigeria-born and Brooklyn-based, Emezi’s work is “deeply rooted in the metaphysics of Black spirit, using the lens of indigenous ontologies to focus on embodiment, ritual, and rememory” according to their author bio. Amplify’s pick for March, Pet, was Emezi’s first young adult venture and received a Stonewall Honor. Its plot follows a young girl whose mother’s art comes to life in the form of Pet, “a creature made of horns and colors and claws.” – James Scott

  Last Monday of every month

  CoffeePeople

• Music

  Ascended Dead, Black Horse of Famine, Void Witch

  Wed., May 29, 8pm. $13 advance, $15 at door (21+).  

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  The Lost Well

• Arts

  Theatre

  Imole: Fantasy Faire

  Find fantasy and magic within this interactive faerie market featuring food, drink, and the phantasmagorical. This event is a collaborative effort from local drag artist Gothess Jasmine’s Amazing Aeffects, LARP tavern the Tiny Minotaur, and national org Black Fae Day, whose work promotes Black representation within high fantasy media. During the day, travelers of all ages may take part in the fun, but after 6pm, the space becomes for adults only – with grownup libations on offer, of course. While the market is free, paid tickets are available for performance piece “Ajeji,” which promises “a ritual-like production that aims to awaken a higher level of awareness and self-love.” – James Scott

  Sat., May 11

  Tiny Minotaur Tavern, 2701 E. Cesar Chavez

• Music

  Judivan Roots, White Dog, World Without Fear

  Sat., May 18, 9pm. $10 cover (21+), $15 cover (18+).

  The Porch

• Music

  Optic Sink, Guiding Light, Borzoi, Wet Dip

  Unlike the gristly noise of hometown rioters Borzoi, Memphis-based Optic Sink takes its post-punk lilt in a different direction. Fizzing synths and dynamic basslines build the New Wave soundscape of the threepiece’s 2023 LP Glass Blocks, with vocalist Natalie Hoffmann’s loose drone meandering around. Its gothic electricity contrasts the frontwoman’s more traditional punk outfit NOTS and similarly cuts a sharp synthetic line through Borzoi’s harsh fuzz. No Wave screechers Wet Dip and spacey post-rockers Guiding Light open, a quadruple-billing of unfaltering buzz without concern for stiff genre classifications.– Laiken Neumann

  Fri., May 10, 9pm  

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  Hotel Vegas

• Music

  Pedaltrain of Thought, World Without Fear

  Fri., May 31, 9pm

  Flamingo Cantina

• Qmmunity

  Community

  Resiliency Workshop

  Having trouble managing difficulties in your life? This peer-led support group offers discussion on stress management, coping skills, and resilience all within a trauma-informed & community-centric space.

  Every other Tuesday, 2-3pm. Free but RSVP.  

  RSVP

  Kind Clinic

• Arts

  Visual Arts

  The Blanton: The Floating World

  The opportunity to witness, in person, the creative expression of different times and diverse cultures is one of the perks of city-dwellers everywhere – and exemplified by the collections and traveling exhibitions hosted by UT’s acclaimed Blanton Museum of Art. The Blanton’s newest show displays masterpieces from Edo-period Japan, on loan from the Worcester Art Museum through June 30. These “pictures of the floating world” depict the lifestyle, pleasures, and interests of the urban population – samurais, geishas, kabuki actors, boat parties, palaces, and lush landscapes. As then, so now: Much of who we are is what we do with our lives. – Wayne Alan Brenner

  Feb. 11-June 30

  The Blanton Museum of Art

• Music

  The Dialtones, Call the Next Witness

  Sat., June 8, 9pm

  Knomad Bar

• Music

  The Point (album release), Money Chicha

  If my Spotify were “wrapped” today, the Point’s “Leaving” might chart as my most-played song of 2024. It’s a magical, two-chord, tropical soul groove where the Hammond organ of Joe Roddy and electric guitar of Jack Montesinos speak back-and-forth, taking turns blowing their tops, without ever abandoning the highlife riff. Another pre-album single, “Mrs. Kind Eyes,” lands a cupid arrow of dub with bedroom pop sensibilities. Together, they grip intrigue for the young trio’s new record Maldito Animal – crystallizing the raw live sound of 2022 standout Berto’s Banquet. The platter’s producer, Beto Martinez, joins release festivities with his Peruvian-inspired groove unit Money Chicha. – Kevin Curtin

  Sat., May 11, 10pm. $12 cover (21+).

  C-Boy's Heart & Soul

• Arts

  Theatre

  The Rainbow Fish Musical

  Many among us remember the iridescent colors within beloved children’s book The Rainbow Fish, so why not give the young’uns of today a chance to enjoy that beauty in a new way. This musical extravaganza brings the story of sharing and belonging to the stage with costumes, songs, and sets as mesmerizing as the titular fish’s sparkling scales. Led by Austin Scottish Rite Theater’s own Artistic Director Deanna Belardinelli, “this school of fish moves as a unit and have their fins, pincers and tentacles outreached, beckoning you to join!” Go ahead, Reader: Dive in. – James Scott

  Through May 12  

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  Scottish Rite Theater

• Qmmunity

  Nightlife & Parties

  Trans Revolution

  It's all about the T (and all the LGB within the communi-T) every third Saturday at Harry's Dark Bar. Enjoy special performances and chat with other trans folks.

  Third Saturday of every month, 9pm

  Oilcan's

• Community

  Events

  Tuesday Trivia at St. Elmo Brewing

  Test your wits with Trivia 512.

  Tuesdays, 7pm. Free.

  St. Elmo Brewing Co.

• Qmmunity

  Community

  Two-Spirit & LGBTQIA+ Networking Event

  Communication is key. How else can we know what folks need without talking to them? These conversations are all the more important when between minority populations such as LGBTQ and Two-Spirit adults. From Family Eldercare’s program Rainbow Connections, whose work supports Austin’s queer elders, this event will connect older Two-Spirit and LGBTQ folks to improve their future. – James Scott

  Thu., May 16

  Carver Branch Library

• Film

  Special Screenings

  Within Our Gates (1920)

  Sat., May 11, 2:00

  AFS Cinema