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Cactus Lee’s New Phase of Folk Realism
With Perfect Middle Hall, songwriter Kevin Dehan steps out of honky-tonk confines
Everything Everywhere All At Once Wins Everything at the Austin Film Critics Association Award
Cosmic comedy sweeps the board with nine wins
2023 Good Food Award Finalists Announced
Austin and Central Texas purveyors make a strong showing
SXSW Goes Monster Hunting With Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Amongst Thieves
Evil Dead Rises and more added to festival lineup
Guest Chefs From Norway, Off-the-Menu From Perry’s, the Dead Rabbit From NYC, Something Something Space Lord Chophouse, the Tantalizing Possibility of Free Hamburgers for a Year, and More
All the news that’s fit to get your taste buds quivering
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Civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, and his legacy is honored this year on Mon., Jan. 16. Here are several ways to celebrate and observe MLK Day. Related Stories
Otoko’s New Sake Is Available at Watertrade, and Watertrade (and All Its Pleasures) Is Available for You
Chef Yoshi Okai raises the beverage bar to match his sushi mastery
Varisu
Tamil comedy about chaos from an unexpected promotion
Jonathan Majors, Janet and John Pierson, Michael De Luca Honored by the Texas Film Awards
Marvel’s Kang, indie champs and Oscar-nominated producer head to Luck
Five Locations: Where to Stay, Where to Dine In Our Embiggening City
Noteworthy nearby hotels and the restaurants in them
SXSW Brings the Cosmos to Austin
Keynote brings unseen images from the James Webb telescope
HAAM Receives Additional $1 Million to Fund 500 Musicians’ Insurance
Apply for Central Health support before the Jan. 15 deadline
Death Row Inmates Say Expired Drug Makes Execution Painful, Cruel
Robert Fratta set to die Tuesday night
We Asked Writers To Review Bands They’d Never Seen Before at Free Week in Austin
First looks at Dregs, Chief Cleopatra, Exotic Fruits, Nuclear Daisies
Hannibal Buress’ Meta Musical Comedy as Eshu Tune
Dexterous rap and stand up integration at Creek & the Cave
The Austin Songwriters Group Symposium Returns With Country Hitmakers
Including Russell Sutton, who got his start at the gathering
Mystery Switches and Other Hidden Secrets of Shin Ultraman
How director Shinji Higuchi made a very loyal reboot
Proposed Amphitheater Near Dripping Springs Faces Neighbor Opposition
Traffic concerns clash with 5,000-capacity plans off Fitzhugh Road
William Shatner, Still Boldly Going
The legend brings The Wrath of Khan to the Long Center
Corsage
Vicky Krieps shines in this sullen biopic of Austrian Empress Elisabeth
Shin Ultraman
Japan’s metal defender gets an ass-kicking modern reboot
The Old Way
Nic Cage saddles up for a Western with a surprise in its saddlebags
A Man Called Otto
Tom Hanks’ “grumpy old man” phase stumbles with this discordant comedy about death
Lazaro and The Shark: Cuba Under the Surface
Protest, poverty, and art intersect in Cuba’s conga culture
Six Concert Picks to See This Free Week(end)
Forget immobilizing on your parents’ couch or overindulging on NYE; the calendar doesn’t officially flip for local music fans until Free Week. Launched to boost winter-slogged bar sales, the annual event has expanded into a full-throttle fest already chugging at Hotel Vegas, Feels So Good, and beyond. The Red River Cultural District’s weekend edition –…
Vicky Krieps Liberates an Empress in Corsage
The actress finds the truth of Sissi, and the other actors who have played her, in the new biopic
Your Local Lawmakers Enter the 88th Lege Arena
We talk to our reps about their priorities going into the new session
Austin at Large: New Year, Same Old Stories
I-35 deal nearly done, Nate Paul’s new enemy, Chip Roy ready for his close-up
Qmmunity: Entering a New Era
Austin’s queer scene enters a new era of great shows, genuine artistry, and good music
Public Notice: Epiphany!
A new City Council for the new year
Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, SD 14
“I get that property tax is painful, [but] we’re never going to have a surplus like this again”
Headlines / Quote of the Week
Hey Hey, My My, I-35 Can Never Die: TxDOT has released its most detailed description of its I-35 expansion plans yet – a 7,000+-page draft environmental impact statement (here: bit.ly/3IjZ1rn). TxDOT’s preferred design would seize less land (displacing 107 homes and businesses) but wouldn’t wipe out a 70-unit affordable housing complex. Searchin’ for a Health…
Free Will Astrology
Your weekly horoscope, January 6-12
Rep. Lulu Flores, HD 51
“I’m gonna stand the line on rights for women and children and gay and trans folks.”
Gravely Ill Inmates Awaiting Trial in Hays County Jail See No Improvements
Is anyone here a doctor?
In Austin, Which Peking Duck Reigns Supreme?
We list some of the mightiest ducks in town
Rep. Donna Howard, HD 48
“… More strategic than knee-jerk property tax relief”
George Floyd Attorney Joins Family of Hays County ER Patient Killed by Officer
“They say he was running away – he’s 300 pounds, shackled, with his pants falling down. He ain’t running nowhere.”
Mr. Smarty Pants Knows
The Miss Almira Gulch character in the The Wizard of Oz was created for the movie and didn’t appear in the book. The octopus has a donut-shaped brain that is wrapped around its esophagus. There are some 300 species of octopuses. Though MLS fields may look smaller than the ones used in international play, they…
One Afghan Family’s Journey to Safety in Texas
From Kabul to Austin
The Luv Doc: Moving Out
A leg shaker, not a plan maker
Rep. Gina Hinojosa, HD 49
“The public education session, for better or worse”
Waning Interest Doesn’t Slow UT’s Roll in Petroleum Program
Investing young minds in a moribund industry or training those who will lead transition?
Opinion: As a Transgender Person, I Am Afraid That Staying in Texas May Harm Me in the Future
Why does Texas attorney general Ken Paxton want to know about me?
Rep. Sheryl Cole, HD 46
“I try to keep the lines of communication open [and] help them … so they’ll help me”
Vote Now in the Austin Music Poll!
Winners to be announced at the Austin Music Awards, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023
Austin’s Best Food and Drink Events This Week
Dinner parties, farmer’s markets, beer, wine, and more for the week of January 5, 2023
Rep. Vikki Goodwin, HD 47
“… Actually figuring out solutions to our epidemic of gun violence”
Day Trips: Texas State Parks
Celebrating 100 years of Texas parks and the contributions of Civilian Conservation Corps
Arts Events
Art galleries, theatre, comedy, dance, and more
Rep. Erin Zwiener, HD 45
“We’re going to have to fight hard to protect our [LGBTQ] communities”
Community Events
Local events, volunteer opportunities, kids’ activities, and more
Rep. John Bucy III, HD 136
“Any progress to get back to where we treat all humans as equal … I’ll of course support”
The Common Law
Kids and lottery tickets?
Rep. James Talarico, HD 50
“For those who believe that democracy can work … this session will be fruitful”
We Have an Issue: Vote Now in the 2022-23 Austin Music Poll
Readers make the call in our annual survey of the best in Austin music
Austin Critics Announce the Five Best Austin Films of 2022
Linklater and mountain lions, the pandemic, the legacy of slavery, and the fight for abortion rights all part of this year’s AFCA Austin Film Award short list
Crucial Concerts for the Coming Week
Jackie Venson, Curtis Roush, Tim Kasher, and more local shows to see this week
Buh-Bye, Brunch Bird & Plow Burger; Howdy, Masa y Más; Greetings, New Pastry Chef at the Carillon; Oooh, Nice Use of Celery, Bloody Mary Festival; Looking Beyond that Mag Mud Mania; and, Yeah, Even More –
All the news that’s fit to get your taste buds quivering
