Cover Story
A New Era for the Travis County Democratic Party
After years of infighting and a tumultuous election in March, the TCDP must now proceed as one
Fair Youth Make Fairer Shakespeare
Two fine chances to see young people make the Bard come alive
How J.A. Bayona Made a Real Jurassic World
Director explains how his dinos are leaving the park behind
The Austin Chronicle Earns AAN Awards Nominations
Cover design, music coverage singled out for excellence
How to Help Families Separated at the Border
Ways to volunteer, ways to donate, ways to take action
U.S. Postal Service Debuts First-Ever Scratch-and-Sniff Stamps at Thinkery Event
Snail mail now comes with the option of “smells like summer”
Texas Book Festival Announces First Confirmed Authors for October Fest
Acclaimed An American Marriage novelist leads pack of 15
Attention Sushi Lovers: Lucky Robot Offers Time Out for Tuna Tuesdays
SoCo restaurant launches new sustainability campaign
Class Action Lawsuit Seeks Justice for Sexual Assault Survivors
Plaintiffs cite longstanding malpractice by Austin, Travis County
Documentary GameChangers Will Change How You Look at E-Sports
Producer Peter Billingsley on high-stakes professional videogaming
Novelty Firm Backs Dildo Protest Documentary
Cocks Not Glocks gets some firm support
No Headline
In our quest for the best barbecue in town, we created a big list of 30 brisket gurus and asked our readers to vote for their favorites. Five division champions were selected, and those smoked meat masters went on to fight for the coveted crown. The competition was stiff, but voters selected their choice for…
Local Nonprofit Starts Online Campaign for Mamas and Babies
Update: Sixth challenge added to support families in the border crisis
Mike Clark-Madison Out at Austin Monitor
Publisher steps down after a brief tenure
Skeleton Dystroys
New EP precedes transformation into … metal
Celebrate Father’s Day with Vegan Barbecue and Cupcakes
Some dads are really into plant-based food
Weekend Wine
Not all pinot noir is from Oregon. This one is from Chile!
Locals Rally to Save Sam’s Bar-B-Que
The first Save Sam’s Saturday takes place tomorrow, June 16
Recommended Live Music for the Weekend
Soulful techno, bluegrass, and rock & roll to keep you up this weekend
Edgar Cantero Scoobies the Fhtagn Right Out the Ol’ Lovecraft
The geek-savvy author brings his Meddling Kids to BookPeople
Think Global, Act Local at This Austin Celebration of World Refugee Day
Bullock Museum hosts free family event on Saturday
Five Recommended Arts Events This Weekend
We’ll shield you against that mofo of a FOMO, citizen!
American Animals
Truth, lies, and self-deception in this remarkable true-crime docudrama
Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
America’s favorite neighbor, Fred Rogers, revealed as even kinder than you hoped
Breath
Australian surfer dudes come of age in this literary adaptation.
Incredibles 2
Pixar’s superhero family returns with familiar but still welcome action
Pom Poko
“Lost” Studio Ghibli tale of raccoons in peril gets long-delayed release
The Yellow Birds
Iraq War veteran’s novel gets a sadly uninspiring adaptation
Summer 1993
Town mouse turns country mouse in this bitter-sweet reminiscence of Spanish childhood.
Tag
Ridiculous true story of childhood retained makes for ridiculous fun
Battle of the Briskets: Division Champions
Vote now for one brisket to rule them all
CodeNEXT: Runnin’ Scared
A smattering of happenings concerning the land use rewrite
Gay Place
Please don’t stop the music
BBQ Revolution’s Slow-Smoked Vegan Barbecue
The best damn meat-free barbecue you’ve ever had
World Cup: Opening Week Preview
Opening week preview
Snapshot: Bubblepalooza
Because bubbles make everything better
Great Comics Getting Greater
Austin’s newest comic and film convention leaps into action
Austin’s Barbecue Culture Is Well-Seasoned Thanks to These Pioneers
A brief history of old-school ‘cue
Zach Theatre’s Sunday in the Park With George
Zach relalizes the Sondheim musical with near flawless execution but has little in the way of emotional reward
Sam’s Bar-B-Que Is Open, for Now
E. 12th Street barbecue spot needs support to stay open
Heartland Theatre Collective’s Little Bird
The vulnerability of small things is at the heart of Nicole Oglesby’s drama of girls and ghosts in East Texas bayou country
Playback: Jump on It
Eastside hip-hop summer series moves to the Expo Center; plus, musical robots with personality disorders and more music news
Kathy Dunn Hamrick Dance Company’s Company
In this short works program, the troupe explored the solace and thrills in the company you keep
C. Robert Cargill’s Journey From Writing About Film to Making Blockbusters
Something sinister, something strange from Dr. Strange scribe
Second Annual Terror Fest Takes Hold of Austin
Burgeoning extreme metal maelstrom runs June 15-17
Scholars Call on State Board of Education to Repair Sins of Past and Present
Vote expected Friday to rename Mexican-American studies course
Spectrum Theatre Company’s Juneteenth Chronicles
With this play, Crystal Bird Caviel honors ancestors who were slaves and her colleague, the late Dr. Billy F. Harden
Terror Fest Interview: Yob
Musicians go through some shit while making a record sometimes: health issues, personal upheavals, natural disasters. Mike Scheidt, leader of Oregon doom trio Yob, contracted acute diverticulitis during the writing process for the band’s new album, Our Raw Heart. “I had two surgeries, almost died a couple times in the process, got [a staph infection]…
Brian Manley: “Austin’s Next Police Chief”
APD vet expects appointment Thursday at Council
Council: City Cyclone
Council’s wild week, if they can get through it
Terror Fest Interview: Bell Witch
Bass and drums doom metal duo Bell Witch deals in loss and bereavement. That trajectory took on a particular potency when founding member Adrian Guerra left the band in 2015 and died unexpectedly the following year. Penned by bassist and singer Dylan Desmond and new drummer/vocalist Jesse Shreibman, Bell Witch’s third LP Mirror Reaper presents…
Soccer Watch
FIFA membership voted to accept a joint bid by the USA, Canada, and Mexico to host the 2026 World Cup
Texas Medical Board Defends Itself
Responding to complaints, agency renews attack on critics and judge
Terror Fest Interview: Agoraphobic Nosebleed
Agoraphobic Nosebleed has never played Austin. The East Coast grindcore project sprung from the cranium of bedroom-metal-Beethoven Scott Hull in 1994 and existed as a fascinating genre staple for two decades before staging its first proper concert at Maryland Deathfest 2015. “Scott finally found a way, technologically, to have the drums come across live the…
Day Trips: Jet Set Chocolate, Brenham
Airline pilot turns to turning chocolate into art as a hobby
Soccer in Austin? Three Interests Now Vying for McKalla Place
Welcome to the group stage
Terror Fest Interview: Primitive Man
Last November at the Lost Well, Primitive Man stole the show out from under headliners Bell Witch by sheer brute force. The Denver trio’s wall of doom, channeled through bearlike frontman Ethan McCarthy, shook the walls and rattled the cages of those that exited the metal cave singing the praises of Primitive Man. “We always…
Death Watch: Intellectually Disabled or Mentally Ill?
Three cases raise the question
Terror Fest Interview: Acid King
Stoner metal band Acid King famously took its moniker from a killer’s quote: “Nobody messes with the acid king.” Founder and frontwoman Lori Joseph read the words by psychedelic fanatic Ricky Kasso in a true crime novel and related to his love of hallucinogens. The band’s 1994 debut EP features a photograph of Kasso on…
AISD Board Preps for Lege
This year’s motto: give the district more money
Terror Fest Picks
Communion Fri. 15, Lost Well, 4:45pm Radically heavy Austin doom trio descends into dark and sludgy 15-minute opuses that are patient and smartly arranged and demonstrate a penchant for atmospheric middle sections. Zeus-like drummer Jeremy Jenkins pummels, while Dustin Anderson brings a Jimmy Page-like mysticism to his Les Paul, and bassist Jason Joachim burns microphones…
Quote of the Week: Ora Houston
The outgoing council member reflects on four years and lots of work
Terror Fest Record Reviews
Tomb Mold, Come to Grief/Fistula, Chrch, Wayfarer, and Gnaw
Stratford Plan on Hold?
Environmental Commission throws wrench in PARD’s progress
Luv Doc: The Marrying Kind
What is needed here is not some sort of grand gesture
Headlines
City Council was busy as all get-out this week, with a work session on Tuesday, a special called meeting on Wednesday, and its regular, 100-plus Item meeting on Thursday. Hot topics include CodeNEXT, a vote to appoint Brian Manley the permanent chief of the Austin Police Department, and growing tensions over the creation of a…
Mr. Smarty Pants Knows
There is only one gun store in Mexico. The Directorate of Arms and Munitions Sales is located on an army base on the outskirts of Mexico City. Westworld star Evan Rachel Wood has a cat named Smokey that taught himself to pee in a toilet. He doesn’t know how to flush, however. Harry Potter and…
Point Austin: The Struggle Continues
The Poor People’s Campaign renews the long-term fight
Martin Luecke’s “Campaign to Save Humanity”
Independent eyes Congressional District 25
