austin

Austin

chicago

Chicago

denver

Denver

lasvegas

Las Vegas

madison

Madison

nashville

Nashville

philly

Philly

pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

portland

Portland

saltlake

Salt Lake

seattle

Seattle

twincities

Twin Cities

We make podcasts and newsletters that connect people with the cities they love.

City Cast Austin

Kelsey Bradshaw

(Jay Janner/The Austin American-Statesman/

Making summer bucket lists is one of my favorite things to do. I usually write lists of swimming holes to hit, restaurants to try, and new experiences I can’t miss at the start of summer to make sure I’m making the most of the season.

This year, I’m adding a list of ice creams I need to eat before summer ends. And don’t you worry, I’ve included that list down below so we all can enjoy and reach our goals!

drop when I saw Cedar Door Patio Bar & Grill has a soft serve watermelon margarita available this month. The bar is rolling out new flavors of the month for its soft serve margaritas and the 

OMG Squee’s soft serve flavors through June 28 include mango lassi, strawberry, ube, and melon 

. The soft serve always looks so beautiful at OMG Squee and I’ll probably be refreshing its Instagram on July 1 for the next round of flavors. 😋

Carnival Cookie and Mango Chamoy Ice Cream

H-E-B is always cooking up something new in its Creamy Creations ice cream line. Two new flavors have been added to my cart. 

 is made with cake batter-flavored ice cream, animal cracker cookie pieces, and a cake batter sprinkle swirl. Plus, the 

 sounds like a great treat on a sweltering day!

It appears geniuses work at All Day Pizza. The pizza shop is 

 made with sweet cream soft serve, Luxardo cherry syrup, and a sour cherry cola gummy at both of its locations this month. Keep an eye on the shop’s Instagram page for new flavor drops — 

 was available back in April and I have sooo many regrets!

Is it an Austin summer without a stop for a cone at Sandy’s? I love saying “OK, I’ll stop if there’s no line” on my way home from Barton Springs Pool and then hopping in the Sandy’s drive-thru lane no matter what. I need my 

I legitimately can’t stop thinking about the sundae Gati’s is serving at its 

. The sundae is made with mango, sticky rice, mango lime coconut milk ice cream, and a coconut sauce.

Your Ice Cream Bucket List for Summer 2026 in Austin

The latest on the best and newest restaurants and bars in Austin. We'll help you find where to eat, drink, and socialize.

Austin Food & Drink

Food & Drink

Father’s Day is this Sunday and if you’re still trying to figure out how to celebrate the father in your life, we’ve got you covered! Here’s your guide to Father’s Day in Austin this year:

Pitmasters from Texas, Alabama, and Oklahoma will compete in a barbecue contest at Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa, 8212 Barton Club Dr., on Saturday. The competition starts at 5:30 p.m. and includes tastings, drinks, live music, and fireworks. 

, 2001 Robert Dedman Dr., are still available. Bargatze is the perfect comedian for a Father's Day activity — he does plenty of bits about being a dad. Tickets start at just $25 for his 3 p.m. show and $50 for the 7 p.m. show.

 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in its parking lot at 1512 Holly St. The event is free to attend and includes a vendor market and a special sundae made with mango, sticky rice, coconut milk ice cream, and coconut sauce. Yum!

Head over to Little Darlin’ in South Austin, 6507 Circle S Road, on Father’s Day for a showing of pre-1988 hot rod, classic, and custom cars. 

 and includes live music, a vendor market, and is dog-friendly. The fun starts at 11 a.m. and runs until 6 p.m.

The Little Longhorn Saloon, 5434 Burnet Road, hosts chicken shit bingo every Sunday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

Where To Celebrate Father’s Day 2026 in Austin

Find the best of everything that Austin has to offer. 

Austin’s Best

Austin's Best

Elissa Castles

Welcome to your City Cast Austin news quiz! From time to time, we’ll publish a quiz to test your newsletter prowess. We want to see how much you paid attention this week. 😉 Answer the following questions and your score will appear at the end. 

Test your Austin knowledge with these other trivia questions.

Your Austin News Quiz

Explainers

What Austinites have been wondering. We break down why things in Austin are they way they are and how they work.

Austin, Explained

Juneteenth is right around the corner, y’all! The holiday 

 in 1865 when remaining enslaved people in Galveston were notified that they were free, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.

Celebrations for this year’s Juneteenth, which is next Friday, kick off this weekend in the Austin area.

Here’s what you should add to your calendar:

Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park is hosting a 

 that includes a vendor market, DJ sets, food, and more. The fun starts at 5 p.m. and runs until 9 p.m.

Celebrate at the Library’s 100-Year Juneteenth Community Cookout

Austin Public Library is celebrating Juneteenth and the library’s 100th anniversary at the Carver Branch in East Austin on June 14. Head over between noon and 3 p.m. for food, music, dancing, games, crafts and a Dominoes tournament. 

Get Your Steps In at the Annual Juneteenth FunRun

The city’s African American Cultural and Heritage Facility is hosting a fun run at 8:30 a.m. on Juneteenth. The run follows the same route as the parade later that day 

Walk in a Parade and Then Head to a Festival

 starts at 10 a.m. on June 19 at the intersection of East Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Leona Street. The route goes south on Chicon Street and ends at Rosewood and Boggy Creek parks. 

 starts in the parks at noon and goes until 9:30 p.m.

The George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural, and Genealogy Center is hosting its Juneteenth event 

 The kickback is free to attend and includes barbecue, music, hands-on activations, shopping, and more.

Reflect at the Neill-Cochran House Museum

The Neill-Cochran House Museum is hosting a day of reflection and celebration on June 21 from noon to 4 p.m. 

 and includes barbecue, live music, and tours.

Where To Celebrate Juneteenth 2026 in Austin

It is a thrilling time to be a San Antonio Spurs fan. For the first time since 2014, the team is in the NBA Finals facing the New York Knicks and Austinites are 

a couple games at Austin’s Moody Center

 for the last four seasons, so it feels like we’re part of this, too, OK? Besides, watching 

Right now, the Spurs are down 1-2 against the Knicks and 

In Austin, you’ve got lots of ways to watch the remaining games:

The NBA has been hosting official watch parties throughout the playoffs and so far in the finals. Updated 

 as the finals continue. Tonight, a watch party at Armadillo Den starts at 6 p.m. and includes giveaways and a free photo booth.

All Austin locations of Pluckers Wing Bar have been designated 

. Fans who show up wearing Spurs merch can get five free wings with the purchase of an adult entree.

Bouldin Acres is offering food and drink specials 

, which are held at all three of the restaurant’s locations. Attendees get free Jell-O shots when the Spurs win.

The Lucky Duck in South Austin Has Lots of Room

The Lucky Duck on Lynnbrook Drive off Menchaca Road has a big screen for watching the Spurs from the bar’s 

 that is covered in turf. You can bring your own fold-up lawn chair, too. The bar’s watch party for tonight 

Chalmers has been packed with Spurs fans since the playoffs and the bar even had 

 for the finals. That means you need to show up early if you want to get a good spot to watch the game!

The San Antonio Spurs are in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014.

Where To Watch the 2026 NBA Finals in Austin

It’s no secret that Austin is full of out-of-state transplants — we 

, making the city the 12th biggest in the country. Don’t worry, City Cast Austin is a safe space for you! We’re not about to tell you to stop moving here, and instead, we come bearing tips on how to deal with your first or 10th Austin summer.

First thing to know: June is actually the best it’s going to be all summer. Savor the rainy weather we’ve been having and bask in temperatures while they remain under 100 degrees. OK, once you’ve faced that reality, here’s what else you need to know:

Whether you’re a born-and-raised Texan or you just got here from the East Coast, packing for the weather is essential. Before heading out, we suggest taking a full water bottle and some sort of cooling device for wherever you’re going. Get a 

 to throw in your bag or car and pull out when it gets too hot. You’ll be thankful you have ‘em! Also, water is a no-brainer. Please drink your water!

The thing about living here is that you have to become one with Austin’s pools. Springfed waters abound and if you’re not taking advantage, what are you doing? Get to 

 for a free, cool swim to wake you up. Make a habit of visiting your 

, too. You won’t even notice the heat once you become a regular!

If you have plans to exercise, garden, sit outside with an iced coffee, or literally anything else, do it in the morning. It’s the coolest part of the day during summer and well worth waking up for. Just don’t forget to still apply your sunscreen, wear a hat, and drink lots of water.

Listen, you live here now. Just lean into it. Are you sweating through your clothes? Whatever! Would you rather wait for a table inside? Obviously! Keeping your shades closed for three months isn’t weird. It’s all part of being an Austinite. 

Let's get ready for your first Austin summer.

How To Deal With Austin’s Summer Heat for Newbies

Get to know the natural side of Austin: the plants, animals, weather and more that make our city unique.

Austin Urban Almanac

Urban Almanac

A recent Friday evening inside Austin’s Paramount Theatre downtown felt like being in the Panthers locker room in Dillon, Texas.

Kyle Chandler, who played Eric Taylor on “Friday Night Lights,” brought the room to a quiet halt as he spoke about his experience on the show, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

“It’s hard to describe this show. It was so magical. It really truly was and not just for what the audience sees, but for the actors,” Chandler said. “Going onto a show like this is like going to a masterclass in acting. It’s not Shakespeare and classical, it’s freedom.”

Chandler was with a majority of the show’s cast for a panel at ATX TV Festival. It was a fitting addition to the event’s lineup, said Emily Gibson, a co-founder of the festival. The TV show, which ran 2006-2011, helped launch ATX TV Festival in 2012 with an appearance from Chandler and Connie Britton, his on-screen wife Tami Taylor.


Before Chandler had the floor during this year’s panel, the crowd and the cast on stage had been rowdy. It was a fun and funny discussion. Britton recorded Jesse Plemons from backstage as he revived his character Landry’s high school band Crucifictorious with two songs ahead of the talk. Roars from the audience broke out when Gaius Charles, who played Smash Williams, was introduced on stage. A whole bit about Chandler replacing Billy Bob Thornton, who originally played coach in the movie version of the show, kept everyone laughing throughout the night. Chants of “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose” filled the theater more than once.

But when Chandler had the mic, the whoops faded and it felt like we were getting a real life pep talk from Coach Taylor. Even 20 years later, Chandler has a way with the cast and the fans who love them.

“We were lucky because we were doing our thing in Austin, Texas,” Chandler regaled, clad in a pair of cowboy boots.

The show filmed in Texas long before the 

state legislature passed a huge, $1.5 billion incentives

 package for filmmakers to make their movies in Texas. Pflugerville High School served as the show's fictional Panthers Stadium, a Dairy Queen on Manor Road was turned into “Alamo Freeze,” and 

Landry’s band played at The Broken Spoke

While the cast of “Friday Night Lights” only includes a couple of real Texans, the show still holds importance throughout the state. This writer’s dad said, “Oh! You’re seeing Coach?!” when I told him I was headed to the panel. At the afterparty, dozens of attendees made homecoming mums in Panther blue and yellow and donned team baseball caps. 

At one point, Chandler asked the Paramount crowd if anyone was out at the stadiums as extras while the show was being filmed. Hands shot up all over.

“Ya! Thank you,” Chandler yelled back.

20 Years On, ‘Friday Night Lights’ Cast Is Still a Team at ATX TV Festival

Starting Saturday, Austinites will have a new way to traverse downtown and it couldn’t be better.

The Confluence is a half-mile trail along Waller Creek that runs from Fourth Street to the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail on Lady Bird Lake. A total of 1,600 trees, including a couple hundred bald cypresses, and 200,000 native plants were planted on the new trail. The project has been in the works since 2023 and cost $91.5 million, 

funded through city and private donations

On a recent morning, I got to take a tour of the trail and the phrases “wow, awesome” and “it’s gorgeous” came out of my mouth more times than I care to admit. It is a marvelous addition to downtown and meets the moment Austin is currently in: continued population growth in a city trying to keep up. The Confluence keeps up.

Whether you want to extend your walk around Lady Bird Lake by half a mile (or a whole mile if you do an out-and-back), or you need a better way to maneuver parts of downtown, the Confluence offers up a new way to experience Waller Creek.

The creek was previously the most eroded and damaged creek in downtown, said Jon Rigdon, Waterloo Greenway Conservancy’s chief planning and design officer. But with an infusion of plants, wildflowers, trees, and upcycled limestone, the creek has been transformed into a green space animals are already calling home.

Four types of herons, including snowy egrets, a beaver, a pair of red-shouldered hawks, and turtles have been spotted using the creek since its makeover.

“Nature came right back before we were done,” Rigdon said.

You’ll forget you’re in a congested part of downtown Austin when you’re on the Confluence. It’s surprisingly quiet, ripples of water whip by, and no cars are in sight. The trail is also great on the feet — parts of it are made with grippy, permeable pavement to allow water to flow through it instead of creating runoff during a rain event.

Now, this might be the best part. Temperatures are 5 to 7 degrees cooler on the Confluence due to its trees and proximity to water. While it was 81 degrees and sticky when I walked the trail, and it felt nice and breezy down there.

With the Waterline building opening in August, Rigdon hopes the trail will become a destination spot that tourists and locals want to visit. The bottom floor of the Waterline will eventually have boutiques and restaurants where trail users can stop off and shop at, grab a cup of coffee, or pop in to for a meal.

It will not be surprising when the Confluence becomes an honest-to-goodness destination. The lush greenery and wildflower patches it provides are wonderful and the addition of so many trees is a significant investment in the area’s future.

When asked what he wants the public to experience with the Confluence, Rigdon said: “That there’s this beautiful space of nature that is theirs.”

The new, half-mile trail runs along Waller Creek downtown.

Austin’s New Downtown Trail Is a Transportive Wonder

Austin Trivia: How Much Do You Know About Local Civics?

What's being decided in Austin City Hall and why it matters. We monitor local elections, political news, and Austin City Council. 

Austin Election and City Hall News

Local Civics

Austin health officials are monitoring an outbreak of cattle-killing flies in Texas as cases reach double-digits.

So far, 10 active cases of New World screwworms have been reported in Texas, 

. None of the cases are out of the Austin-Travis County area, but officials here are prepping in case that changes. The closest area to Austin with an active case 

 that lay eggs in open wounds or body openings of animals. Once the eggs hatch, maggots can burrow and feed off an animal’s living tissue. This can lead to serious injury or death.

All mammals are at risk of screwworms. While the risk of screwworms in humans in the U.S. 

, the flies can lay eggs in farm animals like cattle and goats, or domestic pets like dogs and cats.

Visible maggots in wounds, ears, nose, eyes, or mouth

Pets can be successfully treated for screwworms. If you think your animal has become infected with screwworms, 

Officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture said it plans to 

use drones equipped with artificial intelligence

 to monitor wildlife in the fight against screwworms. Additionally, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved generic tablets for treatment of the worms in dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens that weigh at least two pounds. The nitenpyran tablets are 

Local health officials say Austinites should take certain precautions if they plan to visit an area where screwworms have been reported:

Keep open wounds clean and covered with a bandage.

Sleep inside a room that has screens on its windows and doors.

Wear pants, a hat, socks, and loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts to prevent mosquito bites. Use bug spray, too.

Check any wounds for white fly eggs or maggots.

How Austin Health Officials Are Preparing As New World Screwworm Cases Rise in Texas

Amy Stansbury

Let’s face it. Keeping up with everything Austin City Council members are up to is really, really difficult. So, if you’re looking for one issue to get involved with this summer that will have the maximum impact, it’s the city’s budget.

Why? Because the budget basically decides which city programs are going to get funded and at what level for the next year. It also impacts what we all pay in property taxes.

Now, if hearing the very word budget makes your eyes glaze over, don’t panic! Here are a few simple things you need to know:

On July 16, the City Manager T.C. Broadnax will present a draft budget proposal to Austin City Council members.

Council members will then spend the next month debating and making changes to that draft budget before approving a final version in mid-August.

The new budget will officially go into effect on Oct. 1.

: This is the annual day-to-day costs of running the city. It includes the funding for all of our city’s enterprise departments, like Austin Water and Austin Energy, which get the bulk of their income from the bills we all pay for using their services. Last year, the city’s operating budget was $6.3 billion.

: This is where most of the debate happens. The general fund makes up about a quarter of the operating budget and includes the budgets of all the city departments that are more heavily funded by property and sales taxes. This includes the police department, parks and recreation, libraries, and the animal center. Last year, the fund was $1.5 billion.

Last year, Austin voters rejected Prop Q, which would have raised property taxes above the state mandated 3.5% cap. This funding would have gone to departments and programs in the city’s general fund. After it was rejected, cuts were made to many of the city’s social service contracts.

City staff have projected additional cuts to social services in the forthcoming budget draft proposal, which has already stirred up a lot of concern among council members and the community. You can expect social services funding to be a major component of budget discussions this summer.

The budget isn’t the only major decision city council members will make this summer. They’ll also decide whether or not to call for a bond election in November. A bond is like a loan, but for the city. It’s one of the main ways the city funds big capital projects like new parks, sidewalks, or affordable housing. It’s paid for via a property tax increase, so all of us get to vote on it.

After the draft budget is released, every council member will host a town hall meeting in their district. 

A full schedule for those events will be posted here

An Austinite’s Guide to the City’s Budget

An election is right around the corner and if you’re not sure if you need to get into a voting booth, this is the guide for you:

Texans chose who the Democratic and Republic nominees would be for a number of races during the primaries on March 3. But not all were decided — some were too close to call and moved into a runoff.

On May 26, voters will decide the Democratic nominee for Texas governor, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, and the Republican and Democratic nominees for Texas lieutenant governor, among others.

Early voting is currently underway and ends Friday at 7 p.m. Travis County residents can vote anywhere with a “Vote here/aqui” sign out front. For a list of early voting locations, 

Tuesday is your last chance to vote in the runoff election. Voting runs 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Travis County residents can vote anywhere with a “Vote here/aqui” sign. For a list of Election Day voting locations, 

The runoff is still a primary election, which means you can only vote for one party’s candidates. The party you voted for in March is the party you’ll vote for this time around. If you didn't vote in the March primary you can still cast a ballot in the runoff but must choose a party.

Now, you don’t want to go into the voting booth unprepared, especially because 

 are at stake. Take a couple minutes to look up what will be on your ballot 

using the Travis County Clerk’s website

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is hoping to unseat John Cornyn as one of the state’s two U.S. senators, a position Cornyn has held for more than two decades. Cornyn and Paxton are both vying to be the state’s Republican nominee for U.S. Senate.

President Donald Trump endorsed Paxton earlier this week, 

The winner will face Democratic nominee James Talarico in November.

Do You Need To Vote in Texas’ Runoff Election? Your Guide to May 26.

 that regulates how city departments can use surveillance technology.

The Transparent and Responsible Use of Surveillance Technology Act was created following backlash to a proposal that would have added cameras to several Austin parks. Austinites said adding cameras to parks violates civil liberties and raises concerns over privacy, data collection, and oversight.

Here’s what you need to know about the TRUST Act:

The ordinance calls for city departments to take stock of the surveillance technology they may already have in place. Departments will have to 

 any current technology that doesn’t comply with the ordinance.

Austin City Council members recently approved limits on surveillance technology.

Local Civics

Austin Trivia: How Much Do You Know About Local Civics?

Kelsey Bradshaw

Share article

Local Civics

How Austin Health Officials Are Preparing As New World Screwworm Cases Rise in Texas

An Austinite’s Guide to the City’s Budget

Do You Need To Vote in Texas’ Runoff Election? Your Guide to May 26.

What To Know About Austin’s TRUST Act

Everything You Need To Know as AISD Stares Down a $181 Million Budget Deficit

Austin May Change Cesar Chavez Street. Here’s 5 Name Suggestions.

Your Guide to the March 3 Primaries in Texas

How To Help Your Neighbors During an ICE Arrest in Austin

The latest in Austin

Your Ice Cream Bucket List for Summer 2026 in Austin

Where To Celebrate Father’s Day 2026 in Austin

Your Austin News Quiz

Where To Celebrate Juneteenth 2026 in Austin

Where To Watch the 2026 NBA Finals in Austin

How To Deal With Austin’s Summer Heat for Newbies

20 Years On, ‘Friday Night Lights’ Cast Is Still a Team at ATX TV Festival

Austin’s New Downtown Trail Is a Transportive Wonder