1 / Sip a Fresh Margarita What better way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo than with a marg on a patio? Discover 15 of our favorite spots for the lime-juice-and-tequila-based concoctions—such as Matt’s El Rancho and Curra’s—here. May 5, various locations   2 / Boogie Down at the iHeart Country Festival Boot scoot your way over to Moody Center for this spirited country festival featuring stars like Jelly Roll, Keith Urban, Lady A, Jason Aldean, and Ashley McBryde. The event will be hosted by radio juggernaut and former Austinite Bobby Bones of The Bobby Bones Show. May 4, various times, 2001 Rob ..read more

5 Animal Adventures Across Texas 5 Unique Stays Across Texas 8 Tasty Destinations Across the Lone Star State 7 Adventurous Getaways in Texas 5 Texas Glamping Spots to Discover This Summer 5 Great Amusement Parks Across the Lone Star State 3 Must-See Immersive Art Experiences in Texas 4 Classic Summertime Festivals in Texas 5 Great Outdoor Destinations in Texas 4 Family-Friendly Activities Across Texas 6 New and Revamped Hotels Throughout the Lone Star State 3 Music-Centric Destinations in Texas   The post 60 Fun Ways to Explore Texas This Summer appeare ..read more

Picture this: You sit on a sunny patio, crack open a few cold beverages, and soak in the gorgeous spring weather in Austin. But the next morning, you can barely get out of bed as nausea, fatigue, and a terrible headache take over your body. Luckily, you don’t have to endure yet another dreaded hangover just to have a fun night in the capital city. As more young people are cutting back on booze—or abstaining altogether—a new wave of legal, delicious THC libations have arrived in Austin. Get ready to experience a symphony of flavors and relaxation like never before with Melo THC Seltzer! With a ..read more

Art lovers, rejoice! Austin will have not one, but two larger-than-life exhibits to look forward to this summer. Locals can walk among the swirling skies and vibrant flowers featured in iconic paintings at Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience and Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience.     Located in the former Austin American-Statesman building, the entrancing exhibits by Paquin Entertainment Group bring the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painters’ artworks to life with projection-swathed walls and symphonic scores. Stroll among classic pieces like “The Starry Night” and ..read more

This is for the Scoop newsletter The post Newsletter Scoop article 1 appeared first on Austin Monthly Magazine ..read more

For most Texans, Fredericksburg is synonymous with wine country. But take a deeper look, and you’ll find the majority of state-produced fruit is actually grown hundreds of miles away. Despite all the vineyards lining Highway 290, many area winemakers source their grapes from the High Plains near Lubbock or Trans-Pecos region by Fort Stockton, carting tons of fruit to the Hill Country after harvest. But upstart company Local Customs Wine Growers is on a mission to keep wine production firmly rooted in Central Texas—from soil to glass. During his tenure at Austin Winery from 2016 to 2022, Travis ..read more

In a city renowned for music and keeping things weird, no one embodies both camps like Willie Nelson. To celebrate Austin’s luminary country star turning 91 today, we’re looking back at 10 (that’s 9 + 1) formative moments in his career, from an appearance at the Armadillo World Headquarters to the unveiling of his statue outside of the Moody Theater.   1955: A job at a radio station in Pleasanton, Texas, provides an opportunity for Nelson’s first recordings.  Born in Abbott, Texas, Nelson was raised by his grandparents, who gave him a guitar at age 6. He began performing in bars and ..read more

What does it say about a city’s food scene when you can find not one, but three riffs on the Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme? Or multiple sightings of McRib clones? Austin’s fascination with fast food is a phenomenon that has been steadily growing in recent years, and the trend speaks to the “keep it weird” mantra that endures, even as our culinary identity becomes more elevated. For a tasty trip down memory lane this summer, check out these four local places doing creative takes on fast food classics. Bigger Mac: Becky Plante   JNL Barbecue | Bigger Mac While Ben Lambert has always loved a ..read more

Just outside of beloved swimming hole Barton Springs sits a bronze sculpture of three men engaged in jovial debate. Veteran Austinites might know one of these “philosophers” as capital city luminary and former UT executive Roy Bedichek—a name they may also recognize from his eponymous middle school in South Austin. But few realize that this local legend was once involved in a neighborly dispute that ended in death. In a chapter of his 1947 memoir, Adventures with a Texas Naturalist, Bedichek reminisces about a pair of western screech owls discovered in his yard. Ever endeared by wildlife, he d ..read more

Austin’s East Side might as well be Abraham Mong’s outdoor gallery. In the last several years, the local artist has painted, fabricated, and installed vibrant signs throughout the area, from the intricate glowing caricature at Other Racquet Social Club to the flaming pizza slice at Love Supreme and minimalist marquee at Zeds Ice Cream. Operating under the moniker A.mong Signwriting, the former Seattle muralist began perfecting restaurant signs and adorning windows and walls across the capital city in 2010, including projects at bygone Rainey Street destination G’Raj Mahal and current favorites ..read more