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City Cast Austin

Eva Ruth Moravec

 is like stopping by a very fancy living room belonging to your close friend: There’s art from 

 on the walls and playful, refined dishes on the menu; yet it’s completely un-stuffy and comfortable.

The new cocktail bar and lounge, located at 707 West 10th St., is swanky and mysterious, with dark floral wallpaper, jewel toned-velvet furniture and almost orange-tinted lights. Chef Mathew Peters’ 

 features simple yet incredible drinks like “Melon & Prosciutto,” “Cucumber & Rose,” and “Pines & Miso;” and canapés, or appetizers.

Is New York Taking Over Austin's Bar Scene?

I’m apparently in my Vitamin C era and tried the “Orange & Vanilla” drink ($20), made with mezcal and orange foam; citrus cured hamachi, which came in cornet-shaped bites ($21); and the chicken nuggets ($24), served with crème fraîche and a pickled green tomato. The textures, flavors, and sizes of everything were pretty darn perfect.

It’s definitely on the pricey side of nights out in town, but unique enough to justify it for a nice date, especially on Thursdays, for live jazz on the back lawn. 

Prélude Country Club, a four-month long series,

 will give members ($200) access to all-night happy hours, themed parties, and a Mahjong lounge. Eventually, the historic mansion at West Avenue and West 10th Street will house a full restaurant, Maven.

Citrus cured hamachi. (Eva Ruth Moravec/City Cast Austin)

Kelsey Bradshaw

 are calling for Cesar Chavez Street to be renamed after the 

 reported several sexual assault allegations against the labor leader last month.

The investigation says Chavez abused women and girls, including Dolores Huerta, a fellow leader in the labor movement who Chavez worked with. Fallout from the report was swift — across the country, events honoring Chavez were canceled, statues were removed, and school curriculums 

In Austin, four city council members — José Velásquez, Vanessa Fuentes, José “Chito” Vela, and Zohaib “Zo” Qadri — made a request earlier this month to change the name of Cesar Chavez Street.

Chavez died in April 1993 and that December, Austin’s First Street 

 after him The street runs west to east from MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1) to U.S. 183. El Concilio Mexican-American Landowners de East Austin, a local nonprofit, originally organized a call to rename First Street to honor Chavez. Now, the group wants the street 

“It’s a lesson learned,” Gabino Fernandez Jr., an El Concilio leader with El Concilio, 

. “Going back to First Street eliminates future discoveries about individuals that could lead to the same situation.”

The council request calls for City Manager T.C. Broadnax to develop a community outreach plan on whether or not to change the street name, and how much doing so would cost. It also asks Broadnax to report back to council on May 27.

“The city of Austin is committed to upholding the dignity and safety of all people and affirms its

unwavering support to survivors of sexual violence,” the request 

We recently asked City Cast Austin readers what they think the street’s name should be and got quite a few responses:

. She’s a civil rights icon, too, and bravely came forward with her story about Chavez.

Texas musician Stevie Ray Vaughan already has 

One of Texas’ two women governors, Ann Richards, was another reader suggestion. 

Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bat Bridge

Pastore was an Austin police officer who 

 to rename the road after Pastore has more than 1,500 signatures.

This wouldn’t be Austin if someone didn’t suggest Nelson. 

These are all great options, but it’s possible our reader 

 had the best suggestions: “Bessie Coleman, Simone Biles, Bonnie Dunbar, Opal Lee. ANY WOMAN!”

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

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

“The Truth and Tragedy of Moriah Wilson” is out 

 and the documentary does what true crime media should: It actually centers the victim.

Anna Moriah “Mo” Wilson was an accomplished, 25-year-old cyclist visiting a friend in Austin in 2022 when she was fatally shot by a local cyclist, Kaitlin Armstrong. Armstrong was found guilty of first-degree murder in November 2023 and sentenced to 90 years in prison, a ruling that was 

recently upheld by Texas Third Court of Appeals

The case has the trappings of a true crime podcast or splashy TV show. Armstrong was released from police custody, took her sister’s passport, and made her way to Costa Rica, where she got a nose job and started teaching yoga. After she was found and brought back to Texas, she managed to escape police and even got 1 mile away before being apprehended again.

But despite the bizarre story, Wilson’s murder remained largely untouched, save for local reporting as the case unfolded, until now.

Director Marina Zenovich and Producer Evan Hayes never made a true crime film before this one, and it shows. While the documentary includes details on the case told through police recordings and emotional interviews, you come away from watching with Wilson top of mind. That’s unusual in a world where true crime media seems to focus on things like the looks of a killer or the goriness of an incident.

Watch the Documentary Trailer

“I love that you mentioned that the crime is the subplot (of the documentary), because that's really what we were trying to do. We were showing who she was, what she worked to become, how she was on the cusp of becoming,” 

The documentary also shows how important Wilson became to Austinites as well as the people investigating her murder. Several Austin prosecutors, police detectives, and others who worked on the case attended the movie’s premiere during South by Southwest last month.

Zenovich said you could feel how invested everyone was in doing right by Wilson while making the documentary.

“I felt that (the movie) had to premiere in Austin,” she said.

SXSW was also the first time Wilson’s parents and brother were in Austin since Armstrong’s trial ended. Matt, Wilson’s brother, told the crowd at the movie’s second screening that showing the documentary felt like closure for him.

The film is equal parts sad and beautiful, as timelines switch from the shooting back to Wilson’s life. You may finish the movie and feel compelled to embrace the Wilsons and you wouldn’t be alone in that. A few viewers were lined up after a SXSW screening to give Matt Wilson a hug. Whether you followed the case or not, the documentary is worth a watch.

“At the end of the day, that's what this movie is about. It's about family and community. It's about perseverance,” Hayes said.

Listen to City Cast Austin's interview with Zenovich and Hayes. 👇

"The Truth and Tragedy of Moriah Wilson" is out now on Netflix.

Netflix’s True Crime Documentary on an Austin Homicide Bucks the Status Quo

Find the best of everything that Austin has to offer. 

Austin’s Best

Austin's Best

Austin’s Garrison Park neighborhood in South Austin runs from South First Street to just west of West Gate Boulevard, between Stassney Lane and William Cannon Drive.

While small, the neighborhood is home to some of the city’s best eats and a really great park:

Don’t just take my word for it — LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue has a Michelin star. The barbecue joint, 5621 Emerald Forest Drive, is a must-visit on your Austin barbecue journey. Get the jalape

o cheese chorizo, beef fat potato chips, and the kale caesar slaw with your 

. The restaurant is also known for its burgers, which are perfectly salted if you ask me!

Remembering DK Sushi & Seoul Korean Restaurant exists when I’m craving sushi is a treat every time. The small restaurant, 6400 S. 1st St., has been around since 1993 and for good reason. The sushi is reliable — it’s delicious 

. Bonus: The restaurant has a section where you can sit on the floor!

Plush with rows and rows of trees, Garrison Park at 6001 Manchaca Road feels like a small oasis. It’s tucked away off the side of the road in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it spot. Beyond a pretty sizable playground is room for picnicking, courts for basketball, and a small trail. The park’s city-run pool 

The South Austin neighborhood is home to great restaurants.

Your Guide to Austin’s Garrison Park Neighborhood

Everything to know about Austin neighborhoods: What to do, eat, shop, drink, and more.

Austin Neighborhood Guides

Neighborhood Guides

It is unbelievable that March is not the busiest month in Austin. I know we just finished what felt like a never-ending month of festivals and live music, but April is going to be even bigger and fuller.

Urban Music & Cultural Fest is April 4 at Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park. The festival celebrates Austin’s music, art, food, and community. Tickets start at $78.

Dozens and dozens of comics will be performing downtown April 7-18 for this year’s Moontower Comedy Festival. The lineup includes Leslie Jones, Marc Maron, Kathy Griffin, and so many more. Badges start at $175, and one-day wristbands are $85.

ABC Kite Fest starts at 10 a.m. on April 11 in Zilker Park. The annual event is free to attend and includes a mini market, an off-leash area for dogs, and dozens of kites.

Pease Park is hosting Squirrel Fest, a celebration of spring, on April 11 starting at 4 p.m. The event is free to attend and includes games, food, drinks, and music.

The Statesman Capitol 10,000 race is on April 12 this year. The 10k race goes through downtown and includes live music. You still have time to register, too.

Head out to Pease Park on April 25 for Eeyore’s Birthday Party, which is free to attend. 

 and celebrates our city’s free spirit with drum circles, face painting, costumes, and vendors.

Austin Reggae Fest runs April 17-19 at Auditorium Shores. The lineup includes Stephen Marley, Original Koffee, and Iration, among others. Tickets start at $53.

Austin Blues Festival is April 25-26 at Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park. The lineup includes Jimmy Vaughn & Friends, Parliament Funkadelic, Eric Johnson, and George Clinton. Tickets start at $89.

Your Guide to April 2026 in Austin

Before it had a booming tech scene and a skyline full of towering buildings, Austin was a small college town full of weirdos. Yearly revelers intend to keep that spirit alive through one iconic, weird, hippie-forward event: Eeyore’s Birthday Party.

The party is held annually at Pease Park, and 2026 will be the event’s 61st iteration. Held on April 25 this year, Eeyore’s Birthday Party is free to attend, lasts all day, and includes drum circles, food, drinks, music, costumes, face painting, and so much more.

Lloyd Birdwell was a student at the University of Texas at Austin in 1964 

 the author behind Winnie the Pooh, A.A. Milne. To celebrate the end of that spring semester, Birdwell pitched a party to his fellow classmates and Eeyore’s Birthday Party was born. The first version of the party was held on May 8, 1964, at Eastwoods Neighborhood Park near campus.

Just 50 people attended that first party. But eventually the party needed a new space due to attendance and was moved to 

“There really was no impetus for it, and I had never read ‘Winnie the Pooh,’” Birdwell told 

To throw the first party, the students used English Professor James Ayres as a faculty sponsor. But more than 10 years later in 1979, Ayres said he didn’t want to hold the party in Austin anymore. He canceled the Austin event so it could be held on his newly acquired land in Round Top.

That’s when the Young Men’s Christian Association of The University of Texas at Austin stepped in and took over organizing the event. The YMCA of UT is now known as Friends of the Forest.

 because of the coronavirus pandemic and returned in 2022.

Today, the Party Is a Bastion of Old Austin

Austin looks different all the time, but Eeyore’s Birthday Party still keeps that old and weird Austin flair.

“The Winnie-the-Pooh-themed bash is one of those reliably weird things about Austin that no amount of venture capital has managed to disrupt,” 

Eeryore's Birthday Party is 100% volunteer-run and all the vendors are nonprofits.

The party is often lauded as a chaotic tribute to spring complete with funky outfits, the feeling of freedom, and time with your neighbors.

Eeryore's Birthday Party is on April 25 this year. 

61 Years of Eeyore’s Birthday Party: What Is The Iconic Austin Event?

Explainers

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

Austin, Explained

Moving to San Marcos for college in 2012, I had no idea what awaited me. I’d grown up in the lanes of Krogers, Tom Thumbs, and the occasional Albertsons grocery stores in Dallas. I never considered what grocery stores could be.

Enter: H-E-B. This might appear to be a little too much for the lead-in to an article about a grocery store. But that’s what H-E-B does. Through freshly made butter tortillas, disaster response, and highly curated shelves, H-E-B has developed a cultlike following since its inception in South Texas 120 years ago.

“You know, it’s just a sweet little company, honestly. It really is,” Heidi Post, Senior Director of Public Affairs for Central Texas at H-E-B, 

Of course, Post acknowledged that “little” is the wrong word to describe H-E-B these days. H-E-B has sales of more than $50 billion and operates more than 440 stores across Texas and in Mexico. The company, which started operating in the 

, continues to expand with locations in Lubbock, and in Dallas-Fort Worth.

So, how does a grocery store that started in one room in 1905 become huge enough to have Jim Parsons, the “Big Bang Theory” actor who was born in Houston, voice a baby for 

It’s a combination of things, of course. 

The store manages to keep its prices low in this economy by staying humble, Post explained. The company keeps things modest in how it operates — not having the fanciest offices, for example — to keep costs down.

H-E-B has also found that being communicative with the communities it serves has been helpful. Nikki DaVaughn, the host of City Cast Austin’s podcast, may be why the H-E-B near the intersection of Springdale Road and U.S. 183 has hummus.

“I remember going in one day and they didn't have hummus. And I was like, ‘Why don't y'all have hummus? This is weird, right?’” DaVaughn told Post.

DaVaughn took it upon herself to send H-E-B an email about the missing hummus and the company actually responded. A year or so later, hummus was on the shelves.

Depending on what store you visit, different products may be available. An H-E-B in Northwest Austin near the Jewish Community Center has lots of Kosher products and is always packed with matzo around Passover, for example.

“We try to personalize our assortment for different areas of a town. That is a bit of our special sauce. We're not cookie cutter,” Post said.

The Cult of H-E-B

But perhaps the best thing H-E-B does that keeps Austinites coming is how it responds to disaster. Anytime a natural disaster happens, jokes that H-E-B runs better than the Texas government make the rounds online.

H-E-B always appears to be ready for anything — a 2024 

. Hunger and disaster relief are part of the company’s key pillars, Post said.

“We are a grocery business. We have food on our shelves, right? One of our top pillars and values is ‘How can we make sure people are being fed?’ So our hunger relief program is really at the core of our disaster relief services,” she said.

Earlier this year, the city of Austin reached out to H-E-B when catering fell through for its warming centers during a freeze.

H-E-B started matchmaking stores with warming shelters. Once the city was able to get someone to a store, H-E-B gave them a budget to shop with to get food to the warming shelters.

“That's the city calling us, saying ‘SOS H-E-B, can you help?’ And we're saying, ‘Yes, of course,’” Post said.

‘SOS, H-E-B:’ How Austin’s Favorite Grocery Store Keeps Its Top-Tier Status

Whether your mom told you when you were a kid, or a friend scolded you later on, all Texans know one thing to be true: It’s illegal to pick bluebonnets in Texas.

But as much as we believe it and as much as the no-plucking rule was passed around the state like a sacred text, it’s actually just a myth.

 that no law exists against picking the flowers, which have started to pop up around the Austin area. It’s hard to believe, I know. But you could technically pluck a bluebonnet up and bring it home. (You’d never do that though, right?)

Some spots are off limits to picking, however. You can’t pick flowers off someone’s private property, and it’s against the law, according 

to the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

, to pick, cut, or destroy any plant life on Texas park grounds.

Picking bluebonnets could also have longlasting negative effects: Bluebonnets and other annuals growing on the side of the road won’t reseed if they are picked or trampled, the association says. Avoid taking pictures among the flowers, too, because it could damage them.

Bluebonnet season has already started and will peak in mid-April, 

 this year after inconsistent to little rain fell in the fall.

So, it goes without saying that you should avoid picking bluebonnets. They’re the official state flower and serve as a special spring treat for Texans to enjoy. Let’s leave them be and I won’t tell anyone if you keep up the myth with your kids. 😉

Is It Illegal To Pick Bluebonnets in Texas?

Is It Actually Illegal To Pick Bluebonnets in Texas?

South by Southwest 2026 has come and gone, and before the city completely reverts back to normal, we’re sharing our favorite moments from this year’s fest!

Charley Crockett’s Show at Stubb’s BBQ

“This was the main event for me, and the artist I was most excited to see at SXSW. Crockett played to a pretty packed crowd of fans on Wednesday night. He performed a mix of old and new songs and had some talented openers, including Presley Haile and Nicky Diamonds.”

Getting Stuck in an Elevator With Andrew Scott

“I made my way to the Omni Hotel downtown to see actor Andrew Scott (

) talk about the characters he's played so far in his career. After the talk, my friend and I hung around for a bit and then made our way to the same elevator Scott stepped into.

The attendant pressed the button for the ground level, and as the elevator made its way down, it suddenly stopped, midfloor. She announced we were stuck and quickly called for help. I'm not one for tight spaces with little air flow, so I focused on not spiraling and scanning the space to see if anyone else was feeling the panic. That's when someone said, "Isn't it Friday the 13th?" It was. Of course it was. So there we all were, trapped in an elevator between the second and third floor of the Omni Hotel with Scott, making small talk, cracking jokes, and pretending this was all normal.

There was something surreal and weirdly perfect about it all. After about 20 minutes, the elevator lurched back into motion again and everyone got off unscathed. Twenty minutes of low-grade horror and unexpected delight will probably go down in history as my favorite SXSW moment yet.”

“The best thing I saw at SXSW was unplanned, sponsored by Sam’s Club, and involved hot dogs. On Friday, I was about to bike home when I saw a notification on my SXSW Go app about a performance and Q&A with Ashe.

I ‘discovered’ Ashe myself at last year’s Austin City Limits Music Festival, when I stumbled upon her band The Favors with best friend Finneas. Ashe has a mesmerizing Marilyn Monroe-esque stage presence, silk gown wafting in the breeze and all.

At SXSW, Ashe performed solo, with a guitar accompaniment, in a small room of people enjoying 

. Her voice was so smooth, and she hit all the high notes despite suffering from allergies (who amongst us isn’t these days?). After she sang, Ashe did a short Q&A with Sam’s Club, but hung around long afterwards to talk to fans and take pictures. This is my favorite part — that festival-goers can interact like regular people with incredible musicians and stars like Ashe. I asked her what she loved about Austin.

‘Walking while I’m on tour is what grounds me,” she said. “I just love walking or running on the trail around the river.”

Laughing With Chris Fleming and Eric André

 this SXSW, my favorite event was the conversation between comedians Chris Fleming and Eric André on the second-to-last day of the festival. Laughing for an hour straight was the best way to close out SXSW. 

, the comedians could barely stay on topic, which was supposed to be a deep dive into Fleming’s work. No matter. I’d listen to these two literally read the phone book.

Iliza Shlesinger’s Hilarious Texas-Based Movie

When comedian Iliza Shlesinger said her movie “Chasing Summer” was a love letter to growing up in suburban Texas and millennial nostalgia, I knew I was in the right seat.

The next two-ish hours were perfectly awkward, cringey, and hilarious, just like Shlesinger’s comedy style. In the film, the protagonist is a disaster response guru who gets dumped by her boyfriend and moves back home with her parents. Things go very badly, and it’s a blast to watch.

Although the movie premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, Shlesinger said it truly belonged at SXSW. There’s no release date yet, but fingers crossed it gets picked up soon.

The Best of SXSW 2026

The new cocktail bar and lounge is located at 707 West 10th St.

Austin’s Newest Bar Prélude Is Worth a Night Out

The latest on the hottest places to eat, drink, socialize, and talk about 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

Hamburgers are the perfect food. They work in every season, are a divine mix of veggies, sauces, cheese, and bread, and are just plain fun to eat.

. To keep your burger habit going, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite deals in town:

Do you ever dream about a burger? No? That just means you haven’t yet tried 

the smashburgesa at Bar Toti, off of Manor Road

. The burger comes with two wagyu beef patties, American cheese, griddled ham, chipotle mayo, and escabeche relish. It’s so comforting to eat and just $8 during happy hour, which runs all day on Monday and 5-6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.

. On Wednesdays starting at 5 p.m., you can get a burger, fries, and a mini Spaghett or cosmopolitan for $15. The pickles on the burger have a great crunch to them, and you’ll have a blast with the tiny drink glass they bring out for you!

, you already know I’m a fan of the cheeseburger and shoestring fries at Clark’s Oyster Bar in Clarksville. The burger, which is 

, is perfectly juicy and half off during happy hour, Monday through Friday 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Sour Duck Market in East Austin has some of the best burgers around — they come with pimento cheese and are on challah buns. During the restaurant’s 

, you can get a single-patty burger for $6 or a double patty for $9. Finish off your meal with a $3 soft serve sundae.

Much can be said about downtown Austin’s dining options. Too few exist, many are too expensive, and who can find a parking spot? But if you happen to find yourself downtown, pop into Bill’s Oyster for its daily 

 The burger, which is usually $21, is $10 during happy hour and bottles of wine are 50% off.

Lots of local restaurants have great burger deals!

Food & Drink

Austin’s Newest Bar Prélude Is Worth a Night Out

Eva Ruth Moravec

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