The University of Texas at Austin has scored a top-50 spot among Forbes' annual list of America's Top Colleges. Three more Austin-area institutions – St. Edward's University, Southwestern University in Georgetown, and Texas State University in San Marcos – were also recognized on the list. The ranking highlights 500 colleges and universities throughout the country that "produce successful, high-earning and influential graduates from all economic backgrounds, with less student debt." Ranki...| CultureMap Austin
Whether local foodies' idea of a good time is enjoying a multi-course meal or housing snacks while watching college football, Austin restaurants have them covered. Also on this week's list are a Vietnamese restaurant closure and a place to get beer with music lovers in the middle of the day. Openings and closings Victory Lap is taking a — well, a celebratory second go-around. Almost exactly two years ago, the stylish college sports bar opened on West 24th Street, and now it's opening a seco...| CultureMap Austin
Locals hoping to spend Labor Day on Lake Austin will have to make sure their equipment is allowed first. The Austin Police Department (APD) Lake Patrol Unit has announced that it will be enforcing a ban on personal watercraft on the lake between sunset on Friday, August 29, and sunrise on Tuesday, September 2. According to the city ordinance, this means no jet skis, wet bikes, motorized surfboards, or any other "similar device." Devices that don't have motors — the announcement specifically...| CultureMap Austin
With an economy that continues to prosper, Austin has topped a new list of the best large American cities for economic growth in 2025. CoworkingCafe's study, "Rising Powerhouses: The Cities Making America’s Economic Future," compared economic data across 269 U.S. cities from 2019-2023. Cities were then sorted into three categories: Large cities with populations greater than 500,000 residents; midsize cities with populations between 250,000-500,000 residents; and small cities with fewer than...| CultureMap Austin
Pop royalty and Wicked movie star Ariana Grande has announced the Eternal Sunshine Tour in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, including a stop for two nights in Austin. She'll be at the Moody Center on June 24 and 26. Each stop on the 10-city tour has at least two shows scheduled, making 27 in total. It starts in Oakland, California, on June 6 and ends in London, England, on August 23 at the famous O2 arena. Grande will not stop in any other Texas cities. It's the first time G...| CultureMap Austin
A new holiday tradition has taken hold in Austin. The second-annual Holiday Hootenanny will be held at Radio/East on Saturday, December 13, with live music, vendors, a gingerbread house contest, and more. Reasonable Austinites may feel it's still a bit early to be getting into winter holiday events, but there are some big names on this lineup and tickets are selling fast; in fact, the first ticket tier has already sold out. The full lineup hasn't been announced yet, but many music lovers alre...| CultureMap Austin
Summer in the city isn’t over yet and these hot happenings are perfect for riding out the heatwave. Discover women and LGBTQ+ artists at the Front Festival, or cool off with an ice cream flight at Amy’s Ice Creams. Check out the top seven things to do in Austin this holiday weekend. For a complete list of events, go to our calendar. Thursday, August 28 The Front Festival The Line Austin hotel hosts a weekend of entertainment and art from women and LGBTQ+ artists. Festival highlights inclu...| CultureMap Austin
Spooky season is right around the corner, and the Paramount Theatre is ready with a stacked lineup for this year's Panic at the Paramount. The annual horror takeover at the historic – and allegedly haunted – theater will return for six nights in October and November, offering screenings of scary classics, plus some unique experiences like Q&As and scores performed in concert. On October 11, Austin drag icon Louisianna Purchase will host a double-feature of the 1989 Pet Semetary adaptation...| CultureMap Austin
Austin singer and rapper Mama Duke is going straight to theAmerica's Got Talent finale after receiving the "Golden Buzzer" from judge and fellow musician Mel B. Mama Duke performed in the competition show's live quarterfinal on August 26. Most acts were subject to community votes to determine if they would go on to the semifinal round or leave the competition, but not this one. Mel B chose to use her only Golden Buzzer — and the only one available for the episode — to give Mama Duke immun...| CultureMap Austin
As football season is gearing up, there are a lot of places around Austin to watch the University of Texas Longhorns. One of the largest watch parties in town will be held at East Austin sports bar Chalmers during every away game — with a fun twist for fans. The bar will achieve these big goals in partnership with event promoters When Where What Austin by expanding into the full parking lot next door for every away game during the Longhorns' football season, setting it up with 25 TVs, two J...| CultureMap Austin
A popular local coffee shop is moving in at a plant store on South Lamar Boulevard. Desnudo Coffee has opened a brand-new trailer — its third in total — and parked it outside of Frond Plant Shop at 1904 S. Lamar Blvd., with a soft opening period starting Wednesday, August 27. A public party on Saturday, August 30, will mark the full official opening of the new location. Frond and Desnudo have both had big changes in the past couple of years. Frond moved into the South Lamar space in Augus...| CultureMap Austin
Texans will soon have a new place to explore along the Frio River: a 1,720-acre state park in Uvalde County. The future Bear Creek State Park — just a mile from the busy Garner State Park — marks the latest win from the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund, which is fueling an unprecedented wave of new park development across the state. The $1 billion fund, approved by Texas voters in 2023, is driving the biggest boom in new state park development since the ‘70s and ‘80s. The Texas Park...| CultureMap Austin
The Infatuation, a restaurant reviews website in Austin and 11 other cities, has taken its stance on the 20 best barbecue restaurants in Texas. The No. 1 spot goes to a buzzy Austin choice: LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue. It's one of eight Austin-area restaurants on the list overall. Reviews on The Infatuation are broken down into sections that make sense at a glance and can be easily compared from restaurant to restaurant. Those include some combination of (it varies) a numerical rating from 1-10,...| CultureMap Austin
Outdoorsy Austinites have some new options for enjoying the city's parks as fall starts to move in. Austin Parks Foundation (APF) presents its free In the Park series, which will expand this year with new free programming for all ages. The first new event starts September 20. A new series for seniors called Spark in the Park leads the new additions. It's a six-week morning program at Dove Springs District Park that brings together activities for gentle fitness and "brain-boosting." It was cre...| CultureMap Austin
It's no secret that Texans are hardworking people. Ahead of Labor Day, a new WalletHub study asserts that the Lone Star State is one of the five most hardworking states in America for 2025. The report ranked Texas the fourth most hardworking state this year, indicating that its residents are working harder than ever after the state fell into seventh place in 2024. Texas previously ranked No. 4 in 2019 and 2020, slipped into No. 5 in 2021 and 2022, then continued falling into sixth place in 20...| CultureMap Austin
Easy Tiger, a well-known Austin bakery, has changed managerial hands to a powerful local group. MML Hospitality announced August 25 that it is now Easy Tiger's managing operator. Both current Easy Tiger locations are reopening with some changes this summer or fall. Customers may know Easy Tiger for its bakery and beer garden hybrids across the city; it was best-known at its original location on Sixth Street that opened in 2012, but now it maintains one location on South Lamar and one at The L...| CultureMap Austin
It's time to update your grocery list. After spending months assessing hours of video submissions, Texas grocer H-E-B has narrowed down the finalists for the annual Quest for Texas Best competition. Ten innovative Texas entrepreneurs were chosen from 370 entries from 150 Lone Star cities, including two in Austin. Now in its 12th year, the contest asks Texas small businesses to strut their stuff for the chance to win a combined $100,000 in cash prizes and the coveted opportunity to feature the...| CultureMap Austin
For more than two decades, the Austin Studio Tour has turned living rooms, garages, and shared workspaces into public waystations for art, inviting neighbors to step inside, talk with makers, and see works-in-progress. When its founding organizer, Big Medium, announced its dissolution earlier this year, the tour’s future was uncertain. Now, artist-run collective Almost Real Things is taking the helm. It'll carry the citywide tradition into its 23rd year this November. Almost Real Things (AR...| CultureMap Austin
Some Central Texas chefs are taking a fall trip out to Horseshoe Bay Resort to celebrate its 20th anniversary with wine, music, and more. On November 7, Austin chef Sarah Heard of Foreign & Domestic will join four other culinary pros at the Wine, Dine & Jazz Festival for a collaborative five-course dinner. Then on November 8, the music plays on and the wine flows. Foreign & Domestic is a longtime favorite for Austinites who enjoy farm-to-table experience, but still value a cozy and unpretenti...| CultureMap Austin
Professional foodie Guy Fieri certainly seems to be enjoying Austin of late. A new episode of his iconic Food Network show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives is back in the Texas capital, making this the fourth time an Austin restaurant has been featured in Season 42. This time, he appears to be traveling to Bouldin Creek Cafe. Episode 5, "Dirty, Crunchy, Sticky and Veggie," will premiere on Friday, September 19, and feature a "funky veggie-forward spot" in Austin. The episode description promises "...| CultureMap Austin
Austin's beloved Pecan Street Festival may have changed, but it's still going strong in its new digs. The festival relocated from Sixth Street (also known as Pecan Street) to the Austin suburb of Bee Cave in spring of 2025, and it seems that the Hill Country Galleria was a good fit. The festival has announced that its fall festivities will also take place at the Galleria on September 13 and 14. The Pecan Street Festival has been celebrating Austin's creative community for 50 years, showcasing...| CultureMap Austin
Austin musician Mama Duke is asking her audience for their support in the America's Got Talent quarterfinals — and since going viral with her audition, it looks like she has a lot of support to work with. Mama Duke made a big impact right away at her audition. She sang a brand-new original song,Feels So Good To Be You, a disco-flavored rap track that almost instantly reached No. 5 on the iTunes pop chart. Her palpable joy and confidence got the audience on their feet, along with all four ju...| CultureMap Austin
The majority of K-12 public school students in Austin learn in extreme urban heat zones, according to a new report from Climate Central. The policy-neutral nonprofit says 87 percent of the heat-vulnerable demographic go to class in environments where temperatures can rise dangerously high, well above the national average of 76 percent. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines urban heat zones, or islands, as areas that have a “measurable increase in ambient urban air temperatures,...| CultureMap Austin
This year's Austin Pride Parade on Saturday, August 23, was a slightly scaled down affair, due to a pullback in corporate support for LGBTQ+ events. Nevertheless, the folks who did show up truly showed up with their voices, their joy, and of course, their fashion choices. The theme for the parade was "Silence = Death," a slogan used by the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) starting in the '80s. This parade comes on the heels of the Texas Senate passing an anti-transgender bathroom ban ...| CultureMap Austin
Starting September 1, millions of Texans living with chronic pain will gain access to medical cannabis through the Compassionate Use Program. House Bill 46 will expand access, bringing new product options and increased accessibility across the state. How to get a prescription If you live in Texas and have chronic pain or one of the 150-plus approved conditions, you can get a prescription in three steps: 1. Schedule an appointment. Meet with a physician registered in the Compassionate Use Prog...| CultureMap Austin
It seems that Austin will keep building as long as the people keep moving here. A new apartment construction analysis finds that Austin has the No. 1 highest apartment construction rate out of all U.S. cities this year, with more than 15,000 new units expected to be completed from the beginning of the year to the end of December 2025. RentCafe's report, "New Apartment Construction Tops 500K Units This Year, More Than Half in 1 Region" examined apartment building data across 369 U.S. metro are...| CultureMap Austin
Editor's note: The top Austin news of the week features A-plus rankings for an Austin high school and several universities. Plus, an organic grocery store will close its doors, and one Austin suburb is booming. Get the details on our most popular stories below, then head here for some weekend fun. 1. Austin high school ranks among America's best in 2025, per U.S. News. A prestigious Austin high school is living up to its reputation for top-tier education after being ranked among the best high...| CultureMap Austin
Austin is all about casual food this week, judging by this especially large group of openings and closings. Ramen out of a window, the rise of a queer diner, and two chains add to locals' options for a low-key meal out; meanwhile, some elevated versions of hypercasual cuisines are packing it up. Openings and closings College students on The Drag will have a much nicer association with ramen than their colleagues with a Maruchan dependency, now that Lil' Ramen Tatsu-ya has moved in. The new sh...| CultureMap Austin
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Manning name goes a long way — even for college football bettors. Top-ranked Texas is favored to win the national championship, which would be its first since Vince Young dashed into the Rose Bowl end zone two decades ago to upset Southern California. Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning is the early leader to capture the Heisman Trophy, which would be one of the rare accomplishments his famous football family has not achieved. (His uncles are former NFL quarterback gre...| CultureMap Austin
For reasons known only to him, writer/director Ethan Coen has made the late-in-life pivot from his longtime partnership with his brother, Joel, to making quirky movies about lesbians with his queer wife, Tricia Cooke. They started with Drive-Away Dolls in 2024, and are now back with a completely different type of story in Honey Don’t.| CultureMap Austin
Editor's note: The top Austin news of the week includes big changes in store for a longtime local shop. Plus, a spooky light trail makes its Austin debut and a celebrity stops by a top barbecue joint. Get the details on our most popular stories of the week below, then head here for some weekend fun.| CultureMap Austin
The essential source for daily arts news, theater reviews, profiles of actors and artists, and the best art museums, galleries and theaters in Dallas.| CultureMap Austin
For the past four years, the Front Festival has taken over some of Austin's most iconic venues for three days of independent film, music, pool parties, and art, all from women and LGBTQ+ artists. This year over Labor Day weekend (August 28-31), the festival is back and bigger than ever, with a new venue added to the roster.| CultureMap Austin
A new apartment analysis by RentCafe has confirmed renters living in Austin may struggle to find a decent-sized apartment for $1,500 a month.| CultureMap Austin
The essential source for daily real estate news, homes for sale, expert advice, and the best neighborhoods in Houston.| CultureMap Austin
Austin renters on the hunt for a roomy new apartment on a budget may be surprised to learn they won't have to compromise much on space compared to last year, according to a new report from apartment rental marketplace RentCafe.| CultureMap Austin
After making his name in the comedy world, writer/director Zach Cregger surprised many by making the highly effective horror comedy Barbarian in 2022. That success made his follow-up film much anticipated, and he’s surprising again with the much darker Weapons, a title that serves to intrigue even as it's only slightly less random than his previous effort.| CultureMap Austin
The essential source for daily home and design news, tips, expert advice, profiles of top designers, and the best furniture and home stores in Houston.| CultureMap Austin
Austin still has a youthful population in 2025, but none of us are getting younger. Older Austin residents who are nearing their retirement years may be contemplating making changes to help ease into the next phase of life. And Austin homeowners who are concerned about getting older in their current homes – but don't want to get caught up in the city's fluctuating real estate market – are finding solutions through home renovations that specifically accommodate for the future.| CultureMap Austin
Concerts, movies on kayaks, and pirate-themed cocktails are on the agenda in the days to come. Explore buccaneer life at the Shipwreck’d bar pop-up, or watch a family-friendly movie on the water at Rowing Dock. Check out the top seven things to do in Austin this weekend. For a complete list of events, go to our calendar.| CultureMap Austin
Texans can save money on clothing, school supplies, and more during the 2025 statewide sales tax holiday running Friday, August 8, through Sunday, August 10.| CultureMap Austin
Although the Corporation for Public Broadcasting — which supported NPR and PBS with federal funds — has lost funding and is shutting down, all is not lost for the public media outlets. In Austin, NPR and PBS continue to retain most of their overall funding, and have plans to fill the gap going forward.| CultureMap Austin
A new festival is lighting up a nearby city most Austinites don't spend much time in: Temple, Texas. The inaugural Tanglefoot Festival will be held September 12-13 with live music, newly announced barbecue masters, and more. Ticket proceeds and other funds raised will support Central Texas flood victims.| CultureMap Austin
People certainly haven't stopped moving to Austin, but the flow of newbies to Texas has slowed down significantly — including in the capital city.| CultureMap Austin
A report by the Texas Workforce Commission has record-breakingly positive news about the job market in Texas: For the 10th consecutive month, the state has set a record-high level for jobs, with more than 40,000 jobs added during the month of May.| CultureMap Austin
Two of Austin's most cherished hangouts — Uptown Sports Club and Meanwhile Brewing Co. — are teaming up for a special barbecue dinner series featuring four accomplished local chefs.| CultureMap Austin
