City Cast Austin
🎉 Black History Month plans
January 31, 2025 · Kelsey Bradshaw
🎉 Happy Friday! As a Friday favor to me, could you please fill out our audience survey? I promise it only takes a minute!
What's CITY Talking About?
😌 Federal Funding Freeze Repeal Has Austin Leaders Relieved
City leaders expressed relief this week after President Donald Trump’s administration rescinded its plan to freeze federal funding, which would have jeopardized millions of dollars slated for Austin projects, including some dealing with infrastructure and public health. [Austin American-Statesman]
- Just this week, Austin leaders announced receiving a $6.7 million federal grant to help eliminate barriers to housing. [City of Austin]
🎙️ ICE Arrests, Lunar New Year Celebrations, and Barbecue
Austin leaders have spent the final week of January responding to federal immigration raids that resulted in dozens of people in Austin have been detained. We’re breaking down what’s been going on with the raids, while keeping an eye on lighter news as we look ahead to Lunar New Year celebrations. [City Cast Austin 🎧]
⚖️ Daniel Perry Returning to Court After Pardon
Daniel Perry, a man pardoned by Gov. Greg Abbott last year for murdering a Black Lives Matter protestor in 2020, now faces a deadly conduct charge in the case. [KUT]
🎞️ Texas Film Hall of Fame Is Getting New Members
Actors Michelle Rodriguez and Noah Hawley, along with Alamo Drafthouse founders Karrie and Tim League, will be inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame in March. [The Austin Chronicle]
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What To Do
Friday, Jan. 31
- 🎉 Arty Party at Laguna Gloria | 10 a.m. | Free | West Austin
- 🫶 Community Volunteering: Funky Fabric Friday! at Austin Creative Reuse | 2 p.m. | Free | Windsor Park
- 🖼️ Opening Reception of Mix ‘n’ Mash: Celebrating Austin at Mexic-Arte Museum | 6 p.m. | $10 | Downtown Austin
- 😆 Kumail Nanjiani at Paramount Theatre | 7 p.m. | $44 and up | Downtown Austin
- 🎸 Hans Zimmer Live at the Moody Center | 7:30 p.m. | $389 and up | UT Campus
- 🎶 DJ Mel: Rock The Casbah at ACL Live at 3TEN | 8 p.m. | $15 | Downtown Austin
- 👐 Public Opening Reception at the Jones Center | 8 p.m. | Free | Downtown Austin
Saturday, Feb. 1
- 🐅 Texas Wildlife Day at Texas Science and Natural History Museum | 10 a.m. | $6 and up | UT Campus
- 🛼 Texas Roller Derby Tryout Workshop Session at TXRD Thunderdome | 10 a.m. | Free | Buda
- 🎊 MLK Community Festival at Huston-Tillotson University | 11 a.m. | Free | East Austin
- 👑 Coco Cxnts Drag Brunch at Coconut Club | 1 p.m. | Free | Downtown Austin
- 🎉 Solar Saturday: Black History Month Kick-Off Block Party at the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center | 2 p.m. | Free | Central East Austin
- 💃 Cumbia for Con Mi MADRE at Lulu’s | 3 p.m. | $25 | South Austin
- 📺 “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 17 Viewing Party at Cheer Up Charlie’s | 7 p.m. | Free | Downtown Austin
- 😆 Ali Siddiq at ACL Live at the Moody Theater | 7 p.m. | $30 and up | Downtown Austin
Sunday, Feb. 2
- 🛼 Texas Roller Derby Tryout Workshop Session at TXRD Thunderdome | 10 a.m. | Free | Buda
- 🖼️ H-E-B Free First Sunday at Bullock Texas State History Museum | 10 a.m. | Free | Downtown Austin
- 🐍 2025 Lunar New Year Festival at The Paper + Craft Pantry | 11 a.m. | Suggested $10 donation | East MLK
- 🧑🍳 18th Annual Chili Cook-Off at Hotel San Jose | Noon | $25 | Bouldin Creek
- 🥞 Bootscootin' Brunch at Central Machine Works | Noon | Free | Govalle
- 👑 Austin’s Five Star Drag Brunch at The Courtyard ATX | Noon | $10 and up | Downtown Austin
- ⭐ Gov. Greg Abbott State of the State Address | 2 p.m. | Free | Virtual
- 🪩 MANIA - The Abba Tribute at ACL Live at the Moody Theater | 8 p.m. | $30 and up | Downtown Austin
- 🎤 Talib Kweli at Empire Garage | 8 p.m. | $35 and up | Downtown Austin
🏮Have a great weekend, y’all! I’m reading this nice little story about how the Lunar New Year Festival at The Paper Craft + Pantry got started before I head out to the actual event on Sunday. See you there?
Free · Daily