💔 Pease Park troll destroyed in fire

Arson Team Investigating After Pease Park Troll Destroyed in Fire

An 18-foot-tall wooden sculpture of a troll in Pease Park burned to the ground overnight Thursday. The cause of the fire is unknown and an Austin Fire Department arson team is investigating. Pease Park Conservancy officials don’t know yet if the troll will be rebuilt. [KXAN]

State Rejects a City Request To Keep Crosswalk, Road Murals

City officials have until June 22 to submit a removal plan for Austin’s “Black Artists Matter” road mural, downtown Pride crosswalks, and a “TEXAS” road mural after Texas Department of Transportation officials rejected a request to keep them. [KUT]

Memorial Day Weekend Is Going To Be Rainy

Rain is possible all of Memorial Day weekend with storms possible through Wednesday of next week, National Weather Service forecasters say. Memorial Day has a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. [National Weather Service]

What To Eat at Buc-ees

Finally! A list of the best food to eat at Buc-ees just dropped and it’s really helpful. Spoiler alert: Beaver Nuggets didn’t make the cut. 👀[Austin American-Statesman]

It’s scientifically impossible for a movie lover to be bored in Austin. There’s always something to see at one of the city’s many film havens, and plenty of cinema history to dig into.

Look no further than the Paramount Theatre’s Summer Classic Film Series. Established in 1975 as a cost-effective way to save the historic downtown venue from closing, the series still puts butts in seats to enjoy expertly curated movies. The 52nd series opens today with “Casablanca,” an annual tradition.

The Paramount begins a once-in-a-generation renovation process next month, and as a result, almost all films in the latter half of the series will screen at the adjacent (and smaller) State Theatre, with a few special shows lighting up the IMAX screen at the Bullock Texas State History Museum.

Regular admission costs $15; one ticket gets you into both halves of the double features. Find the full series lineup and ticket information here.

You probably can’t see all of the films—there are almost 100 on this year’s lineup, including anniversary screenings, theme weeks, and special live events—so perhaps a few critic’s picks will help. (Or see all of them! Sounds fun.)

Here’s what you should see this summer:

• June 7: “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” (1978) and “Eraserhead” (1977) — An eerie double feature to make you think about the dangers of conformity. And keep you up at night. (Tickets)
• June 8: “The Virgin Suicides” (1999) in 35mm — Kirsten Dunst and Sofia Coppola. That’s it, that’s the blurb. (Tickets)
• June 16: “Jaws” (1975) in IMAX — We’re gonna need a bigger screen. Actually, no. This one’s big enough. (Tickets)
• June 17: “Romeo + Juliet” (1996) — Baz Luhrmann’s Shakespeare-as-music video adaptation feels like living in a kaleidoscope. “Hamnet” could never. (Tickets)
• June 28: “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure” (1985) — Silly, endlessly quotable, and lowkey a Texas state treasure. Pee Wee’s bicycle is now on display at the Alamo! (Tickets)
• July 5: “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” (2000) — Pregame for Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” with the Coen Brothers’ Great Depression-set comedy reinvention. (Tickets)