
City Cast Austin
🍔 Austin Food & Wine Fest’s lineup is out
August 24, 2026 · Kelsey Bradshaw
🍌 Hello, Monday! Big personal news: I have joined the Jack Johnson-aissance and am listening to “Banana Pancakes” a little too much!

First Up

The Lineup for Austin Food & Wine Festival Is Out
Listen, it’s Monday and it’s still 1 million degrees outside. So, let’s start the week off with something fun and light: Austin Food & Wine Festival is on its way!
- What: Austin Food & Wine Festival is an annual event showcasing chefs, restaurants, and wine and drink experts. The festival works like this: You enter Auditorium Shores and are met with booths upon booths of food and drinks. Then, you just … walk around and eat and drink! It’s a perfect festival if you ask me. This is not a paid ad, either. I just love that Austin is home to all kinds of festivals and this one is about eating and drinking.
- Who: You’ll be able to taste samplings from tons of culinary stars. This year’s lineup includes James Beard winners and chefs with Michelin stars. Austin favorites like Emmer & Rye and La Barbecue will be there along with San Antonio’s Best Quality Daughter, to give you a peek. Chef demos and hands-on grilling are part of the festival, too.
- When: The festival runs Nov. 6-8.
- How: Tickets are on sale now and range from $200 for a one-day Sunday pass and $280 for a two-day pass to a $750 VIP pass.

What's CITY Talking About
Sledd Nursery To Become Greek Restaurant
MML Hospitality plans to open a Greek restaurant in the former Sledd Nursery location on West Lynn Street in Clarksville. The building won’t change too much — MML plans to keep the Sledd Nursery signage and most of the exterior intact. [Austin Business Journal]
Abbott Raises Questions About AISD Spending
Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state comptroller Don Huffines to look into whether Texas public schools are spending enough of their funding directly on students, rather than administrative costs. He specifically raised concerns about the Austin Independent School District during a news conference last week. [CBS Austin]
Alex Jones’ Judgment Lowered in Sandy Hook Case
A $50 million judgment against local conspiracy theorist Alex Jones for claiming the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting was a hoax is now just $6 million after a Texas appeals court found the damages awarded were too high. The court said the trial judge wrongly let the parents seek more money than state limits allow. [The Associated Press]
Il Brutto Is Opening a Tapas Bar
Casa Fina, a tapas bar from Il Brutto, will open in Austin’s Zilker neighborhood next month, bringing paella, Spanish wine, and more to the area. The restaurant will be on Josephine Street just south of Carpenter Hotel. [Tribeza]

What To Do
Monday, Aug. 24
- 🎵 Austin PBS Tapings: Maggie Rose at ACL Live at The Moody Theater
- 🪕 Bluegrass Night at Radio Coffee & Beer (South)
- 🤠 BRONCO: Queer Linedance Night at Sagebrush
- 🎥 "The Matrix" at Bullock Museum IMAX Theatre
- ♟️ Board Game Club at Austin Public Library Pleasant Hill Branch
- 🏆 5th Annual ATX Short Film Showcase Awards at 29th Street Ballroom
Tuesday, Aug. 25
- 🐧 "Second Nature" at State Theatre
- 🍿 "The Shining" at the Bullock Museum IMAX Theatre
- 🚲 "Pee-wees Big Adventure" at Austin Public Library Hampton Branch
- 🐍 Radio Roof Snake Trivia at Radio/East
- 🎥 IT ENDS Endless Screening at Hyperreal Film Club
- 📺 The Drag Queen Game Show at The Highball
Wednesday, Aug. 26
- 🎥 "Blow-Up" + "Blow Out" at State Theatre
- 🧘 Sound Bath Meditation at Austin Public Library Yarborough Branch
- 🐍 Radio Roof Snake Trivia at Radio Coffee & Beer (South)
- 🎉 David Ramirez Birthday Bash at Sagebrush
- 🏆 The Best of ATX Celebration 2026 at Distribution Hall
- 👢 Double or Nothing Two-Step Lessons at Donn’s Depot
- 🌱 Plant Bingo at Switchback Coffee and Beer
💅 Bye! I’m deciding whether or not I should get some nail art done for my upcoming birthday!
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