Editor's note: Before you dive into the holiday weekend, it's time to look back at the top Austin news of the week. An iconic music venue celebrates 50 years and a popular free concert series returns. Plus, the latest Austin restaurant news. Catch up on our most popular stories below, then make your Memorial Day weekend plans via this guide.

1. Famous Gruene Hall celebrates 50 years with shows by local music icons. This year, Gruene Hall, the oldest continually operating dance hall in Texas, is celebrating 50 years under one family's wing with a historical exhibit, a giveaway, and of course, lots of live music.

2. Swedish Hill and new Moroccan food trailer refresh Austin food news. Hope you're hungry: Austinites can check out the new Swedish Hill, hang out at a new espresso bar, or rejoice in Austin's rare shot at a real Moroccan meal.

3. Austin's housing inventory went up and sales fell in April, per report. In April, Austin home sales dipped nearly 14 percent from last year and housing inventory increased by 11.5 percent. The local data resembles a nationwide trend of higher mortgage rates and a decline in home sales.

4. Miranda Lambert's Austin record label launches new songwriting arm. Big Loud Texas, backed by Grammy Award-winning country artists Miranda Lambert and Jon Randall, is growing its focus past recorded performances to the songwriting behind them.

Brendon Anthony (VP, Big Loud Texas), Lizzy Rector (Publishing Director, Big Loud Texas Publishing), Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall. Photo by Brayln Kelly Smith

5. Popular free concert series at Austin's Bullock Museum returns for 2025. The Bullock Texas State History Museum is back with the 2025 installation of its free outdoor concert series. Starting June 6, guests can stop by to hear Texas artists play every Friday evening.