Editor's note: SXSW has officially arrived, and that means the top Austin news of the week is peppered with festival fun. But first, we dig into a new report that details what it takes to be middle class in Austin right now. Read the five most popular Austin stories below, and then consult this guide for your weekend plans.

1. This is the income it takes to be middle class in Austin in 2025. Maintaining middle class status in Austin only gets harder as the years go on, and the income ceiling to even be labeled as such has just risen even higher. So says SmartAsset's annual "What It Takes to Be Middle Class in America" report for 2025.

2. Here are 10 free events for SXSW 2025 — official or otherwise. The 2025 iteration of SXSW is here, and as has long been the case with the festival, you don’t really need a badge or a wristband to get out and take part in it. If you’re curious as to where to go, here are 10 free events and activations that are sure to be worth the effort.

Flatstock is a great opportunity to get in on the SXSW experience. Photo by Tico Mendoza via SXSW

3. Voxtrot plays acoustic set for dinner series making a name in Austin. Iconic Austin band Voxtrot was busy in December. A few days before playing the Holiday Hootenanny, the band appeared in Bastrop for an intimate acoustic set and a bit of storytelling after a multi-course dinner.

4. 38 places to eat near major Austin venues during SXSW 2025. Here are CultureMap's recommended restaurants to try near popular SXSW venues and neighborhoods this year.

5. Austin airport eatery makes Bloomberg's world's best list — we add 4 more. The “globe-trotting editors” at Bloomberg have named their favorite airport restaurants in the world — not just the U.S. — and the Salt Lick at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) has earned their praise.