Fresh Festivities

Austin farmers market hosts August celebration with music and chef demos

This isn't Chef Colter Peck's first time at the Texas Farmers' Market.

Texas Farmers' Market

Few things could make a weekend trip to the farmers market even better, but live music and free samples may just fit the bill. For those who wish the farmers market would come with more temporary tattoos, the Texas Farmers' Market (TFM) is hosting a weekend of festivities August 10 and 11 that are fit for the whole family.

The event, a celebration of National Farmers Market Week, also includes children's activities and even chef demos, which will feature an appearance by Elementary chef and owner Colter Peck (who competed with Comedor's Phillip Speer at the market in 2023). Both TFM locations — the Saturday market at the Bell District in Cedar Park and the Sunday market at Mueller — will have special programming as part of the weekend-long event.

Here’s the full lineup of events:

Saturday, August 10th at Bell District
9 am to 1 pm

Live music from the Ange K Band
Back-to-school crafts and storytime at the Cedar Park Library
Face painting with Leandra Rigdon
Market chef demo with free samples (while supplies last)

Sunday, August 11th at Mueller
10 am to 2 pm

Live music from DJ Sunset
Temporary tattoo station
Special guest chef demo with Colter Peck of Elementary (while supplies last)

The family-friendly event will not only serve as a local nod to National Farmers Market Week, but also as a celebration of the market’s recent milestones, particularly in Cedar Park. Longtime market-goers may remember TFM’s Saturday market previously took place at Lakeline Mall. In May, the market relocated to the new Bell District, a mixed-use development with restaurants, retail, residences, and a 16-acre park. The area will also be the home to the newly designed multi-story Cedar Park Library, opening this fall.

“Over the last year, our markets have seen incredible growth and exciting developments, like the relocation of our Saturday market to the new Bell District in Cedar Park,” states Laura McDonald, executive director of Texas Farmers’ Market. “[This week] is the perfect time to showcase some of our non-profit organization’s milestones and celebrate with our staff, vendors, and community.”

The Texas Farmers’ Market is held at 200 South Bell Blvd, Cedar Park, TX 78613, every Saturday and at 2006 Philomena St. Austin, TX 78723, on Sundays. Learn more about the event, plus more year-round markets and vendors at texasfarmersmarket.org.

Cat's Out of the Bag

Classic Austin dive bar Mean Eyed Cat opens new Driftwood outpost

Photo courtesy of the Mean Eyed Cat

There ain't no grave can hold Austinites down when it's time to break in this new dive bar.

An Austin bar with a lot of personality has its eye on a new location. The Mean Eyed Cat is opening in Driftwood on Thursday, November 21.

This Johnny Cash-inspired bar has certainly always had the country aesthetic: the weathered wood, the live oak-shaded picnic tables, the black-and-white photos on the wall, and even the occasional taxidermy specimen. The same rustic vibes continue in Driftwood at 8750 W RR 150, Bldg. 100, according to a short press release.

Mean Eyed Cat Bar Driftwood interior This new bar already looks like it's been collecting antiques for decades.Photo courtesy of the Mean Eyed Cat

Good luck getting there on Google Maps. Right now, it drops a pin at the intersection of Ranch to Market Road 150 and Elder Hill Road. However, it appears to be next to Mad Rooster's Liquor Store — we can see the side of the building through the window and the same road signs. We've reached out to a spokesperson to get the proper directions.

The Austin original has been around since 2004, and this offshoot is only its second location. The promises "the same laid-back, offbeat charm that made the original bar an icon."

Mean Eyed Cat Bar Driftwood interior What's a dive bar without a pool table?Photo courtesy of the Mean Eyed Cat

Before the Austin location was a bar, it was a chainsaw repair shop that was aptly featured in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2. Chris Marsh was who converted it to a watering hole and Christened it the Mean Eyed Cat, and he later sold it to current owners Matt Luckie, Max Moreland, and Jed Thompson, placing it in a lineage that also includes Lavaca Street Bar & Grill, Sign Bar, Lala’s Little Nugget, and more locally beloved staples and oddities.

All the proper references are there in Driftwood, including several saw blades on the wall, Johnny Cash memorabilia, and lyrics on every available surface, including a picnic table that ominously says "HURT." First and foremost on the menu are whiskeys and classic cocktails, keeping things as simple as anyone would expect at a dive bar.

Mean Eyed Cat Bar Driftwood patio A spacious patio takes advantage of the Hill Country surroundings.Photo courtesy of the Mean Eyed Cat

Despite the relatively remote location, commenters on Instagram have already spotted people inside and started chomping at the bit. It sounds like opening day will be a lively affair.

The Mean Eyed Cat in Driftwood will be open Mondays through Thursdays from 2 pm to 2 am, and Fridays through Sundays from noon to 2 am. Happy hour will be weekdays from 4-7 pm.

dive bars whiskey cocktails openings driftwood