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Our signature foodie fête, a star-studded country music festival, and live performing arts productions are only a few reasons to start re-exploring the city this week. We’ve expanded our guide to feature even more local-approved events around the city that you won’t want to miss. Check out the top seven things to do in Austin this weekend. For a full list of events, visit our calendar.

Thursday, May 11

Broadway in Austin: To Kill a Mockingbird
The classic and poignant literary story by Harper Lee comes to life on the stage at Bass Concert Hall. This production stars Emmy Award-winning actor Richard Thomas, who plays the small-town lawyer and protagonist, Atticus Finch. Performances are scheduled through May 14. For more information, visit broadway.com.

CultureMap Tastemaker Awards
Our annual celebration of the top bar and restaurant talent in Austin returns with equal parts flavor and fanfare. Tickets to this signature tasting event and awards ceremony grant access to bites, samples, and speciality cocktails all night long, as well as a chance to meet and mingle with the biggest names and rising stars in the local food and drink industry. Check out our Tastemaker Awards editorial series to learn more about what to expect and how to get tickets.

Friday, May 12

Texas Burlesque Festival
The iconic tease and seductive art of burlesque is on full display at Kick Butt Coffee and The Long Center for the Performing Arts. Highlights of this titillating two-day fest include appearances by Penny Starr Sr, the World Famous * BOB *, Big Mama Red, Gingersnaps, Icky Muffin and The Jigglewatts. Visit the texasburlesquefestival.com for a full schedule of events and more.

Ballet Austin presents Cinderella
The heartwarming fairy tale of an unaware princess, her glass slipper, and finding her Prince Charming comes to life through the artful movement of dance at The Long Center for the Performing Arts. This production from Stephen Mills features the skillful dancers of Ballet Austin, a compiled score from Alexander Glazunov, and live musical accompaniment. Shows are scheduled through May 14. For ticket availability, check balletaustin.org.

Saturday, May 13

iHeartCountry Festival
One of country music’s biggest nights promises a dazzling display at Moody Center. Highlight performances of this year’s highly-anticipated festival include Luke Bryan, Kane Brown, Sam Hunt, Elle King, Parker McCollum, and many more. For a full schedule of events and for ticket access, check Ticketmaster.

O. Henry Museum presents the 46th Annual O. Henry Museum Pun-Off World Championships
One of Texas’ oldest and most loquacious traditions takes over Hilton Austin for its 46th year of witty wordsmithing. This year’s O. Henry Museum Pun-Off World Championship theme is “Spring for Words!” and will feature timed, round-for-round competitions with participating “punslingers.” Admission is free and open to the public.

Sunday, May 14

The Cure
The Cure/Facebook

Robert Smith and The Cure will play Moody Center on May 14.

The Cure in concert
English rock band The Cure comes to Moody Center as part of their Stateside touring circuit. Fans can expect live performances of their new album, Songs of a Lost World, along with some chart-topping favorites. Seating options and availability is available on the ticketing website.

Photo by Naomi Loghry

Austin burlesque performer holds benefit to shake out donations — including a new kidney

dance the wait away

Amelie Ahmose has been shaking it off and out for months — “it” being kidney disease, specifically IgA nephropathy, also known as Berger's disease. The burlesque dancer is awaiting an immediate kidney transplant and keeping her dancing shoes on in the meantime, including for a benefit event on February 25 at Elysium, called “A Wake Up for Amelie.”

The goal is manyfold: to dance, celebrate, and raise funds to lessen the financial burden on the performer, whose health coverage is limited. Ticket proceeds and additional cash donations will go to her kidney fund. Although Ahmose was placed on a waitlist for a transplant from a deceased donor, living donors are strongly preferred, she shared on Instagram in October of 2022.

The “dance party, burlesque show, and living wake” will be hosted by burlesque artist Coco Lectric, with performances by burlesque dancers Ruby Lamb, Mistress Moon, Sado Moore, Cimmeria Steel, Ginger Snaps; drag performers Jack Rabid and Alexander Danger; and cabaret singer Stella Pipes.

DJs Crescendoll & Neph will be playing dark genres including funeral pop and post-punk, and go-go dancers will keep the party going throughout. Alongside the performances, there will be a blacklight dance party, a raffle, and local vendors.

Ahmose was diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney failure due to hypertension and Berger's disease in 2022 at 34, having gone to the hospital with symptoms she had attributed to dehydration. There is no known cure for the disease, but it can be treated with medication and by performing a transplant.

She has been performing burlesque for 15 years, including some belly dance acts and a background in opera and acting. Her style is usually dark and gothic, and she prides herself on her “twisted sense of humor” according to her website.

Tickets ($10-100, 18 and older only) to “A Wake Up for Amelie” are available on Eventbrite, along with information on donating via Venmo. The party runs from 9:30 pm to 2 am, with a pre-party on Twitch from 7-9 pm. More information about donating a kidney, to Amelie or anyone else, is available at utclivingdonor.com or 210-567-5777.

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4 Austin-inspired cocktail recipes to whisk you away from the Texas heat this summer

SIP SIP

Now that summer weather has arrived in Austin, we can tell you’re thirsting for some new drinks to try. And with World Gin Day coming up on June 10, we’re sharing a few recipes from local Austin restaurants (and Austin’s favorite Topo Chico!) we hope you’ll enjoy.

The following recipes feature some of our favorite ingredients or mixers we’re loving at the moment. Whether your drink of choice is a cocktail or mocktail, we’ve gathered four bright and bubbly beverages to help whisk you away from the Texas heat. And if you prefer to drink them rather than make them, three of these lovely libations can be found on the seasonal summer menus at their respective restaurant.

Aba’s Rhubarb Rose Gin and Tonic
This cocktail was created by Senior Beverage Manager Thomas Mizuno-Moore.

Ingredients:
½ oz lime juice
¼ oz honey syrup
½ oz Fruitful Mixology rhubarb liqueur
¾ oz Brockmans Gin
¾ oz Hendrick’s Flora Adora
2 oz tonic water
Rosebud tea, for garnish

Directions:

  • Combine lime juice, honey syrup, Fruitful Mixology rhubarb liqueur, Brockmans Gin and Hendrick’s Flora Adora in a cocktail shaker. Add ice, shake until cold.
  • Add tonic water to the shaker, then strain over fresh ice in a double old fashioned glass.
  • Garnish with rosebud tea and enjoy!

Blueberry Sparkler Mocktail by Topo ChicoBecause everyone needs a good go-to mocktail recipe in their life.Photo courtesy of Topo Chico

Blueberry Sparkler Mocktail by Topo Chico
This beverage might not be gin-themed, but it does make a great refreshing mocktail. If you don’t have Topo Chico Sabores on hand, you can substitute it with sparkling water.

Ingredients:
1 Blueberry Topo Chico Sabores
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
½ cup water
½ oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
Lemon slices and additional blueberries, for garnish

Blueberry Syrup Directions:

  • In a small saucepan, combine the blueberries, sugar, and water. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the blueberries are soft and the sugar has dissolved, about 5 minutes.
  • Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the blueberry mixture to cool for about 10 minutes.
  • Once cooled, use a fine-mesh strainer to strain the blueberry mixture into a bowl, pressing on the solids to extract as much juice as possible. Discard the solids and set the blueberry syrup aside.

Mocktail Directions:

  • In a cocktail shaker, combine 1 ounce of the blueberry syrup, and lemon juice. Fill the shaker with ice and shake well until chilled, about 15-20 seconds.
  • Fill a glass with ice and strain the mixture into the glass. Top off the glass with Blueberry Topo Chico Sabores (or sparkling water) and give it a gentle stir to mix.
  • Garnish with lemon slices and additional blueberries, if desired. Enjoy your refreshing Blueberry Sparkler!

Tillie's seasonal summer cocktailThis colorful cocktail is a lively take on a gin martini.Photo courtesy of Tillie's at Camp Lucy

Empress Gin Martini by Tillie’s at Camp Lucy
This martini recipe was developed by Paolo Lazarich, the mixologist for Abbey Row Restaurant at The Old Bell Hotel in the United Kingdom. Fun fact: Camp Lucy owners Kim and White Hanks also own The Old Bell Hotel, which is rumored to be England’s oldest hotel.

Ingredients:
3 oz Empress 1908 Gin
1 oz dry vermouth
Splash of lemon juice
Lemon and rosemary for garnish

Directions:

  • Add the Empress 1908 Gin, dry vermouth, and lemon juice to a glass and stir gently.
  • Garnish with a lemon wedge and a sprig of rosemary. Enjoy.

\u200bSummertime Spritz by Dean's Italian Steakhouse There's nothing like a summer spritz.Photo courtesy of Dean's Italian Steakhouse

Summertime Spritz by Dean's Italian Steakhouse
This recipe is geared toward a mixologist who enjoys the little details that make a cocktail so unique, such as making their own oleo saccharum or curating the perfect flower as a garnish.

Ingredients:
½ oz lemon juice
½ oz strawberry oleo saccharum
¼ oz Aperol
¼ oz Giffard Abricot
1.5 oz Zephyr Gin
2 oz Brut champagne
1 each cocktail flower

Directions:

  • Combine all ingredients except Brut champagne into a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously, about 15-20 seconds.
  • Fill a wine glass with ice and add the Brut. Fine strain the cocktail into the glass.
  • Garnish with the cocktail flower

Extravagant estate in West Austin hits the market for $4.25 million

ON THE MARKET

An imperial estate in the Lost Creek neighborhood of West Austin has become the latest addition to the city's stabilizing real estate market. The property was listed at $4.25 million.

The magnificent three-story home was originally built in 2009, making great use of Austin's Hill Country views that can be seen from every single room. The home spans 8,215 square feet on just over two acres of land, surrounded by lush trees and enclosed with a private gated entrance.

Natural light floods the inside of the home, highlighting intricate details and complimenting the high ceilings. The home boasts five bedrooms, four bathrooms, and three half-baths. The primary suite is reminiscent of an upscale resort, containing its own spa-like bathroom, walk-in closets, and access to a private balcony.

In the kitchen, the 60-inch wolf range is an aspiring chef's dream. The area has plenty of space and storage with its rich brown cabinets, a sub-zero refrigerator, a cabinet-mounted wine rack, two sinks, and more.

8105 Talbot Lane in AustinThe 60-inch wolf range is an aspiring chef's dream.Photo courtesy of JPM Real Estate Photography

A few other highlights of the home include a game room, media room, terraces, and a resort-style pool deck with an accompanying hot tub, kitchen, and fire pit. The two-car garage also includes a guest suite above it, with a single bedroom, kitchenette, and half bath.

Looking into the property's history, it was listed in June 2022 for $4.9 million, which was reduced to $3.9 million by September. The home was reported as sold in October of that year before being re-listed for its current $4.25 million price in 2023.

8105 Talbot Lane in Austin

Photo courtesy of JPM Real Estate Photography

The estate is located at 8105 Talbot Lane in West Austin.

The estate is located at 8105 Talbot Lane, which is a brief 10 minutes from downtown Austin, and is zoned for the highly-esteemed Eanes Independent School District. The listing is held by agent Wade Giles of Douglas Elliman.

Uchi spinoff to debut "whisky omakase," bar pairings, and bao in Austin

Raising the Bar

Uchibā isn't a new concept, nor is it newly promised to Austin, but it's finally getting closer to becoming a reality. The bar and restaurant spinoff from Uchi (translated as "Uchi Bar") announced today that it is set to open in late summer in the Google Tower.

Hai Hospitality, the parent group of famous omakase restaurant Uchi, more casual sushi restaurant Uchiko, and drop-in Asian barbecue restaurant Loro, announced the idea in October of 2021, setting a launch date in fall of 2022. The intent was always to open the restaurant in the Google Tower (601 West 2nd St.), so the difference now is just timing.

The original Uchibā opened in Dallas in 2019, operating upstairs from Uchi, an Austin export. This exchange is now coming back around, blurring the lines of what's from which Texas city. Similarly, the lines are blurred between what each restaurant serves, since Uchibā does include some of Uchi and Uchiko's most popular dishes: hot and cool tastings, agemono (deep fried bites), raw fish rolls, yakitori, and more, including dessert.

Of course, there will be lots of menu items that are unique to Uchibā, especially when informed by the spirits behind the bar. Some of these food and drink pairings include the Hawaiian-ish spiced ham misubi with nori, rice, and tepahe, a fermented pineapple drink; and the vodka and caviar with olive oil, burnt butter, brioche, and chives. As well as these "duos," the bar will offer omakase flights for whiskey and agave spirits.

“At Uchi we combine flavors and textures to create what we call the ‘perfect bite,’” said Chef Tyson Cole, the James Beard Award-winning chef who started the Uchi brand, in a press release. “With Uchibā, we wanted to take that a step further by unifying food with cocktails and spirits. Our 'Perfect Pairs' and the whisky omakase play off this idea with intentional combinations of food, cocktails and the the amazing array of Japanese whiskies behind the bar.”

Some menu items aren't just unique to Uchibā; They're also only available at the Austin location, thanks to its chef de cuisine, Vaidas Imsha. His menu includes categories that don't appear at the Dallas location — "Buns + Bao" and dumplings — and a long list of items that could constitute their own menu independently. Among these are a Caesar salad with Japanese twists; a Wagyu beef bulgogi with radish kimchi; two fish crudos with refreshing additions like asian pear and cucumber aguachile; and the more straightforward karaage spiced up with kimchi caramel and yuzu pear.

Uchibā will operate Sunday through Thursday from 4-10 pm; until midnight on Fridays; and until 11 pm on Saturdays. Happy Hour will be from 4-6 pm Monday through Friday.

Uchiba Austin

Photo courtesy of Uchibā

Although Uchi is from Austin, Uchiba, the upstairs bar, has only existed in Dallas until now.