In honor of Antonelli’s Cheese Shop’s second anniversary, various restaurants throughout Austin will be offering free cheese plates all week at the dates and times listed below. To prepare for this cheese extravaganza, we checked in with Kendall from Antonelli's to learn more about how to pair cheeses with wine or beer. more ›

Did you know Thursdays are free at the Blanton Museum of Art? If you didn't, this Thursday is a perfect time to drop by on UT's dime to experience the internationally acclaimed artist El Anatsui's show, When I Last Wrote to You about Africa before it closes this Sunday. more ›

Today marks the 22nd Day With(out) Art, part of the World Aids Day initiative to promote HIV prevention, support survivors, and spread awareness of the continuing pandemic. more ›

This weekend and next, following the East Austin Studio Tours, haul ass to the Victory Grill for the nightly “E.A.S.T Victory Lap,” the official after-event for tour victors. more ›

Before (B4) you end your weekend, you might consider checking out Retro Bingo at Cheer Up Charlies! The first and third Sunday of every month, Iggi's Texatarian is hosting decade-themed bingo and trivia for FREE on their cozy back patio. Adorned in wacky period attire, your gracious hosts Candy and KB keep you on your toes from 8- 10pm with challenging questions and a variety of bingo rounds. June 19th will be '50s themed, so don't forget your saddle shoes! more ›

Saturday marks the 10th anniversary of the comic book holiday and a great excuse to head to one of Austin’s comic spots(and you’ll get a little sun too, waiting in the parking lot). Not only will there be free comics, (Austin Books and Comics is boasting 10 per person!) but signings, food, people sweating in costumes, raffles of some sort, and frankly the most people you’ll see in a comic book store all year. more ›

The now-ubiquitious Torchy's Tacos, which captured our hearts as a humble trailer giving away free chips and salsa on S. 1st, is expanding their empire with a new location on South Lamar. And to give back to their fans, Torchy's is thanking 78704 with a party featuring the one thing Austinites like best: FREE stuff. more ›

Line up and get it while it's cold! Everyone's favorite local ice cream shop, Amy's Ice Creams, is giving it away today at all locations from 3-7 pm. Guests are welcome to start lining up at 2:45 while they contemplate their favorite flavors and hang out with the neighborhood. Amy's is offering up tiny, tiny + crush’n, small and small + crush’n sizes on the house at all locations. more ›

Stereogum returns to SXSW this year bigger and better than ever, having teamed up with the NYC-based record label Sacred Bones and Austin’s own Chaos In Tejas for a free all-day event. Put your spreadsheet down, skip the hassle of running around to twenty different venues, and settle in at Beerland with this international showcase of fourteen bands, which includes a special showcase by Zola Jesus -- the experimental Russian American’s only performance during SXSW this year. more ›

You know how cookies are best fresh and gooey out of the oven, and towels are best warm and fluffy out of the dryer? Well, it should be no surprise that beer is best cold and frosty straight out of the tap at the brewery where it was lovingly crafted. This is definitely the case at Austin's own Live Oak Brewing Company. more ›

Looking for something to do tonight? Experience some high-brow culture on a low-class budget at the Blanton's Third Thursday event. Admission to the Blanton is free every Thursday, and on the third Thursday of each month, they stay open until 9pm and host special events. The evening kicks off with yoga in the galleries starting at 6:30pm. Yogis of all levels are invited to stretch and bend right alongside some inspiring works of art. At 7:30pm, Blanton curators will lead a tour and discussion with art collectors Mike Chesser and Faith and Dewayne Perry. Both Chesser and the Perrys recently donated new art to the Blanton that is being displayed in the summer exhibition New Works for the Collection. New Works features more than sixty new acquisitions and strengthens the museum's already strong collection of printmaking works, contemporary paintings, sculpture, and new media art. more ›

There is no doubt about it: film festivals are expensive. The badge, the travel, the time off work—it all works against the ability for workaday film lovers to experience new and interesting cinema, especially independent film. We are lucky that in Austin there are endless opportunities to have many different kinds of cinema experiences, but typically the price of admission is not insignificant to the casual cinephile. Well, there's a new kid in town that aims to change that and its name is Cinema East. more ›

Today, the Pixies announced 11 American tour dates for their Doolittle Show. The band will perform the Doolittle album and all of its b-sides at the Austin Music Hall on September 22. As part of the Doolittle Live project, the band will record the set and offer it up as a CD for purchase at the end of the night. Stay tuned to Austinist for more details -- and a chance to win tickets before you can buy them -- next Friday. more ›

Denton's Midlake have come a long way from their beginning as a lonely group of jazz students getting together to jam. Over the years, their music has launched them into an international spotlight, and after the media frenzy and massive touring surrounding their 2006 new classic Trails of Van Occupanther, all eyes were on their return to the scene this year. more ›

Next Sunday, November 8th, they're toasting the humble fennel, a vitamin C-rich plant that has antioxidant properties and, uh, keeps your colon healthy. Best of all, the meal is free—"in celebration of the flavorful bulb and to thank his loyal family of customers," says Chef Gabriel Pellegrini. more ›

For all of those die hard readers who are checking us out right now: Do you have plans tonight? Like, right nowish? Well, if not, you should hop over to the Dobie Theater to check out Former UT student, Bradley Jackson's new comedy Play Land tonight at the Dobie theater. The film is a finalist in the prestigious Doorpost Film Project, competing with nine other film makers from around the world to win a grand prize of $100,000. The film stars local Austin comedian John Ramsey (Comedy Central's Live at Gotham, Funniest Person in Austin 2005) and features a soundtrack with vocals by Matt Bray, lead singer of popular 80s cover band L.C Rocks. The first screening was at 7 p.m., but there is a second at 7:40 p.m., and a third at 8:20 p.m. Don't wait. Act now! more ›

The Premios Texas awards winners from the five most popular Latin music genres: Pop, Tropical, Regional Mexican, Rock and Urban. A Lifetime Achievement Award will also be bestowed upon a performer who has made lasting artistic impact and significant contribution to Latin music. more ›

After this mid-week show, Electric Touch will hit the road for a lengthy tour of the U.S. -- if you miss this show, catch them at the Granada in Dallas on Thursday -- and we're stepping up to give away a pair of tickets. more ›

This Friday at midnight, the Alamo North hosts a free screening of The Bloody Fists aka Deadly Buddhist Raiders or Death Beach (hard to decide which is a better name). more ›

You know what’s fun? Movies. About food. With painted up dwarves. And young comedians in purple coats. Under the stars. Sounds like a perfect Friday night, right? Well, we’ve got your golden ticket for this Friday, June 19th—the Alamo Drafthouse and Whole Foods present Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory outdoors, on the roof of their flagship store at 6th and Lamar. more ›

We're giving you a few chances to win free tickets to the show and now we're throwing in an added bonus: select contest winners will get free tickets and posters signed by the band. Not just any poster, though - we'll be giving away screenprints of our original artwork created by Justin Cox (seen above). For your chance to win follow the jump. We'll be announcing winners next week! more ›

Remember the California alternative rock band, Cake, who started to chart almost immediately after bursting on the scene in the early 90s with songs like “Rock ‘n’ Roll Lifestyle” and then with “The Distance”, “Never There”, and “Short Skirt/Long Jacket”? You must, because their show tonight at Stubb’s is sold out. They’ve released a pretty solid string of recordings backed up by large tours like the Unlimited Sunshine Tour, which was a traveling music festival that toured in 2002, ’03, ’06, and ‘07 featuring artists like Modest Mouse, Cheap Trick, Gogol Bordello, The Detroit Cobras. And, although the lineup largely changed every year, Cake was the headliner each time providing the staple topping on this eclectic pastry. In 2008, the band joined the ranks of the eco-conscious with the conversion of their studio, Upbeat Studio, in Sacramento to solar power. So, now the next recording you hear of their funky alt rock with rap-esque vocals, which should be sometime this summer, is going to be completely fueled by the sun. more ›

If you missed Elvis Perkins in Dearland at Austinist's SXSW day party, you're in luck. The sorrowful troubadour returns to Austin on May 11, supporting this year's eponymous album. more ›

As with anything this good, there are a couple of rules that go along with it: you can choose between Chicken Fried Steak, Chicken Fried Chicken, Mississippi Fried Catfish, or a Vegetable Plate (Broccoli Rice Casserole!), the offer is only available at Threadgill's North location and you can only partake in their generosity one time (that means don't go all seven nights, people). Besides that, there are no strings attached, so we suggest that you get yourself over to 6416 North Lamar Blvd. between 4-10pm and get yourself a little gravy. more ›

Recorded in Tehauacana, Texas, in the old Texas Hall, The Shawl was recorded in 27 hours with Burr and some friends within the confines of the run-down and sonically magical space. Featuring lyrics taken directly from nine different Psalms, this darkly spiritual album comes very close to perfect. more ›

Mates of State were just here, but we're not complaining. Last year's ACL festival seems like ages ago now that spring has broken in, and between twitterpated birds and post-SX sunburns, we're quite in the mood for lilting male-female harmonies and delicate keys. more ›

On February 17, 4AD will release a 2-disc compilation teeming with independent talent. Dark Was the Night, a collection of songs curated by the Dessner brothers of National fame, is three years in the making and is a benefit record for the Red Hot Organization. Now in its 20th year, Red Hot aims to raise awareness and financial support for AIDS and HIV awareness world-wide. more ›

Born in San Francisco, Ben Kweller moved to Texas in the early 80’s and was somewhat of a childhood prodigy, penning songs and learning to play the guitar and drums at a very early age. In 1993, Kweller formed and spearheaded Radish, a pop band out of Dallas that helped showcase his talent to a larger audience (including yours truly at a Liberty Lunch gig in the mid 90’s). By the end of the decade, Kweller had relocated to New York and launched his solo career. His full-length debut Sha Sha arrived soon after, complete with catchy ditties such as “Commerce, TX” and “Wasted & Ready.” 2004’s On My Way and 2006’s self-titled release further revealed Kweller’s penchant for earnest lyricism and astute melodies. more ›

For those with a hankering for a coffee drink, a panini, or some beer this afternoon, you'd be wise to consider a stop at Clementine Coffee Bar's 3rd Anniversary Bash. The popular Manor Road spot has lined up 11 local acts to celebrate their success, and all are welcome to join the festivities. We've always liked the fact that Clementine had Texas draft beers available like Big Bark and Fireman's #4 for those stopping by later in the day, and suspect this will prove especially useful this evening. more ›

Slick that hair back, button up those trousers, stretch out those vocal chords, strap on them dancin’ shoes and get ready to have the time of your lives… again. Well, maybe the time of your month. Indieroke gives you a chance to make a complete fool out of yourself in front of all your friends (as well as complete strangers) while showing your knowledge of the indie hits of today and yesteryear. more ›