Words Deven Wilson
Locals Know ATX Taco Tours | Fridays & Saturdays, 1:30pm
Ready to go deeper than Austin’s best barbecue? We’re expanding our tours and leveraging our local expertise to showcase the talented taco trucks that deliver the best of the best in Austin. This walking tour will sample tacos, chips & dips, and Mexican traditions and delicacies from various iconic spots like Michelin Guide-recognized La Santa Barbacha. It will also include sipping margs and taking in murals as we explore the savory and sweet sides of East Austin’s culinary scene.
Tickets start at $85.
eastsideatx.com/foodtours | 2806 Manor Rd.
Black History Month at the Carver | Various dates in February
For the entire month of February, expect a nonstop lineup of events to honor, protect, and teach Black history at George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center. Think block parties, book clubs, healing artist workshops, moving film screenings, kids’ events, and genealogy seminars for a month’s worth of memories made. To stay up-to-date on their events, check their web calendar and socials. @carvermuseumatx | 1165 Angelina St.
Murder on the Orient Express | January 21-March 1, times vary
Theatergoers at ZACH’s Topfer Theatre can hop aboard for an evening of mystery and murder. Commissioned by the Agatha Christie estate, this is the first stage play to feature detective Hercule Poirot in more than 75 years. Tickets start at $28 with various showtimes throughout the month-long show run. It features a talented cast and crew with a jaw-dropping train set to transport everyone back into the golden age of rail travel.
zachtheater.org/tickets/shows | 202 S Lamar Blvd.
Sofar Sounds | February 13, 8pm
To celebrate Galentine’s Day, get out of the group chat and gather the girls to enjoy a special concert in honor of friendship. Offering free mini-astrology readings by Solaris The Hii Priestess along with the show, Sofar has a great alternative evening planned for anyone not expecting to go out the night after. Tickets start at $28, and the show begins at 8pm, with doors opening at 7:30.
sofarsounds.com | secret location revealed prior
U-N-I: Astrology Speed Dating | February 14, 7-9pm
Anyone moved by the stars is welcome to shake up their dating routine for free. At East Austin Hotel, Solaris the Hiii Priestess will connect singles through cosmic chemistry and conscious connections and help free people from dating apps for good. After the cosmic icebreakers, guided mini matches using astrology compatibility cards, and forming connections, guests are welcome to hang out for drinks, music, and aura reading fun.
eastaustinhotel.com/calendar | 1108 E 6th St.
OUTsider Festival | February 18-22, times vary
Get ready for five days of provocative, original, and creative performances, films, music, and art at Vortex. As an Austin transmedia nonprofit, guests will join in the championing of creative nonconformity of LGBTQ+ artists and communities. With access ranging from $50 day passes to $400 Patron Badges, guests can choose how much they want to dive into the days of unifying art and expression.
outsiderfest.org | 2307 Manor Rd.
Austin Modern Homes Tour | February 28, 10am-5pm
For anyone who enjoys an open house for the sake of peeping local architecture, Austin Modern Homes Tour offers a chance to delve deep
er into that artistic obsession. Meet the architects, designers, and builders behind some of Austin’s coolest homes. Tickets start at $59 for general admission and include access to the self-guided tour of marvelous, modern homes.
austinmodernhometour.com | locations vary
The Great Gatsby | March 10-15, showtimes vary
Experience the big, bold, Broadway version of the literary classic, The Great Gatsby, on stage at Bass Concert Hall, and fall back in love with F. Scott Fitzgerald’s roaring twenties through an electrifying jazz and pop-infused score. Tickets start at $48, and the Tony Award-winning show promises to deliver a priceless retelling that’ll leave even the pickiest book reader ready to open it up and hum the songs.
broadwayinAustin.com | 2350 Robert Dedman Dr.
Rodeo Austin | March 13-28, times vary
No matter how cosmopolitan Austin gets, the cowboy lifestyle keeps on living at Rodeo Austin at the Travis County Expo Center. With a host of events, including a fair, carnival, and live rodeo shows, first-timers and long-timers will venture to far-East Austin for several days of festivities and fun for all ages. Tickets vary based on events at the Rodeo and fairgrounds, but a chance to honestly say, “This ain’t my first rodeo,” is priceless.
rodeoaustin.com | 9100 Decker Lake Rd.
ESM Book Club! | Feb 23 & March 30, 7-8pm
EASTside Mag is hosting monthly Book Club Meet-ups, always the last Monday of the month at 7pm. Expect local coffee, occasional custom cocktails, and discussions over page-turners. Each month features a new book (voted on by you) and a rotating venue; think patios, bookstores, and breweries. February’s meet-up at Stargazer Cocktails & Coffee will discuss If I Ruled the World by Amy DuBois Barnett and March’s meet-up is at The Long Goodbye. Follow @eastsideatxmag for details or signup to vote on books and get notifications.
eastsideatx.com/bookclub
Bloody Mary Festival | April 4, 10:30am-6pm
From Carpenter Hall to Cisco’s, local bars, restaurants, and national mixers compete for festival-goers to vote on who makes the best Bloody Mary. Hosted at Fair Market, with two time slots, VIP ticketed guests receive early entry and can sip and sample various Bloody Marys along with food, then vote for their winner in the People’s Choice Award. Tickets are $53 for general admission for the morning block and $81 for VIP entry during the afternoon block.
thebloodymaryfest.com/austin-4-4-26 | 1100 E 5th St.
