Baths, Blanton, and Belles Headline Our Weekday Events Roundup
Arts and culture for the work week
By James Scott, Kat McNevins, Blake Leschber, Carys Anderson, Lina Fisher, and Julianna Plewes, Fri., June 13, 2025
Happy Together + God’s Own Country
Monday 16, Paramount Theatre
Celebrate Pride Month with a queer cinematic doubleheader. The evening begins with Happy Together, Wong Kar-wai’s tale of two Hong Kong lovers who travel through Argentina and experience the ups and downs of love as they try to make their way home. If you aren’t emotionally wrecked, stick around for God’s Own Country starring a pre-Challengers Josh O’Connor as an English farmer whose outlook on love changes when a Romanian migrant worker comes to the farm. Come for the hot boys, stay for the trials and tribulations of love. – Blake Leschber
Summer Storytime at the Blanton
Tuesday 17, the Blanton Museum of Art
School’s out and the kids are glued to the TV set watching, god. I don’t know what kids watch anymore. Probably some 25-year-old YouTuber dressed like he’s 17 who keeps pulling “pranks” that are just him and his buddies in wolf masks scaring their girlfriends? Whatever. Grab those couch potatoes and get ’em to the Blanton, where from 10:30 to 11am they can listen to picture book readings as well as get guided looks through the museum’s artworks. Much better brain food for our future generations, TBH. Advised for those between 4 and 8 years old, but all ages are welcome. – James Scott
The City We Built: Black Leaders of Austin
Wednesday 18, Black Pearl Books
Though it’s relatively well known among locals that Austin houses a deep, consequential Black history, the details are often smudged out in favor of a general gentrification ennui. Ahead of Juneteenth, Black-owned bookstore Black Pearl Books fills in the blanks with an evening of historical storytelling from the descendants of three influential Black Austinites. Saundra Kirk reflects on educator/advocate Willie Mae Kirk, Don Baylor Jr. speaks to Mary Freeman Baylor’s community organizing in Clarksville, a rare Black neighborhood located west of I-35, and Dominic Dickson shares information on Black Citizens Task Force co-founder Velma Roberts. – Carys Anderson
Belles & Chimes Austin Night
Wednesday 18, Pinballz Original
Pinball has origins going all the way back to the 1500s, when tabletop versions of outdoor games were invented, but the coin-operated style we know today wasn’t developed until about 100 years ago. Belles & Chimes came along in 2013 to create a welcoming atmosphere for women and nonbinary pinball wizards, and it now has chapters all over the world. Meet the group at the original Pinballz and be as social or independent as you wish, all for the low, low price of $3 plus whatever funds you’ll need to add to your game card. All ages and skill levels welcome! – Kat McNevins
Drop Dead Fred
Wednesday 18, Hyperreal Film Club
When I was about 12, I slept over at a new friend’s house. Little did I know the two films she introduced me to that night would take over my brain for several weeks. One was Labyrinth, which we just can’t get into right now. The other has yet to have its cultural reappraisal, probably because most people never saw this tale of a grownup Phoebe Cates confronted by her childhood imaginary friend. Yet I was obsessed with Drop Dead Fred – the weird gross humor, the confusing emotional narrative, and the mommy issues. Uh, did I say mommy issues? I meant Carrie Fisher’s houseboat. – James Scott
Christopher Miller & Lily Timberlake: “I Could’ve Dreamed I Was Here”
through July 5, Tin Whistle Gallery
From 6:30-10pm this Thursday, join two Austin painters for an exhibition celebrating slowness. Amongst the din of the attention economy, Christopher Miller and Lily Timberlake have created a capsule of work that draws your focus to daily pleasures like taking your dog for a walk and contemplating dappled shade on the sidewalk. Miller’s saturated, spacious Texas landscapes and Timberlake’s detail-oriented snapshots of foliage play off of each other to encourage a meditative viewing experience. Tin Whistle Gallery, tucked into the studios on Bolm Road, hosts this duo show through July 5. – Lina Fisher
Night of the Living Dead
Wednesday 18 & Monday 23, AFS Cinema
Move over, vampires! As pandemic-tinged zombie retellings like The Last of Us are enjoying a resurgence, AFS is showing the godfather of the zombie genre: George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead. Much like another genre-defining horror classic, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, this film was shot on a shoestring budget in a dilapidated farmhouse – this time outside Pittsburgh. What started as a late-night B-movie about a group of strangers fending off flesh-eating zombies from the graveyard next door ended up solidifying Romero’s status as a horror visionary. His daughter, Tina Romero, is set to release a queer zombie movie Queens of the Dead starring Margaret Cho, Jack Haven (I Saw the TV Glow), and Katy O’Brian (Love Lies Bleeding) this summer, so before you check out the next generation, remind yourself of the iconic original. – Lina Fisher
A Discussion of Race In a Global Context
Thursday 19, Alienated Majesty Books
Anthropologist and professor of Slavic and Eurasian studies at UT-Austin Chelsi West Ohueri drops in on this Guad gathering spot for a discussion about her book Encountering Race in Albania. The tome tackles race and racial logics in the Balkan country, which Ohueri says reveal interesting operational truths about racialization processes enduring even in what she calls “the communist afterlife.” Refreshments provided, but you may want to bring a notebook just to jot down all the stuff Ohueri has to say. – James Scott
Latte Art Throwdown
Thursday 19, St. Elmo’s Brewing
Bringing together battle-hungry baristas and coffee lovers, Austin Coffee Collective hosts the Latte Art Throwdown in celebration of Pride and Juneteenth. What could possibly be competitive about latte art? Silly question: Everything is. From the perfect espresso shot to the delicate pour, the powerful combination of caffeine and creativity cannot be understated. With vendors, a DJ, and proceeds to benefit Out Youth and Austin Justice Coalition, the Throwdown is a can’t-miss competition for all who enjoy this sacred art form. – Julianna Plewes
Want to see all of our listings broken down by day? Go to austinchronicle.com/calendar and see what's happening now or in the coming week.
