Austin in June
June 7, 2021
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What to see, eat, and do as Austin enthusiastically emerges from the pandemic.
If you’re anything like us, this June feels like a true turning point. Vaccinations are up, Covid cases are down, and so many of our favorite places to drink, dine, and do stuff are back open.
The weather in Austin has been incredibly mild and we have enjoyed extended spring temperatures. The entire city is green!
After months of closures and cancellations, June 2021 welcomes some exciting new events to Austin. It also marks the triumphant return of some of our favorite live music venues and summertime staples. And there are even several new places that have opened during the pandemic, ready for your first visit.
In many ways, this month feels like a rebirth of of our city and we couldn’t be more excited. Hot off the presses, here’s our Heywood concierge team’s picks for what to do in Austin in June, 2021!
Austin Events for June 2021
It’s all happening! Events are coming back to ATX!
After a year of events put on hold or pivoted to virtual experiences, we’re excited to see live, in-person events coming back to Austin!
Photo courtesy of U.S. Soccer
The U.S. Women’s National Team will open Austin’s brand new Q2 Stadium on June 16 with an Olympic warmup game. See World Cup champions Megan Rapinoe, Carli Lloyd and Alex Morgan battle Nigeria in Austin’s new 20,500-seat soccer stadium. Then, the Austin FC inaugural home game will take place on June 19 when we take on the San Jose Earthquakes. The Q2 Stadium can be easily reached from the Heywood Hotel by hopping on the Austin Metrorail at Saltillo Station, just five blocks from the Heywood, and disembarking at Kramer Station.
Scene from “River Silence.” Photo courtesy of Cine Las Americas International Film Festival .
The Cine Las Americas International Film Festival will take place June 9 through 13 with both virtual and in-person events. In its 23rd year, this annual festival highlights films and videos made by or about Latinx in the U.S. and around the world, along with films by or about Indigenous groups of the Americas. Opening night features an in-person, outdoor screening of “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For it,” a film by Mariem Pérez Riera. Cine Las Americas is a non-profit based in Austin supporting Latinx, Latin American and Indigenous filmmakers.
Photo courtesy of Beyond Van Gogh, the Immersive Experience
From June 18 through August 8, immerse yourself in more than 300 pieces of Van Gogh’s iconic artwork at Beyond Van Gogh, The Immersive Experience at the Circuit of Americas. This multimedia, multi-dimensional exhibit allows you to walk through large-scale projections of the artist’s work including The Starry Night and Cafe Terrace at Night. The artist’s writings on his thoughts and dreams guide the audiovisual experience.
The Moontower Comedy Club Series welcomes back nationally known comics, including SNL’s Chris Redd on June 25 and The Daily Show’s Roy Wood Jr. on June 26. These socially-distanced shows will be held at 50% capacity at Austin’s historical Paramount Theater. Additional acts are being added throughout the summer and fall leading up to the Moontower Comedy Festival in September.
The Return of Live Music in Austin
Landmark venues like Stubbs, Mohawk, ACL Live and the Continental Club are now reopening their doors and welcoming back top local and national acts. We are beyond thrilled to announce that it is once again possible to safely see live music in Austin!
Photo courtesy of Stubb’s Amphitheater
Austin is known as the Live Music Capital of the World. It is a title we take very seriously. The silence of Austin’s live music stages has been deafening this past year. But now there is good news to report, as music venues throughout town open their doors to host live music once again.
In June, see Austin’s own Shakey Graves (blues, folk, country, and rock ‘n’ roll all in one) at Stubb’s outdoor amphitheater on June 18. Grupo Fantasma takes the stage downtown at ACL Live at the Moody Theater on June 12. Catch Ephraim Owens every Tuesday night at the recently reopened Continental Club or two-step to live music seven nights a week at The White Horse, our favorite neighborhood honky tonk just down the street from the Heywood Hotel.
Photo courtesy of the Long Center
The free summer concert series has also returned to Austin! ACL Radio and the Long Center present The Drop-In every Thursday through September 9, with shows starting at 8:00pm. This 16-show, free concert series takes place on the grassy lawn of the Long Center terrace. Areas are socially distanced and a number of safety precautions are being taken. Performing artists include Kalu & the Electric Joint, Gina Chavez, Walker Lukens, and more! On June 10, see Bob Schneider.
Be sure to check out our regularly updated Live Music in Austin blog post for more information on re-opened Austin music venues and our top picks!
The Return of Movies in Austin
For many of us, nothing says “summer” like hiding away in a dark, air-conditioned movie theater watching an intimate indie film or a big-budget blockbuster. Lucky for us, Austin has the absolute best theater in the country, and it’s back open!
Image courtesy of the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
The entire city of Austin rejoiced upon hearing the news that the Alamo Drafthouse has reopened! Our beloved and now nationally-known chain of theaters for movie lovers offers a one-of-a-kind experience with meals and drinks delivered right to your seat and curated pre-feature content before each show. The Mueller, South Lamar and Slaughter Lane locations are now open, and the Village location will open in July.
We’re excited at the prospect of once again spending a hot summer day indoors with some friend pickles, a Royale with Cheese and a craft brew — every Alamo location has more than 30 beers on tap!
Sadly, in early March, the Alamo permanently closed its downtown Ritz location, but we are looking forward to seeing what next transformation is in store for the historic theater.
New and Noteworthy in East Austin 2021
Our hats are off to the number of new Austin businesses that persevered and managed to open or expand during the pandemic. What guts and grit! We welcome to the neighborhood these new East Austin spots.
Photo courtesy of The Long Play Lounge. Welcome to the neighborhood!
A couple of blocks east of the Heywood Hotel, the Long Play Lounge – East recently opened. Expect a chill vibe and a retro feel at this cocktail lounge and live music venue that also boasts a vinyl collection of 400+ albums! Long Play features live music most nights of the week and has great happy hour specials.
Photo courtesy of Gati Ice Cream
A frozen sweet treat is a quick way to cool off from the summer heat. New to Holly St., Gati Ice Cream serves vegan/gluten-free/lactose-free ice cream with a coconut-milk base, as well as gluten-free baked treats and coffee. Try adventurous flavors like beet chocolate cake and black sticky horchata, or grab a scoop of the mango lime — a Heywood favorite! Even those of us who typically don’t eat vegan sweets adore Gati!
Photo courtesy of Easy Tiger
We are happy to welcome Easy Tiger to East Austin! A longtime favorite of the Heywood crew, Easy Tiger Bake Shop and Beer Garden offers cured meats, cheese boards, sandwiches, plus an in-house bakery that bakes Old World hearth breads, European-style pastries and excellent German soft pretzels. Their bar has more than 30 craft beers on tap and also mixes up excellent cocktails. The new East 7th St. location (at the corner of Comal) features a 15,000 square-foot lawn with ample picnic table seating. Indoor seating is also available.
Left photo by Heywood Hotel. Right photo courtesy of Distant Relatives.
The barbecue boom continues in East Austin! We are excited to welcome newcomer Distant Relatives to our bustling barbecue scene. Chef Damien Brockway, formerly the executive chef of fine dining powerhouse Counter 3.Five.VII, has traded in his microgreen tweezers for barbecue tongs. His take on Texas’ most famous cuisine is inspired by the West African diaspora of the United States. Try such items as the sugarcane rubbed pulled pork or the smoke braised cabbage from 11:00am to 7:00pm (or until sold out), Wednesday to Sunday at the new E. 7th food truck.
And in other East Austin barbecue news, longtime neighbor and female-owned hot spot, La Barbecue has recently found their forever home just a few blocks from the Heywood at 2401 E. Cesar Chavez St. Open from 11:00am-6:00pm Wednesday through Sunday, or until sold out, they now also serve beer and wine. Grab a seat inside or on the patio and enjoy the brisket, pork ribs, smoked turkey, and house sausages that La Barbecue is famous for!
Photo courtesy of Rocheli Patisserie
Last but not least, we’re excited to welcome Rocheli Patisserie to East Austin. This award-winning French bakery turns out pastries, cakes, quiches, espresso and more in an adorable storefront on East 12th. The bakery has some serious cred. It was founded by Nelly Garcia, Linda Garcia and Rosa Nelly Caballero, all of whom have worked and studied under “Cake Boss” star Buddy Valastro.
Notable New Spots Around Austin 2021
And finally, several additional new businesses have opened around town. Here, the Heywood concierge team highlights a few of their favorites!
Photo courtesy of Qi
In downtown Austin, Qi opened in late 2020. A fellow woman-owned business, the restaurant is the second for Chef Ling Qi Wu, who also operates the extremely popular Lin on West 6th St. Originally from Fuzhou City, China, Chef Ling worked in NYC’s Chinatown before moving to Austin, where her Shanghai Soup Dumplings took the city by storm. Qi is a farm-focused, modern Asian restaurant with an upscale feel. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner daily, with dim sum served Saturdays and Sundays. Handmade scallop caviar sui mai and lobster dumplings? Yes please!
Housed in the iconic Austin digs of the old Hut’s Hamburgers, Sammie’s takes an elevated approach to red sauce Italian fare. Order a glass of the house Chianti or any of the many options from their expansive wine and spirit menu, and enjoy a pasta dish or two from their classics menu. Dishes include veal marsala, eggplant Parmigiana and baked manicotti. Opening soon next door is Favorite Pizza, a retro-inspired spot with by-the-slice and whole pie offerings. It’s named after the 80-year-old shop Favorite Liquor & Wine that stood before it.
Photos courtesy of Butler Pitch & Putt
Just south of downtown with a beautiful view of the Austin skyline sits Butler Pitch & Putt. This 10-hole, par-three course was established in 1949 and recently updated in April 2021. The more than $1 million in improvements include the introduction of the South Austin Country Club, a tongue-in-cheek “South Austin” take on the typical golf course clubhouse. This one features a beer garden with picnic benches and cold beer on tap. Generating equal buzz are the divine biscuit sandwiches from Little Ola’s, the little sister brand of fine dining restaurant Olamie helmed by James Beard finalist Chef Michael Fojtasek. The Country Club is open daily from 8:00am till it’s sold out. Check their calendar for special events and league opportunities.
Ready for your next Austin adventure?
The Heywood Hotel is close to everything and our concierge team knows all the best places. Let us help you design the perfect stay!
The Heywood Hotel offers free bikes for exploring the best of Austin!