New Restaurants, Fall Arts Calendar, and Cheap Dates in Austin

Well, we are in the thick of summer now. The bad news? 🥵. The good news? It's the perfect time to grab a Jim-Jim's Italian Water Ice 🍧 before the beloved Austin establishment closes on Sept. 30. Read on for restaurant openings and closings, essential arts events to add to your fall calendar, the best cheap dates in Austin this month and much more!

But first, here's your weekend forecast from newsroom meteorologist, Mary Wasson:

"The heat dome that has been over Texas since Monday will shift west, allowing a weak cold front to move south toward Central Texas. This will bring more clouds and a small, 20% chance of rain starting Friday and lasting through Saturday. No heavy rain or severe weather is expected, but a brief downpour of up to 0.25 inches of rain is possible. It’s not enough to cancel outdoor plans, but it’s wise to pack an umbrella just in case.

"By Sunday, rain chances will end as a subtropical ridge of high pressure returns to Central Texas, bringing dry and seasonable weather for the first week of August. Average early August temperatures range from 76 to 99 degrees."

🍽️July restaurant openings and closings (plus more small bites)

Our dining and nightlife correspondent Ana Gutierrez pulled together this roundup of July restaurant openings and closings. Newcomers to the dining scene include Fish Shop, an eastside seafood spot from a former Justine's chef and the first Austin outpost for the brightly colored La La Kind Cafe. The viral L.A.-based chain employs youths aging out of the foster care system.

One-time Austin institution Z'Tejas, closed its final stores this month and maker of summer memories Jim-Jim's Water Ice put us on notice: He's closing his shop and poolside carts on Sept. 30.

More small bites:

• Flavortown in Austin: Guess where Guy Fieri popped up this week?
• Viral Propitious Mango ice cream has been spotted at H-E-Bs in the Austin area — and now we need it.
• ICYMI: Our dining critic Matthew Odam found the best new barbecue spot in Austin.

💃🏽Fall arts preview: Plan your autumn culture binge (Plus music notes)

Ready to get cultured, but not sure where to start? Our resident arts expert Michael Barnes created this wonderful guide to the upcoming arts season. Michael highlights must-see events among a number of cultural categories. Want to see a musical? Try “The Outsiders,” a Broadway offering with a soaring score, literary roots and songs composed by Austin-based folk rock band Jamestown Revival. A symphony? Austin Symphony Orchestra is doing Beethoven's "Fifth Symphony." Ballet? You had us at “Marie Antoinette: Vampire Queen of Versailles” (🧁/🩸?)

P.S.: Congrats to Michael on the release of the fifth volume of his "Indelible Austin" book series! Grab a copy and up your Austin cocktail conversation game.

🎶 Music notes:

• Waterloo Records announced an opening date for the new location.
• Upcoming flood relief benefits include the Kelly Clarkson and Miranda Lambert show at the Moody Center and Lyle Lovett at the Paramount.
• Sir Paul McCartney is coming to San Antonio. Will he make a surprise appearance in Austin?

💘Dating on a Dime: 3 great dates for under $50

Don't let a tight budget stand in the way of love! Ana is back with Dating on a Dime, her monthly guide to cheap, but amazing dates in Austin .

This month, you can spread a blanket under the stars and pay tribute to Austin blues communion hall Antone's at Blues on the Green then cap off your night with a Sandy's Frozen Custard. Did you know you can bring your own booze at Peter Pan Mini Golf? Yes, yes you can — but leave the glass bottles at home.

If you want to think way out of the box in your quest for romance, I suppose we should tell you that the next season of Netflix reality TV show "Love Is Blind" is casting in Austin.

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