Before gay became okay onscreen – well, before a veeeeeery specific white, skinny, feminine version of gay became okay – movie star Bette Davis turned down a role in this film because she didn’t want to do a “dyke movie.” Sheesh! Now why wouldn’t she want to be a part of a story about an incarcerated pregnant married woman who finds herself under the non-Bette Davis acted thumb of the prison’s butch bully? According to Vito Russo, this film’s got an “astonishing amount of lesbianism.” How about that… Examine this chapter of queer cinema history with a video intro from newly New York-located programmer Elizabeth Purchell. – James Scott

Caged! (1950)

Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center is still under construction, but they are continuing their programming at alternate locations. This free cooking demo with Common Threads, a nonprofit with a mission to improve community health through nutrition, offers a chance to learn about some nutritious and tasty snacks while meeting some neighbors. Make chili-lime popcorn, sweet plantain chips, and watermelon agua fresca at this one, and register by Friday, July 12, so they’ll know how many supplies to bring. – Kat McNevins

Healthy Snack Workshop

Now on twice a month, host Aira Juliet and the Little Gay Shop test your knowledge – and dancing – skills in five rounds of trivia. Each event has a new theme. From Aira herself: "The theme is REAL HOT GIRL $HIT for queer trivia, we are talking pop divas, rap divas, women’s rights, women’s wrongs and all the femininomenon in between."

Queer Trivia

Drag doctor Bobby Pudrido hosts this experimental drag experience with cast members Gacho Marx & Sirgio, where they push all the limits.

Drag Lab

The food & drink baby sib to Odd Duck & Barley Swine brings a drag brunch bingo you can really sink your teeth into.

Drag Queen Bingo

Michael Monroe Goodman (9:00)

Waxahachie Horns, Jitterbug Vipers (6:00)

Queer creatives of all mediums can drop in and hang out with other LGBTQ folks while working on personal projects. Masks required for indoor meets. Note: This is not a space for allies.

Queer Art Night

JD Graham, Walt Wilkins, the Drakes (6:00)

Meetup with other queer adults for a sober and inclusive night of board games.

Queer Game Night

Louisianna Purchase hosts this night of drag, bingo, beer and shopping in partnership with the Little Gay Shop.

Drag Queen Bingo with Louisianna Purchase

House of Lepore and Kind Clinic team up for this bi-weekly class on "practices for ballroom members to commune and develop their craft across various ballroom categories (i.e., Vogue Performance, Sex Siren, Runway, and Face, etc.)." Kind Clinic will also provide STI/HIV rapid testing services.

Category Is...

Women and nonbinary pinball players are welcome to join this casual pinball group for all levels, meeting at Bender Bar on first Wednesdays of the month and Cidercade on third Wednesdays.

Belles & Chimes Pinball Meetup

Enjoy the strange and unusual with Evah Destruction, Gothess Jasmine, Noodles, and special guests - plus stick around for the Dragula rewatch party.

Side Show

The Georges

Moeller Brothers

Warren Hood

Ace Peppers blues jam

Redcliff

James McMurtry

Frank Cavitt & the Honky-Tonk Doctors

Butter 'n Jam

Canned Beets

Guthrie Girls

The Brannen & Red Show

Zilker’s summer musical series celebrates its 65th production with the song-and-dance stylings of sorority girl-turned-Harvard Law dynamo Elle Woods.

Legally Blonde: The Musical

Hosted by Carlton Wilcoxson and Angelina Martin, and featuring the best local and national comics every Wednesday.

Buzz Kill Comedy

South Austin’s first dedicated comedy venue is spearheaded by local comics Martin Henn, Andre Ricks, and Raza Jafri, and brings top-notch acts to South Austin every Wednesday through Saturday. Note: The upcoming comics – including nationally touring acts, local sweethearts, and everyone in between – will be listed on Instagram each night.

South Austin Comedy Club

Libby & the Loveless

Anderson Smith Band ft. Chris Reeves, two-step dance lessons w/ Hill Country Two Step (7:00)

Dreadneck Wednesdays w/ Mau Mau Chaplains, DJ Jah Bill (9:00)

This multimedia exhibition is a comprehensive exploration of the beauty of botanical forms, expressed realistically and in the abstract, featuring the work of local artist Francine Funke.

Old Bakery Gallery: Fantastical Flora

Art and … math? Not as improbable as it may seem, especially when seen through the veil of fantasy. And that’s exactly what artist/gallerist/therapist Deanna Miesch does. Compiling works inspired by 1800s mathematician Edwin A. Abbott’s imaginary world of Flatland (with touches of fellow mathematician Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland, of course), Miesch presents reality with a fanciful twist. Her visuals show our world, blurred or tilted a little askew. It’s easy to see portals to another world in every line and angle. What dimensions will you discover? – Cat McCarrey

Deanna Miesch: “Flatland Revisited”

Hurrah! It’s the only good thing about summer – sorry to summer-enjoyers – come back once more. Austin Public Library’s summer reading program runs from June 1 until Aug. 10 and challenges readers of all ages to get 20 minutes of reading done a day. They’ve also got activity badges you can earn – fun biz like using APL’s seed library, making a DIY nature journal, attending any of APL’s free events. Finish 10 reading hours and three activity badges to earn prizes like a free book (kids 0-17) or a camping mug (adults). But isn’t the real reward the great books you read along the way? – James Scott

Summer at Austin Public Library

Hoo-wee! Does anything feel better than a dip in the pool during a hot Texas summer? While some among us may be privileged to own private watering holes, most of us get to enjoy the great Austin PARD’s work at the 44 public aquatic facilities to choose from this summer. You’ve got regional, neighborhood, and community pools; a wading pool; splash pads; and the crown jewel: Barton Springs. Check austintexas.gov/pools-splashpads for up-to-date info on which pools are open, what their entry fee is, and whether you have what it takes to be a public pool lifeguard. Now, outta the way if you don’t wanna get wet: I’m gonna do a cannonball! – James Scott

Austin Public Pools Opening

Who doesn’t want to build up their CV in these trying times? Or perhaps you just want to fill your free time with something other than TikTok? Or maybe you want a behind-the-scenes, hands-on tour of Austin’s best place for sustainable craft supplies? Whatever reason you’ve got, it’s a good time to volunteer for Austin Creative Reuse’s Summer of Service program. Opportunities are abundant, with group projects like fabric rolling, dog toy making, or Funky Fabric Friday – that’s when they process all the weird stuff like purple faux fur or bright yellow vinyl. Sign up on austincreativereuse.org, complete 30 volunteering hours, and earn your Summer of Service certificate. Beats losing eight hours to ASMR slime-scoop videos, I’ll tell you what. – James Scott

Summer of Service

Andrea Marie song swap series

Hot Club of Cowtown

Sydney Wright song swap w/ Jonathan Hortsmann

Jamie Krueger Group

Texas Radio Live w/ Dave Scher

Michael Hale Organ Trio

The Koolerators

Humble House, Tiny House

James Speer

The movie that turned anime master – and notorious curmudgeon and martinet – Hayao Miyazaki from a revered artist in Japan to the most famous animator globally since Walt Disney. His story of a young girl who must enter a fantastical world after her parents are turned into pigs has spawned a thousand collectibles but never lost its narrative and thematic power. Come for the cute, weird creatures. Stay for a vicious dissection of runaway Western style consumerism’s impact on Japanese culture. – Richard Whittaker

Spirited Away (2001)

Michael Dease Quartet

Tate McRae, Presley Regier

Chris Brown, Muni Long, Maeta

The virtuoso power trio to end them all, the Aristocrats perform a delicate balancing act at every show. British guitarist Guthrie Govan (Asia, Hans Zimmer), American bassist Bryan Beller (Steve Vai, Dweezil Zappa), and German drummer Marco Minnemann (Joe Satriani, Mike Keneally) shove their progressive rock/shred metal/jazz fusion gumbo right in your face, but do it with genuinely sticky melodies and self-aware humor. These guys understand the absurdity of their craft (titles from new album Duck: “Sgt. Rockhopper,” “This Is Not Scrotum,” and “Muddle Through”), which makes them as likely to evoke belly laughs as dropped jaws. – Michael Toland

The Aristocrats [control room]

All Hat No Cadillac

The Maggie Valley Band

The Distraits, Merge Left, The Episodes

Howlin' Hurd, Evan Charles, Johnny McGowan's Rugged Gents

Joshua Alderete Quartet & Friends

Immortal Synn, Mars God, Resisting Vegas, Christian Shields

Motenko

Save the date, July 17th! The Canadian blues ingenue turned Texas axe slinger brings over 35 years of professional talent to The @antonesnightclub stage for their 49th anniversary. Sue Foley delivers her own brand of high energy, guitar driven Texas blues while premiering her new band, The Pistolas. Foley’s seasoned rhythm section responds to her every move as she sways, rocks, and digs in deep with equal parts ease and intensity. Doors 7pm/Show 8pm Buy tickets here!