The Traitors Watch Party

Thursday 30, Vacancy Brewing

Ever the contrarian, I prefer The Traitors UK’s cast of normies versus the U.S.’s bench of backstabbing reality TV all-stars pulled from Survivor, Big Brother, and the Real Housewives franchise, but whichever flavor you choose of this reality competition show (there are about 20 international versions in rotation), you’re bound to get addicted. The biggest barrier to entry – who the heck has a Peacock subscription? Vacancy Brewing does! Enjoy new episodes with other faithful on Thursdays at 8pm. The nearness of beer could occasion a drinking game – maybe every time somebody wears a truly ridonk hat? That’ll get you plastered … and possibly drunk-buying a plane ticket to the scenic Scottish Highlands, the real star of the show.   – Kimberley Jones

Polyester

Thursday 30, Milwood Branch Library

Moviegoers in 1981 didn’t know how lucky their nostrils were, since that’s when John Waters’ olfactory opus released with Odorama. Each special card came with scratch and sniff spots to accentuate the smelly drama that Francine Fishpaw (Divine at her most hysterically feminine) finds herself in. While viewers today must only imagine what scented bliss occurred when snuffing one’s nose across the “roses,” “natural gas,” or “model airplane glue” smells, you can still enjoy Waters’ satirical take on the Sixties-era phenom of “women’s pictures” sans cinematic parfum. Maybe bring your own little car air-freshener to this library screening to huff, if you really wanna live it up.   – James Scott

Daddy Issues

Friday 31, Cheer Up Charlies

One preoccupation of the queer community that I can’t – and won’t – explain is how we’re all obsessed with the aesthetics of divorced people. No one really enjoys or covets romantic heartbreak, but the way people get a little weird after ending a marriage just interests us LGBTQs. Such is the genesis of Arby’s and Billy Ray Bandit – aka the drag king persona of Brigitte Bandit – a new divorced-dad rock tribute show featuring drag to the tune of Nickelback, Rob Zombie, etc. Players in this post-separation papa space include Atlas Mars, Jack the Stripper, Sir Maxim, Faux Q (DFW), Dantés Shottgunz (HTX), Hot Lunch, Buck Wilde (DFW), and a special guest from San Antonio. As the king Bandit puts it, “who needs custody of the kids when you have custody of the STAGE?”   – James Scott

Kevin Hart: Acting My Age

Friday 31 – Sunday 2, Bass Concert Hall

From slinging jokes on the big screen to roasting everything from fellow celebs to society in general, Emmy- and Grammy-nominated comedian Kevin Hart has perfected the art of turning life’s chaos into laughs. With billions in box office receipts and a roster of hits, Hart brings his latest stand-up material to Bass with the Acting My Age tour. Don’t miss your chance to see comedy royalty in action – this show is all about growing up, cracking up, and having zero regrets.   – Lucciana Choueiry

Se7en

Friday 31 – Wednesday 5, All Alamo Drafthouses

What’s in the box? I can’t help myself from saying this anytime there’s a box; sorry. But it’s just so deeply ingrained after being enthralled by David Fincher’s gritty, grimy crime thriller/horror masterpiece time and time again since its 1995 release. I can’t believe it’s true, but I was too young to see this one in the theatre back then. So seeing Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman track down the methodical seven-deadly-sins serial killer on the big screen, even while already knowing what’s in the box, will be a terrifying treat.   – Kat McNevins

m(other) figures

Friday 31 – Saturday 1, Dougherty Arts Center

Have you called your mom lately? I have. We talked about how I should be using Vicks before bed because I’m recovering from the flu. While the conversation was good, I doubt it was at the same depth level as the ones Dance Waterloo’s choreographers were having with their maternal figures. Inspired by ideas of generational storytelling, this new collab between Dance Waterloo and the Dougherty Arts Center portrays a discourse in matrilineal inheritances like habits, ideas, and artistic approaches. Through their dance performances, audiences will see how shifts in the narrative do occur but rarely stray too far from the root. “The result is a tapestry of shared experiences,” DAC writes in their event copy, “and surprising departures.”   – James Scott

Kumail Nanjiani: Doing This Again

Friday 31, Paramount Theatre

It’s no surprise to learn that Pakistani American actor and comedian Kumail Nanjiani studied both computer science and philosophy. A bit of a Renaissance man, you might say, he’s returning to the stage with incisive new material after years of captivating work onscreen and behind the camera as an actor/writer/producer (Dinesh on Silicon Valley, co-writer/star of Oscar-nominated The Big Sick, best guest on Will Arnett’s Netflix improv comedy Murderville).   – Kat McNevins

Honor, An Artist Lecture

Friday 31 – Saturday 1, McCullough Theatre

What does Bernard van Orley’s epic 16th century tapestry The Honors have to do with Hobby Lobby, the first woman to graduate from MIT, the Texas Rose Festival, Hansel and Gretel, and methods of execution? The threads that weave them together are explained in this lecture from artist and art historian Suzanne Bocanegra. Except it’s not delivered by Bocanegra but actress Lili Taylor as Bocanegra – or rather, channeling Bocanegra. The fourth in the artist’s “starring” series and her second collaboration with Taylor after “Farmhouse / Whorehouse, an Artist Lecture by Suzanne Bocanegra Starring Lili Taylor,” the lecture is recited by the artist to the side of the stage and relayed by earpiece to the actor in an innovative, entrancing symbiosis. Add in hilarious, informative, and sometimes disturbing as descriptors, as Bocanegra/Taylor unpick the hidden history of women sewn into the tapestry.   – Richard Whittaker

Yokohama BJ Blues

Friday 31 & Monday 3, AFS Cinema

Jazmyne Moreno’s programming for Austin Film Society’s Lates series truly thrills me. How else does Austin’s cinephile population get introduced to offbeat Japanese neo-noir like Eiichi Kudo’s tale of a blues singer/private detective getting involved in mob mayhem? Not the director’s most known film – that award goes to shogunate drama 13 Assassins – but definitely his most indigo-shaded, Kudo’s picture fits in with other hard-done dude classics like Robert Altman’s The Long Goodbye. Okay, okay: You had me at the navy hues, but now you’re telling me this whole thing stars a messy-haired guy in a rumbled long coat who can’t catch a break? Sold!   – James Scott

Black History Month Kickoff Block Party

Saturday 1, George Washington Carver Museum

Wahoo! Officially starting this Saturday is Black History Month – an entire 28-days-long opportunity to learn about and elevate Black experiences in the U.S. and beyond. More important than ever as our federal government nakedly attempts to turn back the civil rights clock, events like the Carver Museum’s free all-ages afternoon programming keep Black cultural legacies alive. Check in anytime between 2 and 5pm for all types of activities, from vinyl DJs, a vendor market, financial education, a film screening, and poetry readings to myriad dance lessons including hip-hop, line dance, and freestyle, hands-on art, and live music. Bring your open heart and maybe plans for a hearty dinner since they’re serving “light” snacks and refreshments.   – James Scott

Raven Halfmoon: “Flags of Our Mothers”

Through August 3, The Contemporary Austin

In addition to premiering shows by Thai artist Jiab Prachakul and Dutch creative Hendrickje Schimmel (aka Tenant of Culture), a stacked Jan. 31 at the Contemporary Jones Center marks the opening of Raven Halfmoon’s “Flags of Our Mothers.” A Caddo Nation citizen working in Norman, Oklahoma, Halfmoon examines the intersection of Indigenous tradition, history, gender, and personal experience through colossal stoneware sculptures. Her works integrate Caddo pottery traditions and modern tagging glyphs into totemic forms. Alongside this indoor presentation, the artist’s outdoor piece Flagbearer will join Laguna Gloria’s palm-studded estate in mid-February.   – Caroline Drew

The B. Iden Payne Awards Council First Annual Soup Fundraiser

Saturday 1, Ground Floor Theatre

Who could say no to all-you-can-eat soup, especially when it’s all in aid of a great theatrical cause? With the city idiotically cutting off funding to the oldest and most important body supporting the stage arts (alongside dozens of other established artistic groups), the B. Iden Payne Awards Council is rolling up its collective sleeves at this fundraising meet-and-greet for the local theatrical community. Grab your bowl and make sure to pick up a ticket or 10 for the silent auction with prizes donated by Muggs Clay Studio, Zach Theatre, the Vortex, ACC and more. Can’t make the day (or don’t like soup)? You can still donate at bidenpayneawards.org.   – Richard Whittaker

Hollywood Shuffle

Saturday 1, AFS Cinema

When filmmakers Alex Chew and Ryan Darbonne founded their nonprofit Black Auteur Film Festival, their goal was to elevate and preserve a wide breadth of Black voices in cinema. That means showcasing pieces in the Black film canon that “challenge monolithic narratives and reflect the richness of the diaspora,” which obvi includes 1987 satire Hollywood Shuffle. Kickoff film to BAFF’s repertory series with AFS, the comedy follows lead/director Robert Townsend as an aspiring actor navigating the racial stereotypes abundant in American film, TV, and entertainment at large. In addition to their screening, BAFF also adds a post-film discussion panel with local Black actors relaying their own experiences – how they differ and how they line up with Townsend’s autobiographical odyssey.   – James Scott

Open Canopy

Saturday 1, Canopy Complex

One of the artiest alcoves in town, the Canopy complex sits just off Springdale Road waiting to reveal its treasures. The invitation is even harder to resist on the first Saturday of the month when the galleries, studios, and shops throw open their doors for visitors looking to engage the right side of their brain. Kids and pets are encouraged to enjoy the usual offerings as well, but the complimentary drinks are strictly for the over-21 art-appreciators.   – James Renovitch

High Heels & Cowboy Boots

Saturday 1, Paramount Theatre

Jaston Williams knows what it’s like to live within extremes. Mostly known as the co-creator of stage play Greater Tuna, he’s used to mining his West Texas past for laughs. But here we get the actual stories, a life tale unlike any other. Watch Williams regale the crowd with eccentric family lore, personal dramatic angst, and the trials and travails of small-town theatre – complete with his first time in a dress. After that experience, Williams decided there are “worse ways to spend [a day] than sitting in a rocking chair on the porch wearing a flimsy white islet dress and letting the breeze have its way with me. You men in the audience don’t have to look shocked. There’s a reason why women live longer. Just sayin’.”   – Cat McCarrey

Dumbest Show Ever

Saturday 1, Kick Butt Coffee

That’s quite a promise made by Turducken Produckens’ newest show title. Could this burlesque event truly be that boneheaded? Well, yeah. Being dumb is much easier than being smart, which you probably figured out because all Chronicle readers are the smartest and most handsome people ever. But enough about readers! What about the gallery of goofs coming to this Airport coffeehouse? Turducken’s “boutique of dumb” features foolish follies from Amelie Ahmose, Jack Rabid, Ginger Snaps, and Lady Lola Lestrange, plus many, many more talented performers doing their dumbest routines. Dunce caps not required for entry.   – James Scott

Austin Anarchist Book Fair 2025

Saturday 1, Double Trouble & Monkeywrench Books

How else can I put this that hasn’t been screamed at me through an Instagram reel – God’s most evil form of communication? We’re in trouble, dudes, and there’s a lot of work to be done. Suctioning yourself to social media for a solution won’t help none, but maybe a little community engagement can do the trick. Hosted at two locations on North Loop, the Anarchist Book Fair boasts tables from local organizations like the Resistencia Books, Texas Trans Futures, Oblivion Press, and more over at Dub Trub, with talks on important subjects like “Reflections on the Struggle to Stop Cop City” running from noon to nighttime at Monkeywrench. If you needed a place to enter the fight, here’s an excellent chance to do so.   – James Scott

Jo’s 18th Annual Chili Cook-Off

Sunday 2, Jo’s Coffee South Congress

Beef or beans or both? Chili powder and cumin are a given, but cocoa powder has stealth punch. Everybody’s got an opinion about the perfect chili, and the Jo’s Coffee chili cook-off is the ideal place to air those opinions. But first, you better do your research. Entry is free and gets you access to live music from Jeff Hughes, Chaparral, and the Jo’s House Band, but you’ll want to pay the extra $25 for a tasting wristband. The cause is a good one: Proceeds benefit Free Lunch, dedicated to combating food insecurity in Austin.   – Kimberley Jones

The Austin Flea

Sunday 2, Lazarus Brewing on Sixth Street

After a brief reprieve from heavy gift shopping, we’re back in the swing of things and gearing up for Valentine’s Day! Find something for your sweetheart, yourself, or your home among a variety of goods from local vendors: jewelry, bath and body products, textiles, vintage finds, original artwork, home goods, and lots more. Our unseasonable weather should be fabulous for shopping, people- and dog-watching, and some of Lazarus’ bold brews and satisfying snacks – try the house-made chips and queso.   – Kat McNevins

Fourth Annual Lunar New Year Festival

Sunday 2, the Paper + Craft Pantry

Entering the Year of the Snake is gonna be sssssensational when celebrating alongside the folks at Springdale General. Hosted by stationery store Paper + Craft Pantry, the festivities run all day and include the modern and the traditional among ’em. See lion and dragon dance performances, enjoy local food and drinks, and – best of all – shop over 30 Austin-based Asian vendors who’ll have their best wares out for sale. There’ll also be plenty of family-friendly activities, such as face-painting, crafting stations, and a bilingual storytime that’s BYOB, aka bring your own blanket. Sssssee you there!   – James Scott

Floating Weeds

Sunday 2 & Wednesday 5, AFS Cinema

There is joy and agony in being able to revisit your own past. That’s the story that Yasujirō Ozu told in 1934 in his silent movie A Story of Floating Weeds. But he was only 31 when he made that film, so the bitter pangs of a life of remorse had not yet been sharpened by age. Maybe that’s why he decided to revisit not only those themes but that story 25 years later as Floating Weeds. Both films are masterpieces, but the more mature Ozu would find greater, quieter depths in the struggles of aging kabuki actor and impresario Komajuro (Nakamura Ganjirō II) as he dismantles his life in desperate hopes of rebuilding a connection with a son who doesn’t know who he is.   – Richard Whittaker

Boot Scootin’ Brunch

Sunday 2, Central Machine Works

A little music history: The song “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” was first recorded in 1990 by Austin-based Asleep at the Wheel, inspiring Bill Bader to choreograph a line dance for it and Brooks & Dunn to release a chart-topping cover in 1992, leading to line dancing taking America by storm. Thanks, y’all! Country Fried Dance carries on the storied tradition with free lessons set to Nineties bangers played by DJ Rhinestone Ruckus, fueled by brunch and drink specials from CMW. And as Insta commenter ambidextrousbreakfast helpfully points out, the noon dancery is preceded by 10am yoga, so you could rock yoga pants and boots for this and make a day of it. The Nineties would appreciate it, I think.   – Kat McNevins

The Secret Garden

Through March 2, Georgetown Palace Theatre

I understand that not everyone grew up in a twisted version of Glee, where show choir reigned supreme and no one cared about the football team. So some folks don’t know the heart-melting whimsy of hearing teenage tenors get girls through duets of “Lily’s Eyes” during choir showcases. Such a shame. But thanks to that experience, The Secret Garden musical will always stand out as a paragon of my dorky high school bliss. It takes the lovely simplicity of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s children’s book about a lonely orphan transformed by the power of nature, and pads it out with soap opera hijinks and ghostliness galore. What’s not to love? If you’re lucky, maybe one of the male leads will look your way during “Lily’s Eyes.” Sigh.   – Cat McCarrey

Trouble and Desire: Hal Hartley’s Long Island Trilogy and Early Shorts

Through March 1, AFS Cinema

If David Lynch’s signature style was the dark strangeness of ordinary life, then Hal Hartley was his more optimistic counterpart. No less stylized in his visual style or in the performances that he gained from his own troupe of regulars than Lynch, but his films are filled with plausible weirdos. Nowhere was that more clear than with the Long Island trilogy, which launches AFS’ retrospective of this American independent cinema godfather. The season begins with The Unbelievable Truth (Feb. 4 & 9), followed by Trust (Feb. 11 & 15) and trilogy closer Simple Men (Feb. 18 & 22). However, Hartley completists will be most excited by the director’s rarely screened and shortest feature, Surviving Desire (Feb. 25 & March 1), playing alongside shorts: “The End,” “Theory of Achievement,” and “Ambition.”   – Richard Whittaker

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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.