Paramount Theatre will temporarily close beginning mid-June for its first major renovation in over half a century, according to a news release.

Dig deeper: The restoration is expected to take 8-9 months and is supported by the Shine On capital campaign.

Keep in mind: The theatre hosts the annual Summer Classic Film Series, showing an array of movies and double features throughout the season. 

In 2026, the series will start at Paramount Theatre on May 22 and relocate to other Austin venues after the temporary closure starts. 

• 713 N. Congress Ave., Austin

Second generation restaurateurs Haru and Gohei Kishi bring together French and Japanese influence, with a little Texas flare, at Kappo Kappo in Austin Proper Hotel. 

A family affair: Twins Haru and Gohei fell in love with food family-style, over extravagant holiday hams and turkeys shared with loved ones as they grew up in Paris. The pair later started working at their mother’s Japanese restaurant, TAGAWA, as teenagers, manning the kitchen and front-of-house. 

What’s special about it? Haru and Gohei then collaborated as a team to create an intimate eatery with 25 total seats. The meal is fit to flow like a “conversation—unexpected, personal and rooted in place,” according to the restaurant. 

On the menu: One of the chef’s favorite dishes is the parmesan-crusted gougère topped with a mix of A5 wagyu and o-toro and Osetra caviar.

• 600 W. 2nd St., Austin

Austin Housing is moving to roll out increased protections for tenants in lower-income housing, including citywide eviction prevention measures.

The details: Many local affordable housing complexes are supported by city development assistance. At the request of City Council last year, Austin Housing is now moving to improve how those programs function and has launched projects to meet officials' goals related to improved oversight, avoiding eviction proceedings and implementing other renter supports.

Council's direction kicked off reviews of the city's RHDA oversight and "lease addendum" that sets several renter protection requirements for participating developments. Generally, those cover leasing and living conditions, as well as processes to prevent evictions and ensure fair proceedings if they take place. It also led to an evaluation of eviction prevention strategies presented to a council committee in April that could shape the Austin Housing projects, and future policy shifts.

Check out the latest transportation updates around the Austin metro.

Upcoming projects

Austin Transit Partnership approves Light Rail maintenance building construction, land acquisition contracts: On April 15, the agency approved a contract in an amount not to exceed $25 million for the construction of an operations and maintenance facility as part of Phase 1 of the project. The facility will serve as the light rail's home base for the trains to be cleaned, serviced and maintained. The agency also approved a resolution not to exceed $230 million to acquire up to 18 parcels of property to use as part of Phase 1.

Ongoing projects

Greenlawn Boulevard widening
Project: The city of Round Rock is reconstructing Greenlawn Boulevard from an existing four-lane divided roadway to a six-lane divided urban roadway with pedestrian and lighting improvements.
Update: Per city officials, the traffic pattern was adjusted in March, reducing a portion of Greenlawn Boulevard to one lane in each direction.

• Timeline: completion is expected by April 2027

• Cost: $13.95 million

• Funding source: type B sales tax revenue