Locals can check out these events in South Austin and beyond, happening late May and June. Activities include a community clothing swap, music festivals and a prehistoric party.

This list is not comprehensive. All events are subject to change. 

Meanwhile Brewing free concert
The brewery will host a free concert showcasing music by The English Channels, a tribute to The Cure. 

• May 31, 7 p.m. 

• Free

• 3901 Promontory Point Drive, Austin

Kids Block Party
The public library will host a summer kickoff event for kids of all ages with storytimes, music, crafts and outdoor activities. 

• June 6, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

• Free

• 710 W. César Chávez St., Austin

A requirement for all apartment buildings in Austin to offer composting collection has been widely adopted, with some reported compliance issues, as the city pushes for more adherence under its "zero waste" goal.

The details: The city's zero-waste policy aims to divert 90% of trash sent to landfills by 2040, in favor of recycling and composting. That goal is a key part of Austin Resource Recovery's waste collection service and comprehensive planning, and was recently expanded with a mandate for all multifamily properties to offer their tenants composting service.

What's happening: As the new standard went into place, Austin also rolled out an educational campaign for apartments and offered zero-waste rebates to affected property owners for implementation. Since first informing properties about the change in summer 2024, the city reports that more than two-thirds of Austin's more than 2,100 multifamily complexes are now compliant with the new composting offerings. With hundreds of properties still not meeting the standard, ARR is now planning to ramp up enforcement.

The downtown market is normalizing after years of growth, and contending with both challenges and opportunities tied to a series of major infrastructure projects now impacting the area.

Downtown Austin is seeing fewer new developments and record office vacancy rates following a wave of major projects around the city center. At the same time, public and private investments are continuing and the area is home to a rebounding retail scene and established resident base.

Those findings and more were detailed in the latest annual report from the Downtown Austin Alliance, the nonprofit advocacy group representing downtown property owners. The analysis of downtown market trends and outlook for the area's future were presented mid-May.

About 2.94 million square feet of space is under construction downtown, and the DAA currently projects 8.22 million more square feet of planned new development. Office vacancies remain high, hotel bookings declined after the Austin Convention Center's closure for redevelopment, and residential growth steadied out in 2025.

Check out some of the top trending stories from the Austin area May 11-14. 

1. Jewel of Texas opens in Pflugerville

2. Construction underway on site of future Georgetown Texas Roadhouse

3. Frank & Margie's to open in Odd's Bar + Bistro space

4. Espadas de Brazil to bring Brazilian steakhouse to Bastrop's former Stem & Stone

5. Baylor Scott & White to expand Cedar Park clinic, bring more specialists

6. Austin moving to consolidate technology employees, services after weeks of pushback