Thirsty Planet Is Locked Out, Lick Ice Cream Pet Parade’s Gone to the Dogs, National Pork Chop Day Has Oinkers Aweigh, the Austin Food & Wine Festival Returns – and so Does ‘Tacos of Texas’

Here’s some of what's happening in Austin's culinary scene – as wrangled from numerous PR releases, words on the digital street, and even the occasional (verified) IRL eavesdroppings.

Mando Rayo's Tacos of Texas podcast begins a third season on KUT

Yes, citizen, it’s your “Food News Buffet” for the penultimate week of August.

Ah, jeez. Our roving reporter Evan Rodriguez reports on how Thirsty Planet Brewing Co. was locked out of their new taproom, and how that dispute with their landlords has had a ripple effect on the local beverage scene…

Meanwhile, in lighter news…

There are so many “national days” in this, ah, nation of ours, aren’t there? For instance, Sat., Aug. 26, is National Dog Day – and Lick Honest Ice Creams will be hosting a pet parade at their Mueller location (1905 Aldrich), unleashing (so to speak) an entire day of fun activities, delicious treats, and a tail-waggin’ good time for pet parents and their fur babies. Bring your favorite pooch and strut that mutt! There’ll be complimentary pup cups from Lick at parade’s end, and dog tarot readings, and a portion of ice cream sales that day will be donated to Austin Pets Alive!

And you know that Sun., Aug. 27, is National Pork Chop Day, right? Then you probably also know that the best place to celebrate is the restaurant renowned for its pork chop specials: Perry’s Steakhouse (114 W. Seventh and in the Domain NORTHSIDE), where, on that day only (4-9pm), there’ll be a four-course menu for $44, featuring pork chop bites, white bean pork chili, that 18-ounce lunch cut of Perry's famous pork chop, and more. Mmmm, talk about living high on the hog…

Just when you thought the pies in this town couldn’t get any better or more supportive of community, Dovetail Pizza (1816 S. First) is hosting a party on Sun., Aug. 27, to benefit Joe Carr’s fight against cancer – with chefs Todd Duplechan, David Norman, Kevin Fink, and Tavel Bristol-Joseph preparing a great menu of porchetta, wood-fired focaccia pizzas, savory mezze, and delicious desserts…

The Austin Food & Wine Festival returns! The popular festival’s 12th year of food, wine, and spirits – supercharged by top-tier culinary talent from Austin and across the country – will transform Auditorium Shores (900 W. Riverside) into a wonderground of gustatory pleasure and information on the weekend of Nov. 4-5. And we’re telling you early, because this way, you can still score tickets at a reduced price…

Mmmmmm, the rotisserie chicken at Julio's …

And, let’s see – what else, what else? Food Editor Melanie Haupt has a roundup of “Rotisserie Chicken Dinners That’ll Fill Your Belly Without Breaking the Bank”… the new and already acclaimed Yamas Greek Kitchen + Bar (5308 Balcones) has expanded hours for late-night service and is also open on Mondays (4-11pm)… Fierce Whiskers Distillery (5333 Fleming) releases their Contra-Diction gin duo on Sat., Aug. 26… and Bulevar Mexican Kitchen (9400 Arboretum) is celebrating their first anniversary with “with fun specials and surprises” on Thu., Aug. 31… El Naranjo’s latest guest chef dinner features Crabster’s chef Christian Bravo with Yucatán delicacies on Thu., Aug. 31… and, oh my stars and garters, there’ll be a fancy afternoon tea party – with teas, jams, scones, sandwiches, and champagne – at the Neill-Cochran House Museum (2310 San Gabriel) on Sat., Sept. 2, 2-4pm…

WUXTRY! The award-winning Tacos of Texas podcast from Austin’s own KUT & KUTX Studios has returned with a third season in which taco journalist, food explorer, street ethnographer, and podcast host Mando Rayo travels across Texas and Mexico to uncover the stories behind the tacos…

Now eat as well as you can, tip like it’s going out of style, and cut yourself some slack.