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Thief, accused assassin, gambler, carouser, and star of the stage. Mary Frith – better known to her adoring fans and infuriated sheriffs as Moll Cutpurse – was the toast of Elizabethan London. There was not a taboo she would not bust, and her raucous ways made her a celebrity whose exploits were so scandalous that she had not one but two contemporary plays written about her. Now Archive Theater Company brings her story to Austin’s newest stage with a staged and costumed reading of the new work by Kathleen Fletcher, directed by Trace Turner. – Richard Whittaker

In a recent post to her Substack Sicc Palette, chef Deepa Shridhar described the metaphor-rich process of soaking saffron for hyderabadi biryani: “You just gotta let it soak, give it the time it deserves to be a force to be reckoned with, saffron will permeate and collaborate with facile joy at every layer.” Similar description could be applied to our local creative crew at Future Front, who have over the years permeated and collaborated with myriad layers of Austin artists to make for a flavorful, well, future. Shridhar helps FFTX secure that future by serving as curator to their Art Dinner, a multi-course meal influenced by South Indian & Texan flavors. You’ve got three chances to snag a plate of Gulf shrimp sukka, Texas root masala & grilled cheese kolaches, chili citrus & Texas sesame quail, or pecan pie with burnt jaggery gelato – plus natural wine pairings, a tour of FFTX’s gallery, and a satisfied sense you’ve helped a cool org stay alive. – James Scott

Taylor Davis might have the coolest job description I’ve ever heard. She’s an independent curator (dream) and a landscape designer. So basically, she finds beauty in everything she touches. For “Bending Light,” Davis has accumulated work by four BIPOC artists, multidisciplinary masters “illuminating the nuanced experiences and collective memories of queerness and femininity in Black cultural production,” to quote the exhibit description. A weighty task, but one the artists – Kaima Marie Akarue, Ciara Elle Bryant, Catherine Martinez, and Chandrika Metivier – pull off with fascinating aplomb. Through mediums including but not limited to sculpture, video, collage, and photos, the viewer glimpses unique experiences. It’s a fresh reflection of this world. – Cat McCarrey

The team behind Boner Bizarre has long drawn on pop culture for their “guerrilla-style” erotic variety shows; past events have channeled David Cronenberg, American Horror Story, and Stanley Kubrick. Naturally, the logical choice for the program’s next freaky, irreverent theme is Woodstock ’99: the disastrous display of nü metal that quickly devolved into an even more disastrous display of toxic masculinity. Fortunately, unlike that infamous music festival, all of the pole dancing, contortion, fire breathing, and fetish play you’ll witness at Bonerstock is consensual, so you can shout along to “Break Stuff” in peace. – Carys Anderson

Aphrodite, the goddess of love, is a picture both alluring and tragic. Her beauty lures you in, but can be deadly. The VORTEX presents her acolytes in artistic burlesque, movement set to Homeric and Orphic hymns praising Aphrodite and her son Eros. Blaise Ricin, resident artist and artistic director for occult burlesque Malum Malus, creates a lush world of dangerous romance. He’s taking cues from the gilded, murky dreamscape of 1971 arthouse film Pink Narcissus, a queer landmark marrying the pure and the profane. Here, Ricin has created a rich fantasy world with an edge. – Cat McCarrey

One of Austin’s best programming spaces with over 400 exhibitions & performances under their belt hits the ripe ol’ age of 16 – finally old enough for their driver’s license! Join their birthday bash and help them hit their fundraising goals through snapping up a sliding-scale ticket. Party excitements include a look at their summer-group exhibition “Inter Being,” tunes from p1nkstar and Tropicana Joe, a karaoke stage, water balloons, Clay Pigeon cuisine, and many sippables provided by Austin Beerworks, LALO Tequila, and Richard’s Rainwater. But, uh, no actual 16-year-olds at the bar, okay? Just the ones who are actually local organizations. – James Scott

It’s the second coming of surrealism at Ivester Contemporary. Josias Figueirido aptly updates the legacy of Dalí and Chagall with his vivid dreamscapes. His exhibit presents spirit guides Piri the Dreamer and Flying Coyote in increasingly absurd settings, smoothly bubbled characters possessing hypnotic shininess. Paintings of them hang in eerily vivid flashe paint, existing harmoniously beside their animated counterpoints in an immersive, interactive reality. It’s the wondrous love child of Cartoon Network and modernism. You don’t want to miss it.: – Cat McCarrey

Hang 10 among fellow freaks and geeks of the fearsome variety: Host Owie invites all the girls, guys, and ghouls to this summerween drag showcase. Riding the sunny specter wave is a primo lineup featuring Jack Rabid, Yvonna F. Mei, Bohemia, Sinful Purchase, and DJ Lavender Thug. But don’t think the audience is missing out on the gothy fun. Attendees can enter the costume contest in their freak-out finery for a fabulous prize. So throw on your best Elvira-in-100-degree-weather outfit and get down to Dub Trub. The water – and the summer cocktail menu – is fine… – James Scott

Jhené Aiko crashed through the music scene like a whisper on the breeze: a soft-voiced chanteuse whose lyrics belie a very seasoned wisdom, novel as they sometimes can seem. But love is a novel thing that some millennia later poets still haven’t captured and scientists can’t quantify. Aiko makes her way to the Moody Center and brings her cool allure and captivating soprano to an audience of admirers. She’s joined by Coi Leray, Tink, UMI, and Kiana Ledé, rounding out a captivating lineup. The whole Moody Center’s about to smell like shea butter, tea tree oil, and sativa. – Cy White

San Antonio boy Joe Jiménez sets the page alight with his new young adult novel, which hits a lighter tone than his Hamlet-esque debut, Bloodline. In Hot Boy Summer, freshly out Texan teen Mac struggles to find his place and let go of shame while making new gay friends who both help and complicate his journey. Author Sandra Cisneros (The House on Mango Street) showers effusive praise on the coming-of-gayge book, calling it “[hotter] than a Jalapeño Whataburger with spicy ketchup and Cholula.” Celebrate the release of what’s sure to be a queer summertime classic with the author at BookPeople, where you can get a signed copy. – James Scott

“A lusty, self-written, one-woman oration on female sexual discovery, exploration, and empowerment.” That’s what we called Katie Folger’s one-woman show about dating in the pandemic when she debuted it in May 2023 at Crashbox. A year later, with a sellout L.A. run, a Best of Austin win for best actress, and a rave review from Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls podcast, now she’s bringing her raunchy memoir back for her hometown audiences. Make sure you’re in your seat early Friday and Saturday for a special comedy opening set from the hilarious Stef Dag. – Richard Whittaker

It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing, and in this case the “it” is “art.” Boogie-woogie up to the Blanton for a Second Saturday Swing-stravaganza. With live music from the Golden Hour Heptet – honestly, the sax doesn’t get better than them – and swing lessons for the uninitiated, it’s boppin’ music and moves against the Blanton’s exciting exhibits. Lindy Hop your way to the slick fashions of the “De Moda” regalia show, or West Coast Slide to West Coast artist Marie Watt’s jingle dress-inspired installations. At least enjoy the “Let’s Dance” pop-up exhibit. Inspiration and toe-tapping? Ideal. – Cat McCarrey

Over 13 years slinging first editions, signed copies, and more from their literary haven on SoCo – now shifted to the equally iconic Kerbey Lane – and South Congress Books remains That Girl for the serious bibliophile. Most of the bookstore’s staff have been with ’em since the start, soaking up mondo knowledge about all the tomes tucked within. Stop in to celebrate later in the evening as there’ll be drinks and music from 6-8pm – but the real ones will be cruising SCB’s shelves all day to score primo print for a whopping 13% off. That’s one percent off for every lovely year they’ve been around. – James Scott

Hot Girl Summer never left, especially not when DJ Bad Apple has brought back this five-hour freak fest for “the BADDEST GWORLS IN TOWN.” DJs and honorary “hot girl coaches” MajestyofDivinity, Orya, and Hyperfemme (HTX) play tunes to win a twerk contest to.