Austin

Thru Aug 24: Concerts in the Park—presented as a “thank you” to the Austin community, these free concerts are back for a sixth summer on the Long Center City Terrace. Aug 3: Big Band (Count Basie, Duke Ellington). Aug 10: Brass Ensemble (pops). Aug 17: Woodwinds/Brass Ensemble (pops). Aug 24: Season Finale (variety). At 7:30. Free. austinsymphony.org

Austin's newest cultural gem—made up of the 2,400-seat Dell Hall and the 80-to-240-seat Rollins Studio Theater—presents its inaugural season. Aug 12: Lyle Lovett—the tall Texan goes on tour for his latest album, It’s Not Big It’s Large. At 8. $38.50-$75. For more performances, go to thelongcenter.org

Aug 1: Dr. John—the legendary pianist, singer, and songwriter performs a medley of blues, boogie-woogie, Dixieland jazz, and rock and roll. At 7 & 9:30. $41-$81. Aug 2: Hiroshima—borrowing from Asian, Latin American, and African American cultures, among others, this band creates a sound that’s completely their own. At 7 & 9:30. $31-$71. Aug 15: Bobby Caldwell—the vocalist and songwriter is famous for his smooth jazz hits like What You Won’t Do For Love. At 7 & 9:30. $31-$71. Aug 29: Paula Poundstone—the comedienne, writer, mother, and regular panelist on NPR’s “Wait Wait...Don’t Tell Me!” quiz show, takes her schtick on the road. At 7 & 9:30. $31-$71. oneworldtheatre.org

Aug 2 at 6:30: Bullet for My Valentine with Bleeding Through and Cancer Bats; $22.50–$25. Aug 5 at 8: Jon McLaughlin with Micah Dalton; $15. Aug 8 at 7: Seether with Red and Safetysuit; $23–$25. Aug 21 at 7: Boy George with Liam and Me; $30 ($28 adv). Aug 23 at 9: Matt Pryor; $10–$12. Aug 24 at 6:30: My Morning Jacket; $36. Aug 27 at 9: The Devil Makes Three; $10 ($8 adv). Aug 30 at 9: Anthony Green $13–$15. stubbsaustin.com

Austin's newest cultural gem—made up of the 2,400-seat Dell Hall and the 80-to-240-seat Rollins Studio Theater—presents its inaugural season. Aug 20-24: The Drowsy Chaperone—all the magic and mayhem of the roaring twenties is captured in this multi-Tony Award–winning musical, in which the audience is brought into the life of a glamorous celebrity bride and her uproarious wedding-day mayhem circa 1928. Call for times. $40-$85. For more performances, go to thelongcenter.org

The Paramount transforms into a movie theater for the summer. Grab your popcorn and Twizzlers to watch some of the best films ever made. This month’s selection includes Vertigo, Gone With the Wind, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and more. $7 (films shown in 70mm $8). For schedule call or go to austintheatre.org.

Peter Pan—whether you’re young or just young at heart, this original adaptation of the beloved fairy-tale is waiting for a few good dreamers. Thru Aug 24. Thur at 10:30 a.m., Sat at 10, Sun at 2. Gen adm $10, children 1-12 $7, 11 months & under free. scottishritetheatre.org

Disney's Beauty and the Beast—Belle, the Beast, Gaston, Lumiere, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts, and the gang teach the child in us all that what truly matters is what’s on the inside. Thru Aug 9. Thur-Sun at sundown (about 8:30). Free.

Thru Aug 17: New American Talent—this all-media competition is open to artists living and working anywhere in the United States. This year’s artists hail from Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Minneapolis, and Chicago, not to mention several Texas cities. Open Tue, Wed & Fri 11–7; Thur 11–9; Sat 10–5; Sun 1–5. Free. arthousetexas.org

Thru Sep 14: Play it by Ear—kids will learn how sound is produced, what makes music, and how we hear in this exhibit. They can also make their own sound art objects and interact with those created by local Austin artists. Open Tue–Sat 10–5, Sun noon–5. Gen adm $5.50, children 12–23 months $3.50, 11 months & under free (Wed 5–8 donate what you can; Sun 4–5 everybody free). austinkids.org

Aug 30–Nov 2: Modern Art, Modern Lives: 19th- and 20th-Century Art From Austin Collections—the merging of art and life is emphasized in this arrangement of paintings by some of the artists who guided modernism’s course. Reexamine the works of Paul Gauguin, Edouard Vuillard, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri Matisse, and Pablo Picasso, among others, and ponder where art ends and life begins; also, Where Are We Going?: Contemporary Artists Address the Issues of the 21st Century—a counterpart to Modern Art, Modern Lives, this exhibit features paintings, sculpture, photographs, prints, and videos (also culled from local collections) that probe the issues of our day. Thru Aug 17: Sol LeWitt: Structure and Line—this two-part exhibit focuses on both the artist’s minimalist and conceptual works and displays his own personal collection of contemporary art. Thru Sep 27: Laguna Gloria Grounded—the twelve green acres of Laguna Gloria that overlook Lake Austin have inspired many to create art, and this exhibit has collected some of it; paintings, drawings, brass sculptures, watercolors, and photographs are on display in the villa of the recently renovated grounds (AMOA-Laguna Gloria, 3809 W. 35th; museum open Tue–Sun 10–4; grounds open Mon–Sat 9–5, Sun 10–5; free, but $3 donation suggested). Open Tue, Wed, Fri & Sat 10–6; Thur 10–8; Sun noon–5. Gen adm $5, senior citizens & students $4 (everybody $1 on Tue), children 12 & under free; first Sat pay what you wish. amoa.org

Thru Aug 17: The Language of Prints—Rembrandt, Goya, Dürer, Lichtenstein, and Matisse are just a few of the big-name artists whose prints are featured in this collection. With a mission to showcase and emphasize the importance of this unique medium, this exhibit offers a crash course for print newbies, but is just as sure to satisfy the seasoned connoisseur. Thru Aug 24: Exquisite Visions of Japan: Prints from the James A. Michener Collection of the Honolulu Academy of Arts—chronicle the cherished art of Japanese woodblock printing from its inception in the seventeenth century and learn about the techniques, processes, and subjects of the medium. The Blanton presents fifty examples, including several ukiyo-e prints depicting images of the “floating world” (everything from landscapes and history to sumo wrestlers and courtesans), from one of the finest collections in the world. Thru Sep 21: Workspace: Fabián Bercic—the artist creates a contemporary reinterpretation of a traditional Zen garden in his site–specific installation. In a critique of consumerism, he recreates the sacred rock garden by replacing its natural elements with synthetic, Day–glo materials. Open Tue–Fri 10–5, Sat 11–5, Sun 1–5 (every third Thur 10–9). Gen adm $7, senior citizens $5, students with ID & youths 13–21 $3, children 12 & under, UT staff, faculty, and students free (Thur everybody free). blantonmuseum.org

Thru Sep 14: Dallas: Power and Passion on Prime-Time TV—relive the summer of “Who shot J.R.?” with this ode to the show that spread Texas fever throughout the world. View props, artifacts loaned from actors ranging from Larry Hagman to Steve Kanaly, scripts, television clips, and recreated environments from the program's fourteen seasons. (Gen adm $7, senior citizens $6, youths 5–18 $4, 4 & under free.) Open Mon–Sat 9–6, Sun noon–6. Gen adm $5.50, senior citizens & military $4.50, youths 5–18 $3, 4 & under free. thestoryoftexas.com

Aug 27-Jul 20: To the Moon: The American Space Program in the 1960s—as Senate majority leader, LBJ co-sponsored the legislation that created NASA. This exhibit honors the centennial of LBJ’s birth and takes a deeper look at the era of the space race. Open daily 9–5. Free. lbjlib.utexas.edu

The world’s biggest one-day running event, this race will be held on the same day in 25 cities that span several continents. Austin runners will be treated to a post-race concert by Ben Harper. Aug 31. Race at 6:30, concert at 8:30. For prices & registration go to nikeplus.com.

It’s hot outside: Eat ice cream (as if you needed an excuse). And while you’re at it, take in live entertainment, games, activities, and contests (everything from eating ice cream to building popsicle stick sculptures to screaming). Aug 9 from 10 to 7. Gen adm $2, children 12 & under free. icecreamfestival.org

Musicians aside, there’s nothing Austin cherishes more than its Mexican Free Tail bats. So go ahead and honor the winged mammals with a day of live music, carnival rides, bridge bungee jumping, and, of course, watching the city’s most popular residents as they flutter to and from their roost under the Ann Richards Congress Avenue Bridge. Aug 30 & 31. Sat 2-midnight, Sun 2-10. $5. roadwayevents.com

This Sustainable Food Center project features fresh, locally grown produce and flowers, eco-friendly products, occasional chef demonstrations, children’s activities, and live music, now at two locations. Open Sat 9–1 (Republic Square, 4th & Guadalupe) & Wed 3–7 (Triangle Park, 46th between Guadalupe & Lamar). Free. austinfarmersmarket.org

Austin’s oldest building on its original site and the Republic of Texas’s only foreign diplomatic outpost, the legation was built in 1841 for French charge d’affaires Alphonse Dubois de Saligny. Open Tue–Sun 1–5 (last tour at 4). Gen adm $5, senior citizens $3, students & teachers $2. frenchlegationmuseum.org

The center’s expansive grounds feature courtyards and landscaped gardens showcasing native Texas plants. Aug 30-Oct 12: Bruce Tinch Art & Photography Exhibit—Caddo Lake, Lady Bird Johnson’s childhood playground, comes alive in the renowned artist’s brushstrokes and photographic images. Thru Aug 16: Butterfly Portraits Beyond Scale—while taking in the aroma of the center’s flowers, be sure to check out this ode to colorful pollinators. Featured in this exhibit are more than 25 transparent watercolor paintings of the winged wonders by Texas artist L. Ray. Open Tue–Sat 9–5:30, Sun noon–5:30. Gen adm $7; senior citizens & students $6; children 5–12 $3; 4 & under and Wildflower Center members free. wildflower.org

The statehouse, dedicated in 1888, was completely restored in 1994. Open Mon–Fri 7 a.m. –10 p.m., Sat & Sun 9–8. Free tours Mon–Fri 8:30–4:30, Sat 9:30–3:30, Sun noon–4 (call ahead for groups of 10 or more).

The Capitol Visitors Center (11th & Brazos, 512-305-8400), located in the 1857 General Land Office Bldg, houses historical exhibits. Open Mon–Sat 9–5, Sun noon–5. Free.