Around Town: Central Austin Christmas bar Lala’s Little Nugget sparkles with festive decor year-round. Get the big top treatment at circus-themed Carousel Lounge . Moody Center arena hosts artists from Leon Bridges to Andrea Bocelli. Try Filipino flavors at sports bar Oribello’s , like the ube colada. Play a game of darts at retro neighborhood bar The Golden Horn . There’s something interesting to see in every corner of vintage maximalist Honey Moon Spirit Lounge . Tour the work of a 19th-century sculptor at the Elisabet Ney Museum (reopening summer 2026). Or watch indie film screenings at the Austin Film Society (AFS) Cinema . The Bullock Texas State History Museum spans 12,000 years of Texas heritage and features high-tech exhibits. The Neill-Cochran House Museum maintains both a grand historic home and the original quarters of formerly enslaved people. Sample the gouda stuff at Antonelli’s Cheese Shop or enjoy a tasting in their charming Cheese House . Freshen up your home with sustainable soy candles from Slow North or browse the drought-friendly greenery at Succulent Native . Ethically made clothing at HarperSage is designed for daily wear. Inside a restored post office, Tiny Grocer offers organic produce and pantry staples, while French bistro Bureau de Poste serves classics like steak frites. First Light Books is a bright, sunny haven for readers. ARTS SHOPPING The University of Texas at Austin (UT) boasts numerous exhibition spaces. The Art Galleries at Black Studies showcases the African diaspora. The global Blanton Museum of Art transcends millennia, while its outdoor Butler Sound Gallery shares an audioscape of Texas wildlife. The LBJ Presidential Library & Museum displays White House memorabilia. And the Texas Science & Natural History Museum houses dinosaur fossils and dioramas. Mid-century housewares and decor overflow the shelves at Room Service Vintage . Upgrade your look at Blue Velvet with eclectic vintage clothing. Pre-loved T-shirts and denim at Monkies Vintage and Thrift are perfectly broken in. Sprawling Atown curates local treasures and gifts from Texas vendors. Pick up new and classic albums for your vinyl collection at Breakaway Records . Family-run Black Pearl Books offers a diverse selection of tomes. Explore 50 years of Saturday Night Live television comedy with the recently acquired Lorne Michaels Collection at UT’s Harry Ransom Center , on display through mid-March 2026. BLANTON MUSEUM OF ART Blanton Museum of Art 41