🤠Austin, TX Events: August 16–August 21, 2026
Upcoming events · August 16 – August 21, 2026
Hey Austin! Here's your weekly roundup of the best events happening in our city this week. We've got an incredible mix — live music, outdoor adventures, arts and culture, and of course great food. Get out there and enjoy it! P.S. I'm traveling to Washington, D.C. this week — we just launched an events site there too. Check it out: dc.eventcarpooling.com 🏛️
AI Ethics
Responsible technology should make digital experiences easier to use, support real-world connection, and be built around the people it serves. This week, I’m connecting those ideas to my website rebuild, a story about community builders, a sports-tech hackathon, and questions about AI systems accessing website content.
- Improving the local events guide for a better user experience — I’m improving the site so finding local events feels clearer and easier. Want an event page for your city? — Make a request; customization is also considered for each city.
- The Rise of the IRL Influencer — Nancy Walecki on community builders bringing people together offline.
- Spurs² Hackathon @ UT Austin — I’m participating in a hackathon with the San Antonio Spurs and partners to build AI-powered sports media tools.
- Food for thought: Are destination websites okay with mass-scale data scraping by AI personal assistants? — Meta updates data-scraping policy following criticism — The revised terms leave questions about how business websites can control automated access to their content. Websites are closing their doors to AI agents — The report shows that sites are blocking agents over licensing, control, and security concerns, so agents’ ability to act for users depends on website permission.
Upcoming events
Business spotlight
BookPeople
Austin’s beloved independent bookstore since 1970 — the largest indie bookstore in Texas. 6,000 sq ft of curated titles, local author events, and staff picks you won’t find anywhere else.
Community spotlight
Keep Austin Beautiful
The nonprofit behind Austin's cleanest parks and trails — community cleanups, tree planting, and environmental education. 100% volunteer-powered.
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