Happy Friday, New Braunfels. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let New Braunfels Brief serve up everything you need to know for the weekend ahead.

📰 In the news

Local happenings: Local school districts keep earning straight Bs, a new bistro prepares to join city dining, and a key Cow Creek bridge has reopened — catch up here.

State-level stories: White Castle opens first Texas location, Yellowstone stars gather in Ferris for a Rio Palo spinoff, and Texas high schools among the nation’s best — see what else is brewing.

National headlines: Previously hacked data repository relaunches, ramen packs recalled over missing soy warning, and crypto markets tumble on inflation fears — peruse the best of the rest.

Highlights this week

• Enjoy colorful stories, songs, shapes, and crafts
• Explore free holistic healing at Mystic Market
• Join Native Plant Society talks Monday
• Discover holistic healing and metaphysical wisdom
• Sip coffee while shopping local vendors
• This home warranty is 50% off until 8/24

🫶 We got your back

Wellness: In New Braunfels, these yoga studios serve up the perfect mix of zen and energy, from candlelit flows to heart-pumping vinyasa.

Taxes: Zero state income tax sounds great until property bills and sneaky hotel fees land in your mailbox. Check out our Texas tax guide for the real numbers.

Kitchen: Skip the $800 monster machines that could probably blend your iPhone and the $30 lumps that choke on ice. Our 2025 blender guide cuts through the hype so you get a blender that actually works without leaving you $200 poorer.

Chocolatier: From silky truffles to bars you’ll 100% hide in the back of the pantry (sorry, not sorry), Gourmage is here to fuel your cocoa-fueled happiness. Just remember: sharing is optional, and “just one piece” is a myth.

Home: Many homeowners have no idea they’re sitting on thousands in equity they can use to redo their bathroom, kitchen, or whatever their hearts desire. This free equity loan comparison tool can help you find the best fit and get started on the right foot.

👀 Why just read it when you could be in it?

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📆 Around town this weekend

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

Today

🎤 Darci Carlson @ High Cotton Texas Tavern | Friday (8/22) at 7:00pm – Clear your couch obligations and treat your ears to Darci Carlson’s free show. Expect soul-baring lyrics, finger-picked guitar, and a few jokes about small-town living as authentic as your neighbor’s overly enthusiastic garden gnomes. Bring a friend, or just brag about it later.

🎧 Eninety3 @ The Phoenix Saloon | Friday (8/22) at 8:30pm – Dusting off your old flannel stash, we’re diving into the raw riffs, tongue-in-cheek angst, and moody vocals of ’90s grunge and alt-rock. Local bands revive every power chord, spiced with nostalgia for the ’90s alt-rock scene. No judgment on your air-guitar skills.

This weekend

🎸 Austin Gilliam @ Gruene Hall | Saturday (8/23) at 11:30am – Think you’ve heard every local twanger’s song? This mountain-bearded, 6’5” Texas lifer blends grunge riffs, rock swagger, and country soul while finally dropping his pandemic-inspired singles “Brother” and “Buying Time.” Grab a cold one, soak up some honest-to-goodness Americana rock.

🎻 Warren Hood @ The Redbird Listening Room | Saturday (8/23) at 7:30pm – Skip the porch playlists and opt for live fiddle firepower with Warren Hood, cheeky tales, and soul-quaking solos. BYOB with a ten-dollar cover, or let Huisache Grill spoil you with Ramblers, coffee, and charcuterie plates. Pretend you’re back in Austin.

🔥 Fire Away “Heart, Pat Benatar & Ladies of Rock” @ Watering Hole Saloon | Saturday (8/23) at 9:00pm – The Watering Hole Saloon’s big dance hall goes full-on Heart and Pat Benatar tribute, so belting “Barracuda” and “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” won’t have your neighbors dialing 911. Ten bucks, icy Lone Stars, Texas vodka, and air-conditioned dancing await.

🌽 Farmers Market @ 13 Trees Coffee Haus | Sunday (8/24) at 9:00am – Kick back and pretend your to-do list is a cultural expedition at the 13 Trees Coffee Haus market, where you can snag a hot brew, farm-fresh produce, and pottery as beautiful as it is unique. Live tunes included, guilt-free artisan cheese optional.

📚 Literary Flow – Yoga for Book Lovers @ New Braunfels Library | Sunday (8/24) at 3:30pm – Nothing says weekend bliss like downward dog in the stacks at our beloved library. Kaislie Shepherd’s gentle flow welcomes everyone from rookies to yoga fanatics, just bring your mat, your favorite paperback, and your tendency to judge your own Chaturanga.

🏄‍♂️ Kainoa @ Iron Horse Grill | Sunday (8/24) at 5:00pm – Kainoa is dropping his signature reggae-reggaeton-rock blend with a brass section that hits harder than our freeway potholes. The El Paso native who’s jammed with Pepper and Fortunate Youth is your ticket to a laid-back night of cheeky rhythms and island vibes.

Next week

🌱 New Braunfels Chapter-Native Plant Society of Texas @ New Braunfels Library | Monday (8/25) at 5:30pm – Guest speakers from our New Braunfels chapter of the Native Plant Society are taking the mic to share praiseworthy tips for low-water landscapes. It’s part garden therapy, part local gossip session, and the perfect alibi for postponing your own lawn chores.

📖 Preschool Storytime @ New Braunfels Library | Tuesday (8/26) at 9:30am – If your little one scribbles more than the city council, swing by the local library’s storytime for 3-to-5 year-olds. We’ll untangle letters, stage dramatic readings, and sneak in fingerplays. It’s laid-back literacy, plus your next look-at-my-clever-kid boast.

👶 Toddler Time @ New Braunfels Library | Tuesday (8/26) at 10:30am – Whether your tiny human is stage-ready or still tossing toys off shelves, the library’s toddler story-and-song hour has you covered. Shakers, scarf dances, rhymes, and a cuddle-circle finale, enough wiggle wrangling to make you nostalgic for nap time.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 8/22 Gus Clark @ Tacos y Tequila – 6:30 pm
• 8/22 Kristen Foreman @ The Weighted Plate – 7 pm
• 8/22 Cody Widner Band @ Freiheit – 7:30 pm
• 8/22 Jack Ingram @ Gruene Hall – 8 pm
• 8/23 Tony Taylor @ Krause’s Biergarten – 10 am
• 8/23 Colton’s Kin @ Krause’s Biergarten – 2 pm
• 8/24 Carol Elliott @ Unity of New Braunfels – 10:15 am
• 8/24 Dean Paul Willeford @ Gruene Light Bar – 11 am
• 8/24 Taylor Campbell Band @ Krause’s Biergarten – 11 am

🏠️ Price is right – New Braunfels edition

How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).

Listed by: Shelby Renfeld (Keller Williams Heritage)

Stone accents, chunky wooden beams, and two fireplaces crank up the curb appeal and cozy factor in this 3,856-square-foot Hill Country stunner. The chef’s kitchen is primed for culinary showdowns with custom cabinetry, stone counters, and a massive island. Four bedrooms, three full baths, and two half baths mean plenty of space for guests or just spreading out. The primary suite brings spa vibes with a walk-in shower, dual vanities, and a closet that could double as a dressing room.

Movie nights get an upgrade in the dedicated media room, but the real party happens outside. Resort-style pool? Check. Swim-up barstools, sun ledge, and a spa? Absolutely. Multiple patios, a gazebo, and an outdoor kitchen keep the good times rolling. Car collectors and RV adventurers will appreciate a 1,512-square-foot drive-through garage and workshop, plus a four-car garage for all the toys. Vintage Oaks amenities and lush, private landscaping seal the deal.

Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →