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A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Austin. Written by Nicole Cobler and Asher Price.

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"Spy Kids" has returned to Austin, more than two decades after the first box office hit.

What's happening: "Spy Kids: Armageddon," the latest installment in the Robert Rodriguez-produced series will be available on Netflix beginning Friday.

The movie was shot in Austin in the summer of 2022.

Catch up quick: The original Austin-made trilogy follows two kids, Carmen (Alexa PenaVega) and June (Daryl Sabara), as they become spies like their parents Gregorio (Antonio Banderas) and Ingrid Cortez (Carla Gugino).

The new young heroes unwittingly help a powerful game developer unleash a computer virus that gives him control of all technology.

The duo must become spies themselves to save their parents (Gina Rodriguez and Zachary Levi) — and the world.

What they're saying: "My own kids, who were in the original films, are now old enough to appreciate it even more, and they tell me anecdotally how much their friends still talk about how much that movie meant to them," Robert Rodriguez said in a statement. "So it seemed like a really full-circle time to bring the series back."

The intrigue: Rodriguez was born and raised in San Antonio and now resides in Austin, where his production company Troublemaker Studios is based.

One more connection: Austin Classical Guitar has added an arrangement of the original trilogy's music to its GuitarCurriculum program.

Dig deeper: What else is new on streaming

"Spy Kids" returns to Austin over two decades later

The movie was shot in Austin in summer 2022.

Photo: Courtesy of Robert Rodriguez/Netflix

&quot;Spy Kids&quot; has returned to Austin, more than two decades after the first box office hit.What&#x27;s happening: &quot;Spy Kids: Armageddon,&quot; the latest installment in the Robert Rodriguez-produced series will be available on Netflix beginning Friday.

Things to Do

News

Though the temperatures don't match up, fall begins this weekend.

And there's lots going on around the area.

🎃 The Dripping Springs Pumpkin Festival hosts its grand opening weekend at the Dr. Pound Historical Farmstead. The festival will run for six weekends, featuring games, food, drink, a pumpkin patch and more.

This weekend has a "Scarecrow Disco," and visitors are encouraged to dress up. $15 admission.

🏈 UT Tailgate Watch Party for the Baylor game at Skinny's Off Track Bar,  6:30pm on Saturday featuring free hot dogs, $4 Frito pie and $3 tallboys. 

🎭 The Screwtape Letters has its run at Texas Performing Arts with matinee and evening performances daily through Sunday.

🎸 The iconic Pat Benatar and musician-producer Neil Giraldo take the stage at ACL Live at the Moody Theater at 8pm Saturday.

🍻 Oktoberfest comes to St. Elmo Brewing Co. from 1-8pm Saturday, featuring the Austin Polka Band, a stein hoisting competition and German food.

🎶 The Bastrop Music Festival is happening all weekend, with a combination of 40 free and ticketed shows.   

✨ Austin's Five Star Drag Brunch is at The Courtyard ATX on Sunday. Brunch starts at noon, show starts at 1:30pm.

What to do this weekend in Austin

Neil Giraldo and Pat Benatar at the iHeartRadio Music Awards in March. Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic via Getty

Though the temperatures don&#x27;t match up, fall begins this weekend.<ul><li>And there&#x27;s lots going on around the area.</li></ul>

Newcomers

Asleep at the Wheel frontman Ray Benson won't tell you the biggest moment in "Austin City Limits'" history.

"Every moment was big," explained Benson, who recently finished hosting a new series on the Circle Network called "Austin City Limits: Country."

What's happening:  The series began airing Sept. 6 and features exclusive performances, including iconic shows with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Trisha Yearwood, Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton, Turnpike Troubadours, Tammy Wynette, Toby Keith and more legends.

Each performance is paired with intimate interviews, and Benson comments on his favorite moments.

What they're saying: In a world of YouTube and streaming, Benson said the show is another chance for younger audiences to rediscover music.

In fact, most Americans are listening to older music, according to 2022 data from music analytics firm MRC Data, which found that old songs represent 70% of the U.S. music market.

"It's a real paradigm shift in the way Americans access music," Benson tells Axios.

"It's nice to see Circle take one corner of 'Austin City Limits' … and showcase it for everybody to see," he added.

Be smart: Benson, who has appeared on "Austin City Limits" 13 times with Asleep at the Wheel, said his favorite performance on the iconic show was with Willie Nelson in 2009 for their Willie and the Wheel episode.

Asleep at the Wheel's Ray Benson (L) performs with Willie Nelson on "Austin City Limits." Photo: Courtesy of Circle Network

"Willie and the Wheel was a very special project, and we went and did the 'Austin City Limits' show," he said, adding that he got to sing "Pancho and Lefty" with Nelson.

The pair have been friends for decades. Nelson taped the pilot for "Austin City Limits" in 1976, and the first show of the series featured Benson and Asleep at the Wheel.

What's next: Catch Benson and the rest of the Asleep at the Wheel crew at Austin City Limits Music Festival, where they've performed nearly every year since its inception.

"This year will be very special because I'll have my friends Brennen Leigh and Joshua Hedley and a big band," Benson said.

Spoiler alert: They'll kick things off with "Miles and Miles of Texas" — as they do every year.

Ray Benson hosts "Austin City Limits: Country"

Asleep at the Wheel's Ray Benson. Photo: Courtesy of Circle Network

Asleep at the Wheel frontman Ray Benson won&#x27;t tell you the biggest moment in &quot;Austin City Limits&#x27;&quot; history.<ul><li>&quot;Every moment was big,&quot; explained Benson, who recently finished hosting a new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="series on the Circle Network" data-vars-click-url="https://www.circleallaccess.com/circle-network-announce-new-season-of-austin-city-limits-country-featuring-curated-performances-and-never-before-seen-interviews-from-miranda-lambert-chris-stapleton-turnpike-troubadours/" data-vars-content-id="4c694c81-bede-4366-a875-390e92e06cc9" data-vars-headline="Ray Benson hosts &quot;Austin City Limits: Country&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.circleallaccess.com/circle-network-announce-new-season-of-austin-city-limits-country-featuring-curated-performances-and-never-before-seen-interviews-from-miranda-lambert-chris-stapleton-turnpike-troubadours/" target="_blank">series on the Circle Network</a> called &quot;Austin City Limits: Country.&quot;</li></ul>

Music

That's not fall foliage you're seeing. Brown and red canopies across Austin are a sign of trees under stress amid an exceptional drought.

Why it matters: Severe drought can have a long-term impact on trees, and we won't fully understand the damage caused by this summer's drought for another year or two, experts say.

What they're saying: The summer's extreme heat and low rainfall have taken their toll, said Jonathan Motsinger, Central Texas operations department head for the Texas A&M Forest Service.

"Trees are changing, but not necessarily for the better," Motsinger tells Axios.

What's happening: Some of the trees that are turning brown won't survive, but others will drop their leaves early to cut off nutrients to conserve water.

For example, bald cypress trees typically need to be in a wet environment and will drop their leaves in harsh conditions.

Meanwhile, non-native trees are especially prone to stress, according to Motsinger.

The big picture: Beyond this summer's drought, extreme weather in recent years has put Central Texas trees under tremendous stress.

"We had a drought at the end of last summer and into the winter. Then we had the ice storm that came through," Motsinger said. "Our trees are really suffering from just one thing on top of another."

A tree toppled over power lines on Feb. 1, 2023 in Austin. Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Be smart: Even under water restrictions, you can help your trees by watering once a week.

Run a soaker hose or just a watering hose turned on low while moving it around under the canopy.

"Slow, deep watering" is key, Motsinger said. "Just running a yard water sprinkler for a half an hour isn't going to provide the kind of water a tree needs."

A 5-gallon bucket with holes drilled in the bottom can also help trees soak up water, Motsinger said.

Plus: Know the signs of a dead tree, which should be removed as soon as possible for safety. Some examples include:

Bark that's sloughing off, cracking or peeling.

Bores in the bark and sawdust at the base of the tree, which could be caused by insects coming into a dead or severely stressed tree.

Woodpecker damage to the trees in conjunction with bores or peeling bark.

Of note: "Sometimes it's best to wait until next spring to see what happens," Motsinger added. "Trees are resilient. A lot of times they surprise us."

What's next: National Weather Service forecasters said yesterday there is some hope for increased rain chances this weekend and into next week, but the drought is likely to continue for several months.

Central Texas trees stressed amid drought

The summer's extreme heat and low rainfall have taken their toll.

Sad trees along the Latta Branch Greenbelt. Photo: Nicole Cobler/Axios

That&#x27;s not fall foliage you&#x27;re seeing. Brown and red canopies across Austin are a sign of trees under stress <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="amid an exceptional drought" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2023/08/25/austin-driest-summer-since-1910-drought" data-vars-content-id="59ecd61b-e09a-4f0d-b4b4-7373c1b9e6fa" data-vars-headline="Central Texas trees stressed amid drought" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2023/08/25/austin-driest-summer-since-1910-drought" target="_self">amid an exceptional drought</a>.Why it matters: Severe drought can have a long-term impact on trees, and we won&#x27;t fully understand the damage caused by this summer&#x27;s drought for another year or two, experts say.

Climate

In Congregation Beth Israel's new prayer space, light shines through brightly-colored stained glass.

Hanging in the center is the Ner Tamid — the eternal light, or sanctuary lamp — created with glass ribbons in every color of the rainbow, curving like flames toward the ceiling.

Why it matters: The stained glass is a reminder of the congregation's former sanctuary, which a man set fire to in 2021.

It will be on display Saturday when Beth Israel hosts its first in-person services at the campus for the Jewish High Holy Days since 2019.

Details: The stained glass windows previously hung above the doors of the former sanctuary, and broken pieces of the glass were collected after the fire to create the Ner Tamid.

What they're saying: "This piece, which was moved from the broken shards from this fire to replicate flames, really showcases the persistence of the Jewish people," Rabbi Kelly Levy tells Axios. "It's a reminder of what happened, but more so a reminder that we've come this far and we continue to persist."

Congregation Beth Israel's Ner Tamid, or Eternal Flame, hangs in the center of the new prayer room. Photo: Nicole Cobler/Axios

Catch up quick: The pandemic halted in-person services through 2020 and much of 2021. In October 2021, days before Congregation Beth Israel was set to return to in-person worship, a 20-year-old man set fire to the sanctuary.

In April, the man pleaded guilty to two federal charges for arson and a hate crime causing damage to a religious property.

What happened: The arson caused over $250,000 worth of damage to the 70-year-old building.

Plus, smoke damage and asbestos have led to code issues, and "if we were to simply go back into that space, just to rebuild as it is … it would require several million dollars," according to executive director Jake Cohen.

The new prayer space, which was formerly the social hall, will be used until the congregation decides how to rebuild the overall campus.

Between the lines: Antisemitic incidents are on the rise across the country, and Texas ranks fifth for hate against Jewish people, according to an audit by the Anti-Defamation League.

Austin hate crimes jumped nearly 60% in 2022, according to a report by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino.

Congregation Beth Israel installed bullet-resistant glass, film over the windows and key code locks on doors and it keeps security guards onsite when people are in the building, according to former president Laura Corman, who spearheaded the renovation of the social hall.

What's next: Friday marks the start of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, and Beth Israel will hold a sold-out service Saturday.

Congregation Beth Israel heals after arson

Stained glass saved from the fire is on display in the new sanctuary.

The sanctuary repurposed original stained glass into art for its new prayer space.Photo: Nicole Cobler/Axios

In Congregation Beth Israel&#x27;s new prayer space, light shines through brightly-colored stained glass.<ul><li>Hanging in the center is the Ner Tamid — the eternal light, or sanctuary lamp — created with glass ribbons in every color of the rainbow, curving like flames toward the ceiling.</li></ul>

Nicole Cobler

Featured stories

What to do this weekend in Austin

Central Texas trees stressed amid drought

Ray Benson hosts "Austin City Limits: Country"

"Spy Kids" returns to Austin over two decades later

Congregation Beth Israel heals after arson