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This is a packed week. The Smithville Fly-In returns to the airfield on Saturday after a spring rain pushed it from its original date, La Cultura Market brings 40+ vendors and live music to Elgin's Veterans Memorial Park that same evening, and on Sunday afternoon the Lost Pines Art Center hosts its annual Spring Gala in downtown Bastrop. Friday night the Ben Zuniga Trio plays Neighbor's Kitchen & Yard and Salt Flat Blvd. closes out Music in the Park. And we're spotlighting two storefronts you'll want to know about | one in Bastrop where a husband-and-wife team is hand-folding crepes from a Michoacán love story, and one in Elgin where a 124-year-old cigar mural sat hidden behind plaster until a film crew happened to find it.
Let's dig in. 🗓️
☕ Featured Business of the Week | Tecuen
Crepes, popsicles, and Chiapas coffee | Bastrop, Texas
Tecuen (pronounced teh-KWEN) is the kind of place that feels like it belongs in a small Mexican village square, except it's tucked into Burleson Crossing right off Highway 71. Owners Emanuel Pena and Yuri Corral opened the doors on August 17, 2024. Emanuel Pena told Community Impact in 2024 that the name comes from Tecuena, a tiny island on Lake Pátzcuaro in their home state of Michoacán, where he and his wife Yuri spent their dating years. In their dialect, the word means good honey.
That's exactly what you'll find inside | scratch-made paletas, hand-folded sweet and savory crepes, and espresso pulled from 100% Arabica beans grown in Chiapas, Mexico. There's a children's play area in view of the seating, which makes it the rare coffee shop where parents actually get to drink their coffee hot.
What to order:
🥞 Berry Blossom crepe | vanilla mascarpone, housemade berry jam, edible blossoms ($12.50)
🥞 Salmon Serrano crepe | smoked salmon, mushrooms, spicy cream cheese ($13.50)
🍦 Strawberry & Hibiscus paleta | a Tecuen signature ($3.50)
☕ Mexican Chocolate | cinnamon-spiced hot chocolate, their other signature
❄️ Horchata Frappe ($8)
"It is important to us to do everything with care."
Visit Tecuen 📍 717 State Hwy 71 W, Suite 600, Bastrop, TX 78602 📞 (512) 316-6909 🗓️ Tue–Sat 8am–7pm | Sun 9am–3pm | Closed Mon 🌐 tecuen.com | 📷 @tecuenpops | 👍 Facebook
🦉 Storefront Spotlight | The Owl Wine Bar & Home Goods | Elgin
Worth the drive to Elgin this week.
When Molly Alexander moved to Elgin in 1990 to become the city's second-ever Main Street Manager, a film crew was shooting a movie called In Broad Daylight on Main Street. While they were prepping a shot, a hidden mural was uncovered behind decades of plaster — a fully intact 1901 advertisement for Owl Cigars that had been sealed inside the wall for nearly ninety years.
Molly never forgot it. In 2012 she opened The Owl Wine Bar & Home Goods in that same building and named the shop after the mural that started it all. Today it's part wine bar, part curated home goods store. You can sip a glass while you browse a vintage console table. They've also been recognized by Main Street America with a HartBeat of Main Street grant for the work they do anchoring downtown Elgin.
"If we weren't willing to invest in downtown retail, who would?"
Visit The Owl 📍 106 N Main St, Elgin, TX 78621 📞 (512) 285-3547 🗓️ Mon–Wed 12pm–9pm | Thu–Fri 12pm–11pm | Sat 10am–11pm | Sun 12pm–5pm 🌐 elginowl.com | 📷 @elginowlstore | 👍 Facebook
The Free Tech Newsletter That Readers NEVER Skip
Your uncle forwards you sketchy tech articles. Your coworker won't stop talking about AI taking everyone's jobs. And you're stuck Googling the same five questions every week.
The Current is a daily tech newsletter written by Kim Komando that helps you stay up to date on AI, tech, and trends in about 5 minutes a day.
Each morning she breaks down what’s happening in tech so you can quickly understand what matters without digging through a bunch of different questionable sources.
In each issue you’ll find things like:
Important AI updates
Useful tech tips
How to avoid the latest scams
It’s a simple read designed to help you eliminate the hours you probably spend Googling the same 5 tech questions
🗓️ Bastrop County Events | May 14 – 20, 2026
Thursday, May 14
🤝 B.E.S.T. Countywide Chamber Mixer | 5:30–7pm | Spiderwood Studios, 140 Utley Rd Bldg B, Elgin | The Bastrop, Elgin, and Smithville Chambers join forces for the annual joint networking night. Food and fellowship. Register
🏛️ Interpretive Center Open | 12:30pm | Bastrop State Park, 100 Park Rd 1A | Step inside the new educational exhibits at the historic Golf Shelter. TPWD
🧶 Fiber Arts & Friends | 10am–12pm | Elgin Public Library, 404 N Main St | Bring your knit, crochet, or stitching project. All skill levels welcome. Library calendar
🎲 Game Day | 10–11am | Elgin Public Library | Board games, card games, and friendly family competition. Library calendar
💻 Coding Club | 6–7pm | Elgin Public Library | Build projects, solve challenges, make tech magic. Library calendar
💬 It's Not Your Fault | Peer Support Group | 6–7pm | Elgin Public Library | Caring, judgment-free weekly group led by EPL's Peer Support Specialist James Baily. Library calendar
Friday, May 15
🎶 Elgin Music in the Park | Salt Flat Blvd. | 7–9pm | Veterans Memorial Park, 109 Depot St, Elgin | Free outdoor concert. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. Food trucks on-site. Music in the Park
🎸 Ben Zuniga Trio | Live Music | 7pm | Neighbor's Kitchen & Yard, Bastrop | Live music on the patio Friday night. Neighbor's
🦋 Family Nature Quest | 10:30am | McKinney Roughs Nature Park, 1884 Hwy 71 W, Cedar Creek | Guided nature play for families. $10/person. LCRA Parks
🎬 Family Movie Night | 6:30–8pm | Elgin Public Library | Third-Friday family movie with popcorn and drinks. Library calendar
🎥 Friday Film | Afternoon Matinee | 2–4pm | Elgin Public Library | Afternoon movie with popcorn at the library. Library calendar
💪 Fit & Strong! | 10:30am–12pm | Elgin Recreation Center, 361 N Hwy 95 | Group activity program for arthritis. Pre-registration required. Rec Center
🌟 Saturday, May 16 | The Big Day
✈️ 20th Annual Smithville Fly-In | 10am–2pm | Smithville Crawford Municipal Airport, 789 Hwy 95 S, Smithville | Planes, helicopters, food, vendors, and lunch. The annual aviation festival is finally here after a spring weather postponement. Friends of 84R
🎨 La Cultura Market | 4–9pm | Veterans Memorial Park, 109 Depot St, Elgin | 40+ vendors, live music and DJ, bounce houses, food, and face painting celebrating Latino culture. @laculturamarket
🎻 Music in the Museum | Jamie & the Fiddler | 12–1pm | Bastrop County Museum, 904 Main St, Bastrop | Free hour of bluegrass, Americana, and country. Historical Society
🛒 Bastrop 1832 Farmers Market | 10am–2pm | 1302 Chestnut St, Bastrop | Saturday market with fresh produce, local goods, and community. Bastrop 1832 Farmers Market
🎤 Chingona Comedy | Loteria Edition | Evening | Film Alley Bastrop, 1600 Chestnut St | Stand-up comedy plus interactive Loteria games with bold female comedians. 17+. Two-item minimum. Film Alley
🎣 Learn to Fish with an Angler Instructor | 9am | Buescher State Park, 100 Park Rd 1E, Smithville | Free angler-instructor-led casting lesson at Buescher Lake. Park admission required. TPWD
🔭 Summer Star Gazing | 8:45pm | Buescher State Park | Stories under the stars with a park ranger. TPWD
🌳 Exploration Station | Wildlife Discovery Table | 10am–1pm | Bastrop State Park, 100 Park Rd 1A | Drop-in family discovery table. TPWD
🪢 High Ropes & Zip Line | 10:30am | McKinney Roughs Nature Park, 1884 Hwy 71 W, Cedar Creek | Reserved high-ropes and zip line adventure. LCRA Parks
📚 Sensory Storytime | 9:30–10am | Elgin Public Library | Calm, sensory-friendly story experience for little ones. Library calendar
🗣️ Conversational Spanish Class | 10–11am | Elgin Public Library | Beginner-friendly Spanish conversation. Library calendar
✍️ Writing for Mental Health | 10–11:30am | Elgin Public Library | Supportive writing workshop for adults. Library calendar
🇺🇸 Inglés con Jamie | ESL Class | 2–3pm | Elgin Public Library | English-language practice for Spanish speakers. Library calendar
📖 Sci-Fi / Fantasy Book Club | 2–3pm | The Owl, 106 N Main St, Elgin | Adults-only book club at our spotlighted wine bar. Library calendar
🥁 Drums Alive with Patti | 8:45–9:45am | Elgin Recreation Center | Drumming wellness program combining music and movement. 18+. Rec Center
Sunday, May 17
🎨 Lost Pines Art Center Spring Gala | 2–5pm | 1204 Chestnut St, Bastrop | The arts community's biggest day of the year. Live auction, raffles, spring-attire dress code, "Best Spring Hat" contest, hors d'oeuvres by 602 Brewing Company, and Latin-inspired live music from Jonas Alvarez. Tickets $125. LPAC Gala
🛒 Smithville Sunday Market | Downtown Smithville | Weekly downtown farmers market. Smithville Market
🦋 Family Nature Quest | 10:30am | McKinney Roughs, 1884 Hwy 71 W, Cedar Creek | Guided nature play. $10/person. LCRA Parks
🛞 UTV Tour | 1:30pm | McKinney Roughs | Guided UTV tour through 1,100+ acres. LCRA Parks
🥞 Mother's Day Weekend Brunch (delayed celebration) | Sunday | Hyatt Regency Lost Pines | If you missed it last weekend, the resort still runs special-event brunches. Reservations recommended. Hyatt Lost Pines
Monday, May 18
🦋 Family Nature Quest | 10:30am | McKinney Roughs, 1884 Hwy 71 W, Cedar Creek | Guided nature play. $10/person. LCRA Parks
🏛️ Elgin Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting | 6:30–7:30pm | Elgin City Hall | Monthly P&Z meeting. City of Elgin
🧱 Prime Timer Craft | Air-Dry Clay | 2–4pm | Elgin Recreation Center | Senior craft program. Finishing touches on air-dry clay pieces. Rec Center
🧘 Core Body Works with Regina | 6–7pm | Elgin Recreation Center | Pilates, yoga, and ballet-stretch combo class. Rec Center
💙 Suicide Bereavement Support Group | Smithville Community Clinic | Free bereavement group for those affected by suicide loss. Smithville Chamber listing
Tuesday, May 19
🏛️ Elgin City Council Meeting | 6:30–7:30pm | Elgin City Hall | Regular monthly council meeting. City of Elgin
👶 Baby Bookworms | 10:30–11am | Elgin Public Library | Stories, songs, and bonding for babies and toddlers. Library calendar
🧘 Nurture Your Mind | Guided Meditation | 10:30–11:30am | Elgin Public Library | Beginner-friendly meditation. Library calendar
📚 Stories After School (S.A.S.) | 3:30–4pm | Elgin Public Library | After-school story adventure with crafts. Library calendar
🤸 Stretch Yourself Healthy | 7:45–8:45am | Elgin Recreation Center | Slow-stretch flexibility class. 18+. Rec Center
🧘 Core Body Works with Regina | 9:15–10:15am | Elgin Recreation Center | Pilates, ballet, and yoga blend. Rec Center
🌙 Restorative Yoga with Patti | 6–7pm | Elgin Recreation Center | Deeply relaxing practice with bolsters and blocks. Rec Center
Wednesday, May 20
🐛 PPLT Kids' Nature Class | Good Bug, Bad Bug | 9:50am–12pm | Bastrop County Nature Park, 375 Riverside Dr, Bastrop | Pines and Prairies Land Trust outdoor kids' class on bug discovery. Explore Bastrop County
🪢 High Ropes & Zip Line | 10:30am | McKinney Roughs | Reserved high-ropes and zip line adventure. LCRA Parks
🏛️ Elgin Parks & Recreation Advisory Board | 5:30–6:30pm | Elgin | Monthly advisory board meeting. City of Elgin
🌎 Bilingual Story Time | 10:30–11am | Elgin Public Library | English/Spanish stories and songs. Library calendar
💙 Recovery Matters | 6–7pm | Elgin Public Library | Confidential weekly peer-support group. Library calendar
💪 Fit & Strong! | 10:30am–12pm | Elgin Recreation Center | Group activity program for arthritis. Rec Center
🌻 PLANNING AHEAD
Mark your calendar for these next few weeks:
🎓 Thu May 21 – Fri May 22 | Bastrop ISD & Elgin ISD high school graduations | BHS Thu 8pm and CCHS Fri 8pm at BISD Memorial Stadium; Elgin HS Fri 7pm at Shoreline Church | BISD Graduation | EHS Graduation
🎭 Thu May 22 – Sun Jun 7 | Puffs opens at Bastrop Opera House | The Harry Potter parody comedy runs three weekends | Opera House
🎸 Fri May 22 | The Wainthropps live at Neighbor's Kitchen & Yard, Bastrop | 7–10pm | Rhythm & blues, rock & roll, country | Neighbor's
🧵 Sat May 23 | Quilt Raffle Drawing for "Thelma's Square" at the Bastrop County Museum | 10am–5pm, 904 Main St | Tickets $5 each or 5 for $20, you don't need to be present | Historical Society
🎸 Sat May 23 | Kathy Murray and the Kilowatts live at Neighbor's Kitchen & Yard, Bastrop | 7pm | Neighbor's
🎉 Mon May 25 | Memorial Day weekend across Bastrop County
🇲🇽 Fri Jun 12 – Sat Jun 13 | 26th Annual Elgin Juneteenth Parade & Festival | Elgin Juneteenth
🎸 Sat May 30 | Reagan Hicks Band live at Neighbor's Kitchen & Yard, Bastrop | 7–10pm, FREE | Neighbor's
🇺🇸 Sat Jun 20 | Bastrop Juneteenth 40th Anniversary Parade & Freedom Festival downtown | Bastrop Juneteenth
🤠 Thu Jun 25 – Sat Jun 27 | 57th Annual Elgin Western Days | Parade, carnival, live music | Elgin Western Days
Catch up on LAST WEEKS BASTROP EVENTS!
🌐 Want fast answers about what's happening in Bastrop County?
Try our community AI tool → askbastrop.com (currently in beta - your feedback helps us improve it!)
We will see you next Thursday.
Marilyn | Your Local Guide
The Bastrop Current is your weekly community guide for Bastrop County, Texas — covering Bastrop, Smithville, Elgin, McDade, Paige, and Cedar Creek. Know of an event or business we should spotlight? Reply to this email and let us know!
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