This weekend in Beaumont, locals can explore three standout events — each catering to a unique crowd.

On Thursday, Muscadine Bloodline brings modern country storytelling to the Jefferson Theatre, with Tenille Townes opening.

Friday night, Julie Rogers Theatre hosts the Southeast Texas Symphony Orchestra’s powerful Aretha Franklin tribute, featuring acclaimed Broadway stars Capathia Jenkins and Ryan Shaw under Maestro Chelsea Tipton II’s baton.

Sunday wraps up with Tyrell Park’s annual custom car show, celebrating community and craftsmanship from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This diversity of experiences is rare — and the most interesting locals are those willing to try something new.

Which lane will you break out of? Step beyond your usual and experience the best of what Beaumont has to offer this weekend.

Q: What year did the iconic Jefferson Theatre first open its doors in downtown Beaumont?

📅 THIS WEEK'S EVENTS (MARCH 4-9)

THURSDAY, MARCH 6

🎸 Muscadine Bloodline w/ Tenille Townes
Jefferson Theatre, 8pm (doors 7pm)
Tickets: $45/$55/$65

FRIDAY, MARCH 7

Symphony: "Aretha: A Tribute"
featuring Capathia Jenkins & Ryan Shaw
Julie Rogers Theatre, 7:30pm
Tickets: $36-$62 | sost.org or (409) 892-2257

SUNDAY, MARCH 8

6th Annual Custom Car Show
Tyrrell Park, 10am-4pm
Free to spectate. Register your ride at the event.

Hearsay Gastro Lounge has opened its doors in downtown Beaumont, marking an exciting new chapter for the city’s dining scene.

The Houston-based group behind popular locations in Galveston and The Woodlands chose the historic Bowie Street building, previously home to Suga’s Deep South Cuisine, for their latest expansion.

CEO Joseph Natale describes the restaurant’s style as “chic antique,” blending the building’s historic charm with modern hospitality.

Guests can expect eclectic American fare, inventive craft cocktails, and live music most nights—perfect for everything from date nights to business gatherings.

This move is part of Landmark Hospitality Group’s focus on redeveloping vibrant, historic downtowns.

Hearsay operates in a Neighborhood Empowerment Zone, taking advantage of incentives designed to revitalize Beaumont’s urban core.

Since opening, it has quickly become a local favorite, enlivening downtown with upscale energy and cuisine.

Seventeen downtown Beaumont buildings are now flagged as unsafe or structurally unsound, raising urgent questions about the city’s next steps.

Municipalities take varied paths: some opt for demolition and redevelopment, others encourage restoration through incentives, while a few wait for market interest to spark change.

Beaumont sits at a crossroads as signs of renewal emerge. New businesses like Hearsay Gastro Lounge are opening, the Jefferson Theatre draws national performers, and the Neighborhood Empowerment Zones aim to attract investment with tax breaks and waived fees.

Yet, vacant and unsafe structures threaten to stall this momentum and risk leaving revitalization fragmented—more pockets of progress than a unified downtown revival.

The true test for Beaumont is whether new development builds unity or leaves gaps, as each building’s future decision signals the city’s priorities and vision.

Mayor Roy West will deliver the State of the City address for Beaumont on March 24 at 11 a.m. at the historic Jefferson Theatre.

This year’s event shifts away from a standard speech, instead recognizing local businesses, organizations, and individuals who help shape the community’s progress.

The ceremony, themed "The Beaumont Awards," spotlights real achievements, celebrating success stories and ongoing improvements across the city.

Attendees can expect updates on downtown revitalization, infrastructure projects, economic growth, and community initiatives that have defined Beaumont over the past year.

Honorees may include standout local businesses, nonprofits, and engaged citizens making a real difference.

The event is free, open to everyone, and serves as a vital checkpoint for anyone invested in Beaumont’s future trajectory.

It’s a key opportunity to see where momentum is building and what’s next for the city.

Falling Into Fantasy 

For many years, I avoided fantasy books altogether. I wasn’t a fan and assumed they’d be too out there, with overwhelming themes and complicated world-building. That changed when I joined a young adult book club and picked up my first fantasy read: Serpent & Dove. I decided to give it a chance—and completely fell in love.

That experience made me realize that fantasy is a genre all its own, one that thrives on imagination, creativity, and immersive world-building. While fiction is great for getting lost in a story, fantasy takes it a step further by bringing your wildest dreams to life. Below are some of my favorite fantasy books that just might make you fall in love with the genre too.

• Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin

• Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

• Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

• Crave by Tracy Wolff

• Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

1927. The theater was built during the height of Beaumont's oil boom and has hosted everything from vaudeville acts to modern concerts for nearly 100 years.