Roux The Day 🍲

Here's what's up in SETX,

Before you burn anything outdoors, check where you live. Hardin and Jasper counties both issued burn bans after conditions across Southeast Texas turned dry in just one week.

We have lighter news too: roller derby at the Civic Center, a longtime Cajun spot on Highway 105, and a new place for pho, boba and snow cones on Dowlen.

Today's newsletter is brought to you by Tailored Financial Solutions.

Let's get into it. 👇

The Spindletop Rollergirls Take On Conroe This Saturday

Photo: Spindletop Rollergirls

Back on the Track: Beaumont's flat-track roller derby league will face the Conroe Cutthroats at the Civic Center downtown.
Before You Go: Doors open at 5 PM, and the first whistle is at 6 PM. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for ages 11 to 16 through the Civic Center box office or Ticketmaster.

📍 Beaumont Civic Center, 701 Main St · 🕐 Saturday, Aug 29 · Doors 5 PM · 🎟️ $15 adults / $10 ages 11–16

Meet the Photographer Behind the Free Headshots at Forge What's Next

Photo: Emerie Photography

Behind the Camera: Beaumont photographer Nicole Foster works with families, couples and individuals across portraits, weddings and special events. She also provided the free headshots at Forge What's Next!
Session Options: Sessions start at $35 for 15 minutes, with 30-minute sessions at $50, one-hour sessions at $100 and wedding packages beginning at $250.

📍 Beaumont · (409) 658-1630 · emeriephotography.square.site

👉 Emerie Photography on Facebook →

A Free Family Summit Is Coming to Beaumont This Saturday

What to Expect: The SETX Strong Families Coalition is bringing speakers, local organizations, community resources and activities for all ages to Calvary Baptist Church.
Good to Know: The three-hour event is free and includes a meal. Organizers ask families to register ahead through the coalition's Facebook page.

📍 Calvary Baptist Church, 3650 Dowlen Rd, Building 1, Beaumont · 🕐 Saturday, Aug 29 · 10:30 AM–1:30 PM · 🎟️ Free

Vautrot's Serves Cajun Favorites on Highway 105

Photo: Google Maps

What's on the Plate: Texas Monthly includes this family-run restaurant in its guide to fried seafood. The menu features lightly battered catfish and shrimp served with hush puppies and slaw.
Lunch or Dinner: Vautrot's opens twice a day from Tuesday through Saturday, serving lunch from 11 AM to 2 PM and dinner from 5 to 9 PM.

📍 13353 TX-105, Bevil Oaks, TX 77713 · (409) 753-2015 · vautrotscajuncuisine.com

🤤 Had a great meal somewhere in SETX lately? Reply and tell us — we feature reader picks.

Icy Cafe Opens a Second Location on Dowlen Road

Photo: Icy Cafe - Beaumont Facebook Event Page

Second Helping : The pho, boba and snow-cone counter opened July 16 as a second location, in the red-roofed building on Dowlen.
Ribbon Ready : The Greater Beaumont Chamber cuts the ribbon September 1, half eleven to one, at 260 Dowlen Road.

👉 Read more → Greater Beaumont Chamber

This section is sponsored by The Forge. Want your business featured here? Email us at [email protected].

✅ Check your county before burning anything outdoors: Hardin and Jasper counties have active burn bans. Jefferson and Orange counties do not. Hardin County's order runs through Sep 1.
✅ Register for Saturday's Family Summit: The free event begins at 10:30 AM at Calvary Baptist on Dowlen. Sign up through the coalition's Facebook page.
✅ Go fishing with a park ranger Saturday morning: Fish with a Ranger runs from 8 to 11 AM at Collier's Ferry Park. Gear is provided, and no fishing license is required.
✅ Pick up tickets for Cry-Baby: Doors open at 6 PM Friday at the Jefferson Theatre. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for children under 12.

❝

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📅 THIS WEEK IN SETX

📅 SETX Events Website

Everything further out lives at events.whatsupsetx.com — browse the full calendar and submit your own. 🎉

THIS WEEK

Aug 26: TASI Life Drawing Group | The Art Studio Inc, 720 Franklin St, Beaumont. Join an open life-drawing session downtown from 6 to 8 PM.

Aug 27: Blacksmith Demonstrations | 5550 Jimmy Simmons Blvd, Beaumont. Watch traditional blacksmithing demonstrations from 12:15 to 4 PM.

Aug 27: Books and Bites Book Club | Port Arthur Public Library. Students in grades three to five can enjoy snacks, trivia and crafts from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Free.

Aug 27: Art After 5 | Stark Museum of Art, 712 Green Ave, Orange. The free evening runs from 5 to 7 PM and includes a slide talk on Blackwell's Orange.

Aug 28: Homeschooling Hangout | Port Arthur Public Library. Families can connect from 2 to 4 PM, with programming offered in English and Spanish. Free.

Aug 28: Barbara Hickey and the DayBreakers | The Logon Cafe, 3805 Calder Ave, Beaumont. Catch Hickey's new band at 8 PM.

Aug 28: SETX Music Jam, Night One | Conn Park, Vidor. The first night runs from 6 to 10 PM with live music, food trucks and craft vendors.

THIS WEEKEND

Aug 29: Fish with a Ranger | Collier's Ferry Park, 5390 Pine St, Beaumont. Fish from 8 to 11 AM with gear provided. No license is needed.

Aug 29: Beaumont Farmers Market | 6525 College St, Beaumont. Shop from more than 20 local vendors from 8 to 11 AM. Free.

Aug 29: SETX Music Jam, Night Two | Conn Park, Vidor. The longer second day runs from 3 to 11 PM and includes the festival's headline sets.

Aug 29: Lamar vs Abilene Christian | Provost Umphrey Stadium, Beaumont. The Cardinals open their season at 6 PM with a rematch of last year's playoff meeting.

Aug 30: Brunch Buffet on the Deck | 820 Lee Ave, Port Neches. Brunch is served from 11 AM to 2 PM for $19.99 per person. Reservations are recommended.

Aug 29: Beaumont Farmers Market | 6525 College St, Beaumont. Shop local produce, meats and goods from area makers from 8 to 11 AM. Free.

Aug 29: Spindletop Rollergirls vs Conroe Cutthroats | Beaumont Civic Center, 701 Main St. Doors open at 5 PM, and the action starts at 6 PM. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for ages 11 to 16.

Aug 29: Side Effects, featuring Heath Slater | Doggett Ford Park, Beaumont. The event runs from 6 to 9 PM, with general admission priced at $10.

Aug 29: Meet Jasmine from Aladdin | The Yogurt Bar TX, 6025 Phelan Blvd Ste D, Beaumont. Stop by between 1 and 4 PM. The visit is free with a purchase.

Aug 30: Aaron Watson | The Venue at Belle Oaks, 15075 Country Club Dr, Beaumont. Doors open at noon.

MOVIE NIGHTS @ JEFFERSON THEATRE

345 Fannin St, Beaumont. Every Friday — doors 6 PM, film 7 PM. $6, general admission, concessions available. Supported by ExxonMobil.

Aug 28: Cry-Baby

Sep 4: Singin' in the Rain

Sep 11: West Side Story

Which event are you hitting up? Reply and let us know. Missed one? Submit it at events.whatsupsetx.com 🎉

📌 GOOD TO KNOW

🚧 Vidor City Council meets Thursday : Six to seven PM; agenda on the chamber calendar.

🚧 Free infant safe-sleep class in Port Arthur : Thursday, 3 to 4 PM at the Health Department, 5860 9th Avenue.

🩸 Breastfeeding support, same building : Lactation Social Hour, 4 to 5 PM.

🩸 LifeShare is taking walk-in blood donors : The Beaumont center is at 4305 Laurel Street. Call (409) 838-5289 to check the wait.

🎉 First Financial Bank cuts a ribbon next month : September 15, 4 to 7 PM, 865 South 8th Street in Beaumont.

🏆 THE SPORTS DESK

🔴 Lamar opens at home on Saturday : The Cardinals host Abilene Christian at Provost Umphrey at 6 PM, a rematch of last November's playoff exit.

🏈 West Brook at Nederland on Thursday : Week one kicks off at 7 PM.

🏈 Port Neches-Groves at Memorial on Friday : Seven PM at Titan Stadium, the season's first Friday night.

Two Counties Ban Outdoor Burning As Drought Arrives

Dry Run : Hardin County has banned all outdoor burning through September 1, and commissioners decide at ten that morning whether to extend it.
Fine Print : Jasper's seven-day ban carries fines of up to $500. Jefferson and Orange counties have not banned anything at all.

💡 The bottom line: If you live in Jefferson or Orange you can still legally burn today, but all four counties went from no dryness at all to abnormally dry in a single week — so the line moves faster than the paperwork, and it is worth checking before you strike a match.

📋 IN OTHER NEWS

🍎 Beaumont ISD started the year 94% staffed : Fifty-six teaching jobs are still open, eight in reading and math, and enrollment landed about 700 students below budget.

🧠 Jefferson County is paying for a second juvenile counselor : The post runs about $100,000 with benefits. One counselor currently sees roughly 280 young people a year.

🚔 A councilman wants one security standard for nightlife : AJ Turner says some venues can hire off-duty officers and others cannot — and an unwatched parking lot can get a business declared a nuisance.

📬 Which story caught your eye?

💼 JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Industry pulse: Hiring is coming off the public payroll this week rather than the plants. Workforce Solutions has four employer events between Thursday and September 3.

📻 Job fair | Cumulus Media | Beaumont
Thursday, August 27, 9 AM to 2 PM, Beaumont Civic Center, 701 Main Street.

🎓 Job fair | Lamar University | Beaumont
Monday, August 31, 11 AM to 1 PM, Beaumont Workforce Center, 510 Park St.

👮 Hiring event | Port Arthur Police Department | Port Arthur
Monday, August 31, 10 AM to 1 PM, same building.

🍎 Fifty-six teaching posts | Beaumont ISD | Beaumont
Eight of them in reading and math.

🌿 Tailored Lawn Care | Golden Triangle
Call or text Frederick: (409) 365-4887

🔜 The local SETX jobs board is coming soon. Want early access when it launches? Email [email protected] to join the list.

💼 Hiring in SETX? Send us your listing at [email protected] and we'll get it in front of our readers.

Dolly Parton died Tuesday at age 80, leaving behind a legacy that reached far beyond country music. Her songs, generosity and unmistakable warmth touched generations of people around the world.

Southeast Texas holds a small connection to the beginning of her story. At just 13, she recorded her first single at Goldband Records in Lake Charles. This was one of the earliest steps in a career that would eventually span nearly seven decades. Years later, she was scheduled to perform at the Beaumont Civic Center in January 1983, though the concert never took place.

Our team here at What’s Up SETX were deeply saddened to hear of her passing. And although the world has lost a true legend, the music, kindness and joy she shared will live on for generations. Our thoughts are with her family, friends and fans everywhere.

📣 YOUR TURN

Every week, we ask a few questions because this newsletter is a two-way street. Hit reply. We read every single one.

🔥 Is your county under a burn ban? Did you know?
🍤 Been out to Vautrot's on 105? What do you order?
🧋 What should Icy Cafe put on the Dowlen menu?
👏 Got someone to brag on? A graduation, a new business, a milestone, a neighbor who showed up. Reply and we'll put them in Community Notices.