Sundays, splash pads, and what's good this week.

It's hot, it's been raining, and somehow it's both at once. Classic Southeast Texas summer. But Beaumont doesn't slow down for a little weather, and neither do we.

This week, the city kicked off a free new Sunday gathering for families that's exactly the kind of good we started this newsletter to spotlight. The weekend's also packed, with garage sales, live music up and down the river, a dance showcase at the Jefferson, and plenty more.

I've also got a little kitchen trick down in the Tip Jar that's been saving my weeknight dinners. Let's get into it.

Sundays Are for Gathering at Sterling Pruitt

That free new Sunday gathering I mentioned up top? It's called Sow It Sundays, and the city just kicked it off. Every Sunday from 1 to 7 pm at the Sterling Pruitt Activity Center, neighbors come together for a relaxed afternoon of recreation, mentorship, games, and good company. It's open to all ages, and kids under 12 are welcome with an adult. It started June 7, so this Sunday is the perfect time to wander in and see what it's about. No cost, no catch, just folks getting together.

A Hand Up for People Doing Good

Here's good news for anyone who's ever dreamed of starting something. The SETX Nonprofit Development Center is launching a new program to help people get a nonprofit off the ground, funded by CenterPoint Energy. Two organizations will get full, hands-on help, everything from shaping their mission to bylaws to the IRS paperwork. It's good people making it easier for more good people to do good work right here.

Here's what's worth getting out for this week, Beaumont.

All Weekend, June 11 to 13

🏷️ Wesley Methodist 15th Annual Garage Sale · 3810 N Major Dr · A beloved annual tradition, and the proceeds do real good in the community. Worth the dig.

Thursday, June 11

🎖️ Veterans of America Collection Exhibit Opening · 4:30pm · Free · The Vietnam Veterans of America collection opens, with local chapter speaker Sandra Womack. A meaningful one to honor our own.

🚢 The Golden Age of Ocean Liners Lecture · McFaddin-Ward House, 1906 Calder Ave · 6:30pm · Free · Historian Brian Dudley walks through ocean liner history from 1897 to today. A rich evening for the curious.

🐝 Build a Bee Hotel Workshop · Tyrrell Park Nature & Visitor Center · 2pm to 4pm · Free · Ages 8+, registration required · Build your own native bee habitat. A sweet, hands-on afternoon for the kids.

Friday, June 12

🎙️ Press Club of Southeast Texas Awards Gala · MCM Elegante · Ticketed. The 35th Annual Excellence in the Media & Newsmaker of the Year Awards.

📚 Storytime at RC Miller · 10am · Free · Stories, songs, and play for the little ones, ages 2 to 5. A sweet, free Friday morning out.

🤸 Friday Teen Night at Jumping World · $20 for 4 hours · The trampolines stay open late just for teens. An easy way to wear them out before the weekend.

🎬 Movie Night at the Jefferson Theatre · 7pm · The Jefferson's Friday film series rolls on with the '90s comedy "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar," with a guest appearance in the lobby before the show.

Saturday, June 13

🌱 The Giving Field Garden Workday · Liberty St · 9am to noon · Lend a hand at the community garden. All are welcome, no green thumb required.

🍺 Brew City Invitational · Buckstin Brewing Co. · A craft beer celebration at one of Beaumont's favorite breweries.

✨ SHINE Music & Arts Festival · Spindletop Boomtown Museum · Live music and local art out at the Boomtown Museum.

Sunday, June 14

💃 Big Bang Boom Dance Showcase · Jefferson Theatre · Doors 2pm, show 3pm · $10 · A dance showcase on the gorgeous Jefferson stage.

Where to catch live music around town this week.

🎵 Thursday, June 11

MacKenzie's Pub · Brad Brinkley · 8:30pm

Logon Café · Daniel Waters, Piano Man · 8pm

Neches River Wheelhouse · Captain Matt & The Boat Crew · 6:30 to 9:30pm

🎵 Friday, June 12

MacKenzie's Pub · Benny and the Rest, 80s Night · 8:30pm

Logon Café · The B Sides · 8pm

Neches River Wheelhouse · JAG · 7 to 10pm

🎵 Saturday, June 13

MacKenzie's Pub · Flavor · 8:30pm

Madison's on Dowlen · SoulShine · 8:30 to 11:30pm

Logon Café · The Jackwagons · 8pm

Neches River Wheelhouse · Thomas, Terry & Jerry · 7 to 10pm

Rikenjack's (Lumberton) · Grace Anne · 8pm

🎵 Sunday, June 14

Logon Café · Acoustic Brunch with Chris Smith · 10am to 2pm

The Beaumont business community, doing what it does.

Leadership Beaumont Wants to Meet the Next Class

Know someone who'd make a great community leader? The Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce is taking nominations for the next class of Leadership Beaumont. It's a nine-month program, founded right here in 1971 as the first of its kind in Texas, built around developing leaders, getting to know the community, and building lasting relationships. If a name comes to mind, get your nomination in by June 17. Completed forms go to [email protected], and the Chamber is happy to answer questions at 409-838-6581.

Community Exposed. The good stuff nobody's talking about.

No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town

Here's a group quietly doing some of the best work around. Sleep in Heavenly Peace has a Beaumont chapter, and their volunteers build, assemble, and deliver real twin beds to local kids who don't have one. They serve Jefferson, Orange, and Hardin counties, and they've put thousands of Southeast Texas children into their own beds. Their motto says it all: no kid sleeps on the floor in our town. If you've got a Saturday morning and a cordless drill, they'd love the help. And if hammering isn't your thing, they also accept donations.

We've had the kind of week where it pours one minute and steams the next. But when the sun does come back out, and it will, here's an easy one for the kids.

The City of Beaumont runs 10 free splash pads all over town, plus two free public pools at Magnolia Park and Alice Keith Park. Every bit of it is free, all summer long, right through Labor Day. Pack a towel and some sunscreen, and you've got an afternoon that won't cost a thing.

And this is just the start. We've been rounding up every free and low-cost way to keep the kids busy in Beaumont this summer, splash pads, library programs, parks, U-pick farms, and more. The full guide is coming your way soon.

A look at what's on the market in Beaumont this week.

🔑 THE FIND

1015 Green Meadow St, Beaumont • 3 beds • 3 baths • 1,589 sqft • 4,809 sqft lot

$234,000

Click here to view

🏡 THE KEEPER

6165 Carrie Ln, Beaumont · 5 beds · 4 baths · 3,173 sqft · Built 2020

$450,000

Click here to view

THE STUNNER

11120 Breeana Ct, Beaumont · 4 beds · 4 baths · 4,215 sqft · Built 2021

$1,190,000

Click here to view

Things you didn't ask for, from my toolbox to yours.

This week: Let AI plan your dinner

Here's something I do almost every week. Open up Claude (it's free at claude.ai), tell it what you've got on hand, and let it figure out dinner. I use it for healthy meals all the time.

Here's a prompt to get you started, just paste it in and tweak it to fit your fridge:

"I have chicken, spinach, and sweet potatoes and I'm trying to eat high protein and stick to whole foods. Give me 3 easy dinner ideas I can make tonight, nothing complicated, and keep it family friendly."

That's it. It hands you real options in seconds, and you can keep going, ask it to swap an ingredient, bump up the protein, or turn one into a grocery list. No more standing in the kitchen at 5pm wondering what to make.

Give it a try this week, then hit reply and tell me what you ended up making. I love hearing what works.

Here's how the week's shaping up.

Thursday: 90° / 77° · ☀️ Sunny and hot. Classic Southeast Texas.

Friday: 89° / 76° · ⛈️ Hot with some storms rolling through. Keep an umbrella close.

Saturday: 90° / 77° · ☀️ Sunny and the hottest of the bunch. A scorcher.

Sunday: 88° / 76° · ⛈️ Storms likely, but still warm.

Stay cool out there, and hydrate. It's that time of year.

We read every word you send.

That's the week, neighbor. There's so much good happening around here, and I'm grateful you let me round it up for you.

If something in here made you want to get out, lend a hand, or just try a new recipe tonight, that's the whole point. See you next Thursday.

Jenny Lee · Locally written. Community trusted.