Austin, TX

August is such a great month for Austin. Aside from the sweltering heat, of course. There is the Ice Cream Festival, the Hot Sauce Festival, BatFest, and the Hatch Chile Festival.

The first three are gone but this weekend marks the last two. I can’t say why really but I always look forward to Central Market’s Hatch Chile Festival. I love the big roasting barrels they fill with the chilies and roast out in the open air. I love the fat greasy Hatch chile burgers and sausages they sell out front. I love all the Hatch treats you find as you wander through the store, gathering recipes as you go.

The Hatch Chile Festival
When: August 29-31st, 2008
Where: Central Market
$$$: Free (burgers & sausage for sale)

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Batfest is a culmination of two of Austin’s greatest attractions, bats and music. This years event is moving to the 1st Street Bridge. In previous years Batfest was held at the Congress Street Bridge but a local furniture store owner complained that the event disrupted business so the organizers opted to move. It’s my understanding that Batfest will move back to the Congress Street Bridge in 2009 but will only last one day as opposed to being the 2 day event it’s been in the past and will not be held on Labor Day weekend.

BatFest!
When: August 30th & 31st 2008
Hours: Saturday Aug 30th 2 PM until Midnight
Sunday Aug 31st 1 PM until 10 PM
Where: 1st Street Bridge
$$$: Tickets just $5 available day of show at the gate. 10 and under Free with an adult.

Batfest!, Will feature Arts, Crafts, Music, Food, Bat Watching, Children’s Activities, and Educational Displays. Estimated attendance is around 40,000! With Scenic backdrop of Town Lake and downtown Austin. Come out and see between 1.5 and 2 million Mexican Free Tail Bats while shopping for creative items made in Austin. See over 30 bands on two stages.

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Here is one for my wine buddies:

Bordeaux and BBQ
When: Saturday, August 30 2008, 2:00pm - 7:00pm
Where: Vino 100, 3021 South IH-35, Suite 120, Round Rock, Tx
$$$: Free

How many opportunities do you get to sample 30 wines AND get food from the famous Salt Lick? Not enough, I can tell ya! There will even be door prizes.

If wine isn’t your drink of choice then maybe mojitos are more up your alley.

Havana Nights with the Texas Rollergirls
When: Sunday, August 31 2008, 8:00pm
Where: Roadhouse Rags, 1600 Fortview Rd
$$$: Free ($10 suggested donation)

Join the Texas Rollergirls’ own Texecutioners for a minty fundraiser. Celebrate the drink of Cuba with bottomless Bacardi Mojitos. Help our gals get to Nationals in Portland! Learn to make your own Bacardi Mojitos, or sit back and let the rollergirls prepare them for you, and we’ll all cha cha through the night.

If not mojitos, how about beer:

2008 Party in the Park
When: Sunday, August 31 2008, 12:00pm
Where: Waterloo Park
$$$: Tickets are priced at $32.50 in advance and $40 at the door. Kids under 5 are free.

Drink Ziegenback and help Charity? Sounds like a plan to me! This event is sponsored by Ziegenbock and 415 Entertainment and will benefit Young Texas Against Cancer.

Artists performing include:

• Pat Green
• Jack Ingram
• Cory Morrow
• Brandon Rhyder
• Ryan James
• Rich O’Toole

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If you’ve always wanted to have a good gander at the famous Driskill Hotel, this weekend is your chance to do just that!

A Taste of the Driskill
When: Saturday, August 30th, 10am-2pm
Where: The Driskill Hotel, 604 Brazos
$$$: Free

The 122-year-old Driskill Hotel is saying “thank you” to the citizens of Austin and all of Texas for their support and devotion to the hotel with this community open house. A Taste of The Driskill celebrates more than a century of history as Austin’s landmark hotel, as well as the completion of a $4 million renovation of the property’s 189 guestrooms. Music, ghost tours, wine tastings, food samples, and kids activities are the order of the day. This marks the first Driskill Day, and the party will feature a birthday cake honoring one of the hotel’s most famous regulars: President Lyndon B Johnson on what would be his 100th birthday. LBJ and Lady Bird had their first date at The Driskill. Over the years, he awaited the returns from all his campaigns, including historic wins on the ticket with John Kennedy and then as the presidential nominee himself, at the hotel. As Saturday is also opening game day for the University of Texas Longhorns, the Driskill Bar—consistently named as Austin’s number one hotel bar—is hosting a Texas Tailgate party. Another highlight of the day is the Driskill Pie Bake-off.

I don’t know about you guys but I’ve been really tied up watching the Olympics. I’ll be sad to see the conclusion this weekend but I’m looking forward to the Basketball finals. Watching all that exercising is exhausting. Hmmm, maybe I need to get out this weekend! Here’s a look at what’s happening in and around Austin:

The 16th Annual Bamboo Festival
When: Saturday and Sunday, August 23-24, 2008
Hours: Saturday 10 am - 6 pm, Sunday 10 am - 5 pm
Where: Zilker Botanical Garden
$$$: Admission is free. Parking fee $3

Everything you could ever want to know about bamboo and more. Jewelry making, clothing, crafts, music and even a live plant auction. The 16th Annual Texas Bamboo Festival is the annual fund raiser for the Texas Bamboo Society Chapter of the American Bamboo Society, a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization. Proceeds are used to provide research, information, education, assistance to public bamboo gardens, support for bamboo artists, and to bring new varieties to the multi-state region represented by the Texas Bamboo Society.

I have to say that I just love the name of this event:

The Evil Eye Ball
When: August 23, 2008
Where: The Off Center
$$$:

Celebrating 13 years of good fortune, this is Rude Mechs’ annual benefit celebration. The will be a live auction featuring a week’s stay in a fabulous Brazilian resort.

Dance Umbrella presents 10 Minute Max
When: Thursday -Saturday, August 21, 22 & 23, 2008
Where: The GWC Cultural Center Theatre, 1165 Angelina St.
$$$: $12 adults, $10 for DU members & students and $6 for children

The weeks forecast calls for an umbrella - Dance Umbrella, that is, and its annual showcase of short performance works.

19th Annual Grape Stomp and Harvest Festival
When: Saturday, August , 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Where: Fall Creek Vineyards, 1820 County Road 222, Tow, Texas 78672
$$$: Free other than reserved luncheon

The annual “Grape Stomp” is a two-Saturday traditional favorite; full of fun and activity for all ages! With great anticipation and excitement, families enjoy winery tours, live local music on the vineyard patio, Castle Bounce, a play house, hayrides, chain-saw ice carving, and, of course, the excitement of your own “bare” feet grape stomping, “I Love Lucy”-style with the video playing, in wine barrels, all free of charge! Receive a free souvenir wine glass with wine tasting. No wonder Fall Creek’s Annual Grape Stomp & Harvest Festival is where YOU want to toast the harvest in the Texas Hill Country! Bring your appetite as Executive Chef Leu Savanh, of famed August E’s Restaurant in Fredericksburg, and notable Texas Culinary Academy Chef Graham Mitchell will be offering a two-course cooking demonstration lunch paired with two glasses of award-winning Fall Creek Vineyards wines at 2 seatings each Saturday, 11:30am and 1:30pm, by reservation/325/379-5361 for $22/person, all inclusive of food and wine!

August is hot and it doesn’t get hotter than this weekend with my favorite summer event:

The 18th Annual Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival
When: Sunday, August 24th, 11am - 5:30pm
Where: Waterloo Park, 12th and Red River
$$$: Admission is FREE with a donation of three non-perishable food items for the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas

One word of warning for those of you interested in entering a hot sauce in this year’s competition. According to the Chronicle’s website, “If you want the public to sample your fabulous sauce under the tasting tent at the park, you must have prepared it in a commercial kitchen and bring a receipt as proof. Please call Elizabeth Derzco at The Austin Chronicle to find out more about local commercial kitchen opportunities: 454-5766.” The same applies to restaurants.

Featured Musical Acts:
- Black Joe Lewis and the Honey Bears
- Band of Heathens
- Jungle Rockers
- Fingerpistol
- Girl in the Closet

Here is a great opportunity to learn some Texas history and help out a good cause. The North Texas History Center and Chestnut Square Historic Village present an outstanding evening celebrating the life of Collin McKinney, pioneer, minister and statesman and the 160th anniversary of McKinney’s incorporation when they present History Comes to Life on September 13.

Visit the McKinney Performing Arts Center online or call MPAC at 214-544-4630. Tickets for the show only are $25. Tickets for dinner at Rick’s and the show are $100.

By attending History Comes to Life you are helping the North Texas History Center and Chestnut Square Historic Village continue to bring history to life through their museums and programs.

The North Texas History Center is also selling tickets for a very cool raffle package for History Comes to Life. For just $25 you can purchase a 3-pack of raffle tickets which includes dinner for four at Rick’s Chophouse, a horse drawn carriage ride through the Historic District, two rooms at the Grand Hotel, and breakfast at Spoon’s. Drawing to be held Sept. 13 at History Comes to Life.

For $10 you can purchase a single ticket. For more information about the raffle please visit the North Texas History Center’s website.

The North Texas History Center was founded as the Collin County Historical Society in 1957. In 1982 the doors of the current museum were opened. The North Texas History Center discovers, preserves, and shares our North Texas heritage with present and future generations through its museums and programs. Located at 300 E. Virginia just off the square in downtown McKinney.

I had the opportunity to see Nine Inch Nails in Dallas last night at the American Airlines Center. This was the second time I’ve seen a concert at this venue and I quite like it. According the Dallas newspaper there were over 7000 people in attendance and I have to say that the place didn’t feel the least bit crowded. The concert started at 7:30 and we got there at about 6:45. We were smart and purchased platinum tickets with platinum parking. It cost an additional $20 for the parking but it’s so nice to pull in, park and just walk across the street to the venue. You also exit faster.

Photo by CapitalM on Flickr

The last time I was at the American Airlines Center I was there to see Tool. It was a great concert but I learned that being 4′11 is not conducive to seeing a show where everyone stands. I got smart this time and phoned in my reservations. I asked for seats in the front row right up against the glass so that no one could stand in front of me. We were on the second floor with a magnificent view!

We stood in line for t-shirts. The line was unorganized and annoying but we got there in the end and took home great t-shirts. They would do well to get some theater style roping to make the line wind around instead of the haphazard mess that it was.

Because the show fell right at dinner time, we ended up eating there. Don’t make this mistake, they will rob you blind. For chicken tenders, one order of fries, one hot dog and two regular drinks, we paid $22. Ouch. So, be smart and eat before arriving!

All that aside, the concert itself was fantastic. Trent Reznor puts on one hell of a show. They had these curtains that were see-through that hung down around the band that were made up of LED monitors. This allowed them to project an amazing array of images surrounding the band. The images ranged from a desert with clouds moving overhead to rain falling all around the band. There were times when it appeared as if the band were erasing the rain, or turning squares from red to white and back again. The light show was visually stunning. The sound every bit as wonderful as you’d expect from Mr. Reznor.

Photo by Capital Mon Flickr

If you have the opportunity to see this band, do it!

My advice for this weekend? Stock up on groceries and some movies tonight and then lock you doors and hide inside until tax free weekend is over! Unless you’re a shopaholic you’ll want to at least avoid the outlet mall or any mall, for that matter!

Here are some ideas that don’t involve shopping:

Wait until the sun goes down and slip out to dance under the stars or stuff your face with cupcakes.

Dance Under the Stars
When: Saturday, 16 August, 8pm-12mid
Where: Lucila’s Studio, 1700 S. Lamar
$$$: $5 (kids free)

Bring your musical instruments and dancing shoes, something to sit on the beautiful grass and be ready to have Fun!! Kids welcome.

Munch on cupcakes and help out a good cause. That’s my idea of fun!

KVRX Cupcake Social
When: Saturday, 16 August, 10pm
Where: Carousel Lounge, 1110 E. 52nd
$$$: $5

The money from this show goes to the KVRX Station Survival Fund. There will be the expected live music but also cupcakes for the first 100 partygoers from Polkadots Cupcake Factory.

Moonlight Float
When: Saturday, 16 August, 6:30pm
Where: Texas Rowing Center (across from Austin High School)
$$$: $15, Children, $10

Bring a dish for the potluck and a nonalcoholic beverage for yourself before heading out on Lady Bird Lake on your own floating device. Don’t have your own? Rent a kayak or canoe from the boathouse, and all the proceeds go to the Texas River School and its efforts to get kids on the water. Your destination is the Congress Avenue Bridge to watch the bats.

If you feel you must go out, then add some spice to your life and and some shrimp to your belly with the:

Southside Cajun Festival
When: Saturday, 16 August, 6pm-2am
Where: Garrison Park Harbor, 730 W. Stassney #120

Enjoy Zydeco music, a shrimp and crawfish boil and music by Dr. Zog and Clif Tipton & the Blue Squeezebox Band. Mmmm…Cajun food!

Here’s one for you cat lovers:

2008 South Central Cat Show
When: Sat.-Sun., Aug. 16-17, 9am-5pm
Where: Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd
$$$: $5

Features 225 cats of all shapes and sizes from around the world. Expect all manner of kitty accouterments, and stick around to find out which feline is the friskiest.

If that’s a bit too slow for you then speed things up with the:

5th Annual Austin Grand Prix
When: August 15, 16 & 17, 8:00am-5:00pm
Where: Iron Rock Raceway, Spirit of Texas Drive
$$$: Free for Spectators

Every year, Iron Rock Raceway hosts their biggest race of the year awarding drivers MEGA CASH! This year, Iron Rock will be awarding $2,500 to podium drivers in ALL TAG classes…that’s $10,000! All ages of kart drivers aging from 5 to 65 years are invited to compete if they own their own kart.

I love to watch skateboarding and if you do, too, then head over to Whole Foods:

Whole Foods Back to School Event
When: August 16, (Saturday) 4:00pm-8:00pm
Where: Whole Foods Market, 525 N Lamar Blvd
$$$: Free

Professional skateboarding demos from No Comply Skate Shop and Satori Movement. Check out the awesome deals on apparel and school supplies in Whole Body. The fashion show begins at 7:30 p.m. Sample some delicious, easy school lunch options from Steaz and Dr. Kracker. Relax in our chill-out and crafts areas, and learn more about a great local organization, Urban Roots.

Last, but not least, in this geek town:

ArmadilloCon 30
When:Aug. 15-17th
Where: Doubletree Hotel North
$$$: 3 day pass $50 at the door

A long time ago, some people who enjoyed the sci-fi genre got together and decided that Central Texas needed a literary sci-fi convention. SolarCon was born. Once those people figured out what they were doing (it took a couple of years), they created ArmadilloCon and it is still running to this day for a whole new fan base.

The primary focus of ArmadilloCon is literary science fiction, but that’s not all we do — we also pay attention to art, animation, science, media, and gaming. Every year, dozens of professional writers, artists and editors attend the convention. We invite you to attend the convention especially if you are a fan of reading, writing, meeting, sighting, feeding, knighting, and all the other things folks do at a sci-f/fantasy convention.

Well, those are my picks. Have a great weekend!

For a look at this weekends music scene, check out Austin Sound.

It’s Texas, it’s summer and it’s HOT! Looking for a way to cool down this weekend? Then here is an events just for you:

2nd Annual Ice Cream Festival
When: August 9th, 2008, 10:00am - 7:00pm
Where: Waterloo Park
$$$: $2.00

Presented by Amplify Credit Union, the 2nd annual Austin Ice Cream Festival is an event centered around family, fun, and ice cream which hearkens back to a time when ice cream trucks roamed the streets and running through sprinklers was an art form. While having a great time, we’ll also be raising money for local charities, such as the Austin Children’s Shelter and the Young Womens Alliance.

Here is an event for those of you wanting to get your caffeine on:

Coffee Cupping at Caffe Medici
When: August 9 2008, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Where: Caffé Medici, 1101 West Lynn
$$$: Free

Coffee cupping, or coffee tasting, is the practice of observing the tastes and aromas of brewed coffee. A standard coffee cupping procedure involves deeply sniffing the coffee, then loudly slurping the coffee so it spreads to the back of the tongue. The coffee taster attempts to measure aspects of the coffee’s taste, specifically the body, acidity, and balance.

Austin InkFest & Piercing Convention
When: August 8-10, 2008
Where: Austin Music Hall, 208 Nueces
$$$: $15 per day and $25 per weekend pass, Under 12 Free

Austin Ink Fest 08 will feature live entertainment by THE ENIGMA as well as side shows by Texas Ink and the Human Suspension Show as well as live music by various performers. Additionally, they will be crowning Ms. Ink Fest at 7pm on Saturday night.

Capital Confectioners Day of Sharing
When: Sunday, August 10th
Where: Lion’s Club, 500 N. Railroad, Pflugerville, Tx
$$$: $45 at the door

A Day of Sharing is something that is unique to the sugar art community. Decorators share their techniques unlike many fields where this kind of sharing just does not occur. Cake decorators are more than willing to share with each other and that is what a Day of Sharing is all about. It is a full day with demonstrations from 9 am to 5 pm and a great chance to meet fellow decorators. The demonstration schedule includes:

Two Sweet Sisters - Diamonds are Forever
Glenda Galvez - Pearl Edged Bows
Susie Rasmussen - Airbrush Techniques
Yvette Humbert - Cowboy Cakes
Jacque Benson - Beautiful Teacups
Sallia Bandy - Building Mechanisms into Your Cake

This a great line-up of demonstrations by very talented decorators. You won’t want to miss it! A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Classic Gamer Expo
When: Sunday, August 10th
Where: 10am-5pm. Norris Conference Centers, 2525 W. Anderson
$$$:

For all your old-school gaming needs. Expect a lot of Atari paraphernalia.

For months we’ve been planning our Day of Sharing (DOS) and now here it is just days away. The event will take place on Sunday, August 10th from 9am until 5pm. We have over 80 attendees already registered for this event and more coming in daily. We anticipate well over 100 attendees. We have great demonstrators lined up:

• Yvette Humbert, Amazing Cakes of Austin
• Jacque Benson, our Texas ICES Rep
• Glenda Galvez, the new ICES President
• Sallia Bandy, Wilton Hall of Fame Instructor
• Susie Rasmussen, Make a Cake Houston
• Two Sweet Sisters

We have fabulous raffle items, snacks, lunch and great vendors.

The Two Sweet Sisters will be teaching a hands-on class on the Monday and Tuesday following the DOS. There are just a few spaces left in this great class. Thank you to All in One Bakeshop for generously giving a 20% discount to class attendees.

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Since so many of you were disappointed to miss out on the Bride and Groom workshop, Lorraine has offered up a compromise. The Teddy Bear workshop will now be featuring Bride and Groom bears. The Groom will be fashionably dressed in a top hat and waistcoat while your blushing will be decked out in a tiara and carrying her own tiny bouquet. Spaces available for this one-day class for a very reasonable $125 so if you’re bummed out because you’re missing the Bride & Groom class, join us in the Teddy Bear Workshop. Sign up soon and you can even break the payments up over 3 months!

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August 10th:	Capital Confectioners DOS
August 11-12th:	Two Sweet Sisters Class
August 16th:	Jacque Benson Gumpaste Teacup Class
September 5-10th:	Debbie Brown Classes in Houston
September 7th:	Houston Cake Club Extravaganza!
September 20th:	The Carolina Cake Show & Competition
September 27 - 28:	The Oklahoma Sugar Art Show
October 14-15:	Lorraine McKay’s Dad & Me Workshop
October 17th:	Lorraine McKay’s Teddy Bear Workshop
October 18-19th:	Lorraine McKay’s Bride & Groom Workshop
October 19th:	Frost-a-tiers Day of Sharing
December 8th:	Cake Craft Shoppe’s 2nd Annual Gingerbread House Competition

A little birdie whispered in my ear that Carolyn Wanke-Mangold is putting together one of her famous Boot Classes. The class will be 2-3 days and will run $350 but will include Carolyn’s $250 Boot Kit. If you’re interested in this class please email Carolyn to be put on the mailing list.

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Our July demonstration was done by Kyla Myers and featured how to make a gumpaste bumblebee.

The delicious dessert was generously contributed by Yvette Humbert.

This months demonstration will be done by Sheri Vineyard and the dessert will be made by Irene Hackbarth.

Our next meeting will be held on August 19th at 7pm at:

La Madeleine
3418 N. Lamar
Austin , TX 78705
512-302-1486