Austin, TX

This weekend hails one of my favorite Austin festivals, the Pecan Street Festival. Back with a brand new sponsor, Capital One. With over 250 arts & craft vendors, music, and performing artists, art classes, dance classes, a scholarship competition, international foods, a carnival, petting zoo, and much more, the Pecan Street Festival has something for everyone. Even better, it’s free!

Old Pecan Street Festival
When: Saturday & Sunday, Sept. 20-21st, 2008
Where: 6th Street, Downtown Austin
$$$: Free

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For something a bit different you might try this:

The Bicycle Film Fest
When: Fri. & Sat., Sept. 19 & 20th, 2008
Where: 501 Studios, 501 N. I-35, 900 block of East Fifth
$$$: $25

Movies from a human-powered, two-wheeled perspective.

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Want to enjoy wine and chocolate while learning how to pair them up? Then head over to Cork & Co for this class:

Cork & Co. Wine & Chocolate Class
When: Satureday, September 20 2008, 5:00pm
Where: 308 Congress Ave
$$$: $25

Learn the secrets of wine and chocolate. Sample different chocolates and pair it all up with some delicious wines. Before you reach a chocolate coma, you’ll learn what makes them interact in such an intense way, and what makes for a great wine-and-chocolate match!

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Need a good laugh? Alamo Drafthouse has got you covered. Over the past year or two, YouTube has been filling up with groups of people performing the zombie dance from Michael Jackson’s Thriller. There are videos of newlyweds performing that choreography as part of their first dance together at wedding receptions, and of course there’s the clip of the 1,500 inmates of the Cebu Prison in the Phillipines. We were watching those videos last winter and thought to ourselves, “What if we could make that even more awesome?” This fall, that’s exactly what we’re going to do.

They’ve joined forces with Ines Markeljovic, a dance teacher and founder of ThrillTheWorld.com, to help her complete her task of setting a Guiness World Record for having the most people around the world doing the Thriller dance at the exact same time. For the past seven months, they’ve been hosting Michael Jackson Sing-Alongs at the Alamo Ritz, then following the music video orgy with two hours of dance instruction that gets everyone in the crowd up to speed on how to do the Thriller dance themselves. They’ve partnered with local theater groups, dance companies, and schools as well, and they’re convinced that when it comes time to participate in the Thrill the World dance, on Saturday, October 25th, they’ll have more people in one place than anywhere else on the globe!

Michael Jackson: THRILL THE WORLD Sing-Along!
When: Sunday, September 21, 2008, 7:00p
Where: Alamo Downtown
$$$: $12.00

Go forth and learn how to Thrill.

Also, Fantastic Fest is going on this weekend at the Alamo. Fantastic Fest is a week-long festival featuring the best in new science-fiction, fantasy, horror, animation, crime, Asian, and all around badass cinema. The event was created to offer exposure to genre films which are often overlooked by the traditional festival circuit. We strive to offer acquisition, media and exhibition opportunities for undistributed films as well as to spotlight upcoming genre theatrical releases and give audiences a chance to see 35mm prints of repertory classics.

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Well, those are my picks for the weekend. It’s going to be in the comfortable 80s this weekend. Roll on fall!

I was out and about today. That was a mistake. Every place I went was crowded. You’d think there was a hurricane headed our way. Heh. I was in Pasedena, Tx earlier this week taking a cake decorating class with Debbie Brown. I’m very glad I got out of town Wednesday night. At the time they didn’t think the hurricane was going to hit Galveston, which I was very close to, but now we know differently and Galveston is looking scarier by the minute. My poor brother, who lives in Miami, has had a hectic hurricane season so far but he is relieved the pressure is off them for a while. Having said that he’s concerned for the 15-25 million estimated people still in the Galveston are.

There were a lot of schools and businesses that let out early or were closed entirely today. I think half of Houston and Galveston are in town, too. They also canceled this weekends football game with Arkansas. I’m going to go ahead and list weekend events but I don’t know at this point which, if any, will be canceled.

Creative Research Laboratory presents the UT Fall Faculty Exhibition. Lest you be frightened that does not mean the UT Faculty will be dancing naked in the streets. Instead, you’ll see recent work by faculty artists in Studio Art, Art Education, and Design at the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Texas at Austin. The opening reception will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Creative Research Laboratory. This celebratory fall semester opening exhibition will feature a large number of works with a wide range of themes. This annual exhibition will offer a rich survey of recent works by the University’s faculty artists.

UT Fall Faculty Exhibition
When: Saturday, September 13 2008, 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Where: UT Creative Research Lab, 2832 E Martin Luther King Blvd
$$$: Free

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Enjoy live music from Chaparral and Sons of the Revolution, have some BBQ and benefit the Texas Motorcycle Rights Association.

Biker Barbecue Bakeoff
When: Fri.-Sat., Sept. 12-13, 3pm-12mid
Where: C. Hunts Ice House, 9611 McNeil Dr
$$$: Free ($5 platefuls of BBQ)

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If you’re looking for a bit of healthy exercise this weekend then put on your walking shoes and head for the Bright Leaf Preserve for a 2 hour guided tour.

Bright Leaf Preserve
When: Second Saturdays and Sundays of the month, 9am.
Where: Bright Leaf Preserve, 2222 & Creek Mountain Road
$$$: Free

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Sunday is your day for cultural events. Step out to Round Rock for a stroll down historic streets. Meet talented artists & musicians in Historic Downtown Round Rock each month, displaying their wares and entertaining strollers.

Round Rock Artisan Stroll
When: Sunday, Sept. 14th, noon - 6pm
Where: Downtown Round Rock, depending on weather (call: 512.535.5761)
$$$: Free

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One of the best opportunities of the year happens this Sunday. It’s our annual Museum Day! Museums throughout Austin will be open and free to the public. That is a great value! Take the kids and go see them all. If you want to go outdoors, hit up the Umlauf Sculpture Garden. Take the kids to the Austin Children’s Museum. Learn all about Texas history at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. See the beauty of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Your biggest challenge will be deciding which museums to visit!

11th Annual Austin Museum Day 2008
When: Sunday, 14 Sept. 2008
Where: Participating Museums (See website)
$$$: FREE!

Here are some cancellations coming in:

• The Diez y Seis celebration has been canceled for Saturday
• The Westcave Preserve birding habitat walk for Saturday has been canceled
• CHI VS. YORKIE CUTE-OFF meet-up group has been canceled

Those are my pics, have a safe weekend!

Interested in Historical Recreation?

Wells Branch MUD, and The Society for Creative Anachronism Brings You:

“RENAISSANCE DAY IN THE PARK”

Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008
10am to 5pm
Location: Katherine Fleischer Park
2106 Klattenhoff Drive
Pflugerville, TX

Visitors will get a taste of medieval times thanks to collaboration between Wells Branch and the local chapter of the Society for Creative Anachronism. The society is an international association of people who re-enact the Middle Ages as they will for visitors with chivalric and rapier demonstrations and approximately 17 guilds including clothiers, fiber artisans, leather workers, dancers, scribes, brewers, metal workers, glass engravers, enamelers, herbalists, and others. Many of the ancient arts will be on display in the baseball field at Katherine Fleischer Park. The event is free to the public.

Historical Dancing will follow inside from 6-10

(This is a small, non-commercial historical recreation demo put on by volunteers)

Greetings Cakesters, We’d like to start off this month’s Newsletter by thanking our demonstrators, vendors, volunteers and attendees for making our annual DOS our biggest and best ever. The Two Sweet Sisters class which followed the DOS was great fun as well. Everyone left the class with beautiful cakes and a lot of new tricks up their sleeves. The Cake Show Countdown is On! Now that our DOS is over, we are ramping up our efforts to make 2009 our biggest and best Cake Show ever! One of the new things we’ll have this year is Mini-Classes. There will be four classrooms with short classes in them all day on Saturday and Sunday. Those of you who teach will be able to host classes and those of you looking to learn new things will be able to sign up for those classes. It’s our hope that we’ll be able to host some fun classes with instructors who might otherwise be unable to attend. Just in case you’ve forgotten, our line up for this year’s That Takes the Cake! Sugar Art and Cake Competition is outstanding! We have: Debbie Brown Jacquy Pfeiffer Nicholas Lodge Bronwen Weber Roland Winbeckler Marsha Winbeckler Elisa Straus Also new this year will be Showcase Cakes where you’ll have the opportunity to decorate from the tablecloth up. The theme for the Showcase Cakes will be music, so get your thinking caps on! Shoutout to Texas ICES Area 3 Texas ICES Area 3 is all set for their October 26th, DOS. Their theme this year is “A Christmas Wedding” and will feature: ♥ Carol Fouts - Angelic Cake Toppers ♥ Jacque Benson - What Will She Think of Next? ♥ Irene Hackbarth - Filet Lace (As seen at ICES) ♥ Twez Shewmaker - Chocolate Transfers ♥ Lori Guss - How to use and have fun with your SugarVeil Pen! Carol will be staying on to teach a class on her fabulous sugar shoes on Monday, October 27th. Register now to save money! Lorraine McKay Teddy Bear Workshop We are now just 5 weeks away from Lorraine’s classes. Everyone who has signed up is so excited. I know this because I hear from at least one attendee a day telling me just how excited they are and checking up on hotel information and supply lists. I am happy to say that I made a great deal with the Wingate by Wyndham in Round Rock to supply us with a nice big classroom and a great rate of $89.25 a night. That price includes a hot breakfast and social hour snacks, including a drink voucher and panini sandwiches. Since we are providing lunch, those of you attending could get away without purchasing any meals if you wanted. We have one opening left in the Dad & Me class and a few in the Teddy Bear class. Register for Lorraine’s classes Upcoming Events 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 12-13: Dena Bryngleson Shadow Grass (Camo) and Sugar Duck Class 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 October 26: Texas ICES Area 3 DOS in San Antonio December 8th: Cake Craft Shoppe’s 2nd Annual Gingerbread House Competition February 1: Texas ICES DOS in Dallas/Ft Worth February 28-1 March: Capital Confectioners That Takes the Cake! Sugar Art & Cake Competition If you have an upcoming event that you would like us to list here and/or on our website, please let us know. Capital Confectioners Club Meetings Our August demonstration was done by Kyla Myers and featured an easy method for making calla lilies she learned from Edna De La Cruz. If you missed this demo you can watch Edna do it on YouTube. The yummy godies were generously provided by Irene Hackbarth. September’s demonstration is TBD and the dessert will be made by Charlotte Shaw. Our next meeting will be held on September 9th at 7pm at: La Madeleine 3418 N. Lamar Austin , TX 78705 512-302-1486 Join Meetup.com to receive regular meeting notices.

I’ve already mentioned Asia Fest and the Arts Run but if those don’t light your fire, how about a Folk Art Shop and Swap? If you love kitchy, nostalgic fun stuff or if you just love to look at other people’s stuff then this is your event. You’ll find jewelry, home decor, clothing, and more.

Folk Art Shop and Swap
When: 9am-1pm, Saturday, September 6th
Where: 502 W. Live Oak
$$$: Free.

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If you love to shop for bargains then you might want to continue on the the Palmer Event Center for Le Garage Sale. There you’ll find an array of Austin’s chicest boutiques offering their best deals in men, women and children’s clothing as well as new looks for your home.

Le Garage Sale
When: Sat.-Sun., Sept. 6-7, 11am-5pm
Where: Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd
$$$: $10 ($15, two-day pass).

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All that shopping is bound to work up an appetite so why not follow it up with some chili, BBQ and a little music? Lucky for you the Del Valle Independent School District is having a cook-off!

Outlaws and Ladies Cook-off
When: 10am-10pm, Saturday, 6 September
Where: The Waterhole Saloon, 5244 Hwy. 71 E., Del Valle.
$$$: Free ($100 to enter all events)

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Have a bit of fun, learn a bit of history and have a lovely walk this weekend at the Zilker Botanical Gardens with their Dinoland Exhibit. This weekend there will be a hatching! This is a kid friendly event and will even have storytelling by those awesome folk at BookPeople.

Dinoland
When: Saturday, Sept. 6 & Sunday, Sept. 7, 10 am - 5 pm
Where: Zilker Botanical Garden, 2100 Barton Springs Road
$$$: $5 Adults/$3 Kids

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For my geeky friends, this weekend brings a celebration for one of Austin’s favorite game stores, Dragon’s Lair. Help them celebrate 22 years of epic gaming, tournaments, competitions and fun, fun, fun! Bill Williams will be there to sign copies of his work.

Dragon Lair 22nd Anniversary Celebration
When: Fri.-Sun., Sept. 5-7
Where: Dragon’s Lair Comics & Fantasy, 6111 Burnet Rd, 454-2399
$$$: Free

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If you’re up for a bit of charity work, like to act and look rather scary then Scare for a Cure is looking for volunteers. This year’s Scare for a Cure haunted house will give its proceeds to college scholarships for students whose lives are affected by cancer. If you think you’re scary enough, then audition, and prove it. All would-be ghosts, goblins, and demons are invited.

Scare for a Cure Auditions
When: 2-5pm, Sunday, Sept. 7th
Where: Elks Lodge, 700 Dawson

If you’re looking for music events, check out the Austin Showlist, Do512 or Austin Sound!

When: September 6-7, 2008
Where: Texas Culinary Academy, 11400 Burnet Road
$$$:See Website

I attended this event last year and it was just a blast. As with last year, the event will kick off on Friday night with an amazing dinner. This year’s dinner will be a 6-course Pacific Sake Dinner and will be held at the Satay Restaurant. The Satay, if you’ve not been, is a one of my favorite restaurants in Austin. Owned and operated by Dr. Foo, the Satay is a gem. They have some of the best Thai curries in Austin and consistently good service, if sometimes a bit slow. However, we tend to rush our meals in this country and I find I always have time for a good conversation with my dinner guests.

Friday, September 5th:
Pacific Sake Dinner
Location: Ventana, 11400 Burnet Rd., Austin, TX 78758
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
$$$: $75 per person
Note: Tickets must be purchased in advance

Saturday’s activities will be held at the Texas Culinary Academy and will include a series of cooking classes for all ages.

$15 per class adults
$10 per class-child classes
$50 for all adult classes
$25 for all child classes

Sunday is a super fun day with the Iron Chef competition and will also be held at the Texas Culinary Academy. I really enjoyed this portion last year. In addition, there will be an Asian Market & Food Extravaganza. If it’s anything like last year there will be a wonderful assortment of food to try. If you’re a wine enthusiast you’ll be pleased to know that there will even be wine pairings.

$35 per adult (includes food)
$10 per child (6-12)

Saturday, September 6 @ 8:30 am
With Free Concert to Follow

+ Adults $27 | Children $20
Online registration closes September 5 at 10 pm.

The Race: The Arts Run begins and ends at the Paramount Theatre on Congress Avenue and consists of two races - a Kids K and an Adult 5K Fun Run/Walk. [More Info]

RACE DAY SCHEDULE
7:00 am - Packet and Chip Timer pick up begins
8:30 am - Kids K begins
8:45 am - 5K Run begins
8:50 am - 5K Fun Run/Walk begins
10:30 am - Free concert for Arts Run participants by White Ghost Shivers at the Paramount

Prizes: All registered participants will receive an Arts Run packet - includes a t-shirt and other fun goodies. Top runners will compete for prizes with the help of chip timing and every participant in the Kids K will receive a special prize. Plus, anyone can win with over fifteen fantastic door prizes given away following the run.

Music: Live music will be provided by Austin’s own Brooklyn Lane on Congress Avenue. Following the run, all participants will be treated to a free concert by the White Ghost Shivers inside the beautiful Paramount Theatre.

Costume Contest: Runners, walkers, sponsors and volunteers are strongly encouraged to participate dressed as their favorite stage or film star. Prizes will be awarded for the best costumes. Rumor has it that Audrey Hepburn, Elvis, Marilyn Monroe and Jane Fonda are set to make an appearance.

Food: After you’ve worked up a thirst and an appetite, Gatti’s Pizza will serve fresh pizza to everyone and Steaz will provide the beverages! Plus, plenty of Crystal Gyser bottled water will be available to keep you hydrated.

Cause: The Paramount Theatre brings more than 10,000 area youths to the Theatre each year as part of our youth outreach program. Many of those children gain admission for free and would otherwise be unable to attend the Theatre. Your registration helps us provide this and other services to our community.

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

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.

If you’re a fan of comedy this is a good weekend for you.

Girls Girls Girls presents The Boys of Summer
When: Saturdays at 8:00pm
Where: The Hideout Coffeehouse & Theater, 617 Congress Ave
$$$: General Admission $10

Men are funny. Really funny. And to celebrate that fact, GGG will be welcoming a different male guest star onstage each week for the eagerly-awaited return of The Boys of Summer. For seven Saturdays in July and August, Girls Girls Girls will perform its signature format — a musical comedy created on the spot from an audience suggestion, complete with storyline, songs, and multiple characters — joined by some of the city’s best male improvisers.

Maestro Improv
When: Saturday, August 2, 2008, 10:00 PM
Where: The Hideout Coffeehouse & Theater, 617 Congress Ave

The Heroes of Comedy present ten to twelve of Austin’s virtuoso improv comedians on the Hideout stage, but only one of them will make it to the end of the show. While they play games and improvise scenes, you score them. The low-scoring players will be eliminated after each round. The surviving improviser is declared the winner and Maestro and is awarded a crisp new Canadian five-dollar bill. Only the Funny Survive.

For my slam poetry fans, don’t forget this wonderful tribute:

Shannon Leigh Lewis: They Call Me Warrior Tribute
When: Saturday, August 2nd @8pm
Where: Ruta Maya World HQ, 3601 S. Congress Ave
$$$: $10 Minimum Donation

Shannon’s friends and admirers will be gathering at Ruta Maya next weekend to give tribute to Shannon. If you’ve never listened to slam poetry, do yourself a favor and attend. If you’re already a fan, you won’t want to miss it!

Bastrop Homecoming & Rodeo
When: July 31st through August 2nd, 2008
Where: Mayfest Hill, Bastrop
$$$: $30 for all 3 nights ($25 in Advance)

Now in its 61st year, this parade, carnival, and rodeo started as a celebration for GIs returning from World War II. The parade through downtown Bastrop takes place on Aug. 2, 10am. See the website for a full schedule of events. Most of the festival’s events are free, including the horseshoe and Texas Hold ‘Em tournaments, the carnival, and the barrel-racing demo.

Fancy something a little edgier? You can’t beat these ladies:

Texas Rollergirls 2008 Championship Bout
When: Sunday, August 3 2008, 6:30pm
Where: Playland Skate Center, 8822 Mccann Drive
$$$: $12.00-15.00

The main event of the evening belongs to the Hell Marys and Hotrod Honeys. In a virtual rematch of last year’s smackdown, these two teams face off again in what is sure to be one of the hardest fought matches in derby memory. The Hotrods have a lot in their favor: not only have they already beat the Hells in a squeaky close game earlier this year, but these undefeated Hotrod women want nothing more than a Golden Skate trophy to call their own. After making four previous trips to the finals, but taking home nothing more than the taste of defeat, these always-a-bridesmaid, never-a bride skaters want to claim what they’ve worked all season for. However, they must run the gauntlet of the Hell Marys to get it! Perpetually underestimated (and perhaps a little divinely blessed?), the 2008 Hells are out to prove that last year’s big win was no cosmic fluke!

Looking for a little musical inspiration? Look no further:

Carolyn Wonderland
…performs at KGSR’s Live at the Lake Summer Concert Series
When: Sunday, August 3 2008, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Where: Lakeway Resort and Spa, 101 Lakeway Dr
$$$: Free

Join 107.1 KGSR for the Live at the Lake Concert Series at Lakeway Resort and Spa! Free Shows on Sundays this summer, with gates opening at 4pm (no earlier!) and LIVE music from 6pm to 8pm in the evening! Bands play by a 3-tiered pool with a swim-up bar, overlooking Lake Travis!! Family friendly location - food and drink available on site. Enjoy Ravenswood Wine - $5 per glass!

Get out, have some fun!

I was saddened to hear of the death earlier this month of one of Austin’s brightest slam poets, Shannon Leigh (Lewis), at the tender age of 20. Shannon was in Florida at the time of her death, swimming and diving with friends. According to the various reports I’ve read, she was experiencing some equilibrium problems and swam back to the cave entrance alone. A diving instructor from another group found her unconscious and assisted in bringing her to the surface. Shannon was taken to Shands Hospital at the University of Florida where she slipped into a coma. Shannon lingered in a coma for several days with no signs of brain activity before being removed from her respirator. Her death has rocked the tight community of slam poets who had known Shannon from the time she entered slam poetry at 14 years old.

I had the privilege to see Shannon Leigh perform two years in a row at the National Poetry Slam here in Austin. Shannon was a petite woman with a bold voice. She spoke of tough topics in an eloquent and thoughtful way. She toured the country giving voice to those who were unable to do so themselves. Victims of war, rape and poverty became real to those who heard her speak.

Shannon’s friends and admirers will be gathering at Ruta Maya next weekend to give tribute to Shannon. If you’ve never listened to slam poetry, do yourself a favor and attend. If you’re already a fan, you won’t want to miss it! Here is the flyer with more information:

Saturday, August 2nd @8pm
Ruta Maya World HQ
3601 S. Congress Ave
$10 Minimum Donation

For more information on Shannon’s death, read Michael Barnes’ article on Austin 360.

Shannon Leigh, Lewis, Austin, Tx, Slam, Poetry, Death, Diving, Scuba, Ruta Maya, Tribute

It seems that this is the weekend to embarrass yourself and if you play video games as poorly as I do here is your first opportunity:

Classic Game Fest: Tetris Tournament
When: Friday, July 25 2008, 8:00pm
Where: Game Over Videogames, 911 W Anderson Ln
$$$: Free

The game tournaments will start at sundown (approximately 8:30pm) and run until 10:30pm. Following each game tournament will be a special screening of a videogame-related movie fitting the theme for the night. The movies will immediately follow the tournaments and run until around midnight.

Air Guitar Championships
When: Friday, July 26 2008, 9pm-12mid.
Where: Stubb’s, 801 Red River, 480-8341
$$$:$12-15

Anyone can rock with a guitar, but try it with nothing but air and see how good you look.

Mortified Austin
When: Saturday, July 26 2008, 8:00pm
Where: United States Art Authority, 2906 Fruth St
Cost: $12.00-15.00

The project began in the late 1990s when founder Dave Nadelberg unearthed a notably awkward love letter and began sharing with friends. Formalizing as Mortified in 2002 with co-producer Neil Katcher, the project has since sifted through thousands of volumes of otherwise forgotten notebooks, photos, and envelopes in an effort crack the lid off our cultural shoebox and expose our inner geek. Participants include a wide range of people, from professional performers (comics, celebrities, singers) to total amateurs (architects, ad execs, salesmen) all in the noble pursuit of self-degradation. Personal redemption through public humiliation. There are a million stories buried in the pages of people’s lives. Mortified’s mission is to simply help people find them.

Share the shame.

Austin, weekend, things to do, what’s happening, TX, 7/25/08, 7/26/08, air guitar, tetris, video game, championship, mortified

The H-E-B Austin Symphony 32nd annual July 4th Concert and Fireworks “Celebrate your Independence”

The H-E-B Austin Symphony July 4th Concert and Fireworks — planned and produced entirely by the ASO — is free and open to the public. Having taken place at Zilker Park for the past six years, the stage for this celebration will return to it original home at Auditorium Shores in front of the beautiful new Long Center for the Performing Arts. The Austin Symphony Orchestra will begin performing at 8:30 p.m. and the fireworks will begin at 9:30 p.m., ending at 10:00 p.m. Come early, bring a picnic, claim a grassy spot and enjoy the patriotic music of the Austin Symphony Orchestra. Concessions will be available on site. (Sorry, alcohol and glass containers are not permitted in the park.)

ROUND ROCK Fourth of July Fireworks and Frontier Days Celebration:
When: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Where: The parade takes place along Main Street and the festivities will be held at the Lakeview Pavilion in Old Settlers Park
3300 E. Palm Valley Blvd, Round Rock, Texas
$$$: Free

The combined celebration on July 4 kicks off at 10 a.m. with a parade in downtown Round Rock. The parade starts at the First State Bank on the corner of Lee Street and Round Rock Avenue and continues down through Historic downtown Round Rock ending at the Sam Bass Little League Baseball fields. After the parade, head to old Settler’s Park for the Western Traditions themed celebration. Reenactment of the Sam Bass shoot out, free watermelon, arts and crafts, fireworks and more on the agenda.

The city council will be serving free watermelon on a first come first serve basis starting at 7 p.m. At 8 p.m. a skydiver will jump into the festival followed by music from the Austin Symphonic Band.

Pflugerville Pfirecracker Pfestival
Where: Lake Pflugerville, Pflugerville, Texas
When: 4:00 pm until dark!
Contact: 512-990-4363
$$$: Free to all
Stay close to home this 4th! Bring family and friends to the Pflugerville Pfirecracker Pfestival on the banks of beautiful Lake Pflugerville. Booths, games, swimming, canoes along with our headliner event, The Corvette Brothers featuring Rockin’Rick! Fireworks at Dark.
Estimated attendees-7500

Georgetown
Where: San Gabriel Park, 1003 N. Austin Avenue, Georgetown, Tx
When: 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
$$$: Free

Musical entertainment featuring some of the best local and Central Texas talent will begin at the gazebo in San Gabriel Park at 11 a.m. and continue all day until the fireworks display. More than 80 arts and crafts booths will open at 11 a.m., as well as food vendors and a children’s area with games, activities, petting zoo, train rides, and face painting.

The fireworks display begins at approximately 9 p.m. Fireworks will be launched from the McMaster Athletic Fields on N. College Street this year due to the construction of the Recreation Center expansion. Fireworks can be viewed from San Gabriel Park, VFW Park, and other areas in Georgetown.

Leander Liberty Fest
The City will hold its annual Liberty Fest celebration at Crystal Falls Golf Club on Friday, July 4th from 5-10pm. The event features live music, food, give aways, fireworks, and activities for kids.

There will be no public parking at Crystal Falls Golf Club during the event. Instead, a free shuttle service will be offered by CapMetro from the parking lot at Leander High School. Busses will begin running at 4pm.

For more information, contact the Parks & Recreation Department at (512) 528-9909.

Cedar Park:

The City of Cedar Park will host its annual Fourth of July Celebration at Elizabeth Milburn Park, 1901 Sun Chase Blvd., from 4-10 p.m. July 4. The event will feature live music, laser tag, a washer tournament, prizes and more. H-E-B will provide free watermelon and a fireworks display. For more information, call 401-5500.

Summerfest
San Marcos, Texas
Celebrate our nation’s independence along the banks of the San Marcos River!
Estimated attendees-8000 512-393-5900

Events and entertainment on July 4 at 202 North CM Allen Parkway, include the Firecracker Golf Classic, Children’s Parade and Costume Contest, Hays County Crime Stoppers Ducky Derby, Lions Club Illuminated River Float Parade, music, music, music, and fireworks, of course. Rain or shine; free; no alcohol; coolers subject to inspection.

The 28th Annual Summerfest starts at 4 p.m. A Children’s Parade and Costume Contest starts at 5 p.m. with a Patriotic Program to follow. Pets are not allowed. Fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m. with music after the fireworks display and continuing until 10:30 p.m. Details for San Marcos Summerfest.

Travis Country Neighborhood

Get Ready for the July 4th Parade. The annual Travis Country July 4th Parade begins at 10:30 a.m. on Knob Oak (off of Trail West). Residents, their children, and pets will be at their patriotic best, because there will be prizes for:

Craziest Hat

Best Decorated Stroller or Wagon

Best Decorated Bike

Most Patriotic Child under Five

Most Patriotic Child over Five

Most Patriotic Family

Most Patriotic Pet (small and large)

Willie Nelson’s Fourth of July Picnic
July 4
Verizon Wireless Amphitheater; 16765 Lookout Road, Selma, TX
(210) 657-8300
Music: Country, Rock
Activities:Music Festival
Willie Nelson’s July 4th Picnic moves to the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Selma, TX for 2008. Guests include Merle Haggard, Pat Green, Ray Price, Los Lonely Boys, Asleep at the Wheel, David Allan Coe, Ray Wylie Hubbard and Billy Joe Shaver.

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It looks like we have a great weekend ahead. Start yours off early with a little Gaelic music and a beautiful setting by attending tonight’s fundraising event for the Silver Thistle:

“A Midsummer’s Pipe Dream”
The Umlauf Sculpture Garden
Friday June, 27
Saturday, June 28th, 6 p.m.-10 p.m.
$$$: $5

Spend an evening in the rolling hills of Scotland in downtown Austin! Enjoy children’s games based on the Highland Games, walk through the gardens and enjoy art based in the Scottish tradition but immersed in the modern designs of the Umlauf, tap your foot to the music of Gaelic folk musicians and dancers, and cheer on Silver Thistle Pipes and Drums as they prepare for the World Championships in Scotland!

$5 Admission. There will be a variety of vendors, including food and drink, Tshirts, CDs, raffle, silent auction, and much, much more! Tickets are available now at Things Celtic or from your friendly Silver Thistle Band Member. Some of the performers include:

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Do your part to Keep Austin Weird this weekend with the Keep Austin Weird 5k.

6th Annual Keep Austin Weird 5K
delivered by AT&T and H-E-B

All you need to know about date, location, packet pick up and festival weirdness!

Date & Times:
June 28, 2008
3 PM - Gates Open
6 PM - 5K Start Time
RAIN OR SHINE!!

Location: Auditorium Shores

Race Route: Click here for a map of the course. There will be balloon twisters, food, tattoos, music and more!

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I have a soft spot for slam poetry. If you’ve never attended a slam poetry event, you should check one out. If you’ve found yourself wondering what ever happened to passion and opinion, this is where they collide, marry and have babies. Yo, check this out:

Rep Yo City SpitFest
Ruta Maya, 3601 S. Congress Ste. D-200, 745-5589.
$$$: $15 ($12, advance)
6-9pm.

Twelve poets go head-to-head as they rep their respective cities. Renowned international poet via Baltimore Taalam Acey will be the one to beat, but Austin’s own Blacklisted can’t be counted out. Get a discount at the door by bringing three canned goods for the Capital Area Food Bank.

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If you have a hankering to get out and enjoy the fresh air this weekend then you might consider a trip to Sweet Dreams Lavender Farm. Take a picnic, relax in the shade, stroll the grounds, watch the fish. This is a great venue for kids. It would also make a wonderfully romantic date spot and you can even take home lavender cuttings!

Sweet Dreams Lavender Farm
Saturdays, 10am-4pm; Sundays, 11am-4pm, through June.
10600 W. Wagon Rd., 288-7270.
$$$: Free, $4 to cut lavender

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Last, but not least, I really, really want to see this! Who wants to take me?

Seussical The Musical
June 27 - August 10, 2008
R.L. Davis Auditorium, Texas School for the Deaf
Friday at 7:00
Saturday at 2:00 & 7:00
Sunday at 2:00
$$$: $40

ZACH Theatre’s Performing Arts School presents Seussical — a FUNtastical, magical, musical extravaganza based on the books of Dr. Seuss — live on stage this summer! Your family will be enchanted when Seuss’ beloved characters spring to life in this energetic, heart-warming musical featuring classics such as Horton Hears a Who, Horton Hatches the Egg, Gertrude McFuzz, Green Eggs and Ham and of course, The Cat in the Hat! Dr. Seuss’ most colorful characters come tumbling right out of the books and up onto our stage in this joyful gumbo of musical styles, ranging from Latin to pop, swing to gospel, and R&B to funk! So let your toes tap, your fingers snap, and your imagination run wild! ZACH’s production features Austin’s most talented youth and adult performers in a full scale production guaranteed to delight your children, and make you feel like a kid all over again. Last year’s family show, High School Musical, sold out in record time - so hurry and secure your tickets to this summer’s hit today!

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