Austin, TX

Is it just me or does it feel odd to be celebrating Easter so early? To me, Easter is supposed to happen in April, not March, and certainly not this early in March. Here are a few Easter activities for those of you caught off guard by the early arrival of that wascally wabbit.

Jo’s Coffee Easter Pet Parade and Costume Contest
When: Saturday, March 22 2008, 12:00pm
Where: Texas French Bread Inc., 1722 S Congress Ave
Cost: $10.00

Throw an Easter bonnet on Fifi and get yourself down to Jo’s on S. Congress. There will be a bouncy castle, food, drinks, pets, costumes, music and much more! You could win a night at the Hotel San Jose, so register now! All proceeds benefit Animal Trustees of Austin. What could be better? The parade starts at the Texas French Bread Co and proceeds to Jo’s.

Sticking with the pet theme, this weekend is also the:

3rd Annual Triple Crown Pet Fest & Expo
When: Saturday, March 22 2008, 11:00am - 5:00pm
Where: Triple Crown Dog Academy, 200 County Road 197, Hutto, TX
$$$: Free (donations gladly accepted)

Dashin’ Dachshunds Weenie Dog Dash…Yappy Hour…live music…spring hayrides…Canine Carnival…Easter parade…These are just a few of the activities planned for a spring festival celebrating pets of all varieties.

Two Doggy Easter Parades in one weekend? That’s a bit surreal. How about an Easter Egg hunt?

30th Annual Easter Eggstravaganza
When: Saturday, March 22nd, 10am - 12noon
Where: House Park Stadium (12th and Lamar) next door to Austin Recreation Center. 1301 Shoal Creek
$$$: $2 entry fee to participate in the egg hunt. Carnival game tickets .25 cents each.

Carnival games, concessions and of course, an easter egg hunt!

And another?

Easter Egg Hunt at Austin Farmers’ Market
When: Saturday, March 22nd, 11am
Where: Republic Square, (4th and Guadalupe)

Local chocolates, market bucks and local farm animals used for their wool will be at the market for children to pet and learn from, including a lap-sitting angora rabbit that will have wool spun directly from its fur, and two baby llamas that can be petted.

Want to cozy up to the Easter bunny? Then here is your opportunity:

Easter Brunch with the Easter Bunny
When: Sunday, March 23rd, 11am-2pm
Where: Renaissance Hotel, 9721 Arboretum Blvd
$$$: $49 adult, $19.95 age 6+
Info: (512) 795-6100

In addition to the outstanding appetizers, delectable main dishes and tantalizing desserts the Renaissance will host the Easter Bunny who will be available from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. for the enjoyment of children of all ages. The wildly popular annual Easter Egg Hunt will begin at 1:00 p.m., where kids can search high and low for candy and other treats courtesy of the Renaissance Austin.

And now for something completely different:

25th EASTER LASER REGATTA
When: March 21-23, 2008
Where: Austin Yacht Club
$$$: Free to watch, $40 to enter the race

I can’t find much information on the race so if you know anything, please let me know!

Well, those are a few suggestions for the Easter weekend. Have a Happy Easter!

Austin, Tx, Easter, Fun, Events, Activities, Egg Hunts, Regatta, Pet, Parade, Brunch, Bunny, Things to do

February was a strange month here in Austin. We had a record high of 92F. 92F in February. That’s just not right! Meanwhile up in Seattle they had snow which really doesn’t happen all that often in Seattle proper.

This weekend brings one of my very favorite events. The Zilker Kite Fest, now in it’s 80th year. This is a great event for kids of all ages. Usually I can’t keep my youngest brother away but he’s run off to Miami to spend time with one of my other brothers. I hope the weather holds up for it.

My friends Donald and Lucy will be there painting faces so be sure to stop by their booth and tell them Kyla sent you. They do great work. My friend Tye will also be there selling kites. Tye owns World Wind Kites, a wonderful kite shop that never fails to have my kite-loving brother drooling. Every time he comes to town he wants to go there! Poor Tye, he’s love to be flying his kites and having fun at the Kite Fest but is always stuck selling kites instead. He’s happy for the business, though. Be sure to check out his booth and stop by his store, too. Tell him hi for me. He’s a great guy!

There will be free shuttle rides. Don’t try parking at Zilker. It’s not going to happen and you’ll just get frustrated trying. You can Park and Ride at the State Garage East at 17th and Colorado. Shuttles begin at 10am (last one leaves park at 5:30 pm).

When: Sunday March 2, 2008 from 10 am to 5 pm
Where: Zilker Park
$$$: FREE

The weather is calling for scattered thunderstorms. In the even that it rains, the rain date is Sunday March 9, 2008. To check the weather call the Zilker Kite Festival hotline at (512) 448-KITE (5483).

The event has food vendors, kite workshops and contests and lots of fun stuff. You can also bring your own lunch and have a picnic. The food booths tend to attract long lines and last year there were no ATMs so bringing your own can be a good option if you want to avoid the lines and save money.

Please be sure to take sunscreen with you, especially if you have children. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen people horribly burned at these type of outdoor events. Especially when there is a cool wind blowing. It’s deceptive and sneaks up on you. Also take water if you and stay hydrated. They do have porta-potties but I always carry some tissue in case they run out.

Austin, Texas, Events, Kite, Festival, Zilker, Park, World Wind Kites, Tye, Curvy Canvas, Donald, Ludy, free, hotline, March, 3/2/08

The long-awaited Capital Confectioners Cake Show took place at the weekend. We got started with the set-up at 9AM on Friday morning by loading up all available cars and trucks and heading over to the event center. There was a lot to be done. From setting up the concession stand to organizing registration and a myriad of other tasks. We could have used a few more hands but we all worked hard and finally quit around 7PM only to return at 6AM on Saturday.

By Friday evening I’d pretty much decided that there was no way I was going to finish my own show piece. Doing so would have meant staying up the rest of the night and I knew I needed to get some sleep if I was going to make it through Saturday. I got a little bit of a second wind when I got home, though, and I decided that I would at least try and finish my entry for the tasting competition. Unfortunately my first cake did not set up properly but I valiantly started over again. The fates were not shining on me however and the same thing happened with the second cake. I decided to just go with it and left it to cool overnight and went to bed. I got up at the crack of dawn, having slept 3 hours, filled the cake, iced it quickly and ran out the door. I was about 15 minutes late arriving but I felt better having at least some part of my entry.

We opened the doors at 7AM for competitors to begin dropping off their cakes. For the next three hours they seemed to come in waves, busy one minute and slow the next. I’m not sure yet how many entries we had but it was a lot. From the children’s entries to the adult entries, the quality of work was just amazing. Just take a look at this stunning piece done by Pflugerville sugar artist, Janette Pfertner:

Photo by acshepard on Flickr.com

Yes, that really is cake!

When I attended the show a year ago I blogged about the lack of organization and other petty stuff. I had no idea at the time that the show was put on by a volunteer army of local sugar artists from the Capital Confectioners Club. When I made that discovery I felt a bit stupid for complaining. I looked up the club information and resolved to attend the next meeting. I figured that I shouldn’t complain without walking a mile in their shoes. Imagine my embarrassment when I saw a copy of my blog all printed up and sitting next to the sign-in sheet. I slunk down in my seat hoping no one would notice. As it happens they spent the meeting talking about the show and what went right and wrong and how things could be improved for the next show. I piped up here and there with suggestions and I feel fortunate today that they listened and didn’t punch my lights out.

Working an event like the cake show is a labor of love. Volunteers do not get paid. We are short staffed and there is more work than there are volunteers. It’s tiring and the hours are long. At the end of it you’re mentally and physically exhausted and you’re a little sensitive to criticism. After all, it’s your baby, and no one likes to hear criticism of their baby. Right? Right!

This year’s show was better than last year’s. The venue, Texas Star Meeting and Event Center, was beautiful. We were better organized. We were better advertised. We had more entries. We had more vendors. We had a better concession stand. The show was awesome! We heard a lot of “Great Job!” and “Beautiful facility!” and many other wonderful compliments.

The reason this year’s show was better than last year’s show is not because I joined the group. I played my part, certainly, but the real reason is because a core group of dedicated volunteers listened to last year’s suggestions, took notes of what worked and what didn’t and set out to make this year’s show better than last year’s. It’s as simple as that. I have no doubt that next year’s show will be even better and the year after even better yet.

We’ll meet shortly to debrief and start the process all over again. We’ll take your suggestions to heart. We’ll make notes of what worked and what didn’t and in no time at all we’ll start over again. In the meantime we’ll put this show to bed knowing we did our best and that our show was a success.

Thank you to our vendors and demonstrators and most of all thank you to each and every one of you who submitted an entry this year. We are proud to have had the opportunity to display your work. We hope to see you again next year and if you have suggestions on how we can improve the show, drop us a note or better yet, come join us and walk a mile in our shoes.

capital, confectioners, club, cake, show, 2008, That Takes The Cake, Janette Pfertner, Austin, Tx, Texas, Event, Meeting, Center, South, Sugar, Artist

Celebrating Sustainability at the Austin Hostel!

Did you know Austin has a hostel? Me, either! Not only do we have a hostel but we apparently have a pretty nice one! HI-Austin, which stands for Hostel International, Austin, is located on the shore of Town Lake, giving it a nice peaceful feel. Guests are footsteps away from local bus lines, hiking and biking trails and the Colorado River. They also offer excellent amenities such as a kitchen, laundry facilities, Wi-Fi, free parking, movies, and lockers for every guest. Hi-Austin is recognized as a “Sustainable Living Center” and has visitors from up to 35 countries each year.

A 10 minute journey could take you to the middle of the Red River music district, to the stylish hub of South Congress, to the cool waters of Barton Springs Pool, or to the natural beauty of the Austin Greenbelt. Our fun and friendly staff would love to give you some ideas of what to do in town and directions on how to get there!

For over 20 years the Southwest Texas Council of Hosteling International has provided an environmentally and economically conscious home for travelers visiting Austin.

This year, HI-Austin has teamed up with several environmentally conscious, local organizations such as Ecology-Action, Austin Carshare, TreeFolks, Ten Thousand Villages and The Natural Epicurean Academy, among others; to provide a casual party in celebration of sustainable living in Austin. Food donated by White Mountain Foods, and music by Austin’s favorite The Lennings.

Food donated by White Mountain Foods & and Music performed by Austin Favorite band: The Lennings. Winnie from our school with possibly another student, will be rolling sushi to teach and market to the community. Just a casual drop by event and hopefully we’ll have great weather to be outdoors as well! All welcome and free of course!

Join Hi-Austin for an afternoon of organic food, homegrown music and exhibits with other local “green” minded organizations. Kids are welcome!

Who: HI–Austin, Southwest Texas Council
What: A celebration of sustainable living
Where: HI – Austin Hostel, 2200 S. Lakeshore Blvd., Austin TX. 78741
When: Saturday, February 23, 2008

11:00 – 12:30 Annual Council Meeting

(HI Members encouraged to attend!)

1:00 – 3:00 Annual Party

(Everyone welcome!)

Austin, Texas, Tx, Sustainable, Hostel, Party, HI, International, Town Lake, Party, Living, The Lennings, Organic, Foods

The Cake Show committee met last Tuesday prior to the Cake Club meeting. The Cake Show is coming up so fast now. With just 8 days to go things seem to be going along as planned. We have some wonder raffle items and participation levels are way up from last year.

One thing I’m not sure I mentioned before is that we’ll have a kids demonstration table. This hands-on demonstration will cost a small fee of $5 and kids will receive a gingerbread kit and help with assembling a Bunny House. I can’t wait to see the fun gingerbread houses the kids make!

We made a couple of small changes to the Show.

1. Kids under 16 will get in free
2. The Cakes in Bloom competition is now a 3-D Tiered Whimsical competition
3. Earlene’s demo at the Showcase Demonstration on Sunday will now be Lace on Cakes
4. Steven’s demo at the Showcase Demonstration will now be Easter Themed
5. Nick’s demo at the Showcase Demonstration will now be on Patchwork Cutters

We changed the Cakes in Bloom competition because we only had a couple of people signed up for it and the number of gumpaste flowers required is costly. We think the 3-D tiered whimsical cakes will be very fun.

The Bunny House demonstration for kids will be held from 11am-2pm. Be sure to bring spending money. We have so many great raffle prizes, you’ll definitely want to buy plenty of tickets. Raffle tickets are going to run 15 for $10, I believe. We’ll also have a concession booth for drinks, popcorn and candy. The smell of all those cakes might make you hungry. Heh.

Entry into the Cake Show will be $5 for Saturday and $2 for Sunday. Sunday is cake viewing only. Saturday will have all the fun stuff!

If you’re a competitor, you need to drop off your cakes between 7am-10pm. 9am-9:30 tends to be the crunch time so you may want to arrive around 8am. If you’re a competitor or signed up for Sunday’s Showcase Demonstration, your entry into the Show is free.

Don’t worry about not being “good enough”. Your cakes are going to be judged against your peers, people at your same level of expertise. We welcome ALL levels of cake enthusiasts and children can participate free.

Check out our website for more information.

Austin, Texas, Capital Confectioners, Sugar, Cake, Art, Show, Decorating, February, Events, Gingerbread, Easter, Kids, Free, Nick Lodge, Steven Stellingwerf, Earlene Moore, Bronwen, Weber, Raffle, Club, hands-on, demonstrations, competitions

Well kids, there are a couple of big events going on this weekend. First and foremost is the AT&T Austin Marathon. The originally weather forecast was pretty depressing, calling for rain, cold and possible tornadoes. Thankfully it now appears the runners may get a break with a sunny run. Some enterprising person actually put together a YouTube video of the course.

You can find Part 2 here.

For those of you not participating or just interested in the marathon or cheering on the runners, here is a link to the Traffic Guide which lists road closures.

Good luck to those of you participating!

Next up is:

This is not your average garage sale. This is a fashionista-on-a-budget’s dream come true. Fashion designers will be selling off the outfits they show retailers to pique their interest. It’s a great opportunity to buy designer clothing at a fraction of the cost. Check out their website for more details and a list of designers who will be participating.

February 16-17, 2008
Austin Music Hall
Admission $10/day or $15/Weekend

Also, on Saturday, don’t forget Ararat & Hot Mama’s Lover’s Feast For The Senses:

At 7:30pm enjoy a lovingly prepared buffet of aphrodiastic delights accompanied by the romantically intoxicating songs, a beautiful barrage of dancers, and the spiritually touching visuals of HIPNAUTICA. Includes a complimentary beverage of your choice off of Hot Mama’s fabulous menu of fair trade coffees, local brews, and tasty wines!

Another really cool thing happening in Austin this week is Jugglefest XV. Celebrating its 15th year, Jugglefest is a three-day event full of workshops, games, demonstrations, and shows featuring juggling, unicycling, and related circus arts. Everyone is welcome to come on down to pick up the basics, learn some new tricks, meet some crazy people or just chill out and watch.

February 15-17, 2008
Austin, Texas

For those of you still looking for Valentine’s ideas check out the lower half of this post.

For those of you looking for family things to do, check out Austin ParentWise!

Austin, Weekend, 2/16/08, 2/17/08, TX, weekend, events, Ararat, Hot Mama, Feast, Valentine’s, Jugglefest, Marathon, Traffic Guide, ideas, things to do

From those rockin’ cool folks at That Other Paper:

TONIGHT AT COLDTOWNE THEATER

Whether you’re single, in a relationship, or you hate Valentine’s Day, you’ll have a good time at ColdTowne Theater’s special Valentine’s Day Stool Pigeon tonight, an event we’re proud to be sponsoring. While Stool Pigeon usually involves a celebrity guest telling a few monologues that then inspire the improvisers, tonight it’s a bit different — everyone is the celebrity guest. The all-star cast of improvisers will be improvising scenes based on audience members’ “nightmare scenarios of love gone wrong.” $7-$10! BYOB! Yes!

FRIDAY NIGHT AT COLDTOWNE THEATER

We’re back at 10pm again for Punchline, a stand-up comedy open mic sponsored by your pals at That Other Paper and produced by Seth Cockfield. Our host will be famous illusionist and caricature artist Lance Gilstrap. BYOB! $5! Go!

ColdTowne Theater
48 1/2 and Airport Blvd

Check out more hot weekend picks from That Other Paper.

Valentine’s, Day, Austin, Tx, February 14, 2008, Last minute, things to do, cheap, inexpensive, that other paper, coldtowne, theater, airport blvd, Punchline, stand-up, comedy, Lance Gilstrap, stool pigeons, singles, events, improv, open mic

Forgot to make reservations for the big night? Here are a few more suggestions for those of you who put things off a bit too long.

Dr. Foo over at the Satay restaurant sent me an email the other day. I’m not sure what’s on their menu but their food is always delicious and it’s pretty affordable for Valentine’s Day.

Up for a little saucy entertainment?

Or join them Friday night for their 1st Anniversary celebration along with Red Light Burlesque, The Jigglewatts, Carousel Cabaret, Raw Sugar Burlesque, Rita Lovelace and Frostine Shake with musical entertainment from Mr Lewis and Funeral 5 as they celebrate on Feb 15th at Emo’s Lounge. Door at 8pm, show starts at 9. PLUS, in honor of valentine’s day, we’ll have a kissing booth so you can fulfill your dreams of kissing a burlesque dancer. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door.

Here is a great idea guaranteed not to break your bank. I have it on good authority that there will be plenty of sweet Valentine’s themed songs to slow dance with your sweetie to:

Austin, Texas, Tx, February, 14, 2008, 15th Things to do, last minute, big star burlesque, flamingo cantina, Satay, restaurant, dinner, fun stuff, places to go, no reservations, forgot, Valentine’s, Day

Looking for a little club action this Valentine’s Day? Here are a few hot picks:

What: Kitty Kitty Bang Bang Valentines Show!
When: Thursday 02/14 (10:00PM)
Where: @ Stubb’s Bar-B-Q (Downtown), 801 Red River
$$$: Tickets start at $15. Reservations strongly encouraged. (512) 389-0315
For the third year in a row, Austin’s hot, burly-q favorites, Kitty Kitty Bang Bang, will team up with Stubbs BBQ to offer a fun alternative to the typical Valentine’s Day routine. Trade the dinner reservations at a stuffy restaurant for a bronco-bustin’ good time with supper, suds, and sexy gals. Due to an overwhelming response in previous years, the Kitties have added a second show.

The schedule is as follows:

Lovebird’s Dinner beginning at 6:30PM (dinner included).

Singles Soiree, beginning at 10PM (dinner not included).

What: Hot Thang - Valentine’s Ball
When: Thursday 02/14 (07:00PM)
Where: @ Monarch Event Center, 6406 N. IH 35, suite 3100
$$$: $35-$60
On the annual day for lovers celebrating love - UpRise! Productions presents a new and unique erotic experience - Hot Thang! The evening includes a full scale Valentines’ Ball featuring a Burlesque Show, an erotic maze, lounge entertainment with a special performance by All U Need, and DJ P.O.W. spinning the night away. Guests will enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while mingling with Austin’s most adventurous socialites. And who better to crown as Romance Royalty, than Prince himself, as Hot Thang! honors his Purple Highness with a tribute through his music, performance art, and erotic dance.

Guest choreographers include Assistant Artistic Director of Ballet East Dance Company Melissa Villarreal, Austin Chronicle “Critic’s Choice” nominee Amberlee Cantrell, and Co-Artistic Director of The Getalong Gang Zenobia Taylor.

We invite you to be a part of the debut of this annual must attend Valentines event for Austin’s hottest couples and singles.

What: Shot Through the Heart Ball w/ SKYROCKET
When: Thursday 02/14 (07:00PM)
Where: @ Antone’s, 213 W 5th St
$$$: $15
SKYROCKET started in 2001, when a handful of local Austin, TX rock stars got together to geek out. Turns out they’d all cut their teeth on ’70s music, not just the great rock stuff but the funny solid-gold stuff, too – disco, glam rock, soft rock and soul one-hit wonders. Before long, other musicians were begging to be in the band, swearing that they too could play and sing just like the original artists. And they do!. And KTel as we know it today was born featuring TRISH MURPHY - vocals, guitar BENJAMIN HOTCHKISS - vocals, conga, glockenspiel JOHNNY GOUDIE - keyboards, guitar, vocals KYLE CRUSHAM - guitar, keyboards PAUL ENGLISH - guitar, vocals MIKE BELILE - bass DARIN MURPHY - drums, vocalsK-TEL HIT MACHINE plays 1970s solid-gold favorites, mixed with a few edgy album rock hits from the 80’s. This seven-piece band takes its name from the series of “super hits” compilation albums advertised on TV in the 70’s, and much of the band’s repertoire appeared on those records. If you’re thinking “classic rock”, think again. K-TEL HIT MACHINE steers virtually clear of typical rock and dance standards driven into the ground by radio and karaoke, and breathes new life into old hits that made you smirk back then and make you howl today. Start the fun now!

What: 3 Balls of Fire Lovefest
When: Thursday 02/14 (09:30PM) - Thursday 02/14 (2:00AM)
Where: @ Ruta Maya World HQ, 3601 S. Congress Avenue
$$$: $8 Cover Charge
Featuring Ted Roddy and Rosie Flores. Ruta Maya has several offerings over the weekend and some of the best coffee and beer in town!

What: ULTRALUST: Austin’s Sexiest Valentines Party
When: Thursday 02/14 (09:00PM) - Friday 02/15 (12:00AM)
Where: @ Ninety Proof Lounge 333 E 2nd St
$$$: Pre-Sale $7 21+ Age Restriction
You have been invited to attend Austin’s sexiest and largest Valentines Party! So dont be left out and come us and Cupid at Ninety Proof Lounge on 2nd and Trinity! We are shipping Scott Stubbs from Las Vegas to perform a special “Love” mix from popular music from all around the world! Opening for Scott Stubbs of Organic / Nokturnel Records - we have DR MIKE of Austin Texas! Dr Mike will be performing on the decks as well on a full drum set to bang hard beating house beats into your ears! So come on by and let your partner feed you chocolates all night long while you sit back and enjoy the drinks specials. Dont forget about the sexiest person contest! Get your chance to win a free table and bottle for just looking sexy! So whats keeping you! Come over to Ninety Proof Lounge and dance the night away before you all head home to make those fireworks fly!

What: Valentine’s Milk 2: Orion, Abominatron and King Louie
When: Thursday 02/14 (10:00PM)
Where: @ Beauty Bar 617 E 7th Street
$$$: Tickets can be obtained through Front Gate Tickets

For more events happening around Austin for Valentine’s Day and every other day of the week, check out do512 or The Austin Showlist as well as my own list of things to do and my list of Anti-Valentine’s events.

Austin, Events, Music, Valentine’s, Day, Parties, Party, Beauty Bar, Kitty Kitty Bang Bang, Stubb’s, Tx, Texas, Sexiest, Ultralust, Ball, Show, Hot Thang, Love, Fest, Ruta Maya, 3 Balls of Fire, K-Tel, Skyrockets, Shot, Heart

Hate Valentine’s Day? Let’s face it, being single on Valentine’s Day can really suck. Red hearts and cupids everywhere you turn and lovey dovey cards in your face. You can’t even stop in at the grocery store without being inundated. Even those of you with significant others can hate Valentine’s Day, a holiday largely exploited by the greeting card industry. Your wife/girlfriend/significant other expects chocolate and flowers and a romantic dinner out and you see the dollar signs flashing before your eyes and the pressure is on to plan something spectacular or risk disappointing her. Well, for those haters out there, here is a list of Anti-Valentine’s Day activities happening in and around Austin for 2008:

What: 2nd Annual Anti-Valentine’s Day Party
Where: Hi-Lo, 301 W Sixth St, Austin, TX, (512) 480-9433
When: Thursday, Feb. 14 2008, 9:00pm - 2:00am
Menu: N/A
$$$: FREE
Ok, so its Valentine’s Day….. Thats right. The silly contrived and completely irreverent holiday that Hallmark invented to give them a boost at the end of Q1. Are you really going to let Hallmark make a fool out of you!??! HELL NO!! You are going to come to the second annual I’D RATHER BE SINGLE THAN WITH MY EX party at Hi-Lo. We will be there in full cupid attire rocking out from 10pm to midnight with plenty of shot specials and all kinds of other awesome things. We’re also looking for a few funny valentines or anti-valentines songs for the party so suggestions wouldn’t suck. DO IT. See you on valentines!!!

What: Anti Valentine’s
When: Friday, 15 February 2008
Where: The United States Art Authority, 510 W. 29th Street, Austin, TX 78705
$$$: $10 minimum donation
An art soirée benefiting the 4th Annual Art Outside Skits/Sounds/Performance/Conversations/Arts. Starring DJ Starsign and DJ Clauade 9. Featuring artists such as Alisun Graham, Andrea Burden, Joey Santori, Darren Minke and Mary Quite Contrary as well as many others.

What: Valentine’s Day Massacre
When: Thursday 02/14 (12:00AM)
Where: @ Beerland (Downtown), 711 1/2 Red River
$$$: ? Their website doesn’t say
Starring Aaron Blount, Karrie Hopper, Tenlon’s Fort & Deadman.

What: F@#$% Valentine’s Day
When: Thursday 02/14 (10:00PM)
Where: Trophy’s, 2008 S Congress Ave
$$$: $5
Get Wasted at Trophy’s. Featuring Monument to One, Exeter, Co-Pilot & For That Day. Bring your booze and drown your sorrows with some rock n roll. Forget that girl/boy that won’t go out with you and meet some other people (who are drunk) and maybe you can hook up!

For you couples wanting to take a poke at Valentine’s Day:

What: “Till Death Do Us Part” Murder Mystery Dinner
When: Thursday, Feb. 14 2008
Where: Messina Hof Winery
$$$: $99.95 per couple
It will be a night of Love, Marriage and Murder. This year’s theme, “Till Death Do Us Part,” will be filled with food, fun and all the wine you can drink. The price for the Murder Mystery Dinner is $69.95 per person plus tax and gratuity (5% discount for VIP’s). Speak now or forever a killer goes free! For more information or to make reservations for dinner or the Murder Mystery Dinner, call Shannon Ball at 979-778-9463 ext 34. Vist the website at www.messinahof.com.

That’s all I’ve found so far. If you know of other anti-Valentine’s Day activities going on in Austin, please let me know!

[tags]Valentine’s, Anti, Austin, Texas, TX, Beerland, Trophy’s, Art Authority, Hate, Party, Parties, Murder Mystery, Dinner, Messina Hof, Winery, Events, Things to do, What’s Happening[/tag]

I apologize for being out of pocket the past week or so. I had a death in my family which necessitated a trip to Eastern Washington. I am happy to be back home. It was freezing up there. I had to travel through both Snoqualmie Pass and White Pass on my trips over the mountain and back to Seattle and those were two very scary trips. Thankfully I had the foresight to upgrade my rental car to a 4-wheel drive SUV!

This Thursday is Valentine’s Day so I thought I’d give you a few ideas to help you plan. Here are a few off-beat and or interesting things happening in our fair city:

What: Valentino’s Feast of Love
Where: Ararat Mid~East Fusion @The United States Art Authority, 510 W. 29th Street, Austin, TX 78705
When: From February 14, 2008
Menu: See Menu
$$$: $150, per person, BYOB
Alternately you can wait until the 15th and go for a slightly more limited menu and the much lower price of $40 from 6-10pm at the German-Texan Heritage Society, 507 E. 10th, 552-7365. Or on the 16th from 6:30-10pm at Hot Mama’s Espresso Bar, 2401 E. Sixth #104, 476-6262. $35.

For those of you who like to combine your romantic evening with a little charity, here are a few ideas:

What: Central Texas SPCA Valentine’s Dinner
Where: AMOA-Laguna Gloria, 3809 W. 35th, 260-SPCA.
When: Thursday, February 14, 2008
Menu: Buffet from Pascal’s serving the following entrees: Pecan Encrusted Tilapia filet, Grilled Chicken Breast topped with Portobello Mushroom & Smoked Swiss Cheese, Butternut Squash Ravioli with Chipotle Alfredo Sauce and outstanding desserts.
$$$: $160 per couple.
Share some love with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals tonight at this annual dinner and dance at the Austin Museum of Art’s beautiful lakeside Italian villa, Laguna Gloria. Enjoy live music, a silent auction, and an open bar. 6:30-9:30pm.

What: Charitable Ladies Valentine’s Day Shindig
Where: Mansion at Judges’ Hill (Event Center), 1900 Rio Grande, Austin, TX 78705
When: Thursday, February 14th, 2008 ~ 7 - 11pm
Menu: N/A
$$$: $40
Fabulous Raffle Prizes, Burlesque Shows, Live Music & cash bar available if wine isn’t your thing. Sterling Affairs & Charitable Ladies are teaming up to raise the roof at Mansion at Judges’ Hill and bring some fun into the holiday built by cupid and Hallmark. $40 gets you in the door to enjoy heavy appetizers, wine & entertainment you won’t want to miss. So whether you’re popping in to dance off that romantic dinner, or just want to shake up a Thursday night, join us for some fun while we support Austin Music Foundation & Art+Life+Kenya, two amazing non-profit organizations who will receive a portion of the eveningʼs proceeds. $20 tax deductible, $20 non-deductible

On a budget? Like Curry & Karaoke?

What: Valentine’s Day at Bombay Bistro
Where: Bombay Bistro, 10710 Research Blvd, Austin, TX
When: Saturday, February 16 2008, 9:00pm
Menu: All night dinner buffet (Their lunch buffet is pretty good)
$$$: $20 per person
Live Entertainment, Sumptuous Appetizers, Portraits Couples, Singles and Families, Open Bar All Night Long, DJ Perdes Milan, Karaoke Songs Available
Call at 512-769-6258 or 512-512-731-2345 for more details

Looking for something funny, dark and twisted? Here ya go:

What: Love Doll
Where: Lamberts, 401 W. Second, 494-1500.
When: Wed.-Thu., Feb. 13-14, 9:30pm.
Menu: N/A
$$$:
Like your romance just a little bit twisted, do you? Wanna see what the talented likes of Rebecca Havemeyer and Stanley Roy Williamson can do with “shady rituals, mannequins of meat, and songs of the heart and soul,” hey? We sure do, especially as this night of perverse and passionate love-fun also features Little Stolen Moments, Silky Shoemaker, and Bruce Kirkland. Recommended.

Feeling Decadent?

What: Merlot & Chocolate Tasting
Where: Becker Vineyards
When: February, 16 & 17, Hours: Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sunday, Noon–6 p.m.
Menu: Wine & Chocolate, silly!
$$$: Complimentary
Pair Merlot with a dark chocolate…sumptious! Becker Vineyards will feature a guest chef with samples of chocolate creations as well as items for sale!

Or for a lovely Valentine’s Day Luncheon:

What: Sweethearts Luncheon
Where: Becker Vineyards
When: February 16, 2008, Doors Open: 11:30 a.m. Lunch Served at Noon
Menu: See Website
$$$: $65 per person
Reservations required: 830-644-2681
Payment due at time of booking.

Looking for something free or kid friendly, or both?

What: Special Public Tour: The Virgin, Saints, and Angels
Where: The Blanton Museum
When: February 14, 2008, 12:30-1pm
Menu: N/A
$$$: Thursdays are FREE!
Join curatorial interns in the Latin American art department Grace Londono and Alex Freeman for a tour of Jorge Macchi: The Anatomy of Melancholy.

What: Sesame Street Live
Where: Frank Erwin Center 1701 Red River, Austin Texas
When: Thursday, February 14, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Menu: N/A
$$$: $13-27 depending on seating
Introducing Abby Cadabby! The newest Muppet on Sesame Street joins Elmo, Zoe, Rosita and all of her furry and feathered friends in asking, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ as they prepare for a pageant on Sesame Street. Get ready to sing cowboy songs, ride the rails and more when Sesame Street Live “When Elmo Grows Up” performs at Frank Erwin Center

Dance? Music?

What: Austin Chamber Music Presents: Move over, cupid. We’ll take it from here.
Where: Home of Diane Land & Steve Adler
When: Friday & Saturday, February 15 & 16 at 7:30 PM, Sunday, February 17 at 3:00 PM
Menu: N/A
$$$: $40 per person
Sparks are flying when the Austin Chamber Music Center presents “Move over, cupid. We’ll take it from here,” a Valentine’s Pops Concert featuring Sparks and Friends performing popular hits depicting love in all its forms.

What: The 2nd Biennial New American Talent/Dance a choreographic competition
Where: The Paramount
When: 8pm, Feb 14, 15, 16 - 3pm, Feb 17
Menu: N/A
$$$: $15 - $59 (service charges not included)
Share in one of the nation’s most exciting interactive ballet opportunities as Stephen Mills continues his biennial search to recognize exceptional choreographic talent! Emerging dance makers chosen from a national selection process by a panel of renowned jurors compete for prestige, up to $20,000 in cash…and the chance to realize their dreams. Join in the fun as YOU, the audience, vote on your favorites from a field of world-premiere works, with styles ranging from the classical to the abstract. “Ladies and gentlemen, turn ON your cell phones” and vote!

Want something classy and not cheap but worth every penny?

What: Valentine’s at Green Pastures
Where: 811 W Live Oak St, Austin, TX 78704
When: 5:00 PM on Thursday, February 14th 2008
Menu: I can’t seem to locate a menu for Valentine’s Day
$$$: $80 per person
Beautiful, romantic and the food is exquisite. They also do a mighty fine Sunday Brunch for $33 a person, if you’re inclined to wait until the weekend!

And finally for those of you Anti-Valentine’s Day haters, here is a list just for you.

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I don’t know about you but I have a lot going on this weekend. A friend eloped to Hawaii before Christmas and is now having a Wedding Shower and a Wedding Reception and I am doing cakes for both. Luckily they are both fairly easy cakes!

Here are some things happening in Austin and the surrounding areas this weekend:

What: Game Night at Irie Bean
When: Friday, January 18, 2008
Where: Irie Bean Coffee Bar, 2310 South Lamar, Suite 102, Austin.
$$$: Just the cost of your drinks.
Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to do more than go to 6th street every Friday and Saturday night? Then bring your friends out for a fun game night! Grab a coffee or beer and compete in games like Catch Phrase, Pictionary and more! Got Game? Bring it!

What: South Austin Jug Band
When: Friday 01/18 (08:00PM)
Where: Gruene Hall, 1281 Gruene Rd, New Braunfels
$$$: No Cover
If you haven’t seen these folks, you should. They are the winners of the Best Bluegrass, Austin Music Awards 2006-07Here is a little clip:

What: Play it by Ear
When: Saturday, January 19th, 6-8pm
Where: The Austin Children’s Museum
$$$: Free with the price of admission. Adult: $5.50, Children 2 yrs.and up: $5.50, Children 12-23 months: $3.50, Children under 12 months: FREE
Explore the art and science of tinkering with sound!
Engage all of your senses as you bring to life 11 interactive sound sculptures. Create your own sound art. Experiment with echoes. Change your voice to sound like a robot. Take a playful, creative approach to learning all about sound production and reception in this feature exhibit. You’ll leave having experienced the answers to questions like, “What makes sound? How do our ears work? How do we hear and interpret sounds around us?”

What: KEEPIN’ AUSTIN WEIRD CHASE
When: Saturday, January 19th, 1-6pm
Where: Downtown Austin, 888/702-9039 x4
$$$: $30
An adrenaline-pumping afternoon of high adventure featuring a handmade treasure map that you must use – along with clues, ciphers, puzzles, and even some old-fashioned gadgets of the invisible-ink caliber – to beat out the other teams aiming to find the treasure first.

What: MLK DAY OF SERVICE
When: Saturday, January 19th, 9am-3pm. 225-0360.
Where: Communities throughout Austin
$$$: Free
pays tribute to the achievements of Martin Luther King with a day of service projects in his honor. Today is your day to give back: Check out www.mlkday.gov to find the volunteer project that best expresses how you’d like to better your community. rene.carlin@unitedwaycapitalarea.org www.mlkday.gov

What: Round Rock’s 20th Annual Martin Luther King Commemorative March
When: 1/19/2008, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Where: Allen R Baca Center, 301 W Bagdad Building 2, Round Rock, Texas
$$$: Free
The event will celebrate diversity and recognize Martin Luther King’s accomplishments and the civil rights movement. The celebration begins with a commemorative march from Round Rock’s Buck Egger Park, at the corner of Mays and Logan, and concludes with a program at the Allen R Baca Center for Senior and Community Activities.

What: Spring Bulb Festival
When: Jan. 19-20. Sat., 10am-4pm; Sun., noon-4pm.
Where: Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Rd, 619-0344.
$$$: Free
Two days of seminars and demonstrations to get you ready for the planting season. Families can plant bulbs together in the park, and all bulbs discussed will be on sale in the Incredible Zilker Bulb Store.

What: Octavitas Celebration
When: Sunday, January 20, 2008, 2-5pm
Where: Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance & Cultural Center, 701 Tillery Street, in Austin
$$$: Free
Come celebrate “Octavitas” — the last holiday of “Las Navidades” celebrated on the Island. Bring your instruments and sing along to traditional Puerto Rican songs. Test your poetic wit with traditional “Bombas.” Enjoy informal performances of music and dance by our Professional Company and Performing Arts Youth Students.

What: MLK DAY Eucharist Celebration
When: Sunday, January 20
Where: Holy Cross Catholic Church, 1610 E. 11th.
$$$: Free
The Office of Black Catholics of the Diocese of Austin presents the Most Reverend John E. McCarthy exploring the theme “Keeping the Dream Alive – Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” Reception to be held after Mass. 10am.

What: Actor’s Expo
When: Sunday, Jan. 20th 1:30-4pm.
Where: Austin Community College, 1212 Rio Grande, 866/533-7617
$$$: $30, general; $50, VIP (includes 12:30pm meet-and-greet)
The power-packed panel of keynote speakers comprises of: actor Mario Lopez (“Dancing with the Stars”, “Extra”, “Saved by the Bell”, and “Pacific Blue”). Special guest speakers are director Renny Harlin (“The Covenant”, “Die Hard 2”, “Cliffhanger”, and “Driven”), producer Kia Jam from Capitol Films (“Lucky Number Slevin”, “Juwanna Mann”, “The Jacket”, and “Edison”) and Agent Nick Reed, Vice President-International Creative Management (ICM)

If none of those interest you, go see Juno. It’s a great movie!

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Once again, there is not a lot going on in Austin this weekend. Luckily there are at least a few good movies out. I’d recommend The Golden Compass for adults and kids alike.

What: 12th Annual Austin Spring Home & Garden Show
Where: Austin Convention Center, 500 E. Cesar Chavez Street
When: Jan. 11-13, Friday: 2:00 - 8:00pm, Saturday: 10:00 - 8:00pm, Sunday: 11:00 - 5:00pm
$$$: Adults 17+ - $7.50, Children 16 and under: Free, 65+ $5.00 (Friday Only)
Whether you’re building a new home or sprucing up the one you have, the 12th Annual Austin Spring Home & Garden Show, produced by Show Technology Productions, Inc., and presented by the Home Builders Association at the Austin Convention Center, will feature the city’s largest showcase of home and garden products and services. There’s something for everyone all under one roof.

What: Austin Bridal Extravaganza
Where: Palmer Events Center
When: Saturday 01/12 - Sunday 01/13, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Daily
$$$: $12 @ the door, $9 advanced purchase
If you are getting married in Austin the Bridal Extravaganza is not to be missed. This is a great oppertunity find caterers, hair stylesit, wedding photographers, cakes and everything else wedding related!!! Even if you are too cool for this kind of thing - just think of the time you will save searching for vendors aimlessly online. Remember to bring money for parking and a bottle of water to wash down all the free cake samples. Watch out for all of the bridezilla types!

What: The Wild Cave Tour
Where: Longhorn Cavern State Park
When: Sat. 1/12, 3:15 p.m.-5 p.m.
$$$: $35 (equipment rental $15)
During this 1 1/2 - 2 hour tour you will view formations that were only seen by professional spelunkers up until just a few years ago. On staff specialists will guide you into parts of the cave not shown on regular tours. Small passageways and getting very dirty are definitely part of this tour and is not recommended for every guest. Special protective equipment such as hard hats, elbow and knee pads and flashlights are required; bring your own or rent from us. This tour is generally on Saturday’s and is available by reservation only. There is a new trend in cave exploration and we are setting the pace. Longhorn Cavern can be a learning cave for junior spelunkers (age 11 and above) and an advanced cave for senior crawlers.

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Here we are at our first weekend of the new year and there is spectacularly little going on!

What: 6th Annual Star of Texas Tattoo Art Revival
When: Friday 01/04 (10:00AM) - Sunday 01/06 (12:00AM)
Where: Palmer Event Center 900 Barton Springs Road
$$$: Weekend Pass $40 (Best bet), Day Pass $15

This tattoo convention features vendors, panels, contests and a tattoo gallery. Special guests for 2008 include tattoo legend Thom Devita and fine artist Keith Weesner List of Artists.

What: Eye in the Sky 2008
When: Saturday, January 5th, 3-7pm.
Where: Paraglide Texas, 12002 Cabana Ln., 833-9361.
$$$: Free.
Meet the students, graduates, and pilots of Paraglide Texas, where you can learn to paraglide, paramotor, and paratrike in the new year. There will be brisket, flying videos, and a drawing for a free tandem ride. E-mail to RSVP. gary@paraglidetexas.com

What: Gospel Brunch w/ The Gospel Silvertones
When: Every Sunday 11:00AM & 1PM
Where: Stubb’s Bar-B-Q (Downtown)
$$$:
Sunday Gospel Brunch’s seatings are at 11am and 1pm and they fill up quick. Regular performers include The Durdens, The Bells of Joy and The Gospel Stars.

What: Polar Exress in Imax 3-D
When: through 1/06
Where: Bob Bullock State History Museum
$$$: $8-12
Last weekend to catch this holiday favorite.

If you haven’t already done so, recycle your tree this weekend!

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ARABIC CHRISTMAS BAZAAR
The Arabic Bazaar & Zein’s Dance Studio, 51st & Duval, 533-9227. Free.
Dec. 2-23. Sundays, 11am-6pm
Belly-dancing performances and classes, henna tattoos, free Arabic coffees and desserts, and Middle Eastern music. Oh yeah, and shopping! Get your handmade gifts imported straight from Syria, Egypt, and Morocco.

32nd ANNUAL ARMADILLO CHRISTMAS BAZAAR (One of my favorites!)
Austin Convention Center; 500 East First Street
December 14-24
Featuring 24 musical performances on the Capital Metro Music Stage, a full bar, good food, local and regional fine artists & craftspeople plus that special Austin feeling that can only be found here.

KEEP AUSTIN BIZARRE
Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd, 404-4500. $5.
Dec. 14-23.
Billed as “not your typical quilt and wind chime show,” this 10-day holiday market brings you shopping from artists and crafters all over the Southwest along with live music, avant garde dance, magic shows, and a sprinkling of keep-it-weird personalities like Congress Avenue’s 7-foot-tall banjo player.

GÜERO’S HOLIDAY MARKET
Güero’s Taco Bar, 1412 S. Congress, 447-7688.
Fri.-Sun., Dec. 21-23, noon-6pm.
A SoCo artists market for the chicest people on your holiday gift list.

BLUE GENIE ART BAZAAR
Through Dec. 24. Sun.-Thu., 10am-10pm; Fri.-Sat., 10am-12mid (Sun., Dec. 24, 10am-6pm).
Monarch Event Center, 6406 N. I-35 #3100, 371-3711. Free.
Runs right up through Christmas Eve, featuring 80 different artists and artisans. You can visit each artist’s website to check out the goodies you can expect to find.

JERRY’S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS EVENT & MARKET
Jerry’s Artarama, 420-9508
Sat., Dec. 22, 12-5pm.
Watch artists at work and enjoy live music, art demonstrations, kids activities, and more while you shop for original artwork, art supplies, and other gifts for the creatives on your list.

For a look at other activities happening this weekend, check here.

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