Austin360 blogs > Almost Urban > Archives > 2007 > August > 16 > Entry
Weekend picks: Free drinks, funky grooves and high-fashion bargain hunting
Friday: DJ Dojo 2nd Anniversary Party. It’s been two years since DJs Manny and BigFace opened this South Austin spot as both a record store and turntablist community center. To tempt anyone who hasn’t been by yet to check out the spot, they’re hosting a party with free drinks, healthy snacks and giveaways. The Dojo’s house DJs will man the tables, and jazztronica master Chicken George will swing by to bless the spot with a set. Free. 7 to 11 p.m.
Friday: McPullish Soundsystem CD release at Flamingo Cantina. After relocating to Austin from Denver last year, multi-instrumentalist, dub artist McPullish fell right in with the local ambient, echo-laced reggae scene. As he celebrates the release of his latest, ATX dub stalwarts Grimy Styles drop in off a recent Midwestern tour to join the party. There will also be live visual projections and roots-reggae sets from DJs EE and MOOK before and after the bands. $5-$7
Friday-Sunday: Victory Grill 62nd Birthday Bash. The Victory Grill throws a 3-night celebration for the anniversary of “one of the last remaining Chitlin’ Circuit venues still open in the country.” The party kicks off on Friday night with Waxploitation’s Noel Waggoner dropping hard funk from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. When I ran into Noel a couple weeks back, he told me he warned the Victory Grill to stock lots of beer for this event. Waxploitation parties frequently end in a drunken sweaty blur and their last happening dried out the bar at Red’s Scoot Inn. The Victory Grill celebration continues Saturday night with bluesman Chris Thibodeaux from Port Arthur leading an all-star jam with local faves the Blues Specialists and San Antonio’s 2Blues. On Sunday, the celebration closes out with a blast from the past as Sax man “Spot” Barnett shares stories from the Chitlin’ Circuit days and then takes the stage once more with his blues band. $5 Friday night, cover unspecified Saturday, Sunday.
Saturday: DJ Platurn at the Whisky Bar. Award-winning Bay Area DJ Platurn of the Oakland Faders joins DJ Mel down at the Whisky Bar for a night of good old-fashioned true school party rocking. Cover unspecified.
Saturday: Mystic Bowie at Flamingo. I don’t know a whole lot about Mystic Bowie, except that he’s a longtime collaborator of Talking Heads’ offshoot the Tom Tom Club and he blew the minds of the fine folks at Flamingo when he performed at the Austin Reggae Fest a few months back. His MySpace page features feel-good rock steady reggae that’s perfect for a balmy summer night.
Saturday-Sunday: Le Garage Sale at Palmer Events Center. It’s that time again, when Austin’s fancy boutiques band together to offer their high-dollar trendy duds to the city’s less fabulous (read less financially fortunate) set. It’s good bargain hunting; last year I scored a $250 pair of Italian leather shoes for $25, but it’s also not a shopping trip for the faint of heart. Prepare to elbow your way through hoards of other thrifty chicas to find your fashion scores. Also, keep in mind that there are no changing rooms available and dress accordingly. $10 daily, $15 2-day pass.
Comments