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Viewing the corpse of the Cactus
When it’s closed, as it was tonight, the Cactus Cafe is nothing special. It’s just a room with a few tables and chairs. There’s no sense of history in the air, only the smell of coffee from Starbuck’s next door.
My son was bowling at the Texas Union Saturday night and I was a little early to pick him up, so I went over to the Cactus where a sign said the Austin Lounge Lizards, who’d outgrown the Cactus like so many others, were at the Texas Union Theater. I gave the Cactus door handle a try and it opened. Moments later, manager Griff Luneburg came out to take care of business at the theater. I have been telling everyone since the Jan. 29 “phasing out” announcement that the mistake would be rectified and the bureaucrats would come to their senses. But during our brief exchange, before he rushed on, the defeated look on Griff’s face told me I was wrong.
It’s over, folks. Lyle, Lucinda and a hundred white horses can’t save this place.
On Friday- take out the trash day- the Student Events Center committee is scheduled to vote and most likely approve recommendations, released this past Tuesday, that would “repurpose” the Cactus Cafe for student management. The SEC is calling for “the creation of a new student organization to help encourage and facilitate the student use of the space.” The organization “will have access to invaluable resources that will be allocated to the success of this space, including a fulltime staff advisor, an advertising department, and close proximity to the venue itself…” Secretariat has been handed over to the 4-H Club.
As painful as the loss of the Cactus is, it’s going to be fun watching these kids, and their proposed $6,000 annual budget, fall on their okoles.
I can’t imagine any self-respecting act playing the Cactus after August, when Griff and the gang are reassigned to other jobs in the food court/ Texas Union. Since one of the goals of the new direction is to provide student organizers “an increased understanding in how to produce performing arts programs in a learning environment venue,” perhaps the name should be changed from the Cactus to the Practice Cafe.
I’ve always thought that instead of “Live Music Capital of the World,” the city’s slogan should be, “Austin: It’s the People.” Although Austin is physically an appealing place, especially for Texas, what makes this town special are the people like Griff Luneburg and Chris Luecke and the musicians that would rather play a great show for a little bit of money than a gabfest for boatloads. Take away those people and all you have is a room.
In Austin there are still nights… But they’re getting fewer by the year.
When someone dies, we line up to view the body to make sure it’s really dead. That was the feeling I had tonight. I was hopeful, delusional, maybe, but now I realize the Cactus Cafe as we knew it is never coming back.
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By sec student
February 21, 2010 11:32 PM | Link to this
PLEASE REALIZE that the SEC does not endorse closing the Cactus at all. Many of us are devastated by the idea. This is, however, our attempt to do SOMETHING to salvage the space, and ensure that it is still used, WHEN it closes. If it is saved, that would be incredible - but if it’s not, we want something in place to prevent it from falling into non-use in the room inventory. We have no illusion that this would do justice to the history of the Cactus, or be anything like it is right now. The fact is, we need real solutions for the “what-if,” when it actually closes. If you have ideas for how we can do this with no money, I very honestly urge you to contact us with your ideas.
By SEC is Closing the Cactus
February 22, 2010 11:27 AM | Link to this
SEC Student - your “attempt to do Something to salvage the space” is what is closing it and killing the Cactus. The SEC is killing the Cactus.
The SEC should not vote or recommend any new uses for the Cactus Cafe until AFTER it is officially closed and shut down.
Voting or recommending new uses for the Cactus this week (BEFORE it closes) is being used as an excuse to close it. Andy Smith is manipulating the students to think they are doing a good thing, but the SEC is giving Andy the reason to close it.
At first, Andy said it was money. Then when people offered to donate the small $33,000 shortfall, Andy changed his story to “it’s what the students want”. So when the SEC votes or recommends to close it, Andy will say “see, it’s what the students want”.
By Floyd
February 22, 2010 5:29 PM | Link to this
Discussing new use for the Cactus Cafe should not happen until it is closed in September. Discussing it now is inappropriate. Discussing the Cactus while it is still alive is like splitting up Grandma’s savings for inheritance while she is still alive.
You don’t tell a terminal patient how you will benefit when they die. The students doing this are just plain rude and lack any class.