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SXSW 5: Voodoo Cowboy + Dart Music International at Mi Casa
Well, this is fresh: A small music event welcoming the SXSW film and interactive folks with an overseas twist. Not an entirely new concept, but this one links the worldwide web of nonprofit pioneers Dart Music International and local entertainment shape-shifter Voodoo Cowboy.
Just making it to Mi Casa for the event was a trip. Sixth Street was at its best. Happy. Energetic. Diverse. And some of those tribes — including a local prosecutor and a Houston visitor who kindly chatted me up — filtered into Mi Casa for the Dart/Voodoo welcome party.
Lisa Wood and Dave Dart
Dave Dart told me about the 40 or so international acts he’s helping at SXSW this week, including a contingent of Chinese acts. (I score a press copy of “The China Invasion Tour 2010: Featuring Bands from Maybe Mars.)
The act onstage while I was tapping away at my laptop was entirely local, including two sons of Voodoo Cowboy’s Mark Mueller — Max and Andy. They threw themselves into a pounding ’70s sound with enthusiasm.
Max Mueller, Mark “Lion King” Mueller and Andy Mueller
Later, I headed to the Peter Wenz / Gym Class Heroes party at the Phoenix, but the line was even longer than at the TechSet party at Speakeasy — and neither line was moving. So what to do? Take a break from SXSW by checking out Score, the new sports sidebar at Oilcan Harry’s. I liked it. Knowledgeable staff. Beer on tap. Four big screens. Watched Kansas State kick Baylor out of the Big 12 tourney, then walked home.
On Earth as it is in Austin.
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SXSW 4: Tocquigny Party in the Frost Tower + Parkside
This party comes with a following. The full-service advertising agency Tocquigny matches well with SXSW Interactive. Several folks who attended last year recommended it. But I didn’t commit until I’d been contacted directly by Craig Saper, and, later Mary Anne Connolly. (Good to have friends who know their parties. And human interaction counts.)
Craig Saper and Yvonne Tocquigny
Just about everybody who attended — and it looked like 500 to me — snapped shots of the sunset behind the Austin skyline for the offices on the Frost Tower’s 17th floor. The Austonian, Ashton, Monarch, Spring, 360 and W significantly alter that view. I think in a generally good way.
I met several interesting folks, including Mickey Ristroph and John Arrow, the minds behind MutualMobile, Inc. They create apps for the iPhone and shared funny stories about apps good and bad. But I spent the most time with Saper, a born storyteller. He’s in charge of entertainment branding for Tocquigny. I could see him as a movie or TV producer some day. But that’s just me.
John Arrow and Mickey Ristroph
I ingested merely a few corn chips at Tocquigny, so I headed down Congress, then Sixth Street, thick with tourists from basketball and SXSW, to try the rabbit terrine and marscapone ravioli at Parkside. Parkside is an oasis on Sixth and, partly because of its WiFi, but also for its superior food, it will be a regular posting stop for me during the fests.
I met a little group of California filmmakers there, crowding up to the bar. I recommended Parkside’s viognier, though making it clear that Texans can make the varietal almost as well as the French.
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SXSW 3: Convention Center Fun
By now, you’ve heard about the Great SXSW False Alarm of 2010. A few hours ago, when I sat down on the fourth floor of the Austin Convention Center to post this entry, sirens blared and lights flashed. The center was evacuated. (Follow the tweets; follow the tweets: @outandabout.)
Thousands of conventioneers exited calmly down the wide sets of stairs and poured onto Trinity Street. Nobody panicked. I talked to some volunteers, Austinites, and they couldn’t tell what to do right away, because of the horn sounds and their assignments. Eventually people figured it out. It appears that not the whole convention center was emptied. Hard to tell on the ground, but everybody on their electronic devices checking with the rest of the building.
I ran into several Austinites — including marketer Jason Stoddard and Austin Woman magazine executive editor Mary Anne Connolly — plus a playwright, Gavin Dahl, I somehow dissed back in the 1990s. He’s in community radio now. Doesn’t hold a grudge. Also met Cynthia McGrail, community outreach manager for Emmis Marketing, a friend of Connolly and a good sport, given our little fire-alarm trauma.
Cynthia McGrail and Mary Anne Connolly
The scene at the center is totally transformed this year. More like a carnival. Cafes and shops everywhere. Background rhythms and splashes of color. Registration is in a exhibition room, so more convenient, if still a bit confusing.
Now that the Hilton is being used for SXSW events, crowds amble back and forth from the center. Guests are soaking up the glorious weather, too, at outside seating areas. Then they head out, mostly west toward Congress, but some north to Sixth. I headed to the Tocquigny party in the Frost Tower.
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SXSW 2: Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony
If you followed my tweets last night (@outandabout), you know that the 10th anniversary Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards ceremony has lost none of its mojo. While the Pre-Party on Thursday was more muted than usual — the better to savor deep conversations, Shannon Moody — the big party at Austin Studios was as glamorous as ever, even without A-List Hollywood star power.
The outer tent and the inner studios looked classier, the outside decked in black and white, the inside shades of Technicolor. (Did anyone else perceive the color progression?) I counted more than 35 photographers and videographers on the red carpet (that’s where the Statesman’s Larry Kolvoord and Jenny Jones captured the accompanying images). I hung back, catching up with Austin celebs before they entered the dining area.
My table, titled “Marfa,” was cool, near the back where I could scan the human circus and tweet on my laptop without disturbing anyone. City of Austin maven Jim Butler — looking hale and hardy — and I caught up while we exchanged greetings to friends, old and new.
Surfer-phase Thomas Haden Church made a hilarious host, unless you are inflexibly Republican and objected to his calling Gov. Rick Perry a “gay robot.” (It’s a joke.) He was pretty bawdy all evening, saying to event co-founder Evan Smith, “Bring me those French vanilla buttocks!” Earlier, he called Smith and event co-founder Louis Black “tiny mole men.”
As always, the Austin Film Society videos amazed, including a long one about the event’s 10th anniversary. Appropriately, Smith and Black offered their memories. Mostly, Black congratulated his friends and colleagues, thereby congratulating himself. (No mention of the Statesman’s award-winning film writers, for instance.) Smith saluted a wider range of contributors, thereby congratulating the community.
The presenters and honorees entertained: Tim Matheson told of a brawl shared with Bruce McGill when they were researching frat parties. Watching McGill’s clips proved he really deserves the honor. McGill: “The hardest thing I had to do to become a professional actor is leave Austin.”
The live auction, on the other hand, was chaos. Grammy Award party package went for $12,500; walk-on role for “Entourage” for $11,500. Lyle Lovett gave the most dignified, touching presentation of the evening for Lukas Haas. During his acceptance speech, we learned Haas’ grandfather was an editor at the Statesman.
Looking and sounding spookily like LBJ, Michael Nesmith spoke philosophically, movingly, almost as if he was accepting the Nobel Prize. Richard Linklater introduced Quentin Tarantino as Honorary Texan after awesome clips. QT proved more than eloquent and gracious himself, thanking the “hometown away from my hometown.” I’m always on the fence about the eccentric filmmaker — I thought “Inglourious Basterds” was three good films searching for a great one — but he won my heart here.
Over all, a blast. On with SXSW!
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Live Chat with Parkside’s Shawn Cirkiel on the State of Austin Nightlife & SXSW
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SXSW 1: Texas Film Hall of Fame Pre-Party
Back in the 1980s, South By Southwest occupied a long weekend. By 1994, with film and interactive added to music, it grew into a split week, always spring break, then 10 linked days. During the 21st Century, the whole month of March is usually saturated with SXSW socializing, first online, then in person, then online again.
Tim Matheson and Richard Linklater
Since I must cover two solid weeks of charity galas before the advent of SXSW, the Texas Film Hall of Fame Pre-Party is my first festival-oriented live event. Many of the celebrities who grace this annual affair double up walking the red carpet at the Hall of Fame ceremony (always the Thursday before SXSW Film) with appearances at the festival. Works out for everybody.
Anne Ashmun, Kate Hersch and Jane Schweppe
The past two years, the Austin Film Society’s Pre-Parties were absolute blow-outs at the homes of Lance Armstrong, then John and Julie Thornton. This year’s even was more modest, at the dignified but cool Old Enfield home of Jane Schweppe (who counts in the Moodys of Galveston in her family’s orbit). The celebrities proved light on the ground. No Goldie Hawn, who would have been the “get” of the evening for any social columnist. No Quentin Tarantino, for reasons that left guests conjecturing. I must have missed Michael Nesmith.
Deborah Green and Chris Mattsson
That was fine with me. Instead of gawking, I engaged in deeper conversations, with Anne Ashmun on her and her sister’s Nature Conservancy easement in the Davis Mountains; with Catherine Robb, about wildflowers and the Johnson family; with Rick Linklater, about the powerful ‘Macbeth’ scenes in his “Me and Orson Welles”; with John Pierson, about his vinyl collection and Nesmith’s later careers (the PBS video-distribution legal battle was the most memorable account); with Tim Matheson, about “Burn Notice” — he plays psychopath Larry Sizemore — finding its voice. Bruce McGill and Gloria Lee McGill joked, posing with the stuffed-animal art.
If attendance at this year’s Pre-Party was down, it didn’t seem to make any difference to the assembled, who drifted from the hard-to-pass-up porch, to the art-laced rooms and the tented patio. Perfect SXSW weather for it, too.
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Not SXSW: Your A List: Best Statesman Columnist
I suppose I could have abstained from reporting the results of this week’s A List readers poll for Best Statesman Columnist. Conflict of interest, and all.
(What many people don’t know, he’s one of the kindest, most thoughtful reporters in the newsroom, too. Funny in person.)
The newspaper’s first certified digital star, Addie Broyles, who leads Austin’s food-blogging mob into the future, pulled in 13 percent.
Longtime sports columnist Kirk Bohls came in third with 12 percent. (I once said, almost 20 years ago, I wanted to grow up to be the Kirk Bohls of the arts.)
Marques Harper and I virtually tied at 8 percent, which is fitting, since we’re often at the same social events and we started our current columns around the same time.
Chris Garcia’s film column, Cedric Golden’s sports column, Ben Wear’s transportation column, Andrea Ball’s charity column and Jason Embry’s newly minted political column followed in descending order.
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Not SXSW: Your A List: Best Place to Score a Last-Minute Gift
I’ve labeled the headlines about this week’s A List winners “Not SXSW.” That’s not exactly accurate. Any visitor for the massive three-part festival and conference could use the information contained herein.
Thirty percent of the A List readers recommended Breed & Co., the Austin veteran that is demurely called a “hardware store.” Don’t be fooled. Some of the cleverest gifts in kitchenware, plants, novelties and other household needs can be purchased there.
Waterloo Records, never far from any A List poll, came in second with 14 percent, while Toy Joy and BookPeople split just above and just below 13 percent.
Emerald’s — yes, still on North Lamar Boulevard, minus the Coconuts — rang up 8 percent. Zinger buzzed in with 6 percent.
Tesoros Trading Co. — so perfect for SoCo, it’s hard to believe it didn’t start there — tied with Terra Toys, and just ahead Sue Patrick and Aviary.
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Not SXSW: Your A List: Best Locally Owned Business
A List voters are hungry. And they want fun. Plus some local color.
They ignored publicly-traded powerhouses like Dell, Inc., Whole Foods Market, Inc. or Temple-Inland, or cutting-edge capitalists like Austin Ventures.
Instead, they went with the adorable sweetness of Amy’s Ice Cream, which mixed up 28 percent of the vote.
Homeslice, the New York-style pizza joint that just expanded on South Congress Avenue in time for SXSW, sliced up 15 percent.
Waterloo, the iconic record shop, also a prime SXSW stop, came in third with 12 percent.
Magnolia Cafe and Guero’s — South Congress presences as well — virtually tied for fourth.
Schlotsky’s, Hoover’s and Top Notch did well, hovering around 7 percent. Hotel San Jose and Vulcan Video (again with the SoCo) rounded out the list.
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Not SXSW: Your A List: Best Steakhouse
Texans and our steaks. We can’t get enough of them.
The top six finalists for Best Steakhouse in the A List readers poll were so closely matched, they could have tied. Austin Land and Cattle clearly won, though, with 19 percent of the vote.
III Forks, one of the upscale downtown spots, came in second with with just over 15 percent, while laid-back Hoffbrau carved up just under 15 percent.
Ruth’s Chris — each one is separately owned and operated, so not really a chain — forked out 14 percent. Texas Land and Cattle and Fleming’s scored just under 12 percent.
Others making the tender grade were Truluck’s, Backstage, McCormick and Schmick’s, and Joe DiMaggio’s.
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Not SXSW: Steve Hicks-Rick Perry Birthday Party at the Four Seasons
The Rise Across Texas crew, raising money for the Rise Schools of Texas, is halfway across the state. Led by investor and philanthropist Steve Hicks, the cyclists hope for the highest take for a nonprofit in Austin fundraising history. They could just make that goal, when all is said and done.
Steve Hicks and daughter Kristen Hanson
Today, there’s a ceremonial ride from the Rise School of Austin’s southwestern campus to Wimberley. (Prepping for SXSW from dawn till midnight, we’re sending a photographer only. At one point, we agreed to ride. No.)
Andrea McWilliams and Anita Perry
Last night, however, the riders met up with celebrants for Hicks’ 60th birthday, shared with Gov. Rick Perry, also newly 60. Solidly Republican, the crowd at the Four Seasons Hotel dressed in Western touches, nothing too starchy or over the top.
Yvonne Shifrin and Donna Stockton-Hicks
First lady Anita Perry looked resplendent and relaxed after the tough primary. She said some kind things about my column. (I’d love to lunch.) During the cocktail mixer, the governor bounded around like a youngster, tickled to see Hicks, also coaching legends Darrell Royal and R.C. Slocum. (The Aggie and the Longhorn can be friends.)
R.C. Slocum, Darrell Royal and Gov. Rick Perry
How is the ride going? “Nobody badly injured,” Hicks says. “Mostly wind-burn and rain-burn.” He joked about the Texas hotspots — Motel 6 and such — where they’d stayed as they biked from the Louisiana border to Presidio. Radiant Donna Stockton-Hicks, who accompanies the Rise Challenge in the bus, said she was more nervous and stressed than her husband, especially when 18-wheelers rolled up toward his peloton.
Lorene Phillips and Michaelanne Hurst
Lobbyist and Glossy 8 style-maker Andrea McWilliams scanned the assembly at the Four Seasons, saying, “Welcome to my sandbox.” Just about every statewide official was there or was listed on the program. A few Democrats dotted the lists of honorary titles.
This is a subject that we’ll return to: Republicans rule the state; Democrats rule Austin. So when you gather bigwigs here, socially, outside of election-related events, there ought to be a bipartisan slate of guests. And that, I am happy to say, is often the case.
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AGLIFF Oscar Party at the Driskill Hotel
Oscar’s back. And AGLIFF’s got him.
Girard Roche and Scott Landry
Once an essential cultural event, the Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival drifted bit during the past 10 years. Mainstream festivals programmed more gay material. Austin gay and lesbian social events multiplied. On the fundraising scene, a gay presence was spread across the city, not just at specialized events.
Jorge Rubalcava, Heath Riddles and Emmanuel Winston
So what to do? AGLIFF’s leaders, led by Scot Tulk, returned to an old gala idea: An Oscar party. Four rooms were decked out on the Driskill Hotel mezzanine, two for more formal seating with dinner, two for minglers with movie snacks. A secret green room served up mixed drinks for party staff.
Debra Davis, Kelly Crook and Tifffany Taylor
It was a monster hit. All the tables sold out. The mood was merry unto festive. The elongated Oscar ceremony was splayed across several walls. Commercials were replaced with comic interviews conducted by Austin drag star Rebecca Havemeyer. There were many, many distractions, so I’m glad Kip recorded the broadcast for later viewing.
Paul Arellanes and Kyle Golden
KOOP OutCast host Heath Riddles invited me to his table, where I sat next to Gary Cooper, who filled me in on several major donors in the room. Most interesting were Scott Landry and Girard Roche, who hosted their own Oscar party for 17 years (Scott, I think, took the lead), but joined forces with AGLIFF this year. At their behest, $3,000 of the money raised this night went to AIDS Services of Austin.
Joe Dickson and John Livingston
Nominate this party for Best Comeback!
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Heart Ball at the Long Center
Bless Allen Beuershausen and Colleen Cole. Tasked with hosting the 2010 Heart Ball for the American Heart Association, they chose the Long Center stage and its ever-evolving hospitality staff. They even scored the inspirational speaking services of Cliff Redd, the Long Center director, still recovering from a traumatic heart episode.
Allen Beuershausen and Loriana Hernandez
I didn’t make it to the center in time for his speech, but I’ve heard the story before, and it is harrowing. We all pray that Cliff has slowed down his hectic schedule, because the Long Center — and Austin — can’t do without him.
Justin Walker and Kristin Kayross
Social tour guide Kevin Smothers steered me around the assemblage. Many of the guests come from the world of health care, and therefore were not as familiar to me.
Kristen and Jason Williams
Jen Ohlson gave me a copy of her book, “Every Town Needs a Trail: Austin’s Crown Jewel,” 160 pages of inspiring stories complemented by photography by Russ Ohlson and Brenda Lindsfors. I adore this book, which was offered as table gifts at the gala.
Jacob Pechenik and Patty Jaynes
Erin Ivey sang standards, which I wished more guests noticed. One small fly in the ointment: The Heart Ball proved smaller than organizers had hoped. See previous posts — and today column — on the desperate need for a social calendar mediator.
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President’s Masked Ball at Sheraton Austin at the Capitol
Moving the President’s Masked Ball, the signature fundraiser for Huston-Tillotson University, to the Sheraton Austin at the Capitol made a lot of sense. The pink-clad hotel on Waller Creek is much closer to the university’s campus on East Seventh Street than the Renaissance Austin out at the Arboretum.
Brenda Benson-Grundy and TreeAndrea Grundy
Its size and decor fit the ball like Cinderella’s slipper. I’m surprised the Sheraton is not booked more often with galas like this one. (On a personal note, it helped my attend four social events on foot that Saturday.)
Cheryl and Jim George
I arrived after power broker Ben Barnes’ keynote address. Most masks had been removed at this point. Folks were finishing off their meals and gearing up for the contemporary jazz and R&B dance sounds of Will Downing.
Mahoganne Willis and Tierra Jones
Since the music was cranked up, I didn’t get a chance to engage in many conversations, though I met lawyer and university board member Jim George and his wife Cheryl, also recently elected homecoming queen TreeAndrea Grundy and her lovely mother Brenda Benson-Grundy. Brief chats with other guests were too short. Some year I’d like to spend the whole evening at the Masked Ball.
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AU40 Awards at AT&T Center
A burnished bunch gathered at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center on Saturday for the Austin Under 40 Awards, which rewards social leadership among the twenty- and thirtysomething set. Charismatic Clayton Christopher, founder and CEO of Sweet Leaf Tea Company, won in the Business & Entrepreneurship category, as well as the evening’s highest honor, 2010 Austinite of the Year.
Merav and Daniel Sternthal
Also laureled in various categories were Laura Donnelly, founder and CEO of Latinitas; James Dyess, CEO and president of Horizon Bank; Melanie Ridings, program officer for the Topfer Family Foundation; Amy Holloway, president and CEO of Avalanche Consulting; Kelli Kelley, director of Texas Parent to Parent; Linda Medina, Southwest regional consultant for McGraw-Hill Education; Tausha Carlson, founder and owner of Marathon Real Estate; Dennis Donley, Jr., partner with the firm of Naman, Howell, Smith & Lee, PLLC; and Lemuel Williams, director of business development, Uptime Devices, Inc.
Roland and Vivian Galang
I caught up with American Gladiator Ally Kelly Davidson, her vivacious sister, Amanda Kelly Webster, and mom Patricia Kelly. Ally was up for the Business & Entrepreneurship Award, but Christopher was a tough opponent. The family, always accomplished, looked fit as a fiddle. Check out Ally’s Camp Gladiator, her burgeoning boot-camp biz.
Ally Kelly Davidson, Patricia Kelly and Amanda Kelly Webster
I also spoke at some length with three Acton Entrepreneur MBA grads — JJ Cunningham, Donny Palmertree and Angela Griffiths — who discussed their post-graduate job searches. The Acton crowd is always a bit sharper than your average business student, perhaps because their program is so enriching. (And, Dirk, I draw that from attending Acton events since it opened. They also don’t seem to be so cynical.)
JJ Cunningham, Donny Palmertree and Angela Griffiths
Couldn’t stay for the actual awards ceremony, but soaked up several more conversations in the dusk-bathed courtyard. More events should start there.
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Crystal Ball Luncheon at Palmer Events Center
Peeling back the layers of Austin’s social scene, one finds the unexpected. Honestly, I’d never heard any details about the Helping Hand Home’s Gala, called the Crystal Ball. Yet the charity, which helps displaced and abused children, goes back 117 years and the first ball was staged in 1939. This is no small group, either. One leader put the attendance at the midday luncheon, fashion show and presentation preview at 1,500, with 1,700 expected for the formal debutante function later Saturday evening at the Palmer Events Center.
Ted Keyser and Jeanne Little
The luncheon portion itself is an epic enterprise. Start with two dozen or so identically dressed “princesses,” first-graders, each presented with biographical details. Then came the pristine, professional Julian Gold fashion show, which appropriately started out with ladies-who-lunch-hats, then proceeded to bold summer wear, cruise ship apparel, Miami-flavored cocktail attire, shinier dance dresses, ending with some tropical swing.
Anne Jarvis and Tracey Bury
After this, I turned back to my tablemates only to find the pre-ball was only halfway over. Next came presentations of the ninth-grade girls, then the official college-agers debs — some second or third generation debs — in day-wear. Their biographies were accompanied by descriptions of the evening’s escorts and junior escorts, who skipped this portion of the event.
Jenny Stokes and Stacie Keliehor
I was exhausted. I couldn’t imagine how the guests felt by the end of the evening (while I attended three other balls), much less the brave, funny event chairwomen, Francie Little and Susan Prickett. Valiant weatherman Jim Spencer spoke for at least two of the three hours at the luncheon alone.
Despite my exhaustion, the display was fascinating. One learns so much about Austin’s history at these ancient rituals, once meant as socially closed matchmaking affairs. (Does that still obtain?) Board President Jeanne Little and new executive director Ted Keyser helped educate me.
Just to give you an indication of the event’s scale: The 308-page catalog that lists all the debs, escorts and sponsors weighed in a 1.5 pounds.
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New Wave Ball at Hyatt Regency Austin
My expectations were low. I had agreed to judge costumes and dancing at the New Wave Ball, a modest-sized fundraiser for Austin Children’s Shelter at the Hyatt Regency Austin. I’d attended so many ’80s-themed parties lately, it seemed like a stale idea. Still, the cause is good and the night was open.
Chi Dinh and Ed Roman (Winners: Best Couple)
Turns out I had a delightful time. My fellow judges were media types, some, like Taylor Perkins, duded out for the event. We spent time posing for the good-souled Annie Ray. Then we wandered around with tiny clipboards noting memorable costumes or adept dance-floor work.
Rosa Scott and Chris Rodriguez
This was fun. Costumes — shades of Madonna, Robert Smith, Don Johnson — matched the music. Several guests talked about their memories of the ’80s, although clearly the youngest were still in diapers at the time. Since that decade was the last of my single years, the attire and behavior on the dance floor evoked mixed emotions.
Krysten Mejia, Kathy Schieffer, Selena Weiss and Heather Greenberg (“The Madonnas,” winners: Best Group; Sheiffer also won best costume)
But how would a committee of alpha types agree on the winners? A breeze. Stephen Moser added categories for “Best Couple” and “Best Group,” chosen instantly, unanimously. TV, radio, Internet and print personalities quickly agreed on the three costume and dancing winners.
Note: Best Couple, Chi Dinh and Ed Roman, “won” a mention in my column. Which they earned before we made up that honor on the spot. “The Madonnas” will appear in Moser’s column.
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Austin Cabaret Theater at the Kodosky Lounge
Established fact: There is an audience for cabaret in Austin. At the highest level. Austin Cabaret Theatre has proven that over the course of its first nine seasons. Almost every national marquee act has graced Stuart Moulton’s stage, now urbanely situated in the Kodosky Lounge with its panoramic skyline view.
Jackson Iffinger and Riley Britton
The crowd trends older, with inevitable sprinklings of musical queens (and I embrace that term enthusiastically for myself as well). The tables at Kodosky are a bit too large by cabaret standards, complicating any movement or conversation. Yet I wouldn’t trade it for any other Austin cabaret location.
Carmen Emiliani and Norb Johnson
The duo playing two nights this week were Klea Blackhurst, best known for her Ethel Merman takes, and Billy Stritch, famous, I suppose, for dating Liza Minnelli and an artist I’ve followed since his first trios — Montgomery, Plant and Stritch and Montgomery, Mayes and Stritch — played Houston clubs and theaters in the early 1980s.
Amy Shipherd, Sam Rieger and Mary Castilla
They collaborated on the ideal Hoagy Carmichael revue. Blackhurst reveled in the revealing historical patter and the singers shared tributes to the composer’s masterpieces (“Stardust,” “The Nearness of You,” “Georgia on my Mind,” etc.) as well as his minor side excursions (a shuffle, movie and theater material). Their interpretations were inventive (every tricky in “Heart and Soul”), never disrespectful. I was especially glad there was no ungainly medley.
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TAP’s Big Kids Party at the Allan House
It’s no secret that I’m a skeptic regarding groups like Theatre Action Project, which promotes creative arts and eduction for social change. All the testimonials in the world can’t convince me that something as culturally complex as theater can significantly alter social behavior in a predictable manner. There are too many variables.
Niyanta Spelman and Arlen Johnson
That doesn’t stop me from admiring the people who attempt it. And TAP is as thorough-going as a mixed arts/social service nonprofit can be. I’ve been impressed by their seriousness — and the seriousness of the fun they generate as a byproduct.
Southern Longoria, Carla Jackson and Leonardo Zornberg
Take the fundraiser Big Kids Party, a carnival for the grown-ups who support TAP at Allan House on Thursday. The distinguished, multi-story house in the Original Austin neighborhood lent a homey feel to the games and gimmicks that guests attacked with abandon.
Yajaira and Eric McGiver
I wish TAP and its allies well. They’ve attracted top-rate talent. And they care. That still counts.
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Tribeza Issue Launch at the Gibson
On Thursday, the new Tribeza hit the stands. Yes, despite the public and acrimonious split among the owners, the pioneering Austin lifestyle magazine launched its 103rd issue. Please don’t ask us to take sides. We like all the principals.
Graydon Parrish, Eddie Safady and Skeeter Miller
The launch party was held at Gibson Bar, the buzzy new bar across South Lamar Boulevard from Alamo Drafthouse and Highball. Master designer Joel Mozersky’s inspiration was the movie “There Will Be Blood,” and there’s a dark, leathery, California mining country feel to the unobtrusive space.
Joel Mozersky and Ben Brown
Making the rounds, I’m afraid I failed to express my condolences to Skeeter Miller about the accidental death of his County Line Barbecue business partner Randy “Rib King” Goss in February. Still, I did congratulate him on critic Mike Sutter’s glowing — and glowingly written — Restaurant Week review in 360.
Bennett and Lauren Ford
SoLa is throbbing with energy and new businesses like Gibson Bar are taking advantage of it. The only missing element: Pedestrian improvements. It would make sense, for instance, to meet for a cocktail at Gibson before dashing to a movie at Alamo. Don’t try it on foot. South Lamar is a traffic monster.
A final note on the name: Prior to attending the Tribeza event, I assumed the name Gibson came from “Gibson Girl” or the like. No, the bar sits on the corner of Lamar and Gibson Street, which stops and starts all through the Bouldin neighborhood.
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Very late report: Independence Day at Bullock Texas State History Museum
The Bob Bullock Texas History Museum is not like any other institution in town. And the Bob Bullock Texas History Museum Foundation is a charity unlike any other. So, no wonder the foundation’s Texas Independence Day Dinner is an event unto itself. Formal, in a nervous way, and earnest, in a winning way.
This year, the honorees were former President George W. Bush and Laura Bush. They were named History Making Texans, a rather awkward title, but not undeserved. Attending the ceremony on Tuesday in numbers were state’s Republican establishment, along with various bigwigs, ambassadors and other dignitaries.
This was the first event wherein a state trooper’s bomb dog sniffed my camera. Once that ritual was completed, I mingled with the non-VIPs in the museum’s rotunda, as the big shots slowly descended for dinner and formalities. I talked with the Texas Cultural Trust’s Amy Barbee about the Texas Medal of the Arts nominating process. If that group did nothing else (it does), it stirs up conversation about which Texans deserve eternal representation (yes, Marques, we talked about Tom Ford).
I also talked with Donna Stockton Hicks about growing up in the Mid-Cities (she attended the same high school as Kip) and about the upcoming Rise Across Texas fundraiser. Would she ride a bicycle across the state, like her husband, Steve Hicks? “I’ll be in the bus with the cupcakes,” she said. I met some other folks who made my mid-evening — between the Entrepreneurs Foundation’s Independence Day fun and “Fiddler on the Roof” — merry.
I couldn’t stay for the actual speeches, which the Statesman’s Isadora Vail faithfully recorded. Folks interested in 43’s state of mind during the ceremony should consult new video of the event. Telling.
Sorry, no photos. I cleared out my iPhoto during my otherwise accommodating Apple One to One session today. First time that’s happened.
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This is awesome! Thank you for the up close and personal video from the red carpet, I really enjoyed it!
-Chris Saad
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Thanks for the love, our people make it the greatest job on the planet!
Thank you Michael, thank you Austin,
Amy and Steve
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