Austin360 blogs > Out & About > Archives > 2009 > May > 01
Friday, May 1, 2009
Austin360 Party at Stubb’s
Working under the old criteria, you wouldn’t read about Thursday’s Austin360 party in this column, published on Austin360.com. Heck, the event would not even happen.
Natalie Arthur, Kyle Martin
That’s because mainstream publications didn’t throw many parties, and they certainly didn’t report about them, at least not as aggressively as the alternative media trumpets their events. (Do I really have to explain the four-letter reference?)
Erica Hernandez, Jissel Anaya
Happily, times have changed. Mainstream media, at least in this town, leapfrogged the alternatives into the digital age. Statesman.com and Austin360.com have proven spectacularly successful, winning national awards and — out this week — demonstrating the highest market penetration of any newspaper Web site in the country.
Roy Adams, Mindy Cooper
So it is with a bang-the-pots party that Austin360’s print entertainment guide was celebrated on Thursday. This publication also traces its parentage to XL, the tabloid that I edited for three years and contributed to regularly during its entire history.
Bennick Harding, Dave Ralph, Steve Hitchcock (all from New Zealand!)
So I’m invested, emotionally. I adore the new Austin360. Editor Sharon Chapman and designer Scott Ladd did a spectaular job turning it into a pure going-out guide. I am honored to be associated with it, if only developmentally in the first issue.
LeeAnn Hargis, Kelly Haas, Becky Cole
Oh, and after four other parties, I didn’t stick around for the Black and White Years, one of my ultra-preferred Austin acts. But I did catch the Mercers and was converted to their authentically pop sound. (That’s not a contradiction in terms, for those of you who divide the club music world into two rough categories.) The place was packed. The demographics mixed. So Austin.
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Rebel Rebel Party at Mohawk
What do I know from Rebel Rebel? Other than the David Bowie tune — cherished back when I was young enough to parallel the subject of the lyrics.
Chris Blankenship, Casey Zhang, Mike Simpson
Yet the downtown production, post-production and and motion graphics company by that name was throwing a second anniversary bash at Mohawk. And some industry insiders recommended the party, so what could it hurt?
Christine Baker, Mark Callahan
Nothing. In fact, despite the party’s place as the fourth of five Thursday night social events — a sixth was dropped because of traffic — it ended up ideal in so many ways. Something old, something new …
Wanda Montemayor, Rose Saenz Right,
I met one of the company owners, Chris Blankenship, and was introduced to a dozen other fascinating folks upstairs at Mohawk.
Alyson Jennings, Dianna Colton
Yet I spent the most time with Elaine Garza from Giant Noise. We debriefed each other about the recent Texas Hill Country Food and Wine Festival and it was mind-boggling how often we agreed about the details of the mushrooming event.
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East Night 2009
Is the Mexican American Cultural Center east? Or is it central?
Joaquin Mariel, Brent Perdue
PeopleFund’s East Night 09 took place at the MACC, which, except for some new construction, looks as stunning as it did when it opened.
Tanya Ladha, Jaime Noyola
Compared to the down-home Fiesta Gardens, where this group pushing economic opportunity staged East Night last year, the MACC is urban, cosmopolitan and — central. It will appear more so to the public as the Rainey Street neighborhood evolves and becomes more dense, inevitably.
Tina Fernandez, Lucia Fernandez, Margo Weisz
Not that East Night must take place east of Interstate 35. But it brings up a sore point: Too often, the highway is simplistically labeled the boundary between east and west Austin.
Eduardo Magaloni, Mary Palmer
Austin’s history is much richer and more varied than that, no matter which general statistics are brought to bear. And it is always changing. Always has.
Don Baylor Jr., Catherine Crawford
The MACC is — and should be — located centrally, because the heritage it serves is central to Austin. And PeopleFund, whenever possible, should be at the center of our attentions, too.
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Toast of the Town at Mattsson/McHale residence
How could you not want to see the inside of Chris Mattsson and John McHale’s house?
Dana Friis-Hansen, Camille Lyons
The long, idiosyncratic residence opened eyes wide, back when Tom and Deborah Green had it built on Niles Road, perhaps Austin’s most exclusive address.
Dale Dewey, Karen Landa
Now it looks fresh and bright, thanks to Mattsson/McHale touches. And the art. Which is what a dozen or so people had come to see.
Jeff Russell, Scott Pennington
It was another small Toast of the Town fundraising event for St. David’s Community Health Foundation. The money actually accumulates over the course of several events, and goes to scholarships in the health sciences. Twenty-five are given a year and, when the newest crop comes in, 65 will be funded.
Maria-Gisela Mercado-Deane, Daniel Deane
I spent the most time with Dana Friis-Hansen, who was there to explain the hosts’ electic art collection for the gathering, and with flawlessly attired Karen Landa and Dale Dewey, who promised confirmation of some much-rumored business news soon.
Debra Pennington, Nancy Bowman
My favorite quote of the evening, however, came from Nancy Bowman, who said with convincing charm: “I read your column. Being from Old Austin, I don’t know any of the people you write about. But I read it.”
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Shout Out Awards at Covenant Presbyterian Church
I learned several things at the Shout Out Awards on Thursday.
Police Chief Art Acevedo, Niyanta Spelman
First, there’s an organization called Austin Voices For Education and Youth, which advocates strengthening schools and expanding opportunities for Austin’s youth.
Eric Metcalf, Fire Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr
Second, it’s helmed by a bold executive director, Amy Averett, who apparently can convince anyone of anything.
Jen Lentsch, Arturo Castellanos
Third, Austin civic leaders hold the group in high esteem. Police Chief Art Acevedo, Fire Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr and incoming AISD Superintendent Meria Carstarphen — as well as various candidates for area offices — made sure they showed up at the awards. Carstarphen even flew back from St. Paul just for the dinner at the Covenant Presbyterian Church on Northland Drive.
Jill Williams, Jerry Bock
And that’s the other thing I learned — the church just completed its $16 million fellowship and education building in time for the awards. The four-story complex includes facilities for adults, kids, Sunday school, even a gym. The church leadership sees it as a resource for the surrounding community as well as for members at Central Presbyterian. Expect to see more events there.
Meria Carstarphen, Amy Averett
On a final note last note, another dogged leader, Karrie League of Alamo Drafthouse fame, convinced me to attend, despite five competing social events that evening.
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Out & About Social Schedule May 3
SUNDAY, MAY 3
1 p.m. Capital One Bank Pecan Street Festival on East Sixth Street
2:30 p.m. “Grapes of Wrath” at Zach Theatre
7 p.m. HAMM Benefit Concert at Congregation Agudas Achim
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