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July 2009
Out & About iCal entries for 7/31/09
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Austin Celebrity Roundup 7/31/09: Alejandro Escovedo, Matthew Mconaughey, Eric Shanteau
ScreenCrave.com reports that Matthew McConaughey and Eva Mendes are negotiating to star in “Southbound,” to be directed by Jonathan Jakubowicz. Set on the U.S./Mexico border, the independent drama would feature McConaughey as a police officer who accepts a bribe from the Mendes character, putting his family in danger.
By a micro-second, Austin’s Eric Shanteau came in second in the FINA World Championships 200m breaststroke finals, meanwhile setting his second US record of the day. Another of our stars, Aaron Peirsol, took the 200m backstroke in one minute 51.92.
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Steve Hicks’ Star-Studded Birthday Bike Trek
March 5-20, arcing across Texas from Orange to Marfa, the Celebrity Ride will be outfitted by Trek Travel of Madison, Wisc. The event’s advisory board includes Kristin Armstrong, Sally Brown, Bart Knaggs, Tim McClure and Evan Smith.
Also committed to participate are Governor Rick Perry, Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, Attorney General Greg Abbott, Comptroller Susan Combs, Gene Powell, Andrea McWilliams and Ray Benson. Hicks has asked Lance Armstrong to serve as honorary chair (his response is pending).
Sponsorship levels come in at $100,000, $5,000 and $1,000, making it potentially the richest single Austin fundraiser in recent history. (Hicks shown here with wife and philanthropist Donna Stockton-Hicks.)
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DeanFredrick Austin at Eliza Page
Jeweler Dean Fredrick and boutique owner Elizabeth Serrato won golden boots at the Austin Fashion Awards.
Elizabeth Serrato and Dean Fredrick
So they teamed up for a party at Serrato’s Eliza Page shop on West Second Street.
Sara Boynton and Stacy Waupsh
Shiny singles and couples mingled among the shiny merchandise and wall surfaces. (Meaning my photos came out a bit shiny, too.)
Heather Attridge, Kevin Boos
I like that both winners emphasize local design and artisanship.
Bryttany Anastas, Chase Bradley
Film maker and casting agent Amy Grappell, music promoter Ihor Gowda and stylists Tracy O’Hargan and Eric Massey were in attendance. Event promoter N.C. Diaz introduced me to a stunning Chef Coi from “Hell’s Kitchen.”
Chef Coi, Eric Massey
The style sector is where everyone cool in Austin seems to meet up.
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Fortune Grand Opening
North Austin is light on special events centers.
Paul Vo, Annie Le and Josh Nguyen
Especially those complemented with quality Asian cuisine.
Rola Smith and Elwin West
Fortune, a Chinese restaurant in the Chinatown Center, is attempting to remedy that.
Pat and Sara Lee
Next to its modest-size cafe dining room, the owners have opened a spacious special-events room, staffed by its kitchen talents, imported from Hong Kong via Los Angeles.
Elise Hu and someone whose name I really misheard
Swathed in fabric and late-afternoon light, it seems ideal for large wedding receptions and similar events.
Jeni Hsu and Nathan Davis
A generous-sized crowd sampled the dim sum, shrimp puffs and other delicacies before shaking to R&B old schoolers Dysfunction Junction.
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Rise School Sportsman Club Dinner at the Four Seasons
For a relatively small charity, the Rise School packs a deep bench.
Mack Brown and Marie Cloutier
Giant University of Texas names: Sally and Mack Brown, Darrell Royal, Major Applewhite, etc.
Michael Clark and Tina Garza
Colossal names in business and philantrhopy: Steve Hicks and Donna-Stockton Hicks, James Street, Susan and John Cullen, etc.
Nancy Rucker, Major Applewhite and Steve Hicks
And of course the educators who created the school that blends typical and non-typical students.
Pam Fielding, Conley Covert and Mac Cromwell
Thursday at the Four Seasons, the Sportsman Club dinner climaxed with Coach Brown’s preview of the coming Longhorn season.
Amy Higgins and Toni McClelland
Expect even bigger news from the Rise School later in the day.
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Out & About iCal for 7/30/09
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Avant Le Weekend Live Chat with Laura Kelso
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Austin Monthly Bachelor Party at Rio Grande
Would it be an eye-scratching Cougar Central? Or would hordes of giggling girls flock to Rio Grande Mexican restaurant?
Volma Robert (Bobby) Overton III, Ericka Holmes
Those were two cynical ways of anticipating the Austin Monthly Bachelor Party on Wednesday.
Pat McGaughran, Anne Burgot
Neither was the case, early on, as the incredibly gentlemanly 2009 bachelors greeted the press and various feminine admirers, who fit into no easy social category.
Tony Manuel, Marc English
Austin Monthly has turned its bachelor issue into an annual affair, which is not easy to do. Congrats.
Steven Derek Johnson, Joe Dowdle
Rio Grande — in the former “The Real World: Austin” crib — has slimmed and reconfigured around its bar section. Still radiates a fun vibe, as it is joined by neighbors like Max’s and new sushi bar (not yet open) on San Jacinto Street. Just waiting for those residential and hotel towers to fill …
Brooke Grisebaum, Yazmin Herrera, Theresa Hunt
A last note on the building’s former tenant: Did you know MTV now produces 52 reality shows? No wonder we can’t keep up, even with “The Soup.”
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Bleet-Up at Trio
A Bleet-Up is a Tweet-Up for bloggers.
Jason Silverberg, Tolly Moseley, Tyler Groover
Meaning, it’s a chance for digital socializers to socialize in person.
Laura Dobberstein, Rose Reyes, Amanda Garcia
Tolly Moseley, the effervescent spirit behind Austin Eavesdropper, organized the Bleet-Up at Trio, fast becoming the Happy Hour Capital of the Capitol City.
Rusty Phenix, Kelly Stonebock
At a Bleet-Up, the most common phrase overheard tends to be: “I read you!”
Hans Rosemond, Tasha Duckering
Bloggers seem surprised that their longtime colleagues come in corporeal form. (Mosely plans a public-meets-blogger event at Mohawk for the fall.)
Marissa Alemany, Diana Flynn
For a glimpse of the partial guest list, check out the Statesman’s helpful Austin blog link page.
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Out & About iCal for 7/29/09
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Austin Celebrity Roundup 7/29/09: Sandra Bullock hints retirement; Lance Armstrong tussle in Aspen; Colt McCoy satirized; Adrianne Palicki film conflict
Resolute Austinite Sandra Bullock hinted to the UK Press Association that she might retire from movie-making. “I love to work, I’ll always be working in some capacity, but it probably won’t be in this business,” she said. “Most of what I do in my life doesn’t happen in front of the camera and I love it just as much.” She talked about attracting unwanted attention for her husband, celebrity mechanic Jesse James, and her three stepchildren.
The Bleacher Report directs some gentle satire Longhorn Colt McCoy among other sportsmen who are regular “God thankers”: “Due to the recent surge in “thank you’s, in a press release by angel Gabriel from heaven, God has said, “You’re welcome” to athletes.”
Adrianne Palicki’s now part-time on the Austin-shot “Friday Night Lights.” But she may not return for the fourth season at all. “I’m actually going to be shooting (‘Red Dawn’) during the fourth season, so I don’t know if I’m going back,” she told Entertainment Weekly’s Michael Ausiello. The prospect saddens Palicki, pictured, who has come to view the cast and crew as family, according to TV Buddy.
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Your A-List: Best Place to Rent a Canoe or Kayak
A colleague at work has been spilling stories about her kayaking group. It sounds enticing. I’m a canoe guy myself — I owned at least two in my early adulthood — but I could be converted.
Capital Cruises steered into a respectable second place with 21 percent of the tally. The Texas Rowing Center paddled up 14 percent, while the veteran Zilker Park Boat Rentals pushed off with 13 percent.
Sloshing 3 percent of less were Rowing Dock, REI, Mud Outdoor Center, Lone Star Kayaks and Kozmik Kayaks.
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Your A-List: Best Seafood
Twenty-five years ago, seafood was one of those ignored Austin food categories. Sure, Quality Seafood had been serving up mostly wholesale riches from the sea since 1938. Yet I can’t recall one Central Texas restaurant that matched the care and sophistication of seafood servers found on the Gulf Coast.
Winner of the A-List vote for Best Seafood is not on my regular circuit, but maybe it should be. Ancho’s in the Omni Hotel at Eighth and San Jacinto streets the netted 30 percent of the vote. Roy’s, the breakthrough Hawaiian fusion group with a prominent downtown location, came in second with 27 percent.
A homegrown hero, Eddie V’s, sailed into third with 13 percent, while deeply adored Quality Seafood reeled in 10 percent. Truluck’s — which farms killer crabs — swept up 9 percent.
Taking 3 percent or less were Gumbo’s, Perla’s, Catfish Parlour, T&S Seafood Restaurant, Mariscos Seafood, Boiling Pot, Alligator Grill, Crawfish Shack and Oyster Bar, III Forks, TJ’s Seafood, Ajua and Saba.
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Children’s Foundation unrolls simple, effective calendar enhancement
The Children’s Medical Center Foundation of Central Texas, already a fundraising juggernaut, introduced an incredibly simple, effective calendar enhancement at a luncheon this week.
And it lists two dozen foundation social events for the coming year. Just the names, venues and dates. Oh. My. Gosh. The answer to my dreams.
If only other larger charities used the same elegantly uncomplicated strategy.
To review, the foundation raised $11 million last fiscal year for the $170-million-a-year Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas.
The biggest chunk of that money comes in large individual donations from traditional gifters (like the Dell, Maxwell and Topfer families), but increasingly, other foundations kick in as well. Social giving from charity events also makes up a large percentage, too. For instance, $1 million was raised at the annual Children’s Council Gala, which drew more than 1,000 guests earlier this year at the Austin Convention Center.
The foundation feeds various programs — like research projects on the center’s campus — also medical equipment and its endowment, now at $14 million. That’s quite an accomplishment, given that the $200 million facility is only two years old and 90,000 children passed through its doors last year.
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‘The Hurt Locker’ bears the truth of war
The advance buzz on “The Hurt Locker” didn’t mislead. Published and verbal reports accurately telegraphed that it would break with the received notions about war movies.
The only previous war movie it recalled is “Jarhead,” this time without the distraction of Jake Gyllenhaal’s searing good looks. In fact, I didn’t really recognize the leads — Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie and Brian Geraghty — at all. Which made their performances more convincing, lacking the filter of celebrity personae.
Pegged as an action film — witness the virtually all-male audience at the Arbor Theatre — “The Hurt Locker” bears the truth of war. Especially the Iraqi war.
On a lighter note, for Oscar handicappers, this one’s got to be in that Top 10.
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Slightly older? Where to socialize!
“I have read your column for a while now, and I’ve always noticed that those in the Austin social scene are, more often than not, below the age of 30. Is there a gathering place, so to speak, for those of us who are over 30?” — C.H.
A good question — given Austin’s youthful demographics — and one that I receive fairly often.
But if you are looking for a more mature (non-pickup) gathering, I’d start with wine bars, such as Cissi’s, Vino Vino, Mulberry, Crú, Max’s, Uncorked, etc.. Also hotel bars — Stephen F., Driskill, Four Seasons, Hilton Austin, San Jose — can be classy and relaxed settings. A few watering holes are explicitly conceived for those older than 30: I’m thinking of the Brown Bar, Red Fez, anywhere the cocktails are prepared with special care (and, alas, tend to be more expensive).
Annies, a new restaurant and bar on Congress Avenue, attracts a cool, slightly older bar crowd, as do Eddie V’s, Fino, Cool River, Wink, Vespaio, Olivia and Jeffrey’s. Steakhouses and their kin — Perry’s, Ruth’s Chris, III Forks, Sullivan’s, Roaring Fork, Fleming’s, etc. — nurture lively social scenes at their bars. And anything at the Domain with a bar — DiMaggio’s, Jaspers, Daily Grill, along with the North Austin Roaring Fork — is for adults.
A third option: Socializing around charity. While twentysomethings are discovering that support for nonprofits can bring together people, this area is traditionally the province of the more established age sets. A good place to begin is the Web site for I Live Here, I Give Here. It divides the nonprofits up into meaningful categories. Each of those sites advertises various socializing opportunities (not just formal galas).
Stay away from the campus area, for the most part. Naturally a younger crowd. Avoid Red River, Sixth Street and sections of the Warehouse District late at night. Again, only if you really don’t want to bump into twentysomethings. In either case, have fun and report back.
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Plans: Star Bar redo + Western dance club on West Sixth
“It will be a sort of 1950s Palm Desert bungalow style,” Williamson says. “A glass box.”
Before a late fall reopening, he’ll move the bar to the center of the room, expand and clean up the the patio. Williamson will keep the name and the iconic sign, adding a decorative star to the roof. Food from Ranch 616 next door will be available.
After that’s completed. Williamson will revive plans for a Western dance club in the empty spot just to Star Bar’s west. Called “Rattle Inn,” it has already been sketched out by celebrity designer Joel Mozersky. Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson has signed onto the project.
Given Williamson’s triplex, plus the Womack brothers’ plans for the Mother Egan’s spot (next to their renovated Molotov), and Sandra Bullock’s growing eatery empire on both sides of the street, West Sixth has become the city’s fastest growing entertainment district.
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Apres Le Weekend live chat with Pastor Randy Phillips
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Austin Celebrity Roundup 7/27/09
Some key Austin celebrity swimmers tanked in the FINA World Championships in Rome today. Two-time Olympic champion Aaron Peirsol didn’t make the finals in his signature event, the 100-meter backstroke. After setting an American record in quarterfinals, Eric Shanteau came in fourth in the 100 breaststroke. It’s hard to watch, even given all the world records broken by other swimmers. Where is Brendan Hansen when you need him? Come back, Brendan …
A potentially unflattering headline in the Norfolk Daily Press: “Bob Dylan & friends: 201 years of Americana takes the stage.” Austin’s Willie Nelson makes up 76 of those years for the three-headed tour of 31 minor-league ballparks. John Mellencamp is the youngest of the trio at 57. Let’ see, that makes Dylan …
Anyone actually living in Austin doesn’t need this delayed, tri-weekly celebrity roundup to reveal the Tour de France results. Hint: Austin’s Lance Armstrong was not perched on the highest pedestal yesterday. His third place, however, sets him up as a favorite for 2010 …
UT quarterback Colt McCoy is taking out an insurance policy that would deliver $3 million to $5 million if he is injured. “The premium is astronomical,” his father Brad McCoy told ESPN. “But the payback in the event of a catastrophe puts the monetary value there. We felt it was the prudent thing to do.” …
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Live Chats: Randy Phillips, Laura Kelso
3 p.m. Tuesday, return here to join Randy Phillips, pastor of Promiseland West, for an Après Le Weekend chat. He’s got Texas first lady Anita Perry and actress Janine Turner (“Northern Exposure,” “Friday Night Lights”) coming to his congregation Sunday to discuss single motherhood.
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Out About Rewind Galleries: May 7-July 19
However, that doesn’t mean you have to miss photographic records of social events. These summer galleries — and others — are still active.
Out & About Rewind June 18-21.
Out & About Rewind June 25-28.
Out & About Rewind July 16-19.
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Paul Ray, Dale Dudley & Bob Fonseca to enter Texas Radio Hall of Fame
Also to mount the Hall of Fame dais will be Dale Dudley and Bob Fonseca of “The Dudley and Bob Show” on KLBJ-FM. Dudley says the honor “includes everyone who has worked on the show including the current lineup with Bob and I and Charlie (Hodge) and Angela.”
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Fixing East Sixth Street, Part 3
For Parts 1 & 2 of Fixing East Sixth Street, see posts below …
It’s simple: Widen the sidewalks. Create handy loading zones for musicians and taxis. Discourage through-traffic even earlier in the day. And replace the sandstone with the kind of durable granite that lines most of Congress Avenue’s sidewalks. Then water-blast the walks each weekend morning, just as they do on Congress.
Manage the mix: One definition of a city — or at least a downtown — it’s a place where you meet people from all backgrounds. You can’t help it. You can’t hide behind a hedge or a gate. Everyone is there. And the mix of people on Sixth Street gives it a unique social intensity missing even on nearby streets. Yet that mix must be managed. Too much of one element, and you drive out another.
For instance, 20 years ago, when teen gangs briefly invaded Sixth Street, young professionals fled for the Warehouse District. More recently, they’ve flocked — especially earlier in the evening — to West Sixth Street, which could eventually rival its eastern neighbor for nightlife density.
Young professionals in Austin come in all colors and shapes, but they are usually single, often fashion-conscious, and, more often than not, are ready to spend money. If this class is permanently divorced from East Sixth, the older district loses some of its electricity — and potential income.
Some of those same young professionals might be attracted to the music now highly concentrated on hipster Red River Street, for instance, but will they walk East Sixth to get there? Not if it is left exclusively to the aforementioned erratic street residents, clueless tourists and drunk college kids, or at least the perception of that narrow social range.
Don’t chase away anybody. Bring back the young professionals. And the hipsters. And the suburbanites. And the gay folks. And heck, even the families, at the right times of day.
All should be welcome on Sixth Street. And all should receive our utmost graciousness.
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Fixing East Sixth Street, Part 2
For Part 1 of Fixing East Sixth Street, see post below …
Fill the gaps: Nothing is more alienating to the pedestrian, especially the stranger, than the carcasses of abandoned businesses, the blasted gravel lots lined with high fences and, worst, the charred remains of former nightlife magnets, such as the Black Cat. Every gap in the social continuum disheartens. What are business leaders waiting for? The completion of the Waller Creek flood aversion tunnel and the promised beautification of its banks? (The city/county finances are in place, right? Where’s the construction?)
I realize that some of these properties are tied up in litigation, or their owners are waiting for just the right project proposal. Meantime, all efforts should be made to remedy these eyesores with placeholders, like whimsical food trailers, not only on Sixth proper, but also Fifth and Seventh streets. (The City of Austin could help out by tidying up Brush Square.)
More to come …
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Fixing East Sixth Street, Part 1
At least once a week, I walk East Sixth Street.
East Sixth, they assert, is dirty, smelly, boozy, foul and rough around the edges. It’s the province of erratic street residents, clueless tourists and drunk college kids, they say.
Yet to much of the world, Sixth Street is still synonymous with Austin. And on any given weekend night — even in the dead of summer — the seven-block entertainment strip crackles with energy.
Civic leaders have long attempted to diversify the attractions to avoid killing the golden goose.
Lower Sixth, for instance, is now anchored by two reinvigorated, moderately-priced gustatory transplants from South Congress: Habana (Caribbean) and El Sol Y La Luna (Mexican with a twist). Upper Sixth picked up Parkside and its modern American cuisine, along with Aces Lounge, a large, smooth, live-music powerhouse. Smack in the middle of the shot bars is the relocated Alamo Drafthouse at the Ritz, attracting a completely fresh crowd of central-city cinephiles. Meanwhile, folks like Jim Stotz and Bob Hemby have planted friendly gay flags on tattered central East Seventh Street with Rusty Spurs and the Other Side.
Yet the enduring seediness of East Sixth — part of its original attraction — cyclically overpowers the softer entertainments. On certain blocks, at certain times, hard-eyed characters openly peddle drugs and prostitutes. Vacant lots and bus stops become grubby hangouts. The police are left with the thorny task of keeping the peace without harassing any law-abiding citizens.
More to come …
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‘(500) Days of Summer’ the next ‘Annie Hall’? Part 3
For Parts 1 & 2 of our “(500) Days of Summer,” see posts below…
(The characters don’t even acknowledge they live in Los Angeles until two-thirds of the way through the movie, when Tom says, “We live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.” Early in the writing process, the script was set in San Francisco.)
Popular music plays a motivational role in “(500) Days.” “I spent eight years attaching images to music, so it only seems natural to let that inform the momentum of the movie,” Webb says. “Clearly, Tom as a character is formed by music. So it became a matter of letting a musician — a singer-songwriter — narrate the movie for a moment. And then let the music take over. I mean, half the experience you have in the cinema is going in through your ears. And relationships are often defined by the music we listen to and associate with them.”
Before shooting, Webb screened two films for the whole cast and crew, “Annie Hall” (1977) and “High Fidelity” (2000) calling them “tonal focus points.” Yet early published comparisons to cult standards spooked the team.
“It almost feels blasphemous,” Joseph Gordon-Levitt says about linking his role to Dustin Hoffman’s in “The Graduate,” another character who romanticizes a woman irrationally.
Zooey Deschanel’s wide eyes grow wider when references to “Annie Hall” come up during her interview. “I’m so honored,” she says. “(Woody Allen) is one of my favorite filmmakers. I have an ‘Annie Hall’ poster in my house.”
“Any comparisons to Woody Allen, I’ll gladly take,” Webb says. “ ‘Annie Hall’ has become so iconic. It’s told out of order, too. It also arrives at an interesting conclusion about the nature of love: People often confuse permanence for success.”
Could “(500) Days” reach “Annie Hall” proportions of cultural impact?
“I’ve been doing this a long time, and you never know,” Deschanel says. “Sometimes you can do a movie and you think it’s going to be huge, and something happens, it doesn’t hit a chord with people. Other times you don’t expect it: This movie was fun and light, a very pleasant film to work on from the beginning. I love movies about relationships that are thoughtfully done. This one was.”
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‘(500) Days of Summer’ the next ‘Annie Hall’? Part 2
For Part 1 of this series of interviews, see post below …
“It was funny, but it wasn’t making fun. It wasn’t goofy or jokey,” he says. “It was a heartfelt story about love and heartbreak. I feel strongly about these things. I don’t want to make light of them or reduce them to simplistic plot devices.”
He also was attracted to the complicated task of playing a role for whom the audience’s sympathies can wax and wane.
“In all his immaturity, he’s always coming from a genuinely well-meaning place,” Gordon-Levitt says. “Love: He really wants to understand it and feel it and know it. To not irritate the audience, you’ve got to not criticize your character. Any character I play, even a bad guy, I want to understand where he’s coming from and why. Make him a human being.”
Part of what distinguishes “(500) Days” from run-of-the-mill romantic comedies is the structure, rapidly switching among the 500 days of the romance, but not in chronological order, like reading entries in a 500-page diary out of order. During the planning and shoot, director Marc Webb and his team carried around a gigantic storyboard-style scroll that kept everyone on the same frame.
“When you are tracing through memories, you don’t often do it sequentially,” Webb says. “That was one of the bases for the movie. The hard parts were the design elements and continuity things. Film actors, for their parts, are completely used to doing something in the morning and assuming a completely different mind frame in the afternoon. It’s their job.”
Gordon-Levitt agrees the actors had it easiest in this puzzle of a movie.
“That’s part of an actor’s preparation for any scene, to know where am I now, what came before this, what comes after it, why am I this way,” he says. “The director helps you with that, and Marc is fantastic at that. His knowledge of the story and his profound empathy for the characters was a huge part of what makes the movie work.”
Both actors praised Webb’s talent-coaching skills, unusual for a director who comes from a music-video background.
“He’s a real storyteller. He gets character,” Gordon-Levitt says. “A lot of guys know how to make a movie pretty. That’s the cliche for somebody who has been directing music videos: It’s going to look good, but it’s going to be a vapid, pretty thing.”
“Marc is a great leader on a set,” Zooey Deschanel agrees. “He was always reminding us where we were (in the story). But you have to remind yourself, too. There’s always an arc to the script. The character changes. As an actor, your job is to be as open as possible. I take on the emotions and attentions of the moment. Then let them go, and move on to the next one.”
More to come …
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‘(500) Days of Summer’ the next ‘Annie Hall’? Part 1
As early as March, the artists behind “(500) Days of Summer” sensed they had stumbled onto a potential generational phenomenon.
The plot is insidiously simple. In an office environment, a sensitive man, Tom, falls in love with a free-spirited woman, Summer, whom he idealizes. She reciprocates, but insists she’s not looking for a boyfriend. Their relationship tangles. That’s all. Almost. “We’ve all been Tom and we’ve all been Summer at least once in our lives,” Deschanel says. “Everybody can relate to both of them.”
Like characters in a Woody Allen comedy, naive Tom and independent Summer alternate irritation with allure for the audience.
“Tom is emotionally immature, but to me it’s very charming,” director Webb says. “Tom wants what we all want — happiness. Maybe he’s misguided. He’s still aiming for something beautiful and big. He’s contemplating destiny. That allows us to root for him. (Actor) Joe has a warmth and emotional center that could easily evaporate in this role, but doesn’t.
“As for Zooey, there are very few people you wouldn’t turn against, and she’s one,” Webb continues. “My goal for Summer was, even though she’s infuriating and frustrating, if you walked out of the movie angry at her, I would have failed. She’s always honest, always up front. That’s her defense.”
More to come …
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Craig Rancourt farewell at The Monarch
Craig Rancourt took to Austin quickly …
Sally and Kelly Jackson
Within months, he and his partner Oliver Everette had met dozens of other active Austinites …
Linda Ball and Forrest Preece
The couple specialized in bringing those people together at low-key social events, often over food …
Paula Angerstein and Paul Grosso
So it made sense that, in farewell, Everette and Rancourt would throw a bounteous dinner party …
Richard Hartgrove and Gary Cooper
Everette is staying in town, helping to run L Style G Style magazine …
James Armstrong and Larry Connelly
Rancourt has taken a job with a pharmaceutical firm in Boston …
Jeff Kessel and Marla Camp
They’ll trade weekends, which means we can see the commuting couple in Austin or Boston …
Kevin Smothers and Michael Pungello
Their dinner party at the Monarch, catered by Whole Foods, had been underway for mere minutes …
Karen Odom Spezia and Roy Spezia
Before I realized that a high percentage of Austin’s most social — and generous — couples were not only in attendance …
Lynn Yeldell and Alisa Weldon
The had become close friends of Rancourt and Everette.
Dana Friis-Hansen and Mark Holzbach
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Austin Celebrity Roundup 7/24/09
USA Today scored a revealing interview with Dennis Quaid, who is pumping “G.I. Joe.” Quaid talks frankly about his family, his past bad decisions, and his encounter with President Bill Clinton, who he’ll play in an upcoming movie.
Another interview will interest Austinites: former Longhorn Vince Young’s upcoming tell-all on ESPN. He’ll talk about his troubles with the Tennessee Titans, his late friend Steve McNair and the misconceptions about his mental state.
“I didn’t want to kill myself. That’s absurd,” Young told Michael Smith on “E:60,” which will air the interview in its entirety July 28 (ESPN, 6 p.m.). “Because I love my life, like I said. I love everything going on in my life. I love my family. I love everything that’s going to happen to me in the future.”
Also on ESPN, an interview with Brooklyn Decker, the freshly married wife of Andy Roddick. “I thought it was a little bizarre,” she says of Roddick’s request to meet her after an appearance in Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.
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Interview with ‘Wicked’ librettist Winnie Holzman, Part 3
For Parts 1 & 2 of the ‘Wicked’ interview with Winnie Holzman, see postings below …
I meant that ‘in quotes,’ not literally. There’s a pressure you feel when you are writing for television, writing teenage characters. This was probably back when I was writing ‘My So-Called Life.’ Sometimes people, especially on TV, communicating so strongly to country, people believe a character must be exemplary, perfect, an example of how people should behave — this was a long time ago, sometimes now what they are doing with teenage characters on TV can only be called ‘bad’ — but back then I was talking about imperfect characters. When they make terrible mistakes you see them struggle to become better, that’s more interesting and more real-life anyway.
That leads directly into my next question: Is it possible we all see ourselves as Galinda - consciously kind, but wanting to be more effective - and Elphaba - striving for knowledge, wisdom, but not fitting in - at different times in our lives?
Well yeah. One of things about the characters: They would like to be each other, on some level. That’s one reason they become friends. Elphaba would like to be beloved. Galinda would like to be brave enough to go her own way. That happens when we find friends — even in marriages, I think — we become friends with someone we would like to be more like. And that brings us back to your original question: One of the appeals of the show, even to men, even to straight men, is they can see themselves in the choices Elphaba and Galinda make. It’s not a prefect friendshp, they have terrible fights, they betray each other, they make mistakes. But, if you think in your own life, you might have fought with a friend, even hated that person, but you are so grateful that you knew them. We all want that from our friendships.
“Wicked” plays Bass Concert Hall Aug. 12-30. Go here for tickets.
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Interview with ‘Wicked’ librettist Winnie Holzman, Part 2
For Part 1 of the ‘Wicked’ interview with Winnie Holzman, see posting below …
The 1939 movie is a great American movie. Maybe our greatest America movie. Or at least in our Top 5. For people in my generation, there is so much love for it. We watched it growing up, every year. Stephen and I had to pay it homage. It’s just too important a cultural artifact to make light of. We couldn’t act as if the movie couldn’t matter. We treated the movie as if it were absolutely real. We asked: what happened when the camera just stopped rolling, what was the backstory? As for the original Baum story, the children’s story, it’s similar, although not as indelibly printed in our minds as the brilliant movie. The other element, Gregory’s book, was what we had the rights to. There were certain things that were just so delightful, like Galinda and Elphaba meeting in college. That’s an amazing, funny idea. What happened to them? How did they end of on opposite sides? Did they they end up on opposite sides? Is that really the truth? How do know what the truth is? Do you accept it from a power source, or do find your own answers? Do you dig a little deeper?
You and Schwartz added the love triangle and refined the evolving friendship between Galinda and Elphaba. Why was that essential to a stage musical?
I don’t’ know that it was crucial. You end up telling any story through the prism of what you yourself love to watch and love to write. Take Stephen, he does come back to certain themes in his shows. For myself, I love a love triangle. I like to watch it and like to write it. One of the things that happened when we were developing the show, we’d notice that we would have different readings. We had Kristin (Chenoweth, who played Galinda) early, earlier than Idina (Menzel, who ultimately played Elphaba). We had two witches, and when they were together on stage, it was incredibly interesting and dynamic. So we began to focus the show toward their friendship. You don’t know everything ahead of time. Then it’s not fun, not a creative process. You discover it along the way. I mean, we wrote countless drafts. What started to happen: The show was telling us what it wanted to be, not be too precious. It wanted to be about their friendship. Later we realized it was sort of a twist on a typical musical. Typically, a romantic relationship is at the heart of a musical. We had one at the heart, but just not boy/girl, instead the romance of this unlikely friendship, the passionate friendship of these two women who were so different. I don’t think there is another musical has a women’s friendship at the heart of it.
More interview to come ….
“Wicked” plays Bass Concert Hall Aug. 12-30. Go here for tickets.
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Interview with ‘Wicked’ librettist Winnie Holzman, Part 1
Out & About: It’s been six years since “Wicked” bewitched Broadway. It’s still a sensation. Why do you think?
Winnie Holzman: The people who create something are not always the ones to say. I think there are a lot of different elements, not just one thing. Part of it has to with its story about two young women, about standing up for the truth, standing up for what is right, standing up to the powers that be. Also the fact that it takes its characters from “The Wizard of Oz,” a great American story. It’s beloved, part of our heritage. It’s a privilege to work with these characters and see them in a new light.
Is there a special appeal to a particular audience? Young women? Gay men?
It can appeal to young women and gay men. But you don’t do the kind of business worldwide that we’ve done, if it’s just for a certain audience. It has a broader appeal, for people of a lot different ages and backgrounds. My family was privileged to see the show in Tokyo, in Japanese, all the songs, all the lines, from beginning to end. That tells you something about having a broad appeal. The Japanese are not really familiar with the books or the movie. And yet our show really has an audience there. You know, I have to tell you it drives me wild when I’m asked about ‘who is the audience?’ As if, if you are not a teenager or gay man, you are probably not going to get it. People should walk into a theater and see what happens. Not go in with too many preconceptions.
More interview to come ….
“Wicked” plays Bass Concert Hall Aug. 12-30. Go here for tickets.
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Out & About iCal adds 7/23/09
Slowing down after the madness of Austin Fashion Week …
9 p.m. World’s Most Interesting DJ for Catalyst 8 @ the Long Center Plaza
Friday, July 24
7 p.m. Farewell dinner party for Craig Rancourt @ the Monarch
10 p.m. Patricia Vonne introduces iPhone App @ The Continental Club
11 p.m. Belvedere IX Studio 54 party @ Kiss & Fly
Saturday, July 25
5 p.m. Stephen Jerzak with Chase Coy, Romance on a Rocketship, Breathe Electric @ Mohawk
7 p.m. Hosteria Verde Supper Club @ Mexic-Arte Museum
Sunday, July 26
6 p.m. Austin 2 Africa Benefit Concert @ Momo’s
7 p.m. Reception for “Objects of Affection” by Rino Pizzi @ Emily Little home
8 p.m. Miss Swimsuit USA Model Search @ The Belmont
Tuesday, July 28
11:30 a.m. Tour @ Dell Children’s Medical Center
1 p.m. Coffee with Randy Phillips of Promiseland West @ Music Cafe
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Avant Le Weekend Live Chat with Cliff Redd
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Reminder: Cliff Redd Avant Le Weekend live chat at 3 p.m.
Yet if you have unanswered questions for him — or about the upcoming Long Center season — return to this space at 3 p.m. for an Avant Le Weekend live chat.
Meanwhile, time to nominate candidates for next week’s Après and Avant Le Weekend live chats.
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Your A-List: Best Tapas
Tapas stormed Austin almost 20 years ago. The Spanish-style bites befit a snacking nightlife culture that values intense flavors complemented by equally delectable drinks.
Three runners-up, all downtown, were all founded as tapas specialists: Malaga (24 percent), Saba (8 percent) and Louie’s 106 (5 percent).
This happens every once in a while with the A-List votes: Tierra del Fuego earned 3 percent, despite being long closed. Wrapping up the list with 2 percent or less were Wine Cellar at Barton Creek Wine Bar, Segovia and Hyatt Regency Austin’s Marker.
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Your A-List: Best Sno-Cones
Two iceries battled it out for the tallest cone of votes: SnoBeach, with 38 percent of the vote, and Casey’s New Orleans Snowballs, with 32 percent. It’s almost a geographical clash, since SnoBeach sells finely spun “Hawaiian Shaved Ice,” while Casey’s are Crescent City transplants.
Three other outlets— Jim-Jim’s Waterice, Big Top Candy Shop and Raspas — scooped up significant tallies, from 7 to 13 percent to be more precise. Four others — Shelby’s SnoCones, SnoCones, Etc., Treat and Baety’s Snocones — scraped by with less than 1 percent each.
(Thanks to Boots in the Oven for the image lend.)
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Austin Celebrity Roundup 7/22/09
Our “Friday Night Lights” team continues to break out with summer movies. Zach Gilford (Matt Saracen) stars with Alexis Bledel in the romantic comedy “Post Grad.” Minka Kelly (Lyla Garrity) won a short, but memorable spot in “(500) Days of Summer.” Taylor Kitsch (Tim Riggins) shone in the early-opening “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.” Jesse Plemons (Landry Clarke) has been spotted in trailers for “Observe and Report.”
It would be disingenuous to ignore that about a billion Web sites that have reported that Matthew McConaughey will marry pregnant-again girlfriend Camila Alves. Still, not one I’d trust. Just echoes in the media madhouse. And the farther away McConaughey stays from Austin, the less reliable our sources.
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Apres Le Weekend Live Chat with Lauren Smith Ford
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Walter Cronkite Austin Memories 2
For Part 1 of Walter Cronkite Austin Memories, see post below …
Nonprofit manager Pamela Clark Mayo: “In 1983 I was the new executive director of the Arthritis Foundation’s local branch, looking for the best possible guest of honor for our first gala. Cronkite had just retired. A pre-gala cocktail party in a private home allowed the top tier of donors a chance to visit with Walter and his wife, Betsy. Cronkite was then presented with a gift, a windbreaker with the Texas flag on the back. Cronkite tried on the jacket and the band immediately played ‘The Stripper.’ America’s avuncular newsman immediate complied with the music. He turned his back to the audience and let one shoulder of the jacket slip off while he looked back at the audience and winked. The crowd clapped and egged him on. He did the same thing with the other shoulder. The crowd roared. For that group of philanthropists, Cronkite became the most trusted man to make a party fun.”
Stage manager Bob Tolaro: “I had the privilege four years ago of stage managing the Texas Medal of the Arts at the Paramount where Walter was given a lifetime achievement award. Well, to show what a sense of humor he had, even at 87, while Bob Schieffer was introducing him Walter snuck right by me before he was supposed to go out. He stood behind Schieffer and every time Schieffer gave him an accolade, Walter shook his head ‘no’ as if Schieffer was lying. The audience just roared until Schieffer finally realized what was going on. Just a warm funny moment from an icon.”
News 8 Austin’s Rachel Elsberry: My favorite memory of Cronkite happens at every UT game, since he is the voice of the ‘We’re Texas: What Happens Here Changes the World’ ads. It makes me proud that his authoritative, deep, seasoned voice represents UT to people across the country. Cronkite will always be the voice of the University of Texas at Austin and the contributions its graduates have made to the world. We’re Texas and so is Walter Cronkite.”
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Walter Cronkite Austin Memories 1
Throughout the weekend, Walter Cronkite remained a warm topic of conversation, via the Internet and at Austin parties.
Public relations leader Elizabeth Christian: “In the ’70s, the annual Gridiron Show — featuring a huge majority of the area’s print, radio and TV journalists spoofing politics and politicians —was a very big deal, a sell-out show at the Paramount Theatre every year. It was a labor of love and a showcase of reporters’ “talents.” … One year I was both in the chorus and the stage designer. Somebody managed to talk Cronkite into making a cameo, and were we all a-flutter. Luck of the draw: Mr. Cronkite was to say a few words and then introduce the next act — of which I was a part! He read the four or five people’s names in the skit with me and then, and THEN, it was MY turn to hear my name read by the great Cronkite! But alas, someone, who will go unnamed, had changed Mr. Cronkite’s script to read “Lizzo Christian,” my most-hated nickname. That beautiful baritone will forever be in my memory for so many reasons, not the least of which was hearing it intone the dreaded “Lizzo” and still having to go on with the show with a smile on my face.”
Former television anchorman Neal Spelce: “At age 80, he underwent bypass surgery in April 1997. My quintuple bypass followed in June 1997. Checking with him later that summer, I called him to ask how he was recovering. Typically Walter, he said he was leaving in a few minutes to ‘test my new arteries on the tennis court.’”
More to come …
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Lauren Smith Ford, Cliff Redd do Live Chats this week
Then, 3 p.m. Thursday return for Avant Le Weekend with Long Center director Cliff Redd. We’ll chat about the upcoming season — and anything that crosses our minds.
Today, though, don’t miss the biggest, best Out & About Weekend Gallery — Austin looking good during Fashion Week.
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Austin Fashion Awards at The Long Center
Style writer Marques Harper has already said it all, and said it well …
Alpha Rev revs up Austin Fashion Awards
The first-ever Austin Fashion Awards ceremony could have been a disaster …
Illson and Samantha Santoski at the Austin Fashion Awards
It was not …
Tecla Cosgrove, Jon Hubble and Monica Burcham at the Austin Fashion Awards
Given media check-in at 4:30 p.m. and red carpet at 5 p.m. …
Tolly Moseley at Rene Geneva at the Austin Fashion Awards
The show got a very slow start at the Long Center …
Chelle Morison and Sierra Edgar at the Austin Fashion Awards
But how can you argue when the festivities are charged up by your favorite Austin band, Alpha Rev? … And the next band is the Soldier Thread, another in my Top 10?
Matt and Debbie Livingston at the Austin Fashion Awards
The theatrical mechanics of the event were a little loosey-goosey …
Penny Jackson and Kia Matthews at the Austin Fashion Awards
But hey, having put together the no-budget Austin Critics Table Awards ceremony with fellow arts journalists for almost 20 years …
DJ Kurupt and Jen Shoemaker at the Austin Fashion Awards
I can attest that this show was pretty impressive and ambitious …
Masae Falcon and Jake Lewis at the Austin Fashion Awards
I agree with Harper: More images needed, more transparency in the process and more respect for some of the fashion elders in town …
Marlena Cole and Rudy Dunbar at the Austin Fashion Awards
I’m just glad nobody mocked the silver-gray-on-black embroidered Fender shirt I tried to pull off …
Robert Edward and Lacey Austin at the Austin Fashion Awards
I’m no clothes horse. More like a clothes mule! And the few Fender-ized photos I’ve spotted of me on Facebook were instantly untagged (no fault of the shooters) …
Sarah Freitas and Tre Dotson at the Austin Fashion Awards
Back to the show and the week: They broke ground and deserve a second iteration …
Katie Moran an Jason Lindenschmidt at the Austin Fashion Awards
Big toasts to Matt Swinney, whose vision lifted Austin fashion up where it belongs …
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Phyllis Stegall’s birthday at Hoover’s Cooking
Big names and down-home cooking …
Bettie Naylor and Stephen Moser at Phyllis Stegall’s Birthday at Hoover’s Cooking
That was the recipe for Phyllis Stegall’s 80th birthday party on Sunday …
Seabrook Jones and Phyllis Stegall at her birthday at Hoover’s Cooking
Besides the birthday gal’s famed offspring — Stephen and Margaret Moser — the long table at Hoover’s Cooking had room for …
Linda Ball and Eric Groten at Phyllis Stegall’s Birthday at Hoover’s Cooking
Lobbyist and activist Bettie Naylor, Long Center bigwig Robert Brown, philanthropist and lawyer Eric Groten, premier downtowners Linda Ball and Forrest Preece, movie critic Marge Baumgarten, photographer Seabrook Jones, publicist and promoter Patricia Paredes and more …
Robert Brown and Patricia Paredes at Phyllis Stegall’s Birthday at Hoover’s Cooking
Happy eight decades, Phyllis …
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Grand Opening of Laura Bush Community Library
It sits proud atop a high hill …
Pick out Laura Bush from the crowd on the dais
The style, regional modern: Limestone, overhangs, water catchments, indigenous plantings on Bee Cave Road …
Ruby and Shannon McMahon at Laura Bush Community Library Opening
The Laura Bush Community Library is the second in the Westbank system, which already boasts 500,000 borrowings a year …
Jeanette and Richard Sodinowski at Laura Bush Community Library Opening
Former first lady Laura Bush was there for the opening, crisp, alert, yet relaxed in the shade …
Maryanne Moore and Patti Iles at Laura Bush Community Library Opening
Along with politicians such as Texas Rep. Donna Howard, U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul and Mayor Lee Leffingwell …
Edie and John Musgrove at Laura Bush Community Library Opening
More than 100 people — half in the full Sunday sun — surged forward to hear Bush speak and eventually to enter the cool spaces of the newest monument to literacy stamped with Laura’s imprimatur …
Roger Dean and Damon Lopez at Laura Bush Community Library Opening
Many took pictures of kids climbing over the statue of Bush reading to a child …
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Grand Opening at eMotion Motor Sports
Intriguing who comes out for an auto dealership opening …
Michelle and Robert George
Especially one festooned with fantasy names like Rolls Royce, Lamborghini, Astin Martin and Corvette (some for sale, other classics for display) …
Jennifer Frankovsky and Christine Matzke
The party for eMotion Motor Sports on MoPac was second such shindig at a top-end dealership during the last few weeks …
Robert and Shanez Abbassi
This crowd was not as shiny as the last one; more regular folks gawking at the high-performance vehicles …
Melanie Martin and Judy McAdam
They all asked each other: “Which would you choose,” knowing that nothing like that choice would happen in the next two lifetimes …
Iluminada Stearns, Dale McPherson and Hartt Stearns
A reductionist might label the merchandise “toys for boys,” but plenty of women also reached out impulsively to touch the exquisite, expendable machines …
Randi Abernathy and L.J. Fishburn
And how’s this for coincidence? Having not spotted a Lamborghini in years, I ogled my second over the course of one weekend (the first at the Bull Run Challenge) …
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Jalpar Fashion Show at Hilton Austin
Had never heard of Jalpar …
Valerie Avila, My-Cherie Haley
The company is described thus in the Austin Fashion Week literature: “Jalpar is a wholesale upper-market fashion label specializing in contemporary women’s evening, cocktail, and elegant day wear with high emphasis on handwork and craftsmanship” …
Eve Miller
That’s a mouthful …
Candice Guillory, Marissa Cantu
What I saw on the runway were fairly traditional-looking evening gowns and such …
Victoria Bunn, Colby Wilson
With creative twists, such as weaves, tufts or layering that caught the eye …
Natalea Hays, Bobbie Ragsdale
The Austin models looked dazzling, on and offstage ….
Shaun Adler, Katy McDougall
The crowd embraced those, mostly women, who clearly came for the fashions and those, mostly men, who came, I’m guessing, for the models …
Shelby Tucker, Tonitra Tucker, Mariah Gardner
I haven’t seen that many straight men at a runway show in ages. They look at clothing women’s differently than other men do …
Dania Heffington, Paula Roberts
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Lapping the Capitol again
For the first time since the heart procedures and blood-thinner incident, Nora and I lapped the Capitol.
Not long ago, that would have counted as our shortest weekend walk. Nowadays, it’s the longest.
The cloud cover kept the morning heat down, but supplemented the humidity.
Perhaps because of the weather, the Sunday streets looked emptier than I remember.
Perhaps for the same reason, the street people appeared more desperate.
Hackberries have joined ornamental and fruit trees among the desiccated.
The Capitol grounds gleam, jade-like. From where does the State of Texas derive its water? City of Austin? At what rate?
Not that I begrudge the Capitol’s gorgeous grounds. The shady oasis serves as one of our city’s parkland gems, underutilized, I suspect, by locals.
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Bull Run Challenge Party at The Belmont
The Lamborghini parked outside was the first clue …
The Bull Run Challenge Party at The Belmont would be a switch …
Angela Fabbri, Cody Woolley, Andie Cantilli
The Challenge is an open-road race for a reality TV show from one urban center to another, this time from New York City to Austin …
John Anger, Tiffany Anger
Various celebrities participate in the race, including Dennis Rodman …
Martha Flores, Dejuan Gilloury, Jennifer Crocker, Gerald Blancett
But, as usual, I arrived at the party early. Or close to the time announced …
Jenny Hutchison, Jennifer St. Amand, Katie Sanders, Paul Chokota
So I dived into a mass of models, all called on to decorate the Challenge’s wrap-up party …
Zion Francis, Lupe Valdes
It’s an odd thing that I’ve encountered before. The massing of the models. Some got hungry and left early …
Bobbie Ragsdale, Ashley Adams, Christian Sosa
So did I. Looks like fun in the making, though …
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Red Hot Party at Oilcan Harry’s
Did you know that Friday’s Red Hot Party for Project Transitions was the charity event’s 19th iteration? …
Emcee meets singer: Rob Faubion, Murrah Noble
I didn’t …
Bar owner Larry Davis, Outcast Radio’s Stephen Rice
Shame on me. I’ve concentrated on — and participated in — some other annual PT events, such as Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner …
Ann Rostow, Mel Karst Schmidt (the married couple met at a Red Hot event!)
But this sweet tradition at Oilcan Harry’s includes silent auction, an unflappable returning party captain (Rob Faubion), singers (Andra Mitrovich, Murrah Noble) and bountiful buffet and the usual eye candy …
JR Sanchez, Erica Amaya
Oilcan’s — which seemed hit by new competition among gay bars on the block just weeks ago — was filling up fast …
Jeff Rudluff, John Williams
A divine way to kick off a weekend …
Callie Thompson, Elaine Holton
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Betty Soo and Fate
How often does this happen?
It’s a version of Jimmie Davis and Hank Williams’ “Lonesome Whistle.” My ears prick up.
In a hurry, I fail to find out the singer’s name. Oh well.
An hour later, I’m tapping away in the newsroom. I plop in a CD randomly selected from the promotional drawer.
It’s Betty Soo, an Austin singer-songwriter I’d admired, but never closely followed.
It’s lovely. Really lovely. Then the final track of “Heat Sin Water Skin” — a welcome title in this weather! — is Soo’s rendition of “Lonesome Whistle.”
The one from the radio.
The record, produced exactingly by Gurf Morlix, is a giant step up for Soo.
Go here for Joe Gross’ review (B+).
By the way, she’s the rare musician with a cool, accommodating Web site.
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Memories of Walter Cronkite in Austin
Send to mbarnes@statesman.com.
My Tuesday column will include short anecdotes from those whose lives here he touched. Thanks.
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Austin Celebrity Roundup 7/17/09
I didn’t have a chance to update the local celebrity portion of this blog on Wednesday. For some of you, however, there will be nuggets of news here.
Addition: We should add that since the post was originally written, University of Texas graduate and frequent Austin visitor Walter Cronkite has died.
Evan Smith, longtime Texas Monthly editor and recently also publisher, has left the magazine to start an online political publication called the Texas Tribune. Austin Ventures’ John Thornton, who has been pushing the option on his Insomniactive blog, has started the Tribune as a nonprofit.
Garrett Gilbert was named Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year. Former Longhorn Kevin Durant also attended awards luncheon at Los Angeles’ Biltmore Hotel.
One of our favorite Midlife Gals creative team — there are only two — plays a cancer victim in a micro-budget Austin horror film, “Red, White and Blue.” Sally Jackson is joined by her sister, Kelly, in Midlife videos for More Magazine, Baby Boomer Advisor Club, National Association of Baby Boomer Women and midlifebachelor.com.
Austin-made “Friday Night Lights” scored only one Emmy nomination — for casting. That’s cool, but it deserves so much more. I’m tired of it getting snubbed. Full-time Austinite Kyle Chandler and sometimer Brad Leland from the cast have already started planning the Beyond the Lights Celebrity Gold Tournament for 2010.
UT baseball coach Augie Garrido, who usually spends this time of year in California, was sentenced to four days in jail for his recent DUI.
Austin’s “Survivor” survivor, Joe Dowdle, is setting up music gigs for the fall. (He’s in Nicaragua right now.) Check his music at www.joedowdle.com, www.myspace.com/joedowdle or www.twitter.com/joedowdle.
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Fourth Anniversary Party at Six
By the time I got to Six on Thursday …
Matt Gordon, Megan Connell
I was wiped out …
DJ Mike Swing, Phil Vuong, DJ Protege
Mostly by the heat …
Gregg Charalambous, Mariam Kudrath
But manager Phil Vuong had been so gracious inviting me to the club, partially owned by Lance Armstrong, and its fourth anniversary …
Jed Davis, Sheri Hanslik
I couldn’t resist a sixth party. Glad I dropped by.
Stacy, Mark, Amanda
Not only met some terribly interesting people, I was reminded what a sharp club Six is. Happy anniversary!
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Glitch Mob at Aces Lounge
Banks of laptops and other equipment were lined up …
Lauren Stewart, Tyler Pugh
On the stage at Aces Lounge …
Surreal, Taryn
Exotically costumed, Houston-based dancers prowled up and down the stairs …
Brooke Holland, Eric Poulter
All was waiting for the Glitch Mob, as organized by budding promoter Sascha Stone Guttfreund …
Emily Powalksi, Sean Sinclair
You can find videos on the Internet. Personally, I had to move on before the performance. But I did engage some of the college crowd over the loud music …
Gabe King, Clara Keith
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Austin Fashion Week Block Party @ Kirk Gallery
Austin Fashion Week paired shops with particular designers …
Naomi Payette, Ian Bederman
Besides showing off some new lamps and wallpaper, Kirk Gallery displayed the organically inspired work of LD design …
Mark Fisher, Carlos Cuellar
While numerous boutiques in the Second Street District were open late for Austin Fashion Week …
Ryan Porter, Naomi Payette
We knew that Kirk Gallery would be at least one stop, because owner Jeff Kirk is such a thoughtful host …
Ilyse Lerner, Alana Wishnew
And the crowds he draws are worth a conversation — or six …
Dixie Riddle Irwin, George Irwin, Lauren Dolinksy
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Mint Owl Fashion Show at Blu
Walking through the tropical heat …
Leslie Yates, Mark Mitchell
To Thursday’s Fashion Week parties meant that I arrived late to some …
Lindsay Grivich, Kly Ynostrosa
Like the Mint Owl Fashion show at Blu, the cool little lounge at the base of the 360 Tower …
Kyle Kemp, Calvin Friesth
Yet designer Chris Cantoya and organizer Jessica James’s magic lingered in the air (with a strong presence from Keepers men’s wear) …
Chris Cantoya, Jessica James
Blu’s social attractions have improved since George Gutierrez — formerly of Olso and Pangaea, eventually of the Peacock — took on the project …
George Gutierrez, Isaac Carrasco
Social engagers of all ages lingered inside and along the sidewalk, some clearly models for Cantoya’s visions …
Gena McGill, Olin McGill
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Yelp StyleXplosion at Mohawk
Sometimes, the most engaging social action simmers outside the party …
Camille Dehaney, Clayton Fry, Emeka Okorafor
The Yelp StyleXplosion — part of Austin Fashion Week — at Mohawk was packed like a Czech sausage …
Lauren Smith, Corissa Wandmacher, Cesar Calderon
The line strung around the corner of 10th and Red River Streets, which broiled, despite the setting sun …
Ravel Thai, Sheila Chin, Marsha Chang
Still, the folks in line easily entertained each other …
Sarah Schweppe, David Goodman, Kitty Kress
Coincidentally, at least one person (Marsha Chang) shared the outside line with me at my last Yelp social event …
J.D. Medrano, Thy-Ann Nguyen, Amena Sengal
Eventually, I skedaddled. Four more parties on my list after this. Heard from Miro Rivera’s Clayton Fry — and other sources — that the party inside proved equally entertaining. Next time …
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Austin Fashion Week Party at Shiki
Were I a woman …
Shawn Farmer, Kelly Butz
Or maybe a transvestite, I would have walked to my six downtown parties last night …
Kezia Warner, Adrienne Yunger
In one of Shiki’s cool, draping, ’60s-inspired, yet thoroughly contemporary outfits …
Jane Vanisko McCan, Laura Estes
Instead, I wore tight black pants and a fairly loose Calvin Klein shirt …
Tres Beale, Coleen Bradley
Still, I delighted in meeting the women at Shiki on West Second Street …
Jamie Parker, Twila Vogelsass
They’ve got a way …
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Parking, lines, heat snarl Dos Equis event at Falkenstein Castle
Like lightning, Twitter told the tale Wednesday night: The Dos Equis event at the Falkenstein Castle snagged badly on logistics. Guests for the “The Most Interesting Academy” at the Hill Country special-events facility were left sweltering in the heat as self-parking spread over improvised lots, shuttle buses backed up and long lines formed outside the overcrowded faux castle.
Some guests said for the beer promotional party they waited three hours, but were never admitted. Others entered the landmark between Marble Falls and Burnet easily from other parking lots.
“Great intentions, poor transportation logistics, amazing party, lack of communication, high expectations; weak results for many,” tweeted Austin’s Marcus Ceniceros. More than one Facebook page has already cropped up with complaints about the event.
Meanwhile, inside, some of the Austin promoters were left unaware of the crisis.
“It’s amazing what Twitter has done,” says Kristin Owen of Austin’s Do512, which publicized the event and accepted confirmations from guests, along with Rare magazine. “I’m so grateful right now, I wouldn’t have even known there was a problem. I have started to receive some horror stories from guests via e-mail.”
Taylor Perkins, publisher of Rare, says the Academy: “was an absolutely incredible production and was very well-attended by local Austinites that were wanting to partake in the festivities.”
Owen and Perkins emphasized that Mirrorball, a New York-based event coordinator, along with Dos Equis, hosted the event. Attempts to reach a Mirrorball representative were unsuccessful.
“It sounds pretty miserable and a major failure on Mirrorball’s fault,” Owen says.
“The local police force seemed to be very overwhelmed with the number of people that were attending the event,” Perkins says. “And they were less than pleasant with the guests and attendees wishing to get in to the event.”
Invitations to the party included a long list of activities : “parachutes, edible bugs, vertical wind tunnel, birds of prey, barber shop, martial arts Instruction and demonstration, bungee, and water slides along with live music, DJ’s, and celebrity guests.”
Do512 and Rare issued apologies to their Austin customers.
UPDATE: Last night, Kheri Tillman, the vice president of Dos Equis for Heineken USA sent out an apology which included this statement: “This is not how we wish to treat our loyal consumers and we only hope that you will let us try to make it up to you. We are working on plans to try and make this right and will be back in touch with you before the weekend with more details. We appreciate you taking the time to let us know how you feel and are working hard to put plans in place with the companies that managed this event for us to ensure this never happens again in Austin or any other city.”
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Lowel Lebermann Memorial at LBJ Library
Captains of Texas education, business, philanthropy and the arts gathered to pay tribute Thursday to Austin civic leader Lowell Lebermann, who died last week in Aspen, Colo. At least four of the 12 University of Texas presidents Lebermann had counseled attended, and two spoke at the LBJ Library and Museum memorial service.
Tonight, the UT Tower will glow orange in honor of the late UT System regent.
Mourners packed into the LBJ Library’s auditorium, fanning their printed programs and exulting at the blind humanitarian’s humor.
“I want to help you in any way I can,” Lebermann once told Bishop John McCarthy, formerly of the Diocese of Austin, who gave the benediction. “But let’s get this straight: I’m not a fanatic.”
More than 40 of Lebermann’s former aides, drawn from the ranks of the Kappa Alpha fraternity, served as ushers or honorary pallbearers. John Wotowicz, husband of Lebermann’s surviving daughter Virginia, quoted from her father’s hero Winston Churchill.
“Never give in. Never give in,” Wotowicz intoned while extolling Lebermann’s courage in the face of adversity, including blindness.
“He never let blindness define him,” said former aide Cappy McGarr. “It affected the mechanics of his life, not the substance.”
Democratic Party power broker Ben Barnes recalled how Lebermann would deviously leave a message with his assistant, reminding her that Barnes would split the cost of a table at a fundraiser, without asking Barnes in advance. So Barnes once tricked Lebermann into making a major grant to Ballet Austin by announcing his gift over dinner, returning the ambush.
Others saluted Lebermann’s fine tastes in food, wine, art and travel.
“Did you ever meet anyone else like him anywhere else,” asked former UT president Larry Faulkner.
Also in attendance were politicians (former Gov. Mark White, Rep. Elliott Naishtat, former Mayor Bruce Todd, former Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn), arts backers (Joe and Teresa Long, Jane Sibley, Jo Anne Christian), two more former UT presidents (Peter Flawn, Bill Cunningham), business leaders (Roy Spence, Eddie Safady, John Thornton), philanthropists (Bernard and Audre Rappaport, Turk Pipkin) and representatives of illustrious Central Texas families (Bud Shivers, Luci Baines Johnson, Cactus Pryor).
Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church choir members sang two spirituals; pianist and Lebermann protegee Bruce Levingston played delicate versions of Debussy, Satie and Chopin.
After the formal memorial, Lebermann admirers repaired to the Headliners Club to toast a man who loved — and lived — the good life.
As Lebermann often said of the private club, patronized by Austin’s movers and shakers: “If it can be done, it can be done at the Headliner’s Club.”
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Reminder: Lowell Lebermann Memorial
The memorial for Austin businessman, philanthropist and civic leader Lowell Lebermann takes place at 2:30 p.m. today (July 16) at the LBJ Library and Museum Auditorium. Parking is free in the University of Texas lot to the east of the museum.
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Your A-List: Best Addition to Local Media Scene
Media shifts quickly. Local newsrooms are shedding staff. Yet newcomers are still welcome.
KVUE’s Terri Gruca gave Stolp a run for her money, rating 20 percent of the tally. News McNabb blog and KUT’s Matt Reilly occupied the mid-range with 12 and 11 percent, respectively.
Reporting 4 percent or less were Austin Post, KXAN’s Natalie Stoll, New 8 Austin’s Adam Krueger, Mix 94.7’s Nikki Nite, Cedar Park Citizen, Launch 787 and Leander Ledger.
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Your A-List: Best Art Gallery
When you’re popular, you’re popular. Art on Fifth has dominated the A-List vote for Best Gallery for the second year running. The veteran seller of fine-art prints, celebrity creations and more took a full 33 percent of the vote.
Another longtime commercial space — Gallery Shoal Creek — attracted 7 percent, while Austin Museum of Art-Laguna Gloria and Austin Museum of Art-Downtown split the difference with 6 and 5 percent.
Two more institutions, the Ransom Center and Arthouse at Jones Center, along with near-campus D Berman Gallery, virtually tied at 4 percent.
Garnering less than 4 percent were Stephen L. Clark Gallery, Okay Mountain, Austin Galleries, Flatbed press, Art Palace, Women & Their Work, Lora Reynolds Gallery, Artworks, Slugfest Printmaking, Russell Collection of Fine Art, Davis Gallery, Haven Gallery and 4 Walls Fine Art.
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Charlie Faye at Saxon Pub
In Austin, I fall in love every night …
Last night, it was with Charlie Faye …
Luke Fontenot, Mary Flynn
She’s an accomplished Austin singer-songwriter associated with the upgraded Americana line …
Mike Wacker, Lisa King
Faye introduced her CD “Wilson St.” at Saxon Pub — and the multivarious crowd could not be more pleased …
Ruby James, Ruby James (daughter, mother
This city is supremely blessed with talent. And this one was backed by a six-member band including over-arcing Will Sexton on guitar. Abra Moore contributed back-up vocals.
Deanna Kuykendall, David Holmes
This was my first Faye gig. It won’t be my last. Imagine adding one Austin act every week to one’s favorites list. How soon the musical wealth would pile up.
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Austin Fashion Week Kickoff at DeanFredrick
What’s a trend-spotter to do?
Claudia Blanchette, Erin Morrill
Like style reporter Marques Harper, I’m finding the first wondrous Austin Fashion Week difficult to digest.
Michael Palombo, Dean Fredrick
Hundreds of events, often at the same time. No matter. We face this every spring and fall during music and film festival time.
Brooke Truan, Isadora Truan, Laura Grable
My first visitation was to drop by DeanFredrick, the chic jeweler improbably ensconced on East Fifth Street between Studio 501 and Progress coffeehouse.
Jennie Chen, John Knox
I found a snappy crowd there, some leafing through catalogs for the company’s serial sparklers, others posing for fashion photographs.
Annie Ray, Cassie Little
Michael Palombo of Mulberry supplied the edibles. Graham Wilkison sang and strummed softly in a corner. Claudia Blanchette invited me to the Austin Hand-Made re-opening on Thursday. (Now that will be a busy night!) And I met Dean Fredrick, whom I promised to revisit, when the crowds from Fashion Week dissipate.
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Michele Golden Party at Eddie V’s
Certain Austinites can rope together strikingly dissimilar folks …
Michele Golden, Phyllis Rose
Take Michele Golden, for instance …
Monica Davis, Martha Steinly
Her network of friends includes broadcasters, horsewomen, lobbyists, marketers, natural soap entrepreneurs, nonprofiteers and rural landowners …
Kimberlie Dykeman, Joe Phillips
Those were among the professions I sampled in conversation at her (29th) birthday party at Eddie V’s.
David Nguyen, Melinda Biggs
Note on the venue: Amazing how long owners Larry Foles and Guy Villavaso have nurtured the Eddie V’s franchise, as they have their Z Tejas series. Hard to maintain that level of food, drink, atmosphere and service.
Rose Carter, Melinda Biggs
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Happy Mid-Hot
Funny how the body adjusts. After all these days topping 100 degrees, a long, morning walk in the 80s or 90s feels like fall.
Hang in there. We’re half way home.
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Out & About iCal adds 7/14/09
All these plans must remain flexible because of Austin Fashion Week.
Tuesday, July 14
5:30 p.m. What the Hell, We Need Another Excuse to Have Fun These Days Happy Hour with Michele Golden @ Eddie V’s
6:30 p.m. Austin Fashion Week Kickoff Party @ DeanFredrick
7:30 p.m. CD Release with Charlie Faye @ Saxon Pub
6:30 p.m. Chateau inspection with Carl McQuery @ Secret House
7:30 p.m. Austin Fashion Week functions
11 p.m. Fashion Show with Lady Gaga theme @ Qua
Thursday, July 16
6 p.m. Shaken Not Stirred Happy Hour @ Shiki
7 p.m. Yelp StyleXplosion VIP Reception @ Mohawk
7:30 p.m. Mint Owl Fashion Show at Blu Cafe
8 p.m. Austin Fashion Week Block Party @ Kirk Gallery
8:30 Austin Handmade Re-Opening Party @ 2009 S. First St.
9 p.m. The Glitch Mob @ Aces Lounge
10 p.m. Fourth Anniversary Party @ Six Lounge
Friday, July 17
5 p.m. Pop-Up Shop Party with Corey Lynn Calter @ 2110 S. Lamar Blvd.
6 p.m. Jalpar Fashion Show @ Austin Hilton
7 p.m. Red Hot for Project Transitions @ Oilcan Harry’s
8 p.m. BullRun Closing Ceremonies @ The Belmont
Saturday, July 18
7 p.m. Grand Opening of eMotion Motors Sports @ 12190 N MoPac
8:30 p.m. Quartermoon’s Birthday Jam @ Alligator Grill
11 p.m. Gig: Black and White Years @ Stubb’s Jr.
Sunday, July 19
2 p.m. Grand Opening of the Laura Bush Community Library @ 9411 Bee Cave Road
5:30 p.m. Austin Fashion Awards @ the Long Center
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‘Brüno’: A Gay Man Responds
Harrowing.
That’s my one-word response to “Brüno,” Sacha Baron Cohen’s latest cinematic rampage.
Even more to the point: Too much bullying from Cohen. Many of his subjects put up with his schtick until he virtually rubbed his business in their faces. (Also: Too much business.)
As a consumer of pop culture, however, I know that Cohen’s ambush comedy tactics can be thrillingly audacious. (He actually interviews a Lebanese terrorist, and later taunts a redneck ultimate-fight audience into homophobic hysteria.) Any alert ticket buyer also makes a compact when they enter the theater: We are here to watch Cohen cross social boundaries in novel ways. And with jaundiced glee, I’m going to laugh at much of it.
As a gay man — friends, colleagues and readers have asked how I feel about “Brüno” in that context — I am not sure how to judge the effect. Brüno is obviously a caricature. He challenges tolerance for straight and gay audiences alike, not just through his extreme mannerisms and speech, but also through his bizarre, sometimes obscene behavior. It’s like Cohen is turning every homophobic nightmare about gay sex, substance and parenting into creepy flesh.
So, in a sense, Cohen’s task is unmasking homophobia. It must be said that he finds it in unsurprising places. (A gentler and perhaps more effective satire would look where homophobia is supposedly banished.) So Cohen makes it easy for the audience to laugh at the rubes — urban as well as rural, but mostly Americans — who fall into his tender-free traps.
I’m not sure if this tactic subverts or reinforces homophobia. Most people, like me, probably leave the theater too stunned to think clearly. The experience lingers in the memory like a bad dream. And maybe that in itself — a rare thing — is the movie’s gift. We are left to decide what “Brüno” means.
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Austin Celebrity Roundup 7/13/09
Austin mogul Michael Dell was snapped among the powerful media and technology executives at the annual conference in Sun Valley, Idaho. Why don’t we have one of those? In the winter?
Breakthrough Austin band White Denim packed the enormous Heaven venue in London, UK. Their records haven’t sold that well, but live, they elicit ecstasy. I mean, the natural kind!
Sometime Austinite Matthew McConaughey will make an appearance on the 1,000th episode of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” on Friday. Other guests this celebratory week included Ryan Reynolds, Miley Cyrus, John Travolta and Beyonce.
Austin’s Lance Armstrong remains in third in the Tour de France. Quite frankly, I didn’t think the 37-year-old would stick it out so far. He’s an inspiration, even for a 54-year-old who has no intention of mounting a racing bike.
Another stellar Austin athlete, Aaron Peirsol, ended up the swimmer of the meet at the US Nationals in Indianapolis. Our Eric Shanteau qualified for the Worlds in three events, setting records along the way. More Austinites on the team: Kelsey Ditto, Garrett Weber-Gale, David Walters, Scott Spann, Michael Klueh, Gary Hall, Jr.
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Ideas hatched at a Fortunate Feast
How can the city’s most social citizens reach out to those who are not?
Our guests entertained that question over dessert on Sunday.
Thus, they’ll likely earn spots on the Fortunate 500 list when it is published in September.
So how can they spread the word? And how can the Fortunate 500 help Austin, besides just recognizing those who strengthen the commonwealth?
First, our six guests — Eugene Sepulveda, Steven Tomlinson, John Hogg, David Garza, Oliver Everette and Craig Rancourt — bonded over personal stories as Kip and I served dinner.
(All the courses were taken from Terry Thompson-Anderson’s “The Texas Hill Country” — herb-baked goat feta cheese; lavender-infused sangria; chunky garden gazpacho; arugula and bibb lettuce salad; pecan-crusted pork tenderloin; blackberry crostada; tarte a la frangipane. If these sounds like an overly rich feast, the portions were small and we shopped rigorously for fresh, less expensive ingredients.)
What about a series of small Fortunate Feasts, like this one, weaving together the disparate personalities on the list?
No. One guest rightly judged that could turn counterproductive, seen as an exclusive, elitist exercise. The Fortunate 500 is an inclusive list, not a traditional blue book of high society.
Another suggested gathering people around common interests. Fortunate 500 discussions or retreats, say, on vital topics might work.
Hard to organize. Still, going in the right direction.
Social media could provide an answer. What if the Fortunate 500 coalesced around LinkedIn or Facebook groups, over even Twitter?
That might work, too, but it still feels exclusive, especially if only those 500 individuals or couples could join digitally.
Hey! What if the Fortunate 500 hosted those Central Texans not on the current list, bringing folks of different backgrounds into the civic conversation, connecting them to nonprofits and broadening their social horizons?
That proposal sounded the most promising to me.
The idea is still raw. Yet you might read a story soon about how to throw a Fortunate Feast — or Fest — deliberately matching the avidly social with the not-as-social.
And Austin may just understand itself a tiny bit better.
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Pangaea to become The Phoenix
Pangaea, the exemplar of Austin’s ultra-lounge trend, will become The Phoenix, a firebird-themed club by the end of August.
Michael Ault, the international club founder and Pangaea lead partner, says the upstairs spot on Colorado Street will come with “new staff, new owners, new everything.”
Ault had helped to introduce practices more familiar to Miami, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and New York City, including a lounge-and-dance combination with high-flying DJs. Other imports — like the exterior velvet rope and bottle service — were not so popular in egalitarian, laid-back Austin.
“(They) had created a growing number of haters,” Ault said. “And we thought we might attempt to ‘reset’ that equation.”
Pangaea had continued to draw crowds until its final days last week, but Ault felt two seasons were enough — an eternity in club cultures of some other cities.
Ault hopes the large space above Cuba Libre will be revived with structural and decorative changes, which including red, tufted velvet, chandeliers and 16th and 17th century paintings. A small VIP area — common in larger Austin clubs — will complement a greatly expanded front room.
“It seemed appropriate given the death of an old powerful brand,” Ault said of the club’s firebird motif, “and the hopeful rebirth of a new reinvigorated creature”
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White Party at Green Pastures
We can say this definitively: The White Party is a gilded champion among Austin charity affairs.
Jeff Chen, Mardy Chen
Let’s start with the setting: Green Pastures’ dignified white farmhouse sprouting Great Gatsby tents like mushrooms on its emerald, oak-shaded lawns.
PJ Rabice, Tiffany Craven
Then there’s the crowd, mostly young professionals who uphold Leap, a support group for the Lifeworks charity.
Jennifer Villarreal, Andrew Haynes
Oh my. Is this a comely crowd? All dressed in flattering white. (And variations.)
Garrett Mize, Christina Sheets
All evening, they drifted from open tents — with their simple, gorgeous white flower arrangements — to refreshment stations and the scattered white couches inside and out.
Sonja McDonnell, Susie Santana
The dance floor beckoned with a flashing light screen and expert DJ, as well as tireless go-go dancers. (It must be admitted that the guests took forever to mount this perhaps too intimidating stage. Hosts should have motivated the moves through demonstration. And maybe swept the dance floor with big fans.)
Anna Woods, Peter Bond
The appetizers from Green Pastures’ kitchen were perfection: Actual finger food that packed powerful little bursts of flavor without forcing ungraceful stand-up dining. (Exception: A hummus spread that came with two tiny strands of chips.)
Kelley Davis, Hanh Tran
The Grey Goose signature drinks cooled. As did smart cocktails like icy wine spritzers.
Lisa Magids, Todd O’Neill
The service and hospitality were impeccable. No other party comes close.
Matt Abbott, Patrick Clark, Lauren Clark
The tents, underwritten by folks like Kendra Scott and Nav Sooch, included bottle service, which meant each retreat blossomed into a mini-party with porous borders.
Billy Andrews, Jessica Hellums
The mood remained mellow until the dancing really fired up.
Brent Zaal, Alyson Maxey
I talked with Suzanne Kennedy about her new screenplay and Austin Adams (and his friends) about local, state and national politics.
Jehmu Greene, Andrea Elliott, Morgan Flager
I spent the longest time with Bennett Ford — husband of Tribeza editor Lauren Ford — about a thousand substantive topics.
Nav Sooch, Whitney Casey,
(Critics of this column often assume the chatter at these parties is exceedingly shallow. Not so. Or not always so.)
Lee Anthony, Xitlalt Herrera Salazar, Eliseo Rios
Skipping the after-party at The Belmont, I stayed from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. — probably the longest I’ve spent at a party all year.
Amber Follis, Lee Walker, Katie Jackson
I hope Leap and Lifeworks makes money on this endeavor. I never want it to go away.
Paxton Knight, Cherly Mills
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‘The Doyle & Debbie Show” at the Long Center
“Greater Tuna” star Joe Sears vows it’s the funniest show he’s seen in years.
Jenny Littleton, Bruce Arntson
The taxonomic relationship between Nashville-birthed “The Doyle & Debbie Show,” now at the Long Center, and the Austin-generated “Tuna” series would be obvious to even the untrained eye.
Stan Haas, Joan Plaster
Both weave together sketches about a part of culture rarely satirized effectively on the stage. Love of country music and country life keep the sharply outlined characterizations from darkening into the blackest of humors.
Jaston Williams, Sharon Chapman
D&D is more focused: Only two main characters, one sideman. Doyle is a high-energy country performer of the old school who experienced a mysterious breakdown and has just returned to Nashville with Debbie, his third partner by that stage name, a young mother of three from deepest Tennessee who, despite low self-esteem, brings to the stage a startling talent.
Kathy Hemphill, Farley Hemphill
Both D&D and Tuna depend on the patience of the writers and performers to build scenes from low-drama ignitions. D&D, in fact, takes it very slow, the better to guarantee that the unpredictable climax is literally hair-raising. (A wig is involved. That’s all I’ll say.)
The late Saturday matinee audience lapped it up. We heard from Long Center managing director Paul Beutel that a possible Chicago D&D engagement is in the offing (Austin is only its second city and the Long Center its first theatrical engagement).
Steve Gould, Monica Gould
We also bumped into Sears’ onstage partner, Jaston Williams, in the lobby. He was seeing the show for a second time, in itself an endorsement. Williams has just renovated a mid-century modern house in Lockhart and is working with Sears on script polishes of the third and fourth installments of the “Tuna” quartet.
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Peacock closes, also possibly Pangaea
A big chunk of the Austin lounge scene may disappear soon. Tonight, owners of the Peacock have confirmed that they will be closing the pioneer East Austin lounge. We also hear from reliable sources at that Pangaea — the ultimate ultra-lounge — is also closing this weekend. We’ll confirm when we reach the owners.
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Art Divas at Judy Jensen House
How exhilarating to enter a room full of powerful women.
Margo Sawyer, Molly Alexander
Not just a room, but a whole house! And I was one of only three men present (another was husband and co-host to artist Judy Jensen).
Cynthia Holmes, Linda Young Kaffie
Inside and outside their modest, lovingly tended home off North Lamar Boulevard, the Art Divas mingled.
Judy Jensen, Aralyn Hughes, Mary Gordon Spence
This group of women includes the past and present leaders of Austin’s major museums, galleries, cooperatives, advocacy groups and collecting circles, as well as visual and performing artists.
Lisa Choinacky, Elizabeth Chapin, Rachel Koper
I spent the most time talking to nationally laureled public artist Margo Sawyer and Downtown Austin Alliance’s Molly Alexander about projects in Galveston, Elgin and Houston. They understand how the civic and artistic spheres complement each other.
Hannah Bentley, Shelley Wood
Peeking out of corners of the art-festooned rooms were power lawyer and collector Becky Beaver, former Blanton Museum director Jessie Otto Hite, postmodern dance legend Deborah Hay, longtime Women & Their Work leader Chris Cowden, writer and environmentalist Mary Gordon Spence, comedian and real estate agent Aralyn Hughes and photographer Shelley Wood.
Bonnie Tamres-Moore, Keri Kropp
Now, some lesser seasoned women were present, too, but this is an informal club where membership is earned over time, I imagine. Bridging the generations was Rachel Koper, newly named curator of Women & Their Work, and probably best placed to wed the Austin’s abundantly represented artistic establishment with outliers aspiring to their stature.
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Austin Celebrity Roundup 7/10/09
Robbing Austin celebrity swimmers — Eric Shanteau, Aaron Peirsol, Ricky Berens, Dave Walters, Karlee Bispo, Garrett Weber-Gale — of the media spotlight at the US Nationals, Michael Phelps broke the only record he hadn’t already, in the 100 m butterfly. At least four Austinites are headed to the World Championships in Rome. (Pictured: Ricky on Flickr)
Austin-area music writer Joe Nick Patoski talks about Willie Nelson’s kickboxing skills and other errata in an interview with the Observer-Reporter. “He could kick my ass,” Patoski says.
Austin’s only other superstar, Lance Armstrong, slipped to third place in the Tour de France. The staff of the Lance Armstrong Foundation kindly asked me to their Tour watching party this morning, but too much on my place. Thanks, though.
Local hero Andy Roddick’s Wimbledon showdown with Roger Federer — despite the disappointing ending — earned 5.71 million viewers, the highest in 10 years.
Hope Davis has been cast opposite sometime Austinite Dennis Quaid — Hillary to his Bill Clinton — in “The Special Relationship.” Julianne Moore was forced to quit the Hillary role because of a scheduling conflict.
Former Longhorn Vince Young served a solemn role as pallbearer in NFL star Steve McNair’s funeral yesterday at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Whites Creek, Tenn.
Saw elegant Donaji Lira on the arm of publisher Lance Avery Morgan at the Kathy Griffin concert last night. Formerly of the late El Rey men’s club, Lira is now a sales rep for Serendipity Wine Imports.
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Lowell Lebermann: In Memorium 2
For Part 1 of memories of recently deceased Lowell Lebermann, go to previous Out & About post.
David Jarrott: “When Lowell Leberman was on the City Council in the ’70s, one of his aides (Cappy McGarr) did a character voice on my morning show on KNOW. The character, Goober Hoedecker, always called me “Mr. Carrot,” instead of Dave Jarrott; consequently Lowell Leberman did the same. His aides were always very good at letting him know who was approaching him. One day I was driving up MoPac and I saw his familiar, very large black Lincoln in my rearview mirror. As they passed me, Lowell, in the passenger seat waved at me and I could read his lips as he said “Hello, Mr. Carrot.” It took me a few minutes to realize how he knew that!”
John Bernadoni: “Lowell was the president of the Paramount board in 1979 and 1980. He was the first and only two term president in my memory. I met Lowell initially when he was on the City Council when Roy Butler was mayor. Lowell had an amazingly rapier wit always accompanied by a boyish smile. I often said Lowell could see more than anyone alive. I never thought of him as blind because he was absolutely able to see a thing 360 degrees in every direction. He brought a powerful presence to the Paramount’s restoration as we sought to sell the theatre to Austin, Texas and the country. We loved to toss friendly barbs at each other well after I left the Paramount in 1985. I remember he was at the Paramount with one of his ever present KA aides in tow. I always introduced myself because the aides changed so often i.e. they didn’t’ know me. So, I said, “John Bernardoni”. And Lowell said, “I thought you were dead”. Another time we ran in to each other at the Paramount. He was walking in to the second lobby with his aide when I said, “When did you get the patch”? He said “What patch”?”
Jerry Conn: I knew Lowell casually, but will always remember an incident that I thought exemplified his droll humor. Years ago, when there was a City National Bank, I was in a group in a reception room seated around a low, marble coffee table. I remember Lowell and his dog coming in and the dog allowed Lowell to bark his shin on the coffee table. Without missing a beat, Lowell said to the dog, “Rusty, if you’re not going to help me, at least, don’t hurt me.”“
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Lowell Lebermann: In Memorium 1
Some memories of recently deceased Austin businessman, philanthropist and civic leader Lowell Lebermann from the community:
Roy Spence: “He was real. Authentic. Energetic. Always ahead of others in his thinking. His wit quick and kind. But most of all I knew him for his love. His love of all things Austin. His love of democracy, debate and dialog. His love of laughter and the “stories” behind the stories. Most of all I admired him so for his deep love of people. All kinds. He loved and was loved by so many. Including me.”
Rep. Mark Strama: “What a terrible loss for Austin. Lowell Lebermann was a wonderful friend and civic leader who cared deeply about Austin and its future. He is widely appreciated for his philanthropic and political engagement, but those who had the privilege of knowing him well will remember him most for his inquisitive intellect and his deep sense of humor. I will miss him as a source of wisdom and inspiration.”
Jo Anne Christian: “Lowell was always a pleasure to be around. His intelligence and sense of humor were always present so far as I know. George and I spent many a happy time in his company, whether it was for dinner, a party or the wonderful weekend we spent with him in Aspen a number of years ago. In the early years of the Long Center project, Lowell was very supportive, and sponsored a number of essentially strategy meetings at his home. There is no question in my mind, though, that his favorite activity of all time was his service on the Board of Regents of the University of Texas. I think it represented the pinnacle of his public service. Lowell was indeed a civic leader in the finest sense of the word, and all who were associated with him in whichever endeavor, or simply as friends were enriched by the contact. He will be missed.”
More to come …
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Kathy Griffin at the Long Center
In a marathon 2-hour set, comedian Kathy Griffin tested fresh-as-today material, as well as some lightly used anecdotes. By that I mean, the second subset of pop cultural references could be dated to before this week.
Megan Wolf, Lindsay Willis
After asking “Is it too soon — or can we talk about it?” and receiving a clamorous response from the packed Long Center house, Griffin launched into 20 minutes about the spectacle of Michael Jackson’s death.
Nyssa Arcos, Zac Evans
A good deal of this rant dealt with her mother Maggie Griffin’s muddled response to the media coverage. As her face time on “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D List” confirms, box-wine-drinking, Catholic-swearing, daughter-chiding Maggie is now a big star.
Aaron Staranko, Michael Hess
Griffin eased quickly into Sarah Palin’s resignation — another example of topical acrobatics — and her time on “Late Night with David Letterman” after a 12-year ban.
Robert Gutzler, Tom Bolls
Whenever she sensed that a joke had gone too far — Griffin for instance, is unabashed about using publicly unacceptable references to the mentally challenged — she’d shout “Hook ‘em Horns!” The Austin crowd fell for it every time.
Orlando Manzo, Reymundo Ocañas
Griffin was 45 minutes into her set before the more settled material began to appear: Updates on her encounters with Gayle King, whom she mercilessly pokes, and Suze Orman, whom she clearly admires.
Andrew Chambers, Brandon Halpin
Some usual targets — Ryan Seacrest, Kirstie Alley, any Scientologist — appeared on her screen. Her verbal darts, though, were freshly poisoned.
Alison Brunelle, Brian Bunelle
Griffin has closely followed all four editions of “Real Housewives” series on her home cable channel, Bravo. She can perform killer impersonations of maddest of the housewives. For the record, she thinks New Jersey brood tops them all, but she tipped us about the drama coming this season to Atlanta.
Julie Stansberry, James Stansberry
Just when the audience began to ache from so much laughter, Griffin polished off the evening with backstage descriptions of Paris Hilton, who traded appearances with the comedian on their respective shows.
Richard Tackett, Tony Marco
Oh my. This is drop-dead funny stuff. I won’t give any of it away, but you’re sure to see it eventually during a televised stand-up special, or perhaps a snippet on “The D List.” Don’t miss it.
Steven Robertson, Heather Newby
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Envy Magazine Party at SoLa Condos
South Lamar Boulevard bustles with potential.
Jacob Cottingham, Catherine Nicole
It lacks the compact, pedestrian-friendly density of South Congress Avenue — and traffic along the boulevard can be daunting — but SoLa is catching up with SoCo in other ways.
Mackenzie Price, Mark Bennett
For instance, projects like the SoLa condos on Bluebonnet Lane. Moderately priced (for central Austin), vertical and set up for entertaining, these residences throw in a view of downtown from many third floors.
Bart Padar, Pansy Cornett, Brian Cornett
We explored several units during an Envy Magazine party, staged the help of restaurants (Primizie, Rio Grande, etc.), the inevitable Sweet Leaf Tea and AustinArtGarage.com, which dressed the walls with local work.
Jim Trungle, Heather Carroll, Jason Hill
Think about it: South Lamar is bracketed by two magnificent amenities, Central Market and Whole Foods. It offers a range of eateries, from Uchi and Olivia to Maria’s Tacos and Sazón. Top-notch entertainment can be had at the Broken Spoke, Saxon Pub and Alamo Drafthouse. Dozens of boutiques and more mundane shops line the boulevard.
Michael Perez, Mayra Rowley
Now if they could give it real sidewalks and a sustained visual identity.
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Lowell Lebermann passes quietly, suddenly
Philanthropist, businessman and political leader Lowell Lebermann died in his sleep in Aspen. We’ll have reaction in the morning.
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Res Publica at Mohawk
A story unique to the Facebook Age …
Res Publica
Late Wednesday afternoon, Facebook alerted me that a Michigan band was playing at Mohawk that night at 8:30 p.m. Working on my iCal additions, I realized I could squeeze the gig in between two other social events. I made that whimsical decision because of the band’s name: Res Publica …
Heather Beckel, Alan Luecke
That means “commonwealth” or, in rougher Latin, “the civic thing.” Any band that employs ancient languages is OK with me. So I swam through the balm from my first party on Lower Congress Avenue to Red River Street. Paid my 6 bucks. Part of which went to Sudan relief. The band had started. And …
Brad Yeager, Shelley Ralph
They sizzled. Afro-Caribbean influences on a firm rock foundation. Tight rhythms. And lead vocalist Connor Ralph was channeling Jim Morrison ecstatically.
Audrey Huntsberger, Zach Ralph
I found out from Dell Inc.’s Alan Luecke, who greeted me on my arrival, how Res Publica made it to our fair burg. Turns out Alan knows the parents of one member of this Lansing act, and he passed along the word to James Moody of Transmission and Mohawk that these young musicians had dreamed all year of playing Austin.
Sloan Foster, Elise Flick
Magic. The artists even get to see Pinetop Perkins at Antone’s for his 96th birthday party. In the presence of legends.
Spencer Ralph, Peter Nelson
Connor — along with lead guitarist Sean Stynes, bass player Spencer Ralph, percussionist Peter Nelson and saxophonist Royce Phillips — are not ready for a formal review for such a short set. But keep an eye on the road from Lansing. You could be seeing another visitation during a future South by Southwest.
Guys, take heed from your final number: You are welcome here / There’s no need to fear
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Avant Le Weekend Live Chat with Heather McKissick
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Michael Pungello Toast at Annies
As I was leaving Annies last night, jazz-loving Robert Nash joked that restaurant owners Love Nance and Sherry Jameson would have to stamp a chair plaque with my name, like they have done for power broker Pike Powers and others …
Michael Pungello, Leanne Flask
I have returned to Annies on Congress Avenue often. It’s the buzziest new restaurant since La Condesa opened, although I must admit I haven’t dipped into also-much-bruited Garrido’s yet …
Laura Villagran, Allen Beuershausen
Last night’s Annies occasion was a birthday toast for DJ Michael Pungello …
Clark Hamilton, Todd Youssefi
Friends gathered on either side of a long, long table for skinny fries, cakey cornbread and mixed calamari. I tried the sazeracs this time. The New Orleans treats were not too sweet, just right …
Michelle Alvarez, Scott Lawrence
Much talk at our end of the table about ex-Houstonians and ex-Dallasites in Austin. Also the rare natives, like accountant Michelle Alvarez
Pat Buchta, Mason Arnold
Beyond our table in the general population were familiar bold-face names, such as policy guru Kerry Tate, modernist and host-with-most Carl McQuery, screenwriter Paul Ehrmann, architect Dick Clark and boutique owner Elizabeth Serrato …
Many happy returns, Michael …
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Avant Le Weekend Live Chat with Heather McKissick at 3 p.m. Today
You will have the opportunity to submit written questions and comments, especially about the coming weekend, which is très busy.
All you have to do is open the Live Chat box for another Avant Le Weekend conversation.
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Austin Celebrity Roundup 7/8/09
Entertainer, filmmaker and fundraiser Turk Pipkin remarried his wife, Christy, in Paris over the weekend. They were celebrating their 25th anniversary. Congrats Austinites!
Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers are set to release “The Pilgrimage,” which will include the single, “Johnny Cash is Dead and His House Burned Down.” Don’t see Larry out around Austin as much as I did in the past.
Veteran Austin actress Lana Dieterich is a raging hit with her viral video on Project Rant.
Mark Gangloff upset Austin’s Eric Shanteau in the 100-meter breaststroke at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.
Frequent Austin visitor and Dennis Quaid buddy — from our shared University of Houston days — Brett Cullen has been cast in “The Runaways.” He’ll play the alcoholic father of Cherie Currie, played by Dakota Fanning.
Andy Roddick went shopping with wife Brooklyn Decker at the Apple Store in SoHo on Monday. Gossip Center called it “retail therapy,” which is rubbing it in, don’t you think?
Did anyone else spot former Austin actress Starla Benford on “Nurse Jackie”? Maybe casting directors are finally seeing what we saw in Starla 20 years ago!
And, oh yes, Lance Armstrong is keeping up with the leaders in the Tour de France. But every fellow Austinite knows that.
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Out & About iCal adds 7/8/09
Wednesday, July 8
6 p.m. Michael Pungello Birthday Toast @ Annies
10 p.m. Michael Jackson Tribute Show @ Lucky Lounge
Thursday, July 9
6 p.m. SoLa Summer Solstice Party @ 2520 Bluebonnet Lane
8 p.m. Kathy Griffin in concert @ the Long Center
Friday, July 10
6 p.m. Culinary Academy of Austin 10th Anniversary Party @ 6020 Dillard Circle
7 p.m. Art Divas Summer Party 2 Judy Jensen home
8 p.m. Bill Maher in concert @ Bass Concert Hall
10 p.m. Speakeasy 10th Anniversary Party @ 412 Congress Ave.
Saturday, July 11
5 p.m. “Doyle & Debbie” @ the Long Ceneter
7 p.m. White Party @ Green Pastures
Midnight: Arc Angels @ Antone’s
Sunday, July 12
6 p.m. Fortunate Feast with six Fortunate 500 guests @ our home
(Which means I must miss the Natalie Noe benefit @ Antone’s and the Greg Vendetti-produced fundraiser @ Red Eyed Fly.0
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Your A-List: Best Desserts
Among the white-linen eateries on the Best Desserts list were Driskill Grill (31 percent), Hudson’s on the Bend (6 percent), Wink (4 percent), Jeffrey’s (4 percent), Aquarelle (2 percent) and Zoot (1 percent). If I’m not mistaken, the Driskill pastry chef doubles duty for the 1886 Cafe & Bakery on the south side of the historic hotel, so one need not sign up for the whole Grill experience to get the goods.
Coffeehouses did very well, especially those that double as bakeries: Mozart’s (17 percent), Austin Java (5 percent) and Quack’s (3 percent).
The gelaterias: La Dolce Vita (15 percent), Teo (10 percent) and Paciugo (4 percent).
Note on the last entry: It is sometimes spelled online with an “h” after the “c.” In Italian, “ci” already produces the “ch” sound, so no need for an “h” in this chain name.
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Your A-List: Best Golf Course
We saw this coming from miles off.
Suburban Avery Ranch swung into second place with 10 percent, while Falconhead off Ranch Road 620 near Lake Travis took third with 8 percent. Virtually tied were Yaupon, Grey Rock, ShadowGlen, Wolfdancer, Morris Williams and Star Ranch.
Following in close order were Roy Kizer, Jimmy Clay, Bluebonnet Hill, Teravista, Riverside, Forest Creek, Delaware Springs, Pine Forest, ColoVista, Lago Vista, Blackhawk, Plum Creek, Quail Creek and White Wing.
Planners give golf courses such evocative monikers. Maybe next time the vote can be: Best Golf Course Name.
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Seeking Austin’s First Families 2
For Part 1 of “Seeking Austin’s First Families” go here…
More concisely biographical is Jeannette Flachmeier’s 2-volume “Pioneer Austin Notables” (1980), a series of circumscribed sketches. Also useful is J.R. Williams’ “Travis County Residents Biographical Notes,” an alphabetical list of local names from the 1840s with notations about professions and accomplishments. Even earlier Spanish-language records can be obtained at the University of Texas’ Benson Latin American Collection, where I spent a generous slice of my graduate-school days.
Primary evidence — at least in transcription form — is available at the History Center through the U.S. Census records of 1850, 1860 and so forth, as well as Mary Day Mullins’ “The First Census of Texas, 1829-1936,” which includes names taken from certificates of entrance into Texas. Merely lists, but essential for cross-reference are “Early Texas Birth Records: 1838-1878” and “Travis County Texas Marriage Records: 1842-1882,” also at the center.
A taste of the family names that appear in Barkley’s histories: Sneed, Waller, Garcia, Givens, Wilbarger, Duty, Webber, Wells, Barton, Burleson, Rogers, Tonnehill and Manor. Flachmeier includes familiar family names such as Paggi, Pease, Swenson, Sandusky, Oliphant, McCall, Webb, Allan, Bremond, Franzetti, Harrell, Pressler, Ward and Bedichek. Jumping out from the pages of Williams’ notes are Whatley, Ury, Dinsmore, Castilllano, Butts, Custard, Gunter, Orr, Jenks, Jarmon and Robertson.
Anyone living in Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, Lockhart or other Central Texas counties will instantly detect that my meager research so far has focused almost exclusively on Travis County. That’s why I’m depending on you. if your family has lived in this area for 150 years or more, contact me at mbarnes@statesman.com. You may belong to a first family.
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Seeking Austin’s First Families 1
Austin turns 170 this year.
Among the first residents of the city, at least part-time, were Texas immortals Sam Houston and Mirabeau B. Lamar. They certainly would have made bold-face appearances in any Republic of Texas versions of Out & About.
What about your ancestors? Are you a fifth or sixth-generation Central Texan? We want to know.
Unless you are Tonkawa — the largest remnant of the once-dominant Central Texas tribe now resides in Tonkawa, Okla. — your historical forebears came from somewhere else.
At one time, this reporter’s best source on the city’s “first families” was Karen Kuykendall, but she passed away. A prominent social leader, Ada Anderson, has served as an excellent guide, yet I don’t see her very often these days. The relatives of Lorenzo de Zavala and Rueben Hornsby have also approached me with information about their family histories, which stretch back before the city’s birth.
More to come on documenting First Families …
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Clay Smith at Annies
You know, I’d rather linger over appetizers and drinks with Clay Smith than attend almost any competing party. The Texas Book Festival literary director is so adroit and yet unassuming. This Texan knows everybody in the publishing biz and he has helped tack Austin on the literary map during his five-year tenure.
He burst with news — public and private — during our little catch-up session at Annies. Literary biographies are big this year. Clay says the overall quality of the presented books is unusually high. Also worth noting: Bryan Burroughs will speak at the gala, plugging his essential “The Big Rich,” also one of his backlisters, the suddenly timely “Public Enemies.”
Right next to us at Annies were two dozen of the city’s top bartenders, prepping for the Tales of the Cocktail conference in New Orleans later this week. Lively crew. I didn’t taste the specialty drinks of the evening, but adored one of Annies’ signature cocktails called a Diablo. (Behind us were Luci Johnson and Ian Turpin, taking in the jazz and cuisine at a cozy booth.)
Suddenly, this city is brimming with sophisticated drinks!
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Apres Le Weekend Live Chat with Kevin Smothers
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Longhorns in national championships Webcast on SwimNetwork.com
Try instead the Webcasts at SwimNetwork.com. Herds of Longhorns are headed to the finals, Eric Shanteau and Scott Spann in the 100-meter breaststroke.
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Austin’s Wes Hayden gets the boot
Upholding his inky, black-hat image, Austin’s Wes Hayden behaved badly last night on “The Bachelorette.” And he deservedly got the boot from slow-to-learn Jillian Harris.
Hard to justify that, Wes, even for a columnist trying to give a local the benefit of the doubt. Whatever one thinks of any woman who would put herself through “The Bachelorette” wringer, outright exploitation is hard to justify.
Anyone else getting an inverted Matthew McConaughey vibe from Wes? His fellow Austinite also likes to play the ordinary, laid-back dude with a streak of misadventure, using a twinkle-eyed charm to get him out of trouble. Didn’t work for Wes this time.
Oh, if you think I’m being tough on Wes, check the commentary box.
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Austin Celebrity Roundup 7/6/09
Two Austin celebs wriggled under the microscope all weekend. Lance Armstrong is surging at the Tour de France. (Follow Suzanne Halliburton’s tweets for the best, most timely reports.) Andy Roddick lost in one of the most suspenseful finals at Wimbledon in my memory, then behaved like a gentleman in defeat. The two acted like heroes.
One of Austin’s Olympic swimmers, Brendan Hansen, updates regularly on a pretty slick Web site, named — what else? — Brendan Online.
The National Enquirer reports — and other news outlets have picked up — that sometime Austinite Matthew McConaughey is being pushed by his mother and Camila Alves’s mom to get married before the second child arrives. (Camila is preggers again.)
Have we mentioned: Former University of Texas Longhorn T.J. Ford hosts the T.J. Ford Celebrity Bowl-a-Thon on July 11. Benefiting Houston Children’s Charity, it takes place at 300 Houston Bowling Center, 925 Bunker Hill. Look for UT stars LaMarcus Aldridge, D.J. Augustin and Kevin Durant.
Singing under the aegis “Three Girls and their Buddy,” Austin and Austin-friendly artists Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, Shawn Colvin and Buddy Miller are receiving “inspiring” reviews on the road.
Well, not like Griffin’s neighbor’s reviews that start with such praise: “At this point in the proceedings, reviewing Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson is a little like critiquing the carvings of Washington and Lincoln on Mount Rushmore.” That’s from Dave Tianen of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
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Kevin Smothers Après Le Weekend Live Chat 3 p.m. Tuesday
Remember to return to this space at 3 p.m. Tuesday for an Après Le Weekend Live Chat with Kevin Smothers. Kevin is one of those Austinites who’s out almost as much as your social columnist. We’ll discuss the events of the previous weekend. You’re invited to join the conversation! All you have to do is come back here at the designated time.
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Zilker Summer Musical at Sheffield Hillside Theater
The Zilker Summer Musical is Americana …
Rishnie Richards, Ankur Bajaj
Its roots go back to 1930s hootnannies and 1950s light operas …
Jaziel Crisostomo, Elyce Harris
Director Rod Caspers’ version of “The Music Man” honors that tradition …
Amber Hunter, Dearing Davis
His show is like a Fourth of July parade, cheerfully saluting small-town life in fictional River City, Iowa …
Aubry, Ainsley and Derrek Gibson
It explodes with talent, bracketed by simple, imaginative scenery and a spit-and-polish brass pit band …
Somyong Sukkij, David Robers
Caspers emphasizes the youthful energy of the script, not the melancholy or irony …
Conor Keelan, Kate Gester, Peggy Keelan, Daniel Keelan
Which is perhaps why the audience perked up for every number, but fell back on the hillside during the comic or romantic interludes …
Dusty Pate, Marina Parker
Everyone this social columnist talked to at intermission Sunday enjoyed this “Music Man,” and virtually nobody left at halftime, rare for the Summer Musical ….
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Actually, yes, depressed about Andy Roddick
I meant to dash off a facile blog post about the Wimbledon finals, but was crushed by Andy Roddick’s last-minute defeat. So I put this off until I’d returned from visiting my parents in Houston, watching a musical in the park, then two back episodes of “Lie to Me.”
I’m ready now. At 2 in the morning.
Oh, I don’t mean forgotten by readers of this column. Instead, Roddick doesn’t get the respect accorded our other local sports superstars.
No, he’s not in Lance Armstrong’s league. He doesn’t dominate his sport like Pete Sampras did or Roger Federer has more recently. And yes, he has disappointed even his fervent fans in the big matches.
Yet he’s been the top American male tennis player for years and has rarely fallen out of the Top 10 worldwide. That counts as more than something.
I daresay his fame outside Austin is often greater than inside. He’s better known in many circles for his recent local marriage to swimsuit model Brooklyn Decker than his frequent wins at non-Grand Slam tournies. (Non-sports Web sites dripped with “HOT” Decker photos.)
The Twitter and Facebook fever, however, shows a latent identification between hometown and hero. He handled himself well in defeat.
Win our lose, we hail you, Andy.
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L Style G Style Issue Launch at Central Market
L Style G Style has conquered Austin …
Jett Winders, Justin Barker, Douglas Kennedy
Expanding in size and scope while other magazines have retreated …
Ellen Gambrell, Sean Peletier, Kim Shumski
Alisa Weldon, Oliver Everette and team have done so well …
Vanessa Ramos, Elvia Mendoza, Valerie Espinosa, Joakuin Espinosa
They are exporting the concept to Dallas …
Robert Grunnah, Ed Ishmael
Then Seattle …
Jonathon Todd, Kirsten Walles
Then Raleigh-Durham …
Caret Beyer, Cody Kinsfather
Ultimately, building LGBT communities nationwide …
Anna Nguyen, Beth Barlow
Befittingly, LSGS launched its July/August issue at Center Market …
Kirk Berlin, Matthew Mielcarek
The original location that Weldon did so much to inaugurate as a graphic designer more than a decade ago …
Lance Blakley, Sarah Sutton
Cooks rustled up vivid treats, and the overflow crowd streamed from the kitchens to the atrium and the balcony …
Michael Salinas, Madison Stowers
I talked to dozens of people, but none more engaging than psychotherapist Rhea Pledger. We agreed group therapy can be profoundly helpful for certain personalities and situations …
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Roy Bedichek’s ‘Adventures with a Texas Naturalist’
My return to far-flung walking coincides with my first sustained acquaintance with Roy Bedichek’s 1947 classic “Adventures with a Texas Naturalist.”
Bedichek deplored overgrazing, overhunting, overfencing and mechanized agriculture. (He foreshadowed the current documentary “Food, Inc.” by nearly more than 60 years.) Yet his conclusions arose from observation and contemplation, not ideology or commerce.
Some of his thoughts might surprise contemporary nature lovers: He believed the Texas highway system’s right of ways, for instance, had preserved biodiversity endangered by organized farming and ranching. He was baffled why the railroads were not as careful stewards of the land.
Beyond the roadsides, Bedichek spent disciplined time noting the changes in his Austin neighborhood and the Bear Creek ranch were he finished the almost lyrical manuscript for “Texas Naturalist.”
In the 19th-century tradition, Bedichek was as much inspired by his love of beauty as by his dedication to science. His prose is peppered with references to Romantic poetry and ancient literature. Along with historian Walter Prescott Webb and folklorist J. Frank Dobie, he is immortalized as part of the Philosophers’ Rock sculpture at Barton Springs.
Although considerably less prolific than his friends, Bedichek will likely be read longer and more closely.
Also makes me want to see Steve Moore’s “Nightswim” about the the trio again.
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A Flâneur’s Guide
The flâneur’s method is indirection.
Take that alleyway never before noticed. Stop in a shop that previously looked alien. Snack on street food, then lounge for an hour over drinks at a sidewalk cafe.
Google your general route in advance. Use the “Directions” mode and alter the lines for variations. Choose the “Walking” option for approximate trip durations. The “Terrain” button helps determine the ascent difficulty.
I hope to regain my traditional 10-mile radius by winter. That puts me in the range of most Austin green spaces, although not Emma Long or Walnut Creek metropolitan parks. It’s also the Austin I discovered when I arrived in 1984 (recorded on this 1985 map).
Comfortable, sturdy walking shoes, weather-appropriate clothing and a big-brimmed hat are also musts.
I carry a pedestrian satchel, purchased at Mellow Johnny’s, which is different from the wider, thinner bicyclist’s satchel. It’s best worn crossed over one shoulder and the opposite hip.
Inside the satchel: Wallet, iPhone, light canteen filled with water, field glasses. In a first-aid pouch, sunscreen and medications. For Nora, I carry a plastic watering bowl.
Why Nora and not Nick? Some readers may remember that our other Lab collapsed at the very most remote point of the Turkey Creek Canyon trail in the spring, forcing Alex Dotte and I to carry his 100-pound majesty all the way back to the car. No more long hikes for Old Yeller.
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The Return of the Flâneur
The legs are back.
Not just the limbs of Andy Roddick, Lance Armstrong or other superhuman Austinites.
The flâneur has returned.
Why explore the city on foot when temperatures levitate above 100 degrees? Well, Roddick and Armstrong trained in this climate. Just think how pleasant the strolling will be by late October.
Of course, my range is still limited to the several miles of streets adjacent to the Bouldin neighborhood. That takes me, however, up and down some of Austin’s prettiest byways.
They’ve changed since my last explorations. Lots of additions, renovations, new houses. Ninety percent of these projects receive my enthusiastic endorsement. Clearly architects and other designers contributed their sensitive talents to most of these improvements.
During the late 1990s, when we moved into the neighborhood, almost all infill attempted historical resemblance to the existing homes. The early ’00s brought a wave of aggressive modernism, though often aptly massed and sited. The latest trend: Combining modern and traditional in the same structure, often with surprising grace.
The field glasses remain in the satchel. Most birds retreat into the deep shade as early as 9 a.m., except pea-brained doves, territory-guarding mockers and grackles — common and great-tailed — where someone has over-watered.
Strange, given the heat, so many people, too, venturing into their yards, tending those gardens, gently exercising kids or pets, testing porches for breeze exposure.
Note: These photos of Travis Heights are lifted from Flickr. I’ll pack my camera more often.
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First Night Audience for ‘Henry V’ at the Off Center
A veritable Who’s Who of Austin arts lovers bunched around the basically bare stage of the Off Center for the opening performance of “Henry V.” Critic, editor, actor, director and writer Robert Faires had distilled Shakespeare’s sprawling history into a solo. He played all the roles himself.
Filing into the raw, familiar space were Boyce Cabannis, Annette Carlozzi, Dan Bullock, Forrest Preece, Linda Ball, Shawn Sides, David Jewell, Elizabeth Cobbe and dozens of other leading lights. At the end, they surged to their feet in appreciation for the 90-minute drama.
I particularly liked the light, comic bits and the stirring battle scenes, including the contrasting voices of common soldiers. “Henry V” plays through July 25.
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Drinks with Adree and Jonathan Bober
I’ve learned more about art from Jonathan Bober than from the dozen or so art history classes I took as an undergraduate and graduate student — put together. He has patiently, methodically, even ecstatically explained hundreds of works in the Blanton Museum of Art collection.
Husband and wife are breathtakingly smart and wise. Kip and I joined them in their Old West Austin house, modest from the exterior, but renovated to suit their collections of art, books and other interests. We nibbled on grapes, cheese and white wine, catching up on UT news and news of the world in general. Fantastic.
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Kay Morris at Once Over
Kay Morris danced. When she could no longer dance, she ran. She took lessons from running guru Paul Carrozza. She kept a diary.
Thousands did. (Meaning Carrozzo had to mint thousands of tiny medals.) The program spread like wildfire. Tens of thousands of students — many of them in danger of obesity and diabetes — have signed up in multiple cities. Hispanics have taken to it even more intensely than Anglos.
Morris told me over French press coffee at Once Over on South First Street that the secrets were to let the kids recruit themselves, make it free and throw a party at the end of the process. The kids earn the T-shirts. Benefactors pay for everything. Lance Armstrong once led the victory lap on his bike.
At the end of the summer, the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Advancement of Healthy Living will release a study on the impact of Marathon Kids on self-perception. Morris didn’t tip her hand, but we’re betting it does good.
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Out & About iCal adds 7/2/09
We’ll play a lot of this holiday weekend by ear …
6 p.m. Drinks with Andree and Jonathan Bober at private residence
8 p.m. First night of Red Then’s “Henry V” at the Off Center
Friday, July 3
6 p.m. Drinks with Stanley Wilson at Perla’s
7 p.m. L Style G Style Release Party at Central Market
8 p.m. “Salado’s Got Talent” with Daniel Jens from 2008 “America’s Got Talent” at Salado Silver Spur Theater
Midnight Tribute to Michael Jackson at Red Fez
Saturday, July 4
6 p.m. East-West Game Day Event at Palm Park
7 p.m. Freedom Fest at Dell Diamond in Round Rock
10 p.m. “Sno Cone Inc.” DVD Launch Afterparty at J. Blacks
11 p.m. Hedkandi at Pangaea
Sunday, July 5
8:30 p.m. “The Music Man” at the Sheffield Hillside Theater
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Avant Le Weekend with Barbara Chisholm
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Clarke Straughan at Fair Bean
The minute we exchanged pleasantries, I knew Clarke Straughan was a story. We met at an international dinner last year at the Bullock Texas History Museum. Then we followed up with coffee at Fair Bean on South First Street this week.
Later, he ignored warnings from British officials — and his empty wallet — finding his way to Hong Kong to work for what was to become the colony’s biggest, best hotel. Among his first diplomatic assignments: Take care of the Beatles during their Hong Kong stay.
Straughan spent his youth wandering the world, when he wasn’t taking care of dignitaries in Japan, Hawaii and elsewhere. He just self-published his memoirs: “Romancing the Impossible: Traveling the World without Money” (Travel Treasure Publishing).
Among his final jobs before retiring: Director of International Protocol for the Texas governor’s office and — a nice fit for a former colonel — head of a veteran’s affairs office. He attended kings and queens, plutocrats and vagabonds.
Today he’s Texas friendly, unpretentious, yet dignified, with looks like a U.S. senator and a conversational style that’s respectful yet animated. He’s quite a guy.
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Austin Celebrity Roundup 7/1/09
Really didn’t intend this to be an all-sports Round-Up, but Austin’s other celebrities are pretty quiet today.
Among basketball star Kevin Durant’s summer assignments is a 20-page book report. The former Longhorns stand-out — now with the Oklahoma City Thunder — is back in school at UT this summer. Like Vince Young, he’s determined to complete his degree after leaving school early for the draft. He’s also getting in a little street ball with his former Longhorn teammates.
Lance Armstrong is not the only one in the family raising money for good causes. His mother, Linda Armstrong Kelly, is staging a charity golf tournament at the Gleneagles Country Club in his first hometown, Plano. She’s teaming with Steve and Lee Nagel and her husband, Ed Kelly, for the Aug. 31 event. The charity? The Lance Armstrong Foundation, naturally.
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Your A-List: Best Place to Smooch
Does one really need a special place to smooch? I hope not. PDA aside, smooching should be encouraged anywhere discretion allows.
The hands-down winner: towering Mount Bonnell with 32 percent of the vote. Placid Lady Bird Lake and a riotous UT football game were neck and neck at 11 to 12 percent. Barton Springs, Zilker Park, Zilker Botanical Gardens and the Capitol grounds bunched together around 7 to 8 percent.
Trailing at the end of the tally were the Pennybacker (Loop 360) Bridge, Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Eeyore’s Birthday Party.
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Your A-List: Best Cheap Lunch
Good economy or bad economy, Austinites demand a cheap lunch. Whole cultures have grown up around the city’s best — and cheapest — tacos, wrap, barbecue, hamburgers, sushi, or deli sandwiches.
The first took 26 percent of the vote; the second 23 percent.
Wrap economists Freedbirds and Japanese fast-fooders Zen virtually tied at 8 percent. Hut’s Hamburgers, Lulu B’s and Galaxy Cafe clustered between 4 and 6 percent. Taking 3 percent or less were Green Mesquite, Hai-Ky, Billy’s on Burnet, Enoteca Vespaio, Fire Bowl Cafe, Tam Deli, 620 Cafe, 10th Street Tacos, Tino’s, Arts Rib House, Iron Works, Buffet Palace, El Mason and Cafe Java.
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Party at Cover 3
Sometimes Out & About misses social news that’s as big as Dallas …
Adam Krueger, Amanda Krueger, Eddie Garcia
Such as the opening — last November! — of Cover 3, a sports bar and restaurant on West Anderson Lane …
Doug Young, Chip Brown
Not just any sports bar and restaurant. This one from Doug Young and Matt Dodson looks like an high-modern lounge and spreads out over more than one floor. …
Matt Dodson, Kathy Dodson
And talk about TVs. Last week, I teased Players on MLK Boulevard for their ancient big-screen television, horrible for sports. Cover 3 has gracefully installed top-quality HD flat-panel screens everywhere, even in unmentionable locations …
Emily Hummel, Dan Michaud
The food I tasted was savory and complex, a step above the usual pub grub …
Marah Reece, John Defee, Alison Carson
But the real find was the signature drink, the Cover 3 Press, or as the bartender called it “spa in glass.” Starts with muddled limes, adds herbal Hendrick’s gin and continues from there. The best cocktail I’ve had in ages …
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