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Ground in Music and Strata TX at J. Black’s
So many social connections surged at J. Black’s on Tuesday, it was hard to keep track. First, Strata TX held a happy hour, which makes sense, because the young professionals club for the Texas Cultural Trust significantly brings down the ages for the trust’s statewide supporters and helps spread the word about what this arts group does (primarily backs the Texas Commission on the Arts and educational programs about the arts, as well as some individual young artsts).
Erin Ivey, Marc Fort
Second, another group, Grounded in Music, held a simultaneous happy hour. This is another collection of twenty- and thirtysomethings putting their shoulders to the fundraising grindstone, this time for extracurricular music programs in schools not lucky enough to have well-heeled PTAs to pay for teachers. And they hire top musicians, too, keeping their operating budget to $40,000 by doing all the rest of the work with volunteers.
Jacquelyn Sorcic, Jeff Kreinik
But the best part was that the two groups met together in the narrow raised lounge behind the main U-shaped bar (where nightlife prince Brad Womack held court that dusk). Collaborating on the event meant their supporters cross-pollinated, something every charitable group in town should do. (I’ve seen it work for the Catalyst 8 folks on several occasions, for instance.)
Huey Houston, Leah Smith
Then it was off to dinner with the ever-gracious Stephen Rice and Mark Erwin and our instantaneous friends, Oliver Everette and Craig Rancourt at Eastside Cafe. We all left pleasantly stuffed and content.
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Your A-List: Best 24-hour Restaurant
Both local restaurant groups have garnered support for decades with bountiful breakfasts, quickie lunches and unconventional dinners. (In recent news, KL announced it would move its Northwest location to the Anderson Arbor Shopping Center at U.S. 183 and Anderson Mill Road).
Another well-trod Old Austin haunt, Katz’s, with it signature martinis, over-stuffed deli sandwiches and constantly burbling atmosphere on West Sixth Street, came in third with a respectable 14 percent, although that’s a big come-down from last year’s 40 percent. (What happened, Marc?)
IHOP, a corporate behemoth that has felt the sting of competition from fast-food breakfasting, hit the fourth spot with 5 percent. Star Seeds, the completely singular diner with decidedly eclectic clientele on Interstate 35 North, pulled in 5 percent, while two chains, Waffle House and Denny’s, settled for less than 3 percent.
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Your A-List: Best Vintage Store
Buffalo Exchange, a mere write-in candidate last year, zoomed up to second place with 20 percent of the vote. Goodwill, also a previous write-in, got a full 15 percent. South Congress veteran New Bohemia dropped from 21 percent to 7 percent (where are my SoCo homies?), while another longtimer, Room Service, nabbed 6 percent, closely followed by Amelia’s Retro-Vogue & Relics.
Taking less than 5 percent were Salvation Army, Flashback, Feathers and Big Bertha’s. A few more workouts and I’ll hit the resale ranks hard again.
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Skip ‘Rome 1960’
“Rome 1960” disappointed me terribly. David Maraniss’ reputation as a journalist who can handle book-length material led me to choose this treatment of the Rome Olympics as my games-side reading. Maraniss begins promisingly with taut, suspenseful accounts of women’s track coach Edward Temple, would-be spy David Sime and other leading characters — a young, brash Cassius Clay, a classically chiseled Rafer Johnson, long, limber Wilma Rudloph, and especially self-styled aristocrat and IOC president Avery Brundage, who couldn’t foresee that the Olympics were going truly global, thanks, in part, to commercial television.
That may work for NBC today, with hundreds of specially mounted cameras and instant editing, but not for a 400-page history that heaves in too many directions to tell any one story well. The biggest let-down arises from the expectations laid out by the subtitle: “The Olympics That Changed the World.” How? Even on page 423, we’re not quite sure. Yes, the USSR and it allies triumphed, forcing the US to initiate a “space race” in sports to match its efforts in other areas of achievement and propaganda. Yes, the club of Europe was fading while the newly independent Third World countries marched onto the Olympic stage. But really? Change the world? Nah.
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Meet the new bloggers
Fresh. Lively. Sometimes a little raw.
Meet the entertainment bloggers from St. Edward’s University journalism program. We met for our first three hours on Monday night, discussing the potential roles of the entertainment journalist (see their comments on an earlier post featuring Perez Hilton), the framing questions for crunchy writing about the arts (relating the “Mad Men” opening credits to observation, description, analysis, interpretation and evaluation).
A day later, we launched their blogs. Find the early links below. Read ‘em. Comment on ‘em.
More to add…
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Angels on the Runway at Austin Music Hall
Right away, at Angels on the Runway, I ran into Kelli and Keith Lawson. The newcomers from Washington D.C. — like newcomers sweetly do — asked about the event. They wanted to know everything.
Kelli Lawson, Keith Lawson
Well, it’s an annual fashion show. And one with some name designers — this time layer-lover Robert Comstock from Aspen and New York, courtesy of Keepers men’s wear on Congress Avenue — as well as promising locals, such as Joanna Ruley-Garza and Stephanie Jimenez. But not all the beauteous models are experienced, so the action on the runway can be a bit tentative.
Mary Lee, Jenny Hoff, Maureen McCann, Catie Beck
The venue is the Austin Music Hall, which needs explanation. A multi-use facility, rebuilt from the ground up, its main flat floor is well suited to fundraisers like this one, as well as to rock concerts. But not so much for other performing arts events. The acoustics have improved from near-catastrophic levels earlier this year and the hall fits neatly with its 360 Tower and Ballet Austin neighbors.
Bennett Pifer, George Heretakis
The charity benefiting from this party is Heart House, which provides after-school educational services for the needy. I explained to Kelli and Keith that it was among several dozen young, fast-growing organizations built mostly with new money, not old, and therefore perfect for entry-level participation.
Amy Holloway, Chris Engle
Well, I hope Kelli and Keith liked the event. And yes, in Austin, unlike bigger, more established cities, you can make a difference right away.
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Fortunates at Dem Convention
Got any tips from Austinites at either convention to send our way? We’re ready to report.
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AGLIFF Review 2: ‘The Edge of Heaven’
‘The Edge of Heaven’
Four stars.
An earthy Turkish laborer, retired in Germany, attempts to fill his declining years with a gusto for life’s pleasures. This brings him into contact with kind, worldly Turkish prostitute, who leaves the profession just ahead of Islamic religious bullies. His son is a scholar of German at a Bremen university; her daughter has disappeared in Turkey. The first act ends badly. When that prodigal daughter seeks refuge in Germany, she encounters a saucer-eyed young social activist, with whom she has a brief, but telling affair. The second act ends even more tragically. The activist’s mother, seemingly the least of the players in this story that loops back on itself, becomes the dramatic fulcrum by its ameliorating end.
The cast, which tends to let expressions tell more than verbosity, fits the material seamlessly, Hanna Schygulla, who plays the activist’s mother, is devastatingly effective, although those who have not seen her since the Fassbinder’s days may be startled by the effects of normal aging.
By the way, that the lesbian affair is treated almost as an afterthought, then as an unexpectedly crucial link in the mysterious story makes this an unusual pick for a gay film festival, but thank AGLIFF heartily for bringing this gem, which won best screenplay at the Cannes Film Festival, to Austin.
“The Edge of Heaven” screens 7:30 p.m. Sept. 3 at the Alamo Ritz.
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The Romance of KUT’s 50th Anniversary Party
The romance of the number 50.
The romance of a half-century-old radio station that echoes a city’s soul.
Patty Griffin
The romance of silvery-voiced Patty Griffin, serenading a musically vigilant house during KUT 90.5 FM’s 50th birthday launch at the “Austin City Limits” studio.
The romance of a music lovers like “Texas Music Matters” emcee David Brown, whose onstage conversations with Griffin could be collected under “love poems to an artist.”
Jeff and Janel Bates
The romance of the front-row newlyweds, Jeff and Janel Bates, who played a Griffin song during their Belize wedding, right after “you may kiss the bride.” (“We wanted to fly her down,” Janel says. “But couldn’t afford it.”)
The romance of the bearded, glowing Georgetown man, Tom Swift, trying to convert his topiary-maned, Gray, Maine friend, Sarah McCleary, into a Texan, one authentic experience at a time — peaking with the same KUT concert.
Sarah McCleary, Tom Swift
The romance of the flicker-eyed political fan, Francine Franklin, who finally meets one of her idols, Mayor Will Wynn, himself rhetorically transcendent describing KUT’s relationship to the city’s singular culture.
Mayor Will Wynn, Francine Franklin
The romance of the three British ex-pats — Trevor Richards from Swansea, Julie Tereshchuk from Carlisle and Matt Horrocks from Southwest London — sharing pre-Texas memories before the concert started.
Trevor Richards, Julie Tereshchuk, Matt Horrocks
The romance of meeting strangers who may become friends: Patrick Dentler, photographer for the KUT party — he took the Griffin photo above — youngest brother of former SXSW Film director Matt and son of my elementary school classmate Hank (aka George); Ian Knox, the husband of freshly minted Statesman food writer Addie, who, despite being a young parent, seems to attend almost as many parties as I do; and a good dozen KUT stalwarts who made a newspaperman feel welcome in this blessed broadcast realm.
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Catching up with Kevin Smothers at Thai Fresh
That’s why, this week, he’s started a new public relations firm called Pulse. (Well, for graphic reasons, he insists on “pulse,” but even on the blog, we defer to AP style on capitalization.) Smothers has worked for bigger, more established firms on more than one coast, but Pulse is starting small with clients such as Mulberry and J. Black’s, which, by coincidence, were already among my preferred hangouts.
I caught up with Kevin at Thai Fresh, the new spot on West Mary near South Fifth, in the same center as Cafe Caffeine. Started as a home delivery service, it’s now a counter cafe with onsite seating and take-away as well as a wall of Asian groceries. My tad pai with tofu was fluffy, filling and tasty, especially with jolts of hot sauce provided at the tables.
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Out & About meets OutCast
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Anthony Lane — Best Onsite Writing about the Olympics
Ahead of other onsite Olympics reporters by a mile was Anthony Lane of The New Yorker. For the Aug. 25 issue, the magazine’s wit-stained film critic dove deep into the Beijing scene, using his falcon eye to discern connections few other journalists would even notice.
On the mass spectacle of the ceremony: “Cometh the hour, cometh the glowing red drumsticks, the heaving sea of blocks, the Brobdingnagian scroll unspooling before our eyes, and other miracles of visual manipulation. … China supports a population of 1.3 billion, the knowledge of that resource was never far away; indeed, the whole evening became an exercise in number-crunching, as mass art was constructed from a mass of humanity.”
On Sebastian Coe, who heads London’s Olympic efforts: “He may have been hiding in the men’s room, calling home to order more light bulbs. ‘They had 2,008 drummers, all lit up. Yes, 2,008. And what have we got so far? Elton John on a trampoline.’”
On meeting rabid volleyball fans from Amsterdam: “How did they rate the Dutch chances this year? ‘We have no volleyball team,’ Mr. Goss said with infinite gloom. The Netherlands hadn’t qualified. The Gosses would have to make do with the beach equivalent, which is to proper volleyball what Elvis’s movies were to Elvis’s music.”
The New Yorker illustration by Robert Risko.
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AGLIFF Review 1: ‘Equality U.’
‘Equality U.’
Three stars
The set-up sounded a bit pat: A group of young Christians travel on a Soulforce Equality Ride to Christian colleges and universities to discuss with students and administrators their institutions’ rules against homosexuality.
And, for a while, those expectations are met in the documentary “Equality U.” Group co-leader Jacob Reitan finds his eloquent, uncompromising speech-making not always effective; equally adamant co-leader Haven Herrin looks more closely at individual situations and teases out more ambiguity. Disagreements about strategy cleave the Riders almost from the start. Yet train a camera on humans long enough — especially in such hothouse conditions — and they will surprise even a viewer who has seen scores of documentaries about gay culture.
One stumbles on the unflaggingly hopeful and spiritually adjusted Oklahoma Rider who discovers her father ready to disown her for appearing on TV; the Oklahoma Baptist University junior who comes out in great fear, only to find her status liberating; the weeping student who doesn’t want her university’s anti-gay stance to hurt actual people; other students who promise to help change their universities’ policies.
Director Dave O’Brien saves the most potent gesture for last: Brigham Young University students, knowing that they will almost certainly be expelled and excommunicated, stage a simple die-in on campus for those Mormons who committed suicide when rejected by their families and schools after coming out. It’s a heartbreaking subject the rest of the country, slowing altering its views on homosexuality, doesn’t want to face. The Equality Riders stare it down with courage, dignity and — dare we say? — grace.
“Equality U” screens at the Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival 2 p.m. Sept. 3 at the Alamo Ritz.
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Pretty People Can Be Nice, Part 3: Anthony Nak at Eliza Page
See Parts 1 & 2 of “Pretty People Can Be Nice” to follow the narrative and thematic thread of Thursday’s killer parties.
Bhawna Sharma, Gloria Callner
We wound up the evening at Eliza Page, the jewel-like accessories shop on West Second Street, for the world premiere showing of new artistry from the Anthony Nak team. Our first impression was how tall and thin the guests were, though it turned out the tallest, dressed in black, were actually security staff, who could peer over the partiers to check on the safety of the innovative jewelry on display.
Kelley Sullivan, Elizabeth Serrato
We did run into one gentleman with fantastic dreads who declined to be photographed, and we had a short, polite conversation about his reasons (he had declined on an earlier social occasion). I never force people to appear in the newspaper, but I’m always curious why.
Zion, James Walker
Elizabeth Serrato herself introduced me to her stunning employee Kelley Sullivan. Blackmail’s Gail Chovan and I caught up on lots of gossip, some happy, some sad. All the while, we glanced at the goods, which we’d prefer to examine more closely at our leisure, and the party drifted out onto Second Street’s wide sidewalks. What fun.
Brenda New, Regina Witte
I didn’t get a chance to chat with Anthony Camargo and Nak Armstrong, but they continue to keep Austin ever so stylish. I wanted to apologize about aiding and abetting the Madonna rumor earlier this year, but hey, they are grown-ups about their cherished and famous customer.
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Pretty People Can Be Nice, Part 2: Movies at Gruv
See Part 1 of “Pretty People Can Be Nice” to follow the narrative and thematic thread of Thursday’s killer parties.
Adam Bloodgood, Paul Michael Bloodgood
Party No. 2 took place at the never-dull Gruv on West Fifth Street. Sure enough, Hostess Suprema Jen Shoemaker greeted me at the door, looking sharper than ever. (And her hairstyle seems to grow higher on each greeting.)
Ryan Rittenhouse, Nakisha Nathan
Chinese ceremonial dragons shook and shimmied on the main club floor, while folks involved with the production of “Templar: Honor Among Thieves,” the martial arts movie directed by Rene Hinojosa and gang out at Spiderwood Studios in Bastrop. This fascinating project will be created over many months with local martial artists mostly filmed against a green screen.
Marco Martinez Trevino, Mary Ellen Villarreal
Needless to say, those artists, male and female, provided the primary pretty factor. We talked for a long while with Paul Michael Bloodgood, the Ballet Austin dancer who has forged a new career as an actor and director in film. He was accompanied by his brother, Adam, who, also a ballet dancer training in Seattle. Incredibly, the charming Bloodgood brothers have yet another male sibling in the ballet business. It’s a dynasty!
Janell Smith, Tommy G. Warren
Not all the handsome partiers were green youngsters. Janell Smith and Mary Ellen Villarreal are fully formed women, while Tommy G. Warren, owners of Spiderwood Productions, is at least my age. Although he made his first fortunes in Beaumont, Warren splits his time between Austin and Malibu, producing movies that, from all accounts, actually make money.
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Pretty People Can Be Nice, Part 1: AU40 at Imperia
Pretty people get a bad rap. Shallow? Petty? Inaccessible? Not in my experience.
At least not in Austin. Of course, my marital status lowers any potential sexual tension while interacting with pretty people on the job. Not being particularly pretty myself actually works my behalf, too. When I approach someone at a party or club for conversation, I’m clearly not making untoward advances.
Sam Ryan, Tasha McCarter
Austin Under 40 is not an organization for pretty people. In fact, it recognizes high achievement in multiple fields as well as unusual civic benevolence. Yet the happy hour held for its volunteers at Imperia on Thursday could easily be mistaken for a mixer for shiny young professionals. I must have met 50 of them in the space of an hour.
Yann Curtis, Meredith Estes, Jorge Padilla
At first, a hundred or so engineers, marketers and other high achievers clumped near the Warehouse District restaurant’s bar, ordering drinks spiked with Tito’s Homemade Vodka. But once a buffet opened back by the new sushi service area, the AU40 followers spread out, allowing more breathing room.
Brian Cheng, Victor Yu
We talked with one smiling gentleman, Brian Cheng, for some time. At first, he pretended to be among the AU40, but in fact, he was on a business trip from Chicago. Turns out he grew up with Imperia managing partner CK Chin in Southwest Houston. So lots of Houston connections to discuss.
Jim Kaighin, David Landry
“I’ve known him since he was just six feet tall,” Cheng joked about our towering host. “Back when he was 14 years old.”
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Overheard in an elevator
Regular correspondent Jette Momant shares this conversation…
Business Suit: Did you hear about Cal?
Business Suit and Boots: No, what?
BS: He’s moving into one of them downtown urban developments that are going up.
BSAB: Really?
BS: Yep, he must be one of them metro-sexuals.
BSAB: Ye-up.
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Betting on Aces and Third Base
Meanwhile, he’s prepping the former Hard Rock Cafe on East Sixth Street as a chic nightclub, an even trickier gambit. We reported here a few months ago that the club would be called Aces. We now hear it will also feature a full-time burlesque troupe, jazz nights on Fridays and Saturdays, as well as creative dance + rock ‘n’ roll shows on Thursdays.
It sounds like Aces will join high-end lounges such as Qua, Pangaea, the Belmont, Buzios Room and others on the downtown nightlife scene, but it include more live entertainment. Neo-burlesque has been an Austin staple for years. We’ll see how Puthoff melds it with a modern nightclub concept. We’ll report.
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Watch out for … Aaron Peirsol, Brendan Hansen and more in Austin
We’ll be watching (very closely) to see if any of the Longhorn-related Olympians make more of a social splash locally. Examples: Aaron Peirsol and Brendan Hansen will appear alongside Lance Armstrong at the Nike+ Human Race event in Austin Aug. 31. On a more serious note, we’re hoping Eric Shanteau will return to Austin after conquering cancer.
Jo Ann Christian and Stephen Skaggs have risen to chairwoman and president of Austin Lyric Opera. Good idea to refresh the top leadership periodically, while encouraging the next generation.
We wonder if presidential nephew and onetime juvenile idol George P. Bush will spend more time in Austin, now that Pennybacker Capital private equity firm is settling in here. After all, Karl Rove is out there somewhere — he recently joined the Headliners Club, we hear.
And oh yes, all of these are on our Fortunate 500 watch. Speaking of which, why aren’t Bettie and Robert Girling on the Heritage list? The philanthropists’ names popped up in a less flattering light recently via the report on Austin Top 10 residential water users.
NBC photo
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2009 Fortunate 500: It’s Never Too Early
The 2008 Fortunate 500 is history. Time to start researching the 2009 Fortunate 500. Your help is essential.
As soon as Glossy appeared, readers nominated folks for the 2009 list: Communication by Hand’s Delia Mott Merritt, music agent Danielle Thomas (pictured here with Dan Hardicke, courtesy of Matt Dentler’s blog), KAZI’s Steve Savage, Phenix & Phenix’s Rusty Shelton and Fox 7’s Rob Balon received generous endorsements.
Other correspondents, such as the digitally ubiquitous Phil West, suggested a new category for social media mavens — not a bad idea, but we like meeting people in person, too.
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Weekend Out: Revving up for Fall
You can feel it: The transition from Olympics and political conventions to school and football and parties. The social engines are revving up again. My plans include:
Friday: Ivan Zoot tries to break world record at Roosters Men’s Grooming Center; Yelp Hot Night in the City at Buffalo Billiards; KUT Party with Patti Griffin at ACL Studio.
Saturday: Worries & Wonders Gala at TDS Exotic Game Ranch; Evil Eye Ball for the Rude Mechs at the Off Center; Heart House’s Angels on the Runway at Austin Music Hall; Nasty Clan Pool Party at Momo’s
Sunday: Interview with Heath Riddles and Stephen Rice for OutCast on KOOP studio; 15th Anniversary Celebration at Top Drawer
Monday: Entertainment Journalism at St. Edward’s University; Future Clouds and Radar at Beauty Bar
Tuesday: Nelo (pictured) at Threadgill’s; StrataTX and Grounded in Music Happy Hour at J. Black’s; Pompeii at Mohawk
Wednesday: Austin’s Fifth Annual Cocktail Throwdown at Threadgill’s
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I'm really excited about the class and the blogs. The exercise with the opening credits of "Mad Men" really helped pick apart the outlining questions discussed in class. I don't think I ever really thought about the difference between writing down observations
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I absolutely love Goodie Two Shoes...I'm really glad to see they're a fan of others as well. I had a friend that worked their for a while, it's one of my favorite spots on South Congress by far.
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