About.com Austin

UT Shuts Down Informal Classes, Cactus Cafe

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:44:59 +0000

It's been the talk of the town this week. Due to major budget cuts, the University of Texas recently announced that in August, it is closing the Cactus Cafe, a beloved music venue hosted in the student's Texas Union building. At the same time, it will shut down the school's informal classes program.

The cafe opened in 1979 and has hosted everything from local to international artists, and helped launch the careers of many popular musicians. It featured concerts from Alison Krauss, the Dixie Chicks, Townes Van Zandt, Ani DiFranco, Lucinda Williams, and Shawn Colvin.

The informal classes program opened in 1971 and allowed non-UT professionals to offer classes to the public in courses ranging from wine pairing to fencing to graphic design. Some were one-time classes; others had a series of meetings. The courses were inexpensive, and most were hosted at the Texas Union. According to the Statesman, about 10,000 people took formal classes last year, most of which were not UT students.

The Statesman says these cuts will save the university around $122,000 a year. According to the school, these decisions were "made to minimize the impact of budgetary reductions on students and to protect student core services."

Most Austinites are outraged. Facebook groups have been created to try to save the Cactus Cafe. Locals are Tweeting about it. People are begging the school to let the students decide what to do. Statesman columnist John Kelso encouraged UT football coach Mack Brown to save the music venue with a fraction of his $5.1 million annual salary.

What do you think? Are the Cactus Cafe and informal classes worth saving?

UT Shuts Down Informal Classes, Cactus Cafe originally appeared on About.com Austin on Friday, February 5th, 2010 at 13:44:59.

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When You Wish Upon The Star...

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 11:23:56 +0000

When most of us think about opera, we imagine dark melodramas. Austin Lyric Opera's new production of The Star defies the stereotype and brings a more comical and fantastical show to the stage.

Emmanuel Chabrier created this operetta in French and made it light, silly, and humorous. According to the Austin Lyric Opera's artistic statement, The Star contains bantering dialogue and uses parody and satire as a means to entertain its audience. ALO says it represents "opera bouffe," a genre truly meant to entertain, which was created by Offenbach in the mid-19th century. The Star features a variety of characters, from quirky royalty to a wishful peddler to a court astrologer.

The opera will be held at The Long Center, and performances are on 1/30, 2/3, 2/5, and 2/7. You can buy tickets online.

When You Wish Upon The Star... originally appeared on About.com Austin on Friday, January 29th, 2010 at 11:23:56.

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Another Haiti Benefit in Austin

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:40:37 +0000

On Monday, there were multiple Haiti benefit events in Austin. This Sunday, there will be another one, which is going to be huge. This event is called Help Austin Help Haiti, and it is benefiting The Clinton-Bush Fund and OXFAM.

The event takes place at Austin Music Hall and runs from 2 p.m. to midnight. You can buy your ticket online for $28 or pay $33 at the door. The following bands are scheduled to play, and it is anticipated even more will sign up:

� Asleep at the Wheel
� Band of Heathens
� Bob Schneider
� Bruce Robison
� Charlie Sexton
� The Flatlanders
� The Gourds
� Guy Forsyth
� Jack Ingram
� Joe Ely Band
� Kelly Willis
� Kinky Friedman
� Patricia Vonne
� Paula Nelson
� Ray Wylie Hubbard
� Reckless Kelly
� Robert Earl Keen
� Shawn Colvin

I have also noticed that Whole Foods has boxes next to the registers where you can drop in cash or coins. I think it's fantastic that Austinites and Austin businesses are being so generous. What are you doing to help?

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Another Haiti Benefit in Austin originally appeared on About.com Austin on Thursday, January 21st, 2010 at 14:40:37.

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Help Austin Businesses Help Haiti

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 21:06:11 +0000

The whole world has been shaken by the devastation in Haiti after a massive earthquake. Several Austin businesses are throwing benefits to help the victims. All of the following events take place on Monday, January 18. Note that FREEBIRDS and Dominican Joe Coffee Shop are next door, so you can easily participate in both.

Haiti Disaster Relief Fundraiser: Dominican Joe Coffee Shop's partner organization, Makarios, is a non-profit in the Dominican Republic, just hours from the earthquake's epicenter. They have mobilized their resources to provide aid, so Dominican Joe's is holding a benefit to help them provide even more relief to Haiti. Twenty percent of Dominican Joe's sales will be donated this day. There will be free chair massage from 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Sweet Leaf Tea will be giving out drinks in exchange for donations of money or supplies, and there will be live music throughout the day.

FREEBIRDS World Burrito's South Congress location is having a benefit to raise $50,000 for Thirst No More, a local non-profit that is going to send Primary Assistance Kits (PAKs) to Haiti. The PAKS contain survival items such as cooking pots, utensils, rice, beans, water, towels, soap, flashlights, etc. The restaurant will have live music, free appetizers and soft drinks for anyone who comes in and donates to the cause. The event is from 1-4 p.m.

Hope for Haiti: This is a benefit concert event at The Parish, and will be benefiting Real Hope for Haiti. Aaron Ivey, Matt McCloskey, Miranda Dodson, Kevin McKinney, and Courrier will be performing. Tickets are $10 and doors open at 7 p.m. All ages welcome.

Help Austin Businesses Help Haiti originally appeared on About.com Austin on Friday, January 15th, 2010 at 21:06:11.

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APD Links Drunk Drivers' Last Drink to Bars

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 14:06:24 +0000

Austin has a stellar nightlife, but because we lack good public transportation, we often have people driving under the influence of alcohol. According to The Statesman, several years ago, the Austin Police Department began asking people they pull over for drunk driving where they enjoyed their last drink. Based on the results, they determine which areas they need to target for enforcement.

In this year's poll, the majority of drunk driving suspects (27 people) had their last drink at J. Black's Feel Good Lounge on West 6th Street. The Statesman talked to Ashley Leitch, the lounge manager, who said this is likely the case because many people valet their cars with J. Blacks, visit other bars, and then stop by the lounge for one last drink before they hit the road. Leitch says J. Black's does follow the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission's regulations that prohibits bars from serving alcohol to intoxicated customers.

Here are some of the runners up:

The Ranch (22 suspects)
Rain (17 suspects)
Blind Pig (16 suspects)
Maggie Mae's (16 suspects)
Fado Irish Pub (15 suspects)
Oilcan Harry's (15 suspects)

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APD Links Drunk Drivers' Last Drink to Bars originally appeared on About.com Austin on Sunday, January 10th, 2010 at 14:06:24.

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What is Your New Year's Resolution?

Sun, 03 Jan 2010 19:47:11 +0000

It's the beginning of a new year, and most of us have created resolutions and set goals for ourselves. Unfortunately, it can be quite hard to stick with them. Read on to find resources to help you succeed with your New Year's resolutions this year!

Is your goal to get more active? The Lady Bird Lake has a beautiful hike and bike trail, which is a popular outdoor place to exercise.
Have you resolved to be more frugal? There are plenty of free things to do in Austin!� You can also save money by going to bars and restaurants during happy hour.
Want to rekindle your romance this year? Have a meal at some of Austin's most romantic restaurants!
Aiming to work less and travel more? You don't have to go far -- learn about some of the best travel destinations in Texas.
Trying to get out of the house more often? Austin is the live music capital of the world, so why don't you visit some of the city's best music venues?

What are your resolutions this year?

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What is Your New Year's Resolution? originally appeared on About.com Austin on Sunday, January 3rd, 2010 at 19:47:11.

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New Year's Eve Events in Austin

Sun, 27 Dec 2009 19:54:24 +0000

While we don't have anything quite as exciting as the dropping ball in New York City's Times Square, Austin does have many fun ways to ring in the new year. Be sure to check out my list of Austin's top New Year's Eve events!

There is First Night Austin, the city's primary event that features live performances and fireworks. There is also going to be a large party in the old Seaholm power plant hosted by Rare magazine. Additionally, there is Once in a Blue Moon, the largest electronic dance celebration in Texas. Take a look at the list for more information about these and other events.

What are your New Year's Eve plans?

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New Year's Eve Events in Austin originally appeared on About.com Austin on Sunday, December 27th, 2009 at 19:54:24.

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Where to Eat on Christmas Day

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:59:51 +0000

It can be hard to find restaurants that are open on Christmas Day. Let me make life a little easier for you!

Chon Som, which serves Asian cuisine and sushi, will be open for business. Several other restaurants will be open, including some in hotels, Jewish delis, Asian restaurants, and more.� Austin360 provides a great list of restaurants that will be open today and tomorrow. Here is their list of what is open on Christmas:

� Barton Creek Resort & Spa
� Cedar Door (opens at 7 p.m.)
� European Bistro
� Green Pastures
� 1886 Cafe & Bakery (614 E. Sixth St.)
� Katz's Deli & Bar
� Lakeway Resort and Spa
� Luby's Cafeteria (8176 N. MoPac Blvd. (Loop 1) location only)
� Manny Hattan's
� Marie Callender's (9503 Research Blvd. location only)
� SWB Southwest Bistro (208 Barton Springs Road in the Hyatt hotel)
� Thai Spoon
� Threadgill's
� Trio at the Four Seasons Hotel Austin
� Wyndham Garden Hotel Austin

Where to Eat on Christmas Day originally appeared on About.com Austin on Thursday, December 24th, 2009 at 11:59:51.

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Trail of Lights Smaller and Shorter This Year

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:07:59 +0000

Each year around the holidays, Austinites loved exploring the Trail of Lights, a massive display of Christmas lights and scenes in Zilker Park. The City of Austin has continued the tradition again this year, but has scaled it back significantly and renamed it the Zilker Tree Holiday Festival.

Instead of it being two weeks long, the city has it open for only nine days this year. In previous years, the lighted trail was 1.25 miles; this year, it is only half a mile. However, there is still be a Santa's House, concession stands, arts and craft vendors, and nightly entertainment.The lighted trail used to be on the north side of Barton Springs Road, but this year it is on the south side, closer to the Zilker Tree.

At first it looked like visitors were going to have to pay $5 to enter the festival, but because this year's production is cheaper and money is tight for many families, the city decided to let everyone in free. It does cost $10 to park, though that is down from the $15 charged last year.

It is a very family-friendly event but fun for all ages. It is open Dec. 13-21 from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. On the final night of the festival, Dec. 21, there will be a holiday sing-along concert with Asleep at the Wheel & Friends at 8:30 p.m.

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Trail of Lights Smaller and Shorter This Year originally appeared on About.com Austin on Thursday, December 17th, 2009 at 00:07:59.

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Holiday Shopping Events and Bazaars

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:12:55 +0000

Holiday shopping season is upon us! It's easy to do all your shopping on Amazon.com or at mega-stores like Best Buy, but if you are like most Austinites, you like to buy local. Every winter, Austin offers several holiday shopping events where you can buy gifts and goods from local businesses and artisans. Why buy generic goods from a major corporation when you can buy unique and hand-made gifts from local artists and vendors?

In addition to the annual Armadillo Christmas Bazaar, Blue Genie Art Bazaar, and Keep Austin Bizarre, a new shopping event, Shop787, is taking place this year. Most of the events are ongoing from now until Christmas. Be sure to read my article about these events for details about dates, times and locations. Happy shopping!

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Holiday Shopping Events and Bazaars originally appeared on About.com Austin on Saturday, December 12th, 2009 at 16:12:55.

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