Ready or Not, Here it Comes!

November 16-22

Fifteen or so years ago I heard a story on NPR about the guy who publishes the Farmers Almanac. He was lobbying to get Thanksgiving changed to October so that folks wouldn't have to drive through snowy, icy conditions to get to grandma's house. It was obvious to me that the man had never spent a Thanksgiving in Texas where, often as not, it's too damn hot to cook. (Of course you have to realize that -- for me -- anything over 75 degrees makes it too hot to cook.) And he sure as hell had never been here in October, the month he was proposing.

I'm not sure what the point of that anecdote was except to acknowledge the fact that it's almost Thanksgiving and until yesterday (and probably again after today), I've still been in my sandals and capri pants. I'm certainly not complaining about the lovely weather, but I am getting a little freaked out about the fact that it's almost Thanksgiving and I am so NOT ready for the holidays. Again. Is global warming making it seem not-so-much like holiday season any more? Or am I becoming certifiably Scroogious? I don't know. I do know, though, that my life is so full of a number of things that holidays pretty much get relegated to the bottom of the priority list. And then, suddenly, there they are -- standing on my doorstep like dysfunctional relatives, with idiot grins and inflated expectations of being invited in and entertained for a month. Go. Away. Shoo, you pesky beasts!

Still... the season is not without its charms (like today's weather, for example), many of which will start appearing in this weekly calendar. So stay tuned.


THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16

Chaparral
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189

Glovertango
Cipollina / 1213 West Lynn; 477-5211 / 8-10 pm

Cornell Hurd
Jovita’s / 1619 S. 1st, 447-7825 / 8 pm (family)

Aunt Ruby's Sweet Jazz Babies
Treehouse Italian Grill / 2201 College; 443-4200 / 7:15 pm

The Fabulous Chevelles
Guero’s / 1412 S. Congress; 447-7688

Hummingbirds
Carousel Lounge / 1110 E. 52nd; 452-6790
I believe this is an early show, but you might want to call just to make sure.

Seth Walker
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 10 pm

White Ghost Shivers
Beerland / 711 Red River / 10 pm

Big Brother/Big Sister Benefit
Ten Thousand Villages / 1317 S. Congress / 5-9 pm
OK, so I was grousing earlier about the holiday season coming up. You know you have to go shopping, so why not make it a double whammy? Take care of some of the seasonal buying you need to do, and help out Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Central Texas. They will be receiving a portion of the profits.

Two Hoots and a Holler
Ego’s / 510 S. Congress; 474-7091 / 11 pm

THURSDAY-SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16-19

Austin Lindy Exchange (ALX)
The Fed; Jovita's; Saengurrunde Hall et al. / all hours, many prices
Invest in the entire weekend of dancing or choose your own schedule/package. Click the link above for full details.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17

Billy Dee
The Oaks/ 10206 FM 973 N, Manor; 278-8788 / 8 pm; $5 Lucky Strikes
Reed’s Jazz Club / 9901 Cap of TX Hwy; 342-7977
Have you ever eaten at Reed's? If you're a lover of red meat, then you should definitely, DEFINITELY order a steak. These guys know the secret to cooking meat, mmmmm.

Cornell Hurd
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189

Two Hoots and a Holler
Evangeline Café / 8106 Brodie Lane; 282-2586 / 10 pm

Studebakers
Artz Ribhouse / 2230 S. Lamar; 442-8283 / 7:30 pm (family)


FRIDAY-MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17-20

Madame Butterfly
Bass Concert Hall / 7:30 pm Fri, Sat, Mon; 3 pm Sun / $19 - $109
Austin Lyric Opera is performing my absolute favorite opera ever. I remember back in 1989, the night when my divorce was final, going over to a friend's house, drinking margaritas and listening to that heartbreaking humming chorus at the end of the second act. Ah, nothing like a good self-pitying wallow to make you feel better! And nothing like Madame Butterfly to facilitate it! God bless Puccini. Click here for tix.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18

Lucky Strikes
Treehouse Italian Grill / 2201 College; 443-4200

Third Saturday Contra Dance
St. Paul Lutheran Fellowship Hall / 3501 Red River / 8 - 11;' $5-$8
Live music by Mockingbird. Beginners introductory session at 7:30. 453-8936 for more info.

The DerailersBroken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189

Albert and Gage Band
Donn’s Depot / 1600 W. 5th, 478-0336

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19

1001 Nights
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / noon - 3:30 (family)
In this case, being an early show and all, would they call themselves the 1001 afternoons?

Heybale!
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 10 pm; $6

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20

Paris 49
Continental Club /1315 S. Congress;441-2444 / 6:30 pm

Bayou Cajun Band
Evangeline Cafe / 8106 Brodie Lane; 282-2586 / 6:30 pm (family)

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21

Marc Devine & Denia Ridley
Reed's Jazz Club / 9901 Cap of TX Hwy; 342-7977 / 6:30 pm

Erik Hokkanen's Laboratory
Flipnotics / 1601 Barton Springs; 322-9750 / 8:00 pm

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22

Seth Walker
Jovita's / 1619 S. 1st; 447-7825 / 8 pm

Two Hoots and a Holler
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189

ROAD TRIPS

Granger, TX
SATURDAY, NOV 18
Ricky Calmbach
Cotton Club / downtown Granger / 512-859-0700 / 9pm; $10

Gruene, TX
WEDNESDAY, NOV 22
Two Tons of Steel with the Jason Allen Band
Gruene Hall / 1281 Gruene; 830-606-1281
Yeah, it's a Wednesday night -- but you can sleep late on Thursday cuz you don't have to get up and go to work, woo hoo!

COMING SOON

Saturday-Sunday, DEC 9-24
Armadillo Christmas Bazaar
Austin Music Hall / 3rd & Nueces / 11 am - 11 pm
Oh my. It's almost here again. Click on the link above to see when your favorite band is playing. That way you can shop and boggie concurrently.

See ya on the dance floor,

Chris