Announcing Jackson Hugh

December 14-20, 2006

Whoa! It's a plethora of grandbabies! Ella Rose showed up on November 29. Jackson Hugh wasn't supposed to arrive until after Christmas, but here he is, live and in person. He was born Thursday evening, a little on the smallish side; but he went home from the hospital on Monday and he seems to be thriving. I got to meet him on Friday, and all I can tell you is that he's tiny and sweet, and that's a pretty winning combination. He's also blonde, so I suggested to my daughter (dark skin, dark eyes, dark hair) that she order a maternity test to see if we can figure out who the mother is.

Fifty days from today I will retire from UT, woo hoo! Boy, does that open the door for all kinds of new years resolutions! More sleep, more exercise, more reading, writing and acting, more dancing, more playing! Can't wait. All I have to do is survive the holidays and that first month of 2007 and then I am a free woman. Yippee! (Now all I gotta do is figure out how to supplement that retirement pittance. Any suggestions?)


Thursday, Dec 14

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

Austin Swing Syndicate Holiday Formal
The Fed / 24th at San Gabriel / 9 pm
Get yourself all gussied up (does anyone know the etymology of that phrase?) and head over to the Fed for a lovely evening with the Monster Big Band.

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

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

Bonnie Rideout
Paramount Theatre / 713 Congress, 472-5411 / 8 pm; $30-$56 (family)
It's a Scottish Christmas with this amazing fiddler. Click here for tix or call 866-4GET TIX.

Toni Price
Armadillo Christmas Bazaar / Austin Music Hall; 3rd & Nueces / 8:00 pm

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

Friday, Dec 15

Two Tons of Steel
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189 / 9 pm; $10

Csardas Hungarian Dancers
Trail of Lights / Zilker Park / 9 pm (family)
This colorful, energetic group is bound to please.

DJd Milonga
Texas Union Quadrangle Room / 23rd at Guadalupe / 8 pm
Another holiday dance party, woo hoo. Dress up in your tango/Christmas finest.

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

Jimmy LaFave
Armadillo Christmas Bazaar / Austin Music Hall; 3rd & Nueces / 8:00 pm

The Lucky Strikes
Reed’s Jazz Club / 9901 Cap of TX Hwy; 342-7977 / 8:30 pm

Friday - Sunday, Dec 15- 17

Nutcracker
Bass Concert Hall / UT campus / 7:30 pm (family)
Ballet Austin and the Austin Symphony Orchestra never fail to enchant with this holiday favorite. More performances next week if you can't go this week.

Saturday, Dec 16

The Resentments; Terri Hendrix; Van Wilks
Armadillo Christmas Bazaar / Austin Music Hall; 3rd & Nueces / 12:30; 3:30; 8:00 pm, respectively

Aunt Ruby's Sweet Jazz Babies
Treehouse Italian Grill / 2201 College; 443-4200 / 7:30 pm

Invincible Czars
Ruta Maya / 3601 S. Congress; 707-9637 / 3 pm and 7 pm; $5-$7 (family)
YES! The Invicible Czars will be doing "The Nutcracker Suite for Rock Band". If you haven't heard them do this music, you MUST. (Click here to hear a sample.) The 3 o'clock show is for kids; the 7 o'clock show will be loud.

Holiday Contradance
St. Paul Lutheran Fellowship Hall / 3501 Red River / 8 pm (7:30 for beginners); $8
Wear something red and/or green and be a living, dancing Christmas decoration. Live music by the Runaway Bridegrooms.

Albert and Gage Band
Donn’s Depot / 1600 W. 5th, 478-0336 / 9 pm

Christmas Extravaganza Showcase
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 1-9 pm (family)
Wow, a full day of Christmas performances by such folks as Suzy Stern, WC Clark, Elana James, Austin Girl's Choir, Mundi, The Hummingbirds and more, more, more. Just show up whenever you can. You can't go wrong (and you'll be benefitting the Capital Area Food Bank).

The Derailers
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189 / 9 pm

Two Hoots and a Holler
Carousel Lounge / 1110 E. 52nd, 452-6790 / 10 pm


Sunday, Dec 17

Cyril Neville; Marcia Ball - Pianorama; Mary Hattersley's Blazing Bows
Armadillo Christmas Bazaar / Austin Music Hall; 3rd & Nueces / 12:30; 3:30; 8:00 pm, respectively

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


Monday, Dec 18

Bayou Cajun Band
Evangeline Cafe / 8106 Brodie Lane; 282-2586 / 6:30 pm (family)
Darcy Deaville will be sitting in with them again this week.

Austin Lounge Lizards
Armadillo Christmas Bazaar / Austin Music Hall; 3rd & Nueces / 4:30; 8:00 pm, respectively


Tuesday, Dec 19

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

The Eggmen
Armadillo Christmas Bazaar / Austin Music Hall; 3rd & Nueces / 8:00 pm


Wednesday, Dec 20

Ray Wylie Hubbard
Armadillo Christmas Bazaar / Austin Music Hall; 3rd & Nueces / 8:00 pm

Two Hoots and a Holler
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189 / 9 pm


ROAD TRIPS

There's bound to be something somewhere, but I didn't find it this week.


COMING SOON

Saturday, Dec 23
Cowboy Christmas Ball
Luckenbach Dance Hall / Luckenbach, TX / 8 pm; $10
This should be really fun. It's a great dance hall, and Gary P Nunn will be playing.

Thru Dec 24
More Armadillo Christmas Bazaar! Stay tuned for all the details, or visit their website for all the info.

PSA

Zydeco Dancing: Interested in Zydeco music? If you'd like to learn how to dance Zydeco, come to Zydeco Practice held every second Wednesday of the month at Hancock Recreation Center (41st at Red River). But wait! There's more! They are considering holding a dance at Hancock with an imported band, but they want to have a bigger pool of Zydeco dancers first. If you'd like more information on Zydeco dance opportunities in Austin and other dance communities, subscribe to the Zydeco newsletter here.

See ya on the dance floor,

chris