Chris Picks

Each week Chris brings you the best in music, dance, arts and entertainment opportunities in Austin and surrounding areas.

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Thursday, November 30, 2006

Announcing Ella Rose

November 30-December 6, 2006

Ella Rose, my newest grandbaby, arrived around noon yesterday and has already charmed her father (my son) past all hope of recovery. All she had to do was to grab his finger, and he instantly and willingly became her slave. I don't know that any baby was ever more tenderly wanted, awaited and cherished. What a lucky kid she is. Now I have to get on the stick and find her a tiny little flight jacket and goggles because I know she's bound to start flying with Daddy just the minute she's big enough.

Thanksgiving may officially be behind us, but this gift of Ella Rose extends the 'thanks' part of it, all the more so because of the nightmare labor ending in an emergency C-section which saved both mother and baby. It's like that extra dollop of whipped cream on the sweet potato pie, mmmmmm.

And speaking of sweet potato pie, there are plenty of chances for atoning for that extra slice this weekend, so get your dancing shoes on.



Thursday, Nov 30

UT Middle Eastern Ensemble
Music Building 6.252 / 7-9 pm
UT now has its very own middle eastern music ensemble and they're having an open house and reception to which we're all invited. Click here for a map.

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


The Hummingbirds
Carousel Lounge / 1110 E. 52nd; 452-6790


DJd Swing Dance
The Fed / 24th at San Gabriel / 9 pm


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



Friday, Dec 1

Mr. Fabulous
Reed’s Jazz Club / 9901 Cap of TX Hwy; 342-7977 / 8:30 pm


Dale Watson
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress;
441-2444 / midnight

White Ghost Shivers
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 6:30 pm


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

First Friday Contradance
Carpenter's Hall / 400 Josephine / 8pm; $6-8
Live music this month by the Flying Kilts (now that sounds interesting!) 512-970-4919 for more info.

Acme Song Company
Cipollina / 1213 West Lynn; 477-5211 / 8 pm


DJd Swing Dance
Go Dance / 2525 W. Anderson Lane (Northcross Mall), Suite 530 / 9:30 pm; $4 & $6.


Saturday, Dec 2


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


South Austin Jug Band
Ruta Maya / 3601 S. Congress; 707-9637 / 8 pm
This is part of Whip In's Tunes & Brew benefit series which gets musical education to pre-schoolers.

Dale Watson
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 6:30 pm (family)


Holiday Swing
Dell Jewish Community Center / 7300 Hart Lane; 454-8646 / 8pm
This is the 18th year of this event which benefits Project Transition. Live music by The Studebakers; and you can get tix at Top Drawer, Book Woman, Tapelenders Video or by calling the number above.

Nash Hernandez Orchestra
Donn’s Depot / 1600 W. 5th, 478-0336 / 9 pm; $5



Saturday and Sunday, Dec 2 & 3

Wheatsville Arts Fest
Wheatsville Food Co-op / 3101 Guadalupe; 478-2667 / 10am-5:30pm (family)
I like this festival because (1) it's cool and I always run into people I like there; and (2) it's walking distance from my house, so I don't have to even make much of an effort to get there. Lots of way cool arts, jewelry and more for your holiday shopping pleasure; and of course, plenty of live music by such folks as The Studebakers, Ain't Misbehavin', Jango's Moustache and more, more, more.


Sunday, Dec 3


Monster Big Band
Ruta Maya / 3601 S. Congress; 707-9637 / 7 pm


Texas Swing Kings
Artz Ribhouse / 2230 S. Lamar; 442-8283 / 6:30 pm (family)


Dale Watson
Ginny’s Little Longhorn / 5434 Burnet Road; 458-1813


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



Monday, Dec 4


Paris 49 & Dale Watson
Continental Club /1315 S. Congress;441-2444 / 6:30 pm & 10 pm

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

Erik Hokkanen will be sitting in with them this week, so check 'em out.


Tuesday, Dec 5


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


Al DiMeola
Cactus Café / Texas Union, UT campus, 23rd at Guadalupe, 475-6515 / 7 & 9:30 $37.50 advance/$40 door
Wow. THE Al DiMeola? Sweet! 512.477-6060 to charge tix.



Wednesday, Dec 6

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



ROAD TRIPS

Helotes, TX
Friday, Dec 2
Derailers
Floores Country Store / 14492 Old Bandera Road; 210-695-8827


Gruene, TX
Saturday, Dec 2

White Ghost Shivers
Gruene Hall / 1281 Gruene; 830-606-1281 / 1-5 pm; no cover
What a great way to escape the holiday shopping!


San Marcos, TX
Saturday, Dec 2
Two Tons of Steel
Cheatham Street Warehouse / 199 Cheatham St; 512-353-3777



COMING SOON

Saturday & Sunday, Dec 9 & 10
Mundi/Capitol City Men's Chorus

Central Christian Church / 1110 Guadalupe / 8 pm (Sat); 4 pm (Sun); $15 (family)
Did I mention that I've been on a choral music kick lately? And I'm always on a Mundi kick. So what could be better than combining the two?


See ya on the dance floor,

chris





Thursday, November 23, 2006

Happy Thanksgiving, Everybody

November 23-29, 2006

Happy Thanksgiving. Hope your long weekend is full of things that you can genuinely be thankful about. I'll be preparing T'day dinner today for my mom, her caregiver and my brother who lost his wife this summer. My mom doesn't even know it's Thanksgiving, but she'll enjoy the attention and the sense of occasion. My brother seemed way too happy to be spending the day with me, his least favorite sister, so that tells me he's desperate for some company and for someone to cook him a meal. And my mom's caregiver has to work on Thanksgiving Day, so she's pleased that someone else is doing the cooking for a change.

Sometimes I'm struck by how little it takes to touch someone's life in a positive way, if we'd just take the time to do it. My mother's life sucks, my brother's life sucks, and the caregiver's job sucks (even though she's extremely good at it, and we consider ourselves blessed to have her). My life pretty much rocks, pretty much most of the time; so I figure that, cosmically speaking, I've got the easy part -- all I have to do is throw a ham in the oven and smash some yams and I've made three people happy (five if you count Mr. Ben and me). For a little while, at least. It feels kinda good and lends some meaning to the day.

I hope you find meaning in your day, too. It's hard to remember sometimes that it's about more than overeating. And I hope you dance off all the excess every single night of the long weekend.

Thursday, Nov 23

Wayne Hancock
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444
This has become an annual 'dance yer stuffin' off' event and as good a way to spend the evening as you can find.

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


DJd Swing Dance
The Fed / 24th at San Gabriel / 9 pm
Another wonderful opportunity for atoning for your gastronomic excess.


Jim Stringer's AM Band
Ginny’s Little Longhorn / 5434 Burnet Road; 458-1813; 9 pm
You're invited to come 'dance off the turkey and wiggle your giblets.'

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



Friday, Nov 24

Acme Song Company
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 6:30 pm (family)


Combo Mahalo
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444

Cerronato
El Sol y La Luna / 1224 S. Congress, 444-7770 / 7:30 pm


Saturday, Nov 25


Albert and Gage
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 6:30 pm (family)


Asleep at the Wheel
Paramount Theatre / 713 Congress, 472-5411
Somehow, there needs to be room to dance when you go hear a band like this, but what the hey.



Saturday and Sunday, Nov 25 & 26

Victorian Christmas
6th Street / 11 am? (family)
I know this is an annual event, and I know it's happening this weekend, and I know there's lots of shopping, activities for kids, live music and dance, and food on sticks. But I'm having a hard time finding details online (which is where I do most of my looking). I suggest you just stop in and have some fun. The weather should be perfect.



Sunday, Nov 26

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



Monday, Nov 27


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, Nov 28


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


UT Choral Arts Society
Bass Concert Hall / Bass Concert Hall / 8 pm; $17
I've been on a choral music kick lately, so this sounds good. The 'theme' of the concert is 'Music for English Cathedrals'. Can you dig it?

Bach Cantata
Blanton Museum / MLK at Speedway / noon
And speaking of choral music, there's a free (with admission) concert in my favorite atrium of my favorite museum.


Wednesday, Nov 29

Cella Blue
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189

DJd Milonga

COPA / 217 Congress Ave. / Austin, TX / 479-5002 / 10 pm
This typically Thursday event happens on a Wednesday this week. Come early (9 pm) for a tango lesson and then stick around to dance.



ROAD TRIPS

Coupland, TX
Saturday, Nov 25

Two Tons of Steel
Coupland Dance Hall / Downtown Coupland



COMING SOON

Saturday & Sunday, Dec 9 & 10
Mundi/Capitol City Men's Chorus

Central Christian Church / 1110 Guadalupe / 8 pm (Sat); 4 pm (Sun); $15 (family)
Did I mention that I've been on a choral music kick lately? And I'm always on a Mundi kick. So what could be better than combining the two?


See ya on the dance floor,

chris

Thursday, November 16, 2006

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 m
y 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

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Friday Night Lights

November 9-15, 2006

Well, folks, it's been weeks since I've indulged in any shameless self promotion. But - ta da - the wait is over. I spent yesterday on the set of Friday Night Lights, the new TV series about Texas high school football. And O.M.G. I had my own trailer -- with a star on the door and my name on it. Of course, the name was on masking tape so that it could easily be removed for the next person, but for the moment it was mine. And I came to realize that trailers are really nothing more than glorified kennels. They're simply a comfortable place to put the actor so (s)he

  • won't devour all the food on the kraft table;
  • won't be in the way of the folks who actually do the work;
  • can be found when you need him/her.

But if you put a star on the door, (s)he'll think (s)he's mucho importante and will stay put.

I know you guys are probably too busy going out dancing and stuff to sit around and watch TV, but if you should happen to be at home when this episode (no. 11) airs (a Tuesday night in late December or early January), you might want to turn the telly on to NBC and see me being a hospital caseworker for about a minute. It's a small scene; but by gum, it's my scene, y'know? With lines and everything! I had total fun yesterday and wonder why the hell I didn't get into this, like, around 30 years ago.


THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9

DJd Swing Dance
The Fed / 24th at San Gabriel; Austin Swing Syndicate / 8
pm ; no cover

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


FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10

Seth Walker; The Lucky Strikes
The Fed / 24th at San Gabriel / 9:45 pm / no cover
Come celebrate the 10th anniversary of Four on the Floor with a huge dance in the beautiful Fed ballroom. Here's what $7 buys you: beginner classes (swing and Charleston) at 8:15 (or a DJ in the ballroom if you wnat to dance while the beginners are learning); Seth Walker at 9:30; Lucky Strikes at 11: dancing till 1 am. What a night! Congratulations to Matt and Laura who have contributed so much to the Austin dance scene over the years.


Austin Singers
University Presbyterian Church / 2203 San Antonio / 8 pm; $15/$12 students & seniors
'Better is Peace.' That's that they're calling this program, and they'll be doing two outstanding choral works: 'The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace' (composed in 2000) and Arto Pärt's 'The Beatitudes'. Now ANYtime you get to hear a work by Arvo Pärt, you need to stop what you're doing and just listen. So. Put this one on your calendar for Friday.


Acme Song Company -- CANCELLED
Cipollina / 1213 West Lynn; 477-5211 / 8 pm
A lovely venue, and they move the tables so you can dance.

DJd Milonga
La Tazza Fresca / 37th at Guadalupe / 9 pm; no cover

Bayou Cajun Band
Evangeline Café / 8106 Brodie Lane; 282-2586 / 10pm
Peter Schwartz will be sitting in. He's been a busy guy lately. Nice to have him back on the stage.

Aunt Ruby's Sweet Jazz Babies
ROSS’ OLD AUSTIN CAFÉ / 11800 N. Lamar; 835-2414 / 7 pm


SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11

Art Party
Art Amici / 78 San Marcos / 8 till late; $10-$40
You guys need to know about this one. My pals at Yellowtape Construction Company are throwing a party complete with dinner, wine, art auction, performance art and live music. I will be helping them out in the role of 'Gracious Hostess' (or possibly 'Restroom Attendant'), so come help me support them. Those of you who have seen their work know that they are THE up and coming arts company in Austin.


The Eggmen
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 6:30 pm (family)
Austin's own 'strornry fine Beatles tribute band.


Nash Hernandez Orchestra
Donn’s Depot / 1600 W. 5th, 478-0336 / 9 pm


SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12

Gulf Coast Playboys
Guero’s / 1412 S. Congress; 447-7688
/ 3-6 pm (family)

The Red Elvises
Jovita’s / 1619 S. 1st, 447-7825 / 8 pm (family)

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


MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13

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 14

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 15

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


ROAD TRIPS

Taylor, TX
FRIDAY, NOV 10
Czech Melody Masters
Taylor SPJST Lodge #29 / 7:30 pm

San Antonio, TX
SATURDAY, NOV 11
Gulf Coast Playboys
Hermann Sons Hall / 525 S. St. Mary's St. / 7:30 pm; $7

San Marcos, TX
SATURDAY, NOV 11

Veteran's Day Dinner Dance
Commerative Air Force Hangar / San Marcos Airport / 6:30 pm; $30 (includes dinner)
The fabulous Sentimental Journey Orchestra will be playing for this one, so you know it will be good. Click link above for full details.

New Braunfels, TX
THRU SUNDAY, NOV 12
Wurstfest
Oompa oompa, it's that time of year again. This would be an excellent choice for your pre-holiday aerobics overkill. All ya gotta do is polka till you drop.

Salado, TX
FRIDAY-SUNDAY, NOV 10-12
Salado Highland Games
Downtown Salado / west of IH 35, across from the Stagecoach Inn / family
Music, dancing, games, food, libation and men in kilts.


COMING SOON

Friday-Monday, NOV 17-20
Madame Butterfly
Bass Concert Hall / 7:30 pm Fri, Sat, Mon; 3 pm Sun / $19 - $109
Sigh. What is opera without tears? And what opera is more tragic than Puccini's 'Madame Butterfly?' I've seen it half a dozen times and it tears me up every time. Poor Cio-Cio-San never learns, does she! If I were staging this opera, I think I'd have her finally wake up to the fact that Pinkerton is, like, a TOTAL lout; and in the final scene, I'd have her kill him rather than herself. Now THAT would be OPERA! YEAH! Of course I have yet to be asked to direct an opera, but I'm open to it if anyone wants to stage it right quick. In the meantime, click here for tix.

See ya on the dance floor,

Chris

Thursday, November 02, 2006

We have a winner!

For those of you who haven't figured out the 'comments' thing yet (like our winner who got scroll happy and posted her comment to a post from the past), I'll go ahead and post this out here for you all to see (as well as in the comment section).

Congrats to Stephanie M who won the tickets to the Austin Celtic Festival because she was the first one to know the answer to the question. The Irish Wolf Hound was originally used for combat and hunting purposes. Stephanie and a pal will be attending the festival this weekend, yippee!

Stephanie -- let me know how I can get the tix to you.

Chris

Gimme EAT! Like, for the next two months -- INCLUSIVE!

November 2-8, 2006

Somebody sneaked November into the schedule without telling me. Don't get me wrong. I'm thrilled to have cooler days and cooler nights. But you can't deny it -- with the advent of November comes the advent of Advent; and Advent is the advent of Christmas. So once again I am starting to panic. Holidays turn me into a food-frenzied basket case on who loves the parties, loves Loves LOVES the food, and really does not love the heavy sense of obligation that I try to drown in the overeating. Surely if I eat enough I can get through the obligatory bits, right?

Yup, that lethal time of year is definitely here. Got those little Halloween hors d'oeuvres going on, whetting the appetite for Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings and finishing off with a double/triple/quadruple serving of Christmas desserts. Holy moly. Doom is nigh. Maybe the trick is to only choose the parties where there's more dancing than food. Maybe I should get started now.


THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2

Mundi CD Release Party
Barr Mansion / 10463 Sprinkle Road / 7:30 pm; $12
Not only is the music absolutely fabulous, the venue is too. And there will be tapas. (see what I mean about the food!) Check this one out for sure, for sure! Click here for advance tix. See you there?

Bayou Cajun Band
Cypress Grill / 4404 W. William Cannon / 6:30pm (family)
Peter Schwartz will be sitting in, aaaaaiiiiieeeee! Hi Peter!

DJd Swing Dance
The Fed / 24th at San Gabriel; Austin Swing Syndicate / 8
pm

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)

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

Tania Pérez-Salas Compania De Danza Contemporanea
Hogg Auditorium / 24th at Guadalupe / 8 pm ; $28-40
One of Mexico's leading contemporary dance companies. Click here to buy tix.


thru NOVEMBER 5

Requiem
Intel Shell / 5th at San Antonio / 8 pm
LAST CHANCE! If you did not see this performance this during the summer, then don't make the same mistake this fall. The work is stunningly beautiful, and this is the final weekend. Tix are $20 and $30 and you can reserve yours by calling 512-474-8497.



FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3

Austin Celtic Festival Kick-Off Concert
Cactus Café / Texas Union, UT campus, 23rd at Guadalupe, 475-6515 / 7pm; $12
This concert should ROCK. You'll be hearing The Prodigals, John Williams $ Dean Magraw, and The Tea Merchants. This should get you totally primed for the festival!

Los Texas Wranglers
Dario's / 1800 E. 6th / 8 pm; no cover
Have I mentioned Dario's tortilla soup? mmmmmmmmmmm. Damn near perfect.

First Friday Contra Dance
Carpenter's Hall / 400 Josephine / 8 pm (7:30 for newcomers); $8
Live music by Mockingbird. Contact sealantsby5@aol.com for more info.

Seth Walker
Nutty Brown / 12225 Highway 290 West; 301-4648 / 8 pm; $5 (family)

Beto y Los Fairlanes
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 6:30 pm (family)

Dale Watson
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189 / 9 pm

The Therapy Sisters
University Presbyterian Church / 2203 San Antonio (room 210) / 8 pm; $10 or 2 non-perishable food items
This concert will benefit the Capital Area Food Bank. When's the last time you heard these gals? It's been waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long!


SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4

Austin Powwow
Tony Burger Center / 3200 Jones Road / 10am-10pm (family)
A celebration of Native American music, dance, arts and culture for the whole family. Free admission.

Danny Barnes and Shane Decker
Flipnotics / 1601 Barton Springs; 322-9750; 9 pm
I'm sure you all remember Danny Barnes (Bad Livers), and some of you may remember Shane Decker. They're going to doing tag-team music at Flips, with some overlap in the middle where they do duets. Should be nice evening for a hot drink and some great tunes.

Gulf Coast Playboys
Big Red Sun / 1102 E. Cesar Chavez / 8:30 pm
This is a benefit for The Montessori School, so you'll have an opportunity to contribute to a good cause while you're having fun.

Two to Tango
First Unitarial Church / 4700 Grover / 7:30 pm
Michelle Shumann, piano, along with an 'all star cast' which include, among others, Mike Maddox, will be performing the music of Astor Piazzolla, Argentina's most (originally) controversial but (now) beloved composers.

South Austin Jug Band
Nutty Brown / 12225 Highway 290 West; 301-4648 / 8 pm; $7 (family)

Cornell Hurd Band
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 6:30 pm (family)

The Gourds
Threadgill’s / 301 W. Riverside; 472-9304 / 10 pm; $12

The Recliners
Donn’s Depot / 1600 W. 5th, 478-0336 / 9 pm

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

The Eggmen
Jovita’s / 1619 S. 1st, 447-7825 / 8 pm (family)
How can you NOT take your kids out to hear this fabulous Beatles tirbute band? Everyone knows that the more Beatles songs your kids can sing, the better parent you are. It's a proven fact. Hell, even my Grandkids know a zillion Beatles songs.


SATURDAY & SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4 & 5

Austin Celtic Festival
Fiesta Gardens / 2101 Bergman / 11 am - 9 pm (family)
Music, dancing, crafts, games, men in kilts. Yup, something for everyone. Frankie Gavin will be here, as will James Keane, Dervish, the Prodigals, plus tons of local talent like Cluan, Mundi, Silver Thistles and more, more, more. Rain or shine!

Ticket Give-Away: I happen to have in my possession a pair of tickets good for either Saturday or Sunday -- AND there's a raffle ticket attached, so win the tickets and you may even win the raffle (but no guarantees about that; it's just a possibility, that's all). So how do you win the tickets? Be the first person to click on 'comments' below and tell me what animal that occurs in many of the Irish myths was originally used in warfare (trained to drag soldiers out of chariots and off horses), used as a hunting animal, and then nearly became extinct? Easy peasy!


SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5

Don Walser Memorial Fund Benefit
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189 / 4-9 pm (family)
Please support the Walser family during their time of grieving and huge expenses. There will be great music all afternoon/evening by The Pure Texas Band; Texas Swing Kings; Jon Emory; and many guests sitting in. If you can’t make to the show or you just want to donate to the fund by mail, here’s the info -- Donations to off-set medical and funeral expenses can be made to: (donations are not tax deductible)

Don Walser Memorial Fund
P.O. Box 90306
Austin, TX 78709-0306

Monster Big Band
Ruta Maya / 3601 S. Congress; 707-9637 / 7 pm; $6 & 7 (family)
This is another one of those occasional Sunday evening dances that is family friendly and way too much fun.

Texas Swing Kings
Artz Ribhouse / 2230 S. Lamar; 442-8283 / 6:45 pm (family)
If you don't get enough of the Swing Kings at the Don Walser benefit, you can catch them again at Artz.

Heybale!
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 10:30 pm


MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6

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 7

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

DJd Swing Dance
The Fed / 24th at San Gabriel / 9:45 / no cover
Free dance after Four on the Floor’s classes.

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


WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8

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

Gulf Coast Playboys
La Palapa /Hwy 290 @ Cameron Road / 7:30 pm

Broken Spoke 43rd Birthday Dance
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189 / no cover
I'm older than the Broken Spoke?!?!?!?! Dang!!!!! I hope I don't look as 'distressed' as it does!


ROAD TRIPS

New Braunfels, TX
FRIDAY - SUNDAY, NOV 3-12
Wurstfest
Oompa oompa, it's that time of year again. This would be an excellent choice for your pre-holiday aerobics overkill. All ya gotta do is polka till you drop.

Kendalia, TX
SATURDAY, NOV 4
Zydeco Blanco
Kendalia Hall / 8 miles south of Blanco on RM 473/ 8 pm
OK, I don't normally do this, but the invitation to this event is so clever, I want to share it in its entirety.

Hey everybody!
And all Y'all!
We're playin' near Blanco
At Kendalia Halle!

This place was put up
In nineteen-oh-three
In Kendalia, Texas
R.M. four-seven-three

From Blanco go south
Eight miles on two-eight-one
Then seven miles west
Till you hear all the fun

Two thousand square feet
Of hardwood dance floor
Gave spring to the step
Of dancers of yore

By horse and by buggy
They got themselves here
By Ford and by Chevy
You come and you'll hear

Zydeco Blanco
Playin old dance tunes
Come early and dance
Till she starts to swoon.

It ain't nothing but
a big ol' party,y'all!


COMING SOON

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11
Art Party
Art Amici / 78 San Marcos / 8 till late; $10-$40
You guys need to know about this one. My pals at Yellowtape Construction Company are throwing a party complete with dinner, wine, art auction, performance art and live music. I will be helping them out in the role of 'Gracious Hostess' (or possibly 'Restroom Attendant'), so come help me support them. Those of you who have seen their work know that they are THE up and coming arts company in Austin.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11
Veteran's Day Dinner Dance
Commerative Air Force Hangar / San Marcos Airport / 6:30 pm; $30 (includes dinner)
The fabulous Sentimental Journey Orchestra will be playing for this one, so you know it will be good. Click link above for full details.

See ya on the dance floor,

Chris