My plant is confused

November 15-21

Oh no! My Christmas cactus is blooming early this year. It obviously went to the store the day after Halloween and saw the decorations up and then went into a panic, thinking it was late.

True confession time: I am not a plant-friendly person. Some people have a green thumb. Mine is most decidedly black. However, there are four plants in my office that have somehow mananged to survive in spite of my ineptitude, and this Christmas cactus is one of them. It was a (Christmas) gift from a co-worker several years ago. Maybe it's out of respect for my co-worker that this one continues to grow, bloom, and (dare I say it?) thrive. In any case, it adds a lovely touch of color to an otherwise rather drab institutional office. And I won't tell it that it's early this year. That will be our little secret. Shhhhhhhh.

And now, for your listening pleasure....Those Darn Harmonicas!

Thursday, November 15

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

Bereket (aka UT Middle Eastern Ensemble)
Jessen Auditorium / Rainey Hall (21st St. next to Littlefield Fountain); 471-5401 / 8 pm; free (family)
The end of the semester is approaching (just ask my Christmas cactus if you don't believe me), so look for several FREE international music concerts performed by UT ensembles this week and after Thanksgiving. Keep reading for more.

Glovertango
Lambert’s / 401 W. 2nd; 494-1500 / 7 pm

The Fabs
Guero’s / 1412 S. Congress; 447-7688 / 6:30 pm (family)

Elana James
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 6:30 pm

Jesse Dayton
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189 / 9 pm

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

The Brew
Copa / 217 Congress Ave. / Austin, TX / 479-5002 / 10 pm

Jim Stringer's AM Band
Ginny’s Little Longhorn / 5434 Burnet Road; 458-1813 / 9 pm

DJd Swing Dance
The Fed / 24th at San Gabriel / 8 pm
This will be an extra special, extra huge dance because it's the night before the Austin Lindy Exchange, a weekend of dancing, workshops and fun. I understand that registration is now closed the the event, but you can still attend the nightly dances, woo hoo.

Friday, November 16

UT Mariachi & Carribbean Ensembles
Recital Studio / MRH 2.608 (behind Bass Concert Hall); 471-5401 / 8 pm; free (family)

La Nueva Onda
Ruta Maya / 3601 S. Congress; 707-9637 / 9:30 pm
Live music by four stellar Latin bands: Gina Chavez; El Tule; Cerronato; and Latin at Heart.

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

White Ghost Shivers; Seth Walker
The Fed / 24th at San Gabriel / 9 pm

Texas Swing Kings
Patsy’s Cowgirl Café / 5001 E. Ben White; 444-2020 / 8 pm

Two Hoots & a Holler
Jovita’s / 1619 S. 1st, 447-7825 / 8 pm (family)

Paris 49
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 6:30 pm (family)

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


Friday-Sunday, November 16-18

Footprints
Helm Fine Arts Center / St. Stephen's Episcopal School; 2900 Bunny Run / 8 pm (Fri & Sat); 2 pm (Sat & Sun); $15 (family)
Well this certainly sounds interesting. It's a collaborative effort between Tapestry Dance Company and Indian classical dancer Anardha Naimpally with live music by Atash.


Saturday, November 17

Third Saturday Contra Dance
St. Paul Lutheran Fellowship Hall / 3501 Red River / 8 pm; $5 & $7
Live music by Mockingbird.512-453-8936, or e-mail croth@austin.rr.com for more info.

Roger Wallace
Ginny’s Little Longhorn / 5434 Burnet Road; 458-1813

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

Aradhna
Hogg Auditorium / 24th at Guadalupe / 7 pm; FREE (family)
Wow! Check out their myspace page; give 'em a listen and then show up for this free show. And might I recommend dinner first at a relatively new Indian restaurant called India Kitchen, located at 2410 E. Riverside. Best dang Indian food I've found in Austin, mmmmm. (And just say YES to their mango lassi.)

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

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

Texana Dames; Jon Emery
Patsy’s Cowgirl Café / 5001 E. Ben White; 444-2020 / 4 pm; 8 pm (family)

Paris 49; Kris Kamura Quartet
The Fed / 24th at San Gabriel / 9:30 pm
More great dancing at the Lindy Exchange.


Sunday, November 18

Mundi
St. Michael's Episcopal Church / 1500 N. Cap of Tx Hwy / 3 pm; $10 (family)
One more chance to hear Mundi's 'Journey to Innisfree' concert, featuring lovely Celtic music with guest singer Erin Bobruk.

Marshall Ford Swing Band
Momo’s / 618 W. 6th; 479-8848
I'm not sure what time they get started, so give 'em a call.

Texas Swing Kings; Bert Rivera & the Ramblers
Artz Ribhouse / 2230 S. Lamar; 442-8283 / 6:30 pm (family)
Nice little double bill here.

Ted Roddy & The Backwoods Hipsters
Guero’s / 1412 S. Congress; 447-7688 / 3 pm (family)

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


Monday, November 19

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

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


Tuesday, November 20

Planet Casper
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 6:30 pm; $5

Dean Bob Sinatra & the Swang Thang
Belmont / 305 W. 6th / 457-0300 / 7 pm

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

Dr. Zog
Alligator Grill / 3003 South Lamar; 444-6117 / 6 pm

Jitterbug Vipers
Lambert’s / 401 W. 2nd; 494-1500 / 6:30 pm


Wednesday, November 21

Denia Ridley & Marc Devine
Reed’s Jazz Club / 9901 Cap of TX Hwy; 342-7977 / 7:00 pm

Erik Hokkanan
Lambert’s / 401 W. 2nd; 494-1500 / 7 pm

Mr. Fabulous & Casino Royale
Belmont / 305 W. 6th / 457-0300 / 6:30 pm


ROAD TRIPS

Uhland, TX
Saturday, November 17
Ricky Calmbach
Club 21 /downtown Uhland
For those of you who have never been, this is the PERFECT time of year for a drive out to Uhland. When you get into the "city" limits, you'll see one of those portable yellow blinky signs with an arrow. Turn at the sign and voila. There you are.

Elgin, TX
Sunday, November 19
Donnie Warva Band
Elgin SPJST Hall / 702 Hwy 95 in Elgin; 512-285-3100
Is there anything better than a Sunday afternoon polka dance?


COMING SOON

Opens November 29:
The Ultimate Christmas Musical: The Musical
Salvage Vanguard Theatre / 2803 Manor Road / 8 pm; $15
Believe me, this is NOT your grandfather's Christmas musical!!!! You can trust me on this one. It will run Thursdays - Saturdays through Dec 22.

Friday, November 30
Tangos
One World Theatre / 7701 Bee Caves; 32-WORLD / 7 & 9:30 pm


see ya on the dance floor,

chris