Christmas Dragon on the Loose

December 13-19

The dragon makes its debut tonight, woo hoo! This is the night we do the pubcrawl, and you're invited to join us, throw money at us, buy us beer, or just laugh and enjoy the show. Keep reading for all the details.

And tomorrow is the night the local Christmas bazaars open their doors for shopping and live music. Tomorrow also happens to be the day I finally get up into the attic and find all my Christmas stuff and bring it downstairs so the house can be pretty.

I do not decorate my house like the one in this video.


Christmas Lights Gone WIld

Thursday, December 6

Pratts Bottom Mummers Annual Pub Crawl
Various Venues/ Various times
One night only! See St. George slay the (singing) dragon. FOUR TIMES! Yes, THE dragon you've heard so much about. It SINGS! In HARMONY with itself. So this is what you do -- (a) join us on our appointed rounds as we deliver English style hilarity to various pubs in Austin; or (b) pick one and meet us there. We love having friends in the audience. Times are approximate, but here's the sched:
8 pm Dog & Duck Pub, 406 W. 17th
8:30 pm Mother Egan's, 715 W. 6th
9 pm Lovejoy's, 604 Neches
10 pm The Draught House (formerly known as the Draught Horse), 4112 Medical Parkway

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

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

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

That Damned Band
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 10 pm
Hey, how cool is this. You know that Hannukah party I went to last week? It was at That Damned Band's house! These guys play some great Eastern Europeanish tunes. Check 'em out!

Solomon Douglas' Orchestra
The Fed / 24th at San Gabriel / 8 pm
It's time to dig out the fancy duds for the Winter Formal sponsored by Austin Swing Syndicate.


Thru Dec 22

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 thru Dec 22. Recommended for ages 14 and over.


Friday, December 14

Brave Combo Holiday Dance Party
Jovita’s / 1619 S. 1st, 447-7825 / 9:30 pm
I guess you know where I'll be on Friday night, eh?

Flying Balalaika Brothers
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 6:30 pm (family)

Austin Lounge Lizards
Cactus Cafe / Texas Union Bldg; 23rd at Guadalupe; 475-6515 / 8:30 pm; $18

DJd Milonga
La Tazza Fresca / 519 W. 37th (at Guadalupe) / 9 pm

Jimmy LaFave
Armadillo Christmas Bazaar / Austin Convention Center Exhibit Hall 2 / 8 pm (family)
Yup, the Armadillo starts this weekend, and I'm told by Those Who Know that the new venue has adequate dance space, woo hoo!

Dance Lab; Dimitri's Ascent; Topaz
Keep Austin Bizarre / Palmer Auditorium; 1st at Riverside / 5:30; 7:30; 9:30 pm (family)
There's no reason on earth you need ever set foot inside a shopping mall with these fabulous alternative shopping opportunities!


Saturday, December 15

Albert & Gage Band
Donn’s Depot / 1600 W. 5^th; 478-0336 / 9 pm

The Resentments; Terri Hendrix; Eliza Gilkyson
Armadillo Christmas Bazaar / Austin Convention Center Exhibit Hall 2 / 12:30; 3:30; 8:00 pm (family)

Soniquete; The Blue Hit; Raina Rose; Tribal Moon Dance; White Ghost Shivers
Keep Austin Bizarre / Palmer Auditorium; 1st at Riverside / 12:00; 3:00; 5:30; 7:30; 9:30 pm (family)

3rd Saturday Holiday Contra Dance
St. Paul Lutheran Fellowship Hall / 3501 Red River / 8 pm; $8 Live music by Perfect 5th. 453-8936 or croth@austin.rr.com for more info.

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

Texana Dames; Jim Stringer's AM Band
Patsy's Cowgirl Cafe / 5501 E. Ben White; 444-2020 / 4 pm; 8 pm (family)


Sunday, December 16

Wassail 2007
Ceremony Hall, Sri Atmananda School / 4100 Red River / 6 pm (family)
A chaos of mummers, music, magic and morris dancing. And a whole lot more. With a special appearance by St. George (the one from Crawford) and the Singing Dragon!!!!! Yes, indeed. The dragon is finished, woo hoo! It's gonna be a GREAT show! Super family friendly. And proceeds go to Kids for Kids, a charity organization helping out children in the Darfur region of the Sudan.

Rumbullion
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 12:30 pm (family)

Dale Watson
Ginny’s Little Longhorn / 5434 Burnet Road; 458-1813 / 4 pm

James Hand
Jovita's / 1619 S. 1^st; 447-7825 / 8:00 pm (family)

Cyril Neville; Marsha Ball's Pianorama; WC Clark
Armadillo Christmas Bazaar / Austin Convention Center Exhibit Hall 2 /12:30; 3:30; 8:00 pm (family)

Magical Michael; The Eggmen; Harry Bodine; Bruce Balmer; Patrice Pike
Keep Austin Bizarre / Palmer Auditorium; 1st at Riverside / 12:00; 3:00; 5:30; 7:30; 9:30 pm (family)

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


Monday, December 17

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

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

Austin Lounge Lizards
Armadillo Christmas Bazaar / Austin Convention Center Exhibit Hall 2 / 8 pm (family)
It's just not Christmas without a little holiday sacrilege from the Lizards.

The Washingtons; Papa Mali
Keep Austin Bizarre / Palmer Auditorium; 1st at Riverside / 7:30; 9:30 pm (family)


Tuesday, December 11

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

Ray Benson
Armadillo Christmas Bazaar / Austin Convention Center Exhibit Hall 2 / 8 pm (family)

Earth Tone Players; Carolyn Wonderland
Keep Austin Bizarre / Palmer Auditorium; 1st at Riverside / 7:30; 9:30 pm (family)

Wednesday, November 12

Ray Wylie Hubbard
Armadillo Christmas Bazaar / Austin Convention Center Exhibit Hall 2 / 8 pm (family)

Denim; The Belleville Outfit
Keep Austin Bizarre / Palmer Auditorium; 1st at Riverside / 7:30; 9:30 pm (family)

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

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


ROAD TRIPS

Who's got time for a road trip?!?!?!??!


COMING SOON


Thursday, December 20
Celtic Christmas at the Cathedral
St. Mary's Cathedral / 10th & Brazos / 8 pm; $22 at Things Celtic; $19 online (family)
Local and international celtic artists; Irish dancers; bagpipes; Schola Cantorum of St. Mary's. Not to be irreverent, but Mr. Ben and I were having a conversation last night about how cold it must get under a kilt. Do things get chafed? Does one wear long johns? Can some of you kilt wearers help me out here? Inquiring minds want to know.

see ya on the dance floor,

chris