My week was so full of a number of things...

February 28-March 5

What a week it's been. First of all, Betty's Summer Vacation got off to a rioutously funny start. That's always a relief -- when comedy is funny. Then.... I went to an estate sale and found myself a hat that once belonged to Ann Richards. How cool is THAT! The hat looks sort of like a two-layer cake covered in 7-minute frosting, only made of straw. I don't know how she got it over her big hair, but what the hey. I now have a new bad-hair-day hat. And... on Monday I pretended I was a college professor and substituted for an ACC instructor who'd had surgery. I was a little nervous about that, but it went surprisingly well. Also on Monday I got hired to do the costumes for ACC's next play, Robert Johnson: Trick the Devil. Does that sound like fun or WHAT! On Tuesday I went back to the endodontist who had done my root canal because -- silly me -- I was under the impression that after a root canal the tooth would stop hurting. Boy, was I wrong! Had an audition on Tuesday evening, and that went well (got a call back, woo hoo), and, And, AND..... I got a nap on Wednesday, which was probably the highlight of my week!

So now I'm just about ready for the weekend, only Mr. Ben is going to be in DC, so I'll be on my own. That means probably getting caught up on laundry and practicing the bassoon a lot. Ain't we got fun?

It's video time. Proof that humans are not the only dancers on the planet. Enjoy.



Thursday, February 28

Lucky Strikes
Treehouse Italian Grill / 2201 College Ave; 443-4200/ 7:30 pm

Johnny Gimble
Guero’s / 1412 S. Congress; 447-7688 / 6:30 pm

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

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

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

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


Friday, February 29

Happy LEAP DAY!

Quebe Sisters
Lambert's / 401 W. 2nd; 494-1500 / 6:30 pm
Don't miss these cuties. Amazingly talented young ladies worth seeing for sure, for sure!

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

Irish Winter Night
Cactus Cafe / Texas Union Bldg; 23rd at Guadalupe / 8 pm; $15
This wonderful Celtic event will feature the Brock McGuire Band, with Jeff Moore opening.

Austin Swing All Stars
Austin UpTown Dance North / 8868 Research Blvd / 8 pm; $7-$10.
Beginning swing/Charleston lesson at 8:15; live music starts at 9:00.

The Derailers
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar / 9 pm

James Hand
The Oaks / 10206 FM 973 N, Manor; 278-8788

Billy Dee
Ginny’s Little Longhorn / 5434 Burnet Road; 458-1813 / 9 pm

The Eggmen
Hanover's Draught Haus / 108 E. Main (Pflugerville) / 10 pm


Friday - Sunday, Feb 29 - Mar 2

Betty's Summer Vacation
ACC Rio Grande Campus Main Stage / 1212 Red River / 8 pm Fri & Sat; 2 pm Sun.
Not recommended for the youngsters. But us not-so-youngsters will LOVE it! See you there? I'll be there opening night and on Saturday, too, as there are some folks coming in from out of town to see it.






Saturday, March 1

Explore UT
All over UT campus / 11am - 5 pm (family)
Everything from hands-on science experiments to live music and dancing. Click the link for the full schedule. Take a few minutes to plan your day because there's tons and tons and tons of stuff for you and the kids to do.

Cornell Hurd Band
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189 / 9 pm

DJd Milonga
Esquina Tango / 209 Pedernales; 524-2772 /8:30 pm
This evening of social tango dancing will be a fund-raiser for KOOP radio.

Quebe Sisters
Central Market / 4001 N. Lamar; 206-1000 / 6:30 pm
What a treat! These three young ladies are amazing fiddlers AND singers, performing Texas Swing the old fashioned way.

Jon Emery
Patsy's Cowgirl Cafe / 5501 E. Ben White; 444-2020 / 8 pm

Marshall Ford Swing Band
Lambert's / 401 W. 2nd; 494-1500 / 6:30 pm

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

James Hand
Ginny’s Little Longhorn / 5434 Burnet Road; 458-1813 / 9 pm


Saturday & Sunday, Mar 1 & 2

Texas State Arts Festival
Across the street from the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum / MLK at Congress / 10 am - 7 pm Sat; 10 am - 6 pm Sun; $5; kids under 12 free (family)
This celebration of Texas Independence Day will feature such bands as That Damned Band (one of my newer favorites), Carolyn Wonderland, Cerronato, Grupo Fantasma and many more.


Sunday, March 2

Texas Swing Kings
Art Ribhouse / 2330 S. Lamar / 6:30 pm (family)

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

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


Monday, March 3

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

Charles Thibodeaux & the Austin Cajun Aces
Evangeline Café / 8106 Brodie Lane; 282-2586 / 6:30 pm (family)


Tuesday, March 4

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

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

Dale Watson (aka Dean Bob Sinatra & Swang Thang)
Belmont / 305 W. 6th; 457-0300 / 6:30 pm


Wednesday, March 5

Erik Hokkanen's Gypsy Tribe
Lambert’s / 401 W. 2nd; 494-1500 / 6:30 pm

The Brew
Speakeasy / 412 Congress; 476-8017 / 9:30 pm

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

Roger Wallace
Ginny's Little Longhorn / 5434 Burnet Road; 458-1813 / 9 pm


ROAD TRIPS

Dallas, TX
Friday - Sunday, Feb 29-March 2
North Texas Irish Festival
Texas State Fair Grounds, Dallas
One word that makes it worth the trip: Altan. Simply THE best Irish band in existence. All the rest is icing on the cake -- and pretty darn tasty icing at that: The Battlefield Band will be there (waaaaaay excellent!); Brock McGuire; Brother and lots, lots more.

Granger, TX
Saturday, March 1
Ricky Calmbach
Cotton Club / 212 E. Davila; 512-859-0700/ 9 pm


COMING SOON

Sunday, March 9
Birthday Party Extravaganza
Buckholts SPSTJ Hall / TX 36 (US 190) in Buckholts, TX / 3-6:30 pm
That's right folks. You're invited to the coolest birthday party and field trip ever. The Chris Rybak Band will be playing, there's a huge, wonderful dance floor, AND... there will be cake. If you have a birthday in March, it's your party,too!

see ya on the dance floor,

chris