What day is it anyway!

March 27-April 2

Wow, here it is Thursday morning and I never even realized it was time to write the list till about 11 last night. I'm working on the costumes for Robert Johnson: Trick the Devil, and even though the cast is small, it's a huge amount of work. I'm not complaining, mind you. Much of the work is done in thrift stores and vintage shops, two of my all time favorite work places. Then in the evenings I sit in front of my sewing machine, doing alterations or creating stuff from pictures. Who would have thought that that home ec class I took in high school would finally pay off? But there I sit, almost knowing what I'm doing! What fun!!!

But it does make time go away, and I almost hit the panic button last night when I went to turn off my computer (where I had been researching aprons from the 1930s) and I realized that (1) I hadn't written the list the week, yoiks; and (2) I was too tired to do it last night.

So. Maybe it will be a little late today, or a little skimpy. But here it is.

Somebody sent me this video last week, and it's simply too bizarre not to share. I learned the term 'uncanny valley' which totally applies to this, but I'm still not sure how to use the term correctly: I had an uncanny valley? This video is about an uncanney valley? This video made me uncanny valley all over myself? I'm not sure, but I do expect that you'll respond similarly. Enjoy.

Thursday, March 27

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

Cornell Hurd Band
Jovita’s / 1619 S. 1st; 447-7825 / 8 pm

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

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

DJd Milonga
Copa / 217 Congress Ave. / Austin, TX / 479-5002 / 10 pm

Dale Watson
Ginny’s Little Longhorn / 5434 Burnet Road; 458-1813 / 9 pm

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


Friday, March 28

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

Party with a Purpose
Spiros / 611 Red River / 8 pm; $7
This party, featuring the Latin sounds of Cerronato, Signos, and DJEBlo, will be a fundraiser for Los Monologos de la Vagina (one of my favorite projects) and Arte Sana.

Marshall Ford Swing Band
Uptown Dance - North / 8868 Research / 9 pm; $7-10
There will be a beginning swing & Charleston class at 8:15, so come early if you need to brush up on your basics (always a good thing to do).

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


Fridays-Sundays, March 28-April 6

Collexiones: Aztlan Dance Stories
Santa Cruz Center for Culture / 1805 E. 7th / 474-TIXS / 8 pm Fri & Sat; 2 pm Sun (family)
This is the newest offering from Aztlan Dance Company. Looks kind of interesting: there will be two "stories" -- the first explores a pre-Columbian myth, and the second one is called "Salon Boogaloo", which I would interpret as most decidedly post-Columbian.


Saturday, March 29

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

Jean Pierre & The Zydeco Angels
Nutty Brown / 1222 US 290 S.; 301-4648 / 6 pm; no cover (family)
This is Nutty Brown's 5th annual crawfish boil, and they've got 1000 pounds of mudbugs for your delectation, mmmmmm.

AIFD Open House
Hancock Rec Center / 41st at Red River / 7:30 pm
Austin International Folk Dancers invites you to come learn dances from around the world at their Spring open house. And I can say with absolute confidence that the open-house-snack-table is always yummy, mmmmmmm.

Saturday & Sunday, March 29 & 30

Zilker Garden Festival
Zilker Botanical Gardens / 2222 Barton Springs / 10am - 5 pm (family)
Lots of activites, flower shows, kids stuff, food and music by such folks as the Texana Dames, Zydeco Blanco, Bells of Joy, Austin Chamber Ensemble and more, more, more. Click the link for all the details.


Sunday, March 23

Dance in the Park
Zilker Hillside Theatre / 1-5 pm
This annual spring contra dance event is hoping (1) that it doesn't rain; and (2) that you will join them for dancing to live music by the Barton Spring SallemanderS. drempert@ix.netcom.com for more info.

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

Heybale!
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 10 pm; $7


Monday, March 24

Uptown Swingsters; Dale Watson
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 6:30 pm (no cover); 10:30 pm ($7)

Charles Thibodeaux & The Austin Cajun Aces
Evangeline Cafe / 8106 Brodie Lane; 282-2596 / 6:30 pm

Elizabeth McQueen & the Firebrands
Carousel Lounge / 1110 E. 52nd, 452-6790
I'm not sure what time, so give 'em a call.


Tuesday, March 25

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

Dale Watson
The Belmont / 305 W. 6th; 457-0300 / 7 pm

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

DJd Swing Dance
The Fed / 24th at San Gabriel / 9:40 pm
This is the weekly FREE dance after Four on the Floor's lessons.


Wednesday, March 26

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

Lucky Strikes
Joe DiMaggio's / 11410 Century Oaks Terrace (The Domain) / 7 pm
The manager is trying to make Wednesday 'Swing Night' by hiring live musicians and clearing out tables for dancers. This appears to be a good replacement for Reed's.

Hot Club of Cowtown
Continental Club / 1315 S. Congress; 441-2444 / 6:30 pm

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

Dale Watson
Broken Spoke / 3201 S. Lamar; 442-6189 / 8:30 pm

Roger Wallace
Ginny’s Little Longhorn / 5434 Burnet Rd; 458-1813 / 9 pm

Road Trips

Gruene, TX
Friday, March 28
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Gruene Hall / 1281 Gruene; 830-606-1281
Yup, you read that right. I don't know what to say.



Coming Soon

Thursday, April 3 - Sunday, April 13
Cult of Color: Call to Color
Austin Ventures Studio Theatre / 501 W. 3rd
This collaboration between Ballet Austin's choreographer Stephen Mills, visual artist Trenton Doyle Hancock, and composer Graham Reynolds looks like total, TOTAL fun. Be sure to click the link and check out the website. If the performance is as cool as the website, then we're all in for a treat! And be honest -- don't you want to see this little guy dance? I know I do!


Saturday, April 5
Louisiana Swamp Thing and Crawfish Festival
18th & Congress / 10 am - 10:30 pm; $15/kids under 8 free (family)
Zydeco dance lessons at 1 & 3 pm and all the music (and crawfish) you can say grace over. Cedryl Ballou & The Zydeco Trendsetters; Chief Kevin; Marcus Ardoin & The Zydeco legendz; Brian Jack & the Zydeco Gamblers, and that all time favorite -- MORE. Click the link for the full line-up.

See ya on the dance floor,

chris