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Austin Pets Alive Fundraiser With Hops & Grain

Puppies and pints for life! 5-10pm. Free.

In.gredients, 2610 Manor Rd., 512/275-6357

www.facebook.com/events/144032795779241

Austin Sustainable Swap

Bring the bounty from your garden or a craft you made, or just offer your services to folks in exchange for something you want or need. It's bartering at its best to keep waste at a minimum. Untraded items can be donated to local nonprofits. Third Saturdays of the month, noon-4pm. Free.

Hot Mama's Espresso Bar, 2401 E. Sixth, 512/476-6262

hotmamasaustin.blogspot.com

Bamboo Grove Grooming

It's all pretty bamboo until it starts taking over your yard. Learn to keep it at bay and looking good. Bring hand clippers, loppers, saws, gloves, and a beverage. Sat., May 18, 10am-1pm. Free.

Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Rd., 906-8250

www.bamboocentral.net

Capitol Ice Cream Social

Did you know it was the Capitol building's quasquicentennial (that's 125 years)? To celebrate there will be free ice cream, live music, and a general appreciation for pink granite. 1-3pm.

Texas State Capitol, 1100 Congress, 512/305-8400

www.tspb.state.tx.us/SPB/Plan/images/capitolwalkingtour_text.pdf

Catholics for Justice in the Church

An independent affiliate of Call To Action, the national Catholic reform movement, meets the third Saturday of each month. 10am-noon.

Little Walnut Creek Library, 835 W. Rundberg, 512/906-1268

tom4peace@austin.rr.com

Central Texas SPCA Community Open House/Reunion

Looking for a new furry friend? The Central Texas SPCA open house will have discounted adoption fees and free micro chipping in celebration on its 25th anniversary. Bring the whole family, CTSPCA adopted dogs included. noon-4pm.

Central Texas SPCA, 909 S. Bagdad, 512/260-7722

www.centraltexasspca.org/open-house25th-anniversary-reunion.html

Cirque du SoLa

Jazz tunes, hoop dancing, free cake, and henna tattoos help to make South Lamar as weird as the rest of this town. 7-11pm. Free.

Irie Bean Coffee Bar, 2310 S. Lamar #102, 512/326-4636

www.iriebean.com

Crawfish & Croquet Benefit Party

All the crawdads you can eat along with croquet, music, a bouncy house, and a lifeguarded pool. All proceeds go to the Capital Area Food Bank. 3-8pm. $25.

Commons Ford Ranch House, 614 Commons Ford Rd.

www.outlawrealty.com

Deborah Madison Book Signing

Cookbook author Deborah Madison will sell and sign copies of her newest book, Vegetable Literacy, at the farmstand on Saturday morning. She will also be glad to sign books purchased elsewhere. 9am-1pm.

Boggy Creek Farm, 3414 Lyons, 512/926-4650

www.boggycreekfarm.com

Maifest at Saengerrunde and Scholz Beer Garden

No passport needed to enjoy an impressive selection of German beers, live music from Brave Combo, plus dinner and dancing. 2-6pm. $15 (with five beer tastings); $15, dinner and dance; $45, VIP with beer, dinner, and dance.

Saengerrunde Hall, 1607 San Jacinto, 512/478-1411

O. Henry Pun-Off

Now in its 35th year, it's time to celebrate the lowest form of groan-up humor with the pros going head to head. 11am.

O. Henry Museum, 409 E. Fifth, 512/472-1903

www.punpunpun.com

Pond & Garden Seminars

Guest speakers and experts share their expertise for the water and land elements of your yard. Saturdays through May 25, 11am & 1pm. Free.

The Emerald Garden, 5700 Hwy. 290 W., 288-5900

Renegade Craft Fair

This annual conflagration of DIY goodness brings hundreds of today’s brightest indie makers from across the Lone Star State and beyond – with hands-on workshops, live music, food, booze, and more. Sat.-Sun., May 18-19, 11am-7pm. Free.

Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd.

www.renegadecraft.com

Spring Festival

The Austin EcoSchool & Growin' Together Hands-On Afterschool Program gets the whole family into the action with live music, crafts, story times, and even an old-school maypole dance. 2-6pm. Free.

Austin EcoSchool, 4105 Manchaca, 512/447-8516

www.austin-ecoschool.org, info@growintogether.org

Spring for Water

Celebrate the clean water movement in Central Texas. Event includes live music, drinks and food, and a silent auction. 6:30-9:30pm. $25.

Amala Foundation, 1006 S. Eighth, 512/476-8884

www.cleanwaterfund.org/tx

Studio 54klift Disco Fundraiser

The question is, how high can you get your platform shoes before they're unsafe to wear when you dance? Forklift Danceworks, with a little help from Rebecca Havemeyer, hosts this fundraiser with enough boogie that you might not even need the open bar to get loose. 8-11:30pm. $50.

Zach Theatre, 1510 Toomey, 512/476-0541

www.forkliftdanceworks.org/studio54klift_2013.html

The Whole Dog

We'll admit to being a bit skeptical of this "experiential holistic dog seminar," but if they can help you communicate with your dog, then who are we to argue? 10am-5pm. $75.

Austin Center for Spiritual Living, 5555 N. Lamar Ste. D-115, 512/333-2228

www.nadiaherrera.com

Travis Garden Volunteer Call & Party

Help get the high school's garden in tip-top shape and get rewarded with a lunch prepared by the Travis High Culinary Program. Email to RSVP. 10am-1pm.

William B. Travis High School, 1211 E. Oltorf, 512/414-7703

heather@ecorise.org

Unity Park Community Garden Open House

Free courses show you how to make your thumb a bit greener. 10am-2pm. Free.

Unity Park Community Garden, 2746 Gattis School Rd., Round Rock

www.nhpnetwork.org/unity-park-cg.html

Yellow Bike Project Birthday

Sixteen years of community cycle awesomeness is celebrated with the help of the Ouiness, Mike & the Soda Jerks, a bike raffle, plus snacks and beer. Keep pedallin' YBP! 6-11:30pm. Free.

Yellow Bike Project Headquarters, 1216 Webberville Rd.

www.austinyellowbike.org

ONGOING

Austin Farmers' Market

features fresh organic produce, meats, and cheeses straight from surrounding Texas farms, plus live music every week. Saturdays, 9am-1pm. Free.

Republic Square Park, 422 Guadalupe, 512/974-6700

www.austinfarmersmarket.org

Barton Creek Farmers Market

Expect local farm-fresh produce that belies its placement in a parking lot. Saturdays, 9am-1pm. Free.

Barton Creek Square, 2901 Capital of TX Hwy. S., 280-1976

www.bartoncreekfarmersmarket.org

Barton Springs Audio Tour

Take a self-guided tour of Austin's favorite swimming hole. All you have to do is download the audio files and map from the Save Our Springs Alliance website, and off you go.

Barton Springs Pool, 2101 Barton Springs Rd., 512/867-3080

www.sosalliance.org

Budget in a Box

How should Austin spend its money? Let city leaders know. Participants will be asked to decide to increase, decrease, or maintain current funding levels for common city services. Accumulated feedback will be taken into consideration as the city develops its proposed 2014 budget this summer.

512/974-2324

www.austintexas.gov/biab

Central Market Cooking School

Whether you need to brush up your knife skills or throw together a romantic Thai dinner for two, these guys have you covered year round with an eclectic array of classes spanning all skill levels.

Central Market North, 4001 N. Lamar, 512/206-1000

www.centralmarket.com/Cooking-School.aspx

Downtown Ghost Tours

offer nooks-and-crannies walking tours that spotlight the dead to bring Austin's history and geography to life. Fri.-Sat., 8pm.

853-9826

www.austinghosttours.com

Emancipet Free Days

This mobile spay/neuter clinic might be in your neighborhood today. Check www.emancipet.org to find out. Fri.-Sat., check-in begins 8am (first come, first served). Free.

587-SPAY

Habitours

Habitat for Humanity now offers free, once-a-month tours of recent and past home-building sites. See how much they've accomplished, and find out what's yet to be done. Call or e-mail to reserve a seat.

Tours begin and end at 310 Comal, 472-8788 x401

snance@ahfh.org

Helping Hands Center

needs strong, dependable males to help load/unload groceries twice monthly.

Helping Hands Center, 1151 San Bernard St., 472-2298

Parks & Rec Lifeguard Recruitment

The city is looking for a few good lifeguards, pool managers, and swim instructors. Call to find out more.

400 Deep Eddy Ave, 512/974-9332

www.austintexas.gov/parks