Public Notice

"Buy locally; give thoughtfully," we say. Here are a few items for sale and the proceeds of which will benefit some cool concerns.

The Volunteer Services Council of the Austin State Hospital is offering Patient Art Note Cards, assortments of eight brightly and wildly colored cards with envelopes for the holiday season. Sets sell for $10 per box, or $12 by mail. Make checks payable to ASH VSC and mail to: 4110 Guadalupe, 78751-4296. Or call the Community Relations Department. ASH is also looking for folks to help them gift wrap presents for their clients, Wed-Thu, Dec 16-17, 9am-4pm. 419-2330.

This weekend, the American Friends Service Committee and Colores de Pueblo will hold their Annual Holiday Sale of Latin American Handicrafts -- jewelry, hand-woven clothing, musical instruments, baskets, ceramics, ornaments -- from craft co-ops in Central and South America. Come on out to the Friends Meeting House, 3014 Washington Sq, one block west of Guadalupe & 31st, Sat, Dec 5, 9am-6pm. 474-2399.

Bikes Not Bombs and Ruta Maya have compiled the CD Por Estos Pies Que Aun Caminaran Mucho ... (For the Feet of Those Who Have a Long Way to Walk ...)" to benefit refugees and children in the heart of the struggle in Chiapas, Mexico. The CD features a slew of artists, including locals Roots-n-Wisdom and is available for $14 at Ruta Maya Coffee House on Fourth Street. Elsewhere in town -- specifically Tower, Waterloo, Wheatsville, Local Flavor, Las Manitas, Guoi-Guoi Restaurant, Mr. Natural -- the CD goes for $15. 472-9637 or 926-4725.

Next week, Sat, Dec 19, 9am-1pm, you can go to 2606 Lazy Oak and join ALLGO/Informa-Sida for their annual Tamalada and learn the fine art of making tamales! All supplies will be provided, so just bring yourself and your gift list. 472-2001.

If you plan on giving the kid in your life a new coat for the holidays, consider donating the one that no longer fits them to Coats for Kids. The Junior League coat drive runs now through Fri, Dec 11. Volunteers will distribute the coats to eligible kids Sat, Dec 12 at City Coliseum. 347-2305.

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Save Some for New Year's

Careful, there, pard'ner. We know you love to tie one on for a good cause, but hey, save some for us. We guarantee that if you go to all of these shindigs, that you will be too pooped to party for the holidays. Don't look at us to preach moderation; you watch out for yours, we'll watch out for ours.

• Austin's finest show that wimp Ewan MacGregor and all those poofy Velvet Goldmine types how to rock like a hypnotized chicken, like an idiot, like a naughty little doggy. The Pocket FishRmen, Handful, Jesus Christ Superfly, Bigfoot Chester, the Shindigs, and more will hoot their little hearts out for Blue Santa at the Hole in the Wall's third annual Iggy Pop/Stooges Hoot Night, Sat, Dec 5, 9pm. Bring a new toy or $5. 472-5599.
• Speaking of tribute hoots, Undercover, that local drag variety show, will don their pecs and sideburns again, as they tackle Garth Brooks, Elvis, Springsteen, Santa Claus, and more, at a Variety Benefit Drag Show for Special Olympics, Sat, Dec 5 and Sat, Dec 12, 8pm at Tropical Heat Cafe, 900 E. Braker. 990-5404.
• Here's a damn fine reason to celebrate: Tish Hinojosa and Patrice Pike will headline the Victory Bash celebrating the demise of the Sierra Blanca Nuclear Waste Dump, Sun, Dec 6,
• 7-10pm at Stubb's BBQ. Tickets are $10 with all proceeds going to keep the Sierra Blanca Defense Fund going to keep Texas nuke-free. 472-0855.
• The Confederation of Indigenous Elders & Priests of America are holding a Benefit Concert featuring East Babylon Symphony, Correo Aereo, and the Gypsies, Tue, Dec 8, 8pm, also at Stubb's BBQ. The $$ will be used to hold a Third Gathering of Elders of 750 tribes of indigenous South, Central, and North Americans in the spring of 1999. 443-4506.
• Don't forget: This Sat, Dec 5, 8pm-12:30am is Holiday Swing at the Ben Hur Shrine Ballroom, 4300 Westbank to benefit Project Transitions. 454-8646.

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Holi-dazed

Your pals here at "Public Notice" sure hope you are taking some time for yourself during this mad, mad, mad, mad holiday season. Things seem to gear up and get going earlier and earlier every year, no?

For the holidays, we will again be running our happy Holiday Wish Lists for our local public service organizations. The list is almost totally compiled. If for some reason, you have not yet received a phone call, please feel free to contact Mary Sledd here at the Chronicle to get your organization included.

So have a safe and happy, okay? 454-5766.