Public Notice

Whoa! Check out this weekend of festivities! First off, we must choke back the tears as we convey the sad, sad news that our radical upstart mommy group, Cricket Farm, is moving away. Well, chin up, tut-tut, stiff upper lip, and all that. It's no time for blubbering; it's time to party! Pheran's 6th B'day Extravaganza & Going Away to New Orleans to Stay, this Sat, Jan 22, 6pm at 1194 Comal, is a fundraiser for the group's trip. In addition to raising some scratch, the mamas will be passing the torch to hearty, hardy folks to continue on with their noble grassroots efforts (like the Ramirez Protest and the Free Skool, for e.g. ...). Come listen to tunage by Buttahfly, Terry, Satan & Andy, Liza Ramada, Kale Kolloch, Funny Ha Ha, words by Cunt author Inga Muscio, and witness a Performance of Flames (including some of those travelling fire girls and Tan Tien types ...). Bald-headed Cricket honcho Sherry Milam sez, "It's $5, OBO!" 479-7426. Dig it: the Green Corn Project and the 25-years-young Austin Community Gardens invite you to learn about a sustainable gardening technique called "double-digging" at their Digging It! A Biointensive Gardening Basic Workshop, Sat, Jan 22, 9am-noon at Sunshine Gardens, 4814 Sunshine. There's a $20/sliding-scale fee; volunteer some time toward either the project or gardens and get in free. A second workshop will be held Sat, Feb 5, same time, same place. 833-7446 or 458-2009. D'oh! We screwed up. Last week we told you all about Austin's Yellow Bike Project (YBP) and their pending (re)Cycled Bike Conference, happening this weekend, Fri-Mon, Jan 21-24. You know the Yellow Bikers, don'tcha? They're the folks who collect and refurbish donated bikes, paint them yellow, and place them in the streets for free public use. We called them "Sisyphus with pedals," remember? Well, we told you that YBP is throwing a (re)Cycled Bike Conference, this weekend, Fri-Mon, Jan 21-24. Workshops will cover grant writing, fundraising, bike mechanics, welding, recycling parts, youth bike programs, and more. There will also be a film festival, a group ride, and, on Sunday, a YBP Birthday Celebration. (Happy Third Birthday!) What we neglected to pass along was the ever important where. The conference and daytime part of the b'day party (noon-5pm) are happening at YBP Central, 1182 Hargrave. The evening portion of the YBP Sunday party is happening at that happenin' hub of happenings Gaby & Mo's, 1809 Manor, at 8:30pm. Come enjoy the cycle of camaraderie as well as the groovy grooves of Amberjack Rice the Band, Deep Sombreros, Stickpony, Ten Speed, Kale, Danny, and the Radical Cheerleaders. austinyellowbike@juno.com or 440-0471.East Communities Branch YMCA announces its Grand Opening this Sat, Jan 22, 11:30am at 5315 Ed Bluestein, at 183 & E. 51st. The Dedication Ceremony of the new facility will feature guided tours, food, entertainment, games, and even pony rides. 933-9622.

The next Laydeez Nite (née Hip Hop for Laydeez) benefit soiree isn't until Sat, Feb 19, at Gaby & Mo's, but there's no reason not to start looking for some foxy plumage now. 481-0647.