Best of Austin 2008Readers PollArts & EntertainmentBest Actor/Actress: Barbara Chisholm
We always knew we'd lose her to a more adoring audience. Babs has been a regular contributor to this paper for years, but her true love is the stage. She's certainly carved her place as a grand dame of Austin theatre - perhaps the grand dame since the passing of Karen Kuykendall. Barbara Chisholm is a director's dream in a siren's body. With talent to burn, this effervescent performer has proven to be one of the greats due to her kaleidoscopic roles, driven dedication, and an enduring association with Dave Steakley that showcases her talents like the setting on a Tiffany diamond. 236-0500 www.colliertalent.com/BARBARA.CHISHOLM/chisholm.htm Best Art Gallery: The Blanton Garnering regular awards since 2006, the Blanton has continued its affair with Austin by adding yet another extension to its complex, the Edgar A. Smith Building, home to its new museum shop and cafe (opening Nov. 16). Its collection is vast, and it would take many more buildings to show it all off. As it stands, and as evidenced by this award, Austin has continued its love affair with the Blanton, as well. MLK & Congress, 471-7324 www.blantonmuseum.org Best Clothing Designer: Chia Guillory Another win for this Austin designer and more love from our readers, as Chia snags Best Clothing Designer three years in a row. Chia has established herself as perhaps the most visible of local designers, and her cheap, chic, and simple designs continue to charm her fans and public. Chia is a critical cog in the Austin style machine. 457-9456 www.chiahats.com Best Comedian: Matt Bearden Perfect delivery, flawless audience interaction, biting commentary, and truly interesting anecdotes with hilarious, brilliant payoffs make Matt Bearden the Best Comedian in Austin. And we know it's only a matter of time until he's recognized as one of the best comedians in the country. Until that happens, we'll be front row center at all of his local shows, admiring his sweet, sweet handlebar 'stache. www.mattbearden.com Best Comedy/Improv Troupe: TIE: ColdTowne, Master Pancake Theater, Esther's Follies Lucky Austinites have been riding the resurgence of improv and comedy troupes, and facing this kind of comedic talent, how could you choose just one? Ever since ColdTowne relocated home base from NOLA to AusTex, it's brought the laughs with notable aplomb and genius. Blown out of the creative nostrils of Mr. Sinus Theater, Master Pancake Theater is the newcomer to this category combining heckling, live performance, and film. Esther's Follies has been a longstanding mainstay of Texas and political humor, walking the fine line between faithful favorites and innovative new sketches. Three cheers to these masters of comedic timing – this year, times three. ColdTowne, 4803 Airport, 524-2807; Alamo Drafthouse at the Ritz, 320 E. Sixth, 476-1320; Esther's Follies, 525 E. Sixth, 320-0198 www.coldtowne.com; www.originalalamo.com; www.esthersfollies.com Best Composer: Graham Reynolds The brilliance Reynolds captures in notes and melodies for projects both grand and small has affixed him as an integral lightning rod for so many of Austin's musical endeavors. Whether wearing his Golden Arm Trio hat or lending orchestral magic to reels, live performance, Richard Linklater's A Scanner Darkly, or off-Broadway glory, his inspired multi-instrumentalist approach to composing as a drummer, pianist, bandleader, and collaborator continues to leave audiences awestruck. 3010 E. 14th 1/2, 773-4653 www.grahamreynolds.com Best Dance Company: Ballet Austin They caper, they twirl, they arabesque, they pas de ciseaux and fondue: Ballet Austin expands ballet's vocabulary and Austin's artistic mastery anew each season. Its stark, riveting interpretation of Shakespeare's Hamlet, with music by Philip Glass, is an example of its top-quality innovation in contemporary ballet. 501 W. Third, 476-9051 www.balletaustin.org Best Drag Show: TIE: The United Court of Austin, Charlie's With the likes of Kelly Kline, Jame Perry, Rachel Blackstone, Nadine Hughes, Erica Andrews, and Vanessa Gordon shaking their groove things at Charlie's on Sundays, appearances by the United Court of Austin and its bevy of royal beauties are somewhat rarer … but every bit as entertaining. There is a vibrant drag scene in Austin, and both Charlie's and the United Court of Austin are responsible for a great deal of it. Seek, and ye shall find. Charlie's Austin, 1301 Lavaca, 474-6481; The United Court of Austin, PO Box 2567, 750-2100 www.charliesaustin.com; www.unitedcourtofaustin.org Best Emergent Filmmaker: Bob Ray Bob Ray was in the right place at the right time when he started filming some friends starting a Roller Derby league. But it was his tireless efforts, taking his documentary Hell on Wheels to every film festival and skate rink that would have him, that got him and his movie the fame they deserve. www.crashcamfilms.com Best Film Series: Paramount Summer Classic Film Series
When the Texas heat threatens to keep Austin seared, nothing beats melting the summer days away in the belly of the nearly century-old theatre, lost in the magic of Hollywood. Film-history buffs can break down cinematography and art direction in the Hitchcock and film noir pairings, while Eighties-o-philes can revel in the the guilty pleasures of Flashdance and Dirty Dancing. For 33 years, the Paramount Summer Classic Film Series has kept Austin cool, screening the movies that made Hollywood sizzle. 713 Congress, 472-5470 www.paramountsummerfilms.com Best Gay/Lesbian Hangout: TIE: Rain on 4th, Oilcan Harry's Oilcan's is back in the running again after an absence of a few years due to the opening of Rain. With "Best of Austin" awards dating back to 1994, Oilcan's has long ruled the gay scene, until the upstart, Rain, hijacked its throne in 2005. Winning continually ever since, Rain finds once again that its formidable opponent was only taking a breather and is back once again, packing a punch and drawing the crowds. Duke it out, boys, but Austin loves you both equally. Rain on 4th, 217 W. Fourth, 494-1150; Oilcan Harry's, 211 W. Fourth, 320-8823 www.rainon4th.com; www.oilcanharrys.com Best Jukebox: Casino el Camino Triskaidekaphobia? Pssssh! Dominating the tunes for the last 13 years, Casino el Camino's jukebox gets more traffic than the intersection where it lives. Even while we were in line checking out the latest batch of CDs, the guy behind us was impatiently fidgeting, in need of his Bad Brains fix. In honor of those 13 years, we recommend these picks: 69/01, 25/06, 11/11, 23/08, 58/07, 63/04, 74/02, 37/10, 17/02, 35/04, 52/04, 51/01, and 87/01. 517 E. Sixth, 469-9330 www.casinoelcamino.net Best Karaoke: Austin Karaoke
Last call at bars is 2am, but that doesn't mean you have to go home. Oh no. Especially not when there's a microphone with your name on it at Austin Karaoke. It's open as late as 5am on some nights and has private rooms, making this place a hit with groups of pals who are looking to belt out classics such as "I Want It That Way" and "Copacabana" as they fully take advantage of the BYOB policy. 6808 N. Lamar Ste. B-120, 323-9822 www.austinkaraoke1.com Best Live Club/Party DJ: Toddy B What makes Austin Music Award-winner Todd Burgener more than just a DJ? He doesn't just play at a party; he is the party, understanding that the success of an evening at a club or party is essentially in his hands. He's not just a master behind the turntables but a master emcee as well, whipping the crowds into frenzies with his energy and skill. On the radio or live in person, the B in Toddy B stands for Best. www.myspace.com/toddyb Best Movie Theatre: Alamo Drafthouse We're spoiled, and it's almost unanimous: Austinites would rather not see a movie at all if they can't watch it with a bucket of beer and a Godfather pizza. The very best in innovative and original programming, great community events, world-class menu-movie pairings, and film-geek staff all make this homegrown movie theatre the best in this city and, according to Entertainment Weekly, the very best in this whole damn country. Alamo Drafthouse, 2700 W. Anderson, 459-7090; 1120 S. Lamar, 707-8262; 320 E. Sixth, 476-1320; Alamo Drafthouse Lake Creek, 13729 Research, 219-5408 www.originalalamo.com; www.drafthouse.com/lakecreek Best Museum: Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum We Texans love Texas history, and the Bob Bullock Museum is a testament to that love: Costly and sumptuous, the exhibits are visually stunning, as well as painstakingly researched and brilliantly curated. The dynamic story of Texas practically reaches out and grabs you, and if that isn't thrilling enough, there's an IMAX theatre, too! 1800 Congress, 936-8746 www.thestoryoftexas.com Best New Club: TIE: Black & Tan, Rusty Spurs
It's about time we gave the masses a new direction to stumble. Seventh Street. The new Sixth. On one hand, we have Black & Tan. Ask a hipster, and you may hear it called "the new Beauty Bar." Oy. Ask the owners about it, and they just want to play good music and find the best DJs in town and definitely aren't about "starting a scene" but rather "just having a good time." Brilliant. Right next door is a vastly different format, Rusty Spurs. While B&T is sleek and loungy, RS is like Midnight Cowboy meets Elton John meets a mess of gay country & western dancers who are serious about their two-step. And their belt-buckle collections. The kind of place with peanut shells on the floor and a tip jar that's a boot. Black & Tan, 405 E. Seventh; Rusty Spurs, 405 E. Seventh, 482-9002 www.blackandtanaustin.com; www.therustyspurs.com Best Party of the Year: SXSW It's the biggest industry party in the world. Cutting-edge multimedia technology and focus on the newest developments in the video-game industry? Mm-hmm. The best and brightest filmmakers, plus all aspects of the art and business of indie filmmaking? Oh yeah. Panels people talk about for years and music so cool you won't hear about it until next month? You'd better believe it. And who else would deliver all this over 10 days? South by Southwest. You love it. For more than 20 years now. 1000 E 40th St, 467-7979 www.sxsw.com Best Performance Space: The Long Center
With the pristine acoustics of the 2,400-seat Michael & Susan Dell Hall matched by few in the world, along with the flexibility of the Debra and Kevin Rollins Studio Theatre and the glorious outdoor City Terrace, the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Center for the Performing Arts has given Austin a versatile world-class venue for international talent and regional groups alike. Recycled from a large part of the old Palmer Auditorium, the literal groundbreaking on this masterpiece ushered in a new era of groundbreaking Austin art. 701 W. Riverside, 482-0800 www.thelongcenter.org Best Place to Dance: Elysium Tease your hair to its highest heights, and strap on your brightest leggings, because Sundays at Elysium present serious Eighties awesomeness. On other nights, this repeat "Best of Austin" offender rocks with live bands and DJs pumping out industrial, Nineties, and more. And as Austin's goth central, you know this is the place for All Hallow's Eve. 705 Red River, 478-2979 www.elysiumonline.net Best Place to People Watch: Barton Springs No wonder we all wear dark sunglasses. We're all scanning the crowd. That tan 40-year-old man in the red banana-hammock riding his 10-speed or the European topless crowd toward the back or even the class-skipping share, looking for a solar cure for last night's dorm-room tequila. Barton Springs' true scenery is the people. Keep your eyes on the swimsuit-clad masses in search of the way to jump in without losing your breath to the brrr. 2101 Barton Springs Rd., 476-9044 www.cityofaustin.org/parks/bartonsprings.htm Best Place to See Local Art: TIE: Austin City Hall, Enchanted Forest The city could have gone the safe, boring route of lumpen political portraits, but through the People’s Gallery program, it opened itself up to works from the representational to the surreal, somber, playful, and even fuzzy, all from local artists. The Enchanted Forest provides a safe haven for creators to build magical, unique, large-scale installations. Now if City Hall and the Forest could just talk to each other … Austin City Hall, 301 W. Second, 974-2220; the Enchanted Forest, 1412 W. Oltorf, 296-1866 www.cityofaustin.org/cityhall; www.austinenchantedforest.com Best Scenester/Mover & Shaker: TIE: Stephen MacMillan Moser, Diane "Kitty" Murray
These prodigal siblings may not realize they were cut from the same cloth, born of the same womb: the belly of the dishy diva. Prodigal? Both Stephen "Your Style Avatar" MacMillan Moser and Diane "Kitty of Foodies" Murray lived opulent and crapulent lives back in those fabled Austin Eighties, then left Texas to find themselves (Moser to New York and Seattle to design fashion and Murray to work both coasts in the film biz), and later returned, bigger and badder than ever. Our readers love these community juggernauts and trust them to lead the way: for Moser, every week in the pages of this newsweekly and for Murray, organizing events for women who love women … who sometimes eat food. Stephen MacMillan Moser: The Austin Chronicle, 4000 N. I-35, 454-5766 austinchronicle.com; www.myspace.com/foodies_kitty Best Theatre Director: Dave Steakley His Best Theatre and Best Stage Director awards date back more than 10 years. Dave Steakley has grabbed the Austin theatre scene by the vocal cords and has issued peals of joy. Whether adding a special musical twist to an old favorite (such as his post-hurricane take on Porgy & Bess) or presenting fresh, new material (Keepin' It Weird), the groundbreaking productions under this Zach stalwart are sometimes hilarious, sometimes chilling, sometimes tender, or sometimes heartbreaking, but they're always gripping, riveting productions that keep our theatre scene among the best. Zach Theatre, 1510 Toomey, 476-0541 www.zachscott.com Best Visual Artist: Jean Graham
Artist Jean Graham enacts the ancient art form of mosaic on both the visual and community levels. Tiny pieces (neighbors) come together to make a shimmering whole (community) that tells a story (giving our best and working together for peace and beauty). Her murals are "of the people, by the people, for the people," located around Austin at Brentwood Elementary School, the Crestview Shopping Center, and other locales. Graham is both an inspiring leader and a gracious midwife of public art. www.violetcrownfestival.com |
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