Res Publica

Thursday29

AN EVENING WITH SARAH PALIN She's here, raising money and fighting abortion. 5:30pm. Austin Convention Center, 500 E. Cesar Chavez, 340-0999. $50. www.heroicmedia.org.

AN EVENING WITHOUT SARAH PALIN Help Rep. Lloyd Doggett and Sen. Kirk Watson raise funds for pro-choice Dems running in 2010. 6:30pm. Serranos, 1111 Red River. $25. www.traviscountydemocrats.org.

Friday30

ROCK AND RAIL Enjoy live music and learn about MetroRail and other Cap Metro services. 3:30-6:30pm. Downtown MetroRail Station, 401 E. Fourth. www.capmetro.org.

FASHION FOR COMPASSION Police Chief Art Acevedo and other unlikely divas hit the catwalk for the Austin Children's Shelter. 6:30pm. Saks Fifth Avenue, 9722 Great Hills Tr. $250. www.austinchildrenshelter.org.

Saturday01

ADVANCING COMMUNITY THROUGH WOMEN sponsors this conference on women's issues, with a focus on violence against women. 9:30am-6pm. Radisson Hotel, 111 E. Cesar Chavez. $85 ($50, girls' conference). www.actwomen.com.

CANNABIS CRUSADE begins with breakfast and sign-making before heading to the Capitol to make some noise. 10am & 3:15-10pm: Wooldridge Square, 900 Guadalupe. Noon-3pm: Texas Capitol, 1100 Congress. www.texascannabiscrusade.com.

IMAGINE AUSTIN FORUM Discuss the Austin Comprehensive Plan and Strategic Mobil­ity Plan. 9-11:30am. Fulmore Middle School, 201 E. Mary. RSVP at www.imagineaustin.net/events.htm.

ONE GREEN STEP The mayor and "citizen astronaut" Richard Garriott launch a new campaign to inspire green behavior. 2-4pm. Pan Am Recreation Center, 2100 E. Third.

RIDE THE METRORAIL Capital Metro's Downtown-to-Leander Red Line normally runs on weekdays only, but this Saturday you can enjoy rides all day. 11am-11pm. Regular fares apply. www.capmetro/metrorail.*

SWIM AGAINST THE CURRENT Populist-themed panel discussions, a talk by Jim Hightower, and other festivities celebrate this new exhibit of Hightower's archive. 1-7pm. Texas State University, San Marcos. www.thewittliffcollections.txstate.edu.

Monday03

AN EVENING WITH ARIANNA HUFFINGTON to help celebrate Texas Freedom Network's 15th anniversary. 7pm. Congregation Agudas Achim, 7300 Hart, 322-0545. $25. www.tfn.org.

Tuesday04

CENTRAL TEXAS DEMOCRATIC FORUM hosts a luncheon with lieutenant governor candidate Linda Chavez-Thompson. 11:45am-1pm. Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress #700. $20. www.centraltxdemocraticforum.com.

COMMUNITY FORUM: CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM A nonpartisan discussion with MoveOn.org, Stewart Smiley, and Lou McCreary. 6:30pm. AFL-CIO Auditorium, 1106 Lavaca. www.moveon.org.

EARLY VOTING ENDS See info and endorsements; for ongoing coverage, visit austinchronicle.com/elections. Election day: Saturday, May 8.

Thursday06

ARE WE WINNING THE BATTLE TO SAVE BAR­TON SPRINGS? A talk from Glenrose Engineer­ing's Lauren Ross and Save Our Springs Alliance's Bill Bunch. 6:30pm. TSTA Building, 316 W. 12th. www.lonestar.sierraclub.org.

GRAND OPENING: 5604 MANOR Join Jim High­tower, Workers Defense Project, Third Coast Activist, and others in celebrating this new progressive community center. 6:30-9pm. 5604 Manor Rd. RSVP: maribel@workersdefense.org. www.thirdcoastactivist.org.

Ongoing

AUSTIN PETS ALIVE! NEEDS YOU An outbreak of distemper is putting hundreds of dogs at risk – you can help by donating money for treatments or fostering an animal to limit the contagion – or, if you have dogs, vaccinate them! www.austinpetsalive.org.

EL MAIZ ES NUESTRA VIDA/MAIZE IS OUR LIFE An art exhibit exploring cultural memory, biodiversity, genetic modification, and other themes through the lens of Mexico's native maize seeds. Through June 5. Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 River St. www.austinmacc.com.

LIGHTS. CAMERA. HELP. A nonprofit film fest for cause-driven films; submit your entry by June 30. www.lightscamerahelp.org.

*[Editor's note: We originally reported that the Saturday rides would be free; in fact, regular weekday rates apply.]