Public Notice

Oooooh, no kids, sorry, it's not time for 3-D House of Beef! It's time for scary season, the season that has us examining our obsession with the nevermore, puts us in touch with our mortality, and brings us that much closer to our maker (and some of us to Maker's Mark, but that's another story -- ). Next Sat, Nov 6, 10am-2pm, the First Spiritualist Church of Austin, 42nd & Ave D, offers Private Readings, Spirit Messages & Healing given by mediums. They do this the first Saturday of each month (in case you miss this one). Sunday services are at 10am. 458-3987.

The Witches Ball throws down this Sat, Oct 30, 7pm-midnight at Saengerrunde Hall. The adult masquerade party will feature entertainment, a costume contest, a raffle to benefit Wildlife Rescue, and the scariest thing of all: a drum jam. The event is hosted by the Pagan Alliance of Central Texas. Tix are $13 at the door. The press release said nothing about brooms. 443-0918 or 479-0091.

This weekend, the thrills and chills begin with not only a town full of Halloween events (see Community Listings), but also the celebration of Dio de los Muertos at a variety of locations and happenings. Alma de Mujer Center for Social Change, 13621 FM 2769, hosts a traditional Dia with altars, flowers, candles, and food, Sat, Oct 30, 5-9pm, in honor of all loved ones lost and specifically in honor of Marsha Gómez, the influential and beloved Austin artist/avatar who touched the lives of so many in this town. The ceremony is free and open to the public. Bring photos of those you wish to honor. ALLGO & La Peña present a series of events to honor the Day of the Dead, including an Altar Building Workshop Sat, Oct 30, 1-3pm at Resistencia. The altars will be displayed through the month of November at the Dougherty Arts Center. The Opening Reception is Tue, Nov 2, 6-8pm. Alma de Mujer, 258-3880; ALLGO, 472-2001; La Peña, 477-6007. Our community of AIDS awareness organizations wrap up National AIDS Awareness Month with their typical style and flourish. Inspired for the academy-award winning film, The Gods & Monsters Gala at the Westwood Country Club, 3808 W. 35th, Fri, Oct 29, 8pm-midnight, is a big-ticket ($100 a pop) black-tie/costume affair to raise scratch for ASA's Jack Sansing Dental Clinic, dedicated to providing dental health service to thousands of men, women, and children suffering from oral manifestations associated with HIV and AIDS. 458-AIDS.

Local artist and founder of Mexic-Arte Pio Pulido will unveil his Mural for Hospice Austin's Christopher House Wed, Nov 3, 5-7pm at Flatbed World HQ, 2832 E. MLK. The work is entitled Serenity, and the artist hopes that it provides some for the many folks assisted by our local hospice. The surreal landscape mural will be installed on the hospice's garden walkway. 342-4751.

Project Transitions needs swingers (who want to meet like-minded public service type swingers)! Volunteer this week to help with their Bulk Mailing for the upcoming Holiday Swing event (in December). The mailing assembly line will set up Mon-Tue, Nov 1-2, 6pm, at the Unitarian Church, 4700 Grover, and then on Wed, Nov 3 move to the ProjTran building in the Crestview Plaza, 7101-B Woodrow. 454-8646. No longer will you have to compete with the broken bottles, lead batteries, and mountains of incinerator waste for space at 12th & Webberville. The corner is the site of the Phase I Improvements of Springdale Park, a 14.5-acre ripple of rolling Blackland Prairie, now home to playscapes, benches, sidewalks, picnic tables, ample free parking, and all those other cozy accouterments of a safe and happy neighborhood park. Yay! This Sat, Oct 30, 2-5pm is the Official Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening. Come out and play! 477-1566. This weekend is the 24th annual Charity Garage Sale for Settlement Home, Fri-Sun, Oct 29-31, 10am-5pm. Ever been to one of these? If you have, then you know that we don't really need to say too much about it. If you haven't, trust us; just go. Admission on Friday starts at $3. Each day, admission goes down a buck. Similar philosophies of bargaining can be found within the 19 different departments of deals. 477-1566.