After a Fashion

FX TO THE MAX Thank god Maximum FX came to my aid right before SXSW, rescuing me from complete oblivion by giving me shockingly stylish new hair. I was so bored with blond that it became a crisis situation, and I was afraid I'd melt into the woodwork. Faced with a slew of events in a very short time, and at least a thousand parties in between, I knew it would require industrial strength hair but wasn't sure exactly what I wanted. Enter my old friend Bryan Hebert who has been with Maximum FX forever. I'd seen his work many, many times and was stunned by it on several occasions but hadn't given him a try. The salon (1007 S. Congress, 472-3331) is conveniently located right around the corner from me and carries Aveda, so I knew their products would be fabulous. What we decided on was a very dark mahogany color on very short hair, with high-contrast bangs in the whitest blond. It was extreme, it was intense, and it guaranteed to make an indelible impression. Though I had a deep-rooted fear that this new 'do might make me look like Divine as Dawn Davenport in Female Trouble, it was just what the doctor ordered. I then had an experience that I'd never had before: being served lunch and wine while having a pedicure. Omigod, it was heavenly. I now know the definition of complete luxury. Getting your feet worked on is fabulous anyway, but having a delicious lunch with wine while it's happening is supreme. The nail tech Norma Boone did a great job, and Maximum FX is the only salon on the SoCo strip that does manicures and pedicures. After all that, I'd hardly be considered done without attention being given to my eyebrows, so I slithered into Tess Lyon's skin-care room to be waxed and trimmed. What excellent service! So excellent that weeks later I returned for some repair work on my hair, which basically meant I was tired of it. Once again back in Bryan's capable hands, we did away with the blond bangs, darkening the entire head of hair to the base color. We kept the cut as it was -- a carefree sort of Caesarish cut, perfect for spring and summer, and I was very pleased. This time, we moved on to Jessica Martinek's room for a massage. She is amazing. Soothing, gentle, and thoroughly skilled, she kneaded me into nirvana. She definitely has "the touch," and I give her a very high rating. Then it was back to Tess for an Aveda facial -- an incredibly relaxing treatment of lovely potions and lotions combined with extractions. My face felt wonderful afterward, aglow with fresh and healthy skin. Owner Javier Herrera (formerly a stylist at the original Maximum FX on the Drag) has done wonders with the salon, and moving it to South Congress was a very smart idea. Salon director Chris Murphy handles the place deftly and with immense charm, and I highly recommend it for anyone needing a gift idea for Mother's Day (or even for themselves). For more info, call the salon, or log on to www.maximumfx.com.

TONIGHT! TONIGHT! Thursday, April 24, is the annual UT Fashion Show, 8pm, at the Erwin Center; admission is free. Attending the show will be author George Carr, who will be on hand to sign his book Zack Carr at the F8 Fine Art Gallery (1137 W. Sixth, 480-0242) tomorrow, Friday, April 25, 6-9pm. George's brother Zack was creative director for Calvin Klein for almost 30 years, establishing the look and company as an international heavyweight. Zack was still sketching up until he died of a rare blood disease, and George's book is a gorgeous tribute to him. There will be an additional signing in Zack's hometown of Kerrville.

TFS ... means Too Fuckin' Social, which is exactly what I've been lately. So I'll keep it brief. Kelly Fielding, who owns the fabulous Paper & Ink stationary store (706 Congress), opened an art gallery next door (708 Congress) with an array of artists showing, including the wonderful JD DiFabbio and Brian Bowers of Plan B, and Barbara and Brian Frisbie of Frisbie Design Concern, among several others. The art was wonderful and so was the guest list, which included photographers Brian and Stella Alesi, furniture designer Mark Macek, Andi Scull of Break the Box, ASA's Rita Garza, Head Octopi of the Octopus Club Jay Billig, Tribeza's Zarghun Dean and his lovely wife Eddai, and, of course, the entire mafia of fashion and social editors... Then there was One World Theatre's fundraiser An Evening of Splendor. You want to know the truth? It was the nicest charity event I've been to in Austin -- and I've been to some pretty fabulous ones. The theatre is gorgeous, perched on the side of a cliff, the food (by Roy's) was divine, and the tables (by Austin RentAll) were absolutely lovely. The auction was incredibly successful and the glitterati included glamorous board member Marilyn Johnson and her crew, Lance Morgan, and Carlos and Marcie Martinez, among others too fabulous to mention... And of course there was the poetry slam at Ruta Maya. What an amazing experience it was as 11 artists of the spoken word competed to be sent to the National Poetry Slam in Chicago. There was incredible energy on the stage by all participants, and the semifinalists are Andy Buck, Genevieve VanCleve, Da'Shade Moonbeam, and Christopher Lee.