Ahhhh! Sweet oxygen swirls around the lungs, and muscles burn as they take
boulders like King of the Hill. There’s nothing like that crunch of dry
creekbed under clunky suede boots with huge red laces you wouldn’t be caught
dead wearing anywhere else except maybe a Village People reunion. Hey, Snakes!
Lizards! Deer! Don’t fret! Though it’s the weekend, we come in peace to enjoy
your bounty and dig this nature scene, the last place we’ve left you on the
Earth you once freely roamed. Autumn in Austin is prime trail time. And
politically, trail systems make a hot, local topic. Many issues regarding the
connection and maintenance of Austin’s many existing trails into a
comprehensive system are being aired on political platforms. Back on Earth,
however, many citizens are working to preserve and enhance Austin’s natural
treasures. One such group is the Shoal Creek Greenbelt Coalition (SCGC).
As any regular to the Doggy Happy Hour (informally before dusk every
night at Pease Park near the 29th Street access) will attest, the local group
has taken the cause of maintaining and upgrading the very popular rec area as
its own. They are currently circulating a user survey. Other area organizations
have sprouted up in support of specific park areas around town, and local trail
systems. Austin Metropolitan Trails Council (AMTC) will hold a meeting,
Tue, Nov 26, 5:45pm at the LCRA building on Lake Austin Blvd.
AMTC 478-5624; SCGC 371-1892;
Friends of the Parks 463-5310;
Bull Creek Foundation 837-8592;
Austin Parks Foundation 477-1566;
Central TX Trail Tamers 461-8171;
East Austin Watershed Task Force 926-8911.
Making the Nature Scene
And, on a related eco-note… Promoting ecological wisdom, social justice,nonviolence, and grassroots democracy are right up the alley of The Austin
Greens, who meet Sat, Nov 23, 11am at Carver Branch Library; Wed, Dec 4,
7pm at Austin History Center; and Sat, Dec 14, 11am at Terrazas Branch Library.
The Greens are not too thrilled with Whole Foods’ approach to the whole
�Uvas No! deal and will be discussing this and other issues at
their meetings. 707-0804.
Big Mouths Need Apply
Open wide, little Bassies, The Arc of Austin wants to hook you up witha few local fisherpeople so they can raise money for folks with disabilities at
the Bass Roundup `96, Sun, Nov 24, 6am-3pm, on Lake Travis at City Park.
There’s nothin’ fishy about it… All’s you have to do is eat a worm, subject
yourself to a potentially humiliating weigh-in (though, we could be projecting
here…), and give your life. It says in the press release that “All fish entrants who attend the weigh-in will receive a free T-shirt and lunch.”
Oops! Wait, maybe we’ve got that all wrong. 476-7044, ext. 102.
Shoo-Shoo Gobble Gobble Deedle-Dee
They don’t fly too well, so they run. Turkeys used to fly but that was beforepeople figured out that big breasts could be bred and began to affect the
bird’s aerodynamics. You , however, can head off that problem by running
and keeping fit. This Thanksgiving Day, run for a good cause at Thundercloud
Subs Turkey Trot, Thu, Nov 28, 9am at the Zilker Park soccer fields. The
five-mile competitive and fun run, 1.2-mile walk, and kids’ run benefit
Caritas of Austin, an interfaith group providing emergency assistance to
those in need. 479-8815, ext. 401 or 472-5269.
Hey! I’m Using That Thing!
There’s a party this weekend for Research, Action & Information Networkfor Bodily Integrity of Women (RAINBO) at the Manor Road Coffeehouse, 1809
Manor, Sun, Nov 24, 5-11pm. The fest benefits RAINBO, a group which opposes
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The pain and trauma of this form of
mutilation is suffered by an estimated 6,000 girls and women a day, world-wide.
Frequently, severe physical complications or death occur. The hosts of the
party, however, promise no “depressing lectures or sensationalist slide shows
— only a festive party with informational literature available.” The party
includes free food, bellydancing, Sambaxe dancers, live music and more.
474-2505 (after 1pm).
Waxing
Actually, the moon will be waning, but that’s fine, because the decorativeLuminaria Display of the Hancock Holiday Candle Trail at the
Hancock Rec Center and Golf Course will light both nights, Fri-Sat, Dec 6-7,
dusk-9pm. Volunteer luminaria lighters are needed. Show up at Hancock, Fri, Dec
6, 4:30pm and Sat, Dec 7, 4pm. Last year, the display fell victim to prevailing
winds, but this year, the organizers are using empty plastic milk jugs instead
of paper bags to contain the candles. The center will accept your donations of
clean gallon milk or water jugs. 453-7765.
Global Domination, Yea!
Get your program proposals ready, women. Our annual culture jam is just aroundthe corner. The International Women`s Day Community Media
Festival launches a Call for Entries Sun, Nov 24, 8pm at the Victory
Grill. Last year’s sponsors, Women`s Access to Electronic Resources (WATER),
KOOP and KAZI radio, and Monsterbit Media again present 24
hours of women’s wild and wonderful media on the radio, TV, and World Wide Web,
Sat, Mar 8, 1997. Whoooooo-Hoooo! 444-1672 or 445-4272.
Blue Lights Anonymous
Happy Holidays! Sorry in advance for the violent proverb, but you can kill twobirds with one gift if you shop the nonprofits:
* Those cool, two-sided City of Austin Power & Light logo
T-shirts are available at Sparks and Bookwoman. Proceeds benefit the Friends
of Seaholm, the organization trying to preserve the old noble power plant
for cultural use.
*Casa Marianella hosts Art With a Heart Holiday Mercado & Music
Fest at La Zona Rosa, Sun, Nov 24, 11am. In addition to Asylum St. Spankers
and other festivities, there will be a holiday market for your spending
pleasure. 385-5571.
* Sales from the new, local CD Family Values will benefit
Cornerstone Gay & Lesbian Center and Out Youth Austin. The CD
features Ana Egge, Kirt Kempter, Diana Jones, Therapy Sisters, and more. The
CD Release Party is at Cornerstone, Sun, Nov 24, 3-7pm. 708-1515 or
708-1234.
* The mother of all holiday markets, The Junior League`s A Christmas
Affair is this weekend, (tonight) Thu, Nov 21, noon-9pm; Fri-Sat, Nov
22-23, 10am-10pm; and Sun, Nov 24, 11am-4pm at Palmer Auditorium.
467-8982.
* If you would like to gather more information about the activities
during and the philosophy of International YouthPeace Week, and why
buying war toys for kids is a Bad Idea, then do contact YouthPeace.
800/WRL-YOUTH, 212/228-0450 or wrl@igc.apc.org
Email: pnotice@auschron.com Mail to: “Public Notice,” The Austin Chronicle, P0 Box 49066, Austin, TX 78765. Deadline: Wednesday,
6pm, eight days prior to publication. Phone calls have a .001% chance of being
returned.
This article appears in November 22 • 1996 and November 22 • 1996 (Cover).