But Lars Eighner isn’t, and he needs your help. Three years ago, the Austin
novelist charmed Austin and America with his tale of life on the streets of the
Capital City and the Southwest, with only his dog for companionship, in
Travels with Lizbeth. The income from that allowed Eighner to get a roof
over his head and himself on his feet. But the hobo life exacted its toll on
his health, and now his future is again uncertain.
You can help keep Eighner and Lisbeth housed by attending a Benefit Reading
for Lars Eighner at Bookstop Central Park on Thursday, August 15, 7-9pm.
Participants will include Eighner himself, as well as Mary Willis Walker,
Marion Winik, and Lawrence Wright, and more to be announced. Other cosponsors
include The Austin Chronicle andThe Texas Observer, with
refreshments provided by Central Market. Contributions on Eighner’s behalf may
be sent to The Texas Observer, 307 W. Seventh St., Austin, TX 78701,
payable to The Texas Observer. Please indicate that the check is
intended for Eighner.
Sacks on Thrift Avenue
Ah, ya gotta love Austin — counter couture hot spot. Any night at
Emo’s or somesuch other nightcrawlspace yields a veritible runway of slum
chic. Was it perhapsSlacker which congealed the pomo boho hobo look
that has since been adopted by malls and Targets across America? When it comes
to dressing down, Austin is way down.
In spite of competition from the malls, chain stores, and for-profit
second-hand and vintage outlets, Austin’s public-charity thrift stores are
healthy, if not thriving. They still encourage your patronage, however, and
your generous donations too.
So, to honor our brave re-distillers of American pop culture’s recent past
(you knew this was coming) we’ve compiled A List of our fave Local Thrift
Stores for Charity. So, clean out your closets, gather your pennies, and have
at it.
The ARC of Texas We’re envisioning everything paired in twos, but the name more likely implies
Association of Retarded Citizens.
5726-B Manchaca, 707-0008. Assistance League of Texas Like we mentioned last week, ALT’s big calendar sale is going on now, but fall
also brings Operation School Bell, their program to help student tikes in need. 7951 Burnet, 458-2633.
Good Samaritan You don’t need to go all the way to Samaria on donkey to check out their
selection of office wear.
5111 Burnet, 451-2652. Goodwill Industries The King of Them All, with a vast selection. And everything is meticulously
organized by color!
8965 Research, 832-0004
13096 N. Hwy183, 258-5898
5400 N. Lamar, 451-2306
836 Airport, 389-3227
2800 S. Lamar, 442-8802
5734 Manchaca, 448-4849
1207 Round Rock, 388-2911. Junior League There’s nothing junior about their thrift sensibilities. The downtown location
is in a league of its own.
522 E. Sixth, 477-7124. Mary Lee Foundation Helping children while helping yourself to this fine array of chotzkies —
what a way to shop.
1300 S. Lamar, 447-7101. Library Thrift Shop 403 W. Pecan, 251-5228. Sacks II You’ll carry lots of them out of the Center for Battered Women’s
store.
4631 Airport, 451-4108. St. Vincent DePaul 1327 S. Congress, 442-5652. Salvation Army
The soldiers against homelessness not only want you to have a house;
they want it to be well-furnished, too.
5329 N. I-35, 451-7156
1142 S. Lamar, 443-7565
4216 S. Congress, 447-4044. Top Drawer
Project Transitions can help you with those tough life transitions:
like between size 7 and 14. Drag alert!! The Drawer is well-stocked for
camp.
4902 Burnet, 454-5161. n
This article appears in August 9 • 1996 and August 9 • 1996 (Cover).