Volume 32, Number 18
ON THE COVER:
news
The changing face of the venerable South Lamar Plaza
BY RICHARD WHITTAKER AND JANA BIRCHUM
A look forward, a look back
BY MICHAEL KING
In a parks-centric town like Austin, it's not easy being PARD
BY AMY SMITH
State-funded WHP set to begin Jan. 1
BY JORDAN SMITH
Fourth time execution has been scheduled
BY JORDAN SMITH
UT grad student John Woods has a few ideas about reasonable gun control
BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Laurie David has tips for families trying to squeeze in time together
BY JIM HIGHTOWER
food
A beer enthusiast's resolutions to be healthy, wealthy, and weiz
BY IVY LE
We disclose the secrets of locating food friendly, relatively undiscovered, but easy to find Old World wines
BY WES MARSHALL
Epicurean hopes and desires in 2013
BY VIRGINIA B. WOOD
Dec. 29-Jan. 3
BY VIRGINIA B. WOOD
Taco originality is alive and well in Austin social media
BY VIRGINIA B. WOOD
music
Last local music round-up of 2012
BY RAOUL HERNANDEZ
A look back at 2012
BY KEVIN CURTIN
screens
AFS Essential Cinema kicks off Asia: Hot and Cool series
BY MARGARET MOSER
Three Austin special effects makeup artists compete on SyFy's 'Face Off'
BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Phil Anselmo and Corey Mitchell unleash the Housecore Horror Film Festival in 2013
BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Film Reviews
In this 3-D spectacle, the wan drama takes a back seat to the Cirque's acrobatics.
This Bollywood action sequel the exploits of Salman Khan's police inspector Chulbul "Robin Hood" Pandey.
As entertaining and subversive as Django Unchained is, Tarantino's latest also suffers from a certain slackness.
Tom Cruise stars as the title character of Lee Child's novels in this thriller directed by the writer of Valkyrie and The Usual Suspects.
This extravagant adaptation of the monster-hit musical is a little pitchy, but it's still a potent piece of cinema.
The actors deserve credit for the professionalism they bring to this family comedy stinker.
This new Telugu film is a romantic comedy.
arts & culture
For some kinds of dance, you need Brass Ovaries
BY KACI BEELER
MASS leaves artistic surprises in a dozen East Austin backyard byways
BY ROBERT FAIRES
His studio is an empty nest filled with a million little pieces
BY ANDY CAMPBELL
Arts Reviews
Zach Theatre delivers a sentimental stroll through a winter wonderland, with exceptionally strong dancing
The Georgetown Palace Theater has its flaws, but the kids in it bring the miracle of theatre
Ink Tank's show stretched between an achievement of something truly artistic and an extravagantly themed party
columns
No matter the season, no matter the climate, when I write I write in winter
BY MICHAEL VENTURA
Stephen revels in rebirth – and the roll of stretch fabrics in it
BY STEPHEN MACMILLAN MOSER
The Gay Place thanks you from the bottom of their dark little rainbow hearts
BY KATE X MESSER
The healing power of pie
BY GERALD E. MCLEOD
BY MR. SMARTY PANTS
The problem with New Year’s is that everyone expects something special to happen.
BY THE LUV DOC
Letters to the editor, published daily
sports
With a lightened suspension. Kabongo set to return Feb. 13
BY MICHAEL CORCORAN
The football world is into its holiday break
BY NICK BARBARO