A Welcome Place
by Adrienne Martini and Robert Faires Clearing the Cobwebs photograph by Brett Brookshire Frontera Fest, that annual performance orgy, is the most important event on the Austin theatre calendar. Period. Five weeks chock-full of folks trying something new and different, with varying degrees of success, but up there, loud and proud, for all the city…
Roadkill
Out of the least likely places can come the most impressive arrivals. Take the Crystal Method for example. Emerging from the desert waste and neon glitz of the Las Vegas strip in 1994, UNLV buddies Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland, weaned on a steady diet of Zeppelin and Floyd, created a Method that not only…
Women Who Run With Warrior Princesses
Renee O’Connor, Eddie and Sandra Wilson, and Lucy Lawless photograph by Geoffrey H. Short Everything you know is wrong. Every legend, story, myth, belief…. The real history of the world was recorded long ago by a young writer who traveled the globe with a fierce warrior, creating and recording history as it really was. Blasphemy?…
Postscripts
Where is Phillip Sansone? The longtime Austin book merchant is now the former CEO of Book People, though he’s still a stockholder brought in for “special projects” and will perform in an advisory capacity to Stan Biderman and Abe Zimmerman, two local investors in Book People, both of them UT law school grads who are…
Road Shows
FEBRUARY FRI 13 Leftover Salmon, Steamboat FRI 13 Crystal Method, BT, La Zona Rosa FRI 13 Unsane Today is the Day, Emo’s FRI 13 Chris Stills, Borders Books FRI 13 Ernie Watts, Elephant Room FRI 13, SAT 14 WT Greer, Speakeasy SAT 14 Candy Snatchers, REO Speedealer, Bates Motel SAT 14 Season to Risk, Janis…
Momma Rocs!
photograph by John Anderson There was an air of excitement and anticipation among the little girls attending an ice cream social at Threadgill’s restaurant. Some of the girls were shy about approaching their idol. A few were confused about the difference between the actress and her TV character. The young actress cheerfully chatted with each…
The Jacqueline Susann Story
It’s hard to imagine that if Jacqueline Susann were still alive, she’d soon turn 80 years old. But that’s the thing about people who die before they grow really old – you get to remember them as something other than the wizened, wrinkled creatures they’d surely become. In this case, we get to remember potboiler…
Step Outside
illustration by Nathan Jensen New Year’s Day. It’s an annual fate worse than death. You have a headache. You’re puking. Your resolution to get in shape has already been thwarted. It’s all you can do to keep your ass planted on the couch so you can watch football. In California this year, for many, it…
Scanlines
D: Mark Robson (1967) with Barbara Parkins, Patty Duke, Sharon Tate, Susan Hayward, Lee Grant Tawdry, tarshy, and totally diviiiine! Valley of the Dolls is a hoot not to be missed The definitive camp classic that raises more questions than it answers. Questions such as: Who did the pukey casting in this movie? Why are…
The Dishy Details
Jacqueline Susann’s assessment of her new friend, Joan Crawford: “Ethel Merman is a lady and a philanthropist compared to Joan. If I had known Joan when I was writing Valley of the Dolls, Helen Lawson would have been a monster!” Jackie claims to have been one of the (apparently) thousands of people who were invited…
Rock and a Hard Place
by Andy Langer The artists formerly known as Johnny Law, l-r: Brady Hughes, Erik Larson, David Ray and Alan Reizner. photograph by Todd Wolsfon While we watched all our other friends slowly progress into the adult world, there were times we sat around asking, `Shit, what do we have to show for ourselves?'” says Brady…
Shortcuts
One month and counting: SXSW kicks off four weeks from today on Friday, March 13. The last early deadline registration date is this Friday, Feb. 13. Early registration for the Film Conference and Festival (March 13-22) and the Interactive Festival (March 14-17) are $175 each, versus the final walk-up rate of $225 each. Gold Passes,…
AIDS Increasing Among Older Americans at Higher Rate
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that between 1991 and 1996, new AIDS cases in the United States rose twice as fast among people age 50 or older as they did among people between the ages of 13 and 49. In 1996, AIDS cases among older people climbed 22% (6,400 cases from…
Renee O’Connor Photo Gallery
To see the full photograph, click on the mini. One Non-Irritating Blonde Armadillo World Step-Poppa ROC Hangin’ With Superheroes Gabby With Her Little Stick The Porky Pig Dance On the Milford Trek They Don’t Take AmEx The International Rene� O�Connor Fan Club graciously allowed use of these photographs. All photos courtesy Sandra Wilson �1998. Check…
Steak & Shake
photograph by Bruce Dye Where’s the beef, you ask? After a weekend of corporeal pleasures – a 10 oz. New York Strip at Sugar’s, some filet mignon at the Yellow Rose, and just about all the “entertainment” a girl can stand – most of the beef is in my belly. Anemia, at least for the…
Benefits
SAT 14 Valentine’s Gala to benefit the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Survival Center, at the Reannaissance Hotel, Arboretum. Cost is $100 per person. 385-5181, ext. 237. SUN 15 Concert & Silent Auction to benefit Austin Girls’ Choir, at Milwood Baptist Church, 1-3:30pm. Cost is $15 adults/$8 children. 916-3360. Lourdes Perez Birthday Concert to benefit…
All Aboard
“The real crux will finally be whether we can all sit in a room and get through an agenda. Hey, that just hit me. It’s `we’ now,” muses Mark Rogers on the Guadalupe Neighborhood Development Corporation’s (GNDC) new status as a member of the Austin Revitalization Authority (ARA) board. After a rocky three-year history, the…
Naked City
Watergate and Teapot Dome were easy. They were simple names, immediately identifiable for the scandals behind them. But the media circus surrounding Monica Lewinsky’s alleged liaisons with the President has yet to settle on a single moniker. Bill Clinton’s other scandals have names – Whitewater, Indo-gate – but the salacious details surrounding “the Monica affair”…
Coach’s Corner
There are a couple of times every year when the entire sports world — fans, writers, teams, and players — drift into a depressing, somnolent stretch of days and weeks where the competitive wind is as silent as a snowflake hitting the water. The leviathan vessel that is the ship of sport, powered though it…
Primary Countdown
Last fall, local Democrats openly acknowledged the threat of the Republican Party making inroads into Travis County and wresting power from Democratic officeholders. That threat appeared especially vexing at the Commissioners Court, where – if local old-timers’ memories serve – a Republican has never sat on the dais. With all five Commissioners Court seats up…
Twenty Dollar Vibe
Independence Day They sure don’t make rock & roll like this anymore. And thank God for that. Who needs what The Artists Formerly Known As Johnny Law refer to in their bio and “fact sheet” as “stripped down… song heavy contemporary rock & roll”? Certainly not AOR radio; no one’s looking for two guitars, bass,…
Day Trips
A B&B and BBQ in historic Lockhart can make for a relaxing weekend that can ruin a diet, but refresh the soul. photograph by Gerald E. McLeod Albion Bed and Breakfast has added a new dimension to the historic community of Lockhart. Once a staging area for cattle herds preparing for the walk up the…
Not Keen on Green
It’s less than a month until the March 10 primaries, and the two front-runners in the county judge race are scrambling to rally support from the environmental community — with limited success. That’s not a good sign. A green endorsement in this town can translate into thousands of votes, but so far, progressive leaders have…
Page Two
Many letters this week, so a short “Page Two.” Now, I could write about the upcoming SXSW/Music Awards maelstrom (March 13-21, Awards Show Wed.18), but you already know that stuff, right? Or I could intro the cover stories, a nice package about regional planning, demographic shifts, and the upcoming Travis Co. primary elections (pp.16-28). But…
Now or Never
Ask just about any local progressive, and they’ll tell you that longtime Eastside activist Ron Davis deserves to win the race for county commissioner for Precinct 1. “Ron is just far and away the most active, longtime leader on quality-of-life issues in East Austin of anybody I can think of,” says Brigid Shea, executive director…
Public Notice
Ouch! Sometimes we “Public Notice” types can be such Dorks. Last week, we wrote about some Austin Olympians heading for the Amsterdam Gay Games this August. We wrote about Team Clifford, the one-man powerhouse. We’d like to clarify that Clifford is aiming to be the first Person Living with AIDS to ever compete in the…
Potholes and Potshots
Late last week, local political operatives were already predicting the outcome of the Precinct 2 race, where the incumbent county commissioner, Karen Sonleitner, is expected to keep her title for a second term. But we’ll see what happens; for the time being, political junkies and regular voting folk like Joe and Martha out in sleepy…
Mister Smarty Pants Knows
A “wether” is a castrated male goat or sheep. Experts do not agree about the origin of the expression “to 86,” which means “to eject from the premises.” Some say it was originally used between soda jerks to mean “we’re all out of that item.” Others believe it comes from British rhyming slang. The founder…
Harnessing Anger
City/county rivalry has been stoked to high intensity in Travis County Precinct 3, where an irate electorate in Circle C, Tanglewood Forest, and other southwest suburbs slated for city annexation are looking to strike back at a growing Austin. Not surprisingly, the Republican Party has no shortage of candidates in this race. Offering little political…
Food-O-File
Popular campus-area potato delivery outfit Private Idaho has relocated its operation to 2200 Guadalupe and merged with The Bagel Manufactory, providing a much-needed retail outlet for Private Idaho and preserving Bagel Manufactory’s retail and wholesale operations. While they’re stuffing spuds, partners Dan Brickley and Dan Herwitt are pleased to be keeping what many consider to…
Clash of La Clica
For Richard A. Moya, the race for the Democratic nomination for county commissioner in Precinct 4 is a matter of style. His style versus that of the incumbent, Margaret Gomez. What is Moya’s style? To answer that question, one only need talk to supporters and detractors from the days when he served as Travis County’s…
Lover’s Tarts
Strawberry Tart photograph by John Anderson By now, it just might be too late to make dinner reservations for this Valentine’s Day. With the annual holiday that weds love and conspicuous consumption falling on a Saturday this year, hotels have offered tempting packages and many restaurants have designed fixed price menus to encourage advance planning.…
Some Notable Endorsements
Austin Women’s Political Caucus County Judge: (dual) Sam Biscoe and Valarie Bristol Pct 1: Darwin McKee Pct. 2: Karen Sonleitner Pct. 3: No endorsement Pct. 4: Margaret Gomez South Austin Democrats County Judge: (dual) Sam Biscoe and Valarie Bristol Pct 1: Ron Davis Pct 2: Karen Sonleitner Pct 3: (dual) Nan Clayton and Ann Graham…
Fronterafest `98 Reviews
Dress Me Blue/Window Me Sky photograph by Brett Brookshire The Weather ChannelsCreated and performed by Emily Ball Cicchini and Kristen Johnson What a way to kick off the Fest! Cicchini and Johnson, clad in yellow rain slickers, flitted across the stage, waving umbrellas and dancing about weather, loss, and spontaneity on the first night, first…
Dancing About Architecture
After all the panic leading up to last Thursday’s City Council meeting that was to determine the immediate fate of the Austin Music Network, the gathering itself was anti-climactic, to say the least. Right off the bat, the council announced they intended to give the Network the two-month reprieve that had been suggested, and made…
The Ballot
In the March 10 party primaries, voters will narrow the field of candidates to the top Democratic and Republican vote-getters in state and county races. Nominees from each party will proceed to the Nov. 3 election. Below are the list of candidates on the ballot for County Judge and four seats on the county Commissioners…
Articulations
Still dreaming about one of those hours-are-long-and-the-pay-is-meager-but-hey-it’s-a-job-in-the-arts positions? This may be a prime time to make your dream into a reality. The last couple of months has seen several of Austin’s theatre workers leave their professional posts, and a few of their positions have yet to be filled. At the Austin Circle of Theatres, associate…
Live Shots
“Questin Mark” sans Mysterians at Electric Lounge Sunday, Feb.8 photograph by John Carrico LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO La Zona Rosa, February 1 In the beginning there was the human voice – homo sapien’s first sonic tool. Thousands of years later, even in today’s digital din, the focus for much of the world’s music is the voice.…
Library Fails to Carry
photograph by John Anderson No one had expected such a huge turnout for an event most Austinites simply ignore, but more than 50 citizens turned out to speak their minds at last month’s Library Commission hearing. One after another they lined up to advise the commission on whether to endorse City Manager Jesus Garza’s plan…
Exhibitionism
Frank Erwin Center, February 4 There are many jokes to be made about this show, and, rest assured, you’ll get a few of them. Arguably the most popular dance ensemble touring at the moment, Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance fuses Celtic mythology with traditional music, modern dance, a touch of ballet, and, of course,…
Recommended
Friday: Dale Watson, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Broken Spoke; Unsane, Today Is the Day, Emo’s Saturday: Kimmie Rhodes, Cactus Cafe Sunday: Alejandro Escovedo, Continental Club Monday: Elias Haslanger, Cedar Street Tuesday: Merle Saunders & the Rainforest Band, Zuckerman Electric, Stubb’s Wednesday: Sister Hazel, Freddy Jones Band, La Zona Rosa; Rubinchyks Orchestra, Flipnotics Thursday: Honky, Fuckemos, Sinis,…
Mister Rogers and Me
Mister Rogers’ gentle lessons are a good reason to put a little love in your heart and maybe a sweater on a needy child. In the beginning, he didn’t seem my type. For a time, I regarded Mister Rogers as really uncool, not hip like Sesame Street. I actually watched both of those shows for…
