Cover Story
Working on the Railroad
The regional Transit Working Group is poised to make progress on passenger rail
JusticeLive
Justice rebounds from its FabricLive rejection
Belo Tracking Poll: Obama/Clinton Dead Heat
But results could indicate Obama gaining momentum
Superdelegate Thompson Defects to Obama
Houston state rep deserts Clinton
The Pentavirate Sighted in East Austin!
Spot the hidden man in the Brian Thompson TV spot.
David Van Os on Single-Member Districts
Texas attorney on the history of the “gentlemen’s agreement”
Bye, Buddy
The Buddy Miles Express stops here.
Montford’s Money
Montford is top fundraiser in D.A.’s race
Thompson to Dukes: See Ya in Court
HD-56 race gets legal over TV ads.
Dan Grant: Why the Polls Don’t Work
CD-10 candidate taks about why high voter turn-out could help Speaker Craddick now and hurt him in November.
Beat the Press, Part Two
Another meditation on our broken political discourse – and the turdbucket at hte center of it.
Duncan Austin Energy General Manager
Ott fills another departmental vacancy.
Mean Girl: YUM (Gay Place Crush of the Week, Month, Year)
Bitches get stuff done!
Ott Names Own Assistant City Manager
Ott names Robert Goode new ACM.
Elegies and Celebrations
Thanks from Resistencia Bookstore and a poem by Raúl Salinas.
‘First Rock-Star President’ Tours Texas, Opening Acts Suck
Bill Clinton spoke at UT as part of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. Big whoop.
Poll Position
I hope the photo-finish camera is working
Poesía Mujer: International Women’s Day in Austin
PODER hosts a poetry reading to celebrate International Women’s Day.
Toros Now as Good as the Knicks With Addition of Barrett
The Austin Toros can now beat the New York Knicks. I’m not kidding. I am, in no way, joking when I say that. This ain’t homerism. I’m telling you. The Austin Toros are going to be the best team in the history of the D-League. Which isn’t saying much. But still. They’re going to legitimately…
Aztex Make Coaching Moves, and More
The Austin Aztex made a splash last week by announcing English Hall of Famer and ex-Premier League coach Adrian Heath as their head coach. This week they covered the home bases by tabbing local coaching legend Wolfgang Suhnholz as their U-23 coach; Bobby Murphy, director of the St. Stephen’s Soccer Academy, as his assistant; and…
City Council Notebook
What’s up for Thursday?
Single-Member District Drama
SMDs to die tomorrow?
Will Villa Muse Amuse?
Proponents of new master plan community in far east Austin to hold town hall meeting tonight
‘What SXSW Means to Me’ by Kate Getty
Kate Getty turns in her “What I Did Over Spring Break” essay a few weeks early.
Hall of Fame Shuffle
Anything goes at the TX Film Hall of Fame Awards… and somebody’s already up and gone
Love Your Shoes
Jenny Reynolds sneaks up
Red Salmon Arts, Café Libro to Honor Raúl Salinas
March 7, 2008 Café Libro at Resistencia Bookstore will honor Raúl Salinas.
Clinton Has Her Own Town Hall
Statewide, on television, on election eve.
Northcross Going to the Dogs
New anti-Wal-Mart protest planned
Travis County Greens Precincts Convention Coming Up
Politics and pizza.
Weigh In on Proposed Capital Metro Service Changes
Transit service planning for June adjustments
Recycle Those Campaign Signs
Pilot program kicks off for May municipal elections
Circle C Democrats Inaugural Meeting Saturday
Dems assert themselves in Republican stronghold
Obama in Austin Thursday Morning – Get Tickets TODAY
Presidential candidate coming Austin Convention Center
Beat the Press
Our broken political discourse.
“This Is a Contested Campaign”
Live blogging: Obama and Clinton spar tonight in Ohio
The Horror … the Horror …
Make it stop!
Worries About Electronic Voting Machines
County clerk says voting machines did not malfunction, no votes lost
Morally ‘Straight’: The Lord Baden Perry Connection
Rick Perry’s over-compensatory manliness is getting tired.
Perry and the Sales Figures
The numbers behind the governor’s (sort of) best-seller.
County Party Chairs
Thumbnail sketches of the county chair candidates
Mahinmi Challenges Augustin for Best Baller in Town
Turns out the Longhorns weren’t the only team from Austin putting a beat-down on a rival this weekend. The Austin Toros smoked the Central Division leading Dakota Wizards Saturday night, 118-87. And no, it was not closer than the box score suggested. Often times in a basketball game, you need luck to pull out a…
On the Chron Happy Hour
Join us from 5 – 7pm…first beer on us! Thursday, Feb 28, 5pm The Belmont Set to the beat of timeless music, this elegant, relaxed atmosphere creates the foundation for guests to satisfy their desires for classic American cuisine, generous cocktails, and some of Austin’s most exciting entertainment. From 5-7pm, $3 well drinks, $1 off…
Fantasy Electionball
Leave it to the Democrats to make everything @#$% complicated
Atchley’s Improvement Is Phenomenal
In a game that was supposed to be the battle of two National Player of the Year candidates — Texas’ D.J. Augustin vs. Kansas State’s Michael Beasley – the Longhorns’ Connor Atchley stood out and summed up his entire season in one performance. Texas slowed Beasley as much as any team can hope to (30…
Dukes, Thompson, and Something About Glass Houses
Latest attack by HD 46 incumbent on challenger concentrates on issues of perceived weakness in her own campaign.
Dance, Extra, Dance!
Extras, extras!
Rockets Season Over, Yao Out for the Year
The Rockets are riding high on a 12-game winning streak heading into their Toyota Center matchup against the Washington Wizards this evening. Now, it looks like all they have accomplished of late is for naught. ESPN reports today that Yao Ming will be out for the season due to a stress fracture in his left…
John McCain in Round Rock on Friday
Likely Republican nominee stumps for votes in GOP-heavy Williamson County
An Actual Report From ‘Inside’ the Debate Hall
My friend went to the CNN debate, and all I got was a lousy T-shirt
UT Baseball’s Opening Day
As I walked toward Disch-Falk Field for the first time on Friday afternoon, I could feel the excitement in the air as fans in burnt orange hung around the stadium as if there were nowhere else they would rather be. There were kids throwing baseballs around with their friends, parents eating and chatting about how…
Waterloo Sunset
Down in the bins with Waterloo’s Bill Jeffery
Bill Clinton Speaking at ACC and UT Wednesday
Former president will speak on the main mall.
Remembrances of Raúl, Part Three
More memorials and memories of Raúl Salinas.
CNN Poll: Obama Pulls Into Lone Star Lead
Yet, Texas Dems favor Clinton on the top issues
Andrés Useche Sings for ‘Change’ (the Obama Kind)
We freely admit to having teared up at the end of a recent Obama campaign ad, so it goes without saying that we were just about wrecked by a four-minute-long Spanish-language music video promoting cross-cultural support of Barack titled “Si Se Puede Cambiar (Yes We Can Change)”. The video was originally intended for Spanish-speaking Texans…
Time for Some Flat Track
Women’s flat-track derby season kicks off this Sunday
Behavioral Shifts, Anyone?
Michael Webber spoke to a UT audience on potential solutions to the energy problem
Holiday in Cambodia
by:Larm 2008
Broadcasts From Planet SXSW
In-stores, broadcasts, and tapings. Oh, my!
Meanwhile, Farther Down the Ballot
Campaign life down below 1%.
Spirit Huzzahs
Texans show big at the Independent Spirit Awards
Workers Needed for Election Day
Big turnout is crunching the county’s election office
No Time for One More Question
Which locals are complaining they didn’t get question on Thursday’s debate agenda?
The Frosting on the Nomination
The cookie crumb trail to the White House.
Howard the Duck
This notorious George Lucas-produced flop stars the Marvel Comics character: a foul-mouthed, cigar-chomping duck.
A Poem for Raúl
A poem for Raúl Salinas by Erika Gonzalez.
The Rocky R(evol)ution
Ron Paul gets his evol all over UT.
Democratic Rally in Elgin on Sunday
Donkeys outside the city kicking up their heels
Remembrances of Raúl, Part Two
Remembrances of Raúl from Liliana Valenzuela, Francisco Aragón, and Rachel Jennings.
Notes From a Rally
Barack Obama motivates the Austin crowd at his post-debate rally Friday.
Remembrances of Raúl, Part One
Remembrance from Barbara Renaud Gonzalez, Emmet Campos and Amparo Garcia.
Early Voting: This Is Completely Insane
We’ve almost topped the 2004 totals – after only four days!
Clinton and Obama Deadlocked in Texas
Former first lady’s lead is slipping
Early Voting Going Nuts in Williamson, Too
Democrats driving explosive growth at the polls
UT Baseball Preview
Longhorn fans, it’s about that time of year to pull out the crusty cap and wrinkled jersey. Dust off the ol’ ball glove and get ready for some cheesy nachos and hot dogs with all the fixin’s. It’s time for some some big-time, powerhouse baseball brought to you by your University of Texas Longhorns! The…
Outlaws Training Camp
To answer your burning question a few weeks too late: yes, I watched “the big game” a couple Sundays ago. Hey – roll your eyes if you want. I’m not going to be the one the NFL makes an example of. I can already see the headline: “Budding Blogger Ignores Super Bowl and Owes NFL…
Toros Pay Tribute to Johnson
Next week marks the one-year anniversary of the death of Dennis Johnson. Barely 52 at the time, Johnson, a former NBA All-Star and Finals MVP, was in the middle of his second season as coach of the Toros when he suffered a heart attack and collapsed outside team practice at the Austin Convention Center on…
Band of the Month: The Moonhangers
The Moonhangers give outlaw country a good name
Scott Ritter Tonight
Former weapons inspector to talk at Friends Meeting House.
Magic Eight-Balling the Oscars
Marjorie Baumgarten and Kimberley Jones get their radio voice on
Arts Review
Ryan Lauderdale’s quasi-psychedelia and Michael Berryhill’s stylized visions have little relationship, but both artists make a strong showing
The Hightower Report
Democrats Suckered on Water-Boarding; and Sanctioning Corporate Autocracy
Travis Co. Early Voting
March 4 Primaries (Early Voting through Feb. 29)
Election Notes
Notes from the campaign trail
Bangers and Mash
France and Germany, allies in the dance dance revolution
In Remembrance of Raúl
Friends and colleagues of poet/activist Raúl Salinas pay tribute
In Play
Video game reviews
Charter Changes? Hold That Thought.
Austin gains another six months to mull over single-member districts
The Common Law
Avoid Foreclosure-Rescue Scams
In Play
Burnout Paradise Electronic Arts, $59.99 The first Burnout franchise game made for PlayStation3 (also on Xbox 360) isn’t about speed or control; it’s not about customizable cars or the near-vertigo graphics. Burnout Paradise is all about the tumbling, head over ass, yard-sale crashes. Immediately upon entering the sprawling metropolis of Paradise City – and yes,…
Day Trips
Woodward Ranch is an oasis on the desert and a wonderland of red plume agate and beautiful gemstones
The School-Bond Lowdown
AISD trustees tell staff to work on language for three bond propositions for May ballot
The Spiderwick Chronicles
This children’s fantasy holds a lot of emotional promise but get waylaid by an overabundance of CGI effects.
After a Fashion
Last week was all about film, and this week, music. Is Stephen excited about a certain upcoming festival or what?
In Play
NFL Tour EA Sports, $39.99 EA Sports’ NFL Tour has as much appeal as an Alvin and the Chipmunks Play the Music of Matchbox 20 tour. Both tours (real and fictional) would appeal to the same demographic: young kids. Really young kids. Young enough not to grasp the subtleties of EA’s Madden behemoth. If you…
Playing Through
Participating in the Austin Marathon is straight-up crazy, and incredibly admirable
Media Watch
KVET turns into poster child for station chaos, plus other tidbits
Step Up 2 the Streets
Romantic sparks fly (again) among students from different backgrounds at the Maryland School of the Arts.
Mr. Smarty Pants Knows
Tampons soaked in vodka before entry, sperm released on command by the angler fish, and more
In Play
Devil May Cry 4 Capcom, $59.99 The formula for a Devil May Cry game is straightforward: superfast action combining sword and gunplay, a brutal difficulty curve, lots and lots of demons, and some goth-rock. The newest entry, cleverly titled Devil May Cry 4, is the first to be released on the newest generation of consoles…
Soccer Watch
Amp’d play season finale, Potters continue their surge, and more
Olsen Firing Appeal Under Way
Civil Service Commission hearing testimony in case of APD officer terminated for fatal shooting of Kevin Brown
Jodhaa Akbar
From the director of Lagaan comes this masterful Bollywood epic about a 16th century marriage of political alliance that gave birth to true love.
Event Menu
Feb. 22-29
In Play
Turok Touchstone, $59.99 The last time we saw Turok was in 2002, when he debuted on the Nintendo GameCube, Play-Station2, and the original Xbox. Now Touchstone has reincarnated Turok for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation3, so what does the new dinosaur slayer have to offer? First of all, the plot. The 2008 Turok has changed…
Point Austin: About Us
A reminder of just how bad things have gotten
‘Arf Arf’ … or Is It ‘Barf Barf’?
Beverage company unveils bottled water for dogs
Little Chenier
This story set within the Cajun community of Lake Charles, La., immerses the viewer in the distinctive culture.
Food-o-File
Our own Wes Marshall wins Wine Press Award, Louie Mueller Barbecue named Official Best Barbecue in Texas, and more
Players Guide
News, rumors, and outright lies from the gaming realm
Beside the Point
Futrell’s City Hall reign comes to a quiet end, while council thinks “affordable” Downtown
Happenings
Feb. 21-28
Vantage Point
Like Rashomon, this Dennis Quaid vehicle replays a single event – the assassination of the U.S. president – from multiple points of view.
The Elements of Virtual Cooking
Video games that offer all the cooking and none of the food
DVD Watch
What kind of tender tyrant hinges a love story on a suicide attempt?
Naked City
Quote of the Week “We have made the Austin school district a premier urban district in this country. We should all be very proud of that.” – Austin Independent School District Superintendent Pat Forgione, announcing his decision to retire, after 10 years of service, in June 2009 Headlines • Early voting began this week in…
@ Newsdesk
U.S. House calls president’s fear-mongering bluff on permanent passage of Protect America Act
Witless Protection
Larry the Cable Guy embarks on a new comic misadventure.
Restaurant Review
La Mojarra Feliz 8624 N. Lamar, 491-6961 Sunday-Thursday, 11am-10pm; Friday-Saturday, 11am-11pm Ever been on the Mexican coast, sitting at one of the little seaside cabañas with your toes in the sand, drinking a cold beer and eating a pile of garlic shrimp or a big seafood cocktail? In case you are short of funds –…
Film News
Terrence Malick drops a 60,000 pound Tree in Smithville
Oops!
In last week’s “Primaries Looming Large,” we gave the wrong address for this Thursday’s Clinton-Obama debate. The debate is being held Thursday, Feb. 21, 7-8:30pm at the Recreational Sports Center (on 20th Street in between San Jacinto Boulevard and Robert Dedman Drive, two buildings south of Royal-Memorial Stadium). Not that it matters, since none of…
All Directions Home
Scot’s East-West vs. Celt’s North-South
Charlie Bartlett
If Ferris Bueller and Max Fischer of Rushmore joined together and had a child, their spawn would most certainly turn out something like Charlie Bartlett.
Restaurant Review
Fair Bean Coffee 2210 S. First, 444-2326 Monday-Wednesday, 6:30am-6:30pm; Thursday-Sunday, 7:30am-7:30pm www.fairbeancoffee.com Fair Bean Coffee is sunny, open, and spacious. The decor is understated: clean neutral tones, gentle lighting, plain wooden tables, and long, low white sofas. The music is usually acoustic and barely perceptible. This is a space meant for grownups, perfect for concentrating…
Keep It on the Download
Gaming, the agoraphobic way
Page Two: On Topic
Wading into the SXSW vitriol, despite repeated warnings
Ikiru
Japrocksampler
The Signal
The Signal is an audacious horror film that nonetheless veers on occasion into surreal black comedy.
Live Shots
Beerland, Feb. 15
TV Eye
Learning to love your local cable access programming
Flight of the Conchords
The reality about Aussie and Kiwi acts
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
Obtaining a back-alley abortion in Romania proves to be rivetingly tense in this visually spare but assuredly virtuosic film.
Live Shots
Ballet Austin, Feb. 16
Austin Museum of Art: On the Count of Three, a New Home
For the third time, AMOA is moving forward with plans to build a permanent facility Downtown
How the West Was Won
SXSWUK 2008
Rockeras
Mexico and Spain ‘hablan’ behind your back
Caramel
The denizens of a beauty parlor in Beirut depend on one another for friendship and support in this lovely Lebanese film.
Live Shots
Victory Grill, Feb. 16
Theatre Action Project: A birthday bash for your inner grownup
The arts organization serving youth marks its 10th year with a party for the adults among us
Precinct 2 Constables
Why on earth would anyone want to run for constable? You’d be surprised.
Cannibalist Manifesto
Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia on the pitch
Continued Story
Daniel Johnston’s songs find new life in the rock opera Speeding Motorcycle
Live Shots
Antone’s, Feb. 17
Merlin Works Institute and Gnap! Theater Season: Making the improv pie higher
Austin’s strong improv scene is about to get even stronger, with a new training center and performance space
Supreme Attention
Four candidates and only two open seats in play in high court race
Moosehead
Canada gets bigger
Arts Review
UT energetically takes on Charles Mee’s update of an ancient Greek drama and makes it very here, now
King Tears
A decade after the ValuJet crash claimed Walter Hyatt’s life, his posthumous archive celebrates his tender abilities once again
Off the Record
The British and Transmission Entertainment invade SXSW, Speeding Motorcycle rides into Zach Scott Theatre, and Spot opens Trailer Space
Noriega vs. McMurrey
Noriega and McMurrey go to the mat
Kortedala Syndrome
Night falls over Scandinavia
Arts Review
A vibrant, captivating production of a magnificent play that speaks beautifully on death, life, and human nature
Record Review
Some Unfinished Business, Volume One
‘Chronicle’ Endorsements
March 4 primary election
Craddick Under Siege
Speaker’s race gets curiouser and curiouser
Inevitable Influx
Asia, Africa, and everything after
Post-Game Quotes, Part Two
More from the spin zone.
Luv Doc Recommends: Spring Salsa Dance Festival 2008
“You’re painting by numbers/Connecting the dots/They don’t have to tell you you don’t call the shots/You jump when they say jump/and you don’t ask how high/’cause painting by numbers they know you’ll get by – James McMurtry, “Painting by Numbers” Salsa dancers look at their feet a lot. For the dancers themselves, this might just…
