Cover Story
The Class of 1985
The 69th Legislature, 1985, marked a turning point in the future of Texas politics
I Love Budapest
I Love Budapest 2001, NR, 100 min. Directed by Ágnes Incze, Starring Gabriella Hámori, Martina Kovács, Sándor Csányi, Tamás Lengyel. A country girl moves to the big city and meets a whole new crowd.
George Wallace: Settin’ the Woods on Fire
George Wallace: Settin’ the Woods on Fire 2000, NR, 167 min. Directed by Daniel McCabe, Paul Stekler, Narrated by Randy Quaid. McCabe and Stekler’s thoughtful film biography casts new light on the racist politician. See “The Road to Damascus,” and “The Least of These,” March 10, 2000, for more on the film.
The Garden of the Finzi-Continis
The Garden of the Finzi-Continis 1971, R, 95 min. Directed by Vittoria De Sica, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring Dominique Sanda, Lino Capolicchio, Helmut Berger, Fabio Testi, Romolo Valli. Winner of 1971’s best foreign film Oscar, this Italian movie tells the haunting story of an aristocratic Jewish family during World War II who…
Exhibitionism
In Different Stages’ production of John Patrick’s relatively old but charming play The Hasty Heart, quality performances help make the almost clichéd nature of the plot work
The Hard Feelings Reviewed
The Hard FeelingsRebels Against the Future (Dropkick/Beerland) Since the Hard Feelings smoke, the only thing missing from 2001’s You Won’t Like It … ‘Cuz It’s Rock n’ Roll were fire-retardant earplugs. The 32-minute backdraft was tearaway Austin punk torqued to the absolute max – supershitty to the max as Sweden’s Hellacopters might grin, only there…
Endorsements
Our endorsements for the March 9 Republican and Democratic primaries
Austin @ Large: Reading the Riot Act
I want a new central library, and I want it now
Exhibitionism
In Austin Playhouse’s production of Private Lives, an excellent ensemble mines Noël Coward’s witty wordplay and his characters’ spectacular self-absorption with comedic aplomb
Texas Platters
The Real HeroesGreetings From Russia You almost have to feel sorry for the Real Heroes. The Austin fivepiece has spent the past three years trying to shake the “joke band” tag hung on them (albeit perhaps unfairly) by 2000’s undeniably smirky The Real Heroes. Now, Greetings From Russia comes out at exactly the same time…
Early Voting: Monday, Feb. 23, through Friday, March 5
The joint primary election allows the Republican and Democratic parties to nominate candidates to represent their parties in the November election. (Other parties, e.g. Libertarian Party or Green Party, generally nominate candidates in conference or at a convention, and do not appear on the primary ballots.) You can vote in either the Republican or the…
The Hightower Report
The Pentagon scraps Internet voting; and Bush’s mining allies make molehills out of mountains
Exhibitionism
The U.S. of Cyndi Williams’ American Arcana is a country unraveling, and Refraction Arts’ production portrays this with a sense of urgency and tension
Texas Platters
Hardcore Troubadour: The Life & Near Death of Steve Earle by Lauren St. John Fourth Estate, 404 pp., $14.95 (paper) Steve Earle’s never been shy about living his life in public. Even the casual music lover probably knows about his five or six wives, the drugs that nearly ended his career, and his ability to…
Contested Races
Numerous races in the Democratic and Republican Party primaries feature uncontested candidates. These are the races (excluding precinct chairs) which include at least two candidates.Democratic Primary Ballotpresident Al Sharpton John Edwards Randy Crow Dick Gephardt Lyndon H. LaRouche Jr. Dennis J. Kucinich Wesley K. Clark John F. Kerry Joe Lieberman Howard Deanu.s. house district, 25…
Young’s Town, USA
A guided tour of ‘Greendale’
News/Print
Half Price Books looks around for a new home; Roddy Doyle, gloves off, comes to Austin
Texas Platters
Dexter FreebishTripped Into Divine (Sixthman) Used to be that your favorite local act made great indie music, got signed to a major label, recorded an accessible album too edgy for the corporate parents, and then got dropped. Soon, they resurfaced back on the edge, and made promising music again. Austin’s Dexter Freebish decided to ignore…
Election 2004
A crowded field angles to succeed Margo Frasier as sheriff
The Lighter Side
Todd Smiley is the gaffer in Austin
Page Two
Perry rumors fly and the police controversy rages
Texas Platters
Adam SultanHeinous Acts of Love (Pressing) There’s something amiss with Adam Sultan’s solo debut, Heinous Acts of Love. It plays like a lackluster film soundtrack. This comes as something of a surprise considering that Sultan, along with producer Eliot Haynes, has spent many years in the local theatre scene scoring plays. Here, however, his creation…
The Rest of the Races
With two Republican candidates vying to reclaim the GOP grip on House District 45, Democratic incumbent Patrick Rose – whose narrow victory sent the ethically challenged Rick Green packing in 2002 – isn’t taking anything for granted in this heavily Republican district. Rose, whose votes in favor of tort reform and other GOP-driven issues very…
In Memoriam: Sarah Jacobson
Sarah Jacobson
After a Fashion
Where Stephen went and who he went with. It’s all in bold. It’s all inside.
Texas Platters
Monte MontgomeryThe Story of Love (Harmonic) So ya wanna be a guitar star in Austin: Stand in line and read the instructions. First, distinguish yourself from the glut of string-benders that flock on every corner of Sixth Street. Then, be excruciatingly polite every time someone mentions the name “Vaughan” or “Johnson.” Finally, wait your turn…
TEA Takes Over Eastside Charter School
The state steps in at the Texas Academy of Excellence
SXSW Update
Newly announced SXSW Film 2004 events include …
Day Trips
Two new guides lead the way to some hidden Central Texas jewels
Texas Platters
Sheridan(India) Believe it or not, people besides 22-year-old peroxide ingenues and stripper-obsessed Atlanta producers can make great pop music. In fact, some of them live right here in Austin. Longtime local Sheridan Roalson, a veteran of the marginally successful bands Telray and the Sheridans, has gathered her friends from the India Records stable and made…
Will Walgreens Save Taco X-Press – or Vice Versa?
Neighbors torn over union of chain store and Southside icon
Short Cuts
A little bit of Austin rolls into Auckland
Mr. Smarty Pants Knows
Falling foreigners, familiar felines, and forgotten figures
Texas Platters
SeelaHard Times Hit Seela’s voice is her main calling card, soft and inviting, belying the darkness in her songs. Thus far in her local career, however, it’s her songwriting that’s been the problem, and on Hard Times Hit, once again it’s the weak point. Too many ramble, fuzzy and colorless, with self-indulgent lyrics that undermine…
Naked City
Headlines and happenings from Austin and beyond
TV Eye
Endings are tricky things
To Your Health
Growing weaker with age? Sarcopenia could be the culprit.
Texas Platters
James HandLive From the Saxon Pub Austin TX (KnightKlub) James Hand is an enigma. At 47, he looks and sounds way older than his years; his songs and voice would’ve been the perfect fit for a beer joint back in ’51 or so. Word has it Hand quit watching Hank Williams footage for fear of…
Naked City
The police union cools off, the Sophia King lawsuit is dropped, and the ministers march on City Hall
Spring Fashion Folio
A collection of Austin style makers and shakers
Soccer Watch
The battle for Europe; and American success in the Premiership
Texas Platters
FaronThis Town (Gen-u-ine) It takes some audacity to call yourself Faron, even if that’s your real name. Austin newcomer JD Faron has a great tenor, a twangin’ band, and a decent production on his local debut, but the songwriting is a little uneven. Uptempo tunes like “It’s Here,” the swampy “Tennessee Train,” and the swaggering…
Naked City
The feds punish transit authorities for carrying drug-reform ads
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen
Teenager suffers the horrors of moving from New York to New Jersey.
Second Helpings: Sushi, Part V
Kimchi Sushi 6406 N. I-35 #2343 Monday-Thursday, 11am-10pm; Friday, 11am-11pm; Saturday, noon-11pm; Sunday, noon-10pm This simply decorated restaurant located in Lincoln Village features a sushi bar in addition to its menu of Korean favorites. Sit at the bar and chat with the garrulous sushi chef while you sample some of Kimchi’s fresh-tasting yellowtail, tuna, or…
The Common Law
Mechanics’ liens and repair shop repossession?
Texas Platters
Boxcar SatanUpstanding and Indigent (Dogfingers) The blues may have been born in the Mississippi Delta, but Robert Johnson’s first recordings in 1936 were made at San Antonio’s Gunter Hotel. With their third full-length outing, SA’s Boxcar Satan pays a twisted sort of homage to their fair city’s musical legacy with a slam-bang concoction of blues…
Naked City
The governor’s political, not personal, sleeping arrangements deserve exposure
Clifford’s Really Big Movie
The big red animated dog runs away and joins the circus.
TCB
You don’t need money with a face like that, now do you honey?
About AIDS
We all ought to exercise, right? For the HIV-positive person, though, exercise isn’t just a way to stay buff – it’s literally about staying alive! We’ve known since the beginning that poz people who got regular exercise stayed healthier and survived longer. Today, the “why” is better understood, and there are new reasons related to…
Texas Platters
December: Downstairs at Stubb’s offered the perfect seasonal burrow for Tyler’s endearing Eisley clan, who gifted their second Warner Bros. EP to a den full of hungry pop sucklings. Shorter by a song than the previous, five-track Laughing City, and finally bearing the Reprise imprint, Marvelous Things continues the Belly rubbing with a pinch less…
Naked City
Subpoenas issued for Craddick’s records in spiraling campaign-cash probe
The Passion of the Christ
So the difference between this and a snuff film is … ?
Naked City
The SOS Alliance stops work — barely — on a controversial big-box project
Comfort, Upgraded
Zax Pints & Plates mixes boutique beers and a bistro menu – with predictably mixed results
Texas Platters
The Austin Lounge LizardsLizards Times Twenty: Live at Antone’s (Blue Corn) The Austin Lounge Lizards, those venerable purveyors of social wit and urban bluegrass, chose another venerable institution, Antone’s, to record their first DVD. Playing to a full house of reptilians, the fivepiece band performs with the droll, dry humor that’s made Richard Bowden, Conrad…
Naked City
The union gathers signatures to put collective bargaining on the May ballot
Broken Lizard’s Club Dread
Broken Lizard (the comedy group that gave us Super Troopers) spoofs summer-camp slasher flicks and lowbrow beach farces.
Finding a New Rhythm
After a health crisis, Tapestry’s Acia Gray slows things down
Food-o-File
It’s all about the barbecue
Texas Platters
When you plop on a record with a 30-minute opening track, it’s obvious you won’t be getting your stereotypical listening experience. Austin’s Charalambides have been burrowing a secret foxhole of eerie folk minimalism since their beginnings in Houston more than a dozen years ago, and they begin a new chapter of sorts with Unknown Spin.…
Naked City
Half a million expected at D.C. march in April
Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights
The story is similar to the popular original – but its Borscht Belt setting has been relocated to pre-revolutionary Cuba in 1958.
Tempted
The trials of St. Anthony get a modern hearing in UT Opera Theatre’s American premiere of Luis Jaime Cortez’s 1998 one-act opera, La Tentaciñn de San Antonio
Mini-Review
Continuing with the development along South Congress, D&L’s Texas Music Cafe is one of South Austin’s newest dining spots
Naked City
Doggett’s the only winner on the League of Conservation Voters scorecard
Greendale
Musician Neil Young imagines a whole town and its people in a Super-8 movie that serves as a companion piece to his CD and touring show.
Articulations
The Blanton chooses designers for its village green, last chance for input on city arts funding changes, and Mr. Sinus’ Owen Egerton gets hit by a train
Lost & Found
John Schooley’s Hard Feelings stay hard with Rebels Against the Future
What They Saw at the 69th Lege
The issues facing Texas, then and (still) now
Blaming It on Ralph, Again
The real question remains: How do we replace this two-horse scam?
The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons From the Life of Robert S. McNamara
Robert S. McNamara, the confounding former secretary of defense during the Vietnam era, may be visionary filmmaker Errol Morris’ best interview “get” ever.
Luv Doc Recommends: Jerm Pollet’s Punk Rock Campfire Music
If you’re one of those people who are new to town and still just don’t see what the big deal is, here’s a suggestion: Get out and explore. You’re never going to get a decent picture of Austin from the front seat of your car on your daily commute or from the dent in your…
