When Is Austin Not “Austin”?
Debate flares over research on Black Austin diaspora
Federal Edges Out Swift’s Attic
Miami eatery wins Best New Restaurant battle with a “biskit”
From Westeros to College Station
George R. R. Martin to give milestone book to Texas A&M
Rep. Molly White Not Quite Sure Who’s an American
Republican rep says Muslim visitors should pledge allegiance to U.S.
The Trials of Tribulation
Ghoulish death hounds return for a Texas-style massacre
A Fiesta Fit for la Reina
Corpus Christi Selena Fest packed with Grammy winners and lots of heart
Lupe Fiasco: Tetsuo & Youth
Chicago MC delivers a meta-religious tome
Welcome Back, Neighbor
SNL-starry Good Neighbor to headline Austin Sketch Fest
First Look: 40 North Pizza
Trailer’s wood-fired oven turns out Neapolitan pizza
Shout OUT: Jen Mulhern
These are the people in our gayborhood: The silence between the beats
Happy Hundredth Birthday, Paramount Theatre!
Austin’s original vaudeville stage announces Lyle Lovett and more
Juliet Replaces Romeo’s
Austin’s original restaurant row getting new Italian eatery
Volunteer Blow-OUT
Calling all Lz, Gz, Bz, Tz, Qz, and Az: Heed this call up.
Logan Green Tabbed for SXSW
Lyft CEO becomes Interactive’s fifth and final keynote speaker
The AggreGAYtor: January 27
What happened today in gay? Here’s your QILTBAG recap of queer news.
My Life As Marky Ramone
Ramones drummer spins stories tonight at the Long Center
Multilingual in Movement
Hubbard Street Dance returns with an international program
Mo’ Music Monday: Björk’s Vulnicura
An Icelandic broken heart just in time for Valentine’s Day
Phillip Perea Commits Suicide
Former Fox employee blames corp for killing his career
Jack White Towers Over the Austin Music Hall
Night two of a sold-out stand
The Q&A Hole: Killing a Human?
With Jon Lebkowsky, Marc English, Rowan Hagemann, and more
The AggreGAYtor: January 26
What happened today in gay? Here’s your QILTBAG recap of queer news.
News Roundup: Roe, Council, and Complaints
The abortion debate continues; Council gets ready
Winners and Losers on the Senate Committees
The shakeout from Dan Patrick’s first chair shuffle
DVDanger: The Atticus Institute
Or, in defense of found footage and mockumentaries
Food-o-File: Weekend Lagniappe
A little extra Austin food news
Bill of the Week: Barriers to Bypass
Legislation would make abortion access more difficult for minors
One in a Crowd: Children of Morta
Help crowdfund a return to the glory days of 2D gaming
A Lost Silent Film Is Found
Daughter of the Dawn starred Quanah Parker’s kids
Shout OUT: Georgeanne Freeman
These are the people in our gayborhood: Transitional support
Another Fastball for Hank Aaron
Legendary slugger hits Austin, revisits 80 years of accomplishments
SXSW Music: List Four
First of regular Friday blasts notches total acts past 1,000
Mardi Gras 2015: Carnival Digs
Where to laissez lay those bones during Mardi Gras season
Estate Sale Roundup: January 23-25
Swing your wallet in any direction, and you’ll find an estate sale.
OUTsider-ness
Bjork’s new album is not the only thing leaked this week
The AggreGAYtor: January 23
What happened today in gay? Here’s your QILTBAG recap of queer news.
SXSW Gaming Finalists Announced
Local noms include The Banner Saga, Talos Principle, & Rooster Teeth
The Boy Next Door
Jennifer Lopez stars in this brazenly dumb MILF thriller.
A Most Violent Year
Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain anchor this simmering drama set in the semi-lawless New York City of 1981.
Cake
In a rare dramatic role, Jennifer Aniston plays a woman grappling with chronic pain, painkiller addiction, and personal tragedy.
Baby
An elite counterintelligence task force fights terrorism in India.
Beeruva
Telugu romantic comedy.
Chaar Sahibzaade
Animated historical drama. In Punjabi.
Dolly Ki Doli
Hindi romantic comedy about a con woman who serially marries men in order to steal their fortunes.
Mary’s Land
This production of Spain presents the perspective of a Devil’s Advocate sent to investigate religious claims about the Virgin Mary.
The Luv Doc: Phallocentrism
Dear Luv Doc, Why is it that certain guys on dating sites (and elsewhere) think that women appreciate dick pics? When ever has a man had success with that approach? All I ever do is share the pic with all my friends so we can laugh about what an idiot the guy is who sent…
R100
Drafthouse Films is distributing this Japanese S&M mindwarp. You could do far worse for midnight-date movie fare.
The Wedding Ringer
Kevin Hart and Josh Gad crank out this aggressively dumb and un-embarrassingly sophomoric wedding comedy.
Texas Platters
Veering left of Americana, the solo debut from Milton Mapes/Monahans principal Greg Vanderpool cashes in gradual West Texas soundscapes for a more precise, inwardly focused take on desolation. Eight short, sharp pleas garner thematic unity under the umbrella of loss. “End of the Fight” opens on a hard-picked acoustic guitar that gives wiry, urgent form…
Day Trips: Kiki’s Mexican Restaurant, El Paso
A little place with a big reputation
Public Notice: Government by Committee
So, I presume you’re heading down to City Hall this evening (Thursday, Jan. 22), to the “special-called City Council meeting, public hearing, and interactive town hall” to discuss the sweeping changes in City Council structure and process proposed by Mayor Steve Adler and the new 10-1 Council. Assuming the half-million or so of us who…
Texas Platters
Quite a few women have traveled the roads paved by Lucinda Williams. Seldom do they get to the heart of the matter like Christy Hays. This six-song effort, a follow-up to her impressive 2012 debut Drought, finds the Tuscola, Ill.-born Austin resident all over the musical map yet with definite folk and country roots. “Am…
Soccer Watch
Former Austin Aztex forward Khiry Shelton (Vista Ridge High) went to NYCFC as the second player picked in last week’s MLS SuperDraft. Four other former Aztex – defender Kalen Ryden, and midfielders Tony Rocha, Dan Metzger, and Seth Casiple – were drafted as well, bringing the count to 13 players picked up by the MLS…
Texas Platters
In his liner notes for this vault cull from Austin’s most iconic musician, longtime Willie Nelson harp cat Mickey Raphael observes that much travel time aboard the Honeysuckle Rose involves the boss and his sister jamming. “Why not record our favorite songs like we play them for ourselves?” wondered pianist Bobbie. Family Band members pop…
Lege Lines: The 84th Session Begins
News from the first weeks of the 84th legislative session
Texas Platters
“Demeter’s Danse” and “Sandansko Horo” open local sextet Mundi’s fourth album with widescreen vistas of rolling green hills and blues skies, possibly in New Zealand or Ireland, a helicopter cam sweeping across the frame as a horseman rides in. The melancholy “El Camino” floats over images of a funeral, but the title track settles in…
Gun Bullies Lead … Lawmakers Follow
Gun activists mob Capitol to mixed reception
Actors’ Inequity
The Cost of Art IV: The artists onstage in Austin aren’t just not paid what they’re worth, many aren’t paid at all
Texas Platters
Listing all the local legacies represented in Why Not Satellite’s lineup would flesh out a musical chronology stretching from Austin’s late Seventies to the present day. Fronted by Standing Waves principals Larry Seaman and Randy Franklin, the foursome focuses on the mid-Eighties nexus of power-pop and collegiate rock. Their debut doesn’t upturn anything new, but…
Lege: Here Comes the Culture War
The culture war begins as conservative lawmakers file “religious freedom” bills
Who Pays What
From my survey of 11 local theatre producers, here is a rough look at what they currently pay actors. All figures were supplied by company artistic directors. The Equity Companies Austin Playhouse Min. AEA contract (3-5 per show): $222/wk Non-AEA: Typically slightly less than AEA Austin Shakespeare Min. AEA contract (3-5 per show): $222/wk Non-AEA:…
Texas Platters
Gather up enough Dead Space, Flesh Lights, and Swans, and you get a stash of Nazi Gold. The local trio aligns the latter’s god of thunder Thor Harris (Shearwater) with Space man Quin Galavis and Lights bassist Jeremy Steen for a quartet of songs flexing post-punk. Dissonant chord clashes merge with a thrumming rush-and-pound in…
Council: Fire in the Hole
The new Council begins its re-organization
The Good Eye: Oh Buoyancy
… like Sandra Bullock in the Shenzhou capsule, hours after George Clooney’s dimples have drifted into the fathomless beyond
Help Desk
The rise of flaky daters or just an uptick in choosiness? Help Desk takes a look.
Death Watch: Homicide, Drugs, Mental Incapacity
Garcia Glen White’s time is running out
Nick Drake
A new tome sheds light on the mythic UK folkie
Humans Being Human
Bad behavior in Ruben Östlund’s observational kinda-comedies
AISD: New South High School(s)?
AISD mulls over a possible South Austin high school
Food Events
Second Annual Bacon and Beer Festival A sizzling party benefiting the Capital Area Food Bank, featuring 30 Central Texas restaurants and 12 area craft breweries. Sun., Jan. 25, 2:30-5pm. Fair Market, 1100 E. Fifth. $45. www.edibleaustin.com/baconandbeer. 14th annual Vintner Dinner Series A weekly showcase of Texas wineries. This week: Bella Vista Ranch in Wimberley. Saturdays.…
Gay Place: GSC – the Place to Be
Hoof on down to the Longhorn home of gender diversity as the GSC celebrates 10 years
Anti-Immigration Lawsuit on Shaky Ground
Anti-immigrant lawyers file Brownsville lawsuit against Obama order
Native Family
Midwestern comfort food
Sanctuary in the Past
In The Whispering Swarm, Michael Moorcock confronts ghosts – history’s and his own – in a secret area of London
10-1 Ticker… Council Updates!
Updates on the new 10-1 City Council
Connecting a Whole Community
Austin and Google Fiber move to bridge the digital divide
Oops!
The Jan. 16 “Food-o-File” incorrectly stated that Ms. P’s Electric Cock food trailer was located in the Picnic food court on Barton Springs. Owner Perry Ray is using that trailer for her mobile operation. The correct address of her permanent location is 1101 S. Congress.
NFL “Millions” Boost Hotline
The National Domestic Violence Hotline has more money, but also more calls to answer
Speeding Up the Competition
Google Fiber Plan: Gigabit Internet: 1 Gigabit speed (1,000 Mbps) Price: $70 per month Plan: Basic Internet: 5 Mbps download; 1 Mbps upload Price: Free, with one-time $300 construction fee Location: Parts of South and Southeast Austin Grande Communications Plan: Power 1000 / 1 Gigabit speed Price: $64.99 per month Location: Buda, West Campus, parts…
Playback: Hanging in the House of Songs
The House of Songs, Hotel Vegas on tour, and Terminator Too: Judgment Play
The Hightower Report: McDonald’s Desperately Seeks Love
McDonald’s preaches “lovin’,” but does that gospel extend to its treatment of its employees?
Are You Getting Googled?
Google Fiber rolled out Dec. 1 for residents in some areas of South and Southeast Austin; here are the sign-up deadlines for the next Austin “Fiberhoods”: Bluebonnet – Jan. 29 Lady Bird Lake – March 12 Emerald Forest – April 23 Ben White – June 4 Onion Creek – July 16 Source: Google Fiber Austin
Headlines
The new City Council rumbles into action today (Jan. 22) with a morning executive session and briefing and an evening Town Hall for public input on proposed changes in the committee and meeting structure. See “Public Notice” and “Council: Fire in the Hole.” AISD’s leadership vacuum should be filled on Jan. 26, as trustees are…
Food-o-File
A big week for the Chameleon Group
Texas Platters
“Left for dead,” roars Lost Well doorman Timo Corken in “Victims of Roadside Attack,” point song on the first full-length by Austin’s Blood Royale. Unleashing blind fury, he promises payback will be a b-i-t-c-h. Blurring the line between blackened punk and metalcore, the emulsifying frontman and his not-so-merry band of marauders (including Dixie Witch string-smasher…
Changelings
The Vortex’s staging of Reina Hardy’s magical new play, Changelings, casts a uniquely compelling spell
Mr. Smarty Pants Knows
Wolves don’t use a den in the winter. A 100-mph fastball weighs 0.000000000002 grams more when traveling than it does at rest (relativity!). According to one reader, the reason why they keep it so incredibly cold in Travis County Jail, is not to punish the inmates, but actually to keep body odor to a minimum.…
AC Food Fight: Cauliflower Tacos
The battle of the brassicas
Texas Platters
Los Angeles reissue specialists Omnivore did such justice to Old 97’s masterpiece Too Far to Care, it’s no surprise they’ve now revamped the Dallas quartet’s 1994 debut. In fact, Hitchhike to Rhome’s upgrade triumphs all around. Remastered, the original 16 tracks – songs still in the band’s repertoire (“Dancing With Tears,” “Doreen,” “4 Leaf Clover”)…
Arts Review
Theresa Rebeck’s play about stamps has surprsingly high stakes, but they aren’t always realized in Different Stages’ production
Point Austin: Perry’s Farewell
It’s time to say goodbye to the Governor-for-Life
Calling the Shots
The women defining Austin’s cocktail culture
Texas Platters
Austin’s outsider bard flips to Los Angeles brand Burger Records for his eighth LP and serves up a sonically superior platter of slacker rock spiked with punk and country. Propelled by the rhythm section of Julia Hungerford and Geena Spigarelli, with additional bass by the Flesh Lights’ Jeremy Steen, and varnished with a cleaner vocal…
Arts Review
The improvised movements of Julie Nathanielsz and her dancers were full of refreshing surprises
Quote of the Week
“I know ’cause I won both of them.” – President Obama’s response to Republican applause when he said, “I have no more campaigns to run,” during his State of the Union address this week.
