Cover Story
I Could Be So Happy
Heartless Bastards vocal quake Erika Wennerstrom moves The Mountain from Austin
Sitting Here Speechless
Snoop remixes Cash
The Pro Bowl
Who cares?
Willie & the Wheel
Four questions with Ray Benson
City Hall Hustle: Looking for Trouble
Sin City Hall Hustle?
The Lineup
Recommended music for the week of February 6 – February 12
I Used to Be a Wanker
An L.A.-based “movement” is proud of their T-shirts
Antony Has Queer Spirit
Antony and the Johnsons frontman on Fresh Air.
Coleman: Perry Slow on State Schools
Legislative Study Group chair asks why governor has left fixing state residential facilities to legislature
Hust FM: McCracken’s Digi-Dreams
Wells Dunbar and Mike B on the state of the mayors race – will the voters get chopped and screwed?
Aztex Update, WCQs, Bye Bye Beckham?
Aztex announce new signings, and hold final tryouts this weekend
Won’t Somebody Think About the Children?
Statewide kids advocacy groups spend day on outreach to legislators
The Second Coming
David Yow’s on board for the Music Awards
Horse Track Owners Call for ‘Racinos’
Study claims allowing slots at tracks could have $6.8 billion economic impact in Texas
Five Minutes with James Hyland
The South Austin Jug Band man heads to the Saxon tonight
Intellectual Property Half Off
UT-area store latest book shop to close in Austin
The Dick Knight Returns
Christian Bale goes nuts on set of Terminator: Salvation
Perry Issues Emergency Items Request
Governor asks lege for more cash for hurricane insurance, state schools, and high-tech detectors for police
Austin Outlaws Prep for ’09 Season
Austin’s women’s football team is ready to bring it
Lip-Sync for Your LIFE
Live commentary on the first episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race on Logo.
More Proof that Cops Have the Best Stash
A DPS trooper found nearly 10,000 pounds of pot in a broken down bus — but whose pot is it?
A Bear in a Funny Hat
The Pope promotes anti-gay pastor to bishop.
House Explodes in Hyde Park
Blast shakes buildings after report of gas leak
State Agencies Asked for Savings
Speaker, Lt. Gov. looking to cut 2.5% from current general revenue budget
House Calls for Statewide Broadcasts of Legislature
Letter signed by 97 members goes out to cable companies
Hot Diggity
Springsteen, moms, and more
Across the Sea of Time 3D
Across the Sea of Time 3D 1995, G, 51 min. Directed by Stephen Low, Starring Peter Reznick. ACROSS THE SEA OF TIME tells the compelling story of an 11-year-old Russian stowaway, Tomas, who arrives in New York hoping to meet up with a branch of his family who came to America decades earlier. Armed with…
SXSW 09 Film Lineup Announced
What’s all the ruckus? Why, it’s the SXSW Film lineup!
Texas Film Hall of Fame Slate Finalized
Billy Bob Thornton, John Cusack, and Dennis Quaid join the lineup for the ninth annual Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards
Two SBOE-Related Forums Coming Up
Events to educate public on Board of Education
Senate Committees Announced
Lt. Gov releases committee appointments with few changes for Travis delegation
Harptallica
Harptallica strings up metaldom’s Masters of Puppets at Headhunters
Ask. Tell. NOW.
Prime Timers host DADT discussion this weekend.
Lesbian Teens Must Go!
Fox News cares about teen lesbians?
Love, Writ Large
To Write Love on Her Arms
Selling (Ar)(Ou)t
Brandeis president backtracks, or does he?
Ingalls Inveighs Economically
“The hot topic is the deficit!”
Boot Camp Challenge: Week Two
Who said boot camp would be easy?
Adam Shepard’s “Scratch Beginnings” at BookPeople
The Chrontourage’s Lauren Modery checks out “Scratch Beginnings at BookPeople.
Democrats to Challenge Dunbar on Education Board
Shelton and Sadun planning or contemplating 2010 runs
Don’t Get Pricked on Sunday
APD says it will be running its “no refusal” policy on Super Bowl Sunday
MetroRail Open Houses Coming Up
Views of the train and how it works coming to five of the stations
Reopened for Business
Make Watch Love Film party celebrates Austin Studios’ remodel
Live Shots
KRS-One Mohawk, Jan. 24 KRS-One is nothing if not a man of extremes. Saturday night at Mohawk, the hip-hop pioneer unloaded his hits early, opening with the siren alarm of “South Bronx,” from Boogie Down Productions’ 1987 opus, Criminally Minded, and continued through the boom bap “Sound of Da Police” and “Black Cop.” Then the…
Reefer Madness: Don’t Talk About It
El Paso City Council’s resolution calling for an ‘open debate’ on legalizing drugs draws threats of funding cuts
Che: Part Two
Steven Soderbergh concludes his two-part biopic with Che’s Bolivian endgame.
Film News
An Oscar, a zombie, and a film incentive walk into a bar …
Mr. Smarty Pants Knows
Feet muscles, ‘gateway’ bands, and more
Over Their Dead Bodies
The Texas Rangers want to expand – the dead will just have to move
After a Fashion
Stephen finds the natural ‘Segway’ between Critical Mass and SaladShooters
Gay Place
This week has been declared by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network as No Name-Calling Week
FLDS Evidence in Dispute
Attorneys squabble over evidence taken during last spring’s Yearning for Zion raid
The Hightower Report
Obama Must Be Even Bolder Than FDR; and Bringing Fairness to the American Workplace
TV Eye
DTV transition day is looming. Are you prepared?
TPPF: Sneering at Workers and ‘Blowing Up’ Public Policy
At its annual conference, the Texas Public Policy Foundation sticks to its mantra of less government, fewer taxes
Book Reviews
A fine exploration into four families who wildcatted their way into unprecedented wealth and their fair share of scandal
Day Trips
The Jean and Price Daniel Home and Archives is about as close as you can get to seeing the Texas Governor’s Mansion these days
Delisi Jingles the Keys to TxDOT’s Highways
TxDOT board Chair Delisi delicately lays out goals for agency
Skimming a Long
A roundup of the 2009 FronteraFest Long Fringe
Book Reviews
What these early diaries give is a sense of the author and cultural analyst in the process of becoming the international touchstone known as Susan Sontag
Arts Review
This revival of Brian Friel’s lyrical drama is a reminder of the power of memory
On the Lege
It turns out that the State Board of Education knows more about science than real scientists!
Respublica
Thursday29 DESIGN VOICE KICKOFF brings architects and Austinites together to discuss housing advocacy and community building (see “Naked City” for more). 6-7:30pm. Center for Architecture, 801 W. 12th. www.realcommunity.ning.com. CENTRAL WEST AUSTIN LAND USE PLANNING WORKSHOP 6:30-9pm. LCRA Red Bud Facility, 3601 Lake Austin Blvd., 974-2857. Free. www.cityofaustin.org/zoning/central_west_austin.htm. SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS SUMMIT Thu.-Fri., Jan. 29-30. McCombs…
Alain Braux
Chef Alain Braux brings health and flavor together for Peoples Rx
Arts Review
A high-speed train of spoken word, crackling improv, and raw poetry
PUD Ordinance in Action
The new South Shore District PUD tests the new PUD ordinance
Web Extra: War of Words Over War on Drugs
Download the City Council resolution and letters from El Paso representatives.
Liquid Assets
Colombia Crest’s Two Vines line provides oceans of wine for less than $10 a bottle
Arts Review
Artfully crafted stacks of junk mail address time, the environment, and much more
Lake Austin Shoreline Shortcuts Raise Alarm
A new grassroots group aims to draw City Council’s attention to environmental concerns of Lake Austin
The Common Law
How Do I Start My LLC?
Event Menu
Your local foodie events for Feb. 6-8
A Cacophony of Passions
Why the City Council changed the boards and commissions system – and what still needs to be done
Point Austin: Left Unstated
A few omissions in the governor’s State of the State
Food-o-File
Feb. 16 is the day for changes on the restaurant news beat, Mighty Fine is the place for families during the recession, and more
The New B&C: What Changed?
Major alterations to standardize the structure, policies, and processes of the city’s boards and commissions system became effective last year. They affect the 43 boards listed in, and governed by, Chapter 2-1 of City Code. Here are the key changes and their significance. • One per council member. The biggest policy change is that each…
Headlines
News briefs from Austin, the state, and beyond
Heartless Bastards
The Mountain (Fat Possum) Interband breakups always make for inspired recordings. The Heartless Bastards’ third album and first since guitarist/vocalist Erika Wennerstrom split with longtime boyfriend/bassist Mike Lamping and relocated to Austin, The Mountain proves no exception. A sense of detachment and displacement lingered throughout 2006’s All This Time, and here those feelings are stripped…
Restaurant Review
Lovers of Castle Hill Cafe fret not: With a pleasant makeover and a refocusing of the menu, Corazon is a lovely offspring
The B&C List
Below is our subjective division of city boards and commissions into tiers, based on the degree to which council members rely on them for advice, reviews, and recommendations. The city’s website lists some 56 boards and commissions. Of these, 43 are named and governed by Chapter 2-1 of the City Code; those are the boards…
Naked City
News briefs from Austin, the state, and beyond
The Showstoppers
Zach Theatre’s youth troupe applies its serious talent to premiering a new musical
Restaurant Review
With more than 30 years of experience between them, Michael Hall and Chip Tait have succeeded in establishing a comfortable, casual neighborhood ice house
Board Members: Voices
Betty Baker Chair, Zoning and Platting Commission First appointed (to ZAP): Aug. 2, 2001 Nominated by: Randi Shade “I serve simply because I genuinely care. [It’s satisfying to know] I have constructively assisted in the future of Austin and contributed objectively in the process.” Linda Guerrero Chair, Parks and Recreation Board First appointed: April 25,…
City Hall Hustle: Safety in Numbers
The mayoral race gets cracking, so getcha program here!
Barbara Smith Conrad
A week of celebration for the great mezzo where her career was launched against all odds
Letters at 3AM
Every dollar we print is a prayer that China won’t turn us away
Further Consideration
Despite changes, there’s still room for improvement
Page Two: Balancing Act
Several tiny steps in search of a dance to winter – and a dance toward launching into reverie
Creative Research Laboratory
This exhibition exploring cultural modification will keep evolving over time
Live Shots
John Legend Bass Concert Hall, Jan. 23 That John Legend pleaded for the “Green Light” at the end of his 90-minute cuddle and tussle Friday night at the University of Texas’ newly refurbished Bass Concert Hall attests to the slow jammer’s stamina. Of course OutKast Andre 3000’s middle-section rap via the song’s visuals, projected on…
Hanging Fire: The Tortuous B&C Task Force
Given the awkward third-party role of boards in city governance, it’s not surprising that their restructuring has enacted, in the words of mayoral aide Rich Bailey, “a long and tortured history.” One hard-working member of the 2001-2003 Boards and Commissions Process Review Task Force ruefully referred to the experience of serving as “a forced march…
From Penitentiaries to Picture Shows
Spiderwood Studios founder Tommy Warren follows the dream
Live Shots
Coma in Algiers Red 7, Jan. 23 Friday night offered a quintet of experimental local bands, each drafting its own version of the noise ordinance. Venison Whirled, the solo project of ST 37 drummer Lisa Cameron, welded sewer sounds from a vibrator and contact mics, among other things. No Wave quartet A Faulty Chromosome’s equation…
Off the Record
Announcing the 2008-09 Austin Music Awards lineup and sneaking past the velvet rope at Pangaea, while Andrew Kenny trades American Analog Set for the Wooden Birds
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
Despite being the third entry in the Underworld series, this is a prequel story about the age-old war between the vampires and the werewolves.
Sick, Twisted, and Seriously Funny
Austin animator Lance Myers finds a new home with Spike & Mike and on that wacky World Wide Web
Live Shots
Warren Hood & the Hoodlums Momo’s, Jan. 24 It’s impossible to know what Warren Hood was thinking as he stepped up to the microphone at just past 10pm on Saturday night. His boyishly handsome face shone under the spotlight, much as it did when he sang in honor of his late father, Champ Hood, at…
Playing Through
Sophomore guard Kat Nash is having a breakthrough year for Gail Goestenkors’ Longhorn squad
New in Town
A strident Renée Zellweger stars in this forgettable fish-out-of-water comedy.
Where’s the Summer Sausage Blimp?!
Snack Food Stadium
Luv Doc Recommends: FronteraFest Long Fringe’s ‘The Dick Monologues’
Consider the possibility that you don’t know dick. You might think you do … rather intimately even. Some people might have mistaken you for a dick once or twice. In fact, you might have actually been one at some point or another. Even if you haven’t been a dick, there’s a small chance that your…
