Cover Story
Juke Joint Blues
Blues Boy Hubbard strolls down Eastside Austin’s Chitlin’ Circuit memory lane
QUEERAOKE = Fabulous Prizes
Win fabulous prizes at tonight’s Queeraoke!
Lake Latest: Floodgate Closed
Now the floodgates are closed, will the city re-open the lakes for the weekend?
Voxtrot Guy to World: ‘The Internet Is a Very Dark Place to Be’
Ramesh from Voxtrot vents about bloggers.
Crush on U
Penthouse Forum got nothing on the Texan’s Firing Line.
Lightning, Tornados, Dynamo, and More
Guaranteed 76% Beckham-free. The Austin Lightning will be fighting to extend their rain-shortened season this Saturday, in their final scheduled game of the 2007 campaign. A win over the rival DFW Tornados would greatly enhance the chances that the PDL will reschedule a rained-out game against El Paso. July 21, 7:30pm, at Southwest Williamson Co.…
Mr. Vick
I’ve never liked Mike Vick, or Michael Vick, or St. Michael, or whatever people are calling him this month. For this, I will call him “Mr. Vick.” I warned when Atlanta swapped draft picks with San Diego back in 2001 and selected the embattled quarterback with the No. 1 overall selection that the franchise would…
Introducing the Interfaith Mini Challenge
Calling all faith-based organizations: The Chronicle has partnered with Austin Area Interreligious Ministries and Texas Interfaith Power & Light to bring you the newest Kill-a-Watt Mini Challenge. The church, synagogue, or other faith-based organization with the most energy savings will win prizes … Austin’s most energy-intensive months of the summer are August and September, so…
Mini Challenge No. 1 Results: What We Learned About Daylight CFLs
A few weeks ago, we launched the first Kill-a-Watt Mini Challenge, posing the pressing question: What are daylight compact fluorescent lightbulbs good for (aside from making your kitchen look all eerie and blue)? Congratulations to Nick Littlejohn and Arthur Simon, whose answers we liked best. For their hard work, we gave them one dejected daylight…
Paul Mosley to Address Sunshine Campers
Ex-Baylor Bear running back and current NFL free agent Paul Mosley will speak with kids in the Austin-area Sunshine Camps about setting and achieving their personal goals. Mosley has a long history of involvement with the Young Men’s Business League’s Austin Sunshine Camps having attended the camps during his childhood. Mosley was a standout RB…
The Return of Mary Beth Harrell
Former Congressional candidate now on television and radio
Doggett and Dems at Midnight Iraq Debate
Photos from the congressman’s office.
Hammering, the Natural Way
City to run a green building workshop for eco-friendly DIYers.
RG4N Lawsuit Meeting This Evening
Info on the meeting where “all will be revealed!”
Queen Lo-La Update
More on Lozina Stephen’s strange housing situation.
Safe to Swim? Yup!
Is it safe to swim at Hippy Hollow yet, without risking a dose of something nasty? We ask the experts.
Summer Skate Fest and New Skate Park Opening in Round Rock
It’s a big weekend coming up for the Central Texas skateboarding community with the grand opening of a brand-spanking-new skate park in Round Rock and the fourth-annual installment of the Summer Skate Fest. The Summer Skate Fest is being hosted by Tekgnar and the city of Austin and is free to the public and the…
KAOS at Conan’s Pizza
KAOS95.9.com benefit at Conan’s Pizza.
Chi-Town Whole Foods Comes Out, Naturally
Austin-based Whole Foods makes history as the first anchor tenant of a GLBT community center, Chicago’s Center on Halsted.
Wrangler Dane Krager Named to Al Lucas Hero Team
Named in honor of deceased Los Angeles Avenger lineman Al Lucas, the Al Lucas Hero Award is presented to the Arena Football League player who “makes the most significant contribution to both his community and the game of Arena Football.” In an AFL game between the Avengers and the New York Dragons on April 10,…
Nubian Queen Lo-La: Don’t Tread on My Trim!
Nubian Queen Lozina Stephens facing eviction for … a purple door?
Austin Climate Protection Plan
Announced in February, Austin’s new climate-protection plan aims, among many other things, to power 100% of Austin’s city facilities with renewable energy by 2012 and make all city facilities, fleets, and operations carbon-neutral by 2020. Click here to read the plan; click here to read Chronicle coverage.
Bushies vs. the House, Part 2068
The White House faces three big deadlines today at the House Judiciary Committee.
Off the Wall
The Wall of Sound festival tears down Fort Worth.
POTUS Candidates on Pot
Reefer on the presidential campaign trail
Get Yer Boat On
Lake Travis open, Lake Austin to stay closed for rest of week.
Welcome to Election ’08!
The GOP test-drives next year’s talking points for the press.
Mayor’s Statement on Futrell Retirement
Wynn calls for national search, asks Toby to stay until the end.
Breaking: Futrell Bows Out May 2008
The CM announces her departure
Slusher Speaks
Daryl Slsuher on the comments regarding his hiring by the City Manager.
Hot Butch on Butch Action
AfterEllen came up with a list of “The Top 15 Hottest Butches,” and all’s we got was this lousy chain wallet. Sister, please.
‘Magic’ Game Day at the Dragon’s Lair
“Well, I wouldn’t exactly call it a sport,” Brian Melcher (events coordinator at the Dragon’s Lair) told me Saturday, July 14, when I approached him about doing a write-up on the Magic tournament going on in the Lair’s lair. Saturday was a historic day in the realm of Magic: The Gathering, for it was on…
The Last Repose of Lady Bird Johnson
Notes from the public viewing of Lady Bird Johnson.
Lake Ban: They’re Not Kidding
Latest on the lake boating ban
‘Magic’ Game Day, Saturday, July 14
Coinciding with the highly anticipated release of the latest addition to the Harry Potter series, Saturday, July 14 (as in tomorrow) is officially Magic Game Day. Yup. In an effort to unite Magic: The Gathering players around the world, Wizards of the Coast have organized the first worldwide Magic Game Day. Gaming stores and hobby…
Hold That Holsinger
Bush Surgeon General nominee under scrutiny.
Friendly Fire in the Culture Wars: Pt. 2
Camouflaged headphones in the courtroom.
Smith, Privilege and Pork
Austin’s US Rep has a busy week as the GOPer comes to the president’s defense.
Brewster McCracken, Wife Divorcing
We received this email last night from city council member Brewster McCracken: I have prepared a short statement below confirming that I and my wife Mindy Montford have agreed to a divorce. We were married in 1995 and have been separated for the last seven months. Mindy is an assistant district attorney with the Travis…
Friendly Fire in the Culture Wars: Pt 1
Just for the weekend: the lighter side of the “war on terror.”
So Gay for Beckham Right Now
It’s the invasion of the PoshXXX!
No Break for Boaters
Travis stays closed, Barton Springs opens.
Wreck of the Elizabeth Dane
Ghost stories
Duck!
Foie gras vandals strike again
Suggested Reading and Tips for People Considering Bariatric Surgery
1) Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding – Achieving Permanent Weight Loss With Minimally Invasive Surgery by Jessi H. Ahroni, Ph.D., ARNP (iUniverse, $13.95): A very informative paperback written in a down-to-earth, approachable style by a woman who is both a certified family nurse practitioner and a successful Lap-Band patient. Fighting Weight by Khaliah Ali, Dr. George…
Scott Panetti: Sane Enough to Execute?
Supremes’ June 28 ruling in case of Texas death row inmate Scott Panetti concludes that law requires condemned inmates have some ‘rational understanding’ of why they’re being executed in order to satisfy Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment
In Space
The Fiction Liberation Front
What Can a Century Tell Us?
Looking at two art exhibitions that both survey 100 years of imagery, the more things change …
Independent Food
A letter from Boggy Creek Farm
Local Critters Struggle Through Wet Weather
Austin, Hill Country’s animals getting hammered by rains, other harsh conditions
Film News
Austinite Chris Eska’s August Evening wins big at LAFF, a year after locals Gretchen and Chalk did
Austin Chamber Music Festival: The aria of Anne Frank
For the first time in its 11-year history, the annual Austin Chamber Music Festival will present an opera: the Texas premiere of Grigori Frid�s The Diary of Anne Frank
Wine of the Week
Try France
Naked City
Quote of the Week”There is nothing cavalier about how I feel. I feel like a truck ran over me.” – City Manager Toby Futrell, in response to Tuesday’s Statesman editorial criticizing her “alarmingly cavalier attitude toward a legitimate area of inquiry.” Headlines• Former first lady Lady Bird Johnson died Wednesday at her home in West…
TV Eye
Walls come tumbling down
Girls Girls Girls: The female of the species
Girls Girls Girls launches its Boys of Summer series with guest male improviser Jeremy Lamb
Food-o-File
Caffe Medici celebrates a big win at the South Central Regional Barista Competition
Happenings
July 12-18
In Full: ‘Vertical Miles,’ a short, very amateur film
Download video: ‘Vertical Miles,’ a short, very amateur film
Arts Review
The strength of The Buttons and Bows Show is Buttons and Bows, beautiful souls whose innocence is charming and heartbreaking
Event Menu
July 13-19
Holly Power Plant to Close, Really!
Austin Energy announces it has received approval from Electric Reliability Council of Texas to shutter plant’s remaining two units
DVD Watch
WR: Mysteries of the OrganismCriterion, $39.95 Sweet MovieCriterion, $29.95 “Hey Potemkin, aren’t you from that famous revolution that failed?” chirps Sweet Movie’s Anna Planeta to the ardent young sailor who has just boarded her floating candy shop. It trolls the canals of Amsterdam with a bust of Karl Marx on its prow, the better to…
Arts Review
The Zilker Summer Musical production of My Favorite Year triumphed over the recent storms and occasionally over the show’s weak material
Morales Murder Update: Amateur boxer charged
Police charge 20-year-old with manslaughter, assault, and theft in connection with June 19 death
Culture Flash!
The skinny on selecting public art, Cookie leads Dance/ USA, Conspirare goes worldwide, and a UT playwright’s scholarly honors
Off the Record
Austin’s musical landscape and its evolution continue rumbling down on Red River, documenting Roky Erickson, and the Weary Boys call it quits
Change Afoot in Public Health Care
Takeover of city and county’s health-care clinics began in earnest last week as Travis County Healthcare District filed federal paperwork to assume grantee status as operator of federally qualified medical clinics
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Yes, it’s true: Harry Potter manages his first kiss, in between all manner of expository storytelling, and never was a young man’s wand more ever-ready.
Word Up, Showdown
Austin’s teen poets unfurl their flag in Silicon Valley
Texas Platters
SpoonGa Ga Ga Ga Ga (Merge) Those first few chugs are as familiar as the smell of morning coffee, each one aggressive, serious. Spoon’s sixth LP beams with decades of research and development by one Britt Daniel. And just like the signature sounds that came before (“Everything Hits at Once” from Girls Can Tell, Kill…
Training Program for Nurses in the Works
Hoping it will attract new nursing blood to Central Texas and keep it here, Seton Family of Hospitals announces formation of Versant RN Residency program for recent nursing-school graduates
You Kill Me
Cuddlier and more charming, this alcoholic-hit-man comedy isn’t your typical John Dahl noir, but it is offbeat, lovably deadpan, and just tart enough.
Page Two: Looney Tunes
A swan song for the conspiracy series
Texas Platters
The GourdsNoble Creatures (Yep Roc) With the release of their ninth studio album in 10 years, and first for Yep Roc, the Gourds have hit a rewarding midlife crisis. Noble Creatures ponders both domestic yearning and ribald wandering, tempering contentment with want and regret with disillusion, all woven across a typical Gourdian knot of oblique…
Study: Everyone Benefits From Pre-K
If Texas improved and expanded its prekindergarten program to include all children, state would get $8 back for every $1 invested, new research indicates
Joshua
The privileged nuclear family becomes a hellish dystopia as a result of a 9-year-old child’s subtle, nuanced, unspoken manipulations.
Oops!
Our latest batch
Texas Platters
You’re Gonna Miss Me(Palm) Ever so subtly does Roky Erickson’s music of the spheres gradually recede during You’re Gonna Miss Me. Considering that three generations of the rock & roll literate still haven’t flashed back to 1966’s The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators, Austin-born and inner-space bound, that might be problematic. “You’re Gonna…
More Wilco Animal Woes
Williamson County Humane Society shuts down temporarily to contain parvo outbreak that killed five dogs
Syndromes and a Century
Thai filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul creates a baffling yet intriguing film of meandering abstractions. (AFS@Dobie)
After a Fashion
Wynn bares all, Sills trumps Ivana, and when Stephen wishes for something, it comes true
Texas Platters
CueWedding Song When it comes to instrumental rock, time is the cornerstone of composition. Its system of sequential relations hinges upon suspension and relief dynamics. Local quartet Cue mastered the maxim with 2005’s Bring Back My Love, but Wedding Songs lacks its predecessor’s frailty and urgency. “Forests of Pencil Pierced Children” and “Capture the Flag”…
Media Watch
KXAN promises a new approach to ‘Austin News’ – but will it go beyond just a new set?
Broken English
Parker Posey gives a lovely, toned-down performance as Nora Wilder, the single, mid-30s Manhattanite at the heart of this romantic comedy.
Day Trips
Lake Mackenzie, north of Silverton, a historic and scenic oasis in the Panhandle
Texas Platters
Omar Rodriguez-LopezSe Dice Bisonte, No Bufalo (Gold Standard Labs) “He said bison, not buffalo.” Isn’t it all about interpretation? Isn’t music about the flow of emotion and a connection to this world? Flow and connectivity: two things Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (Mars Volta, At the Drive-In) fails to supply. The fact that Rodriguez-Lopez wrote and recorded second…
Point Austin: Futrell’s Twilight
As the city manager looks homeward, odd old business erupts
Awarapan
In this new Bollywood film, a gangster has the job of keeping an eye on his boss’ mistress, a girl who was sold to him in the flesh trade.
Soccer Watch
Lightning on the road, and more on the Asian Cup, Copa Am�rica, Under-20 World Cup, MLS �
Texas Platters
Glenn RexachLiving Joe to Joe It’s the luminous, shimmering tone that catches you right off, the opening salvo to the title track that lures you into this Austin jazz guitarist’s debut album. The tune is a celebration of caffeine, a rich, smooth brew but one that eschews the elixir’s often jagged edges. That’s not to…
Beside the Point
Telling ghost stories around the summer campfire, the Statesman imagines a grisly end for Futrell
Angel-A
Luc Besson delivers a gorgeous-looking but ill-conceived mash note to the city of Paris that stars a petty crook and an ethereal beauty.
Mr. Smarty Pants Knows
The arguments against ties and flip-flops
Texas Platters
Poor Man’s Fortune In Good Time The Tea MerchantsOne Lump or Two? Thanks to the genre’s inherent camaraderie, Celtic musicians share their talents freely. Exhibit A: two branches of Austin’s Celtic tree, Poor Man’s Fortune and the Tea Merchants. Skilled in traditional “new world music from the old world,” PMF’s third album finds the Texans…
The Hightower Report
Taking Taxpayers for a Ride; and Thompson the Actor
The Common Law
Bad Credit – Should I Hire a ‘Credit Repair’ Company?
Council’s Got … Talent?
At intermission, we talk to the headliners
Adjusting to the Mise-en-Scène
Nine nonfilmmakers – artists out of place – make one in 48 hours
Enough Is Enough!
I’ve been a food critic for 15 years. I’ve been overeating all my life. Recently, I decided enough is enough!
Foie Gras Fracas
Animal rights activists who recently vandalized Downtown restaurants that sell duck liver or veal may be unintentionally screwing up efforts of separate animal rights campaign focusing on banning foie gras
Guidance for Parentals Suggested
George Ratliff on Joshua
Luv Doc Recommends: Roky Erickson’s 60th Birthday Party
People are like puppies: Eventually they stop being young and cute and get old and cranky. At some point you just want to drive them out to a nice place in the country, open the door, and yell, “Look, a rabbit!” Of course, with old people you might have better luck saying something like, “Look,…
