Uptown, Not Upscale
Xena 10201 Jollyville Road, 345-9944 Sun-Thu, 11am-11pm; Fri & Sat, 11am-midnight As Austin’s growth explodes to the north and northwest, the Arboretum area has become an entertainment destination, a second downtown with business, shopping, dining, and recreation all in one area. One of the most popular new eateries in this hot growth sector is Xena,…
Haunted Hyperlinks: Things That Go “Bump” in the Net
Michie’s Homepage traces Halloween’s origins (Samhain, Celtic end-of-year); pretty cool — good history lesson in the origins of this holiday. Terror by Design sells body-part mock-ups; chest w/entrails, gouged eyes, etc. Amateur to professional-level props and haunted house supplies. Batesville is a funeral products and services website. Pick your favorite coffin for you or your…
The Second Coming
I’m Doyle Bramhall II for those of you who don’t recognize me,” says Doyle Bramhall II after introducing his band to a full house at Steamboat. And, clearly, at $10 a head, nobody just stumbled in off of Sixth Street by mistake. Yet, after this, the second show of a three-night homecoming stand, one thing…
Hey, Bartender!
Mrs. Winik and Her Vicious Circle by Marion Winik It is not uncommon for alcoholics to display an avid curiosity about the drinking habits of their friends. Hemingway exhibited a fascination for Fitzgerald’s drinking and the effect it had on his work. When Fitzgerald died, Hemingway switched his attention to the alcoholic behavior of Faulkner.…
National Midnight Stars
Is Kelly Willis just chompin’ at the bit to get back into the National Enquirer? If so, she put in her best shot at her bachelorette party last Thursday. She and a dozen gals were seen resplendent in boas and frilly dresses at Doyle Bramhall II’s performance at Stubb’s that night (prompting queries as to…
Further Results of My Research
After arduous investigation, I managed to locate a few writers, at this publication and others, who drink something stronger than Ovaltine. Here are the Dewar’s profiles: Robb Walsh, food writer, cookbook author Summer drink: Barbancourt 5 Star rum on the rocks Winter drink: Old Bushmill’s on the rocks Cross addictions: Cuban cigars and Jewish women…
Also Playing
Friday: Iron Butterfly, Babes; Marcia Ball, La Zona Rosa; WAR, Liberty Lunch Saturday: Deadbolt, Flametrick Subs, Sandblasters, Emo’s; Tom Rush, Cactus Cafe Sunday: Omar & the Howlers, Antone’s Monday: Jake Andrews, Tommy Taylor, Jon Blondell, Stubb’s Tuesday: Tori Amos, Josh Clayton-Felt, Bass Concert Hall; Waterloo Brass Band, Regents Plaza Wednesday: Hormones, Fur, Los Tigres Guapos,…
Day Trips
At the American Funeral Service Museum in Houston caskets come in many sizes and shapes. In Africa, a craftsman sends the dearly departed off in a carved and painted wooden box that commemorates their life. In America, we build elaborate coaches to transport the dead to their final resting place. You might expect a depository…
Pascal’s Wager
C’mon, sing along. “Highway to the danger zone / Going right into the danger zone.” Hollywood is making a soundtrack, and, as a rule, someone’s going to call Kenny Loggins, right? Ah, the times they are a-changin’. Among the hot names for doing soundtracks these days are two little ol’ bands from Texas: Austin’s Butthole…
I’m Only One Man
by Regis Philbin, with Bill Zehme Hyperion, $5.99 paper You think you know horror in print? What, Stephen King? Anne Rice? Clive Barker, maybe? Hmph!! These so-called masters of the macabre are Sunday school pantywaists next to the testosterone-fueled half of “America’s favorite morning team.” You haven’t tasted true literary terror — the kind to…
Articulations
The friends and colleagues of Austin theatre artist T.J. Gaudette will plant a tree in his memory on the grounds of Planet Theatre next Thursday, October 31. The day is the first anniversary of the death of Gaudette, a member of the Austin Circle of Theatres and the VORTEX Repertory Company who is perhaps best…
Dogged Doggetts
The Statesman tells us, every time it covers the District 10 race, that Lloyd and Teresa Doggett “are not related.” This must be a running joke down at 300 S. Congress, because in ideological terms, the Democratic incumbent and his Republican challenger hail from different parts of the galaxy. Likewise, other star clusters are represented…
Witchcraft
by James Robinson, Peter Snejbjerg, Michael Zulli, Steve Yeowell, Teddy Kristiansen DC Comics, $14.95 paper Many are the crimes perpetrated against witches and women through the ages, and in this graphic novel (originally published as a three-part comic series), writer James Robinson seeks to address about half of them. Beginning with a Pictish pirate band’s…
On the Inside
Marla Sweeney Pro-Jex Gallery through October When I saw Marla Sweeney’s compelling photos at Laughing at the Sun’s “Extreme Exposure” show a couple of months back, I hoped to see more of her work soon. Well, I got my chance, and it didn’t disappoint. Sweeney, a transplant from New York, spent six months taking pictures…
Election Endorsements
The Austin Chronicle offers the following endorsements for the Nov. 5 General Election. Note that we have endorsed only in contested races, and not in all of those. Early voting is underway now, through November 1. For a list of polling places, check out the Chronicle Election Board, on the Web at /election/, or call…
Coach’s Corner
Hate’s not a bad thing. For sportsfans, it’s a bonding thread. As dogs must bark, as cats must meow, sportsfans will hate. We do it with a disturbing (to the non-sportsfan) passion. The non-fan can’t relate. These Chardonnay-sipping joggers tend to while away perfectly good Sundays with friends and family. In denying a core part…
Made Pictures
Marco Antonio Cruz, “Ciegos en Mexico,” 1990 (The Blind in Mexico) At the ceremony in San Marcos celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Southwestern Writers Collection and the inauguration of the new Wittliff Gallery of Southwestern & Mexican Photography, Dr. Jerome Supple distinguished between “taking” and “making” photos. The photographers whose art appears in the…
Get on the Bus
Juan’s right hand bears the tattoos of his former gang, a holy cross between his thumb and index finger, and the gang’s name across the top. Big brown pants hang from his narrow waist and his black hair crops a face that shows traces of baby fat. He’s an average Latino 16-year-old boy growing up…
Mr. Smarty Pants Knows
The Internet domain www.jesus.com is owned by Second Coming Multimedia Publications of Arlington, Virginia. According to the Harper’s Index, the average number of dog bites sustained by Americans each day is 12,877, which results in $2,739,726 paid each day by U.S. insurers to cover them. There are people who are paid to smell other people’s…
Wittliffs at Work
What do the Wittliffs do in their spare time, when they’re not busy overseeing the collection of books, manuscripts, and photography they’ve donated to Southwest Texas State University? Sally will graduate this spring from the UT Law School after years as a distinguished community volunteer and activist. Bill writes screenplays. His produced projects include Thaddeus…
A Fine Mess
It is all a perfect tangle of motive and circumstance. Two University of Texas students try to interest reporters at the student newspaper, The Daily Texan, in a story on the somewhat checkered history of a legendary football coach who is about to be honored in a permanent way, his name slated for placement over…
Z-Tejas at the Aboretum
9400 Arboretum Blvd.; 346-3506 Mon-Thu, 11am-10:30pm; Fri & Sat ’til midnight; Sun, 9am-10pm I have to admit, I was a little disappointed when I learned that Z-Tejas was taking up residence at the Arboretum. It’s not that I have anything against the Arboretum, really, and I’m all for the restaurant prospering; it’s just that the…
Future’s So Brite
At 29, New Orleans-based author Poppy Z. Brite has accomplished more than most people twice her age, and stirred up enough controversy and heretical ideas to make both Oscar Wilde and Aleister Crowley proud. Though her previous short story collection and novels were marketed to horror fans, her fiction outstrips the genre trappings of contemporaries…
Gramm’s Best Friend
Gaining a seat in the world’s most exclusive millionaire’s club — the U.S. Senate — has never been easy. But it’s particularly difficult if you are an underfunded political novice. Just ask Victor Morales. As the Texas Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, Morales, a high school teacher from Mesquite, has overcome a panoply of…
Bonus Tracks
SHIVA’S HEADBAND Classics Vol. 1 (Moontower) Compiled over a 22-year period through 1993, this is Z-102 avec fiddle, sans commercials. It’s the perfect gift for all those folks who never quite let go of the Armadillo — though if you give it to a relative, you risk hearing all those pot-and-nacho stories well into your…
Harvey Pekar Visits
Harvey Pekar is a pain in the ass. This is a compliment: As a noted jazz critic, Pekar actually discusses music when writing. I admire that. When he calls however, I confess I sometimes shirk editorial duty and avoid answering the phone, not because he is difficult but because Pekar always has something to say…
Off the Desk:
The Republic of Texas, the self-proclaimed rightful government of Texas, just can’t get any rest from Attorney General Dan Morales. Last week, the AG subpoenaed the organization’s secretary of state, Robert Kesterson, for all faxes and e-mail messages sent to the group. Kesterson says his attorney is studying the matter and has until Oct. 31…
Live Shots
REFLECTIONS ON WOODY GUTHRIE Cleveland, Ohio, September 20-29 From September 20-29 “Hard Travelin’,” a series of events dealing with “The Life and Legacy of Woody Guthrie,” was held in Cleveland, concluding with a concert at Severance Hall, home of the Cleveland Orchestra — the most prestigious music venue in town. Bruce Springsteen, Pete Seeger, Arlo…
AIDS Walk ’96
AIDS Services of Austin is getting ready for it’s Ninth annual pledge walk. In the past it was called From All Walks of Life. This year the name is changed to AIDS Walk ’96. The walk benefits AIDS care, education, and related services. It will be held Sunday, October 27, at Waterloo Park (12th &…
Wes Craven’sEndless Nightmare
by Marc Savlov There are not a lot of directors who have skewed the popular mindset as well as Wes Craven has. It’s rare enough to find genre directors who can churn out even one or two good works before settling into the rut that so often catches up with them. Craven is the exception…
Wallflowers
Liberty Lunch Wednesday, October 30 “The key is the people that are there, that they do like the material, and they know the material that you’re playing.” Who said this, a 1996 presidential candidate or the singer of a hard-working band enjoying its first hit single? Given the packaged, focus-group-approved rhetoric of this year’s campaign,…
Slick Bricks and the Scum Conspiracy
Dear Suzy, Our home has a huge brick patio in back. We like having the brick, but unfortunately it is often covered with a layer of green slime. Not only is this unattractive, it is smelly and slippery. The brick has sand under it, is uncovered, and the algae seems to be worse where there…
Flying High
Exactly one year ago, a fledgling political party first gained attention in Austin when it ran an ad encouraging people to “Find Out about the Natural Law Party… Yogic Flying To Be Demonstrated.” The ad pictured two smiling men sitting in the lotus position hovering in mid–air. “This is really far-out,” says Sandra BonSell, the…
WALK It to `Em
AIDS has not taken us step-by-step. It is taking us life by precious life. Numbed by an almost generation’s worth of impuissant governmental dodgeball, we’ve become a species resigned to fate’s shitty blow. Oh, it’s bigger than all of us, we say as we shrug our shoulders, swallow our fear, and turn away. Our culture…
Dead of Night
D: Alberto Cavalcanti, Basil Dearden, Robert Hamer, Charles Crichton; with Mervyn Jones, Michael Redgrave, Sally Ann Howes, Miles Malleson, Googie Withers, Basil Radford. VHS Home Video If you’re looking for Halloween gore, you won’t find it here in this nightmare anthology film. This 1945 classic chiller hails from Great Britain, a land renowned for restraint,…
The Evil of Two Lessers, Part II
Robert Dole, Republican presidential candidate, on September 19th: “Our popular culture owes a duty to the fragile world of children. The market is not the only standard by which we live. It is possible to entertain us without debasing us. Free expression does not require the destruction of children’s character.” According to Dole, the biggest…
What to Boo!
by Julie Weaver illustrations by Kelly Edwards This year’s Halloween fun list offers events for both young and old, squeamish and hardcore alike. As I said last week, it’s unfortunate that our Lord British (aka Richard Garriott) has deigned not to put on his bi-yearly haunted abode, but he has at least given his crew…
Food-o-File
The Threadgill’s World Headquarters trial run party in mid-October looked like an indoor version of the Armadillo World Headquarters reunion held two summers ago. Armadillo regulars embraced Threadgill’s regulars while greeting musicians, local politicians, and restaurateurs. Using priceless AWHQ memorabilia — murals, posters and photos — Eddie Wilson has transformed the former cafeteria at 301…
Dia de los Muertos/(Day of the Dead)
LA PE�A and ALLGO INFORME SIDA present a variety of activities in celebration of Dia de los Muertos, 1996. Fri, Oct 25 features an art exhibition and reception, “Cada vida, una historia (Each life has a story),” from 6-9pm at Las Manitas Avenue Cafe, 211 Congress. The restaurant will be transformed into a multi-media, interactive…
