Happenings

For more details on these and other events this week, see Community Listings.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 29

SMARTCODE WORKSHOP To whet everyone's pedestrian-friendly appetite, New Urbanism planners John Norquist and Andrés Duany will deliver a lecture. 5-7:30pm. Lone Star Room, Frank Erwin Center, 1701 Red River. Free. www.envisioncentraltexas.org.

ACLU MIDSESSION LEGISLATIVE HAPPY HOUR Get the lowdown on the ACLU's legislative agenda, and toast Molly Ivins. Call or e-mail to RSVP. 5:30-7:30pm. Scholz Garten, 1607 San Jacinto, 478-7300 x130. [email protected], www.aclutx.org.

CÉSAR CHÁVEZ DAY begins with a march from the East Mall to the West Mall, where the legendary Aztec Eagles' Capt. Reynaldo Pérez will speak at 11:30am. 11am-2pm. UT Campus. www.utexas.edu/student/txunion/students/sec/macc.

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FRIDAY, MARCH 30

TEXAS SPRINGS: Protection, Restoration, and Stewardship This year's Environmental Defense's annual water conference includes discussions on the history of Texas springs, Florida's Springs Initiative, tools and resources available to landowners, and more. RSVP ASAP. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave., 478-5161. $35 (includes lunch). www.texaswatermatters.org.

ALTERNATIVE RADIO features former New York Times correspondent Chris Hedges talking about his new book, American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America. 2pm. KOOP 91.7FM.

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AND THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL IN TEXAS This talk from UT law professor Robert Owen is part of ACLU's continuing Legal Education series. Noon-1:30pm. Carmelo's Restaurant, 504 E. Fifth. $30. www.aclutx.org.

PEOPLE UNITED Authors and activists Vickie Karp and Karen Renick of Vote Rescue talk about the group's efforts to bring back hand-counted paper ballots. 1pm. KOOP 91.7FM. www.koop.org.

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SATURDAY, MARCH 31

AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN & BOYS/WOMEN & GIRLS CONFERENCE brings young and old together once a month for workshops, discussions, and lectures. 10am-2pm. McCallum High, 5600 Sunshine. [email protected].

ANNUAL CLEAN SWEEP Join hundreds of other Austinites in giving the city its annual spring cleaning – sign up for a spot online or organize one of your own – followed by a party at Waterloo Park. Cleanup, 9-11am; volunteer party, 11:30am-2pm. www.keepaustinbeautiful.org/event.php.

SURVEILLANCE & YOU This civic forum explores the ethical, cultural, technological, security, and business aspects of surveillance. 9am-2pm. UT Campus, North Office, Building A, Room 1.126. Free. www.sts.utexas.edu/civicforum/surveillance/index.html.

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MONDAY, APRIL 2

C-SPAN TOUR BUS This 45-foot mobile multimedia center is in town; all are welcome to stop by, talk to the C-SPAN crew, and enjoy free refreshments. 9am-noon. Huston-Tillotson University, 900 Chicon. Free.

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4

AISD PANEL DISCUSSION, hosted by the League of Women Voters, asks, "What does the future hold for middle and high school students in AISD?" 7pm. LCRA Hancock Building, 3700 Lake Austin Blvd. Free.

HOW DO VERTICAL MIXED-USE POLICIES AFFECT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD? Find out at tonight's meeting, which is part of the "opt-in"/"opt-out" process that, until June 4, allows residents to have input into VMU building within their neighborhoods. 6:30pm. One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Rd.,974-2150. Free.

RACISM, WHITE PRIVILEGE, & COALITION POLITICS UT anthropology professor Charles Hale discusses his work on race and ethnicity in Guatemala and Nicaragua, and UT assistant professor João Costa Vargas talks about African-diasporic anti-racists in L.A. and Rio de Janeiro. 7:30pm. MonkeyWrench, 110 E. North Loop, 407-6925. Free. www.monkeywrenchbooks.org.

TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT MEETING, a chance for residents and business owners near future commuter-rail stops to talk to city planners. 6pm. Thompson Conference Center, 26th & Red River, 974-7694. Free. www.cityofaustin.org/planning/tod.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 5

BARBARA JORDAN NATIONAL FORUM ON PUBLIC POLICY honors the former congresswoman by gathering policy experts and community leaders for discussion on the Path to Social Change: Activating Your Community. 8:15am-7:30pm. LBJ School, Sid Richardson Hall, Unit 3, 2315 Red River, 471-3200. www.utexas.edu/lbj/barbarajordanforum.

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ONGOING

SI SE PUEDE AWARDS DINNER & MARCH celebrates César Chávez Day with a gala on Thursday, March 29, 6pm, Conley-Guerrero Center, 808 Nile) and a march on Saturday, March 31, from City Hall, 301 W. Second (10am) to the A.B. Cantu Pan American Recreation Center, 2100 E. Third. 472-9921. www.poder-texas.org.

SEEDS OF JUSTICE, HARVEST OF PEACE A two-day film fest, organized by the Interfaith Community for Palestinian Rights – films (including the acclaimed Private), remarks, plus a presentation of Rachel Corrie's writings by the St. Edward's Drama Department (see Special Screenings). Friday-Saturday, March 30-31. Episcopal Theological Seminary, 32nd & Duval Street. Free. www.icpr-austin.org/interfaith2_017.htm.

INSIDE BOOKS PROJECT SPRING WORK PARTY Join the folks at IBP for this annual 78-hour slumber party to answer book requests from Texas prisoners, complete with free meals from Food Not Bombs, entertainment, and prizes. Thursday-Sunday, March 29-April 1. Rhizome Collective, 300 Allen, 647-4803. www.insidebooksproject.org.

CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY is accepting applications for the next two 12-week sessions, beginning April 25 and Sept. 4. Apply online. (For more info, see "My Semester on the Beat," Dec. 1, 2006.) Deadlines: March 30 (spring academy, Wednesdays, 1:30-4:30pm), April 1 (fall academy, Tuesdays, 5:30-9:30pm). www.cityofaustin.org/police.

DIGNITY MEMORIAL VIETNAM WALL This traveling replica of the Memorial Wall in D.C. is scheduled to stop in Austin June 1-3, but volunteers are needed to make it happen. www.vietnamwallexperience.com.

FREE TAX PREPARATION THROUGH COMMUNITY TAX CENTERS Most families that made $50,000 or less last year (and individuals who made $25,000 or less) qualify for free tax help, available in English and Spanish, at many locations around town. See www.communitytaxcenters.org for locations and hours.

WHOLE EARTH WEIGH-IN: 30 WAYS IN 30 DAYS Whole Foods helps you reduce your carbon footprint this month with helpful tips, carbon calculators, and coupons for their greenest products. April 1-30. Whole Foods, 9607 Research, 345-5003; 525 N. Lamar, 476-1206. www.wholefoodsmarket.com/earthday.