Res Publica

Thursday 25

CELEBRATION OF CHOICE Pro-Choice Texas hosts this annual celebration with music from Tish Hinojosa and the Austin Lounge Lizards. 6-9:30pm. Threadgill's World HQ, 301 W. Riverside, 462-1661.

FIGHT TO THE (POLITICAL) DEATH A liberal vs. conservative grudge match to answer questions important to young voters. 7pm. Gregory Gym, 2101 Speedway. Free. www.utexas.edu/ugs/uls.

Sinclair Black (Photo by John Anderson)

HELP FIND AISD'S NEW SUPERIN­TEN­DENT AISD hosts a final round of public forums tonight, so you can help define the criteria for choosing the new district superintendent. See www.austinisd.org for info. 6-8pm, Carver Public Library, 1161 Angelina; 7-9pm, Austin High School, 1715 W. Cesar Chavez; 7-9pm, Bowie High School, 4103 Slaughter; 7-9pm, Carruth Administration Center Auditorium, 1111 W. Sixth.

SOUTHWEST AUSTIN DEMOCRATS MEET­ING 6:45pm. Hampton Library, 5125 Convict Hill Rd., 892-6680. www.southwestaustindemocrats.org.

LIGHT RAIL AT UT Sinclair Black lectures about the possibility of light rail on campus, as part of UT's Earth Summit. 7pm. UT campus, Flawn Academic Center, Rm. 21, 232-7840. Free. www.utenvironment.org.

Barack Obama

Friday 26

AFFORDABLE HOUSING FORUM Join in this city-hosted panel discussion on families and affordable housing in Central Texas. 9-10:30am. Street-Jones Bldg., 1000 E. 11th, 974-3121.

TRAVIS CO. DEMS DEBATE WATCH PARTY Watch Obama and McCain go at it, from the comfort of your neighborhood beer garden. (At press time, McCain had requested that the debate be delayed. See website for updated event details.) 6pm. Scholz Garten, 1607 San Jacinto. www.traviscountydemocrats.org.

RENEWABLE ENERGY ROUNDUP & GREEN LIVING FAIR See "Naked City," for more. Fri.-Sun., Sept. 26-28. Downtown Freder­icks­burg. $10-20. www.theroundup.org.

Saturday 27

AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN AND BOYS CON­FER­ENCE 10am. LBJ High School, 7309 Lazy Creek Dr. Free. www.aambharvestfoundation.com.

MONTOPOLIS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOC­IA­TION convenes its official first meeting today to adopt bylaws and hear from city officials. Area residents and business owners welcome. Noon-2:30pm. Ruiz Library, 1600 Grove, 275-6027. www.montopolis-neighborhood.org.

RECYCLE YOUR ELECTRONICS Stop by, and guiltlessly get rid of your old computers, TVs, cell phones, copiers, fax machines, and even refrigerators. 9am-2pm. Goodwill Community Center, 1015 Nor­wood Park Blvd., 974-3556. www.austinrecycles.com.

Sunday 28

BANNED BOOKS CELEBRATION A day of music, readings, and trivia devoted to the world's greatest books, most of which, coincidentally, have been banned at one time. (See "Snubbing the Censors," Arts, for more.) 2:30-8:30pm. BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar. www.bookpeople.com.

PLANNED PARENTHOOD PUBLIC AFFAIRS DINNER features special guest Lily Tomlin. 6-8:30pm. Hilton Austin Hotel, 500 E. Fourth. www.plannedparenthood.org/ppaustin.

Monday 29

BUS DRIVERS UNION PROTEST Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1091 doesn't feel it's getting a fair shake in contract negotiations with Cap Metro, so drivers will take to the streets on foot today to voice their displeasure (see "Bus Drivers Cry Foul Over 'Union-Busting Tactic,'" Sept. 19, for more). 3:30pm. Capital Metro, 2910 E. Fifth.

EUROPEAN ENERGY POLICY SYMPOS­IUM French Ambassador Pierre Vimont discusses the energy policies and technologies of France and the European Union and their implications for the U.S. 8:30am-4:30pm. UT campus, ACES Auditorium, Rm. 2.302. www.utexas.edu/cola/centers/european_studies.

Tuesday 30

EASTERN TRAVIS COUNTY TOWN HALL MEETING about crime and other issues, hosted by the Travis Co. Sheriff's Office. 6:30pm. Manor Tech High School, 10323 Hwy. 290 E., Manor, 512/854-7402.

HISPANIC LIFE ON FILM Zoot Suit is the second film in this four-week Hispanic Heritage Month series. (See Special Screenings for more.) 6:45pm. Terrazas Branch Library, 1105 E. Cesar Chavez. www.cityofaustin.org/library.

Wednesday 01

MUSIC FOR LIFE FINALE CONCERT Sara Hickman hosts an evening of music and speakers on the death penalty. 7-10pm. Scholz Garten, 1607 San Jacinto, 474-1958. $10. www.tcadp.org.

Thursday 02

VEEP DEBATE WATCH PARTY Biden vs. Palin – don't miss it. 6-9:30pm. Scholz Garten, 1607 San Jacinto, 474-1958. www.scholzgarten.net.

MEET LARRY JOE DOHERTY Find out more about the District 10 candidate, joined tonight by special guest U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett. 5:30-7:30pm. Headliners Club, 221 W. Sixth. RSVP to cburton@braunassociateslaw.com. www.larryjoe.com.

ongoing/upcoming

NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON DIALOGUE & DELIBERATION Learn how to build community, foster collaborative action, and make the world a better place through actually useful communication skills at this three-day event. Fri.-Sun., Oct. 3-5. www.ncdd.org/ncdd2008.

VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE: OCT. 6 See www.traviscountytax.org/goVoters.do for details on registering to vote in the Nov. 4 election (or updating your registration if you've recently moved).