Res Publica

---

For more details and events, see Community Listings.

---

Thursday18

ALAN POGUE discusses his Witness for Justice: The Documentary Photographs of Alan Pogue, a book representing four decades of his distinguished career with images of political figures, countercultural resistance, and social unrest around the world. 7pm. BookWoman, 5501 N. Lamar Ste. 105-A, 472-2785. www.ebookwoman.com.

PURE CASTING/AFFORDABLE HOUSING RALLY Join PODER (People Organized in Defense of Earth and Her Resources) today in advocating for the relocation of East Austin metal foundry Pure Casting. Its location, in a residential area across the street from Zavala Elementary and the Pan American Recreation Center, is better suited for affordable housing than for a hazardous facility, PODER argues. The company and City Hall may be in the mood to listen – help them get the message! 10am. Pure Casting, 2110 E. Fourth. (At noon, you'll proceed to City Hall, 301 W. Second, for citizens' communication). www.poder-texas.org.

T. DON HUTTO TOY DRIVE Your donations of new toys; new or gently used books, CDs, and DVDs (especially in Spanish, Arabic, Chaldean, Urdu, Portuguese, and Creole); warm clothing; CD players; lotions and shampoos; candy; and phone cards can help make the holidays easier for an immigrant family detained at the T. Don Hutto facility in Taylor. Drop donations off today at the UT School of Law, 727 E. Dean Keeton, 232-1292, or bring them to the facility yourself on Saturday, when you join in the vigil (see Saturday).

---

Friday19

DESIGN-BUILD-LIVE HOLIDAY PARTY Bring a side dish to share, and schmooze with fellow greenies. 7pm. Barr Mansion, 10463 Sprinkle Rd. $12 ($10, advance). www.designbuildlive.org.

HOMELESS HOLIDAY FEAST Mobile Loaves & Fishes hosts this annual get-together for Austin's homeless, with warm meals, carolling, and an appearance from Santa. 5:30pm. Caritas, 611 Neches. 461-5644. www.mlfnow.org.

MURALS, MÚSICA, Y MÁS Artist Raúl Valdez shares the stories behind the process he uses to create images of barrio histories, resistance, and grassroots struggles of Chicanos. 7pm. Resistencia Bookstore, 1801-A S. First, 416-8885. www.resistenciabooks.com.

PEOPLE UNITED features retired U.S. Army Col. Ann Wright (pictured) on her book Dissent, Voices of Conscience: Government Insiders Speak Out Against the War in Iraq, co-authored with Susan Dixon. 1pm. KOOP Radio 91.7FM. www.koop.org.

---

Saturday20

BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS A silent auction and Broadway salute to raise money for the Wright House Wellness Center and AIDS Services of Austin. 6-11pm. Oilcan Harry's, 211 W. Fourth, 320-8823.

RIVER MONITORING TRIP BYOB (bring your own boat) to this day of exploring and monitoring the birds and vegetation along the Colorado River. E-mail for details. 9am. Center for Environmental Research, 2210 FM 973 S. joallakug@hotmail.com.

T. DON HUTTO VIGIL Help deliver a message of love and protest to the T. Don Hutto detention center. You'll be bringing gifts for detained immigrant families and making a stand against jailed children within our borders. (Meet at 2604 E. Cesar Chavez to join the carpool, which leaves at 2pm.) 3-5pm. T. Don Hutto Family Detention Center, 1001 Welch, Taylor. www.grassrootsleadership.org.

TREE PLANTING VOLUNTEERS are needed along the banks of Slaughter Creek. E-mail for details. 9am. 263-6443. daniel.dietz@ci.austin.tx.us, www.cityofaustin.org/water/wildland/onlineregistration/ecowebevents.cfm.

WALK AGAINST TERROR Honk if you'd like lawmakers to review military and economic aid to Pakistan in light of the recent Mumbai attacks. 10:45am. Austin City Hall, 301 W. Second, 974-2220. www.mumbaiterrorattack.webs.com.

---

Sunday21

WILL ROCK FOR FOOD Bring canned goods or a suggested $10 donation for the Capital Area Food Bank to get into this local-star-studded music extravaganza. See our Club Listings for lineup. 6pm. Momo's, 618 W. Sixth, 479-8848.

---

Tuesday23

T. DON HUTTO VOTE The Williamson County Commissioners Court will vote today on whether to renew the county's contract for the T. Don Hutto immigrant detention facility, so now's the time to let them know what you think about jailing families – bring a three-minute speech, and arrive early (see "Naked City" for more). 9:30pm. Williamson County Courthouse, 710 Main St., Georgetown.

---

Wednesday24

CHRISTMAS EVE AT THE LBJ LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Looking for some non-shopping-related fun today? The LBJ Library and Museum is open, so stop by and check out the newest exhibit, "To the Moon: The American Space Program in the 1960s." 9am-5pm. Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum, 2313 Red River, 721-0200. Free. www.lbjlib.utexas.edu.

---

Thursday25

CAPITAL METRO CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE Buses run on a Sunday schedule today, and the Cap Metro offices are closed. www.capmetro.org.

---

Ongoing

ADOPT A MANATEE FOR THE HOLIDAYS or give one as a gift. Either way, you'll know you're helping save the beloved little chubs from extinction. $25-35. www.savethemanatee.org.

BIKES FOR GOODNESS SAKE is donating bike-shop-quality bicycles, helmets, and bike-safety lessons to kids with parents deployed overseas this holiday season. Want to contribute? Visit www.bikesfgs.org to make a donation. 468-1953.

COATS FOR CUBS is accepting real fur – be it a coat, trim, or other type of clothing – to be used as bedding for orphaned or injured wildlife. From now till Earth Day (April 22), drop off your furs at Buffalo Exchange (just tell them they're for Coats for Cubs). Buffalo Exchange, 2904 Guadalupe, 480-9925. www.humanesociety.org/coatsforcubs.

HILL COUNTRY PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT & SILENT AUCTION features the stunning work of the photographers who won the 2008 Hill Country Photography Contest, on display at the lovely West­cave Preserve. The photos are featured in a calendar that raises money to help preserve the area's natural beauty, and autographed originals are included in a month­long silent auction. Through Dec. 23. Warren Skaaren Envi­ron­mental Learning Center, Westcave Preserve, 24814 Hamilton Pool Rd., Round Mountain, 830/825-3442. www.hillcountryalliance.org, www.westcave.org.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR IKE VICTIMS Austin Independent School District is looking for clothing and school supplies for students who were affected by Hurricane Ike. Drop them off at Baker Administration Center, 3908 Ave. B, Rm. 204, weekdays, 8am-4pm. Deadline: Jan. 30.

SING FAMILY PAPERS Now open to the public, this archive contains personal correspondence, photos, documents, ads, and more belonging to the Sings, a Chinese immigrant family that settled in Austin in 1897 and ran the Hong Lee Laundry on Fifth Street. The collection includes the oldest Asian-American documents in the History Center archives and is the center's first archive collected through the Asian American Neighborhood Liaison program. Austin History Center, 810 Guadalupe. 974-7480. www.cityofaustin.org/library/ahc.