Res Publica

Friday27

CAPITAL METRORAIL OPEN HOUSE Check out the new passenger rail line set to begin service March 30. 2-7pm. Downtown Station (Fourth Street, between Neches & Trinity). www.capmetro.org.

DESIGN WITH CLIMATE: BUILDING FOR A COOLER PLANET A Hot Science – Cool Talks discussion from Werner Lang (pictured), associate professor of architecture in sustainable design at the UT School of Architecture. 7pm. UT campus, Welch Hall, Rm. 2.224. www.esi.utexas.edu.

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Saturday28

AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY HERI­TAGE FESTIVAL brings Black History Month to a close with a day of free health screenings, food, vendors, live music, kids activities, and more. 1-5pm. Huston-Tillotson University, 900 Chicon, 472-9599. Free.

HISPANIC FUTURES CONFERENCE 10am-2pm. Eastside Memorial High School, 1012 Arthur Stiles Rd., 414-0884.

PEOPLE, PLANNING, AND PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE: YOUR 25-YEAR TRANS­POR­T­ATION PLAN Join the Capital Area Metropoli­tan Planning Organization in developing Austin's mobility plan for 2035. 9:30-11:45am. Round Rock Library, 216 E. Main Ave. www.campotexas.org.

RECYCLED READS GRAND OPENING See "Bookstore for the Cash Poor" in "Naked City." Noon-4pm. 5335 Burnet Rd., 974-7400.

ST. JOHN/CORONADO HILLS NEIGHBOR­HOOD PLAN KICKOFF MEETING 9:30-11:30am. Pickle Elementary School, 1101 Wheatley. www.cityofaustin.org/zoning/sj_ch.htm.

WINTER SOLDIER HEARINGS (See "Winter Soldiers Bear Austin Witness.") 1-5pm. Central Presbyter­i­an Church, 200 E. Eighth. www.austinivaw.wordpress.com.

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Sunday01

EQUALITY TEXAS LOBBY DAY RECEPTION & TRANSGENDER CAUCUS gets you revved to lobby your legislators for LGBT equality on Monday. 5:30-9pm. DoubleTree Hotel, 1617 N. I-35. www.equalitytexas.org.

STATE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATIONAL FORUM Deece Eckstein, Gov. Ann Richards' senior policy adviser, talks about the ins and outs of the Legis­lat­ure and how to get your voice heard. 4-6pm. First United Methodist Church Family Life Center, 1300 Lavaca, 478-5684. Free. www.davidhasissues.com.

TEXANS AGAINST REAL IDS 3-5pm. Brave New Books, 1904 Guadalupe. www.beatthechip.org.

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Monday02

CAMPO WORKSHOP (See Saturday.) 6:30-8:45pm. Bastrop High School Cafeteria, 1614 Chambers, Bastrop. www.campotexas.org.

COMMUNITY PLANNING IN TURBULENT TIMES Learn how to plan for the future despite the problems of the present at the National Association of Planning Councils' annual conference. Mon.-Wed., March 2-4. Hyatt Regency, 208 Barton Springs Rd. www.communityplanning.org.

EQUALITY TEXAS LOBBY DAY features training to prep you for your lobbying team's session with a legislator. See www.equalitytexas.org for the full schedule of events. Breakfast: 8am, First United Methodist, 1201 Lavaca. Lobbying activities: 9am-3pm, Texas Capitol, 1100 Congress.

HOW WILL THE NEW CENSUS AFFECT YOU? 9am-noon. Austin City Hall, 301 W. Second. E-mail to RSVP: vsarria@austinisd.org.

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Tuesday03

JUNTO IN AUSTIN gathers to discuss Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma. 6:30-8:30pm. Howson Branch Library, 2500 Exposition.

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Wednesday04

HERITAGE HILLS/WINDSOR HILLS MOTOR­IZED VEHICLE TRANSPORTATION WORK­SHOP Area residents are invited to discuss neighborhood hot spots where traffic is a concern. 6:30-8:45pm. Dobie Middle School, 1200 E. Rundberg. www.cityofaustin.org/zoning/heritage_hills.htm.

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Thursday05

CAPITAL CITY YOUNG DEMOCRATS MEET­ING 6pm. Carver Library, 1161 Angelina.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMIS­SION MEETING Help determine Austin's funding priorities for the 2009 fiscal year. See the current plan at www.cityofaustin.org/housing/conplan_09-14.htm. 6pm. Austin City Hall, 301 W. Second, 974-2220.

OUTLAW CONFERENCE The UT School of Law LGBT student association hosts an afternoon of legal advocacy workshops addressing issues of the current legislative session. 1-5pm (happy hour, 5pm; afterparty, 7pm). Eidman Court­room, UT School of Law. www.utexas.edu/law/orgs/outlaw.

PLANNED PARENTHOOD LOBBY DAY Learn how to lobby elected officials in support of women's health care and other issues at one of two training sessions today. (Then join Planned Parent­hood President Cecile Richards at the Capitol on Thursday, March 12, 10:30am-4pm, where you'll put your new lobbying skills to the test.) 10-11:30am or 6-7:30pm. Planned Parenthood, 201 E. Ben White. www.plannedparenthood.org/ppaustin.

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Ongoing

INNOCENCE PROJECT OF TEXAS VERY SILENT AUCTION Bid on items at www.ipoftexas.cmarket.com, and help support IPOT's mission of securing the release of Texas' wrongfully convicted prisoners. Auction items include a National Hockey League jersey signed by all of the Dallas Stars.