Res Publica

Thursday30

BUILDING LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS brings in a smorgasbord of local experts to talk about food access and sustainability issues in Austin. 7pm. MonkeyWrench Books, 110 E. North Loop.

BURNING THE FUTURE: COAL IN AMER­I­CA A documentary on West Virginia coal mining, presented by the Austin Film Festival. 7:30pm. Alamo Lake Creek, 13729 Research. $4. www.austinfilmfestival.com.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT MONTHLY LECTURE features a panel discussion on the evolution vs. creationism debate. 7-8:30pm. Old Quarry Branch Library, 7051 Village Center Dr., 345-4435. Free. www.centerforinquiry.net/austin.

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Friday01

MARCH FOR JUST & HUMANE IMMIGRA­TION REFORM A great way to celebrate Interna­tional Workers Day. 6pm. Texas Capitol, 1100 Congress. www.austinirc.org.

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Saturday02

BUS RIDERS UNION MEETING 11am. Austin History Center, 810 Guadalupe, 499-7480. Free. www.busatx.org.

CONSTABLES OFFICE OPEN HOUSE Find out what a constable is and what a constable does – then eat hot dogs, and jump in the moonwalk. 10am-2pm. Travis County Precinct 1 Offices, 1811 Springdale, 854-7510. Free.

LAW OF PARTIES PROTEST Join the fight against the Law of Parties, Texas' guilt-by-association law that puts people behind bars for crimes they have not committed. 1pm. Texas Capitol, 1100 Congress. www.texaslawofparties.com.

SOLAR FIRST SATURDAY See if the stimulus money can help you afford solar. 9am. Habitat Suites, 500 E. Highland Mall Blvd., 751-7716. $50. www.imaginesolar.com.

TEXAS CANNABIS CRUSADE March in the name of legalization! Start out at the Zilker Park Pecan Grove at 10am, proceed to the Capitol at noon, and convene at Zilker Park afterward to party political-style till 10pm. www.texascannabiscrusade.com.

WHY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT A panel discussion with education experts from Houston, Dallas, and Austin. 11:45am-1:15pm. Yarborough Public Library, 2200 Hancock Dr., 371-3853. Free.

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Sunday03

BIKE DRIVE Bring your used bikes to REI for donation to the Yellow Bike Project's youth education programs. 11am-7pm. REI, 601 N. Lamar, 482-3357. www.austinyellowbike.org.

TEXANS AGAINST REAL IDs MEETING 3pm. Brave New Books, 1904 Guadalupe Ste. B (downstairs), 480-2503. Free. www.beatthechip.org.

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Tuesday05

EARLY VOTING ENDS If you don't vote by the end of today, you'll have to wait till May 9 to cast your ballot in the city elections. Not sure which candidates to support? Attend one of the upcoming forums to see them in action (see "Upcoming Candidate Forums" for a schedule), check out austinchronicle.com/elections for campaign news and background, and see "'Chronicle' Endorsements" if you want to know what we really think. www.cityofaustin.org/election.

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Wednesday06

CLIMATE CHANGE IN TEXAS Jere Locke, director of the Texas Climate Emergency Campaign, discusses what needs to be done if we're to avoid nature taking the reins again. 8pm. MonkeyWrench Books, 110 E. North Loop. Free.

MIKE LUX The OpenLeft.com co-founder discusses his book The Progressive Revolution, a historical account of the American progressive movement. 7:30pm. BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar.

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Thursday07

FOOD JUSTICE SPEAKER SERIES: ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, & FOOD SAFETY A panel discussion featuring King Corn filmmaker Curt Ellis, environmental writer Vicky Wolf, and Charlotte Herzele of UT. 7pm. Center for Community Engagement, 1009 E. 11th.