Res Publica

Photo by John Anderson

Thursday31

CAPITAL METRO NIGHT OWL For the low, low price of a day pass ($1.50), you can ride the bus as many times as you'd like tonight. Beware: Because of First Night street closings, some bus routes will be detoured this evening; see www.capmetro.org for details. Since we know you're not going to bed early, we suggest you also check out the six Night Owl routes that run 12mid-3am.

SOBERRIDE If the bus isn't taking your tipsy ass where it needs to go, try a taxi ride home with SoberRide, which offers free trips up to the value of a $30 fare. 11pm-3am. 657-2999. www.austinsoberride.com.

Friday01

EMMA BARRIENTOS PUBLIC VISITATION honors the late wife of retired Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos. (See "Headlines") 4-7pm. Mission Funeral Home, Serenity Chapel, 6204 S. First.

Saturday02

ACTION FOR ANIMALS MEETING Help plan the group's winter/spring outreach events with a focus on the anti-fur campaign. 11am. Spider House Patio Bar & Cafe, 2908 Fruth, 480-9562. Free. www.actionforanimalsaustin.org.

EMMA BARRIENTOS BURIAL MASS (See Friday.) 10am. St. Ignatius, Martyr, Catholic Church, 126 W. Oltorf.

RECYCLE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE Those of you who are not Pay-as-You-Throw customers can still recycle your Christmas trees: Just drop them off at Zilker Park. 10am-4pm. Sat.-Sun., Jan. 2-3; Sat., Jan. 9. 2100 Barton Springs Rd. (follow the signs to the polo fields). All trees will be ground into mulch, which will be given away for free in the new year. See www.cityofaustin.org/parks/christmastree.htm for details. Live in Round Rock? Turn over your tinsel-free tree today in return for a complimentary tree seedling. Sat., Jan. 2, 9am-6pm. Round Rock Brush Recycling Center, 310 Deepwood Dr., Round Rock, 512/218-5540.

Sunday03

ETHICAL SOCIETY OF AUSTIN Fred Edwords, the national director of the United Coalition of Reason, discusses jumping on the bandwagon of reason. 10am. 5555 N. Lamar Ste. L-137, 835-9008. Free. www.esoa.org.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS FORUM Travis County Precinct 5 Constable Bruce Elfant discusses criminal justice issues and the upcoming census. 11:30am. First Unitarian Universalist Church, 4700 Grover, 452-6168. Free. www.austinuu.org.

Tuesday05

PEAK WORKSHOP FOR ADULT LEADERS Nature club organizers, adult scout troop leaders, and afterschool program instructors are invited to learn about the tenets of Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids. E-mail cjeffri@rei.com to reserve your seat. 6:30pm. REI, 601 N. Lamar, 482-3357. Free. www.rei.com.

SIERRA CLUB MEETING features a talk on the Best Tent Camping in Texas: How Car Campers Can Avoid RVs, Concrete Slabs, and Loud Portable Stereos. 7pm. Texas State Teachers Association, 316 W. 12th, 877/275-8782. Free. www.texas.sierraclub.org/austin.

Wednesday06

HIGH NOON TALKS Every month, hear a less-than-often-told tale about the history of Texas. This month, hear about the rise, fall, and resurgence of Luby's cafeterias. Noon-1pm. Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 Congress, 936-8746. Free with admission to museum. www.thestoryoftexas.com.

TEXAS NORML MEETING convenes monthly to discuss the latest developments in marijuana-law reform. You'll probably want to stick around for some live reggae afterward. 8pm. Flamingo Cantina, 515 E. Sixth, 494-9336. Free. www.texasnorml.org.

Ongoing

AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT CITIZEN POLICE ACADEMY Learn what it's like to enforce the law! The next session starts March 2. For details or an application, call 974-5941 or see www.cityofaustin.org/police.

BARTON SPRINGS INTERPRETIVE PLAN SURVEY The Parks and Recreation folks need your input on Barton Springs. Fill out the survey at www.surveymonkey.com/s/ksgyrbw.

PBS PETITION With stalwart PBS shows Now and Bill Moyers Journal set to go off the air in April, media watch group FAIR is lobbying the station to "find worthy replacements." To participate, see www.fair.org.

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MEETING IN A BOX The city of Austin wants to know what you love and hate about our fair town, and it's created a kit with all the tools you need to host a get-together to collect the input of your neighbors and friends, too. You can download the whole kit (in English or Spanish) from www.imagineaustin.net, or contact Kathleen Fox (974-7877, kathleen.fox@ci.austin.tx.us) to collect one at One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Rd. #500. Feeling a little partied out? Just fill out the survey at www.imagineaustin.net/survey.htm. Deadline: Jan. 29.

H1N1 FLU CLINICS Call 972-5520 with questions or to make an appointment. www.cityofaustin.org/health.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING SURVEY The city of Austin's Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Office wants your input on how to prioritize funds made available through its Housing Financing Programs. See www.cityofaustin.org/housing.

NOMINATE A HERO Know someone who deserves recognition for their heroism? The Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation is accepting nominations through Feb. 12. See www.citizenserviceaboveselfhonors.org for details.

WASTEWATER AVERAGING The Austin Water Utility has begun its annual wastewater averaging cycle, which means your billing rates will depend on your usage over the next few months. Conserve now and save money all next year. See www.cityofaustin.org/water for details.