Res Publica

Thursday24

CLEAN CITIES ALT-CAR CONFERENCE & EXPO Learn the latest in alternative transportation technologies, infrastructure, and funding – and maybe even test-drive an alt-car yourself. 8am-5pm, registrants; 2:30-5pm, public. Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd. www.austinaltcar.com.

GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY PRESENTATION Learn about sustainability projects around the world from the Green Living Project. 6-9pm. ND at 501 Studios, 501 N. I-35, 485-3001. $10. [email protected].

HEMAN SWEATT SYMPOSIUM features a talk from Louise Iscoe, author of Overcoming: A History of Black Integration at the University of Texas at Austin. Noon-1:30pm. UT campus, Texas Union, Rm. 3.304. www.utexas.edu/diversity/events/hemansweatt.

Saturday26

CESAR CHAVEZ MARCH Help honor Chavez's legacy of social and economic justice: March from the Terrazas Branch Library to the Capitol for live music, speakers, and more. Noon-3pm. Terrazas Library, 1105 E. Cesar Chavez, 472-9921. www.poder-texas.org.

DIY CODE COMPLIANCE City code compliance officials answer your questions at two Home Depots. 8am-2pm. 10515 MoPac N., 338-1001; 8801 S. I-35, 291-0153. www.cityofaustin.org/code/compliance.

EARTH HOUR Turn out your lights and enjoy some music and candlelight as cities all over the world go dark in this annual homage to a more sustainable future. 8-9:30pm. Pfluger Bridge, South Lamar and Riverside. www.earthhour.org.

KEEP AUSTIN BEAUTIFUL LEADER TRAINING Learn how to host your own neighborhood cleanups, garden workdays, or educational activities at this three-hour workshop. Sign up online at www.bit.ly/fq77w2. 9am. 55 N. I-35 #235, 391-0619.

Sunday27

ETHICAL SOCIETY OF AUSTIN hosts a presentation from Elise Harriger of immigrant service organization Casa Marianella. 10:30am. 5555 N. Lamar Ste. L-137. Free. www.esoa.org.

HEALTH CARE & TEXAS LEGISLATION The League of Women Voters brings Ed Berger of the Seton Family of Hospitals to talk shop. 2:15-4pm. Congregation Beth Israel, 3901 Shoal Creek Blvd., 454-6806. Free. www.lwvaustin.org.

TRUE COST OF COAL The Beehive Arts Collective of Maine shares its multimedia presentation on strip-mining. 4pm. Orun Center of Cultural Arts, 1401-B Cedar, 731-4584. Donations appreciated. www.projectabundantlife.org.

Tuesday29

JOURNALISM IN THE MIDDLE EAST A talk from Lawrence Wright, author of The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 is followed by a booksigning. 7pm. Avaya Auditorium (ACES 2.302, UT campus), 471-9056. Free. www.humanitiesinstitute.utexas.edu.

OPEN HOUSE: WATER TREATMENT PLANT NO. 4 Get updates and see the final design of the Jollyville transmission main for WTP4. 4-8pm. Balcones Country Club, 8600 Balcones Country Club Dr. www.austinwater.org/wtp4.

COMMUNISM 101 Get a primer in Marxism from the good folks of the volunteer-run MonkeyWrench Books. 7pm. 110 E. North Loop, 407-6925. www.monkeywrenchbooks.org.

Wednesday30

ZERO WASTE MASTER PLAN PUBLIC MEETING Find out how the city plans to produce no net waste. 5:30pm. Austin City Hall, 301 W. Second, 974-2220. Free. www.austinrecycles.com.

Thursday31

COMMUNITY INPUT MEETING: CITY FUNDS Help prioritize placement of federal funds for affordable housing, community and economic development, and public services. 6-8pm. Trinity Center, 304 E. Seventh, 610-3515. Free. www.speakupaustin.org.

ST. JOHNS/CORONADO HILLS WORKSHOP See the draft future land-use map for your neighborhood, and get a little intro to the wild world of zoning. 6:30-8:30pm. Virginia Brown Rec Center, 7500 Blessing. www.cityofaustin.org/planning/neighborhood/sj_ch.htm.

Ongoing

CENTRAL TEXAS ELECTRIC LAWN MOWER PRO­GRAM is back with its once-a-year trade-in deal: Bring in your gas-guzzling lawn mower for a hefty discount on an electric model. These babies move fast, so reserve yours today at 389-2250. Pick-up takes place Saturday, April 2, 8:30am-2pm, Home Depot, 3600 S. I-35. www.cmpbs.org/electriclawnmower.