Res Publica

Thursday02

BARTON SPRINGS POOL SPRING CLEANING This annual sprucing of the springs is always a good opportunity to see local dignitaries loosen their ties and scrub some rocks. Sign up at [email protected]. 10am-6pm. Barton Springs Pool, 2101 Barton Springs Rd. www.friendsofbartonspringspool.org.

Friday03

SENATE REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE PUBLIC HEARING Go tell the Lege where it can shove its new congressional redistricting map. (See "Travis To Split Five Ways?") 9am. Texas Capitol Extension Rm. E1.016, 1100 Congress Ave.

Saturday04

COLORADO RIVER MONITORING TRIP Monitor birds and flora with the Austin-Bastrop River Corridor Partnership. (Rent a boat or BYOB.) 8am. Center for Environmental Research, Hornsby Bend, 2210 FM 973 S. [email protected].

FESTIVAL BEACH COMMUNITY GARDEN ANNIVERSARY PARTY Join the Sustainable Food Center and the Austin Parks Foundation to toast one whole year of successful neighborhood gardening. 10am-1pm. Festival Beach Community Garden, 35 Waller, 501-9853. Free. www.festivalbeachgarden.org.

SAVE TEXAS SCHOOLS Let your legislators know how you feel about the cuts to education funding. 11am-1pm. Texas Capitol Rotunda, 1100 Congress. www.savetxschools.org.

Sunday05

AUSTIN COOL HOUSE TOUR Take a self-guided, sustainable sojourn through 16 of Austin's most innovative green homes. Sponsored by the Texas Solar Energy Society and Austin Energy Green Building. $15; get your guidebook at Central Market or www.txses.org. 10am-6pm. www.txses.org.

Monday06

EARLY VOTING There's still one bit of unfinished business left from the May 14 City Council elections: the Place 3 run-off. Don't let your first vote go to waste – come on out and support your candidate. See p.5 for early voting locations and endorsements; for more on the candidates, see "Return to Place 3." For ongoing coverage, see austinchronicle.com/elections.

RICHARD LOUV The man who coined the term "nature-deficit disorder" is back with The Nature Principle, an exploration of the many happy repercussions of getting in touch with the environment. 7pm. BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar. www.bookpeople.com.

TAKE HEART CELEBRATION reunites cardiac arrest survivors with their rescuers for Take Heart Austin Week, a celebration of the good deeds of bystanders, emergency responders, and medical providers – and a reminder to learn CPR! 2-4pm. City Hall, 301 W. Second.

Tuesday07

MICHAEL O'BRIEN The photographer shares insights from his collaboration with Tom Waits on the book Hard Ground, a collection of portraits – some taken here in Austin – capturing the faces of homelessness. 7pm. BookPeople. www.bookpeople.com.

GEOGRAPHY, ECONOMICS, & LIVE MUSIC Urban geographer Eliot Tretter continues his lecture series, discussing how Austin's branding as the live music capital of the world affects the city's bottom line. 7pm. MonkeyWrench Books, 110 E. North Loop, 407-6925. Free. www.monkeywrenchbooks.org.

Wednesday08

BUDGET PRESENTATION With preparations under way for the city's 2012 budget, don't miss this chance for input as the Austin Com­mun­ity Technology and Telecommunications Commission hears departmental budget presentations. 6:30pm. City Hall, 301 W. Second. www.speakupaustin.org.

REVOLUTION IS IN THE AIR Austin's branch of the International Socialist Organization takes a look at recent uprisings around the world. 7pm. Carver Library, 1161 Angelina, 974-1010. www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=107122892712047.

Ongoing

DARE TO GO ZERO Follow the ups and downs of four families taking the Zero Waste challenge in hopes of winning a $2,000 "sustainable home-improvement package." See all five episodes at www.cityofaustin.org.

ONLINE BUDGET FORUM is a hub for civic participation and community input as the city prepares a budget for 2012. Visit www.speakupaustin.org.

FREEDOM RIDERS EXHIBIT Photos, firsthand audio accounts, and more offer a glimpse at one of the most compelling episodes of the civil rights movement. Daily, 9am-5pm. LBJ Library, 2313 Red River. Free. www.lbjlibrary.org.

NEIGHBORHOOD BEAUTIFICATION GRANTS Apply by Fri., June 24. 391-0622. www.keepaustinbeautiful.org.