For more details and events, see Community Listings.
Thursday 23
AUSTIN INTERFAITH ACCOUNTABILITY SESSION directs questions on a range of issues to a panel of legislative candidates including House District 48’s Pamela Waggoner and Donna Howard, HD 50’s Mark Strama and Jerry Mikus, and county Commissioner Gerald Daugherty. 7-8pm. St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 10205 RR 620 N. www.austininterfaith.org.
CENTRAL PUBLIC LIBRARY MEET AND GREET Rub elbows with the three architect teams vying to design Austin’s flagship library. 6pm. City Hall, 301 W. Second. www.cityofaustin.org/library/newcentlib.htm.
DIAMONDS AND DENIM BENEFIT honors the Texas Silver-Haired Legislature, which helps senior citizens get involved in the legislative process. Special guests include journalist Rona Barrett and KEYE news anchor Judy Maggio. Proceeds benefit Family Eldercare. 6-9pm. Caswell House, 1404 West Ave., 483-3579. $75. www.familyeldercare.org.
FIGHTING GOLIATH: TEXAS COAL WARS Re-Energize Texas hosts the premiere screening of this short documentary, followed by a panel discussion with energy experts, politicians, and students. 6:30pm. Thompson Conference Center, 2405 Robert Dedman. www.reenergizetexas.org.
IAN MCNULTY discusses his book A Season of Night: New Orleans Life After Katrina. 7pm. Barnes & Noble South, 5601 Brodie, 892-3493.
Friday 24
AUSTIN CO-OP FESTIVAL If you think it’s special when a bunch of people get together and cooperate, wait till you see a bunch of cooperatives get together and celebrate. 6-10pm. French Legation Museum, 802 San Marcos St. $5. www.myspace.com/coopfest.
MCCAIN VS. OBAMA: COMPETING VISIONS FOR AMERICA This public policy forum features a town-hall-style debate on the candidates’ foreign and domestic policy ideas. 6-7:30pm. LBJ Library, 2313 Red River, 232-4006.
Saturday 25
EARLY-VOTING PARTY Help Southwest Key celebrate its übersuccessful voter registration drive, and while you’re at it, vote – today, this community center doubles as a mobile voting site. Noon-1pm. Southwest Key Community Center, 6002 Jain, 431-9665. Free.
GET OUT THE EARLY VOTE VOLUNTEERS are needed this weekend. See www.turntexasblue.com/savethedates to sign up.
Sunday 26
MORALITY OF ARMED CONFLICT Representatives of the Muslim, Christian, and Jewish faiths discuss the contemporary role of religion in war. 2pm. University Christian Church, 2007 University Ave., 477-6104. www.uccforums.org.
VOTERESCUE hosts a presentation on the failures and vulnerabilities of computerized voting machines. 11:30am. First Unitarian Universalist Church, 4700 Grover. Free. www.austinuu.org.
Monday 27
COLOMBIA SUPPORT NETWORK hosts a talk concerning violence and resistance to multinational gold-mining in Colombia. 7pm. Congregational Church of Austin, 408 W. 23rd, 472-2370.
JAMES CARVILLE AND MARY MATALIN This heavy-hitting political duo speaks at the United Way Capital Area fundraiser – advance tix required. 6:15pm. Renaissance Hotel, 9721 Arboretum Blvd. $300. www.unitedwaycapitalarea.org/speakerseries.
LATIN AMERICA & THE GLOBAL ECONOMY A talk from William C. Gruben. 4:30-6:30pm. UT campus, AT&T Conference Center, Rm. 203. Free.
MUSIC FOR DRUG POLICY REFORM ACLU hosts an evening of music and discussion, featuring Regina Kelly, who will give her firsthand account of injustices perpetrated in the name of the drug war. 7pm. Victory Grill, 1104 E. 11th.
Tuesday 28
AUSTIN SMART ENERGY Austin will be getting 30% of its energy from renewable resources by 2020 – help decide whether it comes from wind vs. solar vs. biomass vs. nuclear. Tonight is the second of several public forums planned over the next few weeks. 6:30-9pm. Sunset Valley City Hall, 3205 Jones Rd. www.austinsmartenergy.com.
COMMUNITY POLITICAL FORUM gives representatives from five political parties a chance to debate and discuss their similarities and differences. 7pm. Spider House Patio Bar & Cafe, 2908 Fruth, 480-9562. www.citizinemag.com.
Wednesday 29
THIRD COAST ACTIVIST FILM NIGHT features Secrecy, a documentary examining “the hidden world of security policy.” ACLU attorney Ben Wizner, who’s in the film, follows with a Q&A. 7pm. Alamo Ritz, 320 E. Sixth. www.originalalamo.com.
APD COMMUNITY SYMPOSIUM brings neighborhoods, businesses, faith groups, and law enforcement together for presentations and conversations in the aim of Preparing Today for a Safer Tomorrow. 7:30am-4:30pm. Hilton Austin, 9515 Hotel Dr. $20. www.cityofaustin.org/police.
Thursday 30
CHILDREN’S ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTE This two-day symposium, Blueprint for Children’s Health and the Built Environment, poses solutions to the environmental health risks children face. Thu., 8am-7pm; Fri., 8am-2:30pm. Barr Mansion, 10463 Sprinkle Rd. www.cehi.org.
Ongoing
WHAT SHOULD HOUSTON DO WITH ITS TREE DEBRIS? The city of Houston is offering the big money to those with the best solutions to its overabundance of post-Ike felled trees. Apparently, the city can only use so much mulch, so they’re looking for new ways to keep the wood from going to waste. The top award is $10,000; second and third get $5,000 and $2,500. Through Oct. 31. www.recycleike.com.
This article appears in October 24 • 2008.