Dec 11 - Join in a One-Day Community Arts Project
Wooldridge Square Park, 9th and Guadalupe
austinparks.org/Downtown/ParksWiFi.html

Make art a part of your holiday cheer this year. Spend this Saturday afternoon (12-4 p.m.) Downtown and be a part of an historic art event. Folks from around the community will be transforming Wooldridge Square Park into a living art installation. Hosted by the Austin Museum of Art, you'll be using natural materials such as hay and various kinds of foliage to create a once-in-a-lifetime look and feel for this historic park. And if you don't feel artsy, swing by and just gaze upon this ephemeral creation which will live for only a few hours. The project will be dismantled at the end of the day. Should be great fun for all ages and all levels of artistic abilities.

To learn more about this event and other cool happenings at all of Downtown's historic parks, please visit austinparks.org/Downtown/ParksWiFi.html.

Hats Off to Newest Sixth Street Retailer!


Vertigo Hats
115 E. Sixth Street
Littlefield Mall, Suite T
(512) 476-1203
vertigohats.com

We tip our hats and welcome the return of long-time retailer, Vertigo Hats, to its original setting - E. Sixth Street. Austin's only specialty purveyor of head wear now hangs its hat in the Littlefield Mall at 115 E. Sixth Street.

Vertigo has a delightfully dizzying selection of hats for every face for every occasion. Go play with painted, straw and decorated westerns, along with men's classics including the Fedora, Homburg, Pork Pie and Derby. You'll be expertly fitted with a hat that's specifically suited to your facial features and personality. Got a hat that needs cleaning, restoring or reshaping? Vertigo can take care of you. And what a cool idea for a holiday gift!

Owners Lauri and Thomas Benner say they're "pleased to be joining the new E. Sixth Street renaissance." And we say, "Welcome home!"

Vertigo Hats is open seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 7 p.m., M-T; 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday; and Noon to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. To learn more about Vertigo offerings, please call (512) 476-1203, or to view their truly custom hat fashions, go online to vertigohats.com.

Vertigo Hats now in Littlefield Mall 

You and your family can go to the theatre every night of the week to experience holiday hilarity, holly jolly classics or 3D cinema at its best. Now playing this week in Downtown:

To 12/18: The Toys Take Over Christmas, Scottish Rite Theatre, secondyouth.com

To 12/19: Hum Bug - A Christmas Carol, State Theater, austintheatrealliance.org

To 12/20: The Nutcracker, Bass Concert Hall, balletaustin.com

To 1/1/05: Esther's Follies Christmas Show, Esther's Follies, esthersfollies.com

To 1/2/05: The Santaland Diaries, Zachary Scott Theatre, zachscott.com

To 1/2/05: Rockin' Christmas Party, Zachary Scott Theatre, zachscott.com

To 1/13/05: The Polar Express, IMAX® Theatre, thestoryoftexas.com

For complete details on these shows, please go to the Calendar listing at downtownaustin.com.

Dec 9 - Caroling at St. David's
St. David's Church, 304 E. 7th(512)
(512) 476-6757, stdaves.org

Neighborhood caroling had seemed to have become a thing of the past. Not anymore, though. Join friends, colleagues and neighbors this Thursday at St.David's during your lunch hour for some old-fashioned caroling just like the good ole days. Along with your own voices, you'll hear the splendor of guest choirs from Downtown churches and soloists from The Parish Choir. This is a totally free event. Stay afterwards and enjoy a box lunch at the Divine Café.

Dec 10 - Eliza Gilkyson & Strings Attached
St. David's Episcopal Church, 304 E. 7th,
stringsattached.org

You've never heard holiday music performed quite like this before. Eliza Gilkyson, one of Austin's all-time favorite singer-songwrirters, joins Will Taylor and Strings Attached for one unforgettable holiday concert. St. David's Church is absolutely the perfect venue for this magical yuletime treasure. For information, reservations and tickets, log on to stringsattached.org.


Dec 12 - Christmas Vespers
St. Martin?s Lutheran Church, 606 W. 15th
(512) 476-6757, saintmartins.org

Texas Lutheran University Chorale takes Vespers on the road. If you miss this classic event on campus, here's another chance to take part in this Texas tradition. The service takes place at 5:00 p.m.

Dec 12 - Centuries of Christmas Carols
Central Presbyterian Church, 200 E. 8th
(512) 263-9208, centrapresbyterian.org

The Austin Choral Society for Sacred Music will present a free concert feature featuring music from the 16th to 20th Centuries. The concert begins at 6:00 p.m.

Holiday shopping doesn't get any better than this: stunning, original gifts for everyone on your list.

Dec 10-Jan 2 - Collecting Latino Art Exhibit & Sale
Mexic-Arte Museum, 419 Congress
(512) 480-9373, mexic-artemuseum.org

Mingle with some of the area's finest Latino artists participating in Collecting Latino Art. The opening of this exhibit on December 10 will be part of the Noche de Fiesta Navidena festivities (See Special Events below). Sale includes Limited Edition prints from Coronado Studio & Mexic-Arte Museum.

These shows continue Downtown this week:

To 12/18: Tenants Show, Guadalupe Arts Center, 1705 Guadalupe
(512) 473-3775, guadalupearts.com

To 12/23: Winter Jewels, d berman gallery, 1701 Guadalupe (512) 477-8877, dbermangallery.com

To 12/23: Ann Glazer drawings and paper art, Women & Their Work, 1710 Guadalupe
(512) 477-1064, womenandtheirwork.org

To 12/30: Holiday Punch, Studio 107, 411 Brazos, #107
(512) 477-9092, studio107.com

To 1/6: Xmas Expo, Gallery Lombardi, 910 W. Third
(512) 481-1088, gallerylombardi.com

On Display Now - Lounge!
Arthouse at Jones Center, 700 Congress Avenue
(512) 453-5312, arthousetexas.org

Designed by New York-based artist Matthew Geller, Lounge! is an exhibit in
collaboration with The University of Texas at Austin, School of Architecture. This show runs through January 16.

Dec 8-15 - Build a Gingerbread House Tradition
Austin Children's Museum, 201 Colorado
(512) 472-2494, austinkids.org

Cover yourself and your kids in sugar icing -- and everything nice -- as you build your own gingerbread house. Go to austinkids.org to make plans to create a candy-covered holiday tradition.

Dec 11-Feb 20 - Winter in Japan
Austin Museum of Art, 823 Congress
(512) 495-9224, amoa.org

British sculptor Andy Goldsworthy uses natural materials to create temporary sculptures that allow nature to take over. This exhibit includes 34 large scale photographs of his work in the mountains and along the coast of Japan, along with two new installations. Fascinating exploration.

Dec 17 - Star-Struck Workshops for Kids
Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 N. Congress
(512) 936-4649, thestoryoftexas.com

This one is just for kids, grades 1-8. They'll be making Star Serving Plates while you shop around Downtown. Registration is required for these $6, two-hour workshops. Call 936-4649 to sign up.

Still on Display

Blanton Museum of Art, 23rd & San Jacinto, (512) 471-7324, blantonmuseum.org

To 12/13: Roz - A Video

To 12/22: The Blanton Builds Your New Museum

To 12/22: 500 Years of Prints and Drawings

To 12/23: Twister: Moving Through Color

Dec 10 - Noche de Fiesta Navidena 2004
Mexic-Arte Museum, 419 Congress
(512) 480-9373, mexic-artemuseum.org

It's a cultural holiday experience like no other. The Noche de Fiesta Navidena 2004 celebration draws on all aspects of Mexican culture - from popular arts and seasonal music to flavorful foods such as bunuelos. The evening features a special performance by Ollitzin Chavez & Valor Latino. This is an annual fund-raising event for the museum. Admission is $25 in advance, $30 at the door.

Through Dec 15 - Great Sale on Things Austin
Austin Visitor Center, 209 E. Sixth Street
(512) 478-0098

Want to give something totally Austin this year? The Austin Visitor Center is offering deep discounts on select Austin merchandise, including UT memorabilia, t-shirts, Texas-shaped branding irons, wine bags, Hill Country jellies and more. Take advantage of this one!

Dec 15- Security & Maintenance Committee
8:30 a.m.
211 E. 7th Street, 7th Floor Conference Room
Contact: Bill Brice, 469-1766, downtownaustin.com

Dec 15- Republic Square Partnership Meeting
10:30 a.m - 12:00 p.m.
DAA Conference Room, 211 E. 7th Street, Suite 100-L
Contact: Julie Fitch, 469-1766, downtownaustin.com

On Stage
To 12/18: Toys Take Over Christmas Scottish Rite Theatre, secondyouth.com
To 12/19: Hum Bug - A Christmas Carol, Paramount Theatre, austintheatrealliance.org
To 12/21: The Nutcracker, Bass Concert Hall, balletaustin.com
To 1/2/05: Esther's Follies Christmas Show, Esther's Follies, esthersfollies.com
To 1/2/05: Rockin' Christmas Party, Zach Scott Theatre, zachscott.com
To 1/2/05: The Santaland Diaries, Zachary Scott Theatre, zachscott.com
To 1/13/05: The Polar Express, IMAX Theatre, Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, thestoryoftexas.com
To 3/05: Bugs 3-D: A Rainforest Adventure, IMAX®Theatre, thestoryoftexas.com

The Music Scene
9: Caroling at Noon, St. David's Church, stdave.org
10: Eliza Gilkyson & Strings Attached, St. David's Church, stringsattached.org
12: Christmas Vespers with Texas Lutheran University Chorale, St. Martin?s Lutheran Church, saintmartins.org
12: Austin Choral Society for Sacred Music Christmas Concert, Central Presbyterian Church, (512) 263-9208
15: Thursday NoonDay Concert Series, Family Ensemble Traditional Holiday Music, Central Presbyterian Church, centralpresbyterian.org

Gallery Watch & Museum Musings
8-15: Gingerbread Workshops, Austin Children's Museum, austinkids.org
10-1/2:Collecting Latino Art Exhibit & Sale, Mexic-Arte Museum, mexic-artemuseum.org
11-2/20: Andy Goldsworthy, Natural Installations in Japan, Austin Museum of Art, amoa.org
To 12/13: Roz - A Video, Blanton Museum of Art, blantonmuseum.org
To 12/18: Tenant's Show, Guadalupe Arts Center, guadalupearts.com
To 12/22: Twister: Moving Through Color 1965-1977, Blanton Museum of Art, blantonmuseum.org
To 12/22: The Blanton Builds Your New Museum, Blanton Museum of Art, blantonmuseum.org
To 12/22: 500 Years of Prints and Drawings, Blanton Museum of Art, blantonmuseum.org
To 12/23: Ann Glazer drawings and paper art, Women & Their Work, womenandtheirwork.org
To 12/31: Holiday Punch, Studio 107, studio107.com
To 1/6: Xmas Expo, Gallery Lombardi, gallerylombardi.com

Special Events, Workshops, Seminars, Meetings
10: Noche de Fiesta Navidena 2004, Mexic-Arte Museum, mexic-artemuseum.org
11: AMOA's Community Art Project, Wooldridge Square Park, austinparks.org/Downtown/ParksWiFi.html
15: DAA Republic Square Partnership Meeting, Southwest Tower, downtownaustin.com
15: DAA Security & Maintenance Committee Meeting, Southwest Tower, downtownaustin.com
To 15: Holiday Sale at Austin Visitor Center, 478-0098