Jan 18 - Arts & Entertainment Marketing Committee
8:30 a.m.
Southwest Tower, 211 E. 7th Street, 7th Floor Conference Room
Chair: Nancy Burns; DAA Contact: Cilla Temple
469-1766; downtownaustin.com

Jan 19 - Republic Square Partnership Meeting
8:00 - 9:00 a.m.
Southwest Tower, 211 E. 7th Street, DAA Conference Room
Parks Committee Chair: Thais Austin; DAA Contact: Julie Fitch
469-1766; downtownaustin.com

Jan 20, 8:00 a.m. - Issues & Eggs
Southwest Tower, 211 E. 7th Street, Room 111
469-1766, rsvp@downtownaustin.com

Please join us for a free breakfast and important discussion of

Working Together for our Downtown Parks & Trails

Guest Speakers include:
Ted Siff, Executive Director, Austin Parks Foundation
Paul Wilson, Texas Gas Service
Dan Garrison, Volunteer Director, Town Lake Trails Foundation
Jeff Burrus, Treasurer & Director, Town Lake Trails Foundation

Along with this Issues & Eggs topic, sponsors and volunteers are now being sought for It's My Park Day coming up quickly - April 23! For details on how you or your company can become involved and benefit from this activity, please go to austinparks.org.

Jan 17 - The Dream Continues...
MLK Day Community March & Parade, Congress Avenue
mlkcelebration.com

Join in the celebration of one of this nation's finest visionaries. The Martin Luther King Day Community March & Parade gets underway at 8:00 a.m. with a ceremony at the MLK statue on the UT campus. The parade will proceed to the south steps of the State Capitol for a brief rally before continuing to the Huston-Tillotson campus where a cultural festival celebrates the man and his mission until 2:00 p.m. More than 15,000 are expected to be a part of this salute.

Jan 28 - Winter Luncheon to Unveil Retail Vision
The Four Seasons, 98 San Jacinto
(512) 469-1766; rsvp@downtownaustin.com

Our Winter Luncheon will outline the details of how Downtown is going to reemerge as the retail mecca of Central Texas. Make your reservations today by calling or emailing, and look for details of this important community gathering in the Downtown Focus Newsletter arriving soon.

Jan 15-Feb 12 - A Child's Treasure Hunt
Scottish Rite Theatre, 207 West 18th Street
(512) 472-7247, scottishritechildrenstheatre.org

What could be more fun? Swashbuckling at its finest is what's in store for the whole family as the Scottish Rite Children's Theatre opens its 2005 season with Treasure Island. With peg-legged action packed with mystery and fun, kids of all ages will love this theatrical adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic.

Set sail for high seas adventure with Long John Silver and his band of merry pirate mates as they dive into the colorful, delightful escapades of treasure hunts, taking captives and bumping into ghosts. Children participate in some of the action. Magical fun!

The show runs January 15 through February 12, with performances on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. and two Sunday shows at 2:30 p.m. on January 30 and February 6. Tickets range from $5-8, with group rates available for parties and group outings.

Go to scottishritechildrenstheatre.org for all the details.

Jan 13-Mar 6 - Where Minimum Wages Can Take You
Zach Scott Theatre, 1510 Toomey Rd.
476-0541, zachscott.com

Her resume reads more like the SBC Yellow Pages. From nude artist's model and whorehouse receptionist to Wall Street proofreader and Italy B-cinema film star, Claudia Shear really has done it all. In this hilarious tour-de-force, Blown Sideways Through Life, you'll travel with this incredible lady as she eats her way through 100 minimum wage jobs. And believe it or not, this is a true life account of one amazing job portfolio. Plan to scream with laughter throughout.

Jan 14 - Multi-media Melding
Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress
472-5470, austintheatrealliance.org

Total sensory immersion. That's what Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular has been providing audiences for more than 18 years. Sizzling special effects collide with synthesize the timeless, iconic music of Pink Floyd to leave you totally sensitized to new perspectives about the common world and cultural enlightenment. There are two shows of this kaleidoscopic experience - 7:30 and 10:00 p.m.

Jan 14, 16 - Elektra
Bass Concert Hall, 23rd & Robert Dedman
472-5992, austinlyricopera.org

Experience operatic drama and human trauma at its most intense. The Austin Lyric Opera has outdone itself on this one!

Jan 19-Jan 21 - Film Provides Insight into Today's Conflicts
Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress
472-5470, austintheatrealliance.org

The Algerian revolt against the French between 1954 and 1962 has an eerie resemblance to contemporary Middle Eastern conflicts. The recent restoration and re-release of The Battle of Algiers made many critics Ten Bests lists for 2004. Shows are at 7:30 p.m.

Jan 15 - Brazilian Dream Team SOLD OUT
Bates Recital Hall, 23rd & Robert Dedman
(512) 471-1444, utpac.org

The next time you hear the Brazilian Guitar Quartet is coming to town, don't dally buying tickets. What these men do with strings will amaze and stun you. The best we can offer now is a preview of their music at utpac.org to let you know what you don't want to miss the next time.

Jan 16 - Saxophone Sensation
Paramount Theatre,713 Congress
austintheatrealliance.org

Kick off the Austin Winter Nights and learn why Branford Marsalis is unrivaled in the jazz world. A man with eclectic musical abilities, he's a top-of-the-class saxophonist who composes, performs and produces the best jazz sounds you'll encounter. See him live this Sunday at the Paramount. Buy tickets now at gettix.net or call (866) 4GET-TIX (443-8849). Austin Winter Nights benefits the Austin Music Foundation and the Sims Foundation.

Jan 13 - Grand Opening - Taylor Gallery
Taylor Gallery, 1157 Chicon
663-8348

Please plan to join in the fun during the Grand Opening Reception for Austin's newest art space, Taylor Gallery. The reception will feature representative artwork from a special coalition of Central and East Austin area artists. The Taylor Gallery is managed by Austin artist, Charles Randolph. His work has been featured at the Carver Museum, 13th Street Heritage House and in exhibitions sponsored by the Coalition of Austin Black Artists, Diverse Arts Production Group and others. A silent auction will take place during the reception - 6:00 - 11:00 p.m. - to benefit Austin's newest gallery space.

Jan 13 - Classic Eames Short Films
ArtHouse at the Jones Center, 700 Congress
453-5312, arthousetexas.org

Starting in 1952, Charles and Ray Eames made provocative short films over a three-decade period that live on because they are such universal portraits of the way we live. In conjunction with its ongoing exhibit Lounge! (running through 1/16), the ArtHouse is screening two of the best Eames films, Powers of Ten and House: After Five Years of Living. Fascinating!

Jan 16 - Boundaries of Art + Architecture
ArtHouse at the Jones Center, 700 Congress
453-5312, arthousetexas.org

Kevin Alter, Associate Dean of School of Architecture at UT-Austin, will be on hand to hold a lively discussion of the boundaries of art, architecture and design. Reception to follow.

Also on display Downtown...

To Feb 12 - Abstract Art by 3 Austin Artists, d berman gallery, 1701 Guadalupe, 477-8877, dbermangallery.com

Jan 6 - 29 - The Group Show, F8 Fine Art Gallery, 1137 W. 6th, 480-0242, f8fineart.com

Jan 8 - Feb 12 - OPEN HOUSE, Women & Their Work, 1710 Lavaca, 477-1064, womenandtheirwork.org

Downtown's Newest Eateries

Please welcome our newest places to relax and replenish:

BakerMan's Bakery
120 East 7th
476-0060, bakermansbakery.com

Located just a little east of Mike's Pub on 7th Street, this new full service, old-fashioned bakery featuries "Classic Handmade Doughnuts & Baked Treats." Yummers!

Texadelphia
619 Congress (formerly Wendy's)
326-1700, texadelphia.com

Opened January 10th in the former location of Wendy's, one of Austin's favorites stop-in-and-get-great-food establishments will feature everything that made Texadelphia so popular, including the "Original Texas Cheesesteak."

On Monday, January 17, the Martin Luther King Day Parade will begin at 8:00
a.m. at the MLK statue on the University of Texas campus. The parade will
proceed south on Congress Avenue to the Capitol, where a ceremony honoring
Dr. King will begin at 9:00 a.m. At 9:40 a.m., the parade will head east on
11th street to Chalmers Avenue and then to Huston-Tillotson College.

Police Officers will block intersections as the parade passes. The large
number of participants requires the use of the entire roadway on each street
it travels.

On Stage
13-Mar 6 - Blown Sideways Through Life, Zachary Scott Theatre, zachscott.com
14, 16: Elektra, Bass Concert Hall, austinlyricopera.org
14: Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular, Paramount Theatre, austintheatreralliance.org
15-2/12: Treasure Island, Scottish Rite Theatre, scottishritechildrenstheatre.org
19-21: The Battle of Algiers, Paramount Theatre, austintheatrealliance.org
To 1/21: The Polar Express, IMAX® Theatre, thestoryoftexas.com
To 3/05: Bugs 3-D: A Rainforest Adventure, IMAX® Theatre, thestoryoftexas.com

Gallery Watch & Museum Musings
13: Grand Opening Reception, Taylor Gallery, 663-8348
To 1/16: Lounge! Arthouse at the Jones Center, arthousetexas.org
19-21: Eames Classic Films, Arthouse at the Jones Center, arthousetexas.org
To 1/29: The Group Show, F8 Fine Art Gallery, f8fineart.com
To 2/12: Austin Artists - Abstract Art Exhibit, d berman gallery, dbermangallery.com
To 2/12: OPEN HOUSE, Women & Their Work, womenandtheirwork.org
To 2/20: Andy Goldsworthy, Natural Installations, Austin Museum of Art, amoa.org
To 5/29: Bats in My World, Austin Children's Museum, austinkids.org
To 8/28: Signs of the Times: Life in the Swingin' Sixties, LBJ Library & Museum, lbjlib.utexas.edu

Special Events, Workshops, Seminars, Meetings
17: MLK Day Community March & Parade, Congress Ave, mlkcelebration.com
28: Alliance Winter Luncheon, Retail Vision Unveiled, downtownaustin.com

DAA Gatherings
18: Arts & Entertainment Marketing Committee, Southwest Tower, downtownaustin.com
19: Republic Square Partnership, O. Henry Museum, downtownaustin.com
20: Issues & Eggs, Working Together for our Downtown Parks, downtownaustin.com