Mar 5 Celebrate Texas Independence Day!
Congress Avenue
celebratetexas.org

The celebration of Texas independence gets underway with a 5K run and parade through Downtown. The run takes off at 9:00 a.m., and the Parade begins at 11:00 a.m. For information about other Texas Independence Day events visit: celebratetexas.org

After watching the Independence Day Parade, visit the Capitol Visitors Center at 112 E. 11th Street to discover more about the history of our great state. The Texas General Land Office will have many documents and artifacts on display, some of which date back to the 1500s. Historical re-enactors from the Spanish, French and Revolutionary eras will be on hand to talk with you. The Visitors Center also features exhibits and films about the history of the Capitol and Texas.

You can visit the Gift Shop and buy great Texas souvenirs including books, clothing and replica historical documents. For details on all that the Visitors Center offers, please visit TexasCapitolVisitorsCenter.com

Mar 3-6 A Wild Ride from Austin to Tulsa
State Theater, 719 Congress
(512) 472-5470, austintheatrealliance.org

Take a musical ride through the life and legend of Bob Wills, starring Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel.

Mar 4-5 Tapestry Dance Company Safe and Sound
Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress
(512) 472-5470, tapestry.org

Join the Tapestry Dance Company on a journey through childhood, family, work, patriotism, religion and of course politics wrapped around the concepts of being human, being an American and being "safe."

Mar 6 Junie B. Heads to School
Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress
(512) 472-5470, austintheatrealliance.org

Your youngsters will love tagging along with Junie B. Jones on her first day of first grade. Wonderful messages wrapped in child-like humor. Showtimes: 2:00 & 4:30 p.m.

Mar 8-9 Cookin'
Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress
(512) 472-5470, austintheatrealliance.org

What do you get when you cross Jackie Chan with Benihana? Four crazy chefs in a high-energy percussion show, drumming, fighting and juggling their way to a glorious wedding banquet, slicing, dicing, chopping and beating out a zesty blend of martial arts, samulnori and dance. Join the Paramount Bar and Central Market as the doors open at 6:30 p.m. for complimentary Asian appetizers. Show 7:30 p.m.

Still Showing Downtown...

To 3/5: Bugs 3-D: A Rainforest Adventure, IMAX® Theatre, thestoryoftexas.com
3/5: FOXTALES, Scottish Rite Theatre, scottishritechildrenstheatre.org
To 3/6: Blown Sideways Through Life, Zachary Scott Theatre, zachscott.com
To 4/3: AIDA, Zachary Scott Theatre, zachscott.com
To Spring: The Young Black Stallion, IMAX® Theatre, thestoryoftexas.com
Ongoing: Texas the Big Picture, IMAX® Theatre, thestoryoftexas.com

March 3 Thursday Noontime Concert
Central Presbyterian Church, 200 E. Eighth Street
(512) 472-2445, centralpresbyterian.org

Austin Flute Choir Flute will be performing Ensemble Music.

Mar 5 Mariachi Vargas
Bass Concert Hall, 23rd & Robert Dedman
(512) 471-1444, utpac.org

A Mexican musical extravaganza. Hear why this 12-member ensemble has
earned the title "The Best Mariachi in the World!" Showtime - 7:30 p.m.

Mar 6 Alicia Keys - The Diary Tour
Bass Concert Hall, 23rd & Robert Dedman
(512) 471-1444, utpac.org

SOLD OUT. You'll have to rely on scalpers to get in on this one.

Mar 6 Great Organ Series
Bates Recital Hall, 23rd & Robert Dedman

Bradley Hunter Welch is known internationally for his majestic mastery. He performs at 3:00 p.m. Tickets at the door - $14/$10 students.

Mar 2-Apr 4 Rita Maria Contreras: Recent Work
Las Manitas Avenue Cafe, 211 Congress
(512) 477-6007, lapena-austin.org

La Pena Gallery and Las Manitas Avenue Cafe unveil a special exhibit of the the work of San Antonio artist, Rita Maria Contreras, renowned for her self-portrait and Texas landscape series. Opening reception on March 4, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Mar 3 Illustrated Presentation by Angel Santos Suarez
La Pena Gallery, 227 Congress
(512) 471-4557, utexas.edu/depts/cmas

In collaboration with The Center for Mexican American Studies, La Pena Gallery presents Angel Santos Juarez, master potter from Tonala, Jalisco, Mexico, who will give a presentation on his pottery making techniques. The reception and demonstration will take place at the Gallery from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Mar 3 West End Gallery Night
West End - Sixth Street - West of Lamar
inthegalleries.com

Take a Gallery glide through the West End. Stephen L. Clark Gallery, Wally Workman Gallery, F8 Fine Art Gallery, Artworks, Austin Galleries, Art on 5th are all open until 8:00 p.m.

Mar 3-31 Rory O'Neal Abstracts: Red Hot!
Artworks, 1214 W. 6th
(512) 472-1550, artworksaustin.com

Rory O'Neal's acrylic abstracts are Red Hot! See why everyone's talking about this emerging Austin artist. Opening Reception is from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., March 3rd.

Mar 3-Apr 2 Getting in Touch
F8 Fine Art Gallery, 1137 W. 6th
(512) 480-0242, f8fineart.com

Four artists deliver mixed media interpretations that will inspire you to stop, look, listen...to your past, to your surroundings, to yourself. Opening Reception: March 3, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Mar 5 Austin Science Fun Day
Texas Memorial Museum of Science & History, 2400 Trinity
(512) 471-1604, austinsciencefunday.org

Austin Science Fun Day features 15 interactive booths offering entertainment and education for the whole family, with experiments created and demonstrated by Austin-area school children in partnership with local science organizations.

Mar 5 Sculptor to Be!
Umlauf Sculpture Garden, 605 Robert E. Lee Road
(512) 445-5582, umlaufsculpture.org

Little hands learn about sculpture and create their own masterpieces! For children 7 - 11. $7.50 per student. Limited to 15 students. Reservations required for this hands-on fun, 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.

Mar 5-May 12 Color/Pattern/Grid
Austin Museum of Art, 823 Congress
(512) 495-9224, amoa.org

The Austin Museum of Art showcase, Color/Pattern/Grid: Selections from the Austin Museum of Art and Austin Collections, offers you the rare opportunity to peer into seventeen spectacular private collections, along with the Museum's own permanent works, to see the connections of color, pattern, and grid. Hands On FamilyLab let's you explore basic art concepts and create a small work. Great Spring Break outing.

Mar 6 Sleuthing the Alamo
Bob Bullock State History Museum,1800 N. Congress
(512) 936-4649, thestoryoftexas.com

Mysteries still abound about just exactly what happened the day the Alamo fell on March 6, 1836. Find out what's been uncovered and what may never been known during a special presentation by author/historian, Dr. James Crisp. This is a free event from 7:30-9:00 p.m., but reservations are required. Call (512) 936-4649 to take a seat.

Mar 6 An Evening with Evelyn
Harry Ransom Center, 21st & Guadalupe
(512) 471-8944, hrc.utexas.edu

Clip this date and enjoy an evening (starting at 6:00 p.m.) of clips featuring Evelyn Waugh, his words, his own cinematography and the film "The Loved One," starring Jonathon Winters. This event offers more insight into the Ransom Center's ongoing exhibit: Writing Among the Ruins: Graham Greene and Evelyn Waugh.

Still on Display Downtown...

To 3/10: Hiroshi Watanabe: Faces and Places, Oswald Gallery, oswaldgallery.com
To 3/14: Relentless Women - Mujeres Invencibles, La Pena Gallery, lapena-austin.org
To 3/20: Writing Among the Ruins, Harry Ransom Center, hrc.utexas.edu
To 3/26: Pocket full of posy (all fall down), d berman gallery, dbermangallery.com
To 3/26: Guatemala City Dump: Life on the Rim, Women & Their Work, womenandtheirwork.org
To 3/27: Hollywood Portraiture, Harry Ransom Center, hrc.utexas.edu
To 3/27: Fashion/Celebrity Photography, Harry Ransom Center, hrc.utexas.edu
To 4/8: Mexico in Excellence: 21st Century, Mexic-Arte Museum, mexic-artemuseum.org
To 5/13: Baby Dinos, Austin Children's Museum, austinkids.org
To 5/21: European Paintings: Open Storage, Blanton Museum of Art, blantonmuseum.org
To 5/21: Contemporary Art from Chile, Blanton Museum of Art, blantonmuseum.org
To 5/29: Bats in My World, Austin Children's Museum, austinkids.org
To 6/4: Landmark Maps of Texas Exhibit, Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, thestoryoftexas.com
To 8/28: Signs of the Times: Life in the Swingin' Sixties, LBJ Library & Museum, lbjlib.utexas.edu

Mar 4-6 Texas Home and Garden Show
Austin Convention Center, 500 East Cesar Chavez
texashomeandgarden.com

It's the biggest and best show whose name says it all.

Mar 5 Austin Farmers' Market
Republic Square Park, 5th & Guadalupe
(512) 236-0074, austinfarmersmarket.org

Get fresh with and at the Austin Farmer's Market - every Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Mar 5 Explore UT Day
University of Texas Campus
utexas.edu/events/exploreut/

Go back to college for a day and learn what it's really like being a student at the state's largest University. Stroll around, in and through the campus from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Mar 6-31 Coexistence Exhibition - Giant Outdoor Art Display
Auditorium Shores, Town Lake
(512) 476-9151, balletaustin.org/light

The Coexistence Exhibition, an unusual and thought-provoking outdoor billboard exhibition currently touring the world, arrives in Austin to explore themes of tolerance and mutual respect. This exhibit is part of the community initiative entitled "Light/The Holocaust & Humanity Project," co-sponsored by the City of Austin and Ballet Austin. A brief Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony will be held at 3:30 p.m. on March 6th.

Mar 6 Bow Wow Festival
Waterloo Park, 403 E. 15th
bowwowfestival.com

Dance wth the dogs. See the Weiner dogs race. Sign up for David Letterman's Stupid Pet Tricks. Bring your favorite Bow Wow and romp around as you celebrate the unconditional love and weirdness of you canine companion(s). Tickets: $5 for adults, Children under 12 free. Proceeds benefit the Austin Humane Society.

Mar 6 77th Annual Zilker Kite Festival
Zilker Park, Barton Springs Road
zilkerkitefestival.com

The skies over Zilker Park are never so enchanting as when filled with a gazillion kites of all descriptions. The fun sets sail at 11:00 a.m. This is a free event, and all the goodies you buy will go to help local kids in crisis. In case of rain, the Festival will be held on March 13th.

Mar 9 YOGA YOGA in the Park!
Republic Square Park, 5th & Guadalupe
(512) 326- 3900, austinparks.org

Throw some comfie clothes and a yoga mat into your knap sack and spend your lunch hour doing good things for your body. Yoga Yoga in the Park is a free Spring event brought to you by The Austin Parks Foundation, the Downtown Austin Alliance and YOGA YOGA.

Mar 5 Ronald McDonald House Fun Walk
Temple Inland will host the 15th Annual Fun Walk benefiting the Ronald McDonald House. The walk will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 10:00 a.m.

Beginning on Brazos Street, walkers will take the following route:
- west on Cesar Chavez to Congress,
- north on Congress to 11th St.,
- east on 11th St. to San Jacinto,
- north on San Jacinto to 15th St.,
- south on Red River to 12th St.,
- west on 12th St. to San Jacinto,
- west on 11th St. to Congress,
- south on Congress to Cesar Chavez, and
- ending at the beginning point on Brazos.

About 200 walkers will take up one lane of the streets they are walking on and the streets will reopen as the last walkers pass.

Mar 5 The Texas Independence Day Run and Parade
The 1700 block of Congress will be used as the staging area for the run and will be closed from 5:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Runners will take the following route:
- south on Congress to 2nd St.,
- west on 2nd St. to Lavaca,
- north on Lavaca to 17th St.,
- east on 17th St. to Brazos,
- east on Martin Luther King to San Jacinto,
- south on San Jacinto to 16th St.,
- east on 16th St. to Congress,
- north on Congress to the finish line at 17th St..

The run begins at 9:00 a.m. and the right hand lane of each street on the route will be closed from 8:45 a.m. until 10:30.

The Texas Independence Day Parade will begin at 11:00 a.m. at Congress and Cesar Chavez and proceed north to the Capitol grounds. Congress Avenue will be closed from 8:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. The 100 block of W. 11th Street will also be closed from noon until 1:00 p.m.

Because of the number of events on Congress, the Avenue will be completely closed from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.


Mar 5 Movie Shoot
East 3rd St., between San Jacinto and Trinity, will be closed from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. while a crew films scenes for a movie. Two lanes on San Jacinto, between 3rd St. and 4th St. will also be affected.

Easy In/Take Out/Easy Out
Whole Foods, 6th & Lamar

So it's the end of the day, and who wants to cook? No problemo. Just slip in to Whole Foods and take out sumptuous prepared meals, for any appetite or diet. It's so EASY. The parking garage on Sixth Street makes it a breeze. You're in, you're out, you're on your way - armed with a dinner to go, fit for the pickiest palates. Isn't it great working Downtown? You betcha!

Mar 8 Arts & Entertainment Marketing Committee
8:30 AM
Southwest Tower, 211 E. 7th Street, Room 111
Chair: Nancy Burns; DAA Contact: Cilla Temple
(512) 469-1766; downtownaustin.com

Click Here to view the entire Events Calendar.