Apr 23-May 8 Ahead of Their Time 2005
Arthouse at the Jones Center, 700 Congress
(512) 453-5312, arthousetexas.org

The themes and images are as sophisticated as they are imaginative. Ahead of Their Time 2005 gives you a critical look at the fresh talent emerging from Austin high schools.

Now in its sixth year, this juried exhibit offers advanced art students the opportunity to exhibit their work in a professional setting and receive feedback from a well respected Austin curator - Arturo Palacios, Director at the Dougherty Arts Center Gallery.

Palacios says the students "move beyond the technical aspects of media mastery and image-making to express their unique thoughts and concerns."

The Opening Reception for this fascinating exhibition is Friday, April 22, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Apr 21-Jun 19 Hank Williams: Lost Highway
Zach Scott's Kleberg Stage, Riverside at Lamar
(512) 476-0541, zachscott.com

The off-Broadway hit about the "Godfather of American Country Music" comes to Austin. Celebrate the life, struggles and music of Hank Williams, a true American icon. This highly entertaining and moving musical journey includes performances of more than 20 of his greatest hits.

Apr 22-23 Of Holding
State Theater, 719 Congress
(512) 474-2639, stillpointdance.com

Of Holding showcases the work of Stillpoint Dance's Artistic Director, Lisa Fehrman, dancer Amanda Jones and award winning dancer, director and actress Marguerite San Millan from New York. Friday: 8:00 p.m., Saturday 5:00 & 8:00 p.m. Admission: $17.00 General, $14.00 Student and Seniors.

Apr 22-24 Lions, Witches & Fairies
Dougherty Arts Center, 1110 Barton Springs Rd.
(512) 989-3363, austin-conservatory-arts.com

More than 40 dancers of the Conservatory Dance Theatre and En Avant Dance Company will bring to life The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Young children as well as adults will be captivated!

Still Showing Downtown...

To 4/17: MacBeth, Dougherty Arts Center, celticcenter.org
To 4/17: Thoroughly Modern Millie, Bass Concert Hall, utpac.org
To 4/29: Comedian Rob Williams, with Esther's Follies, esthersfollies.com
To 4/30: Reefer Madness, Hideout Theatre & Coffee House, bedlamfaction.com
To 5/1: Red, White & Tuna, Paramount Theatre, austintheatre.org
To 5/8: The Vagina Monologues, Zachary Scott Theatre, zachscott.com
To Spring: The Young Black Stallion, IMAX® Theatre, thestoryoftexas.com
To 5/28: James and the Giant Peach, Scottish Rite Theatre, scottishritechildrenstheatre.org
Ongoing: Texas the Big Picture, IMAX® Theatre, thestoryoftexas.com

Apr 22 Anthems of Peace and Freedom
St. Mary's Cathedral, 10th & Brazos
(512) 314-5532, austinsingers.org

The Austin Singers salute and celebrate peace and freedom during Flight of Freedom, a concert of spirituals, requiems, and arrangements of Dona Nobis Pacem. The concerts benefit Wonders and Worries, a charitable organization providing support for children and families coping with serious illness.

Apr 22-23 Classical Concert Series
Bass Concert Hall, 23rd & Robert Dedman
(512) 476-6064, austinsymphony.org

His playing has been described as "magisterial and deeply thoughtful, with a dash of daredevil showmanship." Pianist James Dick joins the Austin Symphony Orchestra for the final performances of their Classical Concert Series. Concerts are at 8:00 p.m. both nights.

Apr 23 Steven Curtis Chapman
Frank Erwin Center, 1701 Red River
(512) 471-7744, uterwincenter.com

Steven Curtis Chapman has taken contemporary Christian music to a place of prominence over the last two decades. He'll be performing songs from his new CD, All Things New, among his other chart toppers.

Apr 27 World Class Soprano
Bass Concert Hall, 23rd & Robert Dedman
(512) 471-1444, utpac.org

This woman takes the human voice to new heights. Literally. Renee Fleming, one of the world's premiere sopranos, brings her incredible talent to Austin for one night only.

Apr 22-24 Hot and Cold
Art on 5th, 1501 W. 5th
(512) 481-1111, arton5th.com

These are the hottest contemporary pieces from one of the coldest places in North America. More than 400 unframed works by more than 40 artists make up this show - Hot and Cold: The Best of Canadian Contemporary Art.

Apr 23 Explore the Story
Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 N. Congress
(512) 936-4649, thestoryoftexas.com

Make Saturday a map quest. "X" marks the spot to "Explore the Story" in the Landmark Maps of Texas exhibit. It's hands-on, interactive fun with maps, cartography equipment and artifacts for the whole family from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Apr 24 Community and the Loss of Place
Harry Ransom Center, 21st & Guadalupe
(512) 471-8944, hrc.utexas.edu

Dean of the College of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Washington, Dr. Bob Mugerauger discusses the waning state of place in our communities. This thought-provoking lecture will be held at 6:00 p.m. in the Protho Theater.

Still on Display Downtown...

To 4/29: Sketches of the Past, Las Manitas Avenue Cafe, lapena-austin.org
To 5/7: Journeys, F8 Fine Art Gallery, f8fineart.com
To 5/7: Proud and Sad /Wrong and Strong, Women & Their Works,womenandtheirwork.org
To 5/12: Color/Pattern/Grid, Austin Museum of Art, 823 Congress, amoa.org
To 5/13: Baby Dinos, Austin Children's Museum, austinkids.org
To 5/13: Pinto y Pinto - I Paint and Paint, La Pena Gallery, lapena-austin.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: Forces of Nature, Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, thestoryoftexas.com
To 5/29: Bats in My World, Austin Children's Museum,austinkids.org
To 6/4: Landmark Maps, Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum,thestoryoftexas.com
To 6/26 Grandeza Mexicana: Siglos XVI-XIX, Mexic-Arte Museum, mexic-artemuseum.org
To 7/17: The Muse in Motion, Harry Ransom Center, hrc.utexas.edu
To 7/17: The Place, Harry Ransom Center, hrc.utexas.edu
To 8/28: Signs of the Times, LBJ Library & Museum,lbjlib.utexas.edu

Apr 21 Downtown 'a la Carte
Bank of America Center, 515 Congress
(512) 469-1766, downtownaustin.com

What's fun and exciting to do and see Downtown? Find out during this month's Downtown 'a la Carte at Bank of America Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Servin' up Austin features Blue Plate Specials by Austin Museum Partnership, In the Galleries, Austin Circle of Theaters, Capital Metro/Commute Solutions, Historic Austin, Austin Farmer's Market. Complimentary appetizers provided by Hog Island Deli, Manuels, & Jamba Juice and musical entertainment by Haydn Vitera.

Apr 23 Earth Day "Diggin' It"
Republic Square Park, 5th & Guadalupe
(512) 236-0074, austinfarmersmarket.org

Celebrate Earth Day this week at the Austin Farmers' Market. "Diggin' It" offers a garden full of free outdoor fun including live music, info from ecology groups and a cooking demo with April's spring crops - potatoes, root crops, young squash and green beans. The Kid's Patch will feature a digging bed, recycled craft making and a petting pen. Free parking in the State garage at 3rd and San Antonio.

Apr 23 It's My Park Day
Parks Around Austin
(512) 477-1566, austinparks.org

Here's a great way to "think globally and work locally" on Earth Day. Help beautify Austin Park during a community gathering throughout Austin, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Volunteers will work together to spruce up more than 30 parks around town, including Town Lake Shore Downtown.

Apr 23 Downtown Buyer Seminar & Loft Tour
Prosperity Bank, 900 Congress
loftsdowntownaustin.com

Learn what it's really like to call Downtown your home. Prosperity Bank and RE/MAX will host a seminar and loft tour that offers you the ins and outs of buying a home in Downtown Austin and living here in the heart of the city. Loft tour includes Hilton 555, Brown Building and Brazos Lofts. Refreshments will be served. Event takes place from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m., and tour begins in the bank lobby at 900 Congress Avenue. RSVP: info@loftsdowntownaustin.com.

Apr 23-24 Hands On Art
Palmer Events Center, Barton Springs Rd.
(512) 431-6290, millerblueprint.com

Hands-on art classes, demos and a terrific art supply sale are all part of this weekend's FACET Art Show. Register for classes at millerblueprint.com.

Apr 23-24 Austin Artist Harvest
Palmer Events Center, Barton Springs Rd.
artistsharvest.com

Looking for the perfect piece(s) for your home, office or body? Roam through aisles of fine jewelry, drawings, sculptures, wood works, ceramics, watercolors and other media during this harvest of the finest art in Texas. You'll find a plethora of ideas and great works for designers, decorators, architects and collectors alike. Show runs 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Apr 27 Norman Mailer
B. Iden Payne Theater, Winship Drama Building, UT Campus
(512) 471-8944, hrc.utexas.edu

SOLD OUT lecture by Norman Mailer, one of the most distinguished and controversial writers of the twentieth century, speaking about his life and works.

Apr 24 Schlotzsky's Bun Run
Auditorium Shores, Town Lake
bunrun.com

The Schlotzsky's 5K Bun Run is an annual Austin tradition to give the community a chance to "run their buns off" in support of the Austin Sunshine Camps (sunshinecamps.org). Take off at 8:00 a.m. See street closings for affected traffic routes.

4/23 Schlotzsky's Bun Run 5K
bunrun.com

The following streets will be closed from 5:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Sunday for the 23rd Annual Schlotzkys' Bun Run:

Cesar Chavez, between S. 1st St. and Mopac;
S. 1st St., between Riverside and Cesar Chavez;
Lavaca, between, Cesar Chavez and W. 2nd St.;
West 2nd St., between Lavaca and San Antonio;
San Antonio, between W. 2nd St. and Cesar Chavez.

Apr 27 Security & Maintenance Committee
8:30 a.m.
Southwest Tower, 211 E. 7th Street, 7th Floor Conference Room
Chair: John Nyfeler; DAA Contact: Bill Brice
(512) 469-1766, downtownaustin.com


Apr 21, 22 Art & Architecture DOWNTOWN
KLRU Channel 18/Cable Channel 9,
Apr 27, KLRU 2 - Time Warner Channel 20
downtownaustin.com

Don't miss this week's episode of DOWNTOWN featuring Larry Speck, former Dean and current Graduate Advisor for the UT School of Architecture and principal with the architectural firm of PageSoutherlandPage. Larry discusses the long-standing relationship between the natural and built environment in Austin.

Also featured is Runtex's running instructor Gilbert Tuhabonye and his "Gilbert's Gazelle's." These students gain both perfect technique and inspiration from the story of how running saved their instructor's life.

You see all our gallery openings, but do you go? Are you afraid you'll feel out of place? Now's your chance to see it's all a great time and you don't have to know about art - you just have to know what appeals to you. Watch "Intro. to Gallery Hopping 101: Art appreciation and fun - A Novice's Guide to Gallery Night."

DOWNTOWN is shown Thursday evenings at 8:00 p.m. and Friday evenings at 9:00 p.m. on KLRU Channel 18/Cable Channel 9 and the following Wednesday's at 9:30 p.m. on KLRU 2, Cable Channel 20 (with Spanish Subtitles).

For more information on DOWNTOWN and upcoming episodes and to give us your feedback visit downtownaustin.com.

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