Sep 23-25 Austin City Limits Festival
Zilker Park, Barton Springs Road
aclfestival.com

Having showcased artists ranging from Willie Nelson to Sheryl Crow since its premiere in 1976, Austin City Limits champions performers who display exceptional musical and songwriting talents. The results are unpretentious and engaging performances by musicians who appreciate the intimate concert setting and straightforward style of production. Austin City Limits presents the best of America's music from country, blues and folk to rock 'n' roll, bluegrass and zydeco.



This Festival, unfortunately, is nearly sold out. Only one-day passes for Friday were available at the time of this writing. So dash to aclfestival.com for tickets right now.

Sep 22 Wild West Comedy Show
Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress
(512) 472-5470, austintheatre.org

You've seen him in this summer's hit comedy, Wedding Crashers, as well as Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Old School and Swingers. Vince Vaughn will host the hottest comedy tour of the year - Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show, featuring national touring comedians from the world famous Los Angeles Comedy Store. Take a peak at what you'll experience at wildwestpictureshowproductions.com.

Sep 23-25 Chicago
Bass Concert Hall, 23rd & Robert Dedman
(512) 471-1444, utpac.org

It all started with a hit! 6 Tonys. 6 Oscars. And thousands of standing ovations. The one, the only CHICAGO! Broadway's most popular musical is a razzle-dazzle tale of sin and celebrity. If you've seen the movie, you'll know why this is one fantastic musical.

Sep 24 Blast off to the Moon!
Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 N. Congress
(512) 936-4649, thestoryoftexas.com

Celebrate the new IMAX® film, Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3-D, with free family fun from Noon to 4:00 p.m. this Saturday at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum! Pose questions to NPR's Block and Byrd for broadcast on the radio program, Earth and Sky. See real moon rocks, a moon globe and find out about NASA's Apollo program. You can even enter a Moonpie eating contest!

Sep 24 George Carlin
Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress
(512) 472-5470, austintheatre.org

Tickets purchased for the January 15 will be honored for the two rescheduled shows at this date and time 7:00 p.m. & 9:45 p.m. Expect some particularly pungent wit from George.

Sep 24 Deadly Housewives
Spaghetti Warehouse, 117 W. 4th
(512) 441-4720, capcitymystery.com

Join the Capital City Mystery Players for an audience interactive comedy whodunit - Deadly Housewives - the wild and wacky spoof of the hottest show on TV. You'll laugh yourself silly while trying to unravel this mystery, with the super sleuth of the evening winning a fabulous prize!

Still On Stage Downtown...

To 10/16: Charlotte's Web, Scottish Rite Theatre, scottishritechildrenstheatre.org
To 11/12: Keepin' It Weird. Zachary Scott, zachscott.com
Ongoing: Back-to-School Follies, Esther's Follies, esthersfollies.com
Ongoing: Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D; Pulse: a STOMP Odyssey, Texas the Big Picture, Forces of Nature, Fighter Pilot, IMAX® Theatre, thestoryoftexas.com
Ongoing: The Star of Destiny, Texas Spirit Theater, thestoryoftexas.com

Sep 22 Down Home Concert
Central Presbyterian Church, 200 E. Eighth Street
(512) 472-2445, centralpresbyterian.org

This week's Thursday Noontime Concert, features Gary Knippa & Win Bent performing 'Down Home' Guitar and Double Bass

Sep 22 Ensemble Bartok De Chile
Bates Recital Hall, 23rd & Robert Dedman
(512) 471-1444, utpac.org

The five masters of Ensemble Bartok are South America's musical pioneers. Their mission: to mine the treasures of modern Latin American classical music and bring them, gracefully polished and luminous, into your world. The result: musical bliss.

Sep 23 Sambaxe Live from the Plaza:
City Hall Plaza, 301 W. 2nd Street
cityofaustin.org

Samba, cha cha, sway and swirl to Brazilian music as delivered by Sambaxe. Head down to City Hall on Friday for lunch-time live music on the Plaza! There's tons to do in the area, so make it a long, leisurely lunch. For those of you that can't make it, the music will be broadcast live on cable Channel 6. Free parking. Food available. These concerts are sponsored by the Cultural Arts Division of the Economic Growth and Redevelopment Services Office. Image courtesy of musicaustin.com.

Sep 26 "La Cage: Vegas in Austin" for Hurricane Relief Efforts
The Rainbow Cattle Company, 305 W. 5th
(512) 472-5288

La Cage: Vegas in Austin is staging a special show to help raise money for the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts and ongoing needs. For more information about this special production starring some of Central Texas' premiere female-impersonators, contact the club at (512) 472-5288.

Sept 28 From 1 Music Capital to Another
Paramount Theatre, Congress
(866) 4GET-TIX, austintheatre.org

The Paramount's Austin Cares benefit concert will feature Ray Benson, Jerry Jeff Walker, Jimmy LaFave, Reckless Kelly, Bruce Robison, Ruthie Foster, Eric Johnson and more. All money raised will be donated to local nonprofits that will see an increase in service requests from our new friends in town. Ticket prices range from $20 to $100. "Relief Tickets" include premium seating and underwrite one ticket that will be given to a hurricane evacuee. Learn more about how you can participate by logging onto austintheatre.org.

Sep 22 22 to Watch: New Art in Austin - Gallery Talk
Austin Museum of Art, 823 Congress
(512) 495-9224, amoa.org

Austin Museum of Arts exhibiting artists will each give ten minutes of insight into their work. Website has all the details.

Sep 24-Oct 22 Helmut Barnett
Wally Workman Gallery, 1202 W. 6th
(512) 472-7428, wallyworkman.com

Wally Workman Gallery presents the colorful and highly textured work of artist Helmut Barnett. The exhibit features new paintings, drawings, and collages. Opening Reception: September 24, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Pictured here is: Amplitude Modulation, 60 X 48 inches, Acrylic on canvas

Sep 23 Ansel Adams: One With Beauty
Harry Ransom Center, 21st & Guadalupe
(512) 471-8944, hrc.utexas.edu

Mary Alinder will present a lecture on Adams and his work from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.

Sep 26-28 Kid Creative Learning Events Downtown
Austin Children's Museum, 201 Colorado
(512) 472-2499, austinkids.org

26: Baby Bloomers (3 and under): 9:00 a.m. - Noon
28: Teetertots: 10:00 a.m.
28: Community Nights: 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Still On Display Downtown...

To 10/15: Ready, Set, Roll, Austin Children's Museum, austinkids.org
To 10/15: Pequenos Fotografos, Las Manitas Avenue Cafe, lapena-austin.org
To 10/23 Texas Trailblazer, Capitol Visitors Center, texascapitolvisitorscenter.com
To 10/30: 22 to Watch: New Art in Austin,Austin Museum of Art, amoa.org
To 11/5: Painted Memory by Fidencio Duran, Mexic-Arte Museum, mexic-artemuseum.org
To 11/6: Ernest F. de Soto Workshop Collection, Mexic-Arte Museum, mexic-artemuseum.org
To 11/10: 2005 Texas Prize Finalists, Arthouse at the Jones Center, arthousetexas.org
To 12/31: Ansel Adams: A Legacy, Harry Ransom Center, hrc.utexas.edu

Sept 24, 28 Austin Farmers' Market
Republic Square Park, 5th & Guadalupe
Plaza Saltillo, 5th Street & Comal
(512) 236-0074, austinfarmersmarket.org

Late summer fruits and vegetables are still hot at both versions of the Austin Farmer's Market, including the mini-mart on Wednesdays from 4:00 ? 7:00 p.m. at Plaza Saltillo.

Sep 24-25 Old Pecan Street Festival
E. Sixth Street
(512) 441-9015, roadstarproductions.com

Join the throngs of Central Texans who will be on hand to view beautiful handmade arts and crafts by some 300 carefully juried artisans from all over the U.S. You'll enjoy a vast array of food and beverages as you listen to live music on six stages. A special "Kid's Korner" will feature a carnival, petting zoo, and entertainment for children. The Festival is being held E. 6th St. between Brazos Ave. and IH-35 from 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Saturday and 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Sunday. This is a FREE event.

Sep 25 Austin Bridal Extravaganza
Palmer Events Center, Barton Springs Rd.
austinweddings.com

The Austin Bridal Extravaganza is just that. Where else can you get everything you need for that dream wedding under one roof? You can converse with wedding professionals, collect literature, sample the offerings of caterers and bakers, take in the sights and smells of floral arrangements, listen to DJs and classical musicians...even hire a wedding professional or service right on the spot. Walk down the aisles of the Palmer, Noon - 6:00 p.m. this Saturday.

Sep 28 Poetry with Glorious English Accents
Harry Ransom Center, 21st & Guadalupe
(512) 471-8944, hrc.utexas.edu

Poetry on the Plaza this month features guest readings by Actors from the London Stage. This in an annual event held in conjunction with the Department of English. There will be an encore reading on Friday, September 30 as well.

Sep 28 National Reading Expert to Speak
Scottish Rite Learning Center, 207 W. 18th Street
(512) 472-1231

Louisa C. Moats, Ed.D., a leading expert on reading education and a board member of the International Dyslexia Association, will be in Austin to speak to teachers, therapists and parents on dyslexia. The Scottish Rite Learning Center is hosting the speaking engagement at the Scottish Rite Theatre. The Center provides therapy at no charge to children with dyslexia along with a training program for therapists, To register, call (512) 472-1231. Teachers
and therapists seeking credit will receive six CEUs for attending. The cost is $200, which includes lunch and materials.

Weather permitting, there are two big events in Austin this weekend that will affect Downtown streets.

Sep 23 - 25 Austin City Limits Music Festival
Zilker Park, Barton Springs Road
aclfestival.com
Free Capital Metro Shuttles to Zilker Park will depart from Waterloo Park at 14th and Trinity.

Shuttle Staging Area (map)
Except for garage access, the following roads will be closures at the shuttle staging area from 9:00 a.m. Friday until 11:59 p.m. Sunday:
- Trinity, from E. 12th to E. 15th
- E. 13th, from San Jacinto to Trinity
- E. 12th, from Trinity to Red River
- E. 14th, from San Jacinto to Trinity

Shuttle Info:
- Shuttles start at 10:30 a.m. each day
- Last shuttle leaves the Festival at 10:30 p.m.
- There are several state garages in which to park, but since Friday is a work day, those spaces won't be available before 5:00 p.m.

Streets to be closed in the Zilker Park vicinity (map):
- Barton Springs Rd., from Robert E. Lee to Rollingwood Dr.
- Stratford Dr., from Barton Springs Rd. to the Zilker Clubhouse (Just west of of Mopac)
- Traffic on the northbound Mopac frontage road will not be allowed to turn into Zilker Park or onto Barton Springs Rd.

Remember: There is NO parking at the Festival site, and parking is not permitted in surrounding neighborhoods. There is plenty of bicycle parking near the main festival entrance, and we encourage this low-cost, low-impact option. (Bring your own lock!)


Sep 24-25 Pecan Street Festival
E. Sixth Street
(512) 441-9015, roadstarproductions.com

The following streets will be closed for the fall edition of this twice yearly event:
- E. 6th, from Brazos to Sabine (Brazos will remain open)
- E. 7th, from Red River to Trinity
- Sabine, Trinity, San Jacinto, and Red River, from E. 5th to E. 7th
- Neches, from E. 5th to E. 8th


Capital Metro E-Bus
This popular Capital Metro service, which serves students in the West Campus, Main Campus and Riverside areas now stops on the 200 block of E. 7th Street. The right-hand travel lane will close at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. It will re-open at 3:00 a.m. in the morning following each closure.


Farmer's Market
W. 4th Street will close between Guadalupe and San Antonio on Saturday. The closure will last from 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Sep 22 Streetscapes & Transportation Committee
8:30 a.m.
Southwest Tower, 211 E. 7th Street, 7th Floor Conference Room
Chair: Steve Simpson; DAA Contact: Thomas Butler
(512) 469-1766, downtownaustin.com

Sep 28 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