Mar 25 AmeriCorps Serves Downtown
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
All around Downtown

As if they weren't already volunteering enough, volunteers from Austin's six AmeriCorps Programs join forces for a day of service in downtown.

Members and alumni unite for giant downtown clean-up and service project to include removal of SXSW Music Handbills, Parks Clean-up, and "Stone Soup" Feast for the Homeless prepared by area children with the help of the Austin Farmers' Market and the Austin Public Library. Here's the line-up.

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Canoes Clean up Town Lake
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. "Stone Soup" prepared at ARCH - 500 E. 7th
12:00 - "Stone Soup" served at Republic Square - 4th & Guadalupe
12:30 p.m. - Guest Speakers - Austin City Hall, 301 W. 2nd St.
featuring Mark Yudof, Chancellor of the UT System and,
recently appointed to the President's Council on Service and Civic
Participation.

For more information, please contact: Donna Hagey at (512) 448-8594/626-4442 or email her at donnabh@admin.stedwards.edu.


Mar 29 Movies in the Park Debut with
School of Rock
7:00 p.m.
Republic Square Park, 5th & Guadalupe
(512) 477-1566, austinparks.org

Rock on Austin! If you never knew who Jack Black was before, you know him now as the loser who turned privileged kids into rock stars. The School of Rock debuts the Spring Season of Movies in the Park next Wednesday with a live Paul Green School of Rock Music Concert.

Bring your whole family of rockers and enjoy this special version of Austin nightlife.

All movies are free. Amusing pre-show antics start at 7:00 p.m. and movies start at dusk. Arrive early and have a picnic!

Good to know: Dogs, picnics, and lawn chairs are welcome. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted in the park. Refreshments will be available for purchase from Dog Almighty (hot dogs, veggie dogs, chili, popcorn and drinks) and Lifeworks Ben and Jerry's ice cream.

Mar 23-26 "Kissing The Goodbye"
State Theater, 719 Congress
(512) 236-064, proarts.info

Kissing The Goodbye, a play written and directed by Zell Miller, gives the audience an opportunity to experience the powerful relationship between a grandmother and her granddaughter, a journey filled with love and remembrances re-discovered through storytelling.

Mar 24-25 Voices of Valor
8:00 p.m.
B. Iden Payne Theater, 23rd & Robert Dedman
(512) 471-1444, utpac.org

ArtesAmericas presents an eye-opening new play by James Garcia that captures amissing piece of American history - the some 500,000 brave Latino men and women who served in the armed forces during World War II. Voices of Valor is their story.

Mar 25 Lights, Camera, Opera!
Austin Music Hall, 3rd & Nueces
(512) 472-5992, austinlyricopera.org

It's not an opera, it's a smashing good time party! Austin Lyric Opera celebrates some of the biggest and best scenes in movie history - all with opera music as a back drop. This innovative evening of opera-inspired film clips will feature witty commentary, live music, the Lonestar Rollergirls and film glimpses from Silent-era to blockbuster epics. A great evening of theatre-with a definite Austin twist. Live Music provided by: The White Ghost Shivers. Tickets: $25, $45, & $65. Music and drinks - 7:15 p.m.; films begin at 8:00 p.m. Call 472-5992 or order online at AustinLyricOpera.org.

Still on Stage...

3/25: The Falsettos, Spaghetti Warehouse, capcitymystery.com
3/25: Candlestein, Scottish Rite Theatre, scottishritetheatre.org
To 3/28: Felipe Cazals Cinema Series, Alamo Drafthouse Downtown, austinfilm.org
To 4/19: Gary Grinkle's Battle with Wrinkles, Doughtery Arts Center, secondyouth.com
To 5/6: Bad Dates, Zach Scott Whisenhunt Arena Stage, zachscott.com
To 8/2: Roving Mars, Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, thestoryoftexas.com
To 8/19: Deep Sea 3D, Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, thestoryoftexas.com
Ongoing: Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D; Texas the Big Picture -
IMAX® Theatre and The Star of Destiny in the Texas Spirit Theater, thestoryoftexas.com

Mar 24 Ying Quartet
8:00 p.m.
Hogg Auditorium, 21st & University
(512) 471-1444, utpac.org

According to the LA Times, "The Ying Quartet came as close to the ideal as possible, delivering chamber music of astonishing, refreshing exaltation and exhilaration." Though made up of four siblings, together the quartet plays with one unified voice. Join the world in celebrating this extraordinary talent.

Mar 24 Strings Attached with Bob Schneider
St. David's Episcopal Church, 304 E. 7th
(512) 477-9837, stringsattached.org

James McMurtry did it. So have Ray Wylie Hubbard, Chip Taylor, and Eliza Gilkyson. Now the truly "Austintatious" music series will feature Bob Schneider in two shows, at 7:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Pairng Austin's most popular singer-songwriters with acoustic "chamber" instruments, such as cello, violin, viola, trumpet and drums is a musical experiment in the spirit of creativity and fun that results in magic: For tickets visit stringsattached.org or call (512) 477-9837.

Mar 24 Nine Inch Nails
7:30 p.m.
Frank Erwin Center, 1701 Red River
(512) 471-7744, uterwincenter.com

Rock sensation Nine Inch Nails have been storming the nation with their newest album "With Teeth" this past year, rocking audiences and ticket sales alike. Now Austinites get the chance to have the legend in their own backyards when the band arrives at the Erwin Center for what is sure to be an amazing show!

Mar 25 Lucinda Williams Headlines Acoustic Show
8:00 p.m.
Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress
(512) 472-5470, austintheatre.org

Lucinda Williams and Doug Pettibone - with special guest Tim Easton - will feature the sounds and lyrics that have made these folks stars of simple yet powerful music during this special Acoustic Show. Purchase tickets online, or call (866) 4GET-TIX. Take a listen at what you'll be hearing at lucindawilliams.com and dougpettibone.com.

Mar 26 The Hero Tour
Kirk Franklin with special guest Mary Mary
6:00 p.m.
Frank Erwin Center, 1701 Red River
(512) 471-7744, uterwincenter.com

The sounds of gospel music will fill hearts and souls when The Hero Tour featuring Kirk Franklin with special guest Mary Mary comes to The Theatre at the Frank Erwin Center. You'll hear the reason his 1993 album took him directly to the top of the Billboard gospel and R&B charts, becoming the first gospel album to ever go platinum.

Mar 23 Books, Bookshelves, Pencils,
and Paper Clips
7:00 p.m.
Harry Ransom Center, 21st & Guadalupe
(512) 471-8944, hrc.utexas.edu

Henry Petroski, Professor at Duke University and author of The Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance, presents "Books, Bookshelves, Pencils, and Paper Clips." Co-sponsored by the College of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin.

Mar 26 Extraordinary Ships,
Extraordinary Stories
2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 N. Congress
(512) 936-4649, thestoryoftexas.com

Two shipwrecks - LaBelle, a ship of French exporation, and Henrietta Marie, an English slave ship, both lost to the depths of the sea, have been rescued to reveal extraordinary stories. Join Mark Mitchell, award-winning author of "Raising LaBelle," and guest panelists for a stimulating conversation about shipwrecks, archeology and the incredible stories of human spirit and perseverance that challenged the course of history. Free with exhibit admission: Reservations required. Please call (512) 936-4649 for reservations.

Mar 25-Apr 29 Xtra-Ordinary
Arthouse at the Jones Center, 700 Congress Avenue
(512) 453-5312, arthousetexas.org

Transforming the notions of the everyday into astonishing and unexpected works of art is the focus of the three artists - Francesca Fuchs, Thomas Glassford, and Katrina Moorhead participating in the exhibition Xtra-Ordinary. Employing very different media, they each completely alter our views of the commonplace. For the exhibition at Arthouse, both Fuchs and Moorhead will install site-specific works in the gallery spaces.

Mar 26-Apr 30 New Works by
Deborah Roberts & John Livingston
Studio 107, 411 Brazos, Unit 107
(512) 477-9092, studio107.com

New works highlight visual articulation of street poetry and a commentary on black women now. Please join Deborah Roberts and John Livingston as they interpret their worlds with a quick pulse. This exhibition will be open Tuesday through Friday from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Reception: Sunday 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. For more information, call (512) 477-9092.

Mar 31: Art Ball + Bash
9:30 p.m - Midnight
Laguna Gloria, 3809 West 35th Street
(512) 495-9224, x. 29, amoa.org

The Austin Museum of Art is rolling out the orange carpet during its 10th Anniversary Art Ball & Bash, featuring special guests Christo and Jeanne-Claude and Silent Auction. Then boogie at AMOA's outrageous Art Ball X after-party featuring Grupo Fantasma, dancing, desserts, drinks, and a silent auction - all at the glorious AMOA-Laguna Gloria! Tickets $75.00. Purchase tickets online amoa.org or call (512) 495-9224, x. 291.

Still On Display Downtown...

To 3/25: Sunyong Chung Porcelain, Artworks, 1214 W. 6th, artworksaustin.com
To 3/25: Angela Fraleigh, Women & Their Work, womenandtheirwork.org
To 3/25: Pulse, f8 Fine Art Gallery, f8fineart.com
To 4/12: Lance Letscher: Index, d berman gallery, dbermangallery.com
To 4/14: Ten Courts of the Kings of Hell, Fielding Lecht Gallery, fieldinglecht.com
To 4/15: A Slave Ship Speaks, Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, thestoryoftexas.com
To 4/28: Conjunto: Photographs by John Dyer, Oswald Gallery, oswaldgallery.com
To 4/29: Christo and Jeanne Claude, Austin Museum of Art, amoa.org
To 5/5: Robert Therrien, Lora Reynolds Gallery, lorareynolds.com
To 5/19: Signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence, Capitol Visitor Center,
TexasCapitolVisitorsCenter.com
To 8/5: The Image Wrought, Harry Ransom Center, hrc.utexas.edu
To 8/5: Technologies of Writing, Harry Ransom Center, hrc.utexas.edu
To 9/24: Air Fair -It'll Blow You Away! Austin Children's Museum, austinkids.org
To 2/2007: The People's Gallery at City Hall, ci.austin.tx.us

Mar 24-25 Zilker Garden Festival
Zilker Botanical Gardens, 2220 Barton Springs Road
(512) 477-8672, zilkergarden.org

Celebrate spring and get in the mood to grow your green thumb. This annual festival heralds the start of the gardening season for many Austin-area gardeners and has something for every member of the family. There are clinics for gardeners, an activity area for children, music and food. Colorful booths with garden-related crafts of all sorts are everywhere; potters, soap makers, jewelers and other craftspeople sell their wares. Plants, tools and instructions by the thousands will inspire even the greenest of green thumbs. Gate admission is $5 per person, free for ages 12 and younger. Advance tickets are available for $3 at the gift shop so buy your tickets early. Please note that dogs are not allowed on the grounds during the festival.

Mar 25 Austin Science Fun Day
10:00 a.m - 4:00 p.m.
Texas Memorial Museum of Science & History, 2400 Trinity
(512) 232-5654, austinsciencefunday.org

Austin Science Fun Day features interactive booths offering entertainment and education for the whole family, with experiments created and demonstrated by Austin-area schoolchildren in partnership with local science organizations. Added attractions: a live-snake stage demonstration, "Science in the Movies" video show, the Chemistry Circus, the Physics Circus, and Bill Oliver and the Otter Space Band. Austin Science Fun Day is sponsored by Tokyo Electron America (TEA). This is a free event open to the public.

Mar 25-26 2006 Fly-Fishing Show
Palmer Events Center, Barton Springs Rd.
(772) 562-5069, castlow.com

String your rod and spread your wings while you learn everything you ever wanted to know about shallow water and light tackle fishing. Learn from celebrity experts and guides, sit in on informational seminars, and browse name brands from hundreds of manufacturers. It's all in one place...at one time. Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Sun 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Ticket prices are $10 per day, with children 13 and under flying free.

Mar 29 Azar Nafisi
KLRU Engaging Speakers Series/06
7:30 p.m.
Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress
(512) 472-5470, austintheatre.org

Azar Nafisi rose to fame with her best-selling book Reading Lolita in Tehran: a Memoir in Books. After the Iranian revolution and rise to power of the Ayatollah Khomeini, she became restless with the stringent rules imposed upon women. In 1995, she quit teaching and began having secret meetings to study books like Lolita, works considered dangerous to read in Iranian society. Learn more about the series and this event at klru.org/spark. Purchase tickets online or call (866) 4GET-TIX.


Totally Austintacious

Mar 25 Austin Farmers' Market
Republic Square, 4th & Guadalupe
(512) 236-0074, Austinfarmersmarket.org

The market downtown features fresh and local vegetables, herbs, cheeses,
eggs, meats, breads, honey, flowers, prepared foods, drinks and artisan
crafts. Free parking around the park and in the State parking garage at 3rd
and San Antonio. Free admission.


Mar 25-26 West 6th St. Artists Market
709 W. 6th
(512) 698-8099, 6thstreetmarket.com

The West 6th Street Artist's Market is a festive outdoor art fair, featuring a variety of work by independent artists from Austin and Central Texas. Open every Sat. & Sun, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Mar 23 Toros vs. Fayetteville Patriots
7:30 p.m.
Austin Convention Center, 500 East Cesar Chavez
austintoros.com

Faith and Family Night - Enjoy the free post game autograph session with Toros players at all games. For individual game tickets call (866) 443-8849 or visit austintoros.com. For group ticket information call (512) 236-8333.

Mar 25 Austin Wranglers vs. Orlando Predators
7:00 p.m.
Frank Erwin Center, 1701 Red River
(512) 339-3924, austinwranglers.com

Salute to Education Night. Be there to see the leaders of the Southern Division, your Austin Wranglers, take on division rival, Orlando Predators! Don't miss out on the Heart Stoppin! Helmet Poppin! In Your Face Football! For tickets call Ben at 339-3924.

March 25 Austin Farmers' Market
Republic Square, 4th & Guadalupe
(512) 236-0074, austinfarmersmarket.org

From 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., W. 4th St. will be closed between Guadalupe and San Antonio for the Austin Farmers Market.

Mar 23 Issues & Eggs - World Conference on Information and Technology 2006
8:00 a.m.
Room 111, Southwest Tower, 211 E. 7th Street
rsvp@downtownaustin.com
(512) 469-1766, downtownaustin.com

Glyn J. Meek, CEO & President of the World Congress of Information and Technology (WCIT) 2006 will give you an overview of the Congress - being held May 1-5 - its goals, the sponsorships, the speakers, the business opportunities for Austin, the program, the social events, and then its effects on Austin as a community for 5 days in May. This is a huge international event that Austin is honored to be hosting. Learn more about it at wcit2006.org.

Mar 23 Streetscapes & Transportation Committee
12:00 p.m.
211 E. 7th Street, 7th Floor Conference Room
(512) 469-1766, downtownaustin.com/daa/whoweare

Chair: Steve Simpson, Staff Liaison: Thomas Butler

Mar 29 Security & Maintenance Committee
8:30 a.m.
Chair: John Nyfeler, Staff Liaison: Bill Brice
(512) 469-1766, downtownaustin.com/daa/whoweare

Chair: John Nyfeler, Staff Liaison: Bill Brice