DOWNTOWN is Back for Season 2!

Thursday, April 13 - 7:30 p.m.
Friday, April 14 - 9:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 19 - 9:30 p.m.
Downloadable on Time Warner Cable's Lone Star on Demand - Channel 1301

downtownaustin.com

This show is good, if we do say so ourselves!

Season 2 of DOWNTOWN premieres this week and you'll want to catch this - and all episodes of this really great portrait of our community.

In Episode #201 you'll see why people want to live downtown, what's in it for them; then you'll take an amazing bike ride as you zoom through the streets of Austin with a special breed of messengers; a UT professor tells you of a mystery that's befuddling scientists, and you will feel proud to live in one of the world's funkiest and fun towns as you get an energetic, up-close look at Austin's first First Night.

Tune in to catch a glimpse of DOWNTOWN or set up your recorder for all the episodes of the show that shows downtown like you've never seen it before.

For a complete schedule, please go to klru.org to sign up for email reminders and for a complete weekly schedule of DOWNTOWN episodes.

Apr 14 Real Time with Bill Maher
at the Paramount
8:00 p.m.
Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress
(512) 472-5470, austintheatre.org

You don't need HBO to catch the latest satire of a comedian who's leading a mental movement in this country - Bill Maher. Could we call him the left's Ann Coulter? He wouldn't like the comparison, that's for sure. Hear him take his uniquely acerbic aim at the various social, cultural and political issues of the day.

Apr 18 Nobelity: A film by Turk Pipkin
8:00 p.m.
Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress
(512) 472-5470, austintheatre.org

"Absolutely brilliant. This is one of the most important films of this year or any
year." says Harry Knowles, aintitcool.com. A stunning look at the world's most pressing problems through the eyes of Nobel laureates, Nobelity features the insights of Desmond Tutu, Jody Williams, Austin's Steve Weinberg, Wangari Maathai and many others. Filmed across the U.S., in France, Great Britain, India and Africa, Nobelity follows filmmaker Turk Pipkin's personal journey to find answers about the kind of world our children and grandchildren will know. If you're into cinematic genius you do not want to miss this chance to talk about Nobelity.

Still on Stage...

4/15: Falsettos, Spaghetti Warehouse, capcitymystery.com
To 4/19: Gary Grinkle's Battle with Wrinkles, Doughtery Arts Center, secondyouth.com
To 4/30: Sleeping Beauty, Scottish Rite Theatre, ScottishRiteTheatre.org
To 5/6: Bad Dates, Zach Scott Whisenhunt Arena Stage, zachscott.com
To 5/7: The Exonerated, Zach Scott Theatre, zachscott.com
To 5/14: Triple Expresso, State Theater, austintheatre.org
To 5/16: Three Film Actresses Abroad, Alamo Drafthouse Downtown, austinfilm.org
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

Apr 13 Tinariwen - "The Hottest Band
in Africa"
Hogg Audiorium, 21st & University
(512) 471-1444, utpac.org

A Malian band of rebels, Tinariwen's desert blues was born of the circumstances of exile and suffering. Their story is one of rock and roll rebellion with a difference. Tinariwen means "empty places" which reflects their desert homeland in West African country of Mali--Powerfully, moving sounds.

Apr 14 Live From the Plaza: Eve Monsees
& the Exiles
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
301 W. Second Street City Hall
(512)974-9310, ci.austin.tx.us

Head down to City Hall on Fridays for live lunch-time music on the plaza! This week, you'll hear Eve Monsees & the Exiles. Terrific atmosphere.

Apr 14-15 Violinist Hilary Hahn
Bass Concert Hall, 23rd & Robert Dedman
(512) 476-6064, austinsymphony.org

This violinist's music is as breathtaking as her physical beauty. Hilary Hahn joins the Austin Symphony Orchestra for th Classical Concert Series. Program includes: Rautavaara - Cantus Articus (Concerto for Birds & Orchestra), Op. 61, Glazunov - Violin Concerto in a minor, Op. 82, Beethoven - Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 "Pastorale." Concert times both nights: 8:00 p.m.

Apr 16 Acclaimed Sitarist - Purbayan Chatterjee
5:00 p.m.
Texas Union Auditorium, 2247 Guadulupe
(512) 448-6740, icmca.org

The Indian Classical Music Circle of Austin (ICMCA), now in its 15th year, proudly presents a masterful performance of Hindustani music on the Sitar by the acclaimed sitarist Purbayan Chatterjee. India's sitar maestros have proclaimed Purbayan Chatterjee as one of its best young instrumentalists and a phenomenon to watch for his brilliance and virtuosity.

Apr 15-16 Reggae Rages this Weekend
Noon - 10 p.m.
Auditorium Shores
austinreggaefestival.blogspot.com/

The Austin Reggae Festival is the largest third-world music event in Central Texas. You'll hear all takes on the beat that makes this music unique - from traditional to Chicano Reggae, even hip-hop variations. Doors open at noon. $7 each day. Benefitting Capital Area Food Bank. Boogie over to web site for details, logistics, line-ups for these two days of sounds that will keep you movin'.

Apr 13 The Origins of Writing
5:00 p.m.
Harry Ransom Center, 21st & Guadalupe
(512) 471-8944, hrc.utexas.edu

LECTURE: Denise Schmandt-Besserat, Professor Emerita at The University of Texas at Austin, examines "The Origins of Writing." (Tom Lea Room)

Apr 14-29 Contemporary Handmade Furniture
Design Within Reach, 200 West 2nd Street
thefloatingchair.com

Furniture to build a room and hundreds of conversations around. You'll see vibrant one-of-a-kind pieces like this "Tumblewood Table" by Holly Everett. Event Opening: April 14th from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. at both Design Within Reach locations - 200 West 2nd Street and 421 West 2nd Street Exhibition Space.

Apr 15-May 10 Erin Cone & Ali Cavanaugh
Wally Workman Gallery, 1202 West 6th Street
(512) 472-7428, wallyworkman.com

Mysterious. Mystical. Mesmerizing. That's what draws you in at Wally Workman Gallery - the work of Erin Cone & Ali Cavanaugh. The opening reception will be on Saturday, April 15th, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Check out the preview page: wallyworkmangallery.com.


Still On Display Downtown...

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 4/27: Contemporary Landscapes, Art on 5th, arton5th.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 4/29: Xtra-Ordinary, Arthouse at the Jones Center, arthousetexas.org
To 4/30: New Works by Deborah Roberts & John Livingston, Studio 107, studio107.com
To 5/5: Superspace, Women & Their Work, womenandtheirwork.org
To 5/5: Robert Therrien, Lora Reynolds Gallery, lorareynolds.com
To 5/5: Pantomime, La Pena Art Gallery, lapena-austin.org
To 5/5: Alebrejes, Las Manitas Avenue Cafe, lapena-austin.org
To 5/19: Signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence, Capitol Visitor Center,
TexasCapitolVisitorsCenter.com
To 5/13: Intuition, f8 Fine Art, f8fineart.com
To 8/5: The Image Wrought, Harry Ransom Center, hrc.utexas.edu

Apr 18 Affordable Housing in Downtown Austin -
Oxymoron or Opportunity
7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Palmer Events Center, Barton Springs Rd.
(800) 321-5011, uli.org/register

Plan to attend this special planning forum to explore succesful developments, financing and policy tools that have been used to make homes affordable in downtowns around the country. Hear from experts, including developers and public officials, who have been involved in the actual development of workforce housing. Also, come to share your ideas. Hosted by: City of Austin, HousingWorks, National Housing Conference, Urban Land Institute and the Downtown Austin Alliance. Invitation with information on how to register to follow. For more information, please contact the ULI Austin District Council at (512) 491-8301. To register, visit: uli.org/register, or call (800) 321-5011.

Apr 19 Poetry on the Plaza
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Harry Ransom Center, 21st & Guadalupe
(512) 471-8944, hrc.utexas.edu

Poetry on the Plaza this month features Gary Mex Glazner in a National Poetry Month presentation--a lovely way to spend your Wednesday lunch hour. Head to the Ransom Center to listen to readers drawn from the local community and have included professors and students at the university as well as local actors and authors.

Apr 19 Fotos de me Alma
6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Copa Bar & Restaurant, 217 Congress
(512) 322-9947, latinasmagazine.org

Latinitas Magazines and Outreach invites you to the Fotos de mi Alma Auction. Youth art priced as low as $15 to professional pieces will be sold through a silent auction to support Latinitas programming in East and South Austin. Drink specials, free food and $5 salsa lessons downstairs will be available. Focused on empowering Latina youth through media and technology, Latinitas started as a project over three years ago in a Latinos and Media class at UT and now publishes two online bilingual magazines monthly and provides journalism after school programs and camps for Latina youth in Austin. Come see and learn more about this important program.

May 2-6 Four Days. 80 Countries. Extend Your Global Reach.
WCIT 2006 Innovation Exchange
Austin Convention Center
(512) 505-4077, wcit2006.org

Meet people who will move your business forward, stop you in your tracks and make you think. That's what the first 4 days in May offer you and your business. Whether you want to attend and participate in the entire event, or be on hand for a business meet and greet only, you will probably want to attend some function during this international conference that's really an impressive gathering. And/or, mix business with pleasure at the Lone Star Plaza Party, Wednesday, May 3 and solidify the relationships developed at the Innovation Exchange. Don't miss this Texas-sized celebration at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, a musical Tour de Force of more than 30 Texas musicians under the direction of Stephen Bruton, GRAMMY nominated producer and WCIT 2006 Musical Director. Please visit wcit2006.org to choose how you will take part. Registration ends on April 17.

Apr 15 Austin Wranglers vs. Tampa Bay Storm
7:00 p.m.
Frank Erwin Center, 1701 Red River
(512) 339-3924, austinwranglers.com

State Agency Night ? Don?t miss out on the hard-hitting action as your Austin Wranglers take on the Tampa Bay Storm at the Frank Erwin Center. Five dollar ticket offer on Wednesday only. To order tickets call Ben ? 339-3924.

Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant
301 San Jacinto Street
(512) 476-8300
riograndemexican.com

Hours: Every day, 11:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

You'll be going to the Rio Grande for more than freshly prepared Mexican food - with a pronounced Texas influence. Neat atmosphere here with an indoor/outdoor bar and patio situated under a grand Oak tree. The high energy, eclectic design is highlighted by hand painted tables, tiles and funky lighting fixtures. Favorite dishes like Fajitas Rio Grande, Tacos de Pechugas, Enchiladas Del Mar and Chile Rellenos are complemented by the Rio's renowned margaritas, an assortment of wines, beers and non-alcoholic beverages.

Welcome to the neighborhood!

For more news about retail downtown visit the Downtown Austin Alliance's Retail Directory (downtownaustin.com/directory/retail) or the Alliance's Retail Information Section.

Apr 15 Austin Farmers' Market
Republic Square, 4th & Guadalupe
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.

Apr 13 Movies in the Park: Dodgeball
7:00 p.m.
Republic Square, 4th & Guadalupe
(512) 477-1566, austinparks.org

Join the pre-show dodgeball game! Bring your family and come enjoy a new twist on 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 (mmm, ice cream). Austin Park's Foundation's Movies in the Park is sponsored in part by the Downtown Austin Alliance.

Apr 19 Arts & Entertainment Marketing Committee
8:30 a.m.
211 E. 7th Street, 7th Floor Conference Room
(512) 469-1766, downtownaustin.com/daa/whoweare

Chair: Nancy Burns, Staff Liaison: Cilla Temple

Don't forget to watch DOWNTOWN!