Sep 22-Nov 25 Saved from the Fire:
Work by Hank Waddell
Umlauf Sculpture Gardens, 605 Robert E. Lee Road
(512) 445-5582, umlaufsculpture.org

In another special event celebrating its 15th anniversary, the Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum will present its first contemporary exhibit - Saved from the Fire - an overview of the work of Austin sculptor, Hank Waddell.

Working primarily with wood, Waddell's sculptures are inspired by fragments of once living trees. As he becomes more familiar with each fragment, Waddell begins to refine and bring new life to it, working in harmony with its original form, grain and texture. His earlier pieces are more reflective of their forest origins while his recent work includes a variety of altering additions, like reflective or glittering automotive paint, intended to disguise the natural element that it once was.

More than three dozen of Waddell's sculptures will be on exhibit both inside the Umlauf gallery and outside in the xeriscaped garden. These pieces were produced over the last thirty years, with the majority created in the last decade. Waddell's Beach Ball (2003) was recently selected by popular vote as the first piece to be purchased for the City of Austin's Art in Public Places permanent collection. It is currently on view at City Hall.

Waddell will be in Austin discussing his work on September 24th. See Gallery Watch below for details.

Sep 21 - 26 As You Like It - Austin Shakespeare Theatre
8:00 p.m.
Sheffield Hillside Theatre, Zilker Park
guyroberts.com/mermaidtheatre

Special Limited Engagement - 6 Performances Only! In fear for her lives, Rosalind and Celia, flee to the Forest of Arden, where boundaries between reality and fantasy merge in Shakespeare's vibrant comedy of life and love. $20 advance reservation sugggested donation. Limited seating - Note: There are two types of seating - Groundlings Picnic Area & Reserved folding seats. No chairs allowed in the picnic area and you must provide your own blanket and cushions. Food and drink permitted. Contact guyroberts.com/mermaidtheatre for advance reservations.


Sep 26 The Servant
7:00 p.m.
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 409 Colorado
(512) 322-0145 x 213, austinfilm.org

This film is Joseph Losey's take on the war between the classes and shows the subtle reversal of roles as the servant becomes the master. Austin Film Society (AFS) presents the 2006-07 Season of its Essential Cinema Series, "Surviving the Blacklist: Joseph Losey in Europe." Instead of submitting and enduring the anti-Communist mania of the early '50's, Joseph Losey went to Europe to exert his creativity and AFS celebrates the results of his intriguing efforts. This series runs though October 10. Go to austinfilm.org for details.

Sep 23-24 Not Afraid of the Dark-
The Show that Glows
Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress
(512) 476-2163, balletaustin.org

Set to the whimsical tunes of Joe Scruggs and the choreography of Stephen Mills, Ballet Austin II turns the darkness into a place to sing, laugh, clap, dance, dream and do everything imaginable, except be afraid. This glow-in-the-dark ballet, features sashaying stick figures and pirouetting popcorn and is sure to delight the young and the young at heart.

Sep 26 Laughter & Reflection with Carol Burnett
8:00 p.m.
Bass Concert Hall, 23rd & Robert Dedman
(512) 471-1444, utpac.org

A true living legend performs in and for Austin! Laughter & Reflection with Carol Burnett is a conversation with Carol where the audience gets to ask the questions. Tickets are $50-75, available now at utpac.org, (512) 477-6060, Texas Box Office outlets, HEB, Central Market stores and the UT PAC Box Offices.

Sep 27 The Doors 70MM Austin Premier
Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Avenue
(512) 472-5470, austintheatre.org

Oliver Stone's homage to 60's rock group The Doors also doubles as a biography of the group's late singer, the "Electric Poet" Jim Morrison. The movie follows Morrison from his days as a film student in Los Angeles to his death in Paris in 1971, at the age of 27. The movies features a tour-de-force performance by Val Kilmer, who not only looks like Morrison's long-lost twin brother, but also sounds so much like him that he did much of his own singing. It has been written that even the surviving Doors had trouble distinguishing Kilmer's vocals from Morrison's originals.

Still on Stage...

9/24: African Folk Tales & Music, Scottish Rite Theatre, scottishritetheatre.org
To 9/21: American Fiesta, McCullough Theatre, utpac.org
To 9/24: Land of the Feathered Serpent, Santa Cruz Theater, aztlandance.com
Ongoing: Superman Returns, Ride Around the World: A Cowboy Adventure, Texas the Big Picture in the IMAX® Theatre and The Star of Destiny in the Texas Spirit Theater, thestoryoftexas.com

Sep 21 Women's Choral Program
Central Presbyterian Church, 200 E. Eighth Street
(512) 472-2445, centralpresbyterian.org

This week's Thursday Noonday Concert features Cantamos - Women's Choir from First Baptist Church.

Sep 22 Natalie Zoe Live From the Plaza
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
City Hall, 301 West 2nd Street
(512) 974-9310, ci.austin.tx.us/music

Over the past three decades Natalie Zoe has had a chamelion career - ranging from performing as an acoustic singer songwriter, to electric-guitar slinging rocker, to jazz singer, to singing with "The Gospel According To Austin." This multi-talented lady has performed with the likes of Don Henley, Warren Zevon, Lucinda Waters and Malford Milligan to name a few. You'll want to catch her jazzy soul show this Friday. This week's $6 Lunch Special is Pizza Rolls by Austin's Pizza.

Sep 22 & 24 Classical Concert Series
8:00 p.m.
Bass Concert Hall, 23rd & Robert Dedman
(512) 476-6064, austinsymphony.org

Pianist Melissa Marse and Russian bass Nikita Storojev join the Austin Symphony Orchestra for two stunning performances during a special celebration of the works of Dmitri Shostakovich. The ASO is throwing a centennial birthday party for the composer! Program: Shostakovich excerpts from The Gadfly Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 2 in F, Op. 102 Shostakovich Symphony No. 13, Op. 113 "Babi Yar."

Sep 25 Audio Inversions at AMOA
8:00 p.m.
Austin Museum of Art, 823 Congress
audioinversions.com

Audio Inversions channels the youthful energy of its collaborators into "A Coming Together" - an evening of fresh and hip music at the Austin Museum of Art. Tickets: $10 general public, $7 students available at the door. As an added bonus, the museum's galleries (customarily closed to the public on Mondays) will be open to Audio Inversions audience members exclusively - for free.

Sep 21-Oct 5 The Heart Gallery of Texas Photo Exhibit
Spazio by Lytle Presley, 1214 W. 6th
heartgallerytexas.com

Spazio Gallery unveils the 2006 Heart Gallery of Central Texas photography exhibit September 21 at a special photo exhibit gala. The Heart Gallery of Central Texas is a unique opportunity for individuals to learn more about children in the foster care system through what is both a traveling portrait exhibit and an innovative approach to community outreach. The exhibit is made possible through the donated time and talents of more than 40 documentary and portrait photographers working to capture the personalities of the more than 140 children waiting for adoption. Tickets for the gala (Sept. 21 - 6:30 p.m. are $25.00 per person). The exhibit runs through October 5, after that it will tour the Central Texas Area.


Sep 21 Norman Mailer Takes On America - Tour
7:00 p.m.
Harry Ransom Center for the Humanitites, 21st & Guadalupe
(512) 471-8944, hrc.utexas.edu

Curators lead a gallery tour of the Norman Mailer Takes on American Exhibit.


Sep 21-26 Blanton Happenings
Blanton Museum of Art, Congress & MLK
(512) 232-5171, blantonmuseum.org

Here's what's happening at Blanton this week.

Sep 21 - Free Admission Thursday
Art Fix: Creating Devotional Images - 6:00 p.m.
Create your own devotional image inspired by the paintings of Luca Cambiaso.

Sep 26 Bach Cantata Project - 12:00 noon
A joint venture of the University of Texas School of Music Choral Project and the Blanton Museum of Art, this program includes an introduction to a cantata followed by a short performance. This month, you'll experience a performance of "Jesu, der du meine Seele," BWV 78.


Sep 23 Sculptor in Me! Workshop for adults
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Umlauf Sculpture Gardens, 605 Robert E. Lee Road
(512) 445-5582, umlaufsculpture.org

Gary McElhaney, professional sculptor and former student of Charles Umlauf, will work with adults in oil based clay for creating a bas relief portrait sculpture. Students will start with a photo reference of a face. Students are encouraged to bring several photos to choose from. This class is limited to 15 students. $20 per person. Museum members receive one free workshop.

Sep 24 Lecture: Hank Waddell on His Work
2:00 p.m.
Umlauf Sculpture Gardens, 605 Robert E. Lee Road
(512) 445-5582, umlaufsculpture.org

The sculptor will talk about working with wood, his preferred medium.

Sep 24 Meet, Drink, Say Goodbye...
2:00 p.m.
Volitant Gallery, 320 Congress, Ste. 100
(512) 236-1240, volitant.com

Join Volitant Gallery to say goodbye to their two current exhibits: The Long Drive South and duck, duck Goose. Artists' Talk and Mimosas featuring Matthew Rodriguez. Cool idea, eh?

Sep 25 Show & Tell Part III - A Digital Slide Jam
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Women & Their Work, 1710 Lavaca
(512) 477-1064, womenandtheirwork.org

Remember how much fun Show & Tell was in elementary school? Well, some things never change. Come to Women & Their Work to see a "Digital Slide Jam" of the work of six local artists - Stella Alesi, Sterling Allen, Jennifer Balkan, Ali Fitzgerald, Nathan Green, and Rebecca Ward. Free for all.

Still On Display Downtown...

To 9/24: Workspace: Carol Bove, Blanton Museum of Art, blantonmuseum.org
To 9/25: Air Fair: It'll Blow You Away!, Austin Children's Museum, austinkids.org
To 9/25: duck, duck, GOOSE, Volitant Gallery, volitant.com
To 9/25: The Long Drive South, Volitant Gallery, volitant.com
To 9/29: Color, Mind & Form, Arthouse of Ionic Futurism, ionicfuturism.com
To 9/30: Kevin Greer: At the Edge, Gallery SOCO, gallerysoco.com
To 9/30: Gladys Poorte & Naomi Schlinke, d berman gallery, dbermangallery.com
To 10/1: Red Hot Red Dot Sale, Women & Their Work, womenandtheirwork.org
To 10/1: Los Rostros Del Son Jarocho, Republic Square Park, mexic-artemuseum.org
To 10/1: YLAII: Juventud Desenfrenada (Youth Gone Wild), Mexic-arte Museum, mexic-artemuseum.org
To 10/7: Honora Jacob and Eliza K. Thomas, Wally Workman Gallery, wallyworkmangallery.com
To 10/13: Rays of Light, Las Manitas Avenue Cafe, lapena-austin.org
To 10/21: The World of Lacquer, Fielding Lecht Gallery, fieldinglecht.com
To 10/21: Daniel Bozhkov: Recent Works, Arthouse at the Jones Center, arthousetexas.org
To 11/5: Lu Ann Barrow "Soul Journer's," Austin Museum of Art, amoa.org
To 11/5: Mary Lee Bendelph, Gee's Bend Quilts and Beyond, Austin Museum of Art, amoa.org
To 11/5: William Kentridge, Weighing...and Wanting, Austin Museum of Art, amoa.org
To 11/25: Saved by the Fire, Umlauf Sculture Gardens, umlaufsculpture.org
To 12/9: Rembrandt's Etchings, Blanton Museum of Art, blantonmuseum.org
To 12/29: Feliks Topolski: Portraits of Britain's 20th c. Literary Greats, Ransom Center, hrc.utexas.edu
To 12/30: Norman Mailer Takes on American, Ransom Center, hrc.utexas.edu
To 1/14/07: Luca Cambiaso: 1527-1585, Blanton Museum of Art, blantonmuseum.org
To 5/28/07: Power to the People, LBJ Library & Museum, lbjlib.utexas.edu
Ongoing: European Paintings from the Permanent Collection and America/Americas, Blanton Museum of Art, blantonmuseum.org

Sep 22-24 Argentine Tango Excursion
UT Union Quadrangle, 2247 Guadalupe
(512) 420-8839, monitango.com

Always wanted to learn the sultry Tango? Here's your chance. The Argentine Tango Workshop with Sharna Fabiano & Isaac Oboka provides lessons for all levels - including the total beginner. Now is the time to dive into the wonderland of this sensuous dance. Go to monitango.com to register.

Sep 22 One Web Day
OneWebDay.org

Celebrate the health and diversity of the internet. The mission of OneWebDay is to create, maintain, advance and promote a global day to celebrate online life. Log on to OneWebDay.org and learn more.

Sep 25 Mathews Elementary 90th Anniversary Celebration
8:00 a.m.
Mathews Elementary School, 906 W. Lynn
(512) 293-8537

Mathews Elementary School is celebrating its 90th anniversary. The special program will include current students, alumni, past and present faculty members, representatives of Mathews' Partners in Education, and local and state officials. Descendents of Dr. William John Mathews, an original AISD school board member and the school's namesake, will also be in attendance. A highlight of the celebration will be the unveiling of the Recorded Texas Historic Landmark marker, recently awarded by the Texas Historical Commission in recognition of the historical significance of the building. Mathews opened its doors on September 25, 1916 and is the second oldest elementary school building that remains in Austin. Mathews proximity to downtown makes it an excellent school for parents who work downtown but live elsewhere in Austin.

All of September Take the Commute Challenge for Prizes!
Throughout Austin
commutesolutions.com

Save money, use less gas, improve air quality, reduce stress and win exciting prizes! What could be better? September is Commute Solutions Month and time to take the Commuter Challenge! Try an alternative to driving alone in your car and you just might win! Prizes include: a $250 San Marcos Outlet Mall gift card, a $250 Simon Mall gift card, a stay at the Driskill Hotel, and gift certificates to great local eateries and businesses! Visit commutesolutions.com for Commuter Challenge details and to learn more about your commute options!

Totally Austintacious

Sep 23 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.

Sep 23, 24 The Artists Market
518 E. 6th
(512) 345-3468, theartistsmarket.com

The West 6th Street Artist's Market has moved to a new location and now has a new name, but is the same 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.

Sep 22 Chuck Norris Presents -
WCL West Coast Playoffs
8:00 p.m.
Frank Erwin Center, 1701 Red River
(512) 471-7744, uterwincenter.com

Martial arts combat teams engage in fast and furious competition during Chuck Norris Presents the World Combat League (WCL) West Coast Playoffs. WCL is the first-ever professional combat martial arts league. This full throttle spectator sport was established to showcase pure martial arts action; no wrestling or grappling is allowed and fighters are penalized for being too passive!

Sep 23 UT v. Iowa State
2:30 p.m.
Darrell K. Royal Memorial Stadium
mackbrown-texasfootball.com

It's the 'Horns versus the Cyclones and Alumni Band Day to boot! Whether you're in the stands or tail-gaiting, it's great to watch the Longhorns blow them away!

Log on to texassports.com for more UT athletic events this week.

Royal Blue Grocery
247 W. 3rd Street
(512) 473-0040
royalbluegrocery.com

Hours:
7:00 a.m. to Midnight daily

Downtown now has a neighborhood grocery! The Royal Blue Grocery is open in the Second Street District. The first of its kind in downtown, Royal Blue will offer a mix of everything from eggs and dairy to wine and beer, household items and medication to fresh produce and prepared foods.

The store is the creation of George Scariano and Craig Staley who developed the business to serve downtown residents and employees in a compact, quick environment offering a selective product mix. At just 1,000 square feet, the store is modeled after the corner stores and bodegas that urban dwellers in large cities couldn't live without.

Welcome to the neighborhood!

For more news about retail downtown visit the Downtown Austin Alliance's Retail Directory at downtownaustin.com.

Sep 23 Austin Farmers' Market
Republic Square, 4 & 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.

Sep 23 ESPN Radio and Bevo Boulevard Tailgate Parties

E. 17th St., between San Jacinto and Trinity, and E. 18th St., between Brazos and San Jacinto, will be closed from 10:00 a.m. until approximately 4:30.

Sep 27 Security & Maintenance Committee
8:30 a.m.
211 E. 7th Street, Room 111
(512) 469-1766, downtownaustin.com/daa/whoweare

Chair: John Nyfeler, Staff Liaison: Bill Brice