Oct 19-26 Austin Film Festival & Conference
Various locations Downtown
austinfilmfestival.com

Think you have what it takes to make it in filmmaking? Here's your chance to find out.

The Austin Film Festival & Conference is brimming over with valuable tools about everything from pitching scripts to the technology used to create magic - not to mention dozens of movies. You'll have unparalleled access to the right people and knowledge needed to get your filmmaking/screenwriting career off the ground.

Scriptwriters Showcase's "Take A Meeting" has partnered with the Festival to offer an elite opportunity for writers to pitch their concepts and ideas to top executives from Los Angeles and New York, October 19-22. This is your chance to pitch ideas in the most professional and respectable environment available for both you and your material! And that's just one of dozens of activities designed to support your aspirations.

The Austin Film Festival and Conference take place in the Driskill Hotel, 604 Brazos and the Stephen F. Austin Hotel, 701 Congress Avenue. Films will be shown at several downtown venues theaters.

Conference badges are $95 and film badges are $35.

Go to austinfilmfestival.com for a complete look at how you can participate in and take advantage of this important opportunity.

Oct 21 Free Family Day at Zach's
Performing Arts School
1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Zachary Scott's Arena Stage, 1510 Toomey Rd.
(512) 476-0594, zachscott.com

Join the Zach Scott Performing Arts Center in thanking families for all their support. Come see performances of Bear With Me and a sneak preview of the family musical, Dear Edwina. Enjoy free kids' acting and improvisation workshops, crafts, costumes, face paint, balloons, theatre games and more. Galloping fun for the whole family!

Oct 21-22 Beauty for the Sake of Beauty, Dance for the Sake of Dance
George Washington Carver Museum & Cultural Center
Boyd Vance Theatre, 1165 Angelina
(512) 791-9496

Shay Ishii Dance Company is premiering its first full-length concert, Beauty for the Sake of Beauty, Dance for the Sake of Dance. The company consists of eight dancers, four of whom have been dancing together for over 12 years. The modern dances in the debut program focus on dance for the sake of dance and beauty for the sake of beauty. Performances: Saturday, 8:00 p.m.; Sunday, 5:00 p.m. Tickets are $15-$20 and will be available at the door. For reservations or further information call (512) 791-9496.

Oct 21-Dec 15 Gorilla Theatre -
The Hideout Theatre, 617 Congress Avenue
(512) 443-3688, hideouttheatre.com

Every Saturday at 8:00 p.m. five of Austin's finest improvisers strap on their army boots and go to war for the improv they love. Taking turns in the director's chair, they each try to make inspiring improv happen the audience. Watch as they fight for the scenes they believe in and the games they adore! If they fail, you punish them. If they succeed, you reward them with a week with the Hideout's lovable resident gorilla. Come find out who gets quality time with the monkey and who will write "LOSER" in permanent marker on their forehead. The fate of improv comedy hangs in the balance every Saturday night at the Hideout Theatre. Tickets: $7.00 - $10.00 (pay what you wish).

Still on Stage...

19-22: Requiem - Blue Lapis Light, Former Intel Building, bluelapislight.org
21: The Linguini Code, Spaghetti Warehouse, capcitymystery.com
22: Imagine: The John Lennon Sing-Along, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, originalalamo.com
25: Mailer Vs. Hollywood Film Series, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, hrc.utexas.edu
To 10/22: Katrina: The Girl Who Wanted Her Name Back, G. Brocket Theatre, utpac.org
To 11/1: The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Zach Scott Kleberg Stage, zachscott.com
To 11/11: Outlaw Puss in Cowboy Boots, Scottish Rite Theatre, ScottishRiteChildrensTheatre.org
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

Oct 19 Music from the 30's-50's
Central Presbyterian Church, 200 E. Eighth Street
(512) 472-2445, centralpresbyterian.org

This week's Thursday Noonday Concert features Stardust Four - Music from the 30's-50's.

Oct 20 Gulf Coast Playboys, Cajun/Zydeco
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/calendar.htm

For nearly a decade, The Gulf Coast Playboys have been playing a mix of Texas-Louisiana dance music across the State of Texas. The band plays a wide variety of styles that range from Cajun, Zydeco, Blues, Tex-Mex, Conjunto, Polka and Country music and have performed at festivals, clubs, dancehalls, restaurants, wineries, weddings, conventions, shrimp and crawfish boils, grocery store parking lots and street parties. This week's $6 Special is Pizza Rolls by Austin's Pizza.

Oct 20 Two Foot Yard
8:00 p.m.
Hogg Memorial Auditorium, 24th at Whitis
(512) 471-1444, utpac.org

Explore the boundaries between classical and pop with Two Foot Yard. The trio of classical virtuosos performs "A head-spinning collection that melds classical virtuosity, folk, soul, and pop imagination" says Billboard Magazine. The instrumentation includes violin, cello, voice and drums.

Oct 20, 22 International Masterpiece
8:00 p.m.
St. Martin's Lutheran Church
(512) 476-5775, conspirare.org

Conspirare begins its colorful season with a choral blockbuster featuring two masterworks of the vocal repertoire - one from deep in the heart of Russia and the other from the French tradition of the composers of La Jeune France. Don't miss this opportunity to be inspired by these choral gems from two of the world's most fascinating musical cultures. The performance repeats on October 22 at 2:30 p.m. at University Presbyterian Church.

Oct 20-21 Austin Symphony Orchestra's
Classical Concert Series
8:00 p.m.
Bass Concert Hall, 23rd & Robert Dedman
(512) 476-6064, austinsymphony.org

Nokothula Ngwenyama, viola with Peter Bay conducting. Program Stravinsky's Jeu de cartes, Walton's Viola Concerto and Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 3 in a, Op. 56 "Scottish".

Oct 21 Shawn Colvin
8:00 p.m.
UT PAC's Hogg Memorial Auditorium, 24th at Whitis
(512) 477-6060, utpac.org

Grammy® Award winning singer-songwriter (and Austin's own) Shawn Colvin will perform old favorites as well as songs from her new release, These Four Walls. Opening is the extraordinary new talent Brandi Carlile, whose "ethereal, melancholy ballads have made fans of Dave Matthews and James Taylor," according to Rolling Stone.

Oct 22 The Rolling Stones -
A Bigger Bang Tour
4:00 p.m.
Zilker Park, Barton Springs Road
zilkerrocks.com

With special guests Los Lonely Boys and Ian McLagan & The Bump Band. THIS IS A GENERAL ADMISSION SHOW, SO PLAN AHEAD AND GET TO ZILKER PARK EARLY! Gates open at 3:00 p.m. Tickets available at all Ticketmaster Outlets, charge by phone at (512) 494-1800, or online at ticketmaster.com and LiveNation.com. There is a limit of 12 tickets per person. Go to zilkerrocks.com for info on parking what to bring and not to bring, etc. Children under 2 admitted free with ticket holding adult.

Oct 24-25 Classical Savion
8:00 p.m.
Hogg Memorial Auditorium, 24th at Whitis
(512) 471-1444, utpac.org

Tony® Award winner Savion Glover brings his rhythmic and energetic tap to Austin for two nights. The New York Post says "--his tap beats are virtually a jazz instrument--an instrument as happy with Mendelssohn as it is with Ellington." Accompanied by classical and jazz ensembles, Savion performs to Vivaldi, Bach and hits his patriotic stride with Stars and Stripes Forever.

Oct 19-26 Reflections
Gallery SOCO, 1714-A South Congress
(512) 442-5144, gallerysoco.com

In Reflections, Sylvia Angeli creates mood and mystery through the exploration of scale, color and texture with bold brushstrokes and colorful palettes that catch the eye. Opening Reception: Thursday, October 19, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Oct 19-22 Blanton Tours
Blanton Museum of Art, Congress & MLK
(512) 232-5171, blantonmuseum.org

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

Oct 19 - Free Admission Thursday

Public Tour: People's Choice - 3:00 p.m.
Choose the works of art you want to explore and discuss in this interactive tour of the Blanton's collection. The museum offers themed tours on the collection and special exhibitions every Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 p.m., Thursday at 3:00 p.m., Thursday evenings, and during B scene on the first Friday of every month.

Public Tour: Art Through the Ages - 7:00 p.m.
Themed tours of the collection and special exhibitions.

Art Fix - 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Learn the building blocks of Italian cuisine--Genoese and Ligurian--after exploring the work of Luca Cambiaso with Paul Schunder, chef de cuisine for Central Market's Cooking School. Then mangia! Space is limited; tickets available one hour before program begins.

Oct 20 ArtBUFF Scavenger Hunt - 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Pick your team and go head to head with other ArtBUFFs (Blanton Under Forty Friends) as you comb the galleries searching for works of art with only a list of clues to guide you. Bragging rights and lots of cool prizes are up for grabs! Enjoy music, munchies, games, and an open bar. The cost is $20. This event is open to the public.

Oct 21 Public Tour: People's Choice -2:00 p.m.

Oct 22 Public Tour: Luca Cambiaso, 1527-1585 -2:00 p.m.

Oct 22 Science Sundays: Fossils
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Austin Children's Museum, 201 Colorado
(512) 472-2494, austinkids.org

Fossil Demonstrations and Earth History - Presented by the Austin Paleo Society.

Oct 25 Videos by Regina Vater
6:30 p.m.
Women & Their Work, 1710 Lavaca
(512) 477-1064, womenandtheirwork.org

View four short films by acclaimed artist, Regina Vater, ranging from an intimate interview with artist John Cage to an exploration of Brazil's extraordinary Botanical Gardens, all done with Vater's signature beauty and fitness. Free to all.

Still On Display Downtown...

10/19: Creative Dance Adventures, Austin Children's Museum, austinkids.org
25: Community Night, Austin Children's Museum, austinkids.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 10/27: Los 4 Amigos, La Pena Gallery, lapena-austin.org
To 10/29: Multiple Original XI, Julia C. Butridge Gallery, (512) 397-1469
To 10/30: The Art of Ronnie Wood, Art on 5th, arton5th.com
To 10/30: The Irresistible Appeal of Drawing, Studio 107, studio107.com
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 11/10: Joey Fauerso: Wide Open Wide, Women & Their Work, womenandtheirwork.org
To 11/25: Saved by the Fire, Umlauf Sculpture 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 America, Ransom Center, hrc.utexas.edu
To 1/5/07: Animal Secrets, Austin Children's Museum, austinkids.org
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
Gems and Minerals, Texas Memorial Museum, texasmemorialmuseum.org

Oct 19 The Urban Core - DANA Happy Hour
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Union Park, 612 W. 6th St. at Rio Grande St
downtownaustin.org

Join in the fun at this month's Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association happy hour, with complimentary appetizers and drinks for DANA members. Featured guest is Austin CarShare - a very cool local non-profit that's launching the first carsharing program in Texas, providing access to vehicles without the costs of car ownership. Elliott McFadden, Board Chair and Brandi Clark, Executive Director, will share their insight and excitement about this neat new program that will benefit everyone living, working and playing downtown. RSVP to rsvp@downtownaustin.org.

Oct 21 The Power of the Cross Festival
12:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Auditorium Shores, Town Lake
(512) 470-2245, crossfestival.com

Austin's Power of the Cross Festival is a free, non-profit, city-wide Christian music and compassion festival. Three stages of live music will fill the air with messages of hope, love, and forgiveness. Over 100 compassion stations will provide charitable services and volunteer opportunities from local and global organizations. Admission is free, but you can help others by bringing two cans of food to benefit the Capitol Area Food Bank or clothing to benefit Goodwill. Children will enjoy the youth activities for a day of wholesome fun the entire family will enjoy.

Oct 21 Art Car Parade
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Congress Avenue
(512) 459-4070, austinartcar.com

Austin is a haven for artists, philosophers, and dreamers - a place where freedom and self-expression are an integral part of our everyday lives. It's this spirit that the 4th Annual Austin Art Car Parade salutes. With over 100 art cars and thousands in live audience spectators, the event is one of Austin's finest public art events. Austin Art Car drivers, artists, Art Clubs and enthusiastic art lovers are working furiously to festoon, garnish, bedeck and beautify their automobiles, bicycles, mopeds and other wheeled contraptions. Be on hand to wave these free-spirited art movers and shakers on!

Oct 21 GoodHealth.com Healthy
Chef Showdown
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Republic Square Park, 4th & Guadalupe

The Seton Family of Hospitals introduces GoodHealth.com, a free Web site dedicated to providing Central Texans with everything they need to know about healthy living - from nutrition and fitness, to mind and body. To launch the new site, Seton has partnered with H-E-B to present the GoodHealth.com Healthy Chef Showdown, a free, family friendly event scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at this week's Austin Farmers' Market at Republic Square Park. The Driskill Hotel's David Bull and Uchi's Tyson Cole are facing off "Iron Chef" style with a healthy twist. The chefs' challenge will be to create the tastiest healthy meal using a secret theme ingredient and groceries provided by H-E-B. Jamie and Bobby Deen from the Food Network's "Road Tasted" will emcee the event, and a panel of celebrity judges will choose their favorite recipes to be posted on goodhealth.com. Good healthy fun this Saturday morning. Bring the kids.

Oct 21 Barkitecture Austin 2006
12:00 - 5:00 p.m.
2nd Street District, barkitectureaustin.com

21 local architects and designers have been challenged to build their idea of the perfect modern doghouse. Come see the results and bid on your favorite via silent auction. You'll see some mighty fine, mighty high-tech pads for poochs. All proceeds will benefit local animal rescue groups, which will be on hand all afternoon with great dogs looking for great homes! Free parking at City Hall for this is a free event for all! See the doghouses on display throughout 2nd Street District, then come to Design Within Reach @ 6:00 p.m. for design & auction winner announcements!

Oct 21 Stylecup 2006
Palmer Events Center, Barton Springs Rd.
stylecupaustin.com

The ultimate hair, makeup and runway competition - A Fashionista production/Bella Creative event benefiting Project Transitions.

Oct 21 Out of the Darkness Community Walk
State Capitol
outofthedarkness.org

This event helps to raise awareness of and funds for the Central Texas Chapter of American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Money raised goes to the national office of AFSP for national education and research with half the funds being used here in Central Texas for suicide prevention, public awareness and education programs.

Oct 22 Austin Fall 2006 MS Walk
8:00 a.m.
Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 N. Congress
1-800-FIGHT MS, mswalklonestar.org

Citizens of Austin lace up their shoes and hit the streets to fight the devastating effects of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Participants of the 1 mile and 5K routes are guaranteed to have a fun-filled time while raising funds for this great cause. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m., the walk begins at 9:00 a.m. at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum

Area
2nd Street District (on Lavaca, between Cesar Chavez and 2nd Street)
(512) 825-1949

Hours:
Mon-Sat - 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sun - 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The 2nd Street District's newest shop - Area - offers you a delicious assortment of unique pieces for your home. Whether you're looking for cosmopolitan, rich-looking appointments - pillows, lamps, picture frames, incense, mirrors - or one-of-a-kind furniture pieces, including a gorgeous armoire - you'll find it at Area.

Welcome to Downtown.

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.

Week of Oct 19 to Oct 25

Oct 21 American Heart Association Heart Walk
americanheart.org

From 10:00 p.m. Friday night until noon on Saturday, 11th St. will be closed between Brazos and Colorado; and Congress will be closed between 10th St. and 11th St.

The walk will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday. Traffic will be delayed along the route and the Austin Police Department will close cross streets as the walkers approach and reopen them after walkers have passed. Walkers will use the following route:

- South on Congress from the Capitol to 4th St.;
- West on W. 4th St. to Lavaca;
- North on Lavaca to 15th St.;
- East on W. 15th to San Jacinto;
- South on San Jacinto to E. 4th St.;
- West on 4th St. to Congress;
- North on Congress to the Capitol.

Oct 21 Austin Farmers' Market
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.

October 22 Rolling Stones Concert Shuttle
zilkerrocks.com

From 6:00 a.m. until 11:59 p.m., the following streets will be closed to traffic and used as staging areas for Capital Metro's shuttle:

- W. 4th St., between Guadalupe and Nueces,
- San Antonio, between E. 3rd St. and E. 5th St.,
- Barton Springs, between Robert E. Lee and Nature Center Drive,
- Stratford Dr., between Barton Springs and MoPac.

Oct 22 National Multiple Sclerosis Society MS Walk
nationalmssociety.org

The walk will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday. Traffic will be delayed on the route and the Austin Police Department will close cross streets as the walkers approach and reopen them after walkers have passed. Walkers will use the following route:

- South on Congress, from the Bob Bullock Museum to 17th St.;
- East on 17th St. to San Jacinto;
- South on San Jacinto to 2nd St.;
- West on 2nd to Congress;
- North on Congress to 10th St.;
- West on 10th St. to Lavaca;
- North on Lavaca to 17th St.;
- East on 17th St. to Congress.

Week of Oct 26 - Nov 1

Oct 26 - Oct 30 Texas Book Festival
texasbookfestival.org

W. 12th St. and W. 13th St. , between Colorado and Lavaca, and Colorado, between 11th St. and 13th St., will be closed from 9:00 a.m. on Thursday until 2:00 p.m. on Monday.

Congress, between 10th St. and 11th St., and 11th St., between Lavaca and Brazos, will be closed from 6:00 p.m. on Friday until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday.

Oct 28 Dia de los Muertos
mexic-artemuseum.org

E. 5th St., between Congress and Colorado, will be closed from 8:00 a.m. until 11:59 p.m.

Oct 28 Austin Farmers' Market
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.

Oct 28 - Oct 29 OCC in America Tour
occinamerica.com

From 11:00 a.m. on Saturday until 11:00 p.m. on Sunday, Riverside will be closed between S. 1st St. and Lee Barton Drive.

Another source of news regarding street closures is the City's Roadworks web site at: www.ci.austin.tx.us/roadworks/rwwork.htm.

Oct 19 - Issues & Eggs - The Vision for Sixth Street
8:00 a.m.
St. David's Episcopal Church
Sumner Hall, (3rd Floor)
304 E. 7th

Join the Downtown Austin Alliance's monthly Issues & Eggs breakfast meeting as consultant Midge McCauley, with Economics Research Associates, presents the findings and recommendations from Phase III of the Downtown Retail Development Strategy - the Vision for Sixth Street.


Oct 23 The Realm Of Possibility - Downtown IMPACT Awards
12:00 Noon
Four Seasons
98 San Jacinto
(512) 469-1766, downtownaustin.com

Celebrate and congratulate with those individuals, organizations and projects that have made an IMPACT on Downtown at the Downtown Austin Alliance's Annual IMPACT Awards Luncheon. This year's winners are:

Chair Emeritus Award - Esther's Follies
Special IMPACT Award - First Night Austin
Individual/Organization Award - Town Lake Trail Foundation
Project IMPACT Award(s)
Private Project - Blanton Museum of Art
Public Project - Whole Foods Market
Public/Private Project - 2nd Street District
Design IMPACT Award - Austin City Hall

RSVP for the luncheon to rsvp@downtownaustin.com or call (512) 469-1766. Tickets are $38/person or $380 for table of ten. Valet parking $12/self park $7. RSVP date - October 19, 2006.

This Week on
downtownaustin.com

Oct 19 - 6:30 p.m. KLRU-G

OUR COLLECTIVE SOULS [#202]
Explore Barton Springs, the "Soul of the City," and hear why the Springs are so important to Austin. / What do our trash and treasures say about us? Visit the University of Texas' Center for American History for a look at the stories and artifacts we leave behind. / Experience Mexic-Arte's Dia de Los Muertos Parade, the Spirits of Austin and traditions of remembering those who have gone before.

Oct 19 - 8:30 p.m. KLRU Basic
Oct 20 - 5:30 a.m. KLRU-G

DEMYSTIFYING, DANCING & DIGNITY [#203]
Roll the Presses from story creation to doorstep delivery. / Ballroom, Salsa, Two-step, or just "Trip the Light Fantastic" / Dancing DOWNTOWN's a way for anyone to have a great time. / Art From the Streets / A creative outlet giving help and dignity to the homeless.