Oct 28 - Jan 7 Miss Ima's Quilts
Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 N. Congress
(512) 936-4600, thestoryoftexas.com

Miss Ima Hogg [1882-1975] was a visionary collector, preservationist, and philanthropist. To highlight her vision as a collector, this special exhibition will for the first time bring together an extraordinary selection of Miss Ima's Quilts that range in date from the late 1700s to the early 1900s. This exhibition showcases twenty-five quilts Miss Ima collected representing traditional American quilting - pieced, appliquéd, whole cloth, patriotic, and album quilts, many with evocative pattern names such as Double Irish Chain, Flying Geese, Mariner's Compass, and Log Cabin. This is the first time her extraordinary quilts have been gathered for such a grand viewing.

Opening Weekend Activities

Saturday, October 28th - Crafting the Lone Star Quilt - 1:00 - 4:00 p.m

Join the Opening Day Activities and help create a "quilt" as big as Texas. Your imagination is the limit. Use sequins, stickers, colors and shapes to design a poster board tile that, combined with others, will create a huge Lone Star quilt pattern to be installed in the Grand Lobby. Just as the quilts in Miss Ima's collection represent the values and traditions of past generations, your individual piece can express what makes you and your family special. This activity is free, but limited to the first 120 participants - so plan to arrive early.

Sunday, October 29th - American Decorative Arts and Traditions - 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Kay Huffman, president of the Austin Area Quilt Guild, will moderate a lively conversation with Kathleen McCrady, Austin's award-winning quilt-maker and historian; Bonnie Campbell, director of Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens; and Katherine Adams, retired associate director of the Center for American History, University of Texas Austin, curator of the Center's Winedale quilt exhibits, and guest curator for Miss Ima's Quilts. They will discuss the passion for creating, collecting and documenting quilts. Learn more about Ima Hogg and her amazing collection of decorative arts as well as the importance of preserving these treasures. FREE, but reservations are required. Call (512) 936-4649 for reservations.

Oct 27-29 Classic Beauty
Bass Concert Hall, 23rd & Robert Dedman
(512) 476-2163, balletaustin.org

The Sleeping Beauty (Act III) brings to stage a host of your favorite fairytale characters as the curtain opens on Ballet Austin's 50th season. Join Puss in Boots, Little Red Riding Hood and the White Cat as they celebrate the wedding of Princess Aurora and her ever-punctual Prince Florimund in this timeless classic as they glide to the music of Tchaikovsky. The first piece George Balanchine choreographed in America, he called it simply "dancers in motion to a beautiful piece of music."

Oct 27-Nov 4 La Chute de la Maison Usher
McCullough Theatre, 23rd & Robert Dedman
(512) 477-6060, utpac.org

The UT Butler Opera Center presents the American premiere of Claude Debussy's La Chute de la Maison Usher (based on The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe) and the world premiere of Robert Orledge's orchestration of Chansons de Bilitis and L' Enfant Prodigue. Presented as part of the 2006 Claude Debussy International Congress, this student production will introduce Austin audiences to three one-act operas from varying stages of Debussy's life, sung in French with English subtitles. Performances are Fridays, Oct. 27 & Nov. 3 at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays, Oct. 29 & Nov. 5 at 7:00 p.m.

Oct 29 Spooooky Halloween Party
2:00 p.m.
Scottish Rite Theatre, 207 West 18th
512-472-KIDO (5436), ScottishRiteChildrensTheatre.org

Put on your Halloween garb and join a costume parade after the 2:00 p.m. performance of Outlaw Puss in Cowboy Boots. Following the show, mingle with the cast at a Spooky Halloween Party. $12: children 12 and under ; $20: adults. Tickets are also available for performance only at the regular rate of $5 and $10.

Still on Stage...

19-22: Requiem - Blue Lapis Light, Former Intel Building, bluelapislight.org
28: The Linguini Code, Spaghetti Warehouse, capcitymystery.com
29: Imagine: The John Lennon Sing-Along, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, originalalamo.com
11/1: Mailer Vs. Hollywood Film Series, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, hrc.utexas.edu
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
To 12/15: Fridays, Gorilla Theatre, The Hideout Theatre, hideouttheatre.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

Oct 26 Soft Roots
Central Presbyterian Church, 200 E. Eighth Street
(512) 472-2445, centralpresbyterian.org

This week's Thursday Noonday Concert features Ken Bonfield performing soft roots rock/folk music.

Oct 27 Tunes @ Noon - Workin' 4 Tips
12:00 p.m.
Texas Medical Association Building, 15th & Guadalupe, 1st Floor Auditorium
tunesatnoon.org

Live at the Texas Medical Association's Thompson Auditorium, all your favorite tunes reborn as the "Oldies but Goodies" are revived. Wear your Halloween best and maybe win a prize if your creativity stacks up again other audience members at the Annual Tunes at Noon Costume Contest!

Oct 27 Miss Lavelle White
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

In honor of Clifford Antone's birthday, Miss Lavelle White will be performing today. Atash will be rescheduled next season. " Miss Lavelle sings with an energy and youthfulness that belie her years behind the microphone, but there is no hiding the true blues of her delivery," so says MusicAustin.com. This week's $6 Special is Fried Catfish or Shrimp & fries from Mr. Catfish.

Oct 27 Joan Baez
8:00 p.m.
Hogg Memorial Auditorium, 24th at Whitis
(512) 471-1444, utpac.org

The queen of folk music and one of the most powerful musicians of our time, Joan Baez, performs at the Hogg Auditorium. You'll experience why her voice and natural vibrato have been a salve to turbulent times for the past four decades. Joan Baez is truly social commentator and historian through her sometimes tender and often politically charged ballads. An unforgettable night awaits.

Oct 27 Gaelic Storm
8:00 p.m.
Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress
(512) 472-5470, austintheatre.org

Gaelic Storm's modern take on traditional Irish music creates a high intensity, power-packed show sure to bring you to your feet. Raise a pint with the band and your friends. gaelicstorm.com.

Oct 28 Acoustic Africa
8:00 p.m.
Hogg Memorial Auditorium, 24th at Whitis
(512) 481-1111, utpac.org

Prepare for an epic musical journey featuring three of the best live performers from the African continent LIVE! It's Acoustic Africa featuring Malian superstar guitarist Habib Koité and band Bamda, powerful South African singer/songwriter Vusi Mahlasela (the voice of the revolution in South Africa), and newcomer Dobet Gnahoré of the Ivory Coast whose music reflects a variety of influences (Mandingo, Congolese rumba, ziglibiti from the Ivory Coast, and Cameroonian bikutsi).

Oct 28 Pandit K. Sridhar -
aka The Hendrix of the Sarod
5:00 p.m.
Texas Union Auditorium, 2247 Guadalupe
(512) 448-6740, icmca.org

The Indian Classical Music Circle of Austin invites you to a world class musical event featuring a performance of Sridhar, one of the world's most talented players of the classical instrument, the Sarod. For more information, call (512) 448-6740 or visit icmca.org.

Nov 1 The Mozart Requiem
Bass Concert Hall, 23rd & Robert Dedman
(512) 471-1444, utpac.org

A 250th Anniversary featuring Les Violons du Roy and La Chapelle de Quebec - Celebrate Mozart's 250th birthday at this landmark event, as conductor Bernard Labadie brings together chamber orchestra Les Violons du Roy and choir La Chapelle de Quebec for an all-Mozart program, including the treasured Requiem.

Oct 26-31 Blanton Happenings
Blanton Museum of Art, Congress & MLK
(512) 232-5171, blantonmuseum.org

You have tons to do at the Blanton this week!

Oct 26 - 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: History, Mystery and Murder - 7:00 p.m.
Just in time for Halloween - Themed tours of the collection and special exhibitions as outlined above.

Oct 28 Public Tour: People's Choice - 3:00 p.m.

Luca Cambiaso, Renaissance Master - 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Immerse yourself in a day dedicated to the exhibition of rarely seen Renaissance treasures-Luca Cambiaso, 1527-1585. Enjoy three engaging presentations by Dr. Louis Waldman, Dr. George Gorse, and Jonathan Bober. At 12:30 there will be a light lunch, and a behind-the-scenes tour of the exhibition. $100 for members/$125 for non-members. Call Brady Dyer to register, (512) 232-5171.

Oct 29 Public Tour: America/Americas - 2:00 p.m.

Genoa in the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque Periods - 2:00 p.m.
In conjunction with the exhibition Luca Cambiaso, 1527-1585, Dr. George Gorse, Viola Horton Professor, will given an enlightening talk tracing the history and importance of Genoa in Mediterranean, European and New World Studies, from the 11th to 17th centuries, as a framework for the artwork of Luca Cambiaso. The location for this event will be Jester Hall, A-121A on the UT campus.

Public Tour with Curator Jonathan Bober - 2:00 p.m.

Oct 31 Bach Cantata Project - 12:00 p.m.
Take a little time out of your day to experience the joy of listening to beautiful music in the soaring space of the Blanton's atrium. The Bach Cantata Project is a joint venture of the UT School of Music Choral Program and the Blanton Museum of Art. This month: a performance of "Ein feste Burg ist unsrer Gott" BWV 80.

Oct 27 Jill Carver: New Paintings
5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Wally Workman Gallery, 1202 West Sixth St
(512) 472-7428, wallyworkmangallery.com

Wally Workman Gallery invites you to a reception to introduce the latest work by Jill Carver. Artist Reception: Friday, October 27 - 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Oct 27-29 Vintage Poster Show
Art on 5th, 1501 W. 5th
(512) 481-1111, arton5th.com

Get in on the fun of one of Art on 5th's favorite shows featuring hundreds of unframed, original vintage posters from 1900 to the 1970's, directly from Europe. Friday & Saturday - 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., and Sunday - Noon - 5:00 p.m.

Oct 28 Reading - Alan Furst
7:00 p.m.
Harry Ransom Center for the Humanitites, 21st & Guadalupe
(512) 471-8944, hrc.utexas.edu

To kick off the Texas Book Festival, author Alan Furst, whose archive is at the Ransom Center, reads excerpts from his latest novel, The Foreign Correspondent. A book signing follows.

Oct 28-Nov 30 Dia de los Muertos Exhibition at La Pena
La Pena Gallery, 227 Congress
(512) 477-6007, lapena-austin.org

La Pena Gallery presents its annual exhibition for Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). This year's show features the work of Veronica Castillo. The exhibit opens on Saturday, October 30th and runs through November 30th. Opening Reception: October 28 - 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Still On Display Downtown...

10/26: Creative Dance Adventures, Austin Children's Museum, austinkids.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 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 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 26 ULI Austin's First Annual Marketplace
5:00 - 9:00 p.m.
CSC/AMLI Retail Space at Cesar Chavez and Guadalupe, 1st Floor
(entrance on Cesar Chavez)
(512) 494-8301, uli.org

Join the Urban Land Institute for ULI Austin's First Annual Marketplace Event - an evening that let's you explore new real estate developments and projects in the greater Austin area as you network with local developers, lenders and investors. Showcase includes all categories - multi-family, retail, office, industrial and residential. Cost: $25 which includes a cocktail and hors d' oeuvres reception. Register by calling 800-321-5011.

Oct 27 Zombies Invade Downtown
7:30 p.m.
City Hall Plaza, 301 W. Second Street
nar13@hotmail.com

Now here's a wild little activity just in time for Halloween. Join other zombies as they terrorize downtown in search of delicious brains! The Zombies will meet on October 27 at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall to organize the invasion. The mob will last for about an hour and the route will take will take you throughout the heart (and brain) of the city, using various methods so it will seem that zombies are coming from all directions. What to wear - choose between the freshly killed or decomposing corpse looks. A freshly killed zombie will look normal except for some obvious flesh wounds. A decomposing zombie will have been around longer and therefore be in a much worse condition, as seen here. Be creative!

Oct 27-29 Texas Book Festival
Texas State Capital Grounds, 11th & Congress
texasbookfestival.org

Senator Barack Obama will open the 2006 Texas Book Festival - three days of free readings, talks, and panels at the Texas State Capitol. The Book Festival also has an entire program featuring children's book authors and something to interest every interest. Go to the texasbookfestival.org for complete program details. (See Street Closings for more details.)

Oct 28 23rd Annual Dia de Los Muertos
Celebration & Procession
5:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Mexic-Arte Museum, 419 Congress
(512) 480-9373, mexic-artemuseum.org

Mexic-Arte Museum invites Central Texans and their Chihuahuas to march in Austin's oldest Day of the Dead celebration - the 23rd Annual Dia de Los Muertos Celebration and Procession. This street cultural extravaganza will feature live music, ballet folklorico, Aztec dancers, strolling mariachis, a lively puppet show, traditional foods, children's activities, a performance bus and costume contests for guests and of course Chihuahuas! You're invited to participate in the parade and to add marigolds to a "Wall of Remembrance" to be located in the Museum's Back Gallery. Angel, Devil and skeleton costumes are encouraged. Chihuahuas will be the only breed allowed in the parade. (See Street Closings for more details.)

To 11/8: Knock Down the Eyesore All of Austin Loves to Hate!
Intel Shell, 5th and San Antonio
(512) 477-1566, austinparks.org

You have a chance to take part in changing the face of downtown - literally! The Intel Shell - made lovely by Blue Lapis Light's Requiem (only two weekends left for this performance!) - but otherwise an eyesore is soon to be replaced by the new federal courthouse. And Austin Parks Foundation is offering one lucky winner the chance to "take the first whack" when demolition begins. Raffle tickets for this once in a lifetime opportunity are now on sale on the Austin Parks Foundation website, austinparks.org. The winner will be announced November 8th at the Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association block party, to be held at Republic Square Park. An exact date for the demolition has not been set, but is expected to begin before the end of the year.

First Night Austin - Call for Volunteers!

With New Year's Eve fast approaching, First Night 2007 is looking forward to this year being another success! They would greatly appreciate your support in this venture to bring the visual and performing arts to the Austin community. Please visit their website at firstnightaustin.org to find the volunteer information sheet, and remember to pass the word on to friends and family about this event and its great volunteer opportunities. First Night Austin looks forward to working with you in the future and feel free to contact them at volunteer@firstnightaustin.org with any questions or concerns.

Oct 26 - Oct 30 Texas Book Festival
State Capitol
texasbookfestival.org

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

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

Oct 28 Mexic-Arte Museum's Dia de los Muertos Festival
Mexic-Arte Museum, 419 Congress
mexic-artemuseum.org

East 5th Street, between Congress and Brazos, will be closed from 8:00 a.m. until 11:59 p.m.

Beginning at 6:00 p.m., there will be a procession from Plaza Saltillo, just east of IH-35, west on E. 6th to Congress. The procession will turn south on Congress and end at the festival site on E. 5th.

Austin Farmers' Market
Republic Square Park, 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.

Oct 28 - October 29 The Chopper Event Group's OCC in America Tour
Zilker Park
occinamerica.com

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

Oct. 31 Halloween on E. Sixth Street
As of the close of business on Wednesday, October 25. The Austin Police Department has not announced its final plans for the event. The Department is expected to announce plans within 48 hours. Please consult the Austin American-Statesman for updates.


A Look Ahead - Street Closings for the Upcoming Week

Nov 1 - Nov 5 The Austin Steam Train Association's Day Out With Thomas
Convention Center, 500 E. Cesar Chavez
austinsteamtrain.org

From 7 a.m. on Wednesday until 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, one traffic lane and the parking lane will be closed on the north side of E. 4th Street between Trinity and Red River.

Nov 3 - Nov 4 Arthouse at the Jones Center's Fall Fundraiser - Harajuku Nights
700 Congress
arthousetexas.org

From 7:00 a.m. on Friday until noon on Saturday, one traffic lane and the parking lane will be closed on the north side of W. 7th Street between Congress and the alley just before Colorado.


Nov 4 ESPN Radio and Bevo Boulevard Tailgate Parties - Texas v. Oklahoma State
mackbrown-texasfootball.com/

E. 17th Street, between San Jacinto and Trinity, and E. 18th Street, between Brazos and San Jacinto, will be closed from 2:00 p.m. until approximately 7:30 p.m.


Nov 5 The Komen Foundation's Race for the Cure
Auditorium Shores
komenaustin.org

From 4:00 a.m. until noon the following streets will be closed for staging participants and shuttle buses:
- Riverside, between S. 1st Street and Lee Barton Drive
- South 1st, between, Riverside and Cesar Chavez
- Trinity, between 12th Street and 15th Street

The race route:
- north from Riverside to Colorado;
- north to W. 2nd;
- east to Congress;
- north to 15th, via the Capitol grounds;
- north to 15th;
- south on Congress to 11th, via the Capitol grounds;
- west to Guadalupe;
- south to W. 2nd;
- west to San Antonio;
- south to Cesar Chavez;
- south to Auditorium Shores.

Streets on the route will be closed at 7:00 a.m. All streets will be re-opened by noon. Streets only used at the beginning of the race (including Congress up to 11th Street) will be re-opened earlier.

AWARDED TWO MORE LONE STAR EMMYS®

The 4th Annual Lone Star EMMY® Awards were announced on Saturday, October 21, 2006, at the Verizon Center in downtown Houston, Texas. With over 1,200 nominations the competition was fierce, but the news was great for Austin's popular show DOWNTOWN, which airs on KLRU, Austin's PBS station.

DOWNTOWN received EMMY® Awards in the following categories:
"Arts/Entertainment Program Feature/Segment"Featured in Episode #204 - "22 to Watch," about the emerging artists exhibit at the Austin Museum of Art;
"Public/Current/Community Affairs Feature/Segment" Featured in Episode #203 - "Art from the Streets" is a poignant piece offering insight into Austin's homeless art show.

Serendipitously, you can catch both of the EMMY® Award-winning segments this week on DOWNTOWN or you can download the series on Time Warner Cable's video on demand.

Episode #203 - DEMYSTIFYING, DANCING & DIGNITY
Oct 26 - 6:30 p.m. KLRU-G
klru.org
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.


Episode #204 - ES IS NICHT ALLES GOLD WAS GLANZT?EXCEPT IN DOWNTOWN
Oct 26 - 8:30 p.m. - KLRU Basic
Oct 27 - 5:30 a.m. - KLRU-G
klru.org

The Jewels of Austin's Jewel:Take a glimpse at the art of jewelry and some of DOWNTOWN jewelry leaders. / "Catch a rising star" at Austin Museum of Art's "22 to Watch" Exhibit looks at some of the most creative, innovative and "up and coming" artists in the art world. / Auf Wiedersehen! / Austin's German Texan heritage has left a strong indelible mark on DOWNTOWN from some of the earliest remaining structures to a vibrant and active social club.

Oct 26 Streetscapes & Transportation Committee Meeting
Noon
7th Floor Conference Room, 211 E. 7th Street
(512) 469-1766, downtownaustin.com
Chair: tbd, Staff: Thomas Butler