Dec 31-Jan 1 First Night Austin
2:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Congress Avenue & Second Street
firstnightaustin.org

A city becomes a canvas. Street corners transform into galleries and storefronts into stages. A festival of art, imagination and creativity spreads across downtown Austin. First Night Austin 2007.

Bring the kids and bring in the new year in an entirely new way! You'll enjoy music, interactive hands-on activities, stage performances and visual arts galore. This is a community-wide celebration that invites you to celebrate your community!

Schedule of Events:

2:00 - 5:30 p.m. - The Family Festival features activities geared primarily for younger audiences such as the Hip Hop Block Party, Chinese Yo Yo Troupe, Robotic technology, Clickety Cloggers and more!

5:30 - 6:30 p.m. - Grand Procession to City Hall is no ordinary parade - with Cuban stiltwalkers, a giant grocery cart, cardboard ice cream truck puppet theatre, drummers and dancers and a festival of flags.

7:00 p.m. - Activities geared primarily for older audiences arranged by artform - Dance, Music, Performance.

12:00 a.m. - Finale to welcome in 2007, a spectacle you won't soon forget!

Particularly Cool Stuff

"Art is Street" - Cesar Chavez St. becomes a community canvas, and you're invited to leave your chalk mark on the bridge!

"The I of Texas" - a fabulous film/video event that projects the "eyes" of Texas (maybe yours) onto the Water Tower.

All activities are FREE and open to the public. For a complete look at all the multi-media fun, visit firstnightaustin.org. If you're looking for a chance to be right in the heart of the fun, a few volunteer opportunities are still available, to register as a volunteer go to: firstnightaustin.org/involved.

You'll want to dress for Texas' wonderful December weather and remember to wear comfortable shoes. Free parking will be available throughout downtown and Capital Metro will provide free 'Dillo service from the state parking garages at Trinity to the event starting at 1:30 p.m. on New Year's Eve.

If you attended last year's inaugural event you know how great it was. If you missed it, you 'll definitely want to make this your "first" First Night Austin!

Dec 21-23, 28-31 Esther's Christmas Comedy
Esther's Follies, 525 E. 6th Street
(512) 320-0553, esthersfollies.com

We all know that the holidays aren't always a barrel of laughs. Well you can change that this year by bringing your guests and/or dysfunctional family to the funniest show in town - Esther's Follies. You'll be screaming throughout this rollicking holiday romp through the Comedy Landscape of 2006. The Christmas comedy starts with The Twelve Days of Christmas with George W. Bush; Mrs. Claus sings The Santa Claus Lament, a bawdy rumination on life without her man at this time of the year; and Esther's star magician, Ray Anderson, levitates the Christmas Angels of the Follies! Add juggling, magic, the tap-dancing Grandmas, and you have a truly awesome Austin Christmas! Regular Showtimes: Thurs. 8:00 p.m.; Fri. & Sat. 8:00 p.m. & 10:00 p.m. Special New Year's Eve Shows, Sunday December 31 at 8:00 & 10:30 p.m. Call 320-0553 to reserve your seats today!

Dec 30 Same Year's Eve Improv Extravaganza
8:00 p.m.
The Hideout Theatre, 617 Congress Avenue
(512) 443-3688 (H-I-D-E-O-U-T), hideouttheatre.com

Once a year all of the improvisers in Austin come together for one gigantic show in celebration of the city we live in and the art form we love. Same Year's Eve Improv Extravaganza throws together players from over 17 local troupes in a spectacular exhibition of improv comedy. The evening includes games, scenes and long-form musicals based on audience suggestions. After the show there's a free party with food and drink. Tickets are $10 and available online at hideouttheatre.com or 1/2 hour before the show at the box office.

Dec 31 A New Year's Eve to Die For
7:00 p.m. & 10:00 p.m.
Spaghetti Warehouse, 117 W. 4th
(512) 404-9123, capcitymystery.com

New Year's Eve can always be murder - with the Capital City Mystery Players at Spaghetti Warehouse! The show is A New Year's Eve Cruise Ship Crime, set in the luxurious restaurant on board the largest luxury ship afloat the fabulous Titanium, under the flag of Carnivore Cruise Lines. During the evening's festivities, including an audience participation Conga line, a valuable piece of jewelry disappears, followed by a mysterious murder. Whodunit? The package price per couple is only $119 (all-inclusive) for the dinner, show and a bottle of wine. The 10:00 p.m. late show goes right up to midnight and ends with a champagne toast.

Dec 31 New Year's Eve Improv Celebration
10:30 p.m.
The Hideout Theatre, 617 Congress
(512) 443-3688 (H-I-D-E-O-U-T), hideouttheatre.com

Austin's premiere improv comedy troupe, The Heroes of Comedy, brings in the New Year with an enchanted evening of improv games, scenes and a champaign toast at midnight. Join in on the fun as the cast reflects on the year that has passed, speculate sabout the year to come and celebrates that magical moment of transition between the two. Your $15 ticket buys an entire evening of entertainment that careens full speed into the New Year and includes a Champagne toast as the ball drops at midnight!

Still on Stage...

12/28, 1/2: Danielson: A Family Movie, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, originalalamo.com
To 12/22: The Ghost of Christmas Pasta, Spaghetti Warehouse, capcitymystery.com
To 12/23: The Nutcracker, Bass Concert Hall, balletaustin.org
To 12/23: Moneygo on 34th Street, The Hideout Theatre, violetcrownradio.com
To 12/31: Plaid Tidings, Zach Scott Groten Stage, zachscott.com
To 12/31: Rockin' Christmas Party, Zach Scott Kleberg Stage, zachscott.com
To 1/07: The Santaland Diaries, Zach Scott Arena Stage, zachscott.com
Ongoing: Happy Feet: The IMAX® Experience, Texas the Big Picture, Deep Sea 3D in the IMAX® Theatre; The Star of Destiny in the Texas Spirit Theater, thestoryoftexas.com

Dec 21 Caroling at Noon
12:00 p.m.
St. David's Episcopal Church, 304 E. 7th
(512) 472-1196, stdave.org

Handbells are so magical any time of the year, but particularly around the holidays. You'll get chills as you listen to the Canterbury Bells of St. David's at this week's free holiday concert in St. David's historic sanctuary. Donations are accepted to benefit the Trinity Center, St. David's downtown outreach ministry. Lunch is available following the concerts at 12:30 at Cafe Divine for $6.00.

Dec 21 Pinnacle Brass
12:00 p.m.
Central Presbyterian Church, 8th & Brazos
(512) 326-2575, austinhandbells.org

The sounds of Pinnacle Brass will be featured at this week's Thursday Noonday Concert.

Dec 21 The Christmas Pops! Sing-Along
7:00 p.m.
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 409 Colorado
originalalamo.com

Talk about some outrageous fun - go caroling Alamo Drafthouse-style! You may never look/or hear your favorite holiday tunes in the same way again! $10.

Dec 22 Trans-Siberian Orchestra
8:00 p.m.
Frank Erwin Center, 1701 Red River
(512) 471-7744, uterwincenter.com

Witness the fusion of orchestra and rock this holiday season with the mesmerizing Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The music, the lights, the lyrics and the magic create life-long memories!

Dec 30-31 Holiday Pops with The Association
8:00 p.m.
Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd.
(512) 476-6064, austinsymphony.org

"Cherish" the New Year with the Association at this year's Austin Symphony Holiday Pops. One of the most popular and successful bands to have come out of the Sixties, The Association has sold over 70 million records, earning six gold discs and one platinum disc with such hits as "Never My Love," "Windy" and "Cherish." Celebrate this holiday season with a group whose Greatest Hits album continues to be one of the longest and best-selling albums in Warner Bros. history. Tickets for The Association can be purchased online at austinsymphony.org, where you'll find seating maps, price options and a wealth of concert information.

Dec 26-30 Storytime at the Blanton
1:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Blanton Museum of Art, Congress & MLK
(512) 471-5482, blantonmuseum.org

Tickle the ears of your youngsters with storytime in the galleries at the Blanton. Parents and their kids, 6-10 years old, can connect with works of art in the museum's collection after listening to a short story read by museum staff. For more information please call (512) 471-5482. Included with museum admission.

Dec 27 Holiday Favorites in the Museum
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 N. Congress
(512) 936-4600, thestoryoftexas.com

Listen to holiday favorites performed by local musicians in the Albert and Ethel Herzstein Hall of Special Exhibitions. Unwind this busy holiday season with pleasurable sounds and the beauty of Miss Ima's Quilts - all in one space. FREE with exhibit admission.

Dec 30 take me to bed or lose me forever
Closing Reception
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Volitant Gallery, 320 Congress Ave., Ste 100
(512) 236-1240, volitant.com

This absurd, bittersweet, cliché-filled group show curated by Leona Scull-Hons is coming to a close with live performances. Hmmm - we don't know what exactly that means but you will definitely want to check this show out before it checks out of Austin.

Still On Display Downtown...

To 12/21: Gingerbread House Workshops, Austin Children's Museum, austinkids.org
To 12/23: Beverly Penn: Weeds, d berman Gallery, dbermangallery.com
To 12/23: degrees of separation, Women & Their Work, womenandtheirwork.org
To 12/24: RED 2006 Holiday Show, Wally Workman Gallery, wallyworkman.com
To 12/29: Feliks Topolski: Portraits of Britain's 20th c. Literary Greats, Ransom Center, hrc.utexas.edu
To 12/30: take me to bed or leave me forever, Volitant Gallery, volitant.com
To 12/30: Norman Mailer Takes on America, Ransom Center, hrc.utexas.edu
To 12/30: The Unorthodox Taxidermy of Dr. Seuss, Art on 5th, arton5th.com
To 12/31: The Rug Hooking Project, Las Manitas Avenue Cafe, lapena-austin.org
To 1/3: Zita Raymond: Still Life's, Shoreline Grill, shorelinegrill.com
To 1/5: Animal Secrets, Austin Children's Museum, austinkids.org
To 1/7: e-flux video rental (EVR), Arthouse at the Jones Center, arthousetexas.org
To 1/7: Miss Ima's Quilts, Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, thestoryoftexas.com
To 1/13: Ancient Echoes, Lotus Asian Art & Antique Gallery, lotusasianart.com
To 1/14: Luca Cambiaso: 1527-1585, Blanton Museum of Art, blantonmuseum.org
To 1/14: Heart Gallery Exhibit, Austin Children's Museum, austinkids.org
To 1/19: The Avenue: Austin's Main Street Since 1839, Austin History Center, cityofaustin.org/library/ahc
To 2/11: 15 Years of Gifts, Umlauf Sculpture Gardens, umlaufsculpture.org
To 5/27: On the Plains: The Art of Frank Reaugh; Texas Capitol Visitors Center, TexasCapitolVisitorsCenter.com
To 5/28: 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

Dec 21-23 American YouthWorks Selling
World-Famous Royers Pies
Around Austin
americanyouthworks.org

American YouthWorks and Meals on Wheels are partnering with Royers Round Top to offer their world famous pies at special drive-through tents, located around Austin. Each pie sold gives AYW a slice of the financial pie! While supplies last, you can select from the very finest of all your holiday favorites, including Sin-Nammon Rings. The mission of this project is to create
a model of a for-profit business collaborating with non-profit organizations to enrich the lives of those in need by providing hope through jobs for kids at risk and support for feeding the homebound elderly and youth. Please join in this project to help Austin's kids at risk and support the feeding of thousands of Austin's homebound and elderly while you give yourself world-class sweetness@

Dates, Times, Locations:
21, 22: 11:00 a.m. - 4: 00 p.m.
23: 11:00 a.m. - 4: 00 p.m
American YouthWorks Downtown Campus 4th & Brazos (Thur & Fri ONLY)
North East Corner of William Cannon & HWY 71
4402 Marathon. One block behind (west) the Blood Center on Lamar and 44th.

All Pies are $19.95. Sin-Nammon Rings are $22.95. A portion of the proceeds from all pie sales goes directly to American YouthWorks and Meals on Wheels and More.

Dec 23 Christmas Brunch for the Homeless
8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
First United Methodist Church, 1201 Lavaca
(512) 478-5684, fumcaustin.org

First United Methodist Church's Annual Christmas Brunch for the Homeless will be held in the Family Life Center, Great Hall. Volunteers are needed, so if you would like to help out during this wonderful event, please email fancymills@yahoo.com.

Dec 23, 30 Freshen Your Holidays at Austin Farmer's Market
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Cesar Chavez and Lavaca
(512) 236-0074, austinfarmersmarket.org

The holiday season brings winter crops and traditional cheer to the Austin Farmer's Market. The Austin Farmer's Market farmers and other vendors will have fresh produce, specialty foods (lots of samples), and holiday gift items. Free chef's demonstrations and live music round out the family events. Remember the new location on Cesar Chavez and Lavaca with free parking at City Hall.

Dec 23, 24; 30, 31 West 6th St. Artists Market
709 W. 6th
(512) 698-8099, 6thstreetmarket.com

The West 6th Street Artist's Market is back in a new location! Here's another splendid shopping opportunity downtown - at this 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.

Dec 26 Candlelight Tours of the
Texas Governor's Mansion
5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Texas Governor's Mansion, 1010 Colorado St.
(512) 463-5516, txfgm.org

A piece of Texas history is showcased during Candlelight Tours of the Texas Governor's Mansion. The event is free and open to the public. Parking will be available at the parking lot across the street and at the State Visitor's Parking Garage. No cameras, purses or backpacks will be allowed inside.

Many Reasons to Celebrate the Season Downtown

Your kids, your family and your guests have tons of fun stuff to do downtown this holiday season.

To 12/23: Trail of Lights, Zilker Park, ci.austin.tx.us/tol/default.htm
To 12/24: Armadillo Christmas Bazaar, Austin Music Hall, armadillobazaar.com
To 1/14: Ice Skating, Whole Foods Market, wholefoodsmarket.com
Wednesdays: Austin Farmer's Market, 5:00-6:00 p.m., Whole Foods Market

The Austin City Store
Austin City Hall, 301 West Second Street

Hours:
Monday - Wednesday: 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Thursday - Friday: 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Saturday: 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Just in time for the holidays.... the Official Store of the City of Austin has opened its doors. Operated by the Austin Convention Center Department, the Austin City Store offers a unique collection of items that positively promote City of Austin services, as well as the city's history, cultures, environment and unique character. Products created exclusively by Austin artists and artisans are also featured.

You'll find jewelry, scarves, belts, hats, handbags, children's clothing, toys, bowls, plates, houseware items, greeting and note cards, calendars and posters. City Store is also partners with Waterloo Records and Book People to sell popular music CDs and books.

Remember the Austin City Store, the Second Street District, or Congress Avenue, including it's newest retailer Authenticity, for all your last minute holiday shopping needs. Happy Holidays and Happy Shopping!

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.

Dec 9 - Dec 23 Trail of Lights Shuttle
Bus Staging Area
State Parking Facilities, 14th & Trinity
capmetro.org

Capital Metro will run a shuttle from the state parking garages at 14th & Trinity to the Zilker Park Trail of Lights. Two lanes of San Jacinto, between MLK Boulevard and E. 13th St., and two lanes of Trinity, between E. 12th and E. 15th Sts. will be closed each evening from 6:00 p.m. until midnight.

Dec 23 Austin Farmers' Market
Cesar Chavez at Lavaca
austinfarmersmarket.org

Because of construction near Republic Square, the Farmers' Market is temporarily moving from Republic Square to Cesar Chavez Street. From November 25 through March 2007, Cesar Chavez, between Lavaca and Congress, will be closed from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Dec 26 Candlelight Holiday at the Governor's Mansion
Governor's Mansion, 11th & Colorado
(512) 463-5516, txfgm.org

Colorado Street, between 10th Street and and 11th Street, will be closed from 3:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

Dec 30 Austin Farmers' Market
Cesar Chavez at Lavaca
austinfarmersmarket.org

Because of construction near Republic Square, the Farmers' Market is temporarily moving from Republic Square to Cesar Chavez Street. From November 25 through March 2007, Cesar Chavez, between Lavaca and Congress, will be closed from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

The Downtown Austin Alliance's offices will be closed from December 25 - January 2, 2007. We wish you a joyous holiday and a happy New Year!

While you're kick'n back and enjoying the holidays, family and maybe a bowl game or two--you've also got a chance to catch up on a couple repeat episodes of




Austin's own, locally-produced, LoneStar EMMY® Award-winning, fun-filled, rave-reviewed, multi-faceted show about the people, places and stories the make DOWNTOWN: As Austin As It Gets.? (DOWNTOWN is a co-production of the Downtown Austin Alliance, Action Figure Studios and KLRU, Austin's PBS Station - for details visit KLRU.org.)

Dec 21 - 7:30 p.m. KLRU Basic/Digital
Dec 22 - 9:00 p.m. KLRU Basic/Digital
Dec 28 - 6:30 p.m. KLRU-G
Dec 29 - 5:30 a.m. KLRU-G

Episode #210 - GROW GRACEFULLY/GROW GREEN/GROW YOUR OWN WAY
Musically talented youth are nurtured with the Austin Youth Orchestra. / Go Green - Go DOWNTOWN - A tribute to Austin, a model "Sustainable City." / Austin?s growing Hip-Hop scene--meet MCs with a message and internationally known B-Boy City.

Dec 28 - 7:30 p.m. KLRU Basic/Digital
Dec 29 - 9:00 p.m. KLRU Basic/Digital

Episode #211 - "BEST" of DOWNTOWN
Urban Density - The Good, the Bad and the Lovely: Building Community, achieving the goal of a denser urban core without compromising Austin's special sense of place. / Art From the Streets - A creative outlet giving help and dignity to the homeless. / Explore Barton Springs, the "Soul of the City," and learn why the Springs are so important to Austin.