This Week in Downtown

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Featured Event

Jun 23 Urban Music Festival
11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Auditorium Shores, Town Lake Park
urbanmusicfest.com

Headlining the re-scheduled Urban Music Festival (UMF) is The Bar-Kays and Dazz Band, along with the smooth sounds of Mint Condition and neo-soul artist Anthony David.

UMF is planned and organized to benefit the community. In that spirit - for everyone who has a ticket or wristband from the postponed April 7th date - in addtion to being able to attend the make up show at no charge, you will also receive a vouncher good for entry into the first day of UMF 2008!

A special interactive village is being set up. KidCiti is designed to engage young people in exploring their culture, their creativity and their community.

For all the details of this musical extravaganza, please visit urbanmusicfest.com.


Traffic Flow

Jun 23 Austin Farmers' Market - Sustainable Food Center
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 farmers' market.

Looking Ahead to the week of June 28 through July 4

Jun 30 Austin Farmers' Market - Sustainable Food Center
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 farmers' market.

Jul 4 Freedom 5000 5K Run and Walk
runtex.com

From 5:00 a.m. until noon, W. Cesar Chavez will be closed between Stephen F. Austin Dr. (near Austin High School) and San Antonio Street.


On Stage

Jun 21-23 Constellation
Federal Courthouse Buildings
(Jake Pickles & Thornberry Federal Courthouses), 300 East 8th St
(512) 288-1929, bluelapislight.org

Constellation, a new site-specific aerial dance work performed in downtown Austin at both of the Federal Courthouse buildings features climbing experts, technical designers, and rigging experts. In Constellation, the dancers will soar, tumble, ascend and descend across the face of the buildings, reaching greater heights than ever before!

Jun 22 Olive Dance Theatre
8:00 p.m.
George Washington Carver Museum & Cultural Center, Boyd Vance Theatre, 1165 Angelina,
danceumbrella.com

Olive Dance Theatre, a Philadelphia-based hip-hop company, will perform repertory works with local and Texas B-boys. Tickets are available online at danceumbrella.com or at the door.

Jun 22-23 CAROUSEL with Patrick Cassidy
7:30 p.m.
Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress
(512) 472-5470, tex-arts.org

This grand concert production of a Rodger & Hammerstein's favorite will feature Broadway, Film & TV star Patrick Cassidy as Billy Bigelow with Austin's own Jill Blackwood playing opposite him. Call (866) 4GET-TIX for tickets.

Jun 23-24 Celebrando 2007
The Theatre at Reagan High School, 7104 Berkman Dr
prfdance.org

Don't miss this spectacular all-live music and dance production that will take you on a voyage through every major style of Puerto Rican traditional dance including Bomba from Cangrejo, Ponce and Loiza, Plena, Bailes de Salon (Danza), Bailes de las Montanas (Seis), and the rich Musica de las 40s. June 23 (8:00 p.m.) & 24 (2:00 p.m.).

Jun 26, 27 Summer Classic Film Series
Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress
(512) 472-5470, austintheatre.org

The summer's best films at Austin's best theatre. FLIX-TIX gives you a book of 10 admissions for only $45 (valid for a year), good in any combination to the Paramount's Summer Classic Film Series. We'll see you at the movies. Here's what's playing this week.

Jun 26, 27: McCabe & Mrs. Miller and Brewster McCloud.

For information about any film, go to imdb.com.


Jun 24 Moonlight Cinema at The Belmont - Being John Malkovich
8:00 p.m.
The Belmont, 305 W. 6th Street
(512) 457-0300, thebelmontaustin.com

Moonlight Cinema this month focuses on the work of John Crusack. It's Austin's best movie and a dinner deal!

Jun 26 Sci-Fi Cinema Festival: The Day the Earth Caught Fire, 1961
7:00 p.m.
Alamo Drafthouse Downtown, 409 Colorado Street
(512) 322-0145, austinfilm.org

The Austin Film Society (AFS) is hosting its final Essential Cinema series of this season, Other Minds, Other Worlds: Global Sci-Fi Cinema, featuring a wide array of science fiction styles and themes from Czechoslovakia, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, the U.S., and, most intriguingly, the former Soviet Union. The nine-week summer series will have screenings on Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. through July 31.

Jun 27 Children's Day Art Park
Joe McDermott

9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Symphony Square Amphitheatre, 1101 Red River
(512) 476-6064, austinsymphony.org

Bring your kids to hear one of Austin's favorites - Joe McDermott - "the maestro of imagination." Your children will experience the magic of the arts at Children's Day Art Park. This exciting summer program features local musicians, dancers, storytellers, magicians, mimes and crafts people.

Jun 28 Silent Silver Screen Series:
The General

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

Buster Keaton's immortal The General (1927) with live music by Graham Reynolds and friends.


The Music Scene

Jun 21 Thursday Noonday Concert - Austin Young Concert Artists
12:00 ? 1:00 p.m.
Central Presbyterian Church, 200 E. Eighth Street
(512) 472-2445 centralpresbyterian.org

This week's Thursday Noonday Concert features young concert artist, Jonathan Chang on Violin.

Jun 22 East End 4th Fridays
Miss Lavelle White

East 11th Street between Branch and Navasota Streets
(512) 477-9438, diversearts.org

DiverseArts is pleased start the summer East End Fourth Friday Series with Miss Lavelle, who's been called "The sassiest R&B funky soul sistah in the land!" During this monthly event, visitors are encouraged to come early, bring the whole family and spend the first part of the evening in the many fine businesses on East 11th Street, sampling food and drink at both well-known and newly established venues. Then, as the hot afternoon drifts into a pleasant evening, it's time to take to the streets and enjoy live entertainment, check out arts vendors and organizations doing public outreach, visit the children's program areas, and see just what is unique, new, and old in the East End.

Jun 22 Gustafer Yellowgold's Wide Wild World
11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Austin Children's Museum, 201 Colorado
(512) 472-2499, austinkids.org

Join the Austin Children's Museum for a bright and sunny music experience! Gustafer Yellowgold is a freshly original multimedia project utilizing animated illustrations paired with catchy, original pop-tunes geared towards family and kids, with a surprisingly strong crossover appeal to adult audiences.

Jun 24 The Hartman Foundation Concerts in the Park -
Woodwind Ensemble (Classical)

7:30 p.m.
Wooldridge Square Park, 9th & Guadalupe
(512) 476-6064, austinsymphony.org

Bring a picnic dinner and blanket, and make it a family affair as you listen to the Austin Symphony's Woodwind Ensemble. (Sorry, alcohol and glass containers are not permitted in the park).These delightful outdoor park concerts are the perfect opportunity for Austinites to enjoy some of the Capitol City's greatest pleasures - the Austin Symphony's fine music and one of Austin's beautiful historic parks.

Jun 27 Blues on the Green
Ian "Mac" McLagan and the Bump Band

7:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Zilker Park Rock Island, Barton Springs Rd.
kgsr.com/blues/

107.1 KGSR presents Blues On the Green - there will be plenty of room for the family at Zilker Park Rock Island (on the north side of Barton Springs Road) for a free show from 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Bring sun block, a blanket & chairs, pets on leashes - and enjoy food & drink from our great food sponsors, or bring your own food. Glass and Alcohol are not allowed in Austin Parks. Shows will be alternate Wednesdays through August 22nd. Parking is available off Stratford Drive under the MoPac Bridge.


Gallery Watch & Museum Musings

Jun 21, 24 Blanton Happenings
Blanton Museum of Art, Congress & MLK
(512) 232-5171, blantonmuseum.org

Jun 21 Art Fix: Drawing - 6:00 p.m.
Explore different works of art as well as various drawing techniques in the exhibition Master Drawings from the Yale University Art Gallery. Supplies provided. No registration required. Please call (512) 471-9205 for more information.

Jun 24 An Academic Century: An Introduction to 19th-Century Art - 2:00 p.m.
Second in a series of four classes exploring painting, architecture, sculpture and printmaking. This class will look at 19th-century painting with Cheryl Snay, assistant curator of prints and drawings. Cost for the series: $75 members/$100 non-members. Please call (512) 471-9205 to register or for more information.

Jun 21 Fashioning a New Woman
7:00 p.m.
Harry Ransom Center for the Humanitites, 21st & Guadalupe
(512) 471-8944, hrc.utexas.edu

Author Raye Virginia Allen tells the story of Gordon Conway, the Texas-born designer who helped define the look and lifestyle of the flapper world-wide in "Fashioning a New Woman: Gordon Conway."

Jun 22-Aug 4 Perspectivas: Armando Miguélez
Volitant Gallery, 320 Congress, Ste. 100
(512) 236-1240, volitant.com

This solo exhibition by Mexico City based artist, Armando Miguélez, introduces his latest body of work, which takes the intangible essence of memory and relates it outward. Perspectivas is a mindset, a vision, and a view. Opening Reception and Artist Talk: Friday, June 22, 2007 6:00?9:00 p.m., Artist Talk starts at 6:30 p.m.

Jun 23 Art in Public Places
2nd Annual Artist Workshop Series

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Austin City Hall, 301 West 2nd St. at Lavaca
(512) 974-9308, cityofaustin.org

Starting & Succeeding in Public Art: Info and Advice for Everyone. After enthusiastic response to last year's workshops, the Austin Art in Public Places Program (AIPP) begins a new series of summer artists' workshops, this June through August. All workshops are free and are open to the public. Experienced artists, arts professionals and Austin public art administrators will lead each of the three workshops which will provide a comprehensive overview of the public art making process. Participants will be given the necessary tools to enter the public art arena, information on creating impressive applications, advice from public artists and selection panelists, and a free spiral-bound Resource Guide. This is a terrific program, so go to cityofaustin.org for details.

Jun 23 A Century of Pictures - Docent-led Tours
2:00 p.m.
Austin Museum of Art, 823 Congress
(512) 495-9224, amoa.org

Join Austin Museum of Art for a docent-led tour of A Century of Pictures. Hear the stories behind the photographs and make connections between the exhibitions.

Jun 24 Science Sundays
3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Austin Children's Museum, 201 Colorado
(512) 472-2499, austinkids.org

Discover the fascinating world of science with special guests who'll bring their expertise to visitors on Science Sundays at the Austin Children's Museum. Don't forget, the Museum is free from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Sundays so come and enjoy some science! This week's event is sponsored by the Society of Women's Engineers.

Jun 27 Behind These Walls...Our Community's Collective Memory
6:00 p.m.
Austin History Center, 810 Guadalupe
(512) 974-7499, cityofaustin.org/library/ahc

Collective Memory is an Austin History Center (AHC) Association program designed to share the story of the Austin History Center's work and rich historical treasures housed in the center with the community. As part of this program the History Center is hosting special small group evening tours highlighting the AHC's collection of treasures and historic 1933 Italian Renaissance building. The tours are free, but advance registration is required. To register, contact Sharmyn Lilly, Exec. Dir. at (512) 974-7499 or at sharmyn.lilly@ahca.net.

Jun 27 High Noon Talks
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 N. Congress
(512) 936-8746, thestoryoftexas.com

Learn about the many research discoveries and advanced technologies that have resulted from man's exploration of space. Meet and hear scientists, engineers and NASA experts discuss space-related research and personal adventures in the space program! Guest Speaker - Dr. Hans Mark. NASA supervisor of the first 14 space shuttle flights who also specializes in spacecraft and aircraft design and the development of electro-magnetic rail guns will be on hand for this Talk. Free with Museum Admission.

Jun 27 - Jun 30 Nobelity - In Pictures
Photography Exhibit and Gallery Screenings
Fielding Lecht Gallery, 708 Congress
(512) 476-0044, fieldlinglecht.com

Fielding Lecht Gallery and The Nobelity Project present an exhibit of photographs from Nobelity, Turk Pipkin's feature documentary, which looks at the world's most pressing problems through the eyes of Nobel laureates. The exhibit features photos taken by Turk Pipkin and Vance Holmes during the film's production in India, Africa, France, Britain and the U.S. Also showing will be Nobelity-inspired art by Katie Pipkin. The opening night reception, Wednesday, June 27th from 6:00-9:00 p.m., will be attended by Turk Pipkin, Vance Holmes and Katie Pipkin and is free of charge. Donations are requested to The Nobelity Project. As part of the exhibit, Nobelity will screen continuously during gallery hours through Saturday.

Still on Display Downtown...

To 6/28: AVAA 30th Anniversary, Scarbrough Building, avaaonline.org
6/28-7/30: AVAA 30th Anniversary, Dougherty Arts Center, avaaonline.org
To 6/30: Andy St Martin: Selected Works from 1999 to 2007, 4 walls fine art, 4wallsfineart.com
To 6/30: Between the Body and the Soul, Las Manitas Avenue Cafe, lapena-austin.org
To 6/30: Dali & The Surrealists: The Argillet Era, Russell Collection, russell-collection.com
To 6/30: Just Been Fired, Gallery Lombardi, gallerylombardi.com
To 7/12: Rob Harrell, Wally Workman Gallery, wallyworkmangallery.com
To 7/14: The Elizabeth Portraits & Other Works, d berman Gallery, dbermangallery.com
To 7/28: The American Twenties, Harry Ransom Center, hrc.utexas.edu
To 7/31: We are from Vietnam, Austin Children's Museum, austinkids.org
To 8/4: memoria/memoir: Carol Flax, Volitant Gallery, volitant.com
To 8/4: Perspectivas: Armando Miguélez, Volitant Gallery, volitant.com
To 8/5: A Century of Grace: 19th-Century Masterworks, Blanton Museum of Art, blantonmuseum.org
To 8/12: A Century in Pictures, Austin Museum of Art, amoa.org
To 8/12: Will van Overbeek: Photographs of Barton Springs, Austin Museum of Art, amoa.org
To 8/12: Master Drawings from the Yale University Art Gallery, Blanton Museum of Art, blantonmuseum.org
To 8/19: New American Talent, Art House at the Jones Center, arthousetexas.org
To 8/26: The Happiest Day: Wedding Customs in Transition, Blanton Museum of Art, blantonmuseum.org
To 8/26: Parmigianino: His Graphic Legacy, Blanton Museum of Art, blantonmuseum.org
To 8/26: Bauhaus Portfolios, Blanton Museum of Art, blantonmuseum.org
To 8/31: Testimonio, La Peña Gallery, lapena-austin.org
To 8/31: Voces de Fuego, La Peña Gallery, lapena-austin.org
To Fall '07: Gibson Guitartown Showcase Art Guitars, Wild About Music, wildaboutmusic.com
To 9/22: Made to Walk the Skies: Texas & Space Travel, Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, thestoryoftexas.com
To 9/22: The Big Game, Austin Children's Museum, austinkids.org
To 9/23: TexaVision, Texas Capitol Visitors Center, TexasCapitolVisitorsCenter.com]
To 12/31: Antarctica: Life at the Bottom of the World, Texas Memorial Museum, texasmemorialmuseum.org
To 12/31: From Revolution to Renaissance, Mexic-arte Museum, mexic-artemuseum.org
To 1/31: People's Gallery 2007 Exhibition, Austin City Hall, cityofaustin.org
Ongoing:
European Paintings from the Permanent Collection and America/Americas, Blanton Museum of Art, blantonmuseum.org
Gems and Minerals, Texas Memorial Museum, texasmemorialmuseum.org


Special Events

Jun 21 Free V.I.N. (Vehicle Identification Number) Etching
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Federal Building, 300 E. 9th St.
(512) 974-5713, ci.austin.tx.us

The Austin Police Department's Auto Theft Interdiction is offering FREE Vehicle Identification Number Etching. This service helps deter thieves because it's more difficult to dispose of property that is easily identifiable. Please call (512) 974-5713 for more information, and visit ci.austin.tx.us for valuable auto theft prevention tips.

Jun 23 CBS 42 Women's Fair 2007
10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd.
keyetv.com

CBS 42 is throwing a party and you can be part of it! You'll be treated to a day of fashion shows, shopping, home improvement, fitness experts, kitchen equipment and much more! Meet and get an autograph from one of your favorite CBS Network stars and meet your favorite CBS 42 personalities. Check out the line-up at keyetv.com.

Jun 23 World Refugee Day 2007
4:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest
aaimaustin.org

Join in this celebration for fellowship, food from around the world, music and entertainment! Learn how you can participate and assist by visiting: aaimaustin.org.

Jun 27 - Jul 1 The Circus is Coming!
Frank Erwin Center, 1701 Red River
(512) 471-7744, uterwincenter.com

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® is re-imagining itself and the American circus with its 136th Edition of The Greatest Show On Earth®. Austin area families will experience this all-new Ringling Bros. production that promises high speed action, cutting-edge technology and an interactive adventure that can only be defined as a CIRCUS-SIZED SPECTACLE! This bold and contemporary production will look and sound like nothing audiences have ever experienced at Ringling Bros. For tickets, call (512) 477-6060 or (800) 982-2386 or order online at TexasBoxOffice.com.

Ongoing Special Events

Jun 23 Austin Farmers' Market
9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Republic Square Park, 4th & Guadalupe
(512) 236-0074, austinfarmersmarket.org

Dozens of vendors offer you the freshest produce, cheeses, eggs, meats, breads, honey along with flowers, prepared foods, drinks and artisan crafts.

Jun 23 Artist's Market
10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Mother Egan's Irish Pub, 715 W. 6th
(512) 698-8099, artistsmarket.com

From the deck of Mother Egan's Irish pub, this festive outdoor art fair features a variety of work by independent artists from Austin and Central Texas.


The Sporting Life

Jun 23 2007 Calvello Cup Championship
6:00 p.m.
Austin Convention Center, 500 E. Cesar Chavez
(512) 428-GIRL (4475), txrd.com

It's going to be quite a showdown as the winner of playoff bout #3 faces off against the Holy Rollers in the 2007 Calvello Cup Championship. One thing's for sure - no matter who the Holy Rollers face in the Calvello Cup, it's going to be a fierce & ferocious bout and Austin will never be the same!


Downtown News

Downtown News and Headlines

The following is a new feature for our "This Week in Downtown" Newsletter. The Alliance will periodically be including information about new developments, announcements and other information of interest to our downtown constituents. For more details, click on the following link.

  • Austin Community College ready to begin major bond renovation project at its Rio Grande Campus.
  • Spring developer, Perry Lorenz, receives the winning bid to develop 301 Lamar - mixed-use project planned.


DAA Gatherings

Jun 21 Issues & Eggs - Wooldridge Square Park - History & Future
Panel Discussion and Presentation of Findings by
UT School of Architecture Team
St. David?s Episcopal Church, Crail Hall
304 E. 7th St., (512) 469-1766

Join the Downtown Austin Alliance for our monthly Issues & Eggs Breakfast Meeting. This month's topic will feature the UT School of Architecture's Investigative Research Team to present their historic and study work for Wooldridge Square Park. This is to be followed by a Panel Discussion moderated by Senator Kirk Watson.

UT School of Architecture Team Members include:
- Louise Harpman, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs
- Jason Sowell, Assistant Professor, Landscape Architecture
- Brett Koenig, graduate research assistant

Panelists include:
- Alicia Perez - Representing Travis County, one of Wooldridge Square's largest neighbors. Travis Co. hosts of Cinco de Mayo event and is biggest potential source of nearby users.

- Charlie McCabe - Director of Austin Parks Foundation (APF), one of the three partners, (APF, DAA and City of Austin) joined in partnership with the goal of revitalizing downtown historic squares, (begin with Republic in 2001), through programming and redevelopment.

- Chris Riley - Representing Austin History Center, Riley is a downtown resident, giant chess enthusiast and member of the Planning Commission.

- Luke Savisky - Projection artist known for the First Night 2007 "I" of TX of Green Water Tower. As an artist planning a future live music/art project at Wooldridge Square, Savisky understands the suitability and limitations of this park as a performance venue.

Don't Miss this week's episode of

Thursday evening, June 21 at 8:00 p.m. on KLRU-TV, Austin PBS

Episode 306: Main Street of Texas; Going "Pro" in a "Pro" College Town, and Birth of the Live Music Capital

Congress Avenue - the Main Street of Texas - A look at "The Avenue" in its early days and the challenges of preserving the old as the city grows. / Meet Deon Sanders, the Austin Wranglers Arena Football team and look at "Pro" Sports in a "Pro" College town. / The "Live Music Capital of the World" began with live music venues such as the Vulcan Gas Co. and the Armadillo World Headquarters. Learn why their influences are such a part of Austin?s culture today.

Interstitials: Green Roof Tops, Texas River School

Downtown is also available for free download on Time Warner Cable's - Lone Star on Demand, Channel 1400.


Monday, June 18, 2007

Traffic Flow

Jun 15 Hazel Faulk-Obey Pre-Juneteenth Parade - Austin Eastside Story Foundation

The Congress Avenue Bridge will be closed from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. for the staging of the parade.

At 12:00 p.m., Congress, between Cesar Chavez and 11th St, and all cross streets, between Brazos and Colorado, will be closed for the parade.

Streets will be re-opened as the parade passes. The event will end at approximately 3:30 p.m..

Jun 16 Downtown Criterion and Keep Austin Weird Festival

There are three event areas:

Bicycle Race
From 5:00 a.m. until midnight, the following streets will be closed:

Westbound and Eastbound
- W. 2nd, between Congress and Nueces;
- W. 3rd, between Congress and Nueces;
- W. 4th, between Congress and Nueces;

Northbound and Southbound
- San Antonio, between W. 5th St. and Cesar Chavez.
- Guadalupe, between W. 5th St, and Cesar Chavez;
- Lavaca, between W. 5th St. and Cesar Chavez (AMLI residents will be allowed through barricades to access the AMLI parking garage.);
- Colorado, between W. 5th St. and Cesar Chavez (Valet lanes on the east side of Colorado will remain open the entire time and Colorado will fully re-open at 9:00 p.m.);

5K Run
The South 1st St. Bridge and Cesar Chavez, between the South 1st St. Bridge and Stephen F. Austin Dr. will be closed from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. (One northbound lane on the bridge will remain open.)

Keep Austin Weird Festival and Concert
W. 4th St., between San Antonio and Guadalupe, and San Antonio, between W. 5th and W. 3rd, will be closed from Friday at 11:00 a.m. until Sunday at 3:00 p.m.


Jun 16 Farmers' Market - Sustainable Food Center
austinfarmersmarket.org

The Austin Farmer's Market will be temporarily relocated to the parking lot just south of Republic Square.

Looking forward to next week...

Jun 23 Austin Farmers' Market - Sustainable Food Center
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 farmers' market.


For a complete list of street closings, visit the City of Austin's roadworks website at: ci.austin.tx.us/roadworks.


Featured Event