Jul 3 The Biscuit Brothers
Red, White & Blue Benefit Concert
5:30 p.m.
Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress
(512) 472-5470, biscuitbrothers.com

Bring the entire family to celebrate the 4th of July and be part of the beloved Biscuit Brothers' biggest show ever!

You'll join in a patriotic sing-along and make history by being in the group's first LIVE DVD from the historic Paramount Theatre!

You'll see special and surprise guests! Help give the nation the gift of music -- the proceeds of this magical evening benefit the non-profit Biscuit Brothers educational project.

Kids will receive a special package of Patriotic Holiday and Biscuit Gear. Healthy snacks will also be on hand to tide you and yours over until after the show.

Participate in ?the world?s greatest Biscuit Brothers silent auction - ever" online before the concert and live at the show.

For tickets, go to gettix.net.

Saturday, June 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.

Wednesday, July 4 - Freedom 5000 5K Run/4th of July and Fireworks
(Note: Updated from last week's notice)
runtex.com, austinsymphony.org

From 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m., W. Cesar Chavez will be closed between Stephen F. Austin Drive (near Austin High School) and San Antonio St.

Barton Springs Rd., between Robert E. Lee and Mopac, will close at approximately 2:00 p.m. and will re-open at approximately 11:00 p.m.


Looking Forward to the week of July 5 through July 11, 2007...

Saturday, July 11 - 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.

Jun 28-Jul 2 Classics at the Paramount
Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress
(512) 472-5470, austintheatre.org

The week starts out with two Robert DeNiro classics, transitions into the inimitable class of Audrey Hepburn and ends with two film noir unforgettables. Go to the Austin Theatre Alliance/Paramount Theatre website for showtimes and full details, including lots of ways to save on one of the best entertainment values in Austin.

28, 29 - Mean Streets, Taxi Driver
30, Jul 1 - Funny Face, Breakfast at Tiffany's
2 - Clash by Night, The Asphalt Jungle

For more information on any film, visit imdb.com.

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.

Jul 1 Moonlight Cinema at The Belmont -
Stand By Me
8:00 p.m.
The Belmont, 305 W. 6th Street
(512) 457-0300, thebelmontaustin.com

July Moonlight Cinema is summer films without all that pesky sunshine. Host Jerm Pollet brings his witty observations and musical talent to the weekly dinner theatre event.

Jul 3 Sci-Fi Cinema Festival: Invasion of the Body Snatchers, 1978
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 Kingdwom, 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.

Still on Stage...

Jun 30: The Falsettos, Spaghetti Warehouse, capcitymystery.com
To 8/12: Jesus Christ Superstar/Jesucristo Superestrella - HELD OVER!, Zachary Scott Theater, zachscott.com
To 8/27: Sharks 3D, IMAX® Theatre, Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, thestoryoftexas.com
Ongoing: African Adventure 3D, Hurricane on the Bayou, Texas the Big Picture, Deep Sea 3D in the IMAX® Theatre; Ride Around the World: A Cowboy Adventure; and The Star of Destiny in the Texas Spirit Theater, thestoryoftexas.com

Jun 28 Thursday Noonday Concert: Gary Knippa and Win Bent
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 the music of Gary Knippa and Win Bent.

Jul 3 Keith Urban with
Special Guest the Wreckers
7:30 p.m.
Frank Erwin Center, 1701 Red River
(512) 471-7744, uterwincenter.com

Start out your 4th of July holiday with Keith Urban's much anticipated return to the concert stage with special guest, The Wreckers

Jun 28-Jul 1 Blanton Happenings
Blanton Museum of Art, Congress & MLK
(512) 232-5171, blantonmuseum.org

Thursdays are always free at the Blanton.

Jun 28 Curator's Tour: Master Drawings from the Yale University Art Gallery - 12:30 p.m.
Join Cheryl Snay, assistant curator of prints and drawings, for a special tour of this incredible exhibit.

Jun 28 Artistic License: Josefina Guilisasti - 6:00 p.m.
Artist Josefina Guilisasti will discuss her installation, currently on view in WorkSpace.

Jul 1 An Academic Century: An Introduction to 19th-Century Art - 2:00 p.m.
The third in a series of four classes exploring painting, architecture, sculpture, and printmaking, this class will look at 19th-century European architecture with Richard Cleary, UT professor of architecture. Call (512) 471-9205 to register or for more information.

Jun 28 Austin Responds -
AMOA Celebrates Barton Springs
7:00 p.m.
Austin Museum of Art, 823 Congress
(512) 495-9224, amoa.org

Join the Austin Museum of Art for an afternoon of readings and performances by special guests. Bring a copy of your own Barton Springs photo and contribute to our Austin Responds Photo Wall. Admission proceeds will be donated to the Friends of Barton Springs Foundation.

Jun 28-Aug 4 Power Craft
Women & Their Work, 1710 Lavaca
(512) 477-1064, womenandtheirwork.org

Power Craft is new work by Austin based artist Whitney Lee, who has subverted the craft world by interjecting sexy ladies into found latch hook rugs for some time. In her new body of work, she infuses the usually domestic, private world of craft with dominance and power. Opening Reception: Thursday, June 28, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. The artist will talk about her work at 6:30 p.m.

Jun 30 Docent-led Tours at AMOA
2:00 p.m.
Austin Museum of Art, 823 Congress
(512) 495-9224, amoa.org

Join Austin Museum of Art in the their galleries for a docent-led tour and hear fascinating stories behind the photographs of "The Target Collection of American Photographs: Century of Pictures" and "24 Summers at Barton Springs Pool - Photographs by Will van Overbeek." This is a wonderful opportunity to learn and make connections between the exhibitions.


Jun 30-Aug 18 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

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 workshop schedules and locations.


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: Power Craft, Women & Their Work, womenandtheirwork.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

Jul 4 H-E-B Austin Symphony July 4th
Concert & Fireworks
8:30 p.m.
Northeast Triangle of Zilker Park (Lou Neff Point)
512) 476-6064, austinsymphony.org

It's the biggest and best 4th of July party in town. Join more than 100,000 people at Zilker Park for the largest Independence Day celebration in Austin ever!

The H-E-B Austin Symphony July 4th Concert and Fireworks will feature patriotic music - including the ever-popular 1812 Overture, punctuated by 75-millimeter Howitzer cannons, courtesy of Texas National Guard Salute Battery - and spectacular fireworks over Town Lake.

The stage for this free celebration will be the northeast triangle of Zilker Park Lou Neff Point. The Austin Symphony Orchestra will begin performing at 8:30 p.m. and the fireworks will begin at 9:30 p.m., ending at 10:00 p.m.

Come early, bring a picnic, claim a grassy spot and enjoy the patriotic music of the Austin Symphony Orchestra.

Concessions will be available on site. (Sorry, alcohol and glass containers are not permitted in the park.)

Visit Capital Metro's website for bus route information to Zilker Park. Capital Metro will be operating their Sunday Schedule in observance of the 4th of July and have added their "Night Owl Service" for the convenience of those wishing to attend the 4th of July Fireworks. See street closings for additional event details.

Ongoing Special Events

Jun 30 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 30 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 Austin City Council voted on two items of particular interest to downtown this past week:

1. The first item was to address changes in the City's Parkland Dedication Ordinance. The previous ordinance only applied to residential development on land requiring subdivision, making few downtown tracts subject to this ordinance. However, as the fee was also based on the cost of land (and, as the cost of land in downtown is SO much higher than elsewhere in the city), when applied, the result was an exorbitant fee for downtown residential. Downtown developers, the City's Parks & Recreation Department (PARD) and the Downtown Austin Alliance (DAA) worked together to protect residential development in the neighborhood with all making significant compromises in the process. A synopsis is as follows: Downtown constituents agreed the ordinance should apply citywide, including in downtown, at the site plan stage. And, instead of basing fees paid in lieu of dedicating parkland on the cost of land in the immediate area, PARD recommended a flat $650 per unit fee. The DAA had advocated for a fee per bedroom as this would more accurately predict the number of new residents and/or parkland users, but in the end, Council voted for $650 per unit. The City's Affordable Housing Incentives Task Force recommended the parkland fee be waived for all units in a development that provided some affordable units. The DAA agreed with this, but the Council voted to exempt ONLY the units that qualify as affordable for families who earn less than 80% of the median family income.


2. The second item was the creation of a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone to fund the Waller Creek Tunnel project. This project will transform downtown's east side through flood control, reduced erosion of Waller Creek and address water quality issues for Town Lake and much needed life safety issues along Waller Creek. The project will be funded by the new development in opportunities created in a floodplain up to 800-foot wide. The City will dedicate 100% and the County 50% (approved by Travis County Commissioners earlier this year) of the incremental taxes paid in the immediate tunnel area. While this has long been a major advocacy issue for the Downtown Austin Alliance, special thanks are owed to Mayor Pro Tem Dunkerley and Council Member Cole who took the lead on moving this crucial downtown infrastructure project forward.

Jun 28 Streetscapes & Transportation Committee Meeting
12:00 Noon
Room 111, 211 E. 7th Street
Committee C0-Chairs:
Paul Noetzel, CB Richard Ellis, Wade Cooper, Jackson Walker LLP
Staff Liaison: Thomas Butler - RSVP to: tbutler@downtownaustin.com


This Week's Thursday Episode of

on KLRU-TV, Austin PBS has been "Pre-empted" for the Presidential debates. Tune in on Thursday, July 5th at 8:00 p.m. for:

Episode #307
Singing for Salamanders; Revitalization or Gentrification; and "Hellcats" (and other crazy names) on Wheels?

Arthouse at the Jones Center's A Cantata for Twelve Choirs and Several Salamanders - commissioned work by artist Daniel Bozhkov uses music, film and visual art to celebrate Austin's Barton Springs Salamander and Sunken Gardens. / Neighborhood Revitalization or Gentrification? The dynamics of neighborhoods are in continuous change. Can restoration of older homes and growth in neighborhoods occur without displacing longtime residents? / They've got brand new roller-skates and the key to success. The women of the Texas Roller Derby have started a national trend and aren't afraid to abuse it or each other.