Aug 7-11 National Poetry Slam
Downtown and South Congress
nps2007.com

Anything can happen in 3 minutes! A five-day battle for spoken word supremacy will feature more than 300 competitors from 75 teams representing cities across North America and Europe. They will converge on Austin to compete for performance poetry's ultimate prize.

The rules of poetry slam are simple yet open up an array of artistic possibilties: A poet gets three minutes to perform one of his or her original poems. No props or costumes are allowed. Poems are given numerical scores by audience members who serve as judges.

Five venues, downtown and Soco. Two Nights of finals competitions at the Paramount Theatre, and the contests will be decided by the audience.

Check out the National Poetry Slam. You'll see heartbreaking work, hilarious routines, rants, impeccably-timed and choreographed ensemble pieces, and transcendent moments in which one poet and a microphone can place familiar things and universal truths into arresting new revelations.

Hit website for ticket, preview events and volunteer information. nps2007.com.

Thursday, August 2
Moonlight Margarita Run - Town Lake Trail Foundation
townlaketrail.org

From 7:30 p.m. until 10 p.m., Cesar Chavez will be closed between Stephen F. Austin Dr. and San Antonio St.


Saturday, August 4 and Saturday August 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.

You may also view this information on the City of Austin's Event Street Closing Notice Site: ci.austin.tx.us/roadworks.

On-Going Construction Projects
Cesar Chavez Construction
Last year, the Austin Clean Water Project replaced a failing wastewater line under Cesar Chavez. Crews are now connecting buildings to the new pipe. This work was scheduled to last approximately 30 days and to be done in three phases:

Phase 1: COMPLETE

Phase 2: IN PROGRESS - Due to complications, the contractor reports that this phase is taking longer than had been projected. The updated completion date is August 10.

Phase 3: IN PROGRESS. Phase 3 will involve closing the parking lane along the north curb and one eastbound travel lane of Chavez from Congress Avenue to the midpoint between Congress and Brazos. The contractor has been able to postpone an expected closure of one lane of Congress, between Chavez and 2nd. If possible, and hopes to avoid that closure completely. Phase 3 should be completed in 2 to 3 weeks.

Aug 3 Summer Classics at the Paramount
Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress
(512) 472-5470, austintheatre.org

Sci-fi novels turned into film debuts the week; then you'll be watching the skies during two of Speilberg's most beloved (bring the kids!); restored masterpiece Metropolis will dazzle you; two films illustrate a planet in peril, and the week closes with romantic intrigue you don't want to miss. Go to the austintheatre.org for full details, including lots of ways to save on one of the best entertainment values in Austin.

3 - Fahrenheit 451, Slaughterhouse Five
4, 5 - Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Metropolis
6 - Nobelity, An Inconvenient Truth
7, 8 - The Rules of the Game

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

Aug 2 1964...The Tribute
8:00 p.m.
Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress
(512) 472-5470, austintheatre.org

The #1 Beatles Show in the World! 1964 is the result of years of research on the Fab Four - from the Beatle boots, vintage outfits, and Vox amplifiers - to their individual mannerisms, the voices, and their unmistakable harmonies. They have captured and recreated a live Beatles concert to perfection both musically and visually. 1964thetribute.com.

Aug 5 Moonlight Cinema at The Belmont - The Flamingo Kid
8:00 p.m.
The Belmont, 305 W. 6th Street
(512) 457-0300, thebelmontaustin.com

August Moonlight Cinema features sizzling summer films. Host Jerm Pollet brings his witty observations and musical talent to this hugely popular weekly dinner theatre event.

Still on Stage...

To 8/5: Disney's High School, Texas School for the Deaf, zilker.org
To 8/5: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Scottish Rite Theatre, scottishritetheatre.org
To 8/5: Austin Summer Musical for Children, Boyd Vance Theatre, summermusical.com
To 8/11: My Favorite Year - The Musical, Beverly Sheffield Zilker Hillside Theatre, zilker.org
To 8/11: The Boys of Summer, The Hideout Theatre, austinimprov.com
To 8/12: Jesus Christ Superstar, Zachary Scott Theater, zachscott.com
To 8/26: An Almost Holy Picture, Zachary Scott Arena Stage, zachscott.com
To 8/27: Sharks 3D, IMAX® Theatre, Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, thestoryoftexas.com
Ongoing: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: An IMAX® 3D Experience, African Adventure 3D, Sharks 3D, Texas the Big Picture; The Star of Destiny in the Texas Spirit Theater, thestoryoftexas.com

Aug 2 Thursday Noonday Concert ? Guitar
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 guitar music of Thales Smith.

Aug 5 The Hartman Foundation Concerts in the Park -
Big Band (Count Basie & Duke Ellington)
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 Big Band featuring the classic sounds of Count Basie and Duke Ellington. (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.

Aug 8 Blues on the Green:Jimmy Reed Highway
7:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Zilker Park Rock Island, Barton Springs Rd.
kgsr.com/blues/

Blues On the Green features Omar Kent Dykes and Jimmie Vaughan's Jimmy Reed Highway with special guests. Bring the whole family to Zilker Park Rock Island (on the north side of Barton Springs Road) for this free and sure to be fabulous show!

Aug 2 Suddenly! Last Summer Party
7:00 ? 10:00 p.m.
Women & Their Work, 1710 Lavaca Street
(512) 477-1064, womenandtheirwork.org

Join Women & Their Work for one of the last of the summer parties. Jill Pangallo will perform a selection from her on-going project Reality Show and Cari Palazzolo of Bellaire will bring her sweet indie music into the gallery. All this plus crafty grab bag prizes for winners of the Craft Walk, yummy summery refreshments, crafting stations. Come prepared to party down!

Aug 4 Sculptor to Be! Workshop for Kids
1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
Umlauf Scupture Gardens, 605 E. Robert E. Lee
(512) 445-5582, umlaufsculpture.org

Celebrate independence and create sculpture in the tradition of the great American sculptor, Alexander Calder and inspired by the sculpture of the most prolific public sculptor in Texas, Charles Umlauf. Kids will have fun creating sculptures out of wire. In the process they will learn about design and proportion. They can choose to make humans or animals. This workshop is for young artists (ages 7-11), who will work with artist and educator, Brenda K. Merriman. You can now reserve and pay for your spot in these workshops online at umlaufsculpture.org or by calling 445-5582 ext. 101.

Aug 4 Century of Pictures Tours
2:00 p.m.
Austin Museum of Art, 823 Congress
(512) 495-9224, amoa.org

Join Austin Museum of Art in the galleries for a docent-led tour and hear fascinating stories behind the photographs and make connections between the exhibitions.

Aug 5 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. The Museum is free from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. on Sundays so come and enjoy some science! This week's event is sponsored by the Society of Women Engineers.

Aug 8 Community Nights: Indian Dance
5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Austin Children's Museum, 201 Colorado
(512) 472-2499, austinkids.org

Travel half way around the world to India just by coming to the Children's Museum. The Anu Dancers will perform a variety of Indian dances and have other activities that will help you learn more about this fascinating culture. Come out and play EVERY Wednesday night and enjoy the museum's exhibits, storytime and a variety of hands-on activities.

Still on Display Downtown...

To 8/4: Awakening the Soul, La Pena Gallery, lapena-austin.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: Verano, Wally Workman Gallery, wallyworkmangallery.com
To 8/5: A Century of Grace: 19th-Century Masterworks, Blanton Museum of Art, blantonmuseum.org
To 8/12: Made to Walk the Skies: Texas & Space Travel, Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, thestoryoftexas.com
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 8/14: Re-Imaging the Nude: Diverse Notions on Sensual Photography, New East Arts Gallery, (512) 477-9438
To 8/19: ceramics...on the edge, Umlauf Sculpture Garden, umlaufsculpture.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 9/1: Tom Hollenback & Joseph Janson, d berman gallery,dbermangallery.com
To 9/22: The Big Game, Austin Children's Museum, austinkids.org
To 9/23: TexaVision, Texas Capitol Visitors Center, TexasCapitolVisitorsCenter.com
To 10/21: Josefina Guilisati in WorkSpace, Blanton Museum of Art, blantonmuseum.org
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

Aug 3-5 Austin Boat Show
Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd.
austinboatshow.com

If you're a boating enthusiast, you don't want to miss the best deals of the year at the Austin Boat Show. All children under 12 will receive a FREE life jacket after completion of the boater safety activities sponsored by the "Nobody's Waterproof" campaign! Life jackets sponsored by participating dealers. ADMISSION IS FREE! Show Hours: Friday: 12:00 -9:00 p.m.; Saturday: 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.' Sunday: 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Ongoing Special Events

Aug 4 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.

Aug 4 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.

Aug 2 2007 Moonlight Margarita Run
Downtown & Town Lake
townlaketrail.org

Runners and walkers begin to wind their way along a 5K course through the streets bordering Town Lake at sunset. The lightning fast out-and-back race route starts at the trail underneath MoPac next to the large piece of granite runners call "The Rock." Immediately afterward, the Trail Foundation will host a Tex-Mex Fiesta on the American Legion Hall lawn with margaritas, a buffet by Maudie's, mariachi music, and a silent auction with tons of very neat items such as a hot air balloon ride with Mayor Will Wynn, Pure Austin Gym Membership, Lance Armstrong autographed Sports Illustrated, and many more!