Aug 25 Extra-Ordinary: The Everyday Object
in Art - Selections from the Whitney Museum of American Art
Austin Museum of Art, 823 Congress
(512) 495-9224, amoa.org

The Austin Museum of Art is honored to be opening a truly extraordinary art experience! Extra-Ordinary: The Everyday Object in Art is comprised of paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, and sculptures from the permanent collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art.

Each work plays with the traditional expectation of art as elevated beyond the mundane or everyday life. The pieces fall roughly into two categories: depictions of objects, and actual objects incorporated into the works. The art also presents a historical record of the culture in which it was created, capturing slices of American life from precise moments in history as well.

Among the who's who in American artists included in the exhibition are: Alexander Calder, Christo, Joseph Cornell, Jasper Johns, Jeff Koons, Yayoi Kusama, Sherrie Levine, Roy Licthenstein, Claes Oldenburg, Robert Rauschenberg, James Rosenquist, Wayne Theibaud, Fred Tomaselli, and Andy Warhol.

Opening Day Presentation - Making the Everyday Extra-Ordinary
3:00 p.m.

When is a Brillo box more than just a product? Art begins with ideas and starts conversations. Join the conversation with James Housefield, AMOA Adjunct Curator/ National Endowment for the Humanities Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Humanities and Associate Professor of the History of Art, Texas State University to find out what makes art.

This exhibit runs through November 5th.

Saturday August 25

Red Bull Flutag - C3 Presents
Auditorium Shores

-Riverside Dr., between S. 1st Street to Lee Barton Drive, will be closed from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.
-The S. 1st Street Bridge will be closed 12:01 a.m. until 11:59 p.m.

Austin Farmers' Market - Sustainable Food Center
Republic Square

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.

Sunday August 26

Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival
Waterloo Park

One lane of Trinity Street, between E. 12th Street and E. 14th Street, will be closed from 7:00 a.m. until 8 :00 p.m.

Saturday, September 1
Austin Farmers' Market - Sustainable Food Center
Republic Square

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.

ESPN College Radio Game Day
Scholz Bier Garten

E. 17th Street, between San Jacinto Boulevard and Trinity Street, will be closed from 12:01 a.m. until 11:59 p.m.

Saturday, September 1 and Sunday, September 2

Bat Fest - Roadway Productions
Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge

The Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge will be closed from 6 a.m. on Saturday, September 1, until 2 a.m. on Monday, September 3.

Monday, September 3 (Labor Day)

The Austin Triathlon - Jack and Adam's Bicycles

The following roads will be closed from 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.
- Congress Avenue, between 11th and Cesar Chavez
- S. Congress Avenue, between Cesar Chavez and West Mary (One northbound lane will remain open.)
- Cesar Chavez, between Congress Avenue and Stephen F. Austin Drive

Additionally,
- Lee Barton Drive, between Riverside and Barton Springs, will be closed from 6 a.m. until noon; - Riverside Drive, between S. Congress Avenue and Lamar Boulevard, will be closed from 4 a.m. until 2 p.m.

On-Going Construction Projects

Sandra Muraida
The northbound lane of Sandra Muraida Way, which takes traffic between Lamar and Cesar Chavez, will be closed through mid-November.

- Traffic will be detoured north on San Antonio Street and west on W. 6th Street.
- Southbound traffic on Sandra Muraida Way will not be affected.

This work is related to the redevelopment of the Seaholm Power Plant and the construction of the Gables residential project on Cesar Chavez Street. Improvements include the realignment of Sandra Muraida Way and the addition of a roundabout, water and wastewater lines and a water quality biofiltration meadow.

Cesar Chavez
Last year, the Austin Clean Water Project replaced a failing wastewater line under Cesar Chavez. Crews are now connecting buildings to the new pipe.
- Part of the northernmost lane is closed in the 100 block of West Cesar Chavez, from Congress to the parking garage entrance of 100 Congress.
- The northernmost lane of East Cesar Chavez is closed from Congress to approximately the middle of the block.
- A part of the outside lane of northbound Congress Avenue is closed beginning at Cesar Chavez. The lane reopens before 2nd Street.

The work is expected to be complete and all traffic control devices removed by August 26.

Aug 16-21 Summer Classics at the Paramount
Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress
(512) 472-5470, austintheatre.org

You're in for a visual feast at this week's festival of 70MM high-definition restorations of some of
Hollywood's finest and most influential films! Go to the austintheatre.org for full details, including lots of ways to save on one of the best entertainment values in Austin.

24, 25 - Tron
25, 26 - South Pacific
28, 29 - Titanic
30, 31 - Lawrence of Arabia

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

Aug 26 Moonlight Cinema at The Belmont: Singles
8:00 p.m.
The Belmont, 305 W. 6th Street
(512) 457-0300, thebelmontaustin.com

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

Still on Stage...

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
To 9/30: Sleeping Beauty, Scottish Rite Theatre, ScottishRiteTheatre.org
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 23 Thursday Noonday Concert: The Amazing Grays
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 Amazing Grays, the Senior Choir from St. John's Methodist Church.

Aug 26 Season Finale of Concerts
in the Park
7:30 p.m.
Wooldridge Square Park, 9th & Guadalupe
(512) 476-6064, austinsymphony.org

If you have not spent a Sunday evening outdoors listening to live music in an old-fashioned family setting, then you have missed a real treat! This week is the Season Finale of the Hartman Foundation Concerts in the Park. So pack up a picnic dinner, a blanket or two, and make it a family affair as you listen to the Austin Symphony perform a variety of music. It's hugely fun, and this is your last opportunity of the summer! (Sorry, alcohol and glass containers are not permitted in the park). These delightful outdoor park concerts are the perfect opportunity for you and your family 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 23-30 Blanton Happenings
Blanton Museum of Art, Congress & MLK
(512) 232-5171, blantonmuseum.org

Thursdays are always free at the Blanton.

Aug23 Public Tour: Artwork of the Week - 12:30 p.m.
Explore one of the gems in the permanent collection, How To Build Cathedrals by Cildo Meireles.

Aug 23 Public Tour: Latin America in the Permanent Collection - 7:00 p.m.
Trace the development of 20th-century Latin American art from Joaquin Torres-Garcia to Cildo Meireles during this 50-minute tour.

Aug 25 Public Tour: Greatest Hits of the Blanton - 2:00 - 2:50 p.m.
Art from the permanent collection of the Blanton is highlighted in this 50- minute tour.

Aug 30 Public Tour: Artwork of the Week - 12:30 - 1:00 p.m.
Explore one of the gems in the permanent collection, Portrait of a Man by Nicolas de Largilliere.

Aug 24 Musical Storytime with Aunty E
11:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Austin Children's Museum, 201 Colorado
(512) 472-2499, austinkids.org

Fun musical story time with a twist. That's what Aunty E offers families. You and your kids will be enthralled with this refreshing that connects parents and children through adventurous stories woven into lively beats from across the globe. You'll be immersed in the sounds of funk, pop, bluegrass, jazz, folk, rockabilly, and more. Plan on a great time at the Austin Children's Museum!

Still on Display Downtown...

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 9/15: Broken Symmetries, Women & Their Work, womenandtheirwork.org
To 9/18: Facing East: 48 Hours in the Live of East Austin, New East Arts Gallery, diversearts.org
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 11/4: Extra-Ordinary: The Everyday Object in Art?Selections from the Whitney Museum of American Art, Austin Museum of Art, amoa.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 23 Runway to Heaven Pre-Party at Keepers
4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Keepers, 515 Congress Ave., Ste. 140
(512) 473-2512, keepersclothing.com

Come and meet the designers at Keepers before the fabulous Runway to Heaven fashion show. Join Keepers and Lucky Nahum of vluxe for this exclusive pre-party to see an enhanced inventory of selections from the vluxe fall collection. You'll enjoy Lucky's signature cocktail, the Vodka Gimlet with vodka provided by Savvy Vodka of Austin and fancy hors d'oeuvres to appease your appetite. You will also have a opportunity to meet other amazing Austin designers, Linda Asaf, Kathie Sever, Forest Bell, Nilmin Momin, and the design team of Chams & Hill. Runway to Heaven being held August 24th, is a first-of-its-kind charity fashion show benefiting the children of Heart House.

Aug 24 Runway to Heaven
Fashion Show Extraordinaire!
8:00 p.m.
Texas Etter-Harbin Alumni Center, 2110 San Jacinto
hearthouse.org

One Night, Six Designers. 100 Original Designs. Runway to Heaven is an exciting, first-of-its-kind charity fashion show in Austin featuring an impressive lineup of talented fashion designers presenting their original Holiday Collections. You'll see 100 original designs on the runway in one evening! Anthony Camargo and Nak Armstrong, as well as the Chronicle's Style Avatar, Stephen Moser, will emcee the evening being sponsored by BRILLIANT Magazine and Austin Woman Magazine among others. All proceeds will benefit the children of Heart House and allow the charity to open a second after school center in South Austin, doubling the amount of children served each year. Tickets are on sale now and are going fast. So run to hearthouse.org for more information and to get in on this fashion extraganza.

Aug 25-26 Texas Bamboo Festival
Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.; Sun. 10:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Zilker Bontanical Garden, Zilker Park, Barton Spings Rd.
bamboocentral.net

The 15th Annual Texas Bamboo Festival celebrates the wonders of bamboo! You will wander through a bamboo wonderland as you learn more about growing, landscaping with and enjoying the legendary plants. You can also take part all sorts of workshops, including how to make a bamboo kite, and listen to presentations that explore the art and spirit of gardens that feature this amazing plant. And of course you can purchase bamboo plants. Go to bamboocentral.net for complete details.

Aug 25 Red Bull Flugtag Texas '07
6:30 p.m.
Auditorium Shores, 900 West Riverside Drive
(Riverside between South 1st and Lamar Blvd)
redbullflugtagusa.com

You've never seen manned flying machines like these before -guaranteed! Red Bull Flugtag Texas will land at Auditorium Shores with the evening's first flight departing at 6:30 p.m. Gates open at 5:00 p.m. Final flight will take off about 9:15 p.m. and will be followed immediately by an awards ceremony, a jump by the Red Bull Air Force elite skydiving team and a musical performance by Jungle Rockers. The event is FREE to the public and open to all ages. For a look at pictures and videos of the zany, fascinating people and vehicles who make up this event, fly over to redbullflugtagusa.com.


Aug 26 Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival
11:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Waterloo Park, 403 E. 15th
austinchronicle.com

The Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival has become the world's largest, drawing as many as 15,000 spectators and more than 350 entries every year. Hot and spicy food lovers will consume more than 100 gallons of their favorite flavoring during this classically Austin party. Admission is FREE with a donation of three non-perishable food items for the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas. For complete event details or to find out how to volunteer or to participate in the contest, please visit austinchronicle.com.

Aug 30 APD Commander's Forum
6:00 p.m.
Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 Red River (near River St. & Rainey St.)
(512) 974-8585

You are invited to meet Commander Jung and Chief Acevedo to discuss how we all can work together to improve safety and the quality of life in the Downtown Area Command. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Lieutenant Fred Fletcher at 974-8585 or Lee Davila at 974-4711.

Ongoing Special Events

Aug 25 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 25 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.

Alliance Volunteer Opportunity

Looking for that perfect way to really get involved in Downtown? If you would like to be a part of the DAA's Holiday Tree Lighting, Sing-Along and Congress Avenue Stroll, email Alice Vargas at alicev@downtownaustin.com. This is not only fun, but you'll be glad you did!