Is the Alamo Drafthouse the coolest or what?

If you haven't heard the latest cool move pulled by the Alamo, sit down and prepare to be impressed.  The Alamo had listed a free screening of Star Trek II The Wrath of Khan and they had a full house awaiting this Sci-fi gem from over 20 years ago!  I still think it was the best of all the Star Trek movies with the original cast... Before the movie starts, the writers of the new Star Trek movie get announced and they make a short speech, then the movie begins.  Or does it!?

Before it can get going the projector appears to jam and everything looks like it is over.  So the house lights come on and then... Mr. Spock, aka Leonard Nimoy appears to give the audience a lil pep talk!!  Then the Alamo did show the new Star Trek movie...a whole month before it is to be released!  Not only did the Alamo have the world premiere of this hotly anticipated movie, but they did it in such a cool way.  True Star Trek fans who packed the house to see an old Star Trek movie deserved to be there and to have the Mr. Spock cherry on top...nice!  Way to go Mr. League...the Alamo does it again!  "Live Long and Prosper!"

For more info check out this link from the Chronicle:

http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Blogs/Screens     

What's so Cool about Austin?

People always ask me why I am always raving about living in Austin, Texas and I always try to describe all the options of cool, fun things to do!  This weekend is a spectacular case of "fun in the sun" because Spring has definitely arrived in the ATX! 

(also keep in mind that if you like sports...the Texas Relays are going on at UT!)

 

So, today here are a few options for Friday April 3rd, 2009:

T-Bird and the Breaks at the City Hall Plaza, free at noon;

Alvin Crow at Broken Spoke; Carrie Rodriguez at the Cactus Cafe;

Robyn Hitchcock at Antones; Los Bad Apples at Jovita's; Lil'Cap'n Travis at Continental Club; 

Guy Forsyth at Nutty Brown; Vallejo at Threadgill's; AJ Castillo, Joe Bravo, The Tortila Factory at H&H Ballroom; Blaze at Lamberts; Yonder Mountain String Band at Stubb's...oh and do not forget the Southern Sirens at Aces Lounge!!

Saturday April 4th, 2009:

WAR at the Louisiana Swamp Thing all day at MLK & Congress; 40 Acres Fest at UT; Boyz II Men, Cameo and more at the Urban Music Fest at Auditorium Shores; Gary Clark Jr. at Antones; Redd Volkaert free at three at the Continental Club, then at night go back for the Derailers; Mama Sweet at Momo's; WC Clark at the Saxon Pub; Slightly Stoopid at Stubb's; and for some sports action...Lightweight Lightning Boxing at the Erwin Center!!

Sunday April 5th, 2009:

THE BOSS...aka Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band at the Erwin Center!!!

The Riverboat Gamblers, The Black & White Years and Red Jumpsuit Apparatus at The Grind at MLK & Congress;  Heybale and Jon Dee Graham at the Continental Club; James Speer at the Elephant Room; Jerry Jeff Walker at the Gruene Hall; Ephraim Owens & Brannene Temple at Lambert's; Mariachi Relampago at Nuevo Leon; The Way It Is Fest at RED7; DJ Kurupt at Red Fez; The Resentments at the Saxon Pub; and of course...my favorite Sunday afternoon free show...Chicken Shit Bingo with Dale Watson at Ginny's Little Longhorn Saloon!!

Some of these events are free, and some might have a cover, so please doublecheck before you leave your house!!

Have Fun!!!

-A.D. in the A-TX!! 

Hapy Bday!

to the Nomad bar!  1 year old and tomorrow Saturday 3/7/09 you might wanna stop by and wish 'em a Happy B-day!  I was just there the other day for the RISE happy hour and Mr. Nomad himself, Miguel, told me about their 1 year anniversary party on Saturday afternoon.  They'll grill up some burgers and have some drink specials to get you ready to get on the mic with the Karaoke Underground!  Very low-key, but cool none the less.  That's what I like about the Nomad bar.  It's hidden, off the beaten path, but very cool indeed.   The bar is located on Cameron road, behind Capital Plaza, so it is shielded from I-35, but also out of sight, so you have to look for it. If you know where the Carousel Lounge is, then I bet you can find the Nomad...it is 2 blocks away, around the corner.  It is an oasis in the middle of neighborhoods and shopping centers in central Austin.  If you live near the old airport area, near 51st street/Cameron area, then you need to check it out and maybe make it your new neighborhood joint! It is a very laid back atmosphere with a nice patio area, so stake your claim to a good shady table when the weather is awesome...like this week has been!  It did win the Austin Chronicle Awards "BEST NEIGHBORHOOD DIVE BAR" for a reason...so check out this little gem asap, maybe we'll see you there this Saturday evening!!?

Check out :  http://www.nomadbar.com/home.html   for more info!

Keep Austin Fun!

So many choices on fun things to do in Austin!  Gotta love it!!

I have some out of town friends that have asked me for some suggestions to some "secrets" that a visitor to our great city might not know about.  So over the next few weeks I will continue to add to the list of cool Austin dives,  hole-in-the-walls and other places off the beaten path.

Since people start arriving in Austin this week, for PubCon www.pubcon.com/austin2009.htm and SXSW www.sxsw.com I thought I would list some cool stuff to check out this weekend!

On Friday, get down to 6th street early.  Nakia & His Southern Cousins will put on a helluva show at Aces Lounge  www.acesaustin.com  and then, Austin's version of the "Pussycat Dolls" will blow you away!  They are called the "Southern Sirens" burlesque troupe and I still think they are Austin's best kept secret.  The girls are hot...but tough and cool!  It's only a matter of time before everyone is rushing down there to check 'em out, so beat the crowds and see for yourself! The girls are on stage at 11pm and 1am and I think they do it on Saturday night too!!

On Saturday - IT'S MY PARK DAY! Get in on this day of park appreciation by joining a cleanup project. Go online for a list of cleanup efforts all over this once filthy city. Volunteers receive a T-shirt and complimentary snacks and drinks. Sat., March 7, 9am-1pm. 477-1566. www.austinparks.org 

Then at night there is a cool benefit happening at the Scoot Inn with the Flametrick Subs, Honky and many more... Check out  www.eastinns.com   for more info!

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!!!

Get thee to the chicken shittery!!  Sounds weird I know, but every Sunday Ginny's Little Longhorn Saloon has Chicken Shit Bingo going down!  It is a packed party as people buy squares and wait for the magic - of a chicken pooping on your lucky square...Bingo!!

Then if that is not cool enough for you... Dale Watson is knockin' the honky tonk rock outta the park!! His band is amazing and I bet you will find yourself trying to find some space to dance.For more info on him, check out his website: www.dalewatson.com

It is so cool there at Ginny's, that it will get packed, but luckily it is a daytime party.  So get there by 3pm or so to get a good spot! Check out www.ginnyslittlelonghorn.com  for more info!  It is the "honkiest, tonkiest beer joint in town!"