Cityfeeds.com - Austin

Snoop D-O-double-G sold out?!

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:43:30 GMT

311 and Snoop Dogg are playing next weekend (Aug 2 & 3) at the Backyard, and I just tried to... (via This is Life in Austin)

Well, Hello, Dolly!

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:15:42 GMT

Satellite Image/The Weather Channel

Hurricane Dolly, classified as Category 2 this morning, is hitting the lower Texas coast, with the eye seemingly headed for Harlingen. Earlier this afternoon, Gov. Perry asked for a presidential disaster declaration which would aid recovery efforts after the storm is done slamming the border area.

The latest news has Dolly weakening back to category 1 status.

Paramount Summer Classics Sucker Punch You in the Anxiety Glands

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:01:40 GMT

Suspense, people! Suspense is what makes life exciting—the hollow, wrung out pit in your stomach and the stinking jitters of an overactive imagination. A world of confusion is jumbled before you, tiny mismatched puzzle pieces of tension and worry, and in order to get to the end of this, your very own choose-your-own-adventure, you must sleuth and scheme to finally turn over that missing piece. The Paramount knows how to create dramatic, palpable tension and they plan to do it with vigor tonight and Friday with their screenings of two salacious flicks that will sucker punch you in the anxiety glands with a double shot of Robert Redford. Thankfully, your banker won't slip into payment paranoia as you can get the double feature for a cool $7.

Hoffman and Redford sniffing out the story....

All the President's Men Wednesday, July 23rd @ 7PM Friday, July 25th @ 9:25PM

Seemingly obliterated by the "right here, right now" insurgence of online journalism, the idea of a traditional "scoop" is a thrilling proposal, especially when the words espionage and presidential are thrown into the mix. Based on the true story of Washington Post investigative reporters Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) and Bob Woodward (Redford), All the President's Men recounts how the dirty deeds of the White House were uncovered, and how the Watergate scandal would eventually topple the Nixon administration, and needless to say, after the Post was done with him, all of the president's men couldn't put Nixon back together again.

The film itself is quite possibly the most exciting depiction of journalism that has been or ever will be made. Redford himself actually urged Woodward and Bernstein to pen their story in book form for the express reason that he wanted to make a movie out of it, seeing the inherent nail biting possibilities of a plot centered around shadows and surveillance, the report of typewriter keys quickening the pace. Now, of course, there are glaring omissions and factual discontinuity when compared with the true story of the Watergate scandal (key players completely cut from the story and dramatic elements added for tension), but these concessions were made willingly to keep the film moving at a frantic pace. Nominated for the Oscar (but KOed by Rocky), All the President's Men is an absolute, 100% must see, if for nothing else than the glorious mugs of mid-70s Hoffman and Redford. Journalists are hawt.

Three Days of the Condor.
Wednesday, July 23rd @ 9:45PM
Friday, July 25th @ 7PM

If you can't get enough of Redford's rusty locks, never fear! Double features are what the Paramount does best and the second offering in this duo is the late, great Sydney Pollack's spy classic Three Days of the Condor.

Just imagine—it is your turn to go pick up lunch for the office and when you return, take-out in hand, every one of your co-workers is laying in a pool of their own blood, mowed down unceremoniously by an unknown assassin. Well, actually you can't imagine it accurately because you probably don't work for the Central Intelligence Agency, but nonetheless, it would be at least a little disconcerting. In one moment Joseph Turner (aka Condor, aka Redford) a "reader" for the CIA (which means that the man has knowledge out the yin-yang about every subject under the sun) becomes a hunted man looking for any port in this life-altering storm. He doesn't want to solve any mysteries, he just wants to live, which makes this cat-and-mouse flick all the more interesting as it barrels on, leaving the audience wondering if the Condor will meet the same fate as his office mates.

These are Politics: A Nearly-Full Head of Gray Hair

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:53:53 GMT

Last week we re-introduced you to one of our writers, Eric Seufert, who likes to get grammatically dubious and political under the heading These Are Politics. Starting next week, this will become a regular feature on Austinist, caressing your eyeballs every Monday from there on until the end of all politics. Opinions expressed are purely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views and outlook of the Ist network in part or whole. Enjoy! -- Columnist Editor

New York Times rejects McCain’s Iraq War Essay

The New York Times on Monday rejected an essay by presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain. The essay focused on McCain’s strategy for the Iraq war and was written as a response to an Op-Ed piece by Barack Obama published by the paper last week. The New York Times, which endorsed McCain as the Republican candidate and has published seven Op-Ed pieces by the Senator, encouraged McCain to submit another draft.

The weekend held further literary disappointment for the McCain camp: In addition to his Iraq policy essay being rejected, the Senator’s offer to write a guest advice column for Seventeen was turned down, and an article the Senator wrote for Men’s Health on maintaining 6-pack abs was returned without being opened.

Ad Campaign Portrays Obama with Gray Hair

An online advertisement being circulated by the presidential campaign of Barack Obama depicts the Senator as having a nearly-full head of gray hair. The ad, the purpose of which is ostensibly to combat Obama’s image as young and thus inexperienced, links to a video of the Senator speaking in which his hair is entirely dark.

Polls measuring the impact of the ad show that public opinion for Obama remains unchanged. Public opinion of President Tom Beck, the character played by Morgan Freeman in Deep Impact, however, plummeted drastically.

Barack Obama for President / CNN.com

McCain and Obama to appear together at Megachurch

The Reverend Rick Warren of the Saddleback Church announced on Monday that Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama will appear together at his Lake Forest, California Megachurch on August 16th.

Unaware of the news but sensing an opportunity for short-lived relevance, Sean Hannity was heard screaming the phrase “REVEREND WRIGHT” over and over again on his commute to work.*

Gore Surprises Audience at Netroots Conference

Former Vice President Al Gore made an unannounced appearance at the Netroots Nation conference in Austin on Saturday. Gore made his appearance during a presentation by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and discussed the topics of off-shore drilling, the current Presidential election, and the ongoing war in Iraq.

Many convention attendees appeared surprised to learn that Gore opposes climate change, assuming that the melting of the polar ice caps would simply give the Nobel Prize co-recipient more surface area on which to walk.

*After three repetitions, the Rev. Wright mysteriously appeared in Hannity’s passenger seat and began promoting a book. DEVELOPING…

Harvey Milk Back From the Dead

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:32:41 GMT

Image from Harvey Milk official site

Harvey Milk @ Red 7
Thursday, June 23
Red 7 (611 E. 7th St.)
tickets at the door
[info]

Ukh, sorry--couldn't resist that headline. Unfortunately, San Francisco's late city supervisor (the first openly gay politician elected to office) is gone for good, but his namesake, the Southern-metal three-piece from Athens, GA, are currently enjoying the greatest popularity of their careers. Harvey Milk have spent a lot of fallow years in between albums, touring when they feel like it and throwing firecrackers at SUVs, but this year's perfectly titled Life...The Best Game In Town arrived out of nowhere to become one of the most well-received metal albums so far this year. Bands with real Southern-rock balls are hard to find these days. Harvey Milk have been dubbed everything from "experimental metal" to "Dixieland Motorhead" (thanks, Pitchfork), but all you really need to know is that the jams sound like Led Zeppelin played through a jet-engine at half-speed. No wonder they're touring with the bassist from the Melvins. They'll be rolling through Red 7 tonight, and if you need a new shirt they have some great designs featuring E.T. and the Three Amigos. We're not kidding.

Want to go? Follow the jump for a chance to win tickets.

Harvey Milk MySpace
Official site

(this entry has been removed)

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:22:28 GMT

News Bits

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:30:02 GMT

Film Preview: Cult Director Monte Hellman Brings Three Classics To The Alamo Ritz

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:30:22 GMT

Image via JamesTaylorWeb.com.

Monte Hellman Live: The Shooting, Two Lane Blacktop, and Better Watch Out!
Wednesday, July 23
Alamo Drafthouse Downtown (320 E 6th Street)
$16 for triple feature, $10 per film
[info] | [tickets]

When one thinks of B-movie icon Roger Corman's disciples, big names spring to mind: Coppola and Scorsese come first, followed by genre directors like Jack Hill. One name that's not so immediate is Monte Hellman, but for cinéastes, it's nearly as important. Hellman's films are often concerned with obsession, ambiguity, and genre in a manner that manages to be simultaneously intriguing, fairly abstract and avant-garde.

Tonight, the Alamo Ritz welcomes the 76-year-old Hellman for a triple feature celebration of his work in three very different genres. The first film, 1967's The Shooting, features a young Jack Nicholson alongside cult favorite Warren Oates in a film that never gives the viewer much exposition but slowly draws one into an intense manhunt that's clouded by mystery and morality.

The middle feature, Two Lane Blacktop, is often called Hellman's best work. A car movie starring a young James Taylor and Beach Boy Dennis Wilson, the film follows two racers as they idly move from town to town challenging others to races for cash. The pair find their match in a character again played by Warren Oates, and the film transforms into an atmosphere the Time Out Film Guide deems "self-enclosed, self-absorbed, and self-destructive...it's absolutely riveting." Those who only know Wilson from this film (or who discover him here) would be well served to pick up the recent remaster of his classic Pacific Ocean Blue, another reminder that he was much more than a friend to Charles Manson and the token "hard-partying" Beach Boy.

After two gems, the triple feature gets a little wonky to fit with the Alamo's long-running "Weird Wednesdays" series. Hellman's last 70's work was the slasher flick Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out!, and the direct-to-video sequel will get a midnight movie airing here to round out the night. Having never seen this film, we can't tell you what to expect, but the Alamo promises a "particularly pathological foray into Santanic savagery starring terror icon Bill Moseley." So let that sentence be your guide.

As always, we remain awed by Tim League's ability to grab everyone from Hellman to Tarantino to Seth Rogen to Chuck Norris for these special one-off screenings, and can't encourage you enough to support and attend these unique events. So go and tune up your GTO for tonight.

(this entry has been removed)

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:00:20 GMT

YouTubeTexas: Here's the Bush Video They Didn't Want You To See

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 03:13:53 GMT

Houston reporter Miya Shay managed to get her hands on the video above, which captures the President in a rare candid moment that was meant to be off-camera. During a political fundraiser for Congressional candidate Pete Olson in Houston last Friday, President Bush admits that the economy is clearly in the pits.

"There is no question about it. Wall Street got drunk," he says. "That's one reason I asked you to turn off your TV cameras."

"The question is, How long will it (take to) sober up and not try to do all these fancy financial instruments?"

Bush later goes on to hint that the family might relocate to Dallas instead of Crawford after his term is up, which, as of this posting, is approximately 181 days, 14 hours, 36 minutes, and 57 seconds away. More or less.

The full, rambling transcript appears after the jump.

It is uncertain, there’s no question about it.
Wall Street got drunk, it got drunk, (it’s one of the reasons I asked you to turn off your tv cameras.) It got drunk and now it’s got a hangover. The question is how long will it sober up, and not try to do all these fancy financial instruments.

And now we got a housing issue, not in Houston, and evidently, not in Dallas, because Laura was over there trying to buy a house today.

I like Crawford, unfortunately after eight years of asking her to sacrifice, I’m now no longer the decision maker. She’ll be deciding, thanks for the suggestion! I suggest you don’t yell it out when she’s here. Later, telling her “Hey honey, we’ve been on government pay now for 14 years... so go slow!"

It’s uh.. caused me to lose my train of thought. Anyway.

Rick Noriega on KVRX

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:32:17 GMT

91.7FM KVRX Wed 930PM interview w/ Noriega (Cornyn's challenger) (via Tons of Fun)

Happiness and Fairy Castles

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:06:32 GMT

Elena, the owner of Happiness on South 1st, warned me, â€œOnce you get your first succulent, youâ€™ll be an addict.â€ (via Blogstin Blogllery)

Statesman Recognizes Error of Front Page Story

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:22:10 GMT

Yesterday I wrote about the Statesman's disastrous front-page story, mocking Netroots Nation attendees and "joking" that Speaker Pelosi might as... (via Burnt Orange Report)

Austinist Show Preview: Nomo at Emo's with Loxsly

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:58:05 GMT

Image from MySpace

Nomo at Emo’s w/Loxsly
Tuesday, July 22
Emos (603 Red River St)
Lounge, 10 pm, $8
[info] | [tickets]

Put the number of a good chiropractor on speed dial, 'cause you're going to need it after tonight's Nomo show at Emo's. (Say that five times fast.) The Detroit-based groove machine builds futuristic afro-beats on a solid base of jazz and funk. Ghost Rock, the nine-person hip-swiveling collective's latest album, scored a sweetpants 8.3 from Pitchfork, and they'll likely be playing cuts from the record this afternoon at Waterloo during their 5:00 p.m. in-store.

Can't make it to Waterloo? Don't feel bad. Nomo's signature soul style is best enjoyed late into the night, and you'd be a fool to miss Austin's own Loxsly opening the Emo's show. Their thick, guitar-laden sleep-rock is ideal for groovers who need to get properly warmed up before cutting any rugs. It's an ideal combo for a hot Texas night down on Red River. Nomo? Oh yes!

[Nomo on MySpace]
[Loxsly on MySpace]

"Beach-Gate" Conclusion: Zipp Responds with Editor's Note

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:17:49 GMT

Prompted by yesterday's widespread condemnation of the Netroots article that appeared in Sunday's edition of the Statesman, editor Fred Zipp published a short note in today's paper admitting that they had "failed" in their attempts to amuse. "Readers expect front-page stories to speak directly and clearly about events and issues," wrote Zipp. "Eliminating the possibility of misunderstanding from our work is a critical part of our daily newsroom routine ... In trying for a humorous take on the Netroots phenomenon without labeling it something other than a straightforward news story, we compromised our standards." The article in question, by feature writer Patrick Beach, was later reposted to the Statesman's website, sans original comments. [Editor's note]

Dolly Heads to US-Mexico Border

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:49:59 GMT

Satellite Image/The Weather Channel

With maximum sustained winds around 70 mph and growing, Tropical Storm Dolly is on a direct path towards the southern tip of the Texas Gulf Coast, and expected to make landfall by tomorrow. The hardest hit region will likely be Brownsville, near South Padre Island.

Cities along the coast now have tropical storm warnings in effect, and the Texas National Guard has been mobilized to assist with emergency efforts. Evacuation orders most likely will not be issued, unless the storm develops sustained winds of at least 111 mph. Most flights in and out of the Southern Gulf Coast and parts of Mexico will likely be delayed or canceled through Friday.

Tim Ballisty, Lead Meteorologist for The Weather Channel, believes that conditions may worsen before the storm arrives. Locally, the forecast indicates isolated thunderstorms through Thursday.

You can track Dolly yourself with this handy map.

Forget the Shoestrings, Willco Dems' HQ Can't Even Afford Toilet Paper

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:35:48 GMT

meme!/flickr

The Democratic Party hasn't been a strong contender in Williamson County since, well, the Gipper took office, but it's nevertheless staging a valiant effort this election year.

The new campaign headquarters for Willco's Democratic candidates opened this past weekend to some fanfare, despite being largely overshadowed by the convention of marauding liberals in downtown Austin. They're now up and running, and could use your donations and/or volunteer time.

The list of things needed (some of which will be returned after the election, promise):

* Volunteers * Paper Products (towels, tp, napkins, etc) * Non-Dairy Coffee Creamer * Coffee * Full-Size Refrigerator (to be returned after the election) * Laptops Computers (to be returned after the election) * General Office Supplies (post-its, pens, staples, etc) * Recycled Printer Paper * Recycled #10 Envelopes * Trash Bags * Trash Cans (to be returned after the election) * Cleaning Supplies (window cleaner, bathroom cleaner, etc) * Cleaning Towels * Older Campaign Signs for Decoration

Moonshine

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:10:48 GMT

Since all I want to do is eat some solid food (Day 9 of the Cleanse), Iâ€™m going to go... (via This is Life in Austin)

Foodoir Photography: Fried Pickles at Hole in the Wall

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:01:19 GMT

Photo by Laura at dininginaustinblog

Hungry to share your most provocative Austin food photos? Send them here. Make sure to include your name, where the photo was taken and a complete description of the food.

The Always Already, Til We're Blue or Destroy + More at Club Deville this Friday

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:11:13 GMT

PartyEnds.com is hosting a night of talented local indie bands at Club Deville this Friday. Featuring The Always Already, Black... (via Austin Soundcheck)

Album Review | Dead Earth Politics "Mark The Resistance" EP

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:11:13 GMT

Iâ€™ve said it before and Iâ€™ll say it again. Austinâ€™s local metal scene is under appreciated. However, bands like Dead... (via Austin Soundcheck)

Austinist Show Preview: Flosstradamus @ The Mohawk tonight!

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:34:19 GMT

Image from Transmission Entertainment’s website

Flosstradamus, Markus with a K, & Abominatron
Tuesday, July 22
The Mohawk (912 Red River)
$10 Advance / $12 at the Door | 7 p.m. | Outside
[info] | [tickets]

Chicago’s Flosstradamus is comprised of Josh Young (a.k.a J2K) and Curt Cameruci (a.k.a Autobot), and the duo brings its exhilarating blend of beats to The Mohawk tonight. Already veterans of many a festival such as Coachella, Pitchfork Music Festival, and yes, SXSW, Flosstradamus toured with Canadian retro-synth connoisseurs Chromeo in 2007. A healthy dose of hip hop and house music mashed up with rock and trance can be expected to power the dance party tonight.

Some other shows in town to get you through till Friday include The Bubbles (Read our album review here.) tomorrow night, also at The Mohawk, with Low Line Caller headlining. Frank Smith at the Hole in the Wall is an option close to UT Campus the same evening.

On Thursday, the Continental Club is home to pop nuggets from Grand Champeen and thunderous rock courtesy of Rockland Eagles, while Future Clouds and Radar at Stubb’s (Inside) is another choice show worth attending.

But this evening, dance away to Flosstradamus’ captivating concoctions; local DJs Markus with a K and Abominatron get things rolling.

[Flosstradamus MySpace]
[Markus with a K MySpace]
[Abominatron MySpace]

News Bits: Little Dieter Disappoints Us

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:12:09 GMT

The Steps at Mohawk: 7-21-08

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:09:03 GMT

The Steps played Mohawk with Republic Tigers and Calhoun... Sounds Like Austin .com took pictures... (via Sounds Like Austin)

When "Green" Equals Annoying

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:55:50 GMT

Office Depot at 2620 W. Anderson has what seems to be a rather annoying way to be environmentally friendly. (via Snowed In)

Rare 35mm Screening of Castellari's Inglorious Bastards

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 23:20:35 GMT

Image from Alamo website

Inglorious Bastards
Tuesday, July 22
Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar (1120 S. Lamar)
10:45pm, Free
[info]

After an eternity of speculation and rumor, Quentin Tarantino's remake of Enzo Castellari's 1978 WWII flick Inglorious Bastards is finally moving forward. A final draft of the script recently popped up online, and just last month AICN reported that production is definitely going ahead, and that the finished version might very well be split into two separate flicks.

This Tuesday, the folks at the Alamo Drafthouse are hosting an extremely rare 35mm screening of Castellari's original version, which, by all accounts, is utterly badass (Fred Williamson is in it... isn't that enough for you?). The screening is FREE, and although RSVP priority was given to Fantastic Fest badgeholders, there will be some tickets available at the door. Come one, come all.

Bastards follows a group of American soldiers who are in the process of being sent to military prison for various crimes when their convoy is attacked by Germans. The gang escapes toward Switzerland in order to avoid jail time, but things don't go exactly as planned, and the hard-nosed cons become involved in a plot to steal a warhead for the French Underground.

Friday Night Lights' Austin Homecoming Set for August

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 23:18:04 GMT

NBC

The cast and crew of television football drama Friday Night Lights will kick off production in Austin once again on August 6

The critically acclaimed show, set in the fictional football-lovin’ small town of Dillon, Texas, has struggled in the ratings game, but like any good underdog it retains a fervent fan base.

The last two seasons of FNL, filmed in Austin, have included cameos of local hangouts and landmarks such as the Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar, Trophy's, Cheapo Discs, and the Broken Spoke. Expect to see more of Austin when season three begins airing on NBC next February.

Can't wait to catch quarterback cutie Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford), Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler), and the gang? A new deal struck between the network and DirectTV will give FNL super-fans a sneak peak at season three with episodes airing October 1. And you might be able to spot some the FNL cast (like Taylor Kitch, Minka Kelly and Jesse Plemons) in person, as they usually hit the Austin hotspots around South Congress.

Statesman News Article Makes Ill-Planned Attempt at Humor, Incites Internet Backlash

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 23:07:19 GMT

Former Vice President Al Gore's surprise appearance at this weekend's Netroots Nation convention in Austin was greeted with general enthusiasm by the thousands of progressive bloggers and mainstream journalists in attendance—save for the Austin American-Statesman's feature writer, Patrick Beach.

Beach's front page recap took on a decidedly sarcastic tone, poking fun at both the "name-dropping" guest speaker and the "marauding liberals" in attendance. The article later offered these classic tidbits, which Daily Kos was able to capture before the original article mysteriously vanished into the ether:

So when the former vice president and Nobel Prize co-winner made a surprise — and cleverly scripted — appearance during U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's talk, it looked like the conference might turn into a faint-in.

Talk that Pelosi (who is arguably so left-leaning that her parenthetical should be D-Beijing) would have a Very Special Guest...

From the beginning, it was clear these people were convinced the electoral map would be repainted with a brush sopping with blue paint come November... The believers will tell you it's morning, that they smell the napalm. And it smells like, oh, yes, victory.

Not surprisingly, the story quickly made its way 'round the internets, with bloggers near and far denouncing the story. Austin's Burnt Orange Report was so incensed that it's since vowed to never link to a Statesman article again, while Kos suggests that Austinites ought to "demand better from their newspaper."

In individual responses to curious readers, Beach admitted that the article had "attempted humor."

What do you think, Austin? Should we in fact "demand better" from our newspaper, or did the "marauding liberals" take things too seriously?

A Little Light Reading about Freemasonry

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 23:04:17 GMT

Got all the books together that I’ve bought over the past few weeks… It should take me at least a week to get through everything, you think? Recommendations for any other titles are greatly appreciated. I finally sent emails off to three Lodges here in Houston today asking for more information. I look forward to [...]

YouTubeAustin: Al Gore, Nancy Pelosi at Netroots Nation

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:41:30 GMT

Aaron Moved to Mueller, PT 6

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:47:25 GMT

This is the thirtieth-third in a series of columns about the travels of Aaron and his family in his quest... (via Aaron is moving to Mueller)

Biking in the Car Lane!

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:06:58 GMT

Today is monumental. Today I biked in the car lane. I took my momâ€™s loaner hybrid (a red Gary Fisher... (via This is Life in Austin)