DT Weekend 4-29-10 by The Daily Texan

dt Weekend April 29, 2010

The

classy

Issue

TABLE OF CONTENTS

editor’s note

8 Photo by Eric Ou

music 4

Skilled pianist offers new electro tracks by MICHELE PIERINI

Dr. Dog’s unique blends gain fame by MARK LOPEZ

In search of Austin’s smoothest jazz by JOE HOLLOWAY

Something pretty unbelievable happened yesterday. Jessica and I were holding down the Life and Arts office in The Daily Texan dungeon when in walks the always stylish Texan adviser, Doug Warren, looking distressed. He said he received an e-mail from a New York tabloid desperate for a stringer (freelance journalist) to go down to the courthouse, apprehend the highly anticipated Sandra Bullock divorce papers and fax them to the LA office. There’s 100 bucks in it, he said. I felt a little dirty accepting such a sum to help further publicize this woman’s already exposed life. Celebrity gossip is one of those cheap forms of entertainment I try to steer clear of, but I reasoned that this is public record, and everyone knows this woman’s business already, so I might as well make this cool cash. Five minutes later, we’re parking at the courthouse. They’ve also offered to cover our expenses, so we fed the meter $2, just to be safe. The next part of the process was the most shocking. With the case number and $3, you too can have a copy of her petition for divorce, or anyone else’s. Papers safely in hand (completely void of juicy details) I called the woman in LA She asked me to read to her the one sentence in section seven of the document. Faxes sent, the task took us 20 solid minutes. Jessica and I went about the rest of the day in complete disbelief. $100 for Sandy B’s boring sixpage divorce papers. No wonder the paparazzi are so ruthless. Tabloids are not classy. DT Weekend is. Love,

food & drink 8

Wine & Dine column by BRENNAN LAWLER Austin’s spin on the classic tea party by TORI DAUGHTREY

Rage on Minimum Wage column by HAN PARK & MARLA SEGURA

editor associate editor art director cover artist photo editor copy editor writers

characters

12 Photo by Danielle Villasana

11 Fashion guru keeps it classy by MELANIE GASMEN

arts 12 Dreams brought to life through ballet by JESSICA BILLEAUD

photographers

Rachel Meador Jessica Billeaud Shatha Hussein Giulio Yaquinto Lauren Gerson Nausheen Jivani Jessica Billeaud Tori Daughtrey Melanie Gasmen Joe Holloway Brennan Lawler Mark Lopez Han Park Michele Pierini Marla Segura Chris Kosho Rene Huynh Eric Ou Danielle Villasana

OUT&ABOUT

This Week’s Recommendations By Rachel Meador and Jessica Billeaud

American Whiskey Festival Thursday, 7 p.m. Opal Divine’s on South Congress Avenue Tickets: $30

Feel fancy and free at the Whiskey Festival, sampling the finest American bourbon, Tennessee and Canadian Rye Whiskies alongside experts who can help to validate or correct your musings on the subtle qualities of everyone’s favorite dark liquor. They will also provide hors d’oeuvres to satisfy your drunchies (drunk munchies).

Bluetech Presents: Satori Social Emancipator Thursday, 9 p.m. Republic Live Tickets: $18

Bringing you up and taking you down should prove to be the vibe of tonight’s show, which fuses heavy and mellow elements of electronic genres. Opening acts Abboriginal and G.King provide heavy mashups of dubstep and IDM to get you moving. Down-tempo, “trip-hop” beatmaker Emancipator will mellow you out, offering a unique trans-like mood and fellow Oregon-natives close out the night to enhance the ethereal feel — classically trained pianist Evan Bluetech showcases his new live band, Satori Social, offering a fresh sound of soul-infused electronic music. Satori Social excels at combining elements of dub, lo-fi, soul, funk and electronic music, and the show’s promoters promise an intense light show to enhance the entire musical experience.

Romulus Ate

Thursday and Friday, 8 p.m., Saturday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. UT’s Lab Theatre Tickets: Free Romulus Ate is an original

piece of performance art that incorporates original live music, new choreography, lighting designs and extreme costumes all crafted by UT students into a 45-minute stage spectacle. The show electrifies the audience on a conquest of the senses in this music, light, and dance spectacular. The 11-person ensemble, transformed via costume and makeup to represent a strange breed of space people, is a blend of dancers, musicians, and technicians who transform the stage into a performance universe, from which every element of the piece is controlled and executed.

Orange and White Ball Saturday, 9 p.m. Texas Union Ballroom Tickets: $30

This weekend you have an opportunity to relive or reinvent that pivotal life event called prom. The UT Co-opsponsored ball is an annual University tradition dating back to the 1920s as a way to unite students and create lasting memories. Chances to get all dressed up are few and far between, plus now that you’re grown, you can booze freely at this school function. There will be a cash bar, so make sure to bring your ID and most importantly, your groove thing.

Third Annual Texas Cannabis Crusade

Saturday, 10 a.m. Texas Capitol, Wooldridge Square Park The Texas NORML folks always put on these educational and entertaining events. The crusade/protest/party has outgrown the Zilker Pecan Grove after three years and is relocating the day of live music and “positive vibes” to Wooldridge Square Park, which conveniently lies in the Capitol’s shadow.

ROCK OUT A AS YOU ROLL OUT THE WEEKEND

CAPITAL METRO CUSTOMER APPRECIATION CONCERT FREE! — F R I D A Y, A P R I L 3 0 — B RUSH S Q UA RE AT D OWN TOWN STAT I O N | 401 E. 4T H ST. 3:4 5 P. M . CI EN FU EG OS | 5:30 P. M . W.C. CL A RK R I D E TO T H E CO N CERT FO R FREE V I A R A I L CO N N ECTO R B US RO U T ES 4 6 0, 4 61 A N D 4 62 SERV I N G T H E D OW N TOWN STAT I O N.

S AT U R D AY M E T R O R A I L S E R V I C E — S A T U R D A Y, M A Y 1 — R I D E T H E T R A I N O N SAT U RDAY, M AY 1, FO R T H IS O N E-T I M E SPECI A L S ERV I CE. M E T RO R A I L T R A I N S WI L L RU N H O U RLY FRO M 11:0 0 A . M . U N T I L 11:30 P. M . REG U L A R FA RES A PPLY. R A I L CO N N ECTO R B US RO U T ES W I L L N OT B E I N S ERV I CE.

GE T MORE INFOR M AT ION AT C A PME T RO.ORG/ ROCK&R A IL

MUSIC

PLEASE RECYCLE YOUR COPY OF DT WEEKEND

Need to have your wisdom teeth removed? Don’t do it yourself. We have a better option. Right now, PPD is looking for men and women for a post-surgical pain relief research study. The surgery is performed by a board-certified oral surgeon, and managed through Austin Oral Surgery Associates by James R. Fricke, Jr. DDS, MSD. Financial compensation is provided upon study completion and the surgery is performed at no cost. For information, call

Photo courtesy of Dosh Pianist and electronic genius Dosh is touring in support of his newest album Tommy, which features interesting collaborations with artists such as Andrew Bird and Mike Lewis.

Skilled pianist offers new electro tracks

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By Michele Pierini Classy is not an adjective usually applied to toddlers. However in the case of 3-year-old Martin Dosh, it was the only word to describe his precocious infatuation with learning how to play the piano. Luckily for us, he finally got those lessons, becoming the multi-faceted artist we now know simply as Dosh. This year, will release his fifth studio album called Tommy. It sounds like typical Dosh: lots of sampler and loop action paired with drums and keys. He said that this album was different because it took much longer to put together. Dosh began thinking about arrangements of music for Tommy before he had finished his last two records. “The initial sparks took me five years to figure out what could make them sound cool,” Dosh said. Once the formulation of the album’s concept was done, he spent most of 2009 recording it. The material was enriched by several contributors, including Andrew Bird, Ryan Francesconi, Mike Lewis, and

Jeremy Ylvisaker. “Different collaborators color it differently, there’s more stuff going on,” Dosh said. “It’s more soupy, thicker.” Lewis is considered an official member of Dosh as he has been a part of the live band since 2006 and has had a significant role in the recording process. While Ylvisaker contributes to Tommy, he only plays live when the band has shows in Minneapolis. In 2005, Dosh toured with Bird after being introduced to each other through some mutual friends. Dosh and Bird bonded over their shared heavy use of loops. Bird is famous for his experimental violin playing. Dosh enjoys playing with Bird although looping live music can “end up a train wreck.” “We relate to each other musically with our own selfcontained music universes,” Dosh said. “Andrew’s not afraid of taking risks in front of 2,000 people.” At the age of 25, Dosh was forced to move back in with his parents. A couple years before that he started experi-

what: DOSH where: EMO’S (INSIDE) when: FRIDAY, 9 P.M. tickets: $12

menting with home recording after one of his roommates sold him a four-track. In his parents’ basement, Dosh set up a makeshift studio where he taught himself the basics. He would record the drum track first and then go back and record the piano and keyboard separately. “I’d look for the best tidy little drum break and just loop it,” Dosh said. “I would dissect stuff I’d painstakingly worked on.” These days, Dosh records his own material professionally under the moniker Dosh Family Recordings. This outlet gave him the opportunity to produce albums quicker and more control over the release, instead of waiting for an indeterminate amount of time. “It’s a lot of work,” Dosh said. “But when I retire from doing so many shows, I’d like to help someone else put out their own stuff.”

MUSIC

Dr. Dog’s unique blends gain fame By Mark Lopez What do you get when you mix an upbeat vibe, psychedelic tendencies and some good old-fashioned harmonies? You get Dr. Dog. Dr. Dog, a band from Philadelphia, which formed in 2001, has been making its way into the music mainstream over the course of nine years. The band has toured with The Raconteurs, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, The Strokes, The Black Keys and Delta Spirit. Dr. Dog, which is heavily influenced by ’60s psychedelic rock, has garnered comparisons to The Beatles, The Beach Boys and The Band. That can’t be too bad. “We play rock ’n’ roll music. It really is just that,” singer and guitarist Scott McMicken said. “We don’t really pull out any other tricks. It’s straightahead rock.” The band’s album, We All Belong, which was released in 2007, is the album that placed them on the map, considering all the work and press that went along with its release, such as a headlining tour and several performances on network television. They performed on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Late Show with David Letter-

Photo courtesy of Dr. Dog Dr. Dog travels to Austin on Saturday for the band’s sold-out performance, featuring the captivating harmonies and feel-good sound its known for.

man and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. “It was really nerve-racking, and it’s on national television, so there’s already that bubble around it,” McMicken said. “For television, you want it to be great. All the energy of a single set gets crammed into one song, and you want it to be super ... faster, harder.” It’s also not hard to note the fact that one of the main influences of the band are The Kinks, in which the band definitely plays on the whimsical aesthetic that made The Kinks such an influential band in its heyday.

Dr. Dog has almost too many influences to name; however, McMicken was able to name a few that probably would not come to the forefront of someone’s mind while giving one of their records a listen. “What you might not hear is Tom Waits, Television, R. Stevie Moore, Motown and soul stuff,” McMicken said. “Or even new music, some of my favorite bands are M. Ward, Cold War Kids, Elvis Perkins and lots and lots of new songwriters and cool bands.” But what makes Dr. Dog a good band to see is the fact

that the bandmates tend to play with many inspirations and instruments to convey their sound. Depending on which album you decide to listen to, you can find rhythmic guitars, excellent percussion and some good old trombone and cello to sing you to sleep at night. The band is currently on tour to promote its newest endeavor, titled Shame, Shame, which was released on April 6. Concerning how the album differed from its previous releases, McMicken said, “We focused less on experimentation and more on playing the songs good and playing them together. It’s liver, louder.” This also isn’t the first time the band has graced the Austin scene with its traveling shows. They’ve played South by Southwest several times.

FREE PARKING IN THE DOBIE GARAGE All Shows $6.00 With College I.D. www.landmarktheatres.com

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Fri: (5:00) 7:30, 9:40 Sat–Sun: (2:30, 5:00) 7:30, 9:40 Mon–Thur: 7:30, 9:40 “Intense and intriguing!”

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Fri: (4:40) 7:15, 10:00 Sat–Sun: (2:15, 4:40) 7:15, 10:00 Mon–Wed: 7:15, 10:00; Thur: 7:15 SHOWTIMES VALID FRI, APR. 30 – THUR, MAY 6 Bargain Showtimes in ( )

what: DR. DOG where: EMO’S (OUTSIDE) when: SATURDAY tickets: SOLD OUT

If what you like is an old sound with a new twist, then Dr. Dog may be that band that satisfies that inkling.

MUSIC

In search of Austin’s smoothest jazz The Elephant Room has been an Austin staple for nearly 20 years, offering jazz music in a cozy, retro basement bar.

Photo by Danielle Villasana

beyond what I had expected. I was overwhelmed with class. A 20-piece jazz band played on a small stage in the back of the room, a piece of parchment on the table espoused a wide variety of intoxicating beverages one could request and golden idols to the elephant himself crested walls lined with paper money. I like the elephant’s style. I took a seat at one of the tables, and it wasn’t long before my companion and I were approached by a waitress who told me her name is Kelly. In-

trigued by my surroundings, I struck up a conversation. By now, I notice that several members of the 20-piece band have taken a seat, and people from the audience seemed to be replacing them at the request of a man who called himself Michael Mordecai. “Monday’s are Michael Mordecai’s Jazz Jam,” Kelly told me. “It’s like open-mic night. All the jazz musicians in Austin always come out.” No sooner did she tell me this than I decided the quest for the elephant could wait. I

would simply sit back, enjoy the music, the company and order a few of those famed beverages. I was, however, still curious about the room itself and this jam it was home to. “Well, the Elephant Room has been here for 19 years,” Kelly said. “The Jazz Jam’s been going on for 30 years though. It just migrated over.” I determined that the golden elephant heads served mostly as decoration, but that didn’t explain the dollar bills stapled to the walls below them. “A lot of them are signed by

iILLUSTRATION BY Joe Holloway and Curt Darden

By Joe Holloway It was late in the night when I traveled deep into Austin’s concrete jungle in search of that classiest of creatures, the Elephant Room elephant. The sun had long ago dipped behind the distant horizon and even the mixed yellows and red of the Texas sunset had disappeared. It was dark. Would I be able to find the elusive pachyderm? I had heard tale of his unparalleled class, his sophistication. He was said to wear a purple tuxedo, play a mean saxophone, and a martini glass was never far from his hand. Enchanted, I rounded up my sidekick, a friend my mine named Sarah, and set out to travel the many miles to the elephant’s rumored habitat. The trip was made fleeting, however, by the ease with which my four-wheeled steed covered vast expanses of paved flat ground. When at last I came close to the elephant’s supposed domain, the intersection of Third Street and Congress Avenue, I had to leave my steed behind. The rest of my search would be better conducted on foot. It didn’t take long before I saw it, a sign that read “The Elephant Room,” beneath which lay the entrance to a cave of sorts. Surely this would lead me to the elusive creature. We entered the cave. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the lighting of the cavern, the only light emanating from small torches on tables. When my sight adjusted, what I saw was far

what: ELEPHANT ROOM where: 315 CONGRESS AVE. when: MONDAY - FRIDAY, 4 P.M. - 2 A.M., SATURDAY - SUNDAY 8 P.M. - 2 A.M.

the musicians,” Kelly told me. “Sometimes, I wonder if the bartenders get desperate if they snatch them down.” There would be plenty to choose from, but I still wondered what could have started such a practice. “It’s an old New Orleans tradition that if you write your name on a dollar and you’re down on your luck, you can come back and get it to use towards a drink,” Kelly said. With my thirst for knowledge satisfied, my ears quenched by melodious jazz and feeling a generous buzz from the beverages, I eventually decided it was a good time for my sidekick and I to take our leave. Before we ascended the stairs out of the cave, though, I asked Kelly one more question: does the mysterious elephant even have a name? “Oh I’m sure he’s called different things by many different people,” she replied simply. Well-played, Mr. Elephant. Well-played.

LET THE FIESTA BEGIN!

Thursday, Friday & Saturday April 29-May 1, cash prices

So Much More than Margaritas!

SKA Brewing Modus Hoperandi 6PK 12oz Cans $7.99 Duvel Belgian Ale 4-Pack 11.2oz Bottles $10.99 • Bastrop • Bee Cave • Brodie Lane • Round Rock • Airport Boulevard • Arbor Walk • Southpark Meadows. 280-7400 SEE OUR FRIDAY AD IN THE STATESMAN

SPEC’S

Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods Defining Value

LONGHORN SPECIALS MON TUES

Submit longhorn specials to: spotlight@texasstudentmedia.com Deadline for submitting: every Monday by 3pm

LOCATION

SUN

WED

THURS

FRI

Mi Casa Tamale & Cantina

$2 tequila turtle

Closed

Malaia

$2 Any LIquor

$1 Domestic Beers, $2 Wells, $1 Domestic Beers, $2 Wells, $3 Bombs $3 Bombs

Aces Lounge

DJ Digg all night, $1 wells & Industry Night $2 wells & domestics domestics

BJ’s

All Day NFL $1 off Pints & Cock3-7 & 9-11PM HH, $1 off Pints and Cock- $2 Pints, 1/2 off Wine, $1 off Cocktails, $2 off Apps, 1/2 off mini pizzas tails, $2 off Apps, 1/2 off mini pizzas tails, $2 off Apps, $2 off mini pizzas

3-7 & 9-11PM HH, $1 off Pints and Cock- 3-7 & 9-11PM HH, $1 off Pints and Cock- 3-7 & 9-11PM HH, $1 off Pints and Cock- NA tails, $2 off Apps, 1/2 off mini pizzas tails, $2 off Apps, 1/2 off mini pizzas tails, $2 off Apps, 1/2 off mini pizzas

Buffalo Billiards

$3.50 Vodka & Lemonade

$2 Light Drafts, 1/2 off Pool

All Night HH, 1/2 off Apps

$2 Highlife Draft & Lstar Tboys

$2 Wells and Select Drafts

$3.50 Vodka/Lemonade

Cain’s

$2 off Sun Fun Day, $2 Top Shelf

3 - 11 $2 Pints Dos XX and Miller Lite

$1 Bottles Bud, Bud Lite, Miller Lite, Coors Lite

7-11 $3 Ritas

7-11 $6 32oz Teas

7-11 $3.50 Bombs

7-11 $2 off Dos XX & Miller Lite Pitchers

Melting Pot

Bar - 1/2 Off Cheese & Chocolate Fon- Bar -1/2 Off Cheese & Chocolate Fon- Bar - 1/2 Off Cheese & Chocolate Fon- Bar - 1/2 Off Cheese & Chocolate Fon- Bar -1/2 Off Cheese & Choc FonBar - 1/2 Off Cheese & Choc Fondue; Bar - 1/2 Off Cheese & Chocolate Fondues/$2 Dom, $4 Wells, $7 Martinis dues; Ladies Night - 3 Course Meal $24 dues/$2 Dom, $4 Wells, $7 Martinis dues/$2 Dom, $4 Wells, $7 Martinis dues; 20% off dinner with College ID Martini Madness - 3 tinis for $15 dues/$2 Dom, $4 Wells, $7 Martinis

Cuatros

$4 Zing Zang Bloodys

ALL Mexican Beer $2.50 after 7PM, $3.25 Michelada

$2 Random Beers after 7PM

$1.50 Pints, $6 Pitchers

$1.50 Select Dom

$7 Select Pitchers

Trudy’s

3-Close $3.95 Killer B’s

$5.00 Mex. Martini’s

Top Shelf Tuesday’s

$3.95 Famous House Margarita

Palomas $4.75

Sangria Margaritas $4.95

Strawberry Margaritas $4.50

Dizzy Rooster

$2 Wells & Domestics All Nite

$2 Wells & Domestics All Nite $2 Wells & Domestics All Nite

$2 Wells & Dom till 10

$2 Wells & Dom

Drungo’s Ice House

1/2 off Apps, $1 PBR/$10 Bckts

$2 XX bottles 7pm - Close

$2 Pints 7P - Close

$1.50 Lonestar Pints

$2 Off ALL Pitchers

$1.50 Lonestar Pints

1/2 Off Select Apps, $10 Bckts

El Sol Y La Luna

Closed

4-7 HH Drinks & Apps

HH 4-7, Sept 16 Mariachi Tamazula 7-9pm

4-7 HH Drinks & Apps

4-7 HH Drinks & Apps, Sept.11 Oliver Rajamani 8-10

Sept. 12 Street Salsa 10:301:30am

Pie Guys

Michelades For Your Hangover!

Pint Night - Any Draft Pints $2.50, $1 Lonestars

$2 Dos XX, $2 Ritas or 2 Lg Reggae Night - $2 Red Stripe, Pies and Lonestar Pitcher $22 Anything Jack $3

$9.99 Lg Pies, Upsize to 32oz mug for $1 Drafts

Miller High Life Buckets and any lg specialty pie for $20

Little Woodrow’s

$2.50 Drafts All Day--Over 150 beers

$2.50 Texas Beers All Day, Pearl and PBR $1.25

Big Beer Night

$2 Pints Of Lonestar All Day-Poker Night 8 & 10

$4 25oz Mug Beers, 32 Beers Austin’s Best Happy Hour on Tap

$3 You Call It 7-10P, $2 Lonestar Pints

Library

$1.50 Doms and Wells $1.50 Doms & Wells; $3 UV Vodkas & Feckin Irish Whiskey

$1.50 Doms and Wells

$1 Miller High Life and PBR Cans; $1.50 Doms; $2 Import Drafts

$1.50 Doms and Wells, $2 Imports

$3 LIT All Night

Oil Can Harry’s

Karaoke hosted by Shawn 10pm-2am

Martini Mondays with Rixy Karaoke hosted by Shawn

Switch Girls Night

Mascara hosted by Erica Andrews

Flesh Amateur male strip off contest Dance Dance $2.50 wells; $3 beer; $3.50 Tuaca

Santa Rita

$4.50 Bloodys, Mimosas, Mango. Brunch

2 for 1 Fajitas, $5.50 Mex Marts during HH

$2 Tecates, $2 Tacos

$2 Drafts & 25 Cent Wings

1/2 Off Appetizers w/student ID, $2 Wells

$3.75 Mango, Straw, Swirl Fro Ritas

Terra Burger

N/A

$1 Grab-n-Go Breakfast Tacos&Coffee

N/A $1 Grab-n-Go Breakfast Tacos& Coffee, Sept.18 1/2 Price Organic Burgers

El Arroyo

$2.50 Bloodys, Mimosas, Drivers All Day

$1 Tecate all day

$1 Ritas 2-6P, $2 Ritas 6-7P

$1.95 Domestics, $2.75 Ritas 2-7P

$2.50 Bloodys, Mimosas, Drivers All Day

Pure Ultra Lounge

25 cent Wells ALL NIGHT

Closed

$1 Any Beer ALL NIGHT

$2 Wells, $2 Beers till 11pm

$2 you call it $1 bud lights, $2 $2 margaritas $1 bud lights, $2 $2 you call it $1 bud lights, $2 $1 bud lights, $2 tequila tequila turtles turtles tequila turtles tequila turtles

Jumping from Jets $2 domestics

$1 Wells, $2 Beers

$2 Domestic Beers, $2 Wells til 11pm

$1 Wells

$2 Domestic Beers, $2 Wells til 11pm

DJ School $2 wells & domestics

18+ w/ DJ Protege $2 wells & 8+ DJ Showcase w/ special guest DJs every week doms til 11p

$1 Any Liquor

$2 U “Call” It until 11P, $3 LIT

IN PRIZES FROM

texasstudentmedia.com/iphoneapp/

SAT $3 yager bombs $2 Tecate, $2 tequila turtles $2 Domestic Beers,$2 Wells til 11pm 18+ DJ Showcase w/ special guest DJs every week

Dance Dance $4.50 Bloodys, Mimosas, Mango. Brunch

FOOD & DRINK

Chic treehouse dining WINE&DINE

what: EL ARBOL where: 3411 GLENVIEW AVE. when: VISIT www.elarbolrestaurant.com for hours

A column by Brennan Lawler Fun fact: I was voted “most classy” my senior year of high school. I know it’s lame to hold onto things like letter jackets and class rings, but that is the kind of moniker that sticks. And despite the grammatical conundrum, I still try to live up to my glory days of class. And there are few things classier than being just a touch snobbish about food and wine. If you can do it in a charming atmosphere, surrounded by elegant touches like an onyx bar, and a huge live oak shading a bevy of candlelit outdoor tables, even better. That’s where El Arbol comes in. The restaurant is a new addition to the Central Austin scene, and serves up some of the best Argentinean food you’ll find around. The entire three-story restaurant has been artfully decorated to invoke the spirit of mid-Century Argentina, wrapped around the 150-year-old “arbol” of El Arbol. Dark leather booths and dim interior lighting hint back to a time when class was a more common commodity. If you really want to go classy, you need to start with a drink. If you’re not feeling very ad-

Photo by Eric Ou El Arbol offers exquisite dishes such as the anticucho de corazon, a grilled beef heart. Diners can enjoy sitting outside on any of the three levels under an ancient oak tree or inside on the first-floor dining room or second-floor bar.

venturous, try the classic margarita ($10). It’s got plenty of Cazadores Añejo tequila and fresh lime juice. If you’re looking for something a little more delicate, try the primavera, a sparkling wine with muddles strawberries that refreshing and sweet for $8. While you’re enjoying your drinks and perusing the menu, you’ll enjoy

snacking on El Arbol’s bread and fresh spreads, one made from chickpea and basil, the other an anchovy spread — both are flavorful and delicious. The main courses at El Arbol range from oak-wood grilled steaks, veal and chorizo to an offering of fresh Gulf seafood. For a hearty meal, try the Pastel Del Choclo ($15), a classic Chil-

ean dish that’s a lot like shepherd’s pie. It’s a large serving of a spicy and sweet mixture of sirloin, egg and raisins, all topped with a corn puree. But it is the art of the empanada that El Arbol has truly mastered. They’re made fresh every day with an original house recipe dough that is flaky and tender and is filled

them with fresh and tasty fillings. There are three flavors for you to try, and trust me, you’ll want to try them all. Probably twice. The carne suave ($4) is probably the most bland of the three, filled with sirloin, potatoes, onion and spices. For the veggie-crowd, they have the espinaca, a spinach empanada filled with mozzarella and parmesan cheese that’s gooey and perfectly paired with the fresh spinach. The Mendoza empanada ($3) is a definite treat for the adventurous — it’s filled with pork, onions, raisins, green olives and almonds for a nutty, savory and sweet taste that can’t be beat. Stick around for dessert, and try the rice pudding empanada ($5), the Alfajores, a baked phyllo with dark chocolate, dulce de leche and a delicious coconut whipped cream ($8). El Arbol also offers an apple crêpe ($6) that takes up an entire plate and is covered in vanilla ice cream and dulce de leche. So, if you’re in the mood for upping your own yearbookworthy classy cred, drop by El Arbol — the place has got good food and class to spare.

Austin’s peaceful spin on the classic tea party By Tori Daughtrey There’s Starbucks’ Tazo Tea, Saxby’s tea, The Coffee Bean’s tea, Lipton’s Tea, Medici’s tea, even HEB-brand tea. But, you haven’t tasted tea until you’ve tried Zhi Tea. Zhi’s cool, lime-green walls and calm atmosphere invite you to let go of the outside world and relax in East Austin, while sipping some refreshing Oolong or “black dragon” tea within the arms of a comfy, black sofa. Fully equipped with a “sniffing bar” in addition to a soothing environment, Zhi Tea reminds you, “It’s the journey” of tea drinking that matters,

not the accomplishment of an empty cup. Indulge your senses by embracing the luring aroma of 100 percent organic, free-trade tea steaming in your mug. Pause for a moment, and let your tongue recognize the flavor of pure tea, the way it was meant to be enjoyed. “We try to retrain the senses and help people engage with their food,” store owner Jeffrey Lorien said. “It’s so important to get as many sense experiences of tea as you can. Tea is such a beautiful thing.” Each employee at Zhi Tea is an authentic tea lover and acts as guide for your personalized tea

what: ZHI TEA GALLERY where: 4607 BOLM RD. when: MONDAY - FRIDAY 9 A.M. - 6 P.M., SATURDAY 10 A.M. - 2 P.M.

journey, lending expert advice catered to individual tastes. “I try to get a sense of what they [customers] like,” Lorien said. “If someone says they like red wine, steak and potatoes, I’ll recommend an earl grey. If they like Thai food and Sushi, I’ll recommend a more exotic tea.” Located at the edge of East Austin, nestled between urban CONTINUES ON PAGE 9

Photo by Chris Kosho Laura Buchanan takes a break a Zhi Tea, a tea shop in East Austin that specializes in rare tea from all over the world.

FOOD & DRINK

Drink in style at swagged-out bar RAGE ON MINIMUM WAGE A column by Han Park & Marla Segura Sunday is funday and likely the best night to hit up one of those places that seem too expensive to be fun that you see on the street out of the window heading downtown on Thursday for liquor pitchers. The list of such fancy establishments includes The Belmont. The only other experience we’ve had at The Belmont was when they had 12-ounce cups of Shiner Bock for some random hosted party. It was nice and all, but it’s hard to appreciate a bar’s atmosphere when you’re trying to guzzle as many Dixie cups of free beer as possible . This time, we actually sat down at a table and had a server who helped us out greatly, taking the time to point out some of her favorite drinks that turned out to be pretty good. A far cry from the usual standing up against a crowded bar for what seems like forever and flailing your arms to get a bartender’s attention, this place is classy — there are cloth napkins and a plate for every little bit of food along with a dainty garnish for every drink. Joking about being bougie and actually being bourgeoisie are two different things. Most importantly, the drinks

were fantastic. We tried the French 77 (Saint Germiane liqueur, champagne and lemon) and the Sinatra — basically vermouth and whisky with a cherry — a man’s martini. On the other side of the spectrum, The Monroe (watermelon, vodka, and sugar) was very sweet and light, while still coming through with that unexpected buzz that you don’t get from $1.50 wells night. The decor is unique. It’s stylized to echo the simple sophistication of America’s classiest era — the 1960s in Hollywood. The outside seating is very relaxed and inviting. There is a brand new brunch area on the roof and on the ground level there is a spacious and arid stone patio surrounded by a tall stonewall covered in vines.

It’s especially enjoyable during the day. Maybe even more enjoyable if it’s a hung-over afternoon and you’re still in the saucy-from-the-night-before mood. You’ll be better able to justify spending a little out of your means. We recommend taking advantage of the great happy hours deals Monday through Friday 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and all day Sunday halfoff cocktails, beer, wine by the glass and appetizers. The Belmont, in accordance with the theme, offers several twists on the classiest drink conceivable: the martini. Simple, elegant and nothing but alcohol, the martini evokes images of James Bond 007, the Rat Pack (which The Belmont capitalizes on), and only the classiest of alcohol-

farming fields, Zhi is an ideal final destination. Lorien utilizes this environment as an oasis just minutes from bustling downtown junctions. Proud owner of the 2009 Local Hero Award from Edible Austin Magazine, Zhi Tea guarantees award winning tea each cup. “Out of town, custom tea, teas for companies,” listed Lorien. “We want tea to be an enjoyable experience for everyone.” Zhi ensures this policy by shipping all over the continental united states.

CONTINUES ON PAGE 11

what: THE BELMONT where: 305 W. SIXTH ST. when: VISIT www.thebelmontaustin.com for hours and information

Women Ages 18 to 40 Photo by Rene Huynh Miguel Maldonado concocts countless swanky cocktails at The Belmont, which is a restaurant and bar downtown with especially glamorous decor.

TEA: Local tea ripe for the sipping FROM PAGE 8

ics. The signature cocktails focus on little twists on classics, which seems to fit the bill. What’s classier than a classy

“That’s why I moved to Austin,” Lorien said. “I wanted to be able to ship to the East and the West Coast in a day or two.” If you’re planning on taking your tea experience home with you, Zhi’s loose leaf tea is packaged neatly in take home tins, lining the store’s walls. Each tin contains about a quarter pound of tea and is roughly $12 or 20 cents a cup. “Most store-bought teas are 25 cents a bag,” Lorien said. “Plus, our tea is awesome.” If that wasn’t enough to convince you, this Saturday, Zhi will have a pre-Mother’s Day sale, offering 20 percent

off all teas. Save some pocket change, and satisfy your caffeine cravings with a delicate and delicious alternative to coffee. Try White Blueberry of Cacao Chai tea for a truly unique tea experience. When your cup is empty and you tummy full, leave a little gratitude in the comment book, and contribute to the overwhelming pages of anonymous “thank you’s” and teacup quotes. “I wish I were a teacup from which you drink your tea because every time you take a sip, it would be a kiss for me.”

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the university of texas at austin school of human ecology division of textiles and apparel

FA S H I O N S H OW 4.29.10 frank erwin center exposition at 7pm show 8pm free admission

THE FASHION ALLEY AIRBRUSH STUDIO AUSTIN B E L E Z A M E D S PA B E T T Y S P O RT B R A Z I L I A WA X I N G S PA C O B A LT B L U E S A L O N DESIGNER CLEARANCE HOUSE G O L D E N G I R L S TA N KITSCHEN GLAM CO M E TO T H E A L L E Y F O R :

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! CHARACTERS

Fashion guru keeps it classy By Melanie Gasmen Before I met with the coined “Style Avatar” of Austin, Stephen Moser, I imagined him with a sassy walk, decked out in furs, jewelry, or at least wearing his trademark black sunglasses. He did wear his sunglasses, but this wasn’t the outlandishly dressed, 52-year-old fashionista, who’s usually splattered in benefit and award show pictures with the likes of Paris Hilton and Luke Wilson. Moser, hiding his blonde hair under a straw hat, wore a linen button down with his initials stitched in the top corner of his breast pocket and brown loafers that lounged on a chair. Now working at The Austin Chronicle for 11 years, his column, “After a Fashion,” thrives on the glitz, glam and gossip surrounding Austin’s social circles, chicest boutiques and classiest affairs. Unbeknownst to onlookers, the man that sat outside Jason’s Deli, lighting a smoke, has 35 years of designer experience, including working backstage at the New York Prada and Versace fashion shows. This Stephen, who planned on gardening later that day, was low-key and exuded a calm persona. His look represented his feat at keeping a low profile, after two years of “living in the deep end.” He received the dreaded call on his 50th birthday, amid shedding over 150 lbs after a weight loss surgery and planning a huge bash that featured over 300 guests. His doctor diagnosed him with prostate cancer and gave him six months to live. She suggested a number of radical treatments, including chemically castrating him, but Moser declined. “I thought, any minute I’m going to drop dead,” Moser said. “I asked my family if I could I could die at home in their arms instead of being in the hospital.” Moser coped with the threat of death by exploding on the party scene and losing “social stock” by hanging out in drug dens rather than answering his friends’ e-mails. “I was living the high-life

Fashion columnist and local celebrity Stephen Moser has recently adopted a more reserved, peaceful lifestyle, although his trademark sunglasses and all-around fabulousness remain intact.

Photo courtesy of Stephen Moser

and didn’t care about myself or anything else,” Moser said. His fame sloped when he was arrested on arson charges in 2009, after allegedly setting fire to a car, while donning a white fur coat and black leather boots. “I knew I had to get a grip on myself,” he said. “I was at a bad place at the time, but I’ve been working extremely hard to get to the where I am now.” Moser definitely cleaned up

‘‘

Made in Heaven, he traced his roots back to when he was 5 years old and obsessed over everything glamorous. Even earlier than the most desolate times of his childhood, before his parents divorced and his homophile father’s suicide, he started designing clothes for Barbies and trolls. His designing skills bloomed in high school, landing him a job as a costume designer for Zachary Scott and the famous

Doing something for someone else is classy.”

his act since then, continuing to socially rehabilitate by moving to Manchaca to live with his mother, sister and five dogs. He doesn’t drive because of the amount of medication he takes. “I feel trapped out here in a way. I have low energy, a lot of fatigue, and it’s harder for me to want to leave my house,” Moser said. Prior to designing his line,

— STEPHEN MOSER fashion columnist

transvestite, Divine. After design school, he moved to New York City, where his designs, including antique-fabric women’s vests, were featured in posh store windows, like Henri Bendel. He also graced the pages of Women’s Wear Daily and W magazine. In 1997, he moved back to Austin to live in a place “with more gracious living” and entered in the Chronicle’s ro-

mantic column contest, where he wrote the required pieces but attached his own fashion columns. He was hired on the spot. “I started getting into the right parties and wrote some of the bitchiest and funniest articles,” he said. Moser believes the epitome of classy was encompassed in art collector Deborah Green’s Women and Their Work gala. He said the guest list was dazzling, the food was amazing, servers had fantasy makeup on, and people in Lycra onepieces slithering everywhere. “And Deborah was standing by the door greeting each guest — that’s classy,” Moser said. “Doing something for someone else is classy.” Moser’s advice on keeping it classy is not gawking when you’re at a swanky party, but don’t withdraw either. “Wander around and talk to people, because you’re just as interesting — well, ideally,” Moser said. He advises students not on the social circuit yet to look at what adults wear and purchase similar attire. His final tip is to drop what you’re wearing now after you graduate. “People stop evolving their style, and that’s why you see middle-aged women with fountain bangs and men still wearing mullets,” Moser said.

DRINK: Belmont bar offers glitz and glamour FROM PAGE 9 drink with a twist? The classic drink without changes of course, but you could get that at the bar right down the road. It’s all about getting that something special, like finding a golden ticket. It makes you want to sing, like you got something special, unique and completely different. You find that, and you just wanna sing. Then you realize why people actually spend good money on nice drinks. Honestly, the concept of classy is something outside of our understanding. There’s a difference between going out for a night of fun and doing something classy; it’s really just like putting on your parent’s clothes when you’re 12 years old, looking snazzy and adorable but not really fitting the part. Classiness is just one of those things you have to grow into. The Belmont is one of those places. While it didn’t break our collective banks, The Belmont made us feel like we were 16 years old spending our parents’ cash on a first date. Sure, it’s classy, but it doesn’t really fit. What is it about spending money that you don’t have that makes you feel like you’re the big man? Huh? Class has become such a foreign concept in popular culture where we focus on Tiger Wood’s sex scandals. That isn’t classy. It’s Ron Burgandy telling you to stay classy while going completely wild on a city, making crazy shit go off. Let’s go back to that. Sure, it’s fun to get sloshed and scream out every lyric to every dance song coming off the P.A. But sometimes, it’s just good to let the groove roll off your back and into your lap. It doesn’t feel right, but it feels just as good.

ARTS

Photo by Danielle Villasana Austin classical ballet company member Jeanne Marie Marks rehearses her solo under the watchful eyes of choreographer Alexis Pangborn and other company dancers, who have been preparing for this weekend’s performance of “Awakenings” for six months. The show will consist of both classical repertoire and new choreography.

Dreams brought to life through ballet By Jessica Billeaud The word dream is not static — it encompasses countless meanings and thoughts: fleeting traces of memories of a deep sleep or carefully constructed ideas of future hopes. Or something else entirely. Local choreographer Alexis Pangborn seeks to bring all kinds of ethereal visions to life through movement of the body — using ballet to illustrate the different emotions brought about by dreams. Pangborn’s five pieces are one-fourth of Austin Classical Ballet Company’s “Awakenings” program, which runs Friday and Saturday. Performed all on pointe, the performance is a fusion of pure classical ballet and contemporary ballet — the four separate dances are threaded together in their exploration of human emotion.

“It started with the music. To me, Chopin’s music is reminiscent of hopefulness and a belief in dreams,” Pangborn said. “All the pieces have a sort of dream logic, and an element of reality — life or death intrudes.” In one of her dances, ballerinas float on stage like sprites, inducing a ghostly, airy mood, while another piece uses choppy, tedious movements, creating a state of frenzy. Pangborn’s idea sprang from Shakespeare’s line in “Hamlet,” “I could be bounded in a nutshell, and count myself a king of infinite space, were it not that I have bad dreams.” As with all of the pieces throughout the entire “Awakenings” program, moods are fleeting, allowing the entire work to touch upon the desires, fears and varying emo-

tions everyone shares. The first piece of the program, “Not Again,” uses stark, architectural movement in its three dances, titled “Longing,” “Labor” and “Loss.” Its geometric, contemporary movement is followed by a more classical style in the second piece, “Chosen,” which portrays a dramatic, passionate love triangle. Both pieces were choreographed by Jennifer Felkner, director of Austin Classical Ballet, which houses a school and a professional company trained in the Russian technique. “The classical training gives a stronger foundation for technically difficult movements,” Felkner said. “It makes for more of an exciting, explosive and dramatic performance.” The program culminates in the fantastical pieces of Pangborn’s, providing a flowing,

moody end to “Awakenings,” as if the dancers are spellbinders, lulling the audience into a peaceful, dreamy state. Seasoned dancer Theresa Couch offers insight into how she translates the choreography into an emotional performance — in Pangborn’s most frantic piece, the dancer thinks of the dreams in which you’re falling and you suddenly jump awake. “In another piece, I’m sort of translating in my own head the idea of a nymph or a fairy,” Couch said of Pangborn’s most wistful work, in which the dancer playfully teases a dreaming boy. “The dancers themselves have shaped the piece with their own beauty, personality and distinctive expressive qualities,” Pangborn said. “It’s really taken on a life of

what: AUSTIN CLASSICAL BALLET PRESENTS “AWAKENINGS” where: CARVER MUSEUMBOYD VANCE THEATRE, 1165 ANGELINA ST. when: FRIDAY, 8 P.M., SATURDAY, 2 P.M. AND 8 P.M. tickets: $15, AVAILABLE ONLY AT austinclassicalballet.com

its own.” This weekend, skilled classical ballet fuses with contemporary movement, creating a packed performance exploring movement and its connection to emotion. As with a night of deep sleep, the darkness filled with dreams streaming into one another, the range of emotions evoked in the first hazy moments of the morning are all present here, brought to life by leaps, arabesques and emotional release of the dancers.