TODO Austin February 2018

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I don’t want to work....

VOLUME IX / FEB 2018

Black History Month Chinese New Year “Beyond Bollywood” exhibit Mardi Gras in Austin

SINE NEW EP

“INSOMNIÆ” COMING SOON

KLRU-TV, Austin PBS broadcast 18.1 / cable 9 klru.org

We’re looking for amazing stories, written and illustrated by kids in Kindergarten to fifth grade!

We’ll publish all stories on our website, every kid will get a certificate, and some will get prizes.

Get more info at klrukids.org | Entry deadline is March 31st

Learn more at KLRU.org Also This Month

Black History Month KLRU broadcasts programming created by and about people from all cultures year-round. In celebration of Black History Month, KLRU will feature additional programs exploring African American culture.

See the complete list at klru.org

Victoria Season 2 On Masterpiece New mother Victoria is impatient to return to ruling, while Albert attempts to protect her from the news regarding British soldiers in Afghanistan.

Sundays at 8 pm

SciTech Now Anchor Hari Sreenivasan checks out the hottest gadgets, meets the innovators creating the startups of tomorrow and maps out the mysteries of the scientific world.

Thursdays at 7:30 pm starting Feb. 8th

KLRU-TV, Austin PBS is community supported. More than 85% of our funding comes from the public. PLEASE CONSIDER INVESTING IN KLRU.

C E N T R O U R B A N O HABLA Austin

Austin History Center’s new exhibit In honor of African American History Month, the Austin History Center invites you to the opening of its newest exhibit “Clearing Stones and Sowing Seeds: Photographs from the Travis County Negro Extension Service” on Tuesday, Feb. 6 at 6:30 p.m.

The exhibit presents selections from the Travis County Negro Extension Service Photography Collection archived at the History Center.

The photographs, taken between 1940 and 1964, document the variety of services and educational programs offered by the Extension Service, including animal husbandry, crafts, domestic education, gardening and agriculture as well as home improvement. The opening reception will feature a pie social. The exhibit and reception are free and open to the public.

Help ease Austin traffic with a new commute With the holidays over, traffic has returned to Austin’s roads, but the new year brings new opportunities for improvement. According to 2012-2016 census data estimates, about 77 percent of over 990,000 commuters annually in the Austin area drove alone, with an average travel time of about 26 minutes.

With such a large number of drive-alone trips, Austin’s traffic is unsurprising. If more commuters took sustainable options, however, fewer cars would sit in traffic, thereby freeing up Austin roads for those who have no alternatives to driving and altogether reducing travel time for everyone.

Add a sustainable mode to your trips. Biking, taking public transport and walking are healthy, green alternatives. Adjust your work time or location, including working from home, adjusting work hours or compressing your work week. Tweak your driving patterns taking alternative routes, leaving a little earlier and avoiding left turns when possible.

Some options may be more feasible depending on the conditions and demands of your work and home life, so choose what suits your lifestyle best and ask your employer what options are available to you.

ArtistsATX: City of Austin Resource Center for Artists and Musicians Imagine Austin, Austin’s Comprehensive Plan Austin’s MULTICULTURAL media source for EIGHT YEARS • Find us at TODOAustin.com

through 2040, announces the launch of a new website for artists and musicians: ArtistsATX: City of Austin Resource Center for Artists and Musicians. The website provides a one-stop portal for artist opportunities such as funding and commissions, exhibition and performing opportunities, jobs, residencies and professional development workshops. The creation of this website furthers the goals of the Creative Economy Priority Program by centralizing resources from across five different City departments and making it easier than ever to access City resources for the arts. The website is now live at https://austintexas. gov/artistsatx.

Celebrating Trump as the most unpopular president this President’s Day

By Lesly Reynaga

The third Monday of February celebrates the chief executive officer of the world’s super power. President’s Day is meant to honor the selfless hard work and allegiance of the U.S. president to the American people. It’s a day when citizens should take pride in the top leader representing us all. For the second year in a row, this is a holiday that brings feelings of disillusionment rather than a sense of fulfillment to a great number of citizens in this country.

It is true that it’s virtually impossible for all people to identify and feel connected to the same leader. In the instance of President Donald Trump, however, his lack of respect and commitment to fair representation has created a massive disconnect between his government and a good number of communities: ethnic and racial minorities, feminists, LGBTQ, nonChristians and environmentalists are just a few.

While the economy shows signs of strength, the divide between communities has only continued to expand in the first year of his presidency.

People’s Gallery. Artwork by Dave McClinton, Ain’t Odessa, 2017

People’s Gallery opening reception The City of Austin Cultural Arts Division, part of the Economic Development Department, announces the opening of the 14th annual People’s Gallery exhibition at Austin City Hall. The presentation will feature a wide array of painting, sculpture, drawing and other media by 102 artists from across the Austin area. The public is invited to an opening reception Friday, Feb. 23, 6 to 9 p.m. to view artworks throughout City Hall, meet the participating artists, and enjoy light refreshments and live music by the Austin Community Steelband.

Remarks by Austin Mayor Steve Adler and others will begin at 6:30 p.m. Limited parking is available in the City Hall garage and will be validated; however, visitors are encouraged to walk, bike, or use public transportation.

Ethnic and racial minorities have perhaps felt the sting of Trump’s public remarks the hardest. It is comments like the president’s recent questioning of why we’re letting people from “s---hole countries” (referring to Haiti, El Salvador and African nations) migrate to the U.S. that broaden the divide. Trump’s history shows a particular obsession with disavowing darkskinned immigrants--two more examples are his 2016 reference to Mexicans as “criminals and rapists” and his 2017 executive order halting refugee admissions and barring people from seven Muslim-majority countries.

The president’s attacks against minorities have gone as far as criticizing prominent African Americans for being unpatriotic and insinuating Puerto Ricans were lazy when local government leaders asked for increased relief from the federal

VOLUME IX, NUMBER 10

PRODUCTION SERVICES // Anthony Garcia

PUBLISHER/EDITOR // Gavin Lance Garcia info@todoaustin.com

COVER // Photo by Teresa Jolie

ART DIRECTOR // Dave McClinton dmdesigninc.com EDITOR //Lesly Reynaga // lesly@todoaustin.com MANAGING EDITOR // Meredith C. Cox meredith@todoaustin.com ASSOCIATE EDITORS // Liz Lopez, Monica Peña, Katie Walsh, Erica Stall Wiggins, Yvonne Lim Wilson CONTRIBUTING STAFF // Rose Di Grazia, Callie Langford, César E. López Linares, Genoveva Rodriguez, Diana Sanchez

CONTRIBUTORS // Margaret Bassett, Alka Bhanot, Roy Casagranda, Cat Cardenas, Cindy Casares, Evelyn C. Castillo, Lobo Corona, Catherine Cubbin, Nora De LaRosa, Laura Donnelly Gonzalez, Mark Guerra, Mari Hernandez, Yadira Izquierdo, Chaille Jolink, Ryan Jordan, Ward Keeler, Ali Khataw, Ramey Ko, Harish Kotecha, Sonia Kotecha, Julia Lee, Isabel Lopez-Aguilar, Art Markman, Cristina Parker, Eliza Platts-Mills, Carola Rivera, Paul Saldaña, Marion Sanchez, Sameer Shah, Blake Shanley, Dani Slabaugh, Corey Tabor, Rama Tiru, Carola Rivera, Aaron Rochlen, Blanca Valencia, Lesley Varghese, Lichen Zhen ONLINE EDITION // TODOAustin.com TODO Austin // Multicultural Media for All of Austin. TODO

government after Hurricane Maria. The president has unapologetically associated himself with racists and white nationalists including Steve Bannon, his campaign head and later White house chief strategist. And the list goes on.

February is also the birth month of presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, two of the most popular presidents in our history. In fact, President’s Day was established in 1885 in recognition of President George Washington.

With that in mind, how would these two prominent American figures respond to Trump’s presidency if they were still around?

Trump is proving to be the most unpopular president based on historical comparisons

by Gallop. The average approval rating of presidents in the last 80 years was 53 percent, but Trump’s approval rating has been under 40 percent in the last few weeks. A recent poll by NBC and the Wall Street Journal had 38 percent of respondents describing their feelings about Trump’s first year in office as “disgusted” and 24 percent as “scared.” Another 23 percent said they felt “hopeful,” compared to 32 percent who expressed feeling “hopeful” after Trump’s presidential victory in 2016.

It’s important to remember that local and state civil engagement is just as important as voting for the presidential election. Early voting for the primary elections is February 20 - March 2.

Official election day is Tuesday, Mar. 6. These elections are meant to nominate candidates from each political party at the state and county levels, which includes from U.S. senator to district clerk. General elections are November 6. Information about Travis County voting and more is available at votetravis.com.

Austin is a free print and online journal for all of Austin highlighting our multicultural heritage and promoting the concept of community in an ethnically diverse city.

Circulation throughout Austin, from the Westside’s Pennybacker Bridge to the Eastside’s Montopolis Bridge.

TODO Austin is published by Spark Awakened Publishing. © 2018 Spark Awakened Publishing. All rights reserved.

The views expressed here are the authors and should not be taken to represent those of Spark Awakened Publishing or of any of its associates or partners.

ADVERTISING/SUBMISSIONS/EDITORIAL: info@todoaustin.com, 512.538.4115 TODO AUSTIN // FEB 2018 // TODOAUSTIN.COM 03

How the Crisis in Burma is Similar to Something Happening in Texas

all of these people “Bengali,” just as many Texans speak of “Mexicans” whether they are referring to U.S. citizens of longstanding or people who came across the Rio Grande just recently.

If the landlord fails to respond, tenants can take the landlord to court and ask a justice of the peace to order the owner to make repairs.

Texas law prohibits landlords from retaliating based on a tenant’s request for repairs, filing a code violation complaint, or participation in a tenant organization. Organizers at Building and Strengthening Tenant Action (BASTA) are helping families to form tenant associations and recognize their rights and collective strength.

By Ward Keeler

Spanish speakers and English speakers, meanwhile, collaborated in driving native American residents off the land. The ethnic cleansing that drastically reduced Texas’ indigenous population and the political maneuvering that made the status of Spanish speakers highly precarious is mirrored in the current attacks on Muslims in Rakhine, who have fled by the hundreds of thousands to Bangladesh.

The burden isn’t on immigrants alone. All of us can make a difference.

Both Rahkine and Texas are borderlands with no natural barriers between regions, with people of very different ethnic, religious and linguistic origins having moved about over centuries. With political authority shifting a number of times, both regions have seen amicable interaction across ethnic lines and ethnic violence over the years. And in both regions, some members of the dominant group now want to send their ethnic others “back where they came from.”

We need to do a better job of helping low-income immigrant families in Austin.

Here’s how.

mold, overflowing trash and intimidation by management companies. Repair requests are often ignored. Parents say that their children are getting sick and having to miss school. Given the scarcity of affordable housing, they are afraid to complain for fear of losing their homes.

By Catherine Cubbin and Eliza Platts-Mills

We have connected these families with legal and organizing resources to help them speak up and assert their rights. Tenants in Texas do not have as robust a set of legal rights as tenants in other states, but those who are current on their rent can submit a written request to their landlord to make repairs necessary to correct a condition that impacts physical health or safety.

With the city’s profound growth, safe and secure housing options are rapidly shrinking for lowincome families. Immigrant families face this same housing challenge and the added one of stress and fear from living in a country and state that seem to have forgotten their proud immigrant histories.

There are strong ties between safe and secure housing and physical and emotional health.

Abundant evidence finds that poor housing quality affects health. Indoor allergens (mold, dust, cockroaches) and dampness play a major role in respiratory diseases such as asthma.

Structural features of homes, lack of safety devices, and substandard heating and cooling systems — all more prevalent among economically disadvantaged groups — lead to injuries. Lead poisoning occurs primarily through deteriorating lead-based paint in older homes, causing irreversible brain and nervous system damage.

In addition to these physical conditions, overcrowded housing and financial hardship cause stress, with well-known negative effects on health.

In addition to our professional work, we are both involved as parents on an advocacy committee led by Austin Interfaith and the PTA to help struggling, low-income families at our children’s diverse, mixed-income AISD elementary school.

One of the biggest challenges for these families is finding and keeping good housing.

We are fortunate to have three large, subsidized apartment communities within walking distance of the school. Many of the children at our school live in these communities including refugees, first- and second-generation immigrants, and families with deep roots in Austin.

We have learned about high levels of untreated

We can vote to allow the City of Austin to issue affordable housing bonds the next time they are on the ballot to enable nonprofit developers to build more decent, safe, affordable housing. We can donate to groups like BASTA to enable them to continue and expand their work. We can also advocate for improvements to our land development code through the CodeNEXT initiative to incentivize the private market production of family-friendly, affordable housing in all areas of Austin. We can participate in advocacy efforts through local schools and neighborhood associations.

And in all these ways, we can let our immigrant neighbors, co-workers and fellow parents know through our words and actions that we want them to continue living in Austin, attending schools and contributing to our diverse, vibrant city.

Catherine Cubbin is a professor in the Steve Hicks School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin. Eliza Platts-Mills is a clinical professor of law at The University of Texas at Austin.

People around the world have reacted with outrage and astonishment to the persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine, in southwestern Burma. The outrage is completely appropriate. The astonishment, though, is not — especially in an area like Texas, whose history of shifting populations resembles that of Rakhine.

Burmans make up two-thirds of the population of the nation-state of Burma, also known as Myanmar, and Rakhine and Burmans have long had volatile relations, sometimes competing over territorial and political control. Burmans have had the upper hand since conquering Rakhine in the late 18th century.

The British, who ruled Rakhine from 1826 to 1948, urged Bengalis to come and take low-paying jobs that long-time residents of the area disdained. Rakhine and Burman Buddhists look upon people of Bengali decent as foreigners, although some of them, whose ancestors came to the region long ago, speak only the Rakhine variety of Burmese, while more recent arrivals speak Bengali.

Intellectuals and other members of the Muslim elite in Rakhine started seeking either independence or at least some staterecognized special status in the 1950s. It was these people who made of the term “Rohingya,” which is actually the Bengali version of the name of the region of “Rakhine,” a politically charged label for all Rakhine Muslims.

Today, Burmans and Rakhine Buddhists label

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A part of Mexico until 1836, Texas became part of the U.S. in 1845. Newly-arrived EuroAmericans decided that they should run the place, edging out Spanish-speaking families who had lived in Texas much longer and costing poorer residents access to land they had long had the use of as tenant farmers.

The recent events in Rakhine started with a few violent incidents in June 2012. Soon after, at least 140,000 Rakhine Muslims were placed in concentration camps to “protect” them. In October 2016, some young Rakhine Muslim men, newly radicalized, attacked Burmese border control officers.

The Burmese military responded with disproportionate force, which helps explain why a larger attack on government officials took place in August 2017. It provided the trigger for the horrific violence then visited upon all Muslim residents of the area, largely, it seems, at the hands of the Burmese military.

Fortunately in our country, we have a longstanding discourse of human rights fostering defense of the weak, including immigrants, from nativist attack. There is little by way of such discourse in Burma. Both outsiders and residents of the region say the best that can be hoped for is economic development.

Seeing opportunities to escape the region’s dire poverty should encourage people in Rakhine, whether Muslim or Buddhist, to put aside their ethnic prejudices. Just as Texans, provided they feel confident in their own and their children’s future, ought to be able to act on their better instincts, no matter what some politicians tell them about all those “Mexican” criminals.

Ward Keeler is an associate professor of anthropology at The University of Texas at Austin.

Thursday, Feb. 1, 6:30 - 8 p.m. Let Freedom Sing. Join this community sing-along beginning Black History Month. Boyd Vance Theater.

Saturday, Feb. 3, 12 p.m. First Saturdays at the Carver: Black History Month. The George Washington Carver Museum’s free, once-a-month event called First Saturday is created for people of color that should not be missed. This event will celebrates a range of themes each month. It’s family-friendly, diverse and the programming is intelligent. Activities, music, vendors, discussions and more.

Thursday, Feb. 8, 6 p.m. Racial Check Up- How Do We Know Racism When We See It? How do we identify racism? How do we respond to bigotry and ignorance? How can we guide youth as they navigate the complexities of race in America?

Professors and researchers from Huston-Tillotson University, The University of Texas at Austin and community leaders will co-host a public dialogue on issues of race, racism and racial identity in America. Presenters will draw insight from contemporary pop culture, media and politics.

Friday, Feb. 9, 6:30 p.m. That’s My face Film Series. February’s screening is “Dark Girls” (2011). Documentary exploring the deep-seated biases and attitudes about skin color, particularly dark skinned women.

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Local organizations ask Travis County to put the brakes on proposed women’s jail

By Grassroots Leadership

In a letter sent to top county officials Friday, nine community groups called for a halt to plans for a new women’s jail in Travis County, saying their recommendations to reduce incarceration should come before new jail construction.

The letter recommends three policy changes to reduce the jail population. Advocates argue that the jail population could be significantly reduced by decriminalizing all offenses that are eligible for Cite-andRelease; reevaluating the prosecution of state jail felonies; and investing in community alternatives to arrest for mental health and substance use disorders.

“More important than upgrading aging buildings or increasing operational efficiency is prioritizing alternatives to incarceration that keep people in their communities and out of jail,” the letter reads in part.

Su-Realidad (Your Reality) Youth Installation Photography Exhibit.

Opening Reception Saturday, Jan. 20, 4 - 6 p.m. in the Community Gallery. The ESB-MACC is proud to present the 2018 Youth Installation Photography Exhibit “Su-Realidad (Your Reality): An Exploration of Installation Photography” showcasing Austin’s youth.

The exhibit is curated and produced by the twelve members of our teen leadership program, Caminos. This program empowers youth to carve their own path in the creative arts. SuRealidad features the unbridled imagination of the subconscious through the exploration and fusion of installation art with photography.

Saturday, Feb. 3, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. A Tapestry of South Asian

La ley de mi tierra. Opening Reception Saturday, Jan. 27, 6 p.m. in the Sam Z. Coronado Gallery. Come observe the beautiful paintings

by Efren Gonzalez which are full of light, colors, and movement.

Just as he shares his passion for the world around him reflect upon the memories of your own “tierra.”

Sunday, Feb., 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. The Origins of Yoga and Meditation:

Yoga en Español. Every Saturday, 10-11 a.m. (17+). Come explore the body through the strengthening practice of Yoga; classes are appropriate for both English and Spanish speakers.

Zumba. Every Tuesday, 6 p.m. | (14+). Through Primero Health, we now offer Zumba classes, a fusion of Latin and International music and dance creates a dynamic workout.

The signatories to the letter are Counter Balance ATX, Excellence and Advancement Foundation, Grassroots Leadership, Lonestar Justice Alliance, Measure Austin, Texas Advocates for Justice, Texas Appleseed, Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, and Texas Fair Defense.

Readings. Explore the diversity of the South Asian American experience through its rich literature as local authors guide us through their work. From long-established novelists and poets to other wordsmiths appearing onstage in Austin for the first time, these writers will provide unique cultural insights. Exhibit Tours of Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation Exhibit will be available from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

From India to the West. Travel through time and space to learn about yoga, from its creation over 5,000 years ago in India to its evolution into a worldwide phenomenon. Do a yoga and meditation session with a certified yoga teacher, and learn about the connections between the practice and the mind, body, and spirit. Afterwards, join us for a talk on Indian spices and cooking that are incorporated into the yogic way of living. Yoga for Kids with Sheetal Gour: 10 a.m. Yoga for Adults with Upma Chauhan: 11a.m. Spices and Health Lecture with Dr. Shelly Sethi: 12 p.m.

jobs and housing and often leaves children in unstable environments,” said Susanne Pringle, interim executive director of Texas Fair Defense Project. “Our recommendations, if implemented, will increase public safety and place a lower burden on taxpayers.”

County officials have previously cited the need to upgrade aging facilities and improve conditions for women in the Travis County Jail system as the primary reason for building a new women’s jail. Advocates say that thinking is backward.

“We can’t continue to ignore institutionally racist systems that perpetuate a disparate prison industrial complex in Travis County,” said Meme Styles, president and founder of MEASURE. “Pouring more money into the maintenance of a broken system is counterproductive and disregards the data.”

“We care deeply about the conditions that our community members endure while they are incarcerated and we look forward to having that conversation,” said Holly Kirby, criminal justice programs director at Grassroots Leadership. “But what this coalition is saying is that we can’t talk about improved conditions for incarcerated women until we have a real plan for reducing the number of women in jail in the first place.”

Advocates say halting the construction of a new women’s jail and reinvesting in the community will have a positive impact on everyone who lives, works, or pays taxes in Travis County.

“We know that jailing women for misdemeanor offenses can lead to the loss of

to Whites. These discrepancies existed regardless of a variety of factors, including but not limited to, the number of charges on the booking, the severity level of the charges and whether bond was approved, including Personal Recognizance Bonds. The analysis is based on data provided to Grassroots Leadership by the Travis County Sheriff ’s Office in response to an Open Records Request.

Finally, advocates insist that any changes for Travis County’s jails must include concrete plans to reduce the glaring racial disparities in the system. A report released last year by Grassroots Leadership revealed significant and persistent discrepancies in the number of days spent in the Travis County jail by people of color, particularly Blacks, as compared

Jorge Renaud, an organizer with Texas Advocates for Justice, a community organization whose members have all been directly affected by incarceration, pointed out that any construction to the local jail would inevitably be used to house individuals whose needs had likely been ignored in the community.

“It’s that cycle — poor people of color can’t get services for their needs, get arrested in disproportionate numbers, and then county officials act as if they are suddenly concerned about those needs now that the jail beds are filled,” Renaud said.

TODO AUSTIN // FEB 2018 // TODOAUSTIN.COM 05

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East Austin, Manor and Pflugerville deserve a full-time, accountable and accessible neighbor to represent them, not a career politician.

As a mother and grandmother, I know our hope for the future of our kids. I serve as a Manor ISD Board Trustee and have the heart and skills to be a servant-leader. I will create a system that turns hope into reality.

I am the daughter of immigrants and former migrant farm worker. This taught me the importance of hard work and drives me to address the challenges that communities face in order to succeed. I will continue to let this lesson guide me and serve our communities.

-Ana 06 TODO AUSTIN // FEB 2018 // TODOAUSTIN.COM

beginning on February 2 with “Love High.” The tune has a synth-pop sound with sultry vocals, alluring/danceable bass lines and spellbinding pop melodies.

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and learned about his work. When I told him I had a band, he asked to hear our demos,” Rougeheart added. “We clicked quickly and got to work. It was truly exciting! He’s a complete pro. He helped shape the songs and brought them to a higher level. It was a bonus that I found out he is also a drummer, so we bonded on that level as well and had some fun banging on the drums in studio. No ideas were off-limits, that’s what made recording with Charles so fun.”

Teresa Jolie photo

“Love High” and the four following singles will be available for streaming and downloading worldwide, and later this year on CD as the band’s debut EP, to be titled “INSOMNIÆ.”

SINE is the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist Rona Rougeheart, who leads the project but is quick to call SINE a band.

“I’ve been writing songs for years, but it wasn’t until recently that I decided to start something of my own,” Rougeheart said. “I had left Dead Love Club (with Alex Vallejo), and learned how to record music using Ableton. I realized the demos I created sounded like a new project, which became SINE. I put a band together to perform with and started to play shows in Austin and throughout Texas. I had decided I wanted SINE to be a band rather than ‘Rona solo’ because I like that band-family connection and I like having bandmates to collaborate and make great music with. I’m excited about 2018 because we have killer new tunes, a new stage show with synced videos and lighting, plus amazing music video ideas in the works.”

All five singles were recorded and produced in Austin with Charles Godfrey/Scary American (also of Sonic Ranch) at his studio at Mosaic Sound Collective. Godfrey, in his twodecade plus audio career, has been engineer/ producer on over 75 recordings, including the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ “Itz Blitz” and “Mosquito,” and The Black Angels “Indigo Meadow.”

“I met Charles at Mosaic Sound Collective

SINE weaves dance beats with industrial noise and layers of booming bass, synths and guitars into a mix of jagged textures and dark, lush fusions. It has Rougeheart stepping out from behind the kit with a strong, provocative, female-fronted project with influences such as Curve and Garbage, and nods to Queens of The Stone Age, Depeche Mode and Nine Inch Nails. SINE features Rougeheart on lead vocals, drums and programming and Jared Christ and Ranson Hayes both on guitar.

Find out more online at sine.band.

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Something for everyone

ach day of my life is full of light, colors, movement, sounds. And my passion is to try and capture everything that surrounds my limited existence in this world through my paintings.

-Efren Gonzalez Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center 600 River Street, Austin TX 78701 512-974-3772 • maccaustin.org The City of Austin is proud to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require assistance for participation in our programs or use of our facilities please call 512-974-3914 or 711 Relay Texas. La ciudad de Austin está comprometida al Acta de Americanos Incapacitados. Si requiere asistencia para participar en nuestros programas por favor llame al teléfono número 512-974-3914 o 711 Relay Texas.

“Tianguis con iglesia amarilla”

“La luz de mi tierra” Works by Efren Gonzalez

Opening reception - Saturday, January 27 l 6-9pm

FR

EE

January 27 - March 3, 2018

l

Sam Z. Coronado Gallery

FEBRUARY 2018 AUSTINTEXAS.GOV/MUSEUMSANDCULTURE

FEBRUARY 3 - 4, 12 - 5 PM

FEBRUARY 10 - MARCH 10

Elisabet Ney Museum Border | Promise

Dougherty Arts Center Refigured: Radical Realism

San Antonio artists Kim Bishop, Paul Karma, and Luis Valderas, construct a “border bandage” made of massive textile media prints, along Waller Creek.

Austin Figurative group show featuring some of the best figurative artists in Austin and their newest work.

Reception: Feb 16, 2018, 6 - 8 PM

304 East 44th St., 78751 austintexas.gov/Elisabetney

1110 Barton Springs Rd., 78704 austintexas.gov/jcbgallery

FEBRUARY 14, 7:30 - 9 PM

FEBRUARY 17, 1 - 4 PM

Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center LARP: Los Bohemios Perdidos Valentine Concert

Asian American Resource Center Korean Bookmaking Workshop

Javier Jara and Carlos “Millo” Ufret, will bring to life songs of love and heartache from all over Latin America.

600 River St., 78701 austintexas.gov/esbmacc

Visiting scholar Stephanie Rue will walk participants through the history and techniques of traditional Korean book making.

8401 Cameron Rd., 78754 austintexas.gov/aarc

The City of Austin is proud to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require assistance for participation in our programs or use of our facilities, please call 512-974-3914.

Upcoming event: “TRIUMPH OVER FATE” Rick Rowley, piano MacDowell Piano Concerto No. 2 February 23 & 24, 8:00 p.m.

Long center’s Dell Hall The ASO will keep the romance alive in February with performances featuring composers from the Romantic Period.

Hear three amazing pieces by composers Robert Schumann and Edward MacDowell.

conceRt SponSoRS

meDiA SponS oRS

Rick Rowley

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tickets/info

(512) 476-6064 or austinsymphony.org All artists, programs, and dates subject to change.

Celebrate the Year of the Dog In Chinese astrology, each year is related to a Chinese zodiac animal according to the 12-year cycle. We are entering the Year of the Dog and there will be plenty of celebrations in February around town.

CHINESE SOCIETY OF AUSTIN NEW YEAR CELEBRATION BANQUET

You are invited to join the Chinese Society of Austin in celebrating Chinese New Year, the Year of the Dog, with food and entertainment on Saturday, Feb. 10 from 6 - 10 p.m. Sitting begins at 5:45pm, dinner is served 6:30-9:00.

The banquet will be held at New Fortune Chinese Seafood Restaurant, 10901 North Lamar Blvd, # 501. Tickets are $25 for members and $30 for nonmembers. Membership is free.

Tickets are available online at csaustin.org.

The Mission of the CSA is to improve the communication and cooperation among Chinese Americans in Austin, to unite and serve the community, and to encourage the participation socially and politically in mainstream America by Chinese Americans in order to benefit the community.

FCC-AUSTIN’S CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION

costs $26 for the year prior to the event with online registration, and $30 at the door. Door tickets will be $23 (adults), $17 (youth) and $10 (toddler). Only checks or cash will be accepted at the door. You can also make a much appreciated donation to FCC Austin. Tickets and Year of the Dog t-shirts are available at fccaustin.org.

Join FCC-Austin on Sunday, Feb. 18 from 3:30 - 6:30 p.m. as our community celebrates the Chinese New Year, Year of the Dog, at New Fortune Chinese Seafood Restaurant (Chinatown Center, 10901 N. Lamar Blvd #501). This year’s event will include food, friends, entertainment, FCC Annual board elections, a silent auction and more.

The schedule begins with a mingling session upon arrival; at 4 p.m., there will be an early dinner with full buffet including New Fortune seafood, meat and vegetarian dishes and dumplings, as well as drinks and dessert; at 5 p.m., awards and announcements will follow; the last hour, from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m., will be all about fun with crafts, henna art, balloons, a silent auction and lion dancing. UT China Care will help with crafts.

This year’s t-shirts feature the simplified Mandarin character for “dog” with FCC-Austin’s name resting on the left sleeve (with a dog to be found in the graphic).

FCC-Austin is a chapter of an international network of families who have had the privilege of adopting

CHINATOWN CENTER’S YEAR OF THE DOG 2018

their children from China. The all-volunteer, nonprofit organization is a parent-to-parent resource network providing support for Central Texas families who have adopted from China, are in the process of adopting from China, or are interested in learning about adoption from China. FCCAustin also advocates for and provides support for children remaining in orphanages in China.

This is also an excellent time to renew your membership and get a price break for this and all of FCC-Austin’s 2018 events. Family membership

Chinatown Center will host the biggest celebration of the 2018 Chinese New Year in Austin with a day of multiple traditional events and activities on Sunday, Feb. 25. The Chinese New Year festivities will include family friendly fun from face-painting to firecracker displays. As always, the most anticipated entertainers, the Dragon and Lion Dance Teams will perform throughout the day. Music, dance, special guests and all kinds of entertainment will help kick off the Year of the Dog. Chinatown Shopping Center was established in 2006, the shopping and cuisine center strives to be the self-styled nexus of Austin’s small Asian community, hosting popular Chinese New Year celebrations every year. More information at chinatownaustin.com.

Good Times at Güero’s For great tunes and great rita’s!

Please join us for live music on our outside jardin stage, every Wednesday through Sunday. ThAnkS TO The FAnS & BAndS WhO SuPPOrT uS!!!

FeBruAry Line-up

TACO BAr

1412 S. Congress Avenue • Austin, Texas 78704 Open Weekdays 11am-11pm; Weekends 8am-11pm

OuTdOOr ShOWS Are “WeATher PermiTTinG” -----------------------------------------------------------------------Thu 2/1 LOS FLAmeS @ 6:30 Fri 2/2 The BOB FuenTeS ShOW @ 6:30 SAT 2/3 The BreW @ 2:30 / eL TuLe’ @ 6:30 Sun 2/4 mCLemOre Avenue @ 12:00 / 3 ChOrd rOdeO @ 3:00 -----------------------------------------------------------------------Wed 2/7 Sun rAdiO ShOW @ 6:00 Thu 2/8 The jOnAS LOrenCe BAnd @ 6:30 Fri 2/9 eriC hiSAW @ 6:30 SAT 2/10 TrenT Turner @ 2:30 / ex rOmAnTikA @ 6:30 Sun 2/11 rdO @ 12:00 / BLue miST @ 3:00 -----------------------------------------------------------------------Wed 2/14 Sun rAdiO ShOW @ 6:30 Thu 2/15 dOn LeAdy & The TAiLGATOrS @6:30 Fri 2/16 The BOB FuenTeS ShOW @ 6:30 SAT 2/17 jim STrinGer @ 2:30 / jeAn Pierre & The zydeCO AnGeLS @6:30 Sun 2/18 miChAeL CrOSS/jOAnnA hOWerTOn @ 12:00 / TiBurOn @ 3:00 -----------------------------------------------------------------------Wed 2/21 Sun rAdiO ShOW @ 6:00 Thu 2/22 Tex ThOmAS & The neW dAnGLin’ WrAnGLerS @ 6:30 Fri 2/23 The BOB FuenTeS ShOW @ 6:30 SAT 2/24 PAuL OrTA & The kinGPinS @ 2:30 / GLen COLLinS @ 6:30 Sun 2/25 TriO muSiCAL @ 12:00 / ChiCken STruT @ 3:00 -----------------------------------------------------------------------Wed 2/28 Sun rAdiO ShOW @ 6:00

www.GuerosTacoBar.com

To Do Música

By Liz Lopez

BROWN SOUND NEWS “Labor of Love Live,” a live sessions album, will soon be released by the Chris Castaneda Project. “Labor of Love” is the first live sessions album from CCP on Gold Man Records.

The Chris Castaneda Project invites you to experience the live feel and sound of the latest album release recorded at Bong Island Sound Studio in Missouri City, Texas. The album is engineered and mixed by Roger Tauz and mastered by Omar Vallejo in Austin. ​ he CCP consists of Chris Castaneda (Guitar/ T Vocals), Raul Hernandez (Bass/Vocals) and Bryce Kelley (Drums). “I think this album is a great snapshot of where The Project is now,” Castaneda states on his website. “We are always growing but we wanted to captured the real feel and dynamic of our live show as it is now and I think we have accomplished that.

Now we just want to give it to the fans.”

As of this publication’s due date, the CD Release Party date and location is to be announced, but for more information, visit chriscastanedamusic.com.

--Conjunto Los Pinkys will hold a video shoot this month. It will include classic hot rods, conjunto music, BBQ and you, if you wish to participate. The video is for their single “Mira Luisa” and will begin filming at 4 p.m. until sunset on Saturday, Feb. 10. They will then perform two sets from 6-9 p.m. with dancing in the parking lot. Weather permitting. Slow Pokes Brisket Shack 737 FM 1626, Manchaca, Texas. For more information, contact Bradley with Conjunto Los Pinkys via Facebook. If you can’t make it to the video shoot, Conjunto Los Pinkys will also be performing the “First Saturdays” from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. with no cover at Ciscos Restaurant and Bakery, 1511 E 6th St. --El Tule will celebrate the group’s 15th anniversary and release of the 5th album “Bailando” with their Edición Especial: “Colom bia>Monterrey>Austin>Cumbia Connection.”

Plan Sonidero will also be performing, along with DJ MegaBass “spinning everything from Celso to Crespo,” according to their Facebook post. Saturday, Feb. 10 with music starting at 10 p.m. Hotel Vegas, 1502 E 6th St. --Who’s ready for the Austin Rodeo? Mia Garcia will be part of the line-up on Sunday, Mar. 11.

Her brand new album “La Reina Del Mundo” was officially recently released and is now available for digital download on CD Baby.

For updates on her other performances, visit miamusictx.com. The KASE/KVET Stage is home to a daily schedule of live music concerts that everyone on the Fairgrounds can enjoy during the Fair and Rodeo. Also scheduled to

Son de Rey

perform the same date is Austin’s Bidi Bidi Banda, along with Seguin’s Conjunto Cats and La Tradizion. The schedule can be found at rodeoaustin.com.

--Jess Lopez has an upcoming Austin show on Saturday, Feb. 3 before he leaves for a California tour of a few shows during February. Catch his shows for a great performance from the recent inductee into the Tejano ROOTS Hall of Fame last month.

6 - 8 p.m. at La Feria Restaurant, 6301 Parmer Lane. He returns for a Valentine’s Day show at Margarita’s Restaurant and Sports Bar in Liberty Hill, Texas. Read more about the artist and shows on his Facebook page.

R E C O M M E N D E D

S H O W S

T. Tex Edwards, with JJ Barrera joining in with this band, will be performing the first Thursdays (Feb. 1 and Mar. 1) from 7 - 9 p.m. at the Carousel Lounge, 1110 E 52nd St. Visit the venue and artists Facebook page for updates and more information.

--End the week right with some Son Cubano from Cienfuegos as they return to perform at Tamale House East every Friday from 8 - 11

Ashley Borrero

p.m. Visit their Facebook page for more details on this date and other performances around town.

--OK Corral is honored to present two legends of Tejano music from Grammy award winners, Ruben Ramos and the Mexican Revolution and Sunny Ozuna and The Sunliners on Friday, Feb. 2 from 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. 629 W. Ben White Blvd.

--Salsa music and dancing by 11 piece Timba band, Timberos del Norte, continues on Sundays at One-2-One Bar from 8:30-11:30 pm. Ladies Night-No Cover, Gentlemen $10 with free parking and DJ El Rio between sets.

They also have had a residency every Tuesday from 8:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. with a $5 cover at Flamingo Cantina, 515 E 6th St. Parking downtown is free on Tuesday evenings. For more information visit Timberos del Norte Band Facebook page.

--Son de Rey will be performing from 10:15 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17 at The Sahara Lounge. Cover $8. Free parking. African buffet and Zoumountchi (African Night) will follow their performance. 1413 Webberville Rd. Doors 9 p.m.

--Wrap up Carnaval Season with performances

by MeliSamba and live music by Samba Bamba, plus a mini class. They will have a costume contest with prizes, too. SambaBamba is a Samba and Pagode group formed in Austin.

With seasoned, talented musicians and a vibrant set list tailored for your dancing feet, their show has the spirit of the Rodas de Samba in Brazil, a community getting together to sing and play samba while having a good time. MeliSamba was founded by Melissa Corpus in 2016. She is a professional Dancer, Teacher and Choreographer in Austin. $15 ticket and it is BYOB with food available for purchase from Boteco Food Truck. Saturday, Feb. 17 from 9 p.m. - 12 a.m. Esquina Tango Austin, 209 Pedernales St. For more details,

email info@esquinatangoaustin.com or call (512) 524-2772.

--Local artist Ashley Borrero is looking for a parttime guitarist for her Tejano Band Ashley & the Boys, a Tejano/Variety band. The job requires to be able to play Tejano, Pop/Rock, Country and R&B. For more info, respond to her add via Facebook at Ashley Borrero Music.

VALENTINE’S DAY CONCERTS Los Cupidos Perdidos - The Lost Cupids will offer a Valentine’s Day Concert as they perform Latin American boleros, waltzes and more. Javier Jara on vocals/guitar, Carlos Ufret on guitar and requinto, and guest musicians Isaac Peña and Juliana Sheffield on backup vocals, Christabel Lin and Camille Schiess on violins, Tarik Hassan on bass and Samuel López on percussion. Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 7:30 - 9 p.m. at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 River St. Tickets available at Eventbrite.

--Huerta Culture invites you to celebrate ValentineDance early with a free “crazy cumbia dance party” on Saturday, Feb. 10 from 9 p.m. to midnight. The band mixes cumbia, ska, reggae, hip-hop, blues, rock, and balkan influences to create a sound that has been dubbed “psichocumbia.”

With 4 singers in the band, sometimes all switching verses throughout a song and singing in English, Spanish, and Quechua (an indigenous language of Bolivia), Huerta Culture keeps arrangements dynamic and eclectic. The phat bass and rhythmic keys are accompanied by a wizard trumpet. Some songs also feature the guacharaca and the Andean pan pipes. Huerta Culture’s 2014 full-length album “Homegrown” is available on CD Baby. Russian House of Austin, 307 E 5th St. TODO AUSTIN // FEB 2018 // TODOAUSTIN.COM 09

New ‘Beyond Bollywood’ exhibit embraces Indian American contributions to the nation The City of Austin’s Asian American Resource Center, in partnership with South Asian Austin Moms--an organization raising awareness about the South Asian community in Ausstin--is proud to host this first-of-its-kind exhibition from Jan. 29 to Apr. 8.

From the builders of America’s earliest railroads and farms, to Civil Rights pioneers and digital technology entrepreneurs, Indian Americans have long been an inextricable part of American life.

The Smithsonian traveling exhibition “Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation” details the history of Indian Americans and their contributions to the U.S. from the 1700s to the present.

Created by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, “Beyond Bollywood” features Indian Americans’ migration experiences, working lives, political struggles and cultural and religious contributions. The City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department, Museums and Cultural Programs Division is an affiliate of the

Smithsonian Institution.

Through a vibrant collection of photographs, artifacts, art and interactive learning stations, visitors will experience the Indian American story and explore the many dynamic roles Indian Americans have played in shaping America. Complementing the exhibit, SAAM will host eight docent and educational programming days. Activities include group gallery tours, specialized programming that cover topics on Indian Immigration history, Indian Classical Dance, and Indian Jewelry, and special events such as an Indian regional fashion show, author readings, lectures, and a film screening.

“The vibrant life, culture and history of immigrants from India and Indian Americans is the story of America,” said Konrad Ng, former director of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center. “This wonderful exhibition deepens our understanding of the American experience as lived by the Asian Pacific American communities who have journeyed from being exotic outsiders to being the faces and voices of the future. We are excited to present an exhibition that we hope will excite and inspire generations.”

“Beyond Bollywood” is also accompanied by education curriculum and an opportunity for individuals to share their family stories through a digital portal.

Approximately 17 million people in the U.S. are of Asian Pacific Islander descent, and the number

is expected to climb to 41 million by 2050. One in every 100 Americans has a family connection to India. In Austin, the Asian Pacific Islander community continues to be the fastest growing demographic, making up a total of eight percent of the current population. When this data is disaggregated by ethnicity, Indian Americans are the largest Asian-ethnic group in the city, comprising 36.4 percent of Austin’s Asian Pacific Islander population.

The exhibition has been funded in large part by donations from philanthropists and corporations from across the country. Lead gifts came from Dr. and Mrs. Kanu Shah and Sadhana and Rick Downs, with additional major gift support from TV Asia, the

Epker-Sinha Foundation, Citigroup Foundation, Umang and Ruth Gupta, Gautam and Varsha Chandra, Washington Gas, Asian American Hotel Owners Association, Goldman Sachs, Robert N. Johnson, Sunita and Dan Leeds, Haresh and Alpa Bhungalia, Amita and Purnendu Chatterjee, Girish and Indu Jindia, Rohit and Joy Kirpalani, Anil and Sonjui Lal Kumar, Dr. Mahinder and Sharad Tak, Southwest Airlines and the Network of Indian Professionals Foundation.

The AARC is located at 8401 Cameron Road. For more information about this exhibition and programming, visit the AARC’s website at austintexas.gov/aarc.

Animal Services Office achieves new lifesaving record of 97.9 percent

innovative programs, such as engagement-based animal protection and outreach, a large dog foster program, and the support of a passionate Austin community, ASO has surpassed 90 percent every year since 2011.

Why Super Mario sombrero actually works

and sneakers, there’d be a conversation about it.

That’s just the way the world spins. So it goes for sombreros. I’m Latin American and I still can’t pull off a sombrero.

The Austin Animal Services Office has achieved a new record of 97.9 percent of lives saved for 2017, improving upon last year’s record-breaking number of 96.4 percent.

“We are so grateful to our community for stepping up year-after-year to help us save lives” said Lee Ann Shenefiel, Interim Chief Animal Services Officer. “It’s truly a group effort to be the largest No Kill community in the nation, and we’re looking forward to more record-breaking years ahead”.

By René Castro

ASO programs strive to engage residents in conversations around animal related needs in their neighborhoods and provide access to microchipping, sterilization and vaccinations and resources such as food, proper housing and beds to families in need. Working toward ensuring the pet and owner bond is maintained is an integral part of the No Kill plan and allows the ASO to remain the largest No Kill municipally operated shelter in the country.

Super Mario Odyssey came out for the Nintendo Switch last October. It’s a great game and it got rave reviews, which is why it’s weird that it’s come up again on the front page of Reddit this past month, with a discussion of whether or not Mario wearing a sombrero is racist.

Other notable accomplishments for the year include facilitating 8,093 adoptions, returning 3,363 pets to their owners and transferring 4,070 animals to rescue groups. Volunteers donated 48,996 hours and 2,404 animals went to foster homes.

In 2010, Austin’s City Council passed a resolution requiring the Animal Services Office to maintain a greater-than-90-percent lifesaving rate. With 10 TODO AUSTIN // FEB 2018 // TODOAUSTIN.COM

The Animal Services Office operates the Austin Animal Center, the largest No Kill municipal animal shelter in the United States. We provide shelter to more than 16,000 animals annually.

Our goal is to provide a safe place for lost and homeless animals and to educate our community in order to prevent animal homelessness and promote compassionate treatment of animals and responsible pet ownership.

We’re going to interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to talk about something that has no inherent value on its surface. It might not even have value in its depths.

Yeah, the sombrero thing is getting old. I think it’s a gut reflex by every Mexican person to cringe when they see someone wear a sombrero when they’re definitely not supposed to be wearing a sombrero.

To be clear, anyone can wear a sombrero, but not everyone should wear a sombrero.

Sombreros are like cowboy hats. Some people have the swagger and the chops (“chops” being a totally measurable and scientific term) to pull off a cowboy hat. I, for instance, do not. I get that.

If I showed up to the office tomorrow wearing a cowboy hat along with my typical hoodie, jeans

But Mario can pull it off. He absolutely can. Here’s the thing: When Mario puts on the sombrero and plays his little guitar, he’s really building a lot of bridges. He’s a Japanese character--of Italian descent--putting on Mexican garb, being controlled by Nintendo Switch consoles all over the world. He’s as cosmopolitan as it gets. He’s like the greatest diplomat.

So he gets a pass. I actually got a little pumped when I saw him don the hat and poncho because I’ve been playing Mario games since I was a little kid. This just made me feel like the character I’ve always recognized recognizes me, too.

CELEBRATING

DIVERSITY

BRIDGE2BRIDGE From Montopolis Bridge to 360 Bridge, Everything Austin

MARDI GRAS 2018

One of Austin’s longest-running performance festivals, FronteraFest returns in 2018 for its milestone 25th year.

Attracting artists, actors, musicians, poets and performers of all types, it is now one of the largest fringe performance festivals in the Southwest. The schedule includes The Short Fringe at Hyde Park Theatre, Bring Your Own Venue (B.Y.O.V.) and Mi Casa Es Su Teatro through Feb. 17. hydeparktheatre.org.

Black History Month As Austin’s Black population has met critical challenges in recent years, its cultural assets continue to underscore the breadth and creativity of the community. The public is invited to share that heritage during Black History Month.

Le Freedom Sing! is the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center’s Black History Month Community Sing-A-Long kicking off the celebration. Learn the words of a special song inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and sing it together on Thursday, Feb. 1, 6:30 - 8 p.m. in the Boyd Vance Theater.

The Carver Museum will also host Black History Month Kids Day on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 12 p.m.

This family event features crafts, stories, and activities meant to introduce kids and families to the importance of Black History Month.

Barbara Jordan Freedom Foundation presents Barbara Jordan Exhibit in honor of Black History Month and relevant to the issues America faces today. The interactive exhibit highlights Barbara Jordan’s significant impact on civil rights legislation, female empowerment and social justice. February also features Barbara Jordan Freedom Week, as designated by the 82nd Texas Legislature. Designed to highlight Jordan’s lifetime of significant contributions to society as a politician, policymaker, activist and educator, the exhibit runs February 19-24 at the Texas State Capitol’s Central Gallery.

On February 20, the Greater Austin Black Chamber will host “Taste of Black Austin: From Field to Table” at Peached Social House, 6-9 p.m. This event will feature an exclusive look at the historical narrative of Black food subsistence, business and entrepreneurship from the plight of the farmer to the plate of the 21st century. Black farmers played an integral role in the founding of the agricultural and food industrial structure of the U.S. This cultural, food, and art exhibition seeks to toast not only Black farmers, but the ways in which their toil has been transformed into American culinary classics.

In her 90th year, cinema giant Agnès Varda contributed yet another unforgettable film, “Faces Places,” to her oeuvre. Austin Film Society looks back at “Cleo From 5 to 7,” “La Pointe Courte” and “Vagabond,” essential Varda films which peek into her method, breakthroughs, and passions. Screenings run from Feb. 1-22. Ticket information and show times available online. austinfilm. org.

When the Wazir of Oz gets word that the girl with red sandals is headed to Oz, he and his sidekick do all they can to stop her. Join Drithi and her fellow travelers as they learn the benefit of seeing things from a new perspective, Feb. 3-25 at Scottish Rite Theater. Live music by Austin’s Sacred Cowgirls and an original script and choreography blend an American classic with traditions and culture from South Asia. scottishritetheater.org.

Enoughie is different from the other kids at school. He looks different than the other kids, so he doesn’t always feel like he fits in with everyone else. One day, Enoughie takes an incredible journey to figure out who he is and how he does belong. This bilingual puppet production will be presented in collaboration with ZACH Theatre, Teatro Vivo, Glass Half Full Theatre and The Kindness Campaign through Feb. 25 at the ESB-MACC. teatrovivo.org.

The Golden Dragon Acrobats represent the best of a time-honored tradition that began more than 25 centuries ago. The reputation of the company is solidly rooted in a commitment to the highest of production values and attention to artistic details. Danny Chang and Angela Chang combine award-winning acrobatics, traditional dance, ancient and contemporary music and theatrical techniques to present a breathtaking show. thelongcenter.org.

The Austin Symphony Orchestra will perform two nights of Schumann, featuring pianist Rick Rowley. The evening includes Robert Schumann’s “Manfred” Overture, based on the poem by Lord Byron, and Symphony No. 2. Rick Rowley also takes the stage to perform MacDowell’s Piano Concerto No. 2. Some consider this to be the first major piano concerto written by an American. Feb. 2324 at Dell Hall. austinsymphony.org.

For 36 years, the Austin Music Awards have honored the local music community and recognized the best Austin artists, bands and industry masterminds which have forged Austin’s international music reputation. Join this event on Wednesday, Feb. 28 as it recognizes Austin’s outstanding live music achievements of 2017 as voted on by the Austin Chronicle readers. Proceeds from the event benefit the Sims Foundation. acl-live.com.

It’s Mardi Gras time in Austin, so laissez les bons temps rouler. Start things off with local treasure, Austin Samba, which brings 50 performers and special guests to the Speakeasy on Saturday, Feb. 10, 8 p.m. - 2 a.m.

The event will feature a stellar lineup of Austin-based groups ready to get your body moving. Drumming from Brazil, brass from New Orleans and more. The line-up includes Superfónicos, Austin Samba, Seu Jacinto, Minor Mishap Marching Band, Flyjack, Big Wy’s Brass Band and Maracatu Texas. Tickets are $15 at the door.

On Saturday, Feb. 10, the beloved cultural institution, Carnaval Brasileiro, brings back its annual celebration at Palmer Events Center. One of Austin’s longest running annual traditions, which began as a 1975 celebration for UT Brazilian expatriates and friends, it has turned into the largest indoor Brazilian Mardi Gras celebration anywhere on the globe. It’s an epic evening with an infectiously danceable pulse of samba drums, an endless parade of exotic costumes and the uninhibited euphoria of over 6,000 attendees.

The heart and soul of the festivity is found in the authentic, fiery Brazilian carnaval music provided by high energy bands. Opening will be nine drummers from Rio’s Samba Schools. Dancers from Austin’s MeliSamba dance group will be on stage through the evening.

They’ll be joined by Brazilian native Dandara Odara, who leads the Pragandaia Band. Their music is inspired by the rich, sensuous swing of Brazil and Bahia’s African-based culture. Odara’s sound comes from a mixture of sources involving rhythms from the Caribbean, Africa, and Cuba.

Tickets to Carnaval Brasileiro are $40 in advance or $45 at the door. There is a VIP option for an additional $28, which includes coat check, room to breathe and private bar and restrooms. For more information, visit sambaparty.com.

TODO AUSTIN // FEB 2018 // TODOAUSTIN.COM 11

PRINCIPLE 4: LEAVE WHAT YOU FIND