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VOLUME VIII / APR 2017
ATX Barrio Archive Alamo Drafthouse Mueller Women’s Expo Old Settlers Music Fest
‘Pancho Villa From a Safe Distance’ featuring Graham Reynolds, Liz Cass and Paul Sanchez
Fusebox Festival
KLRU-TV, Austin PBS broadcast 18.1 / cable 9 klru.org
See your favorite PBS shows ANYTIME, ANYWHERE with KLRU PBS Kids 24/7! KLRU is providing this FREE, fun, educational resource for all families! Research consistently shows that PBS Kids resources build literacy skills, boost math learning and foster social-emotional growth.
WATCH ON TV CHANNEL 18.4 DOWNLOAD THE FREE PBS KIDS VIDEO APP LIVESTREAM AND PLAY GAMES AT KLRUKIDS.ORG
Get the complete lineup at KLRU.ORG Also This Month
Independent Lens Newtown
Nature Hotel Armadillo
Latin Music USA
Monday, April 3rd, at 8 pm
Wednesday, April 19th, at 7 pm
Fridays, April 28th & May 5th, at 8 pm
Newtown explores the aftermath of the mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, where 20 first-graders and six of their educators were killed on December 14, 2012.
Deep in the heart of the rainforest the mysterious and secretive Giant Armadillo digs a new burrow each night.
This documentary gives a fresh take on musical history, reaching across five decades and across musical genres to portray the rich mix of sounds created by Latinos and embraced by all.
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
new code. The next talk is Wednesday, Apr. 19, 7:30-9 p.m. at Austin City Hall.
MLK civil rights discussion On Apr. 4, 1967, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered the speech “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence,” which confronted the deeply rooted racism, militarism, and materialism of the U.S.s and described it as the greatest purveyor of violence in the world. UT professor James K. Galbraith and Peniel E. Joseph will discuss the speech and its contemporary resonance Tuesday, Apr. 4, 12:15-1:30 p.m. Sid Richardson Hall Unit 3
Free soil testing Find out what’s in your garden soil at the Soil Kitchen. Austin Brownfields experts will be on hand Apr. 8-9 at Parque Zaragoza (Apr. 8, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. and Sunday, Apr. 9, 9 a.m.–noon) to accept soil samples to be screened for heavy metals and tested for nutrients. The testing is free and confidential. A number is assigned to each soil sample and the gardener can look up the results online in May. For more info, visit www. austintexas.gov/soilkitchen.
Austin Water planning workshop Austin Water is developing a water plan for the next 100 years. The plan will identify future water needs and strategies to meet those needs such as conservation, technological innovation, and additional supply options. Feedback and input on this plan will help make sure the plan reflects our community’s values. Water Forward Public Workshop #3 is Tuesday, Apr. 4, 6-8 p.m. at One Texas Center, Conf. Room 325. CodeNEXT outreach The City of Austin is hosting a “Code Talk” series as part of the outreach process for the CodeNEXT project. Each of the five Code Talks will focus on a major topic relating to the land development code. The Code Talks will feature a short staff presentation as well as a panel of community members, who will discuss challenges in the old code and opportunities for improvement in the
Addressing racism in the Trump era Since 9/11, Muslims, Arabs, Sikhs, and South Asians have experienced racial and religious backlash because of their physical appearance and articles of faith. Recent political rhetoric, mass shootings by violent extremists, and biased media caricatures have exacerbated this mistreatment. Profiling, surveillance and hate violence have become a quotidian part of life for these communities. Arjun Sethi will address these civil rights challenges Sunday, Apr. 23, 12-1:30 p.m. at Asian American Resource Center. Sexual assault report at UT Fifteen percent of female undergraduate students at UT said they have been raped since enrolling, a survey released in March indicated. A survey in 2016 showed that around one in sevenof undergraduate females at the 50,000-student flagship Austin campus reported being raped, and an additional 12 percent said they suffered an attempted rape. Twenty-eight percent had experienced unwanted sexual touching. Art After Six lecture series Cultural Arts Division’s new iteration of Art After Six lecture series to better engage audiences and address topical issues pertinent to arts and culture. Art After Six will now explore specific themes via panel discussions with artists from the exhibition from Apr.– Oct. on select Friday evenings at 6 p.m. at Austin City Hall. The events are free. On Apr. 28, Greg Davis, Carol Hayman, Kirk Marsh will explore the pros and cons (and processes) of digital vs analog photography.
Austin’s MULTICULTURAL media source for EIGHT YEARS • Find us at TODOAustin.com
Connecting with our city’s untold stories of the past through tech
Austinites he meets. Because of this, most of the information on the account would otherwise be inaccessible to most people or placed on a shelf in libraries or archives.
By Cat Cardenas
“There’s so much history out there,” Garcia said. “There are so many stories that haven’t been told.”
Sifting through boxes of old family photos, Alan Garcia discovered an Austin that no longer existed. After moving to Austin from Mexico in 1988, Garcia’s parents found an apartment near The University of Texas where they frequented restaurants and local businesses that are long gone now. As he sorted through the photos, his parents helped him learn more about the city’s history. Garcia quickly realized there wasn’t a place that educated or even documented the stories of Austin’s Hispanic and black communities, so he decided to create an Instagram account, ATX Barrio Archive. There, he could preserve Austin’s history and create a space where the city’s older generation could share their stories with the younger one. “[My parents’] lives as young immigrants in Austin were a part of the city that people didn’t talk about enough,” Garcia said. “This was a way to share those stories with others and incorporate it into the image of Austin and give it a rightful place in its history.” With each photo he posted, Garcia began to piece together how much the city had changed and the people who had been affected by it. “Seeing families on Rainey Street as part of a Hispanic barrio, it’s crazy to see it now,” Garcia said. “It’s hard to find out the struggle they went through because, as far as the city’s concerned, the story of Rainey Street starts with the construction of the new bars. Residents were refusing to leave, but their history’s been left out.” While Garcia sometimes searches through archives or is sent photos to use for the account, he’s also found material on the street, simply by striking up conversations with random
Volume VIII, Number 12
Langford, César E. López Linares, Genoveva Rodriguez, Diana Sanchez
PUBLISHER/EDITOR // Gavin Lance Garcia info@todoaustin.com
PRODUCTION SERVICES // Anthony Garcia
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
CONTRIBUTORS // Alka Bhanot, Roy Casagranda, Cat Cardenas, Cindy Casares, Evelyn C. Castillo, Lobo Corona, Nora De LaRosa, Lloyd Doggett, Laura Donnelly Gonzalez, Mark Guerra, Mari Hernandez, Yadira Izquierdo, Chaille Jolink, Ryan Jordan, Ali Khataw, Ramey Ko, Harish Kotecha, Sonia Kotecha, Julia Lee, Isabel Lopez-Aguilar, Cristina Parker, Paul Saldaña, Marion Sanchez, Sameer Shah, Blake Shanley, Dani Slabaugh, Corey Tabor, Rama Tiru, Carola Rivera, Blanca Valencia, Lesley Varghese, Kate Kinkler Dawson, Lichen Zhen ONLINE EDITION // TODOAustin.com
Once the stories are shared on the account, viewers comment to share their memories at favorite restaurants or clubs.
“Having people interact with the things I post, recognizing who’s in the photos, saying ‘This is my neighborhood,’ that’s what drives me,” Garcia said. “There’s really no other space for those conversations.” The connection Garcia’s forged with his followers leads them to send him their own photos and videos. Because of this, Garcia said he’s learned so many things about the city he hadn’t found in his research from the birth of the graffiti movement in Austin’s barrios to Martin Luther King Jr.’s visit to the UT campus. The knowledge he’s gained from the project is what drives Garcia to keep it going. In the future, he hopes to see more community involvement with the project. In many cases, he’s found that so much of Austin’s history is living inside some of its older residents, away from the general public. “There’s a lot of civil rights history and protest history that I knew so little about because there was so little that could be found,” Garcia said. “A lot of that gets passed down through conversations, so if we don’t reach out to these residents now, these stories will be lost forever.” COVER // Bill McCullough TODO Austin // Multicultural Media for All of Austin. TODO 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. © 2017 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 // MAR 2017 // TODOAUSTIN.COM 03
Understanding extent of Russian election interference should be a non-partisan issue By Rep. Lloyd Doggett
Since last year, I have called for a non-partisan, independent, comprehensive investigation of Russian interference in our democracy. The steady drumbeat of disclosures since the election revealing more contacts between President Trump’s associates and Russian government officials has only increased the urgency of this review. This is not an attempt to “redo” the election, but rather an important determination regarding to what extent a foreign, belligerent power meddled in our election process. Russia is hardly our friend. Putin runs a corrupt operation that murders its opponents and threatens its neighbors. Additionally, he was involved in war crimes in both Syria and Ukraine. Russians continue waging cyberattacks against us and actively interfering in elections across Europe in an attempt to create as much chaos and as little European unity as possible. How anyone could admire anything about him remains a mystery. And NATO remains very important to counter this Russian aggression. Already, the unanimous conclusion of all 17 intelligence services is that Russia interfered in the recent presidential election to benefit one candidate. Continued ducking, dodging, and diversion regarding Kremlin connections only heightens concerns. In March we learned that Attorney General Jeff Sessions misled the Senate during his confirmation hearings regarding his meetings with the Russian Ambassador. He volunteered that he “did not have communications with the Russians” – even though this was not the question he was asked. It was also revealed that the President’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, met with the Russian Ambassador, Sergey Ivanovich Kislyak, ushering him into Trump Tower via the back door. With additional dodging from others known to have met with the Russians, like now former national security advisor General Mike Flynn, J.D. Gordon, and Carter Page, you have to wonder how everyone manages to forget their interactions with the Russians only to 04 TODO AUSTIN // MAR 2017 // TODOAUSTIN.COM
remember that they absolutely did not talk about the election. Now, federal investigators and computer scientists are examining whether there was a computer server connection between the Trump organization and a Russian bank. Perhaps no fire, but more than enough smoke to warrant review. While the President has claimed in recent months that he has no deals or relationships in Russia, prior comments suggest otherwise.
Lloyd Doggett - NPR Photo
One way to determine the extent of any entanglement would be for the President to release his federal tax returns, as every presidential candidate has done for decades. In 2013, he said during a television interview, “Well, I’ve done a lot of business with the Russians. They’re smart and they’re tough.” Previously, his son, Donald, Jr. had indicated that “…Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets...” If there’s no continuing relationship, why not try to clear things up by releasing his tax returns? Unfortunately, the President’s congressional allies have blocked the Committee amendments that I have twice proposed to require a private, expert review of his tax returns. I will continue seeking every opportunity to obtain these returns. There is other work keeping me very busy in Washington, including my continuing efforts to lower the cost of prescription drugs and to defeat a healthcare bill, which has been firmly rejected by AARP, the American Medical Association and the American Hospital Association, since it will likely terminate health insurance for millions of Americans. I will not back down from defending our values, nor ignore the growing evidence of Russian meddling. It is time to put our democratic process and the American people first. As always, I welcome your advice and good counsel.
Loss of funding for public broadcasting will hit harder than politicians think By Kate Winkler Dawson
As President Donald Trump prepares to slash domestic spending, funding for public broadcasting is reportedly on his list — a horrible blow to rural, poverty-stricken communities. In many rural areas, particularly in states that lean Republican, public broadcasting stations are the only option for information. Residents often have limited internet access or spotty cell service. Cable might not be a choice. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, or CPB, provides millions of federal dollars each year to 1,500 radio and television stations in every state at a cost of $1.35 per taxpayer. Most of those stations depend heavily on federal funding for at least 22 percent of their budget, some more than 70 percent. If the funding does get eliminated, those stations might not survive. More than 20,000 jobs would be at risk. This is a bigger issue than the meme that Congress is threatening Big Bird. Eliminating the CPB could cost lives. Rural communities are vulnerable without broadcasted information. Public stations send out AMBER alerts, the system that tracks missing children. They broadcast critical warnings about severe weather. Many stations in states like South Dakota and Alabama serve as Emergency Alert Service hubs, disseminating life-saving information. In West Texas, the public radio station in Marfa, KRTS, played a crucial role during the 2011 wildfires that burned more than 300,000 acres. The station saved lives by broadcasting where the fire was moving. Police and volunteers called with updates. But KRTS depends on federal funds for more than 30 percent of its revenue. Without it, the station might disappear. More than 95 percent of America now has
access to crucial emergency information, partially thanks to the CPB. But there are other benefits that some politicians might not understand, necessities that each community deserves — no matter the size or demographic. We have the right to information, the right to local news and unbiased reporting, free from the pressures of advertisers. All communities need at least one media outlet dedicated to their town. Public broadcasting offers a venue for public discourse and civil engagement, which are essential tools for a democracy. Now they might be at risk. The most visible recipients of CPB funds — PBS and NPR — are often labeled bastions of liberalism, supported by taxpayer money. Rescinding federal funds would be a triumph for the GOP, but PBS and NPR will survive. Smaller, rural stations might not. During a Republican senator’s town hall meeting in Arkansas, a 7-year-old boy said that President Trump was “deleting all the parks and PBS Kids just to make a wall.” In many rural areas, PBS Kids is the only children’s programming. Larger public stations, like those in San Francisco or Boston, have opportunities to fundraise or gather sponsors. Rural stations have a tougher time. And often their operating costs are higher because they need multiple transmitters to reach far-flung regions. But states where voters favored Trump in November are well funded by the CPB. Florida was given almost $15 million in 2014; Indiana received more than $8 million, and Kentucky more than $6 million. Funding for arts programs, including the CPB, is such a small portion of the projected budget — less than 0.07 percent. Trump could punish states that need public broadcasting the most. By threatening to slash CPB funding, Trump is further isolating his core constituency — a danger to every community in America. Kate Winkler Dawson is a senior lecturer of journalism in the Moody College of Communication at The University of Texas at Austin.
Wednesday, Apr. 12, 5 p.m. Pre-Professional Youth Acting. Instructor Aisha Melhem. Designed for those interested in the art of stage or film acting, directing and more. We focus on original collaborative work so that our students grow rich in the experience of ensemble-building through creating their own productions. Ages 7 - 18. $60/month. Friday, Apr. 21, 6 p.m. Discussion of The Mothers: A Novel by Brit Bennett. Bennett will captivate you with her characters, who are hurting, flawed and trying to navigate the unsteady transition into adulthood. A novel about motherhood, female friendship and finding love with a broken heart, The Mothers tackles heavy circumstances, but the hope of young black women and Bennett’s ability to convey the ferocity of what it means to have a mother, to be a mother, and to want a mother. Saturday, Apr. 22, 1:30 p.m. Mommy, Daddy, and Me is a parent and children book club that aims to encourage children to read with their parents/guardians and discuss works with others. This offering will be led by Yolanda King, a mom and local children’s book author. April’s book selection is “Dragons and Marshmallows,” written by Asia Citro and illustrated by Marion Lidsay.
New exhibits: “Places and Perceptions” by Marlene Llanes in the Sam Z. Coronado Gallery and “The Root of it All” by April Garcia in the Community Gallery. Thursday, Apr. 13, 6 - 8 p.m. Llanes’s paintings present the concept of perception and how it determines the way reality presents itself differently to each of us. Garcia is a ESB-MACC LARP resident, multi-disciplinary artist living in Austin with a creative passion for sculpture and installation. For 12 years she has been concentrating and exploring different ways of creating sculpture and installation with fabric. Her sewing, weaving and knitting process that she has developed give soft sculptures style a very organic-abstract feel, inspired by nature. César Chávez Tribute 2017. Most known as a labor leader and civil rights activist, Chávez co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (later the United Farm Workers Union) in 1962. As a farm worker, he became the best known Latin American civil rights activist. By the late 1970s, his tactics had forced growers to recognize the UFW as the bargaining agent for 50,000 field workers in California and Florida. Everybody’s welcome to attend this special screening about Mexican American civil rights.
Friday, Apr. 7, 6 - 8 p.m. The AARC Exhibitions presents an opening reception for “And the Distance Dissolves into Love” by Meena Matocha, and “Strangers from Home” by Vy Ngo. Join Matocha and Ngo as they discuss their personal journeys and works in a unique Artist-to-Artist Talk at 7 p.m. Refreshments served. Friday, Apr. 7, 10 - 11:30 a.m. Bridging Cultures Storytime, “Tom Thumb Tales from Asia.” From bamboo stalks to tiny warriors, fairy tales of unexpected extraordinary children in Japan and Bhutan will warm the hearts of all. After story time, stay around for a fun activity. Free, open to all ages. Summer camp registration. Dive in and explore a range of themes including leadership, cultural awareness, mindfulness and expressive art, introductory coding, and environmental responsibility. Camps will be Jun. 12 - Aug. 4, Monday Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. One-week camps are $112.50 - $275; two-week camps are $247.50 - $300. Financial aid available. Wednesdays, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., with Danyale Bunton. Learn how to search and apply for City jobs, get help setting up employment applications and advice on your next interview. Free. Computer Lab.
ICE raids affecting local communities
Hernandez is a leader nationally in upholding the will of her constituents and protecting the fourth amendment. More immigration detainers were declined in Travis County than any other county in the country, a result of the implementation of the Sheriff’s policy to reject warrantless detainers on February 1.
On March 21, Grassroots Leadership reacted to a revelation first made in federal court on Monday, March 20 by U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Austin confirming that mass raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Austin in February were retaliation for Sheriff Sally Hernandez’s policy limiting the use of voluntary immigration detainer requests in the Travis County Jail. The revelation was first published in the Austin American-Statesman on Monday afternoon. ICE had previously stated that its operations were “routine” to media and local officials.
The ICE Out of Austin campaign, whose members are immigrants in Travis County who campaigned for years to end collaboration with ICE at the jail, released the following statement in response to Judge Austin’s revelation:
“This revelation in open court proves what immigrants and advocates have known for years — that ICE regularly lies to immigrants, local officials, and the media,” said Bob Libal, executive director of Grassroots Leadership. “Now more than ever, officials at every level of government should rethink their relationship with this agency, and cut ties with an entity that used its power to terrorize our community and then lies to elected officials about the reason for its operation.” A report released by the Trump administration on March 20 also showed that Sheriff
“This retaliation was a vengeful tactic by ICE for all the progress the immigrant community has gained in this county in the last four years. This is as much as attack on the local democratic process, the immigrant community and their leadership as it is on our sheriff’s policy. We fought too hard and too long to let ICE intimidate us back into accepting our deportations. We will continue to struggle and fight to end deportations.” The Trump administration report was intended to instill fear and anti-immigrant bias by listing crimes of which immigrants were accused. However, the list was not accurate, according to a report from the Statesman, and wrongly listed 14 rejected detainers at another jail facility. Former Travis County Sheriff Greg Hamilton had released lists like these in the past, but his successor, Sheriff Hernandez, was elected on a mandate to reform the Sheriff’s office’s relationship with ICE.
Last October, a federal district court in the Northern District of Illinois became the latest to rule that the practice of placing immigration detainers on individuals in local law enforcement custody exceeds the federal government’s warrantless arrest authorities. Immigration detainers are not based on probable cause and are only requests to local law enforcement from ICE to hold migrants in local custody beyond the disposition of their criminal cases. Grassroots Leadership is an Austin-based national organization that works for a more just society where prison profiteering, mass incarceration, deportation and criminalization are things of the past. TODO AUSTIN // MAR 2017 // TODOAUSTIN.COM 05
Cultural Adventure Starts HERE!
ASIAN AMERICAN RESOURCE CENTER
SUMMER CAMPS
Dive in and explore themes including leadership, cultural awareness, mindfulness and expressive art, introductory coding, and environmental responsibility. June 12-Aug. 4, M-F, 9am to 5pm with early drop off and late pick up options. Financial aid available. 1-week camps, $112.50-$275 and 2-week camps, $247.50-$300. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER:
AUSTINTEXAS.GOV/AARC OR CALL 512.974.1700
ARTISAN MARKETPLACE
FOOD BOOTHS AND CULINARY DEMONSTRATIONS
KIDS ACTIVITIES AND GAMES
HERITAGE SHOWCASES
VISIT
AUSTINTEXAS.GOV/AARC
iva
Saturday, May 6th, 2017 11 AM - 3 PM As ia n e Pac eF g ific a A m e ric a e rit n Food & H
l
OR CALL 512.974.1700
st
7 p.m. TEAV presents Mea Dilemma play 8 p.m. Music by Julie Slim with Roundez Vouz
CULTURAL PERFORMANCES
FREE ADMISSION
ASIAN AMERICAN RESOURCE CENTER 8401 CAMERON RD. AUSTIN, TX 78754
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
FEATURED APRIL 2017 EVENTS:
FREE
Short Shorts Fest
Saturday April 2nd, 1pm -3pm, Elisabet Ney Museum Come celebrate our city’s buzz-worthy short fiction scene! 304 E. 44th Street - www.elisabetney.org
Celebrate Pachamama!
Saturday, April 8th, 10am - 1pm, ESB-Mexican American Cultural Center A tribute to the earth mother of Inca mythology, enjoy classes and cultural arts activities, then stay for complimentary lunch! - www.austintexas.gov/esbmacc 600 River Street World T’ai Chi and Qigong Day
Saturday, April 29th, 9am-12pm, Asian American Resource Center A worldwide event sending a wave of peaceful, healing Qi around the world
8401 Cameron Road - www.austintexas.gov/aarc
Vibes and Verses
Performance - Thursday, April 27th, 7:30pm -9:30pm
A black art slam featuring poetry, performance art, music and dialogue. Come enjoy a stellar performance by regional artists.
1165 Angelina Street- www.carvermuseum.org
Visit our Facebook page for all upcoming events! www.facebook.com/ArtsInParks 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 512-974-4000.
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!!!
APRIL Line-up
TACO BAR
1412 S. Congress Avenue • Austin, Texas 78704 Open Weekdays 11am-11pm; Weekends 8am-11pm
OUTDOOR SHOWS ARE “WEATHER PERMITTING” -----------------------------------------------------------------------SAT 4/1 THE BREW @ 2:30 / EL TULE’ @ 6:30 SUN 4/2 TRACIE LYNNE @ 12:00 / THE RECUPERATORS @ 3:00 WED 4/5 KDRP RADIO SHOW @ 6:00 THU 4/6 LOS FLAMES @ 6:30 FRI 4/7 THE BOB FUENTES SHOW @ 6:30 -----------------------------------------------------------------------SAT 4/8 THE AUDREY MALONE BAND @ 12:00 / TEXAS TYCOONS @ 6:30 SUN 4/9 THE JACK KNIVES @ 12:00 / BLUE MIST @ 3:00 WED 4/12 KDRP RADIO SHOW @ 6:00 THU 4/13 JORGE TAMAYO & FRIENDS @ 6:30 FRI 4/14 THE BOB FUENTES SHOW @ 6:30 -----------------------------------------------------------------------SAT 4/15 JIM STRINGER @ 2:30 / AUSTIN HEAT @ 6:30 SUN 4/16 CLOSED FOR EASTER WED 4/19 KDRP RADIO SHOW @ 6:00 THU 4/20 WINK KEZIAH @ 6:30 FRI 4/21 THE BOB FUENTES SHOW @ 6:30 -----------------------------------------------------------------------SAT 4/22 TIBURON @ 2:30 / THE EASTSIDE KINGS @ 6:30 SUN 4/23 TRIO MUSICAL @ 12:00 / CHICKEN STRUT @ 3:00 WED 4/26 KDRP RADIO SHOW @ 6:00 THU 4/27 TEX TOMAS @ 6:30 FRI 4/28 THE BOB FUENTES SHOW @ 6:30 -----------------------------------------------------------------------SAT 4/29 JELLY @ 2:30 / GLEN COLLINS @ 6:30
www.GuerosTacoBar.com
Local, national and global visionary artists are back for Fusebox Festival
own identity — Al Volta’s Midnight Bar,” Fusebox’s Managing Director Brad Carlin said. “We are drawing an inspiration from the worlds of science and electricity to design a pop-up bar with highly curated food, drinks and performances (with nightly surprises) that will appeal to broader audiences outside of our typical festival community.”
By Lesly Reynaga
And speaking of its global approach, Fusebox aims to connect Austin with the world by bringing emerging and established artists from countries such as Australia, Korea, Canada, Mexico, El Salvador, Peru, the UK, Nigeria and other far-away places. This creates opportunities for local artists to showcase their work to audiences from all over the country and world.
Returning for its 13th year on April 12-16, Fusebox Festival is a hybrid arts festival that champions adventurous works of art in theater, dance, film, music, literature, visual and culinary arts. The 2017 festival takes place over 5 action-packed days in dozens of venues and locations all over the city. Hundreds of local, national and international artists in all disciplines converge for one of the most unique cultural events in the country that reaches over 20,000 people annually. This year’s festival includes large concerts for thousands of people in traditional venues such as The Long Center and the Paramount, as well as smaller, more intimate experiences in clubs and galleries, all completely free to attend. Its distinctive late-night hub that acts as the heart and soul of the festival for artists, crew members and fest-goers get to hangout and connect is back at Saengerrunde Halle with a brand new approach. “There are a couple of new wrinkles this year, one of which is branding the festival social hub with its
PANCHO VILLA FROM A SAFE DISTANCE UNA ÓPERA SOBRE PANCHO VILLA, BANDIDO LEGENDARIO, GENERAL ENIGMÁTICO Y HÉROE DE LA REVOLUCIÓN MEXICANA FREE PERFORMANCES // ESPECTACULO GRATIS Fri April 14, 8p | Sat April 15, 3p & 8p Stateside at the Paramount Theatre (719 Congress Ave) GRATIS: 512.572.1372 | boxoffice@fuseboxfestival.com
This year, multi-award winning Australian dancer and choreographer Antony Hamilton will bring his critically acclaimed performances to Austin. Involving a sophisticated melding of movement, sound and visual design, and traverse subject matter from formal physical study to the world of the fantastic, Antony’s works are regularly presented across Europe, Australia and Asia. All the way from Korea, Jisun Kim is an artist with a background and degree in Time Art. Her body of work explores her interests in social systems, cultures, and “no man’s land” (multi-layered spaces created between laws, norms, borders of physical lands, marginalized spaces in existing and online worlds). When the most solid-looking, wellestablished systems meet, it can produce a peculiar hole. Her work attempts to reveal these holes within the system and live inside them. Sherwin Sullivan Tjia is a multidisciplinary artist from Canada whose practice blurs the boundaries between performer and audience. Incorporating elements of childhood and nostalgia, Tjia’s events create contexts that welcome participants to open and unsettle themselves, often in acts of radical intimacy or unexpected collaboration. Based in Monterrey, Mexico, Ernesto Walker is an artist whose work is characterized by the exploration of chance and abstraction as a way to encode and visually translate the reality around us, looking for links between what is accidental and what becomes meaningful. Also from Mexico, Lagartijas Tiradas Al Sol is a community of Mexican artists making projects that link work and life and erase borders. Founded in 2003 by Luisa Pardo and Gabino Rodriguez, it seeks to clarify and articulate, but also to disrupt and unravel notions of biography, document, and history.
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Selina Thompson
Maria Chávez is best known as an abstract turntablist, sound artist and DJ. She was thought to be deaf until the age of three when her family came to Austin and doctors at The University of Texas removed the water from her ears, allowing her to hear her first sounds. Accidents, coincidence, and failures are themes that unite her sound sculptures, installations and other works with her improvised solo turntable performance practice. Selina Thompson is an artist and performer based in Birmingham, UK. She writes and makes performance and installation about identity, how it shapes our lives, politics and environments, and its relationship to freedom. In the past few years she has built dresses out of cake, giant ‘tumbleweaves’ out of hair extensions, and retraced the Transatlantic Slave route via cargo freighter. Wura-Natasha Ogunji is a visual artist and performer, with works in the forms of drawings, videos and public performances. Her most recent creative investigations focus on the presence of women in public space in Lagos, Nigeria. Local acts will include all_caps, an artist collective comprised primarily of students from The University of Texas; line upon line percussion, a trio that employs percussion for fervent, communal experiences they believe are essential for human beings to thrive; Christine Gwillim, an interdisciplinary artist, curator, and PhD student at UT whose doctoral research focuses on the sonic affects of reproductive rights activism and lawmaking in Texas; and Exploded Drawing, an organization whose aim is to elevate the electronic music community in Texas by encouraging creativity and stimulating conversation among electronic artists and listeners.
‘Pancho Villa From a Safe Distance’ A must-see Fusebox experience. Austin’s own mastermind Graham Reynolds brings his experimental opera “Pancho Villa From a Safe Distance” to Fusebox Festival for its Austin premiere. The new opera, which had its Corpus Christi premiere on February 28, will be open for local audiences on Friday, Apr. 14 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Apr. 15 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Stateside Theater at the Paramount. Called “the quintessential modern composer” by the London Independent, Reynolds creates, performs and records music for film, theater, dance, rock clubs and concert halls with collaborators ranging from Richard Linklater and Jack Black to DJ Spooky and Ballet Austin. His work has been heard throughout the world from HBO to Showtime, Cannes Film Festival to the Kennedy Center, and BBC to NPR. Reynolds has repeatedly toured the country with Golden Arm Trio and released five critically acclaimed albums. As co-artistic director of the Golden Hornet Project with Peter Stopschinski, Reynolds has produced more than fifty concerts of world premiere alt-classical music by more than sixty composers, as well as five symphonies, two concertos and countless chamber pieces of his own.
Irvin Morazan is a multidisciplinary artist born in El Salvador who moved to the New York area in the 1980’s as part of the Salvadoran civil war diaspora. Morazan utilizes performance, sculpture and video to explore fictional and autobiographical rituals that are sparked by current events, migration, ancient medicine, indigenous cultures and his autobiography.
Legendary Mexican producer and hitmaker Toy Selectah collaborated on Reynolds’ “Pancho Villa From a Safe Distance.”. The mix-master wizard for Monterrey, Mexico’s hip hop en español pioneers Control Machete has been working with a long list of artists, bands and contemporary music friends such as Calle 13, M.I.A., Theivery Corporation, Diplo and more. He now lives in Monterrey and resides as creative director, A&R and CEO of Sones del Mexside, his own production company and boutique label, home of Mexican rock band División Minúscula.
Born in Lima, Peru and based in New York City,
For more info, visit grahamreynolds.com.
For free reservations and more information about the full Fusebox Festival line-up visit www. fuseboxfestival.com. Irvin Morazan
To Do Música By Liz Lopez BROWN SOUND NEWS Texas Folklife and the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum announced that the finals for the annual Big Squeeze accordion contest will take place at the museum on Saturday, Apr. 22, 1 - 5 p.m., on the Lone Star Plaza. Big Squeeze finalists will perform before the judges and the public, followed by showcase performances. Former Big Squeeze winners will also grace the stage with showcase performances by Rio Jordan, Ruben Moreno, and the backing band will feature members of Conjunto Los Pinkys and The Gulf Coast Playboys. The Big Squeeze is a statewide contest for accordion players ages 21 and under to showcase their performance abilities in any genre of music--polka, zydeco, conjunto, Tejano, Cajun and more. Free admission. In case of rain it will be held inside 1800 Congress Ave. The 17th Annual Texas Music History Unplugged, featuring The Sisters Morales Band, will be held on Wednesday, Apr. 5, 7 - 9 p.m. at the Wittliff Collections Gallery, 7th Floor, Alkek Library, Texas State University. The Sisters Morales Band will perform and discuss the history of Texas Mexican music. This event is free and open to students, faculty, staff and the public. This event is brought to you by Texas State University’s Center for Texas Music History, the Wittliff Collections, the Office of Equity & Access, the Center for the Study of the Southwest, and the Department of History. Tex Pop Presents Patricia Vonne’s Video Premiere & Concert, premiering Vonne’s new animation “Huerta de San Vicente,” an homage to Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca. It will be followed by a live performance with Robert LaRoche on guitar and David Perales on violin. Doors at 2 p.m., video presentation at 2:30 p.m., performance at 3:00
p.m. amd encore video presentation at 4 p.m. Saturday, Apr., South Texas Museum of Popular Culture, 1017 E Mulberry Ave., San Antonio.
Gaby Moreno
Save the dates of May 5 and 7 for the Rancho Alegre Conjunto Festival that returns in 2017. It has found a new home at the world-famous music venue, Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater. During the Cinco de Mayo weekend enjoy two days full of accordions, bajo sextos, dancing, and down-home, traditional Texas music. Lineup will be announced at ranchoalegreradio.org. Celebrating Selena in Austin with two shows! One show will be held on April 15 with Son de Rey at the Sahara Lounge and on Sunday, April 16 with Bidi Bidi Banda and special guests at the Highball 5 p.m. For more information, visit their Facebook pages. R ECOM M END ED S HOW S Spread The Rumor! Yayo Castillo y Rumores are coming to the Texas Star Saloon in Maxwell on Saturday, Apr. 1. More information on the artist and venue Facebook pages. --The 6th Annual Git Down will be held on Friday, Apr. 7 at 6 - 11 p.m. with live music by Doug Moreland, The Boss Jaguars, and Cojunto Los Pinkys. Classic cars, BBQ, great friends and good times. Slow Pokes Brisket Shack, 737 FM 1626, Manchaca, Texas 78652. --Gaby Moreno will be coming to Austin with her IlusiónTour at the Cactus Café on Apr. 9. For more information on her tour, visit gaby-moreno.com. --“Viernes Sociales” with DJ Fabian Cuero will be held the first Friday of every month beginning April 7, 9 - 10 p.m. Beginner/Intermediate Bachata class taught by Sidney Joseph Jr. and Social Dancing with DJ Fabian Cuero from 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. $15 for class (includes social), $10 for social only. BYOBtake your favorite drink. Esquina Tango Austin. ---
Arturo (Turo) Lomas Garza is the 2017 inductee to the Austin Jazz Society Hall of Fame. He regularly played congas, timbal, bongos, cowbell and hand percussion, and was a regular at Austin’s Liberty Lunch, Houston Rockefeller’s, and Corpus Christi and San Antonio Jazz Festivals. Turo also performed and recorded with many other Austin musicians. As VP for Fable Records and a studio musician, he worked on countless productions for a variety of Austin musicians. A tribute concert is set for Sunday, Apr. 2, 3 - 5 p.m. at Chez Zee. For more information and tickets visit austinjazzsociety.org. --The Tejano Heritage Celebration, a collaborative effort between three organizations, will be held on Saturday, Apr. 8 to recognize the fifth anniversary of the unveiling of the Tejano Monument on the State Capital grounds, as well the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Austin Tejano Music Coalition. A Mexican-American history symposium is offered from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the Stephen F. Austin Building, in the GLO Auditorium. It is free to attend with RSVP at tshaonline.org/tejano. At noon, a presentation by State officials will be made at the Capitol building south steps and the 2014 Tejano Idol winner, Monica Saldivar, will sing the National Anthem. A portion of concert starts at 1 p.m. with Conjunto Baraja de Oro at the TXDOT Parking Lot #27. The Tejano Monument Anniversary Ceremony will be held by the Tejano Monument on the Southwest Lawn of the State Capitol grounds from 2 - 2:30 p.m. This is sponsored by the Tejano Genealogy Society of Austin. The event is free and open to the public with music by The University of Texas Mariachi Paredes. For more information contact mariasolis45@gmail.com.
El Tule
The following bands are scheduled to perform and are subject to change. Big Band Tejano at 2:30 p.m.; Veronica Flores (2016 Tejano Idol winner) at 3:30 p.m.; Powerhouse Avizo Band at 4 p.m.; Mario Macias (2013 Tejano Idol winner) at 5 p.m.; Shelly Lares at 5:30 p.m.; Monica Saldivar (2014
Tejano Idol winner) at 6:30 p.m. and Ram Herrera at 7 p.m. It is suggested to take lawn chairs, but no glass containers, tents or canopies allowed. No sales of any type will be allowed on state property per rules and guidelines. --El Tule is host to “Baile Para Alonso” in memory of their friend Alonso Rey on Saturday, Apr. 1 from 6 - 9:30 p.m. at Guero’s Taco Bar, 1412 S Congress Ave. El Tule will also perform at Hotel Vegas on Cumbia Night along with DJ Albert & Adan and Parranderos De La Kumbia on Friday, Apr. 7, 9 p.m. --- The Austin Parks and Recreation Planet Music Series Presents Austin Samba’s The Big Easy on Saturday, Apr. 1 at the Zilker Hillside Theater, 2206 William Barton Dr. No cover. 7 p.m. Special guest Dr. Zog Zydeco. Austin Samba will be cooking up a gumbo of classic New Orleans tunes simmered in Brazilian percussion and spiced with beautiful choreography. Enjoy a wild mash up of Louis Armstrong, Fats Domino, The Neville Brothers, Dr. John, Jerry Lee Lewis and Clifton Chenier that celebrates the irresistible joy of Mardi Gras and Carnaval with rhythms and dance from throughout Brazil. Free dance lessons. ------Latin at Heart brings its big romantic rock n’ roll sound to the stage at The Backstage at El Mercado Saturday, Apr. 15. Special guest Deann René with Kyle Judd! --Celebrate the Butler School of Music World Music Week with The University of Texas at Austin Mariachi Ensemble on Sunday, Apr. 23 at 7:30 p.m. Singer/songwriter and former ensemble member Lesly Reynaga will be the featured artist at this concert. 2406 Robert Dedman Dr, Music Building (MRH), Recital Studio. Free admission and parking available in San Jacinto Parking Garage. TODO AUSTIN // MAR 2017 // TODOAUSTIN.COM 09
New Alamo Drafthouse Mueller brings unique family-friendly fun By Meredith C. Cox Fans of the Alamo Drafthouse have been patiently awaiting the opening of its newest Austin location: the Alamo Drafthouse Mueller. Now the final touches are done, the new staff is trained and the sixth Alamo location in Austin is open and ready for film-goers. As the name suggests, the newest Alamo iteration is located in the rapidly developing Mueller neighborhood of Austin. Since its announcement, this Alamo has been touted as a more family-friendly location, which makes sense given its proximity to places like the Thinkery and Mueller Parks. “Obviously we wanted to create an Alamo that delivers exactly what Austinites have grown to know and love about our cinemas,” said Katy Daiger Dial, the Programming and Promotions Manager for the new theater. “Each time we offer a new theater, it takes on some unique features relevant to its surrounding communities. Since we knew we’d be so close to the Thinkery, Dell Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House Charities, we wanted to imbibe a playful and youth spirit to the building and the programming.” The interior of the theater definitely reflects this. The Alamo Drafthouse Mueller has six auditoriums of different sizes featuring large, reclining seats, all with individual tables. And the interior is just cool.
From the Big Apple to the Big A By Rose Di Grazia
Austin is nice most of the time except for our winter--luckily, we did not even get that much this year. But being from the East coast, every now and then I need to get my cultural Big Apple trip fix. I love being a hometown tourist whether it’s going back to my roots in the Big Apple or having a staycation right here in Austin. In this article, travel with me to Midtown East in New York City and stay at the most perfect bed and breakfast there — Ivy Terrace! Then, join me back in the Big A (Austin), where I spent the weekend at Strickland Arms bed and breakfast in Hyde Park. Come along with me as we board a flight to New York City. After a five or six-hour flight I was anxious to get to my heavenly place of rest — Ivy Terrace — located at 230 East 58th Street. Tourists can reserve a car prior to flying to the Big Apple or, better yet, just take a cab. It’s cheaper and more efficient. I 10 TODO AUSTIN // MAR 2017 // TODOAUSTIN.COM
There’s a huge staircase leading to the theaters and a giant wraparound patio on the second floor. The décor shows the attention to detail and fun that the Alamo has become known for. “I think my favorite part of the new theater is the overall design, like the hallway to the theaters,” Dial continued. “We could have left it simple, but instead we have a walk through film history with the French and Italian spaghetti western posters. And we have a spaceship! As a sci-fi fan myself I really geeked out over that. We wanted something that would resonate with young and old. Even the carpet [is fun]. It was designed as a secret game: try and get to your theater by only stepping on the red circles!”
It’s exciting to go to a place where even the employees are excited about being there, but the patrons seemed pretty psyched so far as well. This Alamo has a state of the art bar and event space called the “Barrel O’ Fun.” During the day, there’s a vintage boardwalk feel and carnival games. They’ve got a special menu featuring kid-friendly fare. Most live music shows in the space will be allages. You can even expect a selection of special events for families with hands-on creative activities during the early evening and on weekends. But after the sun sets, the “R-E-L” part of the sign dims out and the place becomes the much more adult-friendly “Bar O’ Fun,” with all of the usual bar offerings, craft cocktails, and an excellent draft
have to say, I was overjoyed when I saw John Corboy, the inn keeper’s right hand and friend, waving to me from the curb as my car arrived. He was kind and helped me up the stairs with my heavy bag. Next he made me feel right at home by showing me around what was like my very own apartment. It had everything I could ever need. Needless to say, the weather was perfect and did not snow until the day after I left. The temperature inside the bed and breakfast was so perfect I would not have known it was winter outside. My apartment/bed and breakfast had a full kitchen with refrigerator, pots and pans and my pantry was stocked with all kinds of breakfast foods and snacks. It was a traveler’s dream not to have to run out daily and buy snacks or food. Of course, it was for a fee but well worth every penny. There was delicious gourmet-tasting coffee, yogurts of all flavors, apple juice, English muffins, real butter and preserves, fresh assorted fruit, oatmeal, Raisin Bran cereal, eggs, and assorted teas. I honestly could have moved right in and never moved back to Texas. I also had a warm robe, extra blankets, books to read and plenty of toiletries. The Greenwich room was charming
beer selection. Expect more standard grown-up fun like DJ sets, live bands, Geeks Who Drink and more during those hours. The new theater is on target to be a great addition to Mueller and the Austin community as a whole. “Everything has been going great,” said Dial. “We’ve been so honored by the response of our guests and the neighborhood. It’s all well and good to build a cinema, but it’s nothing without people inside it.” For more information on the Alamo Mueller, including upcoming events, specialty screenings, and shows, visit drafthouse.com. More information is available at ivyterrace.com. Now, to all Austinites who aren’t able to travel to the Big Apple now, why not book a room in our very own Hyde Park bed and breakfast Strickland Arms? This beautiful antique-filled abode is in walking or biking distance to the Hyde Park Grill, Quack’s Bakery, Mother’s Cafe and Julio’s Mexican restaurant. The home is like something out of a storybook. The grounds are filled with beautiful statues and a flowing fountain. The porch is decked out with comfy wicker furniture and swing. Inside the home you will be greeted by the darling family poodle and the Stricklands themselves.
and classy. But the service there was over the top thanks to John. He made sure I had a wake-up call and everything I could ever need replenished upon request. I was in walking distance to Bloomingdales, Magnolia Cafe, Blooms Irish Tavern and shops just outside my door. This was unlike any other bed and breakfast I have ever stayed at in Texas or anywhere I have traveled. This is my first choice in a bed and breakfast in New York City.
What I love the most about this local gem is the resort-like pool area. Lounge around the pool and listen to the sounds of trickling water. The owner plays the most beautiful music by the pool and a glass of wine makes the experience even more enjoyable. For a weekend retreat without leaving Austin, stay at Strickland Arms. It is my vacation in town and I hope it will be yours too! For information go to stricklandarmstexas.com.
CELEBRATING
DIVERSITY
BRIDGE2BRIDGE From Montopolis Bridge to 360 Bridge, Everything Austin
India Fine Arts hosts two events this month. A soul stirring saxophone concert is Saturday, Apr. 1, 6 p.m., at Gloria Delgado Theater, with Vidwan Kadri Gopalnath (sax), Sangeetha Kalanidhi Kanyakumari (violin), Tanjore Govindarajan (thavil) and Rajendra Nakod (table). $16$52. Sri Ramanavami Utsavam Music and Dance Festival is Saturday, Apr. 8, 12 p.m., free, at Lanier High School. austinifa.org
WOMEN’S EXPO The Austin Ultimate Women’s Expo presents an empowering and entertaining weekend on April 8-9 at the Palmer Events Center with 300 specially designed exhibits, entertainment, and attractions designed for Austin Women. Keynote celebrity speakers include Mario Lopez, actor and Emmy winning host of “Extra” and Melissa Gilbert, actress, producer and New York Times bestselling author. Attendees will receive complimentary makeovers, manicures, facials, hair stage and plenty of free samples of the best cosmetics, skincare and beauty products in the industry. Enjoy a luxurious complimentary massage inside the Rejuvenation Massage Garden. The “Do-It-Herself” lounges will provide a variety of complimentary Make-N-Take workshops including jewelry making, furniture rehab, gardening and more. Learn about top vintages and uncover the mysteries of how to create the most innovative and tasty spring cocktails. There will be time to celebrate fashion and the latest trends with a vibrant high fashion runway showcasing spring designs. Complimentary baking, cake decorating and cooking workshops take place all weekend featuring talented chefs as they showcase their culinary talents with easy recipes for summer and everyday — from flambé to sauté, from hors d’oeuvres to desserts. And tastings, of course! Respected experts in finance, healthcare, career development, personal growth, style, beauty and home design and décor share insights and reveal struggles that propelled them to the top of their fields. There will also be over 300 boutiques where attendees can uncover one-of-a-kind finds in fashion, great holiday gifts, accessories, jewelry, home décor and handbags at discounted pricing. The Austin Ultimate Women’s Expo hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Apr. 8 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Apr. 9. Advance tickets are $5 when purchased online. Admission includes all makeovers, tastings, celebrity speakers, shows, seminars, and more. For more information visit austinwomensexpo.com.
On and on, and on and on, Body Rock ATX keeps moving like a rolling stone. Their monthly party/jam, with hosts Riders Against the Storm, pays tribute to Erykah Badu on Friday, Apr. 7 at Empire Control Room & Garage. The fourth annual tribute to the music Queen promises some surprises. With the amazing DJ Chorizo Funk and a host of regulars on the dance floor. $7 (advance)/$10 (door). empireatx.com The Austin Symphony will perform pieces by Aaron Copland, John Corigliano and Antonin Dvořák, FridaySaturday, Apr. 7-8, 8 p.m. at the Long Center. The evening will be highlighted by ASO principal clarinetist, Stephen Girko, performing Copland’s Clarinet Concerto. Also, try your hand at string instruments from Violin’s Etc. or hear a pre-concert talk by Bob Buckalew at 7:10 pm. thelongcenter.org Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz: A Tribute to Mexican Women features an art gallery opening reception on Thursday, Apr. 13, 6-8 p.m. at the ESB-Mexican American Cultural Center, with works by Marlene Llanes and April Garcia. “GENIUS!” by Toni Bravo and Diverse Space Dance Theatre, is at 4:30 p.m., and Teatro Espacio Agua Viva presents “Mea Dilemma” at 5:30 p.m. austintexas.gov/ esbmacc The Moontower Comedy Fest showcases some of the funniest, wittiest and oddest world-class comics, Apr. 1922. The marathon of side-splitting performances brings over 100 comedians to Austin doing everything from stand-up and sketch to improv and musical comedy. This year, 35 club shows, live podcasts and guest appearances are among the highlights. Badges and individual tickets at moontowercomedyfest.com River City Pops presents an exciting, choreographed production featuring iconic songs from the height of the American vinyl period, Apr. 27-30, at Rollins Studio Theatre. The show features rock, R&B, disco and pop from the late ’60s to the early ’80s. It’s a celebration of artists from Michael Jackson to Journey, for all ages, sure to get toes tapping and hands clapping. Tickets from $10. thelongcenter.org The first all-inclusive geek and gaming convention in Texas to focus on the LGBT+ and ally communities returns April 28-30 at Double Tree Hilton North. HavenCon includes an exhibitor’s hall, Pulse Play Space game room, Cosplay, artists, vendors, creators, developers, 60 hours of panels & more. Celebrity guests Denise Crosby, Claudia Christian and Paul Amos. Tickets at havencontx.com
Old Settler’s Music Festival Austin never hurts for a good music festival. After the crush of a massive event like SXSW, sometimes it’s nice to get a little bit out of the city for a music event a little bit smaller, a bit friendlier and a lot more Texas: Old Settler’s Music Festival. Old Settler’s Festival is a central Texas music stalwart celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Over the past couple of decades, it’s grown into a nationally known music event featuring roots, folk, bluegrass and Americana music. Old Settler’s has found its home at the Salt Lick Pavilion and Camp Ben McCulloch and offers lots of options is camping is your style (they accept tents, RVs and trailers). But it’s also close enough to Austin if you just like to sleep in a real bed at night after a long day of fest-ing. There are also artisans, craftsmen and other vendors come from every corner of Texas and across the country to provide Old Settler’s Festival goers with unique, one-of-a-kind treasures. There’s tons of food and craft beer, and it’s definitely kid-friendly, too--imagine petting zoos, arts and crafts, a climbing wall, playgrounds and swimming at Onion Creek. As usual, festivals are a great opportunity to see the bands you already love and discover new ones. This year’s lineup includes the classic alt-country Texas band Old 97’s, soon to be releasing their 11th LP. You can also catch the Mexican-American band Los Lobos, Brooklynbased indie-folk trio the Lone Bellow, and bluegrass legends The Del McCoury Band. Music from these parts will be well represented as well, with performers like Shakey Graves, Shinyribs, Wood & Wire, and The Last Bandoleros. Old Settler’s Music Festival is April 20-23rd, in Driftwood, TX. For tickets and more information visit oldsettlersmusicfest.org. TODO AUSTIN // MAR 2017 // TODOAUSTIN.COM 11
APRIL 18
MOMIX: OPUS CACTUS
Known internationally for presenting work of exceptional inventiveness and physical beauty, MOMIX is a company of dancer-illusionists under the direction of Moses Pendleton. Opus Cactus brings desert landscapes to life in MOMIX’s signature illusionistic style.
APRIL 19
JUNE 30
Grammy -winning trumpeter Chris Botti performs his originals and beloved standards.
Screening with music by Austin Symphony Orchestra.
CHRIS BOTTI ®
LA LA LAND IN CONCERT