TODO Austin October 2016

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VOLUME VIII / OCT 2016

City Council Election Gun-Free UT Sound on Sound Fest Tejano Idol

The 2016/17 Essential Series

dance. chamber. voice. film. 100 theater. vampries.

3 -s h o w s u b s c r ip t io n s under

$

Drama, Returning Artists, Scotland, Theatre, Vampire

National Theatre of Scotland Let The Right One In jAN 18–29 | MCCULLoUgh ThEATRE

The National Theatre of Scotland brings the stage adaptation of this best-selling romantic horror novel and acclaimed movies to McCullough Theatre!

Upcoming Performances

grupo Corpo oCT 6

texasperformingarts.org

Ensemble Basiani Nov 4

Love and Duty A Celebration of the Music of Brahms Nov 9 & 11

Spectrum Dance Theater + Donald Byrd Rambunctious Nov 17 & 18

Photo by Manuel Harlan

This performance is supported in part by the Topfer Endowment for Performing Arts Production.

$10 STUDENT / $12 MILITARY TICKETS

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

ESB-MACC architect passes Architect Teodoro Gonzalez de León passed on Sept. 16, the exact day that the ESB-Mexican American Cultural center opened its doors in 2007. “He left behind one of the most unique architectural gems in Austin’s ever growing landscape,” said ESB-MACC Manager Herlinda Zamora. “We will continue to cherish his legacy by presenting programs that honor our Mexican heritage.”

Black Lives Matter Black Lives Matter Austin is the only official chapter in Texas of the national network. Join the organization for its General Body Meeting every Second Tuesday of the month at the Sandra Joy Anderson Wellness Center, 1705 East 11th Street at 6 p.m. The community may participate in an area of interest including civics, criminal justice, education, health including mental and environmental, economics including business, unemployment and poverty, housing, and transportation.

Oaks named Chief Equity Officer City Manager Marc A. Ott announced on Sept.

16 the appointment of Brion Oaks as the City’s first Chief Equity Officer. Oaks was previously the Vice President of Health Equity for the Southwest Affiliate of the American Heart Association. He will begin his work with the City on Oct. 17.

Chief Equity Officer Brion Oaks

Gateway Awards honor immigrants The Gateway Awards, hosted by American Gateways, are Oct. 20 at the University of Texas Alumni Center. The honor celebrates Austin’s MULTICULTURAL media source for EIGHT YEARS • Find us at TODOAustin.com

the role that immigrants of all backgrounds play in making Central Texas the dynamic and culturally rich region that it is today. Filmmaker Robert Rodriguez will present an award to producer Elizabeth Avellan and Ingrid Spencer, executive director of the Austin Institute of Architecture and Austin Foundation for Architecture, will present an award to architect Michael Hsu. Dr. Lysbeth Miller, program director for the UT Southwestern Austin Internal Medicine Residency Program, will present to Dr. Alejandro Moreno, who along with his work in medicine also practices immigration and human rights law and is an expert in the care of refugees.

GAACC upcoming events Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce hosts several events in October. ATX+PAK mixer is Oct. 11 and a pitch showcase Oct. 19.

The public is invited to meet the entrepreneurs who are in Austin for the ATX+PAK program and learn more about their experiences starting a technology company in Pakistan. Also, GAACC’s Fall Classic golf event is Oct. 20 at Falconhead Golf Club.

Alliance Abroad Group opens office The ribbon cutting ceremony for the new office of Alliance Abroad Group is Oct. 27, 12 p.m. at 1645 E 6th Street, Suite 100. Take a tour of the office, enjoy refreshments and learn about J-1 visa internship programs. Alliance Abroad Group is a J-1 sponsor designated by the U.S. Department of State. They connect and match U.S. employers with qualified and experienced interns from all over the world.

Dia de los Muertos: Celebrating a shared experience | By Lesly Reynaga

A vibrant trail marked by cempasúchil or marigold flowers leads to a stepped pyramid comprised of seven different steps. Some say such steps represent the seven levels the soul must go through to reach spiritual peace, while others think they are a depiction of the seven capital sins.

At the top of the pyramid one can spot a picture of a deceased person, along with a cross to symbolize the cardinal points. Next comes the deceased’s favorite food and fruit as well as the traditional pan the muertos, or bread of the dead.

Finally, the bottom steps hold a container with salt for the purification of the souls and images of the Virgin Mary or the saints. Other key elements include candles, calaveritas or sugar skulls, incense and papel picado or decorative pieces of cut paper in all colors.

This is what the people of Mexico call altar de muertos, or Day of the Dead altar. A tradition that dates back to Mesoamerican civilizations such as the Aztec and the Mayan, Dia de los Muertos is a significant holiday in Mexico. It holds such a special meaning to the Mexican people that, rather than ceasing to exist with the arrival of the Spanish conquistadores in the 16th century, it only evolved to incorporate elements of the Catholic religion that are seen to this day.

Dia de los Muertos, celebrated officially on November 2, pays respect to and commemorates the life of deceased family members, friends or

John Trevino, Jr. park ceremony Austin Parks & Recreation held a naming ceremony on Sept. 24 for the John Trevino, Jr. Metropolitan Park. Trevino became the first Hispanic elected to the Austin City Council in 1974. Over his 13 years at the City, he went on to serve as Mayor Pro Tem and Acting Mayor.

Trevino led efforts to review hiring practices that promote fair access for women and minorities.

In addition, he championed the establishment of health clinics to provide underserved residents with increased access to immediate health care.

Volume VIII, Number 6 PUBLISHER/EDITOR // Gavin Lance Garcia gavin@todoaustin.com ART DIRECTOR // Dave McClinton dmdesigninc.com MANAGING EDITORS // Meredith C. Cox, Lesly Reynaga ASSOCIATE EDITORS // Sonia Kotecha, Liz Lopez, Monica Peña, Katie Walsh, Erica Stall Wiggins, Yvonne Lim Wilson CONTRIBUTING STAFF // Cat Cardenas, Evelyn C. Castillo, Rose Di Grazia, Callie Langford, Genoveva Rodriguez, Diana Sanchez, Lesley Varghese PRODUCTION SERVICES // Anthony Garcia

prominent leaders and celebrities. An important part of this tradition is the altar de muertos built with care in honor of the deceased.

Growing up in Mexico, I was fortunate to experience the richness and significance that this holiday represents to my Hispanic culture.

School children, faculty and staffs would build a colossal altar and join competitions for the most outstanding piece of art. Every child was involved, whether it was by contributing one of the abovementioned components of an altar or helping put all the pieces together into one majestic structure.

It should come as no surprise that, as Latinos have reached over a third of the total population makeup in Austin, Dia de los Muertos has grown to become a prominent local celebration. The first major event commemorating this traditional holiday--and which remains the biggest local event of its kind--is Mexic-Arte Museum’s Viva la Vida Festival. It celebrates its 33rd anniversary in 2016. Many more events have come along through the years, including those produced by the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, Easter Seals Central Texas, Central Market, The University of Texas at Austin, Planet K, the City of Round Rock and many more.

It is celebrations like this that remind us we are all humans with a shared experience and collective heritage. No matter what culture or background each of us comes from, everyone is invited to celebrate the cycle of life as Dia de los Muertos and Halloween events take over the city in October. For up to the minute information on Austin-area Dia de los Muertos events, please go to austindaysofthedead.com.

ESB-MACC altar

CONTRIBUTORS // Elyse Aviña, Alka Bhanot, Ashna Bhansali, Lauren Bruno, Roy Casagranda, Cindy Casares, Julie Chapa, Lobo Corona, Nora De LaRosa, Laura Donnelly Gonzalez, Jimmy Flannigan, Mark Guerra, Mari Hernandez, Yadira Izquierdo, Chaille Jolink, Ryan Jordan, Ali Khataw, Carey W. King, Ramey Ko, Harish Kotecha, Julia Lee, Isabel Lopez-Aguilar, Otis Lopez, César E. López Linares, David Marks, Cristina Parker, Raul Rangel Uribe, Paul Saldaña, Marion Sanchez, Blake Shanley, Dani Slabaugh, Corey Tabor, Rama Tiru, Blanca Valencia, Debora Kuetzpal Vasquez, Lichen Zhen WEB DESIGN // TODOAustin.com COVER // Susan Griffin and Co. celebrate Dia de los Muertos

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. © 2016 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 // OCT 2016 // TODOAUSTIN.COM 03

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CentralHealthCampus.net

V O T E

Education. Hope. Opportunity.

Increased access to education for Central Texans Individualized Guidance to help all learners succeed Increased Student Completion rates Strong business partnerships/strong workforce Sustainable funding

Volunteer with NORA! Block walk!

Host a Fundraiser!

Attend a Community Coffee! www.NoraforACCplace6.com paid ad by Nora for ACC, Doyle Valdez ­ Treasurer

N O R A

New exhibit: Goddess in Hue. Opening reception Thursday, Oct. 6 6:30 - 9 p.m. Featuring Artists Deborah Roberts, Christina Coleman, James Maurelle, and Nydia Blas. Exhibit Runs through Dec. 3. Community Gallery.

Conversations with Contemporary Artists. Thursday, Oct. 13 at 6:30 p.m. Join artists Deborah Roberts, Christina Coleman, James Maurelle, and Nydia Blas as they discuss their latest exhibit I know why the Caged Bird Sings. Main Gallery.

The Double Bass performed by Odekhiren Amaize. Oct. 15-16 at 2 p.m. Written in 1980 by Patrick Süskind, author of Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, The Double Bass premiered in 1981, in Munich, Germany. This piece is described as a social comedy and a lament to the essential unfairness of life. Boyd Vance Theatre.

Once on This Island. Oct. 20-21 at 7 p.m. Spectrum Theatre presents Once on This Island, from the Tony Award winning songwriting team, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. A story inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid. With a Caribbean tinged score, follow the story of Ti Moune as she goes on her quest to prove that love is stronger than death. Boyd Vance Theatre.

Curanderísmo: Indigenous Healing Workshops. Saturday, Oct. 15, 1 - 4 p.m. Discover and preserve the ancient practices of Curanderísmo. This tradition promotes mental, emotional, and physical health. Marika Alvarado is a third-generation medicine woman who has learned this art of healing from her grandmother, mother and aunt. In this class you will learn the history of curanderísmo, indigenous names and uses for healing plants, and will take home medicinal recipes.

Exhibition in the Community Gallery: Yareth Fernandez’s In Production presents a series of explorations into the concept of secretion as a natural creation of a functional substance and human-made waste as the present condition of excessive production. Runs through Oct. 22.

Exhibition in the Sam Z. Coronado Gallery: Ceromantia

by Roberto Munguia. “The work in this show hints at an imagined primordial state of awareness, below the surface, root-like, having to do with both physical and metaphysical processes, dreams, Myth, and the translucence of Existence.”

Runs through Nov. 22.

Cine de Oro. From the Golden Era of Mexico’s cinema, we will be showing Writ Writer Revised on Tuesday, Oct. 25. Screening begins at 9:30 a.m. Free. RSVP at 512-9743789.

Wednesday, Oct. 12, 1:30 - 5 p.m. GAACC Connect Forum for Minority Business. Certification workshop by the Texas Comptroller and Department of Public Safety, plus roundtable networking session.

Free. Ballroom.

Saturday, Oct. 15, 12 - 4 p.m. Fall Holidays Fair. Festivals include Yunlin International Puppets Arts Festival, Dussehra, International Day of Peace, Mid-Autumn Festival, Crop Over, National Batik Day and more.

Free. Ballroom.

Friday, Oct. 21, 6 - 8 p.m. Contemporary Art from Vietnam.

Contemporary paintings from the International Modern Art Gallery in Houston. Works by artists Pham An Hai, Thanh Chuong, Ha Tri Hieu, Hong Viet Dung, Doan Xuan Tang and Doan Hoang Lam, and more.

Free. Ballroom.

Saturday, Oct. 22, 6:30 - 10 p.m. Taste of India. An evening filled with food, cultural performances and music organized by India Catholic Association of Central Texas in support of Mobile Loaves & Fishes and Society of Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier. Tickets $26. Ballroom.

Thursday, Oct. 27, 6 - 9 p.m. Truth Be Told Dinner & Fundraiser. Truth Be Told is a non-profit organization providing transformational tools and skills for women behind and beyond bars. Ticket includes buffet dinner with performance by Sarah Hickman. Ballroom.

Reacting to bullet casings found with threatening note on UT campus

violent behavior” and promises to respond “promptly” and “aggressively” to such behavior.

University administration members often claim to sympathize with those fearing campus carry, but their lack of action in condemning recent threats shows little regard for the safety of the campus community.

Denial about the reality of the situation will only embolden those who made such vile threats.

Moreover, in order to maintain its worldclass status as a place of higher education, the university must denounce such acts with the promptness they have promised to their students, faculty and staff.

By Elyse Aviña

Anyone visiting The University of Texas at Austin campus lately might have noticed the vibrant green and orange signs proudly displayed in the windows of many buildings. In bold letters, the message “Gun-Free UT” resonates with the sentiment felt by the over 3,500 students, professors and faculty who petitioned against the implementation of S.B. 11, or the campus carry law, that allows concealed handguns into college buildings.

Amongst these large displays are smaller ones plastered onto kiosks and bulletin boards around campus. Many of them read “Peace Zone: Please Leave Your Guns at Home,” and many of them have been defaced. A troll favorite continues to be “Trump 2016!” Yet this normally obnoxious graffiti took on a very ominous tone in September.

On Friday, Sep. 16, rhetoric and writing Assistant Professor Casey Boyle tweeted a picture of a bullet shell casing he found in Parlin Hall on campus. Stuffed inside the casing was a thin

note in red ink that read “triggered?” Below the casing was a defaced “Peace Zone” sign with the sentence written also in red, “In the land of pigs the butcher is king. Oink…Oink…Oink.”

The University of Texas Police Department has launched a full investigation and campus organization Gun Free UT advises that no one touch the shells so as not to tamper with potential evidence. There have been reports of two other bullet shell casings found on campus, one in Batts Hall and another in Parlin Hall. The one found by Assistant Professor Boyle on Friday was the only one with a note attached to it.

Since the beginning of the semester, Parlin Hall has been home to the Peace and Wellness Workshop sponsored by Gun Free UT and

Students Against Campus Carry. The workshop aims at teaching faculty potentially life-saving techniques for deescalating arguments and calming threatening individuals who may be armed. Though it is unclear whether the bullet casings were threats designed for the active anticampus carry organizations, the placement of the casings and notes warrant the attention of the student body.

The university is already paying the price for the acceptance of campus carry by losing out on prospective talent who are deterred because of the campus carry law. Most recently, singersongwriter Ray LaMontange announced his decision to cancel his performance at UT’s Bass Concert Hall because he could not obtain a waiver that would prevent people from bringing firearms to his concert.

Although the planting of the shells remains a threat, the university has failed to send any immediate official notifications to the campus community alerting them about the shells and what to do if they see one. Under the Prohibition of Campus Violence, the university “is committed to creating and maintaining an environment that is free from threatening and

Calling out laws that try to normalize the acceptance of lethal weapons in our everyday lives is one of the biggest tools we have as citizens. The majority of the Texas legislature might be apathetic to how gun violence affects its citizenry, but a distinguished international educational leader such as UT does not have that same luxury.

TODO AUSTIN // OCT 2016 // TODOAUSTIN.COM 05

Help Pool continue serving District 7 and all of Austin

Garza making positive changes in our community

By Leslie Pool

By TODO Austin staff

During her first term, Austin City Council Member District 2, Delia Garza, has demonstrated that she can turn her passion, dedication, and strong leadership skills into fruitful and impactful positive changes for our community.

Prior to Garza’s service on Council, she served her district as an Austin firefighter and then as an attorney advocating for many District 2 families as an Assistant Attorney General in the Child Support Division. These experiences provided Garza direct and intimate knowledge of the challenges families in her district face on a daily basis, as well as an appreciation of all the qualities that make her district special.

As Austin’s first Latina elected to the City Council, who represents Austin’s highest concentration Hispanic district, Garza has far exceeded any expectations we had for the positive changes we hoped would come with the new 10-1 Council.

Garza was one of the strongest advocates for the new district system, which she promised would lead to all Austinites truly having a voice at City Hall. She has fought to be a strong and progressive voice for her district, and has shown that she can get measurable results for residents who felt like they did not have representation for far too long.

These residents can now honestly say they have a champion on their side at City Hall.

During her first term, Garza worked to create a new health equity program to serve expanded populations with critical services, fought for affordable housing including homeownership opportunities for working families, led on an initiative to significantly increase Austin Energy’s investments in renewable energy, and worked tirelessly to increase multimodal transportation options and improve our public transit system as a Capital Metro Board Member. She successfully advocated for critical services for her district including taking the lead on a buyout policy to move families out of harm’s way and increasing investments in transportation infrastructure to improve access to safe routes to schools.

Garza fought for our most vulnerable populations 06 TODO AUSTIN // OCT 2016 // TODOAUSTIN.COM

by helping to find meaningful solutions to address food access issues in the community and led on a historic increase of funding for health and human services.

Garza is steadfast in providing reliable and timely constituent services to ensure residents in her district have true representation. In addition, Garza’s skills at collaborating with a wide and diverse pool of residents, community advocates, members of City staff, and her colleagues on Council have helped her become one of the most effective leaders on Council at passing policy and bringing positive changes to her district and the City overall. Garza has proven to be one of the brightest leaders and one of the most effective advocates on Council.

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor has spoken of wise Latina women using the richness of their experiences, and nothing could be further from the truth in regards to the leadership approach Garza uses on a daily basis as she serves our community.

TODO Austin is committed to diversity and inclusion, and Garza has proven her commitment to integrating these values into every part of her service to our City. Garza isn’t afraid to speak up for issues she is passionate about and stands her ground in fighting for District 2 residents. Garza is a tireless champion and strong voice for working families, and we cannot recommend her strongly enough for a second term. There is no question that Garza is the strong, progressive, and dedicated Latina leader that District 2 residents deserve.

TODO Austin is proud to issue a strong and enthusiastic endorsement of Garza’s reelection bid to continue her service to District 2 on the Austin City Council.

It’s been almost two years since I joined the new 10-1 City Council and what an eventful two years it’s been – filled with a lot of learning, hard work, more than a few tough decisions, and some very long nights. For me it’s been the experience of a lifetime and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

I’m grateful that I took office with the wisdom gained from many years of civic activism and service on several city boards and commissions.

That experience served as sort of a Civics 101 for me and helped me quickly come up to speed on important issues to make informed decisions.

It’s been such a privilege and honor to serve the constituents of District 7 and to work for the good of all of Austin. I am proud of the work we have done, from improving our parks, pools, and libraries, to crafting strong environmental protections, and working to keep Austin affordable.

There is still much more work to do to make sure Austin remains affordable, that our environment and neighborhoods are preserved, and our unique culture remains vibrant.

Touching on a few of my accomplishments, I led the Council’s adoption of the Austin

Community Climate Plan, which establishes a local goal of zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. I initiated a good government platform that included Council’s adoption of lobby reforms and electronic filing of campaign finance reports, providing more transparency and accountability.

And I led on the creation of a Community Engagement Task Force, whose members spent about a year talking to folks across town, studying how other cities engage their residents, and making recommendations for how Austin can improve its outreach to all corners of the community. I aim to begin working on some of these recommendations in the next year if I am fortunate to win re-election in November.

Working with other Council Members, I joined Council Member Delia Garza in pushing Austin Energy to increase its investment in solar power.

I supported Council Member Greg Casar’s fair chance hiring effort and voted to extend the city’s living wage requirements to subcontractors working on city projects. And I co-sponsored Council Member Sabino Renteria’s successful tenant relocation initiative – a process that sprang from the inordinate number of low-income renters being displaced by new development in our city.

This year we worked hard to pass a $3.7 billion budget. It wasn’t an easy task but we balanced the books while also funding the expansion of a pilot program for healthy foods at corner stores, putting money into sidewalk construction, funding afterschool and parent support programs with Austin ISD, directing dollars toward addressing historical inequities in the outer edges of East Austin, and funding lighting in city parks in the 78744 and 78745 Zip codes, thanks to the leadership efforts of Go Austin/VAMOS Austin. Most importantly, we secured a pledge from Austin Police to clear its rape kit backlog and to re-open and staff a forensic lab to address a DNA backlog.

I’m also supporting the big mobility bond package on the November ballot. It’s a lot of money but that’s what it’s going to take to put a dent in Austin’s congestion issues while also providing safe routes to schools with sidewalks and bicycle lanes so kids and their parents can walk and bike safely to school.

As I said, there is still much work yet to accomplish and if I’m fortunate to serve District 7 and all of Austin I intend to keep working for affordability, our neighborhoods, our children and families, and for our most vulnerable communities.

TODO Austin is proud to issue a strong and enthusiastic endorsement of Pool’s reelection bid to continue her service to District 7 on the Austin City Council.

Mexic-Arte Museum’s Viva la Vida returns for a celebration of life

4th Street and Congress. The parade’s special component this year is an homage to Mexico’s popular singer Juan Gabriel. There will be vendors, live music and a costume contest outdoors. The indoor location will be on the first floor of Brazos Hall, where there will be food trucks, lowriders, face painting, outdoor decorations, dance performances and a photo booth. Admission to all of these is free.

By TODO Austin staff

Along with the Icons & Symbols of the Borderland exhibit, there will be a special exhibit called Community Altars: A Celebration of Life at Mexic-Arte’s Annex Gallery. Running through Nov. 13, Community Altars: A Celebration of Life coincides with the museum’s 33rd Annual Celebration of Día de los Muertos. Artists, community groups and individuals will create altars that will be displayed through November and during the museum’s Viva la Vida Festival. These commemorative altars celebrate the lives of influential figures who have served the Austin community, as well as loved ones who have passed. Admission to the exhibits is $5.

Mexic-Arte Museum presents Día de los Muertos as Viva la Vida Fest to celebrate life by promoting health and environmental awareness through art and culture. MexicArte Museum’s Viva la Vida Fest brings together Austin’s diverse population to pay homage to friends, family, and heroes.

To make the festival eco-friendly, MexicArte Museum is encouraging all participating artists and festival-goers to create their costumes out of recycled, re-used and sustainable materials. The Museum is also committed to leaving a smaller footprint on the environment by reducing waste and minimizing energy wasted. The event will not only encourage artistic creations, but will also promote eco-friendly living, healthy eating and exercise through cycling and walking.

Art activities for children and families will be also be available in the neighboring Frost Bank Tower Plaza, located on 401 Congress Ave. Families will have an opportunity to take pictures with parade props, including largescale moving sculptures and mojigangas from noon-6 p.m. These activities will be available at no cost.

Mexic-Arte Museum is holding its annual Viva la Vida Festival on Saturday, Oct. 29 from noon-8 p.m. in downtown Austin. This year, Austin’s largest and longest-running Dia de los Muertos event features a grand procession and street festival, as well as education activities and art exhibits.

The event’s traditional parade and festival start at noon on Oct. 29. The parade will gather on 5th Street between I-35 Northbound Frontage Road and Waller Street, traveling west on 6th Street to the festival location at

Día de los Muertos

Wear your best Día

Mexic-Arte Museum is dedicated to cultural enrichment and education through the collection, preservation and presentation of traditional and contemporary Mexican, Latino, and Latin American art and culture to promote dialogue and develop understanding for visitors of all ages. Since 1984, Mexic-Arte Museum has produced and presented cultural and educational programs for communities in Texas

Mexic-Arte Museum Procession

Creative Workshops Paper-Mache Mini Skeletons Tue. /Thu. October 11- 20 Resident: $40

6:30 - 8:30pm Non-Resident: $50

18+

¡Ay Calacas! Sugar Skull Workshop

CostuMe

seventh annual Dia De los Muertos October 29 1-6pm Display your car, bike or

anD Win

altar!

a prize!

Calaverita Glitter Tin Nichos Sat. October 22

Resident: $14.50

1- 3pm

18+

Non- Resident: $17.50

ESB - MACC 600 River St., Austin TX 78701 512-974-3772 maccaustin.org

Celebrate the dead to improve life at Dia de los Muertos Music Festival

By César E. López Linares

Legend has it there’s a day in the year when the souls of the dead ancestors come back to this world to mingle with their beloved living ones.

It’s the Day of the Dead, the ancient Mexican tradition that had a reboot in Austin in the 60s, amid the Chicano Movement, as a way for Hispanics to reconnect with their origins. Today the tradition is present in Austin with multiple big events every year. But there’s one festival for which the main premise stands out--celebrating the dead to improve the lives of people with disabilities.

That’s the vision of the Día de los Muertos Music Festival by Easter Seals Central Texas, a nonprofit that helps patients with special needs in the Capital Area region, where one in eight people live with a disability. Through this event, Easter Seals seeks

OCTOBER 2016 FEATURED EVENTS: FALL HOLIDAY FAIR - From Asia and Beyond!

to bring awareness and collect funds for their programs, which include helping children with autism or developmental delays and providing therapy to patients with spinal cord injuries, among many others.

This year, Easter Seals will hold its all-day fourth annual Dia de los Muertos Music Festival on Saturday, Oct. 15 at Fiesta Gardens. The event will be headlined by Los Angeles band Ozomatli and metal-meets-mariachi quintet Metalachi. Other acts will include all-sister local band Tiarra Girls and Austin Samba School.

The event is completely family-friendly and features an H-E-B Kid’s Zone with interactive activities such as face painting, piñatas and calavera maskmaking. General admission tickets are $30 and VIP tickets are $150. Children six years old and under are admitted free with a ticketed adult. All festival profits will benefit Easter Seals’ client families. To purchase tickets and for more information, please visit www.austindiadelosmuertos.com.

FREE

Saturday, October 15, 12pm-4pm Asian American Resource Center, 8401 Cameron Road More information at www.austintexas.gov/AARC

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS

Saturday, October 29, 2pm - 10pm

Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 River St.

More information at www.maccaustin.org

POLKAPOCALYPSE!

Sunday, October 30, 12pm-5pm Elisbet Ney Museum, 304 E 44th Street More information at www.austintexas.gov/ElisabetNey

FREE

riendly

ly f & fami

Featured this month:

Global Grooves, Austin Moves www.austintexas.gov/planetmusic

OUR WORLD FAMILY MUSIC FESTIVAL

Music from around the World! Hosted by City of Austin’s Museums and Cultural Programs!

Sunday, October 23, 4pm - 8pm, Zilker Hillside Theater 2206 William Barton Dr.

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 512-974-3914.

Dia de los Muertos at the EBS-MACC

be placed inside or outside a vehicle. Display your pride and car or bike this year for a chance to win a special prize.

TODO Austin staff

The public is also encouraged to install a temporary altar outside along the perimeter of the zócalo. As part of the Día de los Muertos tradition, altars, or ofrendas, are built to commemorate loved ones who have passed away including family, friends, or even well-known leaders and activists. Ofrendas can also function as artworks in their own right.

The City of Austin’s Emma S. Barrientos-Mexican American Cultural Center will have a variety of activities associated with their seventh annual Día de los Muertos event, including sugar skull making, altar building and a car show. The event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 1-6 p.m.

This is the largest annual event at the ESB-MACC, and is free, open to the public and a great outing for families (feel free to bring chairs). The event will also include live music and entertainment, family art activities, a costume contest and more.

ESB-MACC invites you to participate in their annual Day of the Dead celebration by displaying your custom or classic car or bike. This colorful community event grows every year, and it continues to provide an opportunity to celebrate Latino culture. Altars are also suggested and may

There will also be family activities throughout the month of October, including workshops for making paper mache mini skeletons, sugar skulls and calaverita glitter tin nichos. These are handson workshops where both children and adults are invited to create traditional Days of the Dead crafts.

Participants will learn more about the significance of Día de los Muertos and the beginning process of the sugar skull construction. For more information, please visit maccaustin.org.

Austin Symphony’s frightfully fun music for the entire family

aU s ti N s ym ph oN y o rch es tra

It’s creepy, crawly and so much fun it’s spooky!

Your little ghost or goblin will help haunt Long Center’s Dell Hall for the Austin Symphony’s annual Halloween Children’s Concert. The Halloween Children’s Concert on Sunday, Oct. 23 features frightfully fun symphonic music that is stimulating for young eyes and ears (ages 2–10). The entire family is invited to dress up in their favorite costume and enjoy “boo-tiful” music with their Austin Symphony Orchestra.

Tickets are $10 per child and $15 per adult.

On Friday, Oct. 28, the public is invited to Disney in Concert: Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas at Dell Hall. One of Tim Burton’s most celebrated films, The Nightmare Before Christmas will be projected on the big screen with dialog and effects accompanied

Central Market’s 9th Annual Día de los Muertos Central Market presents their 9th Annual Día de los Muertos celebration on Saturday, Oct. 29 at

by Danny Elfman’s enigmatic score played live by your Austin Symphony Orchestra. For ticket info please call 512-476-6064 or go to austinsymphony.org.

4001 N. Lamar. Celebrate Creative Action and White Ghost Shivers’ Annual Kids’ Ball with live music from 6:30 - 9 pm and fun kid’s activities beginning at 5 p.m. This event features the Austin Samba School and Las Monas de San Antonio for a family-friendly parade and dance celebration.

The program will also include a DJ for even more dancing.

The celebration and Halloween festivities will continue on Sunday, Oct. 30 from 11 a.m.1:30 p.m. Kid and family activities will be found in Central Market’s laboratories (umm, cooking school) to celebrate the sweet treats of Halloween. Classes and menus vary by location.

Central Market’s Día de los Muertos celebration is free and open to the public. Come hungry with your whole family to one of Austin’s cornerstone Día de los Muertos events.

Planet K Texas Dia de los Muertos Fireworks The Texas skies will look bright one more year as Planet K celebrates Day of the Dead on Halloween night in Austin! On Monday, Oct. 31, join us in time for the 9:30 p.m. display behind Krieg Baseball Fields, at 517 S. Pleasant Valley Rd. We will pay tribute to those we have lost by coming together as a community to rejoice in the holiday and kick off Planet K’s special time of giving thanks.

The fireworks are free and open to the public. Spectators will witness an epic display of life affirming fireworks,

your perfect

Date Night

starts here

UpcomiNg eveNts: OctOber 21 & 22, 8:00 p.m. butler trio Masterworks Series at Long Center’s Dell Hall Music of Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Adams OctOber 23, 3:00 p.m.

Halloween children’s concert at Long Center’s Dell Hall Creepy fun for all ages!

BuTLer Trio

OctOber 28, 8:00 p.m.

Disney in concert: tim burton’s “the Nightmare before christmas” at Long Center’s Dell Hall

tickets/info

holiday, Planet K style. You are in for a memorable

SeASon SponSorS

æ

celebrating Día de los Muertos, the traditional Mexican

HALLoween

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oCToBer popS

(512) 476-6064 or austinsymphony.org

MeDiA SponSorS

experience as the fireworks light up the sky! For more information, visit planetktexasfireworks.com.

All artists, programs, and dates subject to change.

Austin Días de los Muertos on the web

Round Rock Dia de los Muertos procession and festival

With Austin’s growing pool of Día de los Muertos events, the Mexican holiday is observed in Texas’ capital like nowhere else. As the epicenter of all things Día de los Muertos, ubiquitous combinations of parties, processions and vigils will celebrate our heritage and culture from mid-Oct. to the first week of November.

For a schedule of events go to Austin’s Dia de los Muertos website, www.AustinDaysoftheDead.com

By Julie Chapa

Join the Williamson County Hispanic Heritage Committee, Round Rock Ballet Folklorico, City of Round Rock, Round Rock Arts, Univision and King’s Hawaiian for the fourth annual Dia de los Muertos procession and festival Saturday, Oct. 29 from 1-8 p.m. The free festival celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Mexico and promotes cultural diversity for families of Round Rock and surrounding communities. Individuals

Día de los Muertos is observed locally with activities taking place in cultural centers, parks, museums, music venues, shops, restaurants, schools and other locales. Reinterpreting and creating Day of the Dead events has connected the community in the present with long held practices that bring the past to life, making it part of Austin’s present. and entire families are welcome to join in the celebration at Centennial Plaza, located at 301 West Bagdad, in downtown Round Rock.

Día de los Muertos is a traditional Mesoamerican holiday dedicated to the ancestors honoring both death and the cycle of life. This festival pays tribute to the tradition that has been celebrated in Mexico for centuries. Come and enjoy crafts and activities for kids and art, music, dancing and food vendors.

Performers include Nicole Reyes, Bendiciones Ballet Folklorico, Childbloom Guitar Program, Stony Point Mariachis, Round Rock Ballet Folklorico, Mariachi Relampago, Bluebonnet Choir and headliner Las Fenix. Participants are encouraged to dress up and join the procession to be part of the celebration.

To participate in the parade, get vendor or volunteer information, visit roundrocktexas. gov/dia.

This year, Austin Días de los Muertos will blend Halloween merriment with the cultural significance and gravity of Día de los Muertos from Oct. 15-Nov. 2.

UT Día de los Muertos Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity – Eta Alpha Chapter at The University of Texas at Austin is hosting its annual Día de los Muertos event on Wednesday, November 2 from 6-9 p.m. at 2400 Inner Campus Drive on the UT campus.

for Mexican American Studies, Senate of College Councils, UT Division of Diversity and Community Engagement and Sorority and Fraternity Life.

This fun event is free and open to the public.

There will be performances from local and student organizations, along with altars, an altar building contest, face painting, and free food as long as supplies last. This year the event will also be host to Matachines dances.

The event is sponsored by the Sigma Lambda Beta Educational Foundation, the UT Center

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!!!

OCTOBER Line-up

TACO BAR

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

OUTDOOR SHOWS ARE WEATHER PERMITTING -----------------------------------------------------------------------SAT 10/1 JELLY @ 2:30 / TOM BEN LINDLEY @ 6:30 SUN 10/2 DEBORAH WATSON @ 12:00 / THE RECUPERATORS @ 3:00 -----------------------------------------------------------------------WED 10/5 KDRP RADIO SHOW @ 6:00 THU 10/6 LOS FLAMES @ 6:30 FRI 10/7 THE BOB FUENTES SHOW @ 6:30 SAT 10/8 THE URGE @ 2:30 / DON LEADY @ 6:30 SUN 10/9 THE SIDEMEN @ 12:00 / BLUE MIST @ 3:00 -----------------------------------------------------------------------WED 10/12 KDRP RADIO SHOW @ 6:00 THU 10/13 BEYOND THERAPY @ 6:30 FRI 10/14 THE BOB FUENTES SHOW @ 6:30 SAT 10/15 JIM STRINGER @ 2:30 / AUSTIN HEAT @ 6:30 SUN 10/16 TRIO MUSICAL @ 12:00 / MITCH WEBB @ 3:00 -----------------------------------------------------------------------WED 10/19 KDRP RADIO SHOW @ 6:00 THU 10/20 GLENN COLLINS & THE ALIBIS @ 6:30 FRI 10/21 THE BOB FUENTES SHOW @ 6:30 SAT 10/22 THE SOLID SENDERS @ 2:30 / JEAN PIERRE @ 6:30 SUN 10/23 TRENT TURNER @ 12:00 / W.C. CLARK @ 3:00 -----------------------------------------------------------------------WED 10/26 KDRP RADIO SHOW @ 6:00 THU 10/27 TEX THOMAS @ 6:30 FRI 10/28 THE BOB FUENTES SHOW @ 6:30 SAT 10/29 LOS FABULOCOS @ 2;30 / AL DRESSEN @ 6:30 SUN 10/30 BLUE SUNDAY @ 12:00 / CHICKEN STRUT @ 3:00

www.GuerosTacoBar.com

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

ARTS IN CONTEXT ALL NEW EPISODES IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER

Award-winning documentary series Arts In Context debuts Season 7 with 8 new installments featuring diverse artists from the worlds of visual arts, dance, music, literature and more. With stories to feed the soul, each episode this season shines a spotlight on compelling art projects all united by healing.

Mondays at 10:30 pm; Thursdays at 7:30 pm; online anytime at ArtsInContext.org or on the PBS App

G E T T H E CO M P L E T E L I N E U P AT K L R U.O R G

Also This Month ALL NEW

ALL NEW

Central Texas Gardener

Austin City Limits

See how to tackle the techniques, pick drought-tough plants for wildlife, fill up your kitchen with fresh food, and enrich your soul with artistic designs and homegrown philosophy from hands-on gardeners.

Get growing, right here, right now!

Saturdays at noon; Sunday at 9 am

Season 42 of Austin City Limits begins airing this month on PBS stations across the nation with an hourlong episode featuring the legendary Paul Simon in his ACL debut. The musical highlights of the season include the first-ever appearance by Iggy Pop, James Bay, Rhiannon Giddens, Andra Day and Natalia Lafourcade.

Saturdays at 7 pm; Wednesdays at 10 pm

Willie Velásquez: Your Vote is Your Voice

With his rallying cry of “Su voto es su voz” (“your vote is your voice”), Willie Velásquez began a grassroots movement that changed the nation’s political landscape and paved the way for the growing power of the Latino vote in America.

Oct. 3 at 9:30 pm; Oct 9 at 7 pm

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

Sound on Sound Fest A BRAND NEW EXPERIENCE FOR MUSIC LOVERS Many of Austin’s festival lovers were disappointed last year when Fun Fun Fun Fest founder Graham Williams left Transmission Events, the company behind FFF Fest’s production. Williams was not only one of the founders of the festival--a staple of Austin’s festival scene-- but instrumental in booking acts for the event as well, so the future of Fun Fun Fun Fest without Williams was uncertain.

However, earlier this year, Williams announced that his new booking outfit, Margin Walker, would be producing the Sound on Sound Fest, a new music festival to take the place of Fun Fun Fun Fest. “Naturally, there are a lot of similarities,” says

Courtney Barnett. NPR photo

| By Meredith C. Cox

Williams. “I founded and then we booked and produced Fun Fun Fun Fest for a decade, so it’s going to be coming from the same minds behind FFF Fest. A lot of that spirit is still there. That said, this event is very different as a whole.”

One of the major differences for Sound on Sound is that it’s going to take place at Sherwood Forest outside of Austin, home of the annual Sherwood Forest Faire. The site is populated with a castle, jousting arenas, sword-fighting areas and more, and is a very different atmosphere than FFF Fest’s previous Auditorium Shores’ location. There’s also going to be on-site camping, meaning attendees Run the Jewels

can stay the whole weekend without traveling back and forth and gives the festival producers the opportunity to have late-night activities that were previously restricted by an urban setting.

“There was a lot of discussion regarding how you make a festival not just another festival,” Williams said about the new location. “They’re often pretty cookie cutter in their lineup, but even original bills still fall into the same trappings. Doing it in a Ren Faire that is being rented out for the event is completely changing the look and feel. Instead of ‘bands in a field on stages,’ [we’ll have] bands and fans in a crazy experiential spot that is wild and fun. It’s in a forest and every building is an old structure from the mead halls to the vendor booths. You won’t see as many plain white tents everywhere.”

As far as the music represented in the festival, Williams was very conscientious of whom he booked.

"I realized if I didn't fight for my life, my kids would grow up without me... My weight loss and now maintenance has given me the gift of life. I changed my lifestyle to choose life!"

- Ary Gray

On February 9, 2009, Ary was preparing one of her kiddo’s snacks in the kitchen when she suddenly passed out for a quick second. Catching herself before hitting her nose on the kitchen counter, she passed out again. Hours had passed by when Ary came-to and she crawled to the living room. She found her two-year-old son crying, and her daughter tried to help her 306lb mom get up, but couldn’t. Her daughter’s father showed up after work, and Ary begged him to take her to a hospital, but he took her to an urgent care facility thinking it wasn’t a big deal. Ary’s blood pressure was 221/190, and the doctor immediately called an ambulance to take her to Seton. Ary had suffered a stroke, and was treated for hypertension as well. She had to undergo brain surgery immediately, but she rejected the surgery as her father had died after the same operation. Ary underwent some personal turmoil and made the decision to regain control of her health. In May of 2010, Ary joined a gym. With the help of a personal trainer, she lost 178lbs in two years. Her weight loss and maintenance has given her the gift of life.

REGISTER ONLINE!

12 TODO AUSTIN // OCT 2016 // TODOAUSTIN.COM

they have a random reggae act and two punk bands and four alt rock bands and one hip hop act. Nobody wants to pay top dollar for a festival ticket to see one band they like. I think it has to be a good amount of acts from each scene. Diverse, but not 50 bands that have nothing in common. I also think that diverse bills need a common thread running through them, as well. For example, at Sound on Sound, there are hip hop acts, indie bands, electronic acts, and garage and punk bands that share record labels and band members. There is a big cross over in independent music that isn’t as obvious from the outside, but does work well under the same roof.”

Fans can expect music from local artists like Magna Carda, American Sharks, Calliope Musicals, Explosions in the Sky and Moving Panoramas, among others. But there are also bigger names like Beach House, Run the Jewels, Mac DeMarco, Courtney Barnett, Big Boi, Thee Oh Sees, Phantogram, Purity Ring, Young Thug and Pussy Riot. As an outdoor event in the middle of a forest, Sound on Sound also has late night programming specifically for those camping. There’s the SOS Knights Comedy Club showcase each night from 12:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. with sets by comedians and additional music. There will also be nightly DJ sets from 12:30 a.m. to 3 a.m. and additional performances from local bands.

It’s hard to say if Sound on Sound Fest will turn out to be as popular as Fun Fun Fun fest, which had ten strong years, but its first year certainly seems like it’s going to be a good one. For one thing, its venue and setup make it stand out amongst Austin’s other musical offerings.

Beach House. NPR photo

“We’re a local event and I’m booking a show for Austin and for Texas,” he said. “We have a lot of people that travel for it, so we want it to feel big and international, but also represent Texas artists. Margin Walker books shows year round in venues all over Texas, so we work with a lot of great acts from around here. We have about 20+ local and Texas bands, not including the local comedians and speakers on ‘the globe’ stage, which is all non-musical acts. Musically, we want it to be diverse, but not a kitchen sink model. I hate festivals that have that weird setup where

Sound on Sound Festival will be held Nov. 4-6 at Sherwood Forest Faire, approximately 40 miles outside of Austin. General Admission passes start at $85 for one day, and $169 for the full festival.

There’s also a $445 VIP “Treat Thy Self” package available. Camping access starts at $75 and tents and sleeping cots are available to rent if you don’t already have your own. There is also RV access at the park. Shuttles will be available for $5 from downtown Austin.

For the full lineup, additional information and to purchase tickets, visit www.soundonsoundfest.com

To Do Música

By Liz Lopez

BROWN SOUND NEWS Brazilian-born, Austin-based keyboardist, singer, songwriter and music teacher Paula Maya is on her 2016 Fall Regional Tour which runs through November. Maya will be performing songs from her critically acclaimed eight track CD, “Iluminar,” as well as new works from her forthcoming album, including bi-lingual songs she wrote effortlessly in English and Portuguese.

In her set, she often includes at least one Patsy Cline song. “It happened organically. I was trying out new sounds and was learning some songs by the great Dolly Parton.

But it wasn’t such a great fit for my voice,” said Maya. “Then I found Patsy Cline! I like sad songs, and love the songs she sings.

They are perfect for my voice, which has a longing quality to it, so to speak. At first I was very nervous. What is a Brazilian girl doing, singing classic country songs? But again and again my lovely audience proved my intuition to be right.”

Maya was nominated for Best Brazilian Musician living in the USA in the Focus Web News 2016 Press Awards. Before she goes on tour, she and her band will kick it off with an early show at Kenny Dorham’s Backyard at Brazilian Music in the Backyard, with guest Sergio Yazbec (former guitarist of the hugely popular Brazilian band Cidade Negra) on Sunday, Oct. 2 from 5-8 p.m.; $10 and free for children 12 and under.

Katia Cardenal and Nina Cardenal from Nicaragua will be in town for one show on Monday Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the Blackerby Recital Hall. They will be hosted

by Centroamericanto Fest, led by Mauricio Callejas, an artist who recently was named to a new residency at the ESB-MACC. Two Austin musicians, Carlos Millo Ufret and Javier Jara, have also been named new

Artists in Residence at the ESB–MACC, as announced by Jara on his Facebook page. He added, “Many exciting musical productions in the horizon. Stay tuned.”

El Conjunto Nueva Ola, who performed at SXSW Music Festival in 2015 and returned this year to perform during the SXAmericas event at the Austin Music Hall for Lucha Underground, (televised on Robert Rodriguez’s El Rey Network), are returning to Austin on Friday, Oct. 28 as they “modernize the cumbia” at 10 p.m. at Flamingo Cantina.

Doors are 9 p.m.

Congratulations to Santiago Jiménez Jr. for receiving the National Medal of Arts at the White House last month, along with eleven other artists in various fields, including literary, theater, and more.

The General Ballot for voting for artists for the Tejano Music Awards is now available and voting ends at midnight (Central) on Saturday, Oct. 15. Winners will be announced on Saturday, Nov. 12 at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts in San Antonio.

Austin bands are teaming up for a good cause on Friday, Oct. 21 with 100 pervcent of the cover going to SafePlace in honor of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The evening will feature all things Beyonce, with nine Austin bands and artists covering her music and a late-night Beyonce dance party with GirlFriend. Featured acts including Bidi Bidi Banda, Tomar and the FCs, Little Brave, Jinx Mcgee, Carry Illinois, Francine Thirteen, Sounds del Mar, Ali Holder, and Zachman. Bands 9 p.m. Cheer Up Charlies, 900 Red River St. Cover: $5.

La Frenetika is Andres Junca, vocals, guitar, piano and gaita; Sahabel Porto, voice and chorus; Hugo Leija, guacharaca; Javier “Pancho” Villarreal, caja; Andres “El Parce” Acevedo, bajo; Johnatan Jimenez “El Papa de Kaleth,” timbales; Jose Costilla “Junior,” Congas; Cesar Osorio, guitar and Santos Cosme, accordion and teclados. Their next show, Colombian Cumbia & Vallenato, will be Saturday, Oct. 15, 9 p.m. at Esquina Tango. $8.

Santiago Jiménez Jr.

CELEBRATING

DIVERSITY

BRIDGE2BRIDGE From Montopolis Bridge to 360 Bridge, Everything Austin

AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL

Grupo Corpo return to the Bass Concert Hall stage Thursday, Oct. 6, 8 p.m., hot on the heels of their stunning performance at the 2016 Rio Olympics closing ceremony. The world-renowned company, founded in 1975, are hailed for reflecting the diversity and rich color of Brazil with their seductive movement, adventurous music, vibrant costuming, sets and lighting. $10-$40. texasperformingarts.org

TEJANO IDOL

By Liz Lopez

Austin Tejano Music Coalition announced the sixth annual Tejano Idol 16 finalists after months of auditions around Texas since April. Among the contestants are Austin-based singers Rob Huerta, Yuliana Serrano Garcia, Halli Marie Castillo and Stephanie Valenzuela.

The group of five judges will include Austin’s Steve “Rat” Silvas, musical director of Cañonazo, and David Farias, vocalist and accordionist for such groups as Los Hermanos Farias and Tropa F. Award-winning Shelly Lares returns to serve as the show’s emcee, a role she has served since the inception of the program that shines a spotlight on emerging young artists.

The contestants who achieve a ranking in the top three spots are vying for cash prizes and the first place winner earns a record label deal with Freddie Records in Corpus Christi.

This year, the vocal competition will be held on Sunday, Oct. 16 at Dance Across Texas, 2201 East Ben White Blvd. and will begin at 2 p.m. There will be a special performance by last year’s Tejano Idol first place winner, Monica Saldivar, as well as Texas Soul Beats.

The Austin Tejano Music Coalition membership works to fundraise all year for this competition and partners with other organizations and businesses to help make this event a success. Tickets are available for $7 on pre-sale by contacting any ATMC member, and will be $10 at the door.

Children 13 and under can attend at no charge.

The Austin Tejano Music Coalition is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to the preservation of the Tejano Music culture. Their goals are to promote the music, increase awareness and invite new Tejano music fans and listeners to learn more about the genre.

For more information on the organization and the event, contact event chair Aggie Saldana Sanchez at aaggie54@yahoo.com or visit austintejanomusiccoalition.com.

“Girl Power!” is a new production celebrating Austin Dance India’s 25th anniversary season. It presents local live music and dance through a collaboration between Austin Dance India (student ensemble), Girls Performance and Advocacy (girls choir), and Manasi Joshi-Singh (classical vocalist). Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 8-9, in the Long Center’s Rollins Studio Theatre. All ages.

Tickets from $20. thelongcenter.org POP Austin International Art Show hosts its third annual show at Fair Market, Oct. 13–16. POP Austin showcases some of the world’s most talented artists, creating an experience that transcends art to become that of a conversation-starting social movement. The unique model combines style, spectacle, cultural education and taste to present compelling art in an accessible and engaging format. popaustin.org Explore fall and winter festivals celebrated in Asia and beyond at the Asian American Resource Center on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2-4 p.m. Fall Holidays Fair – from Asia and Beyond gives patrons a peek at exotic foreign celebrations through hands-on activities, demonstrations and cultural performances. Food and beverages available for purchase at the family friendly event. Free in the Ballroom. austintexas.gov/aarc All great things come in threes. The Austin Symphony’s Rule of Three on Oct. 21-22 at the Long Center’s Dell Hall is no exception. For its third Masterworks concert, prepare for three exceptional pieces by three legendary composers including John Adams and Tchaikovsky.

That’s not all, the amazing Butler Trio will take the stage to perform a crowd favorite, the Beethoven Triple Concerto. austinsymphony.org The Queen of Ranchera music, Aida Cuevas, and America’s first all-female mariachi ensemble, Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles, unite for Mexico y su Mujer, a concert extravaganza celebrating women in mariachi Tuesday, Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m. at the Long Center. Cuevas is Mexico’s most important female voice celebrating a 38 year career, leaving a remarkable imprint in Mexican music. thelongcenter.org Salvage Vanguard Theater’s world premiere of Hannah Kenah’s new play “With Great Difficulty Alice Sits” is the story of Alice and Heath, a pregnant couple trapped in the most joyful time of their lives. They are expecting.

The longer they wait, the further they slip into anxiety and despair, and their possible daughter becomes an instrument of torment. Oct. 27 – Nov. 19, TH-SA. www. salvagevanguard.org

By Meredith C. Cox | The Austin Film Festival & Conference returns to Austin Oct. 13-20. Since its creation in 1993, AFF has set itself apart not just as a film festival, but as a champion of screenwriters – an essential yet overlooked part of filmmaking. Austin Film Festival was the first event of its kind to take the lead in bringing professional and amateur screenwriters together to celebrate the role of the screenplay in filmmaking, as well as discuss the creative possibilities of writing for film and television. Since then, the festival and conference has expanded tremendously and now includes all types of filmmakers, producers, agents and screenwriters, in an effort to foster the sale of screenplays, promote filmmaking and launch long-term careers.

For those who are beginner or established screenwriters, or interested in the process of crafting a film or TV series, the conference is the big draw. Over four days, AFF will present 175 panels, workshops, roundtables and pitch sessions covering every possible aspect of screenwriting.

Panelists this year already include legendary producer Frank Marshall, acclaimed filmmaker Paul Feig, Marta Kauffman (producer of Friends and Veronica’s Closet), writer and director Nancy Meyers, Comedy Central President Kent Alterman.

For those who are more interested in film screenings, Q&As with directors, producers, writers and actors, or just the industry parties, that’s what the festival is all about. The film screenings are supplemented by informative sessions with cast members and filmmakers, making this an incredible opportunity to pick the brain of your favorite film people. There are already tons of amazing films scheduled, and more information is being added on a daily basis.

Like most festivals, there are many different pass and badge options, starting at $75. Full information is available at austinfilmfestival.com.

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