You may not realize this, but in 1492 when George Washington wrote the Constitution, the entire world was watching on closed circuit television. It was like we were the baby Jesus in that barn, with England and France as our virgin parent-handlers, and the rest of the infinite universe as the sheep being watched over by Germany, Earth's kindliest human shepherds. ... [continue]

Back in late March, Carrie Miller was riding home on Guadalupe when she was struck by a hit-and-run driver and thrown from her bike. The driver, whose passenger side mirror struck Miller, may not have stopped, but he left her with a key piece of evidence -- evidence that would lead Miller back to her own apartment building.... [continue]

Photo courtesy Davis Ayer on Flickr Hungry to share your most provocative Austin food photos? Send them here. Make sure to include your name, where the photo was taken and a complete description of the food.... [continue]

Photograph of one of the man-made waterfalls under the Brooklyn Bridge by Jake Dobkin Gothamist enjoyed watching New York City's latest big public art project--four multi-story man-made waterfalls--rise up in East River and the debate about whether it's art or folly (but they sure look pretty at night).Londonist handed out advice on how to queue for Wimbledon tickets, then embarked on a gruelling fact-finding tour of drinking-holes at the capital's main terminus rail stations.Seattlest... [continue]

Hip-hop/spoken word artist Shannon Leigh was in a cave-diving accident two weeks ago in Florida. She is in a coma in a Florida hospital. NRA goes on a spree. Republican party "much more open to strong women." Questionable election results not just an American phenomenon. Desperately seeking real news. Fox News losing lead. Some Anglicans ask the question, "Who would Jesus disenfranchise?" Read this headline twice.... [continue]

Who knew that an emoting robot could steal your heart so quickly and effortlessly? It only takes a moment for your eyes to meet those of Wall-E, the newest pipsqueak of a trash compactor from the magicians at Pixar. But in that moment, gazing into the mechanization of his little binocular face, you realize that you could love his bleeping robot heart your whole life long.... [continue]

It's always nice when the opportunity to catch a little stand-up comedy with your tunes presents itself, and, with a revamped format for Bonnaroo, as well as our very own Fun Fun Fun Fest, the idea of pairing these two very different but equally awesome forms of entertainment is becoming more common. Tonight we see this new era of show-going in action as The Fuck Yeah Tour, more politely known as the F Yeah Tour, rumbles into the Mohawk with an intriguing mix of music, spoken word, and comedy. ... [continue]

As if today's city wide wine tasting wasn't enough, The Austin Wine Merchant invites local winos to check out some great wines this Saturday from Noon-3 p.m. during their pre-4th of July tasting of classic American wines.... [continue]

Photo courtesy of Sarah Wilson Spartan / Bows + Arrows Summer BashSaturday, June 28Spartan / Bows + Arrows (Map)12noon-7pmThis Saturday afternoon, South Lamar upstarts Spartan and Bows + Arrows will be hosting their first annual Summer Bash art and trunk show. The event features the works of two local artists - photographer Sarah Wilson and jeweler Rachel Roberts. Wilson, whose work has been featured in Texas Monthly, Men's Journal and Real Simple, will be showing... [continue]

Have you noticed that The Tiniest Bar in Texas keeps getting larger? Once upon a time it was a few outdoor tables and a window where you could order your drinks, and the place has now swelled to include a glass-covered patio, another tiny bar outside, and even a stage. Sure, the main bar is still tiny, but that’s about it. And you know they realize they’re how big they are now when they decided to book Foot Patrol for a Friday show, a band who positively shook the United States Art Authority during a performance last month. In addition to Foot Patrol’s funked-up, danceable and fetish-baiting set, patrons also have The Jazzus Lizard’s Ornette Coleman/David Yow mash-up to enjoy. The Jesus Lizard gone jazz? Just try and find something weirder to do with your Friday night. ... [continue]

Twin Liquors kicks off a series of city wide in-store wine tastings at select locations all over town, this afternoon from 4-7 p.m., showcasing Mulderbosch Cab Rose and Nine Stones Shiraz.... [continue]

According to the Statesman, the City of Austin is generally failing to enforce the Water Use Management Ordinance, despite having received over a thousand complaints about violations. Only three citations have been issued so far, all to commercial users. Under the ordinance, commercial and multifamily users can only water on Tuesday and/or Friday year round, residential users with odd-numbered addresses can only water on Wednesday and/or Saturday from May 1 - September 30 and residential users with even-numbered addresses can only water on Thursday and/or Sunday from May 1 - September 30. No one can water between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., except with hand-held hose. ... [continue]

Back in the old days, when I still drank, I’d finish up a bartending shift on 6th Street, by which I mean throw back a few cocktails. Then I’d float, heavily buzzed, on down to the 311 Club to see CJ. The 311 was not really “my” kind of place. Except for CJ, a bartender so amazingly skilled I would go just to watch him. Okay, well that and get a little drunker. The thing about CJ was that he could make any customer—big, small, young, old, stupid, suave—feel like his one true love in the few moments it took him to mix a drink, run a charge card, and wink like he meant it. Maybe it was an act, all this showmanship, but I had the feeling that CJ genuinely liked people and wasn’t just shaking it for tips.... [continue]

When we talked to Gillis back in 2007, we spoke of the culture clash he used to experience when he was still spending 9 to 5 as a biomedical researcher in Pittsburgh, and the multiple lives he inhabited between friends, family and co-workers. "My mom listens to Night Ripper while jogging, and my dad jams it on his iPod while mowing the lawn," he said. This portrait of comfortable dichotomy exists with Animals as well, and its hinted at before you even press play -- the quiet suburban house and its flaming yard intimate the nightlife persona's intrusion into normalcy, but then again, no one ever said this whole thing wasn't about normalcy invading the party scene. Likewise, "Feed the Animals" can be mentally summoned with images of tigers or tabbys, and that subtle brilliance is exactly what has made Girl Talk the benchmark in party music. ... [continue]

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

Nearly 300 Austinites went to eat and compete in iLoveMikeLitt's 2nd Annual Veggie Hot Dog Eating Contest at Scholz Garten last Saturday. Congrats to all the winners! Ann Harkness/iLoveMikeLitt For more information about this and upcoming events visit iLoveMikeLitt's website. If you can't view the Flash slideshow above, an alternate version appears after the jump.... [continue]

Republican Market, a Florida-based website devoted to all things GOP, was recently spotted at the Republican State Convention in Houston with a booth offering the latest round of politically shallow and morally irresponsible pins declaring "If Obama is President...will we still call it the White House?" ... [continue]

Baghead is one of those DIY films that seem to be popping up all over the place. The difference is that this time, you might not think to yourself, “I could do better,” because local auteurs Mark and Jay Duplass, who wrote, directed, and produced this picture, have done it pretty darn well.... [continue]

Two town hall meeting-style forum opportunities have been offered to presidential candidates John McCain (GOP) and Barack Obama (Dem). The Johnson family has asked the candidates to hold a forum at the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, and Nancy Reagan has asked them to hold a forum at the Reagan National Library in California. Both forums would be scheduled for July. ... [continue]

In early 2001 I told my son we were going to Japan. His immediate excited response was this: Well mom, you’re going to have to learn how to shit on a plane. I don’t recall that I actually emptied my bowels on that seventeen-hour flight, but Henry had a point. The idea of crapping away from a familiar toilet, particularly around a bunch of strangers, and in a situation that involves not-real-plumbing is usually enough to stop me up, sometimes for days on end. Which was the case last weekend, at least until my intestines couldn’t stand it anymore. Warren, my hot young boyfriend, had invited me months prior to attend Flipside with him, the local version of Burning Man, that annual festival in the desert where thousands of people set up a tent city and experiment in… well, let’s just say all sorts of things.... [continue]