Officials from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) are expected to present more concrete facts about the case later today. While no suspects have yet been named — to tide you over, some of the staff have offered up a list of "suspects" in the poll to the right — a 'person of interest' was reportedly caught on video. According to KXAN, the state fire marshal is still deciding whether or not to show this footage to the press. Further hindering the investigation is the fact that several cameras were 'not operational' during the fire. ... [continue]

On this day in music history, David Bowie released the "Space Oddity" single to coincide with humankind's first lunar landing. And now, onward! Here's your Midweek Show Jumpstart:... [continue]

Just 15 minutes in, the third annual Matamoros-Bagdad Cycling Tour in Mexico was plunged into chaos when a drunk driver from Texas smashed head-on into the group of riders.... [continue]

Last week, five developers presented their proposals for the redevelopment of the Green Water Treatment Plant and the Energy Control Center - six prime acres of downtown real estate worth something like $55 million. The city is requesting your opinions here, but only until this Sunday. Our pick? Stratus had us at HEB.... [continue]

As you may have read somewhere, we are launching Phase Two of our almost-monthly Austinist Indieroke shindig this Sunday at 9 p.m. at The Mohawk. The event will take place upstairs on the deck -- please look for the “green light” on 10th St. and enter through there since there is a band (Colour Wheel) and a cover charge downstairs. Hopefully you have already added us as a friend on MySpace since all our nominees in the various contests shall have their sweet face historicized in our “Hall Of Mirrors.” Additionally, each winner’s mug will also be displayed on Austinist the following day. As promised previously, there will be a handful of local rock stars present to serenade us with renditions of their favorites -- Mike Booher (Zykos), Cari Palazzolo (Belaire), and James Petralli (White Denim) are all expected to take the stage during the course of the evening.... [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]

The Oakville Grocery Austin website is no longer up, and for the past several weeks, there was a noticeable absence of products on the shelves so the writing seemed to be on the wall. It sort of begs the question - is it a sign of the economy, or was it just the wrong business in the wrong place at the wrong time?... [continue]

Direct Events and Backyard owner Tim O'Connor has announced the live oak amphitheater's final season, calling it quits after sixteen seasons in the hill country. ... [continue]

Austinist is pleased to bring you the chance to win a pair of tickets to Saturday evening’s sold out Rodrigo y Gabriela show at La Zona Rosa. Astute guitarists both, Rodrigo Sánchez and Gabriela Quintero spent some time plying their trade in a metal band (Tierra Acida) in Mexico before striking the right chords under their current moniker. The duo’s discography consists of Foc (2001), re-Foc (2003), Live: Manchester and Dublin (2004), and 2006’s self-titled effort; their instrumental takes on Metallica’s “Orion” and Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway To Heaven” are already semi-cult classics.... [continue]

Austinist is considering offering a weekly advice column in the vein of Dear Abby, Salon's Cary Tennis, and Slate's Dear Prudence (among other columnized advice givers). We need your help in getting this started. ... [continue]

After being closed to new subscribers for a period of time, Austin Energy's GreenChoice program is extending its green arms for Austinites far and wide. Claiming to be the nation's most successful utility-sponsored green power program, GreenChoice is an opportunity to walk the sustainability talk. ... [continue]

With the faith of a thousand men, Pastor Richard Gazowsky set out ten years ago on a divine mission: to make the greatest film ever made. Nevermind that the first film he ever saw was The Lion King, at the tender age of 40. Nevermind that he had absolutely no background in directing, editing, or producing an epic so grand that it's concept was enthusiastically described as "The Ten Commandments meets Star Wars." Nevermind that his only solid source of funding was the generous tithes of his congregation at the Voice of Pentecost Church.... [continue]

Photo courtesy austinsantaspeedorun.com Santa Speedo Run at Trail of Lights 5kSaturday, December 8Zilker Park6pm[info]During next weekend's Trail of Lights 5k Run, Zilker Park's festive arrangement of lighted scenes won't be the only eye candy on display. Some steely individuals will get together to participate in Austin's first annual Santa Speedo Run, wearing, as you might have guessed, nothing but the trademark Lycra swim briefs. It's all in the name of good fun, while (informally) fundraising...... [continue]

Apparently everyone thinks Clinton shined in last nights presidential debate, but the best sound bite came from Rep. Dennis Kucinich who said, "Impeach now!" U.S. envoy arrives to pressure Pakistani president into admitting defeat. A cyclone that slammed into Bangladesh's coast has killed at least 426 people. The Senate has blocked a Democratic proposal to pay for the Iraq war but require that troops start coming home. Iran is still shady about their nuclear... [continue]

Skeletor playing drums, found on Joystiq.comLast night's town hall meeting on the proposed noise ordinance changes drew a record turnout at Momo's, bringing out a crowd that consisted mostly of local venue owners, musicians, and longtime residents. As we mentioned yesterday, the meeting was held to discuss a proposal put forth by the Austin City Planning Commission that would basically lower the decibel (dB) rating for music venues from the current limit, 85 dB, to...... [continue]

According to Bizjournals, Google is expected to close on a lease at the Scarbrough Building on Sixth and Congress Ave. They'll be taking over the entire second floor of the Chicago-style building, which has the distinction of being Austin's first steel and concrete structure (built just shy of a century ago) and, more interestingly, housing the first dry goods store that tacked on price tags to its wares—before that, stores in Austin worked largely on...... [continue]

Austin artist Michael Schliefke—of Bolm Studios and one of the driving forces behind the annual East Austin Studio Tour (E.A.S.T.)—recently unveiled a new comic book side project that takes aim at all of the development shenanigans happening on the eastside. "Towards the beginning of this year, I got the idea to do some drawings of East Austin before it was entirely cleaned up and was completely overrun by condos and lofts," said Schliefke. "My idea...... [continue]

Fun Fun Fun Fest captured more than a few hearts last December on a cold winter evening with a three-stage-pronged attack that provided ample genres for everyone in attendance. Some of the stand-out acts included Spoon, The Black Angels, The Octopus Project, Peaches, and Prefuse 73. This year, the fest is back, bigger than before, and a month earlier to boot. November 3rd and 4th will see Waterloo Park transformed into a musical carnival featuring...... [continue]

As a prelude to CNU XVI, Envision Central Texas and the Congress for the New Urbanism are hosting "From Boom to BEST? The Future of Central Texas", a lunch featuring a discussion by Andrés Duany of Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company, Hank Dittmar of The Prince Charles Foundation for the Built Environment and our own beloved mayor. Topics include fostering walkable development, transit, sustainability in times of booming growth and the impact of mixed-use development...... [continue]

*The views expressed in Truesday are those of the author and do not represent Austinist as a whole. Thank heavens.* -The Editors Bro-dawgs, huddle around the Axe Body Wash fountain and check this out: There’s a new lounge opening up where that freakshow movie place used to be, and it’s gonna be sweet bangin’ with more honeys than we’ll be able to drug in a single night, and more lesser bro-hams than we’ll be...... [continue]