Almost two years ago I joined a motley crew of a couple dozen folks looking to enhance the entertainment landscape of Austin and help explode Austinist onto the scene via the wonders of the internets. Since that time, many of the names and faces have changed, but the desire to provide fun, entertaining and informative content to Austinites (and former Austinites) has remained the same. Therefore, it is with a mixture of sadness and excitement...... [continue]

The new images on the front page were sent to us from Chris Carson, a photographer who took part in the bird stunt downtown yesterday. He has more photos and information posted on his webiste. Amidst the Avian Emergency downtown yesterday, the threat level reached Yellow, as Big Bird (played by Ivan Spaller of Floribunda) and a Hazmat worker (played by Kevin Witt of Three Jazz Collective) re-created the Terror on Congress. Carson was...... [continue]

Sunday. Usually, a quiet, contemplative day in the Blogosphere. But not here in the Ist-a-Verse. Nonono! Just look below and see all of the wild and crazy stuff our staffs are up to. In Austin, bands are beginning to confirm for SXSW and the rumor mill is up and running. Good thing, too, because we all know how much Austinites love live performances. Austin also found itself in the national spotlight, with Longhorn Legend...... [continue]

The city’s number one comedy theater has a Friday night lineup that is guaranteed to get your ass laughing, regardless of your particular comedic styling predilections. The full night of comedy at ColdTowne kicks off with some hot woman on woman comedy action (interested now, you sick bastards?). In the One-Woman Showdown, local improvisers Kaci Beeler and Jill Morris interpret their favorite movies as one-woman shows. Beeler will be adapting every geeky pedophile’s favorite...... [continue]

Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young was named the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year today. After sitting on the bench and watching for the first month of the season, the Longhorn Legend finally got his chance. Once VY was given the opportunity to prove himself, he did what we all expected him to do – he danced, pranced, cajoled and lead his team to amazing victory after amazing victory, carrying the 0-5 Titans to...... [continue]

As 2006 ends and 2007 begins, the -ists look back not at the past week, but at the past year. So here it is, your Best of 2006 Spectacular. And from all of us at the -ists, happy New Year! Austinist was all about controversy as new construction to increase urban density ran rampant in 2006, as did threats to the city's image from gigantic corporations looking to set up shop in town, leading...... [continue]

You may have seen the storefront on 2nd St. filled with workers in coveralls, their workshop littered with pink paper and bottles. The spartan headquarters of the Pink Love Factory stands in stark contrast to the modern shops that proliferate the shopping district. You have probably wondered what the hell is going on in this place filled with bicycles, jump suits, pink construction paper and smiling artisans. Well, after consuming our weight in gelato... [continue]

Happy Holidays! Chances are, you're reading this the day after Christmas, back at your day job after all-too-short a holiday, and the last thing you want from us is stuff about the holidays. But that's just too bad. Because, see, here in the Ist-A-Verse, we do things ahead of time. It might be December 26 for you, but that's what you get for not checking your Favorite Local Blog on Christmas Eve. Austinist is...... [continue]

Andy Roddick, the world’s sixth-ranked men’s tennis player and part-time Austin resident, was in town last weekend for his Second Annual Andy Roddick Foundation Charity Gala. Founded in 2001, the Andy Roddick Foundation raises money to benefit organizations that aid in the development of at-risk children and families, including those that have been abused, abandoned and neglected. The Foundation’s goal is to improve the quality of life and enhance educational and economic opportunities for all...... [continue]

We’d never asperse someone just because he's rich and famous. Or just because he likes to go shirtless at all times and do push-ups on the beach in Malibu. Or just because he's an actor who seems to think he has an authoritative opinion about baseball. Or just because he appears in the Monday Night Football booth to promote his new film and attempts to sound like a West Texas Buddha. We wouldn’t do that.... [continue]

"What people don't realize is that the so-called Seattle grunge scene grew out of several close-knit gourmet supper clubs - we would only pick up guitars to pass the time while our dishes were simmering, baking, boiling, etc." - Kurt Cobain For those Austinites looking to escape a (warm) hip town full of rock and roll, coffee shops, tech geeks and weed for another (rainy) hip town full of rock and roll, coffee shops,...... [continue]

This was not a very happy week for the -ist network as one of our own, Phillyist co-editor Star C. Foster, passed away early in the week. Her wit, intelligence, and good nature shone through the site, making Phillyist an immensely fun read. She was loved by many and will be missed by all. Phillyist paid tribute to her this week with a heartfelt letter to her and an obituary. And now, the awkward...... [continue]

Paul Burka, Senior Executive Editor of Texas Monthly, reports on his latest blog that plans for a George W. Bush Presidential Library on the SMU campus are meeting some serious resistance. Burka writes, “A letter, dated December 16, from ‘Faculty, Administrators, & Staff’ of the Perkins School of Theology to R. Gerald Turner, president of the Board of Trustees, is now circulating not only on the SMU campus but also among a wider academic community,...... [continue]

It seems perfect timing that, with former President Jimmy Carter in town today for a book-signing, Austin Habitat for Humanity is teaming with AT&T to provide an exciting opportunity for low-income families in Austin. Austin Habitat for Humanity stands at the forefront of assisting Austin’s low-income residents, 58,000 of whom live in substandard or overcrowded housing. Their new partnership with AT&T will bring in-home Internet and technology access to 76 low-income Austin families as part...... [continue]

"Heaven…we're in hea-ven…" There are few things we like more than a good massage. World peace, gelato…that's about it, actually. If we could afford it, we'd probably get a professional massage every week. But we've got to budget our money carefully, you know, what with the gelato and all. So, you can imagine how thrilled we were when we read this story in the Austin Business Journal about Massage Harmony. The cleverly titled studio,... [continue]

We have a confesstion to make: We are not expert gift-wrappers. We can admit it; it's cool. While we have always thought that there was a bit of charm in our mishmash newspaper and (visible) Scotch tape wrap jobs, the truth of the matter is, our friends and family were probably just being kind as they gave an obligatory chuckle upon viewing our shabbily-wrapped tidings. Furthermore, if you’re giving said shambles to certain adorable...... [continue]

Comedy can be a tough job. Especially in a Red State. Pauly Shore found that out the hard way when he was in Texas recently. Shore, son of The Comedy Store founder Mitzi Shore, was doing his set in Odessa, when drunken rednecks, er, patrons began harassing him mercilessly. Shore, a longtime veteran of stand-up, did not go Michael Richards, “Look, he’s a honky,” instead choosing to simply tell the “Hoss” in question to “Shut... [continue]

It is with heavy hearts that we come to you with news that we have lost a dear member of the Ist family. Phillyist co-editor Star Foster passed away Sunday morning. She had been complaining of a pain in her foot, which she thought had to do with some bad moves she'd made at dance class, but it turns out there was a tumor in her leg which metastasized and went to her heart. She...... [continue]

Students from The University of Texas RTF Department will be showcasing work tonight from their East Austin Stories project. The student filmmakers have collaborated with the community to develop short documentaries in and about East Austin. Film subjects include two-time Grammy winner Ruben Ramos, restaurant owner Nubian Queen Lo-la, the letter-writing campaign of Sanchez Elementary to save local restaurant Las Manitas, respected porcelain artist Sungyong Chung, LBJ High School, family-owned and operated Kings-Tears mortuary, and...... [continue]

Before we begin, we'd like to extend our deepest sympathies to the family of James Kim. We are not, by any means, trying to discount that tragedy by juxtaposing posts about the Kims with more light-hearted posts. It's the nature of doing a compilation such as this one: we're trying to give a full slice of the goings-on in the Ist-a-Verse: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Londonist wants you to know where to...... [continue]