A new event in this year's quiver of festival firsts, Zen Nation will take place at Action Figure's East Austin Studios and will feature signature cocktails, celebrity sightings (ostensibly) and entertainment from Charanga Cakewalk. ...

Our sister sites in NYC, San Francisco, and Chicago may have the culinary advantage of established food scene braggin' rights, but during the long weekend of April 10-13, the Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival returns for its 23rd year, showcasing Central Texas' unique culinary points of distinction (with modern mixology, gourmet hangover breakfasts, and Austinist's most important gastronomic matter - the ubiquitous search for the perfect taco - at the head of the line.)...

Local production company Action Figure might not be a household name yet, but we bet you know their work. The group, based in (where else) East Austin, has produced shows like "Rollergirls" for A&E, and the Lone Star Grammy nominated show "Downtown" for KLRU/PBS. They're also not too shabby when it comes to dabbling in the music video market: their work for Okkervil River's "Our Life Is Not a Movie (Or Maybe)" made the e-rounds late last year, and this year, a company video they produced found its way into the hearts of local DJ duo Ocelot Mthrfckrs. ...

The APD could adopt a more compatible attitude, one that sees violent crime on the East Side as another inevitable casualty of gentrification, one that will eventually succumb to the gradual transition. Essential to all parties accepting responsibility for these mixed-race, mixed-income neighborhoods is that transition from negative stigma includes a reduction of all forms of violence....

Several Austin TV stations were honored at last night's 5th annual Lone Star EMMY Awards. One of the evening's big winners was local PBS affiliate KLRU, which garnered 6 awards out of its initial 21 nominations, including three for Downtown (a co-production of KLRU, the Downtown Austin Alliance and Action Figure) and one for the Central Texas community-driven "collaborative collage," Docubloggers. CBS 42's investigative journalist Nanci Wilson scored two wins, for her special feature stories,......

TUESDAY [24] party • KLRU, Downtown Austin Alliance and Action Figure host a party for Season 3 of "Downtown" at Seaholm Power Plant (7:30pm, Free, Bring a Canned Good) POSTPONED books • Rob Neyer and Jim Baker present Baseball Prospectus 2007 at BookPeople (7:00pm) comedy • Tig Notaro and Steve Burr at Cap City Comedy Club film • AFS Essential Series: "Funny Games" at Alamo Downtown film • "Shaft" with Free 40! at Alamo......

Are you still looking for that perfect stocking stuffer or 4th night of Chanukkah present? Look no further, because the Kinky Friedman Talking Action Figure could be yours for only $29.95! With this purchase you will not only make that special someone very happy, but you will also be helping the Kinky Friedman campaign for Governor of Texas in 2006.......

Are you concerned about our state's education system, our healthcare, the potential renewabel energy that is waiting to be tapped? Then perhaps it's time to get Kinky. Join hosts Berney Williams, Robert Mace, Mick Wilson, John Worrall & David Macdermott for a Kinky Friedman campaign fundraiser/happy hour party in Austin. The event will take place on December 20th from 5:00-7:00pm at Robert & Wendy Mace's home (see below for map). Entertainment will be provided......