This Sunday, grab a friend, grab a kite and head down to Zilker Park for a local tradition that is over 50 years older than SXSW and over 70 years older than ACL Fest. If we're talking about true Austin, the Zilker Park Kite Festival can't be beat....

This past Saturday, two Austinites took home Independent Spirit Awards! Chris Eska took home the "John Cassavetes Award" for his feature August evening, and Laura Dunn took home the "Truer than Fiction Award" for her film The Unforeseen, a documentary look at the controversy surrounding Austin's real estate development and its impact on the Edwards Aquifer and Barton Springs....

Photo from the Austin History Center archives Since so many of you wrote in asking about places to watch the Democratic Presidential Debate, we went ahead and called around town. Below are your best options if you missed out on the Alamo's watch parties or the Texas Democrats' party—both are now sold out. We still recommend calling ahead to make sure the folks below haven't changed their minds, and feel free to share any that......

Looks like ACL Fest organizers have chosen Groundhog Day to release their mildly discounted multi-passes. 3-day passes priced at $150 including service charges are on sale now at ACLFest.com. ...

Hope in the City, a church in southwest Austin that exists to glorify God by growing devoted followers of Christ in communities that advance His Kingdom in Austin and the nations, is running into trouble with the city. They have been so successful at attracting devoted followers of Christ that there is no longer room in the parking lot. The church would like to build another parking lot in the field between their buildings and Williamson Creek, but city officials denied their request because the church is in the Barton Springs watershed and has used its 15% land cover allowed by the Save Our Springs ordinance. City officials have suggested that church members could take the bus, but that would require a miracle. The church is now suing the city on grounds that their free exercise of religion is being illegally hindered....

Photo by The Chaninator™ on flickr Former convention-center director Robert Hodge was indicted on record-tampering charges by grand jury. Voter registration cards sent by Travis County to incorrect addresses increase the chances of voter fraud. Sixteen people arrested near Manor for being (allegedly) involved in a cock-fighting ring. Two police cars collided this morning on Barton Springs Rd. New targets for copper thieves: cell phone towers! PETA wants the USDA to investigate antelope deaths at......

Image from Fix290.org. Despite TXDOT's incessant bleating about lack of funds, they apparently still have plenty of cash to build the controversial Phase II toll roads, including the particularly controversial twelve-lane highway in the sky at the Y (71 and 290 in Oak Hill). In an era of concerns about budget cuts, pollution of Barton Springs and CO2 emissions, it seems like an egregious waste of resources to build this monstrosity that helps Hummer-drivers hurtle......

Image from SOS Alliance SOS Holiday Party & Silent AuctionFriday, December 7Mercury Hall (615 Cardinal Lane)$10 Suggested Donation, 7pm - Midnight[info]Tonight, the Save Our Springs Alliance will be hosting their annual Holiday Party and Silent Auction at Mercury Hall. In addition to food, drinks and great people, the event will showcase music by two environmentally-conscience local bands, Bill Oliver's Otter Space Band and The Bouldin Creek Bobkats. The Silent Auction features items from over 300......

*The views expressed in Truesday are those of the author and do not represent Austinist as a whole. Thank heavens.* -The Editors Every city goes through its own little evolution. Not always pretty, not always clean, but always in the process of becoming. Our little oasis is no different. There is a change upon us, and it is high time we grabbed the wheel and started to do some stunt steerin’. You know, to......

Photo from City of Austin Tree Planting CeremonySaturday, November 10Zilker Park Rock Gardens (2100 Barton Springs Road)(9am, Volunteers Welcome)[info]In observance of Veterans Day, the City of Austin's Parks and Recreation Department is getting together tomorrow morning to plant 57 trees at the Zilker Park Rock Gardens: A special ceremony will honor the dedication and sacrifice of men and women who have fought to preserve our nation's liberty. Following the ceremony, volunteers organized by Tree Folks......

Last New Year’s Eve, experimental film artist Luke Savisky gave us the eye. This Halloween season, he'll create a surreal urban oasis on film at one of Austin’s historic parks. It may be hard to top images of a giant eyeball projected on to a downtown water tower, but Savisky’s latest large-scale film installation promises to be just as imaginative—and maybe just a little less creepy. On Friday night, Savisky will present Film Actions VI:......

Gypsy (Northern Italian) Location: 1025 Barton Springs Road [map] Phone: (512) 499-0200 Cost: Lunch salads ($7-$10) Panini and Entrees ($8-$12) Dinner Apps ($5-$9), Salads ($6-$10) Entrees ($14-$20) Food: Gypsy, a new Northern Italian Bistro on Barton Springs Road next door to Vinny's on Italian Row, is the newest incarnation in a space that has seen an endless chain of eateries open and close. Only time will tell if this iteration will remain, but here's our......

You may not have noticed, but Maker Faire is just around the corner—less than two weeks away on October 20-21. Among all of the homemade, groovylicious goods, we’re especially excited about the Zimbabwean-style Rattletree Marimba band—playing their gigantic instruments, which are hand-crafted by a band member. We first saw the group while hauling our sweaty, sticky selves home from ACL. Right there on Barton Springs Road, Rattletree was infusing the Heineken-sponsored, AT&T corporate-ness of ACL......

There will always be chatter about Austin's changing landscape, much as there will always be supporters for both developers and the environment. We want the privilege of taking a dip in a glistening spring-fed pool, but we also want to have a robust economy that allows us to continue working and living in this city. Some would argue that the two desires aren't mutually exclusive, but we all know that it's a sticky subject.......

Now that we’re in the true heat of the summer, there’s no better place to be than on a bar patio with a light summery beer. We suggest you check these lighter local beers out the next time you’re at one of these fine establishments: Real Ale Fireman’s #4 Favorite place to drink it: Doc’s Motorworks on South Congress. Live Oak Hefeweizen Favorite place to drink it: The Draught House on Medical Parkway. Uncle Billy’s......

Our first experience with Independence Brewing Company came just a few short years ago when browsing the beer aisle at a nearby Austin grocer. Shuffling past the quick favorites (Lone Star) and growing tired of the old standbys (Shiner) we noticed the logo of a shaggy-haired kid jumping, cannonball-style, into a pool not unlike Barton Springs. With curious minds and ever-growing sobriety, we jumped in and discovered what has quickly become one of our......

Did barely legal Canadian funthrob Michael Cera (of Arrested Development, Clark and Michael and now Superbad fame) totally go swimming at Barton Springs without us? A not-at-all-obsessive perusal of the Clark and Michael website (where you can also watch hilaritudinal webisodes of the CBS online series for free) reveals, in the "Photo Diary" section, that Michael or Clark or possibly both boys may have once lazed on the venerable poolside lawn at Barton Springs. The......

Our first experience with Independence Brewing Company came just a few short years ago when browsing the beer aisle at a nearby Austin grocer. Shuffling past the quick favorites (Lone Star) and growing tired of the old stand-by's (Shiner) we came upon the logo of a shaggy-haired kid jumping, cannonball-style, into a pool not unlike our own Barton Springs. With curious mind and ever-growing soberness, we delved further to discover what has quickly become......

Thanks to yesterday's freak thunderstorms and subsequent flooding, Barton Springs Pool is again closed. Barring another Barton Creek flood, the pool should reopen on Thursday, though we wouldn't bet on it: Austin's extended forecast shows scattered thunderstorms for at least 9 out of the next 10 days. In the meantime, Austin Parks and Recreation Department is keeping Deep Eddy Pool open for extended hours, from 6am-9pm daily. Admission is free between 6am-8am. Photo of Barton......

[Ed. Note: After being closed for flood cleanup, Barton Springs has re-opened today.] Last year, the City of Austin authorized the Barton Springs Master Plan, a project to find ways to better maintain and improve Austin's most treasured public pool. This past spring, the city hired architects to work with the pool's stakeholders (one of the most vocal being Friends of Barton Springs Pool) to develop the master plan. Tomorrow, during the pool's annual "Free......

Thanks to all the recent rains, Barton Springs Pool joins the list of area closings. The city closed Barton Springs Pool yesterday due to flooding, with a re-opening date unknown as of yet. Because of the closing, Deep Eddy Pool will be open longer hours, 6am - 9pm. Deep Eddy's admission is free in the early morning hours of 6am to 8am; after that, regular admission ($3 for adults) is charged. Photo of Deep......

For you Dell people that went to work before the sun came up or for you coffee shop crawlers who haven't looked out your tinted window in a while: THE SUN IS OUT! Hurry, catch what rays you can before that old friend comes in from L.A. for the summer with a blistered skin and a light orange hue. All lakes in the tri-county area are still closed. Barton Springs Pool is closed today,......

Austin native Rebecca Rosenberg has been living in South Korea teaching English, and she wants to share her experiences abroad with all of Austin. Austinist believes that we could all use some Korean culture. After nine months away from Austin, working as an English teacher in South Korea, I most miss lying on the grass with a margarita, relaxing at the meat market that is Barton Springs, with a Shady Thing pilfered from the......

Ready the coolers and swimsuits, for summer is soon upon us. Although technically summer doesn't start for a few more days it certainly feels like we're living it as we speak. Not that we're complaining, we love it, we're just pointing it out for those who might have not been paying attention. Barton Springs, the lakes, tubing, cold beer, ACL; count us in! It's not just a way to beat the heat, It's way......

Although it may just look like a pizza stand parked in a Mobil gas station on Barton Skyway and South Lamar, Giovanni's Pizza Stand may be one of the greatest South Austin pizza joints since Austin's Pizza (Ed Note: and Home Slice Pizza, ahem). Barton Hills residents don't have far to look for value-priced pizza with a ton of toppings to satisfy their hunger after a jump in Barton Springs, a spin around The......

*The views expressed in Truesday are those of the author and do not represent Austinist as a whole. Thank heavens.* -The Editors Well alright then. For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been doing something of a shout-out/call-back sort of thing here. First flags, then summer games. I guess people have much stronger ideas and opinions about Austin’s Summer happenings than they do about its flag. I’m not entirely sure that this doesn’t depress......

The Deep Eddy Bathhouse will be celebrating its re-opening this Saturday from 10am to 7pm. There will be a ribbon cutting, tours, free admission, refreshments, live music and performances by the Austin Angelfish synchronized swim team. The renovations to the bath house include restoration of the men's dressing area, women's facilities, handicapped accessible rest rooms, unisex bathrooms, a handicapped accessible path and ramps, a ticket desk and a concession stand. Limbacher & Godfrey Architects......

Strawberries and chocolate. California and Schwarzenegger. Spiderman 3 and Xanax. All classic pairings that destiny and the Austin Museum of Art have been working to outstrip this week, with the presentation of two new exhibits: The Target Collection of American Photography: A Century in Pictures and 24 Summers at Barton Springs Pool: Photographs by Will van Overbeek. Both shows open this Saturday. A Century in Pictures presents nearly ninety photographs taken by men and women......

Opening May 19th, 2007: A Century in Pictures and 24 Summers at Barton Springs Pool. If you can't view the Flash slideshow above, an alternate version appears after the jump.......

Austin has a love/hate relationship with bikes. Love Lance. Hate the Lance-wannabes cruising FM-1826, slowing down the burnt-orange pickups on their way to the Salt Lick. Love biking the Hike-and-Bike trail. Hate slaloming between kids and dogs on a busy Saturday. Love the idea of bike lanes and bike commuting. Hate actual bikers slowing down traffic and swerving into the street because of cars parked in the bike lanes. Love reducing traffic and pollution......