Director and Austinite Robert Rodriguez filmed the music video for local musician Bob Schneider's latest song, "40 Dogs (Like Romeo and Juliet)", in the midst of his post-production work on Machete and Predators. The video features Kat Dennings, the early-twenty-something actress of Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, as the love interest -- and Rodriguez's cute son plays Schneider's kid. As the video features Austin spots such as Zilker Park, the Lamar bridge, and the Hey Cupcake! trailer (among others), it seems the city is a predominant fourth character. [IFC] more ›

• This is the 20th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the event that signaled the end of the Cold War. The “Wall of Change” project at UT marks this historic moment.
• President Obama to attend a memorial service at Fort Hood on Tuesday.
• The New York Times has a detailed story about the background of the Fort Hood shooter. It’s part of their larger package on the tragedy.

Photos from the annual Batfest! -- an Arts, Crafts, and Music festival at the location of the world's largest urban bat colony, Austin's Congress Avenue bridge. Photos courtesy Steve Hopson. more ›

There is no better way to kickoff Thanksgiving week than to fill up your belly over at the Empty Bowl Project Sunday afternoon and then head on over to The Parish to catch a once-in-a-lifetime chance to hear the African Children’s Choir sing in Austin. more ›

Besides the wonderful events highlighted by the flyers above, there are a few other shows on New Year's Eve in Austin worth noting: more ›

The SIMS Foundation is a local nonprofit dedicated to providing low-cost counseling and other mental health services to Austin-area musicians and their families. They're currently running a special online auction over on eBay, to help raise funds for the organization. Check out awesome, custom-designed Gibson Les Paul electric guitars like: Mike Judge's portrait of "Butthead" Bob Schneider's abstract, "Rock, Sex, Drugs, and Roll" Billy Gibbons' (ZZ Top) "Gold Signature" Robert Hurst's "Jimmy Page Tribute"... more ›

F R I D A Y [ 13 ] [party] Box Magazine, purveyors of tastefully-obscured softcore porn, are throwing another swank launch party to celebrate the release of Issue 2 - this time at The Peacock. DJs, "debaucherous times," and a special performance by Skinny Boy Burlesque. [music] Heard on Veronica Mars Featuring David Garza, Fire Marshals of Bethlehem, Daylight Titans, and Rite Flyers at Stubb's BBQ [in-store] AUX CD Release Show at End of... more ›

[festival/music/art] First Night at Congress Avenue (All Ages, 2pm, Free/$10) [info] [tickets] [music] Nic Armstrong and the Thieves, Moonlight Towers and DJ Polecat at Club de Ville (21+, $5, Call 512-457-0900) [fabulous] Studio 54 Par-tay! at Rain (21+, Call 512-494-1150) [info] [music] White Ghost Shivers and The Small Stars at Blue Genie Art Industries (21+, 9pm, $37) [info] [tickets] [music] Flametrick Subs with Satan's Cheerleaders, Slick 57 and Basin Street at Emo's (All Ages,... more ›

Dear lovely readers, please note that the Neighbors in Need Katrina Relief Concert scheduled for this Wedmesday will now be starting at 6:30PM. There will be performances by Willie Nelson, the Neville Brothers, Ray Price, Jimmie Vaughan, The Flatlanders, Patty Griffin, Bob Schneider and Eric Johnson. more ›

There's just too much stuff happening tonight to keep track of, so we're reposting the IST list for your convenience. See you out there. ( F I R S T ) T H U R S D A Y art · In House Gallery presents “Barnyard”, with paintings by Ethan Azarian, Felice House, Rachel Koper & Rainey Navaro. 5-10pm. Thanks, Austinist newbie Craig! [map] music · Hurts to Purr, Maneja Beto, and La La Land... more ›

We know you love living in Austin, where there's always a live music event happening. But the best is when the music benefits a good cause. This weekend, there are a couple of shows that will do just that... All day today, at Threadgill's on Riverside, KGSR will be hosting a drive for Family Eldercare called FanFare Friday! Donations will be accepted until 7pm and go towards the purchase of fans and funds for... more ›

Every now and then a local band gets some big-time national publicity: Fastball, Los Lonely Boys, Bob Schneider, to name a few from the past decade. You can now add Spoon to that list. The minimalist rock band from the River City has its latest release, "Gimme Fiction," covered in next week's issue of Time Magazine (5/16). The magazine admits that while the songwriting and sound are not wholly unique, the band does what... more ›

Okay, okay... As loyal Austin-ists, we appreciate locally based businesses as much as the next grilled tofu eating, bulk bin loving, environmentally conscious shopper... And perhaps even we were a bit swept up in the rabid frenzy of the opening night gala down on Lamar and 6th... But ultimately, at the end of the day, people... breath. Whole Foods is still just... a supermarket. A crowded, chaotic, frustrating, mind-numbing, wallet draining... supermarket. more ›