Many are claiming that 2011 is the year of the pie, even going so far as to say that "pie is the new cupcake." But did you know that, in fact, eating pie is the new running a 5K? That's right, you can support a good cause this Sunday without collecting pledges from your Great Uncle Merle or even breaking a sweat. The Austin Food Blogger Alliance and the Alamo Drafthouse are teaming up to present a special showing of a movie all about the power of pie, "Waitress" starring Keri Russell -- a rather felicitous choice, considering that the screening will be accompanied by a pie sale to benefit local nonprofit SafePlace. more ›

Functioning as both an art exhibition and a fundraiser for Arthouse's exhibitions and educational programs, Five x Seven is a great opportunity to purchase small works by emerging and established artists for the fine price of $150 ($100 for Arthouse members), with $25 of your ticket price to Art Splurge counting as a credit off the purchase of one artwork. more ›

FOURPLAY: TAMPA, a short film directed by former Austinite Kyle Henry, has been selected to screen at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival. The Alamo Drafthouse will show a sneak peek of the film on Saturday and offer the Austin community a chance to give the filmmakers one last financial boost before the final film is submitted. more ›

Bicycles, Italian food, Austin spring weather, classic film, and a good cause -- these are the ingredients to the Alamo Drafthouse's Rolling Roadshow event this Saturday at 8 PM, and tickets are still available. more ›

We learned today that the Blue Theater—high on our list of favorite performance spaces in Austin—was subject to some damage after a fire broke out Tuesday night between the venue and the neighboring Blue Genie Arts Bazaar. No one was hurt, and the space still exists and everything, but it suffered both interior and exterior damage as a result. more ›

With October being National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Susan G Komen Foundation of Austin is kicking off its first annual "Pretty in Pink" fundraiser at Parkside this Thursday. From 8 to 11 p.m., enjoy pink cocktails, appetizers, the musical stylings of DJ Jeff Strange, and gift bag goodies. 80% of ticket sales go directly to the foundation's outreach and awareness efforts. You can get yours for $50 either online or by calling 512-474-9898. For a chance to win a pair of tickets, fill out the form after the jump! more ›

Contributing to a worthy cause can be fun when there's a drink special and a party soundtrack. That's why Project Transitions brings their summer party Red Hot XVIII to Oilcan Harry's this Friday night. The 18th annual party benefits people living with HIV/AIDS through the foundation's various programs. more ›

About 100 Austin literary aficionados gathered Wednesday night at St. Edward’s University to sample wine, duck and brie quesadillas and the ambiance of Roy Blount stories. It was the Writers’ League of Texas spring fund raiser. As Blount set his wine glass on the podium, it started to slide. He deftly caught it and remarked, “I hate slanted podiums. They must think that a man can’t drink and lecture at the same time.” He, of course, can, though the evening felt more like a living room chat than a formal talk. He mostly told tales. Even the question and answer period was a dialog, with frequent comments and friendly interruptions from the audience. His journalist story about a trip to the Bellaire home of Wilt Chamberlain displayed the keen ear and comic mime ability of southern story tellers. He was funny, in a high humor sense. One of many writers who rose from the ranks of magazine journalists, he published his 21st book, Alphabet Juice, last year. more ›

What began in 2006 as an equal parts homecoming for the new season and fashionable fundraiser has grown into something of a tradition for the festival, the largest of its kind in the southwest. Like in past years, this year's BLOOM culminates in a raffle where one lucky boy or girl will drive away in a brand new Subaru of his or her choice (valued up to $24k)—as only up to 2,000 of their $20 raffle tickets are to be sold, the chances of winning are significantly better than, say, winning American Idol. Guests at BLOOM also get to enjoy an open bar while checking out a sampling from some of the films to be screened at this year's festival. more ›

In a tactical move of sheer intergalactic brilliance, the enterprising people over at the Austin Planetarium have forged an alliance with the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum to bring you a Star Trek premier experience like no other. On Friday, May 8th from 6-9pm, the grounds and lobby of the Bob Bullock will play host to Austin's Trekkies and astronomy buffs alike, featuring none other than cosmonaut and space tourist extraordinaire, Richard Garriott. more ›

Because the food that Ruben Rogriguez and his wife Juanita serve up—in particular the six salsas and especially in particular the black been sour cream salsa—is so out of this world that you’ll kick yourself for not having gone sooner. And if you have been, well, it’s time to go again. Not just for the exceptional food, but to show your support for Ruben. He was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor and has no insurance and mounting medical expenses. more ›

Tomorrow night, the Austin State Hospital's Volunteer Services Council are holding a benefit art show and auction. The event will feature art by Daniel Johnston as well as work by professional artists and State Hospital patients. Johnston's work colorfully features his whimsical other-worldly character sketches, while other donations range from the simple geometric figures of Jerry Walters to Piercarlo Abate's striking portraits of asylum patients from 1915 Venice. The hospital's patient art is bold and often abstract, combining mediums and themes to create true outsider art. more ›

Austin is the largest city in America without a planetarium. It's easy to see a spectacular spread of stars deep in the heart of West Texas, but local educators and city-bound stargazers have to make their way San Antonio (or Killeen!). more ›

On Thursday, Aces Lounge will be the site of the local Twestival, one of more than 175 taking place that day. Festivities get under way at 8 pm. The event is designed to bring together Twitter communities and raise money and awareness for charity: water, a nonprofit organization bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations by funding sustainable clean water solutions in areas of greatest need. more ›

Are you a hipster? Or do you at least strive to be? Do you like the holidays? What about art? If you answered yes to any of these questions then you might want to check out the Hipster Holiday Snow-Ball Party and Fundraiser at Co-Lab in East Austin. more ›

Kelly Crabb and Christy Cook, Austin residents and contestants on the current season of The Amazing Race, are throwing a viewing party this weekend. The friends and teammates (identified on the show as "Divorcees") are starting a foundation to raise money for impoverished countries visited each season on the show. For season 13, the focus for their newly-formed AmazinGrace Foundation is on Cambodia. Sunday night's event will involve an auction, with all proceeds to the foundation being donated to the Asian country. more ›

Photos from last weekend's 2nd Annual Heart House Charity Fashion Show: Angels on the Runway which took place at Austin Music Hall. more ›

Photos from Saturday's Texas Biennial Fundraiser at Victory Grill. more ›

Every two years, the Texas Biennial independent art survey has brought an expansive look at contemporary art from around the state to galleries and museums in Austin. more ›

The place to be for Happy Hour this Thursday is The Belmont. For $20 (suggested donation) you can take in the view from the patio, drink to your heart’s content and mingle with your philanthropic peers at the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network fundraiser. more ›

Photos from Wednesday night's event at Antone's which raised money to support Stephen Moser. more ›

Earlier this week, Arts on Real's General Manager, Blake Yelavich, sent out the call: "With the value of property sky-rocketing in the East Side neighborhoods, it is increasingly difficult to meet the demands of leases and taxes desired by the property owners." Arts on Real needs to raise $7500 by the end of April or it will shutter its doors by the end of May. To avoid that fate, the company is collecting donations and hoping for ticket sales for their current, well-received comedy Matt & Ben, starring local faves Kelley Estes and Breanna Stogner. more ›

If you love booze and cinema, well, have we got a deal for you. Cine Las Americas, Austin's own multicultural, non-profit media arts center, will be holding Chicha 56, a combo happy hour and after party fundraiser to benefit this year's programming. The event comes a mere 56 days before the Cine Las Americas International Film Festival kicks off. more ›