Photo by jetalone on flickrThe third Thursday of November (one week before Big American-Style Thanksgiving) marks Beaujolais Day - setting off a sort of Cannonball Run of wine, with distributors racing to get wildly celebrated bottles of Beaujolais Nouveau, the red wine made exclusively from Gamay grapes produced in the Beaujolais region of France, to market. We were busy drinking some middle-of-the-road Sauvignon Blanc last night or we would have totally reminded you yesterday. According......

The 57th Annual Austin Fine Arts Festival is set to showcase the creative powerhouse of Austin artistry Saturday and Sunday, April 14 and 15 at Republic Square Park. The festival will shine a light on the work of more than 220 visual artists as well as Grammy award winning musicians. The event will also feature artist demos, local food, and art activities. Tickets are $8, kids 12 and under get in free. Saturday's festivities run......

FRIDAY [16] art • Artist's Reception: Joan Winter: From Marfa to Sudari at Flatbed Press and Gallery (6-8pm) art • Flatstock 12 Poster Convention at Austin Convention Center (11am-6pm) books • Jack Pendarvis preseents The Mysterious Secret of the Valuable Treasure at BookPeople (3:00pm) books • John Sellers presents Perfect From Now On at BookPeople (7:00pm) sxsw • SXSW Film Festival at Everywhere sxsw • SXSW Music Festival at Everywhere theatre • Austin Shakespeare......

FRIDAY [9] art • Grand Opening Party for DRAW, 150 artists strong at Gallery Lombardi (7pm - 10pm) comedy • Todd Barry, Matt Bearden at Emo's Lounge music • Deerhoof, Macromantics, Experimental Dental School at Emo's music • Primordial Undermind at End of an Ear (6pm, Free) music • The Everyday People CD Release Show with The Hero Factor, Live Oak Decline at The Parish Room music • Lucinda Williams, Heartless Bastards at Stubb's......

Tonight at Castle Hill Cafe, the Texas Food and Wine Foundation is sponsoring an interesting discussion on Texas wines titled "Home On The Range: Texas Terroir." There will be food and wine, of course, but what makes this event different is the reflection on what is special about Texas wines when compared to California or Europe, along with some discussion (we hope) on things that haven't worked out in our area. They will also show......

Searching for a great way to celebrate Bastille Day? Austinist has been tipped to what will certainly be a célébration magnifique. Although not the national holiday it is in France, you can still celebrate Saturday at the Texas Culinary Academy's Bastille Day Celebration. Bastille Day celebrates the storming of the Bastille, a prison and symbol of tyranny, that signaled the beginning of the French Revolution. A holiday for some, and an excuse to party......

Grape Vine Market will be hosting their German & Italian Food & Wine Fest this weekend. It's a great chance to learn more about the wine, beer, and food from these regions, as well as an opportunity to take advantage of some great discounts. The event will begin Saturday at noon and continue all afternoon. Even if you don't want to buy anything, it's a great excuse to swing by and have a free......

In this case, seven is a very lucky number: it's the number of years that Grapevine Market has had their doors open on the corner of Anderson and Shoal Creek. If you ask us, it's one of the best specialty food shops in town -- not that we're biased by all of the free samples they offer every time you visit. Opened on May 26th, 1999 by three wine aficionados, Chuck Huffaker, Steve Savina......

It’s been almost a week since we enjoyed brunch at the home of former Central Market executive chef Roger Mollett and his partner, Greg Murphy, and we have to tell you – Chef Roger looks damn good. Two years ago we were called on to create an apron design for a fundraiser benefiting Chef Roger, who was simply not feeling too hot. Alamo Drafthouse brought the Rolling Roadshow out to the Barr Mansion for......

* We love a good fight. Especially when the contestants are wines and we get to judge them - for free! Grapevine Market, with a wine selection big enough to make you woozy and enough gourmet cheese to melt your heart, is now offering Friday Night Fights from 5 - 8 pm every Friday (hence the name) for the next eight weeks. These brawls will pit Rhone Wines against each other in blind taste-offs and......

We don't know what culinary genius came up with the idea for an Austin Chocolate Show and Competition, but we think they might need a big, wet kiss from Austinist. Not only is it an event devoted to chocolate, but it's free! FREE CHOCOLATE! Well, free to get in and grab a bunch of samples, but you might have to buy a few "creations", as well. If you wish. The event takes place on......

Those metal shaping genuises down at Ion Art Signs (407 Radam Lane) are having a garage sale this Saturday, August 20th, from 10am to 4pm. You might not know who these folks are, but we guarantee that you've seen their work around town. They're the masterminds behind some of Austin's most well-known storefront signs: Romeo's, Amy's Ice Cream, Grapevine Market, and Shady Grove. After moving to a new location, Ion Art is looking to......