Exactly one-half of my lifetime ago, I was 23, drunk most nights and, par for a course I’d been on since my single digit days, in the deep throes of lamenting love lost. In the fall of 1987, the man in question was Tony. We’d dated for what in retrospect seems like about fifteen minutes, but at the time felt like so much more. I knew, from our first date, that he was moving far away in a matter of weeks. And I know now that I saw a challenge in that, an opportunity to prove to myself and to him that I was worth hanging onto, even at a distance. Of course he saw it differently. And so when he headed off to a job in West Virginia it was with little regret regarding our time together ended, a chance at great things and a new life. I remained in Knoxville, licking my wounds, lamenting my loss, and using the FedEx account of the company I worked for to send him elaborately orchestrated packages of gifts, clinging to futile hope, a specialty I’d honed years before. more ›

The quickly setting sun and the dreamy background vocals of Neko Case provided the perfect environment for knitting up a little ditty on Sunday at the ACL Music Festival. more ›

If you were planning on sitting at home tonight knitting and listening to Lawrence Welk or something, we highly recommend you redirect your energies towards one of the fine rock 'n' roll shows that's going to be gracing our city tonight. Maybe Black Rebel Motorcycle Club would be up your alley? Call it garage rock, call it blues revival, but regardless, the sound is all guitars, all the time, acoustic and electric jangling along... more ›

Russians plan to stop global warming with vodka--er, sulfur-containing aerosol. However, it sounds like this could also promote global dimming. We may be screwed either way, so drink up. Bush plans to stop global warming by having a series of meetings to set "a long-term global goal" by "the end of next year." The sense of urgency is palpable. Neapolitans' ice cream is melting due to trash fires necessitated by the closure of all... more ›

As you make those New Year's resolutions, you may wonder how to get more involved in the Austin community for 2007. January is National Mentoring Month, and one way to mentor here in Austin is through a volunteer teaching position at Citizen Schools. The Boston-based nonprofit arrived in Austin last year, and helps children in lower-income middle schools to prepare for the rigors of high school and college. They've already won 2006 and 2007 Fast... more ›

Texas artist and sculptor Luis Jimenez was killed in a studio accident (read: squished by a massive horse) on Tuesday leaving behind quite a legacy. You may recognize his firefighter piece currently at the Blanton. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents says playgrounds need to be more exciting for children otherwise they'll go play on the railroad tracks. We wonder what the Royal Society of Amtrak has to say about this. Combining... more ›

Austin isn't anything if not full of great places to hang out, be with friends, and enjoy the famous Austin vibe. The Work*Shop is a place in Central Austin (6th Street West of Lamar) where you can hang, drink some wine, and make something special. Get crafty. Find your inner necklace maker or decorate your own plate set. You go in, choose your passion, and get to it. You buy the materials, but you... more ›

We live right off South Congress, so when First Thursday rolls around (especially the December edition), we can't get out of the nabe fast enough, even if there is a good sale at Hill Country Weavers (we have a little bit of a knitting problem, it's true) or a passel of rowdy Swedes spinning DJ sets at Factory People. Now, truth be told, we hadn't been down to 4th Street to dine lately, but... more ›