Former President Bush had insisted that Iran first halt its nuclear program before talking. President Obama dropped any preconditions. When the two countries eventually sit down to talk, what might be on the agenda? On Thursday night, April 30th, Dr. Shirin Ebadi, a human rights lawyer from Iran and four U.S. Middle Eastern experts discussed President Obama’s prospects for reconciliation. Betty Sue Flowers, Director of the LBJ Library, moderated the panel. To protect Dr. Ebadi, and to encourage the “free exchange of ideas,” no video or audio recording was allowed. more ›

Two town hall meeting-style forum opportunities have been offered to presidential candidates John McCain (GOP) and Barack Obama (Dem). The Johnson family has asked the candidates to hold a forum at the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, and Nancy Reagan has asked them to hold a forum at the Reagan National Library in California. Both forums would be scheduled for July. more ›

Well, while we were all was guessing The LBJ Library, Hogg Auditorium or The Frank Erwin Center, UT has announced that the February 21 Democratic Debate will officially be held at The Recreation Sports Center. more ›

Playwright and filmmaker David Mamet will appear at UT's Hogg Auditorium on Monday, February 4th for a discussion of his work with the Austin Chronicle's Robert Faires. The event is the first of several appearances by Mamet at UT in conjunction with the acquisition of his archives by the Harry Ransom Center. more ›

MONDAY [11] film • Patton Oswalt live with "Ratatouille" sneak preview at Alamo Downtown film • Music Monday: "Harry Nilsson's Birthday Party" at Alamo Downtown food • Central Market Cooking School Class: Sushi 101 with Chef Timothy Thomas at Central Market Cooking School, 4001 N Lamar ($70, 6:30-9:30pm) music • Maserati, My Education, Lazar Wolf at Emo's music • Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Cheer Accident, Oh, Beast at Emo's music • Manu Chao at Stubb's... more ›

When it comes to U.S. Presidents, few people know more than Michael Beschloss, NBC News' official Presidential Historian. His best-selling books have covered all things executive and his latest, Presidential Courage: Brave Leaders and How They Changed America, 1789-1989, examines several moments within 200 years of American history when Presidents had to seriously represent, keeping it realer than real for the sake of the nation and the world. On Monday, June 11th, the LBJ Future... more ›

This morning, the long-awaited remodeling of Bass Concert Hall -- the main performance center on UT campus, located between the LBJ Library and Royal-Memorial Football Stadium -- began in earnest. The renovations will cost a total of approximately $15 million and will include upgrades in fire code compliance, improvements in sound and lighting systems, restaurants, a rooftop lounge, a donor lounge, as well as additional exhibition spaces. It will also include a new glass-front... more ›

Be sure to check out our extensive theatre coverage and new movie releases. Please let us know about any corrections/suggestions! FRIDAY [31] [music] Reckless Kelly at La Zona Rosa (link) [music] Peter & the Wolf, Navajo Radio and more at Emo's (Inside) (link) [music] Ghostface Killah, Word Association, DJ Notion at Emo's (Outside) (link) [music] The Glass Family w/ Quien es Boom (CD Release) & Brothers and Sisters at The Parish Room (link) [music] Red... more ›

The annual University of Texas tradition known as the Orange-White Scrimmage takes place this Saturday afternoon. The Texas Football Spring Jamboree is set to begin at 4 pm with the Orange-White scrimmage kicking off at 6 pm. If you can't wait for the football season to come, or just want to have a great afternoon taking in some free fun, then head on down to DKR this Saturday afternoon. Admission to both events is free. more ›

We are big supporters of our local Public Broadcasting Station KLRU. From Charlie Rose to Austin City Limits, we constantly find engaging, informative and entertaining programming to satisfy our television fix. But KLRU is more than just a television station; it is a part of the community. Exhibit A: Spark: KLRU's Engaging Speakers Series, formerly known as the Distinguished Speaker Series. We have been fortunate enough to attend a couple of these speaker events... more ›

The Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library in Austin and Austin's Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority are set to receive $4.35 million in funds from a newly-passed Congressional appropriations bill. The LBJ Library will receive $1 million to make repairs and to tie it to the LBJ School of Public Affairs. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, who has received some heat lately from Democratic challenger Barbara Radnofsky, set the bill in action. Cap Metro will get $3.35... more ›

The very smart and very sexy columnist for the New York Times - Maureen Dowd, not Bill Saffire - is coming to Austin in November. Dowd will deliver the Mary Alice Davis Distinguished Lecture in Journalism at 6 p.m. on Wednesday the 16th at the LBJ Library Auditorium, at 2313 Red River. The lecture is free and open to the public. No tickets are required. Free parking is available at the library, which is... more ›

MONDAY [music] The Fags at Stubb's [film] A Skin Too Few: The Days of Nick Drake at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown, 9:45pm. One Dollar! [film] East of Eden and Rebel Without a Case at The Paramount Theatre. Through Thursday. [reading] BookPeople's UTTER Reading Series, 7pm TUESDAY [music] Neko Case at Antone's [film] Austin Film Society screens Godard's Une Femme Est Une Femme at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown, 7pm [art/books] Luis Alberto Urrea discusses his novel, The Hummingbird's... more ›

Since becoming independent of United Nations trusteeship (administered by Belgium) in 1962, the east African nation of Burundi has been wracked by ethnic conflict between the Tutsi (who dominate the country's government and international trade, such as it is) and the Hutu (who constitute more than 80 percent of the country's population). In the past 10 years, more than 200,000 people have been killed in Burundi, and hundreds of thousands more have been displaced. more ›

MONDAY [music, swing dancing] Paris 49 weekly set at the Continental Club, 6:30-8:30, No Cover! [music] The Wind-Up Bird, Dirty Projectors, Vuk, at Nat Baldwin at Emo's [lecture] LBJ School's Future Forum series hosts "Genocide: Personal Perspectives from Burundi". LBJ Library, 7pm TUESDAY [film] Jean Luc Godard's Breathless at the Alamo Drafthouse Downtown, presented by the Austin Film Society [film] Fast Times at Ridgemont High and American Graffiti at Paramount State Theatre (through Wednesday) [music]... more ›