Think crafts are for Girl Scouts and grandmothers? Leah Kramer wants you to think again. Leah combined her computer programming skills with her love of off-beat crafts to create Craftster, an online community for those who like to dress their irony in glitter. Think crocheted pirates and pot-holder couture. Leah will share her crafty goodness tonight at the Work*Shop, where she’ll discuss her new book, The Craftster Guide to Nifty, Thrifty, and Kitschy Crafts. She... more ›

TUESDAY [18] [books/crafts] Craftster.org founder Leah Kramer at Work*Shop (7:30pm) (link) [books] Larry Dierker presents My Team: Choosing My Dream Team from My Forty Years in Baseball at BookPeople (7pm) (link) [music] Invincible Czars, Stolen Babies, Giant Squid at Emo's (link) [music] Shane Bartell at Waterloo Records (5pm) (link) [music] Ben Lee, Say Anything, Dashboard Confessional at The Paramount Theatre (7pm) (link) [music] Bettysoo at Cactus Cafe (Free) (link) [film] AFS Essential: Sex & Lucia... more ›

MONDAY [17] [books] Michael Putegnat presents Laguna at BookPeople (7pm) (link) [music] Riverboat Gamblers, Only Crime, Complete Control, Los Dryheavers at Emo's (link) [music] English Beat at Stubb's (link) [music] The return of Dale Watson & his Lone Stars at Continental Club (10pm) (link) [music] Porter Davis at Cactus Cafe (link) [travel] Austin Travel Circle Meeting at Austin International Youth Hostel (Free, 7pm) (link) [film] Peter Whitehead's Daddy at Alamo Downtown (7pm) (link) [film] Hail,... more ›

Summer doesn’t officially start for a couple more weeks, but the lazy, hazy days are already upon us. Time to unfurl the beach blankets and unpack the frisbees. But what about the (rare) rainy days? Or the days when even a dip at Barton Springs can’t beat the heat and you don’t dare leave the comfy confines of your air-conditioned home? Those are the days to stay inside and revisit your summer-camp youth with some arts and crafts. A slew of new books aimed at the hip crafter offer heaps of ideas to keep you a happy camper. more ›