Beer fans, it's time to break out the pint glasses. Austin's own (512) Brewing Company, Jester King Brewery and Thirsty Planet Brewing are now booking Saturday tours online. more ›

The Lamebook.com boys have two reasons to celebrate. First off, they recently had a breakthrough in their legal battle against Facebook (who sued the parody site last year for “trademark infringement”) when Travis County Judge Sam Sparks straight-up denied Facebook's motion to dismiss. Lamebook is still fighting the good fight, though it hasn’t been cheap for the upstart humor site. The second reason? They just launched a hilarious, new blog called UHpinions.com. The site features hilarious reviews from sites like Amazon, Yelp and Epinions and seems to be just as addictive as the owner’s original. more ›

It wasn't so long ago that Texas spirits pretty much started and ended with Tito's. But while Mr. Beveridge and his company produce a vodka we can all be proud of, Texas now boasts a much larger array of spirits that showcase new ideas, bold flavors, and the ongoing search for something new and unique that has boosted local and craft spirit sales across the country. On Friday, Launch787 and Google Places are throwing a party called "MIX" to celebrate Texas Cocktails, and all you need to attend is a ticket. more ›

The "organic" craze has been around long enough that every industrial food producer in America has figured out a way to call its products organic, or at least put them in a box with a green logo and pass them off as "natural." On the flip side of the coin, the "local food" movement has been gaining momentum among environmentalists who argue that seasonal, locally produced food is even more beneficial than organic. It's also a lot harder to fake. more ›

Greenling, which has won the Austin Chronicle's "Best Local Food Company in Austin" for four years now, is throwing a "Best of Austin" Bash this Thursday at the Hummingbird House (another Chronicle "Best of" winner) from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Admission is free. The evening includes a buffet-style potluck with appetizers, sides, entrees, desserts and drinks from local restaurants, vendors and chefs. more ›

It may be a newbie on the Austin beer scene, but Jester King Craft Brewery is certainly nothing to sneeze at. Just five months after breaking ground in Hill Country on the outskirts of Austin, the home brewers-turned-craft brewers began production of their first batch of beer. As an homage to the 200 acres of farmland on which the brewery is built, the inaugural brew is a farmhouse ale (also known as a saison) called "Boxer's Revenge" -- a tribute to "the stalwart, hard-working farm horse in George Orwell's Animal Farm." It will definitely have a strong kick -- the anticipated alcohol percentage by volume is 7.5. more ›

It’s time to get back to basics and find out just how awesome the Real American Hero™ can be. At the Alamo Ritz tonight you can catch the stop motion masterpiece Viva the ‘Nam, featuring those old school dolls—not to mention toys from Planet of the Apes, Platoon action figures (yes, that happened), and other legendary films—as they parody every war movie ever made from the great (Apocalypse Now) to the...well, still awesome but maybe-not-so-great (Commando). more ›

Edible Austin's Eat Local Week continues through this weekend. All week long, area restaurants are serving locally sourced meals with proceeds from the sales of those items going to support Urban Roots. Eat Local Week events are taking place all over town; here's a rundown of what's going on today and tomorrow... more ›

For all of those die hard readers who are checking us out right now: Do you have plans tonight? Like, right nowish? Well, if not, you should hop over to the Dobie Theater to check out Former UT student, Bradley Jackson's new comedy Play Land tonight at the Dobie theater. The film is a finalist in the prestigious Doorpost Film Project, competing with nine other film makers from around the world to win a grand prize of $100,000. The film stars local Austin comedian John Ramsey (Comedy Central's Live at Gotham, Funniest Person in Austin 2005) and features a soundtrack with vocals by Matt Bray, lead singer of popular 80s cover band L.C Rocks. The first screening was at 7 p.m., but there is a second at 7:40 p.m., and a third at 8:20 p.m. Don't wait. Act now! more ›

• Report cites violations in the raid of Ft. Worth's Rainbow Lounge.
• APD fusion center has many worried about privacy.
• Arrest made after South Austin home invasion.

Proving that not everyone is letting the ungodly summer heat slow them down, the Blanton Museum of Art and the Austin Film Festival are teaming up to present the New Directions Film Series, which will feature the intelligent voices of emerging independent filmmakers. The five chosen films will screen at the Blanton on Third Thursdays and a few selected Sundays from now until July 19. Kicking off the indie fun is Gretchen, the story of an awkward 17-year-old trying to survive the indignities of adolescence. more ›

Zimbabwe's Mugabe parties like it's 1999.

C-SPAN says George Bush a better president than Millard Fillmore. The Simpsons changes opening titles. Fireball! Sonic Boom! Texas sky an interesting place this weekend. Obama says Air Force One is a spiffy ride. Term limits, shmerm limits. Chávez is in, baby. There may be billions of earth-like planets. Years later, Ken Starr continues to be big, juicy, cold, wet blanket. more ›

This week, one of the scariest, unluckiest, most superstition-filled days of the year is back. Valentine's Day. If getting you-know-who a special VD gift is a non-negotiable on your list, keep it local and delicious with a gift basket or sexy meal from Dishalicious. more ›

Bush makes surprise Baghdad trip. Iraqi journalist throws shoes at Bush during said trip. Senator Arlen Specter thinks Polish jokes funny, appropriate. Tells them. Wasilla Bible Church burned, arson suspected. SXSW now a player in the Oscar game. This isn't really news, but it still sounds delicious. Migas, si! Bummer. Amy Poehler bid goodbye to SNL. more ›

Obama says to buckle up, economic ride going to get bumpier. Rove to name "Bush-haters" in new book. Ostensibly, that book will be very, very long. Iran doesn't like Satan-worshippy clothes, and will detain those who do. OJ Simpson sentenced to jail. Cate Blanchett gets her star. Scenes from Battlestar Galactica's final episodes all up on the web. David Gregory meets the press. more ›

Surrounded by the literal fruits of area vendors' labors, the proclamation that this week shall heretofore be known as Eat Local Week will ring from the booths of the downtown Austin Farmer's Market this morning, accompanied by a 24 carrot salute, trumpeting (or should we say "rooting") in a week of events that highlight the bountiful goodness that is to be had in our fine city. more ›

Golden Boys MySpace more ›

Switzerland: Prescription heroin legal, but pot still a no-go. Terror rampage leaves almost 200 dead in Mumbai. Karl Rove: American health system good as is. Bush pardons man who accidentally killed three bald eagles. Food banks struggling. Michael Phelps, Anderson Cooper race. Guess who wins. German Churches: Chocolate Jesus tacky. more ›

• Viva Geithner, ostensibly.
• Forbes: Meow!
• Who will Bush pardon?

When winter hits and national acts slow their roll, Austin locals tend to become more vibrant than ever. With Free Week just around the corner and so many great local releases prepping for their street dates, we thought we'd take a moment and catch you up. more ›

• Turnabout is fair play.
• Bobby Jindal states the obvious.
• Bond kicks some box office butt.

Seeing as how we didn't get the kicky flying cars or space-age food pills we were promised, this sounds kind of nice. This just in: Someone thinks Rush Limbaugh peddling 'Shameless Lies.' The turnaround begins. President-elect snubs Fox News. It's a bit like Mean Girls. Sweet. Suffocation aboard Russian nuclear submarine enters long list of not-fun ways to go. The numbers game: some Democrats not that mad at Lieberman. Spitzer gets off again. more ›

According to company co-founder Judy Crofut, Good Flow had been operating under the assumption that pasteurization—the process of heating up a liquid to kill off bacteria and molds—wasn't necessary for its products since they were handmade and delivered to neighborhood grocers in less than a day. The company had previously operated as a "juice bar," like Daily Juice, with the approval of the FDA via an exemption. That exemption was later retracted in 2006. more ›

The issue, from what we can gather, is that their juices hadn't been pasteurized (the process of heating up a liquid to kill off bacteria and molds), a standard industry procedure that prevents the outbreak of nasty things like E. coli. Given a deadline by the FDA, it seems like they were unable to bring their juice-making site up to code, and, despite no outbreaks of contaminated product, have been ordered to stop production. more ›

Uncle Sam takes guardianship of Fannie and Freddie Cuba: We Don't Like Ike We can put a man on the moon, but what's the deal with these damn elections? Kim Jong Il: For real? Palin, Gibson. Gibson, Palin. OMG it's BRITNEY Y'ALL! Judge: Don't come in here like BRITNEY, Y'ALL! more ›

Alejandro Escovedo's new record, Real Animal comes out today. Geeks: the vinyl edition has a cover of the Stooges' "I Got a Right". If you missed him on the Today Show this morning, catch him this weekend at the Keep Austin Weird Fest. more ›

Perhaps Perry should have held off on his endorsement: after losing to McCain last night in Florida, Giuliani is expected to soon drop out of the race. Bouncer assaulted after denying a couple guys entrance to his club and not allowing their friend to urinate in front of it. City may soon switch to LEDs in light fixtures to conserve energy. more ›

Photo by gunnyrat on flickr
• The oil that spilled onto Sixth Street and into Waller Creek last week came from a 100-year-old underground tank.
• Jennifer Kim on the Northcross WalMart: "It's going to be a freaking disaster."
• Celebration Church in Georgetown has its own Starbucks and 5,000 attendees. Sayeth the pastor: "You can't do church without money."