If you were wondering what ever happened to that chick from The Blair Witch Project, the one who really screwed it up for everybody out there in the woods (Jo-osh? Josh? JOSH?), you'll be glad to know actress-now-author Heather Donahue is alive and well and headed to BookPeople tonight at 7 p.m. to read from her new memoir Growgirl: How My Life After The Blair Witch Project Went to Pot. The book follows her life after the unexpected success of Blair Witch, a low budget horror film that grossed over 200 million dollars and spawned books, comics and computer games. more ›

“A mother, after all, is your entry into the world. She is the shell in which you divide and become a life. Waking up in a world without her is like waking up in a world without sky: unimaginable.” - Meghan O'Rourke, The Long Goodbye more ›

“Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina more ›

The heat of August’s final days comes arguably from two sources of energy - from the sun, most obviously, and for those who know what’s up, from the enduring game of baseball. The sport has been played all summer long to bring us to the hottest part of the season, when each game has implications about what team is closer to playoffs and division titles (there’s still time, Rangers). But even without the added heat, the season - and each game - of baseball has a dramatic arch that can quickly curve toward heartbreak or happiness, which is why closely following the sport is such an emotional investment. more ›

Spike Gillespie, our popular columnist who holds forth each week on topics including her hot temper, frequently costumed dogs, and overwhelming love for Austin has announced two writing workshops to take place at the end of September. more ›

• No mo' death penalty in N.M.
• 90% tax on AIG bonuses?
• Colin Powell's Chief of Staff calls Cheney "evil" (as if we already didn't know).

The Austin Symphony Orchestra and Chorus Austin: Handel’s MessiahDecember 4, 2007 at 8:00 p.m.4214 N. Capitol of Texas Highway (4214 N. Capitol of Texas Highway)Riverbend Centre[info] | [tickets] Sir Thomas Beecham wrote of Handel in his memoirs, "Since his time mankind has heard no music written for voices which can even feebly rival his for grandeur of build and tone, nobility and tenderness of melody, scholastic skill and ingenuity and inexhaustible variety of effect…Handel…is... more ›

When we first heard about literary movie night, we naturally assumed that the film would be Hellraiser. We mean, how many other book-turned-films have so thoroughly and entertainingly explored sadomasochism and moral confusion? Not many, we think. more ›

With the sweaty season officially in full swing here in Austin, Philadelphia-based First Person Arts has given us good reason to stick around in air-conditioned climes. Yesterday was the official call for entries in the 6th Annual First Person Arts Memoir Writing Competition. Now instead of trudging about in the soup you can spend time inside articulating your inner-most thoughts for a shot at some prestige in print-form. more ›

TUESDAY [21] beer/books • Austinist's very own Truecraig presents a very special reading in honor of the release of his new memoirs, I Am An Idiot (but there's nothing wrong with you) at Club de Ville (8pm, Free, Recommended) food • Massive free pre-Thanksgiving feast at Palmer Events Center (4-8pm) books • Nomi Prins presents Jacked: How Conservatives Are Picking Your Pocket (Whether You Voted For Them or Not) at BookPeople (7:00pm) film •... more ›

*The views expressed in Truesday are those of the author and do not represent Austinist as a whole.* -The Editors I’m a big fan of acting on behalf of the devil. Especially-so in cases involving subjective, philosophical issues. Like ethics. Like the ethics concerning fibbery in print. That's right. It's MY turn to kick this lifeless horse around for a bit. I don’t want to come off like some douche-balloon who is simply defending... more ›

We might as well dub this the Week of the Dance Party - Emo's on Monday, Beerland on Tuesday, Flamingo Cantina on Wednesday, The Parish on Thursday, and - best of all - Gallery Lombardi on Friday. Check it out, and pace yourselves. As always, feel free to contact us with any hot tips! MONDAY [music] Church of the Friendly Ghost may have postponed shows at their awesome Eastside house, but they're still bringing great... more ›