Rumors continue to fly about a Rick Perry 2012 presidential run. Governor Perry and his hair have been denying any interest in running for higher executive office since 2007. But recent events have kindled interest to a more fevered pitch than ever before. more ›

Four years ago this week, I spent a few days holding the hand of a dying friend. The cause was cancer and if you’ve not witnessed a cancer death, my wish for you is that you never will. And yet, bittersweet, I was at least grateful for the opportunity to bid my friend a proper farewell, kiss her fuzzy head, look one last time into her once sparkling eyes. That friend was Molly Ivins. She succumbed on January 31, 2007. I remember getting the call that she’d passed. I remember crying and then heading out to hear music at Café Mundi, and Southpaw covering Springsteen’s Promised Land, and crying some more. I remember being doubled over with grief at her overflowing memorial service, where a thousand of us gathered for her send off. My friend Sarah went with me, practically had to carry me out of the church. more ›

Some would rather vote for a yellow dog. Image from DemocraticStuff.com Lou Dubose presents Bill Of WrongsTuesday, November 27BookPeople (603 N. Lamar)Free, Starts at 7pm[info] Fiery Austin columnist Molly Ivins was once described to us as "equal parts sugar, spice, piss, and vinegar" by friend and fellow yellow-dog-democrat Bob Mann. To this day we still can't think of a better way to describe her. Her death last January left a deafening silence — gone was... more ›

Photo from Soundcheck Magazine Austin's 2nd Annual Green Holiday Festival, "The Sustainable Shopper's Ball!", returns to the Sunset Valley Farmers Market with over 60 local vendors and educators offering everything from bamboo homewares to luxury organic linens SXSW Film Festival Producer Matt Dentler shares some insider tips on what the film programming team is looking for - "Should you spend money on a fancy press kit? Should you check your DVD screener 4 different times... more ›

Between fake terrorist alerts and scandals big and small, this just might be the Best Best of the -ists ever. We're exhausted just thinking about it. First up, SFist, who saw their little 'ole site be the center of what was a nice little scandal (even getting their editor on TV) only to find their scandal dwarfed by the even bigger scandal caused by their Mayor boffing one of his aides' wife. We're not... more ›

Here's a round-up of our favorite posts for late January/first days of February: Last week, the Chronic pointed out the irony that the town's famous vegan firefighters are down the street from Bert's Bar-B-Q (where the fire took place a couple weeks ago). We're sure the vegans would have come to the rescue of the Austin institution if their dispatcher had told them in time. . . but that's a whole other post. The... more ›

Memorial services for beloved newspaper columnist Molly Ivins, who passed away on Wednesday, will be held at 2pm this Sunday afternoon at First United Methodist Church. A gathering will follow at Scholz Garden. Donations in Ivins' honor can be made to The Texas Observer or the American Civil Liberties Union at: The Texas Observer 307 West Seventh Street Austin, TX 78701 American Civil Liberties Union 125 Broad Street 18th Floor New York, NY 10004 Related:... more ›

Nationally syndicated newspaper columnist, political reporter, and beloved Austinite Molly Ivins passed away in her home yesterday at the age of 62. In a remarkable career that spanned nearly four decades, Ivins commanded the respect and admiration of a devoted national readership, who rallied around her unapologetically liberal, often satirical, and always insightful coverage of the Texas "Lege" and our leaders in Washington. Among various and sundry positions held, Ivins served as co-editor of the... more ›

THURSDAY [16] wine • Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé! at Various music • Peter and the Wolf, The Interest Kills at The Mohawk music • The Elected (Members of Rilo Kiley), Margot and the Nuclear So and Sos, Whispertown 2000 at Emo's Lounge music • Jack Ingram & Reckless Kelly at Stubb's music • The Pretenders, Operation:Awesome at Austin Music Hall music • White Ghost Shivers, Dewayn Bros at Beerland music • St. Lawrence... more ›

MONDAY [13] film • Army of Darkness at Austin Java (9pm, Free) film • Blue Velvet with Free Pabst Blue Ribbon at Alamo Drafthouse (7pm, $9) film • Down in New Orleans at Spider House (8pm, Free) film • True Stories at Rounders Pizzeria (8pm, Free) film • The Notorious Bettie Page at Café Mundi (8pm, Free) film • Let Them Eat Rock with director Rodman Flender live at Alamo Drafthouse (9:45pm, $2) film... more ›

Last night's roast of Molly Ivins went off without a hitch. It sounds like it was a very pleasant, friendly gathering (so most likely not officially a roast). Foley was sending sketchy emails to pages back in 2000 . . . and people knew about it. American Nobel prize-winners so far for 2006: Six. "(E)very prize except for the literature and peace awards, which are yet to be announced, have gone to Americans." How... more ›

FRIDAY [21] [music] Sons of Hercules and The Bad Rackets at Woody's South (link) [music] Those Peabodys, Grand Champeen, Birds of Avalon (ex-Cherry Valence), Man Eaters of Tsavo at Emo's (link) [music] The Radiators at The Parish (link) [music] Blue October w/ People In Planes and Bril at Stubb's (link) [music] The Shells CD Release at End of an Ear (Free, 6pm) (link) [lecture] The Texas Observer presents David Sirota, author of Hostile Takeover: How... more ›

MONDAY [17][music] The High Flyers at Continental Club (10pm) (link) [lecture] Josh Rushing, future host of a show on Al Jazeera International and "accidental media star" in "Control Room," speaks at UT LBJ Auditorium (7pm) (link) [art] Opening Reception for Michael Schliefke's newest works, "What If We Could Get It All Back?" at bolm Studios (6pm-11pm) (link) [film] Oscar-Nominated Documentary shorts at Alamo Downtown (7pm) (link) [film] Anime Movie Monday at Ventana del Sol (7:30pm)... more ›

Today is Texas Independence Day, which used to be an official holiday, and now is just a day in Women’s History Month. Seriously though, those of us who have lived in Texas for most of our lives remember March 2 as Texas Independence Day, even if we don’t get the day off. We are not always brimming over with pride for our state, but today we'll think of the things we love about Texas... more ›

Come out and support the Texas Observer this Sunday at the 5th Annual Rabble Rouser Roundup and Fat Cat Schmoozefest! It's a hot musical line-up and a great cause. The event will be hosted by Molly Ivins and Jim Hightower with musical entertainment from The Marcia Ball Band, Grupo Fantasma and Carolyn Wonderland. Events: 6-7pm The Fat Cat Schmoozefest and Silent Auction 7-10pm Rabble Rouser Roundup (Silent Auction continues) Sunday, January 15, 2006 La... more ›

George W. Bush: aka Dubya, President of the United States, dumbass Owen Wilson: aka The Butterscotch Stallion, screenwriter, asslicker, and Movie Star Wes Anderson: writer/director of the best films ever(Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, etc), wears cool glasses Sandra Bullock: aka Mrs. Jesse James, producer, movie star, nice gal Matthew McConaughey: bongo player, weed smoker, movie star, hunk Marcia Gay Harden: character actress, Oscar winner Benjamin McKenzie: stud, lead actor of the O.C. Molly Ivins: whip-smart... more ›

Austinist was walking down the street on Friday evening on our way for a few pints at Lovejoys -- ah, delicious, freshly brewed beer! -- with our pal Neal Pollack when we bumped into Andy Langer, host of The Next Big Thing, and contributor to every form of media known to man. We had a nice chat, standing there on the sidewalk, during which Andy mentioned that he had sent Neal's recent piece about... more ›

We at the Austinist aren't the only ones who have pointed out Tom DeLay's ethical lapses. The Public Campaign Action Fund, will be running two television ads in Sugar Land (DeLay's district) and Washington DC denouncing him, according to the Associated Press. (And y'all? Molly Ivins has something to say about it too.) The PCAF is going one step further than most of DeLay's critics and are calling for his resignation. The Austinist is amazed... more ›