Six months ago tonight was the most memorable time I've ever had at the movies. It was Weird Wednesday at the Alamo Drafthouse, and Lars Nilsen was showing Carnival Magic, which I will attempt to summarize: a wise-but-creepy magician and his English-speaking chimpanzee achieve stardom in a small-time circus, only to become the prey of a girlfriend-beating lion tamer and a doctor who specializes in vivisection. more ›

This summer, the Bright Light Social Hour recorded their first album. In the studio, they're an ambitious and detail-oriented band, so the sessions were thorough and occasionally intense. Resulting stresses were abated by the band's camaraderie and indulgence in various homoerotic jokes. As producer Danny Reisch recorded the album at his home and at Cacophony Studios, I recorded a few hours of takes and studio chatter with my handheld over four days and reduced them to nine minutes in the collage below. more ›

Jade Walker built the installation "Spectator Sport" at the Austin Museum of Art, and she's giving an Artist Talk about it there tonight. After the Museum's Assistant Curator introduces her and the installation at 7pm, she'll give a slide lecture. In the photo at right, Mrs. Walker wears a warm coat in Japan. more ›

Eleanor Friedberger was a high school athlete before she studied American Studies and film at UT. She had ambitions of producing for the screen, but instead found fame with The Fiery Furnaces. In the photo at right, Ms. Friedberger brushes her teeth in Japan. more ›

I went to Owl Tree Roasting (3421 N. I-35, just south of Fiesta) to ask David Allen about the Drink Local Coffee Festival they're hosting today. A dozen local coffee roasters will converge on Owl Tree, and folks can stop by to sample brews, buy beans, and observe a Barista Jam. Organizers suggest a $5 donation to Urban Roots. more ›

Dan Green of 4ms Pedals builds effects boxes and synthesizers, in both finished and DIY kit incarnations, out of a second-story studio on Cesar Chavez in East Austin. I spoke with him there a couple days before the East Austin Studio Tour began. He'll be there this weekend as well. more ›

Clint Conley works hard as a television producer in Boston, and plays hard at the bass in Mission of Burma. I spoke with him on Monday toward the end of his workday. Can you believe that he doesn't own his bass amp, and that his bandmate Roger Miller doesn't own any guitars? more ›

I talked with Fun Fun Fun Fest organizer Graham Williams on Friday afternoon at his homey office on Neches Street. We discussed the effect of outdoor stages on comedians, festival dos and don'ts, and the mechanical bulls of Tijuana, although I edited that part out. more ›

"Chris Bauer moved to Austin from New Orleans to work at the Barton Creek Country Club. He then opened Finn and Porter at the Hilton, worked briefly at Vin Bistro, and since February is Executive Chef at Mizu, which serves prime beef, cuttlefish sashimi, three creme brulees, and a "slow meat omelette" in a new building near Lake Travis on RR 620. I talked with Chris on the deck at Mizu about his menu, Texan wine, and his favorite Austin dinner." more ›

"Lance Clark, of Richardson Farms, spoke with me at the end of one rainy Triangle edition of the Austin Farmers Market. He and his extended family raise cattle, poultry, and piggly wigglys on pastures near Rockdale, which is an hour east of Round Rock. Wheatsville Co-Op, Kerbey Lane, and Olivia buy their products, as does the public at the Manor and Austin Triangle Farmers Markets (Wednesdays) and the Sunset Valley and Brushy Creek Farmers Markets (Saturdays)." more ›