The Austin Contrarian did a nice post yesterday on the Design Commission's Density Bonus Recommendations. A "density bonus" isn't quite what it sounds like - developers don't get a bonus for building more density. Instead, developers pay the city (generally to provide money for parks, affordable housing or mass transit) in exchange for the right to build more density. Parks, affordable housing and mass transit are all good things, but density is also a good... more ›

Once the camera crews, exuberant (and nostalgia seeking) fans, and Illuminati-crying conspiracy theorists had retreated to their respective rocks last week, former President Clinton decided to do some shopping at BookPeople. In town to raise money for Hillary's campaign at the home of long time Clinton family friend Roy Spence of GSD&M, Bill made a stop at BookPeople where he signed over a thousand copies of his new book, Giving: How Each of Us Can... more ›

*The views expressed in Truesday are those of the author and do not represent Austinist as a whole. Thank heavens.* -The Editors Well alright then. For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been doing something of a shout-out/call-back sort of thing here. First flags, then summer games. I guess people have much stronger ideas and opinions about Austin’s Summer happenings than they do about its flag. I’m not entirely sure that this doesn’t depress... more ›

The young professional types at Habitat Young Professionals (an official division of Austin Habitat for Humanity) is will host their first ever “Build the HYP” fundraising event this Saturday at 8pm at the Design Center of Austin, 3601 South Congress at Penn Field, Building C. Guests will experience great food and drinks from many local culinary destinations, including III Forks, Moonshine, and Reed's Supper Club. HYP will also raise the roof (Har!) with a... more ›

We are hurtin' today. We did drink a little last night, but we're not hungover (really, we're just tired). Last night we went to the first ever "The Prize is Tight" night at Flamingo Cantina. We were laughing so hard, we nearly peed ourselves. We don't really know who Matt Bearden is or where he comes from, but he hosts this Game Show, Variety Show, Stand-Up Comedy, musical act and we think he was... more ›

We told you yesterday about Paul F. Thompkins' appearance at Cap City Comedy Club. Well, last night we went and saw the comic of Mr. Show fame, and we gotta say, it was damn funny! Thompkins skewered everything from premature babies (like they deserved to be skewered) to his own self-destructive drinking habits of old to the Discount Hitch store in the strip mall in which Cap City resides. Unfortunately, some douchebag and his girlfirend at the table up front would not shut the hell up. But fortunately, Thompkins completely attacked them, belittling them and imploring them to "Shut the Fuck Up!" multiple times. Again unfortunately, the couple just kept talking. Comlete morons. We actually wish the club had kicked the couple out after the fourth time Paul had to interrupt his act. Opening act Chris Fairbanks, formerly of Austin, was hysterical as well with his deadpan delivery and off-the-wall observations. The show will only set you back $12; so we thik it is a fantastic dollar value for your Friday or Saturday night entertainment. more ›

*This post comes from Austinist contributor Ami. One day she will learn how to use the intraweb on her own. We promise.* more ›

Austin needs another bike shop like it needs a hole in its head. The shops have reached such a level of ubiquity (three within a half-mile of our house) they cause Volvo wagon traffic jams on our streets on Saturdays. It is the source of a bit of consternation with us; we’re not even sure why. But we recently came across a small outfit on the East Side that we love – East Side... more ›

: : FRIDAY : : [film] New Movies @ Your Local Theaters! [music] Ethereal Planes Indian, 7pm @ End of an Ear - FREE! [music] Ghostland Observatory, The Veldt, Haunting Oboe Music and Low Line Caller @ Flamingo Cantina [music] Orange Mothers and The Damnations @ Continental Club [music] Glen Phillips, 8pm & 10:30pm @ Cactus CafeŽ - $16 [art] Reception for Sydney Yeager's "Billow & Fold," 6-8pm @ d berman Gallery [theatre] "Xmas... more ›

Some notable weekend art openings from around the town... Friday, December 9th D Berman Gallery ( 1701 Guadalupe St) presents Sydney Yeager: Billow and Fold. From D Berman's website: With a new palette of vivid hues, Ms. Yeager’s paintings continue to evolve and delight. In these paintings, forms familiar from the artist’s earlier work are chopped, compressed, and stretched. Implied boundary lines coax plumes of bright colors to bend, loop, and ultimately fill the picture... more ›

Note: While going downtown this weekend, please don't forget the new rules regarding the TRS parking lot at 11th St. and Red River! : : FRIDAY : : [film] New movies @ your local theater! [party] SOS Holiday Party, 6-11pm @ Mercury Hall - $10 [music] Peel, Fire vs. Extinguisher and Junius @ Beerland [music] Hurts to Purr CD release party, 7pm @ Momo's - $10 [in-store] The Black Angels, Sound of Confusion, Rescue... more ›

This Saturday afternoon, local fillmmaking supporters should go out to see Kat Candler's first feature, Cicadas, to help raise funds for the post production costs of her latest film, Jumping Off Bridges. (What else are you doing, napping?) It's a win-win situation. You can have your cake and eat it too. You can kill two birds with one stone. You can see a great film and help a local filmmaker at the same time. See what we're getting at? We think you do. They're also showing outtakes from Jumping Off Bridges, which is currently being shopped around to various American film festivals. more ›

Austin is on the brink of having its very first outdoor ice rink! more ›

: : FRIDAY : : [music] Early Man, Atomic Bitchwax, Lions and Black Earth @ Emo's [art] "A Pairing:Exhibition of Works by Women of Wine & The Men Who Adore Them," 5:30pm-8:30pm @ Gallery Lombardi [music] St. James, Andy Davis and Matt Wertz @ Stubb's [music] The Ugly Beats and American History Project @ Beerland [music] Beta Valentine CD Release with Super Sonic Soul Squad and DJ Bigface, 8pm @ End of an Ear... more ›

Flicker (our favorite local film screening series) is taking over the Alamo Drafthouse tonight at 9:45pm. Showcasing a multifarious assortment of short films four times a year, Flicker provides a easy way for aspiring local filmmakers to see their work on the big screen. more ›

: : FRIDAY : : [culture] End of Ramadan (EID) Festival, 9:30am-4:30pm @ Richard Moya Park [homework] Deadline for the Soup Peddler's Soupie Cookbook [film] New Movies! @ Your Local Theater! [dance] Armagetdown with New Berlin, DJ Big Face and DJ Manny, 9pm @ Progress Coffee [music] Cruiserweight, The Fall Collection, The Always Already and Paper Airlines @ Emo's [music] Fluffer's Union and American Graveyard @ Trophy's [theatre] Paul Rudnick's "The Most Fabulous Story... more ›

**Well, well...thanks for the head's up Jooley. Apparently KUT is carrying Iggy Pop and Tim Curry. But we are listening to "today's" Fresh Air on their website. Quite confusing indeed. This is a first. (The discrepancy of the programming, not us being wrong)** more ›

For the love of all that helps us avoid responsibility in life, THIS SHOW IS GOOD. Our girlfriend picked up tickets to Inside a Broken Clock: a Tom Waits Peepshow for this past weekend’s showing at Victory Grill. We were skeptical about the whole thing, because we have a really unhealthy respect (read: disturbing and borderline criminal fascination) for the work of Waits. And we have a nagging suspicion that the world is hell-bent... more ›

: : FRIDAY : : [film] New Movies @ Your Local Theater! [music] Willie Nelson @ Stubb's (also Saturday) [music] The Queers, The Vibrators, The Independents (outside) and Wolf Eyes, Prurient and Rubble (inside) @ Emo's [music] CD release show for The Lovely Sparrows & Big Blue Marble @ Beerland [music] The Arm and New Model Army @ Elysium [film/lecture] Rabia Clark presents her short film, "The Dervish Project", 7pm @ Ventana del Sol... more ›

A couple of weeks ago, we asked for advice on a cool wedding DJ, who wouldn't spin any of that crap music heard at your typical reception. You guys turned out to be as cool as we thought you were, and sent some recommendations our way. Now we share them with others who happen to have both good taste and an upcoming wedding. Some friends had a wedding where Karaoke Underground "DJ-ed" before the... more ›

: : FRIDAY : : [music] The Zippo Hot Tour Semi-Finals featuring Fractious, 9pm @ The Backroom - FREE! [film] A Bunch of New Movies Open! @ your local theater [film] QT6, 7pm & 9:30pm @ Drafthouse Downtown: Grindhouse Triple Feature also Saturday [music] Mike Graff, 8pm @ End of an Ear [dance] Refraction Arts presents "Shish-ka-bob! An Inventory of Works by Amy Cone," 8pm @ The Blue Theatre [music] Palaxy Tracks, The Glass... more ›

We have always had romantic notions of hotel living--like Royal of the Royal Tennenbaums, or Karen on Will & Grace making it with the the maintanance man at the Plaza Hotel during her divorce. Our fantasy includes terry cloth robes and slippers, daily maid service, champagne at our door, and lots of movies on demand. We fantasize about striking it rich just so we can make a habit of room service. We love hotels... more ›

: : FRIDAY : : [music] Nic Armstrong and the Thieves & Ian Moore @ The Parish, 9:30pm [in-store] Happy Families @ End of an Ear, 6pm [comedy] The Sinus Show's "Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park" @ Alamo Drafthouse Downtown, 7pm & 9:45 also Saturday [theatre] The Vortex Repertory presents "La Femme: The BareBones New Works Festival," 8pm [comedy] The Austin Improv Co-op presents "The Womb of the Pagan" and "Hoover's Blanket"... more ›

People LOVE to visit Austinist in Austin. It clearly is not US they are interested in seeing, but the city. This past weekend we had the pleasure of dragging some friends around the greatest city in the Republic. We made mental notes about where it was that we took them during their visit, where we thought they would get a truly “Austin experience” from, and other places we consciously avoided. There’s good reason behind... more ›