Photograph of memorial outside Heath Ledger's NYC apartment Gothamist learned that actor Heath Ledger was found dead in his SoHo apartment, cause of death unknown so far (but apparently the masseuse who found him called Mary-Kate Olsen before 911).Bostonist considered sending a link about the Super Bowl, but damn! The New Kids are reuniting!Although Sylvester Stallone is a native of New York City, his Rocky character lets many Philadelphians consider him a native son......

Tomorrow, for the love of God and country, the Drafthouse Village hosts a special sneak screening of the new Rambo movie. Seriously, did anybody see the new Rocky movie? It actually wasn't that bad... ...

Alamo Drafthouse Micro Roadshow Presents: TampopoSaturday, November 17thLocation TBA $60, includes movie, dinner and beverages[info] | [tickets]There is a fine line between loving your food and loving your food. Well, actually no, it's a big, fat freakin' line, one which the Japanese are not afraid to catapult themselves over with gusto filled oyster/face licking, giving pork slices the ole' bedroom eyes and even some egg yolk fellatio. (Yes, the school yard taunt "Go suck......

No one whips up a tear-jerking, emotionally-stirring acoustic song quite like Rocky Votolato. Whether he’s grieving in a melodic whisper or belting out a gruff, Americana chorus, Votolato always shoots his arrows swift and straight, landing with a ‘thud’ just to the left of your sternum. So, make sure and wear your armor to Stubb's Saturday night. It’s a skill the Seattle-based musician developed through his decade-long stint as frontman for the indie group Waxwing......

Michael Barnes at the Statesman is reporting that, "Austin stage star Joe York, most recently seen in "The Rocky Horror Show," passed away early this morning in his Brooklyn home." York's acting was showcased in productions including Falsettos, Forever Plaid, A Streetcar Named Desire, Ruthless, and The Rocky Horror Show. He was also an accomplished director and designer. "I had the honor to know and work with the wonderful man, Joe York. He was......

Rocky Votolato The Brag and Cuss (Barsuk) Since his auspicious beginnings as frontman for the indie/post-punk group Waxwing, Rocky Votolato has become quite the everlasting song writer. He’s a pro at crafting emotion-evoking indie rock tunes that carefully toe the line between matured folk rock and angst-inspired acoustic balladry. It’s important to note, however, that Votolato generally steers clear of cliched, woe-is-me, hear-on-sleeve lyrics. He keeps his out of plain view, in bits and phrases......

Seattle troubadour Rocky Votolato specializes in the kind of wispy, unadorned folk music that earns most singer-songwriters unwelcome Dylan comparisons. Luckily, Votolato has forged a path all his own, one that's led him from his native Texas to the gray skies of Seattle and a place on indie powerhouse Barsuk's roster. We got a look at his plans for this year: Is SXSW fun or business? It's all about the Barsuk party!!!......

That's right: it's time to heat up your winter nights again, with the 14th season of FronteraFest. The Short Fringe, the Long Fringe, or Mi Casa es su Teatro -- FronteraFest is five weeks of alternative, offbeat, new, and just plain off-the-wall fringe theatre presented by Hyde Park Theatre and Austin Script Works. For complete FronteraFest 2007 information, including times and locations for the Short Fringe, the Long Fringe and Mi Casa es su Teatro,......

That's right: it's time to heat up your winter nights again, with the 14th season of FronteraFest. The Short Fringe, the Long Fringe, or Mi Casa es su Teatro -- FronteraFest is five weeks of alternative, offbeat, new, and just plain off-the-wall fringe theatre presented by Hyde Park Theatre and Austin Script Works. For complete FronteraFest 2007 information, including times and locations for the Short Fringe, the Long Fringe and Mi Casa es su Teatro,......

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......

We've been a bit lax in our celebration of Austin's bloggers, but we're back, baby. Our favorite posts for this week of November 27th: Austin Real Estate Blog ponders real estate east of IH-35. Sarah at BondBlog caught the quick reference to the Alamo Drafthouse on Heroes Monday night. Rocky Balboa has caused some strong audience reaction already, Jette at celluloid eyes noticed. It's probably not the reaction the studio is hoping for. Red......

FRIDAY [17] music • Frida Hyvonen, Tacks the Boy Disaster, Jonathan Meiburg (Shearwater) at Emo's Lounge music • She Wants Revenge & Pretty Girls Make Graves at Stubb's music • Deftones, Deadsy at Austin Music Hall music • Steve Carter at Waterloo Records music • Grupo Fantasma at Antone's music • Golden Bear, The Lemurs, Glass Family at Continental Club (9:30pm) music • Joe Ely at Cactus Café music • Chin Up Chin Up,......

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......

FRIDAY [10] music • Tilly and the Wall, The Tyde, Pony Up at Emo's music • The Places, 4 Hungry Tummies, Ralph White, Ryan Anderson at Emo's Lounge music • Jolie Holland w. Sonny Smith at The Parish Room music • The Alice Rose at Waterloo Records music • CREEPOUT Fest: Chumps, Bulemics, The Ends,The Wolves at Beerland music • Regina Spektor with Only Son at Antone's (Sold Out) music • The Black, Horse......

THURSDAY [9] music • Ice Age Cobra, Maaster Gaiden at The Mohawk music • Crash Gallery, The Last Gasp, Future Clouds and Radar, Red Leaves at Emo's music • 2nd Annual Miracles on 8th Street at Stubb's ($70, 7pm) music • 2006 Hotel Cafe Tour with Cary Brothers, Rachel Yamagata, Tristan Prettyman, Joshua Radin, Jonah Matranga, Jim Bianco, Sara Bareilles at The Parish Room music • Joshua Radin at Waterloo Records music • CREEPOUT......

FRIDAY [3] party/music • Misprint magazine's latest issue release party, with The Jungle Rockers, Mr. Lewis and the Funeral Five, Chalk Outlines, and the Cave Dwellers at Flamingo Cantina (Doors at 9pm, $5/7, Free beer while it lasts!) art • Aaron Reynolds art opening reception with Music by Peter Wagner of The Mercers & free beer at End of an Ear (6pm) art • Warhol Reception and Lectures at ART on 5th (6-9pm) art......

THURSDAY [2] film • Austinist, PartyEnds.com, and a bunch of other folks team up to host a free screening of the Vice Guide to Travel at Alamo Drafthouse Lake Creek (7:30pm, Free!) fashion/party • Prototype Vintage celebrates their first anniversary on First Thursday, with snacks and beverages, DJ Little Joe, and more at Prototype Vintage (7-10pm) art • Celebrated Skin: Tatoo Art and Artists Opening at Julia C. Butridge Gallery @ DAC (6pm) art......

Coda Theater Project rushes headlong into their third season with not one, but three plays by that wacky Ionesco guy -- all running simultaneously (in repertory) at the play! Theatre. Now you, dear reader, can check it out for free. (See, we do love you.) Quick, to your keyboards! Fill out the form below to win tickets to Saturday night's performance, featuring Jack, or the Submission (directed by Eric Virkkala) and The Bald Soprano (directed......

We’ve already brought to your attention most of this week’s theatre and dance openings, but here’s a quick refresher, just in case you haven’t been paying attention: We Are Normal, Cha Cha Chaaa: a new dance epic from the Yellow Tape Construction Co featuring Cari P from Fancy Feast and Belaire. Read our preview, or check out our photos. At Home With Dick 2: the Dick Price musical. All singing, all dancing, Alzheimer’s. Check......

If you lost your ACL pass and – even after countless screaming matches with Front Gate Ticket employees and hours of scouring Craig’s List for scalpers – you’ve been left sans plans for the festival weekend (or maybe you’re just afraid of tourists/loathe sunshine/whatever), we’ve got an alternative suggestion. An air conditioned alternative suggestion. Go see a play. That’s right, don’t be a pussy about it. It’s just theatre. You might even like it......

Even though we are way way past school age, we still get a little melancholy at the close of summer. Fortunately, our friends across the -ist network know that the shenanigans don't need to end just because the big yellow buses are back on the roads. So, grab your sunscreen and your favorite hangover cure, as we take a tour of end of summer fun from -ist cities all over the damn place. SFist Tourist......

God, we're so sick of Snakes on a Plane that we want to kill anyone and everyone that makes a "something on a something" joke. But then we realized that there was no way we could ever win this fight, and, hell, if you can't beat them, we might as well join them. And with that, you have the theme of this weeks' Gothamist network post. Austinist makes it easy for us, with Candidate on......

Time for another look at some of the artists playing the Austin City Limits Festival in September. There are only 49 days left and I have oh... just about a ton of artists left to preview on my ACL Artist Previews Page. But rainy weekends are made for writing, so if the lousy weather in Nashville holds up, I'll have a more than a few for you next Friday. Here's what I've covered since......

FRIDAY [19] [music] Cross Canadian Ragweed w/ Micky & the Motorcars at Stubb's (link) [music] Clint Small Jr. Middle School's Phat Cats Jazz Ensemble at Waterloo Records (Free, 6pm) (link) [music] Moth Fight! at End of an Ear (Free, 7pm) (link) [music] Faceless Werewolves, Hotrails, Tokyo Nites at Beerland (link) [music] Dynah CD release at Red Eyed Fly (link) [music] Wilco Hoot Night with "many, many Austin bands" at Trophy's (link) [music] Pudge Zeppelin with......

F R I D A Y [24] [music] Sweatbox Benefit with Poison 13, Knife in the Water, The Meat Purveyors, and Possessed by paul James at Emo's (link) [music] moe at Stubb's (link) [DJ] "It's a Wrap" with DJ Flywood and DJ Whoever at The Peacock (link) [in-store] Holland Hopson CD release at End of an Ear (Free, 7pm) (link) [cartoons] Spike & Mike's Twisted Animation Fest at Alamo Village (Midnight Friday & Saturday) (link)......

After SXSW trashes our fair town, Coachella layers the California desert with dusty beer cans, and Wall of Sound leaves Fort Worth a city ... well, much the same, we're probably heading over to Sasquatch, the annual Pacific Northwest festival at Washingon State's scenic Gorge Amphitheatre. Scheduled to perform during the three-day Memorial Weekend blitz are Austinites Trail of Dead and Iron & Wine, plus a salivatory stew of sweet, sweet bands: FRIDAY, MAY 26......

Sadly for us -- very, very sadly for us -- we've been under the weather and have missed several previously scheduled programs. This includes Saturday night's Best of Week IV at Frontera Fest. Since we can't share our impressions of the evening, we thought we'd at least give a rundown of the winning shows (details from the HPT website). "Aucun Espoir pour l'Homme: a junk romance" by Rocky Hopson. Clown satire about the ups......

F R I D A Y [ 2 7 ] [music] Explosions in the Sky, Octopus