On paper, Sarah Vowell is an unlikely literary star. As a historical writer, she admits that it’s hard to get people interested in her work. Typical Americans kind of don’t know and/or don’t care about history until Hollywood finds a historical character Russell Crowe can play. It is the fact that she can make Americans buy, read and enjoy books about history that easily explains her fame and success. more ›

October is fast drawing to a close, which means it’s about time for me to rip another page off of the huge, desk blotter calendar that sits on the floor next to my office chair. Each month when I do this, I pause for a moment to look over how many squares have activities written on them. The answer this month is—as with most— all of them. I did so many things this past month that even I’m amazed. The list is too long to offer in full, but among other things I did the following: performed four weddings; went to three concerts (Jonathan Richman, Magnetic Fields, Ray Lamontagne); attended the Austin High School homecoming football game (I love marching bands!); turned in two final edits for book manuscripts; pitched two new books; finished knitting a pair of socks; wrote several million blog posts; visited an organic chicken farm; watched Annie Get Your Gun; smashed my car into Warren’s car in the driveway causing $400 worth of damage (okay, that wasn’t scheduled on the calendar, it sort of just happened); and dealt with the death of my son’s beloved ’93 Cadillac. Oh yeah, and I voted. more ›

Sarah Vowell is one of those talented people whose job description covers a lot of territory (radio journalist, columnist, humorist, actress) and she’ll be at BookPeople tomorrow night – because she’s an author, too, of course. more ›

One of our favorite authors, and national treasure, Sarah Vowell returns to Austin Friday night for a performance at the Paramount Theatre. In addition to authoring several outstanding non-fiction books (Radio On, The Partly Cloudy Patriot, Assassination Vacation), the dry-witted Planes Stater-by-birth, New Yorker-by-choice has applied her substantial intellect and rapier wit to work for This American Life, McSweeney’s, Believer Magazine, Esquire, GQ, The Los Angeles Times, The Village Voice, Spin and The New York... more ›

Get ready for some movie culture. The Paramount Theatre has announced the 2006 Summer Film Classics series, and the lineup is both eclectic and unique. There is something here for all tastes (though we don't see many family or kids' films), so check out the listings and see what classic or obscurity you'd like to see this summer: Classic Films In May: Wed, May 24 7:30 PM CHOCOLAT Thurs, May 25 7:30 PM KING... more ›

Just a heads-up that one of our favorite writers and all-around funny people, Sarah Vowell, is on Fresh Air today with Terry Gross . Her latest book is Assassination Vacation . The book details her visits to the gravesites and monuments of Presidents Lincoln, McKinley and Garfield (now that was one president who, much like the Austinist, hated Mondays but LOVED lasagna). The show today will feature two of Vowell's archived interviews. more ›

On Tuesday, John Dean of Worse Than Watergate and, of course, Watergate fame, reads at the Harry Ransom Center. 7:30-10pm, Prothro Theater on the UT campus. Sarah Vowell visits Book People on Wednesday. 7pm, 603 North Lamar. Tickets available at 6pm. Naomi Shihab Nye, National Book Award finalist, visiting professor at the UT Michener Center for Writers, and the author of numerous books of poetry and literature for young people, reads at the Avaya Auditorium... more ›