Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are both spending an estimated $1 million on TV ads airing across Texas this month. Two recent polls show two different plausible outcomes for our March 4th primary — a Texas Credit Union League poll conducted just days ago shows Clinton ahead 49% to 41%, whereas a poll released this morning by The American Research Group shows Senator Barack Obama leading Hillary Clinton 48% to 42%. Things are certainly getting interesting ... more ›

The American Planning Association has named Old West Austin one of the first ten Great Neighborhoods in America, noting that "Resident Participation Keeps Neighborhood Character Intact." Some might quibble with the characterization of this neighborhood as the "most dense and diverse" in Austin. Also, some haters would probably dispute (apparently contradictory) statements like "Voluntary efforts of residents and developers alike have kept the neighborhood's character intact in the absence of local ordinances governing building... more ›

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The American craft beer industry will converge on Austin tonight for this year's Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America. Black Star Co-op - the world's first cooperatively owned and worker self-managed brewpub - will be hosting a Craft Beer Celebration to raise startup capital for their beer-boasting business. The event, tonight at Fiesta Gardens from 8PM to midnight, will feature live music from local bands PONG and Opposite Day, funky beats from The Second... more ›

WEDNESDAY [11] books • JoAnna Barrett presents The Men's Guide to the Women's Bathroom at BookPeople (7:00pm) film • Texas Doc Tour: "Fish Kill Flea" at Alamo Downtown film • Open Screen Night at Alamo Downtown film • Weird Wednesdays: "Marta" at Alamo Downtown film • Jim Jarmusch Film Series: "Dead Man" at Alamo Village film • "Babe" Organic Vegetarian Feast at Alamo Village film/discussion • Screening of Israeli film director Eytan Fox's "Walk... more ›

Tonight, at Austin's own internationally famous document-stuffed cultural mothership, the Harry Ransom Center: a public celebration of their 50th anniversary. There will be cake. There will be viewings of their new exhibit, "The American Twenties." And people who are named "Harry," as well as people who are turning 50 this year, will get special presents (no word on what will happen if you fit both conditions... presumably, a ticker-tape parade!) A nifty timeline of the... more ›

Are you ready for football, world? more ›

Austin has ranked high, yet again, in one of those polls that make us look so good to the rest of the country. The American Podiatric Medical Association has ranked Austin as the sixth-best city in America for walking. We received our excellent ranking due to the massive UT campus and students necessity for walking, our vibrant downtown (which is getting more vibrant by the day), our excellent parks and the number of residents who like to ride their bikes for exercise. We walk to work every day, and usually walk downtown for shows, etc. so we appreciate the acknowledgement for all of our sweaty work. With SXSW just around the corner, the stumbleabilitywalkability will really be put to the test more ›

Speaking of American Idol, one of our readers in the comments section let us know about an interesting idea that popped up on Craigslist the other day: Haven't you always wanted to raise awareness about the brain-melting nature of television by putting on makeup, pretending -- along with 40 other people -- to be a zombie, and terrorizing throngs of vapid pop star hopefuls at the Austin American Idol Auditions? Yes? Well here's your... more ›

This Saturday, April 30th, from 7pm-9pm, Progress Coffee (500 San Marcos St) is hosting a show entitled . The opening features wine, bite-sized food, music and the paintings of Sean Ripple, a self-made mover/shaker in Austin's art scene. more ›

The American version of The Office, an hilarious hit comedy from the UK, premieres tonight at 8:30 on KXAN. We've aleady seen a preview of the first episode, and it looks to be almost word for word the same as the British version. Steve Carell will be taking the place of the series writer/creator, Ricky Gervais as the star of the show, and Austinist thinks that he'll do a good job. more ›