Anyone interested in learning about the farm bill, buying some sustainable grass-fed beef and fresh local eggs and long beans, or just finding somewhere nice to walk around with a fair-trade, locally-roasted coffee should consider heading to one of Austin’s farmers markets this Saturday. Figs, apples, pears, purple long beans, green beans, tomatoes, peppers, squash blossoms, greens, basil, garlic, shallots, onions, and summer squash are among the fresh seasonal picks available at the markets this......

Kermit the Frog was right: It’s not easy being green. We find it extremely difficult to “think green” when the 100-degree heat is turning everything brown. The truth is, despite the current crisping of our landscape, Austin holds its own in its greenness as one of the most environmentally conscientious cities in the world. Some Austinites who have made this passion for green living their way of life are assembling tomorrow. Hosted by the......

It must be the season because we are hearing a lot about strawberries lately. If you love a good strawberry (and who doesn't?), you might want to take a drive out to the Sunset Valley Farmer's Market Saturday, April 29th, between 9:30am and 1:00pm. There you will find strawberry pies, shortcakes, strawberry salsa, strawberry jam, and probably even a few fresh strawberries. Sunset Valley Farmer's MarketToney Burger Center 3200 Jones Road (on 290 West......

FRIDAY [24][music] Stereolab at La Zona Rosa (9pm) (link) [music] Car Stereo (Wars) Dance Party! at PLUSH, with album giveaways from The Cloud Room, DJ sets by Chris Rose and Adreon Henry. Check out their SXSW photo recap on their website. (Free, 10pm - 2am) (link) [opera/music] Austin Lyric Opera presents "Lights, Camera, Opera" -- opera-inspired film clips with live commentary, music by the White Ghost Shivers, the TX Rollergirls and more -- at Austin......

We were just browsing around treehugger.com, when found out about a green-friendly event happening around these parts tomorrow: the Sustainable Shopper's Ball is an Austin-based pro-green organization that promotes local "businesses, non-profit groups, and educators that contribute to the outstanding quality of life that Austin provides for its rapidly growing population." Tomorrow, at the Sunset Valley Farmers Market at Toney Burger Center, they're hosting their first-ever outdoor Green Living Festival, bringing together a bevy of......

Thousands of Hurricane Katrina's refugees will be bused to Houston and sheltered at the Astrodome. The news was announced this morning by Rusty Cornelius, administrative coordinator for the Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Cornelius said, "We are planning on being able to do a full shelter operation for 25,000 people." The majority of the refugees coming to Texas were staying in the New Orleans Superdome, which held about about 20,000......