As you have probably heard by now, the Planning Commission voted to deny CWS Capital Partners' variance request, which would have allowed them to build condo towers within 150 feet of Lady Bird Lake in exchange for demolishing their existing structures and donating the land along the shoreline to the city (approximately the pink bit in the top left of the image above). As a result, the existing structures will almost certainly be re-built......

CWS Capital Partners seems to be attempting to generate the appearance of grassroots support for their plan to donate land along the southern shore of Lady Bird Lake in exchange for a variance. Extend Our Trail popped up recently as a counter to Save Town Lake. Katherine Gregor at the Chronicle called shenanigans, saying that Extend Our Trail was just a front for CWS. M1EK asked for proof. Katherine added that "Confirmation that CWS......

Mercury Design Studio is raffling off eight I'm Not A Plastic Bag canvas totes, designed by Anya Hindmarch to encourage recycling. These limited bags are already sold out in major cities. (Read about the nation-wide craziness, paralleling Harry Potter-like mania, reported by our sister blog Gothamist.) The 2nd Street store is raffling two bags a week through August. Raffle tickets cost $5 apiece and all proceeds go to the Town Lake Trail Foundation. Tribeza......

The nasty gap in the Town Lake Hike-and-Bike Trail on either side of I-35 on the south side of the lake may finally be closed. The circle squared. The Odyssey completed. Just like we wanted! The Parks and Recreation Department and the Town Lake Trail Foundation have obtained a $250,000 pledge from Constellation Property Group, which is building the "Star Riverside" condos nearby. A suggestion: hit up Cypress Real Estate Advisors for another big......

Columnist Julie Holden discusses the myriad options for staying fit in Austin as a mother-to-be....

WEDNESDAY [19] [film] Save our Springs presents: Wildnerness River Trail and 70s Environmental Shorts at Alamo Downtown (7pm, Free) (link) [books] Larry Dierker presents My Team: Choosing My Dream Team from My Forty Years in Baseball at Barnes & Noble, La Frontera Village in Round Rock (7pm) (link) [music] IV Thieves (formerly Nic Armstrong and the Thieves), Faceless Werewolves at Stubb's (link) [music] Chip Taylor at Cactus Cafe (link) [music] Joe McDermott at Symphony Square......

MONDAY [17] [books] Michael Putegnat presents Laguna at BookPeople (7pm) (link) [music] Riverboat Gamblers, Only Crime, Complete Control, Los Dryheavers at Emo's (link) [music] English Beat at Stubb's (link) [music] The return of Dale Watson & his Lone Stars at Continental Club (10pm) (link) [music] Porter Davis at Cactus Cafe (link) [travel] Austin Travel Circle Meeting at Austin International Youth Hostel (Free, 7pm) (link) [film] Peter Whitehead's Daddy at Alamo Downtown (7pm) (link) [film] Hail,......

There's just too much stuff happening tonight to keep track of, so we're reposting the IST list for your convenience. See you out there. ( F I R S T ) T H U R S D A Y art · In House Gallery presents “Barnyard”, with paintings by Ethan Azarian, Felice House, Rachel Koper & Rainey Navaro. 5-10pm. Thanks, Austinist newbie Craig! [map] music · Hurts to Purr, Maneja Beto, and La La Land......

Next Thursday, August 4th, the Town Lake Trail Foundation is holding its First Annual Milago Moonlight Margarita Run, a 5K that rewards runners and walkers with margaritas and a Mexican buffet at the end! These organizers know how to entice Austinites it seems. But, like everything, the run and fun has its price. If you want to run and play afterward, it's $60. Registration for just the run costs $25. If you only want......