Chris Rose, or Car Stereo (Wars), will ensure 2008 kicks off right, with a barrage of dance floor ready material that includes a fair share of samples and mash-ups, no doubt. Happy New Year!...

Spider House and the United States Art Authority, along with yours truly, want to keep you away from downtown this New Year’s Eve. Sure the shenanigans on 6th St. is always stirring but keeping within the cozy confines of the campus area is arguably safer and largely less expensive. Spider House hosts a solid line-up of DJ’s with a couple of live acts thrown in for good measure. Doors are at 8 p.m. and the $12 tickets can be purchased in advance via Front Gate Tickets....

Just after the start of the new year, we were devastated to learn that Austinist reader and all-around kind soul Heather Haenes was involved in a tragic car accident, of such severity that doctors were forced to remove both of her lower legs. Now, after a succession of complex surgeries, Heather faces months of painful physical and mental therapy and ever-increasing medical bills. Luckily, friends and family have rallied together to form the Heather Haenes......

MONDAY [5] art • Opening Reception for Sarah Canright and Melissa W. Miller: Measured Strokes at The Sarofim School of Fine Arts, Fine Arts Gallery (6-7:30pm) benefit/music • Heather Love Fest Benefit with Dan Dyer & Friends, John Pointer, Govinda, DJ Chicken George, BIGFACE, DJ Mahealani, DJ Chris, DJ Trey Lopez,DJ Orian, Performance by the Super Sonic Soul Squad, Complimentary Appetizers and TONS of Raffle and Silent Auction Prizes at Saba, Cedar Street, and......

If there’s one genre of music we’ve never had a decent grasp of, it’s dance. On a very basic level, we get it—people love to boogie, and thumping 4/4 jams are the best songs to do it to. But what is it about dance music that unites people across such a wide range of political, social and economic strata? And conversely, how can such a seemingly simple form involve so many subtle, yet wildly divisive......

FRIDAY [27] party/music/awesome • Car Stereo (Wars) and Austinist host a Halloween Bash with Clap!Clap!, carnie games, face painting, fortune tellers, free fangs, "killer" drink specials, a costume contest judged by the fashionistas of Team Fabrication, and more at Beauty Bar (10pm-2am, $3 with, 4 w/o costume) zombies • Zombie Flash Mob at City Hall fashion • Beauty Bar Blowout with complimentary 'dos by Birds Barbershop, makeup applications by MAC artists, DJ Robbie Hardkiss......

WEDNESDAY [2] [music] Ghost of the Russian Empire, Lomita, Fire v. Extinguisher, Moth Fight at Beerland LINK [music] "Wax Wednesdays" at Ruta Maya (8pm) LINK [music] Rhett Butler at Cactus Café ($7, 8:30pm) LINK [music] Free Nugs & the Kickbaxx, The Hudsons at Threadgill's LINK [music] Abba Yo Yo's, End of the Year at Snake Eyes Vinyl (7pm) LINK [music] Teenage Symphony, The Shells, Economy at The Chain Drive (9pm) LINK [music] Band of Heathens......