Entertainment Archives - Page 39 of 71

Spirited and Adventurous Austin Opera Is Far From Stuffy

December 27, 2016 by Susan Meyer Leave a Comment

Austin Opera presents Wagner's The Flying Dutchman

Scene from Austin Opera’s “The Flying Dutchman” (Credit: “The Flying Dutchman”/Erich Schlegel)

From huge festivals with famous headliners to as-of-yet-undiscovered bands playing neighborhood bars on a Monday night, Austin is known for its phenomenal music scene. But there’s one kind of musical performance that doesn’t always get the same recognition: Austin’s stellar opera scene.

Austin Opera (formerly known as Austin Lyric Opera) is celebrating its 30th anniversary season this year. That’s 30 years of putting on thrilling live musical experiences ranging from Italian classics to hip, modern creations. Austin Opera seeks to thrill diehard opera fans and newbies alike with an “art form as spirited and adventurous as Austin itself.” [Read more…]

Discover New Music With Vinylmnky Record Subscription

December 26, 2016 by Ashley Alkek Leave a Comment

Vinylmnky offers a record subscription service for “Tribe” members

In a digital world, it’s a fun feeling to get anything delivered by mail. It’s especially fun when music is involved. Vinylmnky, a local Austin vinyl delivery service, has joined the movement to make listening to music a more tangible experience. And there are many reasons why people enjoy collecting vinyl records, from the album art to the feel of the grooves. It’s delightful to learn how to “drop the needle.”

After trying the service myself, this is what I’ve found. [Read more…]

Dinner, Dancing, Bubbles: Here’s What Austin Has to Offer This New Year’s Eve

December 23, 2016 by Sommer Brugal Leave a Comment

Austin provides many ways to welcome the new year with a bang (Credit: Nathaniel F via Flickr CC)

It’s hard to believe, but 2016 is coming to a close. Whether you prefer a casual celebration or choose to ring in the New Year dancing the night away, Austin has something for you. To help you decide what to do, I’ve curated a list of dinners, bashes and even a few activities for the morning after (hangovers welcome).

So here’s to you, to the end of this year and to the start of another. Let’s get this party started. [Read more…]

5 Ways to Winterize Your Holiday Season in Austin

December 5, 2016 by Bill Tucker Leave a Comment

Credit: John Cabuena

The holiday season in Austin can be magical. The Zilker Tree. Armadillo Christmas Bazaar. Brightly decorated cedar trees along Route 360. Everything falls in place for a beautiful season, with one exception: cold weather.

Growing up back east, Christmastime was synonymous with freezing temperatures. Bundling up to go shopping, frost covered windows, parks and forests transformed into Norman Rockwell paintings by blankets of snow. In Austin, not so much. It’s tough to get into the holiday spirit while wearing sandals and shorts.

Luckily, there’s a number of ways to add a little “brrrr” to your holiday season in Austin. It may not be a winter wonderland, but a touch of Christmas cold can lead to extra warmth in your heart. Let’s get chilly! [Read more…]

Sing Along at These Austin Karaoke Bars

November 28, 2016 by Ashley Alkek 1 Comment

Austin has a number of karaoke bars to choose from (Credit: Dimitry Rostovtsev via Flickr CC)

For some people, karaoke is a time to sit back and marvel at (or laugh along with) vocally talented friends. For others, it’s a dream scenario come to life to hold a mic and squeeze every note out of a favorite song. Austin has a happenin’ karaoke scene. Even better, the community of karaoke-ers is usually very welcoming, no matter whether you sound like Adele or Tom Waits with a cold.

Karaoke is a perfect outlet to shake off stress built up during the week. Here are a few of Austin’s favorite spots to let loose with a microphone. [Read more…]

Chorus Austin Shows Us What 50 Years of Harmony Sounds Like

November 22, 2016 by Kelli McDonald 1 Comment

Chorus Austin’s upcoming “On a Winter’s Eve” concert will be held on Dec. 17 at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church (Credit: Chorus Austin)

Austinites pride themselves on the “Live Music Capital of the World” tagline, but the local love for big festivals, loud bars and coffee shop jams can overshadow classical forms of music. Those who want to experience the full spectrum of incredible musical happenings in our city need to add Chorus Austin to the top of their list. [Read more…]

Participate in Austin Empty Bowl Project’s 20th Year of Fighting Hunger

November 15, 2016 by Jaclyn Hubersberger Leave a Comment

All ages can participate in Austin Empty Bowl Project (Credit: Studio Stence Photography)

As we move into the holiday season, I begin to reflect on all I have to be thankful for and consider how I can help those in my community who are less fortunate. If you’re also looking for a way to give back this holiday season, Austin Empty Bowl Project is a cause highly deserving of your support. Over the past 19 years, Austin Empty Bowl Project has raised over $900,000 to help feed hungry Central Texans. Now celebrating 20 years, the goal is the $1 million mark.

The family-friendly event will be held on Sunday, Nov. 20 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Central Texas Food Bank, located at 6500 Metropolis Dr. For a donation of $20, guests are invited to choose their favorite from over 4,000 handmade ceramic bowls donated by local artists, which are then filled with soup and bread from some of Austin’s best restaurants. When it’s time to leave, have your bowl wrapped up to take home as a reminder of those whose bowls are empty. [Read more…]

Trail of Lights Celebrates 50 Years of Spinning Under the Zilker Tree

November 8, 2016 by Kelli McDonald 1 Comment

The Ferris wheel is a new favorite at Trail of Lights (Credit: Dear Wesleyann Photography)

For 52 years, Austinites have walked Trail of Lights as part of their holiday tradition. And for 50 years, the moon tower located off Barton Springs Road has been transformed into a glowing tree–dubbed the Zilker Tree–where visitors stand under the lights and look up while spinning around for a wonderfully disorienting effect.

Five years ago, Trail of Lights was privatized to take the monetary obligation away from taxpayers. The future of the holiday extravaganza seemed rocky at first, but now the event is arguably better than ever with a giant Ferris wheel, charitable events and Austin vendors helping to make the event memorable. [Read more…]

TMBBQ Fest Brings the Heat and the Meat to Austin

November 1, 2016 by Joleen Jernigan 2 Comments

Table full of samples at TMBBQ Fest

Texas Monthly invited 27 BBQ purveyors to participate in the 7th annual TMBBQ Fest at the Long Center on Oct. 30, 2016. Austin pitmasters represented our city well, claiming five of the coveted spots at the festival and sharing the stage with others from among the top 50 pitmasters in Texas.

The pitmasters, crews and volunteers brought in their smokers early to set up for the meat-tasting extravaganza of the year. A hungry horde of roughly 3,500 eaters put on their game faces and lined up for grub. Some families planned their tasting strategy ahead of time, employing a divide and conquer strategy. Others meandered about, going where the day and their noses led them.

The five Austin participants included Franklin Barbecue, La Barbecue, Freedmen’s, Stiles Switch and Lambert’s. Here’s what you missed. [Read more…]

Local Austin Film ProGamer Premieres This Week at Austin Film Festival

October 12, 2016 by Bill Tucker 1 Comment

Professional gamer White Ra competes for big cash and glory in ProGamer (Credit: ProGamer)

Imagine an NBA arena packed to the rafters on a Saturday. Stage lights flash across the at-capacity crowd. Monstrous displays broadcast the evening’s match-ups. An exuberant emcee walks onto the stage and announces the first bout. The crowd roars as the combatants go to their respective corners, put on headphones, and man their mouse and keyboard.

Oh, I’m sorry. Did you think I was talking about professional wrestling? A heavyweight bout? I was actually setting the scene for an eSports tournament. Professional gaming has become a worldwide sensation, attracting millions of fans through webcasts and live events. “ProGamer,” directed by Austin native Justin Agnew and premiering at this year’s Austin Film Festival, provides an inside look into this pixelated phenomenon and the personalities that make it tick. [Read more…]

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