Entertainment Archives - Page 64 of 71

Bandana Ball Gives Hope to Children & Their Families in Central Texas

March 27, 2013 by Eric Highland 4 Comments

Brooke Hester’s spirit of joy and hope was contagious at the 2013 Bandana Ball

Twirling and dancing on the lush green grass of Wild Onion Ranch, a little girl was wearing heart shaped sunglasses and sporting a smile that could melt a heart of stone. Though she was surrounded by a thousand other people, including philanthropists, press members, and even celebrities, she was clearly the star of the show.

And rightfully so.

Two years ago, five and a half year old Brooke Hester was diagnosed with Stage IV High Risk Neuroblastoma, a cancer that is common among infants and children, and difficult to treat. Upon learning the news, Brooke’s parents Beau and Jessica committed to do whatever was necessary, traveling wherever they needed to in order to find a cure. [Read more…]

What’s All the Fuss About the Austin Music Awards?

March 25, 2013 by Brittany Highland Leave a Comment

Bill Carter and the Blame with Gary Clark Jr. at Austin Music Awards

Bill Carter and the Blame performs with Gary Clark Jr. at Austin Music Awards 2013

It may happen only one night a year, but the reverberations last all year long. In a city where music is everything, there isn’t a local band within earshot that wouldn’t love to see their name in lights at the Austin Music Awards.

The 31st annual Austin Music Awards took place at the height of SXSW 2013 at Austin Music Hall. Much-loved Austin musicians like Ben Kweller, Alejandro Escovedo, Brownout, and Gary Clark Jr. graced the stage, and there were even rumored sightings of Johnny Depp.

There are similarities between the Austin Music Awards and awards shows like the Grammys or the Country Music Awards that you might see on television. But if you’re going to give up a night in Austin during one of the most exciting times of the year – and shell out a little bit of cash in the process – I want to make sure you know what you’re in for. [Read more…]

Lilting Urban Folk from Austin’s Award-Winning Erin Ivey

February 19, 2013 by Brittany Highland 3 Comments

Singer Erin Ivey at Flipnotics in Austin

Erin Ivey at Flipnotics, February 2013

Austin singer and songwriter Erin Ivey has a lovely, lilting voice and poetry in her bones. Texas Music Magazine named Erin one of the top artists of 2011, and her newest album Dreamy Weather was funded by fans through a successful Kickstarter campaign late last year.

I’ve had the chance to enjoy Erin and her music in different settings, and she never disappoints. If you appreciate lyrical depth and musical calm that leaves space for your thoughts, Erin Ivey is for you. [Read more…]

Bridget Dunlap: Gritty Imagineress Reigning Barefoot on Rainey

February 18, 2013 by Brittany Highland 6 Comments

Bridget Dunlap reigns barefooted

Visionaries are the ones who look at what’s in front of all of our faces, and have just enough careless abhorrence of common sense to imagine a metropolis where the rest of us see only a mound of dirt.

Successful Houston business owner Bridget Dunlap had visited Austin many times. Despite the economic bust of 2008, she was looking for opportunity when she parked in the dirt lot on the north side of Driskill St. near I-35.

The parcel of land on the northeast corner of Rainey Street at Driskill – now known as Lustre Pearl – was for lease. Signs communicated that the property was condemned, and the former home was completely boarded up. “You could barely walk up the stairs,” Dunlap recalled. [Read more…]

HONK!TX Brings Texas-Sized Ruckus to Austin’s Streets

February 11, 2013 by Guest Blogger 5 Comments

This guest blog post is by Mikaela Thomas.

As you’ve probably noticed, Austin has about as many festivals as it has Mexican Free-Tailed Bats. That tells you everything you need to know about this town: we love community, we applaud creativity, and we have an insatiable hunger for fun.

In that spirit, a small troupe of Austin locals, myself among them, set out in 2010 to bring a spectacular and totally new kind of festival to the heart of the Lone Star State. It’s a high-energy sonic invasion that draws brass bands from around the continent each spring to fill our streets with three days of nonstop music. Welcome to HONK!TX. [Read more…]

All Dates Begin Well at Austin’s Violet Crown Cinema

February 5, 2013 by Guest Blogger Leave a Comment

This guest blog post is by Hunter Stanford.

I finally had a date. Finally. It had been so long since my last one that all that remained were hazy visions of one-sided conversations and unreturned phone calls. Almost 27, I’m not getting any younger. What if this is the last date I ever get?

I had to make it count and that’s where Violet Crown Cinema came in. A classy movie joint nestled into Austin’s downtown bustle, the Crown meets the fine standard set by all the Alamos and cinema festivals of our fine city. [Read more…]

Top 5 Survival Tips for Carnaval Austin

January 30, 2013 by Laura Darby 3 Comments

Carnaval at the Palmer Events Center in Austin

Palmer Events Center on Carnaval night

One of the first things I noticed upon moving to Austin is the proclivity for dress up parties.

In New York, any costume you wear you have to wear on the subway, which is probably why people end up just going pantsless.

Carnaval Brasileiro is a popular event that happens during the “coldest” time of year in Austin, ironic considering the standard levels of nudity that pass for costumes at the yearly event.

There is a yearly theme. Last year, it was the Wizard of Oz. This year, the theme is Peter Pan. The theme is not overtly stated in any of the website content, but novice Carnaval attendees can be easily distinguished by their lack of theme adherence. [Read more…]

Non-Profit Black Fret Plans to Give Millions to Austin Music Industry

January 29, 2013 by Brittany Highland 2 Comments

Quiet Company performs at the Black Fret launch party

Quiet Company is a 2012 Black Fret grant nominee

We love our local music. But there’s a noteworthy difference between sending out raving groupie tweets to three hundred followers about the no cover show you attended on 6th Street, and being instrumental in helping a band with legs get their first album out.

If you’re addicted to your groupie tweets and free shows, read no further. But if you’re part of the smaller group that means business when it comes to helping talented musicians earn a living doing what they love to do, I’ve found the organization for you. [Read more…]

Holy Mountain Enters as Live Music Machine in Red River District

January 23, 2013 by Guest Blogger 1 Comment

This guest blog post is by Hunter Stanford.

Free Week in Austin has a certain vibe that’s hard to put down on paper. It’s the first week of the New Year; you’re still riding that Christmas high, still pretending resolutions might actually happen, and dang y’all! some things are free that usually aren’t.

For those of you just now emerging from under the rock you call home: Free Week is the first week or so of each year, in which select venues in and around the Red River area host – wait for it – free shows all week. [Read more…]

With the Highball Closed, Does Kung Fu Saloon Measure Up?

January 21, 2013 by Laura Darby Leave a Comment

After the holidays, I resumed my search for a replacement to the Highball. Of course, no two places are identical. But the Highball had provided me a place to eat and drink, and offered more entertainment than just watching my drunk friends fall down. Thus far on my search, I’ve visited The Goodnight and The Common Interest. These spots aren’t trying to be The Highball, but each has elements of entertainment that overlap with The Highball in some way.

This time, I tried out Kung Fu Saloon on 6th Street. It has a much different vibe than [Read more…]

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