Comedy
Ron White
Feb. 8, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Bass Concert Hall
Get ready for the crass, uncensored bluntness of chain-smoking, scotch-guzzling comedian Ron “Tater Salad” White. This small-town Texas native from humble beginnings erupted to stardom like one of the oil gushers of his origins. In 2000, White rose from relative obscurity to national fame as a part of Comedy Central’s Blue Collar Comedy Tour that traveled to more than 90 U.S. cities. For more than a decade, he’s been playing to soldout audiences from coast to coast with his unmistakably Southern wit and rough-around-the-edges humor. White has two Grammy nominations, three of the highest rated one-hour specials and a New York Times bestseller under his belt. His CDs and DVDs have racked up more than $10 million in sales. Don’t expect him to pull any of his punches. Tickets run from $50 to $60 and are available at texasperformingarts.org
Music
George Strait
Jan. 10, Frank Erwin Center
Country icon George Strait rides into Austin on what might be a very nostalgic last full-length tour, aptly named The Cowboy Rides Away. After 59 No. 1 songs and a Top 10 hit every year of his 30-year career, Strait has become synonymous with country music. He’s sold more than 65 million albums worldwide and, although he has no future plans to tour at this magnitude, he’s still as prolific as ever. Come see this legendary cowboy in concert at the Frank Erwin Center Jan. 10 before he rides away. He’ll be joined by rising star Jason Aldean, whose latest album, My Kinda Party has already claimed five No. 1 hit spots.
12/6: John Mayer, Frank Erwin Center
12/14: The Wood Brothers, The Parish
12/14: KUTX Live: Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison’s 15th annual Holiday Shindig, The Paramount Theatre
12/26: Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Frank Erwin Center
1/11: Elizabeth McQueen’s solo EP release party with Nakia, Lamberts
1/14: Gungor, Emo’s
1/14–1/19: Broadway in Austin presents Green Day’s American Idiot, Bass Concert Hall
1/18: Rovshan Mamedkuliev, Austin Classical Guitar at GT Austin
1/26: Ray Price, The Paramount Theatre
1/30–2/2: Puccini’s Tosca, The Long Center for the Performing Arts
2/11: Gordon Lightfoot, ACL Live at The Moody Theater
2/14: The Official Blues Brothers Revue, One World Theatre
2/21: Dr. Dog, Stubb’s
2/26: The Chieftains, Riverbend Centre
Food and Drink
Winter Preview
Chef Shawn Cirkiel Joins Forces with The Radisson Chef Shawn Cirkiel, owner of Austin favorites Parkside, the Backspace and Olive & June, is partnering with Forestar Group to open his fourth eatery in downtown’s recently renovated Radisson Hotel and Suites on Cesar Chavez Street. Set to open in January 2014, the new restaurant, which is taking over the former TGI Fridays space, will feature contemporary Southwestern cuisine. Expect mouthwatering tamales, enchiladas with homemade tortillas and steak, all from local farms and ranches. The designer of the new space, local talent Michael Hsu, has used his signature contemporary style to create a modern, warm space that showcases the view of Lady Bird Lake. Austin waits in anticipation for what should be the hottest restaurant to open in the new year.
Openings
East Side King (The Restaurant), opening December, 2310 S. Lamar Blvd.
A-OK Chinese, opening December, 1509 S. Lamar Blvd.
La V Restaurant and Wine Bar, opening winter 2014, 1501 E. Seventh St.
Pleasant Storage Room, 208 W. Fourth St.
Just Opened
Odd Duck (The Restaurant), 1219 S. Lamar Blvd.
Container Bar, 90 Rainey St.
Goodall’s Kitchen & Bar (inside Hotel Ella), 1900 Rio Grande St.
Abel’s North Grill and Tap House, 4001 W. Parmer Lane
Just Closed
Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant
Cherry Street
Spin Modern Thai
Races
Austin Marathon and Half Marathon Feb. 16
Conley Sports Productions produces several of the highest quality events in Texas, including its premier event, the Austin Marathon and Half Marathon. Registration is open until Feb. 9, or until sold out, so there is plenty of time to sign up and train. No excuses! Start your year right with fun and fitness at the forefront while you rediscover the beauty Austin has to offer. The Austin Marathon is a Boston Marathon qualifier, provided they have not reached their cap after the conclusion of the Austin race. In addition to the marathon and half marathon, the Paramount Break-a-Leg 5K will also take place in conjunction, so if you’re looking for a little less intensity, the Break-a-Leg is for you. Check out youraustinmarathon.com for more information, training groups and how you can give back with Austin Gives Miles.
12/6: Lights of Love 5K
12/7: Run Like the Wind
12/8: ARC Decker Challenge
12/14: HITS Multi-Sport
1/1: Commitment Day 5K
1/19: 3M Half Marathon
1/25: Austin Gorilla Run
1/26: The Biggest Loser Run Walk
2/1: Run or Dye 5K
Newsmakers
Record Flooding
Halloween week was devastating for many Austin residents, with flooding that claimed five lives in addition to damaging close to 700 homes, with more than 15 completely destroyed and 1,300 tons of debris that have been removed from affected areas. And there’s still more work to be done. Volunteer, donate and give back this season to help Austin get back on its feet.
Austin Disaster Relief Network needs volunteers to help with demolition and cleanup of affected areas. You can sign up to volunteer online through adrntx.org, handsoncentraltexas.org or by calling 512.331.2600. You can also donate non-perishable food items at the tent at the corner of William Cannon Drive and Pleasant Valley Road, or donate via PayPal or check at adrntx.org.
Having served more than 1,000 meals, 2,500 snacks and hundreds of drinks to first responders and those affected by the disastrous flooding in Central Texas, The Salvation Army is providing service via a laundry truck with three washers and dryers to homeowners who are working to clean up their flood-damaged homes. Volunteers and donations are needed, and 100 percent of disaster donations support The Salvation Army’s local response to Central Texas flooding. For more information, to volunteer or donate, visit salvationarmyaustin.org.
The Dove Springs Recreation Center at 5801 Ainez Drive will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for flood victims in need of clothing, food, water, furniture, household items and toiletries.
The Oak Meadows Baptist Church at 6905 S. I-35 is accepting nonperishable food items, H-E-B and Walmart gift cards, furniture, household items, water, toiletries, baby items and toys.
Out of This World
Aliens, Men in Black, Steven Finkelstein. They all may have something in common, but University of Texas at Austin astronomer Finkelstein recently discovered and measured the most distant known galaxy, announced in late October by UT. The galaxy is seen just as it was at a time only 700 million years after the Big Bang, helping Finkelstein and his team of researchers study how galaxies change with time, which in turn helps to understand how our own Milky Way came to be. The galaxy, known as z8_GND_5296 (pronounced zi-eit-gee- en-dee-faiv-tu-nain-siks), is producing stars at a rate 150 times as fast as the Milky Way galaxy, and is only the beginning of what’s to come from Finkelstein’s intergalactic studies.
Bragging Rights
Journalistic excellence could be found everywhere at the 2013 Online Journalism Awards ceremony in Atlanta. Austin’s very own Texas Tribune took home a General Excellence award from the ceremony, the second time its won this accolade from the Online News Association in the past four years. The Texas Tribune is a free online news source providing vital information to Austin, Texas and beyond, showcasing why the publication is award-worthy on a daily basis.
Communication is Key
UT continues to improve and grow, as the Moody Foundation recently announced a $50 million commitment to the communications school, renaming the college the Moody College of Communication. The gift results in the largest endowment for the study of communication at any public university in the nation, and among the largest ever awarded by the Moody Foundation.
Access Granted
The Blanton Museum of Art at UT has been awarded a $504,000 grant by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to establish a curatorial fellowship program for a six-year period. As part of the grant, the Blanton will pilot an innovative and rigorous program for art history doctoral students, facilitating opportunities for object-based study and comprehensive understanding of museum operations.
Don’t Miss Out!
Through Jan. 12, 2014, the Blanton is exhibiting the first comprehensive career survey of one of Brazil’s most important contemporary artists, Waltercio Caldas.
Game Changer
A Longhorn for life, Steve Patterson takes over as the new men’s athletic director for UT. Coming from Arizona State University, Patterson is a UT alumnus replacing DeLoss Dodds, who is retiring after 32 years of serving one of the biggest money-generating athletic programs in the country. Patterson has big shoes to fill but boasts an extensive resume that will set him up for success, working as the president of the Portland Trail Blazers from 2003 to 2007 and the Houston Aeros from 1993 to 1997.
