After a month of anticipation, somebody has WON the Rachel Leigh belt.

Wow, I'm horrible at this prize giveaway thing. Apparently we conducted a belt giveaway about a month ago on Austin Eavesdropper, and I never confirmed a winner!

Remember this bad boy?

Yeah?

Well, I'm very proud to announce that someone very close to my heart (and my blog) has won! She/he (I think it's a she) goes by the name of "Anonymous," but every so often, she stops in to copy edit my posts. A word suggestion here, a punctuation tweak there. It's wonderful! Like I have my very own editor! Anyway, here is Anonymous' fabulous comment that she left on the giveaway post (to play, you had to name one Austin style trend.)

"A true Austin style trend should be recycled and ironic (like mens' ties sewn together for a skirt), so I think all of the trends identified so far qualify.

I'm going to be difficult and go out on a limb to project what I think will be trending. To me, the fedora fad could be the harbinger of a retro-Vegas dress-up aesthetic: Joey Heatherton style-pantsuits, disco dresses with hair falls...a little more fussy but still relaxed for both men and women.

Of course, this may simply be wishful thinking on my part.

Your anonymous copy-editor ("...onus...?") pal"

Anonymous, I'm going to have to second the retro-Vegas trend forecasts / wishes. I think we are teetering on the precipice of a MAJOR bodysuit comeback, which Ms. Heatherton would approve of heartily:



In every picture, doesn't it look like Joey is saying: "Yay, no pants! Pants are OFF LIMITS! Peekaboo, hosiery calling!"

Anyway - hit me up with your mailing address Anonymous, and some belt bling will be delivered to your doorstep. Thanks again to Chickdowtown for inviting Austin Eavesdropper to be a part of this giveaway (no matter how delinquent the blogger is) and for offering the likes of Genetic Denim, Rory Beca, and Rachel Pally on your wonderful site. (And Reader, one last thing. If you're into Uli-like patterns and dresses - remember Uli from Project Runway, Season 3? Cute little German / Miami girl? - a little birdie tells me Chickdowntown will have a ton of tibi dresses this summer. Up with paisley!)

So I was browsing around the internet for creative ideas to wear this belt, and here is what I came up with.

My BFF, MK Olsen:

(Although sometimes she takes the stud thing a little too far.)

That's some full-on exoskeleton right there.

We also have Daisy Lowe, working a romper.

As well as the lady who made this belt famous, SJP.

However you wear it, make us proud, Anonymous!

Dear Wheatsville

It's Tolly. Remember me? I know, it's been a while. But I remember you. I still have a co-op membership and everything! I continue to get your cute little newsletter in the mail, informing me about grapefruit varietals and exciting new hydraponics methods and whatnot. I thought about you today, after Lyssa told me about your grand expansion opening, and said to myself, "you know? I could really go for some texturized soy protein right now. Wheatsville, here I come!"

Ah, Wheatsville.....you never disappoint.

After successfully maneuvering around the seemingly endless road construction on Guadalupe to venture into your doors (seriously Wheatsville: is the City of Austin erecting an alternative living community below street level in front of your shop, or something?), I strode over to the "Lifestyle" section, where one can peruse your store's non-edibles. You know, soap, toothpaste, henna hair dye. Anyway, the Diva Cup - the "award-winning, revolutionary alternative to tampons and pads!" - immediately caught my eye. And how could it not? Like an exuberant school teacher, you had taken the time to post a laminated feature article from some newspaper in front of the Diva Cup's display. "But what does it do?" I thought. "Will this cup truly make me a Diva?"

The answer, according to you Wheatsville, is a resounding YES! Yes, we here at Wheatsville are eschewing the likes of disposable tampons and pads! We are GreenDIVAS, bitches!!! But, dear old friend Wheatsville, let's take a moment to consult our resident expert Beyonce Knowles for some trusted diva insights, shall we? Because, according to B, "a diva is a female version of a hustla," and since fifteen in her stilettos she been struttin' in this game, so I think she would KNOW.

Now, not to be the semantics police or anything, but I think we may want to think twice before we go around evangelizing the "Diva"Cup, Wheatsville, since in my opinion, there could perhaps be a better brand name for a product that promises diva-ness merely by reaching up into your bizness to collect all your lady fluids. Um......is it also making me sick with benjamins I can't spend? Because if not, that's just false advertising. Since it can be used up to 12 hours at a time, I propose we call it the "Fuggedaboutit Cup," or if you still want retain that whole hip-and-sassy-20-to-40-year-old-female-demographic thing, we could call it the "BFF Cup" or the "Hey Girl! Cup." Just some thoughts.

Oh but Wheatsville, that wasn't all you had in store for me! Not two moments after I encountered the Diva Cup, did I wheel around to see this guy's orgasmic face staring back at me:

WHAT is going on here. I'm not referring to the man's rather aw-yeah-that's-it facial expression; I'm referring to the fact that someone has apparently dismantled a whisk and is peddling it as a massage device.

Right?

I know the recession is bad and everything, Wheatsville, but even I - a naive little 20-something with latent, deeply buried hippie tendencies - can see right through this. Ultimate Head Massager? I'll just walk into my kitchen and see what my utensils can do, thanks. Let's rid the shelves of this joke and make room for the much more practical Slanket.

But the real reason I'm writing, Wheatsville, is to present to you my petition. Right now, it's just a petition of one, but I am confident that I am not alone in my long-suffering plight.

BRING BACK THE NUT BUTTER SAMPLE SPOONS.

Wheatsville, do you know how excited I was to attend your expansion opening today, only to see that you hadn't come to your senses and adorned your generous buckets of nut butters with complimentary sample spoons? For the love of God. Those spoons are about as big as my fingernail. I remember back in 2004, when I first started dating R., and he introduced me to this exotic new world of bulk peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, WALNUT butter -

"Wait - walnut butter?!? That exists??"

"Yes," R. said. "They just grind up walnuts, rather than peanuts."

"MUST. TRY. THE WALNUT BUTTER."

And so I did. How? Well, I walked right into Wheatsville with R., plucked a teensy little spoon out of a little cup, and dipped it into a near swimming pool-size vat of walnut butter. It made my tastebuds quake with ecstasy. I bought some on the spot.

Eventually, I guess everyone caught on, and you know those co-op types, Wheatsville.....sometimes they get a little too co-opy. Taking bigger and bigger spoonfuls out of the nut butter barrels. Reaching their hands into the nearby granola bulk bins. I totally don't blame you for taking away the sample spoons (especially since we all cleverly started stealing real spoons from the coffee section, and using those for our samples instead...heh!!).

But that was a long, long time ago. We've learned our lesson. We've lived without the nut butter samples. For how long? Oh, only about four freaking years now.

So on the morn of your grand expansion opening, Wheatsville, I think we deserve a second chance. To do it right this time. To sample nut butters without greed. Do it for the children. Save the whales. Bring back the f-ing sample spoons.

Your friend and loyal co-op member,

Tolly

R.I.P., The Famousish

Whoa. As of yesterday, the The Famousish is finito, y'all!

I never got to meet Fernando (one half of The Famousish) in person, but in this weird virtual space called "the blogosphere" you often feel like you have met people. By which I mean Twittering and commenting back and forth. Do you ever feel that way? Like, you "know" someone because you read their blog? (For example, I'd like for this girl to be my BFF. Like um A LOT).

Anyway, Party Ends, Austin is Burning, Ultra 8201 and many other local bloggers can still tell you how to get your nighttime freak on in The Famousish's absence.

We'll miss you guys!

The people's Perez Hilton Party.

Soooo Mr. Hilton released this little video today recapping his SXSW 2009 Party.



Alright, we've got magnificent stars here - the likes of Kanye, Solange, Margaret Cho, etc. all represented in their celebtastic finery. Very well and good!

But Reader, if you'll take my hand, I'd like to walk you over to a slightly different corner of the party, and introduce you to these very glamorous people.

The faces sort of say it all, non? Don't you like how it looks as though we're sitting on trash bags? (As a matter of fact, we're sitting on bean bag chairs - GLAM ALERT!) This was taken toward the end of the night, and is honestly one of my favorite photos from the whole shebang.

But not as favorite as this one!

I die, revive myself, and die again every time I look at this picture. Can hardly type this damn post. Is that a homeless girl, camped out in the Perez Hilton Party? Aren't you enjoying the fact that this was taken right next to that little press backdrop they use for all the celeb photos??

There is just so much to love in this picture, although I must say I adore S.'s happy grin most of all.

Thing that make you go "hmm," quickly followed by "WTF?" Stephen Moser arrested for arson

According to the Statesman, adored social columnist and Austin Chronicle fashion writer has been arrested for setting his roomate's car on fire.

This is so ridonkulous I don't even know what to say about it!

Austin Eavesdropper on G4TV

I'd like to dedicate this segment to Dasani bottled water, without whom my sweaty, shiny face would not have been possible.

Austin Eavesdropper on Perez Hilton!

So guess what, you guys? My friend S. and I were on Perez Hilton today! (Click to #73).

I look a little strange, but hey I'll take it! At least I do not have a penis drawn on my face! (yet!)

If you look close, you can also spot my friend / colleague / partner-in-crime Cory Ryan, at #71, and squeezed in the middle of us is Austinist's fearless leader Allen Chen, holding down #72.

South By Comedown + Thoughts on blogs

When I tell people I have a blog, they typically react in one of two ways:

"Oh that's fantastic!"

Or,

"What's a 'blog?' Is that short for something? Wait - did you say 'blob?'"

It is endlessly fascinating to me to watch the world come around to the blogosphere. Most people have a working knowledge of what a blog is - I bet you remember your own a-ha moment when you realized the term was short for 'WEBLOG' - but events like SXSW tend to emphasize just how critical blogs are, and will become, over the next few years. Why? Well, immediacy is a part of it - sure. But let's face it: we love DIY media. That scrappy, sorta unpolished feel of user-generated media is oddly charming. And if Steven Johnson is correct, blogs will eventually usurp "old media" (hate that term, but you know what I mean) relatively soon.

Pretty wild.

Speaking of wild - South By, I love you, but damn I'm ready to re-enter civilian life again. There were more shows going on today, but I officially clocked out after leaving the Perez Hilton par-tay last night. My feet are BROKE.

Anyway, here are some highlights from the past few days...

Perez Hilton, complete with pink sparkly Aretha Franklin hat.


Surprise Kanye appearance at the Perez party.

Little Boots. Freaking adorable?

Solange Knowles, rockin' some ambitious eyeshadow.

Thao Nguyen, all-around badass and new LIFE IDOL. She sings, she plays, she beat boxes!!!

Cute hat.

Cursive at Waterloo Park.

The Temper Trap at ASCAP. Lived up to the buzz, and then some.

Trae Vedder of Death on Two Wheels. (I mean really. How can you not be a rockstar with a name like "Trae Vedder.")

Local boy Dan Dyer. (Funny story. I actually turned to the girl on my right after I took this picture, and said a little too breathily, "God, I have such a CRUUUUSH on him!!!" Her response? "I do too. I'm his girlfriend.")

Yelle at Maggie Mae's.

au revoir, sxsw.

SXSW 2009 Parties, Part 15: The Lennings

A lot of people have been asking when they could see our local Lennings at SX, and....drumroll....

They are playing tonight!!

At Thom's Market, on Barton Springs Road about a block and a half down from Lamar. Close to the ACL haps, if you're an out-of-towner trying to orient yourself. It's a SXSW Showcase show, but I'm pretty sure it's free - no wristband needed. Here is the Facebook invite.

The whole thing officially starts around 7:00, but The Lennings take the stage at 9:00. There will be a free beer tasting, and there will be playing of such songs as....

SXSW 2009 Parties, Part 14: Perez Hilton

WHAT: Dell Presents "Perez Hilton's One Night in Austin"

WHERE: Old Safeway next to CVS on the I-35 frontage road, and E. 12th St.

WHEN: Doors at 7pm

WHO: Here's the lineup...

7:00 pm - Doors open
7:30 - 7:50 Margaret Cho
8:00 - 8:20 Super Special Surprise Act
8:25 - 8:50 Ladyhawke
9:05 - 9:20 Thunderheist
9:35 - 9:55 Natalie Portman's Shaved Head
10:10 - 10:30 Solange
10:45 - 11:00 Lady Sovereign
11:15 - 11:40 Little Boots
11:55 - 12:05 Rye Rye
12:20 - 12:45 Ida Maria
01:00 - 01:25 Yelle

DJs
7:00- 10:00 Aaron LaCrate
10:00 - 12:30 JEPPE
12 30 - Late Late Kraak & Smaak

For the "Super Special Surprise Act," my money's on Kanye or Tori Amos. Fab either way!

SXSW 2009 Parties, Part 13: Day Parties on FRIDAY

So last night, R. and I are biking home from downtown, and he goes:

"It's so funny to watch you ride a bike."

"WHY?!" (HUFF, HUFF) "Is it-" (pant, LOUD SIGH, pant!) "-because I suck" (WHEEZ, huff huff) "so much?"

"Um, yes. Yes, that's the reason."

Harumph. Anyway, I've got five tips for your Friday SXSW experience.

NOON: Bat for Lashes
Filter Magazine Party. Cedar Street Courtyard, 208 w. 4th St. Neato video!



1:00: Get Fader Fort wristband
If you still haven't picked it up yet. This is the LAST DAY (1-7pm) to pick up your wristband, as there will be no wristband distribution on Saturday! Head to 1101 E. 5th St., at the corner of 5th and Waller.

3:00: N.A.S.A.
Spin Magazine Party. Stubb's, 801 Red River

3:45: Rural Alberta Advantage
Music By The Slice Party. Homeslice Pizza, 1415 S. Congress


ANYTIME BETWEEN 1PM - 5PM: M. Ward, Cursive, and Gomez
Village Voice Party. La Zona Rosa, 612 W. 4th St.

1:00pm - 1:30pm: Bear Hands

1:45pm - 2:15pm: Crystal Antlers

2:30pm - 3:00pm: Cursive

3:15pm - 3:55pm: Gomez

4:15pm - 5:00pm: M. Ward

Remember: You're the boss of YOU, this is just who I kinda wanna see.

SXHotMESS: Party at the Mayor's!

SXSW Mayor's Media Reception:

As you can see, R. knows his way around a guitar.

A special shout-out to Rose Reyes for throwing an awesome bash yesterday (and for tossing us into the photo booth). And another shout-out to Stephen Moser for saying you liked my hair. I like your hair!

ATTENTION U.S. RECORD LABELS

By far, the most impressive band I've seen at SXSW so far:



The Temper Trap comes to us from Melbourne, Australia, and they are UNSIGNED in the U.S. They just played the ASCAP showcase tonight at Dirty Dog here in Austin, and the whole audience basically freaked.

Jump on that shit, music industry!

SXSW 2009 Parties, Part 12: SXSWednesday

SXSWers, as I'm sure you know, Wednesday is out of control. For our own sanity's sake, we're mapping out our party plans (and if you've got your own must-sees for the day, feel free to leave a comment below).

1st:

2nd:

3rd:

Brooklyn Vegan / Solid PR / I Love Mike Litt Party

4th:

ASCAP Presents....Rock Showcase

G4TV has kindly asked Austin Eavesdropper to film a segment with them tomorrow at this event, to discuss the following bands: Chief, The Temper Trap, Death on Two Wheels. I've got my own thoughts, but what do you guys think about these groups? Do you heart? Very much so?

5th:

Music Media Welcome Reception

6th:

I just heard about the Data Pop Party today, but I have to say it sounds really freaking rad. It's an underground, nerdy convention for the 8 bit music scene (reminds me of our buddies in Built By Snow, no?) It's going to be held at the old Salvation Army, starts at 9pm, and there will be complimentary beverages....as long as they last. Also, it's free!

And somewhere in all that madness:


Paste is having another party on Thursday, too.

And reader - a thought. After your ridiculous Wednesday, you may want to keep a steady grip on the taurine. Why? Well, the music haps are just beginning:

On Wednesday, you can get your wristband for the above Levi's/FADER Fort Party (if you've RSVP'd like a smart person, that is) between 10am - 7pm. Just head to the recently moved pick-up location on 1101 E. 5th Street at Waller, and while you're hanging with FADER this weekend, say hey to Kanye.

Also:



I'll be out and about, snapping as many pictures on my flimsy little camera as possible.

SXSW 2009 Parties, Part 11: Brooklyn Vegan

Yet another rad Wednesday bash!

Tonight, for my own sanity if anything else, I'll be doing a rundown of Wednesday's party schedule.

And - if any of you are coming to the ASCAP bash, look for me! I'm taping a segment with G4TV, talking about a few buzzy bands on the performance roster.

SXSW 2009 Parties, Part 10: Perez Hilton.

Don't even lie - you wanna go.

You can RSVP (sort of) here.

Ok y'all - let's just be real for a second. Yes, there are the juvenile drawn-on penises. The copious coke dribbles. And, perhaps we could do without the !!!!!!!!!! from time to time.

But deep down in your heartest of hearts, you kind wanna go. Don't you?

According to Perez himself, the lineup is supposed to be pretty ridonkulous.

SXSW 2009 Parties, Part 9: Playboy.

Well, the details are slowly leaking out for Playboy's notorious SXSW party.



date:
Thursday, March 19
11pm - 4am

location:
Undisclosed, but ultra8201 reveals that you may have done some shopping there in the past. (I'm thinking it's probably not Hancock Center H-E-B, however.)

THIS JUST IN:
It's at I-35 and 12th, Old Safeway next to CVS.

entrance:
Strictly invitation only! SXSW badges matter not!

Last year's bash included Moby and MGMT, so this year should be equally buzzy. We already know that this guy and this guy will be there.

Follow @rocktherabbit for party updates.

SXSW 2009 Parties, Part 8: Fol Chen

I think in the future (maybe later today), I'm going to devote a post just to the parties happening on Wednesday for SXSW.

Thanks to my friend Dan, I now know that these people:



...will be playing on Wednesday. Here:


And it's free, yay!

Get your freaky half-priced eats on!!

YES!
Ok, so you out-of-towners are in for a treat. These are like some of our best restaurants. Uchi, SoCo Cafe, Sugar Mama's: what!

Pause - speaking of SoCo - funny story. A few years ago, I was having a lunch party for some out-of-town friends who flew into Texas for my wedding. We all met at South Congress Cafe, and I was super eager to wave the "Keep Austin Weird" flag - mostly because I had talked about this city so damn much back when I lived in California.

"So, how are you guys liking Austin so far?"

And then on cue, before they could respond - here comes a small brigade of otherwise normal-looking adults, dressed in pink bunny rabbit regalia, strolling by the South Congress Cafe picture window.

"We love it."

I do, too.

Anyway, here is the link where you can see the ridiculous half-off menus these restaurants are offering. (Thanks to Franny at Les Merles for the reminder!) This is just a little taste; go to the website to see everything:

House Wine
Two Cheese Plate
Choose two cheeses, Tuscan olive three cheese spread, assorted crackers and pistachio nuts
Regularly $12.95 During Yelp Deals @ SXSW: $6.50

Uchi
Shag Roll
Tempura fried bond roll with salmon and squid ink sumiso sauce
Regularly $14.00 During Yelp Deals @ SXSW: $7.00

Yes: squid ink.

Who wants to try that with me??

SXSW 2009 Parties, Part 7: We Have Band, Miami Horror, Treasure Fingers

I don't know about you guys, but whenever I dance....there's a lot going on. It's funny to watch. Hair a-tossin', finger a-pointin', lips a-puckerin.' This one pic kind of sums it all up:

Although that is pretty damn tame, to be honest with you. Fortunately, my friends usually manage to make ridiculous spectacles of themselves when they get down - you know who you are - so I just stick with them and try to blend in.

Anyway. Three rad dance party bands are playing at ONE place next week - Canvas Bar!

We have discussed The Twelves here before, recently in fact, but I thought I'd share samples of other people who will be at this party. (Don't forget to RSVP).

We Have Band:




Miami Horror:




Treasure Fingers:



(P.S. - Someone's having way too much fun with YouTube's new colored border feature)

SXSW 2009 Parties, Part 6: GIRL CRUSH, Agent Ribbons.

Sacramento is full of the finest people.

First, you've got my friend Jon, at I Love and Hate Everything. And then, you've got Agent Ribbons.



I have such a crush on Natalie Gordon.

Anyway, they are going to be in Austin for a full week leading up to and during SXSW. Behold, three opportunities to see Agent Ribbons!

Stage time for above show: 11pm.


Above shows are both free!

SXSW 2009 Parties, Part 5: The Black and White Years

I got to interview these fools for Rare's music issue, out this month (and if you've seen it already - how amazing is the art direction? Hats off, Justin Esquivel). The Black and White Years' story is the stuff SXSW dreams are made of:

A) Played to a tiny crowd at Opal Divines at South By '07,
B) A tiny crowd that happened to include the Talking Heads' Jerry Harrison,
C) A tiny crowd that ended up prompting their trip with Harrison to San Francisco to record an album.*

Now, two years later, they will be freaking everywhere.


Yes, they are on a Friday billing with DEVO. (!!)

Here is The Black and White Years' brand new video for the song "Zeroes and Ones," directed by Carlos La Rotta of Austin's Birds On Fire (who, incidentally, have also done a couple of videos for White Denim).




*This is why South By has the mythical aura that ACL does not, non? I dig both festivals, but ACL = bands who've made it, while SXSW = bands who just might blow up.