Keep These in Mind: Posters by Jay B Sauceda

I think I've named myself the Brand Ambassador for Public School.

Yesterday, I had the great pleasure of meeting Jay B Sauceda, who was taking pictures for The Trunk Show at United States Art Authority. Turns out he is yet another talent who sets up shop at Public School, the new east side design outfit. While we were chatting, Jay B popped open his laptop and showed me a "Keep These in Mind" poster series he printed recently, versed with childlike, school-themed expressions. They are printed on heavy, manila folder style paper.






Love.

The only thing holding me back from ordering all of them is the fact that the best room in the house for these kicky creations is our living room, which is currently colonized by Caleb's grandmother. Meaning, her STUFF: a mounted quilt here, a partridge figurine there. As a result, pretty much all available wall space has been spoken for. I've tried before, but when it comes to the living room, I just can't overcome the power of Caleb's grandmother.

Friday: A time for reading, dancing (but not simultaneously)

That's dangerous!

Tonight, American Short Fiction is coming to ATX:

They're releasing their Summer issue! Which is good, because let's be honest: in between Transformers and neon-colored frozen drinks and tanning so hard your eyeball retinas feel it, frankly, you need all the reading you can get. Preserve your brain for God's sake.

From the release:

"Come for an evening of music, fiction, and drinks! Christie Hodgen is flying in from Kansas City to read from her brilliant story featured in the current issue, actress Kelli Bland will be performing from Patrick Somerville's "The Universe in Miniature in Miniature," and poet (and new Austinite) Laurie Capps will also read. Emceed by ASF favorite, Owen Egerton! Refreshments will be provided by Live Oak Brewing Company."

deets:

friday, june 26 (that's tonight!), 7-9pm
cafe caffeine
909 west mary street

Later on that night, there will also be the last - LAST! - performance of Car Stereo (Wars) before Chris Rose moves to New York! Nooo!!

Chris, what will we do without your ACL mash-ups? Tonight, your turntables will be awash with my tears.

Speaking of tears - guys. I cannot BELIEVE we live in a post-Michael Jackson world now. In a an article this morning on MJ's autopsy, Washington Post summed up his legacy quite well. "In the end there were two sides to the record that will stand as Jackson's life: the tabloid caricature and the provocative, genre-changing musical genius that his fans will always treasure."

I prefer the latter.


Have a wonderful weekend, everybody.

A Micro-Economy of Art: Monofonus Press

As with many renovated warehouses on Austin's east side, you never know which mysterious-looking building contains something magical inside. Sure, it has a rusty tin roof slung over the top. A weedy lawn with dying grass. But once you heave open the metal double-doors, there's no telling what you'll discover. Artists prepping their canvases. An indie film screening. A genius poster designer.

That's the way I feel about Monofonus Press. The mysterious building is a metaphor, mostly - Monofonus Press really is located on the east side - but it aptly describes this local arts collective. You've probably heard of Monofonus, but you're not really quite sure what lies behind the name. At least, that's the way I was up until recently.

As it turns out, Monofonus pulls together Austin musicians, creative writers, and visual artists to create highly affordable pieces of collaborative art. Here's a sample:











Everything I just posted - under $15.

These pieces include CD covers, templates for t-shirt designs (and potentially posters), and books. Monofonus culls these artists together for projects, then sells their wares here.

Anyway, what makes this endeavor so cool is that I feel like I'm the type of person who loves, supports, wants to own original art - but I'm broke all the time. You know what I mean? Raise your hand if you've been to Christie's lately. Right, me neither. So Monofonus makes it easier for this recessionista to spend the cash-money on arts.

Monofonus is having an event this Saturday at the United States Art Authority (quite a happening little spot this weekend, huh?). It's a screening of "The Collections," an original video series about what people save and why they save it!



Freaky cool.

The screening starts at 10pm, and entry costs $10. Get more details here, and you can visit the Facebook invite here.

This Sunday: The Trunk Show

Stylish Austinites, listen up!

SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY:

THIS SUNDAY, June 28 at the United States Art Authority:

the trunk show
4-8pm

2906 fruth street (right next to Spiderhouse)

mimosas, hors d'oeuvres, and innocent chocolate

on sale: designs by downstairs, leigh elena jewelry, and (NYC Fashion Week bound!) rene geneva
plus a slew of eco-friendly and get-pretty vendors.

dj trey lopez

space IS limited so be smart, RSVP.

I'm excited about this! Rene will be headed to Fashion Week this September, but before she does The Trunk Show will give us Austinites a chance to see (and nab) her stuff before the New Yorkers do. In addition to her couture pieces, Rene also has a more affordable line in the Whole Body section of Whole Foods, so something for every budget.

Anyway, I will be there (my first co-sponsored event!!!) and look forward to meeting you well-dressed Austinites out there! I am only well-dressed half the time but along with Rene's, Downstairs', and Leigh Elena's help, my closet won't know what hit it.

Austinites are brilliant: Better Than The Van

I heard about this on Twitter last week: Better Than The Van. I bet this thing in crazy popular during SXSW.

How apropos that two Austinites started this. It's a social networking site for touring musicians looking for free places to stay on the road! If you're a musician, you just log in and search for lodging in your tour cities of choice. Like CouchSurfing.org, it also allows generous hosts to offer up their humble abodes as well.

If you're in the latter category, it would be cool if you could request specific bands to stay with you.* Heh.

Better Than The Van is having a pledge drive right now to expand the site and give it better functionality, so I encourage you Austin musicians to throw some cash their way.

On a sidenote, in this virtual-life-colliding-with-real-life world of ours, after Better Than The Van and I discovered each other on Twitter, one of the founders realized he had been to a party at our house! I don't think it was the bouncy castle party though, which means you'll just have to come back Scott next time we rent that thing out.

Musicians reading this post, I'm curious: Who among you would sign up for this service?

*Maybe more creepy than cool, now that I think about it.

Music Monday: Jenny Lewis and Heartless Bastards

Tonight at Stubb's: Jenny Lewis and HEARTLESS BASTARDS are playing together.

Oooh how I love Heartless Bastards, and Erika Wennerstrom's weird, wonderful voice. Here they are on David Letterman, singing "Out at Sea:"



Swoon.

Get tickets here.

5 Ideas for Fathers Day in Austin

Can I be cheesy for a second you guys.

Alright, so I ADORE my dad. Love, love that man. And it's not only because he wore a shirt for most of the 90s with a picture of Pope John Paul II playing the electric guitar. See, my father has delights just about as random as I do, and one of the best things about him is he doesn't hide his excitement over new experiences. "Darlin, we are about to enter.....THE CHUNNEL!" In London. "I am now eating....A CREPE!" in Paris. If he lived in Austin, I like to think he would enjoy THE BATS! or something odd and whimsical like that on Fathers Day, but what else to do leading up to their nocturnal flight? I hunted around for cool things to do locally this Fathers Day, some exclusively-Dad and some that just seemed fun. Here are:

5 ideas for fathers day in austin

BREAKFAST AT A MUFFIN TROLLEY
Taste No Evil Muffins


My friend Ted tipped me off to something pretty special: $3 Muffin Top Ice Cream Sandwiches! They are made by all-natural, all-organic Taste No Evil Muffins on South Lamar, and involve a giant dark chocolate muffin top sliced and stuffed with your choice of Amy's sweet cream, dark chocolate or, Lord have mercy, coffee ice cream. It's open 9am - 2:30pm on Sundays.

BRUNCH WITH A SIDE OF AWKWARD
Fathers Day Burlesque


Sagra will host a Fathers Day "Burlesque Brunch" for only the steeliest of parent/children pairs, with brunch all morning and early afternoon and The JiggleWatts performing at 2pm.

YOU AND DAD, DRINKING
Bird's Tallest Day of Summer


Summer Solstice lands on Fathers Day this year, so Bird's Barbershop and Lone Star have teamed up to offer free tall boys to all dads at each of their four locations. Deets here.

"WELL, WE'LL HAVE TO SWING BY HER GRAVE, TOO:"
The Royal Tenembaums Fathers Day Feast

How much do you freaking love this movie. Gene Hackman? The fire drills? Rooftop falconing?? This is at the Alamo Ritz today at 6:30pm.

$33.50 gets you a ticket and quite the spread:

Bloody Mary Gazpacho
with Basil Infused Vodka "Float"

Royal T Bone topped with Smoked Oyster Mushroom Demi Glace on Pearl Cous Cous and Brussel Sprout Hash

Bourbon Bread Pudding
Toasted Pecan, Caramel, Shaved Dark Chocolate

AND....MORE DESSERT
Free desserts for Dad at Cissi's

The purchase of ANY food item at Cissi's on Fathers Day will get Dad a free dessert, such as a Belgian Ale Doughnut. I don't know what that is, but I'm intrigued. So wrong, it's right? Like chili peppers and chocolate? Someone please eat this and tell me how it is.

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!

Rare Magazine: News

Ok Austin community that cares about Rare: let's make this right.

So Taylor contacted me last night after this blog post had been up, and said he wished I would have emailed him first. Fair enough - that's a totally valid point. He also told me the July issue would release (YAY writers and photographers!) and that he had been interviewing and hiring new staff members for the magazine. I don't know who those staff members are yet, but I guess we'll find out.

Bottom line: Rare is surviving, which is thrilling news. As for what's to come, if the mag will change, take on a different style/tone - I've got no news there, so again, guess we'll see.

Anyway...I've had enough drama for one day.

Before I sign off, I just want to reiterate the fact that this magazine's founder, Matt Swinney, created something this city clearly adores and feels passionately about. When Carrie Crowe came on in 2006, she and Matt turned it into a publication attuned to the creative pulse of this town, featuring a new visual artist every month and assigning stories on everyone from street food vendors selling kebabs out of their trailer, to eco-couture fashion designers showing pieces on runways. The community-minded stories, such as local transportation and greener city planning, underline their solid vision that Austin is a place for innovators of ALL kinds -- right down to the mag's kicka*s design.

I've said it once and I'll say it again: The publication or company in this town that gets Carrie next is immeasurably fortunate - one of the besteditors I have ever had, and I probably speak for all of the writers.

So. Matt and Carrie created something grand, which I feel very lucky to be a part of. I even got my first tattoo during a Rare interview, believe it or not. Taylor, I am also happy to have your communication, and hope that you continue the great thing those two started.

Who's ready for happy hour?

Austin god of posters: Justin David Cox

I'm probably going to make Justin David Cox blush with this post, but oh well. I adore his work.







Right, I have a crush on his mind.

Justin works out of a design studio on the east side called Public School, which is apparently going to have a happy hour soon. I'm hoping that this very subtle post encourages them to get on the ball and do it already so you and I can drool over these posters in person.

With all the air guitar posting we've been doing here lately, I'd also love to see what Justin's clever design antics might produce for that.

Welcome to Eat Drink Austin

Up with Austin food blogs!

A few of my friends recently started Eat Drink Austin, a blog devoted to putting delicious local things in your body.

It's funny, I was just remarking to someone (Twitter) the other day how envious I was of the food blogger community here and how tight-knit it is. Addie Broyles over at the Statesman is - as my friend Alex over at Austin Is Delicious remarked - the patron saint of Austin food bloggers, always helping organize cool events for them at various restaurants, retweeting their Twitter messages, etc.

Anyway, part of the reason I don't really talk about food here on this blog is that I'm not sure I have anything snappy to say about it.

"Yum!"

"This is delicious!"

Downright penetrating insight.

But. I'm going to start contributing posts to Eat Drink Austin, so if you have suggestions for restaurants and/or bars to review, drinks to order, pastries served out of air stream trailers, the local freegan hot spots, places you can order chocolate bacon gelato (cough cough WHOLE FOODS cough ACTUALLY PRETTY GOOD cough), secret supper societies and so on - I'd love to hear about them.

Whaddaya got?

Ticket Giveaway: TONIGHT, US Air Guitar Championships

How nice is Do512? They're offering a ticket giveaway for the US Air Guitar Championships (local Austin Round) on Austin Eavesdropper. We were talking about USAG last week so you know we are major fans.

The show is TONIGHT and they're putting a name (like maybe your name) on the list by 5pm. To enter, leave a comment below with your name and email BEFORE 4:30 TODAY. I will throw a slice of turkey at my laptop and whoever's name it sticks on wins!

*Seriously though, please please leave your name and email so I can contact you.

GOOD LUCK!

Local furniture porn: Pirwi

It's been a while since we've talked about something non-music related here on ol' Austin Eavesdropper, hasn't it? Just blah-blah band this and blah-blah synthesizer that. Let's shake things up a bit and talk about.....FURNITURE!!!

Are you ready for this? I'm about to break it down, Ethan Allen-style. Actually....not Ethan Allen at all, something much, much cooler. God, how is that even possible? I'll tell you. Pirwi.

So last night Kirk Gallery hosted a mixer of sorts for this Mexican design collective. Everything Pirwi designs is eco-friendly, but also pretty affordable - which probably can't be said of every lofty-minded green design line (in fact quite few I imagine). It was founded by Emiliano Godoy and Alejandro Castro, the latter of whom has worked with uber-photographer Mario Testino. You may have seen his work in this tiny little magazine....oh what's it called.....VOGUE. And, point of trivia, he apparently charges $140,000 a day.

Anyway, when it comes to housewares, I tend to overlook naked wood. This is a stark difference between R. and I: R. could happily live inside the trunk of a Redwood tree! So imagine my surprise to be surrounded by all these whimsical wooden treats....and didn't feel the need to paint and/or decoupage a single one.



This tree below is one of my favorites. It was designed by Mr. Castro and comes in three different sizes. I think it'd be fun to get the small one and use it to hang up your necklaces:

This is a chair whose pieces are stitched together by cotton rope! It actually won an award an International Furniture Design Award in 2005. Don't the legs kind of look like zippers?

This screen comes in maple, walnut, or black veneer, and the scales make the whole thing bendable. You can form little shapes with it.



What does this table remind me of? An Escher drawing? Something.

This bench is called, appropriately enough, "The Centipede."


This is probably my favorite: it's a dog-shaped bench/side table/magazine rack of sorts:

Pirwi makes these together with Proteak, and if you buy several of these "dogs" you can make different...eh...arrangements:

Do you think that's meant to be as funny as it is??

Anyhoo, Pirwi sells these dogs and many other items here in town, and would you believe that a lot of it is under $100? Sorry for sounding so much like a commercial?

To check out the line, head to Kirk: 210 Guadalupe, in between 3rd and 2nd street.

Next week: Austin Air Guitar Championships

Yes! This is next week you guys. I'm posting it now in case it sells out.

friday, june 12
8:00pm
the parish
tickets here

I am definitely attending and taking pictures!

About a week and a half ago, Hot Lixx Hulahan (the 2008 WORLD Champion!) explained to me that the Austin competition is pretty high caliber, since we Austinites go through months of preliminary competitions. I told him, oh I know, my mother is a competitive lip syncer and I have nothing but respect for the central Texas musical mimicry circuit. (Note: this is true).

Say hi, Hot Lixx:

Anyway, the competition is pretty stiff this year, and while there's no telling who will walk away with the Austin crown, here are a couple of pretty threatening Texans:

From Dallas: THE GUARDIAN!

photo credit: clay gardner

From Houston: RIP DARKO!

photo credit: misha vladimirskiy

This person isn't from Texas (he's from New York), but he's the 2007 US Champion: WILLIAM OCEAN!

photo credit: dan eckstein

And here is the man (well, one of two men) who started it all: C-DIDDY!

The next time that poofy-haired Isaac Mizrahi assures me from Bravo TV that "competition is the new black," I'm going to point right back at the TV screen and bellow, "HELLO KITTY SHIELDS ARE THE NEW BLACK!"

I leave you with Hot Lixx, winning the 2008 World Championships: