RSVP for Bleet-Up, WIN Fun Fun Fun Fest tickets

SPOTTED: Fun Fun Fun Fest ticket giveaway to attendees of the Austin Bleet-Up!

(Watching too much Gossip Girl = self)

As a super special offer to our esteemed Bleet-Up attendees, from now until next Thursday, you are automatically entered to win a pair of FREE Fun Fun Fun Fest tickets if you RSVP to the Bleet-Up! Note this contest drawing applies retroactively too, so if you've already RSVP'd, you're good to go.

You MUST be present at Bleet-Up to win. The lucky winner will be announced right before our first band (The Lennings!) take the stage, at 9:45.

The Austin Bleet-Up is a party designed to introduce our city to its local blogging community. If you're a blog reader, it's a chance to meet your favorite online personalities, be it Adored Austin, The Year of the Pizza, Covert Curiosity, or whomever. If you're not a blog reader, it's a chance to expand your media contacts a bit - if you're a band who wants more music coverage, a restaurant owner who wants more food coverage, etc.

And if you're a blogger, it's an excuse to hang out with all of your online buddies.


Party Ends


Fabulous Drinks Austin


This is Life in Austin

Anyway, we WILL close RSVP's once we hit capacity at Mohawk. So avoid sadness, and get that RSVP in.

Go!

PS - If you're on Facebook, you can check out the invite there too if you like.

TONIGHT: Flip Scene's Halloween Bash, Presented by Cherrypeel

The other day, I was explaining to a friend that Halloween is sort of a week-long celebration here in Austin, Texas. Before the OFFICIAL day of Hallow's Eve, one might spy a rabbit, a robot, or the kid from Where the Wild Things Are walking down the street, and would you really bat an eye? I don't think so.

So it only makes sense that FlipScene's Halloween Bash, presented by Cherrypeel, gets the party started early this year. If you attended the FlipScene/Cherrypeel party at the American Legion Hall last summer, you know what ridiculous fun that was. With a costume contest, music by local Austin folks (including The Black & White Years!), and what is sure to be a notorious Annie Ray photo booth, this looks like a can't-miss partay. Austin Eavesdropper is willing her plague-like sickness to disappear, and if it does, will head on over to the Halloween Bash right after the Uvumi Launch Party.

To save $2 to the Halloween Bash, get advance tickets here.

GOSSIP at Emo's: Ticket and CD giveaway, plus show coverage

Howdy y'all!

Austin Eavesdropper is reporting live today from her bedroom, where she is sporting super-hawt chili pepper pajama pants. And you know what chili pepper pants mean, don't you? PHOTO SHOOT!

This is what I do when I'm bored (and sick) at home. Très sassy, non? My parents gave these to me for Christmas one year, and Autumn Equinox is sort of marked in our home by the donning of these pants.

Aren't they hysterical?? You can't really tell here, but they are elastic waist, poofy at the thighs and tapered at the ankles. Sort of like Hammer pants. I wear them relentlessly, and R. hates loves them.

Anyway, onto more important matters. I've got a super fun opportunity for anyone who's interested, and considers him or herself something of a live music junkie.

Thursday night, GOSSIP is playing at Emo's. Have you heard of Gossip?

Heavy Cross

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I adore Beth Ditto and her killer pipes. Not to mention her killer make-up.

Gossip has been around for 10 years now, but like Phoenix and other indie rock bands making their way around the blogosphere, it's only been relatively recently that they've ascended to full-scale fame. However, between Ditto's naked splash on the cover of more than one magazine, her lesbian and feminist following / platform, and the band's delicious, just-released Music for Men album (sample it here - love the big bass on "Dimestore Diamond"), I suspect we'll be hearing lots more from this post-punk outfit. Austinites especially, since they're rolling into town as we speak!

Now for the fun stuff. I've got ONE ticket to give away, along with a CD/vinyl of Music for Men - your choosing on the format. To enter though, you have to be willing to do one thing:

COVER THE GOSSIP SHOW FOR AUSTIN EAVESDROPPER.

We'll post your review, along with pics you take.

Any closet music writers and live show devotees - are you interested? If so, enter your name in the comment section below. This is a SHORT ticket giveaway, meaning I'll select a winner by 1pm tomorrow (Wednesday).

Austin Eavesdropper has been looking for just such a live music collaborator, so I can't wait to see who enters!

Please stand by: Austin Eavesdropper ever so slightly under-the-weather.

Perhaps it was the glorious California invasion that happened this weekend. Perhaps Austin Eavesdropper is hoarse from shouting gleefully into the night (and by "night" we mean the ears of shirtless gay men on the dance floor at Kiss & Fly). Or perhaps she should have just gotten a damn flu shot.

The great thing about hosting a blog, rather than an actual, legitimate media outlet, is that when you are sick you can simply say so. Ironically enough, it's my throat that's been hit first, and I say 'ironically' because I've a got a lot to say about this week. Halloween parties. A SUPER exciting ticket giveaway. (I'll give you a hint, it rhymes with "One One One Test.") This man at my gym whom I creepily took a picture of tonight - but you'll see why when I post it. I think he's a cast member of Cirque du Soleil.

In the meantime though, here is some evidence that I haven't died. It is a picture of the delightful Jake Holt, my friend Christa and I from Beauty Bar's photo booth. Jake submitted it with this message: "Oh my...these are the 2 best frames. And by best I mean not embarrassingly awful."

Heh.

Jake, I have to admit I am now HIGHLY curious about viewing these two mysterious, distinctly absent shots.

It's the weekend. Get dressed: Rene Geneva's MOVING SALE

Eco chic designer Rene Geneva - and Austin's own BEST DESIGNER for the 2009 Austin Fashion Awards - is having a moving sale right now, y'all. Girlfriend's headed to a different design studio! So let's ravage her stuff, and come out looking tops.

Rene told me that items in almost every category - coats, separates, dresses, etc. - are on sale, but as I was browsing around, I noticed that ALL the coats are. Some $100 off. Which is convenient since things are getting a little chillier in the ATX.






(Psst - I'm buying the one above, so hands off everybody. Just kidding. Not really).


Rene's stuff is made from organic silks, cotton and hemp, and whenever I wear one of her things, people always go bananas for it. See that little black and white one above? I've got the same one in black and pink, and it fits like a dream! I wore it around New York one day for a business trip with work, and felt so uber-chic. Like a hip little diner waitress, or something.

Also. While not exactly daytime wear, if I could wear this dress every day, I would. Can't you see it? Grocery shopping. Running in the neighborhood. Don't mind me! Just hanging out in my gorgeous ball gown. It's cool.

Anyway, you likey her stuff, fashionistas? If so, go shopping here: click the tabs on the upper left hand corner to get started.

TICKET GIVEAWAY: Mixx & Make

Austin Eavesdropper still isn't positive what she'll be yet for Halloween, but she's betting Mixx & Make will give her some inspiration. She originally wanted R. to be Carmen Miranda (the lady with fruit on her head), and for herself to be a banana, but - shockingly? - R. isn't going for it. Back to the drawing board.

Anyway, at Mixx & Make this Saturday, party powerhouses Electric Promotions and Two Groove are teaming up to bring this city lots of naughty fun. First and foremost - THIS will be screening.


Army of Darkness! (And, if you've never had the sophisticated pleasure of watching Army of Darkness, then I just feel sorry for you).

In addition, several bands will be playing for your musical pleasure, Blue Note Bakery (yummay) will be providing sweet treats, and Treaty Oak will be pouring red rum. The talented ladies over at The Wonder Craft - whose rad craft trailer Austin Eavesdropper got to take pictures of recently - will be teaching us to make DIY Halloween masks too, so perhaps AE will make a Carmen Miranda mask for R. and then he shall have no choice in the matter.

Tickets are $6 if you RSVP and $8 at the door, but guess who has a pair of passes in her hot little hands? (Hands that may or may not be sticking out of a banana suit soon?)

Just leave a comment below telling us what you want to be for Halloween, and you shall be entered to win BOTH. Go!

Here it comes! NOVEMBER 5: The Austin Bleet-Up

Oh my gosh...you guys!!

Austin Bleet-Up Presents: Austin, Meet Your Bloggers

I was going to wait until tomorrow morning to post this, but here it is almost bedtime and I can't hold this news in any longer.

So back in July, a group of us local bloggers got together at TRIO for the first Bleet-Up. And do you want to know something funny? When we were in the early planning stages for the event, and the lovely events coordinator at TRIO asked me how many bloggers I predicted would attend, do you know what I told her? 15! One five!

But instead, we got something like 150 bloggers, and everyone there was so interesting and cool. It was then we realized....hey, this local community of bloggers is nothing to shake a stick at. We should do these little get-togethers more often, and in addition to that, have a bleet-up where Austin's blog READERS get to meet all these blog WRITERS.

So we're bleeting up again y'all, and all are invited - bloggers and non-bloggers. And because we wanted to make sure our music/fashion/foodie bloggers* each had special things to look forward to, we're hosting bands, pop-up shops by Prototype Vintage and Rene Geneva Designs, drinks by Tito's Vodka and Sweet Leaf Tea, and eats by Mama Fu's. (Oh and GET THIS. We're auctioning off a guitar signed by Debbie Harry to benefit Girls Rock Camp. Boom shaka laka!)

The oh-so-talented Cory Ryan, who did our photo booth at the last Bleet-Up, will do a photo booth at this one too!

And finally, there is a special something coming from Birds Barbershop - and I believe it's for early arrivals - so stay tuned on that.

Speaking of arrival time, it starts at 8:30. Our fabulous bands begin at 9:45; in between that time we'll be rocking it out on the Mohawk balcony / in their Green Room with Learning Secrets and all our fun sponsors. And our fun selves!

OUTSIDE stage will be....

The Lennings
Built By Snow
Corto Maltese

INSIDE stage will be...

Politics
Sad Accordions
The Great Nostalgic

To get in, you MUST RSVP. We'll close RSVP's once we hit capacity, so get yours in quick! Tickets are $7 at the door, remember to bring your cash money.

Austin Eavesdropper kind of can't believe how official the humble little bleet-up is?! THANK YOU local bloggers for making the first one so great, and for inspiring us to go for it a second time!

rsvp here.

*NOTE: The highest representation of blogger types at the last Bleet-Up. But don't think we don't love you dearly if your blog isn't squarely about music/fashion/food! (Looking in your direction, political bloggers!)

EDITOR'S NOTE: If you love this poster as much as Austin Eavesdropper does, you've got Candace Carlisle at Electric Promotions to thank. As you can see, girlfriend and her design skillz are mind-blowing.

TONIGHT: Austin Film Festival's "Film & Food Party"

As a counter to the post below on fried chicken doughnuts, may I present you with a food event of a different stripe?

Tonight is the 7th Annual Film & Food Party, hosted by the Austin Film Festival, which runs October 22-29. It is happening at the Driskill, so you know it is fancy!

Austin Eavesdropper has never been to the Food & Film Party before, but she just may attend this tonight. There are several reasons:

A) It is altruistic. The Food & Film Party benefits the Young Filmmakers Program, a year-round outreach that helps kids turn their stories into films.

B) It is ridiculous. (In a good way). You can eat Eddie V's. You can eat Parkside. You can eat Moonshine. I am counting over 15, possibly 20 restaurants at this soiree, and they are pulling out all the stops. And you can bid on things like signed X-Men and LOST scripts. (Wouldn't it be funny if LOST was signed in blood or something).

C) It is, for all intents and purposes, the best way to eat. When Gary and I were hobnobbing at La Dolce Vita last week, trying very hard to look like discerning oenophiles ("you are out of the 2007 vintage Syrah? Well, I guess Merlot will - SIGH - have to do"), it occurred to me that eating-on-foot is, if entirely all too American, quite the pragmatic thing to do. The hands put lamb and creamed polenta into the mouth...the feet burn off calories as you move from one station to the next...the wine samples make you believe that, truly, you are exercising.

Food & Film Party - I commend you for embracing this brilliant culinary model!

Tickets to the event are $85 (or $70 for AFF members), and may be purchased by calling 512-478-4795.

Gordough's Big Fat Donuts

Austin Eavesdropper has a confession to make. Two, actually:

A) She hasn't stepped foot in a gym in two weeks. Hello, Texas! Oh wait, that's not the state of Texas....that's my butt.

B) See all of these delightful blog posts below? Most AE post ideas come from AE's circle of knowledgeable pals, who have their fingers to the pulse of this city even better than she does. And friends, they uncover some interesting finds. Interesting indeed.

Take Gourdough's gourmet donut shop, a brand spankin' new food trailer biz located on 1219 South Lamar, across the street from Maudie's. This tip came today from AE's friend Gary, who really and truly, should start his own blog. AE's in-the-know music tips, celebrity gossip tips, and sometimes food tips, pretty much always start with Gary. (@gaston213 on Twitter).

Let us dispense with formalities then, and ogle the drool-inducing donut menu at Gourdough's?




Um...what!! "Mother Clucker: Fried Chicken Strip and Honey Butter Icing." "Margaritaville: Margarita Flavored Filling and Key Lime Icing."

I feel like Gourdoughs' is the kind of thing that needs to be experienced at least once, with photographic proof, just to say you've tried it.

Have any of you been to Gourdough's yet? If not, which one would you order first? My money's on "Heavenly Hash."

EDITOR'S NOTE: PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE has arrived! (Thanks to the indispensable Gary, @gaston213, for internet sleuthing and Jennifer King for her in-depth article at Austin Post, the source of these pictures).

The Mother Clucker.

The Razzle Dazzle.

The Blue Balls.

TONIGHT: Beard and Mustache Demos?

Is there any bigger trend in Austin right now than facial hair? A few weeks ago, I was at Quacks and spied mustache COOKIES. Um.

Tonight, there is a full-on art show/party celebrating mustaches and beards, completely with "DIY demos!" I'm not exactly sure what that means, but if I could grow facial hair I would like to participate. Especially since there will be bearded cakes. (Facial hair + pastries = hottest thing going?).

Check out our girl Candace at Electric Promotions for all the details.

PS: Isn't this poster endearingly goofy. I love it.

TICKET GIVEAWAY: Holy Ghost at Barcelona

Who likes to rock the party? ("New Zealand likes to rock the party!")

Holy Ghost will be playing at Barcelona on Friday night, courtesy of those rockstar DJ/music act booking guys, Learning Secrets. If you like the disco, then you will LOVE this night.

Think you know who Holy Ghost is, but aren't quite sure? Here, let me show you:



My fave tune of HG though is probably "Hold On" (check it on MySpace). And analog nerds, you will probably wet your pants over this interview on VBS they did.

Tickets to the show are $10 with rsvp, which you can do so here.

OR....you can leave a comment below, and automatically be entered to win a Holy Ghost ticket giveaway! The winner will get receive own ticket and a +1.

Comment must include:

-A way to contact you (links are fine)
-A brief description of how you like to rock the party.

Me? I like to rock the party with a bouncy castle. But that's just me.

Wednesday morning: Austin Eavesdropper on "The JB and Sandy Show"

Hey internets.

If you are driving to work tomorrow or happen to be hanging out near a radio (immediately conjuring image of Orson Welles?), Austin Eavesdropper will be on "The JB and Sandy Show" (Mix 94.7) tomorrow morning to chat about Austin Makes a Book!

"Wait, what? What is she talking about. Girl be crazy."

You know, this thing:

(Here is our original post about it).

I'm going to talk about the awesome Austinites who have contributed to AMAB so far, and I do mean awesome. These esteemed contributors include a local musician, a local artist - even a local five-year-old!

Wanna call in and ask questions about it? 512-390-5947. Let's dish.

You can also stream the show online here.

Can't wait!

A year in pictures.

Oh, digital photography. A complicated mistress are you.

On the one hand, digital photos are sooo nice. Convenient. Immediately available. Adjustable.

But on the other hand...Austin Eavesdropper misses the days of plain old film. Don't you, Reader? She suspects there is something to the musty old photo albums and scrapbooks her parents occasionally thumb through with her. I mean, can you really envision doing the same one day with your own kids, clicking through memories of your youth on Facebook? Me neither.

So over the past few days, Austin Eavesdropper has been scrolling back through pictures of this past year, from roughly September 2008ish to now. She's thinking she'll print these out (maybe) and turn them into a real album. But being full of whimsy, she decided to do a nostalgic post, too. A picture post.

AE is not a proper photographer, so she hopes you'll forgive her. Here are a small sampling of favorite moments, memories, and images from the past year. With the exception of two (the Boston Terriers), all are taken in Austin. Spot the:

-Time her neighbor super-glued his fingers together.
-Best chair in Austin. It's at Koriente.
-Non digitally-altered school bus. For hos.
-Election.
-Throwdown at a gay bar.
-Picture snapped at a winery (I dare you to guess this one).