So you don’t have to; and they get the answers, too. If the phrase “bare sweetness” means anything to you, head straight for the interview with Austin’s Don King, in Austin Daze 56. (There’s a link to the issue in Adobe Reader *.pdf form, but the complete newsprint ‘zine experience is missing if you don’t pick up a copy around town.) King talks about his business and remarks on the other Don King, the Magic Time Machine, Soap Creek, and much else.

As is usually the case, interview subjects (e.g., Don King, Ruthie Foster, Chris Elliott) are photographed holding up a copy of the Daze

Not to be missed is the long article on Chez Nous, which incorporates much more of the origination story of this Austin institution that is to be found in print elsewhere. It does not mention that Chez Nous, always at the same location, on Neches, opened in the un-air-conditioned location of its predecessor, Mama’s Money, a Cajun seafood spot, the most recent business to fail in that location before the advent of Chez Nous.

Day after tomorrow, January 5, will be the first of the First Thursdaze of year 2006, starting at 8 and preceded by happy hour with Guy Forsyth from 6 o’clock. If you haven’t made your first visit of the year to Ruta Maya, just skip all that close-in First Thurs stuff on South Congress and head souther.