I just read a huge post on the Alamo Drafthouse blog. They’re announcing their 10th Anniversary celebration and the original location on Colorado between 4th and 5th is moving to the Ritz!

Wow.

I knew they were having trouble at the current location because of increasing rents. They started Heroes of the Alamo program last year looking for donations to remain at the current location and I guess it just wasn’t working out. It sounds like they had a lot of help in working out a deal to move to the Ritz. It’s hard not to sound gushing and stupid about this, but it’s so damn cool. The Ritz has been around since 1929 and has a long history in Austin as a theater, concert venue (Stevie Ray Vaughn, Big Boys and other have played there) and bar. Its future was in doubt (at least for me anyway) since the pool hall era ended last year. The fact that both can come together to preserve a location important to Austin and one of the best local businesses is just too great. You can’t help but pull for Tim and Karrie.

It sounds like they expect to move sometime this summer, so if you want to experience the old location, you’ve only got three months or so.

Update (03.21.07 09:31 CDT): I traded e-mails with Tim League. They mistakenly posted the announcement yesterday. It was supposed to go up today. They’ll start construction on April 1st and plan to blog the progress with photos and updates.

I didn’t take the plunge on wristbands, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to try and see some music. A naked wrist means a progressively tougher time getting in as the night progresses, which requires some planning and a high tolerance for frustration. Here are some bands I’ll try to check out Friday evening, assuming I get in and don’t spend more in covers than I would have paid for wristbands in the first place.

6:00 Harry Shearer’s “Le Show Live” - Central Presbyterian Church (200 E 8th)
8:00 Brakes (UK) - Ritz Downstairs (320 E. 6th)
8:00 SSM (Detroit) - Beerland (711.5 Red River)
8:00 Klezmatics (NYC) - Cedar Street (208 W 4th)
9:30 Billy Bragg (UK) - Cedar Street (208 W 4th)
10:00 River City Tanlines (Memphis) - Beerland (711.5 Red River)
10:00 Gemma Hayes (Dublin) - Soho Lounge (217 E 6th)
11:00 Editors (UK) - Ritz Downstairs (320 E. 6th)
11:00 Sarah Borges (Boston) - 18th Floor @ Capitol Place (500 N IH 35)
11:00 The Walls (Dublin) - Soho Lounge (217 E 6th)
11:30 Tralala (Brooklyn) - Red 7 (611 E 7th)
12:00 KT Tunstall (London) - Ritz Downstairs (320 E. 6th)
12:00 Magic Numbers (UK) - Stubb’s (801 Red River)
12:30 Ted Leo/Pharmacists (NJ) - Red 7 (611 E 7th)
1:00 John Popper Project (NYC) - Opal Divines (700 W 6th)
1:00 The Aeroplanes (UK) - Spiro’s (615 Red River)
1:00 Bruce Robison (Austin) - 18th Floor @ Capitol Place (500 N IH 35)

And, yeah, it’s still “The Ritz” as far as I’m concerned, although the banners are calling it “The Blender Bar at the Ritz.” Whatever.

Photo courtesy of www.myspace.com/theritzaustin

Today I found many people at work lamenting that The Ritz has been taken over by new management and apparently had a pretty thorough house cleaning in order to cater to a new crowd. I never knew The Ritz. One of the reasons I love this blog is that many here are obviously Austin veterans and I learn a lot about our local culture which is rich and tasty. I’ve only been in Austin for three years, but I spent almost every school vacation here visiting my cousin. Though I am a total Austin enthusiast, I feel like a such a complete newbie when things like this come up.

Now I’ve never been much of one to hit “the scene” and do the clubs and bars thing, but I love that people feel this way about things. I love that there are so many places with a certain character that people know and identify (even if I don’t). I love that places just can’t anonymously change faces and expect people not to notice. I don’t personally know much about The Ritz, but I do know a lot of people who seem to think 6th street has lost one of it’s characters. I guess I’ll never know now.

If there’s anything that can anger puritanical conservative Christians, it’s taking its symbolic icon, a Holy Bible (possibly as big as Jesus to them?), and defiling it. And nothing could be worse to these people than taking this religious symbol and putting it near the sexual and procreative center of a woman–her hooha (well perhaps defecating on it would be worse, but let’s not go there). When the Austin Chronicle did such a thing for its January 27th cover story on anti-abortion politics, it stirred up a shitstorm. For the second week in a row, the letters section has been bombarded by letters about the cover (there’s probably some pastors or anti-abortion groups stirring the pot as well), and Altex Electronics has cancelled its advertising.

Here’s a typical letter to the editor:

Dear Editor,

I, my husband, my 3-year-old daughter, and my 6-year-old son just returned from Culver’s where our children enjoy burgers and ice cream. I was disgusted as I walked in the restaurant door to immediately see the image of a woman with her bare legs spread open on an examining table, feet in stirrups, and a Family Edition Holy Bible in front of her genital area [“The New Texas Family Planning,” News, Jan. 27]. I immediately turned it over in hopes that my children had not seen it. I then told the manager with that kind of welcome, I wouldn’t want to continue eating there and I wouldn’t be surprised if other families wouldn’t either. I will tell you, until tonight I consulted your paper for restaurants, movies, and ideas for outings. However, I just lost every ounce of interest or respect for your paper. I don’t care what your politics or beliefs are, your cover photo was downright offensive and disrespectful to women, to families, to Christians, to anyone with small children, to medical professionals, and more. Should businesses continue distributing your paper or advertise in it given its total disregard for their mainstream customers?

Michelle Earle

However, other letters have praised the cover:

Dear Editor,

That was the best cover page I have ever seen ["The New Texas Family Planning," News, Jan. 27]. The picture conveyed the exact message. I was extremely impressed and I don’t know anyone who is not going to keep their copy. I hadn’t actually pictured a Bible between my legs but I realize now after having seen your cover picture, that I have actually felt it. Thank you.

Malissa Driggers

This is the weekly’s second cover controversy in a few months. Another uproar was raised about the Chronicle’s no-kill millennium cover last November, which featured euthanized cats.

I don’t make it up to Round Rock very often myself. Hell, if I didn’t work just north of 183 and Mopac, I’d probably never make it above 2222, but I digress.

It appears that Saradora’s, the downtown Round Rock coffee shop, is closing. You’ll recall that Saradora’s hosted a drag show back in September, something that caused a much larger uproar than I ever would’ve thought in this day and age. There I go overestimating my fellow man again. You’d think I’d have learned by now. Amy of Amy’s Ice Cream apparently has her eye on the location, but she says “I don’t know if Round Rock’s ready for us”.

Yeah, all that crazy hat wearin’ and ice cream throwin’ is a little to out there for Round Rock. Best just to welcome Baskin Robbins and their plan for domination of the local ice cream market. Good luck with that.