Austin Metblogs » aus_dona

For all of you CSI fans

aus_dona — Fri, 11 Mar 2005 16:20:59 +0000

There is going to be an open-to-the-public lecture tonight at 7:00 about the science of crime scene investigations in Texas tonight on the UT campus. Sure, there are probably more glamorous things you can do on a Friday night in Austin, but you can always paint the town after.

There will also be a live webcast, if you don’t want to deal with parking on campus (which shouldn’t be a problem now that Spring Break has begun).

City Wide Garage Sale

aus_dona — Wed, 12 Jan 2005 18:10:27 +0000

There’s a City-Wide Garage Sale this weekend at the Palmer Events Center. I’ve been a few times before just to browse, and I’ve never bought anything. It’s fun to look at all the junk, though.

Poll: Have you ever bought anything at a City-Wide Garage Sale? If so, what?

PS: If anyone wants a coupon for $1 off admission (I think it’s normally $4), email me.

The lights are bright on 37th St.

aus_dona — Fri, 10 Dec 2004 19:06:19 +0000

Last weekend, I was taking a walk through University Heights and happened to amble down W. 37th St. as the homeowners were festooning their homes and utility poles with decorative lights. I was impressed with the dedication, hard work and extension ladders that these homeowners put forth to offer a truly weird-as-Austin holiday lights display.

I also saw something that made me add “digital camera” to my Christmas wish-list. At the last house I passed, the poor homeowner was napping on his front lawn, under the canopy of un-lit lights and near a pile of empty light boxes. The poor guy was using his coat as both blanket and pillow. It would have made a great photo for holiday cards.

If you haven’t seen the spectacle yet, go this year. Park in the neighborhood (but don’t block my driveway!) and walk the length of the street–you won’t want to miss a thing.

Think globally. Shop locally owned.

aus_dona — Thu, 18 Nov 2004 18:18:56 +0000

This Saturday (November 20) is Austin Unchained Day, an event that is sponsored by the Austin Independant Business Alliance. From their website: “The event is designed to bring attention to the economic and cultural impact of consumers shopping at only locally owned businesses for one day.”

Keep your money in the Austin community, and shop locally this Saturday.

Volunteer opportunities

aus_dona — Thu, 04 Nov 2004 18:09:16 +0000

If you’re as depressed as I am about the outcome of the election, here’s a way to feel good again: volunteer. Do something for someone else, something that will make the world a little bit more bearable.

Here are some suggestions:

November 15 is National Philanthropy Day. Organize a canned food drive for Caritas of Austin or the Capital Area Food Bank.

Send a package to a soldier overseas. If you want it to get there by Christmas, you have to mail it by November 15.

Volunteer for Hearts and Hoofs, an organization that brings miniature horses hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, special-needs classrooms, Alzheimer’s clinics and other places where healing and compassion are needed.

Build a house for a low-income family with Habitat for Humanity.

Plant trees with TreeFolks. They have a volenteer event scheduled for the morning of Saturday, November 13.

Help The Children’s Environmental Health Institute with their website.

Help out at Austin Family House, a residential treatment program for chemically dependent women and their dependent children. Call Sandra Eames at 441-2086 for more information.

Help out at ALLGO, the Austin Latino/Latina Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Organization. Assist their staff with services including bilingual, multicultural safer sex and reproductive health presentations; outreach and support groups for gay/lesbian African-Americans and Latinos; support groups to discuss self-esteem, racism and other relevant issues; and intake with HIV+ clients of color with referral to other services.

Or go to the United Way or VolunteerMatch and find something that suits your fancy.

Vote, y’all

aus_dona — Fri, 29 Oct 2004 14:13:18 +0000

Today is the last day to early vote in Travis County, for all you procrastinators. It’s today or Tuesday, make a note.

If you live in District 10, consider voting for Lorenzo Sadun for Congress.

How do you find out what district you’re in? Go here, enter your address, then look for the sentence “In the 2004 elections, residents at this address will vote in Congressional District X.”

How do you write in Sadun or Mickey Mouse or whoever on the eSlate? Click here for instructions.

For a bird’s-eye view

aus_dona — Fri, 29 Oct 2004 12:51:11 +0000

The University of Texas at Austin is celebrating the 5th anniversary of the re-opening of the UT Tower this weekend. Even if you didn’t go to UT, you should go to the top of the tower sometime; it’s an amazing view of Austin. Click on the above link for “tour” info. If you go this weekend, be warned: the tours run rain or shine, but you’re not allowed to take umbrellas (or anything else, except a camera) up to the observation deck. So bring your own poncho.

If you’re a UT fan or an architecture fan or a UT architecture fan, the Texas Union is screening “The University of Texas Tower and Texas Union,” a documentary on the history those buildings. The screenings are on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. in the Texas Union Eastwood Room, UNB 2.102. (The Texas Union is on the corner of 24th and Guadalupe, in case you didn’t know. There’s a parking garage at 25th and San Antonio, just a few block or so away.)

If you have no idea what I’m talking about, or you just want to see the Tower right!now!, check out the University Co-op’s TowerCam. You can see the Tower anytime day or night. You can also spy on college kids waiting for the bus across the street from the Co-op, if you want.

The secret to apartment hunting

aus_dona — Mon, 18 Oct 2004 21:28:39 +0000

After living in Austin for six years, I’ve found the secret to finding a good, cheap apartment. Don’t use just one apartment locating service, call all of them. In my current search for new digs, I’ve talked to two guys that assured me that they have the inside scoop on the best cheap studio in Austin, only to call the next guy who has the scoop on something cheaper, in a better location, with better lease terms. So my advice to anyone seeking a cheap apartment is: call every agent in the book.

More South Austin delights…

aus_dona — Wed, 13 Oct 2004 12:52:11 +0000

To Sherry’s list below, I’d like to add:

The best place to study and eavesdrop in South Austin is The Green Muse Cafe, on S. First and Oltorf. Hours of reading boring texts go by in minutes, and there’s always a good conversation to listen to or join in. I haven’t yet found a coffee shop in north Austin to rival it. If you go there after 4:00, say hi to Daniel for me.

Also check out Nueva Onda on College St., just off Congress, just north of Oltorf. It has an awesome patio, friendly service, and live music sometimes, but I go there for the migas.

Welcome to the ATX, bitch

aus_dona — Mon, 11 Oct 2004 12:40:53 +0000

I love Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. It’s a great first impression for visitors to the city, so shiny and clean and efficient, unlike the mess that was Mueller. The landscaping is gorgeous, what with the native plants and the fountains, both at the airport entrance and across from the terminal. The food is hands-down the best airport food I’ve ever had. It’s become a tradition for me to wait and eat at the airport–breakfast tacos before a flight, Amy’s Ice Cream while I wait for my luggage. And, ABIA has the absolute best security set-up, as far as comfort goes. I don’t know why other airports haven’t figured out that you need chairs just inside security, so you can put your shoes back on. There are some shitty small airports in this country, and I’m glad that the one I fly out if is a cut above the rest. ABIA, I salute you.