So, one of my good friends just emailed me and ask me to check a local store, I must admit I hadn’t been paying attention, and as readers will know, I’m always for “bigging-up” activities and businesses on South 1st St. I was delighted while checking their website to find out that this Friday sees Sinsations 3rd Annual Erotic Carnival. Honest, I did get an email from a friend asking…

As neighbors go, Sinsations are great. They are quiet, discrete, apart from the occasional car wash or throw down, not that I’ve been, honest. Friday sees the carnival start at 9pm at Red 7, on the 7th St. Along with some of the more predictable fare, such as the spanking booth(!), music will be from Mr Lewis and the Funeral 5. So theres a perfectly legit’ reason to go then.

Ok, must stop writing blog posts like I’m writing for the Benny Hill show… See you Friday, I’ll be the one there to watch the fire dancers. The entire event is a benefit for AIDS Services of Austin. All proceeds go directly to helping those living in our community with HIV/AIDS and helping to educate and hopefully stopping the spread of the disease. All artists and performers have donated their time and energy, and all prizes and gifts have been donated by local businesses to support their community. In turn, we ask that you support these performers and businesses for their generosity and graciousness!

Tickets, if still available, $15 presale or $18 on the door.

The program was varied, the singers and accompanist could do no wrong, the acoustics were perfect. I’m talking about the Viva la Diva! program of the BAM (Black Arts Movement) performing arts festival. Yesterday’s concert was the only event that I was able to attend in this festival of many venues, and I’m so glad that I was there.

This was an intimate and unmediated performance, with no artificial amplification and, because of the raked seating, no hindrances to seeing every nuance. With the exception of “‘Til There was You,” from The Music Man, the mesmerizing performance of Dalila’s famous song from Samson and Dalila, and the final and comic performance by all three singers together, the program was very dramatic in character, including traditional spirituals, as well as excerpts from musical comedy and from Ballo en Mascara, Carmen, Tannhauser, Street Scene, Turandot, Il Trovatore, Porgy and Bess, The Medium, and Tosca. The music was thrilling, and accessible even to the attendees who had never before heard a program like it

A very big thank-you is deserved by Pro Arts Collective, organizer of the BAM Festival, and, not least of all, to the stirring and inspiring people up on that stage: Othalie Graham, suprano; Lori Brown Mirabal, mezzo-soprano; Judith Skinner, contralto; and Austin’s own Elden Little, piano accompanist.

It’s surprising that the King-Seabrook Chapel at Huston-Tillotson is not used more often for such events. It was perfect. The hilltop campus offers an oustanding panoramic view of Austin. I was surprised to see all the way down to the big overpasses at Ben White, in addition to all the customary visual Austin landmarks in all directions.

Song recitals used to be quite frequent on the UT campus, and well publicized, with many student programs and also nationally known singers appearing in lieder programs. Yesterday’s ambitious program harkened back to those glory days and was excellent in every way, a true artistic success. I hope that this experiment is repeated by Pro Arts and the BAM festival next year and imitated by others before then. Those of us who heard it are fortunate indeed.

u p d a t e : The Austin 360 arm of the local daily has now posted a review. The author was less taken by the dramatic soprano, but this singer had a voice intended for the Wagner-Puccini repertory, made to penetrate, and be heard over, the forte playing of the large and brassy orchestra demanded by those operas. In addition, the reviewer does not mention “Mon coeur s’oevre a ta voix,” from Samson et Dalila. She does mention the expressive dramatic movements of Judith Skinner; she was wonderful, but so were the other two, in a more subtle style. I really do hope that the festival organizers are encouraged to include an event like this next year, perhaps even including the same roster of performers.

The S 1st Art Walk didn’t disappoint. First up I got a great deal on a Cruiser bike from South side bicycle shop, they were doing 25% off for the day; which was great, as I was a bit short of time and had been looking for a street bike. Next-up was GAGA, I dropped off my canned food in the Capital Area Food Bank collection.

Just around the corner and outside Austin Baby, was Knotty bags. Michelle was busy crocheting hand-rolled, used plastic bags into brightly colored and strongs re-cycled and re-usable bags.

Over on the east side of S 1st, on the side of Amelia’s Retro-Vogue & Relics was Shadymaiden, Adrienne Pond was creating innovative and unusual lampshades.

Around the back of Amelia’s, Laura Hill, resplendent in smart, 50’s style retro clothing and glasses, was making hats for her milli*starr millinery display.

Further back was Happiness. This was the find of the day. Eclectic, quiet, cool(in more ways than one), 78704 at it’s best. I’d seen the signs but never ventured back there before. It was so good I had to call my friend and invite her to join me. Go see it yourself, some great succulents, cacti, and general good vibes.

Having toured many of the other businesses and art displays, I finally found myself at the Ultraviolet salon. Outside Henri was displaying a collection of his prints, both canvass and paper. My eye was caught by the Broken Spoke picture seen on the right here, possibly perfect for what I wanted to do with my guest room. Sadly, already sold. The picture of Barton Springs pool(center) was also interesting, but a little too photo-realistic for my taste.

Your South 1st St. reporter here. In case you missed the announcement, I did, this Saturday sees the annual South First Art Walk. From their website: “South 1st Street businesses and artists hosts their annual Art Walk and donation drive for the Capitol Area Food Bank, Saturday, October 4, from 12pm till dark.”

“The Art Walk includes music, jewelry, performances, and artwork by some of Austin’s most gifted artists. Visual artist include: Subliminal Phoenix and the 8d Crew; Performance art includes Baruzuland Shadow Puppet Theater; Creative workshops for kids are offered by Future Craft Collective and Greater Austin Garbage Arts (GAGA).” – The event is FREE.

Organizers encourage Austinites to save some cash and ozone by biking, busing or walking to this event. G.A.G.A., located at 2214 S. 1st, offers free secured bike parking and discount cards for South 1st Street businesses.

Non-perishable items and cash donation will be collected for the Capitol Area Food Bank. For every dollar donated, the Food Bank can provide five meals to a hungry child, adult, or senior.

I love the exhibitions at Mexic-Arte. They’re always just large enough to offer a range of objects to consider and enjoy thoroughly and just small enough to be encompassable during a noon-hour. There’s usually a very small entry fee that’s charged in order to help defray the costs of mounting the show.

The current display of items related to the Mayan and Aztec cultures, including commemorations related to a world’s fair, the centennial of Mexican independence, and just the wild electicism of the first half of the twentieth century, will be there only through September 16.

It was a special pleasure to see the photographic post cards of Hugo Brehme in such quantity and where they could be viewed up close. The movie lobby cards from the Agrasanchez hoard are also a close-up treat, rewarding in every detail. We spent a long time watching the second of the Aztec mummy movies. Those theater chairs are very comfortable!

The information cards next to the displays are informative and repay reading in their entirety. They are pretty much all the information available, but they are quite thorough. The only souvenirs of the exhibit in particular that I saw were post cards related to movie promotion from the era of the movies being exhibited. They are lurid and funny. As always, whoever selects the beautiful handmade jewelry to sell in the little museum shop does a superlative job. Any of it would make a welcome present.

Photography is really hot at the moment. With this weeks announcement of the Yahoo/Flickr and Getty Images hookup, many more people have the chance of getting paid for their work.

However, as the creative commons get bigger, it becomes increasingly hard for new artists to get a start. Local photographer and performer, Jennifer Salazar is having her first exhibition to promote her work and broaden her horizon this Saturday, to move her beyond just being online.

Jenn is showing some sixty color pictures raging from 4×6 to 16×20, as images of still life and assorted objects, divided into five groupings with plot lines covering a journey through a dream. The groupings consist of one larger picture with smaller pictures in support.

“The Year of the Piñata” on Saturday, July 12, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at a historic residence on 810 East 13th Street, 78702. Reception with refreshments will be provided during the show and into the late hours. All prints will be available for purchase.

As well as her photography, Jenn Salazar has performed on the stage with FronteraFest, A.L.T.A, Teatro Vivo, and Different Stages.

Just a quick reminder, since last Friday was July 4th, the normal Blanton b-scene on First Friday was delayed to Friday 11th July, and this time is celebrating all things global.

Exquisite Visions of Japan: Prints from the James A. Michener Collection of the Honolulu Academy of Arts (on view June 29–August 24); World beats provided by DJ Avatar (resident DJ of BUZIOS ROOM who are event co-sponsors), a performance by Austin Taiko, Japanese-inspired appetizers courtesy of Austin Catering, there is a cash bar, gallery tours, and you can wander around the gallery, sans food and drink lone.

Check the Blantons website for b-scene for more details, and they have a great membership offer this week!

I was driving home down Mopac the other day and a regular car covered in branches, leaves etc. joined from one of the on-ramps. To start with I couldn’t work it out, but I soon realized it had been decorated that way. As far as I could tell it was it’s normal “dress” not special for a parade or anything.

I mentioned it to one of my friends who pointed out there was a long standing tradition for Austin “art” cars. I must admit, I’d seen a few around, but never put two and two together. Here is one in my neighborhood and there are a load more pictures on flickr of Austin art cars.

Why not upload your pictures too, tag them with keep austin cars weird

I’m partial to a Yoga class, but not so dedicated that I’ll pay a regular membership, it’s tough fitting classes into the work, life, run, swim, bike and race schedule. I also enjoy a touch of the unusual. And here are two classes which address both.

Full Moon Yoga: Tonight sees the next in the Charles MacInerney Summer series of Yoga classes out at the scenic overlook at Ridge Oak Drive. Class starts at 7.30 tonight, and it’s a fun way to start a yoga following since it’s out in the open you won’t feel like everyones watching you and there is plenty of space. Charles leads the class in a somewhat relaxed way, you can make the positions as hard or easy as you want.

If you go, drive to the end of Ridge Oak Drive, I suggest a blanket or Yoga mat, arrive early, turn the car around since its a deadend and please be respectful of the residents and their driveways! Google maps here.

I can’t make tonights class, I’m doing one of the Summer Stampede runs.

Blanton Museum 3rd Thursday: When I discovered the class I decided to keep quiet about it, but couldn’t, it’s too good not to share. On the 3rd Thursday of the month the Blanton stays open until 9pm and entry is free. If that wasn’t good enough, up in the main gallery upstairs they host a free Yoga class.

The class is much more reverential, quiet and serious, but is still a good stretch. If you don’t have a yoga mat and are just starting, the instructor usually brings along a few. Class starts at 6.30pm. It’s probably one of the more unusual places for a class. Free parking is available opposite. Google maps here.

See you there!

There used to be a nearly identical version of this creature, sans vegetal hair-tuft, over by the railroad tracks, but it has been vandalized so severely that it is scarcely recognizable.

This one is slightly the worse for wear: weeds for whiskers, a smile a bit displaced, somewhat tamped down by the force of the downpours, but keeping on keeping on, so far.

These earthen siblings obviously come to us from the same anonymous progenitor. They face west. Smile back at the one still smiling; find this face at Duval and 51st Street, the Flight Path corner.