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Underground Heroes

Texas State Cemetary offers history lesson amidst pleasant, landscaped grounds.

If you haven't been to the State Cemetery in a while, you owe yourself a visit. It holds intrinsic fascination, all the more so since its recent renovation. Appalled by the site's neglected condition, the late former lieutenant governor Bob Bullock initiated the extensive makeover in 1997. His vision was for children to learn more about Texas history with one trip to the cemetery than they would in a whole school semester. That goal is handily realized on these 18 acres, with features modern and ancient.

Map of Austin Poetry

Slam Poet Tony Jackson

August poetry readings and happenings.

While it may not enjoy the same brand name recognition as Austin music, the spoken word scene in Austin does hold quite a bit of cache on the circuit. Below is a monthly calendar of events. There is no cover unless otherwise noted, though tips are sometimes encouraged. Contacts for more information may either be the venue or the hosting poet.

Brass Ring Opens With a Bang

(l to r) Kenneth Wayne Bradley, T. Lynn Mikeska, Joel Citty Play takes cues from Tarantino and Ritchie, but takes a life of its own.

Still reeling from all the praise heaped upon their last production, HIT (winner of three B. Iden Payne awards—script, director, cast performance—and winner for cast performance at the 2005 New York International Fringe Festival), A Chick and a Dude Productions present their next great work, a semi-sequel of sorts to HIT. Director Melissa Livingston (the chick) and writer/actor Shanon Weaver (the dude) weave a complex tale of two hit men waiting on news for the next big hit, and the woman who could ruin everything. Brass Ring is playing until August 30th at the Hyde Park Theatre.

Fantastic Fest Badges On Sale

Vincent, Le Magnifique

V.I.P. passes already gone; you snooze you loose (the front row seats to the sci-fi action).

Just a head’s up that you better act fast to guarantee your Fantastic Fest badges. While out-of-towners gobble up the available passes to this quasi-underground genre film festival, Austinites who traditionally wait until the last minute might wind up at the end of the line.

Cameras roll again in Austin August 6.

Austin has been the shooting location for the critically acclaimed and award winning "Friday Night Lights" TV series for just under one and three-quarter seasons. The fractional season, which worked out to 15 episodes rather than 22, was stopped short as a result of the writers' strike. With the strike off, the writers have written their way into the 3rd season and the producers are hoping that a new deal with DIRECTV will bust the cancellation rumors that have loomed over the series.

Zilker Botanical Garden

Path and bridge in Zilker Botanical Garden Natural beauty abounds in this jewel of Austin.

A sanctuary filled with colorful butterflies, native and exotic foliage, quiet nature paths, and a sensational series of ponds is situated amongst the proverbial concrete jungle, located right in the heart of Austin. This urban greenspace is none other than the Zilker Botanical Gardens, signaled by the stone sign off Barton Springs Road. The exquisite 31 acres inspire nearly half a million people to visit these gardens each year. Since the natural beauty is ever-changing, locals return seasonally to find new surprises.

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