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Weekend Picks
Written by Austin.com Staff   

Austin.com weekend what-to-do picks for 11/21-11/23.

Few are the opportunities to laugh syrup through your nose. Too few, some might say. But you get that chance this weekend with a smorgasbord of improv comedy and waffles. You also get a chance to take in more art that you could ever handle; shake your built-in seat cushion at a two-day funk fest; see two of the longest-running bands in history; help feed children while treating yourself; celebrate the release of 2008’s Beujolais Nouveau; and a whole lot more. So without further ado, here are austin.com’s picks what to do this weekend.


PERFORMANCE

Waffle Fest 2008
Hideout Theatre / Thurs-Sat, 8pm & 10pm / $10
Photo courtesy of Hideout Theatre
Waffle Fest 2008
All-you-can-eat improv comedy and waffles. Going together like, well, improv and waffles. The seventh annual Waffle Fest is three days of improv comedy, two performances each night, each performance with three unique acts. Tickets to shows are $10 each and all come with all-you-can-eat waffles. The running tally for the past six years includes 50 hours of fresh-baked improv and the disappearing act of 6000 fresh-baked waffles. Notable Austin acts like ColdTowne, Gigglepants, Girls Girls Girls, Parrellolophonograph, and Frank Mills are included in what is sure to be a memorable weekend. Laughing milk through your nose is one thing; syrup is a whole ‘nother deal, brother. Tickets here, or show up at least a half-hour before showtime.


Bob LillyLITERATURE

Dallas Cowboys’ Bob Lilly
Border’s (Westgate) / Friday, 7pm / Free
While other Dallas Cowboy stars are busy using their fancy footwork to win “Dancing with the Stars,” (ahem, Emmitt Smith), Bob Lilly has a different game plan for retirement. Often referred to as the greatest defensive tackle in NFL history, Lilly recalls the glory days on and off the field in his new book A Cowboy’s Life (Triumph Books). Mr. Cowboy himself will be present for discussion and a book signing.


THEATER

The Nina Variations
Dougherty Arts Center / Thurs-Sat, 8pm / $15 ($12 for students)
The Nina Variations
Photo: Will Hollis Snider
Theater fans looking for an intelligent night of drama can’t pass up Nina Variations, a tale ripped from the pages of Chekhov’s The Seagull, following the characters of Nina and Treplev soon after the events of the play, as they are left with several chances to make right what had once gone wrong, and find true love, or die trying. Non-Chekhov fans can take in all the romance and wit, as well as the intriguing and often hilarious postmodernist twists throughout, while Chekhov fans will love following some of their favorite characters into places they’ve never seen before.  Featuring stellar performances by B. Iden Payne award winner Rachel McGinnis and Aaron Hallway, and direction by the acclaimed director Will Hollis Snider, this is treat for theater buffs and newcomers alike.  


ART

East Austin Studio Tour
East Austin / Sat & Sun, 10am-5pm / Free
Sculpture in progress
Phillippe Klinefelter
One of the most anticipated events in Austin, E.A.S.T. finds more than 200 artists in 150 (give or take) working studios and galleries opening their doors as participants take a self-guided art tour. The unique vibe to visit the studios creates a direct connection with the artist in their workspace. Many provide the opportunity to see works in progress in addition to the thousands of finished pieces that will be on display, most available for purchase. You’ll come across paintings of all styles and mediums, sculpture, metalworks, pottery, wood, jewelry, photography, glass, furniture, mixed media, and things you never imagined could be imagined. Many stops along the way will have snacks and refreshments, and keep your ears open for after parties, as they typically abound. (Read full story here.)


FOOD

Nouveau and Beyond
Ventana Restaurant / Friday, 6:00pm / $60
Ventana Restaurant at the Texas Culinary Academy will host its first annual Beaujolais Nouveau Release Party and wine pairing dinner this Friday, November 21. Festivities begin with an hors d'oeurve reception accompanied by a tasting of this year's Beaujolais Nouveau, to be followed at 6:30 by a four-course dinner featuring the wine and cuisine of the Beaujolais region. Chef Graham Mitchell has crafted a sumptuous menu in homage to Lyon, the gastronomic capital of France. "Miss Jane" Nickles, one of Austin's most beloved wine instructors and writers, will reveal the secrets of the perfect food and wine pairings for Beaujolais with four hand picked wines (including the elusive White Beaujolais) that she considers to be amongst the world's finest pairings. For Reservations call 512.339.3850.


Empty Bowl Project
Mexican American Cultural Center / Sunday, 11am-3pm  / $15
Empty Bowl Project, Austin, TXLocal pottery makers donate thousands of unique bowls in every color and size. Austinites come to buy one of the handmade bowls. The $15 charge includes the first fill-up, with a choice of homemade soups and breads from more than 30 participating restaurants and bakeries, including Cissi’s Market, Mandola’s, III Forks, Mars, and Hoover’s. All the money made from the event is donated to the Capital Area Food Bank’s Kids Café Program, which provides children from low-income neighborhoods with nutritious meals and homework help. Live music during the day includes Shelley King, Susan Gibson, Betty Soo, and more. A silent auction features celebrity bowls signed by the likes of Billy Gibbons, Michael Stipe, Kris Kristofferson, Lloyd Doggett, Craig Ferguson, Joe Ely/Joel Guzman, and plenty more notables. (Read full story here.)


MUSIC

Handsome Joel Foundation Benefit w/ Supersuckers, Pure Luck, Chaparral, American Graveyard
Scoot Inn & Bier Garten / 7:45pm / $15

Supersuckers
Supersuckers, photo: Michael Lavine
It would be Handsome Joel Svatek’s birthday, so this bash benefits the Safe Ride Program in his name. The legendary Supersuckers visit one week before they release their long-rumored, finally-realized new CD, Get It Together, just in time for the country punks’ 20th anniversary. Need any street cred? Lemmy Kilmister once said “if you don’t like the Supersuckers, you don’t like rock ‘n’ roll." Pure Luck is J.D. Pinkus’ (of Honky, and Butthole Surfers) country project, which leans toward the drinking and irreverent sides of country. Jeff Hughes’ Chaparral does pure honky tonk covers of just about everyone (including Guns ‘n Roses). Up first, American Graveyard throw in a little banjo, but that doesn’t meant they shy away from the rock and the roll. Some have even reported sightings of a punk rock side.


FunkFest III w/ Stanton Moore Trio, The Greyhounds, Bonerama, Topaz, T-Bird & The Breaks, more
Stanton Moore of Galactic
Stanton Moore, photo: Amy Opoka
The Parish / Fri & Sat, 9pm / $25
Capturing the vibe of the late-night after sets of New Orleans Jazz Festival, the third annual FunkFest in Austin, TX, lights up The Parish. The marquee funkmeister on Friday is the Stanton Moore Trio, featuring Moore (drummer for Galactic), Robert Walter (B3 maniac of Greyboy Allstars), and NYC guitarist Will Bernard; headlining Saturday is fellow New Orleanians Bonerama. Representing the best of Austin funk is The Greyhounds (with sax monster Topaz sitting in), Flyjack, and the stellar soul/R&B revue of T-Bird & The Breaks. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door.

 

African Children's ChoirAfrican Children’s Choir  w/ Band of Heathens, featuring guests Bob Schneider, Carolyn Wonderland, Guy Forsyth, Kacy Crowley
The Parish / Sunday, 5pm /$25
Music choir of children (ages 7-12) from several African nations. All the children come from poverty-stricken regions, and their concerts and music raise money for parent organization, Music for Life Institute, which funds education and relief efforts for children in poverty and disease-stricken areas of Africa. Austin’s Band of Heathens, a cross between Little Feat and The Band, support the uplifting, rhythmic choir. A who’s who of Austin top acts will make special guest appearances.


Blind Boys of Alabama, Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Long Center for Performing Arts / Sunday, 7:30 / $22-$56

Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Photo: Zack Smith
Two iconic American institutions on tour together. The Blind Boys of Alabama get their name because a) they’re blind, b) they’re from Alabama, and c) they started when they were just boys…back in 1939. Their rousing gospel harmonies have garnered nationwide acclaim, drawing huge festival crowds and four recent Grammys. Preservation Hall is one of the most famous clubs in New Orleans’ French Quarter. Keeping old-school New Orleans jazz tradition alive, mixing elements of marching band, brass band, and jazz. Visiting the Big Easy without stopping there is like skipping The Louvre in Paris. The house band keeps changing through the years, but they always carry the flame.  

 
 

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