AroundAustin.Com

Round Rock Express Freedom Fest, July 4, 2009

If you don’t have plans on July 4th come out to The Dell Diamond for Freedom Fest 2009.  If you already have plans, change them!  Jerry Jeff Walker and Kellie Pickler highlight a show benefiting Children of Fallen Soldiers Organization.  You can learn more about the COFS at www.childrenoffallensoldiers.com.

Tickets will go on sale to the public on May 30 through the Round Rock Express box office. Tickets will be $19.50 for General Admission and $29.50 - $39.50 Reserved. Tickets can be purchased at www.roundrockexpress.com or by calling (512) 255-2255. Children 12 and under are free in General Admission area with the purchase of each Adult General Admission ticket.  Get your tickets now at https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2/Buy.asp?EventID=43909.

Acts include:

• Uncle Lucius - (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=18881191) – This Austin (TX) band has American roots music of Southern Rock and Soul
• BARNHILL – (http://www.myspace.com/wwwbarnhillmusiccom) – Another Austin based band, this Country / Rock / Southern Rock band lists Reckless Kelly, Steve Earle, the Black Crows, Gram Parsons and the Allman Brothers as some of their influences.
• The Paula Nelson Band – (http://www.myspace.com/paulanelsonband) – The daughter of Outlaw Country Legend Willie Nelson, Paula was a huge hit at the Reckless Kelly Celebrity Softball Jam earlier this year at The Dell Diamond.
• Ariel Abshire – (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=229477169) – The latest addition to the Freedom Fest line-up, Ariel performs her original songs live at venues across Austin —by herself and with music legend Alvin Crow. Her voice can be heard on soundtracks for films by Robert Rodriguez and Trevor Romain, and she is the youngest female singer to perform before thousands at the Austin Music Awards.
• Kellie Pickler – (http://www.kelliepickler.com/) – Country Music’s newest female superstar, she just performed her hit song “Best Days of Your Life” at the CMT Awards Show.
• Jerry Jeff Walker – (http://www.jerryjeff.com/) – The original Texas Troubadour!
• And  a tremendous Dell Diamond 4th of July Fireworks Extravaganza as well!

Free cupcakes at Delish on Thursday, June 18 2009

Delish is celebrating it's grand opening with complimentary cupcakes all day and complimentary champagne and wine from 6 pm - 8 pm.   Delish is located on 209 W. 3rd street.   You don't have to hang around outside either--Delish has a gorgeous location ... all the more important with the 100 degree heat.  

Their present menu board shows Mexican Vanilla, Chocolate, Lemon Zest, Strawberry, Ginger Carrot, and Red Velvet.   Mmmm....

For more info:
209 W. 3rd St.
512.739.2460
http://www.delish-cupcakes.com/

Krause Springs--a beautiful Texas swimming hole

Krause Springs, in Spicewood Texas, is one of Texas' most beautiful swimming holes.  It is located about 30 miles west of Austin.  Krause Springs has many natural sites to explore. There are 32 springs on the property, and several feed the manmade pool and the natural pool which flows into Lake Travis. 

www.krausesprings.net, 404 Krause Springs Rd Spicewood, TX 78669 - (830) 693-4181

E-Learning Symposium 2009 - Doing More with Less

I spend my days trying to figure out how to improve the productivity of the most valuable part of any organization--it's people.  I'm excited that we're having a conference for like minded folks in Austin--usually I get to get on a plane and travel to these conferences.  The elearning Symposium 2009 is on June 4, 2009 at the Holiday Inn, Northwest in Austin.  Speakers include Jim Moshinskie from Baylor, Dr. McDonald from Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Tonia Dousay from Texas A&M, Hiram Kuykendall, Debby Kalk, and John Gillis.  Dr. McDonald's Pulse!! program is one of the most sophisticated e-learning programs in the world--a must see.  

The symposium will focus on helping you create cost-effective e-learning programs that help make your folks more productive.  So if you're an instructional designer, trainer, or just someone your boss is bugging about implementing learning programs.  Register early because there's a significant early bird discount--and quite honestly this conference is likely to sell out.  

More information about the conference is available at www.elearningcouncil.com

I spend my days trying to figure out how to improve the productivity of the most valuable part of any organization--it's people.  I'm excited that we're having a conference for like minded folks in Austin--usually I get to get on a plane and travel to these conferences.  The elearning Symposium 2009 is on June 4, 2009 at the Holiday Inn, Northwest in Austin.  Speakers include Jim Moshinskie from Baylor, Dr. McDonald from Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Tonia Dousay from Texas A&M, Hiram Kuykendall, Debby Kalk, and John Gillis.  Dr. McDonald's Pulse!! program is one of the most sophisticated e-learning programs in the world--a must see.  

The symposium will focus on helping you create cost-effective e-learning programs that help make your folks more productive.  So if you're an instructional designer, trainer, or just someone your boss is bugging about implementing learning programs.  Register early because there's a significant early bird discount--and quite honestly this conference is likely to sell out.  

More information about the conference is available at www.elearningcouncil.com

Austin's Deep Nasta, President of the Audience Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

Local Realtor, AroundAustin.com contributor, and philanthropist was elected President of the Audience on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon by a unanimous vote.   Some, in the Twitterverse call him the best audience participant ever on the show.   Leave it to Deep to be in New York for a month and end up on a national TV show.  Don't y'all think Mr. President should talk to Jimmy about bringing the show to Austin?  Sounds like a issue that Mr. Leffingwell and Mr. McCracken can get behind.

Trish Morrison has started a Facebook group to extend the silliness ummm I mean the reign...sheesh.

P.S. Deep didn't get to keep the dog.  

Gorgeous Westlake House for Rent

Want to have the perfect place to entertain your friends, and have fun with the family?  This gorgeous 5 bedroom house (with 5 full bathrooms!) in Westlake is now for rent.  The house was remodeled in 2008 by one of Austin’s premier custom home builders—#1 Custom Homes.  When I toured the house, I loved that it’s nestled in a quiet corner of Westlake at the end of a narrow lane.  It has a huge flat lot (1.4 acres) and yet has some of the most amazing views of the city. 

To find more information about renting it (or buying it) go to #1 Custom Homes or call Sham Nasta at 512 698 3158.

 

Daryl Colburn Copper Sculpture Workshop

One of the must stops for me at the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar is Daryl Coburn's booth. I absolutely love the art and the craft involved in his copper art and sculpture.   This year I found out that Daryl offers a two day workshop called Embrace your Essence.  In this workshop you learn to work with copper, a hammer, an acetylene torch and small hand tools to create a gorgeous copper sculpture that you take home with you.  Just as importantly you spend a lot of time with a journal writing your thoughts and feelings about the blocks you have towards achieving what you'd like to achieve.

Day 1 begins with cutting out a 2'x3' sheet of copper from a larger sheet (oh boy! get to play with a hot torch).   Then you anneal the copper and crumple it into a ball--flames and a hammer.    You spend a large portion of the day hammering the copper, and annealing it.  Annealing realigns the molecules in the copper, and softens it making it easier to hammer and shape--Daryl uses this as a life metaphor.   You have plenty of time waiting for the copper to cool--you can use the time productively by journaling.   

Day 2 you get to unfold your sculpture (another metaphor).  You unfold it by using your hands and pry bars.  I tried to use my hands as much as possible..it was interesting the marks my hands would leave on the soft surface.  When the copper gets stiff you use the torch to anneal it and start prying it apart again.  It was interesting to me that everyone got to a point where they sensed that they'd created a piece of sculpture (instead of a bit of crumpled metal) and stopped.   Of course Daryl helped by urging us to look at the metal at every step instead of just banging away at it.  

After the sculpture is complete you add a patina using common household chemicals.  It is astonishing how you can get such a deep patina by using heat, hammering and a couple of common chemicals.   After two days of hard work and introspection (under the eye of a master) you've created a piece of art.  A deeply satisfying experience.  If you're interested in creating art, like working with your hands or just want a memorable experience I highly recommend this workshop.

Daryl Colburn Embrace your Essence Workshop Information

Austin Restaurant Week - March 1-4 & March 8-11, 2009

 

The best way to try out some of Austin's top restaurants (and support the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas) is to attend Austin Restaurant Week. With over fifty $25/$35 prix fixe menus, Austinites can try some of the best food Austin has to offer at a reasonable price.

March 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th and then March 8-11, will be the second time Austin Restaurant Week has come to town. Check out participating restaurants and their menus and be sure to call for reservations.

Austin Restaurant Week - March 1-4 & March 8-11, 2009

Austin Photos for Sale to benefit Miracle Foundation

For a limited time, I'm offering two of my favorite Austin Photos for Sale to benefit one of my favorite charities--the Miracle Foundation.   I've priced the 8x12 at a very special price.   All profits (the check I get) will go directly to Miracle Foundation.  Click here to buy. 

Click here to buy. 

Deep Nasta's trip with Miracle Foundation to India

 

Our favorite realtor, Deep Nasta traveled to India with the Miracle Foundation for the grand opening of an orphanage funded by the Sooch Foundation.   The Austin American Statesman has a story of his travels.  If you remember we interviewed the remarkable founder of The Miracle Foundation, Carolyn Boudreax on AroundAustin.