Bright Leaf Trail Head in West Austin

When it’s spring in Austin, thoughts turn to hiking, swimming and enjoying the incredible beauty of the Texas Hill Country. So with temperature highs around 80 degrees, who can stay indoors? Such thoughts were running through my mind last Saturday when I was approached by a group of friends who wanted to hike Bright Leaf Preserve. It’s a pristine 213 acre wilderness site only minutes from downtown Austin, and located near Mesa Drive and RR2222. Named the Best Walk in the Park by readers of the Austin Chronicle 2008, this is a nature lover’s delight!

Neighbors in the surrounding areas of Northwest Hills and Highland Hills are especially fortunate to be within a mile or two of this gift that was left to the Austin community by philanthropist Georgia Lucas in 1994. Over a span of 20 years, Ms. Lucas purchased 34 tracts of land that would eventually become known as Bright Leaf. Her desire was that improvements be kept to a minimum so that the public could enjoy the preserve in a pristine condition. To keep with this directive, all hikes are guided hikes and are led by volunteers twice a month.

Lake Austin View from Mt. Lucas

Today, hikers can enjoy a lengthy checklist of birds and plants that flourish in this urban jewel. White shin oak, agarita, pepper-vine, Lindheimer silk-tassel, Ashe juniper, twisted leaf yucca and Texas prickly pear are abundant. For birding enthusiasts there are warblers, waxwings, starlings, vireos, thrushes, chickadees, quail, doves, vultures, hawks and woodpeckers, to name a few, and of course, there are coyotes, jackrabbits and snakes…all part of the natural ecosystem.

Mt. Lucas in West Austin

There are a number of trails that you can hike depending on your time and fortitude. Children as young as 3 can take a short 30 minute walk on the easier parts of the trail, or the adventurous scout groups that want a workout can be escorted up the more strenuous sections of the preserve. For myself, I was proud to say that I made the 4 mile hike in just over 2.5 hours and enjoyed every minute. My favorite part was the incredible view of Lake Austin as we reached the top of the Mt. Lucas. A view of the Pennybacker Bridge and the hills of Austin make this a hike that is memorable and great for the whole family.

Lucky J's in West Campus

The first food trailer to sign up for the new location is Lucky J’s Chicken and Waffles…yummm! Lucky J’s currently has a trailer at 6^th and Waller in East Austin and they’ve had a steady clientele for the past two years. The owner, Jason Umlas, is excited to take the plunge and be the first vendor to sign up for the new location stating that he loves the way Austinites like to cheer on the little guy. Try “The Deal”… $7.99 for four pieces of dark, crispy chicken and two sweet, cinnamonny waffles. The waffles are just dense enough to soak up syrup and any chicken juice, while the crispy, fried chicken is oozing with herbs and spices… perfection!! And if you don’t have a friend to share this order, go for the “Short Stack”…. a breast and a waffle for $5.99.

With the phenomenal success of the Food Trailer Court on South Congress, other courts have been popping up all over town…north, south, and east. Now Central Austin and the UT Campus area can add another economical dining spot for students and neighbors alike. I can’t wait to see what other trailers will fill the lot at this convenient location…so watch for me there… I’ll be the one with the big smile and a handful of chicken!

Laguna Gloria Art Museum in Tarrytown

Inherit Austin, a membership arm of the Heritage Society of Austin, is holding its annual Easter Egg Hunt on the grounds of the historic Laguna Gloria at the Austin Museum of Art. The beautiful grounds of Laguna Gloria, located deep in the heart of West Austin at 3809 West 35^th Street, have been the site of numerous and well-loved festivals for decades, and this event is sure to please the entire family! Bring the kids and the camera to Laguna Gloria on April 3^rd at 9:30 a.m. for egg hunts, train rides, clowns and photos with the Easter Bunny! Admission is $10 per child, adults are free and the event will be held rain or shine.

For over 50 years, the Heritage Society has been the grandmother of all things historic for Austinites. Featured events throughout the year include the annual Heritage Homes Tour, support of Pioneer Farms, the Preservation Awards Ceremony, and a number of classes and events to increase participation and education regarding the heritage and historic treasures in Austin. If you love preserving history, studying architecture, or just like to visit historic homes in Austin, membership in the Society might just be the thing for you.

Founded by the Heritage Society with the purpose of grooming the next generation of preservationists, Inherit Austin is a group of younger Austinites who hold their own events at local historic landmarks in an effort to increase awareness of our history, unique architecture and preservation issues. If you think you might be a little past the ‘young’ generation, why not consider being a member of the Heritage Society of Austin? Meet neighbors, have fun and make a difference in your home town….whether you just moved to Austin, or you’ve lived here all your life….the Heritage Society offers something for the entire family.

Old West Austin Home

And while we’re on the subject of the Heritage Society events, I’d like to remind everyone that the 18^th Annual Heritage Homes Tour is coming May 22, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Mark your calendars! Last year’s event was so spectacular, I wish everyone could have been there. Focused on the Old West Austin/Clarksville neighborhood just west of Lamar between West 6^th and Enfield Road, the event showcased the Jewels of Castle Hill. That area is a glorious one for historic homes in Clarksville and if you haven’t driven though there, you can’t envision the stately Victorian mansions that cluster around 9^th, 10^th and Blanco streets. If you’d like to see photos, check out my Clarksville page on my web site. I lived in Clarksville for the first five years of my life in Austin in the early 1970s and it’s wonderful to see how the neighborhood has continued to take such great care of their historic homes. This years’ tour location hasn’t been announced, but I’ll be sure to let you know as soon as I hear more.

Cherrywood Green in East Austin

The logistics of the garage sale are as follows. We will be accepting donations, and donors will receive a tax deductable receipt from CHULA, similar to what one would get at Goodwill. We will accept clothes/small appliances/furniture/electronics, etc.. We will not accept mattresses, sofas, televisions-computer monitors, or large appliances (stove, refrigerator, etc..). Ideally we wish donors to drop off their items between 7-9 am Saturday morning at the Green. For larger items or if a person is unable to drop them off, me and I will arrange pick up between 6-8pm on Friday April 16th. It is requested that donors separate their items (adult or children’s clothing/appliances/other) and are encouraged to price the items accordingly.

Garage sale will start at 9am until 5pm on Saturday. This should be a very social event, so everyone is encouraged to come and hang out and meet your Cherrywood neighbors! We plan to have water, coffee, hot dogs and soft drinks available for purchase and possibly a bake sale, so bring your sweet tooth.

If you are interested in volunteering on Saturday, your help will be appreciated. This fund raiser is a “work in progress”, its success will be determined on how many volunteers we have and the effort they provide. A lot of jobs do not require a lot of work, only a commitment to be there on Saturday, other jobs can be done before Saturday if you can’t make it on Saturday. This is the ONLY way we have now to raise funds for the Green so everyone’s participate is necessary to help us create a fund for the yearly maintenance plus build a reserve which is required for many grant applications.. I hope everyone can do some small part, so the entire event will be big and successful! Feel free to email me if you’d like to participate, or just come on over to Cherrywood Road and East 34^th Street on April 17^th!

Franklin BBQ in Cherrywood East Austin

Okay, I’ll admit that writing about your favorite dining trailer is a mixed bag. Do you want to keep it a secret so the lines aren’t long and there’s plenty for yourself, or do you want to let everyone know about what many folks in Austin are now calling the Best BBQ in Austin City Limits? Well, this genie is so far out of the bottle that keeping it a secret doesn’t make sense anymore, so I’m here to tell you about what I think is the best dining trailer in town and its right here in my Cherrywood neighborhood in East Austin!

Franklin BBQ, at 3421 N. IH 35, is located on the side of Owl Tree Roasting (a great coffee roasting shop in its own right!) and the place is always hosting a line of hungry diners from the minute it opens until the food runs out! Just drive by with the windows rolled down on your car and you’ll know why people can’t stay away. The smell of BBQ perfume is so sweet and delicious that you’ll want to keep your smoky shirt around for days just to remind you of the incredible ribs and other tasty delights from your lunch.

Al fresco dining in Cherrywood East Austin

The place is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., but don’t let that fool you. The lines start forming before 11:00 and the food runs out well before 4:00, so get a head start if you want to dine here. With a couple of trailers (one for taking food orders and one for the BBQ pit) and a hand full of picnic tables, Franklin BBQ is getting buzz from all over town. In fact, rumor had it that Anthony Bourdain was slated to eat here on his recent visit. While he didn’t make it on this trip, he’s coming back in a few months to cruise Austin Dining Trailers and do another television show on the topic that is Austin’s newest craze. And there’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll be featuring this latest Hot Spot on the food scene.

Now I just have to take a minute and mention the actual food. While you can read all about it on yelp.com and urbanspoon.com, I have to say that the finest BBQ sauce I’ve ever had is their Espresso BBQ sauce….and it’s to die for…and the Sweet sauce and Hot & Pork (vinegar) are also great. The ribs have a crispy crust and are falling off the bone, the brisket is moist with a perfect smoke ring and the pulled pork sandwiches are juicy and meaty to perfection. You can get the 3 usual sides: potato salad, cole slaw and beans…all good…and perfect pickle accompaniment.

I’m not sure how much longer this little BBQ mecca will be able to hold out as a dining trailer. The lines grow as word spreads and even though the place has only been open since early December 2009, folks are already pushing the threshold on capacity. With food running out around 2:00, you shouldn’t wait to get over and try this place out! Just don’t tell them I sent you. I don’t want to be responsible for the longer lines! And while you’re in East Austin, take a look at the rest of the neighborhood and see if you don’t want to make your home in East Austin. Heck, just being close to Franklin’s BBQ is reason enough to move to the neighborhood!

UPDATE: Franklin BBQ has now moved to a permanent location at 900 East 11th Street, 78702. Remember that they are closed on MONDAYS!

I’m going to change the format from my previous blogs and list the opportunities. This might help you make sense of this massive list, and it will help me keep things in order in my mind. Don’t want to skip anything and if I did, please feel free to write and let me know what I missed!

April 10-11

9–11 – Lonestar Rod & Kustom Round Up. Start your engines for an outstanding weekend as custom, classic cars fill the streets of Austin. The event is held at Travis Co. Exposition Center, but you don’t have to leave town to see these incredible autos. Just go to South Congress Avenue and see every available parking spot filled with one classic car after another. It’s a thing to behold!

10 – Louisiana Swamp Thing & Crawfish Festival. Held at 4th and Guadalupe, this fun event will feature Cajun and Zydeco music and 5,000 pounds of FREE crawfish. Can you say “laissez le bon ton roulette?”

10-11 – Wildflower Spring Plant Sale and Gardening Festival at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Research Center in South Austin. Get your plants and hear gardening lectures at the Wildflower Center. Time to help your garden recover from the past year’s drought and freeze!

11 – Capitol 10,000. In case you’ve been asleep in a cave for the past 33 years, you may have missed the most popular running event in Austin. The Capitol 10,000 will host 12,000 runners as people run for time or run for fun. Wear a costume or just hang around and cheer the runners; it’s a great time for the entire family.

April 17-18

16-18 Austin Reggae Festival. Three days of reggae music benefiting the Capital Area Food Bank. Held at Auditorium Shores, the event features world-wide reggae acts from noon to midnight. We be jammin’, mon!

15-18 Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival. If you don’t already have your tickets for this 4 day event, it may be too late! Events, tastings and cooking demonstrations are scheduled throughout the weekend and you can buy a ticket for each separate event. Don’t be shy, this is well worth the effort!

17 Mighty Texas Dog Walk. Put that mutt on a lease and head to the First Street Bridge with your $30 donation to help Texas Hearing and Service Dogs. Join over 10,000 other dog lovers and break the Guinness Book of Records for the largest dog walk. Let’s beat the Brits and bring the trophy home to Texas where it belongs!

April 24-25

24 Eeyore’s Birthday Party. Yes, Austin is still celebrating the birthday of that melancholy donkey and has been for the past 47 years! There’s nothing like a Saturday in Pease Park with thousands of your closest friends. Wear a costume, bring your bongo and help Keep Austin Weird!

24 Mela Fair at Barsana Dham. The beautiful Barsana Dham Hindi temple in Driftwood holds an open house with loads of Indian food, a petting zoo, speakers, dancing and children’s activities. Save the plane fare to India and enjoy another world in your own backyard.

24-25 Wiener Dog Races in Buda. Yes, I’ve been talking about this for some time and the weekend is almost here! 18 days and counting before the World Famous Wiener Dog Races crown the winning pooch. Head to Buda and get your authentic hat and t-shirt. It’s a conversation starter, for sure!

24-25 Art City Austin. Formerly known as Fiesta at Laguna Gloria, this city wide event is in it’s 60th year of bringing great art and food to the people of Austin. Go to the 2nd Street Warehouse district and look for the tents and crowds. Enter at any of the gates along Caesar Chavez and don’t forget to bring your hat, sunscreen, and wallet! The temptations are strong and the body is weak.

Okay, that’s enough for now. I may have to cut up this list and put sections in a hat to draw what I’m going to do. There are just too many decisions and I don’t want to miss a thing! See you on the streets….

Man Bites Dog Dining on Manor Road

I love to report on restaurants. The benefits are two-fold: you can write about something new and you get to eat!  So I was tickled to hear that there are a couple of new things happening in my Cherrywood neighborhood that we can all get excited about….the opening of Man Bites Dog food trailer at 2101 Manor Road and Connie Green’s expansion of Joe’s Place at 1814 Chicon (NW corner of Chicon and MLK).

Man Bites Dog has been around in South Austin for some time.  They’ve had a food trailer on South First Street next to Torchie’s Tacos under those beautiful trees along East Bouldin Creek.  But now they’ve opened a second trailer on Manor Road and it’s a great addition to the already numerous restaurants that line the street.  Hoover’s Cooking, El Chile, Vivo’s, East Side Café, Mi Madre’s, Red House Pizzeria,  and Thundercloud Coffee have already made the area a dining destination for many of us, but now we can also grab one of the best hotdogs you’ll ever put in your mouth…and I know my hot dogs!

The menu runs the gamut from the basic Vienna dog on a bun with ketchup (there’ very little ‘basic’ about this huge dog) to My Big Fat Greek Dog with merguez lamb sausage and tzatziki sauce, tomatoes, diced onions, cucumbers and feta cheese! You’ve got your Chili Cheese Dog, your Reuben, the Chicken & Brie (chicken sausage with brie & mango chutney), the Where’s the Beef (vegetarian), The Brat (bratwust with sauerkraut and brown mustard), the Bird Dog (chicken sausage with corn relish and pesto mayo), the Cuban (pork sausage with ham and relish and mustard with Swiss cheese), the Big Texas (add BBQ sause and cheddar cheese) and my favorite…the Buffalo Hottie (a beef frank with bleu cheese crumbles and buffalo sauce with green onions)! OMG!!! 

My Cherrywood neighbors are raving about this new addition to our ‘hood, and I must say, we’re glad to have them.  The food trailer phenomenon has swept Austin and us Eastsiders are only too happy to be getting our share of the action.  Now, it Gourdough’s would move in, we’d be set, but I’m told that some neighbors might have to move away because the temptations would be too much!

The other happening that I want to tell you all about is the expansion of a Beer Garden coming to Joe’s Place on Chicon in the Rosewood area of East Austin.  Located just a few blocks from restaurant row on Manor Road, Joe’s Place has been serving up some excellent grub for years and I should know.  I’ve known Joe Cook since our days of working at UT in the mid-1980s.  I was on the team that planned special events and Joe was on the team that served the same events.  And let me just say that these events were indeed ‘special’…and had a guest list of the highest caliber from Texas and around the world.  We served presidents, prime ministers, royalty, and a whole list of Who’s Who from Spain, Japan, Australia and Texas.  So the food had to meet that same level of excellence as our guest list, and indeed, it did.  With this kind of background, it’s no wonder that Joe’s Place has such a distinctive menu, but on a more simple scale for everyday lunches.

But I digress, because I’m not here to tell you about the existing dining establishment as much as I’m here to tell you about their new expansion that opens Friday, March 26^th.  Connie Green, a partner with Joe, is opening Connie’s Beer Garden and offering great food, drinks, music and fun!  Hours will be 3 -9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.  Their kickoff features Leticia Rodriguez y combo, who is locally noted for her beautiful renditions of classic Spanish boleros from the 1920s to the 1950s.   Since the new garden hasn’t opened, I can’t give you a review, but I can tell you that I’ll be there when it opens and am looking forward to another great place to hang my hat on the East Side!

Wiener Dog Races at Buda County Fair

It’s just over a month away, and I’m already getting anxious. You see, it’s that time of year when the annual Wiener Dog Races take place just 17 miles south of here in Buda, Texas. This wacky and weird event has garnered national attention (it’s been on CBS Sunday Morning show) because of the absurdity of racing tiny legs across a green lawn in hopes that one happy contestant will be the winner of the ‘Run for the Roses’. This ranks right up there with the hermit crab races we used to have in the sands of Belize after a few too many Cuba Libras!

The event is sponsored by the Buda Lions Club as part of their fundraising efforts to provide assistance to area children with vision impairments. Since 1979, the club has offered eye-wear, doctor visits, seeing-eye dogs and other necessities to children who could not afford them. Children with diabetes and other physical impairments have been helped all over Hays County and around the world. This small group of men and women in the Lions Club have a lot of heart when it comes to meeting the challenge of helping others maintain healthy eye sight.

This year’s event including the County Fair and assorted cook-offs will be held at the Buda City Park on April 24th and 25th. The festivities start with a Pet Parade and costume contest at 9:00 a.m. and there are qualifying race trials on Saturday. The main event is at 5:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon with the Race for the Roses, when the winner will be crowned. Other events throughout the weekend include a barbeque contest, a chili cook-off, a bake-off and a washer throwing tournament. And if you still haven’t had enough of all things ‘wiener’…then there are t-shirt, gimme hats and drink koozies for you to purchase with (you guessed it) a picture of a wiener dog! Gotta love it!

For all you Texans and wannabes, we’ll start with Texas Independence Day on March 2nd. There will be parades, a 5K race, a golf tournament, ceremonies, parties, and so much more. The festivities start on March 2nd with a Memorial Service for the Veterans of the Texas Revolution at the Texas State Cemetery. There’s a celebration at noon at the Capitol Rotunda and a student contest for school children to promote Texas history awareness. On March 6th, you can join the 5K Run, watch the Texas independence Day Parade and have tons of fun at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. Parking and admission is FREE so mosey down to the Bob Bullock and hear live music, get something to eat, and learn all about Texas history. There is an Alamo Remembrance Ceremony at noon on the Capitol grounds, and a golf tournament on the 8th. For more information, visit www.celebratetexas.org.

Thursday, March 4th is the First Thursday of March and we all know what that means. Yep, it’s time to grab your hat and boots and head down to South Congress Avenue for shopping, dining, and listening to live music. This event repeats itself every first Thursday of the month, so if you miss this one… there’s always another opportunity.

Friday, the 5th is the kickoff for the Star of Texas Fair & Rodeo and if you want some real honest to goodness Cowboy grub, take this opportunity to enjoy a full buffet with country and western music to match. The event is at Auditorium Shores and starts at 6:00 A.M. …yep, that’s in the MORNING! The fair and rodeo runs from March 12th through the 27th, so you can really get a taste of Texas during this wildly popular celebration of all things western. There are cook-off contests, rodeo events, auctions, dances, and plenty of fun for the entire family. Most events are at the Travis County Exposition Center so have those boots shined and ready to go!

Now on the weekend, there are so many more things to do, you’ll need to keep your PDA ready at all times. Besides the Texas Independence Day celebrations that we’ve already mentioned, you can join thousands of volunteers and help clean up Austin Parks at It’s My Park Day! One of my favorite events all year long is Explore UT! Often called the ‘biggest open house in Texas’ this gathering has over 800 events and programs open to the public. Everything from mariachi workshops to solar cars to dancing to free ice cream can be found at the University of Texas campus. It’s FREE and you can find out more at www.utexas.edu/events/exploreut. Finally, if you can squeeze it in, stop by the Sunshine Gardens at 45th and North Lamar and purchase your spring plants for the garden. With high quality seedlings and an array of varieties, you can get everything you need for your vegetable garden in one stop!

Sunday, the 7th is the annual Zilker Kite Flying Festival….so you don’t want to miss this one! This event is an Austin original and you’ll need to dust off that kite, grab a picnic or your pocketbook (there’s vendors for food if you forget to bring your own) and be at the Kite Fields around 10:00 a.m. There are free shuttles from State Garage E at 1604 Colorado Street and you can bring the whole family. With categories like the smallest kite, the largest kite, the most unusual kite, the steadiest kite and the strongest pulling kite, there’s bound to be something that works for you!

One last reminder is that Austin Restaurant Week continues through March 10th so while you’re out running all over town…and who has time to cook?… you can take advantage of some great places to dine for a fixed price. Good for you, good for the restaurants, and good for the Sustainable Food Center charity.

I’ll be back to tell you more about SXSW that starts on the 15th of March. Until then, try to get some rest and don’t forget to set your clocks to Spring Forward on Saturday night, the 14th!!!

Are you a business professional who plays music on the side? Do you want to have your chance to play in front of celebrity judges and your friends on the stage at Antone’s? Cirrus Logic and HEB present the third annual Corporate Battle of the Bands fundraiser and concert at Antone’s on Tuesday, April 20 6pm-midnight.

At a kickoff on February 25, Cirrus Logic CEO Jason Rhode and HEB Retail Operations Director Craig Riha challenged the business community to identify and support a band from their company.

This is one of the most fun events of the year and we hope you will join us! Prizes will be awarded for Grand Prize, Best Original Band, Best Cover Band and Fan Favorite. Grand Prize includes a day of recording time at Bismeaux Studio and four three day passes to the 2010 Austin City Limits festival. The Fan Favorite prize includes a gig at Stubb’s (indoors) and $500 gift certificate to Strait Music. Special thanks to Antone’s, Bismeaux Productions, C3 Presents, Strait Music, and Affordable Sound for their support of the event.

This year’s judges include Andy Langer of KGSR and News8Austin, Matt Hickey of High Road Touring and Johnny Goudie, local musician. Mark your calendar for Tuesday, April 20, 2010! You will not want to miss this event!

HAAM Turns 5 Years Old

2010 marks HAAM’s fifth anniversary. To celebrate, we will be hosting a RockStar Brunch on Sunday, May 23 at Zilker Clubhouse from noon-2 pm. Mark your calendars!

Stay tuned for more information about special musical guests and ticket sales. Special thanks to our sponsors Batter Blaster, C3 Presents, RockStar Bagels, Tito’s Vodka, Twin Liquors, and Whole Foods Market.

2009 Annual Report Released

This week HAAM released its 2009 Annual Report, which shows, among other things, that more than 1,800 member-musicians, most 40 and younger, have been served; that more than 6,000 clinic and dental visits, hospital and hearing health services, mental-health sessions, and referrals were provided in 2009; and that the inspiration and hard work of HAAM founder and guiding light Robin R. Shivers, who passed away last year, will continue to fuel the organization.

HAAM Benefit Day

Whole Foods Market presents the fifth annual HAAM Benefit Day on Tuesday, September 21, 2010. HAAM Benefit Day is a day to celebrate Austin and the musicians that make us the Live Music Capital of the World. On HAAM Benefit Day businesses, large and small, agree to make a cash donation or give 5% of the day’s proceeds to HAAM. Musicians, most of whom are HAAM members, play throughout the city making this event a true celebration of musicians’ health.

Special thanks to 2010 Underwriters ThunderCloud Subs and South by Southwest. Together we are keeping live music in Austin alive and well!

Hear Project Success

260 HAAM member-musicians have participated in HEAR Project Clinics since the program’s inception in 2009. The HEAR Project educates, screens and fits musicians with custom ear plugs and is a partnership between HAAM and Estes Audiology. The program has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the musicians who have participated.

One musician wrote, “I’ve been exposing my most important musical asset (my ears) to excessive sound levels for years. I’m looking forward to keeping the remainder of my hearing intact. I hope starting musicians can take advantage of this program, so they can have good hearing for the entirety of their careers. Thank you.”

Special thanks to the audiology doctoral student interns of the University of Texas-Austin Audiology Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders who staff each of the clinics and to Austin Media Tech for donating the space for the clinics!

Good Eggs & HAAM News

Good Eggs & HAAM, a group of young professionals who support HAAM’s mission through awareness and fund raising, named their new co-chairs for 2010. Quinn Donahue, Jackie Rado and Clint Strait will serve as co-chairs and are currently planning the 2010 calendar of events for the group.

Good Eggs & HAAM had a successful first year! In January they culminated the year with a “holiday party in January” at the home of Bill and Ann Schneider. Ray Benson treated the guests to an intimate performance and the group presented the HAAM Board of Directors with a donation of $9,000! Thank you to all the Good Eggs for your generosity and support! The next Good Eggs & HAAM membership drive begins in March.!

Come Support HAAM at the Austin Outhouse Reunion

If you’ve lived in Austin long enough, you remember the old Austin Outhouse, a cozy, dark hole-in-the-wall at 35th and Guadalupe on the Drag. Like many of the old Austin nightclubs that have gone on to the happy hour in the sky (the One Knite, Soap Creek Saloon, Armadillo World Headquarters, etc.), former patrons of The Austin Outhouse Reunion have joined to celebrate a reunion with some of their favorite musicians. The event is April 9, 10, and 11 at Giddy Up’s (12010 Manchaca Rd.). The line up includes:

April 9 at 5pm: Poor Yorick, Lost John Casner, Herman The German, Jon Emery, Ray Holland and The RoadHouse Rockers, The Rhythm Rats, Mark Ambrose, Butch Hancock
April 10 at 2pm: Brooks Brannon, Sarah Elizabeth Campbell, Dane Paul, Mickey White, Mandy Mercier, Pat Mears, The Ramblers, Ky Hote, George Ensle, Ted Roddy, Butch Hancock
April 11 at 5pm: The Keepers, Calvin Russell, Leti De La Vega, Patty Finney, Ponty Bone and The Squeezetones, Gurf Morlix.
Proceeds will benefit HAAM.

Recent Grants to HAAM

Thank you to the Stephenson Pope Babcock Foundation for its recent grant to HAAM. This unique foundation was created in memory of Pope Babcock and supports programs that Pope would have appreciated and wanted to help. We are honored to be included in this year’s group of grantees.

Because of the Stephenson Pope Babcock Foundation’s generosity HAAM will continue to serve 1,000 low-income, working musicians in 2010. Many thanks!