Results tagged “celebrity”

Thursday, March 12 (we’re giving you a bit of heads-up so you have time to make rezzies), Billy Bob Thornton will be inducted as an honorary Texan. The Oscar-winning actor, writer, and musician was born in Hot springs, Arkansas, but is actually being honored for his “quintessential Southern ‘bad boy’ image,” which really, when you think about it, a “Southern bad boy image” is so Texan we might as well have invented the damn thing.

After Alicia Silverstone's spicy commercial for PETA—where the Clueless star delivers a PSA in the nude, save for some strategically positioned limbs—was deemed unsuitable for broadcast in Houston, PETA took matters into its own hands. Their newest video takes the viral route, and features a so-called "lone Lettuce Lady" delivering a rather innuendo-heavy message directed to Governor Rick Perry: Luckily for the Lone Star State, the sexy Lettuce Lady created an easy plan to help...

Here in Austin, we're all about the environment and stuff. Right? Damn right! So this year's AFF Green Cinema Showcase should go over especially well with all you envirothusiasts out there. This year's program will feature three films that explore topical environmental issues like global warming, industrial hemp production and renewable fuel sources. Oh hey--if you're interested in these films, you might also want to check out Gimme Green, a short documentary exploring America's obsession...

Last Friday in Houston, a young girl brought a loaded 9mm pistol to school and started pointing it at people. She is 12 years old. The U.S. Supreme Court's new term starts this week. Why exactly is socialized medicine such a bad idea? Interesting article... The guy who tried to extort $1 million from Tom Cruise commits suicide. Article about the bloggers who helped bring the story of recent government oppression in Burma to...

Friday, July 6artB Scene - Too Darn Hot! at Blanton Museum of Art, MLK at Congress ($5-$10) booksAlan Porter presents Before They Were Beatles, with Beatles cover band Daytripper at BookPeople (7:00pm) comedyJohn O’Connell with Jesse Pangelinian at Cap City Comedy Club comedyPunchline, open mic stand up comedy at ColdTowne Theater (10pm) comedyLovey and Lovey at ColdTowne Theater (8pm) comedyWeekly Improv Cage Match! at ColdTowne Theater (11:30) film"Bonnie & Clyde" and "White Heat" at The...

As everyone knows by now, today is (sniffle) the Alamo Downtown's last day in operation--at its current location, at least. And they're going out with a bang, offering a fabulous feast to accompany Big Night, shaking things up with Earthquake, and freaking you out with Night Warning featuring Susan Tyrrell live. Everything's mad sold out, of course, but there "may" be standby tickets available for Earthquake and Night Warning ($30 for each film, $75 for...

You have probably never heard of Larry Weir, but if you grew up in the 80's you have most likely seen or heard his handiwork. This Sunday, he and his brother/writing partner Tom Weir will visit Austin to host a serendipitous screening of the 80's cult cheese classic Teen Witch as part of the Alamo Drafthouse Celebrity Guest Signature Series. Apparently, an Alamo staffer had been bugging the management to play the movie for years...

If your first thought upon hearing of the new movie I'm Reed Fish is "Who's Reed Fish?" you're certainly not alone. Who is Reed Fish? Is that even a real name? How could his (her?) parents be so cruel/awesome? Why don't more people have animal last names (we want to meet a Mr. Platypus)? Shouldn't Reed Fish & Co. be the name of a hedge fund company? And are there real live "reed fish"? (Yes,...

Every year - from large festivals to more intimate tastings, from foodie seminars to elegant galas - the Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival showcases many of austinist's culinary favorites. At locations throughout town, the festival highlights not only local restaurants and culinary talents but local products as well. This year, the festival includes old favorites such as demos and classes by local and national celebrity chefs as well as the ubiquitous Sunday...

This Sunday, the SXSW Film Festival will host the world premiere of Jennifer Venditti's much buzzed-about documentary Billy The Kid. The film follows Billy Price, a fifteen-year-old boy who overcomes obstacles with courage and wisdom to spare. This one looks really interesting—apparently, Venditti is a casting agent who's famous for her "street scouting", where she travels around finding real people (as opposed to, you know, actors) for advertising, fashion and film roles. She encountered Price...

Sometimes Austin musicians move on and get signed. Yes, it really happens. Tonight is your chance to see one of these rare creatures in their native habitat! Formerly of Austin’s premier emo-core outfit, Recover, Dan Keyes now fronts the electronic dance-rock band Young Love, appearing tonight at The Parish. Released January 30th, Young Love's Too Young To Fight It (Island) has been generating lots of excitement, most of which is coming from the "mainstream". Some...

SXSW Presents returns to KLRU TV tomorrow for its third season, with four brand new episodes slated to run through the end of February. The critically acclaimed series, hosted by SXSW Film Fest Producer Matt Dentler, showcases some today's finest examples of independent filmmaking, many of which have a local emphasis -- past epiodes have featured Viva Les Amis, 24 Hours on Craigslist, and Witches in Exile. BBQ: A Texas Love Story February 6th,...

Whether you've just entered your twenties and are thinking about things like what to major in in College, or you can see 30 looming on the horizon (or fading behind you, for that matter) there's at least one thing that everyone has in common: parenthood. Wait, what? Seriously. Think about it: you are either a parent yourself, or you'll eventually become one, or your friends are parents or maybe you simply have parents (and the...

WEDNESDAY [24] books • Dr. Steven Moore presents Alternative Routes to the Sustainable City at BookPeople (7:00pm) books • Neal Shusterman presents Everlost at BookPeople (7:00pm) comedy • Bil Dwyer at Cap City Comedy Club DJ • Cut Club at The Mohawk DJ • Tighten Up at Beauty Bar film • Stroszek at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown film • Ladies of the 80s Singalong at Alamo Drafthouse Downtown film • Weird Wednesday: Get Mean at...

SXSW today announced an exciting new contest they're sponsoring with director Robert Rodriguez, in anticipation of the upcoming Rodriguez-Tarantino double feature, Grindhouse. Filmmakers are invited to submit their best "grindhouse trailers" for a fictional feature-length film, in the same vein as those being made by celebrity directors Eli Roth and Rob Zombie. Rodriguez (Sin City, Spy Kids, Once Upon a Time in Mexico) himself will judge the best submissions and share these at a...

Bush's approval ratings have hit a new low, but Paula Abdul's star rating is still rising. A local Senate bill is asking that the revenue from red light cameras be transferred into a state fund to support trauma and emergency medical care. This is better than not knowing where the added revenue will go, but we still do not like the idea. Austin City Council members have approved a resolution to get $30 million...

Alpha Dog Dir: Nick Cassavettes There's an interesting moment early on in Alpha Dog that sets up the gist of the movie. At a house party in an affluent LA neighborhood, teenagers are getting loaded and generally misbehaving. One, eyes heavily lidded by pot smoke, points at a rap video playing on a plasma TV and proclaims derisively, “Man, they only thing they be shooting is music videos!�? Apparently these upper-class Valley kids know a...

Halloween is Tuesday, which means this weekend is really the time for all of the –ists to celebrate. And whether they’re designing super-spooky costumes or talking about the super-spooky upcoming elections, we’d say that they’re doing a fine job of it. Austinist knows that few things in life are scarier than zombies, people with way too much money, and politicians who try too hard to be funny. Slightly less scary, depending on whom you...

President Bush and former President Clinton could be heading to Texas to stump on behalf Rick Perry and Chris Bell. Should Lance Armstrong do more to clean up his dirty little mess? Four ramps near State Highway 45N and I-35 interchange are to be closed this week in preparation for the opening of new connector ramps to SH 45. Iraqi leaders have agreed to develop a timetable for taking over security duties to protect...

Local big name Chefs Tyson Cole of Uchi and David Bull of the Driskill Grill will go head-to-head “Iron Chef�? style this Saturday during the Healthy Chef Showdown at the Austin Farmers’ Market. Cole, named one of Food & Wine Magazine's Best New Chefs of 2005 and Bull, who tried to kick Bobby Flay's ass on the real Iron chef and lost (but still kicks ass if you ask us), will get all Celebrity...

BackstageDrama, Dir. Emmanuelle Bercot, 2005 Screens: Monday, October 2nd at 7pm "In a world relentlessly tuned in to “American Idol�? and the daily lives of the TomKats and Bennifers, the universal obsession with celebrity can cross the line into fanaticism. In keeping with the times, Emmanuelle Bercot’s stunning feature directorial debut explores the psyches of both the star and her adoring fan to reveal a troubling view on the world of celebrity worship and...

Imitating Norm MacDonald impersonating Burt Reynolds on SNL's Celebrity Jeopardy: "It's funny because it, ah, you know, it says 'Historic District,' but it's in front of modern architecture. Funny." Seriously, when did the city put these new signs up? And how did someone — an amateur photographer, no less, who should be a little more observant — not notice them until like last week?...

Hooters has a conscience about selling a $200 bottle of champagne to a FEMA aid-recipient, so they're reimbursing the agency. We can't wait until those strip clubs pony up the money spent there by disaster victims. Those debit cards- a disaster indeed. A Brooklyn artist posted his backyard tree house for rent as a gag but the housing market there is so competitive, he actually had a few seriously interested parties. Check out the...

Tomorrow night, The Streets take to the stage at La Zona Rosa. Mike Skinner's third album, The Hardest Way to Make An Easy Living, has drawn many favorable reviews ("twice as good as any album about the price of celebrity has a right to be" -- Guardian UK). Be sure to arrive in time to check out opener Lady Sovereign, easily one of the most entertaining acts we caught at SXSW. If you haven't...

A memorial show honoring Clifford Antone will be held tonight at his club, starting at 4pm. The free tribute includes performances by Double Trouble, Malford Milligan, Guy Forsythe and Cyril Neville. News8 Austin considers Antone's long-lasting influence on Austin's music scene in a piece published earlier this morning: "He brought blues clubs here in the '70s when no one else was doing that. He brought leading musicians from around the country and sometimes from around...

When The Streets' third album, The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living, came out last month, Austinist sponsored a listening party with the We Explode! kids at Beauty Bar. By now, most of you've probably had a chance to check out the new record by the feisty UK rapper; The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living (VICE) follows up the adorably adroit Mike Skinner's hugely successful first two albums, Original Pirate Material and...

Who’s afraid of Carolyn Bream? Not us. In fact, we’d say the economy-sized Texas Culinary Academy student – with her quirky schoolgirl ringlets and bright, funky wardrobe – is one of the least intimidating food people we’ve met. So who is afraid of Carolyn Bream? The competition. Bream is $15,000 closer to paying for her culinary education after winning the 2006 Stephan Pyles Celebrity Chef Challenge Scholarship. The annual competition, which comprises culinary students...

We’re a little morbidly fascinated with JT LeRoy — not because we like overwrought coming-of-age stories, but because we love hoaxes. Similarly, we’re a little fascinated with Asia Argento — not because we like self-important starlets, but because we love the cult of celebrity. So, when the two came together to produce the film version of LeRoy’s second novel, we have to admit, we were intrigued. We didn’t expect The Heart is Deceitful Above...

"I saw Kenny Rogers outside Time Square Studios this morning at 9ish. He was sitting in his black SUV and telling his fans that he would take care of them 'next time.' He looked exactly like he's had a ridiculous amount of work done." Who gives a damn?! Don't you people have jobs? Or hobbies? Or something? Gawker.com one of the leaders in celebrity gossip on the internet for the past two years has...

Tonight, Antone's is hosting one hell of a fundraiser, replete with music, art displays, and a runway show. The GAT5 Showcase, put on by the "interdisciplinary art collective," features works by Charles and James Ferraro, Dustin Downing, Bonner Fowles, Sam Evans and Val Brown, accompanied by sets by Alpha Rev, Johnny Goudie, 54 Seconds and 3 Balls of Fire. And, more interestingly, sometime during the evening the Chronicle's gossip/fashionista Stephen M. Moser is debuting...