Chicago rapper Lupe Fiasco’s two albums are anomalies on the rap racks: winding, wordy projects with few A-list cameos, recognizable producers, or sure-fire singles. That he’s managed to build himself into a successful international brand is not a little bit attributable to a unique set of circumstances. There’s the trap-hop backlash, a dirge in the straight-up New York sound resulting from Atlanta’s ascent, the Kanye Effect, the Jay-Z Effect, that music blogging thing... ...

Welcome to Ask Austinist, the feature wherein we answer questions from our readers. Today we take on this question: Could Austinist please provide some tips on bars or other not so serious venues where political junkies can watch their favorite change-agent, decider, hope salesman and sycophants and wonks stumble their way through presidential primary election nights?...

Austinist wondered, "What are the top spots these days to get your wine on?" Certainly one can order a lovely glass of wine most anywhere - but, for the distinguished Austin wino who wants to polish off a beautiful bottle or sample a creative wine flight in a sassy setting, we suggest the following: Vin Bistro Vin Bistro knows how to treat a guest. By far, this is the most excellent service we have enjoyed......

Ask any mop-haired kid roaming the UT campus with clingy jeans and just a hint of bong water breath, and said youth will tell you By The End Of Tonight is the hottest thing since Malibu real estate. Lucky for him, and you, they're playing a post-extended-hiatus set at Emo's tonight. The Alvin, TX quartet render layers of messy, metallic instrumental post-rock into songs that meander towards catharsis like a lost baby deer wandering into......

When it comes to the supernatural, American are gullable. Here's why Vampires can't exist. Sexy is more popular than scary when it comes to Halloween Costumes. Though we feel that certain attempts to be sexy could be very very scary. Wal-Mart is shooting itself in the foot. We would have aimed higher. Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar? Ask a Paranormal Investigator. Still think you have a cool costume? We guess it......

What do you do if you have a shit ton of money and all of your taste is in your mouth? Well, if you're Governor Rick Perry, the answer is rip-off one of the most asinine advertising campaigns in recent memory to produce a xenophobic and homophobic slander of your opponent Chris Bell. Using voiceover and music approximating the horribly obnoxious Bud Lite Real Men of Genius ads, Perry and his band of communications fools......

You scoff at man-manipulating-nature. We get kind of turned on by the thought of blue tomatoes. 7-Eleven is pulling Cocaine off their shelves. We'll see it being abused in high schools any day now. Fat-ass police officers get offended easily. We often dream of being in the right place at the right time. Did your neighbor recenly install a disc golf course in his backyard? Ask him where he got the baskets. Michael J.......

- Despite some rumors that Wilco would headline Shiner's annual Bocktoberfest, the event's main act is...Godsmack. Well, yeah, that's pretty much the same as Wilco. We just feel sorry for the Old 97's, who seem to be the only good act on the bill. Ask for a keg in your rider, guys. By the way, the 97's will warm up for Shiner with a 10/13 gig at Stubb's. - Speaking of drinking, Kinky Friedman......

Well this could be the last time. This could be the last time. May be the last time. I dont know. [07.22 in Music] Last chance to see A Scanner Darkly with composer Graham Reynolds [07.22 in Movies] Celebrating Slackerdom...Again: This Week's New Movie Releases! [07.21 in Movies] World War III, IV, or V? [07.21 in News] Austin Duo Brave Sharks and Sea Monsters for Vets [07.21 in Fitness+Outdoors] Lock Up the Children and......

Do you have burning questions about burning food? Do you want to know more about cutting on the bias but want to remain impartial? Do you want to know why saffron is only somewhat less expensive per pound than crushed Faberge eggs and Bald Eagle skulls? Well, we may not know the answers, but we certainly know a ton of people in the culinary community who might. Don’t be afraid, just ask. We’ll run......

Attention area stomachs: Let’s get ready to rumble. A visit to the soon-to-expand Wheatsville Food Co-Op reminded us that Wheatsville is ground zero for delicious vegetarian Frito-pies. One visit to their deli counter in the back will remind you how you used to let your freak flag fly back in the day, as well as ensure instant sensory gratification in the form of beans, onions, fritos, and the rest of the ingredients in their......

Kevin Dini is fresh. Ask any of his clients at Namaste Salon (as well as his many friends) and they'll tell you the truth - he's a peach. That's why we were thrilled last night when he accepted our invitation to check out the Downtown Farmers Market at Plaza Saltillo at 5th and Comal, which will be open Thursdays from 4-7pm until September 28 in addition to their already wildly popular Saturday downtown presence.We......

ERCOT sent this press release: ERCOT – the entity that manages the statewide electric grid – has declared an emergency and has ordered that utilities drop or stop serving 1,000 MW of load statewide. Austin’s share of that emergency order is 37-40 MW. Austin Energy begun rotating blackouts in Austin about 4:20 pm to comply with our share of the load shedding requirement. The state’s problem is due to unseasonably hot temperatures plus generating......

A surprisingly hefty offering of new releases today! Trim the fat and take our recommendations to heart, won't you? Basic Instinct 2 It's not possible for us to care less about Sharon Stone's latest attempt to "get back in the game," as it were. You can already download the "sex" scenes from the internet, but honestly, why would you want to? It's like voluntarily searing your own retinas with white-hot needles. *Ice Age: The......

Austinist is recruiting! We're looking for 5 or 6 proficient, dedicated writers. If you're interested in covering: Music Art Film Local News Politics Fashion Food Interviews with Austinites Then we'd like to talk to you. To get a sense of what joining our staff would entail, we've lifted this from our IST brothers and sisters over at Shanghaiist: Ask yourself What would I like to write about? If you're a good writer with style and......

Local band Furthest From The Star are hoping for a record deal with one of the major labels, and need a music video to send off to them. They're asking for a "a lot of friends and people" out in the audience over at Music Lab (Oltorf & Lamar), tomorrow evening for a brief shoot. (Tuesday, 6:30-7:30pm, Music Lab) This weekend, our buddy Angel and cohorts are organizing a Dia de Los Muertos-themed party (isn't......

All in all, we found Board of Canada’s The Campfire Headphase to be pleasant, easy listening. But if you have severe ADD, or any other nervous disorder which precludes you from sitting still or being patient with falling leaves, you might consider something else with a bit more kick. Ask yourself something, and be as honest as you can swing it: do you enjoy kicking back with a cup of smooth coffee, pint of......

Reader Kat writes: I have a degree in Anthropology with a minor in Writing, I graduated with honors, and I am not crazy or irresponsible. Any idea how I can get a job making a living wage (for me=$2,500/month+) in this town? I have been a veterinary technician, which was fun but pays about $10/hour tops, I have been a writing tutor, which is also fun but also pays very little, and I am......

Reader Josh writes: what exactly happens when you go to one of those Adult Modeling Studios that advertise in the back of the Chronicle? also, what's going on in that strange pink house with turquoise trim that can be seen on northbound ih-35? From these questions we can clearly deduce several things about Josh. First: he's bored at his day job. Aren't we all? Second: His night job is running an adult modeling studio......

Reader Liz writes: I, too, am plotting a move to Austin, and I'm hoping you can help me direct my search a little. What neighborhoods would you recommend looking into for a single, artsy, creative professional in her late 20's? You know, the kind of area that has some cool stuff/conveniences within walking distance, although I'd have a car. Inexpensive but not ghetto. Young but not undergrad-young. Quiet but not dead. Architecture with character......

Reader MB writes: I would like to get a tattoo, but would not like to get Hepatitis or something. Any in-town recommendations? Well, as long as you don’t get your tattoo from a homeless guy in an alley you’re probably safe from disease. These things are regulated. Beyond that, it’s time to do some legwork. We can get you started, but it’s really all about personal preference. Here’s a list of local places. There......

Reader Jeff writes: I just moved here recently. I just want to know one thing. How do you meet people here if you’re not in school? Where are all the people in their late 20s? This town is supposed to be chock full of them but everywhere I look people are 22 and painfully hip. Jeff! What are we going to do with you? Austin is full of young, “beautiful people”. Guilty as charged.......

Laura Cantrell – Humming by the Flowered Vine More pop oriented effort from this country singer-songwriter that delivers an album full of quality (heartbreaking) songs. Billy Corgan – The Future Embrace It’s been a couple of years since Corgan’s disaster known as Zwan disgraced his musical pedigree. But he somehow managed to pick himself up and deliver..well no this isn’t top shelf quality Pumpkins work by any means but it will satisfy those Pumpkin......

Reader Jen writes: For some reason, HEB stores have stopped carrying the 8th Continent brand of soymilk. At first I thought, maybe it's because HEB makes their own brand of soymilk, but they still carry Silk. I like 8th Continent way better than Silk, and have to go to Randall's to get it. What gives? We wrote to both companies and, not surprisingly, they both said that if products don’t sell they get discontinued.......

Reader Kenny writes: Any chance somebody might do a roundup on cool wedding venues in austin? On the hunt and looking for resources... Ah, June. We’ve never personally tied the knot in Austin, but we found a few resources to help y’all do it right. First things first. Get your license. Here’s a great resource about that. Now where to get married? You could do the church thing in South Austin at Mercury Hall,......

Reader Alison writes: What exactly is an aquifer? I'm always entering some kind of aquifer and don't know what the heck they are. But damn, those aquifers and watersheds, or whatever, are all over the place. To summarize all of the definitions we found, an aquifer is an underground body of water. Ever heard of an Artesian Well? Sounds sexy, doesn’t it? The marketing departments of certain bottled water companies seem to think so.......

Reader Erin writes: What is up with the famed Intel Shell that is downtown? Is anything going to happen to that space? Do they own or lease the land? It is so ugly, I hope that that structure has some plans. Well, first a little history. Austin offered Intel $15M in incentives in 2000 in an attempt to bring more of Intel's business to our fair city. Spirits were running high with the prospect......

Reader Michael writes: What ever happened to that Austin Chronicle spinoff, AC? I saw one issue of it, then POOF. The reason I ask Austinist is that in that premiere issue, there was substantial mention of this blog... Well Michael, it seems that AC was a poorly executed April Fools joke. If “confusing“ is funny, it was hysterical. At first we thought the Chronicle was trying to reach out and be a little more......

Reader Lauri writes: I saw protesters outside of GSD&M today, with signs mentioning $350 million in war profits.. do you guys know what that's about? Well, it turns out that "GSD&M, Austin's hip, cool, ad agency but also one of the city's largest military contractors [hosted] an event on June 7, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at 828 West 6th Street, in cooperation with Austin Area Interreligious Ministries, for a book project called The Amazing Faith of......

Reader Brian writes: I'd like to ask about the runoff happening right now. Like, what are they running off? Tacos? And who are the people? And what do they stand for? Again, tacos? Ah, Brian is reminding us of the sad, sad voter turnout for the recent elections. Well, Austin, you can still get your two cents in. City Council elections require a 50% majority, and no one got it in Place 3. Hence......