Some 300 competitors in 75 teams are set to converge upon Austin next week for the 2007 National Poetry Slam, a five-day competition that will feature some of the country's most talented slam artistry. NPS officially runs from August 7 through August 11th, but event organizers are hosting a series of preview events starting today to showcase some of what you can expect to see at the performances. "We're fortunate to be able to again......

(FIRST) THURSDAY [7] party • Official Space Launch Celebration at Salvage Vanguard Theater (9:30pm) music • Go Motion! at Beauty Bar music • The Dollyrots, Alright Tonight, The Sweethearts, Abby Birds at Emo's music • Vietnam and Greg Ashley, The Strange Attractors, The Golden Boys at Emo's music • Scott Miller, The Commonwealth, The Gougers at Stubb's music • An Evening with Old Crow Medicine Show at The Parish Room music • Locals @ La......

Just minutes ago, South Congress Cafe was again cited by Austin's city code enforcement office, after repeated negotiations with Bouldin Creek residents and businesses went unresolved. As you might recall, the chic SoCo eatery (yeah, we said it) built an enormous deck where their back parking lot used to be, despite several stop-work orders from the city. Given the scarcity of nearby lots, this enraged nearby residents, as diners took to parking on the small......

Recently, we've become increasingly frustrated with the eating choices in Austin. As chic restaurants rush to accommodate equally chic new residents, it seems like no one's building shitty old, often carpeted, fast-food joints anymore. Our search for an affordable yet filling meal has led us to three neon lights peeking out over a quiet East Austin road. Far from First Thursday or 2nd Street, the new place to park and walk is Cameron Road.......

THURSDAY [2] film • Austinist, PartyEnds.com, and a bunch of other folks team up to host a free screening of the Vice Guide to Travel at Alamo Drafthouse Lake Creek (7:30pm, Free!) fashion/party • Prototype Vintage celebrates their first anniversary on First Thursday, with snacks and beverages, DJ Little Joe, and more at Prototype Vintage (7-10pm) art • Celebrated Skin: Tatoo Art and Artists Opening at Julia C. Butridge Gallery @ DAC (6pm) art......

Photos from last week's zombie invasion of South Congress First Thursday, a promo stunt for Loaded Gun Theory's upcoming "Bitten! A Zombie Rock Odyssey." Check out a few more photos after the jump, or head over to LGT's site for loads more. Also be sure to waste a few minutes on this nifty Zombie Infection Simulation. [Bitten! Blog] [Zombie Walk Gallery from Loaded Gun Theory] Bitten!, created by members of Stem and Leaf Records......

May your withdrawals subside now.... We did indeed miss a day of NPS countdown, so today's tips are for tonight and tomorrow night. Choosing from tonight's offerings is tough, but for our top pick we've got to go with the man who introduced us to slam, Big Poppa E. He'll be hosting a Haiku Battle at 8pm tonight on the rooftop at Zen's south location. FREE. (Sheesh, there sure are plenty of First Thursday......

Grrr. Are you one the impassioned, musical South Austinites who hate the deck attached to the South Congress Cafe? Is it totally violating your rights, like, right now? It is? Then today, dear misbegotten neighbor, is your lucky day. It's your chance to avenge yourself against those who have wronged you. And you get to exact your revenge through song. Oh, the joy. Tonight, at the climax of First Thursday -- at the height......

If you're hanging out at First Thursday tonight on South Congress, and you see a bunch weirdos in tattered clothes, wandering about, eyes sullen and stinking of rotting flesh, here's what to do: -Run -Play dead -Get behind something, anything -Throw steak or body parts to distract them They're zombies. Zombies of the musical theatre variety, in fact, hittin' the pavement to promote Loaded Gun Theory's September production of Bitten: A Zombie Rock Odyssey.......

Back before SXSW, we had a chance to meet the folks behind Tito's Vodka, the only (legal) distillery in Texas and makers of Austinist's vodka of choice. Tito Beveridge, the man behind it all, gave us a tour of the modest facilities where the magic all happens -- we discovered that he, like the rest of the Tito's company family, is one hell of a nice fellow. And, if given the chance, he'll talk your......

Strut, our favorite affordable (seriously) boutique on South Congress is having a 40 % off storewide sale for First Thursday. Drinks (because let's face it, we all look better after a few) and the DJ get it started at 6pm. If you haven't checked out this store yet, you should. They have the best sales, great jewelry and prices that are affordable, not in that, "Oh well, I'll turn a few tricks this weekend so......

We live right off South Congress, so when First Thursday rolls around (especially the December edition), we can't get out of the nabe fast enough, even if there is a good sale at Hill Country Weavers (we have a little bit of a knitting problem, it's true) or a passel of rowdy Swedes spinning DJ sets at Factory People. Now, truth be told, we hadn't been down to 4th Street to dine lately, but......

Swedish musicians are all the rage these days, with acts like Jens Lekman and Shout Out Louds (among several others) having performed shows recently around town. Today the kids of (International) Noise Conspiracy are in Austin, and it looks like "rock's most politically radical band" is making the most of their time here. At 12:30pm (which is coming up shortly, so you'd best hurry), they're playing at UT's East Campus for the "Rally to......

We aren't looking forward to doing our Christmas shopping this year; we don't exactly love having to pick out the "perfect" gift for our Uncle Susan, whom we rarely see, anyways. But we are determined not to procrastinate this season. Last year, giving everyone a bottle of tequila didn't go over too well for all the kids in the family ... or maybe it went too well? If you're brave enough to get out......

M O N D AY [ 31 ] music/party · The White Ghost Shivers' Halloween Ball at American Legion Hall! Burlesque, Independence Brew, apple bobbing with the TX Roller Girls, Tarot card readings, a kissing booth and more. The White Ghost Shivers will also be performing a live soundtrack to accompany Buster Keaton's "Cops." ($25, 9pm) music · Galactic, Mofro and New Monsoon at Stubb's music · Halloween Show at Emo's with Flametrick Subs, Satans......

There have been a lot of new Austin-centric publications (both printed and online) hitting the scene lately, but we're really intrigued by concept behind box. Self described as "a magazine that blurs the line between smut and culture," box is a "combination of erotic photography, irreverent articles, and other chewy morsels aiming to inform and titillate." Sounds good to us! From their initial press release: box hopes to challenge the schizophrenic nature of our......

Being that we grew up in New Orleans and our family still lives (lived? probably more accurate, at least for now) there and our mind is not on Austin news, we're going to skimp on the report today. Hope you understand. Local Austin news seems to be preoccupied with the hurricane anyway, so we don't feel too bad. If you want an update on Katrina's aftermath in New Orleans: East side residences (the poorest......

Last night we saw a group of our favorite ass-kicking girls at First Thursday. They strode into the patio bar at Guerro's, Rollergirl shirts a bustin' and the music stopped. People whispered and mothers quickly retreated with their children to higher ground. The crowd parted as they strutted over to where we were drinking. The tall one grabbed our shirt, "Well, cowboy? You wanna go for a spin around the track." We grabbed her......

Seriously, is it time for First Thursday again? Highlights of this busy week include Neva Dinova at Emo's on Tuesday, Need New Body at The Parish on Wednesday, the Milago Moonlight Margarita Run on Thursday, and Dance Disaster Movement at The Parish on Friday. Did we forget anything? Let us know. M O N D A Y art · The "Texas Monkey Project" is currently on exhibit at Progress Coffee [pictured: Michael Sieben's "Pink Monkey"]......

Yeah, that's right. Tomorrow is First Thursday, and we're going to be holding our happy hour right in the middle of it. We're not scared and you shouldn't be either. We're not ashamed to tell you that we only recently discovered the neat beer garden behind South Congress Cafe. They have lots o' beers but they also have something called a Cuban Martini, which is a cousin of the Mexican Martini. (South Congress Cafe......

The rest of the week is for nursing your hangovers. Happy 229th, America! TUESDAY [music] Rock & Roll Duo Lottery @ Beerland [film] Austin Film Society presents Luis Bunuel's La Voie Lactee (The Milky Way) @ Alamo Drafthouse Downtown - 7pm [cult icon] The Man with the Screaming Brain with Bruce Campbell live in person! @ Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar - 7pm, 9:45pm [book signing in addition] WEDNESDAY [music] Eisley with Lovedrug, Pilotdrift @ The......

Don't forget to hook up with the Austinist Crew for Happy Hour at the New Opal Divine's Penn Field Location, for those of you who missed the very cool banner on the top of the page. 102.3 is going to be there presenting Shane Bartell by pure coincidence! Should be a good time, especially with the lady killer/Austinist contributor Justin Cox present. Don't forget to check out Ghostland Observatory and Avenue D at Karma Lounge......

Hard to believe it’s already May, but the calendar doesn’t lie. And what’dya know, this Thursday is not only First Thursday, it’s Cinco de Mayo. The Austinist knows it’s never to early to start making plans to party. There’s going to be a weekend festival to commemorate Cinco de Mayo in Austin, and it will kick off on Thursday, with the Austin Civic Wind Ensemble playing on the Grace United Methodist Church’s lawn. The church......

Why not enjoy this amazing weather with some outdoor strolling and people watching. South Congress is the place to be for tonight’s First Thursday. Austinist will definitely be at Factory People later on to hear DJs Black Madonna and The Casual Dude throw it down. Plus, we think they might have some tasty beverages for us to enjoy. Also, don’t forget to sit poolside at the marvelous San Jose. One day we will find an......