Image via misterjingo on Flickr. Azul (1808 East Caesar Chavez)Now Closed[info]Last week, popular East Side coffee and food spot Azul closed down for good on the day before Thanksgiving. The converted house at E. Cesar Chavez and Chicon had been serving the neighborhood since 2000 with a mix of coffee, sandwiches, and breakfast items. It had been featured as one of Austin's best coffees in both Zagat's Texas restaurant guide and hipster travel guide eat.shop.austin.......

SFist witnessed a new apartment building tszuj the skyline with spectacular, gaudy turquoise aplomb, the (informal) renaming of the Mission/SOMA neighborhood border, the return of the Maltese Falcon, the Mayor Gavin Newsom mea culpa-ing over his Hawaiian getaway during the oil spill, and double-decker buses hitting the streets of San Francisco. Oh, and some baseball player named Barry Bonds is a liar whose pants, it seems, are totally on fire. LAist continues to cover the......

Normally we're wary of anything that hints of the pejorative chick-lit (or related single-twentysomething-hipster-trying-to- get-lucky-with-the-opposite-sex genre) as it's about as wispy-thin and over-played as emo haircuts. But Diane Vadino, whose debut novel is entitled Smart Girls Like Me, had credentials enough for us to take a closer look. Vadino was an original staff member of that magnetic bastion of literary cool, McSweeney's, who churn out more high-minded humor and literature than you could shake a......

Shout Out Louds Our Ill Wills (Merge) 2005's Howl Howl, Gaff Gaff produced a moderate buzz for the Stockholm-based Shout Out Louds, dropping a snappier, poppier version of garage rock on our tightly belted laps. The record, equal parts Johnny Marr and Rivers Cuomo, pondered the woes of hipster heartbreak, dumb-luck sadness and singer Adam Olenius' distinctive croon simply oozed with longing and hope. That being said, Howl Howl is not at all a......

John Vanderslice's latest album, The Emerald City, is a gorgeous glimpse into the mind of a great songwriter - a man attempting to discuss love, loss, and frustration with things outside of his control, both internally and externally. The record is both politically charged and characteristically subtle, bringing Vanderslice to the forefront of his genre. His deft perseverance towards intelligently curated lyrics coupled with an impressive array of acoustic instruments capture the mind and heart,......

Emo's is packing in approximately half of the bands in Austin this evening for a Bacchanalian orgy of rock and roll, Lone Star, and - with all due respect - poorly conceptualized tattoos. Silly tats aside, tonight is guaranteed to be a blowout, and whether you're looking to get familiar with some of the best indie that this town has to offer, or a long-time fan, you'll be sonically satiated come this evening. Here's......

Chances are pretty good that you’ve heard of The MisShapes – New York's party-throwing trio and current It-kids. Last fall, the New York Times wrote about “the phenomenon known as the MisShapes” and their 15 minutes of fame. They've been in countless pop culture magazines, most of which reference the one time that Madonna dropped in on their weekly residency at Don Hill’s in SoHo. They've been on ads for those Eastport backpacks that kids......

It's August already, and if you haven't sweated it out to some great rock outside at Emo's yet, you can't claim to be an actual citizen of this 'burg, let alone a real human in the world. It can be a trying, vaguely sensual experience testing your physical, mental, and spiritual stamina amongst so many different flavors of scenester/hipster/regular Joe, all with their own fragrance and fashion aesthetic - or lack thereof. Also, due......

Two weeks ago, Katherine Gregor's Chronicle column discussed a recent study by professors Louise Harpman and Jason Sowell from UT Architecture, sponsored by the Downtown Austin Alliance. The study concluded that Wooldridge Square Park (between Guadalupe/San Antonio and 9th/10th Street) needs more community support, event programming, and landscaping improvements. Wooldridge Square, along with Republic Square and Brush Square, was one of four public squares included in the original grid for the city of Austin......

Got reels? Dusty old boxes of family films? Long-untouched Super-8 or 16mm treasures? Home Movie Day wants you to bring your stash to the Carver Museum this Sunday. Not only can you see your (or your parents') films projected on the big screen at the swank Boyd Vance Theatre, but there will also be Home Movie Day elves on hand who will inspect and repair your films AND give pointers on proper storage and care......

In the hopes of increasing registered and polite participation in our comments section, Austinist has decided to publish a "Top 5" list of our favorite reader responses from the past week. There are no prizes this week, but one never knows what might develop in the future. Now, on to the main attraction! 1 "I'm gazing into the abyss, but all I'm seeing is a 6-BR split-level mansion, with swimming pool & cabana in back."......

[Editor's note: Cockfight Ethics is a biweekly column written by a long-time Austin opinion-monger and word-slanger, Percy Julian. The opinions expressed herein are the writer’s, and the writer’s alone. They do not necessarily represent those of the Austinist or its editorial staff.] If the other articles don’t hurt me later, this one will, initially. I go to Spider House and Beauty Bar quite often. And each time, I can’t help but to think “Are these......

Last March, Birmingham, England's Editors made quite an impression on those who attended their packed SXSW showcases. An airtight quartet, the band blazed through their sets with energy and precision. A measured mix of post-punk and UK arena rock, Editors project intensity and a dark mood throughout their recorded output. Their debut album The Back Room went gold and produced four Top 40 singles in the UK, and American hipster mag The Fader liked......

As Austin emerges from the thorough soaking we've received over the past few weeks, it becomes time to dry off in the warm breeze of some talented female singer-songwriters. Saturday night at The Parish, you can do just that. St. Vincent (aka Annie Clark) headlines, supporting her first proper LP Marry Me, an album that will mercilessly wallop your preexisting notions of not just female artists, but any artist writing compelling music out there.......

According to the 2007 Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report™, Austinites get into more crashes than drivers in any of the 20 other Texas cities on the list. Austin ranked 179 out of 197 cities nationwide and Austin drivers are 31% more likely to get into a crash than the average American driver. Motor vehicle traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for Americans aged 4 to 34. Why is Austin so bad? Sorority......

Old music lovers need to shake a leg - to cut a rug - this Sunday at the Second Sunday Sockhop – a monthly dance party at Longbranch Inn (featuring rare, popular and totally danceable) songs from the ‘50s, ’60s and ’70s. This upcoming Sunday is the one year anniversary. Expect to see records hanging from the ceiling and free mixed CDs, says Westen Borghesi, aka “Shorty Stump.” Weston and the other three DJs (Jim......

After a month of guesswork, the ACL Fest lineup is here. And it's quite a good one. While the wild speculation of headliners like Neil Young and Stevie Wonder once again proved false, the key items one sees this year are depth and balance. Having spent yesterday looking over the roster, we have the following observations on the 2007 edition of ACL. The Good: A Great Top 10. Had you told us that we'd......

It was a fun-filled weekend with some so-so weather, let's hope that it didn't stop you from making some connections. Let's put off that global warming thingy as long as possible. It'll be 100 degrees before ya know it, and it's hard to look hot when you're sweaty. If you haven't yet had a chance to check for yourself you can read our collection of last week's Missed Connections... beauty bar 1 year anniversary......

Let's be honest: everyone loves SXSW week, but when it ends, you are secretly very ready to move on. Before we do, let's take a look at some of the isolated, crazy, and wonderful moments that make SXSW such an over-the-top sensory experience. – The dude at Girl Talk dancing with a broken pinata on his head. Then passing said pinata to someone else to dance with. – Isaac Hayes talking in his famous......

With no less than three of the biggest afterparties at this year's SXSW abruptly shut down, it's no wonder that we've been hearing all sorts of crazy conspiracy theories. But much as we'd love to blame this year's spate of buzzkilling closures on curmudgeonly old muckety-mucks, the evidence seems to point to something far less interesting: lack of permits. At least that was the case with FactoryPeople's Thursday night rager, "La Chic Disco Boum," and......

Spank Dance Company, with choreography by Ellen Bartel, will be presenting a series of public performances over the next few weeks. The guerilla-style dance performances are meant to bring art to the public by breaking the access barrier to fine art. Staged throughout the streets of Austin, the contemporary dance company will be performing in bright red costumes that will be hard to miss. Spank has partnered with Austinist to provide clues as to......

If you're a fan of dreamy indie-pop and you haven't spent time with a Sparklehorse album, watch out. The North Carolina-based Mark Linkous and his band play hazy, epic music that is worth getting to know. All of the proper credits are here: production from Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev mainstay Dave Fridmann, a guest spot from Danger Mouse, and even some added credibility via a collaboration with Tom Waits. Add this to prior work......

We told you last week that Ghostland Observatory would be rocking Hogg Memorial Auditorium. What we didn’t tell you was that they’d be rocking the old joint with The Black Angels. Further left unmentioned was the fact that the show in January will feature one of the most amazing light shows ever seen at an indoor concert in Austin. We recently received a call from GLO’s secret lair, and the fellas are promising to......

If you survived the Deliverance-esque Ikea parking lot this weekend, and didn't get shot trying to get yourself a PS3, you deserve to spend even more of your hard-earned cash on records. Here's what you can find on the shelves at fine local establishments like End of an Ear or Waterloo today. Sufjan Stevens Songs for Christmas (Asthmatic Kitty) Featuring five discs worth of holiday music spanning the course of five years, tinsel used......

KUT's Laurie Gallardo dishes about local music....

Overheard at Austin High: Like, holy crap, guys. OMG! LYLAS! Listen up! Jenny told Tommy that Marcy told Lucy that Genie let Sally read Susie Tanner’s notebook, in which it is totally written that some kids in the cafeteria are performing High School Musical and that Will Andastaphonopolus is big time G-A-Y. G…A…whoa. Wait. What? Did you say High School Musical? Fer sure, biz-natch. Totally fer sure. I’ve already friend-requested the show on Myspace.......

Some people choose to spend their Halloween hopped up on the ol' boozendrugs, running dementedly through the warehouse district dressed up like Papa Smurf. Some like to go traditional, choosing to dress up and trick-or-treat with the kids. Others prefer to spend Halloween attempting to rekindle their youth my scaring the shit out of themselves with a horror movie. Tonight and tomorrow offer a bevy of some classics and one or two lesser-known gems guaranteed......

If it’s true that every music writer wishes they were a musician – and we can say from personal experience that it probably is – then it is apparently also true that “every musician wishes they were in a cover band.” Such are the words of Aaron Miller, guitarist for Friday After Dark and the brains behind the quirky gala being held at Club DeVille on Sunday night. What started as an oddball idea for......

Thunderbirds Are Now! are kinda like your kid brother if he started a band with a herd of rabid hipster buffalo. On the weekends, they rock out in your parents' wood-paneled basement, listen to Hot Hot Heat LPs, and make a big mess. Sure, you're worried about the whole nose candy thing, but they sound damn good, so you decide to let the little peckerwood have his fun. (TAN! are actually from Detroit, most......

- Wild Horses Couldn't Sell Those Cheap Seats: Charles Attal must be having some trouble filling those far corners of Zilker Park, because KGSR sent out an email this week offering four Rolling Stones tickets and four concert T-Shirts for $199. If you're keeping score, this is roughly half of the original $95 ticket cost. If you'd like to take advantage of the offer, head over here. - New Concerts Going On Sale his......