Street Festival Meets Outdoor Movie Screening: A Fund Raiser for 6th Street

We at the Remington want to make sure you don’t miss out on any of the good stuff Austin has to offer.

Here’s one you want to know about:

Ghostbusters is showing this weekend. But it’s not just showing. It’s showing on a street in downtown Austin. In fact, it’s going to be almost like a street festival. Vendors will be on hand selling good food, and there will be a beer tent, too.

It’s a fund raiser for 6th Street Austin, which is a non-profit organization that works to preserve and improve the history and absolute drop dead awesomeness of Austin’s 6th Street district.

Appropriately enough, the film screening is happening right there in the heart of the 6th Street area. The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is setting up its mobile outdoor movie paraphernalia on San Jacinto Street, between 5th and 6th Streets.

We’re pleased that our company, Greystar Properties, is one of the sponsors of this event.

It happens Sunday evening. Gates open at 7:30, and Ghostbusters starts at 9:00. You might want to take a lawn chair with you, because this is happening on a city street that doesn’t happen to have theater chairs.

Admission to this extravaganza is free. But it’s a fund raiser. Organizers would be grateful if you’d donate $5 or more as you go in.

And, please, no wee children. Kids six and older are allowed at the film only if they’re with a parent or guardian.

On July Fourth: Which Side of Town Lake Will You Be?

This year, the big Austin Fourth of July celebrations are coming down to the choice of north of the lake or south of Town Lake.

South side of Town Lake

The Austin Symphony will continue its tradition of presenting a concert of patriotic music under the stars at Auditorium Shores. The concert caps off with a rousing performance of the always crowd pleasing 1812 Overture (with real cannon!), followed by fireworks over Town Lake.

The music begins at 8:30 Sunday night, with the fireworks starting at about 9:30. But get there early to get a good listening and viewing spot on the grass.

For more information, including parking suggestions, go to the Austin Symphony website.

North side of Town Lake

In contrast to the symphonic music and grassy lawn at Auditorium Shores, the Seaholm Power Plant will offer the funky sounds of T Bird and the Breaks, the Bright Light Social Hour and Til We’re Blue or Destroy.

It’s the first Fourth of July Celebration at Seaholm Power Plant.

You’ll be able to purchase Tex-Mex food and barbecue other tasty food. And perhaps best of all, the site is reportedly a good spot to see the fireworks over Town Lake.

Admission is free, but organizers hope you’ll make a donation to Anthropos Arts, a non-profit organization that runs music education programs for low-income kids.

(Photo: Some rights reserved, Dan Jones)

This is Not a Tip on How to Clean Out Your Closet, But That’s What Might Happen Anyway

We’re going to call this a suggestion on how to clean out your closet. But it’s really just a modest attempt to alert you to a cool organization that has an unusual way of making the world a better place.

It’s Girls Rock Camp Austin, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering girls and women of all backgrounds and abilities through musical education and performance.

They teach girls how to play in a band and write songs… and work with others, and realize self confidence, and to pursue their dreams.

They’re hoping you might have some unwanted musical equipment you’d like to get rid of– P.A. and speakers, bass amps and guitar amps, drum sets, electric basses and guitars– all in good working condition, please. (High-end quality is not required, but welcome!) New cables, tuners, sticks and picks are also needed.

And if you don’t have that kind of thing lying around, they’d gratefully accept gifts from their Amazon wishlist (here).

The world could use more rocker girls. You can help.

(Photo: Some rights reserved, Mike Connolly)

Best Place to Take a Dog in Round Rock

When was the last time you took your best friend for an outing? And I don’t mean to dinner and a movie or for coffee over at Scooter’s.

I’m talking about your canine best friend.

Sure, you walk Spike every day. But wouldn’t he love it to really stretch his legs a bit and  maybe meet some new friends?

Luckily, there’s a very nice, new dog park not too far from The Remington. It’s the cutely named Dog Depot at Lake Creek Park in Round Rock.

It opened in March with two fenced in sections– one for big dogs, one for the little fellows. There’s plenty of room for romping, lots of stuff to sniff, and rocking chairs for the humans.

Lake Creek Park is at 800 Deerfoot Drive, Round Rock.

There’s  more information on the City of Round Rock website.

(Image: Some rights reserved, City of Round Rock)

Round Rock’s Regatta: Not Prestigious, But Fun

Central Texas isn’t know for its yachting culture. But in fact, one of the most prestigious regattas in the world takes place just a few miles from The Remington. Beautiful and technically sophisticated vessels take to the water in a series of highly competitive races. It is the world famous Round Rock the Boat Regatta.

OK. So it’s not so prestigious, and certainly not world famous. It might actually be competitive, though, assuming the boats don’t sink.

The races are between boats made entirely of cardboard and tape. Not all the awards go to the fastest vessels– style counts, too.

The Round Rock the Boat Regatta is a lot of fun to watch, and you’re invited. It happens this Saturday (May 15) at Round Rock’s Old Settlers Park. That’s only a short drive from The Remington.

The races start at noon.

Go to the Regatta website for more information.

(Image: Some rights reserved, The City of Round Rock)

Late Spring: The Perfect Time for A Midsummer Night’s Dream

For a quarter century now, there’s been Shakespeare under the stars at Zilker Park, and it’s time for this year’s production– A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

It’s on stage Thursdays through Sundays at the Hillside Theater, through the end of May. Curtain time is 8pm, except Mother’s Day, when the show starts at 2pm.

The Austin Shakespeare website has more information, as does the City of Austin’s web page for Zilker Park.

Enjoy the show!

The New Backyard: Your Chance to Experience the New Amphitheater

A lot of music fans are excited about the opening of the new Backyard at Bee Cave. It’s the enlarged and improved version of the old amphitheater that first opened in 1993.

The new Backyard is not far from the old site, but with improved parking and a larger amphitheater. But Backyard management promises it is just as beautiful and remains committed to preserving the Hill Country environment the concert venue is built on.

The Backyard is holding an day long First Look Festival, giving fans a chance to experience the theater for the first time and to enjoy a lot of excellent music.

Performers include Gary Clark Jr., Carolyn Wonderland, Malford Milligan, WC Clark, Omar and the Howlers and many more.

The music starts at 11am. Tickets are $25.

The Backyard is located at 13472 Bee Cave Parkway, next to Bee Cave Park. That’s about a 30 minute drive from The Remington.

Go to the Backyard website for everything you need to know.

(Image: Some rights reserved, Rich Anderson)

This Weekend: Hot Rods Invade Austin

You can look at a car two ways: it’s either a utilitarian device used for personal transportation, or it’s an objet d’art, a reflection of the human spirit.

To tell the truth, I’m more the former than the latter. There’s nothing very remarkable about my car (other than its old age), and other than comfort and reliability, I’m not looking for much.

But, cars can be beautiful. And the people who customize them interesting.

That’s why I’m recommending a weekend visit to the annual Lonestar Rod & Kustom Round Up. It’s the ninth year of the Round Up, making it pretty much an Austin tradition now.

It started today, and continues through the weekend with live music, a swap meet, cute girls, and of course, cool cars.

It’s at the Travis County Expo Center, 7311 Decker Lane.

Check the Lonestar Round Up website for more information, music schedule, photos, and more.

(Image: Some rights reserved, Tim Dawson)

Be One of the Thousands: Clean Sweep is Coming Up

We’re just a few days away from an Austin tradition that I think really shows you what a cool place this city is.

It’s the annual Clean Sweep organized by Keep Austin Beautiful.  It happens on Saturday, April 10.

Literally thousands of people turn out to put in a couple of hours cleaning up public spaces that need some sprucing up. It could be a neighborhood playground, or a nature trail, or, say, picking up trash along Lake Austin.

It’s a major undertaking, but Keep Austin Beautiful has it well organized. Just go to the Clean Sweep website. You look over all the individual projects that still need some volunteers, and you sign up.

After the cleanup, all the volunteers head over to Waterloo Park for free lunch, live music and fun activities.

Note– so many people volunteer that some of the projects have to turn people away. When you think about it, that’s awesome. So, seriously, don’t wait too long to volunteer. Get a couple of your friends together and sign up now.

It happens on April 10. The clean up projects go from 9am until 11am, and the party at Waterloo Park is 11:30am to 1:30pm.

Are you ready? SXSW!

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