Halloween in Austin

Most importantly NO SNOW!!!  The city parties all week-end, dancing in the streets since Friday.  In the 3 Halloweens we've been here not one kid or adult has come Trick or Treating!  I guess I'll just save the candy for next year....kidding!  Follow-Up:  Abe told me one little boy rang the bell this evening.  And when Abe waved to the boy's father and said something to him the little boy said "he doesn't hear you, he's deaf."  Happy Halloween in Austin.

Trinity Street Players/Three Viewings

This afternoon I soloed up to First Baptist Church on Trinity and 9th st to see Jeffrey Hatcher's THREE VIEWINGS.  It's a black box theater that reminds me so of Public Theater in SoHo.  The top performance goes to Linda Miller Raf who plays Mac, a woman who robs cadavers in their coffins.  She is a very good actor.  I auditioned for this and did not get a part.  It was nice going back to see the selected performer.  I can see that I was not the right age for either part..too old/too young. The director and asst director were warm and remembered me.  Not bad for this newcomer.

Master Pancake spoofs HALLOWEEN/HUGOS

What fun!!!!  John Erler and partner Joe Parsons outdid themselves with this spoof of this awful movie.  And when Joe entered the audience wearing the Mike Myers mask and stood behind me I screamed my head off.  Abe said I could be hired as a plant it was so funny!  After this spoof Reed, Abe and I  headed to a new restaurant on S. Lamar, HUGOS.    Delicious, beautiful atmosphere, great service, FREE PARKING, great affordable prices.  What a lovely restaurant.  Hats off to new owner Magna Sampaio!!!!

East Side Studio Tour 2011/ Liz Moskowitz Photography

When we first arrived in Austin we spent a week-end at this artists' crawl.  From gallery to studio we were so impressed with the artists' talent.   And now our girl (oops woman) Liz Moskowitz has her photography represented in this quintessential Austin  artists' event celebrating Austin's artists.  We are so proud.  Her photos will exhibit at Pine Street Station (1101 East 5th Street).  The photos selected are from SUNDAYS portraying Indonesian and Filipino domestic workers living in Hong Kong.  These are photos taken with an empathetic heart.  Check them out for yourself.  And please support Austin artists.

Liz Moskowitz Photography

Austin Film Festival Final Day #8

Tonight we headed up to the Paramount to see Nancy Savoca's UNION SQUARE, a story of 2 estranged Bronx sisters.  A shout out to Mira Sorvino who played this unbalanced emotional and labile character with extraordinary honesty and great depth of feeling.  Tammy Blanchard as her sister was well cast as was her friend, Daphne Rubin-Vega. This reminder of my Bronx roots and Union Square with it's DSW, Feline's Basement and Farmer's Market made the film even more appealing to me.  It was great hearing people talk like me and call Manhattan "downtown." 

I met Abe at Roaring Fork prior to the film.  Once again my favorite Happy Hour haunt with the greatest chicken tortilla soup!  And so we close AFF for the year.  We'll be back!

UT OLLI/ Austin Film Festival Day #7

Fine day at UT today with Abe.  First 2 Seminars continue to keep us very interested.  We go from ethical issues to Sports and the teachers are both excellent.  The afternoon lecture was from a deep sea diver (woman) who was on the team that explored  a mine sweeper sunk at Pearl Harbor.  Not much of our interest here.
I stayed on campus and went over to the AT&T conference center while I waited to see A SWINGIN' TRIO, our neighbor Kelvin Phillips' film which made the list at AFF. The film was very well written and directed by Kelvin.  This evening it was well attended as well.   Hats off to you Kelvin.

Austin Film Festival Day #6

This afternoon I soloed it to SHORTS at the Hideout.  As always waiting on line with our favorite Welsh director and a lovely teacher we've met from Milwaukee adds to the great experience.  Shorts 4 were the best films I have seen in the festival.  (Along with GIN & DRY).  MWANSA THE GREAT was everyone's favorite.  An African film about children's fantasy play.  So creative and so well done.  Don't forget the name...catch it wherever and whenever.  A harrowing film WHAT TO BRING TO AMERICA about female circumcision in a modern Muslim setting had me cringing!!!! And yearning for a drink when it was over! PROTECT THE NATION about a child's hustling life in S.Africa had me cringing as well.  So well done by a NY young woman.  SHOOT THE MOON was about our modern economy and people losing their homes.  The relationship between the mother and teenage daughter was so well written and acted. The second set of shorts were too weird for my taste (think a  father's comically plotting to kill his young son----yech!)

A good day at AFF!  Tomorrow evening one more after UT OLLI.