courtesy Image Editor Untitled Combine 

Texas native and internationally renown artist Robert Rauschenberg has died. He was born in Port Aurthur, Texas in 1925. He saw his first piece of art in France while serving in WWII, and it occurred to him that there was a person behind the painting, a person had actually gone through the process of painting it. In what until then had been a life without art, the revelation was startling.

He was one of the first artists to combine painting with found objects into painting-sculptures which he called, easily enough, combines. His artistic philosophy favored a collaboration between materials rather than the execution of preconceived ideas. He found that he was often disappointed when trying to execute an idea, whereas if he let his curiosity play out, he was often surprised.

He died yesterday at the age of 82 from a heart attack following an illness.

If you’d like to check out more images of Mr. Rauschenberg’s work and related images, click here.

shutterCat7 Not an Ice Bat, but a bat. 

Last week the Austin Ice Bats told me via email that they will no longer be playing at Chaparral Ice and that they’re “currently looking for an acceptable location in the Austin area” for next season. Not bad, I thought. Chaparral Ice was a nice venue, but the relationship between building and sports franchise never really caught on. I get the feeling nobody ever drove by and thought to themselves, “that’s my home for hockey.”

The real bad news was dropped in the next paragraph. The organization “will investigate relocating the team outside of this area if needed.”

photo / Daniel Nicolas Doubleplusungoood :( 

Austin will be rolling out its much anticipated automated camera program aimed at catching motorists who run red lights. The unveiling has been appropriately scheduled to coincide with Memorial Day Weekend — a time when citizens honor fallen military servants by getting blitzed on Icehouse and then driving their cars.

Starting this Friday, May 23, the first camera system will become operational at the intersection of 11th St and the I-35 northbound access road.

The Draught House

Designed in the style of an old-world European pub, the Draught (Queen’s English) House is interesting in that they allow their patrons to drink in the parking lot. There are a few picnic tables off to one side, but mostly people bring camping chairs and their dogs to sit around in the sun, drink beer, and listen to music on their car stereos (at a reasonable volume). Inside the place is all thick white plaster, heavy dark-wood furniture with graffiti carved into it, and dim lighting. The patrons vary wildly in age, and that can be interesting. You can play a game of regulation darts if you want. But it’s really a sit-down-and-talk bar with a good jukebox. The in-house draft selection is superior, and coupled with the guest beers, their selection is one of the best in Austin. To see a list of their in-house and guest beers, check out their list online. Remember, these are only their beers on tap — they have bottles, too.

• Sad news: Ice cream is shrinking.
• Get ready for a fish ice cream treat. This sounds like something my girlfriend might say, but I assure you it’s a real news story.
• Irvine Robbins, the father of Rocky Road, passed away last week.
• Now, what would an essay do with a year’s supply of ice cream? It seems like a waste.
• Honeybees are apparently really important.

photo / Kristin Hillery Kerri Lendo 

One more show to go until the fateful night that the 2008 Funniest Person in Austin will be crowned! Tonight is the final night of the Funniest Person in Austin semifinals. Tonight’s six winners will join last night’s six winners in the finals and there fight the final battle for the title of 2008 Funniest Person in Austin.

Up tonight are:

• Ruby Collins
• Kerri Lendo
• David Cole
• Fred Bothwell
• Matt Willis
• Albert Im
• Eric Krug
• Nick Ramirez
• Dario Konjicija
• Chris Allen
• Dan French
• Chris Keimling

The finals of the 2008 Funniest Person in Austin contest will be next Monday, May 19, at 8pm at Cap City Comedy Club.

8pm | $6 | Get tickets

Cap City Comedy Club
8120 Research Blvd • Austin, TX 78758

photo / Kristin Hillery Jeremy Neal 

One round of semifinals down, one to go. Last night at round one of the 2008 Funniest Person in Austin contest semifinals, the judges picked six comics to advance to the finals, which are being held next Monday.

The six comics advancing to the semifinals are:

• Seth Cockfield
• Todd Merriman
• Daniel Jackson
• Dale Alexander
• Jeremy Neal
• Trey Galyon

Congratulations!

Tonight at 8pm at Cap City Comedy Club is the last night of the semifinals. The judges will pick six more comics for a total of 12 to compete in the finals next Monday, where the Funniest Person in Austin will be chosen.

View a larger image of this comic

Monday | May 12

Monday Margaritas and Movies: Raising Arizona

Every Monday night, the Belmont hosts Monday Margaritas and Movies, a combination of their popular Moonlight Cinema series and their Margarita Mondays. Enjoy drink specials (read: cheap margaritas) while watching a movie on the big screen. Tonight’s movie is the Coen brothers’ cult classic Raising Arizona, starring Nicolas Cage and Holly Hunter.

7pm | FREE

The Belmont
305 W 6th St • Austin, TX 78701