Central Texas News

Taco Cabana will celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day on Feb. 17 by handing out tens of thousands of breakfast tacos from 7 to 10 a.m. throughout the state, including busy Austin areas like 6th Street, UT, the Texas Capitol and near the downtown MetroRail Station. Those who receive a taco are encouraged to share their experience on social media via #RandomActsofTacos.

“We had so much fun last year surprising people with our ‘random acts of tacos’ that we decided to do it again,” said Taco Cabana Chief Operating Officer Todd Coerver. “We expect to give away more than 50,000 breakfast tacos across the state to inspire people to commit random acts of kindness, and we look forward to seeing their pictures and videos from the day.”

In addition to the street giveaways, guests who dine at Taco Cabana restaurants the morning of Feb. 17 will receive a coupon for a free breakfast taco on their next visit, while supplies last.

To connect with Taco Cabana via social media, visit: https://www.facebook.com/TacoCabana, https://twitter.com/TacoCabana and http://instagram.com/taco_cabana.

The Long Center for the Performing Arts is thrilled to celebrate their 8^th Anniversary and present the Dell Hall debut of the legendary The Beach Boys with special guest John Stamos March 5th! Tickets are on sale now!

Regarded as the most iconic American band, The Beach Boys have become synonymous with the California lifestyle and have become an American icon to a worldwide audience. Since lead-singer and front man Mike Love penned the lyrics to The Beach Boys’ first hit, Surfin’ U.S.A., the band has had a string of chart-topping songs that include eternal anthems of American youth.

The group had over eighty songs chart worldwide, thirty-six of them US Top 40 hits (the most by an American rock band), four reaching number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The Beach Boys have sold in excess of 100 million records worldwide, making them one of the world’s best-selling bands of all time and are listed at number 12 on Rolling Stone magazine’s 2004 list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”.

John Stamos is best known in his starring turn as Jesse Katsopolis in Full House. His television credits include General Hospital, Glee, and the Fox sitcom Grandfathered, starring alongside Josh Peck and Christina Milian. His Broadway credits include Cabaret, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and Bye Bye Birdie. He has been playing alongside The Beach Boys at occasional concert engagements since 1985, and appeared in their 1988 video for “Kokomo”.

The Beach Boys are led by Mike Love and Bruce Johnston, who along with Christian Love, Randell Kirsch, Tim Bonhomme, John Cowsill and Scott Totten continue the legacy of the iconic American band.

Tickets are available at TheLongCenter.org or by calling (512) 474.LONG (5664). Also available at the Long Center’s 3M Box Office located at 701 West Riverside Drive at South First Street.  For groups of 10 and more, please call 512-457-5161 or groupsales@thelongcenter.org.

Calling all fashionistas!  Area style mavens are invited to Fashion from the Heart on Thursday, February 11 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.  Guests will enjoy light bites and wine pairings from around the world as they move from station to station.  The evening will feature a silent auction and spa services, as well as a runway fashion show featuring the hottest looks from San Marcos Premium Outlets retailers including Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5^th, bebe, Banana Republic, St. John, Citizen Watch, Tommy Bahama, VF Outlet, and Vince Camuto.  Keynote speaker and New Braunfels native, Kayde Campbell Wolf, will also share her heart transplant story.

Presented by Embassy Suites Hotel, Spa and Conference Center and sponsored by Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5^th, FMA and San Marcos Premium Outlets, all proceeds from the evening will benefit Ingram Heart Center at Central Texas Medical Center.

Tickets are $25.  Visit CTMCHeart.com to purchase tickets.
Thursday, February 11  at 5:30 – 7 p.m.

Embassy Suites Hotel, Spa and Conference Center
1001 E McCarty Ln.
San Marcos, TX 78666

For more information about San Marcos Premium Outlets visit  www.premiumoutlets.com/sanmarcos/ or call 512-936-2200.

Straight from Dell Hall to Beijing and back,  The Peking Acrobats are returning to Austin in their 30^th Anniversary Tour, featuring their centuries-tested, astonishing acrobatics February 28 at 3pm. Tickets are on sale now and start at just $29!

Austin may be known as the Live Music Capital of the World, but we’re also on the international map when it comes to yoga and other forms of aerial dance! The Peking Acrobats fit right in to Austin’s funky vibe with their gravity-defying feats of dexterity, flexibility, balance and athleticism.

It will be a great afternoon for the whole family, a first date or even just a fun, relaxing afternoon out with friends. Whether you’ve seen it five times or have yet to experience the wonder, The Peking Acrobats put on a show you have to see to believe.

Direct from the People’s Republic of China, The Peking Acrobats are a troupe of China’s most gifted tumblers, contortionists, jugglers, cyclists, and gymnasts complemented by live musicians playing traditional Chinese instruments.

Since their Western debut in 1986, The Peking Acrobats have redefined audience perceptions of Chinese acrobatics. They perform daring maneuvers atop a precarious pagoda of chairs; they are experts at trick-cycling, precision tumbling, somersaulting, and gymnastics.

Rooted in ancient Chinese traditions, yet totally mesmerizing to contemporary audiences, these spectacular routines are guaranteed to thrill audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

A performance by The Peking Acrobats brings with it the opportunity to experience the epitome of a rich and ancient folk art tradition with the addition of the pageantry and spectacle of modern Chinese Theatrical Circus. Each movement or action takes many years to practice and perfect.

Those who have seen The Peking Acrobats on any of their previous tours can be assured that they will see new, exciting acts and new twists to old favorites, celebrating THIRTY years of awesome entertainment!

Tickets are available at TheLongCenter.org or by calling (512) 474.LONG (5664). Also available at the Long Center’s 3M Box Office located at 701 West Riverside Drive at South First Street.  For groups of 10 and more, call 512-457-5161 or groupsales@thelongcenter.org.

DreamWorks Animation’s TROLLS is an irreverent comedy extravaganza with incredible music! From the genius creators of SHREK, TROLLS stars Anna Kendrick as Poppy, the optimistic leader of the Trolls, and her polar opposite, Branch, played by Justin Timberlake. Together, this unlikely pair of Trolls must embark on an adventure that takes them far beyond the only world they’ve ever known.

The Trolls are heading to the big screen!

To get ready for DreamWorks Animation and 20th Century Fox’s new hair-raising adventure TROLLS, Justin Timberlake, Anna Kendrick, Gwen Stefani, James Corden, Russell Brand, Icona Pop, Ron Funches and Kunal Nayaar have all taken to Twitter to reveal their characters! Check out their tweets below to get your first look at the Troll characters before their motion picture debut on November 4, 2016.

Justin Timberlake (Branch)
Anna Kendrick (Poppy)
Gwen Stefani (DJ Suki)
James Corden (Biggie)
Russell Brand (Creek)
Icona Pop (Fashionistas)
Ron Funches (Cooper)
Kunal Nayyar (Guy Diamond)

Blue Lapis Light, Austin’s site-specific aerial dance company is known for creating transcendent works of beauty and flying off buildings for the last 10 years.  Company members teach on-going classes in aerial silks, harness, conditioning, and ballet.  Their vision is to cultivate the exploration of dance technique and to share the joy of expressive movement in the air and on the ground.  Blue Lapis Light’s custom 3040 square foot aerial studio space, provides two studios and a tranquil environment in which to grow and learn.

Classes are offered to students of all ages.  Blue Lapis Light specializes in aerial silks, with classes for beginner, intermediate, and advanced students, group or private sessions.  Also, Harness classes are available, allowing students to run on walls and dance suspended in the air.

Special workshops are offered in site-specific dance, movement awareness, and custom classes for big and small groups.  Each summer the Children’s Aerial Creation Camp leads groups of children ages 8-12 in collaborative choreography, creating a unique performance for friends and family at the end of week.

Annually the studio presents the Blue Lapis Light Student Showcase, including over 14 dance pieces created for and by students.  This year the student showcase, Within & Beyond is January 7 & 8, 8pm at the Boyd Vance Theater at the Carver Museum.  For more information or tickets go to http://bluelapislight.org/performances/

Austin, TX – Thursday, December 10, 2015 -Alamo Drafthouse and PBS KIDS are pleased to announce the launch of a new year-long initiative that will bring PBS KIDS’ award-winning programming to Alamo Drafthouse screens across the country each month.

“PBS KIDS at the Alamo” will feature full-length episodes of new and favorite PBS KIDS’ series, beginning with NATURE CAT in January 2016. Other selections include READY JET GO! in February and ODD SQUAD in August. Additional titles and dates will be announced throughout the year.

“PBS KIDS is excited to present ‘PBS KIDS at the Alamo,'” said Lesli Rotenberg, General Manager, Children’s Media, PBS. “This project will introduce more kids and families to the fun, engaging content of PBS KIDS, while supporting the great work local PBS member stations do year-round with their partners in early childhood education.”

Similar to Alamo’s popular Kids Camp series, families may reserve seats with a $1 to $3 donation that can be made online in advance or at the box office. All donations will be directed to a charity or non-profit in each market, such as PBS member stations or their local partners, to support early learning activities.

Regular Alamo age and noise policies will not be in effect for these shows. Families with kids of all ages will be welcome and the environment for each show will be suitable even for the youngest ones, from what’s on screen to what’s up in the lobby.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with PBS KIDS as we expand our high quality programming for our youngest guests and their parents,” said Amy Averett, Director of Family and Community Engagement, Alamo Drafthouse. “Seeing PBS KIDS shows on the big screen adds to the interactive learning experience that parents can build on at home.”

PARTICIPATING MARKETS & LOCAL PBS STATIONS
Austin, TX – KLRU
Denver, CO – Rocky Mountain PBS
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX – KERA
Houston, TX – Houston Public Media
Laredo, TX – KLRN
Lubbock, TX – KTTZ
New Braunfels, TX – KLRN
Omaha, NE – NET
San Antonio, TX – KLRN
San Francisco, CA – KQED
Winchester, VA – WETA

For more about Alamo Drafthouse, visit drafthouse.com

Alamo Drafthouse Social Media:
Facebook: facebook.com/AlamoDrafthouse
YouTube: youtube.com/alamodrafthouse
Flickr: flickr.com/alamodrafthouse
Instagram: instagram.com/drafthouse
Pinterest: pinterest.com/AlamoDrafthouse
Snapchat: drafthousesnaps

For more about PBS KIDS, visit pbskids.org

A polar bear of many words, Norm’s greatest gripe is simple: there is no room for tourists in the Arctic.  But when a maniacal developer threatens to build luxury condos in his own backyard, Norm does what all normal polar bears would do…he heads to New York City to stop it.  With a cast of ragtag lemmings at his side, Norm takes on the big apple, big business and a big identity crisis to save the day.

Alamo Drafthouse is blasting off with a new menu filled with food and drink specials specifically designed for STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS that are available at Alamo locations nationwide. To celebrate the release of the highly anticipated film, Alamo Drafthouse is unveiling photos of its out-of-this-world STAR WARS-themed menu that is sure to send audiences into hyperdrive.

Food choices include Nerf Strips, Trash Compactor Pizza, Jabba Critter Fritters, Yoda Soba Salad, and Wookie Wasaka Berry Crepes. Audiences can pair their food with drinks such as the Tatooine Sunset or the Gold Membrosia, created by Alamo Drafthouse bartenders Christian Gutierrez and Matt Tanksley respectively. The drinks were created as part of a company wide competition, with the winning cocktails picked at this year’s Fantastic Fest.

STAR WARS Menu Specials

FOOD

Nerf Strips

Beef Skewers in Orange-Garlic Marinade, Pesto Sauce.

— Nerfs were one of the most consumed meats in the galaxy. And, shagginess aside, nerf herding a was a vital – and very profitable – vocation.

==

Trash Compactor Pizza

Mozzarella, Blue Cheese, Pear, Pecan, Green Onion, Bacon Jam.

— “What an incredible smell you’ve discovered!”

==

Yoda Soba Salad

Chilled Soba Noodles, Spinach, Shaved Brussels Sprouts, Nori, Avocado, Cucumbers, Seared Tofu, Sesame Seeds. With Soy-Ginger Dressing.

— Packed with delicious green foods. A wise choice, this is.

==

Wookie Wasaka Berry Crêpes

Chocolate Ricotta Filling, White Chocolate, Raspberries.

—The Wookies are vegetarians and one of their delicacies is the Wasaka berry, a fruit that looks very much like a raspberry.

==

Jabba’s Critter Fritter

Corn, Shrimp, and Red Pepper Friters. With Roasted Jalapeno Aioli.

— Besides lording over a vast criminal empire, Jabba enjoyed eating the various insect-like creatures native to Tatooine (deep fried, of course).

DRINKS

Tatooine Sunset: Cana Brava Rum, Añejo Rum, Orange, Lime, Almond, Bitters

Created by Christian Gutierrez, bartender at Alamo Drafthouse Village (Austin, TX)

Gold Membrosia: Tequila Cabeza, Elderflower, Ginger, Rodian Spice Liquor, Orange Bitters, Lemon Oil

Created by Matt Tanksley, bartender at Alamo Drafthouse Kalamazoo (Kalamazoo, MI)

Get your tickets https://drafthouse.com/starwars

 

STAR WARS-themed Food & Drink Menu Specials (Photo credit: Annie Ray)
Die-cut Millennium Falcon-shaped menu (Designed by Chris Bilheimer)

John Wesley Coleman’s Secular Holiday Spectacular and Greatest Hits Vinyl Release Celebration

Free and Family-Friendly

Featuring…
A. Sinclair
Aaron Blount (of Knife in the Water)
Reaganometry
Magic
Elvis Presley
Food
and More!

December 26th @ Museum of Human Achievement
Doors – 5:30 PM
End – 10:00 PM
Free & All Ages
Follow Link to Receive Address
Facebook Event

Austin’s resident mystery pop honky tonk wizard – also know as John Wesley Coleman III – is bringing an extra dose of non-religiously affiliated cheer this season with his first ever Secular Holiday Spectacular, to be held December 26th at the Museum of Human Achievement. Aaron Blount (of Knife in the Water), A. Sinclair, Coleman and special guests will provide musical merriment, and a special appearance Elvis Presley. Coleman will act as the host for the evening in the vein of America’s patron saint of Christmas specials – Bing Crosby. The event will also celebrate the vinyl release of Greatest Hits, the latest release from the ever-prolific artist on local label Super Secret Records, with half of proceeds from sales will go to charity. Food will also be provided and guests are welcome to BYOB.

Coleman is a prolific Austin-based garage pop singer- songwriter who has many solo full-length records under his belt and counts himself as a member of psychedelic 5-piece The Golden Boys. His interactive, kid-friendly tracks touch on topics from the surreal to the mundane, and frequently looks to his (almost) 2 year old daughter Zoe for inspiration. The native Texan released his newest record Greatest Hits in October, which chronicles his evolution as an artist as he enters into new creative turf – becoming a new father. The album received positive attention from the Austin Chronicle (the piece also features an adorable photo of Coleman and his daughter!), The Austin-American Statesman, and Austin Monthly, which noted that “Like all great songwriters, John Wesley Coleman III works between timeless universality and fresh phrasings, creating sentiments that feel familiar but sound original.”

Attendees must fill out this following form in order to receive the full address of the Museum of Human Achievement: http://www.themuseumofhumanachievement.com/member.
Join us for a night of wonderment and winter-oriented jubilee as we herald the vinyl release of Greatest Hits and the season of giving!

John Wesley Coleman Website

Super Secret Records Website

Your one-stop shop for holiday gifts, San Marcos Premium Outlets is pleased to offer shoppers giftwrapping for a cause, with all donations benefitting CASA of Central Texas (Court Appointed Special Advocates). CASA of Central Texas, Inc. advocates for abused and neglected children in the court system by recruiting, training and supporting community volunteers. CASA’s services prevent the cycle of abuse, replacing destructive adult role models with protective adults that model positive values and behaviors, benefiting not only the child but also the community where that child will become an adult member.

Giving is the reason for the holiday season; so after finding gifts for loved ones, San Marcos Premium Outlets encourages shoppers to stop by the wrapping station located at Guest Services to help make a difference. The special amenity will be offered December 12, December 19 and December 20 from noon to 5 PM.

San Marcos Premium Outlets – Guest Services
3939 Interstate 35
San Marcos, TX 78666

Saturday, December 12: 12 PM – 5 PM
Saturday, December 19: 12 PM – 5 PM
Sunday, December 20: 12 PM – 5 PM

For more information visit the www.premiumoutlets.com/sanmarcos/ or www.casacentex.org.  Guests can also visit the Facebook and Twitter pages at www.facebook.com/sanmarcospremiumoutlets, www.facebook.com/casacentex and https://twitter.com/sanmarcospo.