Welcome, friends!

We hosted our annual movie party in August-- it took a while to get this photo up. Two great films on the program. Here we are outside the theater.

Come to the cabaret with Lady Day!

We got to sit onstage with friends on a recent Sunday afternoon during the Zach Theatre production of "Lady Day."

Bravo!

Some greats of Texas arts were on stage at Bass Concert Hall on a recent night. Scott Pelley, Kenny Rogers, and Kris Kristofferson are among those being honored.

What a bash! And all for the arts!

Here is a panoramic view of the dinner at the gala for the Texas Arts Hall of Fame Awards. We had a fine time.

Entertainment on the City Terrace

The Long Center for the Performing Arts opened a year ago. In fact, maybe you were around reading last year for the two night opening festivities that followed the public openings. When the fireworks capped the second night I was exuberant thinking that one day I could walk to this venue. Last night, with us in our fancier clothes, we walked to the Long Center for the anniversary party. During the cocktail party before dinner, folks entertained us will belly dancers and Middle Eastern music on the City Terrace which has the skyline, including our 'house', left above, as a backdrop. After dinner we went into Dell Hall for a concert with Marvin Hamlisch and Linda Eder and a large orchestra. After a backstage reception with the stars we listened to some tunes from Sharon Montgomery and Stuart Moulton (who had dashed over after a performance of Austin Cabaret Theater) on the City Terrace again before starting our walk back across the lake. Sharon broke into "At Last" as we made our way to Riverside and the last strains bounced along the lake as we made our way onto the ped bridge.

Austin Arts

We were privileged to be invited to a private home last night to hear the Miró Quartet, the resident string quartet at the University of Texas. After the amazing concert there was a reception. Unfortunately, I couldn't get all the players in a picture. But this photo shows (left to right) Professor Doug Dempster, Interim Dean of the College of Fine Arts; his wife Kathryn Anderson, a health care consultant, I believe she said, but sometimes poet, too, according to Doug; John Largess, who plays Viola in the quartet; and Daniel Ching, violin. The idea of having a resident string quartet to represent UT and build up studies in strings and string quartet performance was floated a few years ago and the University received some funds from the community to make it happen. The house belongs to one couple who helped fund it.

The tall man in the background is Dr. Ernest Butler. He and his wife, Sarah, have underwritten the arts at UT by establishing the Butler Opera Center there. And, of course, the Butlers are responsible for the lead donation on the Butler Dance Education Center for Ballet Austin which will be near our new home downtown. There were other people at this party who would be recognized because their name is on an art venue, too!

This was a wonderful event and we are honored to know people who support the arts in such wonderful ways and to meet these amazing musicians and hear them play in such an intimate setting.

The Aliens Have Landed

Not really. What has really landed in Austin is a new performance space, The Long Center for the Performing Arts. The picture was taken from the Kodosky Donors Lounge where floor to ceiling windows give you a downtown view. There is a circle outside, just beyond the plaza. The circle has embedded lights that change colors and it is raked toward the plaza. We think it is intended as a stage.

Shiver me timbres

Here's a shot from a few weeks back -- it's from the "Perfect 10" party we went to at Saks Fifth Avenue to honor some (ten to be exact) of Austin's top philanthropists.

This band, called "White Ghost Shivers" was playing that night. You have to love their spirit and off-the-chart looks. They play twenties songs, as you might have suspected from the getups, especially on the "flapper" singer. I am remembering that they were playing "Don't Tell Mama" when I snapped this picture. It was a very nice affair -- with ample supplies of food and libations being doled out all night long.

Acoustic Instrument

This is a photo I shot of the balconies and ceiling of the Dell Hall in the new Long Center for the Performing Arts. In this state-of-the-art hall everything is designed as a part of the sound equation including the construction of the seats. Excitement is really building in the community about the center.

Long Center for the Performing Arts

The long-awaited Long Center (that pun just occurred to me!) for the Performing Arts is going to open in the spring, hosting our ballet, opera and symphony performances in Austin and also other performances including modern dance, avant garde theater and such. The city leased the old Palmer Convention Center (just south of Lady Bird Lake between Riverside and Barton Springs) to the non-profit. (The city built a facility for things like garage sales and gun and knife shows and a parking garage and park.) The Performing Arts center is being built and endowed by private funds. I toured the construction sight the other evening with a group of lady donors. FFP helped host an event for a men's group last night. This picture shows the city lights from inside, looking out at the terrace ring. The facility is very exciting and the major arts companies as well as many smaller groups are eager to be using the venue. You will probably see more pictures of the construction soon and more pictures throughout the life of Austin Daily Photo.