• May, 2012
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Must List

Must taste

Austin Cake Ball Kitchen and Bar Treat your taste buds to a festival of flavors at Austin Cake Ball’s new Kitchen and Bar, located at The Domain. This second venture offers the familiar sweet treats of the flagship store, as well as new lunch, dinner and happy-hour menus. Customers can enjoy delectable delights like stuffed peppadews and smoked salmon tartine, in addition to an exciting array of handcrafted cocktails. A full list of dishes is located at austincakeball.com/kitchenandbar.

Must Read

Lone Stars III - A Legacy of Texas Quilts 1986-2011 by Karoline Patterson Bresenhan and Nancy O’Bryant Puentes. The phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover” takes on added meaning with Karoline Patterson Bresenhan and Nancy O’Bryant Puentes’ most recent publication about Texan-made quilts. The multi-colored coverlet displayed on the front of Lone Stars III is a work of art, offering readers a taste of what they will find in the following pages. Bresenhan and Puentes are well-versed in quilts; the duo released two earlier volumes about the history of this artistic tradition between 1836 and 1936, and 1936 and 1986. In this third installment, they exhibit some of the most artistic contemporary pieces of the past 25 years from throughout the state. $29.95 paperback, $50.00 hardcover

Must Experience

Austin Beauty Week, Feb. 6 – 10 Pamper yourself inside and out this month while supporting a great cause. Participating venues throughout Austin are offering discounts on a variety of health services and beauty treatments for five days. This event assists the Central Texas Go Red for Women campaign, which encourages awareness of heart disease in women. The launch party will take place Feb. 3. For more information, visit austinbeautyweek.com.

Must hear

Ruthie Foster’s Let It Burn, Blue Corn Music, released Jan. 31 Acclaimed blues musician Ruthie Foster will delight listeners with her new album, released at the end of last month. Let It Burn is her seventh compilation, which reflects her eclectic tastes. Her background in gospel shines through in her original song Lord Remember Me, and she brings a new dimension to a variety of tracks from popular artists, including Johnny Cash and Adele. With such wide-ranging influences, her sound is both accessible and unique. This album will be a welcome addition to any music collection.

Must Attend

FronteraFest 2012, various dates through February, with more than 800 local and national artists Austin’s highly praised FronteraFest is back for its 19th season. It’s easy to see why this celebration of fringe theater remains such a success. Audiences can see an assortment of innovative pieces from the performing and visual arts in different formats. Short Fringe Hyde Park Theatre through Feb. 18 Each night features four or five performances of fewer than 25 minutes apiece. Among the collection are monologues, comedy sketches and musical collaborations. Saturday shows compile the best of the week, while the “Best of the Fringe” is revealed throughout the final week. The Long Fringe Salvage Vanguard Theater and Blue Theatre through Feb. 5 Productions up to 90 minutes each are presented in the afternoon and evening. Futuristic comedies and lighthearted dramas explore themes like love and marriage, music and technology. Mi Casa Es Su Teatro Various locations, Feb. 11 Sam Webber curates this popular mélange of $3 shows performed at unique locations throughout one day. Settings include local businesses and homes. For more info, visit hydeparktheatre.org or call 512.479.7529.

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