Take your pick…lots to do this weekend in Austin

For over thirty years, the Austin Visual Arts Association (AVAA) has supported area artists behind the scenes and behind the canvas by organizing weekly classes to foster artistic talents, arranging discussion panels to encourage conversations about art, and assembling exhibits to give exposure to deserving artists. Tonight, AVAA will host the first ever Austin Visual Arts Awards to recognize the many talented creatives that call Austin home. The awards ceremony will take place at the Austin Museum of Art Downtown beginning at 7pm. Tickets to the awards may be purchased online or at the door for $25.00 - admission includes a cocktail reception and networking event.

This Saturday Art Seen Alliance is helping to coordinate a free interactive Art Event.   It is going to be truly sweet!

We have a dope location within walking distance of downtown and tons of East-side hangouts.  It’s perfectly nuzzled between your day and night plans Saturday -  6 to 10 pm!  After you cruise by for a complimentary libation (or 3) and impromptu feet-painting experience, you  can saunter to whichever side of the I-35 moves you at the moment - or both - to continue your Saturday Night!

Peanut Butter Wolf will be performing a very special DJ/VJ set - ouchie!  Local DJ-supremos, Prince Klassen and Bonus Junk will also be laying down music throughout the night.

We are actually converting part of the dance floor into an experimental canvas.  From 7-9, dance in paint to local fetish foot funk band Foot Patrol and dance off that green apple smirnoff while painting with your feet.   Monsterlove and some other crazies will be on site to join in on the action!

We even have a warm feet-washing cove for you to take a quick shot in our “feeto booth” and warm and clean those toesies!  Just watch out for the band….    They WILL try and wash your feet!

Don’t feel like painting - there are two more areas of the event to explore…

We have a variety of different interactive zones going all night:
- 12 person circuit-bending jam room
- stop-motion animation jam
- “feeto booth”
- interactive and kinetic steel sculptures
- did someone say “Smoke Bubbles”? yes they did.
- jaw-dropping lighting from the one and only Jason Mika

It is free just RSVP at bethereaustin09@gmail.com

On Saturday Birds Barbershop Calls All Barbarians, Centaurs and Beastmasters for 3rd Annual Manfest on Saturday, Dec. 5th from 2 to 7 p.m.

Birds Barbershop on S. Congress Ave. and PartyEnds.com will bring Austin its 3rd annual Manfest. The merrymaking kicks off a month-long promotion at all Birds locations, where men will get half-off hair product all December long.

Moving from S. Lamar to its new location at Birds on S. Congress, this installment in the series leans more primal than Manfests of yore, with a parking lot overrun with olde tyme fixtures like smoked turkey legs, live action role players, a jousting competition and a Conan-era photo booth featuring a real-live Centaur.

Birds will offer free “Barbarian Blowouts” inside, while Lone Star Beer and Cazadores Tequila sponsor with spirits served in Manfest signature steins.

Attendees who arrive in full barbarian-through-renaissance gear will receive a drink line “Fast Pass” as a reward. In other words, if you wear chain mail or a loincloth, you get a dedicated bartender and no lines for all that free man milk. (…uh weird)

Manfest the Third is located at 1902 S. Congress Ave., 445-0500. Sat. Dec. 5 from 2 to 7 p.m.

Home Slice’s 4th Annual Carnival-O-Pizza Benefits Austin Pets Alive

South Congress eatery Home Slice Pizza’s annual Carnival-O-Pizza offers all the trappings of a festive fête to share in the successes of a thriving local business—carnival-style booths, raffles, live music, zany contests, and loads of beer and pizza. But more than that, as co-owner Jen Strickland points out, it’s also a way to give back to the community and a nod to the festivals of her youth.

A list of contests, entertainment, and raffle prizes to be enjoyed this Saturday appears after the jump. If you’re game to participate in one of the “not-to-be-taken-lightly contests,” check out their blog.

The Austinist is giving away a special advanced carnival prize package, which includes 50 carnival tickets, a poster and an event t-shirt—fill out the form below for a chance to win.

Just in time for the holidays, EtsyAustin, incollaboration with Wines.com presents CRAFT RIOT! A Handmade Revolution in Shopping. This 2-day event is the perfect place to find locally handmade and unique holiday gifts. Enjoy shopping from dozens of local artisans, wine tasting with pairings of both cheeses and chocolates, plus other yummy foods. Santa will be present for holiday photo ops with a professional photographer. Now, more than ever, people all over the world are embracing the trend of buying handmade, vintage, and recycled products. Sustainability is becoming ideal in the current economic and environmental crises facing us today. When you buy handmade, you’re getting something made by a real person, not a machine. A purchase from a small-scale independent craftsperson cuts out the pollution and useless waste that is created by mass production. Additionally, buying from local crafters supports our local economy and helps “Keep Austin Weird!”

Saturday, December 5th, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. & Sunday, December 6th, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

The Craft Riot! event will take place at Wines.com, located at 5005 Commercial Park Drive, Suite 103 Austin, TX 78724.

$3 admission includes a glass of wine or bottle of water. The first 25 guests will receive EtsyAustin gift bags full of goodies each day.

This entry was posted on 4. December 2009 at 21:09 and is filed under crafting classes, music, art & fashion, mobile crafting, jewelry making, Do512, Austin handmade, The WonderCraft, Paired Hearts, music event in austin, AVAA, Art Seen Alliance, Home Slice Pizza, austinist, party ends, indie music, contest, Bird's Barbershop, Free Show, Austin Photography, austin vendors, austin gifts, amazing finds, austin jewelers, crafty fun, Stuff in Austin, Support this Cause, Art Openings, austin music, austin event, austin fashion, photo booth, Austin Musicians, austin crafters, austin art scene, cool finds, DIY, artist opportunities, Electric News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.