Events Past 2006

Thurday 12/14
Make Yor Own Shrinky Dink Ornaments and Jewelry
@The Opera House, $5 suggested donation

Making Shrinky Dinks can be a very obsessive activity so, it turned into a week long event. Thanks to the few people who participated. I am still making Shrinky Dinks.

Thursday 11/16

BEST DANCER EVER!
Red Scoot Inn
1308 East 4th St
Austin, TX
9pm(doors open ), competition starts around 10pm
$2, free before 10pm

www.myspace.com/austindanceoff

<<<Gregory is clearly the Best Dancer Ever! $$$60$$$! Is he really worth that much? I think the flannel chocolate moose shirt says it all.

Monday 11/13
Let Them Eat Rock
9:45 pm
Alamo Drafthouse downtown
409 Colorado St. (and 4th)
Austin, TX
$2 admission, FREE if you come dressed is full 18th century garb!

The Opera House will be hosting Let Them Eat Rock, a documentary on the foppish rock band The Upper Crust who dressed in complete mid-18th century garb and had names like Lord Bendover and Jackie Kickassis. This is taking place at the Alamo Drafthouse downtown. There will be an 18th century dress-up COSTUME CONTEST. Who can be the most Upper Crustiest!? Really good prizes go to the winners! At least come to check out my new wig.

Friday 11/3

A Meeting in The Cave opening reception
7-10ish pm
Hopper + Tank Engine

The Cave is undergoing a transformation. Come see the art installation by Amanda Jones (r.e.r.t) and The Opera House....branches, nests, trees, domes, icicles....

 

Sunday 10/15

Second Annual South First Art Walk

"Come visit The Opera House and view the work in progress, A Meeting In The Cave, an art installation created by Amanda Jones (collection r.e.r.t) and Leah Smith (me, The Opera House proprietor). Also, there will be many artists set up outside the shop including, Cyborg Sam (Cyberchic Fashion), Natalie Ford (Mi Hija), Rockie Rocha (Opuntia), and Chad Hopper (Science Bear Arcade). Plus a special raffle for the Art Walk! "

*Snacks and good times......

 

Tuesday 9/12
CLOTHING SWAP!
w/ Ethan, master of the Hawaiian ukulele
7-10pm, Free

Starving students and artists, fashionistas, eco-conscious, and everyone else....It's time to rummage through that closet again. Come to the store with some old duds to trade and leave with a whole new wardrobe!

a-typical swap. Doesn't anybody care about anything anymore. maybe i'm the problem. Too many events yo. You all better show up to the next one.

Saturday 9/9
EL CORAZON BLOCK PARTY and anniversary!
Bands, DJs, treats, and more.....entertainment starts at 5pm. Go store hopping!

Katie played DJ and there was hummus made by Gregory plus other Middle eastern snacking. Everyone drank all the booze. I had a good time. Oh and Gregory brought over a green vinyl couch! That room seriously needed a couch. Now i think it needs two.

Wednesday, 8/30
CLOTHING HOSPITAL
7-10pm, Free!

Back by popular demand...repair your clothes again! A night of sewing and fun.

*bring your own sewing supplies suggested.

Saturday 8/19
Opening Reception: DECORATED DENIAL
An art show w/ Bill Jeffery, Kenneth Holland, and Renee Riddle.
Performance by Yellow Fever
7-10pm

Show will run through August 31st
Gallery hours: Tues-Sat 12-8pm, Sun 12-6pm

More pictures of the artwork coming soon!

Artist Bill Jeffery is a regular contributor to Proper-Gander , a bi-monthly anti-comic newspaper. One may have seen a Bearded Lady poster or two around the fine city of Austin promoting very cool bands that have been illustrated by him as well.
The art produced for Decorative Denial is part of an ongoing series of record reviews done for a fanzine called Zero Energy. The concept of Zero Energy is that a record is reviewed and each song gets an interpretive illustration. Each album selected must also follow these criteria:
1) The vinyl copy of the record must be owned by said artist.
2) No other format aloud . This is a vinyl only operation.
3) There must be at least one thing liked on the record, no hate here.

The records chosen so far have been from the 70's and 80's. Decorative Denial will feature:
Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band "Bluejeans And Moonbeams", Mercury
1974
Carl Wilson "Carl Wilson", Caribou/CBS 1981

Renee Riddle first learned how to paint still life and nature scenes from her Mimi,
and has created her current series of paintings to honor Mimi's influence and encouragement in her artistic endeavors. By creating these paintings in honor of her Mimi, Renee has strived to capture the essence of specific phases Mimi has experienced in her lifetime. These phases include a variety of experiences we, or someone we know, have gone through. The main symbols in this series include deer, representing Mimi and the people in her life; and ribbon, representing bandages and safety.

Kenneth Holland, when not touring with Her Space Holiday, creates textural paintings with a nice emphasis on shadow and line.  For Decorated Denial he will be showing works incorporating animal figures, as well as, human portraits wearing masks, such as a bear or a corgi.

ALSO....8/19-8/20 ALL DAY don't miss:

Saturday 8/12
The Girls & Boys Umbrella media collective
Presenting: AYellow Party
A mixed media show of art, film, and music, w/ performances by Cowardly Lions and the infamous 'Double Dutch Will Take You Higher' jumprope squad.

There were yellow streamers and balloons. There was Double Dutch and we swooned to videos projected outside, more art was inside. Cowardly lions played, but i guess i was too drunk to take any pictures.

Wednesday 7/26
CLOTHING HOSPITAL
7-10pm
Free

Bring your mending projects to the store! Chill out to good tunes as you sew on buttons, repair holes in shirts, embellish or reconstruct something, hem your pants, or whatever else needs fixing up!

*bring your own sewing supplies

Friday 7/14

Pocket Symphonies couln't make it, but it was a rock'n show anyway!

Sorry Amanda, I don't have any pictures of the puppet show. It is on this page in spirit..

Saturday 6/24
CACTUS SHOW

"All day this Saturday 6/24 please join El Corazon (our little shoppers haven) for the Cactus Show!  There will be lots of art, food, and fun happening at all the shops, everything CACTUS themed!  We have teamed up with the SIMS Foundation as a benefit show so, please partake and donate!  SIMS provides low-cost counseling and other mental health services to Austin-area musicians and their immediate families.

THE OPERA HOUSE will be hosting a make your own Cactus SHRINKY DINK workshop for a mere $5 donation!"

-I never saw any SIMS foundation people. Never got any literature or anything. And certainly no one tried to collect donations. I don't know how it was at the other shops. Happiness had an early Christmas w/ their cactus sales. Bella Blue had music outside and art inside. The Stash had some art. End of an Ear had a DJ. I was not allowed to have a rice crispie treats bake sale due to inforced health codes.  No one cared about my Shrinky Dink workshop.

 

 

 

Monday 6/5/06
SEWING PROJECTS #2: How to make a WALLET and a SUMMER TOP

 

Friday 5/19/06

This is the second annual Tiny Brigades. The first one was held last April in Boston, MA hosted by yours truly and the infamous Lea Sorrano. The Tiny art came in droves from near and far. There were contests and prizes and even tiny food. Really, it's just an excuse to make some art!

This years turnout was amazing! I fixed up "The Cave" and turned it into a gallery. There were all kinds of tiny edibles like, mini mashmallows covered in choclate punctured by an almond sliver, vienna sausages w/capers, and little peanut butter sandwiches. Night Viking was definitely the perfect band for the evening with tiny moving art by Amanda. All the entries were just so inventive! Only next time I must assign a camera person (any VOLUNTEERS?) Some of the art escaped out the door before I had time to take pictures! Two little girls won 1st and 2nd prize with paper diaramas (the art got away for 1st,2nd, & 4th prize! no pics.). Check out the 3rd place winner and runners up below.

3rd prize winner, Jesse Pounds "Cthulu"	Stanley & Alisson did a song and dance routine to this George Michael song.

more pictures here.....

 

Saturday 5/13/06

Wednesday 4/5/06
SEWING PROJECTS #1

Learn how to sew a handbag and a skirt! Instruction by local designers Natalie Ford, of Mi Hija, and Rockie Rocha, of Opuntia. Bring your own sewing supplies if you can(fabric, needles, thread, and portable sewing machine). $5 suggested donation.

-A great group of guys and gals came, some even with their sewing machines. One girl brought some delicious home baked brownies, yumm! People really went to town whipping up handbags and skirts in funky fabrics. Unfortunately Rockie, one of the instructors was ill and couldn't make it. So, Natalie Ford pulled the whole thing off single handedly! She did a great job and it was such a fun night. I can't wait to do this again soon!

 

SXSW shows 3/15/06- 3/17/06

THURSDAY 3/16/06 2:30-4:30pm
Illi Vill 2:30pm
Junius 3:30pm
Hopper 4:30pm

FRIDAY 3/17/06 12-3pm
Best Fwends 12pm
Nouns Group 12:30pm
Daniel Francis Doyle 1:30pm

Here Ilii Vill is Gunni (from Mum) on laptop, keyboard, and guitar accompanied by my good friend Adam (of Mice Parade and other fame) also on guitar. It was the prettiest music in the world. They obviously aren't from here.

Junius ruled the neighborhood when they played. They are from Boston. Thank you Ira, I hope you have recovered from your cold.

This is Hopper (w/ members Lance and Margie from Attic Ted) emmenating obscure sounds into the universe. Perfect music for an absurdist wedding. Lance and Margie make me feel human again.

Nouns Group was super and super nice! I love that electric violin. They are from Dallas, TX mainly.

Best Fwends are hillarious and kick ass! I think the pictures pretty much explain it all, besides the thrashing vocal stylings. Did anyone video tape this?

 

Daniel Francis Doyle was so amazing that I forgot to take pictures! Does anyone have any that I can borrow?! He even had vinyl records for sale with pictures of squirrels on the cover. A man of my heart! Please keep making music.

 

Wednesday 3/8/06 8pm

KNIT NIGHT!
Grab your knitting and crochet projects and head on over to the store! The more the merrier to meet or catch up on old times. I'll be there with patterns, snacks, and tunes!

 

Wednesday, 2/15/06, 8:00 pm

Knit Night
"Bring your knitting projects (or crochet) for a little gab and blab/ seriously productive evening. Share designs and tips. I will have old patterns available to look at and copy. Crunchy treats and friends to meet!"

I was amazed, 4 people showed up to this one! I don't think it was so productive, but there were treats and I brought out all my pattern books. The next one will be even more victoriously crafty!

*This type of thing will be happening once a month.

 

Saturday, 2/11/06, 7:00-10:00 pm

Mi Hija ended up canceling out, but we did an amazing zombie fashion show anyway wearing vintage clothing! The play performed was a modified version of Zombies Eating Zombies, by Gabriel Boyer. It was a superb practically unrehearsed performance staring 4 models : Glade, Blaine, Lauren, and myself. Click here for more pictures.

Teddy and Marge were amazing as always. Everyone swooned as they kicked off the event with old-timey tunes. It was a great honor to have them play their first real show at my store. This was also the first time The Opera House had had any live music at all and i think it worked out quite good.

February 11th was also the big unveiling of El Corazon, the new name for our little horseshoe shopping area. It means "the sacred heart".

 

Thursday, 1/26/06, 7:30 pm, Free

A big thanks to everyone who came and made the event such a huge success! Sorry there is no show and tell this time. Silly me, I forgot to take pictures! Somebody remind me for next time please!