Austin: Grounded in Music with Jack Ingram and Hayes Carll

Austin organization Grounded in Music’s annual benefit concert (past coverage here) is Wednesday, February 15th at the Gibson Guitar Showroom. Longtime Grounded in Music supporter Jack Ingram (I got to meet him when he helped open a recording studio at the Boys & Girls Club) and Hayes Carll are co-headlining the event.

Tickets are $35 and $50 at frontgatetickets.com. The event will help raise funds for GiM’s growing music education program in the Boys and Girls Clubs of Austin. Grounded in Music’s students are taught a variety of  skills in musicianship, which range from writing lyrics, playing instruments, and exploring other areas  of the music industry. Statistics show that students  who are involved in music programs early in life perform better academically in the areas of math and  reading. The data also shows that students score higher on the SATs in the areas of math and verbal,  regardless of their socio-economic background.

“Grounded in Music has a very simple mission: to leverage the power of music to transform young lives by creating self-confidence, opportunity and hope. These kids are learning that they can do anything they set their mind to and developing the confidence to push themselves to achieve things they never thought they could,” said Joe Stallone, Grounded in Music’s Founder.

“Some of the  kids in the program have a hard shell to crack,” remarks Michael Longoria, Grounded in Music’s  Program Director. “But as we mentor, teach, and share with them, the music dissolves that shell.”

Austin: MUST GO! Blondes vs. Brunettes

This will be my first year NOT playing, but I’m confident the brunettes can still dominate! This event is AWESOME to watch and be a part of, so DO IT! (it’s in just 2 weeks, get your tix now!!)

Aspen: ASPEN Magazine and Challenge Aspen Party

Challenge Aspen is a great organization, the $30 suggested donation is totally worth it.

Raising Money for Haiti

Austin, being the philanthropic, giving city we are, has already seen many benefits and fundraisers in the short week since an earthquake rocked Haiti to the core. Here are a couple of places I’ve donated and a few benefit events coming up this week.

Thirst No More’s PAKs

Austin company Thirst No More has been active in major disaster areas and found that one of the most important things we can do for people on the ground is give them help with basics. Their PAKs (Primary Assistance Kits) are usually involved in Thirst No More’s initial responses to major disasters like the Haiti earthquake. For families who have literally lost everything, a PAK gives them some essential items to help them begin their recovery. A typical PAK will include a cooking pot, utensils, rice, beans, a flashlight, pain medicine, a towel, soap, toys, and a container that can be used to carry water.

You can purchase and deliver a PAK for a family in Haiti for $50. http://www.thirstnomore.org/

Doctors Without Borders via CrossFit Central

Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières or MSF) is an international medical humanitarian organization created by doctors and journalists in France in 1971. Today, MSF provides independent, impartial assistance to those most in need, like the victims of the Haitian earthquake.

CrossFit Central, where I train, is collecting donations here. Doctors Without Borders is backed by big-name celebs like Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, and Gisele Bundchen, who have donated over a million dollars each to the organization, but you can help in whatever you can while taking comfort in knowing that 87% of donations go to directly funding programs (in the nonprofit world, that’s a pretty high percentage).

If parties are more your style, check out Wednesday night’s CharityBash at Molotov:

… or Sunday, Jan 24’s crazy fundraiser put on by Direct Events at Austin Music Hall.

The lineup includes almost every big-name band from or somehow related to Austin that there is, including Asleep at the Wheel, Band of Heathens, Bruce Robison, Charlie Sexton, The Flatlanders, The Gourds, Guy Forsyth, Jack Ingram, Joe Ely, Kelly Willis, Kinky Friedman, Patricia Vaughn, Paula Nelson, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Reckless Kelly, Robert Earl Keen and Shawn Colvin.

Help out the dogs, get 10% off Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, all for $1+!

Pumpkin Blended … coffee + pumpkin + NSA vanilla powder = HEAVEN!

Soy Pumpkin Latte … espresso + soy milk + pumpkin + NSA vanilla powder = HOT HEAVEN!

Fall Flavors are in, and the pumpkin is outta this world–super pumpkin-y, just sweet enough, warm (even if it’s cold) and delicious. Also apple spice tea latte (haven’t tried yet … have wanted to … but can’t.stay.away.from.the.pumpkin) is a fab fall flavor.

Calling this guy a bracelet might be a misnomer, but it’s a welcome one: tie this ribbon easily on your purse, tuck it into the coin section of your wallet, affix it to your rearview mirror, whatever. It’s easy to remember and easy to carry, so you’ll snag your 10% off all the way through December 4th.

My cashier this morning (don’t judge) started to tell me about the program before I whipped out my ribbon and when I did she exclaimed, “I love you! The dogs love you!”

I love you, Coffee Bean.

Fierce Fest

Come one, come all to the first-ever Fierce Fest happy hour event to benefit SafePlace

Although ending domestic violence isn’t exactly kid stuff, this event will give attendees the chance to have some childlike fun while supporting a worthy cause. During the Fierce Fest happy hour at Lustre Pearl Bar, a portion of each drink purchase will benefit SafePlace. Attendees can test their relative womanliness through feats of strength, including thumb wars, staring contests, wall sits, arm wrestling, and more.

The Austin chapters of Planning for Good and Cause for Drinks are teaming up to sponsor the event. Planning for Good is a philanthropic organization that offers strategic marketing help for nonprofit organizations. Cause for Drinks brings people together at their local watering holes, and a portion of the proceeds goes to a selected charity.

For 35 years, SafePlace has offered critical services to Austin-area survivors of sexual and domestic violence. One in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Wednesday, October 14, from 6-9pm at Lustre Pearl Bar, 97 Rainey Street. For more info: http://bit.ly/FierceFest

Blondes v. Brunettes Happy Hour!

The invite for the Blondes v. Brunettes Happy Hour Recruitment Party is up! Click here to RSVP, you’re my guest!

The last BvB party at The Ranch was a crazy-good time–packed full of people, free drinks flowing all night. While this Thursday‘s event is a little more tame–happy hour from 6-8pm–and a little more serious–you gotta commit to playing & raising $250 for Alzheimer’s Association of Austin–it promises to be no less fun than the last!

So beyond being awesome because it’s a powderpuff football game pitting blondes against brunettes, the BvB is a really cool event because young people–that is, 21-to-30-year-old young professionals–are the ones organizing EVERYTHING, soliciting all the donations, raising all the funds, planning, playing, and coaching. This (our, my) age group is still finding its way and looking for things to believe in, to contribute to, and this disease, Alzheimer’s, will or has affected everyone. It’s an amazing place/cause/moment for people to rally, and of course it’s gonna be hella fun to play!

Join today as a player, coach, or donor. Contact me personally at thisislifeinaustin@gmail.com if you’re interested in underwriting, sponsoring, or donating in any way (that includes prizes!). At least buy a ticket to the game–a mere $20 bucks!

Mark your calendars for May 16, 2009. It’ll be epic.

Free Crossfit Workout + Crossfit Austin’s Benefit

CrossFit Austin:

Grand Opening WOD and Brittany Tuck Memorial Scholarship Fundraiser

From the guys:

Come out and help us celebrate this exciting step for Crossfit Austin!

The festivities will include free BBQ, drinks (beer, water, soda, etc.), and plenty of other fun.

For those who are interested, we’re having a Crossfit-Style WOD (workout-of-the-day) Competition. The entry fee is $35 dollars, and all proceeds benefit the Brittany Tuck Memorial Scholarship Fund.

We’ll also be selling raffle tickets and t-shirts with ALL proceeds going to the same great cause.

We’ll be going from 10am to 3pm at our new facility (8708 S. Congress Unit A-180) so come and leave as you please.

Schedule: (tentative)

• 10:00 AM – Registration for the WOD Competitors Begins
• 11:00 AM – Brittany Memorial WOD Competition
• 12:30 PM – Start Food
• 03:00 PM (or when the food & beer runs out) – We close up shop

Crossfit Central:

Saturday, December 6th @ CrossFit Central
10:00am – 11:15am – the 9am one already filled up! UPDATE – Only 5 Spots are left for this Workout!

Limited to 30 people – RSVP to Nicole Holstrom nicoleholstrom@crossfitcentral.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view i

I’m going to be in Houston this weekend or else I’d definitely be at one of these workouts! I’ve been crossfitting on my own at the gym, and I am still loving the results, though you definitely work harder in the group setting. Yay CrossFit!

Friday Night Benefit at Tiniest Bar

Starting at 7pm Friday night, Team Spiridon, a local training group, is hosting a benefit concert at Tiniest Bar for empancipet and the Dick Beardsley Foundation–couldn’t decide between animals and people, I guess?

Lovers of music, animals, and running will come together for a night inexplicably called Night of the Moustache, featuring a benefit concert and silent auction, with food available for a donation. Dogs are encouraged and admission is free.

Eat a Peach headlines the entertainment, with musicians from a bunch of different bands including Topaz, Mudphonic, Nakia’s Southern Cousins, the Van Wilks Band, and Kevin McKinney’s band coming together for a dead-on, fresh homage to “the principal architects of Southern Rock,” the Allman Brothers Band.

Girl Guitar opens with a showcase of local up-and-coming female artists playing acoustic covers and originals.

EMANCIPE+ is dedicated to preventing animal homelessness and putting an end to euthanasia as a means of population control by providing low-cost or free surgical sterilization of dogs and cats. For more information, please go to www.emancipet.org

The Dick Beardsley Foundation is a community-based non-profit dedicated to providing grants to those who need help in seeking treatment for chemical dependency, as well as educating the public about chemical dependency. For more information, visit www.dickbeardsleyfoundation.org

Carnival ‘O’ Pizza at Home Slice

I’m going to get my hair cut & colored (ack! my first time!) at Pink Salon Saturday morning, so it’s perfectly convenient that Home Slice is having their fall carnival right across the street!

Home Slice Carnival O Pizza
Noon – 7pm

The 3rd annual Carnival O Pizza hosted by Home Slice is this Saturday! A funky midway featuring games of skill, breakdancers, graffiti artists, airbrushed custom tees by Von Franco, and a Photobooth by Annie Ra is the highlight, but contests galore come later in the day.

Box folding contests, pizza tossing contests, pizza eating contests and a bunch of raffles–a scooter from Urban Moto, a free night at the San Jose, and a free theater rental from Alamo–round out the festivities. It all benefits Keep Austin Beautiful.