What’s New & Noteworthy
The Truth According to Ruthie Foster
How much better does it get than a nod from Oprah? The February issue of O Magazine hails the Austin singer songwriter a “Blues Powerhouse” and maybe this is the breakout CD that will finally get Ruthie the national attention she deserves. Soulful, deep vocals and a thinking woman’s lyrics will rock you to your core…if you don’t know her music, this is a powerful introduction. Ruthie will be performing at Mother Egan’s on March 19th.
Bass Concert Hall
The $14.7 million renovation of the Bass Concert Hall at the University of Texas Performing Arts Center. Bravo is all you
can say of the stunning renovation. It took 18 months to complete and the result are well worth the wait. The five level lobby can be seen from the street and the view from the slick modern patron’s lounge is stunning. Not to be missed is the top floor balcony view of the UT Tower, the UT Stadium and the LBJ Library. 10,000 square feet was added to the existing lobby giving the center the spacious and imposing feel of Lincoln Center. Best of all the acoustics, long the bane of performances in the massive hall have been dramatically improved thanks to new sidewalls with acoustic curtains and a state of the art sound system. A perfect complement to the Long Center, Austinites are blessed to have two world class venues dedicated to the performing arts. Hopefully we have enough art patrons to support both.
Kimber Modern Hotel
In this economy it takes guts to open a pricey hotel, but this 1.1 million dollar five room architectural gem opened in November to rave reviews and got the notice of the New York Times. Tucked away in SoCo, it is a work of art and the owners guarantee “the comfort of the finest hotel with the intimacy of a first class bed and breakfast.” Not only are the proprietors experienced world travelers, Ms. Cavendish has inn-keeping in her blood—her father owned several hotels in Reno and her mother built a bed and breakfast on the Oregon Coast. The Kimber Modern is the result of her quest to create the perfect hotel. It joins neighborhood favorites, The Hotel San Jose and the Austin Motel, as one of the hotels celebs favor in the city’s hippest
zip code.
Kenobi
Chef Egil Valentin hit a home run in January with his Chinese New Year four course feast. Move over Uchi and Kenichi, everything about this restaurant is fresh from the extensive sushi offerings to the Japanese-fusion menu to the service and ambience. Located at the Arboretum, sushi afficianados no longer need to drive downtown to feed their habit.
www.kenobiaustin.com
Ray Donley at the
Russell Gallery
Film and Art Enthusiasts are in for a treat this spring. In March, Dancing the Inquisition Waltz, a documentary profiling the life and work of Ray Donley will be released and the Austin artist will make a rare appearance on March 20th, 2009 at the Russell Collection Fine Art Gallery located at 1137 West 6th Street. His one man show will run from March 4-28 and for the first time will include a piece of sculpture which brings his canvases to 3-D form. Donley holds both a BFA and an MA from the University of Texas and is considered a modern master of representational art, focusing on the Baroque period.
www.russell-collection.com