Boxing Day Wine Tasting

Diana Novy Lee and Adam Lee grew up in Texas. Adam was born in Austin. But they have managed to create a renowned winery in Santa Rosa, CA (Siduri Wines and Novy Family Wines are made here). They buy grapes in vineyards from Santa Barbara to the Willamette Valley and produce mostly Pinot Noirs. The Lees, home for the holidays in Texas with their three children, took time to stop by Austin Wine Merchant and pour for a Boxing Day tasting. I tried four of them, all delicious, and brought a couple home. It's nice to have Austin Wine Merchant a scant four blocks from our home.

Grand Opening at Zach Scott Theatre

As part of Zach Scott Theatre grand opening last night of its new Topfer Theatre there was a gala that included a concert by Bernadette Peters and a thirty piece orchestra. Backstage afterwards D.K. and Mike Reynolds had a moment with the gracious star. (That's Austin's Gary Cooper in the background.) Mike is part of the Kleberg family for whom a stage at Zach's complex is named.

Hi, Kris

Kris Kristofferson was at Willie's statue dedication and Jackie got his picture.

Greg Louganis

On October 16th, the Austin AIDS walk had Greg Louganis as honorary chair. He (and his cute dog) speak to the crowd before step off.

The President was Here

The President visited last Tuesday. He was here to raise money after a speech about immigration in El Paso. It is doubtful that this man's plea was seen and noted but our friend Jackie shot his picture dutifully waiting for a chance to have his plea for his brother heard. Folks waited outside the ACL Live Moody Theater to plea their causes. It cost $1000 to be inside and north of 35K to have dinner with the president in an Austin home. The Veteran's Administration is in some turmoil. We will post this fellow's picture here. Maybe the president reads this blog.

Playing for Change

Our friend Jackie saw this amazing band at Antone's on Saturday. She says: "This was an ensemble of 10 musicians from around the world, all fantastic." The group is a non-profit and you can read about them here.

Live Music...Robert Plant

No...we didn't go see the Robert Plant and Patty Griffin show at Stubb's. But our friend Jackie was there in the VIP perch and got this great shot.

Attention Please

Lyle Lovett, Robert Earl Keen and Joe Ely are paying close attention to Ray Benson singing a song at Turk and Christy Pipkin's tribute to Willie Nelson to raise money for their work in Kenya. The young lady in the foreground, though, is paying close attention to someone else which makes this picture FFP took show how distracting the evening was. FFP and I enjoyed visiting with the author Sarah Bird at our table and with many other friends (celebrities in their own right) in attendance. Star-studded night. Some kids in Kenya will get to go to school beyond the eighth grade thanks to the Pipkins efforts (and their friends in high places).

Sonny Rollins

Sonny Rollins did a concert here on Sunday. On Monday he was interviewed by Evan Smith on Texas Monthly Talks. Here is is shaking hands with an admirer after the interview. What a wonderful and amazing musician and gracious man.