Flanfire

Alice's Restaurant -- ah, those fond memories of Arlo Guthrie in 1969, where you could get ANYTHING you wanted (exceptin' Alice). But, no, it is 2004, and Alice's is alive and well in Niederwald (on State Highway 21 just north of Uhland -- and south of the intersection with U.S. Highway 183; also east of Buda just off county road 201). It was our second time for the Sunday brunch, and our second GREAT meal cooked with LOVE (they even say so). This time the outdoor patio music was provided by Turtle Creek, a folkish duo (sometimes with a keyboardist) whose original songs are mixed in with classics and even requests. After over 30 years of playing together, the Minnesotan and Iowan (both transplanted Texans now) finally recorded their first ever CD in 2002, with help from Karen Mal (what red-blooded American male over 15 doesn't love Karen?). My grandson loved them - and not because they give away spider and turtle stamps and other goodies. Caleb, who turned 16 months today, liked them so much we stayed two whole hours - as he clapped after nearly every song. Did I mention it was a BEAUTIFUL DAY?

For the record, Alice's has put its expansion project on hold after sweating through a summer without enough love (from customer cash), but will be celebrating its first whole year of business this Saturday with an extravaganza featuring 14 (or is it 17?) bands starting at 2:30 pm and going until the county constables get tired of chasing folks leaving the place. Then, next Sunday, the music will be supplied by Karen Mal's own band (though she is playing that day in Red Sox country while on a national tour) the Dimestore Poets -- Billy and his songs are enough!

Sunday, however, follows Saturday, and I would be remiss if I failed to mention our outing on that day which officially began our 26th anniversary week. Call me smaltzy, but we went to the movies to see Hilary Duff - and had a blast at her movie, which featured a bunch of fabulous young musicians and the inimitable John Corbett but also had Mrs. Tom Hanks (Rita Wilson as Hilary's character's mom), the still gorgeous Rebecca DeMornay (as the hippie aunt), and Jason Ritter as Hilary's character's brother. Research, research - a movie about young musicians interacting (reminds me of a very recent blog night).

After the movie, we took in Artz Rib House, which was featuring the twin talents of Shelley King (baby in tow) and Jenny Reynolds (fellow Red Sox fan and commiserant during the 19-8 debacle). My pal Tahni showed up with her little Emme Lou and got to showcase a song or two of hers. She has just confirmed to me that her December 5 CD release at Ruta Maya will feature Strings Attached as her opening act and backup band (she will also have Woody Russell and others on hand to add to the harmonies).

We left Artz early for what turned out to be a special treat. The better half said we should go to this world premiere showing (during the Austin Film Festival) of a documentary movie called "Searching for Angela Shelton" - written by one Angela Shelton and starring a plethora of other Angela Sheltons from across America. Our Angela admits she began this project without realizing it would change her life (and the lives of many of the other Angelas) dramatically. Our gal, you see, is an incest survivor - and she discovered that over half of the women she interviewed for this film - including Anonymous Angela (who would not be interviewed on camera and is heard from only via telephone conversations) had been raped, beaten, or molested at times in their lives. Just as the liner notes profess, our Angela had in reality embarked on a journey of self-discovery during which she gains the courage to confront her (still in denial) father and her step-siblings who had been abused along with her. The other Angelas - who are black and white, rich and poor, and even just coming out of (or still in) self-abusive lifestyles - complete our Angela's journey by teaching her about forgiveness, faith, and the power of the human spirit -- keeping her alive and growing in the process. Angela was at the film and answered questions after the showing -- she is warm and witty and still not fully healed, but her willingness to expose her own nakedness as a human being is so complete that she is transparent and joyful to know that her film has already changed her life and the lives of many of her namesakes - and many others as well. Angela received considerable support in this project from Oprah Winfrey, a woman who just seems to go about doing a lot of good despite being herself a flawed human being. There is another showing at the Arbor on Tuesday (October 19), and one can also visit the website, www.searchingforangelashelton.com

"Raise Your Voice," Hilary's little film with some good music, is a fictitious story about a girl who survives the death of her brother after taking him to a concert to celebrate his high school graduation and has to cope with her guilt (they had snuck out to go to the show). Nice. But "Searching for Angela Shelton" is a homerun Oscar quality film about a real woman who lets us all in on her dirtiest little secrets and then finds other women willing to open up to help the healing start and build a camaraderie of the spirit as she goes on her great life journey.