Flanfire

Ross' Old Austin is rockin'. Great comfort food and live music six nights a week way up on North Lamar (in the nosebleed section north of Braker Lane). Hungry folk that we are, we stopped by last Thursday to find transplanted Texas country singer Keith Kelso, whose song "Written in Stone" is high on the country charts in Europe. Next month the little diner will get a visit from songbird Pauline Reese! The Brennen Leigh Band will also visit in January, along with Turtle Creek and a bunch of other groups that keep Old Ross Sterzing and his boys tapping their toes. On warm nights the music goes outside under the trees - just good old-fashioned fun. Ross' son T. R. Sterzing is partly responsible for the influx of touring professionals stopping by their little stage. Miss Reese sings one of T. R.'s songs on her newest CD - and the friendly cowpoke promises his pals a great meal when they sing for their supper there. Family friendly - so bring the kids (especially if they like home-cut fries).

Wednesday evening I slipped on down to Artz' Rib House to catch some of the Sis DeVille set - that's Carolyn Wonderland, Shelley King, and Floramay Holliday in acoustic mode. The gals - plus Ann-Marie and Lisa (we presume) - will be playing a HUGE gig at Antone's on Sunday, December 19th - a rare opportunity to see this glam rock women's band in action. There is HOPE that the gig will produce a live recording -- but for any real success on such a venture there has to be a BIG crowd. So get an early supper and truck on down to Fifth Street by 9 or 9:30 (pm) and get ready to dance, jump, jive, and whatever.

The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar opens on Saturday - always a gas and lots of good music. To be truthful, the royal "we" is having a hard time getting into the spirit this season, so it really helped to spend a day at the outlet mall in San Marcos with my daughter and grandson - shopping for other family members and scarfing some good eats along the way.

On the other hand, as I look around I see a lot of stuff happening - a new baby on the way in January for a couple we know whose lives have really turned around this year; a rekindling of true friendship between two young women with checkered high school years who have really turned on the afterburners during their college years; a new home for a family torn apart and left without amenities out in the deep country of North Texas; and maybe even a new venture that will keep the flanfire burning. Best possible news - my oldest daughter and her tribe might be headed back to Texas for a lengthy stay sometime in the spring.

One more note -- my neighbor Nathan is working with a friend on a new project - something called Baldmama - that aims to help women with breast cancer. Details to follow. And DO NOT MISS Tom Stevens' bonanza next Wednesday at Maria's Taco X-Press (or Alligator Grill if bad weather) that will benefit the Christmas Bureau. We are talking ALL STAR CAST here.