Community Matters

(Community Matters) Milinda Mitchell first posted this link, picked up by Michael Mitchell on Squirrels in the Attic, now I’m including the link. Check out Vivian’s photos and stories, an estate agent found a box of her negatives. No one knew her as a photographer.

(Community Matters) My friend Andrea Ball writes an insightful & courageous column in today’s Austin American Statesman

(Community Matters) Austin in the Washington Post – a quirky, independent spirit

(Community Matters) This story resonates. Reminds me when during college a candidate’s staff & national party leaders tried convincing me to infiltrate another campaign.

JASON ZENGERLE: “Smith was … a crusading reformer whose combination of charisma, idealism, and intelligence prompted comparisons to Howard Dean, Paul Wellstone, and even Barack Obama. … The Smith campaign, like all underdog efforts, had been approached by second- and third-tier political consultants-the kind of operators that no well-funded candidate would dream of hiring. One particularly persistent suitor … presented himself as ‘a plumber’ and ‘this guy [who] does the dark arts.’ Smith’s campaign had repeatedly turned down his solicitations, but now it seemed his services might prove useful. … [In rationalizing the mailing to his campaign brain trust, Smith] ‘put on his professorial cap, and he was talking about FEC rules and regulations and how they were basically created by politicians who were already in office,’ [recalls Nick Adams, a recent college graduate who as in the campaign’s inner circle]. ‘We didn’t know what was inbounds or out-of-bounds. We knew politics was a little seamy; there were gray areas. … So, when Jeff said this is how the game is played and if you can’t play it, you’re not going to go anywhere, it felt weird. It didn’t feel right, but it seemed like it was probably correct.’ …

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(Community Matters) Though we missed Steven, dinner last night with Michael Mitchell, Tana & Joe Christie, Stephen Walls and Melissa Henderson & Drew Valcourt was just what the doctor ordered after a day reading, blogging and napping in front of the fireplace. We laughed, told stories on each other and I picked on MM so much he stopped to ask, “what is it with you tonight, do I look like Charles Santos?” In fact, Charles arrives this afternoon . . . must have just been sharpening my verbal wit.

(Community Matters) I’m floored. Our fire chief decides not to promote someone to battalion chief because he’s knowingly lied to investigators and has admitted shop lifting (the Chief cited “unprofessional, unscrupulous conduct” and his failure to “live up to his promise to be better”) – AND, yet an arbitrator rules she must promote him?

This is ludicrous. Austin’s city council must stand up against this silliness and support Chief Kerr. Hard for them to do because of the muscle of the firefighters union –  let’s see who puts right ahead of politics. AAS article

(Community Matters) hmm, I thought Thursday’s dinner was gorgeous, and it was.  Yet homemade fish tacos w/ Lynn & Tommie Meredith while overlooking the city from the best views in town – priceless – casual, warm, comfortable evening. Special treat: Abby joining us by dessert – can she and Hilary really be the same age?

(Community Matters)

Steven and I love the new dining/drinking complex located at the Austonian launched by Jeff Trigger and Chef David Bull – Congress (their very upscale dining room), Congress Bar (manned by mixologist Adam Bryan, formerly of Eastside Showroom) and Second (a casual, high energy restaurant with outside seating for 120+).  Food in their Congress dining room brings to four in Austin I’d give a Michelin – joining Fonda San Miguel, Uchi & Hudsons on the Bend. [updated to include Uchi, duh]

We dined at Congress as guests of Jeff’s and were blown away. The two without-peer courses: 1) Chef Bull’s escolar (medallions of white fish wrapped in chicken skin on a bed of chopped brussel sprouts with bacon & chicken ju) and 2) the white lobster bisque (w/ a fresno tomato jam & a lobster ricotta fritter). Cindy Lo & Scott Francis dined on the side of us and agree about the bisque.

Other exceptional courses included: 3) Beef tartare w/ fried oysters, black truffle & parmesan, 4) confit leg of rabbit in a provencal sauce on a tomato speck crust with basil, 5) rack of lamb with salsify, cardamom yogurt and candied orange, and 6) hamachi (Steven’s – I didn’t taste I was so engrossed in the lobster). John Tofflemire took exquisite care of us and paired our courses well. Dave Shaw (a partner in the complex) launched our tour of the three spaces which Jeff guided. And, we met June Rodil, their beverage manager/sommelier who I’m calling on for a second go at Italian wine tastings.

Thrilled, thrilled, thrilled that these restaurants and bars are here – can’t wait to try the pizza at Seconds & book the patio for an event.

(Community Matters) Gus Dexheimer’s bat mitzvah project – the Pillow Project – raising money for marriage equality. On line auction of pillows; live auction Sunday in Austin 3 – 5.

(Community Matters) produced by Nathan Bernier of KUT

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KUT’s story

(Community Matters) We can be better . . .

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(Community Matters) The Entrepreneurs Foundation’s/Austin Ventures HelpHaiti one-year report

Greetings on the one year anniversary of the Haiti earthquake. Today we remember the over 200k Haitians who died and 1.5 million left homeless. Through your generosity, we raised over $1.5 million to help them. Your money has been well invested.

On Monday night I attended an event hosted by Fonkoze, where they were joined by representatives from Partners in Health and Concern Worldwide, celebrating the extraordinary spirit of Haitians and the good work accomplished since the earthquake.

Despite sometimes contrary media coverage, especially these three agencies (our major partners in Haiti) have accomplished much with our and others’ contributions. On Monday night I was reminded that these agencies have a competitive advantage in serving displaced Haitians – overwhelmingly their employees are Haitians and these agencies were operating in Haiti for at least 14 years prior to the earthquake. Continue reading →