Community Matters

(Community Matters) Breakfast this morning with Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana. He’s an important D leader on the following committees: Armed Services; Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; Energy & Natural Resources; Small Business & Entrepreneurship; Select Committee on Intelligence; Special Committee on Aging. He’s a former governor and secretary of state.

He noted that then Senator Obama spent $15mm in Indiana and visited 50 times. McCain spent $0 in the state. Indiana went blue for the first time since 1964. Considers the big three legislative silos: the deficit, health care and the role of government. Thinks the American people’s tolerance for more big government action might be exhausted after healthcare reform. I didn’t realize he’d been a finalist for vice president.

(Community Matters) wow, I had no idea he’d passed away. Monsignor McCabe helped start Caritas, Big Brothers/Big Sisters in Central Texas and was the first person who ever took me to the Headliners, probably in 1984.

(Community Matters) In yesterday’s NYT, two gay marriage announcements with pics. Deacon Carpenter, James Kuhner – 36 & 33yo. Love that Deacon’s father is the retired owner of a toy store and sweet shop in England. Michael Wartofsky, Imtiyaz Hussein – 40yos – a composer and a Bridgepoint healthcare manager. They incorporated Muslim and Jewish traditions into their marriage – need more of that!

(Community Matters) HP sponsored. . . . the party for Paper magazine (the NYC affiliate) that champions downtown NYC designers, musicians and artists. Pics of their recent fundraiser in NYT’s Evening Hours. I don’t usually wish I was at the parties I see but I do at this one. What an interesting group of guests. (Sunday NYT)

(Community Matters) My friend Mark Kramer says that donors cannot continue to delegate the responsibility for solving social problems to the nonprofit sector alone. “Neither our polarized government nor our fragmented and under-funded nonprofits can assemble the necessary components of large-scale solutions in the same ways that private donors can. Instead, donors must lead change themselves, take direct responsibility for achieving impact, and use every tool at their disposal to obtain the scale of results they seek.” article in Stanford’s Social Innovation Review

(Community Matters) Not sure why but rougher this past week than since I quit on July 6. Yesterday I’d have killed for a cigar. ST a tireless advocate; however, and he knows just how to reinforce me – enticement – he’s challenged me to stick with it and is offering to pay for our May Paris trip if I stick with it. grrrr, ok

(Community Matters) Seems to me, Congress could reverse any S Ct decision about corporate funding for campaigns by amending/clarifying the law & stating that corporations are NOT “legal persons”

(Community Matters) They were spectacular this morning. I can’t believe how loud they sang, how well they vocalized and the two solos were terrific. congrats!

(Community Matters) hmm, I don’t consider any microwaved tortillas worthy of breakfast taco ranking, but I do like Wheatsville’s fixin’s. So this am, solved the problem by just ordering the insides, purchasing Margaritas uncooked flour tortillas, then finishing everything off at home. not to mention the opportunity to add Timpone’s salsa – the best salsa available commercially today (HEB & Central Market)!

(Community Matters) Ballet Austin’s Fete 09. Julie & John Thornton really launched the Fete as one of Austin’s preeminent social events. The second year, Amy Rudy & I chaired. This year’s event (the 8th or 9th I believe) was chaired by the lawyer who makes husbands cry, Becky Beaver.

3rd st entrance to the unfinished but tricked-out-for-the-night 54 story Austonian

I didn’t see my friend, Terry Mitchell, the building’s developer, but I’m sure he was there.

Fete guests were escorted to the 33rd floor for the dinner/gala using the construction elevator

Steven and Michael Barnes

Stephen Mills (Ballet Austin artistic director), Kristi & Scott Eckert and Brent Hasty

I’m pleased to hear rumors of Kristi & Scott’s relocation to Seattle are unfounded. Though, it’s true their extraordinary home (probably the city’s best view from the west shore of Town Lake overlooking the city) is going on the market – one of the highest listing prices recorded in Austin. I’m not surprised given the house, location & views. Loved hearing a wee bit about Scott’s Seattle project – quite exciting.

Charles Duggan, Lynn Meredith & Larry Connelly

Joanie Benson & Jenn Hamlin

Nina & Frank Seely

Trisa Thompson, Michael Guerra & Bettye Nowlin

I know Bettye was there with Carmen Tawil, Sharon Watkins & Jolynn Free. Saw Jolynn but not the rest.

JR Ruiz & Tim McCabe

Tim’s permanently endeared himself & Trammel Crow to a board of Austin influencers. They’ve agreed to pro bono help manage the construction of PeopleFund’s new headquarters on the Featherlite tract in East Austin

Steve Marley & Tom Meredith

Four Seasons events & catering manager, Steve Marley, how long has he been in Austin? – and lucky us. There’s never been an event I’ve called Steve for when he hasn’t bent over backwards to help us make it work at the best property in town. The Four Seasons catered last night’s dinner.

the women at our table

Amy Rudy, Jenn Hamlin, Stephanie Beard & Carla McDonald

the men at our table

Steven Tomlinson, Jack McDonald, John Hamlin, Brian Beard & Kirk Rudy (& moi)

a roving Cabaret singer & John

a Ballet Austin dancer a la Trocadero Ballet

update: spoke with Charles Duggan on Mon. It really was Trocadero

our favorite local artistic agent, John Riedie

I think John arranged the entertainment for the Fete*ish

and, after dinner, descended to the 10th floor, Cabaret

then, down to the first floor Fete*ish:

Rick Johnson, Cliff Redd, ST, ES

a little pole dancing on 1

martinis, food & desserts

Fete ’09 chair, Becky Beaver. Dick Clark (lft), John Duncan behind Becky

It was an outstanding night. rats, no pics of some favorites: Cookie Ruiz, Christi Cueller, Julia & Evan Smith (he raised $50k+ at the live auction), Alex Winkelman (who helped throw the Fete*ish), Suzanne & Marc Winkelman, Wyeth & Evelyn Wiedeman, Melanie & Ben Barnes, Charles Gentry, Oliver Everette, Linda Ball & Forrest Preece, James Armstrong, Ken Gladish, David Wyatt, Dave Shaw, John Hogg & David Garza, Lance Avery Morgan, Mary Margaret & Sen Ray Farabee, Karen Landa, Nancy Scanlan & John Watson, Jon & Elizabeth Ivester and Marshall Jones (chair Fete*ish)

Michael Barnes’ Out & About on the Fete

(Community Matters) I guess the good thing (in addition to his Democratic opponent raising $1mm since Wed night) is that the wingnuts might now concentrate their dollars in this guy

(Community Matters) A new Israeli lobby group which is said to better represent the progressive interests of Israel – j street.