Our next showcase is this Friday! Click the poster (designed by CiA’s own Eric Pulsifer) to RSVP on Facebook.


Wednesday, Feb. 1
Wine Down Wednesday
6–8pm • DuO, 225 West 2nd St. • Free
Complimentary glass of wine from Cru wine bar while you shop at DuO. Afterwards, head to Cru with your DuO receipt and get 20% off your meal.

Living Record Music Documentary Night Presents “Don’t Look Back”
7pm • Jo’s Coffee, 242 W. 2nd St. • Free
Free screening of DA Pennebaker’s documentary about Bob Dylan’s 1965 tour of England, hosted by the Austin Film Festival.

Tom Waits Hoot Night
8pm–2am • Hotel Vegas, 1500 E. 6th St. • $5
A Tom Waits tribute night with performances by Shakey Graves, Charlie Faye, Rob Franco of the Venus Illuminato, Johnny Dango of The Memphis Strange, Jack Wilson, Kurt McMahan of King Biscuit, members of Cowboy and Indian, Shane Bartell, Taber Maine, and others.


Thursday, Feb. 2
Anthony Green In-Store Performance
5–6pm • Waterloo Records, 6th and Lamar • Free
Free show + free Shiner.

Groundhog Day Happy Hour
5–8pm • Mohawk • Free
Drink specials + Bill Murray’s Groundhog Day on repeat.

Big-Ass Social Happy Hour (BASHH)
6pm • The Ranch, 710 West 6th St. • Free
Laid-back happy hour with all kinds of cool folks from Austin’s social media community and beyond. If you get there early enough, you can get a free drink ticket.

First Thursday: February Fun
7–10pm • Goodie Two Shoes, 1111 S. Congress Ave. • Free
Complimentary drinks, snacks, styling and sales.

Thursday Night Social Club: Great Comedy, Free Beer
8pm • ColdTowne Theater, 4803-B Airport Blvd. • $5
Every Thursday in January, ColdTowne is opening early to provide free beer and snacks before the improv comedy show.

DJ Honeycomb and Malverde Present: Shuffle Shuffle
10pm–2am • Malverde, 400 W. Second, Ste. 400-B • Free
Every Thursday this month, DJ Honeycomb and Malverde present Shuffle Shuffle. This week’s guest DJ is DJ Chicken George.


Friday, Feb. 3
Free Wine Tasting with Esprit du Vins
4-8pm • East End Wines, 1209 Rosewood Ave. • Free
Free tasting featuring: Trimbach Pinot Blanc ’07, Lamarque Grande Cabanes Rose 2010, Ch. De la Chaize Brouilly ’09, Lamargue Syrah Les Grand Cabanes ’08, and Trimbach Gewurztraminer Vendage Tardives ’01.

The Asteroid Shop @ Fox on First
5pm • Fox on First, 1906 S. 1st St. • Free
Free show by the Asteroid Shop + free food + free beer.

Beauty Goes Red: Austin Beauty Week Kickoff Party
6:30–9:30pm • Speakeasy, 412 Congress Ave. • Free w/ RSVP
A red-themed party with complimentary red drinks provided by Bacardi Dragon Berry and sweet treats by Sara Belle’s Bakery. Plus: swag bags for the first 50 guests, silent auction, chair massages, and music by DJ Big Rich. Benefits Central Texas Go Red for Women.

Art Opening — Dimensions: Constructed Exploration & The Painted Print
7–10pm • Gallery Black Lagoon, 4301 A. Guadalupe St. • Free
Complimentary drinks (Deep Eddy Vodka) and food (The Parlor & Austinuts) at a gallery reception featuring new works by Jonathan Sanders and David Lujan.

CoolinAustin & Austin Writes Music Present: Shot Through the Heart   **Event of the Week**
9pm–2am • Frank, 407 Colorado St. • $6
That’s right: It’s time for another CiA/AWM showcase. The all-local lineup features Royal Forest, Your Friendly Ghost, Dead Black Hearts, and Little Radar. We hope to see you out there!


Saturday, Feb. 4
Independence Brewing Co. Brewery First Saturday Tour and Beer Tasting
1–3pm • Independence Brewing Co., 3913 Todd Lane #607 • Free
Free tour and tasting. Bring cash if you want to buy merchandise.

Be Our Valentine: Annual Valentine’s Trunk Show
2–7pm • Plain Ivey Jane, 408 W 2nd St. • Free
Complimentary drinks, treats from Sugar Pop Sweet Shop, and local shopping.

We’ll Go Machete, Cabra, Aetherhawk, Honey & Salt
6–10pm • Trailer Space Records, 1401 Rosewood Ave. • Free
Free show + free beer.

Red Bull Skooled Tour
8pm–2am • Scoot Inn, East 4th @ Navasota • Free
Texas indie rap groups A.Dd+, The Niceguys, Worldwide, Kydd, and DJ Sober
make a stop in Austin on their six-city tour through Texas. The free show features Cold Cris.

Good Field Album Release Party w/ Jesse Woods and Sleep Good
8pm–2am • Baby Blue Recording Studio, 1522 E. 12th St. • $5
Cover includes free keg beer.


Sunday, Feb. 5
“Material Girl” Super Bowl Party
5pm • Side Bar, 602 E. 7th St. • Free
Madonna-themed Super Bowl party with complimentary food and Corona for the first 50–100 people. Plus: best dressed Madonna talent competition (with prizes), projections of the game, and a Material Girl after-dance party with music by DJ Czech One.

Super Bowl Watch Party at The ND
5pm • The ND, East 5th St. at Brushy St. • Free
Watch the game, supplemented with music by DJ Orion.

Airplanes Above Us with the Madisons
7pm–2am • Red Eyed Fly, 715 Red River St. • $5
Also featuring Kiddoo & The Dude, The Holler Time, and Tippus.

Plugs: PSST! We’re up for a Statesman Social Media Award — if you’re a fan of what we do, we’d be eternally grateful if you could throw a vote our way!

Also: Like us on the Facebook, Tweet at us on the Twitter

Shoutouts: Amber, Partay Peeps, Do512 Free, Austin Free Events

Friday, Jan. 20
Art Attack by Amity
5-8pm • Duo Austin, 225 W. 2nd Street • Free
Local art showcase with a build-your-own cupcake bar, cocktails, and a drawing for 25% off a custom commissioned piece.

Blowout VII Opening Reception
7pm • Gallery Black Lagoon, 4301 Guadalupe Street • Free
Complimentary drinks, food, live music, and displays of works by UT art students.

Elizabeth Engelhardt Book Signing
7pm • BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar Blvd. • Free
Author Elizabeth Engelhardt will speak and sign her new book, “Mess of Greens.” The event, presented by Edible Austin Magazine, features tastings inspired by the book and complimentary beer from Saint Arnold Brewing Company.

DJ Hot Britches! at Mohawk
9pm–2am • Mohawk, 912 Red River St. • Free
Hot Britches! will be playing a mix of indie jams, disco, chill wave, dream pop and more. No cover.

SceneTap Launch Party
10:30pm–12:30am • Trophy Room, 310 E. 6th St. / Soho Lounge, 217 E. 6th St.
11pm–1am • Haven Lounge, 409 Colorado St. • Free
Multi-venue launch party for a new mobile app. Get a free Grey Goose or Bacardi cocktail if you have SceneTap downloaded on your phone.


Saturday, Jan. 21
Austin Gorilla Run After Party    ***Event of the Week***
10am • 4th Street between Lavaca and Colorado (near Fado Irish Pub) • Donations encouraged
Free food from Fado and live music by Achachay and SPEAK. Entry is free, but there is a suggested donation to benefit the Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund.

81 Poppies Fall Overstock Trunk Show at Plain Ivey Jane
2–7pm • Plain Ivey Jane, 408 W. 2nd St. • Free
Complimentary beverages and snacks, a wine tasting from 4–6pm, and discounts on fall and spring items.

Nora and Bethany’s Texas 4000 Benefit Show
9pm–1am • Carousel Lounge, 1110 E. 52nd St. • Suggested donation of $5-$10
Music by The Soapbox Spellbinders, Three Leaf, The Grapes, and Band of Liars. BYO liquor and/or buy beer & wine at the bar. Proceeds benefit Texas 4000, a nonprofit that raises money for cancer research.

Larissa Ness Album Release & Video Premiere Party w/ Zeale
9pm–2am • The ND, East 5th at Brushy Street • Free
Music by DJ Andrew Parsons, Zeale, and Larissa Ness.

The Strawberry Piranhas and Bandfire Quartet @ Caffe Medici
9–11pm • Caffe Medici, 2222 Guadalupe St. • $5
Homecoming show for The Strawberry Piranhas and Bandfire Quartet. Free beer while it lasts.


Sunday, Jan. 22
Cash Mob at HOPE Farmers Market
11am • HOPE Farmers Market, 414 Waller St. • Free (but bring cash)
Be part of a new project to support local business by bringing at least $10 to spend en masse on good stuff at the farmers market.

Befriend the Bears EP Release
8pm–2am • The Parish, 214 E. Sixth St. • $6
Music by Befriend the Bears, the White White Lights, Shakey Graves, and Rikavista. The first 50 people in the door get a free Lone Star. Plus: a photo booth and a chance to win an iPod Shuffle with music by all the bands.

Off Night On
7pm • Mohawk, 912 Red River St. • Free
Free night of comedy at the Mohawk featuring The New Movement improv group.

Plugs: Like us on the Facebook, Tweet at us on the Twitter

Shoutouts: Amber, Jeremiah, Do512 Free, Austin Free Events

It’s a good week for local beer lovers: You can find free Independence, Live Oak, (512), and Real Ale at various events around town. Also, Austin Beer Week kicks off this weekend! For everyone else, there’s a trailer food festival, a zombie dance party, an indie horror movie marathon, and as always, loads of free beverages.

Wednesday, Oct. 19
Free Popcorn at Cornucopia
10am–8pm • Cornucopia, 1914 Guadalupe St., Suite B • Free
Try free samples of the new fall flavors: Pumpkin Pie, Biscuits and Gravy, Candy Corn, White Chocolate Cranberry, and Caramel Apple.

Left Coast Cellars Wine Tasting
4–7pm • East End Wines, 1209 Rosewood Ave. • Free
Complimentary tasting of Left Coast Cellars ’09 Pinot Gris, ’06 Cali’s Pinot Noir, and ’06 Latitude 45 Pinot Noir.

Liberty Oktoberfest
7pm–2am • The Liberty, 1618-1/2 E. 6th St. • Free
Liberty is giving away 100 steins and offering Spaten beer specials to go with them. Bratwurst-eating contest starts at 8pm.


Thursday, Oct. 20
Icenhauer’s One Year Anniversary Party
4pm–2am • Icenhauer’s, 83 Rainey St. • Free
Taco bar provided by Tacos and Tequila from 6–8pm. Happy hour with Dulce Vida Tequila specials from 4–8pm. Special guest DJ from 9pm–2am.
 
Free Beer Thursday with D Madness
4:30pm • Double Trouble BBQ, 5300 South Congress Ave. • $5
Cover includes … you guessed it: free beer + music by D-Madness.

Austin Design Riot
6–9pm • Threshold Furniture & Design Studio, 801 W. 5th St. #100 • Free
Free drinks from Deep Eddy Vodka, giveaways, scavenger hunt, and gift bags. Architects, interior designers, and other members of the Austin design community will speak at the event.

Lamberts Patio Party
6–8pm • Lamberts Downtown Barbecue, 401 West 2nd Street • Free
Housemade sausages, Oktoberfest beers from Live Oak, Real Ale & Spaten, and music by The Fabulous Polkasonics.

Big-Ass Social Happy Hour (BASHH)
6–11:30pm • Hangar Lounge, 318 Colorado Street • Free; RSVP requested
Mingle with your fellow Austin social media peeps. One free drink ticket for the first 100 people. Annie Ray photo booth.


Friday, Oct. 21
Free Food and Wine Party
5pm • The Market at Steiner Ranch, 4300 N. Quinlan Park Road, Suite 120 • Free
Complimentary food, 15 wines to sample, and live music.

Block Party
5–9pm • Vanity Salon & Day Spa, 2118 Oxford Avenue • Free
Complimentary cocktails, food, music, raffle, and giveaways.


Saturday, Oct. 22
Gypsy Picnic Trailer Food Festival
11am–8pm • Auditorium Shores • Free
More than 40 of Austin’s best food trailers convene in one place for maximum sampling efficiency. Each trailer will have a sampler menu item for $3 or less. There was a huge crowd (and long lines) at this event last year, so get there early.

Scarlet Waters IV: Inner Cuts
11am–11pm • DoubleTree Hotel University Area, 1617 IH-35 North • Free; Donations welcome
All-day mini-festival of indie horror and thriller films & shorts from around the world. Costume contest at 7:45pm.
 
Live Oak Brewery Tour & Tasting
Noon–2pm • Live Oak Brewing Co., 3301-B East 5th Street • Free
Get an in-depth tour of the brewery led by Chip McElroy and Brian Peters, followed by a tasting of Live Oak’s current selections (and maybe a few surprises).
 
Balcones Burner Bash
Noon–6pm • Balcones Recycling, 2416 East 6th Street • Free
Graffiti art competition to raise money for the Lady Bird Wildflower Center. Features live music + food and local beer for sale.

Jewelry by Artists & Cocktail Social at Gallery Black Lagoon
Noon–6pm • Gallery Black Lagoon, 4301 A. Guadalupe St. • Free
Complimentary cocktails, cupcakes & beverages provided by Dripping Springs Vodka, VitaminWater, Lick it Bite it or Both, & Third Coast Coffee.

Austin SUP Games
Noon–4pm • Pure Austin Fitness Quarry Lake, 4210 W Braker Lane • Free for spectators
Watch SUP Board (Stand Up Paddle Board) enthusiasts compete in a series of crazy events including an obstacle course, slalom course, jousting, and a massive water fight. Participants will attempt to break the world record for number of people on a SUP board at one time.
 
Uncle Billy’s Lake Travis Brewery Tour + Tasting
4–5pm • Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que, 6550 Comanche Trail • Free
Brewer Brian Peters leads a tour that features samples of Uncle Billy’s hand-crafted brew.

Independence Brewing Company 7th Anniversary Party *Event of the Week*
4–8pm • Independence Brewing Co., 3913 Todd Lane #607 • Free
Free samples of a special 7th Anniversary beer, rare beers from the Brewluminati series, and the regular Independence lineup. Entertainment will be provided by the brewer-led band as well as Austin rockabilly band Deuce Coupe.

House Wine 3rd Anniversary Party and Songbird Festival
4pm–1am • House Wine, 408 Josephine St. • Free
Free appetizers from 6–8pm, crafting projects, drink specials all day, and live music by local singer/songwriters.

Artslam! Return of the Undead!
7pm–2:30am • The ND at 501 Studios, East 5th and Brushy Street • $5
Free vodka + Red Bull from 7:30–9. DJ sets, visual effects, and professional make-up artists to help zombify the crowd.


Sunday, Oct. 23
HOPE Farmers Market 2nd Birthday + Food Day Celebration
11am–3pm • HOPE Farmers Market, E. 5th and Waller St. • Free
Free beer all day by 512 Brewing Company, demos, and healthy foods from local vendors. Live music by Chris Jamison and Bottom Dollar String Band.
 
Beer Olympics hosted by the Draught House
3–7pm • The Draught House, 4112 Medical Pkwy • Free
Compete for prizes in events such as Crap Beer Cornhole, Yeast Toss, Keg Lift, Blind IPA Challenge and Modified Arm Wrestling. Three people per team. This is part of the Austin Beer Week festivities.
 

Monday, Oct. 24
Austinist Presents: Live Music Trivia at Dive Bar
7–9pm • Dive Bar and Lounge‎, 1703 Guadalupe St. • Free
Dive Bar’s inaugural music trivia night will feature rounds centering on a variety of genres and tastes. Winning team gets a $50 bar tab. Sign up here.


Tuesday, Oct. 25
Austin Chronicle Presents Paper Cuts: Mike and the Moonpies
7-9pm • The Palm Door, 401-A Sabine Street • Free; RSVP requested
The Chronicle’s monthly free music series features complimentary Sapporo Beer, food from Curra’s Grill, and 42 Below Vodka. You need to RSVP to guarantee admission, but additional guests will be allowed in starting at 7:30 if the party isn’t at capacity.

Facebook! Twitter! More free stuff from: Amber, Jeremiah, Do512! Peace be da journey!