So, I’m thinking of starting a feature on this blog, to run each (or, mostly on) Friday, called “Instant Date Night.” Do we like that idea, Austinites? Yes? No?
Remember: Dating yourself is 100% ok, and when Ross is out of town or can’t join me for whatever reason on Date Night — which for us, is Friday — I take myself to movies, or out to dinner, quite often. Maybe this is the inner only child talking, but I find myself to be more than enough company. Honestly a handful sometimes.
Anyway. On a different note, do you creative types — musicians, computer code writers, regular writers, Etsy-ettes — feel as though you need to balance your art production, with art consumption?
I certainly do. Let’s be honest: Sometimes, Austin Eavesdropper posts are not remotely “artful” by any stretch of the imagination. A lot of the time it’s, “hey, this is going on this weekend, so, yay.”
However …
Even those utilitarian blog posts require the help of my right brain. To arrange sentences in a coherent (and hopefully engaging) way, to incorporate images in a manner that enhances the information, to make the toss-off witty aside that — trust me — I thought long and hard about.
Because of all that, I try to make an effort to take in more art that I produce. To stay inspired, you know. Doesn’t matter what the medium is (though I am nerdily partial to books), and, I suspect some of you are the same way.
So! For us, for anyone who expends creative energy throughout their day, and wants to get a little more of it back, I have a solution.
This is the kick-off party for E.A.S.T., one of the coolest art events in the city. And it is tonight!
E.A.S.T. is a walking tour of all the studios on Austin’s east side, big and small. Last year, my friend Kelly and I went, and ended up sharing a meal with one of the artists — this incredible painter with an apartment next door to Solid Gold boutique, who had a huge, Virgin Mary-style portrait of Willie Nelson hanging over her bed. She served us mini pizzas.
This evening, Art Night Austin is hosting a chauffeured culinary kick-off party of several E.A.S.T. spaces. It runs from 7:00 – 10:30pm, beginning at Domy Books, and hits up Bearded Lady Screen Printing Studio, Big Medium, Blue Genie (!), Brocca Gallery, Co-Lab (all collaborative artwork — COOL) and Fisterra Studios. Along the way, bites from East Side King, Cote Catering, Miles of Chocolate (drool) and Lucky J’s Chicken and Waffles are served.
Tickets are $45 for Art Alliance members, $55 for non-members. You can buy those here.
The tour ends with an after-party ($10 tickets) at Hope Farmer’s Market.
Here are a few art pieces you’ll see along the way.