“Around the Republic: Roundup of Austin Blog Posts Week of August 23rd 2009″

Why spend Sunday reading the New York Times? Each week we bring you our favorite posts from local Austin bloggers.  If you see a post from your fave Austin blog and want it to get recognized, email Rory and let him know!

BRRR! This 96 degree weather is giving me the chills. Have y’all seen my hoodie?

Two Austin Bloggers Get Facelifts

• Well, they didn’t, but their sites did. Check out music blog Austin Townhall’s and food blog Tasty Touring’s new looks.

OMG! Don’t TXT the BFF DT

City Council approved a preliminary ban on texting while driving. The ordinance hasn’t been drafted yet, but the blogosphere is still sounding off:

• Robbie Cooper over at UrbanGround is pleased as punch; he hates “asswipes who text or talk on the cell phone while driving.”
• Scott Henson at Grits for Breakfast thinks the texting ban is a ploy by the city that denies commuter reality in order to earn more revenue. He also thinks the city should rent a billboard if they want to raise awareness of a dangerous issue. Um, Scott, nobody would see it bc they’d be too busy texting…d’uh!

3-Feet Wide and Biking

The bicycle blogs (and our own editor Chris Apollo) are celebrating the City Council’s approval of a resolution for safe passing of bicyclists, pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.

Quiet on the set!

Oh snap! Robert Rodriguez is filming his newest movie, Machete, all over downtown.  Some celebs (the Hollywood type, not the Internet type) include: Robert DiNero, Jessica Alba and Lindsay Lohan.

• While we Austinites have avoided the Paparazzi, the Twitterazzi have been out and snappin pictures around the set.
• If you’re looking for some photos with HARDCORE CELEB action, head on over to Slackerwood for more photos from the set of Machete.

Cloudy with a Chance of Tree Limbs

We did get a little rain this week, and with each flash shower came a mess of wind.

• More than 70 mature trees in Pease Park were brought down.  Austin Parks Foundation Blog has pictures and a plea to help plant more.
• Babar, the old, giant cedar elm growing up between The Midlife Girls‘ porch, suffered some injuries. and as a result will have to be put down.  This is the girls’ goodbye letters to their old friend.

Summer’s over

Yeah, um, all that traffic around campus (and near Target or Bed, Bath & Beyond) means one thing: School is back in session.

• Lawnee went school supply shopping
• Life in Austin reflects on having his wife and his two kids start school
• Decider posts ways students can make fast money (Medical experiment: Check! Plasma: Check!)

The Neighborhood Association to Control the Universe…

…or at least almost the whole city of Austin.  Check it: A dude who’s title is “The Great and Powerful Oz” (seriously) has created a neighborhood association called the “Super Duper Neighborhood Objectors and Appealers Organization.” By creating a neighborhood association that covers the whole city, the Wiz is entitled to a hearing for anything that falls within his boundaries and the city has to give notice. It’s expensive. Woosh. Over my head, but Austin Contrarian does a great job at explaining it.

Fun Fun Fun Fest!

The smallest (but funfunfunest) of Austin’s three big festivals, the Fun Fun Fun Fest, announced their full full full line up this week.  To help support the local scene, The folks over at ‘Nites posted their list with reviews of Austin bands playing the fest.

Lies Lies Lies Yeah!

Capital Metro is trying to pull a fast one on us with their latest plans for the Red Line (duh!) (via M1EK’s Bake Sale of Bile)

From Austin City Hall

The Fed gave us $2 million of HUD funds–woo hoo!–and we’re spending it on: cars for everyone!! What? Oh, wait. Just kidding. We’re spending it on “legacy projects and job stimulus.” In layman’s terms: “The money will fund four community development projects that will address infrastructure needs in East Austin and offset construction costs for nonprofit facilities.”

From Austin Area Foodies

• Dining in Austin reviewed Z-Tejas (mmmmm. Crispy Crab Tacos!)
• It’s HATCH CHILI PEPPER SEASON!!! AYE AYE AYE!  Don’t know what to cook? Try this Hatch Green Chile-Stuffed Bison Burgers Topped with a Deconstructed Guacamole (via Fete and Feast) or try Austin Farm to Table’s Texas Sweet Onion and Hatch Chile Soup
• Cherries will be going out of season soon, but there is still time to try MisoHungry’s (not for the kids) Maraschino Cherry recipe
• Taco Journalism says avoid Ken’s Taco and Subs
• East Austinite posts a glimpse into The Fork, East Austin’s forthcoming Burger Joint

Tidbits:

• Crossland Realtors reflect on what makes Austin Austin
• Wholesome shots of this month’s Critical Mass (via ATXBS)
• Best blackout poem EVER: “a story begins when a bomb meets the her And he sees death and something to live for” (via Austin Kleon)
• Photo of a rainbow during one of the crazy evening showers this week
• Frog prince found on Town Lake bridge (via These Are Days)
• AustinOfficeBlog is on the hunt for the messiest Office in Austin. Do you qualify? Enter now!

Didn’t see your favorite blog post from the last week? Tell us about it in the comments!

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