• October 16-17, 2010
• State Capitol Building

The Texas Book Festival was established in 1995 by First Lady Laura Bush, a former librarian and an ardent advocate of literacy. Mrs. Bush created a task force to plan the book festival to honor Texas authors, promote the joys of reading and serve to benefit the state’s public libraries. The first Festival took place at the Capitol in November 1996; the Festival has quickly evolved into one of the premier literary events in the country, annually hosting over 200 Texas and nationally known authors. Approximately 40,000 visitors participate annually in a weekend of author readings and presentations, panel discussions, book signings, and musical entertainment at the State Capitol in Austin.

For more information about Texas Book Festival, go to the official website.

Come celebrate Halloween at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center! The 5th annual Goblins In The Garden event will take place on Sunday, October 24th, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

There will be spooky, fun activities on the grounds and gardens for all ages to enjoy. Participate in the Trail of Bones scavenger hunt, observe and learn from pumpkin carving demonstrations, visit Botanica the Herbal Witch in our Haunted Tower and get creative with fall-themed arts and crafts. There will also be a Scarecrow Contest for folks to enjoy, with scarecrows on exhibit starting three weeks before the day of the event.

The Wildflower Center encourages families to dress up in Halloween costumes and bring a camera for this event – there will be many opportunities for memorable snap shots! Visit the store a free treat for kids 12 and under.

You can find info on http://www.wildflower.org

Huston-Tillotson University celebrates its 135^th birthday the week of October 21-24. FUMC is honored to host one of the main events, a jazz concert featuring world-renowned artists Carmen Bradford and Melba Joyce, Friday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. in our sanctuary. Seating is now available for the public. You can order online at www.htu.edu, or take a chance on buying tickets at the door. Tickets are $50 for VIP seating; $25/general admission; and $5 for students.

For more information, click here.

When: Saturday, October 2, 2010 6:00 pm

Where: St. Elias Festival
11th Street (Btwn Red River and Trinity)
Austin, TX

Official Website

Three generations of Central Texas families are bringing a taste of the Mediterranean to Austin this October for the St. Elias Mediterranean Festival, an outdoor festival of Mediterranean culture on October 1st & 2nd. The event will take place across a full on 11th Street between Red River and Trinity streets.

For 78 years, the Jabour, Dagar and Attal families have been the driving force behind the annual Mediterranean Festival. As part of their tradition, these families cook up their menu specialties from scratch every year, personally hand-rolling thousands of grape leaves, mixing up dozens of fresh batches of tabouleh, and baking enough baklava to feed an army. This dedication to heritage and remarkable food has been handed down from generation to generation, helping this feast become a celebration for more than seven decades.

Understandably, one of the biggest draws for the festival is the food. Food booths operated by the families who support St. Elias Orthodox Church will be serving up authentic Lebanese, Greek and Middle Eastern delicacies. Highlights will include kefta, a grilled ground beef dish served with onionsmand parsley; hummos, a blend of chickpeas, garlic and tahini sauce; tyropita, a delicious pastry stuffed with delicate cheeses; spanakopita, pastry stuffed with a mixture of spinach and cheese; and kibbeh, a recipe of lean ground beef stuffed with bulgur, onions and pine nuts. The dessert menu is also a pleaser and will include dishes such as nammoura, a traditional dessert cake made with semolina,

However, the Mediterranean Festival is a celebration of music as well. An event for the entire family,
guests will enjoy special appearances by the Ellinakia and Levendia Greek Dancers; and live music
from LAAND Greek Band with Middle-Eastern D.J. Chris Ferris, who will perform both evenings
A mere $5 donation is suggested to attend the St. Elias Mediterranean Festival; a portion of the
net proceeds will go to Caritas of Austin and the IOCC International Orthodox Christian Charities.
“It has really been a labor of love that has continued the tradition of the festival for 78 years,” Jabour
says. “What I’m really looking forward to is an opportunity to expose the festival to those who have

never experienced it before. It has been considered one of our best-kept secrets, but I think it’s time to share this great festival with everyone in Austin.”

Sponsors for the event include Twin Liquors, Absolut® and Bacardi®. Named one of Austin’s most delicious traditions and Central Texas’ Top 10 Food Festivals by the Austin Chronicle, the Mediterranean Festival takes place from 6 p.m. to midnight on Friday, October 1st and Saturday, October 2nd, 2010. Admission Tickets are on sale at all 62 Twin Liquors Locations for a $5 donation.

NATURE NIGHTS FALL 2010, FROM 6 P.M. TO 9 P.M. $1 GENERAL ADMISSION; FREE TO WILDFLOWER CENTER MEMBERS AND ECOEXPLORERS.

Friday, September 24: Plants & People– Celebrate the wonderful connection people have with plants. From dyes to jellies, from medicines to our daily meals, discover how native plants are an important part of our daily lives. Check out exhibits featuring dying, crafting, and food sampling with native plants. Make your own recycled paper to take home. Explore the gardens and grounds to find plants that produce shampoo, soap, fibers, and so much more.

Friday, October 15: Spiders– What has eight legs, fangs, and lived 386 million years ago? Come to the Wildflower Center to find out! Search the gardens and grounds for spiders with “Spider Joe” Lapp. Get up close and personal with some of Dave Moellendorf’s eight-legged friends. Go on an insect scavenger hunt with Val Bugh.

Friday, November 12: Hill Country Astronomy– Are the stars out tonight? Come find out with astronomers from UT’s McDonald Observatory. Listen to an engaging discussion of the cosmos. Take a peek at the stars and planets through field telescopes. Make your own flashlight constellation canister to take home.

For more information, click here