Lite + Brite: 54 Handmade Austin Events 12/6
Hello, what’s up, and welcome to the Lite + Brite newsletter.
We’d describe this as a normal-levels-of-busy week with an out-of-control-busy Saturday. If you like sideshow-burlesque-comedy-horror-circus arts, intergalactic comedy wrestling, tradition, motorcycles racing to be the slowest, aerial performers and Chappell Roan, signed books, fantasy costumed karaoke, Evil Santa, ghosts, or all-you-can-eat spaghetti, literally all of that plus a zillion other activities are available to you tomorrow.
If you’re like, “Listen, I can’t possibly think about attending Dr. Who-themed burlesque or Shrek Christmas-themed drag right now because I am too busy working on my holiday shopping,” then you might find our calendar of Austin holiday markets useful. We’d also like to remind you that a Patreon subscription to Lite + Brite makes the perfect gift! (To be clear, not for everyone. An L+B subscription would be a bad gift for your uncle who lives in New Jersey. Unless you’re trying to convince him to move to Austin.)
Looking for yet more seasonal activities? Our pal Mike (creator of Austin’s Big Weekend Calendars, which is also a great gift) has built a guide to Austin’s Christmas events. If you want to get in the seasonal mood, we’ve made you a soundtrack of all-wintry, no-Christmasy songs. And if you just need a brief respite from the holiday madness, come take some time for yourself at our final No Lights No Lycra of 2024.
If you’re not already a subscriber to this newsletter and you want to be, click here. We do one newsletter a week, usually on Fridays, plus a bonus edition around the start of each month. If you enjoy this newsletter, please support us by contributing to our Patreon and by forwarding this email to your friends who enjoy things like listening to music and leaving the house sometimes.
Let’s do fun stuff!
—Leila + Brian
liteandbriteatx.com
OUR STUFF
Our final No Lights No Lycra of the year is WEDNESDAY! Come shake off your stress with us in the calming darkness of 3rd Eye Meditation Lounge. Reserve your spot here. Wondering what sort of music you might hear? Scroll down for the playlist from our most recent NLNL.
In the online world, Brian has dedicated this week’s episode of his streaming radio show to wintry tunes. If you’re a snowmobile, you should give it a listen here or scroll down for the tracklist.
EVENTS WE’RE EYEING
Friday 12/6
- Comic Con Art Exhibit at Riches Art Gallery
Comic Con-themed night w/DJs, live music, vendors, cosplayers, video games - Holiday Craft Crawl at the Austin Public Library
Crawl through the various holiday crafting stations of APL + make some “yarn gnomes” - The Met Gala Ball at Speakeasy
Drag performers do their own twists on the Met Gala - Austin Trail of Lights Preview Party at Zilker Park
Carousel rides, live music, + first look at the Zilker Trail of Lights - The Great Burnmas Bash at Flipside Warehouse
Live-streamed dinner, dance party w/DJs, + performers - Experimental Films with Abinadi Meza at We Luv Video
Screening of experimental cameraless films (drawn onto the film!) - Mindzai Art Show at Central Machine Works
Art by a long list of artists + “sick merch” - Glaze Vol. XI Release at Cheer Up Charlie’s
“Retro magic” w/“live music, drag, DJs, karaoke, + more” - Village of Lights at Community First!
Watch lights light up in time to holiday music + holiday film, market - ‘Twas the Night Before at First Church of Austin
“A night of musical storytelling” w/Austin Gay Men’s Chorus - Austin International Drag Fest at the Holiday Inn Midtown
Fest showcasing a diverse array of drag performers + panels downtown - 44th Annual Budafest in downtown Buda
Not the capital of Hungary it’s a tree lighting ceremony + Santa pics - (weekly thru 12/15) The Ghosts of Christmas Past at Pioneer Farms
Theatrical production featuring ghost stories, holiday desserts, + Victorian getups
Saturday 12/7
- 1-800-CLOWN-TOWN at Kick Butt Coffee
Countercultural circus-themed burlesque, comedy, + circus arts - Slam Portal at the Far Out Lounge
Interdimensional wrestling slams into Far Out w/holiday theme - 30th Annual Holiday Singalong + Stroll on Congress Ave.
See Austin’s annual tree lighting + throw in some caroling + strolling - Cowboy XMAS at Co-Lab Projects
An “anti-soiree” themed around cowboys + Xmas w/DJ, karaoke, + art - Wizard Rodeo at the Long Time
A wild live music + variety show with the best darn website I’ve seen in ages - Free Lunch’s Big Red at Sagebrush
Live music + all-you-can-eat spaghetti join forces, plus raffles + cake - Handmade Puppet Dreams at the Dougherty Arts Center
Watch short films featuring puppets, + auction for said puppets - Surreal Ball at ArtUs Co.
Activations, connections, DJ, cocktails, live painting, + astrology readings - Ornament Competition at the Glassmith
Watch glass artists compete to create ornaments live - Uncanny Attractions Winter Ball at Highland Lounge
Pro wrestling + drag combine in a wintry fashion - Scootenany at Scooter 911
Scooter show w/raffle, DJs, free food, + “slow race” - Mulled Wine Supernova at Sky Candy
Aerialists set to a soundtrack of Chappell Roan, ASL, + vendor market - The Hyde Park Printers Market at the Baker School
Live printmaking, demos, live music, free bevs, + prints for sale - Holiday Book Fair at Humanities Texas
Get discounted books signed by Texan authors - Austin Ghost Tours at Pioneer Farm
A haunted hike through 19th century farm buildings - Open Studios at Canopy
Artists at Canopy open up their studios to the public - Opening Hours at the Sherwood Forest Zine Library
Read from Sherwood Forest’s extensive library of zines - Solar Saturday at the Carver Center
Chat w/nonprofits, all-ages art activities, workshops, + DJ - Studio Soiree at Julie Ahmad Contemporary
All-female art show + female DJ - Body Mechanics at 4211 Todd Ln.
DJs happily blurring the lines between a dance party + a fetish party - German Christmas Market at the German Free School
German-themed Xmas w/Glühwein, St. Nicholas, kid activities, + vendor market - Fantasy Karaoke at Tiny Minotaur
Bard-hosted fantasy costumes-only karaoke - Karaoke Underground at Knomad
Sing karaoke to your favorite punk, indie + alt classics - Art Heals Festival at Beerburg Brewing
Raise AIDS awareness w/readings, food, live music, + DJ - Arts Festival at Wheatsville S. Lamar
Live music, giveaways, flash tats, + handmade vendor market - Horror for the Holidays at the Palmer Events Center
“Holiday horror expo” ft. circus arts, magic, signings, + Evil Santa pics - Village of Lights at Community First!
Watch lights light up in time to holiday music + holiday film, market - Yule in the Garden at Zilker Botanical Garden
String quartet, picnic, photo booth, crafts, + cozy beverages - ‘Twas the Night Before at First Church of Austin
“A night of musical storytelling” w/Austin Gay Men’s Chorus - Austin International Drag Fest at the Holiday Inn Midtown
Fest showcasing a diverse array of drag performers + panels downtown - 44th Annual Budafest in downtown Buda
Carnival, parade, art market, fireworks, + vendor market - (weekly thru 12/15) The Ghosts of Christmas Past at Pioneer Farms
Theatrical production featuring ghost stories, holiday desserts, + Victorian getups - (weekly) The Board Walks at Bennu Coffee S. Congress
“Walk 5 miles and have energizing conversations”
Sunday 12/8
- Best of Texas Fashion Showroom at 506 Congress
Fashion-themed vendors + artists + free beverages - Christmas Concert at Saengerrunde Hall
Choirs perform traditional German Xmas music + seasonal vendors - The Writing on the Stall at Creek + the Cave
“A one-woman bathroom graffiti musical” - A Very Electric Christmas at the Paramount
Electric puppets tell a holiday tale set to familiar tunes - Horror for the Holidays at the Palmer Events Center
“Holiday horror expo” ft. circus arts, magic, signings, + Evil Santa pics - Yule in the Garden at Zilker Botanical Garden
String quartet, picnic, photo booth, crafts, + cozy beverages - ‘Twas the Night Before at First Church of Austin
“A night of musical storytelling” w/Austin Gay Men’s Chorus - Austin International Drag Fest at the Holiday Inn Midtown
Fest showcasing a diverse array of drag performers + panels downtown - Broadway Barbara’s Holiday Spectacular at Parker Jazz Club
Cheeky Christmas + Broadway-themed cabaret / variety show - 44th Annual Budafest in downtown Buda
Carnival, parade, art market, fireworks, + vendor market - (weekly thru 12/15) The Ghosts of Christmas Past at Pioneer Farms
Theatrical production featuring ghost stories, holiday desserts, + Victorian getups
Monday 12/9
- ATX Short Film Showcase at Spiderhouse Ballroom
The films are short, the filmmakers are Texan + of varying heights - Broadway Barbara’s Holiday Spectacular at Parker Jazz Club
Cheeky Christmas + Broadway-themed cabaret / variety show
Tuesday 12/10
- Austin Trail of Lights Grand Opening at Zilker Park
…And you will know us by the trail of holiday lights - Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue at the McCullough Theatre
The Golden Girls somehow survived into 2024 so they could be in this comedic play
Wednesday 12/11
- No Lights No Lycra at 3rd Eye Meditation Lounge
Dance with L+B in near complete darkness to some wintry tunes - Shrek Christmas Drag Show at Double Trouble
Drag show combining Shrek, fairytales, + Charli xcx’s brattines - Grand Opening Party at Ceremony Spa
Free sauna, yoga, soundbaths, plus live music, DJ, vendors - Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue at the McCullough Theatre
The Golden Girls somehow survived into 2024 so they could be in this comedic play
Thursday 12/12
- The Dr. Who-liday Special at Kick Butt Coffee
Seasonally appropriate Dr Who-themed burlesque performances - The Watchmaker’s Song at the Neill-Cochran House Museum
Immersive reinterpretation of the Nutcracker in different styles of dance - Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue at the McCullough Theatre
The Golden Girls somehow survived into 2024 so they could be in this comedic play - (weekly thru 12/15) The Ghosts of Christmas Past at Pioneer Farms
Theatrical production featuring ghost stories, holiday desserts, + Victorian getups
No Humans Allowed 215
Frozen Bloops
This week on NHA was al have a wintry mix of icy synths, squalls of chilly bleeps, and a front of frozen bloops for all the robotic dancers out there. Bundle up and press play.
Tracklist
Eyeless in Gaza – Changing Stations
Fockewulf 190 – Body Heat
Vera – Don’t You Want My Love (instrumental)
I Am Noxious – Love Is a Stranger
Tennishero – Midnight Love
Lifelike & Roman Salzger – Radio 84
Nini Raviolette & Hugo Weris – Slow
The Diogenes Club – Taliesin
Ice Choir – Teletrips
Morenas – Hazme Soñar
Erlend Øye – Sheltered Life
Kiki – So Easy to Forget
The Swiss – Kiss to Kiss (Breakbot Remix)
White Label – John 1
No Humans Allowed is Brian Blackout’s award-winning, dodgy European news coverage receiving, weekly robots-themed radio show on internet station KPISS.fm. Machine vibes 4 machines. Songs for robots, androids, mandroids, cyborgs, AIs, cylons, skinjobs, roombas, wifi routers, smart devices, anything colored Bondi blue, and virtual assistants. Humans not required. Broadcasts live every Wednesday at 6pm CT on kpiss.fm, with over 200 episodes now streamable in the archives on topics like and Beach Simulations, Roomba dance parties, undersea adventures + Cyber Texas.
No Lights No Lycra ATX 175
w/Brian Blackout
Recorded live in the dark at Sky Candy on November 22, 2024.
Listen to NLNL ATX 175 on Mixcloud
Tracklist
Emil Rottmayer – EXP002
Olefonken – Ubuntu Tutu
In Flagranti – Ideas for Planning Your New Home
Claudia Telles – Foi como um Sonho (Patchouli Brothers Edit)
Girl Ray – Give Me Your Love
Japanese Breakfast – Be Sweet
Zapp & Roger – Dance Floor
James Brown – Sayin’ It and Doin’ It (Sugarloaf Gangsters Mix)
Snap – The Power
Ariana Grande – Yes, and?
Apparel Wax – 005A1
Dolly Parton – 9 to 5 (Butch le Butch Remix)
Bell & James – Friday Night (Fitforuse Edit)
LCD Soundsystem – Disco Infiltrator
Charli xcx & Billy Eilish – Guess
Haiku Hands – Not About You
Goldfrapp – Slide in (DFA Remix)
Hot Hot Heat – Talk to Me, Dance with Me
Blue Hawaii – I Felt Love (Suzanne Kraft Remix)
ABBA – Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (a Man After Midnight)
T. Rex – 20th Century Boy
Iggy Pop – Lust for Life
Talking Heads – This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)
The The – This Is the Day
Home – All at Once
Thieves Like Us – Never Known Love
PATREON THANKS
A huge thank-you to our Patreon subscribers Qiu, Erica Speegle, Mitch Rudea, Jarrett Holtz, Thomas Refferson, Dale Markowitz, Jason & Luciana, Bones Malones, Amy Hayes, Katie Green, Christina Jue, Colleen MB, Lilly Ettinger, Lena Long, Amalia Litsa, Alexander Freed, Kristen Backor, Timon A., Kate Murray, and Amy Wilde. We’re deeply grateful for your support, which allows us to do things like “pay our Mailchimp fee” and “spend hours researching Austin events when technically we should be working.”
If you’d like to support us on Patreon and get access to exclusive member-only benefits, you may do so here.
SOCIALS
Recent weeks found us visiting the Sherwood Forest Zine Library, admiring the site-specific art at Creek Show, and exploring the city on Austin Studio Tour. Follow Lite + Brite on Instagram to keep up with our adventures. And come chat with us and the rest of the L+B community on our Discord server!
ABOUT US
How do we choose which events to feature?
Honestly, it’s pretty random. We might include anything in Austin that we, personally, would conceivably want to go to, generally excluding normal concerts, comedy shows, and movie showtimes because there are many other good resources for finding those. (We especially recommend Showlist for live music, The Darker Side of Austin for goth and metal stuff, Concept Animals’ ATX Art for You for gallery openings + artist talks, and the 60+ Weirdest Things in Austin for exactly what it sounds like). This list is by no means exhaustive; it’s just stuff that caught our eye this week. If you have an event that you want us to consider including, send it over.
Who are we?
We are Leila + Brian. We make this newsletter. We do our own events, most often No Lights No Lycra (which is on hiatus but will resume), + also BYOT, a party where we share very good YouTubes (here’s a playlist from the last one). We go very hard seeing bands at SxSW (here are playlists of our favorites from 2024). We once got called “local Austin couple” by KXAN. We do some other stuff here and there. We love going out to creative events in Austin, and we want you to join us. Visit us at liteandbriteatx.com, and support us on Patreon if you like what we do.