KGSR's morning host, Bryan Beck, was gracious enough to invite members of the Austin Samba School, Academicos da Opera, into the radio studio this morning to offer a little taste of what the group will be doing this Saturday at Carnaval. Bryan is a long-time Carnaval fan and has probably not missed a year since, what, 1987? Anyway, he always allows us to come into the station to promote the event and this year, the drummers appeared on his Sounds of Our Town segment.
Needless to say, they were wonderful. Director Robert Jacare Patterson was there, along with drummers Mike "The Don" Marchionetti, Spamapotomus (Tommy Spaminato), Lee "Chicken Legs" Clippard and Scott "BOOM BOOM" McClanahan. The sound was driving and full. So imagine what 40 of these guys playing samba sound like in person! Saturday is going to be amazing....and then there are the 40 dancers! Wow!
Thanks, guys, for coming out so early, at the tail end of that Winter Sto
rm!!!! And thanks Bryan Beck and KGSR for your more than 20 years of support!
Poster Signing Event at Sampaio's (plus Vicci and SAMPC photos)
Wow, we had a great time yesterday evening at Sampaio's. Poster artist AJ Garces came up from San Antonio to sign copies of his wonderful 2009 poster, 101X radio was there doing their "remote" thing giving away CDs, tshirts, Carnaval tix and posters and at least 100 folks showed up to enjoy the moment. Smiles were in evidence all evening, so it must have been a success. This is the seventh or eighth time we've done this and each year, it seems to just get better. Carnaval Queen Penny was there...without her, this thing would probably crumble into the sea...making sure all the eyes were dotted and tees crossed. Her right hand person Heather was there also, and we all had a great time recounting stories of Carnaval. Sampaio's folks were wonderful as always, the bartenders were swamped, but managed to pull it off with great finesse. Thanks to Magna and crew.
And thanks to all who showed up. Hope you had as much fun as we did!
We also want to thank Academicos da Opera for their participation in two other events, the Carnaval warmup at Vicci nightclub and at the opening of the now annual Carnaval Poster Show at the South Austin Museum of Popular Culture a week ago. Carnaval Queen Penny took the photos of them that appear below.
Here are some more photos of the poster signing event, and the two of the Academicos da Opera:
We made a mistake...parking at the One Texas Center garage is no longer free, it will probably be $7, just as in the City garage next to Palmer. So, unfortunately the era of free parking nearby is over....
Parking might be an issue at Carnaval this year since, for the first time, the Long Center will hold a performance—opening night of the opera—the same night we’re getting down at Palmer. The good thing is, they will be finished around 10, so if you get there around that time, there should not be a problem.
But here’s a tip, and the mink-set at the Opera (hey, watch it...I like opera and used to be a season ticket holder!) will not know about this: There are 600 parking spaces available at One Texas Center in the garage on the SE corner of S. First and Barton Springs. Obviously this will be first come first served and will involve a walk of about a block and a half. If you have a car full of folks, you can drop them off at the front door of the center as outlined below, park the car and then only one or two will have to walk; great if it's raining or snowing.
There is a nice drop off at the front door, via the driveway on the southwest side of the building off of Barton Springs Road. But after passenger drop-off, you need to swing back around and to enter the “official” City/Palmer Events Center parking garage. The only entrance to the Events Center itself is this one facing Barton Springs, though you can also enter the garage on the Riverside side. Parking in this garage is $7. So, get there a bit early and park across the street as outlined above.
Carnaval is now just two and a half weeks away. Wow, it's hard to believe we are almost there.
I forgot to post these earlier, but here are some things you might want to know about that are happening before the event.
Saturday, Jan. 17: Carnaval Poster Retrospective, South Austin Museum of Popular Culture, 1516B S. Lamar, 7:09 p.m. This now annual event will feature 32 years of Carnaval posters, as well as other Carnaval goodies...includes some rejected poster ideas, rough sketches and more. Drummers from Academicos da Opera will perform a tad after 7. More giveaways, and refreshments will be available....KGSR will be on hand with tons of radio station swag, CD giveaways and more.
Thursday, Jan. 22: Poster Signing, Sampaios Restaurant, 4800 Burnet Rd., 5 p.m. till 7 p.m. Artist AJ Garces will be on hand to sign his wonderful 2009 poster which will be available at this event. Other giveaways, and more radio station swag, this time from 101X, as well as food and drink specials.
Also, don't forget about the special rates at the Homestead Suites across the street from Palmer, and the Townlake Holiday Inn. Go to the Info/Hotel page linked above under the INFO button to get all the info.
Things are heating up. Get your tickets now before it gets too crazy....
Bryan is a long-time Carnaval fan and has probably not missed a year since, what, 1987? Anyway, he always allows us to come into the station to promote the event and this year, the drummers appeared on his Sounds of Our Town segment. 
