Happenings

For more events, see Community Listings

Thursday 27

BEFORE & AFTER SCHIAVO Carmela Epright discusses the bioethics cases that came before Terri Schiavo, those likely to come in her wake, and how they may shape public policy in the future. 5pm. St. Edward's University, Fleck Hall Room 305, 3001 S. Congress, 464-8871. Free.

CASA MARIANELLA BENEFIT DINNER honors Barbara Hines of UT's Immigrant Law Clinic with the Ed Wendler Award for outstanding service to the immigrant community. 6-8pm. Mercury Hall, 615 Cardinal, 385-5571. $50. www.casamarianella.org.

HEMAN SWEATT SYMPOSIUM ON CIVIL RIGHTS focuses on the Powerless Majority: The Black and Latino Experience in America. Former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk keynotes on Friday (7pm, Thompson Conference Center). Through Fri., March 28. UT campus. www.utexas.edu/diversity/events/hemansweatt.

Friday 28

CITY OF AUSTIN FAMILIES & CHILDREN TASK FORCE Take a short survey online at www.ci.austin.tx.us/coun cil/fctf/default.cfm to help make Austin a more friendly place for families and kids. Deadline: Fri., March 28.

ROBIN HAHNEL The American University economics professor gives two talks questioning the assumption that there is no alternative to capitalism. TINA Be Damned: Alternatives to Corporate Capitalism: Noon, UT campus, CMA Building Room 5.160. Participatory Economics: Alternatives to Corporate Capitalism Case Studies From Venezuela: 8pm, MonkeyWrench Books, 110 E. North Loop. Free.

SUSTAINABLE! CONFERENCE screens The Real Dirt on Farmer John on Friday and continues Saturday with a day of workshops on food, the environment, economics, and more. March 28-29. Fri., 7pm; Sat., 11:30am-5:30pm. St. Andrew's Presbyterian, 14311 Wells Port, 251-0698. $10 suggested donation. www.staopen.com.

Saturday 29

BUS RIDERS UNION-ATX finalizes a proposal for fare-free transit in Austin. 2-4pm. Austin History Center, 810 Guadalupe, 220-8227. www.busatx.org.

EARTH HOUR Turn off lights, appliances, and anything else that uses electricity for just one hour, and join cities all over the world in giving Earth a short respite from its steady overload of carbon dioxide. 8-9pm. www.panda.org.

HEALTH CARE FOR ALL TEXANS presents a screening of Michael Moore's Sicko, followed by a health-care panel discussion. 2:30pm. First United Methodist Church, 1201 Lavaca, 478-5684. $5 donations welcome. www.healthcareforalltexas.org.

RADICAL URBAN SUSTAINABILITY TRAINING This two-day workshop explores ways of creating autonomous, sustainable communities. Topics include bioremediation, rainwater harvesting, biofuels, post-petroleum economics, and more. Registration required. Sat.-Sun., March 29-30, or April 12-13. Rhizome Collective, 300 Allen, 385-3695. $150-350 sliding scale. www.rhizomecollective.org/rust.html.

Sunday 30

HECHO A MANO This monthly fest and open house features a screening of Linda Garcia-Merchant's documentary Las Mujeres de la Caucus Chicana. Garcia-Merchant and feminist Martha Cotera will speak afterward. Noon-5pm. Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 River, 478-6222. Free. www.ci.austin.tx.us/macc.

NORML & THE DRUG WAR Join the Texas chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws for a screening of 2007's American Drug War: The Last White Hope. (See Special Screenings.) 3-6pm. Spider House, 2908 Fruth, 480-9562. $7 ($5, NORML members). www.texasnorml.org.

WEEKLY PUBLIC AFFAIRS FORUM features Texas politics expert Dave McNeely, dean of the Texas Capitol Press Corps and co-author of the new book Bob Bullock: God Bless Texas. 11:30am-12:30pm. First Unitarian Universalist Church, 4700 Grover, 452-6168. Free. www.austinuu.org.

Monday 31

INPUT NEEDED ON BICYCLE MASTER PLAN The Austin Bicycle Program is updating the Bicycle Master Plan and needs input. Mon., March 31, 5:30-8:30pm: One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Rd. Wed., April 2, 5:45-8:30pm: University Teaching Center, UT campus, 21st & University. 974-7142. www.ci.austin.tx.us/bicycle.

Tuesday 1

COMMUNITY MEETING: PROPOSED EAST END DEVELOPMENT/ZONING MODIFICATIONS Give feedback on proposed changes that would affect multifamily low-income housing, mixed-use retail, and parking in the area bound by East 11th, Lydia, Juniper, and Waller streets. 5:30-8pm. Street-Jones Building, East 11th & Waller.

ENGAGE SPEAKER SERIES: CLEAN & ALTERNATIVE ENERGY Clean Energy Incubator's Joel Serface, Texas Clean Energy Park's John Rosshirt, and Central Texas Sustainability Indicators Project's Jim Walker speak on Central Texas' energy future. 7:30-9am. Chez Zee, 5406 Balcones, 499-0435. $25. www.leadershipaustin.org.

Wednesday 2

AUSTIN'S PAST & FUTURE: GREEN & GROWING Mayor Will Wynn talks about Austin's green technology and efforts to lighten its carbon footprint, and he's joined by architect Sinclair Black, who will be presented with the Athena Medal for Lifetime Achievement. For more, see "City Shaper." 5:30-7pm. Austin Convention Center, Ballroom ABC, 500 E. Cesar Chavez, 344-2027. Free. www.cnuxvi.org.

IN THE SPIRIT OF RESISTANCE Enjoy vegan treats and a screening of Quilombo Country as part of Project Abundant Life's new monthly film and discussion series. 7:30pm. MonkeyWrench Books, 110 E. North Loop, 407-6925. $5 suggested donation. [email protected], www.monkeywrenchbooks.org.

ISRAEL & THE PARADOX OF POWER A talk from Stuart Schoffman, screenwriter, journalist, and columnist for Jerusalem Report. 7:30-8:30pm. UT campus, Carothers building, 2501 Whitis, 471-5787. Free. www.utexas.edu/ugs/uhc/joynes.php.

TOWN HALL MEETING: EDWARDS AQUIFER/BARTON SPRINGS The Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District is revising its management plans to accommodate increasing water demands and would like input. 6pm. Sunset Valley City Hall, 3205 Jones Rd., Sunset Valley, 512/282-8441. www.bseacd.org/rules.html.

Thursday 3

THE CONSERVATIVE AGENDA & NEW URBANISM A talk from Rep. Mike Krusee, the Free Congress Foundation's Bill Lind, PlaceMakers' Nathan Norris, and others – a public event with the Congress for the New Urbanism. 12:30-1:30pm. Convention Center, Meeting Room 8, 500 E. Cesar Chavez, 344-2027. Free. www.cnu.org.

DAHR JAMAIL The author of Beyond the Green Zone discusses his experiences working as an independent journalist in occupied Iraq. 7pm. UT campus, Geology building, Room 2.324. Free. www.beyondthegreenzone.org.

ENVISION CENTRAL TEXAS OPEN SESSION Urban planner Peter Calthorpe joins Central Texas Sustainability Indicators Project's Jim Walker to look at Envision Central Texas' progress with the Congress for the New Urbanism. 3-5pm. Convention Center, Meeting Room 5A, 500 E. Cesar Chavez, 344-2027. Free. www.cnu.org.

FAIR TRADE: A BEGINNER'S GUIDE Join writer Jacqueline DeCarlo for a talk about the far-reaching benefits of fair-trade relationships for both producers and consumers. 7pm. BookWoman, 5501 N. Lamar Ste. A-105, 472-2785. Free. www.ebookwoman.com.

POWER OF THE EYEWITNESS Join Betty Sue Flowers (of the LBJ Library and Museum) and journalists Neal Spelce and Tracy Dahlby for a discussion on the influence of cell phones, digital video, and the Internet on historical events. Reservations required: Call 936-4649. 4-6pm. Texas Spirit Theatre at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 N. Congress, 936-8746. Free. www.thestoryoftexas.com.

Ongoing

CNU XVI: NEW URBANISM & THE BOOMING METROPOLIS The Congress for the New Urbanism convenes its annual conference in Austin this year, bringing to town four days of gatherings, tours, debates, and workshops on everything from architecture to sustainability to transportation. See "New Urbanism and the Booming Metropolis" and www.cnu.org/cnuxvi for details. Wed.-Sun., April 2-6. Austin Convention Center, 500 E. Cesar Chavez, 404-4000. $20-915.

EARLY VOTING Vote early for the April 8 primary run-off elections. See "'Chronicle' Endorsements." Mon.-Fri., March 31-April 4.

ECT REGIONAL GROWTH MEETINGS Envision Central Texas wants input on regional land use, housing, transportation, and environmental issues, both going forward and looking back. Mon., March 31, 6:30-8pm: Cedar Park Public Library, 550 Discovery, Cedar Park. Tue., April 1, 6:30-8pm: Round Rock Stoney Point Ninth Grade Center, 1901 Sunrise, Round Rock. Wed., April 2, 6:30-8pm: Dripping Springs ISD Administration Building, 510 W. Mercer, Dripping Springs. 916-6037. www.envisioncentraltexas.org.

RESERVE YOUR ELECTRIC LAWN MOWER Trade in your old, gas-guzzling lawn mower for a new electric one at Home Depot next week, but reserve the new one now. Sat., April 5, 8:30am-2pm. Home Depot, 3600 S. I-35. www.cmpbs.org/electriclawnmower.