Austin Asian American Film Festival 2009

Last year we watched a couple of AAAFF films, and this year I'm getting more involved by volunteering for a couple of the screenings as well as watching a couple of them.  We are seeing Persepolis, which is a free outdoor screening at the Mexican American Cultural Center.  Several local Asian restaurants will be selling food at the event.  We're also planning to see Li Tong at Alamo South Lamar (many of the screenings are at Alamo South or at UT).  Both look really good, as do most of the movies this year!  Tickets for individual shows are only $8, and all access badges are $50.  The badge is a great deal considering that it gets you entry to every film as well as all after parties with free food & drink.

Website

Whole Foods Sunset Supper & Cinema

Every Friday evening all summer and fall, the Whole Foods flagship store downtown has been hosting Sunset Supper & Cinema on their rooftop terrace. Entrance is free, and food & drinks (including a specialty 3-course meal for $15) are available for purchase. On the theme of Halloween, they've got Psycho playing tonight and Ghostbusters playing next Friday.

See their calendar for more information about the shows and their specialty menu for each show. You can also find out about their various events throughout the week. Can't wait for Psycho tonight!

Website

Location

Austin Film Festival 2009

The Austin Film Festival is back for the 16th year. Tickets are available online. The cheapest way to see the films is the $42 film pass which lets you get on the priority line for all screenings (ahead of individual ticket holders).

Website

Austin Film Festival

Ok, so normally we don't post about stuff unless we've already done it and can tell you it's not a danger to your health. But I thought I should post in advance about the Austin Film Festival, which is starting on October 16th. Get your film passes now!

Website

Austin Asian American Film Festival

This annual Asian film festival is going on right now, and tickets can still be bought at the door for film showings so check the schedule if you want to see one. Tickets are only $8 to most of the films, and many have the director or producer present.

Last night we saw the opening double feature, "Who Killed Vincent Chin?" and "Vincent Who?" These films were amazing. They were about the death of Vincent Chin, who was killed in 1982 by two laid off auto workers in Detroit who blamed him for their job loss. Toyotas and Hondas were starting to create stiff competition for American cars, and the men thought Vincent was Japanese. They beat him to death with a baseball bat, and neither of them served a single day in jail. The second movie, "Vincent Who?" discusses how little people today know about Vincent's story.

Website

Alamo Drafthouse

The Alamo Drafthouse is probably one of the most famous entertainment spots in Austin. A couple of years ago, Entertainment Weekly rated Alamo the #1 movie theatre in the country. Can't beat that! The theatre has several locations around Austin, and you can see anything from today's latest releases to the Rocky Horror Picture Show to episodes of your favorite shows in the theatres. The thing that makes the Alamo stand out is that they serve both beer and food-- a great variety of each.
When you sit down in the theatre, you're sitting behind a long table that stretches the length of each row. There are menus, and pieces of paper and pencils for you to write your order on. You simply write your order down and stick the paper up at the edge of the table for the waiter to pick up.

We came to see Tropic Thunder. I have to admit we were pretty boring and only ordered beer and fried pickles. But to give you an idea of what a crazy array of stuff they offer (if you aren't boring like us) here is what they recently posted on their website:

Check out these specials, inspired by Tropic Thunder and Pineapple Express:

Bust a Nut
Macadamia, Cashew, Almond and basmati crusted prawns with a pineapple chile sauce

Tropical Fruit Salad
Papaya, Pineapple, Mango, Carambola, Lychee and Cherimoya with keffir lime coconut infused turbinado syrup and ginger mascarpone

Pineapple Pork
An eight ounce pineapple soy marinated center cut pork loin chop and pineapple-scotch bonnet relish with taro root hash and sesame napa cabbage slaw

Coconut Ice Cream & Rum Sauce
Fresh grilled pineapple on coconut ice cream with hot jaggery Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum sauce

Booty Sweat
Tropic Thunder Energy drink…taste like bubbly cherry

I just realized this post should maybe have gone on Chowing in Austin too. But.. double posting is getting kind of annoying, and I've already done it twice. You'll just have to take my word for it that almost every activity in Austin involves some kind of fusion of music, fun and food.

Website

Locations

IMAX theatre

Sunday night we went to see The Dark Knight at the IMAX theatre, which is at the Texas State History Museum. It was pretty intense to watch this movie on the massive screen, but very entertaining. To see what movies are showing when at IMAX, check their showtimes.

Front of the history museum:

A poster for the Dark Knight outside the theatre:
Inside the history museum:
Website

Location

Monday Movie & Margarita night at the Belmont

Ok so I already blogged about the Belmont on Chowing in Austin, but I feel like I should also cover it here since it's a food and an activity. Anyway, every Monday evening at the Belmont you can see a movie on a screen on their outdoor patio, while drinking $2 margaritas. This Monday we saw Airplane! there. It was hilarious. I had never seen it before, and apparently everyone else has, so I was glad to finally get to see it. Check the Belmont's events page to see upcoming Monday movies, as well as their live music schedule. Last summer we saw a jazz band on their patio, and we definitely recommend that too.

Tables on their patio, and the movie screen. We got there early, the movie doesn't start until sundown. You can kinda see Ryan's back at that table up near the front.

Website

Location