R E S T A U R A N T P O L L B A L L O T P . 4 6 - The Austin Chronicle

CALENDAR ( COMMUNITY SPORTS ARTS FILM MUSIC) LIS TINGSSeeing Natural Bridge Caverns for the first time was a lifechangingevent for Orion Knox. After crawling through a muddycrevice nearly a hundred feet underground, he was the firsthuman to see the incredible rock formationshidden far below the rocky soil. Thecavern west of New Braunfels is Texas’biggest and most spectacular show cave.In March 1960, four college buddieswent through five gates to get to theWuest family ranch house to ask permissionto explore a sinkhole on the property.The collapsed cave was the only hintof the cavern below the surface. On thefourth trip underground – with Knox in thelead followed by Preston Knodell, AlBrandt, and Joe Cantu – the group hit themother lode. In the faint light of theirheadlamps were giant columns as shinyas wax, dripping rock icicles hanging fromthe ceiling, and petrified waterfalls tumblingoff the wall.To commemorate the 50th anniversaryof the discovery, the Wuest family,who still own and operate the cave,invited the three surviving explorersback to reminisce.“On our fourth trip into the cave, wecrawled until everything ahead of usturned black,” said Knox, who was 19years old at the time. “Finding that firstBY GERALD E. MCLEOD daytripsroom was the biggest adrenaline rush ofmy life.”“It was the second biggest moment of my life,” Knodell said. (Getting married was the first.)“It was a really tight fit the entire way,” Cantu said. “From the very beginning, Orion said he wasgoing to help open the cave to the world. And he did.”On return trips, the boys brought cameras to document the colorful stalagmites, soda straws,and cave ribbons. It was under the glare of the photography lights that they discovered the enormityof what they had found.Knox quit college and spent three years helping build the paths and bridges that take visitors180 feet below the earth’s surface. “It was a labor-intensive job,” Knox says. “Everything had to becarried in or out.” He was also among the first tour guides.Very little about the cave has changed since it opened, other than improvements to the trail andlighting. The rock formations, created by mineral-rich water dripping through the limestone, growabout a centimeter every century. Many of the names given to the rooms and features by the discoverersare still used. Near the beginning of the tour, a sign marks the 2-foot-diameter hole thatthe boys crawled through. The space looks very small and dark from the path that winds throughthe cave.Natural Bridge Caverns is about eight miles west of I-35. The cave is open daily from 9am to4pm with extended hours during the summer. Watch for special events to commemorate the anniversary.For more information, call 210/651-6101 or go to www.naturalbridgecaverns.com.979th in a series. Day Trips, Vol. 2, a book of “Day Trips” 101-200, is available for $8.95, plus $3.05 for shipping,handling, and tax. Mail to: Day Trips, PO Box 33284, South Austin, TX 78704.outoftownWILDFLOWER HOTLINE gives tips on findingthe best roadside attractions of colorful wildflowersfor what promises to be a great year after arather slow start. 800/452-9292. www.txdot.gov/travel/flora_conditions.htm.SMITHVILLE JAMBOREE celebrates spring with acarnival, livestock show, parade, tournaments, music,and dancing. Thu.-Sun., April 8-11. Riverbend Park,Smith, 512/237-3282. www.jamboreesmithville.com.SANDFEST attracts professional sandcastle sculptorsfrom around the country to the Texas beachto compete for prizes and a chance to advance tothe world championship. Fri.-Sun., April 9-11. PortAransas, 361/215-0677. www.texassandfest.com.MANCE LIPSCOMB’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONremembers the Texas blues musician who was born64 T H E A U S T I N C H R O N I C L E APRIL 9, 2010 a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o mGERALD E. MCLEOD| ORION KNOXApril 9, 1895, in Navasota with an afternoonof music and barbecue. Sat., April 10, 2-8pm.Navasota, 936/825-4754. Free.ATTWATER’S PRAIRIE CHICKEN FESTIVAL givesvisitors guided van tours to the endangered birds’habitat, plant and birding tours, and seminars onthe restoration of the population by maintainingcritical native coastal prairie. Sat.-Sun., April 10-11.Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge,Eagle Lake, 979/234-3021. www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/attwater/index.html.BLUEBONNET FESTIVAL takes advantage of thefields of colorful wildflowers to host a uniqueshopping experience, food vendors, live entertainment,and lots of activities for the kids. Sat.-Sun.,April 10-11. Chappell Hill, 888/273-6426.www.chappellhillmuseum.org.SATURDAY 10w AUSTIN BIKE SUMMIT PART 2Cycling orgs, bike shops, and pedalers ofevery ilk converge to discuss all angles of the unmotorizedtwo-wheel transportation system. Everythingfrom the political to the social will be covered. Goonline to RSVP. 8:15am-7pm. Yellow Bike Project headquarters,1216 Webberville. www.lobv.org.LEGACY PLANNER’S BREAKFAST Don’t end uplike Willy Loman. These information sessions helpyou prepare for a death in the family to ensure thatmoney is the least of your worries. Go online toregister. Proceeds go to Family Eldercare of Austin.8:30am-12:30pm. Norris Conference Centers, 2525 W.Anderson, 771-8530. $30. www.survivorshipnow.com.w KEEP AUSTIN BEAUTIFUL CLEAN SWEEP Goonline and register for one of the many cleanupsgoing on around the city today. The more volunteers,the cleaner the city. Your reward is a party afterwardwith live music, T-shirts, and lunch. 9am-1:30pm.391-0622. www.keepaustinbeautiful.org/cleansweep.SPRING PLANT SALE Native perennials, grasses,shrubs, trees, cacti, and more are brought to youby the kids at Clint Small Middle School and a fewkindhearted plant nurseries with the proceeds goingto beautifying the school’s campus. 9am-1pm. ClintSmall Middle School, 4801 Monterey Oaks Blvd.,841-6700. damatthe@austinisd.org, www.insmallgardens.blogspot.com/2010/03/spring-plant-sale.html.MEN RALLY FOR CHANGE Men taking ownership forthe destructive parts of their enculturation is sexy. Joina slew of local orgs and cool dudes (Zell Miller III andOut Youth’s Gabe Padilla, for two), plus the ReaganHigh Soul Raiders in speaking, shouting, marching, andopen-hearting against violence. Sat., April 10, 9:30amrally, 11am march. Mexican American Cultural Center,600 River, 478-6222. www.menrallyforchange.com.AUSTIN RECOVERY: SECOND SATURDAYWORKSHOP Help heal the wounds of addiction andlive life to the fullest. 10am. Austin Recovery, 8402Cross Park Dr., 697-8500. Free. www.austinrecovery.org.d FAMILY MUSIC FESTIVAL Come on down tothe farm for a lineup that will have your kids dancingand singing: Sara Hickman, the Invincible Czars,and two dozen other acts. The Biscuit Brothers host.10am-4pm. Pioneer Farms, 10621 Pioneer Farms Dr.,837-1215. $12 ($8, kids). www.heritagesocietyaustin.org.d HOWSON BRANCH LIBRARY OPEN HOUSECelebrate the new layout of this neighborhood librarywith balloon sculpting, face painting, vegetableplanting, bug collection jar decorating, and livemusic. 10am-noon. Howson Library, 2500 Exposition,974-7400. Free. www.cityofaustin.org/library.TEXAS LINUX FEST A full day of talks, panels, andopen conversations about open-source software.10am-6:30pm. The Marchesa Hall & Theatre, 6406 N.I-35 #3100, 454-2000. $15-40. www.texaslinuxfest.org.CONCORDIA MUSIC FEST A day’s worth ofChristian tunes with proceeds going to Phil’s Friends,which provides support to those affected by cancer.11am-11pm. 11400 Concordia University Dr.,832/978-3836. Free. katherine.asper@ctx.edu.GREEN YOUR PET Learn about the latest all-naturalways to feed, groom, and care for your pet. 11am-2pm. All Petco locations. Free.w LOUISIANA SWAMP THING & CRAWFISHFESTIVAL Put on your dancing shoes and a bib,because music and grub from the bayous of Louisianawill be rolling out nonstop. If you can tear yourselfaway from the food concessions, you’ll find vendors,activities for the kids, and Professor Bladzik’s cryptozoologicalspecimens. If you can’t tear yourself awayfrom the grub, maybe you should enter the crawfishpeel-and-eat competition. See Club Listings, p.84, fora complete lineup of bands. 11am-11:30pm. Fourth &Guadalupe, 441-9015. $15. www.roadwayevents.com.w SAFEPLACE FIELD DAY Sign up a team for wackycontests, or just come and watch the antics. Food,music, games, and other carnival-themed booths helpraise money for those affected by sexual and domesticviolence. 11am-4pm. Fiesta Gardens, 2101 Bergman,480-8318. $5 (kids, free). www.safeplacefieldday.org.` SOCKS IT TO ME! Rock your socks … with pride!Pride Socks is a local sassy sistah selling rainbowstripedwonders of the tubed variety. This weekendshe will be set up at the North Loop District SidewalkSale. Go, socks! Noon. North Loop at Avenue G, nextto Counter Culture. www.pridesocks.com,www.ibuyaustin.com, www.facebook.com/northloopibiz.NORTH LOOP IBIZ DISTRICT As if you needed anexcuse to visit any of the indie shops on North Loop:Local stores will be doing their best with specialsales, events, and in-store performances to get youto spend your money. Noon-9pm. North Loop betweenChesterfield and Martin, 441-2123. www.ibuyaustin.com.PINTS FOR PUPS Support local dog-rescue orgs, andget live music, beer, and food in return. Noon-3pm.Independence Brewery, 3913 Todd, 740-9501. $10.DAY OF HOPE RECOVERY GATHERING An afternoonof speakers and discussions for anyoneinterested in a greater understanding of addiction.12:30-6pm. All Saints Episcopal Church, 209 W. 27th,476-3589. Free. www.allsaints-austin.org/day-of-hope.w HERITAGE FESTIVAL Cedar Park’s biggest party ofthe year. This year is no different, with live music fromJason Allen, oodles of games and activities for the kids,food, a hamburger cook-off, pony rides, old-time photos,historical displays, and more. A parade kicks thingsoff starting at Heritage Oak Park (875 Quest Pkwy.).1-10pm. Elizabeth Milburn Park, 1901 Sun Chase Blvd.,Cedar Park, 401-5500. Free. www.cedarparkfun.com.d SPANISH STORYTIME Listen to bilingual storiesand expand your vocabulary in the process. Second &fourth Saturdays, 1pm. Wells Branch Community Library,15001 Wells Port Dr., 989-3188. Free. www.wblibrary.org.d ‘DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION’ TOURNAMENTBefore Guitar Hero and Rock Band, there was DDR.Kids between the ages of 8 and 17 are invited toshow off their dance chops and see if they qualify forthe finals in May. 2pm. Milwood Branch Library, 12500Amherst, 974-7400. Free. www.cityofaustin.org/library.d LANTERN FEST Come out and make your ownlantern before the parade at dusk. Music, food, raffles,children’s activities, and more for those of youwho are less lantern leaning. 4pm. Sri Atmananda,4100 Red River, 448-1610. Free. www.samschool.org/news/lantern-fest-press-release.html.LOCAVORE POTLUCK Live music, tractor rides, kids’activities, and locally grown food. Bring a dish madefrom what’s in your backyard to share. 4pm-dusk.Johnson’s Backyard Garden, 9515 Hergotz. Free.www.jbgorganic.com.d WONDERBALL DADDY & DAUGHTER DANCEFathers (or father figures) and their charges are invitedto an evening of dancing and other wholesome activities.Tickets are $100 for Dad and up to three daughters,and the money goes to Wonders & Worries andits efforts to help kids cope with a parent diagnosedwith cancer. 6-9pm. Palmer Events Center, 900 BartonSprings Rd., 329-5757. www.wondersandworries.org.LONE STAR SIERRA CLUB AWARDS Who will takehome the environmental award this year? You’ll haveto come and enjoy a meal and schmooze with otherenviros to find out. 6:30pm. Chez Zee,5406 Balcones, 477-1729. $40. www.tinyurl.com/ygwktn2.BACK YARD FOOD PRODUCTION This presentationcovers the basics of becoming self-sufficient by turningyour yard into a food-producing system. If you wantmore info, you’ll need to buy the DVD. 7pm. Brave NewBooks, 1904 Guadalupe Ste. B (downstairs), 480-2503.Free. www.bravenewbookstore.com.CHAMPAGNE BALL The Austin City Showgirls canoften be found raising funds for AIDS, cancer, andlupus nonprofits, but now it’s time for them to raisefunds for the organization itself. Food, auctions, and,of course, dance performances help tease the moneyfrom your wallets. 7pm-12mid. Galaxy Dance Studios,1700 S. Lamar #338, 973/223-9112. $30 ($50,couple). www.acshowgirls.com.CACTUS & SUCCULENT SHOW & SALE Water?We don’t need no stinking water. Come out andsee rare cacti and other water-rationing flora fromaround the world. Sat.-Sun., April 10-11, 10am-5pm.Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Rd.,477-8672. Free. www.austincss.com.d ROBIN HOOD Just before the summer blockbusterruins this entertaining tale for everyone, check out thefar superior crew at Scottish Rite Theatre turning thestage into Sherwood Forest. Suitable for kids betweenthe ages of 3 and 10. Through May 16, Saturdays(10am) & Sundays (2pm). Austin Scottish Rite Theatre,207 W. 18th, 472-5436. $10 ($8, children). www.srct.org.