Opt for Optimism

Positivity blooms for Austinites when Frost Bank pops up at evening soiree

What's one thing that will always bring a smile to someone's face? Flowers.

There are plenty of blooms at Tuesday Twilights, held each Tuesday evening during September and October at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, and CultureMap and Frost Bank supplemented the natural beauty with a hefty dose of happiness.

We popped up to surprise and delight more than 150 unsuspecting guests while they grooved to live music, sipped cocktails from Tito's vodka, and chowed down on delicious food truck fare.

While enjoying the warm weather, the relaxed crowd filled out the Call Me Optimistic chalkboards and picked up a few inspiring pins that urged "positivity" and "determination." One proud grandmother picked out a few rocket-shaped pins, saying she couldn't wait to give them to her grandson and his coworkers — who all work at NASA.

Poet Scott James typed out personalized haikus on the spot for delighted guests, who could take the tiny poems with them as reminders to be cheerful.

One new mother explained how her entire outlook had shifted since giving birth, and how vital it was to maintain a positive outlook for both herself and her new family. Another new mother who had had trouble conceiving was thankful for the birth of her new baby girl, and said remaining positive and optimistic throughout her journey was as important as looking forward to watching her grow.

Another mother used her son's name in her poem, giving her a gentle reminder to smile every day. A librarian gave thanks for book lovers, while a couple about to head to Europe beamed with excitement at their travel-themed poems.

CultureMap and Frost Bank will be hosting more of these pop-up events throughout the year, surprising and delighting folks all over Texas. Want to know where we might show up next? Sign up for our emails and follow along on Facebook and Instagram for hints about our next stop.

Attendees at Tuesday Twilights got an extra dose of joy.

Frost Austin Tuesday Twilights recap

Courtesy photo

Attendees at Tuesday Twilights got an extra dose of joy.

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MESSAGE OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE

Austin theater auctions off chance to write message on iconic marquee

Austin theater auctions off chance to write message on iconic marquee

Paramount Theatre/Instagram

The Paramount Theatre is auctioning off the chance to share a holiday message on its marquee.

Austinites craving the limelight might get the chance to see their name in lights — or at least a personalized holiday message — illuminated on one of Austin’s most historic marquees.

As part of the Austin Theatre Alliance’s final 2020 auction to raise funds for the Paramount and Stateside theaters, the nonprofit is offering up an array of unusual and very “Austintatious” items for bid, including the chance to share a customized holiday message on the iconic Paramount Theatre marquee.

The auction item is one of several dozen currently up for bid through ATA’s online holiday auction, which runs through December 11.

With a starting bid of $1,500, the Paramount marquee message is one of the pricier items in the auction, but it may be well worth the glory, as the winning bidder can treat all of Austin to a two-line, 80-character custom holiday message that will be professionally photographed and live on the marquee for a minimum of four hours. (It should be noted that the chosen message is subject to review. After all, this is a nonprofit theater marquee, not the infamously sassy El Arroyo sign.)

Having to cancel or reschedule hundreds of planned shows because of COVID-19 concerns, the Paramount Theatre has had a particularly rough year but recently reopened at 25 percent capacity for limited engagements, like its Holiday Film Series, which is currently underway. Funds raised from the auction enable the ATA, which manages the Paramount and Stateside, to reach Central Texas students through virtual programs, employ venue staff, and help the historic theaters survive the pandemic.

In addition to the Paramount marquee message item, the auction also includes other perfectly weird items befitting a homegrown Austin event, like Matt Lankes photos of Willie Nelson playing chess and the late, great Billy Joe Shaver looking contemplative while perched on a bridge in Waco; and several autographed guitars, including one commemorative acoustic guitar signed by 10 of Austin’s most notable musicians, Ruthie Foster, Carrie Rodriguez, and Tameca Jones among them.

Of course, there is no lack of booze-forward packages, hotel stays, and artist-signed prints also up for grabs. But true lovers of the Paramount Theatre will find the item with the highest opening bid ($5,000) steals the show: a private catered dinner for four on the Paramount stage.

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