Listen closely: can you hear that faint sound in the background? It’s the sound of crumpled movie tickets, broken dreams and throngs of hungover film fans absconding from our fair city. For our first festival free week in awhile, we’ve got a hefty amount of activites, both film-centric and not. Plus, we’re having our very own launch party, Girls Night: The Musical brings disco hits to the stage and Air Sex is back. How in the world could you possibly choose? Here’s our weekly guide to keep you busy during the days that don’t start with S.

Monday, October 3

Gang Gang Dance with Prince Rama @ Mohawk

New York’s Gang Gang Dance is an experimental dance collective that excels at making modern tribal music rivaling the most eclectic of art-rock bands. Prince Rama (made up of sisters Taraka and Nimai Larson) channel their creative energy to present a dance and music experience that’s wholly their own.

Big Lebowski Quote-along @ Alamo South Lamar

Listen up, urban achievers: take a cue from the Dude, and abide in the Alamo’s weekly celebration of all things Lebowski. Sip a white Russian, bash the Nihilists, and quote along with one of cult cinema’s most potent quotable. Just remember, you DO NOT roll on the Shabbas.

Tuesday, October 4

Fleshlight presents: Air Sex Challenge @ Highball

Like air guitar, but with a more intimate spin. Judges give contestants two minutes to create a scene of one-sided seduction, which includes costuming, foreplay and climax. The qualities on their scorecards? Believability, sexability and overall entertainment value.

HAAM Benefit Day Presented by Whole Foods @ Various Locations

Whole Foods presents a benefit day supporting Austin’s own HAAM, the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians—a charity as unique as the city itself. Performances, scattered all throughout the city, include Nakia, Quiet Company and many more. 5% of participating retailers’ daily proceeds go directly to HAAM, and the event runs from 7 am (a likely difficult wakeup call for musicians) to well past midnight.

Wednesday, October 5

BookPeople Presents: Josh Ritter

The fantastically talented storyteller and singer-songwriter stops by BookPeople to chat about his debut novel, Bright’s Passage. Stephen King praises the book, claiming that at its best, it “shines with a compressed lyricism that recalls Ray Bradbury in his prime.” You can’t argue with a recommendation from Stephen King.

An Evening with Hamilton Shirt Co. @ Stag

Spruce up your manly wardrobe with a trip to South Congress’ seller of men’s provisions. Get a one-of-a-kind new look by selecting a fabric from Hamilton's Fall collection and Hamilton's master shirt makers will craft your shirt on the spot. Maker’s Mark and Shiner will sponsor the event, so you can enjoy some tasty cocktails while you’re updating your fall look.

Thursday, October 6

CultureMap Austin’s Official Launch Party

Must we even elaborate on why this is the best way to fill your Thursday night? Join the CultureMap gang at Pine Street station, where the night kicks off at 7 pm with live music from Crooks and DJ sets by Dub Academy and Texas Pro DJ, plus special appearances during the night by Sky Candy and Black Widow Burlesque. If that weren’t enough (and it should be enough), wet your whistle with signature cocktails from Roxor Artisan Gin, Republic Tequila, Dripping Springs Vodka, Treaty Oak Rum, and more. That’s equal opportunity drinking, right there. Want to go? You’re making the right choice. Email rsvp@culturemap.com to save a spot.

An Evening with Bill Keller, Executive Editor of The New York Times @ LBJ Library and Museum

To take your evening in a more highbrow direction, spend the evening with Bill Keller, who stepped down in September to write regularly for both The New York Times Magazine and The Times’ new Sunday opinion and news section, The Sunday Review. Reservations required.

Friday, October 6

Movies in the Park: Tangled @ Mueller Park

The weather is finally starting to change, so what better way to celebrate fall’s long-delayed arrival than with some lighthearted Disney fare? Join fellow family-friendly Austinites in enjoying this recent hit (which stars Chuck’s Zachary Levi) for a good cause. Bring your nearly new books and DVDs to donate to the Mueller Neighbors for Novels book drive benefiting the Dell Children’s Medical Center, so families can enjoy entertainment during their hospital stays.

Girls Night: The Musical @ The Long Center for the Performing Arts

For the women who model their lives less on Sex and th City and more on Muriel's Wedding (a decidedly better life choice), The Long Center presents: Girls Night. Follow five friends, as they wax poetic on a karaoke-filled girls night out. Sing along to hits like "Lady Marmalade," "It's Raining Men," "Man, I Feel Like a Woman," "I Will Survive," "We Are Family" and many more.

There you go. You can watch a man climax with thin air, sing disco hits at the Long Center, and get a one-of-a-kind tailored shirt all before that oh-so-coveted Saturday morning sleep-in. So get out and enjoy that cooler air, because more likely than not, we haven’t seen the last of the stifling temperatures.