Cheer Up's New Home

Cheer Up Charlie's announces new location — and it's not in East Austin

Cheer Up Charlie's, the dive bar that announced earlier this month it was leaving their East Austin digs after the property's new owners terminated their lease, has found a new home. After weeks of rumors that the bar would take over the former Club de Ville space on Red River Street, The Austin Chronicle is reporting that the contract was officially signed Monday afternoon.

Insiders say that the deal to take over 900 Red River Street has been in the works for a few weeks, something that was hinted at in the bar's goodbye letter. “No matter where we end up, we will take the spirit of the Eastside with us,” the Cheer Up's crew wrote on their Facebook page.

That spirit will now be snuggled next door to Mohawk in the heart of newly declared Red River Cultural District, an area that includes music venues such as Holy Mountain, Red 7 and Beerland, among others.

The closing of Club de Ville in early October came as a surprise and left a darkened door in a corridor known for having live music every night of the week. Known for dance parties, DJs and karaoke, Cheer Up's is likely to be a welcome addition to the area, a sentiment echoed by Holy Mountain owner James Taylor. "You know, there were days I thought I was crazy opening Holy Mountain in the location we did, but [then] Empire opened and now Cheer Up's and the rumors of Antone's taking over old Emo's, I don't feel so crazy these days," says Taylor. "Having great neighbors like [Cheer Up Charlie's] moving to the block is going to be great for the RRCD."

If you haven't yet had a chance to say goodbye to the beloved LGBTQ bar in its current home, don't despair. The east side iteration will be around until January 15. If you're still looking for a spot to spend New Year's Eve, consider ringing in 2014 at Cheer Up's with Dana Falconberry, Letting Up Despite Great Faults, the Sour Notes and Deejay Honeycomb. Best part? It's only going to cost you $7.

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GIVING TUESDAY

Austin's Sims Foundation restores some services thanks to local gifts

Sims Foundation Riders Against the Storm

Photo courtesy of Sims Foundation

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It may not be the tidy finale of a Hollywood holiday movie, but the Sims Foundation is rewriting its story. A critical cash infusion from two Austin groups will allow the nonprofit to continue to serve its most vulnerable clients as it grapples with a long-term plan.

On October 22, Board Chair Marissa Rivera announced that Sims would pause services for 90 days to restructure its service model. Although the foundation has traditionally kept operational costs lean, public funding shortages, a changing healthcare landscape, and the lingering aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic left the 30-year-old nonprofit shaky.

"The reality is simple," Rivera wrote in an open letter, "We need more funding to continue to operate at our current service levels, and we need to restructure our service model to ensure that we are maximizing all of the resources and efficiencies that are now available."

Although fundraising remains urgent, new funds from C3 Presents and charitable lifestyle brand Armadillo World Headquarters (AWHQ) will allow SIMS to resume select mental health and addiction recovery services for Austin's musical community.

"Helping SIMS Foundation to continue to be able to serve our community was a no-brainer," said AWHQ spokesperson Nick Shuley via a release. "We deeply value the role SIMS plays in sustaining the health and vibrancy of our city's musicians and artists, and we hope other organizations are inspired to do the same."

Public support will remain a key part of the equation as SIMS navigates the future. The C3 and AWHQ monies helped the nonprofit reach 30 percent of its Restore the Rhythm campaign goals, but support from local individuals and businesses is needed to tighten the gap. Donations can be made online.

The need for care among Austin's musicians, industry pros, and dependents remains sharply felt. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), one in five Americans experiences a mental health condition each year. As Austinites wrestle with a high cost of living, The SIMS Foundations remains committed to removing barriers to wellness.

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