Celebrity Sighting

Home Slice Pizza "hires" Academy Award nominee Jesse Eisenberg

Photo by Jessica Pages
Photo by Jessica Pages
Photo by Jessica Pages
Photo by Jessica Pages
Photo by Jessica Pages
Photo by Jessica Pages
Photo by Jessica Pages

Around noon today, actor Jesse Eisenberg clocked in for his first – and only – shift at South Congress staple Home Slice Pizza. Don’t worry, the Oscar-nominated star of The Social Network hasn’t hit hard times – he’s in town to promote 30 Minutes or Less, a slapstick comedy co-starring Aziz Ansari, Danny McBride and Nick Swardson.

Eisenberg was working the lunch shift, but devoted fans showed up much earlier to guarantee a place in line. Austin Hyde, who snagged the first spot, got there at 8 am just to be safe, while Megan Simon and Ariel Greenspoon (second and third, respectively) had rushed over around 9:30 after hearing about the event online. Their patience paid off when they were treated to a meet and greet, free slices and plenty of smiles from the 28-year old New Yorker.

Today’s Home Slice photo op is just one stop on Eisenberg’s pizza publicity tour; over the past week, he’s gotten face time with fans in Miami and San Francisco, joined by co-star Ansari. The film’s promoters contacted Home Slice directly to set up this unique event, which shows even out-of-towners know where to find the best pizza in town. The team wasn’t sure how many people would show for the mid-Monday event. After a slow start – with a line of only 40 fans around 11:15 – the lunch rush showed in full force, forming a line around the corner.

30 Minutes or Less (out August 12) features Eisenberg as a lovelorn delivery guy who gets caught up in a hilariously out-of-control robbery scheme. McBride and Swardson are perfectly cast as a pair of clueless, crass bullies who bumble through a kidnapping-slash-bank robbery by forcing Eisenberg's nice (but generally apathetic) Nick to carry out the crime. Oh, also, he has a bomb strapped to his chest. 30 Minutes or Less marks Eisenberg’s return to less serious subject matter, and it also reunites the actor with Ruben Fleischer, who directed 2009’s Zombieland.

unspecified

After 111 Years

Austin's Paramount Theatre announces 70s-themed gala with Lukas Nelson

Lukas Nelson/Facebook

Lukas Nelson will play a show in between other musical entertainment and a diner-inspired dinner.

Austin's Paramount Theatre is celebrating 111 years with some famous friends May 9. Its 111th Anniversary Gala, will feature Lukas Nelson and a "Road Trip Romance" theme nodding to the 70s.

"Put on your best 70s, vintage-inspired looks as we nod to the era known for decadent road trips, a culture of freedom, and the journey being the best part of the experience," beckons the Paramount's event page.

The gala will start with 30 minutes of snacks and cocktails for premium ticket holders, then another hour of the same with music by Austin band Madam Radar. Then there will be a show by headliner Lukas Nelson, who is the son of Willie Nelson and a well-regarded country musician of his own merit.

After the show, a late dinner from 9-11 pm wraps up the event. Chef Michael Fojtasek of Olamaie, who is the Paramount's culinary chair, and some unnamed "friends" from other restaurants will serve up a diner-inspired meal. Then Love & Happiness Band, an event band, will play covers as guests get a chance to dance and peruse a silent auction for experiences, celebrations, and artisanal goods. Proceeds will benefit the Paramount Theatre and its younger sister venue, the State Theatre.

To help guests decide what to wear, the Paramount has prepared a vision board on Pinterest. Important beats include: fringed dusters, bell bottoms, and denim. (Don't fret if you can't match some of the AI models exactly. Imagine explaining that to someone 111 years ago.)

Tickets (starting at $625) are available at tickets.austintheatre.org. The Paramount Theatre is located at 713 Congress Ave.

After many decades of action, both the Paramount and State Theatres are getting makeovers that were announced this November. The Paramount will receive gentle work that works to preserve rather than redesign, and the State Theatre will get a huge overhaul that keeps the facade and completely reworks the interior. Both theaters will be closed at some point while renovations happen.

concerts live music venues galas