I'm not easily embarrassed. My life is charmed and beautiful…read moreand awkward and hilarious and horrifying and tragic and laughable, all rolled into one. And I'm okay with that. One night, I was getting drunk in my bed alone. I had just moved, and found a box of old journals when I was unpacking. I began to read them, and Little Me was just as awkward as Big Me. I laughed and laughed at the stupid shit I wrote about. I began to look at shark attacks on google, and about an hour later, I found myself on the Mortified website. So it began. I was going to do the Mortified show. The entire experience was one of the best things I've ever gone through. It was fun, enlightening, painful, and uncomfortable. The rest of the cast is amazing, and I feel I've made new friends. Maybe not. Maybe they don't like me. Whatevs. The live show was incredible. The producers made sure everything was flawless. As I read some of my most embarrassing childhood thoughts to 200 people, I realized that I wasn't alone in my childhood unpleasant situations. Everyone has their stories. Everyone knew what I was talking about. But fucking A, dude. This show is called Mortified for a reason. It's unapologetically humiliating. I would do it again in a second.

If you like open mic type stuff you should definitely come check out a Mortified show. My friend…read moreSara who lives in Los Angeles dragged me to a Mortified show years ago and I was hooked. I didn't realize Austin also had a Mortified community until dear, sweet, hilarious Jenny signed up to participate in opening her teenage journals to the entire city of Austin who cared to listen. Because that is what you have to do to be on this show. You collect your hoard of journals from childhood, you take them to the producers of Mortified, who READ THEM ALL and select what they feel like are the best pages to be read aloud to a willing and able audience eager to sip beer and laugh at you and your teenage angst. Jenny bared her soul to the time she knew a guy loved her because he gave her half a broken pencil. Other readers the night I went confessed to their hate for Vanilla Ice (the rapper--before the home improvement days) via their own rap music lyrics they wrote in disgust. Still another sweet boy read tales of how he just wanted a girlfriend in high school that he could walk through the fall leaves with--his missing half as he wrote. If you were a 'cool kid' in school who had everything going for you Mortified may not be for you. The reason why is that you wouldn't be able to relate to the rejection and longing that the journal readings show. But if you were like the rest of us losers please come out and enjoy a rollicking good time of making fun of other people's painful childhoods at their expense.

I went on a date night here and we had so much fun! The staff was so kind, patient, and attentive…read more They play a nice back ground music through the whole store and have amazing lighting and vibes. I love how we both got to pick completely different projects that had detailed instructions. It was nice to be left with our own devices and not walked through all the steps by a person.

I came here for my sister's birthday because we wanted to do something a little more interactive…read morethan just going out to dinner. Funny enough, even though it's called Upstairs Circus, I kept calling it "Uptown Circus" for some reason and still do. My sister had been here once when she first moved to Austin, but it had been a while, so she was happy to go again. We tried to make a reservation for a Monday but found out they're closed that day unless it's a private event. So we ended up booking a Sunday evening during their Sangria Sundays event. Signing up online was quick and easy--no payment required upfront. When we arrived, we were seated at a table and given the option to sit side by side or across from each other. They handed us a laminated flyer with all the available project options, ranging from easy (about an hour) to more challenging projects that can take the full three-hour session. There was a good mix of household items (like coasters and magnetic shelves), jewelry, handbags, clutches, accessories, and even a pricier custom Nike shoe painting project. The sample projects looked very professional, but the final result really depends on your artistic skills and how focused you are during the session. My sister and I decided to pick different projects--she chose a handbag clutch, and I went with coasters. We got all our materials and instructions. One thing I noticed: this kind of activity is probably better suited for people who don't have a ton to catch up on while working. Since my sister and I hadn't seen each other for weeks, we were trying to talk and catch up, which made it harder for me to focus on the project. Some steps were time-sensitive, so juggling both conversation and crafting was a bit stressful. For my coaster project, I initially planned to use a stencil and transfer paper to trace a design, but it didn't work very well. I ended up switching to a simple two-color block design just to make sure I could finish in time. My sister's project was a bit more advanced--she had to do leather hole punching and threading--but she managed to finish and loved how her clutch turned out. Since it was Sangria Sunday, you get one complimentary sangria or mocktail with your reservation, and they keep a card on file if you want to order more drinks. I got a spicy cocktail that actually had really good flavor, even though I didn't finish it. Overall, this is a fun and unique activity if you want to do something creative with a friend or group. I'd recommend it more if you're looking to spend quality time doing something together rather than having a deep conversation--because focusing on the project definitely takes some attention. My sister was happy with her finished product, and I liked mine even if it turned out simpler than planned. It's a cool idea for a birthday, date night, or just a different kind of outing.

Ladies: I admire your strength, courage... and tassels!!!…read more Saw BWB at Speakeasy last night and loved them! The teasing, the tantalizing, the pasties and hoTT lingerie. Fabulous job, fun time and look forward to the Spanksgiving show at Club Encore November 19th!

BWB ladies are divine. I'm most impressed with Miss Delia Dread's feather fan dance. To me, it's…read morethe most classic and beautiful form of burleque! Thanks for showing the Yelpers a good time at Yelp's Putting on the Ritz party at Speakeasy!

I went to the 2014 Austin Carnaval an event virgin and left a bonafide Brasilero woman!…read more From the walk to the Palmer Events Center to the Carnaval itself to the VIP lounge, the whole experience was a colorful blur of gyrating painted and feathered nudity to samba beats and boozey revelry! On the way from the parking lot to the Palmer Event Center, we just had to follow the colorful and scantily clad masses to find the fun! And though I expected an out of control night of pure debauchery based on previous reviews, the night was enjoyably tame. We got there around the 10pm mark and the party was already in full swing with the samba dancers and drummers showing off their mad crazy skills! From the minute we walked in the door our asses didn't stop shaking til they hit the cold leather of the car seat 3hrs later! I loved how open and friendly everyone was! Especially those in full on crazy and fabulous costumes! We watched the "parade" from the stands and then when the dance floor opened up joined a conga line right to the front of the stage where we shook it like a polaroid picture! The entertainment was just amazing and the energy permeated and flowed through the gleefully sweaty crowd! It wasn't nearly as awful as I imagined it would be in the crowd, it was packed, but not claustrophobically so. And, to my surprise, there was not nearly the amount of nudity I expected...I mean bare bootys and boobies abounded, but in a tasteful and non-gratuitous way. I ended up backstage because of my VIP pass because no one could tell me how to get to the "lounge", but that ended up being an awesome experience! Needless to say, I will be returning to Carnaval next year...and honestly, if you can't be in Rio, this is the next best thing! Braaaazilll ATX style baby!!

I know it's an event but it's annual sooo if anyone is curious about this party and does a little…read moreresearch here, let me shed some light (it's okay, I won't illuminate the darkest corners!). Imagine if a gay bar Halloween party and a strip club Halloween party were to have a baby....no, imagine if Mardi Gras had a super sexy, blatantly flirtatious Latino cousin.....no, imagine that dream you have with all the sexy demons and angels and they all want to have sex with you. Yeah, put all that together and you can get an idea. I've been going to this party for almost 15 years and I never get tired of it. Not only is it about the costumes and the flirting, but it's also about the incredible music. Every year they get a nationally known Brazilian Samba band to play the stage, but lately they have also used Austin's own Academicos da Opera which I think is even better cause they get right down on the floor in a huge drum circle. This music is intoxicating (which is great cause it's damn hard to get a drink here---lines too long). You cannot stop dancing and at the end of the night you get that all over warm body relaxation that you get after a great workout or even better sex. But if you are an exhibitionist or a voyeur or if you are not afraid of a large crowd of these, then this is your party. To get anywhere in the crowd, you have to get in a conga line and next thing you know, you are swept away with a bunch of fun-loving strangers to god knows where. And costumes! I am always awed by the work that goes into this event. From feathers and beads to leather and chains. Drag queens and dominatrixes. Fairies and well, fairies. Body painting to body stockings. It's all here and it doesn't mind being seen and photographed and danced with. Sigh. I always have a bit of post-Carnaval depression. So, don't be scerd. You are really missing out if you let your fears hold you back. True of Carnaval and of life.

Since no one has provided commentary for the last year, I would like to contribute my personal…read moreexperiences with NKL. First of all, I am a newbie--and after a year and a half of wandering around Austin trying to find a local hang out where I could meet people, I happened to stumble into Egos on a Thursday night in desperate search for Karaoke and a good time. With me was my friend Patrick. We look around, there's two people at the bar with afro wigs. Another patron walks in with chaps on. I look at Patrick and say, "I guess we missed the notice that it's wig night..." and then I look over and notice Master Shake in the corner. After being rebuffed by the Karaoke Jocky with a snort, "Karaoke's only for NKL until 10!" we decided to grab a booth and watch. We snag someone in a white lab coat (now my teammate) and ask what is going on: "It's National Karaoke League! It's the last night of the regular season. We're all on teams and we take turns singing--it's a lot of fun. Excuse me, I have to go." The young man runs up to the stage and proceeds to strip off his lab coat--and is wearing a full S&M harness underneath. As he hoods himself and unzipps his mask to let his voice be heard on the mike ("I wanna sex you up" I believe), Patrick reminds me to close my mouth (my unhinged jaw is on floor in shock). We watch the rest of the performances in awe--"Maniac" from flash dance, where I wait to see a nip slip as she bounces up and down on the stage in a full run-in-place with only a bandeau bra and a homemade leotard, a full corseted drag performance of "No More I Love Yous" where the man singing has a full beard and the best Annie Lenox voice I've ever heard. Then we are treated to "Thriller" replete with zombie costumes and of course, the signature dance. After that number I run to the ladies room, and when I open the door, I find the bartender (who I now know as Laura) mopping up the floor covered in water and muttering, "fucking zombies." As Patrick mounts the stage at 10 to sing his signature number "I want it that way" the zombies break out into their dance at his feet, and I look at him from the crowd, and he looks at me, and we both know. We have to join. My first season at NKL has not disappointed in the least. From seeing "The Human Centipede" in front of my eyes, to witnessing two "births", and spending countless hours with Patrick and 7 other people I didn't know, I have made wonderful friends--and even better memories. There's a picture of me dressed as a little boy, munching on a cupcake while the creepy old Herbert from Family Guy croons "Somewhere that's Green." There's pictures of teammembers half naked--almost totally naked--cross dressed, in the throes of passionate performance that we will have to one day explain to our kids. There's been drama and paranoia and politics and a whole lot of laughter. And I cannot wait for next season.

I've been involved in the NKL for several years now, and it's one of the most fun activities around…read morewith an amazing community of people involved in it. Well worth your valuable time. The basic idea is that you get on a team with people and, as a team, do three songs each week. You can have a team already, or come in as an individual and let them set you up on a team. It's very friendly to newcomers, and each team generally has a few new people on it. The audience will vote for their favorite performances, and over the course of the season, eventually a champion is crowned. But it's way more than just singing. In fact, singing ability isn't even a major factor. There's costumes, performances, and choreography in addition to the singing, and it's an environment where enthusiasm counts for more than ability. They have two divisions in town: one up north at the Canary Roost and the other down south at Ego's, so you have options as to where you want to go. There are three seasons a year, each lasting about two and a half months with weekly competition. But as much fun as it is to perform and see what everyone else comes up with (and, believe me, it's really amazing to see what gets done), what I really love about NKL are the people involved. It's a really diverse crowd where you really can't predict what kinds of folks you'll encounter. The quality that unifies them, though, is that they all like to perform and they all like to have a good time. The folks that I've met through NKL are insanely fun and interesting and awesome. Bottom line is that there's really never anything boring in NKL, and you're sure to meet a ton of cool people. Participating has been one of the best things I've done.

Saw my third show here this past weekend. Awesome place. Awesome shows! Reasonably priced, great…read moreentertainment. Great snacks and drinks available for purchase. Can't wait to visit them at the new facility when built.

This is one of Austin's best kept secrets, and a locally owned operation…read more Don Toner and crew have taken what was a small production company using a stage at McCallum High and evolved it into a year-round full two-stage facility with comfortable seating in an intimate atmosphere. AP relies on a cast of seasoned local talent, including the brilliant and talented Michael Stuart, to provide a broad variety of theatrical productions each season. For live theater, the prices are reasonable, with half-price student tickets and guest ticket discounts for season ticket holders. The one thing I really appreciate about this venue is (and I repeat myself) the intimacy of the seating and stage. The stage literally ends at the edge of the first row. The most distant seats are no more than twenty feet from the stage, making the production even more real and audience connected. You get the feeling you are literally part of the play; there is no significant degree of separation between the actors and the audience. The other thing that I love is that it's literally a working company. Don Toner himself will often call back to confirm seating reservations. If it's not Don, it's frequently one of the other cast members. When you have a special request, there is no "box-office" detachment. And, at the end of the play, Don's waiting at the door to shake your hand and welcomes your comments regarding the performance. If you'd asked me ten years ago if I would ever be caught dead watching five plays a year, my answer would have been an emphatic "no". Thanks to one of Don's Actor's Equity members, John Hoff, I got hooked. John's no longer connected with the group as he's living in Colorado, but I thank him for instilling the appreciation for this troup in me. P.S. One of their most acclaimed productions is "Dead Presidents' Club", which is showing for one more day (11/9/2008) at Evans Auditorium at Texas State University-San Marcos. If you have time to catch this production today, do so. If you miss, pray for a summer revival in 2009!

Our group had an AMAZING experience for my sister's bachelorette party! Our teacher, Sara, was…read moreawesome and offered all sorts of creative ways to draw our model... and of course our male model, Brandon, was super hot and had a great personality to boot. Totally classy yet very cheeky, my sister said it was her fav part of the whole day we'd planned for her. Artful was very accommodating, communicated clearly about pricing and how things would work the whole way. Our teacher/model duo brought music and all supplies and took requests for music we wanted to hear. There was no touching and no crazy dancing... just cheeky art, fun banter, a very handsome nude dude, and lots of laughter and good times. The PERFECT event for any bachelorette or special birthday! Can't recommend this experience enough to others looking for a unique, adult way to celebrate with girlfriends!

As an artsy bride who was treated to this special surprise, I was blown away by the creative idea,…read morebeautiful gallery venue, and super professional host and model! 10/10 AND I'D HIT IT AGAIN!! Val was so funny and talented, and Dwayne was so sexy, and so kind. They were an awesome duo, and our bride tribe LOVED it. As for the arts - we actually learned so much, while having fun. Val even got us drawing blind and switching canvases. Definitely give this event a try if your curious and want to have a good time. They'll have you coming back for more!! ;)

I haven't been to much theater in Austin (except the big productions) because I never know which…read moreones to go to. And i loathe sitting in shows that are bad because I've paid $15 a ticket and feel compelled to wait and see whether it will improve. Luckily, the show I saw here was funny and well done. Part of the Frontera Fest (long fringe) and the whole process was quite efficient. You're on the guest list? Great. Here's a program and a seat. In fact they were nice enough to provide me with a chair so I didnt have to traipse about the chairs on the risers. They've got sodas for sale but it may be BYO (check first) and they've got plenty of bathrooms. All good things to know when you're headed to a performance. If you get the chance to see a show here, do. Its a small theater so there are no bad seats and if you make sure you're not seeing bad theater, well then you're most likely in for a treat.

A fucking puppet show? Are you kidding me?…read more That's what I went to see at Salvage Vanguard Theater, and I liked it so much I went back for another show. I'll be back again. Now, I've only seen their puppet shows, I have no idea if they do other things. The puppet shows are different from anything you've seen: excessively dark, and no strings attached. The puppeteers wear dark beekeeper like suits and hold the brightly painted puppets up and manipulate them from behind. You can see everything that's going on, but within a minute or two, you forget the puppeteers are there and the characters take a life of their own. And what characters! It's obviously all-original and all home made, but they do such a good job of creating compelling characters and stories for them to tell that you'll wonder why they aren't more successful. My girlfriend and I still endlessly quote the shows we've seen and we keep trying to describe the characters and stories in a way that makes sense. It seems we utterly fail at that, and it's why I'm going to keep my review short. This place doesn't make sense. The show doesn't make sense out of context. It doesn't look like much from the outside ... or the inside. But trust me. I give it five stars for a reason, and this isn't even ordinarily my scene. I've tried to convince all my friends to go with varying levels of success, but no one has been disappointed and they all want to come back for more. If you've found it, go experience it.