AFF09 Daily Dispatch: Day Four
Today is as much about what I didn't do at the fest, as the screenings itself. I overslept and miss the Hair of the Dog brunch and the TXMPA Incentives panel. I believe Debbie made it to the panel, so hopefully she'll be doing a writeup later. I did make it over the Driskill 1886 cafe for some lemony eggs benedict before heading to a screening that I ended up switching with Alabama Moon, so I had a lot of time on my hands today.
Alabama Moon, directed by Austin's Tim McCanlies, harkens back to the vintage Wonderful World of Disney films I used to watch on Sunday nights. Kid in trouble, the requisite mean and inept adults, the bully with a change of heart, and a few good and kind adults to bring about a happy ending. Austin favorite Clint Howard plays the constable who makes Moon's life really difficult after Moon's father dies. Alabama Moon is family fare, and will make some adults nostalgic.
The Paramount seats aren't kind to aching knees, so I left before the Q&A, and I'm glad I did. I got out just in time to catch the tail end of the annual Zombie Lurch to the Capitol, an event the Alamo Drafthouse Lake Creek puts on every year. I wished they'd organized it better so there were people in line at the Paramount at the time. It's such a fun thing to see lumbering up the street, and I doubt many festivalgoers caught it. The video I took is being stubborn about being embedded, so it's linked above.
I had a lot of free time after that, so I wandered around a bit, and ended up at the Parkside, across the street and at the west end of the block from the Alamo Ritz. Not to knock the Alamo food, it's pretty good, but a change is good also. I wasn't terribly hungry, but I was definitely full after an appetizer and dessert at Parkside. I remembered Tim League writing something about it last year, but I hadn't made it in before. Friends went there this summer and had the burgers, which they said were worth every penny (these aren't sliders).
I ended up trying the "sweetbreads, apple salad" which also had tongue. I've never eaten tongue before, and it's been at least a decade since I've had sweetbreads, and it's an appetizer, so I tried it with a Syrah that was recommended. It was incredible. I had a Jeio rose sparkling wine with panna cotta, gingersnap cookie and butternut squash sorbet, that was just as good. Parkside's not cheap, but it was worth every single penny. The service was very friendly and informative; at the Driskill, I might have gotten four words out of the bartender (I sat at the bar to avoid a wait). At Parkside, they knew their stuff and were more than happy to talk about it in a very laid-back manner. Great vibe, too. If you're still in town this week, looking for a new place to try, I highly recommend it.
After that, I walked over the Ritz for my final film of the day, The Scenesters (pictured at top). Because everyone's pulse quickens at the thought of the demise of scenesters. Most of the principal cast and crew were there, including UT film grads Todd Berger, who directed and co-starred, and Kevin Brennan, one of the producers and stars. Together with Jeff Grace and Blaise Miller, they are also collectively known as the improv group The Vactioneers. It was clear these guys knew each other well by their chemistry on the screen. The shakey cam got a bit excessive, but it was definitely entertaining. Immediately after the screening, an open afterparty started at Union Park on west Sixth, including a live performance by Choke Hold, the band in the film. I wish I had the energy to go to the party, it seemed like it would be fun, but I'm beat. It's sleepy time now.
Tomorrow I'll be heading up to the Arbor, to catch the films there, particularly Happy Endings, which I've heard nothing but very good things about it. Plus, Chris Holland told me I HAD to go.