What could be better on a hot summer night than speeding down a wide Texas boulevard with your lady pals cranking 6o’s girl groups? As the weather starts to make everyone in Austin regress into a feverish summer childhood, these are the tunes I’m consistently rocking at full volume.

It’s tough for me to play favorites, but I probably listen to the Shangri-Las the most these days. Best remembered for their creepy classics “Leader of the Pack” and “Remember (Walkin’ in the Sand), I love these ladies for their “bad girl” ways. My personal favorite jam is “Give Him a Great Big Kiss.” The first line of the song “When I say I’m in love, you best believe I’m in love, L-U-V” later went on to become a minor punk rock anthem after the New York Dolls snatched it up in 1973. These ladies are the original riot grrls, no doubt about it.

Another classic group I’m loving these days are the Crystals. With possibly some of the weirdest, “cultiest” history of the 60’s, this group is perhaps best remembered for their professional partnership with infamous/genius record producer-turned-murderer Phil Spector. My favorite creepy track of theirs is the bizarro “He Hit Me (And It Felt Like a Kiss),” a song that failed commercially but has achieved cult status over the years.

Last but certainly not least on my summer girl group playlist are the Ronettes, more proteges of weirdo producer Phil Spector. Known best for their gorgeous hit “Be My Baby,” these ladies epitomize the new bad girls of the 60’s. Who couldn’t fall in love with this sound and this look? Now if only I could master that beehive hair…

A Contemporary Claudia

If you were born in the eighties and you’re an American lady, there seems to be a fair to excellent chance that you read the Baby-sitters Club book series as a girl. I know I consumed these novels with an almost unnatural religious fervor, and these “tweens” totally changed my life forever. Claudia Kishi, in particular, was, is and will be one of my ultimate fashion gurus. Claudia was the “artist” of the group and the Vice President of the club. She describes her style like this: “Traditional clothes look boring and are boring to put on. So I never wear them. I like bright colors and big patterns and funny touches, such as earrings made from feathers. Maybe this is because I’m an artist. I don’t know. Today, for instance, I’m wearing purple pants that stop just below my knees and are held up with suspenders, white tights with clocks on them, a purple plaid shirt with a matching hat, my high-top sneakers, and lobster earrings.” UM. YES.

There is even a great fashion blog called “What Claudia Wore,” a site devoted to exploring the contemporary influence of Claudia’s look. Her wild, irreverent attitude is infectious and, above all, fearless.

The blog occasionally offers examples of magazine spreads that have “Claudia” written all over them. This one above is from the March 2010 issue of Nylon magazine.

Ok, so Texas is huge and Austin ain’t exactly close to any real ocean. So where’s a girl to go when she wants to beat the heat? It turns out that this crazy state is home to some of the most heavenly swim holes on the planet. You just have to know where to look!Thirty miles outside of Austin is the absurdly gorgeous Hamilton Pool. This collapsed grotto has a waterfall that never stops spilling into wildly aquamarine waters below. Sometimes when I go there I pretend I’m Brooke Shields in the Blue Lagoon. It’s absurdly beautiful.

Barton Springs is the most well-loved landmark in all of Austin, attracting mobs of adoring sun worshippers at its alter year-round. For a glorious three dollars (or free from 9-10 PM at night), merry revelers get to enjoy three acres of solid natural springs. With a constant temperature of 68 degrees, there is nothing more glorious than this paradise deep in the heart of my city.

Far away on the distant desert plains of Texas lies Barton Springs’ sister in spirit, Balmohea State Park. Yes, this swimmer’s paradise may be a solid ten hour drive from my watery local home away from home, but I frequent this spot whenever I head out on my semi-annual west Texas sojourn (check out my post about nearby Marfa here).

Yes, I’m pretty damn late on this, but why didn’t anyone tell me about the amazing TV show Trailer Park Boys sooner? It’s freaking hilarious! Since becoming obsessed with this show, I’ve had a real epiphany about a fact many Americans might need a moment to process: Canadian comedy shows have been at the core of my love for absurd television since a young age. 

It really all started with me when Comedy Central began to air Kids in the Hall in the early 90s. I never had cable as a child, so this delectable treat was among my favorites when I would visit my indulgent grandmother’s house. Lying in bed eating chocolate chip cookies and watching weird comedy sketches such as the Chicken Lady probably influenced who I am today. That’s scary to admit, but it’s true.

I also have vague memories of heartily consuming the Canadian sketch comedy classic SCTV back in the early 90’s when Comedy Central was still “the Comedy Channel.” Good Lord, look at the number of awesome celebrities littering this show: John Candy! Rick Moranis! Eugene Levy! Martin Short! And last but certainly not least, Christopher Guest’s mockumentary darling Catherine O’Hara. This show is absurdly influential.

Thanks, Canada, for your awkwardly amazing sense of humor.

There’s nothing better than sitting in a dark, old movie theater on a brutally hot evening. It’s just so…decadent. Austin has a virtual plethora of movie houses to choose from, but the Paramount Theatre is the oldest and best location in the summer months because of their classic film series that runs practically every night from June through the end of August. I am most excited about a screening of the lost-then-found Clara Bow silent flick, Wings. Fighter pilots, 20’s fashion and Bow as an ambulance driver? Oh man. Also, this baby has a brand new score composed by none other than Austin phenom Graham Reynolds, who will perform it live with the screening. Yes!

Next up on my must see list is Tod Browning’s creepy 1932 classic, Freaks. I’ve never seen this terrifying cult film and I can’t tell you how psyched I am to see why it is so wildly obsessed over.

As part of a double feature with Freaks, the Paramount is playing The Devil-Doll, another Browning film made in 1936. This flick features Lionel Barrymore in drag, shrinking humans and a mad scientist. It just doesn’t get better than this.

In my other, non-blogging life, I have a strange day job these days: romance novelist. It’s cheesy but great, and I’m currently writing a book set in the outskirts of Dallas in 1925. Naturally I’m basing my heroine on Coco Chanel, the great fashion pioneer of the era, and have been looking at all things flapper for my research.

This “work” (wow, I’m lucky) has lead me to become obsessed with 1920’s swimsuits, that classically flattering design known as the maillot. And as I look at more and more images, I’ve noticed how often these influences are cropping up around the pool in Austin.

Although Austin lacks a proper body of water, Barton Springs is a 3 acre long, spring fed pool that I swear has healing properties. And since the glorious 80 degree days have already begun here, I’ve taken to swimming in the early hours of the morning.

Although I’m not generally a huge fan of Urban Outfitters, I have to admit that I’ve been ogling some of their vintage-influenced designs for my daily splash. Some of their great designs can be found here. I think I might just take the plunge this time. It’s research, right?

I’m a sucker for all kinds of cheesy horror films, so naturally I jumped at the chance to see the most insane horror flick to come out in years, Birdemic: Shock and Terror. A super low budget rip off of the Hitchcock classic, The Birds, this film is quickly becoming a cult phenomenon of epic proportions.The trailer gives you a divine taste of how preposterously bad this film truly is. Hilariously horrifying acting, animations that appear to have been made on a Sega Genesis, sound that rivals your dad’s home movies…the list of incredible awfulness goes on and on!

Alfred Hitchcock is rolling in his grave over this...

Entertainment Weekly has perhaps the greatest response to this film that I’ve read. They say that Birdemic “answers the question of what Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds would have looked like if it had been made not by Hollywood’s legendary Master of Suspense, but by a mid-level Silicon Valley software salesman.”

Just like one of my favorite movies of all time, Plan 9 From Outer Space, this movie masters the “so bad it’s good” formula. It’s hypnotically bizarre, and I literally laughed so hard I cried.

Austin is most definitely one serious taco town. Breakfast tacos, if not the official food of my city, certainly are consumed more than anything else around. Every corner seems to be overflowing with multiple trailers boasting the best in town. So how do you know where to go when that craving hits you hard on a hangover-y kind of morning? Turn to the experts, of course!Taco Journalism is a prolific Austin-based site that strives to cover every spot in the city. And, as a dutiful citizen of this fair metropolis, I’ve recently made it my hobby to try every four and five star spot in town.

Admittedly, the results are mixed. I cannot begin to tell you how many mediocre tacos I’ve eaten in some weird parking lot in east Austin. But a gem is a gem, and one must never give up the quest for a diamond in the rough.

Surprisingly, my “research” has turned up two wonderful spots that I now frequent with reckless abandon. One is Hole in the Wall, one of my favorite dive bars of all time. Where else can you eat killer, super fresh pastor tacos AND deep fried pickles?

My second favorite spot is Taqueria Los Jalisciences, on the very edge of town. Look at this place! It’s in a motel parking lot! I second the experts, who voted the chicken tortilla soup the best in town. Totally killer. Yum.

Is it possible that I might finally get sucked into the insane world that is reality tv? The answer is disturbingly a resounding yes as I wait with baited breath for the upcoming premier of Bravo’s Work of Art. Produced by Sarah Jessica Parker’s production company Pretty Matches, there is some serious talent here.

Most surprisingly, my favorite art critic of all time, New York Magazine’s Jerry Saltz (the goofy guy on the right) is on the judge’s panel. His brilliant and frank opinions are sure to make for fascinating tv, and he was quoted as saying he sees more talent here than in the most recent Whitney Biennial.

I have yet to dig into each contestant’s biography, but have certainly been impressed thus far. Most exciting to me is major contender Nao Bustamante, a longtime mainstay of the San Francisco performance art scene. If this is any indication of the talent on the show, count me in. Big time.

Well, I survived another year of SXSW, and I hope you did too. This year the crowds seemed…crowdier? The places were packed, and I mainly chose to hide out in the peripheries that you would most likely never find if you weren’t lucky enough to call Austin your hometown. But I did see some damn fine music, and lots of crazy stuff you would never find downtown.A vast majority of my time was spent at Baby Blue Studios, the recording spot for several of Austin’s most prolific underground bands. The shows every night varied wildly, with lots of my favorite local bands as well as lots of experimental acts from elsewhere. My favorites?

XYX is a two piece band from Monterrey, Mexico who play wild noise rock that is both minimal and crazy loud. They’ve been compared to the Stooges and Austin classics the Butthole Surfers, and the singer is one incredible lady. Check out a video of them here.

Lord Scrummage is a Detroit-based crazy dance/noise band, and I think the above photo pretty much says it all. They were handing out free “merchandise” during their set: lighters covered in duct tape with their name scrawled on it that had been made into necklaces. I danced my butt off to these guys!

And finally, Traffique is the alter ego of well loved local musician Red Hunter of Peter and the Wolf Fame. His sexy drag act made the whole place go wild. Buckets of sweat were shed. Need I say more?