… I mean, Style is different from Fashion, right? You gotta have attitude.

Rock + Runway Men’s Show / September 22, 8pm; Fashion Show 9pm

First-ever Style Week Men’s Show at ND at 501 Studios. Plenty to do with a show, dogs from Frank and tacos from Takoba along with cocktails by Deep Eddy Sweet Tea and Savvy Vodkas, beer by Corona and Pacifico, and tequila by El Jimador. Get your beard and mustache trimmed at the grooming station, take your pic in the Bird’s Barbershop Photo Booth, and enjoy music by Shapes Have Fangs, who will take the stage following the show. Tickets are $20 (includes food and drinks). Click here to purchase tickets.

TRIBEZA Fashion Show at the Bob Bullock / Friday, September 24, 7:30pm

THIS is the event Austin fashionistas (styleistas?) are waiting for. The marquee event will be held at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. The best looks of fall will strut down the runway on top models from around the state. VIP ticket holders are invited to the third floor Austin Room before the show begins for complimentary cocktails from Deep Eddy Sweet Tea and Savvy Vodkas and appetizers from Fleming’s and Urban: An American Grill. To purchase your tickets, click here.

Next Wednesday, February 24 from 7:30 – 10:30 pm, Catalyst 8 will take over the regal Allan House for an evening of Mad Hatter spectacle and decadence with signature drinks, lavish cupcakes from Polkadots, and eccentric décor … and check out a Mad Hatter-themed burlesque routine performed by the Southern Sirens.

Tickets for the event are $25 per non-member, free for Catalyst 8 members. Tickets are on sale at www.catalyst-8.com.

Win tickets from this is life in austin! Just post a comment by Monday, February 22 at midnight CST and you’re entered to win a pair of tix to the tea party!

What is Catalyst 8?
An art supporter donor group for the Long Center for the Performing Arts. There are over 100 active Catalyst 8 members and general membership is between the ages of 25 and 40. Members donate $300+ per year to support the organization, local arts and the Long Center. Proceeds from membership and all proceeds from this event go toward the Catalyst 8 Boost Rental Subsidy program, which awards rental subsidies to Austin‐area emergent and underserved arts groups. Boost offsets costs so that a wider diversity of performances and audiences can perform on the Long Center’s world‐class stages. Over the past four years, Catalyst 8 has provided more than $46,000 in rental subsidies via Boost.

FASHION SHOW on the City Terrace at the Long Center
Tuesday, September 22nd, 6:30pm doors, 8pm
Live Music by Matt Wilson followed by a fabulous fashion show produced by Hollywood based Michael HoldawayProductions. Sponsored by David Yurman.
Tickets are $35 and available at www.thelongcenter.org

DOWNTOWN OPEN HOUSE – Benefiting Ballet Austin
Wednesday, September 23rd, 6-9pm
This year’s Downtown Open House sponsored by Savvy Vodka has 30 participating businesses. Come try one of our “Tri-Tinis” made with Savvy Vodka. Enjoy street performers, music, special deals on fall fashion, and hors d’oeuvres in participating stores. A silent auction in the boutiques will benefit Ballet Austin. If you like Tribeza Happy Hours – you will be very happy!

PARTICIPATING BOUTIQUES:
Adelante,
 Anthony’s Fireplace & Patio,
 Artworks,
 Austin Galleries, 
Ballet Austin, 
bella salon,
 Beyond Tradition, 
BoConcept,
 by george, David Allen Rugs,
 Dick Clark Architecture,
 Edgar Kelly Rugs, Eliza Page,
 EOS, 
Estilo,
 Extraordinaire, 
Gallery D,
 Julian Gold,
 Lotus Gallery,
 Lounge 22, milk + honey,
 Miss Behave,
 Nest,
 Pat Monroe Antiques,
 Rae Cosmetics, Spazio,
 Threshold,
 Urban Space,
 Whit Hanks Antiques, and
 Zoltan David.

Sponsored by Savvy Vodka

STREET PARTY AT THE DOMAIN – Benefiting Zach Theatre
Thursday, September 24th 6-9pm
The evening will start with a VIP reception hosted by Neiman Marcus and continues with performances from Zach Theatre and Akina Adderley & the Vintage Playboys. Enjoy music, cocktails, appetizers, and fun. Participating boutiques will hold a silent auction to benefit Zach Theatre.

PARTICIPATING BOUTIQUES: David Yurman, J Crew, Lily Pulitzer, Luxe Apothetique, Macys, Madewell, Martin & Osa, Neiman Marcus, Spa Reveil, Tiffany & Co.

Soigne Expansion Party – brother store Slate closed, but Soigne expanded into the space and is throwing a party to celebrate! Reopening event with free food and drink, plus 20% off! Check out a lovely spring fashion show too. 6-8pm, 4800 Burnet Rd., Suite 410

Pop-up & Play at Malverde - Cities like New York and LA get fun pop-up shops all the time, but Austin is getting what may well be one of the first (at least not centered around a fest). Austinite designer Elisa Jimenez, a Project Runway: Season 4 contestant and one of Vogue‘s emerging designers to watch, and bag maker Moe Nadel are joining forces for a one-day-only showcase. Look for pieces from three of Jimenez’s lines: Urban Nomads, Hunger World, and Other, from $20 to $225. Nadel will have her sculptural bags on display. 6-9pm, Malverde, 2nd & Guadalupe

Tribeza Happy Hour at El Sol Y La Luna’s new location. Enjoy drink specials and free apps like pork skewers with pineapple and cilantro and smoked salmon dip. Grupo Gruvo’s jazz tunes will fill the night. 6-8pm, 600 E. 6th

Last but certainly not least, we have the private VIP party that kicks off Texas Relays Weekend … I’ll let them say it best with a flyer:

Video Invitation: http://www.allprotexasrelays.com

THE MADISON INCIDENT: A Kick-Off to the celeb-studded weekend I posted on here, this event at The Madison promises lots of Texas Exes football studs getting rowdy. Complimentary VIP admission before 11p, email madison@allprotexasrelays.com by 4pm today.

Here’s the good part, kids; your celebrity hosts:
Michael Huff Raiders
Rod Walker Texas / TEAMBBC.COM
Dr. Miles Gray TEAMBBC.COM
Shannon Ridley TEAMBBC.COM
Doug Gabriel Raiders
Cedrick Benson Bengals
Antoine Harris Falcons
Michael Griffin Titans
Chris Houston Falcons
Derrick Johnson Chiefs
Chris Johnson Raiders
Dominic Rhodes Colts
Play n Skillz Grammy Winning Super-Producers
Aaron Ross Giants
Stanford Routt Raiders
Trenton Shelton Seahawks
Rody White Falcons
Dominique Zeigler 49′ers
Roy Williams Cowboys
Fabian Washington Ravens
Tim Crowder Broncos
Skip Cheatham K104 Radio Program Director
Jonathan Scott Bills
Kasey Studdard Texans

Yep, that’s about a billion Texas Exes.

In the same vein, put in your schedule: THE BELMONT SIGNATURE, a private Texas Relays NFL Celebrity Event by TEAMBBC, Dinner 5p to 12p • Dance until 2a with Dj Gumbo : Top 40 – Hip Hop – Mash Ups

VIP Tix: http://allprotexasrelays.eventbrite.c…; RSVP for VIP admission before 9p at http://www.going.com/texasrelays09

As a newly-minted Maid of Honor, I am going through my first wedding as a member of the wedding party–and MOH nonetheless! It’s a scary, scary time, friends. I love fashion and glitter and sparkly things, but ribbons and bows and pink are not my forte. Luckily, the bride is a black-and-white-wear-your-cowboy-boots type, so this wedding should be anything but typical. Except that we have to go to the typical tastings and things to find the perfect things to go along with her perfect wedding…

Like I said before, think champagne and cake!

Tonight: RARE Weddings

Vendor showcase from 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm. Stunning fashion show at 9:00ish.

$20 ticket (in advance, $25 at the door) = free champagne from Martini & Rossi, open bar from Tito’s Vodka, Sweet Leaf Tea, Maine Root and Miller, free food samples from some of Austin’s hottest restaurants and caterers.

Next Sunday:

The TRIBEZA Wedding Day is free from noon to 4pm at the Stephen F. Austin Hotel. Sip champagne, sample cakes, enter to win prizes, and plan for your big day.

RSVP here

Loosely arranged in order of start-time, I present to you SEVEN things to do tonight:

1) W3LL Valentine’s Happy Hour

4) TRIBEZA pre-Valentine’s Happy Hour

5) Second Street District Shopping

Stores are open late, have goodies like champagne and snacks and discounts, and are primed for last-minute V-Day shopping. Also, there’s an exclusive launch of a wine-based cocktail called VOD at Estilo, but I can’t really figure out how it’s going to be exclusive while shoppers are coming in … so maybe there’s just free VOD for everyone at Estilo? Not sure … 6-9pm

6) Singles Mingle at Hula Hut

Bobby Bones Show’s Valentine’s Day Singles Mingle is where the morning show crew–Bobby, Amy, and Lunchbox–host another Singles Mingle for the 20s-ish crowd of singles at Hula Hut. A live DJ and door prizes complement tons of ‘mix and match’ games including speed dating … so you can meet tons of people! 7-10pm

7) TWESTIVAL!!

For anyone not on twitter–get on it! It’s super fun. Twestival is the meetup for all the area Twitterers, but all proceeds from the event go to get clean drinking water in developing nations. Sumo wrestling and bands are the only two things I’ve heard about, but the gig is at Ace’s so expect some Southern Siren action … one of the bands is soul band including T-Bird and the Breaks, whose bassist I interviewed for next week’s Street Cam! Small world, Austin is. Buy tix here for $5!

Deets:

1.) A Sumo Suit Smackdown on livestreamed TV.

2.) Pics by Michael Cummings from dreaminpictures.com.

3.) A raffle.  One free raffle ticket comes with every entry ticket and you can choose the items you want to potentially win.

4.) A speech by someone from www.aglimmerofhope.org, a partner of charity:water’s who actually drills wells in Ethiopia.  A Glimmer of Hope has given water to over a million people.

5.) A live performance by Austin’s own T Bird and the Breaks.  This dynamic band was picked as one of Austin’s greatest new bands in 2008 by both “The Sound and the Jury” Awards at ACL and by the Austin Music Awards.

6.) Free Stuff!  Everyone there is going to get a free Jungle Disk license to back up all their cool pics, video, and anything else on their computer.  The retail value of this is $20.  You will also receive a coupon for Viva Chocolato for one free gelato.  Yum.

7.) A livestream to www.liveearth.org, which has streamed some of most well viewed livestreamed concerts in history.  This site belongs to Al Gore.

RSVP here.

I will be attending a leadership planning meeting for the awesome upcoming Blondes v Brunettes Charity Football Game–so freakin’ excited about that. Everyone should sign up to play, coach, or donate, and then EVERYONE should really come to the game. Mark May 16, 2009 on your calendars now!!

Men’s Night at milk + honey, 5pm-8pm

Stop by SALON by milk + honey on Thursday from 5-8pm for an evening devoted to men. Complimentary chair massages, neck trims, and hair consultations. For the ladies, there will be complimentary makeup touch ups with Chad, the spa’s makeup artist. Beer + wine + snacks will be provided, and if you receive or schedule a hair cut that evening you’ll receive 15% off.

Holiday Window Lighting & Holiday Shopping Kickoff, 5-8pm

The rest of the 2nd Street District is buzzing too, with shopping specials, refreshments, and entertainment. Notables include Eliza Page hosting a holiday cocktail soiree to kick off the trunk show for Shaesby, and St. Bernard’s Sports celebrating its first anniversary by showing Teton Gravity Research’s movie Under the Influence at 7:30pm on an outdoor projector with food, drinks, giveaways, and raffle prizes.

Tribeza Issue Release Party, 6:30pm at BoConcept

Over on the other side of Second Street, Tribeza magazine launches its December issue with a local-celeb-studded croud including coverboy Taylor Kitsch of Friday Night Lights fame. I met him at a bar once and he was super sweet and easy to talk to. Most of the ten Golden people featured in the issue are supposed to be there, including local designer of Uchi and Belmont fame Michael Hsu, Texas Monthly legend Mike Levy, Women + Their Work director Chris Cowden (I wrote an article on her for Austin Woman magazine), and more. Also, I should mention that I really like BoConcept–their staff is SUPER friendly and their prices actually affordable!

Not that Tribeza parties don’t have fashiony people–and I will say they draw a fair man-crowd, whereas Tidbits men are randoms off the street and boyfriends–but their happy hours seem to be hit or miss. Maiko a few months ago with free sushi? Hit. Random apartment opening? Miss. This Thursday? Boutique. 50/50, leaning toward miss because it’s out in Westlake.

The Smackdown:

Austin Tidbits Fall Happy Hour

Locale: Downtown, Second Street at Eliza Page

Promises: “Dazzle,” gemstones, drinks, snacks

Time: 7–9pm

vs.

TRIBEZA Happy Hour

Locale: The Hip Chic (Village at Westlake, Bee Cave at 360)

Promises: exclusive peak into their new digs, models, DJ, food, cocktails

Time: 5:30-9pm

Of course, I won’t be blogging because I have limited access to the internet. I’ve posted a few entries for events in the coming week to tide you over, but in the meantime, I’d also suggest you check out:

Design Notebook – blogger Melanie Spencer covers all the design events, she usually posts a roundup once a week, so check here for what to do this week and next

Tribeza’s Fashion Week – there are a few free events leading up to the hot fashion show, which benefits Candlelight Ranch, a wonderful retreat for kids … I’d definitely take a ride on the Boutique Crawl bus to keep the booze and buying in check–Thursday, September 11.

austin360.com – it’s an obvious choice, but they usually have the scoop on events in Austin

I’ll be back late Thursday the 11th, so hopefully I’ll have some fun news and events for the weekend!