Yes, it's the words that could happen. Saturday, it's time for one of
those annual events that keeps Austin weird: the 28th Annual O.Henry Pun-Off
World Championships. Veterans of this list, or curious watchers of cable
access, know what I'm talking about, and you know whether you want to rush
downtown or flee to Houston for the weekend. For the rest, suffice it to say
I'll be striving for my 7th crown, and I'll welcome a jeering section. I'll
be competing in the first contest - the 90-second monologue - from noon to
2, then helping to emcee the dramatic shootout from 2 to 5, as ad-libbing
punslingers vie to be the fastest pun in the west.
For those who can't get enough, I'll be emceeing a pre-Pun-Off dinner
Friday evening at the O.Henry Museum, with barbecue, warm-up punning and
musical contributions from Marilyn Rucker, Lisa Rogers, Joel McColl and Los
Klezmeros.
And for those who need to save their souls come Sunday, I'll be helping
host the monthly Austin Peace Open Mike from 6 to 9. All the info's below.
And if you're new to the Pun-Off and want to see samples of my
championship routines from years past, just drop by www.stevebrooks.net and
click on "Puns."

Peeps through Music,
Steve

FRIDAY, MAY 13, 6:30 to 10 p.m.
GLOBAL WARM-UP for the Pun-Off
Brush Square Park, downtown Austin, TX (5th at Neches)
(It's the backyard of the O.Henry Museum)

SATURDAY, MAY 14, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
THE 28th ANNUAL O. HENRY PUN-OFF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Brush Square Park, downtown Austin, TX (5th at Neches)
(It's the backyard of the O.Henry Museum)
Arrive early to claim a shady spot for your chair or your blanket.
11 a.m. to noon, music by Bill Rowan and the High Rollers
Contest starts at noon.

SUNDAY, MAY 15, 6 to 9 p.m.
AUSTIN PEACE OPEN MIKE
VENTANA DEL SOUL COFFEEHOUSE, 1834 E. Oltorf at Burleson
co-hosts STEVE BROOKS, LISA ROGERS & TOM DARILEK
Once a month, the Austin Peace Open Mic welcomes musicians, poets, activists
and listeners to share a peace of their art. Every third Sunday, from 6 to 9
p.m., we gather at the Ventana del Soul coffeehouse. We're unplugged, but we
help recharge your batteries for the four long years ahead. Ventana del Soul
is at 1834 E. Oltorf, on the north side of Oltorf & Burleson. Join hosts
Lisa Rogers, Tom Darilek and Steve Brooks as we give peace our chants.