This appeared in the Friday edition of Real magazine.
October, socially speaking, is festival month in Austin.
Beyond the exalted thrills of the Austin City Limits Music Festival (Oct. 12-14, Zilker Park), Austin Film Festival (Oct. 18-25, various locations) and Texas Book Festival (Oct. 27-28, Capitol), one can partake in the more localized tingles of the Texas Craft Brewers Festival (Oct. 6, Festival Gardens), Austin Beer Week (Oct. 20-28, various locations), Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival (Oct. 3-7, various locations) and Austin Yoga Festival (Oct. 27-28, Palmer Events Center).
The festlike La Dolce Vita lays out a banquet of food and drink on the glorious grounds of Laguna Gloria (Oct. 11) to benefit AMOA-Arthouse.
The galas, too, come thick and fast in October.
None is bigger than the Livestrong Gala (Oct. 19, Austin Convention Center) featuring over-the-moon celebrities like Robin Williams, Norah Jones, Sean Penn, Maria Shriver, Ben Stiller, Stephen Marley and the embattled foundation founder Lance Armstrong.
The dressy First Edition Literary Gala (Oct. 26, AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center) kicks off the Texas Book Festival with probably the wittiest and wisest formal party of the year.
When dressing up, give serious consideration to the Seton Development Board Gala (Oct. 21, Four Seasons Hotel) and the Black and White Ball (Oct. 26, Four Seasons Hotel) for Texas Advocacy Project.
Two worthy events stretch out the fun over many hours: HAAM Benefit Day (Oct. 2, various locations), keyed to musicians’ healthcare, and AIA Homes Tour (Oct. 6-7, various locations), designed to help the architectural group.
Two distinguished ceremonies this month honor local worthies: Rostow Awards Dinner (Oct. 16, AT&T Center) and the Harvey Penick Awards Dinner (Oct. 23, Four Seasons Hotel).
During the social season, the young and defenseless have not been forgotten. Consider the Champions for Children Luncheon (Oct. 17, Hilton Austin) for the Helping Hand Home for Children, SafePlace Celebration Luncheon (Oct. 19, Hilton Austin), and GirlStart Game Changers Luncheon (Oct. 23, AT&T Center).
This month, one can also balance two lively events: Beauty of Life (Oct. 11, Hilton Austin) for Hospice Austin and Literacy for Life (Oct. 7, Phillips Event Center) for Scottish Rite Dyslexia Center.
Then there are those singular social events like LEAP Casino Royale (Oct. 19. W Hotel) for LifeWorks, Epic Evening (Oct. 21, Hyatt Regency) for Texas Freedom Network and Communities in Bloom (Oct. 11, Commodore Perry Estate) for Rainforest Partnership.
Finally what would October be without OctoTea (Oct. 28, Emma Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center), a giant dance party staged by the many-armed Octopus Club for AIDS Services of Austin.