The PALABRAZOS Festival of Literary Performance will be take place tonight at Embargo Bar at 210 E. 8th St. Admissions is free.

This is the second annual festival that features compelling performing poets of Texas and beyond, including Natasha Carrizosa and Joaquin Zihuatanejo who will kick off the Festival with their poignant tales of bicultural life and urban tribulations. The Festival will also feature two poets from Santa Fe, Mary Melisse Mier and Angelo Jaramillo, as well as Da’Shade Moonbeam, an award-winning nationally-ranked slam poet and hiphop performing artist from Austin. Three video poems, by artists from San Antonio and Santa Fe, will also be screened. Thanks to Fort Worth’s own Tammy Gomez for the coat pull.

You want often see an architectural tour of a parking garage, but your chance is coming up. Fort Worth Public Art and AIA Fort Worth is presenting a symposium, dinner and behind the scenes tour of the new Fort Worth Convention Center Parking Garage is April 1 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Architects, artists and any interested community members are encouraged to attend but must register in advance before 5 p.m. Thursday. Visit the FWPA site to register now.

You read that right — Friend of W&C Ricki Derek will be appearing at the Fort Worth location of everyone’s favorite foodie fantasy-land.

Entry is free (it’s on the patio), and you can make a nice picnic by grabbing a few things to much on, a bottle of wine (or two!) and a table out under the stars. The show starts at 6PM, but if you want a table, plan on getting there EARLY.

Considering how good the weather has been lately, this could be a GREAT show.

Installation began today on artist Cliff Garten’s “Avenue of Light” sculptures along Lancaster Avenue. Here are a few pics, courtesy of Alida and Anne at Fort Worth Public Art.

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The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater appears tonight at Bass Hall as the company celebrates its 50th anniversary. Check the Bass Hall website for ticket information.

Barbara Crane is known in the world of art photography as an artist and a teacher but above all as an experimenter. Although she started off as a portrait photographer and some of her early work in Chicago definitely is reminiscent of the Lee Friedlander school of street photography, much of the work on display at her career retrospective at the Amon Carter Museum shows a willingness to try new styles and new technologies. I was fortunate enough to spend a few minutes walking though the galleries with Crane last week where we talked about her work.
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Photos of last night’s sunset, courtesy of Gabe Grote.

Man, we live in a beautiful place!

Tonight at 7:30 at Rose Marine Theater on the North Side is a free screening of Before Night Falls, Julian Schnabel’s look at the life of gay Cuban poet, Reinaldo Arenas, whose outspoken lifestyle and writings led to his imprisonment under Castro’s government. Starring Javier Bardem, Johnny Depp and Sean Penn.

Also, there are two gallery openings — local artists Jose A.Calvillo and Jeffrey Nichols will have exhibits. Openings are at 7. For more information, visit the Rose Marine website.

In the spirit of today’s inauguration, let’s talk Washington. The Amon Carter Blog posted this item about Quincy Jones‘ petition for a cabinet-level arts leader, and that comes on the heels of word that President Obama is considering two Indian-born technology executives for a newly created federal Chief Technology Officer position.
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Sorry for the short notice, but if you are looking to get out this evening, there are two free opportunities you should know about:

>Bertha Coolidge at Lola’s: The Stash Dauber has the skinny and the video./

>817 Flavors Live Taping: Tammy Gomez and Friends will be taping their cable access show at Arts Fifth Avenue in Fairmount. Must RSVP for a spot because space is limited.