An Austin native wrote a message to his friends about an experience he had with live entertainment recently. With his permission, we want to share it with the whole community:

“Saturday evening my wife, our dear friend Joan and I had a wonderful evening experience that I want to share with you.

First we had a fantastic streamside dinner, ordering salmon, steak salad and a Windsor pork chop. All washed down with a great bottle of red wine from an impressive wine list.

Then we hopped in the car for the five-minute ride to a fantastic concert venue under the stars. We parked across the street (free) from the venue. Walking into the venue, we were greeted with the wonderful smell of freshly-popped popcorn. We settled into our seats. Joan was amazed at the starry venue, having never been there before …  My wife and I had enjoyed it on multiple occasions.

At this intimate setting, we were treated … [to tribute performances of the music of] Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley—jamming to the songs they first recorded at Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. The energy was electric. It appeared everyone there was whistling, clapping and hollering in appreciation of the performers.

Where in the Twin Cities, you might ask, did we have this wonderful evening? I am sure it could be duplicated there somewhere. This particular experience, however, was in our great hometown of Austin — at the Paramount Theatre. [The same theater] where as children, we were as easily transfixed by the many Disney movies we viewed there.

I urge you all to visit the Austin Area Commission for the Arts website to view the calendar of their wonderful events and attend one or more of the events. You will be in for a great evening.

Take care, Patrick J. Bradley

P.S. Stay away from the ArtRocks Open Jam Sessions; for in the words of the great Yogi Berra ‘Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.’  Actually, it is a magical and unique time that you should also experience.”

Mr. Bradley is writing about dining at the Old Mill and attending the “One Night in Memphis” show at the Paramount on Oct. 21.

Frankly, I couldn’t agree more.

As a community leader, I often hear about how Austin has to improve our nightlife to attract new residents, especially professional households. Some people are stuck in a narrative of lack, i.e. “There is nothing to do in Austin.”

No, Austin is not a major metropolis with great depth and breadth of entertainment options. But, yes, there are quality experiences available to residents and visitors every day. Not just the arts programming at the Paramount Theatre and Austin ArtWorks Center. Visit the Hormel Historic Home, attend the Austin Symphony Orchestra, go to an Austin Bruins hockey game, ramble through the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center, enjoy a show at the Riverland Community College Theater, take your kids to a meet an author at the Austin Public Library or at Sweet Reads.

I dare you to go to the community calendar maintained by Discover Austin MInnesota (www.AustinMN.com) and not find something to be excited about.

We do have great options to be entertained in Austin. Right now. Austin Area Arts will continue to bring quality programming to the community and we hope more and more people will engage and enjoy it.