Let the Smack Talk Begin!

The Texas Longhorns don't take the field for real until this Saturday afternoon when they face off against Rice. And it's more than a month until the big game against Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl. But it's never too early for the loving language of rivals to start hurtling back and forth over the state line.

Bleacher Report has a slideshow detailing the top five reasons the Sooners despise the Longhorns. Within the countdown, the writer (Oklahoma Featured Columnist Billy Ray) calls Texas fans cocky, arrogant, obnoxious, and condescending. He says burnt orange isn't a real color. He calls head coach Mack Brown a whiner.

Of course, these are just the preseason ramblings of an OU fan. What do you think are some of the Sooners' less-redeeming qualities?

The 7 + $24 Burger in Central Texas

Mike Sutter/Austin American-Statesman

Just a note - we won't be reviewing the cheeseburger at Jeffrey's unless someone wants to subsidize the cost for us.

Mike Sutter, the Austin American-Statesman's food critic, reviewed the Jeffrey's Burger ($20) with the addition of seared bacon (add $3) and Texas Redneck Cheddar (add $3) with foie gras on top (add $8).

Shoot, just the bacon is the cost of a pretty big burger at some other places!

To see if this over-the-top cheeseburger is worth $34, head over to Sutter's review. Meanwhile, check in with us here at the Austin Citysphere for some great reviews of 7 favorite burgers here in Central Texas.

A Little 'Too Casual' Friday: Spandex May Appear at an Office Near You

Some Austin city workers may be facing more than tight deadlines on Friday.

Council Member Chris Riley proclaimed the second Friday in April "Wear Spandex to Work Day." The day is to raise support for the Hill Country Ride for Aids on April 24th, for which the theme is "Spandex Saves."

It's not clear who will trade a suit for Spandex besides Riley. Let us know if one of your coworkers shows up in the snug fabric - we want to be able to provide you with the ultimate form of blackmail! 

The City's Gone Batty: Austin Considers Bat for Official Animal

It may be the year of the bat in Austin.  Mayor Lee Leffingwell is making a proposal for the bat to fly high in the Capitol City as the official animal of the city.

In celebration, a free evening concert will be held on the Congress Avenue Bridge called "Night of the Bat" on June 6.  Adam West, the original TV Batman, will even attend the inaugural "Night of the Bat" complete with a matinee screening of the 1966 Batman movie at the Paramount Theatre.

Leffingwell, along with Mayor Pro Tem Mike Martinez, City Council member Chris Riley, representatives of the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau, Downtown Austin Alliance, Paramount Theatre, Run-Tex, and Bat Conservation International, will make the bid for the bat Tuesday, March 30 at 10 a.m.  The proposal will be held inside the media room of the Austin City Hall, 301 West 2nd Street.

Black Star Co-Op Gives Away Beer, Asks for Memberships to Support Unique Business Form

Friday, 60 new members signed up to be a member-owner of Austin's Black Star Co-Op, which uses a unique business model to operate. When you sign up, you become an actual part business owner. So far, the Co-Op has more than 1,500 members. Learn more from Steven Yarak with Black Star Co-Op to find out how this brew pub is doing, and how the rail line that runs right next to the co-op (Crestview Station) is making it easier than ever to drink beer!

Noche de Cuentos Set for Thursday Night!

Do you ever feel like grabbing a book and cuddling up to read, especially on a cold or rainy night?

Thursday night, an event all about books will be held at the Mexican American Cultural Center, located at 600 River Street, to celebrate reading and stories.

It's called Noche de Cuentos, or Night of Storytelling, and will feature author Belinda Acosta, Damas, Dramas and Ana Ruíz, Teresa Palomo Acosta, poet and children's book author, Danny Camacho, the son of Lorraine Camacho.  Leti Delavega, a singer-song writer will perform, and telling her own story in Spanish will be Maribel Castro, the first Mexican American president of the Texas Library Association.

Grab the kids and the rest of the family and celebrate story time, books and the adventures printed on paper Thursday night.  Best of all, this event is free and open to the public.