Magik Theatre Unveils 2026–2027 Season & Free Educator Happy Hour

Magik returns to Hemisfair for expanded 2026-2027 season full of smash hits and fantastical fun. Photo: Magik Theatre, used with permission.

San Antonio’s Magik Theatre Unveils Star-Studded 2026–2027 Season & Educator Appreciation Event

As San Antonio students head back to the classroom, Magik Theatre is gearing up for an unforgettable new season of storytelling, education, and community connection. (Magik Theatre, 2026)

Serving roughly 30,000 students every year through its widely popular field trip program, Magik acts as a vital bridge between arts and literacy in South Texas. From timeless bestsellers to pioneering operatic collaborations, the upcoming 2026–2027 lineup brings beloved children’s literature straight to the stage.

“We built this season around characters that are adored by children and treasured by grown-ups. Generations of families, educators and their students, and friends of all ages will bond over these timeless tales — creating the unique community connection that live theatre makes possible.”

— Collin Pittmann, Artistic Director

Back-to-School Educator Happy Hour

Magik is hosting its annual Free Educator Happy Hour to give hard-working local teachers, faculty, and school staff a chance to unwind, connect with peers, and see how the upcoming lineup can complement their curriculum.

  • When: Thursday, September 3, 2026 | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
  • What to Expect: First look at recent theatre renovations, a sneak peek at the new season, free food and drinks, door prizes, classroom resources, and a look behind the curtain.
  • Admission: Free and open to all area educators and school staff (registration required).

2026–2027 Mainstage Lineup

All mainstage productions feature Sensory-Friendly, Pay-What-You-Wish, and American Sign Language (ASL) interpreted performances.

If You Give A Mouse A Cookie

  • Dates: October 3 – 25, 2026 | Ages 3+
  • Adapted by: Jodi Davidson (based on the book by Laura Numeroff)
  • The Story: Boy’s peaceful afternoon gets delightfully derailed when Mouse shows up. A mishap-fueled joyride filled with endless giggles.

Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas The Musical

  • Dates: November 21 – December 24, 2026 | Ages 3+
  • Book & Lyrics: Timothy Mason | Music: Mel Marvin
  • The Story: Narrated by Max the Dog, watch the mean Grinch discover the true meaning of Christmas. Features iconic hits like “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch.”

A Year With Frog and Toad the Musical

  • Dates: January 30 – March 7, 2027 | Ages 4+
  • Book & Lyrics: Willie Reale | Music: Robert Reale
  • The Story: This three-time Tony-nominated Broadway hit follows cheerful Frog and grumpy Toad across four fun-filled seasons with a jazzy, upbeat score.

John Davies’ Pinocchio (Co-Production with OPERA San Antonio)

  • Dates: March 20 – April 4, 2027 | Ages 4+
  • By: John Davies (featuring classical music by Mozart, Donizetti, Offenbach, and Pergolesi)
  • The Story: Two San Antonio performing arts powerhouses join forces for a family-friendly one-act opera exploring honesty and trust.

Charlotte’s Web

  • Dates: April 24 – May 23, 2027 | Ages 5+
  • By: Joseph Robinette (based on the book by E.B. White)
  • The Story: Widely considered one of the greatest children’s books of all time, follow Wilbur the pig and his extraordinary spider friend Charlotte in this heartwarming tale of compassion.

Seussical the Musical (Theatre for Young Audiences Version)

  • Dates: June 19 – August 8, 2027 | Ages 3+
  • Music: Stephen Flaherty | Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens
  • The Story: A high-energy summer celebration bringing together Horton, Gertrude McFuzz, and The Cat in the Hat with a toe-tapping score blending pop, gospel, and R&B.

Ticket Options & Special Programs

Package TypeDetailsPrice
Full Season SubscriptionPriority seating for all 6 shows$120 ($20/ticket)
Flex Pass10 prepaid tickets (use anytime during 2026–2027)$220 (Save 25%+)
Corporate Flex Pass20 prepaid tickets$420
Single TicketsDiscounts for children, seniors, military, educators, and studentsVaries

Note: All ticket prices are subject to nominal facility and processing fees.

Take a Seat! Sponsorship

To celebrate Magik’s multi-million dollar renovation featuring brand-new seating, patrons are invited to sponsor a chair. Each sponsorship includes a custom-engraved plaque honoring your donation—a perfect way to commemorate your family’s love of the arts.

Share the Magik Initiative

This new community program provides local partners and their families with complimentary tickets to ensure every child can experience live theatre regardless of financial barriers. (Businesses interested in sponsoring can contact Kristin Beno, Director of Development).

Visit Magik Theatre

Located in the heart of Hemisfair Park, families can enjoy a show, explore Yanaguana Garden, and dine at nearby restaurants.

  • Address: 420 S Alamo, San Antonio, TX 78205
  • Box Office Hours: Monday – Friday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Phone: (210) 227-2751
  • Tickets: Available online, by phone, or at the box office.

‘The Amityville Horror’ Book Review: Classic True Crime Horror

‘The Amityville Horror’ by Jay Anson. Photo: Barnes & Noble

📚 Book Review: The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson

Synopsis

In December 1975, the Lutz family moved into their new home in suburban Long Island. George and Kathleen Lutz knew that one year earlier, Ronald DeFeo had murdered his family in the house, but the property, complete with a boathouse and swimming pool, and the price were too good to pass up.

Twenty-eight days later, the entire Lutz family fled in terror.

Review

The Amityville Horror remains one of the most chilling entries in paranormal literature, chronicling the 28 days George and Kathleen Lutz spent in their dream home. The narrative blurs the line between documentary reporting and visceral horror and the idea that an ordinary suburban house could conceal something horrifying gives the story much of its power.

Character Dynamics

  • George Lutz: Positioned as the pragmatic patriarch, George’s descent from a stable family man to an uncharacteristic, brooding recluse forms the novel’s emotional core. His gradual personality shift highlights the insidious influence of the house.
  • Kathleen Lutz: Serving as the perceptive counterweight, Kathy’s emotional anguish and instinct to protect her three children anchor the story’s human stakes amid chaotic spectral events.
  • Father Mancuso: The troubled priest introduces a theological dimension, acting as a spiritual guide whose physical illness reinforces the dark forces at play.

Anson’s background in documentary writing shapes the book’s character dynamics. Rather than making them over-the-top heroes, George and Kathleen are portrayed as grounded, everyday parents unraveling under inexplicable stress. Their vulnerability makes the escalation, from strange odors and cold spots to severe levitation and demonic infestation, profoundly unsettling. Whether readers accept the events as supernatural or approach them skeptically, the characters create a strong emotional center for the story.

Core Themes

  • The Violation of Domestic Sanctuary: The narrative weaponizes the American Dream, transforming a dream suburban home into a site of claustrophobic dread.
  • Economic Vulnerability: The financial pressure of buying a bargain home amplifies the family’s stress, blending real-world anxieties with the supernatural.
  • Good vs. Evil: A traditional moral conflict underpins the story, questioning whether human faith can withstand an ancient, malicious presence.

Enduring Appeal

Decades after publication, the book retains its hold on readers by capitalizing on journalistic realism and the simple, terrifying prompt: “Based on a true story.” Anson’s clinical, day-by-day structure creates an immersive documentarian tone that keeps true-crime and horror enthusiasts fascinated by its eerie legacy.

Book vs. 1979 Movie Adaptation

While Jay Anson’s 1977 book and Stuart Rosenberg’s 1979 film adaptation share the same core narrative, the Lutz family fleeing their home after 28 days of supernatural terror, the two versions diverge significantly in their storytelling approach, character execution, and thematic emphasis.

FeatureJay Anson’s Book (1977)1979 Film Adaptation
Narrative ToneClinical, investigative, and documentary-style; presents events as a straightforward log of facts.Dramatic, cinematic, and melodramatic; relies on visceral jump scares and atmosphere.
George Lutz’ ArcPortrayed as a fatigued, cold-sensitive man suffering mood swings and physical decline.Features a full transformation into a threatening, axe-wielding figure resembling Ronald DeFeo Jr.
Religious SubplotFather Mancuso suffers from afar after being instructed by the house to “get out.”Expanded into a theatrical battle between Father Delaney (Rod Steiger) and systemic church bureaucracy.
Supernatural ElementsRelies heavily on lingering dread, foul odors, subtle physical coldness, and eerie sounds.Features overt physical manifestations, such as black ooze from toilets and red-eyed demonic pig projections.

Key Plot Differences

The book operates like an eerie non-fiction diary, emphasizing small, increasing stresses, financial burdens, broken locks, and bad weather that wears down the family piece by piece. The film dramatizes these events, escalating George’s hostility much faster and turning his obsession with chopping firewood into an explicit signal of imminent physical danger toward his family. Additionally, the movie gives Father Delaney (renamed from Mancuso) a much larger on screen presence, including scenes where he loses his sight and sanity while attempting to warn the family.

Thematic Shifts

  • Journalistic Realism vs. Cinematic Spectacle: The novel’s power comes from its plain, “true story” journalistic layout. The film abandons this understated documentarian tone in favor of traditional Hollywood tropes, utilizing Lalo Schifrin’s Oscar-nominated score and visual horror cues to drive the narrative.
  • Domestic Ruin vs. Economic Anxiety: While the book focuses heavily on spiritual violation, it’s mostly seen as an exercise in financial anxiety. The movie leans heavily into the terror of the American Dream turning into a financial trap, highlighting unpaid bills, lost money down the drain, and a house that destroys the family’s equity along with their sanity.

Final Book Verdict

I hadn’t read the book previously and opted for the audiobook instead. To my surprise, it’s not as scary as I thought going in, though it does have its occasional jump scares. The final chapters, where the family prepares to leave while the house refuses to let them go, deliver some intense action. The overall day-by-day tone that breaks down the Lutz’ experience in the house is intriguing, and fans of real-crime stories will definitely find it an interesting read.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

“When he flicked the first holy water and uttered the words that accompany the gesture, Father Mancuso heard a masculine voice say with terrible clarity: ‘Get out!’”

Audiobook cover. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Why Modern Economic Policy Failed: James K. Galbraith’s ‘The Power to Destroy’

‘In The Power to Destroy,’ James K. Galbraith explains how yesterday’s economic tools don’t work today. Photo: University of Chicago Press

📚 Book Spotlight: The Power to Destroy: How Bad Economics Drove America’s Decline

Author: James K. Galbraith

Release Date: September 23, 2026 (Available for pre-order)

The Dissonance of Modern Economics

Acclaimed economist James K. Galbraith sounds an urgent alarm on how conventional economic ideas and policies have failed to adapt to the most daunting challenges of our geopolitical moment. (University of Chicago Press, 2026)

Amid a mounting sense of American decline, everyday citizens live with a strange contradiction: traditional economists keep announcing that everything is fundamentally fine. They point to steady growth, low unemployment, relatively stable prices, and high stock markets, asking: what’s there to worry about?

Synopsis

The Power to Destroy shows that this dissonance reflects a failure of the discipline to evolve. Galbraith’s incisive history of 21st-century economic policy centers on a fundamental flaw: today’s experts are still deploying tools from yesterday’s wars.

Relying on obsolete ideas, outdated measures, and crude indicators like standard output and price indexes—many honed a century ago for a vastly different social landscape—offers little hope in the face of today’s existential threats.

Galbraith argues that these conventional policies are accelerating the decline of the US economy. Key policy shortcomings include:

  • Mismanaged Inflation: Weak responses to the post-pandemic inflation of 2021–2022.
  • Geopolitical Miscalculations: Flawed strategies regarding the sanctions war against Russia and the economic rise of China.
  • Stagnant Revival: Half-hearted and ineffective attempts at domestic industrial policy.
  • Unaddressed Crises: Inadequate preparation for climate change and the impending demographic crisis.

All of these failures root back to a flawed body of economic thought sustained for ideological rather than practical reasons. As Galbraith makes plain, while market systems have their virtues, government policies are what make functioning markets possible in the first place. Sticking with outdated theories brings the power to destroy, making new, realistic ideas an urgent necessity for survival in an emerging multipolar world.

About the Author

James K. Galbraith holds the Lloyd M. Bentsen, Jr. Chair in Government/Business Relations at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin.

His previous books include:

  • Entropy Economics: The Living Basis of Value and Production (with Jing Chen)
  • Inequality: What Everyone Needs to Know
  • Welcome to the Poisoned Chalice: The Destruction of Greece and the Future of Europe
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Indie Horror Spotlight: ‘Hellbilly Hollow’ Brings Practical Gore and Heavy Metal to Theaters

The blood-soaked Southern throwback horror film will be released in select U.S. theaters on September 25, 2026. Photo: Bald Man Films/Convoke Media, used with permission.

THE BACKWOODS GET BLOODY: “HELLBILLY HOLLOW” TRAILER DROPS AHEAD OF SEPTEMBER THEATER RELEASE

One of the South’s most iconic haunted attractions is about to become the setting for an all-new generation’s nightmares.

Bald Man Films and Todd Slater’s Convoke Media have officially unleashed the first trailer for “Hellbilly Hollow,” a blood-soaked Southern throwback horror reminiscent of cult classics Terrifier and Friday the 13th. Filmed on location at the real-life Hellbilly Hollow haunted attraction in Vincent, Alabama, the film slashes into select U.S. theaters via Atlas Distribution Company on Friday, September 25. (Cinematic Red PR, 2026)

Check out the trailer breakdown, storyline, and behind-the-scenes details below.

The Synopsis: Real Scares in the Alabama Backwoods

In Hellbilly Hollow, a team of paranormal YouTubers ventures deep into the Alabama backwoods to film at a haunted attraction the night before Halloween. They soon encounter a sinister presence far more frightening, and deadlier, than specters and staged scares:

  • Tickles: A disfigured, childlike clown.
  • Bull: His manipulative caretaker brother.

One by one, the investigators and local thrill-seekers fall victim to the siblings’ sadistic games inside the attraction’s real-life haunted barn, hayride, and scare zones.

From Commercial Shoot to Southern Slasher

The idea for the film took root on-site at the attraction, where director Kevin Wayne was initially filming a commercial. After envisioning a sinister figure hunting victims through the haunt’s eerie backwoods setting, the concept evolved into a full-length feature.

“I’ve wanted to make a horror film for a long time – but not just any horror film. With ‘Hellbilly Hollow,’ I saw a chance to tell a true Southern horror story – one that’s sinister and twisted, atmospheric and character-driven, not just reliant on jump scares and gore.” — Kevin Wayne (Director / “Tickles”)

“We came up with a slate of outrageous, never-before-seen kills. From day one, we knew this would be the start of something bigger – a series of films built around a place, two complex, deranged siblings, and the culture they inhabit.” — Kurt Deimer (Producer / “Bull”)

Practical FX, Heavy Metal, and Carnage

Designed to deliver authentic throwback thrills, Hellbilly Hollow turns carnival mechanics into lethal traps. Engineered by executive producer and production designer Mike Denard, the set features customized, practical set pieces including:

  • Wack-a-Troll
  • High Striker
  • Acid Darts
  • Car Dunk Sequence

The Sound of Horror:

Supercharging the scares, the film features an original score composed by Roy Mayorga (Ministry), sound design by Tom Boykin (John Wick: Chapter 4, The Last of Us), and eight original songs performed by rock artist and co-star Kurt Deimer.

Cast and Crew Highlights

  • Cast: Kurt Deimer, Kevin Wayne, Danny Vinson, Sandra Ellis Lafferty, Megan Alexandrea Weaver, Hallie Shepherd, Trey Miller, and Keller Fornes.
  • Director: Kevin Wayne
  • Writer: Bernadette Chapman
  • Producers: Kurt Deimer, Todd Slater
  • Director of Photography: David Brower
  • Executive Producers: Michael T. Clarke, Mike Denard, Andy Gould, David Miller, Tim Miller, James Srygley, Kevin Wayne, and Brandon Evans.

ABOUT BALD MAN FILMS

Founded by Cincinnati-born rocker, actor, and producer Kurt Deimer, Bald Man Films specializes in producing genre content. The company is the culmination of Deimer’s unconventional journey from the school of hard knocks to entrepreneur, rock musician, actor, and film producer.

ABOUT CONVOKE MEDIA

Convoke Media is a strategic investment and content company operating at the intersection of film, television, digital media, and institutional capital. Recent films include, The Optimist, Flyover, Scare BnB, Paul & Greg & Amelia, & Don’t Log Off. Founded by veteran media executive Todd Slater, the company focuses on the development, financing, and scaling of premium content with global commercial potential.

Hellbilly Hollow still. Photo: Bald Man Films/Convoke Media

Leaving Washington: Why Jen Thompson Walked Away from Political Power in ‘Wild Pivot’

‘Wild Pivot’ by Jen Thompson is an impactful memoir about choosing truth over approval. Photo: Barnes & Noble.

Book Review: Wild Pivot: Notes from a Political Life Rewritten by Jen Thompson

Release Date: September 22, 2026 | Status: Available for Pre-Order

As a successful and prominent young Republican strategist, Jen Thompson possessed the power and prestige she had always strived for, yet it was built on an underlying current of personal disconnect. Her inner voice warned that she was living someone else’s definition of a meaningful life. It took a near-fatal car accident on a high-profile Senate campaign trail to shatter her trajectory, forcing her to question the identity she had built and the loyalty that kept her tied to it.

Told through short, engaging vignettes, this memoir traces Thompson’s journey from political ambition to profound personal transformation.

The Plot: From Capitol Hill to Down Under

The narrative opens on February 14, 2023. Jen is attending an outdoor screening of Breakfast at Tiffany’s at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Sydney, Australia, reflecting on a tumultuous year. She has been sued and slandered on the front pages of newspapers, cheated on, lied to, and nearly killed in a car crash.

After running a successful political campaign to elect Congressman Jim Talent to the U.S. Senate representing Missouri, she put as much distance as possible between herself and Washington by escaping to Australia. There, she finally felt free. Turning down numerous high-level job offers, her Republican peers thought she was crazy. What she couldn’t tell them was that her core political views had fundamentally shifted. The people she once worked alongside were now dominating the headlines, and new acquaintances in Australia were stunned to learn about her past.

From there, Thompson shares her life story:

  • Childhood Foundations: Growing up in a Christian Scientist family and facing her father’s demand at age 11 to lay out a twenty-year career plan.
  • The DC Pressure Cooker: Recounting the brutal stress of her years as a political strategist and how those struggles opened her eyes to a world she had never envisioned.
  • A New Path: Committing to living a life of truth and personal freedom, regardless of the cost.

Table of Contents

Part I: Wired

  • Chapter 1: Time Bomb: Five. Four. Three. Two. One. Boom
  • Chapter 2: Becoming Wired
  • Chapter 3: The Monster Unleashed
  • Chapter 4: Truths
  • Chapter 5: Gravity
  • Chapter 6: Becoming Unwired
  • Chapter 7: After the Caribbean
  • Chapter 8: Chasing the Boar Part I
  • Chapter 9: Chasing the Boar Part II
  • Chapter 10: Healing
  • Chapter 11: Last Two Months of the Campaign
  • Chapter 12: The Election

Part II: Rewired

  • Chapter 13: Alternative Endings
  • Chapter 14: White Privilege
  • Chapter 15: Consequences
  • Chapter 16: Love

Book Review

Jen Thompson delivers a candid look at the high-stakes world of American politics and the terrifying cost of living an inauthentic life. In walking away from her career, Thompson illustrates that genuine evolution—aside from being uncomfortable—can often be isolating. Yet, her journey toward healing proves that dismantling an old life is a necessary step toward true freedom. Especially memorable is her willingness to examine her past without protecting her ego.

Chapter Highlights

  • Chapter 2: Thompson recounts the happiest day of her life: her first day working for Congressman Jim Talent on Capitol Hill. She describes growing increasingly driven, working over 80 hours a week through holidays. Yet, when left alone, she became consumed by a fear of failure:

“My fears grew into a raging monster that roared with an unstoppable push to succeed.”

  • Chapter 6: The turning point arrives with a horrific car accident on her way to Springfield. Though the vehicle was left unrecognizable, she survived—and in the quiet shock of the aftermath, clarity struck:

“That very moment is suspended in time as the one when my life began to change.”

Core Themes & Final Verdict

The vignettes move with unflinching honesty and sharp wit through a non-linear format. Central to the narrative is an exploration of blind loyalty and the seductive, destructive desire to belong. Her story also examines the themes of identity, transform tion, and liberation and the uncomfortable process of confronting the beliefs that once defined us. Thompson examines how institutional validation can quiet our intuition, compelling us to trade internal truth for external applause.

Overall, Wild Pivot is a compelling memoir about what happens when success no longer feels like success. It’s a story about choosing truth over approval and discovering that sometimes the most courageous pivot is the one that leads back to yourself. It stands as a powerful testament to the courage required to rewrite your story—no matter the price. Readers who enjoy insightful, deeply human memoirs will find this one hard to put down.

“In the stillness, it occurs to me that meaning can only come by way of wholeness, and wholeness, it must be said, does not come easily.”

Rating: 4 out of 5.

About the Author

Jen Thompson is a former high-powered Republican strategist and congressional lawyer who famously walked away from Washington at the peak of her career. She managed the nationally watched 2002 campaign that tipped the divided U.S. Senate back to Republican control, overcoming a massive deficit by orchestrating high-profile events with the President of the United States. Alongside her political work, she served as a lawyer-lobbyist at top international law firms and spent eight years as a chief political commentator for NBC and ABC news affiliates in Richmond, Virginia.

** Thank you to Fauzia Burke and FSB Associates for the gifted ARC for review consideration. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

Celebrate at Tenfold Rooftop: Anniversary Party & Social Sundays in San Antonio

Tenfold Rooftop to bring Amalfi Coast to San Antonio for two-year anniversary party. Photo: Garrett Smith, used with permission.

Celebrate late summer in style: Amalfi Coast party and Social Sundays at Tenfold Rooftop

Looking for the ultimate downtown vibe to close out your summer? Tenfold Rooftop, located at the Kimpton Santo San Antonio – Riverwalk, is celebrating two years of elevated rooftop experiences. (Kimpton Santo San Antonio – Riverwalk, 2026)

From an Italian coastal anniversary bash to weekly poolside happy hours, here is everything happening high above the Alamo City this month.

Two-Year Anniversary Party: Amalfi Coast Takeover

Step onto the tenth floor and into an Italian coastal escape. Tenfold Rooftop is marking its second anniversary with a free, high-energy party inspired by the shores of Amalfi.

  • When: Saturday, August 29 | 7:00 PM – 1:00 AM
  • Admission: Free (Reserve tickets on Eventbrite)
  • Dress Code: Beachy linen attire encouraged

Event Highlights

  • Live Music & Dancing: A live DJ spinning Italian house beats all night long with a spacious dance floor.
  • Tastings & Custom Drinks: LALO Tequila tastings featuring anniversary cocktails like the “Ten Times Better” (LALO Tequila, coconut, pineapple, and lime), plus custom cocktail printing.
  • Photo Ops & Vibes: A photo booth, a Tenfold-branded Go-Bo, and sweeping views of downtown San Antonio.

☀️ Social Sundays: The Ultimate Poolside Happy Hour

Make the most of the last days of summer every weekend. Social Sundays bring relaxing pool vibes, live local tunes, and discounted bites to the 10th floor.

  • When: Every Sunday in August | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
  • Pool Day Passes: $25 (Available via ResortPass)
  • Entertainment: Live music from local favorite DJ Rilan Quinones

Featured Happy Hour Specials

  • $10 Select Cocktails: Refreshed with items like frozen margaritas.
  • $6 Beers: Crisp, cold options to beat the heat.
  • Zero-Proof Hydration: Vitality Shots and seasonal agua frescas.
  • Shareable Light Bites: Crowd favorites like sliders, chips, and guacamole.

📍 Event Location & Details

Tenfold Rooftop at Kimpton Santo San Antonio – Riverwalk
431 S. Alamo St.
San Antonio, Texas 78205

About Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ luxury and lifestyle portfolio, pioneered the boutique hotel concept in 1981. With over 75 hotels and 100+ restaurants, bars, and lounges globally, Kimpton creates meaningful, unscripted, and personal guest experiences anchored in inspiring design and forward-thinking culinary flavors.

Photo: Tenfold Rooftop

The Future of Music Ownership: Inside Paul ‘PK’ Kemsley’s New AI Music Company

Artist Included launches artist-first AI music company focused on creator ownership and ethical re-recordings. Photo: Artist Included, used with permission.

A New Era for Iconic Music: Artist Included Launches Ethical AI Platform with Re-Recorded Culture Club Classic

A new artist-first music and technology company, Artist Included, has officially launched with a mission to help iconic artists reclaim creative participation, ownership, and long-term value in their music. Co-founded by entrepreneur Paul “PK” Kemsley and entertainment attorney and film producer Jeremy Rosen, the company uses ethical, artist-approved voice AI to create a new model for legendary acts to reimagine classic recordings and own new master tracks for today’s market. (Miller PR, 2026)

Celebrating a Legend: A New Take on “Karma Chameleon”

To mark its debut, and coincide with Boy George’s 65th birthday, Artist Included partnered with BMG to release a fresh recording of Culture Club’s iconic hit, “Karma Chameleon.”

“Revisiting ‘Karma Chameleon’ in this way was emotional and creatively inspiring. The goal was never to replace the original — it was to celebrate it and let the song keep evolving for new audiences.”

— Boy George

Clarification on the tech: This is not a synthetic AI track. Boy George recorded brand-new vocals in the studio. Ethical technology was used solely to support and enhance the final master, ensuring the technology serves the creator rather than replacing them.

Unlocking Value Across the Board

The “Karma Chameleon” release is the first of many planned projects spanning catalog artists from the 1960s through the 2000s. Artist Included helps creators unlock revenue streams that historically bypassed them, including:

  • Digital & Physical Formats: Streaming platforms, exclusive vinyl releases, foreign-language versions, remixes, tokenization, and Dolby Atmos.
  • Media & Sync Licensing: Film, TV, advertising, gaming, and trailerized formats.
  • Direct Engagement: Brand partnerships, sponsorships, and direct-to-fan campaigns.

Industry Leaders Weigh In

The company’s ethos centers on flipping traditional music economics back in favor of the original creators.

  • Paul “PK” Kemsley, Co-Founder & CEO:

“For decades, artists created the soundtrack to our lives while much of the long-term value moved away from the original creators. Artist Included was built to help reverse that dynamic. This is not about replacing artists or exploiting old catalogs — it is about helping artists create new ones. Used responsibly, AI can become one of the most powerful creative tools the music industry has ever seen.”

  • Jeremy Rosen, Co-Founder:

“The future of AI in music must put artists at the center — creatively, ethically, and economically. Artist Included is building a model where artists control and participate directly in the future value created from their music, voice, brand, and legacy. All ego aside, we are shifting the narrative from piracy to partnership; a timely AI reframe.”

Heavyweights Backing the Movement

Artist Included has built a powerful network of entertainment veterans, technology partners, and prominent investors to support its scale:

CategoryPartner / Key Executive
Board LeadershipRobert Earl (Founder of Planet Hollywood) as Chairman of the Board.
Technology PartnerSyntiant (Developed the artist-approved vocal AI platform powering the recordings).
Strategic InvestorsMike Walsh (Uber/Salesforce seed investor), Doug Raetz (Co-President, Cresset Sports & Entertainment), and Red Light Management.
Executive LeadershipKurt Busch (Syntiant CEO), Antony Antoniou (Capital Strategy), Rob Guthrie (Music Publishing Exec), and Patryk Strojny (Former McKinsey Exec).

Looking Ahead

At a moment when AI is reshaping the global landscape, Artist Included offers a transparent, consent-first alternative built on full rights clearance and shared economics. Additional artist partnerships, new releases, and strategic announcements will be unveiled in the coming months.

Photo: Artist Included

Pullman Market August Highlights: Pizza Collabs, Ceviche Tastings & Mariachi Nights

There’s plenty of activities going on at Pullman Market this month. Photo: Robert Lerma, used with permission.

What’s Baking at Pullman Market This August: Scratch Pastries, Special Collabs, and More

While most grocery store bakeries rely on frozen dough and centralized production, Pullman Market at Pearl has built something entirely different: a true scratch bakery where every loaf, pastry, cake, and frozen treat is made in-house using local heritage grains, Texas dairy, and an approach that prioritizes craftsmanship over convenience. (Pullman Market, 2026)

Throughout the month of August, Pullman Market is highlighting its bakery program with special offers and samplings—but the story goes well beyond fresh bread.

Why Pullman’s Bakery Stands Apart

  • A True Scratch Bakery: Nearly everything begins from scratch each day. Every bread dough is mixed, fermented, and baked in-house using local heritage grains and flours. Cakes, frostings, fillings, and pastries are all made onsite, with bakers working throughout the day so guests always catch fresh products coming straight out of the oven.
  • Heritage Grains with Texas Flavors: The bakery celebrates historic grains that helped shape Texas food traditions. Breads feature local heritage flours, flour tortillas are made with White Sonora (one of the first grains used for flour tortillas in the Southwest), and fresh pasta is crafted with heritage grain Durum or Barton Springs Mill Flour.
  • Thoughtful Sustainability: Sustainability is baked into every step. Bread is sold fresh on day one, sliced and bagged on day two, and transformed into croutons, kvass, or bread pudding on day three for a near zero-waste program. Excess seasonal fruit gets a second life as house-made sorbets and freeze-dried toppings, while the ice cream itself is crafted in-house using local Texas dairy.

August Bakery Special: Sample bakery favorites all month long, including sourdough, cookies, and seasonal specialties. Plus, members who purchase any loaf of Pullman bread and pre-packaged pasta will receive a complimentary two-pack of cookies.

August Events Calendar

EventDate & TimeDetails & Pricing
Fife & Farro x Southerleigh Pizza CollabAug 1–31A special wood-fired pizza collab with Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery. 5% of proceeds benefit the San Antonio Food Bank. Reservations on OpenTable.
Mariscos y MezquiteSunday, Aug 23Unlimited chef-driven ceviche tastings from Mezquite, Miles, Leche de Tigre, (a)mar, and Ladino, plus a live whole tuna breakdown by Bluefiná. $55/person (includes welcome cocktail). Tickets on OpenTable.
Southerleigh Collab DinnerThursday, Aug 27A one-night-only dinner featuring exclusive specialty dishes from Fife & Farro and Southerleigh. 5% of proceeds benefit the San Antonio Food Bank. Reservations on OpenTable.

Ongoing Weekly Programming

  • Pizza-Making Class at Fife & Farro | Mondays & Tuesdays, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM – Learn to make traditional Italian pizza from scratch. Great for date night or a family outing. Tickets: $30 Adults | $20 Kids (OpenTable)
  • Ceviche-Making Experience | Tuesdays at 5:00 PM – Master the art of interactive ceviche preparation with Pullman’s culinary team. Tickets: $25 per person | Optional wine pairing +$10 (OpenTable)
  • Guac & Mezcal Nights at Mezquite | Sundays & Wednesdays, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM – A guided guacamole-making class paired with a curated artisanal Mezcal tasting. Tickets: $35 per person (OpenTable)
  • Mariachi Nights at the Mezcaleria | Every Thursday – Kick off the evening with Happy Hour from 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM, tequila tastings starting at 6:00 PM, and live mariachi music at 7:00 PM.

Visit Pullman Market

📍 221 Newell Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78215

Book Review: ‘Mexican Gothic’ by Silvia Moreno-Garcia – 1950s Gothic Horror

‘Mexican Gothic’ by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Book Review: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Synopsis

Set in 1950s Mexico, the novel follows Noemí Taboada, a glamorous socialite whose life mostly consists of high-society parties and leisure. That changes overnight when her father summons her to his office after receiving a frantic, disturbing letter from Noemí’s newly-wed cousin, Catalina. Begging for someone to save her from a “mysterious doom,” Catalina writes about hearing voices in the walls and seems consumed by paranoia. (Barnes & Noble, 2026)

Striking a deal with her father, investigate Catalina’s situation in exchange for his blessing to attend college for anthropology, Noemí strikes out for High Place, a isolated mansion tucked away in the Mexican countryside.

Noemí is an unlikely rescuer. Her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are better suited for cocktail lounges than amateur sleuthing. However, beneath her polished exterior lies a sharp mind and an indomitable will. She isn’t easily intimidated:

  • Not of Virgil: Catalina’s new husband, a handsome Englishman who is as menacing as he is alluring.
  • Not of Howard: The family’s ancient patriarch, who harbors a bizarre, unsettling fascination with Noemí.
  • Not of High Place itself: Even as the decaying mansion invades her dreams with visions of blood and doom.

Her sole ally in this inhospitable home is Francis, the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, Francis wants to help Noemí, but he may also be guarding dark secrets about his family’s past. Behind High Place’s walls lie stories of violence, madness, and a faded silver mining empire built on exploitation. What begins as a family rescue mission quickly devolves into a desperate fight to escape a terrifying, addictive nightmare.

Review

Mexican Gothic brilliantly reinvents classic Gothic horror by fusing familiar tropes, such as dilapidated mansions, tyrannical patriarchs, and psychological dread, with a rich, atmospheric 1950s Mexican backdrop. As Noemí steps into High Place, she enters a living nightmare built on physical isolation and lingering colonial rot.

High Place itself functions as its own character. Its decaying walls and disturbing dreamscapes create an oppressive, suffocating sense of dread. Moreno-Garcia seamlessly weaves traditional horror elements with Mexican history and sharp social commentary.

The narrative unfolds at a steady, deliberate pace, escalating the tension with every chapter and every deeply unsettling secret Noemí unearths. The author balances this high tension with beautifully poetic prose:

“Everything in High Place was gnarled and begrimed, but he’d been able to grow bright and mindful, like an odd plant that is carried onto the wrong flower bed.”

Character Dynamics

  • Noemí Taboada: Far from a helpless damsel in distress, Noemí’s party-girl facade conceals a fierce intellect and resilience. Her absolute refusal to break or submit to High Place makes her an incredible protagonist.
  • Francis Doyle: Soft-spoken and gentle, Francis offers a stark contrast to his sinister family. His inner conflict between familial loyalty and moral action makes him Noemí’s only true ally.
  • Howard Doyle: The ancient patriarch embodies predatory control, obsessively driven by ideas of genetic purity and bodily exploitation.

Core Themes

  • Colonialism & Exploitation: The Doyle family’s faded mining empire reveals how foreign powers drain local resources and labor, framing historical exploitation as a literal, invasive threat to the body.
  • Autonomy vs. Control: Patriarchal domination and eugenics clash directly with Noemí’s fiercely guarded independence.

A Note on the Audiobook:

While the story itself was deeply entertaining, I found the audiobook narration disappointing. The delivery felt robotic and AI-like, complete with awkward pauses and mispronunciations of Spanish names. I only kept listening because I was so hooked on finding out how the plot ended.

Final Verdict

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a haunting, visually atmospheric tale where the greatest horrors stem not just from supernatural forces, but from human greed and tyranny. It proves that gothic horror can be both frightening and deeply thought-provoking. Readers who enjoy atmospheric mysteries, strong female leads, and dark family secrets should immediately add this to their reading list.

“She had experience dealing with irritating men. They did not fluster her. She had learned, by navigating cocktail parties and meals at restaurants, that showing any kind of reaction to their crude remarks emboldened them.”

Rating: 4 out of 5.

About the Author

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a Mexican-Canadian novelist, short story writer, editor, and publisher. She is the author of The Bewitching, Mexican Gothic, Gods of Jade and Shadow, and many other acclaimed books. Her work has earned her the Locus, British Fantasy, and World Fantasy awards. She holds an MA in Science and Technology Studies from the University of British Columbia.

The Neuroscience of Leadership: How Emotional Intelligence Transforms Adversity

‘Alchemy of Adversity’ is the new leadership book by Sarah Staley. Photo: Amazon

Book Spotlight: Alchemy of Adversity: How Emotional Intelligence Transforms Trauma into Leadership Strength

By Sarah Staley

At some point, every leader will face adversity. It may arrive as personal loss, professional disruption, organizational crisis, burnout, or collective uncertainty. However it appears, adversity reshapes identity, alters decision-making, and tests the stability of those responsible for guiding others. (Amazon, 2026)

The question is not whether hardship will intersect with your leadership—it is whether you will be prepared for what it exposes.

Synopsis

In Alchemy of Adversity, Sarah Staley explores how trauma and high stress affect the brain, fragment internal stability, and quietly influence how leaders show up under pressure. Drawing from neuroscience, emotional intelligence research, and lived leadership experience, she reveals why resilience is often misunderstood.

True strength is not about pushing through. It is about integration, the disciplined process of turning toward disruption, regulating under stress, and rebuilding from clarity rather than reactivity.

This book offers practical frameworks to help leaders:

  • Recognize hidden fragmentation before it impacts performance
  • Strengthen emotional regulation under extreme pressure
  • Rebuild trust across teams following a crisis
  • Guide organizations through adversity without burning out in the process

In a world marked by volatility, burnout, and collective strain, leadership can no longer rely on endurance alone. It requires self-awareness, steadiness, and the capacity to transform hardship into strategic strength.

If you lead people, this is not optional work. It is foundational.

Adversity is inevitable. Whether it weakens your leadership or refines it is not.

About the Author

Sarah Staley is a human resources and organizational development leader, executive coach, and leadership development practitioner whose work sits at the intersection of individual behavior and organizational systems. Her perspective on leadership is shaped by years of working closely with leaders at all levels, supporting personal growth while navigating the realities of performance, culture, and change inside complex organizations.

Sarah’s experience spans both the human and structural sides of leadership. She has partnered with leaders and teams through organizational change, cultural shifts, leadership development initiatives, and moments of uncertainty where trust, clarity, and emotional steadiness matter most. Her work reflects a deep understanding of how leadership decisions ripple through people, teams, and systems over time.

Through her work in HR, organizational development, and executive coaching, Sarah continues to support leaders who want to lead the whole person while building cultures where accountability, performance, and wellbeing coexist.