Whataburger is known for hosting events to help out the community and its various schools. These events range from “Oh Whata Nights” to jalapeno eating contests, drawings and raffles. On Wednesday November 2 from 5p.m. to 8p.m. Whataburger is having another “Oh Whata Night” fundraiser and this one is to benefit the Southside High School football team. The public is invited to come and show their support by enjoying their favorite menu items and Whataburger will donate 20 percent of the sales during the posted hours to the organization. “Oh Whata Night” will also include the popular Whataburger for a Year drawing where one customer’s name will be drawn to win the ultimate prize-a free Whataburger every week for a year. The first 100 customers will also receive a free Whataburger gift. (Whataburger, 2016)

Whataburger has been making burgers since 1950 when Harman Dobson opened a humble hamburger stand in Corpus Christi, Texas. He wanted customers to take one bite and say “What a burger” so he named his stand on Ayers St “Whataburger.” Since then Whataburger now has over 700 locations across the country and continues to deliver fresh, made to order meals everyday with superior customer service. Community support includes charitable giving and volunteerism to nonprofit organizations that focus on children’s charities, cancer research, hunger assistance, disaster relief and military support.

Whataburger #919
4125 S Loop 1604 E (near Interstate 37)
San Antonio, TX 78264
(210) 626-1176

Kool Smiles is a leading dental health care provider dedicated to creating a world of happy and healthy smiles in a fun and compassionate environment. Their patients include both children and adults and besides dental care they also provide oral health education programs through various community schools and organizations. This week Kool Smiles is sponsoring the fifth annual ‘Operation Troop Treats,’ a program designed to benefit children’s dental health and soldier morale.

‘Operation Troop Treats’ was created to encourage children and their families to visit one of two local Kool Smiles dental offices between Friday October 28 and Saturday November 5 during office hours to exchange their Halloween candy for toys. Each child that comes in will receive one toy for every 25 pieces of unopened candy in its original packaging. There is a limit of three toys per child and they will be distributed on a first come first served basis. Anyone interested can participate regardless of whether or not they are Kool Smiles patients. Operation Gratitude will then send the donated candy as part of care packages to U.S Troops serving overseas. Kool Smiles is also donating the funds to cover the assembly and shipment of 200 care packages. These care packages will include candy as well as dental kits from Kool Smiles. (Kool Smiles, 2016)

The mission of Operation Gratitude is to lift morale and meet the needs of service members. Since it was founded in 2003 volunteers have shipped more than 1.6 million packages to American military members. These care packages include snacks, entertainment, hygiene and hand-made items and personal letters of appreciation to individually named U.S. service members who are deployed overseas and their families waiting at home.

Leon Valley Kool Smiles
5601 Bandera Rd
San Antonio, TX 78238
210-521-1733

McCreless Kool Smiles
3850 S New Braunfels Ave
San Antonio, TX 78223
210-485-1859

The Classic Theatre of San Antonio is getting ready for its second production of their 9th season this week. This Friday November 4 is opening night of ‘School for Scandal’ by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. This comedy dates back to the 1700s and is still being performed due to its relevance to any time period. In this updated version it goes deep into a social network of outrageous gossip and lustful deceit. Sir Oliver, a long lost uncle, returns home in disguise with the intent of finding out what is really going on with his nephews. What he discovers is his dear friend Peter Teazle in marital anguish and being persecuted by a team of fools and scandal-mongers. It stars John O’Neill and Christi Eanes and runs from Friday November 4 through Sunday November 20, 2016. Show times are Friday and Saturday at 8p.m. and Sunday at 3p.m.

Ticket prices for ‘School for Scandal’ are $25 for general admission, $20 for senior, military, educator or SATCO and $10 for students. They may be purchased online or by calling the box office at (210) 589-8450. There will be a complimentary champagne reception on opening night Friday November 4. Following the Sunday November 20 show at 3p.m. there will be a ‘Community Conversations with Classic’ discussion about the play and how it connects with modern day scandals. (The Classic Theatre, 2016)

The Classic Theatre of San Antonio
1924 Fredericksburg Rd
San Antonio, TX 78201
(210) 589-8450

This year marks the first ever Mala Luna Music Festival which will be held downtown at the Lone Star Brewery this Saturday October 29 and Sunday October 30, 2016. ScoreMore Shows, a Texas-based music promoter, is bringing this unique festival experience to the San Antonio area and larger South Texas region to pay homage to the local culture. It is taking place during the community’s annual Dia de Los Muertos celebration and will include specially selected musical acts along with multiple live art installations and local food vendors and merchants. There are still single day, two day and VIP tickets available online starting at $89. Onsite parking will be at the Platinum Parking Lot for $35 and there will also be offsite parking, rideshare and shuttles available. More information about the festival, including full line up and parking details is available online. (Mala Luna Music Festival, 2016)

Musical acts will feature top national hip hop and EDM talent as well as up and coming acts. Some of these include Travis Scott, Steve Aoki, Kevin Gates, Kehlani and more. Several DJs will be onsite including Robbie Rob & DJ Ultrasonic from 98.5 The Beat, DJ D1 and DJ Hella Yella. There will be a Silent Disco Stage which will have muted musical entertainment from San Antonio DJs and other acts from across the state. Local merchants and shops will include Nite Owl Tattoo, Glass House Gallery, Snake Hawk Press and more. Guests will be able to purchase food from local food vendors like Frank, Drunchy’s, Hawk Burger Bar and Little Jamaica Foods.

Local artist Cruz Ortiz has created a limited edition poster for the festival and it will be available for purchase onsite but they are in short supply. To give back to the community, the Mala Luna Festival is donating a portion of the ticket sales to Network for Young Artists (NYA). The NYA is a nonprofit organization that provides affordable classes in voice, guitar, percussion and dance to San Antonio area youth ages 4 to 20. Two NYA students, Chloe Delgado and Chase Sauer will be performing at the festival.

Lone Star Brewery
600 Lone Star Blvd
San Antonio, TX 78204
(210) 853-2408

Last night was opening night of the Roundabout Theatre Company’s Tony Award® winning production of ‘Cabaret’ at the Majestic Theatre. This unforgettable musical is set in Berlin in 1930 at the infamous Kit Kat Klub and follows the blooming relationship between Sally Bowles (Andrea Goss), a singer at the club, and American writer Clifford Bradshaw (Benjamin Eakeley). The secondary relationship between landlady Fraulein Schneider (Mary Gordon Murray) and Herr Schultz (Scott Robertson) is also important to the story that depicts the rise of Nazism and its effect on daily life and relationships.

Act One begins with “Willkommen” as the flamboyant and audience favorite Emcee (Randy Harrison) welcomes the audience to the Kit Kat Klub and invites them to leave their troubles behind and enjoy themselves. Sally is introduced during her flirtatious performance of “Don’t Tell Mama.” Soon after the mood starts to change as the rising political turmoil is foreshadowed by Clifford’s reading of ‘Mein Kampf’ and the revelation at the engagement party that Clifford’s friend Ernst is a member of the Nazi party. Show highlights include the cabaret girls’ “Kick Line” and “If You Could See Her” by Emcee and the Gorilla. It all comes to the shocking conclusion as the Emcee takes off his overcoat to reveal a concentration camp prisoner’s uniform marked with a yellow Star of David and a pink triangle.

‘Cabaret’ starts off with decadent celebrations and slowly descends into political upheaval. The story is a social commentary of the times and eerily relevant to the current political situation. All the performances are solid with top nods going to Randy Harrison for his portrayal of the Emcee. Some of the dancing sequences are risqué and there is smoking onstage but overall it is a show not to be missed. It runs until Sunday October 30 with performances at 7:30p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 8p.m. on Friday, 2p.m. and 8p.m. on Saturday and 2p.m. and 7:30p.m. on Sunday. Ticket prices start at $30 and can be purchased at the Majestic Theatre box office, online, through Ticketmaster online or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

Majestic Theatre
224 E Houston St
San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 226-5700

The movie adaptation of Lee Child’s “Never Go Back” was released last week.  Tom Cruise is back as the lead character Jack Reacher.  In a journey that began with “61 Hours” and ends with “Never Go Back” Jack Reacher is making his way from South Dakota to the headquarters of his old unit near Washington, D.C.  He is supposed to meet his new commanding officer Major Susan Turner in person but when he gets there she’s not there.  Still reeling from the news he receives he finds himself fighting to clear his name and find Turner.  All he has to do is stay one step ahead of the army, the FBI, the D.C. Metro Police and the four thugs after him.

“Night School” is the new Jack Reacher novel by British author Lee Child and is set to be released on Monday November 7, 2016.  This is the twenty-first Reacher novel and a prequel which goes back to 1996 when Reacher was still in the Army and 35 years old.  After he receives a commendation for a mission in the Balkans he is sent back to school.  It is a vital and secret mission that involves a sleeper cell in Hamburg, Germany that has learned of an American traitor who has something to sell to Islamic terrorists for $100 million.  Reacher’s team is given the order to find this American with the help of two former military police colleagues: Frances Neagley and Manuel Orozco.

Lee Child is a native of England whose his early career was in the entertainment business.  He wrote the first Jack Reacher novel, “Killing Floor,” in 1997 and it was an immediate success.  It won the Anthony and the Barry awards for Best First Mystery and launched what Newsweek calls “one of the best thriller characters at work today.” This series follows the adventures of former American military policeman Jack Reacher who is now a drifter.

Condé Nast Traveler is the top reference destination for travelers. It has received six National Magazine Award wins and 26 nominations in its 28-year history. The results of their 29th annual Reader’s Choice Awards are out and Hotel Emma at the Pearl is among the winners. Hotel Emma has been recognized as the number one property on the list of top hotels in Texas and number three nationally. The awards honor the world’s best hotels, resorts, cities, islands, air lines and cruise lines. They are the longest running and most prestigious recognition of excellence in the travel industry. This year over 300,000 readers cast their votes for 7,394 hotels, 606 cities, 500 cruise ships and 236 islands to come up with the best travel experiences in the world. (Hotel Emma, 2016)

Hotel Emma is located in the former Pearl Brewery which was built in 1894 and is named in honor of Emma Koehler, the wife of Pearl Brewery founder Otto Koehler. She kept the brewery going during prohibition after her husband passed away and saw it through its most successful years. The hotel was designed by award-winning firm Roman and Williams who are known for mixing historic and modern elements. They had the historic Pearl building as a starting point and created a beautiful structure that blends the old with the new, the industrial with the refined.

Hotel Emma
136 East Grayson
San Antonio, TX 78715
(210) 448-8300

After a highly successful multi-city tour and run on Broadway, the world’s best selling touring magic show is coming to the Majestic Theatre in January. ‘The Illusionists – Live From Broadway’ will be playing for eight performances only from Tuesday January 10 to Sunday January 15, 2017. Tickets go on sale at 10a.m. on Friday October 21 and can be purchased at the Majestic Theatre box office, online, through Ticketmaster online or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Prices begin at $30 and orders for groups of ten or more can be made by calling (210) 226-5967. Single ticket orders must be done in person at the box office. Box office hours are 10a.m. to 5p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday hours vary. Performances are at 7:30p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 8p.m. on Friday, 2p.m. and 8p.m. on Saturday and 2p.m. and 7:30p.m. on Sunday. (North Park Lexus Broadway in San Antonio, 2016)

‘The Illusionists – Live From Broadway’ is an electrifying show filled with hilarious magic tricks, death-defying stunts and breathtaking wonder. It has shattered box office records worldwide and entertained audiences of all ages with the talent of seven of the world’s best illusionists. Each is a master in their own field and includes:

The Manipulator, Yu Ho-Jin – He was named 2014’s ‘Magician of the Year’ by Academy of Magical Arts and is considered a rising star in the world of magic.
The Anti-Conjuror, Dan Sperry– He combines the art of magic with the macabre and is described as a cross between Marilyn Manson and David Copperfield.
The Trickster, Jeff Hobson – He is the epitome of glamour and showmanship who has audiences laughing long after the show ends.
The Escapologist, Andrew Basso – Fast becoming one of the top illusionists, he is the only person who has performed Houdini’s famous Water Torture Cell with no covers.
The Inventor, Kevin James – An inventor, comedian and collector of the strange and unusual, he is known for his innovative illusions.
The Weapon Master, Ben Blaque – After appearing four times on America’s Got Talent he has established himself as America’s foremost master of the crossbow.
The Deductionist, Colin Cloud – He is one of the greatest thought readers of all time and a psychic savant known as a real-life Sherlock Holmes.

Majestic Theatre
224 E Houston St
San Antonio, Tx 78205
(210) 226-5700

There is excellent news for anyone who enjoys the beer down at Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery. Their bottled beer is now available at Central Market in San Antonio. The available flavors are Texas Uncommon Ale: Brewed with Mint, 39 IBUs, alcohol by volume is 5.65 percent and Southerleigh Gold Export Lager: Balanced and smooth, Traditional German Lager, 17 IBUs, alcohol by volume is 5.50. Customers can still purchase Southerleigh growlers filled with their favorite beer at the restaurant but this is the first time that the bottled beer has hit the market. Future plans include expanding into HEBs as well.

Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery is the first brewery at Pearl since 2001 and has a 15-barrel brew house, six serving tank and a firkin/wood barrel-aging program. It is a 7,900-square foot dining facility with multiple seating options including bar seating, patio seating and a private dining room that can seat up to twenty people. The private dining in the north dining room seats up to seventy five people with the capacity to host parties of up to two hundred people.

Central Market
4821 Broadway St
San Antonio, TX 78209
(210) 368-8600

Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery
136 East Grayson, Ste 120
San Antonio, TX 78215
(210) 455-5701

Next week The Culinary Institute of America San Antonio is hosting their signature Latin Summit ‘Arriba El Sur,’ a four day festival that celebrates the gastronomy and wines of Argentina and Chile. Set for Wednesday October 26 through Saturday October 29 this second annual event is expanding from three to four days. It will feature a student day on Wednesday, professional days on Thursday and Friday, a special dinner with visiting chefs and sommeliers from Argentina and Chile at Nao Latin Gastro Bar on Friday evening and a day for the public on Saturday with special Food Enthusiast programming. There will also be cooking demonstrations at the Outdoor Kitchen during the Pearl Farmers Market. (The Culinary Institute of America San Antonio, 2016)

Wednesday’s activities will be aimed at students and will consist of demonstrations of the cuisine from Argentina and Chile and presentations on the gastronomy and culture of both countries. The CIA will host 150 students from various schools from San Antonio in the morning and students from the CIA San Antonio in the afternoon. On Thursday and Friday the professional portion of the event will involve chefs, wine experts, entrepreneurs and industry leaders. There will be demonstrations and tastings with such themes as The Wines of Argentina, Modern Approach to the Regional Cuisines of Argentina and Chile in Focus. Tickets for the two day conference, including all the classes are $185 per person. The Friday evening dinner at Nao will include a six course, family style dinner featuring guest chefs from Argentina and Chile. It is open to the public with a cost of $125 per person. Finally, on Saturday there will be an opportunity for the public to get hands on experience in the kitchen with the Food Enthusiast classes. The hands on cooking and baking classes are three hours long and $95 each. The tasting classes are an hour long and $25 each. For more information or to purchase tickets visit The Culinary Institute of America San Antonio online.

The Culinary Institute of America San Antonio
312 Pearl Parkway
San Antonio, TX 78215
(210) 554-6400