Book review: ‘All the Time in the World’ by Caroline Angell

Caroline Angell is a New York native with a B.A. in musical theater from American University. She is a playwright and director and has had her work performed at regional theaters in New York City and the Washington, D.C. area. “All the Time in the World: A Novel” is her debut novel and it was released earlier this year. It is about a young woman’s choice between the future she always envisioned for herself and the people who have become an important part of her life.

“All the Time in the World” is the story of Charlotte who is a promising music student but after experiencing some setbacks in her career takes a job as a nanny. She goes to work for Gretchen and Scotty, a glamorous Upper East Side Manhattan, while she figures out her next move as a composer in New York. As time goes by she comes to enjoy taking care of Matt and George, the couple’s young sons, and her life comes to revolve around them. All is well until Gretchen dies in an accident and she is faced with having to continue being the children’s caretaker to make sure their lives do not get further upended. The first part revolves around the children and their lives that include school, home and friends. The second part is more about human connections and how they each deal with loss.

Overall the action is fast paced and easy to read but sometimes the timeline gets confusing because the author switches between the past and the present. The universal themes of grief, love and hope are combined with humor to make it appeal to the average reader. There are extensive character interactions and developments which advance the story at an acceptable pace. It is recommended for readers who enjoy coming of age novels that contain the day to day detailed interactions with small children.

*A copy of this book was given for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are solely the author’s.

Live from Jazz, TX

jazzsign — Texas Public Radio will be hosting ‘Live from Jazz, TX’ this Saturday December 31 from 7p.m. to 8p.m. Photo by Hilmy, used with permission.

Texas Public Radio in partnership with Jazz, TX will be hosting ‘Live from Jazz, TX’ this Saturday December 31 from 7p.m to 8p.m. on Texas Public Radio 89.1 in San Antonio. This special programming will include music from the Grand Opening week at Jazz, TX and Doc Watkins and his orchestra along with Texas Public Radio’s Nathan Cole. It will be a swinging hour of jazz standards and country classics with a Texas twist some of which were first made famous by Willie Nelson and Bob Wills. There is no cover charge and listeners will get to enjoy the music that makes Jazz, TX one of the city’s best places for live music. (Jazz, TX, 2016)

Jazz, TX is owned and operated by renowned musician Brent “Doc” Watkins. It is located in the cellar of the Bottling House and hosts musical acts include jazz, blues, big band, Texas swing, salsa, conjunto and Americana including Doc Watkins. It is open from Tuesday through Saturday and aside from music guest can enjoy a wide variety of food, beverages, wine and spirits.

Jazz, TX
312 Pearl Pkwy, Suite 6001
San Antonio, TX 78215
(210) 332-9386

New Year’s Eve show at Jazz, TX

jazztxdancing — Jazz, Tx at the Pearl is having a New Year’s Eve show this Saturday. Photo courtesy of Jazz, TX, used with permission.

The Pearl’s newest upscale music venue, Jazz, TX, is having a New Year’s Eve show featuring venue owner and musician Doc Watkins and his orchestra. Ticket price includes dancing, featured show by Doc Watkins and his Orchestra and a full dinner that includes prime rib, crab cakes, shrimp, parmesan risotto and braised kale. Beverages are not included but will be available for purchase. This is a black tie event with the early show starting at 6p.m. and the late show at 10p.m. Early show bar seating is $150 per person and $200 per person for reserved table seating. Late show bar seating is $150 per person (sold out) and $200 per person for reserved table seating. Tickets may be purchased online. (Jazz, TX, 2016)

Jazz, TX
312 Pearl Pkwy, Suite 6001
San Antonio, TX 78215
(210) 332-9386

Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve Menus at Nao Latin Gastro Bar

Nao Latin Gastro Bar is a student-staffed restaurant at the Culinary Institute of America located at the Pearl. The menu features Latin American dishes rooted in tradition but reinvented using a variety of ingredients and techniques and includes seasonal and progressive Latin food. For guests who would rather eat out for the upcoming holidays Nao Latin Gastro Bar is having special Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve menus available. (Nao Latin Gastro Bar, 2016)

Nao Latin Gastro Bar will be open on Christmas Eve for brunch and dinner and will have the normal brunch menu available from 10a.m. to 3p.m. For dinner there will be a special four-course menu available for $40 per person. Dinner hours are from 5:30p.m. to 10p.m. and reservations can be made by phone at (210) 554-6484 or via Open Table. Guests will have a choice of arugula salad with goat cheese, fennel and apple or roasted squash soup with coconut milk, malagueta peppers and cashews followed by a choice of charred octopus served with Chilean pebble and celeriac, pork belly skewers with chicharrón, ají rojo, and cilantro or burrata and charbroiled beets with basil and orange. For the main course, there is a choice of hanger steak served with crispy fingerling potatoes, charred vegetables and chimichurri, Red Bird Farms roasted chicken served with white beans, lemon and peppers or the fresh Gulf catch served with charred vegetables, tomatoes stewed with capers, olives, onion and golden raisins. Dessert consists of a choice between Churros tossed in cinnamon sugar served with chocolate and dulce de leche sauces and fresh whipped cream or almond Panna Cotta with passion fruit curd, charred pineapple and lime zest.

For New Year’s Eve there will be a four-course dinner menu available from 5:30p.m. to 10p.m. which includes a glass of bubbly to ring in the New Year. Cost is $70 per person with an optional three-course wine pairing for $25 per person. Reservations can be made by phone at (210) 554-6484 or via Open Table. The menu begins with a choice of charred carrot salad with goat cheese, arugula, pepitas and chimichurri or roasted squash soup with coconut milk, malagueta peppers and cashews. It is followed by a choice of seared scallop with crispy fried oyster, ají amarillo, creamed leeks and spinach and sweety drop peppers, crispy pork belly with ají panca, green apple and pickled vegetables or burrata and charbroiled beets with basil and orange. The main course consists of a choice between veal chop with sunchoke, pebre and snap pea salad, duck confit served with tamarind, sweet potato and brussel sprouts or fresh Gulf catch with charred vegetables, tomatoes stewed with capers, olives, onion and golden raisins. Dessert consists of a choice between churros tossed in cinnamon sugar and served with spiced chocolate, stewed plantains and fresh whipped cream or almond Panna Cotta with passion fruit curd, charred pineapple and lime zest.

Nao Latin Gastro Bar
312 Pearl Parkway
San Antonio, TX 78215
(210) 554-6484

SweetFire Kitchen holiday menus

sweetfiremenus16 — SweetFire Kitchen at La Cantera Resort & Spa has special Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve menus available. Photo by Sweetfire Kitchen, used with permission.

Many venues around town are offering special Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve menus for guests who would prefer dining out. One of those is La Cantera Resort & Spa whose dining accommodations include SweetFire Kitchen. It is located on La Cantera Parkway and offers guests an authentic Texas experience. Guests can enjoy fine dining at SweetFire Kitchen either on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve. (SweetFire Kitchen, 2016)

On Christmas Eve there will be a ‘Twas the Night before Christmas menu from 5p.m. to 10p.m. Reservations can be made through open table or by contacting the concierge at (210) 558-6500. Reservations for eight or more can be made by contacting SweetFire Kitchen at (210) 558-2479. Appetizers include tossed winter greens, roasted butternut squash salad, roasted mushroom soup, baked Gulf oysters, Gulf crab cakes, house made pimento, ricotta, pepper jelly and garlic butter flatbread and wild mushroom flatbread. Main courses include crispy skin arctic char, Filet Mignon, Cider brined pork chop, whole wheat gnocchi, slow roasted prime rib and pan seared sea bass. There is a children’s buffet option for $25 and a dessert option for $15 per person.

The SweetFire Christmas Day Feast will be offered from 11a.m. to 8p.m. and is $65 for adults, $26 for children ages 5-12 and free for children under 4 years old. Reservations can be made by calling (210) 558-2479. The menu consist of a raw bar that includes items like California and spicy tuna rolls, a cheese and charcuterie station that has a selection of local and house made cheeses, a salad table with winter greens, quinoa and kale and wild rice, a carving station with turkey and prime rib, a sides station with broccoli gratin, roasted sweet potatoes, an action station that features made to order risotto and a bakeshop station.

The New Year’s Eve menu consists of action stations for $85 per person. It includes a raw bar with poached Gulf shrimp, Gulf oysters on the half shell and tuna ceviche, an antipasto bar with roasted tomato hummus, basil tomato tapenade and grilled asparagus, a chef’s carving station with smoked beef tenderloin and peppered duck, a winter salad station with warm Montrachet salad and beet and blue salad and a chocolate bar with warm chocolate mellow cake, chocolate tarts and salted caramel tarts.

La Cantera Resort & Spa
16641 La Cantera Pkwy
San Antonio, TX 78256
(210) 558-6500

Christmas Specials in San Antonio

holidaymacarons16 — Holiday themed pastries at Bakery Lorraine include seasonal macarons. Photo by Christina Coker, used with permission.

Christmas is almost here and for anyone looking for ideas to celebrate the season there are holiday events and specials going on around town. Hotel Emma is having breakfast, lunch and dinner on Christmas Day, Bakery Lorraine is having special order opportunities for specialty large pies and seasonal macarons, Jazz, TX is having a special holiday show on Christmas Eve, Southerleigh has winter beer flavors, Paramour will have two holiday themed events and Hotel Contessa is offering a holiday brunch. Details on each is available online.

Supper at Hotel Emma will have breakfast, lunch and dinner available on Christmas Day. The menu will include a roasted lamb special with roasted garlic, spinach and parmesan potatoes, blistered carrots and salsa verde for $35 per person. Breakfast will be served from 7a.m. to 10a.m., lunch from 11a.m. to 2p.m. and dinner from 5p.m. to 8p.m. There will also be a special holiday cocktail (Joy to the Pearl) at Sternewirth for $12.

Bakery Lorraine is offering customers a chance to place and pick up orders of specialty large pies and seasonal macarons. Customers may place orders from now until Friday December 23 to pick up on Saturday December 24. Large pie flavors (9” for $26) include house roasted pumpkin pie, pecan pie, dutch apple pie and apple cranberry pie. Macaron holiday flavor packs (6pk for $12 or 12pk for $20) includes eggnog, hot cocoa, hot cinnamon, peppermint, caramel apple, gingerbread and raspberry.

Jazz, TX will have a special holiday show on Christmas Eve from 5p.m. to 12a.m. with happy hour and no cover from 5p.m. to 8p.m. The main act will perform from 8:30p.m. to 12a.m. and will include a $20 cover.

Southerleigh will feature new and returning winter beer flavors just in time for the holiday season. These flavors include Belgian Quad, Cranberry Collaboration Dorcol, Don’t Squeeze Me and Downtown Miss Brown. The restaurant will be open and taking reservations until 9p.m. with holiday themed specials available off the menu.

Paramour will be having two holiday themed events: “Winter is Here,” a holiday cocktail celebration on Wednesday December 21 and “Drinkmas,” an ugly sweater Christmas party on Friday December 23.

Hotel Contessa will be having a holiday brunch on Sunday December 25 from 11a.m. to 2:30p.m. and reservations are required. Cost is $55 per person, $20 for children ages 6 to 13 with children under 5 free.

Theater review: ‘The Santaland Diaries’ at The Classic Theatre of San Antonio

santalanddiariespic — John Stillwagon as Crumpet the Elf in ‘The Santaland Diaries.’ Photo courtesy of The Classic Theatre of San Antonio, used with permission.

The holiday season is in full swing and with it comes the holiday cheer and the usual Christmas shows. Thankfully, for anyone looking for something different ‘The Santaland Diaries’ is now playing at The Classic Theatre of San Antonio. This one man show is based on NPR comic genius David Sedaris’ experiences working as an elf in Macy’s Santaland display. Crumpet the Elf, his alter ego, is expertly brought to life onstage by John Stillwagon and the show is directed by Kelly and Bart Rousch.

It all begins as Sedaris’ character ponders how he got to the point of considering applying for a job as a Macy’s elf. He comes into town looking to become an actor but now he is running out of money and is ‘$20 away from walking dogs.’ So he applies for and is called in for an interview and what follows is nothing short of hysterical. He disappears offstage for a couple of minutes and comes back in full elf costume and continues his story. His colorful descriptions of the selection process and eventual training give way to his impressions of everyone from co-workers to clueless tourists who do not speak the language but got railroaded into the Santa line. Some of the funnier moments include when he is so frustrated with the job that he muses that ‘Santa’ must be an anagram for ‘Satan’ and his portrayal of over controlling parents. As an added bonus, those who stick around after the show can take a selfie with Crumpet.

‘The Santaland Diaries’ is a must see comical and sometimes irreverent behind the scenes look at life at Santa’s village during the holiday rush. John Stillwagon’s performance is lively and energetic and manages to get the audience to sympathize with his plight. Hopefully there will be more unconventional shows like these in the future. It is on a limited run and final performances are at 8p.m. this Friday and Saturday and 3p.m. and 7p.m. on Sunday. Tickets may be purchased online or by phone at (210) 589-8450. Disclaimer: for adults only. It contains adult language and material.

‘Breakfast with Santa’ at Rainforest Cafe

‘Rainforest Cafe: A Wild Place to Shop and Eat’ in downtown San Antonio is getting into the holiday spirit by hosting ‘Breakfast with Santa’ events this month. Dates for these events are Saturday December 10, Saturday December 17, Sunday December 18 and Friday December 23 from 8a.m. to 10a.m. Children and families are invited to spend a morning with Cha! Cha! and Santa during a special event that features traditional breakfast favorites. It will also include fun, family friendly activities, raffles, prizes, sweet treats, a photo with Santa and a special discount at the retail store. Guests may purchase tickets online to ensure a place at the table with Santa (Rain Forest Cafe, 2016)

Rainforest Cafe – River Walk
110 East Crockett
San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 277-6300

‘Holiday Cooking with the Culinary Concierge’ at Hotel Emma

20151112_083632 — Hotel Emma is holding a ‘Holiday Cooking with the Culinary Concierge’ event this month. Photo by Sandra Cruz

Hotel Emma at the Pearl is getting into the holiday spirit by hosting ‘Holiday Cooking with the Culinary Concierge.’ Hotel guests and community members are invited to submit a favorite holiday dish for a chance to cook their dish alongside Hugh Daschbach, the Culinary Concierge at Hotel Emma. This event will be held on Wednesday December 21 from 5:30p.m. to 7p.m. inside the hotel’s Exhibition Kitchen. The winner will cook and share the winning recipe with the night’s guests. Anyone interested in participating can submit their recipes through the Facebook event page and the recipes with the most likes will be finalists for the big win. The winner will be announced on Friday December 16, 2016. (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

Theater review: ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’

‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ opened last weekend at the Woodlawn Theatre and runs until December 23. It is based on the “coat of many colors” biblical story of Joseph and is completely sung through with limited spoken dialogue. Joseph was his father’s favorite and that made his 11 brothers jealous and they vowed to get rid of him. Instead of killing him they sell him as a slave to traveling merchants who take him to Egypt. Eventually he rises to power and ends up helping and forgiving his brothers despite what they did to him.

The story begins with the introduction of the brothers and their obvious dislike for Joseph for being their father’s favorite, especially after his father gives him a coat of many colors during “Joseph’s Coat.” This disdain grows as Joseph tells them of his dreams which suggest that in the future they will bow down to him. Travis Eades does an outstanding job of bringing the character of Joseph to life and his vocals are strong, especially during his poignant solo on “Close Every Door.” The brothers work well together as a group and play off each other’s strengths during group performances like “One More Angel in Heaven,” “Those Canaan Days” and “Benjamin Calypso.” The scene stealer of Act II is Trey Hoadley, who plays Pharaoh and gives an “Elvis-like” performance on “Song of the King.” He even goes down to the audience and gives one of his scarves away while the audience cheers him on. “Joseph Megamix” wraps up the night as the cast, now dressed in colorful tie-dye outfits, performs a medley of the night’s songs as they dance with the audience and file past them to the lobby.

Overall “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor” is filled with humor, catchy musical numbers and universal themes of family and forgiveness. The cast is big and sometimes the stage looks crowded but the family friendly story line makes it a must see for the season. Show times are Friday and Saturday at 7:30p.m. and Sunday at 3p.m. Additional show dates are on Wednesday December 21 and Thursday December 22 at 7:30p.m. Tickets are available online or by calling the box office at (210) 267-8388.

SA Examiner

A books, music, movie, and business news blog

Month: December 2016