Month: March 2018

Theater review: ‘On Your Feet’ at the Majestic Theatre

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‘On Your Feet’ is playing at the Majestic Theatre through Sunday.

Looking for something to do this weekend? Now playing at the Majestic Theatre is the national tour of the hit musical ‘On Your Feet’ and there are still four chances to catch this show stopping production. Upcoming show times are 2p.m. and 8p.m. on Saturday and 2p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are available at the box office and through Ticketmaster and prices start at $35. ‘On Your Feet’ is based on the life story of seven-time Grammy winning international superstar Gloria Estefan and her husband, 19 Grammy winning producer-musician-entrepreneur Emilio Estefan. It stars Christie Prades as Gloria and Mauricio Martínez as Emilio.

Like all good rags-to-riches stories, ‘On Your Feet’ begins with a young Gloria and her family in Miami where they moved from Cuba after the revolution. Her family, especially her father, try to nurture and encourage her talent until eventually she meets a young Emilio who encourages her to audition for his band, the Miami Latin Boys. Despite achieving stardom in the Latin market, the band struggles to expand their audience and must rely on word of mouth to get their music the exposure needed for a successful crossover. The first act ends with “Conga,” their breakthrough song, as the cast leads a conga line through the audience. The second act gets serious as it chronicles the struggles that Gloria had to overcome after the near-fatal tour bus accident that nearly derailed her musical career. In the end, she manages to get back on the spotlight where she always belonged. It is all wrapped up with a party-like atmosphere filled with music, dancing and confetti.

Fans of Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine will enjoy the production since it is filled with hits including “1-2-3,” “Anything for You,” “Conga” and “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You.” Aside from that, it is a reminder of the American dream and that anything is possible with hard work and dedication. It is refreshing to see a mostly Hispanic cast depict the immigrant struggle onstage and the live orchestra brings the Cuban-inspired music to a broader audience. Show highlights include when the band must perform everything from bar mitzvahs to clubs to get their music heard and when Emilio stands up to his record producer when he tries to dissuade them from recording in English and tells him “this is what an American looks like.” It slows down towards the end, but overall, the lead actors have onstage chemistry and the cast works well together. It is a must-see show that appeals to audiences of all ages.

Movie adaptation: ‘Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda’ by Becky Albertalli

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The movie adaptation of ‘Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda’ by Becky Albertalli is now in theaters.

Becky Albertalli is the author of young adult novels including ‘The Upside of Unrequited,’ ‘Leah on the Offbeat,’ ‘Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda’ and co-author of ‘What If It’s Us.’ ‘Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda’ tells the story of Simon Spier, a closeted gay teenager who is trying to balance school, his friends and family while dealing with the blackmailer who is threatening to out him to the entire school and trying to discover the identity of the anonymous classmate he has fallen in love with. The movie adaptation, Love, Simon, starring Nick Robinson, Josh Duhamel and Jennifer Garner is now in theaters.

According to Amazon, ‘Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda’ is the award-winning novel about Simon, a sixteen-year-old high school student who is still in the closet and prefers to save his drama for the school musical. Everything is going fine until an email falls into the wrong hands and his secret is at risk of being revealed. He is being blackmailed and if he does not play wingman for the class clown, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. The privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he has been emailing with, is also in jeopardy. Now Simon must find a way out of his comfort zone, before he is pushed out, without alienating his friends, compromising himself or ruining his chances with the best guy he has ever met.

Whataburger 2018 Fiesta Medal

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The Whataburger 2018 Fiesta medal is available for purchase online. Photo: Whataburger, used with permission.

Fiesta is right around the corner in San Antonio and the medals have already started to show up around town. Yesterday at the second annual Fiesta Pop Up Store, Whataburger fans got a chance to buy an official Whataburger 2018 Fiesta medal before they went on sale to the public. Coinciding with San Antonio’s Tricentennial and all the history that comes with it, Whataburger’s Fiesta medal pays homage to the classics. The medal features a Whataburger No. 2 with crispy fries, decorated with glitter, and an ice-cold drink, all in bold, festive colors. They are $9.99 each and are available online but there are only a limited number available and they have been known to sell out. (Whataburger, 2018)

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.” 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.

Movie adaptation: ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ by Madeleine L’Engle

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The movie adaptation of Madeleine L’Engle’s ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ is now in theaters.

Madeleine L’Engle was an American writer best known for her young adult novels including ‘A Wrinkle in Time,’ ‘A Wind in the Door,’ ‘A Swiftly Tilting Planet,’ ‘Many Waters’ and ‘An Acceptable Time.’ She received the 1963 Newbery Medal for ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ and together with the two sequels, these books are known as The Time Trilogy. It tells the story of a young girl who, after her father disappears after discovering a new planet, sets off on a quest to find him with the help of three astral travelers. The Disney movie adaptation was released this week and stars Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling and Chris Pine.

According to Wikipedia, in ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ the protagonist is thirteen-year-old Meg Murry, who is considered by her classmates as a troublesome and stubborn student. After a visit by their eccentric neighbor, Mrs. Whatsit, she and her younger brother Charles, along with Meg’s classmate Calvin, go visit the local old haunted house where they encounter two companions of Mrs. Whatsit, the equally strange Mrs. Who and the unseen voice of Mrs. Which. She promises Meg that they can help her find and rescue her missing father. They turn out to be supernatural beings who transport Meg, Charles and Calvin through the universe through a folding of the fabric of time and space.

New release: ‘The Escape Artist’ by Brad Meltzer

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‘The Escape Artist’ is the new thriller by bestselling author Brad Meltzer.

Brad Meltzer is The New York Times’ bestselling author of thrillers including ‘The Inner Circle’ and ‘The Book of Fate.’ He is also the host of Brad Meltzer’s Decoded on the History Channel and Brad Meltzer’s Lost History on H2. ‘The Escape Artist’ is his latest novel and it tells the story of Nola Brown, a woman whose body is found on a plane that mysteriously fell from the sky as it left a secret military base in the Alaskan wilderness.

According to Amazon, in ‘The Escape Artist,’ Jim “Zig” Zigarowski works at Dover Air Force Base helping to put to rest the bodies of those who die on top-secret missions. He has just discovered the truth about Nola Brown. Even though her commanding officer verifies that she is dead, and the US government confirms it, Jim knows she is still alive and on the run. She was a childhood friend of Zig’s daughter and once saved her life, so he is determined to find her no matter what. As he digs into Nola’s past, he discovers that trouble follows her everywhere she goes. On her last mission she saw something she was not supposed to see. Together, she and Zig try to uncover the US Army’s most mysterious secret, a conspiracy that goes back to Harry Houdini, the greatest escape artist of all time.

St Patrick’s Day at Rosella at the Rand

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Rosella at the Rand will be hosting a St. Patrick’s Day event where guests can celebrate the day with special drinks like the Leatherneck. Photo: Rosella at the Rand, used with permission.

This year St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Saturday and for anyone looking for a place to celebrate, Rosella at the Rand  will be hosting a St. Paddy’s ‘Kegs and Eggs’ party on March 17 from 9a.m. to 12a.m. Sponsored by Jameson Whiskey, this themed party will feature late breakfast, Irish Whisky specials and more. (Rosella at the Rand, 2018)

The swanky downtown restaurant will be serving up breakfast foods until 4p.m. including ‘egg’cellent favorites such as the Open-Faced Buttermilk Biscuit with house-made pork sausage and over-easy eggs. Their all-day St. Paddy’s drink specials will taje center stage at the fully equipped bar. Throughout the day, classic Irish libations will round out the party, including kegs of Guinness draft beer, specials on whiskey flight shots of Jameson Irish Whiskey and Rosella’s take on Irish Coffee, made with Jameson Irish Whiskey, Demerara sugar, freshly brewed Rosella coffee and freshly whipped cream.

Jameson Whiskey, the Irish Distillers subsidiary of Pernod Ricard, will join Rosella to offer whiskey flight tasting boards, giveaway swag and more. Rosella’s Bar Manager, Jesse Torres, has created a fun off-menu green cocktail called Leatherneck containing Jameson, Blue Curaçao and lime juice and will be exclusively available during the St. Patrick’s Day party.

Any Rosella guest attending will receive complimentary three-hour parking validation at the Rand Parking Garage. Bustin’ Loose Saturday DJ Night will take over the evening for entertainment from 9p.m. to 12a.m.

Rosella at the Rand is a one-off concept situated at the Historic Rand Building in downtown San Antonio. Features that set this location apart include later hours and dinner service with menu options from hot sandwiches to small plates. Equipped with a full bar, the café offers a selection of house-crafted cocktails, a wine and beer program and a special boozy brunch menu. Hours of operation are 7a.m. to 10p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7a.m. to 12a.m. Friday, 7a.m. to 12 a.m. Saturday and 9a.m. to 3p.m. Sunday.

Rosella Coffee
114 E Houston St, at Soledad in the Rand Building
San Antonio, TX 78205

Pearl announces fitness classes at Pearl Park

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Fitness in Pearl Park kicks off this Tuesday March 6.  Photo:  Pearl, used with permission.

This month Pearl is launching the Fitness in Pearl Park series to give patrons free access to rotating studio classes where they can also enjoy Bottling Department specials. These classes will take place every Tuesday beginning at 5:30p.m. with the series kicking off Tuesday March 6 and continuing through June. Each month, a different San Antonio studio will take over Pearl Park to give guests a chance to get their sweat on and enjoy specials from The Good Kind once they have completed their exercise routine. All classes are free and open to the public but those interested can sign up online. Energy X Fitness will host four classes at Pearl Park throughout the month of March. (Pearl, 2018)

March classes include:
March 6: EnergyX Circuits: High intensity and high-energy circuit style workout that features rowers, kettle bells, resistance bands, balls and more.
March 13: LIT HIIT: Low impact training (LIT), that is high intensity interval training (HIIT) using rowers, BOSUs and weights.
March 20: EnergyX Flex: Strength based workout using kettlebells and body weight.
March 27: EnergyX Circuits: High intensity and high energy circuit style.

In addition to fitness classes, Pearl will offer specials at The Bar at Bottling Department on Tuesday evenings. Specials will vary each week.

Pearl Park
312 Pearl Pkwy
San Antonio, TX 78215

The Shops at La Cantera is now pet friendly

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The Shops at La Cantera is now dog-friendly.  Photo: The Shops at La Cantera, used with permission.

Attention pet owners: The Shops at La Cantera is making it easier for the entire family to enjoy their shopping experience because effective immediately, they are going dog friendly. The open-air shopping environment of The Shops at La Cantera, with its lush landscaping and tranquil water elements, provides a natural environment for shoppers and now they also welcome well-behaved pets. (The Shops at La Cantera, 2018)

“We have always welcomed service dogs and have hosted pet friendly events in the past. Plus, we offer a world-class shopping experience in an enviable outdoor setting that includes retail, offices, apartments and restaurants, so a pet friendly policy is just a logical evolution for this property,” – Brian Schroeder, senior general manager for The Shops at La Cantera.

Pets are welcome in all mall common areas, except the children’s play area and water fountains.  Pet friendly merchants, businesses and dining establishments will be identified on site through “Take One” brochures available at the mall management office and mall directories. The Shops at La Cantera pet policy is available online.

General Pet Rules:
Pets must be on a leash and have up-to-date vaccination tags on the collar.  For small dogs, using a carrier also is a smart way to go. Dogs at The Shops must always be under the control of their owner.

Owners must clean up after their canine friends. The Shops at La Cantera will provide six waste bag dispenser sites throughout the property.

The Shops at La Cantera
15900 La Cantera Pkwy
San Antonio, TX 78256
(210) 582-6255

Theater review: ‘Bless Me, Ultima’ at The Classic Theatre

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‘Bless Me, Ultima’ is now playing at The Classic Theatre until March 11.  Photo: Siggi Ragnar, used with permission.

Now playing at The Classic Theatre is Rudolfo Anaya’s ‘Bless Me, Última’ and there are still a few chances to catch this iconic production. Show times are Friday and Saturday at 8p.m. and Sunday at 3p.m. and it runs until Sunday March 11, 2018. Tickets range from $17 to $32 and are available online or by calling the box office at (210) 589-8450. Rudolfo Anaya is an American author who is considered one of the founders of contemporary Chicano literature. His novel ‘Bless Me, Última.’ is the coming of age story of Antonio Márez y Luna and his mentorship under his curandera and protector, Última. It is directed by José Rubén De León and stars Carlos Alvarado as the Narrator, Andrew Treviño as Tony and Marisa Varela as Última.

‘Bless Me, Última’ is set in post-World War II New Mexico in the small town of Guadalupe. It starts off as the narrator, a grown Tony, recounts a childhood memory surrounding Narciso, the town drunk. Narciso is a war veteran and word around town is that he suffers from PTSD, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. As a child, he witnesses as Tenorio, the local bar owner, and his friends, chase Narciso and eventually corner him by the river and kill him in cold blood. This experience not only scars him but sets off a series of events that will lead him to question everything he thought he knew about family, religion and the world around him.

When the family welcomes Última, a folk healer, into their home, she and Tony develop a friendship. She sees something in Tony that compels her to share her trade with him as she guides him through the tough times when he is torn between family loyalty and following his heart. Even though the family loves and respects her, some of the townsfolk demonize her and call her a witch. When the owl that protects her is shot and killed, Última dies, but not before a heart-broken Tony asks for her blessing.

Like the novel, the play is in English and Spanish and contains a few Spanish curse words. Because of De León’s superb directing, Spanish fluency is not necessary to enjoy a play whose universal themes of family, faith, mysticism, mortality and nature transcends language. It is refreshing to see an all Latin cast and crew bring ‘Bless Me, Última’ to the San Antonio stage where its diverse audience can appreciate its multiculturalism and indigenous traditions. Andrew Treviño and Marisa Varela work well together as Tony and Última and Carlos Alvarado delivers authenticity and vulnerability as narrator/present day Tony. The intimate setting of The Classic Theatre gives audiences a front-row seat to Tony’s journey and makes this a must-see show.

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

Mi Golondrina pop-up at Pearl this month

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Mi Golondrina debuts its pop-up at Pearl this Friday and will be onsite for the month of March. Photo: Mi Golondrina, used with permission.

This week Pearl launches the next pop-up with Mi Golondrina, a collection of handcrafted clothing and accessories. It all starts this Friday March 2 with a kickoff event from 5p.m. to 7p.m. and throughout the month, guests can visit Mi Golondrina’s pop-up to shop their latest line of high end artisan apparel and accessories. Regular shop hours will be Tuesday through Saturday from 10a.m. to 5p.m. (Pearl, 2018)

Founded in June 2013 by Cristina Lynch, Mi Golondrina is a style collection that works with skilled artisans to pair centuries-old embroidery techniques with modern styles. Each one-of-a-kind piece in the Mi Golondrina collection is hand-crafted in Mexico and the finishing details are added by their talented team in Dallas to create an assortment of high end artisan apparel and accessories. Their collection is typically sold in their Dallas showroom, online and at pop-up events. Mi Golondrina will be making their San Antonio debut this Friday at Pearl.

Pearl Parkway
302 Pearl Parkway, Suite 110
San Antonio, TX 78215