Twin Liquors’ Dollar Sale starts Thursday February 28. Photo: Twin Liquors, used with permission.
Twin Liquors, Central Texas’ fine wine and spirits retailer, is pleased to announce its Winter 2019 Dollar Sale, offering incredible deals on wine and spirits. The Dollar Sale will take place at all 85 plus Twin Liquors locations from Thursday February 28 to Saturday March 2. To locate the store nearest you, visit Twin Liquors online. (Twin Liquors, 2019)
Twin Liquors’ Dollar Sale will feature incredible savings on wine and spirits 750 ml and larger. Some exclusions apply. Prices will drop down to the absolute lowest plus a dollar. Shoppers can look forward to rock bottom prices on collectible wines, rare whiskies and popular spirits. Shoppers can look forward to deals such as Jameson Casksmates IPA for only $26.17, instead of the normal price of $33.99 or Herradura Silver Tequila at only $41.99 instead of $32.85.
In celebration of the sale, Deep Eddy Vodka will be on-site at four Marketplace locations, including Austin’s Hancock and South Lamar Marketplaces and the San Antonio and College Station Marketplaces starting at 10a.m. on Thursday, February 28. They will be providing complimentary bloody Marys and breakfast tacos.
This year’s Culinaria 5K Wine & Beer Run will be on Saturday March 16. Photo: Culinaria, used with permission.
Coming up next month is the Culinaria 5K Wine & Beer Run, a 3.1-mile trek through The Shops at La Cantera with the scenic hill country as a backdrop, which makes for a one-of-a-kind experience unlike any other run in Texas. All 5K Wine & Beer Run participants will be able to enjoy a post-run celebration that promotes healthy lifestyle including delicious eats, irresistible drinks, wine and beer tastings, activities, shopping and more. (Culinaria, 2019)
Scheduled for Saturday, March 16, the pre-race festivities will begin at 7a.m. with the race starting at 8a.m. The cost ranges from $40 to $55. This event is open to all types of runners, including teams with a minimum of 10 participants. For more information or to register visit Culinaria online.
Friends, family members and visitors can enjoy the race day reception by purchasing a Race Reception ticket. Tickets are $20 for ages seven and up to take part in the after party and enjoy the food and festivities after the conclusion of the race. Not into running? Sign up to be a volunteer and enjoy a different side of race day. Packet Pick-Up is a must for registered participants in the Culinaria 5k; as that is where they will receive the bib, timing chip and t-shirt. Anyone who is not registered, or running is welcome to register at Packet Pick-Up, space available. Check Culinaria for time and location. This is an event that runners and non-runners alike will enjoy – so toast to a race well ran and dig in with Culinaria.
As a non-profit organization, Culinaria has been promoting San Antonio as a premier destination for culinary, beverage and hospitality to an international audience, while also serving as a resource for educational opportunities in those fields. Events that make up Culinaria include Restaurant Week, a 5k Wine & Beer Run, the Wine + Food Festival and the Hallowine Run as well as smaller events with several community partner events.
The Shops at La Cantera
15900 La Cantera Pkwy.
San Antonio, TX 78256
Pluckers Wing Bar now has Wednesday night Live Team Trivia at their Selma location. Photo: Melissa Skorpil, used with permission.
Last week Pluckers Wing Bar launched their popular Wednesday night Live Team Trivia at their Selma location. Every Wednesday, Pluckers will feature trivia starting at 7:30p.m. and the winning team will receive a Pluckers gift card. The evening will feature 10 questions in each round: sports, nerd, movie lines, movie quotes, name that tune, random and more. During Wednesday’s Live Team Trivia, guests will also be able to enjoy specials such as $6.75 34 oz. Mother Pluckers Mugs of Miller Lite and other specials. (Pluckers Wing Bar, 2019)
Owners Mark Greenberg, Dave Paul and Sean Greenberg opened their first Pluckers restaurant in Austin in 1995. Over the past 23 years, Pluckers Wing Bar has opened 23 locations, expanding to Baton Rouge, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Killeen, San Marcos and San Antonio. Pluckers is known for their signature wings and is consistently recognized as the best sports bar and chicken wing restaurant in the cities where it is located. They offer guests a fun, laid-back atmosphere where friends, family, and co-workers can enjoy a great meal and watch sports. Pluckers has been named in USA Today’s “Top Ten Wing Restaurants” and ESPN’s “Top 5 Sports Bar in North America,” along with being named one of “Austin’s Best Places to Work 2017” by the Austin Business Journal and Dallas Observer’s “Best Sports Bar.”
Pluckers Wing Bar
14881 IH-35 North
Selma, TX 78154
‘The Hidden Worlds’ by Sandra Ingerman and Katherine Wood is an interesting look at friendship and magic. Courtesy photo: used with permission.
Sandra Ingerman is an award-winning author of twelve books, including ‘Soul Retrieval: Mending the Fragmented Self,’ ‘Medicine for the Earth’ and ‘The Book of Ceremony: Shamanic Wisdom for Invoking the Sacred into Everyday Life.’ She is also a renowned teacher on shamanic journeying, healing and using spiritual methods to reverse environmental pollution. Katherine Wood taught reading and writing to middle and high school students for 31 years. She is a shamanic practitioner and teacher as well as an avid reader, writer and journeyer who loves to travel in both ordinary reality and in the hidden worlds. They are co-authors of ‘The Hidden Worlds,’ a novel for young readers about four middle school students who work together for a common purpose even though they are completely different people.
The protagonists in ‘The Hidden Worlds’ are middle school aged students. It begins with a look into Isaiah’s life, complete with home and school drama. Then come Magda, the popular soccer star whose goal in life is to get a soccer scholarship for college, George, the quiet boy who is frequently bullied because he requires “special services” and Rose, the Chinese girl who is always angry and gets into trouble for fighting. One day, they are playing near the forest when they come across several dead birds and are compelled to work together and find out what is poisoning and killing off the wildlife. They get together and brain storm in shared dreams, where they each find their power animal: Isaiah has a great grizzly bear, George an octopus, Rose a giraffe and Magda a black panther. Their dreams lead to real life adventures when they discover a toxic waste plant illegally disposing of poisons. Strangers in the beginning, their friendships grow as they work together with their Power Animals to close down the plant.
Isaiah, George, Rose and Magda are normal middle schoolers who are dramatically different but have similar interests that bring them together as they work for a common cause – the environment. In ‘The Hidden Worlds,’ shamanism is introduced in a nonchalant way when they need guidance and feel no one can help them when they desperately want to make a difference. Wikipedia defines Shamanism as “a practice that involves reaching altered states of consciousness in order to perceive and interact with the spirit world and channel those transcendental energies into this world.” The chapters are short and the story is easy to read and understand. It may be a small book, but it touches on important topics such as bullies and the importance of standing up for yourself, school drama, puberty, environmental concerns and shamanism. Stand out chapters include Chapter 16: Organizing, which explains how cause and effect works when the environment is concerned and Chapter 13: Journeying – it explains what journeying means and the kids learn what the Hidden Worlds are and how shamans help people communicate with spirits. Aside from having the usual teen drama such as school, family life and personal issues, ‘The Hidden Worlds’ also touches on magic, spirit guides, power animals and journeying. It is recommended for readers of any age with an interest in these topics and who have an open mind and are willing to discover new ways of seeing the world.
*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.
Mexican rock band Zoé’ will perform at the Aztec Theatre on Tuesday February 26. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
After earning a GRAMMY® in the category of ‘Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album’ for their album ‘Aztlan,’ Zoé, one of the most acclaimed Mexican rock bands of the past several decades, kicked off their 2019 U.S. tour this month. Canadian bands Metric and July Talk will join them for the majority of the concerts, which kick off this one of a kind multicultural tour that only a band with Zoé’s sound can pull. They will be playing at the Aztec Theatre on Tuesday February 26. Other Texas dates include February 28 at the Revention Music Center in Houston, TX, March 1 at the Southside Ballroom in Dallas, TX and March 2 at the Moody Theatre in Austin – (Metric & Zoé). (Zoé, 2019)
During Zoé’s 20th anniversary tour in 2018, the internationally popular rock band performed ‘sold out’ concerts in Los Angeles, Anaheim, New York, Chicago, Rosemont, Dallas, Houston, El Paso, Denver, San Francisco, San Diego and Riverside. At the renowned Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles, the band received a special recognition by YouTube for reaching more than a million channel subscribers.
Zoé’s current GRAMMY® award winning sixth studio album titled ‘Aztlán’ was inspired by the mythical birthplace of the Mexica people who would later come to rule the Aztec Empire. The album incorporates psychedelic rock, synth pop, indie rock and classic rock en español influences and explores the universal themes of identity, technology, social-consciousness and love in the modern world.
‘Aztlán’ has since achieved gold status, with more than thirty thousand copies sold in Mexico and a Latin Grammy nomination in 2018 for ‘Best Rock Album.’ The album has also been streamed more than one hundred million times. Zoé topped the charts of music videos and downloads with the release of the album’s first single “Azul”, which they repeated with the release of their other two singles “Hielo” and “No Hay Mal Que Dure.” Eleven of its tracks reached the Top 200 of Spotify, a first for a band from Mexico, and the album continued to top physical and digital sales lists afterwards for several consecutive weeks.
“The title of the album, Aztlán, is a reference to our people. It is an invitation to discover the beauty and richness of our culture and look inward so we can recover that Mexican dignity and pride.” – front man Leon Larregui.
Aztec Theatre
104 N Saint Marys St.
San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 812-4355
Garrison Brothers Distillery celebrates Texas Independence with style. Photo: Julia Keim, used with permission.
Garrison Brothers Distillery, the first legal whiskey distillery in Texas, recently announced its plans to celebrate Texas Independence Day in three big ways: The Bourbon Takeover of Texas – a five-day culinary event leading up to March 2, Texas Independence Day; The Garrison Brothers Bourbon Brawl – a statewide bartender contest; and Liberations & Libations – an authentically Texan day party at the InterContinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel. (Garrison Brothers Distillery, 2019)
The Bourbon Takeover of Texas consists of five days of more than 50 distinguished bars and restaurants across the state featuring culinary and mixological specials that include Garrison Brothers’ Small Batch Bourbon. These limited-time offerings will be available at select establishments in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio from Sunday, February 24 through Saturday, March 2. The Garrison Brothers team will visit every participating location to taste, critique, examine and enjoy each cocktail, considering its potential for advancement to the second round of The Garrison Brothers Bourbon Brawl, a statewide, high-stakes bartender competition with a $10,000 cash prize. The $10,000 cash prize will be paid out by Good Bourbon for a Good Cause, a 501(c)3 public charity founded by the Garrison Family and their staff in 2018.
Liberations & Libations will be a more localized celebration of Texas Independence. Taking place in the heart of downtown Austin at the InterContinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel, the day party is scheduled to take place from 7:30a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 2, 2019. Texas-born businesses will showcase their hand-crafted products while Texas chefs and beverage-makers serve bourbon-infused brunch bites in the spacious ballroom. Tasting wristbands will be available for $25 and will include eight food and drink tickets. The party will take a brief recess from noon until 3p.m. and will kick off again with a happy hour from 3p.m. to 6p.m. Afternoon attractions include passed bourbon-infused bites by Chef Bryan Gibson, a roaming “redneck mariachi” duo and a silent auction benefiting the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation. A live auction will also be held at 5p.m. for an entire barrel of the award-winning Garrison Brothers Single Barrel Bourbon.
“Texas Independence Day…. also commemorates the day we released our very first batch of Garrison Brothers Small Batch Bourbon back in 2010. In keeping with tradition, we’ve released the current year’s vintage on this holiday every year since. This year we’re going all out, and we hope you celebrate with us at one of our three major events throughout Texas. Salud.” – Dan Garrison, founder and proprietor of Garrison Brothers Distillery
San Antonio Burger Week starts Friday February 22. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
San Antonio Burger Week starts tomorrow Friday February 22 and runs until Sunday March 2 and will feature $5 burgers from San Antonio’s most delicious restaurants. From gourmet blends to off-menu specialties, this event pays tribute to the great American burger. Benefitting the San Antonio Food Bank, the idea is to get people to embrace the food and culture of San Antonio while getting them out to eat, drink and try new places. There will also be a Burger Passport that participants can get stamped at participating restaurants. Those who collect at least four stamps can be eligible for a special grand prize drawing. (San Antonio Burger Week)
Two of San Antonio favorites are participating:
COVER 3 in San Antonio has a brand new, specially designed burger, the French Onion Truffle Burger. It is made with a 1/2 lb Angus beef patty and topped with caramelized onions, roasted garlic and herb truffle aioli, gruyere cheese and crispy onions on a brioche bun. The burger costs just $5 and customers can also purchase a discounted Budweiser for $3 along with the purchase of COVER 3’s French Onion Truffle Burger. A portion of proceeds from each French Onion Truffle Burger sold at COVER 3 will go on to benefit the San Antonio Food Bank. This burger is only available during San Antonio Burger week, so interested patrons are encouraged to act fast and try this delicious burger before it is gone. (COVER 3, 2019)
COVER 3
1806 N Loop 1604 W
San Antonio, TX 78248
(210) 479-9700
Shake Shack will be featuring their signature ShackMeister Burger for $5. The ShackMeister Burger includes a cheeseburger with fried ShackMeister shallots and topped with ShackSauce on a toasted Martin’s Potato Bun. (Shake Shack, 2019)
Shake Shack
7427 San Pedro Avenue, Suite 107
San Antonio, TX 78216
(210) 277-4770
Hopddody Burger Bar will have drinks specials to help celebrate National Margarita Day. Photo: Hopddody BurgerBar, used with permission.
National Margarita Day is this Friday February 22 and here are two ways to celebrate in San Antonio. (Hopddody Burger Bar, Fast Eddie’s Billiards & Sports Bar, 2019)
Celebrate National Margarita Day this Friday with Hopddody Burger Bar specials. On Friday, Hopdoddy will be offering $2 Little Larry (Mini-Classic Frozen Margarita Topped with Grand Marnier) and $5 Classic Frozen Margaritas (Gold Tequila, Fresh Citrus Juices, Triple Sec, Black Lava Salt Rim, Served Icy & Delicious) all day. The Austin-based burger chain has a total of 31 locations in seven states.
Hopdoddy Burger Bar at the Rim
17623 La Cantera Pkwy Suite 101
San Antonio, TX 78257
(210) 434-2337
Pearl’s Canciones kicks off this Friday February 22 with Carrie Rodriguez and Eva Ybarra. Photo: Pearl, used with permission.
Pearl is excited to announce the first artist in its Canciones series of 2019: Carrie Rodriguez’s Laboratorio and special guest Eva Ybarra, who will both perform on Friday, February 22, from 7:30p.m. to 9p.m. at Pearl Park. (Pearl, 2019)
Led by bilingual singer/songwriter/fiddle player Carrie Rodriguez, Laboratorio features a different guest with each performance. Rodriguez and the Laboratorio band explore and stretch the boundaries of what is considered to be Latin music in America today. San Antonio’s “Queen of the Accordion,” Eva Ybarra, will join Rodriguez and Laboratorio. Ybarra is one of a very few number of women accordionists in conjunto music, a genre of music originating at the Texas/Mexico border based on Mexican and Czech-German folk forms such as the polka, mazurka, schottische, waltz and huapango.
Canciones is a free concert series celebrating the sounds of South Texas at Pearl Park. Food and drink will be available for purchase at the Bottling Department.
“We are thrilled to kick-off our 2019 Canciones series with such a strong female artist. Carrie Rodriguez embodies what this series is all about – celebrating the amazing music of South Texas.” – Elizabeth Fauerso, Pearl’s Chief Marketing Officer
Pearl Park
303 Pearl Pkwy
San Antonio, TX 78215
(210) 212-7260
‘The Trip to Bountiful’ plays at The Classic Theatre until Sunday March 10. Photo: Siggi Ragnar, used with permission.
After a successful sold-out opening weekend, ‘The Trip to Bountiful’ continues this week at The Classic Theatre. This Horton Foote play tells the story of Carrie Watts, an elderly woman who longs to escape a cramped Houston apartment and return to her beloved hometown of Bountiful, Texas one last time before she dies. It runs until Sunday March 10 with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 8p.m. and Sunday at 3p.m. Tickets are available online or at the box office by calling (210) 589-8450. The show is two hours long with no intermission.
‘The Trip to Bountiful’ is set in 1940s Texas, where Carrie Watts (Magda Porter), an elderly woman, lives with her son, Ludie (Steven Starr) and his wife Jessie Mae (Alison Bridget Chambers), in a Houston apartment. The story begins on a moonlit night in their apartment where while Jessie Mae sleeps, Mrs. Watts comforts Ludie, who is also unable to sleep, and they share a long-ago family memory. She has a history of running off and trying to get to Bountiful so now she is constantly watched by Jessie Mae, whose interests are beauty shops and movie magazines. Mrs. Watts hides her pension check from Jessie Mae and the next morning she leaves with her bags after Ludie and Jessie Mae leave the apartment. She manages to catch a bus to the closest town near Bountiful, since there is no stop there anymore because the town is abandoned. There she meets Thelma (Emily Huber), a young lady who is on her way to her parents until her husband returns from the military. Thelma helps her find her way to Bountiful but Ludie and Jessie Mae track her down. Content that she got to see her hometown one more time, Mrs. Watts makes her peace with Ludie and Jessie Mae and they return to Houston.
Nostalgia is what drives some people to long for a return to simpler times, usually a childhood home or hometown, but time does not stand still for anyone. Carrie Watts yearned to return to Bountiful but once she got there, its residents had moved on and the town had ceased to exist. Yet the memories and emotions the trip stirred in her were enough to temporarily soothe her troubles. Magda Porter does an excellent job of bringing Carrie to life and brings the audience along with her to experience her rollercoaster of emotions. The highlight is the emotional scene when she breaks down at the bus station at the thought of not making it to Bountiful after all she went through. This talented cast works well together, especially during the set changes, and give brilliant performances all around. Nostalgia, the human condition and relatable characters make ‘The Trip to Bountiful’ a must-see timeless classic.
SA Examiner 