Month: January 2021

Valentine’s Day at Briscoe Western Art Museum

Enjoy Valentine’s Day at the Briscoe’s ‘Sips and Sounds of the West’ this February 12. Photo: Briscoe Western Art Museum, used with permission.

Start your Valentine’s weekend under the stars at the Briscoe Western Art Museum’s “Sips and Sounds of the West” series on Friday, February 12. With live music, drinks, and tasty bites in the museum’s McNutt Sculpture Garden, kick up your heels with your Valentine or enjoy a night out with friends surrounded by the beauty of the fantastic bronze sculptures and lush greenery that create the perfect getaway on the banks of the River Walk. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2021)

Each Sips and Sounds ticket includes chocolate covered strawberries from Choco Fresitas and a Pony Express Love Letter calligraphy kit with everything you need to pen a love letter to your valentine. A virtual option includes a front-row livestream with contact-less curbside pickup of your Pony Express Love Letters calligraphy kit and sweet treats. The calligraphy kit is a nod to the Briscoe’s beloved annual Pony Express Love Letters program, cancelled this year due to COVID. With the antiqued stationary paper and envelopes, mock wax seal, decorative stickers, calligraphy pen kit and ink, a how-to guide and Western love poetry prompts, everyone who enjoys Sips and Sounds will take home all they need to craft the perfect love letter.

Sips and Sounds of the West is the Briscoe’s seasonal music series that kicked off last fall with a safe, socially distanced, limited attendance sold out evening. The second event in the series is the perfect way to kick off Valentine’s weekend with Ty Dillon, a singer-songwriter who will fill the garden with a fantastic acoustic set. The socially distanced evening features a margarita bar and food available on site by True Flavors. Doors open at 6p.m. with music, drinks, and food until 9p.m.

Sips and Sounds of the West flows in the museum’s McNutt Sculpture Garden, a lush public outdoor space featuring a beautiful courtyard surrounded by bronze sculptures that depict iconic figures of the American West. The sculpture garden offers the perfect respite during any River Walk visit, with tables, chairs, and benches to rest and enjoy the view. With the lights of downtown in the background, and the River Walk’s famous holiday lights glowing through Valentine’s, the garden becomes magical at night, making it the perfect spot for a date night or a night out with friends.

If purchased in advance, tickets for Sips and Sounds of the West are $20 per person for museum members and $25 per person for future members and include an admission ticket to come back and enjoy the Briscoe’s full collection during regular museum hours, as well as a 20% off coupon to the Museum Store. To safely ensure proper social distances are maintained, groups are asked to purchase tickets in one transaction. A minimum of two tickets must be purchased to ensure guests are seated appropriately. Groups of three to five are seated at a larger round table. Groups of two are seated at intimate cocktail tables. Tickets will be sold at the door as available and are $25 per person while supplies last. To enjoy the at-home livestreamed evening, a single ticket reserves your front row seat and includes four chocolate strawberries for sharing, as well as a Pony Express Love Letters calligraphy kit.

The museum’s health and safety protocols require that both staff and guests wear masks. Temperature checks are also part of this protocol.

San Antonio Museum of Art to host virtual lecture with Dr. Peniel E. Joseph

The virtual lecture will be on Friday, February 5, 2021. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

In conjunction with Black History Month, on Friday, February 5, 2021 at 6p.m., the San Antonio Museum of Art will host a virtual lecture with Dr. Peniel E. Joseph. Dr. Joseph is the author of the award-winning book, “The Sword and Shield: The Revolutionary Lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.,” noted as one of TIME Magazine’s “100 Must-Read Books of 2020.” “The Sword and Shield” brilliantly weaves the biographies of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. and provides a detailed analysis of Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and their relationship toward one another while re-examining the Civil Rights Movement and the era they both came to define. (San Antonio Museum of Art, 2021)

Dr. Peniel E. Joseph holds a joint professorship at the LBJ School of Public Affairs and the History Department in the College of Liberal Arts at The University of Texas at Austin. He is the founding director of the LBJ School’s Center for the Study of Race and Democracy (CSRD), and his career focus has been on “Black Power Studies,” encompassing interdisciplinary fields such as Africana studies, law and society, women’s and ethnic studies, and political science. He is also a frequent national commentator on issues of race, civil rights, and democracy.

Those interested in registering for the Zoom lecture to learn more about “The Sword and Shield” and Dr. Joseph’s studies can do so online by selecting the event date. Tickets are $5 for members and $10 for non-members.

New book release: ‘The Push’ by Ashley Audrain

‘The Push’ is Ashley Audrain’s debut novel. Photo: amazon.

Ashley Audrain is a Canadian author who previously worked as the publicity director of Penguin Books Canada. She describes her debut novel, “The Push” as a “psychological drama told through the eyes of motherhood.” A January release, it is a tense, page-turning psychological drama about the making and breaking of a family, and a woman whose experience of motherhood is nothing at all what she hoped for, and everything she feared. (amazon, 2021)

In “The Push,” Blythe Connor is determined that she will be the warm, comforting mother to her new baby Violet that she herself never had. But in the thick of motherhood’s exhausting early days, Blythe becomes convinced that something is wrong with her daughter—she does not behave like most children do. Her husband, Fox, says she is imagining things. The more Fox dismisses her fears, the more Blythe begins to question her own sanity, and the more we begin to question what Blythe is telling us about her life as well. Then their son Sam is born—and with him, Blythe has the blissful connection she had always imagined with her child. Even Violet seems to love her little brother. But when life as they know it is changed in an instant, the devastating fall-out forces Blythe to face the truth. Read an excerpt here.

La Panadería introduces Power Bowls to menu

La Panadería’s new Power Bowls. Photo: La Panaderia, used with permission.

With the New Year and renewed goals for health and wellness, San Antonio staple La Panadería has expanded their popular menu to add new Power Bowl options. Each power bowl is made with organic mixed greens, rice, and pickled onions, paired with the guest’s choice of protein and La Panadería’s fresh baked bread. Guests can choose from the Avocado Power Bowl, Grilled Chicken Power Bowl, Hawaiano Power Bowl (with grilled pineapple and pork chops) or Mexicano Cubano Bowl (with bacon, Kiolbasa sausage, and ham). (La Panadería, 2021)

Brothers José and David Cáceres opened bakery-cafe La Panadería in 2014 to share their Mexican heritage and love for baking with the people of their adopted hometown of San Antonio, Texas. The Cáceres’ passion for baking began when they were young boys selling loaves of their mother, Doña Josefina’s fresh baked bread on the streets of Mexico City. Eventually José and David took over their mother’s homegrown business and started baking on a large scale, supplying bread and pan dulce for businesses throughout Mexico. After finding financial success in Mexico, the brothers realized they wanted to get back to the basics, and they decided to bring their passion for bread cultura to Texas.

Bovino’s Churrascaría opens first U.S. location in San Antonio

Bovino’s Churrascaría’s first U.S. location will open at La Cantera on January 26. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

The owners of Grupo Bovino’s are bringing its mouth-watering Brazilian steakhouse concept ─ Bovino’s Churrascaría ─ to the United States, opening its first location on Tuesday, January 26, in San Antonio, at The Shops at La Cantera. From its opening through February 28, a portion of proceeds will benefit Culinaria, a not-for-profit organization committed to promoting San Antonio as a culinary destination and supporting the hospitality community during times of financial hardship. (Bovino’s Churrascaría, 2021)

Conceived in Cancun, the company opened its first eatery in the popular tourist destination in May 2009. Six years later, the company opened in Playa del Carmen. Menu highlights include the best all-you-can-eat prime meat cuts and gourmet specialties from ceviche, paella, cold-cuts, jumbo shrimp, lobster, oysters, octopus, salads, gourmet cheeses, pastas, breads, and savory desserts. Full-service bar boasts an extensive selection of cocktails, wine, and beer options to complement the palate.

Bovino’s Churrascaría will have elements familiar to its restaurants in Mexico: brick walls, dark hardwoods and a mix of contemporary and traditional décor combine to offer sophisticated ambience for dining indoors or out. Take-out and curbside dining is also available.

Due to COVID-19 requirements, the Bovino’s buffet will be available via menu and delivered to your table by your server. The health and safety of our diners and staff is our highest priority. We are following the lead of city, state, and federally elected officials, as well as implementing strategies recommended by public health authorities. We are distancing guest, require masks be worn, and are taking extra precautions to clean and sanitize the establishment frequently throughout the day, not only the dining area, but behind the scenes in the kitchen and prep spaces, including equipment.

“We are thrilled to have found the ideal environment for our concept at The Shops at La Cantera. Its open-air lifestyle with retail and lush surroundings is a destination that caters to locals and tourists.” – Dev Bassnet, general manager for Bovinos, San Antonio.

Book review: ‘The Blonde’ by Anna Godbersen

‘The Blonde’ by Anna Godbersen

Anna Godbersen is an American writer whose debut novel was the first installment of The New York Times’ bestselling Luxe series for young adults, which includes “The Luxe,” “Rumors,” “Envy,” and Splendor.” She also wrote the Bright Young Things series and “The Blonde,” her first book for grownups. “The Blonde” takes place at the height of the Cold War when Marilyn Monroe was the most infamous woman in the world and poses the question: what if she was also a secret Soviet spy? In 1947, a young, unknown Norma Jeane Baker meets a mysterious man in Los Angeles who transforms her into Marilyn Monroe, the star. Twelve years later he demands payback, and Marilyn is given her first assignment from the KGB: uncover something about John F. Kennedy that no one else knows.

“The Blonde” begins with a Prologue that chronicles Norma Jean’s early years beginning in 1926 when she was born and then jumps to New York in 1959. This fictional account, at the height of her career, has Marilyn Monroe coming across a man named Alexei Lazarev, a Russian, who reminds her that he helped make her famous and now wants her to repay him. He claims to know her real father, that he wants to meet her, and that he can make it happen. All she must do is get close to JFK. From there, the story speculates on what Marilyn and JFK’s relationship might have been like with the added intrigue of Russian spies and the Cold War. It is divided into five parts, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, and 1963. The Epilogue shows Marilyn as a guilt-ridden older woman visiting JFK’s gravesite. It is also the story of the Douglass Walls, the FBI agent who spied on Marilyn, told through his point of view.

The real story behind Marilyn Monroe and JFK may never be known but it is always fun to speculate, especially when spies, murder, and double agents are concerned. An easy read, the action flows through the pages and is mostly dialogue driven. The language is simple and down to earth, and at times even poetic: “The air coming off the high desert was over a hundred degrees, the kind of heat that melts the borders of a girl’s body.” It is an interesting insight into how far people are willing to go for power, wealth, status, and love. The line between fact and fiction are blurred and readers get a glimpse into Marilyn’s thoughts and what might have driven her to make the decisions she made. Part romance, part thriller, it is a fun novel that pulls the reader into the the lifestyle of that era. “The Blonde” is recommended for fans of Marilyn Monroe and Cold War era novels who appreciate fictional spins on real people.

“They forget that vulnerability can be itself, and it can also be a shield, and also a knife. Any old thing can be a weapon, so long as you know how to use it right.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

 

New book release: ‘Intercepts’ by T.J. Payne

‘Intercepts’ is the new book by T.J. Payne. Photo: amazon

T.J. Payne is the author of “The Venue,” “Intercepts,” and “In My Father’s Basement.” He writes primarily in the horror and thriller genres. His writing style relies on a light touch, using lean, smooth prose to build and maintain the story’s intensity. Through this style, Payne weaves in deeper themes and questions about human nature, particularly the subtle line between Good and Evil. Traditional Hero and Villain archetypes are often flipped in Payne’s work. His characters may not always be likable, but their faults and sins are profoundly human. Humans are the only species on Earth with the capability to create both great beauty and unspeakable acts of cruelty. The exploration of that duality has always been central to Payne’s work. His new book “Intercepts” is another chilling novel that is a must-read for fans of horror and is featured on Cosmopolitan’s “31 Best Horror Books of All Time” list. (amazon, 2021)

In “Intercepts,” Joe works at a facility that performs human experimentation. His work just followed him home. The government wanted to unlock hidden abilities in the human mind. They put subjects in extreme sensory deprivation. All the test subjects went violently insane. But the research continued. Today it has been perfected. Almost perfected. Noe Joe’s teenage daughter is experiencing terrifying hallucinations. Either Joe’s daughter is having a mental breakdown or her mind has been intercepted by the patients at the her father’s facility.

Latest news from Briscoe Western Art Museum

The Briscoe Western Art Museum. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Due to the overwhelming popularity of the fall series, the Briscoe Western Art Museum is extending its monthly “Locals Days” programming through the spring. To thank the San Antonio community for its support, the third Sunday of each month is “Locals Day” at the Briscoe, greeting locals with 50 percent off general admission. Bexar County residents can enjoy the Briscoe’s Locals Days on February 21, March 21, April 18, and May 16. As a further thank you, the Locals Days offer is being extended to the federal holidays of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 18) and Presidents’ Day (February 15) as well, giving everyone additional opportunities to enjoy the museum. As always, children 12 and under receive free admission, as do active-duty members of the military, making the Briscoe the perfect spot for local families to enjoy. Parking at City of San Antonio downtown meters is also free on Sundays and federal holidays, making it an affordable day of fun for families. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2021)

The Briscoe routinely updates its galleries to share new acquisitions and donations, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy more of the museum’s collection. The latest additions include “1876, Gall – Sitting Bull – Crazy Horse,” a 2011 bronze by John Coleman on loan courtesy of the Jack and Valerie Guenther Foundation. One of today’s leading contemporary Western artists, Coleman’s works portray the historical nature and mythology of western subjects in sculpture, paint, and charcoal. Guests can enjoy the sculpture in the museum’s San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Gallery.

Another recent addition is “Once Upon a Time,” by artist Mark Maggiori and donated to the Briscoe’s permanent collection to highlight the story of working Black cowboys. An award winning Western contemporary artist known for his realistic and academically tuned works, Maggiori is a French artist who paints modern cowboys in the nostalgic American West. The artist is a graduate from the prestigious Academie Jullian in Paris and has lived in the United States since 2010. The piece is now permanently installed in the Governor Dolph Briscoe, Jr. Gallery.

The Briscoe also features rotating works in its New Works Gallery. The new year brings a new selection of rotating works in the museum’s New Works Gallery as well. A collection of historic Western photographs, including 19th and early 20th century works from well-known western native photographer Edward S. Curtis and landscape photographer William Henry Jackson feature prominently in the gallery. Part of the museum’s permanent collection yet rarely on display, the images share a glimpse of the west as it was and highlight how photography preserved the landscape, life, and diverse western cultural groups before they experienced irreversible changes.

While at the museum, visitors may enjoy self-guided tours, watch short videos, and learn more about the artists behind the works through the Briscoe’s app, available for iOs systems. Lil Partner activities for children are located on the app, as well as the museum’s website through the museum’s “Beyond the Briscoe” program. The entire family can enjoy a scavenger hunt that explores the museum, play musical match-up or musical bingo, bringing the museum’s extensive collection to life for all ages.

An oasis of Western beauty just off the River Walk, the McNutt Sculpture Garden and the museum grounds feature 32 sculptures portraying various aspects of Western life. The Briscoe’s collection of Western art and artifacts showcases the stories of the West through visual art. Collection highlights include Santa Anna’s sword, works by Frederic Remington, Pancho Villa’s last known saddle, a fantastic Alamo diorama and artifacts, contemporary and historic paintings, sculptures, an impressive spur collection, and other cowboy and Native American relics, weapons, and photography.

The Briscoe is open Thursday through Monday, 10a.m. – 5p.m. and closed to the public on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Admission is free for children 12 and under and for active-duty members of the military and up to four members of their families. The museum is proud to participate in Museums For All, Blue Star Museums and Bank of America Museums on Us. The Briscoe is located on the south end of the River Walk, near the Arneson River Theatre and La Villita, with convenient parking at the Riverbend Garage directly adjacent to the museum or one of many downtown surface lots. Museum hours, parking and admission details are available online. The museum is operating at reduced capacity with health and safety protocols that require both staff and guests to wear masks.

Theater review: ‘Thurgood’ at The Public Theater of San Antonio

The virtual production of ‘Thurgood’ runs until next weekend. Photo: The Public Theater of San Antonio, used with permission.

Thursday was opening night of ‘Thurgood’ by George Stevens, Jr. at The Public Theater of San Antonio but this production is virtual only.  It will run until Sunday January 24, 2021 with performances on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30p.m. and Sunday at 2p.m. Tickets are available online. Thurgood Marshall was an American lawyer and civil rights activist who served as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from October 1967 until October 1991.  He was the Court’s first African American justice but before that, he successfully argued several cases before the Supreme Court, including Brown v. Board of Education. ‘Thurgood’ depicts the life of Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court justice and his role in the historic decision on the Brown v. Board of Education case.  This is a story rich in history, humanity, and humor.

‘Thurgood’ is one-man show with Marc Pouhé portraying the title role of the civil rights activist and Supreme Court justice. Strictly a biographical account of the life of Thurgood Marshall, it starts off with a slide show of the civil rights era after which Pouhé’s Marshall casually walks onto the set.  He is excited to share his life story with the audience and begins with this childhood and how he was named after his grandfather but ended up shortening his name. His early life is not the focus even though he tells entertaining stories of growing up. He quickly shifts to his experiences in law-school after sharing how his mother had to pawn her wedding and engagement rings to pay the tuition. Most of the time is spent on the circumstances surrounding the Brown v. Board of Education case and how he used the equal protection of the law clause of the fourteen amendment to argue the case, or as he calls it, “Jim Crow deluxe,” using the separate but equal logic to demand truly equal schools for blacks. The 1954 decision concluded that separate but equal has no place because facilities are by nature unequal.

Ahead of Black History Month, ‘Thurgood’ is an excellent production to familiarize audiences with the highlights of Thurgood Marshall’s legislative career. It runs for an hour and a half with no intermission and may contain themes and content not suitable for all audiences, including various uses of the ‘n word.’ The simple set consists of a desk and chair with a pitcher of water, a glass, and sheets of paper besides it. There were a couple of glitches on the sound at the beginning but everything smoothed out a few minutes later. One of the highlights is when he makes his point on how segregation has detrimental effects on black children and uses the white vs brown doll test as as example; when questioned, most black children chose the white doll when asked which one looked nicer. His conclusion: “children learning together side by side is the best hope for this country.” Marc Pouhé’s portrayal of Thurgood Marshall grabs the audience’s attention with his commanding yet calming tone. ‘Thurgood’ is a well-balanced retelling of his personal life and legislative career, his humorous side evident when he declares “I expect to die at the age of 110 – shot by a jealous husband.” It is definite must-see.

New book release: ‘Bloodline’ by Jess Lourey

‘Bloodline’ is Jess Lourey’s chilling new novel based real events. Photo: amazon

Jess Lourey is the Amazon Charts bestselling author of “Unspeakable Things,” “The Catalain Book of Secrets,” the Salem’s Cipher thrillers, and the Mira James mysteries, among many other works, including young adult, short stories, and nonfiction. An Agatha, Anthony, and Lefty Award nominee, Jess is a tenured professor of creative writing and sociology and a leader of writing retreats. She is also a recipient of The Loft’s Excellence in Teaching fellowship, a Psychology Today blogger, and a TEDx presenter. In her new novel “Bloodline,” a pregnant journalist moves back to her fiancé’s hometown but everything seems too perfect; it is enough to drive some women mad. (amazon, 2021)

“Bloodline” is a a tale inspired by real events and centers around Joan Harken, who is cautiously excited to follow her fiancé back to his Minnesota hometown. After spending a childhood on the move and chasing the screams and swirls of news-rich city life, she is eager to settle down. Lilydale’s motto, “Come Home Forever,” could not be more inviting. And yet, something is off in the picture-perfect village. The friendliness borders on intrusive. Joan cannot shake the feeling that every move she makes is being tracked. An archaic organization still seems to hold power over the town. So does the sinister secret of a little boy who vanished decades ago. And unless Joan is imagining things, a frighteningly familiar figure from her past is on watch in the shadows. Her fiancé tells her she is being paranoid. He might be right. Then again, she might have moved to the deadliest small town on earth.