Day: July 30, 2021

Upcoming August events at Hopscotch

Events include a new Human Rights Campaign installation, a celebration of all things LGBTQ+, and more. Photo: Hopscotch, used with permission.

Hopscotch, the immersive art gallery in downtown San Antonio, is excited to announce a variety of programming, specials and more for the month of August including a new LGBTQ+ celebration, new installation from the Human Rights Campaign, yoga, nonprofit partnerships and more. The gallery will also begin opening its doors to the public on Thursdays at 2p.m. starting August 5. These are some of the events coming up in August and beyond. (Hopscotch, 2021)

Human Rights Campaign Installation
Hopscotch will officially debut its newest installation on Thursday, August 5. The gallery has partnered with the Human Rights Campaign to bring GAZE to San Antonio. GAZE transports guests into a world that encourages them to see beyond their own experience and into a future that is full of light, love, and acceptance for all. Rainbow colors shine on through designs etched into acrylic panels illuminated by a programmatic array of LED lights. The subtly shifting colors make for an ever-changing and layered experience that mirrors the ever-changing exterior world.

Equality is on the move. This installation will change over time, progress is the ultimate interactive experience. Guests can become a member of the Human Rights Campaign in the Hopscotch Gift Shop. Their participation moves equality forward and helps the change occur.

The Human Rights Campaign and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation together serve as America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve LGBTQ+ equality. They have spent 40 years creating the most powerful movement for equality that the world has ever seen. By inspiring and engaging individuals and communities, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and realize a world that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

ThursGayz at Hopscotch – 7p.m. to 11p.m. Ongoing – First Thursday of each month.
In addition to opening to the public on Thursdays, Hopscotch is implementing Thursgayz on the first Thursday of every month starting August 5. Thursgayz is a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community and allies that will feature DJs, dancing, drag queens, drink specials, diversity, disco, and more. For the special price of $20, guests will get exclusive access to the entire gallery and all festivities. Specialty cocktails, including the Rain on Me Rita, Pride Paloma, and Seltzers will be available for purchase at happy hour pricing at the bar. There is no cover charge for the lounge or patio. All guests over the age of 18 are welcome. The $20 tickets for Thursgayz are available online. 

For the inaugural Thursgayz event on August 5th guests can expect:
• Music by DJ LilLatinPup
• Entertainment from drag queen Maria Maria Whitney
• Food from Backwoods BBQ available for purchase
• Complimentary cookies from Tiff’s Treats (while supplies last)
• Photo opportunities that celebrate all things pride
• Be some of the first to experience the new GAZE art installation in partnership with the Human Rights Campaign.

Sunday Storytelling – The Warrior Women Project: A Sisterhood of Immigrant Women August 7 from 3p.m. to 5p.m.
Hopscotch will be hosting a book signing event with Dr. Lulu, AKA the Momatrician, on Sunday, August 7. Dr. Lulu is a board-certified pediatrician and mom of three. She is proudly Nigerian and a youth suicide prevention activist. As the CEO of Teenalive.com and Dr. Lulu’s Youth Health Center, she is dedicated to youth suicide prevention. She is a TEDx, United Nations and Global Pan African Speaker, a 3-time bestselling author and a freelance writer. Dr. Lulu tells the story of twenty-two immigrant women from thirteen different countries and their plight with joy, pain, success, failure and love in “The Warrior Women Project.” This book takes readers on a journey in an attempt to educate, entertain and emphasize the embodiment of strength within immigrant women. Guests are encouraged to stop by, grab a copy of the book and get it signed by Dr. Lulu.

Hopscotch plans to do more regular storytelling events and artist talks to continue to highlight and uplift the amazing voices in our community.

Cocktails for a Cause – Martinez Street Women’s Center
Hopscotch is continuing its Cocktails for a Cause campaign. Each month, a different nonprofit is highlighted through various activities such as providing discounted or free tickets for members, sending staff to volunteer for the organization, sharing information about the non-profit on social media, and collecting physical and monetary donations on behalf of the organization. Through the “Cocktail for a Cause” series, a portion of the proceeds from the sales of the Cocktail of the Month goes directly to the non-profit. This August proceeds from the “Solidarity Spritzer” help support the Martinez Street Women’s Center. The cocktail can be purchased in Hopscotch’s lounge for $12.

Solidarity Spritzer – Waterloo No. 9 Gin, House-made Blackberry Sage Syrup and Fresh Lemon Juice topped with Prosecco.

Tiff’s Treats + Hopscotch Collaboration
Tiff’s Treats is partnering with Hopscotch for a variety of upcoming events. Starting in August on Sunday mornings, Hopscotch ticket holders can enjoy complimentary warm cookies from 10a.m. to noon while supplies last. Hopscotch will also be hosting an Instagram giveaway in honor of National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day on Wednesday, August 4 for two tickets to the gallery and a $100 Tiff’s Treats gift card on Hopscotch’s Instagram page.

Cookies for Community – Martinez Street Women’s Center
During August, Hopscotch visitors will receive a code to use when they purchase Tiff’s Treats. 20% of the sales from those cookies will be donated to Hopscotch’s non-profit of the month – Martinez Street Women’s Center.

Third Eye Awakening – Saturday, August 28 at 8:30a.m.
Guests are invited to make their way down the Hopscotch rabbit hole and unroll their mat in a consciously curated yoga and art experience designed to awaken the mind and body while inspiring the soul with the immersive masterpieces at the gallery. Inspired by the mural Conscious by local artist Los Otros, the yoga class led by Mobile Om will interweave breath, mindful movement and meditation into a holistic experience aimed to unlock guests’ connections to their third eye consciousness, the home of their intuition and imagination. After a blissful savasana, guests can awaken their taste buds with a refreshing Rabbit Hole Rita to sip while they enjoy exclusive access to browse the Hopscotch gallery. The yoga sessions begin at 8:30 a.m. and space is limited. Guests are required to bring their own mats.

Tickets for Third Eye Awakening are $45 and are available online. 

Food Trucks
ChipKabob and Backwoods BBQ will make their respective returns to Hopscotch in August. See below for dates that they will be serving at Hopscotch.

Backwoods BBQ:
• Thursdays, 2p.m. – 11p.m.
• Fridays, 1p.m. – 11:30p.m.
• Saturdays, 12p.m. – 11:30p.m.
• Sundays, 12p.m. – 7p.m.

ChipKabob:
• Friday, 8/6: 12p.m. – 7p.m.
• Saturday, 8/7: 12p.m. – 5p.m.
• Sunday, 8/8: 12p.m. – 5p.m.
• Saturday, 8/21: 12p.m. – 7p.m.
• Sunday, 8/22: 12p.m. – 5p.m.
• Friday, 8/27: 12p.m. – 7p.m.
• Saturday, 8/28: 12p.m. – 5p.m.
• Sunday, 8/29: 12p.m. – 5p.m.

Celebrate National Watermelon Day 2021

Grilled Watermelon Margarita featuring Twang. Photo: Twang, used with permission.

The middle of summer is the perfect time for National Watermelon Day this Tuesday August 3. Since watermelon is 92% water, it makes for a refreshing summertime treat that can be enjoyed at picnics and family get-togethers. Here are some ways to celebrate summer’s tasty fruit, whether locally or from afar. (Twang, Lone Star, EVO Entertainment, Taco Cabana, 2021)

Grilled Watermelon Margarita featuring Twang
If you are keeping your distance at home, or just feel like doing something a little extra when it comes to your next Margarita, check out this Grilled Watermelon Margarita by Aaron Pena, owner/bartender at The Squeezebox in San Antonio, TX featuring Twang.

Ingredients:
• 1/2 cup fresh grilled Watermelon
• 1 ounce fresh squeezed Lime Juice
• ¾ ounce Agave syrup – adjust to your taste
• 2 ounces Blanco Tequila
• 1 cup of Ice
Instructions:
• Add all ingredients to blender on high speed
• Rim glass with Twang-A-Rita Sunrise spice or your favorite Twang salt.
• Pour into your rimmed glassware and enjoy.

Lone Star Watermelon Agave Seltzer
As August rolls around and temperatures rise, lounging by the pool, lake, river or beach becomes a necessity. Lone Star’s recently launched Agave Hard Seltzers are the perfect treat to take on the go. The 5% ABV seltzer is made with a high quality sucrose base and enhanced with blue agave nectar, which only adds to the subtle sweetness of the watermelon flavor throughout. The Agave Watermelon Seltzer can be found at select locations including Walmart, Albertsons, Quick Trip, Circle K and HEB in 12 oz. slim cans. Seltzer enthusiasts can also find a retailer nearest to them using Lone Star’s seltzer finder tool.

EVO Entertainment
Kick back in one of EVO’s luxury recliners with a refreshing Watermelon Margarita from the bar. Made with Patrón Barrel Select, Triple Sec, agave, fresh watermelon and lime juice, this margarita is the fruity and refreshing beverage perfect for escaping the Texas summer heat. Pair it with one of the delicious dishes from EVO’s scratch kitchen and a blockbuster movie or round of bowling.

Taco Cabana
Taco Cabana is home to the $2 margarita, and for a limited time guests can relax and refresh with a Watermelon margarita for just $2. Guests have the option to add chamoy for no additional cost, and what is a margarita without chips and queso or some chicken flautas? With online ordering, drive-throughs and on site dining available, Taco Cabana is the ultimate stop for a Watermelon Margarita.

 

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National Watermelon Day

San Antonio Museum of Art announces fall exhibition

Lady Arundel restoration. Photo: San Antonio Museum of Art, used with permission.

Over the course of its 40-year history, the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) has developed an expansive 30,000-object collection that represents human creation and experience from across thousands of years and from cultures spread across six continents. In its upcoming exhibition, 40 Years, 40 Stories: Treasures and New Discoveries from SAMA’s Collection, SAMA will present works from the collection that are currently held in storage and that have been selected by members of the Museum’s curatorial team as works of particular personal interest, inspiration, and fascination. Many of the 40 objects chosen for the show have been off view for numerous years, while others are being presented for the first time. In other instances, artworks capture little-known or under-studied artistic and cultural narratives. Together, the works engage audiences anew with SAMA’s broad-ranging holdings and highlight the depth, range, and dynamism of the collection. 40 Years, 40 Stories will be on view from October 16, 2021–January 2, 2022. (San Antonio Museum of Art, 2021)

Among the highlights in the exhibition is the reinstallation of the monumental painting Mary, Lady Arundell of Wardour (1767) by the famed English painter Sir Joshua Reynolds. The full-length portrait was acquired by SAMA in 1981 and held a prominent position in its European decorative arts gallery for many years. In 2016, the painting was sent to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston for a multi-year conservation project, which was completed this year. The newly conserved painting reveals a new depth of detail and color within Reynolds’ composition. The removal of old, discolored layers of retouching and varnish has given the portrait a fresher and more balanced look. Another work in the exhibition that is being presented following recent conservation is the late 17th- to early 18th-century Chinese handscroll, Peach Blossom Spring. The work depicts the tale of a fisherman who discovers a utopian community. The handscroll, which has been in storage for many years, was repaired and remounted, so that it can be safely unrolled for viewing.

40 Years, 40 Stories also presents for the first time several new acquisitions, including an exquisitely carved Islamic amulet that was acquired in 2013. The amulet is inscribed with 63 Names of God and a verse from the Qur’an, and was intended to invoke divine protection. The exhibition will also feature a recently acquired Petrosphere, a massive stone sphere that weighs more than 600 pounds and was produced by the ancient inhabitants of Costa Rica. Found in groups, these spheres demarcated features of the landscape for communities in the Diquís region, though their precise meaning is not yet understood. The exhibition will also be the first occasion to show Celia Eberle’s sculptural installation Moss Grotto (2016) at SAMA. Recently acquired in 2019, this monumental work invites contemplation of the inevitability of Nature and of human loss.

Other objects in the exhibition include embroidered textiles made by Salvadoran refugees who fled their country’s civil war in the 1980s that have never previously been shown; a mosaic depicting a Nereid that was thought to be an ancient Roman work but was later discovered to be a 20th-century copy after a floor in the Baths of the Seven Sages, Ostia; a richly carved Yoruba veranda post; and a painted portrait of Pola Negri, a femme fatale of 1920s and 30s Hollywood who retired to San Antonio and left her glamorous portrait to the Museum.

Works in 40 Years, 40 Stories will be organized loosely by subject, function, and aesthetic resonance, capturing the ways in which seemingly disparate objects relate to and connect in dialogue together. The exhibition is curated by Powers, with objects selected by members of SAMA’s curatorial, collections, and education teams.

40 Years, 40 Stories is generously supported by the Sue Denman Memorial Exhibition Fund, the Helen and Everett Jones Exhibition Fund, the Amy Shelton McNutt Exhibition Fund, and the Daniel Sullivan Exhibition Fund.

“All of the artworks featured in the exhibition have a story to tell about culture, community, and history. The exhibition provides an exciting range of creative and technical innovation through time and captures the ways in which material culture has always been and continues to be essential to both constructing and understanding the world in which we live. At the same time, re-examining our collection felt like the perfect way to celebrate the Museum’s 40th anniversary. It’s an opportunity to explore how the collection has evolved and is also instructive as we continue to bring works into our holdings that capture the diversity of artistic production across time, geography, and media.” – Jessica Powers, Interim Chief Curator and The Gilbert M. Denman, Jr. Curator of Art of the Ancient Mediterranean World.

The San Antonio Museum of Art serves as a forum to explore and connect with art that spans the world’s geographies, artistic periods, genres, and cultures. Its collection contains nearly 30,000 works representing 5,000 years of history. Housed in the historic Lone Star Brewery on the Museum Reach of San Antonio’s River Walk, the San Antonio Museum of Art is committed to promoting the rich cultural heritage and life of the city. The Museum hosts hundreds of events and public programs each year, including concerts, performances, tours, lectures, symposia, and interactive experiences. As an active civic leader, the Museum is dedicated to enriching the cultural life of the city and the region, and to supporting its creative community.