MAX’s Wine Dive has their famous Southern Fried Chicken dinner to go. Photo: Beccca Wright, used with permission.
MAX’s Wine Dive is celebrating the holidays with their famous southern fried chicken family dinner. Spoil your family with a southern fried chicken family dinner at MAX’s Wine Dive which includes famous fried chicken, classic sides, homemade desserts, southern-style biscuits, and of course, champagne for $115 an order. Today until January 1, celebrate the holidays’ MAX’s Wine Dive style with champagne and fried chicken because “why the hell not?” (MAX’s Wine Dive, 2021)
MAX’s Wine Dive Holiday Famous Fried Chicken Family Dinner includes:
Twelve-piece Max’s Famous Southern Fried Chicken 6 Southern Style Biscuits with Chipotle Honey
Choice of 2 Family Sides Sweet Potato Mashers, Mashed Potatoes, Seasoned Braised Collard Greens, Jalapeno Cheddar Grits, Truffle Max n’ Cheese (+6)
Choice of 2 Desserts Pumpkin Spiced Bread Pudding or Big Ass Chocolate Brownie Served a la mode 1 Bottle of Prodige Blanc de Blancs Add additional Chicken Pieces for $5 each
Jerry Lasco, founder of MAX’s Wine Dive restaurant moved to Houston from New York City with his wife, Laura, in 2001. After 9/11 Jerry transitioned from airline pilot to full-time restauranteur and opened the first MAX’S location in 2006—naming it after Max, his then three-year-old son. Taking inspiration from Jerry’s favorite NYC hangouts serving gourmet food and wine in unpretentious and comfortable environments, MAX’s was the first restaurant in Houston to serve award-winning comfort food with a curated wine list. Hence the MAX’s mantra was created “FRIED CHICKEN AND CHAMPAGNE?…WHY THE HELL NOT?!”
Adam Shoenfeld’s new solo album All the Birds Sing will be out in January. Photo: LYRIC Magazine
In 1994, at 20 years old, Adam Shoenfeld moved to Nashville and soon integrated himself into the music community. He formed a band with “Big Kenny” Alphin called LuvjOi, which became one of the most popular draws on Nashville’s rock scene in that era. When Big Kenny then formed country duo Big & Rich with John Rich, they enlisted Shoenfeld to play guitar on their 2004 breakout hit, “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy.” Around this same time, Shoenfeld and Rich teamed up to write a hit for Faith Hill, resulting in her 2005 No. 1 single, “Mississippi Girl.” He will release his first solo album, All the Birds Sing, in January 2022. (Adam Shoenfeld, 2021)
From the first notes of Shoenfeld’s new record – out January 28 via Lozen Entertainment Group/Copperline–the musicianship and wealth of drawn influences are readily apparent. Spending the last two decades bringing his rock-leaning sound to Nashville’s premier country music scene and his last nine years in Tim McGraw’s touring band, Shoenfeld has channeled all of these words and melodies of his own for something brand new; something apart from his country “day-job.” “I love getting to play guitar for people and making a living doing that,” he says. “It’s the best job in the world, but I’ve always been an artist at heart.” The Boot premiered the first single from All the Birds Sing, “The Sky is Falling Down” paired with an exclusive interview with Shoenfeld. Although the ELO-string section-influenced song alludes to the chaos in the world, there is a silver lining in its message. Fans can hear “The Sky is Falling Down” now at this link and pre-order or pre-save All the Birds Sing ahead of its January 28 release right here.
Although he opted out of becoming known as a country artist, Shoenfeld’s playing has shaped the genre for decades now. He believes that being around the industry for this long, watching what artists go through, gave him the confidence to step out as a solo performer. “It’s all built up to this point where I’m like, ‘You know what? I need to do this. I need to put it out there to see if I can touch some people with this music,’” he says. From the rock anthem “Getting to Me” to the poetic songwriting of “Say a Word,” Shoenfeld is doing exactly that. The cornerstone of All the Birds Sing is the poignant title track, which he wrote in ten minutes in a hotel room, in tears, for someone close to him who was going through a tough time. However, its tender lyrics resonate in his own life too.
All the Birds Sing Track list: The Sky is Falling Down Gettin’ to Me All the Birds Sing Eleven Son Pave Those Highways Lose to Win Her Song Norwegian Wood Say a Word
Agarita celebrates San Antonio Museum of Art’s 40th anniversary with free community concert. Photo: Agarita
An innovative chamber ensemble dedicated to producing bold, collaborative musical events, Agarita offers a new way to experience classical and contemporary music. Rooted in San Antonio and founded by Daniel Anastasio (piano), Marisa Bushman (viola), Ignacio Gallego (cello), and Sarah Silver Manzke (violin), Agarita nourishes the local community through artistic collaborations, community engagement, and free, adventurous programming. (Agarita, 2021)
Agarita was recently named San Antonio Magazine’s Best of the City 2021: Culture winner for its collaboration with area partners. It works intimately with local artists of various genres to weave cross-artistic narratives for each concert. Agarita’s past collaborations have included the McNay Art Museum’s Pop América exhibit, lighting artist Chuck Drew, Cameron Beauchamp from the Grammy Award-winning vocal group Roomful of Teeth, chef Elizabeth Johnson and Pharm Table restaurant, poet Laura Van Prooyen, sculptor Danville Chadbourne, educational arts institution SAY Sí, and the Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival for a concert inside San Antonio’s historic Mission San José.
As a nonprofit organization, Agarita believes that the arts should be accessible to everyone in its community. Agarita presents free public concerts, performs at local schools, and offers opportunities for other artists through its collaborations. The next event will take place on Sunday, December 12 at the San Antonio Museum of Art.
Agarita Celebrates SAMA’s 40th! Date: Sunday, December 12, 2021 Time: 11a.m. – 12:15p.m. Location: San Antonio Museum of Art, 200 West Jones Ave, San Antonio, TX 78215 Collaborator: Highlights of SAMA’s permanent collection Description: Agarita returns to the San Antonio Museum of Art for a concert celebrating the museum’s 40th anniversary. Musical selections will reflect artworks on display in the special exhibit. This concert is FREE and open to the public.
From now until December 24, customers can participate in the fundraiser to benefit Home for Our Troops. Photo: google
As part of its WB Cares program, WB Liquors & Wine is launching the final phase of its 2021 fundraiser to benefit Home For Our Troops (HFOT) – a nonprofit organization that builds and donates specially adapted custom homes nationwide for severely injured post-9/11 Veterans, to enable them to rebuild their lives. (WB Liquors & Wine, 2021)
This year, WB Liquors & Wine has been supporting Marine Corporal Raymond D. Hennagir III of Arlington, Texas. Marine Corporal Hennagir was serving on his second deployment in Iraq, when he was severely injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion. The blast resulted in the loss of both his legs and several fingers on his left hand.
WB Liquors & Wine has been raising funds for HFOT and Marine Corporal Hennagir since August. The family-owned company is excited to finish this year’s fundraiser strong and surpass the $100,000 mark with this final push for donations. Customers can donate at any WB Store or WB Liquor Sales location across Texas now through Friday, December 24.
“We can’t thank our communities enough for the support we’ve received so far. Building homes like this will restore some of the freedom and independence that Veterans like Marine Corporal Raymond Hennagir sacrificed while defending our country.” – John Herrmann, president of WB Liquors & Wine
The Wheel of Time is a fantasy series by Robert Jordan. The television adaptation is now available on Amazon Prime Video. Photo: amazon
Robert Jordan was an American author of epic fantasy. He is known best for his series the Wheel of Time (finished by Brandon Sanderson after Jordan’s death) which comprises 14 books and a prequel novel. He is one of several writers to have written original Conan the Barbarian novels. The Wheel of Time was adapted into a television series and released through Amazon Prime Video last month. The series follows Moiraine, a member of the Aes Sedai, a powerful organization of women who can use magic. She takes a group of four young people on a journey around the world, believing one of them might be the reincarnation of the Dragon, a powerful individual prophesied to either save the world or destroy it. It stars Rosamund Pike as Moiraine. (amazon, 2021)
The Wheel of Time is a series of high fantasy novels set in an unnamed world that, due to the cyclical nature of time as depicted in the series, is simultaneously the distant past and the distant future Earth. It draws on numerous elements of both European and Asian mythology, most notably the cyclical nature of time found in Buddhism and Hinduism, the metaphysical concepts of balance and duality, and a respect for nature found in Taoism. Its story of creation has similarities to the Abrahamic religions’ “Creator” (Light) and Shai’tan, “The Dark One.” It was also partly inspired by Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace (1869). The Wheel of Time is notable for its length, detailed imaginary world and magic system, and large cast of characters. (Wikipedia, 2021)
The movie adaptation of Robert Harris’ ‘Munich’ will be released on Netflix and movie theaters in January. Photo: amazon
Robert Harris is the author of “Pompeii,” “Enigma,” and “Fatherland.” He has been a television correspondent with the BBC and a newspaper columnist for the London Sunday Times and The Daily Telegraph. His novels have sold more than ten million copies and been translated into thirty languages. His book “Munich,” a World War II-era spy thriller set against the backdrop of the fateful Munich Conference of September 1938, has been adapted into a movie by Netflix and will have a limited theatrical release before its January 21, 2022 on Netflix. It stars film stars Jeremy Irons, George MacKay, Jannis Niewöhner, Sandra Hüller, Liv Lisa Fries, August Diehl, Jessica Brown Findlay, Anjli Mohindra, and Ulrich Matthes. (amazon, 2021)
“Munich” – Hugh Legat is a rising star of the British diplomatic service, serving at 10 Downing Street as a private secretary to the Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain. Paul von Hartmann is on the staff of the German Foreign Office–and secretly a member of the anti-Hitler resistance. The two men were friends at Oxford in the 1920s, but have not been in contact since. Now, when Hugh flies with Chamberlain from London to Munich, and Hartmann travels on Hitler’s train overnight from Berlin, their paths are set on a disastrous collision course. Once again, Robert Harris gives us actual events of historical importance–here are Hitler, Chamberlain, Mussolini, Daladier–at the heart of an electrifying novel.
Mariachi Herencia de México’s new mariachi take on ‘It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.’ Courtesy photo, used with permission.
The Latin GRAMMY®-nominated group of young Mexican-American musicians ring in the holiday season with a new mariachi take on “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” Mariachi Herencia de México, composed of both male and female musicians from Chicago, recreate the Andy Williams Christmas classic with a fresh and modern sound that is sure to leave you filled with holiday cheer. It is available now on all music platforms. (Mariachi Herencia de México, 2021)
“We’re excited to release our own version of this Christmas classic. It’s the perfect track for everyone’s holiday playlist. We made the track for everyone to enjoy, no matter where you’re from or how old you are, everyone loves Christmas.” – Ruben Núñez, lead vocalist and trumpet player for the band
Composed by Eddie Pola and George Wyle, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” was originally recorded and released in 1963 by pop singer Andy Williams. For this version, Mariachi Herencia de México collaborated once again with the band’s musical director Rigoberto Alfaro ( Latin GRAMMY® winning producer), one of the most revered and innovative composers of the mariachi genre credited for his work with the likes of Vicente Fernandez, Juan Gabriel, Joan Sebastian, Rocio Durcal, Alejandro Fernandez just to mention a few.
“Maestro Alfaro wrote a beautiful arrangement that combines references from traditional mariachi music, with the timeless pop sound of the original recording. The song has such a happy and uplifting vibe, which is exactly what we wanted to share with our fans this Christmas season.” – Melanie Juárez, lead vocalist and guitar player for the band
“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” features a beautiful duet, a fusion of both male and female voices, with lead vocals from both Núñez and Juárez.
“It’s a masterpiece. This is mariachi music at its most sophisticated and most modernistic. It’s almost the antithesis of folklore, almost futuristic. Maybe 20 or 30 years from now, all groups will sound like this, I don’t know. But it is state-of-the-art.” – Jonathan Clark, a mariachi expert and historian
Mariachi Herencia de México was formed in Chicago and is composed of eighteen young musicians between 17 and 22 years old. The Latin GRAMMY-nominated band has released four highly acclaimed studio albums with chart-topping debuts on both the Billboard and the iTunes Latin Albums charts, defying a music industry trend and pointing to a revival in recorded mariachi music.
“In every recording, this group proves their commitment to Mexican music. These young musicians understand the essence of our music. They have an important role to play in helping to preserve mariachi music with new generations.” – Cesar Maldonado, the band’s Director and Founder.
To celebrate the Christmas season, Mariachi Herencia de México embarks on a special holiday tour titled “A Very Merry Christmas” on December 17, 18 and 19, 2021 at Chicago’s Thalia Hall and the Old Town School of Folk Music. Tickets are on sale now.
Signed to IMG Artists, a major international talent agency, Mariachi Herencia de México has toured throughout the U.S., Mexico and Canada. The band has performed alongside major artists like Lila Downs, Aida Cuevas, Los Lobos, Pedro Fernández, and Mariachi Vargas de Tecatitlán, demonstrating that this group of young musicians has the talent, training and bravado to hold their own with the best in the world.
Whataburger’s new scholarship programs is part of their commitment to serving the community. Photo: Whataburger, used with permission.
Whataburger has served big, fresh hamburgers for more than 70 years as well as served the communities where we do business for just as long. As part of that community support, Whataburger is announcing the launch of the Whataburger Feeding Student Success Scholarship program, a $500,000 commitment to help students planning to attend a college, university and not-for-profit vocational school achieve their dreams. (Whataburger, 2021)
It is all part of Whataburger Feeding Student Success, our signature community program at the intersection of food insecurity and education. One hundred students across Whataburger’s footprint will be awarded the scholarship. Recipients will receive a non-renewable $5,000 scholarship to be used for tuition, fees, books, supplies, and housing for the 2022-2023 academic school year.
Black and other racial minority students will be awarded the first year’s scholarships as part of a $1M commitment Whataburger made in June 2020. With the scholarship funding, Whataburger has exceeded that commitment. Students can apply between December 1, 2021 and February 28, 2022. See Whataburger Community Support for eligibility and application information.
The magic of Whataburger started on August 8, 1950, in a tiny burger stand in Corpus Christi, Texas. An entrepreneur named Harmon Dobson set out to build a burger so delicious that customers would take that first bite and say, “What a burger!” Today, Whataburger is known for delicious burgers, big flavor, and the brand’s pride in taking care of its guests, communities and employees, known as Family Members. Orange Spirit Week celebrates its founding and the foundation for success that Dobson created. Today, Whataburger is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, with more than 850 locations across its 14-state footprint, and sales of more than $2.8 billion annually. Whataburger has 50,000 Family Members (employees) and more than sixty million customers who like to customize their Whataburgers just the way they like it.
‘Paid to Be Perfect,’ by Heather Mathes will be out January 4, 2022. Photo: amazon
Fit model Heather Mathes began modeling in 1988. She continued modeling professionally after graduating from Ohio State University with a B.S. in Marketing in 1993 before signing her first contract fit modeling with a major national retailer in 1996. After a ten-consecutive-year fit modeling contract, as well as modeling for other companies outside of her contract, she retired to become a mom in 2008. She then came out of retirement in 2016 at the age of 46 to continue fit modeling for the same company at the exact measurements she was in her 20s, not because she was under contract, but because she had developed health and wellness methods that kept her weight from fluctuating. She did this unconsciously as these methods had become her norm. She shares these methods and more in her first book “Paid to Be Perfect: Paid to Be Perfect,” which will be out January 4, 2022. (Heather Mathes, 2021)
Published by Gatekeeper Press, “Paid to Be Perfect” is part nutrition, part self-help, part glimpse into the world of fashion through the eyes of a 30+ year career model. This book is a practical guide to eating, looking and feeling your best while maintaining your body’s natural size. It encompasses all her healthy lifestyle habits around nutrition, fitness, skin care and wellness, and includes insider secrets into the fashion world where she was paid to be “perfect.” Heather Mathes shares in an informal, uninhibited voice how she focuses on how she feels, enabling her to eat whatever she wants, whenever she wants, while maintaining her body’s natural size. Her practical tips and will help readers, regardless of their size or age, to find and maintain their perfect.
“My stories are based on these experiences working in the fashion industry as a model, and specializing as a standard size six, contemporary fit model—a niche in the world of fashion modeling—to show you exactly how, other than pregnancy and shortly thereafter, I have kept my body within a quarter inch of the same measurements for years while eating whatever I want, without stress or guilt. Whether you’re a size two or a size 22, know that what I share can be applied to all sizes, shapes and ages. The ultimate message, beyond the fit model statistics provided throughout for context, is body positivity for everybody and everybody.” – Heather Mathes
“Paid to Be Perfect: The Secret to Finding Your Perfect” will be available on amazon and other major retailers.
The Home for the Holidays Special Event Series at the TSC Performing Arts Center in Brownsville. Photo: Sandra Cruz
Last Sunday November 28, the UTRGV School of Music and Patron of the Arts returned to the stage at the TSC Performing Arts Center in Brownsville for their Home for the Holidays series. During this free event, the community enjoyed musical performances by the UTRGV Symphony Orchestra, the UTRGV Wind Orchestra, and the UTRGV Master Chorale.
The night of holiday music began with a pre-concert music in the lobby by the UTRGV Trombone Choir to entertain the audience until the auditorium doors opened. The night’s first half of the concert series consisted of the UTRGV Master Chorale singing This Endris Night and What Sweeter Music, the UTRGV Symphony Orchestra performing holiday classics like How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Stille Nacht. The intermission entertainment came courtesy of the UTRGV Horn Choir and for the second half of the evening’s performances, the UTRGV Master Chorale and UTRGV Wind Orchestra performed such classics as Sleigh Ride and The Christmas Song and the UTRGV Wind Orchestra performed The Polar Express and The Bells of Christmas, among other holiday favorites. The audience participation portion was a holiday sing along with the UTRGV Master Chorale and Wind Symphony of Deck the Hall, Jingle Bells, O Christmas Tree and We Wish You A Merry Christmas. The UTRGV Jazz Combo kept the momentum going in the lobby with a post-concert performance.
The UTRGV School of Music successfully kicked off the post-Thanksgiving holiday season with a wonderfully nostalgic night of music. Everyone from the musicians to the singers brought a much needed magical night of music for the community to enjoy. They performed to a nearly packed auditorium and all the night’s performances were delightful and deserve the spotlight just as much as the athletes. Hopefully, there will be more such concerts in the near future.
Patron of the Arts is the performance and membership series of the UTRGV School of Music that has provided Rio Grande Valley residents and visitors with excellent artistic programs for over 35 years. The program was created in 1984 in Brownsville, Texas, to provide the community and students with opportunities for learning and enrichment by attending live events by professional guest musicians as well as visual artists. Patron of the Arts was also intended to provide a venue for faculty and student performances to highlight the considerable talent we have in the Rio Grande Valley. (Patron of the Arts, 2021)
UTRGV Trombone ChoirUTRGV Symphony OrchestraUTRGV Horn ChoirUTRGV Jazz Combo
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