The new Cabana Salad is now available at all Texas locations. Photo: Taco Cabana, used with permission.
Taco Cabana invites guests to start the year off right with their new Cabana Salad. The Cabana Salad features romaine lettuce, black beans, Monterey jack and cheddar cheese, pico de gallo, and tortilla strips for $3.79. Back by popular guest demand, a side of Salsa Ranch dressing accompanies the new Cabana Salad; guests may add grilled chicken fajita for an additional $2. (Taco Cabana, 2022)
For guests looking for a more classic TC option, look no further than Taco Cabana’s signature Cabana Bowls™. Available starting at $5.59, these delicious crispy tortilla shell bowls are filled with the guest’s choice of protein, rice, refried beans, lettuce, shredded cheese, sour cream, and pico de gallo, and will satisfy any Taco Cabana craving. Guests can choose from a variety of offerings including Chicken Fajita, Steak Fajita, Shredded Chicken, and Ground Beef. Taco Cabana also offers a Beyond Meat bowl for those who prefer a vegetarian-friendly option. There’s no better complement to Taco Cabana’s bowls than one of their signature $2 margaritas served all day, every day.
In addition to the return of Salsa Ranch, 2022 at TC kicks off with new Jalapeño Salsa and the return of Salsa Fuego, each perfect for dipping and topping any TC favorite. The three salsas join current favorite Salsa Roja and are available upon request
Taco Cabana’s Cabana Bowls™ and Cabana Salads are available in-restaurant, via online ordering for front counter and curbside pick-up, in the drive-thru or by mobile order when using the MY TC!® App or Taco Cabanaonline.
Taco Cabana, a subsidiary of YTC Enterprises, LLC, was founded in 1978. The brand specializes in Tex-Mex-inspired food including enchiladas, fajitas, quesadillas, flautas, tacos, flour tortillas and a selection of made-from-scratch salsas and sauces. Restaurants feature open-display cooking, a selection of bottled beer and $2 tequila margaritas, patio dining, drive-thru windows, curbside pick-up, delivery and catering. As of January 1, 2022, Taco Cabana operates 142 company-owned restaurants in Texas.
Tour schedule stops include Meow Wolf Denver, Charleston Bluegrass Festival, Key West, and more. Photo: Saint Rocke
Hot on the heels of the 20th-anniversary celebration of their incredibly popular and influential second studio album, Town by Town, Colorado’s beloved jam-grass pioneers Yonder Mountain String Band have just announced their tour plans for 2022. (Yonder Mountain String Band, 2021)
Kicking things off at Denver’s newly-opened and incredibly popular Meow Wolf Convergence Station on February 24 for a one-of-a-kind immersive music and art experience, the veteran band will continue into the Winter Wondergrass festival in Steamboat, Colorado. March 2022 finds YMSB crossing the Southeast to some familiar haunts and festivals and new venues alike. The run will start in St. Petersburg, Florida, before heading south to Key West and then back up the east coast to Savannah, Georgia, and Carrboro, North Carolina’s famed Cat’s Cradle. Other notable standalone shows include Variety Playhouse in Atlanta, Brooklyn Bowl Nashville, and Austin’s other great outdoor stage at Scoot Inn. Along the way, the band will appear at a number of fan-favorite festivals, including Suwannee Spring Reunion, Charleston Bluegrass Festival, and more. A full list of these new dates is below and ticket information for each show is available online.
Catch Yonder Mountain String Band On Tour: 2/24 – Denver, CO – Meow Wolf Convergence Station 2/26 – Steamboat, CO – Winter Wondergrass 2/27 – Steamboat, CO – Winter Wondergrass 3/11 – St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live 3/12 – Immokalee, FL – Southland Bluegrass and Wilderness Festival 3/13 – Key West, FL – Parade Grounds at Fort East Martello 3/15 – Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle 3/16 – Savannah, GA – Victory North 3/17 – Live Oak, FL – Suwannee Spring Reunion 3/18 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse 3/19 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Bluegrass Festival 3/20 – Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl 3/23 – Fayetteville, AR – George’s Majestic Lounge 3/24 – Austin, TX – Scoot Inn 3/25 – Houston, TX – Warehouse Live 3/26 – Dallas, TX – The Studio at the Factory
A live music event to welcome Alex Meixner is scheduled for January 27. Photo: Krause’s Café & Biergarten, used with permission.
Krause’s Café & Biergarten is excited to announce that nationally acclaimed musician, performer, bandleader, educator, and a leading advocate of polka music, Alex Meixner, is partnering with the restaurant and venue to expand its entertainment programming and community events. (Krause’s Café & Biergarten, 2022)
“We are excited about the opportunity to work with Alex on an ongoing basis and leverage his talents and presence in the community into improved entertainment options and educational opportunities. Alex’s experience as a touring entertainer, educator and talent agent can do a lot to enhance the entertainment at Krause’s for both guests and the musicians.” – Krause’s Café & Biergarten’s owner Chris Snider
Alex Meixner is a Grammy-nominated musician with performances on more than 50 albums, including 17 where he was the bandleader or soloist. His band performs approximately 180 shows per year across the nation. Alex also devotes his time to guest speaking in lectures and hosting master classes.
Alex Meixner, under the umbrella of his talent agency, AM Management, will be working to build the repertoire of entertainment at Krause’s, as well as creating engaging and fun community programming. His band will also be performing at Krause’s throughout the year, including sets at Maifest and Oktoberfest later this year. Alex will also have a role in coordinating a New Braunfels Citizenship Program with Krause’s, a monthly event where participants can learn about the town’s history, traditions, institutions, events, and culture.
“I am super excited to collaborate with the team at Krause’s – they’ve established a national reputation for representing the history of New Braunfels’ German culture through food, music and gemütlichkeit.” My ideals as a musical entertainer are encapsulated in this synergy and will allow us to bring more creative offerings to downtown’s scene throughout the year.” – Alex Meixner
On Thursday, January 27 from 6p.m. – 9p.m., there will be an event at Krause’s Café to officially welcome Alex to New Braunfels with music by Terry Cavanagh & The Alpine Express featuring performances by Alex. The event is open to the public and tickets are $5 in advance or at the door. A limited amount of VIP tables seating eight are available for $120 a table.
Krause’s Café & Biergarten is a New Braunfels historic restaurant opened in 1938 and successfully run until 1995. Today, Krause’s Café honors the previous traditions of the restaurant with the addition of a ‘Biergarten,’ live music, and more. The menu reflects New Braunfels’ German heritage as well as South Texas flavors. Over 100 beers are available on tap with local, regional, and international options. The restaurant also features cocktails and wines on tap.
Dynamic accordionist Alex Meixner mixes an array of musical styles into traditional, exuberant Central European party music, letting die-hard polka fans to enjoy the evolution and letting hipsters discover all there is to love in the innately fun genre. Solo and with his band, he has performed at major venues and festivals around the world, as well as at uncountable accordion-centric events. His virtuosic yet quirky style has made him a sought-after collaborator. He worked alongside Jack Black in the Sundance-screened, Netflix film, The Polka King and with Postmodern Jukebox on one of their viral musical mashups.
Harrison Taylor raises the bar with his breakout novel “Those Who Hunt Wolves.” It will be released February 22, 2022. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Readers who love sci-fi, thrillers, and action-adventure are in for a treat with Harrison Taylor’s debut, “Those Who Hunt Wolves.” Published by Metal Rooster Publishing House, the techno-thriller officially releases February 22, 2022 and offers a terrifying wake-up call of what our world might become if certain technology goes astray. (Harrison Taylor, 2022)
The fate of nations, and humanity itself, revolves around the Blackout, the United States’ most powerful—and most enigmatic—weapon. It is the United States government’s most guarded secret, as well as the key to unthinkable control for those who know about it and wish to leverage its potential for their own endeavors. When the last remaining Wolf, a super-soldier created by a military experiment, steals it, it is up to the three former members of a top-secret group to hunt down the Wolf and get it back before it is too late. But who is working for whom? Amid political intrigue and an impending international crisis, no one is who they seem, and anything can happen.
Born in Colorado, Harrison Taylor found his love for literature in movies. With a deep love for cinema, Harrison started his creative career writing screenplays for low budget shorts. He then switched to becoming a novelist, where there are no budgetary constraints. He first prose story was “The Pharmacy.”
As a movie buff, Harrison crafted his writing style with a cinematic flair that keeps the pages turning. “I love storytelling, and movies,” says Taylor, who is also a medical doctor. “My goal with this book is to give readers an exhilarating experience, like they are reading a movie. I watch scenes from Quentin Tarantino movies before I start writing.”
Metal Rooster Publishing House is an independent publishing house dedicated to telling captivating stories across the genre spectrum. They believe the best stories are not told in black and white, but many shades of grey. The company is dedicated to inspiring others to pick up that pen, paintbrush, or mic, and to create.
National Popcorn Day is Wednesday, January 19, 2022. Photo: google
EVO Entertainment is celebrating National Popcorn Day by giving away free popcorn on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 at all EVO locations in Texas (with the exception of Fritztown). Guests can snag their complimentary popcorn during standard hours of operation before catching films like Spider-Man: No Way Home or while enjoying EVO’s state-of-the-art gaming centers. Quantities are limited to one regular-sized bag per customer with no bottomless refills and the purchase of a movie ticket is not required. (EVO Entertainment, 2022)
EVO Entertainment Group is an Austin based out-of-home entertainment operator made up from several innovative brands including EVO Entertainment, EVO Cinemas, and EVO Concerts. Since its launch in 2014, EVO has gained a reputation as a leader in innovation, as well as one of the fastest growing independent cinema circuits in the country.
Photo: EVO Entertainment Group, used with permission.
Signature restaurant at La Cantera Resort & Spa. Photo: La Cantera Resort & Spa, used with permission.
La Cantera Resort & Spa, the award-winning destination set atop the highest elevation point in San Antonio, has welcomed a new trio to the kitchen of its Signature Restaurant. Lead by San Antonio local John Carpenter as executive chef, the team also includes Executive Sous Chef Jaime Torres and Pastry Chef Stéphane Leopoldo. (La Cantera Resort & Spa, 2022)
Since joining Signature in September of last year, Chef Carpenter has united with Chef Andrew Weissman. The result is a new menu with some of Weissman’s greatest hits, plus new creations by Chef Carpenter and Chef Torres like the Hamachi Crudo and Spanish Octopus.
While their paths crossed most recently at Signature, Carpenter was inspired by the four-time James Beard-nominated Weissman long before. “Ten years ago, I visited Andrew Weissman’s Osteria Il Sogno and had an eye-opening experience. That meal taught me a lot about keeping things simple and letting the ingredients shine. I still consider it one of the best meals of my life.” Now, Carpenter is bringing that guiding principle to the seasonally driven fare at Signature.
Chef Carpenter and Chef Torres have worked together since 2015 when Carpenter was the Chef at San Antonio’s Culinary Institute of America restaurant, then-known as NAO. The two say that guests can look forward to the Signature experience they already know and love: beautiful scenery, high end service and delicious, traditionally inspired food made with fresh ingredients. They also say guests can expect a few surprises with Asian and Latin American influences gleaned from their own culinary adventures making its way to their plates.
“Joining the team at Signature is an incredible opportunity for me. I’ve really enjoyed the creative process behind our new menu and am energized by the different style of service we offer here. Signature’s unique, French-brigade style in the kitchen is exciting and collaborative for us and for the guests looking into our open kitchen. I’m looking forward to exploring what we can do in the future while staying true to the spirit of Signature.” – Executive Chef John Carpenter.
Briscoe Western Art Museum upcoming events include the new STEAM education series and The Art of Rodeo. Photo: Briscoe Western Art Museum, used with permission.
The Briscoe Western Art Museum is steaming into the 2022 with a new educational series, free days for local visitors, and a picture-perfect weekend to close out the U.S. premier of Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo, the fantastic photography exhibition highlighting the birthplace of the modern cowboy. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2022)
The museum’s upcoming calendar includes:
The Art of the Rodeo: Student Western Art Competition Exhibit
On display January 7 – February 5, the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo’s Student Western Art Competition Exhibit fills the Clingman Education Gallery and is included with general admission. Featuring the ten winning entries in the 2022 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo’s Western Art Competition, the pop-up exhibit displays the best work from the annual contest that includes 159 South Texas school districts across 48 counties. Each of the works show an appreciation of western heritage, something the Briscoe and the Rodeo happily share. The 2022 Best in Show, and 2022 Painting Watercolor Class Champion, scholarship recipient is Madelyn Teter from The Christian School at Castle Hills. Enjoy the rodeo exhibition during regular museum hours and be sure to stop by when you are downtown for the Rodeo’s Western Heritage Weekend.
Full STEAM Ahead: New Education Series Offers Hands-on Learning Fun
Families and visitors of all ages are invited to learn about the American West in the Briscoe’s new education series, “Full STEAM Ahead.” Learners of all ages will work together and learn about the American West by engaging in hands-on, STEAM learning experiences. Sharing the American West through STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics – each of the activities ties back to the Briscoe’s art and artifacts, bringing the West to life in a new way. From transportation and weather to animals, astronomy, and engineering, each program explores an aspect of life in the West to engage and inspire learning.
Closing Weekend Photography Celebration: Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo
Closing out its successful United States debut at the Briscoe, Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo features celebrated photographer Werner Segarra inviting audiences to peer into the world of the Norteño Cowboys from Sonora, Mexico – not as a casual tourist, but as an intimate observer. With almost 60 images spanning more than 20 years of the lives of the vaqueros, Segarra’s images display the expansive landscape, their daily work, and the intimacy of their homes, not merely documenting the vaquero, but celebrating his subjects and their way of life. The exhibition’s closing weekend, January 22-23, features artist talks and exhibition tours with Segarra. Closing weekend events are included with general admission and free for museum members.
Storytime at the Stagecoach: “Fearless Mary Fields”
On Saturday, January 29, 11a.m. – 1p.m., join the Briscoe for a special Storytime at the Stagecoach and learn about Mary Fields, the first African American woman stagecoach driver. For many years, Fields traveled the West with her pet eagle, never losing a single horse or package. Hear her story as Antoinette Lakey reads from “Fearless Mary: Mary Fields, American Stagecoach Driver” and enjoy arts and crafts. A community leader, researcher, and dramatist, Antoinette Lakey currently serves as Artistic Director for Teatro Anansi, an organization with a mission to connect, celebrate and commemorate African American theatre, performing arts, and history within the greater San Antonio community. The presentation is part of San Antonio’s Dreamweek and is included with general admission.
Howdy Neighbors: First Sundays Free for Local Residents
To show how friendly the West is and to thank the San Antonio community for its continued support, the Briscoe Western Art Museum is making the first Sunday of each month “Locals Day,” greeting locals with free general admission. Bexar County residents can enjoy the Briscoe’s Locals Days through 2022, with free admission on February 6, March 6, April 3, May 1, June 5, July 3, August 7, September 4, October 2, November 6 and December 4. As always, children 12 and under receive free admission to the Briscoe every day, as do active duty members of the military, making the Briscoe a terrific spot for local families to enjoy any time.
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. 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 Jerk Shack’s new location will offer dine-in, online ordering, a drive-thru, and takeout service. Photo: Jason Risner, used with permission.
Popular Caribbean-inspired restaurant, The Jerk Shack, is excited to announce the opening date for its new brick and mortar location on the far west side of San Antonio at 10234 State Hwy 151 Ste. 103, San Antonio, TX 78251 as part of the new 151 Plaza development. The new location will open for service on Friday, January 14, 2022 at 1p.m. To celebrate the opening, the first twenty guests will receive $10 toward their order. (The Jerk Shack, 2022)
The location features the same menu and flavors of the original Jerk Shack that San Antonians came to love, but will also offer beer, wine and some new items like fried chicken, pepper shrimp, fried green tomatoes, and more. The new 2,200 square foot location will offer dine-in service and will feature a drive-thru lane for convenient pickup for online orders. Indoor dining will feature kiosk-style ordering for easy and convenient service. Chef Nicola Blaque and Chef Lionel “Butch” Blache will lead the kitchen.
“We are so excited to open this new and improved Jerk Shack that will allow us the room to serve and host more people. We have the capability in this space to create the dishes that we’re known for as well as the ability to expand on some new items that we believe will become new signature favorites.” – Jerk Shack Owner and Executive Chef Nicola Blaque.
The flavors of Jamaica and the Caribbean inspire the Jerk Shack’s cuisine. Chef Blaque and her team have incorporated the flavors and techniques of Caribbean cooking into American favorites like mac and cheese, tacos, and more that creates a unique blend of cultures, though traditional Caribbean dishes like braised oxtail, jerk chicken, and more are also available at the restaurant.
The new Jerk Shack location takes the place of the original restaurant, which closed in September while the team focused their efforts on building the new restaurant. Jerk Shack’s hours of operation are Mondays through Thursdays from 11a.m. to 8pm., Fridays and Saturdays from 11a.m. to 9p.m. and Sundays from 11a.m. to 4p.m. In the summer of 2020 Chef Nicola also opened Mi Roti, a Caribbean-style concept in Pearl’s Bottling Department.
The Jerk Shack is a concept by Chef Nicola Blaque and her husband Cornelius Massey. After serving ten years in the Army, Blaque began working as a private chef to explore her passion for cooking. She relocated to San Antonio from Hawaii to pursue a degree at the Culinary Institute of America where she graduated in 2016. Blaque returned to her Jamaican roots and began focusing on Caribbean cuisine, working to bring the unique flavors to South Texas. In 2018, the team launched The Jerk Shack, a restaurant inspired by the flavors of Jamaica and the Caribbean. The Jerk Shack has received national praise including being featured by Eater as one of the 2019 Top 16 New Restaurants in America as well as being included in GQ’s 2020 Best New Restaurants in America.
Mind Over Manners will be out January 21, 2022. Photo: Rob Aldridge & The Proponents
Alabama-based rock and rollers Rob Aldridge & The Proponents leaned into a two-part strategy for their upcoming second album Mind Over Manners: speak thoughtful truths and back them up with tasteful grooves. They dodged the dreaded sophomore-slump by a mile, delivering a twelve-song collection strong enough to break through into the ranks of fellow-Alabaman contemporaries like Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit or Alabama Shakes. Mind Over Manners will be out January 21, 2022. (Rob Aldridge & the Proponents, 2021)
The Props crafted a tune both effortlessly timeless in its feel and devastatingly timely with its message. Inspired directly by the Black Lives Matter movement, Aldridge describes “Mind Over Manners” as “a response to white people who dismiss the movement based on the riots and property damage.” Aldridge adds, “It’s essentially asking white people who feel this way, ‘If you’re being honest with yourself about the history of racism in this country, how can you blame them for rioting?’” Fans can hear “Mind Over Manners” now at this link and pre-order or pre-save the full album ahead of its January 21st release right here. JamBase premiered Rob Aldridge & the Proponents’ title track from their new album, Mind Over Manners.
For a talented band that has paid its dues, the release of Mind Over Manners should be a triumph. And it is. But it is a bittersweet triumph. In April of 2021, Proponents bassist Stone Anderson died from an accidental drug overdose. His passing shook the North Alabama music scene and of course the band. For Aldridge, it has been especially tough. He and Anderson had been tight since they were little kids. Even now, Aldridge will sometimes catch himself reaching for the phone to text Stone a new music idea or just a funny thought. As the finishing touches were being put on Mind Over Manners, Aldridge was haunted by the fact this was the last thing he had ever work with Stone on. Anderson’s death at age 27 was truly tragic, but the new album is a fitting final statement from a musician destined for bigger stages.
Mind Over Manners Track list: Mind Over Manners Poor Taste Little Lou This Time Twisted Blanket Beatlesque Nowhere Want It More Mean Grass Explaining To Do Devil On Sunday Loneliest of Company Ball of Yarn
Tall Dark Pines will be out January 27, 2022. Photo: David Jameson
David Jameson, a former corporate consultant turned songwriter, is pleased to announce his debut album Tall Dark Pines which will be released on January 27, 2022. Produced by Duane Lundy and engineered by Lundy and Tom Hnatow, the album touches on different aspects of inspiration found through the varied and impactful chapters of Jameson’s life. Although he is often inspired by the music he discovers during his travels, David’s sound and soul remain firmly rooted in the American country and folk tradition. (David Jameson, 2021)
The album’s first single and title track “Tall Dark Pines” harkens back to the musical folklore tradition of murder ballads. A true and tragic story, a husband sets out to rebalance the scales of justice by taking matters into his own hands. Using his near-perfected detail oriented approach to songwriting, Jameson paints a vivid picture for the listener as to transport one to the deep woods in which this tragic story takes place. Inspired by the murder ballad classic “In The Pines,” “Tall Dark Pines” feels at once modern and timeless. Beloved Americana podcast Hippies & Cowboys debuted the track. Click hereto preorder/pre save the album.
David Jameson’s songs, and in particular the ones to be heard on Tall Dark Pines, mirror his life, full of stories marked by vivid imagery and a broad set of influences. The stories featured on his upcoming album are closer to home than most of his adventures. Many of the songs tell the stories of his family and community that were passed onto David during the pandemic. David brings these modern stories to life by incorporating elements of traditional American country and folk ballads of the 19th and 18th centuries as well as those of the British Isles that date back even further. This approach inspired Americana Highways to call David “a master writer and storyteller, propelling a significant folk tradition into the modern era.”
SA Examiner 