Author: Sandra Cruz

Blogger, book reviewer, artist, poet, avid reader and nature/animal lover.

Contemporary at Blue Star: 2026 Exhibitions, Events, and Artist Opportunities

Mini Art Museum at the Contemporary’s Family Day, 2024. Photo by Bria Woods, used with permission.

Upcoming Exhibitions & Programs at Contemporary at Blue Star

San Antonio, Texas – In 2026, the Contemporary at Blue Star centers its exhibition programming around the theme of community, marking a major milestone: the organization’s 40th anniversary in June 2026. Curator and Exhibitions Director Jacqueline Saragoza McGilvray frames the year as an opportunity to reflect on the Contemporary’s history, the role community has played in shaping the institution, and the ways exhibitions can actively build and strengthen local, national, and international relationships. (Contemporary at Blue Star, 2026)

Below is a look at the upcoming exhibitions and programs.

Mark Menjívar: Murmurations

Opening Night: Friday, February 6, 2026 | 6–9 p.m.
Taco Talk: Friday, February 6, 2026 | 10:30–11:30 a.m.
On View: February 6 – May 3, 2026

San Antonio–based artist Mark Menjívar integrates social practice and participatory education models to create intentional community building. His work establishes frameworks for students, community groups, and leaders to engage in critical dialogue around the issues that shape their lives.

Menjívar’s participatory projects often incorporate oral history recording, archive building, publications, and installations that present collective conversations while inviting continued public engagement. Over the last two decades, he has completed more than a dozen multifaceted, long-term projects.

This mid-career survey highlights selected works—including The Luck Archive—while also debuting new projects. Menjívar is currently an Associate Professor in the Interdisciplinary School for Engagement at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Mini Art Museum

Honoring the Late Mary Cantú

Opening Night: Friday, March 6, 2026 | 6–9 p.m.
On View: March 6 – June 7, 2026

The San Antonio arts community was deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Mary Cantú on February 18, 2025, at age 45. Cantú was a beloved advocate for arts education and served on the Contemporary’s Education Committee from 2014–2016, playing a key role in the development of the Creative Classrooms program and championing free access to art for San Antonio children.

In 2013, Cantú co-founded the Mini Art Museum with Gabriela Santiago. Using standard office binders as gallery “walls,” the Mini Art Museum invited artists to create miniature works sized to fit inside 8.5 × 11-inch plastic sleeves. Featuring original works by professional artists, the museum encourages close observation, often aided by magnifying glasses, creating a sense of wonder and intimacy.

In spring 2024, the Mini Art Museum collection was transferred to the Contemporary. Exhibited here in its entirety and in memoriam of Mary Cantú, the presentation includes over 100 works by artists such as Kim Bishop, Sarah Castillo, Michael Menchaca, and Vincent Valdez, reflecting the profound impact Cantú made on the community.

Roman Franc: Groups Collective

Opening Night: Friday, March 6, 2026 | 6–9 p.m.
On View: March 6 – June 7, 2026

Artist Roman Franc will travel to San Antonio to create new photographs as part of his ongoing Group Pictures / Collectives series. Since 2015, Franc has photographed groups across cultures and geographies, from residents of Tanna Island in the South Pacific to the U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C.

San Antonio’s layered and interconnected communities provide a rich setting for this project. In alignment with the Contemporary’s 40th anniversary theme, Groups Collective offers glimpses into a larger whole, reflecting the city’s diversity and collective spirit.

Franc (b. 1983, Brno, Czech Republic) holds an MA in Education from Masaryk University and an MFA in Photography from the Institute of Creative Photography at Silesian University, Opava. His practice focuses on non-traditional portraiture and staged photography, alongside curatorial and publishing work.

Berlin Residency Program

2026–2027 Application Cycle Now Open

Contemporary at Blue Star is now accepting applications from artists living and working in Bexar County for its Berlin Residency Program. Launched in 2013, the program enters its 12th cycle in partnership with Künstlerhaus Bethanien (KB).

Each year, four artists are awarded three-month residencies in Berlin, Germany, with the opportunity to also visit San Antonio’s sister city, Darmstadt, Germany.

Residency Support Includes:

  • $2,000 stipend for travel and living expenses
  • Coverage of all residency program fees, including:
    • Studio and living space
    • Inclusion in the internationally distributed BE magazine
    • Curatorial visits and workshop access

Eligibility guidelines are available through the application link.
Application Deadline: Sunday, February 22, 2026 at 4 p.m.

About Contemporary at Blue Star

Contemporary at Blue Star presents exhibitions featuring artists from San Antonio and around the world, sharing global perspectives that encourage understanding, empathy, change, and action. As a non-collecting contemporary art space, the Contemporary offers fresh insights into cultural and societal issues by highlighting current trends, movements, and conversations in art.

Admission is always free.

Contemporary at Blue Star
116 Blue Star
San Antonio, TX 78204

trauma ray’s Carnival EP Is a Dark, Shoegaze-Fueled Descent Into Unease

trauma ray announces new album – Carnival. Photo: Erasmo Viera, used with permission.

trauma ray Explores the Dark Funhouse on Carnival EP

trauma ray’s Carnival EP captures the Fort Worth five’s strongest, most intense, and exploratory work within the boundaries of a whirlwind year. Carnival delves into moodier, more cerebral material, like holding their past excursions against a funhouse mirror. There’s a distinct sense of unease in these songs, built in a fleeting window of time, proving the band works best under pressure and when pulling from the darkest corners of their subconscious. (another side, 2026)

Carnival will be available on February 20 via Dais Records.
Pre-save / pre-order here.

Following the Breakout of Chameleon

Carnival follows the breakout success of Chameleon, trauma ray’s 2024 debut on Dais Records. The album helped firmly establish the band amidst the current wave of shoegaze revivalists. Increasingly agile, trauma ray has proven able to weave between scenes, touring extensively with the likes of Deafheaven, Loathe, Touché Amoré, and more.

A confluence of blitzing riffs and stark beauty, trauma ray’s sound continues to evolve, nodding to loud-quiet-loud greats across metal, grunge, and shoegaze, from Slowdive to Smashing Pumpkins.

New Single: “Hannibal”

trauma ray’s new single and video, “Hannibal,” contorts with a tinge of unprecedented evil, slithery and, as vocalist Uriel Avila puts it, “Stone Temple-y, Alice in Chains-y.” Lyrically, the track taps into teenage angst and the feeling of being dissected and rejected.

“It’s a song about the feeling of doing your best as an individual yet still falling short in the eyes of those you hope to make proud,” Avila explains.

“A lot of it stems from internal battles I faced growing up with my father, role models, and religion. Some of it comes from more recent experiences of being put under the microscope by my peers. It’s a gut-wrenching sensation that I was able to tie lyrically to the visceral mood of the instrumentation that kicks off the track and begins the journey through Carnival’s overall theme.”

Recording Under Pressure

During a brief break in their relentless touring schedule last summer, trauma ray regrouped in Texas for a few days to record a flurry of tracks, later sent to Corey Coffman for mixing and mastering. Core songwriting duo Avila and guitarist Jonathan Perez welcomed increased contributions from the rest of the band, most notably guitarist Coleman Pruitt and bassist Darren Baun, who brought an eerier strain of rhythmic and textural ideas.

This shift coincided with a growing sense of collective dread and anxiety, visually captured in a striking photo set of a deserted amusement park near Brighton, England. Shot on tour by drummer Nicholas Bobotas, the images now serve as the EP’s artwork.

Track-by-Track Through the Funhouse

The wordless opener “Carousel” ushers in Carnival’s unsettling atmosphere, with blasts of static and downcast strums giving way to “Hannibal,” the anthemic lead single packed with power riffs and raw emotion.

“Méliès,” named after French illusionist and filmmaker Georges Méliès, cuts between heavy, sludgy chords and a skyward chorus—“from something scary to like a dream state,” Avila says, channeling the surreal abstraction of its namesake.

“Funhouse” dips into doom metal, featuring sparse guitar work and possibly the band’s slowest BPM yet. Lyrics play with shifting perspectives, culminating in a call-and-response outro—“take my hand / this is not your wonderland”—that conjures opposing forces or frames of mind.

A Jarring Exit: “Clown”

In contrast, the final track “Clown” jolts, flashes, and pummels, like emerging from the other end of a house of horrors, now immersed in the disorienting lights of the carnival. Personified by a knotty, synth-soaked lead guitar squall, the song evokes Robin Williams as an archetype of tragic happiness: those who work hardest to make others laugh may privately be the saddest.

Sonically, the band cites influences like Failure’s “Undone” and “Stuck on You,” alongside the omnipresent Loveless. The result speaks to trauma ray’s growing strength: five musicians absorbing, synthesizing, and expanding on what they love.

Carnival offers a brief, highly loopable detour into darkness from a band growing more formidable by the mile.

Carnival EP tracklist: 

1 – carousel
2 – Hannibal
3 – Méliès
4 – Funhouse
5 – Clown

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Carnival release date

Chef Jason Dady Hosts Titans of Tailgate at La Cantera in San Antonio

The Titans of Tailgate event supports San Antonio high school culinary programs. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Titans of Tailgate Returns to San Antonio for Its 9th Year

Chef Jason Dady and Culinaria are proud to present the ninth annual Titans of Tailgate, presented by Wrangler Air Conditioning, taking place Sunday, February 1, from 1–4 p.m. at The Rock at La Cantera. (Jason Dady Restaurant Group, 2026)

This high-energy, chef-driven event brings together more than 30 of San Antonio’s top chefs for an afternoon celebrating food, flavor, and community—all while supporting local high school culinary programs.

A Chef-Fueled Grilling Showdown

Hosted by Chef Jason Dady, Titans of Tailgate is the ultimate grilling throwdown, featuring some of the city’s most respected culinary talent, including:

  • PJ Edwards (Meadow Neighborhood Eatery)
  • Berty Richter (Ladino)
  • Esaul Ramos (2M Smokehouse)
  • Nicola Blaque (The Jerk Shack)
  • And many more

Chefs will compete head-to-head for the coveted title of “Titan of Tailgate,” blending tailgate spirit with bold, chef-driven creativity.

Supporting the Next Generation of Chefs

Representatives from six local high schools will join the professional chefs, reinforcing the event’s mission of mentorship and community investment. Guests will enjoy:

  • Unlimited tastings
  • Drinks and interactive experiences
  • The chance to vote for their favorite bite

Proceeds from the event directly support San Antonio high school culinary programs, helping fund equipment, prep materials, and educational resources.

Event Details

📍 Location
The Rock at La Cantera
1 Spurs Way
San Antonio, TX 78256

🎟 Ticket Pricing

  • Under 21: $50
  • General Admission: $85
  • VIP: $150

For more information and to purchase tickets, click the link here.

About Jason Dady Restaurant Group

Since 2001, Texas native Chef Jason Dady, a James Beard Foundation Award semifinalist and frequent Food Network and Travel Channel expert, has helped redefine San Antonio’s culinary culture. In July 2025, he was named one of six chef ambassadors representing San Antonio as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.

Led by Chef Dady alongside his brother Jake and wife Crystal, the Jason Dady Restaurant Group includes nine acclaimed restaurants, as well as catering and event services.

About Culinaria

CULINARIA is an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting San Antonio as a premier food and wine destination. Since 2000, Culinaria has championed locally sourced food, culinary education, and community-driven events that enrich the Alamo City. Proceeds from its events directly support this mission, helping Culinaria remain largely self-sustaining.

‘AI and I’: A Blueprint for Human Leadership in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

AI and I is the new book by Eduardo M. Arroyo. Photo: Amazon

📘 New Book Spotlight

AI and I: Merging the Horizon of Human Ingenuity and Artificial Intelligence

by Eduardo M. Arroyo

When intelligence becomes abundant, the human mind becomes the point of differentiation. (Amazon, 2026)

Are you using AI—or is AI using you?

We are standing at the edge of the greatest technological shift since the steam engine. The cost of intelligence – writing, coding, reasoning – has dropped to near zero. For many, this is terrifying. If the machine can do the work, what is left for us?

In AI and I, systems engineer and strategic consultant Eduardo M. Arroyo offers a provocative answer:

Everything.

This is not a technical manual for prompt engineering. It is a manifesto for human sovereignty.

A guide for leaders, creatives, and professionals who refuse to be replaced by an algorithm and instead choose to become the Architects of the new era.

Move Beyond the “Oracle Trap”

Too many users treat AI like a magic 8-ball, asking it for answers and outsourcing their judgment. The result? Intellectual atrophy.

Arroyo introduces Co-Engineering: a method where you stop leaning back (abdicating thought) and start leaning on, using AI as a cognitive exoskeleton, not a crutch.

What’s Inside the Book

  • The FIRRST Mindset
    A battle-tested framework—Foresight, Innovation, Reasonable Resilience, Strategy, and Teamwork, designed to navigate the VUCA world without burning out.
  • The “Decision Engine” vs. the Chatbot
    How to stop treating AI as a conversation partner and start treating it as a high-velocity motor for your intent.
  • The Copyright Victory (Case Study TX 9-455-371)
    The true story of how Arroyo secured a copyright registration for an AI-assisted work using the “Limitation of Claim” strategy, proving that you own the structure, even if the machine lays the bricks.
  • The Neurobiology of Flow
    How to use AI to bypass low-value struggle and trigger high-performance states where creativity and productivity soar.
  • The Ecosystem of 2026
    Why the future isn’t just about chatbots but about managing a digital workforce of Agents, Sensors, and Robots.

The Evolution of the “I”

Arroyo argues that we are witnessing the birth of Homo Sapiens Technologicus.

By engaging in High-Value Struggle with these systems, we aren’t just getting faster, we are expanding our cognitive capacity.

The machine has data, but it lacks scars.
It has speed, but it lacks context.
It has intelligence, but it lacks Intent.

That remains yours.

A Blueprint for the Next Decade

AI and I is your roadmap for what comes next.

Stop worrying about the robot taking your job.
Start building the future where you lead the robot.

AI does not define who you are.
It reveals it.

About the Author

Eduardo M. Arroyo is a trailblazing strategist, consultant, and innovator in strategic planning and execution. His extensive professional background provides a rigorous foundation for the methodologies and principles explored in AI and I.

Arroyo’s academic journey reflects excellence and discipline. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Management, with a minor in Industrial Psychology, followed by a Master of Business Administration in Strategic Planning—completed within four calendar years—at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.

Book Review: ‘The Dark Art of Life Mastery’ and Why It’s a Wake-Up Call for Personal Growth

The Dark Art of Life Mastery is a a powerful guide to living fearlessly. Photo: Barnes & Noble

The Dark Art of Life Mastery: Your Life, Your Way, Right Here, Right Now

by Hussein Hallak

Overview

Life doesn’t slow down just because you want it to. It’s complicated and messy. It tests you and shapes your experiences, especially if you don’t shape your own. Sometimes it demands more than we feel able to give.

But you can’t wait for an opportunity to spark change. You have to create it.

In The Dark Art of Life Mastery, Hussein Hallak helps unleash your potential by offering a guide for living fearlessly, second-guessing less, and embracing your true purpose.

The first chapter makes one thing clear: this book won’t tell you anything entirely new. Instead, it compares his writing to putting on sunglasses:

“Sunglasses aren’t right or wrong; they just allow you to see things differently based upon the environment surrounding you.”

What’s Inside

  • Rewind
  • (Untitled)
  • Time Is the Key
  • Then You Die
  • Let Go
  • Captain On Deck
  • Master
  • At the Helm
  • Take It In

Highlights

Captain On Deck
Sometimes, in the middle of nowhere, you find yourself. We pretend to be kings of our lives when in reality, we can’t control everything. All you can do is step on deck, take the wheel, and hope for the best.

Scanning
We’ve evolved to prioritize survival. That’s why criticism feels like a threat, triggering defensiveness and pushing us into fight-or-flight mode.

Review

The Dark Art of Life Mastery is a reflective and motivating guide for anyone who feels like life is happening to them rather than being shaped by them. Hallak begins with a question that quietly lingers throughout the book: If it’s your life, who’s really in control? From there, he explores the uncomfortable truth that life doesn’t pause when we feel overwhelmed, it keeps moving, demanding intention, courage, and self-awareness.

Hallak blends personal stories with poetic insight, creating a tone that feels grounding and quietly empowering. He doesn’t offer rigid formulas for success. Instead, he focuses on mindset: learning to sit with discomfort, questioning self-doubt, and taking responsibility for the choices that define our path. The “dark art” isn’t about manipulation or secrecy, but about mastering unseen inner battles, fear, hesitation, and the stories we tell ourselves.

The illustrations at the beginning of each chapter are beautiful and thoughtfully reflect each chapter’s theme. It’s a short read and serves as a reminder that transformation doesn’t come from waiting for the right moment, it comes from creating it.

“You may have to pause, think hard, and go deep inside to bring out the one thing that matters most. It’s likely buried under all those meaningless someday goals.”

This book is recommended for readers who enjoy inspirational and introspective personal development reads.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

About the Author

Hussein Hallak is a founder, entrepreneur, and strategist dedicated to helping people and organizations find clarity in complexity and build lasting impact. As CEO of Next Decentrum, he guides leaders and teams worldwide through digital transformation, innovation, and values-driven growth.

He is the author of The Dark Art of Life Mastery, a blunt and honest invitation to confront illusions, reclaim personal agency, and stop waiting for permission to live. His work challenges easy answers and rewards those willing to choose meaning over comfort.

*Thank you to Next Decentrum for the gifted copy for review consideration. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

From Page to Screen: People We Meet On Vacation Is Now Streaming on Netflix

People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry. Photo: Barnes & Noble

People We Meet On Vacation: From Beloved Novel to Netflix Movie

The New York Times bestselling romance novel People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry has officially made its leap from page to screen. The long-awaited Netflix adaptation stars Emily Bader, Tom Blyth, and Sarah Catherine Hook, and is now available to stream.

For fans of the book, and for anyone who loves a slow-burn friends-to-lovers romance, this adaptation brings one of Emily Henry’s most cherished stories to life.

About the Book: People We Meet On Vacation

Two best friends.
Ten summer trips.
One last chance to fall in love.

Poppy and Alex couldn’t be more different.

She’s a wild child with insatiable wanderlust.
He wears khakis and prefers staying home with a good book.

After a chance car share home from college, the two form an unlikely friendship that becomes the most important relationship in their lives. For a decade, despite living far apart, Poppy in New York City and Alex in their small Ohio hometown, they spend one glorious week each summer traveling together.

Until two years ago, when everything fell apart.

They haven’t spoken since.

The Story at Its Heart

On the surface, Poppy has everything she’s supposed to want. But she’s stuck in a rut. When she’s asked when she was last truly happy, the answer comes easily: that final, ill-fated vacation with Alex. (Barnes & Noble, 2026)

Determined to fix what they broke, Poppy convinces Alex to take one last trip together—to lay everything on the table and make things right. Miraculously, he agrees.

Now she has one week to fix everything… if she can finally face the truth that has always hovered between them.

What could possibly go wrong?

The Netflix Adaptation

Directed by Brett Haley, People We Meet On Vacation was released this month and has received generally positive reviews. The film captures the charm of Emily Henry’s original story, following Poppy and Alex’s decade-long tradition of shared summer vacations and the deeper connection that slowly unfolds between them.

At its core, the movie remains a story about timing, vulnerability, and the quiet, life-changing power of friendship turning into love.

Have you watched the Netflix adaptation yet, or are you still loyal to the book? 📚🎬

Photo: IMDb

A Luxury Wellness Escape at Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk

The Moon’s Daughters’ rooftop lounge at Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk. Photo: Thompson San Antonio, used with permission.

New Year, New You: A Wellness Escape at Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk

As the new year begins, Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk invites travelers to embrace a New Year, New You mindset with a wellness-focused escape centered on The Spa at Thompson San Antonio—an elevated sanctuary designed for restoration, renewal, and indulgent self-care. (Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk, 2026)

A Sanctuary for Total Reset

Guests are welcomed into a serene spa experience complete with access to:

  • Relaxation lounges
  • A eucalyptus steam room
  • Sauna
  • Exclusive pool deck
  • Private locker rooms

Together, these amenities create the perfect foundation for a full-day reset. The experience is easily personalized with visits to the on-site nail salon, hair studio, and curated retail boutique, allowing guests to take a piece of their spa ritual home with them.

Customized Treatments for Every Need

For those looking to unwind on their own terms, the spa offers an extensive menu of treatments, including:

  • 25- to 100-minute massages tailored to individual needs
  • 11 specialized facials, ranging from anti-aging to deep nourishment
  • Five sensorial body treatments designed to awaken the senses while calming the mind

Late Night Luxury: Spa After Dark

A standout offering this season is the Thompson Spa Late Night Escape, a private, after-hours spa experience perfect for groups. Ideal for birthdays, bridal parties, corporate gatherings, or a wellness-driven girls’ night, guests enjoy exclusive access to the spa while Thompson provides the pampering, turning self-care into a celebration.

From Spa Serenity to Rooftop Glamour

To complete the experience, guests can transition seamlessly from spa serenity to skyline glamour at The Moon’s Daughters, the hotel’s enchanting indoor-outdoor rooftop lounge perched 20 stories above the River Walk. Inspired by the Greek goddess of the moon, the space glows with twinkling city lights and starry-night energy, an ideal setting to toast fresh starts with craft cocktails and sweeping views of San Antonio.

A Stylish Start to the Year

Whether it’s a solo reset, a group wellness gathering, or a chic way to welcome the year ahead, Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk offers a destination where rejuvenation meets elevated design and vibrant city energy.

Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk
115 Lexington Ave
San Antonio, TX 78205

Photo: Thompson San Antonio, used with permission.

Latin Music Powerhouse Kings Del Wepa Announce 2026 U.S. Tour

Kings Del Wepa U.S. tour has arrived. Photo: Vesper Public Relations, used with permission.

Kings Del Wepa Announce February 2026 U.S. Tour Dates with Live Nation

Los Angeles, CA — Los Angeles–based production hub Misterpsychedelia has partnered with Live Nation to announce the Kings Del Wepa February 2026 U.S. tour, bringing the group’s high-energy cumbia wepa live performance to five cities across California and Texas. (Vesper Public Relations, 2026)

The February 2026 tour marks a major milestone in Kings Del Wepa’s U.S. touring expansion, with headline shows in key West Coast and Texas markets.

Kings Del Wepa 2026 U.S. Tour Dates

  • February 10, 2026 — Ace of Spades — Sacramento, CA
  • February 12, 2026 — The Regent Theater — Los Angeles, CA
  • February 17, 2026 — House of Blues — Houston, TX
  • February 18, 2026 — The Echo Lounge & Music Hall — Dallas, TX
  • February 19, 2026 — The Aztec Theatre — San Antonio, TX

Each concert will feature a 75–90 minute headline set, delivering the full Kings Del Wepa live experience, immersive, percussive, and built for movement. Tickets available here.

Who Are Kings Del Wepa?

Originating from Monclova, Coahuila, Mexico, Kings Del Wepa are known for their commanding stage presence, deep rhythmic roots, and genre-bending sound that fuses traditional cumbia with modern Latin influences.

Their live shows blur the line between concert, cultural ceremony, and dance-floor celebration, making them a standout act in the contemporary Latin music scene.

Popular Kings Del Wepa Songs

Kings Del Wepa have built a strong catalog of fan-favorite tracks that frequently appear on cumbia wepa and Latin dance playlists, including:

Cumbia Lorana, Medio Metro, La Bomba Arabe, Mi Abuela Baila Wepa, La Sampuesana Regreso, Atrévete, Meneando Cinturita, Cumbia de la Cinta, Hey Morros, Wepiriski, and Cumbia Cartagena.

Fans of both traditional cumbia and modern Latin music connect with the band’s catchy melodies, contagious rhythms, and uplifting lyrics, an authentic reflection of Mexico’s rich cultural heritage.

Misterpsychedelia and Live Nation Partnership

The 2026 U.S. tour represents a strategic collaboration between Misterpsychedelia and Live Nation, blending global touring infrastructure with curator-driven programming rooted in underground, international, and Latin music cultures.

Photo: Vesper Public Relations

Local Events in Castle Hills and New Braunfels This Week

Castle Hill’s Clementine has a wine tasting event this Saturday. Photo: Clementine, used with permission.

Things to Do This Week in San Antonio and New Braunfels (January 2026)

Looking for things to do in San Antonio this week or events in New Braunfels? From a wine tasting at a James Beard–nominated restaurant to family-friendly outdoor movie nights, here are two must-visit local events happening this week.

🍷Wine Tasting Event in San Antonio: Clementine’s Quarterly Wine Tasting

Date: Saturday, January 24, 2026
Time: 1:00–3:00 p.m.
Location: Castle Hills, San Antonio

Clementine, a beloved San Antonio neighborhood restaurant, is hosting its quarterly Wine Tasting event to close out the month of January. Guests can sample a curated selection of wines while learning about each pour, paired with small bites of cheese to elevate the tasting experience. (Clementine, 2026)

Event Details:

  • Admission:
    • Free for Juice Box Members
    • $15 per person for non-members
  • Early Access:
    • Juice Box Members receive exclusive early entry at 12:30 p.m.
  • Seating: Limited availability; early arrival is recommended

Guests interested in exclusive dining perks can explore Clementine’s Table22 Juice Box Subscription, the restaurant’s annual membership program.

Address:
Clementine
2195 Northwest Military Highway
Castle Hills, TX 78213

About Clementine Restaurant

Clementine is a family-owned San Antonio restaurant known for seasonal, innovative cuisine served in a vibrant, modern atmosphere. The restaurant is led by Chef John Russ, a 2023 James Beard Award Nominee for Best Chef: Texas, alongside Pastry Chef Elise Russ. The menu features globally inspired small plates, shareable platters, produce-forward sideboard options, and imaginative desserts.

🎬Family-Friendly Events in New Braunfels: Tuesday Movie Nights at Muck & Fuss

When: Every Tuesday
Time: Starts at 5:45 p.m.
Where: Downtown New Braunfels

Muck & Fuss, a popular New Braunfels restaurant, continues its weekly outdoor movie night series in the Biergarten. This community favorite combines classic films, comfort food, and craft cocktails in a relaxed, family-friendly setting. (Muck & Fuss, 2026)

What to Expect:

  • Outdoor movies under the stars
  • Complimentary popcorn and hot chocolate 🍿 ☕
  • Savory food and craft cocktails
  • Guests encouraged to dress to match each movie’s theme

Kids’ Meals:
Special kids’ meals are available for $6.95, making this one of the best family-friendly things to do in New Braunfels.

Upcoming Movie Schedule:

  • School of Rock — Tuesday, January 20, 2026
  • Nacho Libre — Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Address:
Muck & Fuss
295 E. San Antonio St.
New Braunfels, TX 78130

About Muck & Fuss

Muck & Fuss is a locally owned downtown New Braunfels restaurant offering chef-inspired burgers, inventive comfort food, and a carefully curated craft beer program with 38 rotating draft beers. The venue features live music and a lively Biergarten atmosphere.

Owners Terry and Celina Muckenfuss are dedicated to revitalizing downtown New Braunfels and also operate the restored historic Prince Solms Inn and Sidecar, an elevated speakeasy-style cocktail bar.

Photo: Muck & Fuss, used with permission.

Jan-Philipp Sendker Returns with ‘Akiko’s Quiet Happiness’

‘Akikos’ Quiet Happiness’ is a moving new Japan trilogy novel. Photo: Other Press

Akiko’s Quiet Happiness

The Japan Trilogy, Vol. 1
by Jan-Philipp Sendker
Translated by Daniel Bowles

The first book in a new series by the beloved author of The Art of Hearing Heartbeats trilogy is now out. Jan-Philipp Sendker returns with Akiko’s Quiet Happiness, the opening novel in The Japan Trilogy, a tender, introspective story about grief, identity, and the courage it takes to love. (Other Press, 2025)

About the Novel

Still grieving the death of her mother, 29-year-old Akiko lives alone in Tokyo, withdrawn and emotionally isolated. Her quiet, carefully contained life is interrupted one evening when she unexpectedly runs into Kento, her first love from school.

Kento now lives as a hikikomori, leading a reclusive life and only venturing outside at night. As the two former classmates reconnect, their fragile bond begins to open doors neither of them expected.

At the same time, Akiko uncovers unsettling evidence that her mother had been lying to her about their family. The discovery shakes her sense of self and forces her to confront a painful truth: she doesn’t really know who she is.

With Kento’s support, Akiko embarks on a journey into her own past, one that leads her in surprising directions and toward questions she has never dared to ask before:

  • How do I want to live?
  • And do I have the courage to love?

Perfect for fans of Satoshi Yagisawa’s Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, Akiko’s Quiet Happiness is a poignant story of family, identity, and belonging.

About the Author

Jan-Philipp Sendker, born in Hamburg in 1960, was the American correspondent for Stern from 1990 to 1995 and its Asian correspondent from 1995 to 1999. In 2000, he published Cracks in the Wall, a nonfiction book about China.

His first novel, The Art of Hearing Heartbeats, became an international bestseller. Sendker now lives in Potsdam with his family.

About the Translator

Daniel Bowles is Associate Professor of German Studies at Boston College. His translation of Imperium won the Goethe-Institut’s Helen & Kurt Wolff Translator’s Prize in 2016.