Author: Sandra Cruz

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

Texas Food & Wine Alliance celebrating the holidays with curated Texas gift sets

Texas Food & Wine Alliance partners with LifeWorks Restaurant Groups to bring delicious joy to the holidays with curated Texas gift sets by local artisans. Photo: Texas Food & Wine Alliance, used with permission.

As a unique fundraiser, the Texas Food & Wine Alliance (TFWA) announces the nationwide release of curated holiday gift sets so foodies everywhere can get a taste of Texas. Brimming with gourmet snacks, the boxes are the perfect surprise for friends, family, or anyone else in need of holiday cheer. They are also sure to delight Texas expats looking for a taste of home. (Texas Food & Wine Alliance, 2021)

In collaboration with Munch Mail, the foodie gift boxes are available in two sizes to accommodate most holiday shoppers’ budgets. Ideal for corporate giving, the Texas Treats box ($59) includes an indulgent sampling of sweets and savories. The Ultimate Texas Treats box ($99) ups the ante with additional unique artisan treats. Orders can be placed through Munch Mail and shipped throughout the United States.

A percentage of the profits will benefit TFWA to help the nonprofit continue its mission of supporting Texas food communities through its culinary innovation grants and educational programs.

The boxes include delicacies from some of the Lone Star State’s most celebrated small-batch producers. James Beard Award-nominated Chef Anita Jaisinghani of Houston’s Pondicheri impresses with a seven-ounce Bombay snack mix while sustainable San Antonio artisan Tatemada brings the heat with a six-pack of mini salsas. Austin farmers’ market favorite The Sourdough Project contributes a six-ounce box of cold-fermented sea salt crackers, perfect for pairing with saucissson d’Alsace from Wimberley charcuterie experts Visca Charcuteria — available only in the Ultimate box.

Those with a sweet tooth will beam at the Loco for Coco bar from award-winning Dallas chocolatier Dude, Sweet Chocolate and a five-ounce bag of honey almond granola from cottage East Dallas bakery Hippos & Hashbrowns. Ultimate Texas Treats gift recipients can look forward to waking up with an 11-ounce serving of granola drizzled with a three-ounce jar of honey from Austin micro-producer and two-time Alliance grant winner Two Hives Honey.

These delectable holiday boxes are part of a new partnership between TFWA and Munch Mail’s parent company LifeWorks Restaurant Group, an organization that cares deeply about where food comes from, how it is prepared, and the impact it has on the community. From locally sourced products to scratch-made entrees, LifeWorks’ teams build food stories and share them with passion and transparency. The Alliance is proud to work with a company dedicated to working with local farmers, ranchers, CSAs, and small businesses while investing back into the community to make us all better together.

“We are thrilled to work with Munch Mail in bringing cheer to the holiday table. LifeWorks enhances our mission and understands the value of uplifting local food systems.” – Gina Burchenal, Interim Executive Director of the Texas Food & Wine Alliance.

“As we kick off our partnership with the TFWA, we are thrilled to support the Texas culinary community by partnering with them on these unique, curated holiday boxes. We look forward to many more initiatives with the alliance that will foster awareness and support local talent.” – Prentiss Hall, founder and CEO of LifeWorks Restaurant Group.

The Texas Food & Wine Alliance is a 501(c)3nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering awareness, support, and innovation in the Texas culinary community through grants, educational programming, and events. Guided by an all-volunteer board of directors and committees made up of culinary-and-community-minded professionals, the Alliance’s commitment is to promote Texas food, wine, spirits, and craft brews and to increase appreciation of Texas’ culinary impact. The Texas Food & Wine Alliance serves as the umbrella organization overseeing the Austin Food & Wine Alliance, the San Antonio Food & Wine Alliance, the Dallas Food & Wine Alliance, and the Houston Food & Wine Alliance.

LifeWorks Restaurant Group, an independently operated division of Aramark, designs custom solutions for clients looking to take amenities to the next level. Our team of forward-thinkers look at each opportunity as an experience—not a requirement—and deliver out-of-this world, truly sensory experiences, feeding your company culture.

iFLY Indoor Skydiving’s Black Friday exclusive package

iFLY Indoor Skydiving has an exclusive Black Friday package perfect for holiday gift giving. Photo: google

Just in time for holiday shopping, iFLY Indoor Skydiving’s Black Friday Exclusive Package features savings of 50%-off. The package is available for purchase online and will run beginning Black Friday (November 26) through Cyber Monday (November 29).

The package includes the following and is valid *Monday – Friday at participating US locations: 

  • 10 Flights Shared by 1-5 people
  • 5 Amazing High Flights
  • 5 Videos from Flight Session
  • Flight Gear Rental
  • Pre-Flight Training
  • One-on-One Flight Instruction
  • Personalized Flight Certificate

*Blackout dates include 12/20/21-1/2/22 and guests will need to fly by 5/27/2022 to redeem the offer.

Austin-based iFLY Holdings, LLC., is the world leader in the design, manufacturing, sales, and operations of wind tunnel systems for indoor skydiving. The company has flown more than 9,000,000 people in a dozen countries and at sea since launching the modern vertical wind tunnel industry in 1998. iFLY has over 81 facilities operating worldwide with 36 wholly-owned in North America. iFLY supports and utilizes the safety and training guidelines set out by the International Bodyflight Association (IBA) to ensure the safety and progression of the sport of indoor skydiving. iFLY makes the dream of flight a reality by giving their customers “wings” in a safe and reliable environment.

Photo: iFLY Indoor Skydiving, used with permission.

EVO Entertainment celebrates seventh anniversary of Kyle location

To celebrate the anniversary, select locations will be serving a limited time Birthday Shake. Photo: EVO Entertainment Group, used with permission.

This Saturday, November 21, EVO Entertainment Group will celebrate the Seventh Anniversary of its flagship location at Kyle Crossing. To mark this special occasion, EVO’s Kyle, Schertz, Springtown, and Belterra locations will be serving a limited-time Birthday Shake from November 18 – November 21, 2021. The cake-flavored shake is topped with rainbow sprinkles, and a boozy version with vanilla rum is available for guests 21 years of age or older wanting an extra festive celebration. (EVO Entertainment Group, 2021)

Over the past seven years, EVO’s Kyle Crossing location has been home to celebrity-hosted moving viewings, Halloween Drunken Pumpkin parties, FamilyFLIX events, and much more. To join in the celebration visit EVO Cinema online.

EVO Entertainment Group’s Birthday Shake. Photo: EVO Entertainment Group, used with permission.

Hiatus Spa + Retreat’s holiday shopping specials

Hiatus Spa + Retreat has gift cards and Cyber Monday deals perfect for holiday shopping. Photo: Hiatus Spa + Retreat, used with permission.

Looking for holiday gift shopping ideas? Hiatus Spa + Retreat’s Bright + Early Gift Card sale is now live and their Cyber Monday sale is coming up. This is the perfect time to stock up on self-care gifts for your loved ones this holiday season. (Hiatus Spa + Retreat, 2021)

Bright + Early Gift Card Sale
Dates: November 15 – December 5, 2021
Offer: Buy $125 in gift cards for $99

Cyber Monday
Dates: November 28-29, 2021
Offer: 20% Off all products on eCommerce only + Free Shipping (excludes SkinCeuticals)
Online Promo Code: CYBER20

With eight locations across Texas, eight years on Inc. 500’s fastest-growing companies, and an innovative spa subscription model, Hiatus Spa + Retreat is a fresh kind of full-service spa that has changed the wellness industry. Powered by products with green ingredients and a high-touch experience, Hiatus’ personalized approach to wellness is driven by the view that regular relaxation should be an empowering part of a healthy, happy lifestyle.

New book release: ‘The Ghost Tracks’ by Celso Hurtado

‘The Ghost Tracks’ is Celso Hurtado’s debut novel. Photo: amazon

Celso Hurtado was born and raised in San Antonio, TX. He has been a punk guitarist, worked in the political arena, and has played entirely too many hours of The Legend of Zelda. In his writing, he strives to surprise his readers, and make them think twice before investigating that creak in the hallway. In “The Ghost Tracks,” his first novel, a seventeen-year-old Texan from the wrong side of the tracks starts a supernatural detective agency―this is Fear Street for a diverse America. (amazon, 2021)

“The Ghost Tracks” – Erasmo Cruz is from the wrong side of the tracks. His dad was a junkie who overdosed. His mom chose to run off rather than raise him. His only passion is the supernatural, and his only family is his grandmother, whose aches and pains, he soon learns, are not just from old age but from cancer. Desperate to help his grandmother pay for treatment, Erasmo sets up shop as a paranormal investigator. After witnessing a series of inexplicable events, he must uncover the truth behind his clients’ seemingly impossible claims. From hauntings to exorcisms, Erasmo soon finds that San Antonio is a much scarier place than even he knew.

Book review: ‘The Space in Between’ by Signe Myers Hovem

‘The Space in Between’ by Signe Myers Hovem. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Signe Myers Hovem has created homes on five continents over twenty years, raised four uniquely sensitive children, pursued a special education lawsuit appealed to the US Supreme Court, volunteered in a hospice in Texas and an orphanage in Azerbaijan, worked as a spiritual counselor in Houston Texas, and taught workshops and trainings in the art of being an empath and the power of language in many countries around the world. Her new book “The Space in Between: An Empath’s Field Guide” is written for people who identify as highly sensitive, as empathic, or as empaths and is a map to cultivating both self-awareness and connectivity with the greater world.

“The Space in Between” begins with an Introduction where the author shares an experience she had with a guard (she felt a stinging sensation on the back of her hand) when traveling to Angola to illustrate what it is like to be both empathic and an empath, or as she calls it, being a functional empath. Her goal in writing this book is to share her experiences in the hopes that it will help others like her manage their own experiences and understand how they influence their surroundings. She calls this book a ‘field guide’ because she sees herself as a guide whose goal is to help others create a more authentic, empowered, and empathic self. It is divided into five parts: Part I: The Field of Reflection, Part II: The Field of Definition, Part III: The Field of Sensing, Part IV: The Field of Experience and Awareness, and Part V: The Field of Mystery. Each “field” grounded her and helped her understand her empathic self. Before each one, there is an introduction that explains the themes of the chapters involved, and a “Questions for Reflection” section at the end.

For those who identify as empaths or highly sensitive people, daily life can be intimidating and overwhelming. Signe Myers Hovem does an excellent job of helping readers navigate through this often difficult journey by providing personal examples and stories. Her intimate experiences as a functional empath serve as a guide and inspiration for others to get to know themselves better. The subject matter may get confusing at times but she uses plain language that anyone can understand. A major focus is on journaling, self-discovery, and improvement. Her tone is soothing and insightful which puts readers at ease. Highlights include Chapter 9: The Sponge Factor where she defines the differences between a Highly Sensitive Person and an Empathic Person and the ‘Questions for Reflection’ sections at the end of every chapter which encourage readers to pause and reflect on what they have just read. The Resources section at the end has a list of sources she recommends for further guidance and information. It is important to note that this is not a ’how-to’ book on how to become an empath but rather a guide to help others in their path to understanding and coping with their own empathic abilities. “The Space in Between” is a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding and developing their empathic abilities or just genuinely open to learning more about the subject.

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

Rating: 4 out of 5.
Author Signe Myers Hovem. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Celebrate the holiday season with Taco Cabana’s classic plates

Customers can add select tacos to any TC Plate for only $1 from November 17 through December 2021 only. Photo: Taco Cabana, used with permission.

Starting tomorrow, November 17, 2021, arriving just in time for the holiday season, Taco Cabana guests can add a shredded chicken or ground beef taco to any plate for just $1 at all Texas locations. TC classic plates include Green, Queso, and Tex-Mex Cheese Enchiladas; 3-pack Chicken Flautas; Taco plates including Mixed Fajita, Chicken Fajita, Steak Fajita, Bean & Cheese, Ground Beef, Shredded Chicken; Cabana Sampler (one flauta, one crispy beef taco, one cheese enchilada, rice and beans and two flour tortillas), and Carne Guisada Taco Plate (available in San Antonio and Austin only). (Taco Cabana, 2021)

Taco Cabana plates can be ordered 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.

In addition, TC Time! ® taco offers remain available throughout the day. During breakfast hours only, guests may order two tacos for $3 choosing from Bacon, Egg & Cheese; Potato, Egg & Cheese; or Eggs a la Mexicana. Available all day, guests may order two lunch/dinner tacos for $4 choosing from Ground Beef, Shredded Chicken or Chicken Fajita. Guests can enjoy $2 TC signature margaritas all day, every day during the Holiday season as well. They make a perfect complement to any meal.

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 November 1, 2021, Taco Cabana operates 142 company-owned restaurants in Texas.

Celebrate Thanksgiving with pies from Bakery Lorraine

Bakery Lorraine’s pie options include Roasted Pumpkin Pie, Whiskey Pecan Pie, Dutch Apple Pie, and Cranberry Apple Pie. Photo: Bakery Lorraine, used with permission.

With Thanksgiving coming up next week on November 25, Bakery Lorraine has the tastiest pie options that are as beautiful as they are delicious. Each of Bakery Lorraine’s nine inch holiday pies serves between 8 – 10 people and retails for only $26. Pre-orders are available now through Sunday, November 21, and pickup will begin one hour after opening on Wednesday, November 24 at all Bakery Lorraine locations. (Bakery Lorraine, 2021)

Their Thanksgiving pies come in the following festive flavors:

  • Roasted Pumpkin Pie – made with in house roasted pumpkins and topped with a shortbread maple leaf
  • Whiskey Pecan Pie – made with Jack Daniels
  • Dutch Apple Pie – made using five varieties of apples and topped with a cinnamon streusel 
  • Cranberry Apple Pie – made using a variety of apples similar to their Dutch Apple Pie but cranberries are added for a beautiful flavor and extra color and topped with a cinnamon streusel as well 

Extra pies will also be available at each store on a first come first serve basis. To order pies now, patrons can visit Bakery Lorraine or reserve theirs in-person at any of Bakery Lorraine’s three San Antonio locations (the Historic Pearl District, the Rim or the Medical Center) or at their Austin location at Domain NORTHSIDE.

Bakery Lorraine is a San Antonio favorite and nationally recognized pastry shop famous for its colorful macarons and exquisite French pastries. Owned by chefs Anne Ng, Jeremy Mandrell, and operator Charlie Biedenharn, Bakery Lorraine was named one of the best new bakeries in the U.S. by Food & Wine and CNN’s Eatocracyblog, as well as one of the “13 Destination Bakeries” by Conde Nast Traveler. Bakery Lorraine serves handmade French pastries and macarons using the finest ingredients. The bakery also serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner, including items like its breakfast parfait, the quiche Lorraine, chicken potpie, an assortment of salads and soups, and artisan sandwiches. Bakery Lorraine has three locations in San Antonio including one in the Historic Pearl district, one in San Antonio’s Medical Center, and one in San Antonio’s RIM shopping center, including now an Austin location at Domain NORTHSIDE.

Celebrate Thanksgiving at JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa

This Thanksgiving, give thanks to the great outdoors, Texas BBQ, and more at JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa. Photo: JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa, used with permission.

JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa, the family owned and operated, 13,000-acre Texas Hill Country retreat in Sonora, invites families and loved ones to give thanks with outdoor experiences, world-class Texas BBQ and dining, and the chance to make long-lasting memories. (JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa, 2021)

Programming and offers include:

  • Fanciful Feasts: On Thanksgiving (November 25), JL Bar Ranch’s talented Executive Chef Sergio Rico and the culinary team are hosting its annual Thanksgiving Feast, to include a Chef-attended carving station with sage brined, slow-roasted turkey with gravy, Mesquite Smoked Sirloin, and Honey Lavender Spiral Glazed Ham; a buffet featuring holiday classics like Cornbread Dressing, Pecan-crusted Sweet Potato Casserole, Crispy Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and a Balsamic Reduction; a Salad Bar; and Desserts including Pumpkin Cheesecake with Cinnamon Chantilly Cream, Bourbon Pecan Tart, Coconut Cream Tart, and more. The holiday meal will be available for three seatings (11a.m., 1p.m., and 4:30p.m.) with limited reservations. Price: $59.95 (guest rate); $79.95 (non-resort guest); half-off for kids 12 & under.
  • Take Care of Holiday Shopping Early: JL Bar Ranch’s General Store will host a Thanksgiving Day-only sale with 10% off most purchases in-store. Give the gift of JL Bar coolers, apparel, and more with this one day only
  • Outdoor Adventure: Embrace the crisp November weather with the resort’s robust outdoor activities, from hiking and horseback riding to ATV/UTV adventures and 3D archery. A complete list of activities is available online.  
  • A Multi-Gen Villa Escape: The stunning Archer’s Nest Villa is an ultra-private retreat within the Ranch: this beautiful ranch home has 7 bedrooms & 6 bathrooms, a gourmet kitchen, a swimming pool with a slide, an outdoor kitchen & BBQ pavilion, home theater and more (private chef & butler options are available). 

Official lineup for the 10th annual Key West Film Festival

Joaquin Phoenix’s ‘C’MON, C’MON’ will have its Florida premiere at this week’s Key West Film Festival. Photo: A24, used with permission.

The 10th Annual Key West Film Festival announces its official 2021 lineup including major falls films from Jane Campion, Sean Baker, Mike Mills, Pedro Almodovar, and Paolo Sorrentino. More than 75 films will be part of the five day festival, which runs November 17-21 and celebrates its 10th Anniversary. A full lineup of the festival is available online. (Key West Film Festival, 2021)

The star studded spotlight films will be joined by the previously announced RED ROCKET (A24), whose director, Sean Baker, will be honored with the prestigious Golden Key Award for Excellence in Filmmaking, along with JOCKEY (Sony Pictures Classics), starring Clifton Collins Jr, which will also see its director, Clint Bentley, honored with the inaugural Golden Key for Breakthrough Florida Filmmaker.

As previously announced, BRIAN WILSON: LONG PROMISED ROAD, will open the festival on November 17 at an outdoor screening under the stars at the Key West Amphitheater. The short film BLONDIE: VIVIR EN HABANA, about the celebrated artist’s recent concert in Cuba, will precede the film.

This year’s LGBTQ films, programmed with the assistance of Eugene Hernandez, Director of the New York Film Festival, and Brian Brooks of Cinetic Media, include GREAT FREEDOM, winner of the Jury Prize for Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival, the Cold War forbidden love story FIREBIRD, and BOULEVARD! A HOLLYWOOD STORY, chronicling the love triangle that resulted from Gloria Swanson’s attempts to adapt “Sunset Boulevard” into a musical and directed by Jeffrey Schwarz, which marks his fourth film to play at the festival (I am Divine, Tab Hunter Confidential, The Fabulous Alan Carr).

Documentaries take center stage at the festival this year, with each film featuring a live appearance or event. Award-winning director Penny Lane (Our Nixon, Nuts!, Hail Satan!) will appear with her newest film, LISTENING TO KENNY G; multiple Gotham Award and Cinema Eye Award nominee Douglas Tirola comes to town with his Leonard Bernstein film, BERNSTEIN’S WALL; Danielle Kummer will cross the pond to appear with ALIEN ON STAGE, about a small town musical of the sci fi classic Alien, and KWFF will host a special wine tasting after the screening of BLIND AMBITION, which follows Zimbabwe’s first team to compete in the international wine tasting tournament.

International films include Academy Award-winner Paolo Sorrentino’s HAND OF GOD and FINAL SET, starring Kristin Scott Thomas.

KWFF 2021 will host additional outdoor events at the Lawn at The Perry Hotel, where a special sing-along edition of the 20th Anniversary of the 2001 film MOULIN ROUGE will be screened along with Eric Clapton’s latest concert film, ERIC CLAPTON: THE LADY IN THE BALCONY. The Perry will also screen a collection of boundary pushing short films prior to a Welcome Party for visiting filmmakers and VIPs on Thursday, November 18.

Florida gets its moment in the sun with an all-day Florida Focus on Sunday, November 21. A collection of award-winning shorts from Key West High School’s Conch 5 Studios – who recently sent NINE films to the National High School Student Film Awards – will be screened in the morning, followed by the 15thanniversary screening of Florida Filmmaking legend Billy Corben’s COCAINE COWBOYS. Corben will participate in a discussion following the screening. The award winning Miami-produced feature LUDI will also screen at the festival.

The festival shines on an Alumni spotlight on Nell Teare’s BOLIVAR. This is her first feature after having won numerous awards for her short films at the festival.

The shorts programs and Florida feature films were curated from over 1000 submissions, with entries from nearly all 50 states and dozens of countries.

Returning programs this year include the 7th annual Critics Panel, in which top film critics will join both in person and virtually by Zoom to cover the seismic changes in the industry this year; the sixth annual Golden Key for Excellence in Costume Design awarded to Paul Tazewell for his work in WEST SIDE STORY, making KWFF the only such festival to annual honor this art; Kibbitz with Critics series, in which the curating critic shares one of their favorite films from the last year over brunch. Aguilar will present the charming immigration story LIMBO; and the presentation of the prestigious Critics Prize, given each year to one film across the program as decided upon by participating critics. Past critics have included Kenneth Turan, Jen Yamato and Justin Chang of the Los Angeles Times, Ann Hornaday of the Washington Post, Eric Kohn of Indiewire, Emily Yoshida of New York Magazine, David Fear of Rolling Stone, Joshua Rothkopf of Time Out New York, and Amy Nicholson of KPCC-LA’s Film Week.

Photo: Key West Film Festival, used with permission.
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Key West Film Festival