Author: Sandra Cruz

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

MerleFest taking place September 16 in Wilkesboro, North Carolina

MerleFest is only a week away and the festival organizers want to remind festivalgoers of a few important details. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

MerleFest, presented by Window World—Wilkesboro, North Carolina’s annual homecoming of musicians and music fans—is only one week away. As the festival nears, organizers want to remind festivalgoers of a few important details. Festival gates will open at 1:30p.m. local time on Thursday and 9:30a.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. (MerleFest, 2021)

All attendees and participants will be required to show one of the following two options along with festival admission passes to enter the festival:

1. Proof of full vaccination. You can present your vaccination card, a paper photocopy, or cell phone photo of your card as proof of your vaccination when you arrive at the festival. Photos/photocopies must show the full card and be legible.

-OR-

2. If you have not been vaccinated or do not have a vaccination card, you must show a printed or digital copy of a negative COVID-19 test performed on you within 72 hours of the time of entry.

Once you have shown a copy of your vaccination card or a copy of your negative COVID-19 test result, you will be issued a “Well wristband” identifying that you have met the safety criteria for entry into the festival. Please do not remove this wristband until the festival is over as this will be good for the entire time you are at the festival. If you lose or remove your well wristband then you will have to go through the process outlined again to receive another well wristband.

The festival strongly recommends that those needing a COVID-19 test get the test before arriving at the festival. Advance planning will save time and avoid waiting in lines. Additional information on all festival protocols can be found by visiting MerleFest. 

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Milk Carton Kids and We Banjo 3 will no longer be performing at MerleFest and will be replaced in the lineup by Shawn Colvin and Gangstagrass, respectively. Shawn Colvin, along with David Childers, will replace Milk Carton Kids as judges in the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest.

Additionally, Andy May’s annual MerleFest Acoustic Kids Showcase will no longer be held for the health and safety of its young participants. Andy and Lauren May released a statement that reads, “We are very sorry to have to let you know that we have decided we must cancel all Acoustic Kids Showcases scheduled for fall, 2021. This was not an easy decision. However, in light of the uncertainty surrounding the current COVID outbreak; out of concern for everyone’s health and well-being (including our own); and following our doctor’s emphatic advice, we see no viable alternative.” Although very disappointed, they look forward to next year’s festival with the hope that things will be back to normal.

Don’t forget to download the MerleFest app to help plan your festival experience. The MerleFest app can point you towards a variety of on-site activities for all ages. In between musical sets, the Shoppes at MerleFest is a centrally located shopping village of commercial vendors, official MerleFest memorabilia, and services such as first aid, lost and found, and internet access. Tickets for this year’s festival are available online. 

MerleFest was founded in 1988 in memory of the son of the late American music legend Doc Watson, renowned guitarist Eddy Merle Watson. MerleFest is a celebration of “traditional plus” music, a unique mix of traditional, roots-oriented sounds of the Appalachian region, including old-time, classic country, bluegrass, folk and gospel, and blues, and expanded to include Americana, classic rock, and many other styles. The festival hosts a diverse mix of artists on its 13 stages during the course of the multi-day event. MerleFest is the primary fundraiser for the WCC Foundation, funding scholarships, capital projects, and other educational needs.

2021-09-16T14:02:00

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MerleFest 2021

Dallas Cowboys viewing party at Hills & Dales Ice House on September 9

Glazer’s Beer and Beverage of Texas and Miller Lite TM will participate in a live broadcast of the BLITZ and viewing party for the first Dallas Cowboys game of the season. Photo: google

On Thursday, September 9, Glazer’s Beer and Beverage of Texas and Miller LiteTM will participate in a live broadcast of the BLITZ and viewing party for the first Dallas Cowboys game of the season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Hills & Dales Ice House. Glazer’s Beer & Beverage is a proud distribution partner for Miller Lite, the only beer of the Dallas Cowboys. In addition to enjoying the game and a round of beers, Cowboys fans can partake in hourly drawings from 4p.m. to 7p.m. for a chance to win prizes including tickets to a future Cowboys game, a Miller Lite Cowboys OtterBox Cooler, a Drew Pearson Hall of Fame Standee and more. In addition, fans can enjoy photo opportunities with former Dallas Cowboys star Charles Hailey’s five Super Bowl trophies that will be on display. (Glazer’s Beer & Beverage, 2021)

Hills & Dales Ice House
15403 White Fawn Dr.
San Antonio, TX 78255

Glazer’s Beer & Beverage, LLC (GBB) is one of the nation’s most distinguished beverage distributors, serving over 10,000 retail accounts across Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. Since 1933, Glazer’s has been involved in the beer distribution business, eventually forming Glazer’s Beer & Beverage, LLC, which remains a family-owned and operated business. GBB is committed to building brands, outstanding customer service, delivering strong performance and an inspiring culture. GBB represents over 60 brewing partners and numerous nonalcoholic brands and energy drinks, selling over 30 million cases annually.

Upcoming new book release: ‘Apples Never Fall’ by Liane Moriarty

‘Apples Never Fall’ by Liane Moriarty will be released September 14, 2021. Photo: amazon

Liane Moriarty is the Australian author of eight internationally best-selling novels: “Three Wishes,” “The Last Anniversary,” “What Alice Forgot,” “The Hypnotist’s Love Story,” “Nine Perfect Strangers,” and the number one New York Times bestsellers: “The Husband’s Secret,” “Big Little Lies,” and “Truly Madly Guilty.” Her books have been translated into over forty languages and sold more than 20 million copies. “Big Little Lies” and “Truly Madly Guilty” both debuted at number one on the New York Times bestseller list – the first time this was ever achieved by an Australian author. “Big Little Lies” was adapted into a multiple award-winning HBO series with a star-studded cast including Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon. Hulu adapted “Nine Perfect Strangers” into a limited series starring Nicole Kidman and Melissa McCarthy. Her new novel “Apples Never Fall” will be released September 14, 2021. It is a novel that looks at marriage, siblings, and how the people we love the most can hurt us the deepest. (amazon, 2021)

“Apples Never Fall” – The Delaneys are fixtures in their community. The parents, Stan and Joy, are the envy of all of their friends. They are killers on the tennis court, and off it their chemistry is palpable. But after fifty years of marriage, they have finally sold their famed tennis academy and are ready to start what should be the golden years of their lives. So why are Stan and Joy so miserable? The four Delaney children―Amy, Logan, Troy, and Brooke―were tennis stars in their own right, yet as their father will tell you, none of them had what it took to go all the way. But that is okay, now they are all successful grown-ups and there is the wonderful possibility of grandchildren on the horizon.

One night a stranger named Savannah knocks on Stan and Joy’s door, bleeding after a fight with her boyfriend. The Delaneys are more than happy to give her the small kindness she sorely needs. If only that was all she wanted. Later, when Joy goes missing, and Savannah is nowhere to be found, the police question the one person who remains: Stan. But for someone who claims to be innocent, he, like many spouses, seems to have a lot to hide. Two of the Delaney children think their father is innocent, two are not so sure―but as the two sides square off against each other in perhaps their biggest match ever, all of the Delaneys will start to reexamine their shared family history in a very new light.

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‘Apples Never Fall’ release date

New book release: ‘Mrs. Rochester’s Ghost’ by Lindsay Marcott

‘Mrs. Rochester’s Ghost’ is the new thriller by Lindsay Marcott. Photo: google

Lindsay Marcott is the Amazon bestseller-rated author of “Mrs. Rochester’s Ghost” and “The Producer’s Daughter” as well as six previous novels written as Lindsay Maracotta. Her books have been translated into eleven languages and adapted for several cable movies. She also wrote for the Emmy-nominated HBO series The Hitchhiker and coproduced a number of films, including Hallmark’s The Hollywood Moms Mystery (based on her Fabulously Dead mystery series) and the feature Breaking at the Edge. Before writing novels, she held down a variety of jobs ranging from screenwriter to magazine contributor to waitress in a grunge bar — all of which supplied rich material for her future fiction. Her new novel, “Mrs. Rochester’s Ghost,” is a modern and twisty retelling of Jane Eyre about a young woman who must question everything she knows about love, loyalty, and murder. (amazon, 2021)

“Mrs. Rochester’s Ghost” – Jane has lost everything: job, mother, relationship, even her home. A friend calls to offer an unusual deal―a cottage above the crashing surf of Big Sur on the estate of his employer, Evan Rochester. In return, Jane will tutor his teenage daughter. She accepts. But nothing is quite as it seems at the Rochester estate. Though he has been accused of murdering his glamorous and troubled wife, Evan Rochester insists she drowned herself. Jane is skeptical, but she still finds herself falling for the brilliant and secretive entrepreneur and growing close to his daughter. And yet her deepening feelings for Evan cannot disguise dark suspicions that arouse when a ghostly presence repeatedly appears in the night’s mist and fog. Jane embarks on an intense search for answers and uncovers evidence that soon puts Evan’s innocence into question. She is determined to discover what really happened that fateful night, but what will the truth cost her?

First impression: Sasi’s Thai Restaurant

Sasi’s Thai Restaurant serves authentic Thai food. Photo: google

It is hard to find any type of Thai restaurant in the Brownsville area, much less one that serves authentic Thai cuisine, so when I found out about Sasi’s Thai Restaurant, I was curious. Friday night we headed out on another culinary adventure and decided to give it a shot. It beats driving out of the area just to be disappointed because yes, we have had authentic Thai food and we are kind of spoiled that way. Sasi’s Thai cuisine brings the authentic Thai dishes to the Brownsville area with delicious blends of vegetables, noodles, and spices. Add in the best bubble tea in Brownsville. (Sasi’s Thai Restaurant, 2021)

Being that the restaurant is along the frontage road, it was not hard to find. It was early in the day so we practically had the place to ourselves. The dining area is big so there are plenty of seating options and our server was prompt in bringing us menus. She took our drink orders first because we needed a few minutes to look over the menu.

We must have been hungry because we ordered so much food and we ended up taking some of it home. Everything we ordered was fresh and so flavorful, it reminded me of why I love Thai food so much. You cannot find these types of flavors just anywhere. For anyone not familiar with Thai food, I have included descriptions of what we ordered.
Fried spring rolls – cabbage, carrots, and clear noodles wrapped in a spring roll skin, deep fried and served with Sasi’s very own sweet and sour sauce.
Fresh spring rolls – fresh vegetables and noodles wrapped in soft rice paper, served with Sasi’s peanut sauce.
Noodle soup – rice noodles with bean sprouts, carrots, onions, scallions, and cilantro (with tofu).
Panang Curry – lightly sweetened panang paste with coconut milk, bell peppers, baby corn, bamboo shoot, mushrooms, carrots, and onions. Served with a side of rice (with tofu).
Fried rice – stir fried rice with egg, onions, and carrots (with shrimp and beef).

If you happen to visit and are unsure of what to order, they do have a picture menu, which makes it so much easier. On some dishes, it is recommended that you specify the spice level (mild, medium, hot, Thai hot). Sasi’s Thai Restaurant is a small, family owned business so their hours of operation may vary daily. While we were there, we noticed that their curbside service is popular with guests. Lee, one of the owners, took the time to talk to us, patiently answered our questions and confirmed that most people opt for the curbside service. It certainly is worth considering. So next time you are in the mood for something different, give your taste buds a treat and remember, shop small, shop local. Support your neighborhood small business; they will thank you for it. 

$ – $$

Sasi’s Thai Restaurant
937 N. Expressway Suite 2
Brownsville, TX 78526
(956) 435-9073

Business hours:
Sunday – closed
Monday through Friday 11a.m. to 8p.m

Rating: 4 out of 5.

  • Fresh spring rolls
  • Fried rice
  • Fried spring rolls
  • Panang Curry
  • Front counter
  • Noodle soup

Alaskan Rhino’s new album: Caverns

Alaskan Rhino released a new album titled Caverns. Photo: google

Alaskan Rhino is a producer and musician born and raised in Alaska. Traveling around the world and listening to all sorts of different types of music led him down the path of making the type of music he makes today. Most of the time, it turns out to be experimental electronic music. He just released a new album titled Caverns on September 1, 2021. (Alaskan Rhino, 2021)

Experimental music is a general label for any music that pushes the existing boundaries and genre definitions. Caverns is available on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. You can follow him on Instagram.

Caverns track listing:
1. Caverns (3:48)
2. Little Child (3:32)
3. The Bird Whistler (2:57)
4. Using My Illusion (2:59)
5. Pain Power (3:12)
6. Someone Came for Me (3:06)
7. Lakes and Rivers (3:39)
8. Falling Down (3:36)
9. I’ll Meet You There (3:42)
10. We Both Know (2:48)

Total Runtime: 30:79

Alaskan Rhino’s new album Caverns

‘Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ opens next Friday at the Camille Playhouse

‘Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ opens September 10, 2021. Photo: google

Opening next Friday September 10 at the Camille Playhouse is ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.’ The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas is a musical with a book by Texas author Larry L. King and Peter Masterson and music and lyrics by Carol Hall. It is based on a story by King that was inspired by the real-life Chicken Ranch in La Grange, Texas. It will run until Sunday September 19 with showtimes Friday and Saturday at 8p.m. and Sunday at 2p.m. Tickets are available online for $25. All seats are general admission. The performance will run approximately 90 minutes without intermission and no concessions will be sold. (Camille Playhouse, 2021)

‘Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ – Based on a story by Texas local legend Larry L. King and inspired by the real-life Chicken Ranch in La Grange, Texas, this happy go lucky view of small town vice and statewide political side-stepping recounts the good times and the demise of one of the better pleasure palaces in all of Texas. Governors, senators, mayors, and even victorious college football teams frequent Miss Mona’s cozy bordello until that puritan nemesis Watchdog focuses his television cameras and his righteous indignation on the institution.

Cast includes:
Mona Stangley – Velma De Los Santos
Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd – Brian Warren
Angel – Tirzah Claus
Shy – Isabella Barrios
Melvin P. Thorpe – Francisco Partida
Jewel – Leslie Willard
Governor – David Salinas
Doatsey Mae – Sylvia Lester
Ginger – Melanie Claire

Please be advised that performers will NOT be wearing masks therefore all seating will begin on the fifth row back from the stage for everyone’s safety. Camille Playhouse will be following CDC recommendations and temperatures will be taken so please arrive early. Visitors must wear masks at all times. 

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Opening night of ‘Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’

San Antonio Food Bank needs volunteers for Hurricane Ida food relief effort

Volunteers needed this weekend at the San Antonio Food Bank. Photo: google

The San Antonio Food Bank received an urgent request on Thursday to send six truckloads of food to counties in Louisiana impacted by Hurricane Ida. Volunteers of all ages and abilities are needed on Friday, Saturday, and Tuesday to help prepare the relief effort. Volunteer work will take place at the Food Bank’s main facility just west of downtown. COVID safety protocols are in place (masking, social distancing). Those interested in volunteering can visit San Antonio Food Bank to sign up or get more information. (San Antonio Food Bank, 2021)

Eric Cooper, President & CEO of the San Antonio Food Bank commented on the urgent need for volunteers: “Our community is in its finest hour when it serves. I have no doubt that our love and compassion will shine in this call to action over Labor Day Weekend. Let’s make it a labor of love for our neighbors in Louisiana.”

The San Antonio Food Bank’s mission is to fight hunger in Southwest Texas through food distribution, programs, education, and advocacy.

Scott Krokoff’s new single ‘Far Too Many Times’

Scott Krokoff’s new single ‘Far Too Many Times.’ Photo: google

With a rich sound drawn primarily from his love of 60s and 70s music, New Yorker Scott Krokoff weaves elements of folk rock and country pop into confessional and compelling Americana. He is an evocative and introspective songwriter, and a deft finger-picking in the vein of James Taylor and Paul Simon with “an edge of Replacements styled alt rock to his strum.” (Hiplanta). Scott has opened for Elle King and Grace Weber, toured from Vermont to Nashville, played live in Belgium for his biggest fan, and received radio airplay throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. His new single “Far Too Many Times” is out now. (Scott Krokoff, 2021)

Scott Krokoff. Photo: google

Umphrey’s McGee participates in Ten Bands One Cause

Umphrey’s McGee limited edition pink vinyl of 2009 studio album Mantis will be available on November 5, 2021. Photo: google

Umphrey’s McGee is pleased to announce their participation in Ten Bands One Cause, a limited edition vinyl rollout benefiting Red Door Community. Red Door’s mission is to provide welcoming communities for people who are diagnosed with cancer, as well as for caregivers and people who have lost someone to cancer. The limited edition pink vinyl of Umphrey’s Mantis (releasing via Nothing Too Fancy) will be available on November 5, 2021. Mantis, first released in 2009, is the band’s sixth studio album and is not currently available on vinyl. Please visit Ten Bands One Cause for more information on this release and the other limited edition vinyls. The band is pleased to join a whole host of other musicians teaming up to support Red Door Community’s mission—Bush, Grandaddy, Less Than Jake, Minus The Bear, Plain White T’s, Primal Scream, Allman Brothers Band, The Hold Steady, and Tom Tom Club are all participating in addition to Umphrey’s. (Umphrey’s McGee, 2021)

This vinyl announcement comes hot on the heels of Umphrey’s new album called You Walked Up Shaking In Your Boots But You Stood Tall And Left A Raging Bull, which was released earlier this month. Check out the name’s incredible origin story, animated by Pete Herzog, which is comprised of Umphrey’s McGee’s original, instrumental “walk-on music” compositions.

About You Walked Up Shaking In Your Boots But You Stood Tall And Left A Raging Bull: Since 2009, the Chicago-based improv-rock outfit has been using these intro pieces as a jumping-off point in their live shows, but with the studio development of these compositions, the band landed on something much broader than their original walk-on music concept. There is an ultra-thematic, driving energy in each song that reaches beyond just pre-show excitement. Fans can stream or purchase the new album right now at this link.

You Walked Up Shaking In Your Boots But You Stood Tall And Left A Raging Bull is the latest achievement in the career of Umphrey’s McGee, adding to 2,200+ gigs and 250 million+ tracks streamed. You-had-to-be-there moments include the band’s performance at the first-ever Bonnaroo and selling more CDs than any other act on the bill. A leader in the live music world, Umphrey’s McGee became the first group to launch its own single-artist streaming service with UMLive.net, which houses recordings of every gig since 2005. The service has since grown and now lives on through Nugs.net, which is used by the likes of Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, and more.

Beyond intimate backstage encounters and ski trips with their most diehard fans, Umphrey’s McGee instituted the groundbreaking “Headphones & Snowcones” program, granting fans access to professional headphones and a soundboard-quality mix to listen wirelessly at shows. At their UMBowl, they empowered the audience to vote on the setlist in real-time and choose favorite improv themes via text message. In 2017, they stepped into another realm altogether by integrating themselves into the VR Platform Endless Riff. The wonders, it seems, never cease. From their initial bar gigs in 1998 to repeatedly playing three-night runs to packed crowds at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the group has simultaneously remained intensely committed to their fans.

Message from the band (via website) regarding their upcoming tour schedule:
“We are saddened to share the news that due to COVID within the Umphrey’s team, the upcoming shows scheduled in California, Texas, and Oklahoma are being cancelled. All ticket purchasers will receive a full refund for tickets at the point of purchase. We were eagerly looking forward to the shows and despite our best efforts to keep everyone healthy, we have to do what is right. We hope to return to these cities sometime in 2022. Onward & upward.”