Love Potion with Twang-A-Rita Golden Roar. Photo: Twang, used with permission.
Valentine’s Day is Thursday February 14 and nothing goes better with romance than cocktail drinks. These last-minute recipes from the good folks at Twang guarantee that anyone can create colorful cocktails with red and pink hues in the comfort of their own homes. They include various regional spirits like Deep Eddy Vodka, Seer Sucker Gin and Dulce Vida Tequila. Twang is a family-owned and operated creator and manufacturer of premium-flavored salts, sugars and seasonings based in Texas. Twang’s product lines include Twang-A-Rita, Beer Salt and more designed to easily add flavor to drinks and elevate at-home alcoholic beverages to cocktail bar status. Twang’s products are available throughout the country in 46 states, in grocery stores, convenience stores and online. (Twang, 2019)
Love Potion with Twang-A-Rita Golden Roar Ingredients:
• Twang-A-Rita Golden Roar
• 1 oz green apple liqueur
• 1 oz Deep Eddy Peach Vodka
• 4 oz cranberry juice
• Orange wedge, for garnish Directions:
1. Run a lime along the edge of a highball glass and rim with Twang-A-Rita Golden Roar
2. Pour the liqueur and vodka into a highball glass filled with ice
3. Top with cranberry juice and stir
4. Garnish with orange wedge
Raspberry Gin Fizz with Twang-A-Rita Unwind Lime Ingredients:
• Twang-A-Rita Unwind Lime
• ½ cup fresh raspberries
• ½ oz. lime juice
• 1 oz. Seersucker Original Southern Style Gin
• ½ oz. simple syrup
• Topo Chico Directions:
1. Run a lime along the edge of a highball glass and rim with Twang-A-Rita Unwind Lime
2. In a cocktail shaker, muddle raspberries in lime juice
3. Add gin and simple syrup and half a cup of ice and shake
4. Strain into a rocks glass and top with Topo Chico.
5. Garnish with lime wedge.
Galentine’s Day Pink Drink with Twang-A-Rita Citrusplash Ingredients:
• Twang-A-Rita Citrusplash
• 4 oz. Strawberry lemonade
• 1 oz. lemon juice
• 1 oz. Dulce Vida Tequila
• 1 oz. triple sec Directions:
1. Run a lemon along the edge of a highball glass and rim with Twang-A-Rita Citrusplash
2. Add ice, strawberry lemonade, lemon juice, triple sec and tequila. Stir to combine.
3. Garnish with lemon wedge.
Infinity Boxes by Matt Elson. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
In art news: Hopscotch, a new, uniquely curated immersive art experience created by local entrepreneurs Nicole Jensen and Hunter Inman, is debuting in Austin this week as an interactive pop-up located at 6100 Airport Blvd. From February 14 through March 31, Hopscotch: Light and Sound will feature 13 distinctive installations and showcase works from a variety of local Austin artists, as well as a selection of national and international artists. (Hopscotch, 2019)
Each room in the 10,000 square foot space contains a different exhibit with colorful design elements from LED lights to live videos and music. Hopscotch is constructed by various artists, the majority of which are Austin-based. Every art activation within the project requires participation from guests and Hopscotch: Light and Sound invites guests to explore the surreal surroundings in a playful manner.
Interactive experiences range from controlling the clouds and weather via balloons to painting with light through an infrared brush by hand. Olya, presented by the only international artist, invites viewers into an immersive space of complicated multidimensional structures and light. Infinity Boxes by Matt Elson uses color, lights, and mirrors to construct beautiful boxes that draw viewers in; it’s an optical illusion project that asks visitors to take a closer look at human perception and social interaction, much like the public’s relationship to social media.
Hours of operation for Hopscotch are 4p.m. to 11p.m. on Fridays, 1p.m. to 11p.m. on Saturdays and 1p.m. to 8p.m. on Sundays. Additional hours and dates will be added. Tickets are $23 for ages 13 and up, $15 for children ages 4 to 12 and children 3 and under are free. Hopscotch is 18 and up after 7p.m. For this exhibit, Hopscotch has collaborated with local artists, collaboratives, non-profits and creative brands like Deep Eddy Vodka and neighboring Brewtorium. Hopscotch Austin will also have a bar on site and alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase from Deep Eddy Vodka.
Proceeds from the Light & Sound exhibit will be donated to a local art focused non-profit. Following the limited Austin pop-up series, Hopscotch will be opening in downtown San Antonio for a permanent, new exhibition in late summer 2019 and is set to feature different San Antonio-based artists. More details will be announced at a later date.
Sound Cream Airstream returns this Thursday, Valentine’s Day with DJ JJ Lopez. Photo: Matt Buikema, used with permission.
Pearl is excited to announce that Sound Cream Airstream is returning for a special Valentine’s Day edition of Sound Cream Sunset Sessions. On Thursday, February 14 from 6:30p.m. to 9p.m., DJ JJ Lopez will spin ‘Love Songs and Dedications’ throughout the evening to celebrate the holiday devoted to romance. Sound Cream Sunset Sessions is a dance party and DJ showcase, featuring every genre from Cuban salsa to House, mixed by locals and guest DJs from across the country. This event is free and open to the public. (Pearl, 2019)
Sweethearts, families and friends are invited to enjoy an evening on the lawn listening to their favorite love songs by DJ JJ Lopez. The featured artist grew up in a conjunto-loving family but got into music in 1989 when he started seeing DJs at dance clubs in Corpus Christi. He became a club DJ in 1995 and traveled the world checking out DJ culture and dance music scenes. He went through the music business program at San Antonio College and was a DJ on SAC’s KSYM.
Pearl Park
312 Pearl Parkway
San Antonio, TX 78215
Pluckers Wing Bar’s Anti-Valentine’s Day celebration is this Thursday February 14. Photo: Melissa Skorpil, used with permission.
Pluckers Wing Bar is excited to announce the return of their infamous Anti-Valentine’s Day celebration, which features $1 Bud Lights and 75-cent wings all night on Thursday, February 14 at all Texas locations. (Pluckers, 2019)
The Pluckers menu includes their trademark wings paired with signature sauces such as Buffalo, Spicy BBQ, Spicy Ranch and unique flavors like Fire in the Hole, Ginger Peach Sriracha, Gochujang and Spicy Mandarin; appetizers like fried pickles and Holy Macaroni; great sandwiches and burgers like the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich and the Bypass Burger topped with bacon, cheddar, grilled onions and jalapeños; signature salads; and epic sides like waffle fries, macaroni and cheese and homemade potato chips.
The Pluckers app is now available on iTunes and Google Play – a treat for current and aspiring Pluckers club members. Members can now ditch the Pluckers Club card and explore more ways than ever to earn points and keep up with the latest specials, events and competitions.
Pluckers Wing Bar
14881 IH-35 North
Selma, TX 78154
Bakery Lorraine has Valentine’s Day pastries any valentine would love. Photo: Josh Huskin, used with permission.
With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, local businesses are offering special deals to make the day memorable, including Bakery Lorraine, Culinary Institute of America Bakery Café, Davila’s BBQ, Esquire Tavern and Downstairs at Esquire Tavern, Krause’s Café & Biergarten, Meadow Neighborhood Eatery + Bar and La Panaderia. (2019)
Bakery Lorraine
For someone looking to spoil their loved one with sweets, Bakery Lorraine has pastries exclusive to the Valentine’s Day holiday. From Thursday, February 14th through Sunday, February 17th, Bakery Lorraine will have Valentine’s Day themed sweets at their San Antonio and Austin Locations.
• Strawberry Pop Hearts
• Raspberry Rose Japonaise
• Red Fruit Tart (topped with all raspberries)
• Heart Moonpies (chocolate shortbread with a house made marshmallow filling dipped in chocolate)
• Grapefruit Tiramisu (available now through 2/17)
• Chocolate Turtle Tart (available now through 2/17)
• Red Velvet Cake (available now through 2/17)
• Lemon Cake (available now through 2/17)
Culinary Institute of America Bakery Café
The Culinary Institute of America, San Antonio Campus started its annual pop-up bakery just in time for Valentine’s Day. The pop-up runs from January 28 through April 11 in the new Savor space. The bakery will offer sweet treats like alfajores, traditional shortbread cookies with a dulce de leche filling that are popular throughout Latin America for $3.50, in addition to other traditional sweets that are perfect to pick up for loved ones.
Davila’s BBQ
Will host a steak dinner for two on Valentine’s Day from 4p.m. to 9p.m. Although steak is not typically on the dinner menu, Davila’s BBQ will offer two steaks from a local vendor, grilled with mesquite wood along with a loaded baked potato and grilled vegetables for $29.99. There will be additional sides and dessert available for purchase.
Esquire Tavern & Downstairs at Esquire Tavern
This Valentine’s Day, The Esquire Tavern & Downstairs at The Esquire Tavern will welcome guests into a flower-filled space and will offer a $20 discount on all bottles of wine, including Downstairs at Esquire’s expertly curated Champagne list.
Krause’s Café and Biergarten Krause’s Café and Biergarten in New Braunfels is celebrating Valentine’s Day with shopping, a special dinner and live music. Visit the pavilion for Krause’s Valentine’s Market on February 14 where guests swinging by the market can shop for their sweethearts. Krause’s Café in partnership with Seekatz Opera House is also hosting You, Your Loved One, and Kinky – a three-course dinner with Sliced Roast Sirloin Beef as the main. This Valentine’s Day dinner features other homemade food from Krause’s, like buttermilk pie for dessert and entertainment from well-known country musician, Kinky Friedman.
Meadow Neighborhood Eatery + Bar
Will host a pre-fixe Valentine’s Day dinner on Thursday, February 14th. Reservations will be required for the Dinner with pricing at $45 per person plus tax and gratuity. The dinner menu will consist of three courses with options that include, but not limited to, House Smoked Salmon with wild onion capers, dill and seed toast, a Cauliflower Soup with crispy kale and valley lemons and Fried Chicken with green garlic, grilled bok choy with crispy rice. Dessert will be included with a Dark Chocolate Caramel Tart and Vanilla Semifreddo on the menu. Meadow has also partnered with Hayward Gaude Photography for Valentine’s Day and they will be offering discounts on couple photography sessions while supplies last.
For those that wish to celebrate Galentine’s Day or do not have time to celebrate on Valentine’s Day, Meadow will host two additional pre-fixe dinners on Tuesday, February 12th and Wednesday, February 13th. Pricing for the pre-fixe menu is at $35 per person plus tax and gratuity with an optional $15 wine pairing. The early Valentine’s Day menu will consist of two courses with options like Arugula Salad with shaved root vegetables, persimmon vinaigrette and Texas Chevre Cheese, Dean + Peeler New York Strip with sweet potato croquette, kale and black garlic. Dessert will be includes a Dark Chocolate Caramel Tart and Vanilla Semifreddo on the menu.
La Panaderia La Panaderia will offer a select dessert special, Con Amor, February 11 through 17 for $6.50. Con Amor can pair perfectly with a beverage including a mimosa, rosé, or champagne (prices on beverages vary). La Panaderia will also be offering the following desserts in addition to its Raspberry Hearts that are available for a limited time only:
Fast Eddie’s, the largest group of billiards halls in the United States, is pleased to announce Kelvin Hamm from Lubbock, Texas as the winner of the new 2019 Chevy Camaro, the grand prize in honor of its 20th Anniversary celebrations. On the first Friday of each month from August 2018 to February 2019, Fast Eddie’s Billiards & Sports Bars celebrated its 20th Anniversary with six months of festivities featuring $3,000-valued giveaways and other prizes as a way to thank their customers for a successful 20 years in business. The final event of the establishment’s anniversary series was a “Grand Prix” party on February 1, which featured themed drink specials, Jägermeister freezer giveaways, $300 cash prize giveaways at each location and the announcement of one grand prize winner of a new car. The winner was announced via Facebook Live. (Fast Eddie’s, 2019)
Kelvin Hamm held the lucky voucher selected from 3,600 finalist tickets to win a 2019 Chevy Camaro, which will be awarded in the color of the winner’s choice. At each monthly anniversary party, qualifying tickets were handed out at all 15 Fast Eddie’s locations, every hour on the hour from 9p.m. to midnight.
Kevin Hamm, winner of the 2019 Chevrolet Camaro. Photo: Fast Eddie’s, used with permission.
Fast Eddie’s Billiards & Sports Bar San Antonio locations:
9910 W Loop 1604 N Suite 113
San Antonio, TX
“Cyber Smart” is the new book by Bart McDonough on the subject of cyber security. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Bart McDonough attended the University of Oklahoma and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut. He is CEO and Founder of Agio, a hybrid managed IT and cybersecurity services provider where he and his more than 250 employees have developed cybersecurity and managed IT tools tailored to protect businesses’ most precious assets: money and reputation. Bart is currently on the board of two cybersecurity firms, TwoSense.AI and Magnus Cloud and has just released his debut book “Cyber Smart: Five Habits to Protect Your Family, Money, and Identity from Cyber Criminals.” This easy to read guide simplifies good cyber hygiene and debunks common cybersecurity myths to help readers protect themselves and their families from identity theft, fraudulent schemes, hacking and more.
Cybersecurity can be a complicated subject because the Internet has overtaken everything, from banking, healthcare and personal communication. As an expert in the cybersecurity field, in “Cyber Smart,” Bart McDonough “combines his knowledge with real-world examples of cyberattacks and how to prevent them as well as how to recover from them.” It begins with the Introduction, where the author provides specific recommendations anyone can use to protect themselves against cyberattacks and scams including: Update Your Devices, Enable Two-Factor Authentication, Use a Password Manager, Install and Update Antivirus and Back-Up Your Data. The book is divided into twenty-one chapters, proof that he covers almost every subject imaginable, including Overview of Cyber Risks, Attack Targets and Goals, Attack Methods, Incident Response, Protecting Your Identity, Protecting Your Money and Protecting Your Social Media.
“Cyber Smart” makes cybersecurity accessible to the general public by being easy to read, informative and extremely organized. Readers can read it cover to cover to gain valuable information to protect their daily digital lives or pick a subject/chapter, by using the Index, to increase their knowledge and become better prepared to deal with the risks. This useful guide not only touches on the risks associated with an increasingly plugged-in society, but gives insights into how hackers think, why they do what they do, and what they do with stolen information. In Chapter 5: Attack Targets and Goals, Mr. McDonough explains that in the healthcare industry, stolen ‘personally identifiable information’ (PII) is used to gain access to healthcare treatment, prescription dugs and medical equipment. It is best to keep in mind that these attacks are not personal, that “bad actors are looking to get rich off the attacks they perform.” Stand out chapters include Chapter 4: Attack Methods where he explains the different scams, including Malware, Crypto mining and Spyware and recommends using multiple email addresses for different purposes, such as banking, social media and shopping; and Chapter 9: Incident Response where he goes into details about what to do once an attack occurs. The definitive reference guide for cybersecurity, “Cyber Smart” is recommended for readers who understands that the risks are out there and are looking to arm themselves with the knowledge to protect their digital lives.
“There are around 4,000 data brokers in the United States that are in the business of purchasing and selling personal information – things we would normally not share with others, let alone give knowing permission to corporations to store and resell it.”
*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.
The San Antonio Food Bank is hosting a Food Distribution event this Saturday February 9 for the first 500 households and will be on site assisting with SNAP applications. Anyone needing assistance is welcome to attend and start time is promptly at 9a.m.
Family Life Christian Church
5814 Rittiman Plaza
San Antonio, TX 78218
Lila Coogan as Anastasia, Stephen Brower as Dmitry and Edward Staudenmayer as Vlad in ‘Anastasia,’ playing at the Majestic until Sunday February 10. Photo: Gayle McCracken, used with permission.
Now playing at the Majestic Theatre is the national tour of ‘Anastasia’ and there are still a few chances to catch it with showtimes at 8p.m. Friday, 2p.m. and 8p.m Saturday and 2p.m. and 7:30p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $40 and are available through Ticketmaster, by calling (800) 982-2787 or by visiting the Majestic Box Office. This dazzling show transports audiences from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past accompanied by a dashing conman and a lovable ex-aristocrat.
‘Anastasia’ begins with a Prologue set in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1906 as the Dowager Empress (Joy Franz) comforts her seven-year-old granddaughter Princess Anastasia who is saddened because her grandmother is moving to Paris, France. Years later in 1917, eighteen-year old Anastasia is attending a ball with her family when the Bolsheviks invade the palace and kill the family “The Last Dance of the Romanovs.” Time forwards again, this time to 1927, when two con-men, Dmitry (Stephen Brower) and an ex-member of the Imperial Court named Vlad (Edward Staudenmayer), upon hearing of the rumor that Anastasia may have survived the attack on her family, contrive to groom a naïve girl to become Anastasia to con money out of the Dowager Empress “A Rumor in St. Petersburg.” They find that girl in Anya (Lila Coogan), a street sweeper with no memory of her past but who bears a striking resemblance to Anastasia. After giving her history, dining and dancing lessons “Learn to Do it,” they take a train to Paris, France where all three have plans of their own. Eventually, Anya and her grandmother, the Dowager Empress, are reunited after her real identity is confirmed.
Based on the 1997 movie, ‘Anastasia’ adapts the legend of Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia who some believe could have escaped the execution of her family. Lila Coogan and Edward Staudenmayer have excellent chemistry and bring this heartfelt tale to life onstage.The costumes are gorgeous, especially those of the royal family. Show highlights include “Once Upon a December” when Anya dreams about her family when her memory starts coming back, “Still” when Gleb, the Russian soldier, receives orders to go after Anastasia and kill her, but is conflicted because he has developed feelings for her and “The Countess and the Common Man” when Vlad and Lily reunite – a hilarious physical comedy routine. Overall, the humor, heart and spectacular costumes, singing and dancing, makes ‘Anastasia’ a must-watch production. It should be noted, though, that the train scene in Act I when Anya, Dmitry and Vlad flee to Paris, has a rotating train set that might trigger motion sickness in some audience members.
‘The Trip to Bountiful’ opens at The Classic Theatre’ on Friday February 15. Photo: Siggi Ragnar, used with permission.
Coming up this month at The Classic Theatre of San Antonio is ‘The Trip to Bountiful,’ written by Texas playwright Horton Foote and directed by John O’Neill. This American drama opens on Friday February 15 and will run through Sunday March 10. Showtimes are Friday and Saturday at 8p.m. and Sunday at 3p.m. Tickets are $33 for general admission, $29 for senior, military, educator or SATCO and $18 for students. They are available online or at the box office by calling (210) 589-8450. Proper ID is required. On opening night, there will be a complimentary champagne reception after the show. (The Classic Theatre, 2019)
‘The Trip to Bountiful’ tells the story of Carrie Watts, an elderly woman who longs to escape a cramped Houston apartment and return to her beloved hometown of Bountiful, Texas one last time before she dies. But when dreams do not match up with reality, what does Carrie have to fall back on? Cast includes Alison Bridget Chambers, Joe De Mott, Jana Drew, Emily Huber, Chris Miller, Russell Oldmixon, Magda Porter, Steven Starr, Chad Thompson and Hunter Wulff.
Special Student Performances – Thursday February 28 at 7p.m.
The Classic Theatre of San Antonio
1924 Fredericksburg Rd
San Antonio, TX 78201
(210) 589-8450
The 
