Theater review: ‘Bless Me, Ultima’ at The Classic Theatre

Now playing at The Classic Theatre is Rudolfo Anaya’s ‘Bless Me, Última’ and there are still a few chances to catch this iconic production. Show times are Friday and Saturday at 8p.m. and Sunday at 3p.m. and it runs until Sunday March 11, 2018. Tickets range from $17 to $32 and are available online or by calling the box office at (210) 589-8450. Rudolfo Anaya is an American author who is considered one of the founders of contemporary Chicano literature. His novel ‘Bless Me, Última.’ is the coming of age story of Antonio Márez y Luna and his mentorship under his curandera and protector, Última. It is directed by José Rubén De León and stars Carlos Alvarado as the Narrator, Andrew Treviño as Tony and Marisa Varela as Última.

‘Bless Me, Última’ is set in post-World War II New Mexico in the small town of Guadalupe. It starts off as the narrator, a grown Tony, recounts a childhood memory surrounding Narciso, the town drunk. Narciso is a war veteran and word around town is that he suffers from PTSD, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. As a child, he witnesses as Tenorio, the local bar owner, and his friends, chase Narciso and eventually corner him by the river and kill him in cold blood. This experience not only scars him but sets off a series of events that will lead him to question everything he thought he knew about family, religion and the world around him.

When the family welcomes Última, a folk healer, into their home, she and Tony develop a friendship. She sees something in Tony that compels her to share her trade with him as she guides him through the tough times when he is torn between family loyalty and following his heart. Even though the family loves and respects her, some of the townsfolk demonize her and call her a witch. When the owl that protects her is shot and killed, Última dies, but not before a heart-broken Tony asks for her blessing.

Like the novel, the play is in English and Spanish and contains a few Spanish curse words. Because of De León’s superb directing, Spanish fluency is not necessary to enjoy a play whose universal themes of family, faith, mysticism, mortality and nature transcends language. It is refreshing to see an all Latin cast and crew bring ‘Bless Me, Última’ to the San Antonio stage where its diverse audience can appreciate its multiculturalism and indigenous traditions. Andrew Treviño and Marisa Varela work well together as Tony and Última and Carlos Alvarado delivers authenticity and vulnerability as narrator/present day Tony. The intimate setting of The Classic Theatre gives audiences a front-row seat to Tony’s journey and makes this a must-see show.

The Classic Theatre of San Antonio
1924 Fredericksburg Rd
San Antonio, TX 78201
(210) 589-8450

Mi Golondrina pop-up at Pearl this month

golondrinapic — Mi Golondrina debuts its pop-up at Pearl this Friday and will be onsite for the month of March. Photo: Mi Golondrina, used with permission.

This week Pearl launches the next pop-up with Mi Golondrina, a collection of handcrafted clothing and accessories. It all starts this Friday March 2 with a kickoff event from 5p.m. to 7p.m. and throughout the month, guests can visit Mi Golondrina’s pop-up to shop their latest line of high end artisan apparel and accessories. Regular shop hours will be Tuesday through Saturday from 10a.m. to 5p.m. (Pearl, 2018)

Founded in June 2013 by Cristina Lynch, Mi Golondrina is a style collection that works with skilled artisans to pair centuries-old embroidery techniques with modern styles. Each one-of-a-kind piece in the Mi Golondrina collection is hand-crafted in Mexico and the finishing details are added by their talented team in Dallas to create an assortment of high end artisan apparel and accessories. Their collection is typically sold in their Dallas showroom, online and at pop-up events. Mi Golondrina will be making their San Antonio debut this Friday at Pearl.

Pearl Parkway
302 Pearl Parkway, Suite 110
San Antonio, TX 78215

Garrison Brothers celebrates Texas Independence Day

hotelemma2-pg — Hotel Emma is a participating restaurant in the Garrison Brothers Distillery’s “The Bourbon Takeover of Texas” on Friday March 2.

Garrison Brothers Distillery™ is a small farm and ranch located in the Texas Hill Country which produces straight bourbon whiskey. Founded in 2006, Garrison Brothers is the first legal whiskey distillery in Texas history and is one of the first distilleries in America outside of Kentucky to produce authentic, handmade bourbon whiskey and only bourbon whiskey. At the American Craft Spirit Awards in 2016, they were awarded a gold medal for their Cowboy Bourbon™, silver medal for their 2016 Vintage Small Batch Straight Bourbon Whiskey and another silver for their Texas Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The distillery and its barrel barns are open to the public for tours in Hye, Texas. (Garrison Brothers Distillery, 2018)

On Friday, March 2, Garrison Brothers Distillery is partnering with 21 chefs and mixologists across the sate to celebrate Texas Independence Day with bourbon-infused chef specials. These tastemakers have been hand-selected to showcase their culinary love for the Lone Star State by incorporating Garrison Brothers’ 2018 vintage of their Small Batch bourbon into a unique, limited-time culinary special. “The Bourbon Takeover of Texas,” a one-night-only event, will take place at choice restaurants in Texas’ largest cities: Austin, Dallas, Houston, El Paso and San Antonio. Each chef has been tasked with creating a dish, or cocktail, reflecting their restaurant concept and the bold, proud spirit of Texas.

Participating restaurants include:

Austin
Alma Alcocer — Executive Chef, El Alma
Jeff Martinez — Executive Chef, Alcomar
Maribel Rivero — Executive Chef, Yuyo
Ryan Foster — Restaurant & Bar Manager, Juniper
Amanda Rockman — Executive Pastry Chef, New Waterloo – Central Standard
Natalie Gazaui — Executive Pastry Chef, Eberly
Lance Posey — Bar Manager, Native Hostel
Tatsu Aikawa & Takuya “Tako” Matsumoto — Chefs/Owners, Kemuri Tatsu-Ya

Dallas
George Kaiho — Bar Manager, Jettison
Omar Yefoon — Bar Manager, Shoal’s Sound & Service
Matt McCallister — Chef/Owner, FT33
Josh Sutcliff — Executive Chef, Mirador
Nick Hurry — Executive Chef, Proof & Pantry

El Paso
Aldo Mora — Executive Chef, Café Central

Houston
Westin Galleymore — Chef, Hay Merchant
David Keck — Chef, Goodnight Charlie’s
Ryan Lachaine — Executive Chef, Riel
Bobby Matos — Executive Chef, State of Grace

San Antonio
Tim Rattray — Executive Chef, The Granary
John Brand — Chef & Culinary Director, Hotel Emma – Supper
Jason Dady — Chef/Owner, Tre Trattoria

First Thursday Night Markets at Pearl

Pearl’s First Thursdays has a new format that will allow guests to enjoy the best of the Farmers Market vendors. This Thursday March 1 from 4p.m. to 8p.m. is the inaugural First Thursday Night Markets with select local vendors and entertainment taking place every first Thursday throughout the year. These events feature live music and dining and shopping specials for the ultimate local shopping experience. (Pearl, 2018)

Over 20 Pearl Farmers’ Market vendors will set up shop on Pearl Parkway, offering their latest products and handmade goods. These will include PAWSitively Sweet Bakery, Organic Chix, Ms. Chocolatier, Braune Farms, River Whey Creamery, Holdman Honey, Happy Earth Garden, Talking Tree Farm, Poteet Country Winery, Bending Branch Winery, Grain Free Haven, Madge’s Food Company, Byccombe Natural Solutions, Ricerise, Lil Red’s Boiled Peanuts, Wildflower Caramels, Al’s Gourmet Nuts, Deep River Specialty Foods, Ming’s Thing, Sol Y Luna Bakery, Parker Creek Ranch, Peaceful Pork, Texas Black Gold Garlic, Wild Roots and Mother Culture.

Indie rock band St. Dukes will perform at Pearl Parkito throughout the evening and activities will include cornhole boards on the lawn outside of Cured. Guests can enjoy specials from select Pearl retailers with special offerings like Hiatus Spa + Retreat’s five-minute mini lift with Nuface and skin consultation, High Street Wine Co.’s complimentary wine tastings and discounts for night market patrons. Happy hours from Cured and Jazz, TX will be available, as well as specials and discounts from Nao, Larder, Lick Honest Ice Creams and more.

Pearl Parkito
306 Pearl Pkwy
San Antonio, TX 78215

Book review: ‘Quietus’ by Vivian Schilling

quietuspic — ‘Quietus’ is a suspenseful thriller by Vivian Schilling. Courtesy photo used with permission.

Vivian Schilling is an American novelist, screenwriter, actress and independent filmmaker. The award-winning author has written the novels ‘Sacred Prey’ and ‘Quietus,’ both of which take place in a supernatural setting and tackle the themes of immortality, existentialism and religious conflict. ‘Quietus’ is a psychological thriller about a young woman brought back from the brink of death to find the world around her forever altered. It will be reissued on Tuesday February 27, 2018.

At the beginning of ‘Quietus,’ Kylie O’Rourke, her husband Jack, her best friend Amelia Blackwell and her husband Dix Hamilton are aboard a small plane headed for Boston through the White Mountains. The flight is uneventful until the weather takes a turn for the worse and the plane goes down in sub-freezing temperatures. Kylie wakes up in the hospital still groggy from the medication and afterwards starts having memories of the crash and events the other survivors do not remember. Putting all that aside, she returns to her normal life, but the memories, nightmares and visions remain, and she starts questioning the events of that night and her own sanity. As the other survivors start dying from suicide, accidents and other tragic deaths, she becomes increasingly paranoid and desperate to filter the real from the imaginary in a desperate attempt to escape a supernatural force determined to even the scales of fate.

It is difficult to describe exactly what type of novel ‘Quietus’ is. Part psychological thriller, part sci-fi/fantasy, it is a suspenseful tale that grabs the reader and does not let go until the shocking conclusion. The language is easy to understand and at 500-plus pages, the action does not falter. As each character succumbs to the inevitable in the Final Destination-like storyline, it is heart-breaking to see them go. Fans of art history are in for a treat in Book Two, Chapter Eighteen when one of Kylie’s clients, an art connoisseur, starts explaining the background of the statues that have Kylie so intrigued. Beautifully written, the fantasy sequences are incredibly realistic and haunting. The personification of Death as someone from Kylie’s past is genius, and, in the end, Death collects the souls it is due because they were never meant to survive the accident. ‘Quietus’ is recommended for fans of gothic novels who appreciate aspects of fantasy, suspense and psychological thrillers mixed in just to keep things interesting.

*A copy of this book was given for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are solely the author’s.

‘Wit’ at The Public Theater of San Antonio

witcellar — ‘Wit’ opens Friday February 23 at The Public Theater of San Antonio’s Cellar Theater. Photo: Jeremy Whittington, used with permission.

Up next at The Public Theater of San Antonio is ‘Wit,’ a one-act play by American playwright Margaret Edson. The winner of the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, it opens this Friday February 23 at the Cellar Theater and runs until Sunday March 11, 2018. Show times are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30p.m. and Sundays at 2p.m. Prices are $35 for general adult, $25 for military with valid ID, $25 for seniors aged 60 and older and $20 for students with valid ID. Additional ticket service fees may apply and discounts are available for groups of ten or more. Tickets are available online and at the box office at (210) 733-7258. (The Public Theater of San Antonio, 2018)

‘Wit’ tells the story of Vivian Bearing, a renowned English professor, who is diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer. The action takes place during her final hours as she recalls the initial diagnosis and looks back on her life through the intricacies of the English language, especially with wit and using the metaphysical poetry of John Donne. She reassesses her life and her work with a profundity and humor that are transformative both for her and the audience. The cast includes Diana Trotter as Vivienne Bearing, PH. D, Shane Vickers as Harvey Kelekian, M.D., Brendan Brady as Jason Posner, M.D., Erin Polewski as Susie Monahan, R.N., B.S.N, Linda Ford as E.M. Ashford and Sam Mandelbaum, Michael Zaiontz and Kimberlyn Kacie as Ensemble cast members.

Disclaimer: this show contains adult themes and content.

The Public Theater of San Antonio
Cellar Theater
800 W Ashby Place
San Antonio, TX 78212
(210) 733-7258

DIY ideas for National Margarita Day

limewithred — DIY ideas for National Margarita Day. Photo: Twang, used with permission.

Thursday February 22 is National Margarita Day and for anyone looking for some last-minute DIY cocktail ideas, Twang is sharing a twist on the typical margarita and a recipe using their products. Anyone can use these ideas to create their own cocktail in the comfort of their own home. 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, all 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, 2018)

Orange Pomegranate Margarita:
1 oz. pomegranate juice
1 oz. orange juice
.5 oz fresh lime juice
2 oz Tequila Blanco
1/2 oz Cointreau
1/2 oz light agave syrup
Twang-A-Rita Golden Roar Salt

Prepare the glass. Drag a cut lime around the rim of the glass. Dip the rim in Twang-A-Rita GOLD salt. Make the drink. Combine ice, agave, pomegranate, orange and lime juice with the tequila and Cointreau in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously and then pour into chilled, ice-filled glass or mason jar.

Margarita Con Twang:
Ice cubes
3 oz tequila
2 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
1 oz Simple Syrup
1/2 to 1 teaspoon orange liqueur
1 tablespoon Lime-salt-sugar
2 tablespoons of Twang-A-Rita Unwind Lime Salt

Rim a glass with Twang-A-Rita Lime Salt and set aside. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add tequila, lime juice, Simple Syrup and orange liqueur. Cover and shake until mixed and chilled, about 30 seconds. In general, the drink is ready by the time the shaker mists up. Place Lime-salt-sugar on a plate. Press the rim of a chilled rocks mason jar or wine glass into the mixture to rim the edge. Strain margarita into the glass.

Whataburger Oh Whata Night to benefit Harlan High Class of 2020

whataburgerchickensandwich-jpg — The next Whataburger Oh Whata Night fundraiser on Thursday February 22 will benefit Harlan High School Class of 2020. Photo: Whataburger, used with permission.

Whataburger periodically hosts events to help the community and its various schools. These events have ranged from “Oh Whata Nights” to jalapeño eating contests, drawings and raffles. This Thursday February 22 from 5p.m. to 8p.m., Whataburger is hosting a fundraiser to benefit Harlan High School Class of 2020. The public is invited to come and show their support by enjoying their favorite menu items and during the posted hours, Whataburger will donate 20 percent of the sales to the students. Attendees who present an official school ID will have a chance to win “Whataburger For a Year” – where one customer’s name will be drawn to win the prize, a free Whataburger each week for an entire year. The first 100 guests will receive a free Whataburger sports bottle. This Whata Night fundraiser will be at the posted location only. (Whataburger, 2018)

Whataburger has been making burgers since 1950 when Harman Dobson opened a humble hamburger stand in Corpus Christi, Texas. He wanted customers to take one bite and say, “What a burger” so he named his stand on Ayers St “Whataburger.” Whataburger now has over 700 locations across the country and continues to deliver fresh, made to order meals everyday with superior customer service. Community support includes charitable giving and volunteerism to nonprofit organizations that focus on children’s charities, cancer research, hunger assistance, disaster relief and military support.

Whataburger
5760 W Loop 1604 N (near Culebra Rd)
San Antonio, TX 78251
(210) 688-6335

Bakery Lorraine opens location at the RIM

www.joshhuskin.com — Bakery Lorraine’s new location at the RIM is now open for business. Photo: Josh Huskin, used with permission.

On Monday February 12, Bakery Lorraine, a local favorite and nationally recognized pastry shop famous for its colorful macarons and exquisite French pastries, opened its third location in San Antonio. Located at the RIM shopping center, Bakery Lorraine’s menu offers pastries, breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. This location also offers beer and wine service. (Bakery Lorraine, 2018)

Owned by chefs Anne Ng, Jeremy Mandrell and operator Charlie Biedenharn, Bakery Lorraine has quickly become a sensation in San Antonio. It was named one of the best new bakeries in the U.S. by Food & Wine and CNN’s Eatocracy blog, as well as one of the “13 Destination Bakeries” by Conde Nast Traveler.

Partners Jeremy Mandrell and Anne Ng met while baking at Thomas Keller’s world-famous Bouchon Bakery in Napa Valley and after perfecting their craft in California, they settled in San Antonio in 2010 and in 2011 they established Bakery Lorraine. Bakery Lorraine serves handmade French pastries and macarons using the finest ingredients. From the best flours and seasonal fruits to farm-raised eggs and dairy, Bakery Lorraine is elevating the way cookies and croissants are perceived in San Antonio. This new location features breakfast items, including the breakfast parfait, the quiche Lorraine and breakfast sandwiches and a variety of savory lunch dishes, including an assortment of salads and soups and artisan sandwiches. Business hours are 8a.m. to 9p.m. daily

Bakery Lorraine
17503 La Cantera Pkwy #108
San Antonio, TX 78253
(210) 415-4066

Special Lent menu at Whataburger

whatacatch2 — For those observing the Lenten season, Whataburger has a special menu. Photo: Whataburger, used with permission.

The Lenten season is here and for those who opt to go meatless on Fridays, Whataburger is offering customers the Whatacatch fish sandwich and Whatacatch dinner to accommodate and provide more ways for our customers to enjoy their meals “just like they like it.” (Whataburger, 2018)

The Whatacatch sandwich includes a wild-caught Alaskan Pollock fish fillet with southern-style cornmeal breading, served on a toasted four-inch bun, accompanied with crisp lettuce and topped off with Whataburger’s original tartar sauce. The Whatacatch dinner includes two all-white fish fillets, French fries and Whataburger’s tartar sauce.

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Author: Sandra Cruz