Author: Sandra Cruz

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

Final Gasp Expands Their Sound on New Album ‘New Day Symptoms’

New Day Symptoms is the new album by Final Gasp, due out February 27. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Final Gasp Announce New Day Symptoms

Steeped in nocturnal death rock adventurism, driven by post-punk anxiety that feels increasingly like the twitching heart of our modern age, and fueled by hardcore punk intensity, the second studio album from Boston’s Final Gasp, New Day Symptoms, does what all great rock records do. (another side, 2026)

Not only does it place itself within a lineage, summoning and amplifying a spectrum of powers from rock ’n’ roll lore, it makes them resonate in the here and now. The album gives voice to the fears and frustrations lurking just under the surface of waking consciousness and transforms them into a rallying cry.

Produced by Arthur Rizk, New Day Symptoms will be released on February 27 via Relapse Records. Pre-order/Pre-save here.

Channeling Fury and Reflection

Throughout New Day Symptoms, Final Gasp creates a potent emotional reaction, balancing fury and forlorn introspection. Frontman Jake Murphy vocalizes both a supercharged howl into the void and a remorseful echo back, capturing the album’s emotional duality.

Lead Single: “The Apparition”

The lead single, “The Apparition,” tells what Jake describes as “a story of reality being much more horrifying than fiction.”

“It’s about a captain and his crew on a small boat. A storm came and capsized it, and he and his two crew members were forced to swim to some sort of safety. Ultimately, only he survived—having to watch his two friends be taken away by something that could have been avoided. He knew a storm was coming but thought they could make it. It’s all about bad timing and facing the consequences.”

“The Apparition” is available now, along with its haunting video directed by Caleb Gowett and Bill Politis.

Expanding the Sound

Where Final Gasp’s acclaimed 2023 debut, Mourning Moon, was a concentrated shot of acrid underground death rock, its propulsion tanks largely filled with references to Samhain and Killing Joke, New Day Symptoms retains that core urgency while vastly broadening its scope.

With new space to explore, the album feels communal: a mapping of personal trials and dark recesses onto a landscape dotted with rafter-rousing marker points.

A More Democratic Process

Final Gasp’s ability to meld opposing forces into something vibrant and new is encoded into their DNA. Forging a sound that both honored and moved beyond their musical backgrounds required deep soul-searching, placing the band on a path whose destination remains open-ended.

One of the main reasons for the broadened sound on New Day Symptoms is that the album was written far more democratically than Mourning Moon, allowing multiple creative voices to shape its direction.

Themes of Acceptance and Moving Forward

That open-mindedness, paired with a firm grip on underground roots, gives New Day Symptoms its galvanizing force. While its predecessor dealt directly with personal loss and anxiety, this album approaches similar themes from a different angle.

“With this one, I didn’t want it to be as personal,” says Jake. “But then reading the lyrics back, I ended up feeling differently about them—they were personal on a different level. A lot of these songs are written from an outside perspective, what could’ve happened if things were different, but ultimately it didn’t end that way. You can’t change what’s already been done, so you just have to move on. It just means it’s a part of who you are now.”

A Record Built to Last

Above all, New Day Symptoms is one of those rare killer rock ’n’ roll albums whose conviction and honesty set it apart, an album primed to stand the test of time.

As acclaimed tours with Abbath, Gatecreeper, Fiddlehead, Poison Ruin, Devil Master, and Imperial Triumphant make clear, Final Gasp’s appeal is both expansive and unbounded.

Last month, Final Gasp announced a headlining North American tour which crosses both coasts, the Midwest and more.

See below for a full list of dates. Tickets are on sale here.

Feb 26: Cambridge, MA – Sonia
Mar 01: Cincinnati, OH – Dsgn Clltcv
Mar 02: Kansas City, MO – Howdy
Mar 04: Denver, CO – Bar 404
Mar 05: Salt Lake City, UT – Aces High Saloon
Mar 07: Portland, OR – The High Water Mark
Mar 08: Vancouver, BC – The Cobalt
Mar 09: Seattle, WA – The Funhouse
Mar 11: Sacramento, CA – Cafe Colonial
Mar 12: Oakland, CA – Stork Club
Mar 13: Los Angeles, CA – The Moroccan Lounge
Mar 14: Joshua Tree, CA – Joshua Tree
Mar 15: San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick
Mar 16: Mesa, AZ – The Nile Underground
Mar 19: Tulsa, OK – Whittier Bar
Mar 20: Austin, TX – The Lost Well
Mar 21: Dallas, TX – Dusty’s
Mar 22: Little Rock, AR – Vinos

Final Gasp is:
Jake Murphy – Vocals
Alex Consentino – Guitar/Synth
Sean Rose – Bass
Peter Micanovic – Guitar
Kevin Ordway – Drums

Photo: Caleb Gowett, used with permission

New Day Symptoms tracklist:
01 – Eternal Silence
02 – Look Away
03 – The Apparition
04 – Gifted Shame
05 – No Hand To Lead
06 – Prediction
07 – Burials Of Birth
08 – Fractures
09 – New Day Symptoms
10 – Pale Sun

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Raise a Glass Without the Alcohol During National Mocktail Week at Hotel Contessa

Ambler at Hotel Contessa celebrates Dry January with mocktail week (1/11-17) featuring custom non-alcoholic cocktails & IPAs. Photo: Garrett Smith, used with permission.

National Mocktail Week 2026: Sip Smarter in San Antonio

National Mocktail Week takes place January 11–17, 2026, celebrating the second week of January with creative, alcohol-free beverages. The week highlights healthier choices, mindful drinking, and the growing community around non-alcoholic drinks made with fresh ingredients and thoughtful craftsmanship.

Whether you’re participating in Dry January or simply looking to cut back after the holidays, this week is the perfect opportunity to explore elevated non-alcoholic options without sacrificing flavor or experience.

Celebrate National Mocktail Week at Hotel Contessa

If you’re in San Antonio, Hotel Contessa is the place to be. The hotel’s riverfront restaurant, Ambler Kitchen + Cocktails, is celebrating National Mocktail Week with a curated selection of Ritual zero-proof mocktails and Athletic Brewing non-alcoholic beers. (Hotel Contessa, 2026)

Mocktail Week at Ambler

January 11–17, 2026

🍹 Mocktails ($14)

  • Tiki Buck – Ritual rum, pineapple, lime, demerara syrup, ginger beer
  • Cozy Blanket – Ritual tequila, cinnamon syrup, pomegranate, lime
  • Tai Breaker – Ritual rum, lime juice, orange juice, orgeat

🍺 Non-Alcoholic Beer ($6)

  • Run Wild IPA – Athletic Brewing
  • Free Wave IPA – Athletic Brewing

About Ambler Kitchen + Cocktails

Located inside Hotel Contessa, Ambler Kitchen + Cocktails is a top-rated River Walk restaurant and bar, ideal for lunch, dinner, coffee, or a crafted cocktail, alcohol-free or otherwise. Known for its bold personality, Ambler blends Southwestern-Mexican flavors with international influences. Expect inventive dishes like elevated Reuben sandwiches and fried pecan sticky buns. Texan at heart, but anything but traditional.

Visit Ambler at Hotel Contessa

Ambler Kitchen + Cocktails
306 W. Market St
San Antonio, TX 78205
📞 (210) 298-8040

Photo: Garrett Smith, used with permission.

What It Means to Matter and Why It’s Essential for a Meaningful Life

Mattering is the new book by Jennifer Wallace. Photo: Penguin Random House

We live in a world more connected than ever, yet more people feel invisible, replaceable, and disconnected from purpose than at any other time in recent history.

📚 New Book Spotlight

Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose

by Jennifer Breheny Wallace

From award-winning journalist and bestselling author Jennifer Wallace comes Mattering, a timely and transformative book that confronts the loneliness, burnout, and loss of purpose so many people are experiencing today. (Penguin Random House, 2025)

📅 Release date: Tuesday, January 27
📘 Status: Available now for pre-order

Why Mattering Matters

In this groundbreaking work, Wallace makes a powerful and urgent case: mattering—the feeling that we are valued and that we have an opportunity to add value—is a core human need, as essential to our well-being as food and water.

Yet in today’s world, this fundamental need is increasingly unmet, with serious consequences. As mental and social health crises continue to surge, we often point to social media, the pace of modern life, or polarizing politics as the cause. Wallace argues that beneath these forces lies a deeper issue, what she calls “an erosion of mattering.”

Stories, Science, and the Cost of Feeling Invisible

With her signature warmth and insight, Wallace weaves together compelling research and deeply moving stories of mattering lost and regained. She introduces readers to:

  • Burned-out employees
  • Overwhelmed caregivers
  • People navigating grief
  • Individuals facing destabilizing life transitions

Through these stories, Mattering shows how lives are transformed when people are reminded, often in small but intentional ways, that they are valued and that their presence and contributions truly count.

The “Mattering Core”

At the heart of the book is what Wallace calls the mattering core, made up of four essential elements:

  • Recognizing your impact
  • Being relied on (but not too much)
  • Feeling prioritized
  • Being truly known and invested in

Strengthening this core helps us reconnect with purpose, deepen our relationships, and face uncertainty with greater resilience and clarity.

Who This Book Is For

Perfect for readers of Brené Brown, David Brooks, and Adam Grant, Mattering is a rare, culture-shifting book that offers a diagnosis and a remedy. With a clear roadmap and actionable takeaways, Wallace shows how to:

  • Unlock mattering within ourselves
  • Build cultures of mattering in our homes
  • Create healthier, more connected workplaces
  • Strengthen communities that support belonging

Mattering is a call to action and a blueprint for living a meaningful life and for creating the world we so urgently need.

About the Author

Jennifer Wallace is an award-winning journalist and author of the New York Times bestselling book Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic—and What We Can Do About It, named an Amazon Best Book of the Year.

Her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. A graduate of Harvard College, Wallace began her journalism career in television at 60 Minutes.

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A Second Life for The Long Way Home as Michael Apted’s Documentary Returns at MoMA

Dave Stewart and Boris Grebenshchikov in The Long Way Home: Remastered and Expanded. Photo: EG-PR, used with permission.

The Long Way Home: Remastered and Expanded (2026)

Screening at MoMA’s To Save and Project: The 22nd International Festival of Film Preservation

Michael Apted’s The Long Way Home: Remastered and Expanded (2026) will be screened as part of To Save and Project: The 22nd MoMA International Festival of Film Preservation. (EG-PR, 2026)

About To Save and Project

To Save and Project is an international festival dedicated to newly preserved film treasures from archives, studios, and independent filmmakers. Many of the films premiering at MoMA will receive their first U.S. screening since their original release, while others will be shown in meticulously restored versions that more closely approximate their original presentation. Some titles will even be screened publicly for the first time ever in New York.

The festival runs from January 8 through February 2, 2026.

About the Film

The Long Way Home: Remastered and Expanded (2026) is a newly restored version of Michael Apted’s documentary, based on the only existing 16mm print, supervised by producer Steven Lawrence and editor Susanne Rostock.

The film is a revealing, rollicking portrait of Boris Grebenshchikov, the Soviet underground rock legend who became the first Russian rocker to record in the West during the early, optimistic days of Glasnost. It captures a rare moment of artistic freedom, cultural collision, and creative risk.

Featured Artists

The film features:

  • Boris Grebenshchikov
  • Dave Stewart
  • Members of the legendary Russian rock band Aquarium

With special appearances by:

  • Annie Lennox
  • Chrissie Hynde
  • Ray Cooper
  • Crosby, Stills & Nash
  • and many more

Boris Grebenshchikov is widely regarded as one of the “founding fathers” of Russian rock music and is the founder and lead singer of Aquarium.

Film Details

Title: The Long Way Home: Remastered and Expanded (2026)
Directed by: Michael Apted
Epilogue Directed by: Steven Lawrence & Susanne Rostock
Produced by: Steven Lawrence
Edited by: Susanne Rostock

Format: Feature Documentary
Languages: English, Russian (English subtitles)
Running Time: 98 minutes

Screening Information

To Save and Project: The 22nd MoMA International Festival of Film Preservation

Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM
Location:
MoMA, Floor T2/T1, Theater 2
(The Roy and Niuta Titus Theater 2)

🎤 With an in-person introduction by Producer Steven Lawrence and Editor Susanne Rostock.

A Film Rediscovered

The Long Way Home was released to critical acclaim following its UK broadcast and its premiere at Sundance, yet it has largely disappeared over the past 30 years. By 1988, Michael Apted was already a highly regarded director in both fiction and nonfiction.

Apted’s extraordinary ability to draw people out results in a complex study of an artist who seized a fleeting moment of unimaginable freedom—recording new music with new collaborators—while grappling with the emotional fallout. Members of Aquarium felt abandoned, and longtime Russian fans were uncertain about Grebenshchikov’s English-language songs when he returned home to perform them.

Thanks to producer Steven Lawrence, the film now has a second life in this newly remastered edition. Together with editor Susanne Rostock, Lawrence has also created a new epilogue tracing Grebenshchikov’s life after the release of his U.S. album Radio Silence, including his years in exile and his outspoken criticism of Putin’s war in Ukraine.

The epilogue partially fulfills Apted’s own ambition to make a sequel—a project he hoped to complete before his death in 2021.
(Courtesy of MoMA)

The Filmmakers

Michael Apted (Director)

Michael Apted made documentaries and feature films for over forty years. His globally recognized, award-winning work includes the UP Series (1964–2019), which followed the lives of fourteen British individuals from age seven, revisiting them every seven years. His documentary work also includes The Long Way Home, Moving the Mountain, Incident at Oglala, and The Power of the Game.

Steven Lawrence (Producer / New Epilogue Co-Director)

Steven Lawrence is a producer-director who has been making documentaries for over 30 years, focusing on artists, activists, and everyday heroes—from underground Soviet rockers and Senegalese rappers fighting female genital cutting, to Brooklyn cat rescuers and scientists racing to save the human microbiome.

As a producer, his collaborations with Michael Apted include three feature documentaries, among them The Long Way Home: Remastered and Expanded (2026) and Married in America.

Susanne Rostock (Editor / New Epilogue Co-Director)

Susanne Rostock’s more than 20-year collaboration with Michael Apted as editor resulted in a series of richly provocative films, including The Long Way Home, Incident at Oglala, Me & Isaac Newton, Inspirations, The Power of the Game, and Moving the Mountain.

Season 10 Fiesta and Fundraiser at Teatro Audaz

Teatro Audaz’ Season 10 Announcement Celebration will take place this Saturday. Photo: Teatro Audaz

Noche Audaz: A Season 10 Fiesta You Don’t Want to Miss 🎉

Teatro Audaz San Antonio is turning 10 years bold, and they’re celebrating the best way they know how, with familia, cultura, and a full-on fiesta. (Teatro Audaz, 2026)

Noche Audaz marks the official kickoff of their 10th Anniversary Season, Audaz X: A Decade of Familia. It’s part party, part season reveal, and part fundraiser, all coming together for one unforgettable night honoring the past ten years and looking ahead to what’s next.

📅 When & Where

Saturday, January 10
6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Teatro Audaz
1310 S. Brazos St.
San Antonio, TX 78207

(Yes—free parking!)

🎟 Let’s Talk Tickets

Tickets are available online, and every purchase supports Teatro Audaz and its artists.

💎 Diamante Sponsor Ticket — $50

This option is perfect if you want to go all in:

  • Admission to the event
  • Delicious food
  • Two free drinks
  • A Season 10 Vecinos sponsorship, which includes a free ticket to an upcoming show

🥈 Silver Fiesta Ticket — $25

A great way to join the celebration:

  • Admission to the event
  • Delicious food
  • One free drink

🎶 What’s in Store?

Expect a lively, high-energy night filled with:

  • Amazing food and festive drinks
  • Folklórico dancers from The Academy of Mexican Folk Dance
  • Live music and special performances
  • An exclusive reveal of Teatro Audaz’s Season 10 lineup
  • Plenty of opportunities to support meaningful, community-centered art

❤️ Why Your Support Matters

Every dollar raised goes directly toward Teatro Audaz San Antonio’s productions, educational programs, and community initiatives, helping amplify underrepresented voices on and off the stage.

This night is about more than celebrating, it’s about sustaining a theatre company that tells stories that matter.

Come celebrate. Come support. Come shine with Audaz.

About Teatro Audaz

Teatro Audaz San Antonio is dedicated to creating space for Latinx stories and voices to thrive on stage. Through bold, innovative storytelling, they work to break barriers in theatre, empower artists, and build deeper connections within the community.

At its heart, Teatro Audaz believes theatre can inspire change, spark conversation, and strengthen cultural pride, here in San Antonio and beyond.

When Names Shape Destiny: A Book Review of ‘My Mother Cursed My Name’

My Mother Cursed My Name is the debut novel by Anamely Salgado Reyes. Photo: Barnes & Noble

My Mother Cursed My Name Book Review: A Magical Realism Novel About Generational Trauma

My Mother Cursed My Name by Anamely Salgado Reyes is a debut novel that explores three generations of strong Mexican American women: Olvido, Angustias, and Felicitas. Blending magical realism, women’s fiction, and family drama, the novel examines generational trauma, grief, identity, and the power of names. Set near the U.S.–Mexico border, the story follows a grandmother’s ghost who meddles in her living family’s life from beyond the grave.

Book Overview: What My Mother Cursed My Name Is About

The novel opens with the history of the Olivares women, dating back to 1917, when Justa Olivares named her daughter Calamidades. Justa believed hardship built character and if she suffered, her daughter should too.

“For generations, the women in the Olivares family attempted to change the course of destiny through the power of names.”

Fast forward to Oakville, Arkansas, where Angustias abruptly pulls her ten-year-old daughter Felicitas out of school to leave town once again. On the road, Felicitas speaks with a mysterious intruder as they head to Grace, Texas, Angustias’ hometown, where her mother Olvido has just died.

The intruder is Olvido herself. Felicitas has the ability to see ghosts, allowing Olvido to linger. Convinced she cannot cross over without resolving unfinished business, Olvido insists on “fixing” Angustias’ life, including her family, career, faith, and future, by working through Felicitas.

Felicitas, who never knew her grandmother, agrees to help in hopes of understanding her. Meanwhile, Angustias, grieving and eager to leave Texas behind, is baffled when the town suddenly rallies around her offering jobs, matchmaking, and church invitations.

Each woman possesses a unique gift: Felicitas sees ghosts, Angustias sees people’s auras, and Olvido draws confessions from others through her cooking. Ultimately, they must learn how to truly listen to one another.

Review: Themes of Generational Trauma, Identity, and Motherhood

My Mother Cursed My Name is a haunting and intimate novel about inherited trauma, unresolved love, and the weight of family expectations. It asks a central question: how much of our destiny is decided before we are born?

The story alternates between Olvido, her daughter Angustias, and her granddaughter Felicitas, revealing how control, often disguised as protection, damages relationships. Olvido’s belief that names determine fate casts a long shadow across generations.

When Angustias becomes pregnant as a teenager, her choice to leave home feels both reckless and necessary, a desperate act of self-preservation. Years later, Felicitas’ attempt to connect with her grandmother delivers a darkly ironic truth: although Olvido is dead, her influence remains powerful.

Reyes’s prose is restrained, vivid, and poetic:

“Between the humidity and the running, her hair has tangled in multiple places as if various birds fought to make a nest on her head.”

Blending emotional realism with a subtle gothic tone, the novel uses death as a metaphor for estrangement and healing. My Mother Cursed My Name is ultimately a poignant exploration of motherhood, resentment, cultural inheritance, and the difficult work of breaking cycles we inherit without consent.

Readers who enjoy Latina literature, magical realism novels, and women’s fiction about family and identity will find this story heartwarming and thought-provoking.

“If only mistakes could anchor Angustias without drowning her, she wouldn’t be so determined on sailing the unknown sea.”

Rating: 4 out of 5.

About the Author: Anamely Salgado Reyes

Anamely Salgado Reyes grew up on both sides of the Mexico–Texas border. Now based in the Rio Grande Valley, she writes stories rooted in family, friendship, culture, and the quiet magic found in everyday life.

Bad Brains Partners With Trust Records to Preserve Punk’s Most Powerful Legacy

Bad Brains 1981 backstage at CBGB New York City. Photo: Glen E. Friedman, used with permission.

Bad Brains Partners With Trust Records to Preserve Punk Legacy

NEW YORK, NY —  The iconic and highly influential punk rock band Bad Brains announced last month that they have partnered with Trust Records, the company formed to ensure that classic punk and hardcore music continues to endure. (another side, 2025)

A New Chapter With Trust Records

Under the new deal, Trust Records will ensure that Bad Brains’ music remains available for generations to come. In addition, Trust Records has established an Artist Advisory Board, on which Bad Brains bassist Darryl Jenifer will serve. The board will help guide the future creative vision of Trust Records.

The partnership will govern and administer the entirety of Bad Brains’ owned and controlled intellectual property, including:

  • Music publishing
  • Recorded music
  • Name and likeness
  • Trademarks
  • Visual intellectual property

This includes the band’s self-titled debut album as well as seminal releases Rock for Light, I Against I, and Quickness.

Darryl Jenifer on the Partnership

“After 40 plus years of forging the spirit PMA through our brand of progressive punk rock aka Hardcore, I’m happy that Bad Brains will be sharing the wheel with TRUST in our ongoing quest to keep Bad Brains alive in the hearts and minds of our supporters as we step into the future. TRUST’s love and knowledge of Bad Brains and the PMA ethos makes them a perfect match to partner with as we keep Bad Brains ‘Sailin’ On’. Stay tuned for what’s next to come. One love and a hefty dose of PMA.”
— Darryl Jenifer, Bad Brains bassist

The Legacy of Bad Brains

Formed in 1978 in Washington, DC, Bad Brains is one of the most influential American recording artists to emerge from the punk and hardcore scene. The band’s pioneering artistry, strong ethics, and virtuosic musicianship have had a profound effect on global culture.

Bad Brains are cited as an influence by countless artists, including Rage Against the Machine, Beastie Boys, Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers, No Doubt, Sublime, Green Day, Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, and Deftones.

The original lineup consisted of H.R. (vocals), Dr. Know (guitar), Darryl Jenifer (bass), and Earl Hudson (drums).

Trust Records on the Partnership

“We started Trust Records to promote, preserve, and protect punk and hardcore music and the culture that surrounds it. Bad Brains is the absolute top of the mountain in punk and hardcore. They taught the rest of us how to do it. It is the highest honor to partner with Darryl and Bad Brains in the stewardship of their iconic work.”
— Matt Pincus, Founder, Trust Records

“Bad Brains are an iconic and legendary band whose impact on global culture cannot be overstated. We are thrilled that they’ve chosen Trust Records as their home and we look forward to working with them to continue to build their fan base around the world.”
— Joe Nelson, Co-founder, Trust Records

About Trust Records

Founded in 2020, Trust Records was created to give classic punk and hardcore records the home they deserve. Born from DIY roots, the genre’s most influential releases shaped generations of disaffected youth around the world. As the industry moves further into the streaming age, preserving both the spirit and legacy of this music is more important than ever.

Trust Records focuses on ensuring this music remains accessible to future generations while maintaining historical accuracy and high-quality releases.

Their catalog includes 40th Anniversary Deluxe editions of Circle Jerks’ Group Sex and Wild in the Streets, 7Seconds’ landmark 1984 album The Crew, and reissues of Youth Brigade’s Sound and Fury, DFL’s My Crazy Life, SSD’s The Kids Will Have Their Say, Ink & Dagger’s The Complete Works, and more.

Dry January Without the Dullness Means a Non-Alcoholic Twist on a Classic

Dive into January with Twang’s Miche-Nada recipe. Photo: Garrett Smith and Giant Noise Partners, used with permission.

Dry January: A Reset for the New Year

Dry January is a month-long commitment to abstaining from alcohol, often taken up after the indulgences of the holiday season. Many people choose January because it offers a natural reset: routines are quieter, social calendars are lighter, and there’s a collective desire to start the year with healthier habits.

Going alcohol-free can improve sleep, boost energy, and support mental clarity. For others, it’s a chance to reassess their relationship with drinking, break unconscious habits, and prove to themselves that alcohol isn’t a necessity. Dry January is less about restriction and more about intention, reflection, and beginning the year feeling grounded and in control.

A Non-Alcoholic Option to Celebrate

With this in mind, Twang is sharing a non-alcoholic drink recipe to keep the ritual and flavor alive during Dry January. (Twang, 2026)

Twang is a Tex-Mex–inspired, family-driven company founded in 1986, specializing in flavored salt, sugar, and spice blends. For over 38 years, Twang has been sharing its bold products and recipes with the world, and Dry January is no exception.

Twang’s Miche-Nada

Twang’s Miche-Nada is a non-alcoholic spin on the classic Mexican beer cocktail, the michelada. It can be made using classic, spicy, or pickle Twang Michelada Mixers.

Curated with all-natural ingredients, the mix includes real lime juice, robust ancho chiles, and organic Worcestershire sauce. Twang’s Rimming Salt completes the drink, with flavors like lime, grapefruit, mango chile, and more.

The michelada mix comes in a 16oz bottle for $7.00, while rimming salts are $5.00 each. All Twang products ship nationwide and are available at select retailers across the country.

Twang Miche-Nada Recipe

Ingredients:

  • Twang Michelada Mixer (classic, spicy or pickle flavors)
  • Twang Rimming Salt (lime, grapefruit, mango chile, and more flavors)
  • Ice
  • Sparkling water
  • Lime wedge

Directions:

  1. Rim your glass with choice of Twang’s Rimming Salt
  2. Add some ice to your glass
  3. Add choice of Twang Michelada Mixer
  4. Add sparkling water
  5. Garnish with a lime wedge

Zülfü Livaneli Returns with ‘Leyla’s House’

Leyla’s House is Zülfü Livaneli’s, one of Turkey’s great modern writers, musicians and activists, new novel. Photo: Other Press

Leyla’s House: A Novel by Zülfü Livaneli

Release Date: Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Publisher: Other Press

Tradition, modernity, displacement, and human connection collide in internationally bestselling author Zülfü Livaneli’s latest novel, Leyla’s House. Richly layered and emotionally resonant, the book explores old and new money, the legacy of the Ottoman Empire, and the complexities of modern Turkey. It’s available for pre-order now. (Other Press, 2026)

A Story of Loss, Survival, and Unexpected Friendship

Evicted from her Istanbul mansion, an elderly aristocrat forms surprising new connections across class and culture in this colorful, nuanced novel.

The last living member of a great Ottoman family, the refined yet sheltered Leyla finds herself homeless and vulnerable when her house is sold by the bank to a business tycoon and his ambitious wife. Forced out of her historic mansion on the banks of the Bosphorus, Leyla is rescued by Yusuf, the son of her family’s former gardener, now a journalist, and taken into his care.

Leyla follows Yusuf to a modern, cosmopolitan district of Istanbul, where she encounters a vibrant world of artists and outcasts, including Yusuf’s partner Roxy (real name Rukiye), a hip-hop singer. Despite initial hostility, a genuine friendship slowly develops between these two women from radically different worlds.

A Hidden History Comes to Light

When Leyla’s former home is emptied of its furniture, a startling family secret emerges. A discovered photograph reveals the old woman’s uncanny resemblance to a British officer, raising an unsettling question: could Leyla be the product of an illegitimate union between an Ottoman woman and an Englishman?

With a strong sense of romance and social insight, Leyla’s House captures a society in flux, where former Ottoman aristocrats, the nouveau riche, and Turks returning from Europe all coexist, collide, and redefine what belonging means.

About the Author

Zülfü Livaneli is Turkey’s best-selling author and a prominent political activist. Widely regarded as one of the most important Turkish cultural figures of our time, he is known for novels that interweave diverse social and historical perspectives. His acclaimed works include Bliss, Serenade for Nadia, Disquiet, The Last Island, The Fisherman and His Son, On the Back of the Tiger, and My Brother’s Story.

His books have been translated into thirty-seven languages, won numerous international literary prizes, and adapted into films, stage plays, and operas.

About the Translators

Brendan Freely

Born in Princeton in 1959, Brendan Freely studied psychology at Yale University. His translations include Two Girls by Perihan Mağden, The Gaze by Elif Şafak, and—co-translated with Yelda Türedi—Like a Sword Wound by Ahmet Altan.

Yelda Türedi

Born in Mersin, Turkey, in 1970, Yelda Türedi studied chemical engineering at Boğaziçi University. She has co-translated Ahmet Altan’s Like a Sword Wound and Love in the Days of Rebellion.

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Begin at the End: A Smarter Way to Make Decisions in an Overwhelming World

Decision fatigue is real and this book offers a way out. Photo: Amazon

Related Post: The Leadership Skill That Shapes Every Business Decision (And a Book That Explains It)

Book Review: Begin at the End by Jeremy Sable

Begin at the End: The Modern Day Guide to Decision-Making by Jeremy Sable is a timely response to a problem many of us feel but struggle to identify: decision fatigue in a world that never pauses.

He doesn’t offer abstract frameworks or motivational clichés, but rather a practical system rooted in real-world experience. He has spent a decade in mission-critical consulting where decisions aren’t theoretical, they’re consequential.

His goal in writing this book is clear:

“This book is for anyone who is facing tough decisions, feeling stuck, or just looking for a better way to think things through.”

The Core Idea: Outcome-First Thinking

The premise is simple yet powerful. We need to stop reacting to the options in front of us and start anchoring every decision to the outcome we actually want.

This Outcome-First approach flips traditional decision-making advice on its head. Instead of weighing endless pros and cons, Sable encourages clarity first—defining success before choosing a path. The result is faster, more confident decisions with far less mental noise.

What’s Inside the Book

The book is divided into four clear sections:

  • Part I: Framing the End
  • Part II: Navigating the Messy Middle
  • Part III: Making the Call
  • Part IV: Becoming a Decision Maker by Design

Key Highlights

Part I, Chapter 1: Outcome-First Thinking
Sable immediately addresses artificial intelligence, noting that AI will increasingly influence both personal and professional decisions. While AI can provide predictive analytics and real-time simulations, it can also begin to make decisions for us if we aren’t clear on our goals.

“AI is not your enemy, but it’s not your decision maker either. You are.”

Part I, Chapter 5: Generate Better Options — Decision-Making Under Pressure
When faced with two bad options, Sable challenges readers to create better ones. He uses Tyler Perry as a case study: when told his work wasn’t mainstream enough for Hollywood, Perry didn’t conform or quit, he built his own studio.

“So the next time you’re told it’s either A or B, remember—you are writing the test, not just taking it.”

Why This Book Works

Sable acknowledges the speed, complexity, and constant pressure of modern life and designs his approach accordingly. The writing is clear, direct, and refreshingly free of jargon. He reinforces concepts through illustrations, case studies, and interactive exercises, with each chapter ending in summaries and key takeaways.

Several chapters also explore how artificial intelligence fits into modern decision principles, making the book especially relevant right now.

Final Thoughts

For readers who feel overwhelmed or paralyzed by choice, Begin at the End is an effective antidote. It restores agency and focus by reminding us that better decisions start with knowing where we want to go.

Looking for fresh decision-making ideas? This book is worth making your next guide.

“Whether in markets or in life, if you wait for perfect signals, you’ll miss the opportunities that come from moving forward with intention, even when the picture is messy.”

Rating: 4 out of 5.

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