Contemporary at Blue Star presents DreamWeek Mental Health Workshop

DreamWeek with Mental Health and Identity/Representation Workshop will take place on Thursday, January 19, 2023. Photo: Google

Blue Star Contemporary and Ruby City proudly announce a collaboration for a mental health and identity/representation workshop on Thursday, January 19 from 5p.m. to 7p.m. Mental health therapist and That Gray Zine creator Erica Edmonds will be leading the workshop, which is part of DreamWeek, an annual event in San Antonio that celebrates diversity and promotes dialogue and understanding among different communities. (Blue Star Contemporary, 2023)

During the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to reflect on and express their experiences with the intersections of identity, representation, and mental health through writing or image making. Responses will be shared with the community with a display in front of the Contemporary the weekend of January 20 to 22. Interested participants will also have the opportunity to publish their expressions in an upcoming volume of That Gray Zine.

The workshop is open to all members of the community, the Contemporary at Blue Star and Ruby City believe that understanding and supporting our own and others’ mental health is crucial for building strong, inclusive communities, and both organizations are excited to provide this opportunity for learning and growth.

That Gray Zine, created in 2019 by Erica Edmonds, discusses all things mental health in order to reduce stigma, foster a sense of community, advocacy, validation, and empowerment. Erica Edmonds is a mental health therapist and has a group practice in San Antonio Texas. Inclusivity, intersectionality, social justice, anti-racism, and the decolonization of mental health are important frameworks for how she navigates her group practice and the zine.

Ruby City is a contemporary art center in San Antonio, TX dedicated to providing a space for the city’s thriving creative community to experience works by both local and internationally-acclaimed artists. Envisioned in 2007 by the late collector, philanthropist and artist Linda Pace, Ruby City presents works from the Linda Pace Foundation Collection of more than 1400 paintings, sculptures, installations and video works. The new building, designed by renowned architect Sir David Adjaye OBE, is part of a campus, which also includes Chris Park, a one-acre public green space named in memory of Pace’s son, and Studio, an auxiliary exhibition space which presents curated shows and programming throughout the year.

The Contemporary at Blue Star presents exhibitions with artists from San Antonio and around the world sharing their global perspectives that encourage understanding, empathy, change, and action, fulfilling our mission to inspire, nurture, and innovate. Like most non-collecting contemporary art spaces, the Contemporary contributes fresh insights and perspectives on larger issues affecting society and culture by highlighting trends, movements, and conversations happening in art. Admission to the Contemporary is always free.

Slamdance Film Festival’s feature films

This year’s Slamdance Film Festival will take place from January 20 through January 26, 2023. Photo: Google

The Slamdance Film Festival is an annual film festival focused on emerging artists. It was founded in 1995 by Dan Mirvish, Jon Fitzgerald, Shane Kuhn, and Peter Baxter, along with Paul Rachman after they were unable to submit films to the Sundance Film Festival. The annual week-long festival will take place in Park City, Utah from January 20 through January 26 and is the main event organized by the year-round Slamdance organization, which also hosts a screenplay competition, workshops, screenings throughout the year and events with an emphasis on independent films with budgets under $1million. (Wikipedia, Slamdance Film Festival, 2023)

The distinctly different and impactful films making their world premieres this January in Park City, UT offer an insider’s humanistic view into the lives around us. Where a news headline could merely skim the surface, these films engage, inspire, prompt conversations, and offer hope and empathy. Each of these four films has a running time of under 90 minutes.

“Silent Love”
Slamdance Competition Documentary Film
“Silent Love” is an incredibly intimate observational documentary that subtly and tenderly portrays the lives of two women raising a pubescent teenager in the conservative setting of a small Polish village.

Each of the characters is completely different, both visually and in terms of character. Each faces different problems. Each has different obstacles to overcome. Together they form a new family, but most of all, it is a universal story about the hardships of raising a teenager in the face of a parent’s death and about taking on new roles.

After their mother’s death, 35-year-old Aga has to take care of her teenage brother, Milosz. There is one thing she is not telling him about: her ongoing relationship with Maja. An unconventional family is being born in a small, conservative Polish village.

Filmmaking Team: Director, Writer and Cinematographer Marek Kozakiewicz, Editors Anna Garncarczyk, Monument and Agata Cierniak, Music by Bartosz Bludau, Producer Agnieszka Skalska, and Agnieszka Dziedzic, Co-produced by Alex Tondowski, and Ira Tondowski.
Running Time: 72 Minutes

Slamdance Screening Times:
Location: Slamdance Film Festival Headquarters
Treasure Mountain Inn
255 Main St.
Park City, UT
Premiere: Saturday, January 21 at 3p.m.
Second Screening: Wednesday, January 25 at 11:15a.m.

“Starring Jerry As Hinself”
Slamdance Competition Documentary Feature Film
“Starring Jerry As Hinself” is a docu-fiction hybrid that blurs the lines of reality while staying true to the subject and his story. It employs a variety of creative filmmaking techniques to capture the world from Jerry’s perspective. The film is a genre bending meta experience, with our subject Jerry starring in his own recreation of his unique journey. The filmmakers wanted to create something unique that stood out from the traditional documentary, while also reflecting Jerry’s state of mind, so they nested a film within a film.

A family documents how their immigrant father Jerry, a recently divorced and retired Florida man, was recruited by the Chinese police to be an undercover agent, only to discover a darker truth.

Filmmaking Team: Director and Editor Lawrence Chen, Co-Writers Jerry C. Hsu (the star of the film) and Lawrence Chen, producers: Jonathan Hsu, and Lawrence Chen, composer Eric Hölljes with Cinematography by Tinx Chen, and Lawrence Chen.
Running Time: 75 Minutes

“Starring Jerry As Hinself” Slamdance Screening Times:
Location: Slamdance Film Festival Headquarters
Treasure Mountain Inn
255 Main St.
Park City, UT
Premiere: Saturday, January 21 at 7:30p.m.
Second Screening: Monday, January 23 at 2:45p.m.

“The Underbug”
Slamdance Breakout Selection Feature Film
While the nations came to a standstill owing to the pandemic, another more familiar kind of virus – that of communal violence raged more aggressively than earlier. India witnessed a uniquely cross-sectional humanitarian crisis: the burgeoning of xenophobia fueled by Covid, commingled with the toxic wave of sectarian violence. What India experienced, as did the rest of the world – we live immersed as a world in the great fracture of our times. “The Underbug” is a psychological horror that explores the psyche of people who live on the fringe of society. These are subaltern populations, easily weaponized for the narrow benefit of the political system. Thus began the story of two such men, in a deserted house, playing out what hopefully feels like the abstract psychopathology of our troubled times. The filmmakers hope that ‘The Underbug’ sparks conversation, offering an insight on hate politics and contributes in some small way towards empathy, courage and love.

As India is ravaged by sectarian violence on the eve of its Independence Day, two rioters take refuge in an abandoned house. An eerie presence in the house, however, haunts the men to the edge of sanity.

Filmmaking Team and Stars: Starring Ali Fazal and Hussain Dalal, Directed by Shujaat Saudagar, Written by Shujaat Saudagar, Abbas Dalal, and Hussain Dalal, Produced by Vikesh Bhutani, Shujaat Saudagar, and Aman Mann, Executive Producers Shaunak Sen, Richa Chadha, Ali Faz al, Hussain Dalal and Abbas Dalal.
Running Time: 68 Minutes *In Hindi with subtitles*

Slamdance Screening Times:
Location: Slamdance Film Festival Headquarters
Treasure Mountain Inn
255 Main St.
Park City, UT
Premiere: Saturday, January 21 at 10p.m.

“With Peter Bradley”
Slamdance Competition Documentary Feature Film
“With Peter Bradley” embodies the cinematic storytelling that made “The Kid Stays In The Picture” an iconic documentary. “With Peter Bradley” is a celebration of artmaking, resilience, and the creative contributions of Black artists to American life. It focuses a long-overdue lens on Peter Bradley and shines a light on his rightful place in the ongoing movement toward racial equity in the arts and our society. Despite the systemic racism of society in general and the art world in particular, Peter Bradley built an incredible resumé before the age of 35: the first Black art dealer on Madison Avenue (at the prestigious Perls Galleries); likely the first Black abstract artist represented by a major New York gallery (André Emmerich); and curator of what is considered the first integrated modern art show in America (The DeLuxe Show). Peter Bradley explores innovative methods of applying paint to canvas, inspired by nature and the colorful flowers he tends daily in his garden and greenhouse.

79 years old and overlooked since the 1970s, abstract artist Peter Bradley reflects on life and shares his artistic process on the cusp of his rediscovery.

Filmmaking Team: Director, Cinematographer, Editor and Producer Alex Rappoport, Composer Javon Jackson, Executive Producers Adger Cowans, and Robina Riccitiello, Consulting Producers Diane Kolyer, and Beth Levison, and Music Supervisor Ed Gerard.
Running Time: 86 Minutes

Slamdance Screening Times:
Location: Slamdance Film Festival Headquarters
Treasure Mountain Inn
255 Main St.
Park City, UT
Premiere: Sunday, January 22 at 12:45p.m.
Second Screening: Tuesday, January 24 at 5:30p.m.

 

Texas Wine Revolution announces second annual Texas Wine Auction

The event, set for April 29, 2023 will showcase Texas grown wines, a chef-curated dinner, live music, and more to raise funds to support local organizations. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Texas Wine Revolution (TWR), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is pleased to announce its second annual Texas Wine Auction that will take place on Saturday, April 29, at Vista Oaks Event Center in Fredericksburg, Texas. Tickets are now on sale for the event, which will feature an evening of live and silent auctions, musical performances, and culinary delights with wine pairings presented by Texas chefs and wineries. (Texas Wine Revolution, 2022)

“I couldn’t be more excited to build upon the success of our inaugural auction. We are closer than ever to achieving our goal of providing access to health services to the hospitality workers that really need it and continue our effort to help Texas wine reach new heights. The Texas Wine Auction team has been working tirelessly to create an amazing event that will continue to get bigger and better each year, all for a great cause.” – Dave Bryant III, Texas Wine Auction Chairperson.

This year’s event will have eight chefs providing various dishes with a chef competition and prizes including overall Best in Show. Chef Angie Ragan, Gordon Ramsay’s Next Level Chef Fox Season 1 Semi-Finalist and Owner and Executive Chef of Salt by Angie; and Chef Roshni Gurnani, most recently featured on Alex vs. America, will be featured at the event with other chefs being announced later this year.

The Texas Wine Auction was developed to bring together a collective of Texas wineries and winemakers to showcase the beauty of Texas-grown wine and raise money for some incredible organizations. Much of the hospitality community operates on an hourly, rather than salaried, basis, which makes the need to provide support and quality health options greater to those hard-working employees who do so much to grow the world-class wine and tourism industry that attracts millions of visitors each year.

Sponsored in part by Dr. Robert Ebeling III of the Friendship Lane Center for Cancer, all proceeds from the event will be filtered through TWR to go directly to beneficiaries, including Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Programs, to fund research and development initiatives for winemaking and grape-growing practices to further the Texas Wine industry. Proceeds will also go toward making an impact on the hospitality community through the funding and operation of a mobile medical unit focusing on wellness and preventative care benefiting employees of restaurants, wineries, vineyards and other hospitality personnel.

Featured wineries, Inwood Estates and William Chris Vineyards, will showcase their wines alongside Ab Astris, Kalasi Cellars, Kerrville Hills Winery, Pedernales Cellars, Texas Heritage, Texas Wine Collective, Becker Vineyards, Brennan Vineyards, Calais Winery, Chateau Wright, Hawk’s Shadow Winery, Hidden Hangar, Lost Draw Cellars, Reddy Vineyards and many more to come.

Guests will have nearby accommodations available as well as complimentary transportation to the auction from various pick-up points around Fredericksburg. Additional details regarding accommodations and transportation will be announced on the website at a later date.

Texas Wine Revolution is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating consumer education and awareness of Texas-grown wines as well as giving back to the industry and communities we operate within. In 2022 Texas Wine Revolution announced its inaugural Texas Wine Auction, an event supporting community and industry through a showcase of Texas wine and world-class cuisine presented by top culinary talents from around the country.

New Year’s Eve events in San Antonio and surrounding area

A New Year’s Eve concert at JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa in Sonora is just one option for ringing in the new year. Photo: JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa, used with permission.

It is time to start making plans for the biggest party of the year: New Year’s Eve. If you are in the San Antonio area, or plan to be, here are three ideas to get you ready to ring in the new year. JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa in Sonora, Texas is hosting a concert, Carriqui at the Pearl will debut its New Year’s Eve House Party, and Thompson – San Antonio Riverwalk is celebrating the New Year in style with an epic firework show at the iconic rooftop restaurant & bar, The Moon’s Daughters. So whether you want to celebrate with a concert, at a party, or with fireworks atop a rooftop restaurant, get ready to party in style. (JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa, Carriqui, The Moon’s Daughters; 2022)

On Saturday, December 31, guests of JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa will dust off their cowboy boots, raise a glass, and celebrate the coming of 2023 with a night to remember. The concert will begin with an opening set by local Texas band, Jukebox Preachers. Nashville powerhouse and country music star Aaron Tippin will then take the stage to wrap up 2022: 

  • Doors/Bar Open: 6:30p.m.
  • Performance Times:  
    • Jukebox Preachers, 7:30p.m.
    • Aaron Tippin, m.
  • Ticket Options:
    • General Admission Ticket: $75 per person
    • VIP Private Table (8 tickets included + 2 drink tickets per person): $1,500 

For those enjoying a concert together with an overnight stay, guests can embrace the true Texas lifestyle with horseback riding, cowboy cookouts, ATV adventures, trail and bike riding, archery, and more. Guests can book their weekend stay online.

To help grant more music lovers the opportunity to attend, JL Bar has also partnered with surrounding hotels offering availability and will be providing shuttles to/from Sonora: 

  • Quality Inn, Sonora Location – $100-110/night**
    • Shuttle Services to and from Sonora: $20 per person
    • Shuttles depart Quality Inn at 4:15pm and 6:00pm
  • Holiday Inn Express, Junction Location – $100/night**
    • Shuttle Services to and from Junction: $30 per person
    • Shuttles depart Holiday Inn Express at 4:00pm
  • **Mention the JL Bar Resort for quoted rate, limited rooms per location, first come basis.

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Potluck Hospitality is excited to announce that Carriqui (239 E. Grayson St) will debut its New Year’s Eve House Party on December 31, 2022. In addition to standard dinner service (last seating at 9p.m.), the house party will  kick off at 10p.m. and run until 2a.m. In anticipation of 2023, Carriqui is taking inspiration from the building’s past as Boehler’s Garden. Fifty years ago, the historic building that is now Carriqui was owned and operated by Aubrey Kline and his brothers. Kline was affectionately known as “Mr. Pearl,” entertaining and hobnobbing with movie stars, politicians, and dignitaries. Upon his retirement from Pearl in 1972, he turned his attention to making Boehler’s Garden the place for a good time. 

Carriqui’s NYE House Party turns up the volume on good times and pays homage to the 1970s (period attire encouraged, but not required). Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased through Tock. The experience includes live music from beloved local favorites Buttercup and DJ Steven Lee Moya, appetizer stations, a champagne toast at midnight and breakfast tacos as a parting gift.

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For the second year in a row, Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk is celebrating the New Year in style with an epic firework show at the iconic rooftop restaurant & bar, The Moon’s Daughters. This year’s theme is “Celestial Ball,” paying tribute to the Goddess of the Moon, Celine. Perched on the 20th floor of the hotel floating high above the River Walk, The Moon’s Daughters dazzles with views of the twinkling city lights of the San Antonio skyline. Guests will dance the night away with celebrity performer DJ JAX, who has spun for the Latin Grammy’s WMC, UMF, and many other festivals and has recently opened for the Chainsmokers.

Several Table Packages, named after the hotel’s monthly cosmic night series, will range from $400 to $100,000; the ultimate experience includes flights and a three-night stay at any other Hyatt property in the world. From Cosmic to The Universe, select from the VIP packages to enjoy an open bar, champagne, spirits, and magnum bottles to toast the New Year.

From 10p.m. to 2a.m., the night promises to bring unforgettable firework views, a stellar atmosphere, and a celebrity DJ to match. Tickets are available for purchase on Eventbrite.

 

William Chris Vineyards’ upcoming events

Events include story time with Mrs. Claus and annual NYE Black Eyed Pea Cook Off. Photo: William Chris Vineyards, used with permission.

William Chris Vineyards is a winery in Hye, Texas that features a visitors center, contemporary tasting rooms, and a patio café. The winery frequently hosts events and with the holiday season in full bloom, these are some of the events scheduled. (William Chris Vineyards, 2022)

FREE EVENT: Story Time with Mrs. Claus | December 18 at 4:30p.m.

The event will feature letters to Santa Claus, Cookie Decorating Station, Storytime with Mrs. Claus, Christmas Carols, and a Christmas tree for pictures. Guests can sip on Grinch Punch, hot chocolate or indulge in their chocolate fountain, plus much more. Wine and bottle service will be available throughout the event as well. Reservation is requested and can be made online.

Annual New Year’s Day Black Eyed Pea Cook Off | January 1, 2023 at 1p.m. – 4p.m

The annual Black-Eyed Pea Cook-Off is a New Year’s tradition that draws WCV fans. Join us for a Southern-style celebration and help us crown our 2022 champion on Saturday, January 1st, 2023 at 1p.m. All tickets include; A New Year’s toast with our winemaking team, barrel tastings, a meal by the WCV in-house culinary team, wine tasting tickets, an exclusive WCV Black-Eyed Pea t-shirt, a sampling of all black-eyed pea dishes, one vote to cast for your favorite dish, and live music throughout the event.

Tickets can be purchased here for $50 (kid tickets: 21 and under for $12) If interested in entering your black eyed pea dish, contestant entry costs $75 and will include a greeter wine, plate of food & T-shirt. Contestants will be expected to arrive at 10a.m. to start cooking. There will be trophies for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place ordered plus cash/wine prizes including:

  • 1st – $500, Case of Wine
  • 2nd – $250, 6 Bottles
  • 3rd – 4 bottles of wine

Additionally, William Chris Vineyards began their new dinner experience, Supper Club, taking place weekly at the Hye Tasting Room

Join WCV in-house culinary team weekly for an expertly crafted dinner experience paired with Texas wine. Chef Daniel Todd is preparing a new menu each Wednesday and is inviting you to this Hye dining experience. Dinner includes glasses of William Chris wine that are hand selected to pair with the courses served. All wines featured will be available for purchase at the dinner. 

REASONS TO LOVE THIS EXPERIENCE: The moment you pull off Highway 290 onto the William Chris grounds, you cannot help but be in awe of the natural beauty of the Texas Hill Country. From the simple charm of our original farmhouse to the modern tasting room surrounded by an active vineyard – all elements of our property are beautifully suited to their terroir and expressive of our reverence for the past and vision for the future.

It began in the Hill Country as a collaboration between William “Bill” Blackmon and Chris Brundrett; one that is based on a shared winemaking philosophy and a vision of the Texas wine industry’s capabilities. Bill and Chris agree that excellent wines are not made, but grown in the vineyard. They also believe that wine should be inspired by the pleasure that is shared with an extended community of friends and family over a bottle. Today, William Chris Vineyards continues to reach for a level of quality that represents the very best of Texas in each new vintage. It is with confidence in our process and pride in our team, community, and the special place we call home, that we inscribe each bottle of William Chris Vineyards wine with this greeting: We are pleased to share a piece of our world.

Krause’s Cafe & Biergarten announces Ugly Christmas Sweater Party and Contest

Celebrate the holidays with Krause’s Café & Biergarten at their ugly sweater party and contest. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Krause’s Café & Biergarten is excited to announce its Ugly Christmas Sweater Party and Contest happening on Thursday, December 15 from 6p.m. to 9p.m. sponsored by Lone Star Brewing. Guests are encouraged to come decked out in their ugliest Christmas sweater to compete for a chance to win a Lone Star Beer swag basket. The winner will be announced at 7:15p.m. Texas-based band Midnight River Choir will perform throughout the evening. (Krause’s Café & Biergarten, 2022)

Lone Star beer specials will also be available during the event and the festivities will continue with the annual New Braunfels Farmers Market Christmas Market taking place on the property. Attendance is FREE and open to the public.

Krause’s Café & Biergarten
148 S Castell Ave
New Braunfels, TX 78130

Krause’s Café & Biergarten is a New Braunfels historic restaurant opened in 1938 and successfully run until 1995. Today, Krause’s Café honors the previous traditions of the restaurant with the addition of a ‘Biergarten,’ live music, and more. The menu reflects New Braunfels’ German heritage as well as South Texas flavors. Over 100 beers are available on tap with local, regional, and international options. The restaurant also features cocktails and wines on tap. Krause’s Café is located at 186 S Castell Ave, New Braunfels, TX 78130, next to the popular New Braunfels Farmers Market.

Lone Star Brewing Co., the makers of Lone Star Beer “The National Beer of Texas” and Lone Star Texas Light Beer, has been proudly brewing beer in Texas since 1884. Since its founding, Lone Star has partnered with local communities throughout the state, supporting Texas-specific charities and organizations. Lone Star Brewing Co. is owned by Pabst Brewing Company, one of the largest independently owned American brewing companies.

Photo: Krause’s Café & Biergarten, used with permission.

Pearl announces this year’s holiday events

This year’s events include a special shopping event, a festive mariachi showcase and the 8th annual Chanukah at Pearl celebration. Photo: Pearl, used with permission.

Pearl is excited to announce this year’s holiday programming. In addition to the Wednesday Holiday Night Markets in December, Pearl will also host a holiday shopping event featuring artisan gifts, exclusive promotions, extended hours and more, as well as the property’s 8th annual Chanukah celebration and a new, festive mariachi showcase. (Pearl, 2022)

“From our beautiful holiday lights, Christmas tree, retail specials and restaurant offerings, combined with some of our most cherished annual traditions, like Holiday Night Markets and our Chanukah celebration in partnership with Young & Jewish San Antonio, Pearl is always a special place for friends and family to gather and celebrate during this season. This year, we are also thrilled to celebrate with a new Canciones de Navidad mariachi music showcase.” – CEO Mesh Milsap

See below for specific information on Pearl’s 2022 holiday programming:

Tastemakers – Thursday, December 8, hours vary per shop
Various locations throughout the property
This year, Pearl is encouraging its guests to support local businesses with a holiday shopping event featuring hand-picked gifts, exclusive promotions, extended hours, and more from retailers like Curio, Niche, Larder, LeeLee, The Twig, Adelante, Feliz Modern, Rancho Diaz, The Tiny Finch, Dos Carolinas, Ruby Road Gems and Ten Thousand Villages. Select retailers are making shopping easy with curated gift ideas for him, her, kids and more throughout the shops.

Some of the specials from the retailers include:
• Feliz Modern: 10% off carts over $150
• Larder: 15% off beer and wine
• Niche: 20% off full priced merchandise
• Ten Thousand Villages: Spend $50 and get a tote for free
• Rancho Diaz: 10% off carts over $150

Canciones de Navidad – Thursday, December 15, 6:30p.m. to 9p.m.
1100 Springs Plaza
This year, Pearl is introducing a new mariachi music showcase called Canciones de Navidad (The Songs of Christmas). The mariachi concert will feature the festive musical stylings of Mariachi Azteca de América, Guadalupe Cultural Arts Mariachi Academy, Mariachi Oro from Burbank High School and Mariachi Hacón from Harris Middle School. Guests can expect to hear familiar holiday songs and enjoy light snacks and drinks from La Gloria and Chilaquil in 1100 Springs Plaza.

Chanukah at Pearl – Wednesday, December 21, 6p.m. to 8p.m.
Shade Structure (located near Boiler House)
Pearl is excited to host the 8th annual Chanukah at Pearl celebration this year in collaboration with Young & Jewish San Antonio, Rabbi Eli Block, musician Yaakov Chesed and Chef Jason Goldblum. On the evening of Wednesday, December 21, guests are invited to gather at Pearl to enjoy the lighting of the menorah and a special message from Rabbi Eli Block. Guests will also be able to experience traditional Chanukah music and kosher foods including matzah ball soup as well as some south Texas favorites like churros and tamales. Mayor Ron Nirenberg will be in attendance to give special remarks. The menorah at Pearl will be on display at the shade structure from December 18 through the 26.

Twin Liquors’ whiskey tasting event and raffle

Whiskey Worth Knowing tasting event. Photo: Twin Liquors, used with permission.

Twin Liquors is hosting a Whiskey Grand Tasting Event and a raffle opportunity to purchase a bottle of Old Forester Birthday Bourbon in preparation of the Holiday season. There will be tasting stations located around the store that will feature Old Forester 86*, 100*, and 1897 Bourbon, Woodford Reserve Bourbons and Rye, Jack Daniels Single Barrel Whiskey, Slane Irish Whiskey and GlenDronach 12 yr. Single Malt Scotch. An engraver will be on site to personalize bottles, so make sure to bring your gift list. (Twin Liquors, 2022)

The event is taking place on Thursday, December 8 from 6p.m. to 8p.m. at Twin’s #68 store at 12955 San Pedro Avenue in San Antonio. Guests must be 21+ to participate and each person in attendance will receive 1 raffle opportunity and must be in attendance to win. Events subject to change without notice.

Born and raised in downtown Austin, Texas in 1937, family owned, Twin Liquors began as one small store and has emerged into a “home grown,” successful Austin company. Twin Liquors has a unique and well-respected reputation throughout the United States for having impeccable team members, outstanding customer service, conveniently located stores, extensive selections of fine wines and premium spirits from around the world, and substantial community involvement.

County Line Community Band holiday concert

The County Line Community Band will be performing a holiday concert this Sunday December 11, 2022. Photo: Google

Coming up this weekend is the County Line Community Band’s Christmas Concert “Holiday Magic” on Sunday, December 11, 2022 at 3p.m. Get in the holiday spirit and enjoy some festive holiday music. The concert will take place in the beautiful Buena Vista Theater on the UTSA Downtown Campus. The concert will feature dances from the Nutcracker Suite, “ ’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” a special guest narrator, and much more. This concert is free and open to the public. Parking is free at the Cattleman’s Square parking lot across the street from the theater. Come out and support community music in San Antonio. (County Line Community Band, 2022)

The CLCB is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and our mission and endeavor is to create an environment whereby our all-volunteer organization can further their musical education and enjoyment through the performance of concert and symphonic music, to further the efficacy of music as an integral piece of the culture of the local community, to advocate for the synergistic integration of music education, to work with our cultural partners in our communities for the advancement of the arts and to be a source of pride for our members and the communities we serve.

Donations greatly appreciated

Photo: County Line Community Band

Cowboy Christmas at the Briscoe Western Art Museum this Sunday

Meet Cowboy Claus and have free western holiday fun at the Briscoe’s Cowboy Christmas event this Sunday. Photo: Briscoe Western Art Museum, used with permission.

Unwrap Western fun and meet Cowboy Claus at the Briscoe Western Art Museum’s annual Cowboy Christmas, 10a.m. – 2p.m., Sunday, December 4. This year’s Cowboy Christmas falls on the museum’s monthly “Locals Day,” when the Briscoe greets locals with free general admission. Cowboy Christmas is also free, making the Briscoe the perfect way to enjoy holiday fun and make memories with your family. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2022)

Cowboy Christmas features a day of family fun exploring the museum with holiday crafts and visits with Cowboy Claus onsite 11a.m. – 1:30p.m. Families are welcome to snap pictures with Cowboy Claus, while a special 12 Days of Christmas scavenger hunt will lead you through the Briscoe’s fantastic collection. Christmas crafts, including ornament making, will give everyone a bit of the West to take home and of course, a stroll through the museum’s McNutt Sculpture Garden is the perfect path to enjoy the River Walk and all of its holiday beauty.

Everyone enjoying Cowboy Christmas can also get wild while they are at the Briscoe thanks to the museum’s fall exhibition. The museum is a photographic zoo featuring 40 of the renowned nature photographer Thomas D. Mangelsen’s most resonant photographs. Thomas D. Mangelsen – A Life In The Wild takes viewers on a journey across the West and around the globe. One of the most prolific nature photographers of our time, Mangelsen is an award-winning photographer whose images have been exhibited internationally and published in iconic mediums such as “National Geographic,” “Good Morning America,” and “60 Minutes.” The exhibition is open to the public through January 29, 2023, and is included in general admission, making it free for locals to enjoy on Locals Day.

To show how friendly the West is and to thank the San Antonio community for its continued support, the Briscoe Western Art Museum makes the first Sunday of each month “Locals Day,” greeting locals with free general admission. Bexar County residents can enjoy Cowboy Christmas and Locals Day by registering online.

Not a local? The Cowboy Christmas fun is included with general museum admission. As always, children 12 and under receive free admission at the Briscoe, as do active duty members of the military, making the museum a terrific spot for families to add to their holiday plans. Active duty military families receive half-price admission when accompanied by their active duty family member. Year-round, retired and former members of the military also received discounted admission.

The first weekend of each month is also Bank of America Museums on Us, allowing Bank of America, Merrill Lynch and U.S. Trust cardholders to gain one free admission to the museum. Through Museums for All, recipients of SNAP, WIC, and MAP receive free general admission to the museum through Museums for All.

For everyone looking to fill their gift lists, the Briscoe’s Hendler Family Museum Store features something for everyone on your list. Shopping the museum includes holiday finds, home décor, and gifts for men, women and children that are not available at traditional retailers. Something sure to be popular in Cowboy Claus’ bag of gifts this year: gift memberships to the Briscoe. Share the wide open spaces of the West – and all of the art, heritage and programming of Briscoe – with someone special on your gift list by giving them a museum membership. Membership includes free and discounted museum event admission, exclusive member events and so much more, all on the banks of the River Walk.