Category: community events

JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa offers family friendly Thanksgiving activities

JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa offers Thanksgiving events for a family friendly holiday, West Texas Style. Photo: JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa, used with permission.

The scenic JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa has some Thanksgiving getaway programs coming up. The family owned and operated, 13,000-acre Texas Hill Country retreat invites families and loved ones to give thanks with outdoor experiences, world-class Texas BBQ, and the chance to make long-lasting memories. (JL Bar Ranch, Resort & Spa, 2022)

Their programming and offers are as follows:

  • A Hill Country Thanksgiving Feast: On Thanksgiving (November 24), the JL Bar Ranch will host a family-style dinner featuring traditional Texas ranch favorites with sophisticated flair. Resort guests and locals alike can select from three separate seatings at 11a.m., 1p.m. and 4:30p.m. for their Thanksgiving feast, featuring a Chef-attended carving station with smoked turkey, sage butter basted roast turkey, and rosemary and garlic sirloin;  crowd-pleasing and decadent buffet featuring over a dozen sides like bourbon orange glazed ham, sweet potato casserole with pecan crumble, roasted butternut squash and brussels sprouts with applewood smoked bacon; an assortment of festive holiday desserts; and more. Price: $59.95 (guest rate); $79.95 (non-resort guest); half-off for kids 12 and under.
  • Outdoor Adventure: Embrace the crisp November weather with the resort’s robust outdoor activities, from hiking and horseback riding to 3D archery. 
  • Laid-Back R&R: Book a seasonal spa treatment at The Spa at JL Bar for the ultimate relaxation during the holiday. Fall spa specials include an Appe Body Scrub, Autumn Massage, Harvest Facial, and Fall Foliage Mani-Pedi.  
  • A Multi-Gen Villa Escape: The stunning Archer’s Nest Villa is an ultra-private retreat within the Ranch: this beautiful ranch home has 7 bedrooms & 6 bathrooms, a gourmet kitchen, a swimming pool with a slide, an outdoor kitchen & BBQ pavilion, home theater and more (private chef and butler options are available). 
  • Take Care of Holiday Shopping Early: Stop by JL Bar Ranch’s General Store to tackle holiday shopping before the seasonal rush, with JL Bar coolers, apparel, hunting gear, and more.

San Antonio Museum of Art offers ReCollections Programs for Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

San Antonio Museum of Art will be offering ReCollections Programs in November and December. Photo: San Antonio Museum of Art, used with permission.

In honor of Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) will offer virtual ReCollections programs in partnership with UT Health San Antonio’s Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases. These interactive online discussions were developed to deliver social connectedness, art, storytelling and joy to families and their affected loved ones. (San Antonio Museum of Art, 2022)

On Saturday, November 19 from 10a.m. to 11a.m., ReCollections: Art Conversations to Stimulate the Mind—Food & Feasts will share a collection of virtual feasts highlighting favorite holiday recipes aimed to showcase how every culture throughout history has encouraged togetherness and celebration through delicious food. 

The following month, on Saturday, December 17 from 10a.m. to 11a.m., ReCollections: Art Conversations to Stimulate the Mind – Family Photos will encourage online participants to bring a favorite photo of family, friends or pets to share stories of everyday works of art. Whether the prized portraits are grand paintings or simple polaroid photos, this discussion will strive to celebrate close connections and offer the chance to retell special moments.

All ReCollections programs will be facilitated virtually via Zoom and are free to the public. Online registration will close two hours before the scheduled start time and meeting session information will be sent to the email address used for registration.

Family Meal Benefit dinner in El Paso to benefit El Pasoans Fighting Hunger

El Paso native chefs return home for an evening of cooking and camaraderie, all for a good cause. Photo: Google

On Sunday, November 13, ten chefs will return home to El Paso to host “Family Meal,” a special collaborative benefit dinner. Proceeds from ticket sales will go to El Pasoans Fighting Hunger, a group actively procuring and distributing food to combat the hunger crisis in the region.

“El Pasoans Fighting Hunger (EPFH) is El Paso’s only food bank and a member of Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief network. The Food Bank is the distribution center for over 132 partner pantries across the borderland region and collaborative hub for hunger initiatives that assists in SNAP applications and nutrition education. EPFH also distributes healthy and nutritious food to 235 client choice mobile pantries, which provide food to underserved/unserved communities. We currently serve 200,000 food insecure people with 1 in every 3 children and 1 in every 4 adults unsure of where their next meal will come from.” -EPFH

The evening is designed to expose local and expat talent—chefs, artists, and musicians—while bringing El Paso natives together for an evening of cooking and camaraderie, all supporting a good cause. The event will be held at Ardovino’s Desert Crossing (1 Ardovinos Dr, Sunland Park, NM 88063), and tickets are available at elpasofamilymeal.com. Tickets for Family Meal are $250 per person and will include six courses in a family-style setting along with passed appetizers, wine pairings, coffee, and a chef demo.

“Family Meal is an important part of the day for restaurants. It is a way to bond with your family away from home. This benefit dinner, in turn, is meant to transform that experience and help our extended (local and migrant) families as well as bring to light the vast amount of talent and generosity this city has to offer. El Paso is one part of a large international and bi-national metropolis encompassing Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, and Las Cruces, New Mexico. What affects one family affects us all.” – Mixtli Chef Rico Torres

Confirmed chefs include:
Rico Torres, Founder, Food and Wine Best New Chef 2018, James Beard Best Chef Semi-Finalist 2019, Best Restaurant 2022, Mixtli (San Antonio, TX)
Andre Natera, Author and Podcast Host, Chef’s PSA (Austin, TX)
Alan Delgado, Star Chefs Rising Star 2020, (New York, NY)
Gabe Erales, Top Chef-18 Winner, Bacalar, (Austin, TX)
Jaime Daniel Calleros, Executive Chef, Ardovino’s Desert Crossing (Sunland Park, NM)
Jake Rojas, Tallulah’s Taqueria (Providence, RI)
Omar Flores, James Beard Semi-Finalist Best New Restaurant 2013, Best Chef Southwest 2015, 2016, Whistle Britches and Muchacho (Dallas, TX)
Melissa Valenzuela, Mixtli, (San Antonio, TX)
Andres Padilla, Chicago Tribune’s Dining Out Award 2015, Opening Executive Chef at Plaza Hotel/Ambar 2020, Culinary Director of Cruz Blanca (Chicago, IL)
Emiliano Marentes, James Beard Outstanding Chef Semi-Finalist 2022, El Emi, (El Paso, TX)

The Native El Paso chefs will return for a weekend of camaraderie and cooking under the scenic landscapes at Ardovino’s Desert Crossing, which features views of all three cities. The evening will include live-fire cooking, wine, specialty cocktails, live music, plus a special Chef Demo from Top Chef-18 Winner, Gabe Erales. The event will also feature a live auction, farewell coffee service, and a photo opportunity with the talent.

Screening of ‘Deep in the Heart’ film at Briscoe Western Art Museum

The Briscoe Western Art Museum is hosting a screening of the film “Deep in the Heart” featuring a post-film discussion and Q&A with producer Katy Bladock. Photo: Briscoe Western Art Museum, used with permission.

The Briscoe Western Art Museum is hosting a screening of the film “Deep in the Heart” featuring a post-film discussion and Q&A with producer Katy Bladock on Thursday, November 10 at 6p.m. The screening is the only one in San Antonio to include a member of the film’s production team. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2022)

A visually stunning celebration of Texas’ diverse landscapes and remarkable wildlife found nowhere else, “Deep in the Heart” is told through the eyes of wildlife species ranging from the mysterious blind catfish to the elusive mountain lion – and even the 20 million Mexican freetail bats that spend their summers just north of San Antonio in Bracken Cave. Narrated by Matthew McConaughey and featuring state-of-the-art cinematography, this family-friendly film journeys from the highest peaks in West Texas, through our aquifers, rivers, and bays, and deep into the Gulf of Mexico. “Deep in the Heart” aims to conserve our remaining wild places, to show the connectivity of water and wildlife, and to recognize Texas’ conservation importance on a continental scale.

Deep in the Briscoe’s heart, the film also shares the bison of Caprock Canyons State Park. The official bison herd of the State of Texas is all that remains of the vast Southern Plains herd that once numbered between 30 million and 60 million head. The Briscoe’s logo is a bison and the museum works to support the herd through its annual “Adopt a Bison” campaign.

The Briscoe’s “Deep in the Heart” film screening is $14 and online pre-registration is recommended. Popcorn, candy and drinks will be available for purchase. Members of the Briscoe receive free admission and movie snacks.

Producer Katy Bladock will be present for a post-film discussion and Q&A session. Bladock is a film producer, writer, and graphic designer based in Austin, TX. She has a passion for conservation and visual storytelling, aiming to use creative outlets as a tool to advocate for the protection of natural environments and wildlife. She is a proud East Texas native and studied communications, journalism, and art at Texas A&M University. Katy is a Producer for the Texas natural history film “Deep in the Heart,” was Associate Producer for the Emmy-nominated feature documentary “The River and the Wall,” produced “American Ocelot,” and assists with various production needs for Fin and Fur Films Productions.

Film guests will be able to view the Briscoe’s fall exhibition, Thomas D. Mangelsen – A Life In the Wild, 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.

Pop-up art show: A. Mishea – Artist and Visionary

Do not miss this one day showing of A. Mishea’s artwork at The Cellar Door in Katy, TX. Photo: A. Mishea, used with permission.

Come and see the exclusive work of one of the most original and enigmatic visionary artists of today at this new, one day pop-up exhibit in Katy. It will take place on Saturday November 12 from 1p.m. to 3p.m. at The Cellar Door. Visitors will be able to explore original works, obtain poster prints, and meet the artist. This limited-time exhibition not only allows visitors to admire her works like “The Daughter” and her “Vibrations” collection, they will also get to learn more about A. Mishea as a person and artist. (A. Mishea, 2022)

A. Mishea has been recently exhibited at the Museum of Emotions in Austin, TX with her piece entitled “Passion.” She has also illustrated for the Rideshare Chronicles as well as created album covers for local Houston musicians, such as KC2000. She has also completed countless works for companies in the Houston, San Francisco, and Las Vegas Area on behalf of INKomplete Art. Many have described her art as “visually stimulating.”

This pop-up exhibit is free and will be hosted at The Cellar Door located at 829 S Mason Rd, Unit 280, Katy, TX 77450. The event is 21 and up. All food and drink purchases made by the attendee are the responsibility of the attendee. Tickets are available through Eventbrite. 

Art is a worthwhile investment, come start your collection with this emerging artist!

INKomplete Art is a graphic illustration and design company located in Houston, Texas. Founded in 2017, INKomplete Art has worked with countless publishers, musicians, sports team, and businesses throughout the U.S by generating original custom designs. 

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A. Mishea pop-up art show

November events at Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk

Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk will be having their next Cosmic Night at The Moon’s Daughters on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Photo: Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk, used with permission.

Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk is having two big events in November. The next Cosmic Night at The Moon’s Daughters will take place on Tuesday November 8 and a special multi-course meal so guests can watch the Ford Holiday River Parade along the Riverwalk on Friday November 25, 2022. (Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk, 2022)

Cosmic Night at The Moon’s Daughters, which takes place whenever a full moon lands each month, will return on Tuesday, November 8 for November’s Beaver Moon. The second full moon of fall was named the Beaver Moon by Native American tribes because of how active beavers are in mid-fall as they prepare for winter. Hotel guests and the public can enjoy live music, insight from a tarot card reader, and a specialty cocktail paired with a cosmic coaster. The cosmic coaster adds a flair of entertainment where guests will have the chance to scan a QR code, receive a prompt to think of questions, followed by unique insights, and conclude with a positive affirmation. The Moon’s Daughters is the best way to experience the full moon overlooking San Antonio’s skyline.

The 41st annual Ford Holiday River Parade returns on Friday, November 25, kicking off the holiday season the day after Thanksgiving with performers, live music, and decorated parade floats that light up the city. The hotel’s signature restaurant Landrace from James Beard Award finalist Steve McHugh will feature a special multi-course menu that evening and a reserved seat to the parade along the illuminated Riverwalk. The first course will feature Roasted Squash Soup and for the second course, choose from Slow Cooked Prime Rib or Pan Seared Trout. Lastly, top the meal off with a Warm Apple Crumble accompanied by Dulce De Leche Ice Cream. Tickets are available online. 

Contemporary at Blue Star’s Red Dot Art Sale and Show

The contemporary art organization’s largest annual fundraiser celebrates the work of over 100 artists with works on sale to benefit artists and San Antonio’s home for contemporary art. Photo: Google

Contemporary at Blue Star, San Antonio’s first and longest running contemporary art nonprofit, proudly announces its 32nd Annual Red Dot Art Sale and Show. The special benefit opening will take place on November 9 from 7p.m. to 10 p.m. The Red Dot Show will then be on view in the Contemporary’s galleries November 11, 2022 through January 8, 2023. (Contemporary at Blue Star, 2022)

The opening night celebration is one of San Antonio’s most beloved contemporary art events, with a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. This gathering of old and new friends has become a mainstay event on the calendar of the city’s creative community. Individual tickets to the Red Dot Art Sale fundraiser are $50. As of today, November 5, tickets are sold out but there are still sponsorship options still available. 

Red Dot presents and celebrates the work of over 100 San Antonio-based artists, offering the public an opportunity to start or expand their own art collections with works on sale for a wide variety of tastes and budgets. Proceeds from art sales equally benefit artists and the Contemporary at Blue Star’s year-round exhibitions and expansive, no-cost art education programs, which inspire, nurture, and innovate through contemporary art.

Sponsorships and artwork sales at Red Dot help raise vital funds for the Contemporary’s exhibitions, art education programs, and outreach initiatives. Sales proceeds from Red Dot artworks are equally shared between the Contemporary and the artists, positively impacting the livelihood of more than 100 San Antonio artists. Beginning on November 9, artworks that are available for purchase can be viewed on the event page or in person during the Red Dot Art Sale fundraiser, a festive gathering for San Antonio’s contemporary art community. 
 
Each year, the Contemporary recognizes honorees whose creative contributions have made a lasting impact on San Antonio’s vibrant art community. In 2022, the Red Dot committee, with its event chairs Cheryl Morrell Armendaríz and Richard “Ricky” Armendariz, and Martha Martinez-Flores and Dr. Mike Flores, have chosen to honor artist Andy Benavides, arts patron and chef Johnny Hernandez, and arts education champion S.M.A.R.T., a nonprofit nurturing creative minds and building community through experiential art education. 

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.

Austin Food & Wine Festival

The Austin Food & Wine Festival will take place November 4 – 6. Photo: Austin Food & Wine Festival, used with permission.

Tickets are still available for the eleventh annual Austin Food & Wine Festival which will take place November 4-6, 2022 at Auditorium Shores. Presented by FOOD & WINE Magazine and C3 Presents, the Austin Food & Wine Festival is one of Texas’ most beloved food festivals. The three-day celebration of food, wine and spirits will welcome top tier talent from all over the country. (Austin Food & Wine Festival, 2022)

The festival will feature chefs, restaurants and wine and spirits experts over three days at Auditorium Shores. Festival highlights include the new Wurst Weekend Kickoff event; the fan-favorite Rock Your Taco competition; the Fire Pit featuring bites hot off the flames; engaging cooking demonstrations + conversations; samples of signature dishes from local chefs and restaurants; dynamic wine, beer & cocktail tastings; live music, and more.

Showcasing a dynamic roster of local, regional and national chefs throughout the weekend, attendees can sample signature dishes from top chefs around the country. 

WURST WEEKEND KICK-OFF

Join Chef Tim Love and Jesse Herman to kick-off the weekend at Auditorium Shores on Friday evening. Enjoy a Bavarian-themed menu of sausage, brats, pork, and more cooked over a live fire. Featuring regional wines and beers, the best (wurst) way to kick off the weekend. 

ROCK YOUR TACO

Rock Your Taco, Saturday evening’s signature tasting event, will take place this year at Auditorium Shores. Chefs will square off against one another to create the ultimate taco, as deemed by a People’s Choice award. Rock Your Taco competitors include Shion Aikawa; Nicola Blaque; Jo Chan; Tiffany Derry; Ford Fry; Sarah Grueneberg; Sarah Heard and Nathan Lemley; CJ Jacobson; Steve McHugh; Shota Nakajima; Laura Sawicki, and Brooke Williamson.

CHEF DEMOS

Festival attendees keen on learning from the pros can listen in as a host of chefs, including Jo Chan; Tiffany Derry; Kevin Fink; Ford Fry; Diego Galicia and Rico Torres; Sarah Grueneberg; and Fermín Núñez.

FIRE PIT

The Fire Pit portion of the festival features bites hot off the flames and the chance to interact with pit masters and chefs cooking over live fire. Enjoy exceptional BBQ and other dishes cooked over open flame and get first-hand advice from the pros. Featured chefs this year include Sonya Coté; Jason Dady; Jorge Luis Hernandez; Andy Knudson; Jesse Kuykendall; Shota Nakajima, and Kristina Zhoa.

Tickets are available online.  All attendees must be 21 years of age or older.

The Austin Food & Wine Festival is the benefactor of the Texas Food & Wine Alliance, a non-profit dedicated to fostering awareness and innovation in the Central Texas food and wine community through grants, educational programming and events. To date, Austin Food & Wine Festival has contributed over $1.3 million to the Alliance.

The Austin Food + Wine Festival marks a compelling collaboration between C3 Presents and some of Texas’ most exciting chefs and restaurateurs, including Tim Love and Restaurateur Jesse Herman. C3 Presents is the Austin-based event company that produces Lollapalooza in Chicago’s Grant Park, and Austin City Limits Music Festival in Austin’s Zilker Park. The Austin Food + Wine Festival will take place this fall,, bringing an array of taste, talent and culinary entertainment to the Capital City.

Sips and Sounds series returns with Norteño Night at the Briscoe

Briscoe Western Art Museum’s Sips & Sounds of the West series celebrates Hispanic influence on the West with a night of Norteño music featuring Los Callejeros de San Anto. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Let music take you to Northern Mexico as you enjoy a night of music under the stars on the River Walk at the Briscoe’s “Sips and Sounds of the West” Norteño Night on Friday October 28, 2022. With band Los Callejeros De San Anto in the museum’s McNutt Sculpture Garden, the museum will celebrate the Hispanic influence on the America West with a night of tunes perfect for a date night or a night out with friends in the heart of San Antonio. The ticketed event begins at 6:30p.m. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2022)

Launched by Pinata Protest front man Alvaro Del Norte with bandmates Jose Morales on bajo sexto, bassist Richie Brown, and Chris Ramirez on drums, Los Callejeros De San Anto blends well known influences of Conjunto and Norteño into the perfect Tex-Mex street band and is “abuela approved.” Sips and Sounds of the West tickets are $10 for museum members and $20 for non-members. The event is for ages 18+ and includes student tickets at $10 each. Food truck fare is available for purchase from Dona Kika’s Tacos & Gorditas and a cash bar will be available.

The Briscoe’s Sips and Sounds of the West series highlights the soundtrack of the West through live music while surrounded by the beauty of the garden’s fantastic bronze sculptures and lush greenery. The museum’s McNutt Sculpture Garden is an oasis featuring a beautiful courtyard surrounded by bronze sculptures depicting iconic figures of the American West. With the lights of downtown in the background and stars overhead, the garden becomes magical at night, making it the perfect spot for a date night or a night out with friends.

From its McNutt Sculpture Garden to the museum’s beautifully restored historic home inside the former San Antonio Public Library building, the Briscoe’s collection spans 14 galleries, with special exhibitions, events and a fantastic Museum Store, providing art, culture, history and entertainment. Museum hours, parking and admission details are available online.

Preserving and presenting the art, history and culture of the American West through engaging exhibitions, educational programs and public events reflective of the region’s rich traditions and shared heritage, the Briscoe Western Art Museum is located on the San Antonio River Walk at 210 W. Market Street in the beautifully restored 1930s former San Antonio Public Library building. Named in honor of the late Texas Gov. Dolph Briscoe Jr. and his wife, Janey Slaughter Briscoe, the museum includes the three-story Jack Guenther Pavilion, used for event rentals and programs, and the outdoor McNutt Sculpture Garden.

Courtesy photo, used with permission.

PechaKucha San Antonio presents Vol. 41 at the Tobin Center

PechaKucha San Antonio Vol. 41 will take place at the Tobin Center on October 26, 2022. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

PechaKucha San Antonio – the global arts and culture series that hosts speakers who share their passions in a unique format – is excited to announce its Volume 41 to wrap up the series for 2022, coming back with two other events in 2023. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, October 26, 2022, at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts (100 Auditorium Cir, San Antonio, TX 78205). The night begins with a welcome reception at 6:30 .m., followed by presentations starting at 7:30p.m. (PechaKucha San Antonio, 2022)

Vol. 41 will feature a talented group of locals.

  • Alejandro DeHoyos, Filmmaker
  • Payton G. Kane, Extrovert (also the Emcee for the evening)
  • Mike Long, Builder 
  • Madalyn Mendoza, Reporter
  • Carlos Perez, Small Business Corridor Meme Activator
  • Laura Terrill, President & CEO
  • Bria Woods, Photojournalist

The welcome reception will feature music by local artist Juliet McConkey and complimentary bites curated by local chefs and restaurants including Naco 210 Mexican Eatery & Patio, Howdy Kuya!, Cajun con Arroz, and Sierra Diablo. The event will also feature alcoholic beverages available for purchase. Tickets are $7 in advance or $10 at the door. Advance tickets are available here. 

PechaKucha San Antonio would not be possible without the support of annual sponsors, including Centro Properties, San Antonio Food Bank, Schroeder Art, Lake Flato Architects, San Antonio River Foundation, Zurich International Properties, Southwest School of Art, RYNO General Contractors, and 500 Sixth.

In-Kind sponsors for the event include Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, Naco 210 Mexican Eatery & Patio, Howdy Kuya!, Cajun con Arroz, Sierra Diablo, Josh Huskin Photography, Libby Morris, Giant Noise, Sprocket Productions, Gary Sweeney, and Alejandro Dehoyos.

PechaKucha San Antonio is presented in partnership with the Las Casas Foundation. More information about PechaKucha is available here. 

Pronounced “PEH-chuh KOO-chuh,” PechaKucha is a 20 image x 20 second arts and cultures series. We host speakers who share their passions in a unique format: Each presenter gets exactly 20 images, and each slide advances automatically every 20 seconds (for a total time of 6:40). San Antonio’s first quarterly PechaKucha Night was held in February 2011 and now attracts hundreds of attendees to venues throughout San Antonio. It showcases a broad range of individuals, including architects, artists, makers, academics, community leaders and more. PechaKucha (Japanese for “chit chat”) is an event format developed by Tokyo’s Klein Dytham Architecture to encourage creative professionals to share projects and ideas that they are passionate about. Since it began in 2003, PechaKucha has expanded to more than 1200 cities around the world.