The annual Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony will benefit Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas and will feature live jazz by Nelson Rangell, Santa, Grinch, Grinchettes, and more. Photo: La Cantera Resort & Spa, used with permission.
La Cantera Resort & Spa, in partnership with Chandon, sets a fresh and jubilant tone for its annual Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony on Plaza San Saba to be held on Thursday, December 2 from 6p.m. to 9p.m. The Plaza San Saba is located just off the Resort’s main lobby. Santa and Grinch will light the tree at 7:15p.m. (La Cantera Resort & Spa, 2021)
Contemporary jazz musician and composer Nelson Rangell takes center stage at the event. Rangell is hailed as one of the most exciting and diverse performers in the genre, equally adept at soprano, alto and tenor saxophone, as well as being a genuine virtuoso on flute and piccolo.
The Grinch wants to steal hearts, so be on guard when he takes the stage with his dancing troupe – the Grinchettes, followed by Santa for the lighting of the tree.
Tickets are $5 for adults, $2 for children, with 100% of the proceeds benefitting Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas. To purchase tickets and for Holiday event details, visit La Cantera Resort & Spa online. Guests of the event will enjoy free light bites, festive cocktails, themed Holiday children’s activities, and photos with Santa.
La Cantera Resort & Spa 16641 La Cantera Parkway Plaza San Saba San Antonio, TX 78256 (210) 558-6500
Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas mission is to foster healing for grieving children and youth, their families and the community. As the sole provider of grief support programs for children through young adulthood in South Texas, Children’s Bereavement Center devotes services and resources to the bereavement needs of children from every culture and social circumstance to help them heal and move forward. The Center believes that each person’s journey through grief is unique and therefore deserving of a distinctive approach. Our goal is to help children and their caregivers understand the depth of grief, stabilize and preserve family relationships, and develop healthy coping skills after the death of a loved one.
The San Antonio Museum of Art will present a new orchestral suite by composer Nathan Felix. Photo: San Antonio Museum of Art, used with permission.
On Friday November 12, 2021, the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) will present a new orchestral suite, Black Neon Rose, by composer Nathan Felix, featuring newly written music for four harpsichords, strings, and a choir. The music draws inspiration from SAMA’s exhibition America’s Impressionism: Echoes of a Revolution. Local harpsichord builder Gerald Self will introduce the performance with a brief discussion on the history of harpsichords and give insight into his building process. The musicians will be in a formation that best activates the acoustics and spatial qualities of the Great Hall. This performance will be limited to fifty (50) people. Tickets are $15 for non-members and $10 for members. (San Antonio Museum of Art, 2021)
Nathan Felix – Composer, Filmmaker, Recording Artist Friday November 12 from 7p.m. to 8p.m.
The Great Hall San Antonio Museum of Art 200 W. Jones Ave. San Antonio, TX 78215
The San Antonio Museum of Art serves as a forum to explore and connect with art that spans the world’s geographies, artistic periods, genres, and cultures. Its collection contains nearly 30,000 works representing 5,000 years of history. Housed in the historic former Lone Star Brewery on the Museum Reach of San Antonio’s River Walk, the San Antonio Museum of Art is committed to promoting the rich cultural heritage and life of the city. The Museum hosts hundreds of events and public programs each year, including concerts, performances, tours, lectures, symposia, and interactive experiences. As an active civic leader, the Museum is dedicated to enriching the cultural life of the city and the region, and to supporting its creative community.
Brackenridge Park’s Iron Bridge. Photo: Charlotte Mitchell, used with permission.
In August 2021, The Brackenridge Park Conservancy (BPC) unveiled the Cultural Landscape Report (CLR) that establishes the importance of Brackenridge Park not only to the City of San Antonio but also to the state and nationally. The CLR focuses on the significance of Brackenridge Park, both historically and culturally, as a gathering place for locals and visitors alike. The intention of the CLR is to pave the way for the Brackenridge Park Conservancy and the City of San Antonio to start healing the Park’s ecological systems, protect and celebrate the Park’s historical and archeological sites, tell the stories that are part of the diverse fabric of the City and elevate the Park’s status on local, state and national levels. (Brackenridge Park Conservancy, 2021)
The BPC released a schedule of community events to receive feedback from the public regarding the Cultural Landscape Report and what improvements the public would like to suggest for the park. The public still has one opportunity to join and provide feedback. The public can also fill out a survey available HERE.
On Saturday November 6 from 10a.m. to 2p.m., Brackenridge Park Conservancy will host a community event for a Cultural Landscape Report feedback.
Scheduled events for the day include:
• Food trucks onsite with a portion of proceeds from their sales going to support the BPC revitalization of the park. Food trucks on site include Charm City SnoBalls,Cheesy Jane’s, and Dona Kika’s Tacos & Gorditas. Giveaways, informational booths, and tours will also be available onsite. • Local accordionist legend Santiago Jiménez Jr. will perform at 1p.m. near the Joske Pavilion. Trumpeter Jerrold Feigenbaum will perform at 11a.m. near the Tony “Skipper” Martinez Softball Field.
Brackenridge Park 3700 N St Mary’s St San Antonio, TX 78212
Santiago Jiménez Jr. is a San Antonio based folk musician and recipient of the National Heritage Fellowship in 2000 for lifetime achievement in traditional Tex-Mex/folk music. In 2016, he received the National Medal of Arts award for his contribution to American music. This three-time Grammy nominee comes from a family of musical pioneers with his father being Santiago “Flaco” Jiménez Sr. and his older brother, Leonardo “Flaco” Jiménez, who many consider the greatest and most famous Tejano accordionist ever. Santiago recorded his first album with his brother Flaco at age 17, and since then, he has recorded over 700 songs on numerous labels. In 2012, Santiago and Flaco reunited for a performance at the Tejano Conjunto Festival in San Antonio, the first time they were on the same stage since 1982. His latest album titled El Chief released in February of 2020.
The Conservancy’s mission is to be a steward of and an advocate for the Park and an instrument for preserving and enhancing the Park’s natural, historic and recreational resources for the enjoyment of current and future generations. The non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization operates under a long-term Management Agreement with the City of San Antonio that is administered by the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department. The only organization dedicated solely to protecting Brackenridge Park, the Conservancy raises funds for projects that benefit the Park, implements park-based programs and projects, supports the evolution and implementation of plans for the Park, and acts as a forum for users to address common issues and build consensus.
One hundred percent of the proceeds of the Teddy Bear Brunch will go to the Children’s Bereavement Center. Photo: La Cantera Resort & Spa, used with permission.
In observance of Children’s Grief Awareness Month, La Cantera Resort & Spa is hosting the ultimate Teddy Bear Brunch experience at Signature Restaurant at La Cantera Resort & Spa on Saturday November 13 from 10a.m. to 2p.m., reservations required. Benefitting Children’s Bereavement Center, this brunch aims to educate, advocate and raise awareness about the needs of grieving children, teens, and their families by focusing on the good works of Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas. (La Cantera Resort & Spa, 2021)
For most children and adults, the Teddy Bear is a symbol of love and security, a source of comfort when they sleep and a form of protection when they are awake and feeling vulnerable. Build-A-Bear Foundation has donated 100 Teddy Bears to the Children’s Bereavement Center via the Teddy Bear Brunch. La Cantera is hoping to match that gift by asking guests to bring a brand-new Teddy Bear for donation to the Center.
Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas is so much more than a place where grieving children go to heal; it is a place of transformation. The Center serves thousands of children, caregivers, and community members through ongoing counseling, education, and support groups provided at no cost to the children and families served. Because Teddy Bears are an important part of the mission at Children’s Bereavement Center, every child starts their journey at the Center with a bear, to remind them that they are not alone in their journey through grief.
The Resort’s goal is to collect 100 Teddy Bears matching the Build-A-Bear Foundation donation for a total of 200 bears for the Center’s Holiday gift exchange with the children they serve.
One hundred percent of proceeds from the Teddy Bear Brunch will benefit Children’s Bereavement Center. Tickets are $75 for adults, $45 for children, please call Signature 210-247-0176, Tuesday through Sunday after 1p.m. to make reservations.
Late shows have been added for Friday, December 3 and Saturday December 4, 2021. Photo: google
Due to overwhelming demand, Grammy-nominated comedian, actor, and TV host George Lopez announces 10p.m. performances for his already scheduled show dates, Friday – Saturday, December 3 and 4, at the Majestic Theatre. Tickets for these new performances are on sale now. A limited number of tickets remain for his early shows. Please visit the Majestic Theatre online to purchase tickets or for more information. (Majestic Theatre, 2021)
George Lopez’ multi-faceted career encompasses television, film, standup comedy, and late-night television. Lopez teamed with Bill Burr and Al Madrigal’s All Things Comedy on his new podcast OMG Hi! with George Lopez with new episodes released on Mondays via George Lopez online, ATC’s YouTube channel, and audio available everywhere you get podcasts. Last year Lopez was on the road for his nationwide stand-up comedy tour. He also completed his tour for The Comedy Get Down, along with Eddie Griffin, D.L. Hughley, and Cedric the Entertainer. The comedians also debuted their BET scripted comedy series based on the tour.
Lopez also has a Netflix original comedy special We’ll Do It For Half which premiered globally in June 2020. Lopez has been featured in four HBO specials, The Wall in August 2017, It’s Not Me, It’s You in 2012, GRAMMY nominated Best Comedy Album Tall, Dark and Chicano in 2009, and America’s Mexican in 2007. Lopez also performed as part of HBO and TBS’ Comic Relief 2006. His acclaimed comedy concert Why You Crying? debuted on Showtime in 2004. He released his third standup CD, El Mas Chingon, in 2006, which also earned Lopez a GRAMMY nomination in the category of Best Comedy Album. In 2004, he was nominated for a GRAMMY in the same category for his CD Team Leader.
He also starred in Lopez on TV Land. Produced by Lopez, the series explored how he struggled between his two worlds and crises that are often of his own making. The half hour single camera serialized comedy aired for two seasons. Lopez Tonight, a late-night television talk show on TBS, also ran for two seasons. It represented Lopez’ return to series television after co-creating, writing, producing, and starring in Warner Bros. Television’s groundbreaking hit sitcom George Lopez, which ran for six seasons on ABC. George Lopez remains a hit with viewers in syndication on both broadcast stations and cable’s Nick at Nite, ranking as one of the top-rated shows on the network and among the top five comedies and top 20 weekly programs in syndication.
Project Pollo will be passing out FREE Chikn’ sandwiches during the Pollo Patrol National Roadshow. Photo: Project Pollo, used with permission.
November is World Vegan Month, and in honor of the occasion, Project Pollo is flying the coop to giveaway a total of 10,000 sandwiches during a coast-to-coast roadshow. From November 1 through 23, the Project Pollo wrapped van will travel the U.S., making converts out of carnivores one city at a time. Dubbed the “Pollo Patrol,” this mobile kitchen will be passing out FREE Chikn’ sandwiches made with house breaded crispy Chikn’ strips topped with house-made aioli and dill pickles. The concept is the answer to the often asked, “when will you open in my city,” question, and it’s all part of the company’s commitment to making vegan fare accessible, delicious, and affordable to everyone. (Project Pollo, 2021)
Going mobile is not new to Project Pollo. Some may recall that the popular chain got its start as a food truck near San Antonio, Texas before spreading its wings to brick and mortar locations across the state. For the past year, this plant-based fast-food chicken concept has had the fast-food industry squawking about its unprecedented growth of 12 locations in just over 12 months with plans to spread its wings to 100 stores nationally by 2024. The rebellious recipe for success lies in challenging industry norms with a combination of plant-based affordability, convenience, sustainability, and deliciousness that attracts the adamant vegan and the curious carnivores. Named one of the top 15 vegan fast-food chains in the US by VegNews, the first-of-its-kind concept is the brainchild of entrepreneur, Lucas Bradbury, who recently made the list of 28 Young Restaurant Leaders to Watch by QSR Magazine. More than just a restaurant, Project Pollo is a company that gives a cluck. With a motto of people over profits, the stores have given away more than 9,000 vegan sandwiches, burgers, and hot dogs and saved as many as 239,782 chickens to date.
You do not have to hunt and peck to find out where these trucks will roost. Just follow their journey on social media @projectpollo for specific locations and updates.
Scheduled cities include:
• New Orleans, LA ((November 1 – 2) • Athens, GA (November 4) • Atlanta, GA (November 5 – 6) • Charlotte, NC (November 8 – 9) • Nashville, TN (November 10 – 12) • Phoenix, AZ (November 15 – 16) • Los Angeles, CA (November 17 – 18) • Las Vegas, NV (November 19 – 20) • Denver, CO (November 22 – 23)
Texas resident: to kick things off, this offer will be available at all Project Pollo locations across the Lone Star State during store hours on November 1, also known as World Vegan Day.
Hopdoddy’s Classic Burger. Photo: Hopdoddy Burger Bar, used with permission.
This Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, Hopdoddy Burger Bar is offering a free Classic Burger (with or without cheese) to all veterans and active military service members. Qualified recipients can show their military ID or uniform to claim their free burger. This offer is available at all Hopdoddy locations and is redeemable for in-store dining or to-go orders placed by phone. (Hopdoddy Burger Bar, 2021)
In 2010, four friends had a goal: to set a new standard for burger bars. Hopdoddy pushed the boundaries of what is expected by bringing together craft beer and unique burger concoctions – all with high-quality ingredients and even higher standards. With every purchase of a Goodnight Good Cause burger, a portion of the proceeds give back to Hopdoddy’s favorite community charitable organizations.
The annual Yanaguana Indian Arts Festival spotlights Native American art, traditions, and local tribes. Photo: Briscoe Western Art Museum, used with permission.
Highlighting the continued vibrancy and artistic traditions of Native American communities – and the local tribes who helped shape San Antonio – the Briscoe Western Art Museum invites everyone to enjoy its annual Yanaguana Indian Arts Festival,Saturday, November 13, from 10a.m. to 5p.m. The event is free and includes admission to the Briscoe, making it a perfect way to celebrate the important role Native Americans played in shaping the West while enjoying art and artifacts that highlight Native American history during Native American Heritage Month. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2021)
Offering a view into traditional and contemporary Native American culture, the free community festival features storytelling, artist demonstrations, pottery, weaving and carving, as well as Native American-inspired food. Yanaguana Indian Arts Festival also features workshops and lectures celebrating Native American culture. The event starts with a special blessing, followed by a ceremonial drum circle that invites everyone to join.
The annual event is named in honor of the Payaya people who were indigenous to the San Antonio area. “Yanaguana” was the word they used to describe what is now known as San Antonio River. The festival highlights Native Americans, a core pillar of Western Art and featured in the Briscoe’s permanent collection. Since the museum opened, this festival has taken place annually, with 2020’s event taking place virtually.
Photo: Briscoe Western Art Museum, used with permission.
“Native Americans are a key component of the American West and one of the pillars of Western Art. The Yanaguana Indian Arts Festival offers the opportunity to see, interact and celebrate with Native American artists and performers. The performances and art tell a story that’s compelling for all ages, making the event a true family affair.” – Michael Duchemin, Ph.D., President and CEO of the Briscoe Western Art Museum.
The Yanaguana Indian Arts Festival features:
An opening spiritual blessing by the American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions. Established by the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation, descendants of the aboriginal people who populated South Texas and Northeast Mexico the organization works for the preservation and protection of the culture and traditions of the Native American tribes and other indigenous people who resided in the Spanish colonial missions.
A Pow Wow-style drum circle kicks off the day, with United San Antonio Pow Wow, Inc. and Enemy Horse Drumming demonstrating and explaining common pow wow dance styles.
Live music by Native American artists including flute players Tim Blueflint Ramel and Ryan Little Eagle. An enrolled member of the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa, a federally recognized American Indian Tribe, Blueflint has opened for and shared the stage with Grammy Award Winner Mary Youngblood and a wide variety of artists. Hailing from the city of San Antonio, Texas, Ryan Little Eagle is of mixed Lakota/Taino and Latino heritage and is a multi-award winning international performer and musician.
Stories from Amy Bluemel, a Chickasaw storyteller and the great-granddaughter of Eastman Kaney, an original Dawes Commission enrollee. Bluemel shares Chickasaw customs, and those of other southeastern tribes, through elaborate storytelling.
Crafts and lectures that include a community weaving basket, pottery making, loom weaving, wood carving, and leather stamping.
Festival visitors can also enjoy the museum’s permanent collection of Western art and artifacts, including exhibitions that highlight the stories of the American Indian, cowboys, pioneering women, and others that define the West. The Briscoe’s fall exhibition spotlights vaqueros and the birthplace of the modern cowboy through almost sixty images from celebrated photographer Werner Segarra in Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo: Contemporary Photography of the Northern Mexican Cowboy. Making its United States debut at the Briscoe, the exhibition details the vaqueros’ profound influence on the American West. With almost sixty images that span more than twenty years of the lives of the vaqueros, Vaqueros de la Cruz del Diablo invites audiences to peer into the world of the Norteño Cowboys, not as a casual tourist, but as an intimate observer. The exhibition is open to the public through January 24, 2022.
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.
Promesa Academy will be one of the schools participating in the first Discovery Day event. Photo: San Antonio Charter Moms, used with permission.
As enrollment season for San Antonio’s choice schools gets underway for the 2022-2023 school year, San Antonio Charter Moms kicks off its first School Discovery Day of the series at Hemisfair’s Yanaguana Garden on Sunday November 7 from 11a.m. to 2p.m. School Discovery Days connect families with schools in an efficient, face-to-face format that enables them to interact directly with multiple school representatives in one convenient location. (San Antonio Charter Moms, 2021)
San Antonio Charter Moms’ first School Discovery Day in the series will include up to fifteen choice schools appealing to a wide range of learners. Families will have the opportunity to meet school representatives, ask questions, get on interest lists and learn about application processes and deadlines. Additionally, families can receive hands-on guidance from the San Antonio Charter Moms team on navigating the nonprofit’s online tools and resources designed to simplify the search and application process.
“Whether families are interested in a magnet program, a public charter school, or even a dual language school, the most direct way to decide if a school is the right fit for your student is to talk one-on-one with school representatives. We are thrilled to bring back our popular School Discovery Days after taking a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.” – San Antonio Charter Moms Founder and Executive Director Inga Cotton.
Guests can enjoy the many fun, built-in amenities at Yanaguana Garden including a splash pad, sand play area, table games, swings, climbing structures, Adirondack chairs, picnic tables, and more. Future Discovery Days will follow a similar program with a focus on different sets of schools.
San Antonio is home to at least 150 choice schools offering a diverse landscape designed to accommodate a wide range of learners in every part of the city. Whether enrolling a child for the first time, making up for learning loss brought on by the pandemic, or seeking the best fit for unique learning styles, San Antonio Charter Moms help parents make informed decisions.
“Zip codes no longer dictate the quality of education our children receive. Many parents are surprised and overwhelmed by so many options and with figuring out the best fit for their child. We simplify that process.” – San Antonio Charter Moms Founder and Executive Director Inga Cotton.
San Antonio Charter Moms serves as a trusted one-stop shop for parents and caregivers on the hunt for high-quality schools. The nonprofit empowers parents to advocate for their children’s education regardless of where they live. The San Antonio Charter Moms website offers a wealth of education-based information, including an in-depth School Choice Guide with maps – also accessible via a mobile app – for open enrollment and in-district charter schools in and around San Antonio, a diverse and active online, Facebook Discussion Group for exchanging school choice stories, advice and more.
Participating schools for the first School Discovery Day include SAISD Choice Schools, KIPP Texas, Compass Rose Public Schools, Prelude Prep, School of Science and Technology, Brooks Academies of Texas, Anne Frank Inspire Academies, Promesa Academy, Lighthouse Public Schools, and Legacy Traditional Schools. Event updates and a complete list of participating schools are available online.
Yanaguana Garden at Hemisfair (Rain or Shine) Central Games Plaza 434 S. Alamo St. San Antonio, TX 78205
San Antonio Charter Moms (SACM) began as a blog in 2012 when Founder Inga Cotton was inspired to help San Antonio families more easily find good information about high-quality school options. Starting with a focus on the growing local charter school offerings, the blog has evolved into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that shares fair information about all types of schools. Established in 2018 as a nonprofit, SACM can accept funding that enables it to grow in ways that support accomplishing its mission of being the most trusted information source on education in the region. This growth includes Spanish-language blog post translations, surveying target publics, holding meetings with decisionmakers, supporting public speaking, community outreach and enhancing mobile technology.
Photo: San Antonio Charter Moms, used with permission.
Pearl’s community altar is dedicated to the San Antonio community. Photo: Pearl, used with permission.
Pearl continues its annual tradition of celebrating Día de los Muertos, celebrated November 1-2, with a community altar created by local artists and sisters, Manola and Maria Ramirez. The sisters are part of the all-female collaborative space, Lavaca Studios. Manola and Maria craft an altar dedicated to the San Antonio community and all their loved ones who have passed away. The artists will use ethereal elements in the space, such as cempasúchil (marigolds), papel picado, and strands of tinsel to give visitors the feeling that they are walking into a place of worship. The focal point and centerpiece of the altar will be a tinsel heart. The altar will be available from October 30 through November 7 for the public to view and share remembrances of loved ones. Visitors may also participate by lighting a digital candle for their loved ones who have passed. (Pearl, 2021)
Saturday, October 30 – Sunday, November 7
Pearl District 303 Pearl Parkway San Antonio, TX 78215
Pearl is a dynamic neighborhood built around the historic Pearl Brewery, which operated from 1883 to 1999. Located just north of downtown San Antonio on the banks of the San Antonio River, it is home to architecturally significant buildings like the brewhouse and stable—both built in 1894—and numerous plazas. Today, Pearl is home to dozens of unique culinary concepts, one-of-a-kind retail, weekend markets, residential communities, innovative office tenants, the San Antonio campus of the Culinary Institute of America, and the award-winning Hotel Emma. Pearl is a vibrant district where community gathers to play, work, and live; it is a place where things are made and celebrated with purpose and sincerity. We invite all to gather and experience the best of what San Antonio has to offer.
SA Examiner 