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:

Rim your glass with choice of Twang’s Rimming Salt
Add some ice to your glass
Add choice of Twang Michelada Mixer
Add sparkling water
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

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.”

*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.

‘To Die Alone’ Is Now Streaming in the UK: A Stark and Emotional Survival Film

‘To Die Alone’ is now streaming in the UK. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

To Die Alone Review: A Haunting Survival Thriller Now Streaming in the UK

Following its successful release in the US and Canada, To Die Alone is now available on major digital platforms in the UK. Directed by Austin Smagalski, this indie survival thriller blends physical danger with psychological depth, delivering a tense and emotionally resonant experience. (One Tree Entertainment, 2026)

A stark survival nightmare where injury, isolation, and buried trauma collide and the only way out is facing your past.

Film Details

Director: Austin Smagalski
Producers: Connie Jo Sechrist, Austin Smagalski
Cast:
- Lisa Jacqueline Starrett as Irving
- James Tang as Ford

Review

To Die Alone is an emotionally charged survival drama that strips its story down to the essentials: one injured woman, an unforgiving wilderness, and the weight of unresolved trauma. After a devastating accident while hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, Irving must fight to survive while confronting the emotional scars she has long avoided.

Hiking alone in an attempt to come to terms with her past, Irving’s inner turmoil is revealed through subtle flashbacks. Her journey takes a turn when she meets Ford, a paramedic and experienced forager who hikes recreationally. Though initially wary, Irving agrees to join forces with him as the dangers of the trail escalate.

Both characters are burdened by past trauma and appear to be searching for escape. As their bond develops, Ford confesses his greatest fear: dying alone. When Irving is violently injured after being pulled into a lake by an unknown assailant, the film shifts into full survival mode. Although Ford treats her injury, it becomes clear that escaping the wilderness will be far more difficult than anticipated.

The film’s long stretches of silence and sweeping wilderness cinematography create an atmosphere that is beautiful and brutal, emphasizing human fragility in isolation. Irving’s injury is portrayed with unflinching realism, making every movement feel earned. Ford’s presence transforms the story from a survival thriller into an emotional reckoning, exploring trust, vulnerability, and human connection.

Ultimately, To Die Alone is less about conquering nature and more about confronting oneself. Its ambiguous ending and unexpected plot twist deepen the film’s emotional impact, making it a haunting and intimate exploration of survival, grief, and resilience.

Ring in the New Year with Rosca de Reyes from San Antonio Favorite La Panadería

Order traditional Rosca de Reyes for Dia de los Reyes from all La Panaderia locations. Photo: La Panaderia, used with permission.

🎉 A sweet tradition returns to San Antonio as the holiday season comes to a close. As families gather to celebrate Día de los Reyes, the aroma of freshly baked Rosca de Reyes fills the air, bringing together history, culture, and community in every bite. This January 6, beloved local bakery La Panadería invites guests to continue the celebration with its beautifully crafted Rosca de Reyes, a timeless symbol of joy, generosity, and togetherness. (La Panadería, 2026)

Celebrate Día de los Reyes with La Panadería’s Rosca de Reyes

In honor of Día de los Reyes (celebrated on January 6), beloved San Antonio bakery La Panadería is pleased to offer pre-orders of Rosca de Reyes, a vibrant, round festive bread that is as rich in symbolism as it is in flavor.

One of the most cherished holidays in Latin American and Spanish cultures, Día de los Reyes honors the Three Kings who brought gifts to the baby Jesus. While the day marks the official end of the Christmas season, it also signifies a meaningful time for community, family, and delicious tradition.

Pre-Order Details

La Panadería’s Rosca de Reyes is available for pre-order now, with pickup date options between January 3 and January 6.

Pricing options include:

Family-sized Rosca de Reyes – $29
6-pack mini Rosca de Reyes – $29

Individual mini Roscas are also available in-store year-round at each La Panadería location.

As the holiday season winds down, Día de los Reyes, and the Rosca de Reyes, offer a beautiful opportunity to keep the festive spirit alive, create new memories, and honor the values of generosity, joy, and community.

About La Panadería Bakery Café

Founded in 2013 at the Quarry Farmers Market, La Panadería is a bakery and café located in San Antonio, Texas. Co-owners and brothers José and David Cáceres opened their first brick-and-mortar location in 2014 to share their cultura and love for baking with the city they call home.

With a strong commitment to quality ingredients and artisanal craftsmanship, La Panadería has become a staple in the evolution of the San Antonio culinary scene, delighting locals and visitors alike with its Mexican pastries, tortas, brunch offerings, and warm, inviting dining experience.

Of Shadows and Lost Souls: Love and Loneliness in The Jinja of Blood

The Jinja of Blood: Of Shadows and Lost Souls (Book 1)

By Vivian Bell

An ancient jinja is home to the Wind and Ice clans, vampires who spend eternity fighting loneliness and boredom. In modern-day Japan, the New Bloodline must navigate everyday life, love, and increasingly ferocious yokai.

Shun Holynorth, a vampire, lives in the frost of eternity, while Haruki Akayama, a mortal, exists within the fragility of human time. Their meeting becomes the crack through which both light and darkness seep.

Story Overview

The novel opens with Shun admiring the sun’s final rays at sunset. Even after centuries, sunsets still mesmerize him, though they stir an ancient unrest within his soul. Shun belongs to the New Bloodline, children born of vampires and immortals. As the youngest, he’s seen as delicate, earning him the nickname the Cub. Adam and Ryuu are assigned to protect him as he begins university at Aizawa Academy, where vampires and humans study side by side.

Haruki Akayama and Yoshi Yamamoto are among the human students attending Aizawa Academy. Haruki is a 20-year-old billionaire with no immediate direction in life, aside from his determination to find his mother, who disappeared during his childhood. He’s dating Sam, unaware that Sam is a vampire.

As the group begins school, friendships form and secrets surface. Shared struggles and personal drama draw them closer together, revealing unexpected similarities. Beneath their everyday lives, however, a lurking danger emerges, only briefly introduced here, as this is the first book in the series.

Review

The Jinja of Blood: Of Shadows and Lost Souls blends ancient myth with modern unease. Set within an ancient shrine, it explores what happens when immortality collides with change. The New Bloodline must balance mundane university life with the growing threat of increasingly dangerous yokai, creating a compelling tension between the ordinary and the supernatural.

Shun and Haruki’s connection acts as a bridge, allowing light, darkness, longing, and fear to seep into each other’s worlds. Bell writes their relationship with emotional sensitivity, making it feel earned rather than merely symbolic.

As the opening volume of The Jinja of Blood, the novel sets the tone for a saga focused less on spectacle and more on belonging, friendship, and love in all its complexities. While the central romance between two young men places the book firmly within queer fantasy, the broader cast adds depth and diversity.

The vampires and immortals are portrayed as beings seeking normalcy rather than reveling in blood and gore. Their longing for ordinary lives makes them relatable, despite their centuries-long existence.

The narrative flows smoothly, supported by vivid, poetic language:

“The leaves, no longer resisting, surrendered to the wind’s invitation and danced over gardens and rooftops, skimming aerials and skyscrapers.”

Because the story is set in Japan, Japanese terms appear throughout. While this occasionally slows the pacing, the included glossary is helpful. The incorporation of Japanese folklore, such as the story of Hachiko, the faithful dog who waited for his long dead owner at Shibuya Station for ten years, adds cultural richness.

Final Thoughts

Overall, The Jinja of Blood: Of Shadows and Lost Souls is a strong and atmospheric beginning to a dark urban fantasy saga. It explores themes of friendship, identity, coming of age, and love. Though categorized as LGBTQ+ fiction due to its central romance, the story’s emotional core and diverse cast give it broad appeal.

Fans of fantasy, vampire lore, and Japanese culture will find this an engaging and promising start to what is sure to be an exciting series.

“Yoshi was the only anchor that allowed him to maintain a connection to reality. Without him, he would have capsized in the tidal waves of his own soul.”

About the Author

Vivian Bell is a shadow behind shrine doors, writing queer gothic tales of vampires, jinja, and cursed bloodlines. The Jinja of Blood is her debut dark fantasy, set between university corridors and yokai-haunted districts in modern-day Tokyo.

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

Worm Unveils the Dark Majesty of Necropalace

Worm announces new album Necropalace. Photo: Andreas Marschall, used with permission.

Worm Walks Backwards Into the Future with Necropalace

Worm has incessantly built upon their sonic palette of “Necromantic Black Doom” with roots in nearly every worthy corner of extreme metal’s history, from the grandiose heights of ’90s symphonic black metal to the emotional technicality of ’80s shred metal. (another side, 2025)

Four years after their acclaimed full-length Foreverglade, Worm emerges with their next studio album and first release with Century Media Records, Necropalace. The Floridian band has only grown more powerful, showcasing a level of grandiose songcraft that is beyond modern compare. On Necropalace, Worm has managed to do what many others in this day and age can only attempt: they walk backwards into the future.

A World Untouched by Time

Necropalace lives in a world of its own.

A world of lush velvet and ostentatious gold, covered in the dust of time.
A world where shadows seem to move in your peripheral vision, yet the loneliness never ceases.
A world where wounds of the flesh may heal, but those of the heart never do.

The Gates Open: “Necropalace”

The nightmarish omnipotence of album opener and title track “Necropalace” ushers the listener into a journey through obsessive bloodlust. Spellbinding, powerful vocals from Phantom Slaughter guide the descent, while guitarist Wroth Septentrion flaunts his stunningly masterful songwriting throughout.

“Necropalace” feels like an endless maze of subterranean, candle-lit corridors, each riff constantly shifting and evolving. With multiple listens, however, one discovers that the maze contains many paths that ultimately converge into one another.

Into the Crypt: “Blackheart”

Worm’s latest single, “Blackheart,” is a descent into the nether vaults of the Necropalace. As you make your way through the crypts and catacombs beneath the castle, you find Nightfang’s resting place. Beside his black coffin sits the Blackheart, encased in ice and glowing blood red.

This occult artifact pumps life into the ancient palace walls and keeps the vampire lord immortal.

“Blackheart” serves as part two of Worm’s official Necropalace short-film series, heavily inspired by their obsession with horror from the ’80s and ’90s. Director Norman Cabrera, Producer Maya Kay, and Colorist Alex Nicolaou, under the direction of Ted Nicolaou, continue to bring Worm’s dark fantasy into reality following “Necropalace,” now deepening the vision with “Blackheart.”

The Infernal Masquerade

Enter if you dare, but know the consequences of your choice.

Through the opulent finality of album closer “Witchmoon: The Infernal Masquerade,” featuring guitar virtuoso Marty Friedman, Necropalace reveals itself as the true sonic representation of unbridled, night-bound maleficence.

The album manifests as the soundscape to a star-laden winter sky reflecting off the Everglades’ darkest slough, where death meets the deathless. This is a vociferous call to action for anyone who still possesses ancient vampiric blood in their veins.

Prepare yourself for a full-force attack of zealous guitar agility and heretic spellcraft.

The gates are now open.

Release Information

Necropalace will be released February 13, 2026 via Century Media Records. Pre-order/Pre-Save here.

Necropalace tracklist:
1 – Gates to the Shadowzone (Intro)
2 – Necropalace
3 – Halls of Weeping
4 – The Night Has Fangs
5 – Dragon Dreams
6 – Blackheart
7 – Witchmoon – The Infernal Masquerade (Feat. Marty Friedman)

Photo courtesy of artist, used with permission.

Ring in the New Year in San Antonio at Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Villas

The celebration will include a fireworks display on its Hill Country Golf Club. Photo: Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Villas, used with permission.

New Year’s Eve in San Antonio: Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort Celebrations

Looking for New Year’s Eve celebrations in San Antonio that offer something for everyone? Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Villas is hosting one of the most versatile and festive San Antonio NYE events, featuring an adults-only party, family-friendly activities, dining experiences, and a fireworks display set in the Texas Hill Country. (Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Villas, 2025)

Located just minutes from downtown San Antonio, this newly renovated resort spans 300 scenic acres and provides an ideal getaway for locals and visitors looking to ring in the New Year in style.

Adults-Only New Year’s Eve Party in San Antonio: “Denim and Diamonds”

For couples and groups seeking a glamorous adults-only New Year’s Eve party in San Antonio, the resort’s exclusive “Denim and Diamonds” celebration delivers a high-energy night of entertainment.

Hosted in one of the resort’s upgraded ballrooms, the event includes:

Live music and a DJ
Dancing throughout the evening
A dinner buffet
An open bar

At midnight, guests gather on the Hill Country Golf Club for a champagne toast and fireworks display, making this one of the most memorable NYE events near San Antonio.

New Year’s Eve Hotel Package in San Antonio

The New Year’s Eve Celebration Package is perfect for those wanting to stay overnight and avoid driving home after midnight. The package includes:

Overnight accommodations in a newly renovated guestroom
Admission for two to the adults-only “Denim and Diamonds” event

Single-event tickets are also available for those who want to attend the party without booking a stay.

Booking tip:
Select a December 31 stay date on the resort’s website and use offer code 25NYE.

Family-Friendly New Year’s Eve Events in San Antonio

Families staying at the resort can enjoy family-friendly New Year’s Eve activities in San Antonio, even without purchasing the celebration package.

The all-ages NYE party in the Independence Ballroom features:

Kids’ activities and games
A bounce house
Indoor and outdoor entertainment
A DJ and festive atmosphere

This makes the resort a strong option for parents searching for New Year’s Eve events in San Antonio for kids.

Dining Options for New Year’s Eve in San Antonio

Guests can celebrate with food and drinks throughout the property, including:

A festive holiday buffet at Springhouse Café
Chef-driven dining at Antlers Lodge
A lively evening at Charlie’s Long Bar
Cocktails and light bites at Woodbine Bar in the hotel lobby

These dining options make Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort a one-stop destination for New Year’s Eve dining in San Antonio.

New Year’s Eve Fireworks in San Antonio

At midnight, all resort guests are invited to enjoy a spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks display over the Hill Country Golf Club—one of the most scenic NYE fireworks experiences near San Antonio.

Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Villas

Address:
9800 Hyatt Resort Dr.
San Antonio, TX 78251
Phone: (210) 647-1234

About the Resort

The newly renovated Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Villas sits on the historic Rogers-Wiseman family ranch, a working Texas ranch for over a century. With 502 guest rooms, ranch-inspired design, and convenient access to San Antonio International Airport and downtown attractions, the resort blends Texas Hill Country charm with upscale comfort, making it a standout destination for New Year’s Eve getaways in San Antonio.

The Future is Unreliable: The Emotions by Jean-Philippe Toussaint

The Emotions is the new novel by Jean-Philippe Toussaint. Photo: Other Press

New Book Spotlight: The Emotions by Jean-Philippe Toussaint

Do we want to know what the next few days or weeks have in store for us? Do we want to know if a new romantic or sexual encounter lies just ahead, or how close death really is? (Other Press, 2025)

The Emotions by Jean-Philippe Toussaint, one of Europe’s most celebrated contemporary writers, is a quiet yet unsettling novel that explores these questions through grief, memory, and uncertainty. Translated from the French by Mark Polizzotti, this introspective work examines how the future is imagined, misread, and often undone by the past.

Overview: What Is The Emotions About?

Set against the bureaucratic machinery of the European Union, The Emotions follows Jean Deprez, a European civil servant specializing in strategic foresight. After the death of his father, Jean begins to revisit his past while obsessively anticipating what lies ahead. He is professionally trained to predict outcomes, yet increasingly incapable of doing so in his personal life.

As political and personal upheavals unfold, including Brexit, the election of Trump, the dissolution of a relationship, and a night spent with a stranger, Jean confronts the limits of prediction and the instability of memory.

Fiction That Disrupts Reality

Toussaint’s novel functions as an experiment in how fiction destabilizes our sense of reality. Jean foresees events that never occur, fails to imagine those that will devastate him, and often does not fully grasp what he is experiencing in the present moment. Even his recollections of the past remain unreliable, filtered through grief and self-doubt.

This deliberate uncertainty transforms The Emotions into a meditation on time, both the time that has passed and the time we imagine is still to come.

Themes: Love, Politics, Masculinity, and Memory

The Emotions is an intimate exploration of mourning and emotional disorientation. Toussaint weaves together:

Personal grief and the death of a parent
The fragility of romantic relationships
Political instability in contemporary Europe
Masculinity and emotional restraint
The failure of rational systems to account for human feeling

The result is a subtle, contemporary novel that lingers long after the final page.

Why You Should Read The Emotions

Fans of European literary fiction in translation will find much to admire here. Readers who enjoyed Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck or Grey Bees by Andrey Kurkov will appreciate Toussaint’s restrained prose, philosophical depth, and emotional precision.

The Emotions is ideal for readers drawn to introspective novels that examine grief, memory, and the illusion of control in modern life.

About the Author: Jean-Philippe Toussaint

Jean-Philippe Toussaint is a Belgian novelist, photographer, and filmmaker. He is the author of eighteen books, translated into more than twenty languages, and has received numerous literary awards, including the Prix Médicis (2005) for Fuir (Running Away) and the Prix Décembre (2009) for La Vérité sur Marie (The Truth About Marie).

In 2012, Toussaint created a multimedia exhibition at the Louvre Museum combining photography, video, installation art, and performance to convey literary works without written text.

About the Translator: Mark Polizzotti

Mark Polizzotti is an award-winning translator of more than fifty books from French, including works by Gustave Flaubert, Patrick Modiano, Marguerite Duras, André Breton, and Raymond Roussel. His translation of Kibogo by Scholastique Mukasonga was shortlisted for the National Book Award (2022), and his translation of Éric Vuillard’s The War of the Poor was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize (2021).

Polizzotti is also the author of eleven books, including Revolution of the Mind: The Life of André Breton and Sympathy for the Traitor: A Translation Manifesto.

Your Ultimate Guide to New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day in San Antonio

Celebrate New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day in San Antonio. Photo: Kimpton Santo, used with permission.

Ways to Celebrate New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day in San Antonio

Whether you’re looking for rooftop fireworks, elegant prix-fixe dinners, or a cozy New Year’s Day recovery brunch, San Antonio offers plenty of memorable ways to ring in 2026. Here’s your guide to the city’s standout New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day celebrations.

🎆 Events at Pearl

New Year’s Eve at Pearl – Stable Hall

December 31 | 8 PM
Ring in the new year with The Texases, a lively country cover band performing the final show of 2025, and the first of 2026, at the iconic Stable Hall. Tickets available here. (Pearl, 2025)

Cellar Select New Year’s Eve Dinner Featuring Eagle Rare 25

December 31 | 7 PM
Hotel Emma celebrates its 10th anniversary with an exclusive NYE dining experience featuring Eagle Rare 25. Guests also receive wristbands for entry to the annual Sternewirth NYE Party. Tickets available here.

🌃 Rooftop & Skyline Celebrations

Light Up the Night: Rosario’s Rooftop New Year’s Eve Countdown

December 31 | 8:30 PM – 1:30 AM
Celebrate 2026 with sweeping skyline views from Rosario’s ComidaMex & Bar’s rooftop in Southtown. Enjoy live beats by DJ Kenzo, craft cocktails, curated bites, and front-row views of the city’s New Year’s fireworks. (Rosario’s ComidaMex & Bar, 2025)

21+ only
Tickets available via Eventbrite

Tenfold Rooftop at Kimpton Santo: The Skyline Soirée

Wednesday, December 31 | 8 PM – 12 AM
Black & White Attire | 21+

$180+ per person
$1,800+ VIP sections
📍 431 S Alamo St.

Toast to the new year at Tenfold’s chic rooftop party overlooking downtown San Antonio. Tickets here. (Kimpton Santo, 2025)

🍽️ Elevated Dining Experiences

The Clementine Countdown Dinner

December 31 | 5 PM – 9 PM
Chefs John and Elise Russ host a four-course prix-fixe dinner to close out 2025. Each guest receives a complimentary glass of champagne to toast the new year. (Clementine, 2025)
Reservations recommended via OpenTable.

Jots at The Gunter Hotel: NYE Chef’s Signature Dinner

December 31 | 5 PM – 10 PM
$80++ per person
Includes a three-course chef-curated dinner and a glass of Duc de Chagny at Jots. (Gunter Hotel, 2025)
📍 311 N St. Mary’s St.

The Keystone Club: NYE $5 Bubbles

December 31 | 4:30 PM – 10:30 PM
Celebrate casually with $5 bubbles offered throughout the hotel outlets.
📍 311 N St. Mary’s St.

🥂 Hotel Parties & Packages

Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa – Anaqua Garden Bar: A New Leaf NYE

December 31 | Doors at 4 PM | DJ 8 PM – 1 AM

General Admission: Free (limited availability)
VIP Tables: $250 (up to 4 guests) or $500 (up to 10 guests)

Toast & Stay NYE Experience

Stay overnight and welcome 2026 in style with this special NYE hotel package.

NYE Fireworks via Private Balcony

Celebrate the new year with a direct view of the Tower of the Americas fireworks from a private balcony, perfect for out-of-town guests. (Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa, 2025)

Kimpton Santo: The NYE Skyline Stay

Celebrate, stay, and recover. This NYE hotel package includes overnight accommodations and easy access to Tenfold’s rooftop celebration—plus a relaxed New Year’s Day experience.

The St. Anthony Hotel: NYE Celebration & VIP Rooftop Party

December 31 | Doors at 9:30 PM | 21+

$225++ General Admission
$300++ VIP Admission
📍 300 E Travis St.

Step into old-world glamour with a Gold, Glitz & Glamour–themed celebration featuring DJs, roaming performers, chef-crafted bites, and a midnight countdown. Tickets here. (St. Anthony Hotel, 2025)

🥞 New Year’s Day Brunch & Recovery

Dean’s Steak & Seafood: The 2026 New Year’s Revival

January 1 | 6:30 AM – 10 AM
Start the year strong with an indulgent New Year’s Day breakfast at Kimpton Santo.

Jots: New Year’s Day Hangover Hash

January 1 | 7 AM – 11 AM | $21
A comfort-forward breakfast featuring braised short ribs, pork belly, Yukon potatoes, roasted peppers, caramelized onions, and a sunny-side-up egg.
📍 The Gunter Hotel

✨ From rooftop revelry to refined dinners and restorative breakfasts, San Antonio offers something for every kind of New Year’s celebration. Cheers to 2026!

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