Sojourners’ President Rev. Adam Russell Taylor has unifying vision for America in these divided times. Photo: Barnes & Noble
📚 “A More Perfect Union” by Rev. Adam Russell Taylor Reissued in Paperback
Broadleaf Books has reissued Rev. Adam Russell Taylor’s timely and compelling work, “A More Perfect Union: A New Vision for Building the Beloved Community,” now available in paperback.(Mixte Communications, 2025)
First published in 2021, this powerful public narrative speaks directly to the fractures and threats facing American democracy today. As the nation confronts deep divisions and looming dangers like Project 2025, Taylor calls for a moral realignment grounded in shared values, inclusive ideals, and a bold vision for unity.
Reimagining the Beloved Community
In “A More Perfect Union,” Taylor draws from the moral vision of the Beloved Community — a concept rooted in the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement. His approach bridges generational, geographic, class, racial, gender, and ideological divides, aiming to inspire collective action and hope in a time of uncertainty.
A Moral Call at a Crossroads
With a foreword by the late Rep. John Lewis, the 249-page book challenges readers to recognize the pivotal moment we face and to embrace the work of national healing. Taylor’s message is clear: the journey toward a more just and inclusive America must begin now.
“A More Perfect Union” is available in both hardcover and paperback wherever books are sold.
👩💻 About the Author
Rev. Adam Russell Taylor is president of Sojourners, an ecumenical Christian organization that works to advance justice and peace. He previously led the Faith Initiative at the World Bank Group, served as Vice President of Advocacy at World Vision U.S., was co-founder and executive director of Global Justice, and was selected as a White House Fellow under the Obama administration.
Praise for “A More Perfect Union”:
“America stands on a knife’s edge. If we are to survive this moment, with its pitfalls and perils, we have to figure out how to be together differently.” – Eddie S. Glaude Jr., author of “Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own.”
“This essential book reframes and renews the vision from our earliest history, in the civil rights movement, to some of the most hopeful and powerful new examples of it today.” – Jim Wallis, Director of the Georgetown University Center on Faith and Justice, founder of Sojourners, and New York Times bestselling author.
“An urgent and eloquent volume. Adam Russell Taylor invokes history, theology, and organizing experience to make clear that the idea guiding the witness of Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis should be our North Star in leading toward redemption, renewal, and social reconstruction.” – E. J. Dionne Jr., author of “Our Divided Political Heart” and “Code Red.”
Brendan Devane’s ‘The Sound’ opens theatrically and on Video On Demand nationwide on June 27. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
🎬 THE SOUND – A High-Stakes Horror Thriller Set Against a Vertical Nightmare
Release Date: In Theaters and On Demand – June 27 (US) Genre: Thriller / Horror / Action Rating: R Running Time: 104 minutes
🔥 Synopsis
In the gripping new horror thriller The Sound, a team of elite climbers is given rare access to the Forbidden Wall—a towering, remote rock face that has remained closed off for decades. Among them is Sean (Marc Hills), a seasoned climber haunted by the memory of his grandfather’s doomed attempt on the same wall 63 years prior.
But what begins as a high-adrenaline expedition soon devolves into a terrifying fight for survival. As the team ascends, they encounter a chilling and malevolent force lurking within the rock, one that will push them far beyond their physical and psychological limits—hundreds of feet above solid ground.
The Sound courtesy clip, used with permission.
🎥 Key Cast
Marc Hills (Elephant Department)
Rachel Finninger (American Horror Story)
Nicholas Baroudi (The Hating Game)
Jocelyn Hudon (The Strain)
William Fichtner (Crash, Armageddon)
Christina Kirkman, Jolene Kay, David Clennon, and elite climbers Hazel Findlay, Brette Harrington, Adrian Ballinger, and Alex Honnold (Free Solo) add realism and intensity to the climbing sequences.
🎬 Creative Team
Written, Directed & Produced by: Brendan Devane (The Canyonlands)
Executive Producer: James Devane (Sadieland Productions)
On VOD – Available on all major platforms including:
Apple TV
Amazon Prime Video
Fandango At Home
And more
🧗♂️ Final Thoughts
The Sound promises an intense blend of claustrophobic fear, psychological horror, and heart-pounding action—all set on a precarious vertical battlefield. With real-life climbing legends in the cast and a chilling supernatural twist, this is one summer thriller that will leave audiences hanging… literally.
Aloha Vaqueros: Briscoe Western Art Museum explores the western spirit across oceans. Photo: Briscoe Western Art Museum, used with permission.
Aloha Vaqueros: Where the American West Meets the Pacific
On view June 13 – September 1, 2025 | Briscoe Western Art Museum
This summer, the Briscoe Western Art Museum invites you to journey beyond the mainland and explore an extraordinary chapter of the American West that stretches across the Pacific Ocean. Aloha Vaqueros, presented in partnership with the Museo del Vaquero de las Californias (MuVaCa), unveils the surprising and powerful ties between Mexico’s legendary vaqueros and Hawaii’s storied paniolo cowboys.
Member Preview Party – June 13, 6–8 p.m.
Briscoe members are invited to an exclusive preview party to celebrate the opening of the exhibition. Enjoy:
Long before Hawaii became a U.S. state, Mexican vaqueros traveled across the Pacific in the early 1800s to teach cattle handling to Hawaiian islanders. These expert horsemen brought with them tools, techniques, and traditions that took root and evolved into Hawaii’s distinct paniolo culture—a unique blend of island spirit and Western grit that still thrives today.
“This exhibition beautifully illustrates the rich cultural exchange that helped shape the cowboy traditions of the Pacific. It’s a compelling reminder that the spirit of the West is both diverse and far-reaching, stretching from the plains of Texas to the mountains of Maui.” — Liz Jackson, President and CEO, Briscoe Western Art Museum
What to Expect from the Exhibition
Through a rich collection of artwork, artifacts, and immersive storytelling, Aloha Vaqueros explores:
The deep-rooted traditions shared by vaqueros and paniolos
The artistry, attire, and music of island cowboys
The resilience and horsemanship central to both cultures
A hands-on educational area showcasing traditional island crafts
Developed by MuVaCa in El Triunfo, Baja California Sur, the exhibition challenges the conventional boundaries of the American West—broadening the story to include the Pacific’s enduring cowboy legacy.
Visit the Briscoe
📍 Briscoe Western Art Museum 210 W. Market St, San Antonio, TX 78205 🕘 Museum hours, parking, and admissioninformation available online.
About the Briscoe Western Art Museum
Located on the San Antonio River Walk in the beautifully restored 1930s former public library, the Briscoe preserves and presents the art, history, and culture of the American West. Named in honor of Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe Jr. and his wife Janey Slaughter Briscoe, the museum features:
The Jack Guenther Pavilion for events and programs
The McNutt Sculpture Garden, an outdoor tribute to Western heritage
Don’t miss this chance to experience a chapter of Western history that redefines borders and celebrates a shared spirit of grit, grace, and tradition.
Photo: Briscoe Western Art Museum, used with permission.
Arcades & Love Songs: The Ballad of Walter Day is the follow up film to the iconic indie The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
🎮🎶Arcade & Love Songs: The Ballad of Walter Day — Release News, Review & Director’s Insight
The highly anticipated follow-up to The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters is finally here. Arcade & Love Songs: The Ballad of Walter Day will be available globally on TVOD and digital platforms beginning June 9, 2025. (Cinematic Red PR, 2025)
🎬 About the Film
Directed by Ed Cunningham (Undefeated, The King of Kong), this musical documentary is his feature film directorial debut. Arcade & Love Songs revisits beloved characters from The King of Kong, reconnecting with the real-life gamers who captivated audiences since their Slamdance debut.
The film follows 74-year-old Walter Day, the father of esports and iconic star of The King of Kong, as he navigates a lawsuit that threatens his legacy. At the same time, he embarks on a deeply personal journey: finally recording and performing the rock-opera love songs he’s carried in his heart since a devastating 1980s heartbreak—right at the height of the arcade boom.
The film premiered in U.S. theaters earlier this year through Monkey Wrench Films, capturing the same nostalgic magic that made The King of Kong one of Slamdance’s most celebrated documentaries.
Run time: 1 hr. 31 mins.
🎥 Credits
Director: Ed Cunningham
Producers: Jonathan Perkins, Seth Gordon (Baywatch, The King of Kong), Mike J. Nichols (Zappa)
Writers: Ed Cunningham, Mike J. Nichols, Paul Leach (The Woodsman)
Executive Producers: Ed Cunningham, Byron Ashley, Scott Jackson, Harrison Kordestani Kerry, Cathy Loveland, Paul Campoamor
Editor: Mike J. Nichols
👨🎤 Director’s Statement
The King of Kong premiered at Slamdance 2007 to a packed house of just the right type of audience. As the filmmakers, we could not have selected a better group of people to be the first to see something we had lived with for three years. The gamers, tech-types and doc lovers were all into it from frame one….The whispers, laughs and touching moments were all hitting…We knew the film could be seen as mocking people we had grown to love, doubt and admire and had worked tirelessly to present them truthfully and empathetically. And this audience got it. From that night forward, the original documentary has changed many people’s lives – for better and worse – so when Billy Mitchell called to tell me Walter Day was being sued based on things that happened in our movie, I began helping make sure he was properly defended…I felt a responsibility to document the conclusion to Walter’s journey and it was also a great opportunity because I love his music and want to help get out in the world.
– Ed Cunningham
⭐ Movie Review: Arcade & Love Songs: The Ballad of Walter Day
Arcade & Love Songs is a tender, quirky, and unexpectedly profound documentary that shines a spotlight on a cultural pioneer. Walter Day, once the steady-handed referee of The King of Kong, becomes the heart and soul of this new film—revealing the music, memories, and emotions that shaped his life.
Ed Cunningham blends archival footage, heartfelt interviews, and theatrical musical sequences to create a vibrant portrait of resilience. Walter’s songs—strange, sincere, and oddly beautiful—are as much about heartbreak as they are about healing. Especially moving are the testimonials from younger gamers, who speak to how Day and the esports community shaped their sense of belonging.
This is more than a film about retro games—it’s about chasing your passions, no matter your age. Arcade & Love Songs is a love letter to the 8-bit generation, to late-blooming artists, and to anyone still holding onto the dream of finishing their song.
📅 Watch It
🗓 Release Date: June 9, 2025 🎟 Pre-order Now:Apple TV & Vimeo-on-Demand 📺 Available On: Apple, Amazon, Google Play, YouTube Movies, Fandango, Vimeo-on-Demand
Let your heart hit “Start.” Walter Day’s ballad is one worth listening to.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
*The author was contacted for a review of this film and received a screening link. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.
Final Recovery is now available for streaming. Photo: IMDb
🎬Final Recovery – Movie Review
📖 Synopsis
When Rodney winds up in the Sage Treatment Facility and in the care of the twisted Nanny Lou, his drive to do better for his family and new friends leads him into more trouble. As he rebels against his ornery captor, he uncovers a dark conspiracy. With fellow patients mysteriously vanishing, Rodney takes on a new mission: exposing the prison his addiction has built around him.
Writers: Jerry Lee Davis & Nick Theurer Director: Harley Wallen
👥 Cast
Charlene Tilton – Nanny Lou
Jasper Cole – Rodney
Richard Tyson – Dr. Sam Potter
Michael Emery – Levi
Kaiti Wallen – Cindy Porter
📝 Movie Review: Final Recovery
Final Recovery is a tense psychological thriller that explores the fragile boundaries between rehabilitation and manipulation. The film centers around Rodney (Jasper Cole), a troubled man desperate to rebuild his life for the sake of his family. His journey takes a dark turn when he lands in the eerie Sage Treatment Facility, where healing comes with a sinister cost.
Nanny Lou, played with chilling precision by Charlene Tilton, is not your typical caregiver. Her twisted methods of control and psychological torment, fueled by childhood trauma, create a suffocating atmosphere that quickly consumes Rodney. The film builds suspense as Rodney’s initial compliance gives way to rebellion, sparked by his growing connection to fellow patients and his deep longing to return to his family.
The cinematography enhances the claustrophobic feel of the facility, while the score amplifies the underlying dread. Though the pacing slows midway, strong character arcs and an emotional payoff keep viewers engaged. Rodney’s transformation from passive patient to defiant fighter is compelling, though a few plot twists feel rushed.
Ultimately, Final Recovery is a disturbing yet gripping tale of resilience. It asks: Can true recovery be found in a place designed more to break than to heal — or must some battles be fought entirely from within?
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
*The author was contacted for an honest review of this movie. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.
Wellwood is available on Video On Demand. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Wellwood: Creature Effects Legend Alec Gillis Returns to His Indie Roots
Renowned creature effects artist Alec Gillis—known for his groundbreaking work on the Alien and Predator franchises, Starship Troopers, and most recently Smile 2—is returning to his independent film roots with Wellwood, a new creature-feature produced under his company Pro Machina, Inc. (Roberson Public Relations, 2025)
Alec began his career working with low-budget film icon Roger Corman and has long been an advocate for the art of practical effects. His latest venture, Wellwood, embraces that passion. Produced through Pro Machina, a studio focused on practical effects-heavy, lower-budget films, Wellwood showcases the craftsmanship and creativity that have become Alec’s hallmark.
Now Available on VOD
Wellwood, executive produced by Alec Gillis, was released in April 2025 by Uncork’d Entertainment and is now available on all major video-on-demand platforms, including streaming, satellite, and cable.
Practical Effects at the Forefront
True to Gillis’ legacy, every creature and corpse in Wellwood was built using practical effects. Alec and his team created the alien creature at the center of the film using rod puppets, a full-body suit, and mechanized heads. They also designed several human and animal “bodies” for key scenes—don’t worry, no animals were harmed in the making of this film!
A Legacy of Creature Creation
In addition to his work on Wellwood, Alec’s effects company Studio Gillis has recently contributed creatures and effects to major films such as Smile 2, Alien: Romulus, the upcoming I Love Boosters, and the Naked Gun reboot.
Previously, Alec co-founded Amalgamated Dynamics, Inc. (ADI), where he was nominated for an Academy Award for his work on Alien 3. Other notable credits from his ADI tenure include Death Becomes Her, Tremors, Prey, and of course, Starship Troopers.
Wellwood — A Sci-Fi Thriller With Heart
Tagline: A man takes a dangerous creature hostage after he convinces himself the creature’s blood is the key to curing his sick wife.
Question: In the end, what would you believe?
Synopsis
When Laura Harper (Camille Balsamo-Gillis) is diagnosed with a terminal illness, her husband Nick (Reid Collums) is driven to the edge in his search for a cure. His desperate journey leads him to an extraterrestrial being he believes can save her. But as Nick’s obsession grows, their actions draw the attention of law enforcement, including Deputy Gracie Marsh (Keisha Castle-Hughes) and the steadfast Sheriff Bradley (Lance E. Nichols). What follows is a harrowing exploration of love, belief, and the consequences of crossing the line.
‘Clay’ is Franck Bouysse’s new novel. Photo: Other Press
New Release: Clay by Franck Bouysse
A Dark, Lyrical Tale of War, Vengeance, and Buried Passions
Critically acclaimed French author Franck Bouysse, a master of gothic noir, returns this month with his latest novel, “Clay: A Novel”—a powerful, Faulknerian story of love, masculinity, and vengeance set against the backdrop of World War I. It is available for pre-order. (Other Press, 2025) Release Date: May 20, 2025
A Story Set in Shadows and Heat
In the summer of 1914, in the rugged heart of Cantal, France, the able-bodied men of a rural mountain community march off to war. Left behind are the women, the elderly, and the young—those who must now bear the weight of survival.
Fifteen-year-old Joseph is one of them. With his father gone, he’s left to run the family farm alongside his mother, grandmother, and their aging neighbor Leonard. Across the property line lives Valette, a bitter man excused from the war due to a malformed hand. When his brother’s wife and daughter seek refuge with him, their arrival ignites long-simmering resentments and awakens passions that had long been buried.
Gothic Noir Meets Historical Fiction
Clay is a haunting, propulsive novel that blurs the line between historical fiction and literary noir. With richly textured prose and emotionally raw characters, Bouysse crafts a deeply affecting narrative of isolation, violence, and human resilience. The novel explores themes of abuse, family bonds, suppressed desire, and the way trauma seeps through generations.
This is essential reading for fans of Bouysse’s previous work and readers who love dark, atmospheric fiction in the tradition of Tana French or William Faulkner.
About the Author
Franck Bouysse was born in France in 1965. Before becoming a full-time writer in 2007, he worked as a biology teacher. His breakout novel, “Born of No Woman,” won multiple prestigious French literary awards, including the Elle Readers’ Grand Prize, the Booksellers’ Prize, and the Prix Babelio. His follow-up, “Wind Drinkers,” received the Prix Jean Giono and further cemented his reputation as a leading voice in contemporary French literature.
About the Translator
Lara Vergnaud is a celebrated translator of French literature, known for her work across fiction, nonfiction, and scholarly texts. She has received two PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grants and a French Voices Grand Prize, and has been nominated for the National Translation Award. Her recent translations include “The Most Secret Memory of Men” by Mohamed Mbougar Sarr and “Demoiselles of Numidia” by Mohamed Leftah. She currently lives in France.
Advance Praise for Franck Bouysse (Clay):
“Franck Bouysse builds novels like an architect, writes prose like a painter, and with Clay captures both the beauty and bleakness of nature, the horrors of conflict and matters of the human heart with a poet’s precision. This is a masterwork of historical fiction—born of the Cantal region’s people as much as its mountains, rivers, and soil—that renders with staggering authenticity the volatile dramas created in the voids of the Great War. A translation to be cherished, Clay is an unforgettable story…superb, sublime, and heartbreaking.” —Peter Farris, award-winning author of The Devil Himself
Emily Moss Wilson’s new film ‘Inheritance.’ Courtesy photo, used with permission.
When it comes to films, dramas contain emotional depth, compelling characters, and exploration of the human experience. They often tackle complex themes such as love, loss, identity, and morality, allowing viewers to connect with the story on a personal level. This emotional resonance is a key reason for their enduring appeal. Whether based on true events or fictional narratives, dramas invite introspection and empathy, offering a mirror to society and the self. Their ability to evolve with cultural shifts while maintaining timeless emotional truths ensures their continued popularity across generations, making them a cornerstone of cinema around the world.
The new drama film Inheritance will be showing in select US theaters from May 6 through May 22 and will be available on digital and on demand on June 3. (One Tree Entertainment, 2025)
‘Inheritance’…The Past Never Dies
Directed by Emily Moss Wilson Starring Austin Highsmith Garces (Scream TV Series, Criminal Minds, Dolphin Tale), Rachel Noll James, Wes Brown (True Blood, 90210, Hart of Dixie), Michelle Hurd (Star Trek: Picard, Blindspot Hawaii Five-0)
Estranged sisters Lucy and Paige reluctantly reunite to bury their father, only to find themselves drawn back into the tangled web of their painful past. As old wounds resurface, they discover that they’ve inherited far more than just money.
CINEMA SCREENING TIMES BELOW
LOS ANGELES, CA May 6th @ 7p.m. – Laemmle Glendale – MORE INFO HERE *Talkback with actors Michelle Hurd & Austin Highsmith Garces May 8th @ 7p.m. – Laemmle Santa Monica – MORE INFO HERE *Talkback with actors Michelle Hurd & Austin Highsmith Garces May 9th – May 22nd – Laemmle Santa Monica (Various Times – TBA)
WASHINGTON STATE May 9th – 22nd @ 6:30p.m. daily – Bainbridge Island Cinemas – TICKETS HERE *Talkbacks on May 13th and 22nd with actor/writer Rachel Noll James and producer Sienna Beckman May 9th – 15th @ 6p.m. daily – Historic Admiral in West Seattle – TICKETS HERE May 21st @ 7p.m. – Kingston Firehouse Theater – TICKETS HERE *Talkback with actor/writer Rachel Noll James and producer Sienna Beckman
NEW ORLEANS, LA May 18th @ 3p.m. – The Broad Theater – TICKETS HERE *Talkback with director Emily Moss Wilson, editor Misty Talley, producer Daniel Lewis
Inheritance still. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Bakery Lorraine’s Two-Layered Moist Carrot Cake. Photo: Bakery Lorraine, used with permission.
Easter is a cherished holiday celebrated worldwide, symbolizing renewal, hope, and resurrection. For Christians, it marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ, making it one of the most significant religious events of the year. Beyond its spiritual meaning, Easter brings people together in joyful celebration. Traditions vary globally—from sunrise church services to colorful egg hunts, festive meals, and spring-themed decorations. Many enjoy brunches filled with seasonal dishes, while others gather with family for large dinners. In some cultures, parades, dances, and special pastries mark the occasion. Regardless of tradition, Easter serves as a time of reflection, unity, and new beginnings.
If you’re in the San Antonio area, or plan to be during the upcoming holiday weekend, here are some ways you can celebrate Easter in the Alamo City. (Bakery Lorraine, Tenfold Rooftop Bar, La Panadería, Dean’s Steak & Seafood, Chef Jason Dady Restaurants, Hotel Contessa, Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa, Omni La Mansión del Rio, 2025)
Bakery Lorraine – Bakery Lorraine is offering a delightful selection of seasonal pastries to celebrate Easter, including:
Easter Chick Tart ($7.50) features a whimsical design with raspberry jam, vanilla sponge cake, and a refreshing lime mousse
Easter Nest Tart ($7.00) combines a rich caramel chocolate filling with Cadbury Milk Chocolate Eggs and a crispy fillo dough topping
Easter Bunny Carrot Cake ($7.50) is a moist blend of pineapple, coconut, walnuts, and fresh carrots, finished with cream cheese frosting and playful white chocolate bunny ears
Easter Egg Moon Pie ($5.50) offers a nostalgic twist with graham cookies, marshmallow, and white chocolate
Flower Macaron with Lemon Ganache ($4.00) is a refreshing, tangy treat with a smooth lemon filling
For those seeking a complete Easter experience, Bakery Lorraine offers the Easter Box ($25), which includes one of each of the featured treats—Easter Chick Tart, Easter Nest Tart, Easter Bunny Carrot Cake, and Easter Egg Moon Pie. The Easter Box is available now for pre-sale orders, with store pickup on April 18-20, and limited quantities will be available for in-store purchase.
Additionally, Bakery Lorraine is offering their Two-Layered Moist Carrot Cake in 7” & 9” sizes ($50/$70), made with pineapple, coconut, walnuts, and fresh carrots, topped with cream cheese frosting and mini macarons. Whole cakes are available for pre-sale online now through 4/16, with pickup available at all Austin, Boerne, and San Antonio locations on April 19-20 only.
Tenfold Rooftop Bar at Kimpton Santo – Tenfold brings two exciting cocktail offerings to Easter brunch this year. The Bunny Blanco ($16) combines 400 Conejos Mezcal with carrot, lemon, ginger, and sparkling wine for a unique, vibrant drink. The Tenfold Tulip ($15) is a beautiful blend of Teremana Tequila, lime, agave, butterfly pea tea, and tonic, creating a striking, flavorful sip. Both cocktails will be available for guests to enjoy Easter weekend from Friday, April 19, to Sunday, April 20. Reservations are encouraged and can be made online through OpenTable.
La Panadería – La Panadería is offering their fan-favorite Brunch on Easter Sunday from 7a.m. to 4p.m. at all four San Antonio locations. The brunch menu features signature dishes like Fiesta Lobster Benedict, Tequila Butter Steak and Eggs, LP Waffle Croissant, and Ranchero Eggs Benedict, alongside unique twists on traditional bites like Tortas and Ensaladas. Guests can also enjoy mimosas and cerveza with their meal.
Dean’s Steak & Seafood at Kimpton Santo – Dean’s Steak and Seafood is offering a unique, Easter Sunday cocktail: the Springtime Spritz ($15). Crafted tableside with Ketel One Botanicals, St. Germain, Washington Peache, and house bubbles, this refreshing cocktail is the perfect way to celebrate the season. Alongside their iconic brunch menu served until 3p.m. this exclusive cocktail will be available all Sunday, April 20, adding a festive touch to any Easter gathering at Dean’s. Reservations are encouraged and can be made through OpenTable.
Chef Jason Dady Restaurants is thrilled to offer special coursed brunches at Jardín and Tre Trattoria this Easter Sunday, April 20. Each restaurant will also offer kids’ menus for those 10 and under, making these brunches perfect for families to celebrate the spring holiday together. Jardín will exclusively offer a four-course, Mediterranean-inspired brunch menu for $49.95 per person. Tre Trattoria will serve a four-course, Italian-focused brunch for $54.95 per person.
Optional wine pairings are available at both Jardín and Tre Trattoria for $29.95 per person. Tax and gratuity are not included. For those interested in dining at Chef Jason Dady’s other concepts, Two Bros BBQ, Range and Tre Pizzeria will all remain open for regular service on Easter Sunday.
Hotel Contessa Easter Bunny Happy Hour | Saturday, April 20 | 3p.m. – 5p.m. The Easter Bunny is hopping into Ambler Bar for a uniquely San Antonio pre-Easter celebration. Friends and neighbors can pop by for specialty drinks and deviled egg specials. There will be photo opportunities with the Easter Bunny while enjoying Ambler’s festive atmosphere. It’s a grown-up Easter celebration with all of the fun and none of the early morning egg hunt.
Easter Sunday Brunch | Sunday, April 20 | All Day Experience a San Antonio Easter tradition reimagined at Ambler Bar. Chef Mike Collins has curated a special brunch menu featuring seasonal Texas ingredients and festive spring flavors. Meals will be paired with their handcrafted Easter cocktails for the ultimate Sunday celebration.
Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa, Autograph Collection Corinne Easter Brunch – Indulge in a chef-curated brunch featuring seasonal favorites this Easter Sunday, April 20. From 10a.m. to 3p.m., guests can look forward to chef-carved ham, shrimp cocktail, cinnamon rolls, a mimosa and juice bar, and much more. The Easter Bunny will also be present for delightful family photos. Pricing for the Easter brunch is $65 per adult and $17 per child (10 & under). Reservations are highly recommended.
Easter at Ostra at Mokara Hotel & Spa – Ostra’s limited-time Easter menu includes a Beet Cured Ocean Trout served with Everything Bagel chips, orange marinated sun gold tomatoes, whipped chive cream cheese and dill. A Salad Nicoise also graces the holiday selection, with seared Ahi Tuna, haricot vert, fingerling potatoes, heirloom tomatoes, a soft-boiled egg, baby cucumbers, baby lettuces, marinated olives and red onion. Easter Brunch at Ostra is $55 plus tax per person.
The Spring festivities continue at the bar with the Peeps Spritz, a 2025 “Easter basket candy” must-have according to Forbes. Crafted with Lalo Tequila, Cointreau, lime, Topo Chico and Dr. Pepper, and topped with a Peep, this cocktail is a signature treat for this time of year. All weekend long, families and couples can experience exquisite seafood cuisine at this AAA Four Diamond riverfront restaurant at Mokara Hotel & Spa.
Four Brothers at Omni La Mansión del Rio – Flavors of the South with a Tex-Mex flare take over the Easter Brunch menu at Four Brothers, the stunning on-site restaurant at Omni La Mansión del Rio. This three-course style menu begins with Street Corn Deviled Eggs topped with roasted corn, jalapeño and cilantro followed by a Chicken and Corn Bread Waffle served with a side of blueberry compote, maple syrup and jalapeño butter. The dessert course is appropriately named the Easter Basket, a pineapple upside-down cake topped with a cremé cheese mousse and candy eggs. The three-course brunch is $65 plus tax per person; Brunch is served all day.
To sip on Easter flavors, the Cotton Tail delivers a taste of Spring in a glass with Brugal 1888 Rum, pineapple and real coconut topped with whipped cream and jelly beans.
Argentinian band Él Mató a un Policía Motorizado will make its only Texas stop in Dallas. Photo: LPA Beer & Music Festival.
Él Mató a un Policía Motorizado, also known as EMAUPM or Él Mató, is an Argentinian indie rock band from La Plata established in 2003. The band has just announced their North American tour, and before they kick things off, they’ll be making a special stop in Dallas as part of Frontera 2025. This will be their only Texas performance.
This intimate 500-capacity show is free and open to the public, but RSVP is highly encouraged to guarantee entry: RSVP HERE. The performance will take place at Kessler Theater on Friday, April 11. Doors open at 7:30p.m., show begins at 8:30p.m. (Giant Noise/Southwest Review, 2025)
More information on Frontera 2025:
DALLAS – Dallas-based magazine Southwest Review, the third-longest-running literary quarterly in the United States, announces the lineup for the second annual Frontera. This year’s festivities will take place April 11–12, 2025, in Oak Cliff’s historic Bishop Arts District.
The lineup assembles artists from English-speaking North America and Spanish-speaking Latin America for a two-day celebration of literature, music, comics and film. Set to take place at The Wild Detectives, Kessler Theater and Texas Theatre, all Frontera events will be free and open to the public.
Frontera will kick off at The Wild Detectives with a conversation between American cartoonist Lynda Barry and fiction writer Mary Miller, followed by musical performances from The Paranoid Style, Karly Hartzman and Él Mató a un Policía Motorizado at Kessler Theater. RSVP highly encouraged HERE.
The second day will feature a screening of the Blood Simple (1984) by Joel and Ethan Coen, plus a conversation between award-winning author Megan Abbott and crime novelist William Boyle at the Texas Theatre. Additional readings at The Wild Detectives will feature Mateo García Elizondo, Brenda Lozano, Ashleigh Bryant Phillips, Joseph Grantham, Brenda Navarro, Federico Perelmuter, Julia Kornberg, Patricio Ferrari, Eli Cranor, and Kimberly King Parsons, offering audiences a chance to engage with some of the most compelling voices in contemporary literature.
Guests are invited to the festival’s final event at The Wild Detectives featuring a celebratory DJ set running from 7:30p.m. until close.
Because the Southwest is a place where borderlands converge, the region is dependent on the two-way flow of language and culture. Southwest Review has long championed Latin American literature in translation, working closely with independent publishers to introduce groundbreaking voices to new audiences. Thanks to the generous support of the Southern Methodist University Department of English, Frontera brings this editorial vision to life in an increasingly bilingual North Texas region.
SA Examiner 