November/December 2013 Issue

November/December 2013 | On The Town 1

Saveurs 209Light The Way Lidia BastianichMariachi VargasSAIPC Piano SeriesMusic Without BordersPatron Saint of Texas ExhibitPlus 10 Additional Articles

Saveurs 209Light The Way Lidia BastianichMariachi VargasSAIPC Piano SeriesMusic Without BordersPatron Saint of Texas ExhibitPlus 10 Additional Articles

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November/December 2013November/December 2013

http://onthetownezine.com


2 On The Town | November/December

http://sasymphony.org


http://reatarealestate.com


Lair Creative, LLC would not knowingly publish misleading or erroneous information in editorial content or in any advertisement in On The Town Ezine.com, nor does it assume responsibility if this type of editorial or advertising should appear under any circumstances. Additionally, content in this electronic magazine does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the management of Lair Creative, LLC. Since On The Town Ezine.com features information on perfor-mances and exhibits, it is recommended that all times and dates of such events be confirmed by the reader prior to attendance. The publisher assumes no responsibility for changes in times, dates, venues, exhibitions or performances.

Happy Holiday Performances in 8November and December! Make Your List and Check it Twice

Musical Bridges Presents “Music 14Without Borders” Mariachi Vargas: A Beautiful Puzzle 18Assembled Piece by Piece

Musical Offerings Celebrates Three 20Decades of Music in San Antonio

Zuzu’s Petals 22

San Antonio International Piano 24Competition’s Piano Series

Lidia Bastianich – A Moveable Feast 44

Nykiels Offer Fine French Dining 48at Saveurs 209

Cheers! To San Antonio Cocktail 52Conference 2014

Eight, Eighteen Exhibit at Linda 58Pace Foundation

San Antonio Museum of Art Celebrates 60Fray Antonio Margil de Jesus, thePatron Saint of Texas

Step Inside the Real and Imaginary 64World of Carnivorous Plants atSan Antonio Botanical Garden

UIW’s 27th Annual Light the Way 80Filled with Surprises

Front Cover Photo: © Bcon Management, Inc. / Dreamstime.com

Performing Arts Cover PhotoStefan Karl as The Grinch withSeth Bazacas as Young Max.Photo by paparazzibyappointment.com

Events Calendar Photo:Alyssa DiPalma and Alex Neein American IdiotPhoto by Turner Rouse, Jr.

Culinary Arts Cover Photo:Photo by Greg Harrison

Visual Arts Cover Photo:Photo by Greg Harrison

Literary Arts Cover Photo:Photo by Greg Harrison

Eclectics Cover Photo:Photo by Greg Harrison

88 1818 2424

Features Cover Credits

http://Dreamstime.com

http://paparazzibyappointment.com


Lair Creative, LLC would not knowingly publish misleading or erroneous information in editorial content or in any advertisement in On The Town Ezine.com, nor does it assume responsibility if this type of editorial or advertising should appear under any circumstances. Additionally, content in this electronic magazine does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the management of Lair Creative, LLC. Since On The Town Ezine.com features information on perfor-mances and exhibits, it is recommended that all times and dates of such events be confirmed by the reader prior to attendance. The publisher assumes no responsibility for changes in times, dates, venues, exhibitions or performances.

70704444 6060

ContributorsMikel Allen,creative director /graphic designer

Jennie Badger

Betsy Beckmann

Olivier J. Bourgoin(aka, Oliver the Wine Guy)

Julie Catalano

Jonathan Clark

Lisa Cruz

Thomas Duhon

Chris Dunn

Ashley Festa

Jack Fishman

Margaret Garcia

Greg Harrison,staff photographer

Steve Holloway

Christian Lair,operations manager /webmaster

Kay Lair

Tracy Lowe

Susan A. Merkner,copy editor

Cynthia Munoz

Cameron Schieldt

Sara Selango

Janis Turk

Jasmina Wellinghoff

Events Calendar 28

Book Talk: Mary Jane Hardy, Teacher 70Author

Downtown Update: A Conversation with 76Pat DiGiovani of Centro San Antonio

Out & About With Greg Harrison 84

Departments

OnTheTownEzine.com is published byLair Creative, LLC14122 Red MapleSan Antonio, Texas 78247210-771-8486210-490-7950 (fax)



http://cameocenter.com


Performing Arts

8-26

Performing Arts

8-26


A s I make my wish l ist of events I want to attend in and around the city, it has become apparent that many more entertainment

opportunities exist now than ever before. More music, l ive theater, dance, opera and comedy grace the stages of venues throughout the area than in past days. I t ’s a good time to be a per forming arts aficionado in the San Antonio area, a very good time.

Examples abound. To begin with, November brings with it two outstanding classical concerts by the San Antonio Symphony and a Pops show too. Disney in Concer t is the pops per formance on Nov. 1-2 at the Majestic with Akiko Fujimoto conducting. Classicals include Rach 2 with Sebastian Lang-Lessing as conductor and pianist Cecile Licad as the featured artist, plus a program titled Mendelssohn Violin Concer to under the baton of Cristian Marcelaru with violinist Phil ippe Quint. Rach 2 is Nov. 8-9 and the Mendelssohn is Nov. 22-12. All per formances mentioned are at the Majestic Theatre.

Symphony activity in December includes A Baroque Holiday on Dec. 1 at San Fernando Cathedral and Handel’s Messiah at four different churches from Dec. 6-8. Holiday Pops is a December annual at the Majestic. This year ’s dates are Dec. 20-21 with Akiko Fujimoto conducting. Special guest is Santa Claus.

A myriad of other classical music offerings are available as well in the months of November and December. San Antonio Piano Competition’s Piano Series presents Younggun Kim at St. Mark ’s Episcopal Nov. 2. The very next day Camerata San Antonio brings patrons a recital by cell ist Lacherzar Kostov and pianist Viktor Valkov at Christ Episcopal while Mid-Texas Symphony makes Mar velous Musik at the Brauntex Per forming Arts Theatre in New Braunfels. Chamber Orchestra of San Antonio follows with Centennial Benjamin: O f Love and Darkness Nov. 7 at San Antonio Museum of Art. Francisco Nunez conducts this one with Elena Galvan, soprano. Tuesday Musical Club is up next featuring baritone Andrew Garland at Laurel



Heights Methodist Nov. 12 followed by San Antonio Chamber Music Society ’s presentation of Modigliani Quartet at Temple Beth-El the 17th day of the month. Three additional per formances to be aware of in December are Symphony of the Hills’ Christmas Gift-Holiday Favorites at the Kathleen C. Cail loux Theater in Kerrvil le Dec. 5, Musical Bridges Around The World’s Nightingale with flutist Eugenia Zukerman and pianist Anton Nel at San Fernando Cathedral Dec. 8 and Heavenly Holidays by Mid-Texas Symphony at Jackson Auditorium in Seguin Dec. 15.

Nutcrackers are next. The Nutcracker collaboration between Ballet San Antonio and San Antonio Symphony is f irst up over two weekends from Nov. 29 to Dec. 8 with eight per formances in all at the Majestic. Following closely is Arts San Antonio’s The Nutcracker in conjunction with San Antonio Metropolitan Ballet and Mejia Ballet International Dec. 20-22 at Lila Cockrell Theatre. Alamo City Dance Company shares that same weekend with its Nutcracker Ballet Dec. 21-22 at McAllister Auditorium on the

campus of San Antonio College. Moscow Ballet ’s Great American Nutcracker has a split run at the Majestic Dec. 23 and again Dec. 30. I also want to mention the one neighboring city Nutcracker per formed by Ballet New Braunfels Dec. 6-7 at the Brauntex.

In other dance, San Antonio Metropolitan Ballet dances The Snow Queen at the Jo Long Theatre at the Carver Nov. 9-10 and the Carver itself presents Nai-Ni Chin along with Ahn Trio in a program called Temptation of the Muses . I t ’s at the Jo Long too Nov 16.

Touring Broadway is represented with a couple of shows in December. Green Day ’s American Idiot plays the Majestic for two days only Dec. 13-14. Broadway in San Antonio has Dr. Suess’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas for a compact 10-per formance run over the four days of 12/26-29. Bring the k ids.

Community theater sports such notables as Les Miserables and Guys & Dolls at The Playhouse San



Antonio, Dearly Depar ted at Sheldon Vexler, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at Cameo, Young Frankenstien followed by A Christmas Stor y : The Musical at Woodlawn and Las Nuevas Tamaladas at Guadalupe Theatre. Out-of-towners include Playhouse 2000’s A Christmas Carol at VK Garage in Kerrvil le, The Spirit of Christmas at Elizabeth Huth Coates Theatre in Ingram, Simply Divided at Boerne Community Theatre and Sanders Family Christmas at Steve W. Shepherd Theatre in Fredericksburg.

I always l ike to offer a good reason to visit the events calendar section in this magazine. So how ’s this? Some of the folks coming to San Antonio and the surrounding area in the months of November and December are: The Doobie Brothers, Nine Inch Nails, Drake, Pink, Celtic Thunder, Vicki Lawrence and Mama, REO Speedwagon, Jay Mohr, DL Hughley, Jay Z, Robert Earl Keen, The Ir ish Tenors, Georgette Jones, Pam Til l is and Harry Connick, Jr.

And then there’s Scrap Arts Music at Evans Auditorium on the Texas State campus in San Marcos Nov. 19. Look this one up, it ’s very unique!

I t ’s a good time to be a per forming arts aficionado in the San Antonio area. Happy Holidays. Get some tickets and go!



Photo Credits:

Pages 8-9

How The Grinch Stole Christmas companyPhoto by papparazzibyappointment.com

Pages 10-11 (L-R)

The NutcrackerCourtesy Arts San Antonio

Philippe QuintPhoto by Lisa-Marie Mazzucco

Cecile LicadPhoto by Sarah Black

Harry Connick, Jr.Courtesy Majestic Theatre

Pages 12-13 (L-R)

The NutcrackerCourtesy Ballet San Antonioand San Antonio Symphony

Akiko FujimotoPhoto by Eric Green Cristian MacelaruCourtesy macelaru.com The company of American IdiotPhoto by Litwin


http://papparazzibyappointment.com

http://macelaru.com


Musical Bridges presents ‘Music Without Borders’By Ashley Festa

How does a musical tour around the world next spring sound? No need to pack a suitcase for this vacation, and you can go

even if you hate flying.

Anya Grokhovski is making it possible, and it won’t break the bank. The artistic director and CEO of Musical Bridges Around the World has organized a week-long international music festival called “Music Without Borders,” planned for Feb. 22 through March 2 in San Antonio.

“I wanted to cultivate the idea of bringing different elements of music to San Antonio,” said Grokhovski, a classically trained concert pianist and native of Russia. “This festival summarizes the vision of Musical Bridges Around the World.”

That vision is to provide musical education to anyone and everyone who’s interested in learning about countries far and wide. The event features five concerts that bring together musicians from cultures around the world, including Russian, Syrian, Israeli,

Palestinian, Indian, Cuban and, of course, American.“My goal was to bring as much of the world as possible to show through music,” Grokhovski said. “There’s ongoing conflict in the world, so it’s good to have these musicians working together. It puts a human face on international scandals.”

The festival will be the first time that many of these countries are represented at a Musical Bridges event. “The fact that I’m a professional musician means I have a professional ear. We’re inviting the top musicians in the world,” Grokhovski said, emphasizing that she wants to offer a wider world perspective, but won’t sacrifice the quality of the performances.

“Music is a beautiful language to communicate through,” she said. “We’re doing what we can to build peace through musical performances. I want people to feel that our globe is a very small place, that we have more in common than what’s different.”

Especially curious about other countries’ cultures are San Antonio schoolchildren. Grokhovski focuses much


November/December 2013 | On The Town 15November/December 2013 | On The Town 15

of Musical Bridges’ resources on bringing educational opportunities to kids, many of whom have never left their school district and know very little about other cultures. To support this mission, the Music Without Borders festival will include a kids’ day with four short performances.

“All kids see on the news is negative. We try to put something positive and beautiful in front of them,” Grokhovski said. “They see the world through us. It’s a huge responsibility.”

And it makes a huge difference in children’s lives. One year, Grokhovski took Russian musicians, donning costumes and toting folk instruments, to several San Antonio schools. At the end of the school year six months later, Grokhovski said, the children were asked what they wanted to do in the future.

“The majority of children said they wanted to go to Russia,” Grokhovski said. “Without that concert, they never would have known Russia existed.”

The lineup for “Music Without Borders” includes:

• Feb. 22 – American jazz musicians Charles Lloyd and Gerald Clayton

• Feb. 23 – Duo Amal, Israeli-Palestinian pianists• Feb. 25 – Children’s festival featuring dance and musical performances • Feb. 28 – Entreflamenco performing Spanish flamenco dance• March 1 – Syrian clarinetist Kinan Azmeh, Indian tabla player Sandeep Das, and the St. Petersburg Quartet, strings players from Russia• March 2 – The St. Petersburg String Quartet and Compañía De Teatro Lírico “Ernesto Lecuona,” a Cuban theater troupe performing the music of pianist and composer Ernesto Lecuona.

In addition to the “Music Without Borders” festival, Musical Bridges will continue free concerts at 6:30 p.m. Sundays at San Fernando Cathedral. Nearly 2,500 music lovers come out every year to hear world-class classical musicians perform.

“Music Without Borders” is the evolution of a long line of international music components that Musical Bridges has offered San Antonio for the past 16 years. House concerts evolved into a nonprofit organization offering chamber music performances, which branched out into an international concert series, which now has been combined into a week’s worth of entertainment and enlightenment.


“We believe (the festival) is a better format,” Grokhovski said. “We’ve never done it before, so we’ll see how successful it will be. I have a good feeling about it.”

Grokhovski hopes to attract close to 3,000 attendees to Trinity University’s Laurie Auditorium, where most of the performances will be held. She hopes to eventually bring the festival to the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, which opens in fall 2014.

“San Antonio is changing, becoming more cosmopolitan and international,” she said. “Mayor Julián Castro came up with the SA2020 initiative. What we do really represents the mayor’s vision, and we’re putting San Antonio on the international cultural map, along with the help of other organizations. The goal is to make San Antonio a better place to be.”

For “Music Without Borders” ticket information, visit www.musicalbridges.org.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Photo Credits:

Page 14

Sandeep DasCourtesy sandeepdas.com

Page 15

Charles LloydCourtesy Musical BridgesAround The World

(Above)

Estefania Ramirez Entreflamenco Dance CompanyCourtesy entreflamenco.com

(Below)

Kinan AzmehCourtesy Musical BridgesAround The World


http://www.musicalbridges.org

http://boerneperformingarts.com


http://boerneperformingarts.com


MARIACHI VARGAS: a beautiful puzzle assembled piece by pieceBy Cynthia Munoz and Mariachi Historian Jonathan Clark


M ariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán’s highly energized performances are second to none. Quite simply, Mariachi

Vargas’ performances surpass even the highest expectations. The music is performed with incredible precision and yet it remains new and fresh, even to audiences that are regular concert-goers and diehard fans. The members of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán have gained a worldwide reputation of setting the gold standard for mariachi music. Much of this is attributed to the talents of the group’s leaders, maestro Rubén Fuentes and maestro José “Pepe” Martínez Sr. Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán consists of 13 members and is based in Mexico City. Five are lead vocalists and violinists, including Alberto Alfaro, Miguel Ángel Barrón, Andrés González, Daniel Martínez and José “Pepe” Martínez Jr. Three are trumpet players: Gustavo Alvarado, Fernando Velásquez and Federico Torres. Federico has been with the group nearly half of a century, since 1966. The armonía (rhythm) section includes Julio Martínez on the harp, Enrique de Santiago on the guitarrón (acoustic bass guitar), Gilberto Aguirre on the vihuela (small guitar-like instrument with five strings) and Arturo Vargas on guitar. Jose “Pepe” Martínez Sr., has served as the group’s musical director, vocalist and violinist since 1975. People who see Mariachi Vargas for the first time are surprised that eight of the 13 musicians have voices that are among the best in world. All are excellent musicians who perform at a level of perfection that is simply astonishing. The mastermind behind the sound and style of the group is maestro Rubén Fuentes, Mariachi Vargas’ composer, director, producer and arranger since 1944. Fuentes has written hundreds of songs, several that were included in the recent motion picture “Pulling Strings” with Jaime Camil. Mariachi Vargas is like a beautiful puzzle that has been assembled piece by piece by maestro Fuentes and maestro “Pepe” Martínez. Both have a tremendous gift for identifying and selecting the talent that makes up the group — talent such as that of Arturo Vargas. Arturo Vargas has performed with Mariachi Vargas for just over a decade. He carries the Vargas name but has no direct relation to the group’s

original founder, Gaspar Vargas. Arturo was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, to a large family steeped in the mariachi tradition. He counts more than 40 mariachi musicians among his immediate kin. When he was a little over a year old, his family moved to Mexico City, where his father worked in Plaza Garibaldi. Arturo began his career as a ranchera singer at age 7. By the time he was 10 years old, he had performed on more than 100 television programs. From age 14 on, he alternated solo performances with daily work as a mariachi musician, where he played either guitar or violin. As a vocal soloist, Arturo has participated in many song festivals and competitions in Mexico and abroad, often winning first place, including México Lindo y Querido (Mexico, 1990), Valores Juveniles Bacardí (Mexico, 1992), OTI Internacional (Spain, 1993), Golden Stag (Romania, 1994), Sábado Gigante (2000, USA) and Viña del Mar (Chile, 2001). After belonging to some 20 different mariachi groups, Arturo joined Mariachi de América de Jesús Rodríguez de Híjar, where he remained for five years. Since 2002, he has been a member of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán. Arturo tours with the members of Mariachi Vargas year-round throughout the world. The group has performed in Spain, Japan, the Czech Republic, France and throughout the United States and Latin America. When the group is off tour, they are in the studios recording and adding to more than 200 albums produced. Mar iachi Vargas has per formed in concer t in San Antonio for 19 consecutive years as par t of the annual Mar iachi Vargas Ex travaganza produced by Muñoz Publ ic Relat ions (MPR) . The producer of the event, MPR president Cynthia Muñoz, was introduced to Mar iachi Vargas in 1979. S ince then, she has had a deep passion for the music and the culture and has taken the lead in keeping i t a l ive and growing through the Mariachi Vargas Ex travaganza. Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán performs at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Lila Cockrell Theater. Tickets are available at the Alamodome Box Office or at ticketmaster.com. Log on to mariachimusic.com for a complete schedule of events for the 19th Annual Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza.

November/December 2013 | On The Town 19Arturo Vargas

http://ticketmaster.com

http://mariachimusic.com


MUSICAL OFFERINGS CELEBRATES THREE

DECADES OF MUSIC IN SAN ANTONIO

By LIza Cuz

O

.ne of San Antonio’s most successful and .enduring chamber music ensembles celebrates its 30th anniversary season beginning Dec. 3.

Founded in 1983, Musical Offerings began at the San Antonio Museum of Art as a gallery series with music programmed to art. In 1989, Joan Christenson, a violinist with the San Antonio Symphony, was looking for an opportunity to perform a broad range of chamber music, so when given the chance to become artistic director of Musical Offerings, she gladly accepted and has held the position ever since.

“There’s just so much music I want to play,” Christenson said. “I have always been extremely interested in what I am doing, and I’ve learned much as part of this group. I like the collaborations, the business aspect and the music.”

For three decades, Musical Offerings has had a special relationship with the San Antonio Museum of Art to provide audiences with a deeper experience when

viewing the art collections in the galleries.

“With SAMA, we have been able to create something bigger than we would have been able to create alone,” Christenson said.

In the past five years, MO and SAMA have established the Music on the Move series. This innovative “musical tour” series takes musicians and audiences through selected galleries featuring music from the same period of history as the art.

“Because of the broad range of Musical Offerings’ programming and personnel, we have the opportunity to unite our talents with local organizations and participate in special community events,” Christenson said.

Evolution is nothing new for the group. In 1992, Christenson was again looking for opportunities to expand the repertoire and began the Jazz Meets Classical series, which presents compositions combining elements



MUSICAL OFFERINGS CELEBRATES THREE

DECADES OF MUSIC IN SAN ANTONIO

By LIza Cuz

of both jazz and classical music.

“The community finds us interesting because we can do jazz, classical, and contemporary chamber music,” Christenson said.

“We keep things interesting. We have worked with hundreds of artists as our musicians change to meet the repertoire, and our instruments can change, our venues change, and our repertoire changes.”

Variety and talent have been key to the group’s longevity, and keep supporters coming back for more each year.

Musical Offerings performed chamber music concerts in conjunction with the first anniversary of the Henry A. Guerra Public Library branch in 2005, the Taste of Tango series at venues across San Antonio from 2004 through 2006, and the Brahms and Beethoven festivals in 2012 and 2013.

This season opens with favorites from the past 30 years on Dec. 3 at Christ Episcopal Church.

Appearing at the Dvořák Festival on Feb. 3, the chamber group will explore composer Antonin Leopold Dvořák’s years in America, showcasing his “American String

Quartet” at the San Antonio Museum of Art.

Jazz Meets Classical gears up for its 22nd season on April 7.

After 30 years, the audience is what keeps Christenson and the group going, she said.

“I know a lot of the audience members, because they have been coming for years, and we have such intimate settings. Their support, it’s very humbling.”

Details are at www.musicalofferings.org.

• • • • • • • • • • • • •Photo Credits:

Page 20: (L-R)

Joan Christenson, Brent Watkins and Joshua Boulton at Beethoven Festival performance at Christ Episcopal ChurchPhoto by Mathew Diekman

Musical Offerings’ Jazz Meets Classical EnsemblePhoto by Susan Riley


www.musicalofferings.org


K a r o l y n G r i m e s, t h e c h i l d s t a r o f “ I t ’s a Wo n d e r f u l L i f e” a n d “ T h e B i s h o p’s W i f e” co m e s t o t h e A l a m o C i t y a r e a t h i s D e ce m b e r

t o s h a r e h e r m e m o r i e s o f l i f e o n m o v i e s e t s w i t h J i m m y S t e wa r t , D o n n a R e i d, a n d e v e n C a r y G ra n t b e f o r e l o ca l b i g - s c r e e n s h o w i n g s o f t w o c l a s s i c h o l i d a y f i l m s a t t h e Pa l a ce T h e a t r e i n S e g u i n .

“Ever y t ime a bel l r ings, an angel gets h is wings,” says l i t t le Zuzu Bai ley, a beloved charac ter in the Frank Capra Chr istmas c lass ic , I t ’s a Wo n d e r f u l L i f e . I t ’s one of Hol ly wood’s most of ten- quoted movie l ines.

This hol iday movie, which has run ever y year for decades on te levis ion, i s a favor i te movie of many. The l i t t le gi r l who played Zuzu—whose dad, J immy Stewar t , held “Zuzu’s petals” in h is pocket - - s tole Amer ica’s hear t .

This December, K arolyn Gr imes, the woman who as a chi ld ac tress played Zuzu Bai ley in I t ’s a Wo n d e r f u l L i f e , comes to the Palace Theatre in Seguin.

Gr imes, who travels the United States host ing speak ing engagements each hol iday season at h istor ic movie theaters, wi l l te l l her f i rst-hand, behind-the -scenes stor y of what i t was l ike to work with J immy Stewar t on the beloved f i lm and what i t means to her to have been par t of that legendar y movie. Fol lowing Ms. Gr imes’ presentat ion, I t ’s a Wo n d e r f u l L i f e wi l l be shown on the big screen. The f i lm wi l l be shown on Dec. 6 and 7 .

Gr imes a lso appeared as the chi ld star of T h e B i s h o p’s W i f e with Car y Grant , David N iven and Loretta Young, so The Palace a lso wi l l host Ms.


Zuzu’s Petals By Janis Turk


Grimes at a specia l mat inee showing of that f i lm on Dec. 7 .

Fol lowing each f i lm, Ms. Gr imes wi l l be avai lable for autographs, photographs, a book s igning and to answer any quest ions f rom audience members. Many fami l ies ask Ms. Gr imes to s ign ornaments for their chi ldren and grandchi ldren. Ms. Gr imes even has penned a “ Wonder ful L i fe” cook book .

I n addit ion to appearances at The Palace, Ms. Gr imes wi l l r ide in Seguin’s Chr istmas parade dur ing the Hol iday Strol l on Dec. 5 . Gr imes, who recal ls fond memories of San Antonio, a lso wi l l be mak ing publ ic i t y appearances with the media in the Alamo Cit y. Gr imes says her phi losophy of l i fe i s as posit ive and s imple as the movie’s t i t le i tse l f : “ I t ’s a wonder ful l i fe ! ”

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • Photo Credits:

Page 22

Donna Reed, James Stewart andKarolyn Grimes in the 1946 Americanclassic “It’s a Wonderful Life,” produced and directed by the legendary Frank Capra.

Karolyn Grimes as Zuzu Bailey and James Stewart as George Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life.”



Thirty years ago, the San Antonio International Piano Competition (www.saipc.org) was founded by Dr. Richard Ferguson and a small group of

fellow music lovers. The competition is now presented every four years. The most recent winner, Taiwan native Lo-An Lin, will perform Gershwin’s Concerto in F with the San Antonio Symphony on Feb. 21 and 22, as part of her gold medal prizes.

Jim Lucas is the competition’s current president, and he has an impressive background for the position. He makes his living as an attorney, but studied music as a young man. Lucas won an award as outstanding pianist at the University of Southern California, and then went to the Peabody Conservatory of the John Hopkins University in Baltimore to study conducting. He continued his conducting studies in Munich, Germany, under a Fulbright scholarship and participated in the Herbert von Karajan Conducting Competition in Berlin. Lucas has lived in San

Antonio for four years, relocating from Sacramento, Calif., when his wife was offered a position with USAA here after the closure of the USAA Sacramento offices.

The newest SAIPC project, now in its third season, is the Piano Series. Lucas said the series of solo piano recitals fits perfectly in the third component of the group’s mission. SAIPC’s website states: “The mission of the San Antonio International Piano Competition is to sponsor public competition among aspiring pianists from around the world, to encourage development of pianists in Greater San Antonio and Texas, and to promote the appreciation of piano artistry by the general public.”

Lucas said competition leaders had vague conversations for some time about launching a solo piano recital series. They were looking for a way to keep the organization in the public eye between competitions and to fill an artistic need. Despite the wide variety of classical music offered

San Antonio International Piano Competition’s Piano SeriesBy Jack FishmanPhotography courtesy SAIPC


Younggun Kim Long Duo


in San Antonio, there wasn’t an ongoing series dedicated to the vast and important repertoire for solo piano.

The piano series idea became a reality with the symphony’s Beethoven Festival two years ago. Music director Sebastian Lang-Lessing created an annual composer festival for the symphony, and he was looking to expand these festivals into citywide affairs. SAIPC was one of the first groups asked to participate. According to Lucas, competition board member Terence Frazor said, “If we are going to do Beethoven, we need to do all of his 32 sonatas.” So, from nothing, their first series was a huge undertaking of eight concerts. It was a smashing success, and the series is now in its third season.

This year five great pianists are featured in four concerts: Martina Filjak played in September, Younggun Kim performs Nov. 2, Beatrice and Christina Long play two-piano music on March 1 (in collaboration with the symphony’s Dvorak Festival), and Eduardo Delgado concludes this year’s series on May 31. All concerts take place at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 315 E. Pecan St.

In addition to these public recitals, SAIPC offers “private salon recitals.” A salon is a much more intimate and shorter performance. Usually held in an elegant private home and limited to 50 guests, the event includes food, wine and a chance to mingle with fellow piano aficionados and the

guest artist. In addition, free community outreach concerts and public master classes are offered by the pianists.

The process for selecting artists is different than the one used for the competition. There is no open call for pianists to send in recordings to be considered. “We first set up three parameters: a mixture of artists that had been in past competitions, nationally and internationally renowned artists, and finally, special friends of SAIPC,” Lucas said. “We are also trying to occasionally focus on Latino artists to bring into the mix because it is such an important part of San Antonio culture.”

“This is the only regular offering of solo piano recitals in town,” he said. “There are other occasional solo piano concerts, but this series is the only regular offering.”

The repertoire that is performed is driven largely by the artists. The competition ensures that there isn’t too much of one composer or repeat compositions.

“Ticket sales makes up a relatively small percentage of our expenses,” Lucas said. “Our Piano Series is new enough that we are still working on the development process. We believe there are corporate or other individual donors in our community we have not yet reached.” Increased funding will enable the competition to fulfill its dream of bringing some of the greatest pianists to San Antonio.


Long Duo Eduardo Delgado


http://musicalbridges.org


Events Calendar28-42

Events Calendar28-42


November-December 2013 Events CalendarMusic NotesSelena Gomez11/1, Fri @ 7pmAT&T Center

Dirty River Boys11/1, Fri @ 8pmGruene Hall

Max Stalling11/2, Fri @ 9pmLuckenbach Dancehall

San Antonio Symphony PopsDisney in Concert11/1-2, Fri-Sat @ 8pmAkiko Fujimoto, conductorWhitney Claire Kaufman,Aaron Phillips, Andrew Johnson,Juliana Hansen, vocalistsMajestic Theatre

Texas Legends Show11/1-23, Fri @ 8pmSat @ 4:30pm & 8pmRockbox TheaterFredericksburg

San Antonio International Piano Competition Piano SeriesYounggun Kim11/2, Sat @ 7:30pmSt. Mark’s Episcopal

Jamey Johnson11/2, Sat @ 9pmGruene Hall

Uncle Lucius11/2, Sat @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

The Departed11/2, Sat @ 9pmLuckenbach Dancehall

Camerata San AntonioCamerata Recital11/3, Sun @ 3pmLachezar Kostov, celloViktor Valkov, pianoChrist Episcopal

Fanfare for the American Hero11/3, Sun @ 3pmKathleen C. Cailloux TheaterKerrville

Mid-Texas SymphonyMarvelous Musik11/3, Sun @ 4pmDavid Mairs, conductorNick Canellakis, celloBrauntex Performing Arts TheatreNew Braunfels

The Doobie Brothers11/3, Sun @ 7:30pmMajestic Theatre

An Evening of Indian Music11/3, Sun @ 7:30pmRecital Hall – UTSA Main Campus

San Antonio Symphony3rd Annual Symphony Pro-Am:Holst The Planets11/3, Sun @ 8pmSebastian Lang-Lessing, conductorLaurie Auditorium Trinity University

Nine Inch Nails11/5, Tue @ 7:30pmAT&T Center

Oh What a Night!A Musical Tribute toFrankie Valli & The FourSeasons 11/6-7, Wed-Thu @ 7pmRockbox Theater - Fredericksburg

Chamber Orchestra of San AntonioCentennial Benjamin: Of Love and Darkness11/7, Thu @ 7:30pmFrancisco Nunez, guest conductorElena Galvan, soprano San Antonio Museum of Art

Donny EdwardsA Tribute to Elvis 11/8, Fri @ 7pmBrauntex Performing Arts TheatreNew Braunfels

Sarah Jarosz11/8, Fri @ 8pmGruene Hall

Corey Smith11/8, Fri @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

James McMurtry11/8, Fri @ 9pmLuckenbach Dancehall

San Antonio SymphonyRach 211/8-9, Fri-Sat @ 8pmSebastian Lang-Lessing, conductorCecile Licad, pianoMajestic Theatre



An Evening of Blue Grass11/9, Sat @ 7:30pmKathleen C. Cailloux TheaterKerrville

Band of Heathens11/9, Sat @ 9pmGruene Hall

Billy Joe & Larry Joe11/9, Sat @ 9pmLuckenbach Dancehall

The Copperleaf QuintetLily of Heaven11/10, Sun @ 3pmChapel of the Incarnate Word

Sunday Jazz at the WitteKing William Jazz Collective11/10, Sun @ 3pmWill Smith AmphitheaterWitte Museum

San Antonio SymphonyVeteran’s Day Salute11/10, Sun @ 7pmAkiko Fujimoto, conductorUnited States Air Force Bandof the West – Captain RafaelToro-Quinones, conductorRandy Beamer, narratorMajestic Theatre

Tuesday Music ClubAndrew Garland, baritone11/12, Tue @ 2pmLaurel Heights United Methodist

Drake: Would You Like a Tour11/12, Tue @ 7pmAT&T Center

Pink: The Truth About Love Tour11/14, Thu @ 7:30pmAT&T Center

Harry Connick, Jr.11/14, Thu @ 8pmMajestic Theatre

Bob Schneider & Cory Morrow11/15, Fri @ 8pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

William Clark Green11/15, Fri @ 8pmLuckenbach Dancehall

Jason Boland and The Stragglers11/15-16, Fri @8pmSat @ 9pmGruene Hall

Dale Watson’s Ameripolitan Day11/16, Sat @ 1pmLuckenbach Dancehall

A Night of Ballads, Brass and Broadway featuring Yesinia McNett11/16, Sat @ 7:30pmBrauntex Performing Arts TheatreNew Braunfels

Carver Community Cultural CenterNai-Ni Chin & Ahn Trio: Temptation of the Muses11/16, Sat @ 8pmJo Long Theatre

Gary P. Nunn11/16, Sat @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Fredericksburg Music ClubChristopher McGuire and Mak Grgic, classical guitarists11/17, Sun @ 3pmFredericksburg United Methodist

San Antonio Chamber Music SocietyModigliani Quartet11/17, Sun @ 3:15pmTemple Beth-El

Celtic Thunder11/19, Tue @ 7:30pmMajestic Theatre

Texas State Encore SeriesScrap Art Music11/19, Tue @ 7:30pmEvans AuditoriumSan Marcos

Youth Orchestras of San AntonioMi Familia11/19, Tue @ 7:30pmTroy Peters, conductorLila Cockrell Theatre

An Evening of Rock ‘n Roll11/22, Fri @ 7:30pmKathleen C. Cailloux TheaterKerrville

Brandon Rhyder11/22, Fri @ 8pmGruene Hall

Almost Patsy Cline11/22, Fri @ 8pmLuckenbach Dancehall

Dwight Yoakam11/22, Fri @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

San Antonio SymphonyMendelssohn Violin Concerto11/22-23, Fri-Sat @ 8pmCristian Macelaru, conductorPhilippe Quint, violinMajestic Theatre

Alamo Metro ChorusSing & Celebrate: Silver Anniversary Show11/23, Sat @ 7pmHoly Trinity Catholic KXTN 25th AnniversaryCelebration11/23, Sat @ 7pmFreeman Coliseum

Cody Johnson Band11/23, Sat @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store



Cody Canada & The Departed11/23, Sat @ 9pmGruene Hall

Damn Quails & Midnight River Choir11/23, Sat @ 9pmLuckenbach Dancehall

Heart of Texas Concert BandTchaikovsky’s Fourth11/24, Sun @ 3pmMark Rogers, conductorAndrew Gignac, trumpetThiry AuditoriumOur Lady of the Lake University

Aaron Watson11/27, Wed @ 8pmGruene Hall

Bob Schneider11/29, Fri @ 8pmGruene Hall

Jason Eady Band11/29, Fri @ 8pmLuckenbach Dancehall

Jack Ingram11/29, Fri @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Christmas at Rockbox11/29-12/8, Fri @ 8pmSat @ 4:30pm & 8pmSun @ 3pm12/12-22, Thu @ 7pmFri-Sat @ 4:30pm & 8pmSun @ 3pm12/23-24, Mon @ 7pmTue @ 4pmRockbox TheaterFredericksburg

A Braun Family ThanksgivingReckless Kelly11/30, Sat @ 8pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Slaid Cleaves11/20, Sat @ 9pmLuckenbach Dancehall

Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights11/30, Sat @ 9pmGruene Hall

Vicki Lawrence and Mama: A Two Woman Show12/1, Sun @ 2:30pm & 7:30pmKathleen C. Cailloux TheaterKerrville

San Antonio SymphonyA Baroque Holiday12/1, Sun @ 7pmAkiko Fujimoto, conductorJohn Carroll, trumpetAngela Malek, sopranoSan Fernando Cathedral

Musical Offerings30th Anniversary Opener12/3, Tue @ 7:30pmChrist Episcopal

The Legend of Zelda Symphony of the Goddess: Second Quest12/3, Tue @ 7:30pmMajestic Theatre

Texas State Encore SeriesDavid Roth11/19, Tue @ 7:30pmPrice CenterSan Marcos

Steve Lippia: SinatraSings Santa12/3-4, Tue-Wed @ 7pmRockbox TheaterFredericksburg

Rock of Sages12/4, Wed @ 6:30pmJosephine Theatre

Symphony of the HillsChristmas Gift-Holiday Favorites12/5, Thu @ 7:30pmKathleen C. Cailloux TheaterKerrville

Carver Community Cultural CenterBlack Violin12/6, Fri @ 8pmJo Long Theatre

San Antonio SymphonyHandel’s Messiah12/6, Fri @ 8pmUniversity United Methodist 12/7, Sat @ 7pmBasilica of the Little Flower12/8, Sun @ 2pmCoker United Methodist 12/8, Sun @ 8pmTrinity BaptistAntoine Plante, conductorSan Antonio Symphony MastersingersJohn Silantien, conductor

Kyle Park12/6, Fri @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Jason Boland and The Stragglers12/6, Fri @9pmLuckenbach Dancehall

Turnpike Troubadours12/6-7, Fri-Sat @ 8pmGruene Hall

San Antonio ChordsmenA Western Christmas12/7, Sat @ 3pmColonial Hills United Methodist

Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan12/7, Sat @ 7:30pmLila Cockrell Theatre

Roger Creager12/7, Sat @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Bob SchneiderTexas Bluegrass Massacre12/7, Sat @ 9pmLuckenbach Dancehall

Musical Bridges Around The WorldMusical Evenings at San Fernando Cathedral Series – Nightingale12/8, Sun @ 6:30pmEugenia Zukerman, fluteAnton Nel, piano



Kanye West: The Yeezus Tour with Kendrick Lamar12/8, Sun @ 7pmAT&T Center

Arts San AntonioPreservation Jazz BandCreole Christmas12/11, Wed @ 7:30pmCharline McCombs Empire Theatre

The Irish Tenors Holiday Celebration Tour12/12, Thu @ 8pmMajestic Theatre

Tejas Brothers12/13, Fri @ 8pmLuckenbach Dancehall

Jerry Jeff Walker12/13-14, Fri-Sat @ 9pmGruene Hall

San Antonio Chamber ChoirTime for the Season12/14, Sat @ 8pmSan Fernando Cathedral12/15, Sun @ 3pmSt. John’s Lutheran

Hal Ketchum12/14, Sat @ 9pmLuckenbach Dancehall

Georgette JonesA Tribute to Tammy Wynette12/15, Sun @ 3pmKathleen C. Cailloux TheaterKerrville

Voci di Sorelle10th Anniversary Concert: We Sing Noel!12/15, Sun @ 3pmChapel of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio Choral SocietyBritten, Saint Nicolas12/15, Sun @ 3pmEdmund Murray, conductorNicholas Houhoulis, tenorOur Lady of Atonement Catholic Mid-Texas SymphonyHeavenly Holidays12/15, Sun @ 4pmDavid Mairs, conductorAshly Neumann, sopranoJackson Auditorium – TexasLutheran UniversitySeguin

REO Speedwagon12/15, Sun @ 7:30pmMajestic Theatre

Robert Earl Keen12/17, Tue @ 8pmMajestic Theatre

3rd Annual Two Ton TuesdayChrismas Show12/17, Tue @ 8:30pmGruene Hall

The Mavericks12/18-19, Wed @ 8pmThu @ 9pmGruene Hall

http://sabot.org


Pam Tillis An Intimate Evening of Holiday Tunes & Hits12/19, Thu @ 7:30pmBrauntex Performing Arts TheatreNew Braunfels

Jay Z: Magna Carter World Tour12/20, Fri @ 8pmAT&T Center

Charlie Robison12/20, Fri @ 9pmLuckenbach Dancehall

An Evening With Stoney LaRue and Cody Canada12/20, Fri @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

San Antonio SymphonyHoliday Pops12/20-21, Fri-Sat @ 8pmAkiko Fujimoto, conductorSan Antonio Symphony MastersingersJohn Silantien, conductorMajestic Theatre

Christmas Ball withGary P. Nunn12/21, Sat @ 9pmLuckenbach Hall

Aaron Watson12/21, Sat @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Reckless Kelly12/21, Sat @ 9pmGruene Hall

San Antonio SymphonyHoliday Magic – A FamilyHoliday Celebration12/22, Sun @ 2:30pmAkiko Fujimoto, conductorSan Antonio Symphony MastersingersJohn Silantien, conductorLaurie Auditorium – TrinityUniversity

Heart of Texas Concert Band‘Tis The Season12/22, Sun @ 3pmMark Rogers, conductorNorthern Hills United Methodist

Cory Morrow12/27, Fri @ 8pmGruene Hall

Almost Patsy Cline12/27, Fri @ 8pmLuckenbach Dancehall

Jason Boland and The Stragglers12/27, Fri @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Trans-Siberian Orchestra12/28, Sat @ 3pm & 8pmAT&T Center

Roger Creager12/28, Sat @ 9pmGruene Hall

Dale Watson12/28, Sat @ 9pmLuckenbach Dancehall

Granger Smith12/28, Sat @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Kevin Fowler12/31, Tue @ 8pmGruene Hall

Luckenbach New Year’s Eve with Drew Womack12/31, Tue @ 8pmLuckenbach Dancehall

On StageThe Company TheatreBlithe Spirit11/1-2, Fri-Sat @ 6pm (dinner),7pm (show)Big Apple Room at Little ItalyRestaurant

Harlequin Dinner TheatreBad Seed11/1-2, Fri-Sat @ 8pm(Dinner @ 6:15pm)

The Overtime TheaterNight of the Living Dead11/1-2, Fri-Sat @ 8pmGreg Barrios Theater

Woodlawn TheatreThe Rocky Horror Show11/1-2, Fri-Sat @ 11pm

Woodlawn TheatreMel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein11/1-3, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pmSun @ 3pm

The Playhouse San AntonioLes Miserables11/1-3, Fri-Sat @ 8pm Sun @ 2:30pmRussell Hill Rogers Theatre

Cameo Theatre with JP StudioEvil Dead: The Musical11/1-3, Fri-Sat @ 8pmSun @ 4pmCameo Theatre

Circle Arts TheatreFrankenwurst11/1-10, nightly @ 7:30pm (except Sundays)11/2-3 & 11/9-10, matinees @ 4pmNew Braunfels

The Playhouse San AntonioWittenberg11/1-17, Fri-Sat @ 8pm Sun @ 2:30pmCellar Theatre

The Overtime TheaterFaye Drummond11/1-2, Fri-Sat @ 8pm11/8-10, Fri-Sat @ 8pm11/14-16, Thu-Sat @ 8pm11/22-24, Fri-Sat @ 8pmSun @ 7pm11/28-30, Thu-Sat @ 8pmGreg Barrios Theater

Sheldon Vexler TheatreDearly Departed11/2, Sat @ 8pm11/7, Thu @ 7:30pm11/10, Sun @ 2:30pm11/14-17, Thu @ 7:30pmSat @ 8pm, Sun @ 2:30pm(No Shows on Fridays)Jewish Community Center



Watson Fine Arts CenterThe Ballad of Emmitt Till11/8-17, Fri-Sat @ 8pmSun @ 2:30pmSt. Philips College

The Rose Theatre CompanyRabbit Hole11/8-23, Fri-Sat @ 8pm

The Classic Theatre of San AntonioThe Taming of the Screw11/8-24, Fri-Sat @ 8pmSun @ 3pmSterling Houston Theatreat Blue Star

Woodlawn Black BoxBloody Bloody Andrew Jackson 11/8-12/1, Fri-Sat @ 8pmSun @ 2:30pmWoodlawn Theatre

Cameo Theatre with JP StudiosBest Little Whorehouse in Texas: The Musical11/9-12/8, Fri-Sat @ 8pmSun @ 4pm

Arts San AntonioBruce Noll as Walt Whitman11/10, Sun @ 2:30pmCentral Library AuditoriumSan Antonio Library

Boerne Community TheatreSimply Divided11/15-30, Thu @ 7:30pmFri-Sat @ 8pmSun @ 2:30pm(No show on 11/28)

Hornsby Theatre CompanyIt Takes Two & This Train11/17 & 24, Sun @ 4pmJosephine Theatre

Harlequin Dinner TheatreStep Into Christmas11/21-12/21, Thu-Sat @ 8pm(Dinner @ 6:15pm)

Hill Country Arts FoundationThe Spirit of Christmas11/22-12/8, Fri-Sat @ 8:30pmSun @ 2pm10/3-12, Thu-Sat @ 8:30pmElizabeth Huth Coates TheatreIngram

The Overtime TheaterArtist Spotlight: SheilaRinear’s “5” - Five Original Plays11/29-12/1, Thu-Sat @ 8pmGreg Barrios Theater

http://jccsanantonio.org/filmfestival


Las Nuevas Tamaleras11/29-12/15, Fri-Sa @ 8pmSun @ 3pmGuadalupe Theatre

Woodlawn TheatreA Christmas Story: The Musical11/29-12/29, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pmSun @ 3pm

Playhouse 2000A Christmas Carol12/6-21, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pm12/15 only, Sun @ 2:30pmVK Garage TheaterKerrville

The Rose Theatre CompanyA HonkyTonk Christmas12/6-21, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pm

The Rose Theatre CompanyZombie Apocalypse Christmas 201312/6-21, Fri-Sat @ 9pm

The Playhouse San AntonioGuys and Dolls12/6-22, Fri-Sat @ 8pm Sun @ 2:30pmRussell Hill Rogers Theatre

Fredericksburg Theater CompanySanders Family Christmas12/12-22, Thu-Sat @ 7:30pmSun @ 2pmSteve W. Shepherd Theater

Green Day’s AmericanIdiot (touring)12/13-14, Fri @ 8pmSat @ 2pm & 8pmMajestic Theatre

Renaissance GuildBlack Nativity12/13-15, Fri @ 8pmSat @ 3pm & 8pmSun @ 4pmJo Long Theatre at Carver Community Cultural Center

We Need A Little Christmas12/14-15, Sat @ 7pmSun @ 2pmPresented by Fiesta City ChorusJosephine Theatre

Cameo Theatre with JP StudiosIrving Berlin’s White Christmas: The Musical12/14-29, Fri-Sat @ 8pmSun @ 4pm12/31, Tue @ 8pm1/1, Wed @ 2pm

Broadway in San AntonioDr. Suess’ How The GrinchStole Christmas (touring)12/26-29, Thu @ 7pmFri @ 2pm & 7pmSat @ 11am, 2pm, 5pm & 8pmSun @ 11am, 3pm & 7pmMajestic Theatre

OperaThe Metropolitan Opera Series: Tosca(Live On-Screen Performance in HD)11/9, Sat @ 11:55amSantikos Rialto, Cielo Vista 18Huebner Oaks 14 & McCreeles Market

The Metropolitan Opera Series: Tosca(Encore On-Screen Performance in HD)11/13, Wed @ 6:30pmCielo Vista 18, Huebner Oaks 14 &McCreeles Market

The Metropolitan Opera Series: Falstaff(Live On-Screen Performance in HD)12/14, Sat @ 11:55amSantikos Rialto, Cielo Vista 18Huebner Oaks 14 & McCreeles Market

The Metropolitan Opera Series: Falstaff(Encore On-Screen Performance in HD)12/18, Wed @ 6:30pmCielo Vista 18. Huebner Oaks 14 & McCreeles Market

DanceFaisan FolkloricRaices con Mexico en la piel11/3, Sun @ 4:30pmJo Long TheatreCarver Community Cultural Center

San Antonio Metropolitan BalletThe Snow Queen11/9-10, Sat @ 7pmSun @ 2pm Jo Long TheatreCarver Community Cultural Center

Carver Community Cultural CenterNai-Ni Chin & Ahn Trio:Temptation of the Muses11/16, Sat @ 8pmJo Long Theatre

The Royal Opera HouseAlice’s Adventures in Wonderland(Recorded on-screen presentation)11/19, Tue @7pmCinemark McCreeles Market

Ballet San AntonioSan Antonio SymphonyThe Nutcracker11/29-12/8, Fri @ 7pm,Sat @ 2pm & 7pm, Sun @ 2pmAkiko Fujimoto, conductorMajestic Theatre



Ballet New BraunfelsThe Nutcracker12/6-7, Fri @ 7pm,Sat @ 1pm & 7pmBrauntex Performing Arts TheatreNew Braunfels

The Royal Opera HouseThe Nutcracker(Recorded on-screen presentation)12/17, Tue @7pmCinemark McCreeles Market

Arts San AntonioSA Metropolitan Ballet (in conjunction withMejia Ballet International)Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker12/20-22, Fri @ 7:30pmSat @ 2pm & 7:30pmSun @ 2pmLila Cockrell Theatre

Alamo City Dance CompanyThe Nutcracker12/21-22, Sat @ 2pm & 6pmSun @ 1pmMcAllister AuditoriumSan Antonio College

Moscow Ballet’s GreatAmerican Nutcracker12/23, Mon @ 4pm & 8pm12/30, Mon @ 7pmMajestic Theatre

Children’s

Magik Children’s TheatreWilly Wonka11/1-9, Tue-Thu @ 9:45am & 11:30am, Fri @ 9:45am, 11:30am & 7pmSat @ 2pm

The Fresh Beat Band11/12, Tue @ 6:30pmMajestic Theatre

Rose Theatre CompanyThe Three Bears Thanksgiving11/13-20, Wed-Thu @ 10am

Children’s Fine Arts SeriesHansel and Gretel bySalzburg Marionette Theatre11/20, Wed @ 10amLaurie AuditoriumTrinity University

http://jccsanantonio.org/author


Children’s Fine Arts SeriesThe Sound of Music bySalzburg Marionette Theatre11/20, Wed @ 7pmLaurie AuditoriumTrinity University

Magik Children’s TheatreThe Best Christmas Pageant Ever11/20-12/21, Tue-Thu @ 9:45am & 11:30am, Fri @ 9:45am, 11:30am & 7pmSat @ 2pm

Sesame Street Live: Can’t Stop Singing11/29-30, Fri @ 6:30pmSat @ 10:30am & 1:30pmLila Cockrell Theatre

Children’s Fine Arts SeriesStuart Little by Dallas Children’s Theatre12/9, Mon @ 9:45am, 11:45am & 6:30pmCharline McCombs Empire Theatre

Performing Arts Academyof New BraunfelsA Musical Christmas Journey12/13-15, Fri @ 7pmSat @ 2pm & 7pmSun @ 2pmBrauntex Performing Arts TheatreNew Braunfels

Rose Theatre CompanyThe Three Bears Thanksgiving12/17-19, Tue-Thu @ 10am12/23, Sat @ 10am

Comedy

Todd Paul11/1-3, Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pmSun @ 8pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club

Hippie Man11/1-3, Fri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pmSun @ 8:30pmRivercenter Comedy Club

Jay Mohr11/2, Sat @ 8pmCharline McCombs Empire Theatre

Spanky11/6-10, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8:30pmFri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pmRivercenter Comedy Club

Mike Britt11/7-10, Thu & Sun @ 8pmFri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pmLaugh Out Loud Comedy Club

Humor for Heroes11/9, Sat @ 7pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Alex Reymundo11/13-17, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8pmFri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pmLaugh Out Loud Comedy Club

Kristen Key11/13-17, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8:30pmFri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pmRivercenter Comedy Club

Alex Reymundo11/13-17, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8pmFri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pmLaugh Out Loud Comedy Club

Mike Epps and Friends11/16, Sat @ 7:30pmMajestic Theatre

Mike Robles11/20, Wed @ 8pmLaugh Out Loud Comedy Club

Shawn Banks11/20-24, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8:30pmFri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pmRivercenter Comedy Club

Steve Byrne11/21-24, Thu & Sun @ 8pmFri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pmLaugh Out Loud Comedy Club

Whitney Cummings11/22, Fri @ 8pmCharline McCombs Empire Theatre

Kathy Griffin11/24, Sun @ 7pm & 9:30pmMajestic Theatre

Ali Wong11/29-12/1, Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pmSun @ 8pmLaugh Out Loud Comedy Club

Mark Poolos11/29-12/1, Fri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pmSun @ 8:30pmRivercenter Comedy Club

Pat Deguire12/4-8, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8:30pmFri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pmRivercenter Comedy Club

DL Hughley12/6-8, Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pmSun @ 8pmLaugh Out Loud Comedy Club

JR Brow12/11-15, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8pmFri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pmLaugh Out Loud Comedy Club

Ron Feingold12/11-15, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8:30pmFri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pmRivercenter Comedy Club

Chris Fonseca12/18-22, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8pmFri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pmLaugh Out Loud Comedy Club


http://childrensfineartseries.org


http://childrensfineartseries.org


Tim Young12/18-22, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8:30pmFri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pmRivercenter Comedy Club

Vic Henley12/26-31, Thu & Sun-Mon @ 8pmFri-Sat & Tue @ 8pm & 10:15pmLaugh Out Loud Comedy Club

Rick Gutierrez12/26-31, Thu & Sun-Mon @ 8:30pmFri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pmTue @ 8pm & 10pmRivercenter Comedy Club

On Exhibit

ARTPACE

International Artist-In-ResidentNew Works: 13.3Micol AssaelIvor ShearerErin SheriffPaola Morsiani, curator Opening 11/14

Hudson ShowroomLocalized HistoriesOrganized by Fairfax DornThru 12/29

Window WorksJulia Barbosa-LandoisThru 12/29

BIHL HAUS ARTS

Silver AlchemyNew Works by Sharon R. Crutchfield,Carra Garza, Polly Harrison , TracyLynch and Charlotte RandolphThru 11/2

Golden Horizons: Recent Works from the Go! Arts ProgramThru November at the Lopez & Cisneros Center

BLUE STAR CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM

TX*13 - Texas BiennialThru 11/9

BRISCOE WESTERN ART MUSEUM

Now Open!

LINDA PACE FOUNDATION

Eight / EighteenThru 3/29

MUSEO GAUDALUPE ATGUADALUPE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER

Alternate CurrentsThru 3/1

INSTITUTE OF TEXAN CULTURES

Mas RudasThru 12/1

Traveling on Fredericksburg RoadThru 12/15

Native Words, Native WarriorsThru 12/29

Texas Contemporary Artists Series: Lauren BrowningThru 12/31

The 201st Fighter SquadronThru 1/12

Why We Came: The Immigration ExperienceThru 3/23

Ramp It Up11/2-1/5

McNAY ART MUSEUM

Cut! Costume and the CinemaThru 1/19

On Stage! Costume Design and the TheatreThru 1/5

The Nightmare Before ChristmasThru 1/5

Frost Octagon Video: Nic Nicosia’s MiddletownThru 1/5

C. Thomas Wright: Patron and CollectorThru 1/12

ArtMatters 15: Rosalyn SchwartzThru 1/19

Native Son: Prints and Drawings byLuis A. Jimenez, Jr.Thru 1/19

Catherine Lee: AliceThru Summer 2014

SAN ANTONIO BOTANICAL GARDEN

Art in the Garden 2013(In conjunction with Blue Star Contemporary Art Center)Thru 3/2014

Savage Gardens: The Real and Imaginary World of Carnivores PlantsThru 12/31

SAN ANTONIO MUSEUM OF ART

TX*13: Spotlight on Texas Artists in the Contemporary CollectionThru 11/9



Danny Lyon: The BikeriderThru 12/1

Lethal Beauty: Samuri Weapons and Armor1/5

Fray Antonio Margil de Jesus: Patron Saint of TexasThru 3/23

Eldzier Cortor: Master Printmaker12/14-3/2

SOUTHWEST SCHOOL OF ART

Rebecca DietzWonder WorldsThru 11/8

Alice Leora BriggsLa LineaThru 11/10

Rigoberto A. GonzalezBaroque on the BorderThru 11/10

Adriana Cristina CorralLa OfrendaThru 11/3

Chris Sauter Doubt11/21-2/2

Robert and Shana ParkeharrisonSelections from the

Counterpoint Series11/21-2/2

Anabel Toribio MartinezInterludes11/21-1/31

WITTE MUSEUM

Patriotism and Pageantry:Fiesta Honors the MilitaryThru 1/6

CSI: The ExperienceThru 1/26

Porfirio Salinas:Capturing South Texas on CanvasThru 2/9

The World Through Magic LanternsThru June 2014

Cowboys, Cattle, Chili Queens, Oil & OutlawsNow OpenSouth Texas Heritage Center

MiscellaneousWurstfest 201311/1-10Landa Park-New Braunfels

Tejas Rodeo11/1-30, Sat @ 7:30pm

Dia de los Muertos11/1-2, citywide

Meatopia Texas11/2-3Pearl Brewery

Market Square Tamalada11/16-17, Sat-Sun / 12pm-6pm

2013 Light The Way11/23-1/6 – Self-Guided Tours NightlyUniversity of the Incarnate Word

Ford Holiday River Parade11/29, Friday / 7pm-10pmRiver Walk

Feria de Santa Cecilia: DiaDel Musico11/29-12/1, Fri-Sun / 12pm-8pmMarket Square

Showtime Boxing11/30, Sat @ 4:30pmFreeman Coliseum

2013 Ford Fiesta de las Luminarias12/6-22, Fri-Sun / 7pm-10pmRiver Walk

Tamales at Pearl12/7, Sat / 12pm-6pmPearl Brewery

Primer Sabado y Domingo! La Pastorela12/7-8, Sat-Sun / 12pm-6pmMarket Square

San Antonio Coffee Festival12/14, Sat / 12pm-7pmLa Villita

WWE Smackdown12/18, Wed @7pmAT&T Center

2013 Valero Alamo Bowl 12/30, Mon @ 5:50pmAlamodome

New Year’s Eve Twilight Party12/31, Tue / 12pm-9pmMarket Square

Celebrate San Antonio12/31, Tue 2pm-MidnightHemisFair Park Archway

Photo Credits

Page 28 (L-R)

Max StallingCourtesy maxstalling.com

Sebastian Lang-Lessing Photo by Marks Moor

Younggun KimCourtesy Arts San Antonio

Cody Canada and The DepartedCourtesy liveatfloores.com



Kostov -Valkov DuoCourtesy lachezarkostov.net

David MairsCourtesy Mid-Texas Symphony!

Oh What A Night!Courtesy frankievalliandthe4seasonstribute.com

Francisco NunezCourtesy francisconunez.com

Page 30 (L-R)

Elena GalvanPhoto by Devon Cass

Donny EdwardsCourtesy Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre

James McMurtryCourtesy liveatfloores.com

Cecile LicadCourtesy San Antonio Symphony

Page 31 (L-R)

Andrew GarlandPhoto by Ann Stucki

Harry Connick, Jr.Courtesy harryconnickjr.com

Page 32 (L-R)

Dale WatsonCourtesy liveatfloores.com

Yesinia McNettCourtesy Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre Gary P. NunnCourtesy liveatfloores.com

Celtic ThunderCourtesy Majestic Theatre

Page 33 (L-R)

Modigliani QuartetCourtesy modiglianiquartet.com

Troy PetersCourtesy Youth Orchestras of San Antonio

Brandon RhyderCourtesy liveatfloores.com

Almost Patsy ClineCourtesy liveatfloores.com

Page 34 (L-R)

Philippe QuintPhoto by Lisa-Marie Mazzucco

Dr. R. Mark RogersCourtesy heartoftexasconcertband.com

Ahn TrioCourtesy ahntrio.com

Jack IngramCourtesy liveatfloores.com

Page 35 (L-R)

Joan Christenson-Musical OfferingsPhoto by Susan Riley

Steve LippiaCourtesy stevelippia.com

Black ViolinCourtesy blackviolin.com

Kyle ParkCourtesy liveatfloores.com

Page36 (L-R) Roger CreagerCourtesy rogercreager.com

Eugenia ZukermannCourtesy eugeniazukermann.com

Preservation Hall Jazz BandCourtesy Arts San Antonio

Georgette JonesCourtesy Kathleen C. Cailloux Theatre

Page 37 (L-R)

Voci di Sorelle Courtesy vocidisorelle.com

REO SpeedwagonCourtesy Majestic Theatre

Robert Earl KeenPhoto by Darren Carroll

The MavericksCourtesy themavericksband.com

Page 38 (L-R)

Voci di Sorelle Courtesy vocidisorelle.com

REO SpeedwagonCourtesy Majestic Theatre

Robert Earl KeenPhoto by Darren Carroll

The MavericksCourtesy themavericksband.com

Page 39 (L-R)

Pam TillisCourtesy Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre

Charlie RobisonCourtesy liveatfloores.com

Kevin FowlerCourtesy liveatfloores.com

Scrap Arts MusicCourtesy scrapartsmusic.com

(L-R)

Jay MohrCourtesy Charline McCombs Empire Theatre

Bruce NollCourtesy Arts San Antonio

San Antonio Chamber ChoirPhoto by Nick Simonite

Green Day’s American IdiotCourtesy Majestic Theatre



http://caillouxtheater.com

42 On The Town | November/December November-December 2012 | On The Town 42

http://cappysrestaurant.com/

http://cappyccinos.com/

http://lafondaonmain.com/


Culinary Arts44-58

Culinary Arts44-58


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Lidia Bastianich—A Moveable FeastBy Chris DunnPhotography Diana DeLucia

At a time in life when most of us would want to slow things down to a simmer, Lidia Bastianich is turning up the fire on a career

that spans five decades. “I enjoy what I do,” she says, “knowing there’s something good in what I do… it is work, but it is fun.”

Bastianich, who is best known as the Emmy Award-winning host of a series of popular cooking shows on PBS, is also a James Beard award winner, Culinary Hall of Fame inductee, owner of six restaurants and two vineyards, author of 10 cookbooks and two children’s books, has her own line of commercial cookware and serving ware, and is co-owner of Eataly, in Manhattan, one of the largest artisanal Italian food and wine marketplaces in the world. Additional career highlights include being the only restaurateur and chef to be the grand marshal of the Columbus Day parade in New York City — and she has personally cooked for Pope Benedict XVI. When asked how she keeps up with an agenda that would kill most presidential candidates, she says in a matter-of-fact way, “I set the schedule, I set the time, and I get it done.”

Since her first television appearance on Julia Child’s “Cooking with Master Chefs,” in 1993, Bastianich has gained a large and enthusiastic television audience, especially in South Texas.

Mario Vasquez, president of local PBS station KLRN, says, “San Antonio is one of the largest markets in the United States for Lidia.”

Bastianich says, “San Antonio people like their food, they like their cooking … please thank them all for me.”

But there’s more to the connection than that. The earthy, genuine, “Let me show you” Lidia that you see on TV is the same Lidia you meet when she comes to town (always to raise money for a good cause). And her background story — that someone could immigrate to this country in search of the American dream and actually find it — particularly resonates with our culturally and ethnically diverse population.

Lidia Matticchio Bastianich was born in the city of Pula on the Istrian peninsula (then part of Italy) just months before the region was absorbed by the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia after World War II.

“The area of Italy where I was born became Communist,” she says, “so our life was really very meager and not a free life. But my mother put me with my maternal grandmother [Nonna Rosa], where I could be free as a child. And she grew everything we ate. We had chickens and the eggs, and we had ducks and we had goats.”

Bastianich credits the experiences she had with her grandmother for her culinary career. “I think my passion for food is because of all of those memories,” she says, such as helping her grandmother milk the goats. “I had to help her, and she would have me



hold the goat’s tail — the goat wagged her tail all the time — then, she would milk the goat and give me a glass of warm milk, and it had a froth on it, and it was like the best milkshake in the world,” Bastianich says.

Unfortunately, her idyllic life came to an abrupt end in 1956, when her parents decided the family must escape to Italy. “My mother and my father didn’t tell us children we were not going to go back … So, when we left, I never said goodbye to my grandmother … I thought, ‘I’m never going to see grandmother again’ — I’m choking up now,” she says. “It happened that about 15 years after, I did go back, and I did see my grandmother, but as a young child of 10, I was devastated.”

The family was interned for two years in Trieste, Italy, at a former Nazi concentration camp, the Risiera de San Sabba. “It was frightening,” she says. “It had a big yard, four floors, a loft building, with a big iron gate … after being with grandmother — that feeling of freedom and nature — for me it was kind of closed in, not having your own space, really.”

With the help of Catholic Charities, her family immigrated to the United States in 1958, settling first in New Jersey and later in Queens, New York. At 14, she got her first culinary job working in a bakery owned by actor Christopher Walken’s father.

In 1966, at the age of 19, she married a restaurant worker and fellow Istrian, Felice “Felix” Bastianich, and two years later, their son, Joe, was born. They opened their first restaurant, Buonavia, (which means “good road”) in 1971 — the same year she gave birth to their daughter, Tanya.

In the beginning, Bastianich worked the front of the house but soon gravitated to the kitchen. “It was kind of a small place ... I wasn’t even a chef. I became a sous-chef. I learned about the Italian American food, but I said, ‘In Italy, we eat differently.’ I began cooking risotto, polenta — all the things Americans did not know was Italian food.”

The public, as well as food critics, took notice. “Ultimately, that got the attention of everybody,” Bastianich says, and it led to the opening of a second restaurant, Villa Secondo. In 1981, she and her husband opened Felidia, in Manhattan. The



New York Times gave it a rating of three stars, and it has been a nominee for Outstanding Restaurant U.S. from the James Beard Foundation.

According to Bastianich, “Italy is all about its regions. If you want to learn Italian cuisine, go regionally …It is food that reflects the topography of Italy, the climate, the different occupations … It’s not food that’s pretentious, it’s connected to seasons, food that is local, that is simple. The focus is on finding the best ingredients, the best tomatoes, the best olive oil.”

Bastianich continually stresses the importance of quality ingredients. “As a chef, I’m nothing without the ingredients. I cannot bring magic to something that is not good.”

But she is quick to point out that quality ingredients don’t necessarily have to be expensive. “Food can be economical,” she says. “You don’t need foie gras, you don’t need caviar, you can do with garlic and oil, and make a great pasta dish.”

Her latest 26-episode PBS cooking series and accompanying book, “Lidia’s Commonsense Cooking,” underscore her philosophy of taking the best ingredients and preparing them in a straightforward, logical way. “It’s about the little common sense that we all have inside,” she says. “You have common sense, you already know how to handle food to some extent, you can cook.” Her advice on how to cook well is to “Buy local, seasonal, high-quality ingredients, use fresh herbs, don’t over-elaborate the food, and taste and season as you go along.”

Reflecting on her life and the future, Bastianich says her focus is on her family and finding fulfilling work. “My mother’s 93,” she says. “I’d like a few more years with her, as many as God grants me; healthy grandchildren; a serene and happy life; … challenges that I love to do; for my children to continue on their path and grow as business people; continue to put my memories down; to continue to mentor people. I love to mentor young people. I think it’s a natural progression of what I do.”

For Bastianich, life is a moveable feast. Everybody to the table — “Tutti a tavola a mangiare!” Let’s eat!

http://bellaontheriver.com


There is a buzz around town about a new kid on the block. Saveurs 209 is the newest French restaurant to hit the San Antonio culinary scene.

It ranks at the top of my list for authenticity. With a very nice wine list to boot, it should be on your “must try” list, as well.

Owners Sylvain and Sylvie Nykiel, along with their daughter, Chef Caitline, opened Saveurs last March. Since then, they have garnered accolade after accolade from a multitude of sources, not the least of which are from their many returning patrons.

Sylvain Nykiel said he and his wife owned and managed a chauffeured limousine service in Paris for many years. A number of their clients hailed from the Lone Star State and, in the late 1990s, one of them extended an invitation for them to come to Texas for a family vacation. “It’s really quite simple,” Nykiel said. “We came for a visit, and we just fell in love with San Antonio. After we decided to move here, we were presented with several opportunities to open our restaurant in other cities, including Dallas and even Palo Alto, California, but San Antonio kept coming back to the surface as our first choice, and we’re glad to be here.”

After applying for green cards through a U.S government-sponsored lottery in 2008, the family won the right to immigrate in 2010. The stage was set for a new adventure, so the family proceeded to dispose of most of their assets in France. Since then, they have crossed the Atlantic many times, poured countless hours into the Saveurs project, and overcome a series of setbacks. Eventually they achieved their goal: to open a fine-dining French restaurant in the Alamo City.

“We already had some experience as restaurant operators with a small place named ‘Violine’ in Paris. With Caitlaine on board, we felt like we were ready to jump in,” Nykiel said. “Basically, what I want us to be known for is that at Saveurs 209, the food is prepared with a high standard of care. I want people to know that we do things the right way and the way they are supposed to be done.”

The Saveur menu may not be extensive, “but everything we serve is made and assembled extremely well, starting with the menu selection and planning, to the choice of superior quality ingredients, to the method of preparation and to the delivery with attractive presentation and excellent service,” he said. “So far, our clientele has been pleased with what we’re doing, and the local food critiques have been complimentary of our food.”

With seating for about 50 customers, the 1,600-square-foot space is not sparse, but it is not overly elaborate, either. Nor is the color scheme, with muted beige and soft orange throughout and a recently added large, square pastel abstract painting on one of the dining room walls. The overall effect is that of a certain contemporary Parisian flair.

“What I wanted to re-create here was the feel of what trendy restaurants are doing in Paris, today; both with the food and the décor,” Nykiel said. “Our decor is modern, and although our cuisine includes some elements of tradition, it has been adapted, and it often features up-to-date versions of old favorites.”

Chef Caitline is a graduate of the renowned Ferrandi School of Gastronomie in Paris, often referred to as “the” standard for Gastronomie schools in France. Not only is Caitline talented and up-to-speed on

Nykiels offer fine French dining at Saveurs 209By Olivier J. Bourgoin; (aka. “Olivier the Wine Guy”) Photography Greg Harrison



the latest techniques and food trends, she also is creative, amazingly comfortable and utterly efficient in a restaurant kitchen.

“I like to refer to our menu as ‘evolutionary’, Nykiel said. “Our lunch and dinner offerings are different, and they are always changing. Take for example this dessert we’ve just added: We take a real homemade French brioche and after soaking it in Crême-Anglaise for 20 minutes, we cook it on one side, with butter. Then, we slice some quarters of fresh and just-ripe peaches, which are also sautéed in butter and honey, and we serve it all with our delicious homemade basil ice cream.”

Not content with one top-of-the-line food-oriented business, the Nykiels’ next project is currently under construction, right next door. They have the adjacent space under lease and hope to have it ready within a couple of months.

“We are going to open an authentic Parisian bakery and pastry shop, right here in downtown San Antonio,” Nykiel said. “We hope to be open by December so we can have some real macarons and traditional Bûches de Noël available for retail sales to local families for their Christmas dinners.” Other plans include adding private events on site, creating some takeout options.

Although the restaurant does not have dedicated parking, four major parking lots and parking garages are within walking distance, including the ones at the St. Anthony Hotel and across from the Hyatt Regency.

Saveurs 209 is located at 209 Broadway, San Antonio; 210-223-0209.


“We are going to open an authentic Parisian bakery and pastry shop, right here in downtown San Antonio. We hope to be open by December so we can have some real macarons and traditional Bûches de Noël available for retail sales to local families for their Christmas dinners.”

- Sylvain NykielSaveurs 209


You know what they say, “third time’s the charm!” San Antonio Cocktail Conference from Jan. 16-19, 2014 is a chance for cocktail experts,

sponsors, aficionados and newcomers to drink and dine together while enjoying tastings, competitions, evening parties and interactive workshops. And for the third annual event, all proceeds will benefit two children’s charities.

After the incredible success with HeartGift San Antonio over the past two years, San Antonio Cocktail Conference creator and innovator Chef Mark Bohanan has decided it’s time to add a second beneficiary: ChildSafe. As a family man and father himself, he recognizes the need to help children both locally and around the globe, and therefore, is excited to include the local child advocacy center. Bohanan understands the significance of working with two organizations that remove children from life-threatening situations.

Heart issues requiring surgery and abusive situations affecting children have become the special focus of San Antonio Cocktail Conference 2014, and even though

HeartGift San Antonio and ChildSafe help children in completely different ways, they have a common mission in mind: save the lives of children.

“My heart goes out to children who are living in fear because of severe physical ailments or abusive situations,” Bohanan said. “I made a conscious decision, two years ago, to make a positive impact on one of these situations and I’m excited we have made enough progress with San Antonio Cocktail Conference to expand our efforts.”

San Antonio Cocktail Conference 2014 festivities begin Thursday, Jan. 16, with music and cocktails at the beautiful Majestic Theatre. Bartenders traveling from around the country will mix specialty cocktails crafted from select spirit brands.

Friday, Jan. 17, will play host to a full day of parties and seminars that appeal to cocktail beginners and experts. In the evening, Rio San Antonio Cruises will transport guests to an “All Texas Spirits Night” at Pearl to showcase San Antonio bars in conjunction with all

Cheers! to San Antonio Cocktail Conference 2014For the third year in a row, San Antonio Cocktail Conference will raise funds to save lives of children in potentially life-threatening situations.By: Cameron SchieldtPhotography courtesy SA Cocktail Conference



Texas spirits and music from The Rick Cavender Band.

The fun continues Saturday, Jan. 18, with even more seminars for novices and experts alike! Join Bohanan’s and Lüke for a mouthwatering experience at the Houston Street Soiree where both restaurants will serve up dishes and cocktails sure to excite. And what’s better than rounding out the day with an after party hosted by The 86 Co. at Empire Theatre with special music by The Spazmatics? Saturday evening will be an extravaganza The 86 Co. won’t let you forget. Come for an exciting night with great flavors and lively music at San Antonio’s premier performing arts facility.

The cocktail weekend winds down with a Sunday morning Bloody Mary Brunch hosted by Deep Eddy Vodka at the Sheraton Gunter Hotel with tastings of their three famous spirits, including their fan favorite sweet tea vodka. The final day of Cocktail Conference will also include an exciting cocktail competition plus a closing evening party at The Brooklynite.

With the chance to learn the tricks of the trade straight from cocktail experts and the opportunity to taste exceptionally-crafted cocktails surrounded by great music, delicious cuisine and an all-around good time (and all for a good cause), this weekend is sure to top your list of must-attend events for 2014! So make it a weekend worth remembering and join us in the Alamo City to celebrate for a cause at San Antonio Cocktail Conference 2014! www.sacocktailconference.com

www.sacocktailconference.com

http://bohanans.com


Messina Hof Winery blends Old World cultures, New World traditionsBy: Olivier J. Bourgoin (aka. Olivier the Wine Guy)

When I met Messina Hof winery’s founders, Paul and Merrill Bonarrigo, in 1997, they already had been producing wine

in Texas for two decades. Starting with their first vineyard, which was planted in 1977, the Bonarrigos were among the modern pioneers of the Texas wine industry’s re-birth.

“We owned 100 acres in the country,” said Paul, originally a chiropractor by trade. “A patient of mine, Ron Perry, needed a one-acre vineyard to complete his Ph.D. in Texas grape feasibility. We planted one, then seven more acres, then decided to open Messina Hof winery.”

In 1560, Spanish settlers started planting grapes on

Texas soil. Land owned by the missions provided the stage for that early oenophile experiment. Since those days of Lone Star State history and through U.S. prohibition, growing grapes and making wine in Texas had long been an up-and-down proposition. Thanks to the enterprising couple who conceived Messina Hof from scratch and to a handful of other determined winemakers across the state, Texas now is the fourth-largest wine-producing state in the country with more than 3 million gallons bottled annually.

During the first few years of Messina Hof ’s existence, the Bonarrigos pursued their winery dream relentlessly, with what I like to call “The four Ds of success: Drive, Duty, Diligence and Determination.”



Winning award after award, their wines have adorned some of the most prestigious tables in the nation, including having been served at the White House as well as during the inauguration of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library in College Station. Today, the winery produces more than 50,000 cases of wines spread across 80 Messina Hof labels crafted from 28 grape varietals.

Born in the Bronx, N.Y., Paul moved to Texas “as fast as he could,” as the old saying goes.

Cheerful, talkative and creatively imaginative in the branding of his label, Paul is knowledgeable and passionate about his wines in particular and about Texas wines in general.

Merrill, a native Texan and a creative force in her own right, is as passionate about food as she is about wine. A prolific writer, she has authored several wine and food-pairing cookbooks.

Located in Bryan, Messina Hof stood out for a number of years, as “the lone soldier” in that part of the state. In 2011, the winery expanded its horizons westward,

to join an ever-growing community of Hill Country wineries scattered around the greater Fredericksburg area. The winery opened an annex at 9996 U.S. Highway 290 East, situated on 10 acres of rustic Texas Hill Country land. The new location features interior and exterior event venue spaces, as well as a bed and breakfast and, of course, wine tasting. Additionally, wine may be purchased by the glass or by the bottle.

Under the Messina Hof are an array of wines, including chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, pinot grigio, pinot noir, as well as a full line of sweet, semi-sweet, sparkling and dessert wines.

The Messina Hof name was made up from elements of the two founder’s families’ heritage. The city of Messina, on the famed Italian island of Sicily is where Paul’s family hails from originally and where his ancestors have been cultivating grapes and making wine for several generations. “Hof” relates to the German origins of Merrill’s family.

Messina Hof Hill Country, 9996 U.S. Highway 290, Fredericksburg, Texas 78624; phone 830-990-4653. www.messinahof.com/mhhillcountry/about.htm.


http://www.messinahof.com/mhhillcountry/about.htm


http://wittemuseum.org


Visual Arts58-68

Visual Arts58-68


EIGHT, EIGHTEEN EXHIBIT AT LINDA PACE FOUNDATIONBy Jennie Badger

Artists Theresa Hubbard and Ron Birchler have worked together since 1990. During that time, the core of their work has focused on cinema,

specifically, its subtleties and history. One such example is their film, Eight, which was presented by Artpace in 2002. Now, the Linda Pace Foundation presents the world premiere of that film’s sequel, Eighteen.

Curated by Artpace director Kathryn Kanjo, Eight revolves around the birthday of an eight-year-old girl staring out a window into a thunderous rainy night. As she moves outside and back in, the boundaries of time and space are blurred, and as the video loops, it is unclear which scene comes first. The title of the piece was derived not only from the birthday the child in the film celebrates but also from the number eight itself which when written as a numeral has no beginning or end.

Almost a decade later, Hubbard/Birchler began searching for the actor they had cast in Eight. They found her in Boston, where she had become a dancer. Thus began the project, Eighteen, which picks up on the same character in a scene of her 18th birthday party. As in the work Eight, Hubbard/Birchler developed a narrative perspective that is unsettling and avoids closure. The protagonist’s journey erases linear time, fact and fiction, and the solidity of physical shelter. Steady, uninterrupted camera movements straddle constructed and actual locations, inside and outside, rain and sunshine, day and night, summer and winter, leaving the viewer to discern the truth.

Eighteen incorporates three musical compositions, arranged and performed on guitar: the Gymnopédies by Erik Satie. Written for piano in 1888, these movements



share a common structure which lend to the film’s disquieting aura. Collectively, the musical pieces are regarded as an important precursor to modern ambient music.

“Since its 2002 debut presented by Artpace, Eight has been included in numerous pivotal exhibitions around the world and has become one of the most recognized narrative loops in video art. Linda Pace immediately acquired an edition for her collection and counted Eight among her favorite video works,” says Maura Reilly, executive director of the Linda Pace Foundation. “So when the opportunity to support the creation of Eighteen was presented, there was no hesitation. The premiere of Eighteen also is symbolic, as it coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Linda Pace Foundation.”

The Hubbard/Birchler exhibition features two video installations, including the world premiere of Eighteen and a selection of other video and photographic work, including Eight. The exhibition is on view by appointment only at the Linda Pace Foundation through March 29.

To schedule a viewing, email [email protected], or write to: Visitor Services, Linda Pace Foundation, P.O.

Box 830607, San Antonio, Texas 78283. In conjunction with Eight, Eighteen, Anne Ellegood, senior curator, Hammer Museum, UCLA, and the artists will discuss aspects of the exhibition in a public talk on a date and location to be announced. For information, visit lindapacefoundation.org.

• • • • • • • • • • • • •Photo Credits:

Page 58

EightTeresa Hubbard / Alexander Birchler Courtesy Tonya Bonakdar Gallery and Lora Reynolds Gallery Austin

Eighteen Teresa Hubbard / Alexander Birchler Courtesy Tonya Bonakdar Gallery and Lora Reynolds Gallery Austin


mailto:visit%40pacefound.org?subject=Eight%2C%20Eighteen%20Viewing

http://lindapacefoundation.org


San Antonio Museum of Art celebrates Fray Antonio Margil de Jesus, the “Patron Saint” of TexasBy Betsy Beckmann


San Antonio’s iconic missions anchor the city’s formation and popular identity, yet few can name the man whose life work made them

possible, Fray Antonio Margil de Jesús. An exhibition at the San Antonio Museum of Art, organized by curator of Latin American Art Marion Oettinger, offers a vivid corrective.

Fray Margil (1657-1726) founded the city’s flagship mission, San José y San Miguel de Aguayo, in 1720. Famed in his own time as an exemplary Franciscan friar — a brilliant administrator, scholar, and evangelist — he embodied and perhaps even exceeded the humility expected of a member of a mendicant order. “La Misma Nada (Nothingness Itself ) was his customary sign-off on correspondence,” Oettinger said. “That’s about as humble as you can get. It really reveals his character.”

The exhibition had its genesis when Oettinger secured the long-term loan of two important portraits of Fray Margil and became determined to learn more about him. Oettinger has spent the past year steeped in Margiliana, making several research trips to Mexico on the trail of this humble and astonishingly active Franciscan friar.

Born in Valencia in 1657, Margil took the Franciscan habit in 1673. He was sent to New Spain a decade later, where he founded apostolic colleges in Querétero, Mexico (1696), Antigua, Guatemala (1701), and Zacatecas, Mexico (1706). These apostolic colleges trained all the Franciscans who were dispatched throughout New Spain as missionaries, extending the reach of the church and, ultimately, the Spanish crown.

“The missionary system goes hand in glove with the political aspirations of the Spanish crown,” Oettinger said. “Church and state were closely allied, to the degree that archbishops stood in politically in periods when there was no viceroy. Similarly, missions were established in tandem with presidios. The presidio protected the mission, and the mission was seen to legitimize the existence of the presidio.”

Fray Margil then set forth to establish missions in Coahuila, Nueva León, and what is now Texas. “He was never in one place long before he got the itch to do field work,” Oettinger said. “He identified needs and continued to go himself, rather than delegating to younger friars. If you look at a map of his travels, what you don’t see is how often he traveled back and forth

among these places. Remember, as a mendicant, he was traveling these great distances on foot, often in dangerous areas and likely with only one companion. This is how he is always depicted: on foot, carrying his staff, in his tattered brown or grey habit. Someone once questioned how he could cover so much territory and he replied, ‘Well, God shows me shortcuts.’ ”

It was after being routed from missions in East Texas by a coalition of French and Native American forces that Fray Margil established Mission San José alongside the San Antonio River.

The Native Americans that were the target of these missions consisted of dozens of groups of hunter-gatherers who had been decimated by a common horror: horses, soldiers and disease.

“The 17th century was a time when New Spain was consolidating itself, but it was on the heels of tremendous destruction of the indigenous population, due primarily to the introduction of European diseases,” Oettinger said. “Within 100 years of the arrival of Europeans, 90 percent of the native population had died.” These semi-nomadic people proved relatively willing to accept the protection of the missions and its attendant acculturation, transforming them into sedentary farmers and taxable Spanish subjects.

Fray Margil took particular interest in learning indigenous languages, even compiling dictionaries, and in anchoring the education of his community. “In Zacatecas Margil established an extraordinary library on doctrine and theology, with some volumes dating to the early 16th century,” Oettinger said.

Religious indoctrination in the missions was often highly visual, as a remarkable painting in the exhibition implies. Among didactic vignettes that illustrate the history and meaning of Franciscan teaching is a small portrait of Fray Margil instructing a variety of indigenous converts (see detail, Frutos de la Santa Cruz de los Milagros).

“I strongly feel this piece was done, after the fact, for a patron of the church or the archbishop for personal consumption: it was very expensive (painted on copper) and is still in near-perfect condition,” Oettinger said. “In Querétero I looked for a larger original version, which I could not find, but there’s an enormous mural in the chapel that is a 19th century version. There must



have been many generations of this image.”

Only two years after founding Mission San José, Fray Margil’s already tenuous health worsened, and he walked to Zacatecas, Querétero, and Mexico City, where he died in 1726. His canonization was proposed in the late 18th century and, while his official sainthood is still in process at the Vatican, Texans popularly claim him as “patron saint.” This exhibition of portraits and other rare materials related to Fray Margil brings into focus a crucial period in the formation of our city.

The exhibition Fray Antonio Margil de Jesús: “Patron Saint” of Texas is on view at the San Antonio Museum of Art from Oct. 12 to March 23. For related events, visit samuseum.org.

Photo Credits:

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Nicolás Enríquez (New Spain, active 1730-1780)Fray Antonio Margil de Jesús, ca. 1770oil on canvas, h. 47 ¼ in.; w. 31 ½ in.San Antonio Museum of Art, on loan from Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio, L.2008.30Photograph by Peggy Tenison

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Final map showing the travels of Fray Antonio Margil de Jesús



http://woodlawntheatre.org


Step Inside the Real and Imaginary World of Carnivorous Plants at San Antonio Botanical GardenBy Tracy Lowe

N ow through December, visitors can be immersed in the carnivorous plant world at the Savage Gardens exhibit at San

Antonio Botanical Garden. Explore this fascinating world and see carnivorous plants, up close, in their spectrum of colors and designs. The exhibit features interactive children’s activities, oversized carnivorous plant sculptures and realistic displays. The garden has an array of live carnivorous plants on display for this exciting and educational exhibit.

Commissioned in 2010 by the creative team at Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, Ohio, Savage Gardens celebrates the oddities of nature, rejoicing in the resourcefulness of adaptation. San Antonio Botanical Garden is among the first botanical gardens in the nation to host the exhibit.Though they seem exotic, many carnivorous plants actually are native to North America. One of the central messages of the exhibit is conservation and preservation of bogs and wetlands that these native plants call home. This message is directly in line with the garden’s mission: “To inspire people to connect with the plant world and understand the importance of plants in our lives.”

“It’s vital to teach children and adults how we are connected to plants,” said Bob Brackman, executive director, San Antonio Botanical Garden. “Showing our visitors that plants are active in their environment furthers our mission and their understanding of why conservation is necessary.”

The exhibit is designed to fascinate children and their families. Monumental, multi-media sculptures form the core of the exhibit and provide viewers with a bug’s eye view of four carnivorous plants: Venus Flytrap, Pitcher Plant, Trumpet Plant and Sundew. The four sculptures are oversized, enhanced versions of real plants and show an up-close plant

encounter from an insect’s perspective. Each of the sculptures is a combination of materials, metal and resin design, fabrication, sculpting and casting.

The 9-foot Dionaea, commonly called a Venus Flytrap, has four heads that clamp shut when a button is pressed to activate the mouth of the trap. With a second push of the hydraulic control, the flytrap fully closes on its prey.

The 10-foot-tall Nepenthes, or Pitcher Plant, invites visitors to walk inside the pitcher, like an insect lured by nectar. Intoxicated by the narcotic nectar, victims (some of them small mammals) take a clumsy tumble into a pool of digestive enzymes. Texture, form and sound complete the experience of being inside the plant.

Positioned tall and proud are the 6- to 12-foot Sarracenia, or Trumpet Plants. The sculptures are realistic in form and color, and these seven trumpets dazzle with play of light and color.

Finally, the 8-foot Drosera, commonly known as Sundew, has more than 500 resin tentacles, lit with fiber optics to undulate and glow for dramatic effect. The plant’s glistening, dew-like tentacles lure and trap prey.

For the young (and young at heart) the exhibit includes learning activities with freestanding, movable, interactive pieces. Two of these are Gotcha!, where visitors are taught how the plants lure, trap, and digest their prey, and Operation, where guests try their hand at removing insects from the traps.

“Many people don’t realize that the plant world holds an air of mystery,” Brackman said. “Some species’ amazing beauty hides their clever trickery



in catching prey and surviving. It will be fun to see people’s reactions as they explore and learn.”

While at the exhibit, don’t miss the Garden Gate Gift Shop. Filled with unique and fun treasures, including live Venus flytrap plants, it’s the perfect place to pick up a gift for yourself or a loved one. Stop in at the Carriage House Bistro, open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. San Antonio Botanical Garden is at 555 Funston Place at North New Braunfels Avenue. Parking is free. The Botanical Garden is operated under the auspices of the City of San Antonio Department of Parks and Recreation and is open year-round except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. For more information, visit www.sabot.org or call 210-207-3250.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Photo Credits:

Page 64

Oversized Venus FlytrapInteractive SculpturePhoto Courtesy San AntonioBotanical Garden

(Above)

Pitcher PlantSarracenia Flava v. maximaPhoto courtesy San AntonioBotanical Gardens

(Below)

Pitcher PlantSarracenia HybridPhoto courtesy San AntonioBotanical Gardens


www.sabot.org


http://santikos.com


Literary Arts70-74

Literary Arts 70-74


Book Talk:


L ast year, Mary Jane Hardy completed a writing project that she and her late husband, Ken, first thought of 20 years ago. The result of

her labor, Spiritual Treasurest, is a straightforward informative look at how the beautiful churches that dot the city’s center came into existence and the role they played in the development of San Antonio.

Altogether, 17 “spiritual treasures” are profiled, starting with Mission San Antonio de Valero (the Alamo) and the San Fernando Cathedral, which was completed in 1748. Reflecting the arc of history, Catholic churches here eventually were joined by Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Baptist and Methodist places of worship, as the respective groups settled in the area. Included in the book are many familiar edifices, such St. Mark’s Episcopal, First Baptist and Travis Park United Methodist, as well as the non-denominational Little Church of La Villita, which has a unique story and a commitment to serve anyone who walks through its door.

One “treasure” that many San Antonians may have never heard of is the tiny Capilla de los Milagros near the Haven for Hope complex, which dates back to the 1720s. Though open to the public, it’s privately owned by the descendants of the original landowner and builder Juan Ximenes.

A native San Antonian and former educator, Hardy presents each place through its history, architecture and memorable stories of people or events connected to each institution.

Commenting on the book, the former vicar general of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Msgr. Lawrence Stuebben, wrote: “San Antonio is a very special city. This book will help the reader discover the richness of its history and spirituality.”

Appropriately, we conducted this interview in “the jewel-box church of San Antonio” – Grace Lutheran, on the corner of McCullough Avenue and Avenue E. It was founded by the descendants of German immigrants who parted company with their elders by adopting English as their liturgical language. JW: Please tell us about the genesis of the book.

MJH: It started more than 20 years ago when my husband was ill and hospitalized at the Metropolitan Methodist Hospital on McCullough Avenue. As he was going into surgery, I took my children to both St. Mary’s Church and St. Joseph’s Church to pray for him. My three grown children said to me, “These are beautiful churches, Mom!” They had never seen them before. I later told my husband that the kids didn’t know anything about these great churches because we never took them downtown. That’s how the idea started. So we said, let’s get more information and write it all down for the younger generation and also to share with Bible groups at our church. We were not thinking about putting it all in a book back then, so we just worked on it whenever we felt like it. My husband and I both loved history.

JW: Did you decide on a book after Ken’s death?

MJH: Yes, after his death I started going through a lot of things and found the research we had done. And I said, “I need to finish this.” I started working on it in earnest. It took me about three-and-a-half years because at first I only included Catholic churches (she is a Catholic) but then I realized that the other churches had their stories, too, and my project evolved like that.

JW: How did you pursue the research?

MJH: I first started visiting each church to look at the exterior. I would walk around and take notes about what it looked like. Then I made appointments to look at the interior. While there I asked them about the history of their church; whether there were any published books that I could purchase – and the most important thing: whether there was a person who knew a lot about the place. I also attended the services because you can’t really understand a church unless you attend it. I met a lot of wonderful people.

JW: Most of your “treasures” and their congregations came into existence in the 1800s. Could you address the historical significance of that?

MJH: Yes, San Antonio was certainly changing in the 1800s. (Texas) went from belonging to Spain and later

MARY JANE HARDY, Teacher, AuthorStory and Photography by Jasmina Wellinghof



Mexico, to an independent republic and a state of the United States, and (San Antonio) was steadily growing. The surge in Protestant churches followed the fall of the Alamo as Texas became free for all to practice their faith. English was becoming dominant, and people increasingly demanded services in English.

JW: In each chapter, you relate human-interest stories connected to the “spiritual treasure” described in that chapter. Which ones did you find particularly interesting or surprising?

MJH: There were so many! In the case of La Capilla de los Milagros, what is fascinating to me is that the crucifix that hangs there is said to have hung at the Alamo. And there’s another wonderful historical connection: the bell of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church is the old bell from the San Fernando Cathedral, the bell that announced the fall of the Alamo. Then, the Italian church (San Francesco di Paola) used statues that came from Santa Rosa Hospital. People didn’t have a lot of money, so they recycled things. I saw all those connections and also connections to Europe. The immigrants tried to emulate what they knew from their homelands to the extent that they could.

And I love the story of LBJ’s wedding (at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church; too long to relate here but delightful.) But my favorite is probably the story of the underground tunnel that connected St. Mary’s Church with the church school across St. Mary’s Street. I went to school there, and we used to go through that tunnel, and some kids would turn the lights off while we were in the tunnel. It was scary and exciting but the sisters would get very mad at us. There’s also the story about how George Brackenridge sold his home to the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word and how the sisters refused to give him back his books and his organ. He was furious about it but they pointed out that he had sold the house with everything in it. He complained, reportedly saying, “Those old maids stole my library.” It was kind of a women’s thing for me, but I thought it was so funny that he thought he could reclaim what he wanted from the nuns, yet the sisters stood their ground. By the way, I saw his books; they are still at UIW.

JW: Since you are also the publisher of the book, how do you go about selling it?

MJH: It’s in some bookstores, and I am looking to expand that, but mainly, it’s through speaking engagements. Yesterday, I spoke in Castroville at St. Louis Catholic Church and sold 45 books there. In the book, I have only 72 On The Town | November/December


a few pictures of people and one of them is the French priest Claude Marie Dubuis, who lead the effort to establish the Ursuline Academy. Dubuis also had a lot to do with Castroville, so my listeners were very interested, and we had a large meeting. Other times, I speak to small groups, maybe 10 to 15 people. I love talking about the book. It’s like talking about your grandchildren. When people buy directly from me, they pay $10, half of what the bookstores charge. But it was never a money-making project for my husband and me. Many people helped me along the way, including the printer who printed “Treasures” for free. So, I called him and asked him where he wanted the proceeds to go and he chose the Down Syndrome Association of South Texas. Some people ask me, “Don’t you feel bad that you are not making any money on this?” I tell them, no, I just wanted people to know about these places. It was also very healing for me to work on this project after losing my husband and after my own recovery from breast cancer.

JW: Has the book generated greater interest in our historical churches?

MJH: Yes, church groups are organizing tours to visit these churches. That was one thing that I wanted to happen. People need to visit churches of other denominations, starting with the downtown ones. I would ask people at First Presbyterian, for instance, “Have you ever seen Grace Lutheran? It’s so pretty inside.” No. And they are across the street from each other! So, when I speak to church groups, I always tell them that I hope they would visit the churches I am telling them about. That’s how many of these tours started.

I spoke to Coker Methodist on the North Side and have gone on tours with them. They have elected to visit Catholic Churches. I thought that was very good. Another group from Coker plans to come downtown to explore their local Methodist roots. And people from Alamo Heights United Methodist and Windcrest Methodist will be coming to tour Grace Lutheran.

We are all doing good things. We all worship the same King of Kings. I hope a tour company will eventually step in to organize tours of our downtown churches.

Ms. Hardy’s comments have been edited for space and clarity. Spiritual Treasures of Downtown San Antonio is available at Casa Christo Rey, 10130 San Pedro Ave., No. 104, or from the author by calling 210-491-0188. Price: $10 from both sources.


http://thetwig.com


Eclectics76-82

EClectics76-82


Downtown Update: A Conversation with Pat DiGiovanni of Centro San AntonioBy Julie CatalanoPhotography Greg Harrison


S an Antonio has such a stellar reputation as a tourist and convention destination — the city has more than 26 million visitors each

year, many of them drawn to the Alamo and River Walk – but sometimes locals forget how much is going on at city center. OnTheTownEzine talked with Pat DiGiovanni, president and CEO of Centro San Antonio, the management company for the Downtown Alliance and the Public Improvement District, to discuss the future.

OTT: How do you address the image of downtown San Antonio being primarily for visitors?

Pat DiGiovanni: We try to balance our downtown. Not to say that we’re going to neglect the tourism industry. On the contrary, we want to see that continue to grow and be robust. But we also have a deficiency in the number of housing units and the number of employment centers and jobs. I think we get there by building a world-class downtown that’s based around great places, great parks, great cultural and arts institutions, and entertainment. It’s really a sense of what most neighborhoods have, those kinds of amenities that make people say I want to be in that environment. We need to create a 24/7 vibrant downtown environment that brings locals and visitors to enjoy the authentic experiences that downtown offers.

OTT: We know people love to visit downtown, but what about working and living there?

PD: We’ve definitely had some leakage from downtown on the business side. But the Children’s Hospital that’s now under construction on the east end of downtown is going to bring more employment and more professionals to downtown. That’s an opportunity to capture them and show them that this is a quality of life that they don’t want to bypass. They can live downtown and walk to their jobs.

The San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA) continues to plan and develop properties that are going to be market rate and affordable. So we’re very cognizant of making sure we have the proper mix of housing. Those are all in the planning efforts and part of our strategy to make sure that the city’s core does not become gentrified to the point where people cannot afford to be here.

OTT: What would you like to see in terms of down-town living?

PD: We want to see more students living downtown. The Southwest School of Art is going to be a four-year program. The medical school at Fox Tech will bring a 500-student osteopathic medical school to downtown. The former Museo Alameda is now the home of the Texas A&M University-San Antonio’s educational and cultural arts center.

OTT: What will new arts venues like the Briscoe Western Art Museum and the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts bring to downtown?

PD: Those are the things that are going to bring our locals back to downtown. Having world-class places will add a great deal of value to the downtown fabric and environment.

OTT: What about the Alameda Theatre?

PD: The Alameda is still under construction. The next phase will be to raise additional dollars to finish out the interior, which we believe is a tremendous asset to the emerging West Side cultural district. The theater is just a wonderful anchor, one of the last atmospheric theaters in the country.

OTT: Any new hotels?

PD: There are several new products coming online: the Wyndham Gardens, along the river off of St. Mary’s Street, the Kimpton being developed at the Pearl District, and the Hilton Gardens on Houston Street.

OTT: What’s on the drawing board that you can talk about?

PD: We have the whole HemisFair redevelopment being led by HPARC (HemisFair Park Area Redevelopment Corporation). They are working right now on finalizing plans for the children’s park at the corner of Alamo Street and Cesar Chavez Boulevard [at press time, completion date is estimated at early 2015].

We’re also going to be working on a strategic plan for downtown arts and culture that will be in partnership with the city, SA 2020, and hopefully other partners. Houston Street is a thread that goes to the heart of


Downtown Update: A Conversation with Pat DiGiovanni of Centro San AntonioBy Julie CatalanoPhotography Greg Harrison


downtown but it needs to be finished. It’s probably one of our best streets, and it connects those two wonderful anchors, the Alamo and El Mercado/Market Square.

Our downtown is a work in progress. Centro San Antonio’s main focus will remain in the core, and we know that if you put out a great product, people will come back to the core.

OTT: And now the one thing everyone wants to know: What about parking?

PD: I’ve never known parking to get in the way of wanting to go to a great place or have a great experience. People may not like paying the price of a Spurs game, but they go because they are going to see a world-class team on the court. That’s the same philosophy that we need to embrace in downtown San Antonio.

For more information, visit centrosanantonio.org.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Photo Credits:

Alameda Theater opened in 1949 as the largest Spanish language theater in the nation. It is destined to be restored to original grandeur when necessary funding for the project has been secured.

Page 80

(Above)

The new Embassy Suites Hotel at Soledad and Houston Street along the River Walk

(Below)

Palm Restaurant on Houston Street


http://centrosanantonio.org


UIW’s 27th Annual Light the Way filled with surprisesBy Margaret GarciaPhotos courtesy of UIW / Steve Holloway, Photographer

For nearly three decades, the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) has transformed its main campus into a dazzling display of holiday twinkling

lights in celebration of the annual Light the Way event, which officially kicks-off the holiday season for the community. Over the years, thousands of guests have enjoyed the event, held each November on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, by spending time with their families, enjoying the sights and sounds of the season and creating holiday memories.

Light the Way 2013 is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Nov. 23 in the Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium on the UIW campus. Guests will be treated to musical and dance entertainment provided by UIW students as well as students from the UIW Brainpower Connection of schools. A highlight of the event will be a musical performance by award-winning Tejano music legend and three-time UIW alumna Patsy Torres. This year’s theme, “Christmas Around the World,” will celebrate the international diversity of the campus.



This year, the university has broken enrollment records, with more than 9,500 students. On the main campus alone, students represent 73 countries.

In 1985, when New York native Dr. Louis J. Agnese Jr., was interviewing for the leadership of the school, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word drove him through the beautiful light displays in the Windcrest neighborhood. It was then that he had a vision of an event that would unite the San Antonio community in the spirit of the season throughout his presidency. The event grows each year, and in 2012, more than 7,500 people attended the kick-off celebration, with an additional 2,000 people visiting the campus to see the lights throughout the holiday season. It has truly become a San Antonio holiday tradition.

After the official flip of the switch illuminating the

campus with more than 1 million twinkling lights, the all-female group Mariachi Las Coronelas will lead a candlelight procession through the campus to UIW’s Dubuis Lawn for a complimentary reception hosted by Sodexo and H-E-B. The campus, at 4301 Broadway, will be open for self-guided tours through Jan. 6, the Feast of the Epiphany.

The University of the Incarnate Word is a private, liberal-arts university. It is the largest Catholic University in the state and the fourth largest private university in Texas.

For more information, visit www.uiw.edu/lighttheway or call the UIW Office of Public Relations at (210) 829-6001.


http://www.uiw.edu/lighttheway

http://www.uiw.edu/lighttheway


http://alamochorus.org


Out & About with Greg harrison84-89

Out & About with Greg harrison84-89


http://www.oncologysa.com/

November/December 2013 Issue

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