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CURRENT • November 24—December 1, 2015 • sacurrent.com

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You & Your Family are invited Saturday, December 5th at 2pm for a FREE reading of the THE NUTCRACKER at the San Antonio Central Library, 600 Soledad St. Performance and meet & greet memebers of the San Antonio Metropolitan Ballet. Cookies and Beverages provided. Nutcracker-themed craft time to follow.

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sacurrent.com • November 24—December 1, 2015 • CURRENT 7

CURRENT • November 24—December 1, 2015 • sacurrent.com

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sacurrent.com • November 24—December 1, 2015 • CURRENT 9

FIRST WORDS

On You Can Feed the New Giraffes at the Zoo // Joseph Ontiveros: I’m gonna go this weekend before they die [sic] On At Least 100,000 Texas Women Have Induced Their Own Abortions // Charles Bennett: This is what happens when you elect moron governors like Perry or Abbott and they shut down abortion clinics. Getting an abortion is a hard decision to make, but it should be performed by a doctor, not at home. Funny how Perry and Abbot [sic] are on the side of “banning guns doesn’t work because people get them anyway” but then they shut down abortion clinics, costing Texas jobs, thinking that people won’t just get abortions anyway. On No, Gov. Greg Abbott Can’t Ban Refugees From Texas // Uriel Alvarez: Fewer then 5% of Americans polled in 1938 wanted to accept more Jewish refugees fleeing Hitler’s terror. Raul Garza: The people of San Antonio should be concerned of a terrorist attack. We are a tourist driven city. With big attractions that draw attention. There’s no reason to live in fear on a daily basis. And yes no doubt ISIS and other terrorist organizations could already be planted here. But why add possible fuel to the fire knowing there could be a handful of bad apples? Not to mention last time I checked we have a lot of homeless and needy people here in our own city. Just a little food for thought. On H-E-B Gets Low Marks on LGBT Equality and Inclusion Report // Mike Ramirez: I know that when I go shopping, That’s [sic] the first thing I look for in a supermarket…Competitive pricing, selection, quality of service, convenience…None of that matters… It’s all about the LGBT experience! • Send your thoughts, comments or kudos to letters@sacurrent.com

IN THIS Issue 15_47

ISSUE /// November 25—December 1, 2015

NEWS

Newsmonger Abbott says no to refugees, beluga whale dies and Texas’ self-induced abortion problem

CALENDAR

Our top picks for the week

SCREENS

FOOD

An Immigrant’s Story Bring your Kleenex to Brooklyn

Tamales y Tradiciones SA’s more in love with tamales than ever

Out of Their Element Jackie Earle Haley disappoints with Criminal Activities

Flavor File More Thanksgiving dining options

MUSIC

The Spur of Hip-Hop? Big K.R.I.T.’s got soul Get Revved Songs in the key of the switchblade Music Calendar What to see and hear this week

ARTS + CULTURE

Defying Definition, Embracing Infinity “28 Chinese” is a must-see Small Livin’ New SA-based reality show explores small livin’

In a Rut A Bexar County community fights to pave its streets

Wax Fix Get your vinyl on at SA’s newest record store

NIGHTLIFE

Family Affair Boozin’ after Turkey Day snoozin’ Remix A refreshing take on the hot toddy

ETC.

Savage Love Jonesin’ Crossword Freewill Astrology This Modern World

ON THE

COVER ‘Tis the season to soak some corn husks in the washing machine. The family behind Mi Tierra (featured) is poised to take over the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center’s La Gran Tamalada this December. Photography by Dan Payton Art direction by Rick Fisher and Sarah Flood-Baumann

CURRENT • November 25—December 1, 2015 • sacurrent.com

sacurrent.com • November 24—December 1, 2015 • CURRENT 11

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CURRENT • November 24—December 1, 2015 • sacurrent.com

sacurrent.com • November 24—December 1, 2015 • CURRENT 13

NEWS

•

This photo shows the Bataclan in Paris a day after Islamic State maniacs massacred more than 100 people in France.

NEWSMONGER Abbott Says No to Refugees // Beluga Whale Dies // Texas’ Self-Induced Abortion Problem Xenophobic Fire When crazed mass-murdering gunmen and suicide bombers horrified the world — as they’ve done for a long time now — in attacks in Paris and Beirut last week, the “Christian” governors of more than half of the United States were predictable in their xenophobic response. Just three days after the attacks, Lone Star State Gov. Greg Abbott was one of the first to declare that Syrian refugees weren’t welcome in Texas. In a letter to President Barack Obama, who plans to resettle 10,000 refugees in the United States, Abbott said he ordered the Texas Health & Human Services Commission’s Refugee Resettlement Program to not participate in the program and urged Obama to reconsider the move as “opening our door to them irresponsibly

MARK REAGAN/@210REAGAN

exposes our fellow Americans to unacceptable peril.” An estimated 200,000 people have been killed by Syrian regime forces and the Islamic State during this war, with 4 million people displaced and fleeing their homes. Abbott, apparently, does not realize the people he doesn’t want in Texas are running from the same people that he is scared of. But that pesky Constitution is haunting Abbott’s whims again. He can’t ban refugees resettled in the U.S. because once they’re here, they are free to travel to any state in the nation. But, really, Abbott should be assured that his xenophobic lead should be enough to keep refugees out of Texas. After all, why would they want to come to a state that openly accused the warravaged of being the same terrorists they are fleeing? Baby Beluga A 2-year-old beluga whale died at SeaWorld San Antonio on November 13, the second to die this year. In a statement to KSAT, SeaWorld said the whale — named Stella — was

being treated for “gastrointestinal issues.” The television station reported that in July, another beluga calf died after being born premature. Jared Goodman, foundation director of animal law for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), said at least 58 beluga deaths have occurred at SeaWorld facilities, proving that the mammals can’t be bred in tiny concrete tanks. According to Goodman, Stella’s parents were born in the wild, from where SeaWorld “desperately” tries to import its belugas. “Like the others before her, she died far, far short of the 50 years that belugas can live in their natural ocean homes, and her preventable death is one of the many reasons why PETA is calling for an end to SeaWorld’s deadly belugabreeding program,” Goodman said. Tragic Research Citing multiple barriers to abortion care, at least 100,000 Texas women are estimated to have attempted self-induced abortion. The Texas Policy Evaluation Project — a comprehensive look by UT-Austin at the effects of strict abortion laws passed by Texas legislators over the past few years — found that self-induced abortion is common on the border and in demographics where historic reproductive-health obstacles exist. Researchers predict an increase in self-induced abortion if the Supreme Court upholds Texas House Bill 2, which, if it goes in full effect, would leave just 10 abortion clinics in a state with more than 5 million women of reproductive age. NARAL Pro-Choice Texas executive directive Heather Busby said the ability to obtain an abortion shouldn’t depend on income and ZIP codes. “This research supports what we already know — these extreme restrictions erect enormous barriers to accessing safe, legal, quality abortion care for many Texans,” Busby says. “House Bill 2 was designed to shut down clinics and the law puts pregnant people’s health and safety at risk.” Even the American Medical Association is opposed to House Bill 2 on grounds that the government-imposed regulations threaten safe “evidencebased protocols for medical abortions,” jeopardizing reproductive health of women in the Lone Star State. mreagan@sacurrent.com

CURRENT • November 24—December 1, 2015 • sacurrent.com

BEXAR-O-METER Checking the temperature of events in Bexar County and beyond

LOVE McNay acquires iconic pop art sculpture

BIG RED Soda celebrates Matt Bonner’s decade with the Spurs

THE CASTRO TWINS Eva Longoria to bring political story to the small screen

SAN ANTONIO COCKTAIL CONFERENCE Tickets are on sale — cheers!

SEAWORLD 2-year-old Beluga whale dies at theme park

XENOPHOBIA Gov. Greg Abbott tries to ban Syrian refugees

ISLAMIC STATE Paris, Beirut and the world mourn

T:10.18 in B:10.18 in

sacurrent.com • November 24—December 1, 2015 • CURRENT 15

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CURRENT • November 24—December 1, 2015 • sacurrent.com

NEWS

MICHAEL MARKS

IN A RUT

Bexar County community of Highland Oaks says its unpaved roads are a public safety issue MICHAEL MARKS/@MICHAELPMARKS

You can’t drive too fast through Highland Oaks. You can’t drive too slow, either. Most of the roads in the unincorporated Bexar County community are sand. Driving through the neighborhood is a delicate harmony between your foot and the accelerator. Too little gas and you sink into the street, too much and the wheels spin. The 116-acre neighborhood of just over 250 households sits about a mile and a half south of Loop 1604, just off Highway 281. Its homes – most of which are single-story trailers – are full of working-class families, many of whom don’t speak English. Over the past few months, members of the neighborhood have decided that enough is enough. Efforts to fix the streets have had a little success in the past – including winning a grant to pave a quarter-mile stretch of Memorial Lane, one of the main thoroughfares – but the current push has a new sense of urgency. “All the time I’ve been living there … it’s just been getting worse and worse and worse,” said Jacqueline Morales, who’s lived in Highland Oaks for three years. She and her husband are building a house in the neighborhood, but he’s having second thoughts because of the streets. “My husband says … we should have never bought there,” Morales said. “But when you’re young, because we got married really young, when you have the opportunity to buy a piece of land, he didn’t mind. But by the time that we bought it until now that we’ve moved in, we’re seeing how it really is.” Morales and her neighbors, with the help of groups such as the Daughters of Charity Services and COPS/ The Metro Alliance, have lobbied developers, elected officials and nonprofits for help. The bits of progress they’ve made have been hard-fought, sawing through thick layers of red tape and shouting for the attention of those in power. All the while, grains of sand, which compose the streets, drift away in the breeze. A Hard Trudge Walking down Highland Oaks’ streets is like walking on a beach. The sand, which is deeper in some places than others, clings to shoes, stray dogs, trees and bare feet. Tires tamp down strips of street to make thin lanes. Rain helps. It compacts the sand and makes it denser, lowering (but not eliminating) the risk of getting stuck. In some places, residents have tried to increase the traction

MICHAEL MARKS/@MICHAELPMARKS

•

The few stretches of pavement in Highland Oaks quickly give way to sand.

by planting bricks, dry leaves or pieces of cement in the sand. It works for a little while, but not forever. At some point, everyone gets stuck. One of the main concerns for Highland Oaks residents is getting the neighborhood kids to and from school. Public transportation is non-existent. Southside Independent School District tried to provide school bus service to the neighborhood at the start of this school year, but had to abandon the plan after just a couple of weeks. The bus, with children inside of it, kept getting stuck in the sand. Now the kids must trudge through the sand and mud twice a day. It’s especially challenging for the handful of children who have special needs. It’s also nearly impossible for support services to drive through the neighborhood. School buses, garbage trucks, cop cars and ambulances all get stuck. “We don’t have any waste management. Emergency vehicles, we can call them but they don’t want to drive on our streets since they get stuck,” said Azeneth de la Fuente, who’s lived in Highland Oaks with her young family for six years. Maria Bernal, a Highland Oaks resident since 2003, called 911 two years ago when her baby stopped breathing shortly after midnight. The child started to turn blue as she waited for paramedics, and she performed CPR. Emergency workers arrived an hour and a half after the call because their ambulance was stuck in the sand. Luckily, the child lived. In addition to paved roads, the neighborhood lacks

other basic infrastructural building blocks such as sidewalks and street lamps. Packs of stray dogs – most of which are some mongrel variation of chihuahua or pit bull – bark from the edge of front yards, occasionally straying into the sand. People who live in the neighborhood report a recent uptick in crime. They suspect that as word of the lack of law enforcement has spread, burglars on foot have targeted the neighborhood. “People know that the cops and sheriffs don’t come in time,” said Morales. “It really does concern me, because I have my two girls, and my husband comes home from work really late.” The entire situation is similar to a colonia, the impoverished unincorporated areas along the TexasMexico border. Although it’s in far better shape than most colonias, since few of them have utilities such as electricity, running water and septic systems, it still looks like many of the communities which Oscar Muñoz has worked with in his 15 years with the Texas A&M University Colonias Program. Now director of the program’s San Antonio branch, Muñoz recently visited Highland Oaks and met with some of the neighborhood organizers. It wasn’t just the infrastructure that was familiar, though; the community of people willing to sacrifice for a place to call their own looked similar to the border, too. “They do want to have their little piece of the American Dream, but they don’t qualify for downtown, so they have to buy wherever they can buy,” Muñoz said. “You’re sacurrent.com • November 24—December 1, 2015 • CURRENT 17

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CURRENT • November 24—December 1, 2015 • sacurrent.com

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Bexar County Commissioner Chico Rodriguez speaks at a Highland Oaks community meeting.

going to have people who want to take advantage of that situation, the contractors and the developers.” Home Sweet Home With so many problems, the most obvious question is why live in Highland Oaks in the first place? The answer is complicated. For most, it’s the affordability. The idea of owning your own piece of property, warts and all, can be a powerful magnet. For others, living on the fringe of an urban center is attractive. “You’re away from the city, there’s less noise,” Morales said. “It’s peaceful. You don’t have a lot of stores close by, but some ... people like living outside of 1604 and some people like to live inside.” Ownership of the subdivision changed hands several times over the past decades. At least once it was auctioned off by the county after a developer failed to make necessary improvements, file paperwork and pay taxes, but the county insists that it has never owned the land. The roads, officials say, are private, and have always been that way. In other words, if Highland Oaks residents want the roads paved, they’re going to have to come up with the money themselves. And it won’t be cheap. Building streets where they’re needed could cost over $5.5 million, and adding curbs and sidewalks would cost an additional $11 million, according to estimates from the Bexar

County Public Works Department. Even though the county insists it isn’t responsible for the streets, that doesn’t stop it from profiting by auctioning off foreclosed property in the neighborhood. Local family-owned developer KFD, Inc. has bought, developed and sold properties in the neighborhood since the ’90s. Its president, Elaine Windhorst, said the company buys most of its Highland Oaks properties at auction from the Sheriff’s Office. It’s common practice for the county to sell property whose owners don’t pay their taxes, but Windhorst doesn’t understand how that’s legal if the county has no interest in Highland Oaks. “My family has tried to get the county to pave the roads, and the response has been very negative. I don’t really understand why they’re not responsible,” Windhorst said. “Every time we show anybody a lot, we always tell people that these roads are not good. We have no control over when they’ll be fixed.” Joe Watson, the county’s asset manager, explained that auctioning foreclosed property in neighborhoods like Highland Oaks is legal because even if the county does nothing for the roads, their residents still benefit from services such as the police department and other streets in the county. But the benefits of those services are diminished if police can’t drive through your neighborhood, or your car gets stuck in the sand before you reach the main road.

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CURRENT • November 24—December 1, 2015 • sacurrent.com

NEWS

MICHAEL MARKS

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•

Driving on sandy Highland Oaks streets is a tricky balance.

For help, the neighborhood coalition reached out to Chico Rodriguez, their representative at the Bexar County Commissioners Court. Rodriguez has represented Precinct 1 since 2005. The neighborhood coalition first invited Rodriguez to a meeting on October 8. He said he could not attend because he was at a conference in San Marcos, but he sent members of his staff. At the time, the gesture felt disrespectful to some of the residents. “You get discouraged because you do so much work,” de la Fuente said. “We have rights as any other neighborhood. I don’t know if it’s just because we’re way out here on the South Side and they’re forgetting about us, but we’re paying taxes. I pay a lot of taxes for my house.” Rodriguez did not respond to requests for comment for this story. Over a month later, Rodriguez and county staff attended another neighborhood meeting, when they laid out a few possible solutions. None of them are easy. One is to apply for a Community Development Block Grant, a chunk of money from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. But it’s tough to get the grant – the application requires income verification paperwork from every household in the neighborhood. To qualify, 51 percent of the community’s residents must meet

Section 8 income criteria, which means a family of four can bring home no more than $54,550 a year. Every household that does not turn in the paperwork is counted as over the income limit. The application for the grant is due in January 2016. The funds would be available by October that year. If the grant fails, the neighborhood could apply for a $5.5 million loan from HUD, which would require unanimous approval from the Commissioners Court, and would decrease funds for other projects around the county. Rodriguez, who’s up for re-election next year, gave his support to the neighborhood at a recent community meeting. In Spanish, he told the audience he was bringing them “good news” by laying out their options for the streets. He stressed the importance of remaining united. The promises of support filled at least some of the residents with hope. “It’s intimidating because it’s a lot of money, but I think we have a lot of support from a lot of people,” Morales said. “If we don’t talk, if we don’t investigate, if we don’t know what’s going on, I don’t think we’ll ever accomplish anything … Now I see that sometimes we need to talk, sometimes we need to fight for it. Then anything’s possible.”

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CALENDAR

FRI

Cheap Trick

FRI

Buy Nothing Day Show

27 The enthusiasm that met Cheap

27 Buy Nothing Day was founded

Trick on their tour of Japan in 1978 (as opposed to relative indifference in the U.S.) was famously compared to Beatlemania in the States. But where the screaming masses eventually led the Beatles to quit touring altogether, Cheap Trick turned their boisterous gig at Tokyo’s Budokan arena into the best-selling album of their careers. Their recent well-received touring of 1979’s excellent follow-up Dream Police, in its entirety, shows Cheap Trick is still committed to giving their fans exactly what they want, which isn’t really a cheap trick at all. $39.50-$59.50, 8pm, The Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston St., (210) 2263333, majesticempire.com. — Jeremy Martin

in 1992 in Canada and spread by Adbusters — an anti-consumerist group started by Calle Lasn (author of Culture Jam) — to coincide with Black Friday. The idea is simple: Protest the vast insanity of consumerism, on its biggest day, by buying nothing and encouraging others to do the same. For this year’s Buy Nothing Day, you’re invited to celebrate your free will to abstain from a mindless frenzy of purchasing with musical acts Kevin Sanchez (At War With Dust) and Antique Sunlight — though I’m sure J&O’s would like you to at least break your noble resolve for a few margaritas. Free, 8pm, J&O’s Cantina, 1014 S. Presa St. — James Courtney

MUSIC

CURRENT • November 24—December 1, 2015 • sacurrent.com

FRI-SAT

27-28

International Peace Market

SPECIAL EVENT

“Hidden treasures and contemporary art forms abound” at the Esperanza’s International Peace Market (Mercado de Paz), a holiday mainstay that brings together upward of 100 artists and artisans from Texas, Mexico and Latin America. Dedicated to “combining the arts with economic sustainability, international exchange and social consciousness,” the 26th annual Black Friday alternative promises to tempt shoppers with everything from Yuletide favorites (jewelry, candles and decor) to specialty finds, including Mazahuan dolls, Oaxacan pottery and Zapotec rugs. Free, 10am-6pm Fri-Sat, Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, 922 San Pedro Ave., (210) 228-0201, esperanzacenter.org. — Bryan Rindfuss

FRI-SAT

27-28

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

THEATER

Counted among the worst films of all time, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians could have slipped into obscurity following its 1964 release had it not been for Mystery Science Theater 3000. After spoofing the film in an episode, the ’90s-era favorite successfully resuscitated the cautionary tale of what happens when Martians decide to kidnap Santa, thus inspiring countless decades of Martian mongers to come. The Overtime Theater explores this cult oddity in a new collection of shorts filled with green men, cardboard robots, half-Martian reindeer and a Santa dance-off. $10$14, 8pm Fri-Sat, The Overtime Theater, 1203 Camden St., (210) 557-7562, theovertimetheater.org. — Murphi Cook

CALENDAR

G ETTY IMAGES

FRI-SUN

Lisa Landry

27-29 Looking at a photo of stand-up COMEDY

Lisa Landry beside her resume — which includes a gig as a commentator on Country Music Television’s 20 Greatest Redneck Moments — it seems like a case of mistaken identity. Landry looks more like the third member of Garfunkel & Oates than one of Brett Butler’s Southern Belles of Comedy, but when she starts talking, the Louisiana native’s accent is unmistakable. Just as unmistakable: When she starts talking about her kid, Landry adopts that hardened 1,000-yard stare familiar to fans of Louis C.K. and common to all veterans of the Parent Wars. $16, 8pm & 10:15pm Fri-Sat, 8pm Sun, Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club, 618 NW Loop 410, (210) 541-8805, lolsanantonio.com. — JM

FRI-SUN

Las Nuevas Tamaleras

27-29 For playwright Alicia Mena, THEATER

who penned this holiday comedy in 1993, Las Nuevas Tamaleras acts as a window for audiences to see themselves in the ritual of tamaladas. Mena and several of the original cast members will reprise roles they originated in the early ’90s. As Doña Mercedes, Mena plays a no-nonsense master tamalera who coaches a novice along with the spirit of Doña Juanita (played by veteran actor Ruby Nelda Perez) — hilarity ensues. The Yuletide favorite will host its reception night at 8 p.m. on Saturday with a buffet and drinks ($45, table seating only). $12-$45, 8pm Fri-Sat, 3pm Sun, Guadalupe Theater, 1301 Guadalupe St., (210) 223-2009, tamaleras.com. — Jessica Elizarraras

FRI-SUN

Peter Pan

SAT

Spurs vs. Hawks

27-29 Following the boy who

28 With Mike Budenholzer at the

would not grow up and the children he lures to Neverland, Peter Pan brings high-flying antics and adventure to the Woodlawn. Based on J.M Barrie’s classic tale, made famous by the Walt Disney cartoon, and later mocked across Twitter thanks to NBC’s live version, the story’s undergone facelifts over the decades, but one thing remains the same: Peter must fly. Director Greg Hinojosa partners with ZFX Flying Effects Equipment to bring the magic of flight to Peter (Carlye Gossen) and his ensemble of lost boys, pirates, Indians and Darlings. $17-$26, 7:30pm Fri-Sat, 3pm Sun, Woodlawn Theatre, 1920 Fredericksburg Road, (210) 267-8388, woodlawntheatre.org. — MC

helm and Tiago Splitter in the paint, the Atlanta Hawks have fully embraced their identity as Spurs East. Trading Splitter (the first Brazilian to win an NBA title) to Atlanta enabled the arrival of LaMarcus Aldridge to the Alamo City, so to finicky Spurs fans — all is forgiven. After some initial adjustments, Aldridge appears more comfortable with his new team with each contest, which is a scary thought for the rest of the Western Conference. At their current pace, the Spurs are chasing only Stephen Curry and the red-hot Golden State Warriors in the West. $47-$750, 7:30pm, AT&T Center, One AT&T Center Pkwy., (210) 444-5000, attcenter.com. — M. Solis

THEATER

SPORTS

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CURRENT • November 24—December 1, 2015 • sacurrent.com

CALENDAR NIGHTLIFE

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TUE

VeggieTales is a computer-animated cartoon series centered on walking, talking vegetables. The show and subsequent computer games, movies, live performances and music albums, teach Christian values to children through the often humorous retelling of Bible stories and parables. To boot, the program is supposed to vaguely encourage healthy eating by getting kiddos to see just how darn fun vegetables can be. (Sure, if you want your kids to chew something to tiny bits and swallow it, the best thing to do is give it anthropomorphic qualities.) The show has occasionally met with backlash for being overtly religious; but its creators, in true Christian fashion, have never relented, instead insisting that their gentle way of brainwashing youngsters is a relatively painless way to get those little cherubs to drink up that Kool-Aid. Whatever your stance on the Christly path through life, or on vegetables, you’ll have two opportunities to experience VeggieTales Live! this Saturday when Bob the Tomato, Larry the Cucumber and co. sing themselves silly in a production titled Little Kids Do Big Things. $19.50-$46.50, 2pm & 6pm, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle, (210) 223-8624, tobincenter.org. — James Courtney

Art

International Artists-In-Residence Curated by NY-based Cecilia Alemani, the final installment of Artpace’s 2015 International Artists-In-Residence cycle comprises site-specific exhibitions by artists Cally Spooner (London), Marie Lorenz (New York) and Larry Bamburg (Marfa). Spooner has penned “plotless novellas” and satirizes such pop-culture mainstays as Beyoncé and Justin Bieber; Lorenz draws inspiration from urban waterways, works with found objects and operates a water taxi; and Bamburg builds peculiar — and at times humorous — arrangements from such unlikely materials as animal bones, electrical wire and skateboard wheels. Free, noon-5pm Tuesday-Wednesday, noon-5pm Friday-Sunday, Artpace, 445 N. Main Ave., (210) 212-4900.

”Miró: The Experience of Seeing” His

name may pop up in conversations about surrealism, abstract expressionism and dadaism, but Spanish master Joan Miró defied movements and easy classification. Born in Barcelona in 1893, Miró drew deep inspiration from his native Catalonia but evolved considerably among the avantgarde icons of 1920s-era Paris. Exemplified by his heavily symbolic Still Life with Old Shoe (1937), elegantly abstracted series Constellations (1939-1941) and immersive triptych The Hope of a Condemned Man, Miró employed his own visual vocabulary to address the political landscape and illustrate the atrocities of war. Culled from the permanent collection of Madrid’s Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía and

highlighting the artist’s later years, the traveling exhibition “Miró: The Experience of Seeing” brings together more than 50 paintings, drawings and sculptures said to “plumb the process of making art.” $15-$20, 10am-4pm Tuesday-Wednesday, 10am-4pm Friday, 10am-5pm Saturday, noon-5pm Sunday; McNay Art Museum, 6000 N. New Braunfels Ave., (210) 824-5368.

Film

Christmas in Connecticut Northeast

Lakeview College’s Fall Film Series continues with a free screening of director Peter Godfrey’s 1945 holiday classic starring Barbara Stanwyck as a single food writer whose fictional lifestyle — living on a Connecticut farm with a husband and baby — gets put to the test when her publisher asks her to host Christmas dinner for a returning war hero. Free, 6:30pm Tuesday (Dec. 1); Performing Arts Center, Northeast Lakeview College, 1201 Kitty Hawk Road, (210) 486-5387.

Theater

A Charlie Brown Christmas The Magik brings Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang to life onstage in Eric Schaeffer’s adaptation of the 1965 TV special surrounding “the true meaning of Christmas.” $12-$15, 9:45am & 11:30am Tuesday, 11:30am Wednesday, 2pm Saturday-Sunday; Magik Theatre, 420 S. Alamo St., (210) 227-2751.

Medea For lovers of classical theater and the morbidly curious alike, The Classic Theatre presents the truly twisted yet

PechaKucha vol. 20

Active since 2011, the local chapter of the contagious event format PechaKucha (Japanese for “chit chat”) hits a big benchmark on Tuesday with its 20th installment. Emceed by Emmy-winning news anchor Randy Beamer and presented in collaboration with the nonprofit SA2020 (an initiative aimed at establishing San Antonio as a world-class city by 2020), volume 20 unites eight “engaged community members who drive change and action in our city.” Besides short, snappy PowerPoint presentations by Mayor Ivy Taylor, chef Steve McHugh, San Antonio Poet Laureate Laurie Ann Guerrero, Tech Bloc co-creator David Heard, food entrepreneur Jody Newman, Promise Neighborhood director Tony Leverett, ambitious eighth grader Kylie Helterbrand (class of 2020, pictured) and SA’s first Chief Sustainability Officer, Douglas Melnick, the evening comes complete with a preshow happy hour (enforced with a cash bar and light bites from Alchemy, Bakery Lorraine and Folc, among others), a silkscreen station courtesy of Cruz Ortiz and Snake Hawk Press, and an after party at The Last Word (229 E. Houston St). $5 donation, happy hour at 6pm, presentations at 7:30pm, The Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston St., (210) 226-3333, pechakucha.org/cities/san-antonio. — Bryan Rindfuss

strangely empowering Medea. Written by Euripedes, the Greek tragedy centers on the myth of Medea and Jason, wherein the former, scorned by the latter, exacts revenge by murdering her own children and “the other woman.” Cheery shit, right? In context, the actions taken by Medea reveal a deeply individualistic spirit and a kind of deliriously powerful sense of selfworth that proclaims: My life and liberty are more important than anything, even my kids. $10-$25, 8pm Saturday, 3pm Sunday; Classic Theatre of San Antonio, 1924 Fredericksburg Road, (210) 589-8450.

The Magic of Christmas Award-winning

magicians Scott Pepper and Jay García team up for a kid-friendly holiday program combining magic and illusions. $10-$15, 8pm Saturday; Magik Theatre, 420 S. Alamo St., (210) 227-2751.

Comedy

Jesse Pangelinan and Friends Stand-up

Jesse Pangelinan headlines a South Texas comedy showcase with sets by Rafael Molina, George Anthony, Big Al Gonzalez and Mike V. Suarez. $10, 8pm Wednesday; Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club, 618 NW Loop 410, (210) 541-8805.

Special Events

Christmas Light Fest The 125-acre Don Strange Ranch celebrates the season with a drive-through light show boasting two million decorative lights, photo ops in Santa’s Village, Longhorn sightings, hay rides and vendors offering unique gifts, s’mores and hot chocolate. $27 per vehicle,

JOSH HUSKIN

VeggieTales Live!

6-9pm Thursday, 6-10pm Friday-Saturday, 6-9pm Sunday-Tuesday; Don Strange Ranch, 103 Waring Welfare Road, Boerne, (210) 434-2340.

Dickens on Main Pull out the petticoats and dust off the top hats: Dickens on Main turns back the clock for a festive weekend along historic Hill Country Mile. Billed as “Boerne’s premiere holiday event,” the 16th annual outing includes a tree-lighting ceremony with Mayor Mike Schultz (6pm Friday), performances of the fan favorite Bah Humbug: A One-Man Christmas Carol, ice-sculpting shows, a diverse live music lineup, carriage rides, a 60-foot snow slide, ornament-making activities, a petting zoo and vendors selling everything from hot chocolate and stocking stuffers to antiques and high-end apparel. Free, 1-11pm Friday-Saturday; Main St., Boerne, (830) 248-1617.

Ford Holiday River Parade Former San Antonio Mayor and current United States Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro serves as grand marshal for this spectacular parade following a nostalgic theme of “Holiday Memories.” After Mayor Ivy Taylor flips the switch illuminating more than 80,000 twinkling lights, 28 festively decorated floats will drift along the River Walk. Those lucky enough to score seats at the Arneson River Theatre will be treated to a Christmas concert presented by Youth Orchestras of San Antonio. $25-$30, 7-9pm Friday; San Antonio River Walk, (210) 227-4262.

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Paul Walker Memorial Rally & SACM Race November 29 Gates at 10am

HUGE car meet and gathering PLUS: Car show with awards for different car classes

Drag racing Car parade down the racetrack Live Djs Bounce houses for the kids & Food vendors

A percentage of proceeds go to a local children’s charity

ON SALE NOW! 26

CURRENT • November 24—December 1, 2015 • sacurrent.com

Fast & loud cars are more then welcome in a safe and controlled environment.

THEIR ROAD TO EDUCATION STARTS WITH YOU!

CALENDAR NIGHTLIFE

Handel’s Messiah Community Sing-along

The audience becomes the chorus for the San Antonio Choral Society’s performance of the Christmas portion of Handel’s Messiah, featuring soloists Shannon Earle, Crystal Jarrell, Richard Novak and Jesus Rocha backed by an orchestra. $15, 7pm Saturday; Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, 226 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 226-3333.

Handel’s Messiah Under the direction

of conductor Akiko Fujimoto, the San Antonio Symphony joins the Symphony Mastersingers and four vocal soloists for an afternoon of baroque music at its finest, including the complete Christmas portion of Handel’s most famous work. $25, 3-4:30pm Sunday; Concordia Lutheran Church, 16801 Huebner Road, (210) 223-8624.

Holiday Lighting in Travis Park In addition

to offering “250,000 reasons to enjoy Travis Park,” this lighting ceremony tempts attendees with hot chocolate, cider, holiday caroling and an “Amor y Arte” artisans market. Free, 6-10pm (lighting at 8:15pm) Friday; Travis Park, 301 E. Travis St., (210) 207-3677.

Mustache Dache Benefiting ZERO – The

End of Prostate Cancer and billed as “the biggest, baddest, hairiest running series on the planet,” this slightly irreverent Movember 5K encourages attendees of all ages to embrace their inner Mario or Luigi. “A little bit Freddie Mercury and a little bit Ron Swanson,” the Dache wraps up with post-race festivities, including a photo booth and costume contest. $20-$45, 9am-noon Sunday; O.P. Schnabel Park, 9606 Bandera Road, (210) 764-9900.

Pet Nights with Santa The San Antonio

Humane Society sets up shop at La Cantera for a holiday-themed adoption event followed by photos with Santa. Free, 2-6pm Monday; The Shops at La Cantera (next to Santa’s Pergola at The Heritage Tree), 15900 La Cantera Pkwy., (210) 582-6255.

San Antonio World AIDS Day Of all new HIV

infections, about one in four is among youth ages 13 to 24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To raise awareness of HIV/AIDS among youth, the theme of this year’s San Antonio World AIDS Day event is “Getting to Zero: Saving our Future.” Hosted by Trinity University and the San Antonio World AIDS Day Collaborative, the program includes awareness and memorial messages, musical performances, interactive elements, free HIV and STD testing (4-6:30pm), a social gathering (6-7pm) and a presentation by Fiesta Youth (7-8:30pm). Free, 4-8:30pm Tuesday; Fiesta Room, Coates University Center, Trinity University, One Trinity Pl., (210) 999-7011.

Shanghai Gymnastics Sports Center Trampoline Team Direct from China,

the Shanghai Gymnastics Sports Center Trampoline Team lands in San Antonio for a full exhibition performance. $10, 10am-noon Saturday; Powerhouse Gymnastics, 7707 Leslie Road, (210) 767-9654.

San Antonio Independent School District

Employment Job Fair Saturday, Dec 5th

9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Place: Sam Houston High School 4635 E. Houston St., San Antonio, TX 78220 The following areas will be interviewed:

• Texas Certified Teachers • Instructional Assistants • Substitute Teachers • Bus Drivers • Custodians • Food Service Cooks

• HVAC Positions • Journeyman Mechanics Opportunities for screening interviews will be available

Additional parking will be available across the street at Davis Middle School (4702 E. Houston St.)

Apply on-line at www.saisd.net For more information call: 554-8500

The Great Turkey Challenge One of the few

races through historic King William, the San Antonio Food Bank’s Great Turkey Challenge 5K combines an enjoyable morning stroll, a chip-timed race for more competitive runners and a pet-friendly portion, with proceeds helping provide turkey dinners to families in need this holiday season. $35-$40, check in at 6:30am, race starts at 8:30am Thursday; Commander’s House, 622 S. Flores St., (210) 431-8309.

Come Teach Our Minds. Come Touch Our Hearts. San Antonio ISD does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, or any other basis prohibited by law.

San Antonio Independent School District is

NOW HIRING BUS DRIVERS WHAT WE OFFER:

• Competitive compensation ($13.25 per hour) • Additional pay consideration for directly related experience • Competitive benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability Income Replacement Insurance, Life Insurance, 403(b) annuity www.saisd.net benefits, TRS Retirement, NOTE: Please visit our Social Security Retirement, website for job requirements Leave (days annually)

For more information call: 554-8440 141 Lavaca St., San Antonio, TX 78210

San Antonio Independent School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, or any other basis prohibited by law.

Talks Plus

Mindfulness and Beyond: Meditation Is the Next Big Thing A self-dubbed “Monk

dude,” New Zealand-born author, singersongwriter and ordained yoga monk Dada Nabhaniilananda visits The Twig to lead a meditation workshop and shed light on his new book Close Your Eyes & Open Your Mind. Free, 6-8pm Tuesday (Dec. 1); The Twig Book Shop, 306 Pearl Pkwy., Suite 106, (210) 826-6411.

Shake It Up: A DIY Snow Globe Event

Crafthouse SA pops up at the Point Park & Eats with a kid-friendly holiday workshop inviting attendees to craft personalized snow globes. $19 (includes materials), noon3pm Sunday; The Point Park & Eats, 24188 Boerne Stage Road., (210) 251-3380.

Twin Siblings: Photography and the West Briscoe executive director

Tom Livesay employs the museum’s collection as a framework to investigate the interdependent relationship between the evolution of photography and the exploration of the American West. Free, 6:30-7:30pm Tuesday; Briscoe Western Art Museum, 210 W. Market St., (210) 299-4499.

FORD Holiday River Parade November 27, 2015 Arneson Theatre 7-9 pm Tickets and Info Online: TheSanAntonioRiverWalk.com

Presented by

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Celebrate the Holidays San Antonio-style Enjoy tamales of all kinds - from traditional to unique, plus many more Tex-Mex specialties.

atpearl.com

SAT· DEC.5

PM 12 6 TH

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ARTS + CULTURE

•

Liberation No.1 (left), The Death of Marat (directly above) and Table with Two Legs (top).

reference a longer history than U.S. artists. Also, because of the Cultural Revolution during which history was suppressed, many artists today want to learn about and honor China’s long history inside their work.” ‘28 Chinese’ at SAMA In a recent onsite interview, SAMA contemporary curator Anna Stothart — who clarified that she “inherited the exhibit” — told the Current that it was actually at the behest of SAMA’s director Katie Luber and others that the Rubells decided to travel this show in the first place. The only other place the exhibit has visited, or will visit, according to current plans, is San Francisco’s Asian Art Museum. It is worth noting, Stothart explained, that “the actual selection of works at the SAMA exhibit is different from the selection in San Francisco,” because curators were able to pick from a large amount of work from each artist. One of the unique things about the San Antonio incarnation of “28 Chinese” is that Stothart and her team created “loose thematic organizations of the works.” The categories — Social and Political Activism in Art, Landscape, Abstraction and Contemporary Portraiture — “allow the visitors to explore the collection in digestible chunks,” rather than approaching it as a somewhat overwhelming whole. Social and Political Activism in Art While contemporary Chinese artists’ work displays a variety of concerns and infatuations, social and political art is perhaps most in line with what folks might expect from art under the leaden shadow of totalitarianism. In many of the works under this thematic umbrella, there is a profound tension between old and new, freedom and restriction, consumerism’s excess and Confucian (or Maoist) restraint.

Highlights of this section include Ai’s wooden sculpture Table with Two Legs, a commentary on revisionist history, craftsmanship and the impracticality of fine art, Zhu Jinshi’s gigantic and enveloping installation Boat, which submerges the viewer in the simple serenity of rice paper, and Qui Zhijie’s Memorial for Revolutionary Speech, which builds a monolith out of a historical litany of protest cries, tracing the history of both calligraphy and revolt in China.

He paints a coffin for himself, but if he doesn’t die, the following year on the same day he paints it all over again. Some old people even paint over it dozens of times. This is called applying ‘longevity paint.’”

Contemporary Portraiture The art of portraiture has evolved, over the centuries, to include more nuance and metaphor. With this evolution has come a loosening of definitions and a de-literalizing of the entire process. The challenging portraiture within “28 Chinese” certainly bucks against the very concept of a portrait. For one, as Stothart noted, “these are portraits, Landscape: New Traditions but there are no faces.” Indeed, the face, one of the The idea of a landscape, like the idea of a portrait, traditional focuses of portraiture, is largely eschewed. tends to call up traditional and idyllic connotations. The The most striking piece here is He Xiangyu’s The Death landscapes of “28 Chinese,” however, do not depict of Marat, which is a life-like sculpture of Weiwei, lying natural settings or focus on light. face down as if he’s been assassinated. The work pays Liu Wei’s wild futuristic landscape Liberation No. homage to Weiwei by comparing him to the great French 1, among the cornerstone pieces in the exhibit, was revolutionary Jean-Paul Marat and alludes to Jacques-Louis created by first imposing an intricate, computer-rendered David’s landmark 1793 piece of the same name. grid, resembling an impressive city skyline, onto a huge Meanwhile, Hu Qingyan’s One Breath–Portrait of the horizontal rectangle of canvas. Then the artist meticulously Rubell Family is a marble sculpture of a plastic bag that the filled in the regions of the grid in an infinity of color, artist used to collect one breath from each present member creating an overwhelming rush, a dizzy and sublime awe. If of the Rubell family. As such, Qingyan’s sculpture turns this is a city of the future, it’s as delightful as it is menacing. portraiture inward, contemplating the tide-like life-force within. Another favorite in this stacked segment of the Abstraction: Optical Play collection is Liu Chuang’s Buying Everything on You– The smallest thematic segment of the exhibit, Dai Huan. In this reinvention of the portrait, Abstraction, showcases the investigation of part of a larger series, Chuang offers a process as much as anything else. 28 Chinese unique and startlingly frank depiction of a Like several of the pieces in this portion of the $15-$20 human being. After buying everything on this exhibit, Wang Guangle’s 130905 repeats an 10am-9pm Tue, 10am-5pm Wed-Thu (closed Nov. 26) woman’s person, he arranged the items in a intricate pattern. Unlike any of the other works 10am-9pm Fri, kind of pseudo-collage of personal artifacts, here, however, Guangle’s densely layered, black10am-5pm Sat, Sun thereby commenting on her status as an and-white-striped square observes an important Through Jan. 3 aggregate of things and simultaneously burial tradition from Southern China. As the artist San Antonio Museum of Art 200 W. Jones Ave. exposing her more intimately than any explains in the exhibition catalog, “when a person (210) 978-8100 traditional portrait ever could. is not feeling well, he prepares a coffin for himself. samuseum.org sacurrent.com • November 24—December 1, 2015 • CURRENT 31

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ARTS + CULTURE

BRYAN RINDFUSS

SMALL LIVIN’

Nine on FOX San Antonio. Lazenby said she loved the idea. So she reached out to Luis Muñoz, executive producer SA production partners with at Bauhaus Media. The pair nonprofit for reality show previously worked together on morning shows. MARK REAGAN/@210REAGAN “We are careful about who we align with,” Muñoz said. “We went through the process of seeing who they [Alamo While everything is supposed to Community Group] are, and we love that be bigger in Texas, a new San we’re going to partner with them. So, in Antonio-based television show this particular case, we are honored to be hopes to put a small spin on a large topic: associated and are excited.” affordable housing. The group will start filming in January Lil’ Texas Livin’ — a 30-minute reality and is planning four episodes, each show produced by Bauhaus Media that’s featuring a different family going through tentatively scheduled to premier next the process of building a small-scale March on KENS — doesn’t pit anyone sustainable house from the foundation up. against each other and no one gets fired. “We’ve settled on a name Lil’ Texas Instead, it follows the nonprofit Alamo Livin’, picked the graphics. We have the Community Group as the organization sizzle reel. We’ve worked through all of helps families purchase their first homes. the pieces now,” Gonzalez said. “We now And here’s the twist: these aren’t just any have the final blue prints, the logo, all that homes, but rather small-scale houses. kind of stuff.” Not to be confused with tiny houses, At this stage, Gonzalez says Alamo these homes wouldn’t be near as large as Community Group is working with its conventional abodes, but rather maximize realtor to identify lots in San Antonio. space utility in smaller square footage. “We’ve got three lots and three plans, “We can’t keep building those so we would like to have those start one McMansions. We have to have houses right after the other,” Gonzalez said. that are smaller in scale and in an Muñoz says they are looking for families existing community,” says Jennifer who are interested in affordable housing Gonzalez, executive director of Alamo and appearing on the show. Casting Community Group. “So that got us to takes place during December. this place, where if we build something For a media landscape that’s full of toxic smaller, we could maybe change the reality shows highlighting the worst parts mindset for folks … I thought, well, why of human nature, Lil’ Texas Livin’ should be can’t we have this fabulous home and a breath of fresh air. But it also promises a garden quality show that talked about refreshing take on the slew of shows about living in a smaller footprint.” flipping or remodeling houses. The Alamo Community Group has “This is different because we are starting been around for 25 years. Its mission is from the beginning, and production-wise, to “develop, acquire, own and manage as an endeavor, I’m excited and nervous,” affordable housing in a community Muñoz said. “I’ve done a ton of things environment that promotes resident and am trying to bring expertise on the education, self-sufficiency, leadership and entertainment side … because at the end of volunteerism.” the day, it’s not just walls going up, we need So Gonzalez got together with to make it viewable.” the nonprofit’s director of policy and This should also appeal to a resource, Michael Shackleford, and while demographic that is interested in all things brainstorming, the two knew for the show home design, because, again, the show to work, it would need a host who could isn’t just about putting up four walls. bring together several elements, which “Brandi Sutherland will be the include building style and function, energy designer on the show. She’ll be efficiency and creating a movement around amazing,” Lazenby says. inner-city living in a smaller footprint. Lil Texas Livin’ will follow the families So they called TV personality and as they work out what’s inside the walls producer Cassandra Lazenby, who of their small-scale house. “If you have produced Great Day SA on KENS and a home or don’t, there’s lots of design then hosted and produced Daytime at

•

Clockwise from top: host Cassandra Lazenby; Alamo City Group executive director Jennifer Gonzalez; producer Luis Muñoz; and Alamo City Group director of policy and resource Michael Shackleford.

ideas,” Lazenby says. And as far as any of them know, this will be the only reality TV show that follows a nonprofit as it helps people make the jump into home ownership, more specifically, small-scale, sustainable home ownership. “I don’t want to do anything that a million people have done or is already out there on TV,” Muñoz says. “I want to do things that are innovative, the first in the

market. We want this to go national and create a trend.” And if it does make it nationwide, that’s just one more positive coming out of San Antonio. “This just goes to show that Texas has a lot of creative people and content here,” Lazenby said. Stay tuned. mreagan@sacurrent.com

sacurrent.com • November 24—December 1, 2015 • CURRENT 33

ARTS + CULTURE

DEFYING DEFINITION, EMBRACING INFINITY You can’t miss ‘28 Chinese’ at SAMA JAMES COURTNEY

Think of China. Go ahead, I’ll wait a minute. Depending on your experience, you may be thinking about Tiananmen Square, or Chairman Mao and the Communist Party that has ruled China since 1949, or that party’s horrible yet oft overlooked human rights record ($$$), or the dizzying population numbers (nearly 1.4 billion as of 2013), or the 2008 Summer Olympics, or the occupation and demoralization of Tibet. Maybe you’re a bit of an academic, or a historian, and you’re thinking of China’s rich, ancient and proud history in the arts, in philosophy, in architecture, in medicine, in weaponry, in strategic warfare, in culinary arts, in invention and innovation. Maybe you’re of a mystical bent and you’re thinking of the old masters of Chinese thought like Confucius, Lao Tzu or Zhuangzi, great spiritual teachers whose radical ideas on freedom, discipline and the way still inform contemporary China and beyond. Maybe you’re one of the Americans who have been fortunate enough to visit and spend some time in China or you’ve experienced it, vicariously, through Anthony Bourdain or some other travel/food program or book. Whatever your experience of the People’s Republic, whatever it is that you think when asked to ponder that vast, strange and beautiful land and people, you are probably right. On the other hand, no matter how extensive your experience may be, your conception of China is almost certainly incomplete. And, quite frankly, it always will be. Given China’s size, diversity and political climate, it is a fool’s task to think that you can figure China out or pinpoint its principal concerns, quirks, alacrities and treasures. All the same, embracing the endless mystery of China is intoxicating. The Rubells Bring Contemporary China Home While San Antonio might not offer a plethora of opportunities to connect with the culture(s) of China, the 30

CURRENT • November 25-December 1, 2015 • sacurrent.com

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Boat by Zhu Jinshi is made of Xuan paper, bamboo and cotton thread.

ongoing “28 Chinese” exhibit at the San Antonio Museum of Art is one such opportunity that is not to be missed. The exhibit, which is part of the staggeringly massive personal collection of Donald and Mera Rubell — one of the largest privately owned collections of contemporary art in the world — showcases the work of 29 (one artist was added late in planning) contemporary artists working in China, all born 1954 or later. Collected over the course of 10-plus years, six research trips and more than 100 studio visits by Don and Mera, this impressive and wildly diverse set of artwork functions like a breathtaking snapshot of China’s chaotic and ephemeral soul. Though, to be sure, no single definition of China or Chinese art would be possible or fair. In a recent email exchange with the San Antonio Current, the Rubells indicated that, like so much in contemporary Chinese art, their deep foray into Chinese studios and galleries was catalyzed, at least in part, by dynamic all-arts agitator and revolutionary Ai Weiwei. After meeting and falling in love with the work of artist Zhang Huan (who has four provocative photo pieces in the exhibit) in New York City in 1999, the Rubells were invited to join him and his wife on their return to China. It was on this initial trip that they met Weiwei. They fondly

remember “a celebratory meal he generously hosted [for a group of artists] at a big round table with endless exotic dishes.” A pivotal moment on an important journey of discovery, that meeting “opened the window for [the Rubells’] engagement with artists [in China].” In writing about the exhibit as a whole, the Rubells remarked that, “The message is a recurring one, that when you remove characteristics unique to each place, something universal comes through, the language of humanity. Images transcend differences.” Continuing, the art power couple noted what visitors to the exhibit will likely be most struck by: “The artists in ‘28 Chinese’ are very diverse. In fact, if one saw the work without hearing the name of the show, one might not realize it’s a show of Chinese artists only. What comes across is the sophistication of the works and their dialectic with art history and the contemporary art world. The Internet in particular has opened the global world of art to them.” When asked to compare contemporary Chinese art to contemporary art in the United States, a question that practically demands oversimplification, the Rubells explained that “one difference is that Chinese artists

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CURRENT • November 25- December 1, 2015 • sacurrent.com

SCREENS

AN IMMIGRANT’S STORY Brooklyn humanizes one migrant’s tearful journey MARY ANN JOHANSON

In 2011, I moved from New York to London. I can make free video phone calls to my friends and family, and I can be home in a few hours; planes go back and forth between the two cities with the frequency of a bus schedule (if, alas, for quite a bit more than bus fare). But still: it was hard. It remains an emotional challenge to be separated from people I love back home even as I get more and more emotionally connected to a new home. So I cannot even imagine what it must have been like for Eilis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan). She’s not a real person — this movie is based on Colm Tóibín’s completely fictional award-winning novel — but the power of Brooklyn comes from how beautifully and how sensitively it portrays a universal experience of countless immigrants who have taken long journeys to new lives, coming to terms with how it changed them. Eilis departs small-town Wexford, Ireland for New York City in the early 1950s, a multi-day sea voyage with no phone calls from home (except, maybe, in extremely rare and unusual circumstances) — certainly no Skype — and only an occasional letter to break the homesickness. Brooklyn had me bawling from the moment Eilis is waving goodbye from the deck of the ship taking her away to her sister Rose (Fiona Glascott) on the dock below. It’s a sad leave-taking, but also a hopeful one: there is no work for Eilis at home — she is a smart, ambitious young woman who dreams of becoming an accountant — but plenty available in faraway America. If there’s a future for Eilis, and she does want one, it is not in Ireland. The poignancy of being torn between two places and torn between competing desires — particularly the impossible conflict between wanting your life to change for the better while also not wanting other things to change at all — will well up often in Brooklyn, and there are never easy answers to the conflicts. There aren’t any villains here, or any people who are easy to scratch off Eilis’ list of people pulling her in multiple directions. A nasty, gossip-mongering shop owner (Bríd Brennan) in Wexford might come close, but if Eilis is ever waiting for her decisions to be made easier by villainy on the part of, say, her frosty boss (Jessica Paré) at the New York department store she works at while studying accounting,

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Can a heart have two homes? Ponders Brooklyn.

or the strict landlady (Julie Walters) at the Brooklyn boarding house where she lives, that will never come. And movie lovers who prefer realistic characters over cartoony ones will be delighted. Oh, and there won’t be any easy choices when it comes to deciding between Tony (Emory Cohen), the “Italian fella” she meets in New York, and Jim (Domhnall Gleeson), the old friend she grows closer to when she returns home for what she intends to be a brief visit. They’re both decent guys who truly care for her, and who she truly cares for as well. I’m just saying: bring Kleenex. (There’s funny stuff here, too! It’s not relentlessly sniffle-y. Julie Walters and James DiGiacomo, as Tony’s bigmouthed little brother, provide thoroughly amusing comic relief.) This is an extraordinary film in many ways, and many of them come back to Ronan and her elegantly nuanced performance. The triumph and the tragedy of Eilis is that her world gets bigger, which means she has to

reconsider everything about where she is and what she wants, and all of that gets communicated to us via the most subtle of changes in her facial expressions and her body language. We see Eilis grow in confidence and surety about herself, and sometimes it seems as if she is not even aware of how she is growing as a person until she is confronted with newly impossible choices. Eventually, though, even she is comfortable with the woman she has become, and it is an absolute joy to behold, especially because we have been given such a marvelous understanding of the bittersweet-ness of the trials that have shaped her. ___________________________________________

Brooklyn (PG-13) 112 min. Dir. John Crowley; writ. Colm Tóibín and Nick Hornby; feat. Saoirse Ronan, Domhnall Gleeson, Emory Cohen, Julie Walters Opens at Santikos Bijou Wed, Nov. 25

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CURRENT • November 24—December 1, 2015 • sacurrent.com

SCREENS

OUT OF THEIR ELEMENT Criminal Activities far too unoriginal to make real impact in genre KIKO MARTÍNEZ

After landing an Academy Award nomination for his impressive role as a registered sex offender in director Todd Field’s underappreciated 2006 drama Little Children, actor Jackie Earle Haley was given the opportunity to work with a handful of filmmakers that might make anyone thinking about trying their hand at directing feel a bit intimidated. From Martin Scorsese to Steven Spielberg to Tim Burton, Haley has been on the sets of some big names in Hollywood. Haley, however, doesn’t seem to be someone who shies away from a challenge. He jumps into the director’s chair with his first film Criminal Activities, a conventional and clichéd crime drama that borrows heavily from movies that have come before, but still manages to create a few darkly funny moments before collapsing in a convoluted final act. In Criminal Activities, a group of former high school classmates — Noah (Dan Stevens), Zach (Michael Pitt), Warren (Christopher Abbott) and Bryce (Rob Brown) — reunite at the funeral of a mutual friend where they learn about an insider tip on the stock market that could make them all rich. When the stock crashes (surprise, surprise), the boys find themselves $400,000 in debt to a mob boss (John Travolta) who says he’ll wipe the slate clean if they kidnap the brother of a guy who kidnapped his niece so they can exchange hostages. The screenplay piles it on with extra storylines, all of which give no nuance to the characters or make any of the conflict more exciting or original. If anything, adding components like a black crime syndicate, a doublecrossing informant, a private investigator, a cheating fiancée and an abusive husband only dilute the most noteworthy aspect of the film — the four men out of their element and at the center of this familiar narrative. Giving their relationships more substance would’ve made the scenarios feel like there was more at stake. Instead, Criminal Activities is more concerned about hitting plot points that will ultimately lead to ridiculous twists and turns and to scenes reminiscent of scores of Quentin Tarantino copycat films like Suicide Kings and Boondock Saints and even Tarantino’s own flicks. Notice the slow pan around a table à la Reservoir Dogs done a million times before, or the lifted dialogue from Pulp Fiction (“I’m far from fucking OK”), among other examples. Haley’s next calling in the industry might very well be more directing, but he’ll have to find a script that is far less formulaic to make a lasting impression.

Criminal Activities (NR) 94 min Dir. Jackie Earle Haley; writ. Robert Lowell; feat. John Travolta, Michael Pitt, Dan Stevens, Jackie Earle Haley, Christopher Abbott, Edi Gathegi, Rob Brown (NR) Available on VOD Fri, Nov. 20

HHH

ONE IN THE CAN It didn’t get a full run at local theaters, but Oscar nominee and San Antonio resident Jackie Earle Haley hopes audiences will seek out his directorial debut Criminal Activities, which was released last Friday on VOD. The Current recently caught up with Haley, 54, about his new crime thriller. What drew you to this script? I don’t think it’s a movie that takes itself too serious. It’s a hyper-reality and you just go with it. It’s a fun ride. It’s dark at times, serious at times and quite funny at times. What drew me to it was the marvelous script. It was an entertaining piece that was very well crafted. Talk about casting and how you landed on some of these actors. First, I started to get familiar with all the actors of that age group. I did a lot of Skype calls. When I saw Michael Pitt it was clear he’d be really good in the flick. The first guy we felt we needed to get cast was the character played by John Travolta. John heard I was directing my first movie. There was something about it that interested him enough to read the script. He felt comfortable that I knew what I was doing and that I had a clear vision. He

called his manager and said, “I’m in.” Did his involvement help things move forward? Once John was on board, it helped influence other actors to want to check it out and be a part of it. I know as an actor it’s always important to me when I’m considering taking on a part to see who is involved — the actors, the director, the screenwriter. You look at all those things. Is it OK when people compare this film to the work of other directors like Tarantino? I think it feels a little Tarantino-esque because of the writing, not because of me. It was something John and I talked about. We just came to the conclusion that a lot of art borrows from other art. There are a few characters that sound a little Tarantino-esque and that’s cool. I don’t think it’s something you’ll see in every movie I do. So, is directing something you’d like to try again? Now that I have a full-length feature I can show people, I definitely want to do more directing. I’m just as passionate about this as I am about acting. I would love to do a lot more of both.

sacurrent.com • November 24—December 1, 2015 • CURRENT 37

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FOOD

tamales y tradiciones As the Guadalupe’s signature tamalada changes leadership, we dive into what tamales mean for SA ALLISON BOERGER

t’s a helluva lot of masa.

That’s how Dr. Ellen Riojas Clark describes the quantity of rich corn goodness that is required for the tamaladas she’s hosted over the years, those at her home and those she’s done for various nonprofits, including La Gran Tamalada at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. There’ll be 125 pounds of masa ready to go at the Guadalupe next month when Clark, San Antonio’s Gran Tamalera, hands over the demonstration to the Cortez family, owners of the Mi Tierra restaurants. Clark, professor emerita of bicultural bilingual studies at UTSA, started the tamaladas as a teaching tool. “Cuisine is an important cultural teaching tool,” Clark said. “To eat a tamale, you’re eating something with a recipe hundreds and hundreds of years old and the recipe pretty much stayed the same. It gives you a deeper understanding.” (Clark, like many San Antonians, freely code-switches between the Spanish tamal and the English tamale.)

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The recipe, she says, is simple. “The recipe is the flavor you remember from your mother,” Clark said. “Your memory is the recipe.” At La Gran Tamalada, participants will learn the basic steps, which can then be tweaked with seasonings until their tamales taste like home. For basic pork tamales, Clark advises seasoning steamed and shredded pork meat with comino, garlic, onion and rehydrated and peeled ancho chile. Blend your masa quebradita and lard (you can acquire both from your friendly molino) with a little salt. You’ll spread this on the hojas — corn husks, which have been soaked overnight. For large quantities, this can be accomplished in the washing machine — just make sure you run a cycle through with vinegar first. “It’s not a huge complicated recipe,” Clark said. “But if people eat four or five at a party, for 20 people, you need 100 tamales.” Enter the tamalada — the tamal assembly party. “Long story short, we have tamaladas because it is a big job,” Clark said. “I don’t know if anything else

requires a group of people like that to be made.” Clark is living proof that one can learn this craft. Her mom didn’t make tamales when she was growing up. But that didn’t stop her from learning from her aunts as an adult and hosting huge tamaladas in her home each year. Her friends and family members would gather, around the holidays as so many do in San Antonio, to make tamales and indulge in the fellowship — family stories, jokes and gossip. So when she teaches the art of tamales, she tries to emphasize this process as much as the product. “A family will be talking, conversing and collaboratively making a dish,” Clark said. “It’s a family event. That’s the most important thing: to give value to your own experiences and your family’s cultural history you didn’t know.” From these large tamaladas she hosted in her own home, the first Gran Tamalada at the Guadalupe was born eight years ago. Clark was serving on the board of the Guadalupe at the time, and saw it as a natural Christmas gift to the community. Guadalupe education

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FOOD

•

Think about the cultural heft of the tamalda next time your tias ask you when you’re getting married and you’re elbows-deep in some bright orange masa.

director Belinda Menchaca, who has been on staff for 23 years, said it’s always been a perfect fit. “Guadalupe is all about preserving and promoting our culture and keeping traditions alive,” Menchaca said. “What better way than learning the history of the tamal and getting to make tamales?” Within a couple of years, Clark had brought on her dear friend, 2015 Poet Laureate of Texas, Dr. Carmen Tafolla, to help with the tamalada at the Guadalupe. Tafolla wrote a skit that children from Grupo Animo will perform during the tamalada. “What’s unique about The Gran Tamalada is tamaleras like Ellen Clark and Carmen Tafolla are here to share stories and anecdotes about tamales and information in a very enjoyable way,” Menchaca said. The two would go on to write a book about the cultural significance of the tamal: Tamales, Comadres, and the Meaning of Civilization (Wings Press, 2011). Clark said that people have told her they even read from the book at their own tamaladas. “They’re teaching,” Clark said. “That is something totally new. Maybe their cultural memories aren’t robust enough and the book fleshes them out.” It’s that same candor, that storytelling, that commitment to cultural identity through cultural history that brings the people in at her tamaladas. Now capped at about 300 participants each year, the event hosts people from all over the region. They come from

all over San Antonio and as far as Austin, all ages and ethnicities, to hear the stories and learn how to make tamales. Clark says there is a renewed interest among the younger generation. “I think there’s a resurgence,” she said. “People are at least trying. People will come and say ‘We haven’t had one since my mother died. Let’s have them again.’” Research indicates that cultural revitalization occurs in the third and fourth generation after immigration, Clark said, so it doesn’t surprise her to see the younger crowd filing into the Guadalupe each year. Two years ago, Clark invited Cariño Cortez, the third generation of Cortez family in the Mi Tierra business, to assist with the tamalada. Cortez, who studied at the Culinary Institute of America-Hyde Park in New York and worked under chef Rick Bayless in Chicago, had just returned to San Antonio when Clark asked her to help. “She is a chef,” Clark said. “She’s trained and has skills and ability, but it’s also in her corazón.” Cortez assisted the tamalada for the last two years, as she also prepared to open the family’s latest restaurant endeavor, Viva Villa Taquería. Located around the corner from Mi Tierra in Market Square, Viva Villa opened October 23, and is the family’s

fourth restaurant in their nearly 75-year history. Mi Tierra runs a large hand-made tamal operation, making what executive chef Raul Salazar, who just celebrated 45 years with the company, estimates as easily 250,000 tamales each season. “Our restaurants are more than restaurants,” Cortez said. “We are teaching people about culture and hospitality.” Cortez plans to have her parents, uncle, nieces and nephews all around the table as they show the art of making tamales next month. Clark and Tafolla will be present as well to pass the torch and be the abuelas in the room. “It makes sense that our tamaleras pass it on not just to Cariño but to the Cortez family, who support not just culinary endeavors, but also artists and cultural events like this,” Menchaca said. La Gran Tamalada will take place on December 12 at the Guadalupe Theater, 1301 Guadalupe St., from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The free event is open to the first 300 participants. At the tamalada, each guest will get to make and take home a pair of pork tamales. Participants are encouraged to bring their own aprons. They will also receive a recipe book courtesy of sponsor AARP. “It’s a lasting impression for their kids, a lasting food memory,” Cortez said. “Whether Hispanic or not, it’s a great tradition to pass on.” sacurrent.com • November 24—December 1, 2015 • CURRENT 41

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FOOD

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Is there such a thing as too many tamales? Yes, especially if you’re the one making them, but that’s a whole other story, and really, who has the time? If you’re jonesing for tamales these days you won’t have a hard time finding them. These corn husk-wrapped beauties are perennial in San Antonio. Save yourself the headache and order your holiday batches ASAP.

($15/dozen), chicken in green sauce ($15/dozen) and sweet guava tamales ($14/dozen) in traditional husks, or the tamales Veracruzanos ($24/dozen), bean and cheese ($24/dozen) or vegan prepared with organic coconut oil and seasonal veggies ($24/dozen) in banana leaves. Orders can be made online by emailing info@cocinaheritage by December 10.

Adelita’s Tamales & Tortilla Factory 1130 Fresno (210) 733-5352 adelitastamales.com Don’t be turned off by their nondescript building off Fresno. Adelita’s Tamales & Tortilla Factory is instead focusing its efforts on getting delicious tamales out. Dozens are available in pork ($8.25), pork jalapeño ($8.25), chicken ($9) and bean and jalapeño ($7.75). They can handle walk-in orders of up to 10 dozen, but call ahead if you’ve got a hungry crowd to feed.

Delicious Tamales Multiple locations delicioustamales.com Owned by Laredo native Valerie Gonzalez, Delicious has carved a niche for itself with its variety (you’ve gotta find a way to stay fresh after more than 30 years in the business). With more than 70 dozen tamales produced every two minutes inside their massive factory on Culebra, Delicious cranks out nine varieties, all at $8 per dozen — including regular pork, bean, jalapeño cheese, sweet and Southwest vegetarian. You’ll find something for all appetites.

Cocina Heritage (210) 560-3424 cocinaheritage.com The sisters at Cocina Heritage are handling an extensive menu of tamales, wrapped in either corn husks or banana leaves. Choose from pork in red sauce

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– Gear up for Thanksgiving with a Pinot Noir Tasting. Come taste some great Pinot Noirs and grab some To-Go for the Holiday.

214 Broadway•NectarSa.com @NectarSAT

Web: NectarSA.com

@Nectarsat

12/4 - Wine Walk Ugly Sweater – Shake the

moth balls off those Ugly Sweaters and get out for a great night of wine tasting with our First Friday Wine Walk. Explore various wines and the city all in the same evening.

Nectar Wine Bar and Ale House

Nectarwinebar

Charlie Brown’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill

$5 off

15 Items $10 & under (from 11-3)

$2 Drafts • $4 Wells Frosty 29 Degree Drafts (from 4-7, 9-close)

www.EMBERSSA.com

purchase of $15 or more

any wood fired pizza

$10

entire check

Join Us for Happy Hour Mon-Fri 2pm-6pm Specials Daily

Presents Keva Koffee

All offers exclude alcohol and cannot be combined with any other offer or discount. Expires 11/15/15

Revitalize. Rejuvenate. Stay Warm. Karaoke • Trivia Live Music

11888 Starcrest | 210 496-7092 Charlie-Browns.com 44

CURRENT • November 24—December 1, 2015 • sacurrent.com

5238 De Zavala Rd.SA,TX 78249 315 E. Commerce st #102 SA,TX 78205 888.935.2412 • kevasmoothie.com

FOOD

MON

Live Band Jam & Open Mic 7-11pm

TUES & THURS Karaoke/DJ 6pm- 10pm

WED

San Antonio’s Best Turkish Grill

FREE HOUSE SALAD WITH MIXED GRILL OPEN 11AM-10PM EVERYDAY

8507 McCullough #B13 • 210-399-1645 (LOCATED BEHIND NORTHSTAR MALL)

We’re going totally tamales.

Comedy Show & Open Mic 7pm-9pm FREE Wine Tastings

LET US DO YOUR

HOLIDAY COOKING!

Order from our menu of request our deliciously smoke turkey or ham. Add you favorite sides & dessert.

FRI & SAT Live Bands 7pm-11pm Like us on

210-732-7300

110 N. Crossroads Blvd • CrossroadsBBQSA.com

MOLINAS 700 N. ALAMO | 210.444.0711

jalapeño, refried beans, charro beans and chicken available to order now. Small caveat: You’ll need to put half down on your order when you place it, which is a small price to pay for a great holiday season. Chicken poblano tamales and sweet tamales are also available to order. to Market (2211 NW Military Hwy., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays) with organic tamales free of additives, gluten, preservatives, trans fat oils and lard. The tamales ($3 each) are available in pork tomatillo, chicken mole and pork pastor. Vegetarian flavors include bean and goat cheese, poblano and cheese, spring veggies and feta and Xochitl, with roasted poblano peppers, calabacita, corn, epazote and queso fresco; vegan varieties include spinach and caramelized onions, mushrooms and nopalitos. Like Cocina Heritage, Gardener’s Feast always carries banana leaf tamales ($5 each) such as the Chiapaneco (with shredded chicken, mole, prunes, fried plantains and olives), beef tinga with chipotle sauce and a Costeño with pork rib in a chile-ajo sauce. Don’t forget dessert — Gardener’s Feast carries the Pink (with cinnamon and raisins), Mexican brownie (with chocolate bits) and guava (made with guava jelly) priced at $3 a pop. Mimi’s Barbacoa Tacos Tamales Y Mas 10918 Wurzbach Road, #134 (210) 558-6008 At $8.99 a dozen, Mimi’s Barbacoa Tacos Tamales Y Mas offers pork, pork

Tellez Tamales 1737 S. General McMullen Drive, (210) 433-1367 The only tip we can possibly offer to you on this one is get your orders in early. If you want to “unwrap the good stuff,” Tellez is open every day until Thanksgiving with $10 dozens of traditional pork, chicken and spicy jalapeño pork. Come December, both Tellez locations will only offer pork on a first-come, first-served basis. Viva Vegeria 1422 Nogalitos St. (210) 465-9233 myvegeria.com This just in: Tamales don’t have to be filled with lard to be delicious. The staff at Viva Vegeria cranks out 13 different varieties of the foil-wrapped goods, including a sweet potato ginger chipotle, arroz con calabaza, spinach huitlacoche and a quinoa cranberry stuffing all for $13 a dozen. Pick up dates are available on Wednesday, November 25; Saturday, December 12-19; and December 21-23. Get those orders in now. flavor@sacurrent.com

Smokey Mo’s Bar-B-Q

Brisket - Turkey Sausage Chicken - Pork Loin Ribs - Sides www.SmokeyMosBBQ.com

Try our Family packs & let Smokey Mo’s do the cooking tonight!

Spring Branch/Bulverde (830) 438-8330 19851 Hwy 46 W (Just east of 281 on Hwy 46) Boerne • (830) 331-2633 1685 River Road (The Ranch at Cibolo Creek)

www.SmokeyMosBBQ.com

Holiday Turkeys! We Cater! No Order is too big!

HOOKAH & BUBBLE TEA 6565 BABCOCK RD STE. #23 (AT DE ZAVALA) 210.384.2974

sacurrent.com • November 24—December 1, 2015 • CURRENT 45

— THE —

BRANDY ALEXANDER COCKTAIL TOUR

November 25th — December 31st DISCOVER 7 LOCAL TAKES ON A CLASSIC

BAR 1919

210.829.7345 | 1146 AUSTIN HIGHWAY SAN ANTONIO, TX 78209 | TONGSTHAI.COM

Don Marsh

A chocolate drizzled glass and cinnamon dusting accent the Alexander Unhinged, a silky libation that merges blackberry liqueur, ginger syrup and cocoa.

BRIGID

BOILER HOUSE Manisse Davison

Nick Kenna

The Kinsman Alexander is a rich and creamy treat that pops with seasonal flavors from the house-made spiced simple syrup and almond sugar.

Roasted Texas pecan and cacao nibinfused Kinsman lays a foundation for the Dandy Alexander, a cocktail dressed with praline liqueur and cinnamon brandyinfused foam.

DORĆOL

LIBERTY BAR

This velvety cocktail bursts with Nutella and cocoa, while milk chocolate shavings, cream, ginger and Kinsman Rakia punctuate Billie’s Holiday, a luxurious nod to the holidays.

Mexican vanilla bean and sugar accentuates the creamy SouthTown Alexander, which is topped with orange-colored vanilla ice cream.

LÜKE

PARK SOCIAL / FOLC

Topped with banana-cinnamon whip cream and hazelnut, the Bipolar Alexander blends Abuelita Chocolate and vanilla in this hot twist on the classic.

A decadent after dinner cocktail, the Pecan Alexander combines creme de cacao infused with wood fired seasoned pecans and a hint of cayenne.

Valentino Lucio

Cathy Bartlett

t ee r st e h t Featuringds of Thailand foo

Katie McKee

HABIBI CAFE M e d i t e r r a n e a n R e s ta u r a n t & H o o k a h L o u n g e

David Naylor

COME ENJOY THE COOLER WEATHER ON OUR PATIO!

MAKE YOUR OWN

Classic Brandy Alexander 1 oz KINSMAN™ Rakia 1 oz Cream 1 oz Creme de Cacao (dark) Combine in tin over ice. Shake. Strain. Garnish with grated nutmeg.

EAT. SMOKE. RELAX. HABIBI CAFE

DORCOLSPIRITS.COM • 1902 S. FLORES STREET • @DORCOLSPIRITS BE RESPONSIBLE & KEEP SA REAL

MON-FRI 11AM-2AM SAT-SUN 2PM-2AM 5306 Broadway St. San Antonio, Texas

(210) 437-0242 46

CURRENT • November 24—December 1, 2015 • sacurrent.com

FOOD

FLAVOR FILE

Brass Tap Opens, Enchilada Red Fest and a Holiday Brew for Alamo Beer JESSICA ELIZARRARAS/@JESSELIZARRARAS

The Rim Shopping Center — which has blown up in the last few months with openings for General Public (17619 La Cantera Pkwy., Suite 102, 210-920-1101), Bowl & Barrel immediately next door and Mash’D (17623 La Cantera Pkwy., 210-538-5833) — finally welcomed The Brass Tap (17619 La Cantera Pkwy., Suite 2, 210-670-7090). The small bar chain tapped Chicago native Winnie Mak, formerly with Arcade Midtown Kitchen and Lüke San Antonio, as manager. • The space is relatively Ho ho ho, amirite? small compared to its peers, but still features 60 taps and 140 bottles of local and national craft brews. The bar will host monthly tappings, with Mak showcasing limited releases and local beers as often as possible. Those averse to craft beer will have their pick of quality wines and handcrafted cocktails, while noshing on a small menu of 30 or so bar snacks. The Brass Tap will open 11 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. The San Antonio Public Library Foundation is throwing its last party of the year with the Enchilada Red Fest. Aside form margaritas, mezcal, cervezas and aguas frescas, the event will feature a book reading and signing with Cappy Lawton and Chris Waters Dunn along with a cooking demo by executive chef Victor Maldonado on Thursday, December 3 at the Central Library (get it, enchilada red?) from 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets for the event are $40 in advance or $50 at the door; First Edition members get in free. If you’re heading Downtown this Friday for the Ford Holiday River Parade, grab primo seating at Lüke San Antonio (125 E. Houston St., 210-227-5853). The New Orleans-style restaurant is offering two packages — a chef station event on the first floor ($89 for adults, $39 for children) and a prix-fixe menu upstairs ($72 for adults, $36 for children). Get your tickets at chef-john-besh.myshopify. com/collections/events. Holiday beers that aren’t filled with pumpkin are my jam. So I’m pumped to get my hands on some of Alamo Beer’s latest release, an Alamo Holiday IPA, which they describe as featuring “spicy Northwest hops bitterness with a cheery citrus and floral aroma.” You can find it at select bars and restaurants in town along with a few spots in Houston and Austin. flavor@sacurrent.com

KEEP COOL ON OUR NEW PATIO, AND SEE WHY WE ARE THE BEST IN SAN ANTONIO! BETWEEN 8A-2P | 210.737.8646

521 E Woodlawn Ave. SA, TX 78212

1526 ROOSEVELT AVE • 210.532.4113 (Look for the green building.)

Daily Lunch Specials

af es Happy Hour 11a-6p Tue-Fri & 9p-11p RESTAURANT & BAR

dining • Dancing • Entertainment

NEW ERS! OWN

1039 NE Loop 410 (Between Nacogdoches & Broadway) • 210.826.7118 www.RafflesRestaurantandBar.com

Authentic Thai Cuisine

Open 7 Days a Week Thank you,

San Antonio for voting

for us !

226 W Bitters Rd #124 • (210) 545-3354 • saebthainoodlesa.com

boba-ology boba tea • asian fusion foods • fresh juice 7220 Louis Pasteur Dr. # 125 210.854.4771 sacurrent.com • November 24—December 1, 2015 • CURRENT 47

Open 3p-2a Everyday • Happy Hour 3-7pm Daily

MONDAYS: $3 COSMOS ALL DAY

s a m y tina

TUESDAYS: SHOT SPECIALS ALL DAY: $2.75 Wells • $2 Ziegenbock Draft

can

“RIVER RAT SPECIAL” ALWAYS!

628 Jackson St | 210-320-1840

PSYCHIC HAPPY HOUR

CLUB SiRIUS

Every Tuesday • from 6-8pm DJ and No Cover Saturday Nights RIVERTINI AWARD WINNER 600 N. Presa St. Inside the Maverick Building

N. Presa St.

E. Houston St.

College St. 210.267.9885 THELOCALBARSA.COM LIKE US ON FB: THELOCALBARSA

HAPPY HOUR Mon- Sun: noon-8pm

FEATURING DJ SLIC RIC & DJ NAAWZ • MIXING THE LATEST MUSIC AND VIDEOS ON 5 HD SCREENS

Drinksirius.com • Lesa@DrinkSirius.com 48

CURRENT • November 24—December 1, 2015 • sacurrent.com

@clubsirius

/toosirius

NIGHTLIFE

FAMILY AFFAIR This holiday season, bond over brews (or where to escape from your family) JESSICA ELIZARRARAS/@JESSELIZARRARAS

When my parents (who will hopefully never, ever read this) come into town this week, they’ll likely touch all my stuff, question most of my life decisions, grill me on how many oil changes my car’s had this year and make passing comments about my friends. Even more unfortunately, they’ll poo-poo the very thought of any drinking, so that’s not an option. But if your family isn’t made up of sober fuddy-duddies, you’ll want to get them out of the house, and into these bars for quality time. Let me live vicariously through you. For The Cool Cousins If your familia is made up of cool cats and hipperthan-thou bar-hoppers, you have a few options. Go the cocktail route and head to Paramour (102 9th St., Suite 400, 210-340-9880) or Sternewirth inside Hotel Emma (136 E. Grayson St., 210-223-7375). The former promises great views of downtown while the latter sits inside the old Pearl brewhouse that’s been turned into an industrial-chic leather-filled lounge. Both can accommodate larger parties, or intimate gatherings, and offer an extensive booze list. If you want to head the party route, but still want exceptional views, go to Lush Rooftop (4553 N. Loop 1604 W., Suite 1201, lushrooftop.com) and get some shots.

Take your family to grab a funky brew at Freetail.

to get through the holidays so they’re hosting a preThanksgiving “Drinksgiving” celebration on November 25 at 3 p.m. to showcase their new Holiday IPA. Bonus: The brewery is big enough for you to get some distance from any creepy uncles. Head to Freetail Brewing’s Taproom (2000 S. Presa St., 210-625-6000) if you want to get down with the funky flavors created by head brewer Jason Davis. Or do some shopping at the Pearl and take your beer-loving brethren to Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery (136 E. Grayson St., Suite 120, 210455-5701) where the brewers rotate the lineup almost biweekly. For the Wine Connoisseurs If my mom were a wino, I’d take her to Nectar Wine Bar & Ale House (214 Broadway, 210-375-4082), which just nails comfy-chic. In the best two stones, one bird scenario ever, the joint is also in Downtown proper so you can tire out the folks on the River Walk, have them take in the sights, get them nice and toasty and then put them to bed early so you can still enjoy a night out. It’s a win(e)-win(e).

Options are plenty at Southerleigh.

For the Beer-loving Parents If your mom and pop love their beers local and hoppy, go the craft brewery route. Alamo Beer Company (202 Lamar St., 210-872-5589) knows you’ll need booze

For When You Need Extra Space Listen, sometimes you just need activities. If you’ve exhausted your Netflix, Hulu and HBO Now queues, bond over a round of golf. At Topgolf San Antonio (5539 N. Loop 1604 W., 210-202-2694) you can either swing a few clubs to burn off those calories, swig a few beers, gnaw on some pretty delicious wings or head to the arcade. Bonus: Topgolf will open their bloody mary bar on holiday Mondays. Along those same lines, you could let the family loose at Bowlero (13307 San Pedro Ave., 210-496-3811) where they’ve got plenty of lanes, a ropes

Don’t get too competitive at Bowlero.

course, boozy milkshakes (!) and an arcade, as well. Just don’t let your competitive streak get the best of you. Visit Your Favorite Dive If your cousins/dad/uncles prefer the crisp allure of a freshly cracked Bud and the salty air that follows after a batch of popcorn is prepared at your favorite local dive, head there. Play some darts, people watch or just throw more quarters in the jukebox and catch up with your pop. The only rule is there’s no pretension allowed here. Our favorites include Crazy Ape (9930 San Pedro Ave., 210375-5813), Marty’s Cocktails (603 Isom Rd., 210-3419259) and Texas T Pub (121 Broadway, 210-271-1058).

sacurrent.com • November 24—December 1, 2015 • CURRENT 49

There can only be ONE!

THE GAME IS ALWAYS ON! GAME-TIME DRINK SPECIALS!

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & everything in-between! FULL BAR OPENS AT 7AM! Sun: 11 am - 2 am | Mon-Sat: 7 am - 2 am | 5562 Fredericksburg Rd. In the Medical Center

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CURRENT • November 24—December 1, 2015 • sacurrent.com

NIGHTLIFE

REMIX

We Flip the Hot Toddy

JESSICA BRYCE YOUNG

About a week ago, on one of the first cool Saturdays since, oh, January or so, I was shopping at Trader Joe’s. I had taken advantage of the almost-coolenough weather to wear my favorite orange wool cardigan. A store employee approached me in the produce aisle as I hefted a Kabocha squash. “I just love that sweater,” she said. “That color. It’s a great seasonal.” Everyone loves a compliment, right? I smiled and wrapped that one around myself while searching for a ripe Hass in a pyramid of rock-hard avocados. Deftly executing a Jenga-type maneuver to pluck out the only one from the middle of the stack without letting them all tumble to the floor, I heard the same employee a few feet away extolling pumpkin-spice-flavored pumpkin seeds to another customer. “They’re a great seasonal,” she chirped. Well, so much for being special. As I tromped past the many, many seasonal product displays, I reminded myself that the towers of pumpkin butter, pumpkin waffles and frozen miniature pumpkin pies would pass, but my orange sweater would stick around. No matter the season. The hot toddy is a seasonal classic, updated. Smoky, warm and rich, it will hug you like your favorite sweater. Lapsang Souchong gets its campfire flavor from being dried over wood fires rather than air-drying, like most black tea. (Locally, you can find it at Central Market). The smoky essence of the tea gives this rye cocktail a Scotch-like aroma, without squandering precious single-malt, and that rich smoky flavor coordinates perfectly with applejack, a brandy made of apple cider aged to a bourbon-like sweetness (Laird & Co., until recently the only licensed distillers of applejack in the U.S., holds the very first commercial distilling license issued in America. Almost 100 years after they set up shop, George Washington wrote to the Lairds asking for their recipe). Mesquite honey also has a smoky, piney taste, and green Chartreuse, as always, lends a sharper herbal note. If it’s too much smoke, add hot water until it’s right for you.

NOV 27 – RECKLESS KELLY PLUS MICKY & THE MOTORCARS

CLASSIC JESSICA BRYCE YOUNG

1 ounce whiskey or brandy 2 tablespoons honey Lemon wedge Hot water Mix your spirit of choice with the honey, squeeze in the lemon, add hot water to taste and stir.

Cigar Shop Fine Wine Champagne Art Gallery Smoke Shop and more!

NOV 28 - JON WOLFE

DEC 4 –GARY P NUNN

DEC 5 – LOVE AND THEFT

REMIXED 4 ounces double-strength Lapsang Souchong tea 1 ounce rye whiskey 1 1/2 ounces applejack 1 teaspoon green Chartreuse 1 tablespoon mesquite honey

DEC 11 – JASON BOLAND AND THE STRAGGLERS

•••••••••••••••• The hot toddy is a seasonal classic.

Set your kettle to boil and get out two cups and a tea infuser. Measure and mix the three spirits together in your favorite cup, and measure double the usual amount of tea into the tea ball — the rule of thumb is one teaspoon per 6 ounces of water, so for this drink, use two teaspoons — and get it ready to steep in the other cup. When the kettle boils, pour in 6 ounces of water and let the tea steep for five minutes. When it’s done, pour 4 ounces of the tea into the cup with the rye, applejack and Chartreuse, then add the honey, stir and drink.

727 S Alamo St. SUITE 200, San Antonio, TX 78205

(210)263-9729

14492 Old Bandera Rd Helotes, TX (210)695-8827

For tickets: liveatfloores.com

sacurrent.com • November 24—December 1, 2015 • CURRENT 51

DOWNTOWN C E NTRA L The Local Bar

HAPPY HOUR OF THE WEEK

Happy Hour 3-7pm Daily Mon. $3 Cosmos All Day. Tues. Shot Specials All Day. $2.75 Wells & $2 Ziegenbock Draft. “River Rat Specail” Always! Psychic Happy Hour Every Tuesday 6-8pm.

Luna Rosa

2603 S. E Military HAPPY HOUR 3-7PM $3 Small Guava-Rita, $4 House Rita $4 Sangria, $5 Tapas $2.50 Budweiser, Bud Light Lime, Bud Light $2.75 Wells $3 Dos XX

Club Sirius

DrinkSirius.com • @ClubSirius HH Daily Noon-8pm: $2 Wells, $2 Domestic 16oz Cans/Pints, $3 Jager

The Bar

1526 Roosevelt Ave CHEAP ASS MONDAY $1.25 Domestic Beers Daily Specials, it’s always Happy Hour Download Our

FREE

HAPPY HOUR APP!

SCAN HERE

TO DOWNLOAD 52

Immediately

CURRENT • November 24—December 1, 2015 • sacurrent.com

Beto’s Alt-Mex HH Happy hour from 4pm-7pm Every Day! 8142 Broadway St

Amp Room

Happy Hour MONDAY-FRIDAY 4PM - 8PM: $2 DOMESTICS, $2 CALLS, $1 TAPAS ENJOY $3 YOU CALL IT’S EVERY SUNDAY AND MONDAY EVERYDAY $5 BEER + SHOT SPECIAL

Nectar

Tuesday is 20% off of entire check all day and night, for Downtown Tuesdays Wed & Fri 15% off entire check 4-6pm

Cullum’s Atta Girl

726 E Mistletoe • (210) 437-4263 Get your Happy Hour Started Early Friday Lunch Pop 11a-2p and Micro Beers

Beer Depot

1304 S Laredo Everyday $2 Lone Star & PBR $2.5 Domestics, $3 Mexican Imports $4 Bottled Craft Brews Closed Sunday and Monday

On The Rocks Pub

270 Losoya, SATX 78205 facebook.com/ontherockspubTX HH: Mon-Fri, 2pm-7pm: $3 Wells, $3 Domestics, $3.75 Flavored Vodkas

Kimura

Happy hour monday - friday 4-7 Saturday 12-4 $6 Kimura Cocktails, $5 House Wines $4 Bottled Beer, $6 Draft Beer $3-$4 Appetizers, $6 Miso Ramen

Flair

6462 N. New Braunfels Ave. 78209 Flairmexicanstreetfood.com HH:Monday-Friday,4- 7pm, Sunday, 8-10 pm 1/2 price apps and Guac! $4 craft draughts $3 off cocktails and win $6 Michelada all day everyday

Tucker’s Kozy Korner

1338 E Houston St • (210) 320-2192 Sunday Brunch: Bloody Mary Bar and Bottomless Mimosas

Toro Taco Bar

114 Brooklyn Ave • torotacobar.com Reverse Happy Hour 9pm

Sancho’s

628 Jackson St, • (210) 320-1840 4- 7pm Every Day Frozen Margs: $2.25, Well Drinks: $3.25 Select Cans: $2.50 Monday - Wednesday: Reverse Happy Hour 9-11pm

Moses Roses

516 E Houston All Day Food and Drink Specials Everyday Kitchen Open Until 1am Everyday

VISI T HAPPYHOUR S.SACURRENT.C OM

NORTHWEST Smitty’s Pub

$2.50 Domestic long necks $2.75 well drinks everyday 2pm - 8pm

Raffles

Wurzbach Ice House

1039 NE Loop 410 210.826.7118 HH 11a-6p Tuesday-Friday & 9p-11p Tues.Thurs. Daily Lunch Specials 11a-3p Closed Mondays

The Over Bar and Grill

Big Guido’s

HH: 4- 8pm Home of the $2.50 Well Drink! $2 Domestic Draft $3 Import Draft, Daily specials 8 till close Open Mon-Fri 4pm till 2am with happy hour from 4 to 6. Sat-Sun hours are 11am till 2am with all day specials.

2607 Jackson Keller • (210) 802-986 Free Wine Fridays with purchase of Adult Entrées

NORTH CENTRAL Michin Mexican Kitchen

Highlander Bar & Grill

7pm - 9pm Mon-Sat: 7am - 4pm $5 House Margaritas, $2.50 Domestic $3.25 Import Drafts & Mini Margaritas Bottles, Tecate & Dos XX, $2.75 Domestic Drafts $3 Indio and Bohemia, and Mexican Draft $4. Tue- $3.25 Mini Hurricanes 427 N Loop 1604, Ste 202, SATX 78258 Thu- $3.25 Premium Vodka Specials Behind Trader Joe’s Sun- $.75 Wings & $3 Sunday Specials 4-8pm: $1 off mixed drinks Slackers & appetizers! Sports-Drinks-Arcade SlackerSA.com • $2.50 Domestics, $3 Wells Daily, $3 You Call It

NORTH EAST Charlie Brown’s Bar & Grill

Charlie-Browns.com • 210-496-7092 Mon.Fri. until 7pm $2.75 well drinks, $8.50 domestic pitchers, $2.75 domestic longnecks Mon.-Fri. 2-6pm 60¢ Wings Wednesday special from $6.50 domestic draft pitchers

sacurrent.com • November 24—December 1, 2015 • CURRENT 53

200 Navarro St Street San antonio, TX 78205 210.224.1031 | www.Drinktexas.com

DJPerforming VIC ||from No9pm Cover - 2am

Visit our other locations:

31138 IH- 10 West Boerne, Texas 265 S Main Street Boerne, Texas

WED. NOV. 25. 2015

Event Raffle

6 for $20, 3 for $10, and 1 for $5

All proceeds will go to San Antonio Food Bank

A trip for 2 to Puerto Rico Disclaimer: for the trip is it is 3 days, 2 nights, airfare for one, accommodations for 2, taxes and a processing fee are the responsibility of the winner

Smaller Prizes Include: • Nordstrom Gift card

• Altitude Trampoline Park (20 person party)

• Uber Credit

• $50 Boudro’s Texas Bistro Gift card

• Drink Texas Prize Package includes

• The 4 Rampage tickets

• $50 Zinc Bistro & Wine Bar Gift card

CURRENT • November 24—December 1, 2015 • sacurrent.com

shirt, koozie, & sunglasses (2 packages)

MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN PRIZES

And more prizes...

MUSIC

WAX FIX

SA’s newest record store heads to Southtown D.T. BUFFKIN /@DTBUFFKIN

•

Southtown Vinyl is set to open in January.

If the building that sits at 1010 S. Flores St. was somehow compounded and sonically realized into a single, full-length record, shrunk down into tiny wax grooves and rivets, I’m afraid it would be something like Nickelback’s newest release. Attempting to appear modern, although it was thinktanked by a Dallas contractor wearing cologne that is equal parts aphrodisiac and appetizer, and who has a Hungarian assistant that he only refers to as “Legs,” it looks just like all of the other Siamese-twin constructs of loft apartments/business storefronts, perpetually on the heels of a tech-industry boom or a UT Business School graduate migration. However, as hipster-sage Bo Diddley so wisely stated, just as “you can’t judge a daughter by looking at her mother, you can’t judge a book by looking at the cover,” and in this case, it rings true. The building surrounded by industrial warehouses and just south of the Judson Lofts is the new home of Southtown Vinyl, a joint venture by partners and DJs Tommy Newman and Gabe Garza. The shop around the corner will house, not only new and used vinyl records, running the gamut from metal and indie to country and jazz, but will also specialize in and sell record players and DJ equipment, synthesizers, tapes, cables and turntable needles, from the most economical to the high-tech and luxurious, and many other miscellanies for the music snob. Though originally slated for a December opening, Southtown Vinyl’s had to push back its opening date to early January.

“We’re gonna try to cover all the bases. I’ve worked at Hogwild so that gives me an idea of the variety of stuff that you should carry,” says Garza. When asked about the ambience of the shop, he replies, “We are trying to be a little more on the loung-ier side as far as the shop itself … a lot of listening stations and an actual lounge area. We’ve got a lot of things we’re going to do for First Friday, and definitely push local artists if they’ve got an EP out or other material … Definitely do in-stores. We’ll have a little patio, too … We’re envisioning some happy hour [activity].” Originally trying to secure a space in Blue Star, and after going back and forth for several months, the duo jumped on the current location. With The Linda Pace Foundation’s forthcoming Ruby City museum, the work being done on Mission Reach, Chris Park and the Lone Star Brewery’s booking of events, the location is primed for traffic. Garza is no stranger to the vinyl retail market as he worked at Hogwild from 1991-97 as a dance music buyer, “during [dance music’s] heyday,” and works off and on at the Main Street staple. “[Newman] was gracious enough to offer me an opportunity, and his business model is solid. I met him years ago, actually, at Hogwild. He used to buy records off me and they used to throw parties at La Louisiane and I used to go out and see him spin, then we connected again … and just wanted to do it, and we think the city is really ready for it. The bars and the restaurants are opening up; we’ve got a lot of new people coming here … A lot more ingredients just make it all the

more flavorful.” What I wanted to know was what Southtown Vinyl will offer, besides actual record players, that Hogwild, Janie’s, Imagine or Flipside don’t currently provide. “Turntable specialization. We are going to do some workshops as far as Tractor and Ableton. Even though we are going to be a record shop, we’re not excluding other types of mediums. It’s really the message behind it, I think. There’s a lot of people doing laptop stuff and a lot of guys still playing records. As long as the music is good and the message is on the money.” Garza’s passion for music was palpable, having DJ’ed for over 20 years and somehow managing to describe others' sentiment for music in a non-stuffy, but hierarchical way. “A lot of people like music and are really into music and some people are really, really into music and they’re making budget choices, ‘Am I going to be eating Top Ramen for the month?’ and it’s the same thing for musicians. It’s that passion that goes into it.” Despite my general distaste for the architecture, I am thoroughly stoked for a new opportunity to blow all my money on records and record accessories and subjugate my family and my digestive tract to a strict diet of Top Ramen. I just hope Tommy and Gabe don’t mind me Jack Black-ing the place up and shooing away white, pony-tailed World Music fans and dads that believe their daughters will actually dig the new Don Henley record. dtbuffkin@sacurrent.com sacurrent.com • November 24—December 1, 2015 • CURRENT 55

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CURRENT • November 24—December 1, 2015 • sacurrent.com

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THE SPUR OF HIP-HOP? Big K.R.I.T., rap’s Big Fundamental ALEJANDRA RAMIREZ

When it comes to producing rap superstars, the South reigns supreme. There are the eclectic clans like Andre 3000, Big Boi and Young Thug; the hype maestros of 2 Chainz, Migos and Future; and rap heavy-weights in T.I. and Ludacris. The list goes on and on. However, despite his decade-long career, Big K.R.I.T. still hasn’t found the traction and success he probably deserves, and he knows it. But the main problem is the Mississippian’s crutch on reincarnating the past. It’s no wonder that K.R.I.T. stands for a “King Remembered in Time,” which, in this case, could almost be taken literally. From a technical standpoint, K.R.I.T. is an exceptional rapper, channeling the socio-political fodder of Goodie Mob, the charismatic gusto of Pimp C and the Southern p-funk of Big Boi circa Speakerboxxx. Production-wise, K.R.I.T. follows in the vein of hip-hop purists preferring the 808 boom-baps and Southern rap sub-woof crushers of UGK and Organized Noize. From his debut mixtape, K.R.I.T. Wuz Here, to his most recent mixtape It’s Better This Way, both could be heard quivering in the woofer booms of someone’s rundown Cadillac. In short, Big K.R.I.T. makes good hip-hop records. But in the age of buzz-worthy clickbait, blog-rap phenomenons à la Young Thug and Chief Keef, and maximalists Kanye West and Travis Scott, being good just isn’t really good enough anymore. At this point though, I don’t think he really cares. Back in 2010, on K.R.I.T. Wuz Here, he rapped of a champagne-on-ice hedonistic life: “I just touched down/ Tell me what I’m doing if I aint fuckin’ pimpin’,” K.R.I.T. rapped in braggadocio on “Just Touched Down.” Three years later, on his mixtape King Remembered in Time, he lamented on his inability to coalesce his success into fruition. “Cause’ even when you polished, niggas won’t let you shine for shit,” said a vexed K.R.I.T. Yeah he may sound bummed, but he remained unfazed: “Forever getting mine, forever on the grind.” Two years later, 10 mixtapes and a studio album in, it seems as if K.R.I.T. is now content with his place in hip-hop. “You don’t really like what they play on the radio every single day,” he raps in It’s Better this Way. “If you’re looking for some original soul, I know where you should go.” So what he lacks in innovation, he makes up for in consistency. Since his burgeoning, hyped years of 20092010, K.R.I.T. has managed to release a continual body

•

Big K.R.I.T. is holdin' it down for the soulful.

Southern bass jolts of Outkast. K.R.I.T. even ventures of work yearly that focuses on the album entirely. Rather into psychedelic excursions loaded with ’70s wah and than functioning on the modus operandi of modern reverb that would make George Clinton proud. The way rappers — where Rae Sremmurd and Young Thug fly on he seamlessly integrates soul with hip-hop makes you the coattails of contagious singles like “No Flex Zone” or question why more music isn’t being made like this. “Lifestyle” — K.R.I.T. has received recognition through his Lyrically, K.R.I.T. channels the African-American griot, lengthy catalogue of mixtapes. where his albums take hackneyed anecdotes and expand There’s a reason why he says, “I apologize if I’m oh-sothem into earnest and juxtaposing tales: where there was old-fashioned” on “Third Eye” in Cadillactica: a testament “grandma’s hands ushering Sunday mornings,” there to not only his nostalgic-leaning production but also were also kids “emerged from dirt” as they “dash, sprint, album-centric mindset. It’s definitely a dated mindset hurdle over those steel gates” to escape the police. In — because let’s be honest, nobody really buys albums his most personal moments like the hazy apocalyptic anymore — but he seems more invested in perfecting his “Angels,” and the Southern zeal “King Pt. 4,” he draws on sound than expanding his palette too far. And it works for communal and intimate experiences that make him one of him, because what K.R.I.T. does, he does so well. hip-hop’s most gifted lyricists. K.R.I.T. likes soul, not only sonically but also Whether K.R.I.T.’s stubborn steadfastness in lyrically. It’s Better This Way and Cadillactica Big K.R.I.T. the fickle face of change will stunt his growth as play out with soulful funk vibes that could Feat. BJ the an artist still remains uncertain. And honestly, coalesce into a brainchild between Sly and the Chicago Kid he’s sort of like the Spurs. He may not be the Family Stone and Goodie Mob. While songs like $25-$100 most inventive or gaudy player in hip-hop but “King Pt. 4” and “Soul Food” channel watercolor 8pm Wed, Nov. 25 Alamo City Music Hall he remains persistent and always delivers, blues with introspective themes of lost values 1305 E. Houston St. speaking to the old adage: Why change what and rising through adversity, songs like “Kreation” (210) 698-2856 alamocitymusichall.com works so well? and “Mind Control” are redolent to the deep sacurrent.com • November 24—December 1, 2015 • CURRENT 57

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lightning-fast fingers and several video games in the Tony Wallace’s thunderclap bass slap Hawk’s Pro Skater franchise, The has hypnotized audiences since Reverend Horton Heat have built a their start in Dallas’ Deep Ellum cult following elbowing in between neighborhood in the late 1980s. the likes of Kenneth Anger, Ricky With skills and a hankering for fun Nelson, Link Wray and Jack White. matched by few, them Heat boys If the trio was embodied in a single could teach, and have taught, pop culture reference or Hollywood modern rockers a thing or two amalgamation they’d either be Billy about a thing or two. The sincerity Bob Thornton exiting a limo onto of their delivery has secured them the red carpet of the 2000 MTV — through soundtracks, video Movie Awards with Angelina Jolie games and guest appearances — an still drying on his member and enviable spot as the psychobilly clinging to his side, or the love child tramp stamp on the hearts of the of Iggy Pop and Johnny Depp in urbane and tasteful, as well as the Cry-Baby (if we had been so lucky hick-ish and hayseed. as to have witnessed such a Known throughout miraculous thing). suburbia as hero to For fans of songs in the key The Reverend Horton Heat feat. Cartoon Network’s Johnny of the switchblade, fuzzy dice, The BellRays and Bravo, composers of the guttural exhaust of a ’50s Lords of Altamont the digit-tangling Guitar Chevy and all things leopard$20 7pm Sun, Nov. 29 Hero II master-level track print and crushed velvet, Paper Tiger “Psychobilly Freakout,” church service has begun. 2410 N. St. Mary’s St. and for supplying tunes for dtbuffkin@sacurrent.com papertigersa.com

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CURRENT • November 24—December 1, 2015 • sacurrent.com

MUSIC

SUN

Ramblin’ Jack Elliott

Jack Elliott, as if it wasn’t clear from his name alone, operates in 29 Ramblin’ the illustrious tradition of folk music. His work, lifestyle and persona have influenced everyone from Bob Dylan to Jerry Jeff Walker, from Johnny Cash to The Grateful Dead, from Bruce Springsteen to Beck. Dude dropped the first of his 18 studio albums in 1955, when Bob Dylan, his most important friend, successor and champion, was just 14 years old. As such, it wouldn’t be inappropriate to see him as a bridge between Woody Guthrie and Dylan. All of Elliott’s impeccable work is hallmarked by open-hearted wanderlust, Americana romanticism and the man’s organic, pleasantly nasal, everyman crooning. Still ramblin’ at the ripe old age of 84, Elliott is a Grammy-winning, National Medal of the Arts recipient who has faithfully and exuberantly carried the American folk tradition into the new millennium. His most recent release, 2009’s A Stranger Here, finds our hero with dusty boots still obstinately planted on the soil of timeworn folk and blues. To say that Sunday’s set at Sam’s will be something of a throwback would be an understatement. $20-$70, 6pm, Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-2830, samsburgerjoint.com — James Courtney

Wednesday, November 25

Low Dough Pizza Show with Crizzly and Friends The Boerne native has a pretty consistent plan of attack. Crizzly finds tracks from the trap and crunk heroes of Memphis, Houston and Atlanta and sends them through an EDM bootcamp. Out of the process emerge uniform bass and drop-heavy soldiers that Crizzly deploys at EDM festivals worldwide. Lush, 9pm

Thrashgiving Celebrate Thanksgiving with more than 20 of SA’s noisiest screamers and thrashers. What follows is a tutorial in naming your screamo band. Featuring Buried Under Texas, Just A Dream, LifeLike, BackWordz, XURL, Fortunes and Life Cycles. The Korova, 3pm

Two Tons of Steel With a new drummer in tow, Kevin Geil and the Two Tons boys bring their boot-scootin’ badassery to the newest venue on the Strip. The Amp Room, 10pm

Wade Bowen On “Saturday Night” Wade

Bowen has a concept worth keeping: why is everybody so crazy about Saturday night and having a good time when his heart is broken? Think Alan Jackson’s “Don’t Rock the Jukebox” circa 2015. Gruene Hall, 8pm

Thursday, November 26 Ken Slavin Trio Like a comedian

careening through a familiar joke, Slavin has incredible control over the pacing, charm and melodic intricacies of the crooner pages of The Real Book. The Last Word, 9pm

Thurzgayz Thanksgiving Dance Party with VJ Glitoris Dance off the turkey

with the fabulous indie and dance musical stylings of one of the best-named DJs in the gay-m. Brass Monkey. 10pm

Friday, November 27

The Acacia Strain Don’t call The Acacia

Strain deathcore or else singer, and only remaining original member, Vincent Bennett “might do something very bad to [you].” How does borecore work? With Counterparts, Glass Cloud and Fit for an Autopsy. The Korova, 6pm

Alejandro Fernandez “El Potrillo” rides

into San Antonio to woo and swoon with his inherited croon. The son of Vicente Fernandez started off singing rancheras and mariachi but has since crossed over into the world of pop with great success. Freeman Coliseum, 9pm

A Braun Family Thanksgiving: Reckless Kelly, Micky & the Motorcars, Muzzie Braun There’s no digestif for turkey,

dressing, potatoes and pie like Red Dirt, and this lineup delivers, for the Americana appetite. Floore’s Country Store, 7pm

Chisme Born of back alley whispers and

the heavy San Antonio night air, Chisme's narrative hip hop inspires a riddled stir in your gut. It’s an uneasiness left by the nightmare already forgotten. Lingering smoke in the form of a beckoning finger. Storytellers, simply the truth left untold. Limelight, 8pm

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CURRENT • November 24—December 1, 2015 • sacurrent.com

MUSIC

are the requisite wardrobe for “picking up change.” With For a Reason, Wasted Roach, Jimmie Alamo and Cauterized. Jack’s Patio Bar, 8pm

Borgeous With three songs charting on

the Billboard Dance Radio Top 10 you know Club Rio’s UTSA shuttle service is going to be the party bus. God bless the bus drivers who keep our children safe. Club Rio, 9pm

Fall Fall Fall Fest Pre-Party As a sampler for December’s Fall Fall Fall Fest, the Pre-Party will feature Lloronas, a SA punk outfit who'd rather shred than cry over boys, Latin rockers Indigenauts and Arma Musical. With DJ Victima. Hi-Tones, 9pm

The Halfways On “Look to Me” and

“Gnarltrees” The Halfways clip-clopclop waltz highlights their affinity for old-timey aesthetics, harmonies and a campfire, sing-along vibe. 502 Bar, 9pm

Hayes Carll Carll and his band merge

a truculent singer-songwriter take on honky tonk that combines Ray Wylie Hubband’s lean freewheeling squalor with Todd Snider’s brazen Gen Y reality. Gruene Hall, 8pm

Slaid Cleaves Twenty years into his

career, the celebrated songwriter’s Still Fighting the War spotlights an artist in peak form. Sam’s Burger Joint, 7:30pm

Saturday, November 28

Cole Swindell Swindell is next in that

long, depressing line of buff cowpokes that believe girls in tight pants, a steady backbeat, cold beer and a big truck equal a nu-country hit. Cowboys Dancehall, 7pm

The Interrupters An LA-based four-

piece bound by their rebel spirit and deep love of 2 Tone, The Interrupters make super-high-energy ska-punk that’s equal parts catchy and confrontational. Pick it up, pick it up, pick it up! The Korova, 8pm

Parkway Drive In the most hilarious

video of the year, “Vice Grip,” Aussie metalcore group Parkway Drive sky dives their way to a concert complete with pyrotechnics and confused youth. With Miss May I, Thy Art is Murder, In Hearts Wake. Aztec Theatre, 6pm

Peach Fish Bust out the Jnco’s, glowsticks and pacifiers for Peach Fish’s brand of vintage synth-pop, euro-pop, funk and trip-hop. With Voodoo Boogaloo and Starfighter Dreams. Limelight, 9pm

The Sour Notes, Last Nighters, Ila Minori On Do What May, Austin quintet The Sour Notes trade off between keyboard pop and super chunky rock through 10 indelible tracks. Animal Room, the debut LP by San Antonio’s Last Nighters, plays like something of a concise history of modern Southern indie music. K23 Gallery, 8:30pm

Sunday, November 29

Variants Complying to the emo code of

conduct without the nasally whine and melodramatic treatment of the turmoil everpresent in the teenage heart, Variants create driven compositions with a twenty something’s flair. Imagine Books & Records, 8pm

Rockabilly Riot Complete with a hot

rod show and three of San Antonio’s premiere bands that make you say “a-whomp-bomba-loo-ma-a-whompbam-boom,” Rocky’s Tavern hosts a shindig for the greaser set. Rocky’s Tavern, 4pm

Monday, November 30

Deuce Coupe Texas Rockabilly This

Austin trio is sure to keep the vipers vipin’ and the cats swingin'. Sam’s Burger Joint, 7pm

Tuesday, December 1

Venom Inc. The ’80s black metal group

makes Church of Satan founder Anton LaVey’s album Satan Takes a Holiday sound like bro-rockers Smash Mouth. With Hod, Hellknife and Necrophagia. The Korova, 7pm

502 Bar 502 Embassy Oaks, (210) 257-8125, 502bar.com Aztec Theatre 104 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 812-4355, theaztectheatre.com Brass Monkey 2702 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 480-4722, facebook.com/BrassMonkeyTX Club Rio 13307 San Pedro Avenue, (210) 403-2582, club-rio.net Cowboys Dancehall 3030 NE Interstate 410 Loop, (210) 6469378, cowboysdancehall.com/san-antonio Freeman Coliseum 3201 E. Houston St., (210) 226-1177, freemancoliseum. com Floore’s Country Store 14492 Old Bandera Road., (210) 695-8827, liveatfloores.com Gruene Hall 1281 Gruene Road, (830) 606-1281, gruenehall.com Hi-Tones 621 E. Dewey Pl., (210) 573-6220, hitonessa.com Imagine Books & Records 8373 Culebra Road, (210) 236-7668, imaginebookstore.com Jack’s Patio Bar 3030 Thousand Oaks Drive, (210) 494-2309, jacksbarsa.com K23 Gallery 703 Fredericksburg Road, (210) 776-5635, facebook.com/ K23Gallery The Last Word 229 E. Houston St. #110, (210) 314-1285, thelastwordsa.com Limelight 2718 N. St. Mary’s St., thelimelightsa.com Lush 4553 N. Loop 1604 Rocky’s Tavern 11403 O’Connor Road, (210) 637-7625, rockystavern. com Sam’s Burger Joint 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-2830, samsburgerjoint.com The Amp Room 2407 N. St. Mary’s Street, (210) 320-2122, theamproom.com The Korova 107 E. Martin St., (210) 226-5070, thekorova.com

sacurrent.com • November 24—December 1, 2015 • CURRENT 63

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FRESH AIR SAVAGE LOVE

Check out fresh daily content at sacurrent.com

by Dan Savage

A couple of months ago, I got candida (a fungal infection) under my foreskin. I went to the doctor, picked up some cream, and used the cream as directed. The infection went away for about a week and then returned. I got this idea that maybe the cream didn’t work the first time because it’s so naturally moist under the foreskin. So I used the cream a second time—but this time, after each application I would “air out” my penis, i.e., pull back the foreskin and leave the head exposed to the open air for a little while. The candida cleared up, apparently for good. What surprised me, though, was that I really enjoyed this twice-a-day airing out. I’ve continued doing it. I have no idea why I find this enjoyable. I’m not masturbating while I’m doing it. I just use that flap on the front of my underwear to help keep the foreskin back and leave my glans exposed for about 15 to 20 minutes. (This is likely the first time in history that anyone has actually used that flap on the front of men’s underwear.) I’m wondering if, by airing out my cock in this way, there’s any risk of causing damage. From reading the all-knowing internet, it seems that this amount shouldn’t cause any problems, but I’d like to get an expert opinion. I have noticed a slight decrease in sensitivity, but that has been a positive thing, as I’ve always been quite sensitive. This airing out of my penis seems to accomplish a slight desensitizing that I find beneficial. Can I continue to do it? Apparently Into Retraction “This shouldn’t be a problem,” said Dr. Stephen King, a urologist and one of my go-to guys on all things dick. “It sounds like he found a unique solution to a couple of issues: infections and sensitivity.” So you can continue airing out your cock with Dr. King’s blessing—and congratulations on coming up with a successful foreskin hack, AIR. But Dr. King wouldn’t recommend your foreskin hack to uncircumcised/intact

dudes with a very particular medical condition. (I’m using “hack” here in the “life hack” sense, obviously—perhaps a poor choice of slang, considering that humanity has been needlessly hacking away at foreskins for millennia.) “The only time keeping a foreskin pulled back for a prolonged period of time becomes a problem is when someone has phimosis,” said Dr. King. An adult with phimosis either can’t retract their foreskin over the head of their penis or has a very difficult time doing so—a condition an adult may develop as the result of an infection or some other trauma that scarred the foreskin. “In patients who are elderly or demented, the foreskin can get stuck in the retracted position,” said Dr. King, “trapping blood in the head of the penis like a tourniquet, causing severe pain—we call this ‘paraphimosis.’” Paraphimosis is some serious shit— gangrene can set in, and the head of the penis might have to come off. “I don’t think this is an issue for AIR,” said Dr. King, “so he can continue as desired. Just tell him to be careful with that zipper!” My girlfriend of six months hooked up with one of my buds. They were both drunk at a party, and I was out of town for a sports thing. I wasn’t angry when she “confessed.” I thought it was hot and said we should maybe have a threesome with the dude. I’m not interested in being with a guy, but I’d be down with a M/M/F threesome. So now my girlfriend is furious with me for not being angry. She literally just texted to say she’s not sure she can stay with me because she doesn’t want to be with a guy who wouldn’t care if she slept around on him. What the fuck am I supposed to say to that? The Wronged Party

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ETC.

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1 Comedian dubbed “The Entertainer” 7 Label in a folder 15 Singer Grande 16 Better than usual 17 Meter reader of sorts 18 Makeover, perhaps 19 Houdini, notably 21 Hall & Oates, e.g. 22 Dodeca-, quartered 23 “In ___ of flowers ...” 27 “Ugly Betty” actor Michael 29 They go through a slicer 34 Bike turners 37 Lucy Lawless TV role 38 Apprehend, as a criminal 39 Jupiter and Mars, among others 42 Great respect 45 “___ Your Enthusiasm” 46 Required 50 Show sadness 53 Work with a meter 54 “Twin Peaks” actor MacLachlan 55 Easter candy shape 58 Body scan, for short 59 Pie feature, or feature of this puzzle’s other four longest

answers 65 Estate 68 More conceited 69 Tableware 70 Make public 71 Artists’ boards 72 Riata loops

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1 Confined 2 “A Little Respect” band 3 Round and flat in shape 4 “Rendezvous With ___” (Arthur C. Clarke book) 5 Hardly fitting 6 Certain chairmaker 7 “M*A*S*H” actor Jamie 8 “Like that’ll ever happen” 9 California city in a Creedence song 10 Two important ones are a week apart in December 11 Big name in chocolate 12 Bee-related prefix 13 Off-the-rack purchase, for short? 14 Suffix for north or south 20 Give help to 24 McKellen of the “Hobbit” films 25 Frat house H

26 Connector for a smart device 28 It may be pulled in charades 30 Adjective for Lamar Odom in recent headlines 31 Travel division 32 Privy to 33 Created 35 “Livin’ La Vida ___” (1999 hit) 36 Adult material 40 “We ___ Queen Victoria” 41 Aug. follower 42 Beseech 43 Word often seen near 42Down 44 “Slippery” fish 47 Pizza Hut competitor 48 Mountain dog breed 49 Asylum seekers 51 Practice lexicography 52 Boxing arbiter 56 Like first names 57 ___SmithKline 60 Lie down for a while 61 “SVU” part 62 Running in neutral 63 Cold War news agency 64 Cosmetic surgery, briefly 65 Drill sergeant’s “one” 66 ___ moment’s notice 67 “Dumbo” frame

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ETC.

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY by Rob Brezsny ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): “We are torn between nostalgia for the familiar and an urge for the foreign and strange,” wrote novelist Carson McCullers. “As often as not, we are homesick most for the places we have never known.” I’m guessing that these days you’re feeling that kind of homesickness, Aries. The people and places that usually comfort you don’t have their customary power. The experiences you typically seek out to strengthen your stability just aren’t having that effect. The proper response, in my opinion, is to go in quest of exotic and experimental stimuli. In ways you may not yet be able to imagine, they can provide the grounding you need. They will steady your nerves and bolster your courage.

TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): The Pekingese is a breed of dog that has been around for over 2,000 years. In ancient China, it was beloved by Buddhist monks and emperors’ families. Here’s the legend of its origin: A tiny marmoset and huge lion fell in love with each other, but the contrast in their sizes made union impossible. Then the gods intervened, using magic to make them the same size. Out of the creatures’ consummated passion, the first Pekingese was born. I think this myth can serve as inspiration for you, Taurus. Amazingly, you may soon find a way to blend and even synergize two elements that are ostensibly quite different. Who knows? You may even get some divine help.

GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): Author Virginia Woolf wrote this message to a dear ally: “I sincerely hope I’ll never fathom you. You’re mystical, serene, intriguing; you enclose such charm within you. The luster of your presence bewitches me . . . the whole thing is splendid and voluptuous and absurd.” I hope you will have good reason to whisper sweet things like that in the coming weeks, Gemini. You’re in the Season of Togetherness, which is a favorable time to seek and cultivate interesting kinds of intimacy. If there is no one to whom you can sincerely deliver a memo like Woolf’s, search for such a person.

CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): Some people are so attached to wearing a favorite ring on one of their fingers that they never take it off. They love the beauty and endearment it evokes. In rare cases, years go by and their ring finger grows thicker. Blood flow is constricted. Discomfort sets in. And they can’t remove their precious jewelry with the lubrication provided by a little olive oil or soap and water. They need the assistance of a jeweler who uses a small saw and a protective sheath to cut away the ring. I suspect this may be an apt metaphor for a certain situation in your life, Cancerian. Is it? Do you wonder if you should free yourself from a pretty or sentimental constriction that you have outgrown? If so, get help.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): “Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted,” wrote Leo author Aldous Huxley. That’s the bad news. The good news is that in the coming weeks you are less likely to take things for granted than you have been in a long time. Happily, it’s not because your familiar pleasures and sources of stability are in jeopardy. Rather, it’s because you have become more deeply connected to the core of your life energy. You have a vivid appreciation of what sustains you. Your assignment: Be alert for the eternal as it wells up out of the mundane. VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): In their quest to collect nectar, honeybees are attuned to the importance of proper timing. Even if flowering plants are abundant, the quality and quantity of the nectar that’s available vary with the weather, season, and hour of the day. For example, dandelions may offer their peak blessings at 9 a.m., cornflowers in late morning, and clover in mid-afternoon. I urge you to be equally sensitive to the sources where you can obtain nourishment, Virgo. Arrange your schedule so you consistently seek to gather what you need at the right time and place.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22) : Are you willing to dedicate yourself fully to a game whose rules are constantly mutating? Are you resourceful enough to keep playing at a high level even if some of the other players don’t have as much integrity and commitment as you? Do you have confidence in your ability to detect and adjust to ever-shifting alliances? Will the game still engage your interest if you discover that the rewards are different from what you thought they were? If you can answer yes to these questions, by all means jump all the way into the complicated fun!

astronomers, but by laypersons, including two 13-year-olds. They have used the Internet to access images from the SOHO satellite placed in orbit by NASA and the European Space Agency. After analyzing the astrological omens, I expect you Sagittarians to enjoy a similar run of amateur success. So trust your rookie instincts. Feed your innocent curiosity. Ride your raw enthusiasm.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): Whether or not you are literally a student enrolled in school, I suspect you will soon be given a final exam. It may not happen in a classroom or require you to write responses to questions. The exam will more likely be administered by life in the course of your daily challenges. The material you’ll be tested on will mostly include the lessons you have been studying since your last birthday. But there will also be at least one section that deals with a subject you’ve been wrestling with since early in your life — and maybe even a riddle from before you were born. Since you have free will, Capricorn, you can refuse to take the exam. But I hope you won’t. The more enthusiastic you are about accepting its challenge, the more likely it is that you’ll do well.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): For $70,000 per night, you can rent the entire country of Liechtenstein for your big party. The price includes the right to rename the streets while you’re there. You can also create a temporary currency with a likeness of you on the bills, have a giant rendition of your favorite image carved into the snow on a mountainside, and preside over a festive medieval-style parade. Given your current astrological omens, I suggest you consider the possibility. If that’s too extravagant, I hope you will at least gather your legion of best friends for the Blowout Bash of the Decade. It’s time, in my opinion, to explore the mysteries of vivid and vigorous conviviality.

PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Are you available to benefit from a thunderbolt healing? Would you consider wading into a maelstrom if you knew it was a breakthrough in disguise? Do you have enough faith to harvest an epiphany that begins as an uproar? Weirdly lucky phenomena like these are on tap if you have the courage to ask for overdue transformations. Your blind spots and sore places are being targeted by life’s fierce tenderness. All you have to do is say, “Yes, I’m ready.”

THIS MODERN WORLD by Tom Tomorrow

SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): I suspect your body has been unusually healthy and vigorous lately. Is that true? If so, figure out why. Have you been taking better care of yourself? Have there been lucky accidents or serendipitous innovations on which you’ve been capitalizing? Make these new trends a permanent part of your routine. Now I’ll make a similar observation about your psychological well-being. It also seems to have been extra strong recently. Why? Has your attitude improved in such a way as to generate more positive emotions? Have there been fluky breakthroughs that unleashed unexpected surges of hope and good cheer? Make these new trends a permanent part of your routine. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): From the dawn of civilization until 1995, humans cataloged about 900 comets in our solar system. But since then, we have expanded that tally by over 3,000. Most of the recent discoveries have been made not by professional

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