Ezine.com
ON THE TOWN
July/August 2015
The DoSeum Restaurant Week Courses & Cocktails Fiesta Noche del Rio Boerne Art Al Fresco Guadalupe’s Jerry Ruiz Cirque du Soleil KOOZA Plus 11 Additional Articles July/August 2015 | On The Town 1
2 On The Town | July/August 2015
July/August 2015 | On The Town 3
Features
22
8
Live Music, Community Theater and Comedy Take Center Stage in July and August
46
Features Cont. 8
Sea Island Shrimp House Celebrating 50 Years
60
Young Minds Have a New Place to Grow 66 SOLI Chamber Ensemble: Giving 14 In San Antonio – The DoSeum Life to New Music Art Al Fresco: Celebrating Art and 70 Cirque du Soleil’s KOOZA Opens 18 Community in Boerne Under The Big Top at Circuit of the Americas on September 3 Jerry Ruiz Comes Home to Texas and 72 Alamo Kiwanis Club Celebrates Fiesta 22 the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center Noche del Rio’s 59th Season Have the Time of Your Life at ZDT’s 83 Chasing a Dream: The Power of a Dream 26 Amusement Park: Non-Stop Family Fun Documentary Chronicles Eric Castillo’s and a New Rollercoaster Make Seguin Ambition to Play College Football at Age The Place to Be This Summer 30 Despite the Odds and Obstacles J Prime Steakhouse Blazes a New Trail of Excellence
46
Blue Lotus Winery and Texas Mead Works: A Fresh Twist on the Texas Wine Scene
50
Departments
San Antonio Restaurant Weeks: August 15-29
52
Book Talk: Cynthia Leal Massey, 79 Author and Journalist
Special Guest Chef Shane Lyons Joins Five Local Star Chefs for Houston Street Charities’ Courses & Cocktails August 30 at NAO
56
4 On The Town | July/August 2015
Events Calendar
30
Artistic Destination: The Hills Are Alive: 90 Hill Country Arts Foundation Grows Visual and Performing Arts in Ingram, Texas Out & About With Greg Harrison
96
Lair Creative, LLC would not knowingly publish misleading or erroneous information in editorial content or in any adv appear under any circumstances. Additionally, content in this electronic magazine does not necessarily reflect the view mances and exhibits, it is recommended that all times and dates of such events be confirmed by the reader prior to at
56
60
72
Cover Credits Contributors Front Cover Photo: Fiesta Noche del Rio Courtesy Alamo Kiwanis Club Performing Arts Cover Photo Weird Al Yankovic Courtesy Majestic Theatre Events Calendar Cover Photo Eric Johnson Courtesy Tobin Center Culinary Arts Cover Photo Photo by Greg Harrison Visual Arts Cover Photo: Oil by Frank Roddie Courtesy Hill Country Arts Foundation Literary Arts Cover Photo: Photo by Greg Harrison Eclectics Cover Photo: Photo by Greg Harrison
Karen Adams
Christian Lair, operations manager / webmaster
Heather Akkerman Mikel Allen, creative director / graphic designer
Kay Lair Veronica Luna
Rudy Arispe Olivier J. Bourgoin (aka, Olivier the Wine Guy)
Ginger McAneerRobinson
Julie Catalano
Susan A. Merkner, copy editor
Thomas Duhon
Sara Selango
Jennie Fisher Greg Harrison, staff photographer
Janis Turk Jasmina Wellinghoff
OnTheTownEzine.com is published by Lair Creative, LLC 14122 Red Maple San Antonio, Texas 78247 210-771-8486 210-490-7950 (fax)
vertisement in On The Town Ezine.com, nor does it assume responsibility if this type of editorial or advertising should ws or opinions of the management of Lair Creative, LLC. Since On The Town Ezine.com features information on perforttendance. The publisher assumes no responsibility for changes in times, dates, venues, exhibitions or performances.
July/August 2015 | On The Town 5
6 On The Town | July/August 2015
Performing Arts
8-28
July/August 2015 | On The Town 7
Live Music, Community Theater and Comedy Take Center Stage in July and August By Sara Selango
8 On The Town | July/August 2015
July/August 2015 | On The Town 9
W
e l co m e to th e su mmer enter tainment s e as o n . I t ’s di f ferent f ro m a l l ot her t im e s o f th e yea r beca u se many of the m a jo r p re s e nters ta ke a brea k du r ing July a nd Augu s t. Fo r exa mpl e, th e S a n Antonio Sym pho ny d o e s n o t per fo r m du r i n g t hese month s, n o r d o es th e M a jesti c Th eat re or Tobi n Ce nte r h ave a B ro a dway to u r i n g show sched ul e d d u r in g th at spa n . Ar ts S a n Antonio is on vacat io n , a s a re B a l l et S a n Antonio a nd Op e ra S an Anto n i o. Wi th th at said, it is i mpo r t ant to n o te th at su mmer mont hs stil l br i n g s o m e ver y h o t even i n gs o n st ages throug h o u t S an Anto n i o a n d th e H i l l Count r y.
C h r i s t i n a Pe r r i , “ We i r d A l ” Ya n k o v i c a n d 1 9 6 4 T h e Tr i b u t e . Fe a t u r e d c o m e d y t h e r e i n c l u d e s Steve Mar tin with Mar tin Shor t July 10 and Mar tin Lawrence July 24.
M eanwhile, Tyler Oak ley ’s Slumb e r Pa r t y k i c ks off t he Tob in’s sc hed ule July 9 , w i t h Ke i t h Sweat and D oug E. Fresh up nex t Ju l y 1 0 . H ip p iefest 2015 hit s t he st age Ju l y 1 2 w i t h vint age roc ker s R ic k D er r inger, M i tc h R yde r and t he D et roit Wheels, Bad fing e r a n d Th e Family Stone. M eghan Trainor is i n t h e h o u s e July 16, followed by Dic k Fox ’s G o l de n B oys (Frank ie Avalon, Fab ian and B o b by R yde l l ) July 19. Pat B enat ar and Neil G i ra l do fi n i s h E v e n w i t h o u t B r o a d w a y, t h e M a j e s t i c a n d out t he mont h t he nex t d ay. Augu s t s e e s Fi f t h To b i n a r e p u m p i n g o u t t h e h i t s i n J u l y a n d Har m ony, Er ic Johnson and Buc kch e r r y o n t h e A u g u s t . T h e M a j e s t i c w e l c o m e s W i d e s p r e a d Tob in’s p er for m ance b ill. Pa n i c J u l y 2 - 4 , f o l l o w e d b y R o b T h o m a s J u l y 1 1 . R E O S p e e d w a g o n h i t s t h e M a j e s t i c s t a g e The A ztec is keep ing b usy in July a n d Au g u s t, t h e n e x t d a y, a n d t h e l e g e n d a r y B i l l M e d l e y p resent ing p er for mer s Danzig, Br i t Fl oyd – o f t h e R i g h t e o u s B r o t h e r s c o m e s t o t h e b i g The Wor ld ’s Greatest Pink Floyd S h ow, O t t ma r t h e a t e r J u l y 1 7 . T h e A u g u s t l i n e u p i n c l u d e s Lieb er t and Luna Negra, Los Lon e l y B oys a n d A m e r i c a n I d o l L i v e , C o l b i e C a i l l a t w i t h Tod d Rund gren. There’s more o n t a p h e re.
10 On The Town | July/August 2015
Ch ec k t h e ir we b s ite. Tr a d i t i o n a l l y, c o u n t r y a n d w e s t e r n m u s i c two-steps to the forefront in the summer months, and this year is no exception. Places s u c h a s J o h n T. F l o o r e C o u n t r y S t o r e , G r u e n e Hall, Luckenbach Dancehall, Blue Bonnet Pa l a c e a n d W h i t e w a t e r A m p h i t h e a t e r i n N e w Braunfels load up with great talent. Examples this year include The Charlie Daniels Band, Tr a c y L a w r e n c e , R a y W y l i e H u b b a r d , R o g e r C r e a g e r, K e v i n Fo w l e r, Pa t G r e e n , B r a n d o n R h y d e r, R a n d y R o g e r s B a n d , C o r y M o r r o w, Wa d e B o w e n , M a x S t a l l i n g , G a r y P. N u n n , A s l e e p a t t h e W h e e l a n d Tw o To n s o f S t e e l . Check the listings in this magazine for dates, times and places. Before moving on, I also should mention that Larry Gatlin will be a p p e a r i n g a t t h e B r a u n t e x Pe r f o r m i n g A r t s Theatre in New Braunfels July 22.
We s t S i d e S t o r y a t t h e Wo o d l a w n , Av e n u e Q and Cabaret at Cameo Theatre and BoeingB o e i n g a t t h e S h e l d o n Ve x l e r. Out-oftowners include Thoroughly Modern Millie in New Braunfels at Circle Ar ts, Evita and G r e a t e r Tu n a b y Fr e d e r i c k s b u r g T h e a t r e C o m p a n y, P l a y h o u s e 2 0 0 0 ’s P i r a t e s o f Penzance at the Cailloux in Kerr ville, James a n d t h e G i a n t P e a c h a t t h e S m i t h - R i t c h Po i n t T h e a t r e i n I n g r a m , p l u s T h e A d d a m s Fa m i l y also in Ingram at the Elizabeth Huth-Coates Theatre. Boerne Community Theatre hits the b o a r d s w i t h T h e C o m p l e t e Wo r k s o f W i l l i a m S h a k e s p e a r e ( a b r i d g e d ) w h i l e S . T. A . G . E i n B u l v e r d e t a k e s o n Fo r b i d d e n B r o a d w a y .
Anot her genre of great enter t ain me nt to a dd to your “ to see” list in t he sum me r i s co me dy. R ivercenter and Laugh O ut Lo u d Co me dy C lub s have favor ites coming in s u c h a s Ca r l o s M enc ia, D eR ay Davis, Lavell Craw fo rd, Pe te C o m m u n i t y t h e a t e r s g e t i n t o t h e J u l y - A u g u s t Cor reale, Cr istela Alonzo and Feli c i a M i c h a e l s. a c t w i t h b l o c k b u s t e r s s u c h a s G r e a s e a t T h e That p ret t y m uc h cover s t hing s, w i t h t wo P l a y h o u s e S a n A n t o n i o, M a r y P o p p i n s a n d excep t ions. Step hanie S ant ’Amb ro gi o’s Ca c t u s
July/August 2015 | On The Town 11
Pe a r M u s i c Fe s t i v a l p r e s e n t s i t s 1 9 t h s e a s o n July 5-19 with per formances in San Antonio and three surrounding area cities. Check their website for more information. And, Fi e s t a N o c h e d e l R i o c o n t i n u e s a t t h e A r n e s o n R i v e r T h e a t r e o n Fr i d a y a n d S a t u r d a y n i g h t s through Aug. 15.
Page 10 ( L- R) R ob Thom as Cour tesy M ajest ic Theat re C hr ist ina Per r i Cour tesy M ajest ic Theat re
Live music, community theater and comedy m a k e s u m m e r i n t h e c i t y c o o l . M a k e p l a n s . Page 11 ( L- R) Get some tickets and go!
• • • • • • • • • • • • Ph oto Cre d i t s Pa g e s 8 - 9 M e g ha n Trai n o r Co ur te s y To b in Ce nter
12 On The Town | July/August 2015
Tyler Oak ley Cour tesy Tob in Center Neil Girald o and Pat B enat ar Photo by Travis Shinn Page 12 Steve M ar t in and M ar t in Shor t Cour tesy M ajest ic Theat re
July/August 2015 | On The Town 13
David Mollennauer
Stephanie Key
Ertan Torgul
Carolyn True
SOLI Chamber Ensemble: Giving Life to New Music By Jasmina Wellinghoff Photography Courtesy SOLI
F
or its last concert of the 2014-15 season, the SOLI Chamber Ensemble decided to explore a multimedia Experience by mixing live performance with pre-recorded sounds, animation and digital video projections that danced over the figures of the four musicians and over the stage background during the last piece they played, Street Antiphons, by Houston composer Pierre Jalbert. Although not exactly revolutionary, it was an experiment that fit the profile of the group that has never been afraid to tackle something new. “We like to experiment with options,” said the group’s artistic/ managing director, violinist Ertan Torgul. “Part of our mission is to bring to San Antonio the newest thing that other organizations do not do.” 14 On The Town | July/August 2015
The SOLI has been bringing new and innovative programming to the local chamber music scene since 1994 when it was founded by clarinetist Stephanie Key and cellist David Mollennauer, who were soon joined by Torgul, then a member of the San Antonio Symphony, and pianist Carolyn True, who teaches at Trinity University. It’s the only chamber group in San Antonio that consistently plays contemporary music written by living composers and regularly commissions or cocommissions pieces from established as well as up-andcoming names, including Robert X Rodriguez, Alexandra Gardner, David Heuser, Tim Kramer, Matthew Aucoin, Paul Moravec, Aaron J. Kernis and many others. Street Antiphons, for instance, was co-commissioned by SOLI in partnership with the Boston Chamber Music Society,
Houston’s Da Camera and Voices of Change from Dallas. Altogether, the quartet has commissioned 43 new works. In 2013, Chamber Music America and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) recognized SOLI’s accomplishments with their jointly given Adventurous Programming Award.
of a seminal interpretation of never-heard-before music.
In the past few years, the group has produced several CDs which feature some of these seminal performances. Several composers volunteered to write for them with an understanding that the ensemble would record their pieces. “It’s like birthing a child,” Torgul said, referring to “We love Brahms and Bach and Mozart; we are classical the entire process. musicians first,” Torgul said. “But Bach and Brahms were once new. I think it’s important that we present what’s THE TRAVEL SEASON going on today and to present it in a best possible way. Only time will tell which compositions and composers Carl Schimmel is the latest composer who offered to will have staying power. We like being instrumental in create a piece at no charge. Torgul discovered Schimmel developing that future.” by browsing the Internet and was impressed by what he heard. “I was listening to his music (on Schimmel’s The audiences may never be as large as for Bach or website) and ran into a piece he had written for his son,” Brahms but that’s not that important, he said. “We like to Torgul said. “It was about the antique toys he and his send them home thinking.” son had seen on PBS’s Antiques Roadshow. He wrote the music imagining stories about these toys. It’s a beautiful There is quite a bit of thinking involved for the four piece. I contacted him right away.” musicians, as well, for with each composer, they have to figure out a new musical language. If possible, they like Following a few conversations, they had a deal. Schimmel’s to bring the composers of commissioned works to San new composition, which he promised would be similar to Antonio to work with them during the final rehearsals, the one Torgul loved, will premiere Oct. 5-6, during SOLI’s which is a priceless experience for both parties. The inaugural concert of the 2015-16 season, tentatively composers hear their creations come to life for the first titled Domestic Terminal. The program also will include time, while the musicians enjoy the privilege of being part the 2014 SOLI commission Four Score by Anthony Brandt, July/August 2015 | On The Town 15
and numbers by Jalbert, Marcus Maroney and Adam Schoenberg. A few days later, the quartet will travel to Houston to play and record Schimmel’s toy composition for an upcoming CD of the composer’s chamber works.
is one of the largest resort towns on the Ligurian coast, and the former vacation spot of European royals. SOLI’s connection to it is a board member who owns a house there. “We are planning to play American and Italian music at informal pop-up performances in the piazze The broadly defined travel theme is shared by the other both to draw attention to our (more formal) concerts two programs of the upcoming season: Postcards From and to be part of the local landscape for a week,” Torgul the Americas (Jan. 25-26), featuring music from North said. SOLI favorites and transcribed Italian songs, and South America, and Under the Ligurian Sun (May including the last winner of the San Remo Festival, will 16-17), which will spotlight much of the repertoire be on the program. that SOLI plans to perform in San Remo, Italy, next summer. The main attraction of the Americas program Given that many people, even music lovers, know little will be composer, pianist and vocalist Clarice Assad, a about contemporary classical music, Torgul suggested Brazilian-American artist described by the Los Angeles a few composers that novices are likely to enjoy: Aaron Times as a “dazzling vocal soloist” and by the Latin Jazz J. Kernis, Matthew Aucoin, Gabriel Kahane, Nico Muhly, Network as “a phenomenon who has streaked across Missy Mazzoli, all of whom and others may be discovered the world’s musical landscape like one of those comets at SOLI concerts. that appear just once in a lifetime.” She will premiere a new work, Patchwork Quilt, specifically written for “We would just love for San Antonians to come and see herself and the quartet. what we are doing,” Torgul said. “It’s different and unique. It should be experienced.”.” SOLI also will collaborate again with Ballet San Antonio on its April production of Ballet Alive, an eclectic dance showcase. For tickets and information contact the SOLI through its As for San Remo, it will be a new experience altogether. website www.solichmaberensemble.com or via email Known for its popular festival of Italian song, San Remo info@solichamberensemble.com
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
16 On The Town | July/August 2015
July/August 2015 | On The Town 17
Cirque du Soleil’s KOOZA Opens Under the Big Top at Circuit of The Americas on September 3 Courtesy of Cirque du Soleil
18 On The Town | July/August 2015
July/August 2015 | On The Town 19
C
irque du Soleil is back and better than ever with its critically acclaimed show, KOOZA. The name KOOZA is inspired by the Sanskrit word “koza,” which means “box,” “chest” or “treasure,” and was chosen because one of the underlying concepts of the production is the idea of a “circus in a box.”
your-seat Cirque shows due to the high level of aerial and acrobatic stunts. Emphasis is heavy on themes such as fear and power, with every act inducing an adrenaline rush for the performers and the audience.
KOOZA is a return to the origins of Cirque du Soleil, combining two circus traditions: acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. The show presents a colorful mélange emphasizing bold slapstick humor while highlighting the physical demands of human performance.
KOOZA features more than 175 costumes and 160 hats in the show, with a combined total of 1,080 items, including all costuming items, such as wigs and shoes.
Music featured in the show is inspired by Western pop culture and traditional Indian music. Six musicians, Since its premiere in April 2007 in Montreal, Cirque including one from Texas, play live music during the has performed KOOZA at 2,700 shows in 47 cities, 12 show, using instruments such as trumpets, trombones, countries and three continents. For the first time in 10 bass, drums, percussion, saxophone, electric guitar years, Cirque is bringing the show to Austin as a part and keyboard. In addition to the band, there are also of its Big Top Residency. two singers who perform live.
The stage is the highest stage ever designed by Cirque du Soleil, an impressive 39 feet, compared “KOOZA is about human connection and the world to its standard 30- to 36-foot stages. The additional of duality, good and bad,” said the show’s writer and space for the KOOZA stages is necessary for the director, David Shiner. “The tone is fun and funny, light jack-in-the-box hydraulics, which leap six to and open. The show doesn’t take itself too seriously, seven feet in the air. Also impressive are the four but it’s very much about ideas, too.” masts, which stand 82 feet above the ground. The large stage requires 60 trailers for transporting KOOZA is unique as one of the most gripping, edge-of- equipment and site elements. 20 On The Town | July/August 2015
The Big Top itself is 56 feet high, with a diameter of 164 feet, and comprises 18 pieces of flame-retardant vinyl canvases. When including the 11 tunnels, the entire Big Top weighs approximately 11,500 pounds. Due to the massive nature of the tent, a little over four acres is needed to house the entire site.
in Austin. General tickets are on sale now, beginning at $40. For more information, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com/ KOOZA.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
The KOOZA international cast features 48 world-class acrobats, musicians, singers and dancers. About 120 people Photo Credits: are on tour full time, including official accompanying members, representing about 20 nationalities. Pages 18-19 Charivari Cirque du Soleil began as a group of 20 street performers Photo by Matt Beard in 1984, and has grown to be an international Costumes by Marie-Chantale Vaillancourt organization known for creating breathtaking shows ©2012 Cirque du Soleil that combine dance, street performance, acrobatics, live music and amazing costumes. Page 20 Clown Fart Currently, 18 unique shows are being presented Photo by Matt Beard around the world. The mission of Cirque du Soleil is Costumes by Marie-Chantale Vaillancourt to invoke the imagination, provoke the senses, and ©2012 Cirque du Soleil evoke the emotions of people around the world. more than 4 million spectators have enjoyed KOOZA, Page 21 a thrilling, critically-acclaimed show. Teeter Board Photo by Matt Beard Cirque du Soleil opens KOOZA Sept. 3 under the Costumes by Marie-Chantale Vaillancourt yellow and blue Big Top at the Circuit of the Americas ©2012 Cirque du Soleil
July/August 2015 | On The Town 21
22 On The Town | July/August 2015
Alamo Kiwanis Club Celebrates Fiesta Noche del Rio’s 59th Season By Heather Akkerman Photos courtesy Alamo Kiwanis Club
or nearly 60 years, the Alamo Kiwanis Club (AKC) has put on a spectacular summer-long entertainment show in the heart of San Antonio, raising more than $2.5 million for a host of charitable organizations.
F
“San Antonio’s River Walk is itself a magnet, and you bring in all these different cultures in this venue to shine, and you’ve got yourself a great show,” said AKC member Ed Monaco, who has twice chaired the event.
A premier cultural event in San Antonio for generations, Fiesta Noche del Rio takes place over several summer weekends in an open-air theater on the Alamo City’s famed downtown River Walk. The colorful, family-friendly evening shows feature dancers, singers and musicians representing a variety of cultures from Texas, to Mexico, to places around the globe.
Conceived by the City of San Antonio as a way to promote local talent and the River Walk, Fiesta Noche del Rio (party night of/on the river) began in 1957 under the direction of Rosita Fernandez with the backing of Alamo Kiwanis Club Charities Inc. San Antonio’s “first lady of song” no longer is alive, but the AKC remains as the event’s sole presenting organization. July/August 2015 | On The Town 23
“We have kept some traditions, and added Argentine tango, Caribbean salsas, and Country Western music to the mix,” said Elizabeth “Lisa” Sanchez-Lopez, who first came to Fiesta Noche de Rio as a performer in the 1980s and later took on the roles of the festival’s choreographer and director. “And we have more interaction with our audience now, making the show the star.”
Alamo Kiwanis Club’s approximately 100 members help put on the show in various capacities, from serving on planning teams to working concessions and everything in between.
San Antonio is just three years shy of its 300th birthday, Kiwanis International is 100 this year, and Fiesta Noche del Rio is in its 59th season this year. Be As one of the AKC’s two premier annual fundraisers, a part of the show and come celebrate! Visit www. Fiesta Noche del Rio nets as much as $60,000 each fiestanochesa.com. summer-long season through ticket, concession and merchandise sales, and through sponsorship underwriting. The AKC then disperses proceeds to local youth services groups, such as the YMCA and Big Founded in 1947, the Alamo Kiwanis Club is a local Brothers Big Sisters. As a part of their commitment to organization built to help children’s charities through the show and its cause, cast members visit recipient two major fundraisers - The Western and Heritage Art organizations to see how their performances help Show and Fiesta Noche del Rio. Fiesta Noche del Rio is San Antonio’s young people. Support also has gone the oldest outdoor dance performance presented at the to restore and preserve the show’s historic riverside historic Arneson River Theatre on the San Antonio River venue, the Arneson River Theatre, which faces an Walk, held in mid-May through mid-August. The Wes amphitheater across the San Antonio River just below mation on the Alamo Kiwanis Club including membership La Villita, one of the city’s earliest settlements. All of the information, visit www.alamo-kiwanis.org.
• • • • • • • • • • • •
24 On The Town | July/August 2015
July/August 2015 | On The Town 25
CHASING A DREAM “The Power of a Dream” documentary chronicles Eric Castillo’s ambition to play college football at age 30 despite the odds and obstacles By Rudy Arispe ometimes a man must follow a dream even if Trash Productions, the film features Heisman Trophyit seems impossible; courage must overcome winner Ricky Williams and NFL star Lenny Walls. doubt; and in the moment of truth, inner strength must be found. “I think his leap of faith to the football field was secured by his determination and drive created from all that Eric Castillo experienced all of this in order to fulfill his he lost up until this point in his life,” Williams said. “It’s dream when at age 30 he was the oldest walk-on for the something about how football works with camaraderie University of the Incarnate Word football team although that awakens something in everybody. Eric built a bond he had no prior football experience. with a lot of people based off his work ethic. His story will change the direction in many lives as he continues to Castillo shares his story of the obstacles and personal share it to the world by paying it forward.” demons he had to defeat to play college football in the documentary, The Power of a Dream, which premieres at At 19, Castillo was running a successful landscaping 6 p.m. July 26 at the Palladium IMAX. Produced by Taylor company and had contracts with major homebuilders.
S
26 On The Town | July/August 2015
He also married but soon found himself battling of recommendation. “I got a call the next morning alcohol addiction. saying I had been accepted,” Castillo said. “I was drinking heavily at that time,” he said. “I ended up losing all my contracts and my wife and two sons.” He almost nearly lost his life as well, when in an angry, drunken state, he punched his hand through a window. As he began to bleed profusely, Castillo realized he wanted to live and change his life around. By a stroke of luck, his brother, who is a firefighter, happened to be visiting and stopped the bleeding.
But now he had to pay his dues. “I was the ball boy on the sidelines, but I didn’t care,” he said. “I volunteered for everything because I was living my dream.” After three years, Castillo’s hard work paid off when he was one of 95 players selected for the Division I camp. It wasn’t until the last game of the season that his moment of glory finally came to fruition when head coach Larry Kennan called him in to action.
Castillo whiled away his time in front of the TV until he “I worked three years for 10 reps, but it was worth it,” took up running. He also researched videos to learn Castillo said. “But that wasn’t the highlight. I had gotten to regain use of his hand. As working out became his my sons back, and they were there to see me play.” passion, he began training others. Admission to the July 26 premiere is $15 with $5 “I still felt there was something more I needed to do,” he of each ticket benefitting Breaking Down Walls, a said. “That’s when I decided I wanted to play football.” nonprofit that provides San Antonio youth affordable sports learning programs and mentorship. Tickets can He applied at several junior colleges until be purchased at eventbrite.com/e/the-power-of-aconsidering UIW, but he was denied. Enter former dream-tickets-16031389317. For more information, visit San Antonio mayor Ed Garza, who wrote a letter thepowerofadream.net or call 210- 833-8786. July/August 2015 | On The Town 27
28 On The Town | July/August 2015
Events Calendar
30-44
July/August 2015 | On The Town 29
July/August 2015 Events Calendar Music Notes Two Tons of Steel 7/1, Wed @ 6:30pm Ancira Music Series Country Line BBQ – IH10 Floetry 7/1, Wed @ 8pm Aztec Theatre The Charlie Daniels Band 7/2, Thu @ 8pm Gruene Hall Widestread Panic 7/2-4, Thu-Sat @ 8pm Majestic Theatre Big Sam’s Funky Nation 7/2, Thu @ 11pm Aztec Theatre Tracy Lawrence 7/3, Fri @ 8pm Blue Bonnet Palace
Ruby Dee & The Snakehandlers 7/3, Fri @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store Dirty Byrds 7/3, Fri @ 11pm Aztec Theatre Danny Hutchens & Friends 7/4, Sat @ 4pm Aztec Theatre Amos Lee & David Gray 7/4, Sat @ 7:30pm Whitewater Amphitheater New Braunfels Jason Boland and the Stragglers 7/4, Sat @ 8pm Blue Bonnet Palace
Gary P. Nunn 7/3, Fri @ 8pm Gruene Hall
MC & The Mystyx 7/4, Sat @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store
Wagon Aces 7/3, Fri @ 8pm Luckenbach Dance Hall
Jack Ingram 7/4, Sat @ 9pm Gruene Hall
30 On The Town | July/August 2015
Cody Jinks 7/4, Sat @ 9pm Luckenbach Dance Hall
Ray Wylie Hubbard 7/10, Fri @ 8pm Gruene Hall
The Swindles 7/8, Wed @ 6:30pm Ancira Music Series Country Line BBQ – IH10
Charlie Robison & Bri Bagwell 7/10, Fri @ 8pm Luckenbach Dance Hall
Cactus Pear Music Festival Program 1: Canciones 7/9, Thu @ 7pm Kerrville Presbyterian 7/10, Fri @ 7pm Coker United Methodist 7/12, Sun @ 2pm Boerne First United Methodist Program 2: L’Chaim / To Life! 7/11, Sat @ 7pm Coker United Methodist Program 3: Brazil or Bust! 7/12, Sun @ 7pm Boerne First United Methodist Program 4: Germanic Giants 7/16, Thu @ 7pm New Braunfels McKenna Event Center 7/17, Fri @ 7pm Coker United Methodist Program 5: Bella Italia 7/18, Sat @ 7pm Coker United Methodist
Keith Sweat and Doug E. Fresh 7/10, Fri @ 8pm H-E-B Performance Hall Tobin Center for the Performing Arts Rocky King Band 7/10, Fri @ 8:15pm Leon Springs Dancehall The Dirty River Boys 7/10, Fri @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store Jake Penrod 7/11, Fri @ 8pm Kendalia Halle Rob Thomas 7/11, Sat @ 8pm Majestic Theatre The Very Best of Asleep at the Wheel 7/11, Sat @ 8pm Anhalt Hall
July/August 2015 | On The Town 31
Almost Patsy Cline Band 7/11, Sat @ 8:15pm Leon Springs Dancehall Wayne Hancock 7/11, Sat @ 9pm Gruene Hall Shinyribs 7/11, Sat @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store REO Speedwagon 7/12, Sun @ 8pm Majestic Theatre Two Ton Tuesday with Two Tons of Steel 7/14-8/18, Tue @ 8:30pm Gruene Hall Max Stalling 7/15, Wed @ 6:30pm Ancira Music Series Country Line BBQ – IH10 Danzig with Pennywise and Cancer Bats 7/15, Wed @ 8pm Aztec Theatre Meghan Trainor: M Train Tour with Life of Dillon & Charlie Puth 7/16, Thu @ 7:30pm H-E-B Performance Hall Tobin Center for the Performing Arts Bill Medley 7/17, Fri @ 8pm Majestic Theatre
Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison 7/17, Fri @ 8pm Gruene Hall
Bob Schneider 7/18, Sat @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store
The Merles 7/17, Fri @ 8pm Luckenbach Dance Hall
TwoTen Empire Series: Hydra Melody 7/18, Sat @ 9pm Charline McCombs Empire Theatre
Cactus Country 7/17, Fri @ 8:15pm Leon Springs Dancehall The Dan Band 7/17, Fri @ 9pm Aztec Theatre Brandon Rhyder 7/17, Fri @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store DCI: Drum Corps International 7/18, Sat @ 2pm Alamodome The Smashing Pumpkins & Marilyn Manson: The End Times Tour 7/18, Sat @ 7pm Freeman Coliseum Turnpike Troubadours 7/18, Sat @ 7:30pm Whitewater Amphitheater New Braunfels Jim Byrom 7/18, Sat @ 8pm Anhalt Hall
32 On The Town | July/August 2015
Cooder Graw 7/18, Sat @ 9pm Gruene Hall
Randy Rogers & Wade Bowen 7/23, Thu @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store Almost Patsy Cline Band 7/24, Fri @ 8pm Luckenbach Dance Hall Natalie Rose Band 7/24, Fri @ 8:15pm Leon Springs Dancehall
Thomas Michael Riley 7/18, Sat @ 9pm Luckenbach Dance Hall
Jamey Johnson 7/24, Fri @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store
Dick Fox’s Golden Boys: Frankie Avalon, Fabian & Bobby Rydell 7/19, Sun @ 4pm H-E-B Performance Hall Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
Pat Green & Kevin Fowler 7/25, Sat @ 7:30pm Whitewater Amphitheater New Braunfels
Summerland Tour with Toadies, Everclear, Fuel and American Hi-Fi 7/19, Sun @ 7:30pm Aztec Theatre Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo 7/20, Mon @ 7:30pm H-E-B Performance Hall Tobin Center for the Performing Arts Roger Creager’s Birthday Show 7/22-25, Wed-Fri @ 8pm Sat @ 9pm Gruene Hall
An Evening with Larry Gatlin 7/25, Sat @ 8pm Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre New Braunfels Max Stalling 7/25, Sat @ 8pm Luckenbach Dance Hall Jody Nix 7/25, Sat @ 8:15pm Leon Springs Dancehall Brit Floyd 7/26, Sun @ 8pm Aztec Theatre
Los Lonely Boys 7/30, Thu @ 8pm Aztec Theatre
Glen Collins and the Alibis 7/24, Fri @ 8:15pm Leon Springs Dancehall
Dirty River Boys 8/1, Sat @ 9pm Gruene Hall
Wagon Aces 8/7, Fri @ 8pm Luckenbach Dance Hall
Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival with Slayer, King Diamond & More 7/31, Fri @ 11:30am Whitewater Amphitheater New Braunfels
Cody Jinks 7/31, Fri @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store
Fifth Harmony 8/2, Sun @ 7pm H-E-B Performance Hall Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
The John Conlee Show 8/7, Fri @ 8:30pm John T. Floore Country Store
Wagon Aces 7/31, Fri @ 8pm Luckenbach Dance Hall
Cory Morrow 8/1, Sat @ 8pm Luckenbach Dance Hall Cody Johnson 8/1, Sat @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store
R5: Sometime Last Night Tour with Jacob Whiteside and Ryland 8/5, Wed @ 6pm Whitewater Amphitheater New Braunfels
Gary P. Nunn 8/8, Sat @ 8pm Luckenbach Dance Hall William Clark Green 8/8, Sat @ 9pm Gruene Hall
July/August 2015 | On The Town 33
James McMurtry 8/8, Sat @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store Buddy Holly Tribute Show 8/12, Wed @ 7pm Rockbox Theater Fredericksburg American Idol Live! 8/14, Fri @ 8pm Majestic Theatre Jonathan Tyler 8/14, Fri @ 8pm Gruene Hall Cody Joe Hodges 8/14, Fri @ 8pm Luckenbach Dance Hall Granger Smith 8/14, Sat @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store Girls Night Out, Boys Can Come Too Tour: Colbie Caillat and Christina Perri 8/15, Sat @ 7:30pm Majestic Theatre Monte Good Band 8/15, Sat @ 8pm Anhalt Hall “Weird Al” Yankovic: The Mandatory World Tour 8/19, Wed @ 8pm Majestic Theatre
1964 The Tribute 8/21, Fri @ 8pm Majestic Theatre The Merles 8/21, Fri @ 8pm Luckenbach Dance Hall Chris Knight 8/21, Fri @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store Hayes Carll 8/21-22, Fri @ 8pm Sat @ 9pm Gruene Hall Everything Is Awesome Summer 2015 Tour: Slightly Stoopid with Dirty Heads and The Expendables 8/22, Sat @ 6:30pm Whitewater Amphitheater New Braunfels John Evans Band 8/22, Sat @ 8pm Luckenbach Dance Hall Yes & Toto 2015 Summer Tour 8/26, Wed @ 7:30pm Majestic Theatre Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra 8/26, Wed @ 8:30pm Aztec Theatre Todd Rundgren 8/27, Thu @ 8pm Aztec Theatre
34 On The Town | July/August 2015
Almost Patsy Cline Band 8/28, Fri @ 8pm Luckenbach Dance Hall TwoTen Empire Series: Bombasta 8/28, Fri @ 9pm Charline McCombs Empire Theatre Zane Williams 8/28, Fri @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store Kevin Fowler & Roger Creagar 8/29, Sat @ 8:30pm John T. Floore Country Store The Australian Pink Floyd 8/30, Sun @ 7:30pm Majestic Theatre
Live Theatre Cocktail Hour 7/2-25, Thu-Sat @ 8pm Dinner at 6:15pm) Harlequin Dinner Theatre Evita Fredericksburg Theater Company 7/3-5, Fri-Sat @ 8pm Sun @ 2pm Steve W. Shepherd Theater Fredericksburg
Mary Poppins 7/3-26, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pm Sun @ 3pm (except 7/5 which is at 7:30pm) Woodlawn Theatre Water by the Spoonful 7/3-26, Fri-Sat @ 8pm Sun @ 3pm Cellar Theatre @ Playhouse San Antonio Thoroughly Modern Millie 7/9-8/2, Thu-St @ 8pm Sun @ 2pm Circle Arts Theatre New Braunfels James and the Giant Peach 7/10-12, Fri-Sun @ 8:30pm 7/16-25, Thu-Sat @ 8:30pm Smith-Ritch Point Theatre Ingram Pirates of Penzance Playhouse 2000 7/10-11, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pm 7/17-19, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pm Sun @ 2:30pm 7/24-25, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pm Kathleen C. Cailloux Theater Catch Me If You Can by The Wimberley Players 7/10-8/2, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pm Sun @ 2:30pm Wimberley Playhouse
27 Short Plays About Being Murdered in a Hotel by ABBA 7/10-31, Fri-Sat @ 8pm 7/19, Sun @ 2:30-p 8/2, Sun @ 7pm Greg Barrios Theater @ The Overtime Theater Avenue Q 7/11-8/2, Fri-Sat @ 8pm Sun @ 4:30pm Cameo Theatre Forbidden Broadway’s Greatest Hits 7/16-8/1, Thu-Sat @ 8pm Dinner @ 6:30pm 7/26 & 8/2, Sun @ 4pm Spotlight Theatre & Arts Group Etc. (S.T.A.G.E) Bulverde Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) 7/17-8/1, Thu @ 7:30pm Fri-Sat @ 8pm Sun @ 2:30pm Boerne Community Theatre Grease 7/17-8/16, Fri-Sat @ 8pm Sun @ 3pm Russell Hill Rogers Theatre @ Playhouse San Antonio
Romeo Chang 7/24-8/15, Fri-Sat @ 8pm 8/2, Sun @ 2:30pm 8/16, Sun @ 7pm 8/20-22, Thu-Sat @ 8pm Little Overtime Theater The Addams Family 8/7-9, Fri-Sun @ 7:30pm 8/13-22, Thu-Sat @ 8:30pm Elizabeth Huth Coates Theatre Ingram Greater Tuna Fredericksburg Theater Company 8/14-23, Fri-Sat @ 8pm Sun @ 2pm Steve W. Shepherd Theater Fredericksburg West Side Story 8/14-9/6, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pm Sun @ 3pm Woodlawn Theatre Boeing-Boeing 8/20-9/13, Thu @ 7:30pm Sat @ 8pm Sun @ 2:30pm (no shows Fridays ) Sheldon Vexler Theatre Cabaret 8/22-9/20, Fri-Sat @ 8pm Sun @ 4:30pm Cameo Theatre
July/August 2015 | On The Town 35
Comedy Military Appreciation Week featuring Crosshairs Comedy with veterans Bobby Henline, Raul Sanchez and Anthony Torino 7/1-5, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8pm Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club Peyton Clarkson 7/1-5, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8:30pm Fri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pm Rivercenter Comedy Club
Poppy Champlin & The Queer Queens of Comedy 7/8-9, Wed-Thu @ 8pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club
Lavell Crawford 7/10-12, Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pm Sun @ 8pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club
Sean Kent 7/8-12, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8:30pm Fri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pm Rivercenter Comedy Club
Pete Correale 7/15-19, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8pm Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club
Tyler Oakley’s Slumber Party 7/9, Thu @ 7:30pm H-E-B Performance Hall Tobin Center for the Performing Arts Steve Martin & Martin Short 7/10, Fri @ 8pm Majestic Theatre
36 On The Town | July/August 2015
Larry Reeb 7/15-19, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8:30pm Fri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pm Rivercenter Comedy Club Gilberto Gless 7/19, Sun @ 7pm Majestic Theatre
Travis Howze 7/22, Wed @ 8pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club Ali Siddig 7/22-26, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8:30pm Fri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pm Rivercenter Comedy Club Cristela Alonzo 7/23-26, Thu & Sun @ 8pm Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club Martin Lawrence 7/24, Fri @ 8pm Majestic Theatre Fifty Shades of Brown Featuring Marvin Baca and Rene Love 7/25, Sat @ 8pm Aztec Theatre
Dustin Ybarra 7/29-8/2, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8:30pm Fri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pm Rivercenter Comedy Club Bobby Lee 7/31-8/2, Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pm Sun @ 8pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club Tabari McCoy 8/5-6, Wed-Thu @ 8pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club Brooks Wheelan 8/7-9, Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pm Sun @ 8pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club Corey Holcomb 8/7-9, Fri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pm Sun @ 7pm Rivercenter Comedy Club Mark Riccadonna 8/12-16, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8:30pm Fri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pm Rivercenter Comedy Club
Carlos Mencia 8/14-16, Fri @ 8pm & 10:15pm Sat @ 7pm, 9:15pm, 11:30pm Sun @ 7pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club Felicia Michaels 8/19-23, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8pm Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club DeRay Davis 8/20-23, Thu & Sun @ 8pm Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:30pm Rivercenter Comedy Club Quinn Patterson 8/26-30, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8:30pm Fri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pm Rivercenter Comedy Club Christopher Titus 8/28-30, Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pm Sun @ 8pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club Hollywood Babble-On with Kevin Smith and Ralph Garman 8/29, Sat @ 9pm Charline McCombs Empire
July/August 2015 | On The Town 37
Children’s Mercy Watson 7/1-3, Wed @ 10:30am Fri @ 7pm 7/8-110, Wed @ 10:30am Fri @ 10:30am & 7pm 7/15-18, Wed @ 10:30am Fri @ 7pm, Sat @ 2pm 7/22-24, Tue @ 10:30am Fri @ 7pm 7/29-8/1, Wed @ 10:30am Fri @ 7pm, Sat @ 2pm 8/5-8, Wed @ 10:30am Fri @ 10:30am & 7pm Sat @ 2pm Magik Theatre
The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley 8/21-22, Fri @ 7pm Sat @ 2pm 8/26-9/4, Wed @ 10:30am Fri @ 10:30am & 7pm Sat @ 2pm 9/8-26, Tue-Thu @ 9:45am & 11:30am Fri @ 9:45, 11:30am & 7pm Sat @ 2pm Magic Theatre
Exhibitions ARTPACE Summer 2015 Artists in Residence Fatma Bucak Wafaa Bilal Gabriel Martinez Ian Alden Russell, Curator Now thru 9/13
38 On The Town | July/August 2015
Hudson Showroom Christian Marclay: Guitar Drag Video Now thru 8/30 Window Works Katie Pell Now thru 8/30
Emily Fleisher: Stellar-Scape Now thru 8/9 Episode Now thru 8/9 BIHL HAUS ARTS
BLUE STAR CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM
Nature on the Edge: Mutation and Hybridity in 21st Century Art Curated by David Ruben Now thru 7/11
Everyday is Ordinary Now thru 8/9
Golden Panoramas 7/24-8/27
Transmission Now thru 8/9 Cynthia Gregory: Of Reference, Of Departure, Of Origin Now thru 8/9
BRISCOE WESTERN ART MUSEUM Film Series: The Comedic West Three Amigos 7/21, Tue @ 6:30pm Rango 8/18, Tue @ 6:30pm
Briscoe Book Club Doc by Mary Doria Russell 7/7, Tue @ 5:30pm Still Wild edited by Larry McMurtry 8/4, Tue @ 5:30pm INSTITUTE OF TEXAN CULTURES Los Tejanos Now on view Texas Czechs Now thru 9/4 Faces of Survival Now thru 11/15
McNAY ART MUSEUM Paul Villinski: Burst Now thru 7/26 Viva Zapata! Now thru 8/16 Voices of Suffering Now thru 8/16 Recycled, Repurposed, Reborn Now thru 8/17 Merida’s Mexico Now thru 9/6
Sikhs: Legacy of the Punjab Now thru 1/3/16
Robyn O’Neil: We, The Masses Now thru 9/6
LINDA PACE FOUNDATION
Lesley Dill: Performance as Art Now thru 9/6
It Takes A Village: New Works by Alejandro Diaz Now thru 9/12 SPACE:The Linda Pace Foundation Gallery
Richard Duardo: Maestro of Pop 7/1-9/6
Adam (Public Artwork) By Arturo Herrera 25’ h x 98’ w, Frost Bank Garage Commerce at Main Now thru 12/2016
Stephan Westfall: The Holy Forest 8/6-7/31/16 Miro: The Experience of Seeing 9/30-1/10/16 July/August 2015 | On The Town 39
MUSEO GUADALUPE Dulce Now thru 7/22
SOUTHWEST SCHOOL OF ART Selfies: 50 At 50 Now thru 7/5
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey: Legends 7/1-4, Wed-Fri @ 7:30pm Sat @ 12pm & 4pm Sun @ 1pm & 5pm Freeman Coliseum
Spy! The Exhibit Opens 7/10 (Limited Engagement) Mon-Sat, 10am-9pm Sun 21-6pm Rivercenter Mall – Morton’s Entrance
Fourth of July Arts & Crafts Show 7/2-7/5, Thu-Sun / 11am8pm River Walk
Balcones Heights Jazz Festival 7/10-31, Fri @ 7pm Amphitheater @ Wonderland of the Americas
Getting The Big Picture: Mel Casas and the Politics of the 1960s and 1970s Now thru 10/24
Christopher Rabb: The Amazing Memorable Thing Now thru 7/5
Cursive Wanderings 7/31-10/2
All School Exhibition 7/18-8/30
SAN ANTONIO BOTANICAL GARDEN
TEXAS A&M EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL ART CENTER
City of San Antonio’s Official July Fourth Celebration 7/4, Sat / 8:30am-11:30pm Woodlawn Lake Park
Mel Casas: The Southwestern Cliches, 1982-1989 Now thru 9/27
2015 Pride “Bigger Than Texas” 7/4, Sat / 11am-9pm Crockett Park
WITTE MUSEUM
Stars & Stripes Over San Antonio 7/4, Sat / 6-10pm Alamodome
Rainforest Adventure Now thru 9/20 One Way Trail-Art in the Garden 2015 (In conjunction with Blue Star Contemporary Art Center) Now thru 1/31/16 SAN ANTONIO MUSEUM OF ART
Images of San Antonio Missions Now thru 8/29
Jamie Wyeth Now thru 7/5
Discover the Ice Age Now thru 9/7
Raíces Americanas: Recent Acquisitions of Pre-Columbian Art Now on view Miguel Covarrubias: Culture and Caricature 7/18-10/18
Miscellaneous Fiesta Noche del Rio Now thru 8/15, Fri-Sat @ 8:30pm Arneson River Theatre on the River Walk
40 On The Town | July/August 2015
Pearl Farmer’s Market 7/4-8/30, Sat-Sun 9am-1pm Pearl Complex Tejas Rodeo - Live Rodeo 7/4-11/28, Sat @ 7:30pm (live music/dance after rodeo) Tejas Rodeo Company Bulverde
Stars & Garters Burlesque: The Vegas Strip! 7/12, Sun @ 8pm Aztec Theatre Rey Lopez Birthday Bash 7/24, Fri @ 9pm Aztec Theatre Marcus Luttrell’s Patriot Tour 2015, Presented by Team Never Quit 7/25, Sat @ 7:30pm Charline McCombs Empire Theatre The Power of a Dream: The Eric Castillo Story Documentary Premier 7/26, Sun @ 6pm Palladium IMAX Theatre Ford Canoe Challenge 8/1, Sat / 7-11am River Walk
Cesar Lozano 8/4, Tue @ 7pm’ Lila Cockrell Theater San Antonio: The Saga Now thru 12/31, Tue, FriSun @ 9pm San Fernando Cathedral Culinaria Restaurant Week 8/15-29 Selected restaurants citywide For information: www. culinariasa.org
Coming Soon BMW of San Antonio Signature Series: Ballet Folklorico de Mexico 9/14 H-E-B Performance Hall @ Tobin Center for the Performing Arts San Antonio Symphony Opening Night: Beethoven’s 9th 9/18-20 H-E-B Performance Hall @ Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
North Park Lexus Broadway in San Antonio Series: The Little Mermaid (touring) 9/22-27 Majestic Theatre Opera San Antonio Madama Butterfly 10/1 & 3 H-E-B Performance Hall @ Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
The Music Man Opens 10/2 Russell Rogers Theatre @ The Playhouse San Antonio Green Day’s American Idiot Opens 10/2 Woodlawn Theatre Arts San Antonio: National Acrobats and Circus of China 10/6 Majestic Theatre
July/August 2015 | On The Town 41
The Beach Boys 10/8 Majestic Theatre Ballet San Antonio Swan Lake 10/9-11 H-E-B Performance Hall @ Tobin Center for the Performing Arts San Antonio Chamber Music Society Academy of St. Martin in the Fields 10/11 Temple Beth-El San Antonio Symphony Yo-Yo Ma 10/16 H-E-B Performance Hall @ Tobin Center for the Performing Arts North Park Lexus Broadway in San Antonio Series: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (touring) 10/16-18 Majestic Theatre Bad Jews Opens 10/17 Sheldon Vexler Theatre BMW of San Antonio Signature Series: Flashdance The Musical (touring) 10/20 H-E-B Performance Hall @ Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
Tobin Center Presents: Lionel Richie 10/22 H-E-B Performance Hall @ Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
Carmit Zori Courtesy Cactus Pear Music Festival
Larry Gatlin Courtesy wmeentertainment.com
Max Stalling Courtesy maxstalling.com
Arts San Antonio Ballet Hispanico Carmen.Maquia 10/22 Lila Cockrell Theatre
Page 33 (L-R)
Los Lonely Boys Courtesy loslonelyboys. com
Photo Credits Page 30 (L-R) Willie Nelson Courtesy Majestic Theatre Tracy Lawrence Courtesy tracylawrence. com Gary P. Nunn Courtesy liveatfloores.com Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio Photo by Liz GarzaWilliams Page 32 (L-R) LoAnn Lin Courtesy Cactus Pear Music Festival Ilya Shterenberg Courtesy Cactus Pear Music Festival
42 On The Town | July/August 2015
Dale Watson Courtesy liveatfloores.com Bill Medley Courtesy Majestic Theatre Brandon Rhyder Courtesy brandonrhyder. com Dick Fox’s Golden Boys Courtesy Tobin Center Page 34 (L-R) Neil Giraldo and Pat Benatar Photo by Travis Shinn Roger Creager Courtesy rogercreager. com
Cory Morrow Courtesy corymorrow.com Page 37 (L-R) Fifth Harmony Courtesy Tobin Center James McMurtry Courtesy liveatfloores.com Page 39 (L-R) Colbie Caillat Courtesy colbiecaillat.com Granger Smith Courtesy grangersmith. com Page 40 (L-R)
Almost Patsy Cline Band Courtesy live@floores.com
Rachel Platten Courtesy Tobin Center
Natalie Rose Courtesy natalierose.com Page 35 (L-R)
Chris Knight Courtesy chrisknight.net Ottmar Liebert Photo by Greg Gorman
Pat Green Courtesy patgreen.com
Todd Rundgren Photo by Jim Snyder
Page 41 (L-R)
Page 42 (L-R)
Page 43
Jerry Jeff Walker Courtesy jerryjeff.com
Corey Holcomb Courtesy Rivercenter Comedy Club
Fiesta Noche del Rio Courtesy Alamo Kiwanis Club
Martin Lawrence Courtesy Majestic Theatre
Dustin Ybarra Courtesy Rivercenter Comedy Club
Troy Peters Courtesy Youth Orchestras of San Antonio
Cristela Alonzo Courtesy LOL Comedy Club
Ringmaster Courtesy Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Carlos Mencia Courtesy LOL Comedy Club
Sebastian Lang-Lessing Photo by Marks Moore
Fiesta Noche del Rio Photo by Paul Garcia
July/August 2015 | On The Town 43
44 On The Town | July/August 2015
Culinary Arts
46-64
July/August 2015 | On The Town 45
46 On The Town | July/August 2015
Chef Chris Brooks
J. PRIME STEAKHOUSE Blazes a New Trail of Excellence By: Olivier J. Bourgoin aka. Olivier the Wine Guy
I
n a space where two previous restaurants once stood (Ounce Steakhouse and Passion), Brazilianborn Joan Ongarato, owner of Chama Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse, lent the J from his first name to his newest venture in San Antonio. Ongarato also owns other Chama Gaucha restaurants in Chicago, Atlanta and Houston. Fernando Arantes is at the helm of the day-to-day operations at J. Prime San Antonio which underwent an extensive and impressive structural and cosmetic facelift to just about every part of the building before it opened to the public last December. Inside the new elegant space that was carefully rethought, several distinct, separate areas have been created for private dining, each suitable for hosting corporate meetings of different sizes and equipped with built-in, retractable projection screens and other amenities.
Daniel,” Brooks said. “I get my inspiration for cooking from growing up with my mother and my grandmother’s cooking,” Brooks said. “My dad was in the movie industry as a producer, and my mother had to entertain a lot. My grandmother also went to Paris to study at the Cordon Bleu cooking school. I guess I have adopted some of their cooking methods, which include using refined techniques while still producing some very approachable comfort foods.” “ This is a ‘chef-driven’ restaurant,” he said. “We are not a chain, and we are not tied down to any big corporate concept. Here at J. Prime, we strive to serve farm-fresh food. We procure as much of our ingredients as we can from sustainable local farms and ranches, and we even use eggs from chickens that are cage-free certified.”
The 6,000-square-foot restaurant employs a Brooks presented a tour of the kitchen, starting staff of about 20 in the kitchen with another 80 with the cold storage area, where all the meats are employees taking care of the front of the house. dry-aged on premises for 45 to 60 days. Born and par tially raised in Mexico City and Celaya Guanajuato, chef Chris Brooks has been honing his skills around the San Antonio culinar y scene for more than a decade. Prior to J. Prime, his most recent tenure was a 10-year stint at both San Antonio Ruth’s Chris locations, which prepared him well for the multiple challenges he encounters daily at the helm of the kitchen of the beautifully remodeled space that now hosts the new J. Prime Steakhouse.
“ The meat we serve is aged properly right here inhouse,” he said. “Whether it’s the New York strip, the trimmed tenderloin or the dry-aged filet, they are some of the best you’ll find anywhere. One of my favorites is the steak tartare. I think we serve the best steak tartare in the city.”
Brooks demonstrated the parilla, an Argentinianstyle grill. Here the meat is grilled to per fection over lump hardwood charcoal with the fat allowed to drip down below the cooking sur face, “Before I went to work for Ruth’s Chris, I worked resulting in tender steaks with a South American at L’étoile, and I also co-owned a restaurant called flair reflective of the restaurant owner ’s culture Encino Grill on West Avenue, with my brother, and origins. July/August 2015 | On The Town 47
At J. Prime, generous portions are the norm, and thin, fried yucca-petal chips. My last selection was steaks are very likely to be a few ounces over their one of the hot appetizers, the Coxinha (a Brazilian advertised weight. specialty made with savory potato dough, stuffed with Catupiry cheese, shredded chicken, parsley, Although meat is king here, in spite of its name, onions, celery and garlic). the food is not just about steaks. The seafood selections are also to be noted, including the crab Brooks noted: “We serve a great Sunday brunch legs, the shrimp dishes, the sea bass, the East with an omelet station, some composed salads and Coast oysters, and my favorite -- the cold-water the best Eggs Benedict you’ll find anywhere. And lobster tails. we host wine dinners on a regular basis. I learned a lot about cooking from working at Ruth’s Chris, For starters, every table is served a complimentary and I thought I knew it all, but I have learned even antipasto board with slices of Spanish chorizo, more since coming to work here.” thin-sliced Serrano ham, semi-sun-dried tomatoes and cheese, olives and spicy Piquillo de Calabria Peppers. There are more than a dozen choices J. Prime Steakhouse: 1401 N. Loop 1604 West, San of hot and cold appetizers, each competing for Antonio, TX 78258. Phone 210-764-1604. elegant presentation. I tried several, starting with the Prime Beef Carpaccio (beef tenderloin Open seven days a week. Bar opens daily at 4 p.m. drizzled with Caesar dressing, topped with capers, with happy hour until 7 p.m. Dining room open 5 hard-boiled eggs, shallots, tomato and Parmesan p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 5 p.m. cheese). I followed up with the super-classy to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Open Sunday Shrimp Cocktail featuring a Sriracha sauce. I also for brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and for dinner enjoyed the Baby Octopus Ceviche presented with from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visit jprimesteakhouse.com. 48 On The Town | July/August 2015
July/August 2015 | On The Town 49
Blue Lotus Winery and Texas Mead Works A Fresh Twist on the Texas Wine Scene By Olivier J. Bourgoin (aka Olivier the Wine Guy)
A
relative newcomer on the booming Texas wine learned at the school of hard knocks.” scene, Blue Lotus Winery and Texas Mead is the brainchild of Michael “Mike” Poole and his For Mike Poole, going from beer to wine and from wife, Melissa. wine to mead was not such a big stretch. Mead is technically considered a “honey wine” under federal Mike is in charge of making the wines and Melissa law and within Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and takes care of the tasting room, which recently Firearms and Explosives guidelines. extended hours of operation to include Thursdays and Fridays. Some of the mead made here includes jalapeño and cranberry-orange flavors. “When Mike was in the Navy, he developed an interest in brewing beer,” Melissa Poole said. “But “Originally, my husband is from Beaumont. We as far as our commercial venture is concerned, he moved here from Dallas because of a job transfer 50 On The Town | July/August 2015
and found some land to buy and started growing but some of our wines do sell out of vintage. For grapes,” Melissa said. mead, it’s another story because we can make it continuously, throughout the year, as needed.” Licensed since January 2010, Blue Lotus completed construction of its tasting facility last February. The winery does not have a restaurant on premises, but cheese, meat and cracker plates are available in The 12-acre property has approximately seven acres the tasting room. under vine. Esoteric grape varietals such as Black Spanish, Champanel, Blanc du Bois, Lake Emerald Blue Lotus also is a destination and event center with and Roucaneuf are grown there. The varietals were a 3,800-square-foot tasting room and reception area chosen primarily because of their proven resistance equipped with a surround sound system and other to certain prominent vineyard diseases such as amenities suitable to accommodate office parties or to Phyloxera and Pierce’s disease. host bridal showers, weddings and other social functions. A dozen wines currently are under production at The winery hosts several special events during the Blue Lotus and available for tasting and purchase at year, including a barbeque and bands’ event in June, the winery. and a hamburgers and hot dogs arts and crafts show coming up in July with more than 20 craft vendors. Included in the offerings are the Grande Blanc, Malvasia Bianca and White Lotus (a blend of Blanc “We are trying to stay with Texas grapes only, but du Bois and estate-grown Lake Emerald grapes). not the same as most of the wines made in the style of the Fredericksburg area,” Melissa said. “We are off “We are adding new wines all the time,” Melissa said. the beaten path but there is a lot going on out here. We just need for people to find out about us; to get Some of the new wines recently added are a dry Riesling people to know about us.” and a Blackberry Port Chocolate Raspberry wine. Blue Lotus Winery and Texas Mead Works “We don’t have a distributor for our wines yet,” she 5151 FM 20, Seguin, Texas 78155 said. “We self-distribute in the area but our mead is 830-379-9463 available in Dallas through a small beer distributor Open noon to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday there. We are trying to keep up with the demand Calendar of events at bluelotuswinery.com. July/August May/June 2015 | On The Town 51
San Antonio Restaurant Weeks: August 15-29 By Ginger McAneer-Robinson Photography Veronica Luna
Y
ou’ve asked for it, and Culinaria is delivering. San Antonio Restaurant Week – a favorite time of the year for many – will now be Restaurant Weeks. Note the plural “weeks.” The time to dine is Aug. 15-29. With the ex tension, your chances to expand your spec trum of tastes and flavors are guaranteed. 52 On The Town | July/August 2015
The event is designed to help celebrate local restaurants and help promote business within the San Antonio community while also providing the ultimate chance for the returning foodie or curious newbie to tr y new things and maybe find a new favorite restaurant. I t ’s a celebration of the unique culinar y community that San
Antonio has to offer, with each par ticipating restaurant preparing to take your taste buds on the culinar y adventure of a lifetime. The menus created by the chefs range from anything to decadent and ex travagant or fresh and simple with a unique twist.
details as they receive from the restaurants, along with the menus, so, it ’s impor tant to check CulinariaSA.org for updates. Need more reason to dine out than delicious food at budget-friendly prices? San Antonio Restaurant Week benefits Culinaria, so your dining experience during Restaurant Week will be a charitable one. With each meal purchased from the San Antonio Restaurant Week menus, restaurants will donate $1 for lunch and $2 for dinner to Culinaria and the programs it supports.
Par ticipating restaurants will offer a pre -fixe, three - course menu for lunch and dinner at prices of $15 and $35, respec tively, for Tier One, and $10 and $25, respec tively, for Tier Two. Reser vations are encouraged and should be made direc tly with the restaurant itself – but hurr y as these reser vations fill up fast. Culinaria is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to benefiting the San Antonio During San Antonio Restaurant Week, some of community and promoting San Antonio as an the restaurants change things up a bit as well. ideal wine and food destination. By way of Some that are open only for dinner might providing culinar y scholarships and aid to San open for lunch during the promotional period. Antonio’s chefs enduring personal hardships, Culinaria’s website posts as many of these Culinaria has long promoted its suppor t of the July/August 2015 | On The Town 53
community. The organization also has plans in the works for the Culinaria Urban Farm that will hone in on true nutritional values and education to promote a farm-to -table diet. Currently, Culinaria continues to raise funds through a capital campaign while also searching for the per fec t plot of land for the venture. Events throughout the year, both large and small, will continue to provide guests a chance to suppor t the San Antonio culinar y community while also assisting with funding the causes that Culinaria suppor ts. Restaurant Week isn’t the only feature in August as the organization also features R ambling RosÊ, a blind wine tasting at Becker Vineyards on Aug. 8. Also in the fall, Culinaria hosts Chefs and Cellars in September and a Jazz Brunch at The Shops at La Cantera in Oc tober. The new year begins with the return of the winter San Antonio Restaurant Week in Januar y, followed by the 5K Wine and Beer Run in March and Festival Week in May. 54 On The Town | July/August 2015
For more information on San Antonio Restaurant Week, including par ticipating restaurants with menus posted as they become available, and all of the events of Culinaria, visit CulinariaSA.org, call 210-822-9555, or email info@culinariasa. org. Share on Twitter and I nstagram (@ CulinariaSA) and Facebook (/SanAntonio).
July/August 2015 | On The Town 55
Special Guest Chef Shane Lyons Joins Five Local Star Chefs for Houston Street Charities’ Courses & Cocktails August 30 at NAO Story and photography courtesy Houston Street Charities 56 On The Town | July/August 2015
I
n the culinary world, a paired dinner is no longer restricted to the perfect wine paired with each bite. In fact, quite often the most perfect way to enhance the flavors of a meal is with the right cocktail. Houston Street Charities, which sponsors the San Antonio Cocktail Conference each January, will host Courses and Cocktails, an evening of fine food and spirits, Aug. 30 at Nao. The event will feature five talented chefs in the kitchen and pair their food with cocktails at each course. Like all other events associated with the organization, all profits will benefit children’s charities. The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a welcome cocktail and appetizer from Nao. Guests will be seated for dinner at 7:15 p.m., when local chefs Stefan Bowers, Jason Dady, Robbie Nowlin and John Russ will each host two tables with a five course meal. The four well-known chefs have shared their time and
talents with San Antonians for many years in their restaurants and at many of the city’s most significant occasions. Joining the local star chefs will be Shane Lyons, executive chef and partner at Distilled NY, who will host a premium table and prepare five courses. Lyons was born for both stove and stage, with an early professional career in Hollywood and the kitchen. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, he worked as a private chef in Hollywood, competed on Next Food Network Star, cooked in some of New York City’s most high-profile restaurants, including Craft Bar, Café Boulud, and Momofuku Noodle Bar, and served as chef de cuisine for Top Chef Kitchen on NBC. In 2013, at age 25, Lyons recognized a dream and opened his own New York restaurant with Nick Lovacchini and Drew Nieporent – New American Public House – in the heart of TriBeCa. Distilled has received glowing reviews by The New York Times, and Lyons recently was honored as one of New York’s July/August 2015 | On The Town 57
most promising up-and-coming chefs in Zagat’s 30 Under 30, as well as being a featured guest chef at the prestigious James Beard House.
Photo Credits: Page 56
The evening will include music and exceptional Shane Lyons ambience. The chefs keep their menus a secret until Executive Chef and Partner the event, but each of the five are pairing their Distilled NY courses with cocktails that include Intro to Aperol, the Cosmopolita, the MacKinnon, the IBF Pick Me Up Page 57 (L-R) and the Colorado Bulldog. Robbie Nowlin Houston Street Charities was founded by Mark Citrus Bohanan and Bohanan’s Prime Steaks and Seafood to Hotel Valencia put giving back to community at the forefront of the organization’s events. Since its inception, Houston Jason Dady Street Charities and the San Antonio Cocktail Tre Trattoria Conference have donated profits to local nonprofit Tre Enoteca agencies making a difference for children. Volunteers, sponsors and patrons of the conference have made it Page 58 (L-R) possible to donate more than $350,000. Stefan Bowers Tables and individual seats are available by contacting Feast Restaurant Cathy Siegel, executive director, Houston Street Charities, by phone, 210-472-2211, or email, cathy@ John Russ sacocktails.org. Seating is limited. Luke 58 On The Town | July/August 2015
July/August 2015 | On The Town 59
60 On The Town | July/August 2015
Sea Island Shrimp House: Celebrating 50 Years By Karen Adams Photography Courtesy Sea Island Shrimp House
I
.t started earnestly enough. A husband and wife team and their friend decided to open up a simple, no frills, fresh from the Texas Gulf seafood restaurant in San Antonio called Sea Island Shrimp House. Fifty years later, the concept remains the same: serve the freshest seafood at the most affordable prices in a family-friendly atmosphere day in and day out, and you have a recipe for success.
Island Shrimp House boasts some impressive figures related to volume. The restaurant:
The three South Texas friends who founded Sea Island Shrimp House, Dan and Chrissy Anthony and Henry Reed, were right on the mark when they designed a restaurant that focused on wild-caught Texas Gulf shrimp, the freshest ingredients, and truth-in-flavor more than decorator frills. The partners opened their first restaurant at 322 W. Rector St., in 1965 with a loyal following.
• Serves approximately one ton of fish daily to customers at six restaurants.
• Serves more than 2 million guests per year at their six San Antonio-area locations • Serves more than 11 million hand-peeled, wildcaught Texas Gulf shrimp per year
But don’t think for a minute that Sea Island Shrimp House is stuck in the past. Barclay Anthony is a third-generation restaurateur who joined Sea Island Shrimp House in 1992 as CEO after graduating from UT Austin and a stint in investment banking. Under his leadership, the company has grown from the Dan Anthony learned the restaurant business from original location to a chain of six restaurants in the the ground up, working alongside his father, Tom, San Antonio area. There are now more than 400 owner of the landmark Manhattan Café, one of San employees, including some who have been with the Antonio’s first desegregated restaurants. The seafood company for more than 20 and 30 years. at the Manhattan Café was so off-the-charts good that a frequent customer of the restaurant, Henry “My job is to hold true to the legacy of serving the Reed, told Dan he should open a seafood restaurant. freshest seafood at affordable prices and conducting our company with the highest standards of business “Dan and Henry got busy working on the concept put into place by my parents 50 years ago,” said and opened Sea Island on Rector Street in 1965 with Barclay Anthony. a strong response,” said Chrissy Anthony, 81. “We set out to use only the finest ingredients, shopped for Now at the half-century mark, Sea Island is expanding the freshest vegetables, peeled our own shrimp and its menu to cultivate the newest generation of even decided to grind our own bread crumbs so that guests. they were perfect.” The Fresh at 50! menu combines a broad selection of traditional Sea Island tastes with new and distinctive Fifty years later, Sea Island Shrimp House still grinds flavors, such as Alaskan Crab Legs, Bacon Mac and its own bread crumbs, and insists on the same Cheese, Chipotle Crusted Fish, Grilled Salmon Salad high quality ingredients that made them famous. and more. In addition to being one of the largest buyers of wild-caught Texas Gulf shrimp in the region, Sea During July, 50 cents from every Fresh at 50! menu July/August 2015 | On The Town 61
item purchased will be donated to the San Antonio Food Bank. In addition to the food bank promotion, Sea Island will host a vintage car display at 10 a.m. July 5 at its Rector Street location. A handful of classic cars from 1965 will be exhibited in the front parking lot, allowing guests to get a photo with their favorite vehicle and reminisce with local antique car enthusiasts. Lemonade and skewered shrimp will be available for purchase. “Celebrating 50 years in San Antonio is such a meaningful milestone for our family,” said Barclay Anthony. “After so many years, our employees, loyal guests, vendors and business colleagues have become part of our extended family, creating a close-knit culture that resonates throughout each Sea Island restaurant. We are a home-grown San Antonio company and couldn’t think of a better city in which to have roots.” For more information, go to www.shrimphouse.com.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • Photo Credits: Page 60 Chrissy Anthony Co-founder of Sea Island Page 62 (Above) The Anthony Family: Back: Barclay Anthony and his wife Kristi Middle: Barclay’s oldest son Luke with Barclay’s mom Chrissy, co-founder of Sea Island Front: Beau and Wyatt Anthony (Middle) Grilled Skewered Trio from the Fresh at 50! menu (Below) Grilled Salmon Salad from the Fresh at 50! menu 62 On The Town | July/August 2015
July/August 2015 | On The Town 63
64 On The Town | July/August 2015
Visual Arts 66-76
July/August 2015 | On The Town 65
Young minds have a new place to grow in San Antonio – The DoSeum Story and photography courtesy of The DoSeum
S
an Antonio’s museum for kids, which opened in early June, offers limitless opportunities for children to discover, explore, create and learn. With world-class exhibits and sustainable, thoughtful architecture, it is poised to be one of the leading children’s museums in the nation. At The DoSeum, 66 On The Town | July/August 2015
nearly 60 percent of the exhibits focus on concepts in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), while others emphasize literacy and the creative arts to create a diverse learning experience. Education is critical to the success of any city, and
the goal of The DoSeum is to spark a love of learning in children that will stay with them as they grow. In every nook of the fascinating space, children will find something to explore, to play with, to puzzle over and to create. Kids will be able to use their inner creativity and curiosity to feed their appetite for learning as they choose from an impressive menu of world-class exhibits that include an interactive robot named Baxter, a spy academy filled with math challenges, an interactive puppet parade, a musical staircase, a Children’s River and a significant outdoor exhibit area with plenty of water features, shade, and an ADA-accessible treehouse. The museum will educate by using every inch of the 104,000 square feet of indoor-outdoor exhibit space. The building’s sustainable architecture serves as a teaching aid in environmental science. The ecofriendly building is equipped to produce up to 25 percent of the facility’s energy by way of 616 solar panels, capture approximately 180,000 gallons of HVAC condensate per year to be used for on-site irrigation and will strive to recycle 90 percent of waste materials gathered from daily operations. The
DoSeum is set to receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council and is among the most sustainable museums in Texas. “From the day we opened our doors, The DoSeum became one of the most beautiful, exciting and interactive children’s museums in the entire United States,” said Vanessa Lacoss Hurd, CEO of The DoSeum. “It’s a place where children tap their inner creativity and curiosity, and where science, math, technology and art become a playground for their minds and bodies. Our hope is that The DoSeum will spark a genuine zeal for learning that they will take with them through childhood and beyond.” When planning the design of the building, one important detail was making sure the space would be accessible to children from all backgrounds. The entire museum is ADA-accessible, Spanish-language signage and graphics are placed throughout the space, and museumgoers will have the option to interact with exhibits in their preferred language. Additionally, The DoSeum will roll out new programs and partnerships in an effort to reach children in July/August 2015 | On The Town 67
every corner of the community.
educational programming for the community.
In fall 2015, the Little Doers program will welcome its first class of preschool-age children. The weekly program was inspired by San Antonio’s commitment to quality early childhood education, and it will offer a play-based, rich learning environment specifically targeted to each child’s age and development. These initiatives are just the start of what The DoSeum plans to contribute to the city’s goal of achieving a globally competitive workforce.
“Children’s museums can be powerful players in a community’s learning landscape,” said Laura Huerta Migus, executive director of the Association of Children’s Museums. “They are unique in their ability to convene stakeholders from all sectors who are interested and invested in the success and well-being of children and families.”
“The DoSeum will certainly confirm San Antonio’s place in the global network of cities striving to create The DoSeum will serve as an inclusive community civic environments for healthy children, empowered partner, making its extensive educational resources parents, and vibrant workforces,” she added. available to local educators. As a trusted resource for schools, the museum will offer professional The DoSeum is expected to attract more than 400,000 development resources, provide a learning space visitors annually to experience its innovative approach to gather, and share educational resources for to education, and is another influential addition to teachers to turn ideas into action, inside and the cultural corridor along Broadway that includes outside of the classroom. the Pearl Brewery complex, the Witte Museum, Brackenridge Park, the San Antonio Botanical Garden, In addition to being a space for learning, The DoSeum the San Antonio Zoo, the San Antonio Museum of Art is equipped with charming rental space available for and the McNay Art Museum. social and professional events. Proceeds from facility rentals will directly benefit the museum and its For more information, visit TheDoSeum.org. 68 On The Town | July/August 2015
July/August 2015 | On The Town 69
Art al Fresco:
Celebrating Art and Community in Boerne By Jennie Fisher Photography Courtesy City of Boerne
T
he City of Boerne recently announced its new public art program, Art al Fresco — an annual outdoor public sculpture competition with a call for entry that closed in late May. More than 50 professional artists submitted work to be considered for this unique opportunity to show 70 On The Town | July/August 2015
their sculptures in Boerne. Up to 10 pieces will be selected by the Boerne Public Art Competition Committee for a 13-month temporary exhibit. The sculptures will be located throughout the city’s historic downtown, along the Hill Country
Mile, where visitors and residents can enjoy a walkable tour of the sculptures in the heart of beautiful Boerne. “One of the fun things about the competition is that the public will be able to vote on their favorite piece of art,” said Mary Woods, special projects assistant for the City of Boerne. “We hope that this will become a walking adventure in downtown Boerne, so you’ll go shopping, eat downtown and visit the art. We really want this to be interactive.” While the competition is the first of its kind in Boerne, the city’s sculpture collection has expanded significantly in recent years, with the installation of the Wild Bill Hickok bronze at Main Plaza, The Land of the Cheyenne on the Cibolo Trail, and Father Gander in River Road Park. Art al Fresco will facilitate the continued growth of Boerne’s permanent public art collection.
“Locals know there is a thriving arts community in the city of Boerne, and they place a strong emphasis on arts education,” Woods said. “We are excited about Art al Fresco’s future educational and programming opportunities and hope students will visit, look at, study and photograph the art.” Boerne Mayor Mike Schultz said he believes Art al Fresco will be a big draw for visitors. “Adding more public art to Boerne’s landscape is a key strategy for supporting our tourism efforts,” Schultz said. “Boerne is already an art lover’s destination, and this new initiative is going to kick it up a notch.” Boerne Art al Fresco is scheduled to open in September. Life-size and monumental sculptures of all styles and media will be included and installed along the Hill Country Mile. For more information, visit www.artalfresco.org. July/August 2015 | On The Town 71
72 On The Town | July/August 2015
Jerry Ruiz Comes Home to Texas and the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center
By Julie Catalano ” Photography Greg Harrison
W
hen we sat down to talk to acclaimed stage director and producer Jerry Ruiz, he had been the executive director at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center for about three weeks. Affable and confident, Ruiz has an obvious passion for his new and challenging role in guiding the longtime San Antonio Westside institution into what he hopes is its next golden era.
theaters. My first big job was assistant director on La Boheme, a Broadway production of the opera, directed by Baz Luhrmann (Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge!). Like so many things in show business it was just happenstance. Someone recommended me and I started as an unpaid intern, and after that they hired me. I went from showing up in NYC with no connections to speak of, to working with a famous fancy film director who was doing a huge Broadway The Brownsville, Texas, native obviously thrives on show. It really was like something out of a movie. For challenges, venturing to Harvard University where a 23-year-old, it was quite a magic carpet ride. he got his BA in English literature, then “sneaked back into Texas for about a year for a directing OTT: A ride that ended when the show ended its run internship at Dallas Theater Center. It was sort of in 2004. my foot in the door of the professional theater world.” That door led to more doors, most notably JR: I was out of a job and didn’t know what the next in New York—each one increasing his experience, step would be, so I thought I better apply to graduate recognition, success, and ultimately bringing him school at University of California at San Diego (UCSD). back to his roots in South Texas. I learned a lot. I think the experience of assisting such an established director on Broadway and grad school On The Town: What did your family back home in were the two things that really taught me the most. In Brownsville think about your choice of career? school I was able to find my own voice and style as a director. I directed five productions there; three were JR: They weren’t totally surprised. I was always kind of new plays written by graduate playwrights. The other an artsy kid, playing piano, writing stuff, doing theater two were Blood Wedding by Garcia Lorca, a beautiful in the summer with friends. I made it sound like but very difficult play; and a five character comedy. [directing] could be a responsible career, that I could intern and go to graduate school and get a job at a OTT: You got your MFA in 2007, and then went back theater. I think I just kind of sold them on it. to NYC? OTT: What was it like living and working in New York City? JR: It was an exciting time. I moved there in 2001 on a hope and prayer, with very little money. I applied for everything I could and volunteered at
JR: Yes. I had a two-year directing fellowship with Second Stage, a great off-Broadway company. As the fellowship was ending I wasn’t sure what was going to happen next. I emailed Spanish Repertory Theatre (Repertorio Español) and said, Hey, what are you planning to do next year, I’d love to direct for you guys. July/August 2015 | On The Town 73
It’s very rare that those kind of emails actually lead to anything, but they emailed me back saying, Hey, come and talk to us. The next day I had my first paid directing job in NYC, a new play called Kiss Bessemer Goodbye (El Beso del Adios). It’s a dramedy about a MexicanAmerican family in Colorado. OTT: How did the Guadalupe position of executive director come about? JR: I was doing all of this work as a freelance director. I felt like I wanted to have an artistic home and an artistic leadership position and really be able to shape the work that was being done while promoting that artists that I believe in, doing work that that has some kind of social impact. A friend of mine in San Antonio told me that the Guadalupe was looking for an executive director and that I should apply. I got really inspired by what I think we could do here to be part of the great legacy and history of this place. OTT: Will you take the center in any new or different direction? JR: The important part is to honor our commitment to the community, especially on the Westside. Some great community leaders and many important Latino artists have come through here. Part of our mission is to preserve our cultural heritage and the art forms that do that. I’m interested in artists from different disciplines— visual and performing arts, and literature—that draw on that cultural heritage but in some new and exciting way, commissioning and developing new work and showcasing artists who are honoring their Chicano and Latino traditions but are also pushing the forms forward. Each department eventually will have its own director in visual arts, theatre, and dance. We all want the Guadalupe to come back strong and be the leader in the Latino arts field and have a national profile once again. We also have a few buildings that we want to renovate like the Chavez Building on Brazos. It could eventually house artists’ studios and work spaces. OTT: Are your parents glad that you’re closer to home? JR: (laughs) Yes. They’ve been waiting for this for a long time. I’ve always considered South Texas my home, so it’s great to be back. For more info, guadalupeculturalarts.org 74 On The Town | July/August 2015
July/August 2015 | On The Town 75
76 On The Town | July/August 2015
Literary Arts 78-82
July/August 2015 | On The Town 77
Book Talk:
78 On The Town | July/August 2015
CYNTHIA
LEAL MASSEY,
Author and Journalist Story and Photography by Jasmina Wellinghoff
C
ynthia Leal Massey loves histor y, especially the close -to -home histor y of Texas and of her adopted hometown of Helotes. After years of work ing as a journalist and English instructor, Massey turned to writing books that explore historical themes and personalities through fiction and nonfiction. She is the author of two historical novels, Fire Lilies (2001) and The Caballeros of Ruby, Texas, (2002), as well as three nonfiction works, all three about Helotes. Among the latter is a comprehensive 2008 histor y of the small town on San Antonio’s nor thwestern flank titled, Helotes, Where the Hill Countr y Begins. Her first novel, Fire Lilies, set in the early 20th centur y during the Mexican Revolution, won the 2002 Independent e -Book Award for best romance novel and was a finalist for the Electronic Publishing Industr y Coalition EPIC Award in the categor y of historical fiction. I ts print sequel, The Caballeros of Ruby, Texas became a finalist in the 2003 WILLA Literar y Award competition, sponsored by Women Writing the West, a national organization of women who write about the American frontier. Massey ’s most recent book, Death of a Texas Ranger, a recipient of the 2015 San Antonio Conser vation Society Publication Award, is a painstak ingly documented and vividly written account of the 1873 murder of Texas Ranger John Green by fellow ranger Cesario Menchaca.
The two men were members of the Texas Ranger Minute Men, Troop V of Medina County, which was mustered into ser vice in 1872, mostly to protect settlers from Indian raids. The prominent landowner and eccentric naturalist Gabriel Marnoch also was implicated in the murder. Although the book doesn’t offer a definitive answer as to why the k illing occurred, it provides insight and information about life on the Texas frontier and the early Helotes settlers, who are por trayed as multi- dimensional human beings the reader can empathize with. The author has won praise for discovering previously forgotten documents about a par t of Texas histor y. We talked to Massey in her coz y home in the now peaceful town of Helotes. JW: How did this book come about? CLM: While I was work ing on the histor y of Helotes, I inter viewed descendants of the pioneers of the town. Lorenzo Morales, a descendant of Cesario Menchaca, was one of them. He was the first to mention that there was a third person involved in the k illing of Green. This person was Gabriel Marnoch, an eccentric frontier naturalist who was the son of the founding family of Helotes. I found the stor y fascinating and even more so when I found out that Sgt. Green’s son became a law enforcement officer 20 years later and went after Cesario, who July/August 2015 | On The Town 79
had escaped to Mexico. I t had all the elements of a great stor y : myster y, great characters and a great plot line. So I decided to follow this oral histor y tale to see if it was indeed true. JW: You obviously did a tremendous amount of research in various official and newspaper archives. Do you enjoy that par t of the work? CLM: Yeah, I researched this book for four years but I do research and writing together. I star t by doing research for about three to four months and then once I get something going I star t writing. As I write I realize I need to do more research, so I end up doing writing and research simultaneously. JW: What drove you? Did you want to solve the myster y? CLM: Yes. I wanted to find out what compelled this k illing. Interestingly, the family of the victim was told that their ancestor was k illed by Indians. I talked to the genealogist of the (Green) family, Shirley Green Sweet, who grew up believing that. So when I contacted her and told her that her ancestor was k illed by a fellow ranger, she was completely surprised. She didn’t even k now that he had been a ranger. That, too, piqued my interest because clearly there was something about the stor y that her greatgrandmother did not want to tell her children and grandchildren. I t was not an easy tale to tell; there were a lot of nuances. JW: From what you say in the book, it ’s clear that the Menchaca descendants believe that their great-grandfather pulled the trigger because he believed that Green was going to k ill him. He believed that Green had accepted money to k ill him. What do you think happened? CLM: I think that Gabriel Marnoch did put a bounty on Cesario’s head. (Marnoch was angr y because Menchaca dragged him to jail tied to his horse during an arrest for failure to appear in cour t.) Green, like the other settlers, was upset with Cesario because of the way Cesario had arrested Marnoch, a ver y humiliating way to be arrested. However, all my research indicates that Green was an honest, upright man, and I 80 On The Town | July/August March/April 2015
don’t think that he would have taken any bounty money, but Cesario was paranoid because of what he had done. And because John Green did give him some grief when they were out scouting for Indians, Cesario just assumed that he (Green) was going to tr y something … I t was really a big misunderstanding. JW: Given that you couldn’t fully resolve the murder myster y for lack of documentation, did you ever consider turning the stor y into fiction, which would have given you greater narrative freedom? CLM: The only person I k now who did that effectively was Claude Stanush. He wrote about the Newton Boys (a gang of robbers from Uvalde). He did a nonfiction and a fiction version because he felt that the nonfiction account didn’t tell the full stor y. But, you k now, I worked on this book for so long that the thought of going back and basically doing it again is not appealing to me. But I am work ing on a new book about a murder-suicide that happened here in the 1950s. I may turn this one into fiction because I am not sure that I can find ever ything I need (in the available records.) The biggest problem I have with that, however, is, can I use the real names if it ’s fiction?
treaty lasted until the Indians were pushed onto the reser vations. JW: How much is left in Helotes from that time? Any old homesteads or cemeteries? CLM: The Marnoch House is still standing and still looks exactly the same. I t ’s off Scenic Loop Road. I t ’s a private residence but there’s a Texas historical marker on the proper ty. And you can still see the remnants of the Green homestead right past the intersection of 1604 and Guilbeau Road. Also, the place where John Green was buried is right off Guilbeau on a street called Jean Ver te in his honor. ( The street ’s name is an inadver tently incorrect French version of the name John Green). His bones were left there but now it ’s just a front yard of a house. His relatives moved the tombstone and some other stones but did not exhume the body. JW: Tell us about the organization Women Writing the West that you belong to.
CLM: I think that group star ted in 1996. I joined in 1997. I t ’s for women writers who write women’s stories set in the West. I t was formed because even books that were published by reputable presses were not promoted by the sales people who didn’t k now what to do with JW: Beyond the stor y of these two men, or three them because they were not typical Westerns. men actually, your book covers a lot of ground The organization has blossomed; it has describing the historical circumstances in which something like 375 members today and it holds they lived. What do you feel you have learned an annual conference. I t ’s a wonder ful group. about that time? I t really helps the women market their work. I t has helped me. I found both my editor and my CLM: That ’s a good question – what did I agent at one of the conferences. learn? One thing I learned was that during the Civil War and Reconstruction here there JW: You are very involved in the life of Helotes today. was a lot of chaos and suspicion among the people. The new power, the Nor therners, did CLM: I am on the city council here in Helotes; I not trust the Southerners to vote properly so am the mayor pro tem. And I am ver y involved they just appointed people to official positions, in the Historical Society and will be tak ing over including in law enforcement. These appointed as president for two years. One of my big goals people were distrusted by Texans. That ’s what is to star t building a museum in Old Town. I’ll be happened to Menchaca, who was appointed really pushing for that. constable and in that capacity arrested Marnoch. Another thing that readers have told me they did not k now is that the German settlers in the Hill Countr y had a treaty with the Comanches Ms. Massey’s comments have been slightly edited and actually got along with them ver y well. That for reasons of space and clarity.
• • • • • • • • • • • • •
July/August 2015 | On The Town 81
82 On The Town | July/August 2015
Eclectics 84-94
July/August 2015 | On The Town 83
84 On The Town | July/August 2015
ZDT’S AMUSEMENT PARK:
NONSTOP FAMILY FUN AND A NEW WORLD RECORD-BREAKING ROLLER COASTER MAKE SEGUIN THE PLACE TO BE THIS SUMMER! By Janis Turk Photos courtesy ZDT’s Amusement Park
J
ust 35 miles east of San Antonio off Interstate 10, an exciting small-town family amusement park that’s big on fun awaits kids of all ages. ZDT’s Amusement Park was designed with families in mind, so attractions will entertain a wide age-range, from toddlers to teens and everyone in between. Even mom and dad can play.
Coaster, the Viper Hybrid Slide, the Viper’s Tail, Jungle PlayLand with Ballocity, and a big array of video games and simulators that are always all set on free mode!”
But perhaps the scariest, most thrilling, spinetingling, awe-inspiring and much-awaited attraction is yet to come! Construction is well underway on Family owned and operated, ZDT’s is the dream – the Switchback at ZDT’s, a full-sized state-of-thecome-true business of the Donhauser family. Proud art roller coaster reminiscent of old school wooden parents Sarah and Danny Donhauser decided to coasters, like the original one at Coney Island, the name the park after their kids (Zac, Danielle, and Gravity Pleasure Switch Back Railway. Tiffany). With only 5 attractions, they first opened the park in March 2007. Today, 8 years later, ZDT’s “Like Coney Island’s original landmark coaster, has more than doubled in size and today offers 12 Switchback will send passengers racing forward and, exciting attractions. instead of making a complete circuit; it will stall out on an incline before reaching the end of the track,” “We really encourage families to come and play says Donhauser. “The train will then retrace the together, so we’ve designed ZDT’s Amusement Park course heading backward. A track switch, toward with all kinds of rides and attractions that appeal to the end of the ride, will route the train back to the a wide age range. Dad’s and moms love our speedy loading station.” Go Kart track that runs on a looping multi-level circuit, Kids love the spinning Dizzy Toucan, and Slated to open mid-summer, the Switchback, built everyone likes the water rides and slides in summer,” by the world famous Gravity Group of Ohio, will says Sarah Donhauser.“ draw roller coaster aficionados from all over the world. “We keep hearing from roller coaster lovers “Don’t let the small town location fool you; ZDT’s who want to know how soon it will open. Members serves up big fun and great value!” explains of roller coaster clubs and roller coaster lovers Donhauser, “With an “Extreme” wristband , this everywhere can’t wait because the Switchback at summer you get unlimited access to all attractions, ZDT’s will be a unique coaster,” says Donhauser. including Bungee Trampoline, our thrilling MaxFlight “In addition to being a one-of-a-kind coaster, Simulator, the big Parachute Drop, my favorite— Switchback should be a world-record –breaking the Dizzy Toucan—and full-sized go-carts, a rock- roller coaster, but I can’t release the details about climbing wall and silo climb, the Mad Raft Hydro- that just yet.” July/August 2015 | On The Town 85
“Ours will be the only modern wooden shutter coaster in the world, and that’s why roller coaster clubs and roller coaster lovers from all over have contacted us saying they plan to come for its grand opening this summer. ZDT’s Switchback will be thoroughly modern and safe, but it will resemble those in the early history of roller coasters, like the Switch Back at Coney Island in 1884 that was inspired by the wooden cars of an old coal train,” says Donhauser. “The Gravity Group combines modern technologies with the classic art of wooden coaster design to create award-winning rides. With work on over 50 different rides around the world, our team of engineers as more experience than any other wooden roller coaster design team. Equipped with state-of-the-art Timberliner trains, Gravity Group rides debut with high rankings and stay smooth,” says Chad Miller of The Gravity Group.
86 On The Town | July/August 2015
“The best part about ZDT’s Switchback, “ says Donhauser, “ is that, it is not only going to be tall, fast and thrilling, it really will be a family coaster and anyone 42” tall and up can ride—which means that even some 3 and 4 year olds may be able to ride with their parents. Our whole family loves roller coasters, so we had to be sure it would be the kind we’d like to ride.” The Donhausers have ridden their share of coasters in their time, and they’ve been to more amusement parks than they can count. “It’s funny, but our family vacations are actually business trips. We love to travel across the country to do research on what rides we want to bring to ZDT’s next, so we visit a lot of parks,” says Sarah. Donhauser, who earned a PhD in counseling from St. Mary’s University, says it wasn’t her original intention to start an amusement park 8 years ago;
she just wanted a fun place in the area for families to go. It was her husband Danny’s project. Little did they know it would turn into something this big and successful, though that’s what Danny had envisioned. Danny knew that for ZDT’s to succeed, they would need to attract tourists, as a small town alone cannot support a business like this. Previously, Danny owned a local body shop which was sold a year after ZDT’s opened. The Donhauser kids were young then, but today Zac is 23, Danielle is 20, and Tiffany is 17, and all remain as thrilled as ever when they get to spend time working or playing at ZDT’s. Zac, who just graduated from the University of Texas at Austin this month with a degree in bio-medical engineering has even decided to stay in the family business full time for a while before pursuing medical school or a different career. “He’s a hard worker,” says Donhauser, who is pleased to have the input of her son’s ideas and
insights into what young people want. It seems the Donhauser family’s success at ZDT’s is proof that the old adage is true: “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” “No, it really is hard work, but it’s rewarding, too,” says Donhauser. “We love to see families having fun together.” The family’s hard work has certainly paid off, as these days this small town amusement park is getting big-city-sized attention from the press: USA Today and the Los Angeles Times have both lauded ZDT’s Switchback as being one of the top new attractions this year, and lots of websites about family fun parks and roller coasters are spreading the word about the coming of the new Switchback coaster at ZDT’s. “We have teams working every day to get the Coaster up and running,” says Donhauser. “Summer July/August July/August 2015 |2015 On The| Town On The87 Town 87
is here, and the kids are out of school—they’re ready free Wi-Fi, and free parking as well. Moms and dads to play, and we’re ready to have them!” can watch the game on big-screened televisions, too. And parents are pleased that there are so many And don’t worry about how hot it is outside; at areas at ZDT’s where kids can be physically active ZDT’s, families can spend time enjoying the outside and challenged, like the bungee trampoline and the attractions and then escape the heat inside for a climbing wall and silo. Of course, kids also love the fun-filled variety of indoor attractions as well. Then video games, go carts and more. head back out for round two of family fun, because It all adds up to non-stop, year-round family-friendly once you purchase your wristband you are set to fun, so there’s never a dull moment at ZDT’s in stay and play as long as you like. You can cool off in Seguin. the water park as well. ZDT’s Amusement Park is also open year round (on weekends during the school year), so even if it’s cold outside in the winter there’s a lot to do inside. ZDT’s Amusement Park 301 W Kingsbury Cleaner and more family-friendly than most arcades Seguin, TX 78155 and amusement parks, ZDT’s is the kind of place (830)386-0151 people where feel comfortable spending the day and letting their kids run around and play. There From San Antonio take Interstate 10 East to Exit 609, is always food, coffee, and other concession items, Austin Street/State Highway 123
• • • • • • • • • • • • •
88 On The Town | July/August 2015
July/August July/August 2015 |2015 On The| Town On The89 Town 89
Artistic Destination:
THE HILLS ARE ALIVE:
Hill Country Arts Foundation Grows Visual and Performing Arts in Ingram, Texas By Julie Catalano Photography courtesy HCAF
H
ill Country Arts Foundation executive director David Howard could not be prouder of the organization that was founded in 1959 by a small group of artists and art lovers who had a vision— to create a very special place in Texas to showcase 90 On The Town | July/August 2015
the arts against the scenic backdrop of the Texas Hill Country. They apparently succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. With more than 30 years’ involvement with
the foundation, Howard is practically a walking history book and a passionate caretaker of a precious legacy that’s as close to him as his own family: “I have observed the HCAF like I have observed my children’s growth into adulthood. I guess the reason I am still around is that every year I am proud of the accomplishments of the many and of the individual.” Howard is not alone in his pride and passion. The 13.5 acre campus in Ingram, Texas—about seven miles from Kerrville--is peopled with those whose days and nights are filled with creativity and commitment to fostering the visual and performing arts in their little corner of the world. Director of theatre and education Jeff Cunningham shares, with Howard, a longtime dedication to HCAF, starting with his internship in 1995-96. “I thought, yep, this is where I want to be.” The theatre internship
program continues to this day, with about a halfdozen college students doing what Cunningham calls, “everything.” It’s necessary preparation for producing a season at the Smith-Ritch Pointe Theatre, described as “the longest running outdoor theatre in Texas.” and famous for its summer season. The second theatrical venue is the indoor Elizabeth Huth Coates, a former barn and skating rink and now a black box theatre. “Our performers are amateur,” says Cunningham, but that hasn’t affected the popularity of the productions, especially among the locals that make up 95 percent of the audiences. Cunningham breaks down his assessment of their fans: “There are about 3000 people who want to see the big musicals [they just finished a very popular South Pacific in June]. Then about 1200 who will come to see a show they’re excited about. Then about 800 who will see everything.” All are welcome, and some come away pleasantly surprised at July/August 2015 | On The Town 91
the caliber of talent and production values, and even HCAF has a long history of presenting art workshops more impressed with the multifunctional campus set ranging from one to four days, with programs for artists on the banks of the Guadalupe River. of all ages in a variety of disciplines. “We have about 20 to 30 workshops a year,” says Thrall, which can include The foundation’s Duncan-McAshan Visual Arts Center “watercolor, pastel, jewelry making, assemblage, folk includes a 1700 square foot art gallery, four studios, art, tile design, pottery, and more.” (Check the hcaf.com and ceramic lab. Visual arts director Rosanne Thrall website for upcoming fall and winter 2015 offerings.) also attests to the lure of HCAF: location, location, location. “It’s beautiful here,” she says simply. Thrall is The working studios are a dream, with ground floor herself an artist, designer, and tilemaker, and says the accessibility (no steps), north light and fully equipped, setting and the exhibitions draw artists and visitors as is the ceramic studio, the only one in the area open from San Antonio, Austin, Fredericksburg, Kerrville, for public use. Studio rentals are available for groups Hunt, Bergheim, Comfort, and beyond. looking for a longed-for respite where they can focus on creating art amid peace and quiet and natural beauty. Year-round exhibitions feature local, regional, national “They stay at one of the area bed and breakfasts,” says and international artists, and artwork can be purchased Thrall, “and then spend their days here. Artists often at most of the shows. Artists love it. “The gallery is what leave with several full scale paintings because they a gallery should be. Quiet, and showing off the work had no distractions of daily life.” the way it should be shown,” says Thrall. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Friday 10a-4p; Saturday 10a-2p; closed Neither Cunningham nor Thrall are much for tooting Sunday. Admission is free. their own horns, but David Howard chimes in with what he calls “one proud accomplishment.” He explains:
92 On The Town | July/August 2015
“There are very few foundations that house both Visual Arts and Performing Arts throughout the United States but HCAF has been able to maintain this relationship for almost 56 years.” The mission of increased education and outreach figures prominently in both as well, adding, “most of it for the youth in our area.” As if all this weren’t enough, there’s Stonehenge II, undoubtedly one of the most unusual attractions in the state that now rests permanently on the HCAF campus after its painstaking move, stone-by-stone, from Hunt to Ingram in 2010. An almost full-scale replica of the mysterious site in Salisbury, England (is it the work of Druids? Extraterrestrials?), the Texas version is the notso-mysterious work of the late Texas artist Al Shepperd and his neighbor Doug Hill.
At this hidden gem of an artistic destination, they no doubt quickly learned the answer to that: Plenty. For more information on performance schedules, workshops, and Stonehenge, hcaf.org
• • • • • • • • • • • • Page 90 Stonehenge II Page 91 Smith-Ritch Pointe Theatre
Page 92 Thrall says the eye-catching attraction has added Scene from Young Frankenstein to the allure of HCAF to first-timers who came for Stonehenge II and stayed for the art. “We see them venturing past Stonehenge II, exploring the grounds, Page 93 visiting the gallery, to see what else we have to offer.” Silk scarf dying workshop
July/August 2015 | On The Town 93
94 On The Town | July/August 2015
Out & About with Greg Harrison 92-100
July/August 2015 | On The Town 95
96 On The Town | July/August 2015
July/August 2015 | On The Town 97
98 On The Town | July/August 2015
July/August 2015 | On The Town 99
100 On The Town | July/August 2015
July/August 2015 | On The Town 101
102 On The Town | July/August 2015
July/August 2015 | On The Town 103
104 On The Town | July/August 2015