November/December 2013 Issue

Ezine.com

ON THE TOWN

November/December 2013

Saveurs Saveurs 209 209 Light Light The The Way Way Lidia Lidia Bastianich Bastianich Mariachi Mariachi Vargas Vargas SAIPC SAIPC Piano Piano Series Series Music Music Without Without Borders Borders Patron Patron Saint Saint of of Texas Texas Exhibit Exhibit Plus Plus 10 10 Additional Additional Articles Articles

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Features

Cover Credits

Happy Holiday Performances in November and December!

Make Your List and Check it Twice

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

Musical Bridges Presents “Music Without Borders”

Mariachi Vargas: A Beautiful Puzzle Assembled Piece by Piece

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Performing Arts Cover Photo Stefan Karl as The Grinch with Seth Bazacas as Young Max. Photo by paparazzibyappointment.com

Musical Offerings Celebrates Three Decades of Music in San Antonio

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Zuzu’s Petals 22 San Antonio International Piano Competition’s Piano Series

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Lidia Bastianich – A Moveable Feast

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Nykiels Offer Fine French Dining at Saveurs 209

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Cheers! To San Antonio Cocktail Conference 2014

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Eight, Eighteen Exhibit at Linda Pace Foundation

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San Antonio Museum of Art Celebrates Fray Antonio Margil de Jesus, the Patron Saint of Texas

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Step Inside the Real and Imaginary World of Carnivorous Plants at San Antonio Botanical Garden

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

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Events Calendar Photo: Alyssa DiPalma and Alex Nee in American Idiot Photo by Turner Rouse, Jr. Culinary Arts Cover Photo: Photo by Greg Harrison Visual Arts Cover Photo: Photo by Greg Harrison Literary Arts Cover Photo: Photo by Greg Harrison Eclectics Cover Photo: Photo by Greg Harrison

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

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Departments

Contributors

Events Calendar

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Book Talk: Mary Jane Hardy, Teacher Author

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

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Out & About With Greg Harrison

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Mikel Allen, creative director / graphic designer

Betsy Beckmann Olivier J. Bourgoin (aka, Oliver the Wine Guy) Julie Catalano

Greg Harrison, staff photographer Steve Holloway

Jennie Badger

Jonathan Clark

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Christian Lair, operations manager / webmaster Kay Lair Tracy Lowe

Lisa Cruz

Susan A. Merkner, copy editor

Thomas Duhon

Cynthia Munoz

Chris Dunn

Cameron Schieldt

Ashley Festa

Sara Selango

Jack Fishman

Janis Turk

Margaret Garcia

Jasmina Wellinghoff

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.

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Performing Arts 8-26

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s I make my wish list of events I want to attend in and around the city, it has become apparent that many more enter tainment oppor tunities exist now than ever before. More music, live theater, dance, opera and comedy grace the stages of venues throughout the area than in past days. It ’s a good time to be a per forming ar ts aficionado in the San Antonio area, a ver y good time.

Examples abound. To begin with, November brings with it two outstanding classical concer ts by the San Antonio Symphony and a Pops show too. Disney in Concer t is the pops per formance on Nov. 1-2 at the Majestic with Akiko Fujimoto conducting.

Classicals include Rach 2 with Sebastian Lang-Lessing as conductor and pianist Cecile Licad as the featured ar tist, plus a program titled Mendelssohn Violin Concer to under the baton of Cristian Marcelaru with violinist Philippe Quint. Rach 2 is Nov. 8-9 and the Mendelssohn is Nov. 22-12. All per formances mentioned are at the Majestic Theatre.

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

A myriad of other classical music offerings are available as well in the months of November and December. San Antonio Piano Competition’s Piano Series presents Younggun Kim at St. Mark ’s Episcopal Nov. 2. The ver y next day Camerata San Antonio brings patrons a recital by cellist Lacherzar Kostov and pianist Viktor Valkov at Christ Episcopal while Mid-Texas Symphony makes Mar velous Musik at the Brauntex Per forming Ar ts Theatre in New Braunfels. Chamber Orchestra of San Antonio follows with Centennial Benjamin: O f Love and Darkness Nov. 7 at San Antonio Museum of Ar t.

Francisco Nunez conducts this one with Elena Galvan, soprano. Tuesday Musical Club is up next featuring baritone Andrew Garland at Laurel

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

Nutcrackers are next.

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

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

In other dance, San Antonio Metropolitan Ballet dances The Snow Queen at the Jo Long Theatre at the Car ver Nov. 9-10 and the Car ver itself presents Nai-Ni Chin along with Ahn Trio in a program called Temptation of the Muses. It ’s at the Jo Long too Nov 16.

Touring Broadway is represented with a couple of shows in December. Green Day ’s American Idiot plays the Majestic for two days only Dec. 13-14. Broadway in San Antonio has Dr. Suess’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas for a compact 10-per formance run over the four days of 12/2629. Bring the kids.

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

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

I always like to offer a good reason to visit the events calendar section in this magazine.

So how ’s this? Some of the folks coming to San Antonio and the surrounding area in the months of November and December are: The Doobie Brothers, Nine Inch Nails, Drake, Pink, Celtic Thunder, Vicki Lawrence and Mama, REO Speedwagon, Jay Mohr, DL Hughley, Jay Z, Rober t Earl Keen, The Irish Tenors, Georgette Jones, Pam Tillis and Harr y Connick, Jr.

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

It ’s a good time to be a per forming ar ts aficionado in the San Antonio area. Happy Holidays. Get some tickets and go!

Photo Credits:

Pages 12-13 (L-R)

Pages 8-9

The Nutcracker Cour tesy Ballet San Antonio and San Antonio Symphony

How The Grinch Stole Christmas company Photo by papparazzibyappointment.com Pages 10-11 (L-R) The Nutcracker Cour tesy Ar ts San Antonio Philippe Quint Photo by Lisa-Marie Mazzucco

Akiko Fujimoto Photo by Eric Green Cristian Macelaru Cour tesy macelaru.com

The company of American Idiot Photo by Litwin

Cecile Licad Photo by Sarah Black Harry Connick, Jr. Cour tesy Majestic Theatre

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Musical Bridges presents ‘Music Without Borders’

By Ashley Festa

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ow does a musical tour around the world next spring sound? No need to pack a suitcase for this vacation, and you can go even if you hate flying.

Palestinian, Indian, Cuban and, of course, American.

“My goal was to bring as much of the world as possible to show through music,” Grokhovski said. “There’s ongoing conflict in the world, so it’s good to have these musicians working together. It puts a human Anya Grokhovski is making it possible, and it won’t face on international scandals.” break the bank. The artistic director and CEO of Musical Bridges Around the World has organized a The festival will be the first time that many of these week-long international music festival called “Music countries are represented at a Musical Bridges event.

Without Borders,” planned for Feb. 22 through March “The fact that I’m a professional musician means I have 2 in San Antonio. a professional ear. We’re inviting the top musicians in the world,” Grokhovski said, emphasizing that she “I wanted to cultivate the idea of bringing different wants to offer a wider world perspective, but won’t elements of music to San Antonio,” said Grokhovski, sacrifice the quality of the performances. a classically trained concert pianist and native of Russia. “This festival summarizes the vision of Musical “Music is a beautiful language to communicate Bridges Around the World.” through,” she said. “We’re doing what we can to build peace through musical performances. I want people That vision is to provide musical education to to feel that our globe is a very small place, that we anyone and everyone who’s interested in learning have more in common than what’s different.” about countries far and wide. The event features five concerts that bring together musicians from cultures Especially curious about other countries’ cultures are around the world, including Russian, Syrian, Israeli, San Antonio schoolchildren. Grokhovski focuses much 14 On The Town | November/December

• Feb. 23 – Duo Amal, Israeli-Palestinian pianists • Feb. 25 – Children’s festival featuring dance and musical performances • Feb. 28 – Entreflamenco performing Spanish flamenco dance • March 1 – Syrian clarinetist Kinan Azmeh, Indian tabla player Sandeep Das, and the St. Petersburg “All kids see on the news is negative. We try to put Quartet, strings players from Russia something positive and beautiful in front of them,” • March 2 – The St. Petersburg String Quartet and Grokhovski said. “They see the world through us. It’s a Compañía De Teatro Lírico “Ernesto Lecuona,” a Cuban huge responsibility.” theater troupe performing the music of pianist and composer Ernesto Lecuona.

And it makes a huge difference in children’s lives. One year, Grokhovski took Russian musicians, donning In addition to the “Music Without Borders” festival, costumes and toting folk instruments, to several Musical Bridges will continue free concerts at 6:30 San Antonio schools. At the end of the school year p.m. Sundays at San Fernando Cathedral. Nearly 2,500 six months later, Grokhovski said, the children were music lovers come out every year to hear world-class asked what they wanted to do in the future. classical musicians perform. of Musical Bridges’ resources on bringing educational opportunities to kids, many of whom have never left their school district and know very little about other cultures. To support this mission, the Music Without Borders festival will include a kids’ day with four short performances.

“The majority of children said they wanted to go to “Music Without Borders” is the evolution of a long Russia,” Grokhovski said. “Without that concert, they line of international music components that Musical never would have known Russia existed.”

Bridges has offered San Antonio for the past 16 years.

House concerts evolved into a nonprofit organization The lineup for “Music Without Borders” includes: offering chamber music performances, which branched out into an international concert series, • Feb. 22 – American jazz musicians Charles Lloyd which now has been combined into a week’s worth of and Gerald Clayton entertainment and enlightenment.

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

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

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

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

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Photo Credits: Page 14 Sandeep Das Courtesy sandeepdas.com Page 15 Charles Lloyd Courtesy Musical Bridges Around The World Page 16 (Above) Estefania Ramirez Entreflamenco Dance Company Courtesy entreflamenco.com (Below) Kinan Azmeh Courtesy Musical Bridges Around The World 16 On The Town | November/December

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MARIACHI VARGAS: a beautiful puzzle assembled piece by piece

By Cynthia Munoz and Mariachi Historian Jonathan Clark

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ariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán’s highly energized performances are second to none.

Quite simply, Mariachi Vargas’ performances surpass even the highest expectations. The music is performed with incredible precision and yet it remains new and fresh, even to audiences that are regular concertgoers and diehard fans. The members of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán have gained a worldwide reputation of setting the gold standard for mariachi music. Much of this is attributed to the talents of the group’s leaders, maestro Rubén Fuentes and maestro José “Pepe” Martínez Sr. Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán consists of 13 members and is based in Mexico City. Five are lead vocalists and violinists, including Alberto Alfaro, Miguel Ángel Barrón, Andrés González, Daniel Martínez and José “Pepe” Martínez Jr. Three are trumpet players: Gustavo Alvarado, Fernando Velásquez and Federico Torres. Federico has been with the group nearly half of a century, since 1966. The armonía (rhythm) section includes Julio Martínez on the harp, Enrique de Santiago on the guitarrón (acoustic bass guitar), Gilberto Aguirre on the vihuela (small guitar-like instrument with five strings) and Arturo Vargas on guitar. Jose “Pepe” Martínez Sr., has served as the group’s musical director, vocalist and violinist since 1975.

People who see Mariachi Vargas for the first time are surprised that eight of the 13 musicians have voices that are among the best in world. All are excellent musicians who perform at a level of perfection that is simply astonishing. The mastermind behind the sound and style of the group is maestro Rubén Fuentes, Mariachi Vargas’ composer, director, producer and arranger since 1944. Fuentes has written hundreds of songs, several that were included in the recent motion picture “Pulling Strings” with Jaime Camil. Mariachi Vargas is like a beautiful puzzle that has been assembled piece by piece by maestro Fuentes and maestro “Pepe” Martínez. Both have a tremendous gift for identifying and selecting the talent that makes up the group — talent such as that of Arturo Vargas.

original founder, Gaspar Vargas. Arturo was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, to a large family steeped in the mariachi tradition. He counts more than 40 mariachi musicians among his immediate kin.

When he was a little over a year old, his family moved to Mexico City, where his father worked in Plaza Garibaldi. Arturo began his career as a ranchera singer at age 7. By the time he was 10 years old, he had performed on more than 100 television programs. From age 14 on, he alternated solo performances with daily work as a mariachi musician, where he played either guitar or violin.

As a vocal soloist, Arturo has participated in many song festivals and competitions in Mexico and abroad, often winning first place, including México Lindo y Querido (Mexico, 1990), Valores Juveniles Bacardí (Mexico, 1992), OTI Internacional (Spain, 1993), Golden Stag (Romania, 1994), Sábado Gigante (2000, USA) and Viña del Mar (Chile, 2001).

After belonging to some 20 different mariachi groups, Arturo joined Mariachi de América de Jesús Rodríguez de Híjar, where he remained for five years. Since 2002, he has been a member of Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán.

Arturo tours with the members of Mariachi Vargas year-round throughout the world. The group has performed in Spain, Japan, the Czech Republic, France and throughout the United States and Latin America. When the group is off tour, they are in the studios recording and adding to more than 200 albums produced.

M ariachi Vargas has per formed in concer t in San Antonio for 19 consecutive years as par t of the annual M ariachi Vargas Ex travaganza produced by Muñoz Public Relations (MPR). The producer of the event, MPR president Cynthia Muñoz, was introduced to M ariachi Vargas in 1979. Since then, she has had a deep passion for the music and the culture and has taken the lead in keeping it alive and growing through the M ariachi Vargas Ex travaganza.

Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán performs at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Lila Cockrell Theater. Tickets are available at the Alamodome Box Office or at Arturo Vargas has performed with Mariachi Vargas ticketmaster.com. Log on to mariachimusic.com for for just over a decade. He carries the Vargas a complete schedule of events for the 19th Annual name but has no direct relation to the group’s Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza.

Arturo Vargas

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MUSICAL OFFERINGS CELEBRATES THREE

DECADES OF MUSIC IN SAN ANTONIO

By LIza Cuz

O

.ne of San Antonio’s most successful and .enduring viewing the art collections in the galleries. chamber music ensembles celebrates its 30th anniversary season beginning Dec. 3.

“With SAMA, we have been able to create something bigger than we would have been able to create alone,” Founded in 1983, Musical Offerings began at the San Christenson said.

Antonio Museum of Art as a gallery series with music programmed to art. In 1989, Joan Christenson, a violinist In the past five years, MO and SAMA have established the with the San Antonio Symphony, was looking for an Music on the Move series. This innovative “musical tour” opportunity to perform a broad range of chamber music, series takes musicians and audiences through selected so when given the chance to become artistic director of galleries featuring music from the same period of history Musical Offerings, she gladly accepted and has held the as the art. position ever since.

“Because of the broad range of Musical Offerings’ “There’s just so much music I want to play,” Christenson programming and personnel, we have the opportunity to said. “I have always been extremely interested in what I am unite our talents with local organizations and participate doing, and I’ve learned much as part of this group. I like the in special community events,” Christenson said. collaborations, the business aspect and the music.”

Evolution is nothing new for the group. In 1992, For three decades, Musical Offerings has had a special Christenson was again looking for opportunities to relationship with the San Antonio Museum of Art to expand the repertoire and began the Jazz Meets Classical provide audiences with a deeper experience when series, which presents compositions combining elements

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of both jazz and classical music.

Quartet” at the San Antonio Museum of Art.

“The community finds us interesting because we can Jazz Meets Classical gears up for its 22nd season on April 7. do jazz, classical, and contemporary chamber music,” Christenson said.

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

“We keep things interesting. We have worked with hundreds of artists as our musicians change to meet the “I know a lot of the audience members, because they repertoire, and our instruments can change, our venues have been coming for years, and we have such intimate change, and our repertoire changes.” settings. Their support, it’s very humbling.”

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

Details are at www.musicalofferings.org.

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Musical Offerings performed chamber music concerts in conjunction with the first anniversary of the Henry A. Photo Credits: Guerra Public Library branch in 2005, the Taste of Tango series at venues across San Antonio from 2004 through Page 20: (L-R) 2006, and the Brahms and Beethoven festivals in 2012 Joan Christenson, Brent Watkins and Joshua Boulton and 2013. at Beethoven Festival performance at Christ This season opens with favorites from the past 30 years Episcopal Church Photo by Mathew Diekman on Dec. 3 at Christ Episcopal Church.

Appearing at the Dvořák Festival on Feb. 3, the chamber Page 21 group will explore composer Antonin Leopold Dvořák’s Musical Offerings’ Jazz Meets Classical Ensemble years in America, showcasing his “American String Photo by Susan Riley November/December 2013 | On The Town 21

Zuzu’s Petals

By Janis Turk

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aro ly n G r i m e s, th e c h i l d star of “I t ’s a Wo n d er f u l L i f e” an d “ Th e Bi sh op’s Wife” com es to t h e A l amo C i t y area th i s D e ce mb e r to s h are h er m em o ri es of l i f e on m ovi e se ts w it h Jimmy Stewa r t , D o nn a Rei d, an d even Car y Grant b e fore l o ca l b i g - s c reen sh owi n gs of t wo classic ho l i d ay f il m s a t t h e Pal ace Th eatre i n S eguin.

This D ecemb er, K arolyn Gr imes, t h e wo ma n who as a c hild ac t ress p layed Zuzu Ba i l e y i n I t ’s a Wonde r ful L ife, comes to t he Pa l a ce Th e at re in S eguin.

Gr im es, who t ravels t he United St ate s h o s t i n g sp eak ing engagem ent s eac h holi day s e a s o n at histor ic movie t heater s, will tell he r fi r s t- h a n d, “Eve r y t i m e a b el l r i n gs, a n a n gel get s his b ehind -t he -scenes stor y of what i t wa s l i ke wing s,” s ays l it t l e Zu z u B a i l ey, a beloved to wor k wit h Jim my Stewar t on t h e b e l ove d cha ra c te r i n t h e Fra n k Ca pra Ch r i stma s c lassic, film and what it m eans to her to h ave b e e n I t ’s a Wo n d er f u l Li f e. I t ’s o n e o f Ho l l y wood ’s p ar t of t hat legend ar y m ovie. Fo l l ow i n g Ms. most of te n - q u o te d mov i e l i n es.

Gr im es’ p resent at ion, I t ’s a Wonder f ul L if e w i l l b e shown on t he b ig sc reen. The fi l m w i l l b e Th i s h ol id ay m ovi e, w h i ch h a s ru n ever y year shown on D ec. 6 and 7. for d e c a d e s o n te l ev i si o n , i s a f avo r i te movie of ma ny. Th e l it t l e gir l w h o pl ayed Zu z u —whose Gr im es also ap p eared as t he c hi l d s t a r o f Th e dad, J i m my Ste war t, h el d “ Zu z u’s peta l s” in his Bishop’s Wife wit h Car y Grant, Dav i d N i ve n a n d po c k et - - s to l e Amer i ca’s h ea r t.

Loret t a Young, so The Palace also w i l l h o s t Ms. 22 On The Town | November/December

Gr i m e s at a s p e ci a l mati n ee sh ow i n g of t hat film on D e c. 7.

• • • • • • • •• • • • • •

Fol lowi n g e ach f i l m, M s. Gr i mes will b e avai la bl e fo r au to gra ph s, ph o to gra ph s, a b ook sign i ng an d to an swer a ny qu esti o ns from a udi en ce m e m b e r s. M a ny f a mi l i es ask Ms. Gr i m e s to s ign o r n a ments fo r th ei r ch i l dren and gran d c h il d re n . M s. Gr i mes even h a s pe nned a “ Won d e r f u l L i fe” co o k bo o k .

Photo Credits:

I n a d d i t i o n to ap p ea ra n ces at Th e Pa l ace, Ms. Gr i m e s w il l r id e in S egu i n’s Ch r i stma s p arad e du r i n g t h e H o l i d ay Stro l l o n D ec. 5. G r im es, wh o re c al l s fo n d memo r i es o f S a n Antonio, a ls o wi l l b e m ak i n g pu bl i ci t y a ppea ra n ces wit h the m e d ia i n t h e Al a mo Ci t y. Gr i mes says her phi losop hy o f l ife i s a s po si ti ve a n d si mp le as the m ovi e’s t it l e i t sel f : “ I t ’s a wo n der f u l life!”

Page 22 Donna Reed, James Stewart and Karolyn Grimes in the 1946 American classic “It’s a Wonderful Life,” produced and directed by the legendary Frank Capra.

Page 23 Karolyn Grimes as Zuzu Bailey and James Stewart as George Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

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Younggun Kim

Long Duo

San Antonio International Piano Competition’s Piano Series

By Jack Fishman Photography courtesy SAIPC

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hirty years ago, the San Antonio International Piano Competition (www.saipc.org) was founded

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

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

The newest SAIPC project, now in its third season, is the Piano Series. Lucas said the series of solo piano recitals fits perfectly in the third component of the group’s mission.

SAIPC’s website states: “The mission of the San Antonio International Piano Competition is to sponsor public Jim Lucas is the competition’s current president, and he competition among aspiring pianists from around the has an impressive background for the position. He makes world, to encourage development of pianists in Greater his living as an attorney, but studied music as a young San Antonio and Texas, and to promote the appreciation man. Lucas won an award as outstanding pianist at the of piano artistry by the general public.”

University of Southern California, and then went to the Peabody Conservatory of the John Hopkins University Lucas said competition leaders had vague conversations in Baltimore to study conducting. He continued his for some time about launching a solo piano recital series. conducting studies in Munich, Germany, under a Fulbright They were looking for a way to keep the organization in scholarship and participated in the Herbert von Karajan the public eye between competitions and to fill an artistic Conducting Competition in Berlin. Lucas has lived in San need. Despite the wide variety of classical music offered 24 On The Town | November/December

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

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

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

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

This year five great pianists are featured in four concerts: Martina Filjak played in September, Younggun Kim performs Nov. 2, Beatrice and Christina Long play twopiano music on March 1 (in collaboration with the symphony’s Dvorak Festival), and Eduardo Delgado concludes this year’s series on May 31. All concerts take place at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 315 E. Pecan St. In addition to these public recitals, SAIPC offers “private salon recitals.” A salon is a much more intimate and shorter performance. Usually held in an elegant private home and limited to 50 guests, the event includes food, wine and a chance to mingle with fellow piano aficionados and the

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

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

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

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Events Calendar 28-42

November/December 2013 | On The Town 27

November-December 2013 Events Calendar Music Notes Selena Gomez 11/1, Fri @ 7pm AT&T Center Dirty River Boys 11/1, Fri @ 8pm Gruene Hall Max Stalling 11/2, Fri @ 9pm Luckenbach Dancehall San Antonio Symphony Pops Disney in Concert 11/1-2, Fri-Sat @ 8pm Akiko Fujimoto, conductor Whitney Claire Kaufman, Aaron Phillips, Andrew Johnson, Juliana Hansen, vocalists Majestic Theatre Texas Legends Show 11/1-23, Fri @ 8pm Sat @ 4:30pm & 8pm Rockbox Theater Fredericksburg San Antonio International Piano Competition Piano Series Younggun Kim 11/2, Sat @ 7:30pm St. Mark’s Episcopal

Jamey Johnson 11/2, Sat @ 9pm Gruene Hall Uncle Lucius 11/2, Sat @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store The Departed 11/2, Sat @ 9pm Luckenbach Dancehall Camerata San Antonio Camerata Recital 11/3, Sun @ 3pm Lachezar Kostov, cello Viktor Valkov, piano Christ Episcopal Fanfare for the American Hero 11/3, Sun @ 3pm Kathleen C. Cailloux Theater Kerrville Mid-Texas Symphony Marvelous Musik 11/3, Sun @ 4pm David Mairs, conductor Nick Canellakis, cello Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre New Braunfels

28 On The Town | November/December

The Doobie Brothers 11/3, Sun @ 7:30pm Majestic Theatre An Evening of Indian Music 11/3, Sun @ 7:30pm Recital Hall – UTSA Main Campus San Antonio Symphony 3rd Annual Symphony Pro-Am: Holst The Planets 11/3, Sun @ 8pm Sebastian Lang-Lessing, conductor Laurie Auditorium Trinity University Nine Inch Nails 11/5, Tue @ 7:30pm AT&T Center Oh What a Night!

A Musical Tribute to Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons 11/6-7, Wed-Thu @ 7pm Rockbox Theater Fredericksburg

Chamber Orchestra of San Antonio Centennial Benjamin: Of Love and Darkness 11/7, Thu @ 7:30pm Francisco Nunez, guest conductor Elena Galvan, soprano San Antonio Museum of Art Donny Edwards A Tribute to Elvis 11/8, Fri @ 7pm Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre New Braunfels Sarah Jarosz 11/8, Fri @ 8pm Gruene Hall Corey Smith 11/8, Fri @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store James McMurtry 11/8, Fri @ 9pm Luckenbach Dancehall San Antonio Symphony Rach 2 11/8-9, Fri-Sat @ 8pm Sebastian Lang-Lessing, conductor Cecile Licad, piano Majestic Theatre

An Evening of Blue Grass 11/9, Sat @ 7:30pm Kathleen C. Cailloux Theater Kerrville

Drake: Would You Like a Tour 11/12, Tue @ 7pm AT&T Center

Band of Heathens 11/9, Sat @ 9pm Gruene Hall

Pink: The Truth About Love Tour 11/14, Thu @ 7:30pm AT&T Center

Billy Joe & Larry Joe 11/9, Sat @ 9pm Luckenbach Dancehall The Copperleaf Quintet Lily of Heaven 11/10, Sun @ 3pm Chapel of the Incarnate Word Sunday Jazz at the Witte King William Jazz Collective 11/10, Sun @ 3pm Will Smith Amphitheater Witte Museum San Antonio Symphony Veteran’s Day Salute 11/10, Sun @ 7pm Akiko Fujimoto, conductor United States Air Force Band of the West – Captain Rafael Toro-Quinones, conductor Randy Beamer, narrator Majestic Theatre Tuesday Music Club Andrew Garland, baritone 11/12, Tue @ 2pm Laurel Heights United Methodist

Harry Connick, Jr. 11/14, Thu @ 8pm Majestic Theatre Bob Schneider & Cory Morrow 11/15, Fri @ 8pm John T. Floore Country Store William Clark Green 11/15, Fri @ 8pm Luckenbach Dancehall Jason Boland and The Stragglers 11/15-16, Fri @8pm Sat @ 9pm Gruene Hall Dale Watson’s Ameripolitan Day 11/16, Sat @ 1pm Luckenbach Dancehall A Night of Ballads, Brass and Broadway featuring Yesinia McNett 11/16, Sat @ 7:30pm Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre New Braunfels

Carver Community Cultural Center Nai-Ni Chin & Ahn Trio: Temptation of the Muses 11/16, Sat @ 8pm Jo Long Theatre Gary P. Nunn 11/16, Sat @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store Fredericksburg Music Club Christopher McGuire and Mak Grgic, classical guitarists 11/17, Sun @ 3pm Fredericksburg United Methodist San Antonio Chamber Music Society Modigliani Quartet 11/17, Sun @ 3:15pm Temple Beth-El Celtic Thunder 11/19, Tue @ 7:30pm Majestic Theatre Texas State Encore Series Scrap Art Music 11/19, Tue @ 7:30pm Evans Auditorium San Marcos Youth Orchestras of San Antonio Mi Familia 11/19, Tue @ 7:30pm Troy Peters, conductor Lila Cockrell Theatre

An Evening of Rock ‘n Roll 11/22, Fri @ 7:30pm Kathleen C. Cailloux Theater Kerrville Brandon Rhyder 11/22, Fri @ 8pm Gruene Hall Almost Patsy Cline 11/22, Fri @ 8pm Luckenbach Dancehall Dwight Yoakam 11/22, Fri @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store San Antonio Symphony Mendelssohn Violin Concerto 11/22-23, Fri-Sat @ 8pm Cristian Macelaru, conductor Philippe Quint, violin Majestic Theatre Alamo Metro Chorus Sing & Celebrate: Silver Anniversary Show 11/23, Sat @ 7pm Holy Trinity Catholic

KXTN 25th Anniversary Celebration 11/23, Sat @ 7pm Freeman Coliseum Cody Johnson Band 11/23, Sat @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store

November/December 2013 | On The Town 29

Cody Canada & The Departed 11/23, Sat @ 9pm Gruene Hall Damn Quails & Midnight River Choir 11/23, Sat @ 9pm Luckenbach Dancehall Heart of Texas Concert Band Tchaikovsky’s Fourth 11/24, Sun @ 3pm Mark Rogers, conductor Andrew Gignac, trumpet Thiry Auditorium Our Lady of the Lake University Aaron Watson 11/27, Wed @ 8pm Gruene Hall Bob Schneider 11/29, Fri @ 8pm Gruene Hall Jason Eady Band 11/29, Fri @ 8pm Luckenbach Dancehall Jack Ingram 11/29, Fri @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store Christmas at Rockbox 11/29-12/8, Fri @ 8pm Sat @ 4:30pm & 8pm Sun @ 3pm 12/12-22, Thu @ 7pm Fri-Sat @ 4:30pm & 8pm Sun @ 3pm 12/23-24, Mon @ 7pm Tue @ 4pm Rockbox Theater Fredericksburg

A Braun Family Thanksgiving Reckless Kelly 11/30, Sat @ 8pm John T. Floore Country Store

Texas State Encore Series David Roth 11/19, Tue @ 7:30pm Price Center San Marcos

Slaid Cleaves 11/20, Sat @ 9pm Luckenbach Dancehall

Steve Lippia: Sinatra Sings Santa 12/3-4, Tue-Wed @ 7pm Rockbox Theater Fredericksburg

Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights 11/30, Sat @ 9pm Gruene Hall Vicki Lawrence and Mama: A Two Woman Show 12/1, Sun @ 2:30pm & 7:30pm Kathleen C. Cailloux Theater Kerrville San Antonio Symphony A Baroque Holiday 12/1, Sun @ 7pm Akiko Fujimoto, conductor John Carroll, trumpet Angela Malek, soprano San Fernando Cathedral Musical Offerings 30th Anniversary Opener 12/3, Tue @ 7:30pm Christ Episcopal The Legend of Zelda Symphony of the Goddess: Second Quest 12/3, Tue @ 7:30pm Majestic Theatre

30 On The Town | November/December

Rock of Sages 12/4, Wed @ 6:30pm Josephine Theatre Symphony of the Hills Christmas Gift-Holiday Favorites 12/5, Thu @ 7:30pm Kathleen C. Cailloux Theater Kerrville Carver Community Cultural Center Black Violin 12/6, Fri @ 8pm Jo Long Theatre San Antonio Symphony Handel’s Messiah 12/6, Fri @ 8pm University United Methodist 12/7, Sat @ 7pm Basilica of the Little Flower 12/8, Sun @ 2pm Coker United Methodist 12/8, Sun @ 8pm Trinity Baptist Antoine Plante, conductor San Antonio Symphony Mastersingers John Silantien, conductor

Kyle Park 12/6, Fri @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store Jason Boland and The Stragglers 12/6, Fri @9pm Luckenbach Dancehall Turnpike Troubadours 12/6-7, Fri-Sat @ 8pm Gruene Hall San Antonio Chordsmen A Western Christmas 12/7, Sat @ 3pm Colonial Hills United Methodist Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan 12/7, Sat @ 7:30pm Lila Cockrell Theatre Roger Creager 12/7, Sat @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store Bob Schneider Texas Bluegrass Massacre 12/7, Sat @ 9pm Luckenbach Dancehall Musical Bridges Around The World Musical Evenings at San Fernando Cathedral Series – Nightingale 12/8, Sun @ 6:30pm Eugenia Zukerman, flute Anton Nel, piano

Kanye West: The Yeezus Tour with Kendrick Lamar 12/8, Sun @ 7pm AT&T Center Arts San Antonio Preservation Jazz Band Creole Christmas 12/11, Wed @ 7:30pm Charline McCombs Empire Theatre The Irish Tenors Holiday Celebration Tour 12/12, Thu @ 8pm Majestic Theatre Tejas Brothers 12/13, Fri @ 8pm Luckenbach Dancehall Jerry Jeff Walker 12/13-14, Fri-Sat @ 9pm Gruene Hall

Voci di Sorelle 10th Anniversary Concert: We Sing Noel!

12/15, Sun @ 3pm Chapel of the Incarnate Word San Antonio Choral Society Britten, Saint Nicolas 12/15, Sun @ 3pm Edmund Murray, conductor Nicholas Houhoulis, tenor Our Lady of Atonement Catholic

Mid-Texas Symphony Heavenly Holidays 12/15, Sun @ 4pm David Mairs, conductor Ashly Neumann, soprano Jackson Auditorium – Texas Lutheran University Seguin

San Antonio Chamber Choir Time for the Season 12/14, Sat @ 8pm San Fernando Cathedral 12/15, Sun @ 3pm St. John’s Lutheran

REO Speedwagon 12/15, Sun @ 7:30pm Majestic Theatre

Hal Ketchum 12/14, Sat @ 9pm Luckenbach Dancehall

3rd Annual Two Ton Tuesday Chrismas Show 12/17, Tue @ 8:30pm Gruene Hall

Georgette Jones A Tribute to Tammy Wynette 12/15, Sun @ 3pm Kathleen C. Cailloux Theater Kerrville

Robert Earl Keen 12/17, Tue @ 8pm Majestic Theatre

The Mavericks 12/18-19, Wed @ 8pm Thu @ 9pm Gruene Hall November/December 2013 | On The Town 31

Pam Tillis An Intimate Evening of Holiday Tunes & Hits 12/19, Thu @ 7:30pm Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre New Braunfels Jay Z: Magna Carter World Tour 12/20, Fri @ 8pm AT&T Center Charlie Robison 12/20, Fri @ 9pm Luckenbach Dancehall An Evening With Stoney LaRue and Cody Canada 12/20, Fri @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store San Antonio Symphony Holiday Pops 12/20-21, Fri-Sat @ 8pm Akiko Fujimoto, conductor San Antonio Symphony Mastersingers John Silantien, conductor Majestic Theatre Christmas Ball with Gary P. Nunn 12/21, Sat @ 9pm Luckenbach Hall

San Antonio Symphony Holiday Magic – A Family Holiday Celebration 12/22, Sun @ 2:30pm Akiko Fujimoto, conductor San Antonio Symphony Mastersingers John Silantien, conductor Laurie Auditorium – Trinity University Heart of Texas Concert Band ‘Tis The Season 12/22, Sun @ 3pm Mark Rogers, conductor Northern Hills United Methodist Cory Morrow 12/27, Fri @ 8pm Gruene Hall Almost Patsy Cline 12/27, Fri @ 8pm Luckenbach Dancehall Jason Boland and The Stragglers 12/27, Fri @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store Trans-Siberian Orchestra 12/28, Sat @ 3pm & 8pm AT&T Center

Aaron Watson 12/21, Sat @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store

Roger Creager 12/28, Sat @ 9pm Gruene Hall

Reckless Kelly 12/21, Sat @ 9pm Gruene Hall

Dale Watson 12/28, Sat @ 9pm Luckenbach Dancehall

32 On The Town | November/December

Granger Smith 12/28, Sat @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store Kevin Fowler 12/31, Tue @ 8pm Gruene Hall Luckenbach New Year’s Eve with Drew Womack 12/31, Tue @ 8pm Luckenbach Dancehall

On Stage The Company Theatre Blithe Spirit 11/1-2, Fri-Sat @ 6pm (dinner), 7pm (show) Big Apple Room at Little Italy Restaurant Harlequin Dinner Theatre Bad Seed 11/1-2, Fri-Sat @ 8pm (Dinner @ 6:15pm) The Overtime Theater Night of the Living Dead 11/1-2, Fri-Sat @ 8pm Greg Barrios Theater Woodlawn Theatre The Rocky Horror Show 11/1-2, Fri-Sat @ 11pm Woodlawn Theatre Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein 11/1-3, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pm Sun @ 3pm

The Playhouse San Antonio Les Miserables 11/1-3, Fri-Sat @ 8pm Sun @ 2:30pm Russell Hill Rogers Theatre Cameo Theatre with JP Studio Evil Dead: The Musical 11/1-3, Fri-Sat @ 8pm Sun @ 4pm Cameo Theatre Circle Arts Theatre Frankenwurst 11/1-10, nightly @ 7:30pm (except Sundays) 11/2-3 & 11/9-10, matinees @ 4pm New Braunfels The Playhouse San Antonio Wittenberg 11/1-17, Fri-Sat @ 8pm Sun @ 2:30pm Cellar Theatre The Overtime Theater Faye Drummond 11/1-2, Fri-Sat @ 8pm 11/8-10, Fri-Sat @ 8pm 11/14-16, Thu-Sat @ 8pm 11/22-24, Fri-Sat @ 8pm Sun @ 7pm 11/28-30, Thu-Sat @ 8pm Greg Barrios Theater Sheldon Vexler Theatre Dearly Departed 11/2, Sat @ 8pm 11/7, Thu @ 7:30pm 11/10, Sun @ 2:30pm 11/14-17, Thu @ 7:30pm Sat @ 8pm, Sun @ 2:30pm (No Shows on Fridays) Jewish Community Center

Watson Fine Arts Center The Ballad of Emmitt Till 11/8-17, Fri-Sat @ 8pm Sun @ 2:30pm St. Philips College

Woodlawn Black Box Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson 11/8-12/1, Fri-Sat @ 8pm Sun @ 2:30pm Woodlawn Theatre

The Rose Theatre Company Rabbit Hole 11/8-23, Fri-Sat @ 8pm

Cameo Theatre with JP Studios Best Little Whorehouse in Texas: The Musical 11/9-12/8, Fri-Sat @ 8pm Sun @ 4pm

The Classic Theatre of San Antonio The Taming of the Screw 11/8-24, Fri-Sat @ 8pm Sun @ 3pm Sterling Houston Theatre at Blue Star

Arts San Antonio Bruce Noll as Walt Whitman 11/10, Sun @ 2:30pm Central Library Auditorium San Antonio Library

Boerne Community Theatre Simply Divided 11/15-30, Thu @ 7:30pm Fri-Sat @ 8pm Sun @ 2:30pm (No show on 11/28) Hornsby Theatre Company It Takes Two & This Train 11/17 & 24, Sun @ 4pm Josephine Theatre

Hill Country Arts Foundation The Spirit of Christmas 11/22-12/8, Fri-Sat @ 8:30pm Sun @ 2pm 10/3-12, Thu-Sat @ 8:30pm Elizabeth Huth Coates Theatre Ingram

The Overtime Theater Artist Spotlight: Sheila Harlequin Dinner Theatre Rinear’s “5” - Five Original Plays Step Into Christmas 11/21-12/21, Thu-Sat @ 8pm 11/29-12/1, Thu-Sat @ 8pm (Dinner @ 6:15pm) Greg Barrios Theater

November/December 2013 | On The Town 33

Las Nuevas Tamaleras 11/29-12/15, Fri-Sa @ 8pm Sun @ 3pm Guadalupe Theatre Woodlawn Theatre A Christmas Story: The Musical 11/29-12/29, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pm Sun @ 3pm Playhouse 2000 A Christmas Carol 12/6-21, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pm 12/15 only, Sun @ 2:30pm VK Garage Theater Kerrville The Rose Theatre Company A HonkyTonk Christmas 12/6-21, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pm The Rose Theatre Company Zombie Apocalypse Christmas 2013 12/6-21, Fri-Sat @ 9pm The Playhouse San Antonio Guys and Dolls 12/6-22, Fri-Sat @ 8pm Sun @ 2:30pm Russell Hill Rogers Theatre Fredericksburg Theater Company Sanders Family Christmas 12/12-22, Thu-Sat @ 7:30pm Sun @ 2pm Steve W. Shepherd Theater

Green Day’s American Idiot (touring) 12/13-14, Fri @ 8pm Sat @ 2pm & 8pm Majestic Theatre Renaissance Guild Black Nativity 12/13-15, Fri @ 8pm Sat @ 3pm & 8pm Sun @ 4pm Jo Long Theatre at Carver Community Cultural Center We Need A Little Christmas 12/14-15, Sat @ 7pm Sun @ 2pm Presented by Fiesta City Chorus Josephine Theatre Cameo Theatre with JP Studios Irving Berlin’s White Christmas: The Musical 12/14-29, Fri-Sat @ 8pm Sun @ 4pm 12/31, Tue @ 8pm 1/1, Wed @ 2pm Broadway in San Antonio Dr. Suess’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas (touring) 12/26-29, Thu @ 7pm Fri @ 2pm & 7pm Sat @ 11am, 2pm, 5pm & 8pm Sun @ 11am, 3pm & 7pm Majestic Theatre

34 On The Town | November/December

Opera

Dance

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

Faisan Folkloric Raices con Mexico en la piel 11/3, Sun @ 4:30pm Jo Long Theatre Carver Community Cultural Center

The Metropolitan Opera Series: Tosca (Encore On-Screen Performance in HD) 11/13, Wed @ 6:30pm Cielo Vista 18, Huebner Oaks 14 & McCreeles Market The Metropolitan Opera Series: Falstaff (Live On-Screen Performance in HD) 12/14, Sat @ 11:55am Santikos Rialto, Cielo Vista 18 Huebner Oaks 14 & McCreeles Market The Metropolitan Opera Series: Falstaff (Encore On-Screen Performance in HD) 12/18, Wed @ 6:30pm Cielo Vista 18. Huebner Oaks 14 & McCreeles Market

San Antonio Metropolitan Ballet The Snow Queen 11/9-10, Sat @ 7pm Sun @ 2pm Jo Long Theatre Carver Community Cultural Center Carver Community Cultural Center Nai-Ni Chin & Ahn Trio: Temptation of the Muses 11/16, Sat @ 8pm Jo Long Theatre The Royal Opera House Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Recorded on-screen presentation) 11/19, Tue @7pm Cinemark McCreeles Market Ballet San Antonio San Antonio Symphony The Nutcracker 11/29-12/8, Fri @ 7pm, Sat @ 2pm & 7pm, Sun @ 2pm Akiko Fujimoto, conductor Majestic Theatre

Ballet New Braunfels The Nutcracker 12/6-7, Fri @ 7pm, Sat @ 1pm & 7pm Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre New Braunfels The Royal Opera House The Nutcracker (Recorded on-screen presentation) 12/17, Tue @7pm Cinemark McCreeles Market

Arts San Antonio SA Metropolitan Ballet (in conjunction with Mejia Ballet International) Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker 12/20-22, Fri @ 7:30pm Sat @ 2pm & 7:30pm Sun @ 2pm Lila Cockrell Theatre Alamo City Dance Company The Nutcracker 12/21-22, Sat @ 2pm & 6pm Sun @ 1pm McAllister Auditorium San Antonio College

Moscow Ballet’s Great American Nutcracker 12/23, Mon @ 4pm & 8pm 12/30, Mon @ 7pm Majestic Theatre

The Fresh Beat Band 11/12, Tue @ 6:30pm Majestic Theatre

Children’s

Rose Theatre Company The Three Bears Thanksgiving 11/13-20, Wed-Thu @ 10am

Magik Children’s Theatre Willy Wonka 11/1-9, Tue-Thu @ 9:45am & 11:30am, Fri @ 9:45am, 11:30am & 7pm Sat @ 2pm

Children’s Fine Arts Series Hansel and Gretel by Salzburg Marionette Theatre 11/20, Wed @ 10am Laurie Auditorium Trinity University

November/December 2013 | On The Town 35

Children’s Fine Arts Series The Sound of Music by Salzburg Marionette Theatre 11/20, Wed @ 7pm Laurie Auditorium Trinity University Magik Children’s Theatre The Best Christmas Pageant Ever 11/20-12/21, Tue-Thu @ 9:45am & 11:30am, Fri @ 9:45am, 11:30am & 7pm Sat @ 2pm

Comedy Todd Paul 11/1-3, Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pm Sun @ 8pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club Hippie Man 11/1-3, Fri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pm Sun @ 8:30pm Rivercenter Comedy Club

Sesame Street Live: Can’t Stop Singing 11/29-30, Fri @ 6:30pm Sat @ 10:30am & 1:30pm Lila Cockrell Theatre

Jay Mohr 11/2, Sat @ 8pm Charline McCombs Empire Theatre

Children’s Fine Arts Series Stuart Little by Dallas Children’s Theatre 12/9, Mon @ 9:45am, 11:45am & 6:30pm Charline McCombs Empire Theatre

Spanky 11/6-10, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8:30pm Fri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pm Rivercenter Comedy Club

Performing Arts Academy of New Braunfels A Musical Christmas Journey 12/13-15, Fri @ 7pm Sat @ 2pm & 7pm Sun @ 2pm Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre New Braunfels Rose Theatre Company The Three Bears Thanksgiving 12/17-19, Tue-Thu @ 10am 12/23, Sat @ 10am

Mike Britt 11/7-10, Thu & Sun @ 8pm Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club Humor for Heroes 11/9, Sat @ 7pm John T. Floore Country Store Alex Reymundo 11/13-17, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8pm Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club

36 On The Town | November/December

Kristen Key 11/13-17, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8:30pm Fri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pm Rivercenter Comedy Club

Ali Wong 11/29-12/1, Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pm Sun @ 8pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club

Alex Reymundo 11/13-17, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8pm Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club

Mark Poolos 11/29-12/1, Fri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pm Sun @ 8:30pm Rivercenter Comedy Club

Mike Epps and Friends 11/16, Sat @ 7:30pm Majestic Theatre

Pat Deguire 12/4-8, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8:30pm Fri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pm Rivercenter Comedy Club

Mike Robles 11/20, Wed @ 8pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club Shawn Banks 11/20-24, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8:30pm Fri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pm Rivercenter Comedy Club Steve Byrne 11/21-24, Thu & Sun @ 8pm Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club Whitney Cummings 11/22, Fri @ 8pm Charline McCombs Empire Theatre Kathy Griffin 11/24, Sun @ 7pm & 9:30pm Majestic Theatre

DL Hughley 12/6-8, Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pm Sun @ 8pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club JR Brow 12/11-15, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8pm Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club Ron Feingold 12/11-15, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8:30pm Fri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pm Rivercenter Comedy Club Chris Fonseca 12/18-22, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8pm Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club

November/December 2013 | On The Town 37

Tim Young 12/18-22, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8:30pm Fri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pm Rivercenter Comedy Club Vic Henley 12/26-31, Thu & Sun-Mon @ 8pm Fri-Sat & Tue @ 8pm & 10:15pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club Rick Gutierrez 12/26-31, Thu & Sun-Mon @ 8:30pm Fri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pm Tue @ 8pm & 10pm Rivercenter Comedy Club

On Exhibit ARTPACE International Artist-InResident New Works: 13.3 Micol Assael Ivor Shearer Erin Sheriff Paola Morsiani, curator Opening 11/14 Hudson Showroom Localized Histories Organized by Fairfax Dorn Thru 12/29

Window Works Julia Barbosa-Landois Thru 12/29 BIHL HAUS ARTS Silver Alchemy New Works by Sharon R. Crutchfield, Carra Garza, Polly Harrison , Tracy Lynch and Charlotte Randolph Thru 11/2 Golden Horizons: Recent Works from the Go! Arts Program Thru November at the Lopez & Cisneros Center BLUE STAR CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM

INSTITUTE OF TEXAN CULTURES Mas Rudas Thru 12/1 Traveling on Fredericksburg Road Thru 12/15 Native Words, Native Warriors Thru 12/29 Texas Contemporary Artists Series: Lauren Browning Thru 12/31 The 201st Fighter Squadron Thru 1/12

TX*13 - Texas Biennial Thru 11/9

Why We Came: The Immigration Experience Thru 3/23

BRISCOE WESTERN ART MUSEUM

Ramp It Up 11/2-1/5

Now Open!

McNAY ART MUSEUM

LINDA PACE FOUNDATION

Cut! Costume and the Cinema Thru 1/19

Eight / Eighteen Thru 3/29 MUSEO GAUDALUPE AT GUADALUPE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER Alternate Currents Thru 3/1

38 On The Town | November/December

On Stage! Costume Design and the Theatre Thru 1/5 The Nightmare Before Christmas Thru 1/5

Frost Octagon Video: Nic Nicosia’s Middletown Thru 1/5 C. Thomas Wright: Patron and Collector Thru 1/12 ArtMatters 15: Rosalyn Schwartz Thru 1/19 Native Son: Prints and Drawings by Luis A. Jimenez, Jr. Thru 1/19 Catherine Lee: Alice Thru Summer 2014 SAN ANTONIO BOTANICAL GARDEN Art in the Garden 2013 (In conjunction with Blue Star Contemporary Art Center) Thru 3/2014 Savage Gardens: The Real and Imaginary World of Carnivores Plants Thru 12/31 SAN ANTONIO MUSEUM OF ART TX*13: Spotlight on Texas Artists in the Contemporary Collection Thru 11/9

Danny Lyon: The Bikerider Thru 12/1 Lethal Beauty: Samuri Weapons and Armor 1/5 Fray Antonio Margil de Jesus: Patron Saint of Texas Thru 3/23 Eldzier Cortor: Master Printmaker 12/14-3/2 SOUTHWEST SCHOOL OF ART Rebecca Dietz Wonder Worlds Thru 11/8 Alice Leora Briggs La Linea Thru 11/10 Rigoberto A. Gonzalez Baroque on the Border Thru 11/10 Adriana Cristina Corral La Ofrenda Thru 11/3 Chris Sauter Doubt 11/21-2/2 Robert and Shana Parkeharrison Selections from the

Counterpoint Series 11/21-2/2

Meatopia Texas 11/2-3 Pearl Brewery

Anabel Toribio Martinez Interludes 11/21-1/31

Market Square Tamalada 11/16-17, Sat-Sun / 12pm6pm

WITTE MUSEUM

2013 Light The Way 11/23-1/6 – Self-Guided Tours Nightly University of the Incarnate Word

Patriotism and Pageantry: Fiesta Honors the Military Thru 1/6 CSI: The Experience Thru 1/26 Porfirio Salinas: Capturing South Texas on Canvas Thru 2/9 The World Through Magic Lanterns Thru June 2014 Cowboys, Cattle, Chili Queens, Oil & Outlaws Now Open South Texas Heritage Center

Miscellaneous

WWE Smackdown 12/18, Wed @7pm AT&T Center 2013 Valero Alamo Bowl 12/30, Mon @ 5:50pm Alamodome

Ford Holiday River Parade 11/29, Friday / 7pm-10pm River Walk

New Year’s Eve Twilight Party 12/31, Tue / 12pm-9pm Market Square

Feria de Santa Cecilia: Dia Del Musico 11/29-12/1, Fri-Sun / 12pm8pm Market Square

Celebrate San Antonio 12/31, Tue 2pm-Midnight HemisFair Park Archway

Showtime Boxing 11/30, Sat @ 4:30pm Freeman Coliseum 2013 Ford Fiesta de las Luminarias 12/6-22, Fri-Sun / 7pm10pm River Walk

Wurstfest 2013 11/1-10 Landa Park-New Braunfels

Tamales at Pearl 12/7, Sat / 12pm-6pm Pearl Brewery

Tejas Rodeo 11/1-30, Sat @ 7:30pm

Primer Sabado y Domingo!

La Pastorela 12/7-8, Sat-Sun / 12pm-6pm Market Square

Dia de los Muertos 11/1-2, citywide

San Antonio Coffee Festival 12/14, Sat / 12pm-7pm La Villita

Photo Credits Page 28 (L-R) Max Stalling Courtesy maxstalling.com Sebastian Lang-Lessing Photo by Marks Moor Younggun Kim Courtesy Arts San Antonio Cody Canada and The Departed Courtesy liveatfloores.com

November/December 2013 | On The Town 39

Kostov -Valkov Duo Courtesy lachezarkostov.net David Mairs Courtesy Mid-Texas Symphony!

Oh What A Night!

Courtesy frankievalliandthe4 seasonstribute.com Francisco Nunez Courtesy francisconunez.com Page 30 (L-R) Elena Galvan Photo by Devon Cass Donny Edwards Courtesy Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre James McMurtry Courtesy liveatfloores.com Cecile Licad Courtesy San Antonio Symphony Page 31 (L-R) Andrew Garland Photo by Ann Stucki Harry Connick, Jr. Courtesy harryconnickjr.com Page 32 (L-R) Dale Watson Courtesy liveatfloores.com

Yesinia McNett Courtesy Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre Gary P. Nunn Courtesy liveatfloores.com Celtic Thunder Courtesy Majestic Theatre Page 33 (L-R) Modigliani Quartet Courtesy modiglianiquartet. com Troy Peters Courtesy Youth Orchestras of San Antonio Brandon Rhyder Courtesy liveatfloores.com Almost Patsy Cline Courtesy liveatfloores.com Page 34 (L-R) Philippe Quint Photo by Lisa-Marie Mazzucco Dr. R. Mark Rogers Courtesy heartoftexasconcertband. com Ahn Trio Courtesy ahntrio.com Jack Ingram Courtesy liveatfloores.com

40 On The Town | November/December

Page 35 (L-R)

Page 38 (L-R)

Joan Christenson-Musical Offerings Photo by Susan Riley

Voci di Sorelle Courtesy vocidisorelle.com

Steve Lippia Courtesy stevelippia.com Black Violin Courtesy blackviolin.com

REO Speedwagon Courtesy Majestic Theatre Robert Earl Keen Photo by Darren Carroll

Kyle Park Courtesy liveatfloores.com

The Mavericks Courtesy themavericksband.com

Page36 (L-R)

Page 39 (L-R)

Roger Creager Courtesy rogercreager.com

Pam Tillis Courtesy Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre

Eugenia Zukermann Courtesy eugeniazukermann.com

Charlie Robison Courtesy liveatfloores.com

Preservation Hall Jazz Band Courtesy Arts San Antonio Georgette Jones Courtesy Kathleen C. Cailloux Theatre Page 37 (L-R) Voci di Sorelle Courtesy vocidisorelle.com REO Speedwagon Courtesy Majestic Theatre

Kevin Fowler Courtesy liveatfloores.com Scrap Arts Music Courtesy scrapartsmusic. com Page 40 (L-R) Jay Mohr Courtesy Charline McCombs Empire Theatre Bruce Noll Courtesy Arts San Antonio

Robert Earl Keen Photo by Darren Carroll

San Antonio Chamber Choir Photo by Nick Simonite

The Mavericks Courtesy themavericksband.com

Green Day’s American Idiot Courtesy Majestic Theatre

November/December 2013 | On The Town 41

42 On The Town | November/December

November-December 2012 | On The Town 42

Culinary Arts

44-58

November/December 2013 | On The Town 43

44 On The Town | November/December

”

Lidia Bastianich— A Moveable Feast

By Chris Dunn Photography Diana DeLucia

A

t a time in life when most of us would want to slow things down to a simmer, Lidia Bastianich is turning up the fire on a career that spans five decades. “I enjoy what I do,” she says, “knowing there’s something good in what I do… it is work, but it is fun.”

Bastianich, who is best known as the Emmy Awardwinning host of a series of popular cooking shows on PBS, is also a James Beard award winner, Culinary Hall of Fame inductee, owner of six restaurants and two vineyards, author of 10 cookbooks and two children’s books, has her own line of commercial cookware and serving ware, and is co-owner of Eataly, in Manhattan, one of the largest artisanal Italian food and wine marketplaces in the world.

Additional career highlights include being the only restaurateur and chef to be the grand marshal of the Columbus Day parade in New York City — and she has personally cooked for Pope Benedict XVI. When asked how she keeps up with an agenda that would kill most presidential candidates, she says in a matter-of-fact way, “I set the schedule, I set the time, and I get it done.”

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

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

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

“The area of Italy where I was born became Communist,” she says, “so our life was really very meager and not a free life. But my mother put me with my maternal grandmother [Nonna Rosa], where I could be free as a child. And she grew Since her first television appearance on Julia Child’s everything we ate. We had chickens and the eggs, “Cooking with Master Chefs,” in 1993, Bastianich has and we had ducks and we had goats.” gained a large and enthusiastic television audience, especially in South Texas.

Bastianich credits the experiences she had with her grandmother for her culinary career. “I think my Mario Vasquez, president of local PBS station KLRN, passion for food is because of all of those memories,” says, “San Antonio is one of the largest markets in she says, such as helping her grandmother milk the the United States for Lidia.” goats. “I had to help her, and she would have me November/December 2013 | On The Town 45

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

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

The family was interned for two years in Trieste, Italy, at a former Nazi concentration camp, the Risiera de San Sabba. “It was frightening,” she says.

“It had a big yard, four floors, a loft building, with a big iron gate … after being with grandmother — that feeling of freedom and nature — for me it was kind of closed in, not having your own space, really.”

With the help of Catholic Charities, her family immigrated to the United States in 1958, settling first in New Jersey and later in Queens, New York.

At 14, she got her first culinary job working in a bakery owned by actor Christopher Walken’s father.

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

In the beginning, Bastianich worked the front of the house but soon gravitated to the kitchen. “It was kind of a small place ... I wasn’t even a chef.

I became a sous-chef. I learned about the Italian American food, but I said, ‘In Italy, we eat differently.’

I began cooking risotto, polenta — all the things Americans did not know was Italian food.”

The public, as well as food critics, took notice.

“Ultimately, that got the attention of everybody,” Bastianich says, and it led to the opening of a second restaurant, Villa Secondo. In 1981, she and her husband opened Felidia, in Manhattan. The 46 On The Town | November/December

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

According to Bastianich, “Italy is all about its regions.

If you want to learn Italian cuisine, go regionally …

It is food that reflects the topography of Italy, the climate, the different occupations … It’s not food that’s pretentious, it’s connected to seasons, food that is local, that is simple. The focus is on finding the best ingredients, the best tomatoes, the best olive oil.”

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

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

Her latest 26-episode PBS cooking series and accompanying book, “Lidia’s Commonsense Cooking,” underscore her philosophy of taking the best ingredients and preparing them in a straightforward, logical way. “It’s about the little common sense that we all have inside,” she says.

“You have common sense, you already know how to handle food to some extent, you can cook.” Her advice on how to cook well is to “Buy local, seasonal, high-quality ingredients, use fresh herbs, don’t over-elaborate the food, and taste and season as you go along.”

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

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

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48 On The Town | November/December

Nykiels offer fine French dining at Saveurs 209

By Olivier J. Bourgoin; (aka. “Olivier the Wine Guy”) Photography Greg Harrison

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

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

“We already had some experience as restaurant operators with a small place named ‘Violine’ in Paris.

With Caitlaine on board, we felt like we were ready to jump in,” Nykiel said. “Basically, what I want us to be known for is that at Saveurs 209, the food is prepared with a high standard of care. I want people to know that we do things the right way and the way they are supposed to be done.”

Owners Sylvain and Sylvie Nykiel, along with their daughter, Chef Caitline, opened Saveurs last March.

Since then, they have garnered accolade after The Saveur menu may not be extensive, “but accolade from a multitude of sources, not the least of everything we serve is made and assembled extremely which are from their many returning patrons. well, starting with the menu selection and planning, to the choice of superior quality ingredients, to the Sylvain Nykiel said he and his wife owned and method of preparation and to the delivery with managed a chauffeured limousine service in Paris for attractive presentation and excellent service,” he said. many years. A number of their clients hailed from the “So far, our clientele has been pleased with what Lone Star State and, in the late 1990s, one of them we’re doing, and the local food critiques have been extended an invitation for them to come to Texas for complimentary of our food.” a family vacation.

With seating for about 50 customers, the 1,600-square“It’s really quite simple,” Nykiel said. “We came for a foot space is not sparse, but it is not overly elaborate, visit, and we just fell in love with San Antonio. After either. Nor is the color scheme, with muted beige and we decided to move here, we were presented with soft orange throughout and a recently added large, several opportunities to open our restaurant in other square pastel abstract painting on one of the dining cities, including Dallas and even Palo Alto, California, room walls. The overall effect is that of a certain but San Antonio kept coming back to the surface as contemporary Parisian flair. our first choice, and we’re glad to be here.”

“What I wanted to re-create here was the feel of what After applying for green cards through a U.S trendy restaurants are doing in Paris, today; both government-sponsored lottery in 2008, the family with the food and the décor,” Nykiel said. “Our decor won the right to immigrate in 2010. The stage was is modern, and although our cuisine includes some set for a new adventure, so the family proceeded elements of tradition, it has been adapted, and it to dispose of most of their assets in France. Since often features up-to-date versions of old favorites.” then, they have crossed the Atlantic many times, poured countless hours into the Saveurs project, Chef Caitline is a graduate of the renowned Ferrandi and overcome a series of setbacks. Eventually they School of Gastronomie in Paris, often referred to as achieved their goal: to open a fine-dining French “the” standard for Gastronomie schools in France. restaurant in the Alamo City.

Not only is Caitline talented and up-to-speed on November/December 2013 | On The Town 49

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

“I like to refer to our menu as ‘evolutionary’, Nykiel said. “Our lunch and dinner offerings are different, and they are always changing. Take for example this dessert we’ve just added: We take a real homemade French brioche and after soaking it in Crême-Anglaise for 20 minutes, we cook it on one side, with butter.

Then, we slice some quarters of fresh and just-ripe peaches, which are also sautéed in butter and honey, and we serve it all with our delicious homemade basil ice cream.”

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

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

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

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

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

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- Sylvain Nykiel Saveurs 209

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

By: Cameron Schieldt Photography courtesy SA Cocktail Conference

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ou know what they say, “third time’s the charm!”

San Antonio Cocktail Conference from Jan. 16-19, 2014 is a chance for cocktail experts, sponsors, aficionados and newcomers to drink and dine together while enjoying tastings, competitions, evening parties and interactive workshops. And for the third annual event, all proceeds will benefit two children’s charities.

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

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

Conference creator and innovator Chef Mark Bohanan has decided it’s time to add a second beneficiary: San Antonio Cocktail Conference 2014 festivities begin ChildSafe. As a family man and father himself, he Thursday, Jan. 16, with music and cocktails at the recognizes the need to help children both locally and beautiful Majestic Theatre. Bartenders traveling from around the globe, and therefore, is excited to include around the country will mix specialty cocktails crafted the local child advocacy center. Bohanan understands from select spirit brands. the significance of working with two organizations that remove children from life-threatening situations. Friday, Jan. 17, will play host to a full day of parties and seminars that appeal to cocktail beginners and Heart issues requiring surgery and abusive situations experts. In the evening, Rio San Antonio Cruises will affecting children have become the special focus of San transport guests to an “All Texas Spirits Night” at Pearl Antonio Cocktail Conference 2014, and even though to showcase San Antonio bars in conjunction with all 52 On The Town | November/December

Texas spirits and music from The Rick Cavender Band.

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

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

With the chance to learn the tricks of the trade straight from cocktail experts and the opportunity to taste exceptionally-crafted cocktails surrounded by great music, delicious cuisine and an all-around good time (and all for a good cause), this weekend is sure to top your list of must-attend events for 2014! So make it a weekend worth remembering and join us in the Alamo City to celebrate for a cause at San Antonio Cocktail Conference 2014! www.sacocktailconference.com November/December 2013 | On The Town 53

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

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hen I met Messina Hof winery’s founders, Paul and Merrill Bonarrigo, in 1997, they already had been producing wine in Texas for two decades. Starting with their first vineyard, which was planted in 1977, the Bonarrigos were among the modern pioneers of the Texas wine industry’s re-birth.

Texas soil. Land owned by the missions provided the stage for that early oenophile experiment. Since those days of Lone Star State history and through U.S. prohibition, growing grapes and making wine in Texas had long been an up-and-down proposition. Thanks to the enterprising couple who conceived Messina Hof from scratch and to a handful of other determined winemakers across the state, Texas now is the fourth“We owned 100 acres in the country,” said Paul, originally largest wine-producing state in the country with more a chiropractor by trade. “A patient of mine, Ron Perry, than 3 million gallons bottled annually. needed a one-acre vineyard to complete his Ph.D. in Texas grape feasibility. We planted one, then seven During the first few years of Messina Hof’s existence, more acres, then decided to open Messina Hof winery.” the Bonarrigos pursued their winery dream relentlessly, with what I like to call “The four Ds of In 1560, Spanish settlers started planting grapes on success: Drive, Duty, Diligence and Determination.”

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

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

Born in the Bronx, N.Y., Paul moved to Texas “as fast as Under the Messina Hof are an array of wines, including he could,” as the old saying goes. chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, pinot grigio, pinot noir, as well as a full line of sweet, semi-sweet, sparkling Cheerful, talkative and creatively imaginative in the and dessert wines. branding of his label, Paul is knowledgeable and passionate about his wines in particular and about The Messina Hof name was made up from elements of Texas wines in general. the two founder’s families’ heritage. The city of Messina, on the famed Italian island of Sicily is where Paul’s Merrill, a native Texan and a creative force in her own family hails from originally and where his ancestors right, is as passionate about food as she is about wine. have been cultivating grapes and making wine for A prolific writer, she has authored several wine and several generations. “Hof” relates to the German origins food-pairing cookbooks. of Merrill’s family.

Located in Bryan, Messina Hof stood out for a number Messina Hof Hill Country, 9996 U.S. Highway 290, of years, as “the lone soldier” in that part of the state. Fredericksburg, Texas 78624; phone 830-990-4653.

In 2011, the winery expanded its horizons westward, www.messinahof.com/mhhillcountry/about.htm.

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Visual Arts

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EIGHT, EIGHTEEN EXHIBIT AT LINDA PACE FOUNDATION

By Jennie Badger

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rtists Theresa Hubbard and Ron Birchler have worked together since 1990. During that time, the core of their work has focused on cinema, specifically, its subtleties and history. One such example is their film, Eight, which was presented by Artpace in 2002. Now, the Linda Pace Foundation presents the world premiere of that film’s sequel, Eighteen.

Almost a decade later, Hubbard/Birchler began searching for the actor they had cast in Eight. They found her in Boston, where she had become a dancer.

Thus began the project, Eighteen, which picks up on the same character in a scene of her 18th birthday party.

As in the work Eight, Hubbard/Birchler developed a narrative perspective that is unsettling and avoids closure. The protagonist’s journey erases linear time, fact and fiction, and the solidity of physical shelter.

Steady, uninterrupted camera movements straddle constructed and actual locations, inside and outside, rain and sunshine, day and night, summer and winter, leaving the viewer to discern the truth.

Curated by Artpace director Kathryn Kanjo, Eight revolves around the birthday of an eight-year-old girl staring out a window into a thunderous rainy night.

As she moves outside and back in, the boundaries of time and space are blurred, and as the video loops, it is unclear which scene comes first. The title of the piece was derived not only from the birthday the child in the film celebrates but also from the number eight itself Eighteen incorporates three musical compositions, which when written as a numeral has no beginning or arranged and performed on guitar: the Gymnopédies by end.

Erik Satie. Written for piano in 1888, these movements 58 On The Town | November/December

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

Box 830607, San Antonio, Texas 78283. In conjunction with Eight, Eighteen, Anne Ellegood, senior curator, Hammer Museum, UCLA, and the artists will discuss aspects of the exhibition in a public talk on a date and location to be announced. For information, visit “Since its 2002 debut presented by Artpace, Eight has lindapacefoundation.org. been included in numerous pivotal exhibitions around the world and has become one of the most recognized narrative loops in video art. Linda Pace immediately acquired an edition for her collection and counted Eight among her favorite video works,” says Maura Photo Credits: Reilly, executive director of the Linda Pace Foundation.

“So when the opportunity to support the creation of Page 58 Eighteen was presented, there was no hesitation. The premiere of Eighteen also is symbolic, as it coincides Eight with the 10th anniversary of the Linda Pace Foundation.” Teresa Hubbard / Alexander Birchler Courtesy Tonya Bonakdar Gallery The Hubbard/Birchler exhibition features two video and Lora Reynolds Gallery Austin installations, including the world premiere of Eighteen and a selection of other video and photographic work, Page 59 including Eight. The exhibition is on view by appointment only at the Linda Pace Foundation through March 29.

Eighteen Teresa Hubbard / Alexander Birchler To schedule a viewing, email visit@pacefound.org, or Courtesy Tonya Bonakdar Gallery write to: Visitor Services, Linda Pace Foundation, P.O. and Lora Reynolds Gallery Austin

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

By Betsy Beckmann

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an Antonio’s iconic missions anchor the city’s formation and popular identity, yet few can name the man whose life work made them possible, Fray Antonio Margil de Jesús. An exhibition at the San Antonio Museum of Art, organized by curator of Latin American Art Marion Oettinger, offers a vivid corrective.

among these places. Remember, as a mendicant, he was traveling these great distances on foot, often in dangerous areas and likely with only one companion.

This is how he is always depicted: on foot, carrying his staff, in his tattered brown or grey habit. Someone once questioned how he could cover so much territory and he replied, ‘Well, God shows me shortcuts.’ ”

Fray Margil (1657-1726) founded the city’s flagship mission, San José y San Miguel de Aguayo, in 1720.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“I strongly feel this piece was done, after the fact, for a patron of the church or the archbishop for personal consumption: it was very expensive (painted on copper) and is still in near-perfect condition,” Oettinger said. “In Querétero I looked for a larger original version, which I could not find, but there’s an enormous mural in the chapel that is a 19th century version. There must November/December 2013 | On The Town 61

have been many generations of this image.”

Photo Credits:

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

Page 64: Nicolás Enríquez (New Spain, active 1730-1780) Fray Antonio Margil de Jesús, ca. 1770 oil on canvas, h. 47 ¼ in.; w. 31 ½ in.

San Antonio Museum of Art, on loan from Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio, L.2008.30 Photograph by Peggy Tenison

Page 66: The exhibition Fray Antonio Margil de Jesús: “Patron Saint” of Texas is on view at the San Antonio Museum Final map showing the travels of Fray Antonio Margil of Art from Oct. 12 to March 23. For related events, visit de Jesús samuseum.org.

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64 On The Town | November/December

Step Inside the Real and Imaginary World of Carnivorous Plants at San Antonio Botanical Garden

By Tracy Lowe

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ow through December, visitors can be immersed in the carnivorous plant world at the Savage Gardens exhibit at San Antonio Botanical Garden. Explore this fascinating world and see carnivorous plants, up close, in their spectrum of colors and designs. The exhibit features interactive children’s activities, oversized carnivorous plant sculptures and realistic displays.

The garden has an array of live carnivorous plants on display for this exciting and educational exhibit.

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

The 9-foot Dionaea, commonly called a Venus Flytrap, has four heads that clamp shut when a button is pressed to activate the mouth of the trap.

With a second push of the hydraulic control, the flytrap fully closes on its prey.

The 10-foot-tall Nepenthes, or Pitcher Plant, invites Commissioned in 2010 by the creative team at visitors to walk inside the pitcher, like an insect Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, Ohio, lured by nectar. Intoxicated by the narcotic nectar, Savage Gardens celebrates the oddities of nature, victims (some of them small mammals) take a rejoicing in the resourcefulness of adaptation. clumsy tumble into a pool of digestive enzymes.

San Antonio Botanical Garden is among the first Texture, form and sound complete the experience botanical gardens in the nation to host the exhibit. of being inside the plant.

Though they seem exotic, many carnivorous plants actually are native to North America. One of the Positioned tall and proud are the 6- to 12-foot central messages of the exhibit is conservation Sarracenia, or Trumpet Plants. The sculptures are and preservation of bogs and wetlands that these realistic in form and color, and these seven trumpets native plants call home. This message is directly in dazzle with play of light and color. line with the garden’s mission: “To inspire people to connect with the plant world and understand the Finally, the 8-foot Drosera, commonly known as importance of plants in our lives.”

Sundew, has more than 500 resin tentacles, lit with fiber optics to undulate and glow for dramatic “It’s vital to teach children and adults how we effect. The plant’s glistening, dew-like tentacles are connected to plants,” said Bob Brackman, lure and trap prey. executive director, San Antonio Botanical Garden.

“Showing our visitors that plants are active in For the young (and young at heart) the exhibit their environment furthers our mission and their includes learning activities with freestanding, understanding of why conservation is necessary.” movable, interactive pieces. Two of these are Gotcha!, where visitors are taught how the plants The exhibit is designed to fascinate children and lure, trap, and digest their prey, and Operation, their families. Monumental, multi-media sculptures where guests try their hand at removing insects form the core of the exhibit and provide viewers with from the traps. a bug’s eye view of four carnivorous plants: Venus Flytrap, Pitcher Plant, Trumpet Plant and Sundew. “Many people don’t realize that the plant world The four sculptures are oversized, enhanced holds an air of mystery,” Brackman said. “Some versions of real plants and show an up-close plant species’ amazing beauty hides their clever trickery November/December 2013 | On The Town 65

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

While at the exhibit, don’t miss the Garden Gate Gift Shop. Filled with unique and fun treasures, including live Venus flytrap plants, it’s the perfect place to pick up a gift for yourself or a loved one.

Stop in at the Carriage House Bistro, open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

San Antonio Botanical Garden is at 555 Funston Place at North New Braunfels Avenue. Parking is free. The Botanical Garden is operated under the auspices of the City of San Antonio Department of Parks and Recreation and is open year-round except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. For more information, visit www.sabot.org or call 210-207-3250.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • Photo Credits: Page 64 Oversized Venus Flytrap Interactive Sculpture Photo Courtesy San Antonio Botanical Garden Page 66 (Above) Pitcher Plant Sarracenia Flava v. maxima Photo courtesy San Antonio Botanical Gardens (Below) Pitcher Plant Sarracenia Hybrid Photo courtesy San Antonio Botanical Gardens

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Literary Arts

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Book Talk:

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MARY JANE HARDY, Teacher, Author Story and Photography by Jasmina Wellinghof

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ast year, Mary Jane Hardy completed a writing project that she and her late husband, Ken, first thought of 20 years ago. The result of her labor, Spiritual Treasurest, is a straightforward informative look at how the beautiful churches that dot the city’s center came into existence and the role they played in the development of San Antonio.

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

Altogether, 17 “spiritual treasures” are profiled, starting with Mission San Antonio de Valero (the Alamo) and the San Fernando Cathedral, which was completed in 1748. Reflecting the arc of history, Catholic churches here eventually were joined by Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Baptist and Methodist places of worship, as the respective groups settled in the area. Included in the book are many familiar edifices, such St. Mark’s Episcopal, First Baptist and Travis Park United Methodist, as well as the non-denominational Little Church of La JW: Did you decide on a book after Ken’s death?

Villita, which has a unique story and a commitment to serve anyone who walks through its door.

MJH: Yes, after his death I started going through a lot of things and found the research we had done. And I said, One “treasure” that many San Antonians may have “I need to finish this.” I started working on it in earnest. never heard of is the tiny Capilla de los Milagros near It took me about three-and-a-half years because at first the Haven for Hope complex, which dates back to I only included Catholic churches (she is a Catholic) but the 1720s. Though open to the public, it’s privately then I realized that the other churches had their stories, owned by the descendants of the original landowner too, and my project evolved like that. and builder Juan Ximenes.

JW: How did you pursue the research?

A native San Antonian and former educator, Hardy presents each place through its history, architecture MJH: I first started visiting each church to look at the and memorable stories of people or events connected exterior. I would walk around and take notes about what to each institution. it looked like. Then I made appointments to look at the interior. While there I asked them about the history of Commenting on the book, the former vicar general their church; whether there were any published books of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Msgr. Lawrence that I could purchase – and the most important thing: Stuebben, wrote: “San Antonio is a very special city. This whether there was a person who knew a lot about the book will help the reader discover the richness of its place. I also attended the services because you can’t history and spirituality.” really understand a church unless you attend it. I met a lot of wonderful people.

Appropriately, we conducted this interview in “the jewel-box church of San Antonio” – Grace Lutheran, on JW: Most of your “treasures” and their congregations the corner of McCullough Avenue and Avenue E. It was came into existence in the 1800s. Could you address the founded by the descendants of German immigrants historical significance of that? who parted company with their elders by adopting MJH: Yes, San Antonio was certainly changing in the English as their liturgical language.

1800s. (Texas) went from belonging to Spain and later JW: Please tell us about the genesis of the book.

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Mexico, to an independent republic and a state of the United States, and (San Antonio) was steadily growing.

The surge in Protestant churches followed the fall of the Alamo as Texas became free for all to practice their faith. English was becoming dominant, and people increasingly demanded services in English.

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

MJH: There were so many! In the case of La Capilla de los Milagros, what is fascinating to me is that the crucifix that hangs there is said to have hung at the Alamo.

And there’s another wonderful historical connection: the bell of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church is the old bell from the San Fernando Cathedral, the bell that announced the fall of the Alamo. Then, the Italian church (San Francesco di Paola) used statues that came from Santa Rosa Hospital. People didn’t have a lot of money, so they recycled things. I saw all those connections and also connections to Europe. The immigrants tried to emulate what they knew from their homelands to the extent that they could.

And I love the story of LBJ’s wedding (at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church; too long to relate here but delightful.)

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

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MJH: It’s in some bookstores, and I am looking to expand that, but mainly, it’s through speaking engagements.

Yesterday, I spoke in Castroville at St. Louis Catholic Church and sold 45 books there. In the book, I have only

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

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

MJH: Yes, church groups are organizing tours to visit these churches. That was one thing that I wanted to happen.

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

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

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

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

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Downtown Update: A Conversation with Pat DiGiovanni of Centro San Antonio

By Julie Catalano Photography Greg Harrison

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an Antonio has such a stellar reputation as a tourist and convention destination — the city has more than 26 million visitors each year, many of them drawn to the Alamo and River Walk – but sometimes locals forget how much is going on at city center. OnTheTownEzine talked with Pat DiGiovanni, president and CEO of Centro San Antonio, the management company for the Downtown Alliance and the Public Improvement District, to discuss the future.

OTT: What would you like to see in terms of downtown living?

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

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

Pat DiGiovanni: We try to balance our downtown.

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

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

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

They can live downtown and walk to their jobs.

The San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA) continues to plan and develop properties that are going to be market rate and affordable. So we’re very cognizant of making sure we have the proper mix of housing.

Those are all in the planning efforts and part of our strategy to make sure that the city’s core does not become gentrified to the point where people cannot afford to be here.

PD: We want to see more students living downtown.

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

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

OTT: What about the Alameda Theatre?

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

OTT: Any new hotels?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For more information, visit centrosanantonio.org.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Photo Credits: Page 78 Alameda Theater opened in 1949 as the largest Spanish language theater in the nation. It is destined to be restored to original grandeur when necessary funding for the project has been secured.

Page 80 (Above) The new Embassy Suites Hotel at Soledad and Houston Street along the River Walk (Below) Palm Restaurant on Houston Street

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UIW’s 27th Annual Light the Way filled with surprises

By Margaret Garcia Photos courtesy of UIW / Steve Holloway, Photographer

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or nearly three decades, the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) has transformed its main campus into a dazzling display of holiday twinkling lights in celebration of the annual Light the Way event, which officially kicks-off the holiday season for the community. Over the years, thousands of guests have enjoyed the event, held each November on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, by spending time with their families, enjoying the sights and sounds of the season and creating holiday memories.

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

This year, the university has broken enrollment campus with more than 1 million twinkling lights, records, with more than 9,500 students. On the main the all-female group Mariachi Las Coronelas will campus alone, students represent 73 countries. lead a candlelight procession through the campus to UIW’s Dubuis Lawn for a complimentary reception In 1985, when New York native Dr. Louis J. Agnese Jr., hosted by Sodexo and H-E-B. The campus, at 4301 was interviewing for the leadership of the school, the Broadway, will be open for self-guided tours through Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word drove him Jan. 6, the Feast of the Epiphany. through the beautiful light displays in the Windcrest neighborhood. It was then that he had a vision of an The University of the Incarnate Word is a private, event that would unite the San Antonio community liberal-arts university. It is the largest Catholic in the spirit of the season throughout his presidency. University in the state and the fourth largest private The event grows each year, and in 2012, more than university in Texas.

7,500 people attended the kick-off celebration, with an additional 2,000 people visiting the campus to For more information, visit www.uiw.edu/ see the lights throughout the holiday season. It has lighttheway or call the UIW Office of Public Relations truly become a San Antonio holiday tradition. at (210) 829-6001.

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