LOCAL: Alamo Heights, Monte Vista, Olmos Park, Downtown, King William, Terrell Hills, December 2014 by San Antonio Local Community News

PG.14 ALAMO HEIGHTS OPEN TO MORE DRIVE-THRU STORES

Mayor says restrictions not being eased; new businesses still have to seek special-use permit

INSIDE PG. 17 LOCAL SOCIETY

on the scene of the latest parties PG.22 Alamo Heights movie

producer helps bring ‘nugget of joy’ to screen

Christopher Lloyd, Kevin Pollak among stars of ‘The One I Wrote for You’

COMMUNITY NEWS VOL. 3, ISSUE 6

ALAMO HEIGHTS

KING WILLIAM

MONTE VISTA

OLMOS PARK

TERRELL HILLS

DEC. 1 - DEC. 26, 2014

WHAT'S

INSIDE YOUR COMMUNITY

ALAMO HEIGHTS ISD PG.15

PG.18 Butterfly

garden taking wing in the Olmos Basin area The project provides a way station for migrating flocks by giving them nutrients, water, refuge WWW.SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM

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COUPONS INSIDE Discover the city through LOCAL deals from restaurants, retailers and services in your community, and save money while you do it! pg. 31

GENE PHILLIPS WEAVING LIT WITH SPORTS WIT

PG. 24 BUY Aerial Horizon High-flying artists offer classes, performances for events

PG. 25 EAT Lupita's Mexican Seafood Goverment Hill restaurant specializes in surfside menu selections

PG.20 Marvels in

store for tour of grand spots in King William Eclectic mix of five residences, two museums featured

DEC. 1 - DEC. 26, 2014

FROM THE EDITOR tedwards@salocallowdown.com

President Harold J. Lees VP/Sales Anna Davis

Publisher Gregg Rosenfield Assoc. Publisher Rick Upton

EDITORIAL Executive Editor Thomas Edwards News Staff Collette Orquiz, Bain Serna and Will Wright Contributing Writers Olivier J. Bourgoin, Rose Mary Budge, Joyce Hotchkiss, Carole Miller and Susan Yerkes

a season of

SMILES

Through December 24 at Alamo Quarry Market Visits and Photos with Santa

With holiday wishes in hand, visit Santa in his workshop located by Regal Cinemas, and capture the memories with a keepsake photo.

Toy, Socks & Book Drive

Spread smiles to children in need when you donate a new pair of socks, book or toy to Family Service Association. Bring your generous gift to Learning Express Toys or or Santa’s Workshop and receive 20% off Santa Photos.

Alamo Quarry Market Gift Cards

Embrace the joy of giving with convenient Alamo Quarry Market Gift Cards, available at Guest Services located inside the Management Office behind Nordstrom Rack or online at www.QuarryMarket.com.

ART Creative Director Florence D. Edwards Production Designer Pete Morales Contributing Photographers Josh Huskin and Rudy B. Ornelas Contributing Illustrator Jeremiah Teutsch ADVERTISING Advertising Director Jaselle Luna Account Manager Kelly Jean Garza Controller Keith Sanders READER SERVICE Mailing Address 4204 Gardendale Ste. 201 SA, TX 78229 Phone Fax (210) 338.8842 (210) 616.9677 Advertising Inquiries jluna@salocallowdown.com Story Ideas: tips@salocallowdown.com Website: www.salocallowdown.com LOCAL Community News publications Zone 2: 78213, 78230, 78231, 78248, 78249 Zone 3: 78216, 78232, 78247 Zone 4: 78109, 78148, 78233, 78239 Zone 5: 78108, 78132, 78154, 78266 Zone 6: 78258, 78259, 78260, 78261 For advertising, customer service or editorial, please call us at 210-338-8842 or write to us at: Local Community News 4204 Gardendale Ste. 201 San Antonio, TX 78229

Over 75 unique shops, Regal 16-Plex Theatres, and fabulous choices for fine and casual dining. Located just off Highway 281 at 255 East Basse Road. (210) 824-8885 • QuarryMarket.com

Keeping a proper perspective

he media doesn’t always do a good job of policing itself, instead often focusing on being first instead of being right. That’s thanks in part to the hurly-burly mentality of today’s Web-fed, 24-hour news cycle. A case in point is the changing tone of stories about the Ebola virus. When the first news accounts about Ebola in America began to emerge, TV anchors, Web outlets and even some print publications made it seem like a viral apocalypse was just hours away. Then, as more health care workers faced quarantine upon returning from Africa, the tone of news stories turned scolding, castigating the government for being overly cautious. Adding insult to injury, media reports chided officials for creating a scare. In all honesty, it was the media — especially television and the Web — that manufactured the scare. Shark stories are another example. Attacks are few and far between, but media accounts play up even the smallest incident to make it seem like Jaws is rampaging. In both cases, it’s not always the government that shoulders the blame for fueling hysteria. It’s the news media. Driven by pressure to secure ratings, increase page views and shore up dwindling readership, accounts of potential threats become sensationalistic narratives that would scare the socks off anyone. Here at LOCAL Community News, we try to slow things down a bit, assess the issues, solicit informed commentary and take a reasoned approach to subjects. We don’t always get it right (who does?) and not everyone agrees with us, but our intent is to offer news without hyperbole. So keep on reading and we’ll keep on delivering. In the meantime, from those of us at LOCAL to you and your cherished ones, happy holidays.

THOMAS EDWARDS EXECUTIVE EDITOR FACEBOOK.COM/SALOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS

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DEC. 1 - DEC. 26, 2014

LOCAL COMMENTARY

Ebola hyperbole: A plague of panic by SUSAN YERKES

s anybody else out there sick of hearing doomsday Ebola predictions?

Don’t get me wrong — Ebola is a terrible disease, and the situation in several African countries, where thousands have died, is serious indeed. Thomas Eric Duncan’s death from the disease in Dallas, and the subsequent infections (and happily, recoveries) of a couple of health care workers, have rightly spurred hospitals and medical professionals to review and revamp their protocols for diagnosis and treatment. The fact is, here in South Texas, your chances of winning the lottery are a thousand times greater than your chances of getting Ebola. And yet politicians

continue to proselytize, and plain folks continue to worry, about the medical menace the word Ebola conjures. “It’s human nature, that people are fascinated with things that are frightening. All the hospitals have developed detailed protocols and plans in the remote event that Ebola does show up. But there are much more pressing health problems in San Antonio, like diabetes and obesity,” said Carl Blond, a respected San Antonio physician and chief of staff at Connally Memorial Medical Center in Floresville. This time of year, there’s another health problem we can all do something about. “As we head into the winter months, with kids back in school and people traveling for the holidays, respiratory illnesses like influenza are a much more serious concern for us in terms of infectious disease. And many of those can be prevented by vaccinations,” said Dr. Thomas Schlenker, director of health for the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District. Unlike Ebola, flu and other airborne diseases spread quickly, even when the carriers aren’t manifesting symptoms. Older folks and the youngest are particularly at risk. The Centers for Disease Control recommends adults and children 6 months or older should get vaccinated every year. You don’t even have to go to the doctor to get a

flu shot. They’re everywhere, from Walmart to Walgreens. All insurance plans cover flu shots, and for those without insurance, the $30 or so the shot costs is a good investment in terms of potential lost time at work. Yet according to Metropolitan Health statistics, fewer than 40 percent of adults in Bexar County got their flu shots last year. I know folks who fret about terrorists with Ebola sneaking across the border, or believe we should quarantine anyone flying to the United States from Africa. Many of them have never gotten a flu shot, and many of them get —and quite possibly spread —the flu almost every year. Vaccines offer simple and highly effective protection from many diseases, from mumps and measles to hepatitis and pneumonia. But they only work if you get vaccinated. Pertussis, or whooping cough, manifests as a cough in adults, but can be deadly for infants. In the past few years the reported rates in Texas have increased more than fivefold. But very few adults ever get vaccinated for it. It’s good news that nearly 70 percent of children in Bexar County have all the required vaccinations by age 3. Unfortunately,

according to the U.S. Department of Health, at least 90 percent of children need to be vaccinated to effectively protect the population. Adults aren’t required to get vaccinations, and many don’t. Taking care of our collective health is a task that begins with individuals, and there’s more we can do. Infectious diseases may be dangerous, but there are plenty of bigger dangers. Here in San Antonio, adult diabetes is epidemic, and it’s affecting younger people at higher rates than ever. Over the last decade, city planners and health professionals have worked hard to spread the gospel of exercise and balanced nutrition, and the city’s famously high obesity rates have begun to fall. But it takes time and work to change unhealthy habits, and we still have a long way to go. So next time you read headlines about the terrors of Ebola, try not to stress. That’s enough to make you sick. Instead, think about the serious diseases closer to home, and what we can all do about them. Get vaccinations, wash your hands and practice healthy living, one day at a time. Email Yerkes at syerkes@ salocallowdown.com.

NEXT TIME YOU READ HEADLINES ABOUT THE TERRORS OF EBOLA, TRY NOT TO STRESS.

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OUR TURN Views and opinions about your community

Getting a clear picture on body cameras

he use of body cameras should be embraced by area law enforcement agencies not already equipped with the devices.

The cameras provide a clear record of what actually transpires during an encounter between law enforcement and the public. Police should welcome the cameras, since they are another tool to help clear an officer when someone files a false complaint about police conduct. Those on the other side of the camera should also know their every action is being taped. Some area departments including Alamo Heights already use the devices. Officers there have readily adapted to the cameras. Since March, 150 San Antonio Police Department officers have participated in a pilot program involving the cameras. Police Chief

William McManus has said the cameras are a sound move and is making recommendations to City Council. The cameras, which have been around for a while, took center stage in the national spotlight after a black man was shot by a white officer in Ferguson, Missouri, sparking several days of civil unrest. Most of the protest probably would have been averted if a video recording of the encounter existed. On the national level, leaders are also pushing for police departments to utilize the small cameras, which are easily clipped on the sleeves, vests or shirt seams of an officer’s uniform. The decision on whether to use body cameras should be decided by local departments working with elected representatives and citizens’ groups. While there are privacy concerns that must be addressed, we live in the age of smartphones, YouTube and security cameras, so public recordings are nothing new. Using body cameras should become just another tool for police to do their jobs. -The Local Community News editorial board includes Harry Lees, Gregg Rosenfield and Thomas Edwards.

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DEC. 1 - DEC. 26, 2014

HAPPENING LOCAL

Plan your month with our calendar of upcoming events in the community.

OUR GUIDE TO YOUR MONTH

HAPPENING KEY

FITNESS

ART

INTERNATIONAL PAGEANT ONGOING Applications are being accepted for competing in the Texas International Pageant, which has competitions for Mrs., Miss and Miss Teen Texas International. San Antonio winners will take part in the state competition March 13-15 at the Granville Arts Center in Garland. The international pageant is in Florida in July. For more information, and to find application forms, go to http:// www.mrstexasinternational.com, http:// www.misstexasinternational.com and http:// www.missteentexasinternational.com. GOOD EATS IN THE GARDEN San Antonio Garden Center Clubs will meet at 10 a.m. for the Traditional Holiday Tasting Luncheon. Cast members from the Woodlawn Theatre’s holiday production of “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” will entertain. All are welcome.

THROUGH DEC 3

TALK

OUTDOOR

MUSIC

FOOD

The center is at 3310 N. New Braunfels Ave. at Funston Place. For more, call 824-9981 or visit www.San Antonio Garden Center.org. GIRL’S NIGHT OUT TV personality Giuliana Rancic will be the host of this free event at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. She’ll be joined by Dr. Laura Berman, also a TV host as well as an expert on sex and relationships and a best-selling author. The party, which runs from 5:30 to 8 p.m., promises a “lively discussion” of intimacy, love and life planning. If you plan to attend, register at www.facebook. com/girlsnightoutSA. The event is sponsored by Bayer Women’s HealthCare.

THROUGH DEC 6

THE NUTCRACKER Ballet San Antonio and the San Antonio Symphony present the holiday perennial at the Tobin Center for the

THROUGH DEC 7

Performing Arts – making it this season’s all-San Antonio “Nutcracker.” Shows are at 7 p.m. nightly through Dec. 6, with 2 p.m. performances on Dec. 6 and 7. Tickets start at $33; to purchase them, or for more information, go to https://www. tobincenter.org/box-office. The Tobin Center is at 100 Auditorium Circle. USED BOOK SALE Pretty much everything is on sale at the BookCellar, the nonprofitrun store downstairs at the San Antonio Central Library, 600 Soledad St. With the exception of easy readers, everything – including DVDs, and book and music CDs – is 50 percent off regular prices, which are 50 cents to $2. BookCellar is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily except Thursday, when hours are 11 to 7. The first hour of parking in the adjacent garage is free.

THROUGH DEC 14

“FIDDLER ON THE ROOF” Tevye the dairyman struggles to keep his family together and stay true to his Jewish traditions in a musical set in tsarist Russia and based on the stories of Sholem Aleichem. Shows will be presented in the Russell Hill Rogers Theater at Playhouse San Antonio at 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Monday, Dec. 22, and at 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets

THROUGH DEC 22

range from $12 to $30 and can be purchased through a link at www.theplayhousesa.org. The Playhouse is at 800 W. Ashby Place. FICTION CONTEST The San Antonio Book Festival is looking for fiction works by young writers to showcase as part of next spring’s event. Original works by writers in three divisions – grades seven/eight, nine/10 and 11/12 – should follow the theme of “A Chest in the Attic …” and be no more than 1,500 words. Of the works submitted by the Jan. 12 deadline, 30 finalists will be selected by Feb. 2 and winners will be announced Feb. 16. The Book Festival is April 11. Official rules are at http:// www.saplf.org/festival/fiction-contest/.

THROUGH JAN 12

THEATER COMPETITION Applications are being accepted in Las Casas Foundation’s annual performing-arts scholarship competition, which is open to all high school students – including home-schooled ones – in San Antonio and surrounding areas. Categories are vocal, monologue acting, dance and Jimmy Awards, which is for juniors and seniors who have played the lead role in their school’s musical

THROUGH FEB 15

HAPPENING continues on pg. 07

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SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM HAPPENING continues from pg. 06 production. A total of $100,000 in scholarship funds will go to the 2015 winners. Go to www.lascasasfoundation. org to find applications, rules, audition guidelines and scholarship criteria. Application deadline is Feb. 15, preliminary auditions will be in March and final auditions will be April 26. HOLIDAY PARADE IN ALAMO HEIGHTS The Alamo Heights Chamber of Commerce Annual Holiday Parade scheduled for Nov. 22 is rescheduled for Dec. 6 because of bad weather. The parade begins at 5:30 p.m. at Cambridge Elementary School, 1001 Townsend Ave., heads down Broadway and ends at the Stewart Center. Parade Entry form and guidelines are at www.alamoheightschamber.org For more, call 824-0369.

DEC 6

CHRISTMAS VESPERS Members of the various choirs at Trinity University will present a program of sacred music at 6 p.m. in the Margarite B. Parker Chapel near Bushnell Avenue on the west side of the campus. It is free and open to the public. Trinity is at One Trinity Place.

DEC 7

SCHOOL BOARD MEETING Trustees of the North East Independent School District meet 6:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at 8961 Tesoro Drive. To confirm dates and times, call 407-0533.

DEC 8

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ALAMO HEIGHTS The City Council meets at 5:30 p.m. at 6116 Broadway, then convenes again Dec. 22, same time and location. To verify time and place, call 822-3331.

DEC 8

TERRELL HILLS The City Council meets at 5 p.m. in City Hall, 5100 N. New Braunfels Ave.

MONTE VISTA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION The board meets 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Landa Branch Library Annex, 233 Bushnell Ave.

DEC 9

MUSIC FOR YOUR EYES Distinctive music machines are among the collection of the late Walter Mathis, who entertained his guests at Villa Finale with the antique marvels. They continue to entertain as Villa Finale Museum & Gardens re-creates the experience for guests at 6:30 p.m.

DEC 11

HAPPENING continues on pg. 08

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DEC. 1 - DEC. 26, 2014 journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. Families can join in making costume items to take home, too. From 3 to 5 p.m., the troupe from Our Lady of Guadalupe will perform the play. This is a free Second Sunday event. The Institute is at 801 E. Cesar Chavez Blvd.

HAPPENINGS continues from pg. 07 The tour will be capped by a Christmas music concert played by the automated 1921 piano in the Napoleon Parlor. Tickets are $20, or $15 for members, and can be purchased by calling 223-9800. Villa Finale is at 401 King William St. MADRIGAL DINNER The Alamo Heights High School Choir is once again serving up its medieval-flavored Madrigal Dinner, filling a banquet-hall setting with royalty, jesters and Christmas music. The event runs from 6 to 8 p.m. each night, and costumed students will do the serving as well as the singing; there will also be a short concert to end the evening. Tickets, which must be purchased in advance, cost $25 and can be purchased through the school’s website, http://www. ahisd.net/campuses/ahhs/index.html. The evening is best suited for those age 10 and older. The high school is at 6900 Broadway.

DEC 12-13

LOST PASTORES The Institute of Texan Cultures offers a program on a traditional Tejano holiday morality play. At a workshop from 1 to 3 p.m., performers from Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church will talk about the significance of Los Pastores, which depicts the

DEC 14

NUTCRACKER TEA PARTY DEC This family-friendly holiday 14 event will include a reading and performance of “The Nutcracker” along with tea, snacks and crafts. The dancing will be done by the Conservatory Senior Company of the Ballet Conservatory of South Texas; proceeds from the fundraiser benefit the Conservatory. The party kicks off at 2 p.m. at the Pearl Stable, 303 Pearl Parkway. Tickets start at $60 and can be purchased through a link at www.balletsouthtexas. org/the-nutcracker-holiday-tea/. “EDOUARD VUILLARD: THE MAGICIAN OF THE MUNDANE” French painter Edouard Vuillard is known for his depictions of commonplace settings that nevertheless reward the viewer with an engaging visual feast. Kimberly Jones, associate curator of French paintings at the National Gallery of Art, will discuss Vuillard’s magic touch in a lecture from 3 to 4 p.m. at the McNay Art Museum, 6000 N. New Braunfels Ave. Admission, which includes

DEC 14

a visit to the “Intimate Impressionism” exhibit, is $20 for nonmembers, $5 for educators, docents and students with ID. Registration deadline is Dec. 12; call 8051768 or email education@mcnayart.org.

Gardens starting at 6 p.m. There will be seasonal refreshments too. Tickets cost $25, $20 for members and $17.50 for lawn seating (bring a blanket) and can be purchased by calling 223-9800; gates open at 5:30. Villa Finale is at 401 King William St.

SPARKLE OF THE SEASON The Alamo Heights Rotary Club will be looking for festive holiday light displays on homes and will award first-, second- and third-place prizes. The displays must be in place by Dec. 15; the judging criteria are outstanding appearance, attractiveness and the way the displays complement their location. Prizes will be gift cards from local merchants – and yard signs for bragging rights.

DEC 15-17

DEC 18

NELSON ROCKEFELLER’S PICASSOS The exhibition opening at the San Antonio Museum of Art features 15 of the 18 tapestries commissioned by Rockefeller for the family’s Hudson River Valley estate, Kykuit. The works are based on Pablo Picasso’s most important paintings, and the artist collaborated on the colors in many of them. There is a $10 surcharge on the museum’s $10 admission charge for patrons 18 and older. The exhibit runs through March 8. The museum is at 200 W. Jones Ave.

DEC 20

OLMOS PARK The City Council meets 6 p.m. in City Hall, 120 W. El Prado Drive.

ALAMO HEIGHTS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT Trustees meet at 7 p.m. in the board room at Central Office, 7101 Broadway.

DEC 18

THE SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS AT VILLA FINALE Traditional Christmas music and lighter holiday fare will be performed by the San Antonio Brass at Villa Finale Museum &

DEC 18

WINTER HOLIDAYS The campuses of the Alamo Heights and North East Independent school districts are closed for the Christmas break and New Year’s Day.

DEC 22 - JAN 2

SUBMITTING EVENTS: Email all

the details along with your contact information two months in advance to tips@salocallowdown.com.

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LOCAL LOWDOWN

David G. Shulman M.D., P.A. Fernando Trujillo M.D.

Take a quick look at what’s new in the community from opening and closings to news tidbits.

Open and Opening Soon

Address of local business Name of local business

1. AERIAL HORIZON, 108 Blue Star St., is a local aerial performance company and school offering instruction to all ages in aerial silks, trapeze, lyra, rope, contortion and more. In addition, Cirque du Soleil-style performances can be booked for corporate or private events, officials said. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9:15 p.m. Monday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and closed Sunday. For more, call 512-924-3836 or visit www. aerial-horizon.com and www.facebook. com/aerialhorizon. (See story on page 24) 2. LUPITA’S MEXICAN SEAFOOD RESTAURANT, 103 E. Carson St.,

recently opened in the Government Hill neighborhood and offers seafood in the style of kitchens in the state of Guerrero, Mexico. Fare at the family-operated restaurant includes traditional favorites

LOWDOWN continues on pg. 10

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LOWDOWN continues from pg. 09 such as tacos, guacamole and nachos, but also Sopa de Mariscos and the Mojarra Frita (tilapia seasoned and lightly fried in a sauce with onions, garlic, cilantro and serrano or jalapeño peppers), and con papas fritas y ensalada. Hours are 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. For more, call 865-1636. (See story on page 26)

3. FINCK CIGARS, 3111 Broadway, has

opened this third location across from Mahncke Park. The shop offers premium cigars and smoking accessories, including humidors, cutters, lighters, pipes, pipe tobacco and more. There also is a public smoking lounge and another for members only. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. For more, call 362-1540 or visit www. FinckCigar.com. (See story on page 25)

4. DIGNOWITY MEATS ON HOUSTON ST., 1701 E. Houston St., pays homage to the East Coast deli and Midwest smokehouse by specializing in smoked meats by the pound — pastrami, brisket, turkey, pit beef, bologna and more — as well as handcrafted sandwiches on locally baked bread and a large selection of speciality sides. Hours are

5. STEWART TITLE SAN ANTONIO DIVISION, 5941 Broadway, recently

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DISTRICT 1 CITY COUNCILMAN DIEGO BERNAL has stepped down from his seat to run for state representative District 123, which was vacated by Democrat Mike Villarreal, who plans to run for San

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SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM LOWDOWN continues from pg. 10 Antonio mayor. A special election for the House seat is set for next year. Civil rights attorney Bernal, also a Democrat, formally announced his resignation to the City Council Nov. 13. He served nearly two full terms on the council; his term would have ended in May 2015. He is the third council member since 2013 to leave City Hall. THIRD-GRADERS AT Northwood Elementary School took part in the fourth annual Fairy Tale Battle, hosted by the school library at the end of October. The event capped a three-week study of traditional literature. A team from each class competed in answering questions concerning a dozen traditional fairy tales. DUAL-LANGUAGE AND IMMERSION TEACHERS in the Alamo Heights Independent School District shared their expertise with area teachers and administrators at the recent Education Service Center Region 20 fifth annual Dual Language Conference. According to the district’s Facebook page, the educators included: Imelda DeLeon, Carly Leech, Martha Flores, Mariana Medaris, Nancy Gonzales, Pat Gutierrez, Roxanna Montes-Bazaldua, Daisy Rodriguez and Dana

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LOWDOWN continues from pg. 11 a.m. and 7 to 11 p.m. The last number of a resident’s address determines when watering is permitted. For more details, visit http://www.alamoheightstx.gov/. A RETURN OF CITY SERVICES TO THE ALAMO HEIGHTS MUNICIPAL COMPLEX, which underwent a multimillion-dollar expansion at 6116 Broadway, took place in November, City Manager Mark Brown said. The city set up temporary headquarters at 1248 Austin Highway when the renovations began in spring 2013. The revamped City Hall will be home to city administration, the Police Department and Community Development Services. STREET REPAIRS THAT BEGAN IN EARLY NOVEMBER IN OLMOS PARK are expected to finish by April, city officials said. The asphalt repairs will be done on various streets, including portions of McCullough Avenue and Olmos Drive. Officials said the repair areas will be marked on the pavement in orange paint, and they are asking motorists to avoid parking on the markings or within 20 feet on either side. TERRELL HILLS LEADERS, DURING A RECENT CITY COUNCIL meeting, expressed their support for the closure of a strip of roadway running off Austin Highway at North New Braunfels Avenue adjacent to the McNay Art Museum. The strip — which is actually part of Rittiman Road — forms a triangular piece of land in the roadway next to the museum property; many years ago, a gas station was located there. The right of way would revert to San Antonio. AT ST. PIUS X CATHOLIC SCHOOL, second-graders presented their “Saint Summaries” at the weekly school Mass in honor of All Saints Day. The students chose their favorite saint and then, under the guidance of teachers Mary Mcklitz and Kate McLoughlin, began to work on their summaries and costumes before the

Oct. 29 Mass. Later, they traveled to the University of the Incarnate Word Retirement Home and performed for the residents. FRANKLIN COMPANIES, WHICH SPECIALIZES IN SENIOR LIVING UNITS, HAS STARTED BUILDING its flagship community complex at 230 W. Sunset Road at Everest Road in North Central. When completed in fall 2015, Franklin Park Alamo Heights will include 221 housing units, including 117 independent-living, 64 assisted-living and 40 memory-care units. TEMPLE BETH-EL, THE OLDEST JEWISH CONGREGATION in San Antonio with nearly 1,000 Reform Jewish families, celebrated its 140th year with a Congregational Pilgrimage and Picnic Nov. 2. Congregants began the pilgrimage after a kick-off assembly featuring the presentation of a City Proclamation, and then walked to the original temple site, across from Travis Park downtown. During the 1.8-mile journey, 14 stations along the way offered information to pilgrims about the temple’s history. The event included a picnic in San Pedro Park near the current temple at 211 Belknap Place in the Monte Vista Historic District. WILSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL’S GARDEN CLUB AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS teamed up recently at the campus, 1421 Clower St., to help beautify the campus and prepare the garden for cold weather. According to a release from the San Antonio Independent School District, donations by Keller Materials and Home Depot made it possible for the school to install walkways and reposition garden beds. Home Depot also conducted onsite workshops for children. In addition, workers prepared the school’s 15 raised garden beds for a winter crop of beets, carrots, broccoli, lettuce and turnips. There are big plans for the garden, which is in its fourth year, educators said. Last

LOWDOWN continues on pg. 13

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13 LOWDOWN continues from pg. 12 year the Garden Club won a $20,000 grant in the Team Up Challenge. BIOLOGY STUDENTS AT EDISON HIGH SCHOOL RECENTLY demonstrated the advantages of Wi-Fi digital microscopes. During the exercise, the students used the devices, along with a free MotiConnect app, to watch the effect of salt water and distilled water on plant cells, as part of a lesson on plasmolysis. The San Antonio Independent School District has purchased more than 200 digital microscopes so that every SAISD high school and middle school has them for student use. LANCE LUBEL AND PARTNER TYLER G. MERCER, former senior counsel for the Valero Energy family of companies, announced the formation of the San Antonio Office of Lubel Voyles LLP in the McCombs Plaza Building at 755 E. Mulberry Ave. Lubel is a founding partner of Lubel Voyles in Houston, where he has practiced law for more than 20 years. The firm specializes in litigation and has won cases including business litigation, general personal injury, maritime and admiralty cases, toxic torts, property damage recovery and ad valorem taxes. “My grandfather was born in San Antonio and started a company in 1950 called American Laundry which catered exclusively to military bases, and my great-grandfather opened the first kosher delicatessen here,” Lubel said in prepared release. “My father lives in Bulverde and still works actively in the local commercial real estate market. It’s great to be back here and practicing law in a town that means so much to me and my family.” SENDERO WEALTH MANAGEMENT has moved its local office to 250 W. Nottingham Place, Suite 300, off East Basse Road in Lincoln Heights. In its new and larger space, Sendero occupies 9,146 square feet on the third floor, with another 3,408 feet of available space. The firm was previously housed at 7373 Broadway for 10 years. Amaury de Barros Conti recently was named director of research and strategy. ST. LUKE’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL’S NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY and Tiger Athletic Department helped raise $1,000 in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October and donated the funds to the Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation. Students at the school also led a Veterans Day Chapel Service Nov. 11 with an address by Air Force Lt. Col. Stephen Maturo. In all, 16 veterans were honored during the event.

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12/18 The Relatable Tour: Steve Trevino, 8 p.m, Sam’s Burger Joint, $20/$60

12/9 Robert Earl Keen, Terri Hendrix, 7:30 p.m., Tobin Center, $29.50/$69.50

12/19 Bruce & Kelly’s Holiday Shindig, 7 p.m., Aztec Theatre, $25/$32

12/10 Abstract Reality Tour: Animals As Leaders, Devin Townsend Project, Monuments, 7 p.m., Backstage Live, $17

12/19-21 Holiday Pops: San Antonio Symphony, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, Tobin Center, $25/$85

12/11 Fiesta Navidad Mariachi Los Camperos, 6:30 p.m., Aztec Theatre, $29/$110

12/20 Trans-Siberian Orchestra, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., AT&T Center, $41.50/$71

12/12 Voodoo Glow Skulls, Mustard Plug, Dan Potthast, 7 p.m., The Korova, $5/$10

12/26 Guy Forsyth & Carolyn Wonderland Holiday Show, 7 p.m., Aztec Theatre, $25/$40

12/13 Alex Care, 8 p.m., Aztec Theatre, $20/$23

12/27 SKYROCKET!, 8 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, $12/$50

12/13 Black Veil Brides, Falling In Reverse, Set It Off, Drama Club, 6 p.m., Backstage Live, $25 12/14 Christmas with the San Antonio Chamber Choir, 3 p.m., Tobin Center, $15 12/16 Blind Boys of Alabama, Mavis Staples, 7:30 p.m., Tobin Center, $29/$110

12/28 Shakey Graves, 7 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, $15/$50 12/31 The Spazmatics New Year’s Eve Party, 9 p.m., Aztec Theatre, $35/$80 1/2 Marcia Ball, 7 p.m., Aztec Theatre, $15/$22

LAMO HEIGHTS — After years of limiting drivethrus for businesses, the city softened its stance by adding more commercial zones that permit drive-thrus to attract more growth. The three business zones are on Broadway and Austin Highway. “There is no easing of the restrictions,” said Mayor Louis Cooper. “It is just allowing drive-thrus to be there only if there is a genuine need for a drive-thru in certain business districts in the city that would be consistent with other ones.” Based on a recommendation from the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission, the council Oct. 13 approved an amendment to the existing drive-thru ordinance, which clears the way for companies to apply for a special-use

permit in the three business zones. An ordinance passed in 2010 restricted any new drive-thrus in the city, except for a single business zone. The change could help pave the way for more commercial growth, officials said. “We passed an amendment to our zone ordinance that basically said that we would allow drive-thrus with (a special-use permit) in (three) zones for one-lane drive-thrus,” said City Manager Mark Browne. “It just allows for an opportunity for businesses that are interested in locating to Alamo Heights to make their case to the City Council.” Though the ban in effect has been lifted for new businesses, the amended ordinance still allows the city to restrict and control drive-thrus, and limits them to only one lane. Cooper said that any business with a drive-thru wanting to come to the city still has to go through a process of request and approval. Historically, during the last few decades council members have often engaged in contentious debate over allowing both drive-in and drive-thru businesses — especially restaurants — into the city.

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Alamo Heights Independent School District Athletic Director Gene Phillips is considered a kind of Renaissance man, inspiring students and parents with his witty updates, coaching girls varsity basketball and enshrined as a Texas basketball legend. Photo by Josh Huskin

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His email notices are almost small literary masterpieces, drawing from a variety of sources that go far beyond just sports figures to deliver bon mots of inspiration. In one recent missive to parents that gave updates on programs from volleyball to freshman football, Phillips added this zinger: “I have canceled my National Geographic subscription this year in favor of a Book of the Week club. Yes, book of the week, not month. At my age, it is best to keep moving as quick

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WIT continues from pg. 15 as you can. I am in renaissance mode, so I am starting with the classics. I am speed reading my first book by Plato and should have a report ready by Thursday.” In another colorful piece, Phillips manages to weave Charles Dickens, Daniel Boone, the Alamo Heights High School mascot — the Mules — and an opposing team into what amounts to a short, short story: “To use my language from the ’60s, I am ‘digging’ this Book of the Week Club. I had a choice this week of two classics, ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ by Dickens and (a tale about) Daniel Boone and the Kentucky panther … You guessed it — to expand my intellectual boundaries, I chose the Daniel Boone one. The panther was terrorizing the Kentucky countryside until Ole Daniel ran it to ground by using his trusty mule. Just as I suspected, makes no difference — bovine, equine, feline — the Mule is still the tops. See another O’Connor Panther run to ground by the Mule tomorrow at Farris Stadium.” Colleagues say his attitude keeps spirits high in the district. “Gene has been an excellent athletic director and coach for us,” said Superintendent Kevin Brown. “The kids

love him as a coach and he is a stable force for our athletic program, which is routinely ranked as one of the best in Texas.” Phillips, who has been the athletic director since 2006, said the key to his success is to hire the right mix of people who respect each other and care about kids, then let the coaches do their thing. “I just fly by the seat of my pants,” Phillips laughed. “Alamo Heights is a small town in the big city. It’s easy to attract quality coaches, let them do what they do and stay out of their way.” There are many layers to Phillips. He still holds the Texas public high school record for scoring 81 points in one basketball game in 1967 for Houston Jones High. And after a legendary collegiate career as Southern Methodist University’s sharpest shooter —which earned him a spot in the Hall of Fame — he played professional basketball for two years with the Dallas Chaparrals. The team later moved to San Antonio and became the Spurs. “Gene has excelled as a student, athlete and a professional in the athletics administration profession,” said SMU Athletic Director Steve Orsini. “SMU is very proud of him.” Many of his students are not even aware of his professional basketball career, including keeping the legendary Dr. J —

Julius Irving — from making too many runs to the basket in one game, Brown said. Friends describe Phillips as an amiable fellow people immediately like. But behind that disarming, down-home charm, he is a driven and powerful character who knows when it’s time to cowboy up. So when the Alamo Heights girls’ basketball team needed a new leader, Phillips became the varsity coach. This is his fourth year. “It’s been eye-opening coaching girls,” Phillips said. “But they are good kids.” Alamo Heights head football coach Mike Norment describes Phillips as a “good ol’ East Texas boy” who spins a yarn on top of a yarn. “Coach Phillips has been around a long time,” Norment said. “He can explain just about any situation with a funny country anecdote.”

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Courtney Patton, Alamo Heights head volleyball coach, agreed that Phillips has a hilarious story for just about every possible circumstance. She describes him as “hands-off but his door is always open and he’s always supportive.” There’s way more to him than his athletic prowess, though. He is also a dedicated family man. He and his wife, Leigh Ann, have been married for 35 years. They are the parents of two grown children, Kristi and Mark. They also have two grandchildren and another one on the way. Phillips said he trusts the people around him. “I’m here for advice,” he said. “Take great communication, parental support, kids with high expectations and good coaches, put them all together and, with a lot of luck, you’ll be successful.”

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‘Tis the season for tradition by CAROLE MILLER

an Antonio society’s tradition of giving has roots almost as deep as the pockets of its generous donors.

Founded in 1954 by Dela White, the Charity Ball Association recently hosted the 60th Annual Chrysanthemum Ball — San Antonio’s premier black-tie gala. The ladies of the Charity Ball Association arrived wearing one-of-a-kind designer gowns, exquisite jewels and looking like the million bucks they raised to benefit 22 local children’s charities. CRYSTHANTHEMUM BALL

Traditional Western (with a generous dash of chic) was the dress code for both the Witte Game Dinner and the Alamo Heights Foundation Greater Heights Night. The Witte Game Dinner celebrated its 44th year and offered all the best traditions of South Texas including an amazing array of game cuisine and Cory Morrow live in concert. Established in 2011, the Alamo Heights Foundation Greater Heights Night is the foundation’s major fundraiser. Always thinking ahead, they implemented their rain plan and turned Depot 4 at Sunset Station into a cocktail bar overflowing with silent auction tables full of fabulous prizes. The night’s presentation and delicious fried-chicken dinner took place in the covered pavilion, and all the funds help to continue the Alamo Heights Independent School District’s tradition of excellence. THE GAME DINNER

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The Alamo Heights-Terrell Hills Garden Club is working on a project to bring the community and conservation together by creating a butterfly garden. Above is the proposed design located near the head of the Jack Judson Nature Trails near the Jack Judson Pavilion, 246 Viesca St. in the Olmos Basin. Courtesy illustration

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LAMO HEIGHTS — Visitors to the Olmos Basin shouldn’t be surprised this spring if they see an abundance of fluttering butterflies at the Jack Judson Nature Trails, where a monarch way station is being set up.

With backing from the city, members of the Alamo Heights-Terrell Hills Garden Club are working on the project — which could be in the finishing stages by March — to benefit seasonal butterfly flocks as well as promote conservation and sustainability. Janie Morrison and Kathleen Danysh, the co-chairwomen of the project, are hoping the way station will be a pit stop for migrating monarchs and other butterflies. “We are hoping for all kinds of butterflies. We’re sort of putting out a beautiful buffet and you’re not sure who’s going to show up, but we are targeting the monarchs,” Morrison said.

The garden is intended to attract the butterflies as they migrate south for the winter and north for the summer. In order to do that, the way station must provide milkweed, which is the host plant for butterfly larvae, as well as nectar plants for fueling their long journeys, the women said. “It’s a great program and we’re really excited about being a part of it,” Morrison said. Morrison and Danysh have spent the better part of two years watching the insects’ migration patterns. They picked one of the heads of the Jack Judson Nature Trails near the Jack Judson Pavilion as the location for the garden at 246 Viesca St. The original submission to the city had the garden at the head next to the Audubon building, but they realized there was an excessive amount of shade and flooding during heavy rains. “I’m actually really grateful that we’ve had a couple of seasons and heavy rains, and we go out and check how it looks after a big rain because it has informed us and refined our ideas,” Morrison said. As they observed the original spot, the duo also monitored a site on the opposite side of the parking lot near the Jack Judson Pavilion. The area has a large field that leads to a forest, with a lot more sunlight making it more ideal. They settled on that spot as the better location, then drafted a new submission to the city and began planning.

BUTTERFLY continues on pg. 19

SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM BUTTERFLY continues from pg. 18 The butterfly garden will feature two separate areas within the field, with an oblong 18-by-20 foot patch of milkweed near the field house and trailhead. Milkweed is vital to Monarch butterfly repopulation because caterpillars, the beginning life phase of a butterfly, can only consume the plant. Leading out into the field, the butterfly-friendly nectar plants and small paths will be in a much larger area spanning 35 by 40 feet. Gravel paths will provide the butterflies with nutrients from the soil as well as seeps, or small pockets in the earth, that will fill with water for them to hydrate. With Cambridge Elementary School nearby, members of the Alamo Heights-Terrell Hills Garden Club hope the butterfly refuge will enlighten children for years to come. “This garden will be like an ecosystem. It will be for butterflies, but kids coming from Cambridge will learn that gardens are important to bees, lizards and birds. It’s a whole system,” Danysh said. “It really could be a broadening learning experience for kids to come and see what happens in a garden.” Landscape architects are scheduled to dig the plant bed and put in the irrigation system in February. The co-chairwomen

said they hope to start the planting process in March to catch the monarch butterfly migration headed north for the summer. While the butterfly garden will be just be getting started in the spring, Danysh said it should mature and grow to accommodate and rejuvenate the monarchs for their flight in the fall. “We’re very excited. It’s become multifaceted and it feels like it has lots of potential to build on,” Morrison said. Monarch butterflies’ native reproductive habitats in the Midwest have been changing over the past decades due to shifts in agricultural practices, said Morrison and Danysh. In order to help the population flourish once more and fulfill the requirement of creating a conservation project because of their club’s affiliation with the Garden Club of America, they decided to collaborate. The Alamo Heights-Terrell Hills Garden Club was founded in 1932 and joined the Garden Club of America in 1978. Information about creating a butterfly garden was on a disc put together by the Garden Club of America, celebrating 100 years. That helped the project take flight. “We had already decided on it, but this made us more excited about it because we were able to visualize the possibilities of what it could be,” Morrison said.

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xpect the unexpected on the King William Association Tour of Historic Homes. Surprising things often seem to happen, according to 2014 co-chairwomen Jessie Simpson and Anne Alexander, who’ve been involved with the event for years.

This year’s tour is set for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 6 and will include five homes and two museums in one of San Antonio’s oldest neighborhoods, which dates to the 1800s, according to association officials. Recalling those earlier surprises, Simpson remembered a tour in the 1970s when a sudden storm hit just as visitors were ready to go out her door. The crowd had to rush back in the house and wait nervously until the pelting rain and howling wind died down. “It was a really frightful storm and quite a challenge to keep everybody calm and happy,” she said.

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Alexander recalled an even greater challenge: The day a home on the tour was locked up tighter than Fort Knox and the owners couldn’t be found. “We finally got inside and what a mess— even dirty laundry on the floor,” Alexander said. But to their credit, KWA committee members kept their cool, turned into a mop-and-broom brigade and made the place so pristine before guests arrived that it deserved an award for good housekeeping. Such colorful (and occasionally scary) incidents have added their share of drama over the decades to the KWA tour, generally thought to be the granddaddy of all San Antonio neighborhood home shows. As for this year—well, who knows what will happen? “We’re ready to go with the flow and roll with the punches if necessary,” Alexander said. Whatever occurs on Dec. 6, one thing’s for sure: The event will make history. It’s a firsttime presentation on a biennial basis, having been yearly before. Also for the first time, no one will need to worry about weary feet from all the walking. Pedicabs will be available to transport ticket-holders from site to site. Five King William residences and the two museums, Villa Finale and the Steves

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SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM HOME TOUR continues from pg. 20 Homestead, will open their doors to the public. For the price of a ticket, you’ll also get a tour-day discount at restaurants in the area. Home-baked cookies, stirred up by KWA volunteers, will be waiting at Villa Finale to provide a tasty snack and touring energy. It has taken plenty of energy to organize the event. The search for willing homeowners started months ago, as did the recruiting of volunteers to sell tickets, keep things running smoothly and act as home guides. More than a hundred are volunteering their services to make the day successful. Most are association members and neighborhood residents, but tour fans from other areas in the city are stepping in as well to help out. “We’ll need three shifts of volunteers on tour day, so additional help with coordination is a blessing,” Simpson said. Coordination is a hard job and getting harder all the time because association members are busier by the day with community concerns and preservation projects. Chief among the KWA’s activities, of course, is the King William Fair, held each spring in conjunction with Fiesta. The fair has grown at a phenomenal rate, noted Nora L. Peterson, who’s

The home of Len Ambrosio and Tim Ziegel at 242 King William St. will be featured on the King William Association Tour of Historic Homes Dec. 6, an event that showcases five residences and two museums in the historic district. Photo by Rudy B. Ornelas

in charge of KWA publicity. The fair dominates April and the other — the home tour — is the first week in December. The tour has undergone many changes, Peterson said. Apparently at one time it was held twice a year. Once, a quilt show was included. A visit to “secret gardens” within the district was among special attractions, and a real favorite was an evening tour and candlelight journey though the historic district, which must have been magical with mansions and cottages aglow. Most folks say the event started in the early ‘70s. Regardless, the tour of historic homes is a long-treasured San Antonio

tradition in which KWA members take pride. The group also is proud of being founded in 1967, with the mission of preserving and maintaining Texas’ first historical district. Unlike some newer residential areas, the district includes a real hodgepodge of dwellings, according to Alexander. She believes this juxtaposition, which runs the gamut from Italianate to art deco, is key to the neighborhood’s charm. “No cookie-cutter similarity here,” she said. “Every place has a distinctive personality.” The 2014 tour will capitalize on that architectural diversity by featuring small to king-size structures. A sampling: the

Wolff House, a Victorian-style mansion on Cedar Street built in1891 for pioneering San Antonio businessman Abraham A. Wolff; and the Tarleton House on Madison Street, a folk-Victorian cottage constructed in 1880-83 and purchased for a mere $1,630 in 1885 by Leo Tarleton, an attorney — showing how home prices have changed. Perhaps the most elaborate structures on the tour are on King William Street, often referred to as the heart of the district. Residents at 242 King William plan to greet guests in merry Christmas fashion by having their home festooned with seasonal décor. Simpson and Alexander have encouraged this holiday effort among tour homeowners and feel that seeing the way others decorate will inspire folks in the crowd with ideas for their own residences. The tour also will provide a trip to yesterday by spotlighting San Antonio’s version of the Victorian era, the co-chairs said. But expect surprises. Like, for instance, a contemporary artist’s residence/studio. Not your granny’s Victoriana at all. Advance-sale tickets for the tour are $15 per person and available through the King William website shopping cart at www. kingwilliamassociation.org or at Villa Finale, 401 King William St. On tour day, tickets are $20 and available at 120 Cedar St. and Villa Finale. For more, call 227-8786.

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DRIVE-THRU continues from pg. 14 In a related matter, the city’s Architectural Review Board is still waiting to hear back from representatives with CVS regarding drawings and plans for a possible new retail store that would most likely have a drive-thru pharmacy. If approved by the ARB, the plans will eventually go to the council for a final review and authorization.

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Young actress says AHHS supported her by CAROLE MILLER

LAMO HEIGHTS — Screenwriter, composer, producer and Alamo Heights dad David Kauffman said his first motion picture — “The One I Wrote for You” — wasn’t made on a big Hollywood budget and Los Angeles dollars. It was created with love, Kauffman said. “I hope my neighbors love the movie, spread the word and it mushrooms around the country,” Kauffman added. “It’s for anyone who ever wanted to go after something and got stopped by practical life. I want to inspire them.” The cast of the movie, which was filmed entirely in San Antonio last November, includes veteran actor Christopher Lloyd of “Back to the Future” and “Taxi” fame;

Kevin Pollak, with “A Few Good Men” and “The Usual Suspects” among his credits; and Christine Woods of “The Walking Dead.” Daughter Cameron Kauffman, a 2014 Alamo Heights High School graduate, also has a part in the production, but dad said she got that on her own. The film premiered Dec. 2 at The Palladium Theatre and will be released in 13 other Texas cities Dec. 6. The movie is Kauffman’s first. He hopes his neighbors, as well as anyone else who sees the uplifting yet cautionary tale, will walk away with “a small nugget of joy.” He wrote the screenplay, composed all the music and was the film’s executive producer. Set in San Antonio, it tells the story of a former songwriter who gave up his musical dreams for his family. His daughter enters him in a reality show for songwriters and he takes on a competitive, win-at-all-costs attitude even if it means losing himself along the way. In real life, Kauffman left a lucrative career in real estate and banking to follow his passion for music. After he had served as a composer for his church choir as well as selling records and sheet

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SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM younger Kauffman said. “I spoke to Dr. (Linda) Foster, the principal, and she sent each of my teachers an email, explained her plan to support me in any way and asked them to do the same. They all bent over backward to work with me being both in the film and a student at the same time. I’m not sure many high schools would have done that.” She described Lloyd as a “gentle soul” who is thoughtful and quiet. Unlike his famous eccentric professor character Emmett “Doc” Brown from the “Back to the Future” trilogy, he is, apparently, quite grandfatherly, wise and “chilled out.” And working with Pollak, who broke out of his comedy roots to take on this dramatic role, was enlightening for the teen. “Kevin gave me a pretty in-depth

JOY continues from pg. 22 music, his wife, Missy, came home one day and said, “You love movies, so I signed you up for a screenwriting class.” And a screenwriter was born. Originally from St. Louis, Kauffman made his way to Texas and spent his undergraduate years at St. Mary’s University. He and Missy put down roots in Alamo Heights — otherwise known as ’09 in a nod to the area’s 78209 ZIP code — where they have raised their daughters, Mia, 13, and Cameron, 18. “I’ve been an ’09er since the late ’80s,” he said. “Alamo Heights feels like a real neighborhood. It’s got great schools, beautiful trees. It’s close to everything and is a really nice place to live.” Cameron, who is now a freshman at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, is in the movie. But David Kauffman insists there was no nepotism. “Cameron asked if she could have a role in the film,” he said. “She got her own audition without my help and when she did, I left the room. The director called me later and said, ‘I’m going to give her a shot.’ It was all her.” “When I was cast in the movie, I knew I would have to miss a lot of school,” the

KAUFFMAN

acting lesson on the tour bus one day and it turned out to be a great scene,” she said. “The rest of the cast and crew — who originally intimidated me in a big way — were equally as nice. I was afraid to be around all these experienced actors and artists when it was only my first film. But we functioned like a big family. When I needed help, someone was always there.” On working with her father, the young actress said it was “kind of a blast.” “I never really saw him on set. We always arrived at different times and whenever I got to set I went straight to hair and makeup,” she said. “But when we got home, we’d always end up sitting and talking about the whole day for a long time. It was so fun for both of us.” “I just love watching her,” said her father.

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Aerial Horizon takes flight at Blue Star by COLLETTE ORQUIZ

ancing on the sides of buildings and performing above tanks of whales and dolphins at SeaWorld San Antonio helped Julia Langenberg choreograph her next big act — creating Aerial Horizon, the city’s first aerial arts school. Langenberg, who has been an aerialist for the last 10 years, founded Aerial Horizon in 2009, but the business recently moved into the Blue Star Arts Complex at 108 Blue Star St. The business leases a portion of the space occupied by Brick Marketplace, and where the former Jump-Start Performance Co. had been for years. “I started teaching and collected

a big student body and then founded the company, and it’s expanded exponentially,” Langenberg said. “It’s slightly overwhelming at times.” Langenberg said anyone can take one of the Aerial Horizon classes, with many lasting six to eight weeks and ranging from beginner to advanced. Students can learn techniques using fabrics, trapeze, contortions, rope or hand balancing. The founder said learners travel to the school from Mexico, Oklahoma and across Texas to study aerial arts. “We have the most well-educated circus arts teachers and performers in the industry in San Antonio, so the quality of teaching that we’re able to offer is very unique, especially for Texas,” Langenberg said. In addition to the classes, Aerial Horizon is a performance company, with members participating in private and public events. Aerialists at the school have performed

Aerial Horizon members in the photo on the left Tara Smartnick (left), Josh Grohman and Jenny Franckowiak practice a fabrics sequence for the upcoming show 'Echo.' Marshall Jarreau (above) recently performed his routine on slings during First Friday. Photos by Collette Orquiz

at First Friday events, Luminaria, the San Antonio Zoo, the Alamodome, Artist Foundation of San Antonio and more. They are preparing for “Echo,” a performance at 8 p.m. Dec. 11, 12 and 13 featuring several aerial acrobats, live music, a lighting designer and other multimedia. Tickets are $20 for students, children and seniors, and $25 for general admission. The tickets can be

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purchased at echo.brownpapertickets.com. Langenberg said she has always wanted to have her own company. “People really recognize the high level of training that we offer here and the high level of artistry in our performances,” she said. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9:15 p.m. Monday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and closed Sunday.

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Finck Cigars opens third location on Broadway by OLIVIER J. BOURGOIN

ith two locations already in San Antonio, Finck Cigars has opened a third outlet at 3111 Broadway, with family members still running the homegrown business that started in 1893. Emily Finck, a fifth-generation member of the family, and her father, Bill Finck Jr., are the managing partners of the company. The younger Finck said “fabulous customer service” and a knowledgeable staff set their store apart from other humidors and cigar shops. “Everyone in our family smokes cigars,” she said. “I prefer mediumbodied cigars, myself.” Her grandfather, Bill Finck Sr., is still active in the business, specializing

in the manufacturing side. Next year, Emily Finck’s younger brother Steven will be joining the team after he graduates from Texas A&M University with a degree in general business studies. In 1963, the company moved its manufacturing operation to 414 Vera Cruz St. Now, all manufacturing is done outside of the country. “Because we have been in business for so long, we have established relationships with people in the cigar industry all over the world,” she said. “As a result, we are able to offer some quality private labels at great prices. We have over 40 homebrand items ranging from $2 to $5.” Some of those are Finck’s 1893 and Finck’s Puritanos, which are made in Condega, Nicaragua; Finck’s Commerce, which come from Honduras; and Finck’s Travis Club, which is the original brand and the one that made Finck a household

Finck Cigars, in business for more than a century, features 300 cigar brands and other smoking products at its new store, 3111 Broadway. Photo by Collette Orquiz

name in cigar circles. The Travis Club cigars are crafted in the Dominican Republic. The other two Finck Cigars locations are in Helotes and Loop 410 and West Avenue. The new store, which opened Oct. 20, covers 3,000 square feet and features more than 300 cigar brands and other smoking products and accessories. The building was previously home to a Vespa store and to a BMW dealership prior to that.

“We have the biggest walk-in humidor in Texas,” Finck said. Hours are 10 a.m to 8 p.m Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

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Mexican and Italian cuisine have found a home at Lupita’s Mexican Seafood Restaurant where customers can warm up with the Sopa de Mariscos (below), or seafood soup, and feel like they’re in Italy with the bucanti pasta with shrimp, mussels and octopus (left). Photos by Collette Orquiz

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Surf’s up at Lupita's, with Mexican seafood part of menu by OLIVIER J. BOURGOIN

new restaurant that recently opened near Fort Sam Houston promises to reel in diners with authentic Mexican seafood from the state of Guerrero, as well as some Italian dishes. Lupita’s Mexican Seafood Restaurant, 103 E. Carson St. in the Government Hill neighborhood, is a family affair, with many of the relatives having ties to Acapulco. “What we offer here is puro Guerrero,” said patriarch Filiberto “Fili” Torres, who has called San Antonio home for the past 15 years. “Authentic recipes from where we come — Acapulco, the Pacific Coast and the state of Guerrero. Thank God I have a great wife who helps me a lot.” Wife Maria de la Luz Torres assists in

the front of the house and “Tia” Teresa Barrera, who had years of experience with her own restaurant in Mexico, helps in the kitchen. And then there is 3-year-old Lupita, the couple’s youngest daughter and the person the restaurant is named after. “We toyed around with different names for the restaurant before we opened, but my Lupita was adamant that it should be named after her, so we relented,” Filiberto Torres said. The Alamo City is a breath of fresh air for his family, he added. “Before we moved here, we owned a couple of small shops in Acapulco where we sold souvenirs and trinkets, but things were starting to get really bad down there, so I brought my family over here,” Torres said. During his time in San Antonio, Torres learned his craft first as an

apprentice, then as a sous-chef in some of the best kitchens in town. He has worked at L’Etoile on Broadway with chef Thierry Burkle and chef Laurent Rea, who is now at the Fig Tree, as well chef Andrew Weissman at Il Sogno and chef Luca della Casa at Silo, Torres said. “Most of what I know, I learned

from (della Casa), especially the Italian recipes. I have a lot of respect for him.” Along with the more traditional Mexican fare such as tacos, guacamole and nachos, the restaurant features specialty dishes including Sopa de Mariscos and the Mojarra Frita (tilapia seasoned and lightly fried in a light sauce with onions, garlic, cilantro and serrano or jalapeño peppers) and con papas fritas y ensalada. Hours are 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

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