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THURSDAY, APRIL 11 30 Poems for the Tricentennial Poetry Reading | 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Culture Commons Gallery | 115 Plaza de Armas | 210.207.1436 stephanie.torres@sanantonio.gov

SUNDAY, APRIL 14 This City is a Poem | 2 p.m. Central Library, Latino Collection and Resource Room | 600 Soledad Street 210.207.9090 | Karen.sebesta@sanantonio.gov

Poets will read selected poems featured in this exhibition which combines poetry with graphic design to commemorate the more than 300 year history of San Antonio from the Pre-Columbian Era to the present day.

Follow This City is a Poem on Facebook for your daily prompts and then join us for an open mic reading of your resulting poems. This year, we especially encourage all female-identifying poets to come forward and present your unique voices, but all are welcome to read and to support those reading.

SATURDAY, APRIL 13 Writers Take a Walk along San Pedro Creek | 10 a.m .– 12 p.m. San Pedro Creek Culture Park | 715 Camaron Street dondon213@hotmail.com | www.spcculturepark.com Poets, writers, and journalists are invited to explore art and nature at the new San Pedro Creek Culture Park in downtown San Antonio. Participants will receive a guided tour of the park, including a sneak peek at the next segment of the project which is currently under construction. Light refreshments will be provided and prizes will be awarded for poems created during this free event. Bring your smart device or paper and pen and be ready to be inspired! For a full calendar of National Poetry Month events, visit www.GetCreativeSanAntonio.com.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24 SAY Sí Youth Open Mic Night | 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. SAY Sí | 1518 S. Alamo | 210.212.8666 | www.saysi.org SAY Sí welcomes all youth poets and performers to its Black Box Theatre for a special Open Mic Night. Hosted by the ALAS Youth Theatre Company, the evening will showcase featured poets and highlight the talents of San Antonio’s youth-artists. Performances include poetry, music, movement, and more! SUNDAY, APRIL 28 Stone in Stream’s Nature Writing Workshop and Annual Words for Birds Reading 12 – 3 p.m. | Mitchell Lake Audubon Center | 10750 Pleasanton Road 210.628.1639 | sbeesely@audubon.org Join us for the a Noon poetry workshop – Writing about Nature with Mobi Warren and Marisol Cortez (at Noon) followed by Words for Birds reading at 1:00 PM featuring readers: Mobi Warren, Jim LaVilla-Havelin, Kamala Platt, Laurel Bodinus, Jeanie sanders, and Marisol Cortez. TUESDAY, APRIL 30 Poets & Photographers Looking at Photographs | 6:30 p.m. San Antonio Museum of Art | 200 West Jones Ave. | www.samuseum.org A program in conjunction with the exhibition Capturing the Moment, poets and photographers respond to images in the exhibition. Poets include Natalia Trevino, Jenny Brown, and Jim LaVilla-Havelin; photographers include Carra Garza, Scott Martin, and Kathy Vargas.

sacurrent.com | April 10–23, 2019 | CURRENT 3

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CURRENT | April 10–23, 2019 | sacurrent.com

IMAGINE WHERE WE CAN GO. VIA has reimagined mobility in San Antonio and you’re part of the plan. We’re delivering a Better Bus System with Smart Transit Solutions while designing an Advanced Rapid Transit Network so the people you love can spend more time doing the things they love. Imagine that.

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in this issue San Antonio Current

Issue 19_08 /// April 10-23, 2019

35 Screens

Publisher: Michael Wagner Editor-in-Chief: Sanford Nowlin

Magical Mystery Tour

Editorial

Senior Editor: Bryan Rindfuss Food & Nightlife Editor: Lea Thompson Art Director: Carlos Aguilar Staff Writer: Chris Conde Digital Content Editor: Sarah Martinez Contributors: Ron Bechtol, Daniel Conrad, James Courtney, Callie Enlow, Jade Esteban Estrada, Dan R. Goddard, Lance Higdon, Steven G. Kellman, Hannah Lorence, Kiko Martínez, Kelly Merka Nelson, M. Solis, Gary Sweeney, Erin Winch Editorial Interns: Zach Alaniz, Clarence Beal, Louis Q. Iverson, Garrett McGinley, Lori Salazar, Travis Snyder

Mary Magdalene is superior to the mainstream, faith-based schlock popular with Christians today

Loathing in La Mancha The Man Who Killed Don Quixote is finally in the can, but director Terry Gilliam strikes out

Advertising

Account Manager: Mallory Jochen Account Executives: April Miller, Roger Macias Digital Sales Specialist: Mike Valdelamar

39 Food

Marketing and Events

Get It While You Can

Marketing and Events Director: Cassandra Yardeni Events Manager: Chelsea Bourque Event Coordinator: Mallory Jochen Marketing and Events Interns: Hallie Colbert, Victor Rodriguez

Taco Fest offers one of the final opportunities to party at historic La Villita, for a while anyway

Creative Services

Creative Services Manager: Tina Corbeil Graphic Designer: Samantha Serna Graphic Design Interns: Pedro Macias, Michelle Moreno, Noemi Solis, McKenzie Stewart

Self-Medicating at Medical Center Dives

Circulation

Circulation Manager: Justin Giles

Business

Business Support Specialist: Samantha Lopez

Euclid Media Group

Chief Executive Officer: Andrew Zelman Chief Operating Officers: Chris Keating, Michael Wagner VP of Digital Services: Stacy Volhein Creative Director: Tom Carlson Digital Operations Coordinator: Jaime Monzon Senior Marketing and Events Director: Cassandra Yardeni Director of Digital Sales: Fran DiCarlo www.euclidmediagroup.com National Advertising: Voice Media Group (888) 278-9866, vmgadvertising.com San Antonio Current 915 Dallas San Antonio, Texas 78215 sacurrent.com Editorial: (210) 227-0044 / Fax - (210) 227-7755 Display Advertising: (210) 227-0044 Fax: (210) 227-7733 Classified: (210) 227-CLAS / Fax - (210) 227-7733 The San Antonio Current is published by Euclid Media Group Verified Audit Member San Antonio Distribution – The Current is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. Get listed 1. Visit sacurrent.com 2. Click “Calendar” and then “Submit an Event” 3. Follow the steps to submit your event details Please allow 48 hours for review and approval. Event submissions are not accepted by phone. Copyright: The entire contents of the San Antonio Current are copyright 2019 by Euclid Media Group LLC. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Publisher does not assume any liability for unsolicited manuscripts, materials, or other content. Any submission must include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. All editorial, advertising, and business correspondence should be mailed to the address listed above. Subscriptions: Additional copies or back issues may be purchased at the Current offices for $1. Six-month domestic subscriptions may be purchased for $75; one-year subscriptions for $125.

Alamo Medals

23 Feature

We highlight key players beyind the look and feel of this year’s celebration BY B R YA N R I N D F U S S

Mayor Ron Nirenberg: Good to the Last Punch LGBTQ Advocates Take Aim at Senate Bill 17 as It Moves to the Texas House Civil Rights Groups Warn Texas Senate Bill Could Send People to Jail for Mistakes on Voter Applications Farewell, Tito

Death of entrepreneur and activist creates moment of reflection for local cyclists

12 Calendar

Party Tunes Five standout musical performances worth catching this Fiesta

Focus on Fiesta

07 News

49 Music Que Rico!

Taco Fest 2.0 lineup looks even better than the first

Music Top Picks

23 Arts

Medalhead

66 Etc

Savage Love, Crossword Puzzle, Astrology, This Modern World

Graphic designer Will Templin puts an unexpected spin on Fiesta icons

Queens of the Galaxy The Witte’s chief curator sheds light on the museum’s new time-capsule exhibition ‘Blast from the Past: Fiesta 1969’

Old Traditions in a New Light Street artists Shek and Soupé put a street-smart spin on Fiesta

Forget April Showers: Winter Is Here ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ art show hits Brick just in time for the final season of Game of Thrones

On The Cover: This week’s illustration and design by Samantha Serna.

Our top picks for the week sacurrent.com | April 10–23, 2019 | CURRENT

come early. stay late. wear medals.

10 am - 2 pm

2 pm - 9 pm

SAT. APRil 20, 2019 #livebrooks

CURRENT | April 10â€“23, 2019 | sacurrent.com

The Greenline 2532 Sidney Brooks

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GLITTER POLITICAL

Mayor Ron Nirenberg: Good to the Last Punch BY JADE ESTEBAN ESTRADA

n a quiet Tuesday afternoon, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg is sitting alone at a window table at Tito’s Restaurant in Southtown, typing into his phone. As I walk toward him, I muse on the time our paths crossed in 2013. We were both guests on Chris Duel’s Internet show Talk Now SA, and Nirenberg was running for the District 8 council seat. Nirenberg’s wife, Erika Prosper, was also on the show. Her vibrant, energetic support of her husband’s political aspirations still echoes in my mind. Now, Nirenberg — who turns 42 on April 11 — is campaigning for a second mayoral term against an unusually formidable opponent, District 6 Councilman Greg Brockhouse. As my first-time interview with Nirenberg unfolds, he shares his vision of San Antonio becoming one of the world’s great cities by the end of the century. Key to that ambition are the proactive efforts he’s leading to build a modern transportation system, create affordable housing and address climate change. Tempesting above all this, however, is the present business of staying in power. It was only two years ago that Nirenberg defeated then-incumbent mayor Ivy Taylor in a runoff election. Since then, he’s molded a political brand as an international ambassador. And it’s perhaps this globalist sensibility that galls his detractors, who have slapped him with labels like “liberal” and “progres-

sive,” terms weaponized under Donald J. Trump’s nationalist administration. Nirenberg, however, maintains that he isn’t affiliated with any political party. As an advocate of “equity and progress,” Nirenberg finds it unfortunate that some consider human rights a progressive issue. The mayor holds to the biblical philosophy of “I am my brother’s keeper” and says he considers human rights one of his “non-negotiables.” In his characteristically calm manner, he takes a drink of his Topo Chico and shares advice about health, exercise and eating in moderation. “I’m a firm believer in a mind-body-spirit balance,” says Nirenberg, who was recently voted one of the Top Ten Fittest Mayors in America by the blog Health Fitness Revolution. I ask if his eclectic background — he was born in Boston, raised in a multicultural Austin household and comes from an interfaith family — helps him in his mayoral role. “I think it absolutely does,” Nirenberg says, speaking in low, rhythmically measured tones. “It’s helpful to have perspectives that go beyond just one experience of life.” He adds that his world view is driven by a desire to lead with compassion. “In order for us to live a healthier life in a more peaceful world, it requires all of us to understand people who don’t look like us, don’t believe like us, don’t come from the same experience as us,” he says. “That’s

news

Jade Esteban Estrada

why I’ve always been led by a motto of ‘be a better neighbor.’ I have an abiding belief that the more people get out of their comfort zone, walk across the street, know their neighbors, the more we will begin to understand that there are many different challenges that people have.” I inquire how he explains what he does to his son, Jonah. “Jonah often explains it to me,” he says. “Every time I’d come home from work as a city councilman, he’d ask me, `Did you make the world better?’ It’s wonderful to hear that, because that’s the best performance review anyone can give an elected official.” What’s the best advice he’s ever received? “Clean your bathroom.” When I ask Nirenberg if that’s a metaphor he replies, “No, it’s quite literal. You’re gonna laugh. So, it took me a little while to convince Erika to date me, but what hooked her [was] when she came over to my apartment after dinner, and she inspected my bathroom.” Because his mother always told him to keep up with this particular household chore, Prosper found the area spotless. “The rest is history, I guess.” I ask the mayor what he feels he’s learned about politics from Brockhouse, and for a moment, he gives no answer. “Greg who?” he finally asks. After a pause, I tell him what District 8 Councilman Manny Pelaez recently told me: “Sometimes, I wish our mayor would punch back. I worry that Ron showed up with great arguments to a knife fight.” “Well, the proof is in the pudding, right?” Nirenberg replies. “My job as mayor is not to pummel people, but to build consensus and continue to unify the vision of the city to move our community forward in some significant ways.” He looks at his drink thoughtfully. “There’s a lost art of compromise and consensus building in politics,” he says. It’s about who has the most people on their side, when it should be about let’s get the community together and unify our vision for the future.” Nirenberg cites former mayor Julián Castro’s SA2020 plan as the kind of success that can be achieved through building consensus. Before leaving the topic, Nirenberg adds, “I don’t punch first, I don’t punch often but I punch last.” During his time in office, he’s learned that with progress comes friction. “I don’t fear conflict,” he says. “Through conflict is how you build resolve and how you accomplish great things.” Several weeks later, I’m photographing Nirenberg at the Spanish Governor’s Palace. He tells me he’d been thinking about my question regarding the political lessons he’s gleaned from Brockhouse. “I’ve learned that the truth doesn’t matter,” he says introspectively. In the world of politics, punching last may very well be the other golden rule.

Find more newsmore coverage Find news every day at sacurrent.com

100 Artists, Food, Beer & Wine and Music For more information go to our website

http://wimberleyartsfest.com SA Current_MS_Primer Sabado_May.pdf 6 4/8/19 9:25 AM

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CELEBRATING CINCO DE MAYO

MAY 3-5 | 12PM-9PM

CURRENT | April 10â€“23, 2019 | sacurrent.com

news

Sanford Nowlin

Texas Welcomes All/Facebook

LGBTQ Advocates Take Aim at Senate Bill 17 as It Moves to the Texas House BY SANFORD NOWLIN

ith the Texas Senate’s approval last week of a bill that civil rights groups call “a license to discriminate” against LGBTQ people, opponents are now aiming to stop the measure in the state’s House of Representatives. Senate Bill 17 would allow licensed professionals such as doctors, therapists and lawyers to deny services based on their religious beliefs. It requires one more Senate vote before moving to the House. “We’re confident the House will work with us to ensure no discriminatory legislation will pass this session,” said Angela Hale, executive director of Texas Welcomes All, a group of employers, chambers of commerce and visitors’ bureaus opposed to the bill. “Our coalition believes this legislation is bad for business, bad for the brand and bad for our state.” In an open letter to lawmakers, business powerhouses including Apple, Google and Rackspace warned that permitting discrimination against LGBTQ communities would harm the state’s economy. The San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the San Antonio LGBT Chamber of Commerce and Visit San

Antonio also backed the letter. Nonetheless, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who presides over the Senate, has tagged the measure as one of his top 30 legislative priorities and has continued to defend it in the face of criticism from business interests. However, the bill is likely to face longer odds in the House, experts say. House Speaker Dennis Bonnen signaled at the beginning of this session that he was focused on school finance and property tax reform, adding that he would be “very discouraged” by legislation that distracts from those priorities. During the last legislative session, a coalition of business groups and civil rights advocates successfully routed the divisive Bathroom Bill championed by Patrick, said Cal Jillson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University. That proposal would have restricted transgender Texans’ access to public restroom facilities. “We’ll see how energized the business community becomes this time,” Jillson said. “This bill is less direct and obvious than the Bathroom Bill, but there’s still cause for people to be concerned about what it means for the state.”

Civil Rights Groups Warn Texas Senate Bill Could Send People to Jail for Mistakes on Voter Applications BY SANFORD NOWLIN

fter a federal judge blocked the gaffe-ridden voter purge launched by Texas’ Republican Secretary of State David Whitley, you’d think the GOP would throttle back its apparent obsession with voter fraud in the state. Nope. Instead, Republicans are gunning ahead with Texas Senate Bill 9, a proposal critics charge would scare residents away from the polls by making it a state jail felony to provide incorrect information on a voter application. Currently, that’s a Class B misdemeanor. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, has defended the steeply increased penalty, saying it gives prosecutors a bigger stick to go after fraudsters. But, in a letter to Hughes, voting rights advocates including MOVE Texas and the Texas Civil Rights Project warned that the legislation would make voting more difficult for thousands of Texans “by spreading fear that people may be thrown in jail for honest mistakes while trying to vote.” Compounding that concern, Texas has a long history of using erroneous claims of voter fraud to keep likely Democratic voters away from the polls. The state now faces a U.S. House investigation and several lawsuits over Whitley’s bungled purge, which included the incorrect claim that 95,000 non-citizens may be registered to vote in the state. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has flagged SB 9 as one of 30 priority bills he wants to push through before the end of the legislative session. sacurrent.com | April 10–23, 2019 | CURRENT

ENJOY

FREE MOVIES AT THE MARQUEE 2019

BRING THE ENTIRE FAMILY FOR FREE MOVIES UNDER THE SAN ANTONIO NIGHT SKY. LOAD UP YOUR BLANKETS & SNACKS, OR CHECK OUT OUR ONSITE FOOD TRUCKS. Venue opens at 7:00p.m. and movies will begin 15 min past dusk.

MAY 03 CLOAK & DAGGER

MAY 04 RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET

PG | 1h 41min | 1984

MAY

MARY POPPINS RETURNS

AQUAMAN

PG | 1h 51min | 2018

PG | 2h 10min | 2018

JUN 20

JUL

SPIDER MAN: INTO THE SPIDER VERSE

PG | 2h 6min | 1984

AUG

PG | 1h 57min | 2018

CAPTAIN MARVEL

SEP DUMBO

PG-13 | 2h 4min | 2019

JUL

SEP

BUMBLEBEE

NOV 02 COCO

PG-13 | 1h 54min | 2018

DOUBLE FEATURE PG | 1h 43min/1h 37min 1990/2003

LIVE ACTION

3100 Roosevelt Ave, San Antonio Texas, 78214 (210) 207-3905 | missionmarquee.com #missionmarqueeplaza 10

CURRENT | April 10–23, 2019 | sacurrent.com

ANT MAN AND THE WASP

PG | 1h 37min | 2018

PG-13 | 1h 58min | 2018

AUG 03

PG | 1h 47min | 2019

AUG

GREASE

PG-13 | 1h 50min | 1978

OCT 05

OCT

THE GOONIES

PG | 2h 9min | 2015

NOV 16

HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3:

MCFARLAND, USA

PG-13 | 1h 42min | 2014

HOME ALONE & ELF

PG | 1h 45min | 2017

CESAR CHAVEZ

PG | 1h 32min | 2006

JUN

THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART

PG-13 | 2h 14min | 2018

OCT

SEP

JUN

SUMMER VACATION

BLACK PANTHER

NACHO LIBRE

PG | 2h 10min | 2019

PRETTY IN PINK

PG-13 | 1h 37min | 1986

PG-13 | 2h 23min | 2018

THE KARATE KID

MAY

PG | 1h 54min | 1985

, F ANIMATED 7 SPECIAL EVENT Å CLASSIC

news

Farewell, Tito

Death of entrepreneur and activist creates moment of reflection for local cyclists BY CHRIS CONDE AND LEA THOMPSON

he death of a cyclist, especially one struck by a motorist, has become an all-too-common story in San Antonio lately. But with the death of Tito Bradshaw, who was fatally injured last week by a suspected drunk driver, the sting was even worse. Many viewed the 35-year-old entrepreneur and activist as one of the pillars of the local cycling community. Bradshaw owned the now-closed Bottom Bracket Social Club, a nearWest Side bar that became a haven for cyclists, hipsters and anyone looking for a cold Lone Star. He also led the Downtown Highlife Bicycle Club’s popular monthly rides and was a fixture on numerous other rides. “If you [knew] Tito’s charisma, you [would understand why] he just flourished in this downtown cycling scene and brought everyone with him,” said Clayton Baines, one of Bradshaw’s business partners and close friends. “It used to be like 10 of us riding around on fixed gears 10 years ago. Now there’s thousands.” In the days since his death, local businesses have held fundraising events to aid Bradshaw’s family, and artists have begun designing murals and installations in his memory. Hundreds have also paid their respects at candlelight vigils and memorials near the accident site at 1900 E. Houston Street. Photos and stories about Bradshaw have since flooded social media and a GoFundMe account at press time had raised $36,600 at press time to help his family cover medical and funeral expenses. Though he was pronounced braindead on Monday, Bradshaw, a registered organ donor, helped donate essential organs to at least five recipients. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg even weighed in on the loss, tweeting, “Rest In Peace, Tito. Your body may be gone but your spirit will remain in our

Julián P. Ledezma

community forever. Our work will be in your memory.” Bradshaw moved to San Antonio after graduating from high school in Copperas Cove, just outside of Killeen. In addition to his involvement with local cycling groups, he helped open and worked at high-profile Alamo City dining and drinking establishments, including Maverick Texas Brasserie, Botika and Paramour. Bradshaw, who had a young son named Valentino, also planned to get back into the business by opening a coffee and bike shop later this year. Social media posts following Bradshaw’s death called for safer streets and more efforts to keep drunk drivers off the road. A petition started by the group Bike San Antonio asks the city to install a bike lane dedicated to Bradshaw’s memory on East Houston Street. “This tragedy could have easily been prevented if the city installed bike lanes on [East] Houston instead of an unnecessary center turn lane,” the petition reads. “Tito’s work and legacy is going to live on through each and every one of us that he touched,” Baines said. “He will remain a staple in this city, and the work we do from here on will be for him.”

Above: Members of San Antonio’s cycling community remember Tito Bradshaw at a recent memorial service for the local activist and entrepreneur. Courtesy of Clayton Baines

Courtesy of Clayton Baines

sacurrent.com | April 10–23, 2019 | CURRENT

calendar of events, we’ve highlighted just a few exciting events here just to whet your appetite.

WED | 4/10 SPORTS

SPURS VS. MAVS 5

The San Antonio Spurs close out another unpredictable regular season campaign on Wednesday night against a familiar foe in Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks. Nowitzki recently reclaimed the sixth spot on the NBA’s alltime scoring list, passing the legendary Wilt Chamberlain’s 31,419 points, after being passed by LeBron James back in October. After an unofficial farewell tour in arenas across the league, Nowitzki is expected to retire after this season, his 20th. Although, with the recent additions of Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis, Nowitzki has hinted that he may not be ready to hang up his sneakers. For Coach Popovich and the Spurs, maintaining a healthy roster for the impending playoff run is top priority. Unless playoff seeding is at stake, expect plenty of minutes from Patty Mills and his “United Nations of Ball Movements.” $111-$2,500, 7pm Wed, AT&T Center, One AT&T Center Pkwy., (210) 444-5000, attcenter.com. — M. Solis

PEN TO PAPER: POESIA BILINGUE

Spurs Sports and Entertainment

cate, often in the very same line. But what it seems Sandburg is really getting at is that poetry, the reading and the writing of it, is how humans cope with our exile from our own selves, how we cope with our longings, how we cope with our experiences of otherness. Seen in that light, we can appreciate the unique value that poetry can bring to life in any era — but, perhaps, especially our contemporary one. As April rolls along and we steel ourselves for another bout of Fiesta, National Poetry Month is also in full bloom. As in any city with a robust poetry community, there are plenty of opportunities to celebrate poetry any given week in San Antonio. But National Poetry Month is something special — so naturally there’s a massive onslaught of local poetry events to go along with the larger celebration. While we encourage you to visit getcreativesanantonio.com for the extensive National Poetry Month San Antonio

For this special event that celebrates poetry of the bilingual variety, San Antonio Poet Laureate Octavio Quintanilla will read alongside several other poets. In addition to experiencing the readings, attendees will get the opportunity to explore the San Antonio Poetry Archives, a project of former SA Poet Laureate Laurie Ann Guerrero. Free, 6-8pm Wed, Palo Alto College, Ozuna Library, 1400 W. Villaret Blvd.

30 POEMS FOR THE TRICENTENNIAL READING

Poets were invited, during last year’s Tricentennial celebrations, to submit a poem that fit thematically with one of the following timeframes: the Pre-Columbian era or Yanaguana (prior to 1718), the Spanish Colonial period (1718-1809), Mexican era (1810-1836), Texas Nation era (1836-1846), San Antonio: Crossroads City (1846-1946), and Modern Times (1947-2017). From those submissions, 30 poems were selected, and then local artists were chosen to provide visual interpretations. At this reading, a handful of the featured poets will read their works. Free, 6:30-

8:30pm Thu, Culture Commons Gallery, 115 Plaza de Armas.

VOCES CÓSMICAS POETRY READING

Voces Cósmicas, a talented and diverse group of local poets, will present a special National Poetry Month reading that takes as its thematic focus the idea of memes and their application to poetry. So, whether you’re already a poetry lover or simply can’t get enough meme culture in your life, this should be an interesting experiment in the confluence of divergent cultural forms. Free, 2-3:30pm Sat, Collins Garden Library, 200 N. Park Blvd. — JC

THU | 4/11 COMEDY

NIMESH PATEL L Courtesy of Octavio Quintanilla

WED | 4/10 SAT | 4/13

WED | 4/10

WORDS

NATIONAL POETRY MONTH HIGHLIGHTS L

In the beginning of his epic poem Good Morning America, Carl Sandburg offers up 38 brilliant and gloriously confounding definitions for poetry. One that strikes me as particularly relevant at the moment is this: “Poetry is the journal of a sea animal living on land, wanting to fly the air.” Poetry is, indeed, an odd art form that can just as easily clarify as obfus-

MUSIC

PINK MARTINI

Courtesy of Pink Martini

Formed in 1994 by classically trained musician and Harvard graduate Thomas Lauderdale, Pink Martini is an internationally acclaimed outfit that masterfully fuses sounds from all over the world with classical, jazz and old-school American pop. While Pink Martini’s 10 studio albums are excellent for what they are, the band’s live show, as documented on the 2009 live DVD Discover the World, is truly a singular experience. One of the best things about the collective is its dedication to exploring and presenting various world cultures through the art of music. Pink Martini has recorded and performed music in more than 10 languages and stands as a mighty reminder of the fact that music, with its unending power to heal and unite, is one of our most powerful forms of communication. $34.50-$75, 7:30pm Wed, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle, tobincenter.org. — James Courtney

Indian-American stand-up comedian and Saturday Night Live writer Nimesh Patel was “angry” and “in shock” when he was forced off stage at Columbia University last November by students from the Asian American Alliance. In an op-ed he wrote for the New York Times after the incident, he explained he was asked to leave because event organizers decided his “material was offensive.” He then paraphrased the joke he believed was the reason for his early exit, a joke about how being gay can’t be a choice, especially if you’re also black. (“No one is doubling down on hardship. No black dude wakes up and thinks that being a black man in America is too easy.”) Former AAA president Isabelle Lee, however, explained that Patel wasn’t removed because of that particular joke, but

THU | 4/11 SPECIAL EVENT

WAIT WAIT… DON’T TELL ME! E

NPR’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! is a news quiz — sort of. Rather than delve into the hard-hitting stories usually covered on public radio, Wait Wait quizmasters dig up odds and oddities happening around the world to boggle the minds of panelists, listeners and guests alike. Host Peter Sagal posits queries to the panelists that range from appearances by the infamous Florida Man to contenders for the Darwin Awards (admittedly, sometimes these subjects overlap), while judge and scorekeeper Bill Curtis provides support by reading quotes for a listener contestant to identify as well as a series of limericks based on the week’s headlines which the contestant must finish to win Wait Wait’s coveted prize — a personalized voicemail recorded by Sagal, Curtis or one of the show’s rotating roster of panelists. A long-running show on Chicago’s WBEZ station, Wait Wait periodically tours the nation, and now wends its way down to San Antonio for a taste of what South Texas has to offer. The panelists and guest have not yet been announced, but here’s hoping that fan favorite Paula Poundstone is on deck to give one of her hysterical trademark rants. Previously sold out, a few

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Courtesy photo

because he had started “badgering a woman in the audience” by asking her “multiple inappropriate questions.” Whatever the truth behind Patel’s banishment from Columbia, we’re fairly certain his mic won’t be cut off at Laugh Out Loud — unless, of course, Patel, a self-described Lakers fan, says something disparaging about the Spurs right before the playoffs. $20-$30, 8pm Thu, Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club, 618 NW Loop 410, (210) 5418805, lolsanantonio.com. — Kiko Martinez

Courtesy of Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!

tickets have reappeared online, so if you want to attend, you’d better strike while the iron is hot! $66, 7:30pm Thu, Trinity University, Laurie Auditorium, One Trinity Pl., (210) 999-8119, ticketmaster.com. — KMN

FRI | 4/12 MUSIC

YO-YO MA z

Take a moment and imagine a solo cello playing a melody. Odds are, the notes that just cascaded through your mind comprise the famous arpeggiated opening of the Prelude of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Suite No. 1 in G major. Believe it or not, due to the technical difficulty of the Suites for Solo Cello, plus a lack of a clear interpretive mandate from Bach that stemmed from missing annotation in the surviving manuscripts, the suites were almost completely unknown until cellist Pablo Casals recorded them in the 1930s. Now, the Suites are considered some of the most important works in the instrument’s canon, if not the classical canon as a whole, beloved by music snobs and casual listeners alike. It is no surprise, then, that preeminent cellist Yo-Yo Ma holds the Suites near and dear to his heart, saying that they have granted him “sustenance, comfort and joy during times of stress, celebration and loss.” As part of a twoyear international initiative, Ma has partnered with ARTS San Antonio to give a special, solo performance of all six of the Suites in a single sitting, lending his virtuosity and subtle mu-

sicality to create a unique rendition of Bach’s baroque masterpieces. Predictably, the concert sold out almost immediately earlier this year, but if you really need a dose of some Bach in your life, ARTS San Antonio has made special arrangements to simulcast the performance at Mission Marquee Plaza (3100 Roosevelt Ave.) for free — just pop on over to their website to make a reservation. Sold Out, 8pm Fri, Trinity University, Laurie Auditorium, One Trinity Pl., (210) 226-2891, artssa.org. — KMN

Jason Bell

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Vixy Van Hellen (“the bare bottom of Bexar County”), Mary Annette (“the doll with with no strings attached”), Jasper St. James (“the big and tall that bares it all”), Elle Du Jour (“the contemporary tease”), Mustang Ryder (the rhinestone cowboy) and Austin-based special guest Chola Magnolia (“the baddest blossom from the barrio”). While the show’s first act comprises fully realized numbers set to hits by the likes of Pat Benatar, the Roots, Kumbia Kings, Josh Turner and Mojo Juju, the second act allows lucky audience members to help direct “wildcard” routines by selecting stage props and — more importantly — songs from an eclectic catalog spanning from contemporary pop to favorites from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. $25-$50, 8-10pm Fri, Sexology Institute, 707 S. St. Mary’s St., (210) 487-0371, sexologyinstitute.com. — Bryan Rindfuss

of autobiography alongside imaginative storytelling, explores faith, curanderismo and evolving cultural conceptions of sickness and wellness. The show, which finds Zamora working with local dramatist and Current contributor Jade Esteban Estrada as a creative consultant, features nine short vignettes and Zamora playing seven different characters. That makes for a fast-paced and thoroughly engrossing experience. Zamora has said of the play that she “began writing these stories to honor the experiences in [her] own life while also highlighting [her] beautiful culture.” $10, 8pm Fri-Sat, 3pm Sun, Gregg Barrios Theater at The Overtime, 5409 Bandera Rd., Suite 205, (210) 557-7562, theovertimetheater.org. — JC

FRI | 4/12 SUN | 4/14 TH EATER Pastie Pops

FRI | 4/12 BURLESQUE

FIESTA BURLESQUE AND VARIETY SHOW L While some of us are desperately seeking that perfect light jacket or top still

structured enough to support several dozen Fiesta medals, the bubbly and bodacious Pastie Pops are more excited about stripping it all off for their Fiesta Burlesque and Variety Show. Hosted by irreverent emcee Camille Toe (“the one you want to pick”), the seasonal showcase spotlights the diverse stylings of

FI LM

PHANTASM WITH DON COSCARELLI

Eight years before Clive Barker struck cult horror gold with Hellraiser’s Cenobites, Don Coscarelli’s Phantasm warped the minds of late ’70s moviegoers with its own, wholly unique villain — the Tall Man, an alien disguised as a mortician who raises the dead to serve his nefarious, extraterrestrial purposes. Brothers Jody and Mike team up with stoner ice cream-peddler Reggie to fight the Tall Man, but they face an uphill battle against his necromantic and shapeshifting powers, not to mention the periodic ﬂying chrome sphere of death that zips their way. Four decades and four sequels later, Coscarelli has cemented himself as an auteur of weird cinema and was an obvious choice to direct the 2012 film adaptation of David Wong’s Burroughsian novel John Dies at the End. To accompany the release of his memoir-cum-film treatise True Indie: Life and Death in Filmmaking, Coscarelli is coming to the Alamo Drafthouse for a special screening of the strange ﬂick that started it all, followed by a Q&A with the audience. You can nab a copy of the book with your ticket, and Coscarelli will be available to sign it after the show. $8.95$37.74, 7pm Thu, Alamo Drafthouse Park North, 610 N.W. Loop 410, (210) 677-8500, drafthouse.com. — Kelly Merka Nelson

CURANDERAS & CHOCOLATE: CUENTOS OF A LATINA LIFE 5

Just in time to remind us that celebrating and honoring our Mexican roots as a city requires more than confetti, Coronas and crass crowds, Patricia Zamora’s new play will make its San Antonio debut this weekend. Curanderas & Chocolate: Cuentos of a Latina Life is Zamora’s one-woman show that, through the use

THU | 4/11

New Breed Productions

CURRENT | April 10–23, 2019 | sacurrent.com

Art. Music. Cocktails. Fiesta!

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p.m. showtime to 7 p.m. that evening. $18-30, 7:30pm Fri-Sat, 3pm Sun through May 5, Woodlawn Theatre, 1920 Fredericksburg Rd., (210) 267-8388, woodlawntheatre.org. — KMN

SAT | 4/13 FILM

APRIL FOOL’S DAY p

FRI | 4/12 SUN | 4/21 TH EATER

IN THE HEIGHTS L

Before Lin-Manuel Miranda’s presidential hip-hop megahit Hamilton made him a household name, he spent the early aughts crafting a musical that struck much closer to home: In the Heights. Set in the storied Manhattan neighborhood of Washington Heights (just south of where Miranda grew up, in Inwood), In the Heights centers on bodega owner Usnavi de la Vega, who dreams of moving to his parents’ home country, the Dominican Republic. Over the course of only three days, Usnavi and his neighbors face a sea change — blossoming young love, dashed dreams of education, a winning lottery ticket and a neighborhood blackout cause conflicts to crystallize, but the community remains resilient even in the face of life-changing decisions. A Tony Award-winning hit, In the Heights has been optioned by Warner Bros. for a film set to premiere in 2020, with A Star Is Born’s Anthony Ramos starring as Usnavi. The Woodlawn Theatre’s production features Miguel Ochoa as Usnavi and Lisa Decker as his love interest, Vanessa. Due to the Easter holiday, the Woodlawn shifted its Sunday, April 21 performance from its usual 3

Local horror society the Esoteric Cult of Horror has teamed up with Video Dungeon Theatre for a new event series they’re dubbing Sabbath Cinema, which they describe as a “psychotronic-cinema cabaret.” Not content to merely screen cult hits and ride the wave of millennial nostalgia, Sabbath Cinema is a full-on variety show, “featuring musical guests, theatrical performances, a horror film and sundry other novelties and amusements” at each event. To kick off this month’s edition, Aileen Adler will drench Alamo City Studios in a science fiction soundscape with her Theremin stylings, followed by a screening of the 1986 prank-filled slasher April Fool’s Day. The screening is for members of the Esoteric Cult of Horror only, but all you need to do to be granted admission is join the group on meetup.com, then RSVP!

ABC Television

$10 suggested donation, 8pm Sat, Alamo City Studios, 1113 E. Houston St., (210) 255-1899, alamocitystudios.com.— KMN

FRI | 4/19 FIESTA

WEBB PARTY: ‘STAYIN’ ALIVE’ L From humble beginnings as an intimate backyard benefit launched in

Paramount Pictures

1990, the WEBB Party has grown into both a Fiesta favorite and the San Antonio AIDS Foundation’s biggest annual fundraiser. Nodding with its name to the collective strength referenced in the Ethiopian proverb “When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion,” the soiree mixes up flowing libations, cuisine samples, live entertainment, dance-floor favorites, costumed antics and unbeatable people watching — all in the name of supporting the nonprofit’s mission to “prevent the spread of HIV and provide comprehensive services to individuals affected by HIV/ AIDS.” Drawing stylistic cues from the fashion, fabulosity and unabashed freedom of the disco era, WEBB’s latest outing aims to reimagine the Aztec Theatre as “Studio 54 on steroids” — complete with male and female go-go dancers, an open bar, disco dance demos, Liza Minnelli and Andy Warhol impersonators, and performances by the Rey Lopez Entertainment Showgirls and American Idol’s favorite singing drag queen, Ada Vox (pictured). Borrowing its theme from the Bee Gees’ 1977 smash that set the tone for Saturday Night Fever, “Stayin’ Alive” goes beyond the dazzle of the disco ball to spotlight SAAF’s three decades of service as well as “medical and societal progress that have made it possible for HIV-positive people to live longer, healthier lives.” Pro-tip: keep your WEBB Party wristband on and take advantage of shuttle service and free admission to the after party at the Bonham Exchange (411 Bonham). $75-$175, 7-11pm Fri, Aztec Theatre, 104 N. St, Mary’s St., (210) 225-4715, sanantonioaids.org. — BR sacurrent.com | April 10–23, 2019 | CURRENT

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CHROMOSOME 18 Free 5K RUN/WALK

h s a D h s i f r a t S SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2019 - 8:30 AM UT Health - Behind Gold’s Gym 7431 Merton Minter - San Antonio, TX 78229

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THU | 4/18 SUN | 4/21 TH EATER

FREUD’S LAST SESSION L

Though they lived contemporaneously, C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud purportedly never met one another. However, in the late ’60s, Harvard professor Armand Nicholi began teaching a seminar called “The Question of God” using the two men’s divergent viewpoints on theology as a frame for the discussion of Christianity and secularism. These lectures struck a chord, eventually leading Nicholi to write a book on the subject. Playwright Mark St. Germain took Nicholi’s conceit to the next level, premiering the play Freud’s Last Session off Broadway in 2010. Drawing from Nicholi’s materials as well as the writings of Freud and Lewis, St. Germain imagines a poignant meeting between the two men on the cusp not only of Britain’s entry into World War II, but also of Freud’s demise. While this premise could have easily devolved into schlock, St. Germain’s deft handling of the subject matter has made for a popular production, which is a perfect, small-scale show for the Public’s Cellar Theater that will still leave audiences with a lot to think about. The Public’s production stars Wesley Deitrick as Sigmund Freud and John Stillwaggon as C.S. Lewis. $10-$35, 7:30pm Thu-Sat, 2pm Sun through May 12, the Public Theater of San Antonio, Cellar Theater, 800 W. Ashby Pl., (210) 733-7258, thepublicsa.org. — KMN

The Public Theater of San Antonio

SAT | 4/20 SUN | 4/21 FI ESTA

FIESTA ARTS FAIR p

The Fiesta Arts Fair, now in its 46th year, has been one of the best family-friendly Fiesta options for longer than most of the Current’s staff has been alive. Actually, the event, hosted by the Southwest School of Art, has become one of the most exciting Fiesta events in general. Fiesta Arts Fair offers a plethora of food and drink (including beer, wine and margaritas) from vendors like Corn Wheel, Steel City Pops, JD’s Chili Parlor, Alamo City Concessions and more. Art, of course, is at the center of the fair, and there will be opportunities for kids and adults to create arts and crafts, as well as opportunities to peruse and purchase works from more than 110 regional and national artists and artisans, including works in metal, ceramics, glass, painting, photography, textiles and jewelry. On the music side of things, the fair seems to improve each year. Among other acts, attendees will be treated to the San Anto rock sounds of Los #3 Dinners, the country and folk stylings of Bekah Kelso and the Fellas and the impossibly kinetic onslaught of Latin@ flavor that is Volcán. $12$15, 10am-6pm Sat, 11am-5pm Sun, Southwest School of Art, 300 Augusta St., (210) 200-8200, swschool.org/fiestaartsfair. — JC

Fiesta Arts Fair

CURRENT | April 10–23, 2019 | sacurrent.com

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SUN | 4/21 FI ESTA

A DAY IN OLD MEXICO & CHARREADA 5

For folks who find themselves already missing the rodeo and anyone interested in a closer look at its Spanish and Mexican roots, this Fiesta event, put on by the Asociación de Charros de San Antonio, is ideal. Preserving the deep traditions of the equestrian sport of charrería, still massively popular in Mexico, that developed around hacienda animal husbandry practices, charreadas are competitions and cultural capsules all at once. Aside from enjoying the main events of horse reining, bull riding and artistic roping, attendees at this event will be treated to thematically appropriate food and drink, pony rides for the little ones, ballet folklórico performances and live mariachi music. Amid all the glitz and glamor of Fiesta, this important event preserves, by use of traditional costumes and implements, the practices and identities of working-class Mexicans and Tejanos. $20, 3pm Sun, Charro Ranch, 6126 Padre Dr., (210) 920-5365, sacharros.org. — JC

TUE | 4/23 THU | 4/25 FI ESTA

FIESTA CORNYATION L

Since its unlikely birth at the Arneson River Theatre during A Night in Old San Antonio back in 1951 — when the first-ever King Anchovy ruled over the “Court of the Cracked Salad Bowl” — Cornyation has proven itself as many things: a riotous revue custom-craft-

A Day in Old Mexico & Charreada

ed for woke San Antonians, a mighty fundraiser for local HIV/AIDS charities, and an undeniable rite of passage during Fiesta. Chronicled by San Antonio-based author and professor Amy Stone in her 2017 book Cornyation: San Antonio’s Outrageous Fiesta Tradition, the tawdry spectacle has evolved from a straight-up spoof of the opulence and pageantry of the Coronation of the Queen of the Order of the Alamo to a more broadly informed affair that takes aim at local politics, national headlines and pop-culture phenomenons. Easily the black sheep of Fiesta, the FOMO-inducing fan favorite returns to test the limits of decency with six performances at the Empire Theatre. Stepping in to rule over the “Court of Tremendous Expectations” is King Anchovy LIV Mindy Miller Hill, Director of Destination Sales at JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. In addition to her impressive work raising funds for local charities, Hill is a longtime Cornyation skit volunteer. Co-emceed by the dynamic duo of Cornyation vets Elaine Wolff and Jesse Mata, the evening promises jabs at everything from shark theft to upcoming elections, not to mention special appearances by soul siren Alyson Alonzo and members of the vogue troupe House of Mizrahi. $15-$45, 7pm & 10pm Tue-Thu, Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, 225 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 226-3333, majesticempire.com. — BR

AUGUST 21

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2019 SAC

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SAC FIESTA BRUNCH WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2019

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arts

ong before April even rears its head, we often find ourselves searching for a unique, unpredictable way to write about Fiesta. And it’s anything but a piece of cake. After all, what hasn’t already been said about a beloved tradition that dates back to 1891? As sacred as our Spurs, Fiesta inspires pride, it lives up to its reputation as a charitable “party with a purpose,” and it unites all walks under a cloud of cascading confetti. On the surface, Fiesta might not seem to change all that much: the events and parades return, folks get dolled up in cheery garb, medals get traded, cascarones get cracked, beer gets sloshed. But once you start digging into Fiesta’s past and present, fascinating stories abound. In an attempt to highlight some of the folks shaping the look and feel of Fiesta 2019 from behind the scenes, we spoke to Will Templin, the funny, irreverent designer behind Alamo Medals; Amy Fulkerson, curator of the thoughtful, retro-fabulous Witte exhibition “Blast from the Past: Fiesta 1969”; and David “Shek” Vega and Nik Soupé, the street artists responsible for what’s arguably the hippest Fiesta poster ever.

Medalhead Graphic designer Will Templin puts an unexpected spin on Fiesta icons BY BRYAN RINDFUSS

f you’ve lived in San Antonio for any length of time, there’s a good chance you’ve attempted to explain the overarching concept of Fiesta to an out-oftowner. It’s no easy task. From the bizarre flower-pelting ceremony of 1891 that evolved into the Battle of Flowers Parade to the outrageous lampoonery of Cornyation, from the cascarones to the bedazzled chanclas, from the Coronation of the Queen of the Order of the Alamo to chicken on a stick, it’s an odd nut to crack without a certain level of Fiesta expertise. Oftentimes, especially for those who don’t want to dive too deeply into a discussion, Fiesta gets likened to a much older New Orleans tradition — Mardi Gras. Although the two celebrations are wildly different, there are parallels to be found in the peacocking, pageantry, partying and parades. And while they’ve got their Mardi Gras beads, we’ve got our Fiesta medals. Formed as a social group in 1926 and now operating as a charitable organization that supports local youth and honors the so-called “Alamo heroes,” the Texas Cavaliers are credited with developing the template for collectible Fiesta medals back in 1946, when their elected King Antonio XXIV Perry Shankle distributed commemorative coins at parades and other events. Although medals were created for Fiesta royalty and officials to wear over the years, they didn’t become publicly available accessories until 1971, when King Antonio XLIX Charles G. Orsinger took his coins to the next level by punching holes in them and threading them with colorful ribbons. In the following decades, an increasing number of organizations began riffing on the King Antonio medal and the trend officially blew up in the 1990s. Now inseparable from Fiesta as we know it, medals get traded, gifted and sold throughout the season, representing a vast

Courtesy of Alamo Medals

assortment of organizations, businesses, individuals and events. Some generate deserved buzz and sell like hotcakes until they’re all gone — such as attorney Rosie Gonzalez’s lotería-inspired medal depicting President Donald Trump as “El Pendejo.” While many benefit area charities, some are promotional in nature and others are nothing more than conversation pieces in the vein of costume jewelry. As they’re often worn in great quantities on jackets, shirts and sashes, the very sound of Fiesta medals clanging together is embedded in the social fabric of San Antonio. An Austin native who relocated to San Antonio after an extended stint in New Orleans and runs the graphic design company King William Design, artist Will Templin has developed a keen under-

standing of the Fiesta medal biz over the last few years. In 2015, while working as a graphic designer for Cornyation, he was tasked by ringleader Ray Chavez to create a Fiesta medal commemorating the raunchy spectacle’s 50th anniversary. Rather than drawing creative inspiration from the comedic or vulgar aspects of the Fiesta fan favorite, Templin went in a sophisticated, almost regal direction. “I looked at all these nautical pieces and that’s what I used as a template. I also thought of the Northern Star,” Templin told the Current. Nodding to Cornyation’s theatricality and perseverance with a banner reading “The Show Must Go On,” the design hearkens to the militaristic look of early Fiesta medals but also references the golden anniversary with the Roman numeral “L” inside of a red heart and containing the word “love.” A reverent design for a decidedly irreverent event that benefits local AIDS charities, that 25 6

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arts 6 23 initial medal exemplifies Templin’s fashionable aesthetic as well as his ability to put unexpected spins on traditional concepts and ideas. Building on that initial commission, Templin launched his upstart Alamo Medals that same year. Entering a niche playing field dominated by Monarch Trophy Studio (which is billed as “the largest awards store in Texas and one of the largest in the U.S.”) and other similar but smaller operations that offer a broad range of services, Alamo Medals echoes its name as a one-stop shop with a laser-sharp focus. “We do not engrave dog bowls,” Templin said with a playful jab at the competition. Aiming to stand out as “San Antonio’s premiere manufacturer of luxury Fiesta medals,” his homegrown outfit has amassed more than 6,000 Facebook followers and emerged as a go-to for folks who want personalized service and a finished product that goes beyond the expected. The fact that he charges a bit more than other outlets in town hasn’t kept him from building a solid, fairly artsy client list that includes FL!GHT Gallery, the Classic Theatre of San Antonio, NIOSA, Luminaria, Trinity University Press and a diverse array of individuals. Among those individuals is local realtor, fitness instructor and King William fixture John Barrera. “For many years, I went to Monarch,” Barrera told the Current over the phone. “Then Will stepped into the picture. I had heard about him through friends. He sold himself — and I was impressed.” Although the medals Barrera typically commissions are designed to promote his real estate business, he opted to venture in a more personal direction this year. “I used to have four dogs and now I’m down to one,” Barrera said. “So I thought about putting my dog on the medal with a crown. But I’ve also been on a hiatus from dating. I’ve been single for 10 years and I’ve been thinking about personal goals and am opening myself up to dating again. So 2019 is going to be my ‘Year of Love.’” After the pair tinkered with both of these concepts, Templin zeroed in on the “Year of Love,” representing Barrera with a crown-topped head peeking

out above a cape opening up into a heart shape inlaid with intricate patterns. The Templin twist in this case is a kitschy, zebra-printed ribbon. “[When I saw it], I said ‘Oh my gosh. This couldn’t be more perfect.’ The zebra ribbon, everything was all him,” Barrera said. “I even teared up a little bit and told him, ‘You hit the nail on the head.’ I never would’ve thought of putting a zebra ribbon on a medal. But it really goes well together.” Whether or not he’s working with that level of creative freedom, Templin works closely with clients on all the variables — from the shape and paint colors to rhinestones and glitter. Evidenced by Barrera’s zebra-striped surprise, the ribbon itself opens up another world of possibilities, as they can be silk-screened, computer printed or woven in traditional striped patterns (silver and gold metallic striping recently became a reality). Despite the seemingly endless possibilities, Templin admits that there are limitations, due in part to the relatively small size of the medals. “Organic things are hard,” he said. “Like portraits — those are difficult.” Once a design is approved and finalized, he sends a digital prototype to an overseas fabricator. Acknowledging the conundrum that the overwhelming majority of these hyperlocal keepsakes are produced in Asia and shipped back to eagerly awaiting customers in San Antonio, Templin lamented, “I wish we could say we have this really nice warehouse on the West Side.” From start to finish, the entire production process typically takes about five weeks,

uttering the word “shit” but Templin encourvia voice bubble. Upon ages clients to err on closer inspection, the the side of caution. design reveals the word “If people really need “lies” scrawled along the Fiesta medals they edge. “It’s both subtle and need to order them in not subtle,” Sauter said. the fall,” he said. “The Referencing the constant general price is about “stream of shit” that $800 for 250 medals, and squirts out of our presithat’s a good-sized medal, dent’s mouth, the medal was and that includes design. created as a companion piece to The price drops down at 500. a 2018 Cornyation skit Sauter It’s like anything — business cards, designed involving a pig-faced stickers, anything that’s Trump (presented mass-produced.” as the “Lord of the Templin estimates Lies”), flying turds he designed 130 Fiesta and a big, stinking medals this year, pile of poo that envelbut not all were for oped the stage. “If I hadn’t clients. In fact, some thrown all the costumes of his most elaborate and props away, I’d be and unique designs are doing it again this year,” Sauter said essentially Alamo Medals with a chuckle. Slightly less political, promos — including a rhinestone-enTemplin’s own design of a lotería-style crusted “Y’all” that dangles from a metallic gold-striped ribbon, a popular mermaid — complete with a swinging tail and fish scales printed on the rib“La Luna” that borrows from the visual bon — also ranks high on his list, partly vocabulary of lotería and a bejeweled because her bare breasts are apparently creation that reads “San Antonio realistic enough to trigger Facebook’s Forever.” Curiously, his censors. “Facebook won’t allow me to promotional designs are share them,” he said with an animated devoid of branding save sense of pride. for an Alamo Medals When it comes to how and why stamp on the back. When Fiesta medals get distributed, Templin asked about his favorites says that while many of the companies and greatest hits, Templin he works with sell them and donate cites some bigwigs: “The proceeds to charities, it’s rarely a NIOSA medals are really lucrative endeavor. nice. They have a locket “If they sell them to people and they which opens up and has only make like $5 [per medal], that a heart inside of it … The doesn’t really cover much. It’s like an [San Antonio] Missions artist covering their oil paints and medal is the one that has the canvas … My experience with it is: If most resonance with people. you sell them, you’re basically breaking They sell out in about three days. even.” Although he does sell online This is the third year [I’ve deand at events (such as the Alamo Fiesta signed their Fiesta medal].” Medals Market on April 10), Templin Distinguished by a slightly frequently gives medals away and likmischievous sense of humor, ens the exchange to gifting someone “a Templin’s equally proud of some little piece of art.” of the edgier designs in his portfolio. “It’s become a huge Designed by local marketing piece for artist Chris Sauter, companies,” he said. one of Alamo The Alamo Medals “I look at it as a much Medals’ most Fiesta Market bigger thing than provocative that. It’s a way that offerings Free people give to other depicts 5-10pm Wed, Apr. 10 people, in spirit. It’s a a large, Brick at Blue Star great gesture. I always red-eyed equate it to buying fly perched (210) 262-8653 somebody a beer, atop a alamomedals.com giving them a Fiesta glittery medal.” brown puddle, sacurrent.com | April 10–23, 2019 | CURRENT

Queens of the Galaxy

The Witte’s chief curator sheds light on the museum’s new time-capsule exhibition ‘Blast from the Past: Fiesta 1969’ BY BRYAN RINDFUSS

tar Trek, Flash Gordon and Yellow Submarine aren’t exactly the sort of pop culture phenomenons one would associate with the refinery of Fiesta’s Coronation of the Queen of the Order of the Alamo — an opulent ceremony initiated in 1909 by “a group of patriotic San Antonio men who wished to enlarge Fiesta’s annual celebration of the heroic struggle for Texas’ independence from Mexico.” Yet in 1969, Coronation chairman Robert Morris selected a theme that embraced the groovy, outlandish aesthetics of sci-fi, space travel, psychedelia and pop art. Titled the “Court of Time and Space,” the 1969 pageant enlisted local fashion designer, arts patron and onetime Coronation Duchess Margaret King Stanley to create elaborate garments and headpieces for 24 Duchesses, a Princess and a Queen, not to mention stage pages and other participants. A far cry from the intricately beaded, impossibly heavy concoctions of Coronation as we know it today, Stanley’s imaginative designs relied more on the interplay of unusual textiles and embellishments to conjure visions of satellites, planets and galaxies far, far away. A longtime repository for Coronation gowns of yesteryear, the Witte Museum showcases these distinctly San Antonio creations in annual exhibits that typically employ themes to tie together styles spanning courts and decades. Marking an intriguing departure, the museum’s forthcoming “Blast from the Past: Fiesta 1969” turns back the clock 50 years to revisit a time when the world was fixated on space travel and all the future might hold. Boldly going beyond a collection of dresses on mannequins, “Blast from the Past” aims to create a time capsule of sorts via vignettes featuring vintage furniture, decor, photographs, video footage — including the 1969 Battle of Flowers Parade in its entirety

— and objects chronicling San Antonio’s ties to NASA missions. “This court goes from the beginning of time and projects into the future, all connected to space and flight,” Chief Curator Amy Fulkerson explained in the Witte’s B. Naylor Morton Research and Collections Center. “And ’69 is such a fun year, because we were actually making things that were science fiction reality. … And at the same time we were continuing to push that envelope as to what science fiction could be. It’s fun to think about how people were imagining their world 50 years ago … And Fiesta gives us a fun way of looking at all of those elements through the lens of something that’s very enjoyable and unique to San Antonio, but is still very connected to what was going on in the rest of the world.” Does the Witte have many pieces from the Court of Time and Space? We’re going to have a mixture of different elements. We’re including the original designs that were drawn for the dresses [worn by] the Duchess of Psychedelic Visions and the Duchess of Spinning Satellites, [among others]. When the Mistress of the Robes, Margaret King Stanley, was given the assignment of a court that spanned all of time and space, she started doing a lot of reading and research, and the [design for the Duchess of Adventurous Astronauts] was actually inspired by Sputnik. And to think that this was in April of ’69, and that by June we had landed on the moon. [There’s also] the Duchess of Solar Energy, which at this time, solar power was being used almost exclusively by the space program. All of our technology for developing solar energy and solar cells was being used by NASA. And this is how they were powering satellites, it’s how they were doing life-support systems for our astronauts. We knew that we could capture solar energy but they hadn’t really harnessed it for the commercial market yet. Everything was about how to refuel the space program. Does the Mistress of the Robes sort of act as curator of Coronation? In this particular court, the Coronation chairman for the Order of the Alamo, Robert Morris, was the person who came up with the theme. And he approached Margaret King Stanley about [designing gowns] for this particular court. She had about a year from start to finish, from Coronation to Coronation, to create the vision for what this court could be. … I think she did some really interesting things. I’ve been talking to the women who participated in the Coronation — getting their stories along with talking to Margaret about how all of this came to fruition. It’s fascinating. Margaret was telling me that her original design for the Duchess of Solar Energy included cellophane panels, strategically, so that light could go through and capture that essence of solar. But that idea got vetoed by the Duchess’ family.

Witte Museum

CURRENT | April 10–23, 2019 | sacurrent.com

Too soon for transparency? A little. She was ahead of her time. So she ended up creating panels using gold tinsel fabric. It sounds like it would be something on a Christmas tree, but it’s very geometric [and creates] texture and movement in the gown. These are piec-

es that don’t translate well from the page to life. So part of what we want to do with the exhibition is show this process that goes into moving something from design to reality — and getting to compare what these looked like in real life. And do you have all the headpieces that went with the gowns? We do and they are fantastic. They’re really remarkable. One of the things we’re doing this year, because it’s a bit of an anniversary and we normally don’t focus on a single court, is going back and talking to the women who were involved and capturing some of their memories. They’ve been sharing personal stories about their experiences and I’m incorporating that into the exhibition [in the wall text]. So each one of these will have a personal memory about the person who was involved. Like the Duchess who was the Duchess of Spinning Satellites, which our Fiesta medal is based on, she was talking about her headpiece, which was asymmetrical. It was more to one side of her head. And when they have to do that bow during the Coronation, this was so hard for her, because it was pulling forward and yanking her hair out. She was in so much pain. She shares this story about what it was to perform that bow with that headpiece on her head and how heavy it was and what that feeling was like. The idea is to put people into that moment … to imagine what it would be like to be the participant 50 years ago. The dresses themselves are traditionally very heavy. They are. And one of the things that happened in 1969 is that we actually get a change in design. It was the first year that they moved from the old silhouette with the very full

enced part of the court, and makes it very relevant to what was happening in the time period. So we’re getting to play a bit more this year, and have fun with different themes that we don’t always get to address. Are there other garments in the show that aren’t gowns? One of the key figures in the Coronation was the Lord High Chamberlain, and he’s sort of the master of ceremonies for the whole Coronation. And he is wearing an outfit that is straight out of Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon. It’s got a wonderful little lightning bolt, and he’s got a ray gun, and he’s wearing this giant acrylic bubble helmet. … Once again, sort of tapping into what was happening in pop culture and what were the hallmarks when people think of that space — it’s science fiction versus science fact. Do you have photographs from that year as well? We are incorporating photographs. We are even going to be showing, in its entirety, the Battle of Flowers Parade, the actual footage from 1969. It doesn’t have any audio but you can watch the parade as it goes by. So you can see the people lining the sides of the street, how people were dressing, what the buildings looked like, look at these crazy cars and costumes that people are wearing in the parade. And what’s fun is that the parade that year used the same theme as the Coronation. And they used as their Honorary Grand Marshal David Randolph Scott, who was an astronaut. Just weeks before Fiesta, he had been on one of the Apollo missions. So he had just come back to Earth recently. But he was originally from San Antonio. He was born at Randolph Air Force Base and grew up here. San Antonio and all its traditions were something that were a part of his upbringing, and so coming back and participating in Fiesta was a big honor for him. So we get to talk a little bit about how this really was pulling in everything that was happening with the space program at the time. And we’re even going to show a couple of flags that we Witte Museum have in our collection that were in space. The Texas flag was skirt, they’d be wearing hooped petticoats underneath, to carried by astronaut Alan Bean, who was born and raised in an A-line silhouette — which they’re still using today. The Texas, and he was on the second lunar landing. In November idea of going from the fashion of the early ’60s, which still of 1969, he was the fourth person ever to walk on the moon. had fuller silhouettes, to the late ’60s, which are moving in As a Texan — we already had an American flag on the moon a completely different direction … to change that fashion in — he couldn’t leave a Texas flag there and stake claim, [but] the Coronation was really sort of forward-thinking on behe did carry this in his spacesuit. And when he came back, he half of Margaret King Stanley — to sort of radically change donated it to the City of San Antonio, a place that had special everything in one single year. meaning for him. He gave it to the mayor, who in turn gave it to the Witte. And we also have the flag that was carried by So the gowns became lighter as a result of that? astronaut Ed White, who was also from San Antonio, and he They are lighter. There’s less fabric. And part of that is becarried this on the very first spacewalk. He was unfortunately cause there are more elements that are being used that are part of the crew of Apollo 1, that had the tragic fire, and so defined by the fabrics, as opposed to being defined by beadhe and Roger Chaffee and Gus Grissom died during a test, ing or by rhinestones. … And textiles were a huge inspiration. before their mission was launched … And then there are these So with the Duchess of Psychedelic Visions, one of the design astronauts who came through San Antonio [during] traininspirations was the work of Peter Max. ing. The School of Aerospace Medicine at And we have a Peter Max outfit that he Brooks Air Force Base was charged with, designed for Wrangler. It’s psychedelic how [to] get human beings into space and ‘Blast from the Past: art from mainstream America. He was back again safely. And so the research that Fiesta 1969’ designing commercials for 7UP. This they were doing helped design spacesuits is something moving from the fringes and other life-support systems that were $10-$14 to the mainstream in America. The integral to the early space program. Many 10am-5pm Mon, 10am-8pm Tue, Peter Max outfit was worn by Margaret of these [astronauts] were coming through 10am-5pm Wed-Sat, noon-5pm King Stanley. [That and other vintage San Antonio as part of that process … And Sun, garments] will be in the exhibit as part in ’69, we really embraced it. Everyone felt April 17 - July 28 of her design inspiration. If you’ve ever and knew that we were on that moment, of seen the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine, meeting that challenge, of putting a man Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway this notion of these bright, pop colors on the moon by the end of the decade. And (210) 357-1900 — the swirls and the patterns — are you see that in all of what was happening wittemuseum.org carried over in the designs. This is an at Fiesta — that spirit of “we’re about to do element where pop culture has influsomething really incredible.”

Witte Museum

What can you tell me about how the gowns and other clothing will be displayed? They’re going to be on mannequins, but we’re accenting this [exhibition] with photographs and items from the time period to sort of capture that flavor of 1969. So we’re using a lot of the color palette and the graphic design that you would find in the 1960s. Our little nook where you can watch the Battle of Flowers Parade is complete with Eames chairs that you can sit in, with vintage pieces on the wall, as if you were watching this at home on television. We’re also doing video of contemporary pop culture at the time — this is when Sesame Street starts — and little clips so that people get a feel for the music of the time period. It’s all about not just showcasing the gowns, but [helping people] step back in time, and have a little time capsule of 1969. How did the Witte become a repository for Fiesta gowns? The Witte opened in 1926, and we were the first museum in San Antonio. And we became the repository for all of San Antonio’s history. And this was considered a part of community history. By 1926, [Coronation] had already been around for a while and so people started to donate pieces to the collection. The collection has grown to be more than 200 [Coronation] pieces. As we talked about before, [the gowns are] heavy, they’re elaborate, they have their own challenges with how we preserve and take care of them. And we have now said that we want to keep collecting, but we’re only collecting five gowns from any given court. We’ve set some limitations to make sure we don’t exceed our ability to care for these materials. [We also want to] recognize the artistry that goes into them. It’s not just the women who wear them during the Coronation, it’s the men and women who are creating them, the artists who are coming up with the design, and making that into a reality. … It really has risen to the level of couture with the more contemporary Coronations. The level of what they’re creating is just mind-boggling, how beautiful and detailed and skilled it is. And so we get to celebrate all of that, so that it touches many parts of San Antonio. There are many different stories that a single dress can tell. sacurrent.com | April 10–23, 2019 | CURRENT

arts Old Traditions in a New Light Street artists Shek and Soupé put a street-smart spin on Fiesta BY BRYAN RINDFUSS

t’s no secret that we’re fans of street artists David “Shek” Vega and Nik Soupé. Five years ago, the longtime collaborators gave our formerly anonymous headquarters a stylish makeover with an intensely colorful mural fusing their own distinct styles: swirling, sinuous patterns (Shek) and imaginative yet realistic portraiture (Soupé). Completed in tandem with Contemporary Art Month 2014, it marked the first time the pair had collaborated under the name Los Otros and, in their words: “set the bar for the work that would follow.” In the years that followed, the dynamic duo have left lasting marks across San Antonio (and in Austin) in the form of large-scale murals created for hometown faves like the Mix, Bottom Bracket Bicycle Shop, Rudy’s Seafood and Paramour as well as bigwigs such as Spurs Sports & Entertainment, H-E-B and Google Fiber. In 2017, Los Otros got tapped by Red Bull to create three Fiesta-themed murals — two along the St. Mary’s Strip and one at the Fiesta Commission’s headquarters on Broadway. Engaging the community through social media, they invited their followers to submit their favorite Fiesta photos for potential use as visual inspiration. Something of a natural progression, Los Otros’ working relationship with the Fiesta Commission hit a high note this year when the pair got invited to create the official Fiesta poster for 2019. Given creative freedom, they came up with what’s easily one of the youngest, hippest looks Fiesta has ever adopted. “The Fiesta Commission asking two street artists to paint and represent one of the biggest parties in Texas, we thought was a huge step in the direction of San Antonio becoming a more modern city,” Shek told the Current. Titled Traditions and rendered entirely in spray paint (save for the hard outlines

CURRENT | April 10–23, 2019 | sacurrent.com

on the letters and the filigree-style background), the design stacks the Alamo, the Tower of the Americas, piñatas, flowers, an accordion, a folklórico dancer and a mariachi atop one of spring’s most whimsical accessories: a towering Fiesta hat. “We wanted to capture everything [about] Fiesta: the cultural ties, the food, the music, the energy, the colors,” Shek explained. “These hats are something that are just uniquely born naturally out of Fiesta. They popped up one year and as the years go by, they’ve gradually been getting larger and taller and more popular. And what’s really cool about these hats is that they capture the characteristics of the individual — what beer somebody likes, whether they like the Spurs or not — it’s all individual to the person creating it, these works of art they wear proudly during Fiesta.” In addition to its appearance on the official poster ($9.99-$27.99 at shopfiesta. org), the Los Otros design can be found on a wide assortment of Fiesta keepsakes. “Oh my God, it’s on every single thing,” Shek said. “So, you’ll see it on T-shirts, coffee mugs, tumblers, medals, scarves, caps, sunglasses. It’s quite a bit.”

Now through May 12 Danny Lyon (American, born 1942) Sheriff Jim Clark arrests two SNCC voter registration workers on the steps of the federal building, Selma, Alabama, 1963, printed later Gelatin silver print, h. 11 in. (27.9 cm); w. 14 in. (35.6 cm) San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Ernest Pomerantz and Marie Brenner, 2017.25.42 ÂŠ Danny Lyon / Magnum Photos

200 West Jones Avenue | samuseum.org

sacurrent.com | April 10â€“23, 2019 | CURRENT

Come celebrate the 34th Annual

A Taste of New Orleans $ pre $ 12 sale 15 gate free Apr 12–14, 2019 | Sunken Garden Theater for kids at the 10 and under.

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Fri, Apr 12 : 5–11 pm | Sat, Apr 13 : noon–11 pm | Sun, Apr 14: 2–10 pm

Over the years, “A Taste of New Orleans” has become one of Fiesta San Antonio’s most popular events. If you’re looking for fun with a focus on family, the “Taste” is the place to be. Pack up the kiddies & bring Mom & Pop too; & enjoy an event designed for all ages. Stroll about the grounds and enjoy New Orleans-style food and music. The “Taste” menu includes assorted gumbos, red beans & rice, shrimp creole, etouffee, shrimp kabob, jambalaya, cajun catfish, soft shell crab, crab au gratin, crab rolls, fresh crawfish boil, boudin, alligator, beignets & a host of other tasty treats. A wide assortment of beverages is also available. We also have kids rides, play areas, clowns & face painting.

Must be 21 years or older to purchase alcoholic beverages | 210-637-8328 | atasteofneworleans.info 30

CURRENT | April 10–23, 2019 | sacurrent.com

arts

Forget April Showers: Winter Is Here ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ art show hits Brick just in time for the final season of Game of Thrones BY KELLY MERKA NELSON

o celebrate the premiere of the final season of Game of Thrones, Brick at Blue Star is converting its space into a slice of Westeros for a show billed as “A Gallery of Ice and Fire.” The hybridized event will feature a selection of art both inspired by the original novels and the television show, as well as vendors, Game of Thronesthemed music and more. Brick is no stranger to hosting parties celebrating pop culture phenoms — past events include a Stranger Things art show and regular watch parties for The Walking Dead — but for the final season of Game of Thrones, it’s go big or go home. Enter John Picacio, a science fiction and fantasy artist extraordinaire who calls San Anto home. Back in the aughts, he caught up with George R.R. Martin himself and was given an offer he couldn’t refuse: the opportunity to draw up an official calendar based on the A Song of Ice and Fire book series. At the time, the books’ popularity was still relegated to the niche of genre readers — traded back and forth and discussed amongst other popular series like Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time, but it had not yet reached the widespread name-recognition that film adaptations had granted Frank Herbert’s Dune. That was soon to change, though, whether or not Martin believed it. He revealed to Picacio that he had signed a contract with HBO. “I was there on the phone with George after he signed that deal and he literally didn’t think this would come to pass, because he didn’t think TV was

John Picacio

John Jude Palencar

capable of doing it,” Picacio recalls. When Picacio’s 2012 calendar dropped, so had the first season of Game of Thrones, and his artwork popped off in a big way, riding the wave of viral fandom that the series had garnered. At the time, what neither fans nor Picacio realized was that his calendar art had its own, oblique connection to the show. Picacio later learned from Game of Thrones’ producers that his artwork was used as a resource during

pre-production for the first season, and Issac Hempstead Wright (Bran Stark) confirmed that Picacio’s portrait of Bran was hanging on the wall during the casting process for the character. Seven seasons of groundbreaking television later, event coordinator Elaine Bretschneider knew she had no choice but to tap Picacio to compile a roster of artists for Brick’s blowout celebration of Game of Thrones’ final season. 33 6 sacurrent.com | April 10–23, 2019 | CURRENT

Sat, April 20 • 10am–6pm & Sun, April 21 • 11am–5pm

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CURRENT | April 10–23, 2019 | sacurrent.com

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VICTORIA’S BLACK SWAN INN PRESENTS Lauren Snow

6 31 “I’m just sort of a cat wrangler says will be “bigger than local in the not-too-distant future.” Her lifelike of sorts,” Picacio demurs, “trying to rendering of Emilia Clarke as Daenerys make sure that the right talent knows Targaryen emerging from an inferno is about this thing. It’s a nice mixture of truly uncanny, capturing the power of some local stars with some up-anda seminal moment in Dany’s developcomers, as well as some names that ment into the badass, dragon-riding would never have been showing here queen we all know and love. normally.” Picacio will also have some of his One of the big scores for the event is own work on display, plus pieces from a piece by John Jude Palencar, whose various artists including the “scary-taartwork has graced the covers of everylented” Tehani Farr and Instagram thing from the Eragon series to a 2005 edition of The Lord of the Rings. Palencar phenomenon Gary Villarreal, among others. With such hard-hitting talent is the official artist for the 2019 A Song on deck, this show isn’t going to simply of Ice and Fire calendar, and Picacio has be a collection of so-called “fan art.” nabbed a print of his illustration of a While the visuals of supplicant at a Heart the Game of Thrones Tree, which captures a series are nothing to quiet, private moment Free shake a stick at, this in the world of West6-10pm Wed, Apr. 17 event is about collecteros — a far cry from ing “unique visions the splashy visuals that Brick at Blue Star from a set of very usually come to mind 108 Blue Star unique artists,” giving when one thinks of (210) 262-8653 Westeros-obsessed Game of Thrones. fans a broader view Also featured will brickatbluestar.com of Martin’s expansive be local artist Lauren world. Snow, who Picacio

The Beltane Fire Festival & The Wicked Fairies and Witches Ball SAT. APR 27TH | 4PM - MIDNIGHT

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www.victoriasblackswaninn.com | 1006 Holbrook Rd, SATX 78212 sacurrent.com | April 10–23, 2019 | CURRENT

34 CURRENT | April 10–23, 2019 | sacurrent.com

Magical Mystery Tour Mary Magdalene is superior to the mainstream, faith-based schlock popular with Christians today BY KIKO MARTINEZ

ary Magdalene is not a very accessible faith-based ﬁlm, a fact which probably won’t bode well for it at the box oﬃce as it opens in theaters across the U.S. over the next couple of weeks. In the last few years, it seems like the production studios behind some of the more mainstream reli-

gious movies have created a successful framework to lure in churchgoing moviegoers and keep the product churning out at a high rate. And while much of that product from studios like Pure Flix, Affirm Films and others isn’t what most cinephiles would say is first-rate filmmaking, there is plenty from which to choose — from classic Biblical stories like Paul, the Apostle of Christ to the onslaught of miracle movies (i.e. a kid visits heaven and returns to talk about it or falls out of a tree and is cured of a chronic illness). As high on Christ as Mary Magdalene is, it still won’t gain the same amount of attention from Christian and evangelical audiences, especially since it’s not presented in an overtly inspirational way. Many will also deem it blasphemy when they learn three-time Oscar-nominated actor Joaquin

Loathing in La Mancha

The Man Who Killed Don Quixote is finally in the can, but director Terry Gilliam strikes out

screens

IFC Films

Phoenix (The Master), who portrays Jesus in the film, is an atheist (like they did when they found out Noah director Darren Aronofsky didn’t believe in God). Nevertheless, Mary Magdalene is a beautifully shot and sincere arthouse drama that far exceeds the mainstream, faith-based movies believers are flocking to these days. The film, which is directed by Garth Davis (Lion), stars two-time Oscar-nominated actress Rooney Mara (Carol) as the title character, a Jewish woman who travelled with Jesus and his apostles and was a witness to Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. Contrary to popular belief, Mary was not a prostitute. In 2016, the Vatican officially released a decree stating that she would be “celebrated liturgically like the rest of the apostles.” In Mary Magdalene, we follow Jesus and his apostles from Mary’s home of Magdala to Jerusalem, where he was eventually arrested and crucified. During their righteous road trip, rock star Jesus gains more supporters by preaching the word, healing the sick and, in one scene that could’ve easily been pulled from a horror movie, raising the dead. While Mary Magdalene comes up short on an emotional level, the film is poetic and understated. Davis treats the subject matter with respect and adoration and there’s never a hint of cynicism, which should satisfy those who consider the Gospel actual gospel. As of press time, Mary Magdalene was tentatively opening at the Santikos Bijou on April 12. The film hits VOD platforms April 19.

veryone has heard the occasional horror story from the set of a film where nothing is going right. The industry has dubbed it “production hell” — from the constantly malfunctioning mechanical shark during the making of Steven Spielberg’s 1975 classic Jaws to last year’s debacle with absent director Bryan Singer on the set of Bohemian Rhapsody. Sometimes movies have a hard time catching a break. But a film with at least 25 years of bad luck? What should someone do if they’ve invested two decades worth of blood, sweat and tears on a project that never comes to fruition? Should they keep working to make it happen or should they cut their losses and move on? Director and Oscar-nominated screenwriter Terry Gilliam (Brazil) decided to stick it out long enough to finish The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, a film he started shooting in 1999 before ill-timed problems like herniated discs and flood water cursed the production. He’d try again and again over the years, but nothing ever materialized with the exception of the documentary Lost in La Mancha about his failed attempt at making the movie. Gilliam, however, can now say he has finally completed his long-awaited opus. Unfortunately, that’s about all the credit he deserves. Don Quixote, which is based on Miguel de Cervantes’ early 17th-century novel, might be considered a labor of love to some degree, but it also features a chaotic screenplay that includes tedious meta references about the “production hell” Gilliam has experienced with the movie. While Gilliam continues to do what he does best and blur the lines between fantasy and reality with some welcomed creativity, Don Quixote is a film without an identity. Don Quixote stars Oscar nominee Adam Driver (BlacKkKlansman) as Toby,

Screen Media Films

a wound-up ad director who finds himself in Spain producing a commercial that isn’t going very well. When he comes across a copy of a movie about Don Quixote that he shot years ago, he journeys back to the location where the film was made to find that his lead actor Victor (Jonathan Pryce) believes he really is the noble Quixote and that Toby is his squire Sancho. From here, Gilliam takes audiences on a maddening adventure where he and co-writer Tony Grisoni (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) create a series of peculiar events and dull and rambling interactions. As the mentally deficient Victor, Pryce is completely committed to the role, but most of the time, he and Driver look as if they’re still trying to workshop their scenes together. It’s awkward and unrewarding. Gilliam can finally check Don Quixote off his bucket list (remake, anyone?), but the original Spanish literature deserved much better. Forget turning in his grave, Cervantes is doing somersaults. The Man Who Killed Don Quixote will screen for one night only on April 10 at 7 p.m. at the Santikos Bijou, Regal Cielo Vista and Regal Huebner Oaks Stadium. — Kiko Martinez

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CURRENT | April 10–23, 2019 | sacurrent.com

food Jaime Monzon

Get It While You Can

Taco Fest offers one of the final opportunities to party at historic La Villita, for a while anyway BY LEA THOMPSON

ew things are more essential to the San Antonio experience than enjoying local food and drink at La Villita Historic Arts Village, the city’s downtown collection of shops, restaurants and galleries. The 2nd Annual Taco Fest, which takes place Saturday, April 13, is among the last opportunities to celebrate that take on local culture in La Villita as we know it. The landmark — perhaps best known for hosting Fiesta’s Night in Old San Antonio (NIOSA) — is slated to undergo a $12 million, two-year revitalization that includes structural updates, better lighting and three new restaurant concepts. Chef Johnny Hernandez of Grupo La Gloria, who is heading the culinary end of the $7.6 million project, said preliminary construction will begin late April following this year’s NIOSA. “I think there’s a lot of excitement around [the revitalization],” Hernandez said. “The modern approach to food and art will still respect the place that La Villita is.”

Some La Villita businesses, including the Fig Tree Restaurant and Little Rhein Steak House, are expected to remain open during the project. Taco Fest will offer locals a chance to sample its namesake dish from 30 area restaurants, including Alamo Ice House, Chela’s Tacos, Fresh Horizons Creative Catering, the

Jaime Monzon

Original Donut Shop, La Casa de Barbacoa, Sangria on the Burg and Las Carnitas. Everything from savory tacos al pastor to pillowy puffy taco, an alleged San Antonio invention, will be available to sample. “La Villita is a cool venue, and last year’s vibe and the crowd were awesome,” said chef Caesar Zepeda of Sangria on the Burg. “This year, we’ll be making street-style tacos with corn masa tortillas, Heartbrand skirt steak, cream corn, cilantro and queso fresco.” Now in its second year, Taco Fest — of which the Current is a sponsor — also will serve up live music from more than 20 alt-Latino bands and a selection of brews, wine and cocktails. (See our Music section for a rundown of the entertainment.) Attendees will have a chance to vote for their favorite eats and decide who makes the best tacos in San Antonio. Event proceeds will benefit Inner City Development, a nonprofit that provides local, emergency and educational services to historically underserved Westside neighborhoods. 43 6

Find more Findfood more& drink news everynews day at sacurrent.com

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We are celebrating our 25th Anniversary with our new fiesta superstore location:

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alamofiesta.com 2025 N Main Ave. @ Ashby (North Downtown) | (210) 591-8144 102 W. Rector (Across from North Star Mall) | (210) 801-9900 40

CURRENT | April 10â€“23, 2019 | sacurrent.com

Battle of the Flowers

after parade party! April 26 | 12 pm

Live music all day! Plus, Chicken on a stick, shish kabob, brisket, and more

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CURRENT | April 10–23, 2019 | sacurrent.com

food

“I think there’s a lot of excitement around [the revitalization]. The modern approach to food and art will still respect the place that La Villita is.” -Johnny Hernandez 6 39 “We’re always daring to do something different, and we’re excited to give everybody a new experience,” said Jacob Gomez, owner of Big Poppa’s Tacos, which will offer classic tacos asada and pastor, topped with Takis or Hot Cheetos. “We’ve been doing this for a while now, but I know there’s a lot of people in San Antonio who still haven’t tried it.”

Culinary Roots When La Villita reopens in 2021, Hernandez will helm a currently unnamed Mexican restaurant concept. The hacienda-style eatery will explore the evolution of Mexican cuisine, from its roots in Mesoamerican cultures to the lasting impact of Spanish colonization. The two other restaurants are Acequia, a restaurant from chef Elizabeth Johnson of Pharm Table, and an untitled German-style beer garden from chef Steve McHugh of Cured. Johnson and the San Antonio Food Bank have partnered to plant native crops at Mission San Juan using an acequia, the type of irrigation watercourse once used in by the area’s Spanish colonists. Eventually, that plot will supply the produce for the restaurant. “For me, the word ‘acequia’ really represents the veins of agriculture in the New World,” Johnson said. “[This is] colonial farmland that has been continuously been farmed for 300 years and fed by the original acequia. Still, to this day, it feeds from the Mission San Juan… [This was] like the original farm-to-table way of life.” Similarly, McHugh plans to connect his restaurant to San Antonio’s past, tracing the history of Texas barbecue back to its German roots. “We’re excited to explore how it has grown from the Germans’ love of smoked meats into the familiar barbecue we know and love today,” he said. “And we’re looking forward to bringing brewing to La Villita.” Though the face of La Villita is evolving, some things will never change. “Tacos will still definitely be part of [what we do here],” Hernandez added. Taco Fest will take place April 13, from noon to 11 p.m. To purchase tickets online, visit tacomusicfest.com. sacurrent.com | April 10–23, 2019 | CURRENT

CURRENT | April 10â€“23, 2019 | sacurrent.com

food | nightlife TONIC BAR 5500 BABCOCK ROAD #117 2 P.M.-2 A.M.

“It feels like that bar your weird tío loves,” a friend told me about Tonic Bar, and she wasn’t wrong. Tonic is dark and dingy with a good dose of wood paneling. Definitely a place you go when you want to mistake day for night and drink alone to drown your sorrows. Wells are $2.75 during happy hour, so you can enjoy several rounds of your favorite libation on a budget. Patrons sat alone, drinking quietly, but the friendly bartender polished glassware while singing along to Childish Gambino, so not all seemed lost. Plus, gin was on special, so my go-to well, a gin and soda, only set me back $2.

THE DRINKERY p 5450 BABCOCK ROAD #140 2 P.M.-2 A.M.

Self-Medicating at Medical Center Dives

an Antonio’s Medical Center isn’t the first place most people think of when it comes to nightlife. If you’re in the area, there’s a good chance it’s for work. Or, more likely, you’re there to see a specialist to help you survive our region’s never-ending allergy season. But the Medical Center also offers cures that don’t require a prescription. They’re available in places where you can pick your poison and quell your pain — the area’s plentiful dive bars. Dives are a special breed, where cheap wells, strange specialty drinks, pool tables and crowds of regulars can make for a good time. In the Medical Center, the odd hours of healthcare professionals also add an interesting twist — some watering hole open as early as 7 a.m. Here are a few Medical Center dives that get it right, day or night:

HIGHLANDER BAR 5562 FREDERICKSBURG ROAD 7 A.M.-2 A.M.

At 3 p.m. on a Thursday, Highlander Bar was by far the busiest Medical Center bar I visited. With plenty of daylight, a convivial vibe and $3 shot specials, patrons apparently find it easy to sit a while. The place is charmingly rustic too, with a unique diamond-shaped bar top offering room for a dozen or so

regulars. The crowd was diverse: old men in cowboy hats rubbed elbows with young women in scrubs as they downed their tallboys. I ordered my favorite throwback — an Amaretto Sour topped with a stickysweet maraschino cherry — and headed out to the large, shaded patio. While there, I learned people at Highlander are friendly, so don’t expect to drink alone. A kind stranger sent me a Mexican Candy shot, a San Antonio standard made with tequila, watermelon pucker and Tabasco.

I found The Drinkery inside a nondescript shopping center after spotting two men in scrubs drinking tiny glasses of wine at patio tables out front. Inside, the crowd was friendly, chatting it up with each other and the bartenders. The Texas Rangers game was on, and baseball-capped fans cheered and booed as a DJ tested sound equipment in the corner. On the day of my visit, New Amsterdam Gin was on special for $2.50, so I decided on a martini with olives. My bartender told me she had just dropped the olive jar. Dry with a twist sounded fine instead, but apparently at The Drinkery that means with a splash of Sprite and grenadine. But I wasn’t as mad about it as I thought I would be. Turns out, a spoonful of sugar does make the medicine go down in the most delightful way. Editor’s Note: Nightlifer is a periodic column focused on bars and late-night entertainment in the Alamo City.

OAK HILLS TAVERN L 7920 FREDERICKSBURG ROAD 3 P.M.-2 A.M.

Self-described as the “Best damn dive bar in SA,” Oak Hills Tavern is just down the street from Highlander and offers a smaller crowd and plenty of patio. A friendly female bartender greeted me as I walked in, letting me know the kitchen had just opened and that their taps were on special for happy hour. Groups of coworkers in scrubs sipped on specialty tavern drinks like the Peach Tea Lemonade and Hurricane Chelsea. The place’s low ceilings and shuffleboard, darts and a pool table gave it a lounge-y feel. It was easy to imagine that, with the right friends around, Oak Hills’ karaoke Tuesdays could make for a rowdy weekday diversion. sacurrent.com | April 10–23, 2019 | CURRENT

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CURRENT | April 10â€“23, 2019 | sacurrent.com

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Five standout musical performances worth catching this Fiesta BY CHRIS CONDE

will play “Regulate” when he takes the stage at Oysterbake. Plus, he’s a living legend from an era in hip-hop that was way more gangsta than these lil’ whatevers rolling around today. $23-$157, 9:45-10:30, Oysterbake, 1 Camino Santa Maria, (210) 436-3324, oysterbake.com.

CELEBRATION OF TRADITIONS POW WOW Saturday, April 13

hether you’re a “Fuck Fiesta!” or “Fiesta, fuck yeah!” type of person, it’s pretty much impossible to escape the clutches of San Antonio’s all-enveloping 10-day party. And there’s more to it than eating meat on a stick or swilling overpriced beers. There’s music. Lots of music. And some of it’s well worth checking out. Before you assume it’s all mariachis and cover bands, this year’s lineup includes everything from a West Coast hip-hop original to the singer who introduced drag to Middle America via American Idol. Here are ﬁve musical performances this Fiesta that stand out from the crowd.

While this obviously isn’t your traditional pop concert, the Celebration of Traditions Pow Wow is an opportunity to experience Native American music and dance in an environment that’s welcoming to non-American Indian people. The event is presented by the United San Antonio Pow Wow, whose mission is to “provide Indian people the opportunity to participate, practice, teach and exchange tribal traditions among tribes, to enlighten the non-Indian about the history and culture of America’s ﬁrst inhabitants, and dispel stereotypes created about the American Indian.” Free, 11am-4pm, Woodlawn Park Gym, 1103 Cincinnati Ave, unitedsanantoniopowwow.org.

WARREN G L

ADA VOX

Few songs like Warren G’s “Regulate” help deﬁne a generation. What’s more, that track did almost as much to put LBC on the map as any dropped by Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre. It’s not like we’re telling you to roll down your windows and drive around downtown smoking a fat blunt to this song, but if you did, I mean, who could blame you? Whether or not that’s your thing, you can bet Warren G

If you weren’t watching San Antonio’s Ada Vox absolutely slay her way to the top 10 ﬁnalists on last season’s American Idol, well, what the hell were you doing? The singer, who graduated from South San High School, was the ﬁrst drag performer to ever compete on the show, and beginning with her chilling rendition of Radiohead’s “Creep” to closing out with The Lion King’s “Circle of Life,”

Friday, April 12

music

Party Tunes

Courtesy of Warren G

Friday, April 19

Vox’s ﬁerce looks and jaw-dropping vocal talent were on full display. She even earned a shoutout from the most famous drag queen on the planet, Rupaul herself. Don’t miss the stunning songstress as she returns to her hometown for this year’s Webb Party. $75$175, 7-11pm, The Aztec Theatre, Webb Party, 104 N. St. Mary’s St., theaztectheatre.com.

MIKE RYAN

Saturday, April 20

Hailing from right here in the Alamo City, singer Mike Ryan has been making impressive strides in country music since releasing his ﬁrst EP, aptly titled The First One, back in 2010. Mixing just the right amount of Americana grit and pop-country approachability, the singer signed to Sea Gayle Music in ’14, which puts him in the company of well-known country performers like Brad Paisley and Maggie Rose. Free, 9:30-10:45pm, Chaparral Music Festival, UTSA Park West, San Antonio Parks Foundation, 400 N. St. Mary’s St., Ste. 101, fiestasanantonio.org.

HENRY BRUN AND THE LATIN PLAYERS Friday, April 26

Combining elements of Latin jazz with the Cuban and Puerto Rican traditions of Salsa music, Henry Brun and the Latin Players are a force to be reckoned with. For 30 years, the outﬁt has doused San Antonio audiences with eclectic, high-energy music. Testament to the power of their music, Brun and company have graced stages of some of the biggest venues in the city, including the Tobin Center, the Empire Theatre and Aztec Theatre. Free, 9pm, Fredstock, 1819 N. Main Ave., fredstocksatx.com.

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20 local restaurants, from traditional staples like Taqueria Datapoint and Garcia’s Mexican Restaurant to fancier options like Sangria on the Burg and Alamo Cafe. (See the story in the Food section for more on that.) And, remember, there will be a best at: music and tacos. What else contest to ﬁnd out could anyone ask for? which restaurants On the taco side Taco Fest: Music y Mas boast the best tacos of things, there will in the categories probably be too many $25-$75 of Best Traditional options for any one noon, Sat., April 13 Taco, Best Specialty person to sample, La Villita Historic Arts Village Taco and People’s though we commend Choice. you in advance for 418 Villita St. As for music, trying anyway. tacomusicfest.com this year’s lineup Tacos and other showcases some real goodies will be availheavy hitters in the able from more than

Taco Fest 2.0 lineup looks even better than the first BY JAMES COURTNEY

n April 13, the second annual Taco Fest — part celebration of the greatest food known to man, part music festival and part excuse to party before Fiesta kicks oﬀ — will go down at La Villita Historic Arts Village. The beautiful thing about this particular homegrown festival — and one that, for the sake of transparency, I should mention the Current is a sponsor — is that it unabashedly celebrates two of the things that San Antonio is

Taco Fest’s musical lineup includes San Antonio legend Augie Meyers (left), among other local favorites. puro San Anto department. A few of the acts that we are most excited to catch are the legendary keyboard and accordion king Augie Meyers with his group, conjunto royalty Santiago Jimenez Jr., Selena tribute outﬁt Bidi Bidi Banda, Tex-Mex/punk fusion act Piñata Protest and ATX Latin funk powerhouse Brownout. For a complete festival schedule, including set times for all musical acts and more, visit tacomusicfest.com. sacurrent.com | April 10–23, 2019 | CURRENT

30+ Taco Joints. 20+ Bands & DJs. 5 Stages. 1 Festival. Adolfo’s Cafe • Alamo Ice House • Big Poppas Tacos • Catch the Wave • Chela’s tacos - Truck El Jarrito Cafe • Fresh Horizons • Garcia’s Mexican Food - Truck • La Casa De Barbacoa • Las carnitas - Truck

Los Cocos Mexican Restaurant and Fruteria • Maíz • Mi Taquito Arandas Jalisco - Truck • Orderup Pepe’s Barbacoa #4 • Puro Taco - Truck • rest.don pablo • Sancho’s Cantina y Cocina • Senor Veggie Sangria on the Burg • Taco Blvd • Tacos Los Hermanos • Taqueria Datapoint • The Jerk Shack The Original Donut Shop • Tomatillos • Topgolf • Torchy’s Tacos • Triple T • Viva Villa • & More!

CURRENT | April 10–23, 2019 | sacurrent.com

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music | music Picks

Courtesy of Foreigner

FOREIGNER L Thursday, April 11

Basically, Foreigner qualifies as a local band now, based on how often it gigs in San Antonio. We get it, nostalgia is something we dig. So, maybe it’s time to stop fighting it and embrace how much this city can love a throwback band. Especially when so many of us secretly rock out to hits like “I Want to Know What Love Is,” “Juke Box Hero,” “Cold as Ice” and “Hot Blooded” when we’re stuck in traffic on 281. $49.50$99.50, 8pm, Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston St., 224 E. Houston St., (210) 226-5700, majesticempire.com. — Chris Conde

Jeremy Cowart

BIG FREEDIA i

INDIGO GIRLS L

Few entertainers have the ability to command the attention of an entire audience and then, like some sort of freaky hypnotist, make it twerk in unison. Yeah, it’s a wild and magical sight, but it’s not all sexual with Big Freedia. Her shows brings an energy that invites audiences to love themselves and dance out all the feelings of shame and self-loathing many in the LGBTQ take on as a result of being treated diﬀerently than their straight counterparts. Back again for a show in the Alamo City, Big Freedia is the perfect excuse to twerk out all that negative energy. $20-$22, 9pm, Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 841-3771, papertigersatx.com. — CC

Alongside the likes of 10,000 Maniacs, Tracy Chapman and Suzanne Vega, the Indigo Girls helped pioneer a wave of female-led singer-songwriter music in the late-’80s. The Georgia duo’s dynamic songcraft and raw lyricism even grabbed a few Grammy nominations and a win for Best Contemporary Folk Album. The good news is that with a live record released just last year, it doesn’t look like the iconic Girls are going away anytime soon. $29.50-$59.50, 7pm, The Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, (210) 223-8624, tobincenter.org. — CC

Saturday, April 13

Sunday, April 14

SOUTH TEXAS LEGION 5 Saturday, April 13

Courtesy of Big Freedia

South Texas Legion — a supergroup comprised of members of storied South-Central Texas metal acts including S.A. Slayer, Karion, Watchtower, Juggernaut and Militia — is playing a local sendoﬀ before making its overseas debut at Germany’s Keep It True festival. If you’re familiar with our city’s history as the “Heavy Metal Capital of the World” during the ’80s, STL’s members are the folks who helped put that scene on the worldwide map. And the bands they led still command a cult following as far away as Europe, which explains the upcoming festival appearance. Get there by 10 p.m. for a pre-show “ﬁreside chat” featuring key shakers from the Alamo City’s Golden Age of Metal. $10-$15, 10pm, Limelight, 2718 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 7357775, thelimelightsa.com. — Sanford Nowlin

Sanford Nowlin

sacurrent.com | April 10–23, 2019 | CURRENT

3 3 0 e g r ay s o n s t

WED. APR 10 | DOORS: 7 P | SHOW: 8 P

EDDIE HEINZELMAN THE MARFA LIGHTS THU. APR 11 | DOORS: 7 P | SHOW: 8 P

RADNEY FOSTER AND DARDEN SMITH SONGS, BOOKS, JOKES AND TEARS TOUR FRI. APR 12 | DOORS: 7 P | SHOW: 8 P

ALBERT CUMMINGS JIMMY SPACEK SAT. APR 13 | DOORS: 8 P | SHOW: 9 P

FIESTA BLUES HERITAGE SERIES “RIVER CITY BLUES REVUE” SUN. APR 14 | DOORS: 1 P | SHOW: 2 P

THE HAYRIDE HOP WITH ROLLFAST RAMBLERS

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MON. APR 15 | DOORS: 7:30 P | SHOW: 8 P

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WED. APR 17 | DOORS: 7:30 P | SHOW: 8:30 P

THU. APR 18 | DOORS: 7 P | SHOW: 8 P

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FRI. APR 19 | DOORS: 8 P | SHOW: 9 P

SAT. APR 20 | DOORS: 8 P | SHOW: 9 P

THE HAYRIDE HOP WITH TWO TONS OF STEEL MON. APR 22 | DOORS: 7:30 P | SHOW: 8 P

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music | music Picks “Somebody Like Me” — the latter featuring R&B songstress Mýa — Silkk’s stutter step-type ﬂow and New Orleans laid-back swag make him a favorite amongst the No Limit family. $20, Doors at 5pm, The South Chicken & Waffles, 5739 Callaghan Ste. 100, (210) 647-6677. — CC

CRADLE OF FILTH p Monday, April 15

Courtesy of Chris Tomlin

THE ADOLESCENTS p Sunday, April 14

With sneering punk vocals, pummeling drums and triumphant punk riﬀs, the Adolescents helped pioneer the hardcore scene in California’s Orange County. Alongside acts like Agent Orange and Social Distortion, the band embodied a raw go-fuck-yourselfand-don’t-tell-me-how-to-live energy that seems a perfect antidote for its hyper-conservative birthplace. Even through numerous lineup changes and death of founding bassist Steve Soto, the Adolescents continue to be mandatory listening for angsty youth and those who have moved well beyond their youth but can’t quite shed that angst. $15, 7pm, Jack’s Patio Bar, 3030 Thousand Oaks, (210) 494-2309, jacksbarsa.com. — CC

CHRIS TOMLIN L Sunday, April 14

It’s easy to hate on contemporary Christian music. Much of it sounds like the same three- or four-chord recycled acoustic pop song interspersed with an occasional “Yes, Jesus” or “God rules.” Chris Tomlin, however, has managed to add just the right amount of depth and dynamic to his music to build a career

Courtesy of Silkk The Shocker

that’s has spanned more than two decades. Not a lot of Christian artists are selling out arenas like this dude — and genuine talent helps him continue ﬁlling those seats. $28.50, 7pm, Freeman Coliseum, 3201 E. Houston St., (210) 2261177, freemancoliseum.com. — CC

Love ’em or hate ’em, Cradle of Filth has made an irrefutable impact on the metal scene. Over the years, the band’s been unafraid to experiment with its sound, starting out synth-heavy with grindcore-style vocals in the early ’90s before shifting into more of a goth-metal approach with symphonic inﬂuences. But, for all the changes, one thing that has remained true throughout Cradle’s career — the band’s branding genius. Its imagery is just dark enough to seem edgy but not so evil that Mom won’t buy a Cradle T-shirt for Junior at Hot Topic. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that the latest album, Cryptoriana, retains a trademark brutality while adding enough dynamic and momentum to sustain interest for a full listen. $32-$53, 7pm, Aztec Theatre, 104 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 812-4355, theaztectheatre.com. — CC

SILKK THE SHOCKER L Sunday, April 14

Under the leadership of his brother Master P, No Limit recording artist Silkk the Shocker has had a pretty impressive run in the rap game. With chart-topping hits like “It Ain’t My Fault” and

Courtesy ofThe Adolescents

Courtesy of Cradle of Filth

sacurrent.com | April 10–23, 2019 | CURRENT

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CURRENT | April 10–23, 2019 | sacurrent.com

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CURRENT | April 10â€“23, 2019 | sacurrent.com

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music | music Picks

Courtesy of Reagan Youth

REAGAN YOUTH L Sunday, April 21

Ebru Yildiz

release. $49.50-$128, 8pm, Aztec Theatre, 104 N St Mary’s, (210) 812-4355, theaztectheatre.com. — James Courtney

WE ARE SCIENTISTS p Friday, April 19

Courtesy of Whitesnake

WHITESNAKE L Wednesday, April 17

Whitesnake is exactly the sort of band that a large and befuddling chunk of San Antonio goes nuts for, and, as a result, exactly the sort of band that people think of when they think of SA and our trashy rock aﬃnities. The glam metal act’s biggest hits are 1987’s “Is This Love” and “Here I Go Again,” both of which remain practically ubiquitous on rock radio. Since its 1978 start, Whitesnake has released 13 albums, including three this millennium, suggesting a deeper catalog than just that pair of power ballads. Indeed, the British rock stalwarts are slated to release their latest, called Flesh & Blood, next month. While longtime fans can expect to hear plenty from the golden era, they also might discover new favorites as the Snake slides out fresh material from the forthcoming

For a two-man crew, Berkeley-birthed and NYC-based indie rock/post-punk outﬁt We Are Scientists manages to make a lot of noise. Comprising wild and crazy guys Keith Murray and Chris Cain, the outﬁt got its start in 2000 and has since released seven albums of consistent material, all of which is buoyed

by the duo’s sense of humor and big energy. Wildly successful in Europe, especially in the UK, We Are Scientists is a refreshing anomaly of a band — successful on its own terms while not taking itself too seriously. For those unfamiliar with the We Are Scientists’ work, think of them as occupying a unique position somewhere between Hot Hot Heat, the Futureheads, the Wombats and Lonely Island. We Are Scientists’ most recent album is 2018’s Megaplex. $15, 8pm, Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 8413771, papertigersatx.com. — JC

Press Here

New York’s Reagan Youth was influential in the early days of hardcore, when the niche genre was first growing from its anarcho-punk roots. The group, formed in 1980, created its inflammatory name by mashing up “Hitler Youth” with the last name of the scumbag who was U.S. president through much of that decade. Having broken up in 1990 and reformed a few times since, Reagan Youth seems to have a sense of its place in the punk and hardcore pantheon, especially in terms of the New York scene. And, it’s that place in loud-ass and aggressive American music history that leads us to recommend this show to our readers, especially those who enjoy sonic extremes. $12-$15, 10pm, Limelight, 2718 N. St. Mary’s St., thelimelightsa.com. — JC

OF MONTREAL T Tuesday, April 23

Of Montreal, like an indie rock answer to David Bowie, has helped a whole generation of self-serious sad sacks loosen up and embrace the weird. With an unmatched prolificacy and a shape-shifting sound, the Athens, Georgia-based outfit, led by the fucking unstoppable Kevin Barnes, has become one of the most beloved acts in the indie-sphere over the course of 15 LPs and 23 years. For the uninitiated, there’s literally no easy way to describe Of Montreal’s sound because, over time, the band has ranged from plaintive indie songwriting to jangly folk, from dystopian disco to haughty and angular rock, from rollicking rural ruckus to big-city synthetic sounds — all with an experimental, off-kilter sensibility and a decidedly psych-pop bent. While Of Montreal released its most recent album, the 1980s-dance-channeling White Is Relic/ Irrealis Mood, a year ago, the band is best experienced in the live setting, where its knack for spontaneity and invention gets room to roam. $16-$18, 8pm, Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 841-3771, papertigersatx.com. — JC sacurrent.com | April 10–23, 2019 | CURRENT

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CURRENT | April 10–23, 2019 | sacurrent.com

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music | calendar

HAPPY

HOUR

A L L D AY SUN-MON

High Road Touring

BY SHANNON SWEET FRIDAY 4/12 - SUNDAY 4/14

WILLIE NELSON & FAMILY

Willie Nelson has seemingly found the fountain of youth. At 85 years old, he still releases consistently solid records, performs regularly and makes time for political activism. Maybe it’s something in the water at Nelson’s Luck, Texas ranch, the copious amounts of weed he smokes or just part of being a living legend. $70-$437, Whitewater Amphitheater, 8:30pm Fri. & Sat., 7:45pm Sun,

SATURDAY 4/13

WESTERN MUSIC FESTIVAL

Dreamed up by Ryan Bingham, a Tinseltown-based Americana singer-songwriter, the Western Music Festival is a return to the intimate roots of those fabled Texas acoustic jam sessions by the campﬁre light. In addition to a the festival’s founder, the Old 97’s, Son Volt, Jamestown Revival, Colter Wall, the Wild Feathers, Elizabeth Cook, Jesse Dayton, Jai Malano and The Americans all will take the well-worn stage in the idyllic Texas town of Luckenbach. $99.50, Luckenbach, 12pm

TUESDAY 4/16

TOKE, BRIDGE FARMERS, HOWLING GIANT, HÖTZI

Just shy of the stoner high holiday 4/20, North Carolina-based Toke will light up the stage with its sludgy brand of stoner metal. Consider it a pre-party blaze-up. Fellow riﬀ wranglers the Bridge Farmers, Howling Giant and HÖTZI round out the bill. $5, Limelight, 9pm

JOAN BAEZ L

From befriending Martin Luther King Jr. to playing Woodstock to giving a then-unknown Bob Dylan a bigger platform, Baez’s

life is just as colorful as the technicolor decade of change that birthed her stardom. Baez’s “Fare Thee Well Tour” marks her retirement from the road and supports the release of the critically lauded Whistle Down the Wind, her ﬁrst studio album in more than a decade. $39.50-$89.50, Tobin Center, 7:30pm

FRIDAY 4/19

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Trippie Redd is known for his Twizzler locks, collaborations with hip-hop heavy hitters and long-running beef with now-jailed 6ix9ine, an epic rivalry that resulted in violent ambushes from both teams. Make no mistake, though, Redd has bangers of his own, even if he’s not as mainstream as some of his SoundCloud peers. $38.50-$88.50, Tobin Center, 8pm

SATURDAY 4/20

POSTMODERN JUKEBOX

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The revolving-door collective Postmodern Jukebox, famous for YouTube videos of slicked-up singers reinterpreting modern chart-toppers as jazzy big band numbers, is bringing that same ambitious concept to the Tobin Center. Seems like the perfect opportunity to celebrate the approaching 2020s like Jay Gatsby himself. $35-$89.75, Tobin Center, 8pm

ANDY BLACK

Andy Six, the former singer of Hot Topic-soundtrack-providers-turned-gloriﬁed-Mötley Crüe-tribute band Black Veil Brides, has repackaged himself as Andy Black, a slick gothic prince who now croons over pop synths instead of jagged guitars. Some may also recall Black starred in the Faustian rock musical ﬁlm American Satan, though the results were more cringe-inducing than edgy. $26.50-$28.50, Rock Box, 6:30pm

CIDER Y’ALL

64 CURRENT | April 10–23, 2019 | sacurrent.com

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Entertainment

Join Robin Hood & Lady Marian as they host full contact jousting, falconry, swordplay, archery, juggling, comedy, theater & more. Medieval England comes to life in Central Texas.

Artisans + Merchants We host a grand selection of hand-crafted goods in Central Texas. We offer demonstrations like glass blowing, blacksmithing, pottery spinning, leather armor making, weaving, jewelry & art creation, & others.

Song + Dance

You'll find minstrels, bards, storytellers, magicians, jugglers, & all types of performers strolling our lanes & playing on our stages. If you're lucky, you may spot a faery or two!

Food + Drink

From trenchers weighty with tasty fare to tankards overflowing with foamy mead, there's plenty to eat and drink at Sherwood Forest Faire. You'll discover medieval treats & delicacies.

Tickets On Sale Now At Sher woodforestfaire.com | Follow Us On sacurrent.com | April 10â€“23, 2019 | CURRENT

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I’m a heteroflexible married cis woman in my 40s. I’m also a POS cheater and a catfish. I really fucked up. One year ago, I met an older man in an online fetish forum. He sent me an unsolicited PM, and we have talked for hours every day since then. My husband, whom I’ve been married to for more than 20 years, does not know that I am having an emotional affair. I have no intention of telling my husband what I’ve done. I have been honest with my online boyfriend about everything except my name, my age, and the fact that I have a husband. (I know those are all really big things to lie about.) My boyfriend lied to me early on about his name, age, and relationship status, but came clean out of guilt. So I had the opportunity to say that I lied too, but I didn’t take it. I know what I’m doing is wrong. My husband would be very hurt if he knew. And my boyfriend, who wants to make a life together, would be very hurt as well. I’m in love with both men, but I’m not leaving my husband. I know the only right thing to do is break things off with my boyfriend. I’ve tried multiple times: I’ve told him that he is better off without me, that I’m a bad person, and that he shouldn’t trust me. Each time, he convinces me to stay. We have not been physical. We have never even been in the same room, much to his dismay. I have thought about telling him the truth, but I am worried about my safety, and I do not want to hurt him any worse than I already have. Plus, I’m a fucking coward. I am in treatment for PTSD. My therapist believes that my actions are a coping mechanism, i.e., it is easier to pretend to be someone else than it is to be me. I don’t think she’s wrong, but I also don’t think it excuses what I’ve done. How do I end this relationship without doing any more damage to my two partners? Conning And Tricking For Intensely Selfish Haven Far be it from me to question your therapist’s assessment — she’s spoken with you on multiple occasions, and her insights are doubtless more informed — but I think her framing falls short. She describes your actions as a coping mechanism: You told a stranger lies and abused your husband’s trust to escape your miserable life. If you weren’t so fucking miserable — if other people and/or circumstances hadn’t conspired to make you so fucking miserable — you wouldn’t have done this. You wouldn’t be doing this still. But despite your therapist’s efforts to help you down off that hook, CATFISH, you seem determined to hang there. She’s offering you absolution, in whole or in part, while you stand around flagellating yourself (“POS cheater,” “fucking coward,” “bad person,” etc.).

Personally, I think you’re entitled to your feelings. Go ahead and feel terrible. You did a bad thing. It’s not the worst thing someone’s ever done online, and most people know not to take what a stranger tells them on the internet at face value. But if feeling terrible doesn’t motivate you to make changes… well, it’s not for me to question your sincerity. But some people think it’s OK to do terrible things so long as they have the decency to feel terrible about having done them. If you’re not one of those people — if you actually feel bad — doing something about it and learning something from it will alleviate your misery. Here’s what you need to do: End things with your boyfriend. Write him an e-mail, tell him the truth about your age, marital status, and unavailability. Don’t share your real name with him; you’re under no obligation to do so, and if he turns out to be the vindictive type, CATFISH, you don’t want him to have your real identity. Apologize for not coming clean when he did — he lied to you too at the start — and thank him for the pleasure of his virtual company and the joy he brought to your life. Then block him. Here’s what you need to learn: You didn’t do this because you’re miserable — or you didn’t do it just because you’re miserable. You did this because it was fun. We call it “play” when children pretend to be someone or something they’re not; child’s play is also, yes, a coping mechanism. Vulnerable children pretend to be big and powerful superheroes and/or monsters to cope with and momentarily escape their relative powerlessness. And nothing makes a child’s playful fantasy feel more real than a good friend who plays along. Most adults don’t make time for play — most of us aren’t LARPers or kinksters — but even adults need play, and some adults need play more than others. You found a space where you could play (that online fetish forum), and you found a playmate who helped make your fantasies feel real (a guy you’ve never actually met and who could still be lying to you about all sorts of things). It got out of hand when arousal, orgasms, oxytocin, and promises you couldn’t keep got stirred into the mix. The play made you feel better at first, but the dishonesty and stress of deceiving two people eventually wiped out the benefits you were getting. You need to find a way to build some play into your life, sexual and/or nonsexual, that doesn’t require you to lie or hide. It would be great if you could do that with your husband, CATFISH, but if he’s not willing or able to play with you, get his okay to play on your own.

mail@savagelove.net @FakeDanSavage on Twitter www.ITMFA.org

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E M P LOY M E N T H-E-B Grocery Company, LP seeks Lead Developer (Database Administrator). Requires related degree, experience, and skills. Work location: San Antonio, TX. Mail resumes to: Marisa Alcorta, 646 South Flores St., San Antonio, TX 78204. NoSQL Database Administrator III – Rackspace US, Inc. – San Antonio, TX. Design/build/deploy/maintain NoSQL databases. Req’d: Bachelor’s in tech-related field + 5yrs exp working with databases. Alt. Req’d: Master’s in tech-related field +3yrs exp working with databases. For complete job description and to apply send resume to: careers@ rackspace.com, Ref. 12573.

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1 Wish for success 11 Nemesis for Hook 15 It stops at ports of call 16 “You leave ___ choice” 17 Nonstop 18 Lenovo competitor 19 PC menu command 20 Short-term positions 22 20-20, e.g. 23 Gp. with a Seattle team come 2021 25 Maiden name lead-in 26 Turn green, perhaps 27 Pre-grads 28 Kool Moe ___ 29 “The Hollow Men” poet 31 Instruction segment 33 British heavyweight? 34 Word before operandi 39 ___-Caps (concession stand candy) 40 Pushed, with “on” 41 Home of California’s Mendocino College 42 TV character who jumped the shark, with “the” 44 Course outlines 46 Short Morse code bit

48 Break stuff? 51 Ohio airport code 52 Dad joke, often 53 Upscale hotel offering 54 Noir investigator, slangily 55 Bob Mould’s band before Sugar 58 He played Wiseau 60 “Just ___ bit more” 61 Drama with a title character voiced by Kristen Bell 63 Contested 64 Embarrassed 65 Parts of loaves 66 Buckeye and others DOWN

1 Speaks too proudly 2 Cream-filled pastry 3 Individual beings 4 ___ Modern (London art gallery) 5 Nearby 6 Gives substance to, with “out” 7 Tipsy 8 Fathom or foot 9 Swimming pools, a la “The Beverly Hillbillies” 10 Krispy ___ (some doughnuts)

11 Key with no flats or sharps, for short 12 Editing a program, say 13 Single-file 14 Wearing some Victorian garb 21 PGA’s Calvin 24 Explorative phrase in kids’ science shows, maybe 30 Yule symbol 32 Ambient music producer Brian 34 Requisite 35 “Fine, I give up” 36 Pork roast flavorer 37 Suffix after habit or sex 38 Rhombus, e.g. 43 Archive format 45 Old Scottish towns (as opposed to towns elsewhere?) 47 La Brea attraction 48 Nick follower on cable TV 49 Ruling 50 Reprimands 56 Classic canvas shoe brand 57 Pres. Eisenhower’s alma mater 59 Petri dish medium 62 Plop down ANSWER ON PAGE 18

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For other studies, visit us at http://vpr.uthscsa.edu/findastudy/ 68

CURRENT | April 10–23, 2019 | sacurrent.com

etc FREE WILL ASTROLOGY BY ROB BREZNY ARIES (March 21-April 19): The Qing Dynasty controlled China from the mid-seventeenth century to the early twentieth century. It was the fifth biggest empire in world history. But eventually it faded, as all mighty regimes do. Revolution came in 1911, forcing the last emperor to abdicate and giving birth to the Republic of China. I’m inclined to think of your life in 2019 as having some similarities to that transition. It’s the end of one era and the beginning of another; a changing of the guard and a passing of the torch. The coming weeks will be a favorable time to be very active in deciding and visualizing the empire you want next. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): I hope that sometime soon you’ll acquire a new source of support or inspiration. Now is a phase of your astrological cycle when you’re likely to attract influences that are in alignment with your deep values. This addition might be a person or animal. It could be a vibrant symbol or useful tool. It may even be a fantasy character or departed ancestor that will stimulate vitality you haven’t been able to summon on your own. Be on the lookout for this enhancement. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Poet David Hinton analyzed the Chinese word for “poetry.” Its etymological meaning is “words spoken at the fertility altar.” Let’s make that your theme, even if you don’t write or read poetry. I suspect the coming weeks will be a favorable time to take a vow or utter a solemn intention in front of a homemade fertility altar. The oath you speak might express a desire to boost your use of your physical vitality: your lust for life, your adoration of the natural world, or your power to produce new human life. Or your vow to foster your fertility could be more metaphorical and symbolic in nature: the imaginative intimacy you will explore or the creativity you’ll express in future works of art or the generous effects you want to have on the world. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Christopher Robin Milne was the son of author A. A. Milne, who wrote the Winnie-the-Pooh stories. He said there are two ways to navigate through life. Either you “take a bearing on something in the future and steer towards it, or take a bearing on something in the past and steer away from it.” So in his view, “There are those who look ahead and pull and those who look behind and push.” I’m hoping that in the coming weeks and months, you will make a delighted commitment to the first option: taking a bearing on something in the future and steering towards it. I think that approach will inspire you toward the most interesting success.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The national animal of Finland is the brown bear. The national insect is the ladybug and the national instrument is a stringed instrument known as the kantele. As for the national author, it’s Aleksis Kivi, who produced just one novel that took him ten years to write. He also published a short collection of odes and a few plays, adding up to a grand total of less than 800 pages of work. I think that the efforts you make in the coming weeks could have a disproportionately large impact, as well, Leo. What you lack in quantity will be irrelevant compared to the sheer quality you generate. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): I follow the blogger Evanescent Voyager because she makes me cry with sad joy and exultant poignance on a regular basis. One of her other fans wrote her a love note I could have written myself. It said, “Your emotional brilliance and thoughtful passion break me into pieces and then weave me back together with more coherence than I had before reading you. I revere your alchemical talent for undoing me so you can heal me; for lowering my defenses so I can be open to your riches; for demolishing my habitual trance so you can awaken my sleeping genius.” I believe that in the coming weeks, life itself will offer to perform these same services for you, Virgo. I urge you to accept! LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “Love is no assignment for cowards.” That’s a quote attributed to the ancient Roman poet Ovid. What did he mean? Was he foreshadowing the wisdom of pop singer Pat Benatar, who in 1983 told us, “Love is a battlefield”? Was Ovid implying that to succeed in the amorous arts we must be heroic warriors prepared to overcome fears and risk psychological dangers? Probably. But I will also point out that it takes as much courage to create fun, interesting togetherness as it does to wrestle with the problems that togetherness brings. You need just as much bravura and panache to explore the sweet mysteries of intimacy as you do to explore the achy mysteries of intimacy. Keep these thoughts in mind as you marshal your audacity to deepen and expand your best relationships in the coming weeks.

nary potential to be a master embodier of both jolie-laide and wabi-sabi in the coming weeks. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): As Czech playwright Vaclav Havel (1936–2011) matured, he became a political dissident who opposed the Soviet Union’s authoritarian grip on his country. Eventually he was a key player in the Velvet Revolution that banished Communism. When Czechoslovakia emerged as a new democracy, its people elected him president. Havel later thanked Lou Reed and the band the Velvet Underground for fully awakening his liberationist leadership. He said their unruly music stoked his longing to establish a culture where total creative freedom was possible. I mention this, Sagittarius, because now is a favorable time to identify the music or art or films or literature that might fuel your emancipation in the coming months. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Capricorn author J. R. R. Tolkien toiled on his masterpiece The Lord of the Rings for twelve years. Once he finished, it wasn’t published for more than five years. So seventeen years passed between the time he launched his precious project and the time when it reached an audience. I don’t think you will need that much patience in shepherding your own venture to full expression, Capri-

corn. But I hope you’ll summon as much faith in yourself as Tolkien had to rouse in himself. To do so will bring out the best in you! AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Released in 1998, The Prince of Egypt is an animated film that tells the story of the Hebrew prophet Moses. In the climactic event, the hero uses magic to part the waters of the Red Sea, allowing his people to run across the sea floor and escape the army that’s chasing them. To make that seven-minute scene, 28 professional animators labored for 318,000 hours. In the coming months, you could create your own version of that marvel, Aquarius. But you’ll need a team to help you, and that team is not yet ready to go. The coming weeks will be a favorable time to get it ready, though. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Piscean businessman Steve Jobs testified that taking LSD was “one of the two or three most important things” he ever did in his life. It opened his mind in ways he felt were crucial to his development. What are the three most important things you’ve ever done, Pisces? I invite you to revisit at least one of them, and see if you can take it to the next step of its power to inspire you. What if it has even more to offer you in your efforts to become the person you want to be?

THIS MODERN WORLD BY TOM TOMORROW

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The literal meaning of the French term jolie-laide is “pretty and ugly.” Bloggers at wordsnquotes.com define it as follows: “It’s a fascinating quirkiness that’s irresistible, like a face you want to keep looking at even if you can’t decide whether it is beautiful or not.” Jolie-laide overlaps with the Japanese term wabi-sabi, which describes a person or thing that is lovely because of its imperfection and incompleteness. I bring these facts to your attention because I think you have extraordisacurrent.com | April 10–23, 2019 | CURRENT

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