Ezine.com
ON THE TOWN
July/August 2016
Season 2016-17 Pesto Ristorante Marise McDermott Veronique Le Melle
Blockbuster Summer of Shows Culinaria Restaurant Week Morgan’s Wonderland Plus July/August 5 Additional Articles 2016 | On The Town 1
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Features
Features Cont.
Enjoy a Full-Tilt, Blockbuster Summer 8 of Shows. Tons of Entertainment Opportunities are Available. Don’t Miss a Thing!
Signature Restaurant: Coming Soon From Chef Andrew Weissman
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Marise McDermott: Steering The New Witte Into a Grand Future
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Art Exhibitions This Summer in the City
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Veronique Le Melle: Artpace Executive Director
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Season 2016-17 Proves How Much There 14 is to See And Do in the San Antonio Area. Attend and Enjoy! 2016 San Antonio International Piano 18 Competition to feature young
Morgan’s Wonderland: A Little Slice of Heaven 78 Houses and Saturday Drop-in Programming
Edera Osteria Enoteca Serving Mediterranean Fusion Fair with a Modern Italian / Old World Spanish Flair
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Dining With a Purpose San Antonio Restaurant Week
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Departments
Satisfy Your Italian Cravings at Pesto Ristorante
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Events Calendar
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Book Talk: Jenny Brown: Poet Laureate of San Antonio
The Infinite Monkey Theorem A Counter-Culture Urban Winery Opens in Austin
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Out & About With Greg Harrison
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Lair Creative, LLC would not knowingly publish misleading or erroneous information in editorial content or in any adv appear under any circumstances. Additionally, content in this electronic magazine does not necessarily reflect the view mances and exhibits, it is recommended that all times and dates of such events be confirmed by the reader prior to at
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Cover Credits Contributors Front Cover Photo: Toddrick Hall in Straight Outta Oz Courtesy The Tobin Center
Mikel Allen creative director/ graphic designer
Christian Lair operations manager/ webmaster
Performing Arts Cover Photo: Lola Astanova Photo by Nancy Ellison Photography
Rudy Arispe
Kay Lair
Olivier J. Bourgoin (aka, Olivier the Wine Guy)
Ginger McAneerRobinson
Julie Catalano
Bob McCullough
Culinary Arts Cover Photo: Š Bens1 | Dreamstime.com
Thomas Duhon
Susan A. Merkner copy editor
Visual Arts Cover Photo: Stoneball Gameyoke from Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed exhibition Courtesy Witte MuseumÂ
Dan R. Goddard
Events Calendar Cover Photo: Photo by Greg Harrison
Literary Arts Cover Photo: Photo by Greg Harrison Eclectics Cover Photo: Photo by Greg Harrison Out & About With Greg Harrison Cover Photo: Photo by Greg Harrison
Vivienne Gautraux
Greg Harrison staff photographer
Evie Reichel Sara Selango Jasmina Wellinghoff
OnTheTownEzine.com is published by Lair Creative, LLC 14122 Red Maple San Antonio, Texas 78247 210-771-8486 210-490-7950 (fax)
vertisement in On The Town Ezine.com, nor does it assume responsibility if this type of editorial or advertising should ws or opinions of the management of Lair Creative, LLC. Since On The Town Ezine.com features information on perforttendance. The publisher assumes no responsibility for changes in times, dates, venues, exhibitions or performances.
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Performing Arts 8-22
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W
ith the symphony taking its summer break and the majority of touring Broadway shows not scheduled to start until September, the question becomes, what is there to see and do in old SA and its environs during the super-hot months of July and August? The answer is tons, that’s what! Summer means blockbusters at local community theaters. For example, The Woodlawn features Disney’s® The Little Mermaid for most of July, followed by Evita starting August 12. Over in San Pedro Park, The Playhouse San Antonio kicks off July with a rousing The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas at their Russell Hill Rogers Theater. Two Sisters and a Piano plays its smaller Cellar Theater from late July through most of August. At the JCC’s Sheldon Vexler Theatre, take in The Foreigner Aug. 18 – Sept. 11. I’m just getting started. How about Those Oldies but Goodies at the Harlequin on Fort Sam Houston through July 23? After that it’s Birds at the same venue. Continuing with the community theater theme, The Overtime Theater presents Black: A Comedy of Bubonic Proportions throughout July at their Greg Barrios Theater, and then Ghostbears! starting Aug. 12.
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Venturing out-of-town to check on area community theaters, and beginning in New Braunfels, Circle Arts Theatre has a three-week run of Footloose in July. Others represented in the summer months include Boerne Community Theater with its presentation of Don’t Dress for Dinner, Smith-Ritch Point Theater in Ingram with its outdoor stage performances of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and Elizabeth Huth Coates Indoor Theater, also in Ingram, with its production of Pump Boys and Dinettes. Playhouse 2000 in Kerrville offers two summer shows, starting with A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at the Kathleen C. Cailloux Theater mid-July, and then Always a Bridesmaid at the VK Garage Theater in August. Fredericksburg Theater Company joins the summer parade of shows with A Grand Night for Singing, Aug. 12-21, followed by two performances of Blame It On Valentine, Texas by Jaston Williams, of Greater Tuna fame, Aug. 27-28. Back in the big city, the Tobin Center offers Todrick Hall’s Straight Outta Oz July 19, Menopause The Musical (the first show in the BMW of San Antonio Signature Series) Aug.
19, and Vicki Lawrence and Mama Aug. 21. All of these Wonderland of Americas. can be seen at the center’s H-E-B Performance Hall. Summer is also a great time for the country and western Please take a look at the events calendar listings in this genre. The first thoughts that come to mind are the magazine for exact days and times of the performances legendary Loretta Lynn at the Majestic July 15, Garth Brooks at the AT&T Center for several performances mentioned here. July 22-24, Clint Black at the Tobin’s H-E-B Performance Moving along to music, July brings with it some wonderful Hall Aug. 11 and Lyle Lovett at the Majestic Aug. 26. classical music opportunities. Chamber Orchestra of A couple of folks you wouldn’t expect to see on the San Antonio inaugurates things with its Music Institute C&W stage, Kevin Costner and Billy Bob Thornton, Concert July 2 at the Carlos Alvarez Studio Theater at the are coming to the area as well. An Evening with Kevin Tobin Center. Following this is Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio’s Costner & Modern West happens at Gruene Hall July 24 Cactus Pear Music Festival from July 6-17 at various venues and Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters play the in San Antonio, Boerne, Kerrville and New Braunfels. Brauntex in New Braunfels Aug. 13. Texas Public Radio is next as it presents Emerson String Quartet July 7 at the H-E-B Performance Hall at the Tobin Area dance halls in July and August feature the likes Center. In late July and early August, patrons can enjoy of Roger Creager, Clay Walker, Kevin Fowler, Chris five programs included in the University of the Incarnate Knight, Jason Boland, Dwight Yoakam, Cody Canada, Word’s Mozart Festival Texas. Each performance is to be Eli Young Band, Chris Young, Pat Green, Cory Morrow, Max Stalling, Two Tons of Steel and the Almost Patsy held at the UIW Concert Hall. Cline Band. Good stuff. For jazz aficionados, the annual Balconies Heights Jazz Festival takes place on successive Friday Coming to the city from the pop side are Frankie Valli, evenings from July 8 – Aug. 5 at the Amphitheatre at 1964: A Beatles Tribute, America, Ted Nugent, Pitbull,
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Steve Miller Band, Ted Nugent, Maxwell, Case / Lang / Veirs, Lila Downs, The Pedrito Martinez Group y mas. Plus an Elvis sighting is scheduled for July 1516 in Fredericksburg when Donny Edwards performs the ultimate tribute to the king of rock ‘n roll at the Rockbox Theater. The same venue offers Liverpool Legends:Beatles Tribute July 1-2. Comedy concludes this writing, starting with Jim Gaffigan’s two shows on July 10 at the Majestic. Cristela Alonzo brings laughs to the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre Aug. 20. On that same night, Taylor Williamson takes the microphone at the Carlos Alvarez. Sinbad comes to the Majestic Aug.25 and Carlos Mencia, Tommy Davidson and Mike Epps lead the multitude of comedians appearing at Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club and Improv Comedy Club at Rivercenter in July and August. A mention of Bob Stromberg at the Rockbox July22 rounds things out. Oops! I almost forgot Maks & Val. See them at the Majestic Aug. 7.
Photo Credits: Pages 8-9: Lyle Lovett and his Large Band Photo courtesy Majestic Theatre Page 10 (L-R) Stephanie Sant’Ambrogia © La Bella Vita Photography Frankie Valli Photo courtesy Majestic Theatre Page 11 (L-R) Boy George / Culture Club Photo courtesy The Tobin Center Jaston Williams Photo by Brenda Ladd Photo.com Page 12 (L-R) Donny Edwards Courtesy Rockbox Theatre
So what’s happening in July and August? Tons, that’s 1964 The Tribute Courtesy Majestic Theatre what! Get some tickets and go!
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SEASON 2016-17 PROVES HOW MUCH THERE IS TO SEE IN THE SAN ANTONIO AREA. ATTEND AND ENJOY! By Vivienne Gautraux
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n the spring and summer every year my mailbox fills up with brochures from area performing arts organizations announcing their upcoming season offerings. Additionally, my email goes ballistic with the electronic versions of the same information. Snail mail or email, it doesn’t matter because I’m always glad to receive it. There’s a certain excitement in reviewing each group’s material in order to figure out which performances I want to purchase tickets for in the coming months. I have my own way of getting organized when it comes to my personal performance calendar, but one thing I have never done is to make a list of all available groups and all of their performances, until now. I just thought it would be a kick to see everything on one page, so to speak. In that regard, what follows is my Season 201617 compilation. It’s not totally complete because some organizations have not made their seasons public at the
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time of this writing. Nevertheless, in alphabetical order, here’s what I have been able to put together. If nothing else, this proves how much there is to see in the San Antonio area. Attend and enjoy! ARTS SAN ANTONIO Performances at Ruth Taylor Recital Hall @ Trinity University 9/10 – Alessandro Deljavan 2/4 – David Russell Performances at Charline McCombs Empire Theatre 10/21 – Sierra Leone’s Refugee All-Stars 11/17 – Sons of Serendip – Songs in the key of Wonder: 50 Years of Stevie Wonder 1/28 – What the Day Owes to the Night, Compagnie Herve Koubi
4/8 – Mnozil Brass 4/20 – Che Malambo 5/13 – The Five Browns Performances at the H-E-B Performance Hall at the Tobin Center 12/10 – An Irish Christmas 1/18 – Shadowland, Pilobolus Performances at Lila Cockrell Theater 12/16-18 – The Nutcracker, Mejia Ballet International 1/12 – Sacred Heritage, Bale Folclorico da Bahia Performances at Majestic Theatre 2/10 – Peking Acrobats 2/23 – The Five Irish Tenors 3/25 – Found Percussion of Tomorrow, Scrap Arts Music Performance at Laurie Auditorium @ Trinity University 3/3 – BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet Performance at Guadalupe Cultural Center 5/4 – An Evening with Juan Felipe Hernandez: United States Poet Laurete
BALLET SAN ANTONIO 10/14-16 – Don Quixote 11/25-27 & 12/1-4 – The Nutcracker 2/17-19 – The Sleeping Beauty (Performances at H-E-B Performance Hall at the Tobin Center) BOERNE PERFORMING ARTS 2/14 – Vocalosity 2/27 – Russian Seasons Dance Company 4/7 – Taj Express: The Bollywood Musical Revue (Performances at Champion Auditorium – Boerne) BRAUNTEX PERFORMING ARTS THEATRE – NEW BRAUNFELS 9/22 – Rita Coolidge 10/1 – Already Gone & Abbey Rode 10/15 – Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone 10/28 – Donny Edwards: The Ultimate Tribute to the King 11/18 – An Evening with the Texas Gypsies
12/9 – Dailey & Vincent Christmas Show 1/13 – Chubby Checker and The Wildcats 1/20 – The Oak Ridge Boys 2/3 – The Hot Club of San Francisco 3/18 – Mandy Barnett 4/21 – An Evening with the Hitmen 5/4 – The Bellamy Brothers CHAMBER ORCHESTRA OF SAN ANTONIO 10/15 – 20th Century Icons 2/17 – Realization: Tristan und Isolde 5/12 – Myths Abound (Performances at Carlos Alvarez Studio Theatre at the Tobin Center) CHILDREN’S CHORUS OF SAN ANTONIO Performances at H-E-B Performance Hall at the Tobin Center 9/18 – Carmina Burana, collaboration with San Antonio Symphony and Mastersingers 10/27 & 29 – Carmen, collaboration with Opera San Antonio July/August 2016 | On The Town 15
12/11 - Winter Wonderland 5/14 - Mother’s Day II Performances at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church 2/27 - Ballads of The Borderland with SOLI Chamber Ensemble: 3/25 - Violins and Voices
1/15 – Miro Quartet 2/19 – Alamo Metro Chorus 3/19 – Doug Montgomery 4/23 – Sonic Escape 5/21 – San Antonio Brass (Performances at Fredericksburg United Methodist Church)
CHILDREN’S FINE ARTS SERIES 10/3 – Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters (Performance at H-E-B Performance Hall at the Tobin Center) 5/3-9 - 2017 Children’s International Puppet Festival (Performances at the Tobin Center’s various venues)
FREDERICKSBURG THEATER COMPANY 8/12-21 – A Grand Night for Singing 10/14-30 – Noises Off! 12/9-18 – It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play 2/17-3/5 – Hello Dolly! 4/13-30 – Driving Miss Daisy
CIRCLE ARTS THEATRE NEW BRAUNFELS 9/2-18 – Inherit the Wind 10/7-16 – God of Carnage 11/4-13 – The Phantom of the Wurst
HARLEQUIN THEATRE @ FORT SAM HOUSTON 8/12-9/10 – Birds 9/23-10/22 – Lady Sings The Blues 10/29-11/19 – Vintage Hitchcock: A Radio Play 11/25-12/17 – Christmas Wishes 1/13-2/25 – Deathtrap 3/10 -4/2 – Iconic 4/21-5/20 – Don’t Talk to the Actors
FREDERICKSBURG MUSIC CLUB 9/18 – Fei-Fei Dong 10/16 – Apollo Chamber Players 11/20 – Ava Pine 16 On The Town | July/August 2016
6/2-7/15 – Musical Revue to be announced MUSICAL BRIDGES AROUND THE WOTRLD Musical Evenings at San Fernando Cathedral 10/30 – Con Fuego 12/4 – Chicken Soup 1/15 – Spirituals in Concert 3/26 – Viennese Tort 5/7 – Black Swan Musical Bridges 4th Annual International Music Festival February, 2017 at various venues NORTH PARK LEXUS BROADWAY IN SAN ANTONIO AT THE MAJESTIC THEATRE 9/13-18 – The Sound of Music 10/25-30 – Cabaret 12/6-11 – Jersey Boys 1/10-15 – The Illusionists 3/3-5 – Rent 3/14-19 – Beautiful: The Carol King Musical 5/2-7 – Finding Neverland 6/6-11 – Matilda
OLMOS ENSEMBLE 8/14 – Bach and Sons 8/21 – Classical Pops 10/17 – Eastern European Spectacular 2/13 – Mighty Mozart 3/6 – Tribute to International Women’s Day 5/15 – L’Histoire du Soldat (Performances at Laurel Heights United Methodist Church) OPERA PICCOLA SAN ANTONIO 9/23 & 25 – Broadway vs. Opera (Performance at The Pearl Stable) 2/4-5 – La Cenerentola (Performance at Carver Cultural Center) 5/20-21 – La Hija de Rappaccini (Performance at Thiry Audtiorium at Our Lady of the Lake University) OPERA SAN ANTONIO 10/27 & 29 – Carmen 5/6-7 – The Barver of Seville (Performances at H-E-B Performance Hall at the Tobin Center)
PLAYHOUSE 2000 – KERRVILLE Performances at the Kathleen C. Cailloux Theater 7/15-30 – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum 10/28-11/13 – And Then There Were None Performance at the VK Garage Theatre 8/19-9/4 – Always a Bridesmaid ROCKBOX THEATER Fredericksburg 8/5 – An Conversation with Roy Clark 8/13 – Oh What a Night! 8/19-20 – Vinyl Radio 10/7 – Restless Night SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY 10/23 – Danish String Quartet 11/20 – Brasil Guitar Duo 1/22 – Aeolus Quartet 2/26 – Les Amies Trio 4/23 – Calmus Ensemble (Performances at Temple Beth-El)
SAN ANTONIO SYMPHONY Valero Classics Series 9/16-17 – Carmina Burana 9/30 & 10/1 – Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 11/4-5, The Tyrant’s Crush Concerto 11/18-19 – Tchaikovsky’s “Pathetque” 1/6-7 Mozart’s 40th Symphony 1/13-14 – Mozart & Mendelssohn 1/27 – Mozart & Rach 2/3-4, Mozart Piano Concerti 2/10-12 – Mozart No. 39 & Jupiter 3/17-18 – Masks 3/24-26 – From Piano Duo to Cinderella 3/31-4/1 – The Unfinished Symphony & Mahler No. 4 5/12-13 – Susan Graham: An American in Paris 5/19-20 – Debussy – Iberia (Performances at H-E-B Performance Hall at the Tobin Center) H-E-B Pops Series 9/23-24 – Off The Charts – Great Number One Hits July/August 2016 | On The Town 17
12/16-17 – Holiday Pops 1/20-21 – From Gospel to Soul to Broadway 4/21-22 – Fiesta Pops 5/26-27 – John Williams and Beyond (Performances at H-E-B Performance Hall at the Tobin Center) Special Concerts 3-4 - Gil Shaham 6/3 – Christopher Cross (Performances at H-E-B Performance Hall at the Tobin Center) SHELDON VEXLER THEATRE 8/18-9/11 – The Foreigner 10/20-11/13 – The Diary of Anne Frank 2/2-26 – North Shore Fish 5/4-/4 – Peter and the Starcatcher SYMPHONY OF THE HILLS 10/6 – Rach & Roll 12/1 – Home for Christmas 1/7 – The Very Best of Broadway 2/23 – Invitation to the Dance 4/27 – Mostly Mozart (Performances at Kathleen C. Cailloux Theater – Kerrville) 18 On The Town | July/August 2016
TOBIN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER BMW of San Antonio Signature Series 8/19 – Menopause: The Musical 1/29 – Mamma Mia 2/23 – Into The Woods 4/8-9 – Hedwig and the Angry Inch 4/13 – Greater Tuna (Performances at H-E-B Performance Hall at the Tobin Center) 11/17-19 – The Other Mozart (Performances at Carlos Alvarez Studio Theater at the Tobin Center) Tobin Center Dance Series 9/25 – Parsons Dance 1/18 – Pilobolus 3/28 – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 4/19 – Momix (Performances at H-E-B Performance Hall at the Tobin Center) Tobin Center Edge Series 9/23-24 – My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish and I’m in Therapy 1/19-21 – The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron? 2/24-26 – Disenchanted! The Musical
5/18-20 – Julie Madly Deeply (Performances at Carlos Alvarez Studio Theater at the Tobin Center) Tobin Center Studio Sessions – To Date 7/22 – Luke Wade 8/25 – Jack Broadbent 9/22 – Donavan – Sunshine Superman 50th Anniversary Tour 9/25 – Rick Robinson 9/30 – Penny & Sparrow 10/6 – The James Hunter Six 10/7 – Patrizio Buanne 10/8 – Jon McLaughlin 10/12 – Lori McKenna 10/16 – Glen Phillips 11/16 – Marc Cohen 1/29 – Carrie Newcomer 3/8 – Kathy Mattea (Performances at Carlos Alvarez Studio Theater at the Tobin Center) THE OVERTIME THEATER Performances in the Greg Barrios Theater 8/12-9/10 – Ghostbears!
10-7-11/5 – Locolobo 11/25-12/23 – Merry Gentlemen Performances in the Little Overtime Theater 7/29-8/27 – One Down 9/9-10/8 – Face 10/28- 11/19 – Jackson Square THE PLAYHOUSE SAN ANTONIO Russell Hill Rogers Theater 9/30-10/30 – Disney’s® Beauty and the Beast 12/2-19 – A Christmas Carol 2/10-3/12 – The Secret Garden 5/5-26 – Nine 7/7-8/6 – Hairspray: The Broadway Musical Cellar Theater 10/21-11/13 – The Glass Menagerie 1/20-2/12 – Fool for Love 3/17-4/9 – Disgraced 5/26-6/18 – Crimes of the Heart THE CLASSIC THEATRE OF SAN ANTONIO 9/2-25 – The House on Mango Street
11/4-27 – The School for Scandal 2/17-3/12 – The Tempest 5/5-28 – Bus Stop TUESDAY MUSICAL CLUB 10/25 – Julie Boulianne 11/29 – Ensemble Schumann 1/31 – Simone Porter 3/28 – Roman Rabinovich (Performances at Laurel Heights Methodist Church) VICTORIA SYMPHONY 9/1 – Kansas 9/17 – Master Series Concert 1 with Robert Belinic 10/20 – Symphonic Spooktacular 10/22 – Master Series Concert 2 with Gordon Gietz And D’Ana Lombard 1/21 – Master Series Concert 3 – Pops with Blood, Sweat and Tears 2/23 – Peter & the Wolf 2/25 – Master Series Concert 4 with Jose
Franch Ballester 4/27 – Downtown Rhythms 4/29 – Master Series Concert 5 with Vadym Kholodenko (All Performances at Victoria Fine Arts Center except Downtown Rhythms with is held at O’Connor Plaza) WOODLAWN THEATRE 8/12-9/11 – Evita 10/7-11/6 – Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street 11/25-12/23 – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat YOUTH ORCHESTRAS OF SAN ANTONIO 11/6 – Remembering Bowie 1/22 – Mozart at the Opera 3/13 – Purple Rain Live 5/16 – The Planets Live (Performances at H-E-B Performance Hall at the Tobin Center) July/August 2016 | On The Town 19
Photo Credits:
Page 17 (L-R)
Page 14 (L-R)
An Irish Christmas Courtesy anirishchristmastour.com
Sound of Music Photo by Matthew Murphy Alvin Ailey Dance Company Courtesy The Tobin Center Page 15 (L-R) Gil Shaham Photo by Christian Steiner Jersey Boys Photo by jeremy Daniel
Susan Graham Photo by Dario Acosta Page 18-19 (L-R) Hedwig and the Angry Inch Courtesy The Tobin Center Matilda Courtesy Majestic Theatre
Page 16 (L-R)
The Five Browns Courtesy thefivebrowns.com
Beautiful: The Carol King Musical Photo by Joan Marcus
Page 20
Mamma Mia Courtesy The Tobin Center
The Five Tenors Photo by Keith Dixon
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Events Calendar
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July/August 2016 Events Calendar Music Notes Bennett & Hines 7/1, Fri @ 6pm O’Brien’s in Bergheim Shinyribs 7/1, Fri @ 8pm Gruene Hall Kian ‘n’ JC: Don’t Try This at Home 7/1, Fri @ 8pm Aztec Theatre Cody Johnson and William Clark Green 7/1, Fri @ 8pm Luckenbach Dance Hall Almost Patsy Cline 7/1, Fri @ 8:15pm Leon Springs Dance Hall Clay Walker 7/1, Fri @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store Liverpool Legends: Beatles Tribute 7/1-2, Fri-Sat @ 8pm Rockbox Theater Fredericksburg
Chamber Orchestra of San Antonio Music Institute Concert 7/2, Sat @ 3pm & 7pm Carlos Alvarez Studio Theater at the Tobin Center Eli Young Band with Aaron Lewis 7/2, Sat @ 7:30pm Whitewater Amphitheater New Braunfels Tessy Lou and the Shotgun Stars 7/2, Sat @ 8pm Luckenbach Dance Hall America 7/2, Sat @ 8pm H-E-B Performance Hall at the Tobin Center Cactus Country 7/2, Sat 2 8:15pm Leon Springs Dance Hall Charlie Robison 7/2, Sat @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store The Statesboro Revue 7/2, Sat @ 9pm Gruene Hall
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Gary P. Nunn 7/3, Sun @ 8pm Gruene Hall New Edition: This One’s for You Tour 7/3, Sun @ 8pm H-E-B Performance Hall at the Tobin Center Feeding Texas Presents: The Lone Star Beer Texas Heritage Fest 7/3, Sun @ 8pm Aztec Theatre Two Ton Tuesday Two Tons of Steel 7/5-8/16, Tue @ 8:30pm Gruene Hall Cactus Pear Music Festival Program 1: Fantasies & Folktales 7/6, Thu @ 2pm Boerne First United Methodist Church 7/7, Thu @ 7pm Kerrville First Presbyterian Church 7/8, Fri @ 7pm Coker United Methodist Church Program 2: Passions Old, Passions New
7/9, Sat @ 7pm Coker United Methodist Church 7/10, Sun @ 2pm Boerne First United Methodist Church Program 3: French Impressions 7/15, Fri @ 7pm Coker United Methodist Church Program 4: Firecracker Finale 7/14, Thu @ 7pm McKenna Event Center in New Braunfels 7/16, Sat @ 7pm Coker United Methodist Church 7/17, Sun 2 2pm Boerne United Methodist Church Texas Public Radio Presents Emerson String Quartet 7/7, Thu @ 7:30pm H-E-B Performance Hall at the Tobin Center Ancira Music Series Matt Kimbrow 7/7, Thu @ 7:30pm The County Line on IH-10
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Country Music Encore 7/8-9, Fri 2 8pm Sat@ 3pm Rockbox Theater Fredericksburg
Marianas Trench: SPF 80s Tour 7/9, Sat @ 8pm Aztec Theatre Billy Mata 7/9, Sat @ 8:15pm Leon Springs Dance Hall
Balcones Heights Jazz Festival 7/8-8/5, Fri @ 7:30pm & 9pm Amphitheatre at Wonderland of the Americas
Mike and The Moonpies 7/9, Sat @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store
Nicky Jam 7/8, Fri @ 8pm Freeman Coliseum
L&M Kings 7/9, Sat @ 8pm Luckenbach Dance Hall
Jason Boland & The Stragglers 7/8, Fri @ 8pm Gruene Hall
American Aquarium 7/9, Sat @ 9pm Gruene Hall
Doug Moreland 7/8, Fri @ 8pm Luckenbach Dance Hall
Welcome to Night Vale 7/10, Sun @ 7pm Aztec Theatre
Parker McCollum 7/8, Fri @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store
Ted Nugent: Sonic Baptizm 2016 7/14, Thu @ 8pm H-E-B Performance Hall at the Tobin Center
Chris Young 7/9, Sat @ 7pm (doors open) Cowboys San Antonio
Ancira Music Series Dawn & Hawkes 7/14, Thu @ 7:30pm The County Line on IH-10
Halsey Badland Tour 7/9, Sat @ 7:30pm Whitewater Amphitheater New Braunfels
Belanova 7/14, Thu @ 9pm Aztec Theatre
Raymond Orta 7/9, Sat @ 8pm Charline McCombs Empire Theatre
Randy Rogers & Wade Bowen 7/14, Thu @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store
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Almost Patsy Cline 7/15, Fri @ 6pm O’Brien’s in Bergheim Loretta Lynn 7/15, Fri @ 8pm Majestic Theatre
Mayeux & Broussard 7/16, Sat @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store
Jason Roberts 7/15, Fri @ 8:15pm Leon Springs Dance Hall
Slightly Stoopid with SOJA and The Grouch 7/17, Sun @ 4:30pm Whitewater Amphitheater New Braunfels
Sean McConnell 7/15, Fri @ 8pm Gruene Hall
Shawn Mendes 7/19, Tue @ 7:30pm Freeman Coliseum
Jordon Minor and The Bottom Dollar Band 7/15, Fri @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store
Maxwell 7/19, Tue @ 8pm Majestic Theatre
Southern Brothers 7/15, Fri @ 9pm Luckenbach Dance Hall Donny Edwards: Elvis Tribute 7/15-16, Fri-Sat @ 8pm Rockbox Theater Fredericksburg Ghostland Observatory 7/16, Sat @ 7:30pm Whitewater Amphitheater New Braunfels Cody Canada and The Departed 7/16, Sat @ 9pm Luckenbach Dance Hall Chris Knight 7/16, Sat @ 9pm Gruene Hall
Roger Creager’s Birthday Show 7/20-23, Wed-Fri @ 8pm Sat @ 9pm Gruene Hall Ancira Music Series Southern Brothers Tour 7/21, Thu @ 7:30pm The County Line on IH-10 Garth Brooks: World Tour 7/22-24, Fri @ 7pm Sat @ 7pm & 10:30pm Sun @ 7:30pm AT&T Center Tobin Studio Sessions Luke Wade 7/22, Fri @ 8pm Carlos Alvarez Studio Theater at the Tobin Center
Almost Patsy Cline 7/22, Fri @ 8pm Luckenbach Dance Hall
Steve Miller Band 7/24, Sun @ 7:30pm Majestic Theatre
3 Chord Rodeo 7/22, Fri @ 8:15pm Leon Springs Dance Hall
An Evening with Kevin Costner & Modern West 7/24, Sun @ 8pm Gruene Hall
Mike Ryan 7/22, Fri @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store Rey Lopez Entertainment Presents: #QUEENS #RLE Birthday Bash 7/22, Fri @ 9pm Aztec Theatre DCI: Drum Corp International Southwestern Championship 7/23, Sat @ 1:30pm Alamodome Turnpike Troubadours 7/23, Sat @ 7:30pm Whitewater Amphitheater New Braunfels Shinyribs 7/23, Sat @ 8pm Luckenbach Dance Hall Back in Black: A Tribute to AC/DC 7/23, Sat @ 9pm Aztec Theatre Green River Ordinance 7/23, Sat @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store
Pitbull: The Bad Man Tour 7/26, Tue @ 7pm AT&T Center Ancira Music Series Folk Family Revival 7/28, Thu @ 7:30pm The County Line on IH-10 Two Tons of Steel 7/29, Fri @ 7:30pm O’Brien’s in Bergheim Kyle Park 7/29, Fri @ 8pm Gruene Hall Howard Hewitt with special guest Blame the Comic 7/29, Fri @ 8pm Carlos Alvarez Studio Theater at the Tobin Center University of the Incarnate Word Mozart Festival Texas MFT Wind Ensemble with Artisan Quartet 7/29 – Fri @ 8pm July/August 2016 | On The Town 27
Mozart Festival Orchestra Younggun Kim, piano Terence Frazor, conductor 7/30, Sat @ 8pm Rick Rowley, piano 7/31 – Sun @ 3pm Richard Kilmer, violin, Artisan Quartet and Schuman Piano Quintet 8/5, Fri @ 8pm Mozart Festival Orchestra Gary Fair, clarinet Terence Frazor, conductor 8/6, Sat @ 8pm UIW Concert Hall
Rocky King Band 7/30, Sat @ 8”15pm Leon Springs Dance Hall
Zane Williams 8/5, Fri @ 8pm Gruene Hall
Curtis Grimes 8/6, Sat @ 9pm Gruene Hall
Joelton Mayfield 7/30, Sat @ 9pm Luckenbach Dance Hall
Russ: Did It My Way Tour 8/5, Fri @ 8pm Aztec Theatre
Jason James 7/30, Sat @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store
Almost Patsy Cline 8/5, Fri @ 8:15pm Leon Springs Dance Hall
Riff Raff: The Peach Panther Tour 8/8, Mon @ 8pm Aztec Theatre
Max Stalling 7/30, Sat @ 9pm Gruene Hall
Dale Watson 8/5, Fri @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store
The Merles 7/29, Fri @ 8pm Luckenbach Dance Hall
Case / Lang / Veirs 8/2, Tue @ 7:30pm H-E-B Performance Hall at the Tobin Center
Natalie Rose 7/29, Fri @ 8:15pm Leon Springs Dance Hall
The Cult 8/2, Tue @ 8pm Aztec Theatre
Nick Lawrence 7/29, @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store
Culture Club 8/3-4, Wed-Thu @ 7:30pm H-E-B Performance Hall at the Tobin Center
Blink 182 7/30, Sat @ 7pm AT&T Center
Ancira Music Series Cameran Nelson 8/4, Thu @ 7:30pm The County Line on IH-10
Pat Green & Cory Morrow 7/30, Sat @ 7:30pm Whitewater Amphitheater New Braunfels Mixfest 2016 with Lukas Graham, Jacob Whiteside and more 7/30, Sat @ 7pm H-E-B Performance Hall at the Tobin Center
Cody Johnson 8/5, Fri @ 7pm (doors open) Cowboys San Antonio Josh Abbott Band Presents Toobapalooza 8/5, Fri @ 7:30pm Whitewater Amphitheater New Braunfels
28 On The Town | July/August 2016
Dirty Heads 8/9, Tue @ 8pm Aztec Theatre Frankie Valli 8/10, Wed @ 8pm Majestic Theatre
A Conversation with Roy Clark 8/5, Fri @ 8pm Rockbox Theater
Clint Black 8/11, Thu @ 7:30pm H-E-B Performance Hall at the Tobin Center
Ryan Bingham & Shakey Graves 8/6, Sat @ 7:30pm Whitewater Amphitheater New Braunfels
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy 8/11, Thu @ 8pm Charline McCombs Empire Theatre
K. Michelle 8/6, Sat @ 8pm Aztec Theatre
OV7 y Kabah 8/11, Thu @ 8:30pm Majestic Theatre
Bobby Flores and the Yellow Rose Band 8/6, Sat @ 8:15pm Leon Springs Dance Hall Kevin Fowler 8/6, Sat @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store Gary P. Nunn 8/6, Sat @ 9pm Luckenbach Dance Hall
Rick Cavender Band 8/12, Fri @ 6:30pm O’Brien’s in Bergheim Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison 8/12, Fri @ 8pm Gruene Hall Tessy Lou and the Shotgun Stars 8/12, Fri @ 8pm Luckenbach Dance Hall
July/August 2016 | On The Town 29
Fingerpistol 8/12, Fri @ 8:15pm Leon Springs Dance Hall
Cory Morrow 8/13, Sat @ 8pm Luckenbach Dance Hall
Zoso 8/18, Thu @ 8pm Aztec Theatre
The Georges 8/12, Fri @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store
Jeff Woolsey and the Dancehall Kings 8/13, Sat @ 8:15pm Leon Springs Dance Hall
Almost Patsy Cline 8/19, Fri @ 6pm O’Brien’s in Bergheim
Oh What a Night: Tribute to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons 8/13, Sat @ 3pm & 8pm Rockbox Theater Fredericksburg
Cody Jinks & Whitey Morgan 8/13, Sat @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store
Billy Bob Thorton & The Boxmasters 8/13, Sat @ 8pm Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre New Braunfels
Dirty River Boys 8/13, Sat @ 9pm Gruene Hall Jeremih 8/17, Wed @ 8pm Aztec Theatre
30 On The Town | July/August 2016
Julion Alvarez 8/19, Sat @ 8pm Freeman Coliseum Rocky King Band 8/19 – Fri @ 8:15pm Leon Springs Dance Hall Hayes Carll 8/19-20, Fri @ 8pm Sat @ 9pm Gruene Hall
Steve Wariner 8/19, Fri @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store The Merles 8/19, Fri @ 8pm Luckenbach Dance Hall Vinyl Radio: Tribute to the Best 70s Rock ‘n Roll 8/19-20, Sat @ 8pm Sun @ 3pm Rockbox Theater Fredericksburg Arts San Antonio The Pedrito Martinez Group 8/20, Sat @ 7:30pm Guadalupe Theatre
Dwight Yoakam 8/20, Sat @ 7:30pm Whitewater Amphitheater New Braunfels 1964 The Tribute 8/20, Sat @ 8pm Majestic Theatre
Arts San Antonio & Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center Present Lila Downs and the Guadalupe Dance Company 8/26, Fri @ 7:30pm Lila Cockrell Theater
Omara Portuondo & Elioades Ochoa from Buena Vista Social Club 8/20, Sat @ 8pm H-E-B Performance Hall at the Tobin Center
Lyle Lovett 8/26, Fri @ 8pm Majestic Theatre
Parker McCollum 8.29, Sat @ 8pm Luckenbach Dance Hall
Max Stalling 8/26, Fri @ 9pm Luckenbach Dance Hall
Justin Trevino 8/20, Sat @ 8:15pm Leon Springs Dance Hall
Bricks in The Wall: The Sights and Sounds of Pink Floyd 8/26, Fri @ 8pm Aztec Theatre
Sam Riggs 8/20, Sat @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store Summerland Tour 2016 8/21, Sun @ 7pm (doors open) Cowboys San Antonio Tobin Studio Sessions Jack Broadbent 8/25, Thu @ 7:30pm Carlos Alvarez Studio Theater at the Tobin Center
Cactus Country 8/26, Fri @ 8:15pm Leon Springs Dance Hall
Aaron Watson 8/26-27, Fri @ 8pm Sat @ 9pm Gruene Hall Whiskey Meyers 8/26, Fri @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store Legends Fest 2016 8/27, Sat @ 7pm (doors open) Cowboys San Antonio July/August 2016 | On The Town 31
Willie Colon 8/27, Sat @ 9pm Aztec Theatre L&M Kings 8/27, Sat @ 8pm Luckenbach Dance Hall Micky and the Motorcars 8/27, Sat @ 9pm John T. Floore Country Store Lee Cadena in Concert 8/28, Sun @ 6pm Jo Long Theatre at the Carver
Live Theater Fredericksburg Theater Company Disney’s Beauty and the Beast 7/1-3, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pm Sun @ 2pm Steve W. Shepherd Theater The Overtime Theater American Pride 7/1-3, Fri-Sat @ 8pm Sun @ 3pm Little Overtime Theater Harlequin Theatre at Fort Sam Houston Those Oldies But Goodies 7/1-23, Thu-Sat @ 8pm
Woodlawn Theatre Disney’s® The Little Mermaid 7/1-24, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pm Sun @ 3pm
Somebody Else’s Husband 7/9, Sat @ 7pm Jo Long Theatre at the Carver
Bring It Live! 7/22, Fri @ 8pm Carlos Alvarez Studio Theater at the Tobin Center
Circle Arts Theatre New Braunfels Footloose 7/1-24, Thu-Sat @ 8pm Sun @ 2pm
S.T.A.G.E in Bulverde Bark: The Runaway Smash Hit Musical 7/14-31, Thu-Sat @ 8pm Sun @ 2:30pm Krause House Theatre
Blakk America: From Prophets to Pimps 7/23, Sat @ 6:30pm Jo Long Theatre at the Carver
The Overtime Theater Black: A Comedy of Bubonic Proportions 7/1-30, Fri-Sat @ 8pm 7/10, Sun @ 3pm 7/24, Sun @ 7pm Greg Barrios Theater Smith-Ritch Point OutdoorTheater – Ingram The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance 7/8-30, Fri-Sat @ 8:30pm Sun – 7/17 only @ 8:30pm The Wimberley Players Jesus Christ Superstar 7/8-31, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pm Sun @ 2:30pm Wimberley Playhouse The Playhouse San Antonio The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas 7/8-8/7, Fri-Sat @ 8pm Sun @ 3pm Russell Hill Rogers Theater
32 On The Town | July/August 2016
The Overtime Theater My Name Was Dorian… Dorian Gray 7/15-24, Fri-Sat @ 8pm 7/17, Sun @ 7pm 7/24, Sun @ 3pm Little Overtime Theater Playhouse 2000 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum 7/15-30, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pm Sun (7/24 only) @ 2pm Kathleen C. Cailloux Theater Kerrville Boerne Community Theatre Don’t Dress for Dinner 7/15-30, Thu @ 7:30pm Fri-Sat @ 8pm Sun @ 2:30pm Todrick Hall Straight Outa Oz 7/19, Tue @ 7pm H-E-B Performance Hall at the Tobin Center
The Playhouse San Antonio Two Sisters and a Piano 7/29-8/21, Fri-Sat @ 8pm Sun @ 3pm The Cellar Theater The Overtime Theater One Down 7/29-8/27, Fri-Sat @ 8pm 7/7, Sun @ 3pm 7/21, Sun @ 7pm Little Overtime Theater Elizabeth Huth Coates Indoor Theatre -Ingram Pump Boys and Dinettes 8/5-12, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pm Sun 7/14 & 21 @ 2pm Fredericksburg Theater Company A Grand Night for Singing 8/12-21, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pm Sun @ 2pm Steve W. Shepherd Theater The Overtime Theater Ghostbears! 8/12-9/10, Fri-Sat @ 8pm 8/21, Sun @ 3pm 9/4, Sun @ 7pm Greg Barrios Theater
Harlequin Theatre at Fort Sam Houston Birds 8/12-9/10, Thu-Sat @ 8pm Woodlawn Theatre Evita 8/12-9/11 Fri-Sat @ 7:30pm Sun @ 3pm Sheldon Vexler Theatre The Foreigner 8/18-9/11, Thu @ 7:30pm Sat @ 8pm Sun @ 2:30pm (No shows on Fridays) Playhouse 2000 Kerrville Always a Bridesmaid 8/19-9/4, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pm Sun @ 2:30pm VK Garage Theater BMW of San Antonio Signature Series Menopause The Musical 8/19. Fri @ 8pm H-E-B Performance Hall at the Tobin Center Vicki Lawrence & Mama A Two-Woman Show 8/21, Sun @ 7pm H-E-B Performance Hall at the Tobin Center Jaston Williams’ Blame It On Valentine, Texas 8/27-28, Sat @ 7:30pm Sun @ 2pm Fredericksburg Theater Company
Dance Third Coast Rhythm Project Jazzed on Tap 7/29, Fri @ 8pm Jo Long Theatre at the Carver Maks and Val Live on Tour: Our Way 8/7, Sun @ 8pm Majestic Theatre
Cinema Fathom Eventst 7/7 – Kenneth Branagh Theatre – Romeo and Juliet 7/13 – Metropolitan Opera – La Boheme 7/14 – Art & Architecture in Cinema – St. Peter’s and the Papal Basilicas of Rome 7/19 – National Theatre Live – The Audience 7/20 – Metropolitan Opera – Cosi fan tutte 7/26 - Lincoln Center at the Movies – Alvin Ailey Dance 8/2 – Lincoln Center at the Movies – Ballet Hispanico 8/9 – Lincoln Center at the Movies – San Francisco Ballet July/August 2016 | On The Town 33
8/11 – Drum Corp International – Big, Loud & Live 13 8/28 & 31 – Rogers & Hammerstein’s The King & I For theater locations and show times for these performance - www. fathomevents.com
Comedy Shayla Rivera 7/1, Fri @ 8pm & 10:15pm Sun @ 8pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club Rick Gutierrez 7/1-3, Fri-Sun @ 8pm & 10:15pm Improv Comedy Club Rivercenter Mike Epps 7/2-3, Sat @ 7:30pm & 10:15pm Sun @ 7pm & 9:30pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club Kristen Linder 7/6, Wed @ 8pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club Jay Whitecotton 7/6-7, Wed-Thu @ 8:30pm Improv Comedy Club Rivercenter
Shane Mauss 7/7-11, Thu @ 8pm Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10pm Sun @ 8pm (Psychedelics show) Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club Greg Fritzsimmons 7/8-10, Fri-Sat@ 8pm & 10:15pm Sun @ 8pm Improv Comedy Club Rivercenter Jim Gaffigan: Fully Dressed 7/10, Sun @ 7pm & 9:30pm Majestic Theatre Poppy Chamberlain & The Queer Queens of Comedy 7/13-14, Wed-Thu @ 8pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club Kevin Shea 7/13-17, Wed-Thu @ 8:30pm Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pm Sun @ 8pm Improv Comedy Club Rivercenter La Semesienta 7/14, Thu @ 8:30pm Majestic Theatre Tommy Davidson 7/15-17, Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pm Sun @ 7pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club
34 On The Town | July/August 2016
Mike Suarez 7/20, Wed @ 8:30pm Improv Comedy Club Rivercenter
James Ponce 7/27-28, Wed-Thu @ 8pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club
Mark Riccadonna 7/20-21, Wed-Thu @ 8pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club
Reformed Whores 7/28-31, Thu @ 8:30pm Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pm Sun @ 8pm Improv Comedy Club Rivercenter
Matt Braunger 7/21-23, Thu @ 8:30pm Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pm Improv Comedy Club Rivercenter Bob Stromberg Comedy With Character 7/22, Fri @ 8pm Rockbox Theater Fredericksburg Dave Attel 7/22-23, Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club Mark Riccadonna 7/24, Sun @ 7pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club Mike Suarez 7/24, Sun @ 8pm Improv Comedy Club Rivercenter Blair Thompson 7/27, Wed @ 8:30pm Improv Comedy Club Rivercenter
Robert Kelly 7/29-31, Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pm Sun @ 7pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club Todd Larson 8/3, Wed @ 8:30pm Improv Comedy Club Rivercenter Todd Johnson 8/3-4, Wed-Thu @ 8pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club Los Locos Suarez 8/4, Thu @ 8:30pm Majestic Theatre Darren Carter 8/4-7, Thu @ 8:30pm Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pm Sun @ 8pm Improv Comedy Club John Reep 8/5-7, Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pm Sun @ 7pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club
Bill Maher 8/6, Sat @ 8pm Majestic Theatre Kevin Shea 8/10-14, Wed-Thu @ 8:30pm Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pm Sun @ 8pm Improv Comedy Club Rivercenter Roman vs. Fousey 8/12, Fri @ 8pm Majestic Theatre
Carlos Mencia 8/12-14, Fri @ 7:30pm & 10:15pm Sat @ 7pm, 9:15pm & 11:30pm Sun @ 7pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club Chris Mata 8/17, Wed @ 8:30pm Improv Comedy Club Rivercenter
Mitch Fatel 8/18-21 Thu @ 8:30pm Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pm Sun @ 8pm Improv Comedy Club Rivercenter
Taylor Williamson 8/20, Sat @ 8pm Carlos Alvarez Studio Theater at the Tobin Center
Cristela Alonzo 8/20, Sat @ 7pm & 10pm Charline McCombs Empire Theatre
New Faces Showcase 8/25, Thu @ 8:30pm Improv Comedy Club Rivercenter
Alex Ansel 8/24, Wed @ 8:30pm Improv Comedy Club Rivercenter
July/August 2016 | On The Town 35
Sinbad 8/25, Thu @ 8pm Majestic Theatre
Hudson Showroom Liz Shepherd Thru 8/28
Sommore 8/26-28, Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pm Sun @ 8pm Improv Comedy Club Rivercenter
Window Works Ramin Samindari Thru 8/28
Quinn Dahle 8/31, Wed @ 8pm Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club
Children's Magik Theatre La Cinderella 7/2-8/7 For details: www. magiktheatre.org Magik Theatre Treasure Island 8/20-9/17 For details: www. magiktheatre.org
Exhibitions ARTPACE International Artists in Residence Exhibit Rachel MacLean Juan William Chavez Andy Coolquitt Dominic Molon, curator 7/14-9/11
BLUE STAR CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM Thomas Cummings Opening 8/4 Splitsplice Featuring Kristen Reynolds Opening 8/4 BIHL HAUS ARTS Profiling Made Visible: The Art of Mark Anthony Martinez & Michael Martinez Thru 7/9 BRISCOE WESTERN ART MUSEUM 210/West Gallery Talk Double-Barreled History: Firearms in the American West Ryan Badger 7/5, Tue @ 6:30pm Ranching on the Historic Rio Grande Lupita Barrera 8/2, Tue @ 6:30pm
36 On The Town | July/August 2016
Briscoe Book Club The Farthest Home is in an Empire of Fire: A Tejano Elegy John Philip Sanchez 7/12, Tue @ 6:30 No Country for Old Men Cormac McCarthy 8/9, Tue @ 6:30pm Briscoe Film Series The Unforgiven 7/19, Tue @ 6:30pm No Country for Old Men 8/16, Tue @ 6:30pm INSTITUTE OF TEXAN CULTURES Nuestra Historia Thru 9/4 Our Part of Victory Thru 12/7 Girl’s Eye View 7/29-10/31 LINDA PACE FOUNDATION
McNAY ART MUSEUM Stephan Westfall: The Holy Forest Thru 7/31 Art for the Sake of Art: Ornament Prints from the Blanton Museum of Art Thru 8/7 Object Romance: Contemporary Approaches to Still Life Thru 8/7 Greg Smith: The Loop Thru 8/28 Shepard Fairey at the McNay Thru 9/11 Coney Island: Visions of an American Dreamland, 1861-2008 Thru 9/11 Parlour Games: Ruloff Kip’s Toy Theatre 7/6-2/6
Secondary Stories by Brazilian Artist Rivane Neuenschwander Thru 7/29
AT&T Lobby Installation: Leigh Anne Lester 8/10-7/30
Adam (Public Artwork) By Arturo Herrera 25’ h x 98’ w, Frost Bank Garage Commerce at Main Thru 12/2016
Storybook Houses Thru 7/10
SAN ANTONIO BOTANICAL GARDEN
Winged Wonders Thru 10/30
November/December July/August 2015 2016 | On The Town 37
Art in the Garden: By Alyson Shotz Thru June 2017 SAN ANTONIO MUSEUM OF ART Mi Casa, Your House Thru 8/21 Heaven and Hell: Salvation and Retribution In Pure Land Buddhism Thru 9/3 Highest Heaven: Spanish and Portuguese Colonial Art from the Collection of Roberta and Richard Huber Thru 9/4 Carlos Merida: Selections from the Permanent Collection 7/8-1/28 SOUTHWEST SCHOOL OF ART
WITTE MUSEUM Splendor on the Range: American Indians and the Horse Thru 8/21 Mapping Texas: From Frontier to the Lone Star State Thru 9/5 Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed Thru 9/5
Miscellaneous Fiesta Noche del Rio Thru 8/13, Fri-Sat @ 8:30pm Arneson River Theatre in La Villita Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus: XTREME 7/1-4, Fri @ 7:30pm Sat-Mon @ 1pm & 5pm AT&T Center
Mona Marshall Three Stories About Water Thru 7/3
Magic Foolers 7/3, Sun @ 8pm Lila Cockrell Theater
Karen Mahaffy Accumulated Erosions Thru 7/3
Champions of Magic 7/4, Mon @ 8pm Lila Cockrell Theater
Anthony Rundblade Echoes From a Bear Cave Thru 8/21 All School Juried Exhibition 2016 7/23-8/21
The Great Big Magic Show 7/5, Tue @ 8pm Lila Cockrell Theater Club America vs. Club Santos 7/9, Sat @ 8pm Alamodome
38 On The Town | July/August 2016
Matt Bellassai: Drunk and Alone Tour 7/10, Sun @ 7pm Carlos Alvarez Theater at the Tobin Center Dr. Cesar Lozano 8/10, Wed @ 8pm Lila Cockrell Theater Culinaria Restaurant Week 8/13-27 For details: www. culinariasa.org
Rong-Huey Liu Courtesy Cactus Pear Music Festival Eric Gratz Courtesy ericgratz.net Page 27 (L-R) Emerson String Quartet Courtesy emersonquartet.com Maxwell Courtesy Majestic Theatre
Odin Dupeyron 8/20, Sat @ 8pm Lila Cockrell Theatre
Page 28 (L-R) Roger Creager Courtesy live@floores.com
Edward, Heyward & Friends: The Power of Relationships 8/26, Fri @ 6pm Jo Long Theatre at the Carver
Kyle Park Courtesy live@floores.com
WWE Live 8/28, Sun @ 5pm Freeman Coliseum
Younggun Kim Photo by bohuang.cc Rick Rowley Courtesy UIW Mozart Festival
Photo Credits
Page 31 (L-R) Ensemble Schuman Photo © Susan Wilson
Page 27 (L-R) Almost Patsy Cline Courtesy Leon Springs Dance Hall
Natalie Rose Courtesy natalierosemusic. com
Lachezar Kostov Courtesy lachezarkostov.net
Page 32 (L-R) Pat Green Courtesy patgreen.com
Charlie Robison Courtesy charlierobison.com Gary P. Nunn Courtesy liveatfloores.com
Cory Morrow Courtesy cmt.com Max Stalling Courtesy maxstalling.com
Page 26 (L-R) Two Tons of Steel Courtesy twotons.com
Case / Lang / Veirs Courtesy The Tobin Center
Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio © La Bella Vita Photography
Page 33 (L-R) Dale Watson Courtesy live@floores.com
Clint Black Courtesy cmt.com
Page 35 (L-R) The Spazmatics Courtesy thespazmatics.net
Page 34 (L-R) Sawyer Fredericks Courtesy The Tobin Center
Menopause the Musical Courtesy The Tobin Center
Omara Portuondo Courtesy The Tobin Center
Jaston Williams Photo by Brenda Ladd Photo.com
Lila Downs Courtesy Arts San Antonio
Vicki Lawrence and Mama Courtesy The Tobin Center
Guadalupe Dance Company Courtesy Guadalupe Cultural Center
Page 36 (L-R) Gary Fair Courtesy UIW Mozart Festival
Val and Maks Courtesy valandmakstour.com Oh What A Night! Courtesy Rockbox Theatre Shayla Rivera Courtesy Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club Page 38 (L-R) Mike Epps Courtesy Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club Jim Gaffigan Courtesy Majestic Theatre Tommy Davidson Courtesy tommycat.net
Reformed Whores Courtesy Improv Comedy Club Rivercenter Page 38 (L-R) Bill Maher Courtesy Majestic Theatre Bob Stromberg Courtesy Rockbox Theater Carlos Mencia Courtesy Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club Sinbad Courtesy Majestic Theatre
July/August 2016 | On The Town 39
40 On The Town | July/August 2016
Culinary Arts 42-56
July/August 2016 | On The Town 41
Sarah and Roland Gutierrez 42 On The Town | July/August 2016
Alejandra and Cesar Amadore
EDERA OSTERIA ENOTECA
Serving Mediterranean Fusion Fair with a Modern Italian / Old World Spanish Flare By Olivier J. Bourgoin, aka. Olivier the Wine Guy Photography Greg Harrison
E
dera is the Italian word for ivy. In this case, it is a nod to the gorgeous fig ivy that grows on the side of the spacious building where Edera Osteria-Enoteca is located. The 7,500-square -foot building in San Antonio’s Alta Vista neighborhood nor th of downtown previously was home to The Rose Shop.
decided to come here to help put some systems in place in the kitchen, control food costs … Cesar star ted out as a waiter at the Sandbar, and he has worked extremely hard to get to where he is. I saw an oppor tunity to lend him a hand so I came here to help him. He deser ves a shot and someone in his corner.”
Originally from Sober, Spain, Cesar Amadore worked his way up from waiter at the Sandbar restaurant to manager at Il Sogno restaurant at the Pearl. Now he has teamed up with San Antonio native and former city councilman Rep. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, and Gutierrez ’s wife, Sarah, to open Edera, where Amadore is general manager.
Amadore, now a seasoned veteran who has built an excellent reputation for his work ethic, also is known for paying great attention to detail and for paying equal attention to superior ser vice. Guests can expect the same at Edera.
With lunch entrées mostly between $10 and $12 and dinner entrees from $16 to $ 38, Edera offers grilled salmon ser ved with cannelloni beans, A native of Chicago, chef Chris Carlson worked cipollini onions, braised fennels, fried shallots in his hometown with celebrity chefs Charlie and Napa cabbage, as well as a prime Angus Trotter and Michael Kornick before joining the ribeye with red potatoes, kale and pancetta. The kitchen of chef Andrew Weissman at Le Rêve in spinach salad includes kale, heirloom beets and San Antonio in 2001. Their association, first at cucumbers with a cilantro-avocado vinaigrette. Le Rêve, then at the original Sandbar, followed The Stracciatella di Bufala is ser ved with firstby Il Sogno and then at the second iteration press olive oil, house -made potato bread and of the Sandbar at the Pearl, lasted 14 years baby ar tichoke. The truffle fries are a highlight until Carlson helped open Restaurant Brigid in of the happy-hour menu. Southtown. After that, Carlson moved on to help out his friend Amadore at Edera. Edera Osteria-Enoteca 1903 San Pedro Ave., San Antonio, T X 78212 “Cesar is one of the hardest-working people 210-530-1111 I know,” Carlson said, referring to Amadore. “I www.ederaosteria.com
July/August 2016 | On The Town 43
44 On The Town | July/August 2016
Dining with a Purpose
San Antonio Restaurant Week By Ginger McAneer-Robinson Photography courtesy Culinaria
S
an Antonio Restaurant Week, running Aug. 13-27, is one of Culinaria’s three signature events, along with the 5K Wine and Beer Run and the Wine and Food Festival. Restaurant Week is more than just a celebration of culinary creativity; it’s a celebration of the best dining in the city. Restaurant Week is held twice a year, in Janaury and August. Culinaria picked those months
because historically they are slow times for the restaurant industry. Culinaria has received great feedback from many of the chefs and restaurant teams about how grateful they are for the boost in business during Restaurant Week. The event is becoming a staple among those who favor the sustainable culture of supporting local businesses. Culinaria makes it simple and affordable to dine July/August 2016 | On The Town 45
at one or more of the participaitng restaurants through menu offerings. Restaurants are required to offer a three-course, prix-fixe menu under one of two tiers. Tier 1 participants are required to offer a lunch and/or dinner menu for $15 and/or $35, respectively, while Tier 2 prices are are offered at $10 for lunch and $25 for dinner. By selecting restaurants based on one of the tiers and, in many cases, viewing the available menus in advance, attendees have a great idea of what their dining experience will be prior to their meal. Culinaria recruits restaurants from across the city for this biannual event. Some participants are staples in San Antonio, such as Jason Dady Restaurant Group, Bliss and Boiler House, among many others. Particiapting restaurants are located from Southtown through downtown and the Pearl, up through the Quarry and Stone Oak, to La Cantera and Helotes -- and everywhere in between. More than 70 restaurants participated in January. Although San Antonio Restaurant Week is a great time for guests to try newly crafted menu items, Instagram their way through three-course meals and share a bottle of wine with friends, there is a greater cause at the end of the day. Through Culinaria’s Give Back Program, restaurants donate $1 from every lunch sold and $2 from every dinner sold directly to The Farm. Opening this fall, The Farm is a strategic, educational extension of Culinaria and a homegrown effort of many chefs, food professionals, farmers, volunteers, sponsors and passionate staff. With construction underway and programs around the corner, Restaurant Week support means more now than ever. New this year is a schedule change for the popular Food Truck Event, presented by H-E-B, which will be featured as a separate event on Sept. 10. Some of San Antonio’s favorite mobile chefs will present their most beloved menu items, wineries will offer their finest wines, and family enter tainment will be available. For more information, including a list of par ticipating restaurants and menus as they become available, visit CulinariaSA.org or call 210-822-9555.
46 On The Town | July/August 2016
July/August 2016 | On The Town 47
Alejandro Santoyo Chef-Owner 48 On The Town | July/August 2016
Satisfy Your Italian Cravings at Pesto Ristorante By Rudy Arispe Photography Greg Harrison
A
lejandro Santoyo didn’t learn to cook as a kid by watching his mother, or grandmother, for that matter, as many chefs have been known to do. Instead, his foray into food all began at a five-star Chicago hotel as a dishwasher.
His chef specials range from Seafood Fettuccini (panseared shrimp, scallops, mussels and clams served with fettuccini pasta) to the Grilled Pork Chop (two pork chops grilled and served with potato gnocchi and pancetta topped with blackberry wine reduction) to the Grilled Filet Mignon (5-ounce grilled filet mignon served with creamy potato gnocchi in a mushroom wine sauce).
“Washing dishes is long, tedious work,” said Santoyo, owner and chef of Pesto Ristorante in San Antonio. “But if it wasn’t for that first job in a kitchen, I probably wouldn’t Daily lunch specials for $8.95 include Blackened Chicken be where I am today.” with Fettuccini Alfredo, Sesame Crusted Chicken on a House Italian Salade, and the Trout Almondine with Later, Santoyo was promoted to prep cook and then line Linguini and Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce. cook. It was there that he learned to cook Italian dishes from the menu that the hotel offered guests. He honed For those who like to be creative with their food, his culinary skills when he relocated to San Antonio in there is the create-your-own-pasta menu. First, you 1994 and began working at Paesano’s, where he worked choose your pasta: spaghetti, fettuccini, linguine or his way from line cook to sous chef to executive chef -- penne. Next select your sauce: tomato sauce, meat the latter position for 10 years. sauce, lemon butter garlic or Alfredo sauce. Then you add your choice of Romano Crusted Chicken, Grilled In 2012, Santoyo decided to go into business for himself Chicken, Italian Sausage, Grilled Fresh Vegetables, and opened Pesto Ristorante, which he operates along Grilled Shrimp or Pesto Grilled Salmon. with his wife, Norah. “I’ve always been a chef,” he said. “I wanted to have a restaurant for me and my family.” Save room for dessert and choose from Godiva Chocolate Torte, Vanilla Brandy Cake and Lemoncello Cheesecake, The delectable offerings at Pesto Ristorante, which among others. include pastas, pizzas, soups, salads, sandwiches and chef specials, are all Santoyo’s creations. For instance, Pesto Ristorante also offers catering services for small and the Romano Crusted Chicken served with linguini large parties, having most recently provided food for a pasta is a guest favorite, as well as the Shrimp All company party of 400. “We invite those who are planning Griglia: Grilled Shrimp served with veggies and lemon an event to a food tasting at the restaurant,” Santoyo said. butter garlic sauce. “I can also offer them a menu of their choice.” “Many times when people cook pasta, they put a little Although Santoyo learned much of his cooking informally butter on top, and it can still be a little bland, but I like by working in the industry, he has a formal education in to mix it with different flavors like pesto to give it a great culinary arts through St. Phillip’s College. taste,” Santoyo said. Pesto Ristorante Among the list of pizzas, Santoyo recommends two 15179 Judson Road. in particular: the Pizza Pesto with Chicken, made with Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday. basil pesto spread with artichokes, chicken, feta cheese, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. banana peppers and melted mozzarella, and the Pizza Noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. Bianco, topped with alfredo sauce, mushrooms, spinach Visit www.pesto-ristorante.com or call 210-546-1331. and melted mozzarella. July/August 2016 | On The Town 49
THE INFINITE
MONKEY THEOREM: A COUNTER-CULTURE URBAN WINERY OPENS IN AUSTIN By Olivier J. Bourgoin aka “Olivier, the Wine Guy”
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rban. Gritty. No vineyard. No pretense.” That’s how Austin’s recently opened urban winery, the Infinite Monkey Theorem (IMT ), promotes itself, along with a fiercely independent spirit where environmentally conscious wine is made, sold and consumed. 50 On The Town | July/August 2016
The winery is named after a whimsical -- and unproven -- scientific theory stating that a monkey given access to a keyboard for an infinite duration of time would almost surely and entirely randomly type a given text, such as the entire body of Shakespeare’s work.
IMT is in a 6,000-square -foot South Austin building that used to be a mechanic’s workshop. It opened its doors off South Congress Avenue last October. Winemaker and IMT co-founder Ben Parsons grew up in Kent, England, and moved to Australia in his early 20s, thirsty for adventure. After completing his degree in oenology at the University of Adelaide, Parsons returned to England. After reading an ad for a position at Canyon Wind Cellars in Palisade, Colorado, he moved there in 2001.
“It just didn’t make a lot of sense,” Parsons said. “Purely from a logistics standpoint, I started to realize that instead we could truck the grapes in and make the wine in the city. It’s also better for the environment. Instead of moving truckload after truckload of finished product on the highway, we make it right there and distribute it where the people live.”
Parsons said wine can be made anywhere. “You don’t need to have a winery next to a vineyard, tucked away in some exotic place. So I thought, Parsons started making wine in the grape-growing why not put a winery in the city where 85 percent western slopes of Colorado. He went on to serve of the population lives, and where you can become as a consultant for several wineries. In 2008, he part of the city’s culture?” opened his first IMT in Denver. The community surrounding the winery helps His inspiration for an urban winery came from define the wine’s quality, he said. The wines time spent delivering wine from a winery in the not only reflect the quality of the locally grown mountains to the Denver metro area where the fruit but also express the process involved, the wines were being consumed. personality of the winemaker and the expression July/August 2016 | On The Town 51
of the people drinking the wine. To that effect, IMT aims to offer visitors an experience that exposes the grittier aspect of the winemaking process in an unconventional, graffiti-laden industrial space, and encourages the community to take ownership of the space and participate in the winemaking process itself. “Part of the concept is to give the winery access to the city, and the city’s dwellers access to the winery, with the goal being to absorb and integrate local culture and flavors, not to pretend to make it into something it’s not and is never going to be by injecting elements of foreign cultures, such as Italy, France or even California,” he said. Parsons said he selected Austin for his second location because he is dedicated to producing wines in-state from local grapes. Grapes grown in Texas and Colorado demonstrate that those states are up-and-coming contenders in the wine world. For the Austin site, he buys grapes from established growers in the Texas High Plains. Parsons partially credits the craft beer brewing industry for giving him the inspiration for “backalley winemaking.” IMT was the first winery in the U.S. to offer wine in 250 ml-cans sold in four-packs. IMT’s keg wine is distributed in three dozen states. Frontier Airlines exclusively serves IMT wines. The wine industry has taken notice of IMT’s creative, innovative approaches. Parsons was listed No. 1 on Wine Enthusiast’s list of “America’s Top 40 Under 40 Tastemakers” last year. In a June article in Entrepreneur magazine, Parsons was mentioned in a list of “Radicals and Visionaries.” Wine Spectator’s senior editor James Molesworth called IMT’s wines “clean, varietally correct, (and) polished,” and said Parsons is “obviously a very competent winemaker.” The Infinite Monkey Theorem 121 Pickle Road, Austin, TX 78704 512-956-7757
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SIGNATURE RESTAURANT: COMING SOON FROM CHEF ANDREW WEISSMAN By Evie Reichel Photography courtesy La Cantera Resort and Spa
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hen you have opened seven popular and critically acclaimed restaurants, and you are a four-time James Beard Award finalist whose culinary talents have garnered raves in The New York Times, Gourmet, Forbes and other iconic publications, it takes a really special project to get your attention. Signature, scheduled to open in the early fall at La Cantera Resort & Spa on San Antonio’s north side, has attracted award-winning chef Andrew Weissman. Signature will be a freestanding venue apart from the main resort, with easy access off La Cantera Parkway, across from the main entrance to The Shops at La Cantera. It also is part of an extensive transformation of the 550-acre resort with pristine landscape, stunning Texas Hill Country views, and 496 beautifully appointed rooms and suites. The new restaurant will be accessed from the resort via a beautifully treed pathway. “As I got more into the project, I saw ownership doing everything they said they were going to do; they were not cutting corners or turning down good ideas. They were investing in the creation of a world-class restaurant,” Weissman said. “It’s an experience that begins with the sounds of driving up on pea gravel and having someone there to greet you on the drive,” he said. “If you are at all familiar with countryside, Michelin-rated restaurants, we want it to be like that. You just sort of happen upon it. We want it to have a sense of place and feel clearly like something you’d find in South Texas, but also something that wouldn’t feel out of place in the south of France.” Helping to bring that vision to life is Weissman’s longtime restaurant designer, Jill Giles of Giles-Parscale Design. An eclectic collection, including antiques dating back to the late 1700s, will be artfully matched with exquisite hand-made tile from Mexico and striking forged-metal work from a noted South Texas craftsman. Stunning walls of decorative art will define an upstairs tasting area that looks down over Signature’s handmade bar.
all reflective of food and lifestyle -- upscale yet casual.” Breathtaking outdoor views and landscaping are critical elements of the Signature experience. Outside the large glass doors are a stone fountain, intimate seating groups, herb gardens and walking paths. On the other end of the restaurant, guests will be greeted by the aroma and crackle of a wood-burning limestone fireplace, not far from a chef’s table that looks into the open-air kitchen with a custom-designed cooking suite. In keeping with its unique look, Signature is designed to be a culinary destination unlike anything else in Texas and perhaps the entire Southwest. Chefs in spotless white uniforms may be spied picking herbs or snipping tomatoes outside. There will be an aging room for fine European cheeses. All food will be made on site, locally sourced when appropriate but also utilizing the best ingredients available, such as California artichokes. “When domestic shrimp or red snapper are running, we’ll have them featured on the menu,” Weissman said. “But if the best seafood at that time of the year is coming off the Georges Bank on the East Coast, we’ll bring that in.” Rabbits and dove also may find their way onto Signature’s developing menu. Seasonal quail or venison from the Broken Arrow Ranch and local olive oils will be used for creations in a kitchen that Weissman said will have “minimum manipulation” between the chef and the table. Although set apart from the other hotel restaurants, Signature will complement La Cantera’s other newly re-imagined restaurants offering culinary discoveries for every palate. SweetFire Kitchen serves inspired new American regional cuisine and features private dining rooms and al fresco dining. Primero Cantina features exciting, innovative Tex-Flex cuisine in a vibrant, lively environment anchored by an indoor/outdoor bar. Sire Lobby Bar is the perfect place to sip a handcrafted cocktail and snack on small bites, gourmet cheeses, and cured and smoked meats from the charcuterie Bocado. Topaz and Vista Grille at the adult and resort pools offer contemporary fare, family favorites and handcrafted beverages.
“When you walk in, everything about Signature will have a crafted feel,” said Giles, whose award-winning work has been touted by national broadcast and print media. “This is a place to feel comfortable and at home. Even the light levels will be soft and comforting so it’s Learn more at www.lacanteraresort.com.
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Paleontology Gallery
MARISE MCDERMOTT: STEERING THE NEW WITTE INTO A GRAND FUTURE By Julie Catalano Photography Greg Harrison
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he Witte Museum in San Antonio has been a venerable staple of the cultural scene since 1926, a year after local businessman Alfred W. Witte left $65,000 in his will to fund a museum in Brackenridge Park. Although there have been expansions and renovations over the years, nothing compares to the $100 million transformation currently taking place.
Center for Special Events and Exhibitions. McDermott is taking it all in stride, and her enthusiasm for a massive project that will transform the city's museum scene is contagious. It's clear that she can't wait for the scheduled opening in spring of 2017, and neither can San Antonio.
We visited with Marise McDermott, president and CEO of the Witte Museum, to get a glimpse of this unprecedented undertaking at what she calls “the people's museum.� Expansion will include sleek new spaces and galleries like the Valero Great Hall, the McLean Family Texas Wild, People of the Pecos and Rock Art Gallery, Texas Wild Garden and more to add to the finished Mays Family
Marise McDermott: In 2002 we did a series of workshops and focus groups where we asked the community what do you want the future Witte Museum to be? It was a year of interviewing hundreds of people, teachers and families about what the Witte should focus on. We came away with three major goals: 1. Tell the story of our river and our water. It's a complicated water story, and we
Julie Catalano: Take us back to how this started.
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Orientation Gallery want the Witte to be a natural history museum focused on that. 2. Focus on the heritage of what was the hotbed of the frontier for hundreds of years, and we happen to have great artifacts to show that. 3. Make sure the Witte is doing the latest and greatest in science. We're doing that right now with the H-E-B Body Adventure. So all of that focuses on how we can serve this community best, and because it's a growing community, we knew we would have to grow. A lot.
maintain temperature and humidity control. You can't really have a variance. Here we have a construction site, so that was a huge challenge. We made the decision to stay open. We're the people's museum, and we did not want to close. We want to keep our market share and the people who need us, want us and care about us. So that means that the galleries that are open have to be working. And they have been really, really good at that but it has not been easy.
JC: Anything else?
JC: With all the visible construction, what about the possibility that people think you're closed?
MM: In terms of the latest and greatest, we needed a large exhibition space to get the best exhibitions in the world, so that's why we built the Mays Family Center for Special Events and Exhibitions. (The current Mays exhibition) “Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed� is actually a STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) exhibit. It's the latest in archeology, how you find archeological sites, how the Mayans built these cities, Mayan math and Mayan astronomy. JC: Was it difficult to maintain the logistics of exhibitions while this construction is ongoing? MM: Yes, the challenge in a museum is that you must 60 On The Town | July/August 2016
MM: Another huge challenge. With all the construction on Broadway it was hard to let people know that we are in fact open. But during that time we had a record number of school children coming through. The buses kept coming. We obviously serve a need for those students that we are privileged to serve. I mean, how humbling is that? So we didn't stop for a minute, really. There will be hundreds of kids here in a few minutes. Plus the really wonderful thing is having the community watch you build. It generates excitement and ownership because they see it happening. The museum is their place, their home, so let them see it as it happens.
Dinosaur Lab JC: Everyone wants to know: Are you keeping the dinosaurs?
a paleontologist, a geologist, a naturalist, an archeologist, and historian. Each is tops in their field, and they are MM: We know everyone is waiting for that because who literally writing the scripts for the galleries and the labs. doesn't want dinosaurs? Our big theme is Texas Deep So here we have lower revenue because we're under Time—millions of years of Texas dinosaurs, thousands of construction, higher expenses, and the board said, that's years of Texas Indians and hunter/gatherers, and hundreds what we have to do. Talk about people who understand of years of Texas history. So again, we are wrapping our a transformation. hearts and minds around what the community wants us to be, which is a natural history and science museum. Of JC: What about you? Are you working longer hours? course we will have a Tyrannosaurus rex. They lived here. Dreaming about this at night? Waking up in a cold sweat? JC: Is this creating a buzz in the museum world?
MM: Yes, yes and yes! But this is a very horizontal model here at the Witte. I am often the spokesperson but really it MM: No question about it. I was just at the American is a vision and an execution by a lot of people. When we first Alliance of Museums meeting, and the Witte is considered started we didn't think this would be that big and grand, but a top-tier museum. Before this we were always a really when you really want to do it right, that's what happens. solid, well-respected museum, but now we are in that top tier. The fact that we could get an exhibit like Maya puts Current and upcoming exhibitions: us in a totally different category. Maya: Hidden Worlds Revealed May 14 to Sept. 5, Mays Family Center JC: Will you be adding staff? MM: We already have. We have an amazing team. What National Geographic Presents Earth Explorers I love about our board is that I told them that before we Sept. 24 to Jan. 22, Kathleen and Curtis Gunn Gallery even build we need to staff up. I can't do the content without the greatest curators we could get. We now have For more info: wittemuseum.org, 210-357-1900. July/August 2016 | On The Town 61
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ART EXHIBITIONS THIS SUMMER IN THE CITY By Dan R. Goddard
ir-conditioned galleries make summertime a fine time to see new work by San Antonio artists, and there’s no better opportunity than the Southwest School of Art (SSA) All-School Juried Exhibition 2016 running July 23 to Aug. 21 in the Russell Hill Rogers Gallery in the newly named John L. Santikos Building, formerly known as the Navarro campus.
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features many of the city’s most distinguished artists, including Vincent Valdez, last year’s Texas State Artist for Painting and Drawing; sculptor Chris Sauter, the school’s new director of foundation studies; and printmaker Margaret Craig, whose touring “Trash Reef” project is bringing attention to the human-made garbage filling the world’s oceans.
Juror Amy Moorefield, deputy director of exhibitions at Virginia’s Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke, selected recent works by juried students and studio artists who have participated in SSA workshops, classes and programs from last spring through this summer. The SSA’s faculty
Speaking of garbage, the Guadalupe Arts Center’s exhibit, Los De Abajo: Garbage as an Artistic Source, on view through July 29, looks at artists who recycle throwaways into beautiful objects. Guest curator Andrei Renteria, who earned a MFA from the University of Texas July/August 2016 | On The Town 63
at San Antonio in 2015, selected three artists with UTSA ties – John Atkins, Jason Martinez Gonzalez and Juan De Dios Mora -- who transform unconventional and overlooked materials. Atkins works mostly with found objects, creating assemblages reflecting the workingclass cultures of Louisiana and Texas. Martinez Gonzales uses mixed media to create altars for idiosyncratic memories. De Dios Mora, who teaches printmaking at UTSA, merges cross-cultural influences in his surrealistic images of weirdly futuristic devices and vehicles inspired by the Mexican-American borderlands.
Berlin Resident, and new works by New Hampshire-based artist Kirsten Reynolds, who plays with architecture and language in installations she calls poised “between perpetual creation and imminent collapse.” Now on view at the San Antonio Botanical Garden is the Blue Star’s annual “Art in the Garden” featuring Brooklyn-based Alyson Shotz’s “Scattering Screen,” a large-scale, sitespecific, freestanding steel sculpture designed to interact with viewers and the garden’s natural surroundings. With small mirrored circles reflecting light into thousands of tiny pieces, Shotz’s work will remain on view for a year.
The Blue Star Contemporary Art Museum is taking a summer hiatus to get a facelift. Front of the house features to be improved include a new front staircase, a large glass entry that will open up the Blue Star to the public, and a railing and paint treatment that will visually connect the MOSAIC Gallery and Studio to the Blue Star’s main galleries. The renovations are being made possible by support from the City of San Antonio’s Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone 11 Board, City Bond 2012, Capital Group, Lifshutz Family, Poteet Architects and the King William Association. The warehouse museum expects to re-open in September.
CHRISpark is getting bigger. The Linda Pace Foundation announced the pocket park at 111 Camp St., will gain an additional 7,500 square feet of lushly landscaped greenways and extended walkways designed by landscape architect Jon Ahrens, which is scheduled to open this summer. Visitors must walk through the park to get to the foundation’s public gallery, SPACE, where Brazilian artist Rivane Neuenschwander’s interactive installation, “Secondary Stories,” which is somewhat like being inserted into a giant cascarón, is on view until July 2017.
San Antonio artist Leigh Anne Lester unveils her monumental new assemblage Aug. 10 on the entry Meanwhile, the Blue Star will be presenting offsite wall of the McNay Art Museum’s AT&T Lobby. Related to exhibitions, including moving its regular shows to a nearby her investigations of botany and genetic modification, space that formerly was the Joan Grona Gallery. Opening Lester’s installation runs through July 2017. The McNay’s Aug. 5 are new exhibits by San Antonio photographer summer blockbuster, “Coney Island: Visions of the Thomas Cummins, a Winter 2015 Blue Star Contemporary American Dreamland, 1861-2008,” is up through Sept. 11. 64 On The Town | July/August 2016
Exploring the art of 18th-century South America on the high plains of the Andes, known as the Altiplano, stretching across northern Chile and Argentina, western Bolivia and southern Peru, “Highest Heaven: Spanish and Portuguese Colonial Art from the Roberta and Richard Huber Collection” is on view through Sept. 14 at the San Antonio Museum of Art. With more than 100 mostly religious works, including paintings, sculpture, furniture, ivories and silverworks, the exhibit tells the story of the role of art in establishing new city centers on the secondlargest mountain plateau in the world after Tibet. “Maya: Hidden Worlds Revisited,” the biggest Mayan show ever presented in San Antonio, continues through Sept. 5 in the new Mays Family Center at the Witte Museum, which is presenting a more intimate show, “Mapping Texas: From Frontier to the Lone Star State,” in the Russell Hill Rogers Texas Art Gallery, featuring more than 40 rare maps from the collections of the Texas General Land Office, the Witte, and Frank and Carol Holcomb of Houston.
••••••••••••••••• Photo Credits: Page 62 Portrait of Dona Rosade Salazar y Gabino from Highest Heaven Exhibition at SAMA
Page 63 John Dalton Atkins We Get What We Can, 2015 Mixed Media & Fabricated Tricycle at Guadalupe Cultural Center Page 64 Reginald Marsh, Wooden Horses, 1936, tempera on board, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford, Connecticut, The Dorothy Clark Archibald and Thomas L. Archibald Fund, The Krieble Family Fund for American Art, The American Paintings Purchase Fund, and The Ella Gallup Sumner and Mary Catlin Sumner Collection Fund, 2013.1.1. © 2016 Estate of Reginald Marsh / Art Students League, New York / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York at the McNay Page 65 Rivane Neuenschwander, Secondary Stories, 2006 Mixed media installation ©Rivane Neuenschwander Collection of the Linda Pace Foundation at Space Gallery July/August 2016 | On The Town 65
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VERONIQUE LE MELLE, ARTPACE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Photography Josh Huskin - Courtesy Artpace San Antonio
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inter Storm Juno, also known as the Blizzard of 2015, which dumped two feet of snow on Boston, made Veronique Le Melle begin thinking about seeking warmer, if not greener, pastures after seven years as president and CEO of the Boston Center for the Arts. Six months into her new job as executive director of Artpace, Le Melle says she’s fallen into “deep like” with San Antonio despite the summer heat.
building something that will continue to have a long lasting impact on the arts in San Antonio.”
“After that blizzard, I was definitely ready for someplace warmer with an active and welldeveloped cultural community,” Le Melle said. “I found what I was looking for in San Antonio. Artpace has an excellent national reputation, but I think it is going to have to become more transparent. We want the artists and the community to be more aware of what goes on here and why. Our residency program fills a definite need and makes us very different from other programs, but we need to be more open about how the artists are selected.”
“Now that Artpace is an adult, it’s time for the institution to stand on its own two feet,” Le Melle said. “We know what the challenges are. I think Artpace already has a lot of community support or I wouldn’t have come down. But Artpace has not been vocal enough about telling its story. Our residency program is among the best in the nation. It is time for Artpace to take charge of its destiny.”
One of her major challenges, of course, is fundraising. Artpace has been generously supported by the Linda Pace Foundation, but that support is scheduled to gradually decline until it ends in 2025. Linda Pace wanted to ensure Artpace eventually would become self-supporting.
During her tenure at the BCA, Le Melle raised the profile of the 45-year-old organization, rebuilding and establishing relationships with neighborhood organizations and city lawmakers. She instituted an eclectic dance residency program, worked collaboratively within the Boston arts community to advance the needs of Boston’s artists, and developed a strong community of campus creatives.
Originally from New York, Le Melle began her 30year career in arts management as the director of Cultural Affairs and Tourism for Queens, New York. She then became executive director of the Louisiana Division of the Arts from 2005 through 2008 and helped create the Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation. She became head of the BCA in 2009. Artpace is primarily known for its International Artist in Residence Program, which employs an Le Melle has taken the helm at Artpace knowing internationally-known guest curator to invite the 21-year-old institution founded by Linda Pace three artists -- international, national and from has had a difficult transition since the founder’s Texas -- to create work in San Antonio. Le Melle death in 2007. Directors have come and gone. Le said because Artpace schedules its programming Melle replaces Amada Cruz, who left last fall to two years in advance, she won’t have much head the Phoenix Art Museum. influence on selecting curators for the residency program until 2018, but she has made one change. “I plan to stay here awhile,” Le Melle said. “I don’t Instead of waiting for the end of the residency to need to burnish my resume. When I make a career have a panel discussion, Le Melle asked the artists decision, I ask myself will what I do have a lasting to open their studios at the mid-point of their value and will I have fun? I think at Artpace we are 8-week residency. July/August 2016 | On The Town 67
“We want everyone to come in and talk to the artists about their process,” Le Melle said. “I think this will make it more interesting for the artists and the art public in San Antonio. I think seeing the artist at work in the studio leads to a better dialogue than having the artists sit behind a table on a stage.” Curated by Dominic Molon of the Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art, the Summer 2016 AIR installations by Rachel Maclean of Scotland, Texas artist Andy Coolquitt and Juan William Chávez from St. Louis run through Sept. 11. Le Melle did have a say in selecting two exhibits now on view at Artpace in the Hudson (Show) Room, Boston-artist Liz Shepherd’s “Up & Out,” and the Summer 2016 Window Works exhibit, San Antonio photographer Ramin Samandari’s “Faces of Artpace.” Both shows run through Aug. 28. Gathering materials such as doors and ladders from thrift stores and junk heaps, Shepherd constructed “Up & Out” about her struggle to cope with a loved one’s addiction . “Liz’s work is very personal but also very accessible,” Le Melle said. “Artpace had a slot open and I suggested her. She had been on a residency in Venice, Italy, but she had a gap in her schedule so she was able to come to San Antonio for three weeks to do her work. I couldn’t be happier with the way things fell together.” From his “Faces of San Antonio Art” portfolio opening July 7 at the Department for Culture and Creative Development’s Culture Commons, Samandari selected 56 “Faces of Artpace” for his Window Works, representing former Artpace artists-in-residence, exhibiting artists, staff and others who helped mold Artpace. “ The window space is Artpace’s face into the community so I felt strongly that we should pick a San Antonio artist whose work would reflect that relationship between Artpace and the people walking by on the sidewalk,” Le Melle said. “This is a great show to celebrate Artpace’s 21st birthday because it shows Artpace couldn’t have happened without the support of a lot of talented people.”
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Book Talk:
Jenny Browne Poet San Antonio 72 OnLaureate The Town | of July/August 2016
SAN ANTONIO POET LAUREATE PROMOTES LITERARY ARTS By Jasmina Wellinghoff Photography courtesy Department of Culture & Creative Development
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an Antonio became the first Texas city to officially establish a poet laureate program and on April 3, 2012, then-mayor Julian Castro appointed Carmen Tafolla as the Alamo City’s first poet laureate. The idea behind the initiative was to promote and generate greater appreciation of poetry, literature and literacy throughout the city. Each appointee is expected to serve for two years.
in 2003 during the Cultural Collaborative days, said Sebastian Guajardo, special projects manager for the city’s Department for Culture & Creative Development (DCCD). “We spent 18 months conducting community meetings and during that process some people brought up this issue,” he explained. “In 2005 we adopted the Cultural Collaborative plan with the goal of increasing the vitality of San Antonio’s creative economy. We developed 38 strategies but the poet laureate did Though we are now on our third laureate, many not get included. Then when Julian Castro was San Antonians, including writers and other literary elected mayor he began the process of formulating types, don’t know much about the logistics of the goals for SA2020. More discussion followed and program or the selection process. This became we developed additional strategies to promote obvious to this columnist when at a recent writers’ the literary arts by appointing a poet laureate. gathering participants showed a great deal of Houston has since followed our example.” curiosity about the whole issue. So what follows is a sort of primer on how things work. To help implement the new program, the city turned to the literary organization Gemini Ink But first a few words about the tradition of and its then-director – and the 2013 Texas Poet naming poets laureate. It’s an old one, dating Laureate – Rosemary Catacalos. Together, they back to ancient Greece when the chosen poets established requirements for nominees. To were actually crowned with laurel wreaths be considered, a poet must be a San Antonio and expected to sing the praises of rulers and resident; have at least one poetry collection governments. Centuries later, the tradition was published by a “non-vanity press,” and have a revived in Renaissance Italy with the crowning history of community engagement. In addition, of Francesco Petrarca, who is considered one of that person must consent to be nominated since the founders of the modern Italian language and the laureate is expected to actively promote the literature. Today, a number of countries select an literary arts. official poet laureate, including the United States that’s been doing it since 1937. Appointed by Following established practices for award the Library of Congress, he or she receives the selections, Catacalos decided that the judging official title of Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry panel would consist of well-known poets from to the Library of Congress and is not expected outside San Antonio who would represent aesthetic perspectives, cultural to glorify the powers that be. Texas has had a different similar program since 1932 though there were backgrounds and geographical regions. She also stipulated that each group of panelists should gap years with no official appointments. be used only once. The latter would guarantee Here in San Antonio, the idea first sur faced back that preconceived impressions will not influence
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the next selection cycle as some poets may be nominated more than once. “All of those guidelines are important to scrupulously avoid any appearance of conflict of interest and keep the process clear and transparent” said Catacalos. Unfortunately, DCCD has since opted for keeping the same panel for two consecutive cycles. The lists of nominees, which were never made public, do show the same individuals being nominated more than once, making Catacalos’ concern valid and relevant. There were 11 nominees in 2012, six in 2014 and seven this year. However, the third poet laureate, Jenny Browne, was picked by a brand new panel of peers, this time convened by the current Gemini Ink director Sheila Black, herself a talented poet. Oddly, the names of judging panelists have also been kept under wraps but Black was more than happy to tell us their names: Natalie Diaz, Dan Vera, Melissa Kwasny and Ethelbert Miller, all respected and award winning poets and scholars. Recruiting them was easy, Black said. No one said “no.”
Ink and at the Good Samaritan Center. In 2011, she traveled to Kenya to teach children at the Dadaab Refugee Camp. So, she may also have a project that focuses on refugees who live among us, she said. In addition, the city expects her to be engaged with the celebration of San Antonio’s 300th anniversary in 2018. Those who wonder why some of our best known poets have not received the honor so far – most prominently Naomi Shihab Nye – that’s because they have declined offers to be nominated due to busy professional lives. Fortunately, San Antonio is blessed with an exceptional number of accomplished talents, guaranteeing the success of the program for decades. Meanwhile, everyone agrees that the endeavor as a whole is a definite plus for the city.
“ The idea of the poet laureate goes a long way back. There’s a cultural weight to it. People respond to that,” she added.
“I feel that one of the great losses in education is that poetry is not taught as it should be,” observed Black. “Reading and referring to poems used to be part of the civic heritage. I think that having a poet laureate generated new public interest in poetry and has regenerated something that we need in our community.”
The final decision, however, is always made by the mayor. Guajardo pointed out that the city provides an annual stipend of $6,000 for laureates in addition to covering the cost of their initiatives. Tafolla threw herself into the job like her life depended on it, organizing five major projects and responding to all community invitations to read her work or speak.
Browne agrees. “ To have a poet laureate says the city wants to create a place to recognize the value of poetry in public life,” she commented. “It’s also a way to get young people to get interested in literature and improve literacy. This is a public position, and people go ‘Wow, poetry! What is it all about? It’s definitely a vehicle to make literature more accessible to people.”
DCCD has scaled down the number of projects since but Jenny Brown who started her tenure in early April was pretty busy throughout that month which also happened to be National Poetry Month. “I figured it was good to say ‘yes’ to everything in April, so I hit the ground running,” she noted. At the time of this writing, she was still formulating her plans for her twoyear-tenure but she will likely focus on poetry and the urban landscape/environment. A longtime community activist, the Trinity University assistant professor has taught poetry through the San Antonio Housing Authority, at Gemini 74 On The Town | July/August 2016
"The idea of the poet laureate goes a long way back. There's a cultural weight to it. People respond to that." - Shelia Black Director, Gemini Ink
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MORGAN’S WONDERLAND: A LITTLE SLICE OF HEAVEN By Bob McCullough
“Did we just leave heaven?” That poignant question came from a young girl with severe autism and minimal verbal ability as she and her parents were leaving Morgan’s Wonderland. Founder of the ultra-accessible theme park Gordon Hartman relates that story to point out what an incredible place it is for everyone, especially those who are challenged with physical or cognitive disabilities.
wife Maggie, spearheaded creation of the unique park. “But I believe it’s a big number. Special-needs guests immerse themselves in having fun with family, friends and other park guests, and they surprise and amaze themselves in doing things they thought were not personally possible,” he said. “Besides, our guests young and older with disabilities can relax and play in an environment devoid of stares or rude comments.”
Fully-accessible Morgan’s Wonderland in Northeast “I can’t begin to give you a number as to how many lives San Antonio – the only one of its kind in the world – Morgan’s Wonderland has touched,” said Hartman, CEO of opened in spring 2010, and since then, it has welcomed the Gordon Hartman Family Foundation who, along with approximately a million guests from 50 states and 65 July/August 2016 | On The Town 79
countries. The park’s 25 attractions, including rides, playscapes, gardens and other facilities, enable those with cognitive or physical challenges to do the same things as individuals without disabilities and boost their confidence in a safe, colorful, affordable atmosphere of enjoyment. As an example, Hartman points to special swings in which guests in wheelchairs can experience the thrill of a taken-for-granted playground pleasure, many of them for the first time. New this season is wheelchair-accessible Whirling Wonder, a colorful Ferris wheel that transports riders five and a half stories high for a panoramic view of the park as well as Morgan’s Inspiration Island, the world’s first ultra-accessible splash park currently under construction and scheduled for completion next spring. A puppet show featuring audience interaction, “Hartman’s House,” also has been added along with more entertainment such as The Wonder Squad, four Morgan’s Wonderland 80 On The Town | July/August 2016
superheroes who greet guests and pose for photos. Guiding everything that happens at Morgan’s Wonderland is the potent power of inclusion. “Morgan’s Wonderland is a special place where anyone can have fun,” Hartman said, “but it was created with special-needs individuals in mind. It’s just like any other theme park except for the added benefit of a culture and environment that assures 100 percent enjoyment by everyone who enters through our Welcome Center. Unfortunately, countless children and adults with special needs don’t have access to facilities that can help them fully enjoy outdoor recreation. We truly believe Morgan’s Wonderland is changing that.” In 2005, Hartman sold a successful homebuilding business to establish his philanthropic family foundation and pursue a dream of helping special-needs children and adults. The Hartmans’ devotion to this cause is inspired by their 22-year-old daughter with special needs, Morgan. Her soaring spirit despite multiple challenges sparked within them a deep desire to create
Morgan’s Wonderland, a haven not only for specialneeds individuals but also for their families, caregivers, friends and the general public. Anyone with a physical or cognitive special need is admitted free of charge. TripAdvisor respondents give Morgan’s Wonderland consistently high marks, and VacationHomeRentals.com, an affiliate of Trip Advisor, not long ago named it the “best family attraction” in Texas. The 25-acre park has become the anchor of Wonderland, Texas, a family destination in the former Longhorn Quarry at Wurzbach Parkways and Thousand Oaks Drive that exists for fun as well as helping the special-needs community. In addition to Morgan’s Wonderland and Morgan’s Inspiration Island, Wonderland, Texas, includes The Academy at Morgan’s Wonderland, a nationally accredited school for students with special needs ages 12 to 24; the Children’s Rehabilitation Institute of TeletónUSA (CRIT USA), a 45,000-square-foot rehabilitation center for children being treated for neurological, muscular or
skeletal disorders or injuries; and STRAPS (South Texas Regional Adaptive and Paralympic Sports). The latter enables athletes of all ages with physical disabilities to compete in eight sports in and around the Morgan’s Wonderland Event Center. Always looking to the future, Hartman already envisions a new school building for the academy so enrollment can triple to more than 100; Day-Hab at Morgan’s Wonderland, a habilitation center so young adults with special needs can socialize and continue their learning beyond formal schooling; medical and dental clinics for special-needs individuals; and housing facilities. Steadily but surely, Wonderland, Texas, is transforming from a gaping hole in the ground to a little slice of heaven on earth, especially for people with special needs and everyone who cares about them. To learn more about Morgan’s Wonderland, visit www. MorgansWonderland.com. July/August 2016 | On The Town 81
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