July/August 2015

July/August 2015 | On The Town 1

The DoSeum Restaurant Week

Courses & CocktailsFiesta Noche del RioBoerne Art Al Fresco

Guadalupe’s Jerry RuizCirque du Soleil KOOZA

Plus 11 Additional Articles

The DoSeum Restaurant Week

Courses & CocktailsFiesta Noche del RioBoerne Art Al Fresco

Guadalupe’s Jerry RuizCirque du Soleil KOOZA

Plus 11 Additional Articles

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July/August 2015July/August 2015

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2 On The Town | July/August 2015

http://sasymphony.org


https://www.tobincenter.org/tobin-edge-series


Lair Creative, LLC would not knowingly publish misleading or erroneous information in editorial content or in any advertisement in On The Town Ezine.com, nor does it assume responsibility if this type of editorial or advertising should appear under any circumstances. Additionally, content in this electronic magazine does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the management of Lair Creative, LLC. Since On The Town Ezine.com features information on perfor-mances and exhibits, it is recommended that all times and dates of such events be confirmed by the reader prior to attendance. The publisher assumes no responsibility for changes in times, dates, venues, exhibitions or performances.

Live Music, Community Theater 8and Comedy Take Center Stagein July and August

SOLI Chamber Ensemble: Giving 14Life to New Music Cirque du Soleil’s KOOZA Opens 18Under The Big Top at Circuit of theAmericas on September 3 Alamo Kiwanis Club Celebrates Fiesta 22Noche del Rio’s 59th Season Chasing a Dream: The Power of a Dream 26Documentary Chronicles Eric Castillo’sAmbition to Play College Football at Age30 Despite the Odds and Obstacles

J Prime Steakhouse Blazes a New Trail 46of Excellence

Blue Lotus Winery and Texas Mead 50Works: A Fresh Twist on the TexasWine Scene

San Antonio Restaurant Weeks: 52August 15-29

Special Guest Chef Shane Lyons Joins 56Five Local Star Chefs for HoustonStreet Charities’ Courses & CocktailsAugust 30 at NAO

Sea Island Shrimp House Celebrating 6050 Years

Young Minds Have a New Place to Grow 66In San Antonio – The DoSeum Art Al Fresco: Celebrating Art and 70Community in Boerne

Jerry Ruiz Comes Home to Texas and 72the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center

Have the Time of Your Life at ZDT’s 83Amusement Park: Non-Stop Family Funand a New Rollercoaster Make SeguinThe Place to Be This Summer

88 2222 4646

Features Features Cont.

Events Calendar 30

Book Talk: Cynthia Leal Massey, 79Author and Journalist

Artistic Destination: The Hills Are Alive: 90Hill Country Arts Foundation Grows Visual and Performing Arts in Ingram, Texas

Out & About With Greg Harrison 96

Departments


Front Cover Photo: Fiesta Noche del RioCourtesy Alamo Kiwanis Club

Performing Arts Cover PhotoWeird Al YankovicCourtesy Majestic Theatre

Events Calendar Cover PhotoEric JohnsonCourtesy Tobin Center

Culinary Arts Cover PhotoPhoto by Greg Harrison

Visual Arts Cover Photo:Oil by Frank RoddieCourtesy Hill Country Arts Foundation

Literary Arts Cover Photo:Photo by Greg Harrison

Eclectics Cover Photo:Photo by Greg Harrison

Cover Credits

Lair Creative, LLC would not knowingly publish misleading or erroneous information in editorial content or in any advertisement in On The Town Ezine.com, nor does it assume responsibility if this type of editorial or advertising should appear under any circumstances. Additionally, content in this electronic magazine does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the management of Lair Creative, LLC. Since On The Town Ezine.com features information on perfor-mances and exhibits, it is recommended that all times and dates of such events be confirmed by the reader prior to attendance. The publisher assumes no responsibility for changes in times, dates, venues, exhibitions or performances.

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ContributorsKaren Adams

Heather Akkerman

Mikel Allen,creative director /graphic designer

Rudy Arispe

Olivier J. Bourgoin(aka, Olivier the Wine Guy)

Julie Catalano

Thomas Duhon

Jennie Fisher

Greg Harrison,staff photographer

Christian Lair,operations manager /webmaster

Kay Lair

Veronica Luna

Ginger McAneer-Robinson

Susan A. Merkner,copy editor

Sara Selango

Janis Turk

Jasmina Wellinghoff

OnTheTownEzine.com is published byLair Creative, LLC14122 Red MapleSan Antonio, Texas 78247210-771-8486210-490-7950 (fax)



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Performing Arts

8-28

Performing Arts

8-28


Live Music, Community Theater and Comedy Take Center Stagein July and AugustBy Sara Selango


Live Music, Community Theater and Comedy Take Center Stagein July and AugustBy Sara Selango


W elcome to the summer enter ta inment season. I t ’s d i f ferent f rom al l other t imes of the year because many of

the major presenters take a break dur ing July and August . For example, the San Antonio Symphony does not per form dur ing these months, nor does the M ajest ic Theatre or Tobin Center have a Broadway tour ing show scheduled dur ing that span. Ar ts San Antonio is on vacat ion, as are Bal let San Antonio and Opera San Antonio. With that sa id, i t i s impor tant to note that summer months st i l l br ing some ver y hot evenings on stages throughout San Antonio and the H i l l Countr y.

E v e n w i t h o u t B r o a d w a y, t h e M a j e s t i c a n d To b i n a r e p u m p i n g o u t t h e h i t s i n J u l y a n d A u g u s t . T h e M a j e s t i c w e l c o m e s Wi d e s p r e a d Pa n i c J u l y 2 - 4 , f o l l o w e d b y R o b T h o m a s J u l y 1 1 . R E O S p e e d w a g o n h i t s t h e M a j e s t i c s t a g e t h e n e x t d a y, a n d t h e l e g e n d a r y B i l l M e d l e y o f t h e R i g h t e o u s B r o t h e r s c o m e s t o t h e b i g t h e a t e r J u l y 1 7 . T h e A u g u s t l i n e u p i n c l u d e s A m e r i c a n I d o l L i v e , C o l b i e C a i l l a t w i t h

C h r i s t i n a Pe r r i , “ We i r d A l ” Ya n k o v i c a n d 1 9 6 4 T h e Tr i b u t e . Fe a t u r e d c o m e d y t h e r e i n c l u d e s S t e v e M a r t i n w i t h M a r t i n S h o r t J u l y 1 0 a n d M a r t i n L a w r e n c e J u l y 2 4 .

Meanwhi le, Ty ler Oak ley ’s S lumber Par t y k icks of f the Tobin’s schedule July 9 , with Keith Sweat and Doug E. Fresh up nex t July 10. H ippiefest 2015 hits the stage July 12 with v intage rockers R ick Derr inger, M itch R yder and the Detroit Wheels , Badf inger and The Family Stone. Meghan Tra inor is in the house July 16, fo l lowed by Dick Fox ’s Golden Boys (Frank ie Avalon, Fabian and Bobby R ydel l ) July 19. Pat Benatar and Nei l Gira ldo f in ish out the month the nex t day. August sees Fi f th Harmony, Er ic Johnson and Buckcherr y on the Tobin’s per formance bi l l .

The A ztec is keeping busy in July and August , present ing per formers Danzig, Br i t Floyd – The Wor ld ’s Greatest Pink Floyd Show, O ttmar L ieber t and Luna Negra , Los Lonely Boys and Todd Rundgren. There’s more on tap here.



Check their website.

Tr a d i t i o n a l l y, c o u n t r y a n d w e s t e r n m u s i c t w o - s t e p s t o t h e f o r e f r o n t i n t h e s u m m e r m o n t h s , a n d t h i s y e a r i s n o e xc e p t i o n . P l a c e s s u c h a s J o h n T. F l o o r e C o u n t r y S t o r e , G r u e n e H a l l , Lu c k e n b a c h D a n c e h a l l , B l u e B o n n e t Pa l a c e a n d W h i t e w a t e r A m p h i t h e a t e r i n N e w B r a u n f e l s l o a d u p w i t h g r e a t t a l e n t . E x a m p l e s t h i s y e a r i n c l u d e T h e C h a r l i e D a n i e l s B a n d , Tr a c y L a w r e n c e , R a y W y l i e H u b b a r d , R o g e r C r e a g e r, K e v i n Fo w l e r, Pa t G r e e n , B r a n d o n R h y d e r, R a n d y R o g e r s B a n d , C o r y M o r r o w, Wa d e B o w e n , M a x S t a l l i n g , G a r y P. N u n n , A s l e e p a t t h e W h e e l a n d Tw o To n s o f S t e e l . C h e c k t h e l i s t i n g s i n t h i s m a g a z i n e f o r d a t e s , t i m e s a n d p l a c e s . B e f o r e m o v i n g o n , I a l s o s h o u l d m e n t i o n t h a t L a r r y G a t l i n w i l l b e a p p e a r i n g a t t h e B r a u n t e x Pe r f o r m i n g A r t s T h e a t r e i n N e w B r a u n f e l s J u l y 2 2 .

C o m m u n i t y t h e a t e r s g e t i n t o t h e J u l y - A u g u s t a c t w i t h b l o c k b u s t e r s s u c h a s G r e a s e a t T h e P l a y h o u s e S a n A n t o n i o, M a r y P o p p i n s a n d

We s t S i d e S t o r y a t t h e Wo o d l a w n , A v e n u e Q a n d C a b a r e t a t C a m e o T h e a t r e a n d B o e i n g -B o e i n g a t t h e S h e l d o n Ve x l e r. O u t - o f -t o w n e r s i n c l u d e T h o r o u g h l y M o d e r n M i l l i e i n N e w B r a u n f e l s a t C i r c l e A r t s , E v i t a a n d G r e a t e r Tu n a b y Fr e d e r i c k s b u r g T h e a t r e C o m p a n y, P l a y h o u s e 2 0 0 0 ’s P i r a t e s o f P e n z a n c e a t t h e C a i l l o u x i n K e r r v i l l e , J a m e s a n d t h e G i a n t P e a c h a t t h e S m i t h - R i t c h Po i n t T h e a t r e i n I n g r a m , p l u s T h e A d d a m s Fa m i l y a l s o i n I n g r a m a t t h e E l i z a b e t h H u t h - C o a t e s T h e a t r e . B o e r n e C o m m u n i t y T h e a t r e h i t s t h e b o a r d s w i t h T h e C o m p l e t e Wo r k s o f W i l l i a m S h a k e s p e a r e ( a b r i d g e d ) w h i l e S . T. A . G . E i n B u l v e r d e t a k e s o n Fo r b i d d e n B r o a d w a y .

Another genre of great enter ta inment to add to your “ to see” l i s t in the summer is comedy. R ivercenter and Laugh Out Loud Comedy Clubs have favor i tes coming in such as Car los Mencia , DeR ay Davis , Lavel l Crawford, Pete Correale, Cr iste la Alonzo and Fel ic ia M ichaels . That prett y much covers things, with t wo except ions. Stephanie Sant ’Ambrogio’s Cac tus



Pe a r M u s i c Fe s t i v a l p r e s e n t s i t s 1 9 t h s e a s o n J u l y 5 - 1 9 w i t h p e r f o r m a n c e s i n S a n A n t o n i o a n d t h r e e s u r r o u n d i n g a r e a c i t i e s . C h e c k t h e i r w e b s i t e f o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n . A n d , F i e s t a N o c h e d e l R i o c o n t i n u e s a t t h e A r n e s o n R i v e r T h e a t r e o n Fr i d a y a n d S a t u r d a y n i g h t s t h r o u g h A u g. 1 5 .

L i v e m u s i c , c o m m u n i t y t h e a t e r a n d c o m e d y m a k e s u m m e r i n t h e c i t y c o o l . M a k e p l a n s . G e t s o m e t i c k e t s a n d g o !

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Photo Credits

Pages 8-9

Meghan Tra inorCour tesy Tobin Center

Page 10 (L-R)

Rob ThomasCour tesy Majest ic Theatre

Chr ist ina Perr iCour tesy Majest ic Theatre

Page 11 (L-R)

Tyler Oak leyCour tesy Tobin Center

Nei l Gira ldo and Pat BenatarPhoto by Travis Shinn

Page 12

Steve Mar t in and Mar t in Shor tCour tesy Majest ic Theatre


http://operasa.org


http://operasa.org


For its last concert of the 2014-15 season, the SOLI Chamber Ensemble decided to explore a multimedia Experience by mixing live

performance with pre-recorded sounds, animation and digital video projections that danced over the figures of the four musicians and over the stage background during the last piece they played, Street Antiphons, by Houston composer Pierre Jalbert. Although not exactly revolutionary, it was an experiment that fit the profile of the group that has never been afraid to tackle something new. “We like to experiment with options,” said the group’s artistic/managing director, violinist Ertan Torgul. “Part of our mission is to bring to San Antonio the newest thing that other organizations do not do.”

The SOLI has been bringing new and innovative programming to the local chamber music scene since 1994 when it was founded by clarinetist Stephanie Key and cellist David Mollennauer, who were soon joined by Torgul, then a member of the San Antonio Symphony, and pianist Carolyn True, who teaches at Trinity University.

It’s the only chamber group in San Antonio that consistently plays contemporary music written by living composers and regularly commissions or co-commissions pieces from established as well as up-and-coming names, including Robert X Rodriguez, Alexandra Gardner, David Heuser, Tim Kramer, Matthew Aucoin, Paul Moravec, Aaron J. Kernis and many others. Street Antiphons, for instance, was co-commissioned by SOLI in partnership with the Boston Chamber Music Society,

SOLI Chamber Ensemble: Giving Life to New MusicBy Jasmina WellinghoffPhotography Courtesy SOLI


David Mollennauer Stephanie Key Ertan Torgul Carolyn True


Houston’s Da Camera and Voices of Change from Dallas. Altogether, the quartet has commissioned 43 new works. In 2013, Chamber Music America and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) recognized SOLI’s accomplishments with their jointly given Adventurous Programming Award. “We love Brahms and Bach and Mozart; we are classical musicians first,” Torgul said. “But Bach and Brahms were once new. I think it’s important that we present what’s going on today and to present it in a best possible way. Only time will tell which compositions and composers will have staying power. We like being instrumental in developing that future.” The audiences may never be as large as for Bach or Brahms but that’s not that important, he said. “We like to send them home thinking.” There is quite a bit of thinking involved for the four musicians, as well, for with each composer, they have to figure out a new musical language. If possible, they like to bring the composers of commissioned works to San Antonio to work with them during the final rehearsals, which is a priceless experience for both parties. The composers hear their creations come to life for the first time, while the musicians enjoy the privilege of being part

of a seminal interpretation of never-heard-before music. In the past few years, the group has produced several CDs which feature some of these seminal performances. Several composers volunteered to write for them with an understanding that the ensemble would record their pieces. “It’s like birthing a child,” Torgul said, referring to the entire process.

THE TRAVEL SEASON

Carl Schimmel is the latest composer who offered to create a piece at no charge. Torgul discovered Schimmel by browsing the Internet and was impressed by what he heard. “I was listening to his music (on Schimmel’s website) and ran into a piece he had written for his son,” Torgul said. “It was about the antique toys he and his son had seen on PBS’s Antiques Roadshow. He wrote the music imagining stories about these toys. It’s a beautiful piece. I contacted him right away.” Following a few conversations, they had a deal. Schimmel’s new composition, which he promised would be similar to the one Torgul loved, will premiere Oct. 5-6, during SOLI’s inaugural concert of the 2015-16 season, tentatively titled Domestic Terminal. The program also will include the 2014 SOLI commission Four Score by Anthony Brandt,



and numbers by Jalbert, Marcus Maroney and Adam Schoenberg. A few days later, the quartet will travel to Houston to play and record Schimmel’s toy composition for an upcoming CD of the composer’s chamber works. The broadly defined travel theme is shared by the other two programs of the upcoming season: Postcards From the Americas (Jan. 25-26), featuring music from North and South America, and Under the Ligurian Sun (May 16-17), which will spotlight much of the repertoire that SOLI plans to perform in San Remo, Italy, next summer. The main attraction of the Americas program will be composer, pianist and vocalist Clarice Assad, a Brazilian-American artist described by the Los Angeles Times as a “dazzling vocal soloist” and by the Latin Jazz Network as “a phenomenon who has streaked across the world’s musical landscape like one of those comets that appear just once in a lifetime.” She will premiere a new work, Patchwork Quilt, specifically written for herself and the quartet. SOLI also will collaborate again with Ballet San Antonio on its April production of Ballet Alive, an eclectic dance showcase. As for San Remo, it will be a new experience altogether. Known for its popular festival of Italian song, San Remo

is one of the largest resort towns on the Ligurian coast, and the former vacation spot of European royals. SOLI’s connection to it is a board member who owns a house there. “We are planning to play American and Italian music at informal pop-up performances in the piazze both to draw attention to our (more formal) concerts and to be part of the local landscape for a week,” Torgul said. SOLI favorites and transcribed Italian songs, including the last winner of the San Remo Festival, will be on the program. Given that many people, even music lovers, know little about contemporary classical music, Torgul suggested a few composers that novices are likely to enjoy: Aaron J. Kernis, Matthew Aucoin, Gabriel Kahane, Nico Muhly, Missy Mazzoli, all of whom and others may be discovered at SOLI concerts. “We would just love for San Antonians to come and see what we are doing,” Torgul said. “It’s different and unique. It should be experienced.”.”

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •For tickets and information contact the SOLI through its website www.solichmaberensemble.com or via email [email protected]


http://www.solichmaberensemble.com

mailto:[email protected]


http://musicalbridges.org


Cirque du Soleil’s KOOZA Opens Under the Big Top at Circuit of The Americas on September 3Courtesy of Cirque du Soleil



C irque du Soleil is back and better than ever with its critically acclaimed show, KOOZA. The name KOOZA is inspired by the Sanskrit word

“koza,” which means “box,” “chest” or “treasure,” and was chosen because one of the underlying concepts of the production is the idea of a “circus in a box.”

Since its premiere in April 2007 in Montreal, Cirque has performed KOOZA at 2,700 shows in 47 cities, 12 countries and three continents. For the first time in 10 years, Cirque is bringing the show to Austin as a part of its Big Top Residency.

KOOZA is a return to the origins of Cirque du Soleil, combining two circus traditions: acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. The show presents a colorful mélange emphasizing bold slapstick humor while highlighting the physical demands of human performance.

“KOOZA is about human connection and the world of duality, good and bad,” said the show’s writer and director, David Shiner. “The tone is fun and funny, light and open. The show doesn’t take itself too seriously, but it’s very much about ideas, too.”

KOOZA is unique as one of the most gripping, edge-of-

your-seat Cirque shows due to the high level of aerial and acrobatic stunts. Emphasis is heavy on themes such as fear and power, with every act inducing an adrenaline rush for the performers and the audience.

Music featured in the show is inspired by Western pop culture and traditional Indian music. Six musicians, including one from Texas, play live music during the show, using instruments such as trumpets, trombones, bass, drums, percussion, saxophone, electric guitar and keyboard. In addition to the band, there are also two singers who perform live.

KOOZA features more than 175 costumes and 160 hats in the show, with a combined total of 1,080 items, including all costuming items, such as wigs and shoes.

The stage is the highest stage ever designed by Cirque du Soleil, an impressive 39 feet, compared to its standard 30- to 36-foot stages. The additional space for the KOOZA stages is necessary for the jack-in-the-box hydraulics, which leap six to seven feet in the air. Also impressive are the four masts, which stand 82 feet above the ground. The large stage requires 60 trailers for transporting equipment and site elements.



The Big Top itself is 56 feet high, with a diameter of 164 feet, and comprises 18 pieces of flame-retardant vinyl canvases. When including the 11 tunnels, the entire Big Top weighs approximately 11,500 pounds. Due to the massive nature of the tent, a little over four acres is needed to house the entire site.

The KOOZA international cast features 48 world-class acrobats, musicians, singers and dancers. About 120 people are on tour full time, including official accompanying members, representing about 20 nationalities.

Cirque du Soleil began as a group of 20 street performers in 1984, and has grown to be an international organization known for creating breathtaking shows that combine dance, street performance, acrobatics, live music and amazing costumes.

Currently, 18 unique shows are being presented around the world. The mission of Cirque du Soleil is to invoke the imagination, provoke the senses, and evoke the emotions of people around the world. more than 4 million spectators have enjoyed KOOZA, a thrilling, critically-acclaimed show.

Cirque du Soleil opens KOOZA Sept. 3 under the yellow and blue Big Top at the Circuit of the Americas

in Austin. General tickets are on sale now, beginning at $40.

For more information, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com/KOOZA.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •Photo Credits:

Pages 18-19Charivari Photo by Matt Beard Costumes by Marie-Chantale Vaillancourt ©2012 Cirque du Soleil

Page 20Clown Fart Photo by Matt Beard Costumes by Marie-Chantale Vaillancourt ©2012 Cirque du Soleil

Page 21Teeter BoardPhoto by Matt Beard Costumes by Marie-Chantale Vaillancourt ©2012 Cirque du Soleil




Alamo Kiwanis Club CelebratesFiesta Noche del Rio’s 59th SeasonBy Heather AkkermanPhotos courtesy Alamo Kiwanis Club

For nearly 60 years, the Alamo Kiwanis Club (AKC) has put on a spectacular summer-long entertainment show in the heart of San Antonio, raising more than

$2.5 million for a host of charitable organizations.

A premier cultural event in San Antonio for generations, Fiesta Noche del Rio takes place over several summer weekends in an open-air theater on the Alamo City’s famed downtown River Walk. The colorful, family-friendly evening shows feature dancers, singers and musicians representing a variety of cultures from Texas, to Mexico, to places around the globe.

“San Antonio’s River Walk is itself a magnet, and you bring in all these different cultures in this venue to shine, and you’ve got yourself a great show,” said AKC member Ed Monaco, who has twice chaired the event.

Conceived by the City of San Antonio as a way to promote local talent and the River Walk, Fiesta Noche del Rio (party night of/on the river) began in 1957 under the direction of Rosita Fernandez with the backing of Alamo Kiwanis Club Charities Inc. San Antonio’s “first lady of song” no longer is alive, but the AKC remains as the event’s sole presenting organization.



“We have kept some traditions, and added Argentine tango, Caribbean salsas, and Country Western music to the mix,” said Elizabeth “Lisa” Sanchez-Lopez, who first came to Fiesta Noche de Rio as a performer in the 1980s and later took on the roles of the festival’s choreographer and director. “And we have more interaction with our audience now, making the show the star.”

As one of the AKC’s two premier annual fundraisers, Fiesta Noche del Rio nets as much as $60,000 each summer-long season through ticket, concession and merchandise sales, and through sponsorship underwriting. The AKC then disperses proceeds to local youth services groups, such as the YMCA and Big Brothers Big Sisters. As a part of their commitment to the show and its cause, cast members visit recipient organizations to see how their performances help San Antonio’s young people. Support also has gone to restore and preserve the show’s historic riverside venue, the Arneson River Theatre, which faces an amphitheater across the San Antonio River just below La Villita, one of the city’s earliest settlements. All of the

Alamo Kiwanis Club’s approximately 100 members help put on the show in various capacities, from serving on planning teams to working concessions and everything in between.

San Antonio is just three years shy of its 300th birthday, Kiwanis International is 100 this year, and Fiesta Noche del Rio is in its 59th season this year. Be a part of the show and come celebrate! Visit www.fiestanochesa.com.

• • • • • • • • • • • • Founded in 1947, the Alamo Kiwanis Club is a local organization built to help children’s charities through two major fundraisers - The Western and Heritage Art Show and Fiesta Noche del Rio. Fiesta Noche del Rio is the oldest outdoor dance performance presented at the historic Arneson River Theatre on the San Antonio River Walk, held in mid-May through mid-August. The Wes mation on the Alamo Kiwanis Club including membership information, visit www.alamo-kiwanis.org.


http://www.fiestanochesa.com

http://www.fiestanochesa.com

http://www.alamo-kiwanis.org


http://cirquedusoleil.com/kooza


Sometimes a man must follow a dream even if it seems impossible; courage must overcome doubt; and in the moment of truth, inner strength

must be found.

Eric Castillo experienced all of this in order to fulfill his dream when at age 30 he was the oldest walk-on for the University of the Incarnate Word football team although he had no prior football experience.

Castillo shares his story of the obstacles and personal demons he had to defeat to play college football in the documentary, The Power of a Dream, which premieres at 6 p.m. July 26 at the Palladium IMAX. Produced by Taylor

Trash Productions, the film features Heisman Trophy- winner Ricky Williams and NFL star Lenny Walls.

“I think his leap of faith to the football field was secured by his determination and drive created from all that he lost up until this point in his life,” Williams said. “It’s something about how football works with camaraderie that awakens something in everybody. Eric built a bond with a lot of people based off his work ethic. His story will change the direction in many lives as he continues to share it to the world by paying it forward.”

At 19, Castillo was running a successful landscaping company and had contracts with major homebuilders.

CHASING A DREAM“The Power of a Dream” documentary chronicles Eric Castillo’s ambition to play college football at age 30 despite the odds and obstaclesBy Rudy Arispe



He also married but soon found himself battling alcohol addiction.

“I was drinking heavily at that time,” he said. “I ended up losing all my contracts and my wife and two sons.”

He almost nearly lost his life as well, when in an angry, drunken state, he punched his hand through a window. As he began to bleed profusely, Castillo realized he wanted to live and change his life around. By a stroke of luck, his brother, who is a firefighter, happened to be visiting and stopped the bleeding.

Castillo whiled away his time in front of the TV until he took up running. He also researched videos to learn to regain use of his hand. As working out became his passion, he began training others.

“I still felt there was something more I needed to do,” he said. “That’s when I decided I wanted to play football.”

He applied at several junior colleges until considering UIW, but he was denied. Enter former San Antonio mayor Ed Garza, who wrote a letter

of recommendation. “I got a call the next morning saying I had been accepted,” Castillo said.

But now he had to pay his dues. “I was the ball boy on the sidelines, but I didn’t care,” he said. “I volunteered for everything because I was living my dream.”

After three years, Castillo’s hard work paid off when he was one of 95 players selected for the Division I camp. It wasn’t until the last game of the season that his moment of glory finally came to fruition when head coach Larry Kennan called him in to action.

“I worked three years for 10 reps, but it was worth it,” Castillo said. “But that wasn’t the highlight. I had gotten my sons back, and they were there to see me play.”

Admission to the July 26 premiere is $15 with $5 of each ticket benefitting Breaking Down Walls, a nonprofit that provides San Antonio youth affordable sports learning programs and mentorship. Tickets can be purchased at eventbrite.com/e/the-power-of-a-dream-tickets-16031389317. For more information, visit thepowerofadream.net or call 210- 833-8786.


http://eventbrite.com/e/the-power-of-a-dream-tickets-16031389317

http://eventbrite.com/e/the-power-of-a-dream-tickets-16031389317

http://thepowerofadream.net


http://childrensfineartseries.org


Events Calendar

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Events Calendar

30-44


July/August 2015 Events CalendarMusic Notes Two Tons of Steel7/1, Wed @ 6:30pmAncira Music SeriesCountry Line BBQ – IH10

Floetry7/1, Wed @ 8pmAztec Theatre

The Charlie Daniels Band7/2, Thu @ 8pmGruene Hall

Widestread Panic7/2-4, Thu-Sat @ 8pmMajestic Theatre

Big Sam’s Funky Nation7/2, Thu @ 11pmAztec Theatre

Tracy Lawrence7/3, Fri @ 8pmBlue Bonnet Palace

Gary P. Nunn7/3, Fri @ 8pmGruene Hall

Wagon Aces7/3, Fri @ 8pmLuckenbach Dance Hall

Ruby Dee & The Snakehandlers7/3, Fri @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Dirty Byrds7/3, Fri @ 11pmAztec Theatre

Danny Hutchens & Friends7/4, Sat @ 4pmAztec Theatre

Amos Lee & David Gray7/4, Sat @ 7:30pmWhitewater AmphitheaterNew Braunfels

Jason Boland and the Stragglers7/4, Sat @ 8pmBlue Bonnet Palace

MC & The Mystyx7/4, Sat @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Jack Ingram7/4, Sat @ 9pmGruene Hall

Cody Jinks7/4, Sat @ 9pmLuckenbach Dance Hall

The Swindles7/8, Wed @ 6:30pmAncira Music SeriesCountry Line BBQ – IH10

Cactus Pear Music FestivalProgram 1: Canciones 7/9, Thu @ 7pmKerrville Presbyterian 7/10, Fri @ 7pmCoker United Methodist7/12, Sun @ 2pmBoerne First United MethodistProgram 2: L’Chaim / To Life!7/11, Sat @ 7pmCoker United MethodistProgram 3: Brazil or Bust!7/12, Sun @ 7pmBoerne First United MethodistProgram 4: Germanic Giants7/16, Thu @ 7pmNew Braunfels McKenna Event Center7/17, Fri @ 7pmCoker United MethodistProgram 5: Bella Italia7/18, Sat @ 7pmCoker United Methodist

Ray Wylie Hubbard7/10, Fri @ 8pmGruene Hall

Charlie Robison & Bri Bagwell7/10, Fri @ 8pmLuckenbach Dance Hall

Keith Sweat andDoug E. Fresh7/10, Fri @ 8pmH-E-B Performance HallTobin Center for the Performing Arts

Rocky King Band7/10, Fri @ 8:15pmLeon Springs Dancehall

The Dirty River Boys7/10, Fri @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Jake Penrod7/11, Fri @ 8pmKendalia Halle

Rob Thomas7/11, Sat @ 8pmMajestic Theatre

The Very Best of Asleep at the Wheel7/11, Sat @ 8pmAnhalt Hall


http://www.vexler.org/


http://www.vexler.org/


Almost Patsy Cline Band7/11, Sat @ 8:15pmLeon Springs Dancehall

Wayne Hancock7/11, Sat @ 9pmGruene Hall

Shinyribs7/11, Sat @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

REO Speedwagon7/12, Sun @ 8pmMajestic Theatre

Two Ton Tuesday withTwo Tons of Steel7/14-8/18, Tue @ 8:30pmGruene Hall

Max Stalling7/15, Wed @ 6:30pmAncira Music SeriesCountry Line BBQ – IH10

Danzig with Pennywiseand Cancer Bats7/15, Wed @ 8pmAztec Theatre

Meghan Trainor: M Train Tourwith Life of Dillon & Charlie Puth7/16, Thu @ 7:30pmH-E-B Performance HallTobin Center for the Performing Arts

Bill Medley7/17, Fri @ 8pmMajestic Theatre

Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison7/17, Fri @ 8pmGruene Hall

The Merles7/17, Fri @ 8pmLuckenbach Dance Hall

Cactus Country7/17, Fri @ 8:15pmLeon Springs Dancehall

The Dan Band7/17, Fri @ 9pmAztec Theatre

Brandon Rhyder7/17, Fri @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

DCI: Drum Corps International7/18, Sat @ 2pmAlamodome

The Smashing Pumpkins & Marilyn Manson: The End Times Tour7/18, Sat @ 7pmFreeman Coliseum

Turnpike Troubadours7/18, Sat @ 7:30pmWhitewater AmphitheaterNew Braunfels

Jim Byrom7/18, Sat @ 8pmAnhalt Hall

Bob Schneider7/18, Sat @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

TwoTen Empire Series:Hydra Melody7/18, Sat @ 9pmCharline McCombs Empire Theatre

Cooder Graw7/18, Sat @ 9pmGruene Hall

Thomas Michael Riley7/18, Sat @ 9pmLuckenbach Dance Hall

Dick Fox’s Golden Boys:Frankie Avalon, Fabian & Bobby Rydell7/19, Sun @ 4pm H-E-B Performance HallTobin Center for the Performing Arts

Summerland Tour with Toadies, Everclear, Fuel and American Hi-Fi7/19, Sun @ 7:30pmAztec Theatre

Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo7/20, Mon @ 7:30pmH-E-B Performance HallTobin Center for the Performing Arts

Roger Creager’s Birthday Show7/22-25, Wed-Fri @ 8pmSat @ 9pmGruene Hall

Randy Rogers & Wade Bowen7/23, Thu @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Almost Patsy Cline Band7/24, Fri @ 8pmLuckenbach Dance Hall

Natalie Rose Band7/24, Fri @ 8:15pmLeon Springs Dancehall

Jamey Johnson7/24, Fri @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Pat Green & Kevin Fowler7/25, Sat @ 7:30pmWhitewater AmphitheaterNew Braunfels

An Evening with Larry Gatlin7/25, Sat @ 8pmBrauntex Performing Arts TheatreNew Braunfels

Max Stalling7/25, Sat @ 8pmLuckenbach Dance Hall

Jody Nix7/25, Sat @ 8:15pmLeon Springs Dancehall

Brit Floyd7/26, Sun @ 8pmAztec Theatre



Los Lonely Boys7/30, Thu @ 8pmAztec Theatre

Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival with Slayer, King Diamond & More7/31, Fri @ 11:30amWhitewater AmphitheaterNew Braunfels


Glen Collins and the Alibis7/24, Fri @ 8:15pmLeon Springs Dancehall

Cody Jinks7/31, Fri @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Cory Morrow8/1, Sat @ 8pmLuckenbach Dance Hall

Cody Johnson8/1, Sat @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Dirty River Boys8/1, Sat @ 9pmGruene Hall

Fifth Harmony8/2, Sun @ 7pmH-E-B Performance HallTobin Center for the Performing Arts

R5: Sometime Last Night Tour with Jacob Whiteside and Ryland8/5, Wed @ 6pmWhitewater AmphitheaterNew Braunfels


The John Conlee Show8/7, Fri @ 8:30pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Gary P. Nunn8/8, Sat @ 8pmLuckenbach Dance Hall

William Clark Green8/8, Sat @ 9pmGruene Hall

http://thepalm.com/san-antonio


James McMurtry8/8, Sat @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Buddy Holly Tribute Show8/12, Wed @ 7pmRockbox TheaterFredericksburg

American Idol Live!8/14, Fri @ 8pmMajestic Theatre

Jonathan Tyler8/14, Fri @ 8pmGruene Hall

Cody Joe Hodges8/14, Fri @ 8pmLuckenbach Dance Hall

Granger Smith8/14, Sat @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Girls Night Out, Boys Can Come Too Tour: Colbie Caillat and Christina Perri8/15, Sat @ 7:30pmMajestic Theatre

Monte Good Band8/15, Sat @ 8pmAnhalt Hall

“Weird Al” Yankovic: The Mandatory World Tour8/19, Wed @ 8pmMajestic Theatre

1964 The Tribute8/21, Fri @ 8pmMajestic Theatre

The Merles8/21, Fri @ 8pmLuckenbach Dance Hall

Chris Knight8/21, Fri @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Hayes Carll8/21-22, Fri @ 8pmSat @ 9pmGruene Hall

Everything Is Awesome Summer 2015 Tour: Slightly Stoopid withDirty Heads and The Expendables8/22, Sat @ 6:30pmWhitewater AmphitheaterNew Braunfels

John Evans Band8/22, Sat @ 8pmLuckenbach Dance Hall

Yes & Toto 2015 Summer Tour8/26, Wed @ 7:30pmMajestic Theatre

Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra8/26, Wed @ 8:30pmAztec Theatre

Todd Rundgren8/27, Thu @ 8pmAztec Theatre

Almost Patsy Cline Band8/28, Fri @ 8pmLuckenbach Dance Hall

TwoTen Empire Series:Bombasta8/28, Fri @ 9pmCharline McCombs Empire Theatre

Zane Williams8/28, Fri @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Kevin Fowler & Roger Creagar8/29, Sat @ 8:30pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

The Australian Pink Floyd8/30, Sun @ 7:30pmMajestic Theatre

Live TheatreCocktail Hour7/2-25, Thu-Sat @ 8pmDinner at 6:15pm)Harlequin Dinner Theatre

EvitaFredericksburg Theater Company7/3-5, Fri-Sat @ 8pmSun @ 2pmSteve W. Shepherd TheaterFredericksburg

Mary Poppins7/3-26, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pmSun @ 3pm (except 7/5 which is at 7:30pm)Woodlawn Theatre

Water by the Spoonful7/3-26, Fri-Sat @ 8pmSun @ 3pm Cellar Theatre @ Playhouse San Antonio

Thoroughly Modern Millie7/9-8/2, Thu-St @ 8pmSun @ 2pmCircle Arts TheatreNew Braunfels

James and the Giant Peach7/10-12, Fri-Sun @ 8:30pm7/16-25, Thu-Sat @ 8:30pmSmith-Ritch Point TheatreIngram

Pirates of PenzancePlayhouse 20007/10-11, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pm7/17-19, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pmSun @ 2:30pm7/24-25, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pmKathleen C. Cailloux Theater

Catch Me If You Can byThe Wimberley Players7/10-8/2, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pmSun @ 2:30pmWimberley Playhouse



27 Short Plays About Being Murdered in a Hotel by ABBA7/10-31, Fri-Sat @ 8pm7/19, Sun @ 2:30-p8/2, Sun @ 7pmGreg Barrios Theater @The Overtime Theater

Avenue Q7/11-8/2, Fri-Sat @ 8pmSun @ 4:30pmCameo Theatre

Forbidden Broadway’s Greatest Hits7/16-8/1, Thu-Sat @ 8pmDinner @ 6:30pm7/26 & 8/2, Sun @ 4pmSpotlight Theatre & Arts Group Etc. (S.T.A.G.E) Bulverde

Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)7/17-8/1, Thu @ 7:30pmFri-Sat @ 8pmSun @ 2:30pmBoerne Community Theatre

Grease7/17-8/16, Fri-Sat @ 8pmSun @ 3pmRussell Hill Rogers Theatre@ Playhouse San Antonio

Romeo Chang7/24-8/15, Fri-Sat @ 8pm8/2, Sun @ 2:30pm8/16, Sun @ 7pm8/20-22, Thu-Sat @ 8pmLittle Overtime Theater

The Addams Family8/7-9, Fri-Sun @ 7:30pm8/13-22, Thu-Sat @ 8:30pmElizabeth Huth Coates TheatreIngram

Greater TunaFredericksburg Theater Company8/14-23, Fri-Sat @ 8pmSun @ 2pmSteve W. Shepherd TheaterFredericksburg

West Side Story8/14-9/6, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pmSun @ 3pmWoodlawn Theatre

Boeing-Boeing8/20-9/13, Thu @ 7:30pmSat @ 8pmSun @ 2:30pm(no shows Fridays )Sheldon Vexler Theatre

Cabaret8/22-9/20, Fri-Sat @ 8pmSun @ 4:30pmCameo Theatre


ComedyMilitary Appreciation Week featuring Crosshairs Comedy with veterans Bobby Henline, Raul Sanchez andAnthony Torino7/1-5, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8pmFri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pmLaugh Out Loud Comedy Club

Peyton Clarkson7/1-5, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8:30pmFri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pmRivercenter Comedy Club

Poppy Champlin & The Queer Queens of Comedy7/8-9, Wed-Thu @ 8pmLaugh Out Loud Comedy Club

Sean Kent7/8-12, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8:30pmFri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pmRivercenter Comedy Club

Tyler Oakley’s Slumber Party7/9, Thu @ 7:30pmH-E-B Performance HallTobin Center for the Performing Arts

Steve Martin & Martin Short7/10, Fri @ 8pmMajestic Theatre

Lavell Crawford7/10-12, Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pmSun @ 8pmLaugh Out Loud Comedy Club

Pete Correale7/15-19, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8pmFri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pmLaugh Out Loud Comedy Club

Larry Reeb7/15-19, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8:30pmFri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pmRivercenter Comedy Club

Gilberto Gless7/19, Sun @ 7pmMajestic Theatre

Travis Howze7/22, Wed @ 8pmLaugh Out Loud Comedy Club

Ali Siddig7/22-26, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8:30pmFri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pmRivercenter Comedy Club

Cristela Alonzo7/23-26, Thu & Sun @ 8pmFri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pmLaugh Out Loud Comedy Club

Martin Lawrence7/24, Fri @ 8pmMajestic Theatre

Fifty Shades of BrownFeaturing Marvin Bacaand Rene Love7/25, Sat @ 8pmAztec Theatre


Dustin Ybarra7/29-8/2, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8:30pmFri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pmRivercenter Comedy Club

Bobby Lee7/31-8/2, Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pmSun @ 8pmLaugh Out Loud Comedy Club

Tabari McCoy8/5-6, Wed-Thu @ 8pmLaugh Out Loud Comedy Club

Brooks Wheelan8/7-9, Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pmSun @ 8pmLaugh Out Loud Comedy Club

Corey Holcomb8/7-9, Fri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pmSun @ 7pmRivercenter Comedy Club

Mark Riccadonna8/12-16, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8:30pmFri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pmRivercenter Comedy Club

Carlos Mencia8/14-16, Fri @ 8pm & 10:15pmSat @ 7pm, 9:15pm, 11:30pmSun @ 7pmLaugh Out Loud Comedy Club

Felicia Michaels8/19-23, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8pmFri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pmLaugh Out Loud Comedy Club

DeRay Davis8/20-23, Thu & Sun @ 8pmFri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:30pmRivercenter Comedy Club

Quinn Patterson8/26-30, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8:30pmFri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:30pmRivercenter Comedy Club

Christopher Titus8/28-30, Fri-Sat @ 8pm & 10:15pmSun @ 8pmLaugh Out Loud Comedy Club

Hollywood Babble-On with Kevin Smith and Ralph Garman8/29, Sat @ 9pmCharline McCombs Empire

http://bohanans.com


Children’s

Mercy Watson

7/1-3, Wed @ 10:30am

Fri @ 7pm

7/8-110, Wed @ 10:30am

Fri @ 10:30am & 7pm

7/15-18, Wed @ 10:30am

Fri @ 7pm, Sat @ 2pm

7/22-24, Tue @ 10:30am

Fri @ 7pm

7/29-8/1, Wed @ 10:30am

Fri @ 7pm, Sat @ 2pm

8/5-8, Wed @ 10:30am

Fri @ 10:30am & 7pm

Sat @ 2pm

Magik Theatre

The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley8/21-22, Fri @ 7pmSat @ 2pm8/26-9/4, Wed @ 10:30amFri @ 10:30am & 7pmSat @ 2pm9/8-26, Tue-Thu @ 9:45am & 11:30amFri @ 9:45, 11:30am & 7pmSat @ 2pmMagic Theatre

ExhibitionsARTPACE

Summer 2015 Artists in ResidenceFatma BucakWafaa BilalGabriel MartinezIan Alden Russell, CuratorNow thru 9/13

Hudson ShowroomChristian Marclay:Guitar Drag VideoNow thru 8/30

Window WorksKatie PellNow thru 8/30

BLUE STAR CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM

Everyday is OrdinaryNow thru 8/9

TransmissionNow thru 8/9

Cynthia Gregory: Of Reference, Of Departure, Of OriginNow thru 8/9

Emily Fleisher: Stellar-ScapeNow thru 8/9

EpisodeNow thru 8/9

BIHL HAUS ARTS

Nature on the Edge: Mutation and Hybridity in 21st Century ArtCurated by David RubenNow thru 7/11

Golden Panoramas7/24-8/27

BRISCOE WESTERN ART MUSEUM

Film Series: The Comedic WestThree Amigos7/21, Tue @ 6:30pmRango8/18, Tue @ 6:30pm

http://www.leonspringsgrill.com/


Briscoe Book ClubDoc by Mary Doria Russell7/7, Tue @ 5:30pm

Still Wild edited by Larry McMurtry8/4, Tue @ 5:30pm

INSTITUTE OF TEXAN CULTURES

Los Tejanos Now on view

Texas CzechsNow thru 9/4

Faces of SurvivalNow thru 11/15

Sikhs: Legacy of the PunjabNow thru 1/3/16

LINDA PACE FOUNDATION

It Takes A Village: New Works by Alejandro DiazNow thru 9/12SPACE:The Linda Pace Foundation Gallery

Adam (Public Artwork)By Arturo Herrera25’ h x 98’ w, Frost Bank GarageCommerce at MainNow thru 12/2016

McNAY ART MUSEUM

Paul Villinski: BurstNow thru 7/26

Viva Zapata!Now thru 8/16

Voices of SufferingNow thru 8/16

Recycled, Repurposed, RebornNow thru 8/17

Merida’s MexicoNow thru 9/6

Robyn O’Neil: We, The MassesNow thru 9/6

Lesley Dill: Performance as ArtNow thru 9/6

Richard Duardo: Maestro of Pop7/1-9/6

Stephan Westfall: The Holy Forest8/6-7/31/16

Miro: The Experience of Seeing9/30-1/10/16


http://sabot.org


MUSEO GUADALUPE

DulceNow thru 7/22

Getting The Big Picture: Mel Casas and the Politics of the 1960s and 1970sNow thru 10/24

Cursive Wanderings7/31-10/2

SAN ANTONIO BOTANICAL GARDEN

Rainforest AdventureNow thru 9/20

One Way Trail-Art in the Garden 2015(In conjunction with Blue Star Contemporary Art Center)Now thru 1/31/16

SAN ANTONIO MUSEUM OF ART

Jamie WyethNow thru 7/5

Raíces Americanas: Recent Acquisitions of Pre-Columbian ArtNow on view

Miguel Covarrubias:Culture and Caricature7/18-10/18

SOUTHWEST SCHOOL OF ART

Selfies: 50 At 50Now thru 7/5

Christopher Rabb: The Amazing Memorable ThingNow thru 7/5

All School Exhibition7/18-8/30

TEXAS A&M EDUCATIONALAND CULTURAL ART CENTER

Mel Casas: The Southwestern Cliches, 1982-1989Now thru 9/27

WITTE MUSEUM

Images of San Antonio MissionsNow thru 8/29

Discover the Ice AgeNow thru 9/7

MiscellaneousFiesta Noche del RioNow thru 8/15, Fri-Sat @ 8:30pmArneson River Theatreon the River Walk

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey: Legends7/1-4, Wed-Fri @ 7:30pmSat @ 12pm & 4pmSun @ 1pm & 5pmFreeman Coliseum

Fourth of July Arts & Crafts Show7/2-7/5, Thu-Sun / 11am-8pmRiver Walk

City of San Antonio’s Official July Fourth Celebration7/4, Sat / 8:30am-11:30pmWoodlawn Lake Park

2015 Pride “Bigger Than Texas”7/4, Sat / 11am-9pmCrockett Park

Stars & Stripes Over San Antonio7/4, Sat / 6-10pmAlamodome

Pearl Farmer’s Market7/4-8/30, Sat-Sun 9am-1pmPearl Complex

Tejas Rodeo - Live Rodeo 7/4-11/28, Sat @ 7:30pm(live music/dance after rodeo)Tejas Rodeo CompanyBulverde

Spy! The ExhibitOpens 7/10 (Limited Engagement)Mon-Sat, 10am-9pmSun 21-6pmRivercenter Mall – Morton’s Entrance

Balcones Heights Jazz Festival7/10-31, Fri @ 7pmAmphitheater @ Wonderland of the Americas

Stars & Garters Burlesque:The Vegas Strip!7/12, Sun @ 8pmAztec Theatre

Rey Lopez Birthday Bash7/24, Fri @ 9pmAztec Theatre

Marcus Luttrell’s Patriot Tour 2015, Presented by Team Never Quit7/25, Sat @ 7:30pmCharline McCombs Empire Theatre

The Power of a Dream: The Eric Castillo StoryDocumentary Premier7/26, Sun @ 6pmPalladium IMAX Theatre

Ford Canoe Challenge8/1, Sat / 7-11amRiver Walk




Cesar Lozano8/4, Tue @ 7pm’Lila Cockrell Theater

San Antonio: The SagaNow thru 12/31, Tue, Fri-Sun @ 9pmSan Fernando Cathedral

Culinaria Restaurant Week8/15-29Selected restaurants citywideFor information: www.culinariasa.org

Coming SoonBMW of San AntonioSignature Series: Ballet Folklorico de Mexico9/14H-E-B Performance Hall @Tobin Center for the Performing Arts

San Antonio SymphonyOpening Night: Beethoven’s 9th9/18-20H-E-B Performance Hall @Tobin Center for the Performing Arts

North Park Lexus Broadway in San Antonio Series: The Little Mermaid (touring)9/22-27Majestic Theatre

Opera San AntonioMadama Butterfly10/1 & 3H-E-B Performance Hall @ Tobin Center for the Performing Arts

The Music ManOpens 10/2Russell Rogers Theatre @ The Playhouse San Antonio

Green Day’s American IdiotOpens 10/2Woodlawn Theatre

Arts San Antonio: National Acrobats and Circus of China10/6Majestic Theatre



The Beach Boys10/8Majestic Theatre

Ballet San AntonioSwan Lake10/9-11H-E-B Performance Hall @ Tobin Center for the Performing Arts

San Antonio Chamber Music Society Academy of St. Martin in the Fields10/11Temple Beth-El

San Antonio SymphonyYo-Yo Ma10/16 H-E-B Performance Hall @ Tobin Center for the Performing Arts

North Park Lexus Broadway in San Antonio Series: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (touring)10/16-18Majestic Theatre

Bad JewsOpens 10/17Sheldon Vexler Theatre

BMW of San AntonioSignature Series: Flashdance The Musical (touring)10/20H-E-B Performance Hall @ Tobin Center for the Performing Arts

Tobin Center Presents:Lionel Richie10/22H-E-B Performance Hall @ Tobin Center for the Performing Arts

Arts San AntonioBallet Hispanico - Carmen.Maquia10/22Lila Cockrell Theatre

Photo CreditsPage 30 (L-R)

Willie NelsonCourtesy Majestic Theatre

Tracy LawrenceCourtesy tracylawrence.com

Gary P. NunnCourtesy liveatfloores.com

Stephanie Sant’AmbrogioPhoto by Liz Garza-Williams

Page 32 (L-R)

LoAnn LinCourtesy Cactus Pear Music Festival

Ilya Shterenberg Courtesy Cactus Pear Music Festival

Carmit Zori Courtesy Cactus Pear Music Festival

Max Stalling Courtesy maxstalling.com

Page 33 (L-R)

Dale WatsonCourtesy liveatfloores.com

Bill MedleyCourtesy Majestic Theatre

Brandon RhyderCourtesy brandonrhyder.com

Dick Fox’s Golden BoysCourtesy Tobin Center

Page 34 (L-R)

Neil Giraldo and Pat BenatarPhoto by Travis Shinn

Roger CreagerCourtesy rogercreager.com

Almost Patsy Cline BandCourtesy [email protected]

Natalie RoseCourtesy natalierose.com

Page 35 (L-R)

Pat GreenCourtesy patgreen.com

Larry GatlinCourtesy wmeentertainment.com

Los Lonely BoysCourtesy loslonelyboys.com

Cory MorrowCourtesy corymorrow.com

Page 37 (L-R)

Fifth HarmonyCourtesy Tobin Center

James McMurtryCourtesy liveatfloores.com

Page 39 (L-R)

Colbie CaillatCourtesy colbiecaillat.com

Granger SmithCourtesy grangersmith.com

Page 40 (L-R)

Rachel PlattenCourtesy Tobin Center

Chris KnightCourtesy chrisknight.netOttmar LiebertPhoto by Greg Gorman

Todd RundgrenPhoto by Jim Snyder



Page 41 (L-R)

Jerry Jeff WalkerCourtesy jerryjeff.com

Martin LawrenceCourtesy Majestic Theatre

Cristela AlonzoCourtesy LOL Comedy Club

Carlos Mencia Courtesy LOL Comedy Club

Page 42 (L-R)

Corey Holcomb Courtesy Rivercenter Comedy Club

Dustin Ybarra Courtesy Rivercenter Comedy Club

Ringmaster Courtesy Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus

Fiesta Noche del RioPhoto by Paul Garcia

Page 43

Fiesta Noche del Rio Courtesy Alamo Kiwanis Club

Troy PetersCourtesy Youth Orchestras of San Antonio

Sebastian Lang-LessingPhoto by Marks Moore


http://cappysrestaurant.com/

http://cappyccinos.com/

http://lafondaonmain.com/


Culinary Arts46-64

Culinary Arts46-64

46 On The Town | July/August 2015 Chef Chris Brooks


I n a space where two previous restaurants once stood (Ounce Steakhouse and Passion), Brazilian-born Joan Ongarato, owner of Chama Gaucha

Brazilian Steakhouse, lent the J from his first name to his newest venture in San Antonio. Ongarato also owns other Chama Gaucha restaurants in Chicago, Atlanta and Houston. Fernando Arantes is at the helm of the day-to-day operations at J. Prime San Antonio which underwent an extensive and impressive structural and cosmetic facelift to just about every part of the building before it opened to the public last December.

Inside the new elegant space that was carefully rethought, several distinct, separate areas have been created for private dining, each suitable for hosting corporate meetings of different sizes and equipped with built-in, retractable projection screens and other amenities.

The 6,000-square-foot restaurant employs a staff of about 20 in the kitchen with another 80 employees taking care of the front of the house.

Born and partially raised in Mexico City and Celaya Guanajuato, chef Chris Brooks has been honing his sk il ls around the San Antonio culinary scene for more than a decade. Prior to J. Prime, his most recent tenure was a 10-year stint at both San Antonio Ruth’s Chris locations, which prepared him well for the multiple challenges he encounters daily at the helm of the k itchen of the beautifully remodeled space that now hosts the new J. Prime Steakhouse.

“Before I went to work for Ruth’s Chris, I worked at L’étoile, and I also co-owned a restaurant called Encino Grill on West Avenue, with my brother,

Daniel,” Brooks said.

“I get my inspiration for cooking from growing up with my mother and my grandmother’s cooking,” Brooks said. “My dad was in the movie industry as a producer, and my mother had to entertain a lot. My grandmother also went to Paris to study at the Cordon Bleu cooking school. I guess I have adopted some of their cooking methods, which include using refined techniques while still producing some very approachable comfort foods.”

“This is a ‘chef-driven’ restaurant,” he said. “We are not a chain, and we are not tied down to any big corporate concept. Here at J. Prime, we strive to serve farm-fresh food. We procure as much of our ingredients as we can from sustainable local farms and ranches, and we even use eggs from chickens that are cage-free certified.”

Brooks presented a tour of the kitchen, starting with the cold storage area, where all the meats are dry-aged on premises for 45 to 60 days.

“The meat we serve is aged properly right here in-house,” he said. “Whether it ’s the New York strip, the trimmed tenderloin or the dry-aged filet, they are some of the best you’ll find anywhere. One of my favorites is the steak tartare. I think we serve the best steak tartare in the city.”

Brooks demonstrated the paril la , an Argentinian-style gril l . Here the meat is gril led to per fection over lump hardwood charcoal with the fat allowed to drip down below the cooking sur face, resulting in tender steaks with a South American flair reflective of the restaurant owner ’s culture and origins.

J. PRIME STEAKHOUSE Blazes a New Trail of ExcellenceBy: Olivier J. Bourgoinaka. Olivier the Wine Guy



At J. Prime, generous portions are the norm, and steaks are very likely to be a few ounces over their advertised weight.

Although meat is king here, in spite of its name, the food is not just about steaks. The seafood selections are also to be noted, including the crab legs, the shrimp dishes, the sea bass, the East Coast oysters, and my favorite -- the cold-water lobster tails.

For starters, every table is served a complimentary antipasto board with slices of Spanish chorizo, thin-sliced Serrano ham, semi-sun-dried tomatoes and cheese, olives and spicy Piquillo de Calabria Peppers. There are more than a dozen choices of hot and cold appetizers, each competing for elegant presentation. I tried several, starting with the Prime Beef Carpaccio (beef tenderloin drizzled with Caesar dressing, topped with capers, hard-boiled eggs, shallots, tomato and Parmesan cheese). I followed up with the super-classy Shrimp Cocktail featuring a Sriracha sauce. I also enjoyed the Baby Octopus Ceviche presented with

thin, fried yucca-petal chips. My last selection was one of the hot appetizers, the Coxinha (a Brazilian specialty made with savory potato dough, stuffed with Catupiry cheese, shredded chicken, parsley, onions, celery and garlic).

Brooks noted: “We serve a great Sunday brunch with an omelet station, some composed salads and the best Eggs Benedict you’ll find anywhere. And we host wine dinners on a regular basis. I learned a lot about cooking from working at Ruth’s Chris, and I thought I knew it all, but I have learned even more since coming to work here.”

J. Prime Steakhouse: 1401 N. Loop 1604 West, San Antonio, TX 78258. Phone 210-764-1604.

Open seven days a week. Bar opens daily at 4 p.m. with happy hour until 7 p.m. Dining room open 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Open Sunday for brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and for dinner from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visit jprimesteakhouse.com.


http://jprimesteakhouse.com

http://culinariasa.org


http://culinariasa.org


Blue Lotus Winery and Texas Mead WorksA Fresh Twist on the Texas Wine SceneBy Olivier J. Bourgoin (aka Olivier the Wine Guy)

A relative newcomer on the booming Texas wine scene, Blue Lotus Winery and Texas Mead is the brainchild of Michael “Mike” Poole and his

wife, Melissa.

Mike is in charge of making the wines and Melissa takes care of the tasting room, which recently extended hours of operation to include Thursdays and Fridays.

“When Mike was in the Navy, he developed an interest in brewing beer,” Melissa Poole said. “But as far as our commercial venture is concerned, he

learned at the school of hard knocks.”

For Mike Poole, going from beer to wine and from wine to mead was not such a big stretch. Mead is technically considered a “honey wine” under federal law and within Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives guidelines.

Some of the mead made here includes jalapeño and cranberry-orange flavors.

“Originally, my husband is from Beaumont. We moved here from Dallas because of a job transfer


July/August 2015 | On The Town 51May/June 2015 | On The Town 51

and found some land to buy and started growing grapes,” Melissa said.

Licensed since January 2010, Blue Lotus completed construction of its tasting facility last February.

The 12-acre property has approximately seven acres under vine. Esoteric grape varietals such as Black Spanish, Champanel, Blanc du Bois, Lake Emerald and Roucaneuf are grown there. The varietals were chosen primarily because of their proven resistance to certain prominent vineyard diseases such as Phyloxera and Pierce’s disease.

A dozen wines currently are under production at Blue Lotus and available for tasting and purchase at the winery.

Included in the offerings are the Grande Blanc, Malvasia Bianca and White Lotus (a blend of Blanc du Bois and estate-grown Lake Emerald grapes).

“We are adding new wines all the time,” Melissa said.

Some of the new wines recently added are a dry Riesling and a Blackberry Port Chocolate Raspberry wine.

“We don’t have a distributor for our wines yet,” she said. “We self-distribute in the area but our mead is available in Dallas through a small beer distributor there. We are trying to keep up with the demand

but some of our wines do sell out of vintage. For mead, it’s another story because we can make it continuously, throughout the year, as needed.”

The winery does not have a restaurant on premises, but cheese, meat and cracker plates are available in the tasting room.

Blue Lotus also is a destination and event center with a 3,800-square-foot tasting room and reception area equipped with a surround sound system and other amenities suitable to accommodate office parties or to host bridal showers, weddings and other social functions.

The winery hosts several special events during the year, including a barbeque and bands’ event in June, and a hamburgers and hot dogs arts and crafts show coming up in July with more than 20 craft vendors.

“We are trying to stay with Texas grapes only, but not the same as most of the wines made in the style of the Fredericksburg area,” Melissa said. “We are off the beaten path but there is a lot going on out here. We just need for people to find out about us; to get people to know about us.”

Blue Lotus Winery and Texas Mead Works5151 FM 20, Seguin, Texas 78155830-379-9463Open noon to 5 p.m. Thursday through SundayCalendar of events at bluelotuswinery.com.


http://bluelotuswinery.com


San Antonio Restaurant Weeks: August 15-29By Ginger McAneer-RobinsonPhotography Veronica Luna

Y ou’ve asked for i t , and Culinar ia is del iver ing. S an A ntonio Restaurant Week – a favorite t ime of the year for many –

wil l now be Restaurant Weeks. Note the plural “weeks.” The t ime to dine is Aug. 15-29. With the extension, your chances to expand your spectrum of tastes and f lavors are guaranteed.

The event is designed to help celebrate local restaurants and help promote business within the San Antonio community while also providing the ult imate chance for the returning foodie or curious newbie to tr y new things and maybe f ind a new favorite restaurant. I t ’s a celebration of the unique cul inar y community that San



Antonio has to offer, with each par t icipating restaurant preparing to take your taste buds on the cul inar y adventure of a l i fet ime. The menus created by the chefs range from anything to decadent and extravagant or fresh and simple with a unique twist .

Par t icipating restaurants wil l offer a pre -f ixe, three - course menu for lunch and dinner at pr ices of $15 and $35, respectively, for Tier One, and $10 and $25, respectively, for Tier Two. Reser vations are encouraged and should be made directly with the restaurant itself – but hurr y as these reser vations f i l l up fast .

During S an A ntonio Restaurant Week , some of the restaurants change things up a bit as well . Some that are open only for dinner might open for lunch during the promotional period. Cul inar ia’s website posts as many of these

detai ls as they receive from the restaurants, along with the menus, so, i t ’s impor tant to check Culinar iaSA.org for updates.

Need more reason to dine out than delicious food at budget-friendly prices? San Antonio Restaurant Week benefits Culinaria, so your dining experience during Restaurant Week will be a charitable one. With each meal purchased from the San Antonio Restaurant Week menus, restaurants will donate $1 for lunch and $2 for dinner to Culinaria and the programs it supports.

Cul inar ia is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to benefit ing the San Antonio community and promoting San Antonio as an ideal wine and food destination. By way of providing cul inar y scholarships and aid to San Antonio’s chefs enduring personal hardships, Cul inar ia has long promoted its suppor t of the



community. The organization also has plans in the works for the Culinar ia Urban Farm that wil l hone in on true nutr it ional values and education to promote a farm-to-table diet. Currently, Cul inar ia continues to raise funds through a capital campaign while also searching for the per fect plot of land for the venture.

Events throughout the year, both large and small , wi l l continue to provide guests a chance to suppor t the San Antonio cul inar y community while also assist ing with funding the causes that Culinar ia suppor ts. Restaurant Week isn’t the only feature in August as the organization also features Rambling Rosé, a bl ind wine tasting at Becker Vineyards on Aug. 8.

Also in the fal l , Cul inar ia hosts Chefs and Cel lars in September and a Jazz Brunch at The Shops at La Cantera in October. The new year begins with the return of the winter S an A ntonio Restaurant Week in Januar y, fol lowed by the 5K Wine and Beer Run in March and Festival Week in May.

For more information on S an A ntonio Restaurant Week , including par t icipating restaurants with menus posted as they become avai lable, and al l of the events of Cul inar ia, vis it Cul inar iaSA.org, cal l 210-822-9555, or email info@culinar iasa.org. Share on Twitter and Instagram (@CulinariaSA) and Facebook (/SanAntonio) .





http://pestoristorantesa.com


Special Guest Chef Shane Lyons Joins Five Local Star Chefs for Houston Street Charities’ Courses & Cocktails August 30 at NAOStory and photography courtesy Houston Street Charities



In the culinary world, a paired dinner is no longer restricted to the perfect wine paired with each bite. In fact, quite often the most perfect way to

enhance the flavors of a meal is with the right cocktail.

Houston Street Charities, which sponsors the San Antonio Cocktail Conference each January, will host Courses and Cocktails, an evening of fine food and spirits, Aug. 30 at Nao. The event will feature five talented chefs in the kitchen and pair their food with cocktails at each course. Like all other events associated with the organization, all profits will benefit children’s charities.

The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a welcome cocktail and appetizer from Nao. Guests will be seated for dinner at 7:15 p.m., when local chefs Stefan Bowers, Jason Dady, Robbie Nowlin and John Russ will each host two tables with a five course meal. The four well-known chefs have shared their time and

talents with San Antonians for many years in their restaurants and at many of the city’s most significant occasions. Joining the local star chefs will be Shane Lyons, executive chef and partner at Distilled NY, who will host a premium table and prepare five courses.

Lyons was born for both stove and stage, with an early professional career in Hollywood and the kitchen. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, he worked as a private chef in Hollywood, competed on Next Food Network Star, cooked in some of New York City’s most high-profile restaurants, including Craft Bar, Café Boulud, and Momofuku Noodle Bar, and served as chef de cuisine for Top Chef Kitchen on NBC. In 2013, at age 25, Lyons recognized a dream and opened his own New York restaurant with Nick Lovacchini and Drew Nieporent – New American Public House – in the heart of TriBeCa. Distilled has received glowing reviews by The New York Times, and Lyons recently was honored as one of New York’s



most promising up-and-coming chefs in Zagat’s 30 Under 30, as well as being a featured guest chef at the prestigious James Beard House.

The evening will include music and exceptional ambience. The chefs keep their menus a secret until the event, but each of the five are pairing their courses with cocktails that include Intro to Aperol, the Cosmopolita, the MacKinnon, the IBF Pick Me Up and the Colorado Bulldog.

Houston Street Charities was founded by Mark Bohanan and Bohanan’s Prime Steaks and Seafood to put giving back to community at the forefront of the organization’s events. Since its inception, Houston Street Charities and the San Antonio Cocktail Conference have donated profits to local nonprofit agencies making a difference for children. Volunteers, sponsors and patrons of the conference have made it possible to donate more than $350,000.

Tables and individual seats are available by contacting Cathy Siegel, executive director, Houston Street Charities, by phone, 210-472-2211, or email, [email protected]. Seating is limited.

Photo Credits:

Page 56

Shane LyonsExecutive Chef and Partner Distilled NY

Page 57 (L-R)

Robbie Nowlin CitrusHotel Valencia

Jason Dady Tre Trattoria Tre Enoteca

Page 58 (L-R)

Stefan Bowers Feast Restaurant

John Russ Luke


http://tribeca212.com


http://tribeca212.com



Sea Island Shrimp House: Celebrating 50 YearsBy Karen AdamsPhotography Courtesy Sea Island Shrimp House

I.t started earnestly enough. A husband and wife team and their friend decided to open up a simple, no frills, fresh from the Texas Gulf

seafood restaurant in San Antonio called Sea Island Shrimp House. Fifty years later, the concept remains the same: serve the freshest seafood at the most affordable prices in a family-friendly atmosphere day in and day out, and you have a recipe for success.

The three South Texas friends who founded Sea Island Shrimp House, Dan and Chrissy Anthony and Henry Reed, were right on the mark when they designed a restaurant that focused on wild-caught Texas Gulf shrimp, the freshest ingredients, and truth-in-flavor more than decorator frills. The partners opened their first restaurant at 322 W. Rector St., in 1965 with a loyal following.

Dan Anthony learned the restaurant business from the ground up, working alongside his father, Tom, owner of the landmark Manhattan Café, one of San Antonio’s first desegregated restaurants. The seafood at the Manhattan Café was so off-the-charts good that a frequent customer of the restaurant, Henry Reed, told Dan he should open a seafood restaurant.

“Dan and Henry got busy working on the concept and opened Sea Island on Rector Street in 1965 with a strong response,” said Chrissy Anthony, 81. “We set out to use only the finest ingredients, shopped for the freshest vegetables, peeled our own shrimp and even decided to grind our own bread crumbs so that they were perfect.”

Fifty years later, Sea Island Shrimp House still grinds its own bread crumbs, and insists on the same high quality ingredients that made them famous. In addition to being one of the largest buyers of wild-caught Texas Gulf shrimp in the region, Sea

Island Shrimp House boasts some impressive figures related to volume. The restaurant:

• Serves more than 2 million guests per year at their six San Antonio-area locations

• Serves more than 11 million hand-peeled, wild-caught Texas Gulf shrimp per year

• Serves approximately one ton of fish daily to customers at six restaurants.

But don’t think for a minute that Sea Island Shrimp House is stuck in the past. Barclay Anthony is a third-generation restaurateur who joined Sea Island Shrimp House in 1992 as CEO after graduating from UT Austin and a stint in investment banking. Under his leadership, the company has grown from the original location to a chain of six restaurants in the San Antonio area. There are now more than 400 employees, including some who have been with the company for more than 20 and 30 years.

“My job is to hold true to the legacy of serving the freshest seafood at affordable prices and conducting our company with the highest standards of business put into place by my parents 50 years ago,” said Barclay Anthony.

Now at the half-century mark, Sea Island is expanding its menu to cultivate the newest generation of guests. The Fresh at 50! menu combines a broad selection of traditional Sea Island tastes with new and distinctive flavors, such as Alaskan Crab Legs, Bacon Mac and Cheese, Chipotle Crusted Fish, Grilled Salmon Salad and more.

During July, 50 cents from every Fresh at 50! menu



item purchased will be donated to the San Antonio Food Bank.

In addition to the food bank promotion, Sea Island will host a vintage car display at 10 a.m. July 5 at its Rector Street location. A handful of classic cars from 1965 will be exhibited in the front parking lot, allowing guests to get a photo with their favorite vehicle and reminisce with local antique car enthusiasts. Lemonade and skewered shrimp will be available for purchase.

“Celebrating 50 years in San Antonio is such a meaningful milestone for our family,” said Barclay Anthony. “After so many years, our employees, loyal guests, vendors and business colleagues have become part of our extended family, creating a close-knit culture that resonates throughout each Sea Island restaurant. We are a home-grown San Antonio company and couldn’t think of a better city in which to have roots.”

For more information, go to www.shrimphouse.com.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Photo Credits:

Page 60

Chrissy AnthonyCo-founder of Sea Island

Page 62

(Above)

The Anthony Family: Back: Barclay Anthony and his wife KristiMiddle: Barclay’s oldest son Luke with Barclay’s mom Chrissy, co-founder of Sea Island Front: Beau and Wyatt Anthony

(Middle)Grilled Skewered Trio from the Fresh at 50! menu

(Below)Grilled Salmon Salad from the Fresh at 50! menu


http://www.shrimphouse.com


http://pedernalescellars.com


http://cpmf.us


Visual Arts66-76

Visual Arts66-76

http://cpmf.us


Young minds have a new place to grow in San Antonio – The DoSeumStory and photography courtesy of The DoSeum

San Antonio’s museum for kids, which opened in early June, offers limitless opportunities for children to discover, explore, create and learn.

With world-class exhibits and sustainable, thoughtful architecture, it is poised to be one of the leading children’s museums in the nation. At The DoSeum,

nearly 60 percent of the exhibits focus on concepts in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), while others emphasize literacy and the creative arts to create a diverse learning experience.

Education is critical to the success of any city, and



the goal of The DoSeum is to spark a love of learning in children that will stay with them as they grow. In every nook of the fascinating space, children will find something to explore, to play with, to puzzle over and to create.

Kids will be able to use their inner creativity and curiosity to feed their appetite for learning as they choose from an impressive menu of world-class exhibits that include an interactive robot named Baxter, a spy academy filled with math challenges, an interactive puppet parade, a musical staircase, a Children’s River and a significant outdoor exhibit area with plenty of water features, shade, and an ADA-accessible treehouse.

The museum will educate by using every inch of the 104,000 square feet of indoor-outdoor exhibit space. The building’s sustainable architecture serves as a teaching aid in environmental science. The eco-friendly building is equipped to produce up to 25 percent of the facility’s energy by way of 616 solar panels, capture approximately 180,000 gallons of HVAC condensate per year to be used for on-site irrigation and will strive to recycle 90 percent of waste materials gathered from daily operations. The

DoSeum is set to receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council and is among the most sustainable museums in Texas.

“From the day we opened our doors, The DoSeum became one of the most beautiful, exciting and interactive children’s museums in the entire United States,” said Vanessa Lacoss Hurd, CEO of The DoSeum. “It’s a place where children tap their inner creativity and curiosity, and where science, math, technology and art become a playground for their minds and bodies. Our hope is that The DoSeum will spark a genuine zeal for learning that they will take with them through childhood and beyond.”

When planning the design of the building, one important detail was making sure the space would be accessible to children from all backgrounds. The entire museum is ADA-accessible, Spanish-language signage and graphics are placed throughout the space, and museumgoers will have the option to interact with exhibits in their preferred language. Additionally, The DoSeum will roll out new programs and partnerships in an effort to reach children in



every corner of the community.

In fall 2015, the Little Doers program will welcome its first class of preschool-age children. The weekly program was inspired by San Antonio’s commitment to quality early childhood education, and it will offer a play-based, rich learning environment specifically targeted to each child’s age and development. These initiatives are just the start of what The DoSeum plans to contribute to the city’s goal of achieving a globally competitive workforce.

The DoSeum will serve as an inclusive community partner, making its extensive educational resources available to local educators. As a trusted resource for schools, the museum will offer professional development resources, provide a learning space to gather, and share educational resources for teachers to turn ideas into action, inside and outside of the classroom.

In addition to being a space for learning, The DoSeum is equipped with charming rental space available for social and professional events. Proceeds from facility rentals will directly benefit the museum and its

educational programming for the community.

“Children’s museums can be powerful players in a community’s learning landscape,” said Laura Huerta Migus, executive director of the Association of Children’s Museums. “They are unique in their ability to convene stakeholders from all sectors who are interested and invested in the success and well-being of children and families.”

“The DoSeum will certainly confirm San Antonio’s place in the global network of cities striving to create civic environments for healthy children, empowered parents, and vibrant workforces,” she added.

The DoSeum is expected to attract more than 400,000 visitors annually to experience its innovative approach to education, and is another influential addition to the cultural corridor along Broadway that includes the Pearl Brewery complex, the Witte Museum, Brackenridge Park, the San Antonio Botanical Garden, the San Antonio Zoo, the San Antonio Museum of Art and the McNay Art Museum.

For more information, visit TheDoSeum.org.


http://TheDoSeum.org



Art al Fresco:

Celebrating Art and

Community in Boerne By Jennie FisherPhotography Courtesy City of Boerne

T he City of Boerne recently announced its new public art program, Art al Fresco — an annual outdoor public sculpture competition

with a call for entry that closed in late May. More than 50 professional artists submitted work to be considered for this unique opportunity to show

their sculptures in Boerne. Up to 10 pieces will be selected by the Boerne Public Art Competition Committee for a 13-month temporary exhibit.

The sculptures will be located throughout the city ’s historic downtown, along the Hill Country



Mile, where visitors and residents can enjoy a walkable tour of the sculptures in the heart of beautiful Boerne.

“One of the fun things about the competition is that the public will be able to vote on their favorite piece of art,” said Mary Woods, special projects assistant for the City of Boerne. “We hope that this will become a walking adventure in downtown Boerne, so you’ll go shopping, eat downtown and visit the art. We really want this to be interactive.”

While the competition is the first of its kind in Boerne, the city’s sculpture collection has expanded significantly in recent years, with the installation of the Wild Bill Hickok bronze at Main Plaza, The Land of the Cheyenne on the Cibolo Trail, and Father Gander in River Road Park. Art al Fresco will facilitate the continued growth of Boerne’s permanent public art collection.

“Locals know there is a thriving arts community in the city of Boerne, and they place a strong emphasis on arts education,” Woods said. “We are excited about Art al Fresco’s future educational and programming opportunities and hope students will visit, look at, study and photograph the art.”

Boerne Mayor Mike Schultz said he believes Art al Fresco will be a big draw for visitors. “Adding more public art to Boerne’s landscape is a key strategy for supporting our tourism efforts,” Schultz said. “Boerne is already an art lover’s destination, and this new initiative is going to kick it up a notch.”

Boerne Art al Fresco is scheduled to open in September. Life-size and monumental sculptures of all styles and media will be included and installed along the Hill Country Mile.

For more information, visit www.artalfresco.org.


http://www.artalfresco.org



”

When we sat down to talk to acclaimed stage director and producer Jerry Ruiz, he had been the executive director at the

Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center for about three weeks. Affable and confident, Ruiz has an obvious passion for his new and challenging role in guiding the longtime San Antonio Westside institution into what he hopes is its next golden era.

The Brownsville, Texas, native obviously thrives on challenges, venturing to Harvard University where he got his BA in English literature, then “sneaked back into Texas for about a year for a directing internship at Dallas Theater Center. It was sort of my foot in the door of the professional theater world.” That door led to more doors, most notably in New York—each one increasing his experience, recognition, success, and ultimately bringing him back to his roots in South Texas.

On The Town: What did your family back home in Brownsville think about your choice of career?

JR: They weren’t totally surprised. I was always kind of an artsy kid, playing piano, writing stuff, doing theater in the summer with friends. I made it sound like [directing] could be a responsible career, that I could intern and go to graduate school and get a job at a theater. I think I just kind of sold them on it.

OTT: What was it like living and working in New York City?

JR: It was an exciting time. I moved there in 2001 on a hope and prayer, with very little money. I applied for everything I could and volunteered at

theaters. My first big job was assistant director on La Boheme, a Broadway production of the opera, directed by Baz Luhrmann (Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge!). Like so many things in show business it was just happenstance. Someone recommended me and I started as an unpaid intern, and after that they hired me. I went from showing up in NYC with no connections to speak of, to working with a famous fancy film director who was doing a huge Broadway show. It really was like something out of a movie. For a 23-year-old, it was quite a magic carpet ride.

OTT: A ride that ended when the show ended its run in 2004.

JR: I was out of a job and didn’t know what the next step would be, so I thought I better apply to graduate school at University of California at San Diego (UCSD). I learned a lot. I think the experience of assisting such an established director on Broadway and grad school were the two things that really taught me the most. In school I was able to find my own voice and style as a director. I directed five productions there; three were new plays written by graduate playwrights. The other two were Blood Wedding by Garcia Lorca, a beautiful but very difficult play; and a five character comedy.

OTT: You got your MFA in 2007, and then went back to NYC?

JR: Yes. I had a two-year directing fellowship with Second Stage, a great off-Broadway company. As the fellowship was ending I wasn’t sure what was going to happen next. I emailed Spanish Repertory Theatre (Repertorio Español) and said, Hey, what are you planning to do next year, I’d love to direct for you guys.

Jerry Ruiz Comes Home to Texas and the Guadalupe Cultural Arts CenterBy Julie CatalanoPhotography Greg Harrison



It’s very rare that those kind of emails actually lead to anything, but they emailed me back saying, Hey, come and talk to us. The next day I had my first paid directing job in NYC, a new play called Kiss Bessemer Goodbye (El Beso del Adios). It’s a dramedy about a Mexican-American family in Colorado.

OTT: How did the Guadalupe position of executive director come about?

JR: I was doing all of this work as a freelance director. I felt like I wanted to have an artistic home and an artistic leadership position and really be able to shape the work that was being done while promoting that artists that I believe in, doing work that that has some kind of social impact. A friend of mine in San Antonio told me that the Guadalupe was looking for an executive director and that I should apply. I got really inspired by what I think we could do here to be part of the great legacy and history of this place.

OTT: Will you take the center in any new or different direction?

JR: The important part is to honor our commitment to the community, especially on the Westside. Some great community leaders and many important Latino artists have come through here. Part of our mission is to preserve our cultural heritage and the art forms that do that. I’m interested in artists from different disciplines—visual and performing arts, and literature—that draw on that cultural heritage but in some new and exciting way, commissioning and developing new work and showcasing artists who are honoring their Chicano and Latino traditions but are also pushing the forms forward. Each department eventually will have its own director in visual arts, theatre, and dance. We all want the Guadalupe to come back strong and be the leader in the Latino arts field and have a national profile once again. We also have a few buildings that we want to renovate like the Chavez Building on Brazos. It could eventually house artists’ studios and work spaces.

OTT: Are your parents glad that you’re closer to home?

JR: (laughs) Yes. They’ve been waiting for this for a long time. I’ve always considered South Texas my home, so it’s great to be back.

For more info, guadalupeculturalarts.org





Literary Arts78-82

Literary Arts 78-82


Book Talk:


CYNTHIA LEAL MASSEY, Author and JournalistStory and Photography by Jasmina Wellinghoff

C ynthia Leal Massey loves histor y, especial ly the close -to-home histor y of Texas and of her adopted hometown of

Helotes. After years of working as a journalist and English instructor, Massey turned to writ ing books that explore historical themes and personalit ies through fiction and nonfiction. She is the author of two historical novels, Fire Li l ies (2001) and The Caballeros of Ruby, Texas, (2002), as well as three nonfiction works, al l three about Helotes. Among the latter is a comprehensive 2008 histor y of the small town on San Antonio’s nor thwestern f lank tit led, Helotes, Where the Hil l Countr y Begins . Her f irst novel, Fire Li l ies , set in the early 20th centur y during the Mexican Revolution, won the 2002 Independent e -Book Award for best romance novel and was a f inalist for the Electronic Publishing Industr y Coalit ion EPIC Award in the categor y of historical f iction. I ts print sequel, The Caballeros of Ruby, Texas became a f inalist in the 2003 WILLA Literar y Award competition, sponsored by Women Writing the West, a national organization of women who write about the American frontier. Massey ’s most recent book, D eath of a Texas Ranger , a recipient of the 2015 San Antonio Conser vation Society Publication Award, is a painstakingly documented and vividly written account of the 1873 murder of Texas Ranger John Green by fel low ranger Cesario Menchaca.

The two men were members of the Texas Ranger Minute Men, Troop V of Medina County, which was mustered into ser vice in 1872, mostly to protect settlers from Indian raids. The prominent landowner and eccentric naturalist Gabriel Marnoch also was implicated in the murder. Although the book doesn’t offer a definit ive answer as to why the k i l l ing occurred, it provides insight and information about l i fe on the Texas frontier and the early Helotes settlers, who are por trayed as multi-dimensional human beings the reader can empathize with. The author has won praise for discovering previously forgotten documents about a par t of Texas histor y. We talked to Massey in her coz y home in the now peaceful town of Helotes.

JW: How did this book come about?

CLM: While I was working on the histor y of Helotes, I inter viewed descendants of the pioneers of the town. Lorenzo Morales, a descendant of Cesario Menchaca, was one of them. He was the f irst to mention that there was a third person involved in the k i l l ing of Green. This person was Gabriel Marnoch, an eccentric frontier naturalist who was the son of the founding family of Helotes. I found the stor y fascinating and even more so when I found out that Sgt. Green’s son became a law enforcement off icer 20 years later and went after Cesario, who



had escaped to Mexico. I t had al l the elements of a great stor y : myster y, great characters and a great plot l ine. So I decided to follow this oral histor y tale to see if it was indeed true.

JW: You obviously did a tremendous amount of research in various off icial and newspaper archives. Do you enjoy that par t of the work?

CLM: Yeah, I researched this book for four years but I do research and writing together. I star t by doing research for about three to four months and then once I get something going I star t writ ing. As I write I realize I need to do more research, so I end up doing writing and research simultaneously.

JW : What drove you? Did you want to solve the myster y?

CLM: Yes. I wanted to f ind out what compelled this k i l l ing. Interestingly, the family of the victim was told that their ancestor was k i l led by Indians. I talked to the genealogist of the (Green) family, Shir ley Green Sweet, who grew up believing that. So when I contacted her and told her that her ancestor was k i l led by a fel low ranger, she was completely surprised. She didn’t even know that he had been a ranger. That, too, piqued my interest because clearly there was something about the stor y that her great-grandmother did not want to tel l her children and grandchildren. I t was not an easy tale to tel l ; there were a lot of nuances.

JW: From what you say in the book, it ’s clear that the Menchaca descendants believe that their great-grandfather pulled the tr igger because he believed that Green was going to k i l l him. He believed that Green had accepted money to k i l l him. What do you think happened?

CLM : I think that Gabriel Marnoch did put a bounty on Cesario’s head. (Marnoch was angr y because Menchaca dragged him to jai l t ied to his horse during an arrest for fai lure to appear in cour t.) Green, l ike the other settlers, was upset with Cesario because of the way Cesario had arrested Marnoch, a ver y humiliating way to be arrested. However, al l my research indicates that Green was an honest, upright man, and I

80 On The Town | March/April 201580 On The Town | July/August 2015


don’t think that he would have taken any bounty money, but Cesario was paranoid because of what he had done. And because John Green did give him some grief when they were out scouting for Indians, Cesario just assumed that he (Green) was going to tr y something … It was really a big misunderstanding. JW: Given that you couldn’t ful ly resolve the murder myster y for lack of documentation, did you ever consider turning the stor y into f iction, which would have given you greater narrative freedom?

CLM : The only person I know who did that effectively was Claude Stanush. He wrote about the Newton Boys (a gang of robbers from Uvalde). He did a nonfiction and a f iction version because he felt that the nonfiction account didn’t tel l the full stor y. But, you know, I worked on this book for so long that the thought of going back and basically doing it again is not appealing to me. But I am working on a new book about a murder-suicide that happened here in the 1950s. I may turn this one into f iction because I am not sure that I can f ind ever ything I need ( in the available records.) The biggest problem I have with that, however, is, can I use the real names if it ’s f iction?

JW: Beyond the stor y of these two men, or three men actually, your book covers a lot of ground describing the historical circumstances in which they l ived. What do you feel you have learned about that t ime?

CLM: That ’s a good question – what did I learn? One thing I learned was that during the Civi l War and Reconstruction here there was a lot of chaos and suspicion among the people. The new power, the Nor therners, did not trust the Southerners to vote properly so they just appointed people to off icial positions, including in law enforcement. These appointed people were distrusted by Texans. That ’s what happened to Menchaca, who was appointed constable and in that capacity arrested Marnoch. Another thing that readers have told me they did not know is that the German settlers in the Hil l Countr y had a treaty with the Comanches and actually got along with them ver y well. That

treaty lasted unti l the Indians were pushed onto the reser vations.

JW: How much is left in Helotes from that t ime? Any old homesteads or cemeteries?

CLM: The Marnoch House is sti l l standing and sti l l looks exactly the same. I t ’s off Scenic Loop Road. I t ’s a private residence but there’s a Texas historical marker on the proper ty. And you can sti l l see the remnants of the Green homestead r ight past the intersection of 1604 and Guilbeau Road. Also, the place where John Green was buried is r ight off Guilbeau on a street called Jean Ver te in his honor. ( The street ’s name is an inadver tently incorrect French version of the name John Green). His bones were left there but now it ’s just a front yard of a house. His relatives moved the tombstone and some other stones but did not exhume the body.

JW: Tell us about the organization Women Writing the West that you belong to.

CLM : I think that group star ted in 1996. I joined in 1997. I t ’s for women writers who write women’s stories set in the West. I t was formed because even books that were published by reputable presses were not promoted by the sales people who didn’t know what to do with them because they were not typical Westerns. The organization has blossomed; it has something l ike 375 members today and it holds an annual conference. I t ’s a wonder ful group. I t really helps the women market their work . I t has helped me. I found both my editor and my agent at one of the conferences.

JW: You are very involved in the life of Helotes today.

CLM : I am on the city council here in Helotes; I am the mayor pro tem. And I am ver y involved in the Historical Society and wil l be tak ing over as president for two years. One of my big goals is to star t building a museum in Old Town. I ’ l l be really pushing for that.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • Ms. Massey’s comments have been slightly edited for reasons of space and clarity.



http://carrolldorseywalker.com



Eclectics84-94

Eclectics84-94



ZDT’S AMUSEMENT PARK:NONSTOP FAMILY FUN AND A NEW WORLD RECORD-BREAKING ROLLER COASTER MAKE SEGUIN THE PLACE TO BE THIS SUMMER!By Janis Turk Photos courtesy ZDT’s Amusement Park

J ust 35 miles east of San Antonio off Interstate 10, an exciting small-town family amusement park that’s big on fun awaits kids of all ages.

ZDT’s Amusement Park was designed with families in mind, so attractions will entertain a wide age-range, from toddlers to teens and everyone in between. Even mom and dad can play.

Family owned and operated, ZDT’s is the dream –come-true business of the Donhauser family. Proud parents Sarah and Danny Donhauser decided to name the park after their kids (Zac, Danielle, and Tiffany). With only 5 attractions, they first opened the park in March 2007. Today, 8 years later, ZDT’s has more than doubled in size and today offers 12 exciting attractions.

“We really encourage families to come and play together, so we’ve designed ZDT’s Amusement Park with all kinds of rides and attractions that appeal to a wide age range. Dad’s and moms love our speedy Go Kart track that runs on a looping multi-level circuit, Kids love the spinning Dizzy Toucan, and everyone likes the water rides and slides in summer,” says Sarah Donhauser.“

“Don’t let the small town location fool you; ZDT’s serves up big fun and great value!” explains Donhauser, “With an “Extreme” wristband , this summer you get unlimited access to all attractions, including Bungee Trampoline, our thrilling MaxFlight Simulator, the big Parachute Drop, my favorite—the Dizzy Toucan—and full-sized go-carts, a rock-climbing wall and silo climb, the Mad Raft Hydro-

Coaster, the Viper Hybrid Slide, the Viper’s Tail, Jungle PlayLand with Ballocity, and a big array of video games and simulators that are always all set on free mode!”

But perhaps the scariest, most thrilling, spine-tingling, awe-inspiring and much-awaited attraction is yet to come! Construction is well underway on the Switchback at ZDT’s, a full-sized state-of-the-art roller coaster reminiscent of old school wooden coasters, like the original one at Coney Island, the Gravity Pleasure Switch Back Railway.

“Like Coney Island’s original landmark coaster, Switchback will send passengers racing forward and, instead of making a complete circuit; it will stall out on an incline before reaching the end of the track,” says Donhauser. “The train will then retrace the course heading backward. A track switch, toward the end of the ride, will route the train back to the loading station.”

Slated to open mid-summer, the Switchback, built by the world famous Gravity Group of Ohio, will draw roller coaster aficionados from all over the world. “We keep hearing from roller coaster lovers who want to know how soon it will open. Members of roller coaster clubs and roller coaster lovers everywhere can’t wait because the Switchback at ZDT’s will be a unique coaster,” says Donhauser. “In addition to being a one-of-a-kind coaster, Switchback should be a world-record –breaking roller coaster, but I can’t release the details about that just yet.”


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“Ours will be the only modern wooden shutter coaster in the world, and that’s why roller coaster clubs and roller coaster lovers from all over have contacted us saying they plan to come for its grand opening this summer. ZDT’s Switchback will be thoroughly modern and safe, but it will resemble those in the early history of roller coasters, like the Switch Back at Coney Island in 1884 that was inspired by the wooden cars of an old coal train,” says Donhauser.

“The Gravity Group combines modern technologies with the classic art of wooden coaster design to create award-winning rides. With work on over 50 different rides around the world, our team of engineers as more experience than any other wooden roller coaster design team. Equipped with state-of-the-art Timberliner trains, Gravity Group rides debut with high rankings and stay smooth,” says Chad Miller of The Gravity Group.

“The best part about ZDT’s Switchback, “ says Donhauser, “ is that, it is not only going to be tall, fast and thrilling, it really will be a family coaster and anyone 42” tall and up can ride—which means that even some 3 and 4 year olds may be able to ride with their parents. Our whole family loves roller coasters, so we had to be sure it would be the kind we’d like to ride.”

The Donhausers have ridden their share of coasters in their time, and they’ve been to more amusement parks than they can count. “It’s funny, but our family vacations are actually business trips. We love to travel across the country to do research on what rides we want to bring to ZDT’s next, so we visit a lot of parks,” says Sarah.

Donhauser, who earned a PhD in counseling from St. Mary’s University, says it wasn’t her original intention to start an amusement park 8 years ago;

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she just wanted a fun place in the area for families to go. It was her husband Danny’s project. Little did they know it would turn into something this big and successful, though that’s what Danny had envisioned. Danny knew that for ZDT’s to succeed, they would need to attract tourists, as a small town alone cannot support a business like this. Previously, Danny owned a local body shop which was sold a year after ZDT’s opened.

The Donhauser kids were young then, but today Zac is 23, Danielle is 20, and Tiffany is 17, and all remain as thrilled as ever when they get to spend time working or playing at ZDT’s. Zac, who just graduated from the University of Texas at Austin this month with a degree in bio-medical engineering has even decided to stay in the family business full time for a while before pursuing medical school or a different career. “He’s a hard worker,” says Donhauser, who is pleased to have the input of her son’s ideas and

insights into what young people want.

It seems the Donhauser family’s success at ZDT’s is proof that the old adage is true: “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”“No, it really is hard work, but it’s rewarding, too,” says Donhauser. “We love to see families having fun together.”

The family’s hard work has certainly paid off, as these days this small town amusement park is getting big-city-sized attention from the press: USA Today and the Los Angeles Times have both lauded ZDT’s Switchback as being one of the top new attractions this year, and lots of websites about family fun parks and roller coasters are spreading the word about the coming of the new Switchback coaster at ZDT’s.

“We have teams working every day to get the Coaster up and running,” says Donhauser. “Summer

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is here, and the kids are out of school—they’re ready to play, and we’re ready to have them!”

And don’t worry about how hot it is outside; at ZDT’s, families can spend time enjoying the outside attractions and then escape the heat inside for a fun-filled variety of indoor attractions as well. Then head back out for round two of family fun, because once you purchase your wristband you are set to stay and play as long as you like. You can cool off in the water park as well. ZDT’s Amusement Park is also open year round (on weekends during the school year), so even if it’s cold outside in the winter there’s a lot to do inside.

Cleaner and more family-friendly than most arcades and amusement parks, ZDT’s is the kind of place people where feel comfortable spending the day and letting their kids run around and play. There is always food, coffee, and other concession items,

free Wi-Fi, and free parking as well. Moms and dads can watch the game on big-screened televisions, too. And parents are pleased that there are so many areas at ZDT’s where kids can be physically active and challenged, like the bungee trampoline and the climbing wall and silo. Of course, kids also love the video games, go carts and more.It all adds up to non-stop, year-round family-friendly fun, so there’s never a dull moment at ZDT’s in Seguin.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • ZDT’s Amusement Park 301 W Kingsbury Seguin, TX 78155(830)386-0151

From San Antonio take Interstate 10 East to Exit 609, Austin Street/State Highway 123

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http://carrolldorseywalker.com


THE HILLS ARE ALIVE: Hill Country Arts Foundation Grows Visual and Performing Arts in Ingram, Texas By Julie CatalanoPhotography courtesy HCAF

H ill Country Arts Foundation executive director David Howard could not be prouder of the organization that was founded in 1959 by a

small group of artists and art lovers who had a vision—to create a very special place in Texas to showcase

the arts against the scenic backdrop of the Texas Hill Country.

They apparently succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. With more than 30 years’ involvement with

Artistic Destination:



the foundation, Howard is practically a walking history book and a passionate caretaker of a precious legacy that’s as close to him as his own family: “I have observed the HCAF like I have observed my children’s growth into adulthood. I guess the reason I am still around is that every year I am proud of the accomplishments of the many and of the individual.”

Howard is not alone in his pride and passion. The 13.5 acre campus in Ingram, Texas—about seven miles from Kerrville--is peopled with those whose days and nights are filled with creativity and commitment to fostering the visual and performing arts in their little corner of the world.

Director of theatre and education Jeff Cunningham shares, with Howard, a longtime dedication to HCAF, starting with his internship in 1995-96. “I thought, yep, this is where I want to be.” The theatre internship

program continues to this day, with about a half-dozen college students doing what Cunningham calls, “everything.” It’s necessary preparation for producing a season at the Smith-Ritch Pointe Theatre, described as “the longest running outdoor theatre in Texas.” and famous for its summer season.

The second theatrical venue is the indoor Elizabeth Huth Coates, a former barn and skating rink and now a black box theatre. “Our performers are amateur,” says Cunningham, but that hasn’t affected the popularity of the productions, especially among the locals that make up 95 percent of the audiences. Cunningham breaks down his assessment of their fans: “There are about 3000 people who want to see the big musicals [they just finished a very popular South Pacific in June]. Then about 1200 who will come to see a show they’re excited about. Then about 800 who will see everything.” All are welcome, and some come away pleasantly surprised at



the caliber of talent and production values, and even more impressed with the multifunctional campus set on the banks of the Guadalupe River.

The foundation’s Duncan-McAshan Visual Arts Center includes a 1700 square foot art gallery, four studios, and ceramic lab. Visual arts director Rosanne Thrall also attests to the lure of HCAF: location, location, location. “It’s beautiful here,” she says simply. Thrall is herself an artist, designer, and tilemaker, and says the setting and the exhibitions draw artists and visitors from San Antonio, Austin, Fredericksburg, Kerrville, Hunt, Bergheim, Comfort, and beyond.

Year-round exhibitions feature local, regional, national and international artists, and artwork can be purchased at most of the shows. Artists love it. “The gallery is what a gallery should be. Quiet, and showing off the work the way it should be shown,” says Thrall. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Friday 10a-4p; Saturday 10a-2p; closed Sunday. Admission is free.

HCAF has a long history of presenting art workshops ranging from one to four days, with programs for artists of all ages in a variety of disciplines. “We have about 20 to 30 workshops a year,” says Thrall, which can include “watercolor, pastel, jewelry making, assemblage, folk art, tile design, pottery, and more.” (Check the hcaf.com website for upcoming fall and winter 2015 offerings.)

The working studios are a dream, with ground floor accessibility (no steps), north light and fully equipped, as is the ceramic studio, the only one in the area open for public use. Studio rentals are available for groups looking for a longed-for respite where they can focus on creating art amid peace and quiet and natural beauty. “They stay at one of the area bed and breakfasts,” says Thrall, “and then spend their days here. Artists often leave with several full scale paintings because they had no distractions of daily life.”

Neither Cunningham nor Thrall are much for tooting their own horns, but David Howard chimes in with what he calls “one proud accomplishment.” He explains:



“There are very few foundations that house both Visual Arts and Performing Arts throughout the United States but HCAF has been able to maintain this relationship for almost 56 years.” The mission of increased education and outreach figures prominently in both as well, adding, “most of it for the youth in our area.”

As if all this weren’t enough, there’s Stonehenge II, undoubtedly one of the most unusual attractions in the state that now rests permanently on the HCAF campus after its painstaking move, stone-by-stone, from Hunt to Ingram in 2010. An almost full-scale replica of the mysterious site in Salisbury, England (is it the work of Druids? Extraterrestrials?), the Texas version is the not-so-mysterious work of the late Texas artist Al Shepperd and his neighbor Doug Hill.

Thrall says the eye-catching attraction has added to the allure of HCAF to first-timers who came for Stonehenge II and stayed for the art. “We see them venturing past Stonehenge II, exploring the grounds, visiting the gallery, to see what else we have to offer.”

At this hidden gem of an artistic destination, they no doubt quickly learned the answer to that: Plenty.

For more information on performance schedules, workshops, and Stonehenge, hcaf.org

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Stonehenge II

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Smith-Ritch Pointe Theatre

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Scene from Young Frankenstein

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Silk scarf dying workshop



Out & About with Greg Harrison92-100


http://www.anartegallery09.com/













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