May/June 2009 Issue

It’s Wicked Time!Jim CullumFiesta Noche del RioCarla VelizAndrew WeissmanTexas Folklife FestivalPatty OrtizPlus 14 Additional Articles

It’s Wicked Time!Jim CullumFiesta Noche del RioCarla VelizAndrew WeissmanTexas Folklife FestivalPatty OrtizPlus 14 Additional Articles

ON THE TOWNON THE TOWNMay-June 2009

Ezine

.com

May-June 2009 | On The Town 3

4 On The Town | May-June 2009

Features

It’s Wicked Time! 8Majestic Mega-Musical Highlights Entertainment Offerings

Jim Cullum 1420 Years as Public Radio’s Jazz Ambassador to the World

Savion Glover 18Tap Dance Great Returns to the Carver

May-June 2009 Events Calendar 20

The Vex at Ten 30Q&A with Ken Frazier

Make A Plan 42Spend a Weekend Absorbing San Antonio’s Art and Culture

The 38th Annual Texas Folklife Festival 50Celebrates Everything Texas

Fiesta Noche del Rio 5453rd Season at Arneson River Theatre

A Taste of Music 5813th Annual Cactus Pear Music Festival, July 9-19

Le Rêve 64The Dream Team Behind “The Dream”

Pinch Pennies and Dine Well 68Sign Up and Save

Patty Ortiz Comes Home to San Antonio 72and to the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center

Joffrey Ballet Workshop Texas 78Co-Directed by Buddy and Susan Trevino for 31 Years

Fredericksburg, Texas 84Visiting a Favorite Hill Country Town

Lair Creative, LLC would not knowingly publish misleading or erroneous information in editorial content or in any advappear under any circumstances. Additionally, content in this electronic magazine does not necessarily reflect the viewmances and exhibits, it is recommended that all times and dates of such events be confirmed by the reader prior to at

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Departments

Box Office: Cinema Tuesdays at the Bijou 28

More Performing Arts 34

Portfolio: The Art of Carla Veliz 38

More Visual Arts 46

Book Talk: Bryce Milligan – Poet, Publisher 76and Renaissance Man

Accolades: Mary Carriker – Championing the 82Cause of Amateur Golf and the First Tee

Picture This: Houston Streetscape by Greg Harrison 88

Contributors

Gary Albright Julie CatalanoPaloma CortezThomas Duhon, ArtistChris DunnPeabo FowlerSuzanne FrenchGreg Harrison, Staff PhotographerChristian LairDiana MarinMarlo Mason-MarieDeirdre Murphy

Susan A. Merkner, Copy EditorToni PiazziAngela RabkeLauren RossBlair RussellSara SelangoShannon Huntington- StandleyJeffrey SykesJasmina WellinghoffErin WestCarolyn Williams

Gerry Lair – Publisher Lair Creative, LLC 14122 Red MapleSan Antonio, Texas 78247210-771-8486210-490-7950 (fax)

Front Cover Photo: Courtesy of Fiesta Noche del Rio

Performing Arts Cover Photo: By Joan Marcus

Visual Arts Cover Photo: Courtesy Artpace San Antonio - Photo by Kimberly Aubuchon

Culinary Arts Cover Photo: © Serjio | Dreamstime.com

Festivals & Celebrations Cover Photo: Courtesy Fiesta Noche del RioMiscellaneous Cover Photo: Courtesy San Antonio CVB

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vertisement in On The Town Ezine.com, nor does it assume responsibility if this type of editorial or advertising should ws or opinions of the management of Lair Creative, LLC. Since On The Town Ezine.com features information on perfor-ttendance. The publisher assumes no responsibility for changes in times, dates, venues, exhibitions or performances.

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Performing Arts8-36

Performing Arts8-36



Majestic Mega-Musical Highlights Performance Offerings

By Sara Selango

It’s Wicked Time!

We’ve waited for Wicked with great anticipation, and now it’s here! Speaking for myself, I’ve heard nothing but great things about this show. You

can bet I’ll be at the Majestic on opening night ready to take in the story of two girls who met in the Land of Oz long before Dorothy blew in from Kansas. One of the girls, Elphaba, is smart, fiery, misunderstood and green. Yes, she was born with Emerald green skin. Glinda, the other girl, is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. As the story unfolds, they end up being The Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch. These unlikely friends serve as the catalyst for a great evening of theater, I’m told. Even though I haven’t seen it yet, I know Wicked just has to be fantastic because a zillion ticket buyers can’t be wrong. The creative team is quite impressive: music and lyrics – Stephen Schwartz, book



(based on the best-selling novel by Gregory McGuire) – Winnie Holzman, musical staging – Wayne Cilento, and direction - Joe Mantello. Collectively, this group has a string of Tony Awards and well as a few Oscars. There’s a seat at the Majestic with your name on it! Go and enjoy. Wicked time is June 3 – 28.

Even though I’m super-excited about Wicked, I have to stop and say to myself – May comes before June, so don’t get the cart before the horse. This thirty one-day page on the calendar is chocked full of incredible performances too, like Bonnie Raitt at the Majestic on May 12 followed at the same venue by Cedric The Entertainer ten nights later. May 16 brings with it a return engagement to the Carver stage by Savion Glover.

The San Antonio Symphony has three classical performances scheduled during the month of May starting with symphony concertmaster Ertan Torgul as featured soloist in Korngold’s Violin Concerto on May 1-2. On May 8-9, conductor Rossen Milanov is joined by mezzo-soprano Jennifer Hines and the San Antonio Symphony Mastersingers in a performance that includes Borodin’s Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor (better known to most of us as Stranger in Paradise from Kismet). The final classical concert of the season is May 29-30 with Christopher Seaman conducting and violinist Omar Oliveira featured in Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor. All classical performances are at the Majestic. In the middle of the month, the symphony plays host to the ever-popular Pink Martini



for two shows at Lila Cockrell on May 15-16. Keeping to their busy schedule, the symphony will play two Cinco de Mayo free neighborhood concerts and a side-by-side concert with the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio in this time frame. Check their Web site for details.

I can’t leave May without mentioning other performances in the area that promise to be very entertaining, starting with the 5 Browns, five siblings who are Julliard-trained classical pianists. See them in Kerrville at the Kathleen C. Cailloux Theater on May 4-5 as a part of the Kerrville Performing Arts Society season. And speakitng of Kerrville, don’t miss the Kerrville Folk Music Festival from May 21 – June 7 at Quiet Valley Ranch. Peter Yarrow, of Peter, Paul & Mary

fame, will be one of the festival’s most prominent performers. See Ray Wylie Hubbard there also.

A slew of country music notables take to local stages in May, including the likes of Kenny Chesney, Roger Creager, Aaron Watson, Brandi Carlile, Gary Allan, Two Tons of Steel, Jason Aldean and Charlie Robison. Check the events calendar in this ezine for venues, dates and times. Elvis and Roy will also appear in The Lost Concert on May 23 at the Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre in New Braunfels.

Community theater rolls through the month with offerings like Man of La Mancha at San Pedro Playhouse, Last of the Red Hot Lovers at the Cameo, Angel Street



at the Harlequin, Vexed: A Musical Review at the Sheldon Vexler Theatre, The Kitchen Witches at Boerne Community Theatre, and Agnes of God by Classic Theatre of San Antonio.

June rocks too. Continuing in the community theater category, see The Great American Playbill at the Woodlawn, Neil Simon’s Broadway Bound at the Harlequin, The Fourth Wall (with Cole Porte tunes) at the Cameo Theatre, Guys and Dolls by the New Braunfels Theatre Company at the Brauntex, and Shakespeare in the Park – As You Like It, presented by Magik Theatre.

Country music really goes front burner in June because of warm weather and outdoor venues. The biggest of the big in this month has to be Ray Price at John T. Floore Country Store. Chris Cagle, Robert Earl Keen, Jerry Jeff Walker, Randy Rogers Band and Brandon Rhyder are but a few of the others performing at area venues in the sixth month.

Coldplay, Il Divo and Il Trovatore are also available to performing arts patrons. The first two are at the AT&T Center on June 10 and 20 respectively, and the third one, Il Trovatore, presented by San Antonio Opera, plays three performances at the Lila Cockrell June 12-14.

What am I forgetting in June? Oh yeah, a couple of big-time shows at the Municipal Auditorium. First up is REO Speedwagon with Styx on June 2, followed by the Queen of Soul! Arts San Antonio presents Aretha Franklin on June 16. Great theater, music and dance are yours for the price of a ticket. I hope to see you at a performance soon.

Photo Information

Page 8-9 – Katie Rose Clarke as Glinda the Good Witch in Wicked. Photo by Joan Marcus

Page 10 – Donna Vivino, the Wicked Witch of the West in Wicked, shown with Katie Rose Clarke. Photo by Joan Marcus

Page 11 – Richard H. Blake, Fiyero in Wicked, Shown with Donna Vivino. Photo by Joan Marcus

Page 12 – (Above) Bonnie Raitt - Photo by Sam Jones(Below) Il Trovatore - Courtesy San Antonio Opera





Jim Cullum: 20 Years as Public Radio’s Jazz Ambassador to the WorldBy Susan A. Merkner

For more than 40 years, jazz lovers have been filling The Landing Jazz Club on the San Antonio River Walk, where Jim Cullum on cornet and his band

embrace a musical art form that knows no boundaries of age or location.

For the past 20 years, jazz aficionados have listened to Cullum’s weekly radio broadcast on public radio. Riverwalk: Live From the Landing was launched in 1989 on 60 public radio stations. Later rechristened Riverwalk Jazz, the show now is distributed by Public Radio International to 160 stations in more than 200 cities nationwide.

Cullum has shared his love of early 20th century classic jazz with those filling The Landing as well as those listening on the radio by featuring live performances mixed with historical recordings and narratives explaining the music and the artists. His career has transitioned from the vinyl era to the digital age, and now, thanks to the Internet, his fans can listen anytime and anywhere.

“When we were in Russia (playing nine concerts in 2007), I was surprised that so many people there said they were listeners,” Cullum says. “Internationally, there is a group of people who follow pre-war jazz, some as record collectors, some as follows of particular bands. The world is so vast, but even a small percentage of people listening online translates into fairly large numbers of listeners.”

Nicknamed “Dr. Jazz,” Cullum serves as an informal ambassador representing San Antonio worldwide, yet remains humble about the impact of his radio show. “I think ‘Riverwalk’ has helped broaden the appeal of jazz and made it more accessible to many more people, to a real cross-section of people. There is so much American history interwoven with the story of jazz, that it’s really of

interest to just about any listener. It’s amazing how many people know San Antonio and have an image in their mind from me saying, ‘Across the alley from the Alamo’ at the beginning of the broadcast. They all have different images of what they expect that to look like, and often when people come to The Landing for a show, they will describe how the reality of seeing downtown San Antonio is different from what they imagined it to be. During the show, we talk about the cypress trees lining the river and some of the major landmarks downtown. We try to paint a picture of San Antonio for all those who are listening all across the way.”

Cullum first hit the radio airwaves in 1963 while he was in college, and a group of 22 people each invested $1,000 to open The Landing. Initially, he broadcast a live performance on KITY-FM, using one microphone, with “almost no one listening,” he says. Other commercial radio stations in San Antonio aired Cullum’s show for 26 years before he ventured into public radio. One constant motivation was his desire to fill The Landing. “When you grow up in the music business, you are always worried about going broke,” he says. Cullum has taped all of his arrangements and material over the years, and catalogued 1,500 written scores. He hopes to preserve the legacies of jazz’s greatest artists and the traditions of the genre for future generations.

Cullum says one of the highlights of his radio career was the show he did on King Oliver. “Oliver was a pioneer of early jazz. He was born on a plantation outside New Orleans, and worked as a butler most of his life while he taught himself to play cornet. He worked hard until he became among the greatest in the world.” Cullum put together a tribute show to Oliver, with William Warfield reading letters Oliver had written detailing his life and career. Later, Cullum led efforts to have a marker placed

Photo courtesy Riverwalk Jazz May-June 2009 | On The Town 15


on Oliver’s grave in a pauper’s field in New Jersey. Other highlights have been playing the music of artists whom Cullum’s father, clarinetist Jim Cullum Sr., played with and admired during his lifetime, such as Jimmy Dorsey and Jack Teagarden, as well as giants such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Count Basie, Lionel Hamptom, Dick Hyman, Doc Cheatham and Bix Beiderbecke, among many others.

Landing audiences have not changed significantly over the years, he says, continuing to attract a mixture of young and middle-aged listeners. “Last year, going to The Landing for a show was voted the most popular date here in San Antonio. It was some sort of award for best power date, the coolest, most sophisticated place to go,” Cullum says with a laugh.

The audience for jazz continues to be strong, with the radio broadcast enjoying 30 percent growth among younger listeners, due to its availability online. Still, Cullum is pragmatic about the genre’s place in history.

“Jazz will never again be like it was in the 1930s and ‘40s. Back then, it was the most popular music in the country. It was played on the radio. Everyone danced to it.

Now jazz is more of a niche market, boutique music, more esoteric. It takes a certain kind of mind to be attracted to it; you have to be somewhat intellectual to get into it. Jazz is not wallpaper or background music; it creates an atmosphere, and the listener has to figure out that atmosphere. For some people, that means just enjoying the rhythms, finding it stimulating and wanting to do some hard-core dancing to it. For others, jazz is all about the nuances in meaning. When jazz was brand-new music, it was dance music for people who were drinking. The early jazz players were so brilliant at what they did that people couldn’t help but listen to them over and over again. As a musical genre, jazz has grown and evolved, and so have its listeners. Every jazz performance is unique because of the components involved. The spontaneity means the music will be different every time and that adds a lot of excitement to it.”

Riverwalk Jazz airs locally on KSTX, 89.1 FM, at 7 p.m. Saturdays and is repeated at noon Sundays. For details, visit www.tpr.org.

For more information about the venue, visit www.landing.com. For information on the radio program, streaming audio on demand, and to register for an e-mail newsletter, visit www.riverwalkjazz.org.

16 On The Town | May-June 2009 Photo by Greg Harrison


18 On The Town | May-June 2009SAV

ION

GLO

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Tap Dance Great Returns to the Carver By Deirdre Murphy


He’s been called “The Tap Dance Kid,” “a living repository of rhythm,” “a genius of tap,” “a child prodigy grown up to be an adult prodigy” and,

the most fitting for the touring show he’s bringing to San Antonio, “a proselytizer for tap, a convincing street preacher practicing the laying-on of feet.”

Savion Glover certainly lives up to those titles, but it could have been a very different story. Born and raised in Newark, N.J., by a single mother, he credits dance for saving him from the tough streets of America. As Glover told Peter Castro in People, “If I didn’t have the dance to express myself, I would probably be stealing your car or selling drugs right now. I got friends who do that, but tap saved me.” Glover may have made it out of the street life in Newark, but he still carries a piece of it in his heart – witnessed by his dress and attitude.

As Kenya Hunt wrote in a 2002 USA Today article, “There’s a namby-pamby stigma that comes with being a male dancer...” Glover goes a long way to discredit that image. “He often dresses in baggy clothes and a pair of Jordans or Timberlands with the laces undone. Street credibility is just as important as artistic credibility, and he thinks of himself as a tough hip-hop kid who just happens to be extraordinarily gifted on his feet.”

Glover’s amazing success becomes even more incredible when you consider how young he was at the time of his accomplishments. He made his Broadway debut, as the main character, at the age of 12 in The Tap Dance Kid; was nominated for his first Tony award at 14 for his appearance in Black and Blue; won the Tony for best choreography for Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk at 22; and has been called “the greatest tap dancer that ever lived” by Gregory Hines, a tap dancing king himself.

“The Carver Community Cultural Center had a great run with Classical Savion a little over two years ago, so we are happy to bring him back for his return engagement in San Antonio touring with another dynamic show, Visions of a Bible,” says Carver executive director Yonnie Blanchette.

While the performance includes a gospel singer and jazz and gospel music, the literature about the show is quick to point out that the vision is of a bible, not the Bible – a performance honoring the living and departed saints of tap, including Gregory Hines, Charles “Honi” Coles and Steve Condos. Glover ingeniously pairs the vocals of a female gospel singer with his tap dancing, starting off

at a leisurely pace and slowly building up to the higher frequency for which he is best known. The performance is compact but intense – an intermissionless 70 minutes of music and dancing. It also includes a performance by a four-person band, The Otherz. Deborah Jowitt, in a 2005 Village Voice article, describes their playing as giving Glover “new puzzles to create and solve, new games to play.”

Glover brings Visions of a Bible to the Jo Long Theater at the Carver Community Cultural Center for one performance only at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 16. For infor-mation, visit www.thecarver.org or call 210-207-2234.

May-June 2009 | On The Town 19Photos courtesy Carver Community Cultural Center


Music NotesKenny Chesney5/1, Fri @ 7:30pmAT&T Center

Two Tons of Steel5/1, Fri @ 8pmGruene Hall

Eli Young Band5/1, Fri @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Ertan Plays KorngoldSan Antonio Symphony5/1-2, Fri-Sat @ 8pmSebastian Lang-Lessing, conductorErtan Torgul, violinMajestic Theatre

Sara EvansBud & BBQ Music Festival5/2, Sat @ 7pmSeaWorld San Antonio

Fathers and Sons II5/2, Sat @ 8pmLittle Carver Civic Center

Ray Wylie Hubbard5/2, Sat @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Jimmy La Fave5/2, Sat @ 9pmGruene Hall

All-American MusicSymphony of the Hills5/3, Sun @ 2:30pmKathleen C. Cailloux Theater – Kerrville

Haus Musik with Bass:Rossini, Lanner and DvorakCamerata San Antonio 5/3, Sun @ 3pmTravis Park United Methodist Church

Old, New, Borrowed & BluesMid-Texas Symphony5/3, Sun @ 4pmDavid Mairs, conductorKelly Watson, voice-fluteNew Braunfels Civic Center

Celebrated Works of Gabriel FaureMusical Bridges Around The World Presentation5/3, Sun @ 6:30pmElena Portnaya, pianoAlena Gorina, pianoSan Antonio Concert ChorusSan Fernando Cathedral

The 5 BrownsKerrville Performing Arts Society Presentation5/4-5, Mon-Tue @ 7:30pmKathleen C. Cailloux Theater

Gary P. NunnThe County Line Music Series5/6, Wed @ 6:30pm (doors open)County Line - 1H-10

Texas RenegadeKNBT Free Music Series5/7, Thu @ 7pmWhitewater AmphitheaterNew Braunfels

Roger Creager5/8, Fri @ 7pm (doors open)Cowboys San Antonio

Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers5/8, Fri @ 8pmGruene Hall

Jason Eady5/8, Fri @ 9:30pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Polovtsian DancesSan Antonio Symphony5/8-9, Fri-Sat @ 8pmRossen Milanov, conductorJennifer Hines, mezzo-sopranoSan Antonio Symphony MastersingersMajestic Theatre

Jessica SimpsonBud & BBQ Music Festival5/9, Sat @ 7pmSeaWorld San Antonio

Charlie Robison5/9, Sat @ 9pmGruene Hall

Kyle Park5/9, Sat @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

NightingaleMusical Bridges Around The World Presentation Albina Shagimuratova, soprano5/10, Sun @ 3pmMcAllister AuditoriumSan Antonio College

Bonnie Raitt5/12, Tue @ 8pmMajestic Theatre

Deryl DoddThe County Line Music Series5/13, Wed @ 6:30pm (doors open)County Line - 1H-10

Zack Walther and the CronkitesKNBT Free Music Series5/14, Thu @ 7pmWhitewater AmphitheaterNew Braunfels

Jason Aldean5/15, Fri @ 7pm(doors open)Cowboys San Antonio

May-June 2009 Events Calendar



Luke Olson5/15, Fri @ 8pmGruene Hall

Two Tons of Steel5/15, Fri @ 9:30pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Pink MartiniSan Antonio Symphony Pops5/15-16, Fri-Sat @ 8pmLila Cockrell Theatre

Billy Ray CyrusBud & BBQ Music Festival5/16, Sat @ 7pmSeaWorld San Antonio

Gary AllanSat, 5/16 @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

HoneybrowneSat, 5/16 @ 9pmGruene Hall

13th Annual KNBT 92.1Americana Music Jam5/17, Sun – All DayGruene Hall

Youth Orchestras of San AntonioSide By Side with the San Antonio Symphony5/17, Sun @ 2:30pmLaurie Auditorium - Trinity

Texas RenegadeThe County Line Music Series5/20, Wed @ 6:30pm (doors open)County Line - 1H-10

Kerrville Folk Festival5/21-6/7Quiet Valley Ranch (9 miles south of Kerrville on Highway 16)

Charlie RobisonKNBT Free Music Series5/21, Thu @ 7pmWhitewater Amphitheater New Braunfels

Reckless Kelly5/22, Fri @ 8pmGruene Hall

Johnny Cooper Band5/22, Fri @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Elvis & RoyThe Lost Concert5/23, Sat @ 7pmBrauntex Performing Arts Theatre - New Braunfels

Kevin Fowler withZach Walther and the Cronkites5/23, Sat @ 8pmWhitewater AmphitheaterNew Braunfels

Emory Quinn5/23, Sat @ 9pmGruene Hall

Doug MorelandSat, 5/23 @ 9:30pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Memorial MemoriesSentimental Journey OrchestraUTSA’s Institute of Texan Cultures5/24 @ 2:30pm

Sake of the Song FestivalRyan Bingham, Seth Jamesand Whiskey Meyers5/24, Sun @ 7pmWhitewater AmphitheaterNew Braunfels

Aaron Watson5/24, Sun @ 8pmGruene Hall

Raven SymoneStarburst Summer Concert Series5/25, Mon @ 6pmLone Star Lil’s AmphitheaterSix Flags Fiesta Texas

SOLI Gone MadSOLI Chamber Ensemble5/26, Tue @ 7:30pmRuth Taylor Recital Hall -Trinity University5/27, Wed @ 7:30pmLeeper Auditorium - McNay Art Museum

Mark McKinneyThe County Line Music Series5/27, Wed @ 6:30pm (doors open)County Line - 1H-10

Scott Wiggins BandKNBT Free Music Series5/28, Thu @ 7pmWhitewater Amphitheater New Braunfels

An Intimate Acoustic Evening with Brandi Carlile5/28, Thu @ 8pmGruene Hall

Eleven Hundred Springs5/29, Fri @ 8pmGruene Hall

Rodney Hayden5/29, Fri @ 9:30pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Pictures at an ExhibitionSan Antonio Symphony5/29-30, Fri-Sat @ 8mChristopher Seaman, conductorElmar Oliveira, violinMajestic Theatre

Bob Schneider5/30, Sat @ 9pmGruene Hall Musical Offerings at The McNay5/31, Sun @ 2:30pmLeeper Auditorium McNay Art Museum

Musical LandscapesSan Antonio Brass5/31, Sun @ 2pmBeacon Hill Presbyterian Church6/5, Fri @ 7:30pmFirst Presbyterian ChurchKerrville 6/6, Sat @ 7:30pmSt. Mark’s Presbyterian Church Boerne

Cherish the Ladies5/31, Sun @ 6:30pmLonestar Pavilion at Sunset Station

Reo Speedwagon & Styx6/2, Tue @ 7pmMunicipal Auditorium

Two Ton Tuesdays with Two Tons of Steel6/2, 9, 16. 23, 30 @ 8pmGruene Hall

Radney FosterKNBT Free Music Series6/4, Thu @ 7pmWhitewater Amphitheater New Braunfels


22 On The Town | May-June 200922 On The Town | May-June 2009

Gary P. Nunn6/5, Fri @ 9:30pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Jerry Jeff Walker6/6, Sat @ 8pmWhitewater Amphitheater New Braunfels

Luke OlsonThe County Line Music Series6/10, Wed @ 6:30pm (doors open)County Line - 1H-10

Coldplay6/10 Wed @ 7:30pmAT&T Center

Cody CanadaKNBT Free Music Series6/11, Thu @ 7pmWhitewater Amphitheater New Braunfels

Concert Under The Stars6/11 & 25 @ 7pmSan Antonio Botanical Garden Blue October6/12, Fri @ 8pmLonestar Pavilion at Sunset Station

Rich O’Toole6/12, Fri @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Sake of the Song FestivalRandy Rogers Band6/12-13, Fri @ 7pmSat @ 4pmWhitewater Amphitheater New Braunfels

Ray Price6/13, Sat @ 8pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Sunday Jazz at the Witte Joe Posada6/14, Sun @ 4pmWitte Museum

Aretha FranklinArts San Antonio Presentation6/16, Tue @ 8pmMunicipal Auditorium

Colbie CaillatStarburst Summer Concert Series6/18, Thu @ 6pmLone Star Lil’s AmphitheaterSix Flags Fiesta Texas

Brandon RhyderKNBT Free Music Series6/18, Thu @ 7pmWhitewater Amphitheater New Braunfels

Chris Cagle6/19, Fri @ 7pm (doors open)Cowboys San Antonio

Robert Earl Keen6/19, Fri @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

An Evening with Il Divo6/20, Sat @ 7:30pmAT&T Center

Jimmy La FaveKNBT Free Music Series6/25, Thu @ 7pmWhitewater Amphitheater New Braunfels

Boys Like GirlsStarburst Summer Concert Series6/26, Fri @ 6pmLone Star Lil’s AmphitheaterSix Flags Fiesta Texas

Scott Wiggins Band6/26, Fri @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Flatlanders6/27, Sat @ 8pmWhitewater Amphitheater New Braunfels

Roger Creager6/27, Sat @ 9pmJohn T. Floore Country Store

Gary Claxton, Eric Hokkenan & Friends6/27, Sat @ 9pmGruene Hall

Taking The StageAll the Great Books (Abridged)by The Company Theatre5/1-2, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pm(Dinner @ 6:30pm)Little Italy

Wham! Bam! Burlesque5/1-2, Fri @ 10pmSat @ 8pmOvertime Theater

Love, Sex and the IRSby Fredericksburg Theater Company5/1-3, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pmSun @ 2pmSteve W. Shepherd Theater

Dastardly Deeds at Yoursin Mine or Yukon Take it with Youby Crystal Sea Drama Company5/1-3, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pmSun @ 2:30pmBuena Vista TheatreUTSA Downtown

TopDog/UnderDog5/1-9, Fri-Sat @ 8pmSun @ 2:30pmCellar TheaterSan Pedro Playhouse

Rapuzarella White: A Dysfunctional Off-Broadway Fairy Tale Musical5/1-10, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pmSun @ 3pmWoodlawn Theatre

Angel Street5/1-23, Thu-Sat @ 8pm(Dinner @ 6:15pm)Harlequin DinnerTheatre

ComedySportz San Antonio5/1-6/26, Fri @ 7:30pmThe Overtime Theater

The Barber of East LA5/2-3, Sat @ 8pmSun @ 4pmJump Start Theatre

Last of the Red Hot Lovers5/2-24, Fri-Sat @ 8pmSun @ 2pmCameo Theatre

The Denials Improv5/2-6/27Sat @ 10pmThe Overtime Theater

Sweetest Sounds5/3, Sun @ 6:30pmRussell Hill Rogers TheaterSan Pedro Playhouse

Fade to Black Comedy Troup5/3, 6/7Sun @ 7pmWoodlawn Theatre

May-June 2009 | On The Town 23March-April 2009 | On The Town 23

Stories My Grandmother Told Me5/7-24, Thu-Sat @ 8pm (Dinner @ 6:30pm)Sun @ 3pm (Lunch @ 1:30pm)S.T.A.G.E. – Spotlight Theatre & Arts Group, etc. Bulverde

It Happened One NightOn the S.S. Applewhiteby Steven Stoli Entertainment5/7 & 21, 6/4 & 18Comedy Murder Mystery Dinner TheaterThu @ 6:30pmMilanos Ristorante Italiano

ActOne Series: Volume XIIIby The Renaissance Guild5/8-9, Fri-Sat @ 8pmJump Start Theatre

Pirates vs. Ninjas5/8-24, Fri @ 9:30pmSat @ 8pmThe Overtime Theater

The Dawnview Crew SketchComedy Show: Episode 35/8-16, Fri-Sat @ 8pmThe Rose Theatre Company

The Goat or Who is Sylvia?by Attic Repertory in Residence at Trinity University5/13-31, Thu-Sat @ 8pmSun @ 2:30pmAttic TheaterRuth Taylor Building

Agnes of Godby Classic Theatre of San Antonio5/14-24, Thu-Sat @ 8pmSun @ 3pmJump Start Theatre

Vexed5/14-6/7, Thu @ 7:30pmSat @ 8pm, Sun @ 2:30pm(No show on Fridays)Sheldon Vexler Theatre

The Kitchen Witches5/15-31, Thu @ 7:30pmFri-Sat @ 8pmSun @ 2:30pmBoerne Community Theatre

House of Yes5/22-31, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pmSun @ 2:30pmThe Rose Theatre Company

Man of La Mancha5/22-6/21, Fri-Sat @ 8pmSun @ 2:30pmRussell Hill Rogers TheaterSan Pedro Playhouse


The Great American Playbill5/30-8/6, Fri-Sat @ 7:30pmSun @ 3pmWoodlawn Theatre

Shakespeare in the Park –As You Like Itby Magik Theatre6/3-6, Wed-Sat @ 8pm(Gates open @ 6:30pm)San Antonio Botanical Gardens

WickedCadillac Broadway Across America Presentation6/3-28, Tue-Fri @ 8pmSat @ 2pm & 8pmSun @ 2pm & 7:30pm(Matinee performance also on 6/4, Thu @ 2pm)Majestic Theatre

Little Womenby Playhouse 20006/4-27, Thu-Sat @ 7:30pmSun @ 2pmKathleen C. Cailloux Theater – Kerrville

The Fourth Wall6/6-28, Fri-Sat @ 8pmSun @ 2pmCameo Theatre

Broadway Bound6/11-7/11, Thu-Sat @ 8pm(Dinner @ 6:15pm)Harlequin DinnerTheatre

Treasure Island6/12-27, Thu-Sat @ 8:30pmPoint Theatre – Ingram

What Will Happen?6/12-28, Fri @ 9:30pmSat @ 8pmThe Overtime Theater

Guys and Dollsby New Braunfels Theatre Company6/13-28, Thu-Sat @ 7:30pmSun @ 2:30pmBrauntex Performing Arts Theatre – New Braunfels

Take Me Out6/19-7/19, Fri-Sat @ 8pmSun @ 2:30pmCellar TheaterSan Pedro Playhouse

At The OperaIl TrovatoreSan Antonio Opera Presentation6/12-14, Fri-Sat @ 8pmSun @ 2pmLila Cockrell Theatre

The DanceSavion Glover:Visions of a BibleCarver Community Cultural Center Presentation5/16, Sat @ 8pmJo Long Theatre

W-I-P (Works in Progress)5/27, Wed @ 7pmJump Start Theatre

Rumba DreamsCarver Community Cultural Center Presentation6/13, Sat @ 8pmJo Long Theatre

Stand UpAl Ducharme5/1-3, Fri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:45pmSun @ 8:30pmRivercenter Comedy Club

John Caponera5/6-10, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8:30pmFri-Sat @ 8:30pm & 10:45pmRivercenter Comedy Club

Willie Barcena5/13-17, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8:30pmFri-Sat @ 8:30pm& 10:45pmRivercenter Comedy Club

Richie Byrne5/20-24, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8:30pmFri-Sat @ 8:30pm& 10:45pmRivercenter Comedy Club

Cedric the Entertainer5/22, Fri @ 8pmMajestic Theatre

AJ Jamal5/27-31, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8:30pmFri-Sat @ 8:30pm& 10:45pmRivercenter Comedy Club

Tom Cotter6/3-7, Wed-Thu & Sun @ 8:30pmFri-Sat @ 8:30pm& 10:45pmRivercenter Comedy Club

Felicia Michaels6/24-27, Wed-Thu @ 8:30pmFri-Sat @ 8:30pm& 10:45pmRivercenter Comedy Club

For The Children

Darwin the DinosaurChildren’s Fine Arts Series Presentation5/1, Fri @ 9:45am, 11:45am & 6:30pmCharline McCombs Empire Theatre

The Dinosaur Musical5/1-30, Tue-Thu @ 9:45am & 11:30amFri @ 9:45am, 11:30am & 7pmSat @ 2pmMagik Theatre

The Three Bears Go To the Beach5/7-8/1, Wed-Thu & Sat @10amSteve Stoli Backyard Theatre

Joe Scruggs in ConcertChildren’s Fine Arts Series Presentation5/12, Tue @ 10amLaurie Auditorium – Trinity

The Dinosaur Showby Paul Mesner PuppetsChildren’s Fine Arts Series Presentation6/9, Tue @ 9:45am, 11:45am & 6:30pmRussell Hill Rogers TheaterSan Pedro Playhouse

Phantom of the Alamo6/17-26, Wed @ 10:30amFri @ 7pmMagik Theatre



On ExhibitARTPACE

Hudson (Show)RoomThe World Stage: Africa, Lagos ~ DakarThru 5/3

International Artist-In-ResidenceNew Works: 09.1Richard GraysonChristian TomaszewskiSterling AllenThru 5/17

Hudson (Show) RoomJonathan Monk: Rew-Shay Hood Project5/14-9/6

BIHL HAUS ARTS

Conception / RealizationJames Hetherington Recent WorksThru 5/16

Golden Legacy5/23-6/6

BLUE STAR CONTEMPORARY ART CENTER

Country WaveFeaturing Anne FerrerThru 5/23

Unreliable NarratorFeaturing Joel CarreiroThru 6/14

RevisitationFeaturing Rex HausmannThru 6/14

Retrospective Part 1: Artist’s Collection 1980-2009Featuring Danville ChadbourneThru 6/16

ARTSmart Student Exhibit5/9-6/14

INSTITUTO CULTURAL de MEXICO

El Nino Fidencio de Es-pinazo, Nuevo LeonThru 6/14

Los Paso de CuevasThru 6/21

Los Picassos de Cuevas de Pablo PicassoThru 6/21

Permanencia de Beatriz del Carmen CuevasThru 6/21 McNAY ART MUSEUM

American Concepts and Global Visions: Selections from the AT&T Collection- Contemporary Paintings and Sculpture Thru 5/17- Masterworks of Photography Thru 5/17

Fifty Years of Printed Masterpieces:Gifts from the Friends of the McNay Thru 6/8

Tom Slick Collection 6/10-9/13

Elegant Enigmas: The Art of Edward Gorey 6/10-9/13 In Their Own Right: Contemporary Women Printmakers 6/24-8/23 SAN ANTONIO BOTANICAL GARDEN

Steinunn Thórarinsdóttir:Art in the Garden - HorizonsThru 6/15

Susan Budge: Art in the Garden – Myth, Magic and MysteriesThru 6/15

SAN ANTONIO MUSEUM OF ART

Perspectivas PopularesThru 7/09

Vincent Valdez: El Chavez RavineThru 8/2

Zoe’s RoomThru 8/2

Imagenes de Mexico: Select Photographs from the Permanent CollectionThru 8/09

Waterflow5/13-8/23

SOUTHWEST SCHOOL OF ART & CRAFTRuth Buentello: Solo Exhibition Thru 6/21All School Exhibition 2009Thru 6/21

UTSA’s INSTITUTE OF TEXAN CULTURES

In His Own Words: The Life and Work of Cesar ChavezThru 5/24

Fiesta Remembrances: Photographs of Past EventsThru 6/28

WITTE MUSEUM

Genome: The Secret of How Life WorksThru 5/25

Breathing Places: A Historyof San Antonio ParksThru 8/09

Wild, Wild West: True Stories and the ArenaThru 8/23

Queens and Crowns: Fiesta’s Royal TraditionsThru 9/7

Playing With Time6/20-9/27

Miscellaneous2009 Gospel Music Awards5/10, Sun @ 5pmJo Long Theatre - Carver Community Cultural Center

The Floating Feat-ivalAn Arts San Antonio Event5/12-13Tue-Wed @ 6:30pm River Walk

Valero Texas Open5/14-17, Thu-SunWestin La Cantera



Festivals & CelebrationsCinco de Mayo5/5, Tue – All DayMarket Square

Tejano Conjunto Festivalen San Antonio5/6-10Guadalupe Theatre and Rosedale Parkguadalupeculturalarts.com for schedule information

Film Festival RememberingRicardo Montalban5/10 & 17Sun @ 3pm / 5pmInstituto Cultural de Mexico

Soul Food Festival5/15-16, Fri-Sat / 5pm-11pmMaverick PlazaLa Villita

Fiesta Noche del Rio5/18-8/8, Fri-Sat @ 8:30pm(Gates open @ 7pm)Arneson River Theatre

Houston Street Fair & Market5/30, Sat /12pm-6pmIce Cream Fest6/27, Sat / 12pm-6mC4 Ultimate Bull Blowout

Texas Folklife Festival6/12-14, Fri / 5pm-11pmSat / 11am-11pmSun / 12pm-7pmUTSA’s Institute of Texan Cultures

Juneteenth6/19, Tue – All DayCitywidewww.juneteenthsanantonio.comfor a listing of events

Photo CreditsPage 20 (L-R)

Two Tons of SteelCourtesy twotons.com

Ertan TorgulCourtesy San Antonio Symphony

Ray Wylie HubbardCourtesy raywylie.com

The 5 BrownsCourtesy the5browns.com

Page 21 (L-R)

Pink MartiniCourtesy San Antonio Symphony

Brandi CarlileCourtesy brandicarlile.com

Elmar OliveiraPhoto by Tucker Densley

San Antonio BrassCourtesy sabrass.org

Page 22 (L-R)Jerry Jeff WalkerCourtesy jerryjeff.com

Randy Rogers BandCourtesy randyrogers-band.com

Brandon RhyderCourtesy brandonrhyder.com

Chris CagleCourtesy chriscagle.com

Page 23 (L-R)

Robert Earl KeenCourtesy roberearlkeen.com

Last of the Red Hot LoversPhoto by Eric Fonseca

WickedDonna Vivino, Myra Lucretia Taylor and Katie Rose ClarkePhoto by Joan Marcus

Savion GloverCourtesy Carver Community Cultural Center

Page 24 (L-R)

Cedric the EntertainerCourtesy Majestic Theatre

Sterling AllenHousing Edition, 2009Wood, paper, foam, plastic, rubber, Metal, found ob-jects and oil paintingsArtpace - Photo by Kim-berly Aubuchon

Georgia O’KeeffeSun Water Maine, 1922Pastel on paperCollection of the Slick FamilyMcNay Art Museum

Helen FrankenthalerPost Card for James Schuy-ler, 1962-67LithographCollection of the McNay Art Museum, Bequest of Evelyn Halff Ruben

Page 25 (L-R)

Vincent ValdezEl Chavez RavineSan Antonio Museum of Art

John HernandezLiving Eye - Zoe’s RoomSan Antonio Museum of Art

Ruth BuentelloChucho Boy Showing Me His Guns, 2009Acrylic on canvas, 56 x 43 inchesSouthwest School of Art and Craft Cell Explorer - Genome: The Secret of How Life WorksWitte Museum

Page 26 (L-R)

Queens and Crowns:Fiesta Royalty ExhibitWitte Museum

Joel Guzman and Sara FoxCourtesy mcguckinpr.com

Fiesta Noche del Rio DancersCourtesy Fiesta Noche del Rio

Folklife Festival DancersCourtesy UTSA’s Institute of Texan Cultures



Box Office:Cinema Tuesdays at the BijouBy Peabo Fowler

For classic film fans, there is no better place to be this summer than Santikos’ Bijou at Crossroads Theater on Tuesday nights. From May 26 through Aug. 25, Texas Public Radio presents its annual

parade of classic, foreign and contemporary film selections to audiences of all ages.

Series curator Nathan Cone hand-picks the films based on audience suggestion, affinity with the public radio audience, and sometimes his own personal love of a particular film.

“This summer, I’m so happy to see Koyaanisqatsi on the big screen,” Cone says, referring to the dialogue-free 1983 film that marries startling images of our urban

landscape to the hypnotic score of Philip Glass. “That is one movie that is truly an experience best served by as large a screen as possible,” he adds. Koyaanisqatsi screens June 2. Another great film to see on the big screen will be Max Ophüls’ stunningly beautiful Lola Montès, screening June 9.

Audience-suggested films this summer include The Manchurian Candidate, Sullivan’s Travels and Harvey, the classic story of Jimmy Stewart and his imaginary friend, a six-foot rabbit named Harvey. For The Manchurian Candidate, Cone and his colleague at Texas Public Radio, James Baker, hope to lure the film’s composer, David Amram, to the screening. Amram is a frequent attendee at the nearby Kerrville Folk Festival.



Besides the features, each summer Cone tries to include classic short films on select dates. In the past, Cinema Tuesdays attendees have enjoyed Looney Tunes cartoons, or short two-reel comedies from Charlie Chase or the Three Stooges. “Ordinarily,” Cone says, “folks talk about how important it is to see something like Lawrence of Arabia or Doctor Zhivago on the big screen. But I would suggest that cartoons and comedies also benefit from the big-screen treatment. It makes the timing of the gags that much more effective.”

Screenings take place each Tuesday at the Santikos Bijou at Crossroads Theater. Admission is based on suggested donation levels: $10 for members of Texas Public Radio, $12 for non-members. Proceeds from the

screenings benefit Texas Public Radio, which operates KSTX 89.1 FM and KPAC 88.3 FM in San Antonio, and KTXI 90.1 FM in the Hill Country. Showtime each Tuesday is 7:30 p.m., but the good seats often fill up fast, so Cone recommends arriving at the theater at least 30 minutes before the picture starts.

The most complete lineup of films is available at www.tpr.org. There, you can sign up for Cone’s Cinema Tuesdays newsletter and the free Cinema Tuesdays podcast, featuring interviews with filmmakers and reviews of DVD releases.

Photos (L-R) Scenes from Lola Montés, Koyaanisqatsi and Z. Courtesy of Texas Public Radio



The Sheldon Vexler Theatre at the Barshop Jewish Community Center is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2009. Since the very beginning, Ken Frazier has

served as the theater’s director. What follows is a glimpse into the history of this presenting venue, as told in his words.

Lauren: What are your personal thoughts on theater, and how have they related to show choices for the Vexler?

Ken: I have never thought of theater as just entertainment. Personally, I am interested in the possibility of saying something meaningful through a production. Great theater is similar to many other forms such as great novels, paintings, music -- the powerful ones are personal, idiosyncratic works that reflect a unique and honest sensibility. To attract and keep an audience, theater must entertain, but the significance of any art lies in its ability to express truths. I believe theater is an excellent medium to reveal and help us understand

our world. I think it is safe to say that we strive to choose shows that cover all of the above bases and remain powerful and entertaining. LR: What is it like having the theater as part of the Barshop Jewish Community Center?

KF: One of the greatest things about the Jewish culture is its history of supporting the arts. The JCC has a multitude of cultural events throughout each year in addition to the Vexler Theatre, including the annual book and film festivals. Live theater is a challenging entity to keep alive. It is not usually on the forefront of everyone’s entertainment budget. The support the Barshop JCC provides to the arts allows the Vex to be creative and open to a variety of styles. Each season has had the luxury of presenting a wide variety of styles and genres over the years. That kind of variety just couldn’t happen here without the support and vision by both the board and staff of the JCC.

Q&A With Ken FraizerBy Lauren Ross

The Vex At TenThe Vex At Ten


LR: As the Sheldon Vexler Theatre celebrates its 10th anniversary, so do you as theater director. Take us back to the beginning, and tell us about opening night.

KF: It was an extremely exciting experience. I remember feeling pretty anxious with not only the typical opening-night pressure, but the whole idea of opening a brand-new space. We opened with Neil Simon’s Rumors, which is a great piece, very witty and fun. And we had a great cast and crew. Their talent alone relieved my apprehension. And it truly turned out to be a fantastic night. The show went off nicely, and the audience was wonderfully responsive. I knew the theater would be a great place because of the audience and performer energy exchange that night!

LR: How many shows have you directed in this theater?

KF: Well, I think I have produced approximately 40 shows over the 10 years. I would say I directed about 30 of them… I think.

LR: Of all the shows, do you have a favorite, or favorites?

KF: Wow, that’s a very subjective question; each show comes with different challenges and excitement. The Clearing is one of my favorites because it was such a demanding concept utilizing the performers’ talents juxtaposed with lights and sound. Chicago was an awesome experience as well because I felt we put our very own stamp on that production as a team.

LR: Talk about the black box configuration of the Vex. What does it add to the theater patron’s experience versus seeing a show in a regular auditorium-style theater?

KF: I think the strongest attribute of the Vex is its intimacy. Being a black box, there is no set defined space. The fact that we can move the audience around and change the layout of the audience somewhat lets us design the atmosphere closer to each production’s individual needs. I think it is also exciting for the audience to return and see a show from a whole new perspective. We sort of re-invent the space each time we go into production.

LR: What challenges have you faced in producing shows “inside the box?”

KF: I have to admit… I am guilty of jumping into projects that are a typically made for larger spaces. We



put in an “elevated” train track to hold the orchestra in Chicago, and we built a 2,000-plus gallon pool for Metamorphoses. And I really like producing shows in the round and having the audience on all four sides of the playing space, but that always makes it challenging for the actors and designers. I love the challenge of directing in the space. You have to really concentrate on how the arrangement will interact with the audience -- they are right there with you!

LR: Getting to do Vexed: A Musical Review, featuring great performances from the 10-year history of the theater, must be quite a thrill for you?

KF: It is quite a thrill to be at this point. I think what I am most proud of is to be able to look back at all the talent that has been on our stage. Vexed is a great way to really highlight everyone’s hard work over the past 10 years. I think it will be great for the audience to re-live past moments and a nice way for new patrons to see what kind of exciting things happen here.

LR: What’s ahead? What can patrons look forward to in coming days at the Sheldon Vexler Theatre?

KF: We haven’t committed to next year’s season at this point, but I know this: The greatest thing about this theater is its adaptability. And I am so fortunate to work with a constant influx of talented artists who are open to stretch and expand and who are not afraid to take on a new style or a “let’s color outside the lines” concept. So when it comes to the Vex, I think it’s safe to say that whatever the future brings… it will include thinking outside the box!

To find out more about the Sheldon Vexler Theatre at the Barshop Jewish Community Center, go to www.vexler.org.

Photo Information

Page 30 – Scene from The Crucible

Page 31 – (Above) Ken Frazier, director(Below) Scene from Urinetown

Page 32 – Scene from ChicagoAll photos courtesy Sheldon Vexler Theatre



MorePAPerforming Arts

This is an exciting time of year for performing arts aficionados. New season schedules are being announced by many of the area’s major presenters

and patron calendars are being filled with nights of exciting entertainment, not to mention matinees.

San Antonio Symphony has revealed its 2009-2010 Season, starting with a special 70th Anniversary Concert Celebration featuring violinist Gil Shaham playing Barber’s Violin Concerto. On the same program, Ken-David Masur will lead the orchestra and three hundred singers in the rousing Carmina Burana. This incredible evening takes place on Saturday, September 19 at the Majestic.

Other symphony classical highlights include performances by cellist Alisa Weilerstein, violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonneberg, soprano Dawn Upshaw, pianist Misha Dichter and violinist Nancy Zhou. Pops examples for the season are Three Phantoms in Concert, Rogers and Hammerstein at the Movies, Holiday Pops and Music of the Beatles with Magical Mystery Tour.

San Antonio Opera is sure to please opera buffs by presenting Rigoletto, Madame Butterfly and Daughter of the Regiment at the Municipal Auditorium as their 2009-2010 Season.

Broadway Across America offers eight shows in its 2009-2010 series at the Majestic. Highlights include the return of Disney’s The Lion King, South Pacific, Young Frankenstein, Mama Mia and the farewell tour of Riverdance.

San Antonio Chamber Music Society has gotten on the board early with its new season announcement of six world-class concerts from October ’09 to April ’10. See the Shanghai String Quartet, Lee Trio, Faure Piano Quartet and more on their stage.

Kerrville Performing Arts Society has announced as well. Included on the 2009-2010 schedule are Yamato Drummers, Peter Schickele as P.D.Q. Bach, Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez, American Big Band, Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet, and the legendary Marvin Hamlisch.

Youth Orchestras of San Antonio made an announcement of a different kind when it named Troy Peters as its new music director and conductor. He succeeds Marlon Chen who is retiring at the end of this season.

San Pedro Playhouse has a brand new sound system. I couldn’t close without mentioning that.

More area performing arts organizations will be announcing their seasons soon. Stay tuned.


By Erin WestPhotos (L-R) Gil Shaham – Courtesy San Antonio SymphonyTroy Peters – Courtesy Youth Orchestras of San Antonio




Visual Arts38-48

Visual Arts38-48



Mexican-born artist Carla Veliz breaks through the surface of personal experiences to reveal . some of life’s universal intricacies. Whether it it is expressing the complex beauty of the

feminine figure or the grief following tragic loss, Carla’s work expresses the mixed emotions felt by many of us. When asked about her work, she responded, “As an artist, you raise a question. The viewer is allowed to answer or not, just as they wish. Everything is allowed, but with respect on both sides of the canvas.”

Born in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, Carla’s relationship with art sparked early when she first exhibited her work at a public showing at the age of 10, then won a statewide art competition when she was 15. At the age of 18, Carla was accepted at the Art Institute in Houston. Speaking very little English and with only $500, Carla was forced to work up to four jobs at a time while attending school and serving an internship. Although her parents were divorced, the life lessons learned from the discrimination her father, an architect,

The Art of Carla VelizBy Paloma Cortez

Portfolio:

March-April 2009 | On The Town 39May-June 2009 | On The Town 39


vv

40 On The Town | September-October 2008

experienced as the son of a poor revolutionary, and the tiring hours her mother spent working at her uncle’s restaurant fueled Carla’s inherit determination and helped her graduate with honors.

After moving to San Antonio in 1991 Carla worked as a creative director for an ad agency and later freelanced in advertising and production. It wasn’t until her husband, Richard, encouraged her to reignite her relationship with art that Carla decided to devout herself again to painting.

Equally important as the paintings are the titles that accompany each work which are vital to the message Carla wishes to convey. In her Katrina series, for example, a solemn tone felt by the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina is maintained throughout each painting.

In describing this series of paintings, Carla noted, “These paintings are a whole different species. “Lo que el viento se llevó (What the Wind Took Away)” was inspired by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and is a tribute to the survivors and all those affected by this devastating hurricane. Some of the paintings contain pieces of fabric, including fine upholstery, African cotton cloth, bits of burlap, jewels, metals, etc. The use of the various textiles in combination with other textures and materials represents how a calamity such as Katrina can destroy everything in its path without discrimination. It is a true test of character. A time when we truly discover what we are made of and when all the materialistic possessions are gone, what remains is your true essence.”

In her figurative works, Carla explores the complexities of women by either depicting bold female figures with exaggerated features and bright, playful colors or capturing the subtle moods, such as in “Atrapada (Entrapped).”

In her words, “It is not a new thing that the beauty of the female figure has inspired the great masters, from the classics to the moderns. For me, it is not only that I am a woman and want to be heard and respected, but a celebration to the incredible beings that we are, able to care in such an unbelievable way, to be able to have life inside of us, and endure


May-June 2009 | On The Town 41May-June 2009 | On The Town 41

and overcome so much… I hope the viewer can see us more than a sex symbol, more than a giver, more than a doer, but to love and respect woman as a whole. I want the paintings to be translated as a tribute to the beauty of femininity.”

Carla’s work has been exhibited across South Texas and has become popular among collectors and businesses. She also was included among a select group of artists to contribute a decorated cow for the 2002 Cow Parade San Antonio, where her “Psychadelamoo” was proudly displayed at the Alamo Quarry Market. Currently Carla enjoys life with her husband and 6-year-old twins, Ricardo and Rebekah. She is currently working on her series “Vivencias (Experiences)” which she plans to finish this summer.

For more information on Carla Veliz and her work visit www.carlaveliz.com or www.carlacontempo.com

Photo Information

Page 38 – Carla Veliz

Page 39 – (L-R) Alegria and Churritos

Page 40 – (Above) Flor de Invierno (Below) Frutera

Page 41 – (Above) La Ejecutiva (Below) Pareja Ideal

“As an artist you raise a question. The viewer is allowed to answer or not, just as they wish. Every-thing is allowed, but with respect on both sides of the canvas.”- Carla Veliz


Make a PlanSpend a Weekend Absorbing San Antonio’s Art and CultureBy Shannon Huntington Standley


T.he opportunities to take in art and culture in San Antonio stretch to every corner of the Alamo City, so making a plan to spend a day or a weekend filled with

educational, fun activities for the entire family can prove to be an easy task.

The universe is filled with changes that happen too quickly or too slowly for the eye to perceive—until now! The Witte Museum is putting time into visitors’ hands to slow down, speed up and manipulate through the summer exhibition, Playing with Time, opening June 20. Don’t miss the last weeks of Genome: The Secret of How Life Works, closing May 25, where visitors can delve into the world of genes and DNA to discover who they are, where they came from and who they may become. Take a ride into the Wild Wild West exhibit, on view through Aug. 23, to see the real-life stories of Western heroes, as opposed to those re-enacted in the Wild West shows, through Western frontier artifacts from the post-Civil War era to the 1920s. The Witte’s annual Fiesta exhibit, Queens and Crowns: Fiesta’s Royal Traditions, is on view through Sept. 7. This year’s exhibit honors the 100th anniversary of the Order of the Alamo and highlights the cream silk dress and blue velvet train worn by Helena Guenther, Queen of the Court of Carnival of Flowers in 1911, one of the oldest royal robes in the Witte Museum collection.

UTSA’s Institute of Texan Cultures is chronicling the remarkable career of César Chávez through In His Own Words, on view through May 24. The exhibit features 38 photographs paired with excerpts from his dynamic speeches, interviews and authoritative writings, documenting the full course of Chávez’s career and examining the life experiences that drove him to change the lives of American farmers. This year, ITC is commemorating Fiesta Remembrances: Photographs of Past Events, running through June 28, with 46 color and black and white photographs of various Fiesta events from the 1890s to the early 1990s.

The big news for spring at the San Antonio Museum of Art is the River Walk extension, opening in May, which will provide a back-door entrance for the museum. In celebration of the opening, SAMA is joining the river theme with Waterflow, an exhibition of recent works by 15 Texas artists who have been inspired by water, on view May 13 through Aug. 23.

In 2004, musician Ry Cooder hired San Antonio artist Vincent Valdez to paint a mural on a vintage 1953 Chevy ice cream truck, which took 19 months to complete. Vincent Valdez: El Chavez Ravine, on view through Aug. 2, reflects the late 1950s displacement of the Los Angeles Chicano community by the developers who built Dodger Stadium. Alongside Valdez’ work is Zoe’s Room, where artist John Hernandez was inspired by childhood stories such as Aesop’s Fables and Mother Goose to create a composition of earlier sculptures as well as new work, including wall paintings and drawings. Wrapping up the exhibition schedule at SAMA is Imagenes de Mexico: Select Photographs from the Permanent Collection, May-June 2009 | On The Town 43


a photographic exhibition on view through Aug. 3. Eight photographers were chosen from the permanent collection who have captured their own vision of Mexico.

San Antonio artist and instructor for the Southwest School of Art & Craft’s Young Artist Program, Ruth Buentello, is exhibiting new paintings in Retratos de Nobles, on view at the Ursuline Hall Gallery through June 21. The annual favorite of the Southwest School of Art & Craft, the All School Exhibition 2009, is back and on view at the Russell Hill Rogers Gallery through June 21. This annual tradition showcases outstanding recent works in a variety of media by artists, teachers and students at the school.

Bihl Haus Arts has planned a big celebration for the Goldens Opportunity Art Program in May, offering weekly painting, drawing and yoga, and special art workshops for “Goldens,” aka seniors, living at Primrose at Monticello Park Apartments.In conjunction with that program, the exhibit Goldens Legacy opens May 23 and features 100 paintings, drawings and other works created by the Goldens under the direction of profess-ional artist-teachers Terry Lopez de Castilla and Kim Bishop.

Blue Star Contemporary Art Center boasts a wide range of exhibiting artists. Danville Chadbourne presents Retrospective 1: Artist’s Collection 1980-2009, on view through June 14. Works from this local artist feature a collection of 30 large-scale paintings and sculptures dating from 1980 to the present. French artist Anne Ferrer’s Country Wave, through May 23, transforms gallery space into a country furnished home being invaded by a wave of pink frosting. New York-

based artist Joel Carreiro presents Unreliable Narrator, a display of massive-sized paintings using geometric patterns and shapes over beautifully painted backgrounds and on view through June 14. Artpace begins the new season with their International Artist-In-Residence exhibit New Works: 09.1 featuring works by artists Richard Grayson, Christian Tomaszewski and Sterling Allen, on view March 19 through May 17. Richard Grayson, from London, will present video and multi-media works to combine scientific research methods, technology and interviews. Brooklyn artist Christian Tomaszewski remakes the spaces, props and moods of David Lynch’s Blue Velvet, mimicking the characters and analyzing details. Recent drawings and sculptures by Austin artist Sterling Allen follow a three-step process of assessing sound, shape and image in the context of emotional response. On view in the Hudson (Show) Room through May 3 at Artpace is Kehinde Wiley: The World Stage: Africa, Lagos ~ Dakar, a showcase of 10 new paintings from Wiley’s multinational the World Stage series. On May 14, a new exhibit rotates into the Hudson (Show) Room, Jonthan Monk: Rew-Shay Hood Project, Berlin, Germany. In this installation, Monk examines the geometric forms of Sol LeWitt’s 1970s series of minimal cubes, abandoning the original geometry and playfully presenting the work as an odd dressing room.

The Instituto Cultural de Mexico presents an exhibit of drawing, engraving and sculpture in Vida y Obra de José Luis Cuevas, on view through June 21. Jose Luis Cuevas was


born in Mexico City in 1934 and is a sketcher, engraver, sculptor and writer. He studied at La Esmeralda, one of the most important schools of art in Mexico. El Niño Fidencio de Espinazo, Nuevo León is a photographic exhibition by artist Gustavo Casasola. This collection from Museo Bernabé de las Casas, Mina, Nuevo León, is on view through June 14. El Niño Fidencio (Jose Fidencio de Jesus Sintora) is a healer who died in 1938, who is still a cult figure and is remembered through animated photographs, original films and people who knew him while living and bearing witness.

The McNay Art Museum is presenting a two-part exhibition of the AT&T Collection on view through May 17. Close to 100 works are on view in American Concepts and Global Visions/Selections. The first part, Contemporary Paintings and Sculpture, comprises paintings, sculpture and large-scale works on paper. The second part, Masterworks of Photography, boasts classic black-and-white imagery, color photographs and alternative approaches to the photography medium. Friends of the McNay are celebrating their 50th anniversary and have marked the occasion with Fifty Years of Printed Masterpieces: Gifts from the Friends of the McNay, on view through June 7. The McNay is presenting the Tom Slick Collection June 10 through Sept. 13 alongside Elegant Enigmas: The Art of Edward Gorey. Closing out the summer exhibition schedule is In Their Own Right: Contemporary Women Printmakers, on display June 24 through Aug. 23.

The Museo Alameda is addressing the journey of the Mexican migrant, from the perils of border crossing to the struggles

of establishing normalcy once in the United States, through Cara Vemos, Corazones No Sabemos: The Human Landscape of Mexican Migration, running through May 10. Also on the schedule at the Alameda is Phantom Sightings: Art After the Chicano Movement, on view through June 14.

Spend the weekend doing something different. Involve the family, take a vote and make a plan to visit these fine institutions and the world-class exhibitions in your own back yard.

Photo InformationPage 42 - Gary Schott, Martini Shaker, 2006Mild steel, copper, brass, rubber, wood, stainless steel, glass, paint, lacquer, 11” x 10” x 12”Southwest School of Art and Craft

Page 43 – (Above) Isca Greenfield-SandersGreen Suit Bather, 2006 AquatintCollection of the McNay Art Museum, Transferred from the San Antonio Art Institute, by exchange

(Below) Plant Dance - Playing With TimeWitte Museum

Page 44 - Danville Chadbourne Meditations on the Red Dessert – A Parable of Futilityacrylic on wood and plywood, metal, fabric, fiber, wood, 73½” H. 116” W., 1987- 93Blue Star Contemporary Art Center

Page 45 - Voch (Yellow) – 2004Margarita Cabrera - William J. HokinMuseo Alameda


MoreVA Visual Arts

Access to two of San Antonio’s most prominent museums has become easier. Both the Witte Museum and San Antonio Museum of Art are

sporting new additions that make getting in and out a very manageable situation.

Brackenridge Park Parking Garage, designed by Lake / Flato Architects, is now open behind the Witte. This three-story, open-air facility is tucked into the park’s tree canopy and features an environmentally-friendly rain harvesting system and metal screening over the front side that allows vines to flourish and create an inviting façade. San Antonio artist Cakky Brawley designed an installation comprised of brushed aluminum forms for the elevator tower of the facility. The wall behind the artwork is illuminated at night. More than 300 parking spaces are available to patrons making a visit to the museum virtually effortless.

On Saturday, May 30, the San Antonio Museum of Art officially opens its new River Landing as a part of the San Antonio River Improvement Project and the city-wide celebration marking day one of the Museum Reach. On the north side of the museum’s property, this new facility designed by Overland Partners consists of a river pavilion, covered walkway and covered terrace, creating an attractive and welcoming presence for SAMA along the river and providing the museum with its first ever guest access to the River Walk. The river pavilion, a 3,464 square foot covered patio facing the river, is open for both museum and public events, such as festivals, receptions, lectures and meetings. The space accommodates 300 people. Barge in anytime, after May 30.

See you at the Witte and SAMA soon. Getting to and from these museums has never been easier.


By Blair Russell

Photos (L-R) Brackenridge Park Parking Garage – Courtesy Witte MuseumRiver Landing – Courtesy San Antonio Musuem of Art




Festivals and Celebrations50-62

Festivals and Celebrations50-62


May-June 2009 | On The Town 5151 On The Town | March-April 2009

The 38th Annual Texas Folklife FestivalCelebrates Everything TexasStory by Texas Folklife Festival StaffPhotography courtesy UTSA’s Institute of Texan Cultures

Visitors will find themselves “Celebrating Everything Texas” this year at the 38th annual Texas Folklife Festival – even things they didn’t realize were part

of Texas. For three days beginning June 12, friends, families and complete strangers will come together to experience the culture and heritage of those who settled, developed and collectively define the Lone Star State.

A cross-cultural, cross-generational event, the Texas Folk-life Festival showcases more than 250 participants from across Texas who share their most cherished traditions. From the Asians to the Alsatians, the Lebanese to the Lithuanians, and the Irish to the Indians, visitors will find a mini-village of more than 40 ethnic neighborhoods with sights and sounds to delight all of the senses.

“Wandering through the cultural neighborhoods of the festival is a fun immersion into the rich diversity that makes up the ‘DNA’ of Texas’ life and lore,” says JoAnn Andera, festival director. “The Folklife Festival is a completely individual experience for everyone who goes—you choose what interests you most and then explore at your own pace.”

It’s true, you don’t have to travel far to experience something new this summer. At the Folklife Festival, visitors can wander from country to country throughout the rolling grounds of the Institute of Texan Cultures sampling foods, music, dance, costumes, crafts and other artistic traditions.

There is something for every age group, and it’s a totally interactive, hands-on experience,” says Andera. “Of course, you can decide how active you want to be—you can sit back and watch the dancers or get up and learn how to clog; you can watch our wonderfully skilled craftspeople or try your hand at basket weaving.”



Ten event stages feature 25 hours of music and performances, ranging from trick ropers, Aztec dancers, Afro-Brazilian acrobats, Texas rock bands, mariachis, hip-hop artists, fiddle and banjo musicians, jazz bands, blues artists, gospel choirs and storytellers. Among the new performers this year is Voces y Guitarras, a talented group from Brownsville.

For event-goers with a passion for dance, there will be plenty to watch. Troupes of folk dancers perform traditional Turkish, Scandinavian, Filipino and Lebanese dances, just to name a few -- each dressed in authentic, native costumes. Craft aficionados, shoppers and the just plain curious are sure to get a kick out of festival demonstrators and artisans who come to share their talent.

For the first time this year, the Purple Martin propagators are bringing bird and bat houses made from gourds and tubes. David Sheppard of Dripping Springs will make his first appearance at the festival selling heirloom and custom-made music boxes. Tthe talent of Texans comes in many forms.

Of course, the highlight of any festival is food, and the Texas Folklife Festival is no exception. Traditional dishes from Europe, Asia, South America, Mexico and Texas are some of the many options during a journey through the festival grounds. Additions to this year’s menu include Korean barbecue and marinated beef bulgogis served by the Korean American Association of San Antonio. The Famguon Guahan (which translates into Children of Guam) will prepare chicken, beef or shrimp Kelaguen spiced with grilled onions, lemon coconut and peppers.

The rich tapestry of this giant, multi-cultural celebration never ceases to amaze both newcomers and seasoned festival fans. Widely regarded as the premiere cultural event in Texas, the festival has gained national recognition and won numerous awards. The three-day celebration runs from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. June 12; from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. June 13; and from noon to 7 p.m. June 14, downtown at the Institute of Texan Cultures on the UTSA HemisFair Park Campus. Ticket and general information is available at www.TexasFolklifeFestival.org or at the event information line, (210) 458-2390. Advance tickets go on sale at all H-E-B locations May 1.

So come with a hearty appetite and expect to be delighted by the entertainment, the fun and the diversity that is as big as the state we know and love — Texas!





New Restaurants

53rd Season at Arneson River TheatreBy Diana Marin


iesta Noche del Rio, the longest-running outdoor musical revue of its kind in the United States, celebrates its 53rd season in 2009 with performances beginning on May 15. Included in the first weekend

is a presentation of La Primera Noche (First Night) which pays tribute to local sponsors as well as to the show’s largest beneficiaries: Any Baby Can and Respite Care of San Antonio, non-profit organizations that provide services and programs to children with special needs.

The musical extravaganza features the songs and dances of Mexico, Spain, Argentina and Texas in a seven-act showstopping outdoor performance. Held at the historic Arneson River Theatre on the San Antonio River Walk, the outdoor show has entertained more than one million locals and visitors since its inception in 1957.

Elizabeth Sanchez-Lopez serves as director, choreographer and lead singer. Lopez is the supervisor of the Dance and Theater Fine Arts Department at Northside Independent School District. Her partnership with Fiesta Noche del Rio, where she serves in the role created by the legendary Rosita Fernandez, allows her to celebrate the history and culture of San Antonio while giving back to the community.


Her love of dance has touched the lives of many local students pursuing dance. More than half of the cast members for Fiesta Noche del Rio over the years have been former NISD students. Many of them have continued to pursue dance careers of their own. During the Noche season, her husband Gerald Lopez oversees the show’s production and has done so since 1993.

She is joined this year by cast members Andrew Mauricio (singer), Kelsey Wildman (dance captain), Daniella Villagran, Priscilla Gamboa, Bianca Mendoza, Celina Rodriguez, Steven Moreno, Rod-J Ona, Ernest Antu, Natalie Sonnen, Kimberly Gutierrez and Brittany Leos, plus Mariachi Festival.

Fiesta Noche del Rio is produced each year by the volunteer-run Alamo Kiwanis Club in order to raise funds to benefit local children’s charities. Nearly $3 million has been raised to date.

“We are excited about our new season,” reports 2009 chairman Ernest Mora. “We have an outstanding new cast and have tightened the show to showcase more of our most popular numbers.”

The Arneson River Theatre gates open at 7pm with performances beginning at 8:30pm every Friday and Saturday night May 15 - August 8, 2008. For tickets and information, visit www.fiestanochedelrio.com.

All photos courtesy Fiesta Noche del Rio

”We are excited about our new season. We have an outstanding new cast and have tightened the show to showcase more of our most popular numbers.”Ernest Mora2009 chairmanFiesta Noche del Rio




Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio artistic director Cactus Pear Music Festival Photo by Gary Albright


A Taste of Music 13th Annual Cactus Pear Music Festival, July 9-19

Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio, former concertmaster of the San Antonio Symphony and artistic director of the celebrated Cactus Pear Music Festival, delivers

the festival’s 13th season filled with a banquet of mouth-watering treats. Always known for sumptuous offerings of music and after-concert receptions, the festival’s four program titles this season hint at the cool, refreshing—and world-class—event that the festival has become in the midst of south Texas’ steamy summers. The musical banquet begins July 9 with the first concert in San Antonio and ends July 19 with a concert in Boerne. The four programs are:

Soulful SorbetsHaydn’s “Lark” Quartet is one of the greatest string quartets ever written, full of wit and inspiration. Its name comes from a soaring, vibrant melody played by the first violin in the first movement. Vaughan Williams’ piano quintet in C minor is the perfect contrast. An early, only-recently published work, this quintet is full of brooding romantic sentiment and yearning melodies. The program ends with Mendelssohn’s piano trio in D minor, a deservedly popular staple of the chamber music repertoire, full of fire and passion. Russian-Spanish cellist Dmitri Atapine and electrifying pianist Peter Miyamoto grace the CPMF stage for the first time.

Glimmering Glacés combines music of the Baroque with music of the modern day, and features two of the most distinctive instruments used for chamber music—the harp and the harpsichord. Bright, sparkly music by Henry Purcell and Jean-Baptiste Leclair opens the program. Glacés continues with a French quintet for flute, harp, and strings featuring virtuoso Canadians flutist Lorna McGhee and harpist Heidi Krutzen. These two artists conclude the first half with “Taheke” by New Zealand composer Gareth Farr. Works by Ravel and George Crumb follow, and the concluding Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 for violin and flute adds the cherry to the top.

Triple Sundae Delight combines three varied masterpieces of the repertoire. Mozart’s sonata in F Major for piano four-hands—claimed by many as the single greatest piece Mozart wrote for the keyboard—opens the program. Brahms’ trio for horn, violin, and piano follows—a work that elevates the haunting call of the horn to the level of great art. And the program concludes with the passionate, exuberant, quirky, and ultimately humorous Sextet by Ernst von Dohnanyi written for the most unusual combination of clarinet, horn, violin, viola, cello, and piano—truly a sundae of instrumentation. San Antonio Symphony’s principals

By Gary Albright and Jeffrey Sykes



Jeff Garza, horn, and Ilya Shterenberg, clarinet, are the rich musical toppings in this delight.

Appalachian Ice features the most iconic American composition ever written, Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring, and is performed in its original version for thirteen instruments. It’s a work that completely captures the sense of the American frontier. The festival premieres a new work by San Antonio’s own Timothy Kramer – Three Pairs Suite for piano, flute, clarinet, violin, cello and percussion. The program opens with a delightful arrangement of Haydn’s “London” Symphony for flute, string quartet, and piano. Also on the program is the celebrated Adagio and Allegro by Robert Schumann for horn and piano. The festival is pleased to welcome back Austin’s renowned cellists, Bion Tsang and Amy Levine-Tsang. Festival favorite, flutist Stephanie Jutt, adds her icy smoothness to the mix.

Thursday, July 9Travis Park United Methodist ChurchSan Antonio @ 7:30pm

Friday, July 10New Braunfels Presbyterian ChurchNew Braunfels @ 7pm

Saturday, July 11Travis Park United Methodist Church San Antonio @ 7:30pm

Sunday, July 12First Presbyterian Church New Braunfels @ 2:30pm

Wednesday, July 15First United Methodist ChurchBoerne @ 7pm

Thursday, July 16Travis Park United Methodist Church San Antonio @ 7:30pm

Friday, July 17Fredericksburg Theater Company Fredericksburg @ 7pm

Saturday, July 18Travis Park United Methodist ChurchSan Antonio @ 7:30pm

Sunday, July 19First United Methodist ChurchBoerne @ 2pm

Photo InformationPage 59 (L-R) Lorna McGhee, Jeff Garza and Heidi Krutzen

Page 60 (Above) Ilya Shterenberg (Below) Bion TsangAll photos courtesy Cactus Pear Music Festival




Culinary Arts 64-70

Culinary Arts 64-70



Le Rêve The Dream Team Behind “The Dream” By Chris Dunn Photography Greg Harrison

W. hen a plate of food is ser ved in a restaurant, . it reflects everyone who works there, from the dishwasher to the prep cooks, from the servers to the

executive chef. It’s the culinary equivalent of launching a rocket, a group effort that can reach for the stars -- or lose them. So it is no surprise that the consistently stellar cuisine at Andrew Weissman’s award-winning restaurant Le Rêve reflects a team that is equally out of this world. After all, “Le Rêve” is French for “The Dream,” so it is only fitting Weissman would have assembled a dream team to work there.

Chris Carlson, a Chicago native with 15 years’ experience in fine dining restaurants, eight of them with Le Rêve, could easily be described as Weissman’s right- and left-hand man because of the many roles he fills at the restaurant. “You have to have a passion for it,” said Carlson, describing his 12- to 14-hour workdays.

One of his many responsibilities is to oversee kitchen details such as stocks and prep work. He also makes all the bread for Le Rêve, often starting at 1 or 2 a.m., when he prepares poolishes (a preferment of flour, water and yeast) for the next day’s bread. He said it reflects his passion for the “mastery of food in general … because to really do a high-quality bread takes a certain amount of skill and ability and time and energy and effort to do.”

Evenings, Carlson moves next door to another Weissman restaurant, The Sandbar Fish House and Market, where he is the executive chef. “Everything is made fresh -- even the ceviches are done to order,” he

said. The Sandbar is scheduled to move midsummer to a new location in the Pearl Brewery, but Carlson said the focus will remain the same. “When it comes to food, there’s no compromising.”

Sommelier Fabien Jacob has a knowledge of wine and cuisine that belies his 32 years. Born in Lyon, France, Jacob started his career in restaurants at the age of 12, and his resume includes working for one of the legendary founders of Nouvelle Cuisine, Paul Bocuse.

But while attending chef school, he realized he preferred working the front of the house. “I didn’t like to be in the kitchen; I like more contact with the customers,” he said. His decision proved to be a good one: His keen palate, passion for his work and attention to customers is a perfect fit for Le Rêve.

In describing how to pair wine with a particular dish, Jacob said, “There are always key components you have to look at: acidity, earthiness of the dish, is it rich, like with the taste of butter, or is it steamed? I determine the flavor profile of the dish and then what goes with it … I want to emphasize the flavor of the dish, not the wine.”

To illustrate, he compared the food at Le Rêve to a beautiful painting. “The main focus of the restaurant is the food,” he said. “I just want [the wine] to be a frame around that.”

Another outstanding member of the team is Luca Della Casa, a native of Turin, Italy, who started his culinary career as a young boy in his grandmother’s restaurant in Trieste. “I had a really big passion for the food … I started to taste flavors – that’s what started to build in me.”



After broadening his culinary knowledge working at restaurants in Spain’s Canary Islands and at the former Sage restaurant in San Antonio’s Fairmount Hotel, he set his sights on Le Rêve.

According to Della Casa, “It gave me a completely other perspective … it changed my view. I discovered new flavors and combinations that for Italian cuisine are not that common.”

In turn, Della Casa gained Weissman’s respect for his extensive knowledge of Italian cuisine and has been chosen to be executive chef at Weissman’s new Italian restaurant, Il Sogno (which, not coincidentally, means “The Dream” in Italian), slated to open at the end of May in the Pearl Brewery. “We’re going to change our menu with the seasons, which is very important,” Della Casa said, adding, “We will be doing what we do the only way we know how, which is the best way.”

And then, there is Maureen, Weissman’s indefatigable and vivacious wife, who has become an integral part of the Le Rêve dining experience. She is the heart of the front of the house, doing whatever is needed to keep things running smoothly, from taking reservations

to greeting and serving, and always with a seemingly effortless grace. She even helps select all the wines served at the restaurant.

Originally from Costa Rico, Maureen admits being nervous when she first starting working at Le Rêve because she was just learning English and didn’t know all the restaurant terminology. “I started bringing people water; I remember my hand would be shaking,” she said with a laugh.

In addition to her busy work schedule, she is the mother of two children, Maxwell Joaquin, 2½ years old, and Ella, 14 months. “Max was born on Monday and Ella was born on Sunday,” she said, “We planned to close for one week, and I came back to work a week later … In 10 years, I never missed one day of work.”

Her dedication is obvious, but speaking on behalf of herself and Andrew, she credits the “great team” at Le Rêve for its success. She said, “It’s like our extended family.”

Photo InformationPage 64 – Andrew and Maureen WeissmanPage 66 – (L-R) Luca Della Casa, Fabien Jacob, Chris Carlson




Since money doesn’t grow on trees, I’m all about saving it. That’s how I roll. I wouldn’t refer to myself as cheap, but rather as fiscally responsible. Frugal is

another good way to describe my nature. I get a kick out of a good deal, especially when it comes to dining out. I’m not one who feels embarrassed when handing a coupon, savings certificate or dining club card to a server. I think of it this way – if the restaurant didn’t want me to use the discount, then why did it make the offer in the first place? Of course the restaurant wanted me to take advantage of the discount, and so I do. It’s that simple.

Hopefully, the thoughts that follow will help you pinch pennies and dine well, too. I’m going to explore the world of restaurant Web sites and the unending myriad of offers available to you through their use.

Taking first things first, I suggest you create a separate e-mail address totally dedicated to this endeavor, one that is above and beyond your personal mailbox that you most likely already have in place and use every day. Compartmentalize and organize your effort, that’s step one. Next, surf the Web for the restaurants of your

Pinch Pennies and Dine WellSign Up and Save!By Marlo Mason-Marie


choice and don’t be afraid to join their clubs. Your goal is to get your name and e-mail address on as many restaurant mailing lists as possible. Sign up and start saving immediately. Trust me when I say that you will be bombarded with e-mails offering one tasty deal after another. But that’s the name of the game.

To illustrate the benefits of this process, I placed myself on the e-lists of 10 notable chain eateries just prior to beginning this article. Here’s what happened within minutes of hitting the submit button.

The Melting Pot offered membership in Club Fondue. I joined and in a nanosecond received a printable certificate for a free Chocolate Fondue with the purchase of a combo dinner for two. I must admit to having never dined here, but now it’s time to take the dip.

Maggiano’s Little Italy made me a member of their e-mail family by sending a certificate for $10 off my next meal at their place. All I have to do to qualify is show up and dine.

T.G.I Friday’s followed up my enrollment in their Give Me More Stripes club with a double-deal. First I received an e-mail with a coupon touting a buy one entrée, get another entrée for $1 offer. I immediately recognized this as my opportunity to enjoy a New York Strip and Shrimp from their Jack Daniels Grill for a single dollar bill. A free appetizer coupon with no purchase necessary arrived separately.

Bravo! Cucina Italiana gladly sent me a free appetizer with entrée purchase when I joined Club Bravo! I’ll convert this bonus into a delicious Crispy Shrimp Napoli, valued in double-digits, when I drop in for dinner.

Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen sent me an e-mail offering a free appetizer with the purchase of two entrees. I’ll turn this into a Blackened Shrimp and Crawfish Fondeaux (fondue) in a New York minute. Its value is $13.95, but for me, it’s free.

Carino’s Italian didn’t even take 30 seconds before they welcomed me into their e-mail family with a half-price entrée offer. This kind of hospitality will save me $6 the next time I order Lemon Rosemary Chicken, my favorite dish on their menu.

Texas Land & Cattle Steak House welcomed me to The Club with a complimentary Texas Teaser valued at up to $7.99, with the purchase of an adult entrée, starting at $9.99 for dinner. For this $17.98 tab, my savings will be 44 percent. See me there.

Ruby Tuesday thanked me for joining their So Connected club with an immediate buy one entrée, get one entrée free offer. I think I will.

Houlihan’s invited me to have an appetizer on the house (no strings attached) after I signed up for their mailing list. I plan on cashing in on their kind offer by having Chipotle Chicken Nachos with homemade salsa, guacamole and sour cream, a $9.75 value. This membership also includes the services of Houlihan’s text club, known as Foody Calls,that offers couponing directly to your cell phone.

Romano’s Macaroni Grill calls their e-mail club the Mac Pack. When I joined, a complimentary $9 appetizer came my way right away. I’ll enjoy it with my next two entrées purchase.

These are just 10 examples of how you can save on quality dining by being proactive and noodling the net. And the truth is, this is but the tip of the iceberg lettuce. So many more restaurants offer these kinds of clubs and savings. Others I joined prior to this include P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Pei Wei Asian Diner, Outback Steakhouse, Landry’s Seafood House, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Zio’s Italian Kitchen, La Madeleine French Bakery & Café, Canyon Café and Pappasito’s Cantina.

Bigger-dollar eating establishments also use this kind of e-marketing to introduce you to their products and then to keep you as a patron. I won’t go through a never-ending list, but suggest you do research on your own. I guarantee you’ll be surprised at how much you can actually save by merely being informed of what’s available to you as a valued diner.

What I have suggested here is free. All the info you’ll need to sign up and save is at your fingertips. Once you’ve joined, the deals come to you. Saving money on restaurant dining is a very appetizing thought. Bon appetite!

Links to Websites of Restaurants Mentioned In This Articlewww.bravoitalian.comwww.canyoncafe.comwww.carinos.comwww.carrabbas.comwww.houlihans.comwww.lamadeleine.comwww.landrysseafoodhouse.comwww.macaronigrill.comwww.meltingpot.comwww.outback.comwww.pappadeaux.comwww.pappasitos.comwww.peiwei.comwww.pfchangs.comwww.rubytuesday.comwww.texaslandandcattle.comwww.tgifridays.comwww.zios.com




Miscellaneous72-91

Miscellaneous72-91


Patty Ortiz


Patty OrtizPatty Ortiz Comes Home to San Antonio and the Guadalupe Cultural Arts CenterBy Angela RabkePhoto courtesy Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center

T. he arts landscape in San Antonio is as diverse as the people who choose to live here. This is a city where people settle down…a place where people land when family and roots begin to be

a priority. They come from all walks of life: locals who have returned after years away, military families who value the quality of life here, those who are here for work and those who never left. All bring to San Antonio bits and pieces of the places they were before.

Patty Ortiz, the new executive director at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, is one who returned after years away. Her early education at Little Flower School, Providence and then Jefferson helped established roots in San Antonio and fed a love and talent for art. After receiving her bachelor’s degree at UT Austin, she completed her Master’s degree in Studio Art at UTSA.

This is when Ms. Ortiz took her knowledge to Denver, where she spent many years teaching at a university and growing and shaping arts programs in the area. Her unique ability to balance her perspective as a working artist with a strong business and fund-raising sensibility took her to positions at the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Museo de las Americas, where she succeeded in growing budgets and enhancing programming.

When a position at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center in San Antonio became available, Ortiz knew that the time was right to return to San Antonio. “My parents are here in San Antonio-they are in their eighties—this was a good opportunity to give back to the community where I was born and raised, and to be with my parents and experience their life after being away for such a long time.”



Because she grew up in San Antonio, Ortiz has been able to observe how the arts landscape has changed. When asked how it has evolved Ortiz says, “I was pleasantly surprised. ArtPace and Blue Star exist now, and there are other artist-driven spaces. There are many grass-rooted projects in the area, and I started remembering how artists here are such go-getters about initiating projects like that. It is excited to be involved in that realm again.”

Indeed, one of Ortiz’s goals for the Center is to work closely with other arts organizations to grow San Antonio’s whole arts environment. While the Guadalupe is located on and responds to the culture of the West Side of San Antonio, Ortiz hopes to bring the organization to a place of relevance on a broader level. “What sets the Guadalupe apart is that it is community-based. It was created to support the local community on the West Side and it carries that identity. Because of that, there are inherent qualities to the art. It is Chicano art: it has a definite feeling—quick and multilayered. I would like to create programs that mirror that aesthetic and make it more accessible to the community at large.”

With its multidisciplinary approach, (dance, literature, media arts, theater arts, visual arts and Xicano music) the Guadalupe does offer appealing options for everyone. “Many things will happen to reconnect the organization with the community, and what is great is that everyone wants for it to succeed. I am looking at many aspects of the center right now— from how the infrastructure works, to the building of new resources, to programming. We have tremendous assets and our programming needs to be innovative—bringing us into the 21st century by keeping rooted programs in place that support the community as well as presenting some brilliant new mixed programming.”

Inherent in Ortiz’s ideas about the future is the concept of discussion and dialogue with others. “I want to lend all of the ideas from the West side of San Antonio to everything we do, but make it relevant on a global level by encouraging national and international artists to visit, and creating dialogue between those artists and our local artists.”

From May 5-9, the Guadalupe will present the Tejano Conjunto Festival, an event that Ortiz believes is worth visiting. “This is the event that I always came back for—if you want to get a sense of the scene-the real flavor of San Antonio’s music, this is the place to be.”

To learn more about the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, log onto their website at www.guadalupeculturalarts.org.

“What sets the Guadalupe apart is that it is community-based. It was created to support the local community on the West Side and it carries that identity. Because of that, there are inherent quali-ties to the art. It is Chicano art: it has a definite feeling—quick and multilayered. I would like to create programs that mirror that aesthetic and make it more acces-sible to the community at large.”Patty Ortiz executive directorGuadalupe Cultural Arts Center



Poet, Publisher and Renaissance ManStory and Photo by Jasmina Wellinghoff

ryce Milligan is a true renaissance man. A poet, fic-tion writer, publisher, songwriter, instrument build-er, sculptor and carpenter, he also has been at vari-ous times a book critic, arts administrator, editor,

poet-in-the schools, teacher and designer. He is one of those rare souls in today’s world who will pursue an intel-lectual interest for the sheer pleasure and challenge that it represents. Easily one of the finest poets in Texas, or anywhere for that matter, Milligan has authored five col-lections of poetry, four historical novels for young adults, several children’s books and hundreds of essays, reviews and articles. Since 1995, Milligan also has been the owner/editor of Wings Press, the only San Antonio-based independent

publishing firm that Bloomsbury Review called “the best little publishing house in Texas.”

JW: Is it difficult to juggle so many different hats or do you find it stimulating?

BM: It’s stimulating. I’ve always had multiple projects go-ing on at the same time. One tends to stimulate the other. I am always making something, whether it’s something that is traditionally considered art or carpentry, for in-stance. And you know, the original meaning of the word “poet” is “maker,” so that’s what I am. But I think of myself primarily as a poet. Poetry requires the greatest effort. Some of my poems go through 100 drafts.


Book Talk:

May-June 2009 | On The Town 77May-June 2009 | On The Town 77

JW: Can you remember your first poem(s)?

BM: I was in first or second grade, and I used to listen to my transistor radio at night. The New York folk revival was on, and I got all these songs in my head, and I would rewrite the lyrics. I remember walking to school making up lyrics to the songs I had heard in the middle of the night. But I was in seventh grade when I wrote my first real poem after we had moved to a neighborhood with no trees. I had grown up with big pecan and sycamore trees, and I was missing them. So I was sitting on the roof one day – somehow that elevation was always important to me -- and I began to write a poem about a Roman cen-turion sitting on the Hadrian’s Wall listening to the echoes of the empire falling… History has always inspired me.

JW: What usually moves you to start a poem?

BM: I thought about that a lot, because if you could do it artificially, it would be great. Then you could say, OK, I’ll write a poem today. Being a muse poet, I have to rely on inspiration. I certainly write every day but I can’t say that I write poetry every day. Generally, a poem starts with a phrase or an observation; occasionally a sheer idea. Some-times, it’s a place or a person. (He picks up his collection “Lost and Certain of It” and points out the inspiration be-hind several poems.) It comes from many sources.

JW: How is poetic expression different from prose writing?

BM: I would think it’s the quality of the language, the use of metaphor and symbolism to make the language carry as much meaning as it can, to convey an idea or an image in the most powerful manner. It’s really about intensity. You have to boil it down to that essential kernel.

JW: Many people feel that contemporary poetry is in-timidating and inaccessible. Could you suggest some poets that non-poetry readers may enjoy?

BM: It’s not a surprise that the most popular poets are both intelligent and accessible. Accessibility is not a neg-ative. Take, for instance, Naomi Shihab Nye, who is just dynamite in picking up imagery from life around her and imbuing it with symbolism. She’s a wonderfully accessible poet. James Hoggard, the former poet laureate of Texas, is another. Pamela Uschuk is a sensual writer whose work is nature based. Ed Hirsch, who writes about relationships and feelings, you could call him the John Cheever of po-etry; and Donald Hall, the poet of grief. My own shorter poems are quite accessible.

JW: Let’s talk about your publishing business. The lit-erary world is grateful to small presses such as Wings Press for publishing titles that large commercial out-fits often ignore. How would you describe Wings Press’ mission?

BM: We produce multicultural books, chapbooks, CDs and DVDs that I hope will enlighten the human spirit and enliven the mind. It so happens that 60 percent of our authors are women and of those, 80 percent are Latinas. I edited two major anthologies of work by Latinas, so I knew the field.

JW: How many submissions do you get and how do you make your selections?

BM: We get about 50 a week. As for how manuscripts are selected, I publish what I like. I like Native American, Chi-cano and other ethnic literature; also ecologically-mind-ed literature. I like detail and authors who really know the culture they are writing about, and I am a stickler for grammar where it counts. We also publish experimental stuff and a lot of translations. I like to deal with other cul-tures, as you can see - not that we don’t do mainstream American stuff because we do that, too.

JW: What’s the hard part?

BM: The greatest challenge is the nitty-gritty business of getting the books into people’s hands. As a small publish-er, you are fighting against huge conglomerates to get your books on the bookshelves, to get them reviewed, promoted… We recently did $15,000 worth of advertis-ing in Publisher’s Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist and other publications, and I believe the sales we saw in Janu-ary and February are the result of that. But it’s a very thin profit line. I’ve never been able to pay myself a salary. I live on the cash flow. This year I am making the transition to a non-profit status. Given the economy and the e-book challenge, this transition is critical. But I do have a dis-tributor in Chicago who has been handling distribution for us. This year, I also have to switch 100 titles to e-book format. It may be the future market. There are already 1 million e-books out there but so far that trend has not af-fected new titles.

JW: What advice would you give to an aspiring poet?

BM: Read! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------Some of Mr. Milligan’s comments have been slightly edited for reasons of space.



Joffrey Ballet Workshop TexasCo-Directed by Buddy and Susan Treviño for 31 YearsBy Julie Catalano

S ome teachers are born. Some are made. And some meet and marry each other and teach happily ever after. Fortunately for thousands of ballet students, Buddy and Susan Treviño have carried on a lifelong

pas de deux that started 34 years ago when they met while dancing with Austin Ballet Theatre. Since then, as master teachers they have guided countless dancers of all ages through innumerable steps, whether their students viewed dance as a hobby or set their sights on a professional career.

For 31 of those years, the hard-working couple has co-directed the prestigious Joffrey Ballet Workshop Texas, gathering aspiring dancers from across the country

during an annual audition tour where 75 students are handpicked out of hundreds of hopefuls. For three intense weeks – this year from June 27 to July 18 – young dancers ages 11 to 21 attend classes and rehearsals 12 hours a day, six days a week, studying disciplines in everything from ballet to character to music with a stellar faculty. The immersion training – the brainchild of legendary director and choreographer Robert Joffrey who conducted the workshop until his death in 1988 – culminates in a public workshop performance on July 18.

Most people would have been content with the success of the Joffrey Workshop, which relocated from its original home at the University of the Incarnate Word



to St. Mary’s University in 2004. Not the Treviños, who constantly look for fresh venues to share their love of dance with new generations.

One of those is the Elite Ecole, a 10-day summer intensive from July 22 to Aug. 1 that follows on the heels of the Joffrey workshop. A separate workshop, says Buddy, was prompted by “having to turn away so many students on the audition tour, kids who were underprepared for the Joffrey but had a lot of potential.”

Susan describes it as “a prep program. The students are very motivated, and the caliber of students has risen every year.” So has the number – from 18 in 2005 to 60 last year. The Elite Ecole follows the same 9-to-9 schedule and the same curriculum as the Joffrey – ballet, pointe, contemporary, character, music, dance appreciation and evening rehearsals for the “informance” the students present, this year on Aug. 1. “We have a formula that works,” explains Buddy, adding, “If they can handle 10 days, they are better prepared for 21.”

This year brought a pleasant surprise in a field where the females far outnumber the males. So far, says Buddy, the Elite has more boys signed up than the Joffrey. “They’re half the size,” he says, laughing. “But they’re boys!”

It all makes for a family atmosphere that you can tell the couple thrives on. Both say they never tire of teaching and consider their students an extended family. “The energy and enthusiasm of these young people are what inspires me,” says Buddy. Adds Susan: “We get to do a job we love, and how many people can say that?”

The Joffrey Workshop PerformanceSaturday, July 18, 2 p.m.Bill Greehey Arena, St. Mary’s University

The Elite Ecole InformanceSaturday, Aug. 1, 10 a.m.Chapel, St. Mary’s University

The Joffrey Workshop Musicians ConcertThursday, July 2, 7:30 p.m.Treadaway Hall, St. Mary’s University

For more information, visit www.thejoffreyworkshoptx.com or call 210-744-1272.

Photo InformationPage 78 - Susan and Buddy TrevinoPhoto by Suzanne FrenchPages 79-80 - All photos courtesy of Joffrey BalletWorkshop Texas80 On The Town | May-June 2009



As a busy mom of three kids and the wife of a military officer, Mary Carriker never may have contemplated a career in golf. But in nurturing her own kids’ love of the game, she launched a 20-year (and still counting) career that has touched the lives of men, women and children throughout San Antonio and South Texas who share her passion for the sport. Mary was a stay-at-home mom who always was involved in the activities of her three children, Kellie, Holly and Ben. At the ages of 10 and 13, Mary’s daughters showed an interest in competitive golf. And as any mom would do, Mary supported their interest and became very actively involved in developing their talent for the sport. Although many instructional books have been written about playing the game and lowering your score, there was very little information available on how to navigate the world of junior golf. So Mary and her children had to figure things out as they went.

In 1989, while living in California, Mary gave up the life of a stay-at-home and full-time junior golf mom to take her first paying job in golf. She became the assistant manager at an executive golf course. Her time in California was short-lived, as she and her husband Keith moved the family back

to San Antonio, where Mary continued her golf career as a golf shop manager; which led her down a path that eventually arrived at the doorstep of Golf San Antonio.

In 1990, Mary was introduced to the world of the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) through daughter Holly, who exhibited a real talent for the sport. Not one to just hang around the clubhouse, Mary became active with the AJGA and soon was asked to be the tournament chairman for a new AJGA tournament in San Antonio. The tournament, now known as the Valero Texas Open Junior Shootout, remains one of the top events on the AJGA calendar after 19 years, and Mary is still the tournament chairman.

Her experience as a junior golf mom and AJGA tournament chairman made her well equipped to offer guidance in the mid-‘90s to the new team at Golf San Antonio; which was looking for a way to unite San Antonio’s varied junior and amateur golf events and programs. Mary was quick with her advice, but Golf San Antonio was a bit slow to implement her ideas because of their focus on securing the long-term future of the Texas Open.

Accolades:Mary CarrikerChampioning the Cause of Amateur Golf and the First TeeBy Tony Piazzi



When Valero Energy Corp. signed a long-term agreement in 2002 to become title sponsor of the Valero Texas Open, Golf San Antonio was now in a position to turn its attention to the world of junior and amateur golf. And Mary Carriker was ready to lead the charge. Hired by Golf San Antonio’s CEO, Tony Piazzi, Mary Carriker set about the task of reinvigorating San Antonio’s amateur golf schedule, and she spearheaded GSA’s efforts to launch a new program called the First Tee, a national youth outreach effort created by the PGA TOUR and golf’s other major governing bodies. The goal was to teach life skills to children through golf, while making the sport accessible to a broader segment of the community. As GSA’s director of the First Tee and Amateur Golf, Mary has made a lasting mark on the golf landscape in San Antonio. She has expanded the amateur schedule to include more events for seniors, juniors and women, and introduced the values of the game to more than 3,500 children through the First Tee of San Antonio. She is also helping to change the landscape of Brackenridge Park; assisting in overseeing construction of a new 6,600-square-foot learning center.

Mary’s contributions have been recognized by the AJGA, which awarded her its coveted Digger Smith Award for outstanding service. She also received the Betty Dodd Award for her contributions to junior golf in San Antonio. In 2008, she was inducted into the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame and received the Southern Texas PGA’s Special Service Award.

What started out as a mom’s desire to nurture her children has flowered into a vocation and avocation devoted to bringing the joy of the game of golf to thousands. And for all the accolades Mary has received, she is perhaps happiest being known as Kellie, Holly and Ben’s mom.

Photo of Mary Carriker courtesy of Golf San Antonio



It’s that time of year again—time to head to “Fred.” Yes, that’s what some locals call Freder-icksburg—everyone’s favorite little Texas Hill Country town. But why now? Because the last

bit of a springtime breeze still wafts through the air, and summer’s nearly here, so there’s no better time for a Hill Country road trip. Combining quiet charm and exciting entertainment op-tions, Fredericksburg (population, approximately 9,000) offers visitors more fun than most major cities. There’s no shortage of choices when it comes to fine dining, fabulous attractions, great lodging and boutique shopping. Besides, there’s nothing like a Sunday drive in the Texas hills. Fredericksburg has long been a favorite of San Antonians, for it takes little more than an hour to get there, and the flavor of this old German settlement and the barbecue-

basics of the whole Hill Country scene are as refreshing as iced tea on a hot afternoon. Even if you’ve been there a thousand times before, late spring in Fredericksburg is worth another visit.

Because Fredericksburg is such an easy weekend getaway destination, it is home to hundreds of bed and breakfast inns, country houses, cabins, “Sunday Haus” stays and more, and each offers a unique experience for visitors. An unusual and enchanting place to stay is the Trois Es-tate at Enchanted Rock, a Santa Fe-meets-Mayan-style village just 16 miles outside of town on the way to the famous batholith, Enchanted Rock. The estate is a hid-den treasure and is home to a fine restaurant, a wedding chapel, a highly unusual underground grotto/swimming pool, a full-service spa, several shops, a saloon/theater venue, special event salons, a well-stocked wine cellar,

Fredericksburg, Texas Visiting a Favorite Hill Country Town Story and Photos By Carolyn Williams



comfortable private lodgings, quiet courtyards, sunset-watching spots and even a nifty cap-gun museum hous-ing the largest cap-gun collection in the world. While you’re there, spend the cool morning hours climb-ing Enchanted Rock. This is a good hike for the whole family, as it is just challenging enough to be fun, yet easy enough that even youngsters can do it. Enchanted Rock is a National Natural Landmark and a State Natural Area consisting of 1,644 acres on Big Sandy Creek, about 16 miles north of Fredericksburg. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, “Tonkawa Indians be-lieved ghost fires flickered at the top, and they heard weird creaking and groaning, which geologists now say resulted from the rock’s heating by day and contracting in the cool night.” Centuries later, the rock still is a place with a sense of mystery and fascination for many.

Another place with a special allure is Settler’s Crossing, a 35-acre estate with seven private historic guesthouses featuring fireplaces and 18th and 19th-century country antiques. Just minutes from Fredericksburg off Highway 290 on Ranch Road 1376, Settler’s Crossing is on the road to Luckenbach, the one-horse town that Hondo Crouch bought and Willie, Waylon and the boys made famous with a hit country song in the 1970s. Fredericksburg is probably best known for three things: German food, superb shops and wildflowers, and you’ll find plenty of each this spring. Main Street is lined with an eclectic mix of shops, biergartens, bakeries and more. There are two wine bars, cigar shops, workshops of local crafts people, wine-tasting rooms, art galleries, antique stores, candy and fudge shops, coffee houses and more. One special find is Chocolat, home to the delicate cre-ations of chocolatier Lecia Duke, who went to Switzerland



to learn the fine art of making liquor-filled chocolates.Another popular morning stop is the old Dietz Bakery. But don’t sleep in: The bread they make each morning, and most everything else, sells out by about 9 a.m. Fredericksburg and the nearby town of Stonewall are also known for the fabulous fresh peaches grown there and sold at roadside stands beginning in May and into the summer.

The Admiral Nimitz National Museum of the Pacific War, the Pioneer Museum, the Vereins Kirche Museum, Gish’s Old West Museum, the Trois Cap-gun Museum and the Fort Martin Scott Historic Site are just a few of the many interesting and educational offerings in Fredericksburg. Of course, Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park in the nearby town of Johnson City is also not to be missed.

So many sausages, so little time: With just a weekend to stay in Fredericksburg, one often finds that there just aren’t enough meals in the day to enjoy all of its great res-taurants. Because the German fare found here is divine, Der Lindenbaum restaurant is always a good choice for a traditional meal of Wiener schnitzel, red cabbage, hot German potato salad and cucumber salad. The desserts are exceptional, too. For a rather sweet start or end to your shopping day, stop in the Rather Sweet Bakery.

For years, the Hill Country has been home to the “wine trail” with a string of wineries along the highways and byways of Gillespie County and beyond. With wineries scattered across the countryside like wildflowers in the hills, and with many offering tours, wine-tasting events and overnight lodgings, the Hill Country is a hot destina-tion for oenophiles (wine lovers). It’s also a prime place for those who love the sweet fragrance of lavender. The Lavender Trail comprises about 10 separate lavender farms throughout the Texas Hill Country, with several call-ing the Fredericksburg area home. Because the Texas Hill Country soil is good for growing grapes and fields of lav-ender, just as it is in Provence, lavender farms and winer-ies have found success and popularity with visitors. Buy lavender products such as sachets, soaps, laundry liquid, potpourri and more, or take the children and cut your own lavender fresh from the fields. Many come to take photos, just as they do in the fields of bluebonnets in the spring.Take a special tour of the lavender farms during Fred-ericksburg’s Lavender Fest and “Lavender Trail: Farm to Table,” which takes place in May. The trail continues with events and open houses through the end of June. One of our favorite stops is Becker Vineyard, just a few miles outside of town, as it provides the perfect one-stop spot for tasting some of the finest award-winning wines in the Texas Hill Country and seeing some the most beautiful lavender. Becker’s 10,040-square-foot winery 86 On The Town | May-June 2009


is located in a reproduction 19th-century German stone barn and surrounded by grazing quarter horses, peach orchards, fields of native wildflowers and lavender.

Another popular stop is at Wildseed Farms, seven miles outside Fredericksburg on Highway 290. There, beautiful fields of flowers in bloom each spring provide a perfect backdrop for family photographs. Wildseed Farms often of-fers other family-friendly events throughout the year, like a gourmet chili pepper and salsa festival in the summer.

Whether it is the mild spring breezes that bring you back, the great food, fun museums and shopping, the fabulous guest houses or the friendly people there, something al-ways draws Sunday drivers to the Texas Hill Country. So do it: Head to Fred. It’s always a great place to go.

Links to Fredericksburg lodging, dining and attractions mentioned in this article:

Admiral Nimitz Museum and Historic Site -National Museum of the Pacific Warwww.nimitz-museum.org

Annual Lavender Fest – Lavender Trailwww.hill-country-visitor.com

Austin Street Retreatwww.austinstreetretreat.com

Becker VineyardsWinery, Lavender Field, and Bed and Breakfast Innwww.beckervineyards.com

Chocolat – Quintessential Chocolate Companywww.chocolat-tx.us

Der Lindenbaumwww.derlindenbaum.com

Enchanted Rock State Natural Areawww.tpwd.state.tx.us

Harvest Trail & Texas H ill Country Wine Trailwww.texaswinetrail.com

Luckenbach, Texas www.luckenbachtexas.com

Rather Sweet Bakery and Caféwww.rathersweet.com

Settler’s Crossingwww.settlerscrossing.com

Trois Estate at Enchanted Rockwww.troisestate.net

Wildflower Seed Farmwww.wildseedfarm.com

Photo InformationPage 84 – Enchanted RockPage 85 (Above) Lavender Shop (Below) Settler’s CrossingPage 86 (Above) Trois Estate(Below) Der Lindenbaum Restaurant May-June 2009 | On The Town 87


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May/June 2009 Issue