One report with many conclusions
A larger than life photo by Hector Falcon raises the lines, actual and metaphorical, that permeate Mexican Report, a survey of 55 contemporary Mexican artists’ work on display at the Instituto de México and Blue Star. (Photos by Mark Greenberg) One report with many conclusions By Elaine Wolff Blue Star and the Instituto’s survey of…
Blood pact
Blood pact By Alejandro Pérez At first, it appears that Pacto de Sangre, the new disc from working-class legends Los Tigres del Norte, is going to stick to their tried-and-true formula. There’s the mix of rancheras, cumbias, waltzes, and baladas that fans who have followed the group for more than three decades have come to…
Movies on a deadline
Scott Greenberg (R) stands behind Kevin Sloan at the camera. The two are the founding partners of the Short Ends Project, which hones wannabe filmmakers’ skills with shoestring budgets, arbitrary demands, and tight deadlines. Movies on a deadline By John DeFore Local filmmakers’ collective makes a game of cinema Hey, you — yeah, you. Pick…
Rocky’s road
Rocky Votolato Rocky’s road Rocky Votolato is that rare singer-songwriter able to convey sensitivity without slipping into sentimentality. Maybe it’s because Votolato, unlike many confessional folkies, is rooted in punk and indie-rock, and brings the same uncompromising grit to his solo work. A Texas native who currently lives in the Seattle area, Votolato formed the…
More love for your sub box
Mark Ramsey and John Minton, co-owners of Atomic Comics & Gaming, stand next to custom-painted gaming tables in thier new store in the former Broadway Bank building in Alamo Heights. The two were working recently to prepare the store for its grand opening. (Photo by Mark Greenberg) More love for your sub box By Laurie…
Word on the Street
Word on the Street News and notes from the San Antonio Literary scene Fond farewell San Antonio’s literary, lesbian, and Latina communities are mourning the loss of Gloria Anzaldua, who passed away on May 13 at age 61. Anzaldua, a poet, theorist, essayist, and storyteller, is best known for her 1987 bilingual collection Borderlands/La Frontera:…
All Ears
All Ears By John DeFore Dynamic Duos Although you wouldn’t know it from some recent responses to the White Stripes and Black Keys, the two-person rock band is not a new phenomenon. Rhino Handmade has just released proof in the form of two reissues from L.A.’s House of Freaks, a guitar-and-drum duo who were famous…
Life in the fast food lane
Director and subject Morgan Spurlock confronts the antagonist of Super Size Me, which documents Spurlock’s decline from healthy, active man to ill, bloated, Big Mac-eatin’ couch potato. Life in the fast food lane By Steven G. Kellman ‘Super Size Me’ takes the comfort out of comfort food Ballooning 60 pounds to play former boxer Jake…
Lost at sea
Tilda Swinton and Ewan McGregor engage in close-quarters adultery in Young Adam, based on the Scottish Beat writer Alexander Trocchi’s novel of the same name. Lost at sea By Elaine Wolff The protagonist of ‘Young Adam’ is a rebel without a moral compass When we first lay eyes on the charismatic young Joe Taylor (McGregor),…
New Review
Jonathan Tucker plays a prep school bad boy who learns manhood at Val Kilmer’s hands, enabling him to love a schizophrenic pop star when he’s Stateside. New Review By Laura Fries Billed as “boy in flak jacket meets girl in strait jacket,” Stateside is actually the tale of how a whopping dose of militarism, loopy…
Armchair Cinephile
Armchair Cinephile John DeFore on DVD Victory in the home theater The 60th anniversary of D-Day is just over a week away and, intentionally or not, the DVD world is capitalizing on it with a blitzkrieg of new World War II titles. The splashiest new releases are souped-up versions of movies that have been in…
Special Screenings
Special Screenings By John DeFore His Girl Friday In most cases, movies based on theatrical productions are supposed to be a little ashamed of their origins. Like an aging bachelor applying Grecian formula to graying hair, filmmakers invent ways to move the action into new locations – moving chunks of dialogue from drawing-rooms to busy…
Recent Reviews
Bon Voyage Dir. Jean-Paul Rappeneau; writ. Gilles Marchand, from a novel by Patrick Modiano; feat. Isabelle Adjani, Gerard`acute accent over e` Depardieu, Virginie Ledoyen, Yvan Attal, Gregori`acute accent over first e`Derangere,`grave accent over next-to-last e` Peter Coyote (PG-13) In 1940, following the “phony war” in which the French military stood serenely behind what it assumed…
Burger boredom
Burger Tex’ bulkogi burger – marinated strips of beef based on the Korean staple of similar name, served on a toasted wheat bun with french fries and onion rings.(Photo by Mark Greenberg) Burger boredom By Ron Bechtol Burger Tex is a downtown disappointment It’s ironic that the expectant, and long-vacant, space on Houston Street between…
Rum punch
Rum Punch By Lisa Sorg A Texas-Bacardi connection takes a twist To make a mojito Washington-style, take two ounces of light Bacardi rum, a whole load of political action committee funds, a quarter’s worth of campaign finance reports, and several hundred-dollar bills. Squeeze PAC funds into a chilled, 10-ounce Congressional coffer, add the campaign finance…
Parsley, salt, red pepper, and time
Caterer Joan Wood, of La Cucina Cooking School & Catering in Austin, shares stories of Turkey as Susan Sellers, a Central Market Chef, fries cigra borek, filo rolls stuffed with feta cheese and parsley. (Photos by Laura McKenzie) Parsley, salt, red pepper, and time By Laura Fries Adventuress Joan Wood shares secrets of Turkish cuisine…
Picket fences
Members of the Communications Workers of America picket in front of SBC’s downtown San Antonio headquarters during the four-day strike. (Photo by Mark Greenberg) Picket fences By Lisa Sorg Two sides of one strike At noon last Saturday, a man and his three children set up lawn chairs and a cooler in front of SBC’s…
Beer, wine & chili
Beer, wine & chili Italian beer tasting An Italian beer tasting with appetizers will be held Friday, May 28 from 6-8pm at Massimo Ristorante e Bar. Giullo, Gali, Dufour & Company, hosting the event, will introduce MENABREA, a new beer. $2 per person. Info: 342-8556, www.massimo-sa.com. Chisholm trail wineries Chisolm Trail Wineries will hold their…
Spiritual warriors
Macedonia Baptist Choir: 90 voices arranged by Gary Givens, extreme left Spiritual warriors By Gilbert Garcia Macedonia Baptist Choir sets the standard for local gospel Sylvia St. James devotes her life to scouting gospel-music talent. As the national director for House of Blues’ Gospel Brunch series, she has launched weekly showcases in Myrtle Beach, Orlando,…
Sound and the Fury
Charlie Wood Sound and the Fury a week on the scene Wood Cuts The local jazz scene, bolstered in recent months by the emergence of Luna Fine Music Club, should get another boost with the opening of the Jazz Annex, at 7920 Fredericksburg (at the intersection of Fredericksburg and Medical). Christening this intimate new venue…
Making the banned
Making the banned By Gilbert Garcia Peter Blecha’s new book exposes the bizarre history of musical censorship Congress mulls legislation to curb media indecency, radio conglomerates ban classic-rock warhorses, the Federal Communications Commission tries to muzzle Howard Stern, and self-appointed moral watchdogs can’t stop barking about a blink-you-missed-it glimpse of Janet Jackson’s exposed breast on…
