The defense does not rest
Houston’s Mitchell Katine defended two Texas men before the U.S. Supreme Court in Lawrence v. Texas. The Court’s historic decision overturned all states’ anti-sodomy laws. On behalf of his clients, lawyer Mitchell Katine fought Texas’ anti-sodomy laws – and won. But much remains to be done for gay rights. As a lawyer for more than…
Total eclipse
Guadalupe García (lower left) copies a to-go order as her family business bustles around her. Guadalupe, along with husband Ruben, have owned the popular neighborhood eatery for almost 26 years. (Photo by Mark Greenberg) Blue Moon Café serves the best in Tex-Mex For many San Antonians who live south of the corn tortilla curtain, the…
Sound and the Fury
A week on the scene Sound sanctuary Unquestionably the brightest news for the SA club scene in recent months has been the emergence of the Sanctuary at the Main Street spot that used to be Communion. On Friday, September 24, Sanctuary hosted an outstanding underground-rock showcase led by Elektra newcomers The Format and Western Tread…
One blood
Lila Downs — Una Sangre Lila Downs links the worlds of the Americas by reclaiming her cultural roots Singer-songwriter Lila Downs realizes that her name might cause some confusion amongst Latinos. “It’s kind of difficult to explain that I’m a half-breed,” this daughter of a Mixtec Indian and Scottish American says. She grew up in…
Taking it to the streets
Trinity professor and author Char Miller stands in front of the skyline that continues to inspire his investigations into culture, economy, and environment in South Texas. (Photo by Mark Greenberg) Char Miller’s blend of academics and activism finds the perfect vehicle Char Miller is a dangerous man. Probably the most dangerous professor in town, which…
Lions in winter
Tenor sax master James Moody Bebop pioneers unite for one remarkable night When you ask Gerry Gibbs for a poignant anecdote about his father, legendary jazz vibraphonist and drummer Terry Gibbs, he’s quick with a response. “He owes me $2.12,” cracks Gibbs, one of San Antonio’s best jazz drummers and the weekly host of Jazz…
The bark is (a little) bigger than the bite
Wade Young plays the tragic Prior Walter who is dying of AIDS in Reagan’s America, and Brad Young portrays his overwhelmed lover Louis in the San Pedro Playhouse production of Tony Kushner’s Broadway and HBO hit Angels in America. (Photo by Mark Greenberg) SPP’s ‘Angels’ is heavier on emotion than political commentary, but it still…
Miracle man
Costello’s latest blends the South’s white and black musical traditions When we last caught up with Elvis Costello, he had issued North, easily the lamest album of his long, prolific career. Costello’s output has been erratic and excessively fussy for a good 15 years now, but with just enough odd strokes of genius (“London’s Brilliant…
It’s new, but tried and true
Three-quarters of the graceful and surefooted cast that bring the premiere of William Jack Sibley’s If You Loved Me to life at the Cameo Theatre. You might not know ‘If You Loved Me’ but the characters will make you feel right at home Not too long ago, I overheard some theater patrons complaining about a…
Blackjack Dave
Dave Alvin Dave Alvin returns to Casbeers When the Blasters blasted out of Downey, California (home of the Carpenters!) in the early ’80s, they launched a movement much bigger than their own modest record sales would suggest. They weren’t the first band of their era to celebrate American roots music. Rockpile, among others, had been…
In the round
News and notes from the San Antonio theater scene Ghosts It’s that time of year again. No, not last month’s “that time of year” – while September is the beginning of the theater season, October is the beginning of what is, essentially, “Month of the Dead” here in SA. The folks at the Guadalupe Cultural…
A long row to hoe
Two books document a pivotal civil rights struggle and new challenges for Latinos The migrant workers that paraded through Maurice Jourdane’s law office brought unending accounts of discrimination and legal troubles: Their children spoke no English and had been labeled as retarded and placed in special education classes; families had been swindled out of thousands…
Past as prologue
Going Upriver revisits John Kerry’s two defining roles, as an awarded captain of a Swift Boat crew in the Mekong Delta in 1968, and as the eloquent spokesperson for Veterans Against the Vietnam War whose historic sit-in at the capital helped end the conflict. ‘Going Upriver’ tells us as much about ourselves as it does…
Remote control
The media moguls loosen their grip on local affiliates while the big three loosen their grip on morality The Parents Television Council didn’t have long to enjoy its jubilation over the $550,000 fine the Federal Communications Commission levied on CBS for Janet Jackson’s briefly bared breast (but clad nipple) at the Super Bowl last winter.…
Waugh is us
It may be rive gauche or moral rigor mortis that fixes the smiles on the faces of these Bright Young Things, the progeny of British satirist Evelyn Waugh and filmmaker Stephen Fry. ‘Bright Young Things’ is a timeless tale of self-deception and dissolution When Adam Symes (Moore) returns to England from a sojourn on the…
Through a glass darkly
Dominic West and Julianne Moore portray parents who have lost their children twice, once to a mysterious accident and a second time through memory manipulation in a dark allegory of post 9-11 America. ‘The Forgotten’ spins an allegory of our collective memory’s manipulation The Forgotten is a celebration of maternal love, the story of one…
Special screenings
Coincidence and irony: “Little Shop of Horrors” and the Human Rights Watch Traveling Film Festival Make it a GLBT, no cheese The Diversity Center is seeking submissions for In the Limelight, their First Annual LBGT International Film Festival, scheduled for the week of Fiesta, April 14-17, 2005. Original films and videos “by, about, or of…
Armchair Cinephile
Hitchcock’s far side Every movie lover thinks he knows Alfred Hitchcock, but ask most fans to list his films, and you’ll get only the tip of a blood-soaked iceberg: Psycho, Vertigo, North by Northwest, and a couple others. A minority will know the work he did in England; a slightly larger group will have seen…
A highway phoenix
Five-year-old Aaron Tieken (center) dons a UPS store box as he parades down Austin Highway with his mother Patricia (right) and UPS Store employees during the recent celebration of the Austin Highway revitalization project. (Photo by Mark Greenberg) Once a grand boulevard, Austin Highway decayed. Now a group of devoted residents is trying to redeem…
Customs and custom
Cebu, which specializes in Filipino food, only takes 10 reservations each night. The restaurant has become so popular that there is a waiting list. (Photo by Laura McKenzie) It’s work to get into Cebu, but the reward is sensational Philippine fare Cebu is an island smack in the middle of the Philippine archipelago; most of…
All You Can Eat
News and notes from the San Antonio food scene Idyllic milk, a new deli, and donuts Thomas More meets H-E-B: To appeal to milk drinkers who are averse to carbohydrates and lactose, the San Antonio-based grocery chain is introducing Mootopia, a low-carb, lactose-free milk. Compared to traditional whole milk, Mootopia has 60 percent less sugar,…
