10 Free Events Happening This Week

Literature: Christine Warren’s Honky Tonk Debutante 5 – 7 p.m., Tues, May 20 

Southern author Christine Warren will sign copies and read from her new book, Honky Tonk Debutante. A collection of memoir-style anecdotes, Honky Tonk Debutante is the story of Warren’s passion for the genre. This love letter of sorts  features stories of the biggest names in honkey tonk including Jimmie Rodgers, Bob Wills, Ernest Tubb, Hank Williams, Webb Pierce, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn and Willie Nelson. Warren combines the poignant side of country music with her bold sense of humor into an imaginative book full of personality.

Read an excerpt here: A Fairly Useful Foreword

Location: The Twig Bookshop, 306 Pearl Pkwy, Ste 106

Music: Havana Hi-Fi 7 – 10 p.m., Tues, May 20

Ocho at Havana Hotel is stepping up with Downtown Tuesday. Havana Hi-Fi features a rotating cast of DJ’s with a penchant for  psychedelic soul, funk and Afro-Latin sounds.

Location: Ocho at Havana Hotel, 1015 Navarro St

Literature: Alex London’s Guardian 5 – 7 p.m., Wed, May 21

Science fiction author Alex London will introduce the sequel to his book Proxy. London, once a full-time journalist covering conflict-zones and refugee camps is now a full time novelist in Brooklyn. His latest book, Guardian is an adrenaline filled science fiction, Intertwining corrupt authorities, with romance makes this book a heart-stopping page-turner that appeals to young adults, like Raeleen. Watch her enthusiastic review.

Location: The Twig Bookshop, 306 Pearl Parkway, Ste 106

Special Event: Paseo de los Muertos 6:30 p.m., Wed, May 21

Paseo de los Muertos is a silent bike ride in reverence to those that have been injured or died in a biking accident. The ride will start at 6:30 at Halcyon Southtown and pass through the 12 miles on he Mission Trail. This event intends to raise awareness of road safety for bike riders as well as drivers. Black bands will be given to all riders. The national event/rally will be followed by a candle lighting ceremony. Candles will be available for purchase for $2. All proceeds will be donated to the Silent Ride.

Location: Halcyon Southtown, 1414 S. Alamo

Art: McNay featuring Robert Indiana 4 – 9 p.m., Thurs, May 22

These are the final days of the McNay’s showing of Robert Indiana: Beyond LOVE and its two companion exhibitions, Robert Indiana’s Hartley Elegies and Robert Indiana: The Mother of Us All.  Showcasing Robert Indiana’s exhibition of cut-paper scene and scene designs and six felt costumes for “The Mother of Us All,” Gertrude Stein and Virgil Thomson’s original American opera inspired by the life of Susan B. Anthony. Take advantage of the free admission on Thursday nights as this is the closing week of Robert Indiana’s exhibit. Read the Sarah Fisch’s review here.

Location: McNay Art Museum, 6000 N. New Braunfels Ave.

Event: San Antonio Music and Media Mixer 6 – 9 p.m., Thurs, May 22

Celebrating Local Music Week (May 18 -24), Local 782 will has organized an all-age social networking mixer with anyone who has affiliation with the music community, especially musicians. Local media professionals that work in the music community will be speaking this year. Speakers include, San Antonio Express News Music Editor, Lorne Chan, the Current’s  Music Editor, Matt Stieb, 91.7fm KRTU’s Jeanette Muniz, Flyer.fm founder, Chris Tollinger and M.U.S.I.C. Project Executive Director, Tim Slusher. This event is a great way to stimulate and support local music in our community by networking with other like-minded musicians, media, promoters and more.

Location: High Wire Arts, 326 W. Josephine

Lone Star Live Summer Concert Series 7 – 10 p.m., Thur, May 22

The Lone Star Live Summer Concert Series (sponsored in part by the Current) is a free, kid-friendly music series hosted by La Villita’s Arneson River Theater. Thursday’s inaugural outing unites buzz-worthy local bands Crown, Creatura and Lonely Horse. Comprised of vocalist Carlos Zubillaga, bassist Josh Borchardt and drummer Oscar Webber, the psychedelic blues-rock outfit Crown is currently working on the full-length debut Are These The Good Days? Formed less than a year ago, the five-piece Creatura also falls in the psych-rock vein with a sound distinguished by the stormy vocals of front-woman Divina. As for Lonely Horse, the “dark folk-rock” duo has an undeniable presence that takes shape in emotionally charged music informed by lead singer Nick Long’s Native American heritage.

Location: Arneson River Theatre, La Villita

Youth Matinee 8: The Renaissance Guild Presents African Folktales 11 a.m., Fri, May 23

The Youth Matinee Series epitomizes the Carver Community Cultural Center goal of making the arts available to the community through performances that free, open to the public, and simulating for any age. The Renaissance Guild will present the rich tradition of African folktales in the eigth series of Youth Matinee. Various African folktales will be brought to life through storytelling of the diverse beliefs, mythology, cultural identity, and history.

Location: The Carver Community Cultural Center, 226 N. Hackberry

Rita Vidaurri’s 90th Birthday Celebration 7 p.m. Fri, May 23

Born in 1924, local legend Rita “La Calandria” Vidaurri started performing at a young age and generated her first bit of buzz as a teen when she won first prize ($5) 18 weeks in a row at a singing contest at Teatro Nacional. Encouraged by comic actor and early fan Mario Moreno (better known as Cantinflas), Vidaurri took her deep, powerful voice to Mexico, where she landed gigs at the upscale club El Patio and on XEW, the Mexico City-based radio station she grew up listening to. A ranchera sensation during the ’40s and ’50s, Vidaurri released three albums and 50 singles, toured extensively in Latin America and performed with the likes of Celia Cruz, Tin Tán, Pedro Vargas and Nat King Cole. Not long after becoming the Jax Beer poster girl in 1957, she retired at the urgings of her manager-turned husband. Re-emerging in 2001, Vidaurri is now one fourth of the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center’s aptly named group Las Tesoros de San Antonio (which includes Beatriz Llamas, Blanquita Rodriguez and Perla Tapatia). In celebration of her 90th birthday and the release of her latest CD, Vidaurri and the gals perform with support from Westside Horns, Teresa Champion, Trio San Antonio, Mariachi Durango and Los Texmaniacs.

Location: Esperanza Peace & Justice Center, 922 San Pedro

Nature Walk: Ethnobotany 8 – 10 a.m., Sat, May 24

Native plant specialist, Janis Merritt leads this Nature Walk in Phil Hardberger Park. This walk will focus on the common uses of some of the plants in the park. Merritt is a former native plant specialist, designer and curator for SA Natural Areas and SA Botanical Garden.

Location: Phil Hardberger Park East, 13203 Blanco Road

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=//www.youtube.com/embed/8blEOL7Yo_I

This article appears in May 14-20, 2014.