Paqman fever
Ron Artest plays record mogul, with the group Allure. Ron Artest’s label debut reveals the emptiness of modern girl-group R&B Standing at 6-7 and 247 pounds, Queensbridge, New York native and Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest is a seemingly troubled soul. There have been periodic suspensions, a request (only a few days into this regular…
Love, rockets, cucarachas
Latino stories and satire flourish under the pen of Los Bros. Hernandez and Lalo Alcaraz Long before graphic novels were popularized – reviewed in the literary pages, bestowed with accolades once reserved solely for the printed word, and turned into films ranging from the sublime to the subpar- Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez started publishing their…
Sound and the Fury
A week on the scene Mariachi showdown At their 10th annual extravaganza held over the weekend, Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán played the part of ‘celebrity judge’ in selecting the best mariachi ensembles and singers from all over the state. Saturday evening competition winners – including the amazingly talented Monica Martinez from Our Lady of the…
The personal and the political
Alex Lopez limns the bridges between our private lives and distant drama Alex Lopez’ installation at Cactus Bra Space this month captures a lot of content with a bare bones collection of physical objects. It is a hybrid of minimalist structure and political commentary, with a light finish of surrealism. This is the second of…
‘Circo’ game
Darden Smith Understated virtues calling Darden Smith has been making records for nearly two decades, but for much of that time he’s been lost in the shuffle of talented Texas troubadours. It’s easy to see why: he’s not as clever as Robert Earl Keen, as deep as Jimmie Dale Gilmore, as dark as Alejandro Escovedo,…
That voodoo that you do to me
The director behind Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and the Graduate tries out a new generation of hot young stars on his emotional trapeze in Closer. Mike Nichols wrings the romance out of that crazy little thing called love Like Mike Nichols’ first film, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Closer has as much rapid-fire banter…
Feeling railroaded
Union Pacific faces irate citizens over accidents News that the Texas Department of Transportation plans an 18-month study of San Antonio’s railroad system didn’t allay the concerns of citizens who attended a town meeting last week with representative s of Union Pacific Railroad. In answer to recent train derailments and other incidents in Bexar County,…
A small ray of light in the darkness
In 1943 in Nazi Germany, a small group of German women took to the streets and, in one case, to the settee, to save the lives of Jewish prisoners awaiting transportation to the death camps. ‘Rosenstrasse’ recalls a tiny triumph amid the horrors of Nazi Germany “One death is a tragedy,” observed Joseph Stalin, an…
Non-white Christmas
René Lavan and Julie Gonzalo are the rum in the Christmas with the Kranks eggnog, says Kiko Martinez, who interviewed the Cuban and Argentinean up-and-coming stars about their holiday experiences. René Lavan and Julie Gonzalo give ‘Kranks’ a little Latin flavor Think of actors René Lavan and Julie Gonzalo as the shots of rum in…
Recent reviews
After the Sunset Dir. Brett Ratner; writ. Paul Zbyszewski, Craig Rosenberg; feat. Pierce Brosnan, Salma Hayek, Woody Harrelson, Don Cheadle, Obbar Babatundé (R) After the Sunset’s cast ought to guarantee something, but the film’s story is about as fresh as they come from Hollywood these days Brosnan’s reluctant criminal is trying to get out of…
Special screenings
Classics — Xmas and otherwise Cinema Flaternité Films by Jean Luc Godard and Stanley Kubrick remain in Finesilver Gallery’s free Wednesday series programmed to compliment the current exhibit, Hills Snyder’s Flaternité. Viewers are encouraged to bring popcorn or other snacks. Godard’s 1967 Le Weekend screens December 15 and Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon will screen December 22.…
Armchair Cinephile
The gift of exotica Looking over the new big-ticket DVD options that haven’t already been covered in this column, it occurs to me that most are trips to far-away cultures. Even the one ostensibly American title on today’s list, Rambo, isn’t representative of any America I want to know. Artisan’s new Rambo: Ultimate Edition has…
The data mine
Protecting the privacy of battered women In 2001, at the behest of national advocates for the homeless, Congress directed the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to devise a more precise way of counting America’s homeless population. This year, the mandate has come home to roost in Homeless Management Information Systems, a program that…
All You Can Eat
News and notes from the San Antonio food scene A second location for Pizza Patron recently opened at 2913 West Ave. The first location opened in November 2003 at 1320 S.W. Military Drive. A large pizza, with four or more toppings is $6.99, a half pizza is $4.59. More than beer and good times: Need…
They walk the line
Highway 211 in northwestern Bexar County is the controversial proposed route for City Public Service’s new high-voltage transmission line. (Photo by Mark Greenberg) Landowners are asking City Council to delay vote on CPS transmission route As Martha Leatherman trekked through the thicket of her 80-acre ranch, ducking under leafless branches and sidestepping spiny yucca plants,…
Surf guitar king
Dick Dale: rock’s greatest left-handed vegetarian Buddhist Going trippin’ with Dick Dale Jerry Falwell will perform a gay wedding ceremony; Michael Moore and George W. Bush will team up for a splashy Vegas revue; Yahoo Serious will experience a massive career renaissance; and Us magazine will get something right. All of these events will take…
