Romancing the sandwich
An expatriate’s search for the best Cuban sandwich in San Antonio
Wasted space
Cafeteria-inspired fare from Rita’s on the River
Artifacts
“Our Sin Was In Our Hips,” by Dario Robleto, one of thirteen ArtPace-associated artists selected for the 2004 Whitney Biennial. News and notes from the San Antonio art scene Big Time San Antonian Dario Robleto – known for creating densely meaningful sculptures from transformed mementos such as Civil War bullets and Motown records – is…
A Warmaker Whose Middle Name Is Strange
A Warmaker Whose Middle Name Is Strange By Steven G. Kellman Former Secretary of Defense (1961-68) Robert S. McNamara gives 11 “lessons” in Errol Morris’ film, The Fog of War. The Secretary of Defense’s confession comes 40 years too late Although it certainly possesses fangs and claws, it does not come on little cat feet…
Saint Seduces Sinner
Sensualist and evangelist come together in a dramatic, passionate kiss in Latter Days. C. Jay Cox’s new film is a kind of gay conversion fantasy Two films hardly constitute a trend, but Angels in America and Latter Days might signal the birth of a new stereotype – the uptight Mormon man fresh out of the…
Reel Reads
New books give film buffs a different reason to sit still for hours Being an arrogant, talentless hack is not often considered a real handicap in Hollywood. It certainly has worked for screenwriter Joe Eszterhas – the mighty pen behind Showgirls, Flashdance, and Basic Instinct – in the past. But with his new memoir, Hollywood…
Horse Opera
Heroes Frank Hopkins (Viggo Mortensen) and his noble Mustang Hidalgo outrace a deadly dust storm. (courtesy photo) Hang up the reins on this one There seems to be a new rule operating in movie-land: If a film has horses in it, it’s going to be long. Probably too long. Oscar-watchers who noted Viggo Mortensen’s absence…
Armchair Cinephile
Comic genius then and now Fans of some of cinema’s earliest treasures haven’t always fared well with the DVD revolution; many silent classics, if they come out at all, have been rushed out in haphazard editions of questionable quality and sometimes dubious legality. But now and then, a studio behaves like the only reason it…
Recent Reviews
21 Grams Dir. Alejandro González Iñárritu; writ. Guillermo Arriaga; feat. Sean Penn, Naomi Watts, Benicio Del Toro, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Melissa Leo, Paul Calderon (R) 21 Grams juggles three main characters who, though they don’t know it yet, are involved in one story. We see snippets (very short ones, for much of the film) of their…
Wasted Space
Rita’s Presidio Platter – half-rack of ribs and half-chicken served with garlic mashed potatoes and fiesta corn; Rita’s house salad – jicama, cucumbers, tomatoes, bacon, cheese, and tortilla strips on a bed of mixed greens with mango habanero dressing; a double prickly pear margarita. (Photo by Mark Greenberg) Cafeteria-inspired fare from Rita’s on the River…
Meals on Reels
The most decadent food scenes on film are paired with gourmet delights from the city’s best chefs for the third Meals on Reels benefit. Scenes from Tampopo, Tom Jones, Dinner Rush, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Mostly Martha, Chocolat, and Vatel will be shown. Providing cocktails and appetizers are Bruce Auden of Biga on the…
All He Is Saying Is Give Peace A Chance
Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich addressed issues of peace and civil liberties at a gathering of San Antonio’s Muslim community on March 5. (Photo by Mark Greenberg) Dennis Kucinich’s message resonates with Muslims It was shortly before 8 p.m. last Friday evening, and Dennis Kucinich looked a tad wan. His blue pinstriped suit was crisp,…
Romancing the Sandwich
A Cuban sandwich at La Marginal, flanked by plantain chips. (Photo by Laura McKenzie) An expatriate’s search for the best Cuban sandwich in San Antonio At the 45th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution, America’s frigid foreign policy with the Carribbean island has barely changed. Despite Americans’ demand for the country’s rich and eclectic culture -…
Destiny’s Grown Up
Beyoncé: contemporary pop’s reigning diva On the Verizon Ladies First tour, Beyoncé is first among equals There’s a symmetry behind the Verizon Ladies First tour that suggests some real planning. Offering a package of three big-name female pop stars, the show seemingly covers all the contemporary R&B bases. First off, there’s Alicia Keys, the so-called…
Tell The Small Story
‘Immigration and Media’ panel discusses ways to dispel stereotypes The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center’s CineFestival did more than bring exceptional independent films and filmmakers to San Antonio; it examined how immigration is defining the identity of the United States. A panel discussion, “Immigration in the Media,” held March 5 at Our Lady of the Lake…
Rave Rockers
Crystal Method: continuing to merge electronic sounds with a rock aesthetic (Photo by Mark Greenberg) Crystal Method carries the torch for American big beat At first, the pair of outstretched hands don’t really faze the Crystal Method’s Ken Jordan. They’re attached to a particularly overzealous, over-intoxicated concertgoer right up front at the packed-to-the-gills Showbox Theater…
Sound and the Fury
a week on the scene SA at SXSW It’s SXSW time again, and the final schedule for the annual Austin music confab includes a pretty skimpy – in terms of numbers, not quality – selection of San Antonio-area artists. If you throw out San Marcos, which is represented by Blue October, Livewire Down, The Spiders,…
Tiny Telephone Man
TinyTelephoneMan By Dawn Pomento John Vanderslice admits to a fondness for Bob Dylan and David Bowie, and his fourth solo CD, Cellar Door, hints at the influence of these two rock legends. You can hear it in the flashes of Thin White Duke drama and Dylanesque poetry. But Vanderslice definitely has his own eccentric voice.…
A Study In Modernity
The discernible objects in Alain Park’s precise, overlapping line drawings become troubling in the context of the exhibit, which explores our unarticulated insecurities and desires. Three artists delve into our subconscious motivations for food, shelter, and comfort The current show at the Bower Gallery combines artists of divergent personal histories, resulting in a compelling, even…
Wainwright Stuff
Rufus Wainwright 9pm Friday, March 12 $20 La Zona Rosa 612 W. 4th St., Austin 512-472-2293 Rufus Wainwright hasn’t yet sounded off on the brewing gay marriage debate in this country, but it’s only a matter of time. Wainwright, the spawn of singer-songwriters Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle, and himself one of the most…
