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Weekend Event Guide

Here are the top 5 things to do in San Antonio this weekend

Paige Turner
Jul 21, 2022 | 9:29 am
Travis Tritt.
Travis Tritt.
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com

The next several days are looking promising thanks to live concerts, a birthday bash, and a rootin’ tootin’ celebration of all things cowboy. Indulge in debauchery at Hotel Havana in honor of Ernest Hemingway’s birthday, or giddy up to the Briscoe’s annual National Day of the Cowboy festivities. Check out the top five things to do in San Antonio this weekend. For a full listing of events, go to our calendar.

Thursday, July 21

Hemingway's Birthday at Hotel Havana
Celebrate the birthday of one of American literature’s greatest talents at the swanky Hotel Havana. The evening’s party will feature drink specials and a bar takeover by Denim & Leather, a local vendor market offering unique wares, and a classic car show by Alamo City Rods. Admission is free and open to the public. Get more information on the event website.

Friday, July 22

Tobin Center for the Performing Arts presents Q: The Music of Queen
Bring on the nostalgia when you experience a live Queen tribute show on the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts stage. Fans new and old can rock out to a production featuring the music and visuals of Queen’s performances throughout their 21-year history and relive their rise to stardom, including their famous performance at Live Aid in 1985. For ticketing information, click here.

Saturday, July 23

Bricscoe Musuem presents National Day of the Cowboy Celebration
Giddy up and get down to the Briscoe Western Art Museum to celebrate all things cowboy with a full day of fun and activations. The free community event will include live music in the McNutt Sculpture Garden, artist demonstrations, cowboy demonstrations, crafts, chuckwagon eats, and much more. Attendees are encouraged to don their best Western-inspired apparel to pay homage to the cowboys and cowgirls past and present who continue to influence the state’s culture and history. This event is open to the public.

Toxic: The Britney Spears Experience
Be witness to the only Britney Spears tribute band of its kind at Charline McCombs Empire Theatre. Toxic: The Britney Spears Experience is a production almost as iconic as the princess of pop herself and features a full band, backup dancers, 13 costume changes, and a catalogue of more than 30 songs. A limited number of tickets are still available.

Kickin' for a Kure with Travis Tritt, Josh Turner, and Pat Green
Groove to live music for a good cause at the 10th Annual Kickin' for a Kure fundraising concert. This year’s lineup at the Freeman Coliseum includes performances by country music stars Travis Tritt, Josh Turner, and Pat Green. For ticketing information, go to the fundraising event page.

Honor the princess of pop at Toxic: The Britney Spears Experience this weekend.

Toxic: The Britney Spears Experience
Photo by R.J Moore Photography
Honor the princess of pop at Toxic: The Britney Spears Experience this weekend.
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Movie Review

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever wears its emotions on its sleeve

Alex Bentley
Nov 10, 2022 | 3:14 pm
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever wears its emotions on its sleeve
Photo by Annette Brown

Angela Bassett in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

The Marvel Cinematic Universe and writer/director Ryan Coogler find themselves in almost an impossible position with the long-anticipated Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The death of star Chadwick Boseman in 2020 left a gaping hole in both the ongoing MCU and in Coogler’s story plans for this film, which likely had to be mostly scrapped in the absence of his character, King T’Challa.

And so, like much of the MCU’s Phase Four films, Wakanda Forever feels tenuously patched together. Coogler and co-writer Joe Robert Cole address the elephant in the room right away, starting the film with T’Challa’s (off-screen) death, a sequence that is as elegantly handled as possible. It is the first of multiple times in the film that characters like his sister Shuri (Letitia Wright) and mother Ramonda (Angela Bassett) grapple with the loss, moments that never fail to bring big emotion into the film.

At first, it feels like the film’s main storyline will be successful, introducing a new group of beings, led by Namor (Tenoch Huerta), who live underwater in a country they call Talokan. Like Wakanda, they live in an area that’s rich with vibranium, which makes their deep-sea land a target for countries eager to be on a level playing field with Wakanda. Naturally, they defend their territory at all costs, with the mysterious nature of the Talokans leading to them being confused for Wakandans.

Early conflicts between the Talokans and Wakandans are suitably entertaining, with the Talokans – featuring blue skin, masks filled with water to be able to breathe at all times, and possible regenerative properties – seemingly indomitable. But as the film goes along, and especially in the final act, the battle scenes become repetitive and filled with subpar CGI that takes the viewer out of the necessary escapism mode.

The film works best when it returns to the personal aspects of the story. Without the presence of T’Challa, the film becomes mostly about the women of Wakanda, including Shuri, Ramonda, Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), and warrior Okoye (Danai Gurira). The way each adapts to their new or adapted roles is much more interesting than any of the fights. Coogler also takes time to give the history of Namor and the Talokans, making them deeper than other nemeses in comic book films.

When it comes time for a particular character to finally take up the mantle of Black Panther again, the reveal is not much of a surprise. But whether it’s the reluctance of that character, the appearance of the character in the suit, or the incoherence of the scenes showing off that person’s skills, there’s little that’s exciting about the newly-minted superhero.

It’s also disappointing that – after the world-building and addressing of real-life racial issues in the first film – this film doesn’t push harder in that regard. Coogler and the production team, especially costume designer Ruth E. Carter, make Wakanda as real as ever, but the implicit promise T’Challa makes at the end of the first film - that Wakanda would be a beacon for Black people around the world - is only lightly addressed.

There is little the filmmakers could do about it, but the film misses Boseman’s larger-than-life aura. Much of the film centers on Shuri, but Wright is better as a supporting actor than a lead. A better choice would have been Bassett, who is as strong as ever, or Nyong’o or Gurira, who are each compelling in their roles. Winston Duke once again makes the most of his brief appearances as M’Baku.

For all its faults, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is still the most watchable of the recent slate of MCU films. The central conflict doesn’t yield many rewards, but the film wears its emotions on its sleeve, giving fans permission to publicly grieve the generational talent gone too soon.

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Black Panther: Wakanda Forever opens in theaters on November 11.

Angela Bassett in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Photo by Annette Brown

Angela Bassett in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

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Joy to the (Sea) World

The holidays splash into Sea World San Antonio with parades, parties, puppets, and more

Hannah J. Frías
Nov 10, 2022 | 10:54 am
Santa Sea World
Courtesy of Sea World
In total, Sea World will feature 12 uniquely themed holiday areas for this 42-day Yuletide extravaganza.

In Texas, we like to claim that everything is bigger here. We also like to compete for biggest of the big, which rings true for Sea World's self-ascribed "biggest Christmas event in Texas," kicking off this week.

Starting Thursday, November 10, the marine life park transforms into a holiday wonderland for 42 full days of sparkling lights, holiday festivities, and, of course, tasty seasonal treats. This year also marks the premiere of a new live-action musical, O Wondrous Night, as well as a new Christmas party zone, Snowman Jam. In the former, the Nativity story comes to life through the eyes of the animals who experienced it, thanks to puppetry, carols, and special effects. Meanwhile, Snowman Jam invites park visitors to enjoy festive flurries and specialty cocktails from the Frozen Fusion Bar while bopping to the sounds of a DJ.

Returning favorites include the Sesame Street Christmas Parade, Christmas Market, meet-and-greets with Santa and Rudolph, and the "largest light display in the state" – according to the release. In total, the park will feature 12 uniquely themed holiday areas, from a 1950s-inspired Christmas cove; a whimsical Snowman village with life-sized snowman; and the country-themed Christmas Market, which houses a Christmas tree made entirely of cowboy boots.

Other highlights include:

  • Holiday shows and festive animal presentations, from Merry Mariachis to a festive beluga whale and pacific white-sided dolphin presentation.
  • An immersive Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer experience: Hear the story of the world's most famous reindeer when strolling past life-size story book vignettes featuring the classic tale before meeting the beloved characters including Rudolph himself.
  • The Sesame Street Christmas Parade: Festive floats feature live performances and celebrate the magic of the holiday season with Sesame Street friends, including Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, and more.
  • Coca-Cola presents Fireside S’mores and a holiday scavenger hunt: Families and friends can create memories while cozied up around the fire roasting marshmallows for delicious holiday s'mores. Afterwards, guests can participate in a photo scavenger hunt for Coca-Cola-themed festive prize and the chance to be featured on billboards around San Antonio.
Don't forget the festive food and drinks, either: The park will offer no lack of seasonal candies, baked goods, hot cocoa, and more. Winter cocktails include a new Santa-Gria and melon liqueur-based Grinch cocktail. For a traditional holiday meal, guests can enjoy dinner with Santa or Rudolph (reservations required).

SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration runs from 1 pm until 9 pm on select days between November 10 and January 2, 2023. Head to SeaWorld.com to plan your visit or learn more about 2023 Season Passes, which includes free Christmas ornaments, a free ticket for a friend to join in the Christmas festivities, and more benefits.

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Weekend Event Guide

Here are the top 5 things to do in San Antonio this weekend

Paige Turner
Nov 10, 2022 | 9:29 am
Here are the top 5 things to do in San Antonio this weekend
Photo courtesy of Lightscape

Experience the twinkling magic of Lightscape during opening weekend.

Magic, live music, and merrymaking are on the Alamo City agenda in the days to come. Experience the wonder of the holiday season at the opening of Lightscape, or celebrate our veterans at Hemisfair. Check out the top five things to do in San Antonio this weekend. For a full listing of events, go to our calendar.

Thursday, November 10

Chris Rock: Ego Death World Tour
Legendary comedian and actor Chris Rock brings his signature form of humor to the Majestic Theatre for a full weekend of stand-up shows. Known for his decades on stage as a comedy great and for his hit autobiographical sitcom, Everybody Hates Chris, Rock comes to San Antonio in support of his Ego Death World Tour. Tickets for all three showtimes are still available.

Lightscape
Photo courtesy of Lightscape

Experience the twinkling magic of Lightscape during opening weekend.

Belinda Carlisle in concert
Pop singer Belinda Carlisle performs at Tobin Center for the Performing Arts for one night only. She’s best known for her time in the all-female band the Go-Go's and her enduring solo career that followed. Audiences can expect her distinctive helium-esque soprano to fill the room during this special evening. For ticketing information, go to the Tobin Center website.

Friday, November 11

San Antonio Botanical Garden presents Lightscape
Witness all 38 acres of the San Antonio Botanical Garden light up at Lightscape’s opening weekend. Guests can expect enchanting light displays along an illuminated one-mile path winding through the lush garden. Featured installations include a Winter Cathedral, a display of illuminated bluebonnets, and a reimagined Fire Garden. In addition to the glamour of the lights, visitors can enjoy food, drinks, and even roast s’mores onsite. Lightscape is open through January 8, 2023. Get tickets here.

Saturday, November 12

Veterans Day at Hemisfair
Celebrate and honor military service people with the entire family in tow at Hemisfair. The all-day event includes a vendor market, food and drinks, entertainment activations, and live music by Coffey Anderson. Admission to SA Veterans Day is free and open to the public.

Sunday, November 13

Champions of Magic
Prepare to be amazed by interactive magic and spectacular sleight-of-hand at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts. Audiences can expect the entire theater to be filled with magnificent displays of illusions, including predictions, levitation, and even an escape from Houdini’s water torture cell performed by the skilled cast of The Champions Of Magic. Get tickets here.

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San Antonio's Welcome Walk & Festival returns to celebrate immigrant and refugee families

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