Jazz Fest Transforming into a Concert Series

By JASMINA WELLINGHOFF, Editor For 26 years, jazz lovers have flocked to the Balcones Heights Jazz Festival in July to listen to great music played outdoors on balmy summer nights. Pictures show a packed amphitheater just outside the Wonderland of the Americas Mall, with people lounging on chairs and blankets around a shallow pool of water, facing the make-shift stage …

Children’s Ballet’s “Nutcracker” will Feature Masks, Zoom and Fine Dancing

By JASMINA WELLINGHOFF, Editor — Kate Thomas was seven when her parents first signed her up for recreational dance classes at the Dance Center of San Antonio. But the school’s founder, Vanessa Bessler, quickly detected that her new student had the potential to become a real dancer and suggested that the girl be moved into the intensive program. “I spotted …

Life in the Time of COVID-19, Part 35

Today’s poem is by Austin poet, Kimbol Soques, who is currently finishing a Master of Divinity degree. Aren’t we all waiting for the experts to say: Come forth!? Bell JarBy Kimbol Soques Victorian windowsare narrow, darkwith screens tight-woven 100 years in, it’s hardto remember their gift of skyuntil I stand, nose-pressed,and look up too, spring’s greenleaves are just at eyes’ …

Luminaria Has a New Director

By JASMINA WELLINGHOFF, Editor — After a longish search for a new executive director, the board of Luminaria has selected local arts advocate and marketing/PR specialist, Yadhira Lozano, as its new top executive. She succeeds Kathy Armstrong who led the organization for five years. “I think it’s great. It’s wonderful,” said Lozano who had applied a while back and was …

Life in the Time of COVID-19, Part 34

Today’s poem, “Resurgence” by Chris Billings touches upon our current situation. Chris is a member and co-chair/co-host of the Sun Poet’s Society. ResurgenceBy Chris Billings They watched in wonderin disbeliefas the second waveapproached the shorebiggerfastermore violent than the firstfrom which they managed to escapewhile others weren’t so luckybut they were safethey said they were safethe officials said they were safebecause …

NEWS ROUNDUP, Dec. 4, 2020

The Tobin Center for the Performing Arts will be alive with the sound of music and laughter in the next few days. First up is “Blood and Holly: Christmas West of the Pecos” featuring one of San Antonio’s favorite stage personalities, Jaston Williams of the Greater Tuna fame. In this new one-man show, “Jaston Williams remembers Christmas in childhood as …

Emily Sano: Artistic Adviser for Asian Art & Co-interim director, San Antonio Museum of Art

BY JASMINA WELLINGHOFF, Editor — The museum reopened in late May. How has everything been going since? We closed March 13 and reopened May 26. We were one of the first museums in Texas to reopen after the shutdown. The Houston Fine Arts Museum was the first and it opened just a few days before SAMA did. And everything has been …