¡Festejemeos!/Let's
Celebrate!
 During
which month is Hispanic Heritage Month celebrated? Not sure?
Don’t worry. It is a trick question. Hispanic Heritage Month
is not celebrated during one specific month. It is
celebrated during two halves of two different months. Events
celebrating HHM begin September 15 and continue through
October 15. Why September 15? This date marks the
anniversary of the independence of five Latin American
countries. Accordingly, during this time we celebrate the
many contributions Latinos have made to their communities
and to the world.
Celebrate HHM with us! San Antonio Public Library events
include visits from the San Antonio Charro Association,
dance instruction, food tasting, panel discussions, book
talks, games and more. Please pick up a Hispanic Heritage
Month calendar at your library or visit
our website for a full list of events.
HHM Highlights
All month long
¿Bailaremos?/Shall we dance?
Richard Alvarado and his assistants will teach you salsa/merengue
basics.
Various branch locations
Saturday, October 6
We Are Not Enemies, but the Sons and Daughters of
Immigrants: A Discussion Regarding Immigration Law Reform,
Immigration Panel
The United States is a nation of immigrants, and the role of
immigrants throughout our history, in our present day life
and into our future is worthy of constructive and thoughtful
discussion. Refreshments provided by Mi Tierra Restaurant &
Bakery.
Central Library Auditorium
Discussion: 1:00 p.m.
Reception: 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 13
¡Que Vivan Los Charros!
The San Antonio Charro Association helps the San Antonio
Public Library close Hispanic Heritage Month with a grand
finale. Hear a talk, chat with members of the group, visit
with their horses and enjoy their rope trick mastery.
Central Library Auditorium and the lawn
12:00pm
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Frosting
creators
 Frosting
Creators meets the first Tuesday of each month, from 6:30
p.m. to 9:00 p.m., at the Westfall branch. Bookmarks!
interviewed club president Carolyn Wanke to learn more
about these interesting artists.
- Tell us a
little bit about Frosting Creators. How long have they been around
and why was the group started?
-
Frosting Creators was formed in the early 1970s by a group
of cake decorators, most of whom were students of Connie Riherd, a
talented lady who at that time taught classes in her home. We were
all interested in the sugar arts and searching for knowledge and at
that time there was not very much information.
- How did you get
started in “frosting creation”?
- “Frosting
creation” for me began when I sent for a
Wilton catalog from a
magazine ad in 1967. It was so exciting because it had such pretty
cakes and included instructions for icings, borders, pretty flowers,
etc. and a place to send for supplies. I was hooked.
- What is the
most challenging creation that you or one of your members has
attempted?
- Someone asked
“what is your favorite cake?” and my reply is always “the one I am
working on.” The same applies to the challenge, but I suppose the
sculpted cakes present more of a challenge because of the support
system that must be figured out and then built.
- Are there any
unusual, yet edible, ingredients that frosting creators use?
- Some of the
standards are pretzels, cereals, ice cream cones, etc. [I] just
heard of a decorator that uses an edible silk thread to string her
beads. Some have used Chinese noodles for special effects. Various
gums are used in candy clay to give strength and elasticity.
- From where do
you and your members draw your inspiration for designs?
- Our cakes are
usually designed from ideas we get from cake books, magazines,
newsletters, demonstrations at Days of Sharing, classes, the
Internet and, most important, the client’s dreams (whether the
“client” is a customer or my three-year-old granddaughter).
- Can you share
any funny stories about your work?
- Once I made a
bride’s cake to resemble gift packages that matched those that were
used for the table decorations. We put the cake on the table and
went to the car for something and when we came back, the chef was
scolding one of the waiters because he thought they were gifts for
the bride and groom and was going to move them to the gift table.
Be sure to visit their
website for
more information and to check out photos of edible bronze
busts, topiaries and pirates!
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and All that Latin Jazz
 September
is a great time to explore the rich tradition of Latin
music. During Hispanic Heritage Month, learn Latin dancing
at several branch locations. Richard Alvarado of "First
Steps" and his assistants are providing free salsa/merengue
classes at several of our branches and will continue to
provide their Thursday classes at Central. Interested in
kicking back to a good tune? Enjoy our extensive collection
of Latin jazz CDs by artists like Pancho Sanchez, explore
Cuban music through Grupo Irakere, or swing to Bossa Nova
with Antonio Carlos Jobim. Nothing goes better with your end-of-summer
mojito than Latin jazz.
If your inspiration is to drum like Tito Puente or sing like
the lovely Celia Cruz, don't wait for the next American
Idol. Check out our songbooks and scores and start working
on your set. Biographies of musicians can also bring insight
in the complex world of composition and performance. Ask a
librarian if you need any help locating these resources.
The stage can also be an inspiration for local musicians.
Just shy of 25 years old, the
Jazz'SAlive Festival gets audiences hopping. Brought to
you by the Parks and Recreation Department, the free
festival attracts all styles of jazz music. The headliner
this year is Arturo Sandoval, a world renowned Latin jazz
musician, composer, trumpet player and pianist. He has
earned four Grammy awards, six Billboard awards and an Emmy. For
more information, check out their
website.
Another great resource is
KRTU, Trinity University's jazz station. You can find it
on your dial at 97.1 FM. For extensive local jazz listings
please visit their website. Explore all that local jazz and
your library has to offer.
Great Latin Music at Your Library:
Afro-Cuban Style
Bossa Nova Style
Jazz With a Latin Flavor
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FEATURED Staff
Recommendation |
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The SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY Staff Loves
To Read!
Ramona Lucius (Cody
Library) knows a great read when she gets hold of one.
For Those About to Rock
Broken
Music by Sting,
One
Train Later by Andy Summers,
Faithfull by Marianne Faithfull, They Made a
Monkee Out of Me by Davy Jones,
Take Me
Home by John Denver, Kate Bush by Rob
Jancovic,
Take It
Like a Man by Boy George
Riders Up!
Destry Rides Again by Max Brand,
Lone
Star Rising and
The Wolf
and the Buffalo by Elmer Kelton,
Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand
Hot-Cocoa Books
The
Handmaid's Tale and
Alias
Grace by Margaret Atwood,
He, She
and It by Marge Piercy,
The
Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson,
A New
England Nun and Other Stories by Mary Wilkins Freeman
Currently Reading
Alias Smith and Jones by Sandra Sagala and Joanne
Bagwell
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FEATURED
Database |
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You’ve got homework. We’ve got help. The San Antonio
Public Library offers help from real, live tutors right at the
library or from home via the Internet!
Live Homework Help is available for 4th – 12th grade
and college introduction level students 7 days a week from 3 p.m. to
10 p.m. This program connects students to a real live tutor.
Children and young adults simply log on to the library website,
enter their grade level and the subject they need help in and within
a few minutes or less are connected to an expert tutor. Students can
receive help in math, science, social studies or English.
Spanish-speaking tutors are available, as well. If you’d like to
learn more about the program, please call the library at 207-2500 or
visit our website.
Check
out all our databases.
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FEATURED
Events |
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Come join Dora and Diego on their first-ever Garden
Adventure! You can cross the Grumpy Old Troll's Bridge, pot flowers
with Isa and dance at the Garden Fiesta. For more information, go
to www.sabot.org.
Show your San Antonio Public Library card to receive
$1 off admission!
San Antonio Botanical Garden Entry Fees
Adults $6
Children (3 - 13 years) $3
Seniors (55+) $4
Military and Students with ID $4
Feeling crafty? Join volunteers from the Alamo Rows
Crochet Guild as they offer tips and tricks for knitters and
crocheters of all skill levels. This free event takes place on the
second floor of the Central Library underneath the Chihuly sculpture
on Saturday, September 15, from 9 to 2 p.m.
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We urge you to call your library before heading out for a special
program. Although we verify all information, cancellations do
occasionally occur. |
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