An announcement from Virginia Gause Valley Symphony Orchestra Auditions Scheduled for Sunday, August 17th! The Valley Symphony Orchestra will hold string auditions at 4:00p on Sunday August 17, 2008. The auditions will be held at the UTPA Fine Arts Complex. Those interested in auditioning should contact the symphony office at 956-661-1615. Audition requirements: A 3 [...]

[Read more →]

From Virginia Gause – Well, hello Dolly … and goodbye Dolly! Hurricane Dolly seems way behind us now, but I want to thank two special people for keeping me well informed several times a day this past week with news about the hurricane.  I am talking about Melinda Barrera and Steve Taylor,  who publish Rio [...]

[Read more →]

An announcement from Virginia Gause Join us for the 2nd Annual benefit concert supporting children and adults with disabilities in the Rio Grande Valley. Featuring Nashville recording artists “Rio Grand” Cine El Rey, Friday, Aug 1, 7:00 pm For ticket information Call (956) 631-9171 or go to www.ez-tixx.com Roschel Servantes Director of Program Services Easter [...]

[Read more →]

A personal comment from Stan Our thanks to the City of Brownsville, The Brownsville Public Utilities Board, Cameron County Drainage District Number One, and to all who worked (and are still working, in some cases) to minimize and repair the damages caused by Hurricane Dolly over the last few days. Our neighborhood has a fair [...]

[Read more →]

From Virginia Gause Hurricane Dolly has come and gone, but we are still picking up her debris and accessing damages.  Glass artist Duane Beard notified me that the Beachcomers Fine Art Show has been cancelled for this weekend because of damage to the South Padre Island Convention Center.  This is the first time in 49 [...]

[Read more →]

A lyric from Stan Update 8/11/08: You can hear a recording of this song at “Hurricane again.” There’s a hurricane coming: Everything’s up in the air. Alice says she’s got to be going; Sonda says she doesn’t care. The lights are going down: We’re whispering in the dark. There’s no need for running, You know [...]

[Read more →]

A comment from Stan We note a powerful letter from our friend José Pérez in this morning’s Brownsville Herald on the irregularity of building permits in recent (recent meaning the last five years or so) construction and the consequent problems. We heartily recommend Mr. Pérez’s letter to your attention. Mr. Pérez provides us with as [...]

[Read more →]

An announcement Every Tuesdays Nights Amateur Talent Night Open To Performing Artists including: Musicians, Poets, Singers, Dancers, Stand Up Comedians, Actors, Or Anybody Who Thinks They Have A Talent.  Etc… Fan Favorite will win a prepaid Credit Card. Free Admission       8pm-12am Come Early & Sign Up Limited Seating Available THURSDAY NIGHT OPEN MIC Art Expressions [...]

[Read more →]

An announcement from Virginia Gause Regional Tourism Workshop – Thursday, August 14, 2008, Kingsville, Texas Saddle Up! Rein in the Power of Tourism for Your Community Presented by Texas Department of Agriculture’s GO TEXAN program Join us in Kingsville for a day-long workshop featuring industry experts offering stimulating and information-packed presentations and breakout sessions, including [...]

[Read more →]

An announcement from Virginia Gause Missionite Maurine Duncan, an associate producer of the film, is pictured holding a hat she made and wore in the movie.  Also pictured is Sol Marroquin, former congressional aide and aspiring actor from Mission, holding the Mexican soldier’s cap he wore in the movie.  He played the role of Pancho [...]

[Read more →]

A note from Stan Daniel García Ordáz, aka The Poet Mariachi, appeared on Channel 23 News to promote his reading series this weekend in McAllen. Take a look.

[Read more →]

“TV Dinner, “A video from Simonscat

[Read more →]

KÚZA-NÁMA LIX Listen again. One Evening at the Close Of Ramazán, ere the better Moon arose, In that old Potter’s Shop I stood alone With the clay Population round in Rows. LX And, strange to tell, among that Earthen Lot Some could articulate, while others not: And suddenly one more impatient cried- ‘Who is the [...]

[Read more →]

Announcements from Virginia Gause The Poet Mariachi Daniel Garcia Ordaz performs his original poems July 17 at 7 – 9 pm at South Texas College – Pecan Campus Library (2nd Floor Rainbow Room) ******    ****** Blues musician Seth Walker performs at Cine El Rey July 19 at 9 pm as part of the “South of [...]

[Read more →]

City of Tampico and Mexican Consulate in McAllen sponsor solo-exhibit of abstract paintings by Benilde González Fernández at IMAS McAllen- Benilde Gonzalez Fernandez’ exhibition at the International Museum of Art & Science (IMAS), titled Everything Intertwines, includes 14 paintings that echo impressions of the sea, the night, motion, noise, and silence, through an array of [...]

[Read more →]

A poem by Thomas Thornburg from Munseetown Father, that winter when your death descended Upon the conversation of your friends, We prayed you grace to see you easy ended Since grace denied that we should mark you mended; Beyond our pale you pilgrimed undefended In your hard death forsaken, unattended. Father, what hast Thou wrought [...]

[Read more →]

A comment from a friend “Americans have got to understand that we are paying present-day retirees with the taxes paid by young workers in America today. And that’s a disgrace …” This is quoting John McCain on Social Security, which the plutocrats have been trying since its inception to drown in the nearest available bathtub [...]

[Read more →]

A poem by Thomas Thornburg from Munseetown At the seventh hour when the children rise (The river has risen) they go about bagging Tons for the feast; as they blitzen and donder She turns from the window and curses in thunder. Her rage is their wonder. At four o’clock daylight, December’s fagging Middle begins as [...]

[Read more →]

A thought from Stan Raines I was standing in line at HEB yesterday and the man in front of me, someplace in his fifties, mustachioed and trim asked me how I was and I gave him my usual non-commital “Doin’ fine” and returned a “How you doin’?” “Ah, you know,” he said, “another beautiful day [...]

[Read more →]

Announcements from Virginia Gause ******    ****** If I were Dr. Seuss and wrote children’s books, I would get Carl Vestweber to illustrate them.  So when I heard Carl was having his first solo show “New Stuff by Carl Vestweber” at Manichaus on Friday, July 11, I cancelled all my other social plans to be there. [...]

[Read more →]

An announcement from Virginia Gause Carl Vestweber will be presenting his solo show New Stuff by Carl Vestweber at Manichaus (pronounced: manic house), a new artist-run modern art space in McAllen, from July 11 to August 1, 2008. A reception will be held from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on July 11, 2008. The artist [...]

[Read more →]

An announcement via Virginia Gause SOUTH TEXAS PROTEST AGAINST THE BORDER WALL What: A protest opposing the border wall at the University of Texas Pan American followed by a march on the Hidalgo County Commissioner’s Court When: Saturday, July 12, 2008 at 5:00 pm Where: Beginning at the University of Texas Pan American Student Union [...]

[Read more →]

An announcement from Virginia Gause Summer sizzles with hot new exhibit at STC Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery “Venus on a Halfshell” by Victoria Suescum        “Wind/Spring” by Jimena Marin Oil on Canvas with Oil Cloth & Ripcloth Nylon Frame       Acrylic on Canvas 5ft. x 6ft.                                                                      20’’ x 16’ There is a sizzling summer of [...]

[Read more →]

From Gene’s Notebook …a bargain, the gallon of water in convenience stores, $1.29, beats the sodas and sports drinks …. I love tipping the plastic jug to my mouth …. …and the turtles, all over the roads, maybe the rain, and most do not make it across, and are crushed; I picked one up on [...]

[Read more →]

An announcement 36-HR. FILMMAKING CONTEST IS FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE U.S. Harlingen, Texas (Rio Grande Valley) – The CINESOL 36 HR. FILM RACE, a 36-hour filmmaking competition, has announced its dates and early call for entries for the 3rd Annual Event for the South Texas Region.  CINESOL 36 is the first competition of [...]

[Read more →]