1. Charlott’s Antiques
2023 Austin Hwy, (210) 653-3672, charlottsantiqueshop.blogspot.com
2. Karolina’s Antiques
1709 Blanco, (210) 731-9787
3. Alamo Antique Mall
125 Broadway, (210) 224-4354, alamoantiquemall.com
What makes them so special? Comment below.
Hills Snyder, Sala Diaz director/curator
hillssnyder.com
He rarely gives himself marquee billing on the many solo and group exhibitions he puts together every year, but Hills Snyder gets our vote for San Antonio’s best curator. Snyder is the guiding force behind the consistently unique offerings at Sala Diaz, one of SA’s premier contemporary project spaces. He encourages resident solo artists to overtake the unconventional facility at the limits of their imaginations, which has made for some of the most ambitious and original work in town. For group shows, Snyder addresses uncommon but accessible conceptual themes with customary wit; his “Lonely Are the Brave” Contemporary Art Month show at Blue Star five years ago, inspired in part by the 1962 Western film of the same name, set the bar high for SA, and he doesn’t let up.
1. Nik Soupé (Soup) (pictured, left)
The Paint Yard, 525 San Pedro, (210) 229-1707, thepaintyard.com
2. Lloyd Walsh
facebook.com/lloyd.walsh
3. TIE: Robert Tatum
tatumoriginals.com
Oscar Galvan
galvanstudios.org
What makes them so special? Comment below.
1. Tim Duncan
San Antonio Spurs, nba.com/spurs
2. TIE: Manu Ginobili & Tony Parker
San Antonio Spurs, nba.com/spurs
3. Drew Bignall
Mission CrossFit San Antonio, 827 E Rector,
(210) 865-9348, missioncrossfitsa.com
What makes them so special? We want to hear from you in the comments below.
1. Dirt Cheap Distro
600 E Amber, facebook.com/dirtcheapdistro
More than a decade ago, Debi Lambright graduated from selling patches at punk shows to owning Dirt Cheap Distro—a snug Southside shop catering to the alternative set. While burlesque/rockabilly/horror fans might find larger emporiums elsewhere, Lambright clearly knows her customers and keeps them coming back for specialties like retro pinup dresses ($29-$95), Killer Klowns T-shirts ($16), locally made hair accessories ($6) and sequined pasties ($11).
2. Montage Vintage
423 W Grayson, (210) 324-0157, montagevintage.com
3. Voge Boutique
1846 N Loop 1604 W, #105, (210) 254-9297, facebook.com/vogeboutique
1. Tim Duncan
slamduncan.com
2. David Robinson
twitter.com/DavidtheAdmiral
3. George Strait
georgestrait.com
What makes them so special? Comment below.
TIE: Stefan Bowers
Feast, 1024 S Alamo, twitter.com/StefanBowers
Tim Rattray (pictured)
The Granary, 602 Avenue A, twitter.com/ChefTimmyR
Choosing best chef during SA’s gastro-renaissance is basically the culinary version of Sophie’s Choice. Not only do these two chefs exemplify a passion for food in all its forms, both are adding an extra element to the growth of the food scene locally and nationally. Rattray’s hand in bringing in Josh Ozerky’s carnivorous carnival (aka Meatopia) to the Pearl notwithstanding, chef’s collaborative dinners with his renowned peers help bring inventive eats to San Antonio. For his part, Bowers, who will participate in this year’s Austin Food & Wine Festival, is keeping things in the family with his guest chef series that helps showcase local talent including Jennifer Dobbertin (Hot Joy), Robbie Nowlin (Las Canarias), Jeff Wiley (NAO) and Pieter Sypesteyn (Where Y’at). Both chefs deserve a lot of credit for moving our tasty food scene forward.
1. Crib & Kids
1309 N Loop 1604 W, #106, (210) 764-2742, cribandkids.com
2. Go, Baby, Go!
6104 Broadway, #4, (210) 313-4239, gobabygoshop.com
3. Nursery Couture
434 N Loop 1604 W, (210) 494-2627, blog.cadenlane.com/nursery-couture
What makes them so special? Comment below.
Roberta “Nina” Hassele, CAM co-chair
facebook.com/ninafrombrooklyn
In a city with an art scene as inclusive as San Antonio’s, maybe it’s counterintuitive to single out one person as worthy of this title. Plus, what’s a maven, exactly? Well, Nina Hassele is a damn good example. The Brooklyn native and passionate San Antonio convert is co-chair of Contemporary Art Month, for starters, and instrumental in organizing the horde of events, calendar entries, venues, volunteers, patrons and celebrations during SA’s annual month-long extravaganza. Her meticulously maintained Facebook feed is more informative and diverse than the arts sections of some major publications. She’s a tireless, unpaid, year-round promoter of exhibitions and performances, Kickstarter campaigns, art spaces, theater events and live music. She’s relentlessly cheerful, too.
1. Tencha La Jefa
facebook.com/tencha.lajefa
While most drag performers spend countless hours and gobs of cash trying to emulate glamazons, Tencha La Jefa takes a comedic approach to her alter ego—a dentally challenged queen with foam rollers in her wig. Since entering the drag pantheon a decade ago (on a dare), La Jefa has landed a sweet hosting gig with Rey Lopez Entertainment and even channeled Lady Liberty for our 2013 Pride cover.
2. Toni R Andrews
twitter.com/toniraven10
3. Fonda Koxx
facebook.com/fonda.koxx
