Jul 29 – Aug 11, 2020
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Meet the Muralistas: Outdoor Artists Tap Into San Antonio’s Cultural DNA
Adriana M. Garcia recalls working on her first mural, “Líderes de la Comunidad,” a sprawling vision dominated by images of La Gloria dance hall and labor leader Emma Tenayuca. Garcia was a crew member on the 2006 San Anto Cultural Arts project led by Valerie Aranda. A painter and graphic designer whose work frequently speaks…
Alamo City Native Nick Garza Teams Up with Garrett T. Capps for Puro San Antonio Single
In San Antonio, we have a huge love for — some may say a troubling obsession with — Tex-Mex food. Many locals also enjoy putting on their Western wear and dancing to good ol’ country music. San Antonio native singer-songwriter Nick Garza’s new single, “Take Me Down to San Antonio (The Tex-Mex In Me),” combines…
Former Lieutenant Governor Candidate Says Texas Hoarding $8 Billion in Federal COVID-19 Funds
In an open letter, former Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Mike Collier accused Gov. Greg Abbott of sitting on billions of dollars in federal aid intended to help local communities during the pandemic. Under law, Texas’ 12 biggest counties and six biggest cities received $3.2 billion through the federal CARES Act. However, Collier — a Certified…
San Antonio’s Witte Museum Receives $250,000 to Fund Fossil Collection
The Witte Museum’s prehistoric ambitions are expansive, to say the least. And now, thanks to a $250,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Witte’s paleontology and geology program will be able to remodel its offsite collections facility to better accommodate its growing collection of 320,000 ancient specimens and artifacts, according to…
3 Artists Explore Latinx and Hispanic Identity in Show at San Antonio’s Clamp Light Studios
Can you really separate the art and the artist? Clamp Light Artist Studios and Gallery aims to do just the opposite with its new exhibition “Critical* Reflection, Embodiment, and Disruption,” which showcases three artists’ negotiations of their identities within Spanish, U.S. and Latin American cultures. Co-curated by Justin Korver and Brittany Ham, “Critial* Reflection” features…
Mexican One-Price Restaurant and Bar Will Open Its Doors in San Antonio on Thursday
Cervecería Chapultepec, a Mexico-based chain that offers tacos, tostadas, burgers, cocktails and beer at one fixed price, will open its San Antonio location Thursday, August 13, according to a social media post. While the concept is popular throughout Mexico, the Alamo City spot will be the chain’s first in the United States. Each of its…
As GOP Rivals Enter Recount, Gina Ortiz Jones Launches New TV Spots in San Antonio
With her potential Republican rivals mired in a recount, District 23 Democratic congressional candidate Gina Ortiz Jones kicked off her first TV spots of the cycle. The new ads feature Jones, surrounded by family photos, speaking about her Air Force service, her San Antonio ties and being raised by a single immigrant mother. They’re part…
San Antonio’s Ruby City Will Pop Off Rescheduled Bubble Fest at Home This Weekend
Bubbles and sun are what summer is all about — or at least what Ruby City’s Bubble Fest At Home is counting on. Rescheduled from its original date in June, the sudsy show will take place this Saturday via the contemporary art center’s social media pages. The event invites locals to play with soapy creations in…
San Antonio’s URBAN-15 Puts Out Call for First-Job Stories from Locals for Hidden Histories Series
Arts organization URBAN-15 is on the hunt for first-job stories from San Antonians to feature in the Labor Day episode of its Hidden Histories web series. Interested participants need only film a 30-60 second video — preferably horizontal — on a smartphone or camera in which they share a personal first-job experience. The video should…
San Antonio News Site Rivard Report Changes Name as Founder Looks to Scale Back His Role
Nine-year-old nonprofit news site the Rivard Report has changed its name as its founder — former San Antonio Express-News editor-in-chief Bob Rivard — prepares to scale back his management role. In a statement released Monday, the site announced its rebranding as the San Antonio Report, saying the new name reflects its evolution “into a thriving online news…
San Antonio’s Smoke: BBQ Launches Individual Boxed Meal Deliveries for Area Employers
Recently relocated Smoke: BBQ this week launched a new program offering individual box lunches for large groups, including downtown employers. In a Facebook post, owner Adrian Martinez said guests had been asking for individually packaged fare, and that convinced the barbecue spot to create a menu geared toward hospitals, clinics, construction sites, schools and businesses. “Over…
San Antonio Commercial Kitchen for Small Food Businesses Kicks Off Crowdfunding Campaign
Culinary co-working space Alamo Kitchens is turning to crowdfunding to expand its business, which helps local chefs and entrepreneurs who can’t afford to operate their own full-scale kitchen facilities. The San Antonio-based business wants to raise $15,000 to buy cameras and lighting so the food businesses that use its site can record and livestream video content…
Podcaster Joe Rogan Officially Makes His Move to Texas
It appears podcast host Joe Rogan is now a Texan. This weekend, Rogan, whose podcast The Joe Rogan Experience sits at No. 2 on the Apple podcast rankings, posted a photo on his Instagram account of his new studio being built. “Texas JRE studio set up has begun!” On a podcast episode in late July,…
Coronavirus Testing in Texas Plummets as Schools Prepare to Reopen
The number of Texans being tested for the coronavirus has fallen sharply in recent weeks, a trend that has worried public health experts as officials con sider sending children back to school while thousands more Texans are infected each day. In the week ending Aug. 8, an average 36,255 coronavirus tests were administered in Texas…
Robert Downey Jr. Making a Virtual Appearance at a Sold-Out EVO Screening This Weekend
Oscar-nominated actor Robert Downey Jr. might refer to his 1988 comedy Johnny Be Good as Johnny B-Movie, but the Marvel star is still doing his co-star and friend Anthony Michael Hall a solid by participating in a Q&A after the screening of the film at his Summer Drive-In Film Festival. On August 15 at the…
Boiler House at San Antonio’s Pearl Complex Launches Meal Prep and Cocktail Kits for At-Home Cooking
Houston-based Boiler House Grill and Wine Garden has rolled a collection of make-it-at-home kits featuring recipes and prepped ingredients for some of its best-selling items. The restaurant’s Summer Sessions kits include its sarsaparilla flank steak, classic margarita on the rocks and the Boiler House old fashioned. Executive Chef Jarrad Gwaltney developed the kits with the home…
Ted Cruz Gets Shitty on Twitter Again, Mocks the Idea of Paying Families During the Pandemic
For the love of all things holy, could someone please pry Sen. Ted Cruz’s cell phone away from him? At least until the pandemic is over. As his constituents fret over losing their jobs, health insurance or even their goddamned lives, Tweetin’ Ted keeps spending copious amounts of time engaging in online shit-flinging contests with…
San Antonio’s University Hospital Allows COVID-19 Positive Mothers to Breastfeed
Following new research, San Antonio’s University Hospital has joined the number of medical facilities now allowing mothers that test positive for COVID-19 to breastfeed and have full contact with their newborns. A recent study published by The Lancet found that the perinatal transmission of COVID-19 is unlikely to occur via breastfeeding or skin-to-skin contact, as long…
San Antonio’s Classic Theatre Announces Flexible, Socially Distant 2020-2021 Season
On Sunday, the cast, crew, friends and patrons of the Classic Theatre of San Antonio gathered via Zoom to toast the announcement of a flexible 2020-2021 season, which will feature three plays. Macbeth, Our Town and Antigone are each tentatively scheduled to run for two weekends at the San Antonio Botanical Garden, followed by two…
Surreal South Texas Web Series Powdered Wig Machine Releasing New Episode This Week
San Antonio and San Marcos’ prime cinematic weirdos Powdered Wig Machine have birthed a new episode of their surreal web series, titled “This can’t be it. And, as to be expected, it’s delightfully strange. In what can only be described as a cross between the Eric Andre Show and Youtube’s unsettling Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared,…
One-Third of Congress Supports Proposed Act That Would Grant $120 Billion to US Restaurants
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) has proposed an act to inject the US foodservice industry with $120 billion, and as of Friday, the act has gained the support of 188 congressional cosponsors, Restaurant Engine reports. The Real Economic Support That Acknowledges Unique Restaurant Assistance Needed to Survive (or RESTAURANTS) Act of 2020 calls for a $120…
San Antonio Stand-Up Comics Look for Ways to Keep Performing, Even as Pandemic Closes Venues
The grind never stops. It is a personal motto comic Clifton Simmons has been living by his entire career. Hitting center stage to deliver a stand-up comedy performance is something Simmons does not want to give up – even during a pandemic. With fewer venues hiring comedians for gigs over the last five months, Simmons…
New Chinese Noodle House to Open in South San Antonio’s McCreless Market
Chinese eatery Shifu Noodle soon will serve handmade noodles in a cozy shop on SA’s south side. “It’s been six months since we broke ground and are very excited to bring delicious authentic Chinese food to San Antonio,” the shop’s inaugural Instagram post read. “We will be opening very soon, so keep an eye out…
Analysis: The Opening Line in Every Texas Political Debate
Texas legislators have been shut out of the decisions about whether to open or close business, government and cultural spaces during a pandemic — a debating topic that now includes public schools. Maybe that’s just as well. While some of them have railed at Gov. Greg Abbott — or even sued him — over his coronavirus-related actions,…
Mayor of Port Aransas on Texas Coast Says He Can No Longer Enforce Beach Closure Order
Port Aransas Mayor Charles Bujan posted on Facebook Sunday that his city will longer enforce a beach closure order issued in July to combat the spread of COVID-19. “The city can no longer afford providing 24-hour day policing of the county beaches closure order,” Bujan wrote. “We have depleted all of our overtime budgets.” The…
San Antonio’s Smack’s Chicken Shack Teaming Up with Just Dogs 34 for Collaborative Event
Fried chicken gurus Smack’s Chicken Shack is teaming up with fellow food cart Just Dogs 34 for a special popup featuring a collaborative, mash-up menu. On Saturday, August 22, the pair of food carts will lend each other their best-selling toppings, flipping the script on two menu items per cart. “We wanted to support other…
COVID-19 Hospitalizations Continue to Decline in San Antonio
Bexar County COVID-19 hospitalizations have declined for the past five days, according to data from the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District. On Saturday, 743 people were hospitalized locally due to the coronavirus, down from 770 on Friday and 886 on August 3, the last recorded spike. Of Saturday’s total, 328 are in intensive care and…
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Says Local Governments Can’t Stop or Delay Evictions
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton advised Friday that local Texas governments’ attempts to delay evictions for renters grappling with the COVID-19 recession amounted to rewriting state law — something they can’t do, he said in nonbinding legal guidance. “While local officials do possess certain emergency powers … statewide eviction procedures far exceed the requirement that those…
La Villita’s Maverick Plaza Makeover Gets Fresh New Look
The Maverick Plaza at La Villita makeover continues to evolve. The $12 million project is being lead by local chef Johnny Hernandez, whose Grupo La Gloria signed a 49-year lease from the City of San Antonio on the plaza in May 2018. The addition of new Mexican, German and Spanish restaurants on the plaza, the…
Inside the Trump Campaign’s Effort — and Struggle — to Win Over Black Voters in Texas
WACO — On the door for the McLennan County Republican Party headquarters on a February night, a flyer read, “Black Voices for Trump.” Inside, 50 or so faces — virtually all of them white — looked up at the speaker before them. “How many of you are tired of being called a racist?” asked the…
Starbucks Not Opening on Contentious Property in San Antonio’s Government Hill Area
A commercial development plan to build a Starbucks in place of nine derelict homes in the East Side neighborhood of Government Hill was never seriously a consideration, according to the coffee shop giant. Additionally, Fort Worth-based Vaquero Ventures, one of several real estate developers that partners with the coffee chain in Texas, has removed itself…
Cheetos Released Flamin’ Hot Mac & Cheese, But These San Antonio Snacks Are Way More Puro
Cheetos announced the release of a line of mac and cheese Thursday, featuring their Bold & Cheesy, Cheesy Jalapeño and — of course — Flamin’ Hot flavors. But, to our minds, nothing beats the original snacking option of a way-too-large bag of unnaturally red puffed corn snacks that dye your fingertips and cause a perpetually…
San Antonio Museum of Art Creates Animal Crossing Custom Designs Including Works From Its Collection
Still playing Animal Crossing? As it turns out, the San Antonio Museum of Art is, too. The Nintendo Switch game — the latest in a beloved series that went viral partly due to its release coinciding with global coronavirus lockdowns — may be old news to some. But between the game’s frequent updates and the…
Hemp Companies Sue Texas, Challenging Its New Ban on Smokable Products
Four Texas hemp marketers are suing to overturn Texas’ new ban on the sale of smokable hemp products, saying it’s unconstitutional. In the suit, filed Wednesday in Travis County District Court, the companies warn that the state is shutting down a valuable source of sales tax revenue and putting roadblocks in front of a growing…
Cinematic Spillover: Short reviews of The Tax Collector, La Llorona and An American Pickle
Despite its tangy name, An American Pickle is not the movie opening this week that will leave a sour taste in your mouth. Read below to see which of the three films we reviewed this week is one of the worst of the year. We also reviewed one of the best. An American Pickle Actor…
Deco Pizzeria Teases Their New South San Antonio Location with Sneak Peek Video
San Antonio-based pizza joint Deco Pizzeria posted a teaser video to their Facebook page Tuesday that walked viewers through their new City Base Commons location, slated to open in the next few months. The space will feature a spacious indoor dining room, banquet room for private events, and a large, pet-friendly patio. The bar area…
San Antonio’s Briscoe Western Art Museum Adds Locals Day, Other Features for Summer Showcase
As the dog days of summer drag on, the Briscoe Western Art Museum is offering both new deals and new attractions. On August 15, the museum will debut its first-ever Locals Day event. This offer includes 50% off general admission for Bexar County residents and residents of bordering counties. The first 50 guests will also receive…
With School Reopening, Gov. Greg Abbott Sets Off Another Debate Over Whether Local or State Officials Are in Control
Last week, Gov. Greg Abbott moved to block local health authorities from shutting down classrooms before the school year has started. Since then, he has repeatedly said he is trusting local school leaders to decide whether and how to bring students back to classrooms this fall. Those actions have left local officials confused about the limitations…
Army Secretary Meets with Military Leaders at Fort Hood, Deploys Outside Investigators
Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy visited Fort Hood Thursday to speak with military leadership about the recent rash of violence at the installation, and his resulting plan to deploy a group of outside investigators to attempt to understand the root cause of the incidents, KSAT reports. Fort Hood has the most reported sexual assaults,…
San Antonio Chef to Hold ‘Puro Chorizo’ Burger Pop-Up at Southtown’s Wong’s Bodega
Edward Villarreal, who bills himself as San Antonio’s Homegrown Chef, will hold a “Puro Chorizo” burger pop-up event next weekend at the newly launched Wong’s Bodega. On Friday, August 14, Villarreal will cook up and serve chorizo burgers at Wong’s, a fledgling food market focused on healthy, locally produced groceries. The business is located in…
San Antonio’s Woodlawn Theatre Goes Virtual with Zoom Cast Reunions of Past Productions
The Woodlawn Theatre is virtually reuniting the cast of some of its most memorable mainstage productions. The pandemic makes it unlikely the San Antonio nonprofit will stage one of its musical theater productions anytime soon, so it’s giving audiences a peek behind the curtain via a new series of online cast reunions. The shows will…
High-Profile Super PAC Launched to Help Biden Beat Trump in Texas
As Texas emerges as a potential 2020 battleground, a new super PAC has launched to help Joe Biden become the first Democratic presidential candidate to win the state since 1976. In a video and website that went live Friday, the newly formed Blue Texas PAC, said it plans a major advertising push to shore up…
San Antonians Can Solve an Online Mystery with the Tobin Center’s Zoom Escape Room
The escape room experience — locking a bunch of people in a closed space for an hour or until they puzzle their way out — isn’t exactly socially distant. You might not think that kind of challenge could be virtually adapted to take place on a Zoom call, but considering how desperate we are to…
San Antonio Zoo Debuts New Hours for Both In Person and Drive Thru Visits
With COVID-19 numbers still high, the San Antonio Zoo has offered guests the opportunity to enjoy the park on both foot and behind the wheel. “We are once again very excited to welcome guests every day of the week to enjoy the traditional zoo experience and reconnect with nature,” Tim Murrow, Zoo President and CEO…
Three San Antonio Small Businesses Join Forces to Support Each Other Through the Power of Beer
Starting Thursday, craft beer mecca the Growler Exchange will partner with sustainable food company Grain4Grain flour for a week-long celebration of beer and pizza that supports local businesses. The hyper-local promotion will highlight SA-based Growler Exchange artisan pizzas made with Grain4Grain flour. Grain4Grain uses spent grains from local microbreweries — such as Freetail Brewing and…
Four Inspired San Antonio-Brewed IPAs to Enjoy at Home on National IPA Day
The pandemic may have slowed San Antonio’s craft beer renaissance, but local breweries are still creating drive-thru and curbside opportunities for beer lovers to swing by and take home an armful of their favorites. That’s worth noting because Thursday is National IPA Day — a perfect time to consider ordering a six pack (or more)…
Did a Guatemalan Filmmaker Just Make the Best La Llorona Movie Ever?
The legend of La Llorona has been a part of Latino folklore for generations and has frequently made its way into pop culture over the last 60 years. From the 1960 Mexican horror movie La Llorona to last year’s The Curse of La Llorona, a spin-off from The Conjuring universe, La Llorona, is a story…
Do You Know Where Your Chickens Are? Twitter User Alerts San Antonio About Flock on the Loose
If you need any more proof that San Antonio is the biggest little town in Texas, look no further than this tweet. On Wednesday, Twitter user @Jordpord put out an APB on some fowl she spotted wandering the streets: “if u lost ur chickens around vance jackson, ur chickens r roaming around on vance jackson.”…
Twitter Ridicules MAGA-Bedecked Couple Spotted at North San Antonio Trader Joe’s
A pair of Trump-stans are going viral thanks to their cringey MAGA-themed fashion statement. Twitter user @frijolitabonita spotted the pair shopping at Trader Joe’s in Stone Oak, sporting MAGA hats and Trump 2020 face masks. “Thought I was having a fever dream but realized I’m just in Stone Oak,” she tweeted. Thought I was having…
Diner Max & Louie’s Introduces New Menu to Benefit Holocaust Memorial Museum of San Antonio
Max & Louie’s New York Diner is one of ten U.S. delis participating in a month-long event to raise money for nonprofits including the Holocaust Memorial Museum of San Antonio. National Delicatessen Month celebrates the heritage of Jewish-style delis across the country. The event invites selected delis to create special a pre-fixe menu and donate a…
18-Year San Antonio Police Veteran Arrested After Sexual Assault Report
An 18-year San Antonio Police Department veteran was arrested Wednesday on sexual assault charges, KSAT reports. A woman called 911 Saturday to allege that Officer Humberto Zuniga, whom she knew for the past few months, forced her to have sex without her consent, authorities told the news station. The victim also told police she cut…
San Antonio Restaurants Whiskey Cake and Ida Claire Now Offering Cocktail Delivery Via Favor
Front Burner Restaurants, the multi-concept company behind Ida Claire and Whiskey Cake, has struck a partnership with Favor Delivery to bring specialty cocktails directly to guests’ doors. “At Front Burner, we are always looking for ways to best meet our guests’ needs,” company CEO Jack Gibbons said in a statement. “Especially now, it is imperative…
Whataburger Unveils First Food Truck at DoSeum Drive-Thru Event to Support San Antonio Teachers
San Antonio-based Whataburger unveiled its first food truck Thursday at a teacher appreciation event at interactive museum The DoSeum. The 36-foot-long branded vehicle was created by local food truck maker Cruising Kitchens to celebrate the Texas-born burger chain’s 70th anniversary. It’s scheduled for a national reveal on an upcoming episode of Cruising Kitchens’ Built for…
During Town Hall, Health Official Says Outbreaks Inevitable as San Antonio Schools Reopen
San Antonio public health and education leaders spoke in blunt terms about the risks of school reopenings during a virtual town hall on Thursday, with a top Metro Health official warning that COVID-19 outbreaks are inevitable. The virtual town hall was headlined by Dr. Junda Woo, medical director for Metro Health, and Bonham Academy principal…
Birria Barrio Food Truck Opening Brick-and-Mortar Location on San Antonio’s South Side
Birria Barrio, a food truck specializing in the Mexican beef-based soup birria de res, has moved into a new brick-and-mortar space at 2710 S. Presa St. that opens Thursday. Birria de res features tender, slow-and-low-cooked pieces of beef that can be thrown into tortillas and topped with cheese, onion and cilantro, then dunked their own consomé,…
Fort Hood Officials Release Name of a Fourth Soldier Found Dead
The U.S. Army has released the identity of a soldier whose body was found Sunday in nearby Stillhouse Hollow Lake. Specialist Francisco Gilberto Hernandezvargas, 24, is the fourth Fort Hood soldier to be found dead in recent months. Hernandezvargas reportedly went underwater while being pulled on an inner tube behind a motorboat, according to Fort…
San Antonio Museum of Art Lands $100,000 Grant From National Endowment for the Humanities
The San Antonio Museum of Art has won a $100,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities that will fund an exhibition of Roman art that debuts next year. The funds will be put toward SAMA’s Fall 2021 exhibition “Art, Nature, and Myth in Ancient Rome,” which will showcase “landscape imagery in Roman art…
Black Lives Matter-Inspired Street Message Now Borders San Antonio’s Travis Park
Early Wednesday morning, artists and volunteers completed a poetic street mural around downtown San Antonio’s Travis Park in the familiar yellow block letters of the Black Lives Matter movement. The project, meant to show solidarity with nationwide protests calling for social justice, was created as part of a public art program overseen by Centro San…
An Abrupt Change to the Census Deadline Shortened the Response Period by a Month, Increasing Fears of an Undercount in Texas
For months, as Texans have been asked to stay home to avoid the spread of the new coronavirus, Jennifer Edwards has been doing the rounds at gas stations in a trio of counties near the Texas-Louisiana border. Volunteering as a census community organizer, the Tarleton State University professor reasoned that gas stations, like grocery stores,…
Texas Bar Owners Lobby for Relief as Bills Stack Up During Governor’s Closure Order
Trade group the Texas Bar & Nightclub Alliance has hired a lobbyist to pressure state leaders to aid liquor-serving businesses shuttered by Gov. Greg Abbott’s closure order, KSAT reports. Gov. Greg Abbott’s late June order to fight growing COVID-19 infections by closing establishments that make 51% or more of their revenue via alcohol sales will…
San Antonio Artist Ruben Luna’s Symbolic Portraits Featured in McNay’s Artists Looking at Art Series
San Antonio artist Ruben Luna is the most recent feature of the McNay Art Museum’s Artists Looking at Art (ALA) series, which is showcasing three of his intimate — and unconventional — portraits. These symbolic portraits are comprised of everyday objects that connect to the lives of Luna’s loved ones. Objects included in each piece…
So Far This Week, Ted Cruz Has Insulted a Fellow Senator, Oprah and People Who Don’t Like Trucks
Even for famously acerbic Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, this has been a banner week for bluster. On Tuesday, the Republican lawmaker staged a committee hearing on conservative bogeyman Antifa that got so combative one of his Senate colleagues walked out. And, as if that wasn’t enough, he also found time to get worked up over…
San Antonio Man Finds Worm in Raw Salmon Fillet Purchased at North San Antonio H-E-B
A San Antonio man took to Reddit last week to share that he’d found a live worm in a raw salmon filet purchased at a Northside H-E-B grocery. “Found a worm in my sockeye salmon from HEB,” read Max Salmeron’s Reddit post, which included a short video of the wriggling stowaway. “I called the Seafood…
Glitter Political: Former Ted Kennedy Staffer Christine Hortick Isn’t Afraid to Run as a Democrat in Conservative Precinct 3
For the past 60 years, few names have had the ability to rouse lifelong Democrats like that of the Kennedy family. At a recent Northeast Bexar County Democrats event, Precinct 3 county commissioner candidate Christine Hortick told the crowd that she’d once served as a congressional aide to the late Sen. Ted Kennedy. When she…
San Antonio Bartender Launches Everything-But-the-Booze Cocktail Kit Venture Called Suck It Up S.A.
Ana Cabrera, a 14-year SA bar-industry veteran, has launched a new company specializing in everything-but-the-booze cocktail kits that let folks sip expertly crafted drinks from the comfort of home. Drawing on her experience as a bartender at some of the city’s favorite cocktail spots, including Maverick Texas Brasserie and Liberty Bar, Cabrera’s Suck It Up S.A. produces fresh…
MJ Hegar Getting $1 Million Boost in Bid to Unseat U.S. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee said it will make a “seven-figure coordinated investment” in the campaign of MJ Hegar, the former Air Force helicopter pilot challenging three-term U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. The contribution marks the DSCC’s first major investment in a general election in Texas, which hasn’t elected a Democrat to statewide office since…
San Antonio Man Comes Face to Face with Alligator on the East Side
A man taking out the trash on the East Side got a toothy surprise Tuesday. When performing what should have been a boring chore, the man encountered a five-foot long alligator taking a siesta in his front yard, TPR reports. Police and Animal Care Services used a wire fence panel to pen in the gator…
San Antonio Restaurant Ida Claire Launches New Outdoor Movie Screening Series This Week
For many, going to the movies — and feeling the thrill and emotion of the story with a room full of people — came to an abrupt halt due to the pandemic. Although theaters are now allowed to operate under the state’s reopening order, many folks still don’t feel safe watching a flick indoors. Southern restaurant…
New Mexican Restaurant Opens in Former Saigon Express North of Downtown San Antonio
A new Mexican restaurant has opened in the Tobin Hill building that formerly housed downtown-area lunch spot Saigon Express, according to MySA report. Boasting an impressive 60-plus item menu, Agave Azul is now open at the corner of McCullough Avenue and East Myrtle Street. Co-owner Paola Roldan told the news site she opened Agave Azul to…
Questions About Reopening of Texas Schools Front and Center at Gov. Abbott’s San Antonio Event
Gov. Greg Abbott appeared in San Antonio Tuesday to trumpet Texas’ success in distributing personal protective equipment, or PPE, during the pandemic. However, many of his prepared remarks — not to mention most questions posed by reporters — focused on the contentious debate on how to reopen schools as COVID-19 infections and deaths remain high…
San Antonio-Based Whataburger Offering Buy One, Get One Free Deal to Celebrate 70 Years
Texas burger institution Whataburger has launched a buy one, get one free deal to celebrate seven orange-and-white striped decades in business. The San Antonio-based burger purveyor will launch the celebratory deal Tuesday, allowing diners to redeem the offer via its Whataburger app. “From all of us to all of you, thank you for the last…
COVID-19 Pandemic Claims Longtime San Antonio-Area Smokehouse
New Braunfels Smokehouse, located just north of SA in the historic German town, will close its doors for good this week due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A sign posted on the eatery’s door announced the decision, and the closing date was confirmed by an employee, news site MySA reports. “With a heavy heart, we will…
Trump Administration Raising Price for Applying for Citizenship, Will Charge Refugees Asylum Fee
In yet another immigration roadblock from the Trump White House, filing for asylum, citizenship and visas will cost substantially more starting October 2. New fee increases posted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will also require international students and businesses hiring foreign workers to dig deeper. Among the changes: the cost of applying for citizenship will go up…
San Antonio-Based Grocery Giant H-E-B Recalls Raw Salmon Burgers Containing Wheat
As a result of at least one reported illness in connection with wheat-laced seafood burger patties, H-E-B has voluntarily recalled packages of its Blue Cheese Salmon Burgers. The cook-and-eat burgers contained wheat, but the ingredient had not been declared on the product label, according to a company statement. Wheat, a known allergen, can cause serious…
Texas Man’s Scathing Obituary Blaming His Death on Trump and Abbott Goes Viral
A Texas man’s obituary struck a chord with the nation this week. David Nagy, a resident of Jefferson, Texas — a small burg northeast of Longview — died of COVID-19 in late July. While such tragedy is unfortunately commonplace as Texas reels from high infection numbers, the scathing obituary his family published in the local paper,…
State of Texas Now Taking Applications to Manufacture and Sell Hemp Products
The state of Texas has launched a program overseeing the manufacture, retail sales and distribution of consumable hemp products, paving the way for more legal production of CBD products in the state. On Monday, the Texas Department of State Health Services began accepting online applications for consumable hemp production and retail licenses under its newly launched Consumable…
Ha Comedy Festival Held in San Antonio Earlier This Year Debuts August 20 on HBO Max
It might seem like it happened a lifetime ago, but the Ha Comedy Festival that took place at the Empire Theatre in February will be a part of HBO Max’s Summer Comedy Festival later this month. The Ha Comedy Festival: The Art of Comedy, hosted by Latina comedian and actress Anjelah Johnson (Our Family Wedding), is…
San Antonio Teachers Caravan to Protest Lack of Protection as Schools Reopen During Pandemic
On Monday, San Antonio educators staged a car caravan to protest a lack of protection for teachers, students and their families as local schools prepare to open during COVID-19 pandemic. The rally, which started in King William with around 50 cars, was set to drive to the Burnet Learning Center, San Antonio ISD’s central office.…
San Antonio-Area’s Davila’s BBQ Featured in Weekend Edition of Wall Street Journal
Seguin foodie haven Davila’s BBQ got some major press over the weekend when it was featured in Saturday’s Wall Street Journal in a piece called “BBQ: The Ultimate Guide.” While pit-master Adrian Davila is no stranger to national exposure thanks to appearances on the Food Network, he was still thrilled to have his family’s restaurant featured…
Obama Endorses San Antonio Candidates Wendy Davis and Gina Ortiz Jones for U.S. House Seats
San Antonio-area Democrats Wendy Davis and Gina Ortiz Jones are among 27 Texas candidates endorsed by former President Barack Obama ahead of November 3 election. Obama’s announcement was released on August 3. Obama endorsed a total of 118 candidates 17 states, including five Democratic Senate challengers and more than four dozen state legislative candidates. “I’m…
San Antonio Man in the Running for a $25,000 Grant to Benefit His Hispanic Education Nonprofit
San Antonio’s Richard Montez, Director of Member Services for the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), is a finalist in a program that recognizes emerging Latinx community leaders with a $25,000 grant. Coors Light’s Líder of the Year program nominates 12 Latinx leaders between the ages of 21 to 39 based on their community involvement. A public…
El Paso City Officials Break Ground on Memorial Garden Honoring Victims of 2019 Walmart Shooting
One year ago today, 23 people died at the hands of a mass shooter at the Cielo Vista Walmart in El Paso. Yesterday, community leaders in the West Texas border town, along with the Interfaith Alliance of the Southwest, broke ground on a memorial to honor those 23 victims, according to media reports. The evening…
The Public Theatre of San Antonio Unveils Upcoming Season of One-Person Shows
Turns out one may not be the loneliest number after all. At least when it comes to theater. The Public Theatre of San Antonio on Friday announced its new season — billed as 2020-202ONE — will focus on one-person performances to ensure it can maintain safe social distancing amid the pandemic. Other local theater comapnies including Teatro…
Joe Biden’s Campaign Hires San Antonio Organizer as Texas Deputy Director
Democrat Joe Biden’s presidential campaign has named veteran San Antonio political organizer Jenn Longoria as its Texas deputy director. Longoria — who led Elizabeth Warren’s campaign for the state during the primary — will answer to Biden State Director Rebecca Acuña, a longtime Texas Democratic operative who most recently served as a director of government affairs…
San Antonio Welcomes First Delia’s Tamales With Open Arms, Line Around the Building
Rio Grande Valley icon Delia’s opened a long-awaited San Antonio location Friday, and in puro SA fashion, people lined up around the building, waiting for hours to get their fresh tamale fix. The tamale purveyor shared photos on social media of a procession of cars around its building, and fans posted that they’d waited more…
Texas Alcohol Regulators Change Rules So Some Bars Can Reopen as Restaurants
New guidelines issued late last week by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission will allow some bars, breweries and wineries to reopen as restaurants, as long as they meet certain requirements, NEWS4 reports. Thousands of establishments across Texas were forced to close under Governor Greg Abbott’s June 26 shutdown order, which affected establishments whose alcohol sales made…
San Antonio Food Bank Partners with Wells Fargo to Provide Meals as Federal Benefits Run Out
With federal jobless benefits now expired, the San Antonio Food Bank and Wells Fargo are hosting a drive-up food bank every Tuesday through August 25. The $600 federal unemployment benefit expired on Friday, and lawmakers have yet to reach a compromise on a second round of pandemic relief. As a result, food banks across the country…
San Antonio TikTok Users Say Trump’s Proposed Ban Would Hurt Them Financially and Socially
On Friday, President Trump told reporters he’s weighing a plan to ban TikTok from the United States. The Chinese-owned video-sharing and social networking platform boasts 800 million active users worldwide. San Antonio TikTok users say they’re worried that a federal ban on the app will upend their lives, both socially and economically. Without TikTok, San Antonio…
Former San Antonio Spur Tony Parker Announces Split With Wife on Twitter
Former San Antonio Spur Tony Parker said Monday via Twitter that he and his wife Axelle Francine are calling it quits. “After nine years together, during which we shared a lot of happiness, and raised two wonderful children, Axelle and I have decided to end our union,” tweeted Parker, who spent 17 years with the…
San Antonians Should Be Wary When VIA Asks for More Money
Editor’s Note: The following is CityScrapes, a column of opinion and analysis. “County can have first metropolitan bus service in the state,” proclaimed the headline in the Express-News on October 15, 1977. In advance of an early November vote on a sales tax for the proposed Metropolitan Transit Authority, the article laid out the case…
Raul Reyes Seeking Recount in Republican Runoff Against Tony Gonzales for U.S. Rep. Will Hurd’s Seat
Raul Reyes announced Friday night that he will seek a recount in the razor-thin Republican primary runoff to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes, in his national battleground district. Reyes’ announcement came after the Texas GOP certified the results of his July 14 runoff against Tony Gonzales. The campaigns said the final margin was…
21 Essential San Antonio Sushi Joints Offering Food To-Go
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