Cover Story
18 Love Letters and Hate Haikus to San Antonio
Conventional thinking says that Valentine’s Day reminds us of what we love most. But for some, it can have the opposite impact. For every (greeting) card-carrying Cupid enthusiast, there’s someone else who’d rather skip the hearts and chocolates and embrace their inner misanthrope. So, for our “Love and Hate” issue, we thought we’d give both…
Son of Saul Navigates Between Life and Death
Son of Saul is shot literally over the shoulder of a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp. Over the shoulder of Saul. Saul Ausländer exists between several worlds. He is a Hungarian Jew in a concentration camp – an existence of silent passivity and muted acquiescence to his hateful captors. He is also a member…
San Antonio Bands to Perform at the Austin Instrumental Music Festival February 27
Imagine Mozart, Beethoven and Bach as modern rock stars complete with sun-bleached, Rapunzel-length hair, grungy flannels paired with non-designer ripped jeans and the mightiest six-strings ever wielded by man (or woman). Now, picture them writing classic compositions for the guitar, drum and bass instead of the piano, violin and flute. Unfortunately, because there’s no resurrections…
Free Tacos! Taco Cabana And Uber Team Up
The taco fairies are back in town. Uber and Taco Cabana are partnering for Random Acts of Kindness Day to deliver the joy of free tacos throughout SA on Wednesday, February 17 from 9 to 11 a.m. Pull up your Uber app, select the Taco Cabana option and if you’re in the appropriate locations (listed…
‘T’ for Texas Tuesdays: Jimmie Rodgers Edition
As the inaugural edition of T for Texas Tuesdays, the weekly blog that features tunes from our neck of the sparse, shrubby “woods,” we will be going with the song from which this blog takes its name, Jimmie Rodgers’ version of “T for Texas.” Incidentally, Rodgers spent much of his short life – dying at…
The Witch: Seldom Seen But Undeniably Effective
Robert Eggers’ The Witch is the kind of horror film modern directors hardly ever dare to make. There are no standard jump-out scenes like the ones the Insidious series so frequently employed; an effective trick of the trade that serves to awaken viewers out of their lulled stupor but never latches onto the audience in a lasting manner. Furthermore, there is a bare…
Watch: Netflix Releases Full-Length Trailer for Pee-wee’s Big Holiday
Pee-wee’s return to the screens (which could be small, medium or large, since it’s on demand) is rapidly approaching. Netflix will release Pee-wee’s Big Holiday on Friday, March 18. Today the company released the first full-length trailer for the movie, which gave us a few more clues about what to expect from the upcoming talkie: As…
Maverick Music Festival Announces Day by Day Lineup and Single Ticket Prices
If you find yourself in the unenviable position of being broke-as-fuck for the next two months – you just can’t pull a Mona-Lisa Saperstein and spring for two-day VIP passes for Maverick Music Festival – fear not! The folks behind the festival have just released the lineup for the annual celebration of music, booze and…
Maverick Music Fest VIP Ticket Holders Will Get Previews of Two New Restaurants
The annual music festival, which is held throughout the La Villita grounds and will feature headliners Public Enemy, the Flaming Lips, The Church, The Drums and more, will now give those that purchase VIP tickets ($95-$169) an opportunity to sample two of the newest contributions to SA’s growing foodie scene. Steve Mahoney, the founder of George’s Keep, Blue…
Texas Board of Education Candidate: President Obama Was a Prostitute
You’ve got to say this for Mary Lou Bruner — at least she’s not afraid to speak her mind. Bruner is running for a seat on the State Board of Education that represents a chunk of northeast Texas. She’s a retired teacher who’s running on a platform with planks that are common sense and starkly…
Texas Music Legends to Host a Benefit for Local Musician Ernie Garibay
It’s a damn shame when it takes something like illness to bring together the talent amassed on this bill in support of Ernie Garibay. The San Antonio music legend and brother of puro pinche bluesman Randy Garibay (“Barbacoa Blues”) was struck with aggressive renal cancer in 2011 and underwent two surgeries to remove it. Garibay…
Local gamers say goodbye to Street Fighter IV
Street Fighter V, the fifth official entry in the Street Fighter franchise, hits store shelves on Tuesday, February 16. With its release comes high hopes from players who wish to see the franchise revolutionize the fighting game genre again. To say their goodbyes to its predecessor, Street Fighter IV, 16 players from around San Antonio…
The Complete List of 2016 GRAMMY Winners
Another year has come and gone and we now find ourselves in that familiar position of either feeling validated in our belief that the GRAMMYs – a campaign of essentially awarding artists for record sales – is either a bunch of bullshit, or that our opinions on the best music of the year are “correct,”…
Early Voting Starts in Bexar County Today
The 2016 presidential election is coming together faster than you can say “Make America Great Ag” – just kidding, I hate that guy. In all seriousness, Tuesday, February 16 marks the first day for Bexar County residents (and all other registered Texas voters) can cast their ballots during the early voting period. The period, which lasts…
There’s a Contest to Name the New Tower of Americas’ Mascot
San Antonio loves mascots. And we have quite a few of them, including the beloved Spurs Coyote. However, there’s a new mascot in town, but it doesn’t have a name yet. The Tower of Americas is holding a contest to name its new mascot. The new mascot is a female and the Tower of Americas…
10 Free Events Happening This Week
Tue 2/16 Rapid Image Artists As a part of the Texas Draws IV exhibition, the Southwest School of Art is hosting an evening of rapid image presentations. Join each artist as they utilize a rapid fire style format presenting their artwork, process and inspirations as the images are viewed by the audience. Free, 6:30-8:30pm, Tue,…
Get a Real Job, San Antonio: Be a Bingo Card Verifier
Whether you’ve got one or you need one, jobs can be a drag. So in a San Antonio Current feature, we scan local job boards to find a real gig you could have that you may never have thought of. This week: verify four corners, blackouts and Texas T’s as a Bingo hall worker, advertised…
5 San Antonio Musicians Let Us In On What They’re Listening To
In an effort to let the masses in on exactly what ditty is bouncing around in the heads of some of San Antonio’s best musicians, we have constructed a playlist from five local artists that includes their most beloved tunes as of late. Joe Reyes of Buttercup, Demitasse and the Swindles Nada Surf “Cold To…
KIDZ BOP Kids Tour Heads to the Tobin Center
In celebration of 15 years of rounding the edges off of pop music: changing the lyrics to numerous pop hits and adding choruses of children singing along to songs about sex, drugs and all of the other things that make adult life fun, the KIDZ BOP Kids “Life of the Party” Tour heads to the…
Raul’s Enchilacos Will Close at the End of February
The days of Raul’s Enchilacos (101 Creekwood Drive, Floresville) are numbered. The restaurant with a seemingly cult-like following is closing its doors on February 27. Owners Raul Vela IV and business partner Saam Miremadi posted the following status to their Facebook page earlier this morning. (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id))…
Wife of Unarmed Black Man Killed by SAPD Officer Files Federal Lawsuit
The widow of a 36-year-old unarmed black man killed by a San Antonio Police Department officers on February 4 is suing the city, the officer and police department. The San Antonio Express-News reports that Elena Scott, wife of Antroine Scott, through a federal lawsuit filed by Thomas J. Henry, alleges her late husband’s civil rights…
4 Texas Cases Impacted by Justice Antonin Scalia’s Death
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s death in West Texas on Saturday, first reported by the local daily, will reverberate across the political landscape. The dynamics of major decisions on the court’s docket, some of which involve Texas, have shifted. Without Scalia, perhaps the court’s most conservative voice, the left wing of the court will hold…
5 Shows to See This Week
Monday, February 15 PRCA Rodeo with Toby Keith The outspoken country singer with the W. tramp stamp of approval is gonna turn the home of the Spurs into a Trump and truck rally. $15-$200, 7pm, AT&T Center, 1 AT&T Center Parkway, (210) 444-5140 Monday, February 15 Swing Nite with Bad Banjo Brown The classic Americana…
Witness ‘Splendor on the Range’ at the Witte This March
Ignore Texas and the rest of the country as it is today; just try to imagine the landscape devoid of massive infrastructure, where nature’s claim on large swaths of this country’s geography still stands in contrast to areas tamed by Native Americans. Now, go back farther: imagine that the only way to travel was by…
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia found dead at a Texas ranch today
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was reportedly found dead at a ranch in Texas today. According to news reports, he had arrived at Cibolo Creek Ranch in Big Bend, not far from Marfa, on Friday. This morning, he did not show up for breakfast, and when somebody was sent to look for him, they found…
Hangover Fest Announces Second Lineup of Bands, Gets Love From Brooklyn Vegan
The second group of bands have been announced for this year’s Burger Hangover Fest! The Spits, Bleached, Cosmonauts, Hinds, Tracy Bryant, Gymshorts, Death Valley Girls, The Lemons, Feels, Adult Books, The Abjects, and Plastic Pinks are the newest additions to the fuzz-soaked festival put together by Lone Star Beer, Do210.com, Fuzzland Productions and Burger Records.…
Contemporary Art Month Cancels Perennial After Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center Withdraws as Host
The 2016 CAM Perennial is no more. On Thursday, news broke that the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center decided it wouldn’t host the 5th edition of the all-female CAM Perennial because no Latina artist was included. “The lack of diversity in this year’s group of artists, specifically the lack of representation of Latina artists in this…
The Winning Poster Design for the 2016 Tejano Conjunto Festival Has Been Chosen
Virgen de Guadalupe, with vivid vibrancy and depth, is imagined as a symbol of music, including hair that transforms into an ornate acoustic guitar and both hands strapped onto a accordion, as if she was busting out a traditional spanish song. Even though there’re no musical notes on the lyrical poster, the music flowing through it…
NBA Creates Custom Emojis for Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge
The ever-expanding suite of emojis (or is the plural just emoji?) now features a couple of Spurs-centric symbols we didn’t know we needed, but will soon become go-to resources for Spurs fans. The NBA unveiled custom emojis for each of the players in this weekend’s All-Star game. That includes Spurs forwards Kawhi Leonard, who’s starting…
Retama Park to Host the Ziegenbock Festival, Rodney Atkins to Headline
Taking place at Retama Park, the racetrack where fortunes are won and lost, dreams are made and crushed and Eliza Doolittle’s lack of grace would be commended as Texan zeal, is the inaugural edition of the Ziegenbock festival on March 12 at 3pm. The headliner for the jamboree is award-winning good ol’ boy Rodney Atkins, who…
SA Filmmakers Submit Your Short Films for World Street Cinema Festival Now
2016 marks the 100th year of outdoor film screenings. In celebration, local outdoor film buffs Slab Cinema will be joining together with La Villita to provide San Antonio with the World Street Cinema Festival. The annual film fest has been through 60 European cities and will make its first American stop this year. This is…
Ted Cruz’s Campaign Drops Ad Featuring a Softcore Porn Actress
In the age of no-holds-barred politics, few topics are too taboo to include in an attack ad. But find out an actress with one line in such an ad has a background in softcore porn? That’s apparently a bridge too far. That’s the political calculus that Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s campaign performed when it pulled…
The Lady in the Van is Supes British
In the spirit of opportunistic tomfoolery – the brash, narcotic showmanship of Donald Trump who, make no mistake about it, is an intelligent American capitalist, or the sheer breadth of presence of Kim Kardashian, a beautiful woman and completely useless – this piece is written. In the spirit of Kenneth Anger, Donald J. Trump and…
The 18th Annual United San Antonio Pow Wow Is This Weekend
The United San Antonio Pow Wow kicks off for two days this weekend, and hosted by USAPW, inc. and the American Indians In Texas At The Spanish Colonial Missions. For the 18th year in a row, the Pow Wow is dedicated to promoting the history and culture of America’s first inhabitants, combining a grand entry procession,…
Bexar County Jailer Accused of Stealing Nearly $3,000 from Inmate
Authorities arrested a county jailer Thursday afternoon on accusations she stole money from an inmate at the Bexar County Adult Detention Center. Sheriff’s deputies arrested Laura Ramos Thursday and charged her with credit card abuse and theft by a public servant. According to the sheriff’s department, Ramos, who has worked at the county jail since…
San Antonio’s Youth Arts Organization SAY Sí Goes Global
For the first time since its 1994 inception, SAY Sí — San Antonio’s successful out-of-school time creative youth development organization, is going global. Last week, the organization announced Project Papalote, where staff and youth will travel to “Boston, Massachusetts; Salt Lake City, Utah; Mexico City, Mexico, and Kolkata, India, to work with other youth development organizations…
Former UTSA Project Manager Sentenced to Prison for Bribery
Bribery doesn’t pay. Yesterday, a federal judge slapped former University of Texas at San Antonio project manager James Paul Council with a 38-month sentence in prison for a bribery scheme. Council pleaded guilty to taking $1,000 from people trying to secure UTSA construction contracts worth more than $200,000. Here’s what the FBI said in August,…
29th Annual Asian Festival: Year of the Monkey
There’s a lot to experience at the Asian Festival, one of the city’s favorite events. For 2016, it’s set for Feb. 13, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures. Sure, the food is fabulous and the entertainment is top-notch, but for those who haven’t been to the event, there’s an…
10 Things You Have to Do This Weekend
Thu 2/11 – Sun 2/14 “Made in Germany” Organized by the McNay’s René Paul Barilleaux, “Made in Germany” highlights German works from the Rubell Family Collection. The Rubells, who boast one of the world’s largest private collections of contemporary art, have long focused on German work, but this is the first presentation of their German…
10 Shows to See This Weekend
Thursday, February 11 PRCA Rodeo with Hunter Hayes If it’s true that baby-face pop country crooner Hunter Hayes can play 30 instruments, it’s a shame he’s wasting all that talent on making the aspartame pop country that’s making him a 24-year-old millionaire … Oh, I see. $15-$200, 7pm, AT&T Center, 1 AT&T Center Parkway, (210) 444-5000…
Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center Withdraws From Hosting 2016 CAM Perennial
Editor’s note: This story is updated to include comment from CAM board member Orlando Graves Bolaños. Citing a “lack of diversity,” the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, which was set to host the 2016 Contemporary Art Month (CAM) Perennial, has pulled their support from the festival. The statement released from executive director Jerry Ruiz states: While the…
The Wall Street Journal: Draft Gregg Popovich for President
As 2016 presidential candidates drop like flies, perhaps the person best suited for the job is quite close to home. No, not either of the Castro twins. Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich. That’s a notion that Jason Gay, a sports writer for The Wall Street Journal, suggests in a column published on Monday, February 10. But…
Deadpool Breaks Fourth Wall and Expectations
Deadpool seems like the one comic book character that would be impossible to get right onscreen. Not only are the comics geared toward adults but they also take new approaches to story telling that seem too complicated for a film to pull off effectively. Fans have always wanted a film based on the wisecracking anti-hero, but approached cautiously fearing that…
Maverick Music Festival Announces Second Wave of Headliners
The San Antonio festival that last week announced the headliners of Public Enemy, the Flaming Lips, The Drums and The Church has just released their second list of bands to perform on the Maverick Main Stage. Reverend Horton Heat, Bright Light Social Hour, Young Fathers, Wild Child and Mother Falcon will be performing at the fourth…
The Third International Music Festival Will Feature 5 Free Performances
Instead of taking the trip to exotic places around the globe, San Antonio’s International Music Festival is bringing culturally diverse music to your backyard. Made possible by Musical Bridges Around the World, an organization that unites diverse musicians to culturally enrich SA and its youth, the five concerts will take place at different locations around…
Watch: Kawhi Leonard Hits Last-Second Go-Ahead Shot to Beat the Orlando Magic
The Spurs needed all of the 98 points they scored in a Wednesday night win over the Orlando Magic. And the two that meant the most came just before the buzzer on a Kawhi Leonard jump shot. The Spurs trailed the Magic by 14 points during the fourth quarter, but mounted a furious comeback. In…
Police Arrested an Ex-Priest Accused of Murdering a Woman In 1960
More than 50 years ago, 25-year-old Irene Garza’s lifeless body was pulled from a Rio Grande Valley canal in McAllen. She’d been strangled. Earlier this week, the longtime suspect in the murder, who is now an 83-year-old Arizona resident, John Feit, was indicted by a Hidalgo County grand jury and arrested, The Monitor reported. The…
CineFestival Announces Opening Night, Final Lineup
To celebrate the underrepresented Latino film industry, the 38th Annual CineFestival announces their final lineup, including their opening night special event. Taking place at the Guadalupe Theater, which also acts as a cultural and artistic hub, the festival, unique to San Antonio, will feature eight days of films – regional, national and international – filmmaker Q&A sessions and…
Texas App Developer Creates “Uber for Friends”
You can use your phone to summon pretty much anything nowadays. If you can order a ride, a meal or a movie on-demand, then why not a friend? That’s what Ameego, an app from a Texas-born developer, aims to do. Clay Kohut, an app developer from Fort Worth, created Ameego, a free app that lets you…
2 More Zika Virus Cases Confirmed in Bexar County
The Metropolitan Health District confirmed today that two more Bexar County residents had contracted the Zika virus, a mosquito-borne illness that’s spreading rapidly through Central and South America. The two new cases are part of a batch of six people who travelled to regions afflicted with the virus, returned to Bexar County and were then…
Get Your Valentine’s Day Netflix Fix: Movies For Lovers Or Single Hopeless Romantics
In honor of the upcoming national day of love for loving lovers, the Current’s resident hopeless romantic has picked out five distinct movies available to stream on Netflix that are sure to get you in that special mood so you can perform that special groove. Watching any one of the films listed below is a surefire way to melt…
America to Perform at the Tobin Center in July
Sponsored by one-time oldies station KONO 101.1 FM (which has now gravitated towards ’70s and even ’80s music, begging the question, “What exactly is an oldie?”), America, the long-haired, feel-good group behind such hits as “A Horse With No Name,” “Ventura Highway” and “Sister Golden Hair” will be bringing their peaceful, easy vibes to the…
Enjoy Jazz on the Rocks Every Tuesday at The St. Anthony Hotel
The St. Anthony Club invites all you movers and martini shakers to enjoy Jazz on the Rocks every Tuesday from 5-7 p.m. at the luxurious St. Anthony Hotel (300 E. Travis St., 210-227-4392). Cooly set in the hotel’s elegant peacock alley, live jazz can be paired with complimentary bites from chef Mata, and cocktails as stunning and intricate as the space in which they’re sipped. The weekly event…
Dorćol to Host Democratic Debate Party This Thursday
The heat is on after the New Hampshire primary results! Cool yourself down with a cocktail and watch the next Democratic Debate at Dorcol (1902 S. Flores St., 210-229-0607), Thursday February 11. The bar opens at 5 p.m. while the debate itself begins at 8 p.m. Mix politics with a Perfect Manhattan and watch as…
Texas Board of Appeals Orders State Bar to Investigate Complaint Against AG Ken Paxton
Remember that historic Supreme Court ruling last year? The one that ended decades of discrimination against same-sex couples who wanted to get married? Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton surely does because it’s probably still causing him headaches, in addition to his legal woes. The Lone Star State’s top lawman is accused of securities fraud. We just…
Coach Pop Just Shakes His Head after Hearing New Hampshire Primary Results
During the first game of the Rodeo Road Trip, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich shared his thoughts on the New Hampshire primary with TNT’s David Aldridge. However, there is no fantastic Popovich quote to share, because after hearing that Donald Trump won the Republican primary and that Bernie Sanders won the Democrat primary, Pop…
Love Bug: Safe Sex and Getting Tested Are the Keys to STI Prevention
Some Valentine’s Day gifts are the worst. Take Brief Jerky Edible Underwear, for instance. What part of Alabama is that popular in? Or there’s Fundies, the underwear for two. And if anyone gives you a heart-shaped meat product, run for the hills. But there are several Valentine’s Day gifts that blow those crappy presents out…
Newsmonger: Free Google Fiber, Say Hello to SAFC and More Zika Virus
Fiber to the People Google Fiber is still a ways away from being available in San Antonio. But when it arrives, the service will be free for some who may have otherwise had a tough time affording it. The gigabit-speed Internet service will be free for people who live in public housing, the tech behemoth…
Beer and Life: Southerleigh’s Brewmaster Les Locke
Brewing beer is a kind of alchemy that’s part science and art, part math and magic. For Les Locke, the head brewmaster for Southerleigh Fine Foods & Brewery, beer has become a way of life — one he could have lost after a cancer diagnosis. But his passion for beer and his work at Southerleigh…
Cumbia Queens: Latest Hi-Tones DJ Night Is Ultimate Quinceañera Throwback
The St. Mary’s Strip’s cheapest bar, Hi-Tones, also happens to have one of its most eclectic musical identities. The intimate, cozy but tiny joint has seen the likes of Flaco Jimenez and Eva Ybarra perform while also hosting folk bands, bring your own vinyl nights (RIP) and dance anthems spun by local DJs. That tradition…
Better Call Saul Continues Strong Early Run
As Breaking Bad was ending its acclaimed historic run, AMC announced a spin-off focused around sleazy lawyer Saul Goodman, which led to many questions, most notably: “Why?” While nothing could tarnish the sterling reputation of Breaking Bad, squeezing more life out of the series seemed opportunistic and poorly conceived. At least at first. As it…
Free Will Astrology, Week of February 10
ARIES (March 21-April 19): “Love is a fire,” declared Aries actress Joan Crawford. “But whether it’s going to warm your hearth or burn down your house, you can never tell.” I disagree with her conclusion. There are practical steps you can take to ensure that love’s fire warms but doesn’t burn. Start with these strategies:…
Savage Love: Intropervert Dumps Extropervert
Gay male in my late 20s. I recently ended things with a guy. Our relationship started as a strictly sexual one. We’re both involved in the kink scene in our city and have interests that align in a particularly great way. Quickly it became clear there was a real connection. The next two months were…
This Modern World (2/10/16)
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