The walls of the Magic Castle Inn — the primary setting of Sean Baker’s The Florida Project — shine with a new coat of pastel-purple paint, desperately trying to evoke the happy playland of Walt Disney World just up the Orlando highway. The name might confuse someone into an online booking, thinking it’s actually a…
Menudo isn’t just for post-party Sunday mornings anymore. At El Luchador, menudo has a place on the shot board these days. The shot trio — celery salt-rimmed lime, Vida Mezcal or Hornitos Tequila, and yes, menudo — is known as sopa lucha. Order it on Sundays or during Loteria Nights every other Tuesday. According to…
Anyone who’s spent serious time in museums or galleries has likely witnessed the robotic side-shuffling of visitors as they work the perimeter — skimming the surface, rapidly absorbing, maybe Instagramming. San Antonio artist Albert Alvarez deprives viewers of that immediate satisfaction with obsessively detailed, intensely overstuffed work that truly needs to be stared at, pondered, and…
You’ll have new snacks with which to enjoy the Tyler Perry’s Boo 2! A Madea Halloween at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, which has launched a new menu. as of Tuesday. Featured menu items include a sausage chicken, roasted pepper and broccolini pizza, chilaquiles and a grilled jerk chicken sandwich with avocado, baby arugula and coconut…
Thu 10/19 Protomartyr Upon listening to “Maidenhead,” the opening track off Protomartyr’s 2015 release Under Color of Official Right, I can’t help but think “yeah, these dudes definitely were definitely into The Smiths.” Which is certainly not a bad thing. And while the band retains elements of post-punk in their brand new album Relatives in…
Wed 10/18 ‘Iconic Reality’ In the catalogue for the landmark traveling exhibition “Chicano Art: Resistance and Affirmation” (1991-1993), Mel Casas affirmed his goal of making Chicano art “relevant to EVERYONE: AN ICONIC REALITY.” Here, the late Chicano artist presented a diagram that outlined the process he believed would take Chicano art into the dominant culture.…
Gov. Greg Abbott violated the Constitution when he removed a display celebrating the separation of church and state from the Texas Capitol in December 2015, according to a Friday ruling by U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks. The display in question mimicked a classic nativity scene, but instead of wise men, three of the country’s founding…
Where’d all these brunches come from? We’ll blame the new crisp fall weather we’re enjoying on the plethora of brunches available across town. Here’s a quick run-through of what’s new within the last few weeks: Michin Grill Kitchen & Tequila Bar // The Stone Oak Mexican food outpost recently launched a new all-you-can-eat brunch Sunday…
In Bexar County, people are overdosing from opioids at a rate nearly twice the national average. While the number of overdoses is still dwarfed by data coming from the Northeast U.S., the unprecedented spike is still sobering for local leaders. “It’s never been this bad,” said Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, who’s held public office…
Nathan Felix, a recent transplant from Austin who locals might remember from his old band The Noise Revival Orchestra (which went on indefinite hiatus in 2010), is up to some exciting things with his DIY choir From Those Who Follow the Echoes. A large collective of singers and musicians, From Those Who Follow the Echoes (FTWFE)…
Benjie’s Munch opened its first shop this Monday and but they’re not the only truck to make the leap into a permanent location. Here’s a few more entrepreneurs that are holding it down. The Art of Donut // Opened by Miguel Aja and Andrea Aguirre, the trailer was San Antonio’s first craft donut shop. This…
It seems that San Antonio Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich has had it with President Donald Trump: yesterday, he called Trump a “soulless coward” after the president falsely said Barack Obama and other presidents didn’t reach out to the families of American troops killed in duty. “This man in the Oval Office is a soulless coward…
Selena is taking over Google! Well, no. But she is blessing the homepage today. That’s right. Where the traditional Google logo or fun artwork has been replaced with an illustration of the one and only Selena, detailed with “Google” in a thin, lavender cursive font. But you see that play button? It leads to a…
Ah, the elusive James Beard Award. Though many a San Antonio chef has been nominated (Bruce Auden, Andrew Weissman, Jason Dady, Michael Sohocki, Steve McHugh) as finalists or semifinalists, the city has yet to score one. You could help change that by nominating your favorite chef, or restaurant or pastry chef by December 1. And…
This is kind of a big deal. Fresh off the Great American Beer Festival, chef Tim Rattray of The Granary will host four chefs and five brewers for a five-course tasting and beer pairing dinner on Wednesday, October 25 from 6 to 9 p.m. Joining Rattray (who cooked at this year’s Paired event at the…
My how time flies. The Brooklynite first opened its doors on October 13, 2012 and San Antonio has had a cocktail in its hand ever since. The bar, which helped launch Stay Golden Social House, Rumble and The Last Word, will celebrate its fifth anniversary on Friday, October 20 with a throwback bash. Bartenders of…
James Bradley, Jr. pleaded guilty Monday afternoon to smuggling undocumented immigrants in the back of his semi truck — a journey that resulted in ten deaths. The federal charges leave Bradley facing life behind bars. Bradley was arrested on July 23, after San Antonio police found 30 people packed into a windowless, sweltering cargo trailer…
The San Antonio Current brings you the best and most fun happenings in the city every week when our issue comes out on Wednesdays. But maybe you’re looking for something else to do? Or want more of a heads up about cool stuff coming up later in the week? Or maybe you just want more…
A woman responsible for chaining up two toddlers in her backyard with dog leashes has been sentenced to 50 years in prison. According to a Bexar County press release, 34-year-old Porucha Phillips was sentenced Friday for two counts of serious bodily injury to a child after reaching a plea deal with the county. Phillips was…
Without skipping a beat, C3-Presents, the folks behind the past two weekends’ Austin City Limits Festival have announced 2018’s dates. The festival, whose headliners include the likes of Jay-Z, Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Killers, will be back next year on Oct. 5-7 and Oct. 12-14, according to the ACL website. We’re a little…
If you didn’t automatically become a fan of Reik after its 2005 single Yo Quisiera went crazy, you’ve seriously been missing out of some catchy Mexican pop/rock music. Luckily for you, Reik is coming to San Antonio next Thursday. The Latin Grammy-winning band is bringing its swoon-worthy tunes to the Majestic Theatre to perform hits…
We’ll take what we can get at this point. Even though Sound on Sound Fest’s lineup was looking stacked AF, there’s no use in resisting the fact that it is indeed canceled. However, in a shimmer of hope, like the first rays of sun breaking through storm clouds, the promotions team behind Sound on Sound…
With a legacy that is still strong decades after its peak, it’s no wonder that there are musicians dedicating their career to playing in the fashion of The Beatles. The Beatles’ doppelgangers RAIN is bringing its tour to the Majestic Theatre next year. RAIN is going on tour to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the…
Update 12:30 p.m. October 17, 2017: Bexar County deputies arrested 18-year-olds Michael Aguilar and Charles Robnett for the murder of Gary Barnhardt, the victim who died after being shot four times in the chest near a Northeast Side H-E-B just after 1 a.m. on Monday. Aguilar had agreed to meet with Barnhardt and Albert Ramirez,…
The Bexar County Sheriff’s Department has arrested a woman for allegedly starving two teenage boys and routinely beating them with an aluminum bat. Authorities were alerted to the abuse after an emaciated 15-year-old boy showed up at a San Antonio Sonic restaurant Friday evening with bruises and wounds, saying he had just escaped a nearby…
At 8:30 p.m., Richard Peacock, the new owner of Chris Madrid’s issued a statement of thanks in regards to Sunday morning’s fire. After addressing SAFD, SAPD and his staff, Peacock’s note says the beloved 40-year-old burger restaurant may not reopen for a few weeks. Here’s Peacock’s note in full: Dear Chris Madrid’s Community – As…
Name: The Fruteria Background: Opened by Chef Jonny Hernandez, it it one of his many restaurants in the San Antonio area, including El Machito, La Gloria (which has two locations), Fruteria and a couple of venues equipped with catering (like Casa Herman) and a soon-to-open Burgerteca concept. Happy Hour: Happy hour runs Monday through Friday…
It’s not too, too often one can catch a stacked metal show in a theater setting like The Aztec. And besides the Cannibal Corpse and Children of Bodom/Abbath concerts, last year, it’s rare that the venue hosts those types of shows. So when I saw that three of some of the best bands in rock,…
One of San Antonio’s burger institutions suffered a fire on Sunday morning. Blanco Road and adjoining streets were blocked off as the San Antonio Fire Department put out the flames. According to SAFD, there’s no known cause for the fire, and Arson will investigate, though there is “no reason to be suspicious yet.” The total…
Though first announced in February of 2017, Rosella Coffee Co. is expanding its Downtown footprint. Yes, there’s the Methodist Hospital location, the OG Jones Ave. shop and two small retail shops out of the Lincoln Heights and Alon Market H-E-Bs, but to be quite specific, Rosella at The Rand is finally opening its doors. The…
Stay Golden Social House was never truly gone. Though the building off Pearl Parkway was completely demolished weeks after their last business day, plans were in place to move the beloved watering hole. And with a shiny new TABC notice on their front door, it’s safe to say that the bar has found a new…
If you’ve been waiting with bated breath for the new H-E-B commercials featuring the Silver and Black, pencil in October 18. The San Antonio-based grocer just teased out the date for those priceless 30-second TV spots starring Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker, Manu and co. and our bodies are ready. Here’s the teaser H-E-B shared on…
San Antonio’s 33rd annual Christmas Tree lighting ceremony, hosted by HEB, will no longer be taking place in front of the Alamo. The festive, 55-foot tree will instead be set up at Travis Park — likely in the spot recently vacated by a Confederate soldier monument. But we don’t think HEB (or the city) wants…
When the San Antonio Fire Department arrived at the scene of a fire that had engulfed a West Side used car business this morning, two clues tipped them off that the fire had not been an accident: The strong smell of gasoline, and a burning shoe in the parking lot. Firefighters arrived at the scene…
Lol, wait … The king of musical parodies himself Weird Al Yankovic is coming to San Antonio next year aaaaand we’re sort of excited about it. The “Amish Paradise” singer just announced that his 2018 North American tour will be a “no frills” experience featuring obscure songs and lack of props, costumes, and video screens…
Just in time for the NBA season, Tejanos Shea Serrano and Arturo Torres are back with another bestseller in their gorgeous new book, Basketball (And Other Things). The title’s origins lie in the duo’s previous hoops-infused effort, an email newsletter delivered via MailChimp that memorably featured Kawhi Leonard erotic fan fiction. The physical version of…
Yass biiiiiiiiitchhhh! It’s real! With rumors circulating about Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross remixing John Carpenter’s “Halloween Theme – Main Title,” waking up this morning to the pure scary goodness that this remix did in fact happen, is making this particular Friday the 13th, our favorite … probably ever. In celebration of the general spookiness…
Fans of Press Coffee don’t have to be too sad about the Alta Vista shop closing on October 22. While owners Bronson Holbrook and Natalie Nazarewicz are being forced out of their business following an “exorbitant rent increase,” they are not giving up just yet. The couple/co-owners have plans to relocate the business, either at a…
A federal judge has dropped Bexar County Sheriff’s Office from a lawsuit regarding the 2015 death of Gilbert Flores, a man who was holding his hands up in apparent surrender when two county deputies shot and killed him outside his parent’s house. But that doesn’t mean the entire case has been thrown out. U.S. District…
Federal regulators have shut down the trucking company linked to July’s fatal immigrant smuggling operation. Iowa-based Pyle Transportation owned the trailer that had carried up to a hundred undocumented immigrants during the sweltering, unventilated cross-country journey that ended in a San Antonio Walmart parking lot. Ten immigrants died from heat exhaustion and oxygen loss. On…
The Boerne Stage Road area has added a brand new bar as of this week. Frank and Lori Hakspiel, the minds behind Fralo’s Art of Pizza, are hoping to turn Bar 301 into a music venue complete with a piano bar, wine and food. A grand opening is slated for Wednesday, October 18, but the bar…
On Thursday afternoon, Mayor Ron Nirenberg announced a proclamation from the steps of City Hall, designating October 12, 2017 as “Indigenous People’s Day.” “Whereas, indigenous people are the earliest known inhabitants that played a critical role in shaping the long, rich history of San Antonio,” said Nirenberg, reading from the proclamation. “Whereas, while indigenous people…
Out In SA is celebrating the launch of its fall issue, which features a cover story profiling a diverse group of community allies, as well as a remembrance piece inspired the McNay Art Museum’s exhibition “Chuck Ramirez: All This and Heaven Too,” and a fashion spread starring trans performer and activist Aamori Olujimi. While some readers…
The airport area is getting a new bar this evening with the opening of Breathe Lounge — and it looks like they have a bit of everything for every bar-goer. The almost 4,000-square-foot joint holds two bars and will feature six beers on tap, and five house cocktails. A small patio and hookah ($20) will…
Six months after a 16-year-old foster girl was sent to live with Miguel Briseno and his wife, Debra, he anally raped her. Prior to the assault, the teenage girl would regularly join Briseno in the garage at their Von Ormy house, where he’d fix up old cars. “She wanted to learn,” wrote Bexar County Detective…
What’s better than a pub crawl? One that lets you go at your own pace and offers multiple stops serving up some of the b est booze in the city. Oh, and is free. Saint Arnold Brewing Company is hosting its World Famous Pub Crawl (or at least San Antonio famous, and with good reason)…
Why wait for Halloween to get the spooky events rolling out? While corn mazes and pumpkin patches might not be your thing, haunted houses and ghost tours might be. But maybe you’re looking for something extra special to do in honor of Friday the 13th. Check out these happenings to make the most out of…
Last week San Antonio learned just how cool Bill Miller Bar-B-Q is with its “Stranger Things Have Happened” promotion. Yeah, the one that brings back a fan favorite menu item every Friday beginning at 9 a.m., and well… until supplies last. San Antonians got to enjoy the cherry cobbler last Friday for the first time…
A federal judge has declined to stop the government from blocking a teenage girl living in Texas from getting a legal abortion. The 17-year-old girl (dubbed “Jane Doe” in court documents) is an undocumented immigrant currently in the care of the federal government, since she travelled to the U.S. as an unaccompanied minor, meaning she…
After a month of will they/won’t they uncertainty, San Antonio has officially withdrawn from the national competition to house Amazon’s second headquarters. In a letter sent to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos Wednesday, Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff explained their reasoning. In short: They don’t have time to play games. “It’s hard…
For the 14th annual Chalk it Up festival, wherein a segment of downtown is turned into a giant, street-level art gallery of chalk works, Artpace has expanded its footprint beyond Houston Street to include Travis Park and a segment of Jefferson Street. All told, this year’s event will transform seven downtown city blocks into a…
Monday was Columbus Day in San Antonio — as it’s been since the 1940s. In a move that almost seems unrelated, the city will be making a 2 p.m. proclamation Thursday making Oct. 12 Indigenous People’s Day. According to District 1 spokesman Justin Renteria, the announcement will be followed by an smudging ceremony as well…
A far-off exposition center which hosts off-beat events like kennel club competitions, Ironman races and this weekend’s Austin Scale Modeler’s Society was home to the first-ever Ramen Expo USA. Put on by the Japan External Trade Organization, Texas Restaurant Association and Next Global, Inc., the event grouped together noodle, broth and ramen miscellany vendors inside the…
Wed 10/11 The Black Angels The Black Angels are an integral, if sometimes overlooked, part of the contemporary psych-rock scene. The veteran Austin outfit delivers reverb and riffs aplenty, and boasts a flair for adventurous sonic detours from its droning, driving backbone. In the live setting, the band’s experimental nature blooms into unpredictable explosions of…
In 2010, the world was shook with the explosive arrival of noise-pop duo Sleigh Bells. And good news to San Antonio fans, they’ll be coming back to the Alamo City next year. Matching female vocals that ranged from punk rock yells to lullaby croons with blaring guitars and distorted drum beats, the Brooklynites seemed to…
Continuing its reputation for showing some of the most exciting contemporary art by local artists of all stripes, Shek Vega’s Gravelmouth Gallery will host a must-see Second Saturday exhibition of more than 20 new works by Angela Fox, entitled “Heart of a Snake.” This marks the largest solo exhibit to date for Fox, whose colorful…
Thu 10/12-Sat 10/14 Forbidden Broadway Since its premiere in 1982, Forbidden Broadway has enjoyed a multitude of productions up to the present day thanks to writer Gerard Alessandrini, who updates the revue to include each new batch of Broadway’s hits, ensuring that no show is safe, no matter how recent its appearance on the Great…
What should a sequel be? It’s a simple enough question, yet after more than 100 years of cinema — and 40 years of the blockbuster franchise era — it doesn’t feel like we’re any closer to a reliable answer. Maybe audiences want an exact replica of the original, something that reminds them of a great…
If you love the FOX comedy Bob’s Burgers, then you’ve probably frequented Big Bob’s Burgers in San Antonio to pretend you’re living in the Belchers’ world. While that may not be true, Big Bob’s Burgers is bringing you the chance to pretend with its Bob’s Burgers Party. The local burger joint is inviting fans and…
In 2017, Marilyn Manson doesn’t really need any introduction. Since the early ‘90s, the rock ‘n’ roller has been shocking America with his flagrant stage antics and catalog of music that has spanned a variety of genres including spooky circus-sounding rock (Portrait of an American Family), industrial (Antichrist Superstar), glam-rock (Mechanical Animals), bluesy-roots rock (Pale…
Houston Congressman Al Green has again called for the impeachment of President Donald Trump on the U.S. House floor. This time, however, the House will have to vote on it. “There is one among us who seems to incite hatred, bigotry, and…discrimination,” Green, a Democrat, said in his Wednesday address in the House. Green rattled…
Can’t get enough of pumpkin spice this fall? Smoothie King will feed your gourd obsession. Known for their clean blending, Smoothie King has created yet another smoothie that strengthens your immune system. The pumpkin spice smoothie (PSS?) is full of vitamin C (as in 300 percent of your daily recommended intake), rich in iron, rich in…
San Antonio’s own Ellen Sarem is this year’s Lay’s “Do us a Flavor” contest winner. The $1 million prize was awarded to Sarem for pitching a Crispy Taco flavor to the chip maker. Previous winners include a Cheesy Garlic Bread, Cooked Wasabi Ginger, and Southern Biscuits and Gravy. Sarem pitched the Crispy Taco idea because she’s been…
The clear-cut barbecue smell immediately strikes the nose when stepping out in front of Smokey Mo’s newest location on 1604 and Shaenfield Road, which opened September 26. That is because its established mouth-watering barbecue is grilled on Southern Pride BBQ Pits, according to Breanna Alba, the location’s general manager. “We have recipes that we have…
Looking like he just stepped out of a Terminator movie, a cosmic knight wearing futuristic armor and holding a high-tech rifle like a medieval lance, the U.S. border patrol agent in El Paso artist Antonio Castro’s El Nuevo Coloso (The New Colossus) reigns supreme over the familiar-looking, long-haired, bearded, emaciated prisoner wearing a loin cloth…
A Kerrville man has been sentenced for five years in federal prison for writing letters in 2016 threatening to kill President Barack Obama. Court documents show that 22-year-old Gavin Friedman specifically wrote he was “going to kill” Obama for being a “puppet for (ZOG) Zionist Organized Government.” In one of his letters to the White House,…
It all starts in a San Francisco pet shop where Melanie (Tippi Hedren) is nipped by a bird in a cage. By the end, she’ll be the one imprisoned as thousands of birds attack her bedroom. In between, the world goes to hell in a handbasket in Alfred Hitchcock’s milestone of Mother Nature’s revenge, based…
Now in its ninth year, Una Noche en La Gloria is a vibrant celebration of Westside makers and doers, movers and shakers, creatives and entrepreneurs. The event, which sprawls across the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center’s campus, Plaza Guadalupe and beyond, is a perennial must for local lovers of visual art, fashion, music, poetry, dance and…
Cirque du Soleil’s newest touring production will soon turn the AT&T Center into an icy wonderland. After conquering water in its long-running production O, the famed Canadian company is upping the ante yet again by changing its fundamental state in Crystal. The show follows a young woman whose life takes a sudden pivot into the…
ARIES (March 21-April 19): In his book The Logic of Failure, Dietrich Dorner discusses the visionaries who built the Aswan Dam in Egypt. Their efforts brought an abundance of cheap electricity to millions of people. But the planners didn’t take into account some of the important effects of their innovation. For example, the Nile River…
Since its premiere in 1982, Forbidden Broadway has enjoyed a multitude of productions up to the present day thanks to writer Gerard Alessandrini, who updates the revue to include each new batch of Broadway’s hits, ensuring that no show is safe, no matter how recent its appearance on the Great White Way. Styled as a…
In January 2008, an elderly chaplain, a public health advocate, and a registered nurse were picked up by patrol officers for distributing narcotic paraphernalia on the streets of San Antonio. The trio, who worked out of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, each faced a $2,000 fine and up to a year behind bars for doing what…
