Apr 7-20, 2021
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San Antonio-based Ranch Brand Wine & Spirits launching 2 new wines this spring
A San Antonio-based liquor startup is expanding its portfolio with two new “crushable” wines this spring: Ranch Rosé and Ranch Remuda Red. What makes a wine “crushable,” you ask? We did, too, and co-owner Chris Ware was happy to oblige us. “We’re really looking to make fun, easy-drinking wine,” he explained. “These are wines that…
Bexar County Sheriffs Office fires deputy arrested twice over domestic violence accusations
Bexar County has fired a sheriff’s deputy arrested twice in 2020 on domestic violence charges, KSAT reports, citing disciplinary records. The deputy, John Paul Garza, received two termination notices in February from the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, according to the TV station. Garza was arrested in February 2020 and taken into custody on charges he struck…
Texas State Sen. Roland Gutierrez of San Antonio releases pro-pot legalization documentary on 4/20
Last year, State Sen. Roland Gutierrez of San Antonio made marijuana legalization a centerpiece of the campaign that won him his seat in the Texas Lege’s upper chamber. And he’s not letting go of the issue. On Tuesday — which happens to fall on the 4/20 pot holiday — the Democrat released a self-financed documentary,…
San Antonio bar Evil Olive hosting watch party for San Antonio chef in finale of TV’s ‘Hell’s Kitchen’
Alamo City chef Mary Lou Davis has been duking it out on the latest season of FOX-TV cooking contest Hell’s Kitchen since January, besting 16 other chefs for a spot in this week’s finale. Folks who’d like to rub elbows with other HK fans during the final episode can do so Thursday at Northeast San Antonio…
Beto O’Rourke is still campaigning. But for what?
LAREDO — The placid skies and balmy, springtime heat in South Texas made waiting outdoors tolerable on a recent Saturday this April. Around midday, about two dozen masked volunteers mingled outside the Webb County Democratic Party headquarters, pop music blaring in the background. Most were waiting in a scattered, socially distanced line to greet Beto…
Canopy by Hilton San Antonio Riverwalk, the city’s newest luxury hotel, opens Thursday
Downtown’s latest luxury hotel will open its doors this week, welcoming guests to 195 rooms overlooking the River Walk. In addition to the anticipated Domingo Restaurant and Otro Bar, Canopy by Hilton San Antonio Riverwalk includes a 24-hour fitness center and 2,300 square feet of meeting and event space. The on-site eatery and drinkery will serve up…
San Antonio food entrepreneur lands $25,000 grant supporting businesses owned by Black women
San Antonio entrepreneur Tracie Shelton has received a $25,000 grant from American Express to fund her culinary co-working space, Alamo Kitchens. Shelton will graduate April 22 from American Express’ 100 for 100 program, a 100-day course that offers specialized business training for Black women entrepreneurs. Caress is using the platform IFundWomen of Color to offer…
COVID-denier Ted Nugent admits he has COVID-19: ‘I thought I was dying’
If there’s anything the past year has shown us, it’s that those who underestimate COVID-19 are soon humbled. The latest person to learn that the hard way is Ted Nugent, who earlier this month posted a misinformation-stuffed video on Facebook in which he downplayed the severity of COVID-19 and said he wasn’t afraid of it. But…
Analysis: Poll support for McConaughey says less about actor than it does Texas’ current governor
If you follow Texas politics, you’ve likely heard about the new Dallas Morning News poll showing more of Texas’ registered voters would prefer Hollywood A-lister Matthew McConaughey to reside in the Governor’s Mansion than its current occupant. In case you haven’t, here’s the deal: 45% of the state’s registered voters said they’d prefer to vote for McConaughey…
Texas Country artist Shane Smith’s truck was stolen in San Antonio — with his dog inside
Austin musician Shane Smith is experiencing a pet lover’s worst nightmare. Around 2:30 p.m. Monday, Smith’s Ford F-150 was stolen from the Pearl Historic District in San Antonio. That would be bad enough, but it was made exponentially worse by the fact that his 10-pound gray and white Havanese dog Gretchen was inside the vehicle.…
San Antonio dancer Tone Padron cast in second season of HBO Max’s Legendary
San Antonio has long known that dancer Antonio Padron — better known as Tone — is something special. Soon, the House of Kenzo and Cornyation alum will be strutting his stuff for a much wider audience. That’s because he’ll be competing in the second season of HBO Max’s ballroom competition Legendary, which debuts on the streaming…
Brasserie Mon Chou Chou wins San Antonio’s Truffle Masters competition
The fungus fiends have spoken: Brasserie Mon Chou Chou has won the San Antonio edition of the Texas Food & Wine Alliance’s Truffle Masters competition, one of its key annual fundraisers. Typically, the contest takes place as a lavish in-person tasting benefit, but voting for this year’s event took place virtually over two weeks in…
Edison High School student enters Vans Custom Culture contest with puro San Antonio-themed design
San Antonio high school Junior Roger Zamarripa Jr. is ready to show the world what puro SA pride looks like, thanks to shoe company Vans and its Custom Culture competition. The annual nationwide contest lets high school students customize Vans kicks around specific themes and have the chance to win cash for their school’s art…
Texas Republican lawmakers brought in as spokesmen for new handgun-slash-male sex toy
We understand that in the current political environment it can be really tough to tell the difference between real news stories and satire, which is precisely why we’re letting you know that the Mendoza Line is a weekly work of satire. The makers of the Fleshlight have teamed with gunmaker Smith & Wesson to market a…
Despite natural gas failures during winter storm, Texas lawmakers target renewable energy in the aftermath
Texas lawmakers have been advancing sweeping legislation to address some of the major issues stemming from February’s deadly winter storm and catastrophic power outages. But some of the legislative moves are targeting renewable energy sources, like wind and solar, which experts and some lawmakers say seems more like a way to protect oil and gas interests than…
Visit San Antonio taps veteran Chicago exec Marc Anderson to oversee tourism recovery
San Antonio may face a long haul before its tourism industry recovers from the COVID-19 downturn. But its rebuilding effort now has someone at the helm. Marc Anderson, a veteran tourism-marketing executive from Chicago, will take over as president and CEO of Visit San Antonio, the nonprofit entity that spearheads tourism promotion for the Alamo…
San Antonio taqueria gets dinged on health inspection for using clothes to keep its tortillas warm
Taqueria Reyes, a Southeast San Antonio eatery known for traditional Mexican fare, last month was penalized on a city health inspection for infractions including using clothes to cover its tortillas, TV station KSAT reports. A health inspector also found that a walk-in refrigerator was having trouble staying below 45 degrees, the cooling level required by Metro…
San Antonio chef Stefan Bowers launching burger-centric food trailer outside Paper Tiger
Noted SA chef Stefan Bowers’ weekly Pumpers pop-up events draw crowds to St. Mary’s Strip wine shop Little Death to dine on his simple and downright delicious burgers. Now, the San Antonio Express-News reports that Bowers will to take his burger show on the road via a new mobile kitchen: The Pump Wagon. The venture will feature…
Early voting for San Antonio’s May 1 city election is now underway
Early voting for the May 1 citywide election gets underway Monday and will run through Tuesday, April 27. Voters will determine who serves as mayor, which candidates will fill 10 city council seats and who will serve on a variety of school boards. Those in outlying cities will have their own municipal elections in which…
Severe weather this summer could cause another Texas power crisis
Electricity outages in Texas could occur again this summer — just a few months after the devastating winter storm that left millions of Texans without power for days — if the state experiences a severe heat wave or drought combined with high demand for power, according to recent assessments by the state’s grid operator. Experts…
Ted Cruz among a small number of Republicans opposing bill to address hate crimes against Asian Americans
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was among a handful of Republicans in the U.S. Senate who voted against advancing a bill aimed at addressing hate crimes against Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill was ultimately advanced for further debate Wednesday after a bipartisan 92-6 vote, breaking an early filibuster, but it remains unclear whether Republicans…
People with rare blood clots after a COVID-19 jab share an uncommon immune response
Evidence is building that an uncommon immune response is behind dangerous, but incredibly rare, blood clots associated with some COVID-19 vaccines. But the good news is that there is a test doctors can use to identify it and get patients the right care. A small number of people out of the millions vaccinated with AstraZeneca’s or…
Transgender students in Texas would be barred from school sports teams matching their gender identity under a bill advanced by state Senate
Transgender students would be banned from competing on school sports teams based on their gender identity under a bill that passed the Texas Senate on Thursday. Despite immense opposition from civil rights groups and Democrats, the upper chamber voted on an 18-12 vote to advance Senate Bill 29. The measure now heads to the Texas…
San Antonio-based Bill Miller Bar-B-Q is bringing back homemade rye bread for limited time
If you’ve ever snagged some pickles or pico de gallo from a Bill Miller Bar-B-Q dining room’s condiment bar, you’ve probably peeped a tub full of the BBQ chain’s rye bread. The earthy flavors of caraway typically associated with rye bread don’t appeal to everyone, but enough Bill Miller fans have seemingly coerced the SA-based…
San Antonio council delays ordinance requiring future housing developments to consider voucher holders
The approval of an ordinance that would require future housing developments that receive city incentives to consider tenants with housing vouchers has been delayed by the City Council. On Thursday, the council unanimously voted to move the ordinance to a special session on April 21 after some members contested the ordinance’s language and intent. The…
Gabriel ‘Fluffy’ Iglesias adds even more dates to his San Antonio summer tour
The Alamo City simply cannot get enough of Gabriel Iglesias. Originally set for a five-day run at the Tobin Center in late June, the comedian added more tour dates earlier this week to keep up with demand. But even that wasn’t fluffy enough, so the Tobin announced Friday afternoon that San Antonians’ incessant clamoring for tickets…
New San Antonio smoothie and juice bar opening Saturday near Lackland Air Force Base
Coco Bliss, a new smoothie and juice bar located less than a mile from the Pearsall Park Trailhead, will hold its grand opening Saturday, April 17. The Lackland AFB-area shop will dole out smoothies, smoothie bowls, fresh juices and coffee — as well as free T-shirts and totes to the first 50 guests. One of…
These San Antonio restaurants are celebrating National Crawfish Day on Saturday with seafood boils
Fresh-boiled Louisiana mudbugs can be an acquired taste, but many Texans will eat just about anything as long as it’s dressed up with spicy seasoning. Saturday, April 17 is National Crawfish Day, so we scoured the interwebs for a trio of spots that will prepare the crustaceans in a classic seafood boil to celebrate. We…
House committee advances anti-abortion bills, including ones aimed at outlawing the procedure in Texas
House lawmakers on Thursday advanced a package of restrictive abortion billsthat, if passed, could ban abortions as early as six weeks without exceptions for rape or incest, and eventually bar the procedure almost entirely. Abortion rights advocates and experts say the legislation includes some of the most extreme provisions nationwide, and seems designed to challenge…
Nelly, Prop B: The top 10 headlines in San Antonio this week
Hip-hop artist Nelly’s days as a chart topper may be in the rearview mirror, but he apparently still boasts a formidable Alamo City following. A story about the 2000s-era rapper emceeing a 4/20 event-slash-anniversary celebration for Smoke BBQ + Skybar was the Current’s most-read story this week. It even edged out a couple of hot political…
La Gloria, Hill Country Craft Beer Festival: San Antonio’s biggest food stories of the week
Based on the Current’s most-read food stories of the week, it’s clear San Antonians were hungry for insight on chef Johnny Hernandez’s next culinary move. A story on Hernandez’s talks with the Pearl about the future of his original La Gloria location was among our top-trafficked story this week. Plenty of folks also got their…
San Antonio chef from Hotel Havana’s Ocho opens new restaurant in Olmos Park
Chef Jesse Kuykendall — also known to colleagues as “Chef Kirk” — this week opened the doors of Milpa, a new eatery at The Yard shopping center in Olmos Park. The mind behind the innovative cuisine at Ocho at Hotel Havana and a food truck also bearing the Milpa moniker, Chef Kirk will use the bright red…
San Antonio’s Shotgun House Roasters celebrates anniversary with weekend-long deals
Nestled inside artisan and entrepreneur space Warehouse 5, Shotgun House Roasters is a coffee spot that’s offered chill vibes, hot java and casual eats for three years. In celebration of that milestone, the shop will discount every purchase by 30% from Friday through Sunday. The deal applies to everything, including merchandise, coffee, beer and food.…
Fuego, a Texas-based taco chain popular in college towns, to open first San Antonio location
The Alamo City will soon be home to a new location of Fuego Tortilla Grill, a Texas-based chain known for its roasted poblano queso and over-the-top takes on taco fillings. News site MySA reports that the “cousin of Torchy’s Tacos” will set up a new location at the intersection of Interstate 10 and UTSA Boulevard near…
Without proof, Texas AG Ken Paxton claims San Antonio migrant shelter may be linked to MS-13
After a visit this week to San Antonio’s federal shelter for unaccompanied minor asylum seekers, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton tweeted that he’s “absolutely concerned” it could harbor members of drug gang MS-13. As proof, Paxton, a Republican, linked an article from the far-right news outlet Epoch Times, in which he himself alleged that unaccompanied minors…
San Antonio Tex-Mex staple Tommy’s to open new North Side location
Fans of San Antonio’s quintessential culinary duo of barbacoa and Big Red may delight in the news that Tommy’s Restaurant is opening a fifth location on the city’s North Side. The new restaurant will sit at the corner of Wurzbach Parkway and Blanco Road, near Phil Hardberger Park East, MySA reports. The location — the smallest…
Hours after San Antonio airport shooting, lawmakers OK bill letting Texans carry guns without permit
Hours after a park police officer took down an active shooter at San Antonio International Airport, the Texas House on Thursday evening advanced a new bill that would let people carry handguns without a permit. The House voted 84-56 to grant initial approval to Republican-backed House Bill 1927, which would eliminate the requirement for Texans to get a license…
San Antonio’s Hotel Havana to hold spring floral design workshop and happy hour on picturesque terrace
Spring has sprung, and downtown boutique accommodations Hotel Havana will celebrate the season’s return with a Saturday, May 1 floral arrangement workshop on its terrace. Led by SA-based floral design group Mother Flower Design, the workshop will also feature sips aplenty from Still Austin Whiskey Co. The $65 ticket price includes materials and instruction, not to mention…
San Antonio company SA Flavor takes its Fiesta medals virtual with NFT valued at over $1 million
San Antonio-based Fiesta medal maker SA Flavor is betting big on a new technology for a good cause. But not everyone is going to see it that way. With in-person Fiesta event cancellations racking up for the second year in a row, the medal manufacturer decided to go all in on the latest digital craze:…
Northeast San Antonio golf course to hold happy hour featuring Fiesta royalty and food on a stick
Despite the cancellation of many official 2021 Fiesta events, one San Antonio-area golf course can’t wait to get the party started. Olympia Hills Golf & Events Center in Universal City will host a Fiesta-themed happy hour next week, featuring signature Fiesta eats, drinks and royalty. Next Thursday, April 22, the 18-hole course will serve up…
Texas Senate passes controversial bill that would keep more people in jail if they can’t pay cash bail
The Texas Senate on Wednesday voted to approve a widely criticized bill intended to keep more people accused or previously convicted of violent crimes behind bars before trial if they can’t pay bond. Authored by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, Senate Bill 21 was approved on a 23-8 vote and now goes to debate in the…
New aquarium to open next month at San Antonio’s Shops at Rivercenter
SEA LIFE San Antonio, a new aquarium at the Shops at Rivercenter, will hold its grand opening May 25. The new attraction will include 10 interactive zones such as a stingray bay and a seahorse mangrove exhibit. The centerpiece, though, will be an underwater ocean tunnel that will allow visitors to watch rays and sharks…
Biden White House gives Texas a C grade in infrastructure as it pitches the American Jobs Plan
A new “Infrastructure Report Card” from the White House slaps a letter grade of C on Texas’ infrastructure, citing shortcomings ranging from road repair and climate resiliency to broadband access and affordable housing. The Biden Administration this week issued state-by-state report cards as part of its effort to pass the president’s $2.25 trillion infrastructure package,…
New San Antonio late-night eatery Buddhafull Belly to deliver Chinese food until 2 a.m.
Local food-focused influencer Alex Serna — known on social media as San Antonio Munchies — will join forces with the minds behind Sari-Sari Filipino Restaurant to deliver Chinese food to the Alamo City until 2 a.m. The new concept, dubbed Buddhafull Belly, will launch April 22, offering pork, chicken and beef-based dishes, which can be…
Fiesta San Antonio event Taste of the Northside has been called off
Fiesta foodies, try not to cry into your margaritas over this news. Fiesta San Antonio’s massive food-focused event Taste of the Northside has been canceled, MySA reports. Brighton Center, the organization that hosts the annual food and drink fundraiser, confirmed the news Wednesday via an email to guests. “This very tough decision has been made…
Ted Nugent claims Capitol rioters were Black Lives Matter and Antifa ‘wearing Trump shirts’
Mid-level state fair draw Ted Nugent has one again opined on political matters. And without much surprise, the racist cartoon some rock fans would prefer to remember as the “Motor City Madman” was once again talking pure shit. During an April 12 appearance at Seed to Table grocery in Naples, Florida, the ’70s relic doubled…
Hiking the path that leads to San Antonio’s Mission Reach reveals hidden marvels
Now more than 50 miles into my attempt to circumnavigate San Antonio on foot, my feet are sore and my is skin burnt, but my eyes are newly opened to huge swaths of the Alamo City. During my last trek, Leon Creek revealed miles of wonderful rocky cliffs and native plants, while the Medina River’s…
City of San Antonio launches COVID-19 vaccine waitlist for people 65 and older
After weeks of requests from residents, the city of San Antonio on Wednesday launched a waitlist targeted to people 65 and older who want to schedule their COVID-19 vaccinations. The city launched the pilot project with nonprofit group Healthcare Access to help people schedule appointments with vaccine providers including University Health, WellMed, Metro Health and UT Health…
Texas Senate revives push to block cities’ paid sick leave ordinances
The Texas Senate has revived a push to ban cities and counties from requiring companies to provide specific employee benefits like paid sick leave. Supporters say Senate Bill 14 will prevent regulatory confusion in a way that helps businesses regain their footing as the economy tries to recover from the pandemic’s devastating financial effects. But opponents…
San Antonio native Robert Santos picked to direct U.S. Census Bureau
President Joe Biden has selected San Antonio native Robert Santos as his intended nominee to head the U.S. Census Bureau. If confirmed, Santos, who is Latinx, would be the first person of color to permanently hold the position. His selection comes after the prior director, Trump White House nominee Stephen Dillingham quit in January amid whistleblower complaints that…
New Hill Country distillery offers handcrafted whiskey made with Texas rainwater
When reading details about how a whiskey is made, one might be surprised to find “ozone-infused Texas rainwater” as a key ingredient. We sure were, anyway. But the folks at Sisterdale Distilling Co. apparently see value in the Lone Star State commodity. The new Hill Country operation produces a straight bourbon whiskey that’s a blend of five…
Two-day San Antonio COVID-19 vaccination clinic will be reserved for hospitality workers
The Texas Restaurant Association and healthcare partners will hold a two-day vaccination push in San Antonio as part of a multi-city effort to vaccinate tens of thousands of hospitality workers across the state. TRA, working with Wonderland of the Americas Mall and University Health System, will administer 6,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine — 3,000 per…
Farmers Market Plaza building at San Antonio’s historic Market Square to reopen Friday
The Farmers Market Plaza Building, which temporarily closed its doors in early January for maintenance and repairs, will reopen Friday. A top draw at downtown’s historic Market Square, the building was shuttered so it could undergo improvements and mold abatement. To compensate for the closure, the city granted a rent abatement and created a “Pop Up…
Spurs will face Carmelo Anthony and the Trail Blazers Friday at the AT&T Center
Earlier this season, Trail Blazer Carmelo Anthony scored the 26,947th point of his NBA career. That allowed him to climb to 11th place on the league’s all-time scoring list, overtaking Houston Rockets icon Hakeem Olajuwon. Now in his 18th NBA season, Anthony has provided a veteran presence in Portland after forgettable stops in Oklahoma City,…
Hotels.com wants to foot the room service bill for pot-fueled munchies during 4/20 stays
Online booking service Hotels.com is running a contest that will give 20 guests $200 Visa gift cards to go toward their 4/20-driven room service binges. Hotels.com is urging folks to book a hotel room for the night of April 20 — widely known as a marijuana-centric holiday — and share their confirmation with the online…
Gabriel ‘Fluffy’ Iglesias adds more dates to summer run at San Antonio’s Tobin Center
Gabriel Iglesias’ “Texas, Here Comes Fluffy” tour just got a whole lot fluffier. Due to unsurprisingly high levels of demand, the comedian has added another week of shows to his summer stand at the Tobin Center. The local favorite will now be in San Antonio from June 23-July 3. Tickets go on sale at 10…
Former Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst arrested on domestic violence charge
Former Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has been arrested and charged with domestic violence. Dewhurst was arrested Tuesday evening in Dallas, according to Dallas police. He faces a misdemeanor charge of family violence. Dewhurst was arrested after police responded to a disturbance at an address near Dallas Love Field and met with a woman who said…
Analysis: Texans were right to be worried after ERCOT’s Tuesday evening request to conserve power
Tuesday evening, two months after the near collapse of the power grid it oversees, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas advised Texans to conserve power because the grid was once again struggling to keep up. Texas Twitter responded with angry condemnations, panicked messages and conspiracy theories. After talking through the reason behind ERCOT’s message several…
San Antonio Museum of Art hosts poetry reading in connection with ‘No Ocean Between Us’ exhibition
As it celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, the San Antonio Museum of Art is also getting in on National Poetry Month. The museum will highlight the literary artform with a reading tied to its current exhibition “No Ocean Between Us: Art of Asian Diasporas in Latin America & The Caribbean, 1945-Present.” Panelists Julia Wong…
Texas sues Biden administration in effort to reinstate Trump-era ‘remain in Mexico’ immigration policy
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the Biden administration Tuesday in an attempt to restore a policy put in place by former President Donald Trump that forced migrants seeking asylum in the United States to wait in Mexico while their claims are processed. Paxton and Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt argue in the suit that…
San Antonio self-serve taproom celebrating 4/20 with stoner-approved IPA and lots of munchies
The Dooryard, San Antonio’s first self-serve taproom, is holding a 4/20 celebration with savory munchies and a new beer that connoisseurs of the devil’s lettuce may appreciate. For the occasion, the Dooryard will tap a keg of Fair State Brewing Cooperative’s Big Doinks IPA, a 6.5% ABV ale featuring flavors of pine and tropical fruit, which are…
This weekend’s Hill Country Craft Beer Festival in Gruene will serve samples of 100 different suds
After months of hibernation due to the COVID crisis, outdoor food and beverage events are slowly returning. This weekend’s Hill Country Craft Beer Festival may be an event beer nerds want to check out. Saturday, Rockin’ R water sports equipment rental service in Gruene will host more than 20 breweries as they sample 100 or…
San Antonio barbecue fan launches small-batch, low-sodium rubs and seasonings
San Antonio home cook Robert Johnson wasn’t going to let a few heart attacks get him down. Johnson loves to barbecue and smoke meats. But when his physician put him on a strict low-sodium diet for the sake of his heart health, he struggled to find tasty rubs and seasonings that complied with doctor’s orders.…
As Texas Lege hears anti-trans bills, NCAA says it will withhold events from states that discriminate
In an apparent warning to Texas and other states considering anti-transgender legislation, the NCAA said it will only stage events in places where transgender student-athletes won’t face discrimination. “The NCAA Board of Governors firmly and unequivocally supports the opportunity for transgender student-athletes to compete in college sports,” the college sports league said in a statement…
CDC, FDA recommend immediate pause in use of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine
Federal agencies are calling for an immediate pause on the distribution of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine. In a joint statement issued early Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) say experts are reviewing data showing six cases of a “rare and severe” type…
Former San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro backs proposition to limit police union’s bargaining power
In what amounts to the highest-profile endorsement of the local ballot measure to strip collective bargaining power from San Antonio’s powerful police union, former mayor Julián Castro has endorsed Proposition B. In a video posted to Twitter on Monday, Castro — a former Democratic presidential candidate and the Obama White House’s housing chief — said…
Glitter Political: San Antonio Council hopeful Mario Bravo vies to jump from activism to public office
When District 1 council candidate Mario Kelly Bravo greets me through my computer screen for a Zoom call, a colorful art piece on the wall behind him captures my attention. “My parents bought that in Mexico,” he explains. “I have a lot of stuff from Mexico here.” Like his appreciation for art, Bravo’s verve for…
San Antonio’s Curry Boys BBQ and San Antonio Colonial tortillas win big praise from Texas Monthly
In separate articles, Texas Monthly last week served up heaping helpings of praise to a pair of San Antonio eateries: Southeast Asia-meets-Texas fusion spot Curry Boys BBQ and West Side tortilleria San Antonio Colonial. A relative newcomer to the local food scene, Curry Boys marries green and yellow curries and house-made chili oil with expertly smoked meats. The mag…
New sculpture by Mexican artist Sebastian installed at San Antonio International Airport
San Antonio is now home to another sculpture by famed Mexican artist Sebastian. In addition to downtown’s Torch of Friendship (La Antorcha de Amistad) and the recently installed Door of Equality (La Puerta de Igualdad), the city has debuted new public art by the sculptor at San Antonio International Airport. Located at the facility’s Airport…
John Cornyn asks whether Biden is ‘really in charge’ because he isn’t tweeting or going on TV enough
Sen. John Cornyn loves to tweet, does so frequently, and unlike a lot of people in his station, writes his own. Here’s the problem: he tweets a lot of exceedingly stupid shit. The Republican senator got off to an early start with the stupid shit this week, blasting out a 5:48 a.m. Monday tweet questioning…
Real Ale Brewing, located north of San Antonio, launches new hard seltzer
A slew of new hard seltzers have hit the shelves recently, and Blanco’s Real Ale Brewing is getting in on the action. One of the region’s dominant craft breweries, Real Ale this week released REAL, its new line of fizzy drinks, to major grocery and beverage retailers across Texas. The new canned beverages are available…
San Antonio chef Johnny Hernandez in talks with Pearl about future of La Gloria site
San Antonio chef and entrepreneur Johnny Hernandez is in talks with officials at the Pearl about a new venture at the near-downtown retail complex, the San Antonio Business Journal reports. La Gloria’s Pearl location will operate through summer 2022, at which point its lease runs out. As part of a larger, pre-pandemic plan by Pearl,…
City of San Antonio reopens public facilities and services Monday
A number of City of San Antonio facilities and services will reopen Monday, city manager Erik Walsh announced, citing lowered risks of COVID-19 transmission. Many of those facilities will operate with pandemic safety precautions in place. Those include temperature checks, social distancing and mask requirements. As of Monday, the following have reopened for face-to-face service: Animal…
Green in a Glass: How a San Antonio brewery and winery are embracing sustainability
Sustainability has been a buzzword in food circles for some time now — avoiding overfished seafood and choosing to serve local, seasonal crops, for example. But that focus on ecological balance is about more than just what goes on diners’ plates. A growing number of breweries and wineries — including a couple in San Antonio — understand…
The Mendoza Line: Texas GOP Chairman Allen West says Texas should secede, become own planet
We understand that in the current political environment it can be really tough to tell the difference between real news stories and satire, which is precisely why we’re letting you know that the Mendoza Line is a weekly work of satire. Texas GOP Chairman Allen West has amped up his calls for Texas to secede, but…
Smoke BBQ + Skybar will bring rapper Nelly to San Antonio on 4/20 for its 6th anniversary
Smoke BBQ + Skybar is celebrating its sixth anniversary in a big way: by inviting rapper Nelly to get things “Hot in Here.” The downtown-area outdoor bar has only been in operation since last November, but the Smoke family of restaurants has been around for nearly six years, including stints in St. Paul Square and…
Gabriel ‘Fluffy’ Iglesias coming to San Antonio for a 5-day stint at the Tobin Center in June
Snoop Dogg isn’t the only big name showing San Antonio some love this summer. Comedian and California native Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias will return to San Antonio this summer for five days of socially distanced stand-up at the Tobin Center. The engagement will run June 23-27. “I’m out of toilet paper and fully vaccinated, time to…
Two San Antonio bars will hold Selena Tribute nights this week
If you’re the type to get your “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” on, this news is for you. St. Mary’s Strip staple Brass Monkey and Southtown eatery The Good Kind will hold Selena Tribute nights this week featuring the South Texas music icon’s tunes and merchandise as well as a lookalike contest. Brass Monkey took shared a Facebook event for…
Study: passage of Texas’ voter-restriction bills would bring billions in damage to state’s economy
How much are Texas’ GOP lawmakers willing to sacrifice to ensure their unpopular and widely decried voter-restriction bills become law? According to a new study, passage of those measures would whack $31.4 billion from the state economy and destroy 223,000 jobs. An analysis released Friday by economist Ray Perryman found that if the Republican-controlled Texas Lege…
Dog adoptions increased in San Antonio during the pandemic, following U.S. trend
San Antonio no-kill shelter the Animal Defense League of Texas experienced a 17% increase in dog adoptions last year, mirroring a trend shown in national studies on pet adoptions during the pandemic. As people grew lonely due to stay-at-home orders, they sought out pets for a sense of companionship, according to ADL Marketing Manager Michelle Thorson.…
ERCOT to argue it is immune from winter storm lawsuits
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas will argue that it has governmental immunity that protects it from the at least 35 lawsuits that have been filed against the operator after February’s disastrous winter storm which killed dozens of people and created millions of dollars of damages. “ERCOT has and will continue to assert that it…
claire rousay’s a softer focus gets a surprise early release
If you thought you’d have to wait until the end of the month to hear the new album from prolific San Antonio percussionist and composer claire rousay, have we got a surprise for you. In a Thursday tweet that opened with “oh what the hell,” rousay announced the early release of a softer focus, which…
Local nonprofit offering 1,000 Pfizer vaccines to San Antonio foodservice workers next week
Some San Antonio foodservice employees are getting a vaccination fast track. Local nonprofit Heard will hold a vaccination clinic for foodservice workers on Thursday, April 15, providing 1,000 shots to active food and beverage employees. A subsidiary program of local nonprofit Saint City Culinary Foundation, Heard provides mental and physical health resources for foodservice workers.…
San Antonio wine bar to hold four-course dinner in honor of jazz legend Duke Ellington’s birthday
Copa Wine Bar & Tasting Room is planning an all-inclusive, four course wine dinner called “A Celebration of Jazz” in honor of music legend Duke Ellington’s birthday. The event is part of a monthly themed dinner series, in which chef-owner Jeff Bridges gets to step away from his usual focus on tapas and pizzas to…
Ted Cruz, MargaritaPalooza: San Antonio’s biggest food stories of the week
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is generally regarded as someone you don’t want to look at or think about while you’re trying to eat. Nonetheless, he ended up being at the center of one of this week’s most read Current food stories. Go figure. Turns out ol’ Ted’s unhappy that Coca-Cola dared to speak out against…
Ron Nirenberg, Snoop Dogg: The top 10 headlines in San Antonio this week
Let it be known that San Antonio Current readers have no problem mixing art and politics. That much is clear from our most read stories of the week, which included new poll numbers suggesting Greg Brockhouse likely isn’t going to be SA’s next mayor and the news that rapper Snoop Dogg is headed back to…
Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush signals he may target Ken Paxton in primary challenge
Did anyone not see this one coming? Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush said Thursday he’s “seriously considering” a primary run against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, whose compounding legal woes have become a source of red-assed embarrassment for the Texas GOP. In what may qualify as the understatement of the century Bush told Dallas…
San Antonio immersive art gallery Hopscotch looking for restaurants to offer extended pop-ups onsite
Attention, pop-up eatery entrepreneurs: downtown’s Snapchat-ready art gallery Hopscotch is on the hunt. The immersive art experience has unveiled a restaurant incubator series called Hop-Up that will provide up-and-coming food businesses a two-month residency. The idea behind the program is that locally grown entrepreneurs can use it to test a concept via a pop-up that…
San Antonio’s Bar-B-Cutie SmokeHouse holding ‘Barks and Brews’ event Sunday
Round up the hounds! A local smokehouse is planning a puppy “pawty” to take advantage of the gorgeous weather expected this weekend. Bar-B-Cutie SmokeHouse will hold an event this Sunday dubbed “Barks and Brews” to benefit Charming Pet Rescue, a local facility that provides canine rescue, rehabilitation and adoptions. In addition to human fare, Bar-B-Cutie will serve…
San Antonio to welcome new English-themed bar serving fish and chips next month
For the past year, San Antonio musician Matthew Rose spent evenings slinging his English-style Rosey’s Fish & Chips at local spots The Good Kind and Dakota East Side Ice House. Now, a bigger catch is on the horizon. Starting next month, the transplanted Brit — who goes by “Rosey,” as the name of his food…
Watchdog group files complaints saying Ted Cruz broke campaign finance rules to promote his book
Amid U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz’s unending flood of bluster and bullshit — from mocking VP Kamala Harris for going to a bakery to hurling empty threats at Major League Baseball — it might have been easy to overlook real news that broke this week about Texas’ junior senator. Namely that a watchdog group filed a pair…
Is it mandatory to enjoy eye-popping movies such as Godzilla vs. Kong in the theater?
As a film critic, I’ve always considered the “theatrical experience” overrated. Over the past 20 years I’ve been doing this job professionally, I’ve never bought into the idea that certain movies need to be seen on the big screen. Now, is Mad Max: Fury Road more fun when you’re watching it with a big group…
Carver Community Cultural Center’s April events feature live music and online reflections
Locals can enjoy two in-person performances at the Carver Community Cultural Center this month in addition to its continued online programming. After canceling this spring’s mainstage events due to the pandemic, the Carver will present two socially distanced live performances as a part of its “Intimate Series.” On Saturday, vocalist, writer and director José Rubén…
‘Twenty-One Silent Stages’ is a pandemic portrait of San Antonio’s music scene
New York-based multidisciplinary artists Angel Nevarez and Valerie Tevere have a unique and telling “how we met” story. Their first encounter wasn’t at a university, gallery or museum but on the streets of San Diego — while they were protesting the Republican National Convention in 1996. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the work they’ve created collaboratively in the decades…
Snoop Dogg is headed to San Antonio for summer show at the Sunken Garden
As if anticipating the oncoming onslaught of feral behavior as more of the local population gets vaccinated against COVID-19, Tobin Entertainment made a bombshell announcement today. It’s bringing Snoop Dogg to San Antonio this summer in what may well signal the resumption of big-name musical tours. He’ll be stopping at Sunken Garden Theater July 2…
Upscale eatery Stout’s Signature will open adjacent to San Antonio’s Tobin Center
New restaurant Stout’s Signature will open a block from the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts’ box office, serving up international cuisine with upscale vibes. An offshoot of Stout’s Fredericksburg location at Grape Creek Vineyards, the dining spot will serve lunch and dinner, including pizzas, salads and entrees such as linguine with its signature meatballs and marinara…
Owners of San Antonio’s The Friendly Spot will open a new dive bar across the street
Southtown is about to get another laidback hangout. Steve and Jody Bailey Newman, owners of neighborhood staple The Friendly Spot, are breathing new life into a vacant space across the street, opening Bruno’s Dive Bar, MySA reports. Bruno and Dianne Dzanski opened the location in 1961, initially selling ice for pre-electric powered iceboxes, according the…
Activists blanket the Texas Capitol rotunda in rose petals to protest restrictive new voting bills
Early Thursday, youth activists spilled some 270,000 rose petals into the Texas Capitol rotunda, symbolizing the number of Texans of color who reach voting age each year. The middle school-, high school- and college-age activists also scatted the multicolored petals to show the diversity of the state’s young voters. Their action took place as Texas…
San Antonio Museum of Art issues open call for two new opportunities
Calling all creators: the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) has opened applications for a public art project and three-day residency program. For its community murals project, SAMA is seeking artists to help create three original murals — one at the museum’s main campus and one each in East Side and West Side communities. The…
Renowned San Antonio actor, director and teacher Greg Hinojosa has died
Greg Hinojosa, a well-known San Antonio actor, director, theatrical producer and teacher, died on April 8 at the age of 58. Hinojosa was a graduate of Holmes High School in San Antonio and attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University, where he majored in theater and speech. He is survived by Daniel Acosta, his husband of 23…
Congress allocated $19 billion in federal stimulus money to Texas public education, but schools have yet to see an extra dime
For more than a year, the federal government has been pumping billions of dollars into school districts across the country to help them meet the demands of the pandemic. Most states have used that pot of stimulus funds as Congress intended: buying personal protective equipment for students and teachers, laptops for kids learning from home,…
Rockabilly and country-rock touring acts round out San Antonio’s live music offerings this weekend
In addition to a pair of album-debut shows this weekend from San Antonio stalwarts — doom metal outfit Thunder Horse and experimental composer and percussionist claire rousay — local music fans have a chance to catch a couple of notable out-of-towners. Whether you prefer a present-day take on rockabilly or down-home country-rock, let’s just say…
Texas implements ‘no refusal’ DWI policy during Poteet Strawberry Festival weekend
Those planning to imbibe at this weekend’s Poteet Strawberry Festival may want to consider appointing a designated driver. The Texas Department of Public Safety announced Wednesday that it will crack down on drinking and driving in Atascosa County over the weekend, according to a MySA report. DPS will enforce a “no refusal” policy for DUI…
Public Theater of San Antonio debuts the latest of its one-person-shows on Thursday
Broadway’s longest-running one-woman show, Golda’s Balcony, is coming to the small screen, brought to audiences by San Antonio’s Public Theater. Golda’s Balcony is a story of idealism, leadership and strength in the face of political turmoil. The show tells the story of Golda Meir, the fourth prime minister of Israel, and her lifelong journey from…
Analysis: Abbott’s media event at San Antonio site for immigrant kids is political theater — of the absurd
The following is Current Events, a column of opinion and analysis. Gov. Greg Abbott’s press conference Wednesday in front of Freeman Coliseum won’t provide late-night comedy fodder like Rudy Giuliani’s meltdown of a presser last fall in front of a dildo shop and a crematorium. But in its own way, it was a comparably sad and…
Texas-based cookie empire Tiff’s Treats unveils new flavor for the first time in five years
Tiff’s Treats, the Austin-based company known for warm cookie delivery, has added a new flavor to its permanent menu: Double Chocolate Chip. The addition is its first new cookie flavor in five years, and the treat features a rich chocolate cookie studded with semi-sweet chocolate chips. “We want to continuously be innovative with our menu…
San Antonio-based Bill Miller Bar-B-Q raises hourly minimum wage to $12 at all locations
Effective this week, the minimum hourly wage at all 77 Bill Miller Bar-B-Q locations will be $12, according to a Monday social media post. “Have you heard the news? We want you on our team,” the post read. “Check out our list of employee benefits: Health Insurance, Paid Vacations, Personal Days, 401k, Tuition Reimbursement, Scholarship…
The Classic Theatre brings iconic Greek tragedy Antigone to the San Antonio Botanical Garden
For its second play of the season, the Classic Theatre’s Antigone is returning to the outdoor stage at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. In a socially-distanced performance, audiences are invited to watch Sophocles’ classic tragedy, which follows Antigone’s struggle to make the life-threatening choice between her moral values and the laws of man in the…
Catching up with rockabilly revival giant Danny B. Harvey before his San Antonio gig on Friday
Couple and musical partners Danny B. Harvey and Annie Marie Lewis are damned near rockabilly royalty. Harvey’s a luminary in the music’s ongoing revival, having played guitar with early ’80s outfit Levi and the Rockats, real-deal pioneer Wanda Jackson and supergroup HeadCat, which included Lemmy of Motörhead and Slim Jim Phantom of the Stray Cats.…
San Antonio’s Saint City Supper Club returns, featuring head-to-head crawfish boil battle
Three San Antonio gastronomes are facing off in the Battle of the Boil. A crawfish boil, that is. On Saturday, April 24, Southtown’s dinner pop-up series Saint City Supper Club will host its first 2021 event, pitting restauranteur Chad Carey, chef James Canter and longtime epicure Hugh Daschbach against each other for the coveted title…
NY-based grain-to-glass distillery brings new bourbons and gin to San Antonio retailers
When a New York-based product lands in Texas, it may evoke memories of those old-school Pace Picante Sauce “get a rope” commercials. While East Coast salsa still may not fly in San Antonio, one Empire State distillery is looking to change Texans’ minds about Yankee-produced spirits. Black Button Distilling, the first grain-to-glass farm distillery in…
Austin’s Independence Brewing Co. to release super-charged, hoppy AF new beer
Hopheads, listen up. This news is for you. Austin-based Independence Brewing Co., purveyors of Stash IPA, have created a limited edition brew created to knock the socks off hop lovers. The new ale, dubbed Super Stash, is a high-density, super-charged version of the brewery’s best-selling IPA. Super Stash uses a new, all-natural liquid hop product…
San Antonians 75 years and older no longer need an appointment to get vaccinated at the Alamodome
As COVID-19 vaccines become more accessible to San Antonians, the city of San Antonio will now accommodate residents on a walk-up basis at the Alamodome clinic, so long as they are 75 years of age or older. SA Metro Health took to Instagram Tuesday to inform followers that elderly residents need only present a valid…
