SA’s Shadiest (in a good way) Parks
For anyone in charge of a child or two, knowing where to find the nearest playground is information as essential as the numbers for poison control and your pediatrician. (South Texas Poison Center: (800) 222-1222, just FYI) The Parks and Recreation website is a fantastic resource. It has a full park directory with links to…
Historic Olmos Bar and Diner’s New Prescription for Fun
A couple of years ago, Carlos Padilla was ready to give up on the Olmos Bharmacy. Owning a bar is an uphill climb, Padilla complained to a bar patron one Friday night. He was thinking about selling. Later, the patron’s wife showed up and joined him at the bar. The couple talked for a while and left,…
An Introduction to SA
Bienvenidos, I see you’ve recently moved to San Antonio. Excellent choice. Or maybe you’re just visiting and wondering what it’s like to live here on the regular (you may have noticed a distinct lack of locals on the River Walk). In any case, we’re here to help. This year we’ve reorganized our City Guide in…
Five Choice Apps for SA Living
San Antonio 311: Report It Do you need to request a dead animal pick up? Report graffiti in the park? Gripe about your neighbor’s overgrown yard? This app makes it easy to file a report, tag the location, attach a photo of the problem and make a city service request. Official Spurs Mobile App With…
A World of Ethnic Food On the West Side
Yes, there are other “ethnic” restaurants in SA apart from the cornucopia of Mexican eats. There’s even whole markets devoted to other parts of the world beside ‘Merica and south of the border. If you’re looking for worldly spices or your favorite brand of hummus, consider visiting the multitude of international markets on the west…
Owner’s Guide for Rehabbing Older Homes
An older home, like many clustered in central SA’s historic neighborhoods, can bring mixed emotions. The heart starts pumping. The thrill begins as you look around and imagine what that room would be like if you moved that wall, stripped the wallpaper from the ceiling, painted it that great color you saw last summer. You…
5 West Side Ways to Experience Conjunto
Music is an integral part of the makeup of San Antonio, but if you peel off all the city’s sound layers (rock, hip-hop, metal, country, Tejano, Americana, et al), at the center of it you’ll find conjunto—literally, a group; etymologically, it comes from the Latin coniunctus, meaning “adjoining, connected,” which makes complete sense: Conjunto is…
Four Fun Northside Restaurants for the Whole Family
We as parents are morally and legally obligated to feed our children. Sometimes, it is truly joyous to share a meal with them—other times, not so much. But before you pass a nice restaurant with your kids in tow, sigh, and dutifully proceed to the nearest drive-thru instead, listen up. Fight the urge, and instead…
South Side’s Newest One-Stop Shopping Heaven
In San Antonio there are plenty of flea markets, swap meets or mercados de pulgas, whatever you want to call them—but only one PPP. Inaugurated on December 1, 2012, PicaPica Plaza (roughly translated as “SpicySpicy”) is a 130,000-square-foot retail/entrepreneur center carrying everything you could find at a swap meet and much more—but please, don’t call…
Making the North Side More Bike-friendly
To those who don’t bike, cyclists are often aggravating road hazards—and to cyclists, those who don’t bike are aggravated road hazards, so why do riders put themselves in some of the most trafficked places in town: the North Side access roads? “I ride my bike to kind of get away … to exercise. To ride…
10 Places to Hang Out Near UTSA, St. Mary’s and OLLU
If you’re a new college student at UTSA, St. Mary’s or Our Lady of the Lake University, we have a few hot spots you should check out. From awesome pizzerias to scenic parks, San Antonio’s West Side has plenty of fun places to explore. UTSA Main Campus Munchies for Everyone The Block 14530 Roadrunner…
5 Westside Breakfast Spots to Try
So what if the sun rises in the east? San Antonio’s West Side still corners the market on best breakfasts. The Original Donut Shop 3307 Fredericksburg, (210) 734-5661 This cash-only drive-thru or dine-in joint offers what many consider to be the best breakfast tacos in SA. It also has amazing, fresh-made donuts served piping hot…
For Some of the City’s Best Burgers, Head East
When we’re talking serious buns on SA’s East Side, we’re talking about The Lord’s Kitchen and Mark’s Outing. The two are neighborhood favorites for a reason. Mark’s Outing Mark’s Outing (formerly Fatty’s Burgers and More, 1624 E Commerce, (210) 299-8110) knows to stick to the basics, while offering literal novelty twists like the ice cream…
7 Great Restaurants Near Randolph and Ft. Sam
Sometimes, you’ve just gotta get away, but boozing all night or hopping the next Aeromexico flight isn’t always an option if you’re active duty personnel on Randolph Air Force Base or Fort Sam Houston. But, hey, you can at least escape for a quick bite, right? Here’s some East and Northeast Side suggestions for when…
Festival and Parade Planner
If you’re new to San Antonio, you need to know that one thing we do extremely well is party. Here’s a list of some of our biggest and best parades and festivals so you can start planning for them now. February: San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo AT&T Center sarodeo.com It’s not just about the barrel…
Southside Tex-Mex
There’s something about the south side of almost any city. Most may not have the notoriety of Boston’s Southie—despite Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, it’s still “too fucked up even for a reality show,” in the words of one Beantown journalist. But where diversity reigns, so does authentic food. As exemplified by the following four…
4 Downtown Dive Bars to Embarrass Yourself In
In the last few years, San Antonio has made great strides when it comes to its mixology doings. Many good (and some great!) cocktail bars have been springing up left and right all over Downtown. But while our libation IQ is on the rise, we shouldn’t forget the simple pleasures. Even Downtown, there’s still plenty…
The Renaissance Guild Brings Theater To the Black Community and Vice Versa
The theme of The Renaissance Guild’s 2013-2014 season could not be more appropriate—We Are Who We Are: The Migration Project. Since 2001, San Antonio’s “Premiere Black Theatre Company” has been producing and promoting quality black theater on San Antonio’s East Side. Now, with the help of new Artistic Director Bill Lewis, word is spreading and…
Northside Bars and Coffee Shops to Combat the Mega-chain Blues
Ah, San Antonio suburbia: Your vast strip mall centers, chain stores and impersonality compel one to take the first exit south for a touch of edge. Sure, SA’s North Side can feel a little unoriginal, but don’t fret if you just signed that Stone Oak apartment lease—we tracked down these hoppin’ local neighborhood bars and…
A Promise to Revitalize the East Side
Historically, San Antonio’s East Side isn’t particularly known for its pristine streets and trendy nightlife. Rather, some perceive it as a place beleaguered by socioeconomic plight and in need of revitalization—so much so that now the federal government is involved. Earlier this year, the White House gave the area a boost by designating it one…
6 Eclectic Shopping Spots in ’09 and Beyond
In the market for a bronze chandelier with alabaster bobesches? Desperately seeking a pair of Wonder Woman-inspired go-go boots? This short list will help you find them (and lots more you never knew you needed) in the surprisingly eclectic bubble surrounding Alamo Heights, Olmos Park and Terrell Hills. Charlott’s Antiques When you think of “hobbies,”…
Southside Strolls
On the south side of town, there are plenty of rugged and not-so-rugged ways to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. Nestled in the South Flores arts district, CHRISpark (111 Camp) provides a lovely and peaceful escape from the bustle. Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Monday, the beautifully landscaped…
Chef Andrew Weissman’s River Empire
To the chagrin of some, chef Andrew Weissman’s name comes up over and over again amongst the serious eaters of SA. That’s because he’s opened three restaurants in the past five years—each concept more inventive than the last—and is about to revamp one of the two older establishments with which he’s still directly involved. Oh,…
Shopping Inside the Loop
One of my favorite learning curves in a new city is finding places to shop. It’s a necessity and a treat—everyone needs both staples and sprees. But, while retail-friendly developments will catch your eye, it can be tough to discern if they indeed hold what you’re looking for. Here’s central SA’s three main shopping locales,…
Living On the Cheap … In Alamo Heights
Pre-dating the Dominion and Stone Oak, an Alamo Heights address was often the signifier of wealth and class in San Antonio. Nowadays, the tony vibe remains, but we set out to find non-chi-chi entertainment in the Heights that doesn’t require a) club membership, b) wads of cash or c) a dress code. While I admit…
Uptown Style in a Southtown Zip Code
Casa Lavaca 502 Eager , Debra Maltz: (210) 224-2213 centroproperties.net/property/casa-lavaca-2 In the heart of Southtown, just across from the Southtown community garden and down the street from favorite area eateries such as Bite, Bliss, Taco Haven and many others, Casa Lavaca offers intimate (and pet-free) apartment living in the historic and recently renovated Marlow Chiropractic…
First Friday vs. Second Saturday
Even when the stars align and they fall within the same weekend, First Friday and Second Saturday don’t compete but complement one another like an eccentric pair of fraternal twins. While both warrant an exploratory stroll, these are our don’t-miss picks for both sides of the tracks. First Friday The mother ship of the Blue…
8 Cultural Gems on the North Side
“Outside the Loop” is used as a pejorative by Downtown-centric cool kids, but oases of culture can be found in the sprawling suburbs of the North Side. One-stop Culture Shop Barshop Jewish Community Center of San Antonio 12500 NW Military, (210) 302-6820, jccsanantonio.org Vexler Theater box office, (210) 302-6835 Holocaust Museum, (210) 302-6807, hmmsa.org The…
A Basic Guide to City Services
CPS Energy 1-800-773-3077, cpsenergy.com Get those lights turned on. This City-owned utility will hook you up with electricity and gas. San Antonio Water System (SAWS) (210) 704-SAWS (7297), saws.org … And get your shower on, while you’re at it. SAWS is your ticket to water and sewer services. Recycling (210) 207-6428, sarecycles.org Don’t Mess With…
Northside Groceries Go Far Beyond H-E-B
You don’t have to leave the North Side for much these days if their grocery stores are to be believed. While downtown is still working on its first H-E-B, our neighbors to the north of 410 have all the groceries money can buy. Here’s the lowdown on some of the less ubiquitous supermarket chains. Green…
Tucker’s Keeps Thriving On the East Side
Tucker’s Kozy Korner knows a thing or two about change. Originally a food stand, the bar has seen its share of identities since its inception some 66 years ago. By the ’70s, what started as a humble hotdog and burger joint had evolved into a cool, no-gimmicks cocktail lounge. Blocks away from downtown and a…
12 Off-campus Spots for Trinity, SAC and UIW Students
If you’re just starting at one of the three college campuses located in central San Antonio (or you just never made it off campus last semester), consider adding a little extra-curricular exploration to your course load. Thanks to prime locations, students at Trinity University, San Antonio College and University of the Incarnate Word can find…
Yes, Healthy ‘Fast’ Food Exists in SA
Sure, tacos and Tex Mex might get the glory in San Antonio’s food scene, but let’s give some recognition to the delicious islands of healthy, clean livin’ food throughout the city, shall we? From their tiny building on the near-eastside of Downtown, Sweet Yams (218 N Cherry St, (210) 229-9267, facebook.com/sweetyamsorganic, pictured) serves healthy versions…
Social Sports Clubs In and Around Downtown SA
Trying to find a new way to have fun and exercise? We know you don’t normally associate the two words, but here’s a few suggestions that just might change your mind. Join these social sport clubs in central San Antonio for some good exercise, fun happy hours, parties and the opportunity to meet some new…
Pet Primpin’: Feeding and grooming your furry friends
Fur-children deserve the occasional pampering. Several local shops cater to the four-legged crowd in more ways than just grooming. Here are some local opportunities to spoil Fido. A Stay at Pawderosa Ranch Whether you’re boarding your pooch for the weekend or for the day, the staff at Pawderosa helps the process along the way. Applications,…
