Remember 25 years ago when Pixar Animation Studios was making movies about talking toys and busy bugs? Since then, far more complex ideas have found their way into the scripts. For example, harvesting energy by accessing interdimensional portals (Monster’s Inc.) and neurophysiological moods and the functioning of the brain (Inside Out). Sure, those descriptions might…
Nationwide, thousands of restaurants closed this year amid pandemic stay-at-home orders. Those that survived have been forced to navigate a tricky new regulatory environment and shift much of their focus to takeout and delivery. Despite those challenges, San Antonio food-service entrepreneurs forged ahead in 2020. Many braved the risk, took a leap of faith in…
When Norberto “Geremy” Landin appears on my computer screen, I compliment his guayabera with its two vertical rows of sewn pleats running along the front. “Oh, thank you,” he replies from his West Side home. “I’m infamous for wearing a ton of guayaberas.” Landin, who turns 25 on New Year’s Eve, is running for the…
After receiving its first ever seven-figure philanthropic donation, downtown San Antonio’s Hemisfair public space will use the money to construct a garden in the new year. The Mays Family Foundation announced a $1 million gift in honor of family matriarch Peggy Mays, who died at 85 last month. The Hemisfair Conservancy will develop the Peggy…
As if Twin Peaks and Hooters didn’t already fill San Antonio’s need to order from skimpily clad female waitstaff, a new so-called “breastaurant” has set its sights on the city. Bombshells — a military-themed eatery from the group that owns and operates Rick’s Cabaret and its affiliated gentlemen’s clubs — will make its Alamo City…
As per usual, restaurants came and went, chefs left (and returned) and concepts gained steam and fizzled out in San Antonio this year. No one in the food service industry, however, was quite prepared for the global pandemic, which factored into nearly every food trend we bore witness to in 2020. Here’s a rundown of…
The global pandemic was the top news story of 2020, representing the biggest disruption to daily routines, the economy and public safety most of us have experienced in our lifetimes. But that doesn’t mean it was the only big story this year. There were also massive street protests over police accountability and racial justice, a…
In mid-December, we traditionally reach out to the movers and shakers of San Antonio’s arts community to collect perspectives on the “best” or most memorable happenings of the year. With 2020 essentially nullifying that concept, we instead asked them to share any silver linings they found in the pandemic’s dark cloud. Evidenced by the dreaded…
Whisky Magazine Hall of Famer Willie Pratt has died, leaving behind a legacy of high-quality whisky in Kentucky-based distillery Michter’s line of award-winning products. The distillery’s sauces occupy shelf space in some of the Alamo City’s most extensive whisky collections, including that of downtown-area nightspots Bar 1919 and the Esquire Tavern. At the age of 20,…
“Spilling the tea” to start off the new year, the San Antonio Museum of Art is hosting the second installment of its virtual book club, this time featuring The Book of Tea. The book, written in 1906 by the Japanese scholar Okakura Kakuzō, argues the importance and role of “teaism” in Japanese culture, aesthetics and…
The countdown to 2021 has begun. As per usual, the San Antonio Parks Foundation and Bexar County are bringing their annual New Year’s Eve fireworks show to San Antonio. Due to the global health crisis, things will be a little different this year, in that it’s a virtual affair. Broadcast live on NBC affiliate News…
Community members are invited to make wishes of hope, healing and happiness for the new year in a lighting ceremony at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. Inspired by traditional Japanese floating and hanging lanterns, Wish: Water Lanterns in the Garden offers a memorable evening in which participants can purchase a lantern (or bring one from…
The Texas Department of State Health Services reported Monday a pandemic high 11,351 hospitalizations from COVID-19. This surpasses the previous all-time high of 10,893, which occurred on July 22. The record comes in the midst of a holiday season public health experts worry could exacerbate the already rapidly spreading virus and following an increase in…
The federal government has released its first-ever set of dietary guidelines for infants and kids under the age of 2, recommending against any added sugars in their diets. U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services released the guidelines Tuesday, which suggest breast milk for at least the first six months of…
U.S. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is defending himself on Twitter after a Wall Street Journal story drew attention to his work to secure pandemic relief funding for oil companies owned by a pair of billionaire GOP donors. The WSJ article highlighted potential conflicts of interest between Cruz and Lone Star State billionaires Dan and Farris Wilks. The…
Filipino comfort food chain Jollibee opened its first SA location over the weekend, and diehard fans lined up as early as 7 a.m., using social media to document their hours-long wait. Fernando Balderas posted up in the drive-thru line just before 11 a.m. Sunday, posting a photo of the line of cars on the Jollibee…
Breakfast cereal juggernaut Kellogg’s has partnered with snack cake queen Little Debbie for a new sugar-packed hybrid marketing phenom: Oatmeal Creme Pie breakfast cereal. The release of the breakfast-product mashup culminates a yearlong celebration of 60 years of the original Little Debbie snack cake. A news release describes the product as “crispy oatmeal cookie flavored…
Casandra Matej, a key figure in San Antonio’s tourism and hospitality sector for nearly a decade, will resign as president and CEO of Visit San Antonio for a similar gig in Orlando, Florida. Matej will take over as CEO of Visit Orlando after her resignation becomes effective January 26, according to an announcement from Visit San Antonio. Matej’s…
Texas may soon get authority over the disposal of ash from coal-fired power plants, a change that could insulate coal companies from tougher rules expected under a Biden administration. A proposal introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this month would allow Texas to regulate coal ash instead of the federal agency. The move comes just…
Partial skeletal remains were found Sunday on the northeast end of Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, according to a news release the installation issued Monday. People walking near Salado Creek discovered the remains. The Air Force Office of Special Investigations and San Antonio law enforcement began investigating Monday morning. Authorities said there is no…
Under state rules triggered by COVID-19 hospitalizations, Bexar County businesses currently running at 75% capacity must cut back to half capacity starting Tuesday. The measures were mandated under a September order by Gov. Greg Abbott, which requires communities to dial back business capacity if their number of COVID-19 patients exceeds 15% of total hospitalizations for…
San Antonio’s Spurs Coyote has again earned accolades from his peers. On Monday, the Coyote tweeted photos posing with a shiny trophy, having been named the 2020 NBA Mascot of the Year. He previously won that distinction in 2014. 2020 NBA Mascot of the Year! 🏆.#GoSpursGo #NBA pic.twitter.com/lAlICinYOf — Coyote (@SpursCoyote) December 28, 2020 According…
Beloved and stylish Southtown restaurant Feast has been listed on commercial real estate website LoopNet for $1,275,000, including all furniture, fixtures and equipment. After Feast abruptly closed late last year, the futuristic-looking, 2,500-square-foot building has sat vacant, save for a few pop-ups and concept tests for other projects helmed by local operators Andrew Goodman and…
Fat Tummy Empanadas and Mamma Mia Food Express informed followers of the theft of a shared food trailer via their respective Facebook pages Sunday. The two local food businesses took to social media to plea with whomever stole their mobile kitchen, urging the thieves to return their livelihood. “This post is addressed to these lazy…
The beer company behind Lone Star, Pearl and its namesake Pabst Blue Ribbon has had a busy year. Pabst announced plans to relocate its headquarters back to San Antonio, develop a downtown culture park and relaunch its Pearl xXx American lager. It also struck a multi-million dollar deal securing the rights to sell and distribute Jack…
Cervecería 88 — a new taco, wing and burger joint — held its grand opening over the weekend in the space that once housed popular eatery Eastside Kitchenette. Eastside Kitchenette, which served elevated Southern cuisine, closed earlier this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Cervecería 88 took to social media to promote its opening event with photos of a…
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. Aides to Ken Paxton said the Texas attorney general is worried President Donald Trump will…
Like many events, the 2021 edition of the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo will be significantly downsized due to the pandemic. So much so, that only resale tickets remain. Rodeo CEO Cody Davenport and President Rusty Collier broke the news via Facebook Live last week as they discussed the “more intimate” event’s venue capacity,…
On Facebook Sunday, San Antonio’s Grammy Award-winning accordion maestro Flaco Jiménez teased the launch of a new taco trailer bearing his name. The new Tacos Jiménez mobile eatery will open January 7, serving up barbacoa bañados estilo Monterrey and menudo. The former are popular Monterrey, Mexico-style tacos bathed in a savory red sauce. Flaco Is ready…
The outgoing speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a post on his Facebook page Sunday. Bonnen said he tested positive this weekend and has mild symptoms. His wife, Kim Bonnen, tested positive last week and “continues to battle difficult but manageable symptoms,” he said.…
Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said he’s “encouraged” the San Antonio Spurs to hold off on allowing fans to return to games at the county-owned AT&T Center, the Express-News reports. The NBA team had planned to resume in-person attendance for its New Year’s Day contest against the Los Angeles Lakers. The arena would open in…
If you like historical tales set in Texas and haven’t seen the drama News of the World from Oscar-nominated director Paul Greengrass (United 93) yet, you’re missing out. The film, released on Christmas Day at local theaters, stars two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump) as Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd, a Confederate veteran who takes responsibility…
The Williamson County and Cities Health District on Wednesday received 900 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, then closed its offices for Christmas. District officials said Thursday that the vaccine arrived earlier than scheduled and it was impossible to speed up plans to administer vaccines starting Saturday. But the move drew a sharp rebuke from local…
Allie Irvine, 37, has been homeless since Easter weekend of 2016. In her life, she has faced hardships such as drug abuse, self-harm, and being a victim of police brutality, she says. However, Irvine says she is blessed with the amount of care she has received from the many homeless and social services programs in…
Coronavirus infections in part of the United Kingdom have rapidly taken center stage in the COVID-19 pandemic after researchers identified a variant of t he virus that may be behind a recent spike in cases there. On December 14, U.K. Health Secretary Matt Hancock first announced that the variant, called B.1.1.7, might be linked to…
This article is co-published with ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up for ProPublica’s Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox as soon as they are published. Also, sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas…
Boxing Day is typically celebrated in Canada and countries across the pond, but San Antonio chef Tim McDiarmid — who is Canadian herself — is bringing the holiday to the Alamo City, holding a special Boxing Day Brunch and toy drive for local kiddos. According to history.com, Boxing Day (December 26) has nothing to do…
Scooped Cookie Dough Bar, an SA-born edible raw cookie dough company, will hold a grand opening in the space formerly occupied by vegan-friendly Avocado Cafe on the city’s Northeast side. Matt Weber, owner of Scooped Cookie Dough Bar, negotiated a deal with Tripp Floyd, the former operator of the eatery, after spotting the Current’s coverage…
Selena is among the slate of artists that will be honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards by the Recording Academy at the 2021 Grammys in January, MySA reports. Along with the Queen of Tejano, musicians including Salt-N-Pepa, Talking Heads, Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five, Lionel Hampton and Marilyn Horne will each receive a Special Merit…
Ham- and hot dog-topped spaghetti lovers, rejoice! After nearly two years of waiting with bated breath, fans of the popular Filipino eatery Jollibee will be pleased to learn the chain has finally confirmed an opening date for the first Alamo City store. Sunday, December 27, the new 5033 NW Loop 410 location will throw open…
Motel Fried Chicken, a new chef-driven fried chicken sando concept, will open for business early next month, MySA reports. Philadelphia-based chef Chad Rosenthal has partnered with San Antonio chef James Canter to bring the buttermilk and herb-brined chicken sandwiches to the Alamo City. After an über-successful pop-up event at Southtown venue The Good Kind last…
Congress’ recently approved $900 million stimulus package includes more relief for restaurant operators via another round of federal Paycheck Protection Program loans, the San Antonio Business Journal reports. This time, PPP applicants in the restaurant industry can draw at 3.5 times their average monthly payroll, compared to other industry sectors, which will be capped at…
Rooftop Cinema Club, the pop-up drive-in theater at Six Flags Fiesta Texas, is ending its run next week. The outdoor theater’s final day in operation is Wednesday, December 30. The drive-in announced the closure of its San Antonio location in an Instagram post on Tuesday, but it’s not all bad news — the pop-up is…
Just when you think Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton couldn’t pad his resume more full of dick moves, along comes one more. In a May 21 letter, Paxton asked the Trump administration to revoke millions in CARES Act pandemic relief funding that Harris County planned to use to facilitate mail-in voting during the pandemic. The…
Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol told CNBC on Tuesday the company won’t require workers to get the coronavirus vaccine, despite recent guidance from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission stating companies could require employees to show proof that they have received the shot. The Southern California-based chain will strongly encourage employees to get vaccinated against the…
The pandemic upended our lives this year, dealing us anxiety and shifting our normal routines. Many of us took refuge in the comfort of beloved albums or songs, because nothing lifts you up like something from your “Favorites” playlist. I chose not to have that kind of listening year. I began the year by simply…
The San Antonio Botanical Garden will host two Teacher Appreciation Days next week, offering free admission to Bexar County educators and school staff. The gesture is meant to be a “thank you to the teachers and faculty who are working tirelessly to educate children and keep them safe during these challenging times,” according to the…
This year has been a doozy, that’s for sure. If you’re planning to rinse the residue of these past 12 months off of your psyche with booze, consider planning ahead to remedy your champagne-fueled hangover with one of these post-NYE events. And, not to sound like someone’s mom, but please consider being safe by using…
The office of Councilwoman Jada Andrews-Sullivan sent dozens of tamales to the nine fire stations serving her East Side district this week — a gesture of appreciation for their service to the community. “I am grateful for the hard work and dedication of our SAFD first responders and cherished small businesses in our community,” Councilwoman…
The pandemic has continued to wreak havoc on the restaurant and bar industry, but Arturo Torres — owner of Pub Run San Antonio, which coordinates monthly bar crawls of Downtown SA’s river walk boozeries — is ready to get back in the saddle, MySA reports. “We are trying to help the bars downtown, but it’s…
As the qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup played on a dining room TV, the atmosphere inside La Milanesa Restaurant and Grill made it seem like the eatery had been transported from its Northeast San Antonio strip center into another country. Jersey-wearing fútbol fanatics clustered around the screen, voices rising as the game heated…
After thieves last Friday stole half the toys gathered for a holiday gift drive at the Alazan-Apache Courts housing project, San Antonio residents have stepped up in a big way. Since the news broke, the San Antonio Housing Authority has received enough money and donated toys for 2,000 additional presents. Grocery chain H-E-B matched $4,000 of the donations,…
Bexar County reported 1,717 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday — a single-day record — prompting an emergency text alert and stern warnings from local officials. With rates rising before the Christmas holiday, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff warned that gatherings of people outside of residents’ immediate households will worsen the surge. In addition to its new case…
It’s an early Wednesday morning when H. Drew Galloway appears on my computer screen. A week has passed since he announced he’d be stepping down as executive director of voter mobilization group MOVE Texas to make way for new leadership. After almost five years at the helm of the grassroots organization, he hopes to merge…
After seeing this in the Bulwark newsletter the other day, we were pretty sure it would be dead on Eventbrite by the time we clicked. But nope, these hucksters are still taking money. For a bus trip to Donald Trump’s inauguration. On Jan. 20, 2021. (Screaky-screaky noise as you grind your fists into your eye sockets…
The City of San Antonio’s renovation of the former Frost Bank headquarters on West Houston Street has increased by $15.6 million to a total of $141 million, according to city officials who presented the City Council with a financial update on Thursday. The council unanimously agreed to amend the contract with the Skanska-Nunnelly joint venture,…
By mid-November, hospitals in Lubbock were stretched thin as cases of COVID-19 spread quickly and widely throughout the West Texas community. A large number of new cases had erupted among young people who continued to flock to bars and restaurants in the college town. “There are several steps that can be taken now that, as…
Anticipated Southtown drinkery Amor Eterno will greet its first guests during a New Year’s Eve soiree meant to unveil its puro flavors to the artsy near-downtown neighborhood. Veteran bar owners Brian Correa and Aaron Peña, who soldiered on with preparations for the sexy new space during the pandemic, say they’re eager to serve up elevated…
Downtown Tex-Mex restaurant Pico de Gallo has unveiled Enchilada Wednesdays, a lunchtime special which nods to the puro school tradition that many born-and-raised San Antonians remember fondly. “If you went to school in SA, then you know about Enchilada Wednesdays!” the restaurant posted to Instagram. “All the nostalgia of your cafeteria favorites, but even better!”…
Texas grocer H-E-B has removed toilet paper — 2020’s retail MVP — from its pandemic-driven list of products with purchase limits, KSAT reports. The San Antonio-based company updated the list Friday, removing limits not just on TP but on paper towels, disinfecting and antibacterial wipes and hydrogen peroxide. However, limits still apply to brisket, frozen chitterlings,…
The Texas Supreme Court has extended its emergency eviction relief program for tenants behind on rent through at least March 15, lengthening the program’s expiration date by a month and a half. The move comes after Congress passed a stimulus bill Monday extending the federal moratorium on evictions through the end of January. The moratorium order…
Holiday plans are shifting for most families this year, but brothers David and José Cáceres — owners of two San Antonio-area La Panadería restaurants — plan to share their Mexican “bread cultura” by offering traditional Rosca de Reyes cakes for Epiphany Day. The special sweet bread — which features flavors of orange, guava and chocolate…
H-E-B’s annual Feast of Sharing may not include its traditional in-person dinner events and volunteer opportunities, but that’s not stopping the company from donating more than 300,000 meals to fight hunger this holiday season. The latest effort from the grocery chain includes a partnership with Meals on Wheels San Antonio which will deliver 3,400 meals…
No, that $600 federal check isn’t going to go far, but music fans have reason to celebrate the passage of the long-delayed second stimulus deal. The $900 billion package approved last night incorporates the Save Our Stages Act, which provides for $15 billion in Small Business Administration grants to help independent music venues survive the pandemic. …
Millennials and Gen Z-ers may remember the 1998 Doritos 3Ds Super Bowl spot in which actress and late-’90s it-girl Ali Landry did her best to give the crunchy snack some steamy appeal. Now, Frito Lay is introducing Doritos 3Ds to a new generation. The corn snack’s hollow, puffed-up shape will return — along with Landry…
My mother used to have a saying, and maybe yours did too: “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” Admittedly, as a food critic, I long ago abandoned that maxim. But it keeps creeping back into my head as a result of this pandemic and the ensuing struggles of the restaurant…
We don’t need much of a reason to celebrate the end of 2020, but some SA eateries have decided to pull out all the stops, offering special New Year’s Eve experiences that will have you toasting the night — and the year — away. We’ve gathered a few options for your celebration consideration. As per…
Texas may pride itself on its countless miles of highways, but it hasn’t exactly done a good job of maintaining them, according to a new study. An analysis of highway condition and state infrastructure spending by the financial site MoneyGeek found the Lone Star State had the 13th-worst roads among U.S. states. Roughly one in five…
Three local queens are here to bring some extra pizzazz to your at-home holiday celebration on Christmas day. Haus of Vaporz, a San Antonio-based drag queen family that includes Current contributor and rapper Chris Conde, is streaming its holiday performance, Tinsel & Glitter: A Holiday Drag Event, on Twitch for all to view. Whether you have…
A home invasion in the Medical Center was foiled by a frying pan early Tuesday morning, according to multiple reports. After a man barged into an apartment and tried to rob the residents at gunpoint, one of the intended victims brandished the pan and hit him in the head, according to police. The residents were…
Shea Wiedemeyer’s depression crept in slowly. The high school freshman had struggled with some anxiety before schools shut down abruptly in March, but in the isolation of the pandemic, cut off from daily interaction with friends and teachers at McCallum High School in Austin, the feelings snowballed. “I feel stuck in this sort of in…
Nationally recognized grocery chain H-E-B now allows customers to use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, to pay for curbside and home delivery orders. The San Antonio-based grocery giant introduced SNAP online ordering through its website and app at select stores in Corpus Christi, Beeville and Kingsville in May. It’s since extended the technology chain wide, including the 230 stores…
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 Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is reluctant to take either of the new COVID-19 vaccines…
The San Antonio Food Bank’s final mega-distribution of the year will feature a Christmas in Texas theme and include sausage, frozen whole briskets and 150-pound food boxes. Working with longtime partners Community First Health Plans, Kiolbassa Smoked Meats and the RK Group, the Food Bank will provide holiday ingredients to 2,000 local families. Kiolbassa will offer…
San Antonio-based Valero Energy Corp., one of nation’s largest refiners, ranks among the oil and gas industry’s worst emitters of greenhouse gases, according to a new analysis of federal data. Valero’s 14 production facilities — including several in Texas — released a total of 23.5 million tons of carbon emissions 2019, the Environmental Integrity Project reports,…
Wayne’s Wings — named the “Best Wings in Texas” by food site delish.com — will open a second location, this one serving Northwest San Antonio, KSAT reports. Owner Dwayne Price plans to open the new outpost in February 2021. It will be located at 11600 Bandera Road, according to the TV station. The original Wayne’s Wings…
CVS Health, one of two pharmacy chains with federal contracts to supply COVID-19 vaccinations, will begin inoculating residents at more than 2,000 Texas nursing homes and assisted living facilities at the end of the month. CVS said it expects to offer Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccination to more than 275,000 residents and staffers at Texas long-term care…
James van der Beek — aka Dawson from teen drama series Dawson’s Creek — is commemorating his family’s recent relocation to Texas by starring in a new H-E-B holiday ad campaign focused on giving back. “I have come to look at moving to a new state like being a guest at somebody’s holiday dinner table,”…
A home in New Braunfels has taken its Christmas light show to new puro South Texas heights. As part of the 2020 edition of its annual light show, Serene Lights of New Braunfels kicked things up a notch with a different kind of classic — a medley of songs from Selena’s iconic Astrodome concert. The…
East Side java joint Folklores Coffee House wanted to share holiday cheer to its workers in the form of a bonus, but with the pandemic cutting into earnings, that just wasn’t possible. So, instead, owners Tatu and Emilie Herrera are handing over 100% of their Christmas Eve profits to staff. “We wanted to give our…
If you lived in San Antonio in the 1990s, chances are that at least once a year around Christmastime, you would hear the South Texas “cholo” version of “The 12 Days of Christmas” on local Tejano radio station KXTN. If the song parody somehow never crossed your radar, it replaces the lyrics of the original…
Growing up as an artistic kid in a Jehovah’s Witness family, San Antonio native Connie Chapa would often draw pictures on issues of The Watchtower during meetings at the Kingdom Hall — to her mother’s chagrin. Although she didn’t study art in high school, she doodled regularly and drew manga-inspired characters in journals that got passed…
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz’s former press secretary on Friday published a scathing takedown of President Trump’s 10 worst enablers on political site The Bulwark. Two of them were from Texas. And, not surprisingly, one was her former boss. Amanda Carpenter, who worked for Cruz before becoming a CNN commentator, included both the Republican Senator and Texas…
More than half of the toys collected for children living at the Alazan-Apache Courts public housing complex were stolen a day before a holiday gift distribution planned for Saturday. The event continued with “limited toys to provide families,” according to a statement from San Antonio Housing Authority. The annual drive was originally expected to…
CURE Magazine — a national publication serving cancer patients, survivors and caretakers — will feature artwork from a New Braunfels father and daughter in its 2021 calendar. Gregory Lambert’s and Becca Ortiz’s piece “The Elephant in the Room” will appear as one of 12 art submissions from across the country. A committee of CURE staff members picked the…
Need to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? Our evening roundup will help you stay on top of the day’s latest updates. Sign up here. Planned Parenthood is asking Texas to delay kicking the women’s health provider out of Medicaid in an effort to secure medical coverage for more than 8,000 Medicaid patients who…
This article is co-published with ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up for ProPublica’s Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox as soon as they are published. Also, sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas…
A surprising number of political reputations would collapse without the benefit of our short attention spans and vulnerability to distraction. President Donald Trump has shaped his understanding of our traits into performance art. He’s a master of changing subjects, replacing the crisis of the moment with something that yanks attention away and benefiting from our…
Christmas is a week away, but there are probably one or two folks on your list that have you stumped. The crew at Con Huevos Tacos gets that, which is why they’re holding a pop-up market with artsy vendors selling last-minute gifts. Among the local makers at the market are Tres Leches, which will be offering…
San Antonio’s Volare Italian Restaurant has cooked up a dinner option that aims to bring families together over the dinner table. With COVID-19 regulations keeping kiddos at home — and likely driving more than a few parents crazy — the longtime pizza institution has launched cook-at-home kits to promote family kitchen time. The do-it-yourself kits…
Book publisher. Author. Hotel manager. Feature screenplay writer. Max Booth III is doing it all these days. Actually, he quit his job as a hotel manager last year, so scratch that one off the list. “I worked at that hotel for eight years and despised every second of it,” said Booth, who co-owns Perpetual Motion…
The Farmers Market Plaza Building, a top draw at downtown’s Market Square, will temporarily close its doors January 2, MySA reports. The building — which houses 50 shops, largely operated by mom-and-pop retailers — will close for roughly three months to undergo improvements and mold abatement. The rest of Market Square will remain open, the city’s…
In a statement that makes the ludicrous claim that Planned Parenthood “openly work[s] with Satanists,” the Texas Republican Party said it’s prioritized ending access to abortion in the legislative session kicking off in January. The statement comes as the Texas Lege gets ready to grapple with a historic budget crisis and as a potential end…
There are many versions of the following quote, which is attributed to Jonathan Swift: “He was a bold man who first ate an oyster.” None, as far as I know, suggest that that first shucker and slurper could have been a woman, so let’s add that to the stew for the record. Whoever the oyster-eating…
Most of the places mentioned in our oyster bar roundup will package oysters to go — shucked and tucked into ice. Be sure you drive carefully on the way home as you really don’t want to lose any of that precious liquor. Another option is to self-shuck. (Please promise to acquire a proper shucking knife…
When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that the popular Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals could continue, recipients of the program were cautiously optimistic about its future. That caution was justified: Another effort to undo the program, this time led by the state of Texas, will go before a federal judge Tuesday in…
As this shitshow of a year comes to a close, it’s safe to say that we can all use some positive news. That positive news comes to us from the Texas Comptroller’s Office, which helped the San Antonio Food Bank discover enough unclaimed property to provide nearly 140,000 meals to the community, KSAT reports. “The…
San Antonians are reporting sightings of a Yuletide green cryptid on the Northeast side. On Thursday, Redditor Thisguy210 posted a photo of children’s book character The Grinch — seen driving a sleigh covered in Christmas lights — to the platform’s r/sanantonio subreddit. Though this was the first time Thisguy210 has obtained photographic evidence, it’s apparently…
Two mainstays of the 1906 South Flores Arts Complex are joining forces to help make up for their financial losses during the pandemic. This week, Swordfish Islands’ Jacob Hurst and FLATLINES Gallery’s James Medrano debuted a Kickstarter for a calendar featuring Medrano’s Selfies illustration series of music icons. The #Selfies – 2021 calendar, which backers can grab…
Two months after planting its inaugural crops, Bexar County’s Greenies Urban Farm will distribute its first harvest of superfoods to low income San Antonio families on Friday. “It’s the right time to get the ‘food is medicine’ message out as vitamin deficiencies lead to … hospital beds taken during the COVID [pandemic] and flu season,” Precinct…
Editor’s Note: The following is Current Events, a column of opinion and analysis. The Office of the Texas Governor has been a recent flurry of press releases. Among other things, Gov. Greg Abbott has promised to send Department of Public Safety troopers to Houston to combat road-rage shootings, and he’s trumpeted tech company Oracle’s relocation…
Another Texas brewery is jumping in on the canned cocktail trend in 2021. Houston’s Karbach Brewing Co. — of Love Street Blonde and Hopadillo IPA fame — will blend a hard seltzer with lime and agave to pay homage to the popular cocktail, which contains tequila, lime juice and fizzy water. “Something that took a…
To help families facing food insecurity due to the pandemic, the San Antonio Public Library and its nonprofit foundation will help feed kids during their holiday break from school. SAPL’s Snack Pak 4 Kids program is open to kids ages 4-18. Families don’t need a library card to be eligible. “The goal of this partnership is…
Texas is leading a 10-state lawsuit against the internet giant Google, accusing the company of anti-competitive conduct in advertising. In a buzzy video posted to social media Wednesday afternoon, Attorney General Ken Paxton — who is struggling to bounce back from a nadir in his political career— announced that Texas and nine other states are challenging Google’s…
A new Political Action Committee formed by Beto O’Rourke’s former statewide field director will raise money to help Democratic candidates beat embattled Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in 2022. While Dems haven’t won a statewide election in Texas since 1994, political observers view the scandal-mired Paxton as a vulnerable target. The Republican AG faces…
It may not be Girl Scout cookie season just yet, but for those who love indulging in the boxed treats, fortune has smiled early. This week, Girl Scouts of America opened its online portal for pre-orders, allowing folks to purchase the bingeable cookies for delivery. The organization isn’t conducting in-person cookie sales this year due…
San Antonians planning an explosive send off for 2020 should brace for one final disappointment this year. Bexar County Commissioners Court has banned the sale of “restricted” fireworks through January 14, KSAT reports. Fire Marshal Chris Lopez’s proposal states that the normal danger of fire is “greatly enhanced by extremely dry conditions.” San Antonio’s drought…
Local juicery JUICEssentials has taken a cue from Mother Nature and debuted a new winter-worthy drink: hot cacao. The spruced-up take on hot cocoa is purported to pack more of a chocolate punch since it features a higher concentration of the pure cacao bean from which cocoa is derived. JUICEssential balances the bitter notes of…
A pedestrian was killed after being hit by a vehicle on San Antonio’s East Side, KSAT reports. San Antonio police responded to a call near Interstate 35 and AT&T Center Parkway around 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday. Authorities say the pedestrian was running on the main lanes of the interstate before being struck by a black…
With COVID-19 cases still rising and available hospital beds dipping below 10%, Mayor Ron Nirenberg warned that San Antonio could be in for a grim winter. Bexar County reported 1,396 new cases and five new deaths Wednesday. The number of patients being treated for COVID-19 in local hospitals also increased by 26, hitting 826, and the…
To celebrate Gov. Greg Abbott’s reelection last year, his inaugural committee paid a whopping $1.7 million to hire country crooner George Strait and his band. A coterie of top political aides and staff got more than $1 million, some of it paid out in six-figure bonuses. And a handful of lucky charities received $800,000 in unspent…
Programmed in tandem with its end-of-the-year art sale “Shop Texas,” Presa House Gallery is hosting an event showcasing four San Antonio poets on Saturday. The virtual reading “Word Art,” which will be broadcast on Facebook Live, will feature 2018-2020 San Antonio Poet Laureate Octavio Quintanilla along with Rooster Martinez, Sheila Black and Bianca Vanessa Gonzalez.…
Hugman’s Oasis and House of Má, the new tiki bar and restaurant concepts from Esquire Tavern owner Chris Hill, will open in early 2021 in downtown San Antonio’s Historic Witte Building. Named for Robert H. H. Hugman, the architect responsible for the creation of San Antonio’s River Walk, the bar will occupy the building’s river level. The restaurant,…
Dough Pizzeria Napoletana temporarily closed both San Antonio locations earlier this month to ensure the safety of its staff. However, the locally based chain has since reopened its Blanco Road restaurant. Dough announced in a December 8 Facebook post that it shut its locations at Hemisfair and on Blanco Road for a few days “out of…
With only two weeks before the funding expires, Texas’ state government still hasn’t spent about a quarter of the $8 billion it received from the federal coronavirus relief bill. In March, the U.S. Department of the Treasury assigned $11.24 billion to local and state governments in Texas. Almost a third of that went directly to…
Seven San Antonio nonprofits received donations from billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, who announced Tuesday that she’d given away $4.2 billion in the past four months. In an article posted on Medium, Scott — the ex-wife of Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos — unveiled the gifts she’d made to 384 organizations, including the following in the Alamo City:…
Cool weather has finally hit San Antonio, and whether you spend your winter nights binge-watching TV or bundled up in front of a fire pit, an expertly prepared cocktail will make the experience even more cozy. We asked a trio of San Antonio bartenders to share recipes perfect for ringing in the holiday season. Picks…
In the one-hour documentary Home School Musical: Class of 2020, Brennan High School graduate Elizabeth Ramirez is featured as one of seven theater students given the opportunity to share their voice with the world. Earlier this year, when Tony Award-winning actress Laura Benanti (Gypsy) put a call out to young singers across the United States…
