Cover Story
With Texas in a budget crisis, the GOP-controlled Lege may not be in the mood to do anything but cut
Police accountability. Medicaid expansion. Voter access. Marijuana reform. There’s no shortage of big issues for the Texas Legislature to grapple with when it convenes in January for the first time in two years. There’s a problem, though. Texas is facing a budget shortfall of at least $5 billion — likely more — that will suck most…
Record numbers of students are applying to San Antonio med schools. Is COVID-19 the cause?
As healthcare providers, overworked and understaffed, battle COVID-19 from the front lines, San Antonio’s two medical schools are experiencing record numbers of new applications. UT Health’s Long School of Medicine experienced a 20% applicant surge for its 2021 entry year, while the University of Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine (UIWSOM) tallied the highest number of applicants…
San Antonio’s Scooby Doo Van will launch a South Side chapter with ‘little libraries’ and Scooby snacks
Local nonprofit Scooby Van of San Antonio is expanding with a new South Side chapter, KSAT reports. The Scooby Van, which is painted like the Mystery Machine from classic cartoon Scooby Doo, acts as a mobile little free library, distributing books to underserved children in San Antonio. The new local, Latina-owned magazine Live from the…
Free Holiday Drive-Thru at Hemisfair will feature snow, selfies with Santa
Hemisfair is partnering with Centro San Antonio for a wintry drive-through to add to your family’s safe holiday season schedule. The free event on Saturday afternoon will include everything from twinkling lights to socially distant pictures with Santa — all while celebrating the traditions of Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and the winter season as a whole.…
Former San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger hospitalized after heart attack
Former San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger, 86, suffered a mild heart attack Monday, less than a week after the inauguration of a land bridge at the city park bearing his name, according to media reports. A spokeswoman from the Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy told the Express-News on Tuesday that Hardberger was in “good condition” at a…
State-of-the-art pet resort coming to San Antonio’s Stone Oak area in 2022
San Antonio will soon be home to a fancy new resort. The catch? It’s not for people, but our four-legged friends. Florida-based company Pet Paradise is set to begin building a resort-like facility in the Stone Oak area, which is estimated to open in early 2022, KSAT reports. The nearly 2-acre facility will provide services…
Owner of San Antonio’s Hot Joy tweets pic of robber, threatens to ‘cover him in crab fat caramel’
Around quitting time Monday, Hot Joy owner Chad Carey tweeted a screenshot of surveillance footage showing an unwelcome guest behind the restaurant’s bar. The San Antonio restauranteur, known for his colorful Twitter language, didn’t disappoint when he called on followers to help ID the culprit, who according to the time-stamped image, broke into the eatery earlier…
Texas electors pass toothless resolution demanding battleground states appoint Trump electors
Just when you think Texas may finally tire of being a national embarrassment, along comes a new set of yahoos hell bent on seizing the crown from Florida — you know, once and for all. Case in point: as the Electoral College affirmed President-elect Joe Biden’s victory Monday, the Lone Star State’s electors passed a resolution calling on…
San Antonio-based Pabst Brewing Company strikes major deal with Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails
The 176-year-old conglomerate behind Lone Star, Pearl and its namesake Pabst Blue Ribbon has negotiated a deal to include ready-to-drink Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails in its product offerings. The agreement, effective in April, gives San Antonio-based Pabst exclusive rights to sell and distribute both Jack Daniel’s pre-made cocktails and any future flavored malt beverages from the brand.…
Magnolia Pancake Haus sets Friday opening for new Northeast San Antonio location
Hangover brunch staple Magnolia Pancake Haus will open the doors on its third and farthest-north location Friday, according to a post on the restaurant’s Facebook page. The pancake purveyor will welcome guests on a first-come, first-served basis, seating just 60% of its dining room so it can facilitate social distancing and stay within state safety…
Weird Homes Tour seeking San Antonio houses as it makes its first stop in the Alamo City
The Weird Homes Tour, the Austin-born event that showcases cities’ most unusual dwellings, will his San Antonio for the the first time in late 2021. That means its organizers are casting about for eight Alamo City abodes that will help move some tickets. In addition to being “whimsical, funky and creative,” the featured houses must…
San Antonio bartenders will marry tiki cocktails and local rock music in inaugural pop-up event
Alamo City bartenders Nicholas Ivarra and Adrian Cardenas will throw a tiki-fueled pop up event next week focused on their love of rock music and Polynesian cocktails. The event, dubbed Denim and Leather, will allow attendees to tip back tiki-tastic spirits while enjoying recorded music from local rock acts. Ivarra — who currently shakes thing…
Officials search for Texas State student after abandoned vehicle found near Luling
The Texas Department of Public Safety is searching for a missing Texas State student after a crashed vehicle was discovered near Luling, Texas, according to multiple reports. Officials say the wreck occurred near midnight on Monday morning. The vehicle, a Nissan Altima, was found by law enforcement near Salt Flat Road north of Interstate 10.…
Texas attorney general’s office paying lead lawyer $540 per hour to defend against whistleblower lawsuit
The Texas attorney general’s office will pay outside counsel $540 an hour to defend the state agency against accusations that it was retaliating against top aides when it fired them just weeks after they reported their boss, Ken Paxton, to authorities for possibly breaking the law. William Helfand, a Houston attorney with Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard…
Walker, Texas Ranger reboot starring San Antonio native Jared Padalecki debuts first trailer
Actor and San Antonio native Jared Padalecki (TV’s Supernatural) has some big cowboy boots to fill in 2021. The Madison High School graduate is taking the reins from Chuck Norris for the reboot of Walker, Texas Ranger. The first trailer for the new series, Walker, debuted online Monday. It's been a long road to get…
Booking agency for San Antonio’s Paper Tiger and Sunset Station closes due to COVID-19
Margin Walker Presents, the booking agency that brought touring acts to San Antonio’s Paper Tiger and other independent Texas music venues, has closed, blaming the pandemic’s halt to live events. Over the past four years, Austin-based Margin Walker has booked thousands of concerts into club and hall-sized venues that also include Austin’s Mohawk and Barracuda…
San Antonio-based H-E-B will have 1,000 certified personnel conducting COVID-19 vaccinations
Grocery giant H-E-B says has roughly 1,000 certified immunizers ready to help the state of Texas and the Centers for Disease Control roll out Pfizer’s newly approved COVID-19 vaccine. In a YouTube video posted Monday, H-E-B Senior Pharmacy Director Donna Montemayor said the San Antonio-based chain has been training for months and will offer the vaccine…
The Menzoda Line: TV judges latest to refuse to hear Texas AG Ken Paxton’s election lawsuit
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 Attorney General Ken Paxton faced more courtroom rejection this week while desperately shopping for…
Southwest Airlines to furlough over 150 San Antonio employees as early as March 2021
Following a 70% revenue loss in the third quarter 2020, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines has informed the Texas Workforce Commission that it plans to furlough over 150 employees in San Antonio, the San Antonio Business Journal reports. The carrier told the TWC that the furloughs are part of a cost-cutting effort that will impact nearly 1,200…
San Antonio restaurant Pharm Table reveals opening plan for new, larger Southtown location
Chef Elizabeth Johnson will close the doors of her current Pharm Table location Saturday to transition to bigger digs — and an expanded menu — in Southtown next month. Originally slated for a November 2020 opening, the new Southtown location will host a Pharm Table food truck until the restaurant is able to safely offer…
Amid pandemic and slow-moving relief legislation, theft of food and hygiene items at historic highs
The Washington Post has reported that retailers, police departments and loss prevention researchers are seeing a nationwide spike in theft of food and hygiene products — data that starkly illustrates the ever-increasing need for federal relief. The Post reports that shoplifting is up markedly since the pandemic began — at much higher levels than in…
San Antonio Food Bank to hold largest holiday food distribution of 2020 at AT&T Center Tuesday
In a partnership with H-E-B and the San Antonio Spurs, the San Antonio Food Bank will hold its largest mega mobile distribution of the year Tuesday, supplying families with much-needed groceries as well as holiday-worthy goodies. Tuesday, December 15, the Food Bank will distribute 150 pounds of food for holiday meals to 2,000 households, including…
Woman with 5 kids carjacked man on San Antonio’s West Side Saturday
A woman with five children held a man at gunpoint on the West Side in an apparent carjacking on Saturday night, MySA reports. According to San Antonio police, the victim drove to Martinez Creek Trail to meet up with a female. Upon arrival, a woman with five children held him at gunpoint and demanded the…
San Antonio-based H-E-B named ‘Grocer of the Year’ for pandemic response by industry website
H-E-B has been named 2020’s ‘Grocer of the Year’ by Grocery Dive, a industry news and trend website, which praised the company’s emergency preparedness at the onset of — and during — the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite asshole patrons who refuse to follow the company’s store-wide mask policies, H-E-B has been widely successful in implementing other…
San Antonio man sleeping in dumpster hospitalized after being thrown into garbage truck
A San Antonio man who was sleeping in a dumpster has been hospitalized with minor injuries after getting picked up by a garbage truck, KSAT reports. According to police, the incident occurred early Monday morning after a garbage truck picked up trash behind a KFC on the 8200 block of Bandera Road. The man had…
Ahead of the holiday season, Texas’ ICU capacity is the lowest since the start of the pandemic
Heading into another holiday season, Texas has the fewest number of available intensive care beds to care for its sickest patients since the pandemic began, leaving health care experts worried hospitals could be pushed to the brink as coronavirus cases continue to climb. As of Thursday, there were 672 staffed ICU beds available statewide. That’s…
Bexar County paid San Antonio Spurs $255,000 to use AT&T Center as a polling place
How much does it cost to keep Bexar County voters safe during a pandemic? Apparently, it ain’t cheap if the San Antonio Spurs are involved. Including staffing and COVID-19 supplies, the NBA team charged Bexar County more than $255,700 for use of the AT&T Center as a polling location between October 13 and November 3,…
San Antonio eatery Clementine offering ultra-fancy truffle-focused menu for weeklong celebration
Castle Hills eatery Clementine will offer a special truffle-focused menu this week, in lieu of the typical one-night truffle dinner chef-owners John and Elise Russ have held the past two years. While truffles — an ultra-expensive mushroom-type ingredient that boasts a distinct earthy taste — have gotten a bad rap on TV networks as an overly…
San Antonio reports 992 new COVID-19 cases as number of Texas deaths nears 24,000
Bexar County tallied 992 new COVID-19 cases Saturday, bringing the total number of local infections since the start of the pandemic to 93,476. With no new fatalities reported, the San Antonio area’s total toll remains at 1,418. In addition, 697 patients are in local hospitals, 238 of them in intensive care and 125 on ventilators, according…
9 months on the pandemic’s front line have crushed Texas health care workers’ spirits and killed their colleagues
When Amy Jones burst through the doors of the intensive care unit, she found a line of health care workers in the hallway, she said. Jones was sobbing. Shaking. She let out a scream. A doctor named Juan Fitz was dying. Fitz, 67, was Jones’ common law spouse, she said, and the father of her…
Museum Reach Lofts, rare affordable housing near San Antonio’s Pearl district, welcomes first residents
For the first time in recent memory, low-income renters began moving into newly-built apartments in downtown San Antonio. The $17.5 million Museum Reach Lofts is an affordable housing development on North St. Mary’s Street and West Jones Avenue near the Pearl by local nonprofit developer Alamo Community Group that’s nearing completion. Unlike the 20 or…
San Antonio native Saagar Shaikh lands acting role in upcoming Disney+ series Ms. Marvel
The local connection to the Marvel Cinematic Universe got stronger this week when it was announced that San Antonio native and Los Angeles-based actor Saagar Shaikh was cast in the upcoming series Ms. Marvel for Disney+. Shaikh will play Amir Khan, the older brother of the show’s lead character Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani). Kamala Khan is…
Here Are Answers to 6 Burning Questions About COVID-19 Vaccines
The recent success of some coronavirus vaccines in late-stage clinical trials has inched us closer to the end of the pandemic — a glimmer of hope in a long year of living with the virus. Now, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is gearing up to consider emergency use authorization for Pfizer and BioNTech’s COVID-19…
Ahead of the holiday season, Texas’ ICU capacity is the lowest since the start of the pandemic
Heading into another holiday season, Texas has the fewest number of available intensive care beds to care for its sickest patients since the pandemic began, leaving health care experts worried hospitals could be pushed to the brink as coronavirus cases continue to climb. As of Thursday, there were 672 staffed ICU beds available statewide. That’s…
Possessor is masterfully complex, and director Brandon Cronenberg has the potential to exceed his father’s legacy
Possessor: Uncut4 star(s), 103 minutes, Blu-Ray and streaming Brandon Cronenberg (acclaimed cult director David Cronenberg’s son) second film, and first since 2012, is an uber-violent descent into high-tech madness that likely will surprise fans with its emotional depth. “Possessor,” which is now available ‘uncut,’ meaning all the gory goodness is intact, is a cyberpunk masterpiece…
U.S. Supreme Court throws out Texas lawsuit contesting 2020 election results in four battleground states
Briskly rejecting a long-shot but high-stakes case, the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday tossed out the Texas lawsuit that had become a vehicle for Republicans across the country to contest President-elect Joe Biden’s victory. In a few brief sentences, the high court said it would not consider the case for procedural reasons, because Texas lacked standing…
San Antonio Metro Health expands its Healthy Corner Store Initiative to more districts
To promote access to fresh, affordable produce in low-income neighborhoods, the city of San Antonio is expanding its Healthy Corner Store Initiative (HCSI) to a total of 20 stores by year’s end. HCSI — which began as a pilot program last year in Southeast San Antonio’s District 3 — uses a cost-sharing process with stores to…
Daredevil Santa rappels down San Antonio hospital building to visit children
Turns out Old Saint Nick is an adrenaline junkie. On Friday, in a bid to bring socially distanced Christmas cheer to patients at San Antonio’s Methodist Children’s Hospital, Santa Claus eschewed his reindeer in favor of some sturdy ropes, rappelling down the side of the hospital building to visit through the windows. And Santa wasn’t…
Once accused of cheating in an election by Donald Trump, Ted Cruz is now a leading voice casting doubt on 2020’s results
The 2016 Iowa Republican presidential caucus results were clear: Donald Trump lost. But instead of congratulating his opponent and moving on, Trump questioned the validity of the results. “Ted Cruz didn’t win Iowa, he stole it. That is why all of the polls were so wrong and why he got far more votes than anticipated.…
Rosario’s owner pumps the brakes on plans to rehab two long-empty downtown San Antonio buildings
Lisa Wong, owner of SA eateries Ácenar and Rosario’s, has put her plans to rehabilitate two long-empty downtown buildings on hold, the San Antonio Business Journal reports. “When COVID-19 hit, we paused to focus on my hospitality-driven businesses’ needs, and assess the long-term effects of the pandemic,” Wong told the Business Journal. The downtown buildings…
Ocho restaurant at San Antonio’s Hotel Havana to host a tamal dinner on Christmas evening
Chef Kirk of Ocho at Hotel Havana has created a menu rooted in influences from Mexico, Cuba and Texas, so it’s no surprise she’s bringing back Chef Kirk’s A Christmas Tamal dinner this year, which features the resident chef’s traditional family tamal recipe. The event will take place at the picturesque eatery situated inside Hotel…
The Alamo throws it back to the mid-1800s in upcoming virtual cooking class
The Alamo is partnering with Airbnb Online Experiences to hold a virtual cooking class that will feature cooking techniques from the 19th century. Using an open fire in the Living History Encampment at the historic site, Alamo Living History Manager Tim Hicks will guide participants through the preparation of several holiday-inspired recipes while they follow…
After attending rally downplaying COVID-19, Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller has the virus
Two months after participating in a protest downplaying the dangers of the coronavirus, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller confirmed in a statement that he’s contracted COVID-19. Miller, 65 — a Republican with a history of posting racist and sexist remarks on social media — confirmed his positive test in a written statement Wednesday. “Friends, I…
UT-Austin’s final football game canceled after 9 players, 13 staff members test positive for coronavirus
The University of Texas at Austin’s final football game of the regular season, against the University of Kansas, has been canceled because of a COVID-19 outbreak infecting nine players and 13 staff members. “We are pausing all football team activities and shutting down football training facilities to get a COVID-19 spread among our football program…
Mosh pit in the arcade: San Antonio nerdcore stalwarts Bitforce return with solid new album
San Antonio’s self-described nerdcore outfit Bitforce has made a triumphant return with an eponymous eight-song album released this week on Bandcamp. Known for combining the raw aggression of metalcore with nostalgic melodies from classic video games, Bitforce has emerged as a leader in a surprisingly large scene of Alamo City acts who reference video games,…
Weston Urban’s 32-story apartment tower to go before San Antonio’s HDRC next week
Weston Urban’s much-buzzed-about 32-story apartment tower is set to go before the city’s Historic and Design Review Commission (HDRC) on Wednesday, Dec. 16. Renderings and floor plans for the $107 million project show that it will have three separate retail spaces on the ground floor and a landscaped area with outdoor tables. Several stories up,…
San Antonio’s Dixie Flag tapped to create president-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration banners
For the sixth time in its history, San Antonio-based Dixie Flag and Banner Co. will fabricate the five massive flags that will serve as the backdrop for the next presidential inauguration. The 62-year-old company also created the massive banners for the inaugurations of George W. Bush in 2001 and 2005, Barack Obama in 2009 and…
San Antonio-area winery releases holiday bundles for gifting — or pouring a glass for yourself
Kuhlman Cellars, located an hour north of SA in Stonewall has released a collection of holiday-themed wine gift bundles featuring some of its best vintages. The bundles include the Silver Bells Gift Pack — a celebration of French grapes with 2019 Texas High Plains Roussanne, 2019 Estate Rose and 2017 Reserve Merlot — and the…
San Antonio-area’s Gruene Music & Wine Fest raises $83,000 for United Way despite going virtual
The annual Gruene Music & Wine Festival typically takes place over four days in the Texas Hill Country destination’s historical district. Not so this year. The pandemic got in the way. Undaunted, the organizers took it virtual in October — and now are revealing that they still raised $82,832.29 for United Way of Comal County. The…
Analysis: Ken Paxton, Texas’ top lawyer, plays for an audience of one
Texans are learning that the state’s attorney general isn’t a very good lawyer. Ken Paxton sued four other states this week, asking the U.S. Supreme Court to toss the Electoral College votes from Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin because of the election changes they made in response to the pandemic. All four states voted for…
Following the Flavor: Exploring San Antonio’s ever-evolving food truck scene is worth the drive
In the pre-history of the food trailer phenomenon, there was the simple taco truck. It hung out around construction sites at noon, dispensing quick and cheap lunches to hungry workers. I haven’t checked lately, but I imagine there must still be some active operators, their mobile kitchens resplendent in their quilted stainless cladding. But how…
One-price Mexican restaurant chain opening a second San Antonio location
Cervecería Chapultepec, a popular Mexico-based chain with a one-price-for-everything model, will open its second San Antonio location Thursday, according to an Instagram post. The chain offers a variety of tacos, sandwiches and burritos, along with 20-plus kinds of micheladas, margaritas, mojitos and daiquiris, all for $2.90 each. Although Cervecería Chapultepec boasts 100 locations in Mexico, Central and…
Comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias shouts out to San Antonio Mexican restaurant in Reddit AMA
San Diego-born actor and comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias participated in a Reddit Ask Me Anything session Wednesday, answering hard-hitting questions about career, family and — of course — food. The Alamo City received a special nod when user ‘Fun-ghoul’ asked: “Where’s your favorite city in the US (or the world I guess) for food?” The…
City of San Antonio and shuttered strip club XTC Cabaret step up dispute in dueling lawsuits
The pissing match between the city of San Antonio and XTC Cabaret, the strip club recently shut down over pandemic safety violations, just got pissier. The city and the club sued each Monday in state District Court in San Antonio, the Express-News reports. The lawsuits were filed within an hour of each other. In its suit, XTC…
Pennsylvania AG calls Texas’ Ted Cruz a ‘sad sack’ after Trump asks the senator to argue election case
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro told CNN Wednesday that U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz’s eagerness to argue a case asking the U.S. Supreme Court to throw out the election results qualifies the Texas Republican as a “sad sack.” The question came up shortly after the New York Times reported President Donald Trump had asked Cruz — a lawyer…
Dan Patrick wants to change Senate rules so GOP keeps a key advantage, despite losing its supermajority
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced Wednesday that he wants to lower the threshold of support legislation needs to make it on to the Senate floor to match the size of the new, smaller Republican majority. It’s the second time during his tenure that he’s sought such a change, which would allow Republicans to continue deciding which…
Philippine-based comfort food spot Jollibee to open first San Antonio store by year’s end
Jollibee — a Philippines-based fast food chain focused on Western comfort food with Asian flavors — is continuing its North American expansion with an Alamo City outpost opening later this month. The San Antonio store will be located at 5033 NW Loop 410. The company hasn’t yet released an official opening date. Jollibee is primarily…
As legal scholars blast Ken Paxton’s election lawsuit, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott praises it
Almost the instant Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed his lawsuit Tuesday asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Joe Biden’s presidential win, legal scholars were lining up to dump on it. Among their choice descriptions: “preposterous,” “a publicity stunt” and “a new leader in the ‘craziest lawsuit filed to purportedly challenge the election’ category.” In…
Proceeds from Stars and Garters’ virtual holiday show to benefit late troupe member S.T. Shimi’s family
Following the untimely passing of burlesque performer and theater artist S.T. Shimi, who performed under the name Black Orchid, Stars and Garters burlesque troupe will use the funds raised from their forthcoming streaming performance to support her family. The streaming holiday show “Season’s Teasin’s: Your Home for the Holidays” will be available to be watch…
Report: H-E-B staff feel bullied into not forcing shoppers to don masks, because people are assholes
San Antonio-based grocery giant H-E-B may have been on the forefront of progressive COVID-era policies during the onset of the 2020 pandemic, but that hasn’t stopped some of its shoppers from being assholes. Ten months into the global health crisis, the chain’s employees have been bullied so badly by anti-maskers that multiple store managers feel…
City of San Antonio issues open call for artists to work on public projects
San Antonio’s Department of Arts and Culture and Public Art Division have issued an open call for artists interested in working on public projects created through the city’s 2017-2022 bond program. Applications are open to individual artists, organizations, businesses and support-service professionals able to design, fabricate, install and promote works of public art. Once approved,…
Sen. John Cornyn of Texas calls Joe Biden ‘president-elect’ in a tweet then tries to take it back
President Donald Trump may have penned The Art of the Deal, but perhaps one of his top enablers, Sen. John Cornyn, should call his own autobiography The Art of the Hedge. Though it’s been five weeks since Joe Biden locked in enough electoral votes for even Fox News to declare him the next president, the…
Luminaria names Yadhira Lozano as new executive director
Luminaria has named San Antonio native Yadhira Lozano as its new executive director. Lozano will succeed Kathy Armstrong in the position. Armstrong served as Luminaria’s executive director for more than five years. “As Luminaria enters 2021, the Board is excited that Yadhira Lozano will be spearheading this new adventure as executive director. Her combined leadership…
Texas Public Radio invites San Antonio listeners to virtual screening of It’s a Wonderful Life
As part of its virtual watch party series, TPR Cinema Tuesdays is promoting holiday togetherness with a Christmas staple — Frank Capra’s film It’s a Wonderful Life. The 1946 classic centers around George Bailey (James Stewart), a small-town building and loan manager who decides he wants to end his life on Christmas Eve after a financial…
At least three Texas Board of Education members test positive for the coronavirus after in-person meeting
At least three members of the State Board of Education tested positive for COVID-19 after meeting in person for four days in November, according to multiple board members. Georgina Pérez, an El Paso Democrat, said she tested positive. Two other board members also tested positive, board chair Keven Ellis told the Texas Tribune. All three…
New San Antonio butcher shop holding steak dinner featuring pasture-raised, fresh-cut beef
The Farmers Butcher — the new farm-to-table butcher shop from local pork producers Mark and Kelley Escobedo — will hold a steak dinner Thursday featuring local, pasture-raised beef. The East Side shop will have limited outdoor seating for the meal, which will include a fresh-cut Angus sirloin steak, potatoes au gratin, asparagus and a house…
San Antonio book club virtually discussing Revolutionary Women of Texas and Mexico with Sandra Cisneros
Trinity University Press is inviting the public to a Wednesday night release and virtual discussion of its new book Revolutionary Women of Texas and Mexico: Portraits of Soldaderas, Saints and Subversives. The anthology, available online now, celebrates the women of early Texas and Mexico with 18 portraits of female role models and subversives who were revolutionary…
Metro Health warns against in-person learning in San Antonio as COVID-19 cases continue to rise
With local COVID-19 cases soaring, San Antonio Metro Health officials on Tuesday issued a new directive recommending parents and schools against in-person instruction. During Tuesday’s city and county pandemic briefing, Metro Health Medical Director Dr. Junda Woo said the recent rise in cases has moved school safety metrics for San Antonio and Bexar County campuses into…
Glitter Political: Outgoing County Commissioner Kevin Wolff tips his hat after 15 years of public service
When Kevin Wolff appears on my computer screen, I get a glimpse of his much-talked-about hat collection on the wall behind him. It’s vast and expertly arranged from light to dark colors, Brooks Brothers-style. The only hat missing is the metaphorical one he wears as Bexar County’s Precinct 3 commissioner. “I have always been follically…
U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas’ tooth fell out on camera during a news conference
As one of Congress’ most vocal science deniers, U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas has earned quite a rep as a teabilly train wreck. His latest news conference should only add to that brazen backwoods mystique. With cameras rolling, one of the Tyler Republican’s front teeth fell out as he spoke to the press. Rather…
In latest partisan move, Texas AG Ken Paxton sues to overturn Trump’s election loss
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a long-shot lawsuit asking the U.S. Supreme Court to throw out the election results from four battleground states won by president-elect Joe Biden. Officials in those states — Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — derided the filing as an irresponsible publicity stunt. Paxton, a hyper-partisan ally of President Donald Trump, is…
San Antonio’s McNay Art Museum hosting drive-through print giveaway on Saturday
It isn’t just the AT&T Center that’s getting in on the drive-through spirit this holiday season — the McNay Art Museum is joining in on the action this weekend with its own vehicular event. The McNay will spread the message of love with a socially distanced Holiday Print Drive on Saturday afternoon. From the comfort…
14 Fort Hood officers fired or suspended amid investigation into troop deaths on the Texas base
Army leaders released the findings Tuesday of an independent investigation into deaths of soldiers stationed at Fort Hood, announcing the firing or suspension of 14 senior officers on the base. The investigation was sparked by the death of 20-year-old Specialist Vanessa Guillén as well other soldiers on post. Guillén was discovered dead after telling family she’d…
Report says $1.4 billion expansion of San Antonio’s 1604 one of most wasteful U.S. highway projects
A new report by a pair of watchdog groups names the proposed $1.36 billion expansion of San Antonio’s Loop 1604 as one of the six biggest highway boondoggles in the U.S. In their sixth annual report on the most wasteful U.S. highway projects, the TexPIRG Education Fund and Frontier Group raise concerns that the state’s plan…
San Antonio brewer behind social justice campaign named one of Thrillist’s Heroes of 2020
Marcus Baskerville, co-founder of SA’s Weathered Souls Brewing Co., has been named one of online food and travel site Thrillist’s Social Justice Heroes of 2020 for his work on the Black is Beautiful campaign. Black is Beautiful, which launched in June, encourages brewers to add their unique spin to a Weathered Souls imperial stout recipe…
National Restaurant Association to Congress: foodservice businesses need financial relief now
Pointing out that one in five U.S. restaurants has closed amid the pandemic, the National Restaurant Association is urging Congress to pass relief for foodservice businesses before it breaks for the holidays. In a letter to Congressional leaders, the association shared new survey data it says shows an “economic free fall” has harmed 500,000 restaurants of every…
San Antonio’s New Orleans-inspired Cookhouse switching to Cambodian noodle house concept
After six years of bringing New Orleans-inspired cuisine to the Alamo City, Cookhouse Chef Pieter Sypesteyn and his wife and business partner Susan will transition the eatery into Golden Wat Noodle House, a Cambodian concept they debuted this summer. The duo used Cookhouse as a pop-up kitchen space to introduce Golden Wat, which is Susan’s…
Texas Public Radio holding Cinema Tuesdays online watch party for Almost Famous
San Antonians can flash back to the freewheeling era of classic ’70s rock as part of a virtual watch party for the film Almost Famous hosted by Texas Public Radio’s Cinema Tuesdays. The road trip commences Tuesday, December 8. Loosely based on director Cameron Crowe’s life as a teenage journalist, Almost Famous tells the story of…
Efforts to stop Trump’s border wall construction could extend long past Inauguration Day
When Carlos Flores filed suit against the Trump administration last summer, the Laredo-based attorney said he wanted to help his clients try to stave off border wall construction on their stretch of the Texas-Mexico border at least until the presidential election in hopes of seeing a new administration take over. But with the election over…
Magnolia Pancake Haus to open third location in Cibolo, just northeast of San Antonio
Popular breakfast spot Magnolia Pancake Haus has shared progress photos of its new Cibolo location, saying the eatery is in the “final stages” of development and will open soon. “So excited to join the community of Cibolo this month,” read a recent post on the restaurant’s Facebook page. Well y’all…. we are in the final…
County Judge Wolff says San Antonio bars without food will be forced to close again Thursday
Here we go again. During Monday’s coronavirus briefing, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said the county’s “few” remaining bars that aren’t serving food must close by Thursday. Wolff said he’d looked to San Antonio Metro Health for guidance weeks ago when he tentatively opted in to Gov. Greg Abbott’s statewide plan to reopen bars that…
Jeret Peña’s Hello Paradise near San Antonio’s Pearl complex opens for bar service
Hello Paradise — the latest boozery from San Antonio craft-cocktail pioneer Jeret Peña and his Boulevardier Group — has opened for business, serving up frozen and classic cocktails, beer and wine. The food side of the house, which will be operated by the owners of food truck Yai’s Mobile Kitchen, will start serving Thai-inspired fare…
Analysis: COVID-19 vaccines are coming to Texas, along with a ranking of who’s most essential
Who gets the first batch of vaccines? And the second, and the third? This political snaggle starts with very good news. By mid-month, Texas will get up to 1.4 million first doses of the two-dose coronavirus vaccine candidates from Pfizer and Moderna, Gov. Greg Abbott said Wednesday. That’s not enough for everybody in a state with 30…
After saying seniors shouldn’t fear COVID, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wants testing when the Texas Lege meets
After telling seniors they should be willing to risk contracting COVID-19 to protect the economy, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick doesn’t seem to be willing to make a similar sacrifice to serve in the Texas Legislature next year. Patrick, 70, who presides over the upper chamber, informed state senators Friday that people testifying before committees may…
North San Antonio’s Copa Wine Bar to hold four-course Christmas Across Europe dinner
Copa Wine Bar, on San Antonio’s North Side, will celebrate the holiday season in style with a four-course dinner featuring traditional holiday cuisine from the European mainland. The courses take inspiration from Spain, Poland, Greece and Germany. Each will highlight a traditional holiday dish from one of the countries. The Christmas Across Europe dinner menu…
The Mendoza Line: Dominatrices will manage security during 87th Texas Legislature
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. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is putting Texas Capitol law enforcement in the leather-gloved hands of…
Feds link ex-UTSA prof to Austin drug ring busted for supplying counterfeit Adderall and Xanax pills
A former University of Texas at San Antonio instructor is accused of supplying drugs to an Austin-based drug ring that distributed counterfeit Adderall and Xanax, according to an Associated Press Report. The U.S. Justice Department last week charged 13 people for using apps and social media to sell counterfeit pills that it says were frequently…
Texas food banks may be less equipped to help hungry households in the new year
Food banks across Texas are projecting food shortages in coming months due to the end of three key federal and state programs that have helped them respond to high demand during the coronavirus pandemic and its accompanying recession. “Food insecurity is twice as high as before the pandemic. We’ve had a lot of federal aid…
San Antonio resident shares puro Christmas decorations to Reddit
A local resident found a way to have a puro San Antonio Christmas at home this year. On Sunday, u/dawzrdgundlach posted photos of their SA-themed holiday decor to Reddit. In addition to the bevy of Christmas lights and inflatable holiday characters that we’ve come to expect at enthusiastically decorated neighborhood homes, this redditor took things to…
Artpace pauses visitation amid rising COVID-19 cases in San Antonio
As the pandemic continues to surge both locally and nationwide, Artpace has stopped holding public admittance hours. The nonprofit residency program had reopened its doors to visitors in late August on an appointment-only basis. “Due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in San Antonio, Artpace has decided to pause our appointments and public hours…
San Antonio again tops 1,000 COVID-19 cases as mayor warns numbers will continue to rise
San Antonio Metro Health reported 1,021 new COVID-19 cases and two new deaths Sunday, underscoring a warning from Mayor Ron Nirenberg that case numbers are likely to rise this week due to gatherings over Thanksgiving. The new numbers bring the total number of Bexar County COVID-19 cases to 86,986 and the number of deaths to 1,397.…
U.S. House makes historic vote to decriminalize marijuana
We are now one step closer to the federal decriminalization of cannabis. Members of the House of Representatives voted on Friday to approve the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act, HR 3884 — the first legalization bill to ever make it to the floor of Congress. The 228-164 vote fell largely along party lines,…
Texas Sens. Cruz and Cornyn dodge Washington Post questions about whether Biden won election
U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn of Texas were among the more than 200 Capitol Hill Republicans who declined to answer the Washington Post’s straightforward inquiry whether Joe Biden won the election. U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, one of two Republicans in San Antonio’s House delegation, also provided no answer. The second — retiring U.S.…
How to help — and find help — as the coronavirus surges in Texas during the holiday season
As Texans face another surge in coronavirus infections, many people are finding themselves stuck at home in the midst of the holiday season with no income or access to necessary resources like food or medical services. In response to growing concerns around the nation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a nationwide moratorium on…
Rosario’s plan to demolish majority of San Antonio’s El Mirador building receives first approval
Restaurateur Lisa Wong received conceptual approval from a city commission on Wednesday to demolish most of the old El Mirador building on South St. Mary’s Street so she can build a new home for Southtown staple Rosario’s, which she has owned for 28 years. “This project is very important to me and being part of…
Some undocumented immigrants should again be allowed to apply for DACA protections, federal judge rules
EL PASO — Tens of thousands of undocumented immigrants in Texas could be eligible for protections offered under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program after a federal judge ordered Friday the program must revert to its 2017 status. U.S. District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis ordered that the Department of Homeland Security must post a…
The ‘last mile’ for COVID-19 vaccines could be the biggest challenge yet
A race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine began almost the minute the coronavirus’s genetic makeup was revealed in January. Already, two companies have announced that their vaccines appear safe and about 95% effective (SN: 11/18/20, SN: 11/16/20). Government regulators in the United Kingdom granted permission December 2 for emergency use of a vaccine made by the…
San Antonio’s Esquire Tavern celebrates 87 years with benefit for family of dancer S.T. Shimi
Longtime River Walk boozery the Esquire Tavern will celebrate 87 years in business Saturday, December 5, with live music by the Dirty River Jazz Band and a performance by Stars and Garters Burlesque. The performance will honor longtime Stars and Garters member S.T. Shimi, who died Wednesday night when she was struck by a vehicle while…
Study: Sexual harassment directed at restaurant workers had massive increase during pandemic
Four in 10 food-service workers reported an increase in sexual harassment on from customers during the pandemic, according to a new study by One Fair Wage, a group advocating for better working conditions in the service industry. Overall, 41.3% of surveyed workers said they experienced a noticeable uptick in the frequency of unwanted sexualized comments from…
What you need to know about Texas Latino voters and nonvoters
Will Texas Latinos eventually turn the state from Republican red to Democratic blue? The answer to that question is complicated, says Cecilia Ballí, a writer-at-large at Texas Monthly, who covers the borderlands of Texas, security and immigration. Over the past year, Ballí, along with two colleagues — anthropologist Michael Powell and sociologist Betsabeth Monica Lugo…
San Antonio’s vegan-friendly Avocado Cafe searches for new owner
Hidden in a small mixed-use village in Northeast San Antonio, family-owned Avocado Cafe & Juice Bar has been a vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free oasis for nearly a decade. Now, after the death of the family patriarch Scott Floyd last year, the rest of the family is putting the cozy, health-conscious eatery up for sale. “When…
San Antonio’s Back Unturned Brewing Co. holding Italian-themed five-course beer dinner
Sure, Back Unturned Brewing Co. turns out some pretty delicious pizzas, but chef Jared Cattoni and Head Brewer Chris Miles aim to explore different aspects of Italian cuisine in a five-course paired dinner next week. The menu includes gnocchi made with Back Unturned’s Riverwalk Pale Ale and a decadent tiramisu made with the brewery’s Dark…
San Antonio’s MAAR’s Pizza stops dine-in service in response to skyrocketing COVID-19 cases
MAAR’s Pizza & More, a family-owned pizzeria in Northeast San Antonio, has once again voluntarily nixed dine-in service as COVID-19 cases rise in Bexar County. “At the time of re-opening, cases were low. [W]e did not anticipate cases would skyrocket and present themselves so close to home,” the business shared on its Facebook page. “With…
PAX South gaming convention won’t return to San Antonio until 2022
PAX South, an offshoot of Penny Arcade’s gaming expo held annually in San Antonio, is taking a gap year. The gaming-centric conference, for which fans flock to the Henry B. González Convention Center each January, will not take place in 2021 due to the ongoing pandemic. According to Penny Arcade, PAX South will return to…
COPS/Metro balks at San Antonio mayor’s plan for bureaucracy to run new jobs program
A key backer of Mayor Ron Nirenberg’s successful voter initiative to retrain 40,000 workers displaced by the pandemic is pushing back at the bureaucracy city officials want to create around the program. During a meeting Thursday with the Express-News editorial board, officials with community organizer COPS/Metro Alliance — a pivotal ally in the mayor’s push…
$23 million land bridge in San Antonio’s Hardberger Park set to open next week
After years of planning and debate, the land bridge connecting Phil Hardberger Park from east to west will be open to the public on Friday, December 11. “The opening of Robert L.B. Tobin Bridge is a meaningful and symbolic moment in a year when our community has faced great hardship,” former San Antonio Mayor Phil…
Actor Ricardo Chavira draws on his own family to portray patriarch in Selena: The Series
It was late in the afternoon on March 31, 1995, when actor Ricardo Chavira (TV’s Desperate Housewives) found out 23-year-old Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla had died. Chavira, who was also 23 at the time, had just finished class at the University of the Incarnate Word and was walking to his bus stop to go home…
Space Chase: In pursuing Space Command, San Antonio once again looks for an outside savior
Editor’s Note: The following is CityScrapes, a column of opinion and analysis. Here San Antonio goes again. Looking to someone else for our future and our salvation. Hoping Washington will deliver the goodies and jobs to keep our city growing and prospering. In quest of “significant” economic impact, Mayor Ron Nirenberg flew off to DC…
Joaquin Castro loses bid to lead U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee
U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro came up short Thursday in his bid to become chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He lost to U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York in a race that was a long shot from the start for the San Antonio Democrat. Meeks won the support of 148 colleagues, while 78 Democratic…
Brothers behind La Panaderia to open Mexican restaurant in San Antonio’s Quarry Village in 2021
David and Jose Cáceres, the brothers behind popular San Antonio restaurant La Panadería, are unveiling new local concept focused on a fresh take on Mexico City-inspired cuisine. The duo’s El Morita Kitchen will open in 2021 in the Alamo Heights-area Quarry Village, drawing on their own recipes and input from Mexico City-based celebrity chefs. El…
San Antonio’s Ranger Creek Distilling celebrating 10th anniversary with weekend events
Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling — SA’s first “brewstillery” — is saying “cheers to ten years” with December weekend events where it will unveil 10 new beers and two new whiskies. The celebrations will take place on the first three Saturdays in December, and each gathering will feature live music, rotating food trucks and special…
San Antonio burlesque performer S.T. Shimi dies at 49
San Antonio theater artist and burlesque performer S.T. Shimi has died. Shimi’s husband, artist Oscar Alvarado, confirmed to the Express-News that she was struck by a vehicle while crossing Blanco Road on Wednesday night. She was 49. A longtime member of San Antonio’s Stars and Garters burlesque troupe, Shimi performed under the stage name Black…
Funko reveals new Selena figurines — and they’re already selling fast
Just in time for the debut of the new Netflix series on the Queen of Tejano, Funko has a Selena announcement of its own. On Thursday, the maker of pop-culture collectables revealed two upcoming Selena figurines and launched its first round of pre-orders on Amazon, Hot Topic and Entertainment Earth. The figurines feature the Queen…
Texas may receive initial coronavirus vaccine doses for 1.4 million people this month, Gov. Greg Abbott says
Texas could receive coronavirus vaccine doses to give an initial dose to up to 1.4 million Texans in December, assuming U.S. health officials approve coronavirus vaccine candidates from drugmakers Pfizer and Moderna, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Wednesday. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has promised to send Texas as many as 1.4 million…
San Antonio-based Whataburger debuts new futuristic layout and gets mixed reviews
Last month, residents of Bellmead, Texas, became the first to set eyes on a new, first-of-its kind Whataburger boasting custom wallpaper, rotating menu boards and more glass than any other of the chain’s more than 840 other restaurants. “It looks futuristic, is beautifully laid out, and looks as if they are really gearing up to…
New Executive Chef Joseph Perez brings ‘hunger to learn’ to the reopened Esquire Tavern
It’s been a crushing year for the food and beverage industry, but revered River Walk fixture the Esquire Tavern is determined not to let 2020 be a total loss. Closed since March due to the pandemic, the craft cocktail haven appointed new leadership behind its bar and in the kitchen and made productive use of…
City of San Antonio covering debt payments for financially struggling Grand Hyatt
In another sign of just how badly the pandemic has devastated San Antonio’s tourism economy, the city is now covering the Grand Hyatt convention center hotel’s bond payments, the Express-News reports. City officials expect to make $13.4 million in payments over the next seven months to keep the struggling hotel in operation, according to the…
San Antonio chef Teddy Liang heads to West Texas for four-course culinary showdown
Chef Teddy Liang is bringing creativity and old-school technique to new San Antonio eatery The Hayden, but he’ll be relying on more than that to rise triumphant in a four-course food fight in West Texas later this month. San Antonio-based culinary show Homegrown Chef has partnered with Liang and San Angelo chef Tim Condon to…
San Antonio tallies 1,499 new COVID-19 infections, hitting numbers not seen since July
San Antonio and Bexar County officials reported 1,499 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday as infections hit their highest rate since the pandemic’s July peak. In addition, local health officials reported nine new deaths Wednesday, bringing the number of local coronavirus-related deaths to 1,371 and the total number of cases to 83,125. The seven-day moving average…
Assclown Alert: Everylegalvote.com promotes voter-fraud falsehoods
Assclown alert is a column of opinion, analysis and snark. Despite claiming a mission of protecting fair elections, Texas-tied website Everylegalvote.com is a promotional tool for groups backing President Donald Trump’s efforts to delegitimize the November election, a recent New York Times investigation shows. The slick-looking site — which the Times tied to far-right figures such…
San Antonio’s Stars and Garters Burlesque will hold free streaming holiday performance
Looking to put a spring in your step this holiday season? Stars and Garters Burlesque may have just the thing. Undeterred by the ongoing pandemic, the seven-time winner of the Current’s Best Burlesque Troupe title has put together a holly jolly performance that’s perfectly safe to attend — because you can watch it from home.…
New French eatery Brasserie Mon Chou Chou to open Monday at the Pearl in San Antonio
New French comfort food spot Brasserie Mon Chou Chou will open for dinner service Monday at the Pearl, offering a casual atmosphere with wine, oysters, cheese plates and heartier entrees. Brasserie Mon Chou Chou is led by French-born Executive Chef Laurent Réa, who formerly served as the executive chef at Andrew Weismann’s Signature restaurant at…
New Bar Loretta will bring modern Texas cuisine to San Antonio’s Southtown area in February
New eatery Bar Loretta will move into the King William location formerly occupied by Madhatters Tea House and Cafe, bringing modern Texas cuisine and an elevated market to the south-of-downtown neighborhood. San Antonio-native chef Paul Petersen and restauranteur Roger Herr will open the new venture in February inside a refurbished 100-year-old building at the corner of Beauregard…
U.S. Reps. Michael Burgess and Joaquin Castro seek House leadership roles
The fall campaigns may be over, but for two Texans in Congress the elections are continuing into this week. U.S. Reps. Michael Burgess, a Lewisville Republican, and Joaquin Castro, a San Antonio Democrat, spent much of the last year pursuing colleagues to support their bids as their parties’ top representatives of a pair of high-profile…
As Trump’s fraud claims sputter, Sen. Ted Cruz now wants the Supreme Court to get involved
Apparently, enough is never enough for combative conservative Sen. Ted Cruz. Even after President Donald Trump’s own attorney general threw water on the notion that his wild-ass voter fraud claims could alter the November election, Cruz wants the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene. The Texas Republican has become the first U.S. Senator ask the high…
New San Antonio oyster bar Little Em’s will open in Southtown this weekend
Following a series of successful weekend soft openings, new Southtown oyster spot Little Em’s Oyster Bar will welcome guests Friday, mySA reports. The quaint 50-seat eatery will offer six types of fresh oysters sourced from both coasts, as well as shrimp, ceviche, crab, lobster rolls, a house burger and more. Chef Benjamin Crumley — a…
Investor suit accuses owners of San Antonio-based Chacho’s chain of ‘massive fraud’
San Antonio-based Tex-Mex chain Chacho’s has been sued by a Mexico-based investor that accuses company ownership of committing “massive fraud” as it raised money to fuel a promised expansion. The suit, filed in Bexar County District Court, alleges that Chacho’s owner John Burke and two other affiliated partnerships made false promises and provided bogus financial data…
Texas-based artists featured in Estados Unidos de Bass virtual reggaetón festival
Red Bull supposedly gives you wings, but this year they’re also bringing music straight to your home with their second annual Red Bull Estados Unidos de Bass music festival. The fizzy, caffeinated livestreamed event is set to take place over three weeks from five different cities in the nation — Miami, the Bay Area, Austin,…
Escape to Italy with dinner and a movie at the San Antonio Botanical Garden on Friday
In her 2003 adaption of Frances Mayes’ memoir, Under the Tuscan Sun, director Audrey Wells takes viewers on a trip to Italy with Diane Lane in the driver’s seat as Mayes, a San Francisco writer who is starting a new life after being left by her husband. After meeting a variety of different people in…
Slab Cinema debuts movie nights at Metzger Beer Garden with golf-themed classics
Slab Cinema is up to trouble again — good trouble that is — and it includes, mini golf, beer and … Bill Murray? In partnership with the newly opened biergarten in town, dubbed The Metzger Biergarten in honor of previous Cool Crest Miniature Golf owners Harold and Maria Metzger, Slab Cinema is hosting a three-week…
City officials say San Antonio fire chief violated policy with photo taking sushi off nude woman’s body
San Antonio Fire Chief Charles Hood violated department rules when he posed for photos eating sushi off a mostly nude woman’s body at a private party, KSAT reports. A probe into the incident also determined that Hood, who’s been on the job for 13 years, violated city policies related to equal employment, diversity and anti-harassment, according…
The Executioner’s Song: San Antonio artist Mark Menjivar takes aim at capital punishment
Born in Virginia and raised in a military family that bounced across Central America before settling in San Antonio in 1992, Mark Menjivar took an untraditional path into the realm of art. After earning degrees in social work and social practice, he spent two years volunteering in Bolivia with a nonprofit providing medical services, meals…
