The attack on the Capitol last week by racist and fascist organizations of the hard right — with QAnon and election conspiracy boosters in tow — was an assault on democracy itself to be sure. The role of President Donald Trump and his many Republican allies in Congress, notably Sens. Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley,…
South Texas political leaders and activists decried President Donald Trump’s trip to the region on Tuesday, saying the appearance to tout his border wall was intended to play to his white nationalist base. Trump made an afternoon speech in the Rio Grande Valley to talk up the wall, which he claimed had slowed illegal border…
For the ninth consecutive year, DreamWeek will celebrate the unveiling of its annual Notable People of San Antonio portrait collection, honoring the city’s civic, cultural, business, religious and political leaders. The 2020 collection, titled “A Collective Vision,” was created by lauded photographer Kevin G. Saunders. He created in the exhibit of black-and-white portraits in collaboration…
It’s always polite to call ahead before dropping in unannounced. But since when has President Donald Trump been concerned about etiquette, especially when it applies to people along the U.S.-Mexico border? The Rio Grande Valley town of Alamo, which Trump plans to visit Tuesday in his first public appearance since inciting last week’s Capitol insurrection, posted…
At a Monday press event, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott trumpeted that the state was over its bumpy rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations and pledged that it would soon be inoculating 50,000 residents daily. Officials are setting up 28 “vaccination hubs” around the state to streamline the process, he added. No one is rooting for the rollout…
Burger lovers of SA will gain one more spot to satisfy their craving this fall. Austin-based chain P. Terry’s Burger Stand has filed paperwork with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation that outlines plans for a new location in the Medical Center area, the San Antonio Business Journal reports. The filing notes a projected…
Windcrest is about to get a soul transplant. No, not in the spiritual sense. East Side soul food staple Mrs. Kitchen will move north, taking over an 8,000-square-foot space in the suburb in coming months, the San Antonio Express-News reports. Owner Garlan McPherson told the daily that customers had to pack into the Mrs. Kitchen’s…
The 2021 session of the Texas Legislature will commence Tuesday under pervasive uncertainty. Lawmakers have been waiting for months to see how it will be conducted safely as the coronavirus pandemic rages. Both chambers are expected to convene at 12 p.m. Central time. Watch the House and Senate streams here. And after a pro-Donald Trump…
Considering the growing popularity of canine-focused boutiques and bakeries in SA, this news may have local puppy parents jumping for joy. For the first time in its history, ice cream company Ben & Jerry’s has released a pair of flavors, dubbed Doggie Desserts, designed and formulated exclusively for canines. Pontch’s Mix and Rosie’s Batch —…
After hosting a pair of sold-out concerts over the weekend, Cowboy Dancehall has received two additional city citations for violating pandemic-related safety protocols, KSAT reports. Last year, the venue racked up five citations for violating COVID-19 guidelines. With the count now at seven, city officials told KSAT they could revoke the club’s certificate of occupancy…
The following is a column of opinion and analysis. One of the saving graces of America’s greatness has been its 220-year legacy of peaceful, election-based transfers of power — ever since a liberty-touting slaveowner named Thomas Jefferson took the reins in a similarly contentious race. Last Wednesday, we tasted the political volatility with which so…
Chef Adam Bylicki takes his home state’s reputation in stride, that’s for sure. Bylicki launched Masshole Food Truck late least year, introducing San Antonians to Massachusetts-style lobstah rolls — and the term “Masshole.” According to a life-size decal printed on the trailer, “Masshole” is a contemptuous term for a native or inhabitant of that particular…
Taco Bell will give away free tacos on every Tuesday and Thursday the San Antonio Spurs are playing, whether here or on the road, KENS5 reports. For the remainder of the 2020-21 season, the fast-food chain — a longtime Spurs and NBA partner — will give out two free beef crunchy tacos during business hours…
Die-hard fans of the Spurs’ original turquoise, orange and pink color scheme have reason for a sweet celebration. To commemorate the team’s new Fiesta-themed alternate jerseys, San Antonio-based giant H-E-B has released a frozen treat playing off the trio of eye-catching colors, mySA reports. The limited-edition Creamy Creations Spurs Sherbet features flavors of strawberry, orange and…
Texas lawmakers will enter the legislative session this week with an estimated $112.5 billion available to allocate for general purpose spending in the next two-year state budget, a number that’s down slightly from the current budget but is significantly higher than what was estimated this summer when the coronavirus began to devastate the economy. Texas…
Meal-delivery giant DoorDash will deliver a shot of relief to Lone Star State restaurants in the form of a $500,000 monetary injection into the Texas Restaurant Relief Fund. The contribution is part of the company’s five-year Main Street Strong Pledge, which includes a $10 million effort to help restaurants in select cities across the United…
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. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas said his raucous speech at a January 3 rally had…
Floresville’s barbecue scene is about to get smoked. Situated just 40 minutes from downtown SA, Floresville is set to gain some kick-ass Texas barbecue, as Brandon Peterson — owner and pitmaster of San Antonio restaurant Bandit BBQ — sets his sights on a new food trailer in the South Texas town. MySA reports that Peterson…
Democratic voters in Texas were more likely to cast their ballots by mail than Republican voters in the last election. Today, that may sound like a forgone conclusion, but that wasn’t the case four years ago. Absentee ballots, which only certain groups of Texans are eligible to use, have traditionally been a tool utilized by…
Texas bars may be under capacity regulations due to COVID-19, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at video purportedly shot at a recent Cowboys Dancehall performance. San Antonio’s Cowboys, known for huge dance floors and live country music shows, is under scrutiny after a Facebook user posted footage Sunday afternoon appearing to show concertgoers there packed…
With impeachment proceedings underway this week, President Donald Trump will visit South Texas Tuesday to talk up a completed stretch of the border wall that was a key promise of his 2016 campaign. Trump will appear in the Rio Grande Valley town of Alamo to commemorate completion of a 400-mile stretch of the wall, which…
COVID-19 has been disproportionately deadly for communities of color in Texas. And advocates for those communities are worried that they will have more trouble accessing vaccinations than the white population because of where vaccination sites are located. “We already saw huge disparities in death rates and people getting [coronavirus] infections, and there wasn’t availability of…
With criticism toward U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz swelling in recent days, President-elect Joe Biden declined at a Friday afternoon news conference to call on the Texas senator to resign, but did suggest that he should be voted out in 2024. “I think they should be just flat beaten the next time they run,” Biden said, when asked…
Police accountability group Fix SAPD on Friday submitted more than 20,000 signed petitions to city officials in a bid to let voters decide whether San Antonio cops should be able to engage in collective bargaining. If the city clerk verifies the signatures, voters would decide in May whether to repeal Chapter 174 of the Texas…
The COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t just a shock to the human immune system. It was also a shock to the Earth system, dramatically changing the air quality in cities around the globe. As countries around the globe struggled to contain the disease, they imposed temporary shutdowns. Scientists are now sifting through data collected by satellite and…
The city of San Antonio will host a free COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Alamodome beginning Monday, January 11. The site will offer both drive-thru and in-person vaccinations, inoculating 1,500 people daily, according to a statement from the city. Vaccines will only be available to Phase 1A populations, which include healthcare workers and residents of…
Noted San Antonio restauranteur Johnny Hernandez has closed his South Flores Street eatery The Fruiteria Botanero. But fans shouldn’t fret just yet — the chef plans to reopen the spot with an updated look and new menu. Hernandez said the decision to temporarily shut down The Fruiteria was inspired by the evolution of the surrounding…
More than two dozen hospitals in rural Texas, from the Panhandle to South Texas, are still waiting on doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to distribute to their front-line workers and community members, hospitals and health care advocates say. Those that are lucky enough to be near another provider with shots available are relying on neighborly…
To celebrate their hippo Timothy’s birthday, the San Antonio Zoo is raising money for a new buoy for the hippo habitat, which he shares with his grandmother Uma. Any additional funds after the hippos’ present is purchased will go toward the zoo’s enrichment fund, which will help provide even more goodies for different habitats throughout…
Texas humorist Jaston Williams — one-third of the performers behind classic comedy Greater Tuna — has returned with a new one-man show, I Saw the Lights, which will stream online on Friday, January 29. The darkly comedic performance centers on the residents of Lubbock, Texas, in 1951 as they investigate mysterious lights in the sky,…
Traditionally, the city of San Antonio takes down the holiday lights along the River Walk on the first weekend of the new year. However, to continue to shed brightness after all the negativity that’s unfolded over the past year, the city has decided to keep the lights up until Valentine’s Day. All River Walk visitors…
The $640,000 renovation of Maverick Park, 1000 Broadway, is expected to be completed this spring. The project will add a large dog park to the Broadway corridor, with areas for small and large pups. The dog park alone will take up about a third of Maverick Park’s three acres, and include areas for agility training,…
San Antonians can now get snacks from four established brands delivered to their front door thanks to Ghost Kitchens SA, a new “virtual restaurant” concept launched this week. A ghost kitchen is a food business that operates in a certified restaurant space without the overhead cost of having a dining room. In SA’s case, ghost…
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. Dozens of consumer advocacy organizations and Latino civil rights groups are contesting an effort by Oportun Financial Corp. to become…
Amid intensifying calls for his resignation, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz — a key ally of President Donald Trump — ludicrously claimed during a Thursday TV appearance that he opposed Trump’s “language and rhetoric” for four years. The Texas Republican’s assertion comes as he faces incendiary criticism from both sides of the aisle for seizing on…
Food Handler and TABC certifications are necessary headaches for Texas restaurant employees, and the Texas Workforce Commission plans to ease the financial burden of obtaining those licenses. Thanks to a $4.9 million donation from Swedish furniture giant IKEA, the commission will purchase the necessary credentials the state requires of foodservice employees, making them free for…
Velvet Taco, the Dallas-based chain poised to set up in shop in what little remains of hallowed punk-rock haven Taco Land, has announced opening dates for its two San Antonio locations. The restaurant where the legendary Grayson Street music venue once stood will begin serving March 22, according to mySA, while a brand-new Rim location…
The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office is investigating whether an eight-year department veteran broke the law as she participated in this week’s pro-Trump rally that morphed into an armed insurrection, KSAT reports. Sheriff Javier Salazar told the station 46-year-old Roxanne Mathai, a jail lieutenant, posted Facebook photos of herself inside the armed, pro-Trump mob that breached…
At least eight members of Texas’ congressional delegation, including U.S. Reps. Lloyd Doggett and Joaquín Castro, both of whom represent San Antonio, have called for President Donald Trump to be removed from office. All are Democrats. Doggett, along with U.S. Reps. Veronica Escobar, Vicente Gonzalez and Al Green signed resolutions to impeach the president for…
The first known case of a new and possibly more contagious coronavirus strain has been reported in Texas, in an adult male resident of Harris County who had no history of travel, according to the state health services department and County Judge Lina Hidalgo. The variant known as B.1.1.7 was first identified in the United…
DreamWeek, San Antonio’s annual celebration of the multicultural legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., is in its ninth year, and its calendar is as full as ever. The only 2021 caveat is that many of its events have moved into the virtual sphere. Local organizations will use virtual discussions to build civic engagement around issues…
1718 Steak House offered diners an incomparable view of the Alamo, but that fact alone couldn’t save the eatery, which alerted fans to its closure via social media Wednesday. “Unfortunately recent events in the world and Texas, have kept conventions and visitors away from our city and our locals [sic] concern about their health. And…
If you’re one of the tens of thousands of folks who make the annual pilgrimage for free breakfast tacos at the Cowboy Breakfast, we’ve got upsetting news. The unofficial kickoff to the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo will be a private event this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, mySA reports. Chuck Christian, vice…
Homegrown Tex-Mex chain Taco Cabana has spiffed up its menu for the new year, adding a savory pair of new menu items and bringing back Beyond Meat bowls and tacos. TC’s new Pork Adobada, which is marinated in dried guajillo peppers and adobo spices, can be added to a Cabana Bowl or a taco. The…
The new podcast Anything for Selena, which chronicles Latin music icon Selena Quintanilla’s life story and legacy within the Latinx community, will launch Wednesday, January 13. Hosted by Maria Garcia, senior arts editor at Boston NPR station WBUR, the podcast will memorialize Selena as it weaves Garcia’s own personal story as a queer, first-generation Mexican…
Yesterday, President Trump stood in front of thousands at the White House for the “Stop the Steal” rally and instructed his supporters to march to the U.S. Capitol, where they then attacked law enforcement officers and broke into the federal building. Incited by false allegations of a stolen election, the terrorist attack resulted in four…
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who spoke at the Washington rally that preceded a MAGA-hat wearing mob overrunning the U.S. Capitol, subsequently claimed without proof that the rioters “were not Trump supporters.” The remark, shared by Paxton on Twitter Wednesday afternoon, appears at odds with an earlier tweet urging those angry about Congress approving Joe…
Amid a record-shattering rise in COVID-19 cases in San Antonio, a planned monster truck event at the Alamodome has been postponed until July, MySA reports. Monster Jam, which was slated to take place on January 23-24, will now be held on July 3-4. Tickets purchased for January 23 will be honored on July 3, and…
Like just about every other Capitol Hill staffer, Jose Borjon was worried about trouble on Wednesday. The top aide to U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez was unnerved by President Donald Trump’s rhetoric and that of his followers ahead of Congress’ traditionally ceremonial counting of the Electoral Votes — so much so that he ordered all but one…
As Texas politicos called for calm in Washington, some chastising GOP leaders for fanning the flames, former U.S. Rep. Will Hurd — a Republican — leveled some of the sharpest condemnation of President Trump’s role in the unrest. In a Wednesday tweet, Hurd said the overrunning of the U.S. Capitol by Donald Trump’s supporters to…
A little late now, don’t ya think, Ted? After leading a look-at-me effort to monkeywrench Joe Biden’s legitimate presidential victory, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, took to Twitter to urge Trump supporters who overran and vandalized the U.S. Capitol to peacefully disperse. His plea came as thousands of people who refuse to accept President Donald Trump’s election loss…
As part of PBS’s Indie Lens Pop-Up series, San Antonio’s Presa House Gallery has partnered with local PBS affiliate KLRN to host a free virtual screening of the 2020 documentary 9to5: The Story of a Movement. Delving beyond the surface of Dolly Parton’s hit single (and movie!) “9 to 5,” the film explores the story…
San Antonio’s mega-sized commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. will be a virtual event this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The annual march brings together hundreds of thousands of San Antonians in remembrance of the late civil rights leader, making it the largest MLK weekend march in the nation. This year, however, two local…
Cult actor Bruce Campbell is the latest celeb to take his show to the web. The star of the decades-spanning Evil Dead franchise has switched things up to a livestream format for his latest appearance. His last San Antonio stop was an October 30 screening of the film and conversation at the Tobin Center. In the video-on-demand…
Wednesday’s last-ditch effort by Ted Cruz and other GOP lawmakers to subvert Joe Biden’s election win may fly with Trump voters, but U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar warns it will backfire with the majority of their constituents. Cuellar, a Democrat whose district includes San Antonio and Laredo, said the majority of U.S. voters realize no fraud…
A year after opening its flagship location in Universal City, drive-through drink business SipIt Daiquiris To-Go is poised to open a second location on the far West Side. The new shop, located at the intersection of Culebra and Lone Star Parkway, is slated to open early next month, according to the Black-owned business’ Facebook page.…
Based on their Google searches, it looks like Texans are more concerned about their work situations than they are their waistlines, booze consumption or odious personal habits. Using Google Trends, job-search site Zippia figured out what the most popular New Year’s resolution was in each state. And Texans, it turns out, are most interested in…
In response to the pandemic, the Pearl’s Bottling Department has launched QR code-based tableside ordering for customers dining just outside the multi-restaurant food hall. The tech upgrade allows guests at designated tables to avoid going indoors, skip lines and order from multiple vendors in one transaction. Guests are also able to reorder food and drinks…
Thompson San Antonio, SA’s first luxury hotel to open in five years, has roped in the culinary talents of two local heavy hitters: chefs Steve McHugh and Robert Cantu. McHugh — a five-time James Beard Award finalist and chef-owner of Cured at the Pearl — will helm Landrace, a 200-seat eatery on the hotel’s ground…
Since its 2017 inception, San Antonio’s Cherrity Bar has operated under a give-back model that donated profits to different charities monthly via a customer-driven voting system. That stopped, however, when COVID-19 hit. With its own survival in question, Cherrity Bar and adjoining restaurant Kuriya were forced to pause their mission of giving back to local nonprofits.…
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz once said he wouldn’t “go like a servile puppy dog” back to Donald Trump after denying the presidential nominee his endorsement at the GOP’s 2016 national convention. Now Cruz is leading the charge to challenge the 2020 election results that made Democrat Joe Biden the president-elect and Trump the first incumbent president to…
Texas may be awash in cowboys and carnivores, but the sausage company founded by country singer Jimmy Dean isn’t sitting out changing dietary trends just so it can wave the Lone Star flag. The 52-year-old, more-Texan-than-Big Tex food purveyor is debuting its first non-meat breakfast sandwiches, becoming the latest brand to jump on the plant-based patty…
Bexar County set a pair of bleak new records Tuesday as it grapples with COVID-19 surge brought on by gatherings over the winter holidays. The number of coronavirus patients in local hospitals ballooned to 1,318 Tuesday, blowing past a previous high of 1,267 set in July. The area also tallied 2,152 new COVID-19 cases, eclipsing…
Thousands of low-income Medicaid recipients who rely on Planned Parenthood for non-abortion services like cancer screenings and birth control will have until February 3 to find new health care providers, according to a letter sent from the state’s Health and Human Services Commission to the women’s health provider Monday. The extension comes after the conservative…
A Seguin-based Texas Republican Party official was pulled into a game of Social Media Cleanup this weekend after an online post saying Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, should be “introduced to our friend Mr. Guillotine.” Terry Harper, a member of the State Republican Executive Committee, made the comment Saturday on Facebook. His remark came in response…
If you’ve ever yearned to know the origins of tequila, Trinity University Press’ Maverick Book Club is presenting a spirited (sorry, not sorry) discussion that may be just your jam. The Book Club will host authors Chantal Martineau and Joel Salcido in a virtual discussion on Wednesday evening of their books How the Gringos Stole Tequila…
Environmental groups have sued EPA chief Andrew Wheeler for failing to respond to a petition asking his agency to remedy what they say amounts to Texas’ violation of federal air-pollution laws. The Environmental Integrity Project and other organizations sued Monday, arguing that the EPA allowed Texas regulators to approve permits for eight refineries, gas plants and chemical…
A new product introduction from Dunkin’ — the breakfast pastry conglomerate formerly known as Dunkin’ Donuts — seems targeted to folks whose 2021 resolutions including eating less meat. The chain has introduced a vegetarian breakfast sandwich featuring the kind of spicy flavors that tend to go over well in the Alamo City. Dunkin’ partnered with plant-based…
Irish American songwriter and guitarist Dennis O’Hagan is getting his Great Brewery Tour show on the road, pandemic be damned. The singer and beer aficionado takes an annual trek across the country, one brewery at a time. This one will roll into San Anto this Friday with a 6 p.m. show at Künstler Brewing, south…
Southern fare and craft beer staple Southerleigh Hospitality Group’s new Rim location is adding brunch to the mix, mySA reports. Southerleigh Haute South, which opened in September, introduced a new brunch menu Sunday, which a spokeswoman told the news site will be finalized soon. Among the offerings: chicken and donuts and savory shrimp and grits. Boozy…
Gov. Greg Abbott’s order pausing abortion care at the outset of the pandemic resulted in larger numbers of Texas women going out of state for the procedure or delaying it until the second trimester, according to a new study. The Republican governor’s order, enacted March 22 over the objections of professional medical associations, paused all…
Continuing with a lineup of one-person plays for its 2020-202ONE season, the Public Theater is presenting a virtual production of George Stevens Jr.’s Thurgood. The play, which premiered in 2006, details the life of late civil rights activist, lawyer and U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall. Prior to joining the high court, Marshall played…
Buc-ee’s — a travel-center chain made famous by its spotless bathrooms, copious food options and beaver mascot — has delayed plans to bring a $40 million store to Boerne, mySA reports. Though the location, announced in 2016, was expected to open last year, limited funds and calls for “significant utility infrastructure improvements” by the city…
Correction, Jan. 5, 2021: Due to errors in the state’s COVID-19 vaccine dashboard, this story incorrectly stated the percentage of vaccine doses that had been given out in Texas as of Monday. Roughly 44% of doses had been given out, not roughly one-third. The story also incorrectly stated that the state had received more than…
Just before the turn of the new year, men’s lifestyle magazine Esquire released a list of 100 restaurants America can’t afford to lose to the COVID-19 pandemic, including Austin-based Franklin Barbecue. “We also hope you’ll raise a toast to these spots around the country — old and new, scruffy and spiffy — that we consider…
Experts at La Cantera Resort & Spa and the University of Texas at San Antonio have launched a year-long Zoom lecture series focused on psychosocial, mental, physical, spiritual and sexual wellness. The Loma de Vida WellYou Lecture Series will feature monthly talks by educators and experts, the first of which — “Quick Meals for Optimum Nutrition,”…
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. After failing to convince residents to engage in social distancing and avoid holiday gatherings,…
Five years after Texas legalized medical marijuana for people with debilitating illnesses, advocates and industry experts say the state’s strict rules, red tape and burdensome barriers to entry have left the program largely inaccessible to those it was intended to help. But with a new legislative session gaveling in next month, some Texas lawmakers see…
Anti-Trump PAC the Lincoln Project is calling out GOP senators including Ted Cruz for challenging Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory, saying their efforts to throw out Black votes makes them the “new Jim Crow caucus.” Citing debunked conspiracy theories, Cruz has spearheaded a plan by a dozen Senate Republicans to vote against Biden’s victory over…
The Knot, a top wedding-planning brand and app, has bestowed Southtown venue Ivy Hall Events with one of its annual Best of Weddings awards. The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted or cancelled many 2020 weddings, so the Knot’s awards this year honor vendors who went above and beyond to help couples navigate the health crisis. The awards incorporate…
Locally owned fast-food chain Burger Boy will debut a fourth location this spring, renovating a North Side building into a 2,300-square-foot burger, shake and crinkle-cut fry mecca. The new spot will be located at 151 W. Bitters Road, in a space that formerly housed an El Pollo Loco restaurant. The homegrown burger chain opened a…
Two people were seriously injured in San Antonio by fireworks detonated in the middle of vehicles doing donuts in what police are calling a street-racing incident. Officers arrived to Eisenhauer Flea Market on the 3900 block of Eisenhauer Road around 11 p.m. Sunday, where they found car-club racers in the parking lot, KSAT reports. Police…
Mary Lou Davis, chef de cuisine at San Antonio’s Whiskey Cake location, will make her national TV debut Thursday, duking it out on FOX-TV cooking contest Hell’s Kitchen. The 28-year-old chef will compete with 17 other U.S. culinary pros for a chance to helm celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay’s brand new Hell’s Kitchen Restaurant in Lake Tahoe.…
Local health officials reported 1,997 new COVID-19 cases Sunday, setting a new single-day record of infections as the city’s hospital system faces growing strain. The San Antonio area also tallied seven additional coronavirus-related deaths. COVID-patients now make up a third of all patients in local hospitals, a percentage that’s doubled since the middle of December.…
January 4, 2021 marks the 300th straight day I haven’t stepped inside a movie theater. As a professional film critic for nearly 20 years, the cinema has always been a second home to me. Early in my career, I would be at the theater at least three or four times a week, sometimes more. This…
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) late last week said it’s called off a $14,000 fee for distilleries that produced hand sanitizer during the pandemic, The Hill reports. HHS officials said they instructed the Food and Drug Administration to halt the fee collection Thursday, two days after the agency announced plans to penalize distillers…
Continuing to pursue unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and some of his fellow GOP senators announced they would vote to reject the certification of Electoral College votes for the presidential election unless an emergency audit is conducted. In a joint statement released Saturday, Cruz and the other senators cited “unprecedented allegations…
In a rare New Year’s Day vote, the U.S. Senate voted to overturn a President Donald Trump veto in the twilight days of his presidency. The vote represents the first Congressional veto override of the Trump administration. At issue was the National Defense Authorization Act, an annual budget and spending bill that addresses all sectors…
Some 25 businesses from Market Square’s Farmers Market Plaza Building will participate in a pop-up mercado while their normal retail space is temporarily closed for repairs and maintenance, KSAT reports. Staring January 7, the temporarily displaced vendors will set up at the Centro de Artes building at 101 S. Santa Rosa for three months, according to…
Brazilian churrascaria Fogo de Chao is discounting its Fogo Churrasco Experience dinner during San Antonio Restaurant Weeks, knocking the price down to a cool $35 per person for nonstop table-side service of fire-roasted meats, mySA reports. The restaurant typically charges $54.95 for the flesh feast. The meal includes table-side service of ten meat options —…
Craft distillers just can’t catch a break this year. Along with the hardships brought about by the pandemic — such as the closure of their tasting rooms — the Food and Drug Administration is now telling distilleries that produced hand sanitizer at the start of the pandemic that they’ll need to pay a steep fee,…
Metropolitan Health District officials say the San Antonio area will receive an additional 40,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines within the next week, completing its initial 90,000-dose allocation. As of Tuesday, Bexar County has received 50,000 vaccine doses and inoculated more than 31,000 people in critical populations, according to Metro Health officials. Those first in line are…
San Antonio Mexican food staple El Mirasol will open a new location January 4, just a few months after closing its original Blanco Road restaurant. The eatery posted opening plans to its Facebook page Tuesday. “We still have a few finishing touches to make,” the post read. “But we’re officially ready to welcome you to…
St. Mary’s Strip hangout Midnight Swim will begin a hiatus Monday and plans to “be back when the time is right,” according to a post on its Instagram account. The post didn’t cite the recent COVID-19 surge as a reason for the break. However, it encouraged followers to watch the bar’s social feeds for updates.…
Texas’ war over local control heated up Wednesday as state Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Austin and Travis County over new business restrictions intended to curb COVID-19 transmissions. Facing a rise in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations, Austin Mayor Steve Adler and Travis County Judge Andy Brown limited the serving hours of bars and restaurants over the New…
A local, environmentally-focused art nonprofit is making it easier for one artist’s pre-used materials to become another artist’s treasure. Spare Parts, an organization connecting artists, educators and creatives to discounted art supplies, has opened San Antonio’s first creative reuse center on the city’s north side. Located within the Downtown Wetmore Shopping Center, the store features paint and…
Pedro Pascal, star of TV’s The Mandalorian, spent part of his childhood in San Antonio, this according to an interview with Variety. It’s where his love for movies began. His parents took him and his older sister to a local theater to see the original 1978 Superman. He was about four years old. Even though…
Editor’s Note: The following is CityScrapes, a column of opinion and analysis. It’s been a grim year for San Antonians, much less the world. The pandemic has cost an enormous number of lives, wreaked economic havoc, isolated families and loved ones, and dramatically shifted how we work and live. While the arrival of vaccines offers…
Assclown alert is a column of opinion, analysis and snark. There was no shortage of Texas leaders willing sully their office and betray the trust of their constituents in 2020, but was there ever any question Attorney General Ken Paxton would seize the assclown mantle for 2020? First, there was the years-old, slow-motion securities fraud…
As 2020 blessedly clangs to a close, it’s tempting to wonder where we’re headed once the pandemic is history. In the spirit of year-end curiosity about COVID-19’s possible long-term effects, Science News posed this question to a few scholars: What major social changes do you see coming after the pandemic? As baseball’s Yogi Berra once said,…
When Janell Simmons heard that some vulnerable Texans were now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, she eagerly called around to schedule an appointment. But after hours on the phone with more than a dozen health care providers in Houston, she said she was unsuccessful. Simmons’ two primary care physicians told her they didn’t receive…
Food industry-focused nonprofit Culinaria is expanding its January Restaurant Weeks, offering a month-long version of the promotional event. Typically, the winter iteration of Restaurant Weeks is a two-week event that encourages San Antonians to explore their city’s dining options via specially priced meals. However, Culinaria officials opted to extend the promotion this year to aid…
Chef Keenen Hendricks will debut a brick-and-mortar incarnation of his Smack’s Chicken Shack this week, giving the beloved food trailer’s over-the-top sandos a stationary home. Hendricks took over the former Big Bob’s Burgers at 447 W. Hildebrand Ave. and will open the restaurant Friday — New Year’s Day — unveiling new menu items alongside tried-and-true…
It was a shit year for music fans. Many endured a complete moratorium on live shows. Even those brave enough to take in performances had their options largely limited to local shows in outdoor or sparsely attended venues. Good thing the pandemic didn’t seem to put the brakes on recorded music. Indeed, 2020 proved to…
A San Antonio club owner was among the experts cable news channel CNBC tapped to discuss $15 billion in relief for music venues rolled into Congress’ new pandemic relief bill. “Mortgage, rent, utilities — those recurring expenses didn’t stop just because of a pandemic,” Blayne Tucker, who owns The Mix and serves as attorney for…
Downtown-area shopping and dining destination the Pearl will add four new restaurants in 2021, KSAT reports. The new eateries are part of an expansion that also includes new green space and another parking facility for the mixed-use development, officials told the station. The quick success of new eateries Brasserie Mon Chou Chou and Best Quality Daughter…
Artpace’s first exhibition of 2021 looks back at an influential former resident. “After Carolee: Tender and Fierce” serves as a tribute to artist Carolee Schneeman, who died in March of 2019. Schneeman created the multimedia installation Vesper’s Pool as a resident of Artpace in 1999. Guest curated by Annette DiMeo Carlozzi, “After Carolee” is an exhibition…
There are plenty of reasons to roast Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas: manipulating ad campaign videos, rushing a Supreme Court nomination, making racist statements about the pandemic. We could go on. Now, here’s another one: he’s a shit cook. Cornyn tweeted a Christmas Eve photo of his “brisket family tradition” that appears to feature dry-as-a-bone meat…
Vegan food vendor Project Pollo opened a Stone Oak-area restaurant on Tuesday, its first San Antonio location in a planned a four-store brick-and-mortar expansion. The business, which started as a food cart serving vegan fried “chick’n,” opened an Austin location earlier this month and expects to open two more Alamo City spots in the spring,…
Bexar County coronavirus hospitalizations hit 1,116 Tuesday, reaching their highest number since the surge that gripped San Antonio this summer. The escalating demand on local hospitals comes as Texas reached a new peak in COVID-19 hospitalizations Monday, obliterating a previous record set in July. At least 11,351 people were hospitalized statewide with the ailment. That…
