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San Antonio Burger Week’s creative spins are all about dressing up the staple sandwich
San Antonio Burger Week, now in its third year, brings burgerphiles a multitude of creative ways to experience their favorite food while giving back to the community in a time of need. Dozens of restaurants, bars and food trucks are serving up $5 or $8 specialty burgers during the citywide event, which runs from February…
Appeals court puts San Antonio’s paid sick leave ordinance on pause while legal battle continues
An appeals court has dealt another legal blow to San Antonio’s long-delayed ordinance guaranteeing paid sick time for workers. In a victory for business groups, the Texas 4th Court of Appeals on Wednesday blocked the city from implementing the rule while it’s contested in court. The three-judge panel agreed with a lower court’s judgment that the…
San Antonio chef receiving death threats after calling Governor Greg Abbott ‘selfish’ on CNN
After appearing on CNN for the fourth time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Noodle Tree owner Mike Nguyen is getting blowback for speaking out against Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to completely reopen Texas. The restauranteur said he’s now awash in criticism on social media — and even death threats. “When you make a…
San Antonio luxury spot Hotel Emma releases line of retail products
Hotel Emma has unveiled a line of retail products dubbed Emma’s Provisions, inspired by the flavors, smells and textures found throughout the property located at the Pearl, the San Antonio Business Journal reports. “During the whole COVID pandemic, obviously we had to pivot,” Beth Smith, vice president of the luxury property, told the publication. “In…
Texans 50 and older will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine starting March 15
Texans age 50 and older will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine beginning March 15, state health officials announced Wednesday. “Expanding to ages 50 to 64 will continue the state’s priorities of protecting those at the greatest risk of severe outcomes and preserving the state’s health care system,” said Imelda Garcia, Department of State…
Documentary by chef-filmmaker with San Antonio roots streaming on Amazon Prime, other services
Chef, filmmaker and food writer Adán Medrano is sharing the stories behind Truly Texas Mexican cuisine via his 2021 documentary of the same name. The film is now available on streaming services including Amazon Prime. The documentary follows Medrano as he explores the flavors, techniques and people at the center of the centuries-long evolution of…
With committee approval, Texas Lege is one step closer to making carryout cocktails permanent
A committee of the Texas House of Representatives has approved wider debate of a cocktails-to-go bill, a significant step toward permanently loosening the state’s strict alcohol laws. The House Licensing and Administrative Procedures (LAP) Committee unanimously passed HB 1024 Wednesday, a step along the way to making permanent a temporary order that lets bars and…
San Antonio-based vegan chain Project Pollo opens fifth location, targets 100 stores by 2025
Vegan restaurant chain Project Pollo, which started as a single food cart, is poised to open its fifth brick-and-mortar location in less than a year — part of an ambitious expansion that will include dozens of stores around the state. The San Antonio-based business will open its new hometown location Thursday just north of downtown.…
U.S. House passes COVID-19 relief bill that would give millions of Texans $1,400 checks
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House on Wednesday passed a massive spending bill, intended to offset the health and economic damage inflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic, that will send direct payments to millions of Texans and billions of dollars in aid for state and local governments and schools. The measure will now head to President Joe…
Nationwide survey seeks better understanding of challenges faced by LGBTQ+ women
More than 100 LGBTQ+ groups are partnering on a nationwide survey on the concerns of women in the community, which they’re touting as the first of its kind. The project — centered on issues such as employment, education, housing, religion, political affiliation, social lives and family relationships — is backed by groups including the National…
After city of San Antonio citations, men’s club XTC Cabaret keeps operating without power, water
No one would accuse the managers of one San Antonio strip club of a lack of resourcefulness. After repeated tangles with city inspectors that left it without water, power and permits, XTC Cabaret has brought in a truck-sized generator to provide the bright lights and thumping music needed for such an establishment, News4SA reporter Darian…
City of San Antonio releases guidelines for $14M in grants to food and beverage businesses
The city of San Antonio has posted guidelines for local businesses interested in applying for grants under its recently approved $14.25 million plan to provide new pandemic aid to its hospitality sector. City council approved funding for the Hospitality Grant program late last month, and the city will accept applications from Monday, March 15, through Monday, April 5.…
Proposal in Texas House would give special committee oversight of governor’s pandemic orders
A powerful Texas House committee on Thursday is set to consider one of Speaker Dade Phelan’s top legislative priorities this session: a bill that would address the governor’s emergency powers during a pandemic. But before the House State Affairs Committee convenes, a number of major changes are being prepared for the legislation, including the creation…
City and county now requiring San Antonio-area businesses to post their mask policies
A new San Antonio and Bexar rule will require all businesses to clearly post their pandemic mask policies so customers can decide whether they feel safe entering. The new order, announced at Tuesday night’s COVID-19 briefing, is effective Wednesday, the day Gov. Greg Abbott’s statewide mask order ends. It applies to all businesses, whether or…
Rock band Metallica donates $75,000 to Texas food banks through nonprofit
Metallica, whose debut album was called Kill ‘Em All, is trying to keep Texans alive via a hefty $75,000 donation to the state’s food banks through the band’s All Within My Hands foundation. The foundation announced the donation via a March 4 Twitter post. Texans running low on food are finding empty grocery store shelves. Food…
Legislation backed by casino giant would allow casinos, sports gambling in Texas
Two Texas lawmakers on Tuesday filed legislation backed by the gaming empire Las Vegas Sands that would legalize casino gambling in Texas. The legislation was filed by Rep. John Kuempel, R-Seguin, in the House and Sen. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, in the Senate. The proposals would create special casino licenses for four “destination resorts” in the…
San Antonio self-serve taproom The Dooryard will offer Sunday brunch starting this week
SA will gain another outdoor brunch spot this weekend: self-serve taproom The Dooryard is rolling out new Sunday menu heavy on hearty breakfast fare. The spot, which opened in December, features a large dog- and family-friendly patio as well as a tapwall with a rotating menu of 30 craft beers from all over Texas. Its…
Texas citrus industry sees at least $230 million in losses due to February’s winter storm
Citrus lovers beware: grapefruit prices are about to skyrocket. Preliminary data from economists with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service shows that last month’s devastating winter storm caused at least $230 million in damage to the state’s citrus industry. Many growers will likely lose next year’s crop as well. Texas is the third-largest U.S. citrus…
Twitter sues Texas AG Ken Paxton, alleging he’s using his office to harass it for banning Trump
Twitter has sued embattled Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, alleging that he’s using his office to retaliate against the social media giant for banning President Donald Trump in the wake of the U.S. Capitol insurrection. Paxton, a Republican and fervent Trump supporter, announced an investigation into Twitter and other social media companies in January, claiming…
Southtown eateries Maverick Texas Brasserie and Rosario’s duke it out over proposed building plans
The owner of Southtown’s Maverick Texas Brasserie is asking for community help to halt a nearby construction project that he argues could put his restaurant out of business. Restaurateur Lisa Wong in December applied to the Historic and Design Review Commission (HDRC) for approval to demolish a large part of the former El Mirador restaurant…
San Antonio Humane Society holding discount adoption promotion for large dogs this week
If you like big mutts and cannot lie, this promotion may be for you. The San Antonio Humane Society is holding a weeklong promotion to help larger pups find their fur-ever homes. It’s offering those adoptable dogs for just $25. The promotion — which runs through Sunday — applies to all dogs one year or…
Feds bust Canyon Lake man accused of downing booze in Pelosi’s office during Capitol riot
The FBI has arrested a Canyon Lake man who allegedly knocked back liquor shots in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office during the deadly January 6 U.S. Capitol insurrection, the Express-News reports. The FBI on Thursday arrested Treniss Jewell Evans III, 46, at his home an hour north of San Antonio over charges he participated in…
Bexar County will offer up to $1,500 for plumbing repairs in new phase of assistance program
Over the weekend, Bexar County launched the second phase of a program created to aid residents who need plumbing repairs in the wake of last month’s catastrophic winter storms. Under the initiative, the county will dispatch a plumber and pay up to $1,500 towards parts and labor for repairs brought on by the freeze. Those…
Guests will be ‘encouraged,’ but not required, to mask up for Poteet Strawberry Festival
Organizers of the annual Poteet Strawberry Festival will require staff and volunteers to wear face coverings for its 2021 iteration, but will only “encourage” guests to do so, MySA.com reports. “We are all aware there are risks associated with public gatherings, but also know this is a final opportunity for many of us to avoid…
San Antonio men’s club XTC Cabaret cited for operating without papers — again
Counting three new city citations over the weekend, San Antonio gentleman’s club XTC Cabaret has racked up a total of eight since January 1, TV station KSAT reports. The write-ups are the latest rounds in an ongoing fight between the city and the Northside strip bar, which have been locked in a months-long legal dispute…
Fully vaccinated people can now rage indoors together without masks, CDC says
Scream, go nuts and unmask your deepest desires, because the time has come for fully vaccinated folks to be able to hold and attend indoor gatherings with fellow fully vaxxed people without masks. That’s right — fully vaccinated people (meaning people who have waited two weeks after having received both doses of the Pfizer or…
San Antonio’s first Velvet Taco location opens at Rim Crossing on Northwest Side
Dallas-based fast casual chain Velvet Taco will open the doors to its first San Antonio location today, serving up globally inspired tacos, margaritas and beer. The new spot, located at 5515 N. Loop 1604 West, is the first of two planned Alamo City locations. The 2,500-square-foot dining room features indoor seating for nearly 50 and…
U.S. DJ Diplo to perform ‘limited capacity’ show at San Antonio’s Cowboys Dancehall
Country music venue Cowboys Dance Hall will host a “limited capacity” performance by U.S. DJ and producer Diplo later this month. According to a Facebook event page managed by the venue, the artist — known for founding global dancehall group Major Lazer — will hit the stage at 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 27. General admission…
Analysis: After the blackouts, a whiff of the 2022 elections in Texas
Maybe the latest announcement from Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller was just the sound of a political gnat hitting the windshield. If that turns out to be the case, let’s at least consider the last thought that went through the poor bug’s brain. Miller was unveiling his response to the blackouts that knocked Texas off its feet…
San Antonio-based H-E-B reverses stance, will continue to ‘expect shoppers’ to wear masks in stores
Beloved grocery chain H-E-B this weekend announced that after Texas’ statewide mask mandate ends on March 10, its stores will still require shoppers to don face coverings. Originally, the San Antonio-based chain said customers would be encouraged to wear masks when shopping but that it wouldn’t force them to do so. An updated policy on…
The Mendoza Line: Gov. Abbott unveils plan to slow spread of COVID-19 by killing more Texans
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. Gov. Greg Abbott used Texas Independence Day to announce he’s “reopening” the state and ending…
Ted Cruz falsely claims undocumented immigrants are getting $1,400 stimulus checks
Seizing on anti-immigrant fervor popular with the Trump base, Sen. Ted Cruz on Saturday sponsored an amendment to the pending COVID-19 relief bill to block undocumented immigrants from receiving its $1,400 stimulus checks. “The question for the American people to answer is, should your money, should taxpayer money, be sent — $1,400 — to every…
Nurtured with faith, a community garden in San Antonio springs back from the devastating winter storm
A bountiful garden is built on its tenuousness. Some sown seeds won’t germinate. When the sprouts of others dutifully rise from the ground, seedlings must often be delicately thinned to give others room to grow. And the plants that perish serve to nourish the soil so others may grow wide or tall in their beds.…
COVID-19 has exacerbated a troubling U.S. health trend: premature deaths
There is no good time for a pandemic, but COVID-19 hit the United States as a public health crisis was well under way. The novel coronavirus has exacerbated already rising death rates among Americans in the prime of their lives, a new report concludes. Especially hard-hit are racial minorities and people of all races with…
The Lege this week: Abbott lets his mask slip
Welcome to the 87th Legislative Session. Since the last session came to a close in June 2019, Texas has been hit by an unrestrained pandemic and a crippling economic crisis—and now the fallout from deadly blackouts. Under unprecedented circumstances, lawmakers are faced with a number of urgent challenges. The Texas Observer is following along every…
Analysis: How Gov. Greg Abbott’s attack on ‘defunding the police’ has divided Texas Democrats
Even before Gov. Greg Abbott made it official in his State of the State speech last month, it was clear that policing or, more euphemistically, “public safety,” was emerging as a major partisan flashpoint in the current legislative session. Republican candidates pounced on the “defund the police” slogan that emerged from protests following the killing of…
Face masks, Stefan Bowers: San Antonio’s biggest food stories of the week
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to drop the state’s mask mandate was big food news — both for folks looking to dine safely and workers trying to avoid infection as they interact with customers. No surprise then that the dramatic announcement accounted for two of the Current’s most-read food stories this week. But lots of…
CPS Energy says excessive costs from winter storms won’t be reflected on February bills
CPS Energy customers won’t see any charges on their February bills related to last month’s winter storm, the city-owned utility said. In a statement released Friday, CPS officials said it will begin releasing electronic and paper bills Monday, although some customers may not see theirs until after Saturday, March 13. The announcement follows a board…
The Texas Public Utility Commission’s revolving door between industry and regulator
Public Utility Commission Chair DeAnn Walker became the most prominent Texas official to fall in the wake of the February blackouts, announcing her resignation Monday after growing bipartisan calls from lawmakers for her to step down. The Public Utility Commission (PUC), which regulates electric, telecommunication, and water services in the state, has come under intense…
ERCOT overcharged power companies $16 billion for electricity during winter freeze, firm says
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas made a $16 billion error in pricing during the week of the winter storm that caused power outages across the state, according to a filing by its market monitor. Potomac Economics, the independent market monitor for the Public Utility Commission of Texas, which oversees ERCOT, wrote in a letter…
Minds behind Little Death wine bar and Carnitas Lonja join forces to make splash on St. Mary’s Strip
Next week, the St. Mary’s Strip will gain an eatery perfect for adventurous seafood lovers in Fish Lonja, the second location of an offshoot of nationally acclaimed Carnitas Lonja by chef Alejandro Paredes, MySA reports. The first Fish Lonja launched in the summer of 2019, offering fish tacos and tostadas topped with fish, shrimp or…
Missing girl from San Antonio to be featured in Discovery+ special
A special featuring the disappearance of a San Antonio child will air March 8 and 9 on Discovery+ and Investigation Discovery. In Pursuit: The Missing showcases missing children across the nation and will be presented by Callahan Walsh, an advocate for the National Center of Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). Walsh’s parents co-founded the organization…
San Antonio brewer faces accusations it misused money from Black Is Beautiful campaign
When Marcus Baskerville, head brewer and owner of San Antonio’s Weathered Souls started the Black Is Beautiful social justice campaign last June, the participation guidelines were simple. Other brewers could make their own version of a stout using Weathered Souls’ base recipe, so long as they donated at least a portion of the proceeds from…
Theory Coffee owner plans to develop ‘Flavor Corner’ around his Northeast San Antonio trailer
Theory Coffee Co. owner Mark Vollmer Jr. is determined to create a welcoming hub for folks who enjoy a good cup of Joe. And what better place for it than the spot his coffee trailer has occupied for more than six years? Vollmer told MySA.com that he recently received city and landlord approval to develop…
Greg Abbott, greenway trails: The top 10 headlines in San Antonio this week
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott dominated the news cycle this week when he unveiled plans to end his statewide mask mandate — you know, against the advice of medical professionals who actually know what the fuck they’re talking about. The controversy only deepened after Governor Greg played the blame-shifting game, claiming the big bad Biden administration…
Magazine accidentally refers to San Antonio Congressman Joaquin Castro as ‘Joaquin Phoenix’
San Antonio Congressman Joaquin Castro is used to mistaken identity. So much so that he grew a patchy beard so he wouldn’t be confused with his twin brother, former SA mayor Julian Castro, when the latter ran for president. But a recent flub by the left-wing publication Mother Jones has taken Castro confusion to a…
A series of covers releases from Girl in a Coma’s Nina Diaz reveals both her range and her influences
Little about the pandemic has been good for the music industry. That said, some artists have used the downtime to record songs or even album-length projects that provide windows into their creative souls that wouldn’t exist save for the downtime. San Antonio’s own Nina Diaz, frontwoman for alt-rockers Girl in a Coma and a solo…
3 San Antonio releases to download for March’s Bandcamp Friday
When the pandemic put live shows on indefinite hold last spring, Bandcamp began waiving its fee from artist sales on the first Friday of each month. The streaming service plans to keep that policy in place at least through May, although we’re guessing it might stretch on longer than that. So, to help connect hungry-eared…
San Antonio mayor vows to save historic Woolworth Building in ‘reset’ of Alamo Plaza project
San Antonio’s landmark Woolworth Building and its civil rights legacy will be preserved, along with a public civic space, under a new plan for the Alamo Plaza, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said. His pledge came after he replaced Councilman Roberto Treviño as tri-chair of the Alamo Citizens Advisory Committee and on the Alamo Management Committee with…
San Antonio’s Mr. & Mrs. G’s Home Cooking mourns the death of patriarch William Garner Sr.
The Mr. G in Mr. & Mrs. G’s Home Cooking has passed away. Since its 1990 opening, folks have flocked to Mr. & Mrs. G’s on San Antonio’s East Side to snag lovingly prepared soul food and kind words from proprietors Addie and William Garner Sr. On Thursday, the restaurant informed Facebook followers that William Garner…
Here’s where you can find out which San Antonio businesses still require patrons to wear masks
Lots of folks think Texas Gov. Greg Abbott jumped the gun when he announced plans to lift the statewide mask mandate. And that includes plenty of restaurants, bars and other businesses across San Antonio that are looking to keep both their employees and you, the customer, safe as we ride out this pandemic. To make…
Yet another plan emerges to turn San Antonio’s Lone Star District into a mixed-use development
Following several failed attempts to rejuvenate San Antonio’s Lone Star District, a new partnership with local ties is on track to get the long-awaited project rolling. Houston-based developer Midway and local firm GrayStreet Partners have joined forces to breathe new life into the 32-acre former brewery across the San Antonio River from Roosevelt Park. Previous…
Owner behind San Antonio craft-cocktail mainstay Bar 1919 opens luxe new spot at The Rim
Fans of luxurious vibes and no-nonsense cocktails can now enjoy specialty spirits at Rock and Rye, a new far northwest spot from Bar 1919 owner Don Marsh. The smart and stylish space follows in Bar 1919’s footsteps, offering an impressive specialty cocktail menu and a spirit list that currently boasts 400 varieties of booze, MySA…
San Antonio-area high school student building a business empire, one beehive at a time
One look at Trent Anderson, and you wouldn’t assume he owns a burgeoning food business. But that’s exactly what the 15-year-old has on his hands as the owner of BeeSpace, a Castroville-area enterprise focused on rehoming and raising honeybees. The high school sophomore spent nearly three years building his business from the ground up, working…
After lifting mask mandate, Gov. Greg Abbott claims immigrants spreading COVID in Texas
The day after saying he’s lifting Texas’ mask mandate, Gov. Greg Abbott took to Twitter to set up a blame-shifting narrative in case the state sees the COVID-19 surge medical experts predict will follow his policy change. In a Wednesday tweet, Abbott accused the Biden Administration of “recklessly releasing hundreds of illegal immigrants who have COVID…
Mobile art gallery to feature San Antonio’s Jorge Villarreal in pop-up exhibition at Phil Hardberger Park
An art exhibition is popping up in an unlikely place this weekend. To kick off Contemporary Art Month, the Lottie Mae Lounge — a fully renovated 1979 Airstream Sovereign that tours the country as a mobile art gallery — is posting up at Phil Hardberger Park for an exhibition presented in partnership with Blue Star…
Red-Carpet Kid: San Antonio native gives voice to Young SpongeBob in animated movie sequel
During a visit back to his home city of San Antonio about three years ago, then-8-year-old Antonio Raul Corbo sat with his mom inside her car to record a voice audition for a role in an upcoming animated movie. At the time, he wasn’t aware of the title. The pair couldn’t find a quiet place…
Three of Gov. Greg Abbott’s four coronavirus medical advisers say they weren’t directly consulted before he lifted mask mandate
In April 2020, an optimistic Gov. Greg Abbott announced at the Texas Capitol that he would soon take initial steps to allow businesses to reopen during the coronavirus pandemic. The loosening of restrictions, his team said, would be informed by a statewide “strike force,” composed of business leaders and four medical experts who would advise the governor…
ERCOT’s chief executive terminated in wake of Texas’ winter storm crisis
In a move entirely predictable amid the outcry over last month’s sweeping power outages, the board of Texas’ electrical grid operator fired CEO Bill Magness Wednesday night, according to the Texas Tribune. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas’ board approved a “60-day termination notice” for Magness after a three-hour private session, according to the report.…
Vegan sloppy Joe concept Tidy Ben’s holding Wednesday soft opening for Sloperia in Southtown
Southtown is gaining another vegan-friendly option with Wednesday’s soft opening of Tidy Ben’s Sloperia, a joint that serves up a meat-free take on that messy childhood fave the sloppy Joe sandwich. Tidy Ben’s specializes in multiple flavors of meat-free sliders that consist of a shredded plant-based filling tucked inside sweet Hawaiian-style buns — or, for…
San Antonio Zoo’s whooping crane pair lays another egg
The San Antonio Zoo whooping crane pair, Madison and Patty, has laid another egg, officials revealed Wednesday. “We are eagerly awaiting to find out the viability of the egg, and are hopeful that we may get a 2nd!” the zoo stated in a post on Facebook. Last year, the zoo’s cranes laid eggs in April and June — their…
These San Antonio bars and restaurants will require masks for service after mandate is lifted
Many Alamo City bars and restaurants are letting fans know that despite Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s plan to drop the statewide mask mandate and lift all business restrictions, they’re still sticking with COVID-19 safety measures. Since the Republican governor made his announcement Tuesday, restauranteurs have taken to social media to say they’ll continue to require…
Texas teachers, child care workers now eligible for COVID-19 vaccine
Texas teachers are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccines, health officials announced Wednesday. Effective immediately, all Texas vaccine providers should include all teachers, Head Start program staff, and child care staff in their vaccine administration programs, according to a notice the Texas Department of State Health Services sent to providers. The notice comes after the Biden…
San Antonio chef Stefan Bowers leaves restaurant group for sole ownership of pizza spot Playland
San Antonio food-industry veteran Stefan Bowers is leaving his post as executive chef of the Goodman & Bowers Restaurant Group to relaunch and helm downtown pizza spot Playland. Bowers in 2011 minted Goodman & Bowers — which has operated several irreverent but elevated dining establishments — through a partnership with local business savant Andrew Goodman. On…
San Antonio author Marisol Cortez’s Luz at Midnight wins Texas Institute of Letters award
San Antonio author Marisol Cortez has landed the Texas Institute of Letters’ 2021 Sergio Troncoso Award for Best First Book of Fiction for her recent novel Luz at Midnight. Released in December by FlowerSong Press, Luz tells the story of a love affair between a community activist and a newspaper reporter amid concerns that a mining process will…
San Antonio restaurant pros say Greg Abbott’s lifting of COVID restrictions puts workers in danger
San Antonio’s customer-facing foodservice workers — who have been in and out of work at Gov. Greg Abbott’s whim since last March — say his decision to drop the statewide mask mandate is terrifying. Even though fewer than 7% of Texans have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the Republican governor announced plans Tuesday to drop the mandate…
Slab Cinema features food films in new festival at San Antonio’s The Good Kind
With Women’s History Month now in full force, Slab Cinema is honoring women chefs in a new festival featuring food films. Presented in partnership with Southtown’s The Good Kind restaurant and bar, the Foodie Film Fesxt focuses on the diversity of various countries and languages. The first half of the series is centered on women…
Jardín at the San Antonio Botanical Garden now open daily, offering brunch on Saturdays
Local nature lovers are likely rejoicing that San Antonio Botanical Garden extended its weekday hours, but that also translates to exciting news for foodies. Jardín, the garden’s Mediterranean-inspired restaurant helmed by SA chef Jason Dady, has also extended its hours, offering lunch and dinner daily and brunch on both Saturday and Sunday. Previously, the restaurant was…
San Antonio-based H-E-B will ‘urge,’ but not require, shoppers to mask up — and that’s bullshit
In December, the Current reported that employees of grocery chain H-E-B felt bullied into not forcing shoppers to don masks, because, well, people are assholes. Now — against clear advice from the Centers for Disease Control — Texas’ fuckstick governor is prematurely lifting the state’s mask mandate. The San Antonio-based grocer responded by saying it will…
Alamo Drafthouse keeping masks mandatory, will listen to ‘CDC and medical experts, not politicians’
The Alamo Drafthouse isn’t taking Gov. Greg Abbott’s shit lying down. Unlike San Antonio-based grocery giant H-E-B, which immediately caved and said it won’t require customers to wear masks once Abbott rescinds the state mandate on March 10, the Drafthouse is maintaining its mandatory mask policy for both patrons and employees. It’s also keeping up other…
San Antonio’s police union claims referendum taking aim at collective bargaining seeks to ‘defund’ cops
San Antonio’s police union on Tuesday doubled down on claims that a local ballot initiative aimed at scaling back its power to bargain for a new labor contract amounts to “defunding the police.” During a morning news conference, San Antonio Police Officers Association President Danny Diaz accused Fix SAPD, the group that petitioned to get…
The Public Theater’s latest virtual production is penned by San Antonio’s Anel I. Flores
If you’re looking for a dramatic yet comical play that shows the challenges Mexican Americans face, Empanada by San Antonio’s Anel I. Flores has got you covered. Locals can support San Antonio and its history by attending this virtual production from the first city-owned, city-built theater in the U.S. The latest entry in the Public…
As CDC warns not to ease COVID rules, Texas’ governor says he’ll drop mask rule, business limits
The day after the director of the Centers for Disease Control cautioned states against easing COVID-19 restrictions, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced he’ll drop the statewide mask mandate and lift all restrictions on businesses. “With the medical advancements of vaccines and antibody therapeutic drugs, Texas now has the tools to protect Texans from the virus,” the Republican…
Pabst Blue Ribbon debuting new art gallery in San Antonio’s Southtown neighborhood
Art and beer collide in this month when recently added San Antonio corporate citizen Pabst Brewing Co. showcases work by emerging artists at its new Pabst Blue Ribbon Studios in Southtown. The pop-up gallery’s debut show will feature artists who submitted works for consideration in Pabst’s annual can design competition. It will also showcase art by…
Spurs’ March 4 matchup with the Thunder will give a glimpse at San Antonio’s evolving backcourt
Back in January, when the Spurs and Thunder clashed in Oklahoma City, Spurs guard Lonnie Walker IV led all scorers with 24 points in a 112-102 victory for San Antonio. Walker shared the offensive load with five other Spurs who scored in double figures, including Dejounte Murray who finished the night with 16 points, 5…
Texas-based Martin House Brewing Co. launching Best Maid Spicy Pickle Beer this week
Better load up on michelada ingredients. Fort Worth-based Martin House Brewing Co. this week will introduce Best Maid Spicy Pickle Beer, the latest flavor in its line of pickle brews that’s gained a cult since the first release launched in 2019. The new version keeps the briny and sour character of the original but turns…
Lawyer for Texas attorney general’s office repeatedly tries to block testimony and evidence at whistleblower hearing
The first hearing in a whistleblower lawsuit against the Texas attorney general’s office mostly consisted of objections Monday. The agency’s attorney William Helfand opposed the vast majority of questions that lawyers asked two former agency employees who testified in a hearing to consider whether two of the fired aides should get their jobs back. Helfand…
San Antonio’s immersive art experience Hopscotch searching for new resident food truck
Calling San Antonio food truck operators: Snapchat-esque art experience Hopscotch is looking for its next cuisine-focused partnership. The downtown interactive art collection partnered with Smack’s Chicken Shack when it opened last fall, but the chicken sando purveyor’s opening of a standalone space has created a vacancy for another mobile kitchen to fill. “@smackschickenshack, has opened…
Public Utility Commission chair resigns after failing to take ownership of Texas power outages
DeAnn Walker, who chairs the Public Utility Commission of Texas, has resigned in the wake of statewide blackouts that left millions without power during a devastating winter storm, according to media reports. The three-member commission, appointed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, has faced fiery criticism from both sides of the aisle over its handling of…
Sky-high natural gas prices, other expenses left CPS Energy with $1 billion bill for winter storm
CPS Energy ratepayers now have a better idea of just how much the city-owned utility may try to pass on to them to cover the cost of last month’s catastrophic winter storms. On Monday, CPS officials said they’re grappling with $1 billion in expenses from fuel and wholesale electricity purchases during the historic weather event…
San Antonio Botanical Garden starts off March by extending its weekday hours
Just as spring starts to make its return, the San Antonio Botanical Garden is extending its weekday hours. Starting today, the garden will extend its evening hours, staying open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. With general admission, visitors are able to access the garden’s 38 acres of greenery, with eye-catching pyramid…
Texas is among 19 states where student loan debt is larger than the entire state budget
A new study ranks Texas as one of 19 states where residents owe more in student loan debt than their state’s total budget. Student Loan Justice — a group advocating for the return of bankruptcy protections for student loans — released the study, which compares the most recent Department of Education student loan data with the most recent…
The Mendoza Line: Ken Paxton accuses AOC and Beto of ‘help gouging’ during Texas freeze
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. U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, and former U.S. Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke provided too…
Contemporary Art Month returns with a distance-friendly format
After being interrupted by the onset of COVID-19 cancellations and closures in 2020, Contemporary Art Month is returning for 2021 with pandemic safety in mind. On Friday, CAM hits the ground running with a drive-in event held in Artpace’s parking lot. The annual CAM Kickoff will feature a screening of the 2021 CAM Perennial exhibition…
Texas AG Ken Paxton now seeking ouster of San Antonio police chief in his immigration fight with the city
Amid his own mounting legal woes, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is cranking up the heat on San Antonio Police Chief William McManus. Paxton — embroiled a legal battle with San Antonio since 2018 over how it handles suspected undocumented immigrants — filed new court papers late last month seeking McManus’ removal. The petition filed…
National organization posts guide for employees advocating for LGBTQ workplace equality
LGBTQ+ corporate employees now have an online guide for advocating for workplace equality and inclusion. Advocacy group Out & Equal’s new guide is a potential tool for those seeking improved protections for LGBTQ+ employees at their workplaces. It’s intended for use by employee resource groups (ERGs), which are worker-led internal organizations formed to promote workplace diversity. “We continue to…
San Antonio’s new greenway trails offer a view of the city we otherwise might zoom past
Inspired by the city’s network of greenway trails, I set out to do what seemed illogical, impossible or just plain idiotic: circumnavigating San Antonio on foot, utilizing the newly christened Howard Peak Greenway system. Where the trails ended, I’d continue along creek beds, roadsides, vacant lots and railroad tracks. Has the perimeter of SA ever…
Jardín brings the right culinary elements to the Botanical Garden’s Sullivan Carriage House
The building that now houses serial restaurant wrangler Jason Dady’s latest enterprise, Jardín, began life in 1896 as a stable and carriage house subservient to the mansion of banker Daniel J. Sullivan that once stood at Broadway and 4th Street. Faced with demolition some 90 years later, the structure was donated to the San Antonio…
‘UT needs rich donors’: Emails show wealthy alumni supporting ‘Eyes of Texas’ threatened to pull donations
The Texas Longhorns had just lost to rival Oklahoma for the third time in a row — this time after a quadruple overtime. The bruising loss was quickly overshadowed when then-Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger stood alone on the field for the playing of the university’s alma mater song “The Eyes of Texas,” a postgame tradition.…
San Antonio’s Joaquin Castro says ‘Latinos are almost completely missing’ from Golden Globes
Despite the Golden Globes’ attempt to quell criticism for its lack of diversity, San Antonio Congressman Joaquin Castro blasted Sunday night’s awards show for its dearth of Latino representation. “Latinos are almost completely missing at the @goldenglobes—it’s unsurprising and unacceptable,” tweeted Castro, a Democrat who until recently chaired the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. “The film industry must address…
3 San Antonio strip clubs slapped for violating city’s Public Health Emergency Declaration
Since February 12, the city has slapped three San Antonio strip clubs — XTC Cabaret, The Palace Gentleman’s Club and Perfect 10 Men’s Club — with citations for failing to follow pandemic-related safety protocols, according to online records. In the case of XTC, the club was cited for after inspectors found a bartender not wearing…
Global inequity in COVID-19 vaccination is more than a moral problem
Months before the first COVID-19 vaccine was even approved, wealthy nations scrambled to secure hundreds of millions of advance doses for their citizens. By the end of 2020, Canada bought up 338 million doses, enough to inoculate their population four times over. The United Kingdom snagged enough to cover a population three times its size.…
Dorćol Distilling, restaurant aid: San Antonio’s biggest food stories of the week
Last week’s winter storm carried over into this week’s food news thanks to Texas letting SNAP recipients use their benefits to replace items that perished when fridges went on the fritz. But there was plenty more to snack on, such as a copyright infringement suit filed by a local craft brewer and new restaurant coming…
San Antonio Spurs will face a well-armed Brooklyn Nets on March 1
After being thwarted by San Antonio’s celebrated Big Three on their way to NBA championships in 2005 and 2007 as a member of the Phoenix Suns, two-time MVP Steve Nash returns to the AT&T Center with an impressive trio of his own. As the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, Nash’s embarrassment of riches includes…
Flyin’ Ted Cuz, police misconduct: The top 10 headlines in San Antonio this week
After last week’s catastrophic winter storm and power companies’ apparent inability to plan for it, it’s hard to imagine how this week could possibly hold a candle when it came to news. Yet it did. Apparently, no shortage of you loved tracking the fallout from Sen. Ted Cruz’s widely lambasted tropical getaway. But you also…
San Antonio chefs from Mixtli and Kumo take part in Jacques Pépin Foundation video recipe book
Foodies of any level will recognized the name Jacques Pépin as synonymous with “classic French technique applied to American cuisine.” Now, two San Antonio chefs are lending their expertise to a video recipe book curated by a nonprofit foundation bearing the famed French chef’s name. Chefs Diego Galicia and Rico Torres — of James Beard…
Texas schools still tallying storm costs, and some won’t reopen soon
When the winter storm hit Texas last week, the overhead sprinklers across the hall from Valerie Malone’s first-grade classroom broke and flooded rooms on both sides. Malone’s elementary school is one of seven in the Arlington Independent School District that couldn’t open for in-person learning this week, joining dozens across the state. The fast-plummeting frigid…
Texas Parks and Wildlife wants citizen observers to help it study bat fatalities from winter storm
After last week’s historic winter storm, dead and dying bats are turning up under bridges and overpasses across the state, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said. Hundreds have been found in San Antonio. In response, TPWD announced an investigation of the bat fatalities on social media, asking Texans to share observations, including photos, and…
San Antonio-based pilot tapped to join Air Force Thunderbirds team
The elite Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team this week used social media to introduce a new operations officer, who happens to be based at San Antonio’s Kelly Field. Major Thomas Werner of the 182nd Fighter Squadron at Texas Air National Guard at Kelly Field will serve as the team’s operations officer starting in June. His tasks…
Channeling Texans’ feelings, former House Speaker tells Ted Cruz to ‘go f—k yourself’
Former U.S. House Speaker John Boehner isn’t one to hide his feelings — after all, he’s regularly made headlines for having a good cry in public. Now, while recording the audio version of his forthcoming memoir, the retired GOP politician seems to have done a good job channeling the feelings of a multitude of Texans.…
Aid groups say ICE stopped jailing immigrant families at two South Texas sites, but they’re still open
The government has stopped using two private prison facilities south of San Antonio for detaining immigrant families, instead turning them into temporary stop-offs where asylum seekers get medical checks, immigrant-aid groups said. However, that transition by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement doesn’t go far to reverse the hardline immigration policies of the Trump administration, those groups…
Grocery chain H-E-B now accepting submissions for annual Quest for Texas Best competition
Food and drink innovators, take note: H-E-B’s annual Quest for Texas Best competition is underway, and the grocer is taking applications for new Texas-made products to stock on its shelves. Now in its eighth year, the Quest for Texas Best is part of the San Antonio-based grocer’s effort to expand its range of Lone Star State…
Plumber shortage and supply chain issues are delaying storm recovery efforts in Texas
Plenty of Texans want to hire plumbers in the wake of February’s crippling winter storm. But part of the problem is that too few Texans want to be plumbers. A shortage of skilled trade workers — plumbers, electricians and the like — has been growing in the state for the past decade, and that is…
Einstein Bros. Bagels debuts uber-Texan breakfast sammie, featuring slow-smoked brisket
Wanna talk about “cowboy breakfasts?” Colorado-based Einstein Bros. Bagels has debuted its Texas Brisket Egg Sandwich, which features a split jalapeño bacon bagel filled with cheddar cheese, scrambled eggs, smoky chipotle sauce and slow-smoked brisket that’s been rubbed in “a blend of classic Texas spices.” The bagel chain isn’t the first to give a new…
Owners of San Antonio’s Little Em’s Oyster Bar taking over former Feast location for ‘sexy’ new eatery
The minds behind Southtown Instagram sensation Little Em’s Oyster Bar will open a “sexy” new eatery called Up Scale in the building that once housed brunch and dinner hotspot Feast, MySA reports. Husband-and-wife duo Houston and Emily Carpenter opened Little Em’s on South Alamo Street late last year, bringing bi-valves and beatific vibes to Southtown.…
Top(ped) Dog: The Dogfather’s Patrick Curel on why his hot dog restaurant is flipping burgers
When the humble hot dog wiener first made its voyage from Frankfurt, Germany to America in the 1860s, it’s a safe bet no one considered topping it with roasted corn, fried jalapeños or spicy chimichurri. But that’s exactly what goes down at San Antonio hot dog destination The Dogfather, where owners Patrick Curel and Jaime…
New luxury hotel Thompson San Antonio welcomes its first guests and diners on Thursday
San Antonio’s newest luxury hotel will open Thursday, welcoming out-of-town guests to its 162 rooms and visitors and locals alike to a quartet of food and beverage destinations. The high-end property is located at 115 Lexington Ave. in the downtown arts district, steps from the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts. The hotel’s destination restaurant, Landrace, helmed…
River Authority investigating deaths of fish in San Antonio River due to freezing temperatures
February’s winter storm didn’t just cause suffering to Texans that lost power and water; it also harmed the local fish population. The San Antonio River Authority is looking into the deaths of fish found floating along the San Antonio River Walk, which it says were casualties of freezing temperatures, not poor water quality. Dead fish…
San Antonio Police Department disciplines officers for excessive force, according to report
The San Antonio Police Department has taken disciplinary action against a pair of officers over their alleged mistreatment of handcuffed suspects, according to a KSAT investigation. SAPD suspended the officers for using “unnecessary physical force” on cuffed suspects in unrelated incidents, the TV station reported, citing disciplinary records issued in November and December. In one…
Glitter Political: Jalen McKee-Rodriguez aims to unseat his former boss on San Antonio council
Jalen McKee-Rodriguez isn’t daunted by the fact that 11 other candidates are running to represent the East Side on San Antonio City Council. Indeed, he was expecting the District 2 race to be a crowded field. As we chat over Zoom about his life and career, I gain a deeper understanding of his sense of…
Reforming Texas’ power grid requires serious regulatory oversight, not finger-pointing
The following is a guest commentary submitted to the San Antonio Current. The Texas electrical grid has been a ticking time bomb for decades. This was laid bare for the world to see, and the fallout will be enormous. The humanitarian crisis will have ripple effects for years. There will be long lasting economic development…
Former Culinary Institute prof Justin Ward opening restaurant San Antonio’s Olmos Park area
Chef Justin Ward, a former professor at the Culinary Institute of America in San Antonio, is launching a new venture in Olmos Park: Glass and Plate Restaurant. Ward and his wife Cristina will take over the space at 4212 McCullough Ave. formerly occupied by Hearthstone Bakery and serve up American cuisine with European influences for…
Online event highlights new project celebrating Black women in the San Antonio community
As Black History Month concludes and Women’s History Month starts in a few days, The Black Herstory Project is a way to celebrate both. Tonight, documentary and portrait photographer Bria Woods will host a virtual event to highlight San Antonio women who are making Herstory. Part of Woods’ overarching initiative The Herstory Project, The Black…
Golden Wat Noodle House opens for business Thursday near downtown San Antonio
Get ready for a new spot to score some noods, San Antonio. Long-anticipated Cambodian noodle house Golden Wat will finally open its doors today, according to a social media post. “Today is our #GoldenDay,” a Thursday morning Instagram post read. “We are so excited to welcome you all into our new home as the first…
11 San Antonio eateries praised in Texas Monthly’s roundup of best new restaurants in Texas
The San Antonio food scene is having a moment. At least, according to Texas Monthly’s food writers, we are. A total of 11 Alamo City eateries are featured in the 29th edition of the magazine’s annual Best New Restaurants in Texas issue, which hits stands in March. The listings are divided into categories including “Where to Eat…
Winter storm could cost Texas more money than any disaster in state history
The winter storm that left dozens of Texans dead, millions without power and nearly 15 million with water issues could be the costliest disaster in state history, potentially exceeding the $125 billion in damage from Hurricane Harvey. The deadly 2017 hurricane devastated the Gulf Coast region. Last week’s winter storm impacted every region of the…
San Antonio-based Burger Boy chain will open South Side location this summer
San Antonio’s Burger Boy chain has served up a perfect example of how to take a fan’s feedback to heart. When local resident Alfredo Canedo Jr., a die-hard Burger Boy enthusiast, noticed an empty South Side building, he reached out with a proposal. He sent a message describing the vacant building in the McCreless Corner Shopping Center,…
Gov. Abbott’s TV speech blames ERCOT for Texas blackouts, again fails to own up to wider failures
During a rare statewide address Wednesday evening, Gov. Greg Abbott aimed to reassure Texans that he and the Legislature will correct issues that caused millions to endure blackouts during last week’s historic winter storm. But observers say the televised prime-time speech fell back on Abbott’s attacks on the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which only…
San Antonio-based grocery chain H-E-B donating $1 million to Texas food banks in wake of winter storm
H-E-B seems to be living up to its “no store does more” advertising slogan. The San Antonio-based grocer will donate $1 million to Texas food banks, further suggesting the company might be better suited to run the state than our elected leaders. The hefty donation will support 18 food banks within the Feeding Texas network,…
Ólàjú expands awareness of African culture, identity with focus on powerful photography
After Femi Ogunleye graduated from UTSA in 2011 with an undergrad degree in international business, he returned to Nigeria, where his family is originally from, to deepen his connection with its culture and heritage. As part of that immersion, he began collecting artwork, bringing pieces back to San Antonio. “I would travel back to the…
San Antonio Public Library will go mad for pop culture for weekend-long event
The San Antonio Public Library’s annual free celebration of all things pop culture is going online this year, but organizers promise it won’t be a watered-down experience. The weekend-long event features a slate of panels by authors including San Antonio native — and child film star — Henry Thomas and award-winning science fiction visionary Martha…
San Antonio Botanical Garden’s Foodie Cinema returns with My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Follow Toula Portokalos as she finds her first love and introduces him to her loud, intrusive and large Greek family in Joel Zwick’s My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Nia Vardalos, who wrote and starred in the romantic comedy, based it on her own family and created a character who gains confidence throughout the film as…
San Antonio’s Esperanza Center to present new episode of folk food and music series by Azul Barrientos
Despite the continued aftermath of last week’s hellish winter storm, San Antonio-based musician Azul Barrientos will forge on with her Noche Azul concert series, giving the next iteration a cheffy twist. Noche Azul Sabor will showcase traditional Mexican folk music and food, featuring the expertise of two chefs from Veracruz, Mexico. The mother and daughter…
Texas plants released nearly as much pollution during winter storm as during Hurricane Laura
Oil refineries, chemical manufacturers and petrochemical plants across Texas — mostly in the upper Gulf Coast — warned state regulators that they may have released millions of pounds of pollutants and greenhouse gases into the air due to last week’s winter storm. The arctic freeze in Texas claimed the lives of dozens of Texans, and…
Texas to allow SNAP recipients to apply for replacement benefits for food destroyed in winter storm
Hundreds of thousands of San Antonians fell victim to lost power and spoiled food last week, but those who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits may find some relief. Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission received federal approval to let SNAP recipients apply for replacement benefits for food…
200 animals rescued from winter storm by San Antonio Animal Care Services ready for adoption
In the wake of last week’s history-making winter storm, some 200 animals have been placed in the adoption system in San Antonio, awaiting a new life. San Antonio Animal Care Services Interim Director Shannon Sims told local TV station KENS5 Tuesday that ACS staff braved record-breaking weather conditions to rescue animals left in the cold.…
Ted Cruz says leaked texts about his Cancun trip show how ‘nasty’ politics has become. Cry us a river.
After a rare — if not entirely convincing — moment of contrition for taking a tropical vacay while his constituents shivered through a days-long ice storm without electricity, Sen. Ted Cruz is back to playing the shift-the-blame game. In comments to a political podcast this week, the Texas Republican said his wife Heidi was “pretty…
The failure of San Antonio’s city-owned utilities last week demand action, not reassurances
Editor’s Note: The following is CityScrapes, a column of opinion and analysis. The snow looked lovely as it was falling. But San Antonio last week was far from the “charming winter resort of the South” our city’s boosters once promoted. Many thousands were left without power and heat, subject to “rolling blackouts” that mostly seemed…
Power Failure: Blame for Texas’ electrical grid disaster extends far further than ERCOT
It’s a safe bet Bill Magness, CEO of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, may not have that job much longer. In the wake of last week’s devastating statewide power outages, a bipartisan chorus of state lawmakers led by Gov. Greg Abbott is calling for his firing or resignation as head of the nonprofit that…
