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After 2020, Republicans want to swing more Latino voters in South Texas. It’s not as easy as it looks.
After former President Donald Trump’s surprisingly strong performance along the U.S.-Mexico border in the last election cycle, Republicans have been working overtime to paint South Texas red. The Republican National Committee is undertaking a multimillion-dollar outreach effort across the region, which the group is billing as the largest Texas outlay in its history. To that…
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott pushes child welfare agency to classify gender-affirming care as abuse
After a legislative session targeting families of transgender children, Texas’ top Republican leaders are renewing a press to have state child welfare officials treat gender-affirming health care as child abuse. Gov. Greg Abbott sent a letter Tuesday to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services demanding that it “conduct prompt and thorough investigations” of parents or…
San Antonio’s Weathered Souls Brewing Co. to release first official barrel-aged Girl Scout beers
San Antonio’s Weathered Souls Brewing Co. is about to tap the first-ever kegs of Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas beers — flavored, as the name suggests, with actual Girl Scout Cookies. The Girl Scout Cookie-themed Coconut Caramels and Adventurer beers will both make their debut at Weathered Souls’ taproom this Saturday and will only be…
San Antonio Food Bank to host second annual Vegan Family Reunion next month
More than 20 Black-owned and vegan-friendly businesses and organizations will gather next month at the San Antonio Food Bank for the second annual Vegan Family Reunion, a meetup focused on healthy eating and sustainable living. The free event, which will take place Sunday, March 6 from noon to 5 p.m., is being held in conjunction…
Whistleblowers say Ken Paxton is misleading Texans about his bribery and abuse-of-office allegations
The whistleblowers who sued Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton after he fired them for accusing him of bribery and abuse of office are speaking out against him publicly for the first time since filing their lawsuit, in response to what they say are Paxton’s “numerous false and misleading public statements” on the campaign trail. The four whistleblowers…
Netflix’s new Texas Chainsaw Massacre doesn’t make the cut
They say everything’s bigger in Texas, which is accurate when it comes to the body count in Netflix’s recently released The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The movie is a soft reboot of the notorious film series that first shocked audiences in 1974, acting as a direct sequel to the premier installment while overlooking all of its…
San Antonio’s new Tech Port Arena lines up dates for Smashing Pumpkins, three other touring acts
A cluster of dates from touring music acts suggests the South Side’s new Tech Center Arena could emerge as one of the Alamo City’s premiere concert venues. The arena, located at Port San Antonio, announced Tuesday that it’s booked ’90s-era rock heavyweights the Smashing Pumpkins, Southern rapper Kevin Gates, Mexican indie-pop singer Carla Morrison and…
Houston couple slain in San Antonio allegedly shot by their own son
Two educators — a former school principal and his wife, a retired teacher — are the victims of a San Antonio shooting in which the accused killer is their 20-year-old son, the Houston Chronicle and TV station KSAT report. Michael Burger, 20, was arrested Sunday afternoon for the murder of Houston-area couple William and Noreer Burger, according…
Comedian Katt Williams to perform at San Antonio’s Freeman Coliseum in March
Comedian and Emmy award-winning actor Katt Williams will perform his standup at Freeman Coliseum next month as part of his World War III tour. The Friday After Next actor’s Saturday, March 19 show will be his only Lone Star State date on the jaunt. $62-$102, Saturday, March 19, Freeman Coliseum, 3201 E. Houston St., (210)…
Metro Health to close Alamodome COVID-19 testing site as cases in San Antonio plummet
San Antonio Metropolitan Health will close its Alamodome COVID-19 drive-thru testing center by Feb. 28, saying fewer people are seeking tests and that local cases continue to plummet. Over the past two weeks, an average of just 20 people used the Alamodome testing site daily, according to Metro Health. The news of the site’s closure…
These San Antonio bars and restaurants are celebrating National Margarita Day in a big way
Marg your calendars, San Antonio: National Margarita Day is Tuesday, Feb. 22. We know San Antonians don’t need a pinche food holiday to tell them its OK to sip margs, but hey, look at it as another excuse to tip a few back. Local bars and restaurants seem to agree, since plenty are celebrating in…
San Antonio artist Matt Tumlinson tapped for Lone Star Beer’s retro-style merchandise, mural
San Antonio-born Lone Star Beer is celebrating Texas Independence Day, March 2, with a merchandise collaboration and mural featuring hometown artist Matt Tumlinson’s renditions of the beer’s Cosmic Cowboy-era mascot, the humble armadillo. Throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s, the brewery used a now-iconic illustration of an armadillo on advertising collateral that was, well, pretty much…
Now-defunct San Antonio strip club suffers heavy damage from weekend fire
The San Antonio Fire Department was called to extinguish an early morning fire Sunday at the site of the now-closed Secrets Gentlemen’s Club, MySA reports. Crews arrived on the scene around 1 a.m. and worked to tame flames shooting through the empty building’s roof, according to the news site. Firefighters were eventually able to control…
Reward for info leading to missing San Antonio girl Lina Khil increased again, this time hitting $250,000
The Islamic Center of San Antonio has once again raised its reward for anyone with information leading to the “safe return” of missing 4 year old Lina Khil — this time to $200,000, according to a Facebook post. It’s the second time in less than a week that the Islamic Center has upped its reward. The new…
Immersive Van Gogh exhibition secures downtown San Antonio venue, will open in May
The long-awaited Immersive Van Gogh exhibition will make its San Antonio debut. Finally. Originally set to open last November, the show was rescheduled to February 2022 due to “venue-related issues.” Now, on Monday, event organizers Lighthouse Immersive announced that the exhibition has secured a venue in downtown San Antonio — but forget that February plan.…
City of San Antonio calls East Side bar Twin Sisters Cantina a “nuisance,” orders demolition
The East Side’s Twin Sisters Cantina will be torn down following an order from the city deeming the environment around the business “dangerous,” the San Antonio Express-News reports. City officials and the police have responded to more than 300 calls in recent years reporting disturbances, shootings and other criminal activity at the bar, the Express-News…
Mexican ambassador to Ted Cruz: At least politicians in our country accept the outcome of elections
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz’s tongue has gotten him into verbal altercations with actors, comedians, musicians and U.S. politicians on both sides of the aisle. Now, Texas’ junior Republican senator has drawn the ire of Mexico, the country to which he fled as Winter Storm Uri blanketed the state in ice last February. After Cruz accused…
Pest control agency shares skin-crawling photos of 1 million dead mosquitos
Absolutely no one asked for it, but Florida’s Lee County Mosquito Control District (LCMCD) wants everyone to know that they currently have 1 million mosquitos corpses on hand. The pest-control agency recently shared photos showing the results from a two-year pest-control project in Lee County. One of the images was a literal bucket filled with…
Advocates struggle to overcome new voting barriers in Texas
This article was originally published by the Texas Observer, a nonprofit investigative news outlet. Sign up for their weekly newsletter, or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.” Before the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature passed a restrictive new voting measure last year, Molly Broadway was adept at navigating the state’s voting landscape. She had spent six years…
The ‘superspreader event’ that actually wasn’t, thanks to vaccines and ventilation
A large anime fan convention held in New York City last November was not an omicron superspreading event despite cases of the highly contagious variant linked to the gathering, researchers report in two studies in the Feb. 18 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Vaccination and masking requirements, social distancing and improved ventilation at the event…
Feds seek to protect rare Texas plant in the path of border wall construction
The construction of border barriers in the Rio Grande Valley could jeopardize a rare Texas plant’s survival, according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service scientists. The federal agency on Monday proposed an endangered species designation for the prostrate milkweed, a native South Texas plant that has lost habitat to the invasive species buffelgrass, which quickly…
Texas Restaurant Association offers help for businesses trying to understand COVID tax credits
The Texas Restaurant Association has launched a new program aimed at helping bars and restaurants navigate a confusing pandemic-driven tax credit. TRA will help restaurants throughout the state get assistance in navigating the Employee Retention Credit (ERC), a federal COVID tax incentive that is awards small businesses up to $26,000 per W-2 employee. Unfortunately, the…
Nearly 30 eateries will participate in this year’s Black Restaurant Week San Antonio, Feb. 27-Mar. 6
Black History Month 2022 has nearly reached its end, but about 30 local eateries are set to keep the party going and the comfort food flowing, courtesy of Black Restaurant Week San Antonio. The weeklong event, which runs from Feb. 27 to Mar. 6, aims to raise awareness for local Black-owned businesses and generate funds…
El Honky Tonk, Fat Tuesday: San Antonio’s biggest food stories of the week
This week’s top food news was dominated by an article on a new downtown honky tonk, followed closely by grand opening deets for a New Orleans-based frozen cocktail chain opening in SA. Big news from upcoming burger concept Big Animal and a new H-E-B ice cream flavor also snagged readers’ attention, as well as a…
Free Roasted Corn Festival returns to San Antonio on March 26
San Antonians with a penchant for corn-centric snacking may want to save the date for an a-maize-ing Saturday, March 26 fest celebrating the veg, MySA reports. The free Roasted Corn Festival will return to China Grove this spring, offering a variety of vendors who celebrate Mexican corn trimmed with anything from Hot Cheetos to queso fresco,…
Smoking State Trooper, Delorean Motor Co.: The top 10 headlines in San Antonio this week
Automobiles seemed to be a major theme when it came to the Current’s most-read stories of the week. First, lots of readers checked out a story about a highway patrolman who was caught on his own dashcam appearing to take a hit off a confiscated marijuana vape pen. Then, plenty more clicked on news about the…
First look: Chef from San Antonio’s Cherrity Bar opens birria trailer serving savory East Side eats
There’s something comforting about a hearty, complex stew — especially when it’s still chilly outside. Enter La Tienda de Birria, a new mobile kitchen from the culinary minds behind Kuriya at Cherrity Bar. Chef Ernest Bradley has been researching the Jalisco-born stew called birria for years now, and the knowledge gained is evident in the…
Reward for information leading to missing San Antonio girl Lina Khil increased to $170,000
The Islamic Center of San Antonio announced on Facebook that it’s boosting its reward for information leading to missing three-year-old Lina Khil — a move that brings the grand total to $170,000. The Islamic Center said it’s now prepared to pay a reward of $120,000, a $20,000 increase from its initial offer. That’s bolstered by an…
San Antonio Parks Foundation’s Fest of Tails celebrates kite-flying and pet pooches this March
The San Antonio Parks Foundation’s Fest of Tails is back for its 15th annual iteration on Saturday, March 12. After last being held in October 2021 due to a pandemic-forced rescheduling, the event is returning to its traditional March timeline this year. The outdoor, all-ages kite festival and dog fair will be held at McAllister…
Austin will pay $8 million settlement to San Antonio man critically injured by police at 2020 protest
The city of Austin will pay $8 million to settle a federal lawsuit filed by a San Antonio man critically injured by law enforcement officers during a May 2020 anti-police brutality protest, the Austin-American Statesman reports. That payout to Justin Howell, who suffered a severe head injury from so-called “less-lethal” bean bag rounds fired by Austin…
Harris County officials ask U.S. Justice Department to probe Texas’ rise in mail-in ballot rejections
Harris County has asked the U.S. Justice Department to open an investigation as elections administrators across Texas reject thousands of vote-by-mail applications and ballots under the state’s strict new voting law. A letter from Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, County Attorney Christian Menefee and Elections Administrator Isabel Longoria argues that deliberately confusing rules in Senate Bill…
New paleta-inspired sculpture debuts at downtown San Antonio’s Historic Market Square
Now greeting visitors to San Antonio’s Centro de Artes Gallery is a 10-foot tall paleta sculpture created by local artist David Blancas. Titled Sabor del Mercado, the vibrant blue and purple colored sculpture is now on permanent display in the heart of downtown San Antonio at the Historic Market Square. “Paletas are an integral part…
Partisan tactic by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s campaign delays thousands of requests for mail-in ballots from Texas voters
Thousands of applications for mail-in ballots submitted by Texas voters have been delayed — and some voters may ultimately not receive ballots — because Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s campaign instructed eligible voters to send requests for absentee ballots to the Texas secretary of state’s office instead of their local elections offices. A mass mailing by…
Two San Antonio eateries appear on award-winning PBS series Samantha Brown’s Places to Love
Nationally lauded San Antonio eateries Carnitas Lonja and Pharm Table will feel the glow of the TV spotlight once again. This time on a Saturday, Feb. 19 episode of Emmy Award-winning PBS series Samantha Brown’s Places to Love. The episode follows travel host Brown as she kayaks the San Antonio River, treks through Mission San…
San Antonio ranked among the U.S. cities with the most annoying neighbors
Texans may be known for their hospitality and friendly demeanor. Apparently, though, those things don’t always equate to being good neighbors. San Antonio — along with Fort Worth, El Paso and Austin — are home to some of the most annoying neighbors in America, according to a new report from HomeAdvisor. The home repair site…
Willie Nelson cancels two upcoming San Antonio shows due to COVID-19 concerns
Willie Nelson has canceled his March 21-22 dates at San Antonio’s Majestic Theatre — along with a string of other indoor concerts — over concern about high COVID-19 numbers. Ticketholders for the two Alamo City shows will receive an automatic refund, according to a tweet from the Majestic, which urged buyers to “contact your point…
All-you-can-eat sushi chain Trapper’s coming to San Antonio this summer
Washington State-based chain Trapper’s will bring its all-you-can-eat sushi model to San Antonio in August, adding another spot to the city’s recent sushi boom. The chain will occupy a 3,900-square-foot space at 415 Loop 1604, on the city’s far West Side, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation records show. Construction on the space is set…
At Snarky Puppy’s San Antonio performance, jazz and jam-band aesthetics were on equal display
As Snarky Puppy left the stage after its 100-minute set Wednesday at San Antonio’s Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, one key question hung in the air: How the hell do you describe that? The easy answer is “jazz fusion.” But a little excavation revealed deeper layers to what the band was doing — and…
San Antonio chefs will do Szechuan-Peruvian takeover at Three Star Bar this month
Folks who crave heat with their eats may want to pencil in their calendars for Monday, Feb. 28. That’s when San Antonio chefs Teddy Liang, Eddie Barrera and Brian Reese will head to Pearl-area drinkery Three Star Bar for a Szechuan-Peruvian kitchen takeover. The trio’s fusion menu will feature crispy papas, corn fritters and pollo brasa with…
PehcaKucha San Antonio to hold first in-person event in 2 years at San Antonio Botanical Garden
On March 3, the San Antonio iteration of the PechaKucha speaker series is returning for its first in-person event in two years. The presentation series is part of the international PechaKucha organization, which has offshoots in more than 1,000 cities worldwide. Speakers follow a 20×20 format, sharing a slideshow of 20 images that remain onscreen…
San Antonio’s VIA hosting annual Celebration of Rosa Parks at La Villita
San Antonio’s VIA Metropolitan Transit is partnering with the San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum (SAAACAM) to host its annual Celebration of Rosa Parks this Thursday. The remembrance of the late civil rights leader, who would have been 109 years old Thursday, will start at 2 p.m. at La Villita with a performance…
Members of San Antonio City Council file proposal to help diabetics afford rising insulin costs
Two members of San Antonio City Council have filed a proposal to help residents cover the cost of insulin, a drug people with diabetes need to manage blood sugar levels. Council members Adriana Rocha Garcia and Jalen McKee-Rodriguez jointly filed the policy proposal last month, picking up signatures from three others on council, the Express-News reports.…
Renowned musician Alex Meixner relocates to New Braunfels to help build it into polka hotspot
Accordionist Alex Meixner has been bringing his polkas with a rock-show energy to New Braunfels’ annual Wurstfest since 1999. The musician has become such a fixture, in fact, that he’s treated like a returning local every time he hits the city on tour. Now Meixner is making those ties permanent by relocating from Florida to…
San Antonio chef bringing burger, hot dog concept to recently shuttered Hello Paradise spot
A new concept dubbed Big Animal is taking over the space that recently housed Thai food and tiki-drink haven Hello Paradise, bringing approachable bar food and “really good cocktails” to the Pearl area. San Antonio chef Mark Garcia, who helms south-of-downtown spot Bandit BBQ, is partnering with local cocktail guru Jeret Peña — one of…
Texans with disabilities fear new restrictions on voting help could mean criminal charges at the polls
Nancy Crowther needs an aide around the clock to help her with meals and other daily household tasks. Her personal attendant of three years lives with her in Austin. Crowther, 63, would also like her attendant to help her cast a ballot in the primaries. Crowther has spinal muscular atrophy, a progressive neuromuscular disorder that…
Elizabeth Warren stumping for San Antonio progressives after they win support from AOC, Bernie
After a rally with U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vermont, two progressives vying to represent San Antonio in the U.S. House will get a push from Sen. Elizabeth Warren. The Massachusetts Democrat and former presidential candidate will appear Tuesday, Feb. 22 in SA with Jessica Cisneros, an immigration attorney running…
Comedian Drew Lynch posts up at San Antonio’s Majestic Theatre Saturday
Stand-up comedian Drew Lynch earned his time in the spotlight when he was featured on Season 10 of America’s Got Talent in 2015. After grabbing second place, the Indianapolis-born funnyman, who performs with a stutter, went on to land a role on the TV series Maron, starring Marc Maron, and he also got the opportunity…
San Antonio-based grocery giant H-E-B releases new ice cream flavor celebrating Texas teachers
Texas educators can soon indulge in a sweet treat made just for them. Beloved San Antonio-based grocer H-E-B has christened its newest Creamy Creations ice cream flavor Education Heroes. Scheduled to hit stores later this week, the icing-flavored ice cream includes chunks of cake and rainbow sprinkles. That’s because it’s meant to celebrate the 20th…
Candy company launches taco truck-inspired jelly beans and we’re not sure we like this idea
Ahead of the Easter holiday, candy maker Brach’s has released a pack of jelly beans purportedly packed with flavors straight from your favorite taco truck. Thanks. And WTF? The new Late Night Taco Truck Jelly Beans feature flavors of margarita (OK), churro (nice), horchata (clever), salsa (ugh), guacamole (nasty) and beef taco (aww, fuck no). Which…
Alcohol sales at San Antonio bars and restaurants were up last year, but not to pre-pandemic levels
Alcohol receipts for San Antonio bars and restaurants increased dramatically last year, spelling a potential recovery for businesses hit hard by the pandemic, TV station KSAT reports. But those sales numbers haven’t yet hit pre-COVID levels. Alamo City-area bars and restaurants reported a total of $626.4 million in alcohol sales to the Texas Comptroller’s Office…
San Antonio’s endless incentives for Microsoft help explain our lagging economic development
Editor’s Note: This is CityScrapes, a column of opinion and analysis. This time of year, it’s traditional for a column to look ahead at the prospects for San Antonio and the larger community going forward. But now, with the effects of COVID-19 still looming large, it is difficult to see ahead with any certainty. Even…
Popular comic and Scorcese film alum Sebastian Maniscalco brings stand-up show to San Antonio
Not just anyone can boast about being a successful stand-up and appearing in a Scorsese film (The Irishman). But Sebastian Maniscalco is that guy. The comic, who grew up in a Chicago suburb, got his start in LA at The Comedy Store. His inspirations came from masters of the form — he cites legends like Jerry…
San Antonio’s Culinary Institute of America brings back student-run pop-up bakery and café
Future culinary superstars from San Antonio’s Culinary Institute of America are now offering baked goods and brunch-worthy bites at the revival of its popular Bakery Café, hosted at Savor, CIA’s Modern American restaurant at the Pearl. Under the direction of Certified Master Baker Alain Dubernard and Chef Brian Krellenstein, students in the college’s Baking and Pastry…
A year after the electric grid failed, Texas focuses on reliability, not climate change
Peter Lake, chair of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, said he lost power for several days during last February’s winter storm. When he got power back, he lost water for a week. “I still have a big hole in my drywall where the water blew out,” Lake said. “I have a very acute sense…
Video shared by defense lawyer shows Texas DPS trooper allegedly taking hit of confiscated pot
Dashcam video shared by a Fort Worth criminal defense lawyer purports to show a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper taking a hit from a cannabis vape pen he confiscated from a suspect. The clip is originally from 2019 but recently posted to YouTube by attorney David Sloane, whose website URL is The420Lawyer.com. Sloane told the…
San Antonio diner The Hayden holding fundraiser for staff member whose son-in-law died
A north-of-downtown diner is asking the community to help raise cash for a member of its team who suddenly and tragically lost his son-in-law last week. The Hayden, a local joint that bills itself as a “South Texas diner with an old school Jewish delicatessen soul,” will sell heaping plates of spaghetti and meatballs to…
New Orleans-based frozen cocktail chain Fat Tuesday makes San Antonio debut this month
Laissez les bons temps rouler! New Orleans-born frozen cocktail spot Fat Tuesday will open a San Antonio outlet this month, bringing mile-high Mardi Gras-worthy refillable cups to the the city’s far West Side. The new SA shop — located at 7531 Bandera Road, Suite 101 — will begin serving Feb. 26 at 11 a.m., slinging…
While Texas slow-steps medical cannabis, nearby Oklahoma sees economic boom from legalizing
Texas hasn’t exactly flung open the door for medical cannabis. Even after the legislature’s recent expansion of the state’s Compassionate Use Program, it remains one of the most restrictive in the country. Meanwhile, a new NBC News report shows that Oklahoma, where voters four years ago fully legalized medical marijuana, is experiencing a weed-industry boom. The…
Price Pressures: San Antonio restaurant owners struggle to contend with historic inflation
Whether picking up weekday breakfast tacos or a special occasion meal at The Pearl complex, San Antonio diners are getting hit in the pocketbook as the nation experiences its highest inflation rates in four decades. Faced with a historic spike in food costs, Alamo City restaurateurs say they have little choice but to raise prices.…
Denton is latest Texas city where advocates want to put cannabis decriminalization on ballot
Texas may not have much appetite for reforming its state cannabis laws, but activists stepping up their efforts at the local level. Denton is now the latest Texas city where advocates are trying to get decriminalization passed through a local ballot initiative. The group Decriminalize Denton, which twice failed to to convince that city’s elected…
San Antonio-based Red Runner Coffee’s second location now open in far northeast part of city
Drive-thru coffee concept Red Runner Coffee has opened a second location, this one in a far northeast stretch of the city, near the San Antonio Military Medical Center, the San Antonio Business Journal reports. The Alamo City-based mini-empire plans to open six new locations by the end of next year. The expansion follows a late…
Bernie Sanders backs progressives Casar and Cisneros in their bids for San Antonio House seats
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has thrown endorsements to Democratic congressional candidates Greg Casar and Jessica Cisneros, both progressives running to represent districts that include San Antonio. The endorsements come two days after the pair received an in-person push from U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, a Washington progressive whose star power almost matches that of…
San Antonio Public Library to feature Julia Quinn, author of Bridgerton novels, in virtual panel
As a tie-in to its annual Pop Madness event, the San Antonio Public Library is hosting author Julia Quinn for a virtual panel on Saturday, March 5. Quinn wrote the popular Bridgerton romance novels, which have since been adapted as a Netflix television series, with a second season slated for release March 25. At one…
DeLorean Motor Co. says it will locate headquarters in San Antonio, produce electric cars here
Once-defunct DeLorean Motor Co., known for the DMC-12 coupe featured in the ’80s film franchise Back to the Future, is back and planning to build electric vehicles in San Antonio, according to local economic development officials. The innovative company was the pipe dream of GMC engineer John DeLorean, who founded it in 1975. Though DeLorean…
Volunteers search 27-mile greenbelt for signs of missing San Antonio girl Lina Khil
Volunteers assisted the father of missing San Antonio girl Lina Khil on Sunday, peeking into tunnels and combing sections of the 27-mile greenbelt area near the Fox Park Trailhead on Sunday. In a Facebook message, Eagles Flight — the advocacy group assisting in the hunt for the 3 year old — called the conclusion of the…
San Antonio’s Southside slated to get a BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse location this fall
California-based BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse is bringing its beer and bar food to the South Side this fall, joining other dining chains in something of a recent culinary glow-up for the area. The new BJ’s is planned for the corner of Southeast Military Drive and South New Braunfels Avenue, according to a filing with Texas…
Upcoming El Honky Tonk will bring an “Urban Cowboy vibe” to downtown San Antonio
San Antonio’s center city will soon be host El Honky Tonk, a new country bar with an Urban Cowboy flair, MySA reports. The nightspot will hold a soft opening Friday, Feb. 25 and Saturday, Feb. 26. Located at 316 N. Flores St., the venue will spin tunes from country legends including Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty and Waylon…
VIA’s proposed route linking downtown San Antonio to airport one step closer to federal funding
VIA’s Advanced Rapid Transit (ART) project, which would whisk riders between the airport and downtown, last week received a favorable rating from the Federal Transit Administration, a key step to the proposed route landing federal funds. The 12-mile route would start at San Antonio International Airport and utilize 19 all-electric buses to ferry passengers down…
Comedian Kevin Hart will perform in San Antonio on his first tour in more than 4 years
Comedy superstar Kevin Hart will hit San Antonio’s AT&T Center this summer as part of his first tour in more than four years. Hart’s Reality Check Tour, which kicks off in July, will roll into the Alamo City Saturday, August 13. The star of films including the Jumanji franchise and The Upside, Hart is one of…
Two San Antonio breweries win medals at inaugural Texas Craft Brewers Cup
Alamo Beer Co. and Freetail Brewing made San Antonio proud at the inaugural Texas Craft Brewers Cup this weekend, each bringing home a pair of medals in four separate categories. Freetail’s La Muerta Imperial Stout brought home the gold in the Smoke & Chili Beer category — contending with other brews that have been imbued…
Early voting underway Monday for Texas primary. Here are the details for San Antonio residents.
Early voters will start heading to the polls Monday for the joint March 1 primary that includes federal, state and county Democratic and Republican races. Those contests include nominations for San Antonio congressional seats as well as statewide primaries for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general. In Bexar County, voters will weigh in on primaries…
Live Music in San Antonio This Week: Snarky Puppy, Houndmouth, Wale and more
Whether it’s the romantic vocalizations of Il Divo, the improv explorations of Snarky Puppy or the funky stimulations of rapper Wale, San Antonio’s live music options abound this week. If you need some help sorting our your best options, here you go. Monday, February 14 Il Divo Somewhere out there in Reader Land, someone is…
At San Antonio rally, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says Texas progressives can drive change
U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rallied a boisterous, overflow crowd at Paper Tiger on Saturday afternoon in support of Greg Casar’s and Jessica Cisneros’ bids to push San Antonio’s congressional delegation further to the left. From her first words harkening back to her days organizing in Texas as a teenager, the New York Democrat repeatedly hit…
Bad Takes: Ted Cruz goes race baiting after Biden pledges to put Black woman on Supreme Court
Bad Takes is a periodic column of opinion and analysis. Despite recent subfreezing temperatures and tens of thousands of Texans again going without power, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, appeared to have stayed put rather than again fleeing to Cancún. He did make headlines, however, by plopping his weighty legal mind down on the propriety of President…
Texas ban on encouraging mail-in votes likely unconstitutional, judge rules
SAN ANTONIO — A new Texas law that keeps local election officials from encouraging voters to request mail-in ballots likely violates the First Amendment, a federal judge ruled late Friday. Following a testy three-hour hearing earlier in the day, Federal District Judge Xavier Rodriguez temporarily blocked the state from enforcing the rule against Harris County’s election…
New dive bar Manguera SA coming to San Antonio’s Government Hill neighborhood
Yet another new drinking spot is expected to open in the fast-evolving Government Hill area. Couple Jeremy and Roxanne Rushing plan to open a casual bar called Manguera SA at 1606 N. Pine St. in the east-of-downtown neighborhood, the Express-News reports. The spot will join a rush of new additions in the area, among them Three Star…
These San Antonio restaurants and bars are offering Super Bowl Sunday specials
Sports fans looking for ways to enjoy the 2022 Super Bowl can do so a wide array of San Antonio bars and restaurants this year. From fried chicken to free pizza, these local spots are serving up the kind of grub that won’t fumble the big game this Sunday. The Moon’s Daughters at Thompson San…
A new Little Woodrow’s location has opened in Northwest San Antonio
Sports fans, rejoice! A new Little Woodrow’s — the homegrown sports-bar chain’s third location — has begun serving in Northwest San Antonio. Located in the space that formerly housed Tex-Mex eatery Two Step Restaurant and Cantina, 9840 W. Loop 1604 North, the latest Little Woodrow’s opened in January, offering 21-and-up vibes, alcoholic sips and heart fare. View…
Kura Sushi, Hello Paradise: San Antonio’s biggest food stories of the week
Given Valentine’s Day’s fast approach, there was little surprise the Current’s roundup of special meals for the holiday made this week’s list of most-read food stories. We’re just a little surprised it didn’t land on top. Instead, it was surpassed in clicks by news about the opening of a new sushi spot featuring a conveyor…
Tech Port Center Arena, Starbucks Union: The top 10 headlines in San Antonio this week
By the looks of the Current’s most-read stories of the week, workplace issues are weighing heavily on San Antonians’ minds. Our most-read story was on the Port Tech Center Arena looking to staff up before it begins hosting concerts, gaming competitions and other events. Coming in second place was a piece about workers at a…
‘Wendy Red Star: A Scratch on the Earth’ opens at the San Antonio Museum of Art
The exhibition “Wendy Red Star: A Scratch on the Earth” opens Friday at the San Antonio Museum of Art, offering a mid-career survey of the significant Native American visual artist. The show, on view through May 8, features more than 40 works produced from 2006 to 2019 and encompasses photography, sculpture, textile arts and mixed-media installations. An…
San Antonio’s Smack’s Chicken Shack permanently closes brick-and-mortar restaurant
North-of-downtown eatery Smack’s Chicken Shack has permanently shuttered its brick-and-mortar location, planning a return to its food-truck roots, MySA reports. Owner Keenen Hendricks told the news site work-life balance weighed heavily on his decision, but he added that staffing problems and costs also played a part. “I’m very family-oriented, and the restaurant caused me to…
San Antonio’s Old Highway 90 back to original name after small businesses petition for change
Enrique M. Barrera Parkway on the city’s West Side will be renamed Historic Old Highway 90 after small-business owners petitioned the city to return its original name, citing lost revenues and customer confusion, KSAT reports. The city of San Antonio renamed the thoroughfare Enrique M. Barrera Parkway in 2015 to honor the late District 6…
San Antonio’s Alamo Beer releasing two limited-edition brews to celebrate Fiesta
Alamo Beer Co. is celebrating San Antonio’s biggest party with two Fiesta-themed brews. The San Antonio craft brewer’s new, limited-edition offerings are Beer on a Stick, a Mexican-style lager served in a vibrant can, and Fiestaval, a watermelon light lager made with a splash of agua fresca. Both will be available for purchase at local retailers,…
Family Affair: Haim sisters explain why Licorice Pizza is the ‘craziest left turn’ they’ve taken
When multiple-Oscar-nominated filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood) directed a few music videos for the pop rock group HAIM in 2017, band member Alana Haim secretly wished she might get invited to stand somewhere in the background of one of his next movies. Instead, Anderson had bigger plans for Alana and cast her…
Ft. Worth-based comfort food joint The Cookshack coming to Northeast San Antonio
The long-empty building that housed the Lion & the Rose English Pub’s Northeast San Antonio location has been taken over by Ft. Worth-based comfort-food chain The Cookshack. The Cookshack plans to remodel the 4,100-square-foot space so one its outlets can begin doling out hot chicken, ribs and chicken and waffles, according to a filing with the…
San Antonio Book Festival returning to Central Library and Southwest School of Art on May 21
The San Antonio Book Festival will be back in-person this year for its 10th anniversary. In a social media post, organizers announced the festival will return to the Central Library and the nearby Southwest School of Art on Saturday, May 21. The message didn’t include details on scheduled guests or programming, however. The free, day-long event…
Jordan Peterson’s talk at San Antonio’s Tobin Center was short on controversy, long on subtext
After attending controversial clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson’s talk at the Tobin Center Thursday night, and in keeping with the recent spirit of public mea culpas, I’d like to express my regret at an ill-considered sentence from my most recent Bad Takes column. “If you’re searching for a self-help guru to motivate you to keep your…
Tesla expanding in Texas as California sues company over its treatment of Black workers
Billionaire Elon Musk’s Telsa is reportedly gearing up an expansion of its $1 billion Texas manufacturing plant, a move that comes as California filed an explosive lawsuit alleging the firm discriminates against Black workers at its car factory there. An affiliate of Musk’s electric vehicle venture recently filed for a permit to expand its $1.1…
Solo Act: On Velvet Tone Sessions Vol. 1, San Antonio’s Jake Castillo Trio gives itself room to improvise
With its new self-released LP, Velvet Tone Sessions Vol. 1, long-running San Antonio blues-rock outfit the Jake Castillo Trio aimed to simply show up in the studio and play a live set with a hangin’ out vibe. Listeners who accept the invite are likely to come away with at least one point of agreement: these…
California rap supergroup Mount Westmore will slide into San Antonio’s AT&T Center in April
Supergroup Mount Westmore — featuring legendary West Coast emcees Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, E-40 and Too Short — will roll into San Antonio’s AT&T Center on Thursday, April 7. The four hip-hop legends are expected to drop their first album as a quartet next month. The single “Big Subwoofer” debuted last fall. General admission tickets…
During San Antonio stop, Beto O’Rourke pledges to go after those who profited from Winter Storm Uri
As Gov. Greg Abbott met with business leaders elsewhere in San Antonio, gubernatorial challenger Beto O’Rourke had choice words for his Republican opponent at a campaign event near downtown. During a speech at entertainment complex The Espee, O’Rourke blasted Abbott’s “inexplicable” failure to winterize the state’s power grid after last February’s catastrophic blackouts. If elected,…
San Antonio officer suspended after department says he made inappropriate remarks to coworker
The San Antonio Police Department late last year suspended a veteran officer after an internal probe found that he made sexually inappropriate remarks to a woman on the force whom he was training, KSAT reports. SAPD Field Trainer Esteban Herrera received a 30-days suspension in late November, according to the station, citing suspension records. The…
City council votes to send $1.2 billion bond package to San Antonio voters in May
San Antonio City Council voted unanimously Thursday to put a $1.2 billion municipal bond package — the largest in the city’s history — before voters later this spring. Six separate bond propositions will appear on the May 7 ballot, covering a total of 183 municipal projects. Those six proposals include: $472 million for streets, bridges and…
The San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo is officially open, here’s what you need to know
Grab your boots and throw on your Stetson. The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo kicked off Thursday at the AT&T Center and will run through Saturday, Feb. 26. The Fairgrounds — which includes more than 160 shops, a petting zoo, food stalls, bars and more is open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and…
Fiesta Commission will change parade route due to Broadway construction
As Fiesta season the approaches, changes are being made to the Battle of Flowers and Fiesta Flambeau parades due to ongoing construction on Broadway, one of the events’ key thorofares, according to the Fiesta Commission. New route for 2022 Battle of Flowers® & Fiesta Flambeau® Parades announced! Tickets go on sale soon! #VivaFiestaSA2022 pic.twitter.com/3XipkE66xe —…
San Antonio Zoo will build one of nation’s largest gorilla habitats as part of $65M expansion
For the first time in 32 years, the San Antonio Zoo will play host to gorillas. The zoo’s $15 million Congo Falls — the first phase of a $65 million expansion project — will be one of the largest gorilla habitats in the nation, the San Antonio Business Journal reports. An homage to the zoo’s…
Kura Sushi, San Antonio’s first and only conveyor-belt sushi bar, will begin serving next week
Kura Sushi, San Antonio’s first taste of Japanese automated sushi dining, is finally opening its doors, bringing nigiri, rolls, hand rolls, gunkan maki, ramen and desserts to the Alamo Quarry Market starting Wednesday, Feb. 16. Kura’s claim to fame is that its fresh, handmade sushi is carried along on a revolving conveyor belt, allowing diners to…
San Antonio bar and restaurant Hello Paradise closing after little more than a year in business
Pearl-area drinking establishment Hello Paradise is shutting its doors after a little more than a year in business. However, the Thai- and tiki-inspired spot plans to stay open for one last weekend bash. A Wednesday post on Hello Paradise’s Instagram page revealed that it will be permanently shuttered after a final day of service, Sunday,…
San Antonio iteration of the Indie Lens Pop-Up series continues with screening of documentary Apart
In advance of its U.S. broadcast debut via PBS on February 21, the hour-long documentary Apart will screen online for free courtesy of the Presa House Gallery and ITVS, a service that funds and presents documentaries on public television, including the award-winning PBS weekly series Independent Lens. Directed by Oscar-nominee Jennifer Redfearn and filmed over…
COVID-denier Ted Nugent’s Detroit Muscle tour skipping San Antonio for Fredericksburg
Texas resident Ted Nugent, who got COVID-19 last year after denying its existence, is apparently feeling well enough to take his schtick on the road. The right-wing rocker’s newly announced Detroit Muscle tour includes a Saturday, Aug. 27 date at the Backyard Amphitheater in the bustling metropolis of Fredericksburg, an hour north of San Antonio.…
San Antonio-tied Last Bandoleros changes lineup ahead of March 2 show at Aztec Theatre
The Last Bandoleros has parted ways with guitarist Derek James, but members of the San Antonio-rooted band say they’re excited about their new configuration, set to debut next month. The revamped Last Bandoleros will play its first live show as a three-piece Wednesday, March 2 at San Antonio’s Aztec Theatre when the band opens for…
21 San Antonio restaurants creating new menu items featuring Girl Scout Cookies
More than 20 San Antonio restaurants are putting a new spin on Thin Mint therapy. As part of its annual Cookie Flavor Fest, Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas is partnering with Aldaco’s, Clementine, Rosario’s and other local eateries to offer new twists on the organization’s beloved fundraising treats. Each of the 21 participating restaurants — breweries and…
San Antonio Starbucks vying to be the first in Texas to unionize
Workers at a San Antonio Starbucks filed with the National Labor Relations Board to unionize, becoming the coffee chain’s first Texas store to join a growing nationwide organizing effort. Staffers from the Starbucks at Loop 410 and Vance Jackson Road sent a letter to CEO Kevin Johnson saying they’re organizing to stand up for their…
The legacy of the San Antonio Symphony’s prolonged strike may be a diminished music community
The San Antonio Symphony has been on strike for more than four months, and with musicians and symphony management awaiting the beginning of a mediation process on Feb. 14, it’s clear the end isn’t yet in sight. For both sides, the short-term effects of the strike are grave. Musicians have lost pay and benefits and…
Valentine’s Day comedy showcase at San Antonio’s LOL Comedy Club won’t be for the faint of heart
Several Texas-based comedians will take the mic to give relationships and all things lovey-dovey a much-needed beatdown during the Valentine’s Day comedy show Box of Laughs. Don’t anticipate any terms of endearment coming from this bunch. The acid-spitting stand-ups include Tori Pool, Leah Mulroney, Christopher Breakell, Jason Rodriguez, Joshua Cabaza, Colton Dowling, Lando Shepard and…
The Amazing Acro-Cats return to San Antonio’s Josephine Theatre for Valentine’s weekend shows
As seen in episode two of the 2021 Netflix series Cat People, the Amazing Acro-Cats are returning to San Antonio’s Josephine Theatre on Valentine’s Day weekend. This two-hour performance features cats doing a variety of impressive tricks such as jumping through hoops and riding on skateboards. And if that’s not enough of a howl, the…
San Antonio Botanical Garden’s Foodie Cinema pairs Willy Wonka with chocolate-themed menu
No kids are allowed at this 21-and-up showing of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, the classic 1971 film starring Gene Wilder. The screening is a part of the San Antonio Botanical Garden’s Foodie Cinema series, dedicated to cultivating a shared dining and cinema experience. As the movie rolls, Chef Katrina Flores will take guests…
Current Events: San Antonio lets the powerful cut to the front of the line for COVID relief funds
Editor’s Note: Current Events is a column of opinion and analysis. Last week’s vote to jump three well-connected organizations to the front of the line as the city doled out federal COVID-19 relief funds offered another dismaying look at how public business gets done in San Antonio. On a 9-1 vote last Thursday, city council…
Right-wing favorite Jordan Peterson coming to San Antonio’s Tobin Center on Thursday
Can we not? OK, well, I guess we have to. Far-right hero Jordan B. Peterson is a clinical psychologist, it’s true. That’s not an easy designation to earn, taking years of school and clinical supervision. He presents his ideas — particularly about the nature of being male in this era — with an air of…
Live Music in San Antonio This Week: Hiss Golden Messenger, Nile, Agent Orange and more
San Antonio music hounds have a diverse set of show options this week. Uplifting C&W? Check. Classic SoCal punk? Check. Egyptian-inspired death metal? Check. Quirky indie folk? Check. And if all that sounds too outside-the-box for you, there’s even a cover band that promises to serve up five decades of rock hits. The choice is yours.…
Some wonder whether Southwest School of Art’s culture will survive its absorption into UTSA
Last August, the Southwest School of Art (SSA) and the University of Texas at San Antonio announced plans to merge and create a new art college in UTSA’s College of Liberal and Fine Arts. When the campus opens its doors, this fall, it will be one of the largest and most comprehensive schools of art…
Assclown Alert: U.S. Rep. Chip Roy shares conspiracy theory that Canada’s leader fled to the U.S.
Assclown Alert is a column of opinion, analysis and snark. Leave it to a career bomb-thrower like U.S. Rep. Chip Roy to engage in baseless bloviation without first conducting the barest excuse for a fact check. Last week, the two-term Republican — whose district includes a slice of San Antonio — fell for a bullshit…
