The clock is running down for local and state leaders to ensure voters won’t be risking their lives this election season. Late last Friday, the Republican-controlled Texas Supreme Court handed state Attorney General Ken Paxton a victory when it temporarily blocked an expansion of voting by mail during the coronavirus pandemic. The high court is…
Gemini Ink is offering two recurring online workshops for San Antonio youths throughout June to keep their creativity flowing at home. Children ages 8-12 can take part in Poetry & Collage in Quarantine, a workshop that will “combine concrete, sensory phrase language with cut-out visual images to create an original collage piece about our quarantine…
President Donald Trump’s ominous and dictatorial threat to deploy U.S. troops to quell unrest amid nationwide police brutality protests brought swift condemnation from pentagon officials, military veterans and members of the clergy. And praise from Texas’ two Republican senators. “I think the president is sending and strong and correct message that we will not tolerate…
As San Antonians continue to sift through the damage from Saturday’s downtown vandalism, a pair of business owners told News4 they believe an unorthodox approach may have spared their office. Christian and Uche Ogba of Ehcü Public Relations posted signs in the windows of their Broadway Street office reading “Black lives matter,” “Black owned business”…
For all of Spain’s manifest contributions to the world’s cultural catalog — think Cervantes, Goya and Gaudí, for example — food and drink are strangely under-represented. Oh, yes, there’s gazpacho, the occasional paella, and who can forget the recent craze in which anything served in small portions qualified as a “tapa.” But let’s face it,…
Just when we thought 2020 couldn’t get any more wild, Carole Baskin is making headlines again. After skyrocketing to viral fame in the wake of Netflix’s true crime docuseries Tiger King, Baskin — who was born in San Antonio — is back in the news, this time for winning the zoo formerly owned by her…
In light of the outcry over the death of George Floyd, San Antonio’s Weathered Souls Brewing Co. is inviting brewers nationwide to participate in its new awareness-raising Black is Beautiful campaign. The program aims to foster inclusion and raise awareness of social and racial injustice through collaboration with other U.S. craft breweries. Weathered Souls, a Black-owned…
After recent speculation about how fully he planned to endorse Joe Biden’s presidential bid, former San Antonio mayor Julián Castro has thrown his support behind the presumptive Democratic nominee. The endorsement, made over Twitter, came after Biden called for police reform in the wake of George Floyd’s death while in custody of Minneapolis police. “Joe…
An East Side taco joint is making sure George Floyd’s memory lives beyond the current moment. On Monday, Big Poppas Tacos, located near Interstate 35 and North New Braunfels Avenue, unveiled a new mural on its building: a portrait of a haloed Floyd surrounded by gray clouds. The eatery unveiled the mural shortly after San…
Near-downtown staple The Cove will reopen this weekend with a reservation-only patio gathering to celebrate its return. A Facebook event page invites diners to email or message via social media to reserve one of three sets of reservation slots: 6:30 p.m., 7:00 p.m. and 7:30p.m. The restaurant, which specializes in cold Texas brews and locally…
For two weekends in June, Jurassic Quest — billed as a “realistic Dinosaur event” — will make its home at Freeman Coliseum, offering a drive-thru exhibition of more than 70 life-size animatronic dinosaur models. According to the Jurassic Quest website, the models were created in collaboration with paleontologists, so “each dinosaur was painstakingly replicated in…
An overwhelming majority of Texas parents worry their kids fell behind academically during the pandemic, even though most are satisfied with how their schools responded to the crisis, according to a survey released Monday. In an online poll conducted by the nonprofit Education Trust, 87% of 1,200 parents surveyed in April said they were concerned…
Although VIA Metropolitan Transit began collecting fares again Monday after a 10-week moratorium, unemployed riders are still eligible to ride for free under a new program. The transit system has launched a Workforce Assistance Pass, which allows customers to ride for free for 31 days if they are drawing unemployment benefits. To receive a pass,…
We can always count on Coach Pop to call out Trump’s bullshit, and he’s once again delivered. In the wake of fierce protests that erupted after the killing of George Floyd — which the President responded to by inciting violence on Twitter then hiding in the White House’s bunker — San Antonio Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich…
Modern problems require modern solutions, and a drive-in EDM festival may be just what the doctor ordered. Inspired by Germany’s first-ever drive-in rave, the EDM Drive-In will convert the Freeman Coliseum into a socially distanced dance party on June 26 and 27. The two-night fest will feature a full stage production with a lineup soon…
The only thing better than enjoying good drinks, socializing and having quality dog time is doing all of that at once from the comfort of your couch at home. And this month, San Antonians can do just that as part of a special online event. On Thursday, June 11, Texas Public Radio, Dog Friendly San…
Name: Braunda Smith Job/Title: Executive chef and owner of Lucy Cooper’s Texas Icehouse Birthplace: Alabama Years in Bar Industry: “A lady never tells.” Impact: Brought funky, laid-back charm to the Northside Money quote: “When people think of Chef Lucy, I want them to think funky Southern and goooood.” Tell us about your background, and how…
This weekend, the Stone Oak area gained a new upscale Mexican dining venue in Frida, a restaurant and bar focused on presenting the cuisine of Mexico in an elevated atmosphere. “Frida Restaurant is … an exploration of gastronomic art,” the website boasts. “A place for our employees to use their creativity to innovate their skills…
San Antonio Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich joined fellow NBA coaches including Steve Kerr, Lloyd Pierce, David Fizdale and Stan Van Gundy to form a committee on racial injustice and reform, ESPN reports. The new committee, which operates under the umbrella of the National Basketball Coaches’ Association (NBCA), released a statement Monday denouncing the killing of George…
This spring, as a global pandemic promised historic suffering and economic ruin, Texas officials reached for unfamiliar tools. They wove together some protections for the vulnerable, expanding unemployment benefits and child care subsidies, limiting evictions, utility shutoffs and debt collections. As summer approaches with no cure for the virus and Texas businesses reopen to diminished…
The Texas Restaurant Relief Fund is extending financial support to restaurants that have been damaged by vandalism and looting that erupted over the weekend following a peaceful protest in condemnation of George Floyd’s death. In a Saturday evening press release, the Texas Restaurant Association explained that for these businesses, which are still suffering crippling losses…
Dog lovers have gained another haven, as the crew at Hops & Hounds has begun to open its doors on the Northeast side of San Antonio, mySA reports. The dog-friendly bar, a product of the owners of Taco Garage and Burleson Yard Beer Garden, is located on the nearly 1-acre space previously known as Ruben’s…
Spurs’ shooting guard Lonnie Walker IV knew just what he needed to do after San Antonio’s peaceful protest decrying the killing of George Floyd was followed by incidents of vandalism. As Alamo City citizens returned downtown Sunday to help clean up the damage, Walker joined them, bringing along cases of bottled water to hand out to…
Police used teargas to disperse people in downtown San Antonio after incidents of vandalism that followed a peaceful protest to condemn the death of George Floyd. Shortly after the Saturday evening protest, a tense standoff erupted between a splinter group of the protestors and armed self-described protectors of the Alamo. After police in riot gear tried to…
The swarm of Texas politicians snarling at one another about how to run elections turned into a lawsuit — bringing hope, maybe, that some panel of wise judges would sort things out, make things clear, save the day. Nope. The Texas Supreme Court ruled this week that the threat of infection from the new coronavirus does…
Three of Texas’ top Republican leaders are vigorously fighting efforts to expand mail-in voting during the coronavirus pandemic, arguing it will lead to increased voter fraud, yet all three have themselves cast absentee ballots at least once in past elections. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick — then a state senator — voted by mail in 2007 for…
A failed test at SpaceX’s South Texas coast facility resulted in a fiery explosion followed by a sonic boom on Friday afternoon. Austin’s KXAN reports that the blast was so loud that it triggered car alarms and caused vehicles to shake. According to TechCrunch, the explosion occurred just after a static fire test of the…
The San Antonio arts community lost an incredible talent on May 15 when photographer Reginald “Reg” Campbell died following a battle with leukemia. Known for shooting on film in a digital age, Campbell was a fine art photographer who also boasted an impressive client list that included brands and media outlets such as Nike, Target and…
Botanical enthusiasts in San Antonio can participate in a multitude of nature-centered activities from home thanks to the San Antonio Botanical Garden. Though the garden is now open to the public, it’s still the array of offering online activities it launched during the city’s lockdown, allowing residents who still choose to hunker down a chance…
Pre-K 4 SA isn’t letting current events keep its students from brightening their community with a bit of color. The pre-kindergarten program is hosting an online art auction benefiting St. PJ’s Children’s Home as part of its Gracias San Antonio: Children are Citizens project. Gracias San Antonio is designed to promote community awareness of Pre-K 4…
Austin-based ice cream chain Lick Honest Ice Creams will open a second San Antonio location next week, joining other eateries including Chocollazo, Dough Pizzeria Napoletana, CommonWealth Coffeehouse & Bakery and Paleteria San Antonio in the rejuvenation of Hemisfair Park. Ice cream aficionados will find the newest location at 639 Hemisfair Blvd., otherwise known as The…
Just because we can’t parade together IRL this year doesn’t mean that Pride has been called off. Instead, festivities in San Antonio and beyond are moving to the web. To kick off Pride month, URBAN-15 will broadcast a special two-hour episode of its streaming Hidden Histories series entitled “Pride, Proud and Present.” The episode will…
CRE8AD8 — a local events firm that drew criticism after landing a federal pact to distribute food to needy families — has delivered its first 235 boxes to the local food bank, the the San Antonio Express-News reports. For those keeping score at home, that’s 235 out of the 750,000 boxes required under the company’s $39 million…
Alamo City classical music fans have a chance to take a load off this evening and enjoy a concert watch party from the comfort of their homes. “Living Room Lyricism” will feature San Antonio’s Agarita Chamber Players and soprano Kristina Bachrach in a program that includes music by Pérotin, Frédéric Chopin, Olivier Messiaen and Franz…
U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro said he’s asking Joe Biden’s presidential campaign for a pledge to appoint “real reformers” to run the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies overseeing immigration. Castro, D-San Antonio, said he wants an assurance that the presumptive Democratic nominee will name appointees who can restore transparency and accountability to agencies…
One San Antonio business is doing what it can to help create memorable matrimonial experiences for couples who had to cancel or postpone wedding plans during the pandemic. Ivy Hall Events, on the grounds of The Good Kind in Southtown, is launching pop-up mini-weddings for those who don’t mind keeping their ceremony brief and small.…
Water park operator Schlitterbahn will reopen its New Braunfels and Galveston waterparks in mid-June, following state-mandated “enhanced safety measures and operational changes,” according to the company. Officials haven’t released the exact date, however. The parks closed temporarily in March, as state officials deemed the spread of COVID-19 a public health emergency and banned gatherings larger…
The Alamo Cenotaph’s virulent defenders now have a new target for their ire: spray can-wielding vandals. Overnight, San Antonio police responded to reports of vandalism downtown and found graffiti scrawled on a sidewalk in Travis Park and on a Losoya Street parking structure, KSAT reports. Most notably, though, officers discovered tags on on the Cenotaph in Alamo…
Without sharing specific dates, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he plans to expand the voting period for the November general election in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The promise, made in an interview Thursday with Lubbock TV station KCBD, comes a day after the all-Republican Texas Supreme Court ruled that voters not already eligible…
Artist Cruz Ortiz may be leaving the Alamo City for his hometown of Houston, but he certainly made an impression while he was here. Indeed, 10 new impressions of San Antonio’s historic Spanish Missions are now available for viewing in Ortiz’s virtual gallery. “Documenting an Old Empire: the San Antonio Missions en plein air” is the…
If you’re a film buff but need a break from streaming all those movies and TV shows during quarantine, here’s an idea: try downloading a movie podcast. Same goes if you’re looking for more cinematic insight but just aren’t ready to go back to the theater yet. Plenty of Texans are putting together movie podcasts…
As the general election for president has come into focus, there has been no doubt whom the Castro brothers will support. Julián Castro, the former U.S. housing secretary and mayor of San Antonio, reiterated that again this week. “Everybody understands that the No. 1 goal has to be to replace this president,” he told “The New…
WB Liquors & Wine is betting that discerning bourbon lovers’ unquenchable thirst will translate into big proceeds for local food banks. On Thursday, the Texas-based liquor chain launched a pair of seven-day online auctions to benefit area food banks. Up for grabs is a five-bottle collection of Pappy Van Winkle bourbons, revered by whiskey hounds…
Blue Star Contemporary has joined the corps of San Antonio cultural institutions that are beginning to reopen. On Thursday, the contemporary art museum said it will open to members only from noon-6 p.m. on. Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, then to the general public on Thursday, June 11. BSC has introduced a number…
Ten minutes to noon, patrons waited in a crowded parking lot for the signal that Bike World’s Alamo Heights outlet had opened its doors. Some bided time inside idle vehicles, while others stood by outside, holding loose bicycle wheels, fidgeting with broken chains and pacing as they waited for the doors to open. Paper signs…
Metro Health wants to hear from San Antonians about their experiences with COVID-19. On Tuesday, the public health organization launched a brief COVID-19 survey to gather data on the impact of the virus in the Alamo City. The questions address testing accessibility and how the community is practicing social distancing during the pandemic. City and…
Garrison Brothers Distillery’s Operation Crush COVID-19 fundraising campaign has dispersed more than $200,000 to Texas hospitality nonprofits, first responders and individual bartenders around the state. Veteran-led disaster response organization Team Rubicon was the first nonprofit to receive $100,000 from the Austin-based distillery’s philanthropic effort. Now, this week, the whiskey maker announced that the Southern Smoke Foundation…
When cars flooded recent distributions by the San Antonio Food Bank, national media outlets took notice, circulating the now-viral aerial images as a sign of just how deeply the pandemic is affecting average people. The shots have been featured by Good Morning America, National Public Radio and even the Dr. Phil Show, to name a few.…
The McNay Art Museum soon will join Artpace and the San Antonio Museum of Art in reopening. Though the latter two cultural institutions are allowing visitors to return, the Alamo City’s modern art museum will remain closed until late June. The McNay’s doors will open to members on Wednesday, June 24, then to all visitors…
To help meet a growing need for food assistance, Spurs Give and the Tim Duncan Foundation will each donate $100,000 to the San Antonio Food Bank. The combined $200,000 donation will provide 25,000 meals to low-income apartment complexes in the Alamo City and generate business for local restaurants, according to a joint statement from the Spurs…
For many San Antonians, rushing to the street with spare change at the sound of a faint, familiar jingle is associated with a specific memory: the ice cream man cometh! Enter Johnny Hernandez of La Gloria, whose newly launched Margarita Trucks are bringing a different kind of summer-approved treat to city streets. Starting Thursday, alcoholic…
Voting-rights advocates excoriated the all-Republican Texas Supreme Court for a Wednesday ruling overturning a lower court decision to expand voting by mail during the coronavirus pandemic. “Today’s decision marks another ugly chapter in Texas’ long history of voter suppression. Above all else, we must be able to run free, fair and safe elections in Texas,”…
The McNay Art Museum’s doors will remain closed until the end of June, but its ears are open to the pandemic experiences of the San Antonio art community. The McNay began collecting pandemic-related stories, journals, emails, images, recordings and other materials from the Bexar County art community in early May, according to the Rivard Report. “We are…
As small business owners at historic La Villita and Market Square prepare to reopen in early June, some are looking to the city for financial relief. They’ve been told that rent for April and May, when the two historic districts have closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, has been suspended. Many, however, are confused and…
Three words still haunt Esaw Garner six years after her husband Eric Garner was killed by a New York Police Department officer during an arrest for selling loose cigarettes. Those same three words rang in her ears again Tuesday night. “I can’t breathe,” were the words Eric Garner repeated 11 times while Officer Daniel Pantaleo…
Now that Texas has launched headlong into reopening the state, looks like some performers are champing at the bit to get onstage. Case in point: YouTube comedian JP Sears is headed to San Antonio’s LOL Comedy Club this weekend for three nights of live shows at the recently reopened venue. Sears announced the shows in…
Former Spur George Hill’s last game in the Silver and Black was all the way back in 2011. His trade to the Indiana Pacers brought an emotional goodbye for fans, teammates and for “Pop’s favorite player” himself. Yet, all these years later, the now-point guard for the Milwaukee Bucks still loves the Alamo City. That’s evident…
In four of Texas’ six biggest cities, coronavirus testing locations are disproportionately clustered in whiter neighborhoods, according to a new National Public Radio investigation. Dallas had the state’s worst disparity, with 22 of its testing spots in predominantly white census tracts and just seven in areas that are less white than the city’s median. The…
Any secondhand fans bummed that they haven’t been able to visit their favorite San Antonio vintage stores needn’t worry, because this weekend they can get their fix of vintage fits and other local treasures in a safe, socially distanced way. On Friday, Brick at Blue Star Arts Complex, The Mermaid Farm and Brickadelic Vintage Market…
In a sweet tea-dominated state, Texas-based HTeaO is aiming to broaden our thirst-quenching horizons. The Midland-headquartered chain — which brags that its locations offer more than 500 possible combinations of fresh-brewed tea — has opened its first San Antonio outlet, located at 22127 Bulverde Road. While a planned March grand opening had to be postponed —…
With days ticking down to a July primary runoff and COVID-19 cases still rising in the state, Texas Secretary of State Susan Hughs on Tuesday issued recommendations for avoiding outbreaks at the polls. The eight-page document suggests that folks concerned they have COVID-19 symptoms “may want to consider” voting curbside during the pandemic. Among her…
The Spurs organization is making San Antonio youths can focus on the fundamentals of basketball from the safety of their own homes this summer. Next month, Spurs Sports Academy will host two weeks of free virtual clinics for kids ages 6 to 14 featuring game-sharpening online drills. Spurs Assistant Coach Will Hardy and former players Matt…
School closures due to COVID-19 restrictions have limited access to food for kids statewide, and with summer here, many families may have an even harder time making sure their children are fed. To help combat childhood hunger, San Antonio-born Taco Cabana offer kids 12 and under a free lunch at any of its Texas locations…
Pub Run San Antonio, which hosts free gatherings at downtown-area bars, has unveiled its first event since stay-at-home orders made bar hopping an impossibility: a quarantine-themed pub run. This edition of the group’s First Friday Pub Run will take place June 5 and features just two stops, Pat O’Brien’s and On the Rocks Pub. “Dress…
A second Texas congressman has asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to review the controversial $39 million contract issued to San Antonio-based events company CRE8AD8 to distribute food to needy families. Joining U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, who asked that the company be stripped of its federal pact, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro is demanding that the…
It can be hard to get motivated to do much more than lie around and endlessly browse Netflix these days, especially when your monthly book club meetings have been called off indefinitely due to the pandemic. With this in mind, Gemini Ink and Writing Workshops Dallas joined forces to create The Big Texas Read, a…
U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett called on the White House on Tuesday to cancel a $39 million federal food-distribution contract awarded to a small San Antonio events company with no previous track record in that business. In a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture chief Sonny Perdue, Doggett, a San Antonio Democrat, said the terms of locally…
Sancho’s | 628 Jackson St.Popular tacos y cervezas spot Sancho’s is opening up its four outside dining areas — there’s no indoor dining offered right now — with tables spaced to keep six feet between groups. Beyond pledging that its staff is committed to health and safety, the bar is setting expectations for diners with a…
Authorities called foul on a man who allegedly stole a pair of shoes autographed by Spurs legend Tim Duncan and tried to sell them via an online marketplace the following day. Apolinar Medina, 37, is accused of swiping the signed sneaks on May 14 from the Miracle Mattress retail store on the 4900 block of NW…
Though Gov. Greg Abbott has yet to announce a plan for reopening Texas theme parks, waterparks and attractions, Six Flags has released a reopening plan for all 26 of its properties, including Fiesta Texas in San Antonio. The first Six Flags scheduled for reopening is June 5 in Oklahoma City. The date for reopening Fiesta…
One San Antonian isn’t afraid to broadcast what many of us have been thinking since the state started reopening. “Some of y’all haven’t driven in 2 months and it shows,” reads a message scrawled on the tailgate of a truck recently spotted on a stretch of Alamo City highway. A snapshot of the snarky message…
Dramatic bystander video shows a 90-year-woman appearing to break up a tense standoff between Midland police who drew weapons on her grandson following a traffic violation. The Midland Police Department is facing criticism for how it handled the arrest of Tye Anders, the 21-year-old black man in the video. Anders is accused of rolling through…
Downtown San Antonio’s Maverick Whiskey will reopen its tasting room on Thursday, May 28. According to the homegrown distillery and brewery, staff will offer socially distant facility tours and use proper sanitization and occupancy procedures. Tours of the facilities will be limited to a maximum of six guests at a time and masks must be…
A 4-year-old boy was killed Monday night in an accidental shooting on the 1400 block of Avant Avenue in Southeast San Antonio, KSAT reports. According to San Antonio Police Chief William McManus, the victim and a 10-year-old boy were playing in a bedroom when they found a gun. While it’s not clear how the children…
This Wednesday, UTSA will host a free hourlong YouTube livestream to discuss how artists and art organizations will move forward post-pandemic. The event is part of UTSA’s Community Conversations, a streaming panel discussion series launched in April of this year. The first three episodes are available to watch online. “Our panel of experts spans several…
After drawing fire for landing a $39 million contract to deliver food for needy families even though it no previous track record in that business, San Antonio-based event planner CRE8AD8 is facing more scrutiny. This time, an investigation by the San Antonio Express-News raises questions about claims the company and owner Gregorio Palomino made about their clients,…
A new fundraising email from Sen. John Cornyn confirms that the Texas Republican’s 2020 reelection strategy can be summed up thusly: all in with Team Trump. In the email — shared on Twitter by Texas Tribune writer Patrick Svitek — Trump’s new BFF begs potential donors to pony up cash so he can continue blaming…
Three men were hospitalized after a shooting early Monday morning on the East Side, according to MySA. San Antonio police responded to a shooting in progress at 2:43 a.m. at the Viridian Apartments on the 5400 block of Foster Road, where they found multiple people wounded. Police discovered Saul Gonzalez, 21, sitting in a vehicle…
When the term “quarantini” first appeared, it was cute — just what we needed in a time of stress, I admit to thinking. Then, like so many memes in the making, it took over the internet. Instagram images of questionable-looking drinks appeared in the classic glasses, sometimes placed next to identifiers such as containers of…
Every so often, it’s worth asking ourselves how much more metal San Antonio could possibly be. After all, this city earned a rep as Heavy Metal Capital of the World back in the ’80s. Now, a show scheduled for Sunday may have given us an unimpeachable answer to that question. And — with apologies to Nigel…
Just when it appears Bexar County Republican Chairwoman Cynthia Brehm can’t crawl any further down a rabbit hole of conspiracy theories, she manages to burrow deeper. Case in point, the controversial chairwoman and a handful of faithful gathered Friday in front of City Hall to decry local leaders’ dangerous, liberty-crushing suggestion that folks might want…
PechaKucha is back, and it’s coming to you from the World Wide Web. PechaKucha San Antonio Volume 38 will take place online on June 4. If you missed out on the last PechaKucha in February, or aren’t familiar with the form, here’s how it works: each speaker follows a 20 image x 20 second format.…
As Texas inches away from its economic shutdown and people resume sharing public and sometimes confined spaces, the question of whether to wear a face mask has become a way to pick sides in what’s quickly becoming a coronavirus culture war. The decision has led to everything from protests to the threat of criminal prosecutions and, at…
The Painkiller cocktail is a rum-based tiki drink, traditionally made with cream of coconut, pineapple, orange juice and garnished with nutmeg. Like the piña colada, the Painkiller is a quintessential summertime drink, perfect for lounging by the pool or kicking back on a sun-lit patio. “My wife and I have been playing around with tiki…
The state of Texas made a significant change Thursday to the way it reports COVID-19 infection data, now distinguishing between the results of antibody tests and those of standard viral tests. That switch required state health officials to slightly increase the statistic known as the positivity rate, which Gov. Greg Abbott has repeatedly cited as…
Leave it to the Girl Scouts to find a way to keep summer fun alive during a pandemic. To keep troop members safe and entertained during summer break, the Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas is offering interactive online summer camps — real s’mores included. Summer Camp in a Box is a five-week summer camp alternative…
With a long weekend looming and bars and restaurants operating at 25% and 50% capacity, respectively, there’s plenty to do around town as you anticipate your extra day off. We gathered a few options for those who want to venture out and those who’d rather not. Hey, we’re inclusive! Memorial Day Celebration at Dos Sirenos…
Though the San Antonio Public Library’s physical branches remains closed until further notice, it’s still here to protect us from the evil clutches of boredom. How? By offering a variety of online resources for adults and kids — no in-person visit required. Despite Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to reopen the state, a recent poll shows that…
John Picacio, the San Antonio-based illustrator who’s won damn near every big award in science fiction and fantasy, can add another to his shelf. On Saturday, May 30, the Science Fiction Writers of America will present Picacio with its 2020 Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award in recognition of his work opening the door for other creators…
Remember the uninhibited joy of standing shoulder-to-shoulder in a concert crowd full of screaming, sweaty strangers? One minute you’re recoiling from the drink spilled down your back, the next you find yourself embracing those around you, singing along to every word like it was written just for you. For now, that’s all gone. COVID-19 turned…
Brush off your boots and get ready to get your two-step on. Classic country cover band the Texases will give a livestreamed concert from St. Mary’s Strip honky tonk the Lonesome Rose on Saturday so we can jam out in our jammies while safe at home. In addition to playing selections from its deep well of…
Former San Antonio Spur Matt Bonner is teaming with a homegrown juice company on a new drink whose proceeds will benefit the nonprofit arm of Spurs Sports and Entertainment. Bonner developed the appropriately named Red Mamba juice blend in partnership with SA’s raw, cold-pressed juice company JUICEssential, which began selling the drink Friday at its La Cantera…
A new podcast combines two hot button topics: Selena and true crime. South Texans know the beloved Queen of Tejano was shot by Yolanda Saldívar, her friend and the president of her fan club, in Corpus Christi on March 31, 1995. Now, shortly after the 25th anniversary of that incident, Vault Studios has launched a new…
The Texas Restaurant Association released new stats Thursday on the impact COVID-19 shutdowns are having on its industry — and they’re staggering. Roughly 12% of Texas restaurants have permanently closed because of the pandemic, according to Emily Williams Knight, the association’s CEO told TV station WFAA8. She also predicted the number could more than double if state…
Poor Ted Cruz. After becoming a frequent target for late night comedians, who dependably rely on his name alone to elicit laughs — a la John Tesh or Dennis Rodman — the Republican senator is becoming the butt of musicians’ jokes too. This week, Nine Inch Nails took a shot at the charisma-challenged Texan in…
Anybody who’s spent much time outside of Loop 410 has probably noticed the lack of city parks and green space there. And with Memorial Day nearly upon us, a new study is confirming why that’s a problem. Even though the median park size in San Antonio is 10 acres, nearly double the national average, our…
It’s reasonable for people to disagree about how to reopen the economy amid a deadly pandemic. Given the stakes for people’s individual health and incomes, it stands to reason some will exercise the right to protest enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. Still, it’s hard to imagine a more assclownish display of our country’s partisan dysfunction…
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has unblocked critics on his official Twitter account after a free-speech organization with a record of forcing the issue in court advised him that the practice leaves him open to a lawsuit. Last week, the Knight First Amendment Institute fired off a letter to the Texas Republican asking him to unblock…
More than two months ago, as the COVID-19 pandemic worsened, Gov. Greg Abbott issued an order temporarily closing Texas bars and restaurants. Nearly 700,000 Texas hospitality workers have lost their jobs since then. Now, on Friday, bars will reopen, but with restrictions. If you plan on going out to celebrate, do it with the knowledge…
When you open a copy of the New York Times today, you are looking down at the earth through a telescope, seeing the broad body of work of epidemiologists, of geneticists, of politicians and other drivers of enormous, complicated machines. This is humanity writ large and can describe vast weather patterns, the movement of the…
The San Antonio Police Department is investigating a puzzling death that occurred overnight in a Northwest side parking lot. A police spokesman told told MySA.com that a man in a state of “excited delirium” was running around naked and yelling in the parking area of an apartment complex. Residents of apartments on the 3400 block of Magic…
As part of Phase 2 of Governor Abbott’s plan to reopen the Texas economy, San Antonio will be able to welcome guests as early as 12:01 a.m. Friday. Even though they can only operate at 25% of their capacity and can’t allow guests to actually belly up to the bar, scads of San Antonio drinkeries…
With Texas’ runoff elections set to happen in the middle of a pandemic this summer, many voters are asking: Do I have to go to the polls to cast a ballot? The short answer is that it’s still up in the air for many. An ongoing legal fight is being waged on multiple fronts over…
As Texas bars prepare to open their doors Friday, the Governor’s office said the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission can waive late fees for businesses whose license and permit renewals have lapsed into — or past — the state’s 30-day grace period. The waiver — adopted to help bars and restaurants as they try to recover from the coronavirus…
Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff is asking Texas’ governor to allow the Tobin Center to host concerts and other events again. In a May 19 letter to Gov. Greg Abbott, Wolff asks for guidance on when San Antonio’s 1,700-seat performing arts venue will get a green light to reopen at limited capacity. He points out…
The Texas State Teachers Association is pushing back against Gov. Greg Abbott’s all-clear to bring kids back to campus on June 1. The organization, which represents nearly 70,000 Texas educators, warned that the timetable puts both students and faculty at risk. “With the COVID‐19 pandemic continuing to rage across Texas, the health and safety of…
The San Antonio Zoo will reopen to pedestrian visitors at the end of next week. Like other attractions in the city, the zoo is reopening on a tiered basis, starting with pass-holders first. People with annual passes and monthly memberships will be able to visit first, gaining admission from Friday, May 29 through Sunday, May 31.…
The Lincoln Project, a political action committee formed by prominent never-Trump Republicans, has unveiled a new ad targeting the pricy lifestyle of Brad Parscale, the president’s 2020 campaign manager. “Meet Brad Parscale, from dead broke to the man Trump can’t live without,” a voiceover intones over a photo of the former Alamo City web designer…
Typically not top of mind for voters, the nine Republican justices of the Texas Supreme Court have come under the spotlight during the coronavirus pandemic with a slate of high-profile and controversy-generating moves. Actions on bail, evictions, debt collections, vote-by-mail and a Dallas salon owner named Shelley Luther have foregrounded the court in a year when four…
San Antonio-based Bill Miller Bar-B-Q has joined the ranks of restaurants that are adding COVID-19-related surcharges to diners’ tickets, News 4 San Antonio reports. And some customers are finding out the hard way. “This **** is ******** crazy right here, man,” one customer, surprised at the drive thru by a $5 ‘COVID meat surcharge’ added…
After weeks of inactivity, the familiar sounds of servers refilling water glasses and flatware clanking against plates are returning to the dining rooms of San Antonio restaurants. On May 1, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott allowed eateries statewide to reopen their dining areas at 25% capacity, but restaurant owners and their employees are facing a struggle…
Amid the pandemic, the Borderland is quiet. For now. Off the unpaved Military Highway just north of the Rio Grande River, I drove into a rural village called Los Ebanos in search of the novel coronavirus in the colonias. On that recent Sunday, none of the 300-odd residents were outside to ask questions about the…
The Lord may see all, but a suspect in a recent church theft remains unidentified. The St. Paul Catholic Church — which reopened for Mass on May 19 after closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic — now faces another tragedy. Thousands of dollars in musical instruments and gear, along with a computer used to livestream weekly service,…
Texas’ refusal to take custody of inmates from local lockups is overcrowding the Bexar County jail and risking another COVID-19 outbreak, County Nelson Wolff warned during a Tuesday evening press briefing. Even though Gov. Greg Abbott has issued a spate of orders reopening private businesses, the State of Texas continues to deny transfers of…
Artpace has become the latest San Antonio art institution to announce its reopening. On Tuesday, the nonprofit gallery and residency program announced it will reopen to the public on June 2. Members will be able to visit starting a week earlier, on May 26. To keep within state-mandated capacity limits and maintain safe social distancing,…
While Florida Man is busy accosting lost alligators from a safe social distance, a bunch of rowdy Texans said, “Hold our Lone Star.” Despite the ongoing global pandemic, crowds of partiers descended on Crystal Beach on Texas’ Bolivar Peninsula for Go Topless Jeep Weekend, an event that’s about as classy as it sounds. Local station…
Another San Antonio H-E-B employee has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a press release shared Tuesday by the grocery chain. This time, a worker at the McCreless Market H-E-B Plus! on the South Side has contracted the disease. The employee was last inside the store on May 5. “All directly affected partners at the location…
Cervecería Chapultepec, a Mexico-based chain that offers tacos, tostadas, burgers, cocktails and beer at one fixed price, is coming to San Antonio. The first U.S. location of Cervecería Chapultepec will make its home in the Pearl-area building previously occupied Fontaine’s Southern Diner & Bar, mySA reports. Cervecería Chapultepec will move into the former gas station…
San Antonio-based fast food chain Whataburger is celebrating National Burger Month with a buy-one-get-one offer for online orders. The BOGO deal is good through May 25, according to a news release, and only orders made online or via the Whataburger app are eligible. The Whataburger website cautions that it could take up to 24 hours from sign-up…
A Bexar County Sheriff’s employee put on leave last month over accusations he made unauthorized traffic stops was previously suspended for interfering in a domestic violence case, KSAT 12 reports. The newly unearthed allegations against Christopher Jackson, an 18-year BCSO veteran, are contained in his county personnel records, according to the TV station. Jackson was placed…
After taking heat for blaming the coronavirus pandemic on “Chinese culture,” Sen. John Cornyn of Texas is facing new allegations of racism. This time, they’re coming from State Sen. Royce West, who’s in a Democratic runoff to challenge Cornyn in November. West, who’s African American, accused the GOP incumbent’s campaign of engaging in “dog whistle racism”…
Before the COVID-19 epidemic, sales of vinyl records were booming — higher than they’d been at any point since their heyday. But due to the recent lockdown, record store regulars are unable to get their physical media fix. The lockdown has also meant depleted inventory and slumping sales for San Antonio’s record stores, making them among…
