Cover Stories
The Legislature’s hard-right push may placate the GOP base, but it didn’t deliver for the rest of Texas
By any reasonable measure, the Texas Legislature had big issues to tackle this session. There was the crippling February snowstorm that left millions without power, exposing the instability of the state’s electrical grid. There was the prospect of a Medicaid expansion that would have helped the one in five Texans with no medical insurance. And…
PB-Art: New corporate citizen Pabst steps up as a platform for San Antonio creatives
Pabst Brewing Co.’s relocation to San Antonio last fall has generated a steady buzz. But not all of that buzz can be attributed to the beers the conglomerate brews — hipster-approved Pabst Blue Ribbon and longtime local faves Lone Star and Pearl among them. A fair amount of the chatter centers on the arts initiatives that…
San Antonio food service workers weigh in on available — but undesirable — job prospects
Andrea Sanchez, a 15-plus-year food service veteran, returned to work last fall at Southtown’s Maverick Texas Brasserie with serious reservations. Due to the pandemic, she worried about risking her health while working for greatly reduced earnings. “I didn’t really want to go back in August, because I saw so many other people in the industry…
Texas House bill could shield companies from liability after commercial vehicle crashes
People affected by crashes causing bodily injury or death involving commercial motor vehicles would find it harder to win damages from companies under a bill that was approved by the Texas House and is making its way through the Senate. Commercial motor vehicles include 18-wheelers, Uber and Lyft vehicles, delivery trucks and any other vehicle…
Developer asks to tear down San Antonio’s closed Cattleman’s Square Tavern for new apartments
David Adelman, known for spiffy downtown apartment projects such as The ’68 at Hemisfair and the refurbished Maverick building, plans to build in west downtown for the first time with a 122-unit apartment building at Cattleman Square, across the street from VIA Metropolitan Transit’s Centro Plaza station. He and longtime business partner Barclay Anthony are…
Texas Gov. Greg. Abbott mandates that public schools and government entities can’t require masks
In a move likely to further politicize the pandemic, Gov. Greg Abbott issued an order Tuesday mandating that no government entity in Texas, including public schools, can require people to wear masks. Starting Friday, cities and counties that try to maintain mask mandates can be slapped with fines of up to $1,000. Public schools have until…
San Antonio-based Burger Boy’s new North Central location now open
The Alamo City may be the taco capitol of the world, but burger joints keep popping up like jalapeño seeds in your mama’s pico de gallo. Burger Boy — the iconic locally based purveyor of award-winning burgers, milkshakes and crinkle-cut fries — opened its fourth location Tuesday, at 151 W. Bitters Road on in North…
San Antonio-area Peeler Farms to host outdoor dinner featuring Texas songwriter Robert Ellis
Texas country music artists Robert Ellis and Gordy Quist are bringing their brand of Americana to the farm. Peeler Farms, that is. The duo will headline the first iteration of a summer dinner series hosted by Floresville-based Peeler, which supplies beef to San Antonio eateries including Cured andBrasserie Mon Chou Chou. The outdoor, limited-capacity performance…
Texas Senate revives bill to punish doctors for offering gender-affirming health care to minors
With less than two weeks remaining in the legislative session, the GOP-controlled Texas Senate is making yet another push for punitive legislation aimed at transgender kids. On Monday, the Senate revived and advanced a controversial bill banning gender-affirming health care for those under 18, the Texas Tribune reports. The move comes days after a similar House…
San Antonio’s Alamo Beer schedules springtime sipping events
Aside from the occasional bout of “gorilla hail,” it’s safe to say spring has sprung — and that Alamo Beer Co. is here for it. The downtown-area brewery, tap room and outdoor venue has lined up a spate of events to help beer lovers enjoy their suds as the weather warms. Yoga on the Lawn, a…
Fiesta San Antonio Commission announces June festivities will be held at 100% capacity
In a likely return to the crowded conditions that usually mark Fiesta, next month’s installment of the annual citywide party will be held at 100% capacity, the Fiesta San Antonio Commission said. The news comes the day after Texas recorded its first day without any COVID-19-related deaths in more than a year, according to the…
San Antonio Chicano artist Adan Hernandez, known for paintings in Blood In Blood Out, has died
Adan Hernandez, the San Antonio artist behind the paintings used in the beloved 1993 crime film Blood In Blood Out, has died. A significant figure in San Antonio’s Chicano art movement, Hernandez passed away Saturday of undisclosed causes at his Alamo City home, online news site MySA reports. He was 69. While the West Side…
Gov. Greg Abbott halts $300 federal unemployment benefits to out-of-work Texans
Did anyone not see this coming? Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday joined the 20 other GOP governors that have so far halted the $300 in weekly payments the federal government makes to unemployed people during the pandemic. In statement, Abbott said he’ll stop the payments June 26. That means the aid will end roughly two…
Voting rights champion Stacey Abrams will kick off speaking tour this fall in San Antonio
Stacey Abrams, the Democratic voting rights advocate who helped flip Georgia into a 2020 battleground state, will kick off a fall speaking tour at San Antonio’s Tobin Center for the Performing Arts. The former Georgia gubernatorial candidate and author of the bestseller Lead from the Outside: How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change…
Comedian Jo Koy bringing his stand-up to San Antonio with fall appearance at AT&T Center
Those who missed out on tickets to catch Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias’ San Antonio stint have a chance to catch another big name comic later this year. Jo Koy will bring the laughs to the AT&T Center on Saturday, November 20 as part of his Just Kidding World Tour. A regular on late night television, Koy…
San Antonio culinary nonprofit Culinaria unveils details for its end-of-summer Restaurant Weeks
Culinaria’s biannual discount-dining event will return August 14-28. On Monday, the San Antonio-based nonprofit announced an open call for area eateries to participate in the next iteration of its end-of-summer Restaurant Weeks fundraiser. As part of the 14-day event, participating restaurants offer three- or four-course fixed price menus at lunch and dinner, for both dine-in and…
Analysis: Texas legislators have a long way to go and a short time to get there
Maybe your job is like this, too: The Texas Legislature does most of its work on deadline. And here we are, with two weeks to go in the regular legislative session, and many of the big things that appeared on the to-do list back in January remain unfinished. The budget. New voting and election restrictions.…
Texas chain P. Terry’s Burger Stand to open first San Antonio location in July
Move over, Whataburger and In-n-Out. San Antonio burger fans will soon gain another chain to argue over in P. Terry’s Burger Stand, an Austin-based phenom famous for its hand-spun shakes. According to company officials, it will open its first Alamo City location in the bustling Medical Center this summer. Though burgers get top billing in…
San Antonio-based grocery chain H-E-B dropping fee for curbside pickup
Beloved Texas-based grocery chain H-E-B may gain a few more fans with the news that it will no longer charge the $4.95 fee for curbside pickup orders. There’s a catch, of course: to receive free pickup, shoppers must have a basket that’s at least $35 before taxes and before any discounts, promotions or coupons. Orders…
Snickers bars with Texan wrapper now available in San Antonio — and they’re made in Texas too
Candy conglomerate Mars is putting a Texas twist on some of its packaging. In a Monday Facebook post, San Antonio convenience store Jefferson Bodega announced that it now carries a special “Texas Proud” version of Mars’ Snickers candy bars with the state flag now emblazons on its wrapper. “… for a #snack to register on…
City of San Antonio no longer requires vaccinated people to wear masks at its facilities
Starting Monday, the city of San Antonio will no longer require fully vaccinated people to wear masks or observe social distancing at its facilities. The move comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rolled out new guidelines last week stating that vaccinated people can safely enter indoor facilities without wearing masks. The city…
Long-awaited reopening of San Antonio’s Mama’s Cafe became a reality over the weekend
Homestyle eatery Mama’s Cafe reopened its doors Friday after two years of renovations, welcoming hundreds of diners over its first few days of operation. Longtime chef Gabriel Ibarra, who helms the renovated eatery’s galley, on Sunday shared a Facebook photo of an impressive stack of more 300 order tickets, along with the quip that “it’s…
More than 200 people arrested at annual ‘Go Topless’ Jeep event on Texas coast
Cops made at least 219 arrests over the weekend at the annual Go Topless Jeep Weekend on the Bolivar Peninsula near Galveston, according to a Houston Chronicle report. Most of the arrests were for public intoxication, disorderly conduct and DWI, the paper reports, citing numbers available from local authorities as of 6 a.m. Sunday. Go…
Texas officials knew foster children were illegally placed in an unsafe shelter. It didn’t end until a whistleblower came forward.
Texas state officials, including those in Gov. Greg Abbott’s office, knew for months that foster children were being illegally housed in an emergency shelter cited hundreds of times for dangerous conditions — but failed to report the violation to court-appointed watchdogs tasked with monitoring the state’s foster care system, according to court records. The Whataburger…
Artistic memorial to Taco Land owner Ram Ayala goes up at San Antonio’s Velvet Taco
Ram Ayala, the late owner of Taco Land, received a fitting tribute Saturday with the installation of a memorial mosaic at the site of the storied underground rock club. Working under a tarp in the rain, visual artist Mig Kokinda and assistant Matt Simpson — both Taco Land regulars — assembled ceramic tiles on the…
Texas’ largest corporate welfare program is leaving companies flush and school districts broke
As the United States struggled to meet demands for fuel in the early 2000s, Motiva Enterprises decided to double the capacity of its oil refinery in the Gulf Coast city of Port Arthur on the Texas-Louisiana border. The refinery had been in Port Arthur for as long as Texas has pumped oil; in 1902, a…
After sweltering temperatures killed Texas prisoners, lawmakers vote to install air conditioning
As Texas braces for its notoriously scorching summer temperatures, the state House agreed to install air conditioning in dozens of uncooled prisons within seven years — but only if lawmakers set aside money for it. On Thursday night, the Texas House initially passed a bill that would require all Texas lockups to be cooled over…
New Texas lawsuit accuses Biden administration of threatening state’s health care funding to force Medicaid expansion
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the Biden administration Friday to reinstate an eight-year extension to a federal health care funding agreement, worth billions of dollars annually and set to expire next year, that the state uses to help pay for health care for uninsured Texans. Last month, federal health officials rescinded the Trump-era extension to the 1115 waiver…
San Antonio area’s first olive orchard will close its doors following founder’s recent death
Sandy Oaks Olive Orchard, the first orchard of its kind in the San Antonio area, will permanently close following founder Sandra Winokur’s death. Winokur died in March of this year after a years-long battle with cancer. Her family announced via the the orchard’s website that the farm will close. “It is with great sadness that…
Bill Miller Bar-B-Q, Cervecería Chapultepec: San Antonio’s biggest food stories of the week
Food news is about more than restaurant reviews and restaurant openings. Need proof? Take the Current’s most-read food stories of the week. Readers clicked to read about homegrown ‘cue chain Bill Miller relocating its headquarters out of downtown San Antonio and also about a Mexican eatery being pulled into a lawsuit filed by the family of…
Gabriel ‘Fluffy’ Iglesias, Ted Cruz: The top 10 headlines in San Antonio this week
Current readers apparently like a good laugh. After all, our two most-read stories of the week involve clowns — one them beloved for his funny standup routines and the other, well … let’s just say the humor surrounding him is most often unintentional. In reference to the latter, our most-read story was about U.S. Sen.…
America’s opioid overprescription problem has never been more clear
The tragedy of the opioid crisis has been in the news a lot lately. Earlier this week, HBO debuted its two-part The Crime of the Century, directed by award-winning documentarian Alex Gibney (The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley and Going Clear: Scientology & the Prison of Belief). Last month, journalist Patrick Radden Keefe, who…
Texas-based Blue Bell Ice Cream releases new summer flavor: Chocolate Sheet Cake
Texas favorite Blue Bell Ice Cream took to Twitter Thursday to share its latest masterpiece: Chocolate Sheet Cake Ice Cream. Arguably the most quintessential Texas dessert, the childhood birthday and office going-away party favorite gets crumbled up in milk chocolate ice cream and doctored with chopped pecans and a chocolate icing swirl. Our new Chocolate…
In video, right-wing group’s leader brags that it wrote “19 provisions” in Texas’ voter-restriction bill
The leader of a top conservative group bragged to donors about helping write one of Texas’ new voting restriction bills in a leaked video shared Thursday by Mother Jones magazine and watchdog group Documented. The video purportedly shows Jessica Anderson, executive director of Heritage Action for America, at an April 22 meeting in Tucson, telling big donors that her…
U.S. Rep. Chip Roy loses bid to replace Liz Cheney as third-ranking House Republican
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, whose district includes San Antonio, fell short in his bid to become the third-ranking House Republican on Friday. House Republicans voted 134-46 in a secret ballot in support of Roy’s rival, U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, a New Yorker, according to multiple news reports. The leadership race came to pass after…
San Antonio chef and butcher Joe Saenz to resume in-person butchering workshops next week
San Antonio-born chef Joe Saenz is ready to get back to the business of butchering. The chef, founder and head butcher of Swine House, a purveyor of sustainably raised meat, will next week resume in-person butchering workshops after a year-long hiatus. The May 18 event will consist of a first-hand look at the process of…
San Antonio chef Geronimo Lopez to compete on Food Network’s Chopped next week
The San Antonio chef responsible for bringing Peruvian-Asian fare to Pearl will prove his chops — sorry, not sorry — next week on Food Network’s Chopped. Geronimo Lopez of Latin American eatery Botika will compete against three other pro cooks on the show as they turn baskets of mystery ingredients into three-course meals for the…
Bexar Democrats censure San Antonio State Rep. Leo Pacheco for support of open-carry bill
The Bexar County Democratic Party has censured State Rep. Leo Pacheco, who once served as its chairman, for voting to approve a controversial bill nixing the requirement for Texans to obtain permits to carry handguns. Pacheco was one of just seven Democrats in the Texas House to vote in favor of the GOP-backed legislation, which…
Longtime San Antonio staple Mama’s Cafe to reopen after 2 years of renovations
San Antonians waiting patiently for the return of longtime Northside eatery Mama’s Cafe need wait only a little bit longer, MySA reports. The homestyle restaurant, located at 2442 Nacogdoches Road, could wrap up nearly two years of renovations as early as this weekend, offering a sprawling new patio and updated interior. Co-owner Trevor Lawton told…
Another San Antonio native to compete on Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen: Young Guns
The Alamo City must be a favorite place for celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay to trawl for talent. Chef Antonio Ruiz, a New Braunfels-based chef with training from the local Culinary Institute of America campus, will compete alongside fellow San Antonio chef Emily Hersh in the upcoming season of Hell’s Kitchen: Young Guns. Ruiz, who grew…
San Antonio’s Classic Theatre closes out its season with a hallmark of American drama
This month, the Classic Theatre wraps up its season of “theater in the rough” with a final outdoor production at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. Our Town, a classic drama by American playwright Thornton Wilder, opens this weekend for a three-week run. Described by playwright Edward Albee as “the greatest American play ever written,” Our…
City OKs land sale for Bill Miller Bar-B-Q to move out of downtown San Antonio and into West Side
The Bill Miller Bar-B-Q Enterprises chain received city approval Thursday to move its headquarters out of downtown, where it’s resided for 50 years, and into new digs on the far West Side. Council unanimously approved the sale of 57 acres of city land at Highway 151 and Old Highway 90 to Brazos De Santos Partners…
It’s now legal in Texas for beer, wine and mixed drinks to be included in to-go food orders
One of the few silver linings to come out of a difficult year for Texas bars and restaurants — to-go cocktails — is now state law. Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday signed a bill permanently allowing Texans to include alcohol in take-out food orders from restaurants. During the pandemic, Abbott introduced cocktails to-go as a…
Ted Cruz blames Chick-fil-A sauce shortage on Biden — and Twitter can’t tell whether he’s kidding
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz spews so much overheated hyperbole on Twitter that folks apparently had a hard time figuring out whether he was joking when he laid blame for a fast-food chain’s sauce shortage on President Joe Biden. After Georgia-based Chick-fil-A said supply chain issues forced it to limit sauce containers to one per customer,…
Far north San Antonio staple The Grill at Leon Springs completely destroyed by overnight fire
Longtime San Antonio eatery The Grill at Leon Springs was decimated by a two-alarm fire Thursday morning, the San Antonio Express-News reports. Investigators are trying to determine what started the early morning fire, which officials say rendered the structure a total loss. Although the building housed a New American eatery operated by restauranteur Thierry Burkle,…
San Antonio eatery Cervecería Chapultepec named in $20 million lawsuit involving slain cyclist
Cervecería Chapultepec has been named in a $20 million lawsuit accusing the downtown eatery of serving “numerous alcoholic beverages” to Samantha Leigh Castillo before she allegedly killed a bicyclist with her car in late April, the Express-News reports. The children of cyclist Beatrice “Bea” Gonzalez early this month filed a lawsuit against Castillo, 24, and…
Report: San Antonio’s police union spent $600,000 on Prop B fight, but that’s not clear from its filings
San Antonio’s police union spent six times more than previously thought to fight back Proposition B, the ballot measure that would have stripped it of collective bargaining powers, an Express-News investigation found. The union spent more than $600,000 to battle Prop B, according to filings that police-reform activists shared with the daily. That stands in…
Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias reschedule San Antonio show for November 6 as they resume tour
Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias are shifting their San Antonio performance to Saturday, November 6 as they reboot a North American tour that was delayed by the pandemic. The Latin music giants first announced plans for a co-headlined tour last March, shortly before COVID-related shutdowns. A stop at San Antonio’s AT&T Center was one of the 10…
Candidate forum for San Antonio District 2 council race set for Sunday
District 2 city council candidates Jada Andrews-Sullivan and Jalen Mckee-Rodriguez will participate in a Runoff Candidate Conversation on Sunday, May 16. The two were the top vote-getters in the May 1 election and are vying for the seat in the June 5 runoff. Early voting is from May 24 to June 1. The event will be hosted by…
IFC Midnight picks up San Antonio author’s horror movie We Need to Do Something for distribution
IFC Midnight has picked up We Need to Do Something, a horror film based on a novella by San Antonio author Max Booth III, for North American distribution, Hollywood news site Deadline reports. The movie, which also features a screenplay by Booth, will get a theatrical and premium-video-on-demand release September 3, according to Deadline. IFC Midnight…
San Antonio’s newest La Panadería serving alcoholic coffee drinks as part of its bar program
San Antonio-based bakery and brunch chain La Panadería has added way for customers to catch a buzz on two levels at its La Cantera location. The shop is now offering coffee libations as part of its new bar program. Customers looking for a boozy pick-me-up can partake in signature sips such as the Carajillo, which…
San Antonio’s Tower of the Americas to host third annual Wine Fest next month
Downtown landmark the Tower of the Americas will host its third annual Wine Fest next month, serving up 70-plus samples from nearly 30 wineries. On Saturday, June 5, the tower will host a party at its base showcasing samples from a slew of Sonoma County wineries. The 21-and-up event will also feature chef-inspired appetizers, music…
Cult classic Yuengling beer will be available in Texas this fall for the first time in its 192-year history
Pennsylvania’s D.G. Yuengling & Son, the oldest brewery in the United States, has begun brewing its famous suds in Texas, the Dallas Morning News reports. Tuesday morning, representatives from the 192-year-old brewery hand-delivered its secret recipes and proprietary yeast strain, setting into motion a partnership between Yuengling and Molson Coors in Fort Worth. A Texas…
’90s prank call phenom the Jerky Boys heading to San Antonio’s Tobin Center this fall
During their ’90s heyday, it was damned near impossible to escape the Jerky Boys. It seemed like the comedy duo’s prank phone call CDs were in constant rotation in every college dorm room. And if you were without a stereo, there was a good chance you had a friend who could recite a dozen of the…
Flaming Lips’ new tour will include stop at San Antonio’s Aztec Theatre
Freaks rejoice! The Flaming Lips’ recently unveiled tour of North America and the British Isles will include a San Antonio stop on Sunday, March 27, 2022. As part of its American Head tour, which gets underway in late 2021, the Lips will perform at the Aztec Theater. The tour follows a pair of Oklahoma shows during…
Texas House passes anti-‘critical race theory’ bill over objections of educators, community groups
The Texas House has approved a bill educators worry will deal a setback to honest discussions on race, harm free speech in classrooms and hinder students’ understanding of civics. Republican-championed House Bill 3979, which would limit what public school students can learn about the United States’ treatment of people of color, passed Tuesday night on a 79-65…
San Antonio Farmers Market named one of the best in nation by USA Today
The pandemic led to an attendance surge at farmers markets nationwide as folks used their spare time to seek out sustainably sourced foods. Not only is San Antonio’s Pearl Farmers Market a beneficiary of that trend, but USA Today readers recently named it the 5th best farmers market in the country in the national newspaper’s…
NASCAR’s Sam Hunt joins campaign urging Texas lawmakers to allow Sunday liquor sales
The campaign for Texas lawmakers to strike down the state’s ban on Sunday liquor sales just got a new injection of fuel: the support of NASCAR driver Sam Hunt. When Sam Hunt Racing’s No. 26 Toyota Supra competes in Austin’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Pit Boss 250 at later this month, the car will carry a sponsored…
Indie Lens Pop-Up online film series continues with screening of The Donut King!
The next film in the Indie Lens Pop-Up series takes a look at one man’s American Dream. The Donut King! dives into the story of Ted Ngoy, who built a multimillion-dollar empire from the ground up. Filmmaker Alice Gu chronicles Ngoy’s journey, starting with his arrival to the U.S. as a refugee escaping the Khmer…
Saturday’s San Antonio Spurs game will give fans a last chance to celebrate Tim Duncan’s legacy
When the Spurs take the floor against the Phoenix Suns on Saturday, San Antonio will have one last time to collectively celebrate the legacy of Tim Duncan, arguably the greatest power forward to pick up a basketball. Duncan’s enshrinement into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is scheduled to take place at the Mohegan…
The newly relocated Pharm Table has an energetic and energizing take on mostly vegan cuisine
Balance is something we all may want to recalibrate in the wake of the pandemic. As it happens, balance is at the heart of ayurveda, the venerable health philosophy espoused by chef Elizabeth Johnson at her restaurant Pharm Table, newly relocated to a handsome, patio-equipped space in Southtown. “Ayurveda is an ancient Vedic medical system…
Virtual performance by Guadalupe Dance Company ties in with McNay Art Museum’s ‘Limitless!’ exhibition
The McNay Art Museum has partnered with the Guadalupe Dance Company to celebrate its current exhibition “Limitless! Five Women Reshape Contemporary Art.” The exhibition, which features works by artists Martine Gutierrez, Letitia Huckaby, Yayoi Kusama, Sandy Skoglund and Jennifer Steinkamp, notably includes Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Room All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins.…
San Antonio’s ‘The Last Parade’ mural honors indigenous cultures, underground artists
“The Last Parade” by muralist Rudy Herrera is the latest downtown public art project to be completed as part of Centro San Antonio’s “Art Everywhere” initiative. Standing 70 feet wide and roughly 100 feet tall, Herrera portrays integral aspects of his life in vibrant colors, honoring his wife, son and his heritage in the abstract…
Traveling Sistine Chapel exhibition posting up at historic San Antonio mansion this summer
This summer, San Antonians can experience a Michelangelo masterpiece right here in the Alamo City thanks to an inventive traveling exhibition. Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition recreates the Renaissance artist’s historic frescoes with high definition photos printed using a technique that aims to emulate the texture of the original paintings. Visitors can get an up-close…
Resuming in-person learning at Texas schools last fall accelerated spread of COVID-19, study says
When Texas schools returned to in-person education last fall, the spread of the coronavirus “gradually but substantially accelerated,” leading to at least 43,000 additional cases and 800 additional deaths statewide, according to a study released Monday. The study was done by University of Kentucky researchers for the nonpartisan National Bureau of Economic Research in Cambridge, Massachusetts,…
San Antonio-based Bill Miller Bar-B-Q will move its headquarters to the city’s West Side
Bill Miller Bar-B-Q, which has maintained its headquarters in downtown San Antonio for the past 50 years, wants to shift it to the West Side, the San Antonio Express-News reports. City council is expected to vote Thursday whether to sell nearly 57 acres at the northwest corner of Texas 151 and Old Highway 90 to…
Developers of San Antonio’s former Lone Star Brewery land $24 million in incentives for the project
Development of the long-dormant Lone Star Brewery took a major step forward last Friday when a city commission approved $24 million in economic incentives for the mixed-use project. Authorization of the incentive package — one of the largest granted to an urban development project in recent years — is the last step before city council votes May…
San Antonio’s 21-and-up joint Lucy Cooper’s to expand with new location in New Braunfels
San Antonio-area Naughty Bingo enthusiasts will soon have another location to enjoy the R-rated activity. Lucy Cooper’s Ice House, the Alamo City-based 21-and-over bar and restaurant, will expand its brand with a new location in New Braunfels, the San Antonio Express-News reports. Owners Braunda and Jesse Smith told the daily that the second location could…
Gabriel ‘Fluffy’ Iglesias will film the final night of his 3-week San Antonio stand for a Netflix special
Comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias must feel right at home in the Alamo City. In addition to booking three weeks of almost sold-out shows at San Antonio’s Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, the standup is filming the final night of that run for a new Netflix special, Variety reports. The special, titled The Comedy Event, will run on…
Deep Ellum Brewing Co. launches pickle-flavored seltzer, and it’s coming to San Antonio
Pickle beer? So 2020. How about a pickle-flavored hard seltzer? Dallas-based Deep Ellum Brewing Company has launched just that: a pickle-flavored hard seltzer the company says will make the “pickle-back” obsolete. Blind Pickle Hard Seltzer, the latest in Deep Ellum’s rotating seltzer series, features zesty natural dill pickle flavor, according to tasting notes. And we…
Texas House votes to approve bill that would limit governor’s emergency pandemic powers
The Texas House granted preliminary approval to a bill that would rein in Gov. Greg Abbott’s emergency powers during future pandemics and require the executive branch to call together the Legislature if another such crisis drags on. However, in addition to additional checks on the governor, the proposal also includes amendments to limit local officials’…
CityScrapes: After months of loss, San Antonio should move toward building true community
Editor’s Note: The following is CityScrapes, a column of opinion and analysis. The past 13 or so months as San Antonio has grappled with the pandemic have been incredibly difficult. It’s been more than a year of fear and anxiety, more than a year of not knowing what is coming next, a year of loneliness…
Applications for Small Business Administration’s Restaurant Revitalization Fund now open
San Antonio restaurant and bar owners this month have another option for potential financial relief, thanks to the Small Business Administration’s Restaurant Revitalization Fund grants. The program, which launched May 3, aims to provide economic aid to restaurants and other foodservice establishments struggling to make ends meet as a result of the pandemic. It’s now…
San Antonio named No. 3 barbecue city in the United States by study based on online data
We all know the Alamo City is the taco capitol of the world — sorry, Austin — but a new study has also named it a hotbed for smoked meats. The blog BBQ Revolution this week released a study of barbecue trends that identified San Antonio as No. 3 city in the nation when it…
The Mendoza Line: UT mascot Bevo stages fecal protest against ‘The Eyes of Texas’
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. University of Texas mascot Bevo XV has begun his own form of protest against the…
Live music this week in San Antonio ranges from surf rock to Mexico-inspired Western swing
Diverse sounds seem to be the rule of the day as live music gigs return to the Alamo City. This week, music fans will have the chance to sample the sounds of touring singer-songwriters, the classic country-meets-Mexican roots sounds of Midnight Mezcal, the surf rock of King Pelican and a stacked bill of extreme metal.…
San Antonio’s Second Pitch Beer Co. to host home brew competition to benefit Alzafar Shrine Center
This week, home brewers can next vie for the chance to have their suds sold in a commercial taproom thanks to Pale Palooza, a competition hosted by Second Pitch Beer Company. Pale Palooza is a collaborative effort between the brewery and San Antonio Cerveceros and Alzafar Brews Brothers, a pair of organizations for Alamo City beer…
Free phone app aims to help beer fans explore Texas cities’ breweries and taprooms
Today marks the start of American Craft Beer Week, and a newish brewery-focused app could help San Antonio imbibers navigate the craft beer scene right from their cell phones. Launched by the Texas Craft Brewers Guild in August of last year, the Texas Brewery Passport app is designed to help beer enthusiasts find and visit…
San Antonio’s Bistr09 to welcome Project Runway All Star Anthony Ryan Auld for fashion brunch
Alamo Heights-area eatery Bistr09 will pair fashion with French fare in a big way at this month’s fashion brunch. Texas-based designer Anthony Ryan Auld, who won the second season of Lifetime’s Project Runway All Stars, will showcase his fashion line COULEUR + BLINDÉ while guests nosh on French eats by chef Damien Watel at a…
Jason Dady, six other San Antonio chefs to hold collaborative dinner to benefit local nonprofit
Local chef Jason Dady is rolling out a collaborative dinner called Eating Local, which will showcase a lineup that includes six other high-profile San Antonio culinary pros. Like a recently unveiled collaborative dinner series, this event will benefit San Antonio nonprofit Culinaria, which provides scholarships for people working in the food industry to continue their…
Texas House approves bill that would punish big cities that cut their police budgets
The Texas House on Friday passed a bill to financially punish the state’s largest cities if they cut police funding — a proposal championed by Gov. Greg Abbott as police reform groups called on cities to rethink law-enforcement budgets. While proponents of House Bill 1900 said it’s intended to back law enforcement and keep people…
Reversing a Trump policy, the Biden White House is restoring transgender health protections
Gay and transgender people will be shielded from sex discrimination in health care, a top White House health official said Monday, reversing a controversial Trump-era policy. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said language in the Affordable Care Act guarantees protections against sexual discrimination in health care. The Trump administration had defined “sex” to mean gender…
Lance Bass, Prop B: The top 10 headlines in San Antonio this week
San Antonio Current readers have diverse interests, or so it appears from our most-read stories of the week. You were intrigued by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals asking the feds to revoke the license of the San Antonio Aquarium, looked for insight into the narrow defeat of Prop B in the citywide election…
Emily Hersh, Hugman’s Oasis: San Antonio’s biggest food stories of the week
The Current was boiling over with food news this week. For one, we caught wind that highly anticipated downtown tiki bar Hugman’s Oasis had to scrap opening night reservations because the service-industry labor shortage was making it impossible to adequately staff up. Looks like folks were also excited to learn that a pair of San…
New downtown San Antonio hotel restaurant Domingo offering locals-only discount to lure diners
Difficult downtown parking is one reason locals cite for staying away from the area for nightlife. However, one new restaurant is hoping to entice residents to explore the area with discounts on its elevated fare and libations. On Instagram Friday, Domingo at the brand new Canopy by Hilton San Antonio Riverwalk hotel served up an…
Wayback Burgers has opened a second San Antonio-area location in Universal City
Folks who’d rather not battle traffic at the Loop 1604-U.S. Highway 281 interchange to get a good burger may delight in the news that Wayback Burgers has opened a second Alamo City location. The Connecticut-based chain — which offers burgers, hot dogs, hand-dipped milkshakes and breakfast — on Friday announced the opening of a new…
$20M lawsuit filed against San Antonio bar after woman accused of hitting cyclist with her car
A woman accused of fatally striking a cyclist after drinking at San Antonio bar — and the bar that allegedly served her drinks — are now facing a $20 million lawsuit. On April 7, 24-year-old Samantha Leigh Castillo was charged with intoxication manslaughter in the death of cyclist Beatrice Gonzalez, the San Antonio Express-News reports.…
Medicaid expansion for uninsured Texans had bipartisan support, but lawmakers won’t pass it this session
An effort to expand government health care for working poor Texans is likely dead for this legislative session, supporters say — mired in conservative opposition and faced with a fast-approaching deadline in the Republican-led Texas Legislature. Medicaid expansion “appears extremely unlikely to move this session,” said state Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, author of Senate Bill 117,…
New smoothie and açaí bowl shop NOVO to open in Northwest San Antonio next week
Northside residents will soon have yet another health-food haven. NOVO Açaí Bowls, a new açaí bowl and smoothie shop owned by Deukbok Cha, former chef-owner of San Antonio’s Yummi Japanese Restaurants, will open on May 15, mySA reports. The new eatery will specialize in healthy offerings packed with fresh fruit, protein and good vibes. Cha told the…
San Antonio-area brewery searching for small businesses to post up at seasonal market days
Cactus Land Brewing Co., known for its unique brews and family-friendly venue, is scouting for local vendors to take part in its seasonal market days, which start next month. The brewery took to local media Friday to announce that the onsite market will begin June 6 at its facility, located a half an hour southeast of San…
San Antonio Spurs face a formidable squad when they play Milwaukee on Monday
Following a pair of disappointing playoff exits at the hands of closers Kawhi Leonard and Jimmy Butler, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the reloaded Milwaukee Bucks are primed for a return to the Eastern Conference Finals. While the recent NBA headlines have focused on the super team in Brooklyn and the resurgent New York Knicks, Milwaukee has…
Ken Paxton unblocks Texans on Twitter after being sued for violating their free speech rights
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is the latest conservative politician to face legal blowback for trying to shut down criticism on his Twitter feed. The embattled Republican AG has unblocked nine people from his official Twitter account after they filed a lawsuit alleging that he violated their First Amendment rights, the Texas Tribune reports. The…
New Frida Kahlo-centric exhibition opens at the San Antonio Botanical Garden this weekend
A San Antonio Botanical Garden exhibition celebrating one of Mexico’s most beloved artists makes its debut this weekend. “Frida Kahlo Oasis” features a 2,100 square foot garden inspired by the garden at Casa Azul, the home artist Frida Kahlo shared with her husband Diego Rivera in Mexico City. The garden is filled with lush vegetation…
Slab Cinema’s new film series in downtown San Antonio continues with Gene Kelly classic
The iconic 1952 musical Singin’ in the Rain will be screened against the outdoor backdrop of downtown’s new Legacy Park. In a small, socially distanced setting, Slab Cinema’s Downtown Tuesday events feature select films at the intersection of Houston and North Flores streets, in the park across from Frost Tower. Voted the Greatest Musical of…
Regal Cinemas reopens five San Antonio movie theaters
Another San Antonio movie chain is welcoming back guests this weekend. After closing twice during the pandemic, Regal Cinemas reopened five Alamo City theaters on Friday, KSAT reports. Those theaters are Regal Alamo Quarry, 255 E. Basse Road; Regal Cielo Vista & RPX, 2828 Cinema Ridge; Regal Huebner Oaks & RPX, 11075 Interstate 10 West; Regal…
Emerald Necklace: San Antonio’s Howard Peak Greenway Trails were the result of tireless work
Former San Antonio mayor Howard Peak envisioned the greenway system bearing his name as an “emerald necklace” around the city’s perimeter. Many miles ago, I set out to circumnavigate San Antonio on foot using the ever-expanding Howard Peak Greenway Trails. And while gaps remain, the portions completed so far have provided a revelatory experience — from…
Jakob’s Wife is an amazing vampire marriage therapy mash-up you can stream at home right now
One of the absolute joys of being a film critic and a diehard movie lover is seeing actors that you’ve grown up with over decades deliver awards-worthy performances and shatter any silly notion that genre cinema, horror specifically, isn’t worthy of A-list recognition. And trust me when I say that there is no actor more…
Texas GOP’s voting restrictions bill could be rewritten behind closed doors after key House vote
As opposition to Texas Republicans’ proposed voting restrictions continues to intensify, state lawmakers’ deliberations over the GOP priority legislation could soon go behind closed doors. The House early Friday voted 81-64 to advance a pared down version of Senate Bill 7, leaving out various far-reaching voting restrictions that have prompted widespread outcry from voting rights advocates,…
Assclown Alert: Stirring the shit with Texas State Rep. Briscoe Cain
Assclown Alert is a column of opinion, analysis and snark. It’s hard to imagine how Republicans’ full court press for a voter-restriction bill during the current session of the Texas Legislature could be any more of a shit show. But State Rep. Briscoe Cain is sure giving it the ol’ college try. Last Thursday, the…
Craft Beer Week makes great excuse to support San Antonio brewers recovering from pandemic
Food holidays are a dime a dozen, but given the shit sandwich handed to San Antonio brewers over the past year, American Craft Beer Week, which starts Monday, May 10, is one actually worth getting behind. After all, Craft Beer Week encourages hop heads to go out and support their favorite local taprooms, brewpubs and breweries.…
San Antonio Viet-Cajun crawfish eatery Pinch Boil House will open second location in Alamo Heights
The minds behind downtown’s Pinch Boil House are bringing their fusion of Cajun and Southeast Asian flavors to Alamo Heights, the San Antonio Business Journal reports. Co-owners Andrew Ho and Sean Wen signed a lease to occupy the space in the Stewart Center retail complex that formerly housed vegetarian eatery Bok Choy, according to the…
San Antonio Food Bank CEO Eric Cooper honored with prestigious John van Hengel Award
When you spend 25 years in the fight to end hunger, folks are bound to notice. Eric Cooper, president and CEO of the San Antonio Food Bank, last week received the 2021 John van Hengel Fellowship award in recognition of his work to combat food insecurity in South Texas. The award honors the ideals of…
Texas-based Garrison Bros. Distillery to expand its Bourbon Brawl bartender contest to other states
Garrison Brothers Distillery’s Bourbon Brawl is back — and this year, it’s bigger than ever. The annual competition created by Texas-based Garrison Brothers pits bartenders against each other in a battle to create a unique and flavorful cocktail recipe using the distiller’s spirits. Founded in 2019, the contest has previously been limited to the Lone Star State.…
Fired San Antonio cop indicted on counts that he shared confidential info and made false statements
A Bexar County grand jury has indicted a fired San Antonio police officer on two counts of misusing public information, a third-degree felony. Ronaldo Segovia is accused of leaking privileged vehicle registration information to a “convicted felon and known criminal,” according to a release from the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office. The former officer provided the information with…
Whether or not your Mother’s Day plans include brunch, these cocktails are midmorning hits
With or without Mom as guest of honor, brunch is a perfect excuse to indulge in a mid-morning or early afternoon tipple. With that in mind, we tapped the expertise of three San Antonio pros to offer up easy-to-execute recipes for those looking to expand their brunchtime cocktail options at home. But let’s be real:…
San Antonio author Cassy Joy Garcia to launch leftover-inspired cookbook Cook Once Dinner Fix
If you’re guilty of throwing away leftover food more often than not, San Antonio native Cassy Joy Garcia wants to help you mend your ways. In September, the best-selling author and food blogger will release a second cookbook titled Cook Once Dinner Fix: Quick and Exciting Ways to Transform Tonight’s Dinner into Tomorrow’s Feast. While that…
Permitless carry of a handgun in Texas nearly law, after Senate OKs bill
The Republican-led effort to allow Texans to carry handguns without any kind of license cleared what is likely its biggest remaining hurdle in the Capitol on Wednesday, when the Texas Senate moved in a nail-biter vote to bring the measure to the floor and then passed it. The measure – already passed by the Texas…
After initial vote in Texas House, anti-abortion ‘heartbeat’ law likely to land on governor’s desk
The Texas Legislature is on the cusp of passing a contentious bill that would ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, something that usually occurs as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. Senate Bill 8 passed an initial House floor vote Wednesday after receiving approval earlier this session from the upper chamber. It…
This weekend’s San Antonio-area live music choices include Robert Earl Keen and homegrown soul
Whether your tastes run to San Antonio’s horn-driven West Side soul sound or Third Coast country, you’ve got options. Read on for a couple shows worth penciling in on the calendar. Friday, May 7 The Muñoz Brothers Band This San Antonio-based Chicano soul ensemble is led by brothers Isaac Muñoz and Fernando Muñoz Jr. The…
Chefs from Meadow, Sangria on the Burg first participants in San Antonio collaborative dinner series
Chefs PJ Edwards and Ceasar Zepeda are teaming up for a meal and cocktail pairing that will be the first in a six-week collaborative dinner series highlighting San Antonio culinary pros. Food-focused nonprofit Culinaria is organizing the dinners to fund scholarships for local residents trying to further their culinary educations. Edwards, chef-owner of Meadow Neighborhood Eatery and…
Another female chef from San Antonio will compete on one of Gordon Ramsay’s cooking shows
Local foodies will soon have another reason to set their DVRs. San Antonio chef Emily Hersh of Jason Dady’s Jardín Restaurant revealed Wednesday that she’ll appear in the upcoming season of Fox TV’s Hell’s Kitchen: Young Guns, hosted by Gordon Ramsay. Hersh’s announcement comes weeks after Alamo City chef Mary Lou Davis landed in the finals of Ramsay’s other…
GOP lawmakers want to ban ‘woke philosophies’ like critical race theory in Texas schools
Mirroring moves by other red-state legislatures across the country, Texas Republicans are attempting to reach into classrooms and limit what public school students are taught about the nation’s historical subjugation of people of color. Two bills moving through the Texas Legislature would bar the teaching of critical race theory, an academic discipline that views race…
City of San Antonio will open 6 public pools at limited capacity for summer
As temperatures and vaccination rates rise in tandem, the City of San Antonio has opted to open a half-dozen public swimming pools for the summer season. The pools will reopen Saturday with capacity restrictions in place. Heritage, Lady Bird Johnson, Southside Lions, Woodlawn, Kennedy and San Pedro pools will all be open Saturdays and Sundays.…
New San Antonio art gallery Pabst’s Blue Ribbon Studios to host free First Friday event
Art, beer and music will collide at new Southtown art gallery Pabst Blue Ribbon Studios in celebration of First Friday. The gallery’s owner, San Antonio-based Pabst Brewing Co., will offer frosty refreshments as attendees bask in art from the brewer’s annual can design competition, which features work by emerging artists from across the U.S. Local DJ…
Opera returns to the Tobin Center this weekend with blood-soaked tragedy Lucia di Lammermoor
Things are about to get downright bloody at the Tobin Center. Opera San Antonio returns to the stage with Gaetano Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, an adaptation of Sir Walter Scott’s novel The Bride of Lammermoor. The opera tells a tale of tragic romance, in which the titular protagonist is caught between the desires of two…
San Antonio’s Fiesta Commission releases 2021 schedule of events
The wait for the reset of San Antonio’s citywide party is nearly over. Fiesta officials on Tuesday unveiled the schedule for the annual 11-day celebration and fundraiser, which will occur June 17-27. Fiesta was canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and 2021’s iteration was moved from April to June after the commission consulted…
San Antonio media company will produce Miss Universe Pageant, seen by 500 million viewers
San Antonio-based Nelco Media Inc. will produce the 69th Miss Universe Pageant and host the world broadcast feed for the event, expected to pull an audience of some 500 million viewers. The telecast is scheduled for May 16 from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood near Miami. Nelco Media President Philip Nelson also will produce the costume…
Bill banning transgender students from playing sports fizzles out in Texas House committee
A bill that would ban transgender students from playing on school sports teams that match their gender identity died in a Texas House committee Tuesday. The House Public Education Committee took up Senate Bill 29, but it fell one vote short of being to be moved to debate in the main chamber. The panel is…
Country traditionalist Dale Watson to perform free show Thursday at St. Paul Square
One of the most prolific and revered revivalists of real-deal country music is rolling into San Antonio for a free show Thursday. Singer-guitarist Dale Watson and his band will perform on May 6 in St. Paul Square as part of the entertainment district’s open-air concert series. A staunch adherent to old-style honky tonk and the…
