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Shop Local: 10 ways to support local creatives and small businesses this holiday season
As tempting as it may be to fill your virtual cart with shiny new items or succumb to the loathsome peer pressure of Black Friday, we’d like to remind you that San Antonio is a fully functional stomping ground for holiday shopping. In an effort to support local creatives and small businesses alike, we combed…
40,000 rainbow trout to be stocked in San Antonio and New Braunfels fishing holes
As temperatures drop, a Texas winter tradition returns that’s good news for local anglers. In late November, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department began stocking San Antonio and New Braunfels waters with the first installment of nearly 40,000 rainbow trout it will release over coming weeks. A part of the Neighborhood Fishin’ program, which offers fishing…
Serious injuries at Amazon’s San Antonio-area warehouses happen at double the industry average
As Amazon works to develop at least one new San Antonio distribution center, a new investigation shows the rate of serious accidents among workers at its pair of other large facilities serving the city are double the industry rate. An investigation by Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting documented alarming injury rates at more than…
San Antonio Botanical Garden invites local pups to participate in its festive Deck the Paws Parade
Imagine a whole parade dedicated to and full of all kinds of dog breeds dressed to the holiday nines. Now imagine that no longer, because it’s happening this Saturday at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. For the garden’s Deck the Paws parade, not only do two-legged and four-legged friends get to walk through the 38…
Devils River, San Antonio’s newest distillery, to open Houston Street tasting room in January
More than two years after announcing plans to relocate to San Antonio, Devils River Distillery has finally confirmed it will open a downtown headquarters and tasting room in January. Planned for the Burns Building at 401 E. Houston St., the functioning distillery will also feature a rooftop venue with live music and a rotating menu…
Key Texas House leader says Capitol occupancy may be limited in upcoming legislative session
In the most detailed public glimpse yet at how the 2021 legislative session might play out during a pandemic, the chair of the committee that handles administrative operations in the Texas House told a group of lobbyists Tuesday that masks may be required in all public parts of the Texas Capitol and that a limit…
Report: San Antonio officials got flood of angry messages following resolution condemning hate speech
Turns out some people don’t like being told not to be dicks. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and city council were barraged with “enraged, often hate-filled” comments among the 400 messages they received after the unanimous passage in May of a resolution denouncing hate speech, a KSAT investigation revealed. City officials released 1,000 pages of…
Historic San Antonio-area bar Sidecar unveils new winter cocktail and tapas menus
In line with the season, New Braunfels basement bar Sidecar has curated a new cocktail and tapas menu featuring winter themes. Can you say “Campfire Marshmallow Old Fashioned?” The whiskey-forward drink — one of the winter-themed cocktails new to the menu — is topped with a flame-toasted marshmallow. Others include the Fall 75, an apple pie…
Texas’ Twin Liquors launches new Entertaining at Home guide for boozy holiday celebrations
Holiday gatherings may look a little different this year, but Twin Liquors — an Austin-based beer, wine and spirits retail chain — is taking that in stride. With the debut of a new Entertaining at Home guide, the spirit purveyor aims to offer advice, cocktail education and curated gift options to area imbibers. The gift…
San Antonio-based Taco Cabana unveils frozen candy cane margaritas, because why not?
When we wrote about SA-born Taco Cabana’s Pumpkin Spice margarita back in October, we thought it would be the weirdest, most unnecessary margarita flavor we’d see this holiday season. Turns out we were wrong. Starting Tuesday, TC locations across Texas will dole out a series of holiday-inspired beverages, including a rum tea punch, cinnamon-spiced cafe…
Texas must boost coronavirus control efforts amid “full resurgence” of infections, White House report says
Texas must ramp up efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus as the state experiences a “full resurgence” of COVID-19 infections, according to White House guidelines. Texas is seeing an “unsustainable increase in hospitalizations” from the virus and “statewide mitigation must increase,” according to a White House Coronavirus Task Force report dated November 22.…
SAWS crews test for ammonia in San Antonio River after South Side sewer spill
Well, shit. A ruptured 30-inch sewer main on the South Side spilled more than 100,000 gallons of material into the San Antonio River on Sunday, MySA reports. The breached pipe is located in brush near 8510 Mission Parkway. The spill was reported by a caller at 1 p.m. Sunday. By 4:30 p.m., more than 100,000…
McDonald’s is giving away McRib sandwiches to folks who remove their No-Shave November beard
A new fundraising partnership between McDonald’s and a cancer-fighting nonprofit seems to be built on the notion that beards and barbecue sauce are recipe for a mess. To celebrate the return of its cult classic McRib sandwich, the fast food giant is partnering with No-Shave November on a new online promotion. McDonald’s will give away a free…
San Antonio public health officials issue recommendations against indoor dining and gatherings
Calling November a “critical month” for containing COVID-19 infections, Metro Health issued recommendations Monday urging residents to avoid gathering and dining indoors with anyone not a member of their household. The directive came Monday evening as Bexar County reported 1,117 new COVID-19 cases and as health officials nationwide continue to warn that the recent Thanksgiving…
The Mendoza Line: Lawmaker files resolution to make gerrymandering Texas’ official form of vote rigging
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. The bluebonnet is Texas’ state flower. The pecan its state tree. Now, Republican State Rep.…
San Antonio Redditor posts impassioned PSA after witnessing death of pedestrian
After seeing a pedestrian struck by a car and killed while crossing a Northeast San Antonio road on Sunday, a local Reddit user pleased for drivers to pay more attention. “Literally watched a man get hit and killed tonight on the NorthEast side using a crosswalk because someone ran a red when literally all the…
Nestle Toll House Café owner asked for help saving her business — and San Antonio delivered
San Antonio’s only Nestle Toll House Café seems to have escaped the clutches of the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to the SA community, KSAT reports. After a heartfelt video posted by owner Sherry Ramirez last week, San Antonio stepped up to ensure the shop could weather the storm. The outpouring of support from locals allowed Ramirez…
Harris County GOP chair who assumed role after facing backlash for racist Facebook post resigns
The head of the Republican Party in Texas’ largest county has resigned after less than four months on the job. Keith Nielsen, chairman of the GOP in Harris County, home to Houston, submitted a letter of resignation and the party’s secretary, Josh Flynn, said he received it Monday morning. It was unclear why Nielsen was…
Twitter users slam Texas restaurant owner for video of him telling customers to stop twerking
Dallas restaurant True Kitchen + Kocktails is performing damage control following the weekend release of a now-viral video in which the purported owner curses at a table of patrons for twerking in the dining room. We can’t make this shit up. HipHopWired.com shared the video, saying the man Twitter users identified as owner Kevin Kelley…
Mexican steakhouse Bovino’s Churrascaria opening first U.S. location in San Antonio next month
Bovino’s Churrascaria — a Mexico-based Brazilian steakhouse with locations in luxurious vacay spots Play del Carmen and Cancun — will open its first U.S. location this December in the Alamo City. According to the eatery’s Facebook page, the spot will bring “traditional experiences of the Brazilian Churrasco” to the Shops at La Cantera in far…
San Antonio-born Megan Thee Stallion disowns the Alamo City in GQ interview
While San Antonio may be eager to claim rapper Megan Thee Stallion as one of our own, the feeling apparently isn’t mutual. In a November 16 video for GQ magazine, the “WAP” rapper explained the circumstances behind her birth, and why she doesn’t consider herself to be “from” the Alamo City. As part of GQ’s…
Pearl developer Silver Ventures plans to build 265 apartments across the San Antonio River
Pearl developer Silver Ventures is planning to build a 265-unit, 7-story apartment building on East Elmira Street, on the other side of the San Antonio River’s Museum Reach from the Pearl’s main campus. The project would be the fourth major multifamily development by Silver Ventures, and would push the Pearl’s apartment total past 900 units.…
San Antonio’s first self-serve taproom The Dooryard to hold grand opening next weekend
After some pandemic-related delays, San Antonio’s first-ever self-serve beer and wine concept The Dooryard will hold its grand opening next weekend. “It’s finally here!!” The drinkery’s Facebook event page read. “We can’t wait to show you guys what we’ve been creating! Come out and #GetYourOwnDangBeer with us.” The new spot, located inside the Starlight Oaks…
San Antonio area reports 888 new COVID-19 cases as Texas hospitalization numbers climb
San Antonio Metro Health reported 888 new COVID-19 cases in Bexar County on Sunday and no new deaths. Those numbers arrived as Texas reported 8,634 coronavirus-related hospitalizations, the state’s highest number since early August. Total cases in the state are now just shy of 1.56 million, and 21,357 people have so far died. The new Bexar…
San Antonio reports three-day rise in COVID-19 cases as U.S. sets new hospitalization record
Local officials on Saturday evening reported 1,661 new COVID-19 cases and one new coronavirus-related death over the past three days in Bexar County. That brings the total count to 78,411 cases and 1,344 deaths. San Antonio and Bexar County officials didn’t hold a coronavirus briefing Thursday or Friday due to the Thanksgiving holiday. The rising numbers…
San Antonio’s Hotel Valencia offering ‘Light up the Night’ holiday packages
If there’s one thing the San Antonio River Walk does correctly, it’s holiday decor. San Antonio’s Hotel Valencia has taken advantage of the festive air of thePaseo del Rio, debuting new “Light up the Night” packages. The seasonal offering include fancy accommodations for two and tacks on a special treat: a pair of complimentary tickets…
Coronavirus shutdowns don’t need to be all or nothing
We were warned this might happen. While millions stayed home last spring, looking to summer for respite from the virus, experts worried that an even larger fall surge was around the corner. We’ve rounded that corner. As cases and hospitalizations reach record levels across Europe and the United States, leaders are being forced to make…
Former CIA chief calls Ted Cruz ‘unworthy’ to serve Texas during Twitter fight over killing in Iran
Former CIA director John Brennan called Sen. Ted Cruz “unworthy to represent the good people of Texas” after the two engaged in a heated Twitter exchange over the ambush killing of a top Iranian nuclear scientist. The verbal shoving match started when Brennan, the Obama administration’s CIA chief, condemned the killing of scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh in…
Q&A with NAMI Texas’ executive director about mental health during the pandemic
It’s been a tough year for everyone, which can take a toll on our mental health. Texas continues to set records for COVID-19 cases, and health experts fear the holidays could exacerbate an already dangerous situation. The state has reportedover 20,500 virus-related deaths, and over 8,000 were hospitalized in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. Since…
Texas Democrats have failed to pass voter access legislation for years. The pandemic may change that.
Editor’s note: This coverage is made possible through Votebeat, a nonpartisan reporting project covering local election integrity and voting access. The article is available for reprint under the terms of Votebeat’s republishing policy. Lawmakers and voting rights groups have been fighting over updates to Texas’ election systems for years, but issues heightened by the coronavirus…
A 1.2-acre city block has become an urban oasis next to downtown San Antonio’s Frost Tower
A new downtown park emerged when construction fences were removed last week from the lot across from San Antonio’s glassy new Frost Tower. Weston Urban, the developer of the 24-story office building, unveiled the 1.2-acre green space, carpeted in grass and circled trees. The natural oasis along West Houston Street has already attracted cyclists, dog walkers and…
West Point student from San Antonio lands prestigious U.S. Rhodes Scholarship
West Point Military Academy cadet Tyrese Bender of San Antonio is one of just 32 students nationwide to be presented with a prestigious U.S. Rhodes Scholarship. Rhodes Scholars are awarded financial assistance to complete graduate or master’s degree work at Oxford University in Oxford, England. The scholarships are based on students’ scholarly achievements. Bender, an…
San Antonio and Bexar County issue partial curfew for Thanksgiving weekend
Hours before Thanksgiving, San Antonio and Bexar County officials issued partial curfews that will take effect through the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Starting Thanksgiving Day, residents cannot gather outside of their homes from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Central unless they are commuting to or from a business. The curfew ends Monday, according to the amended…
Romanian paean to investigative journalism, Collective, is year’s best documentary
Alexander Nanau’s Collective, a riveting documentary about the aftermath of a fire at a rock club in Bucharest, Romania, is the best documentary I’ve seen in 2020. With intimate access to both a team of journalists who expose a multi-tiered scandal and an idealistic young health minister who arrives to reform a corrupt system, the…
2020 documentary on the wife Johnny Cash met in San Antonio hits streaming services next month
The 2020 documentary My Darling Vivian, which tells the story of Johnny Cash’s first wife Vivian Liberto, hits streaming services December 8. An official selection of the South by Southwest 2020 film festival, My Darling Vivian shares accounts from the couple’s four children, who tell the story of their mother and her relationship with the legendary…
Glitter Political: Democrat Ina Minjarez prepares for another session playing defense in the Texas House
Democrat Ina Minjarez believes that if she wasn’t an outspoken female voice in the Texas House of Representatives, she’d have made a great fitness instructor or personal trainer. That could explain her vitality and drive as a member of the state’s legislature’s minority party. “Yeah, I love to exercise,” says Minjarez, 45, during a video…
Two San Antonio-area butcher shops named best in America by Food & Wine magazine
Apparently, if you want the best carne, you have to leave the San Antonio city limits. That’s what Food & Wine thinks, anyway. According to the magazine’s list of the best butcher shops in the U.S., Dziuk’s Meat Market in Castroville and Wiatrek’s Meat Market in Poth are among the Texas institutions that ranked on…
Texas gun sales reach record high this year amid pandemic and social unrest
Texas has long been one of the top states for firearm sales, but in 2020 — a year marked by a grinding pandemic and social unrest — residents loaded up at a record level. From January through October, the FBI conducted more than 1.9 million background checks for gun sales in the Lone Star State. That’s…
Assclown Alert: Texas Pastor Kenneth L. Redmon says Democratic voters made a ‘covenant with death’
Assclown Alert is a column of opinion, analysis and snark. Texas has no shortage of fire-and-brimstone preachers, and plenty of them are willing to weave politics into their browbeating benedictions. Midland preacher Kenneth L. Redmon recently did the latter in a post-election sermon of assclownish proportions. In a message to his flock at Abundant Life…
Texas’ Garrison Brothers Distillery celebrates releases its first-ever rye whiskey at drive-thru event
In the tiny town of Hye, an hour north of San Antonio, the team at Garrison Brothers Distillery has been hard at work developing its first-ever rye whiskey. And on December 5 — the day Prohibition was repealed 87 years ago — Texans will be able to taste the results. The whiskey maker will debut…
San Antonio chef Edward Villarreal travels to Denver to participate in cannabis-infused dinner
San Antonio-based culinary show Homegrown Chef has dropped a new episode featuring Harold Sims, the Denver-based chef who grabbed attention as a winner on Netflix’s new show Cooked With Cannabis. The new episode of the online series, called “Cooking with Cannabis — A Mile High,” features Sims as a guest of Alamo City chef Edward Villarreal, the program’s…
Tandem, a new coffee shop in San Antonio’s Southtown, will hold soft opening this weekend
Tandem — Southtown’s newest coffee, craft beer and wine spot — will hold a weekend-long soft opening starting Friday. The space will open its doors to brew up beans from companies including Chicago-based Dark Matter Coffee and San Antonio-based Pulp Coffee as well as serve beers from local breweries Dorcol, Freetail Brewing and Altstadt Brewery. Tandem…
Despite global pandemic, Austin-based Torchy’s Tacos scores $400 million investment deal
Austin-based Torchy’s Tacos last week sold a $400 million stake to an investor group to fund its ongoing expansion, National Restaurant News reports. Since launching as a food truck in 2006, Torchy’s has grown into a “craft casual” brand that now has 83 locations in seven states, including three in San Antonio. It seems that,…
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office fires last whistleblower who called for his investigation
The Texas Attorney General’s Office has fired the final remaining whistleblower who asked authorities to investigate whether AG Ken Paxton abused his office by doing favors for a political donor. Deputy Attorney General for Legal Counsel Ryan Vassar, who’d already been put on leave from the office, was formally terminated November 17, the Texas Tribune…
As COVID-19 cases rise, San Antonio mayor says he’s stepping up business enforcement
As the city reported its highest COVID-19 hospitalization rate since August, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said city officials will no longer write warnings to businesses that fail to comply with pandemic-related public health rules. Instead, code compliance officers will issue citations for first offenses, and when appropriate, shut down noncompliant businesses, the mayor said at Tuesday night’s…
San Antonio Botanical Garden hosting outdoor, family-friendly holiday double feature
Grab your favorite blanket and a cup of cocoa and kick off the holiday season with a double feature in the San Antonio Botanical Garden. First on the docket is a whimsical train ride to the North Pole in The Polar Express, followed by Buddy the Elf’s adventures in New York City in the beloved…
Immunity to COVID-19 may persist six months or more
As coronavirus cases in the United States and around the world rise, scientists are uncovering hints that immunity for those who have had COVID-19 can last at least six months, if not longer. After people with COVID-19 have largely recovered, immune proteins called antibodies are still detectable six months later. What’s more, the proteins have…
Texans still can’t buy liquor in Walmart, after U.S. Supreme Court rejects bid
Texans still won’t be able to purchase liquor at Walmart, after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a bid by the retail giant that would have allowed the booze to be sold at stores in the state. Texas is the only state in the nation that does not allow publicly traded companies, like Walmart Inc., to obtain…
San Antonio’s Ruby City will integrate with San Pedro Creek Culture Park as part of expansion
Downtown contemporary art center Ruby City will connect to San Pedro Creek Culture Park as part of an expansion that will mark the symbolic completion of its campus. Ruby City’s award-winning building will be integrated into San Pedro Creek’s urban green space during the second phase of the park’s restoration project. Both the building and…
Dorćol Distilling’s annual Brandy Alexander Tour kicks off with 10 top San Antonio bars
Dorćol Distilling will launch its sixth annual Brandy Alexander Tour this week, showcasing local bars that use its award-winning Kinsman Rakia in different renditions of the classic dessert cocktail. A total of 10 craft cocktail purveyors are participating this year, serving up unique takes on the drink, which will be available on menus from Thanksgiving…
South San Antonio gordita shop offering midweek BOGO deal to close out the year
We’ve all felt the weight of a midweek slump, especially this year. So, when a San Antonio small business unveils a meal deal that features tasty grub and savings, well, it’s hard not to take note. Southside eatery Lala’s Gordita’s this week began offering a buy-one-get-one-half-off deal that serves up two meals for less than $15. One combo…
San Antonio’s Hotel Contessa now under ownership of East Coast real estate company
Amid one of the most tumultuous travel seasons in the 15-year-old hotel’s history, San Antonio’s Hotel Contessa has been sold to an investment firm in New England, the San Antonio Business Journal reports. Wheelock Street Capital snapped up the 265-room property, marking its first hotel purchase in the San Antonio market. It’s also the firm’s first purchase anywhere…
Report: Trump aimed to seize 991 more tracts of private land, mostly in South Texas, for border wall
The White House planned to acquire 991 additional plots of private land, primarily in South Texas, to finish building President Donald Trump’s much-vaunted border wall, according to a new federal watchdog report. The Trump administration aimed to buy or seize a total of nearly 5,300 acres as part of the land grab, according to a Government Accountability…
Esperanza Center and San Antonio Potters Guild take their holiday markets online this year
Two favorite holiday markets have found ways to return in a COVID-safe manner this year, giving San Antonians the chance to support independent makers while they gift shop. The San Antonio Potters Guild and the Esperanza Peace & Justice Center have both taken their annual markets to the web. For this year’s Clay and Arts Holiday Sale,…
Avoid the bars the night before Thanksgiving and imbibe safely at home with these San Antonio cocktails
Typically, the night before Thanksgiving is the biggest moneymaking shift for bars in much of the U.S. But given the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Bexar County, it’s not exactly the safest way to celebrate this year. “Blackout Wednesday,” as it’s referred to by some in the biz, is typically fueled by the prospect…
San Antonio Youth Ballet to hold socially distanced drive-in version of The Nutcracker
Even amid a global pandemic, the performers of the San Antonio Youth Ballet know the show must go on. With the help of recently-opened Mission Outdoor Theater, the organization will hold live outdoor performances of the classic holiday ballet The Nutcracker, which it’s billing as Nutcracker Under the Stars. The dancers will be projected onto the…
San Antonio chef Braunda Smith shares her favorite recipe for leftover Thanksgiving turkey
Known for her approach to down-home southern cooking, Lucy Cooper’s owner Braunda Smith is no stranger to a huge holiday spread. The mother of six knows how to maximize on a meal, and Thanksgiving dinner is no exception — leftovers are king, and when a recipe comes along that’s a step above the tired turkey…
Appeals court rules that Texas can eject Planned Parenthood from its Medicaid program
A federal appeals court has cleared Texas to drop Planned Parenthood from its Medicaid program, which offers healthcare services for low-income residents. In a Monday ruling, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals said state officials have legal authority to decide which providers are allowed to participate in the program. The decision reverses a 2017 lower…
Incarnate Word hosting free COVID-19 testing kiosk at South San Antonio campus
Curative Inc. is providing free COVID-19 testing at the University of Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine on the South Side of San Antonio. Tests will be available from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25, and Friday, November 27, as well as 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. on Monday, November 30. The kiosk is located at 7615…
Watergate journo Bernstein says ‘craven public silence’ of Cornyn and other GOPers enabled Trump
In a tweet, Watergate reporter Carl Bernstein publicly named 21 Republican senators he says have “repeatedly expressed extreme contempt for [Donald] Trump and his fitness” to be president. Citing information from “colleagues, staff members, lobbyists [and] White House aides,” the veteran journalist named Sen. John Cornyn of Texas and 20 others, who have either been…
Robert Indiana exhibit at San Antonio’s McNay Art Museum features poetry by 18 NESA students
Eighteen high school creative writing students from the North East School of the Arts (NESA) have contributed poetry to the McNay Art Museum’s latest exhibition, Robert Indiana: A Legacy of Love. The exhibition, currently on view, presents textual and visual art both by Indiana himself and by those he inspired, including luminaries such as Roy…
KSAT and Trinity University partner for three-part series discussing impact of COVID-19 in San Antonio
From education to interpersonal communications, living through COVID-19 has forced the San Antonio community to adapt in many ways. To reflect on the pandemic’s local impact, Trinity University is partnering with TV station KSAT for a live-streamed community discussion that will take place over three consecutive Wednesdays in December. Hosted by KSAT for its 6…
Dress up your holiday spread with San Antonio chef Tim McDiarmid’s fresh cranberry relish recipe
Cranberry sauce gets a bad rap around the holidays, usually due to the overuse of canned, gelatinous versions that seem to defy the laws of gravity. But San Antonio chef Tim McDiarmid says it’s easy to DIY a fresh and flavorful cranberry relish that will sweeten up your holiday spread — and maybe even make…
The Mendoza Line: Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick offers $1 million reward for FBI to leave Ken Paxton alone
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. Days after offering a $1 million reward to anyone able to show evidence of widespread…
North San Antonio restaurant will offer free seafood to first 30 guests at grand opening
SA Seafood has been serving up crawfish, shrimp, oysters, snow crab and more in a soft opening capacity since early October. Now, after a month of priming its team, the new Northside eatery will host a grand opening celebration offering free food or drink for its first 30 guests. SA Seafood’s grand opening events will…
Streaming one-man performance of A Christmas Carol to benefit the Classic Theatre of San Antonio
Fans of Charles Dickens’ classic holiday spook-fest have a chance to safely see a top-notch performance of the Christmas tale — and to support San Antonio theater while they’re at it. The Classic Theatre of San Antonio has partnered with TBD Pictures to present a recorded performance of A Christmas Carol, which was filmed at…
San Antonio Botanical Garden to host virtual holiday-themed cooking classes led by local chef
The San Antonio Botanical Garden’s Katrina Flores will dust off her chef hat for a series of holiday-themed cooking classes that will allow students to learn in the comfort of their own home. Trained in culinary arts, baking, food science and nutrition, Flores — the garden’s culinary and wellness programs specialist — will lead virtual learners through…
The devastating toll of COVID-19 on El Paso illustrates the pandemic’s stark inequalities
Jessica Jimenez, a 33-year-old who has lived in El Paso since she was born, said she has three friends and six relatives who have caught the coronavirus. She works as a retail manager in a shopping mall in the city, and “when we were told we were going back to work, I purchased life insurance.”…
San Antonio community rushes to rescue local Nestle Toll House bakery from closure
“I’m coming to you from the bottom of my heart today to ask for some help.” That was how Sherry Ramirez, owner of San Antonio’s Nestle Toll House Cafe, began her social media plea for community members to throw a lifeline. Like many small businesses, her shop is fighting to stay open amid the pandemic. “We are…
Twitter users blast Sen. Ted Cruz for sharing ‘war on Thanksgiving’ meme as Texas COVID deaths rise
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas drew harsh criticism this weekend for tweeting a “war on Thanksgiving” meme while the national guard helped El Paso deal with overflowing morgues and Dallas residents flocked for emergency food aid. Cruz, a Republican known for his frequent Twitter brawls with celebrities, tweeted out the meme Saturday. Its imagery…
Team of San Antonio bartenders dominates the 2020 Garrison Brothers Bourbon Brawl
Congratulations are in order for a team of San Antonio bartenders. After being postponed several times due to COVID-19, 2020’s Garrison Brothers Bourbon Brawl competition concluded last week via a virtual judging. The Alamo City group came out on top in the contest, which pitted bartenders from five Texas cities against each other to create…
San Antonio Symphony to resume performance schedule in 2021, introduce streaming options
After being forced to cancel the first half of its planned 2020-2021 season in July, the San Antonio Symphony has revealed plans for a return to the stage next year. On Friday, the symphony announced that it would resume its performance schedule in early 2021, beginning with a concert featuring Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Concerto…
Housing activists take their protest to San Antonio Housing Authority CEO’s home
The protest on Saturday started at the San Antonio Housing Authority’s headquarters on South Flores Street near downtown where roughly 80 advocates demanded the Alazán Courts demolition and redevelopment plan be halted, among a slew of other complaints against the agency. It ended 90 minutes later at the Steel House Lofts, five blocks down South…
San Antonio-area COVID-19 case count continues to rise as Texas deaths exceed 21,000
On Saturday, Metro Health officials reported 492 new COVID-19 infections in Bexar County, raising the cumulative case count to 72,805. Two people being treated for COVID-19 died Saturday, bringing the county’s total death toll to 1,318. The number of hospitalizations also increased to 466. Of those patients, 148 were in intensive care and 66 were…
New Pfizer results show its COVID-19 vaccine is nearly 95% effective
Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine candidate may be more effective than early results suggested. Just a week after releasing interim results suggesting the vaccine was more than 90 percent effective (SN: 11/9/20), the pharmaceutical giant and its German biotech partner BioNTech announced final results of their 41,000-person clinical trial. A final analysis indicates that the vaccine is safe…
68 members of the Texas House call for STAAR exams to be canceled this year
A bipartisan group of 68 Texas House representatives signed a letter calling on the Texas Education Agency to cancel the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness exam or at minimum not use student scores to rate schools or districts this school year. The letter, penned by Rep. Diego Bernal, D-San Antonio, asks that the…
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn refuses to call Joe Biden president-elect, even as Trump’s recount craters
Despite Donald J. Trump’s rapidly diminishing chances of staying an occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., U.S. Sen. John Cornyn still can’t seem to find the intestinal fortitude to remove his face from the president’s flabby orange posterior. Although Cornyn has shown recent signs of a spine, such his sort-of condemnation of Trump’s firing of to cybersecurity…
Now’s a good time to remember the time Donald Trump’s own investigation proved voter fraud isn’t a thing
The year was 2017, and the new president wasn’t happy. Though Donald Trump had just won the Electoral College — originally invented to protect slaveholders, quite fittingly – he’d been pummeled in the hearts of America, losing the popular vote by 3 million. To the loathed Hillary Clinton, no less. For a man of his…
COVID-19 vaccines may be coming soon, but most Texans won’t get them for months. Here’s why.
FALFURRIAS — After 8 a.m. on a fall Friday, a 31-foot white van drove down pockmarked streets, passed a public housing complex and pulled into the Falfurrias High School parking lot. Masked medical staff unloaded coolers filled with vaccines, then unpacked gloves and bandages. Others set out a hot pink sign bearing a handwritten message:…
San Antonio brothers behind La Panadería honored with national community involvement award
San Antonio brothers David and José Cáceres — purveyors of Mexican “bread cultura” via their two La Panadería restaurants — have won the Tiptree World Bread Awards Heroes honor. The awards recognize bread makers from five regions of the United States who undertook altruistic initiatives to help others during the COVID-19 crisis. The San Antonio…
Prepare your pocketbook for parking lot changes at San Antonio’s Pearl development
Get ready to spend even more money when visiting San Antonio’s Pearl complex. The popular mixed-used development is accelerating a project to offer more vehicle-free, pedestrian-focused areas, effectively eliminating the free Full Goods parking lot on the complex’s north side. “As Pearl evolves, we seek to build pedestrian connectivity and increased green space. This evolution…
San Antonio’s Bar Du Mon Ami prepares to close amid second COVID spike — possibly forever
Alamo Heights-area drinkery Bar Du Mon Ami is one of many local bars that’s tried to follow state and local mandates to operate safely during the pandemic. Despite those efforts, owner Jonny Yumol says he still may be forced to shut his business permanently. When the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission shifted its regulations in August…
Despite activists’ demands, CEO of San Antonio’s CPS Energy says she can’t afford to shut coal plant
Despite a petition calling for CPS Energy to shut down its Spruce 2 coal-fired power plant, the city-owned utility’s top official told the Express-News she’s not willing to take that step. In a virtual meeting with the daily’s editorial board, CEO Paula Gold-Williams said CPS still owes $1 billion on the plant, which went into…
Downtown San Antonio luxury hotels offering curbside Thanksgiving packages
Travel and tourism in SA has taken a huge hit from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but that’s not stopping downtown’s St. Anthony Hotel and San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter from getting creative this holiday season. The two luxury hotels are offering to-go Thanksgiving feasts that guests can retrieve without ever leaving their vehicles. Tributary — the…
Texas Monthly features 14 San Antonio taquerias, calling them some of the best in the state
San Antonians know our tacos are superior. That’s just fact. While we don’t need Texas Monthly to tell us that our taco joints are the best in the state — or maybe even the world — it’s definitely heartwarming to see 14 local taquerias get some love from the mag. From the pillowy fried goodness…
City of San Antonio probing whether apartments defrauded COVID-19 housing assistance program
The City of San Antonio has opened an investigation into a Northside apartment complex for submitting potentially fraudulent applications to the emergency housing assistance program, which helps keep tenants and homeowners whose incomes have been impacted by COVID-19 from being evicted. Icon Apartments, which is located in District 9, behind Winston Churchill High School, is…
These San Antonio restaurants are offering individual Thanksgiving plates
For San Antonians who are opting to self-isolate this Thanksgiving, or even those just celebrating with a partner or small family, cooking an entire holiday feast probably doesn’t make sense. These SA restaurants are offering individual Thanksgiving plates piled high with all the trimmings. All can be picked up curbside, or in some cases delivered.…
Human remains found on the side of the road in Southeast Bexar County, sheriff reports
The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office has launched a homicide investigation following the discovery of human remains in Southeast Bexar County, KSAT reports. The body was discovered along the side of the road at the 9200 block of S. W.W. White Road in a rural portion of far Southeast Bexar County, according to BCSO officials. In…
Many Texas families say remote learning isn’t working and they want it fixed
Almost midway through the school year, it has become increasingly clear that virtual learning is failing a sizable number of Texas public school students whose parents decided to keep them home as COVID-19 grips the state. The disturbing number of students posting failing grades while trying to learn in front of computer screens has also brought…
Gourmet Gifting: Eight locally produced gifts for San Antonio food lovers
The holiday season is right around the corner, and there’s a good chance you’ve got a foodie or two on your list. Fortunately, there are a wealth of San Antonio-made gifts available that can keep them delighted while helping out small businesses in your community. If none of these specific ideas tickle your fancy, here’s…
Green with Envy: Two ways to wow the plant lovers in your life this holiday season
Plants have been having a moment. Photos of lush greenery abound on Instagram, with viral “it” plants flooding the platform, from the coin-shaped leaves of pilea peperomioides to the wildly popular — and often wildly expensive — pink princess philodendron. Not to mention the fact that gardening, both indoor and outdoor, became a popular outlet…
San Antonio named one of six possible finalists for U.S. Space Command headquarters
Joint Base San Antonio is among six finalist locations for the U.S. Space Command headquarters, Space News is reporting. The other finalists are Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado; Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico; Patrick Air Force Base, Florida; Redstone Army Airfield, Alabama; and Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, according to the story, which is…
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott talks up COVID-19 therapy but doesn’t offer new measures to stop spread
During his first press conference in two months, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday touted a COVID-19 antibody therapy drug but offered no new plans to reverse the state’s alarming rise in cases and hospitalizations. At an appearance at Lubbock’s Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, the Republican governor talked up Eli Lilly and Co.’s. new drug bamlanivimab,…
San Antonio chefs share their timesaving tips and tricks for the Thanksgiving holiday
Turkey Day 2020 is T minus seven days away, and whether you’re planning to do it small or host family — if the latter, stay safe, friends — it can be a time-consuming ordeal. To make for a smoother celebration, we hit up four SA chefs for tips on how to use every last moment…
San Antonio-based H-E-B amends purchasing limits amid second wave of COVID-19 pandemic
As COVID-19 case numbers rise in Texas, grocery giant H-E-B has again updated its purchase limits on products including antibacterial sprays, disinfectant wipes, paper products and, peculiarly, frozen chitlins. Items on the newly updated list include also include hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, gloves and brisket. No word on why frozen chitlins — pig intestines, which…
Beto’s Alt-Mex donating portion of to-go sales to San Antonio Hope Center for holiday season
Longtime Broadway eatery Beto’s Alt-Mex is partnering with the San Antonio Hope Center to help break the cycle of systemic poverty. Through the end of the year, the funky Tex-Mex spot will donate 5% of all to-go and curbside sales to the Hope Center. The nonprofit works one-on-one with families to provide financial literacy and…
Texas education board green lights sex ed curriculum with no mention of consent or LGBTQ+ issues
Under Texas’ first major overhaul of its sex education curriculum since 1997, middle schoolers won’t be required to learn why consent is important or about sexual orientation and gender identity. After a year of debate and testimony, the Texas State Board of Education voted Wednesday to move forward new minimum standards for sex education in the…
Here’s how San Antonians can locally source the ingredients for their Thanksgiving feast
Most of us have already resigned ourselves to the fact that we won’t be hosting hordes or gathering at grandma’s this Thanksgiving. We won’t miss irascible Uncle Irving and his insistence on green bean casserole. But we will surely miss the camaraderie, whether family or friends. For some, this might mean simply subbing in a…
Cuishe Cocina Mexicana opens downtown San Antonio location in St. Paul Square
Less than two months after opening the doors on a sprawling Stone Oak-area eatery, Cuishe Cocina Mexicana has unveiled a downtown location at historic St. Paul Square. Both Cuische (pronounced KWEE-sheh) locations specialize in interior Mexican cuisine and are run by the team behind tapas outpost Toro Kitchen + Bar. The center city outpost opened Wednesday, according to the…
Honey Bunny, We the Kingdom and more are taking the stage in San Antonio this weekend
Though Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff is threatening to shut bars back down, the show is still going on. For now. If you feel safe to check out a socially distanced performance, one of these concerts may fit the bill. As always we recommend checking out each venue’s safety protocols beforehand — and using your…
Movie star Matthew McConaughey says he’d consider running for Texas Governor
Actor Matthew McConaughey might say “alright, alright, alright” to the prospect of serving as governor of his home state — assuming that’s something Texans want. “I mean, that wouldn’t be up to me. It would be up to the people more than it would me,” the Uvalde native told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt this…
Linda Ronstadt Reminisces About Collaborating with Flaco Jiménez, Performing in San Antonio
Legendary artist Linda Ronstadt has worked with various musicians – from Dolly Parton to Johnny Cash to Frank Zappa – during her acclaimed career. She collaborated with iconic San Antonio musician Flaco Jiménez for a cover of the ranchera song “El Puente Roto” (“The Broken Bridge”) on his eighth studio album, 1992’s Partners. Jiménez also…
Oil companies snag Gulf of Mexico waters for offshore drilling in last bid before Biden transition
In the last opportunity for oil companies to bid on federal Gulf of Mexico waters under a Trump administration, the federal government on Wednesday leased more than a half-million acres to companies for offshore oil drilling and production. The leasing event, livestreamed from New Orleans, comes as President-Elect Joe Biden readies his transition — Biden promised…
San Antonians get a second chance to hear Symphony Viva in concert via online rebroadcast
If you weren’t able to make it out to Symphony Viva’s outdoor concert earlier this month, they’ve got you covered with a recorded version of their performance at the San Antonio Botanical Garden, which will be available on demand via Vimeo on Sunday, November 22. For those who don’t know, Symphony Viva’s inception blossomed out…
Briscoe Western Arts Museum takes annual Yanaguana Indian Arts Celebration online
The Briscoe Art Museum is commemorating Native American Heritage Month with a virtual version of its annual Yanaguana Indian Arts Celebration. The two-day event will offer a glimpse into traditional and contemporary Native American culture with musical performances, dancing and storytelling from guests including Tim Blueflint Ramel, Karla Saenz, George Curtis Levi, Amy Bluemel and…
Safely experience the magic of the holiday season with illumiNight’s drive-through light display
Who said you can’t frolic through the Christmas lights in a safe, socially distanced way? illumiNight: A Magical Drive-Thru Experience, is just that – an opportunity to witness the twinkling magic of the holidays and support a good cause all from the comfort of your car. Held on the AT&T Center Grounds, the one-mile drive-through…
La Cantera crêperie to partner with San Antonio Food Bank and Culinaria this holiday season
Sweet Paris Crêperie and Café is launching a Holiday for Hunger initiative, designating a portion of proceeds from two holiday crêpes to benefit the San Antonio Food Bank and Culinaria. The Turkey Cran crêpe features roasted turkey, brie cheese, bacon, spinach, fresh cranberry sauce, walnuts and dried cranberries for $10.95. The kid-friendly Grinch crêpe is…
San Antonio-area Andalusia Whiskey Co. releases special bottled in bond Texas whiskey
Andalusia Whiskey Co. — located just north of SA in Blanco, Texas — has released a Bottled in Bond Single Malt that’s produced “grain to glass” right here in the Lone Star State. To be bottled in bond, the whiskey must meet all of the qualifications for its category plus be distilled by one distillery,…
Partnership between San Antonio Spur Patty Mills and coffee roaster to benefit Indigenous Australians
San Antonio Spur Patty Mills has launched a collaboration with coffee roaster Bluestone Lane to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples develop professional skills by working for the company in the U.S. The Keriba Ged program will bring members of those indigenous communities to the U.S. to work at New York-based Bluestone Lane’s cafes. The…
San Antonio native Noël Wells releases disco-pop cover of Bill Withers’ song ‘Lovely Day’
Actress, filmmaker, comedian, singer-songwriter and San Antonio native Noël Wells (TV’s Master of None) has released a disco-pop cover of the Bill Withers’ song “Lovely Day.” Withers, best known for his songs “Lean on Me,” “Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Lovely Day” in the 1970s, died from heart complications in March at the age of 81.…
Shiner Bock brings gold home to Texas after flagship brew wins in top international beer competition
Shiner Bock has more than the Thanksgiving season to celebrate. The Texas brewery’s most popular quaff, Shiner Bock, landed a gold medal at the 2020 European Beer Star competition in Nuremberg, Germany. The American-style dark lager placed at the top of the class in the Session Beer category of the prestigious competition. “We are very…
Movie Marketplace: Online San Antonio merchants offer holiday gifts for the cinephiles in your life
In past iterations of the Current’s Shop Local issue, we’ve offered blockbuster-worthy shopping ideas for folks looking for locally produced gifts for movie lovers. Last year, for example, we recommended movie-themed enamel pins from a host of local makers. This year, we really don’t want you driving store to store, spreading your germs — or being…
FBI is investigating Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, AP report says
The FBI is investigating Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Associated Press reported Tuesday evening, vetting allegations made by eight of Paxton’s former top aides that he illegally used the power of his office to benefit a political donor. Two unnamed sources told the AP that the bureau was examining claims made by the whistleblowers that Paxton…
County judge warns he’ll close San Antonio-area bars if COVID-19 numbers continue to climb
Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff on Tuesday warned he could order recently reopened bars closed again if the local COVID-19 positivity rate rises above 10% for two weeks straight. That rate — the number of coronavirus tests that come back positive — has gone up for four consecutive weeks and now sits at 9.4%, according…
Gifting Back: Nine San Antonio nonprofits worth supporting this holiday season
The COVID-19 pandemic has created all kinds of turmoil in our community this year. Beyond the mental health repercussions and loss of life, there are the lost jobs, lost homes and lost livelihoods. And that makes giving back even more important this holiday season. If you’re in a position to make charitable donations as we close…
