Cover Story
Project Censored: The important stories the mainstream media ignored in 2014
Our oceans are acidifying—even if the nightly news hasn’t told you yet. As humanity continues to fill the atmosphere with harmful gases, the planet is becoming less hospitable to life as we know it. The vast oceans absorb much of the carbon dioxide we have produced, from the industrial revolution through the rise of global…
Elections To Replace Leticia Van de Putte and Mike Villarreal End in Runoffs
After drastically low voter turnout in the special elections to replace San Antonio legislators Mike Villarreal and Leticia Van de Putte at the Texas Capitol, the top two contenders in each crowded race will face one another in runoffs, unable to garner the majority of votes needed to win the seats. Democratic State Rep. Trey…
10 Free Events Happening This Week
Thursday, January 8 Airplane For Wonderland of the America’s free movie of the week, the Santikos Bijou is screening Airplane, the classic slapstick riff on 70’s disaster films. Free, 7pm Thursday, Santikos Bijou Cinema Bistro, 4522 Fredericksburg, (210) 734-4552, santikos.com. Friday, January 9 Grupo de Sexo XXXPlosion Bottomless Art Show Albert Alvarez has curated a…
Lawmakers File LGBT Equality Bills for 2015 Session
This week, as two Texas same-sex couples and their lawyers head to federal appeals court in New Orleans to challenge the state’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, Democratic lawmakers are taking a legislative approach to eliminating the ban. State Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, and State Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, have filed House Joint Resolution 34…
DA Recuses Office from Former Deputies Murder Case
Bexar County’s new DA announced Monday that his office will recuse itself from a case involving a former sheriff’s deputy accused of shooting and killing a man in 2013. In a news release, District Attorney Nicholas “Nico” LaHood said former Bexar County Sheriff’s Deputy Anthony Lamont Thomas, who is accused of murder, contacted him and…
Happy Election Day, Round Two
Ready to get your vote on again, San Antonio? Polls are open until 7 p.m. today for the special election to replace longtime San Antonio legislators Mike Villarreal and Leticia Van de Putte—both of whom vacated their positions at the Texas Capitol to run for mayor of the Alamo City. Peruse the Bexar County Elections…
Who is Naming Their Baby Iker?
Last week, the Social Security Administration released a state-by-state breakdown the most popular baby names of 2013, and it’s pretty much what you would expect, what with your Jacobs and Emmas and Jaydens and such. The Huffington Post has handy maps of the most popular names for boys and girls. If you want to see what…
5 Things You Have To Do This Week
Monday, January 5 The Bolos, Lonely Horse, Garrett T. Capps, Jollys The Bolos join Lonely Horse, Garrett T. Capps and Chicago’s Jollys for a night of true rock ‘n’ roll at The Mix. No cover, 10pm Monday, The Mix, 2423 N St. Marys, (210) 735-1313. Tuesday, January 6 Gallery Talk: Nelson Rockefeller’s Picasso Tapestries Between 1955 and 1975,…
Kaplan College Reaches Settlement with Feds
The for-profit Kaplan College has agreed to pay the United States Department of Justice more than $1.3 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit. While Kaplan College won’t have to admit liability, a DOJ investigation found the education company, which received federal tuition funds, hired instructors who didn’t meet minimum requirements set out in Texas law.…
Q&A with Texas House District 123 Candidates: Nunzio Previtera
With tomorrow’s Election Day to replace State Rep. Mike Villarreal, D-San Antonio, in the Texas House of Representatives, we continue with our blog series with candidates running for the position. (Tomorrow is also Election Day to replace State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte). Today’s installment features Nunzio Previtera, the Republican candidate. Previtera faces Democrats Diego…
The Salt Lick is Named the Most Iconic Restaurant in Texas
When it comes to The Salt Lick, barbecue lovers freely dole out the superlatives. The sprawling Hill Country joint is world-renowned as a must-visit mecca for meat lovers and continues to be a mainstay on just about every best barbecue list. Now Thrillist has crowned the Driftwood destination as the most iconic restaurant in Texas. Now…
Cocktail Competition Finalists Announced
Houston Street Charities, the nonprofit behind the San Antonio Cocktail Conference, released the name of the eight finalists for this year’s original cocktail competition. In order to streamline the competition, which will take place Sunday, January 18 at 4 p.m. inside the Aztec Theatre, blind entries were winnowed down to eight by judges. This year’s…
Melissa Aguillon Receives Large Donation From Auto Title Lender
On January 1, Democratic candidate for Texas House District 123 Melissa Aguillon reported a $10,000 campaign contribution from renowned auto title lender and political contributor Rod Aycox, who runs a title-loan business called Select Management Resources out of Georgia (among others). Auto title lending requires consumers looking for cash to sign their car titles away as…
UIW Officer Who Shot Cameron Reedus Has Resigned
Cpl. Chris Carter, the University of Incarnate Word police officer who shot student Cameron Reedus in an off-campus incident in 2013, has resigned his position, the San Antonio Express-News reports. According to a university spokesperson, Carter tendered his resignation on December 10. The officer vacated his position a little over a year after killing Reedus…
Big Bob’s Burgers Opens New 1604 Location Friday, January 2
You’ve been doing so awesome on your New Year’s resolutions, you deserve a burger break (Note: I’m kidding, stick with it! Ed. Note: DO IT, EAT THE BURGER!). Big Bob’s Burgers 1604 (4553 N Loop 1604, Ste 1133) opens its doors Friday, December 2 from 5 to 10 p.m. Even if you’re avoiding burgers for the…
Details of Proposed Medical Marijuana Bill Revealed
A proposed medical marijuana bill is similar to working legislation in 23 other states and Washington D.C., according to Heather Fazio, Texas political director for the Marijuana Policy Project. “It’s not a new idea, and it’s not some kind of new experiment. We are talking about natural, effective medicine,” she said. Texas’ proposed bill would…
15 Songs to Put on Your New Year’s Playlist
Say goodbye to 2014 with these timely tracks. Ella Fitzgerald, “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” What are you doing New Year’s Eve? Let’s hope it not sitting in the corner crying with this song on repeat. But here it is just in case. Andrew Byrd, “Auld Lang Syne” Byrd gives his indie folk…
Free Will Astrology, Week of December 29
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Most salamanders reproduce by laying eggs, but the alpine salamander doesn’t. Females of that species give birth to live young after long pregnancies that may last three years. What does this have to do with you? Well, I expect you to experience a metaphorical pregnancy in the coming months. Even if…
Savage Love: Routine Maintenance
What is your stance on maintenance sex? I’d never thought about the issue until reading Amy Poehler’s new memoir. I didn’t find anything she said controversial, and was surprised when this quote blew up in the feminist blogosphere: “You have to have sex with your husband occasionally, even though you’re exhausted. Sorry.” I’d never realized…
The Punk Rock Panels of ‘Turnstile Comix’
“He just kept trying to marry the ideas of comics and punk rock,” says inkwasher Amanda Kerr, speaking about her conspirator Mitch Clem’s vision for Turnstile Comix. It’s a match well made, given the similarities between the two art forms. Both were looked down upon as smut when they first emerged and both strut around…
SA Sound: Marcus Rubio reaches for abstraction
It’s been a prolific year for experimental savant Marcus Rubio. Amid a sea of split releases and 45-minute singles, the SA native released his fifth effort of 2014 in December with Cities Sinking Down. Like his best work, the album draws the pop form into an alchemist’s kitchen of loops and effects, where Rubio happily…
SA Sound: The Oblio’s live for the fuzz
What is an Oblio? “I can’t give you a definite answer,” says Nick Ivarra, guitarist for The Oblio’s. “But I know it’s from a Harry Nilsson cartoon skit. The character is called Oblio. Everyone else has a cone head, but he doesn’t. Something weird, I haven’t seen it yet.” That’s about right—a quick YouTube search…
The Fights for Marriage Equality and Abortion Access Are Back in Court This Week
As the remnants of New Year’s Eve on Bourbon Street in New Orleans linger, all eyes will be on the NOLA-based U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, where in early January judges will hear arguments in two cases that will dramatically impact the lives of millions in our state: the constitutional ban on same-sex marriage…
Nico LaHood to Explore Cite-and-Release Law in Bexar County
Bexar County’s new District Attorney, Nico LaHood, said he supports exploring whether Bexar County should implement a 2007 Texas law that allows police officers to cite people accused of Class B misdemeanors rather than arresting and jailing suspects. “I supported looking into it the last time I ran,” LaHood said of his 2010 loss to…
Flavor File: Changes for Kate’s Frosting, plus a local chef visits James Beard house
You’ll have to plan in advance if you want to enjoy a cupcake from here on out. The folks behind Kate’s Frosting are turning their original location (2518 N Main) into a pre-order only bakery. The cupcake shop closed its storefront at 7701 Broadway in July, but will use the space as a pop-up bakery…
Happy Hour Hound: Beat Street Burgers & Bourbon
It’s been just over a year since Beat Street lost its opening chef. Regardless of the circumstance, the eatery plugged away, changing its menu to accommodate more eaters. Sure, there’s a new burger menu in the mix, but the addition of a full bar, happy hour and new chef Mark Garcia (who’s spent time at…
Concrete Jungle: South Presa’s tiki-themed watering hole is off to a solid start
In theory, a themed dining or drinking establishment conjures emotions akin to apprehension. Usually decor and bartenders are pretentious or kitschy and patrons are overzealous or desperately trying to decode the menu (think Magic Time Machine, aka my worst nightmare, for an extreme example). On a dusty road leading away from Downtown, however, Concrete Jungle…
Taco Overload? Cognitive Dissonance at Tacos and Tequila
I’m not the authority on the concept of puro. A Valley-transplant since 2004, I can be passed off as a native San Antonian … to a few, that is until the pre-requisite “what high school did you go to?” query comes along. Still, San Anto and I share a love for quality tacos, especially paired…
Lunchtime Snob: Tiny space, bold flavors at Ever’s Cafe
Let me put this out there: I love reader recommendations. You put some faith in me by visiting restaurants we review, and I’m wildly encouraged when readers take the time to give me a heads up about new eateries. Such was the case when Lou Portillo, a fan of Flavor File, called me up one…
Ruiz-Healy Art’s Expanding Roster Comes Together for ‘Aesthetic Encounters’
After a five-year bout with cancer, San Antonio artist Jesse Amado is back in the studio and making new work that he is showing for the first time in “Aesthetic Encounters” at Ruiz-Healy Art. He created a series of three pill boxes titled Refilled, Still Good and Time to Refill, which chart the slow depletion…
True-life Cinema Coming Soon: Nonfiction films are where it’s at in 2015
All it takes is compiling a list of the films I’m anticipating most this new year to make me feel like a crotchety old man (I’m only 34) yelling from his front porch at the upcoming blockbusters to stop making so much goddamn racket and to get off his lawn (“You kids and your lightning…
