San Japan: 8-Bit
Crafty Cosplayers Show Off At Largest Anime Convention In SA
Cover Story
The Cosplayers Are Coming: San Japan Convention Brings Out Anime Fans
People of San Antonio: Pikachus are coming. Get ready for Gokus. Brace yourself for Batmen. It’s time for San Antonio’s largest convention of all things nerddom. San Japan will take place from Friday through Sunday with events split between the Grand Hyatt and the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. This year’s event promises to be…
Marfa’s Trans-Pecos Festival Announces Lineup
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — I’ll take pretty much any excuse to make a trip out to West Texas. By any definition, Marfa’s Trans-Pecos Festival of Music and Love is a pretty exceptional excuse to slip out West for a weekend. Founded by boutique campground/hotel El Cosmico, the 2015 festival features (among…
Where To Get Your Fill Of Oysters For National Oyster Day
You could say oysters are finally having their moment in San Antonio. That being said, there are a handful of places to enjoy fresh oysters around town, be it Gulf or beyond. Here’s a quick rundown of where to get your shuck on. Max’s Wine Dive (340 E. Basse Road, Suite 101, 210-444-9547) will serve…
SA Food Pics: Poutine, Wings, Desserts And More
Welcome back, foodies! This week’s edition includes some classic meals and a whole lot of dessert: We hope you had a happy National Hot Wing Day on July 31. If you went to the Hoppy Monk (1010 N. Loop 1604 E.) we’re pretty sure you did. Also, you can never go wrong with Smoke’s (700 E.…
Where To Get Lei’d During Texas Tiki Week
As we plunge into the August heat, Texas tradition will make sure to help us keep cool. Thanks to Texas Tiki Week many local bars will provide an escape from San Antonio into a tropical paradise. Originally created by the U.S. Bartenders Guild of Austin chapter, Texas Tiki week events in SA are technically unofficial…
Sandra Bland’s Family Seeks Answers, Files Lawsuit
Sandra Bland’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit Tuesday against the Waller County sheriff’s office. According to KBTX, the lawsuit not only claims that Bland’s constitutional rights were violated, but the legal action also looks to pressure officials into becoming more transparent. According to Cannon Lambert, the attorney representing the family, officials haven’t released critical…
Montage Vintage Opens Online Store
If your style is so bad not to be seen in daylight, good news! San Antonio’s Montage Vintage just opened an online store for you to shop in a taco-stained tank top in bed. Opened in 2006, Montage has a brick-and-mortar operation at 423 W. Grayson St. Run by the husband and wife pair of Jacob…
Mildfire Coffee Roasters Turns 10 Wednesday
Can we call Mildfire Coffee Roasters the OG of coffee roasting in SA? Don’t mind if we do. The original location at 15502 Huebner Road will celebrate it’s 10th anniversary on August 5 with half-off menu drinks at both locations. The shop, along with its relatively new sister location at 8434 Fredericksburg Road, are owned by…
Here’s Everything You Need To Know About Fotoseptiembre 2015
This Autumn ushers in two decades of Fotoseptiembre USA!. Michael Mehl, a local musician, digital artist, photographer and curator, created the popular showcase of photographic work in 1995, turning it into a international photo festival that draws photographers from the far reaches of the world. The festival runs from August 28 until September 29. Here’s…
PechaKucha Vol. 19 Presenters Announced
The next installment of PechaKucha (literally translates to chit chat in Japanese) looks like it has a lot of potential. The event brings participants together to talk about just about anything, be it their work, their passion or their hobbies, and asks them to present a slideshow (20 slides at 20 seconds each). Held once…
Coors Light Free Concert Series Returns With Los Texmaniacs
On Tuesday, August 18, the Coors Light Free Concert series returns to the Arneson River Theatre with, arguably, its best lineup yet. Starting at 7 p.m. the Current/Coors collaborative gig features Max Baca y Los Texmaniacs, desert bluesmen Lonely Horse and scalding punk outfit FEA. Bajo sexto player Max Baca was born into the conjunto…
New Spur LaMarcus Aldridge Is Building A House Behind His House — For Shoes
A 34-second snippet from a SLAM Magazine interview with LaMarcus Aldridge revealed one of the most unlikely string of words I’ve heard in a while. “I’m in the process of building a separate house behind my house just for shoes, like a showroom. So, you know, that’ll be cool,” Aldridge says. Aldridge, who says he…
The Hate Is Gone: Former City Staffer Rehired, Claims Cleansed Soul
A former city council staffer who was caught on tape encouraging former SA Councilwoman Elisa Chan to be a “culture warrior” against homosexuality has a new job – with the city. Jeff Bazan was working for City Councilman Ron Nirenberg in June 2013 when the San Antonio Express-News obtained conversations secretly recorded by another Chan…
Library Launching Illustrator Series This Month
Let’s face it, San Anto is kind of nerdy. Like, a lot. So riding off the success of this weekend’s San Japan 8-bit convention, the San Antonio Public Library in partnership with Alamo City Comic Con will host an Illustrator Series, celebrating local comic artists’ work. The series will kick off with a reception for…
TPR To Host Art Of Recycling At Blue Star Contemporary Art Museum
Look into your trash can and recycle bin. You probably see trash. However, it’s been said more than a million times that someone’s trash is someone else’s treasure — or someone else’s palette. Texas Public Radio is inviting families to “TPR Presents: The Art of Recycling” on Saturday, August 15 from 1 to 4 p.m.…
Watch Ted Cruz Cook Bacon With A Gun
Here’s a video that’s not going to renew your faith in electoral politics, but might make you laugh a little. Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Republican and middling presidential wannabe, took part in a video released today where he cooks bacon on the muzzle of a gun. Hand to God, that’s the most surreal sentence I’ve…
Blue Star Provisions Is Now Open
A tiny grocery opened its doors in Southtown this past Thursday. Blue Star Provisions (1414 S. Alamo, Suite 103, 210-212-5506) is adding a much-needed convenience store to the Blue Star Arts Complex. Though the shop, owned by Joey Villarreal, is still under a soft opening stage, they’re already gaining fans with their extensive line of goods.…
Texas Trash No More: The Looking Glass Opens On McCullough
In an effort to keep up with the onslaught of new middle to upper-class residents in the Tobin Hill area, Cheryl Richmond, owner of Texas Trash Clothing Exchange has turned her attention to cocktails. Along with business partner Rhonda Sciaraffa (of the late White Rabbit), the pair has turned the once thrift shop into a cafe…
Things I Learned As A San Japan Newbie
What did I get myself into? Although, San Japan 8-bit wasn’t my first con (that honor goes last year’s Wizard World stop in SA), I’m still a relative n00b to most conventions in general. I ventured to this one with little to no knowledge as to what to expect. Here’s a bit of what I’ve…
5 Shows To See This Week
Monday, August 3 The Georges The Georges South Texas stalwarts The Georges inject rockabilly with the pop stylings of the Fab Four. For the weekly swing night at Sam’s, expect a cow-poking addition of the Western style of Bob Wills. $10, 8:30pm, Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., 210-223-2830 Tuesday, August 4 LA Witch Dang, these…
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Booked For Securities Fraud
Take a look at this guy, San Antonio. That’s your attorney general, Ken Paxton. He’s the state’s top lawyer, Ted Cruz’s buddy, and if this mug shot is any indication, a man who’s got no worries. It’s a little puzzling — if I were indicted on three felony counts of securities fraud like Paxton was…
Break Fast & Launch Taking Applications Through August 17
Is your salsa a hit at most parties? Do people love that secret-ingredient barbecue sauce or rub you make for your brisket? If you’re looking to break into production, Break Fast & Launch could help. The program is a “culinary business accelerator” founded in January of this year to “help entrepreneurs launch sustainable food concepts”…
Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance Threatened, Pastors To Sue The City
The fight in Houston over who is violating whose rights continues, with a coalition of Christians saying an equal rights ordinance, which includes protections for members of the LGBT community (and all of Houston’s residents), violates their freedom of religion. Sigh. The Texas Supreme Court ruled that Houston City Council must repeal its Equal Rights…
I Popped My San Japan Cherry With Hentai Anime Porn (NSFW)
“Boobie time!” So began my introduction to San Japan, the Japanese anime and pop culture convention that took over the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center this weekend. The eighth annual event, dubbed San Japan: 8-Bit, attracted thousands with its showcase of anime, manga, J-pop, video games and cosplay culture. The packed three-day schedule was a…
More Bad News For Ken Paxton: Texas AG Indicted, Reports Say
Is it time for the top law enforcer in Texas, as they say, to face the music? Apparently the result of a long, pending investigation, a grand jury in North Texas has indicted Attorney General Ken Paxton, according to published reports. Details remain murky, but indications are that the move comes after Paxton was accused…
So Spooky: Haunt Opens Tonight Inside St. Anthony Hotel
Update: Tuesday, August 4, 2015 10:00 a.m. More details from Andrew Goodman, the owner of Feast and Haunt: Haunt, a 1,400 square-foot facility, will open Wednesday. Its hours are 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, and 4 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. Ryan Jones of Feast designed the menu, which will feature seven signature…
Prepare to Get Loud: Vote For The 2015 San Antonio Music Awards
San Antonio, beginning August 1 through August 31, we’re encouraging you to vote for your City’s best musical acts in a variety of 35 categories. Voting is available online at sanantoniomusicawards.com The San Antonio Music Awards winners will be revealed in the annual San Antonio Music Awards issue, arriving on news stands and online on…
Let’s Go Upstairs At The Blue Star Arts Complex
In early July, the Blue Star Arts Complex announced a partnership to re-launch The Upstairs Studios. Amada Miller, founder of Hello Studio, an artist-run galley at Blue Star, and Taylor Browning, former co-director of Up Collective in Austin and the associate curator of education at Artpace,will co-direct the studio. “The Blue Star Arts Complex has…
The San Antonio Arts Commission Is Looking For Board Members
Are you tired of the direction San Antonio’s art scene is heading? Or is the Alamo City in the right place? Either way, if you want to have a voice in all things art in San Antonio you can apply to be on the San Antonio Arts Commission. The commission, circa April, is brand-spanking new…
City Manager Recommends Raising Minimum Wage For City Employees to $13 Per Hour
Update: Friday, July 31, 2015, 3:50 p.m.: This story has been updated with comments from Buddy Villejo, SEIU Texas vice president of public sector. Our post continues below: San Antonio City Manager Sheryl Sculley announced recommendations today to raise the minimum wage for all city employees to $13 per hour starting next fiscal year. “We have…
5 Ways To Get Your Drink/Grub On This Week
Sunday, August 2: Brews Brothers Icehouse is hosting Sunday Funday, an extended brunch full of free barbacoa and cocktail deals. Funday will include deals such as $2.50 Bud Light bottles and draft, $4 Sangria and $10 bottomless mimosas. No cover, prices vary, Noon-8pm, 7403 Leslie Road, (210) 577-5561 Thursday, July 30: Mezcalería Mixtli is saying farewell to it’s guest bartender,…
Voters Will Decide Whether To Expand 281 North of 1604
Two lanes of unbroken traffic stopped for miles by red light after red light after and, yes, another red light. Living in San Antonio most are quite familiar with the notion and sloth-like motion of traffic. However, living in northern San Antonio, you know the stretch between Loop 1604 and Stone Oak Parkway while traveling…
SA’s Rising Literary Star Tapped To Revive Guadalupe’s Writing Program
South Side’s own Laurie Ann Guerrero, a rising star in poetry circles, has been tasked with reviving the literary arts program at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. Guerrero was already connected to the Guadalupe through her involvement with the renowned Macondo Writers’ Workshop, which Sandra Cisneros founded and then put it in the Guadalupe’s hands…
East Texas Man Shot After Bullet Ricochets Off Armadillo
I read this headline and thought it might be from The Onion or a segment of a “MythBusters” episode: “Cass County official: Man injured after bullet ricochets off armadillo” Nope, just some news from small town northeast Texas. The Cass County Sheriff’s Department is investigating “a possible accidental shooting that happened just before 3 a.m.,…
Tonight At The Aztec: Marcia Ball’s Thrilling Zydeco Blues
Marcia Ball is a native of East Texas, Orange to be precise. But tune into her loquacious piano rhythms and it’s clear that she got over the border to Louisiana as fast as she could (sort of the inverse of that foolish bumper sticker). Pianist is too formal a title to describe the work of the…
Tonight’s Blue Moon Isn’t Really Blue
But it is rare! Tonight will be the second full moon in the month, which is why it’s dubbed a blue moon. There are usually 12 full moons a year, but in 2015 there will be 13. Now, the moon can appear blue, but that usually takes a cataclysmic volcanic explosion that sends tons of…
San Antonio Went 50 Days Without Drought Restrictions
May and the feverish drought-breaking rains that came with it are long gone. The summer is here and the ground is cracking. The dust is blowing and cicadas are chirping. And drought restrictions are back after a 50 day hiatus when the San Antonio Water System lifted the restrictions effective June 10 for the first…
11 Walkable Food Options Where You Can Refuel During San Japan
Going to San Japan but worried about where to get your munchies? Check out these 11 places in walking distance of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center (the green square marker). Face it, you’re going to have to eat, you can’t get through this event on coffee and Pocky. Check out your options and make…
Here’s Your SA Bud & Burger Championship Winners
SPONSORED Congratulations to The Lost Bar and their Chubby Melt, the 2015 SA Bud & Burger Championship Winner The Chubby Melt: Two grilled cheese sandwiches on sourdough, married by a half-pound Angus patty with chipotle aioli, grilled mushrooms and onions. The Lost Bar is the winner of the 2015 Bud and Burger Championship voted for by…
Use This Calculator To Find Out If You’re A Gentrifier
Like most major urban centers, gentrification is creeping, or perhaps barging, into nooks and crannies all over San Antonio. Developers seep into neighborhoods where lots are cheap and homes are ripe for flipping, pricing out longtime residents and catalyzing task forces. Too much of it on the Southside could even jeopardize the Spanish missions’ status…
Universal City Was The Runner-Up For Nation’s Best Tasting Tap Water
Here’s something that’s not really new, but is definitely different: tap water taste contests. Why in the world are we even bringing this up? Well, that would be because back in June, Universal City won second place for best tasting tap water in the nation. Hosted by the American Water Works Association, and in its…
10 Shows To See This Weekend
Thursday, July 30 Coolers, Chicon Formerly known as Taargus Taargus, this Austin indie rock appears to have invested in some nice Igloo gear. On the cover of Chicon single “Sin Ti,” the band depicts a teenage werewolf sitting alone, listening to records and though-bubble dreaming of a canine crush in an Oakland Raiders sweatshirt. The…
10 Things You Have To Do This Weekend
Thu 7/30 – Sun 8/2 San Antonio Film Festival San Antonians love their movies and it shows with the growing count of film festivals, contests, slams, series and special screenings that continually pop up all across the city during any given month. From Texas Public Radio’s summer film programming to competitions like the San Antonio…
Folc & Mixtli Team Up For A Sneak Peek At Alumina
Talk about throwback Thursday. It wasn’t that long ago that Luis Colon, Diego Galicia and Rico Torres would team up with fellow cooks around town in hosting elaborate seated dinners with the Texas Cooks Co-Op. These days, Colon owns Folc and Park Social off Olmos Drive, while Galicia and Torres are bringing modern interior Mexican…
State Rep. Larson Talks Ride-Share With SA, Uber
Will the ride-share company Uber be back in San Antonio by the end of the summer? State Rep. Lyle Larson posted to Facebook Wednesday that he met with representatives from Uber, the City of San Antonio, and with business and chamber groups to talk about bringing the company back. Hosted a productive meeting today with…
UTOPIAfest Announces 2015 Lineup
Now in its seventh year, UTOPIAfest has hit the sweet spot of affordability, size and lineup quality. Friday through Sunday, September 4-6, UTOPIAfest features Explosions in the Sky, tUnE-yArDs, Of Montreal, RJD2, Charles Bradley, Man Man, The Suffers, Sphynx, Valerie June and many more on its one-of-a-kind camp-friendly, family-friendly, generally just friendly bill. Located outside…
Senate Leaders Question State Agency About Planned Parenthood Videos
Members of the Texas Senate Committee on Health and Human Services grilled state officials over highly edited undercover videos that purport to show Planned Parenthood employees selling baby parts. Planned Parenthood does not profit from the donation of fetal tissue. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton testified today in front of the Texas Senate Committee on…
Raise Your Hand If You’ve Seen The New Public Art On The East Side
Take a drive by Pittman-Sullivan Park on the East Side and you’ll see a 32-foot tall, orange sculpture of an open hand, that’s dedicated to Martin Luther King, Jr., looking toward downtown San Antonio. The sculpture, called “Open Hand, Open Mind, Open Heart,” was created by Boston-based artist Douglas Kornfeld, who was selected by the…
Texas’ Flag Is The Nation’s Second-Best
The next time you pass by a car dealership, enter an elementary school classroom or go literally anywhere else in our great state, us Texans can look up and take pride in a flag that’s one of the country’s best. Texas has the nation’s second-best flag, according to flag scholar Ted Kaye and the North…
Where To Indulge For National Chicken Wing Day
Six free wings are nothing to cluck at. In honor of National Chicken Wing Day, East Coast Wings & Grill (8251 Agora Pkwy., Selma) will be serving today six free honey barbecue-flavored chicken wings with a purchase of any entree. After a month of social media polling to find the most popular flavor, the restaurant chain crowned…
Oscar-nominated Actor Jackie Earle Haley Makes Directorial Debut With ‘Criminal Activities’
While he’s worked with some of the best filmmakers in the business, Oscar-nominated actor and San Antonio-based production company owner Jackie Earle Haley (Little Children) was inspired to step behind the camera long before he found himself on the same set as Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Tim Burton. For Haley, it started as soon…
VIA Transit Votes To Bolster B-Cycle
Two months ago, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff suggested VIA Metropolitan Transit include San Antonio B-Cycle in its multi-modal transportation plan. “With VIA’s mission to strengthen regional mobility, development and sustainability by providing an outstanding multi-modal transportation system, Bcycle would be a perfect fit with its 55 stations, 450 bicycles and 2,893 members,” Wolff said…
Mark Ruffalo Rises To The Challenge In ‘Infinitely Polar Bear’
To watch Infinitely Polar Bear is to marvel at the talent of Mark Ruffalo, an actor who appears at home in drama (The Normal Heart) and action (Avengers: Age of Ultron) and whose star is clearly on the rise. He’s been good before, as Oscar nominations for Foxcatcher and The Kids Are All Right suggest,…
Slayer Drummer Paul Bostaph Talks Of Life And Death
It’s been six years since thrash overlords Slayer released their last album, a time window during which two crucial band developments occurred. One, an MSG revelation: the Slayer Dog. At a price tag of $6.66, Austin’s Frank Hot Dogs gave the world a spicy link with habanero-jack cheese, cayenne-dusted bacon, tobacco onions and the unknown…
Finally! ‘Desert Sons’ Lonely Horse Release Debut Album
Lonely Horse guitarist Nicholas Long has a remarkable ability to make his instrument speak. Not like the rock ‘n’ roll camp of a Frampton talk box, but to make the thing communicate like a human voice in some forgotten language. On “Oranges,” the guitar follows along in tandem with Long’s melody, breaking into little comments…
Savage Love: Girl Party
I have always wanted to have a girls-only sex party, but I’m not sure how I feel about actually organizing one. What’s the etiquette if I do organize one myself? Do I need to provide the dildos for people’s harnesses? Or just the condoms and lube? And how do I find people who want to…
Free Will Astrology, Week of July 27
ARIES (March 21-April 19): “I am very much in love with no one in particular,” says actor Ezra Miller. His statement would make sense coming out of your mouth right about now. So would this one: “I am very much in love with almost everyone I encounter.” Or this one: “I am very much in…
Get Exposed At The San Antonio Burlesque Festival
Gone are the days when the image of burlesque is a pale vixen with a very large feather. From bearded drag to sideshow, today’s burlesque stars look beyond the birdcage for routines with an empowering punch and for two nights, only those stars will make San Antonio their playground. Now in its fourth year, the…
Q&A With Foul-Mouthed ‘Drag Terrorist’ CHRISTEENE
Paul Soileau is the man behind CHRISTEENE — the foul-mouth, over-sexed, self-designated “drag terrorist” that has been making her way around the world since 2010. With songs titles such as “Tears from my Pussy” and “African Mayonnaise,” CHRISTEENE has gained an international and diverse fan base. She can be repulsive, yet endearing in many ways;…
Julián Castro On Work in D.C., VP Rumors And Local Politics
He’s kept a fairly low profile over the last year, as much as one can stay out of the limelight being part of a presidential cabinet. But his name has been bandied about in national political circles in recent weeks as the rumor mill churned out a little tidbit on him being a top candidate…
Screen To Screen: Bexar County Jail
Bexar County’s seven-story Adult Detention Center Facility is 26-years-old and provides visitation booths for inmates on three of those floors. Families with loved ones waiting trial or who are serving sentences for minor crimes can visit on Monday and Tuesday, and if children are brought, families can only visit on Saturday and Sunday. Social service…
Sea Island’s Lasting Appeal
Mi Tierra, Ray’s Drive Inn, Los Barrios — all San Anto institutions that have stood the test of time and thrived in the tumultuous restaurant scene for decades on end. And this July, Sea Island Shrimp House joined the ranks of the five-oh club in serving hungry San Antonians for half a century. But as…
Flavor File: Bugs, Brunches And More
Get to munchin’ on some crunchy bugs at the Witte Museum (3801 Broadway St., 210-357-1900) during its Salud! Culinary Nights dinner series as they welcome chefs Stephen Paprocki and Ernest Lopez (pastry chef at Eilan) on August 12 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The chefs will join Dr. Harry Schafer, the museum’s curator of archeology, as well…
Happy Hour Hound: A Myriad Of Margs To Imbibe At Aldaco’s At The Dominion
While venturing out past The Rim, you may think to yourself: ”I wish there were more Mexican restaurants out here.” Hidden off I-10 and past Camp Bullis, Aldaco’s at the Dominion is probably not where you’d expect to see an authentic Mexican eatery. It offers a decent selection of ways to get your drink on…
Find No-Frills, Full-Flavor Barbecue At Sweet Christi’s
At Sweet Christi’s BBQ, you will be sure to find a heavy helping of smoke, but don’t expect a side of mirrors to come with it — this San Antonio food truck is the real deal. Co-owned by pitmaster Emilio Soliz and his wife, Christi Soliz, Sweet Christi’s prides itself on developing its own unique…
Go For The Pool Tables, Stay For The Fideo At My Brother’s Bar
As a writer, I feel the backdrop of a story is about as critical of a component to a storyline as any. In this story, your humble narrator was given the task of venturing into another unknown set of walls containing my favorite combination — cheap beer and hopefully some good music to accompany said…
San Antonio Film Festival Kicks Off Its 21st Year With A Move To The Tobin
San Antonians love their movies and it shows with the growing count of film festivals, contests, slams, series and special screenings that continually pop up all across the city during any given month. From Texas Public Radio’s summer film programming to competitions like the San Antonio 48-Hour Film Project to the countless outdoor big-screen showings…
New Netflix Series Rallies The Cast Of ‘Wet Hot American Summer’
As Netflix continues to become a major player in the original content game, shows like Orange Is the New Black have displayed how material created exclusively for Netflix can receive critical acclaim. Netflix has also brought about another phenomenon: resurrecting shows from the grave. Netflix has stepped in to save shows from cancellation like The…
