Tamales/Winter Flavor 2015

Nov 25 - Dec 1, 2015 / Vol. 29 / No. 47

Cover Story

What the Spurs Are Listening To Vol. 1

The Spurs’ roster is about as eclectic as a Ween record. It’s got a little bit of everything. That’s one of the things that make the team one of the most enjoyable to watch as well as root for – they’re truly a melting pot of nationalities and personalities, and a testament to the ability of…

James Beard Award Winner Visits Lüke December 10

The Visiting Chef Dinner Series at Lüke San Antonio (125 E. Houston St., 210-227-5853) will end the year with a bang as James Beard Award winner Alon Shaya closes out the first-ever string of dinners for 2015 on Thursday, December 10 at 7 p.m.  The chef-partner at Domenica, PIZZA Domenica and lauded Shaya, will serve…

Torchy’s Announces Its Taco of the Month for December

Torchy’s Tacos has announced its taco of the month for December, and it doesn’t look too b-aaaaaaa-d. That’s a lamb pun. There’s lamb in this taco. Dubbed “The South Pole,” the taco is topped with avocado, french fried onions, cotija cheese, cranberry habanero jam and cilantro.  Some of you out there are Torchy’s naysayers, and believe…

Animal Rights Group Sues San Antonio Zoo

The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) made good on its promise to sue the San Antonio Zoo over Lucky, an Asian elephant animal right groups want removed from the zoo and transported to an elephant sanctuary in Tennessee. The lawsuit alleges the zoo is violating the Endangered Species Act by confining the elephant in isolation…

Here’s Ted Cruz With Chola Eyebrows, Just Because

For no reason whatsoever other than that it’s amazing, here’s a chola-fied version of our very own junior senator and presidential candidate Ted Cruz.  The mock-up of Cruz, whose chola nickname would totally be Smiley, comes to us via We Are Mitú, the sort-of Latino version of Buzzfeed that is currently giving us life. Seriously,…

Express Your Puro Taco Love for Charity

Here in San Antonio, we all know about Austin’s try-too-hard taco obsession. As I’ve said before, they go on and on like they invented the damn things.  And while we’d rather not enflame the endless Austin vs. San Antonio debate, the gauntlet has been thrown and the next battle in the I-35 Taco Wars has…

CEO of Haven for Hope to Step Down

Haven for Hope, San Antonio’s largest homeless shelter, will soon have a new leader. Mark Carmona, the shelter’s CEO, is stepping down. Carmona’s resignation was first reported by the Rivard Report. Carmona has helmed the shelter since 2012, when he took over for then-CEO George Block. Carmona will leave Haven for Hope in order to…

Antique Lighter Found in Alaska Belongs to Former Bexar County Deputy

The Internet is a vast machine for returning lost items and identifying people in found photos. Just a couple weeks ago, San Antonio’s Internet junkies identified a mystery woman a filmmaker found in a box of old 35 mm photos he purchased. This week, the groupthink contributed to tracking down former Bexar County Sheriff’s Deputy…

Judge Dismisses Child Sex Charges Against Former Spur

Former San Antonio Spur Alvin Robertson’s name was cleared late Monday, after a judge dismissed sex trafficking, sexual assault of a child and forcing sexual performance by a child charges, the San Antonio Express-News reports. Robertson, who played for the Spurs from 1984 to 1989, was accused of kidnapping a 14-year-old San Antonio runaway and…

Santa’s Visiting The Sexology Institute This Friday

Get your holiday shopping and cards in one fell swoop this First Friday at The Sexology Institute and Boutique (727 S. Alamo St., 210-487-0371) as they host Santa and his sexy elves for an adult photo shoot on Friday, December 4 from 8 to 10 p.m.  Lap-sitting and picture-taking for all members of the naughty list…

11 Holiday Light Displays to Drive to Right Now

Christmas Lights Fest Ten minutes outside of San Antonio, the 125-acre Don Strange Ranch hosts the Christmas Lights Fest where you can see two miles of lights along a path, and go by hay ride. Santa’s Village will feature all of your kid’s favorite holiday treats. Santa will be on hand, of course. $27, 6-9pm…

Member of Texas GOP’s Executive Committee to Back Secession Resolution

Now a story from the “This Won’t Happen” file: Tanya Robertson, a member of the Texas State Republican Executive Committee, will push for a non-binding measure on Texas’ secession to appear on the state’s Republican primary ballot in March, according to the Houston Chronicle. The measure would present an up-or-down choice for Republican primary voters…

5 Things You Have to Do This Week

Tuesday, December 1 PechaKucha vol. 20 Active since 2011, the local chapter of the contagious event format PechaKucha (Japanese for “chit chat”) hits a big benchmark on Tuesday with its 20th installment. Emceed by Emmy-winning news anchor Randy Beamer and presented in collaboration with the nonprofit SA2020 (an initiative aimed at establishing San Antonio as…

Bohanan’s Tree Lights Up This Wednesday

The holidays mean it’s time to head back into the heart of Downtown to take in the festive lights, and nothing says cheer like passed snacks, yuletide cocktails and Bohanan’s courtyard. Bohanan’s Prime Steaks and Seafood (219 E. Houston St.) will illuminate a 16-foot tree decked in ornaments created by the students at Say Si on…

Get a Real Job, San Antonio: Be a Western Horseback Rider

Whether you’ve got one or you need one, jobs can be a drag. So in a new San Antonio Current feature, we scan local job boards to find a real gig you could have that you may never have thought of. This week: take the reins as a real, live Western horseback rider, as advertised by this…

San Antonio City Council to Consider Disparity Study Findings

News flash: You still have to be a well-placed white male to make money off City of San Antonio contracting. But that’s starting to change, albeit in tiny increments.  A study commissioned by the city found that contracts awarded to minority- and women-owned businesses increased from 16 percent in 2010 to 23 percent. The study…

5 Shows to See This Week

Monday, November 30 Deuce Coupe  This Austin trio is sure to keep the vipers vipin’, the cats swingin’ and the jiterbuggers jitterbuggin’. $10, 7pm, Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-2830 Monday, November 30 Voodoo Vinyl Join DJ Smarty Pants as he steers you through a curated history of the best garage tunes…

Max’s Wine Dive Is Hosting an Ugly Sweater Bash

It’s only the first week of December, but what better time to break out that ugly holiday sweater than for Max’s Wine Dive (340 E. Basse Road, Suite 101) ugly holiday sweater party. The celebration is December 2, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Quarry Village location. Guests will have the chance to taste…

SA Food Pics: 9 Places With Something Other Than Turkey

After a well-deserved Thanksgiving break and eating leftovers for the past couple of days, SA Food Pics is here to snap you out of that turkey coma. Francis Bogside (803 S. St. Mary’s St.) is serving up some delicious chicken and waffles for brunch. If you’re not up for a brunch deal, LA Crawfish (10919…

New KISS Restaurant at AT&T Center Sets Opening Date

In case you missed it, KISS’ Paul Stanley (The Starchild) and Gene Simmons (The Demon) are opening a restaurant in the newly renovated AT&T Center. Rock & Brews will function as a restaurant, bar and rock ‘n’ roll museum so you can catch a bite and a craft beer while brushing up on your R…

Thanksgiving Holidays: Texas Threatens to Sue Refugee Group

In the true spirit of Thanksgiving, Lone Star State bureaucrats — following Governor Greg Abbott’s lead — continue to threaten social service agencies that work with refugees. Over the holiday, Texas Health and Human Services executive commissioner Chris Traylor threatened to sue the International Rescue Committee’s Dallas branch, the Houston Chronicle reports.   Announcing a…

San Antonio Man Sues Uber

The San Antonio Express-News reports that a lawsuit filed by a San Antonio man against Uber has moved from state to federal court. David Micheletti, a former driver, joins a wave of other erstwhile drivers across the nation, in accusing the company of short-changing him by classifying him as an independent contractor rather than an…

Get Your Maverick Music Festival Tickets at a Discounted Rate Friday

The annual festival that brings an impressive roster of heavy-hitters to our fair and humble metropolis will be selling discounted tickets on Black Friday. That means on Thursday you gotta let your people know that they can knock out their gift for you in one fell swoop by visiting maverickmusicfestival.com and coppin’ that ish. In…

10 Shows to See This Weekend

Thursday, November 26 Thurzgayz Thanksgiving Dance Party with VJ Glitoris Dance off the turkey with the fabulous indie and dance musical stylings of one of the best-named DJs in the gay-m. Free, 10pm, Brass Monkey, 2702 N St. Mary’s St, (210) 480- 4722 Friday, November 27 Fall Fall Fall Fest Pre-Party As a sampler for December’s Fall Fall…

10 Things You Have to Do This Weekend

Fri 11/27 Cheap Trick How good is Cheap Trick live? Consider the live audience at Budokan arena in Tokyo, recorded for the gold-selling single “I Want You to Want Me,” who not only lose it big-time over a song that wouldn’t successfully burn itself into the public consciousness until the release of the very recording…

Feds: Texas Can’t Block Syrian Refugees

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, along with governors from dozens of other states, has said he would not allow Syrian refugees to be resettled in Texas. But a letter from the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement claims that Abbott doesn’t have the power to make that call, according to the Houston Chronicle.  Robert Carey, director of…

Spanish Company Building Vista Ridge Pipeline Starts Pre-Bankruptcy Proceedings

Not even a week after City Council voted to approve a San Antonio Water System rate increase that would help pay for the 142-mile Vista Ridge Pipeline, among other projects, the energy company that’s building the infrastructure initiated pre-bankruptcy proceedings. Reuters reports that Abengoa made the move after an investor wouldn’t “inject fresh capital into…

Humans of San Antonio Starts Kickstarter Campaign to Publish Book

Humans of San Antonio could finally make the jump from social media to print. From 2012 to 2016, photojournalist Michael Cirlos has been combining photography and story telling to chronicle Downtown’s diversity, history and individuality. The book would be 224 pages with more than 300 photos covering four years. A few days ago, Cirlos started…

Here’s Your Holiday Travel Forecast

Texas Thanksgiving travelers take note, there could be stormy weather through large swaths of the Lone Star State. According to the kind folks who spend 24 hours a day watching weather, a storm system may move in Thanksgiving night through Saturday night. If you’re heading north toward the Panhandle, watch out for the potential of…

Texas Tries to Delay Immigration Appeal

After the federal government filed an appeal to the Supreme Court over two of President Barack Obama’s executive immigration actions, Texas sought a 30-day extension to file its brief in the case. Yesterday, the federal government shot back, asking the court to reject the extension, the Texas Tribune reports.  There’s speculation out there that the…

Is Big K.R.I.T. the Spurs of Hip-Hop?

When it comes to producing rap superstars, the South reigns supreme. There are the eclectic clans like Andre 3000, Big Boi and Young Thug; the hype maestros of 2 Chainz, Migos and Future; and rap royalty in T.I. and Ludacris. The list goes on and on. However, despite his decade-long career, Big K.R.I.T. still hasn’t…

Savage Love: Fresh Air

A couple of months ago, I got candida (a fungal infection) under my foreskin. I went to the doctor, picked up some cream, and used the cream as directed. The infection went away for about a week and then returned. I got this idea that maybe the cream didn’t work the first time because it’s…

‘Criminal Activities’ Is Criminally Mediocre

After landing an Academy Award nomination for his impressive role as a registered sex offender in director Todd Field’s underappreciated 2006 drama Little Children, actor Jackie Earle Haley was given the opportunity to work with a handful of filmmakers that might make anyone thinking about trying their hand at directing feel a bit intimidated. From…

Free Will Astrology, Week of November 23

ARIES (March 21-April 19): “We are torn between nostalgia for the familiar and an urge for the foreign and strange,” wrote novelist Carson McCullers. “As often as not, we are homesick most for the places we have never known.” I’m guessing that these days you’re feeling that kind of homesickness, Aries. The people and places…

Remix: Warm up with This New Hot Toddy

About a week ago, on one of the first cool Saturdays since, oh, January or so, I was shopping at Trader Joe’s. I had taken advantage of the almost-cool-enough weather to wear my favorite orange wool cardigan. A store employee approached me in the produce aisle as I hefted a Kabocha squash. “I just love…

Southtown Vinyl Is Set to Open Its Doors in Early January

If the building that sits at 1010 S. Flores St. was somehow compounded and sonically realized into a single, full-length record, shrunk down into tiny wax grooves and rivets, I’m afraid it would be something like Nickelback’s newest release. Attempting to appear modern, although it was think-tanked by a Dallas contractor wearing cologne that is…

3 Progressive Meals to Try This Fall

No, we’re not sending you to the Pearl, Downtown or Southtown. It’s time to burst that bubble, San Antonio. Below are six suggestions for food-filled adventures with several international stops along the way. Brunch Trail Head north on McCullough Avenue for a varied mix of brunch options. Remember — it’s not basic if you hit…

Bexar County Community Fights to Pave Its Streets of Sand

You can’t drive too fast through Highland Oaks. You can’t drive too slow, either. Most of the roads in the unincorporated Bexar County community are sand. Driving through the neighborhood is a delicate harmony between your foot and the accelerator. Too little gas and you sink into the street, too much and the wheels spin.…

Why I’m All About Small Bites: Big Flavor Payoffs

These days, as I hop from restaurant to bar takeover to pop-up and restaurant again, I’ve grown weary of large meals. The allure of a hearty plate will always have its place, but when you’re about to set off on a multi-stop tour de cuisine, I find that smaller bites and tapas-style snacking is where…

Doughnuts, From Classic to Fanciful, are Making Their Mark in SA

The breakfast taco is arguably San Antonio’s most iconic morning dish, but the city refuses to let go of the world’s next greatest breakfast staple: doughnuts. Whether you’re craving something savory to dunk in your coffee, or a sweet snack to brighten up your morning, these locally owned bakeries and shops have your back. We’ve…

The 20Somethings Take on Ramen

Walker and Fierro blog at twentysomethingSA.com about the city’s evolving lifestyle and entertainment options. Bundle up in your favorite jacket and get ready for a ramen tour! All right, we know how San Antonio weather is, so whether you’re in a jacket or some shorts and a tank top, go out and enjoy some delicious…

Welcome to ‘Flavor’ (Winter 2015)

It’s been a busy four months since our last edition of Flavor. Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery had just opened its doors then, and now it’s the second newest eatery to hit the Pearl, with a recently launched Saturday brunch. The opening of Hotel Emma brings Supper, with chef John Brand at the helm crafting…

Get Revved for The Reverend Horton Heat

The Rev, as he’s affectionately known amongst his scores of admirers, has held a coyly concealed place on the body politic of rock ‘n’ roll for nearly 30 years. Like a much-loved, but well-hidden, tattoo of a pompadour-ed Frankenstein skull or a ’50s custom T-bird with a buxom, scantily clad Rosie the Riveter straddling the…

5 Soups to Keep You Warm This Winter

Fragrant broths, velvety purees, chunky stews, rough-cut veggies and buttery, eclectic combinations of sea creatures all have a place in the landscape of soups. We revisited our favorite soups along with a few new ones, and we’re sharing recipes for some and places to get your fill for others. From hominy-filled pozole to herb-packed tom…

8 Salads For When You Need To Get Your Greens In

Not all salads are created equal. Yes, there are some sad bunches out there, but San Antonio has plenty of fresh greens, crisp fruits and vegetables, and unique dressings to offer. This list proves that salad can be the healthy, filling, flavorful meal you want. Bakery Lorraine 306 Pearl Pkwy., Suite 110, (210) 862-5582, bakerylorraine.com…

10 Hot Restaurants: Where to Eat and Drink Right Now in San Antonio

Brigid 803 S. St. Mary’s St., (210) 236-7885, brigidrestaurant.com Named after one of Ireland’s patron saints, Brigid is quite the sight to behold. Simultaneously feminine, soft, industrial and sturdy, the restaurant employs snug booths and indigo velvet chairs that give it an upscale yet casual vibe. On the exposed walls, sketches and un-stretched canvasses help…

26 San Antonio Restaurants Where You Can Get Delicious Cheap Eats

Osaka Japanese Steak and Sushi Multiple locations, osakasteaknsushi.com If you’re looking to enjoy some authentic sushi but not drop all your money on it, Osaka has a great sushi roll deal. You can order two rolls for $15 or three rolls for $20. Their menu gives you the option of choosing from 18 different rolls…

5 Winter Brews We Love

The mad dash of fall is past, replaced by the quarterly stretch of “The Holidays.” Whether you’re taking planes, trains and/or automobiles to celebrate with family (or getting the house ready for a tíos y tías takeover), taking a breather between semesters, or trying to source the Talkboy 2.0, it all goes down easier with…

7 Places to Get Your Tamal Fix in San Antonio

Is there such a thing as too many tamales? Yes, especially if you’re the one making them, but that’s a whole other story, and really, who has the time? If you’re jonesing for tamales these days you won’t have a hard time finding them. These corn husk-wrapped beauties are perennial in San Antonio. Save yourself…

Fun Fizz: Champagne for Everyday Enjoyment

Big-C Champagne, the kind actually made in France’s Champagne region, is finally breaking out of its Big- Celebration straitjacket. No longer just for anniversaries and locker-room dousings, the stuff is at last being recognized for its everyday versatility. But it’s usually too expensive for knocking back daily. So what follows is a list of fizzy…

Flavor File: New Beer Haven, Progressive Dinners and More

The Rim Shopping Center — which has blown up in the last few months with openings for General Public (17619 La Cantera Pkwy., Suite 102, 210-920-1101), Bowl & Barrel immediately next door and Mash’D (17623 La Cantera Pkwy., 210-538-5833) — finally welcomed The Brass Tap (17619 La Cantera Pkwy., Suite 2, 210-670-7090). The small bar…

3 Hot Cocktails to Make This Season

After returning to Bohanan’s as the bar’s newly minted manager, Jordan Corney isn’t shaking things up menu-wise — and that’s a good thing. Much like the rest of his peers at Bohanan’s and those who have gone on to work at Paramour, Hot Joy, The Esquire and throughout other bars in San Antonio, Corney was…

Family Affair: Bars to Visit With or Escape From Your Family

When my parents (who will hopefully never, ever read this) come into town this week, they’ll likely touch all my stuff, question most of my life decisions, grill me on how many oil changes my car’s had this year and make passing comments about my friends. Even more unfortunately, they’ll poo-poo the very thought of…

13 Ways To Get Your Drink/Grub On This Season

Shop & Ship San Antonio The best way to shop is with a cocktail in hand. Head out to Brick at Blue Star for an awesome marketplace featuring local artisans, handmade goods, snacks from hot restaurants and cocktails. Buy some gifts for the holiday season or just buy yourself stuff. We won’t judge you. #treatyoself.…


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