Cover Story
The Fall’s Exciting Lineup of Live Performance Transports Audiences
With summer vacation a distant memory and the holidays far from sight, the daily doldrums of life may seem endless. Luckily, with the release of the local performing arts centers’ new seasons, escape can happen in 90 minutes or less. With world-class performances of theater, dance and music, you’ll be left wondering just where you…
Lawsuit Challenges San Antonio Food Truck Regulations
Should San Antonio food trucks have to ask permission to set up near brick-and-mortar restaurants? That’s the question asked by lawyers from the Institute for Justice, a Virginia-based libertarian-leaning law firm that recently filed a lawsuit against the City of San Antonio over an ordinance which requires food trucks within 300 feet of a food-related…
It’s National Noodle Day
SPONSORED Noodles come in many forms — and National Noodle Day, celebrated today, October 6 — is the perfect opportunity to pay your local noodle house a visit. Kimura is a Japanese restaurant serving beer, wine and signature cocktails. Located downtown on the corner of Pecan Street and St. Mary’s Street, Kimura will be open…
The Mix to Change Ownership on October 16
The Mix, the North St. Mary’s mainstay (and the only bar I know of with designated makeout couches), will change ownership on Friday, October 16. One of the oldest bars in operation on the street, owner Daniel Clift will hand the reins over to the new proprietors, who wished to remain anonymous. “Everything’s gonna remain…
Recommended Food Code Changes Would Facilitate Street Feeding, With Some Caveats
City of San Antonio officials today recommended changing the city’s food code to facilitate feeding the homeless and hungry on San Antonio’s streets by waiving fees and permit requirements for charitable organizations. The proposed changes are designed to “allow charitable feeders to continue to do good works while also providing public safety,” said Melody Woosley,…
9 Free Events Happening This Week
Tuesday, October 6 The People’s Nite Market Downtown Tuesday hosts the third The People’s Nite Market at La Villita. The market features local produce, activities, live entertainment, and more. Free, 6pm, Tue., La Villita Historic Arts Village, 418 Villita, (210) 207-8614, getcreativesanantonio.com Tuesday, October 6 Arsenic and Old Lace Northeast Lakeview’s monthly free screening is…
Texas General Land Office Purchases Three Buildings In Alamo Plaza
The Texas General Land Office plans to buy three buildings directly across from the Alamo. The purchase advances plans for a potential renovation of Alamo Plaza and opening of a museum and visitors center for the famous San Antonio landmark. The agency, which took over custodianship for The Alamo earlier this year, is under contract…
The Guadalupe Is Calling for Artist and Filmmakers for Hecho a Mano and CineFestival
The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center is seeking artists for its 29th annual Hecho a Mano event this December. The three-day shopping event held at Galería Guadalupe offers visitors a glimpse of work by local artists and craftspeople, who sell unique handmade goods ranging from art, jewelry and decorative items. Mark Anthony Martinez, a visual arts director…
Free Taco Alert: Taco C Launches Fundraising Campaign with Freebies
Free tacos are often the best tacos. Taco Cabana (multiple locations) knows that, so they’re luring you in for a chicken fajita taco on the house to share the news of their Taco Treat fundraiser. Stop by between 5 and 8 p.m. tonight (October 6), for a free dine-in taco, but while there, pick up a…
Good News for Musicians Touring Through Texas Who like to Smoke Weed
On the long musician’s commute between California and Austin, the Sierra Blanca Border Patrol checkpoint busts more than its share of bands for marijuana possession. But, as of last week, that reign has come to an end. NPR reports that Hudspeth County Sheriff Arvin West will no longer take marijuana cases coming from the Border…
Bexar County Designates October 12 as Indigenous Peoples Day
The Bexar County Commissioners Court passed a resolution Tuesday morning declaring October 12 as Indigenous Peoples Day. This is, of course, the day that Christopher Columbus arrived in the Western Hemisphere in 1492 — setting off a chain of events that would devastate Native Americans in the New World. Antonio Diaz, one of the advocates…
Visit The People’s Nite Market for National Night Out
Downtown Tuesday and National Night Out, when you’re supposed to get out and meet thy neighbor, are back tonight, and with it is the halfway mark for The People’s Nite Market’s tenure at La Villita (418 Villita St.). Created by Jovanna Lopez, marketing manager for O’liva Healthy Local Cuisine & Tasting Room, and Valeria Hernandez,…
HB2 Increasing Wait Times for Women Seeking Abortion Services
House Bill 2 has had a dramatic effect on abortion facilities in Texas, with facilities providing abortion care dropping from 41 to 18. The Texas Policy Evaluation Project has been monitoring facilities that do offer the service, and found that wait times for abortion appointments vary across the state, with some waits lasting 10 to…
Shaquille O’Neal to Be Inducted Into San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame
Before earning four NBA rings, becoming the association’s most dominant big man and dropping hip-hop classics like Shaq Fu: Da Return, Shaquille O’Neal was a beanpole basketball star at Robert G. Cole High School. Now, O’Neal will be inducted into the 2016 class of the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame, according to the San Antonio…
Potbelly Sandwich Shop Opens First Location In The Rim
Potbelly Sandwich Shop has opened its first location (17711 IH 10 West., Ste 107) at The Rim last week. Their menu offers a variety of sandwiches, soups and salads. For the sandwiches, you’re able pick your type of bread, what size and what you’d like inside those toasty buns. Everyday of the week, features a…
Sando Taste Test: Whataburger’s New Buffalo Ranch Chicken Strip Sandwich
Whataburger released a new sandwich this past week, and it’s a mouthful. Billed as the Buffalo Ranch Chicken Strip Sandwich, the new sando “is layered with three crispy, all-white meat chicken strips, two slices of Monterey Jack cheese, creamy buttermilk ranch and topped off with Whataburger’s own Buffalo Sauce, all served on a toasted five-inch bun.”…
5 Shows to See This Week
Monday, October 5 Soli Chamber Ensemble: Texas Roadshow The Soli Chamber Ensemble begins its 2015-2016 season with the world premiere of Carl Schimmel’s Roadshow for Thora, a work inspired by the oddities on the PBS series Antique Roadshow. $25, 7:30pm, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts , 100 Auditorium Circle, (210) 223-8624 Monday, October 5…
Search for SAPD Chief McManus’ Replacement Cost San Antonio Less than $7,000
The City of San Antonio spent almost $7,000 to find a replacement for Police Chief William McManus before he returned to his former position, according to records obtained by the San Antonio Current. City officials did not hire an outside consultant to help with the search, which was conducted entirely by COSA staff. The expenditures included:…
Should the City Pay the Spurs $140,000 to Promote Recycling?
The San Antonio Solid Waste Management Department wants a repeat of its most successful television campaign: an advertising deal with the Spurs. Last year, SWMD launched the partnership with the Spurs to create more awareness about the city’s recycling initiatives. On Thursday, San Antonio City Council will vote on whether it will allow the department…
Viva Villa Taqueria Sets October Opening Date
The Cortez Family, responsible for Mi Tierra Cafe & Bakery and La Margarita, is adding a fourth eatery to the mix this October. Under the direction of chef Cariño Cortez, Viva Villa Taqueria will be the first quick-service restaurant by the group. The space at 905 Dolorosa St. is more than 2,500 square feet with…
5 Things You Have To Do This Week
Tuesday-Wednesday, October 6-7 Hocus Pocus Quote-Along On the off-chance that you haven’t seen the 1993 Halloween classic, the story’s pretty simple. Three witches are resurrected in modern-day Salem, Massachusetts, and it’s up to two teens and a talking cat to put a stop to their evil plans. The Drafthouse knows that half the reason people…
Benevolent Ghost Children Can Go Back to Saving Lives
If you’re looking to scare your kids (or yourself) this Halloween, taking them to the Ghost tracks should be on your list. Last month Union Pacific Railroad had originally planned to cut off public access to the ghost tracks to begin a construction project on an additional track to allow for trains to pass each…
SA Food Pics: A Smorgasbord of Culinary Options in Town
SA Food Pics is here to show you all of the flavor that was packed in this weekend. What better way to start the weekend than some tasty waffles from Alchemy (1123 N. Flores St.) topped with bananas, blueberries and of course, powered sugar. New taco finds are always a plus and Taquitos West Ave (2818…
Could Moving Municipal Elections to November Increase the Youth Vote?
San Antonio City Councilman Ron Nirenberg thinks moving municipal elections to from May to November in even-numbered years will boost the youth vote. Typically, elections during even-numbered years result in higher voter turnout because of national elections while off-year elections that often focus on local elections draw fewer voters. Nirenberg made the comments at the…
Texas Governor Greg Abbott Compares Dallas Cowboys Defense to ‘Porous Border’
During the Dallas Cowboys’ excruciating 26-20 loss to the New Orleans Saints Sunday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott sent out a tweet comparing the North Texas football team’s defense to the Lone Star State’s “porous border.” The tweet comes less than a month after Abbott traveled to Mexico to meet Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, where…
Publisher to Change Text Calling African Slaves ‘Workers’ After Texas Mom’s Social Media Posts
McGraw-Hill Education will change part of a world geography textbook after a Texas mother called out the publisher for a caption that referred to African slaves as “workers” on social media. Roni Dean-Burren first noticed the caption when her ninth-grade son Coby Burren sent her a photo of his textbook. Dean-Burren posted the photo to…
18th Annual Huevos Rancheros Gala Pairs Eggs and Art on Saturday
San Anto Cultural Arts hosts the Huevos Rancheros Gala at the Avenida Guadalupe Association (1327 Guadalupe) this Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. The gala is an event that brings the community together for delicious huevos rancheros and a chance to honor two local members of the community as King and Queen Huevo. Their will be a…
Bonehead Quote of the Week: Explaining to Hillary Clinton Why Mass Shootings Keep Happening
Chris Harper-Mercer, a 26-year-old man from Oregon, shot and killed 10 people yesterday at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon. Seven other people were wounded by Harper-Mercer, who died in a shootout with police. Politicians, including many who are running for president, quickly responded to the tragedy. Hillary Clinton, a Democratic presidential hopeful and former…
Don’t Miss The 2nd Annual Saga Expo
The collective of artists, musicians, and gamers come together again at the San Antonio Galactic Artists Expo to promote all that is creative in San Antonio. Enjoy live music, a gaming tournament, table flipping, and a showcase of fantastic local artists. The expo is partnering with Alien Worlds, Zombie Certified, San Antonio Comic Con, and San…
The Priciest Google Ad Is No Surprise If You Know Anything About SA Drivers
Any Alamo City motorist who isn’t on a cellphone, putting on make-up, inhaling a breakfast taco or undertaking any number of distracted-driving feats on one of the city’s many highways, is probably listening to traffic reports. Because there are going to be crashes, lots of them. So, it’s really no surprise that the priciest Google…
Indy Coffee Co. Gets Closer to Opening New Spot
Good news, coffee fans. Indy Coffee Co. is this much closer to opening its new brick-and-mortar location. The sort of bad news? The guys behind the independent coffee truck that’s operated at Vance Jackson and Huebner Road since March 2014 is closing up the rig to focus on the new spot off UTSA Blvd. Owners…
Yanaguana Garden Releases Schedule for Grand Opening Events This Weekend
Yanaguana Garden, the new new art-filled public play area at Hemisfair Park, opens today. To celebrate, Hemisfair will hold a weekend-long celebration with live music, art exhibits and food and beverage tastings. The full schedule of events for the weekend is available below. Check out the Facebook page for more details, and our story in…
Live and Local: Buttercup at the Cobalt Club
“Thank you, good morning!” yelled frontman Erik Sanden at the end of Buttercup’s Daybreaker gig. In a hypnagogic state, compounded by a touch of morning alcohol and the feeling of seeing something very unique, Buttercup’s performance at the Cobalt Club was one of the best shows I’ve seen since coming to San Antonio. It’s a…
SAWS ‘Blanket Estimates’ Targeted 50,000 Water Meters
San Antonio Water System CEO Robert Puente appeared before City Council Thursday to explain why Northside residents in Districts 8, 9 and 10 were receiving bills that were higher than normal. The short answer: SAWS estimated bills for 50,000 water meters, the largest blanket estimate the organization has made, according to Puente. SAWS has 500,000…
New Air Quality Standards Have Serious Implications for San Antonio
Today the Environmental Protection Agency announced new air quality standards, which will likely usher San Antonio into non-compliance — possibly triggering new mandatory rules, like vehicle emissions testing. The previous standard was 75 parts per billion, but ground-level ozone standards are now set at 70 parts per billion, a move by the EPA that was…
Urbanology Furniture: Unique Like You
SPONSORED You are San Antonio—you Local coffee-loving, downtown bicycle-riding, Pearl-dining San Antonian you. But what is it that you love most about San Antonio? Can’t quite put your finger on it? It’s probably a nice, little combo of everything SA: the trendy eateries, the good vibes, food trucks in Travis Park, Third Thursdays, Second Sundays, Downtown Tuesdays…
You Need These Scary Movie Sweaters In Your Life
Themed sweaters are no longer sacred to Christmas thanks to Mondo’s new clothing line. Mondo, the company known for making incredible limited edition posters and SteelBooks, has teamed up with design company Middle of Beyond to create a line of sweaters, cardigans, and scarves that take inspiration from classic horror movie franchises. The clothing line…
Sorry, San Antonio, You’re Going to Have to Wait a Little Longer For Blue Bell Ice Cream
It may be a while before San Antonio can have their very own “Blue Bell Country Day”. Blue Bell announced today it’s entering phase two of its five-phase re-entry into the market. The company expects to complete its product roll-out this November. Phase two will reintroduce Blue Bell ice cream products to stores in Waco,…
10 Things You Have to Do This Weekend
Thu 10/1 – Sun 10/4 “Miró: The Experience of Seeing” His name may pop up in conversations about surrealism, abstract expressionism and dadaism, but Spanish master Joan Miró defied movements and easy classification. Born in Barcelona in 1893, Miró drew deep inspiration from his native Catalonia (and especially the seaside town of Mont-roig) but evolved…
City Council Unanimously Confirms William McManus as SAPD Chief Despite Questions About Process
San Antonio City Council members today unanimously approved the appointment of William McManus to lead the San Antonio Police Department again. City Council members heaped praise upon McManus during the chummy confirmation period, though some had questions about the process by which he was hired. City Manager Sheryl Sculley appointed McManus to the job in…
10 Shows to See This Weekend
Thursday, October 1 Son of Kick Performing as Son of Kick, Mika Abadie’s bass productions have taken him from his home in West London to festivals like Glastonbury and SXSW. $15, 11pm, The Falls, 226 W. Bitters, (210) 490-5553 Thursday, October 1 The Grim Folks, National Standard Rockabilly trio The Grim Folks stamp their “boom-chicka-boom” rhythms with…
Buzzfeed Introduces Millennials to an Exotic Mexican Beverage
When the folks at Buzzfeed find a formula that works, they make sure to pump out a steady stream of near-carbon copy content until all opportunities to go viral are exhausted. So goes with the site’s popular video series wherein they gather people from one culture and introduce them to bizarre cuisines from strange, far off…
Referee Struck by John Jay Players Denies Using Racial Slurs and Complains of a Concussion in Police Statement
Robert Watts, the referee who was struck by two John Jay High School football players during their game against Marble Falls High School on September 4, said in a written statement to the Marble Falls Police Department that the did not say racial slurs toward John Jay players. This contradicts the story of the two…
State Sen. José Menéndez Urges Texans to Maintain Pot Reform Momentum
The 2017 legislative session is coming up quick, and Texans for Responsible Marijuana Policy are holding advocacy training events all across the state, starting in San Antonio on Saturday. State Sen. José Menéndez said the 2015 legislative brought tremendous progress, particularly because of regular Texans who shared their stories with lawmakers. “The movement to change…
SAWS Will Hold Events to Sort Out High Water Bills
For those unlucky San Antonio Water System customers who recently received an abnormally high bill, SAWS has set up three Rapid Response events this week to help sort out the problem. The events will take place: -Thursday, October 1, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Encino Branch Library (2515 E. Evans Road) -Saturday, October 3, 8:30…
Mike Watt Show at Paper Tiger Is Now Free
In an old school punk spirit, or a case of sly promotional beneficence, Mike Watt’s show at Paper Tiger is now free. Those who purchased pre-sale tickets will be refunded. Rejoice! That’s called Lone Star money. If you’re not familiar with Watt’s spot in the punk canon, here’s a quick highlight reel. In 1980, Watt and…
State Rep. Lyle Larson: Uber, SA Close to Deal
With San Antonio ride-share enthusiasts waiting to hear when Lyft will begin operating its pilot program, one state representative says in his newsletter that Uber is close to striking a deal with the city. State Rep. Lyle Larson says in his newsletter that the compromise includes allowing drivers to submit to a voluntary fingerprint check…
Texas Woman Sues SeaWorld for Leaking Her Phone Call
SeaWorld Entertainment is on a long list being sued by an anonymous Texas woman for allegedly leaking a wiretapped phone call. Filed last week under the name “Jane Doe” in Texas, the woman accuses SeaWorld of purchasing a video recording of a “personal and sensitive” phone conversation between her and a friend, John Hargrove, the…
Where in San Antonio Is AT&T’s GigaPower Actually Available?
Are you eager to sign up for AT&T’s GigaPower? Not so fast. AT&T began offering its super-fast fiber Internet service to local customers on September 28, just one week after the company officially announced plans to offer GigaPower to San Antonio customers. The telecom was quick to play catch-up after Google Fiber announced plans earlier…
Levitation Festival in Austin Announces Lineup Featuring Brian Wilson Performing ‘Pet Sounds’
With the release of the initial 2016 lineup, Levitation (formerly Austin Psych Fest) is back with a vengeance, featuring Brian Wilson, Animal Collective, Lee Scratch Perry and Flying Lotus. Founded in 2008 and curated by record label and Levitation Festival creator The Reverberation Appreciation Society, the Austin-based music festival has morphed into a worldwide phenomenon, even…
6 Local Podcasts to Subscribe to for International Podcast Day
Since the early days of podcasts, we’ve enjoyed the likes of The Ricky Gervais Podcast and This American Life. Podcasts are now a global phenomenon, reaching millions of listeners worldwide. For International Podcast Day, take some time to listen and subscribe to these oft-forgotten homegrown podcasts before you go on that binge of RadioLab or Serial…
‘SportsCenter’ Uses Timmy To Throw Some Serious Shade
Remember in 2008 when a young Derrick Rose graced the Alamo City with the University of Memphis during the NCAA’s Final Four? I do, and I’m not even the biggest sports fan in the office. Rose was then drafted by the Chicago Bulls as the first overall pick and was voted Rookie of the Year.…
Poll Finds Texans Split on Same-Sex Marriage, Sold on Youth Football
Almost half of Texas residents support same-sex marriage, racial discrimination in the state disproportionately impacts minorities, and football is still king despite long-term health concerns according to a poll released Wednesday by Texas Lyceum, a non-partisan, non-profit leadership group. This is the eighth annual Texas Lyceum poll. The survey asked 1,000 Texas adults about their…
Just Under 20 Percent of Texans Oppose Marijuana Legalization and Decriminalization
The annual Texas Lyceum Poll confirms that more Texans are embracing marijuana reform. The poll, conducted between Sept. 8 through 21 of 1,000 Texans by the nonpartisan Texas Lyceum group, found that 46 percent of Texans support legalizing marijuana while 50 percent oppose the move. Of those who oppose full legalization, 57 percent support decriminalization…
Fall Fishing: Opportunities for Anglers Abound Around Town
Fall has arrived and, if you’re up for fishing, autumn holds plenty of opportunities for positive experiences even in not-so-popular fishing holes. After all, fish require good eating before winter, and meteorologists are predicting a wetter, colder winter than usual thanks to El Niño. “Fish will bite a little earlier as temperatures start to cool…
So Long, ‘Slingers: An Oral History of the San Antonio Gunslingers
Those headlines you read about the Raiders flirting with San Antonio are nothing new. The movement to bring professional football to San Antonio is old news — and for a brief period 30 years ago, it even succeeded. Kind of. The San Antonio Gunslingers, a bona fide pro ball club in the United States Football…
4 State Parks To Visit In Texas
Scorching 100-degree plus days in South Texas are waning. As dangerous heat subsides, the urge to go outdoors grows as summer turns to fall. The Lone Star State is vast and opportunities to spend time outside are plentiful. The state’s beauty is as large as the distances it encompasses. Luckily, Bexar County residents are not…
The Yanaguana Garden at Hemisfair Pairs Art with History and Play
A long time ago, before there was a Bexar County or the bustling metropolis called San Antonio — or even Texas — there was a blue panther that lived in a blue hole. One day, a water bird flew into the hole where the panther lived. “And the water bird shot out of the blue…
The Geologic Wonders of the Guadalupe Mountains National Park
As a New England expatriate in Texas, a trip to the desert seems like a visit to another planet. At the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, that otherworldly feeling is quite real, achieved through a travel in time, if not through space. Just below the flat line where New Mexico perches over Texas, the park is…
Over-gourd: That’s Enough With All the Pumpkin Flavors, No?
Confession: I may have dabbled in basic activities in a previous life. Like other young 20-somethings, I was thrilled at the idea of the release of pumpkin-flavored anything come fall. Dairy Queen’s pumpkin pie Blizzard with pumpkin puree, nutmeg and Graham crackers? Yep, I had it. Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte, the company’s longest running fall…
Migratory Monarch Decline Highlights Larger Problem of Pollination
Just two years ago, the number of monarch butterflies reaching the southern-most migratory destination in Mexico was the lowest since scientists began measuring the population 22 years ago. A combination of deforestation in Michoacán, Mexico; the use of genetically modified herbicide-resistant crops, which resulted in the loss of the monarch’s host plant, milkweed; Manifest Destiny-like…
Celery up, Tomatoes Down in This Bloody Cocktail
One thing about writing a recipe column: After a while, the columnist’s personal picky likes and dislikes become obvious. For instance, I’ve remixed some pretty obscure cocktails – the Blood & Sand, the Clover Club, the Monkey Gland – but there are a few very common ones I haven’t approached. Like the Bloody Mary. Yechh.…
Turning Hive Problems into Bee Solutions
Raise your hand if you love fruits, veggies and most other produce? If you don’t want to see your favorite type of berry or apple or squash go away, you may want to help honey bees do their job of pollinating said crops. Though learning about colony collapse disorder (or the reason bees keep disappearing)…
Pleasing Patio and Fare at Shuck Shack
It dawned on me that in the two-ish years I’ve worked at the San Antonio Current, I’d yet to review a new restaurant by Jason Dady. Umai Mi, Tre Enoteca and even B&D Ice House —his joint concept with the Newman clan — were handled by freelancers. It was high time I stepped up to…
Underground Delights: Subterranean Fun Found Beneath the Earth’s Surface
Summer is giving way to fall and, still, visiting a cave is literally and figuratively one of the coolest things to do in South Texas. First off, there are the “show caves” – those open to the public and, in some cases, tourist attractions. Such spots closer to town are: Cascade Caverns and Cave Without…
Big Flavors, Wee Space at Fairview Coffee Bar & Grub
Do we need more coffee shops in Midtown? That’s what I asked myself as I pulled up to Fairview Coffee Bar & Grub, a newly opened coffee shop at St. Mary’s and 281. Within a 5-mile radius of Fairview, there are at least 10 coffee shops (not counting the myriad Starbucks). Do we need more…
‘Sicario’ Brings Life to the Chilling Violence of the Drug Trade
Director Denis Villeneuve raises the bar after his intense and harrowing Prisoners with a movie on a warpath. The War on Drugs has never felt more like actual warfare than in Sicario. FBI agent Kate Macer (Emily Blunt) serves on a drug squad, as the lead on a hostage search and rescue team. As the film…
Getting It Right: Yanaguana’s First Tenants to Set San Anto Tone
We still have a ways to wait until the first tenants at the new Yanaguana Garden open inside four of Hemifair’s historic homes. You’ll get your first taste of who gets to represent San Antonio as authentic, local, creative, inspiring, accessible and vibrant (all actual characteristics used by the Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment Corporation during…
The New Narcocinema
Gritty, low-budget, sometimes silly narcocinema has been active south of the border since the ’70s — for a solid treatment of the form, see Vice’s mini-doc from 2013. But in the last decade, the violence, corruption and absurdity of the War on Drugs has seen an upswing of creativity and big budget attention, from award-guaranteed…
Savage Love: Asshole Moves
I’ve been dating this guy for almost two months. It’s been pretty good, except the sex isn’t really the best. I have this other male friend who has had a crush on me. Long story short: My friend made a move on me the other night. I told him I couldn’t, and he knew why,…
5 Ways to Get Your Drink/Grub on This Week
Friday, October 2 Oktoberfest: The Deutschland festivities are in full swing at The Hoppy Monk, which is adding 20 Oktoberfest brews, live music, traditional Bavarian snacks, a ceremonial wooden keg tapping along with ceramic steins shipped all the way from Germany that will be available for purchase. Prices vary, 11:30am-2am Friday and Saturday, 1010 N…
Coffee Artists Ready for a Caffeine-fueled Throwdown and More
The coffee revolution continues in the Alamo City with the addition of Thursday Night Throwdowns, hosted by Local Coffee and Merit Roasting Co. The first installment goes down Thursday, October 8 from 7 to 11 p.m. Held at Merit (2001 S Presa), the event invites latte artists from all over the city and state for…
Free Will Astrology, Week of September 28
ARIES (March 21-April 19): The next seven weeks will NOT be a favorable time to fool around with psychic vampires and charismatic jerks. I recommend you avoid the following mistakes, as well: failing to protect the wounded areas of your psyche; demanding perfection from those you care about; and trying to fulfill questionable desires that…
Our Cultural Mythology: Reflecting on 40 Years of Wings Press
By the end of this year, local publishing house Wings Press will have published 18 books — including works by Naomi Shihab Nye, Dave Biggers, John Igo and Wendy Barker — while celebrating its 40th year of existence. Begun by Joanie Whitebird and Joseph Lomax in 1975, Wings has grown significantly and garnered well-deserved national…
6 Can’t Miss Concert Picks for October and November
Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club Saturday, October 17 | Laurie Auditorium With the U.S. opening an embassy in Cuba this year — and the impending invasion of the first McDonald’s in Havana only a matter of time — it’s hard to fully put into perspective how shocking the eponymous 1997 release from the Buena Vista…
The Guadalupe’s New Executive Director Talks about Coming Home
From the Rio Grande Valley to the New York City theater scene and now to Brazos Street on the Westside, the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center’s new executive director brings Big Apple experience back to his Texas roots. Born in Brownsville, Jerry Ruiz is a Harvard University graduate who earned his MFA from the University of…
You Don’t Need Your Phone to See Cosmic Big Band Golden Dawn Arkestra
Like many first-time listeners, my first contact with the Golden Dawn Arkestra came during last year’s SXSW. In that noisy sea of interchangeable garage bands and laptop projects, the Arkestra was exactly as advertised: otherworldly. The 13-piece band, replete with horns, dancers and percussionists in interstellar attire, staged a multisensory spectacle using v ideo projections,…
The Chamber Orchestra of San Antonio Celebrates the Forbidden Composers Banned by the Nazis
The Chamber Orchestra of San Antonio’s new series, appropriately (if melodramatically) dubbed Forbidden Composers, kicks off Saturday at the Tobin Center. Featuring the music of politically oppressed artists throughout history, the inaugural concert presents works by three Jewish composers who were stifled by the Nazi regime. Each of these individuals and their works — Hanns…
Will Climate Change Impact Bird-Watching in South Texas? Some Say It Already Is
One of the country’s premier birding destinations is right in our own backyard. The Rio Grande Valley is a bird-watching mecca for many reasons: The region’s tropical climate brings in birds that might otherwise require an overseas trip to see. It’s a major north-south migration flyway for hundreds of species. And the mild winter allows…
More than a Minute: Mike Watt’s Enduring Punk Career
Mike Watt is the Pied Piper of punk rock. He wasn’t there first, but he has endured as well as anyone through his many bands and solo projects, embodying the idea and spirit of the form. “Punk was in your mind, it wasn’t some style of music in those days,” Watt, 57, said. “Anything went.…
