San Antonio’s Sen. José Menéndez Sends Letter Asking AG Ken Paxton to Sue the Feds Over Migrant Detention Centers
Texas Sen. José Menéndez last week fired off a letter to litigious Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton urging him to sue the federal government once again. This time over its detention of migrant children at the border. In the letter, Menéndez D-San Antonio, cites concerns about the detention sites documented in recent news coverage — from overcrowding…
Knocked Loose Returning to San Antonio This Fall to Destroy Everything
Hailing from Kentucky, Knocked Loose fuse tough-guy hardcore in the vein of Throwdown with the violent groove of deathcore. Somehow, the band manages to sound distinct from either. While the band falls more on the side of punk than metal — especially singer Bryan Garris’ emotive yells — its sound is likely to hold appeal…
New Funk Festival Will Funk Up the Alamodome This Summer
Dirty, sticky and stanky as hell, funk music continues to stand the test of time, and if one nation can’t come together under a groove, then maybe the Alamo City can. On Saturday, August 24, lovers of the genre can descend up on the Alamodome for the San Antonio Funk Fest and enjoy a night…
Jinjer is Still Playing San Antonio Despite River City Rockfest’s Postponement
A few months back, a press release leaked that Ukranian outfit Jinjer was officially playing River City Rockfest. It seemed like a magnificent fit, given that Jinjer is one of the fastest-rising stars in the metal world right now. The band’s grabbed plenty of attention for colliding nu-metal grooves with elements of death metal as frontwoman…
San Antonio’s Culinaria Wine + Food Festival Heads to La Cantera This Fall for 20th Anniversary
The 20th annual Culinaria Wine + Food Festival, a multi-day celebration of great Southwest culinary experiences, will arrive at La Cantera Resort & Spa from September 26 to 29. Culinaria – a local nonprofit dedicated to making San Antonio a food and wine destination since 1999 – will “cheers to 20 years” with events highlighting all things delicious,…
Cocktail: The Event Taking Over San Antonio Botanical Garden with Tiki Theme
The San Antonio Botanical Garden will transform into a tropical Tiki party at the seventh annual Cocktail: The Event on Friday, July 19 from 8 to 11 p.m. Fifteen of San Antonio’s top bars will serve samples of Tiki-inspired cocktails using spirits from Deep Eddy Vodka, Dulce Vida Tequila, New Belgium Mural and more. Attendees…
After Breakdown, San Antonio’s Fire Union Forces Contract Talks Into Arbitration
San Antonio’s firefighter’s union has shut down mediation with city officials and invoked its unilateral right to force talks on a new labor contract into arbitration. The move means the parties will enter a process under which they’re bound to abide by the ruling of a third-party panel. The union — which has been without a…
Five Ways to Enjoy Art in San Antonio Over the Long Holiday Weekend
This weekend, take full advantage of your P.T.O. with the coincidental synchronicity between Independence Day festivities and the First Friday art walk. Before you truck over to the Tower of the Americas for the annual fireworks extravaganza, check out some Thursday art previews, and follow up with a smorgasbord of openings that commence on Friday.…
Meet Jada Andrews-Sullivan, San Antonio’s District 2 Councilwoman
On June 8, the City of San Antonio held runoff elections in three city council races in addition to the mayor’s race. Seats for Districts 2, 4 and 6 were still up for grabs after no candidates in these races were able to secure 50% of the vote in May. At the end of the…
Tenko-Gōri’s Icy Treats Shine at Weekly Pop-Up at the Pearl
Tenko Ramen is bringing you a sweeter way to stay cool this summer: with kakigōri, or Japanese shaved ice. Tenko-Gōri – a weekly pop-up series led by chef Quealy Watson and Tenko Ramen co-owner Jennifer Hwa Dobbertin – will serve icy treats every Wednesday during SoundCream Sunset Sessions at the Pearl, from 5:30-9 p.m. For those unfamiliar…
Blue Bell Shares Statement After Viral Video Shows Woman Lick Ice Cream, Put Container Back in Freezer
A recent viral Twitter video shows a woman remove a carton of Blue Bell Tin Roof ice cream from a store freezer, lick the top and put it back on the shelf. Now the Texas-based maker of the ice cream wants to put customers at ease. “We want to thank our customers for alerting us…
Aztec Theatre Rooftop Bar Addition, Renovation Design Unveiled
The historic Aztec Theatre, which has stood downtown for almost a century, is getting a facelift starting this fall. According to Culture Map San Antonio, the movie theater-turned-concert venue is transforming its rooftop into a “multipurpose event space accommodating approximately 200 to 220 guests,” with a bar and terrace overlooking the skyline. As part of…
San Antonio’s Joaquin Castro Tweets Images and Video of Migrants in Border Detention Center
San Antonio Congressman Joaquin Castro on Monday evening tweeted photos and video taken at migrant detention centers in Texas and urged Americans to wake up to the way the government is treating refugees. The Democratic lawmaker captured the images during a visit by a Congressional Hispanic Caucus delegation to Customs and Border Protection detention sites in El…
Harlandale ISD Suspends Superintendent Rey Madrigal with Intent to Terminate Contract
A week after the Texas Education Agency called for the replacement of Harlandale ISD Superintendent Rey Madrigal and its board of trustees, the district has suspended the superintendent. On Monday, the school board met to discuss the TEA’s demands and voted 4-0 to suspend Madrigal indefinitely with pay. Madrigal, who has held the position since 2012, was…
Parents Demand Answers After Three-Month-Old Baby Dies, Grandma’s Boyfriend Arrested
The parents of a three-month-old boy are mourning after he was allegedly beaten by his grandmother’s boyfriend. Jasmine Ybarra told KSAT that her mother went to her house last Friday and asked if she and her boyfriend, Jose Rafael Amaya-Cantu, could see baby J’Anthony McKnight. Ybarra agreed, and asked her mother if she would buy…
Cereal Killer Sweets’ Kickstarter to Fund Downtown San Antonio Location
Cereal Killer Sweets – a local shop specializing in nostalgic cereal treats – has launched a Kickstarter campaign for a new downtown San Antonio location, slated to open in August. Owner Megan Morales opened Cereal Killers’ Huebner Road location earlier this year, but recently announced plans to leave the space in July for the downtown location.…
B-52s and Berlin Bringing the ’80s Back to San Antonio This Summer
The B-52s are returning to San Antonio this summer, which is dope because who the hell doesn’t love the quirky and kitschy “Rock Lobster?” After building a cult following in the late ’70s and early ’80s with songs like “Planet Claire” and “Private Idaho,” the B-52s eventually blew up into a top-40 hit machine thanks…
ProPublica Exposes Secret Border Patrol Facebook Group Where Posters Mock Dead Migrants
ProPublica has reported on a secret Facebook page for current and former U.S. Border Patrol agents that includes posts joking about the deaths of migrants and sexist memes of Latina lawmakers. The three-year-old “I’m 10-15” Facebook group has roughly 9,500 members from across the country, according to the report by ProPublica, a nonprofit investigative journalism…
Where to Score 4th of July Food, Drink Specials in San Antonio
Fuel up for the day’s celebrations and take advantage of Fourth of July specials by visiting these San Antonio restaurants: La Panadería // Escape the heat and enjoy pan dulce at this local favorite. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served and guests can try new menu items including the La Panadería Patty Melt, a…
The Woodlawn Theatre Will Pull Out All the Stops for a Post-Independence Day Disney-Filled Weekend
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why it is, but summer feels like the perfect time to celebrate all things Disney. Maybe it’s nostalgia for school breaks and the accompanying vacations to the meccas of amusement parks in Orlando and/or Anaheim, or, if you were stuck at home, whiling away the dog days by running VHS…
Maverick Texas Brasserie Named Among ‘America’s Best Wine Restaurants’
Maverick Texas Brasserie, a culinary destination in Southtown, was recently recognized by Wine Enthusiast Magazine as one of the 100 best wine restaurants in America for 2019. Though the list features seven Texas eateries in Dallas, Fredericksburg and Houston, Maverick was the sole restaurant from San Antonio. Wine director Joshua Thomas has established the restaurant’s wine program with a diverse…
SaddleUp Exhibit Gives San Antonians a Glimpse Into Ranching Lifestyle
A young calf getting branded in a cloud of dust, men crowded around the chuck wagon for lunch, an old rancher showing off handmade cowboy hats – all are captured in photographs at the SaddleUp exhibit at the Institute of Texan Cultures. Photographer Joe Vitone and filmmaker Lori Najvar combined audio and visual elements to…
Eat Away Your Post-Pride Depression With Big Freedia’s New Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Collab
Just when you thought your post-Pride gloom was starting to settle in, the queen of bounce herself Big Freedia is poised to bring some pep back into your step. The New Orleans-based artist, who hits San Antonio at least once, if not-twice a year, has just announced that she’s collaborated with Ben & Jerry’s on…
Satan Lives: King Dude Returns to San Antonio
King Dude will bring his brand of sultry darkness to San Antonio on Friday, October 11, for a show at Paper Tiger. If you’re unfamiliar with King Dude’s acoustic folk with a dose of Southern Gothic drama, you’re missing out — especially if you like the sort of haunted, vintage charm he conjures on stage.…
Try Your Hand at Drag While Giving Back to Charity at Annual Tuff Drag Diva, Divo Competition
Well, it’s official – as of Monday, the sparkling celebrations and Lisa Frank rainbow realness of Pride are over until 2020. Feel free to drown your sorrows in some Big Freedia Ben & Jerry’s, but all is not lost: on Saturday, the Community Christmas Party and Show (CCP&S) is hosting its annual Tuff Drag Diva…
San Antonians Would Have to Make Three Times Minimum Wage to Afford Average Two-Bedroom Apartment
If renting an apartment seems out of your budget, you’re likely not alone. According to a new report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Texans would need to earn at least $20.29 per hour to afford rent on the average two-bedroom apartment. That’s nearly three times the minimum wage of $7.25. The $20-per-hour rate…
Actress Katie Leclerc Returns Home to San Antonio to Shoot Golf Drama Round of Your Life
Actress and native San Antonian Katie Leclerc has kept herself busy after starring as one of the lead characters on the Freeform (formerly ABC Family) drama Switched at Birth for five seasons. Since the show ended in 2017, Leclerc has starred in an original Crackle movie, Party Boat, alongside actor Brett Davern (MTV’s Awkward) and…
Senator Jose Menendez, Synagogue Members Discuss Holocaust Remembrance Week
Sen. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio, joined members of the Jewish community Sunday morning to discuss the importance of Holocaust Remembrance Week, which will be integrated into the Texas public school curriculum beginning in the 2019-2020 school year. Gov. Greg Abbott signed SB 1828 into law earlier this month, mandating that public schools spend a week…
Julián Castro’s Busy Weekend Included the Pride Parade and a String of Sunday TV Appearances
Considering Julián Castro’s busy weekend, you’d think the former San Antonio mayor was running for president or something. Fresh off his well-received performance in the first Democratic presidential debate, Castro marched in San Antonio’s Pride Bigger Than Texas Parade Saturday night with twin brother U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro. In contrast to other participating politicos, the…
Man Crashes Into Northeast San Antonio Home, Asks Family Not to Call Police
A San Antonio man is in police custody after he reportedly crashed into a home early Monday morning. The suspect allegedly drove his pickup truck into a home on the Northeast Side around 4:30 a.m. Monday. The driver told police that he lost control of the vehicle for “an unknown reason,” causing the crash. Virginia…
Police Searching for Devine Woman Reportedly Kidnapped by Ex-Boyfriend
The Devine Police Department is searching for a missing woman who authorities believe was kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend. Police said Jorge Jaramillo broke into the woman’s home in the town 35 miles southwest of San Antonio, entering through a window on Sunday morning. Officers said 48-year-old Jaramillo was armed with a handgun and forced the woman…
French & Michigan to Release Catalogue of San Antonio Artist Jennifer Ling Datchuk’s Most Recent Work
The publication wing of French & Michigan’s nonprofit division F&M Projects seeks to empower artists by providing the opportunity to create encyclopedic catalogues that preserve their work both in image and with expert written analysis. The latest artist to receive the F&M treatment is San Antonio’s Jennifer Ling Datchuk, whose prolific output has been shown…
Horrorholics Rejoice: Monster Con Returns to San Antonio This Fall
If you’re the type to plan your Halloween costume early, you now have the perfect chance to give it a test run before October officially arrives, because Monster Con is back, baby! The free convention will be held at the Wonderland of the Americas Mall on September 28 and 29, and will feature a “Scream Queen”…
This Week in San Antonio Food News: Growler Spot Closing, Downtown Restaurant Getting Update and Weekend Food Events
Texas Toast recently opened its doors to South Side San Antonio, offering classic breakfast favorites like omelettes, pancakes and, of course, Texas toast. Fredericksburg peaches are headed to the Twisted Peach Fest at the Block SA on Saturday, which means plenty of delicious peach-centric foods, desserts and cocktails for you to enjoy. The Palm San Antonio…
Where to Celebrate the 4th of July in San Antonio
If you’re not up for doing the cookout at home and want to go out to celebrate Independence Day this year, you have a few options. Here’s a quick rundown: Alamo // Go the historical route and pay your respects at the Alamo. The landmark will host a day of patriotic celebrations with special living…
Spurs Assistant Coach Becky Hammon Praises Recent Hires of Female Coaches in NBA
Becky Hammon said her role as the one of two female coaches in the NBA’s Summer League is progress, but added that women remain an “untapped resource” in the league. Hammon serves as assistant coach for the Spurs during the regular season and as head coach for the team’s Summer League, a role she’s filled…
Debate Sparring Partners Julián Castro and Beto O’Rourke Schedule Conflicting Campaign Events in Austin
In yet another sign there’s room for only one Texan in the crowded Democratic presidential field, Julián Castro and Beto O’Rourke have scheduled competing Friday night rallies in Austin. The Texas Democratic Party will host a meet-and-greet with Castro at Cheer Up Charlie’s Friday at 7 p.m. O’Rourke, meanwhile, set his campaign event at Scholz Garden…
Julián Castro Makes Breakfast Tacos, Shares Stories on ‘Candidate Kitchen’ Web Series
San Antonio native and 2020 presidential hopeful Julián Castro was recently a guest star in the premiere episode of “Candidate Kitchen,” a new YouTube web series showing candidates “prepare and share meaningful recipes with the stories that give them flavor.” In a puro move, Castro prepared potato, bacon and egg breakfast tacos as well as…
New, Old Fans Heading Out to Powerman 5000’s Show at the Rock Box
Powerman 5000 rose to fame during the late ’90s alternative rock boom with the release of its most successful album, Tonight the Stars Revolt. That release spawned the smash hit single “When Worlds Collide,” which, for better or worse, is still synonymous with the band for many listeners. However, Powerman 5000 never stopped making new…
Monthly Poetry Series at the Good Kind Welcomes Esteemed Poet Naomi Shihab Nye
Trinity University professor and recent San Antonio Poet Laureate Jenny Browne has curated an ongoing series of poetry readings at The Good Kind’s picturesque Southtown location. This month, the series returns with a stacked lineup, featuring none other than Naomi Shihab Nye, San Antonio’s beloved local poet and recently crowned Young People’s Poet Laureate, who…
TPR to Screen Oscar Winner Midnight Cowboy at Santikos Bijou
If the only thing you know about Jon Voight is that he’s Angelina Jolie’s dad, then this week’s iteration of TPR’s Cinema Tuesdays is a must-attend for you. Voight’s storied career was launched by Midnight Cowboy, in which he starred as a naïve Texan dishwasher who decides to make it big in New York City…
Argentina Announced As Mexico’s Opponent in San Antonio Soccer Match Later This Year
It’s official! San Antonio will host two soccer powerhouses in the Alamodome for a soccer match later this year. Last month, it was announced that the Mexican National Soccer Team would return to the Alamo City for a match. On Thursday, the team revealed that South American and world soccer power Argentina will face Mexico. 📢…
PSA: Scooter Rule Changes Take Effect Monday, San Antonio
The boom in the popularity of scooters in San Antonio has caused city officials to take a second look at rules on how they should be used. You might be wondering when changes that were promised a while back are taking effect. That day is soon approaching, as changes will go into effect July 1. Last…
Twisted Peach Fest Brings Fredericksburg Peaches to The Block SA
There’s no need to travel to Fredericksburg to try its ripe peaches. The first-ever Twisted Peach Fest will bring tasty fruits to San Antonio this Saturday, June 29 from 3 to 11 p.m. at The Block SA. Inspired by the Peach Music festival in Scranton, Pennsylvania (aka the setting of The Office), Jessica Alatorre, marketing…
Pluckers Offering Free Food Ahead of New San Antonio Location Opening
San Antonians who can’t wait to get their hands on Pluckers’ wings will have the chance soon. And free of charge. As is custom for Pluckers, the growing wing-bar chain will offer free food to guests willing to wait in the long lines ahead its July 8 opening. Here’s the rundown: Pluckers welcomes foodies to…
Cinema Terrible Goes Big with Guest Filmmakers for Screening of DIY Ugandan Action Flick Who Killed Captain Alex?
Although Cinema Terrible is ostensibly an event series showcasing (and lampooning) bad movies, their latest screening is something special. The “no-budget” film Who Killed Captain Alex? went viral when the Wakaliwood film studio released a bananas trailer for the movie on YouTube in early 2010. Inspired by Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris, director Nabwana Isaac Godfrey…
Five Ways to Help Migrants at the Border and in San Antonio
As the photo of Oscar and Valeria Martinez, the drowned migrant father and daughter, circulates, and news from the border gets worse each day, some find it hard to sit back and do nothing. Reports of unsanitary conditions in detention centers, a lack of adequate food and bedding and the separation of families have been…
Eastside Kitchenette Expands Happy Hour Menu, Launches Monthly Pig Roast
Eastside Kitchenette has upgraded its happy hour offerings with an expanded food menu and classic drink specials, available Monday through Friday, from 3 to 7 p.m. The neighborhood eatery will also host a monthly pig roast series that will take place on the first Friday of each month. Owners chef Jeff White and Jenn White will kick off the…
Noodle Beer Brunch Will Pop Up at Still Golden This Saturday
Dorćol Distilling & Brewing Co.and Still Golden Social House are hosting a brunch noodle pop-up, filled with cold beers and three new flavorful noodle dishes from Yai’s Mobile Kitchen on Saturday, June 29. Yai’s is teaming up with Lieng Tong Vermicelli Co., Thailand’s biggest rice noodle manufacturer, to create off-menu eats. Attendees can enjoy the new dishes…
San Antonio Man Allegedly Threatened to Kill Family of Teen Girl He Impregnated If She Told Anyone
A San Antonio man is facing sexual assault charges after a pregnant teen said he is the father of her unborn baby. Rolando Salas Fernandez, 30, was arrested after a teen girl’s mother found text messages on her daughter’s phone reportedly sent by Fernandez. The woman later took her 14-year-old daughter to the hospital, at…
The Supreme Court Struck Down Texas’ Restrictive Abortion Law, But Three Years Later, Half the State’s Clinics Are Still Closed
Three years after the U.S. Supreme Court threw out parts of a controversial Texas law limiting abortion access, most of the clinics shut in its wake still haven’t reopened, according to a report by Austin public radio station KUT. There are now just 22 abortion clinics left in the state, compared to the 40 that…
San Antonio’s Julián Castro Seizes the Spotlight During Democratic Presidential Debate
With his recent poll numbers sitting under 1%, former San Antonio mayor Julián Castro needed a breakout moment in last night’s Democratic presidential debate. And break out he did. By the time the debate concluded, Castro was trending on Twitter and scoring praise from pundits for a performance that displayed both emotion and policy acumen,…
Stars and Garters Burlesque Bringing Sexy ‘Skin-Prov’ Striptease to Love Shack Boutique
The summer is about to get much hotter with lots of shimmying and plenty of shaking. San Antonio’s longest-running neo-burlesque troupe, the Stars and Garters, is bringing an interactive improv show with sizzling and sinful eroticism to the MoSA (Museum of Sexy Art) space at the Love Shack Boutique! Not only will the performers striptease…
Depeche Mode Tribute Band Strangelove Ready to Rock the Aztec
Not only content with sounding exactly like Depeche Mode at their peak, Strangelove’s commitment to accuracy goes down to the smallest detail. For example, the singer rocks a bare torso while fog machines spray full blast and lasers fill the venue with moody splashes of color. You’ll feel like you stepped back into the Reagan…
Celebrate the Release of Taco City Rockers #2 with Hickoids Show at the Bang Bang Bar
During the early ’80s, Texas was a hotbed of pissed-off and creative punk acts, ranging from the Austin’s Big Boys and Dicks to Houston’s Really Red and the Mydolls. San Antonio participated in that uprising too, but with fewer commercially released recordings to show for its efforts. Fifteen years ago, a homespun compilation album called…
Rising R&B Star Sabrina Claudio Is Headed to San Antonio in November
With the worlds of overproduced pop and lo-fi indie seeming to overlap of late, rising R&B sensation Sabrina Claudio seems to be shining at the right moment. With thick bass-forward beats and harmonies that flutter in stereo, Claudio’s nonchalant lo-fi vocals float effortlessly over the music like a single cloud on the horizon. And, while…
Why I Hate Hobo Johnson and the Lovemakers’ Fans
At the risk of sounding like a hip-hop elitist, I don’t hate rapper Hobo Johnson or his band the Lovemakers, I really just hate their fans. I’m usually happy to endorse the like-whatever-music-you-like campaign. But when it comes to buzzworthy “new music” that sounds exactly like something another underground artist been doing for years already, my…
7-Eleven App Allows San Antonio Customers to Order Drinks, Snacks for Delivery
7-Eleven stores launched the 7NOW delivery app in San Antonio this week, allowing local customers to order beverages and snacks for delivery, even without a home address. Unlike existing app delivery services like Favor or Postmates, the 7NOW app uses pins to designate virtual hotspots for delivery. “7NOW Pins makes convenience more convenient, by keeping customers…
Tommy Davidson of In Living Color, Black Dynamite to Hit Up Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club
With Pride this weekend and the Fourth of July next Thursday, it’s time to celebrate! That is, unless your boss put you on the schedule straight through all the festivities. If you can’t get your party on until the first weekend of July, don’t fall victim to FOMO, but make the best of it with…
Institute of Texan Cultures to Stage an Encore for Its Discussion of San Antonio’s Heavy Metal History
After hosting a well-attended panel discussion last October on San Antonio’s history as a heavy metal Mecca, the UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures is once again raising the ol’ devil horns. Working with long-running local video show Robbs MetalWorks, the Institute will deliver a follow-up to last year’s “Heavy Metal Capital of the World” on Saturday,…
Texas Natives Midland Coming on Down to Whitewater Amphitheater for Sold Out Show
When a band hails from Dripping Springs, Texas and got its name from a Dwight Yoakum song, you already know that you’re in store for some serious country goodness. Such is the case with neo-traditionalist country act Midland. The trio dropped a self-titled EP in 2016 and its debut (and, so far, only) album On…
New Texas-Themed Breakfast Spot Opens on San Antonio’s South Side
Mornings on the South Side may have gotten a little bit tastier. Texas Toast, a new breakfast spot located at 3307 South Zarzamora St., opened Monday to much fanfare. After a tweet showed off the restaurant’s dishes, local foodies quickly found their way to the eatery. today was the first day my dad opened up…
AARC, LGBTQ-Friendly Spot La Botanica Team Up for Pride Night Party
If you’re trying to celebrate Pride as much as you can, looks like you’ve got another option. La Botanica is hosting it Pride Night on Thursday. Ahead of the Texas-sized Pride Festival and parade that follows, the Alamo Area Resource Center, the city’s first nonprofit LGBTQ clinic, will host a special Pride Night at the St. Mary’s…
Study Names San Antonio One of the Top Cities in the U.S. for Swingers
It turns out that San Antonians really like to swing. In a new study from 3Fun, a dating app for “open-minded couples and singles,” San Antonio ranked in the top 10 cities in the U.S. for swingers. The app looked into data for its 617,335 active members across the U.S., and about 4,160 live in…
People Want to Donate Diapers and Toys to Children at Border Patrol Facilities in Texas. They’re Being Turned Away.
On Sunday, Austin Savage and five of his friends huddled into an SUV and went to an El Paso Target, loading up on diapers, wipes, soaps and toys. About $340 later, the group headed to a Border Patrol facility holding migrant children in nearby Clint with the goal of donating their goods. Savage said he…
San Antonio Deep Sea Scientist Among the Crew That Captured First Footage of Giant Squid in the U.S.
Back in the ’90s, when you went to the History Channel for black and white WWII documentaries and Discovery Channel peddled in facts rather than reality TV, the two favorite mysteries covered by television documentaries (aside from spurious programs about cryptids) were the origins of Stonehenge and the provenance of the giant squid. At the…
TEA Will Remove Harlandale ISD Superintendent, Board of Trustees Following Multiple Violations
Following years of allegations of shady business deals and nepotism in Harlandale ISD, the Texas Education Agency has announced plans to remove the district’s superintendent and board of trustees. The late Tuesday announcement means superintendent Rey Madrigal, who has held the position since being named interim superintendent in 2012, will be out of a job.…
New Report Says San Antonio’s CPS Energy Would Save $1 Billion by Shutting Coal Plants and Switching to Renewables
CPS Energy could save $1 billion from 2026 through 2040 by shuttering its J.K. Spruce 1 and J.K. Spruce 2 coal-fired plants and switching to renewable options, a new Sierra Club-commissioned report says. According to research by Synapse Energy Economics of Cambridge, Mass., San Antonio’s city-owned utility has spent $120 million more running the plants…
Get Ready to Two-Step Along to Parker McCollum’s Country Sounds at the Backyard Amphitheater
This Austin-based country artist is known for turning his relationship frustrations into songs you can not only relate but dance along to. After all, there’s nothing wrong with two-steppin’ while lamenting the crazy ways of your ex. $20, Fri June 28, 7:30 p.m., Backyard Amphitheater, 2254 S. U.S. Hwy 87, Fredericksburg, thebackyardamphitheater.com. Get our top…
Kansas’ Appleseed Cast Stomping Through Paper Tiger to Kick Off Your Weekend
Although its career tracked that of ’90s emo acts Cap’n Jazz and Joan of Arc, Kansas’ Appleseed Cast didn’t make a huge impact until the 2000s, when its textured guitar work and winsome singing caught fire. While there was an aggressive edge to the band’s music, the atmospheric power behind its sound was more akin…
Stacked Metalcore Lineup Pulls Through to Shred the Vibes Underground with ‘Southern California Emotion’
What do you get when you bring together Fairwell, Blood Between Us, Circadia, In Balance, Planetary and Above My Enemy? You can soon find out. This bill’s metalcore headliners pride themselves on bringing — and being full of — “Southern California emotion.” That said, they’ll put the latest addition to the Rock Box to the…
Experience the ‘Sanctified Static’ of Quaker Folk at Brick at Blue Star
For a bunch of pacifists, the Society of Friends — otherwise known as Quakers — sure get people riled up, what with their refusal to fight other people’s wars or own other folks as slaves and all. Arizona noiseician and practicing Quaker Stephen A. Cosand stirs up a ruckus of his own via his Quaker…
Don’t Cry For Me San Antonio: Nina Diaz Plays Hometown Show This Thursday
In 2016, Nina Diaz — frontwoman of San Antonio alt-rock act Girl in a Coma — took a hiatus from the band to focus on a solo project. The resulting album, The Beat Is Dead, showcased a new pop-edged sound. Then, after 12 years with Girl in a Coma, she officially called it quits last September,…
Stone Temple Pilots Flying into San Antonio This Fall
Regardless of what you think about Stone Temple Pilots as a whole, “Vasoline” was a badass song from the ’90s, and there shouldn’t be any shame involved when admitting such opinions about throwback jams. But, just like any music that gets too popular, there are always contrarians who simply won’t acknowledge its worth. If you’re…
What To Do in San Antonio This Weekend: Three Free Art Openings to Check Out
If you enjoy getting your art on but aren’t a huge fan of the swarms of people that engulf Southtown on First Friday and Second Saturday, then this weekend might be just what you’ve been waiting for. A trio of openings Thursday, Friday and Saturday will feature work by both local and visiting artists —…
Where to Celebrate Negroni Week in San Antonio
Negroni Week is upon us. From now through June 30, participating San Antonio restaurants and bars will celebrate the classic cocktail and donate part of Negroni sales to local charities. The iconic libation – made with equal amounts of Campari, gin and vermouth – has been in the spotlight since 2013, and has since helped raise more than…
UTSA Remembers Entrepreneur, Community Leader Tito Bradshaw with Campus Bike Repair Shop
The University of Texas at San Antonio recently announced the renaming of its Ximenes Information Booth to honor the life and legacy of Tito Bradshaw. The booth will be renamed the Tito Bradshaw Bicycle Repair Shop. According to a press release, the renaming is “a symbol of the University’s strong commitment to furthering student safety through the addition…
Man Who Threatened to Jump Off San Antonio Highway Killed in Officer-Involved Shooting
A man in his 30s was killed in an officer-involved shooting this morning after threatening to jump off of a ledge on I-37 near Carolina Road. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus stated in a press conference that the department received a call about a jumper on the highway about 7:30 a.m. Tuesday. When officers arrived,…
Jaston Williams Brings One-Man Show ‘Don’t Blame the Car’ to the Classic Theatre of San Antonio
Jaston Williams is making his annual pilgrimage to The Classic Theatre with his latest one-man show: Don’t Blame the Car. Known for the slew of southern characters he’s portrayed in Greater Tuna (with partner Joe Sears) and other one-man shows like A Wolverine Walks Into a Bar…Conversations Over Ice and Clear to Partly Crazy, Williams…
Former Spur Danny Green Says It’s a ‘Hard No’ for the Toronto Raptors Visiting the White House Following Championship
Five years after visiting the White House when the Spurs won its last NBA championship, former San Antonio player Danny Green is passing on the chance to visit the president’s home again. The Toronto Raptors secured its first championship in franchise history, but it appears that the team may skip on some of the fanfare.…
Viral Video Shows San Antonio Men Getting Back Confiscated Booze While Floating Comal River
Two San Antonians have gotten Twitter famous after a viral video showed them cleverly getting back their booze that police have confiscated. In a short video posted to Twitter, Steve Perez said New Braunfels police took away the alcohol that he and his friend Frankie Bustillos had taken on their float down the Comal River.…
On Anthony Bourdain Day: Chefs, Fans and Organizations Talk San Antonio’s Kitchen Culture
Today, June 25, would have been Anthony Bourdain’s 63rd birthday, and the culinary world has worked to make the day an annual celebration of the late chef’s life, work and legacy. Despite Bourdain’s massive cultural following as a chef, TV host and author, the industry hasn’t changed much since Bourdain’s best-selling book Kitchen Confidential…
Gina Ortiz Jones Picks Up Early Endorsements for District 23 House Campaign
On Tuesday, national campaign finance reform group End Citizens United became the latest organization to endorse Democratic candidate Gina Ortiz Jones’ second run for Congress. The endorsement brings Jones’ total endorsements to nearly 30 since announcing on May 14 that she’s again pursuing the seat held by Republican U.S. Rep. Will Hurd. Those endorsements range from…
Texicanas‘ Mayra Farret: ‘We’re Average Mexican Americans … with Just the Right Amount of Crazy’
After seven episodes of mean-girl drama set in San Antonio, the Bravo reality show Texicanas is wrapping up tonight with its season finale at 9:30 p.m. So, how many San Antonians kept up with Penny, Mayra, Lorena, Karla, Luz and Anayancy throughout the entire season? Who wants to see Bravo bring Texicanas back for another…
City Council Passes San Antonio’s First Homestead Tax Exemption
During a Monday evening special session, city council unanimously approved a homestead property tax exemption. The exemption will shield .01% of a home’s appraised value from the city’s portion of property taxes, shaving off a minimum of $5,000. The net result will be an estimated $28 savings on homeowners’ annual tax bills. The vote marked…
McNay to Screen Boys Don’t Cry, Story of Trans Man Brandon Teena
During Hilary Swank’s Oscar acceptance speech for her lead performance in 1999’s Boys Don’t Cry, Swank thanked Brandon Teena, the trans man she portrayed in the film who was raped and murdered six years prior to its theatrical release. “His legacy lives on through our movie to remind us to always be ourselves, to follow…
Alamo Candy Company Selected as a Supplier for Walmart Stores
Select Alamo Candy Company products, including the company’s signature strawberry belts, will hit store shelves at all San Antonio Walmart locations in the coming months. The family-owned company, founded by Felix and Juanita Samame in 1991, was recently selected as a supplier for Walmart during the superstore’s sixth annual “Open Call” event at Walmart HQ in Bentonville, Arkansas. “It’s a…
Mayor Nirenberg Says He’ll Support a Homestead Exemption Without Upping Tax Rates to Offset It
Mayor Ron Nirenberg said he’ll vote for a homestead property tax exemption when City Council meets Monday evening on the issue — and he’ll do so without hiking tax rates to offset the exemption. “I want to make clear today that I support enacting a homestead exemption without a tax rate increase,” the mayor said in…
San Antonio Botanical Garden Reduces Admission Price for SNAP and WIC Cardholders
The San Antonio Botanical Garden has made its grounds accessible to more San Antonio residents by implementing a new reduced admission program as part of its ongoing partnership with Museums for All. Museums for All, a joint initiative between the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), partners with…
A Summer of Celebrating Identity and Self-Expression at Austin’s Blanton Museum of Art
This Is the Day is a twinkling, harmonica-laden synth-pop song by British post-punk band, The The. It also provides the title for an exhibition of work by queer Native American artist Jeffrey Gibson. Jeffrey Gibson: This Is the Day, on view at Austin’s Blanton Museum of Art beginning July 14, presents work by Gibson made…
Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers Hitting Up Sam’s Burger Joint
Known for the ’90s radio hit “Banditos,” Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers embody the classic alt-rock sound so many fell in love with during that decade. No doubt, many still appreciate it today. $16-$90, Wed June 26, 8 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-2830, samsburgerjoint.com. Get our top picks for the…
Lawyer: Inside an Immigrant Detention Center in South Texas, ‘Basic Hygiene Just Doesn’t Exist’
Migrants held in a McAllen-area U.S. Customs and Border Patrol processing center for migrants — the largest such center in America — are living in overcrowded spaces and sometimes are forced to sleep outside a building where the water “tastes like bleach,” according to an attorney who recently interviewed some of the migrants. “It was…
Off-Duty Sheriff’s Deputy Shot by Teen Who Broke Into His Car at South Side Home
A Bexar County Sheriff’s Office deputy was shot over the weekend after confronting a teen on whom authorities blamed a string of car burglaries. According to multiple reports, an off-duty deputy was at his South Side home Saturday morning when a relative told him they saw someone in his car. The deputy went outside and…
Rio Grande Valley Tamale House to Open San Antonio Location Next Year
Delia’s, a Rio Grande Valley chain famous for its tamales, will open its first San Antonio location in spring 2020. The popular restaurant serves more than a dozen tamale varieties and has become a landmark for fast-causal dining in the Valley. The new San Antonio location will open at 13527 Hausman Pass, offering classic and specialty…
Stretch Out Your Tentacles at Alamo Drafthouse Park North for a Movie Night Celebrating All Things Cephalopod
Now that Discovery Channel’s once-lauded Shark Week has well and truly jumped the, well, shark, National Public Radio’s still-lauded Science Friday has swooped in to give us a new must-see week of oceanic content with Cephalopod Week. Although the Science Friday radio show is based out of New York station WNYC, Cephalopod Week stretches its…
Raise Them Ws: Wu-Tang Is Coming to San Antonio This Fall
Legendary hip-hop collective the Wu-Tang Clan is headed to Texas as part of the 25th anniversary celebration of its breakout debut 36 Chambers. And, lucky for us, the tour stops in San Antonio for a show at the Majestic Theatre on Saturday, October 5. Interest in Wu-Tang is at an all-time high thanks in part…
Cuellar Pushes for $60 Million in Reimbursement for San Antonio and Other Cities Aiding Central American Migrants After Texas Failed to Distribute Funds
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar is pushing for $60 million in federal funds to reimburse organizations in San Antonio and other Texas cities that have aided Central American migrants. The money would be made available directly from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, since the State of Texas failed to help distribute $100 million in federal funds…
San Antonio Firefighters Respond to Grease Fire at Ray’s Drive Inn
A San Antonio dining institution suffered damage in an early morning fire. Firefighters responded to Ray’s Drive Inn on the city’s West Side after receiving a call about a fire just before 8:30 a.m. When first responders arrived on the scene, they had to force their way into the building, according to a KSAT report.…
Float Fest 2019 Is Officially Canceled
Another one bites the dust. The sixth annual Float Fest – to be held in Gonzales for the first time due to the festival being denied a permit to use the San Marcos River – was set to feature some pretty big headliners, including Major Lazer, Portugal. The Man, Gucci Mane, Kaskade, Zeds Dead, Ice…
Hit Podcast ‘My Favorite Murder’ Unites San Antonio Community of ‘Murderinos’
Local fans of “My Favorite Murder,” a true crime comedy podcast, air their grievances, ask for advice and share their own hometown murder stories in a Facebook group dubbed SATown Murderinos. Described as “a group for true crime lovers to come together and discuss their passion without judgement,” it was created in November 2016 and…
Founder of Jacobin Magazine and Author of The Socialist Manifesto Bhaskar Sunkara to Speak at Esperanza Center Next Week
Although still hissed venomously on outlets like Fox as if the word itself has an acidic tang, “socialism” is becoming a much more popular term among liberal Americans. That’s especially true as many millennials look wistfully at the socialized healthcare and university schooling in European and Scandinavian countries from underneath the crushing weight of their…
Trump’s Mass Roundup of Immigrants Will Start Sunday, Washington Post Reports; San Antonio Unlikely to Be Among the Initial Targets
President Trump has directed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to conduct a mass roundup of migrant families in U.S. cities this Sunday, the Washington Post reports, citing federal officials familiar with the plans. The sweep is said to target as many as 2,000 families that have already received deportation orders. The focus will be…
Eclectic, Latinx Indie-Rock Group Y La Bamba Returns to San Antonio This August
In essence, Portland’s Y la Bamba performs elevated bedroom pop. Not that bedroom pop needs elevation, since the genre’s most endearing quality is its lo-fi charm. However, the group — fronted by Luz Elena Mendoza — delivers uncharacteristic finesse on the production end, and the cleaner mix becomes a showcase for the clever use of…
Jazz Benefit Scheduled to Help San Antonio Saxophonist’s Rene Saenz Cover Medical Bills After Suffering Stroke
Well-known San Antonio saxophonist Rene Saenz suffered a stroke this spring, and friends of the musician have put a benefit show together help raise money for his medical expenses. Adept with anything from blues to avant-garde jazz, Saenz has performed with groups including the Regency Jazz Ensemble, ’60s pop-rock revivalists the Krayolas and drummer Gerry…
This Week in San Antonio Food News: A Look at New Coffee Spots, Fine Dining for Cheap and Restaurant Openings
It’s official: Texas breweries will begin selling beer to-go, starting this fall. Soon you’ll be able to visit your favorite San Antonio craft breweries and purchase bottles, growlers or even a case of your favorite brews, to enjoy at home. San Antonio’s newest coffee shops are here to help you upgrade your life and coffee…
San Antonio Entrepreneurship Week Aims to Help Residents Looking to Start a Business
It takes a leap of faith to launch a business, and hard work is just a small part of a successful venture. From building the right team to securing funding, individuals can find it difficult to clear the many startup hurdles. With those challenges in mind, Launch SA is hosting its fourth annual San Antonio…
Cinematic Spillover: Short Reviews of Toy Story 4, Child’s Play and Perfect
Here are a few short reviews of movies that will be released at San Antonio theaters and on VOD June 21. Child’s Play Chalk up the 2019 version of Child’s Play to the same category as 2010’s A Nightmare on Elm Street, 2013’s Carrie and 2015’s Poltergeist – horror movie reboots that did absolutely nothing…
San Antonio Street Artist Adds Mural of Charles ‘Chop’ Roundtree, Local Teen Shot By Police
A San Antonio street artist is creating a mural of a young man whose loved ones are demanding justice after his death at the hands of a police officer. Colton Valentine has added images of rap and hip-hop stars Cardi B, Wiz Khalifa and the late Nipsey Hussle to the side of a building at…
Missing Man’s Remains Found Buried at West Side Home, Two Suspects Arrested
A man reported missing last month has been located. Shane Bourret’s remains were found buried in the backyard of a home on the city’s West Side this week, more than a month after his wife reported him missing on May 7. Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar told news outlets that Donald Barber, 60, and Colin…
Successful Al Fresco: Where to Find the Best Dining Patios in San Antonio
Few things feel more like summer in San Antonio than dinner on a restaurant patio, relishing the onset of the night-time breeze with a frosty drink in hand. Whether you’re looking for a space to cool down after a long bike ride, relax with your favorite furry friend or simply enjoy cold beers while watching…
City of San Antonio Flows $2.6 Million to UTSA for Water Sustainability Projects
The University of Texas at San Antonio has won $2.6 million in city funding for projects aimed at improving local water quality and mitigating flood problems. Five UTSA engineering professors and an environmental scientist from the school’s College of Sciences will work on projects using technology to address water problems associated with San Antonio’s ongoing…
Fashion Forward Queer Eye Guru Tan France Making Over Comedians in Netflix’s First Social Media Series Release
Can’t wait for the new season of Queer Eye next month? (Or for when Jonathan Van Ness will grace San Antonio with his presence in December?) Netflix has got you, fam. Before returning with his posse in July to fix up the lives of everyday Americans, Tan France is giving us the gift of Dressing…
TV Host Does Something San Antonio Has Done for Years: Mix Up Joaquin and Julián Castro
Awk-ward. MSNBC contributor Noah Rothman stepped into it Thursday on the Morning Joe program when he mistook San Antonio U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro for his identical twin brother Julián, a 2020 presidential candidate. During Castro’s appearance, Rothman posed a question to the Democratic congressman about an accusation during a Fox News town hall that the…
Getting Wet: Keep Cool in More Ways Than One at San Antonio’s Hippest Places to Swim
As of June 15, the City of San Antonio officially declared the start of summer by opening all of its swimming pools to the public. Sure, some public pools deserve their reputation as chemical-laden rectangles full of screaming kids that are watched over by teenage lifeguards with thousand-yard stares. Even so, there are still a…
Austin’s Devan Jones and the Uptown Stomp Bring Swinging Sound to Sam’s Burger Joint
Devan Jones and The Uptown Stomp, hailing from Austin, specialize in the kind of jumpin’ and swangin’ R&B that was a hot commodity through the ’40s and ’50s. Think Guitar Slim, T-Bone Walker and Ray Charles for reference points. $5-$15, Mon June 24, 8 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-2830, samsburgerjoint.com.…
Brick Screening Indie Flick Mr. Anderson’s Possessed Car From Self-Taught Director Maria Galindo
Self-taught indie director Maria Galindo jumped feet-first into filmmaking with her first feature, Life’s a Bitch (released as A Slice of Life in Barcelona on Amazon Prime). Galindo has brought things back to Good Ol’ San Anto for her second full-length film, veering into the horror genre while she’s at it. In Mr. Anderson’s Possessed…
Before Going Viral, Crass and Thick-Accented Chicago Botanist Gave Texas the Scientific Treatment
Ah, reddit. The Wild West of internet forums, good ol’ reddit is rumored to be populated by neckbeards and the wellspring from which many viral memes flow. Periodically, the site is responsible for skyrocketing people into superstardom (or, more commonly, adorable animals like the recently deceased Tardar Sauce aka Grumpy Cat), though whether or not it lasts is…
Sheer Mag Are Headed to San Antonio to Remind Us of What Real Rock ‘N’ Roll Is
There’s not a whisper of anything “indie” about Philadelphia band Sheer Mag. Which is a good thing. There are some danceable pop moments to the music, but the real star are its riffs — so stanky and bluesy they make you want to slap someone. There’s also a taste of both punk and ’70s rock…
Rescan Days Affecting San Antonio Television Stations, Here’s How To Keep Them
Between now and July 2020, a select number of local TV stations will be changing their over-the-air broadcast frequencies, some of them starting as soon as Friday. Over the past couple of months, TV stations across the country have been changing equipment at their broadcast towers to follow FCC rules and guidelines. During this time,…
Tony Parker Finds New Financial Job in San Antonio After NBA Retirement
TP9 is returning to San Antonio! Earlier this month, former Spurs point guard Tony Parker announced his retirement from the NBA – a year after he left San Antonio to play for the Charlotte Hornets. Many people, especially here in San Antonio, were saddened by the news as the beloved Big 3 era officially ended.…
Gospel Music Legend Michael W. Smith Hits San Antonio This October
Gospel Music Hall of Famer Michael W. Smith has been releasing music and performing to sold-out crowds for nearly four decades. At least 35 of his songs have reached No. 1 on the gospel music charts. He’s also won three Grammys, along with numerous other awards. Now, the worship icon is setting out on a…
Texas Breweries Will Begin Beer To-Go Sales in September
Good news for local beer fans: Texas breweries will be able to their product to go, starting September 1. For San Antonio craft breweries like Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling, the long-awaited law will allow for new revenue and potential customers. Gov. Greg Abbott this week signed the TABC sunset bill — including its beer…
Upcoming San Antonio Event Will Explore Possibility of Life Beyond Earth
San Antonians obsessed with extraterrestrial life may want to save the date for an out-of-this-world gathering. The UFO Festival, set to take place at the Wonderland of the Americas mall, will explore and celebrate the “possibilities of life beyond Earth.” Organizers welcome all life forms — believers and skeptics alike. The event will include guest…
San Antonio Library Pilot Program Waives Fees on Children’s Materials
The San Antonio Public Library announced that children and juvenile materials will now be exempt from overdue fines. The exemption is part of a pilot program will continue through spring 2020, when library administration will assess the program to determine whether it should continue. The goal of the program is to give low-income families greater…
Biggest Celebration Ever to Commemorate Pride in San Antonio
This article was originally published by our sister publication Out In SA. Organizers and volunteers are making the final preparations for one of the biggest Pride celebrations in San Antonio’s history, one which will include a Pride Royalty Pageant, a Grand Marshal Meet and Greet, a festival which this year will occupy both halves of…
Wine-Curious: Little Death Brings a Bawdy Take on the Wine Bar to the St. Mary’s Strip
Despite its unremarkable interior, Little Death is a wine bar that stands out from the mutable St. Mary’s Strip. Named for la petite mort, a French expression for a sensation related to orgasm, Little Death is a wine bar that lives up to its Rabelaisian exterior, covered with blatantly bawdy graphics by artist Rudy Herrera…
San Antonio’s Newest Coffee Shops Bring High-Quality Roasters and Cups of Joe
It’s easy to find a mediocre cup of joe, but it takes time to discover new, high-quality coffee shops, roasters and retailers in San Antonio. Fortunately, the Alamo City is in the midst of a coffee wave that promises to bring world-class, curated coffee experiences to a cup near you. Here are some local spots you…
Radiohead’s Thom Yorke Resurfaces on Netflix with Dreamlike Collaboration with Paul Thomas Anderson
Living in the golden age of spoilers makes it hard to be surprised by much, but every once in a while Netflix manages to keep the lid on something pretty huge. Today, the streaming behemoth dropped the news that rock legend Thom Yorke and auteur Paul Thomas Anderson collaborated on a short musical film that…
How to Survive the Wickedly Hot Temperatures Expected in San Antonio Today
Although summer doesn’t officially start until Friday, June 21, San Antonio is already suffering through alarming temperatures. According to the National Weather Service, temps in the Alamo City will range between 95 and 108 degrees on Thursday, while the heat indices are expected to reach 108 to 112 degrees this afternoon. If that’s the case,…
Trump Administration Tells Federal Judges That It Shouldn’t Be Required to Provide Toothbrushes or Soap to Detained Migrant Children
The Trump administration this week told a panel of federal judges that the government need not provide soap or toothbrushes to migrant children it apprehends, despite a 1997 settlement agreement requiring it to hold detainees in “safe and sanitary” facilities. According to reporting from Courthouse News Service, Justice Department attorney Sarah Fabian also argued in front of…
Poet, Musician and Activist Joy Harjo Named the First Native American U.S. Poet Laureate
Joy Harjo, a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma and member of the Muscogee Creek Nation (or Mvskoke Nation), has maintained a multifaceted career as author, poet and performer since the 1970s. She has collected accolades both as a poet and musician, including the 1991 American Book Award, 2009 Best Female Native American Music Award and 2014…
Texas Is Among the Worst States for Breaches of Computer Data
Texas may pride itself in being a law-and-order state, but when it comes to folks getting unauthorized access to our sensitive data, it still appears to be part of the Wild West. The Lone Star State had the third-highest number of data breaches between 2008 and 2018, behind California and New York, according to a…
Sister Act: San Antonio’s Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Preach Camp for a Cause
Musical-theater icons Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein are either laughing or rolling in their graves over their unwitting role in the bizarre origin story of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence — a troupe of gender-blending “nuns” that emerged in 1970s-era San Francisco after donning habits procured from an Iowa convent for an unconventional production of The…
Criminal Case Against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Remains Threatened After Court Upholds Prosecutor Pay Decision
After mulling the question for nearly six months, the nine Republican judges on Texas’ highest criminal court will not reconsider their 2018 ruling that threatens to imperil the criminal case against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. In November, a fractured Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruled that a six-figure payment to the special prosecutors appointed…
Pop-Punk Pioneers The Dickies, The Queers Ready to Bring Down Limelight
This pair of pop-punk pioneers represented California way before SoCal’s Blink-182 dominated the airwaves. The Dickies, inspired by the Ramones’ fast-and-catchy approach, worked to make audiences laugh at a time when punk was often a political statement. The Queers took a similar Ramones-inspired approach, focusing less on politics and more on amping up the fun.…
San Antonio-Based LGBTQ Activist Jim Kane Remembers Pride’s Past and Looks to the Future
Editor’s Note: Jade Esteban Estrada is the writer of Glitter Political, a series of articles detailing San Antonio’s political scene. When Donald J. Trump was elected president in 2016, Jim Kane decided it was time to come out of retirement. With his 30 years of experience as an LGBTQ activist and as the former co-editor…
Enjoy Gina Chavez’s Bilingual Folk-Pop at Sam’s Burger Joint
Gina Chavez’s well-crafted folk tunes helped her win Austin Musician of the Year back in 2015. Her blend of bilingual folk-pop has also garnered national attention on NPR’s “All Things Considered” and its Tiny Desk concert series. Those accolades and important moments of exposure came because Chavez — a visible member of the LGBTQ community —…
San Antonio’s Pastie Pops Celebrating Pride with Annual Big Gay Burlesque Show
The Pastie Pops are back with a very special edition of their annual Big Gay Burlesque Show. This year, the show is a benefit for their very own Mustang Ryder, with all proceeds going to help Ryder fund his gender-affirming top surgery. The show will be filled with all the high-quality burlesque, boylesque and drag…
Bad Sleep: One Fun, Campy Short Can’t Make Up for Nightmare Cinema’s Unoriginal Anthology Ideas
As far as gory horror anthologies go, Nightmare Cinema is a mixed bag of body parts. Created in the same hemorrhaging vein as the Creepshow movies of the 1980s and, more recently, the V/H/S and The ABCs of Death franchises, the five-part anthology suffers from same principal problem as past films in the genre in…
Pick 3: Alyson Alonzo Spotlights 3 Awesome LGBTQ-Identifying Acts Repping San Antonio
Pick 3 is a continuing series where the Current asks participants in San Antonio’s music scene to tell us about three homegrown acts making interesting and inspiring sounds. We shouldn’t limit ourselves to one special time of year to celebrate LGBTQ musical artists doing amazing shit in San Antonio. Even so, Pride Month seems like…
Rapper Blueface Making His Way to San Antonio This Summer
With his distinctive, off-kilter delivery, Johnathan Michael Porter — better known as Blueface — has goods to become the next big rapper. And that tattoo of Benjamin Franklin makes him easy to spot in the crowd. After releasing his song “Respect My Crypn” last year, Blueface blew up and signed to the West Coast branch of…
San Antonio Beer Week Closes With Southtown Brewery Crawl
After a week of hop-filled events and unique brews, San Antonio Beer Week (SABW) will close Saturday, June 22, with a special Southtown brewery tour. The SABW team will lead Saturday’s tour with stops at Southtown San Antonio breweries, including Freetail Brewing Company, Künstler Brewing, Blue Star Brewing and Dorcol Distilling & Brewing. Tour tickets…
Majority of Texans Have a Hard Time Affording Medical Care, According to New Data
A new study has a dire prognosis for medical care in the Lone Star State — namely that the most of us can’t afford it. More than one half of Texas adults — 55% to be precise — say it’s difficult for their families to afford health care, according to data from the Episcopal Health Foundation. What’s…
Witte Museum Pokes Fun at Fyre Festival With Upcoming After-Hours Cocktail Event
The Witte Museum is bringing libations, local bites and a “yacht-club” lifestyle to its after-hours event, Cocktails & Culture: Survival of Fyre Island, on June 27. Unlike the infamous Fyre Festival – a failed 2017 music festival that launched a wave of lawsuits, documentaries and memes – the museum’s Fyre Island will invite attendees to enjoy…
Down Home, Fancied Up: Tim Rattray’s Fontaine’s Southern Diner & Bar Focuses on Elevating Simple Fare
Since chef Tim Rattray opened the Granary at the Pearl in 2012, barbecue has risen in culinary esteem from a casual Texas tradition into an elevated dining experience. Now, Rattray’s second restaurant, the recently opened Fontaine’s Southern Diner & Bar, promises to do the same for Southern diner fare. Fontaine’s, named for Rattray’s late great…
Strike a Pose: San Antonio Dancer and Musician Tone Padron Draws Inspiration from LGBTQ Ballroom Culture
Strobing lights and a thumping electronic track pulsed through the Paper Tiger during a recent performance by queer pop sensation Wayne Holtz. As Holtz sang, local dancer Antonio Padron, better known as Tone, channeled his energy into an onstage dance. Spinning, kicking, dipping, twirling his arms and whipping his wrists with poise and precision, Padron…
Bexar County Commissioners Court Passes LGBTQ Proclamation
LGBTQ San Antonians have all the more reason to celebrate Pride later this month. In conjunction with the city’s Pride Bigger Than Texas festival and parade scheduled for Saturday, June 29, county officials moved to officially mark the celebration as “Pride Bigger than Texas Day.” The proclamation, passed by the Bexar County Commissioners Court, comes…
Police Searching for Driver Who Struck Toddler, Kept Driving on East Side
Police officers are searching for a driver who failed to stop after hitting a toddler on the city’s East Side. According to multiple reports, police were called to a home on Norfleet Street around 2 a.m. Wednesday. Family members of a 1-year-old boy told officers that they were relaxing in their front yard when the…
New Details Emerge After Man Allegedly Killed Roommate, Kept His Body in Garage on South Side
Following Monday’s arrest of a man accused of killing his roommate, court documents reveal details that led up to the crime. According to documents obtained by KSAT, Roberto Flores’ death came after the 62-year-old man got into an argument with roommate Richard Rodriguez Jr. over a cell phone. Rodriguez was arrested after a relative reported a…
DIY Queen Simone Giertz One-Ups Elon Musk With Her Tesla Truck Conversion
Creator of “Shitty Robots” and major figure in the maker scene Simone Giertz may have cracked the code for ultimate virality with her latest project. You may already know Giertz from Shitty Robots vids like this one: Or this one: Or this excellent tool for getting into fights on social media: But yesterday, she outdid…
It’s Time to Admit San Antonio’s Mayoral Politics Are Partisan Politics
Editor’s Note: The following is City Current, a column of opinion and analysis. The bare-knuckle brawl of a race between Mayor Ron Nirenberg and challenger Greg Brockhouse mirrored the deep partisan divides apparent on the national political stage. Brockhouse mobilized evangelical voters by playing up their fears of religious discrimination, while Nirenberg pulled in endorsements…
Rey Saldaña Expected to Serve as Chairman on VIA Metropolitan Transit Board Following City Council Career
If you’ve been wondering where Rey Saldaña will end up after being term-limited off San Antonio’s city council, wonder no longer. Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff gave the Southwest Side councilman a ceremonial endorsement Tuesday to chair VIA Metropolitan Transit, the Express-News reports. Saldaña has a background in public transit thanks to his…
SNL Alum Finesse Mitchell Setting Up at Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club with Clever Set
Finesse Mitchell is a hardworking stand-up comedian, actor, podcaster and author who first garnered national attention as a guest on a few late night shows and then as a Saturday Night Live cast member (remember “Starkisha”?) from 2003 to 2006. He has since done tons of stand-up shows, a few movies, television and more, and…
Paradise Found: Echo in the Canyon Explores Musical Inspiration Drawn from Legendary Los Angeles Area
To hear a score of iconic singers and songwriters speak so highly about what it was like to live and work in Laurel Canyon during the mid-1960s, one might believe they experienced nothing less than paradise. In Echo in the Canyon, first-time director Andrew Slater and musician Jakob Dylan (son of Bob and executive producer),…
Transamerica/n: The McNay’s Trailblazing New Exhibition Explores Gender Identity
This article was originally published by Spectrum South. A groundbreaking new exhibition opening June 20 at San Antonio’s McNay Art Museum is raising eyebrows across the nation. Billed as Transamerica/n: Gender, Identity, Appearance Today, the show gathers 59 artists from across various mediums to form the first major survey of contemporary art to “explore the…
Serving With Pride: Critics Say Trump’s Ban on Transgender People in the Armed Forces Doesn’t Reflect the Reality of Military Life
Until Donald Trump tweeted out his plans to ban transgender troops from entering the military, Tech Sgt. Jamie Hash never felt unwelcome during her eight years in the U.S. Air Force. Indeed, when she informed her supervisor in June 2016 of her pending transition, the response was supportive and encouraging. And when she reenlisted in…
San Antonio Museum of Art’s ‘Men of Steel, Women of Wonder’ Exhibition Reimagines Superheroes with Cultural Twist
Evidenced by the global success of recent films such as Black Panther, Avengers: Endgame and Captain Marvel, among many others, the world is still captivated by the concept of superheroes. While less memorable examples might fall within that formulaic realm the New York Times summed up as “mental popcorn, meant to be rapidly consumed and…
Latina Icon Jennifer Lopez Ready to Get the AT&T Center Shaking with Dance Moves
What else can be said about Jennifer Lopez that we don’t already know? She’s a fierce Latina who played Selena in the Tejano legend’s biopic, and she’s done a stellar job of representing Latin women in pop, R&B and hip-hop across three decades. From starting off as dancer in the ’90s sketch comedy In Living…
Savage Love: Why Not Me?
Q: I found your column after a Google search. I saw your e-mail address at the bottom and was hoping for some insight. My issue is this: Two years into our 23-year marriage, my wife declared that she didn’t want to kiss me or perform oral on me. Several years ago, she had an affair…
Kyle Moon & The Misled Taking Over the Amp Room
Get your slide guitar and country on — plus a little rock ’n’ roll flair — courtesy of this veteran Amp Room outfit. The band’s leader, a former native of Denver, took a leap of faith by moving to the Alamo City and meeting the musicians that comprise the rest of his current outfit. Free, Thu…
Dig Satanic Sounds from Crown Magnetar at Bond’s 007 Rock Bar
Hailing from the frigid wilderness of Colorado, Crown Magnetar is darker and colder than Hell’s lowest level. Brutal song titles like “Fetus in Fetu,” “Mountain of Flesh” and “Detestable Impurity” should give an idea what to expect. And if those names don’t provide ample warning, know this: the band’s music just might make you cry…
Video Dungeon Theatre Hosting Special Screening of Hedwig and the Angry Inch
A botched sex change operation obtained in pursuit of an escape from behind the Iron Curtain set Hedwig (then “Hansel Schmidt”) on an unstoppable trajectory that somehow lead to her serving punk rock realness in a chain of failing restaurants called “Bilgewater’s” (with a name like that, is it any surprise they’re always empty?). Originally…
WWE Brings NXT Live! Road Trip to San Antonio
When World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) decided to expand its brand in 2010 by forming NXT, a developmental branch of the league for young talent who were not yet ready for primetime, the professional wrestling behemoth, owned and operated by CEO Vince McMahon, had no idea how popular it would become in less than a decade.…
