City of Echoes, Slowlikefire’s first full-length release, is jam-packed with virtuosity, passion and enough hooks and chords that’ll make you want to head bang. (There seriously need to be a caution sticker.) Vocalist Jojo Badillo, guitarist brothers, David and Jaime Monzon, drummer Nicholas Ochoa and bassist Lalo Rodriguez set the volume to 11 on their…
Batman: The Ride, Six Flags Fiesta Texas’ topsy-turvy “4D” roller coaster will open to the public on Saturday, May 23. The first-of-its-kind,120-foot tall coaster uses magnetic technology — thanks, science! — and features two 90-degree free falls drops and six inverted flips to make you question your internal organ arrangement once you disembark. Expect a full-scale…
Maybe the federal government really is looking out for Texas with Operation Jade Helm 15 — the summer multi-state military exercise that is really an attempt to conquer the Lone Star State, according to anyone who knows anything. And that’s because it’s only a matter of time before the United Nations sends a “peace” keeping…
Bexar County is among the worst counties in the United States to help children climb the income ladder in their adulthood. That’s according to a new interactive tool from The New York Times, which tracks how one’s economic mobility potential is impacted by the county in which he or she grew up. Out of the 2,478…
A bill that legalizes the possession and delivery of marijuana in Texas cleared the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee, approving the measure in a 5-1 vote. The bill, which was introduced by state Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview, could possibly head to the House Floor for debate, according to the Texas Tribune. Here’s Simpson’s Tribune op-ed titled, “The…
A San Antonio woman found something to give her some extra energy in her Nature Valley granola bar. According to KENS 5, a local woman claims to have found a bag of cocaine inside her oat and honey snack. Cynthia Rodriguez found the bag and notified the San Antonio Police Department in March after Nature…
Early voting fell short of impressive, as usual, as a mere 55,899 of the 959,439 registered voters took advantage of the opportunity. With the early vote session ending yesterday, Bexar county begins the count down to general election day, Saturday May 9. Not only will the well publicized mayoral candidates see a vote, but all…
The Southeast Asian options are getting a little more limited this May. Steve and Jody Newman along with partner chef David Gilbert (James Beard semifinalist, of Tuk Tuk Tap Room (1702 Broadway) have announced the closing of eatery this May 16. The eatery opened September 2013. According to a press release sent by the Newmans,…
An LGBT advocate and vocal critic of Mayor Ivy Taylor filed an ethics complaint against her today. Justin P. Nichols, an attorney representing the first three people to utilize San Antonio’s amended non-discrimination ordinance, which Taylor voted against, filed the complaint. The ordinance added protections for sexual orientation and gender identity. Nichols alleges in the…
There’s more gelato coming our way this summer. A La Mode Gelato, which began operating as a booth at the Quarry Farmers & Ranchers Market, will open at 1420 S. Alamo in the Blue Star Arts Complex on Thursday, May 21 at 5 p.m. [Related Story: Rio de Gelato’s Saccharine Charm] Owned and managed by husband-and-wife…
The Lone Star State is taking a giant baby step toward using a cannabis derivative to treat epilepsy. Last week, Texas Senate and House legislators hammered out specific guidelines for the use of cannabis oil to treat the debilitating condition detailed in two proposals, which were both approved by committees. Patients must be diagnosed with…
Maybe he ran out of bullets at work? We doubt it. A San Antonio Police Department officer was arrested Tuesday and accused of attempting to steal a “large amount” of ammunition from a sporting goods store, the San Antonio Express-News reported. The officer, David Nieto, is a three-year veteran who works at Central Patrol and…
An alt-rock icon is coming to The Paper Tiger on Friday. “Bitch,” “witch,” “money-hungry,” “train-wreck” and, on occasion, “murderer “are some key words that come to mind to critics (and fans) when the name Courtney Love is uttered. Her accomplishments are not usually in that same frame of thought, such as “poet,” “the love of…
One of the state’s most influential business organizations has a message for Texas: make way for the ride-share industry. “We’re watching other states lead while Texas risks lagging behind on policies that regulate ride-sharing,” Texas Association of Business CEO Bill Hammond says in a press release. Hammond wants legislators to approve House Bill 2440, which…
First they take our Cinco de Mayo, then they take our Sabritones. From Buzzfeed, here’s a video of their team trying out a bunch of Mexican snacks which many people around here grew up on. (And we’re not even in Mexico.) There’s a glaring admission, as any San Anto 7th grader will tell you. They didn’t…
This Cinco de Mayo if you haven’t found anything else to do, we’ve got your back with a couple places in mind. NAO Celebrate the day with $5 cocktails at NAO (312 Pearl Pkwy). They have your back if you’re looking for a place to have some drinks tonight. The special will include five specialty cocktails for…
After Lone Star State Governor Greg Abbott wandered into a conspiracy theory by letting Texans know he’s directed the State Guard to monitor a routine military exercise, former governor Rick Perry said the armed forces shouldn’t be questioned. The Dallas Morning News reported today that Perry made the comments while speaking at World Affairs Council…
We’ve got the Alamo. We’ve got our down-but-never-out Spurs. And hey, who knew, but turns out that San Antonio is also home to one of the top tax lawyers in the country. According to whom, you ask? Well, our nation’s leader, that’s who. President Barack Obama nominated Elizabeth Ann Copeland for a seat on U.S. Tax…
This week in SA Food Pics we’ve got anything and everything for you all to enjoy. A couple of picks out of the group include some crawfish from Fish City Grill (18130 San Pedro Ste. 104), a great combo of some Chicago dogs and fries from Wiseguys (441 Nakoma) and last but not least a New York…
Last night, while keeping up with the James Beard Foundation Awards tag on social media I learned of the passing of food writer Josh Ozersky. At 47, Ozersky had cut a trail for online food writers and lovers of all things meat. First by launching Grub Street (for which he earned a James Beard Foundation…
After nearly dying in committee, a bill that would decriminalize possession of an ounce or less of marijuana was revived and voted out of a Texas House committee. House Bill 507 would eliminate jail time and criminal records. Instead, people caught with an ounce or less of pot would pay a fine. Initially, the bill…
A nonprofit has crowdsourced more than $40,000 and it’s willing to hand all that cash over to the Boy Scouts of America on one condition: repeal the ban on gay parents and adults. Scouting for Equality, the nonprofit behind the challenge to Boy Scouts of America President Bob Gates, added $10,000 to the pot when…
Who doesn’t want to be the mirror image of pin-up goddess Bettie Page, with her raven black hair, curvaceous hourglass figure, complete with her unforgettable bangs? If you bear a resemblance, know how to strike a pose, or even just throw on a wig and some 1950s-era sex pot garb, a cash prize of 1,000…
This would never happen in San Antonio. A number of Spurs players received the full Los Angeles experience following their nail-biting Game 7 loss to the Clippers on Saturday. L.A.’s ever-present paparazzi made sure Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and company made an appearance on TMZ before leaving the city, antagonizing the players as they drunkenly…
Monday, May 5 Think Big Movie Marathon Part of the national fundraising initiative Give Local America, the Big Give S.A. unites 877 organizations for a 24-hour period designed to “bring nonprofits and donors together, expand the idea of online giving, connect people to the causes that move them the most and, of course, make giving…
Monday, May 4 Boz Scaggs Looking at Boz Scaggs, it’s hard to believe that the man is 70 years old. Hearing him play confirms that suspicion, as Scaggs plays with a vitality that many teenage musicians would trade with the devil for. Including his brief tenure with the Steve Miller Band, Scaggs has seen 12…
Hundreds of people marched in San Antonio in support of reforming the Lone Star State’s strict marijuana laws. Starting at Maverick Park and ending at the Friendly Spot Ice House, 300 people snaked through downtown Sunday to raise awareness about pot reform efforts at the Capitol. [Slideshow: 35 Photos Of The SA NORML March For Marijuana…
It’s Star Wars Day, a little-known holiday wherein hard core sci-fi fans commemorate a space opera franchise that failed to attract mainstream attention. Actually it’s the day Star Wars fandom goes into hyperdrive to celebrate the epic film saga that spawned a multimedia empire. Expect a complete social media takeover today, as fans post jokes and…
Early voting will end Tuesday and as of Saturday, nearly 34,000 of Bexar County’s registered voters have cast early votes, according to the Bexar County Elections Department. The county has roughly 959,000 registered voters. The election is this coming Saturday. Voters will elect a new mayor and fill each of San Antonio’s ten city council…
It is May 2, 2015 and I traveled to Dilley, Texas with five other students and two of our professors from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio. Earlier this week, I attended an information forum on campus in which two activists, Rebecca Flores and Diego Mancha, who are active in the movement…
The Texas Cultural Trust (TCT) reports involving your child in art classes leads to increased test scores. The TCT is a non-profit organization which promotes the importance of arts throughout the education of children and in turn the positive effects towards Texas economy. In light of State Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock’s current legislation in the…
Grupo Frackaso, SA’s rowdiest cumbia crew, takes a few important notes from hip-hop and punk on their debut effort Cumbiapocalyptica. Throughout the 26-minute release, the band blurts out their name pretty frequently, taking a page from the stylebook of 2 Chainz (a book that mostly just says “2 Chainz” in its copy). From punk, the…
NYC artist and Earth-dweller Maps Glover and his creations are the stuff that dreams are made of. Whether it be illustrations, installations, paintings or film, Maps eclipses everything he touches. Imagine the sandman lulling you to sleep into a wonderland of one man’s imagination. It’s a surreal experience. As co-creative director of URNR.TV, a San Antonio-birthed,…
Just in time for Cinco de Mayo weekend, Mezcalería Mixtli opens up for business Friday evening from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., serving up a finely honed menu of botanas, Mexican craft beers and spirits. San Antonio’s first mezcalería is the latest venture from Chef Diego Galicia, Rico Torres and bartender Jesse Torres, the culinary dream…
Think Cinco de Mayo or Mother’s Day are the next big holidays coming up? Well, you’re wrong and The Force may not be strong with you. Star Wars Day, an unofficial geek-holiday, is coming up this Monday. Any fan worth their weight in republic credits has to celebrate May The Fourth in style and thankfully…
A leading San Anto civil rights advocacy organization is calling on the community to join them tonight in its yearly effort to raise awareness about workers’ rights. The Southwest Workers Union will march today to celebrate International Workers Day, also known as May Day throughout the world. But the group’s traditional focus on immigrant rights…
Saturday night’s welterweight championship bout between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao is being hailed as the “fight of the century.” The pre-fight promotional blitz is touting the event as one of boxing’s all-time greatest match-ups, joining the ranks alongside Ali vs. Foreman and Tyson vs. Holyfield before the first punch is even thrown. It’s a…
The legislative push to reduce or eliminate criminal penalties associated with the possession and use of marijuana is an imperative concern for many Texans statewide. While information on all current bills and action items regarding marijuana are readily accessible, citizens of Texas lack the ability to vote directly on drug policies at a local level.…
The San Antonio City Council unanimously approved an ordinance to utilize microchip implants to license pets living within the city limits. The city will be the largest in the nation to use microchipping as its primary means of pet licensing when the ordinance goes into effect on June 30. Pet owners with valid metal license tags…
Update: Thursday, April 30, 2015, 3:48 p.m. Alamo Beer Company has disclosed to the San Antonio Current that the brewery has entered a confidential settlement agreement with the Texas General Land Office and will continue to use of the Alamo image in its brand identity. Ted Lee, attorney for Alamo Beer indicates that the company…
Thursday, April 30 Asleep at the Wheel Formed in 1970 in West Virginia, Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel made their claim to fame in Austin and nearby Gruene Hall, where the band is helping to celebrate the music joint’s 40th anniversary this weekend. The country masters are also celebrating the release of Still…
One of the downsides of Marvel announcing its future slate of superhero movies so far in advance of their release dates is that their “Phase One” blockbusters already seem to pale in comparison to the on-deck “Phase Two” installments. After all, how can writer-director Joss Whedon’s just-released Avengers: Age Of Ultron possibly compare to 2018’s…
Death, taxes, and the Tim Duncan bank shot. All three are constants you can always count on in this city. Tides change, people change, the Spurs do not change, that’s how it always has been and always will be right? I’m going to need everyone reading this to please take a deep breath and hold…
As we celebrate the 40th b-day of Gruene Hall, in all its importance to the township and John Travolta, let’s not forget the key role the building has played in the music of Texas. Behold, the greatest live recordings of all time from Gruene Hall! Or, at least the greatest recordings we could find at Gruene…
NYC-based director and producer Jerry Ruiz will take the helm of the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center as its new executive director, the West Side Latino arts and culture organization announced today. Ruiz, a South Texas native, will take the reins of the San Antonio cultural institution beginning May 4. The Guadalupe, which promotes Chicano, Latino…
The North Side is flush with new dining and drinking options coming via the folks who brought you China Garden. Owner Adrian Martinez opened Smoke The Restaurant inside the former home of Auden’s Kitchen at 700 E. Sonterra with chef Brian West promising fab urban barbecue in a swanky setting. West, most recently helmed the…
Saturday, May 2: Head to New Braunfels for the day and enjoy the 2015 Wein and Saengerfest, which includes live music, a grape stomp for the winos, an artisan market, food seminars, a chef’s showdown and activities for the little ones. Texan beers and wines will be flowing throughout the day. Admission is free, $15…
Top Chef’s Tom Colicchio has one. Cronut creator Dominique Ansel has one. So does Austin’s Paul Qui. By this time on Monday, one of four chefs working in eateries in the Lone Star State (among them Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue, Bryce Gilmore of Barley Swine, both from Austin, Hugo Ortega of Hugo’s and Justin…
My partner is 31 years older than I am. I know the math: He’ll be 60 when I’m 29. But that isn’t the problem. The issue is he’s been a lifelong bachelor and never been monogamous. He’s fucked hundreds of women and is close friends with a lot of his former fuck buddies. Because of…
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Chris Moneymaker was employed as an accountant in Tennessee. On a whim, he paid $39 to enter an online poker tournament. Although he knew a lot about the game, he had never competed professionally. Nevertheless, he won the tournament. As his award, he received no money, but rather an invitation to…
Whether Kristen Stewart was starring in terrible vampire movies, sleeping with her Snow White and the Huntsman director, pouting on the red carpet or just generally looking uncomfortable, the media and public have never had trouble finding reasons to pick on her. To be frank, it was hard to find a reason to like her.…
Unlike San Antonio’s restaurant scene, attention from the James Beard Foundation has been scant in terms of the city’s drinking domain. The sole local semifinalist, Jeret Peña, nabbed that honor in 2012 for his program at the then-newly reopened Esquire Tavern. Since leaving the downtown establishment, Peña has focused efforts on expanding his cocktail footprint…
An izakaya, the Japanese equivalent to a pub or speakeasy, should be a casual eatery with plenty of after-work drinking opportunities — with an emphasis on the drinking opportunities. On East Pecan beneath the Exchange Building apartments, Kimura is San Antonio’s best izakaya and a unique dining experience in general. You’ve no doubt walked past…
On the evening of November 13, 2014, five strangers met for dinner at the Tuk Tuk Taproom. In what has since become a monthly tradition, the Reddit Foodie Meetup of San Antonio was founded that night. Michelle Young and Davin Cross are professional millennials in their early 30s. Transplants to San Antonio, they’re looking to…
Since President Barack Obama appointed Julián Castro last year to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the much-anticipated May 9 election for the Alamo City’s next full-term mayor has shifted into overdrive. The San Antonio Current sat down with the leading candidates vying to replace Castro, including Ivy Taylor, who has temporarily held…
Kenia Galeano wasn’t sure what would become of her after crossing an international bridge from Mexico and surrendering to U.S. border agents in the Rio Grande Valley in November. Surely, she thought, the land of the free and home of the brave would at least afford her an opportunity to make her case and be…
In its long clapboard history, very few alterations have been made to Gruene Hall, one of Texas’ oldest and most frequented dance joints. The “Willie door” may be the best-known exception. Performing at Gruene Hall one packed evening in 1998, Willie Nelson felt uncomfortable about having to bum-rush through the crowd to get up onstage.…
Typically, when you think of the post-rock genre — ill defined as it may be — you think of ominously ruminative, instrumental soundscapes that demand great attention from listeners, only to leave them feeling rather flattened. San Antonio’s Bright Like the Sun, however, showcases an entirely different — more uplifting — concept of post-rock on…
Lifted by the Great NothingKarim Dimechkie | Bloomsbury | $26 | 304 pp. Early in Lifted by the Great Nothing, Karim Dimechkie’s endearing first novel, Mr. Yang, a patient horticulturalist who lives next door, invites Rasheed Boulos and his son Max to a special ceremony. Mr. Yang has spent 14 years cultivating a rare Asian…
