Year after year, Current staffers and freelancers churn out City Guide — a glossy publication we strive to make useful and entertaining for locals and tourists alike. While we typically try to balance City Guide with stories highlighting what’s new and exciting around town and practical listings (from coffee shops and cocktail bars to museums and music venues), San Antonio’s Tricentennial celebrations — combined with the 50th anniversary of HemisFair ’68 — inspired us to add something to the mix: a nostalgia trip through the complex history of the Alamo City.
Divided into sections that more or less mirror a weekly issue of the Current, our 2018 edition of City Guide rewinds to the 1960s for a HemisFair feature ... and then more than 300 years back in time for a glimpse of what San Antonio was like before Spanish explorers and missionaries arrived and established what we now know as the Alamo. It offers refreshers on local treasures such as the missions, the River Walk and Fiesta; builds a historical timeline of San Antonio based entirely on works by artists participating in “Common Currents,” a Tricentennial exhibition series; revisits old-school dives and long-running restaurants; and pays tribute to some of the musicians who’ve helped put our city on the map.
Throughout our attempt to step back in time and look at San Antonio with fresh eyes, this project revealed more than a few fascinating tidbits about San Antonio and also reminded us that there’s always more to learn about the multi-layered history of this place we call home.
–Bryan Rindfuss, Managing Editor
Up Front
After the Fair's Over: The “Redemption Story” of HemisFair Park
Fascinating Facts & Folklore: From Healing Waters to Eerie Entities, the Alamo City Has an Eclectic Past
Sidewalk Storytelling: A Guide to San Antonio’s Historic Neighborhoods
Celebrating Colonization?: The Oldest Living San Antonian Cultures are Fighting Erasure
Arts & Culture
Swimming in 'Common Currents': Artists Dive Into 300 Years of San Antonio History
Let’s Fiesta, San Antonio!: A Brief History of a Remarkable Celebration
The River Walk: A Unique Destination, An Evolving Life Force
The Missions: A Cultural Legacy
Exploring the San Antonio Art Scene: Essential Museums + Galleries
Food & Drink
Lasting Power: Long-standing San Antonio Eateries to Visit
Can’t-Miss Bites: Some Favorites from San Anto’s Restaurant Boom
Panaderias Plus: Where to Satiate Your Pan Dulce, Croissant and Éclair Cravings
Music
Música de San Anto: Alamo City Icons
Alamo City Jazz History: Remembering the Keyhole Club
Homegrown Beats: Our Favorite Songs of the Last 300 Years
Pump Up the Volume: A Guide to San Antonio’s Music Scene
Late Night
Dives We Love: Classic Bars Where Everyone Will Know Your Name
The New Cantina: Local Joints are Keeping the Tradition Alive with a Twist
© 2023 San Antonio Current
