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MUST READS OF THIS ISSUE 10 | Growing, shaving, snipping, grooming: A commentary on manscaping Manscaping is a thing. Contests, articles and documentaries all exist advocating for men to take care of their hair. Society has become preoccupied with aesthetics and putting a label on acts of hygiene. Not even grooming can dodge this bullet. What is up with the term and why is it such a big deal?

22 | Sangria on the Burg Ceasar Zepeda, a former UTSA student, is living his dream thanks to his creative take on a popular drink — Sangria. Detailing his journey, Zepeda gives insight to his life after graduating UTSA and his path to opening his restaurant.

24 | Religous phenomena at UTSA explained Being one of the most religious campuses in Texas, a student documentary, “Religion in Rowdyland,” explores the religious scene at UTSA in hopes of getting students to form their own religious views. Students show interest in furthering a positive discussion with the help of the Student Secular Alliance’s third annual interfaith religious discussion.

28 | Coming in & coming out The diverse San Antonio music scene is seeing a rise in LGBTQ artist. Advocate and rapper, Chris Conde gives his perspective on living in San Antonio, his experience with using hip-hop to deal with personal issues and the positive changes that are happening within the city’s LGBTQ community.

an Antonio is a city full of vivid colors and characters. In this issue of Paisano Plus, we’re celebrating the people and art forms that create the nature of this city. From the artistry of music, food, visual arts and even cybersecurity, we’re looking at all our favorite local creators.

One feature of this issue goes into San Antonio Soundgarden (SASG) — a new San Antonio nonprofit.

Never heard of them? Well, you will soon. Or rather, you’ll hear the local San Antonio musicians who comprise the organization. SASG is looking to grow San Antonio’s local music economy. From recording to marketing, this organization isn’t holding back, but rather breaking through.

In this issue, we’re also looking at local LGBTQ artists: Chris Conde and Antemia Kavillari. Conde expands on his experience of being a LGBTQ rapper in the SA music scene. Kavillari sits down with us for a Q&A, sharing her story as a trans woman in this arts community.

If you want to look at some UTSA community arts, check out our poetry pages and UTSArt spread. Here you can find the poetry, drawing, photography and more works from a variety of UTSA students — maybe even from the people you sit next to everyday.

Now let’s also talk about food and some local culinary characters. In this issue, we feature two local food stops. Gus Guerte is a staple food truck owner & chef at The Block. He’s a beloved figure for those looking for authentic Colombian empanadas. Our other food feature is a UTSA alumnus: Ceasar Zepeda. His new restaurant, Sangria on the Burg, is up and ready for you to come sit down and have a couple (or several) sangrias.

We’re also looking at some avenues that may not be considered conventional art forms. Check out our commentary on why manscaping — the male grooming phenomena — is alive and well (well-groomed, that is).

Cybersecurity, a highly regarded program at UTSA, also makes an appearance this issue. UTSA developers have created a card game to teach others about cybersecurity in a nostalgic format: a card game.

So whether you’re an aspiring artist or an engineer looking for a creative outlet, read up on this issue of Paisano Plus to gather some inspiration for your next great venture. It may get messy, but hey, it’s your canvas.

Jade Cuevas magazine@paisano-online.com

The iconic boombox. UTSA is no stranger to this beloved audio player (looking at you Boombox guy). This issue’s cover story surrounds a new San Antonio nonprofit — San Antonio Soundgarden.

This organization is making waves — or more likely beats — within the SA music scene. This boombox sports the nonprofit’s logo colors. To read more about their work, head to page 18.

{ Paisano Plus } Magazine Editor: Jade Cuevas The Paisano Editor-inChief: Caroline Traylor Managing Editor: Brady Phelps

Raquel Simon Calderon Magazine Assistant

Assistant Magazine Editor: Raquel Simon Calderon

If you are interested in becoming a writer, hit us up!

Email our editor (magazine@ paisano-online.com) or drop by The Paisano’s weekly Wednesday meetings at 6 p.m. at 14526 Roadrunner Way. No journalism experience required.

Samantha Ceballos

Just a curious mind and a passion for stories.

“Growing, shaving, snipping, grooming: A commentary on manscaping”

Photo Editor: Ethan Pham Account Executive: Jenelle Duff Business Manager: Will Stransky Marketing Director: Kesley Smith {Staff} Samantha Ceballos, Jessica Salinas, Zena Gittens, Casey Luna, Enrique Bonilla, Raquel Alonzo {Cover Graphics} Jade Cuevas {Advisor} Diane Abdo {Advisory Board} Stefanie Arias, Jack Himelblau, Steven Kellman, Red Madden, Sandy Norman

Enrique Bonilla

Casey Luna

“Truth and preserverance through art“

“Religous phenomena at UTSA explained“

Paisano Plus is published by the Paisano Educational Trust, a non-profit, tax exempt, educational organization. The Paisano is operated by members of the Student Newspaper Association, a registered student organization. The Paisano is NOT sponsored, financed or endorsed

by UTSA. All revenues are generated through advertising and donations.

Advertising inquiries and donations should be directed towards: 14526 Roadrunner Way Suite 101 San Antonio, TX 78249 (210) 690-9301 magazine@paisanoonline.com

Ethan Pham

Photographer Extraordinaire

Raquel Alonzo “Sangria on the Burg”

© 2016, The Paisano

“I look up to Fabolous (hiphop artist) but at the same time I try to be myself.”

— Malik Manogin

“I like to dress nice. If I look good, I feel good.

It gives me FRQƓGHQFH Ő — Xavier Fajardo

“I get my inspiration from the 70s and 90s…

Like 'That 70s show.'”

— Sophie Toledo

6

“I learned how to dress professionally through my organization Alpha Kappa Psi. I also dress very bohemian and relaxed. They call me the corporate hippie.”

— Jessica Villarreal

Campus street

style

Paisano Plus went on the hunt and asked, “What does style mean to you?”

Photos/Interviews Raquel Simon Calderon

“I like to dress in a gothic-chic style, edgy and with a lot of leather” — Katherine Leidlein

“I like being comfortable and not too ŴDVK\ EXW still look nice in simple RXWƓWV Ő — Joshua Cantrell

“I like to be comfortable, but not to the point where I look like I just rolled out ouf bed” — Chrystal Frost

8

“I have a simple and clean style.”

— Amanda Oh

“I think that how a person GUHVVHV UHĹ´HFWV KRZ WKH\ VHH themselves. It is important to wear clothes with meaning.â€? — Madison Brown

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Samantha ceballos

10

he wonderful world of looking good would like to present manscaping.

This term is thrown around without much thought, but what exactly is manscaping? Plain and simple, the term means removal of body hair (from a dude).

Although this commentary is through a woman’s perspective, this topic is something I care about. This topic, like so many others, is subjective. Opinions differ and tastes vary. At first, I questioned if manscaping even existed.

Has society really gone so far as to gender yet another aspect of everyday life? There are articles from GQ and Men’s Health detailing how to effectively manscape, documentaries like Mansome (2012) on the history of manscaping and contests like Movember for the best faciallyscaped man.

This is a real thing.

On first impression, manscaping is an act many people would think refers to grooming the nether regions, when in reality it encompasses the grooming of hair all over the body (despite that 8 a.m. class, guys want to look good too, you know). Society pressures people to look their best, and thanks to many famous, goodlooking celebrities (I’m looking at you, Hugh Jackman), the stakes have been raised for males, while the female struggle continues to be maintaining immaculate grooming (some more seasonally). This act of hygiene has existed for ages and performed by both sexes, but has been made a bigger, almost glorified, deal for guys, while the act is portrayed as a chore to most girls. Manscaping has become a gendered word, and though the term ladyscaping exists, it is rarely discussed.

Yes, your significant other might enjoy a clean, well-kept partner, but to be honest, manscaping isn’t just to impress women. According to Mansome, manscaping is used as a tool to prove masculinity. Men, like women, seek validation from their own sex. Mansome goes on to discuss issues that deal with removal of body hair; grooming of mustaches, beards, and regular hair; and the stigma that surrounds men and their ability to decorate themselves in western society. From what I have picked up, the less hair, the slimmer and more fit dudes appear.

The more hair, the fluffier they look. It all depends on preference.

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Photo: Ethan Pham

Humans are naturally hairy beings (some more than others) which makes grooming a more time-consuming process for certain people.

Manscaping is a thing because society has made it one. Male models appear smooth on magazine covers and commercials, wrestlers and swimmers go hairless for the sake of their sport and some men challenge the idea of being hairless and opt to grow more of it. Guess what, guys? You all manscape whether it be to look like an aerodynamic swimmer or to look like a mountain man.

Why must we as a society label an act that is performed by both sexes? Ladyscaping is an equivalent term that is rarely used in conversation. Apparently, it is still taboo to talk about women acting like humans.

We all care about our appearances; we all seek to be validated by our own sex. Why take an action, object or product (*cough, cough* razors *cough*) and assign it a gender? Manbun, murse, manscaping? It all seems a little ridiculous. If anything, let ladyscaping be heard as much as we hear about manscaping. Or better yet, mix both terms together and let us all scape, snip and take care of business.

However, throwing the term around in random conversations did provide interesting feedback.

People contemplated manscaping for their significant others, but some contemplated it for themselves. A good portion of the population doesn’t even know that a term exists for male grooming, much less lady grooming. It is an act of hygiene that the media has genderfied and society has rolled with it. Most of the guys that spoke to about “man grooming” didn’t feel the term was such a big deal. Most commented that they only manscaped when they felt it necessary.

Going back to the question, is manscaping a thing? It is, but it doesn’t seem to be such a big deal. Male grooming, like female grooming, is a want for a healthy, clean-looking person. If we are completely honest, everyone has their own likes and dislikes of themselves. If a guy wants to look like a lumberjack, go for it. If a lady wants to be lazy for the winter season, do it. Scaping anything is the choice of the person.

Just like women, men will find articles, videos and charts that detail how and why they should groom. Ultimately the choice is theirs, unlike women who are condemned to a life sentence of societal enforced grooming. For now, I will keep on looking at guys in class and on campus, judging their appearance as we have been trained to do.

By Brady Phelps

Photos: Brady Phelps

Operating out of a small truck built in his garage, Gustavo Guete—or “Gus,” the owner of Gus’ Empanadas & More—serves a variety of items including Colombian-style pizza, hot dogs and (of course) empanadas, to patrons of The Block Food Park & Patio Bar. “The food represents your personality,” Guete said. “It’s not about the quantity, but the quality…you want that wow factor every time.”

Anyone hesitant to consider cooking an art form should consider Ralph Waldo (PHUVRQȢV EURDG GHˋQLWLRQ RI art: “The conscious utterance

of thought, by speech or action, to any end, is art.” ,WDOLDQ ˋOPPDNHU )HGHULFR )HOOLQL RQFH DVVHUWHG WKDW ȤDOO art is autobiographical,” and that’s absolutely the case for Guete.

After graduating summa cum laude from dentistry school in 1999, Guete moved from

The Colombia-native San Antonio resident KDV GHGLFDWHG KLV OLIH WR IXOƓOOLQJ KLV SDVVLRQ for cuisine; he considers it an art form and approaches every day accordingly. And he’s found a spot next to UTSA that he considers the perfect place to carry out his vision.

Colombia to New York City to attend culinary school on a full-ride scholarship.

Gus was working 18 hours a day at three different jobs in New York when the Sept.

11 attacks occurred. His brother invited him to Texas to get away for a while, and he quickly fell in love with San

Antonio’s people and culture.

He has resided in San Antonio ever since, but returns to Colombia to visit his family a few times each year. These trips remind him of the traditions passed down to him, particularly by his mother and grandmother; watching them cook and uphold family values

had a profound effect on his outlook. Guete believes that maintaining his bond with Colombian culture allows him to better carry its traditions to the customers he serves daily at The Block. “It’s very important to be engaged in your culture,�

Guete said. “Part of expanding your menu is when you get creative because you have that inspiration from your country.�

Like art, food can transport people across time and space.

As he considers himself an artist, Guete wants his food to have this effect. “It’s not about the food,�

Guete insisted. “It’s about the smell, the taste‌it reminds you and brings you back to that home-y place that you want to be, comfortably eating something that you like.â€? “I want people to feel as if they are in Colombia when enjoying my food,â€? Guete professed.

The environment in which Guete operates his business is EHQHË‹FLDO LQ QXPHURXV ZD\V ,W FDQ EH GLIË‹FXOW WR FRQYLQFH

people to try new foods from parts of the world they are unfamiliar with. But Guete sees The Block as an opportunity to attract customers who may not necessarily seek out Colombian food on their own, but are willing to try it when it is presented as an option.

According to Guete, one of the best things about The Block is its proximity to UTSA; he says the students have open minds about trying other cultures’ foods.

Art is both collaborative and competitive. Its creation relies on the creator’s’ own experiences, the interpretation of their experience and the interpretation of other’s work. A good meal, or work of art, combines personal and

FXOWXUDO LQˌXHQFH WR FUHDWH D unique experience that is the result of the artist’s vision and ability.

Artists compete not only internally to better represent their vision with each creation, but also with other artists for attention and recognition. “We have to be challenging ourselves every time,� Guete proclaimed. “We cannot be in a comfort zone. To be ‘playing it safe’ is not safe. The public challenges you because they know you can do better every time.�

The competition among these particular chefs is for more than the public’s attention.

They also compete for the respect of their peers. With a variety of food trucks lined up waiting to impress with multicultural meals, The Block has created a natural atmosphere of competition among the trucks’ operators.

Guete sees this dynamic not only as healthy, but also desirable. “This is a family; that’s how it should be,� Guete said. “To get better every day in

what we do‌that’s what it’s all about.�

If cuisine is art, Guete wants to be known as a performance artist. He doesn’t just want customers; he wants an audience. He doesn’t just want WR VHH D SURË‹W KH ZDQWV WR see his customers’ reactions. )RU WKLV UHDVRQ KH EXLOW KLV truck in a way that easily allows patrons to watch as he prepares dishes. “Latin cuisine is interacting‌ another reason I don’t want to be enclosed,â€? Guete reiterated. “I want people to see what I look like when I’m making (their) food.â€?

Latin cuisine is nothing new for the residents of San Antonio; however, traditional Mexican cuisine is still the most prevalent. Guete believes that Central and 6RXWK $PHULFDQ LQËŒXHQFH is not as apparent, but that

San Antonians are becoming increasingly receptive of a wider palette of Latin American cuisine.

The next step, Guete says, is to publicize his business more. He wishes more people appreciated The Block for its challenging, creative environment. But despite his desire to expand, he maintains that passion and artistic integrity can never be compromised. “When you do this just for money, that’s not going to work for you,� Guete warned. “Yes, you have to make the money to continue to promote what you really want to achieve as a chef. But in the end, you enjoy everybody else’s food when they know they’re not making it because they want your money. They want quality. They want you to give the best of what you’re doing.�

Recortar

Poetry pages

Eric Pitty

Cortamos antes del amanecer las cabezas extrañas de San Agustín parecido a los Aztecas que cortan las gargantas de los sacrificios mientras el horizonte sangra.

Y después llegan los pájaros como algo sagrado.

Llegan de las cunetas y de las nubes de polvo.

Llegan de los árboles y camiones de reparto para atrapar las semillas y los gusanos de docenas de altares de hierba apilamos como huesos listos para hornear.

Cada día tiene su contabilidad que requiere el mismo tosco nacimiento de los sitios, nombres y fechas, pan de trigo, botes de atún, docenas de hombres, y una cortadora de césped.

Cortan cada día y por quince horas para ganar y ganar un mundo total.

A new and intuitive course — Spanish for Heritage Learners — led by Professor Lilian Cano from the Modern Languages department, has taken its place at UTSA. The course’s goal is to strengthen students’ pre-existing familiarity with spoken and/or written Spanish. The course, comparable to programs at the University of Arizona, is currently facing challenges of low enrollment which may lead to being shut down. The poems below are examples of what the two year old course has to offer to UTSA students.

El invierno en Michigan Maria González

El invierno en Michigan es lo más bello.

La nieve complementa el cielo azul por el día, y las estrellas por la noche.

El frío antoja un café caliente por la mañana, y el abrigo calienta los resfriados del aire fresco.

El invierno es un tiempo de mucho estilo, las bufandas sobran para cada traje del día.

Y que no se olvide que Navidad es uno de los mejores festejos durante el invierno, por lo menos así es en mi familia.

La Navidad no solo es un día lleno de regalos, pero de amor también.

La Navidad es uno de los días más memorables del año.

Es cuando uno demuestra el aprecio que tiene por cada persona, con regalos y otras cosas.

No faltan los tamales en estas ocasiones, ya que no es lo mismo sin una comida deliciosa.

La Navidad en Michigan fue muy linda, y pronto volveremos a visitar.

La Navidad sigue siendo igual de especial, pero no como cuando mirábamos afuera y la nieve cubría todo el zacate y las carreteras.

Por el momento solo queda soñar, De un bonito invierno en Michigan.

Identidad

Professor Liliana L. Cano Cierro los ojos y respiro el aire de mi pasado, ese pasado que me vio nacer y crecer.

Me siento muy conectada con el lugar, su cultura, su gente, es parte de mí, de mi corazón, de mi esencia.

Mi pasado está lleno de alegres carcajadas, de hermosas lecciones que mis abuelos me enseñaron.

No quiero abrir los ojos, pero lo tengo que hacer.

Inmediatamente sé que ese aire que algún día respiré, no volverá a pasar jamás por mis pulmones.

Al abrir mis grandes y cansados ojos, vuelvo a la realidad que me atemoriza.

Me encuentro en una tierra de grandes edificios, una tierra que no es la mía y me consume cada día.

Sigo sintiendo esa conexión con la tierra de mis antepasados, me alimenta poco a poco con un grano de esperanza.

Pero cada día, cada minuto, cada segundo que pasa, ese vínculo con mi cultura va disminuyendo.

Confundida, triste, enojada y desesperada, ahora trato de buscar un nuevo lazo en este lugar...

Este lugar que ahora es mi presente.

Photo Courtesy Eric Pitty

Spanish Heritage Learners 15

Veronica Gaytan

Veronica Gaytán

Veronica Determinada, responsable, de buen corazón y respetuosa Hija de Reynaldo y Martha Gaytán Hermana de Reynaldo y Jesús Tía de Layla y Bellannie Novia de Isaías Residente de San Antonio pero viene de Sonora Nacida en Del Río A quien le gustan las cosas brillantes e ir de compras A quien no le gusta un día perdido Quien piensa en el futuro Quien quiere que sus sueños se hagan realidad Quien se preocupa por tener éxito Quien se cree una princesa Quien siente emociones fuertes Quien da su todo Quien tiene miedo de sus fracasos A quien le gustaría ver el mundo Quien entiende que la vida no es fácil Quien aspira ser un doctor médico un día Quien trata de ser el argullo de sus padres Quien sueña con una vida de felicidad Gaytán

Mi Heroe

Marissa Cerllio

Él es muy trabajador pero no critica Empezó a trabajar desde una edad temprana Porque quería ayudar a su familia con la lana Es la persona más inteligente Especialmente enfrente de la gente Es muy chistoso pero también respetoso Es el más generoso y no es mentiroso Le encanta ayudar a los más necesitados Y le gusta mucho comer helados Él no es fijado y nunca me ha fallado Es muy recto como su primo Héctor Le encanta comer frijoles Especialmente con muchos atoles Prefiere vestirse como un vaquero Y al igual como mis hermanos, es dulcero Es bien cuidadoso y aún más sospechoso La gusta apapacharme, besarme y abrazarme Me llama Princesa y me compra muchas hamburguesas Con su amor le robó el corazón a mi mamá Y por eso es mi maravilloso papá

Me llamo Armandina Amber Amezquita Me llamo Armandina, es un nombre fuerte.

AR-MAN-DI-NA. Cuando era niña, tenía que trabajar en los campos Ella nació en la gran depresión, nuestra familia sabía cómo usar todo lo que teníamos.

Mi abuela era la primera que despertaba cada día.

Ella siempre tomaba una taza de café y comía pan antes del amanecer y luego desayunaba con la familia Su castigo favorito era torcernos nuestras orejas y especialmente usar sus uñas Tenía que hacer las tortillas, revisar las gallinas, alimentar a los caballos, y luego podía comer el desayuno.

Mi madre cuidaba a niños que necesitaban vidas mejores.

Teníamos una familia grande y cada persona tenía responsabilidades Mamá era muy severa, como mi abuela Pero, después de muchos años, ella dijo que cuando estábamos durmiendo en el rancho Ella susurraba su amor por nosotros.

Nuestra familia viajaba para trabajar Recogíamos el algodón.

Solo fue a la escuela hasta al quinto año, porque tenía responsabilidades Mi familia necesitaba ayuda Conocí el amor, hubo muchos hombres que quisieron la oportunidad de tener solo una cita Después de mi boda, tuve seis niños.

Después del amor, conocí el dolor Mi primer bebé murió después de solo seis semanas Mi esposo era una mujeriego y alcohólico. Finalmente, tuve una oportunidad.

Después de separarme de mi esposo, me enamoré.

Mis niños lo amaban.

El tiempo es lo más importante en esta vida Mi amor fue asesinado después de una llamada telefónica que decía “Voy en camino, mi amor”

La fugitiva

Geroge Flores

A las dos de esta mañana Desperté de un agobio Estaba en un sudor frío Y vi que no estabas allí Te busqué frenético Pero te fuiste sin un rastro Le llamé a mi mejor amigo Escuché solo un buzón de voz Me di cuenta de lo que pasó Y lancé mi teléfono en la pared Corrí en mi salón Y me derrumbé en el piso Nunca pensé que me robarías do lo único que me importaba Mi corazón Lo rasgó de mi pecho Huyó con mi mejor amigo Pero lo mejor de todo es que Hizo todo el trabajo por mí Ni siquiera tengo que decirle sobre su hermana y yo Le llamé a ella Dije que podíamos estar juntos ahora Ella dijo que vendría allí en seguida Me encanta cuando todo funciona.

17

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By Jade Cuevas

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Q D VPDOO IURQW RIĆ“FH VSDFH DW 1 $ODPR 6W ELJ LGHDV Ĺ´RDW DURXQG WKH URRP Among the circle of people gathered,

the ideas raised range from poster distribution to a local musician’s work. Impassioned voices discuss publicizing the organization while side conversations about inner workings of future events develop.

Flyers and other handouts are passed around. The atmosphere is casual, with people laughing on couches and leaning on desks.

Welcome to San Antonio Sound Garden (SASG).

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Photo: Ethan Pham

listen up >>

N

ot so different from your local backyard or community garden, SASG is a nonprofit aimed at growing a sustainable music economy in San Antonio. This garden is situated behind the small front office in the form of a warehouse. With this space, the nonprofit hopes to cultivate a strong, sustainable music economy for San Antonio.

Currently, local SA musicians typically are forced to face an ultimatum: stay in San Antonio or take their talent elsewhere (most likely Austin) to advance their music careers. Most artists choose the latter and head north on I-35.

SASG hopes to solve this musical migration by helping local musicians overcome common financial and resource-related barriers. This includes providing subsidized services ranging from office space with WiFi, reasonably priced recording space, networking and mentoring opportunities to marketing assistance.

Despite its wide range of services, SASG isn’t an organization that likes to turn anything or anyone down. The team of people running the organization is comprised of all kinds of San Antonians (their CFO being UTSA alumnus, Noah Breeden) with one common bond: a love of music and a desire to keep local artists thriving.

The capital campaign, “One Seed Is All It Takes,” speaks to this objective.

“Now I want you to imagine yourself 20 years from now,” said Edwin Stephens, founder of SASG, in their capital campaign video.

“Our music scene is thriving, people you may have passed by in your neighborhood years ago

Photo: Ethan Pham

are making waves in the music industry. Our city is electric. Look back from then and ask yourself, ‘I was there when all of this was happening, but was I a part of it?’”

Las Raices (“The Roots” in Spanish) is another effort SASG is taking to cultivate their garden.

The monthly music forum allows those in the SA music scene to gather and share their ideas. The forum, geared toward strengthening the roots of the music community, is open to all San Antonians.

SASG heightens the importance of the individual. Each “seed” or person involved is shown as adding to the growth of not only the SA music scene, but the economy. One “seed” being District 7 Councilman Cris Medina.

Medina, a musician himself,

then voted for the top three artists or bands.

First place, SASG’s 2017 Showcase Artist, went to indie/soul band The Foreign Arm, while two bands — The Lost Project and The Dirty River Dixie Band — tied for second place. All positions won different levels of production packages from SASG that will assist the bands in either recording/releasing music, or with other projects, such as business strategy or public relations for the band.

SASG’s 11/11 event was able to showcase the talent of local musicians as well as the nonprofit’s ability to cultivate a colorful garden.

As for the organization’s involvement with UTSA, Adam Tutor, SASG’s Community Outreach Director, expands on the future of

"...Look back from then and ask yourself, ‘I was there when all of this was happening, but was I a part of it?" secured $25,000 of the FY2017 City of San Antonio budget this past September to “assist SASG with a comprehensive plan as part of our ongoing effort to develop San Antonio’s untapped music economy.”

While 2017 is poised to be a year of growth for SASG, the nonprofit wrapped up 2016 with what they know best: a showcase of local talent. Their official launch/ workspace renovation celebration was hosted at Alamo Beer Company this past November.

The event, dubbed 11/11, showcased 10 different San Antonio artists and bands. The event included local talents ranging from Amea (R&B/Soul) to The Dirty River Dixie Band (Dixieland/jazz). The audience

working with UTSA students.

“If we’re growing local music, we just can't start at our age, we have to start with high school and college kids,” Tutor says. “We're always looking for individuals who want to get their voice or hands involved.”

One of Tutor’s goals for 2017 is to form a group of UTSA students wishing to collaborate with SASG — musicians and business people alike.

Dylan Ilseng is an example of this potential SASG-UTSA partnership. Ilseng is a UTSA senior music marketing major, musician and president of Musicians of Business (MOB). His band RANCH \ HOUSE played at SASG’s 11/11 event.

“I’ve known Adam for a few

years...but UTSA’s Music Biz Day really put them (SASG) on my radar,” Ilseng says. “This past semester we’ve made a connection with them (SASG) and a couple of our students volunteered at their 11/11 event. We haven’t done a whole lot yet, but will definitely in this next semester.”

Ilseng notes that people have been fairly receptive of SASG. He notes that UTSA students in particular will be excited once they hear more about the organization.

“There will always be people who oppose everything, especially with a group like Sound Garden who

are receiving money from the city,” Ilseng noted. “And some people are a little hesitant about that, but I think it (SASG) will not only grow it (the music economy), but unite the existing culture.”

Ilseng also expanded on how the music economy would look without SASG. “It (the current music economy) is decent, but it’s pretty spread out,” he said.

“There’s kind of a disconnect between the scenes and maybe a little animosity between people in different groups. So I feel Sound Garden has been uniting everyone for one cause.”

When you first hear about SASG, their mission and ambitious dreams, it’s easy to write it all off as a fantasy. Making San Antonio a successful music hub — enough to compete with Austin — is a hefty task, but one Tutor embraces with a smile: “We (SASG) are excited about it.”

Yet, when looking at the SASG’s showcase, you get it. Seeing a variety of bands from all different genres play while people animatedly dance, drink and smile — the garden is in full bloom.

Photos: Jade Cuevas

San gria

on the

burg by raquel alonzo

from being a utsa student to opening one of sa’S newest up-and-coming restaurants angria on the Burg can be easily identified by its marquee sign. It had to be specially fabricated by a metal worker in Dallas. And although expensive, Ceasar Zepeda (local UTSA alumnus) feels it was worth it.

“As far as this exact concept (for the restaurant), it kind of grew and changed over the years,” Zepeda said when asked what his inspiration was when creating the restaurant. “I did BBQ for a long time. My family did, too.”

Although he ran into a few issues while getting his restaurant to open— including two extra months of rent in order to fix the gas lines and air conditioning problems—Sangria is doing well for its short time being open.

“First couple weeks were like, ‘what did I do?’” Zepeda said. But soon, the restaurant became an exciting new hotspot. They have plenty of regulars from family, friends and local neighborhoods alike—one being Zepeda’s former business law professor Larry Bruner. Zepeda wanted to create a quality restaurant for locals to dine at in lieu of trekking to The Pearl or Southtown area for fresh food, creative drink options and powerful flavors.

Zepeda’s life was thrown for a loop upon graduating from UTSA. He graduated on a Saturday, bought a house the following Tuesday and finished management training on Thursday. Then, Tony Roma’s (a restaurant where he was working as a bartender), closed on Friday. He said that he thought to himself, “Well, I have a house; now I need a job!”

Due to Zepeda’s experience as a bartender, he decided to create sangrias that catered to everyone’s s taste buds. “I’ve been making sangrias for years,” said Zepeda. “(I made them) for friends, and of course girls,” he joked. “It (the sangrias) started off with the white and the red — probably just because we had spare bottle of white wine.”

The sangria sampler is a good

s

drink option for those who want a little taste of almost every sangria.

It comes with a combo of any four sangrias. We recommend getting the Jameson, grapefruit, white and red sangrias.

“I just wanted to have big flavors— it’s how I cook; I like to cook with 20 pans for one dish,” said Zepeda about his menu items. “The hard part about it is that everything is really unique, and everything has its own slaw or sauce. It’s challenging in the kitchen.”

BBQ, specifically pulled pork, was the first thing Zepeda knew he wanted to put on the menu. Although, Zepeda doesn’t completely smoke the pork. Rather, he finishes the pork in the oven overnight. The pulled pork is tender and full of flavor to leave your mouth watering.

The restaurant is small, and the patio is lovely for dining outside on sunny days. Erika, a server at Sangria, was knowledgeable about the menu, bouncing between tables while making conversation and laughing with customers. Wait times on a busy night are as short as 10-15 minutes, so no need to worry about a long wait.

An appetizer that isn’t on the menu (but we suggest ordering) is the queso. It comes with pico, guacamole and chili. The triple mac & cheese appetizer also offers a unique twist on a classic dish. The combination off macaroni with a sprinkle of Frito chips on top is ideal for a drunk night out. And if you’re not a cheese person, the fideo (which changes daily) is

another great appetizer option.

The best bang for your buck in entree options would be the taco and slider combo. With these menu items, people can choose two different tacos, sliders or have one of each, offering a variety of food combinations. We suggest getting the pork belly and the fish taco combo.

The salad that comes on the side of each entree dish is vivid in color, with strawberries sprinkled throughout for a hint of sweetness to your greens.

Also, the grilled veggies are smoky, giving a BBQ vibe.

For something sweet, order the arroz con leche bites. These little beauties are coated in brown sugar and fried to take on the consistency of a churro. The arroz con leche bites are served with a dollop of vanilla ice cream and topped with caramel sauce.

Zepeda came up with the concept when he was drunk with his brother— and honestly, that’s probably the way they should be consumed. These bites of heaven are the best sweet snack to eat when you’ve had one too many sangrias on the burg.

A look in to a UTS A studen “Religion t docum in Rowd entar ty yland ” & Alliance Secular ’s religio Student us forum

By Jessic a

Salinas

TSA has 26 recognized religious student organizations. This is the premise for the 16 Apples Production documentary, “Religion in Rowdyland” released on YouTube in March. The UTSA student documentary is an attempt to explain religious phenomena at UTSA with limited bias and favoritism.

The documentary was a passion project for creator, director and UTSA alumnus Lynnrae Smith.

Smith’s inspiration for the documentary came from his study of psychology and observations of religious nature on campus.

“To be fair,” Smith said, “I’ve always been fascinated by religion.”

During his sophomore year of college Smith realized how devoted some religious people were to convincing other students to join their students religious groups.

Smith knew he wanted to make “Religion in Rowdyland” after observing a classmate practicing street evangelism and preaching to passersby that the world was going to end and that they needed to

U

repent.

Since his sophomore year, Smith has expanded his knowledge in religion, sociology and psychology to make the documentary.

According to the documentary, UTSA is one of the most religious universities in Texas. With 26,000 students as of Spring 2016 and 26 organizations, there are 1,000 students per one organization. This is the highest per capita in the state, and it rivals every school in the nation.

20 out of 26 religious organizations are Christian-based. Whether the organization is Methodist, Baptist, Catholic or nondenominational, all of these organizations practice evangelism; rather, the spreading of the Christian gospel by public preaching or personal witness.

The documentary crew reached out to many different organizations.

Some organizations turned the crew down, while other organizations did not get a chance to be included in the film.

Smith and the documentary crew strongly encourage viewers to think

about the film’s content and for viewers to form their own opinions on religious groups on campus. The documentary highlighted three religious organizations and spoke to the student presidents.

Epic Movement is geared toward Asian-American students with similar cultures in order for the members to better understand one another. The goal of Epic Movement is to win over students to Christ through outreach.

Baptist Student Ministry (BSM), is one of the student organizations that wishes to spread the Gospel.

BSM is a fairly new organization focused on building a sense of community with its members so everyone feels welcome. BSM preaches openness and genuineness in order to live in a Christ-like way.

The organization attempts to teach what Christianity has to offer to nonmembers, but not in a forceful way. They believe living in a Christ-like way should be naturally

achieved through prayer.

Secular Student Alliance (SSA) is a group of non-religious students willing to have open-minded conversations about religion. SSA gives a home to non-religious students who feel marginalized on campus due to the plethora of religious organizations.

Every year, SSA holds an interfaith religious discussion panel in order to promote rational discourse, evidence-based decision making and positive interfaith communication and friendliness.

SSA hosted its third annual Religious Forum on Thursday, Nov. 10. The Forum featured four UTSA belief-based organizations, such as the Catholic Student Association (CSA), Grace Point Church College Ministry (Baptist), Hillel (Judaism) and Soka Gakkai InternationalUSA Buddhist Roadrunners (SGIUSA) while the SSA represented

nonbelief.

The annual forum works to encourage positive interfaith relations amongst growing tensions between religious and ethnic groups in the current political landscape.

Each year’s Forum focuses on a theme. This year’s theme was love, which covered romance, dating and sexuality.

Participants included Sean Rivera and Taylor Trevino, SSA president and vice president; Josef Gaudiesus and Naomi Gordon, SGI-USA president and vice president; William Chapel, Grace Point Church college ministry director; Moshe Lasky and Jasper Klein, Hillel membership & committee chair and religious & cultural chair; Daniel Oubre and Florencia Silva Cabrera, CSA president and director of campus ministry.

The panel participants were asked a series of six pre-approved questions

pertaining to romance, dating and sexuality.

The floor was then opened up for a Q&A portion. The audience was asked to acknowledge that each panelist hold his or her beliefs sincerely by not asking loaded questions and not personally attacking the panelists’ beliefs.

Both the forum and “Religion in Rowdyland” promote open-minded and polite interfaith discussion, while allowing individuals to build bridges and challenge the mindsets of those promoting conflict. As stated in “Religion in Rowdyland,” “Anyone can find a community and be accepted at UTSA,” regardless of religious belief or nonbelief. A sense of community and acceptance is especially important amongst the escalating tensions of today’s society.

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CYBER THREAT DEFENDER Bringing Cyber security knowledge through nostalgia Article and Graphics by Raquel Simon Calderon

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In today’s world of technological advances, our society has become dependent on tech devices to carry out daily routines. And it is now when we are at our most vulnerable to silent attacks. The idea of cyber security awareness— or a “culture of cybersecurity” as described by Larry Sjelin, Director of Game Development at UTSA’s Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security (CIAS)—is not just for people in STEM fields.

Cyber Threat Defender (CTD) is a card game that was inspired by Magic: The Gathering. Its purpose is to teach about cyber security while having fun.

“There have been other card games that have tried to teach cyber security, but they were more like flash cards and generally they were not fun. If your targeted audience are kids — elementary through high school — it has got to be fun, otherwise it gets boring after a couple of turns” said Sjelin.

“That is the approach we took with CTD. First, it had to be fun to play. Second, it had to teach you something.”

The game is very simple and does not require previous technical background or knowledge of cyber security in order to play. It is made for everyone.

To play the game, each player needs a deck of cards. With the cards, students build and protect their systems simultaneously.

I

To begin the game, you need two cards: desktop computer and ISP connection. After that, you draw cards from your deck to begin building your assets, defenses and attack your opponent. It is a fun game, but also requires strategy. The simplicity of the game is why kids, college students and professionals alike can all play.

Apart from the starter deck, there are Booster packs. These Boosters introduce new concepts, add challenges and keep things fresh.

So, why a card game? The idea of teaching cybersecurity through a card game is still something that a lot of people question. Why would

“First, it had to be fun to play.

Second, it had to teach you something.”

a game encompassing information from a highly technical field go “back in time” via a card game?

Simple, because it works.

When the game is set up, you are able to see and understand the connection that each card has with each other. Students, especially at the middle school level, are able to see it in front of them. “I believe that this concept of being able to see it (the cards concepts) has been helping students truly understand the concepts” explains Sjelin.

With the help from sponsors, CIAS is able to distribute the game to schools. Schools may contact CIAS if they have someone willing to pay for the game or if they are looking to be sponsored. “We give the game for free to students, teachers— schools that want it. We do not make any money on it; what the sponsors give goes to cost recovery for producing it,” said Sjelin.

There are different tiers of sponsorship, and with each tier both the school and the sponsor is benefit accordingly. The creation of booster decks can be tailored to a sponsor. Fact cards are integrated to the game, and playing cards are customized to the sponsor company if it is in the cybersecurity field.

The students exposed to CTD develop communication skills, engage with their peers and discover the world of cybersecurity at a young age. CTD is hoping to inspire future cyber professionals. As Smokey the Bear says, “Only YOU can prevent wildfires.” You can learn how to prevent cyber-attacks.

A around ten years ago, our city’s music scene was widely considered lackluster in comparison to other thriving Texan musical hubs like Austin or Houston; but today, San Antonio is in the midst of its own musical renaissance. The city has taken great strides in creating a competitive scene to rival the best that Texas has to offer: the revival of the St. Mary’s Strip, organizations that support local artists like San Antonio Sound Garden and Network for Young Artists, new and revamped venues, and the introduction of new music festivals. But at the heart of this revival is a pool of immensely talented LGBTQ artists.

LGBTQ culture is intertwined with the San Antonio music scene and is experiencing a parallel growth. Not only is it important to note that there’s a massive rise in representation, but LGBTQ artists are some of the best musicians that San Antonio has produced. Chris Conde, in particular, is subverting expectations by breaking into a genre that has stereotypically been characterized as homophobic: hip-hop. Conde is the host of the first LGBTQ radio segment in San Antonio, Queer Vibes on KRTU 91.7; the organizer of a local showcase for LGBTQ artists, Queers & Beers; and contributing writer to Out In SA Magazine.

“San Antonio is like one of the gayest cities I’ve ever lived in,” said Conde, remarking on a 2011 poll by the American Community Survey Office of the U.S. Census Bureau, which states that San Antonio is the friendliest metropolitan area for same-sex couples raising children. In San Antonio, 33.9 percent of samesex couples are raising children under 18. “It’s not like gay white dudes at a club, It’s parents, it’s families, it’s almost like it’s more.

We’ve been gay, gay enough to get a family,” chuckled Conde.

The growing representation of these LGBTQ artists stems from

a culture that allows them to feel safe and comfortable with being themselves. But that hasn’t always been the case. The LGBTQ community has had to fight for years to achieve a place of normality and had to overcome hurdles like being relegated to their own communities.

“A lot of LGBTQ musicians are just now getting promoted and getting into normal spheres. A lot of us had to stay in gay bars and within the gay community,” said Conde.

“I was taught that being gay meant I’m going to have AIDS,” Conde said.

“If you’re straight and someone tells you it’s wrong to be straight and you need to like the same sex then how awkward and weird is that?

That’s exactly what a lot of us in the community grew up with.” Even Conde himself admitted to having an internalized homophobia and didn’t feel comfortable living in his own skin- a reality that contributed to a long struggle with alcoholism and drug abuse that at one point culminated into homelessness.

A traditionally conservative stage, Texas still holds many exclusive,

“San Antonio is like one of the gayest cities I’ve ever lived in.”

“traditional family values” and still has residents who are resistant and fearful of LGBTQ culture.

Even nationally, the United States only legalized same-sex marriage in 2015. Only now is the general public starting to become aware of the civil injustices that the LGBTQ community has historically endured.

“We’re in the middle of an LGBTQ liberation period and we’ve got so much more work to do but it was just recently that it’s become okay. A lot of people have been fighting for that, a lot of people have been dying for that,” Conde said.

The increasing representation of San Antonio LGBTQ artists is a key factor to spreading awareness of their community’s issues. Through music and art more people face the stigmas associated with LGBTQ people. Music creates an opening that allows anyone who listens to gain insight into the struggles that this group has experienced.

Chris Conde uses hip-hop, although historically described as a homophobic genre, to relate to his own personal problems with alcoholism, drug abuse and sexuality. Hip-hop comes from a place of struggle and resistance and was conceived as a way to communicate problems within black communities such as social injustices and police brutality.

“There’s this come-up of LGBTQ artists who were birthed in the same sphere of aggressive hip-hop and area able to communicate their own lives from that same sort of aggression,” said Conde. This kind of music gives unique experience to people and givesexposure to the issues of the community.

The music industry is changing to accept LGBTQ artists because of advocates like Chris Conde, who have fought hard for normality.

His radio show, Queer Vibes, gives LGBTQ artists a city-wide voice.

His showcase, Queers and Beers, gives new artists an opportunity to come out and show their talents.

The San Antonio music and LGBTQ communities are growing and influencing each other. As LGBTQ culture becomes more accepted in San Antonio, then LGBTQ music will stop being LGBTQ music and simply considered music.

Coming out & coming in

Photo Courtesy Chris Conde

chris conde talks hip-hop, sa’S lgbtq music scene & having a gay time. by casey luna

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All photos courtesy of artists mentioned Valery Assad My name is Valery Assad and I was born in 1995 in Mexico. I have always liked to create art and have drawn several realism pieces over the past few years experimenting with different mediums and techniques.

My favorite artists are postimpressionist Vincent Van Gogh and surrealist Mark Ryden. Some of my artwork has been inspired by these two artists.

After moving to San Antonio at 12 years old, I took art lessons in middle school. I continued my art education in high school and focused mostly on creating drawings. I have won several awards, one of which was the Scholastic Silver Key Award in 2011 for La Nuit de la Danseuse.

I like to use the creative skills I have acquired over the years towards my career in marketing.

Ethan Pham Making a silly music video M Ma w wi ith a friend in high school is with what began my journey towards artistic expression. I always felt like I overflowed with my own creative ideas, but never could express myself until I picked up the camera. I have never actually worked on any art projects, but I have laid out the plans for a few projects I want to start soon.

Currently, I use my photography to spread optimistic messages of moments I capture of my solo adventures or my adventures with my friends. I hope to start using photography and video to externalize my internal mental issues that I have suffered from.

Most of my inspiration comes from music from my favorite artists such as Veela, Banks and Ruelle. @ethan_bethan

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Ivan Cisneros My name is Ivan Cisneros and I am a Sophomore Civil Engineering student. I came to UTSA from Brownsville, Texas and I am glad to be here. I have found my home here with the UTSA Triathlon Team, they’re like my second family!

My art style is piecemealed from different mediums that I synthesize into a new piece, most of these take a long time to finish. I prefer using felt-tip pens, markers, and colored pencils. I hope to have more time to work on my hobby in the near future. @barohmi

Manuel Zamora Hello, My name is Manuel Zamora and I was born Del Rio and raised in San Antonio. My specialization is painting, choice of medium is oil and acrylic, I also mess with charcoal from when I have the chance. Some of my influences are Salvador Dali, Ron English, Chet Zar, Todd Schorr and Robert Williams. The type of style that I try to aim for is pop surrealism or lowbrow art, I try to give my paintings a narrative or try to educate the viewer on the metaphysical within my art. As a MexicanAmerican I highly appreciate all cultural art but I try and challenge myself by aiming towards a different trajectory that separates separaat sep at ates me from what I feel has b been eeen challenged time and timee again. agaain n

a look at some local utsa artists, their inspirations & creations.

WITH ANTEMIA KAVILLARI B: You gravitate toward darker imagery in your artwork. Could you expound on its role in your content?

K: When you look at my content a lot of my audiences have told me it has a lot of Nick Blinko and Gustav Doré influences. These are just a couple of artists who influence me on different levels. I strive to really put my reality into that filter, per se. I had just started a stippling just a year ago; I got a knack for it and had to build a lot of patience to approach that method, but it has worked out pretty well for me.

B: How does your work reflect your transition and experiences as a trans woman?

K: For me, the art was more of a manifestation of a lot of absence growing up here in San Antonio. I had to face a lot of self-hatred, and that self-hatred was toward my body and who I am. I think removing myself from a lot of people I was close to and constantly changing my apartment was my way of communicating what I was trying to do with myself to others.

From a year ago when I transitioned on October 12th — I remember the exact date — and I was afraid of drawing my own body. I recently did a piece where I was drawing my own body, but instead drawing depictions of cis-gendered women — I wasn’t prepared to really put myself out there in that light — and I used a lot of esoteric symbolism to really put myself out there on that level.

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B: How do you cope with transmisogyny/fetishism/sexism in extreme metal?

K: It’s more my dedication to the genre. Like many audiences in that genre can relate blindly submitting to their idols and the sonic power that metal has, where we don’t even see the ideologies connected to it. That was me falling under the whims of that genre.

I had to make my own meaning with it.

That’s my truth and my distance which have had to endure a lot of suppressive things throughout my life. I cope with it by depicting my own truth and living that burden that’s placed on me. I wouldn’t say my artwork is vengeful, but there’s going to come a point in time in which people are going to have to look at it and understand it. You’ll have no way to not view it politically.

B: How has the San Antonio arts community responded to your emergence as one of the few trans artists in the community?

K: “I find the people in the community I’m connected to are the most important. From doing artwork for Haunter, to connecting to other trans folks in San Antonio who tell me that I’m an inspiration — this transition has been a really positive experience.

I don’t think my presence has been as visible as I want it to be; I think there’s still more work to do as a community, but it’s been a positive experience overall.”

Perseverance & truth through art

BY ENRIQUE BONILLA “Trans-demon baby, ”Antemia Kavillari is a visual and musical artist from San Antonio. Kavillari represents a very small number of women performing in the metal and arts community in San Antonio: an integral and vital element of the San Antonio art scene that is experiencing a shift in its perception of the human body and is challenging body normative standards - the aim is to overcome harmful body image expectations for a more inclusive society.

Her artwork is dark and brooding, filled with esoteric symbolism that better represents her identity than traditional depictions of the human body do.

Persevering through norms and ignorance, Kavillari’s art has risen to great heights over the past year. Her work has been showcased at several local art popular San Antonio destinations like La Botanica, Brick at Blue Star and Hi-Tones. Her black metal project “Willow” will be featured on Viceland’s “Gaycation” upcoming season starring Ellen Page and produced by Spike Jonze — a series that explores LGBTQ cultures around the world.

I sat down with Kavillari to discuss her distinct dark stippled style, her experiences as a woman and the San Antonio art community.

Antemia is a forward-thinking artist who has recently been gaining visibility. And similarly, is part of a group of people who are just now gaining representation despite having been present all along.

How much and what kind of art goes unappreciated in our city? San Antonio is thriving with art, music and culture, but there seems to be a lack of substantial audiences for the creative minds churning out the work. Renovations to the Deco District and Blue Star Contemporary Art Musuem may change this in the seasons to come. Be sure to check out Antemia’s performance as “Willow” on Viceland’s upcoming season of “Gaycation.”

Photo Courtesy Antemia Kavillari

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COMMENTARY

Sann AAntonio's Changing Music Scene enee

by Zena gittens Have you noticed the amount of musical artists that have added San Antonio as a stop on their United States tours? Or noticed the increase in concerts you can now attend in your own city?

If you haven’t, you’ve clearly been living under a rock because San Antonio’s music scene has been growing faster than the speed of sound.

Local music goers predict that San Antonio will be the next Austin or San Francisco within the next five years. How incredible.

If you don’t believe this to be true, there are plenty of events to prove the possibility of San Antonio becoming the next big city in music.

Let’s start with the Aztec Theatre. The Aztec Theatre has been apart of San Antonio’s history for almost a

century.

At 91 years old this year, the Aztec has hosted a variety of events, but it has never been a successful music venue. August of last year, Live Nation- the biggest ticketing company in the United States- bought the Aztec Theatre. Live Nation also owns all 13 House of Blues around the country, so it’s safe to say that San Antonio now has its own form of the famous venue. Within this year, the Aztec has hosted artists who had never been to San Antonio before (School Boy Q, M83, and Ms. Lauryn Hill).

San Antonio has also seen an increase in music festivals. Before, San Antonians were kind of stuck.

If we wanted to go to a festival, we would have to go to Austin for Austin City Limits and SXSW, Houston for Free Press Summer Fest, or Dallas for Edgefest. Within the past two years, San Antonians have gained a couple of festivals to choose from.

Maverick Music Festival debuted last

March in San Antonio.

While mostly a cultural and arts festival, with local food and drinks, Maverick had some worthy names like The Flaming Lips.

This year, San Antonio added another festival, Mala Luna. Mala Luna targeted college aged people with artists such as Travis Scott (who went to UTSA), G-Eazy and Steve Aoki.

Two new festivals with two very different target audiences in less than a year is almost unheard of, but it happened in our city.

It’s great that San Antonio is getting this heightened exposure, but it’s our job to go out, buy tickets, support the music economy and go to local music shows. If venues don’t sell tickets and if people don’t support artists (local or touring), then no money is generated and artists stop playing San Antonio. We’ve come so far, so go out and find local artists you like, check out the venues and see who is coming to town. Figure out some way (big or small) you can be apart of this growing music market here in San Antonio.

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