San Antonio Current — November 18, 2020

NOV. 18 - DEC. 1, 2020

YOUR PURO SAN ANTO HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Espresso Martini 2 oz Tito’s Handmade Vodka 1 oz coffee liqueur 1 oz espresso ½ oz simple syrup ½ oz creamer, optional 3 espresso beans, garnish

Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.

Shake and strain into a glass.

Garnish with espresso beans.

sacurrent.com | November 18 – December 1, 2020 | CURRENT 3

BUY SELL TRADE

CDS DVDS BLU-RAYS 4K VIDEO GAMES HARDWARE ACCESSORIES VINYL RECORDS CDS DVDS BLURAYS 4K VIDEO GAMES HARDWARE ACCESSORIES VINYL RECORDS CDS DVDS BLU-RAYS 4K VIDEO GAMES HARDWARE ACCESSORIES VINYL RECORDS CDS DVDS BLU-RAYS 4K VIDEO GAMES HARDWARE ACCESSORIES VINYL RECORDS CDS DVDS BLU-RAYS 4K VIDEO GAMES HARDWARE ACCESSORIES VINYL RECORDS CDS DVDS BLU-RAYS 4K VIDEO GAMES HARDWARE ACCESSORIES VINYL RECORDS CDS DVDS BLU-RAYS 4K VIDEO GAMES HARDWARE ACCESSORIES VINYL RECORDS CDS DVDS BLU-RAYS 4K VIDEO GAMES HARDWARE ACCESSORIES VINYL RECORDS CDS DVDS BLURAYS 4K VIDEO GAMES HARDWARE ACCESSORIES VINYL RECORDS CDS DVDS BLU-RAYS 4K VIDEO GAMES HARDWARE ACCESSORIES VINYL RECORDS CDS DVDS BLU-RAYS 4K VIDEO GAMES HARDWARE ACCESSORIES VINYL RECORDS CDS DVDS BLU-RAYS 4K VIDEO GAMES HARDWARE ACCESSORIES VINYL RECORDS CDS DVDS BLU-RAYS 4K VIDEO GAMES HARDWARE ACCESSORIES VINYL RECORDS CDS DVDS BLU-RAYS 4K VIDEO GAMES HARDWARE ACCESSORIES VINYL RECORDS CDS DVDS BLURAYS 4K VIDEO GAMES HARDWARE ACCESSORIES VINYL RECORDS CDS DVDS BLU-RAYS 4K VIDEO GAMES HARDWARE ACCESSORIES VINYL RECORDS CDS DVDS BLU-RAYS 4K VIDEO GAMES HARDWARE ACCESSORIES VINYL RECORDS CDS DVDS BLU-RAYS 4K VIDEO GAMES HARDWARE ACCESSORIES VINYL RECORDS CDS DVDS BLU-RAYS 4K VIDEO GAMES HARDWARE ACCESSORIES VINYL RECORDS CDS DVDS BLU-RAYS 4K VIDEO GAMES HARDWARE ACCESSORIES VINYL RECORDS CDS DVDS BLURAYS 4K VIDEO GAMES HARDWARE ACCESSORIES VINYL RECORDS CDS DVDS BLU-RAYS 4K VIDEO GAMES HARDWARE ACCESSORIES VINYL RECORDS CDS DVDS BLU-RAYS 4K VIDEO GAMES HARDWARE ACCESSORIES ACCESSORIES V I D E O G A MVINYL E S | H RECORDS A R D W A R E CDS | A C CDVDS E S S O RBLU-RAYS I E S | V I N Y4K L R VIDEO E C O R D SGAMES | C D S HARDWARE | DVDS 6 S A N A N T O N I O L O C A T I O N S | C D E X C H A N G E S A .

C O M VINYL RECORDS CDS DVDS BLU-RAYS 4K VIDEO GAMES HARDWARE ACCESSORIES VINYL RECORDS CDS DVDS BLU-RAYS 4K VIDEO GAMES HARDWARE ACCESSORIES VINYL RECORDS CDS DVDS BLU-RAYS 4K

SHE’S GOING TO WORK. VIA HAS A PLAN TO GET HER THERE.

In San Antonio, people need to go to work, shop, care for family and stay connected. That’s where VIA can help. We have a plan to improve the transit system by decreasing wait times, shortening travel times and adding innovative services like ride share. All to help reach the goal of moving people quickly, reliably and easily. See how the plan works at KeepSAmoving.com.

4

CURRENT | November 18 – December 1, 2020 | sacurrent.com

in this issue San Antonio Current

Issue 20-24 /// November 18 - December 1, 2020

31 Music

Publisher: Michael Wagner Editor-in-Chief: Sanford Nowlin

Music Picks

Editorial

Digital Content Editor: Kelly Merka Nelson Contributing Arts Editor: Bryan Rindfuss Food and Nightlife Writer: Nina Rangel Contributors: Ron Bechtol, Chris Conde, Daniel Conrad, Jade Esteban Estrada, Dan R. Goddard, Lance Higdon, Steven G. Kellman, Hannah Lorence, Kiko Martinez, M. Solis, Gary Sweeney, Leah Thompson, Abe Asher Editorial Interns: Emily DiTomasso, Brianna Espinoza Trevor Flynn, Katie Hennessey, Dana Nichols, Deanna Wilson

Advertising

Advertising Director: Michael Wagner

Marketing and Events

Marketing and Events Director: Cassandra Yardeni Events Manager: Chelsea Bourque Sales & Event Coordinator: Sky Hawkes Marketing Interns: Julia Bentley

Creative Services

Graphic Designer: Samantha Serna Production Interns: Pedro Macias

Circulation

Circulation Manager: Justin Giles

Euclid Media Group

Chief Executive Officer: Andrew Zelman Chief Operating Officers: Chris Keating, Michael Wagner VP of Digital Services: Stacy Volhein Digital Operations Coordinator: Jaime Monzon Senior Marketing and Events Director: Cassandra Yardeni www.euclidmediagroup.com National Advertising: Voice Media Group (888) 278-9866, vmgadvertising.com San Antonio Current 915 Dallas San Antonio, Texas 78215 sacurrent.com Editorial: (210) 227-0044 / Fax - (210) 227-7755 Display Advertising: (210) 227-0044 Fax: (210) 227-7733 Classified: (210) 227-CLAS / Fax - (210) 227-7733 The San Antonio Current is published by Euclid Media Group

Courtesy of Barbaco Apparel

18 Feature

Shop Local

10 ways to support local creatives and small businesses this holiday season

07 News

The Opener News in Brief

Verified Audit Member San Antonio Distribution – The Current is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader.

Get listed 1. Visit sacurrent.com 2. Click “Calendar” and then “Submit an Event” 3. Follow the steps to submit your event details Please allow 48 hours for review and approval.

Event submissions are not accepted by phone.

Copyright: The entire contents of the San Antonio Current are copyright 2019 by Euclid Media Group LLC. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Publisher does not assume any liability for unsolicited manuscripts, materials, or other content. Any submission must include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. All editorial, advertising, and business correspondence should be mailed to the address listed above.

Subscriptions: Additional copies or back issues may be purchased at the Current offices for $1. Six-month domestic subscriptions may be purchased for $75; one-year subscriptions for $125.

Glitter Political

Democrat Ina Minjarez prepares for another session playing defense in the Texas House

Gifting Back

Nine San Antonio nonprofits worth supporting this holiday season

Debating Disconnections

A data analysis shows CPS cut off power to a record number of customers under current CEO Paula Gold-Williams

15 Calendar Calendar Picks

18 Arts

Green with Envy

Two ways to wow the plant lovers in your life this holiday season

25 Screens

Movie Marketplace

Online San Antonio merchants offer holiday gifts for the cinephiles in your life

27 Food

Gourmet Gifting

Eight locally produced gifts for San Antonio food lovers

TexGiving: A New Way to Celebrate This year’s holiday makes a great excuse to locally source the ingredients for your feast

On the Cover: Samantha Serna designed this week’s cover, which displays one of San Angel Folk Art proprietor Hank Lee’s one-of-a-kind holiday wreaths.

M

Relax responsibly . Corona ®

® Hard Seltzer Spiked Sparkling Water with Natural Flavors. Imported by Crown Imports, Chicago, IL *Not a low-calorie food. †Under FDA regulations, carbohydrates of 0.5 g per serving or less are declared as zero.

Per 12 fl. oz. serving of average analysis: Calories 90, Carbs 0 grams, Protein 0 grams, Fat 0 grams

6 CURRENT | November 18 – December 1, 2020 | sacurrent.com

H

Water park chain Kalahari Resorts opened a massive new indoor facility in Round Rock last Thursday — just as Texas surpassed one million COVID-19 cases. While the resort’s pandemic protocols include social distancing and sanitation measures, it doesn’t require guests to use masks when eating, drinking or using water features.

H

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick got a quick taker last week when he offered up to $1 million in reward money to people who report cases of voter fraud —this despite a lack of evidence of any widespread malfeasance in the November election. Patrick’s Pennsylvania counterpart, Democrat John Fetterman, tweeted back that he’d found a Keystone State voter who “tried to have his dead mom vote for Trump.”

Fetterman added “p.s. The Cowboys blow.” One look at the Cowboys’ record this year tells you he has a point.

H

With Texas facing a $4.6 billion deficit as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Democrats in the state legislature are pushing bills to legalize, regulate and tax recreational marijuana use. Fifteen states have already legalized recreational cannabis, and cities including San Antonio have scaled back arrests for people busted with the substance. Even so, Republicans — led by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick — are likely to block the measures and cut money from social services instead.

Grad students at St. Mary’s University have launched a new podcast that will prioritize accessibility.

Each episode of The Modcast, which is focused primarily on English literature and language, comes complete with a written transcript that will help hard-of-hearing and deaf listeners follow along. — Abe Asher

YOU SAID IT!

“To not have sat down and come up with a Plan B, I think shows that there’s too much tunnel vision on where this project has been going and is going.”

— San Antonio City Councilman John Courage

on the Alamo redevelopment, which was blocked by the Texas Historical Commission in September.

news

That Rocks/That Sucks

YouTube / The Friendly Athiest

ASSCLOWN ALERT

Pastor Kenneth L. Redmon Assclown alert is a column of opinion, analysis and snark.

Texas has no shortage of fire-and-brimstone preachers, and plenty of them are willing to weave politics into their browbeating benedictions. Midland preacher Kenneth L. Redmon recently did the latter in a post-election sermon of assclownish proportions.

In a message to his flock at Abundant Life Worship Center, Redmon declared that Christians who “voted against the righteousness of God” by casting a ballot against porn star-porking holy warrior Donald Trump are in for a “day

Texas hit 1 million COVID-19 cases last week — more than all but nine countries in the world — and its count is expected to rise precipitously in coming weeks. El Paso, Dallas and Laredo have all become hotspots for the virus, dangerously stretching healthcare systems before the start of the holiday season. Nearly 20,000 Texans have already died from COVID-19 this year.

The San Antonio Express-News is moving out of the building it occupied for 91 years, cutting staff and moving its printing operations to Houston to cut costs as the newspaper industry continues to flounder. The paper, owned by Hearst Corp., is relocating to two leased floors of the Light building, a block away. The move will be complete by mid-March.

Midland preacher Kenneth L. Redmon shakes a finger at Democrats, who will soon perish in a lake of fire.

M

of reckoning.”

“You made a covenant with death,” the good pastor said in a YouTube video first flagged by Hemant Mehta’s Friendly Atheist blog. “You not only said that ‘I do not condemn the babies that have been aborted, I do not condemn the babies that will be aborted.’ You’ve made your covenant with death, and God will not forget that.”

And just to make sure every Biden-voting believer in Internet Land understands they’re in for an eternity of huffing Ol’ Scratch’s brimstone-scented butt tones, Redmon added “I’m not taking this down. You’ll see me on YouTube, you listen to me.”

Fair enough. See you in Hell, assclown.

— Sanford Nowlin

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg last week tested negative for COVID-19 after a brief exposure to a person with the virus. He will remain in self-quarantine for 14 days. Nirenberg isn’t the only local official to experience a recent close call. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff faced potential exposure from a county employee days before Nirenberg. He also tested negative.

Courtesy Photo San Antonio Express-News

Find more news coverage every day at sacurrent.com

Shop Small.

Shop Local.

The perfect holiday gift awaits at Historic Market Square.

With over 100 locally owned shops, you’ll find authentic Mexican curios and artifacts, hand-crafted leather goods, and a diverse collection of cultural apparel.

101 S Santa Rosa Ave

@marketsquaresa 8

CURRENT | November 18 – December 1, 2020 | sacurrent.com

MarketSquareSA.com

news GLITTER POLITICAL

Democrat Ina Minjarez prepares for another session playing defense in the Texas House

BY JADE ESTEBAN ESTRADA

D

emocrat Ina Minjarez believes that if she wasn’t an outspoken female voice in the Texas House of Representatives, she’d have made a great fitness instructor or personal trainer. That could explain her vitality and drive as a member of the state’s legislature’s minority party.

“Yeah, I love to exercise,” says Minjarez, 45, during a video interview days before the November 3 election.

“I will say that the pandemic is giving me a lot of time to do it at home.”

She says working out four to five days a week keeps her head in the game as she readies herself to play defense on the eve of the 87th legislative session.

Bills are already being filed and stacking up in large quantities.

Minjarez’s ascent onto the political stage began more than five years ago when then-State Rep. José Menéndez, D-San Antonio, ran for a newly vacated seat in the Texas Legislature’s upper chamber.

Minjarez won the special election to replace him as House District 124’s new representative. The day after winning her election, she parachuted into the final 30 days of the 84th Legislature, the busiest time of the session.

During her tenure in the Lege, observers have noted the proud El Paso native’s political evolution and rising influence.

“People tend to say that I’m quiet, but I think it’s just because I’m very observant and I listen,” she says.

“Every session, I feel that I learn different lessons about the House.”

Through her observations, Minjarez says she’s been able to reap valuable, job-specific skills.

“There’s a process to things, and you figure out there’s a way to talk to people,” she explains. “There are so many different members with different personalities and we may disagree on issues. [Success] depends on your approach and how you sell your idea. But I do feel that I can be a little more blunt than I did in the past.”

Minjarez ran unopposed this election cycle, which allowed her to focus her energy on advocating for gender diversity on House committees.

She explains that substantive committees are most coveted in the hierarchy of the House’s 28 committees. Traditionally, those assignments go to the body’s most senior members. Among Democrats, there are currently 29 female House members, which she says have often been passed over for key committee appointments.

“You have talented, very intelligent women who

Jade Esteban Estrada

have served their time, that do the work, but for one reason or another have been overlooked for these substantive committees,” she asserts. “I think it’s important that these key committees reflect the way that the Texas population is looking.”

Thanksgiving will look a little different in 2020 due to the pandemic. I ask her what she’s thankful for this year.

“You’re gonna make me cry,” she says softly. “Sorry if I cry. You know, I’m a pet lover. I lost my baby, my 14-year-old golden retriever last week. This dog has been with me through the most impactful moments of my life. She was my ride-or-die girl. Her name was Pinot. Like the wine.” She laughs through her tears.

She adds that being home amid the health crisis has brought her and her husband closer, and she’s even taught her mother in El Paso how to Facetime.

“You know, as much as the pandemic has been horrible, I’m thankful that I got a lesson in appreciating and valuing my family time,” she says.

COVID-19 has also changed the atmosphere and culture in the Pink Dome, changing the way lawmakers interact with their constituents. Minjarez, who’s on the redistricting committee, was traveling the state for public hearings when the pandemic hit.

“I feel like life stopped,” she says, adding that the rules that govern committee protocol never provided for virtual meetings.

“I’m very concerned. I’m going back to the Capitol in January and the sentiment with the legislators is, at one point or another, we’re all probably going to get exposed during session,” she says. “I think a lot of the legislators feel that, and I’m starting to just maybe

come to terms with it that it could be a possibility.

[But] I will take all the precautions.”

I ask if she’ll be surprised if she wakes up one morning with COVID-19 symptoms.

She says she won’t. “I will be wearing my mask. I will be washing my hands, I will socially distance, but it’s going to be everywhere.”

After the election, I followed up with Minjarez, this time by phone. Democrats didn’t get the House flip they were hoping for, and she didn’t mind offering a post-mortem critique.

“I think one of the biggest mistakes [the Democratic Party] made was not pounding the pavement and knocking on doors because of their concern for COVID,” she says, pointing out that Republicans largely campaigned as usual. “I think there was a way to do that with CDC guidelines, right? I think they missed the mark on that, and it shows.”

Texas voters expect candidates to knock on their doors and ask for their votes, she adds.

“Of course, I had some optimism that the Texas House would turn blue, but it didn’t happen,” she continues. “I have just grown accustomed to always playing defense as a Democrat at the state legislature.

It just sunk in that being defensive and fighting bad bills will continue. So, I really have to work harder in order to get my bills passed, because I’m in the minority party.”

Despite the deep divisions between the two parties, she maintains that it’s important to build bridges with her Republican colleagues.

“It’s the only way to be effective and get things done,” she says. sacurrent.com | November 18 – December 1, 2020 | CURRENT

9

Approximately 70% of total hospitalized cases of COVID-19 are likely to have some type of underlying condition (the other 30% either do not have an underlying condition or their status is unknown).

CHANGE TODAY FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE. Make Changes • Reduce Risk • Take Control

DID YOU KNOW?

Over 34 million Americans have diabetes – but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Over 88 million adults in the United States have prediabetes.

The City of San Antonio Metropolitan Health Department has assembled the Diabetes Prevention & Control Program to fight diabetes. Whether you are at risk for type 2 diabetes or if you have already been diagnosed, we have a program at NO COST to you!

We can help you: · Make lifestyle changes to help prevent or delay the disease · Work with family members to reduce your entire family’s risk · Manage the disease if you have already received a diagnosis. We’ll teach you how you can take control of your health and safely manage the symptoms of diabetes.

Call 210-207-8807 or visit diabeteshelpsa.com for more information.

10

CURRENT | November 18 – December 1, 2020 | sacurrent.com

news

Facebook / San Antonio Food Bank

Gifting Back

Nine San Antonio nonprofits worth supporting this holiday season

BY EMILY DITOMASSO

T

he COVID-19 pandemic has created all kinds of turmoil in our community this year. Beyond the mental health repercussions and loss of life, there are the lost jobs, lost homes and lost livelihoods.

And that makes giving back even more important this holiday season.

If you’re in a position to make charitable donations as we close out the year, these nine San Antonio-based nonprofits could use your help as they work to address the many needs faced by our community.

1. San Antonio Food Bank

The SA Food Bank fights hunger in Southwest Texas, not only through food distribution but also education and advocacy. Each week the organization serves 58,000 individuals and distributes food to 530 other nonprofits across 16 counties. Beyond donations of money and food, they’re always on the lookout for volunteers. safoodbank.org

2. San Antonio Humane Society

SAHA works toward the vision of ending pet overpopulation in Bexar County by finding permanent homes for dogs and cats. It’s a mission the group has been serving since with compassion and respect since 1952.

Beyond operating its shelter, SAHA provides sprayand-neuter programs and community education. If you’re looking to give a forever home to a new furry

friend or donate to pets in need, SAHA is a good place to start. sahumane.org

3. Interfaith Welcome Coalition

In the summer of 2014, the Interfaith Welcome Coalition came together in response to the overwhelming number of unaccompanied children coming into the U.S. from Central America. To provide a helping hand to the many immigrants fleeing hostile conditions, the group began working with RAICES, a legal aid group. Together, they offer assistance to numerous refugees, asylum seekers and at-risk immigrants as they try to make a better life. interfaithwelcomecoalition.org

4. Meals on Wheels of San Antonio

one-on-one professional mentoring relationships.

And if you’re unable to donate money, the group is always looking for volunteers. bigmentor.org

6. The Children’s Shelter

For more than a century, the Children’s Shelter has provided a safe haven for kids who have endured abuse, neglect and abandonment in Bexar County.

The trauma-informed organization provides emergency shelter and therapeutic foster care for those in need. Beyond providing a safe environment, the Children’s Shelter teaches nurturing parenting skills to vulnerable families and operates a mental health clinic. childrensshelter.org

7. Keep San Antonio Beautiful

The San Antonio City Council created KSAB in 1980 to help empower citizens to take responsibility for improving their communities’ environment. The organization works toward this goal via partnerships, community cleanups and volunteerism. keepsabeautiful.org

Last year, Meals on Wheels delivered 1,021,757 fresh and nutritious meals for senior citizens with the help of the community. Locally, in conjunction with the Grace Place Alzheimer’s Activity Center, the organization also provides senior friendships, home safety, pet food delivery, dietary consulting and more. mowsatx. org

8. SAMMinistries

5. Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas

9. San Antonio AIDS Foundation

Many of us were fortunate enough to have someone we looked up to who provided guidance while we were growing up. However, many kids in San Antonio lack that kind of valuable input. Big Brothers and Sisters has spent years pairing up youngsters with

SAMM has a staff and thousands of volunteers who help put San Antonians experiencing homelessness on a path to self-sufficiency. Through its Homeless Prevention Services, many in the Alamo City community have benefitted from rental and utility assistance and support when they face eviction. samm.org San Antonio AIDS Foundation has been around since 1986, providing care to low-income people with HIV or AIDS. Its services include HIV and STD onsite mobile testing, HIV prevention education, mental health counseling and much more. sanantonioaids.org sacurrent.com | November 18 – December 1, 2020 | CURRENT

11

NOV. 13 - DEC. 13, 2020 CELEBRATING GOOD BOURBON FOR A GOOD CAUSE ACROSS SAN ANTONIO COCKTAIL BARS sanantoniowhiskeymonth.com BAMBOO | BOTIKA | BROADWAY 50/50 | COVER 3 | DORREGO'S | THE GOOD KIND Participating FRANCIS BOGSIDE | LUCY COOPER'S ICE HOUSE | ON THE BEND OYSTER BAR | OSTRA Bars Include PARAMOUR AT THE PHIPPS | RANGE | REBELLE | TUCKER'S KOZY KORNER | THE WELL 12

CURRENT | November 18 – December 1, 2020 | sacurrent.com

news

Courtesy Photo / CPS Energy

Debating Disconnections

A data analysis shows CPS cut off power to a record number of customers under current CEO Paula Gold-Williams

BY SANFORD NOWLIN

A

lthough CPS Energy suspended disconnections amid the pandemic, the city-owned utility switched off power to a record number of customers during the tenure of current CEO Paula Gold-Williams, a new data analysis shows.

The highest annual number of CPS disconnections of homes and businesses behind on their bills came in 2018, when it switched off power to 99,908 customers, according to data obtained under an open-records request by the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club. The numbers were first reported on the environmental blog Deceleration, operated by Sierra Club organizer Greg Harman.

However, CPS officials said disconnection numbers fluctuate year-to-year based on factors ranging from population growth to weather and don’t reflect a policy change under Gold-Williams. If anything, they add, the utility has worked harder recently to accommodate low-income customers.

The 2018 record was set two years after Gold-Williams took the reins at CPS. In 2016, the year she became CEO, the utility switched off power to 90,837 accounts, setting the previous record. The following year, the number dropped to 75,131.

In contrast, disconnections averaged around 50,000 a year under Milton Lee, who served as CEO from 2002 to 2010, and under Doyle Beneby, who helmed the utility from 2010 to 2015, according to the

data.

However, the number did spike to 72,000 the year Beneby left. And, in 2019, under Gold-Williams, CPS disconnected 53,391 customers — a number more in line with cut-offs under the previous two CEOs. Rudy Garza, CPS’s chief customer engagement officer, said the 2015 rise in disconnections is likely due to the installation of more smart meters in customer homes, which make cut-offs instantaneous. Previously, some customers may have been able to make last-minute payments before a truck was dispatched to manually make a disconnect.

He also said the numbers fluctuate based on weather, since the utility suspends cutoffs during heat waves or cold snaps. What’s more, the higher recent numbers reflect the city’s explosive population growth.

“We haven’t changed any policies,” Garza said. “In other words, we’re not any harder today than we were yesterday with respect to how a customer gets to the point in our collections process where they get cut off.”

However, Shaneal Harun, the Sierra Club intern who analyzed the data, told Deceleration that the numbers reflect San Antonio’s vast income inequality.

“Some of the numbers I saw, such as the number of summer shutoffs across ZIP codes, certainly surprised me in relation to CPS Energy’s claims that they don’t perform shutoffs during extreme weather conditions

such as heat waves,” Harun said. “Other numbers were less surprising, [reflecting] the existing inequities in San Antonio.”

The data analysis comes as community organizations push Mayor Ron Nirenberg and city council to get tougher on the utility over its environmental record and treatment of low-income customers.

Nearly two dozen community organizations — including the Sierra Club — signed a list of policy recommendations submitted last month to the mayor and council. Among their recommendations was a call to stop disconnecting residents who were at or below 200% of the federal poverty line.

“While disconnections are currently paused in response to the economic crisis that has followed the COVID-19 pandemic, other city-owned utilities have begun returning to disconnecting power to the most vulnerable households for non-payment, and it’s just a matter of time before CPS Energy returns to their former behavior,” the letter cautions.

CPS’s Garza said he doesn’t expect any move to end the utility’s pandemic moratorium until the middle of next year.

What’s more, if it permanently halts disconnections for low-income residents, that would require raising rates for other customers to make up for lost revenue.

Neither Nirenberg, council nor CPS has directly responded to the letter calling for an end to disconnects, the Sierra Club’s Harman said. However, he added that he’s been in touch with Nirenberg’s staff and hopes the conversations result in the mayor bringing the issue to CPS’s board of directors.

“COVID-19 has severely disrupted the lives of thousands of San Antonio residents,” Nirenberg said in a statement supplied to the Current. “We will not abandon people who have been unable to pay their utility bills because of the pandemic.” sacurrent.com | November 18 – December 1, 2020 | CURRENT

13

Visit www.SanAntonio.gov/Arts

for the line-up of upcoming Virtual Public Art Conversations

Join The

conversation On New Public Art Projects

The Department of Arts & Culture is hosting a series of Virtual Conversations to share the latest on new public art projects and get feedback. These meetings will be held virtually, to meet COVID-19 social distancing protocols.

Learn How You Can Be Part Of The Discussion

14

CURRENT | November 18 – December 1, 2020 | sacurrent.com

calendar

CELEBRATION

with a recorded version of their performance at the San An-

The Briscoe Art Museum is commemorating Native Amer-

tonio Botanical Garden, which will be available on demand

ican Heritage Month with a virtual version of its annual

via Vimeo on Sunday, November 22. For those who don’t

Yanaguana Indian Arts Celebration. The two-day event will

know, Symphony Viva’s inception blossomed out of a benefit

offer a glimpse into traditional and contemporary Native

concert organized by Joey Garcia, along with local musicians

American culture with musical performances, dancing and

in response to the Pulse Nightclub shooting in 2016. Now in

storytelling from guests including Tim Blueflint Ramel,

its fifth season, this organization continues to take on local

Karla Saenz, George Curtis Levi, Amy Bluemel and more — all

musicians of all levels and provides educational and per-

accessible via the Briscoe’s website. Also on the schedule is

formance opportunities. The concert, led by music director

a virtual tour of the museum’s current exhibition, “Visual

Joseph Kneer, includes pieces like George Frideric Handel’s

Water Music, Richard Strauss’ Serenade in Eb for Winds, and Paul Dukas’ “Fanfare” from La Peri. This ensemble of earthy,

delicate tones, combined with the backdrop of the Botanical Gardens streamed in 4K resolution, is a sure way to end the fall season as the elements in nature change around us.

$15,VOD available midnight Sunday, November 22, vimeo.com/ ondemand/svelements. — Brianna Espinoza

Facebook / IllumiNight San Antonio

THU | 11.19 TUE | 12.01 SPECIAL EVENT

ILLUMINIGHT

Ty Defoe

Voices: Contemporary Chickasaw Art,” led by program manager Laura Clarke, plus a panel discussion about the exhibition featuring members of the Chickasaw Artist Board. Free, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Briscoe Western Art Museum, (210) 299-4499, briscoemuseum. org. — Emily DiTomasso

Who said you can’t frolic through the Christmas lights in a safe, socially distanced way? illumiNight: A Magical Drive-Thru Experience, is just that – an opportunity to witness the twinkling magic of the holidays and support a good cause all from the comfort of your car. Held on the AT&T Center Grounds, the one-mile drive-through experi-

SUN | 11.22 CLASSICAL MUSIC

SYMPHONY VIVA: ELEMENTS

ence will include over four million holiday lights and some 3D displays for curious eyes to feast upon. Adding to the holiday cheer, festive holiday music is set to fill the ears of participants, classic holiday concessions like hot chocolate

FRI | 11.27 SAT | 11.28

will be for purchase and trivia games will be available to keep the event interactive, yet safe. In addition to admission — which scheduled in hourly time slots —attendees can buy a Santa Express Pass, which includes a skip the line pass and a chance to take a physically distanced photo with the

New Line Cinema

FILM

big guy himself. The added bonus to this event is that 50% nonprofit partner of Spurs Sports & Entertainment. Just

MOVIES BY MOONLIGHT IN THE GARDEN: THE POLAR EXPRESS AND ELF

don’t forget to bring a mask and childhood wonder for the

Grab your favorite blanket and a cup of cocoa and kick off

holidays. $35.50-$63, 6-11 p.m. daily through January 3, 2021,

the holiday season with a double feature in the San Antonio

AT&T Center, 1 AT&T Center Parkway, (210) 444-5000, attcen-

Botanical Garden. First on the docket is a whimsical train

ter.com. — Brianna Espinoza

ride to the North Pole in The Polar Express, followed by Bud-

of the proceeds will go Spurs Give, the community-focused

dy the Elf ’s adventures in New York City in the beloved com-

SAT | 11.21 SUN | 11.22 SPECIAL EVENT

YANAGUANA INDIAN ARTS

edy Elf. To make the experience more immersive, Movies by Moonlight will feature s’mores, hot cocoa, movie-inspired drinks and food to purchase. Lawn chairs are welcome and guests are asked to follow the garden’s COVID-19 guidelines.

Courtesy of Symphony Viva

$8-$15, 5:30-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, San Antonio Botanical

If you weren’t able to make it out to Symphony Viva’s

Garden, 555 Funston Place, (210) 536-1400, sabot.org. — Emily

outdoor concert earlier this month, they’ve got you covered

DiTomasso

Reminder:

Although live events have returned, the COVID-19 pandemic is still with us. Check with venues to make sure scheduled events are still happening, and please follow all health and safety guidelines.

16 CURRENT | November 18 – December 1, 2020 | sacurrent.com

SAN ANTONIO’S UPSCALE OUTDOOR SHOPPING AND DINING DESTINATION

260 E. BASSE RD • SAN ANTONIO, TX 78209 • QUARRYVILLAGESA.COM sacurrent.com | November 18 – December 1, 2020 | CURRENT

17

Shop Local

10 ways to support local creatives and small businesses this holiday season

BY BRYAN RINDFUSS

A

s tempting as it may be to fill your virtual cart with shiny new items or succumb to the loathsome peer pressure of Black Friday, we’d like to remind you that San Antonio is a fully functional stomping ground for holiday shopping. In an effort to support local creatives and small businesses alike, we combed the city for unique gift ideas and came up with a tight list of 10 we’d be more than happy to unwrap.

1. COMAL YE FAITHFUL HOLIDAY SWEATER FROM BARBACOAPPAREL

Hyperlocal humor, TexMex culture and taco worship are a few of the secret ingredients that flavor BarbacoApparel, a niche operation that couldn’t have been born anywhere but San Antonio.

Courtesy Photo / Barbaco Apparel Established in 2014 and run collaboratively by a team of four friends — designer Nydia Huizar along with co-conspirators Matt Contreras, Richard Diaz and Catherine Contreras-Sanchez — the company routinely strikes chords with Alamo City residents and “Texpats” alike with T-shirts, totes, prints, stickers and pins that wryly celebrate things many of us grew up on: breakfast tacos, fideo, conchas, Solo Serve, Handy Andy and the Donkey Lady among them. This year, the company expanded its scope with the launch of Tortilla Press Screen Printing — a development that’s allowed for experimentation with new designs and product types. In addition to unsurprisingly popular face coverings printed with tacos or apt messages like “Cuídate” and “Miss y’all,” the quirky quartet recently unveiled its first holiday sweater. “We’ve been wanting to feature a comal in our lineup for a few years now,” Huizar told us. “Matt thought doing a play on ‘O Come, All Ye Faithful’ would make for a funny holiday design.”

The resulting “Comal Ye Faithful” design is thoughtfully inclusive of both tortilla camps: “I wanted to make sure both corn and flour were represented and used them in the pattern,” Huizar said. $30, barbacoapparel.com.

a curated assortment of paintings, jewelry, ceramics, pillows, scarves, cards and more, all created by local and regional artists. On a recent visit, more than a few giftable treasures caught our eye, including chunky ceramic candelabras

by Diana Kersey and statement jewelry by Lorena Angulo (both of whom have earned Editor’s Picks in our annual Best of San Antonio issue) and fuzzy squid dolls crafted from upcycled sweaters by Amy Jones.

Bryan Rindfuss However, nothing tempted us more than the Get Bent Metal Works robots built from salvaged steel scraps and found objects by Hondo-based artist Shawn Corder. Ranging considerably in price and size — from $20 for a tabletop model to $500 for a four-foot-tall automaton — they seem ideal for sci-fi fans and artsy nerds both small and large. $20-$500, Mockingbird Handprints, 1420 S. Alamo St., #C112A, (210) 262-6698, mockingbirdhandprints.com.

3. HECHO EN TEJAS GEAR FROM CHOICE GOODS GALLERY

Since relocating to San Antonio back in 1992, California native Robert Tatum has left marks all over the city in the form of murals stretching from Ace Mart Restaurant Supply in Southtown to Mellow Mushroom pizzeria in Stone Oak. Populated by graphic patterns, references to sci-fi and pop culture, and anthropomorphic critters — from gun-toting birds to beer-drinking armadillos — his work packs in humorous juxtapositions and cross-cultural mashups.

Street-smart and playful in equal measures, Tatum’s aesthetic is on full display at Choice Goods Gallery, an exhibition space-retail hybrid in the Blue Star Arts Complex. A recent complement to his signature TX Grown Brand, Tatum’s new Hecho en Tejas line of T-shirts, trucker hats, stickers, patches and pins stars

18

CURRENT | November 18 – December 1, 2020 | sacurrent.com

4. HOLIDAY ORNAMENTS FROM FELIZ MODERN

As its name suggests, San Antonio success story Feliz Modern is a contemporary gift shop that aims to

Bryan Rindfuss

conjure happiness — and succeeds with flying colors.

Appointed with poppy home accents, T-shirts, prints, puzzles, jewelry, pet toys, puzzles and cards you’re unlikely to find anywhere else in town, the Olmos Park boutique and its younger sister in the Pearl are trusted sources for giftables year-round. A photographer-turned retailer with a keen eye for design and decor, co-owner Ginger Diaz turns up the volume for seasonal occasions, and Christmas is no exception.

Sourced from near and far, Feliz Modern’s assortment of holiday ornaments seems capable of warming even the Grinchiest of hearts. Among the tree-ready baubles currently up for grabs are vintage-inspired luchadores, drag queens, tacos, avocados, whiskey bottles, PBR beer cans, Staffordshire dogs, royal felines and plenty in between. If you can only pick two, our votes go out to the “Tacos Before Vatos” dangle from beloved San Antonio brand Very That ($8) and the hand-painted glass bust of late Supreme Court Justice and notorious “good trouble” maker Ruth Bader Ginsburg ($16). $8-$25, Feliz Modern, 110 W. Olmos Drive, (210) 622-8364, felizmodern.com.

5. HOUSEPLANTS FROM CHICA VERDE

2. GET BENT METAL WORKS ROBOTS FROM MOCKINGBIRD HANDPRINTS

If your holiday shopping plans include supporting local makers and small businesses (and we hope they do), Mockingbird Handprints should surely be on your list of spots to visit — either online or in person with safety protocols in place. Owned and operated by local textile artist Jane Bishop and located in the Blue Star Arts Complex, the shop is brimming with

Señor Horsepower — a cigar-smoking woodpecker that riffs on both the iconic Hecho en Mexico logo and a 1930s-era car-culture mascot named Mr. Horsepower. “I’m a parody artist … [and] a Califas/Tex-Mex artist,” Tatum explained. “That’s what I do, because that’s who I am.” While the whole Hecho en Tejas line is giftworthy, there’s something extra-special about the leather wallet crafted by San Antonio-based Gonzalez Handmade with sporty red topstitching and even a chain loop. $5-$50, 1420 S. Alamo St., #103, choicegoodsbrand.com.

Bryan Rindfuss

Evidenced by the cringe-worthy term “plantfluencer” (Instagram influencers who traffic in #plantporn), many millennials have learned what their parents and grandparents already knew: adding greenery to your living spaces can bring you joy and maybe even give you purpose. One year before Nylon published an oft-cited article on this topic (title: “Why Are Millennials Obsessed with Houseplants?”), Valerie Reynolds opened the doors to her quaint Chica Verde in Dignowity Hill. After building up a dedicated following with her verdant and eclectic mix of succulents, tillandsias (air plants), ceramic planters, garden de-

6. PANDEMIC PRINT PORTFOLIO PROJECT FROM SOUTHWEST SCHOOL OF ART

Once we can finally look back at the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ll hopefully be able to sift through all the muck and misery to

Courtesy Image / Gary Sweeney

recognize some of the remarkable artwork created in 2020. An unexpected side effect of quarantine, sheltering in place gave artists of all disciplines the time and freedom to rekindle shelved projects, experiment with new concepts and respond creatively to the unraveling world around us. The Southwest School of Art’s Pandemic Print Portfolio Project falls somewhere in this odd equation as it collects new prints by six esteemed San Antonio artists: Margaret Craig, Juan de Dios Mora, Leigh Anne Lester, Chris Sauter, Kathy Sosa and Gary Sweeney. But don’t expect conceptual interpretations of spiky COVID molecules: preliminary artist sketches reveal subject matter as varied as felines (Craig), layered botanicals (Lester) and mechanized beasts (Mora). Packaged in a nifty folio created by Keri Miki-Lani Schroeder of San Antonio-based Coyote Bones Press, the collection is limited to a run of 50, only 38 of which are available to the public. $1,500, Southwest School of Art, 300 Augusta St., (210) 200-8200, ssaprintproject.com.

7. PATCHES FROM LUNCHROOM ANXIETY Launched in 2016 by San Antonio native Brontë Treat, the one-woman operation Lunchroom Anxiety aims to rekindle some of the Western glamour of celebrity tailor Nudie Cohn and his cultish “Nudie Suits”

— over-the-top getups covered in rhinestones and chain-stitch embroidery. Working authentically on a 1927 Singer chain-stitch machine, Treat creates covetable patches that put a contemporary spin on the Cosmic Cowboy aesthetic (think stars, planets, mushrooms and yellow roses). Unsurprisingly, Treat’s patches been spotted on musicians and bands ranging from San Antonio honky-tonker Garrett T. Capps to Austin rock-

arts

cor and unique gifts, Reynolds moved Chica Verde to Monte Vista at the onset of the COVID-19. Reopened in June with strict limitations on capacity, her thoughtfully arranged shop feels like a breath of fresh air — even through one of the colorful face coverings she sells. Beyond the expected — Bryan Rindfuss small succulents sprouting from ceramic pots and salsa tins — Chica Verde’s got holiday shoppers covered with smartly priced wind chimes, candles and incense kits sure to smudge out the lingering scents of quarantine. $8-$48, Chica Verde, 2314 San Pedro Ave., chicaverde.net.

Norma Elia Cantú, and original artwork by Kathy and Lionel Sosa. $15.99-$19.95, tupress. org.

9. WREATHS FROM SAN ANGEL FOLK ART

ers Band of Heathens. While Treat’s labor-intensive patches (each one takes between four and five hours) make for truly original gifts, she also does custom embroidery and recently collaborated with Mario Guajardo (of local apparel company Richter Co.) and Pearl Beer on a collection of bags and heritage-inspired workwear. $38-$105, Broadway News, 2202 Broadway, lunchroomanxiety.com.

If you’ve ever visited San Angel Folk Art around the holidays, you’ve likely encountered one of proprietor Hank Lee’s flamboyant wreaths. Exuberant reflections of the pioneering Blue Star gallery’s eclectic sensibilities, these one-of-a-kind creations combine whatever Lee might have on hand — which is generally a lot. Built atop sturdy grapevine bases, they come to life with vintage Mexican dolls, glittery garlands, figurines, flowers, bells, tchotchkes, baubles and assorted oddities Lee collects on his world travels. Although they may not be in everyone’s price range, these whimsical concoctions are time-consuming (Lee estimates he’ll be able to crank out about 10 more between now and Christmas) and are frequently peppered with bonafide collectibles. $250-$350, San Angel Folk Art Gallery, 110 Blue Star, (210) 226-6688, sanangelfolkart.com.

8. REVOLUTIONARY WOMEN OF TEXAS AND MEXICO FROM TRINITY UNIVERSITY PRESS

10. ZENÚ EARRINGS FROM SAN ANTONIO MUSEUM OF ART

Bryan Rindfuss

Rightfully generating buzz in advance of its publication date, Trinity University Press’ forthcoming book Revolutionary Women

Trinity University Press

of Texas and Mexico: Portraits of Soldaderas, Saints, and Subversives assembles a dream team to profile 18 women who “revolutionized their worlds.” Edited by Kathy Sosa, Ellen Riojas Clark and Jennifer Speed, the collection is built around the oft-overlooked women heroes of the Mexican Revolution but also celebrates the Virgen de Guadalupe, nun and writer Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, labor leader Emma Tenayuca, iconic painter Frida Kahlo and 14 others through the eyes of authors including Sandra Cisneros, Carmen Tafolla, Elaine Ayala, Laura Esquivel and Amalia Mesa-Bains. Set for release on December 9, the book also includes a foreword by renowned Civil Rights activist Dolores Huerta, an afterword by beloved local scholar and professor

Bryan Rindfuss

Thanks to a compelling collaboration between the San Antonio Museum of Art and the local reproduction company BoneNE, jewelry enthusiasts can adorn themselves in the style of the Zenú, an ancient civilization known for symbolic statues, intricate textiles and exquisite gold ornaments. Working with a pair of 9th-century filigree earrings held in SAMA’s Art of the Americas Before 1521 gallery, BoneNE employed 3D printing technology and lost-wax casting to duplicate the pre-Columbian treasures in sterling silver ($225) and brass ($75). $75-$225, San Antonio Museum of Art, 200 W. Jones Ave., (210) 9788140, samuseum.org.

Courtesy Photo / Kat Carey

Find more arts coverage every day at sacurrent.com

NOV 12 -2 5 – SAVE IN-STORE & ONLINE –

SALE

ON SELECT * BOTTLES NOV 16 - DE C 2 4

in-store ; online

20% off 6 OR MORE BOTTLES

*

We encourage you to order online or download our mobile app for quick and easy delivery or in-store pick up.

twinliquors.com *Cordials & Liqueurs Sale runs 11/12/20-11/25/20. Valid on select bottles of cordials & liqueurs. Holiday Wine Sale runs 11/16/20-12/24/20. Discount applies to wines 750ml or larger, includes Sparkling Wine.

No further discount on Sale items, Final Few or Closeouts. Some exclusions apply. Please drink responsibly.

20

CURRENT | November 18 – December 1, 2020 | sacurrent.com

Discover San Antonio’s Favorite Open-air shopping + lifestyle destination visit theshopsatlh.com

sacurrent.com | November 18 – December 1, 2020 | CURRENT

21

VETERAN & OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST OWNED • EST. 2017

Follow Us!

@southpaw_waggery |

@SouthPawWaggery

CBD COACHES ON S TA F F !

WE CARRY FLOWER, PET CBD, EDIBLES, TINCTURES, CAPSULES AND

BY

MUCH MORE!

Here at the Waggery it's about QUALITY over quantity - we don't care about having the most options, but the RIGHT ones.

11627 BANDERA RD. SA, TX 78250 | 210.366.4380 CBDRELIEF.CARE •

CBDRELIEFCARE •

CBDRELIEF.CARE

MENTION THIS AD FOR A $31 GIFT WITH PURCHASE!

@banderamarket

Join the

BANDERA

#WagPack !

MARKET Est. 2018

women & Veteran owned

Every Weekend | SAT 10A-4P + SUN 11A-4P, & Our Special Night markets 11625 Bandera Rd, SA, TX 78250 • BanderaMarket.com

NOW Accepting Vendors, Visit: BanderaMarket.com/become-a-vendor

22

CURRENT | November 18 – December 1, 2020 | sacurrent.com

Located in Downtown San Antonio at The Cadillac Lofts

317 Lexington Ave. Ste 4, San Antonio, Tx 78215 | woof@southpawwaggery.com | 210.444.9140 | Open Wed-Sun 12-5pm

Kara Johnson

Green with Envy

Two ways to wow the plant lovers in your life this holiday season

BY KELLY MERKA NELSON

P

lants have been having a moment.

Photos of lush greenery abound on Instagram, with viral “it” plants flooding the platform, from the coin-shaped leaves of pilea peperomioides to the wildly popular — and often wildly expensive — pink princess philodendron.

Not to mention the fact that gardening, both indoor and outdoor, became a popular outlet for people looking for new hobbies to pass the time during pandemic-induced lockdowns this year.

While you can find greenery everywhere, from local nurseries such as Rainbow Gardens to your neighborhood H-E-B, holiday gift shopping usually comes with the assumption that you’ll kick things up a notch.

Whether or not you possess a green thumb, two local plant sellers can help you wow the growers in your life, particularly if they have an affinity for rarities.

Originally based in Broadway News, Tillage Plants (125 Lamar St., (210) 999-5717, tillageplants.com) recently moved to a larger location a little further downtown. However, the nursery is keeping its original space as a distribution site for online sales and plans to use it as a classroom space in the future.

The lushly outfitted shop at 125 Lamar is a houseplant paradise, filled with everything from tiny succulents to tall potted palm trees, with options both for the budget-conscious as well as those looking to splurge.

Whether you’re looking to spice up your living room with a classic choice like a prayer plant or have your heart set on a rare caudiciform like a dioscorea elephantipes, owner Kara Allen can get you the hook up. For the Poison Ivy in your life, the shop often has a selection of carnivorous plants in stock, including the infamous venus fly trap.

Tillage also carries pots and products from local makers including pottery and letterpress goods by

Guten Co., macrame by LeftyBird Designs and pottery

by ECB Designs. The best part? For those worried that they might harm their investment when trying to get it prettily potted for their giftee, Tillage offers complimentary plant potting (qualifications apply).

Regular attendees of the Pearl Farmers Market likely recognize Wild Roots Nursery. The New Braunfelsbased growers set up shop at the near-downtown development each Saturday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. with a wide selection of plants, both common and rare.

From inexpensive stocking stuffer-sized succulents to mature plants that cost a prettier penny, it’s easy to find greenery that suits your taste and budget in their selection.

Plus, for those that can’t wait until the weekend, Wild Roots also stocks plants at Lot 59 (343 Cross St., New Braunfels) and The Local (146 N. Castell St, New Braunfels).

You can find previews of what droolworthy plants will grace the market stand at the @wildrootsnursery Instagram feed, from the striking monstera half moon albo to the appropriately named philodendron dark lord. And if you’re feeling lucky, you can even place bids for rarities on the grower’s eBay listings, which are updated regularly (ebay.com/usr/ wildrootsnursery). sacurrent.com | November 18 – December 1, 2020 | CURRENT 23

come out for

Drinksgiving Wednesday

Nov. 25

$3 House Margaritas $3 Well Drinks $10 Any Dos-A-Ritas $5 Season cocktail menu

come back for

T hanksgiving Day

$14.99

Traditional Thanksgiving dinner

FREE Thanksgiving dinner for all first responders in uniform!

24

CURRENT | November 18 – December 1, 2020 | sacurrent.com

screens

Movie Marketplace Online San Antonio merchants offer holiday gifts for the cinephiles in your life

BY KIKO MARTINEZ

I

n past iterations of the Current’s Shop Local issue, we’ve offered blockbuster-worthy shopping ideas for folks looking for locally produced gifts for movie lovers. Last year, for example, we recommended movie-themed enamel pins from a host of local makers.

This year, we really don’t want you driving store to store, spreading your germs — or being exposed to others’ — so our recommendation is to shop online at local marketplaces such as Craigslist or the one on Facebook.

Apps such as OfferUp or 5Mile also offer a good online shopping experience. Sure, you’ll still have to go pick up your purchase, but a one-on-one encounter is better than a shopping center full of asymptomatic assholes not wearing their masks.

Here’s a collection of movie memorabilia and collectables we found fellow San Antonians selling online. Just search using the seller’s name or the item description and remember to act fast on these one-of-a-kind items. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.

Facebook Marketplace If you know a fan of the 1987 music drama La Bamba, San Antonian Ray Moreno has a collector’s item for you. Moreno is moving to Chicago soon, and he doesn’t want to pack his framed Fender Starcaster signed by actor Lou Diamond Phillips who portrays late rock ’n’ roll musician Ritchie Valens in the biopic.

“First $500 takes it,” he says. “My loss.” The guitar comes with an official certification.

Cory Hollett is selling a collection of 18 Star Wars-themed Pez dispensers. The lot comes with characters including Chewbacca, Darth Maul, R2-D2, Princess Leia and Darth Vader.

The pieces aren’t in packages, so it doesn’t look like candy is included.

Craigslist Have you always wanted your very own Hattori Hanzo sword from the Quentin Tarantino film Kill Bill? Were you disappointed when you found out the swordsmith swore a blood oath to never again make another “instrument of death?” Well, if the Crazy 88s are after you, you’ll want to get your hands on this piece of movie memorabilia as soon as possible. The blade is made of

Diana Dragonne

high carbon steel and the handle is made of leather and ray skin. As the Bride says, “I need Japanese steel.”

Someone on the North Central side near Loop 1604 is selling vintage necklaces, earrings, key chains and lapel pins from director Steven Spielberg’s 1982 classic E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. The necklaces include a fullbody charm of the title alien. The earrings come in a package printed with an image of E.T. and Elliott, who was played by San Antonio native Henry Thomas.

OfferUp If you’re an aspiring local filmmaker, Diana Dragonne thinks you should go old-school and purchase her antique Super 8 movie camera from Sears. It comes with its original black, leather case, instruction booklet and lens cap.

Over near Interstate 35 and Judson Road, “Kat” is selling a 6-foot tall cardboard cutout of the movie character Glenda the Good Witch from the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz. The Yellow Brick Road is under construction this weekend, so you might want to take

Wurzbach Parkway to get there to pick it up.

Someone who goes by “King Kobra” is selling a hard copy script of the 1985 fantasy adventure Legend. The script appears to be autographed by cast members including Tim Curry, Mia Sara and Billy Barty. It’s unclear whether the script comes with a certificate of authenticity, so you may want to ask.

5Mile Everyone in San Antonio seems to have a friend who swears they were at the Alamodome for the shooting of the concert scene in the 1997 film Selena. In this case, Anna Fuentes has proof that she — or someone she knows — was actually there. She’s selling one of the tickets they gave to people for participation in the “Alamodome Concert Scene,” which doubled as Selena’s last concert at Houston’s Astrodome. The scene was shot Sunday, September 15, 1996, and according to the ticket, comedian Paul Rodriguez also entertained the crowd. Adding to the nostalgia factor, the ticket lets us know that the event was held in cooperation with the long-gone Handy Andy Supermarkets.

Find more film stories at sacurrent.com

Casual Dining • Cozy Atmosphere • Great European Food & Beverage Options + More

BEST NEW RESTAURANT!

SCAN TO P E E P OUR MENU! 834 NO RTH WE ST LO OP 410 ST E. 106, SAN ANTONI O, TX 78216

O P E N DA I LY | 11 A M - M I D N I G H T | 210.34 2 . 2473 | F O L LO W U S @ G O L D F E AT H E R B B

SOMETHING

FOR

E V E RYO N E

8811 Fredericksburg Rd. | 210.558.3323 | EUROPARESTAURANTANDBAR.COM MON-THU 4-10PM | FRI 4PM-12AM | SAT 12PM-12AM | SUN 12PM-9AM | Bar Open: FRI + SAT till 2AM

Full kitchen and bar menu available Open 7 days a week • Explore our Garden!

Cantonese BBQ all day - every DAY aisles of asian food finds!

Physically Distant.

Socially Connected.

Southtown’s

best kept secret.

7015 Bandera Rd, TX 78238

210-523-1688

@TimsOrientalMkt 26

@tims_oriental_market

CURRENT | November 18 – December 1, 2020 | sacurrent.com

1127 S St Mary's St. Sa, TX 78210 EatGoodKind.com

Instagram / Very That

Gourmet Gifting

Eight locally produced gifts for San Antonio food lovers

BY NINA RANGEL

T

he holiday season is right around the corner, and there’s a good chance you’ve got a foodie or two on your list. Fortunately, there are a wealth of San Antonio-made gifts available that can keep them delighted while helping out small businesses in your community.

If none of these specific ideas tickle your fancy, here’s an alternative: consider purchasing gift cards to locally owned restaurants.

Giving a gift card may feel a little impersonal, but they be a small lifeline to a business that’s suffering during the pandemic. Buying a gift card can help a business today, while giving your friends and family something to look forward to when we’re able to safely gather together again.

And now, those gifts:

1. VERY THAT THERMOS

If this isn’t the perfect sentiment for 2020, we don’t know what is. This puppy — available from a San Antonio online retailer of funky stuff you can’t live without — will hold 22 ounces of coffee. Or wine. Who are we to judge? This double-insulated chalice de chingona will run you $22, but the happiness it will bring the necia in your life? That shit is priceless. verythat.com.

2. AVOCADO FACE MASK

Local retailer The Artisan carries a ton of food-forward face masks for a timely gift, including this avocado-covered number complete with a filter pocket. Stock up on these $12 masks for stocking stuffers, because who knows when this pandemic will end.

The Artisan, 1103A S. Presa St., (210) 962-5560,

food

Instagram / Feliz Modern

theartisansatx.com.

3. REROOTED 210 MEMBERSHIP GIFT PACK

ReRooted 210, SA’s first urban winery, will offer a three-month growler club gift membership for $65 when it opens later this month. The package will include one free monthly growler fill of house wine, discounts on growler fills and glasses onsite, plus one spiffy complimentary insulated growler. ReRooted 210, 623 Hemisfair Blvd., Suite 106, (254) 661-2721, rerootedwine.com.

4. EL ARROYO ORNAMENTS

One can appreciate the positivity of iconic Austin Tex-Mex restaurant El Arroyo’s message board, whether it’s telling us to keep our chins up or to exhale the bullshit. San Antonio gift shop Feliz Modern is carrying a collection of holiday ornaments at $16 a pop to commemorate 2020’s most relatable messages from the eatery. Feliz Modern, 110 W. Olmos Dr., (210) 622-8364, felizmodern.com.

Instagram / The Artisan

it features notes of apple and toffee — perfect for holiday imbibing. The bottle is available at a $52 recommended retail price. Available at area liquor stores.

6. HIGH STREET WINE CO. DATE-NIGHT PACK

If you find yourself needing to escape family this holiday season, the date-night pack from High Street could come in handy. Sweep your SO off their feet with a bottle of scrumptious red wine, a selection of meats and cheeses and some rich and romantic Askinosi chocolate. In other words, this package provides a $50 mini-getaway from the fam. High Street Wine, 302 Pearl Parkway, Suite 104, (210) 9089144, highstreetwine.com.

Yes, mezcal-infused coffee is a thing, and SA’s Olla Express food truck has mastered the craft. Snag a Pro Pack with everything cafecito lovers need to prepare traditional cafe at home. For $50, you get two 8-ounce packs of ground coffee, homemade piloncillo syrup, a coffee scoop and a reusable 14-ounce mug. All products are handcrafted and 100% natural with no artificial preservatives and no additives, and they’re not processed with chemicals. Good and good for you? Sign us up. Olla Express, (210) 763-7303, ollaexpresscafe.com.

5. RANCH HERITAGE 100 PROOF BOURBON

Top off your honey’s eggnog or coffee with a four-year aged bourbon that’s been hand-bottled right here in SA. Ranch Heritage is bottled at bonded strength, and

7. OLLA EXPRESS CAFE PRO PACK

Courtesy Photo / Ranch Heritage

8. GREENWOOD MILLING CO. LIVE EDGE SERVING PLATTER

Serve a stunning charcuterie spread on a gorgeous board made from salvaged materials right here in the Alamo City.

This Northside sawmill crafts a variety of products from natural materials that would otherwise be discarded, repurposing them into beautiful new objects.

Greenwood Milling Co., 6910 NE Interstate 410 Loop, Building 2A, (210) 544-5778, greenwoodmilling.com.

Find more food & drink news at sacurrent.com

REG

EVERY REGISTRATION ALLOWS US TO PROVIDE HOLIDAY MEALS TO FAMILIES IN NEED!

THANKSGIVING DAY

Nama Ramen & Sushiya ter 2020!

New location comingNamawin Nama_ramen ramen

6526 Babcock Rd | Be social with us

November 26, 2020

Complete your run from anywhere you like The neighborhood, a local park, treadmill, track, downtown or country roads. You get to decide!

To learn more and register, visit

safoodbank.org/turkeytrot2020

#TurkeyTrotSATX

DINE-IN • TAKEOUT DELIVERY

CALL (210) 737-8646!

ALSO AVAILABLE ON

MON- SAT 5:30AM-3PM | SUN 7AM-3PM

521 E Woodlawn Ave. | elmilagritocafe.com | 28

CURRENT | November 18 – December 1, 2020 | sacurrent.com

Y

2019 + 2020

TER T O IS

DA

Voted Best

n Antonio Ramen in Sa

food TexGiving: A New Way to Celebrate This year’s holiday makes a great excuse to locally source the ingredients for your feast

BY RON BECHTOL

M

ost of us have already resigned ourselves to the fact that we won’t be hosting hordes or gathering at grandma’s this Thanksgiving. We won’t miss irascible Uncle Irving and his insistence on green bean casserole. But we will surely miss the camaraderie, whether family or friends.

For some, this might mean simply subbing in a feeds-four turkey breast for the traditional, fifteen-pound behemoth. But here’s another thought: go off the boob-jobbed turkey track entirely. And while we’re at it, why not make sure that your food also travels as little as possible by looking for products that are as local as you can reasonably make them.

Let’s call it TexGiving, meaning the friends and food are all from close to home.

Starting with the centerpiece, a locally sourced splurge option might be a Wagyu ribeye or strip steak from family-owned and South Texas-located Peeler Farms. Yes, the ribeye will set you back $50 on the Peeler website (peelerfarms.com), but, as the owners suggest, “simply season and grill.” For what it’s worth, I like to start both cuts in a cast iron pan, then finish cooking in the oven. No leftovers, but also no regrets.

A more modest but equally flavorful option comes from a new, local enterprise that calls itself Wholesome Meats. The business touts “regenerative farming,” a concept that involves moving the 100% grass-fed and finished cows regularly to new pasture so that ecosystems can heal. The only product currently available is ground beef, but Wholesome Meats grinds the whole cow, so you get all the flavor and complexity that implies. From actual experience, it makes a mean meatloaf, and as a straight burger, it needs only salt and pepper. There’s free delivery on a seven-pound box of individually frozen portions every Tuesday from getwholesome.com.

But if this doesn’t seem indulgent enough, here’s a thought: gild the patty with foie gras. Yes, it’s a pricy move, but a whole foie gras lobe is available in several forms from local and family-run specialty source Food Related (foodrelated.com). A slab of that placed atop a burger while it’s finishing should satisfy the sybarite in any of us. Food Related delivers and offers curbside pickup.

Locally raised pork provides yet another option, especially since farm-to-table pig products are now available at Hackberry Market’s The Farmers Butcher (thefarmersbutcher.com). Owned and operated by

Ron Bechtol

farmers Kelley and Marc Escobedo, the small shop offers its own pork and made-on-premises sausages, plus local beef, chicken and turkeys — should you really need to serve the latter. A pork roast can be a grand thing, but I’m thinking that tenderloin comes closest to the turkey experience — no carving skills required. Plus, you can actually stuff it. (A good recipe for stuffed pork loins with bacon and apple Riesling sauce is at foodandwine.com.) Kelley Escobedo says the shop won’t always have tenderloin, so best call ahead at (210) 757-3620.

To get even more local — and closer to the original Thanksgiving, for that matter — you may also look to hunting and gathering.

The folks at Kerrville’s Broken Arrow Ranch (brokenarrowranch.com) can help you there. They won’t have wild turkey, but they do offer an array of other game products such as wild venison from South Texas Antelope, Axis Deer and Fallow Deer. Think backstrap with a rich, red wine and juniper berry sauce. Wild boar is another option, and a whole leg would be impressive indeed. See the ranch’s website for recipes and suggestions.

If fowl still beckon, Bandera Quail from Diamond H Ranch (diamondhquail.com) fill the bill nicely. Four of these per person would more than make up for a missing big bird, and there’s no reason separately cooked dressing can’t come along for the ride.

There’s also no reason you can’t do your favorite feastly sides — even that infamous casserole. But in keeping with the locavore theme, why not plan your secondary dishes around what’s seasonal at the Pearl Farmers Market (atpearl.com). Arugula, fennel, cauliflower and broccoli are all available now, along with goat cheeses and condiments from regional suppliers.

And as you’ll likely want wine to go with your chosen centerpiece, check out another vendor, Bending

Branch Winery (bendingbranchwinery.com).

There are many worthy Texas wine to choose from, including pioneering Fall Creek and Becker Vineyards. But as Bending Branch just won Best of Herd Texas Winery at the recent San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo Wine Competition, now may be a good time to pay attention.

Knowing that the Tempranillo is likely the lightest, any of the 2017 reds, including Malbec, Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon or the double-gold Petit Sirah — which they hope to release in time for Thanksgiving — would be good with meatier entrées. The winery’s Jennifer McGinnis Fadel recommends trying the 2019 Picpoul Blanc with bird.

And dessert? Stick with the nut that San Antonio made famous, of course. The New York Times just published a recipe for food writer Melissa Clark’s Maple-Pecan Galette with Fresh Ginger. Seems like a solid option.

Finally, since you may want to toast your nearest and dearest, a more important cohort than ever before, a cider margarita would fit the occasion.

To make it strictly local, try substituting Dripping Springs’ Desert Door Sotol (desertdoor.com) for the tequila.

2 oz. reposado tequila 2 oz. apple cider 1 tsp agave nectar 1 oz. lime juice Cinnamon, sugar and salt for the rim Whisk the agave in a mixing tin with the tequila, cider and lime, then add ice and shake. Rub rim of glass with a cut lime then dip into mixed coating spread on a plate.

Strain into the rimmed glass filled with fresh ice and enjoy along with the rest of your Texas feast. sacurrent.com | November 18 – December 1, 2020 | CURRENT

29

30

CURRENT | November 18 – December 1, 2020 | sacurrent.com

Friday, November 20

music

music | music picks

Courtesy Photo / Honey Bunny

HONEY BUNNY

Sometimes performing as a four-piece, others as a two-piece, this local indie band plays on the fringes of reggae, rock and hiphop. Singer Bridgette Norris-Sanchez’s vocals are a powerful force, and they’re rightly placed front and center. Free, 5-8 p.m., Earl Abel’s, 1639 Broadway, (210) 444-9424, earlabelssa.com. — Brianna Espinoza

BLACKENED

If you missed Metallica’s livestreamed acoustic show, tribute act Blackened is here to fill the void. No, they’re not the band members themselves, but they’ll bust out classic hits and even throw in a few of those signature James Hetfield “yeahs.” Support comes from the all-around cover band Re:Verb Radio. Free, 8:30 p.m., Aquaduck Beer Garden, 9214 Espada Road, (210) 600-3280, facebook.com/theaquaducksa. — BE

TIMOTHY ISRAEL

San Antonio-based singer Timothy Israel captures the lighter side of life through his inspirational lyrics, upbeat rhythms, indie-style acoustic guitars and light-touched voice. $10, 5 p.m., The Reggae Bar, 826 San Pedro Ave., (210) 772-9891, facebook.com/TheReggae-Bar-165782436810659. — BE

Saturday, November 21

Facebook / Kirk Whalum

KIRK WHALUM

Reminder:

Friday, November 20

Even if they don’t recognize his name, pop fans will know Kirk Whalum as the guy who played the sax solo in Whitney Houston’s hit “I Will Always Love You.” But his legacy goes way deeper than that. Whalum isn’t just an amazing saxophone player; he’s also a gifted songwriter. Drawing influences from R&B and gospel, the Memphis-born artist has carved his own space in smooth jazz, pop, gospel and R&B. $55-$65, 8 p.m., Empire Theatre, 226 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 226-3333, majesticempire.com. — Chris Conde

Courtesy Photo / Mike Mains & The Branches

MIKE MAINS & THE BRANCHES

This band hails from Michigan, but by listening to their music you’d think they live inside an indie film about a romance

Although live events have returned, the COVID-19 pandemic is still with us. Check with venues to make sure scheduled events are still happening, and please follow all health and safety guidelines.

TWO NEW Collection Sites Conveniently Located at

Look for the Bright Red San Antonio Food Bank Barrels at these two locations:

Alamo Heights Farmers Market

Whole Foods Market

Every Sunday • 10a-2pm

Daily • 8a-9pm

Please donate nonperishable items only. Wish list: Peanut Butter, Cereal, Tuna, Beans, Rice, Mac & Cheese, Canned Soups & Stews, Chili, Canned Luncheon Meats, Full Meals Canned/Boxed, Pop Top Food Items Food donations are critical to the ongoing mission of collecting and redistributing millions of pounds of food to individuals and families in Southwest Texas who don’t know where their next meals are coming from. By donating today, you’ll be helping a network of 58,000 individuals we serve weekly

Alamo Quarry Market is committed to giving back to the San Antonio community. Your donations are truly appreciated!

32

CURRENT | November 18 – December 1, 2020 | sacurrent.com

music | listings

Facebook / Peso Peso

Courtesy Photo / We the Kingdom

PESO PESO

WE THE KINGDOM

Trap music? Check. Grills? Check. Flaunting stacks of money? Check. Galveston County native Peso Peso embodies the 2020-era approach to hip-hop.

While that could be read as a positive or negative depending on your take on current rap trends, he’s turned around a previous life of crime and now appears to be in it for the beats instead of the trouble. To be sure, his impressive number of online plays shows a career on the rise. What’s more, as a member of The Sauce Factory collective, he’s played a pivotal part in a regional movement uniting Black and Latino rappers and fans. $20-$40, Vibes Event Center, 1223 E. Houston St., (210) 255-3833, facebook.com/VIBESEventCenter. — BE

Comprised of a group of songwriters that have penned music for huge contemporary Christian acts including Chris Tomlin and David Crowder, We the Kingdom produces a charming sound that lands somewhere between folk, country and indie rock. While the songwriting is certainly approachable and poppy, varied dynamics and textures keep things interesting — potentially even to folks who aren’t normally down with contemporary Christian music.

And, if nothing else, it’s good to see more concerts returning to the now socially distanced Tobin. $25-$65, 7 p.m., Tobin Center, 100 Auditorium Circle, (210) 223-8624, tobincenter.org. — CC

Friday, November 20

between two quirky souls who wear rolled up jeans, read Hemingway and live at the local coffee shop. Free, 9:30 p.m., The Rustic, 17619 La Cantera Parkway, Unit 204, (210) 245-7500, therustic. com/san-antonio. — BE

LOS #3 DINNERS

No, you’re not reading a menu for tonight’s supper, that’s the name of the long-running garage band whose original songs are full of humorous observations about “livin’ and lovin’ in the Alamo town.” Free, 8 p.m., Sanchos Cantina & Cocina, 628 Jackson St., (210)

Sunday, November 22

320-1840, sanchosmx.com. — BE

Friday, November 27 GILBERT VELASQUEZ & THE DOWNTOWN TRIO

As a new weekend tradition on the renovated Deco Pizza patio, famed record producer and Tejano music legend Gilbert Velasquez will show off his guitar chops with his Downtown Trio supplying a mix of jazz, R&B and soul.

Free, 7:30 p.m., Deco Pizza, 1815 Fredericksburg Road, (210) 732-3326, decopizza. com. — BE

BLOODY CAPE

Saturday, November 28 FIRE & ICE

Singer Naomi and lead guitarist Michael Lopez, also members of local band Lick, front this tribute act dedicated to the Spandex legacy of ’80s MTV queen Pat Benatar. Expect a full night of music that dips deeper than just the big hits; this is being billed as “an evening with Fire & Ice.” $30-$90, 8 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-2830, samsburgerjoint. com. — BE

Aptly named after a song on the Deftones’ self-titled album, this tribute band devoted to the metal heroes will bust out the iconic slow and sexy riffs that are still in constant rotation on 99.5 KISS. After all, the Deftones’ willingness to experiment allowed them to age better than many heavy acts of their era, so it makes sense they’d inspire a tribute. Local rockers All Stories End and a yet-to-be-announced opener fill out the bill. $10-$17, 7 p.m., Rock Box, 1223 E Houston St., (210) 677-9453, therockboxsa.com. — BE

sacurrent.com | November 18 – December 1, 2020 | CURRENT

33

ALAMO AREA RESOURCE CENTER

And w

gettin

e keep

g bett

er!

Alamo Area Resource Center provides the best in HIV treatment & prevention, LGBTQ specialty care and HIV supportive services.

Call us today to schedule your appointment and see why we've been San Antonio's go-to for testing and LBGTQ+ care for 30 years!

210.625.7200 Our Proud Partners

AARCSA.com | 303 N Frio St, San Antonio, TX 78207 34

CURRENT | November 18 – December 1, 2020 | sacurrent.com

MILITARY 20% OFF

EVERY DAY with valid I.D.

FOLLOW US FOR THE LATEST ON CLASSES, EVENTS, SPECIALS AND MORE

MEGAPLEXSA.COM

OPEN DAILY: 7AM - 2AM | 9405 IH-35 @ THOUSAND OAKS | 210-595-6781 | 11827 HWY 281 N @ NAKOMA | 210-404-0011