San Antonio Current – City Guide 2019

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SAN ANTONIO CITY GUIDE 2019

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San Antonio Current Publisher: Michael Wagner Editor-in-Chief: Sanford Nowlin

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UP FRONT

FOOD & DRINK

PARKS & REC

Local Activists ... 15

Local Chefs ... 55

San Antonio Landmarks ... 77

Power Brokers ... 18

Food Entrepreneurs ... 59

ARTS & CULTURE

Sweets & Snacks ... 61

MUSIC

Nonprofit Groups ... 11

Food Justice Leaders ... 53

Hometown Heroes ... 23

Time-Tested Restaurants ... 63 As Seen on TV ... 67

Museums & Galleries ... 26

Happy Hours ... 69

Filmed in SA ... 34 Elevated Movie Viewing ... 37

On & Off the Beaten Path ... 71

Music Venues ... 80

Artists to Watch ... 83 Essential Albums ... 89

LATE NIGHT Adult Beverages ... 93

Theater Companies ... 41

Booze-Free After-Hours ... 95

Retail Therapy ... 45

Late-Nite Grub ... 96

On the Cover Art director Tracie Louck provided an original illustration playing on the notion that this year’s City Guide includes both familiar favorites and lesser-known obscurities, much like a well-curated mixtape.

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Welcome to City Guide 2019!

Shutterstock

C

onsider this publication your San Antonio playlist. Or, if you’re older, maybe not so digitally inclined, your San Antonio mixtape.

If you’ve ever compiled a playlist or mixtape to share with friends, you know part of the fun is pairing up familiar, crowd-pleasing tunes with deeper cuts that may be a litt le more obscure but potentially just as rewarding.

We tried to do the same with our latest City Guide, an annual listing of the many places to go, things to do, foods to try and people to know around the Alamo City.

Some will be familiar, at least by name, to longtime residents and easy enough for new arrivals or visitors to seek out. They are longtime local favorites vetted by neighbors, friends and critics.

Consider them San Antonio’s Greatest Hits.

But we also tried to include plenty of off-the-beaten path options — occasionally way off the beaten path. Some are probably unfamiliar even to folks born and raised here. A few may require you to slip outside of your comfort zone. Those we designated as Deep Cuts.

You’ll find most of the lists in this year’s City Guide split into the categories of Greatest Hits and Deep Cuts. So, whether you lean toward finding comfort in the familiar or rooting out the odd and obscure, you’ll have plenty to keep you exploring.

Of course, there’s no way we could hope to capture everything worth visiting, doing or devouring in the Alamo City. That’s an impossible order in a place so big, diverse and fast-evolving. So, if we omitted one of your favorites — or omitted you, for that matter — let us know. It won’t be long before we’re putting together the 2020 edition.

In the meantime, we think there’s plenty here to keep you learning about your home, experiencing its rich tapestry of cultures and finding new reasons to love it. Hopefully, like any good playlist or mixtape, City Guide will continue to yield new rewards every time you come back to it.

Sanford Nowlin Editor-in-Chief

APRIL 13

NOON TO 11PM

Brown out Making Movies

Santiago Jimenez Jr. Bidi Bidi Banda El Dusty Piñata Protest El Conjunto Nueva Ola

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benefiting

POWERED BY sacurrent.com • San Antonio City Guide • CURRENT 9

s

g

4

m

Welcome to City Guide 2019!

Shutterstock

C

onsider this publication your San Antonio playlist. Or, if you’re older, maybe not so digitally inclined, your San Antonio mixtape.

If you’ve ever compiled a playlist or mixtape to share with friends, you know part of the fun is pairing up familiar, crowd-pleasing tunes with deeper cuts that may be a litt le more obscure but potentially just as rewarding.

We tried to do the same with our latest City Guide, an annual listing of the many places to go, things to do, foods to try and people to know around the Alamo City.

Some will be familiar, at least by name, to longtime residents and easy enough for new arrivals or visitors to seek out. They are longtime local favorites vetted by neighbors, friends and critics.

Consider them San Antonio’s Greatest Hits.

But we also tried to include plenty of off-the-beaten path options — occasionally way off the beaten path. Some are probably unfamiliar even to folks born and raised here. A few may require you to slip outside of your comfort zone. Those we designated as Deep Cuts.

You’ll find most of the lists in this year’s City Guide split into the categories of Greatest Hits and Deep Cuts. So, whether you lean toward finding comfort in the familiar or rooting out the odd and obscure, you’ll have plenty to keep you exploring.

Of course, there’s no way we could hope to capture everything worth visiting, doing or devouring in the Alamo City. That’s an impossible order in a place so big, diverse and fast-evolving. So, if we omitted one of your favorites — or omitted you, for that matter — let us know. It won’t be long before we’re putting together the 2020 edition.

In the meantime, we think there’s plenty here to keep you learning about your home, experiencing its rich tapestry of cultures and finding new reasons to love it. Hopefully, like any good playlist or mixtape, City Guide will continue to yield new rewards every time you come back to it.

APRIL 13

NOON TO 11PM

Brown out Making Movies

Santiago Jimenez Jr. Bidi Bidi Banda El Dusty Piñata Protest El Conjunto Nueva Ola

Maria del Pilar LA MISA NEGRA Eddie & the Valiants •

Alyson Alonzo FEA Los #3 Dinners Ghost Tracks and more!

Taqueria Datapoint • Taco Blvd Torchy's Tacos • Viva Villa • Garcia's Mexican Food The Original Donut Shop • Tomatillos • Chela's Tacos Fresh Horizons • La Casa de Barbacoa Mi Taquito Arandas Jalisco • Pig Pen • Puro Taco

more to be announced

Sanford Nowlin Editor-in-Chief

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D A W N

Greatest Hits & Deep Cuts

Nonprofit Groups

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BY SANFORD NOWLIN

hether helping families put food on the table during the government shutdown or aiding refugees who arrive in our community with litt le more than the clothes they wear, we’ve recently seen the tireless work San Antonio-area nonprofits

do for our community.

Beyond providing aid to those in need, these agencies also raise awareness of important issues, provide education and create proactive programs to tackle some of the toughest crises we face. Many have been honored for the innovative projects they undertake.

To be sure, myriad nonprofits do great work in San Antonio, but these stand out for their lasting impact and their commitment to creating a positive change in our community. If you’re interested in devoting time or dollars to creating a better world, consider this a starting place to finding a nonprofit that matches your passion.

51,000 cases at no cost to its clients.

RAICESTexas.org.

Animal Defense League

San Antonio Food Bank

The Food Bank works with hundreds of partner agencies to help feed 58,000 people in our community every week. In addition to covering their basic food needs, the agency provides nutritional education, farmer’s markets and even pet programs.

It also operates with a low overhead, meaning 98 percent of donations go directly to the people it serves. safoodbank.org.

RAICES

As Texas’ largest immigration legal services provider, the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services has been a frontline participant in the debate forced by the Trump administration’s immigration policies. In addition to its advocacy, the group offers consultations, direct legal service and representation to immigrant and refugee communities. In 2017, the organization’s staff closed

The Animal Defense League maintains a true no-kill shelter for abandoned, abused or neglected dogs and cats in San Antonio.

The 84-year-old nonprofit strives to improve the quality of life for animals by providing medical care — including spaying and neutering — as well as food, shelter and compassion. adltexas.org.

Inner City Development

This community-based organization works to fulfill the emergency, educational and recreational needs of people living in the near West Side of San Antonio, specifically in the vicinity of the Alazan-Apache Public Housing Project. It’s been active in these neighborhoods — among Bexar County’s most economically deprived — since 1968. innercitydevelopment.org.

San Antonio AIDS Foundation

South Texas’ oldest and largest HIV/ AIDS service organization provides free testing to around 6,000 people annually in and around San Antonio.

Its 818 Grayson St. center also serves 2,000 people with HIV or AIDS yearly. Among its services, it helps

Healthy Futures of Texas Courtesy of Healthy Futures of Texas

clients with prescriptions, doctors’ appointments and applications for financial help. sanantonioaids.org.

San Antonio Humane Society

adversity with mentors who can work one-on-one to provide the inspiration and support needed as they move toward adulthood. bigmentor.org.

The Humane Society shelters and provides medical care and rehabilitation for thousands of dogs and cats annually. Since it does not euthanize dogs and cats to create more space at its shelter, every treatable pet remains in its care until it can find a home or place the animal with another no-kill organization. sahumane.org.

Embassy of Hope

SAMM Ministries

Each weekday, Meals on Wheels prepares and delivers meals to nearly 4,000 homebound seniors in Bexar County. Beyond delivering nutritious food, volunteers provide the vital human contact that can help seniors stay independent and avoid nursing homes and hospitals. mowsatx.org.

SAMM has been helping local families achieve financial selfsufficiency since the early 1980s.

The ministry’s Homeless Prevention Services nips family crises in the bud by offering rental and utility assistance to people facing eviction or who have recently lost their homes. samm.org.

Big Brothers Big Sisters

Interaction with a supportive adult can help kids maintain stability and achieve their life goals. Big Brothers Big Sisters has spent a century pairing kids facing

Domestic violence, sexual abuse and human trafficking are present in every community, San Antonio included. Faith-based Embassy of Hope helps children, adults and families struggling to overcome the trauma of these social ills. embassyofhopecenter.org.

Meals on Wheels

Children’s Shelter

The work of the Children’s Shelter goes well beyond offering beds for children in crisis. The organization helps locate foster care and operates a mental health 13 6 clinic for traumatized kids.

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In addition, its educational programs guide families through periods of hardship, allowing children to grow up in a safe and loving environment. childrensshelter.org.

Interfaith Welcome Coalition

The Welcome Coalition works closely with RAICES to provide a helping hand to refugees, asylum seekers and at-risk immigrants, many of whom flee dangerous situations in their home countries with no money or resources. Beyond offering basic support to these new arrivals, the faith-based group advocates for better treatment of immigrants. interfaithwelcomecoalition.org.

The Rape Crisis Center

In addition to free and confidential counseling, the Rape Crisis Center provides 24-hour crisis intervention and a prevention education program designed to promote healthy relationships and positive social change. One of its key goals is to empower survivors to stop sexual violence. rapecrisis.com.

Healthy Futures of Texas

Each year, 35,000 young women in Texas become pregnant before they turn 20, and many enter adulthood with a burden for which they’re unprepared. Healthy Futures uses science-based approaches to develop educational programs to reduce unwanted pregnancies and empower teenagers to make smart family-planning choices. hf-tx.org.

Lone Star Justice Alliance

The Justice Alliance works to redirect youth and young adults out of Texas’ justice system and into community-based treatment programs that can break the school-to-prison pipeline and save them from a cycle of recidivism. The incarceration rates of young people of color is nine times that of their white counterparts, suggesting there’s plenty of work to be done. lonestarjusticealliance.org.

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In addition, its educational programs guide families through periods of hardship, allowing children to grow up in a safe and loving environment. childrensshelter.org.

Interfaith Welcome Coalition

The Welcome Coalition works closely with RAICES to provide a helping hand to refugees, asylum seekers and at-risk immigrants, many of whom flee dangerous situations in their home countries with no money or resources. Beyond offering basic support to these new arrivals, the faith-based group advocates for better treatment of immigrants. interfaithwelcomecoalition.org.

The Rape Crisis Center

In addition to free and confidential counseling, the Rape Crisis Center provides 24-hour crisis intervention and a prevention education program designed to promote healthy relationships and positive social change. One of its key goals is to empower survivors to stop sexual violence. rapecrisis.com.

Healthy Futures of Texas

Each year, 35,000 young women in Texas become pregnant before they turn 20, and many enter adulthood with a burden for which they’re unprepared. Healthy Futures uses science-based approaches to develop educational programs to reduce unwanted pregnancies and empower teenagers to make smart family-planning choices. hf-tx.org.

Lone Star Justice Alliance

The Justice Alliance works to redirect youth and young adults out of Texas’ justice system and into community-based treatment programs that can break the school-to-prison pipeline and save them from a cycle of recidivism. The incarceration rates of young people of color is nine times that of their white counterparts, suggesting there’s plenty of work to be done. lonestarjusticealliance.org.

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D A W N

Greatest Hits & Deep Cuts

Local Activists

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BY SANFORD NOWLIN

an Antonio has a long history of social activism, from Emma Tenayuca and her work to organize the city’s pecan shellers in the ’30s to Willie Velásquez’s later fights to increase voter registration education and awareness among MexicanAmericans.

The tradition continues today through the work of groups including the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, the Texas Organizing Project and MOVE Texas. All fight to make sure underrepresented voices are heard in San Antonio, a city that for all its celebration of diversity and Hispanic culture is still defi ned by its deep economic inequalities.

With so many activists working at the grassroots level, many never seeking or expecting recognition for their important work, this is by no means an exhaustive list. Instead, consider it a broad sampling of the city’s loudest voices in the fight for social justice, representing its past, present and future.

Graciela Sanchez

As director of the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, San Antonio’s community-based cultural arts and social justice organization, Sanchez builds on her mother’s and grandmothers’ history of social activism. Since 1987, the Esperanza has served as a focal point for San Antonio’s progressive community. At its helm, Sanchez has played a vital role in developing programs to aid underrepresented groups and forcing important conversations about colonization, racism and homophobia. Under her guidance, the center has also built a rich calendar of cultural programming that serves 70,000 people annually.

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Linda Chavez-Thompson

Longtime labor leader Chavez-Thompson was elected executive vice president of the AFL-CIO in 1995, becoming the first person of color to be elected to one of the federation’s three highest offices. While in that role she also served on the boards of the National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice, the Institute for Women’s Policy Research and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. Much of her attention has been on national issues, but Chavez-Thompson’s continued commitment to her adopted hometown was apparent last year in her

Jade Esteban Estrada

support for organizers’ successful petition drive on paid sick leave for San Antonio workers.

Michelle Tremillo

From helping secure paid sick leave for local workers to mobilizing voters to elect Democratic DA Kim Ogg in Harris County, the Texas Organizing Project has emerged as one of the state’s most visible advocates for social and economic justice. And, as its executive director, Tremillo is able to call on a growing base of supporters to help mobilize black and Latinx voters.

What’s more, she’s done it from the Alamo City. Since returning to her native San Antonio with a degree from Stanford, Tremillo has also worked for ACORN and helped found Public Allies San Antonio, which trains future non-profit leaders.

DeAnne Cuellar

As co-founder of UpgradeSA, a communitydriven civic tech organization focused on advocating for digital equity in San Antonio, Cuellar is on the front line of fighting to ensure everyone can participate in the digital revolution. As part of that cause, Cuellar has also been an outspoken proponent of net neutrality, the concept that Internet service providers should not be allowed to block or slow down the websites you can access. That longtime Internet principle fell into jeopardy when the FCC, under chairman Ajit Pai, dismantled net neutrality rules in 2017.

Sofia Sepulveda

Born in Laredo but raised in Nuevo Laredo, Sepulveda has emerged in the past few years as one of San Antonio’s most visible activists. Name a protest event, and she’s likely been there at the front of the crowd. She’s been a tireless campaigner for Bernie Sanders, a member of the San Antonio Free Speech Coalition, worked with the Texas Organizing Project and Our Revolution Texas and served as a Bexar County Democratic Party precinct chair.

H. Drew Galloway L

Galloway, executive director of MOVE Texas, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to civic education and leadership development, recently told the Current he sees his work “as giving young people a voice in our democracy.” After moving to SA to work in the wine business, Galloway quickly fell into local politics, stepping up as MOVE’s leader in 2016. The fi rst year in that role, the group registered nearly 9,000 voters, largely through face-to-face conversations. Galloway has made a priority of driving Millennial engagement in the political process.

Robert Salcido

Salcido’s activism for the LGBTQ+ community is double barreled. He’s both the statewide field coordinator for Equality Texas, the state’s largest such advocacy group, and executive director for the Pride Center San Antonio. In addition, he’s served as a member of the mayor’s LGBT advisory team and in executive roles with Orgullo de San Antonio and the San Antonio LGBT Chamber of Commerce. While helping craft and launch the city’s first nondiscrimination ordinance is among Salcido’s important contributions, he’s also worked to increase the number of gay, lesbian and transgender representatives in elected office.

Mario Salas

Salas, a member of the University of Texas at San Antonio faculty, has been an advocate for San Antonio’s African-American community since the early 1970s. He was a central member of the San Antonio chapter of the Student National Coordinating Committee, itself also part of the Black Panther Party. Among other community services, the group provided free breakfasts for needy children and free legal aid. In addition to serving as a founding member of other activist groups including Organizations United for 17 6 Eastside Development, Black Coalition on

sacurrent.com • San Antonio City Guide • CURRENT 15

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Borderland Collective

Mass Media and Frontline 2000, Salas spent two terms as an outspoken advocate for the East Side on San Antonio’s city council.

T.C. Calvert

Calvert is a tireless East Side community organizer whose Neighborhoods First Alliance has been a leading advocate for environmental justice, safe and affordable housing, health care and education. He’s also a founder of both weekly African-American newspaper the San Antonio Observer and nonprofit community radio station KROV-FM. Calvert also passed on a legacy of activism to his son, Precinct 4 Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Calvert, the youngest and fi rst African-American County Commissioner in county history and an advocate for many of the same issues championed by his father.

Antonio ndly ang.

Maria Berriozabal

Berriozabal’s political awakening came as she worked on San Antonio’s HemisFair ’68. After seeing first-hand how power and money interacted, she became engaged in the civil rights movement, ultimately mounting a successful run for city council in 1980. Not only did she become the first Latina to serve on council, she also spent a decade representing the district that includes downtown. Berriozabal’s impact continues today through her input on Mayor Ron Nirenberg’s Housing Policy Task force, which last year issued a report recognizing the city’s long history of economic inequality and laying out a plan to ensure affordable housing as the city grows.

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Art can be a powerful form of activism, and Casas’ art has never shied from the political. Indeed, Casas has performed as an artistic conscience for San Antonio over the years, using his work to force sometimes uncomfortable conversations about sexuality and Chicanismo. Whether sporting a drag take on Catholic vestments or a puro pachuco look, replete with a cocked fedora and Stacy Adams shoes, Casas has also used his att ire to drive similar conversations outside the walls of galleries and onto the street — and into the H-E-B. “I live my life as a performance,” he told the Current several years ago.

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Borderland Collective L

Led by artists Mark Menjivar, Molly Sherman and Jason Reed, the art group Borderland Collective has made an oral history called Migration Stories the heart of its efforts to humanize immigrants and spur thoughtful conversations about refugees and migrants. The group’s multimedia work can incorporate anything from printed versions of the stories its collected to video to installations using statistics and data alongside examples of the spartan shelters migrant families are forced to occupy.

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Greatest Hits & Deep Cuts

Power Brokers Ron Nirenberg, San Antonio Mayor

Nirenberg was an outspoken, if wonkish, North Side councilman, but he found favor across a broad enough spectrum of the city to launch a 2017 run for mayor. In that position, he’s worked to push through housing initiatives and launch a plan to upgrade the fast-growing city’s transportation infrastructure. May’s citywide election will determine whether he’s earned enough public support to stay on this list.

Phil Hardberger, former mayor

Sanford Nowlin

C

BY TRAVIS E. POLING

ity council members come and go. CEOs of major corporations occasionally dip their toes into broader community affairs but mostly stay busy keeping shareholders happy.

Institutional leaders are powerful advocates for specific causes but rarely engage in log rolling or wielding the broad power needed to consistently make things happen.

So, with all of those ruled out, who are the power brokers moving San Antonio forward (or backward, in some cases) in 2019? They’re figures who have longevity, a seat of power and the ability to get the ear of decisionmakers across governments, business and the community. Here are some the most influential players in the Alamo City.

Nelson Wolff, Bexar County Judge

At 78, Wolff has seen most of San Antonio’s major recent developments from the inside. That includes Toyota locating a manufacturing site in the city, an extension of the San Antonio River Walk to the old Spanish missions, the expansion of county public health services through the University Health System and improvements to San Pedro Creek as both flood control and

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economic generator. He’s been a key player not just in the county-owned, Spurs-run AT&T Center but in every so-far-unsuccessful attempt at luring a major-league sports team to the city.

Plus, he’s only the second person in San Antonio history to have served as both mayor and county judge.

Paula Gold-Williams, CEO of CPS Energy

After stints as a financial exec in the regional operations of Time Warner Cable and the Luby’s restaurant chain, Gold-Williams joined the city’s primary power supplier in 2004 as a controller and moved up the ranks to CEO in 2016. The buck stops with her when it comes to keeping the lights on, the air conditioning running and the machines of industry juiced up. She’s also been responsible for pumping the brakes on the utility’s headlong jump into an aggressive renewable energy strategy. GoldWilliams’ moves in infrastructure and energy make her a key player in economic development behind the scenes.

Graham Weston, entrepreneur and philanthropist

As founder and former chairman and CEO of tech firm Rackspace, Weston left a legacy by creating a major high-tech employer. His contributions, however, go much deeper. Weston’s downtown projects include paving the way for a consolidation of city offices, an expanded UTSA downtown campus and the first new downtown office building development in decades. He also fostered a tech-friendly environment with the creation of incubator Geekdom.

CURRENT • San Antonio City Guide • sacurrent.com

As a lawyer, Hardberger’s wheeling and dealing goes way back, serving in both the Kennedy and Johnson presidential administrations.

But that dealmaking prowess really hit its stride when he served as a powerful mayor who demanded a greater workload for the city council. He served his two terms from 2005 through 2009 but managed to push through a term-limit revamp that let both mayors and councilmembers serve four terms of two years each. He also championed the purchase of land for the creation of a sprawling North Side park ultimately named in his honor. Hardberger, 84, is still politically active and helped broker a deal between the city, neighborhoods and Walmart when residents objected to the retail giant sett ing up so close to their homes and Hardberger Park.

Julián Castro, former mayor L

Castro lost his first bid for mayor after hitt ing the term limit for his council seat. However, he came back strong in his 2009 mayoral bid.

While in office, the young politician created SA2020, a community-wide visioning effort for the city and a program to offer college guidance to local students. His crowning achievement, however, may have been selling voters on a $30 million sales tax to fund the Pre-K 4 SA pre-kindergarten program. Castro left the office to serve as secretary of Housing and Urban Development — experience that helped elevate him to become a serious contender as Hillary Clinton’s 2016 running mate. He’s since entered the crowded field for the 2020 Democratic nomination for president.

Bill Greehey, chairman of NuStar Energy and philanthropist

Greehey turned a struggling Valero Energy into a thriving refining company that put San Antonio on the energy sector’s map.

Since then, he’s turned a former Valero 21 6 spinoff, NuStar, into another locally

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based Fortune 500 company. He’s also donated heavily to children’s cancer research, had a business school named after him at St. Mary’s University and partnered with influential private donors, the city and the county to start Haven for Hope, a comprehensive program and shelter to aid homeless people.

Henry Cisneros, former Mayor

Cisneros spent eight years as mayor of San Antonio and later did a stint in President Bill Clinton’s cabinet as secretary of housing and urban development. He also serves as chairman of two companies that invest in affordable housing projects and transportation infrastructure. Business aside, his family’s political roots are deep in San Antonio soil, and numerous politicians, including presidentialhopeful Julian Castro and U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, have sought his counsel. He’s also a former San Antonio Chamber of Commerce chairman and founding chairman of the public-private BioMed SA partnership, formed to promote biosciences development in the city.

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Patti Radle, SAISD Board of Trustees President L

Radle finishes her term this year as president and District 5 representative for the San Antonio Independent School District, but her public service track record is long. Radle and her husband Rod serve as volunteer directors of Inner City Development, which they founded in their West Side home in 1972. The organization has given rise to other groups including the San Antonio Alternative Housing Corp. and San Anto Cultural Arts. Radle was considered a voice for the voiceless when she served on council from 2003 to 2007, and she remains a strong public policy advocate.

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Greatest Hits & Deep Cuts

Hometown Heroes

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BY JAMES COURTNEY

ince way before San Antonio was one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, it had a proud history, peopled with interesting, important, idiosyncratic and ultimately impactful characters. The two lists below, while not exhaustive by any means, are meant to give an idea of the sheer diversity and scope of famous San Antonians and their achievements. As is the case elsewhere in this edition of City Guide, the Greatest Hits are those folks whose names and work should already be familiar to almost everyone. Meanwhile, the Deep Cuts list looks to shine a light on slightly lesser-known individuals, who have, nevertheless, made important contributions in their respective fields.

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as our own. Famous first for her heavily autobiographical prose works, including classics The House on Mango Street, Woman Hollering Creek and Caramelo, she is also a celebrated poet, teacher, community advocate and champion of the literary arts. She is a PEN/Nabokov Award, National Book Award, National Medal of the Arts and MacArthur Fellowship recipient (among many other honors). The literary foundation that she started, the Macondo Writers Workshop, still operates in San Antonio.

Carol Burnett (b. 1933) E

San Antonio-born comedian and actress Carol Burnett is television royalty for her own variety show and stint on the Garry Moore Show, both of which earned her various Emmys and Golden Globes. She’s also a celebrated film actor, a Tony-nominated Broadway talent, a Grammy winner (Best Spoken Word or Comedy), and a recipient of Screen Actors Guild, Mark Twain and Peabody awards for her career achievements.

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Often referred to as the King of Country music, George Strait was born in nearby Poteet and has lived in or around San Antonio most all of his life. Known for helping make country music a mainstream powerhouse, Strait has sold over 100 million records worldwide and has more No. 1 hits than any other artist, in any genre, ever.

Everything the man with the golden twang touches seems to turn to 25 6 platinum.

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Often referred to simply as “La Sandra” by local publications, Sandra Cisneros grew up in Chicago — but, owing to her years spent living and working in San Antonio and to the way her writing speaks to and for the Chican@ community, we like to claim her

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Sandra Cisneros (b.

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Though born in San Saba, actor/director/screenwriter Tommy Lee Jones has made his home in San Antonio (Terrell Hills to be exact) for years. As one of the most beloved actors in the business, Jones has starred in such fi lms as Coal Miner’s Daughter, The Fugitive, Men in Black, Batman Forever and No Country for Old Men, and been lauded for his roles in the iconic TV series The Executioner’s Song and Lonesome Dove. Jones is an Emmy-, Golden Globe-, and Academy Award-winning actor. He now dedicates much of his time to his screenwriting, producing and directing work.

From her early days as a Broadway chorus girl to the height of her Hollywood stardom, which rivaled that of peers like Greta Garbo and Norma Shearer, San Antonio-born Joan Crawford was an unstoppable force. Admired by the likes of F. Scott Fitzgerald, sought after by an array of rich and (sometimes) talented men, Crawford was a fiercely independent woman who played the game on her own terms. Her biggest fi lms include Mildred Pierce (for which she won an Academy Award in 1946), Possessed, Sudden Fear and Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?

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D A W N

Esteban “Steve” Jordan was an accordion god that played fast and loose with the unwritten rules of genre and (by extension) race. A conjunto and Tejano star in his own right, Jordan helped show how versatile his instrument could be, bringing his talents into the realms of fusion jazz, rock, blues, salsa and zydeco music.

His legacy is undeniable and his influence is wide-ranging in terms of how musicians view the accordion’s potential. im ed

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Certainly the (literal) biggest star on this list, retired NBA great Shaquille O’Neal moved to San Antonio with his family when his stepfather was stationed here. He excelled in basketball at Cole High School, leading the team to a state championship his senior year before going on to dominate NCAA hoops at LSU. His NBA accolades — like four championships, three finals MVPs, 15 All-Star nods and a 2016 election to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (just to name a few) — position him as one of the best to ever play the game.

Aside from his storied 19-season NBA career, Shaq is well known as an analyst on TNT’s Inside the NBA, as a rapper, as an actor and as a generally magnetic personality.

Esteban Jordan (1939-2010)

wholly original to the core, Livingston has lived a life of more adventure and charm than most could imagine. Most recently, Livingston is known for her voice acting work, especially in the show Adventure Time, in which she voices Tree Trunks, a yellow-green pygmy elephant who is friends with Finn and Jake.

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Shaquille O’Neal (b. 1972)

it go to a new owner, whom he hopes will help to preserve this odd and wonderful legacy.

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Robert Rodriguez (b. 1968) p

Born and raised in San Antonio, fi lmmaker Robert Rodriguez is one of the most successful and beloved Mexican Americans in the fi lm industry. His fi lms, known for their violence, dark humor and groundbreaking technical innovations, include El Mariachi, Desperado, Sin City, From Dusk Till Dawn and Machete. Rodriguez approaches his fi lmmaking in a holistic manner, often doing almost everything, from cinematography and camera work to direction, production, editing and scoring himself. In this manner, Rodriguez’s fi lms can be said to be uniquely his own in a way that other fi lmmakers can rarely claim.

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Emma Tenayuca (1916-1999)

One of the most important and influential labor organizers in U.S. history, Emma Tenayuca was born in San Antonio and spent most of her life here. She graduated from Brackenridge High School, got her Master’s Degree in Education at Our Lady of the Lake University and taught in the Harlandale School District. While she dedicated her life to teaching and advocating for social justice, especially but not only in the realm of labor, Tenayuca is most often recognized for her instrumental role in the Texas Pecan Shellers Strike of 1938.

Polly Lou Livingston (b. 1929)

First and foremost, Polly Lou Livingston is, and has been for decades, a joyous force in San Antonio and Texas society. A patron of the arts, a fashion icon and a delightful personality,

Wikimedia Commons

Bette Nesmith Graham (1924-1980)

Though typist and commercial artist Bette Nesmith Graham was born in Dallas, she was raised in San Antonio and graduated from Alamo Heights High School. Her son Michael Nesmith went on to stardom as a founding member of the Monkees, but her biggest claim to fame is as the inventor of liquid paper and founder of the original company that produced the still-important office product. She sold the operation to the Gillette Company in 1979 for nearly $50 million.

James Robert Cade (1927-2007)

While his legacy as the inventor of Gatorade, during his time as an assistant professor at the University of Florida, leaves most to associate him with the Sunshine State, physician and research scientist James Robert Cade was born and grew up in San Antonio. At Brackenridge High School, Cade was a track star before going off to study at the University of Texas in Austin.

Barney Smith (b. 1921) 5

When your claim to fame is a toilet seat museum, how could you not be considered the shit? Such is the case for San Antonio treasure Barney Smith who, for decades, has collected and decorated old toilet seats, showing them at his Alamo Heights home by appointment. These aren’t just any seats, however, as the collection includes loo lids with historic value: including but not limited to Saddam Hussein’s toilet top, a lid decorated with bits of the Berlin Wall, one with barbed wire from Auschwitz and one signed by Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.

Just recently, Smith sold his collection of more than 1,400 can crowns to a collector in North Texas. Though he spent decades on the collection, Smith, a former master plumber, is excited to see

Julian Onderdonk (1882-1922) L

Cattywampus Press

It’s not hard to see why Julian Onderdonk, whose paintings adorned the Oval Office during George W. Bush’s years as its occupant, has been referred to as the father of Texas painting.

In his short life, the landscape painter, adept at blending realism with Impressionism, studied under renowned American painter William Merritt Chase and produced a body of work that has become synonymous with the romanticized notion of Texas country life. He’s the guy who practically invented our collective obsession with bluebonnets.

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Briscoe is free year-round for active military and their family members. $8-$12 (free for kids 12 and under), 210 W. Market St., (210) 299-4499, briscoemuseum.org.

Greatest Hits & Deep Cuts

Blue Star Contemporary

Museums & Galleries

A

BY BRYAN RINDFUSS

ustin may have us beat as the alleged Live Music Capital of the World, but San Antonio wins in the realm of contemporary art — and with flying colors. Evidenced not just by our solid spread of museums but snazzy galleries, artist-run spaces and the monthly First Friday and Second Saturday art crawls, the Alamo City consistently serves up art of every imaginable persuasion, and there’s almost always a way to consume it free of charge.

Artpace 5

A world-class gem opened by late artist and philanthropist Linda Pace in 1995, Artpace functions as a multi-gallery contemporary art space year-round but is easily best known for its International Artist-in-Residence (IAIR) program, which annually invites three trios of artists (one Texas-based, one national and one international) to “live and create art in San Antonio for two months.” Since its inception, the IAIR program has facilitated and funded

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site-specific exhibitions by more than 200 artists — all selected by guest curators from across the globe. Often credited with giving San Antonio deserved visibility on the world art map, Artpace is always free and open to public and is the organizing entity behind Chalk It Up, an annual fall festival that transforms downtown Houston Street into a street-level gallery of fleeting masterpieces rendered exclusively in chalk. Free, 445 N. Main Ave., (210) 212-4900, artpace.org.

Briscoe Western Art Museum L

Opened in 2013 and named in honor of former Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe, Jr. and his wife Janey, the Briscoe is dedicated to “the preservation of the art, history and culture of the American West.” The museum, situated in a prime downtown location with River Walk access, comprises a historic structure that once served as San Antonio’s first library, a modern wing and a picturesque Lake Flato-designed pavilion dotted with bronze sculptures.

Santa Anna’s sword (1852) and Pancho Villa’s saddle (c. 1890-1910) are among the oft-cited highlights of a permanent collection spanning five centuries, but the Briscoe’s programs and temporary exhibitions increasingly aim to unpack the genre of Western art through a modern lens, exemplified by this year’s “Into A New West: Contemporary Works from the Booth Western Art Museum” (May 22-September 1). In addition to offering free admission on Tuesday evenings (4-9 p.m.), the

CURRENT • San Antonio City Guide • sacurrent.com

A shining example of squeezing lemonade out of life’s lemons, Blue Star Contemporary (BSC) arose from an artist-organized exhibition staged in response to a canceled museum show back in 1986. Since that pivotal moment, the pioneering space has proven its staying power as the anchor of the Blue Star Arts Complex and First Friday celebrations in Southtown while living up to its mission to “inspire the creative genius in us all by nurturing artists through innovative contemporary art.” Billed as “the first and longest-running nonprofit venue for contemporary art in San Antonio,” BSC hosts more than 20 exhibitions each year — featuring work by local, national and even international artists — in a 11,000-square-foot warehouse space divided into four distinct galleries. The modest cost of admission is waived on the first Thursday and Friday of the month and every Thursday evening (4-8 p.m.). $3-$5 (free for military, veterans, educators and students with ID), 116 Blue Star, (210) 227-6960, bluestarcontemporary.org.

The DoSeum

The Alamo City’s ever-imaginative DoSeum, formerly known as the San Antonio Children’s Museum, functions as a STEM-focused “charging station” fueled by exhibits and programs designed to “promote play, invite discovery, spark interest and develop positive att itudes towards learning across critical content areas.” Designed by renowned local firm Lake Flato, the 104,000-square-foot facility abounds in interactive opportunities, including a math-centric Spy Academy, a miniaturized “townscape” for toddlers, a musical staircase even adults can’t resist and an outdoor zone with a towering treehouse and water pavilion.

A fitt ing complement to its “How People Make Things” exhibition, which features an “exploded bicycle display” and plastic recycling 29 6 machines (on view through May 12),

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2019 Art. Music. Cocktails.

Select Fridays | 6:00–8:00 p.m.

Themed gallery tours 5:30, 6:30, and 7:30 p.m.

Free with Museum admission | Cash bar

February 8

Art, Love, and Chocolate

April 12

Viva Art Party

June 14

Art on Tap

August 9

Supermen and Wonderwomen

October 11

Haunted Museum

December 13

¡Salud! Santé! Cheers!

In the event of inclement weather, Art Party is held indoors.

Art Party is a collaboration between the San Antonio Museum of Art and KRTU Jazz 91.7 Caption: Uriarte Talavera, The Urrutia Arch (detail), Latin American, 1920s, Concrete, iron, glazed tiles, and bronze, Gift of Southwestern Bell and moved to this site through the generosity of the Steves Foundation

200 West Jones Avenue | samuseum.org

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10TH ANNUAL

Open Weekends: March 2 - April 21, 2019

& Open Fri, March 22 For Spring Break

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Location

1883 Old Hwy 20 Mcdade, Tx 78650

35 Miles East Of Austin -Or2 Hrs Northeast Of San Antonio

Entertainment

Join Robin Hood & Lady Marian as they host full contact jousting, falconry, swordplay, archery, juggling, comedy, theater & more. Medieval England comes to life in Central Texas.

Artisans + Merchants

We host a grand selection of hand-crafted goods in Central Texas. We offer demonstrations like glass blowing, blacksmithing, pottery spinning, leather armor making, weaving, jewelry & art creation, & others.

Song + Dance

You'll find minstrels, bards, storytellers, magicians, jugglers, & all types of performers strolling our lanes & playing on our stages. If you're lucky, you may spot a faery or two!

Food + Drink

From trenchers weighty with tasty fare to tankards overflowing with foamy mead, there's plenty to eat and drink at Sherwood Forest Faire. You'll discover medieval treats & delicacies.

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D A W N

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the DoSeum offers Litt le Maker Workshops and welcomes families free of charge the first Tuesday of the month (5:30-7:30 p.m.). $14 (free for kids under 1), 2800 Broadway, (210) 212-4453, thedoseum.org.

McNay Art Museum 5

The McNay, opened in 1954 in Marion Koogler McNay’s sprawling Spanish Colonial Revival mansion, proudly presents itself as “the first museum of modern art in Texas.” Greatly expanded in 2008 with the addition of the sleek, 45,000-square-foot Jane and Arthur Stieren Center for Exhibitions, the museum complements its impressive permanent collection of PostImpressionist paintings, medieval and Renaissance treasures, modernist outdoor sculpture, Southwestern folk art and contemporary Latino prints with both touring and homegrown exhibitions. As part of its ongoing mission to “reach new audiences, and speak directly to the backgrounds, cultures, and interests of more San Antonians than ever before,” the McNay welcomes all walks with open arms for engaging programs, including the consistently excellent Get Reel fi lm series and monthly, family-friendly Second Thursday gatherings that bring food trucks, local bands and craft brews to the lush grounds during weekly free admission hours (4-9 p.m.

Thursdays). $5-$10, 6000 N. New Braunfels Ave., (210) 824-5368, mcnayart.org.

San Antonio Museum of Art

Housed in an elegantly repurposed Lone Star Brewery within easy walking distance from the Pearl, the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) is an eclectic treasure trove of works from around the globe. In addition to the many discoveries to be made in galleries dedicated to art from Texas, Latin America, Europe, Asia, the ancient Mediterranean world and elsewhere, the museum boasts a solid contemporary art collection that includes works by notable San Antonio artists. Frequented by locals and clued-in tourists

during free admission hours (4-9 p.m. Tuesdays and 10 a.m.-noon Sundays), SAMA engages the community via special programs — including gallery talks, craft y workshops for kiddos, outdoor fi lm screenings and an adults-only Art Party series featuring music and cocktails — and also houses a thoughtfully stocked museum shop and chef Jason Dady’s Tre Trattoria, which serves up Tuscaninspired fare and wine in a historic structure with views of the San Antonio River. $12-$20 (free for kids 12 and under), 200 W. Jones St., (210) 978-8100, samuseum.org.

Southwest School of Art

With a fascinating timeline that includes an early gallery presence at HemisFair ’68, a takeover of the historic Ursuline Convent and Academy in 1971, an expansion into a former Sears Automotive Center in 1998 and a 2013 designation as the first independent art college in Texas, the Southwest School of Art extends far beyond its educational boundaries with museum-quality exhibitions that showcase the work of local and national artists.

The school also offers lectures, workshops and a wide assortment of nicely priced community classes (drawing, ceramics, jewelry, weaving, painting, paper making, glass mosaic, you name it), and welcomes more than 100 artists each April for the seasonal favorite Fiesta Arts Fair (April 20-21). Free, 300 Augusta St., (210) 200-8200, swschool.org.

Witte Museum

From humble beginnings as a natural history collection displayed in a local high school, the Witte has transformed into a stately institution that proudly celebrates “Everything Texas, and So Much More.” The “New Witte” has expanded significantly over the last decade to encompasses multiple exhibition spaces, including the Helen C. Kleberg South Texas Heritage Center, the B. Naylor Morton Research and Collections Center, the Kittie West Nelson Ferguson People of the Pecos Gallery and the kidfavorite Naylor Family Dinosaur Gallery. While bluebonnet-filled

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landscapes, ancient artifacts and shimmering Fiesta gowns help bring to life the unique history of San Antonio and the Lone Star State at large, the museum also hosts temporary exhibits rooted in everything from portraiture to space travel, not to mention educational programs, special events and daily demonstrations dedicated to archeology, wildlife, cowboy culture, healthy eating habits and much more. Pro-tip: plan your visit on a Tuesday afternoon, when admission is free (3-8 p.m.). $10-$14 (free for kids 3 and under), 3801 Broadway, (210) 357-1900, wittemuseum.org.

AnArte

Slightly outside the bubble of the local art scene, Ana Montoya’s AnArte focuses chiefly on the work of San Antonio painters (both figurative and abstract) and typically opens shows to the tune of live music and cocktails with a percentage of sales benefiting area charities. Free, 7959 Broadway, Suite 404, (210) 8265674, anartegallery09.com.

Cinnabar

Curator and jeweler Susan Oliver Heard’s stylish Blue Star gallery celebrates contemporary art in all formats and maintains a keen focus on the work of women artists from Texas and beyond. Free, 1420 S.

Alamo St., Suite 147, (210) 557-6073, cinnabarart.com.

Centro Cultural Aztlán

The pioneering Centro Cultural Aztlán — established in 1977 with a mission to “preserve, develop and promote Chicano/Latino art and culture” — specializes in themed group shows dedicated to everything from the Virgen de Guadalupe to Día de los Muertos and does a commendable job of giving emerging artists visibility.

Free, 1800 Fredericksburg Rd., (210) 432-1896, centroaztlan.org.

FL!GHT

Under the direction of idiosyncratic local artists Justin Parr and Ed Saavedra, FL!GHT champions underdogs and established artists alike in a convivial Blue Star space that buzzes with creative energy during First Friday receptions and occasionally hosts experimental live music. Don’t miss the compact, salon-style gallery in the back.

Free, 112 Blue Star, (210) 872-2586, facebook.com/flightsa.

Galería Guadalupe

Making creative use of a former H-E-B warehouse, the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center’s roomy gallery upholds the West Side nonprofit’s mission to cultivate, promote and preserve traditional and contemporary Latino arts and culture via solo and group exhibitions and also hosts seasonal celebrations such as Día de los Muertos altar displays and the Hecho a Mano holiday market. Free, 723 S. Brazos St., (210) 271-3151, 31 6 guadalupeculturalarts.org.

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Chuck Ramirez, the late local photographer many knew simply as “Tía Chuck.” Free, 201-A E. Olmos Dr., (210) 804-2219, ruizhealyart.com.

Sala Diaz

Launched by New York-based San Antonio artist Alejandro Diaz in 1995 and currently under the direction of Anjali Gupta, the cozy, experimental art space Sala Diaz promotes a “down-home — and world-renowned — artistcentric model of operation.” Free, 517 Stieren St., (972) 900-0047, saladiazart.org.

Jose Villalobos

Presa House Gallery L

Second Saturday

The quaint and aptly named Presa House, co-directed by artists/curators Jenelle Esparza and Rigoberto Luna, has emerged as a rightful fan favorite in Southtown by showcasing local artists and visitors (from Brownsville to New York and points in between) in consistently solid exhibitions that spring to life during eclectic First Friday celebrations. Free, 725 S. Presa St., (210) 913-5842, presahouse.com.

Second Saturday, a monthly celebration uniting multiple destinations, lures the art scene out en masse for a gallery crawl anchored by artist-run spaces in and around Andy and Yvette Benavides’ maze-like 1906 S. Flores St. complex, the Freight Gallery compound (1913 S. Flores St.) and a string of warehouse spaces along Lone Star Blvd., including Bill FitzGibbons’ neighboring Dock Space and Lone Star Studios (both at 107 Lone Star Blvd.).

REM Gallery

Studio at Ruby City

Dedicated to “promoting the careers of emerging and established Texas artists,” Dana Read’s Tobin Hill gallery represents a solid roster of painters, printmakers, sculptors and photographers. Free, 219 E. Park Ave., (210) 224-1227, remgallery.com.

Ruiz-Healy Art

Patricia Ruiz-Healy’s elegant Olmos Park gallery showcases paintings, prints, drawings, photography and sculpture by accomplished local and international artists in immaculately hung exhibitions that often engage in a “Latin American, borderland and Texas discourse.” Ruiz-Healy Art is also the exclusive representatives of the Estate of

Nestled in the corner of serene Chris Park, Studio primarily displays contemporary works (including installations, videos, photography and sculpture) held by the Linda Pace Foundation, the entity behind the shimmering, David Adjayedesigned Ruby City, which is scheduled to open in October.

Free, 111 Camp St., (210) 2278400, rubycity.org.

SAVE THE DATE F R I D A Y, A U G U S T 2 3 , 2 0 1 9

Terminal 136

The University of Texas at San Antonio’s offsite gallery introduces viewers to the next wave of artists by unveiling MFA thesis exhibitions. It also accepts show proposals from local and national artists biannually. Free, 136 Blue Star, (210) 458-4391, art.utsa.edu.

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Filmed in SA

+ Six Degrees of Jesse Borrego

A

Warner Bros.

travel to Africa to find the sacred Great White bat, which has gone missing. The comedy went on to earn a Razzie Award for Worst Remake or Sequel. It’s well documented that Carrey himself wasn’t a fan of the fi lm. Still, he earned $15 million to reprise the role. Alrighty then!

SDOJB: Jesse Borrego stars in Lone Star (1996) with Chris Cooper who stars in Me, Myself & Irene (2000) with Jim Carrey who stars in Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls.

BY KIKO MARTINEZ

ccording to the Internet Movie Database, there are nearly 1,000 fi lms and TV shows shot at least partly in San Antonio over the last 119 years. From a big-picture perspective, that’s a tiny drop in the bucket.

That doesn’t mean, however, that the Alamo City doesn’t celebrate the projects it’s had the opportunity to host — from beloved biopics like Selena to lesser-known classics from the first half of the 20th century. Here is a look at five of San Antonio’s greatest cinematic hits and five others we’re happy to introduce you to if you haven’t seen them yet.

To give each fi lm an even stronger local connection, we’ll link them back in six degrees or less to actor and San Antonio native Jesse Borrego (eat your heart out, Kevin Bacon).

Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985) L

Eternal man-child Pee-wee Herman (Paul Reubens) travels across the country, including to the Alamo in San Antonio, to search for

34

Miss Congeniality (2000) p

Warner Bros.

his stolen bicycle. The comedy was director Tim Burton’s first feature fi lm of his career.

According to Kathy Rhoads, former director of the San Antonio Film Commission in the 1980s, she helped facilitate the trip downtown for Burton, Reubens, producer Bob Shapiro and director of photography Victor Kemper.

The scenes actually featuring San Antonio add up to 20 seconds of the final fi lm. SDOJB: Jesse Borrego stars in Lone Star (1996) with Kris Kristofferson who stars in Big Top Pee-wee (1988) with Paul Reubens who stars in Pee-wee’s Big Adventure.

Actress Sandra Bullock stars as Gracie Hart, an FBI agent who goes undercover as a pageant contestant to stop a domestic terrorist from bombing the event. In the scene that features San Antonio the most, Gracie performs in the talent portion of the pageant in front of the

Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995) L

This Jim Carrey sequel follows the titular character as he and his capuchin monkey Spike

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Alamo. Dressed in bloomers, she plays “Lara’s Theme” from Doctor Zhivago on a set of water glasses. The fi lm also stars Benjamin Bratt as FBI agent and Gracie’s love interest Eric Matt hews. SDOJB: Jesse Borrego stars in La Mission (2009) with Benjamin Bratt who stars in Miss Congeniality.

Spy Kids (2001) 5

Directed by San Antonio native Robert Rodriguez, this adventure features a family of secret agents (Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Alexa Peña Vega and Daryl Sabara) who must stop an evil villain from replacing all the world’s children with robots. The original 2001 fi lm has spawned three sequels. SDOJB: Jesse Borrego stars in Mi Vida Loca (1993) with Salma Hayek who stars in Desperado (1995) with Antonio Banderas who stars in Spy Kids.

Battleship (2012)

Loosely based on the board game of the same name, this sci-fi action film directed by Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights) stars Taylor Kitsch, Liam Neeson, Alexander Skarsgård and Rihanna. It follows a group of Navy officers and seamen who must defend the world from an alien invasion. The film was nominated for seven Razzies. Rihanna won for Worst Supporting Actress. SDOJB: Jesse Borrego stars in Con Air (1997) with John Cusack who stars in Broadcast News (1987) with Joan Cusack who stars in Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016) with Rihanna who stars in Battleship.

The Warrens of Virginia (1915) y

Legendary fi lmmaker Cecil B. DeMille (The Greatest Show on Earth) directed this silent Civil War drama starring British actor House Peters as Ned Burton, a soldier who leaves his wife Agatha (Blanche Sweet) to join the Union Army. Prints of the silent fi lm are held at the George Eastman Museum Motion Picture Collection in Rochester, New York. SDOJB: Jesse Borrego stars in Blood In, Blood Out (1993) with Richard Masur who stars in The Winter of Our Discontent (1983) with Nan Martin who stars in The Buster Keaton Story (1957) with Cecil B. DeMille who directed The Warrens of Virginia.

Dimension Films

organized by future U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt and the time he spent in Cuba during the Spanish-American War of 1898. Fragments of this fi lm are housed at the Museum of Modern Art and the Library of Congress.

SDOJB: Jesse Borrego stars in Retroactive (1997) with M. Emmett Walsh who stars in The Escape Artist (1982) with Huntz Hall who stars in Clancy Street Boys (1943) with Noah Beery who stars in The Rough Riders.

West Point of the Air (1935)

This war drama stars Oscar-winning actor Wallace Beery (The Champ) as Master Sergeant “Big Mike” Stone, who hopes his son “Little Mike” (Robert Young) will follow his footsteps and become an aviator. Despite graduating from West Point and going to pilot training at Randolph Field in Texas, things don’t go as planned when Little Mike blames himself for an accident that causes his friend to lose a leg. The film’s aerial shots were a combination of live action and airplane models. SDOJB: Jesse Borrego stars in Lone Star (1996) with Chris Cooper who stars in The Muppets (2011) with Mickey Rooney who stars in Slave Ship (1937) with Wallace Berry who stars in West Point of the Air.

I Wanted Wings (1941) E

Not to be confused with the Academy Awardwinning 1927 fi lm Wings, which was also shot in San Antonio, this war drama starring Ray Milland, William Holden and Veronica Lake

The Rough Riders (1927)

Twelve years prior to directing The Wizard of Oz, director Victor Fleming made this silent war fi lm starring actor Noah Beery. The fi lm tells the fictional story of a military unit

Paramount Pictures

Paramount Pictures

also won an Oscar for Best Special Effects for the aerial scenes shot at Randolph Field. The fi lm tells the story of three recruits in the Army Air Corps — the son of a wealthy businessman, a college football player and an auto mechanic.

SDOJB: Jesse Borrego stars in New York Stories (1989) with Patricia Arquette who stars in S.O.B. (1981) with William Holden who stars in I Wanted Wings.

A Guy Named Joe (1943)

Three years after winning the Academy Award for Best Director for the 1940 classic Gone with the Wind, filmmaker Victor Fleming teamed up with two-time Oscar winner Spencer Tracy in this WWII drama. In the film, Tracy stars as Major Pete Sandidge, a pilot who is killed and learns when he gets to heaven that every pilot has their own guardian angel. In 1989, director Steven Spielberg made Always, a remake of this film. SDOJB: Jesse Borrego stars in New York Stories (1989) with Illeana Douglas who stars in Cape Fear (1991) with Gregory Peck who stars in How the West Was Won (1962) with Spencer Tracy who stars in A Guy Named Joe.

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Deep Cuts

rise, keep an eye out for an LGBTcentric summer fi lm series that will complement the exhibition “Transamerica/n.” Free, 7pm last Thursday of the month, McNay Art Museum, 6000 N. New Braunfels Ave., (210) 824-5368, mcnayart.org.

Elevated Movie Viewing

H-E-B Cinema on the Plaza

T

BY KELLY MERKA NELSON

he endless sequels and lazy blockbusters parading through local movie theaters often don’t seem worth premium admission when you know you can catch them on Netflix in a few months, especially when you have to deal with crowds, overpriced snacks and mysteriously sticky armrests.

But all that hassle may well be behind you — not only does our fair city host its fair share of special screenings, it’s easier than ever to see movies for free in a range of unique locales.

Slab Cinema L

There’s nothing quite like rocking up to the old Mission Drive-In on a muggy summer evening with a crowd of like-minded movie buffs, spreading out a picnic blanket on the scrubby grass and sitt ing back with a cold beverage to enjoy a ’90s cult classic (in my case, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). Slab Cinema founders Angela and Rick Martinez want to share that feeling as far and wide as possible, and they’ve succeeded beyond their wildest expectations.

With a schedule that often features screenings in multiple locations on the same night, attendees are truly spoiled for choice.

Films range from ’80s blockbusters to current hits, with a bunch of kid-friendly content mixed in. Those with more refined taste can stick to Oscar-winners like Moonlight, while the rest of us plebeians can catch the latest Marvel and Pixar flicks. If you prefer your movies to be aged to perfection, they still have you covered — on this year’s schedule are classics including Grease, Mary Poppins, and Prett y In Pink.

The best part? The movies are shown in amazing outdoor locations across the city. In addition to the Mission Marquee Plaza, Slab Cinema has also made appearances at the Alamo, Travis Park, Confluence Park and the

Steven Starnes

San Antonio Museum of Art, among other venues. Free, times and locations vary, (210) 2129373, slabcinema.com.

Texas Public Radio’s Cinema Tuesdays

Starting the Tuesday after Memorial Day, our local TPR station, KSTX (89.1 FM), hosts a weekly fi lm series that runs for 12 weeks each summer. San Antonians flock to the Santikos Bijou to beat the heat and enjoy independent, foreign and classic fi lms hand-selected by the fi lm series’ founder, Nathan Cone. Each summer’s fi lm selections feature a bit of something for everyone: past screenings have ranged from the restored version of German expressionist epic Metropolis to Mel Brooks’ Wild West laugh-fest Blazing Saddles.

In addition to the summer schedule, every spring Cinema Tuesdays hosts a special screening of the year’s Oscar-nominated short fi lms and animated shorts prior to the Academy Awards. $15 suggested donation, 7:30pm Tuesdays from late May through early August, Santikos Bijou, 4522 Fredericksburg Rd., (210) 614-8977, tpr.org.

Get REEL

The McNay Art Museum’s Get REEL film series features critically acclaimed movies of all genres, selected in sets of four by guest curators in conjunction with featured exhibitions. Curated

by Manuel Solis to accompany the exhibition “American Dreams: Classic Cars and Postwar Paintings,” this spring’s films are all vehiculardramas: Taxi Driver, Tucker: The Man and His Dream, Thelma & Louise and La Mission.

If you’re feeling particularly artsy, H-E-B sponsors free museum admission on Thursdays beginning at 4 p.m., so you can meander the McNay’s expansive collection for a few hours before sitt ing down in the Chiego Lecture Hall to enjoy the movie, and, as the temperatures

Texan grocery behemoth H-E-B and the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts teamed up to fund a special outdoor fi lm series at the city’s premiere performance space. The Tobin’s outdoor plaza features a 32-foot video wall, on which they project a monthly family-friendly movie with free admission. Past offerings have included everything from Emma Stonefronted Oscar-winner La La Land to the Robin Williams classic Jumanji. Visitors can enjoy thematically appropriate concessions for each movie as well as a full bar, and are encouraged to “BYOC” (bring your own chairs) for their comfort. Free, 8pm second Friday of the month, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, Will Naylor Smith River Walk Plaza, 100 Auditorium Circle, (210) 223-8624, tobincenter.org.

Alamo Drafthouse p

Since its advent in Austin in the late ’90s, the Alamo Drafthouse has redefined theater-going for the general public. With its expansive food and drink menu, strictly enforced anti-noise and texting rules, and its trademark pre-shows filled with thematically appropriate odds and oddities, the Drafthouse is a theater mecca for many.

In addition to a full inventory of the latest blockbusters, San Antonio’s three Draft house locations host special screenings on the regular, covering everything from musical sing-alongs to horror splatter-fests. The Draft house goes all out for their Movie Parties series, providing themed props and entertainment to go with the flicks. $8.50-$15.25, times and locations vary, drafthouse.com/san-antonio.

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Brothers Blair and Drew Hicks grew up watching fi lms that fall into a genre they like to call “righteous trash” — oft-overlooked low-budget fi lms, schlocky horror, TV movies and other oddities that time forgot. Every final Friday, self-styled “trashies” gather at Künstler Brewing in Southtown to drink craft beer and enjoy the Hicks’ selection for the month. Movies range from cult classics like Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Conan the Barbarian to deep cuts like the 1991 body-horror manga-adapatation The Guyver. Free, 8pm last Friday of the month, Künstler Brewing, 302 E. Lachapelle, (210) 6884519, planetxcinema.com.

Video Dungeon Theatre

Video Dungeon Theatre screens a range of cult classics and forgotten oddities that embrace the tape-trading aesthetic of ’90s VHS culture.

Last fall, they even scored the Texas premiere of Gutboy: A Badtime Story, a Troma-produced horror comedy musical puppet show (yep — you read that right!). For 2019, VDT celebrates #ThrowbackThursdays with free monthly screenings at Oak Hills Tavern. Films on deck include cult hits from the ’80s and ’90s like Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie Nights, David Lynch’s Wild at Heart and the Sylvester Stallone-fronted Cobra. Free, 9pm third Thursday of the month, Oak Hills Tavern, 7920 Fredericksburg Rd., (210) 614-8855, facebook.com/ thevideodungeon.

Summer Film Fests

18720 Stone Oak Pkwy, Ste 121 SA, TX 78258 Mon-Sat 10A-7P | Sun 10A-6P

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If you’re looking to go all out, you can catch two film festivals back-toback this summer. The country’s longest-running Latino film festival, the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center’s Cinefestival returns this July.

Past festivals have included visiting luminaries Guillermo Del Toro, Edward James Olmos and Gina Rodriguez alongside the fresh faces of the fest’s featured filmmakers, with master class panels scheduled in addition to the slate of films. Prices vary, July 11-14, Guadalupe Theater, 1301 Guadalupe St., (210) 271-3151, cinefestival.org.

Two weeks later, the San Antonio Film Festival (SAFILM) kicks off its 25th anniversary festivities at the Tobin Center. While the event accepts submissions internationally, each year a growing contingent of local filmmakers has been showcased. Maybe 2019 is when you’ll get to see the first success of San Anto’s next big director. Prices vary, July 30-August 4, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle, safilm.com.

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D A W N

of the Second Series. Upcoming plays include the midcentury drama Little Foxes (May 3-26), followed by the one-man show I’m Not Lying starring Jaston Williams of Greater Tuna fame (June 7-17). $18-$33, 1924 Fredericksburg Rd., (210) 589-8450, classictheatre.org

Greatest Hits & Deep Cuts

Theater Companies

Broadway Tours \

B

BY KELLY MERKA NELSON

elieve it or not, San Antonio boasts an incredibly robust live theater community. Yes, even in the age of streaming!

Local theater companies put on everything from Andrew Lloyd Webber hits to wacky original musicals starring frogs, so whether your tastes skew toward canonized classics or experimental performances, there’s something here for you to love.

The Public Theater

Originally established as the San Antonio Dramatic Club in 1912, the Public Theater of San Antonio is the oldest theater company in South Texas. If the name sounds unfamiliar, it may be because you know them as the Playhouse – in early 2018, the company rebranded under the name the Public with a renewed mission to “produce live theater that inspires, educates and connects communities.”

The Public produces plays in two performance spaces: splashy musicals and other big productions in the Russell Hill Rogers Auditorium, and smaller, more intimate performances in the Cellar Theater. The alternating schedule allows the company to put on productions at a breakneck pace, so there’s very

Apex Touring

little time in which there’s not a play running.

Highlights from this year include hit musicals Once (May 16-June 9), Mary Poppins, (September 12-October 13) and Elf: The Musical (November 21-December 22), as well as more experimental productions like Freud’s Last Session (April 18-May 12), Sink, Florida, Sink (June 13-30), and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime (December 26-January 19). $10-$40, 800 W. Ashby Pl., (210) 733-7258, thepublicsa.org.

It’s hard enough to plan a trip to NYC, let alone try to snag notoriously sold-out and insanely priced Broadway tickets to hit musicals like Hamilton. Fortunately, there’s not one but two ways to catch touring Broadway productions in the city at two premiere performance spaces.

For its BMW of San Antonio Signature Series, the Tobin Center hosts one-night engagements of touring musicals. This spring’s events include The Wizard of Oz (March 12), Monty Python’s Spamalot (April 24), and The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical (May 15). After each performance, the artists will pop back out for a Q&A session as part of the Tobin’s Generation NEXT Education Initiative. Prices vary, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, H-E-B Performance Hall, 100 Auditorium Circle, (210) 223-8624, tobincenter.org.

If your schedule is a bit more crowded, Broadway in San Antonio hosts longer-running engagements at the Majestic Theatre. Mixed in with the long-touring classics on this year’s schedule are the hotly anticipated Hamilton (May 7-26) and Dear Evan Hansen (Dec 17-22), plus an appearance by Blue Man Group in November.

Prices vary, Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston St., (210) 226-3333, sanantonio.broadway.com.

Woodlawn Theatre

Founded in 2012, the Woodlawn Theatre is relatively new on the scene, but that hasn’t stopped them from making a splash. The company puts on six musicals a year in the historic Woodlawn Theatre, which was originally built in 1945 (and notably hosted the 1960 premiere of John Wayne’s The Alamo).

The Woodlawn incorporates both canonized classics and contemporary hits each year, and for 2019 audiences have In the Heights (April 12-May 5), Dreamgirls (August 23-September 15), and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (October 11-November 3) to look forward to. $18-$30, 1920 Fredericksburg Rd., (210) 267-8388, woodlawntheatre.org.

The Classic Theatre

The Vex

Right next door to the Woodlawn is the Classic Theatre’s black-box performance space.

Founded in 2008, the Classic’s mission is to produce “excellent theatre that is relevant, diverse, entertaining and transformative.” Each season features both local and national artists in four main-stage shows, plus several smaller productions that fall under the umbrella

Located inside the Barshop Jewish Community Center is the Sheldon Vexler Theatre — affectionally nicknamed “the Vex” — a black-box performance space that hosts four productions per season. This year, the Vex will conclude its 20th season and enter a new decade of performances, continuing the company’s tradition of performing shows with its own unique “Vex twist.” Once the season closes out this spring with a rousing performance of Cabaret (May 4-June 2), the Vex will undergo a major expansion project that includes renovations to the lobby, theater seating and more. $15-$23, 12500 NW Military Hwy., (210) 302-6835, vexler.org. 43 6

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(210) 592-1060 | 1880 NACOGDOCHES RD. | 114 BROADWAY ST. NATURALHEIGHTSTX.COM

The Overtime Theater

6 41

Jump-Start Performance Co.

Jump-Start Performance Co. is the longest-running performance-art company in San Antonio. Since 1985, the company has produced performance art and experimental theater, including “over 500 original performance works.” Jump-Start has a long history of collaboration in the city, working with San Antonio College, the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center and the Classic Theatre, among others. Not limited to just theatrical works, Jump-Start hosts dancers, musicians and visual artists in its space as well. Exemplifying their mission is this spring’s “W-I-P Performance Lab,” which gives a space for artists to present “new, in-progress performance-based work,” after which they will engage in a dialogue with the audience for constructive feedback. Prices vary, 710 Fredericksburg Rd., (210) 227-5867, jump-start.org.

The Overtime Theater L

Tired of seeing productions of Rent and Les Misérables constantly dominating the stage? Never fear, the Overtime Theater is here!

Founded in 2007, the Overtime puts on live theater unlike anything you’ll see at other companies in town. Dedicated to promoting new work by local artists — the weirder the better — the Overtime also hosts improv group the Denials as well as one-off events like Nerd Court’s geeky debate nights. Premiering in March is the new, original musical Frog’s Legs: Love Among the Lily Pads, featuring singing frogs and cats in a story described as “a modern-day sett ing of Midsummer Night’s Dream with a Seinfeld spin.” Prices vary, 5409 Bandera Rd., Suite 205, (210) 557-7562, theovertimetheater.org.

Teatro Audaz

Based out of the Public Theater, Teatro Audaz is a Latinx pop-up theater company that seeks to center marginalized voices, including people of color, LGBTQ individuals, immigrants and women. The company produces plays in both English and Spanish and also hosts special events like the Glam Clam, “a drag novela brunch series.”

Past productions include a 2019 DreamWeek performance of William Shakespeare’s comedy The Taming of the Shrew, in which the sett ing was updated to a modern border town, and Casa de Muñeca, an adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House. Prices and locations vary, (210) 401-7060, teatroaudaz.com. sacurrent.com • San Antonio City Guide • CURRENT 43

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Greatest Hits & Deep Cuts

Retail Therapy

S

BY BRYAN RINDFUSS

an Antonio may not be the shopping destination of everyone’s dreams, but what it may lack in metropolitan cachet it easily makes up for with something far more important: authenticity.

Whether you’re in the market for a truly unusual gift or simply need the distraction of some quality browsing, our list of usual suspects and lesserknown gems should rise to the occasion.

Alamo Antique Mall 5

With roughly 30 vendors spread across three floors, the maze-like Alamo Antique Mall can feel a bit like a time capsule smack in the middle of downtown. Vintage hats and bags, wellpreserved issues of Life magazine, kitchenware from the Atomic Age, military relics and tchotchkes galore are among the treasures to be found here, but the hands-down fan favorite is upstairs at Alamo Records — a goldmine of more than 90,000 vintage and rare albums collected by knowledgeable music lover Will Day. While you’re in the area, keep the old-school vibes flowing with a visit to nearby San Antonio landmark Paris Hatters. 125 Broadway, (210) 2244354, alamoantiquemall.com.

Feliz Modern

Mario and Ginger Diaz’s bright and bubbly boutique Feliz Modern prett y much exemplifies the term “retail therapy.” Built around a mantra of “Art/Life/Fun,” the intensely colorful and playful shop is like a brick-and-mortar mood enhancer thank to racks and shelves stocked with a curated selection of quirky cards, pillows, pins, stickers, housewares and affordable prints made by local artists. In addition to totes, tees and jewelry from hyper-local outfits like BarbacoApparel and VeryThat, shoppers can expect to spot giftables inspired by some of the Alamo City’s favorite things — from tacos and avocados to Selena and Frida Kahlo. 110 W. Olmos Dr., (210) 622-8364, felizmodern.com.

Fiesta on Main

Bryan Rindfuss

Heralded by the seasonal piñatas dangling from the trees out front, there’s always a celebration in the works at Fiesta on Main. Although it’s a no-brainer for anyone planning a Fiesta party (cascarones, confett i, papel picado and party supplies in every color of the rainbow are all mainstays here), the shop is a year-round destination for traditional Mexican and TexMex wares including guayaberas, embroidered dresses, ceramics, folk art, T-shirts and talavera kitchenware. 2025 N. Main Ave., (210) 591-8144, alamofiesta.com.

hunting ground for those who appreciate the furnishings of decades past. A deserved winner of Best Furniture Store in the Current’s 2018 readers’ poll, the shop creates inviting vignettes seemingly plucked from a ’50s movie set with an ever-evolving inventory that complements “high-quality midcentury modern furnishings and decorative objects” with “soulful folk art, early Texas paintings and dashes of other unexpected eye pleasers.” 4347 McCullough Ave., (210) 902-1217, periodmodern.com.

Period Modern

Named after a quaint, colorful suburb of Mexico City, Blue Star mainstay San Angel boasts “one of the world’s most provocative 47 6 and comprehensive collections of

Striving for a balance that’s “at once worldly and San Antonio,” Olmos Park midcentury authority Period Modern is a cavernous

San Angel Folk Art Gallery

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folk, outsider, visionary and vernacular art, featuring artists from Mexico, Latin America, the United States, Europe and Africa.” Run by collector/curator Henry “Hank” Lee along with contemporary artist Leigh Anne Lester and writer/performer Paul Bonin-Rodriguez, the shop abounds in curiosities. Ceramics, masks, baskets, crosses, paintings, textiles and Día de los Muertos figurines share the artfully arranged confines with one of San Angel’s signatures — 16-pleat guayaberas customcrafted in Mexico from whimsical fabrics. 110 Blue Star, (210) 226-6688, sanangelfolkart.com.

Vega sums up as “a little bit of everything for everyone.”

1705 Blanco Road, (210) 731-9787, karolinasantiques.com.

Mockingbird Handprints No. 9 Florals, Chocolates & Gifts

lots more in between. Housed in an aptly retro storefront in Dignowity Hill, the cozy shop and its Instagram-ready arrangements are likely to spark a few decorating ideas, even if you don’t snap up an item or two. 904 Nolan St., (210) 6067334, goodgoodstx.com.

Karolina’s Antiques

GOOD goods

From the incredibly imaginative mind of revered interior designer and Uncommon Objects co-founder D’Ette Cole comes GOOD goods, an eclectic shop that mixes up wellpreserved midcentury furniture with found objects, jewelry, quirky home furnishings and

A Midtown favorite on a particularly eclectic stretch of Blanco, Karolina’s is the family-fueled operation of lifelong picker Maria Vega and her gay sons Anthony and Uriel Diaz. Putting a funky, LGBT-friendly spin on the antique mall format, the large, multicolored space comprises between eight and 15 vendor booths stocked with vintage clothing, vinyl, kitschy collectibles, artwork, costume jewelry and even new furnishings and gifts. Winner of Best Antique Store in the Current’s 2018 readers’ poll, Karolina’s strives to carry what

Local Makers & Designers Anthony Ryan Auld

Texas-based fashion designer and Project Runway All Stars season two winner Anthony Ryan Auld shares his creative vision with San Antonio at Couleur + Blindé (4704 Broadway) — his Alamo Heights shop stocked with affordably priced womenswear (most of which he designs himself), curated accessories and vegan soaps and soy candles in scents like cedar, patchouli and blackberry sage. couleurblinde.com.

BarbacoApparel p

Few have managed to distill the Alamo City’s idiosyncrasies into buyable goods better than Nydia Huizar, the graphic artist and

boss lady behind BarbacoApparel.

In many ways bringing the San Antonio souvenir into a quirky, contemporary context, BarbacoApparel’s T-shirts, prints, totes, pins and stickers spoof and celebrate everything from Tejana Queen Selena and bygone discount store Solo Serve to fl amboyant TV psychic Walter Mercado and bean and cheese tacos. barbacoapparel.com.

Bexar Goods Co.

A family brand run by brothers Falcon and Christian Craft-Rubio along with their cousin Guy Rubio, Bexar Goods specializes in rugged leather bags and accessories that can “journey the world with you, and develop character and charm from the environment and adventures they experience with you.” Inspired by both outdoor travel and the history of leather as it relates to the Texas Hill Country, the San Antonio-based outfit maintains a retail presence

From an unassuming corner just below Brick at Blue Star, Jane Bishop’s bright and colorful shop Mockingbird Handprints presents shoppers and browsers with “an eclectic mix of art and home accents.” While Bishop’s own handiwork can be seen in imaginative wallpapers and vintage chairs reupholstered in hand-dyed textiles, the shop also carries a curated assortment of affordable pieces created by local artists, including ceramicist Diana Kersey and jewelry designer Laura Quiñones.

1420 S. Alamo St., Suite 108, (210) 878-5711, mockingbirdhandprints.com.

No. 9 Florals, Chocolates & Gifts T

A retail extension of Laredo native David Garcia’s successful floral design business Statue of Design, No. 9 is anything but your run-of-the-mill flower shop. Visually and stylistically inspired by the mystery and magic of New Orleans, the Midtown emporium 49 6

via Outland Provision Co. (2202 Broadway), a “brick-and-mortar” Airstream stocked with bags, belts, cuffs, wallets, dog collars and even Apple watch bands. bexargoods.com.

Dawson+Hellman

the brick-and-mortar anchor for an array of mobile vendors, including Grey Moon Vintage, Traveler Barbershop and Mila Coffee. facebook.com/richtergoods.

Sonsuz Style

A creative collaboration between San Antonio’s own Sonya Dawson and LA-based Analise Hellmann, this luxury loungewear line channels an affi nity for cannabis culture and 1960s nostalgia into pajamas made in a “pot toile” print and kaftans and scarves inspired by the pill-popping babes in the fi lm Valley of the Dolls. dawsonhellmann.com.

Named after the Turkish term for “the infinite,” this luxe resort line from esteemed local fashion and bridal designer Angelina Mata conjures both relaxed sophistication and seaside vibes with kaftans, cover-ups and kimonos rendered in silk, linen, cotton or hemp. Effortlessly chic and extremely versatile, certain pieces can be worn up to nine different ways. angelinamata.com.

Richter Goods

VeryThat

Launched by Mexico City transplant Mario Guajardo in 2012, the independent apparel company Richter Goods upholds a classic American aesthetic with sharply tailored jeans, button-down shirts in solids and prints, and other casual staples. Housed in the once-seedy confines of Broadway News (2202 Broadway), the operation serves as

Billed as a “one-stop Chicana shop,” Cristina Martinez’s beloved VeryThat translates the essence of San Anto into highly giftable items, including T-shirts, tiles and totes emblazoned with local favorites like Frida Kahlo and Selena and amusing sayings such as “Tacos Before Vatos” and “Chingona Como Mi Madre.” verythat.com.

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Bryan Rindfuss

creates stylish arrangements in vessels that truly make a statement — including ceramic skulls, Mexican pottery and vases depicting Frida Kahlo’s iconic visage. But, as the name suggests, it’s not all flowers: No. 9 also offers unique gift baskets, candles, pillows, cards and jewelry, not to mention one of the city’s finest chocolate counters. 1701 Blanco Road, (210) 232-4471, no9floralandgifts.com.

Execeptional Cuisine + High End & Trending Fashions + Fitness + Beauty + Home Decor & Services Photography + Artists + Events + Classes + Toys + Children & Baby Wear + Antiques + Jewelry 555 W Bitters Rd. Hill Country Village, TX 78216 PROFESSIONALLY MANAGED BY

Papa Jim’s Botánica L

Both a San Antonio institution and a local rite of passage, Papa Jim’s is a one-stop shop for veladoras, herbs, bath salts, incense, religious paraphernalia, santería books, magical potions and myriad other items that might leave you scratching your head — and quite possibly afraid to even inquire about. Organized on a website with categories that span from Cleansing Items and Esoteric Gels to Tarot Card Decks and Voodoo Dolls, this mega-botánica is a no-brainer when you’re in need of a pregnant Santa Muerte statue, a Protection and Abundance Amulet, a Destroy Your Enemies Kit, handy Court Case Oil or a bott le of Reversible Herbal Liquid Yard Dressing promising to “remove and return all evil doings that have been done to you.” As the mainstay’s motto reminds: “Whatever works.” 5630 S. Flores St., (210) 922-6665, papajimsbotanica.com.

Yeya’s Antiques & Oddities

In keeping with its moniker, Yeya’s Antiques & Oddities bills itself as an “independent, creative, antique, random-objects junk shop.” If that distinct descriptor doesn’t conjure anything tangible, imagine industrial salvage, carnival relics, vintage signage, light fi xtures, license plates, mannequins, patio furniture, iron gates, severed baby doll heads and truly unidentifiable items spilling out of an old house and into an equally cluttered yard. If that reminds you of that time you dropped acid and binge-watched an entire season of Hoarders, keep in mind that there’s a method to this madness. As suggested on the East Side curiosity’s website, it can take a litt le imagination to incorporate rescued oddities into your everyday life — and there’s a special talent to “finding great items in a junk coma just waiting to be revived and repurposed.” 1423 E. Commerce St., (210) 827-5555, yeyasantiques.net.

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Change, visit rootsofchangecoop.org, 1416 E. Commerce St, (210) 299-2666. Join the group in the garden for their weekly work days — open to potential and current members — 4-7pm Wednesdays.

Beto De Leon, SWU Environmental Justice Coordinator

At SWU and Roots of Change, “the way we’ve talked about food justice is to build more gardens and build relationships with the land,” Beto De Leon said. “I live in the West Side, and we have a really hard time to access organic, healthy foods — we usually have hot Cheetos or beer pushed at us.”

Areas like the West Side lack access to stores with organic produce, “because they aren’t usually thought of as important to communities of color,” De Leon said. “But there’s a power, an autonomy, in understanding where [our] foods are coming from.”

Suzy González, Artist p

For San Antonio-based artist and activist Suzy González, meaningful change can begin with an uncomfortable conversation. As a 2018 NALAC fellow, co-founder of Yes Ma’am Zine and the Dos Mestizx collective, González has helped to further important conversations surrounding food justice, health and socio-political needs for historically marginalized communities.

González uses everything — from highway underpasses to corn husks and other organic materials — as potential canvases for her work. “There has historically been a class divide where food and health are concerned,” she said. “How are we supposed to build activist movements — create real change — if we’re all sick?

Rebel Mariposa, Owner, La Botánica \

Deep Cuts

Josh Huskin

Food Justice Leaders

I

“From a business perspective, when you talk about food justice there’s a lot of people — and chefs — that get offended because [food justice] feels like a threat to the meat and dairy [in their lifestyle],” Rebel said. “I get it and understand. I don’t want to deprive anyone of a livelihood, but I think talking about it is part of our education. We need to understand what consumers have access to — that goes for businesses, educators and the city council.

“There’s things happening in Portland, Denver and California; the demand for cleaner, better food is coming from the consumer,” she said.

“San Antonio is still a couple of decades behind [other cities] in terms of what we demand, but food justice is essential to finding that vision of where we’re going.”

BY LEA THOMPSON

n the era of 24/7 news coverage, it’s easier than ever to feel increasingly helpless and burned out by political updates and coverage. But your food choices — how you shop, what you eat — is one political act that allows you to reclaim that power.

San Antonio’s food deserts — areas that lack accessible and affordable healthy foods — have contributed to generations of health issues, high obesity and diabetes rates, but new voices and resources have emerged to help people, especially those in historically marginalized communities, reclaim that power — one plant and one bite at a time.

Southwest Workers Union (SWU), Roots of Change

The Southwest Workers Union (SWU) is an organization dedicated to justice, education and sustainability for lowincome individuals and their families. Its nonprofit group, Roots of Change, invites locals to become an active part of its collective garden, learn to grow and cook healthy foods and better understand how plants can strengthen or heal communities. To learn more about Roots of

Suzy González

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Rica and a new dining concept — expected to revitalize La Villita’s Maverick Plaza — slated to open by 2021.

Greatest Hits

Local Chefs

“I think that everything I have done and continue to do will always be part of our [city’s] food heritage, always with a special connection to Mexico; it’s where our family comes from,” Hernandez said. “We’re seeing where cuisines and cultures from countries like Germany and Spain intersect with the indigenous and preHispanic techniques and flavors. It shows that we need chefs to understand and be mindful of our local cuisine and our food community.”

Elizabeth Johnson

San Antonio is one of two U.S. cities to receive designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, and culinary leaders like chef Elizabeth Johnson helped the city reach that milestone. Johnson, who trained at the CIA and worked as an instructor at the San Antonio campus, celebrates the area’s indigenous roots through healthy, colorful dishes made with native ingredients and plants of the land. At her restaurant Pharm Table, diners can expect to find dishes and beverages that reaffi rm the idea that “food is medicine.”

Diego Galicia & Rico Torres

It wasn’t long ago that mainstream American food culture (incorrectly) positioned Mexican food as cheap and fast dining, but Mixtli has helped to correct that misconception. At Mixtli, chefs Diego Galicia and Rico Torres explore regional Mexican food, recognizing the indigenous traditions, ingredients and flavors that have shaped and elevated modern dining culture, and asserting that Mexican cuisine is something worth celebrating.

I

BY LEA THOMPSON

ndigenous culinary traditions have defined our area for centuries, long before San Antonio’s 1718 founding.

Those indigenous culinary roots are still alive — they can be found in community and restaurant gardens, local dishes and ingredients — but the chefs that are most closely identified with the city have just begun to highlight that history, and ongoing cultural evolution, in our food.

San Antonio chefs are venturing beyond the delicious but expected Tex-Mex standards and outdated ideas of “authentic” food culture to create new dishes that are forged by the elements earth, fire and water.

EARTH Johnny Hernandez

FIRE

Josh Huskin

Steve McHugh T

Hernandez is among the leading chefs in San Antonio to have graduated from the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) with a focus on sustainability, celebration of native plants and understanding of how dishes fit into larger regional and national food conversations.

“Over the last five years, we’ve been diving into [dining and culinary experiences] with more precision and knowledge and a broader understanding of our food heritage,” he said.

Hernandez has built a restaurant empire that includes La Gloria, Burgerteca, Villa

Chef Steve McHugh could easily represent any of the elements at Cured, but flames are essential to many memorable plates like the fried oysters and beer-can mussels or the house pork chop with grits — all prepared with flames, fresh ingredients, New Orleans traditions and Southwestern flavors.

Jason Dady

Jason Dady was born into a food business family — his grandparents owned a tavern in Nebraska, and he picked up knife skills from his grandfather, a master butcher, before 57 6 attending school at Texas Tech and

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Rolled ice cream - Sandwiches Soup - Toasts - Smoothie Bowls

mid-’80s. Auden launched his own restaurant — combining classic culinary techniques, Southwestern traditions and global influences — with Biga in 1991. For more than 25 years, Biga (renamed Biga on the Banks upon relocating to the River Walk in 2000) has inspired several generations of San Antonio chefs and diners to take pride in the city’s culinary roots — and to venture outside of the expected.

File

working in kitchens 6 55 throughout the nation.

He launched his San Antonio career at the Lodge Restaurant of Castle Hills in 2001, and has since expanded his chef-driven dining empire to include Range, Tre Trattoria, Shuck Shack and Alamo BBQ — all with special understanding of how heat can transform food to a memorable dining experience.

Michael Sohocki

Whether he’s cooking preindustrial revolution-style at Restaurant Gwendolyn, firing up pizzas at Il Forno or serving some of the city’s best ramen at Kimura, chef Michael Sohocki uses fire to deliver an incredible meal. Sohocki, who works with local farmers to secure the best ingredients and products available, delivers a unique experience for guests every time.

WATER Bruce Auden

Auden was only 17 when he left North London and pursued a culinary education and career in the states, but he quickly rose as a chef-to-watch at restaurants in Chicago, Dallas and Houston before arriving on the San Antonio scene in the

Lisa Astorga-Watel

At Bite, chef Lisa AstorgaWatel serves rich and colorful meals — inspired by her Chilean family, Texas education and jobs in kitchens across the world — such as the crabmeat risotto, sourced from the Gulf, and the roasted Chilean sea bass, and she understands why this is a unique time to be a chef in San Antonio. “We have a new space that didn’t exist just a few years ago; people are paying attention to the things we serve, the food we create,” she said. “It’s exciting to see [elements] work well together.”

Andrew Weissman

Chef Andrew Weissman, a San Antonio native, graduated from the CIA and worked in French kitchens before he returned home to open Le Rêve — a restaurant that helped revitalize San Antonio’s culinary scene — in 1998. He went on to open (and close) several influential local restaurants including Sandbar and Osteria Il Sogno, but Weissman has established Moshe’s Golden Falafel, the Luxury and Signature as fi xtures within the local dining community. Signature highlights the best of East Coast and Gulf Coast seafood in dishes like the butter-poached lobster and crispy Texas prawns.

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Deep Cuts

Food Entrepreneurs

BY LEA THOMPSON

James Vives, Brushfire Farms

A family recipe and the chile pequin plants of South Texas inspired James Vives to start making spicy-sweet jams, but his time in Break Fast & Launch, a culinary business accelerator, made him realize that he could reinvent the way people thought about jam.

“The chile pequin is the end all be all of flavors, you cannot find another pepper like it,” he said.

Vives has developed several chile pequin jam flavors — including the Pear Burner, made with prickly pear, and the Hill Country Heat, made with peaches from Fredericksburg — that have been recognized in a number of regional and international food competitions, including the Good Food Awards.

You can find Brushfire in local stores like Smoke Shack, Cooper’s Meat Market and Larder at Hotel Emma. In 2019, the company hopes to release a new line of glazes, with plans to move into a local kitchen and establish their official headquarters locally in March.

“My goal is to really build a Texas-made, Texas-sourced brand to go go statewide,” said Vives, who will enter several regional taste and small business competitions this year. “My thought process on momentum is: Don’t stop — just keep going and keep growing.”

Cheryl White, Deep River Specialty Foods

Cheryl White turned her passion for creative, unique dishes like homemade beer mustard into a career path, before she paused her ambitions to raise a family with her husband, Jeff. When the couple retired to San Antonio in 2013, she began creating a new line of food products.

“Having lived across the country, we had a large palate profi le available in our products, but we found Texas was totally

different,” she said. We had a few big hits, and we were selected as a finalist in H-E-B’s Quest for Texas Best competition, which brought our Alamo Beer mustard to more than 170 stores.”

Today, Deep River Specialty offers dozens of flavorful products — barbecue sauces, jams, jellies, gourmet mustards and even baked goods — designed to enhance the health and lifestyle of their customers. “We offer a variety of flavors that can be used in different ways and in everyday recipes, whether it’s a sandwich or sauce or pasta,” she said. I want [our products and work] to inspire the average family and young children to make delicious and healthy [dishes] for themselves.”

Oscar Perez, Tio Pelon’s Salsita 5

Architect Oscar Perez was in grad school and between jobs when he learned how to bottle homegrown produce and make salsitas — influenced by his Norteño heritage and a focus on bold, bright flavors.

“I really didn’t start this as a business, I was just playing around,” Perez said. The Tio Pelon brand has since grown to include tomatillo, cremosa, an “Emma” salsita named for his grandmother and a special black label chipotle — all of which can be found in stores throughout Texas. Look for Oscar, his line of salsitas and three new products (including a special glaze) at local farmers markets, stores and the 2019 Texas Salsa Festival.

“I want to create an international brand — bring it throughout the United States and into Mexico, and hopefully other countries around the world,” he said. “Right now we’re starting from this central point and expanding out.”

Francisco and Tomas Pergola, Cheddie’s

Brothers Francisco and Tomas Pergola dreamed of creating the perfect snack — savory, crunchy,

Tio Pelon’s Salsita

and made with quality ingredients.

Francisco, who previously worked with dialysis centers, noticed that patients would “resort to snacking to satisfy their hunger instead of a full meal,” he said.

Together, they tested and perfected Cheddie’s, a snack with high protein, low carbs and great taste. Cheddie’s is currently manufactured and found in stores outside of Texas, but the brothers are eager to make San Antonio their official headquarters. In the meantime, local snack fans can find an assortment of Cheddie’s flavors including cheddar, white cheddar, barbecue and garlic parmesan available for sale on Amazon.

“San Antonio has always been very opening to entrepreneurs and people with ideas, and the food culture here is amazing as well,” Francisco said. “We really want to bring it back home and just grow our business.”

Katie Danielson, Zen Monkey

Army veteran Katie Danielson was transitioning to civilian life

in Los Angeles and looking for a new career when she met Eric Glandian, her future partner, in 2012. Together, the couple cofounded Zen Monkey, a company that specialized in overnight oats, a nutrient dense meal with oats, greek yogurt and fruit, without additives or artificial flavors.

“There’s some sort of [outlying perception] that healthy food is expensive or reserved for people who have the time to make big meals,”she said. “We wanted to make something that was accessible to everyone, financially accessible and better for you — better than a muffi n or pop-tart or breakfast sandwich.”

After the 2016 H-E-B’s Quest for Texas Best competition, which helped to introduce the brand to major grocery stores including H-E-B, Publix and Hy-Vee, the couple relocated all business manufacturing operations to San Antonio.

“We do have some things in the works that we’re hoping [to roll out in 2019], but we’re really excited for our growth so far,” Danielson said.

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Deep Cuts

Sweets & Snacks

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BY LEA THOMPSON

here are a few places every San Antonio native (or recent transplant) should know when it comes to grabbing a quick snack — whether it's a sweet and flaky French pastry or a fresh and flavorful fruit cup.

Josh Huskin

the vibrant decor, seemingly endless selection of late-night sweets and mariachis are unlike anything you’ll find anywhere else. 218 Produce Row, (210) 239-9215, mitierracafe.com.

American dessert imaginable — from marranitos and empanadas to conchas, tortugas and pink cake. 602 NW 24th St., (210) 434-9290, panifico.com.

Greatest Hit: Panifico Stop by Panifico for every iconic Latin

Deep Cut: Sunshine Bakery For more than 40 years, this small familyowned bakery has served the best conchas and polvorones in the city. Added bonus: They offer a variety of vegan pan dulce too.

1001 N New Braunfels Ave., (210) 797-2628, sunshinebakerysatx.com.

Classic Breads & Pastries

Greatest Hit: Bakery Lorraine L You can count on Bakery Lorraine, and pastry chefs Jeremy Mandrell and Anne Ng, for daily macarons, opera cake or a classic Croque Madame. 306 Pearl Pkwy., Suite 110, (210) 8625582, bakerylorraine.com.

Frutería

Greatest Hit: Los Cocos If you’ve never tried Los Cocos’ house fruit cup with lime and chile or the house mangonada, have you even lived in San Antonio? 1502 Bandera Rd., (210) 431-7786, loscocosmexicanrestaurant.com.

Greatest Hit: Bread Box Tina and Lucas Kent bring a fresh yet modern approach to your favorite breads, including their signature sourdough white and sourdough country boule. 555 W. Bitters Rd., Suite 115, (210) 277-8612, thebreadboxsa.com.

Greatest Hit: Las Nieves \ Stop by this neighborhood spot for classic corn in a cup, cool off with lime shaved ice or pick the classic mango and chamoy mix.

1110 W. Hildebrand Ave., (210) 785-0601, lasnievesfruitcups.com.

Deep Cut: La Boulangerie Master baker Guillame Boulard is back at La Boulangerie and blessing us with some of the best brioche in Texas. 207 Broadway, (210) 6393165, saveurs209.com/la-boulangerie.

Pan Dulce

Greatest Hit: Mi Tierra Mi Tierra is a local institution for a reason —

Gabriela Mata

Deep Cut: Tropic Express Keep it simple with an agua fresca or design your own fruit cup and add chamoy gummies or throw in a tamarindo stick for extra flavor. 10155 Culebra Rd., (210) 522-0608, facebook.com/ tropicexpress.

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GET IT DELIVERED WITH

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4642 Rigsby Ave, San Antonio, TX 78222 (210) 648-3303

2

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Greatest Hits

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Time-Tested Restaurants

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BY SARAH MARTINEZ

an Antonio’s restaurants can be measured in many ways, from the number of awards they’ve won to the role they've played in putting the city on the culinary map. But, given our city’s propensity for nostalgia, plenty of residents also take note of how long restaurants have been a part of the local food scene. These establishments have all stood the test of time, each having served San Antonians for 60-plus years.

Schilo’s Delicatessen (1914)

As the city’s oldest continuously operated restaurant, Schilo’s Delicatessen is packed with history. The deli actually began as a saloon in Beeville in 1900 before founder Fritz Schilo moved it to downtown San Antonio in 1914.

German dishes made their debut three years later, allowing customers to pair beer with the sausage of their choice. Today, those sausages and other German basics pair well with a frosty mug of Schilo’s homemade root beer. 424 E. Commerce St., (210) 223-6692, schilos.com.

San Antonio Pig Stand (1927)

Pig Stands popped up all over Texas in the 1920s and 1930s, but the only one still operating in the Alamo City can be found on Broadway,

Earl Abel’s (1933) L

the sign still immortalizing the diner’s signature menu item, the pig sandwich. SA’s Pig Stand was set to close in 2005, until waitressturned-manager Mary Ann Hill stepped up to keep the doors open. 1508 Broadway, (210) 2229923, sanantoniospigstand.com.

Grey Moss Inn (1929)

San Antonians know the 90-year-old Grey Moss Inn as a destination for fine dining in a romantic sett ing. You can bet that steaks, seafood and other signature dishes will be served up with a history lesson. Tales of hauntings are also part of that history, or so say the ghost tours that take place on the grounds.

19010 Scenic Loop Rd., Helotes, (210) 695-8301, grey-moss-inn.com.

La Fonda on Main (1932)

Inside La Fonda’s recognizable white stucco building you’ll find casual fine dining and warm hospitality – such has been the case since the restaurant’s 1932 debut. Both familiar Tex-Mex fare and an extensive menu of dishes from Mexico’s interior have kept San Antonians coming back for decades. Alicia Guadiana, the unofficial face of the restaurant, worked at La Fonda on Main for 53 years before passing away in 2017. 2415 N. Main Ave., (210) 733-0621, lafondaonmain.com.

Despite a relocation from its classic Broadway location, this Alamo Heights mainstay has managed to keep its doors open since 1933.

Restaurant founder Earl Abel needed a way to provide for his family during the Great Depression, so he opened up his own diner. He waited out a slow start, hustled to make things work and eventually opened five additional locations (all closed during World War II due to labor shortages). Sure, the 2019 Earl Abel’s is far different from the one of last century, but like its founder, it on keeps on trucking. 1639 Broadway, (210) 822-3358, earlabelssa.com.

Teka Molino (1937)

Teka Molino, one of the city’s oldest Tex-Mex eateries is known for its puffy tacos, bean cups and fried cheese tacos. The success of its San Pedro outpost led to a second location on Rittiman Road. The family-run operation prides itself on using ingredients prepared “by our family, for your family.” Throw in quick, friendly service plus affordable prices, and you’ll see why so many locals love this puro-as-hell mainstay.

Multiple locations, tekamolino.com.

De Wese’s Tip Top Cafe (1938)

Since opening its doors in 1938, De Wese’s Tip Top Cafe has served up timeless favorites that have won the hearts of locals and tourists alike. Prized for diner eats like Texas65 6 sized chicken fried steaks and golden

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Get Sauced & Tossed With Smackerel!

The ever changing recipes and delicious creations from Keenen Hendricks of Smackerel will leave your mouth watering, and your mind wondering what could be next. The experienced chef has launched this business and brought together a crowd for fan favorites over the last

Change Is Delicious

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onion rings, Tip Top has gained notoriety as a destination that proves everything is bigger in Texas. Resist the urge to finish the gargantuan portions and save room for dessert so you can enjoy a slice of pie that’s made fresh daily. 2814 Fredericksburg Rd., (210) 732-0191, facebook. com/tiptopcafesanantonio.

Hung Fong Chinese Restaurant (1939)

Calling itself the oldest Chinese restaurant in Texas, Hung Fong is a longtime resident of the ever-changing Broadway corridor. Over its 80 years in business, the family-owned dining spot has earned its place as a go-to for Chinese-American dishes like sesame chicken and egg foo yung. Come for the food and stay for the decor, which includes two neon flags — representing the two cultures of the U.S. and China — on the ceiling. Fun fact: the flags were installed before Alaska and Hawaii joined the U.S., so there are only 48 stars on the American flag. The success of the Broadway mainstay led to the 1983 opening of sister restaurant Ding How. 3624 Broadway, (210) 822-9211, hungfongsa.com.

Broadway 5050 (1927)

A grease fire took out the kitchen a few years ago and a reopening looked unlikely, but this popular Alamo Heights watering hole came back strong — and with a facelift. The 5050 continues to pack in the crowds for booze and burgers. Its refi llable B-Fiddy Fiddy glasses were popular back in the day and its happy hour drink specials still are. Plus, it boasts a menu of cut-above bar food inspired by Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. 5050 Broadway, Alamo Heights, (210) 832-0050, broadway5050.com.

Mi Tierra (1941) L

While Mi Tierra’s sprawling interior and flashy decor have defined the downtown restaurant for years, it had far more humble beginnings.

Founders Pedro and Cruz Cortez opened it as a three-table cafe in 1941, serving farmers and mercado workers in the early hours. Today, Mi Tierra is a destination for tourists and an after-hours stop for locals. The restaurant is still run by the Cortez family, though, including esteemed chef Cariño Cortez. 218 Produce Row, (210) 239-9215, mitierracafe.com.

Casa Rio (1946)

Alfred F. Beyer opened Caso Rio during the development boom that scattered restaurants and shops along the River Walk during its development. History buffs will appreciate that the Tex-Mex eatery sits on land granted in a title by the King of Spain. And the building itself — from its fireplace and cedar door to its thick rock walls — certainly

suggests a rich past. Not to mention, it’s got a fine view when you’re enjoying a margarita or two. 430 E. Commerce St., (210) 225-6718, casa-rio.com.

Jacala Mexican Restaurant (1949)

Rudolph and Adel Quiñones originally opened this near-North Side restaurant in a tiny building (hence the “jacala” part of the name, which translates to small hut). Rudolph was the kitchen wiz who perfected the restaurant’s signature enchiladas, while Adel was the friendly face of the operation. As fans became regulars, the couple added more dining space.

Today, San Antonians can choose from Jacala’s dining rooms, patio or the outdoor courtyard to enjoy its prized enchiladas. 606 West Ave., (210) 732-5222, jacala.com.

Luther’s Cafe (1949)

Part of San Antonio’s landscape for 70 years, Luther’s is all about classic Texas-style hamburgers, homemade stew and classic chili con carne. With a location in the heart of the Tobin Hill neighborhood, Luther’s has also become mainstay for the LGBT community, both as a dining establishment and as a spot to hit up for entertainment including live music and drag shows. Though known for being gay-friendly, Luther’s is an institution that welcomes all. 1503 N. Main Ave., (210) 223-7727, lutherscafe.com.

Bun N’ Barrel (1950)

Original Donut Shop (1954)

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Is it a donut shop? Or is it a taco stop? It’s both — and does them well. Although the Original Donut Shop has let San Antonians satisfy sweet cravings since 1954, tacos didn’t made their debut until the early 1990s. Long lines form most weekends, often spilling out onto Fredericksburg Road. Last October, the Deco District icon dropped its strict cash-only rule and began accepting credit cards. Even so, whether you come for the donuts and stay for the tacos or vice versa, you’re almost always guaranteed a wait. But the food’s worth it. 3307 Fredericksburg Road, (210) 734-5661, facebook. com/theoriginaldonutshop.com.

Ray’s Drive Inn (1956)

For more than 60 years, Ray’s Drive Inn has stood proud as a West Side landmark known for its puffy tacos. Raymond Lopez opened the puro dining spot in 1956, offering free movies for neighborhood families and hosting live bands on weekends. In 1982, his brother Arturo purchased the restaurant with the stipulation that its name would remain the same. Ten years later, Arturo received a trademark for first creating the “puffy taco,” and it still churns out more than 500 of the pillowy San Antonio staples daily. Though Arturo has since passed away, the legacy of Ray’s and the entire Lopez family lives on. 822 SW 19th St., (210) 432-7171, raysdriveinn.net.

Mexican Manhattan (1958)

Operating in the Alamo City since 1950, Bun N’ Barrel is all about keeping it old school. The Austin Highway landmark offers barbecue classics like pork ribs and sausage as well as favorites like the Terrace Burger and rich and smooth milkshakes. The longstanding eatery even got a visit from Guy Fieri as part of his Food Network show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

Spot the iconic neon sign and pull over to try the brisket sandwich (or whatever entices you) if you want to see what the fuss is about. 1150 Austin Hwy., (210) 828-2829, bunnbarrel.com.

Tony Karam opened this longtime River Walk favorite after serving in the Navy during World War II, at first offering free meals to diners in exchange for feedback to perfect its recipes.

Over generations, the Karam family has kept the focus on delivering fast and friendly service in a relaxing atmosphere — even as the restaurant undertook multiple expansions to serve its growing clientele. With views to complete the dining experience, Mexican Manhattan remains a destination for San Antonians old and new. 110 Soledad St, (210) 223-3913, mexicanmanhattan.com.

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BON APPÉTIT • Breakfast All Day, Lunch & Dinner •

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Greatest Hits

As seen on TV

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BY SARAH MARTINEZ

ith so many esteemed chefs and award-winning restaurants in the Alamo City, residents understandably take pride when foodies from outside take note. And that’s been happening more and more lately, especially with the proliferation of cuisine-focused TV programs.

Food Network personality Guy Fieri, the Mayor of Flavortown, has visited San Antonio time and time again for his long-running Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, but that’s not the only show to shine a light on our dining scene. Here’s a sampling of local restaurants that have landed national television coverage.

The Cove L

As a restaurant and beer garden combined with a car wash and laundromat, the Cove is the kind of homespun oddity Fieri loves to feature.

And it’s reportedly become one the host’s favorites, earning a spot on the show not once but twice. Fieri praised the Cove’s Latin-spiced lamb burger as its standout menu item. 606 W. Cypress St., (210) 227-2683, thecove.us.

Tycoon Flats

This Saint Mary’s strip favorite got a nod on Food Network’s Burgers, Brew & ‘Que — and not for being a go-to for sobering up after a night of bar hopping. Host Michael Symon included the restaurant on his “Brisket for Breakfast” episode, during which he showed off the signature friedapple bacon burger, which is also dressed with blue cheese and grilled onions. 2926 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 320-0819, tycoonflats.net.

The Granary ‘Cue & Brew

Naturally, on the first-ever episode of Eat, Sleep, BBQ, host and barbecue chef Rashad Jones came to Texas. Better yet, his Food Network show

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came to the Granary to see what’s up at the meatiest spot at the Pearl.

Jones was exploring the many uses of brisket — which he regarded as the “king of BBQ” — and at the Granary, one of those uses is serving as the star of a slurp-worthy bowl of ramen noodles. 602 Avenue A, (210) 2280124, thegranarysa.com.

Soluna

With so many Mexican restaurants within the Alamo City, how does one stand out? For Soluna, the answer is all in the salsa. Troy Johnson, the host of Food Network’s Crave, hit up the Broadway staple for the “Spicy Food: Taste the Pain” episode to sample its “extra-spicy” salsa made from a signature mix of hot peppers. 7959 Broadway, Suite 204, (210) 930-8070, solunasa.com.

Big Lou’s Pizza

Many remember when Big Lou’s gargantuan pies were featured on Travel Channel’s Man v. Food, but the East Side spot also made an appearance on the first-ever episode of the Food Network’s Ginormous Food with Josh Denny. Titled “Everything’s Bigger in Texas,” national viewers got to see Big Lou’s 62-inch pizza that’s as big as a table. 2048 S. WW White Rd., (210) 337-0707, biglouspizza-satx.com.

Fat Tummy Empanadas

During Fieri’s latest trip to the Alamo City, he visited a number of local spots — including Fat Tummy. The mom-and-pop spot made its national TV debut in December 2018, during which Fieri said husband and wife team Gustavo Plache and Norah Saleh were “the example of the American story.” With both sweet and meaty options available, the Argentinean restaurant’s signature empanadas can be found at its downtown location as well as a food truck. 2922 W. Commerce St., (210) 383-6415, fatt ummyempanadassa.com.

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Greatest Hits & Deep Cuts

Happy Hours

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BY LEA THOMPSON

ou shouldn’t have to choose between cocktails or snacks in San Antonio — get you a happy hour that does both. We’ve put together a list of places so you can explore your city with some of the best specials around.

Asian Fusion

Greatest Hit: Singh’s

Stop by this popular Vietnamese brick-and-mortar for crispy and flavorful wings, and special prices on the carefully curated beer menu.

2805 N St Mary’s St, (210) 320-0171, squareup.com/store/singhsvietnamese.

Greatest Hit: Sushihana

You’ll find most sushi rolls on Sushihana’s happy hour menu. Other notable specials include the $5 house wines and six-piece gyoza orders for $3.95. 1810 NW Military Hwy., (210) 340-7808, sushihanasan.com.

Deep Cut: Hanzo L

Reverse happy hour at Hanzo boasts $7 cocktails like the spicy pineapple daiquiri and Yuzu Mule, plus $1 off all Japanese beers, house and sake shots. 7701 Broadway, Suite 124, (210) 826-1488, hanzobar.com.

Casual Music & Drinks Greatest Hit: the Rustic

You can count on the Rustic for live music shows while you knock back select $3 beers, wine and frozé. The price increases to match the time, from

3-6 p.m. 17619 La Cantera Pkwy., Suite 204, (210) 245-7500, therustic.com.

Greatest Hit: Sancho’s

Meet with friends for a show, enjoy well and beer specials, or bring your favorite furry friend to chill and sip drinks in the shade. 628 Jackson St, (210) 320-1840, sanchosmx.com.

Deep Cut: Merkaba

If you’re near the River Walk, stop by Merkaba — located just below Howl at the Moon — for $5 cocktails, beers and free music from local bands and DJs. 111 W. Crockett St., Suite 205, (210) 212-4770, merkabatx.com.

Classic Cocktails & Bites Greatest Hit: Francis Bogside

This generous happy hour menu includes food items like the $8 chicken wings and $10 burger as well as classic $6 cocktails and $5 wells. 803 S. St. Mary’s St., (210) 369-9192, francisbogside.com.

Greatest Hit: the Esquire Tavern

Head to the Esquire for $3 off all menu cocktails and glasses of wine during their happy hour, and order several plates of their special deviled eggs or shrimp toast to share. 155 E. Commerce St., (210) 222-2521, esquiretavern-sa.com.

Deep Cut: Cured

Take advantage of Cured’s signature cocktails (and most beers) at half-price from 3-6 p.m., and order as many fried quail legs as you like — they’re only $0.50 each. 306 Pearl Pkwy #101, (210) 314-3929, curedatpearl.com. sacurrent.com • San Antonio City Guide • CURRENT 69

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Greatest Hits & Deep Cuts

On & Off the Beaten Path

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BY KELLY MERKA NELSON

he hustle and bustle of downtown San Antonio can overshadow one of the city’s best qualities — its abundance of green spaces. The city has preserved thousands of acres of natural areas in parks, with a multitude of amenities for visitors of both the two- and four-legged varieties.

Confluence Park and Mission Reach

Built as a hub for environmental education, Confluence Park (310 W. Mitchell St.) is “envisioned as an interactive teaching tool” that educates visitors on local ecosystems, and watershed dynamics in particular. Visitors are greeted by a dramatic, arched pavilion set against the backdrop of the San Antonio River.

It’s more than just a lovely design to look at — the sweeping curves of the structure serve to collect rainwater as part of the park’s energy-neutral design. This year, Confluence Park has been awarded the American Institute of Architect’s Institute Honor Award in recognition of its design achievement. Confluence Park also serves

Justin Moore

as the gateway to the Mission Reach, a paved eight-mile trail that runs along the San Antonio River on a path that takes visitors past Mission Concepción, Mission San José, Mission San Juan Capistrano and Mission Espada. The trail can be biked, walked or run, and if you’re feeling aquatic there are kayak chutes built into this stretch of the river as well.

looking for. Combined, the two dog parks at Hardberger comprise more than three acres, with areas for both large and small dogs to roam safely off-leash. There’s even a two-story doghouse for smaller pups to enjoy! The park also features several miles of both paved and unpaved trails along which you can take Fido for leashed walks or runs.

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Adjacent to the Witte Museum and San Antonio Zoo, Brackenridge Park (3700 N. St. Mary’s St.) is a popular destination for a variety of outdoor activities. Visitors can meander down paved paths that run alongside a quiet stretch of the San Antonio River with plenty of tables scattered about for sunny picnics. The historic Japanese Tea Garden (3853 N. St. Mary’s St.) is a must-see for its Instagram-worthy landscaping, waterfall and gently swimming koi, plus you can enjoy a light lunch or a cup of tea in the restored Jingu House. Fun fact: Brackenridge Park is also the site of the last known train robbery in the state of Texas. In 1970, the miniature Brackenridge Eagle train (now called the San Antonio Zoo Eagle) was robbed by two masked men, who made off with a mere $500 (and were later apprehended).

Visiting family on the North Side and need something to do that doesn’t involve a trek all the way down Highway 281? McAllister Park (13102 Jones Maltsberger Rd.) is deceptively large, stretching across a total of almost 1,000 acres. The park features 15 miles of both paved and unpaved trails, a dog park, sports fields, playgrounds and multiple pavilions for visitor use. A breath of fresh air in what is now a densely populated area, park-goers can glimpse herds of deer amidst the dense growth of live oaks.

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Phil Hardberger Park

Need a place to blow off steam with your pup?

Just south of Shavano Park, Phil Hardberger Park (13203 Blanco Rd.) is the paradise you’re

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Pearsall Park L

Most San Antonio parks let the city’s greenery take the forefront, but Pearsall Park (4838 Old Pearsall Rd.) is all about facilitating human movement. The park is “designed to offer a dynamic open space with fitness and recreational activities,” and boy howdy, does it. There’s a water park, an 18-hole disc golf course, a dog park, a skate park, a Fitness Challenge Zone and the largest playground available in the city.

Walkers and runners can take advantage of a 5K running course with multiple routes that don’t cross any park or city roads, so your vehicular woes are behind you. On top of all this, the park was constructed with sustainability in mind, using repurposed materials and conservationminded design to maintain a low environmental impact.

Denman Estate Park

Denman Estate Park (7735 Mockingbird Ln.) is less than 13 acres in size, and as such is often overlooked. Opened in a joint effort by the city and University of the Incarnate Word, the park features a short walking trail and a few other amenities, but that’s not what makes it special. Ensconced in this small acreage is a gorgeous example of authentic Korean architecture, a monument constructed by hand by artisans in San Antonio’s sister city of Gwanju, Korea. This small oasis in the Medical Center is not as expansive as many of the other parks on this list, but is worth a visit for the monument alone.

Medina River Natural Area

Believe it or not, the pristine wilderness of the Medina River Natural Area (15890 Hwy. 16 S.) is inside Loop 1604. The forested property covers an expanse of 511 acres and features seven miles of trails and a group camping area. Birdwatchers should flock here to catch a glimpse of the green kingfisher and painted bunting. While swimming and boating aren’t allowed, there are several fishing spots along the picturesque river, which is lined with old-growth cypress trees.

Greenways

The best part? Many of San Antonio’s parks (including several of the ones listed above) are connected by the approximately 65 miles of paved greenways that run throughout the city. Hikers and bikers looking for something more substantial than the shorter in-park paths can use these greenways to traverse from park to park.

For more info on parks and recreation in the city, check out sanantonio.gov.

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protect it from the city wrecking ball in 1973. By 1977, under the ownership of the city, a renovated Carver reopened and has served as a go-to events facility, with a focus on AfricanAmerican culture.

San Antonio Public Library (Central Library)

The bulk of the Central Library makes it stand out, whether viewed from up close or passing by on the freeway, but it is the color – dubbed “enchilada red” by the locals – that really grabs the attention. Selected in a design competition held in 1991, the building’s Mexican modernist architecture by Ricardo Legorreta includes a breathtaking multi-story atrium containing the artistic heart of the structure, a blown-glass sculpture created by renowned artist Dale Chihuly.

Greatest Hits & Deep Cuts

San Antonio Landmarks

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BY TRAVIS E. POLING

city as old as San Antonio has hundreds of historic places of interest, but some have risen above the status of being just another building with a plaque to become true recognizable landmarks that capture the spirit of the city, then and now.

While downtown San Antonio certainly has its share of important landmarks, that’s not the only place to find them. Noteworthy heritage sites are tucked into every quadrant of the city.

San Fernando Cathedral

The cathedral is considered the historic geographic center of San Antonio and serves as a tourist att raction, community gathering place and a symbol of the role of the Archdiocese of San Antonio. The church is one of the oldest in the country, with the cornerstone of the 15year construction project laid in 1738. Today’s visible landmark, however, is the result of an 1868 renovation in the Gothic Revival style. If you time your visit right, you can also take in a stunning light show of images and music telling the history of the city that’s displayed four nights a week on the façade of the church.

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shopping, restaurants, museums and other attractions that line the water’s edge. The open-air stage faces across the river toward La Villita, the restored original SA neighborhood.

The design is by architect Robert H.H. Hugman, considered the father of the River Walk because he saved the flood-control project on the downtown segment of the river from being paved over at street level. The Depressionera Works Progress Administration built the theater in 1939, which was named after the administration’s regional director, Edwin Arneson. Concerts, folklorico performances and plays have graced the stage over the years with as many as 800 audience members watching in the stone and grass amphitheater seating.

Carver Community Cultural Center

Arneson River Theater at La Villita All of the San Antonio River Walk could be considered a landmark, but the Arneson is perhaps the historic anchor to the miles of

This East Side landmark was built as a community center in 1918 and became a segregated library for the city’s black population in the early 1930s. By the 1940s, it drew big musical acts such as Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie and Louis Armstrong. After desegregation it fell into neglect, but area residents realized its significance and formed a wall of bodies to

Sunken Gardens/ Japanese Tea Garden \

What was built as a “lily pond” in a former quarry as an extension of Brackenridge Park opened in 1918 with only a $7,000 investment, thanks to donations of plants and materials and the use of prison labor. In the early ’40s, the anti-Japanese sentiment that arose after the bombing of Pearl Harbor prompted the city to change the site’s name to the Chinese Sunken Garden and wrest control of its restaurant and tea shop from the Japanese-American Jingu family that had operated it for roughly a decade.

However, after a 1984 renovation, the name was restored and the Jingu family recognized for their contribution to the garden. The last round of major renovations was completed in 2008 and the restaurant reopened as Jingu House in 2011. The open-air Sunken Garden Theater next door was also a popular concert spot during San Antonio’s 1980s heavy metal heyday.

The Missions

San Antonio’s five Spanish missions have long been a tourist draw. They are, after all, a national historical park. But an extension of the River Walk and bike trails to the missions and recent recognition as a UNESCO World 79 6 Heritage Site have brought even more

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Missions Concepción, Espada, San Antonio de Valero (the Alamo), San Josė and San Juan each have a story to tell, and the experience of the natives is given care and attention it didn’t have decades ago, when the focus was largely on Spanish colonialism.

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also the site of Fiesta’s “Piñatas en el Barrio” shindig, a Diez y Seis de Septiembre celebration of Mexico’s Independence from Spain and art events including Una Noche en La Gloria – Contemporary Art in the Cultural Zone.

The Pearl

The one-time site of the San Antonio Brewing Association and its successor Pearl Brewing Co., the property wedged between the San Antonio River Walk’s Museum Reach and south Broadway has become a draw for locals and visitors alike.

Numerous shops, restaurants and a working craft brewery nestle inside the compound, which includes a castle-like brewhouse building that dates back to the late 1800s. It also boasts the third campus of the famed Culinary Institute of America.

Tower of the Americas

Built as a lasting centerpiece of the 1968 HemisFair — often considered modern San Antonio’s debutante ball — the 750-foot-tall structure boasts the Chart House restaurant and an observation deck that gives a full view of the city without leaving your seat as it revolves. Fun fact: a level of the rotating structure served as a discotheque during the days of mirror balls and polyester.

Plaza Guadalupe

This historic West Side jewel has played host to many dignitaries and visitors including Pope John Paul II in 1987, a Mexican president and several U.S. presidential aspirants, including San Antonio’s own Julián Castro, a 2020 contender. It’s

Comanche Lookout L

Containing the fourth-highest geographic point in Bexar County, Comanche Lookout Park off North Loop 1604 provides one of the best views of the city. The hill was used by the Apache, and later the Comanche, during hunts and warfare, and according to the park’s website, it also served as a “prominent landmark for travelers in the 18th and 19th centuries.” The signature stone tower was built in the early 1900s as part of a never finished castlelike project.

The Dodging Duck Brewhaus

Mission Marquee Plaza (formerly Mission Drive-In)

Mission Drive-In entertained countless numbers of car-bound moviegoers who came from all over the city from 1948 into the early 2000s. After the theater’s closure, the city purchased the site and now uses it for arts and cultural events under the supervision of the San Antonio World Heritage Office. May through November, movies still flicker across the original big screen, only viewers now sprawl on blankets or in lawn chairs across the green space.

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Greatest Hits & Deep Cuts

Music Venues

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BY JAMES COURTNEY

an Antonio is a city that boasts a robust and impressively diverse music scene, in terms of both local stuff and touring shows.

Helping to foster this scene, and to literally host it night after night, local venues, from the state-of-the-art to the run-of-the-mill, are key to the character and continuance of live music in this or any city. In the spirit of this Greatest Hits and Deep Cuts edition of City Guide, we have collected two lists of venues here — one features wellestablished venues that are likely to host bigname, out-of-town talent and the other features smaller, more humble establishments that are integral to the local music scene and lesser known touring acts. Neither list is exhaustive by any means, but together they represent a good start for anyone looking to get acquainted with the live music milieu in SA.

Tobin Center for the Performing Arts Paul McCartney, Nas, Elton John, Dolly Parton, Deepak Chopra and Hannibal Buress are just a few of the big names that have graced the Tobin Center’s state-of-the-art facilities since its

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opening in 2014. Built at the site of the Municipal Auditorium, which originally opened in 1926, the Tobin can claim some nostalgic historical ties while also boasting the newest and best of everything you could want in a performance center. In addition to big-name touring acts and classical music performances, the Tobin hosts lower-profile and (sometimes) local acts and events in its Carlos Alvarez Studio Theater, a smaller companion to the H-E-B Performance Hall that serves as its main room. 100 Auditorium Circle, (210) 223-8624, tobincenter.org.

Majestic and Empire Theatres

Both situated downtown, the Majestic and the Empire are historic venues that have shaped SA’s music/entertainment scene for generations — having first opened in 1929 and 1914 respectively. These days they are both run by the same group and host a similar array of talent, from touring bands to musicals, from theatrical performances to comedians, from symphony concerts to programs for kiddos.

Each of these visually stunning historical treasures provides an elevated, refined showgoing experience and both are to be considered ideal date night destinations, perfect for when you want to have a seat and take in a show like a real grownup. 224 E. Houston St. (Majestic), 226 N. St. Mary’s St. (Empire), (210) 226-5700, majesticempire.com.

for hosting budding hip-hops acts, indie-rock mainstays, dance music, and mini music festivals, the venue typically draws a younger crowd than the Majestic or the Empire. The control over booking landing in the hands of the House of Blues/Live Nation company, a deal finalized in 2015, has certainly helped in terms of keeping offerings relevant. However, with its over-the-top, Aztec-ruins-meet-seedy-casino décor and vibe, it’s hard for us to imagine how anyone wouldn’t be charmed by the Aztec. The mix of seating and standing room at the venue also provides some versatility of experience that some of the more traditional theaters can’t claim. 104 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 812-4355, theaztectheatre.com.

Aztec Theatre p

Another historic spot located downtown, the Aztec Theatre, originally opened in 1926, can be seen as a hipper, edgier sibling of the downtown venues mentioned above. Known especially

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works with, have been almost single-handedly responsible for bringing in indie acts that might have previously never played south of Austin. 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 841-3771, papertigersatx.com.

Sam’s Burger Joint

Jazz, TX L

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A stalwart of the local music scene for many years, Sam’s Burger Joint is a good spot to satisfy burger cravings and a great place to catch local and touring acts of the Americana, country, roots, blues and jazz variety. With a puro San Anto vibe that serves to celebrate this city’s long and impactful musical legacy, Sam’s is a go-to venue for iconic acts like Augie Meyers, Flaco Jiménez and more. 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 2232830, samsburgerjoint.com.

The newest venue on the Greatest Hits portion of this list, Jazz, TX opened in 2016 and has quickly carved out a serious reputation for itself. With venerated local music supporter and ace bandleader Doc Watkins at the helm, this swanky throwback jazz club has quickly become a go-to for lovers of jazz, blues, big band, Texas swing, salsa, conjunto, and Americana. The place has great drinks, great food, a speakeasy feel and excellent acoustics. 312 Pearl Pkwy #6001, (210) 332-9386, jazztx.com.

Paper Tiger p

Paper Tiger has been perhaps SA’s best music venue in terms of number and quality of shows ever since opening in 2015. Located in the updated shell of the legendary venue it replaced — RIP White Rabbit (1996-2014) — the place is a no-frills (except for the awesome sound system) and all-thrills venue for catching some of the hottest touring acts of the moment, especially of the indie, alternative, hip-hop and cult-classic variety. Many would argue that the Paper Tiger and Margin-Walker, the booking company it

Limelight \

Limelight has gone through a few different owners and peaks and valleys of activity over the course of its 12-plus years of operation, but it has long been a favorite spot for local bands to host special shows and album release parties.

Some of the most memorable moments in recent local music history have been hosted at Limelight and most everybody who is anybody in the local scene has played or attended shows at the venue. 2719 N. St. Mary’s St., thelimelightsa.com.

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Lonesome Rose

The newest venue on either of these lists, having just opened its doors early this year, the Lonesome Rose is, after the style of Austin’s White Horse Saloon, a modern honky-tonk bar/venue. Local country musician Garrett T. Capps, who owns the place along with a few partners, has already brought in some exciting local and touring roots, country, and rock and roll acts in the Lonesome Rose’s short existence.

As the only honky-tonk venue anywhere near downtown SA, the Lonesome Rose definitely has novelty on its side. 2114 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 455-0233, thelonesomerose.com.

Hi-Tones L

A swell spot with an intimate vibe, a huge patio, and several unique and popular specialty drinks, Hi-Tones has a tendency to host local hip-hop and DJ shows, though it has, over the years, featured a litt le bit of everything on its tiny stage. On nights when a particularly popular act plays, there’s a certain electricity to the place that comes from cramming in with other music lovers and feeling like you are a part of something exclusive. 621 E. Dewey Pl., (210) 785-8777, hitonessa.com.

Ventura

Owned and operated by beloved local musician Michael Carrillo since 2016, Ventura’s history as a bastion of the punk/DIY aesthetic begins with its eight years as the Ten Eleven. Working within this legacy, while simultaneously trying to update the facilities and vibe to keep up with the burgeoning Museum Reach of the River Walk, Carrillo has done a fine job of continuing to host a staggering variety and volume of local and touring shows. 1011 Avenue B, (210) 8026940, venturasatx.com.

Lowcountry

Noom Srisunakorn

Nestled conveniently between Hemisfair and Southtown, Lowcountry is a quaint bar/ venue in an old converted house. Specializing in quality signature drinks and Southern hospitality, the venue frequently hosts local (and sometimes minor touring) acts of the roots and/or roots-inspired variety on its relaxing back patio. Lowcountry is a great spot for going out and still feeling like you are hanging out at a friend’s house — only with better drinks and good live music. 318 Martinez St., (210) 5602224, lowcountrysa.com.

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Artists to Watch

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BY CHRIS CONDE

hen it comes to exposure for its music scene, San Antonio has often lived in Austin's shadow. But individual artists have certainly broken out to find bigger audiences. Here are a few making a noise that's been heard well outside of Loop 1604.

Disney-ABC Press

Lil Booty Call 5

Lil Booty Call has a baby trap vibe.

In other words, he performs mumble rap minus the tough-guy lyrical themes we’ve come to expect. In fact, his delivery is almost kid-like.

And while the rapper himself is cute and youthful, he’s made enough noise to sell out venues in LA just on the strength of his Soundcloud releases. That’s some real DIY clout if we say so ourselves.

Ada Vox L

The first drag queen to make it onto American Idol, Adam Sanders — better known as Ada Vox — made it all the way to the Top 10 in the singing-contest show’s last season. That high-profile run garnered praise from celebrities worldwide, including drag 85 6 tastemaker RuPaul.

Courtesy of Lil Booty Call

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Jaime Monzon

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House of Kenzo L

Part art installation, part ballroom vogue dance troupe, San Antonio’s House of Kenzo made waves in Texas’ underground club circuit for years before landing a slot at Poland’s Unsound Music Festival in 2018. The group’s performance won praise not only from the underground rave circuit but also the highbrow art world.

Nothing More p

Hard rockers Nothing More have spent more than 15 years making a name for themselves with a mix of metallic riffs and memorable hooks. In 2017, the band’s radio-ready recordings and constant touring paid off with three Grammy nominations.

that’s just what happened when Iggy Pop himself recently gave a shout out to SA-based riot grrrl act Fea during a Rolling Stone interview.

Idyll Green/Hacienda

Alt-R&B group Hacienda recently changed its name to Idyll Green due to some legal issues and a shift in its sound. But that’s not the only change happening for the band. Its profi le has been expanding by leaps and bounds, from landing official SXSW showcases to appearing on The Late Show with David Letterman.

87 6

Blake

Even though San Antonio isn’t a music business hub, that hasn’t stopped artists from blowing up by using the Internet to full effect. To that end, Blake harnessed Soundcloud to build millions of streams of his mumble rap songs.

Fea 5

It’s not every day a San Antonio band earns praise from a punk icon. But

Jaime Monzon

Courtesy of Fea

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Piñata Protest p

Much in the way Chicano Soul artists integrated regional sounds to create a fresh take on their genre, Piñata Protest has revved up punk rock with an infusion of Tejano. In addition to garnering attention from NPR, Pitchfork and the New York Times, the band’s unique sound has helped it land on high-profi le tours including one opening for Brazilian metal legends Sepultura.

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Wolf Party L

From brooding, droning hums to screeching electronic assaults, Wolf Party’s sound arsenal is vast. What separates the one-man act from other experimental noise artists is his complete understanding and control when pulling sounds out of an amalgam of guitar pedals and electronic equipment.

Wayne Holtz

Unabashedly queer as fuck and almost obnoxiously self-assured, Wayne Holtz doesn’t just deliver a show but an experience. Armed with a soundtrack of bass-forward indie-pop, Holtz commands audience attention with rock ’n’ roll-meets-ballet moves that often carry him on top of the bar half-naked while he croons into the microphone. Think Mick Jagger meets Lady Gaga on mushrooms.

Daniela Riojas

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Greatest Hits & Deep Cuts

Garrett T. Capps — Y Los Lonely Hipsters (2016) L

In a few short years, Garrett T. Capps has emerged as a force in the city’s alt-country/neo-honky tonk scene, and Y Los Lonely Hipsters is a formidable representation of this new age in authentic — if Ziv Krueger occasionally offbeat — roots music.

Not surprisingly, Capps’ maverick take on country is grabbing international attention. His song “Born in San Antone” appeared on the season premiere of the hit Showtime series Billions.

Essential Albums

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BY CHRIS CONDE

here’s been so much great recorded music out of San Antonio that it would be damn near impossible to compile an essential albums list going back decades. So, instead, we’re sticking to a single decade. Here’s a sampling of the best local recordings of the past 10 years.

Buttercup — Battle of Flowers (2017) T

Buttercup’s longevity is a testament to the band’s solid songwriting, musicianship and ability to both create and maintain a solid following. Its latest album Battle of Flowers captures the band’s irreverent spirit and reaffi rms it as the reining rey of San Antonio indie rock.

Deer Vibes — The Nature Of… (2017)

Sunny and The Sunliners — Mr. Brown Eyed Soul (2017) E

Combining elements of soul, blues and jazz, Sunny Ozuna and his band the Sunliners helped pioneer a regional sound called Chicano Soul or West Side Soul that would dominate the late ’60s until the advent of Tejano the following decade. Recently released by Brooklyn’s Big Crown Records, Mr. Brown Eyed Soul compiles some of this influential band’s finest tracks.

Lonely Horse — Desert Sons (2015)

Throughout the 2010s, desert-rocking blues duo Lonely Horse built a regional following that helped catapult them to headlining slots at festivals like Afropunk. Though the group recently called it quits, they made a deep and lasting impact on the scene.

Their last full-length, Desert Sons, delivers the best example of the high-energy Hendrix-like explosivity they’re known for.

Deer Vibes is San Antonio’s answer to acts like the Broken Social Scene, Sufjan Stevens or the Polyphonic Spree — a rock orchestra that combines indie-pop with singersongwriter elements and symphonic textures. As such, the band’s The Nature Of… is nothing short of majestic.

Flaco Jiménez — The Arista Sessions (2016) \

Grammy-winning accordionist and conjunto pioneer Flaco Jiménez doesn’t need much introduction. From playing in the Texas Tornados to working with the likes of Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones, Jiménez is recognized worldwide as a squeezebox bad ass, and The Arista Sessions showcases some of his best work.

Girl in a Coma — Exits and all the Rest (2011) \

Touring with Morrissey and getting signed with Joan Jett’s Blackheart Records were just a few of the big accomplishments the all-female trio Girl in a Coma achieved during its 12-year run. The punk-informed alternative rockers’ final album Exits and all the Rest stands as the most mature and solid of their career, showcasing growth in 91 6 both songwriting and musicianship.

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far away as Europe. Population Control is a heavy-hitting contribution not just to San Antonio’s underground music scene but punk rock in general.

Chris Maddin — Sterequiem (2017) L

Chris Maddin has fronted numerous rock projects over the years, including Blowing Trees and Filmstrips, but it’s his solo release Sterequiem that stands as the peak of his recorded output. The album is dreamy, psychedelic and probably the best local release of 2017.

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Hollow Prophet — Hellhole (2017) L

Third Root — Libertad (2017) L

While only four songs, metal band Hollow Prophet’s Hellhole is by far the most technical and heavy release to come out of San Antonio in years.

Attacking social ills with explosive lyricism and hiphop beats, Third Root’s aim is to entertain while teaching its audience about injustice and racism. The group — Charles Peters (Easy Lee), Marco Cervantes (Mexican StepGrandfather or Mexstep) and DJ Chicken George (DJCG) — delivered its most powerful and concise release to date with Libertad.

Amygdala — Population Control (2016) Fronted by Bianca Quiñones Cruz Benitez, Amygdala delivers a barrage of metal and hardcore with a lyrical focus on exposing systemic oppression, racism and injustice. Not surprisingly, the band’s mix of uncompromising sounds and uncompromising politics has won it a following as

Bitforce — Nerdcore and Beyond (2017) L A few months before launching into a two-month tour with Nerdcore pioneer MC Chris, Bitforce released Nerdcore and Beyond, an epic album of metal covers of video game and cartoon themes including The Legend of Zelda, Sonic the Hedgehog and DuckTales.

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Greatest Hits & Deep Cuts

Adult Beverages

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BY LEA THOMPSON

an Antonio’s made great strides from its past as a light beer-andmargaritas town.

Whether you prefer tilting back cocktails, wine or craft beer, the city’s got you covered.

Craft Cocktails Greatest Hit: SoHo Wine & Martini Bar L

Deep Cut: Cellar Mixology

The Cellar uses a gastronomycentric approach to serve infused spirits, classic cocktails in sphere form and even a White Russian sorbet made with liquid nitrogen.

1142 E. Commerce St., Suite 100, (210) 592-1075, cellarmixology.com.

Beer Greatest Hit: Busted Sandal Brewing Company

Visit with SoHo’s knowledgeable bartenders to select your martini order, or simply order from the menu — either way, you’ll end up with one of the best cocktails in the city. 214 W. Crockett St., (210) 444-1000, facebook.com/ sohowineandmartinibar.

If you’re looking to upgrade your beer choices, check out the Busted Sandal taproom for new craft-brewed releases, fun food and brewing classes, or to make it a party, visit the company’s annual Porterpalooza festival.

7114 Oaklawn Dr., (210) 872-1486, bustedsandalbrewing.com.

Greatest Hit: The Modernist

Greatest Hit: Künstler Brewing

Name your preferred spirit or share some of your favorite flavors with owners Olaf Harmel and Gerry Shirley, and they’ll make you the cocktail you never knew you needed. 516 E. Grayson St., (210) 4468699, facebook.com/themodernistsa.

Brewmaster Vera Deckard brings years of experience, her German heritage and Texas fl avors together at this downtown sports bar and brewpub. Try a fl ight, schedule a tour or order a draft from one of the many taps. 302 E.

LaChappelle St., (210) 688-4519, kuenstlerbrewing.com.

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Deep Cut: HighWheel Beerworks

Located inside Dorćol Distilling + Brewing Co., HighWheel Beerworks offers a small selection of housemade ales, porters and a West Coast-style IPA. 1902 S. Flores St., (210) 229-0607, dorcolspirits.com.

Wine Greatest Hit: Southtown Wine and Tapas

The best way to learn about new wine is to try new varieties and ask plenty of questions. Spend the evening with friends, sipping from a glass (or bottle) and nosh on some tasty menu items as you bolster your knowledge. 1702 S. Presa St., (210) 462-1157, southtowntapas.com.

Greatest Hit: High Street Wine Co.

This is the perfect place to venture outside of your comfort zone and begin pairing wines with food, or to explore regional specialties. Visit enough, and you’ll be able to pair your favorite bites with rioja, pinot noir or Montepulciano in no time.

Michelle Lorentzen

302 Pearl Pkwy., Suite 104, (210) 9089144, highstreetwine.com.

Deep Cut: Maverick Texas Brasserie

Maverick offers an incredible selection of wines, so don’t be afraid to ask your server to help you navigate the list. Explore wines by region or try ordering several different glasses to share between a group of friends. Your taste buds might surprise you. 710 S. St Mary’s St., (210) 973-6050, mavericktexas.com

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booze-Free After-Hours

Blind Tiger Comedy Club Jaime Monzon

T

acts. Hit up Blind Tiger Comedy Club (902 NE Loop 410), Jokesters 22 Pub N Grub (713 S. Alamo St.) and of course Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club (618 NW Loop 410) the next time you’re in the mood for the kind of laughs that won’t leave you woozy the next morning.

BY SARAH MARTINEZ

he Alamo City likes to get its drink on, but going out for a good time need not revolve around gett ing tipsy. Whether you live a sober lifestyle or just don’t feel like powering through a workday hangover, here are some things to do to have fun during late-night rendezvous without sett ing foot inside a bar.

Bowling Alleys

Whether you go the cosmic route or not, bowling can be a solid choice for nights when you just want to goof around with friends. And we’re not talking about dingy alleys with putrid rental shoes. Bowl & Barrel (17619 La Cantera Pkwy., Suite 102) and Bowlero (13307 San Pedro Ave.), both offer a more upscale vibe, and they’re open until 2 a.m. on the weekends. For a more traditional alley, there’s AMF Ponderosa Lanes (2118 Goliad Rd.), Astro SuperBowl (3203 Harry Wurzbach Rd.), Bandera Bowling Center (6700 Huebner Rd.), Brunswick Zone Thousand Oaks Bowl (4330 Thousand Oaks Rd.), Main Event Entertainment (multiple locations, mainevent.com), Oak Hills Lanes (7330 Callaghan Rd.) and University Bowl (12332 I-10 W., Suite 10), all open until at least 1 a.m. on weekends. And, yes, there are drinking options for those friends in your group that want to down a pitcher of Bud Light.

Arcades

Go the geeky route and hit up an arcade next time you plan a night out sans booze.

Diversions Game Room (9900 San Pedro Ave.) is fi lled with old-school arcade games

Escape Rooms File

and open until 2 a.m. every day of the week.

On a less local (and pricier) note, Main Event Entertainment (multiple locations, mainevent. com) and Dave & Buster’s (multiple locations, daveandbusters.com) offer a wide variety of diversions. Of course, you can also hit up Slackers (multiple locations, slackers.com) if you’re down for arcade and bar games — just remember to skip the adult libations.

Bingo Halls

Hitt ing up a bingo hall on a Saturday night may sound like old folks’ version of a good time, but it can make for a fun experience with the right group of people with an appreciation for kitsch. The good news is that a number of bingo halls are open with late-night adventurers in mind. Bandera Late Night Bingo (810 Bandera Rd.), Ingram Late Night Bingo (6709 NW Loop 410) and Lucky Draw (1207 Richland Hills Dr.), are all open until at least 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Escape rooms have popped up in droves over the past few years, giving thrill-seekers plenty of local options. While most are only open until 10 or 11 p.m., a few keep the sleuthing going into later hours. Found inside University Bowl, the late-night champ of escape rooms is Lock’em Up Escape Rooms, open until 2 a.m. on Saturdays and midnight every other day of the week, except Monday, when it’s closed.

If your detective skills aren’t as sharp late at night, there’s always the Exit Game Escape Room (5720 Bandera Rd., Suite 23), open until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights. In Live Oak, Legendary Lockdown Escape Rooms (7505 N. Loop 1604 E., Suite 102) stays open until midnight on weekends.

Comedy Clubs

Although San Antonio recently lost its longtime Rivercenter Mall venue, there are still options for catching live comedy from local and touring

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Greatest Hits & Deep Cuts

Late-Nite Grub

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BY SANFORD NOWLIN

ew things (other than not imbibing) offer better antihangover insurance than a greasy, carb-laden feast at 2 a.m.

And whether you crave tacos, wings or gravy-laden chickenfried steak at that time, San Antonio can deliver.

But there’s more good news here. The Alamo City also serves up plenty other variations on the late-night nosh — from fiery Asian fare to sophisticated wine-bar grazing. Sure, a handful of neighborhoods roll up the sidewalks after 9 p.m., but we found a broad sampling of wee-hours dining options scattered through the city.

Mi Tierra Café & Bakery

You haven’t experienced San Antonio until you’ve experienced Mi Tierra in the middle of the night. And we’re not just talking the standard-sett ing Tex-Mex fare, the blindingly bright décor or the deafening mariachis. This downtown icon is the place to witness local politicos and VIPs rubbing elbows with River Walk revelers and wide-eyed tourists, all in varying states of toastiness. 218 Produce Row, (210) 225-1262, mitierracafe.com. Open 24 hours.

Lulu’s Bakery & Cafe

Operating from a former near-downtown Denny’s, this diner is all about mega-sized servings of comfort food — ideal stomach filler after a night of drinking. Expect chicken-fried steaks and omelets that hang off the edge of their serving platters and sweet rolls that could feed a family of eight. 918 N. Main Ave., (210) 951-2802, lulusbakeryandcafe. com. Open 24 hours.

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through or dine-in, the namesake burgers are regional mana and the breakfast taquitos, available with a surprisingly authentic tomatillo salsa, aren’t far behind. whataburger.com. Open 24 hours.

Liberty Bar q

Liberty Bar’s focus on locally sourced ingredients and creative takes on Texas and Northern Mexican cuisine has earned it a following that extends beyond Southtown. A selection of affordable apps and sandwiches make it an elevated late-night choice after a gallery stroll or few pints at Bar America. 1111 S. Alamo, (210) 227-1187, libertybar. com. Open until midnight.

Dan Payton

Jim’s Restaurants

The homegrown diner chain’s slogan may be “There’s always Jim’s,” but check the web to make sure which of them are open around the clock. In addition to burgers and fries, Jim’s delivers on biscuit-embellished breakfasts, home-cooked pies and other fare bound to appeal after a night out. jimsrestaurants.com. Some locations open 24 hours.

Taco Cabana p

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to chic starters and salads. The bartenders also shake up some the best craft cocktails in town. 2720 McCullough Ave., (210) 320-2261, barbarosanantonio.com. Open until midnight Sunday-Thursday, 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Zinc Bistro & Bar \

Barbaro

Because late-night cravings can be more sophisticated than a bean-and-cheese or a burger. This neighborhood pizzeria dishes up creatively topped pies — such as hash browns with taleggio cheese, kale and honey — in addition

Menu options at this downtown wine bar run the gamut from sophisticated faux gras to down-home threecheese chile mac. Salads, pizzas and a lamb burger beautiful enough to be the cover star of the Current’s 2019 burger issue round out the offerings. Not to mention, vino from the extensive cellar can pair with just about anything. 207 N. Presa St., (210) 224-2900, zincwine.com. Kitchen is open until midnight.

The ubiquitous San Antonio-born Tex-Mex chain is a 2 a.m. drivethrough tradition. After all, tacos are the ultimate post-bar crowd pleaser. Check the web, though, as some locations are 24-hours, while others close at 4 a.m., 1 a.m. or midnight. tacocabana.com. Some locations open 24 hours.

Whataburger

All freestanding locations of this Alamo City-based chain are open 24 hours. Whether drive-

Cullum’s Attagirl

Located off the St. Mary’s strip, Att agirl bills itself as a chicken shack — and it certainly does know how to fry up a bird (and its wings). But also expect creative spins on other Southern food.

The outside tables are perfect for pet-friendly dining or sipping one of the spot’s many craft beer selections and watching the strip’s spectacle. 726 E. Mistletoe Ave., (210) 437-4263, facebook. com/cullumsattagirl. Open until midnight Sunday, TuesdayThursday, 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Arirang Korean Restaurant L

The perfect destination after a night of karaoke, this momand-pop joint serves up a sizable menu of well-executed Korean dishes including a crisp and approachable seafood pancake, incendiary soups and tantalizing marinated pork bulgogi. What the building and Austin Highway setting lack in charm, the owners make up for in hospitality. 2154 Austin Hwy., (210) 650-3845, arirang-san-antonio.com. Open until 2 a.m. Monday-Saturday, midnight Sunday.

Sanchos

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This just-north-of-downtown bar, grill and music venue boasts a variety of tortas, tacos and empanadas that defy bar-food expectations. From the locally sourced ingredients to the addictive avocado salsa, the food really is a cut above. Vegan and vegetarian options are available too. 628 Jackson St., (210) 320-1840, sanchosmx.com. Kitchen is open until midnight Sunday-Thursday, 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

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