San Antonio Current - August 5, 2026

PICKLEBALL'S GROWTH IN SA | WHISKEY BUSINESS | 30 YEARS OF ROBB'S METALWORKS | AUGUST 5 - 18, 2026

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CURRENT | August 5 - 18, 2026 | sacurrent.com

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Publisher Michael Wagner Editor in Chief Sanford Nowlin General Manager Chelsea Bourque Editorial Digital Content Editor Stephanie Koithan Contributing Arts Editor Bryan Rindfuss Staff Writer Michael Karlis

in this issue Issue 26-16/// August 5 - 18, 2026

Three decades after launching Robb’s Metalworks on cable access TV, Robb Chavez remains one of San Antonio metal’s loudest champions

Contributors Abe Asher, Bill Baird, Ron Bechtol, Danny Cervantes, Amber Esparza, Brianna Espinoza, Anjali Gupta, Colin Houston, Kiko Martinez, Mike McMahan, Kevin Sanchez, M. Solis, Dean Zach Advertising Account Executive Chris Miller Account Manager Parker McCoy Social Media Manager Juliana Torres

Critics’ Picks

Creative Services Lead Graphic Designer Ana Paula Gutierrez Events and Marketing Events Director Chelsea Bourque Chava Communications Group Founder, Chief Executive Officer Michael Wagner Co-Founder, Chief Marketing Officer Cassandra Yardeni Vice President of Operations Hollie Mahadeo Digital Operations Coordinator Jaime Monzon Revenue Operations Manager Rachel Gold Project Manager Megan Nally chavagroup.com National Advertising: Voice Media Group 1-888-278-9866, vmgadvertising.com San Antonio Current sacurrent.com Editorial: editor@sacurrent.com Display Advertising: marketing@sacurrent.com The San Antonio Current is published by Chava Communications Group San Antonio Distribution The Current is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. Get listed 1. Visit sacurrent.com 2. Click “Calendar” and then “Submit an Event” 3. Follow the steps to submit your event details Please allow 48 hours for review and approval. Event submissions are not accepted by phone. Copyright notice: The entire contents of the San Antonio Current are copyright 2023 by Chava Group LLC. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Publisher does not assume any liability for unsolicited manuscripts, materials, or other content. Any submission must include a stamped, self-addressed envelope. All editorial, advertising, and business correspondence should be emailed to the addresses listed above. Subscriptions: Additional copies or back issues may be purchased at the Current offices for $1. Six-month domestic subscriptions may be purchased for $75; one-year subscriptions for $125.

Jacob R. Lopez

13 Passing the Hat

The mayor hopes corporations can spare nonprofits from the budget ax. Fundraising experts warn San Antonio’s donor pool is already tapped out

07 News

The Opener News in Brief

Regulating Industry

U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico rejects data center moratorium, calls for stronger regulations

Plastic Tide

Researchers found microplastics at 76 of 77 Texas waterways sampled, adding to concerns about the pollutant’s impact on wildlife — and human health

‘Trying to Kill Me’

ACLU sues feds over alleged neglect of prisoner in ICE lockup near San Antonio Approved auditor info as required for public notices per section 50.011(1)(e), F.S. Circulation Verification Council 12166 Old Big Bend Road, Suite 210 St. Louis, MO 63122 www.cvcaudit.com Auditor’s Certification:

17 Calendar

Our picks of things to do powerful

21Arts

Serving up community New venues and a sense of community are fueling pickleball’s

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CURRENT | August 5 - 18, 2026 | sacurrent.com

rapid rise in San Antonio

23Screens

Crossroads of Conviction

San Antonio native Henry Thomas finds human story in Texas-based drama Due West

PICKLEBALL'S GROWTH IN SA | WHISKEY BUSINESS | 30 YEARS OF ROBB'S METALWORKS | AUGUST 5 - 18, 2026

25Food

Raise a Glass

Whiskey Business returns for landmark 11th year in San Antonio

Cooking up Conversation

Exploring a new approach to fine dining with San Antonio chef Carlos Martinez of Nai

Masa Appeal

Con Huevos is more than SA’s Instagram breakfast darling. Its transcendent tortillas live up to the hype

33Music

Man of Steel

O

n the Cover: San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones is asking corporations to help out nonprofits whose funds are jeopardized by the city’s budget deficit. That may be an unrealistic expectation. Cover design: Ana Paula Gutierrez.

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Last week, a pediatric critical care doctor called conditions inside the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley child abuse and a violation of human rights. Dr. Anita K. Patel, who visited the facility as part of a delegation led by U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, told reporters in San Antonio that seven children have died while in ICE custody or shortly following their release and that she fears more fatalities will ensue if the immigrant prison camp isn’t shut down. The San Antonio Spurs agreed to pay a $2.6 million penalty to the city of San Antonio and Bexar County over the NBA franchise’s failed effort to land a Major League Soccer team. The penalty stems from the 2015 deal under which the city and county bought Toyota Field. Kerr County is embarking on its second flood-recovery process in as many years, and some residents say they’re facing more destruction with less financial assistance and volunteer help than they did last year. As of last week, FEMA hadn’t approved any federal aid for individuals or local governments — even though Kerr County is facing a budget deficit and potentially hundreds of damaged or destroyed structures. One county resident died during this year’s flooding. For the first time in nearly five years, Canyon Lake is full. Thanks to the storms that hit the Hill Country in mid-July, the lake has reached its highest water surface level since November 2021 — a level more than double what it was prior to last year’s July floods. The storms last month dumped an estimated 480 billion gallons of rain on the Hill Country, likely as a result of a super El Niño in the Pacific Ocean. — Abe Asher

YOU SAID IT!

“It teaches students, and their teachers, that exclusion is acceptable, maybe even preferred. That is not a lesson I want my children learning from the state of Texas.” —EMILY ROTH, one of the plaintiffs in a new lawsuit seeking to overturn Texas’ dictate that all public school classrooms should display the Ten Commandments

ASSCLOWN ALERT

Pretending to feel voters’ economic pain with Gov. Greg Abbott Assclown Alert is a column of opinion, analysis and snark. Gov. Greg Abbott wants Texans to believe he’s discovered the affordability crisis. After more than a decade presiding over a governorship all about catering to the state’s deepest-pocketed donors, Abbott spent last week rolling out a flurry of proposals under a new “Keep Texas Affordable” banner. He’d have us believe he wants to cap the cost of inhalers and epinephrine at $25, create cheaper health insurance options for small businesses, loosen local housing regulations and make it easier for homeowners to build additions onto their property. On paper, some of those ideas have merit. It’s hard to argue with lower drug prices, and economists across the political spectrum have long called for housing reform. However, the timing is pure assclown. For years, Abbott has built his political brand around border security, culture-war clown shows and bragging about just how friendly Texas is to big business. Meanwhile, the state has earned a litany of less flattering distinctions: the nation’s highest uninsured rate, soaring home prices, rising insurance costs and a persistent affordability crisis that’s still squeezing working families. Critics have repeatedly urged the Republican governor to tackle those issues, but he’s shown considerably more eagerness to bully transgender Texans, demonize immigrants and lean hard into the MAGA agenda. Now, as Abbott faces an increasingly competitive reelection campaign, affordability has suddenly become the new centerpiece of his agenda. That ain’t coincidence, folks. It’s politics.

A new poll related to Texas’ high-stakes U.S. Senate race shows James Talarico with a five-point lead over Ken Paxton — the Democrat’s largest lead in any poll so far. In the survey, conducted by Texas Public Opinion Research, voters said Talarico better understands working Texans’ economic challenges than Paxton, the state’s Republican attorney general. Talarico, an Austin-area state representative, is trying to flip a statewide seat blue for the first time in more than three decades. Texas energy regulators last week sent a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott asking for more authority to regulate data centers as the power- and water-hungry facilities continue to spring up at a rapid pace. The Public Utility Commission of

news

That Rocks/That Sucks

Shutterstock / Maxim Elramsisy

Recent polling suggests Abbott faces a more difficult midterm environment than the comfortable victories he and his handlers have come to expect. Cost of living has eclipsed immigration and crime as one of voters’ top concerns nationwide, making affordability the issue no statewide candidate can afford to ignore. However, voters also have long memories. And many are smart enough to understand that any politician who only discovers their economic pain less than 100 days before the election never gave a wet shit about them in the first place. — Sanford Nowlin

Texas wrote to Abbott following a June directive in which the governor told the commission and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to minimize the impact of data centers on customers of residential utilities. Willie Nelson has joined the chorus of Texans concerned about the impact of data centers. The legendary musician took to Instagram last week to urge his hometown of Abbott to fight back against a proposal to build a data center there, writing that “the last thing we need is a loud, water thieving, light polluting data center anywhere near our town (or any others for that matter). The strength of rural America has never come from big industrial footprints.” — Abe Asher

PRESENTED BY

Closing September 7 get tickets now

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Pterosaurs: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs at the Witte Museum is presented by PNC Bank and is generously supported by Mary West and Richard Traylor and the Mary Pat and Michael Bolner Exhibition Endowment Fund.

WitteMuseum.org/Pterosaurs

Pterosaurs: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York (amnh.org).

3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX

CURRENT | August 5 - 18, 2026 | sacurrent.com

news Regulating Industry

U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico rejects data center moratorium, calls for stronger regulations BY NATALIA EDWARDS

S

tate Rep. James Talarico, the Democrat running for the Texas’ contested U.S. Senate set, told reporters in San Antonio that he opposes a complete moratorium on new data center construction in Texas and instead wants common-sense regulations for the industry. During his appearance last Thursday, Talarico also emphasized that his approach differs from that of his opponent, Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, whom he accused of kowtowing to monied interests. “I have a track record of working for working-class people,” the former San Antonio school teacher said. “Ken Paxton has a track record of selling out working-class people.” Talarico’s comments on the hot-button issue of data centers came during a tour of the UA Local 142 Plumbers and Pipefitters training center on the East Side. During the visit, Talarico met with union members and received a handson welding lesson from an apprentice. The Austin-area state rep told reporters that he wants to see Texas’ data center boom yield good-paying union jobs. “If they’re not going to come and create good union jobs and support our communities, then they shouldn’t be in our communities,” he added. Talarico’s proposals for regulating data centers include: • Setting minimum federal requirements to protect the grid, environment, jobs and transparency for new data centers; • Ending Texas’ sales tax exemption for data centers; • Requiring large energy users to pay for their own infrastructure and grid interconnection costs; • Requiring data centers to recycle

Jacob R. Lopez

water through closed-loop systems; • Giving local communities authority over new data center projects; • And releasing records showing tax breaks given to individual Texas data centers. Talarico’s proposals stand in contrast to Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa’s call for a total moratorium on data center construction until Gov. Greg Abbott either calls a special session on the matter or state lawmakers reconvene next year in Austin. “People will die because they’re just trying to get warm bodies on these data centers,” Hinojosa said, arguing that allowing unlicensed electricians

to work on construction of the massive computing centers puts workers and the community at risk. Last week, Republican Agricultural Commissioner Sid Miller called out Abbott for not doing enough to regulate data centers, adding “there’s no weight behind what he’s saying.” Even country music legend Willie Nelson this week came out against data centers, saying, “The last thing we need is a loud, water-thieving, light-polluting data center anywhere near our town (or any others for that matter).” Data center critics argue the facilities consume large amounts of electricity and water in addition to straining local infrastructure. Despite those downsides, they often receive generous tax

incentives while creating few permanent jobs. However, supporters say data centers boost local economies, attract investment and support the growing demand for AI and cloud computing. Talarico’s visit to San Antonio comes as new Fox News polling shows him leading Paxton by three percentage points. Another survey released earlier this week by the nonpartisan Texas Public Opinion Research found that Talarico is leading by five percentage points with less than 100 days until Election Day. If elected, Talarico will be the first Democrat to win a statewide office in Texas in more than three decades. sacurrent.com | August 5 - 18, 2026 | CURRENT

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news Plastic Tide

Researchers found microplastics at 76 of 77 Texas waterways sampled, adding to concerns about the pollutant’s impact on wildlife — and human health BY SANFORD NOWLIN

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esearchers found microplastics in 76 of the 77 sites sampled in a new research report that’s being billed as the first statewide survey of plastic waste in Texas waterways. The study Microplastic in Texas: A Survey of the Coast and Waterways of the Lone Star State, released by Environment Texas Research & Policy Center, included samples collected along the Texas Gulf Coast as well as lakes, rivers and streams, including Leon Creek in San Antonio. The watchdog group compiled existing data from 60 waterways around the state, and its staff and volunteers sampled from 17 additional sites this year. “The results of our survey are clear: Microplastic is a nearly invisible con-

stant in our waters, from drinking water reservoirs to our favorite swimming holes and fishing spots,” Environment Texas Executive Director Luke Metzger said in a statement. “Texas’ waterways make our state great. They sustain Texans and our diverse wildlife and ecosystems. But the microplastic we found in nearly every waterway we tested can potentially harm wildlife and marine life, and may endanger human health.” Public alarm is growing over the health effects of microplastics, the tiny particles that serve as the building blocks of plastic production but end up as a major source of pollution when they’re released during manufacturing and transport. Scientists estimate that adults ingest

‘Trying to Kill Me’

ACLU sues feds over alleged neglect of prisoner in ICE lockup near San Antonio BY SANFORD NOWLIN

T

he ACLU of Texas has filed a claim against the U.S. government on Thursday, alleging immigration agents failed to provide necessary food and medical care to a man locked up in a detention site less than an hour southwest of San Antonio. In its legal filing, the ACLU of Texas alleges Immigration and Customs Enforcement failed to offer “regular medical monitoring, specialized treatment and an appropriate diet” for inmate Elton Purvis, a Type 1 diabetic and Rastafarian priest. Purvis was found unresponsive and hospitalized multiple times due to ICE’s neglect, according to the legal filing. He’s now seeking monetary damages from the government for negligence, medical neglect, abuse of process and intentional

infliction of emotional distress. “The injustice that Mr. Purvis was forced to endure while in detention is tragically representative of the experience of thousands of detainees in Texas immigration detention centers,” ACLU of Texas attorney Caro Rivera Nelson said in a statement. “Individuals are left in inhumane conditions for months on end without access to adequate medical care, edible food, potable water, or a way out. While in detention, Mr. Purvis filed over 100 grievances to ICE and followed every channel available to ask for medical help – nothing worked.” ICE officials had no immediate response to the Current’s questions about the lawsuit. In a statement, Purvis said he had difficulty getting medicine to treat his diabetes and faced an uphill battle even

the equivalent of one credit card weekly in microplastics, according to Stanford Medicine. Studies suggest exposure to the particles could be linked to cancer, heart attacks, reproductive problems and other serious health risks. To limit the release of microplastics, Environment Texas’ report recommends industry work harder to prevent spills during the manufacturing process and that government should require producers to take greater responsibility for the waste they produce. Consumers also can help by cutting back on single-use plastics and “fast fashion” items that generate microfibers. Last fall, Environment Texas banded together with a coalition of fishermen, oyster farmers, tourism groups and medspeaking to his attorney. “Being in detention broke my courage. It felt like they were trying to kill me,” Purvis said. “I was so desperate to receive medical help. So many times I knew I was on the verge of going into diabetic shock. I often had to beg for help as my sugar dropped and I started feeling shortness of breath, dizziness and seeing stars. I would pray that the guards would send help before I became unresponsive.” Purvis’ filing is part of a coordinated pushback by the ACLU and its affiliates against the Trump White House’s mass-deportation policy. The civil-rights group has filed 53 claims for prisoners across 17 states and Washington, D.C., citing what it called a “widespread pattern of civil rights violations and abuse carried out by officials nationwide.” The rate of deaths in ICE custody has more than doubled since Trump’s current term began, reaching its highest level in more than a decade, the ACLU reports, citing a recent Human Rights Watch study. This week, another immigrant detention center near the Alamo City also came under fire for alleged human rights violations. After a visit to the South

Courtesy Photo / Jason Waite Photography

ical experts to demand Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality adopt stronger standards requiring plastic manufacturers reduce their discharges into Texas waterways. “The good news is that this isn’t inevitable,” Metzger added. “We can turn the tide if we address the sources of this pollution, such as plastic pellets and unnecessary single-use plastics.”

Wikimedia Commons / GEO Group

Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley organized by U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, a pediatric critical care doctor from Children’s National Hospital in Washington said conditions inside amounted to child abuse. sacurrent.com | August 5 - 18, 2026 | CURRENT

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news

Jacob R. Lopez

Passing the Hat

The mayor hopes corporations can spare nonprofits from the budget ax. Fundraising experts warn San Antonio’s donor pool is already tapped out BY MICHAEL KARLIS

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hat if you threw a fundraiser and nobody came? As Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones has proposed ways for the city to deal with its looming $158 million budget deficit, she suggested that corporations and philanthropists could help offset proposed budget cuts to nonprofits ranging from Síclovía to the San Antonio Botanical Garden. However, political experts and those on the fundraising front lines worry the private sector’s philanthropic dollars are already stretched thin. “[I’m] struggling to think of big corporations in this town and big-time people, developers and such, who are going to be willing to sign on, partic-

ularly for the amount of money she’s asking for,” University of Texas at San Antonio political scientist Jon Taylor said. “And in an economy that is not doing well and can get much worse. It just seems like a reach for me on her part.” Last month, Jones sent out a letter to the heads of Valero, USAA and Frost Bank and other San Antonio-based companies asking them to consider a three-year funding commitment from a list of 15 nonprofits that currently receive support from the city. The total of the commitments Jones wants to outsource exceeds $6.5 million, and it includes covering city commitments to organizations as wide-ranging as the Avenida Guadalupe Association, LiftFund and the San Antonio Dr. Martin

Luther King, Jr. Commission. During a town hall last Wednesday, Jones told the Current that no business or philanthropic leaders have so far responded to her letter. “The letter was just sent out last week,” Jones said. “So, I’m guessing people are maybe still looking at their budgets, but we haven’t received anything as of yet. But they’ve got until Aug. 21. So, hopefully we get some answers in.” Jones also said she’s committed to doing everything she can to prevent the 3.5% property tax rate hike championed by City Manager Erik Walsh as a means to deal with the deficit. “We’ve got to be creative,” said Jones, who’s among the only members of City Council to publicly offer alternatives to a property tax increase. “I mean, people are talking about raising garage sale permits. What are we going to raise them to? $25,000 a piece? Let’s be serious.” UTSA’s Taylor said he’s not surprised by the lack of response, citing the chilly relationship between Jones and San Antonio business leaders over her opposition to the $4 billion downtown sports-and-entertainment district

known as Project Marvel. “I’m not surprised they balked at this because she opposed their pet project, Project Marvel,” Taylor said. “She’s not necessarily showing a great willingness to work with them at times.” Business leaders who spoke to the Current agree that it’s unlikely they will step up to cover the lost city funds. Their reasons are both practical and political, they added. Big problems The first major hurdle for Jones’ donor proposal is that large companies typically allocate funds to philanthropic missions in the first fiscal quarter, according to experts. “Once that money is allocated, there’s usually not additional funding to go around,” said John Burnam, a consultant who’s worked in San Antonio’s nonprofit fundraising space for more than a decade. What’s more, San Antonio’s meager corporate base already donates a lot of money to local nonprofits. Grocer H-E-B, for example, pours millions into causes including educasacurrent.com | August 5 - 18, 2026 | CURRENT

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news tion and disaster relief while anchoring massive fundraising campaigns for the San Antonio Food Bank. Meanwhile, USAA, through its foundations, is one of the city’s largest grant makers, funneling millions to housing initiatives including Haven for Hope and local health programs. Frost Bank contributes more than $1 million annually to programs including tutoring for underprivileged youth along with health and educational initiatives. However, beyond that trio and a few other deep-pocketed enterprises, San Antonio doesn’t have many other locally headquartered corporations able to write million-dollar checks. Burnam cautioned that present economic realities are already straining the funding base. “There’s been something like an 80% to 87% increase in applications to private foundations in the South Texas area, largely due to deficits and budget cuts,” Burnam said. “But our funding base in San Antonio is not remotely strong enough to handle that kind of load increase.” Shrinking base Indeed, San Antonio’s corporate base has shrunk over the past two decades. AT&T relocated its headquarters in 2008 after its then-CEO decided Dallas made a better fit. While USAA’s corporate headquarters remains in San Antonio, the financial-services behemoth moved its USAA Federal Savings Bank operations to Phoenix in 2024. That same year, much-downsized tech firm Rackspace abandoned its 1.2 million-square-foot headquarters, dubbed “The Castle,” for a much smaller office space. Compounding the problem, many corporate donors are reluctant to supply funds to make up for federal budget cuts to nonprofits due to potential political blowback, according to Burnam. “They don’t want to upset the [Trump] administration, and the mayor is able to provide the same amount of pressure as the federal government,” Burnam said. Beyond Jones’ resistance to Project Marvel, some in the Alamo City’s corporate community feel as if they’ve never received a friendly introduction from the mayor. Instead, her letter asking them to step up their philanthropic efforts comes across as her first meaningful interaction with them.

Jacob R. Lopez

“We already pay enough in taxes,” one high-ranking business executive, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of political blowback, told the Current. If nothing else, Jones’ request is unprecedented, UTSA’s Taylor said. “I can’t think of any mayor going to downtown business types and saying, ‘Hey, I need you guys to cover the city’s budget shortfall and chip in,’” the professor said. “Think about cities that have faced dire financial straits, like Detroit and Cleveland. Their business communities didn’t step in and cover their city’s expenses. It’s the same thing here. She’s also asking the same people for money who, for the most part, did not support her in the general election. It’s just not going to happen.” Jones’ fundraising demand alone isn’t going to scare off corporations looking to relocate to San Antonio, the executive who spoke anonymously said. However, it does give companies already considering leaving town another excuse to leave.

<How did we get here?

San Antonio isn’t alone in staring down the barrel of a budget deficit. Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and cities nationwide are facing similar straits as COVID-19 relief funds authorized under the Biden-era American Rescue Plan dry up, according to Taylor. “Cities probably should have been planning for that in advance, and many of them didn’t,” Taylor said. “You’ve also got population growth, and in that respect, the need for city services, which means heightened expenses. Inflation played a role as well.” San Antonio’s budget ballooned by more than $1.3 billion under former Mayor Ron Nirenberg’s watch. District 10 conservative Marc Whyte has blamed the current budget issues on excessive spending, frequently pointing to city-sponsored Zumba classes that were poorly attended and cost taxpayers $100,000. Pressed for other cuts, however, Whyte has tended to talk in generalities. “We do not have a revenue problem here in this city,” Whyte previously told the Current. “We have a spending problem.”

As an alternative to Jones’ austerity measures, Whyte has pushed the idea of zero-based budgeting — an accounting theory in which a a budget is built from the ground up each year based on an organization’s highest priorities. While corporations regularly make use of the practice, it hasn’t worked in government, according to Taylor. “It’s a cute concept. [President] Jimmy Carter tried it at the federal level, and it didn’t work,” Taylor said. “Ultimately, what happens is that you end up using that budget system for the purposes of budget austerity.” Whyte’s proposal has yet to generate much support on the progressive-leaning council. That’s also the case for Jones’ other proposed solution — cutting job-training program Ready to Work. Should Jones’ fundraising effort fall flat, the city will still be left with the same uncomfortable choices: raise taxes, cut services or find another way to bridge a $158 million hole.

sacurrent.com | August 5 - 18, 2026 | CURRENT

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8/3/2026 10:23:08 AM

VISUAL ART

MANOLA & MARIA RAMIREZ: ‘HABÍA UNA VEZ’

calendar

FRI | 08.07 - THU | 08.27

San Antonio siblings Manola and Maria Ramirez are presenting “Había Una Vez” as an interactive, immersive visual art exhibit dedicated to exploring the bicultural experiences of immigrant families. An invitation for the viewer to walk into the story of their lives, art and experiences, the exhibit seeks to deepen the understanding of migrants and their inevitably fractured identities — an essential part of San Antonio’s cultural milieu. Bold and graphic, the Ramirezes’ style invites viewers of all ages to participate in their experience. Free, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday, Centro Cultural Aztlan, 1800 Fredericksburg Road, (210) 432-1896, centroaztlan.org. Stephanie Solis

SAT | 08.15 FI LM

LOVEFEST AND PARIS IS BURNING

LOVEfest is a cinematic tribute to pop art icon Robert Indiana’s LOVE sculpture. Built as a 12-foot Cor-Ten steel structure, the iconic image was also released as a MoMA Christmas card and a U.S. Postal Service stamp. Indiana’s sculpture has been a cornerstone of the McNay’s collection since 2015. Despite its sentimental appearance, the sculpture reflects the artist’s provocative instincts, which mesh well with the outstanding documentary Paris is Burning (1990). Well before Madonna made millions off her single “Vogue,” young, marginalized people in NYC were walking makeshift runways, performing in the ballroom subculture of late ’80s and bringing home the gold for their illustrious houses — small but fierce communities of drag and trans youth that thrived in the face of the AIDS pandemic. A ticket to the film covers general admission to the museum as well as admission to Indiana’s exhibition. This event is for guests 18 and older. Registration is required. Free-$23, 1-3 p.m., McNay Art Museum, 6000 N New Braunfels, (210) 824-5368, mcnayart.org.

Courtesy Photo / Criterion

calendar SAT | 08.15 WORKSHOP

DEATH PLANNING THROUGH COLLAGE

File this one somewhere between “What in the actual fuck?” and “Huh, I might actually want to do that.” Rather than creating your typical wedding visualization or materially driven dream board, this contemplative experience invites participants to choose experiences, conversations and locations they’d consider for their own memorialization, followed by the creation of a very personal collage. This class is less about making concrete decisions about end-of-life planning than about considering your last wishes from a place of love for others and for deep contemplation. Registration required. Free, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Pan American Branch Library, 1122 W. Pyron Ave., (210) 207-2500, mysapl.org.

Unsplash _ Gabriel Mihalcea

Courtesy Photo / SAY Si

SAT | 08.15 COMMUN ITY EVEN T

ART SALON 2026

For 43 years, the nonprofit San Antonio Ethnic Art Society (SAEAS) has dedicated itself to uplifting African American, Black and African Diaspora artists in our community through exhibitions, scholarships and professional development workshops. For its 2026 fundraising effort, SAEAS honors clay artist Gracie Poe and the Carver Community Cultural Center for their extraordinary work. Expect games, a silent auction, live painting, live music and bites prepared by Chef Asantewaa E lo-Liyong of FoodHorizonsUS. Pay as you go, 2-5 p.m., Say Sí, 1310 S. Brazos St., saisi.org.

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calendar TUE | 08.18 LECTURE

“CLIMATE CHANGE CHALLENGES IN THE 13-COUNTY ALAMO AREA: FLOODING, DROUGHT, HEAT WAVES AND WILDFIRE RISKS”

Longtime Sierra Club member Bill Barker will discuss how we must adapt to immediate climate-related hazards facing our region. Intensifying hazards demand adaptation planning across all levels of academia and government, and Barker has planning experience to back up his talk. During his career, he’s served as planning director for VIA Metropolitan Transit, a project manager in the city’s Office of Sustainability and as adjunct associate professor in UTSA’s Urban Planning Program. He is currently an advisor to the Great Springs Project and has also served as a climate consultant in seven states, as well as in Canada and Mexico. He will address threats that have already reshaped our region, including infrastructural vulnerability, water availability, changing ecosystems and public safety. Free, 6-8 p.m., Sierra Club Alamo Group, 1802 N. Main St., (210) 486-0417, alamo.edu.

Courtesy Photo / Great Springs Project

TUE | 08.18 FILM

THE APOSTLE

Arguably one of the most formidable character actors of his generation, Robert Duvall delivered his sophomore directorial effort in 1997 with The Apostle — an intense Southern Gothic thriller/drama in which he played the leading role. His profoundly disturbing portrayal of a lifelong preacher who’s gone way the hell off the rails following a fatal encounter with his estranged wife’s lover earned him a nomination for Best Actor. Shot in Texas and Louisiana, the film is a poignant reminder of a monster talent that the world lost earlier this year. Presented as part of Texas Public Radio’s Cinema Tuesdays series. $12 suggested donation, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Alamo Drafthouse Park North, 618 Northwest Loop 410, (210) 614-8977 x 300, tpr.org.

Courtesy Photo / October Films

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CURRENT | August 5 - 18, 2026 | sacurrent.com

New venues and a sense of community are fueling pickleball’s rapid rise in San Antonio BY ADAM POUPKO

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ast year, Mark McDonald learned just how tight-knit San Antonio’s pickleball community could be when his then-fiancé experienced complications that ended her pregnancy. The same day, McDonald, who coaches the sport, was scheduled to participate in a tournament and intended to cancel. Although he originally planned to remain quiet about the reason, emotion overrode and he told the owners of the site holding the tournament about the heartbreaking loss of his unborn son. “Within 20 minutes, I had everybody reaching out to me in the community, asking, ‘What can we do?’ ‘Are you alright?’ ‘Anything you need, let us know,’” McDonald said. “The community came together. There were some that I didn’t even talk to on a daily basis who reached out.” Fans of the fast-growing sport remember the days before the pandemic, when pickleball-focused bar and restaurant chain Chicken N Pickle, 5215 UTSA Boulevard, was one of the few options for top-quality courts and players often had to drive across town for a court. Since then, San Antonio’s pickleball scene has grown to 200 courts spread across 29 venues, according to the website courtsource.us. The city offers a mix of free municipal courts in addition to commercial ones. Additionally, 12 venues offer indoor courts for year-round play. That brisk growth mirrors a national trend. With 24 million active players, pickleball has emerged as the nation’s fastest growing sport, according to the Sports Fitness and Industry Association. Meanwhile, the number of outdoor public pickleball courts in major cities exploded by 650% from 1998 to 2024, according to the Trust for Public Land. Created in 1965, pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis. Its relatively compact court means less running than tennis, and the underhanded serve makes it easier on players. Driving the popularity, the sport is easy to learn and gentle on the body, which allows players of all ages to enjoy it, according to enthusiasts. The games also play quickly and don’t require big investments in equipment. Beyond the ease of play, however, the sport also offers a sense of community and a way for people young and old to socialize,

arts

Serving up community

Adam Poupko

McDonald said. “We all go through troubles in life outside of this court. [Pickleball] is something we do for fun, right?” McDonald said. “People need community, that’s why this sport continues to grow, especially here in San Antonio.” Filling a need Earlier this year, Brian Birdy opened a 24,000-square-foot pickleball facility at 5131 Beckwith Blvd. near the University of Texas at San Antonio as a franchise operation of the Dill Dinkers chain. He’d previously opened a separate Dill Dinkers site in the Blanco Market area at 18450 Blanco Road, Suite 101. Birdy became a franchisee for the Maryland based company after he and his wife became addicted to the sport in 2020. At the time, they played at Chicken N Pickle and in their own backyard. Birdy said he and his wife noticed they weren’t the only fans looking for new facilities. Demand was surging — especially as more younger players discovered the sport. “I told [my wife], look around, the age of the room has dramatically dropped,” he recalled. San Antonio’s two Dill Dinkers sites are built for tournament play, and the staff focuses on both the development of skilled players and bringing new ones into the sport. By offering structured open-play rotations, competitive tournaments and social events, Birdy said Dill Dinkers has built a multi-generational community around the sport, which can range from retirees to teens and even working adults who play during their lunch breaks. Technology and accessible play San Antonio’s appetite for the sport also caught the eye of national brand the Picklr, which opened a location in Live Oak this May. The facility at 16648 San Pedro Ave. features 14 indoor courts, including an ADA-accessible championship court created for high-level

competition and wheelchair accessibility. The Utah-based Picklr brand, which has sites in 25 states, places a high emphasis on bringing new technology to the sport, according to brand ambassador Madonel R. Pascual. In addition to its ADA-accessible championship court, the facility will feature the “Wingfield” artificial intelligence system plus a three-camera network built on each court that tracks line calls, keeps score and evaluates each player’s skill metrics. A 24-year U.S. Army veteran, Pascual understands the appeal of pickleball for those who seek exercise and community but don’t want to engage in a high-impact sport. Injuries during his military career left him with arthritis in his neck, back, elbows and knees. “I play pickleball for physical therapy and wellness and health,” Pascual said. “While playing, I’m working on my joints, my mobility, and the motion of my arms and legs.” Using the ADA-compliant courts at the Picklr’s 34,000-square-foot indoor center, Pascual is also trying to create a team of adaptive players, even in a hybrid format that allows players without disabilities to play alongside wheelchair athletes. While technology and corporate backing continue to professionalize pickleball and feed its expansion, the soul of the game still remains its community. “It’s a social thing where families can come together and play as a family,” Pascual said. “You can have your kids, parents, aunts, uncles play, and we’ve had birthday parties here.” McDonald, the coach, agrees. He struggled with drinking problems in his youth and is reaching a milestone this month by staying sober for two and a half years. He credits support from the pickleball community for helping him reach the achievement. “Everybody is willing to help with anything you’re going through,” McDonald said. “It’s just such a healthy outlet … . What it does is it takes you out there and keeps you active.”

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CURRENT | August 5 - 18, 2026 | sacurrent.com

screens

work of art.

Due West brings you back to your roots. What is it about shooting in Texas that actors understand immediately once they get here?

Especially where we shot this film in West Texas, it’s a place all its own. All of Texas is like that. There are so many great, unique places to shoot there. People are attached to that landscape in many ways. So, I think when you get there, you immediately feel that. I grew up there, so it has a very visceral impression on me. I roll across the Texas border, and I’m home. That’s the way I’ve always felt. But I think other people get that too. Texans are very interesting.

Cineverse

Crossroads of Conviction

San Antonio native Henry Thomas finds human story in Texas-based drama Due West BY KIKO MARTINEZ

S

ince the Lone Star State has some of the nation’s most restrictive abortion laws, the West Texas town of Alpine made a compelling setting for the drama Due West. In the film, actor and San Antonio native Henry Thomas (E.T.: The Extraterrestrial) plays Father Mike, a small-town Texas pastor whose deeply held beliefs are challenged when a woman he knows must confront a pregnancy crisis. Father Mike is forced to make a difficult decision when questions of faith and compassion collide. “I was so excited to cast Henry,” Austin-based actress and producer Adrianne Palicki (Friday Night Lights), 43, told the Current during a recent interview. “There are so many nuances to Pastor Mike, and Henry is such a nuanced actor. I knew he was going to bring something to the role that was going to be different — and he did.” During the Current’s recent interview with Thomas, 54, we discussed Due West’s moral complexity, the power of art to spark difficult conversations and why returning to Texas always feels like coming home. The film is now available on digital and VOD platforms.

When you read the script, did you see this as a political film or more of a personal story that inevitably became political because it’s set in Texas? I read everything within the context of the script. For me, the interesting thing is the

ambiguity and the moral conundrum, especially for Pastor Mike. He feels a certain way about something because it’s objective, but it suddenly becomes personal. Then, he’s faced with something that he never really had to think about deeply. To me, that was the lure. I thought it would be a powerful story.

Do you think films on specific social issues like abortion can reach people in ways that headlines and debates can’t? I think that’s the purpose of art and media — to not really frame anything from a moral perspective. It’s to show a different side of something [and] to open a conversation or to make people think [and] maybe even to make people mad — to make people feel things that they normally wouldn’t experience because they don’t like to feel certain uncomfortable things. I think art sometimes makes you uncomfortable. There’s a reason and a purpose for that. Life is an amazing journey. We should think about [this film] because it’s a human story at its heart. These issues divide people, [but] art is a way to bring people together.

Some viewers will see this film as taking a clear stance on the abortion issue. Were you ever concerned about how audiences in Texas might respond to it? The idea is to make people think about things. The best art makes you feel something. Those are the best films. You walk away, [and] you think about them. Even if it’s just a thought, that’s a win for a film or a

You left San Antonio at an early age when most actors are just starting to discover themselves. Looking back now, is there something about growing up here that you didn’t realize was influencing your work until much later in life?

I think I always realized it. I stayed in Texas until I was about 26, but I always liked going back to Texas after I filmed something. I always felt connected to it. It was never like I left. I never thought, “Yay, I got out of Texas and made it to Hollywood!” That never really happened.

I have to ask, I’m sure you’ve seen Steven Spielberg’s new film Disclosure Day already, right?

I haven’t seen it! I was a bad boy. I didn’t go.

Oh, no! Well, I won’t spoil it too much, but there is an alien in it. I’m being facetious, but I was a bit disappointed it wasn’t E.T. as an adult. I would have expected it would be closer to Close Encounters of the Third Kind aliens, right?

It’s comparable, yes.

Right. I don’t think [Steven] is going to touch E.T. He’s going to leave it alone.

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food Jaime Monzon

Raise a Glass

Whiskey Business returns for landmark 11th year in San Antonio BY KATHERINE STINSON

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eat or on the rocks? San Antonio spirits enthusiasts can have it both ways at Whiskey Business, sponsored by the Current. Having celebrated a decade of fun in 2025, Whiskey Business is back for an 11th year at the Witte Museum on Friday, Aug. 21. Tickets to the event, which runs 8-11 p.m., are available in both the general admission and VIP tiers. For first-timers, Whiskey Business is about more than just scotch and bourbon. The event showcases the best of Texas spirits, in addition to highlighting local San Antonio restaurants

serving up the best bites — a necessity after all the whiskey samples. The event takes over the entire Witte Museum space — from the dinosaur galleries to the outdoor grounds. Each ticket tier grants guests access to unlimited food and drink samples, in addition to live music acts, local vendors and the opportunity to connect with other whiskey connoisseurs. Not a fan of whiskey? Beer and wine vendors also participate. This year’s vendors include Ranger Creek, Chapline Distillery, Maverick Whiskey, Bending Branch Winery and many more. So what’s the difference between general admission and VIP tickets? Besides the fun swag bags for VIP guests, the premium ticket tier also has one other major benefit — a chance to access the event one hour early. The lines tend to form very quickly at Whiskey Business, so VIP access is a guaranteed way to get ahead of the crowds and start sampling. VIP ticket holders also receive access to a rare spirit sampling, a Whiskey Business rocks glass, complimentary valet parking, access to the Sipping

Jaime Monzon

Sessions seminar and an exclusive VIP lounge. General admission ticketholders get full access to unlimited food and drink samples, as well as the Sipping Sessions seminar access and the live music sessions. VIP entry starts at 7 p.m., while general admission ticket holders get to enter the event at 8 p.m. Make sure to dress accordingly for San Antonio weather — the event tends to get hot due to the high volume of guests. However, it’s easy to go inside the Witte at any point during the event to cool off. Whiskey Business will have vendors inside the museum and outside on the green. Whiskey Business is all for a good cause too. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit the Witte Museum. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Witte has been dedicated to preserving history and the humanities in San Antonio since it originally opened in 1926. Whiskey Business helps the museum continue its mission to educate locals and tourists and maintain its expansive 10-acre property. $80-$155, 8-11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, sawhiskeybusiness.com.

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food CO O K I N G U P CO N V E R S AT I O N

Exploring a new approach to fine dining with San Antonio chef Carlos Martinez of Nai BY KATHERINE STINSON

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fter cooking for some of San Antonio’s best restaurants, Carlos Martinez discovered a clever way to pivot when he found rent prices were too high for his first original concept, Nai. Martinez kept Nai’s core idea — offering a prix-fixe dining experience focused on elevated dishes with historic Mexican influences — but added a new twist. Instead of opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant, he hosts the dinners at his own home. Guests at Nai are all seated at the same table, and Martinez is able to accommodate most allergies with proper notice. Those interested in booking can reserve a seat on the Nai website, naisatx.com, which also has the most up-to-date menus.

Were you born in San Antonio? I was born in Reynosa, Mexico.

What was your first restaurant job in San Antonio?

what we offer on our seasonal menu. Fresh ingredients are still very expensive! We do try to source as local as we can. One thing I like about hosting the dinners at our house is that we’re able to save money for a building we’ll one day own. That way we don’t have to lease it out.

Why Nai?

The inspiration comes from the Rarámuri people of Northern Mexico. Nai means fire, so we focus on primal flavors that symbolize the warmth of hospitality and rebirth.

What’s been the most popular dish so far?

Everybody that came to have dinner with us raved about the Caesar salad and the buñuelo dessert. One of our last guests was stoked about all of our desserts, which was nice to hear, because I’m not a formally trained pastry chef.

Do you have formal culinary training?

I went to culinary school in Mexico for a year. I didn’t have the money to train in fancy culinary schools in New York or overseas. I would study and practice from cookbooks. The school of life taught me the most!

What was a tough lesson to learn during your career?

Probably the toughest thing was I missed a lot of birthdays and events for friends and family because of the long hours in the kitchen. It was tough to learn how to achieve that work-life balance. Nai has been so helpful in achieving that balance. My wife works close by, so I get to go pick her up, and she helps me out with the dinners.

Talk about how often Nai’s menu changes.

I started as a line cook at Cured in 2017. Eventually, I moved up as a sous chef. I worked at Clementine from 2018 to 2022 and at Mixtli for a brief span.

Normally what we want to do is a nine-, 11- or 12-course tasting menu, depending on the seasons and what’s available from local farmers. So our set amount of courses depends on what’s available.

When did you want to open up Nai?

How long does it take to make a new menu?

So, everything started during the pandemic. I was about to stop cooking because I was so frustrated. My wife said, “Why don’t we start cooking at our house, just for fun?” My first at-home pop-up at that time was called Maiz Cocina de Origen — which eventually became Nai. I wanted to open a brick-and-mortar for the concept for a while because my guests loved the food, but the rent and construction prices were too high for several of the locations we scoped out. My wife and I realized it would be easier to host the dinners at our house — just like when we used to cook for fun in the pandemic days. It was easier to do it this way too, because we already had our equipment.

Are you able to lower costs on the dinners then? To be honest, the menu pricing changes depend on

It takes me about two weeks to craft a new menu. Sometimes I wake up at 3 a.m. and feel inspired.

Is there anything else you’d like people to know about Nai?

I just want people to know that we’re here — we exist! I know there’s a lot of people that don’t like tasting menus because the dishes are small. I simply ask to give us a chance.

What are some of your favorite restaurants to dine at when you’re not working?

I love Fife & Farro at the Pullman Market and Sichuan House.

Courtesy Photo / Nai

with your wife?

We love the Modernist.

Last cookbook you read?

It’s called Odette, it’s from a restaurant of the same name in Singapore with three Michelin stars.

What’s your go-to cocktail bar you like going to sacurrent.com | August 5 - 18, 2026 | CURRENT

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Named Best Cocktail Bar three Years in a Row! Cheers, San Antonio!

THANK YOU SAN ANTONIO FOR VOTING FOR US! BEST BREWERY

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food Masa Appeal

Con Huevos is more than SA’s Instagram breakfast darling. Its transcendent tortillas live up to the hype. BY RON BECHTOL

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f you have ever missed out on a meme — say the odd-couple mashup of blockbuster films Barbie and Oppenheimer into Barbenheimer — you’ll know how I feel about finally making it to Con Huevos Tacos. What’s all the fuss about? I wondered. Curiosity got the better of me. The colorful restaurant on East Houston Street has already been written about, photographed or captured on video by anyone interested in San Antonio’s food scene. Driving by you can’t miss the vibrant blue paint job, but the minuscule eastof-downtown building doesn’t exactly scream “renowned taco titan.” You place your order at an outdoor window and pick it up at a separate window around the corner. The partially covered seating, enlivened by confetti-hued metal chairs, is all outdoors too. All orders are packed as if to-go, but you have the option dine there. Nothing suggests there might be a single menu item that clocks in at nearly $10. Con Huevos serves up the breakfast taco staples. There’s the canonical bean and cheese in a house-made flour tortilla for $2.95. And if the filling seems nothing out of the ordinary, the tortilla should be the first clue something more is afoot. Multi-layered and light, it’s a work of art of the best and most unpretentious kind. A slightly fancier scrambled egg with bacon recently pleased a picky 8-yearold, although he firmly declined any add-on salsas. For the same $4.95 price, I happily devoured a Licha taco. It contains a personal favorite combo — chorizo y papa — cradled in one of those transcendent tortillas. Yes, some cheddar cheese got a little lost in the equation, but a buffer of refried beans served as a soothing counterpoint to the rusty and judiciously greasy chorizo. Unlike my young dining companion, I wasn’t the

least bit reluctant to add both the biting red and the sweltering green salsas. One at a time though. There are rules. Masa ruled the roost from then on. The Taco Matamoros is available as a stand-alone, but it also figures in an under-$10 combo with an agua fresca and a cup of fideo. It’s the smart move — especially since the agua is exceptional and the fideo a comforting classic. The taco itself, presented in a nixtamal corn tortilla that’s been passed through hot fat, is dominated by a generous portion of sirloin fajita. The meat was happily still a tad pink — and also decidedly tender. Guacamole, queso fresco and onion round out the cast of characters. It’s a winning production, only enhanced by the salsas. Even both at once. If the nixtamal corn tortilla was very good, the same masa mixed with spinach and nopal was sensational. The added ingredients gave it a pleasant green hue, and the yielding texture made it a suitable canvas on which to compose the vegetable-forward Lupe taco. Chunks of almost sweet calabacita, kernels of corn, diced tomato, a scattering of al-dente black beans and a unifying mantle of queso fresco make this a taco that even unrepentant carnivores can appreciate. It may have been my favorite. Not that I didn’t appreciate the overthe-top extravaganza that was Con Huevos’ Quesadilla Deshebrada de Res. But it was, frankly, a little much, and hard to eat to boot. The solution is first to devour as much as you can of the braised, shredded beef in guajillo chile that’s spilling out of the folded tortilla. That’s a necessary step before attempting any hoisting or cutting. Then, and only then, pry open the folded tortilla — which will be stuck to the molten magma of queso Oaxaca beneath — and add the quickly pickled slaw. The sprightly slaw, along with crema Mexicana, provide a necessary antidote

Instagram / conhuevostacos

to the lush, slow-cooked carne. Forget about that other taco you ordered, though. There probably will be no room. But if you’re a glutton for both punishment and glorious excess, go on to, say, the Huarache. Though the name translates to “sandal,” the shape of this corn masa vessel is often more canoe-like, its upturned gunwales containing the desired filling. At Con Huevos, the mixture is a modest combination of refried beans, queso fresco and a salad of tomato and lettuce enlivened with mar-

inated red onion. Add crema al gusto. Add both salsas, too, as this is the least surprising filling of any of the above, and the sandal’s sole itself is a touch chewy — though, in compensation, that makes it all the easier to pick up and eat. On balance, though, the Con Huevos ballyhoo seems deserved. Rumor has it that a nearby facility with indoor seating is on the horizon for the owners, so you may soon be able to decide for yourself in air-conditioned comfort. Just don’t be the last on the Con Huevos train.

CON HUEVOS

1629 E. Houston St., (210) 460-2075, order.toasttab.com/online/con-huevos-tacos Hours: 8 a.m.-2 p.m. daily Price range: $2.95-$9.50 The lowdown: Con Huevos is a celebrated taco joint known for superlative flour and corn-masa tortillas and fillings such as sirloin fajita with guacamole, papa and chorizo with refried beans, and the vegetarian Lupe with calabacita. Variations on the taco theme, such as huaraches and folded quesadillas with braised shredded beef in guajillo chile, are also available. For a textural treat, try the Quesadilla Taco with scrambled egg, corn chips and queso blanco. Outdoor seating only. sacurrent.com | August 5 - 18, 2026 | CURRENT

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music

Man of Steel

Three decades after launching Robb’s Metalworks on cable access TV, Robb Chavez remains one of San Antonio metal’s loudest champions BY SANFORD NOWLIN

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obody in their right mind would accuse Robb Chavez of being a lukewarm heavy metal fan. The 55-year-old education consultant is the human dynamo behind Robb’s Metalworks, a San Antonio-based video show that this summer celebrated 30 years of turning fans on to the hard stuff. The program got its start on Time Warner cable access, but has since morphed into a YouTube phenomenon with a worldwide following. This year alone, Chavez has conducted

Courtesy Photo / Robb’s Metalworks

interviews with genre luminaries including Gary Holt (Exodus and Slayer) and Billy Milano (M.O.D.) along with Texas acts ranging from San Antonio prog-metalers Donella Drive to longtime Houston institution Helstar. Along the way, Chavez has promoted heavy metal shows in San Antonio and Houston building on Robb’s Metalworks’ reputation, and at one point, he even helped curate an Institute of Texan Cultures exhibition and concert showcasing the Alamo City’s heavy metal history. Despite the three decades of hard work Chavez has poured into Robb’s Metalworks, he’s emphatic that it’s a labor of love, not a business venture. He approaches the show as a fan and said he’s turned down multiple cash offers from bands and promoters eager to secure a slot on his program. “I’ve never monetized Robb’s,” Chavez said. “I have my own career. I don’t need that revenue, so it’s never been about that. I never wanted it to be about money because when you do that, you lose integrity.” Chavez has put out the show with longtime help from JB Zavala, his photographer and video editor, and videographer Richard Sanchez, making it a true team effort. The Current caught up with Chavez to talk about the longevity of Robb’s Metalworks, its

Robb Chavez started Robb’s Metalworks 30 years ago. Staffers JB Zavala and Richard Sanchez have been with him for much of that journey.

M

rewards and how long he plans to keep it up. This story was edited for length and clarity.

In 2009, you briefly retired from doing the show. How long did that last?

I started a PhD program and I said, “Well, I do too many things in my life and I’ve got to lay one down.” And I couldn’t lay family down. I couldn’t lay work down. I couldn’t lay anything else down. So I had to lay down Robb’s Metalworks. And I was married at that time, but my wife was like, “No, no, you don’t have to retire the show. Keep going.” I said, “I can’t do everything. You want me to go crazy?” So, anyway, to make a long story short, the retirement only lasted about a year and a half. I think the last episode aired in the fall of 2009, and then I did my first interview back in the summer of 2011.

Did you end up finishing the PhD program? No, actually that’s why I came back. I did a year of coursework, and then at the end of

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119 Broadway, Downtown San Antonio, TX 78205 www.parishatters.com

210-223-3453 Open Sundays

music that first year, my marriage started falling apart. I knew I was going to get divorced, so I didn’t go back. I didn’t like PhD work anyway. … And then when that decision was made, my guys, my crew guys were like, “Oh, so does that mean you’re going to bring the show back?” And I was like, “Yeah, just let the dust settle a little bit and we’ll get back to it.” But there was a lot of change and transition that we adopted upon our return.

Was that when you decided to focus on YouTube and online delivery as opposed to cable access?

Yep. I have two guys that have been working with me for almost 20 years. And one of the guys — his name’s JB Zavala — when he first came to my staff, he was a student at Northwest Vista in video and audio. And so he’s always kind of been the visionary on the tech side. And I remember when I decided I was coming back, he said, “Robb, we cannot go back to Time Warner Cable.” That was my intention, actually, but he talked me out it and he said, “We’ve got to utilize YouTube and MySpace, at that time, and broaden our audience to the world — not just San Antonio.” And I was captivated by the idea of broadening our audience. I knew I was going to have to buy new cameras and new editing equipment and stronger computers. It was going to be a huge investment on our end — both financially and the learning curve with all the new tech. But we did it.

Did it pay off with a wider audience?

Absolutely. Absolutely. I mean, we have close to 18,000 followers on our Facebook, which is our primary social media. We have, of course, followers from all over Texas, but also Mexico, Australia, Austria, Germany. We have fans from all over who watch the show. And I’m glad that Facebook provides those type of analytics to us. The other day I got some new stickers in, and posted, “Where are my top fans? I’ll send you some stickers.” And one of the guys commented on the post and asked, “Would you ship to England to Liverpool?” And I said, “No, I can’t do that.”

You’re old enough to remember when San Antonio was considered the Heavy Metal Capital of the World. Would you like to see it regain that title?

Facebook / Robb’s Metalworks

That’s something that I think we would all love to see again. But the market is just different now. It’s so diverse now. And let’s first talk about that from the underground perspective. So, back in the ‘80s, if somebody said, “I’m in the heavy metal scene,” it was, “OK, great. We get you.” You knew they were into those old bands that made up the scene — Watchtower, Helstar, all those bands. Now the scene is just so diverse, if you told someone, “Yeah, I’m in the metal scene.” Which part of the metal scene are you? In the black metal scene? The thrash metal scene? The prog-metal scene?

Yeah, I’ve heard people describe it as being very stratified.

Yeah, and that’s it. And that stratification has gotten even worse because of social media. Everyone has their little cliques. Everyone has their genre that they follow. And I hate to say this, but sometimes metal fans can develop tunnel vision. And that’s one of the things that I’ve al-

ways [been proud of] about Robb’s, is that we embrace all genres of metal. That’s why I started Robb’s: because I’m a fan. I enjoy all genres of metal. All of those genres I just mentioned, I listen to them all. And all of those different bands from those different genres I’ve had on Robb’s because I just love it. But I think that stratification has prevented some of the centralization of metal in our city and across Texas. But people in Texas especially — Texas musicians and also the fans — still have a reverence for San Antonio because they remember that history. We still have clubs that will play metal, and then, of course, Robb’s has been here for a long time. The last two bands I’ve interviewed here in my home studio, they’re not even from San Antonio. I’m going to release an interview today with a band called Haserot, which released a wonderful record just this month. And they drove from Houston to come interview with me. And then the week after, a band from Austin called Bannerlord drove down to interview with me. That speaks to the rev-

Robb Chavez welcomes the band Bannerlord to his home studio.

M

erence people have for Robb’s Metalworks. One of our goals has always been to introduce new bands to the city. But now I get to do it to the city and the world, so it’s a wonderful thing. The whole medium and landscape of music has just changed so dramatically in the past couple decades.

How long do you expect to keep doing the show?

I love working with bands and listening to music and editing video and stuff like that. So I just feel like I still have more moments to capture. I still have more bands to work with. And, believe it or not, I think one of the things that helps me to believe that is that I see musicians who are in their 60s and who are still kicking ass. … Like these guys still do it because the passion still burns within them. And that passion still burns within me. sacurrent.com | August 5 - 18, 2026 | CURRENT

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critics’ picks Wednesday, Aug. 5 George Porter Jr. and the Runnin’ Pardners George Porter Jr. gained fame as bassist-singer for The Meters, the legendary New Orleans funk group. After the band’s breakup, Porter formed his own group, the Runnin’ Pardners, who mine a similarly groovy territory. $35, 8 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-2830, samsburgerjoint.com. — Bill Baird

Friday, Aug. 7 The Grasshopper Lies Heavy, Donella Drive, Trash Dragon, Skin & Bones This four-band bill showcases some of San Antonio’s most adventurous purveyors of heavy sounds. The Grasshopper Lies Heavy delivers brutal riffs with an engaging musical sophistication. Local post-hardcore rockers Donella Drive brings a prog flavor to the stage reminiscent of fellow Texans At the Drive-In. $14.29, 8 p.m., Stable Hall, 307 Pearl Parkway, stablehall.com. — Danny Cervantes

Saturday, Aug. 8 Vintage Pictures, Ritmo Sabroso Hey, if the world is falling to pieces, might as well dance. This installment of Lonesome Rose’s ongoing Noche Cumbiambera series showcases Vintage Pictures, one of SA’s most promising new bands thanks to its fusion of punk energy with Latin grooves. Ritmo Sabroso is also guaranteed to move asses off of barstools and onto the dance floor. $10, 9 p.m., Lonesome Rose, 2114 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 455-0233, thelonesomerose.com. — BB Angel White, Mockingbird Express The new owners of the Gunter Hotel — host to blues legend Robert Johnson’s famed 1930s recording sessions — have leaned heavily into the property’s musical heritage. This concert in the downtown hotel’s Crystal Ballroom features acclaimed Dallas-based singer-songwriter Angel White, known for a style he calls “western soul” that incorporates dirty Texas-style blues with country, pop and more. San Antonio psych trio Mockingbird Express will open. $70, 7:30 p.m., Gunter Hotel, 311 N St Mary’s St, thegunterhotel.com. — BB

Sunday, Aug. 9 Sawyer Brown Sawyer Brown became viral before going viral was considered a thing. Back in the day, the country singer skyrocketed to fame on Star Search and hasn’t looked back. Over the past four decades, Brown and his band have blazed a trail with a sound equally influenced by Merle Haggard and The Eagles. Expect a night of hits including “Some Girls Do” and “The Race Is On.” $72.50-$131.50. 7:30 p.m., Tobin Center 36

CURRENT | August 5 - 18, 2026 | sacurrent.com

for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle, (210) 223-8624, tobincenter.org. — DC

Tuesday, Aug. 11 Steve Earle Americana icon Steve Earle grew up in San Antonio and, according to local legend, held Vietnam anti-war protests in front of the Alamo. Earle hasn’t relented on his calls for justice and human rights. For this show on his 51 Years of Songs and Stories tour, Earle will likely shared memories of his formative days in SA. $53, 8 p.m., Stable Hall, 307 Pearl Parkway, stablehall. com. — BB

Friday, Aug. 14 The Montvales, Nathan Evans Fox, Nick Garza’s Get Along Tennessee’s the Montvales craft moving, stripped-down Americana featuring tight female vocal harmonies and an earnest, heartwarming sound. Nathan Evans Fox, also from Tennessee, performs modern folk music with an independent, DIY-style approach and a similarly worn-in aesthetic. San Antonio native Nick Garza, meanwhile, is a serious up-andcomer in Austin’s Americana scene. $10, 8 p.m., Lonesome Rose, 2114 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 4550233, thelonesomerose.com. — BB Spike Hellis LA’s Spike Hellis makes experimental body music, combining straight-up electro-clash rhythmic backing with elements of noise. It’s a potent brew that’s enabled the act to perform with likeminded acts including ADULT., Kontravoid, Choir Boy, Soft Kill and Portrayal of Guilt. $25, 8 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. — BB FLOATS, Famous Friend, The Citie, Pet Peeves San Antonio native Mark Perez started FLOATS as a solo project in 2017, the raw summation of his indie and punk influences. Now based in LA and augmented with other musicians, FLOATS has been touring since 2022. The group released its latest effort, the seven-track EP repetitive, in May, building on its catchy catalog. $21.36, 8 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. — DC

Saturday, Aug. 15 Texas Fest featuring Z-Ro, Slim Thug, Mike Jones, Devin The Dude, Lil’ Flip, more The New York Times once dubbed Z-Ro one of the nation’s most underrated rappers, but he’s not the only reason to take note of this stacked bill featuring eight Southern hip-hop acts. $49.00-$108.99, 7 p.m., Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston St., (210) 226-5700, majesticempire. com. — DC

Angel White Courtesy Photo / Gunter Hotel

Freestyle Explosion featuring Stevie B., Lisa Lisa, The Cover Girls, more As the name suggests, this touring package celebrates the freestyle music that blossomed in the 1980s. The electronic dance genre made a big impact in Latino communities through its blend of Latin rhythms, funky beats and soulful vocals centered around love and relationships. $67.55-$92.50, 7:30 p.m., Frost Bank Center, 1 Frost Bank Center Drive, (210) 444-5000, frostbankcenter.com. — Brianna Espinoza

Monday, Aug. 17 Royal Coda This Sacramento, California-based post-hardcore supergroup exudes obvious Dance Gavin Dance influences because it includes former members of that band. However, its sound also includes experimental and progressive rock

undertones. Royal Coda is touring after a fouryear hiatus, so don’t be surprised if its rabid fan base quickly snatches up all the tickets for this show. $32.72, 7 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. — BE

Tuesday, Aug. 18 DevilDriver, Ov Sulfur, Upon a Burning Body California groove-metal band DevilDriver is touring behind its 11th album, Strike and Kill, with deathcore act Ov Sulfur and San Antonio metal group Upon a Burning Body rounding out the bill. DevilDriver’s mix of death metal and nu-metal sensibilities gets heads banging and bodies moving. $48-$70.80, 7 p.m., Aztec Theatre, 104 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 812-4355, theaztectheatre.com. — BE

All vehicles listed below were impounded by the San Antonio Police Dept. and will be scheduled to be sold at public auction via auturamarketplace.com

AUTO AUCTION

SEPTEMBER 9, 2026, AT 3:00 PM AT SAN ANTONIO VEHICLE IMPOUND FACILITY 3625 Growdon Rd, San Antonio, TX. (210) 881-8440

Registered owners may pick up vehicles with proof of ownership, valid ID and payment all impound, towing and storage fees & applicable taxes prior to Auction.

ID

VIN

Year

Make

Model

Fees to date

Daily Storage Amount

ID

VIN

Year

Make

Model

Fees to date

Daily Storage Amount

9499792

L2BB6BCH8SB717025

2025

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$604.50

$21.65

9022443

LV4110H311790

1900

JOHN DEERE

OTHER

$3,760.60

$21.65

9520536

L98B3H5A8M1001997

1900

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$474.60

$21.65

8860044

EVICF2025030884

1900

MOUNTAIN BIKE

OTHER

$4,929.70

$21.65

9518255

3SCK67MA9N1001111

2022

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$474.60

$21.65

8885381

L08YGH1J5R1000159

2000

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$4,756.50

$21.65

9190776

SERV1182G697

2000

BOAT-GENERIC

BOAT

$2,634.80

$21.65

8913755

L9NLTNBJ2R1802968

2000

TAO TAO

OTHER

$4,496.70

$21.65

9159750

LWGPCML05KA112900

2019

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$2,678.10

$21.65

8965736

1H078H20165

2000

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$4,150.30

$21.65

9468241

CTL2500S0006292

2025

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$409.65

$21.65

9028491

JH2PC40028M100755

2008

HONDA

MC-CBR SERIES

$3,479.15

$21.65

9397262

RRM20213342722

1900

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$1,270.85

$21.65

9050897

3MUAMGBD0P1312087

2000

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$3,565.75

$21.65

9388723

L0BPTNMY3L0002823

2026

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$1,314.15

$21.65

8788220

JH2PC40088M103496

2008

HONDA

MC-CBR SERIES

$5,406.00

$21.65

9482037

L5AB2LDE2TWB00395

1900

MINI

OTHER

$734.40

$21.65

8953342

EZGBX0CFAF3093209

1900

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$3,940.30

$21.65

9478258

L5AB2LDE6SWA06082

2000

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$756.05

$21.65

8959559

WBAPG73549A401064

2000

BMW

OTHER

$4,085.35

$21.65

9451886

LWGPCMLC9LA284181

2020

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$929.25

$21.65

8948137

L1UGCNL78SA001212

2000

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$4,258.55

$21.65

9447322

L9NLTNBR2R1803639

1900

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$950.90

$21.65

8941368

A8MMA7ZMEKJ004856

2000

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$4,323.50

$21.65

9443250

A8MMA7ZMCNT005354

2022

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$972.55

$21.65

8901420

L98B3H4BXL1000780

2000

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$4.604.95

$21.65

9387815

L9NTELKB1C1001754

2012

TAO TAO

OTHER

$1,125.80

$21.65

8874434

L1UGCJLA9NA001468

2000

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$4,821.45

$21.65

9363820

LXDTCLRJ1S1004038

2025

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$1,487.35

$21.65

8924376

L9NLTNBR3R1807344

1900

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$4,431.75

$21.65

9361184

LJ7TCA2F7SZ536164

2025

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$1,509.00

$21.65

9026022

L6ZSCLLA5R1000855

2000

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$3,738.95

$21.65

9280936

L0BPTNMY8R0001062

2024

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$2,028.60

$21.65

9564175

L5CAEJLT0JM000056

1900

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$301.40

$21.65

9229160

R4MCP1000PK001622

1900

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$2,375.00

$21.65

9560077

L08YGJGJ0R1001511

2024

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$323.05

$21.65

9112883

L08YGJGJ1S1000051

1900

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$3,154.40

$21.65

9553183

L9NTELKD6H1052448

2017

TAO TAO

OTHER

$388.00

$21.65

9111630

L9NTCGPBXL1000477

2020

TAO TAO

OTHER

$3,154.40

$21.65

9472527

4YMBU1010LT029297

2020

TRAILER-GENERIC

TRAILER

$907.60

$21.65

9109525

L9NYCFBCXL1012886

2020

TAO TAO

OTHER

$3,176.05

$21.65

9328671

L9NYCJLZ8J1012288

2018

TAO TAO

OTHER

$303.10

$21.65

9075742

3SCK4EKH3P1023876

2000

YAMAHA

OTHER

$3,392.55

$21.65

9271783

1EA1K3421H1445819

1987

TRAILER-GENERIC

TRAILER

$2,223.45

$21.65

9067399

LWGPCGLC7MA007323

2021

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$3,457.50

$21.65

9556430

A3C1A15329X

2000

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$564.00

$21.65

9427231

4FVCABBAX4U343766

1900

TRAILER-GENERIC

UTILITY TRAILER

$994.20

$21.65

9423273

R22509190028

1900

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$1,254.00

$21.65

$1,790.45

$21.65

9387677

YI52403135

2026

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$1,487.35

$21.65

9318099

4RACS10158N061992

2008

TRAILER-GENERIC

CARGO TRAILER

9308700

JFMAMJJAS0N

2019

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$1,833.75

$21.65

9326725

Y175000303

2012

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$1,877.05

$21.65

9229160

R4MCP1000PK001622

1900

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$2,375.00

$21.65

9229450

TYAH024302

1900

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$2,526.55

$21.65

9208966

164399R044217

1969

CHEVROLET

IMPALA

$2,504.90

$21.65

9229091

36H0725B2076

1900

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$2,476.55

$21.65

9063465

5KT4S1411KF520951

2012

TRAILER-GENERIC

TRAILER

$3,529.15

$21.65

9219730

TYAH025951

1900

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$2,591.50

$21.65

9052871

5F15S0415N1005827

2000

TRAILER-GENERIC

UTILITY TRAILER

$3,544.10

$21.65

9173890

1F129H10018

1900

OTHER-NOT FOUND

OTHER

$2,894.60

$21.65

9061548

5JGBH11177E025561

2007

TRAILER-GENERIC

TRAILER

$3,414.20

$21.65

FEES ACCRUE DAILY AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

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sacurrent.com | August 5 - 18, 2026 | CURRENT

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CURRENT | August 5 - 18, 2026 | sacurrent.com

EMPLOYMENT Software Engineer – San Antonio, TX. iHeartMedia Entertainment, Inc. seeks candidates for the position of Software Engineer, resp for designing, developing & deploying scalable backend services for new & existing products & features. Interested candidates should respond to req. #37558 at www.iheartmedia.com/careers. Senior Site Reliability Engineer – San Antonio, TX. iHeartMedia Entertainment, Inc. seeks candidates for the position of Senior Site Reliability Engineer (SRE), resp for leading a talented team of SREs/DevOps Engineers across a wide variety of Cloud Services to ensure the reliability, availability, & performance of software systems and infrastructure. Interested candidates should respond to req. #38735 at www.iheartmedia.com/careers. “Rated PG-13”--13 letters, two initials. by Matt Jones © 2026 Matt Jones Across 1. Dumb or awkward person, from the Yiddish (and Matt Berry’s character on “Krapopolis”) 6. “Divine Secrets of the ___ Sisterhood” (2002 movie) 10. “Dancing Queen” foursome 14. Legendary host Philbin, to fans 15. Former Fed head Greenspan 16. British pound, slangily 17. Pertaining to the hipbone 18. Subtle eye signal 19. Take back, in a program 20. Feature of airports and hospitals 23. “However,” briefly 24. “Welcome to Wrexham” figure ___ Mac 25. Comment section, metaphorically 32. Roofing material 34. Copier of old 35. San Francisco mayor Daniel 36. Ill effect 38. Addis ___, Ethiopia 40. Bridge position 41. Television, newspapers, etc. 43. Endorse digitally 45. Participate at Aspen 46. Inflation instrument 49. Letterman list count 50. “___ to Extremes” (Billy Joel song)

51. Method of holding small objects between the thumb and fingers 58. ___ Turismo 59. College campus yard 60. University at which Jimmy Carter taught 62. Cuzco locale 63. Strong craving 64. Spud 65. Ladder part 66. Large ones might clash 67. Goes nuts Down 1. ___ Lanka 2. Assist 3. “Return of the Jedi” princess 4. Lorre’s “Casablanca” role 5. Posh Spice’s married surname 6. “This is boring” 7. Sacha Baron Cohen character with an upcoming 2026 movie 8. 2020 presidential candidate Andrew currently humiliating himself on Fox’s “Nation’s Dumbest” 9. Turkish capital 10. Color similar to cyan 11. Beer keg stopper 12. ___ one’s time 13. Fuss 21. Region of ancient Turkey 22. Let the dice do their thing 25. June celebration 26. Earthy tone 27. Hint at 28. Aim high 29. Clear the cache, say 30. Board game of world

conquest 31. Cooler brand named for a cryptid 32. Fill-in 33. Claim with confidence 37. “Attention!” 39. Once more 42. “Be with you in ___!” 44. Side option, sometimes 47. Unlike any other 48. Inaugural poet Amanda 51. U.K.-based sandwich chain ___ a Manger 52. Like some collectible cards 53. O.R. activity 54. “Aladdin” character named after a literary villain 55. Lofty poems 56. Smidgen 57. Get ready 58. Navigational tracker 61. ‘69 and ‘96, e.g. Answers on page 23.

Digital Workplace Engineer III sought by Capital Group Companies Global, in San Antonio, TX. Hybrid work permitted, when not WFH must report to San Antonio, TX office. Ensure smooth operation of IT systems, leading all phases of the product engg & operation lifecycle. Must have unrestricted right to work in U.S. Bach’s & min. 3 yrs. exp reqd. To apply, send resume to Global Mobility Team: cgapplications@capgroup.com. MUST REF. JOB CODE: SA0125BK.

NOTICE Correction (from July 22, 2026): The address, phone number, and website for Air & Drain Works was published incorrectly. The correct information is: Air & Drain Works 8106 NE Interstate 410 Loop, Suite 2 San Antonio, TX 78218 (210) 503-0439 www.drainworkstx.com sacurrent.com | August 5 - 18, 2026 | CURRENT

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