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in this issue
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19 You Better Walk!
San Antonio burlesque performer Jasper St. James on his queer walking club and the diverse community it supports Issue 26-11/// May 27 - June 9, 2026
07
News
The Opener News in Brief
Bad Takes
San Antonio has the capacity to remedy its homelessness problem, it just needs to write the checks It Isn’t Easy Being Green
San Antonio has much room to improve when it comes to public parks, study finds
15 Calendar
Our picks of things to do powerful
23
Arts
No Powder Puff Stuff
Our Lady of the Lake becomes second Texas school to launch women’s flag football program
Punchlines and Politics
LGBTQ+ comedian Paula Poundstone talks surviving America’s daily political ‘firehose’
29Screens
Chasing Passion
Deli Boys star Saagar Shaikh learns how to teach drama at UT-San Antonio
31Food
Small Plates Deliver Big
At San Antonio’s Tinto y Tapas, the humblest dishes can be the ones that impress the most
Cooking up Conversation
Catching up with Cristina Martinez of ‘one-stop Chicana shop’ Very That
35
Music
Worth the Wait
San Antonio punk act Fea’s longawaited new album The Nerve pulls no punches
Critics’ Picks
On the Cover: The Current’s annual Pride Issue is here, and there’s lots to celebrate, including a profile of a popular LGBTQ+ walking club, details on Fea’s hard-hitting new album and interviews with Comedian Paula Poundstone and Very That founder Cristina Martinez. Cover design: Ana Paula Gutierrez.
Bryan Rindfuss
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SELLBUY TRADE
Congrats, Grads! The Future Has Your Name on It.
For 80 years, the Alamo Colleges District has helped open doors across our community. Today, we celebrate more than 15,000 degrees and certificates earned by the Class of 2025–2026, including AlamoPROMISE scholars and high school students getting a head start on college. From workforce training to college degrees, our graduates are building brighter futures for themselves, their families and our region. Here’s to the next generation and the next 80 years of opportunity.
15,000
2,000+
1,500+
The Alamo Colleges have supported me at every level. Without it, voices like mine wouldn’t be present in student decision-making. The Alamo Colleges understand the importance of student voices.
That Rocks/That Sucks
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers surrounded a vehicle in the parking lot of a West Side voting location last Wednesday, prompting Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar to travel to the location and tell the federal officers to leave. The incident, which reportedly stemmed from a traffic stop at the Las Palmas Branch Library, comes amid heightened concerns that President Donald Trump will use ICE officials to intimidate voters ahead of a midterm election that is expected to result in sizable Democratic victories.
The Bexar County Democratic Party last week joined a host of other organizations and elected officials in denouncing Maureen Galindo, a U.S. House candidate who’s repeatedly spouted antisemitic remarks. Galindo, who is running as a Dem in the redrawn 35th Congressional District currently represented by Rep. Greg Casar, has over the past month accused “zionist billionaire Jews” of running a human trafficking ring in South Texas and said she wants to turn an immigration detention center “into a prison for American Zionists.”
Rates of participation in SNAP have plummeted under the Trump administration, including in the Lone Star State. Data shows 500,000 fewer Texans were enrolled in the food stamp program this April than a year prior, a 14% decline. The enrollment rate began dropping significantly in October following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which imposed new work requirements for SNAP eligibility. The biggest declines in enrollment in Texas were in the Gulf Coast region, North Texas and South Texas.
San Antonio Metro Health has restarted its program designed to make insulin more affordable. The Diabetes Insulin Assistance Program, which is administered in partnership with participating H-E-B pharmacies, offers coverage for up to $100 per insulin prescription or refill. The program, which initially ran from September 2024 until May of last year, doesn’t require any proof of income, insurance or citizenship from participants. It will remain in operation until its funding runs out.
— Abe Asher
YOU SAID IT!
“In America, it is now the norm to commodify child suffering and allow private investors and companies like CoreCivic to profit from the imprisonment of innocent children.”
— U.S.REP.JOAQUINCASTRO commentingonaHoustonChronicleinvestigation showingfederaltaxpayersspent$15millionamonth keepingtheDilleyimmigrantprisoncampopen.
Stepping up for more abuse from Daddy Trump with Texas Republicans
Assclown Alert is a column of opinion, analysis and snark.
Donald Trump doesn’t run the Republican Party so much as terrorize it.
During the reality-show president’s time in office, the GOP resembles one of those families neighbors whisper about behind drawn curtains. You know, the kind where an unstable, sheetrock-punching patriarch rules a house and where other family members regularly try to hide black eyes and suppress deep emotional scars.
By now, every Republican knows Trump is volatile, vindictive and catastrophically impulsive. But instead of filing for divorce, they keep going back for more abuse and trying to explain that their latest bruise was from a clumsy slip in the shower.
And now comes U.S. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas: the latest cautionary tale in the Republican Party’s long-running hostage situation.
Nobody debased himself more enthusiastically for Trump than John Cornyn. Here was a longtime institutional Republican who spent months groveling for affection from a man who fundamentally despises institutions — and fundamentally despised him.
Yet Cornyn swallowed his dignity on the daily, posing for a photo op reading Trump’s Art of the Deal that played like a bad parody and even promising to name a highway after the Supreme Leader. Like every battered spouse in a bad relationship, Cornyn convinced himself that if he just behaved correctly, if he just stopped “provoking” the outbursts, maybe the kicks to the gut would stop.
Instead, Trump aimed even lower.
One week before the runoff, Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a man whose fat-to-bursting suitcase full of scandals makes him a joke of a general election choice. Why? Because the president doesn’t evaluate candidates on electability, competence, moral-
The San Antonio Water System’s trustees voted unanimously last week to approve the utility’s first rate hike in six years, a move that could ultimately increase the average water bill for users by roughly $20 a month. The board, which includes Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, has argued the rate hike is necessary to maintain and improve infrastructure. The proposal must now be approved by at least five members of the City Council.
Bobby Pulido, the influential Tejano singer
WIkimedia-Commons-Gage-Skidmore
ity or even strategic value. Instead, he acts on impulse and aligns himself with those who have displayed absolute fealty.
The truly staggering part is that Republicans knew this could happen. Yet Cornyn and others in the party were convinced Trump 2.0 had evolved into a more disciplined leader instead of the same agent of chaos who helped torch the party’s 2022 Senate races by going all in with turd candidates like Herschel Walker.
Now Republicans assclowns get to watch a seat that could have been comfortably safe become either the Democrats’ first statewide win in Texas since 1994 or at the very minimum a financial sinkhole. Millions that could have gone toward defending vulnerable Senate races elsewhere now appear to be destined for the Lone Star State because Trump couldn’t resist another narcissistic tantrum.
But that’s the way it goes inside the abusive MAGA household: just smear on more makeup to hide the latest split lip. — Sanford Nowlin
running for Congress in South Texas, began appearing at quinceañeras in his district earlier this year after his opponent said the upcoming election “isn’t about who you want performing at your niece’s quinceañera.” But Pulido emphasized last week that he plays the quinceañeras for free — and warned that social media accounts impersonating him are charging people for appearances. People who want him to appear can submit a request on his campaign website, he added. — Abe Asher
San Antonio has the capacity to remedy its homelessness problem, it just needs to write the checks
BY KEVIN SANCHEZ
At first blush, it may appear that a rise in homelessness is beyond our control.
For every $100 increase in monthly rent, homelessness goes up by 9%, according to a 2020 study by the Government Accountability Office, one of the precious few sources for unbiased information left in Washington, DC.
Among major U.S. metros, only Detroit and Houston have higher rates of poverty than San Antonio, according to U.S. Census data. And even though Bexar County has half the population of Harris County, there are more people
living on the streets here than there.
“The nation’s rental housing challenges are increasingly severe,” the 11th biennial report from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies declared in April. “Absent coordinated actions across all levels of government, the overlapping problems of unaffordability, housing instability, limited supply, disaster risk, and energy inefficiency will worsen.”
Of course, climate-driven disasters are also growing more frequent, and there’s a less-than-generous real estate mogul
in the White House.
But is constrained supply really an important part of the housing question?
The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) maintains it isn’t.
“Contrary to prevailing beliefs and influential policy narratives, our empirical results consistently demonstrate that higher income growth predicts similar growth in house prices, housing quantities, population, and living space per person across more and less housing constrained cities,” a trio of NBER economists detailed in a recent paper.
“Our findings challenge the consensus that relaxing regulatory constraints would substantially lower housing prices and meaningfully expand housing quantities.”
As we weather the economic strain of White House tariffs and spiking oil prices, relying on market-rate solutions and zoning reform isn’t going to cut the mustard. And the electorate seems to sense this intuitively.
San Antonio politics is littered with failed campaigns of those who don’t want to help the unhoused.
Former Mayor Ivy Taylor diagnosed
the root cause of homelessness as “godlessness,” then lost to Ron Nirenberg by 9 points.
Councilman Manny Pelaez erroneously claimed Seattle and Portland were “pretty much war zones” in his attempt to justify ramping up sweeps of homeless encampments. He further wasted taxpayer funds on signs around his district discouraging residents from giving spare change to panhandlers.
After spending more than $300,000 of his own money in a mayoral bid last year, Pelaez finished fifth with less than 8% of the vote.
Councilman John Courage’s mayoral campaign received even fewer votes after he described being homeless as “very easy” in defense of a more punitive approach to the problem.
However, there are promising signs the tone of San Antonio’s discussion may have shifted. At least, if City Council’s May 13 session on the proposed 2027 housing bond is any indication.
True, some on council took a defeatist attitude, namely District 10 Councilman Marc Whyte and District 9 Councilwoman Misty Spears, his conservative
compatriot. Even intermittently progressive District 1 Councilwoman Sukh Kaur rationalized continuing homeless camp abatements because otherwise “it looks like we’re doing nothing.”
But more and more, people from elected leaders to attendees at budget town halls acknowledge what’s taken complaint-happy homeowners time to figure out: lighting millions of dollars on fire to sweep unhoused residents out of the same location every few months, and throwing the entirety of people’s worldly possessions away in the process simply doesn’t work. Decency aside.
San Antonio Chief Housing Officer Mark Carmona has instead pushed for what’s shown results in Houston and elsewhere: adopting a decommissioning model in which social workers develop trusting relationships to bring those in need to services and close encampments for good.
We must “contemplate no-barrier shelters” if we’re serious about a “meaningful reduction in homelessness,” Carmona explained.
Centrist liberal politicians must walk the tightrope of sounding compassionate while dutifully serving commercial imperatives. When talking to outside capital investors, you tout your city’s
cheap labor force, but when talking to voters, you pledge higher wages — no matter how contradictory those goals may be.
In April, during Mayor Gina Ortiz-Jones’ first business-community address, she never once mentioned “unions” or “wage theft” as she consistently did on the campaign trail. Afterward, she sat down nonprofit newsroom the San Antonio Report and recounted her weeklong tour of Taiwan to attract chip manufacturers.
“The thing I was most impressed with during my seven days there was that I did not see one homeless person,” Jones told Drusch. “And I looked. After day two, I was like, ‘Alright, where are they, right? Because, like, this is weird.”
Jones said she asked the mayors of Taipei and Kaohsiung, who presumably told her about Taiwan’s safety net, which includes universal single-payer healthcare.
“I think a truly advanced society is one that can, yes, have semiconductors, but also have no homeless people on the streets, because you’re actually taking care of them,” the mayor concluded. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, San Antonio is 550 emergency shelter beds short of what’s minimally needed, according to Carmona. And when Jones
toured SAMMinistries, one of the few low-barrier shelters in town, she discovered a quarter of its clients are veterans.
“So, if you care about homelessness, you’ve got to care about people being able to utilize resources that get them into housing. And VASH vouchers do that.”
VASH stands for Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing, a federal initiative that combines federal rental assistance with VA case management services to help homeless vets secure permanent housing. On May 7, City Council unanimously passed an ordinance prohibiting landlords who own at least five properties from refusing to rent to vets solely because they’re paying with vouchers.
“Why don’t landlords like vouchers?”
Bob Rivard, host of the BigCitySmallTown podcast, asked Opportunity Home President Michael Reyes during November interview.
NIMBY-ism, decades-old stereotypes and federal bureaucracy all play a part, Reyes explained. Plus, it can be a 30- to 45-day process for residents to navigate.
However, Reyes pointed to the Keene Housing Authority in New Hampshire as an alternative.
“They started a direct assistance program, so instead of going through all the red tape, they provide the subsidy
directly to the resident. No paperwork,” he said. “They’ve been doing that for 21 years, and it’s been highly successful. That’s something I think is worth exploring here in San Antonio as a pilot program,” adding that “economic segregation, just as much as racial segregation, really affects how a city thrives.”
Beyond that, why can’t grant-awarded nonprofits just buy up houses and leasethem to tenants at rates they can afford?
Turns out, under Texas’ Local Government Code, they can. In April, council unanimously approved an unprecedented $2.2 million for Community Land Trust (CLT) projects. The bad news is that’s only 20 homes. The Esperanza Peace and Justice Center’s CLT, for example, will fix up 10 existing single-family residences on the historic West Side and offer them to families who earn 30% or below of the area’s average median income.
So, the public remedies are there. The question now becomes, will we find the money to implement them?
The city hasn’t raised its base property tax rate since the 1993. And if we don’t muster up ample civic virtue on the next housing bond, we can’t continue to tell ourselves we’re taking the problem of homelessness seriously.
Katie Hennessey
It Isn’t Easy Being Green
San Antonio has much room to improve when it comes to public parks, study finds
BY JULIANNA PLEWES
San Antonio talks a big game when it comes to quality of life, but a new study suggests the city continues to treat green space like a luxury item.
San Antonio’s national ranking for access to public parks fell behind that of other major Texas cities in the latest annual ParkScore report from conservation advocacy group the Trust for Public Land (TPL). Indeed, the Alamo City ranked 61st out of the 100 most populous U.S. cities, a four-place drop from the prior year’s report.
Molly Morgan, TPL’s Texas state director, told the Current that while San Antonio’s park system still has much to celebrate, other Texas cities have recently invested more substantially in their green spaces. Irving, Fort Worth, Austin, Plano and Frisco all went up in this year’s rankings.
“It’s not that San Antonio has done anything wrong,” Morgan said. “It’s just that there have been some years of really big investments and commitments and projects coming along, so those markets have seen the fruition of that this year.”
Public parks are essential, according to TPL officials, because they tend to improve mental health, decrease isolation and increase physical fitness levels for cities’ residents.
Dallas’ 10-year project to improve park access and Austin’s initiative to add pocket parks in high-need areas both pushed up those cities’ scores, Morgan said. Without that same kind of robust investment, San Antonio’s park access will likely remain below the national average.
A low score in park access, or the number of residents living within a 10-minute walk to a public park, was the primary drag on San Antonio’s overall ranking. Only 47% of residents
here live within a 10-minute walk to a park, compared to the 76% average for all ranked cities.
But access is just one of five factors used in the TPL evaluation. Researchers also measure acreage, investment, amenities and park space equity. San Antonio performed best in park acreage, with a median park size of 10.2 acres, compared to the 5.4-acre national average.
Morgan explained that while San Antonio has many large parks, evidenced by a high acreage score, a lack of smaller parks distributed evenly through the city explains its poor
performance on access. On the other three measures, San Antonio performed about average.
Overall, the rankings were a mixed bag for Texas’ five largest cities. Fort Worth climbed 14 places to No. 58 while Austin jumped seven places to No. 47. Meanwhile, Dallas fell four spots to No. 38 but still remains ahead of San Antonio.
Houston is the only top-five Texas city to rank below SA in the analysis. The Bayou City dropped from 66th to 69th.
The point of TPL’s ParkScore rankings is to encourage cities to focus on
adding green space and improving their parks, Morgan said. By starting the conversation and providing policymakers with a roadmap, TPL hopes to encourage greater investment in San Antonio parks. Even so, the report data doesn’t reflect the intangible benefits of individual parks and the impact they can have on their local communities, she added.
“I think you have to remember that the data doesn’t always account for the things that make individual parks special too, and I know that exists in San Antonio,” Morgan said.
Courtesy Photo San Antonio Parks and Recreation
ONGOING - SUN | 05.23/27
VISUAL ART
‘MICROHISTORIES
OF THE ANDES’
With examines artifacts that elucidate the plurality of Andean creation myths, cosmologies, cultural impacts on agricultural practices and objects of devotion. The use of materials such as textiles, ceramics, sculptures, paintings and metalwork spans the massive geographic area that was home to Andean civilizations, and the artifacts show the lengthy duration of time such societies endured. SAMA’s impressive collection contains more than 30,000 works representing 5,000 years of human history. “Microhistories” is more than a primer on successful Pre-Columbian empires. It is a sobering reminder of the inevitable ebb and flow of human societies. Included with museum admission, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday and Friday, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, San Antonio Museum of Art, 200 W. Jones St., (210) 978-8113, samuseum.org. — Anjali Gupta
ONGOING - SUN | 05.31
MUSIC
KERRVILLE FOLK FESTIVAL
Now in its 54th year, the Kerrville Folk Festival remains a beacon for both the folk music genre and the Texas Hill Country. The nation’s longest continuously running music festival attracts talent from around North America over its 18 days of performances, camping and community. This year’s top-billed performers include Mon Rovîa, James McMurtry, Brandy Clark, the Steep Canyon Rangers, Marshall Crenshaw and more, but impromptu campground jams amongst the attendees are always a highlight. $90.00-$214.00, Quiet Valley Ranch, 3876 Medina Highway, Kerrville, kerrvillefolkfestival.org — Danny Cervantes
FRI | 05.29 - SAT | 05.30
2026 MACRI SYMPOSIUM
The Mexican American Civil Rights Institute (MACRI) and Texas Public Radio co-present the annual MACRI Symposium, a gathering of powerful Latino voices. Focusing on civil rights issues where historical struggles dovetail with contemporary challenges, this year’s lineup will include scholars, cultural advocates, artists and public servants ranging from comedian and writer Cristela Alonzo to U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro to Rochelle Garza, chairwoman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. The guests will discuss representation, equity, prosperity and the future of civil rights in the country. This two-day symposium is free with tiered VIP sponsorship options. Registration is required. Free, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Texas Public Radio’s Irma & Emilio Nicolas Media Center, 321 West Commerce St., (361) 247-0575, somosmacri.org. — AG
Stephanie Koithan
Courtesy Image SAMA
Facebook Kerrville Folk Festival
SAT | 05.30
COMMUNITY EVENT
CLEMENTINE’S SLICE SWAP
Popular Castle Hills restaurant Clementine has concocted a happening that should satisfy anyone with a hankering for something sweet. Elise Russ, Clementine’s co-owner and pastry chef, invites home bakers to join her in sampling a bevy of delights at her biannual Slice Swap cake party. Formally trained at the baking and pastry arts at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Russ simply asks that participants bring a cake of their own (mandatory), swap portions with other bakers, meet fellow pastry fanatics and, if you’re lucky, leave with a take-home sampling of goodies to share. Free,11a.m.-1p.m.,Clementine,2195NWMilitaryDrive,(210)503-5121,clementine-sa.com.— AG
TUE
| 06.02
FILM
MOONRISEKINGDOM
Wes Anderson’s charming coming-of age film Moonrise Kingdom (2012) kicks off the Central Library’s summer film program. Set in the mid 1960s, the film follows two 12-year-olds who fall in love at summer camp and run off together to live on an island along the New England coast. As they make their new home, family and friends struggle to find the pair before a violent storm batters the island. Featuring Anderson’s signature ensemble cast, surreal color palette, quirky camera movements and deadpan humor, Moonrise Kingdom appeals to film buffs and teenagers alike. The Central Library presents the film in tandem with summer camp-themed audience activities. Sit back and simply enjoy the film while snacking on s’mores, or fabricate your own thematically related fictional merit badges during the screening. Materials will be provided, and tickets are available online. Free, 5:30-7:30 p.m., San Antonio Central Library, 600 Soledad St., (210) 207-2500, mysapl.org. — AG
Courtesy Photo Clementine
TUE | 06.02
FILM
L’AVVENTURA
Despite the major roadblocks it faced, many scholars consider Michelangelo Antonioni’s L’avventura (1960) one of the greatest films ever made. Conceived as a love triangle between three wealthy Italians, reality soon overcame the film’s original context. Stranded on a rat-infested beach in the Aeolian Islands, hobbled by bankruptcy, inhospitable weather, lack of transportation and a dwindling food supply, Antonioni’s film could have easily been scrapped in favor of a hot meal. Nevertheless, a cast and crew of 50 managed to create something extraordinary: a film with a syntax defined by atypical pacing that favors tone and character development over conventional narrative constructs. Here is a rare opportunity to catch this classic on the big screen as part of a screening arranged by Texas Public Radio’s Cinema Tuesdays series. $12 and up, 7:30 pm.-10 p.m. Alamo Drafthouse Park North, 618 Northwest Loop 410, (210) 614-8977, tpr.org. — AG
TRACEY ROSE
This summer, Ruby City is bringing one of contemporary art’s most fearless voices back to San Antonio. The arts center will debut a major solo exhibition of South African artist Tracey Rose that will revisit her formative Artpace residency, which helped shape her groundbreaking multidisciplinary practice. At the center of the show is “TKO” (2000), Rose’s video performance created at Artpace after two years of boxing training in Johannesburg. The piece is a raw meditation on violence and resistance that lands with sharp relevance in today’s political climate. Also on display will be a suite of 62 drawings made during the same period, many on exhibit for the first time. Rose describes the works, whose dense marks and fragmented figures read like psychological maps, as attempts to “decode or anticipate future events.” The exhibit reveals the full force of Rose’s practice as it’s grown over the past two decades, including its examination of identity, power, race and the body. On opening day, visitors are invited to a gallery walkthrough of the exhibition from 2-3 p.m. A public reception afterward will feature music by Strawberry James and catering by Sweet Yams. MOVE Texas will be on site to provide civil engagement resources to attendees. Free, walkthrough and opening reception 2-5 p.m. Saturday, June 6 and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday-Sunday, Ruby City, 150 Camp St., (210) 227-8400, rubycity.org. — Kat McKinney
Courtesy Image Ruby City
You Better Walk!
San Antonio burlesque performer Jasper St. James on his queer walking club and the diverse community it supports
BY BRYAN RINDFUSS
Roughly a year ago, Jasper St. James had a lightbulb moment that nicely illustrates the Beyoncé-approved proverb, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”
St. James, a certified sex educator and founding member of the burlesque troupe the Pastie Pops, had just learned he was losing his job because his longtime employer Sexology Institute was closing its doors after a decade in Southtown.
“When I found out I was losing my job, I just needed to go for a walk to clear my head,” St. James told the Current. “As soon as I left the shop, I went for a walk through King William and the Southtown portion of the River Walk. I
had forgotten that I was wearing a ‘Protect Trans Folks’ T-shirt and [suddenly realized] I was in a public space. I was like, ‘Oh my god, should I have like changed?’”
Rather than animosity, St. James was met with support in the form of high fives, fist bumps and comments from passersby who loved the message on his T-shirt.
“I started thinking, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if we could just take up space?’” he mused. “Without this fear that we shouldn’t belong, we shouldn’t be out there, we shouldn’t be proud.”
Curious to know if other people in San Antonio’s LGBTQ+ community felt the same, St. James posted a video on social media to gauge interest in a queer walking club. The response was enthusiastic and You Better Walk was born.
“I remember for our first meetup, I was like, ‘Okay, if 10 people show up, I’m happy.’ And I had like 40 people show up,” St. James recalled. “I originally suggested meeting once a month but that didn’t happen. It turned into a once-a-week thing. By the second one it doubled, and by the third one it tripled. And it just got bigger and bigger as we were leading up to Pride Month.”
A testament to that growth, You Better Walk has welcomed high-profile walkers over the past year, including Judge Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez and Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones.
Supersized Pride
Only a few months after its launch You Better Walk saw its biggest turnout to date.
“During Pride Month last year we met at Ruby City,” St. James said. “We did a walk down the San Pedro Creek and then we came back and looped over to Ruby City. They had the museum open for us only, and that was so cool. So we got to wander around the museum after our walk and they had refreshments and snacks. It was so nice of them. That was our biggest walk — we had close to 300 people.”
You Better Walk’s heightened visibility during Pride unfortunately attracted some trolls.
“We posted a video and were met with some hate,” St. James lamented.
“[Someone commented], ‘All these queer people in one place, this is an easy target.’”
As a safety measure, St. James is cautious about sharing the group’s whereabouts online.
“I try to be mindful of when I post about where we’re going to be,” he said. “I don’t want it to sit there for too long, so I’ll remove it. Because I don’t want people to feel afraid to come out and join us, and I don’t want to give those people who are trying to target us a place to show up to. So far it’s been really good, and we’ve been very fortunate.”
St. James has also dealt with online hatred on his personal page.
“I did a ‘get ready with me’ video and it was met with so much hate,” he said. “So much hate on my outfit and my partner’s outfit. I was trashed for my weight, I was trashed for my voice, I was trashed for all these things. Some of it was from the ‘right’ side of the algorithm, if you will. But a lot of it was coming from people
Bryan Rindfuss
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within the queer community. … Even though it’s 2026, we’re so divided — as a country and even within our own community. One thing that the walk does is find this commonality, this common ground that we all have. We all feel like an outsider at some point, we’re all here trying to fit in, we’re all on that same path. And so being able to find common ground is really beautiful.”
An adaptable format
With a name that nods to the LGBTQ+ anthem “Supermodel (You Better Work)” by RuPaul, You Better Walk initially changed venues each week but now spends a month of Mondays at each location. In addition to city parks including Brackenridge, Confluence and Phil Hardberger, You Better Walk has taken over Wonderland of the Americas mall — a handy fallback during unpredictable weather.
“We’ve done different themes [at Wonderland]. We did an ’80s mall walk and a Christmas in July mall walk, so we’ve done some really fun ones there.”
At times, the location itself inspires the direction of the walk.
“Denman Estate Park has been really fun,” St. James said. “It’s very small and very zen, so we’ll do a couple of laps around the park, and then we’ll end our walk with meditation by the lake.”
In the summer months, the group meets at 6 p.m., starts walking at 6:30 p.m. and wraps up 45 minutes or an hour later.
“I always tell people, ‘This is a great beginner-friendly walk,’ or ‘This walk has a little bit more of an incline,’ so they can be prepared,” St. James said. “But for the most part, it’s pretty easy and accessible for all different skill levels.”
During a recent meetup at Hardberger Park, St. James called the crowd of 40-plus to attention and announced that the walk would be on the shorter side so attendees could make it home in time to watch the Spurs game. He also asked for a show of hands from first-time walkers and made a few socializing suggestions he always shares before walks begin.
“I always tell people the easiest way to make a new friend is to eavesdrop on a conversation and to give your two cents,” St. James said with a wry smile. “People laugh, but it’s so true. A lot of times, [you’ll find] common ground. And if they don’t want to eavesdrop, I give them a prompt: ask someone one thing they’re looking forward to this week.
St. James even does it himself.
“I’ll eavesdrop, and then I’ll chime in, and then we just start talking,” he admitted. “I’ve definitely made some friends [and become better friends with] people I didn’t know very well. I feel like we can actually connect and get to know each other, and then we see each other every week. It’s been really nice [and] I look forward to seeing these people.”
Happy Mondays
St. James specifically chose the most dreaded day of the week for You Better Walk and is sticking to the plan.
“We’ve had people ask, ‘Why don’t you do it on Friday, Saturday or Sunday?’ And I’m like, ‘Just Monday.’ There’s something about Monday that just doesn’t feel good,” he explained. “We need something that’s going to make us feel good. … When You Better Walk really started to grow, I was like, this is so silly, we’re just walking. But this makes a difference. I think it’s just intention. I want this to be a safe space for people and I want people to be able to come out and do something fun. At the end of the walk, all the endorphins are there, we’re happier and we can take on the rest of the week. And then we have something
to look forward to on a Monday. Mondays are never a good day — no one wants a Monday.”
Making a difference
Routinely, St. James hears firsthand about the ways You Better Walk is making a difference in the community it supports, which includes plenty of allies.
“It’s been cool seeing families, queer people who have kids, and moms coming to [show support and] walk with their kids,” he said. “Allies show up with
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SUMMER MEALS FOR KIDS
their friends and are like, ‘Hey, this is our time to hang out.’ … Hearing [their personal stories] has been the most rewarding part. I’ve heard things like, ‘I didn’t have any friends, and now I have a group of people that I hang out with regularly and we met at the walk.’ That makes my little heart so happy. I remember I had a mother and daughter who would come together. They had lost the [father of the family] and the mother told me, ‘This is the one thing that got us out of the house — just to be together and do something.’ When she shared that with me, I was just like, ‘My god, thank you for sharing that, but for doing this. You’re doing this for yourself. I’m just providing a vehicle, and y’all are the ones driving it. It’s beautiful to know that this silly little thing, this simple idea [is helping people].”
During the walk we attended, we spoke to Cari Medina, a local business owner who uses they/them pronouns and runs the Crescent — a salon billed as “San Antonio’s neurodivergent-friendly and 2sLGBTQIA hair sanctuary.”
“I’ve been coming to the walk for a year,” Medina said. “I’m in recovery, so I try to do social outings that don’t involve mind-altering substances. For me, this is the perfect scenario because I get to meet people. It’s built so you make friends — no awkward interactions. It’s all good energy.”
We also heard an amusing anecdote from Eric Cavazos, a middle school art teacher and You Better Walk regular.
“I told my coworker that I was going queer walking,” Cavazos said. “And she was like, ‘What is that? Is that a new type of walking?’ So I joked, ‘Well, we sashay and skip and hold hands.’ She got really confused, so I told her I was just going walking with a queer group.”
Branching out
As an extension of You Better Walk, St. James has started organizing LGBTQ+ outings that stray from the nightlife norm.
“We also do club nights out just to get people together to do stuff,” he said. “The one thing I’ve learned from this is that a lot of people — especially the younger queer people — don’t want to go to the bars, and a lot of them don’t drink. I think this is a good way for people to mix and mingle and make new friends. We’ve done Disco Alfresco at Civic Park in Hemisfair and we’re going to a San Antonio FC match for their
Pride Night. … I feel like it’s something that’s needed — we don’t have a lot of options.”
When asked about how else he’s like to see You Better Walk expand, St. James is quick to respond.
“I would like this to become an actual nonprofit and be able to qualify for funding,” he said. “Because right now everything that we are able to do, it’s either through connections that I have, or out of my own pocket — which is sometimes really hard because I’m not employed. I always have waters in the car in case anybody needs water — there’s always stuff like that. So it’d be nice to be able to get some funding and sponsorship.”
Outside of You Better Walk, St. James continues to work as a freelance burlesque performer, sex educator and sex coach. When we spoke, he was preparing for the Pastie Pops’ Pride-themed Big Gay Burlesque Show as well as a workshop at Love Shack Boutique titled “Head of the Class: Blowjobs 101.”
“Every month it’s a hustle and I’m trying to figure out how I’m gonna pay rent,” he said. “But honestly, the community has really shown up for me, whether they’re buying a ticket to a workshop or a show. And I feel like them just even showing up to You Better Walk fuels me to keep going. This doesn’t bring me any money. But I don’t care. This is my heart, this is my soul, and just being able to provide people with the space is more than enough.
Securing funding, however, would help St. James grow the project into other areas.
“I would love to turn this into something multifaceted,” he continued.
“What this has really brought to my attention is the community aspect. We need our community. And every single one of us has a story to tell. So I would really love to make this into a podcast where we can talk to individuals and really find that common ground within our own community. We have You Better Walk, why not add You Better Talk? Overall, the biggest reason I started the club is that, during a time when our government is literally trying to hide and erase us, it’s so important now more than ever to take up space and be in community. Especially public space. We’re not going anywhere no matter how hard they try.”
Stay informed of You Better Walk meetups at instagram.com/youbetterwalksa.
arts
No Powder Puff Stuff
Our Lady of the Lake becomes second Texas school to launch women’s flag football program
BY KAT MCKINNEY
Our Lady of the Lake University is running a new play in collegiate athletics.
This fall, the school will become the first in San Antonio and the second in Texas to launch a women’s flag football program. The OLLU Saints’ women’s flag football team is set to take the field for the first time on February 10 of next year.
The move places OLLU among a small but influential group of early adopters. Only 35 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics schools nationwide currently sponsor a women’s flag football team.
In February, OLLU hired Chris Seay as head coach of the new program. During his brief tenure, Seay has recruited students from across the country to join the team’s inaugural roster, pulling in the sport’s top recruits from Louisiana and Florida.
“Let the games begin,” Seay said. “This recruiting thing is a battle. It’s a total battle. But I’m excited about the opportunity to put this school on a map in a different capacity than the community is used to.”
Although Seay is recruiting students for their performance on the gridiron, he said the sport is an important way to provide scholarships and expand educational opportunities at OLLU.
“We’re using football to get the student athletes here, but we keep them for the education,” Seay said. “It’s an opportunity to coach them, to drive them to be the best that they can be, not just on the field, but off the field as well.”
Flag football’s momentum at the collegiate level has accelerated since the NCAA added it to the Emerging Sports for Women program in January. Seay credits the sport’s rise to its fast pace and lower injury risk.
“I’m sure we won’t be the only program in the city for long, but we’re setting a trend,” Seay said.
Passionate athletes
Last Saturday, OLLU hosted its first women’s flag-football prospect camp for middle and high school athletes. The event drew 35 young athletes from places as far away as Dallas and El Paso.
Marlowe McCauley, a junior at the Houston area’s Fulshear High School who attended the camp, sees a bright future for flag football.
“I’ve enjoyed being a part of the history of flag
football, because we’re able to show what it’s supposed to look like through our passion for the sport,” she said.
Tayla Simmons, a 2026 graduate from Southeast Texas’ Hightower High School, committed to play for OLLU after attending the workshop.
“Growing up, I loved watching flag videos, and I thought, ‘I could do that, I want to try that,’” Simmons said. “I’ve always played basketball, but my senior year, I’ve been playing flag, and I’ve become really passionate about it.”
What started with interest at the youth and high school levels has culminated in an NFL professional league and the sport’s upcoming debut at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
In April, Seay hired Elda Ruiz-Graham as assistant coach. In addition to her role as a coach for the Texas Fury South Texas travel flag football team, Graham is an official youth camp coach for USA Football, the national governing body responsible for selecting, training and managing the U.S. Men’s and Women’s flag football teams at the Olympics.
“It’s exciting to be a part of how it started and to where it’s at now,” Ruiz-Graham said. “There are a lot of things on the table: college, the Olympics and now a pro league.”
‘Men tend to take priority’
Although college football is a $2.2 billion industry in Texas, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis, Ruiz-Graham said the state has been more hesitant than others to capitalize on the momentum behind women’s flag football.
Talent-rich states such as California, Florida and Kansas have led the charge and created three NAIA conferences in the Southwest, the East Coast and the Midwest, respectively.
“We are a football state, but here in Texas, men tend to take priority. I feel like young ladies have so much talent and eagerness to learn,” Ruiz-Graham said. “They’re excited that people are investing their time, are volunteering and want to see the sport grow when Texas hasn’t quite adopted it like other states quite yet.”
OLLU leaders expect the new program to support enrollment growth and strengthen the university’s athletic profile at a moment when women’s sports are gaining unprecedented investment. Ruiz-Graham and Seay agree that OLLU’s early entry into the flag football fray positions it to help shape the competitive landscape.
“Flag is wide open for girls right now. It’s the time to get in if you haven’t already,” Ruiz-Graham said. “It’s history for our school, for San Antonio, for Texas. These players are part of a story that’s going to be huge.”
Kat McKinney
arts
Punchlines and Politics
LGBTQ+ comedian Paula Poundstone talks surviving America’s daily political ‘firehose’
BY MARCELO GARZA
Comedian Paula Poundstone isn’t the least bit surprised at how quickly the news cycle changes — especially with Donald Trump in the Oval Office.
She laughs when we tell her we rewatched her appearance as a panelist on an October 2025 episode of CNN’s Have I Got News for You and were struck by how much has happened in just six months.
On the episode, Poundstone joked about topics including the demolition of the White House’s East Wing and New York Attorney General Letitia James being indicted for bank fraud following calls by Trump for an investigation.
“It’s an overused phrase, but the news is like a firehose every day,” Poundstone, 66, told the Current. “I think to some degree, when [the Trump administration] isn’t making a lot of news, that’s surprising.”
Along with keeping up with the news as much as possible, Poundstone, who identifies as asexual and is a popular comedian in the LGBTQ+ community, keeps busy by hosting her weekly podcast Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone . She’s also a regular panelist on NPR’s Wait, Wait … Don’t Tell Me . Poundstone will make a tour stop at San Antonio’s Tobin Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, May 30, for a stand-up comedy show.
During our interview, Poundstone talked about becoming the first woman comedian to host the White House Correspondents’ Dinner more than 30 years ago, Trump’s plan to perform the comedy portion of this year’s dinner himself before it was canceled and whether comedy and free speech will survive the next two and a half years.
Is turning on the news the first thing you do in the morning?
It’s not the first thing I do, but I do pay a lot of attention to it, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It would be a better thing if good things were happening, but I believe we’re going to turn it around. It’ll take everybody putting an oar in the water.
In 1992, you became the first woman comic to host the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Looking back, does that moment feel historic to you, or did it feel like just another gig?
It was exciting at the time for all sorts of reasons. It was a world I was not all that familiar with, and I met some nice people. I like Washington, D.C. I mean, I think the event itself has lots of problems, but it was certainly a different time. I think Trump dodged a bullet by not being able to go on [at the last Correspondents’ Dinner in April]. My guess is that it would have been one more big news item about Trump saying horrible things. The guy has no judgment. A microphone and no judgment — not necessarily a good combination.
It would have been the first Correspondents’ Dinner he attended as president, but like last year, there was no comedian scheduled to perform. He planned to do the roasting himself.
Yeah, I think somewhere along the way, somebody either said to him, or he said to himself, that he could [do the roast himself]. Trump thinks he’s good at everything. He had the astronauts from the [Artemis II lunar mission] — one of the most remarkable scientific endeavors ever — in the Oval Office, and he said he could have been an astronaut. He’s an idiot. He talks to someone for two seconds and believes he could do their job.
“Nobody knows comedy better than me” is something I’m sure he would have said had he took the stage that night.
Oh, gosh, yeah. Well, he thinks he’s really funny. He’s so awful. I think if he wasn’t evil, he’d be kind of funny. The problem is, he’s evil. For all I know, Hitler might have had a wonderful sense of humor. But I don’t know, and I don’t care.
Do evil people need sleep? These days, Trump seems to always have his eyes closed during meetings. I’ve heard his supporters say that he’s reading something on his desk or concentrating. Or he’s blinking! For heaven’s sake! That’s ridiculous! Did you see the post from the White House the other day? (Note: The official White House Rapid Response account wrote on X, “He was blinking, you absolute moron,” in response to a photo a national security correspondent posted of Trump sleeping during a meeting in the Oval Office.) That [response] was wrong on every level. [Trump] falls asleep. He’s an old man. Listen, I fall asleep too. I’m tired. If the shit he did hit him the way it hits us, he’d fall asleep twice as much. It’s exhausting being a citizen under him.
Do you know any other 80-year-olds who stay up until 3 a.m. posting on social media?
No. He considers it some badge of honor that he keeps these very late-night hours. He slips it in here and there. He’ll be telling a story about how he gets these Congress people on the phone at 3 a.m. He doesn’t just say, “I spoke with him on the phone.” He says, “I called up Mike Johnson at 3 a.m.” So, it’s clearly something he’s proud of. The thing is that sleep hygiene is an important part of good mental health. When you have wacky hours — and I’m speaking from experience here — it does mess you up a little bit. So, I’m sure there are other
factors that go into his insanity, but that’s one of them.
Over the years, you’ve worked on TV, radio, panel shows, podcasts, voice acting and other platforms. What format expresses the real Paula Poundstone best?
When you boil down to my essence, I’m a stand-up comic. But I was reflecting on podcasting the other day, and one of the things I realized is on a podcast, obviously, there’s no live audience in front of us. There’s something about the fact that I’m not in front of an audience that has allowed me to be broader, a little bit more experimental. I do voices and silly characters and stuff on my podcast. It’s not the bulk of what I do, but I do it. I would never have the nerve to do that in front of an audience. I would say that I have enjoyed the opportunity to explore different sides of me through podcasting that I would not likely have on stage.
We’ve seen the Trump administration’s approach to free speech since his return to office. Do you think comedy will survive the next two and a half years?
I think it will. I mean, it’s already been stymied to some degree by him going after the networks and the newspapers and the White House Correspondents’
Shannon Greer
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[Association]. [The WHCA] thinks it’s about access, so that causes them to cave or to keep trying to suck up to him, which modifies their journalism. I would say that that has already happened. But you know, I don’t think he’s going to make it for a full-term. I think either his health will take him out or the Republican Congress will finally grow a spine.
Do you think Trump ever really wanted to be president?
No. I think somewhere in the back of his mind he’s like, “I’ll do this awful thing,” and maybe they’ll get rid of me. But they never do. It’s like, “Jesus, what do I have to do to get out of this?” He’s like, “OK, I have done every heinous thing I can think of, and they still haven’t gotten rid of me! Hey, I’ll knock down the whole East Wing without asking anybody. I’ll attack another
country without asking anybody.” That should do it — and it doesn’t! By the way, I think there’s already been enough revealed in the Epstein Files that he’s damned.
You’ve built a career on observational humor, but nowadays, it seems like people are experiencing life through their cell phones and other devices. Do you think modern life is becoming harder to observe truthfully because you never know if what you’re watching is real anymore? Oh, my gosh, yeah. I mean, I have fallen for a few fake AI posts before. It’s the worst time for us to have that. I don’t think it would be good for any society, but we have a whole party that lies their ass off every day. Now, there’s this additional tool for lying. In the earlier days of the internet, people would say, “If you don’t have a picture, it didn’t happen.” Now, even having a picture
doesn’t mean it happened. It’s frustrating. Every generation has some sort of challenge, but I certainly don’t envy young people. I feel like my generation was the luckiest one of all, and now we’re bottoming out.
PAULA POUNDSTONE
$63-$83.50, 7 p.m. Saturday, May 30 Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, 100 Auditorium Circle, (210) 223-8624, tobincenter.org.
Courtesy Photo Paula Poundstone
Chasing Passion
DeliBoysstar Saagar Shaikh
learns how
to
teach drama at UT-San Antonio
BY KIKO MARTINEZ
When Pakistani American actor and UT-San Antonio grad Saagar Shaikh was invited last year to talk to film students at his alma mater, he had no idea it would lead to a job.
“At the end of the panel, I said, ‘If you need me to come back to teach next semester, let me know,’” Shaikh, 39, told the Current during an interview. “I said it because I thought I was severely unqualified to teach. So, I was really surprised when they sent me an email asking me if I was joking or if I was serious.”
Shaikh also shared a story of that encounter late last month during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! with co-star Asif Ali to talk about Season 2 of their Hulu comedy series, Deli Boys. The new season premieres May 28, 2026.
Although born in Houston, Shaikh moved to San Antonio as a teenager and graduated from Marshall High School. He earned his business degree from UT-San Antonio in 2011 before Hollywood came calling.
This past spring semester, Shaikh became a professor of practice in the dramatic arts program at the university, where his focus was to bring real-world acting experience into the classroom.
During our interview, Shaikh talked about what he thinks his students learned from a working actor, what surprised him about teaching and what the experience inside the classroom inspired him to do next.
What do you think students gained from learning under a working actor, instead of someone who’s primarily been focused on academia?
To be completely honest with you, I don’t think most of them realized I was a working actor until, like, the fourth class. I would talk about Deli Boys here and there, but I didn’t bring it up a ton, because I wanted to focus on them. And I guess I just assumed that they all knew. But in the first few classes, there were only a few students that seemed excited to see me. I was like, “OK, they’re chill.” It turns out it’s not that they were chill, it’s just that they didn’t know that I was on a TV show. So, around the fourth class, I asked them, “Is there anybody here who hasn’t seen Deli Boys?” and almost everybody raised their hand.
And then you turned watching it into an
assignment?
I made them watch the first episode in class. At the end of the semester, I made the whole class take a Deli Boys quiz for extra credit. Nobody got a 100% on the quiz. A lot of the students wrote a note on the back of the quiz saying, “Sorry, I still haven’t seen the show yet!” That blew my mind, because if I was passionate about a class I was taking and the professor was a practitioner in that industry, I’d want to know everything about him. I feel like generationally things are different.
You joked with Jimmy Kimmel that some students really pissed you off, but that they’re the ones you cared about the most. Can you give me an example of what a student might have done to push your buttons?
There was a kid who was this naturally larger-than-life performer. He moved around a lot. I had the hardest time making him more
grounded. I gave him an assignment in front of everybody where I told him, “You are not allowed to [use] your hands. You have to keep your hands down.” And he couldn’t do it. His movements manifested to his neck, and he kept making weird movements with his head. He was one of the most passionate kids in class. So, it was students like him that made things interesting.
Did any of your students remind you of yourself?
There were these two girls in my class, two of my favorite students, who would always ask great questions and always take notes. They knew it was a rare opportunity to have a working actor as a professor, and they wanted to take advantage of that knowledge. They reminded me of myself because this industry is very fickle, and it doesn’t promise anything to anybody. So, your responsibility as a performer is to soak up everything you can and be present and observant. I think students should be chasing passion. That’s how I try to live my life. I’m obsessed with what I do for a living. I’m always trying to observe everybody around me. I wear it on my sleeve wherever I go.
Do you literally wear it on your sleeve? Do you go places wearing a DeliBoys shirt? (Laughs.) You know what, I’m literally wearing a Deli Boys shirt right now!
What have you learned about yourself since stepping into the role of professor? I think it has increased my drive to want to direct. So, while I’m pretty booked for most of the summer, I’m trying to make it a goal of mine to direct a short film before the end of the year. By giving students notes, I feel like I’ve already worked with the most difficult actors in the world at this point, because new actors are hard to direct. It was difficult to wrangle 25 students and get them all to understand what I was trying to teach them. There’s a part of me that feels like I did. I really hope they got what they wanted out of it.
Courtesy Photo Hulu
JUNE 10 - 21
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Small Plates Deliver Big
At San Antonio’s Tinto y Tapas, the humblest dishes can be the ones that impress the most
BY RON BECHTOL
San Antonio’s Tinto y Tapas Restaurant & Latin Jazz Lounge does a pretty good job of laying out its entire essence in its name.
“Tinto” is the term used in Spain for red wine, while any foodie worth their salt is familiar with the moniker for Spain’s famous little appetizers. The “Latin Jazz Lounge” part explains the dining spot’s rotating cast of Latin-inspired jazz musicians.
Croquetas de jamón are one of several “tapas” on offer at the restaurant.
The quotation marks above are there because, in Spain, tapas often can be consumed in one or two bites. At Tinto y Tapas, the croquetas — just about ping-pong-ball size and gilded with golden-fried breadcrumbs — come three to a plate.
These will take at least six bites. Savor them.
The heart of these croquetas is cubed ham, but keeping it all together is a simple bechamel. After forming the mix into balls, they’re rolled in breadcrumbs and fried. These croquetas are also served with a vibrant green pesto. Crunchy on the outside, creamy on the inside, they’re beautiful with a glass of melony Albariño from Spain’s northwestern Galicia region.
The band was just starting to set up as I enjoyed my serving of croquetas.
If unabashed by public messiness, you could use fingers to eat Tinto y Tapas’ gambas al ajillo. Once again upscaled, the dish consists of five large shrimp, fried in olive oil infused with garlic, chili flakes and Spanish pimentón. Served with toasted baguette-adjacent bread, these shrimp are succulent, and their sauce packs a peppery punch.
The band continued to set up as I enjoyed the shrimp.
Albóndigas, or meatballs, are another classic tapa, and here they also got the up-sizing treatment and were served with a sauce of mushrooms enhanced with the pan drippings, tomato and a “splash” of white wine.
The tiny sliced button mushrooms had all the hallmarks of a canned product, but the distinction wasn’t hugely important in context. The sauce was deeply flavored — we were now in tinto territory with a glass of Spanish Tempranillo — and the tender meatballs were practically pillowy. A little more spicing of the meat itself
wouldn’t hurt, though. Maybe some nutmeg or a grind or three of black pepper.
By the time I’d devoured the meatballs, the band appeared moments away from starting its set.
Time for dessert.
Churros are one possibility at Tinto y Tapas. But it was the tarta de aceite that caught my eye. Olive oil makes for a marvelously moist cake, and this version, with its murmurs of orange, was no exception.
The band now truly appeared ready to launch into its first song. Sadly, I had come to the end of my Tempranillo and missed the evening’s musical component.
But I did return for the paella — decidedly not a tapa, by the way.
Before I run out of space, I should probably delve into the wine selection. “Tinto” comes first in the name, after all. And, frankly, there’s a room for improvement.
True, if you’re standing, sometimes two or more deep, at a bar in Barcelona you don’t have time or inclination to indulge in wines requiring contemplation. Yet, Spain’s vinos are as wonderfully varied as the country itself. I’d love to see a reflection of that on the menu.
In the spirit of the Spanish tradition of tapeando — a pub crawl before a late dinner — I ordered more tapas on the follow-up Tuesday, when it’s happy hour all night.
Patatas bravas, consisting of cubed, fried potatoes topped with a salsa brava, are ubiquitous
at tapas bars all over Spain. The potatoes were spot-on here, but the sauce seemed to be more akin to a chili oil with vinegar than the classic that’s often like a pimentón-scented aioli.
It’s fine to experiment, but only if the result is at least equal to the avatar.
Originality abounded in the alitas, or chicken wings — not a traditional tapa as far as I know.
And despite the menu description, the sauce didn’t come across as particularly Spanish sauce either. It tasted of spicier Chinese hoisin. Still, it made for very good wings. The accompanying bed of fried potato skins would be worth ordering on their own.
Some — myself included — call socarrat, the crust of deeply flavored rice that forms at the bottom of a paella pan, the best part of the dish, and Tinto y Tapas specially mentions that crusty goodness in its menu.
However, the restaurant didn’t include it in their rendition of Paella Valenciana that’s served — but apparently not cooked — in a traditional shallow pan. The rice is perfect, all the flavors are good, but the lack of the crowning crust was a real letdown.
Good service, though, can make up for a lot. Kudos to Charlie and Brandon, the latter being Tuesday evening’s one-man dynamo who did everything but cook.
Bring on better wine, and I’d happily go back. Whether or not I can get my timing right to catch the jazz.
TINTO Y TAPAS RESTAURANT & LATIN JAZZ LOUNGE
14355BlancoRoad,(726)348-2727,tintoytapas.com.
Hours: 4-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 4-11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday
The lowdown: “Tinto” (red wine) comes first in Tinto y Tapas’ name, but the wine list could use some work to better reflect the restaurant’s Spanish heritage. The tapas, though, are almost all universally good — and generous to a fault. Pay special attention to the croquetas de jamon, the gambas al ajillo and the albondigas con champiñones. Paella Valencia strays a bit from the celebrated rice dish’s classic format in that no socarrat, or crust, is included, but the flavors are appealing. Keep the tarta de aceite in mind for dessert.
Find more food & drink news at sacurrent.com
Ron Bechtol
Catching up with Cristina Martinez of ‘one-stop Chicana shop’ Very That
BY KATHERINE STINSON
Cristina Martinez founded Very That in 2013, creating fun homewares, accessories and gifts that celebrate San Antonio Latina culture.
From coffee mugs emblazoned with “Support local chismosas” and tumblers designed to resemble Aqua Net hairspray cans to coasters featuring images of Bad Bunny and Juan Gabriel, kitchenwares have long been a part of Martinez’s self-dubbed “one-stop Chicana shop.”
We caught up the Saytown entrepreneur to talk about her journey to find herself and found that embracing her identity led to a popular thriving business with an online presence and a storefront at mercado-inspired South Side space Pica Pica Market, 910 SE Military Drive.
Are you from San Antonio?
Born and raised on the South Side.
Why “Very That”?
Very That came from a place of pride. Very That is derived from a queer term. I had a best friend who was a drag queen here and “very that” was a term around drag bars at the time. It also represents pride in my Latina culture. There was a time where you couldn’t find anything Spanglish anywhere in terms of apparel and gifts. So, Very That stemmed from a pure love of pure Chicana and pride.
What convinced you to open Very That?
I officially started in 2013. My mom being diagnosed with cancer inspired me to actually go through with my dream and give it my all. Years later my wife — her nickname is Peaches — would be diagnosed with cancer. The two women that have been most important in my soul have been impacted by the ugliest word in the dictionary. But I truly believe you have to find the beauty in life through the pain. Now my mom and Peaches have recovered, and Very That is thriving.
What was your coming-out journey like? It’s interesting where we find ourselves with the city
and the Spurs. All eyes are on San Antonio right now. I don’t live far from Southwest Military Drive. Our city isn’t just beautiful when we’re winning, it’s quiet moments. It was the same feeling with my coming-out journey. With my own coming out, I came out late. I was so afraid to be who I am for the longest time. Coming out was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, but I rebuilt myself from the shattered pieces of who I once was, and I’m stronger than ever before. It’s why I resonate with San Antonio so much. Our city is so complex, and that’s the beauty of it.
I write these love letters to the South Side with my Very That blog. The beautiful and the ugly. It’s important for us to accept the whole of ourselves, not just when we’re winning.
Did you ever doubt yourself during your business journey, and if so, what helped you bounce back?
I couldn’t forget my why. People can find themselves in my products. There’s still space to reinvent and invent all the aspects of the business when things are slow.
There were definitely a few years where I doubted I could keep going with my business. Then — I opened a storefront in Pica Pica Plaza — if you want authentic San Antonio culture, stop by Pica Pica Plaza! I believe Pica Pica Plaza saved my business and a part of my heart.
I saw Pica Pica post that they had a spot open at their store last year — I responded to the post immediately and had the keys by the end of the day.
What do you love about the South Side?
The South Side is like this beautiful cactus. We’re going to survive in all seasons — the heat, the cold, ice, rain. We are made up of so many beautiful people that are resilient. Here on the South Side and West Side, you have that deep-rooted sense of community and culture that people frequently associate San Antonio with.
Do you ever feel pressured to speak on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community?
I used to feel a bit of pressure to be a voice for the LGBTQ+ community. But then I remembered this old activist saying that said, “My existence is resistance.” Just by living authentically, I’m making a difference. I think just being authentic to who we are is important. Me and my wife Peaches are tías to others in our community. We’re the ones you can rely on. Us just showing up is the radical queer existence. Authenticity is radical.
Was there an “a-ha” moment let you to accept who you were?
When I finally came out to my dad — old school, traditional, super respectful — I felt like I had marbles in my mouth and I had to tell him who I really am. I interrupted his workday — something I’d never do!
— and asked him to take a drive with me. I finally told him, and he said, “I always knew. I was waiting for you to tell me.” When he told me that “I’ve always seen you,” I finally said, “I don’t give a fuck what anyone else thinks, my dad sees me.” I think that’s when I stepped into full adulthood. And that was it. I stopped caring about what anyone else thought.
What are some of your favorite LGBTQ+ owned restaurants and bars in town?
Chifladas on the West Side is queer- and woman-owned! RIP to La Botanica. I think we need more queer spaces.
Are there any new products you’re working on right now for Very That?
For years I’ve wanted to produce our own T-shirts. I’m working on a line of new T-shirts and hopefully bringing back some fan favorites. I’ve invested in machines to make our own products. We’re a small-but-mighty team. I’m hoping to have a backto-school apparel line for students and teachers so they look fly again when school starts.
Is there anything you’d want to tell someone reading this who may be struggling to come out to their loved ones?
Find a mentor. A queer tía or tío, even someone who’s younger than you. Someone to help you walk the path. Someone to walk with you when life is uncertain. I’ve been that to others. and I’ve had people in my life be that for me when I needed it.
Courtesy Photo Very That
Worth the Wait
San Antonio punk act Fea’s long-awaited new album TheNervepulls no punches
BY JEPH DUARTE
The essence of punk rock speaks truth to power.
The original punk ethos — as opposed to the watered-down and mainstream-approved 21st century version — embraced not just fighting oppression but fighting the oppressors themselves.
San Antonio’s Fea keeps its approach to punk refreshingly old-school.
The all-woman band’s latest album, The Nerve — due out digitally May 29 and on vinyl later this summer — features nine tracks that speak truth to power, explicitly challenging an American dream built upon the disenfranchisement of the less fortunate.
The release immediately sets its thematic tone with lyrics that rail against a system designed to keep us in compliance while allowing politicians to rewrite history and marginalize people at the fringes.
From the first line of the leadoff track “Careful,” it is obvious Fea has something important to say: “Hey, better be quiet / Watch what you say now / Make sure that everyone’s OK.”
Indeed, the video for “Careful,” directed by Fea bassist Jenn Alva, explores the dystopian consequences of unchecked power, even as it pays winking homage to Bette Midler’s “Oh Industry” from the film Beaches.
In Fea’s version, the C. C. Bloom character — portrayed by vocalist Letty Martinez — takes on toxic masculinity. The other members of the band — Alva, drummer Phanie Diaz and guitarist Adrian Conner — join her as Amelia Earhart, Frida Kahlo and Joan of Arc — respectively embodying powerful women archetypes: a fearless explorer, a resilient nonconformist and a divine warrior.
Ready to speak out
The Nerve is the first album to feature guitarist Adrian Conner, who joined the band in 2022 and also performs in the AC/DC tribute act Hell’s Belles. Originally coming on temporarily, she found a home in the group and eventually relocated to San Antonio.
Though the lineup is new, the release represents musical continuity for Fea, capturing the quartet’s passion for hard-driving drums, melodic bass, blistering guitar riffs and lyrical honesty.
At the same time, The Nerve feels like a statement from four musicians who have matured
as individuals, faced adulthood through the America-First era and stand ready to pointedly speak out against hypocrisy.
Martinez, who works as a paralegal for an immigration firm, told the Current her lyrics are literal and direct — delivered from the heart.
For example, “Poison” — a song that skewers Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other health-focused fearmongers — evolved through Martinez’s personal experience grappling with her son’s autism diagnosis.
“Everything is poison,” Martinez sings. “Gimme additives, food dyes and preservatives / For all the kids and their cognitive development.”
The song “Paco” deals with the tragic loss of a family member and the remorse survivors carry in the aftermath. It’s one of several Fea tunes Martinez wrote and sang in Spanish.
Years in the making
The lifelong relationship between Alva and Diaz, who started Fea from the ashes of recently reborn San Antonio alt-rock favorites Girl in a Coma, lies at the core of the band behind The Nerve
Alva told the Current that she and Diaz frequently argue during the creative process, but it’s always in pursuit of the best product. Though Alva’s bass riffs function as the songs’ foundation, they include contributions from every member.
While The Nerve was four years in the making, the music feels worth the wait.
Why so long?
For one, the members of Fea all have adult responsibilities. Martinez is married with a full-time job and a young child. Alva is married with teenagers. Diaz owns and operates three venues in San Antonio. And Conner still performs with Hell’s Belles while maintaining a long-distance relationship.
Beyond that, the reunion of Girl in a Coma has demanded time from Diaz and Alva. The pair has been writing, recording and touring for that
band over the past year-and-a-half, limiting how much energy they could devote to Fea.
Although time is limited, the members often spend bonding time together outside of the band.
Diaz affirmed that the friendship between the four is the key to Fea’s success and longevity. The members of the band check in with one another and share stories and camaraderie before running through songs at practice. Outside of rehearsals, they spend time together when they can.
New label, new prospects
In addition to the grind of daily life, the changing music-business landscape held up the release of The Nerve. Like Girl in a Coma, Fea was originally signed to legendary rocker Joan Jett’s Blackheart Records label. Indeed, the band recorded two original albums and an EP of covers during their time with Jett’s imprint.
However, Fea hadn’t released new recordings since the pandemic.
Over time, Blackheart Records has moved away from growing new artists to focus on Jett, who tours constantly, according to the members of Fea. The label’s methodology for development and promotion, now antiquated, also did not fit with the band’s goals for the record it had worked so hard on.
Diaz reached out to old friend Gil Gastelum of Southern California-based Cosmica Artists. Although the label’s roster, which includes both U.S. and Latin American bands, skews heavily toward Latin sounds, he embraced Fea instantly. Fea deemed Cosmica’s approach more forward-thinking and adaptable to the evolving music landscape, and the label’s inclusivity-focused code of ethics was an added bonus.
With the full backing of Cosmica, Fea plans to aggressively promote and tour nationally with hopes of spreading its message far beyond San Antonio.
The Nerve provides a solid and uncompromising springboard for that ambition.
Ray Scarborough
critics’ picks
Ramona and the Holy Smokes
Wednesday, May 27
Lauren Lakis
There’s seemingly nothing Lauren Lakis can’t do. She’s not just a musician but also an actress on the side. Her music oozes alt-rock mixed with shoegaze and goth sensibilities. In a different world, Lakis’ album Deadlights could have made the perfect soundtrack to one of those quirky ’90s coming-of-age movies with a “weird” girl at its center. $14.29, 8 p.m., Stable Hall, 307 Pearl Parkway, (210) 427-7464, stablehall.com. — Brianna Espinoza
Thursday, May 28
Ramona and the Holy Smokes Ramona and the Holy Smokes craft classic throwback country. It’s well-played, well-sung and well-written. The band is based in Virginia but has South Texas roots, and music site Wide Open Country recently named singer Ramona Martinez one of the “15 Latino artists shaping country music.” It’s refreshing to hear C&W country sounds reframed from a Latina perspective. $10, 10 p.m. The Lonesome Rose, 2114 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 455-0233, thelonesomerose.com. — Bill Baird
Friday, May 29
King’s X Missouri-born rock trio King’s X has been around since 1979, and after some early turnover, has maintained its original lineup. Known for helping pioneer progressive metal in the late ’80s, the trio developed a sound rooted in upbeat stoner rock but with funk, gospel and other influences. Though King’s X last dropped an album in 2022, the group is reportedly in the process of creating a new record that leans in on its prog tendencies. $36.25-$74, 8 p.m., The Rock Box, 1223 E. Houston St., (210) 8032101, therockboxsa.com. — BE
Saturday, May 30
Lloronas, Honey Bunny, Cormae Self-described purveyors of “aggressive disco punk,” Lloronas consist of an all-female lineup straight from San Antonio. The group’s songs encompass lyrics about being from the South Side, and the members deliver Dead Kennedys-esque musical grooves with true punk ferocity. Local indie-rock heroes HoneyBunny and Austin’s Cormae will provide support. $10, 9 p.m., The Lonesome Rose, 2114 N. St. Mary’s St.,
$34.97-$126.16, 8 p.m., Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., papertigersatx.com. — DC
Saturday, June 6
Take 6
To be an a cappella group that’s survived — and thrived — since 1980, you must deliver the goods. And Take 6 certainly does. Fusing jazz and gospel, this group has enjoyed an enviable musical ride that’s ranged from doing film scores and sold-out shows to collaborating with Stevie Wonder and Quincy Jones, the latter of whom called Take 6 the “baddest vocal cats on the planet.” $40, 8 p.m., Carver Community Cultural Center, 226 N Hackberry St., thecarver.org. — BB
Saturday, June 6
Alabama
Alabama were mainstays of country radio in the 1980s. Lead vocalist Randy Owen and bassist Teddy Gentry remain from the original lineup, which dates back to 1969. Expect to hear the hits “Song of the South,” “Mountain Music” and “If You’re Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have A Fiddle In The Band)” in a setlist that will have the crowd singing under the stars. $101.64$224.28, 8 pm, Whitewater Amphitheater, 11860 FM 306, New Braunfels, (830) 964-3800, whitewaterrocks.com. — DC
(210) 455-0233, thelonesomerose.com. — BE
Friday, June 5
Greyhounds
Austin’s Greyhounds recorded three albums for Ardent Records, the Memphis home of power-pop greats Big Star — which is certainly a selling point but doesn’t tell the whole story. Along the way, Greyhounds have collaborated with Tedeschi-Trucks and even former American Idol winner Taylor Hicks, and the band also toured with famed Texas upstart Charley Crockett, which should give an idea of its potential mass appeal. The group delivers a classic chicken-pickin’ country groove that’s sure to put smiles on faces, and the keyboard playing is funky as hell. $10, 9 p.m., Sam’s Burger Joint, 330 E. Grayson St., (210) 223-2830, samsburgerjoint.com. — BB
The Altons, Introverted Funk
Los Angeles-based outfit The Altons bring danceable grooves and an alluring fusion of retro-soul with a Latin twist. The interplay between vocalists Adriana Flores and Bryan Ponce captures the feel of romantic ’70s soul and are supported by a vibrant rhythm section.
Yellowcard, New Found Glory, Plain White T’s Yellowcard leads a three-band touring bill composed of 2000s-era alt-rock acts. This isn’t simply a nostalgia play for the Jacksonville, Florida-based headliners, though, since they released a new album last year produced by Blink-182’s Travis Barker. The lead single “Better Days” shot all the way to the top of alt-airplay charts, becoming Yellowcard’s first song to do so. $36.60-$101.50, 7 p.m, Freeman Coliseum, 3201 E. Houston St., (210) 226-1177, freemancoliseum.com. — DC
Sunday,
June 7
Shawn Colvin
Although singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin is often claimed as a Texas musician for her time in Austin, her Lone Star State trappings aren’t obvious in her music. Instead, she’s cut more from the Joni Mitchell cloth of thoughtful, free-spirited California folk. Colvin’s career highlights are many, from headlining Lilith Fair and winning multiple Grammys to collaborating with Suzanne Vega and voicing a character on the Simpsons. Here’s the bottom line, though: Colvin is an icon who writes moving, thoughtful songs and delivers them in a pure, deeply affecting voice. $59, 8 p.m., Stable Hall, 307 Pearl Parkway, (210) 427-7464, stablehall.com. — BB
Courtesy Photo Ramona and the Holy Smokes
“Antimatter”--existing in both states. by Matt Jones
© 2026 Matt Jones
Across 1. Abbr. in grammar
5. Ninth letter of the Greek alphabet
9. Attempt
13. Allergic reaction
15. In that case
16. Opinion on a situation
17. Backyard building had a snack?
19. Spunkmeyer of cookies
20. Show of support from a Twitch community
21. Declares as fact
22. Slam
23. Gomez of “Only Murders in the Building”
25. RR depot
28. Bons ___ (witticisms)
30. D.C. newspaper, informally
31. Minoan island
33. Problem-solving sequence
37. Mobile intro
38. Burglar, say
39. Garden trail
40. Distinction for Rami Malek or Michael B. Jordan
42. Quarrel
43. Comedian Bargatze
44. Certain lap dog, briefly
46. Short musical releases
47. Ohio city near Michigan
49. Complete, at the Cannes Film Festival
51. Property line marker
52. School outing
57. Three-layer snack
58. Wanderers supporting actor Mikkelsen?
59. They may be fine or graphic
60. Complete set of awards
61. Cathedral sections
62. 1990s puzzle game on an island
63. Not so much 64. Shout before throwing something
Down
1. Alan Alda TV show
2. Needing relief
3. “SNL UK” cast member Jack who played Princess Diana 4. Worked with computers, maybe
5. “Great, but we need more” 6. “Fancy meeting you here!”
7. High school students
8. Far-away connection?
9. Lincoln’s hat type
10. “Ms. McRae, please record the minutes”?
11. “Yojimbo” director Kurosawa
12. Harry Truman’s wife
14. Punctual
18. Approximation words
21. Spray banned from orchards
24. “Return of the Jedi” creature
25. Scrape remnant
26. “That is correct”
27. Groups of nine Brooklyn athletes?
29. Single-masted vessel
32. Final figure on a ledger
34. Slasher fan’s must-sees
35. URL opener
EMPLOYMENT
Product Designer with Petco Animal Supplies Stores, Inc. in San Antonio, TX. 100% remote. Pay: $95,400/ yr. & may vary based on location & exp. Send resume w/ Job Code: #RC0131 to petcoapplicants@petco.com.
Technology positions w/ Petco Animal Supplies Stores, Inc. in San Antonio, TX. 100% remote. Manager, Data Science & Analytics job#: SB0703, pay: $134,597-$194,700/yr; Sr. Manager, Enterprise Payment Systems job#: #HG0228, pay $129,800$194,700/yr.; Manager, DevOps (AI) job#: RV0510, pay: $193,274-$194,700/yr. Pay may vary based on location & exp. Send resume w/ job# to petcoapplicants@petco.com.
36. Ampere-per-volt units, once
38. Added to an email chain
41. Suit to ___
42. Pass along
45. Pottery furnace
47. “Fresh Air” host Gross
48. Old enough
50. “To whom ___ concern”
51. Suds
53. Wedding vow exchanges
54. ‘90s dance party
55. ___ fixe
56. “Over here!”
58. Brooks who’s releasing a “Spaceballs” seque
Answers on page 29.
