SAN ANTONIO MAGAZINE APRIL 202 2
2022 Home & Design Awards
HOM E & DESIG N AWARDS / FI ESTA RI V E R PARAD E
Honoring the best in San Antonio architecture and design
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Spurs guard Devin Vassell and his parents open up about life in the NBA
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April FEATURES
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HO M E & DESI G N AWA R DS
The lingering pandemic may have presented ongoing challenges for the industry, but it also has inspired new creativity locally in architecture and interior design.
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PA RT Y ON THE R I VE R
The volunteers behind the Texas Cavaliers spend over a year planning to bring the Fiesta River Parade to fruition. Learn about what it takes to prepare the barges for the event, and make plans to see them April 4.
44 MADELINE HARPER PHOTOGRAPHY
G ROW I N G I NTO THE NBA
Devin Vassell is turning into a leader during his second season with the Spurs, but his strides on the court wouldn’t be possible without the behind-the-scenes support of his mom and dad, who moved to San Antonio with him after he was drafted.
Styleberry Creative Interiors won for its work in the kitchen and laundry room of this Hollywood Park home.
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April D EPART M E N TS
1 3 COMMUN IT Y The owners of Los Patios have not only opened a center for those recovering from addiction, they’ve also built a fully sober community to support their clients (and San Antonio) in a substance-free lifestyle. 16 PERSON O F INTEREST The new director at the San Antonio Museum of Art wants the community to feel ownership of the 41-year-old institution.
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20 IN FLUEN CER Meet the San Antonio entrepreneur who wants to help you and your family stay clean on the go with eco-friendly wipe alternatives.
5 0 E AT H E RE N OW The decor isn’t the only thing that’s refined at the new(ish) Up Scale eatery in Southtown. 5 2 S P OT L I G H T Get a taste of Mexico with the breads and sweet treats at Alebrije Panadería.
EAT + DRINK
5 3 T H E GU I D E Find Fiesta favorites without battling the event crowds at one of these local restaurants.
49 D ISH Elotitos Corn Bar embraces San Antonio’s favorite snack with flights of flavorful cornin-a-cup.
64 FINAL THOUGHT The co-founder of design firm Heavy Heavy on how he’s hesitantly falling in love with his hometown.
ON THE COVER Winner of Readers’ Choice for Best Overall Home, Haven Design and Construction remodeled this 1959 mid-century modern home in Alamo Heights during the pandemic, honoring its original architectural details, like the dining room’s brick wall, while adding modern touches and shades of blue throughout. Photo by Matthew Niemann Photography.
HOUSE: COURTESY UTSA; UPSCALE: JOMANDO CRUZ
IN THE LOOP
18 ED UCAT IO N A UTSA professor works to make the design of homes and buildings more accessible, one future architect at a time.
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UP FRONT / EDITOR' S NOTEBOOK
ONLINE THIS MONTH
t was a hot day in April when I got my first glimpse of Fiesta. Volunteers with the Battle of Flowers Parade Association had graciously invited my then-editor and I to attend the parade and I found myself sitting in the middle of a bleacher in front of the Alamo, shading my eyes as I watched confetti blanket the street while bands, horses and colorful floats went by. I’ll be honest and admit that I didn’t understand what all the celebration was for just yet—I’d been in Texas eight years at that point but hadn’t heard of San Antonio’s annual festival until moving here the year before—but I was hooked. In the years since, I’ve done my research on the history of Fiesta and my husband and I have become regulars at events like A Night in Old San Antonio (hot tip for anyone like us who prefers smaller crowds: go on Tuesday). I’ve also made a point to try at least a few other events each year, from the King William Fair to the San Antonio Zoo’s Festival de Animales to Taste of the Northside. The Texas Cavaliers’ River Parade has also become a favorite. Where else but San Antonio can you see elaborately decorated floats on the water, after all? It was the only major parade to make a comeback during the June 2021 Fiesta after the pandemic forced the cancellation of the annual festival in 2020. We wanted to celebrate with the Texas Cavaliers, who put on the parade, and to see what goes into getting the floats ready for their night in the limelight. Photographer and regular contributor JoMando Cruz spent hours with the Cavaliers last summer, documenting barge-in day when the boats are dropped into the water and visiting several spots along the river to capture the parade as it happened. See his beautiful images and read about the months of planning and just a few days of execution that goes into the parade on page 36. April has also become a time for celebrating at San Antonio Magazine, which this month presents the winners of its second annual Home & Design Awards. Turn to page 22 to get a look at this year’s award recipients. And, it’s the month that San Antonians always hope they have a reason to keep celebrating as we watch the Spurs fight for a spot in the playoffs. Guard Devin Vassell says the team’s young players see themselves as underdogs but that he doesn’t want fans to count them out. Vassell and his parents talk about what it’s been like to transition to life in the NBA on page 44. Here’s to a month of celebrating, whether you’re cheering on the Spurs, Fiesta-ing at a parade or celebrating spring at home.
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F I E S TA 2 0 2 2 Find Fiesta insider tips, including a guide to parades and daily event roundups, at sanantoniomag.com/ fiesta-2022.
CHEERS TO 50 The Twig Book Shop at Pearl is celebrating 50 years this month with a full slate of events. Learn more about the history behind the store and make plans to party with them at sanantoniomag.com/ twig-50.
COMING NEXT MONTH Start planning your next getaway with our guide to Texas State Parks.
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PETTY: JOSH HUSKIN; FIESTA: JOMANDO CRUZ
Kathleen Petty Editor in Chief kpetty@sanantoniomag.com @kpettysamag
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APRIL 2022 / VOL. 17 / NO. 6 WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT FIESTA?
EDITORIAL EDITOR IN CHIEF
“Anticuchos!”
Kathleen Petty
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Bonny Osterhage, Katherine Stinson, Edmund Tijerina
“The energy that permeates the city. Whether at a daytime coffee OPEN S KY MEDIA meeting or atCEO tending a Fiesta Todd P. Paul event, (nearly) everyone has PRESIDENT Stewart Ramser an upbeat vibe during Fiesta.” VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES
COPY EDITOR
Patsy Pelton
James R. Smith EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
INTERN “Definitely the food. San Emily Schmalstieg Antonio has the FACT CHECKER best Mexican food and Fiesta Katherine Stinson always gives A RT you a good ART DIRECTOR glimpse of David G. Loyola that.”
Rebecca Fontenot Cord DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Hollis Boice AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Kerri Nolan ACCOUNTING ACCOUNTS MANAGER
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
JoMando Cruz, Vincent Gonzalez, Josh Huskin, Marty Morris
Sabina Jukovic EV ENTS EVENTS DIRECTOR
Lauren Sposetta
ADV ERTIS ING PUBLISHER
Kathie Anderson
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Rosie Ninesling “Fiesta is the definitive event of San Antonio that honors Texas history, builds community in Texas’ most diverse city, and builds traditions that are passed down, from generation to generation.”
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In the Loop I N S I D E / M E E T SA M A’S NEW DIRECTO R p. 16 / BUILD IN G IN C LUSIVE ARC H ITECTS p. 18 / N ATURAL EN TREPR EN EU R p . 2 0
A Community for Recovery BY KATHLEEN PETTY
isitors to Blue Heron Recovery won’t find any Styrofoam cups sitting near the coffee pot inside the door. Instead, they’re offered a fresh pour of coffee, black or with cream or sugar, in whatever ceramic mug is closest on the counter. “It’s by design. If we were at my house, we would have mismatched coffee mugs,” says Christine Varela Mayer, Ph.D., licensed chemical dependency counselor and CEO of Blue Heron. “And I want people to feel at home.” Paying attention to those small details is what drives Mayer and the staff at Blue Heron Recovery, which opened at Los Patios in March 2021 after Mayer and her husband, Dr. Paul Tillson Mayer, purchased the property in late 2020. It was formerly an event and business center and it sits on 18 wooded acres along the Salado Creek. Mayer had worked in inpatient group therapy previously and felt there had to be a better way to support individuals in recovery from alcohol or drug addiction. She and Paul, an ER physician whose military career brought their family to San Antonio, had dreamed of a place where people could thrive while living a sober lifestyle. They wanted to open a treatment center that offered more than standard group therapy sessions in folding chairs plus a larger community that supported their clients’ new lifestyle. “When clients were in their safety bubble of residential treatment, they could stay sober,” Mayer says. “But when they left the safety bubble it was very difficult to find a community.” (Continued next page)
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IN THE LOOP / COMMUNITY
Tobin Hill Landmark / Weston Urban, the development company behind Frost Tower and led by Rackspace co-founder Graham Weston, purchased the 121-year-old Koehler House, near San Antonio College, from Alamo Colleges District for $2.03 million with plans to turn it into a hotel, restaurant and entertainment space.
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Toward the front of the Los Patios property, they’re working on a garden so clients can grow vegetables and other plants. The activities are meant to help them recover while discovering, or rediscovering, hobbies they enjoy—something that can be crucial to sustaining a sober lifestyle after treatment. The staff at Blue Heron prefer if clients have been through residential treatment, but they also know that’s not an option for everyone. “Not everyone can give up their families and their lives and their jobs for 30 days,” Mayer says. When a client comes in who has just committed to stop drinking or using drugs, staff ask the individual to treat the recovery program like a job and spend all day, five days a week at the center for one to two months. After that, a client typically graduates into partial mornings or partial evenings five days a week and then into an even more part-time schedule where they come in three days a week. The property also features a sober living house with space for four men who are invited to attend the program and who can work for one of the restaurants or businesses on property while there. Over the holidays, Blue Heron hosted a family meal outside with ceramic plates and festive decor. Just like the coffee cups used each day inside, Mayer says taking the time to have a fancy celebration with clients and their family shows them that they matter. “When you’re in recovery, you don’t feel like you’re worth much,” Mayer says. “We want people to know they’re worth something. They work so hard and they’re amazing.”
Pixar Putt / A pop-up mini golf experience opens April 1 at 125 N. Flores St. that will bring Pixar characters from Toy Story, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, Inside Out and other films to life through 18 interactive holes. It’s not just for kids, either. Adults-only afterdark sessions are open from 7 to 10 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays.
DANIEL ORTIZ
That’s where Los Patios comes in. Along with being the home to Blue Heron Recovery, it’s a fully sober environment open to the public. Guests can enjoy Mexican food without the margarita at Naco 210, burgers without beer at Gunslingers and brunch with coffee instead of mimosas at Comfort Café East. Blue Heron is also organizing concerts and other events so that clients, past clients and the general public can have fun without worrying about the presence of drugs or alcohol. All tenants of the property—from restaurants and shops to artists who host exhibits—agree not to sell or serve alcohol, CBD or other substances. “It’s meant to be a place that’s inviting and enriching,” Mayer says. At Blue Heron, they’ve also spent the last year cultivating what Mayer describes as a uniquely supportive environment. “During outpatient treatment, you usually sit for a few hours a week in a 1,200-square-foot office,” she says. “And nobody wants to do that, so nobody stays.” For treatment to be successful long-term, she says it must be engaging and fun. That doesn’t mean they don’t have tough conversations. There are plenty of group sessions and interaction with counselors at Blue Heron. But it’s not all serious. The morning starts with meditation and an activity, whether walking, yoga or disc golf. That’s followed by a processing group, and an educational group session. The afternoon features another processing group plus another activity. There’s also cooking classes, art therapy and music therapy.
Home Sweet Home / A sea turtle that rescuers found with paralyzed back flippers, possibly injured by a boat, recently moved to SEA Life San Antonio. The turtle was rehabilitated in Port Aransas and now calls the downtown aquarium’s 5,000-gallon ocean tunnel home.
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IN THE LOOP / PERSON OF INTEREST
Were you looking to return to Texas? Why San Antonio and SAMA? It’s just astonishing when you look at the sort of cultural strength that Texas brings to the table. I never took it for granted, but it is really wonderful to be back. Growing up in Houston, San Antonio was the place you came to visit because it was the most fun city in Texas. We would visit and of course do all of the missions and the river and take advantage of the museums—SAMA and the McNay. And now, of course, there’s Ruby City. I’m very excited to be in a place that’s already culturally rich before you even have an art museum, and we have three. And that’s before you get to all of the other spaces, Artpace and Blue Star and Lone Star and Presa House. I’ve witnessed from afar how vibrant San Antonio has become.
Leading the City’s Museum The San Antonio Museum of Art’s new Kelso director, Emily Ballew Neff, wants locals to enjoy and influence the institution’s vast collection INTERVIEW BY KATHLEEN PETTY
rom the time she was young, Emily Ballew Neff felt “right at home” in art museums. She earned a Ph.D. in art history and began her career in her hometown, at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, where she eventually became the founding curator of American Painting and Sculpture. She served most recently as executive director of the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. There, she led the effort (and required fundraising) to relocate the museum downtown. Neff became the Kelso director at the San Antonio Museum of Art in January and has spent the past months listening to staff, board members and the community about what the museum has to offer and how it might adapt as it looks ahead to a postCOVID world. “I really want to meet San Antonians and to hear from San Antonians about what they want to see from their art museum,” she says.
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FACT FILE
Resume: Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art (University of Oklahoma), Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Education: Bachelor’s, Yale; Master’s, Rice; Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin
You made accessibility to museums a priority in your past roles. How do you accomplish that? San Antonians have so much to be proud of (at SAMA) and that’s one of my goals—not only building on that strength, but also helping people to understand just how great it is and that it’s a source of civic pride. That takes converting hearts and minds one at a time. I recognize that I was very fortunate because my parents loved art and music, which meant that as a child I was exposed to art and music. But people might have different interests or abilities to connect. For us, it is all about delivering on the promise of the public art museum, which was founded with the Louvre and the idea that art that once belonged to the king now belonged to the people. (Public art museums) have spent more than 200 years trying to deliver on that promise and we have a long way to go. We want to make sure people understand this belongs to them. This is their museum. That’s the big picture concept, but you do it through a variety of programs. We do it through school programs and art programs and our exhibitions and family days where people who might not necessarily come to art museums can come, have a blast and experience art. But we’re also still trying to figure out how that is different now coming out of COVID. There’s a real hunger for connection. What new programs can we start and what are we going to let go of? Sometimes that’s the hardest decision, but I think we feel a little bit liberated to have a fresh canvas to ILLUSTRATION BY VICENTE MARTÍ
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work on while not losing sight of the great traditions of the past. What are some of the barriers that keep people from visiting museums? My favorite expression that I can’t take credit for is that art museums are a playground for the mind, and I think it’s the play part that people may not be as aware of. Art museums are fun. They can be quite serious, but they can also be a great source of fun because they generally ask you to think about things differently. The other thing is that museums need to do a better job of making the public understand that you’re not coming to take a test. You don’t need to know anything about art to come here. What I found in my last gig in Memphis, where there are a lot of underserved populations, is that once people were across the threshold, it was amazing and they would come back. People who thought museums weren’t for them would say, ‘This is for me, and I love it.’ But we need to work on getting people across the threshold. What challenges has COVID presented? There were fewer people visiting exhibitions or becoming members, so a certain percentage of our earned revenue took a hit. What I will say about SAMA is that when you benchmark, we’re at the same level as other art museums throughout the country. So, yes, it’s a challenge, but we haven’t had to close our doors. I think there is this sense that this is the time to recalibrate and rethink. There are certain things that are non-negotiable in terms of our mission and values but apart from that I think there is a willingness to recalibrate. We want to do more listening to the community. And the community is not monolithic, so who are we not reaching? How can we make sure more people know this is for them? This is the city’s art museum. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. APRIL 2022
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I N T H E L O O P / E D U C AT I O N
Architecture for All UTSA professor teaches universal design in hopes of creating a generation of architects who will craft spaces for every age and ability BY KATHLEEN PETTY
eda Norouzi saw at an early age how homes were not made for centenarians. “My great-grandmother lived to be over 100 and it was really hard for her to climb the stairs to her second-floor apartment, but she refused to add an elevator because she thought it would take away from the integrity of the house,” says Norouzi, assistant professor for the School of Architecture and Planning in the Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design at UTSA. When that experience was paired with her time teaching preschool and kindergarten as a young adult, Norouzi knew she wanted to take a different approach when she became an architect. “Our world is designed for younger abled bodies, but it’s not designed to accommodate children or older adults,” she says. She earned a Ph.D. in architecture and design research with an emphasis on designing intergenerational facilities and now works to help the next generation of architects understand the importance of considering all ages and abilities.
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Sometimes that’s done through bringing a wheelchair to the lecture hall and asking students to navigate the building without getting out of the chair. Other times it’s accomplished through specific research or real-world projects. Last fall, Norouzi partnered with the nonprofit disABILITYsa to challenge students to design homes based on five different scenarios, including a family with a child on the autism spectrum and a young couple that included a man in a wheelchair. The students were tasked with researching how to accommodate each situation and also asked to consider the results of a disABILITYsa survey that showed some of the challenges the pandemic presented. Norouzi says designing with everyone in mind can be accomplished through simple elements, such as making the front door accessible by wheelchair, lowering counters or widening doorways and hallways. Including appliances, like magnetic cook tops, which are cool to the touch and safe for children or adults with dementia, is another way. For those on the autism spectrum, it helps to have flexible spaces where lighting can be dimmed or where appliances can be used safely. Often, Norouzi says people assume universal design is more expensive and not as aesthetically pleasing. They think of simply adding guardrails to a wall. On the contrary, designing for everyone from the start is more cost effective than renovating later, she says, and, when done intentionally, it can be truly beautiful. “It’s about creating spaces that allow people to live their best lives and respond to their needs,” she says.”
COURTESY UTSA
UTSA graduate students Ashley Vasquez, Gerrah Brinkerhoff and Daniel Hernandez designed these spaces to be both beautiful and accessible for multiple ages and abilities.
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IN THE LOOP / INFLUENCER
Wiping Out the Competition A former attorney and mom creates all-natural wipes and shower sprays BY BONNY OSTERHAGE
tart at the bottom and work your way up. That’s literally how local entrepreneur Jessica Karam Oley got her start. This savvy mom and her cousin/business partner Brandon Karam started their company, Pristine Cleansing Sprays, by creating a spray that turns average toilet paper into a cleansing, flushable wet wipe. The Toilet Paper Spray was such a hit that it landed the San Antonio natives on Shark Tank and Good Morning America. Now, the former attorney has turned her attention to Pristine full-time and is committed to creating products that are gentle on the body and the planet. Their latest release, the Speed Shower, is ideal for those who like to hustle from a workout class to brunch without missing a beat. Made from witch hazel, Chilean soap bark and kelp, the fast-drying spray removes dirt, sweat and odor and keeps you feeling fresh without having to step under a shower head. “As an entrepreneur and mom of three, showers are often at the bottom of my to-do list,” Oley says, with a laugh. “I always wanted a product like this, so I made one.” Creating natural products came naturally to Oley, who had an interest in essential oils and had been formulating her own household cleaning products for several years. When her infant daughter had an allergic reaction to wet wipes, she knew there had to be a better alternative. “People want wet wipes for the ease and convenience, but they either get thrown away and wind up in landfills, or they get flushed and clog up the plumbing,” she says. After countless hours of research and work with an expert formulator, Oley, Karem and their team developed the Toilet Paper Spray with natural ingredients and food-grade preservatives. They’re now working on a complete line that includes hand sanitizer, the Speed Shower and a soon-to-be-released Long Shower Spray that kills odor-causing bacteria. Everything is natural, eco-friendly, safe for children, and most of all, effective.
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Take a look at the 18 winning projects by 13 area firms BY KATHLEEN PETTY
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ANDREA CALO
2022 Home & Design Awards APRIL 2022
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Haven Design and Construction’s San Antonio Mid-Century Modern project won for Interior Design and Readers’ Choice for Best Overall Home.
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The ongoing pandemic may have presented challenges in acquiring materials, furniture and fixtures in a timely manner, but it also has led to a fresh wave of creativity, both in architecture and interior design crafted to meet the unique needs of clients. Whether in a modern commercial space meant to serve hybrid working models, in homes that now serve as both family retreats and daytime offices or in remodels that honor the history of a house while updating it for modern living, the entries into this year’s Home & Design Awards were a reminder of just how much talent exists in the San Antonio area. Get to know the winners here, which were selected by an expert panel of judges (learn more about them on page 34).
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Hixon Properties The Soto
General Excellence | Architecture Office NAMED FOR THE SPANISH WORD
that means “a grove of trees near a body of water,” The Soto is the state’s first mass-timber office building and represents the initial phase in a 10-acre mixed use project in the River North area between Broadway and the River Walk. Its first floor boasts retail and restaurant units while office space on the upper five floors is designed with flexible floor plans that cater to employees using a hybrid working model. Exposed timber columns, beams and ceilings indoors bring in an element of nature and complement the exterior, where the timber structure is accented by large windows and a masonry façade.
Infinity Pools of Texas
Veramendi Community Pool and Splash Pad Outdoor Public Space or Park INFINITY POOLS OF TEXAS
THE SOTO: ERIKA EDWARDS; COMMUNITY POOL: FOSSUM STUDIOS
wanted to offer something for everyone in New Braunfels’ Veramendi community. Swimmers enjoy two professional lap lanes while those looking to relax will find a 1,500-square-foot tanning ledge with chairs for lounging. The infinity style edge creates the sound of cascading water, and the pool offers beach entry plus a handicap -accessible lift that provides access to the 6,000 square feet of swimming space. Nearby, a splash pad with spray bars, a bucket dump and more welcomes kids who aren’t yet ready for the big pool. APRIL 2022
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Hill Country Woodshop Repurposed Pecky Cypress Charcuterie Board Accents/Decor COLSON CUSTOM BUILDERS WANTED
their clients to have a piece of the pecky cypress tree they had to remove from the property when constructing their new home, so they enlisted Hill Country Woodshop to turn part of the tree into a one-of-a-kind charcuterie board. Pecky cypress is challenging to work with because it has natural holes in it, but Hill Country Woodshop staff were able to chisel out the holes and fill them with epoxy resin to create a smooth surface. The natural edge of the wood was transformed into an arrowhead-inspired handle before the board was sanded and covered with a food-safe oil and wax.
Hill Country Woodshop
Walnut River Table Custom or Repurposed Furniture
dark tones that could serve as the centerpiece in his home office, and the beautiful colors and natural grain in the walnut slabs used for this table delivered. Hill Country Woodshop highlighted the features of the wood with epoxy resin that was black with white swirls and a slightly red glitter tone. They partnered with Citizen Build, a local metal worker, to create a steel tubing base for the desk. The result is an industrial-style piece that balances nature with modern design.
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COURTESY HILL COUNTRY WOODSHOP
THE CLIENT WANTED A DESK WITH
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Amity Kett Ranch Pass
Architecture Curb Appeal Wine Storage/Bar THIS 3,400-SQUARE-FOOT NEW BUILD
ANDREA CALO
is situated on the east side of the property to accommodate a flood plain encroachment while providing the homeowners with easy vehicle access to the threecar garage and views of the property plus its existing trees. The white brick exterior sets the tone for its traditional design that is accented with East Coast– inspired turn-of-the-century architectural elements. Inside, the home has four bedrooms, a dedicated office space, an upstairs playroom and a laundry room that doubles as a mudroom, among other spaces. Built in cabinets provide ample storage in the kitchen, which also features a built-in eating space on the backside of the island. White walls and built-in cabinets throughout are contrasted with warm hues in the furniture and light fixtures plus dark frames around the windows. The bar stands out courtesy of its dark wallpaper with golden leaves. It also features black soapstone countertops, an antique mirror tile backsplash and a brass chandelier and shelf.
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Up & Co.
Exterior Use of Color
Parklane Fireplace
RENDERINGS FOR THIS URBAN FAMILY
IN THIS LIVING ROOM, AMITY KETT
was challenged with achieving an updated Santa Barbara–style interior in a 1930s Spanish-style home. The fireplace was instrumental in achieving that thanks to the warmth and texture delivered by the hand painted clay tiles and rustic wood mantel. Existing built-ins on either side of the fireplace were updated with oak stained shelves that created a place for the TV, wood and several accessories that bring an extra element of style to the room.
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dwelling near Essex Modern City included a sleek black door that would complement the vertical black metal siding. As construction got underway, though, black no longer seemed like the right fit, says Up & Co.’s Judith DeMasters. “We got to meet the neighbors and experience the area and black seemed too formal,” she says. “It called for something more playful and colorful.” DeMasters instead landed on a yellow door that she says pops while still acting as a neutral. A warm white trim that matches the horizontal siding covering the bulk of the house surrounds the door and a mid-toned wood entryway welcomes guests.
FIREPLACE: ANDREA CALO; PINE STREET: RICK GARZA/BRIGHT AND EARLY PRODUCTIONS
Pine Street
Amity Kett
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Haven Design and Construction
Haven Design and Construction
Library/Study/Home Office
Interior Design Readers’ Choice for Best Overall Home
Fronterra Project
San Antonio Mid-Century Modern
THIS HOME OFFICE HAD TO BE BOTH BEAUTIFUL
and functional for the young professional who uses it daily. The serene glass-coated landscape hanging behind the modern stone desk accomplishes both by serving as a central piece of art and as a frequent Zoom backdrop. A geometric console hides a printer and provides storage while light blue drapery and guest chairs bring in a splash of color. Behind the guest chairs hangs a TV that can act as a monitor during video calls.
WHEN PRINCIPAL INTERIOR DESIGNER JANA VALDEZ AGREED TO TAKE ON A
mid-century modern home in disrepair after her husband and an investor bought the property, she vowed to make it the kind of mid-century look she could see people enjoying today, meaning no ugly browns or oranges. She doubled the size of the kitchen, opened up the entryway, added character with a walnut divider in the foyer and relied on rich blue and wood accents throughout. A garage laundry room was also moved inside and functionality improved throughout the home.
Haven Design and Construction Blush Nursery
Children’s Room/Play Space
MATTHEW NIEMANN PHOTOGRAPHY
LARGE-SCALE ROSE WALLPAPER
behind the crib sets the tone for this feminine nursery that also includes a blush rug, chair and window treatments. White furniture and a crystal light chandelier freshened the room while pale grey walls provide a quiet contrast to the wallpaper. Framed children’s artwork—including a piece featuring blush and white textured wings—finish out the space. APRIL 2022
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CKC Custom Homes Anaqua Springs European Hacienda
Edgewater Estates Remodel
ALMOST EVERY SURFACE OF THIS NORTH CENTRAL
San Antonio home was reworked during a remodel by Virtuoso Builders’ Mike and Molly Sowry. Walls were removed to open up the formerly compartmentalized kitchen, living room and dining spaces and a second column added to balance an existing column needed to support the structure of the home. An impractical mushroom-shaped island was removed in favor of a long rectangular island featuring a striking dark granite countertop. Stools allow for seating in the kitchen and for interaction with those sitting in the nearby living and dining rooms. The primary bedroom and bathroom were gutted, and a builder-grade bathtub replaced with a gorgeous freestanding black tub. Throughout the home, the once light blue walls were repainted shades of grey and the floor replaced with wood tile plus a “carpet-style” inlaid tile in the entryway. An outdoor bar was built near the pool.
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Dining Room Full Bath Lighting Powder Room ONE-OF-A-KIND DETAILS ARE
evident throughout this home that brings an Eastern European hacienda feel to the Hill Country. The dining room is anchored by custom masonry brick walls and an inlay tile floor design. In the powder room, guests find an antique tile wall, shiplap and a custom vanity while the full bath boasts gold-framed mirrors, custom furniture-style cabinetry and a built-in steam unit. Lighting throughout brings in delicate lines, with touches of elegance courtesy of clear crystals and glass.
EDGEWATER ESTATES: JASON ROBERTS; ANAQUA SPRINGS: LAUREN KELLAR
Virtuoso Builders
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Styleberry Creative Interiors
Hollywood Park Project Kitchen Laundry Room
MADELINE HARPER PHOTOGRAPHY
WHEN A SAN ANTONIO FAMILY PUR-
chased this Hollywood Park home during the pandemic, they knew the kitchen needed some serious work. Originally a long, closed off corridor with eating spaces on either side, the homeowners enlisted Styleberry Creative Interiors to transform it into a hub for entertaining. They opened up the space, making the original dining room, which overlooked the backyard and pool, part of the kitchen and turning the breakfast nook into the main eating area, says Shawna Percival, the firm’s founder and creative director. Stools also were added along one side of a long island to create another seating space. On the opposite side of the island is a custom butcher block countertop that’s ideal for cooking or housing in-home charcuterie boards. A pantry is tucked away from view and a wall of custom cabinetry was added to the back of the room to create muchneeded storage. The microwave and an ice maker are tucked under the island while handmade clay tiles cover the main wall, bringing an organic element into the room. The reimagined kitchen leads into the laundry room, which also was reworked by Styleberry Creative. “It’s a little space, which is sometimes the trickiest,” says Percival. They added cabinets and a simple shelf above the washer and dryer to provide storage. On the other side of the room, is a “drop zone” with baskets for kids’ shoes and hooks for backpacks and jackets. Vertical white shiplap brings texture and design to the wall while protecting it from wear and tear.
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Styleberry Creative Interiors
Hunter’s Creek Kitchen Use of Color
denim, blue—when used well—can act as a neutral in interior design, says Shawna Percival, founder and creative director of Styleberry Creative Interiors. Such was the case with this kitchen, which the firm began designing in February 2020 and completed plans for largely through virtual meetings. The homeowner initially envisioned an all-white kitchen but wanted to salvage the original off-white stone floor, which looked dirty next to white cabinets. Instead, Percival suggested a dark blue for the lower cabinets, which grounded the space, plus white upper cabinetry and a light, bright counter and backsplash. White herringbone tile runs up the main wall, which is broken up with long floating wood shelves that are complemented by the warm wood vent over the oven. Brass hardware and three sconces above the floating shelves bring another layer of warmth. “The kitchen sets the tone for everything else in the house,” Percival says.
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MADELINE HARPER PHOTOGRAPHY
LIKE A GOOD PAIR OF
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Jaimie Anand Interiors Terra Mont Living
Living Room/Great Room NEARLY EVERY ELEMENT IN THIS FAR
Northwest home’s living room was custom made, including a sectional that was designed to have enough recliners for all seven members of the multigenerational family that lives there. Glass sliding doors covering one wall allow for the indoors and outdoors to merge. An abstract design made of several pieces of hand carved MDF wood covers the focal wall and is painted with a smooth, metallic finish. A black tile shelf brings contrast to the wall and creates a home for the TV, with a fireplace underneath. Jaimie Anand, lead designer and firm owner, says while the home is contemporary, it is also functional for the family, which includes grandparents, teenagers and a toddler.
Coventry Homes
Hill Country Oasis Primary Suite TERRA MONT: LAUREN KELLER/LRES MARKETING; HILL COUNTRY OASIS: COURTESY COVENTRY HOMES; ROYAL OAK: COURTESY HIGHLAND HOMES
Primary Suite DESIGNER FINISHES AND LUXURIOUS TOUCHES TURN THIS
secluded primary bedroom and bathroom into a relaxing getaway for the busy homeowners. A wall of large windows brings in natural light and provides views of the Hill Country while a gray tray ceiling and wall introduces contrast. The bathroom includes a large walk-in shower and a freestanding tub with a custom Carrara Hexagon tile shampoo niche. Separate dual vanities mean there is plenty of storage for two and high frosted windows let in natural light while still providing privacy.
Highland Homes
Royal Oak Estates | 213 E. Pet Spa Specialty Room DOGS ARE THE STAR OF THIS FUR-FRIENDLY SPOT
that features two high-end kennels built under a jet-black quartz countertop. A white backsplash and shelving plus natural light from a window nook brighten the room while a specially built tub means pups can get clean without having to visit a pet spa.
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Meet the Judges
Nicholas Brinen
Kayla Cooper
Chad Dorsey
Allison Crawford
Kinley C. Puzey
Lindsey Shook
Lee Starke
Puzey is a licensed architect and has spent the last 18 years in the design and construction industry. His project experience ranges from humanitarian efforts on a Navajo reservation to multimillion-dollar custom homes. Puzey holds a master’s of architecture from the University of Utah. In 2015, he founded Utah-based Onyx Design Collective, which specializes in high-end residential and one-of-a-kind commercial projects. His unique modern designs are conceived through a rigorous design process that mixes analog techniques and cutting-edge software.
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Trained as an architect, Dorsey approaches every space focused on a fluid relationship to the architecture where proportion, light and scale are essential. Dorsey refers to his style and philosophy as “relaxed luxury”—the idea of living casually with things a person loves to touch and feel in a way that is approachable and not precious. Dorsey’s eponymous studio offers a full range of design services and is based in Dallas with an outpost in Los Angeles. Dorsey has been featured in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Aspire Home & Design, Interiors Magazine, ADPro, Traditional Home, The D Pages and Rue Magazine.
Shook is a global content and brand strategist who serves as the editorial and brand director of California Home + Design media company. Splitting her time between Miami and San Francisco, Shook has worked with a multitude of companies to generate meaningful stories and experiences that helped expand their global reach. In her spare time, she is an activist in support of select organizations that focus on empowerment and social justice as well as Democratic campaigns.
Crawford is the founder of Allison Crawford Design and HOTELette. Her goal is to create beautiful and functional spaces that reflect the personality and passions of her clients. At the heart of Crawford’s process is the belief that design creates balance between comfort and luxury, integrating the practical with the desirable. Crawford’s work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Forbes, Austin Monthly and Domino.
Starke is a project manager and interior designer for Cline Design Associates in Raleigh, North Carolina. Cline Design is an integrated firm offering architecture, interior design and land-planning services. Starke leads and manages an expansive portfolio of projects, from large-scale residential buildings to golf clubhouses and corporate office spaces. She has nearly 10 years of experience working on complex projects and has completed work in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Maryland and Michigan.
COURTESY JUDGES
From clothes to cars to spaces, Cooper has designed it all. Though her styles and practices have evolved over the years, her love for design and the creative process has not. Beginning her career in Washington, D.C., Cooper now travels to create modern, minimalist spaces with sustainable influences. Based out of Pennsylvania, Cooper loves to design with clean lines and strong architecture.
A licensed and registered architect in Virginia, Texas and New York, Brinen is a founding partner of Studio Figure and his practice spans from private residential to restaurants, offices and mixed-use buildings. Brinen, with AIA, LEED, AP, NCARB and NOMA certifications and licenses, has taught architecture at the Rhode Island School of Design, University of Virginia, Pratt Institute and Parsons School of Design. He is currently an assistant professor at James Madison University, where his research and teaching focuses on the synthesis between empathetic design inputs and material resourcefulness to elevate design strategies for community-based projects.
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Julie Bradshaw, Bradshaw Designs Legacy Award
BRADSHAW BEGAN HER CAREER AFTER GRAD-
Tripp Flip, LLC
Olmos Park Preservation Historic Renovation Rising Star Award | Less than 5 Years
RENOVATION: COURTESY TRIPP FLIP, LLC; BRADSHAW: JOSH HUSKIN
WHEN KALI AND THOR TRIPP STEPPED INTO
the original kitchen of their Olmos Park home, they knew immediately why it had sat on the market for two years. “It’s just this massive home, but the kitchen was itty bitty,” Thor Tripp says. “We knew we’d have to move it.” An inspection revealed even further issues—like improperly spliced wiring, tree roots growing through pool plaster and submerged plumbing caused by decades of leakage— but the Tripps were committed to rehabbing their 1929 home. The couple who met while working at competing TV stations in Lincoln, Nebraska, moved to San Antonio just before the pandemic began to be closer to Kali’s family. They’d flipped two homes, including their own, while living in Nebraska and decided when they relocated to take on the work full-time. “We had a blast doing the first one and the rest is kind of history,” Kali Tripp says.
The Olmos Park home had been expanded in the 1950s and updated in the 1980s, which the Tripps say meant it was “in identity crisis” with a mishmash of styles. After fixing the bones of the house, they relocated the kitchen to what was once an extra living room, adding a 12-foot island and two seating areas. The entryway, living room, dining room and office are located toward the front of the home and are more formal. Original elements from the home were refurbished or repurposed throughout, including fixtures and oak floors that were matched rather than replaced. “Honoring the history of the home was important to us,” Thor Tripp says. The couple and their young son now live in the Olmos Park home and they’ve since rehabbed three houses in Dignowity Hill. They’re working on projects in the Lone Star and Castle Hills areas before taking on another major remodel this year. “We changed careers and cities, but we feel good about the work we are doing,” Thor Tripp says.
uating with an interior design degree from the University of Texas at Austin over 30 years ago and she’s been remodeling kitchens, bathrooms and other spaces throughout San Antonio since. Modern Luxury magazine called her a “renovation maven” who is to homes what good plastic surgeons are to face lifts. That means she has superior attention to detail and a commitment to being involved in every aspect of her client’s design, from creating plans to selecting just the right materials to working with contractors to carry out her firm’s vision. Whether a historic renovation that requires a dedication to matching original details or a new home that calls for character, Bradshaw delivers. She’s been recognized with numerous American Society of Interior Designers awards, including six ASID Pinnacle awarded projects in 2021, and she also won a 2021 Luxe Red Award in the regional kitchen category.
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g n i t Floa Fiesta It takes more than a year of planning and over 12,000 volunteer hours to bring the Texas Cavaliers River Parade to fruition. Take a behind-the-scenes look at the careful planning that goes into every element of the annual Fiesta event BY KATHLEEN PETTY PHOTOS BY JOMANDO CRUZ
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B
y the time the confetti cannon explodes over King Antonio at the start of the Texas Cavaliers River Parade, volunteers have already been working to organize the annual Fiesta event for over 18 months. “You spend the whole year (or more) planning and then it’s over, just like that,” says Clyde Johnson IV, commander of the Texas Cavaliers. “It’s a real satisfaction to see parents and kids with big smiles on their faces and wearing hats and cascarones broken on them.” The parade has been a Fiesta San Antonio tradition since 1941, the same year the first portion of the River Walk was completed. A group of Texas Cavaliers had visited Mexico City and witnessed “floating gardens,” which were groups of boats and barges covered in beautiful flowers, and decided they wanted to create a similar experience at home. The debut of the River Walk presented the perfect opportunity, and the River Parade was born. A parade marshal is appointed each year from among the all-volunteer, all-male Texas Cavaliers group to oversee the festivities. Selecting a theme (“Texas al Fresco” for 2022) is the first order of business and then the work of getting all of the details into place begins.
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To ensure every aspect of the parade is taken care of, the marshal (Gardner M. Peavy this year), appoints around 60 volunteer chairmen to handle different facets of the evening—from ticket sales to seating placement to gate management. In total, the Texas Cavaliers estimate it requires over 12,000 volunteer hours to put on the parade. “Over the years we’ve developed a fairly well-oiled machine,” Johnson says. Along the sidewalk lining the River Walk, 17,000 chairs are set up in tight rows. Most of those get filled by those who've purchased tickets to the parade, but the Cavaliers reserve 1,000 for kids selected to attend by some of the children’s charities that the Texas Cavaliers Charitable Foundation supports and another 1,000 for military service members and their families.
In 2021, the Texas Cavaliers River Parade was the only major Fiesta parade to take place during the rescheduled June festival. Organizers say they received notes, texts and emails from people who were grateful for the sense of normalcy and community it provided.
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“It’s Military City USA, and it’s important to us to support the people who protect our country,” says King Antonio XCIX Barton T. Simpson, whose father served in the Air Force. The parade chairs are kept in storage during the year and taken out to be organized the Saturday before the event. An army of volunteers transports them to various stops along the River Walk, where they’re arranged on Sunday and in the hours before the Monday parade. And while there are only 17,000 official seats, the Texas Cavaliers estimate that with riverside restaurant tables and the crowds that gather on bridges overlooking the water, closer to 250,000 people attend the event each year. Ten days before the parade, the Cavaliers turn their attention to the river barges. They’re stored in an industrial yard, so a group of volunteers gathers there two Fridays before the festivities to assess the watercrafts. They change the oil, start each motor and test the generators. Any rotted wood on the barges is replaced, and fresh paint is added where any fading has started to occur. After the basics are fixed, a professional decorating crew comes in and adds colorful foil, faux foliage, signs and other flair. This year’s decoration crew hails from New Orleans, where they also work on Mardi Gras floats, APRIL 2022
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This year’s parade is scheduled for Monday, April 4. Its theme, Texas Al Fresco, celebrates the outdoor experiences that became even more widely utilized during the pandemic. Randy Rogers, of the Texas-based Randy Rogers Band, will serve as the honorary grand marshal while Haven for Hope is the parade’s charitable honoree. Parade tickets are available at texascavaliers.org.
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says Johnson, the son of a former King Antonio. Once the boats are ready, cranes are used to load them onto trucks, five at a time. They’re driven to the Nueva Street Marina, where another crane lifts them into the river during “barge-in” day. Volunteers drive them by water to the Tobin Center, where parade participants board the boats. Some of the roughly 40 floats that take to the water each year are filled with Fiesta royalty, military personnel and first responders. Others carry representatives from the children’s nonprofits that the Cavaliers Foundation supports with grants while still others are filled with community groups who’ve applied to be a part of the parade. It’s up to the float’s passengers to come in costume— the more outrageous and colorful the better—and to bring a band or music to transform their boat into a moving party on the water. King Antonio’s float is built to look like a sleigh—“it’s almost like a Santa Claus sleigh on water,” Simpson says—while the others are crafted to reflect each year’s theme. A Cavaliers volunteer is on every float
and volunteers man smaller rescue boats that are dispersed between floats in case any issues arise during the event. All proceeds from the parade’s ticket sales go toward the Texas Cavaliers Charitable Foundation, which supports dozens of nonprofits serving infants, children and youth in the area. In 2021, the foundation provided $1.1 million in grants to 83 charities and they expect to donate $2 million or more in 2022. “We work hard to do a lot of good and we have a lot of fun doing it,” Simpson says. “It’s an unbelievable experience.” APRIL 2022
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For Spurs guard Devin Vassell, chasing success in the NBA is a family affair BY KATHLEEN PETTY PHOTOS BY JOSH HUSKIN
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Win or lose, the two have debriefed following each of Devin’s games since the guard was in high school at Peachtree Ridge in a suburb of Atlanta. Now in his second season with San Antonio, the 21-year-old certainly wants to hear from his coaches. But he also knows his dad will be honest in pointing out any flaws. And if Devin doesn’t identify anything that went wrong, then he can’t prevent it from happening again. “Devin and I talk about some of the things he might do better,” says Andrew Vassell, Devin’s father, who played in college and coached his three kids when they were young. “We have that same call after every game, no matter where he is.” Aside from being drafted at No. 11 by the Spurs in 2020, Devin says having the support of his parents each day is “probably the best thing that’s happened to me.” When he landed with the San Antonio Spurs, his parents offered to move to the Alamo City with him for the duration of his first, four-year contract. Still a teenager after playing two seasons with Florida State University, Devin had lived at home and then on campus. He’d never had to pay rent or buy furniture. He can’t remember a time when basketball wasn’t his main focus and the idea of elevating his game to the professional level while figuring out how to manage his money and handle all of his bills for the first time was, put simply, overwhelming. “They help me out so much. They say, ‘You focus on basketball, and we’ll focus on everything else,” Devin says. “I appreciate them a lot.” It’s been a whirlwind, says mom Cynthia, but one they know they’re blessed to take on. “We lived in Atlanta for 22 years, but we just picked up everything and left,” says Cynthia, a former nurse who handles her son’s day-to-day affairs while Andrew works at CarMax. “When you get drafted you just have to kind of figure this whole thing out, so we’re helping him navigate it so he can play basketball.”
BASKETBALL FROM BIRTH
Cynthia jokes that her husband had his sights on turning Devin into a ball player before he came out of the womb. He had a small, stuffed basketball ready to place next to him in his crib at birth and when Devin turned 1, dad bought him a Little Tikes basketball hoop despite the fact that he still couldn’t really walk. “His older brother played basketball, so he was a gym baby,” Cynthia says. “He waddled himself over to that hoop, and to our surprise he dunked the ball in the basket.”
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The two know parents can be biased but say even Devin’s daycare teachers would comment that he was advanced, and by the time he was 6, Devin was already playing up an age group on the court. Devin’s older brother is 13 years his senior and his sister 11 years so before he was 10, it was just him and his parents at home. The family had taken vacations during the summers with the older kids, but with Devin, free time was spent traveling to basketball tournaments. Then in middle school, Devin was cut from the team. “It devastated Devin, but it didn’t stop him from loving the game,” Cynthia says. They eventually switched schools so Devin could play, and his parents say from then on, his game flourished. Devin became the second highest scoring player in his high school’s history, but he remained ranked outside the top 400 for his age group and while he was committed to playing in college, Division I recruiters weren’t lining up to talk to him. “He was always the underdog,” Andrew says. Florida State made an offer his senior year, and Devin was in. He told his parents he planned to play for two years and then enter the NBA draft. “He would always say to me, ‘I’m going to play in the NBA,’” Cynthia says. “But what are the odds of that? So, I would ask him what his backup was if he didn’t play basketball. He said, ‘Mom, I keep telling you that I’m going to the NBA, so please don’t ask me that anymore because it hurts my feelings.’” During his freshman year at FSU, Devin averaged only around 10 minutes per game— and he had to convince his coach not to redshirt him before the season even started. “He came home that summer and said, ‘One more year,’ and I was like, ‘Devin, you’re only playing 10 minutes.’ But we never made him feel like he couldn’t do it,” Andrew says. “Whatever you have your mind set to, we’ve got you.” Devin returned sophomore year with resolve to stand out and he did. He averaged 12.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, helping lead FSU to a 26-5 record. Still, Andrew says, when he entered the draft, they were prepared for him to go late in the first round or even in the second round. The Spurs selected him at No. 11. “I looked at my husband and said what’s a Spur?” Cynthia says. “I’m originally from New York and my husband is from Jamaica. We’d never been to San Antonio.” They may not have been San Antonio fans, but Devin and Andrew knew the Spurs and the reputation of Coach Gregg Popovich.
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“Coming out here was easy for me,” Devin says. “Especially with Coach Pop and knowing the type of organization they are—they care about winning and good basketball and their players.”
ANOTHER LEVEL
After a first season with limited crowds and plenty of COVID-related restrictions, Devin is coming into his own this season. Having played just over 30 games a season in college, Devin says it took some adjusting to get used to the 82 games a year of the NBA. “We joke around about it, but it feels like every day is a Wednesday. You’re either playing or you’re not, so all of your days just get kind of run together,” he says. “It requires getting to know your body and how you’re supposed to eat and take care of yourself.” Sometimes that means getting into a cold tub after a game (and delaying that call to dad) while other times it means rehabbing while injured. He’d also grown accustomed to not just playing with his teammates in college but also living in the next room and eating his meals with them. As a pro, you practice or play, head to the locker room and go home. Devin found it took more time to make connections.
After Derrick White was traded ahead of the All-Star break earlier this year, Devin was named starting shooting guard. He’d already made an impact for the Spurs, but the change put him in position to help lead the team in a new way. The Silver & Black may have five championships, but Devin says its young players see themselves as underdogs, and that while it’s not Tim, Manu and Tony anymore, there is just as much an appetite for success. “Being a leader doesn’t mean that you know everything. It just means that you speak up. If the team isn’t playing to its potential, you say something,” he says. “I like to hold everyone accountable because I like to hold myself accountable. At the end of the day all I want to do is win.” He also wants to make his parents proud, which means figuring out how to take this opportunity he’s been given and use it to impact people outside of the gym. He partnered with the San Antonio Food Bank to collect donations last year and with Operation Warm in February to provide coats to kids in need, but he hopes to do more. “I’m lucky and I’m blessed to be able to play and do something I love,” Devin says. “There are a lot of people who need help or need resources and if I’m in a position to do that, why wouldn’t I? That’s definitely something my mom and dad instilled in me.” Cynthia is helping with that too, talking with Devin and his financial advisor about where his passions lie and how he might give back to the community. On home game nights, Cynthia and Andrew are always in the stands—if they get stuck in traffic and are a few minutes late, Devin notices. Once Andrew retires in December, he hopes to be at as many away games as possible, too. Eventually the couple will return to Atlanta. They miss getting to regularly see their older children and grandkids (including a 6-year-old grandson who can’t stop talking about his Uncle D and the NBA 2K video game he and teammate Keldon Johnson are featured in). But they plan to always be involved in managing Devin’s career. “Every time I walk into the AT&T Center it’s a blessing for me,” Andrew says. “It’s almost surreal. My son is out there playing against LeBron James, who we’ve watched his whole life. It’s a dream come true and it’s truly a blessing. He’s on a stage where he can change things and touch people. He’s a humble kid and I’m looking forward to all of the ways he’s going to be able to help people down the road.” APRIL 2022
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Corn Flights esus Arreaga loves the idea of coffee shops as a place to catch up with friends, except that coffee is not really his forte. But just because the former bartender, server and restaurant manager didn’t want to craft lattes didn’t mean he couldn’t have a café. Along with the city’s growing coffee shop scene, Arreaga also noticed locals love their corn, so he merged the two concepts into his Elotitos Corn Bar, which opened just more than a year ago in the Deco District. “I’m a huge believer in taking something and just making it better or adding my own twist,” says Arreaga, who credits his mom’s cooking as the basis for many of his recipes. Instead of coffee, Arreaga offers corn flights that allow customers to try five of his eight elote flavors in one sitting. Start with the traditional, which consists of corn drenched in homemade Mexican crema, Mexican queso fresco, chili powder and nacho cheese, and don’t miss the San Antonio: corn topped with mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, chili powder and a little bit of lemon pepper. There’s also Hot Cheeto, crunchy cheese and jalapeño versions, among others. Espresso isn’t on the menu, but Arreaga makes a mean Mazapan, which is a traditional horchata with a hint of peanut, and housemade aguas frescas. Between the snacks and the quaint tables inside and out, Arreaga says he hopes customers “feel like they could grab a cup of corn with an old friend.”—KATHERINE STINSON
COURTESY ELOTITOS CORN BAR
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ELOTITOS CORN BAR
1933 Fredericksburg Road, Ste. 105 726-999-2609 elotitossa.com Open Mon-Sat
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UP SCALE
1024 S. Alamo St. 210-396-7755 upscalesouthtown.com Dinner Tues-Sat
Southtown Luxury Up Scale delivers on style, service and flavor BY EDMUND TIJERINA
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ike many couples, Emily and Houston Carpenter often found themselves at a loss for what to do for dinner. Most of us who aren’t in the mood to cook either hop in the car or call for delivery. But the Carpenters aren’t like most people. Instead, the couple behind Little Em’s Oyster Bar decided to create their second restaurant. The result is Up Scale, a masterful combination of delicious and accessible dishes, attentive service and memorable cocktails in an atmosphere that’s both modern and timeless. “We felt our block needed a good steakhouse, a good sushi restaurant and a good seafood place,” Houston Carpenter says. “We have a great team and they pulled it off.” Taking over the location of the former Feast, the Carpenters have created a space that feels welcoming yet elevated. Walls radiate thanks to a warm salmon pink, while seats pop with dark velvet
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PHOTOS BY JOMANDO CRUZ
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ORDER THIS
Akami tuna nigiri Caesar salad Lobster tagliolini
and delightful crystal chandeliers glisten and sparkle, bringing together the different design elements that evoke a worldly, cosmopolitan feel. “Our designer is from Manhattan,” Houston Carpenter says. “When we hired her, we told her we wanted something that was different from anything else in San Antonio.” The decor sets the scene for an array of dishes that artfully combines three restaurants in a single experience. A tuna nigiri from sushi chef Ruben Pantaleón is perfectly understated with just enough air between the grains of properly seasoned rice to allow the flavor of the seafood to shine through. I have to ask—does the Up Scale roll with tuna belly and true Japanese wasabi really need gold flakes? Maybe not, but it’s a fun touch and doesn’t distract from the joys of the dish. On the steakhouse side of the menu, chef de cuisine Robert Arambula played with a classic Caesar salad by deftly adding a crisp topping of shrimp panko and a single ring of lightly pickled onion. Of course, the New York Strip was expertly seared to a requested medium rare. And on the seafood side, a housemade tagliolini (a flat pasta similar to tagliatelle) pairs wonderfully with a rich and creamy sauce américaine and chunks of tender, poached lobster claws and tail meat. Yes, lobster-enriched sauce with lobster. As if there’s ever such a thing as too much lobster. What makes this place and Little Em’s remarkable is that the Carpenters don’t have restaurant experience. Emily comes from real estate while Houston has a construction background. They turn the day-to-day workings of Up Scale to general manager Sam Castillo and director of hospitality and beverage Jacklyn Giddens, while Emily oversees the finances and Houston shuttles back and forth between their two restaurants helping manage logistics. “If only we had a little bridge,” Emily Carpenter says, with a laugh. “We know the importance of finding people who know more than we do,” Houston Carpenter says. “Emily and I might have the vision and the concept and turn it over to a really great staff and they’re the reason we’re successful.” APRIL 2022
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IN THE LOOP / SPOTLIGHT
Taste of Love The owners of Alebrije Panadería bake every concha, marranito and pan de elote from scratch each morning CRIS MENDEZ AND CLAUDIO NAVARRO ARE SETTING THEIR
alarms and heading to bed just as most people are clocking out for the day. The owners of Alebrije Panadería awake at midnight so they can prepare ingredients and be in the kitchen at their Government Hill bakery by 2 a.m. “Everything is fresh every day, and it’s a really long process,” says Mendez, who worked as a pastry chef in her native Mexico. She launched the bakery in 2019 as an online, delivery-style business and was joined by Navarro, her husband, after he lost his job as a nonprofit video producer during the pandemic. “We started making my small dream bigger as a couple,” Mendez says. At the time, they were operating out of the kitchen in their one-bedroom apartment, but as demand for her pan de elote, bright colored conchas, besos cochinitos and other Mexican breads grew, they knew they needed a commercial space. The pair partnered with another baker first, sharing a space on South Flores Street, and decided last year that they wanted a café of their own. After struggling to find another spot on the South Side, they landed just outside the Fort Sam Houston gates in a former warehouse that they’ve transformed into a welcoming café. “It was abandoned in many ways, but we knew it was the right place,” Navarro says. Mexican tiles line the counter and friend Bárbara Miñarro, the artist behind accessories line Breakfast Friend, painted a bright mural on the wall featuring Mendez’s pastries plus the butter required to achieve that perfect texture and flavor. With the smell of sweet breads wafting out the front door, it’s not unusual for customers to wander in after they’ve officially closed for the day, looking to try something new. Mendez says whether it’s a family with Mexican roots like hers or a San Antonian who’s new to panadería-style bakeries, they feel blessed to be connecting with the community through food. “It’s really cool to be a part of people’s families,” she says. Adds Navarro, “It’s awesome that we can help people create memories.”—KATHLEEN PETTY
ALEBRIJ E PANADERÍA
1931 N. New Braunfels Ave. alebrijesa.com Open Wed-Sun
What would you include in your dream kitchen? Is there something you can’t live without when cooking at home? We’re just starting to redo our kitchen and I’m most excited about swapping out an old electric stove and installing a piece of dream kitchen equipment: an induction stove. The one piece of equipment I can’t live without is my cast iron comal. It’s a round, flat griddle that I use to heat up tortillas, reheat tamales and toast dried chiles. It goes back at least 30 years, and my mom cooked on it before she handed it down to me.
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PHOTO BY MARTY MORRIS
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T H E G U I D E / E AT + D R I N K
9 Places for Fiesta Favorites You don’t have to go to an official Fiesta San Antonio event to indulge in its flavors
GARCIA’S MEXICAN FOOD RESTAURANT (Schertz) Order the
Fiesta plate for a taste of South Texas and try a cheese enchilada, a classic chalupa and beef or chicken flautas plus rice and a scoop of guacamole. 3820 FM 3009, Schertz, garciassmtx.com LA TUNA (Southtown) With 40
BENJIE’S MUNCH (North Cen-
tral) It’s Fiesta all of the time here thanks to chef Ben De los Santos. The daily menu features buttermilk-dipped-and-fried chicken-on-a-stick, an 11.5-inch corn dog, a cocoa barbacoa taco, a candied jalapeño bacon cheeseburger and a keto-friendly quesadilla. 1218 Bitters Road, Ste. 107, benjiesmunch.com
types of beer, including a daily special, you can indulge in a few without having to stack NIOSA cups at this ice house. The loaded fries come topped with bacon, the fried jalapeños are stuffed with cream cheese, and the chalupas filled with guac, black beans and roasted poblano cream. 100 Probandt St., latunasa.com
DECO PIZZERIA (West, Medical
Center) Before placing an order for your favorite pie, start the meal with fried pork skins or chicken-on-a-stick, complete with the jalapeño on the end. Its specialty cocktails are also reminiscent of Fiesta staples, including the Zarzamora, a lime and coconut drink with blackberry and dark rum. 1815 Fredericksburg Road; 2026 Babcock Road, Ste. 107, decopizza.com FUNNEL CAKE FANATICS (West) This food truck specializes in gourmet funnel cake with toppings ranging from strawberries, powdered sugar and chocolate sauce to Oreo cookies, cheesecake pieces and vanilla ice cream with chocolate. 12275 Potranco Road, insta gram.com/funnelcakefanatsicstx
COURTESY LA PANADERIA
OFF MENU News from the restaurant scene
LA PANADERÍA (Downtown, Alamo Heights, Northwest) Chocolate conchas and tequila almond croissants are regular favorites, and the bakery also has annual Fiesta specials like its strawberries-and-cream-filled croissant covered in bright Fiesta-themed icing. New this year, the bakery will offer a Fiesta oreja and a 24-carat Champagne-infused
cheesecake, complete with edible gold leaves. 301 E. Houston St.; 8305 Broadway; 17030 Fiesta Texas Drive, Ste. 105, lapanaderia.com LITTLE EM’S OYSTER BAR
(Southtown) Even if oyster’s on a half shell aren’t your style, head to this Southtown favorite for seafood with flavor, whether red snapper ceviche with mango and jalapeño or yellow fin tuna tartar with avocado and micro greens. 1001 S. Alamo St., littleemsoysterbar.com PETE’S TAKO HOUSE (Downtown) Order Pete’s Street Takos, five mini tacos served with grilled onions, cilantro and charro beans plus your choice of meat, for a restaurant version of the tacos you love from NIOSA. The downtown eatery also serves empanadas with chile con queso and quesadillas filled with chicken, beef, shrimp or veggies. 502 Brooklyn Ave., petestakohouse.com ROSARIO’S (Southtown, North Central) With their colorful décor and boisterous atmosphere, it feels like Fiesta anytime you’re inside one of Lisa Wong’s restaurants. Opt for flautas or chorizo quesadillas to get that street food vibe, consider a specialty drink like the CocoRita and don’t forget to end the meal with traditional churros, served with sweet cream and Mexican chocolate. 910 S. Alamo St.; 9715 San Pedro Ave., rosariossa.com Restaurants' service and menus can change. Please call ahead to confirm. For our full directory of San Antonio restaurants, visit sanantoniomag.com/restaurants-bars.
The James Beard Foundation named seven San Antonio semifinalists in its annual awards. Winners will be announced in June. / Arrosta and Allora, fast casual and full-service Italian restaurants by Maverick Restaurant Group, opened at Pearl earlier this year. / Kura Revolving Sushi Bar debuted in the former Papouli’s Greek Grill at The Quarry. / Green Vegetarian Cuisine’s owner brought back the Food Network–famous 3.5 pound cinnamon rolls from his mom’s Lulu’s Bakery. / The Culinary Institute of America’s Bakery Café at Savor is open through April 12. / Brasserie Mon Chou Chou now serves breakfast. / Hannah Buck and Rolando Almaraz opened Bright Coffee on Blanco Road. They hope the café can also double as a swing dance venue. / Kaffeinated, a new crepe and coffee shop serving crepes, waffles, coffee and shakes, opened at The Rim. / Max’s Wine Dive closed at The Quarry. / Hello Paradise closed, and co-owner Jeret Peña is working with chef Mark Garcia on another concept, Big Animal, that will bring cocktails and approachable bar food to the Pearl-adjacent space. / Trilogy Burger Bistro has closed. APRIL 2022
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FINAL THOUGHT
Hesitant Embrace The founders of design firm Heavy Heavy, Steven Darby and Erik Ford, say San Antonio’s renaissance is still coming. Darby shares how he’s embracing his hometown amid the growth AS TOLD TO KATHLEEN PETTY
’ve always had kind of a lovehate relationship with this town. When I was old enough to leave for school, I did that, and I had no plans to ever come back. I felt like it was going to be impossible to do the art and music and design I wanted to do here. At the time, San Antonio bled so much creative talent to other towns because the opportunities were slim. But after my wife and I had a baby, I had a job offer here and my mom was still here, so we moved back. Even though it’s a large city, San Antonio is just starting to get its head around how important it is to fund the arts in substantial and consistent ways. The city’s goal is to bring more businesses and tourists, but people don’t move places when there’s nothing to do. I think as my generation has organically aged into positions of influence, we’re doing the work now—opening up coffee shops or having fashion shows or whatever it is. That’s what’s exciting about San Antonio now, and that’s certainly what keeps me motivated.
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I met my business partner, Erik Ford, kind of serendipitously through a social network for designers. He’s a Harlem native who’d been working in L.A. and moved here (his wife’s hometown) in 2010. We had similar feelings about the city and the design world and started talking about how we could make the industry better. We teamed up as freelancers first and then in 2013 formed our company, Heavy Heavy. Until a few years ago, our design firm mostly did work for companies elsewhere. Then we got noticed by a few local tech companies, including CodeUp, that were looking for the same kind of development that we were—things to do downtown after work and when you're not at your computer. They’re competing for talent whose alternative is to go to Austin or San Francisco. We are hopeful. In recent years, we’ve seen some of that development and we’re retaining and attracting talent that had for so long gone somewhere else. San Antonio, I think, could find our own renaissance very soon, but it will take effort.
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COURTESY HEAVY HEAVY
Steven Darby, left, and Erik Ford design for clients around the world and, increasingly, locally through their creative studio Heavy Heavy.
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HOM E & DESIG N AWARDS / FI ESTA RI V E R PARAD E
Vol. 17 No. 6
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